Back to Groom...

After this long...looooong summer-hiatus: I'd say let's get "Back to Groom:

1. Inner Beauty (again)

Fountain is one of those brands you might have seen popping up...They are on net-a-porter and you probably seen it promoted recommended in Vogue or the likes.

Sometimes I do buy these things. Especially since I gotten this on a lookfantastic promotion, where I added some Geek-i-monecules too. Perhaps Reservatrol could be found cheaper, and somehow my curiosity will get more of me when THEY say that a liquid compound will make it absorb better.

Oh well, if I get glowing in two weeks then I'll know some more.

2. Things I'll probably be skipping...

 I feel I have been growing up when I see a gorgeous and very sought after limited edition and think "perhaps I should skip".

So I'll say the L-word on this...I hope I'm not blasphemous as a beautyblogger:

 Louboutin Lipstick(s), or Rouge Louboutin...

I think they are the most gorgeous piece of makeup I have seen...oh let's say...in my lifetime. I'm also convinced it is a gorgeous lipstick by reading thebeautylookbook's review. Six years ago I would have done it, without any doubt. Now I am looking at a drawer of 130 oftenly unused and very gorgeous lipsticks and think...darn, I could go to Greece for that.

My 2nd brand would be skipping on Tom Ford: I really see him a lot on other beautyblogs but my personal experience is that I am slightly underwhelmed for its price. 

Then again, I'd splurge on anything Surrat again, I'm hoping for him creating a foundation soon.

3. Things I'll be splurging upon...

Mmm, besides of anything new Surrat I am not sure. This summer I have done several salon-treatments from CACI, waxing, Shellac, cryo-spray, LED light for removing pigmentspots and numerous others. 

My DIY Shellac-ing tools

 I think there are good treatments out there and some are a waste of € without much love put into it. Then I rather do something similar at home, especially since the DIY options are getting better and are more affordable.

So how have you been grooming this summer, and what will you change for autumn?

Tom Ford Lipstick to Boys Luciano, Michael, Cooper & Pablo

Ohhh, I've gotten giddy today for receiving my Tom Ford Lipstick to Boys. 

Finally I could buy something unswatched and slightly dangerous for not really knowing what to get. Normally you can see/read about all beauty with the elite/always-gettin'it-first likes of Temptalia and Wayne Goss. Temptalia still got it first but not like 10 months before. Seems Tom Ford has been democratic about his lippies!

Weather has been more than horrible today, so my apologies for the lack of light and goosebumps. I photoshopped a bit but I did not want to alter the original colour, so some might be not so light.

I picked four brights based on my earlier Tom Ford lipxperience. I adore Violet Fatale. I like my Spanish Pink as well but I think Tom Ford does the brights a bit better.

 * Violets to Orchids Pablo

 

Tom Ford Pablo looks like a pure colder Purple. I immediately thought of Bite Beauty Violet.

Also, my 1st Tom Ford Violet Fatale from the regular line & YSL Glossy Stain Violine Out of Control:

Tom Ford Violet Fatale looks so demure next to Pablo! It is a softer pinker hue compared to the blueness of Pablo. Bite Beauty Violet is even a more shocking Blue pink. TF Pablo is slightly sheerer than the other TF lipsticks, hence it wears beautifully sophisticated with the right kind of edge.

* REDS, Luciano

I figured Luciano would be a close sibling to Cherry Lush. In fact, they are family: Luciano is a hint more muted and rosier.

 

I added YSL Glossy Stain in Rose Tempura 13 for another reference. Rose Tempura is a deeper pinker hue. All of them are in the group of Rosy Reds.

* Fushia to Magentas: Cooper

  I have absolutely no dupe of this colour but Dior addict lipstick show 778 is slightly close. Cooper has more red in it and is more opaque.

Multifaceted flecks

TF Cooper: the lushious finish from another angle

 * Pop Pinks to Roses: Michael

 

Michael looks deceptively demure in murky daylight but wait until you swatch him with some other poppy peachy/pinks:

I've been comparing it with NARS Audacious Kelly, Guerlain Chamade (164) Rouge Automatique, Chanel Scintillantes 124 , Deliplus Mate 01 

Picture 1 shows how poppy pink Michael can look, and picture 2 shows his peachier side. I have no close due but Deliplus Mate 01, a Spanish supermarket brand, comes closest.

Conclusion: I love them all and they are all such originals in my stash. 

Ps: I've skipped the background story with the Tom Ford promotion about the fantasy about the threesome...I agree Tom Ford picked some handsome guys online to pose with the girls: if only they came with the lipstick! As for fantasies, a guy once wanted to include a girl but I guess the only threesome for me would me be pushing the other girl away, and perhaps hurting him too for suggesting. But a suggestive promo never hurt any cosmetic brand, right?

French Haul

A couple of weeks ago I was in Paris and I got some cute things...

 There is no way you can go to Paris and skip on the best Macarons in the world: Laduree.

And I went for the special edition of Les Marquis, only sold by the shop at 14 rue de Castiglione.

how could I resist this shopwindow?

Ofcourse, I digested one of them with my cute-as-a-button tea-set from La Chaise Longue

 To add, some funky candles from cultshop Colette:

Also limited editions. Hurray!

*artistic (Basquiat & Keith Haring)
*Funny drawings
*limited Editions
*they smell quite good too
(the candles can also be found on their website)

I went to the Keith Haring exhibition and it was really lively, although you might question if it is really art (but that's often the question around art)

I finally bought the quintessential French Shoe, the ballerina: Repetto ofcourse.

Window Repetto Rue St. Honore (they have several shops in the city)

A shoe that really looks like a ballerina shoe makes you feel like a little girl again.

 

 Talking about feeling like a little girl, I couldn't resist Pink Panther:

For the grown-up girl in me: the Japanese Vogue (Holland hardly sell these anymore, they used to)

So Paris gave me a funky smile (and three eyes) as Mr. Haring is burning smilingly...

spreading heady florals around the room.

 Overal, a cute city with a taste for sweet decadence.