June 2013

I never seem to get enough of bracelets and bangles – it’s one of the accessories I tend to wear the most on a daily basis. These days I am more into smaller and delicate pieces which allows me to mix and match, and my latest acquisition is the CC SKYE Hinge Nail Bangle (bought here). The studded Swarovski nail head adds a punch of glamor factor, and needless to say, it layers well with lots of other styles of bangles, particularly the Cartier LOVE bracelet!

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Wearing it alone

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Left to Right: Hermes CDC exotic leather, CC Skye Nail Bangle, Cartier LOVE Bracelet Rose Gold, Tiffany Beaded Bracelet in Black Onxy

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Along with the Jo Malone Osmanthus Blossom Cologne (reviewed here), I also picked up the Jo Malone Vitamin E Gel at the counter recently. It was a spur of the moment decision. I was a little choked at the price for such a tiny pot of product, but my gut feeling led me to purchase it, and the texture is just too good to be passed!

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After using it for a few weeks, I absolutely love this product. It is one of the best multi-purpose balms that can be used anywhere – like a little miracle pot!

What is it:

Rich and intensive Vitamin E gel is a nourishing moisturizer for dry and dehydrated skin, and it can be combined with other products to create multiple benefits for the face, hands and feet. It also works as a barrier to help protect the skin against further environmental damage.

The texture is a cross between balm and gel. It feels very emollient, but compared to the other balms such as the Elizabeth Arden’s 24 hours protector, this is much more lightweight and spreadable. It sinks into your skin when used sparingly. The product contains lots of nourishing oil such as wheat germ oil, avocado oil, sweet almond oil so it also smells much better than the awful 24 hours protector, though it still has a hint of herbal scent.

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As a face moisturizer:

If your normal moisturizer doesn’t do much for  your dry and dehydrated skin, instead of upgrading to a heavier cream, all you need is to mix a tiny bit of this Vitamin E gel with your moisturizer at night. I normally warm the entire product in my palms then pat it on my face and neck. My skin feels instantly moisturized and soothed, and I am always amazed at how baby-soft and moisturized my skin is the next day.  Since it is extremley nourishing, I only use this product for my face 3 times a week. You can adjust the amount to be mixed based on your skin and weather condition. I personally think this is a must-have product for anyone who travels a lot, as it will work its wonders to protect your skin from the dry air during flights.

As a body moisturizer:

This is highly recommended by the Jo Malone SA. She makes her own body moistruizer by mixing a little bit of this with a cheapie body cream such as Nivea.

As a lip balm:

Very expensive for a lip balm, but all you need is tiny a little bit and it guarantees to heal your dry and chapped lips! If you already like the Jo Malone Vitamin E Lip Conditioner which is not cheap either, this is a more intense and an economical product.

As an eye gel:

The Jo Malone SA also recommended that this product can be used as an intensive eye gel. I personally wouldn’t use it on my eyes as I feel it is way too heavy, but it might be the right product for more mature and aged skin.

Burns, cuts and bites:

This product heals bites and relives itchiness overnight, and it also speeds up the healing process for any burns and cuts.

Bottom Line: A luxurious intensive multi-purpose savior for anyone with dry skin. It is expensive, but the whole pot will last me more than a year as it is highly concentrated and emollient. The fact that it is from is my favorite brand of Jo Malone is also a bonus 🙂

Jo Malone Vitamin E Gel is available here in the US, and here in the UK. I bought mine at David Jones for AUD$170 for 30ml of product.

 

 

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I’ve been very obsessed with multi-purpose base products that can be used as a makeup base and also containing a decent level of SPF for sun protection.  Cle De Peau Beaute is a premier Japanese beauty brand that is known for their base products for a smooth and flawless complexion, so when I found out that they have released a new Brightening Enhancer Base which has SPF35 with PA+++, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it as I knew it would be an ideal product to meet my needs!

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A makeup/foundation base may not be an essential product for many women, but it is absolutely a must-have for me! Over the years I have learnt that if you have the right products that make your skin well-hydrated and translucent, you can pretty much use any foundation to make your complexion look naturally flawless and radiant. It is all about the preparation than piling on layers of foundations and concleaers. Whilst most of us don’t have the budget and time to prep our skin with an SKII paper mask (that many MUA swear by), I have been spending my time to find some of the best base products in the market, and I am very happy with this purchase.

As a Makeup Base:

Cle De Peau claims that “it transforms bare skin into pure clarity“.  It has a serum-like fluid texture with a pink beige color. It is very light and blends into clear color which is suitable for most skin colors. Upon application it evens out the complexion moderately and imparts a subtle radiant glow to the skin with a semi-matte finish. It certainly reduces the amount of foundation needed afterwards as it already helps to improve the texture and clarity of the complexion. You could probably even skip the foundation if you already have good skin to begin with. I find that the brightening effect can also be used for highlighting purposes. Formula-wise, it is quite hydrating and makes your skin softer but not the most hydrating. I think it would be wonderful for combo-skin type or in humid/hot weather.

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As a basic suncare product for everyday use:

Anything above SPF30 is enough for my everyday use as I don’t stay out-door a lot (mostly home to the office, sad I know.. ) The Clea De Peau Brightening Enhancer Base feels completely weightless on the skin, and unlike many other products with a high SPF, I feel that my skin can still breathe with this one.  It doesn’t cause any breakout and congestion to my skin. It also contains some brightening ingredients which might help to brighten/whiten your complexion over time – however it’s not evident from my experience.

Bottom Line: An ultra luxurious makeup primer if you have the budget for it. It’s not something that will transform your skin completely, but it does draw you to its beautiful packaging, the expensive floral scent and the luminous finish. I would say it is suitable for all skin types (exclude acne-type), and you will appreciate this product more if you have oily to combo skin.

It retails for $6000 JPY + tax (approx around $70 USD and $75 AUD) for 30 grams of product. Made in Japan.

 

 

 

 

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Loving Right Now

June 22, 2013

JCREW Cashmere: I love wearing cashmere, particular from JCREW. There is nothing more cosy and luxurious than the feel of pure soft Italian cashmere brushing against your skin. My favorite style from JCREW is the BOYFRIEND Cashmere Sweater which is slightly over-sized with a straight slouchy fit and I just love the effortless look. It looks great with everything such as a pair of skinny/boyfriend jeans, or chinos for spring and summer. I have them in the color of Navy and Hthr Neon Pink, and there is few more colors on the way as JCREW is currently doing a 20% OFF with code 20INSIDER for international orders, and 25% OFF with code NEWSTYLE for US orders!

Stella McCartney Sunglasses (bought here): Perfect size, perfect style, and great for everyday wear.

Jo Malone Osmanthus Blossom (available here): I am a big fan of Jo Malone fragrance, and this new LE cologne is everything that I expected . It is a delicate floral scent with a top note of osmanthus that smells pure, clean and fresh.  If you love wild bluebell, orange blossom, red roses, I can guarantee you would love this one!

Estee Lauder Cyber White Brilliant Cells Brightening UV Protector SPF 50+ (bought here): The Japanese are known for their ultra light weight and water resistant sunscreen, and to get a fair share of the Asian market, this year the major Western beauty houses such as Dior, Chanel, Estee Lauder etc have really stepped up the plate and released some great sun protection products exclusive to the Asian market. The newly improved formula has a significantly lighter texture, more absorbent, leaves no white cast, and they are more reminiscent of a makeup primer than the traditional face sunscreen.  I love the Estee Lauder because it works great for my dry skin. It is hydrating without the greasy feeling and gives a lovely dewy finish. I normally skip my makeup primer if I wear this one underneath the foundation.

 

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If you are into Japanese makeup, then ADDICTION Jean-Michel Basquit Summer 2013 Collection is the one to watch!  In fact this collection has done so well that many of their products have already been sold out within days of release. The collection includes six new eye shadow quads that were inspired by the late American graffiti artist Jean-Michel Basquit. There are 2 limited edition colors – Soda Lunch and Black or White. The rest of the quads will be included in the permanent lineup. As usual, I bought a neutral quad – Sugar Rusk which is their best selling color. Unfortunately all the limited-edition cases with his designs were all sold out within days so I had to get the regular case from their permanent line.

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In my opinion, the promo pictures didn’t do the justice for any of the quads as the colors looked a little bland. The actual eye shadows are just so much more interesting and complex in real life. Sugar Rusk leans cool neutral with a hint of mauve undertone. There are 3 shimmery shades, and 1 matte shade. All eye shadows are of typical premium Japanese eye shadows – they are extremely finely milled, buttery soft with a velvety and slightly moist touch to them. Pigmentation is also fairly rich, particularly the shimmery brown shade on the bottom right which feels so luxurious and divine to use.

Shades description:

– Top Right: vanilla white shimmer

– Top Left: irridescent pale golden brown with silver shimmer

– Bottom Right: shimmering taupe dark brown with a mauve undertone

–  Bottom Left: matte clay brown

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2 Swatches of Sugar Rusk taken from different angles:

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I pulled out a few quads from my stash for comparison.

Clockwise: Lunasol Chocolate Cosmo, Addiction Sugar Rusk, Chanel Raffinement, Tom Ford Golden Mink (reviewed here)

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addiction-jean-michel-basquiat-summer-2013-sugar-rusk-eye-palette-comparison-swatches-3Bottom Line: A collector’s item for the neutral lovers that is luxurious and wearable all year round. You can check out these 2 links here and here for more information about this collection and how to wear them.

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