November 2014

November Favorites

November 30, 2014

Just in time to post my favorite products for the month of November!

frontrowbeauty-november-favorite-products-1Clockwise:

Diptyque Mimosa Candle – I love the smell of Mimosa, and when this fresh and enchanting scent is packed into a candle by the magic hands of Diptyque it’s a must have for me! I have used this one for the home all year round.

YSL Le Tient Touche Eclat Illuminating Powder Foundation (Asia exclusive, also available in Australia) – Currently obsessed with this one. I can’t stop looking at my complexion when I dust this one on top of the foundation – it makes skin look incredibly radiant and air-brushed but so natural with a decent coverage.

YSL Touche Eclat  Foundation –  I thought the performance of this foundation was on the average side for me (reviewed here), however when it’s used in conjunction with the Touche Eclat Powder I am more than amazed! It is currently 20% off at YSLBeauty Online.

Gucci Cat Eye Sunglasses (Take up to 25% off use code GOBIG)– Love the subtle cat eye shape and it is extremely lightweight so I can wear this for the whole day without leaving marks along my nose bridge!

TATCHA Deep Hydrating Lifting Mask – A luxurious paper mask that guarantees to make your skin appear more plumped and glowy.

Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle – Reviewed here.

BEATS Mixr White – I cannot workout without music. So I rely on my BEATS Headphone to help me get through the sessions as I am hitting the gym more often now to get myself in shape before the holiday starts!

Ipsa Premier Line Cleansing Creamy Paste – A gentle creamy and refreshing cleanser that I use in the morning. The texture reminds me of Neutrogena’s Deep Clean Cream Cleanser, but 100 times more luxurious overall.

Bobbi Brown Smokey Nudes Eye Shadow Palette – My workhorse lately (reviewed here).

Nars Audacious Lipsticks – I reviewed Natalie here, and went back and bought the shade Grace as I just love this new formulation. They are currently 20% off at NarsCosmeticsOnline.

 

 

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BEAUTY

Nars – 20% off site-wide through Monday. My picks are the luscious Audacious Lipsticks!

Shu Uemura – 25% off site-wide use code SHUJOY. My pick is the LightBulb foundation range.

Harrods – 10% site-wide including all Beauty and Fashion items, plus VAT deductions at checkout for international order outside Europe. I just stocked up this and this, and FYI that Harrods is now carrying SUQQU!

SAKS – Receive a $25 Giftcard when you spend $100 on Beauty or Fragrance using code BEAUTY14.

Nordstrom – Choose from 75+ Gifts with Purchase.

IMMOMOKO – Up to 20% off site-wide (click on the link for more info). My favorite shop for stocking up Japanese and Korean beauty products.

TATCHA – 20% off site-wide use code FF2014.

Giorgio Armani Beauty – 20% off any order with $75 or more with free shipping.

YSL Beauty – 20% off any order with $75 or more with free shipping.

 

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FASHION

ASOS – 20% off everything use code FRIDAY2014.

J.Crew 30 percent off your order use code HOLIDAY.

Net-a-Porter Up to 50% off the entire site.

Piperlime – 25% off site-wide use code IHEARTNYC.

SSENSE – Up to 50% off fall/winter designer items.

FORWARD – Up to 50% off fall/winter designer items.

Shopbop 15 percent off orders of $250+, 20 percent off orders of $500+, 25 percent off orders of $1,000+ through Monday.

The OutnetGlobal free shipping

Whistles – 30% off everything through Nov. 30.

Madewell – 25% off site-wide with code GIFTON through Nov. 30.

Equipment – 25% off site-wide use code THANKS.

Joie – 25%off site-wide use code THANKS.

Theory – 40% off site-wide use code, and spend $500 get $100.

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This month my favorite eye shadow palette has to be my new Bobbi Brown Smokey Nudes Eye Shadow Palette. As a neutral eye shadow addict, I could not resist the color palette of this one – with many wearable soft neutral shades and a few smokey shades in a variety of finishes that I will make so much use out of. Bobbi Brown tends to release eye shadow palettes in either warm tones, or cold tones, but this palette leans perfectly neutral which is a rare find so I decided to add this one to my collection.

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The Bobbi Brown’s signature two tier design of this palette is also another attraction for me. I just love the fact that there are 8 reasonable sized eye shadows housed in such a sleek and compact case. The texture of each shadow is also on par with their single eyeshadow, as they are very smooth and apply effortlessly without any fall out including the sparkly shades. This palette contains three different types of eye shadows – the matte, the metallic, and the sparkly, so I get to show my playful creativity as I really enjoy mixing and matching these shades for different day and night looks .

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Shade description – all the shades included in this palette are exclusive and are not available in their permanent collection. I absolutely love Bobbi Brown’s Metallic single eye shadows for their amazing shimmer factor and high intensity, but the color choices are very limited. So I am very pleased to find out that this palette contains 2 metallic shades that are in the most gorgeous neutral colors.

Top Tier (clockwise)

– Cream (matte):  A creamy ivory shade that is almost the same color as my skin. An essential color to be included in a palette for serving it as base color purpose.

– Naked (matte):  A warm nude with a hint of mauve undertone, and leans slightly warm on my skin.

– Woodrose (matte):  A medium ash brown and is perfect for contouring.

–  Silver Brown (sparkle):  A sparkly grey brown with a hint of silvery purple tinge to it. Adds a glamour touch to the eye makeup for a soft smokey look.

Bottom Tier (clockwise)

– Watercolor pink (sparkle):  A sparkly pale pink

– Nude Beach (metallic):  A cool shimmery sandy beige, and is one of the most beautiful shades in this palette.

– Smoked (matte):  A rich brown black in matte

– Smokey Brown (metallic):  A true taupe with a metallic sheen. I wish they have this in the single form so I will buy a dozen of them lol.

Top Tier

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Bottom Tierbobbi-browns-smokey-nudes-eye-palette-review-swatch-5

bobbi-browns-smokey-nudes-eye-palette-review-swatch-7bobbi-browns-smokey-nudes-eye-palette-review-swatch-8Bottom Line: Must have! And it also makes a perfect gift for your girlfriends. I bought the Bobbi Brown Smokey Nudes Eye Shadow Palette here in Australia, and apparently it is all sold out at Bobbi Brown Online. In the US it is available at Nordstrom and SAKS with the following two great deals!

Nordstrom is running a major Gift With Purchase event for beauty products along with their Black Friday Sales

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Saks is offering a $25 Giftcard when you spend $100 on Beauty or Fragrance using code BEAUTY14.

 

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Shopbop’s amazing Black Friday Sales has officially begun using code GOBIG14 (see offers below)! I am a little peeved that a lot of clothes I saved in my wishlist have just been sold out within a blink of the eye. Anyhow besides fashion, I think it is a perfect opportunity to start shopping gifts for this holiday. It amazes me how many wonderful and stylish gifts are available on Shopbop which I never used to pay attention to, so I put together a gift guide with price starting from $15.  I want everything, particularly all the fashion books for my coffee table, and this ultimate jewelry box.

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FASHION BOOKS

Living With Style by Rachel ZoeParis Street Style (love this one!);  Chanel Book

ART & ILLUSTRATION

The Oliver Gal Artist Co Canvas Print (want!);  – Garance Dore Collection 2015 Calendar

FASHION ACCESSORIES

Furla Cosmetic Case Set (great value set); Sophie Hulme Box BagMichael Kors Watch

JEWELRY BOX AND HOLDER

Ring HolderEddie Borgo Jewelry Box;   Monogram Jewelry Box

HOMEWARES & STATIONERY (clockwise)

Kate Space mini notebookGarance Dore Greeting Card SetJonathan Adler Phone DockMore Please Help Yourself Serving SetAccent CoastersJonathan Adler Vase (as seen on Fashion Police);  RABLABS SpreadersMirror TrayRABLABS  Candlestick Holder;

More Details on the BlackFriday Offer

 

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Calling it “I hate clogged pores with passion” is an understatment. Though this problem has become much better as I age (one perk about getting old!) as well as knowing what skincare products work for me, unfortunately every now and then my skin still ‘flares up’ with blackheads on my nose, and some congested pores on my cheeks and forehead due to stress, lack of sleep, and PMS. If that happens, I always reach for my “special skincare kit” that guarantees to clear them up within several days. These four hero products give the most effective result without irritating my sensitive skin, and are also great for prevention. They are the best ones I have used so far, so I must share!

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1. Clarisonic Facial Cleansing System – I have a very detailed review here. This cleansing brush tool is great for prevention and minimizing the occurrence of clogged pores. On average I use it 3 days a week as I don’t like to over exfoliate my skin.

2. Kate Somerville Intensive Exfoliating Treatment – This is the best exfoliator for congested skin. It’s a very strong and robust product  for clearing up mild cases of congested pores and smoothing skin out completely. I apply a very thin layer over the ‘rough areas’ and leave it on for a few minutes. It clears up and clarifies the congested pores by at least 50% after each use.  Since it is a very intensive treatment I wouldn’t use this as my weekly exfoliator, but this is my absolute top pick for treating blackheads/whiteheads on occasions. If you have very sensitive skin you might want to start with the Gentle Exfoliating Treatment first. For daily use I recommend TATCHA Rice Enzyme Powder for purifying the pores gently.

3. Shiseido Revital Retino Science AA Lotion – I bought this product because it has a small percentage of retinol which we all know is a dermatologist approved ingredient for treating enlarged pores. I don’t have much luck with retinol cream but I feel comfortable to use this gentle lotion frequently for hydrating and improving skin texture. This product is a treatment lotion that you use after cleansing, and followed up by other products. The texture is like runny gel and feels very hydrating on the skin which also helps to fight the aging signs.

4. Chanel Le Weekend Renewing Face Care – Chanel released a 3-step simplified skincare product this year. I have used all of them and decided to only repurchase this one. This product is marketed to be used on weekends only as it helps to resurface and renew the skin. I like this product because it contains glycolic acid complex (not sure the percentage but it’s the 4th ingredient) which is another star ingredient for treating congested pores, and it feels gentle enough for my skin. The texture is like a milky serum and it can be used to replace your usual serum and moisturizer. Using this one for 2 days in conjunction with the Shiseido retinol lotion definitely helps to noticeably unclog the pores, and gets you as close as possible to a poreless complexion.  Note that they are not recommended to be used daily, as you don’t want your skin to be too dependent on these strong ingredients especially if you are still young.

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I picked out some jaw dropping, elegant and affordable party dresses for this Holiday Season.  Holiday dressing is one occasion where I have to spend a ridiculous  amount of time finding a dress that I like as well as within my budget – not expensive because I never wear the same party dress more than twice!  It also has to be versatile enough to be worn to all occasions such as work functions or weddings, so anything that is too sexy, over the top or bridal are out. I absolutely love the ones I picked and wish I can buy them all! Can you guess which one I bought in the end…answer is below!

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1. MAJE – A perfect lady-like midnight blue sequins mini dress with a velvet bow waistband. It’s refined, polished and still make you shine.

2. Needle & Thread – Another stunning sequins dress with crystal embroidery (all hand made) in a delicate tulle. It looks very expensive but amazingly affordable.

3. Alice + Olivia – An uber luxe and glamorous dress that is currently at 70% off. The zigzag patterns give an illusion of longer and slimmer silhouette.

4. Whistles – A break from the usual dark colored dresses. Love the pastel color and the modern silhouette. A very fresh and effortless take on party dresses.

5. Alice + Olivia – I own several dresses from Alice + Olivia in the past so I know how beautiful and delicate their chiffon silk dresses look in real life. This navy blue silk dress with embellished jewel neckline in a classic Grecian style is a winner for me. I ordered it immediately as soon as I saw it on sale at SAKS!

6. Zimmerman – The queen of romantic silky drape dresses from Australia! This is one of their best sellers and has been seen on countless celebs. Also available in maxi length.

7. Needle & Thread – This beautiful blue sequins dress in baroque motifs reminds me of my dream Dolce & Gabanna dresses inspired by Italian heritage. A great bargain as it’s currently at 40% off at Nordstrom.

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Becca has recently released a range of Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle that has absolutely blown me away. Though their counters are no longer available at David Jones, I bought them online after doing some research, and went ahead with the colors Watermelon/Moonstone and Lychee/Opal.

Please excuse that the pictures were taken after the products were “accidentally used”, so they looked nowhere as beautiful as they were originally are

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The Becca Beach Tint Shimmer Souffle is a very lightweight gel blush in a whipped souffle texture that is mixed with two of their best sellers (hence the marbled effect) – the Beach Tint and the Shimmering Skin Perfector. Both products are my all time favorite products from Becca, so I was extremely happy to see this genius idea being born! The blush offers natural flush of colors with an illuminating glow, and the lasting power is excellent as it applies like a silky stain that just melts into the skin. Becca’s Beach Tint is known for its superb texture that applies completely streak free without enhancing the pores.  And this Tint Souffle is the same, the formula is light and hydrating so it takes no effort to apply and it blends in to the skin seamlessly without settling into the pores.It gives a satiny cream finish upon application and fades into a stain like finish.

The Watermelon/Moonstone (mixed with the Beach Tint in Watermelon and the Shimmering Skin Perfector in Moonstone) is a warm red that has a hint of coral infused with pale gold. When it is applied it translates to a warm red with a pale gold sheen. It’s extremely wearable for a red blush and the gold shimmer adds a soft touch of highlighting effect to the finish.

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The Lychee/Opal (mixed with Beach Tint in Lychee and Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal) is a stunner. If you love pink blushes, then you have to give this one a go! It’s a bubblegum pink infused with rose gold! Words cannot describe how pretty this color is, and whether your skin tone is warm or cool, this pink blush would work really well.

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I feel bad that I cannot present how the products look like when they are brand new (because they looked much nicer!), and hopefully my swatch will do them the justice!

Left Watermelon/Moonstone Right Lychee/Opal

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close upbecca-beach-tint-shimmer-souffle-lychee-opal-watermelon-moonstone-review-swatch-2.jpgboth colors look warmer and more shimmery at a different angle

becca-beach-tint-shimmer-souffle-lychee-opal-watermelon-moonstone-review-swatch-3.jpgBottom Line: Love them! Very well priced for the quality, and its beautiful finish! I bought the Becca Beach Tint Souffle here in Australia, and they are also available at Sephora in the US and SpaceNK in the UK.

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I was recently ‘challenged’ by a tag on Instagram to show my one-and-only favorite lipstick. I thought that was such an interesting challenge to take on as it is near mission impossible to only narrow down to one favorite lipstick from my collection! I have been thinking about this tag seriously for days and the one that popped into my head the most frequent was the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Natalie – partly because it was one of my recent purchases, and partly because this was the perfect pink I had not seen for a while!

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You probably would have read tons of reviews on the latest Nars Audacious Lipsticks, so I’ll keep my review short and sweet. Out of the entire range, I only picked up one color which is the Natalie. It wasn’t because I didn’t like the other colors, but as soon as I swatched this on my lips, I thought I found the lipstick.  I haven’t bought Nars makeup for a while as I just couldn’t put up with their rubber packaging. But I am very pleased that this new release comes in sturdy plastic tubes, and the formulation is as divine as you could get from a premium luxury lipstick – it applies silky smooth and evenly with only one coat required for full coverage, and feels lightweight and creamy on the lips. The more I wear this one the more I am infatuated with this new range, and I will definitely be picking up more colors in the near future.

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Natalie is a bright and fresh neutral pink with a hint of  coral undertone. There is something in this color that just makes it a standout for me, as if it is custom made for my complexion (NC15-20)!

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