April 2015

As soon as I saw the preview pic of the Dior Eye Reviver Eyeshadow Palette, I knew it would be a must-have LE item to collect this year. Sometimes the “special edition makeup” with a big wow factor can be a  little too fancy for use everyday, but this palette is equally practical and stunning. I was late to review this as I didn’t want to ruin the beautiful design of it! If you have been thinking about buying it then this is a good time as it is currently at 10% off on Nordstrom. I bought mine at David Jones in Australia.

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The Eye Reviver Palette is encased in a glossy silver case, and contains 5 beautiful neutral eye shadows embossed with Dior logos, and 1 black gel eye liner. The texture of the powder eye shadows are as good as you can get – buttery soft, silky smooth to apply and easy to blend without fallout, and all shades are highly pigmented. Dior has totally nailed the the color combination of this palette. The 5 neutral colors of different finishes are in perfect homonany and complement each other when layered together. They are very wearable shades for me, with a degree of uniqueness and complexity to it that makes this palette particularly alluring to me. As for the cream gel liner it is a little on the dry side, so when it is applied it doesn’t feel as smooth as the better ones such as the Bobbi Brown. I would only reach for the gel liner if I don’t have other eyeliner options available.

dior-eye-reviver-eyeshadow-palette-review-swatch-2Shade Description from left to right:

1. A semi-matte ivory color – it looks very clean on my skin-tone so it’s excellent for a base color.

2. A shimmery sandy beige champagne color that is great for highlighting or as a wash of barely-there color over the entire eye lid.

3. A shimmery medium mink brown color (leans slightly cool) with a hint of metallic sheen.

4. A true taupe color with a hint of mauve undertone that is also slightly metallic.

5. A dark chocolate brown in matte. Thumbs up for this  color as it is very smooth and rich for a matte texture.

6. The gel eyeliner is medium black.

Swatch

Under natural sunlight

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Indoor lighting

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If you have been drooling over this highly coveted limited edition as well as Asia Exclusive Les Neiges de Diorsnow Rainbow Powder, the good news is that it is available here worldwide. The bad news is that it is currently sold out on the site, but you can add the item to your wishlist and it will notify you once it is in stock. I did that and I was thrilled that I got a notification within a week!

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When it comes to a limited edition or exclusive makeup, it is all about the design and the color. The DiorSnow Rainbow Powder is an ultimate collector’s item – it’s so pretty and whimsical, and makes my heart skip a few beats every time I look at it. The matching pink Dior brush is also a thoughtful design that “completes” the product. It is not the softest brush I have used, but it’s portable and cute, and is good enough to pick up the color for a quick application.

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It consists of 4 different colors, in a beautiful mosaic print with a snow flake and the Dior logo laser imprint. The colors work together to softly brighten and counteract the yellow tone in your complexion. When it is applied it goes on almost translucent with a touch of lavender undertone. It is more of a setting powder than a highlighter that brings a subtle luminous glow to the skin but it doesn’t provide any coverage. The texture is very finely milled and silky smooth, and it sets beautifully on my dry skin (including the under eye areas) without enhancing the flakes and lines. The finish is very natural and semi-matte. If you don’t like shimmery highlighter, this product works particularly well for providing a subtle brightening effect and taking away the dullness in your skin.

The overall use of this powder does remind me of the cult Guerlain Meteorites Pearls in 02 Claire. The only difference would be that it doesn’t have any shimmer, and it provides a better brightening effect as the color is slightly more opaque.

Swatch of DiorSnow Rainbow Powder

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NEW IN – Valentino

April 17, 2015

I have finally jumped on the Valentino Rockstud bandwagon, and once I started I couldn’t stop so I got myself two pairs. The camel pair comes in patent leather with gold studs, and they look extremely glamorous and lush in real life. I can hardly take my eyes off them every time I have them on, and they add a high-end fashion spin to any casual outfit. I also decided to get the special “Noir Rockstud Version” which comes in matte black leather with silver studs as I think I will get more wear out of these. They are much more low key, and look more punk and edgy so they are more wearable on a day-to-day basis for me. Both pairs are truly exquisite and worthy of splurge if you love collecting beautiful shoes. Size wise they run true for me. If you have wider feet I suggest you to go half a size up.

I purchased them here as they work out to be the cheapest for shipping to Australia. Otherwise they are available at NordstromNeiman Marcus and ForwardForward and each shop tends to stock them in different colors.

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Both my boy and I caught the flu bug lately so the delay in posting reviews. I have finally recovered, and started playing with the Giorgio Armani Eye Tint in Flannel 8, Rose Ashes 11 and Gold Ashes 12 which I acquired months ago. They are the “new innovative eye shadows”, with an interesting twist in the texture so they add a fun element to makeup application. You probably would have seen that there are other brands starting to release similar products such as the Pop Water Full Metal Shadow from YSL.

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Compared to the traditional powder eye shadow, the Eye Tints are the solution for ladies on the run or anyone who is simply after a quick and easy eye makeup. It does not require a primer, nor a dozen brushes for blending. All you need is to swipe and blend with your fingers for a lovely wash of luminous colors that add dimension without looking ‘made up’. It can also be used as a base shade underneath other eye shadows for a more intense and multi-dimensional finish, and it also helps to extend the wear time.  Either way I really enjoy using them as the versatility of this product is endless.

The texture is liquid to a creamy finish. It takes a few seconds to dry and the color stays put for the whole day without creasing.  I prefer to use them without the primer, otherwise it can look a little heavy. As usual, I picked up three beautiful neutral shades.

Shade 12 Gold Ashes is a shimmery champagne color. When it is blended, it leans more towards ivory in a high shimmer finish (slightly sparkly) which is great for highlighting.

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Shade 11 Rose Ash is a beautiful warm copper color with a hint of rosy undertone in soft shimmer. A must-have for adding a wash of color to the eye crease area.

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Shade 8 Flannel is a cool taupe color with an eggplant undertone in soft shimmer finish. This is another must-have color for me from the collection as it complements my cool skin tone really well.

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Group Swatches:

Unblended

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Blended

giorgio-armani-eye-tint-11-12-8-gold-rose-ashes-flannel-review-swatches-3Bottom Line: If you love to experiment with eye shadows in a variety of textures, this product is ideal to try. Overall the Eye Tints give a more natural finish than other eye shadow types (think about lip tint vs lipstick), and it’s more forgiving to the makeup novices. You can find these at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in the US. I bought mine at David Jones in Australia.

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Shopbop is hosting a Friends and Family Sale at the moment which is always a very exciting event for enthusiastic shoppers like me! Take 25% off at any order value using code SPRING25 (some brand exclusions apply). I got myself some work wear including the Elizabeth & James Stripe Shirt and the Tibi Dress which are currently on sale, so this is an absolute bargain for me as there is a further discount on top of this! Happy shopping!

Time:

Shopbop and East Dane begin April 7th 7AM EST (New York Time)

Shopbop ends April 10th 4AM EST (New York Time),

East Dane ends on April 12th 4AM EST.

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I have been using face masks religiously (at least once every two days) for the past few years so I have had my fair share of them. I find that I am opting for wash-off  type more frequently since I became a mum as I get really lazy at the end of the day, and sometimes I just fall asleep whilst wearing a face/sleeping mask! Here is the edition of some really affordable drugstore hydrating face masks that I would repurchase over and over.

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1.    Neutrogena Hydro Boost Night Concentrate (Asia exclusive)- This is the most refreshing, lightweight gel mask that is packed with hyaluronic acid. It is marketed as a sleeping mask, which means you can leave it on till tomorrow morning. I personally like to wash it off before I go to bed, since I find that the result is not significantly better than if I had left it on overnight.  Overall the mask provides immediate hydration to the skin for up to a day, and my complexion feels more supple and plumped. I would recommend this mask to  anyone who has oily, combo and normal skin but dehydrated. The texture is light enough to not cause any congestion or breakout.

2.  Elizavecca Collagen Jella Pack – My absolute favorite mask.  Each jar contains 50,000 mg of collagen peptide from pork rinds (not for vegans!) so it claims to provide hydration and collagen to the complexion. It has a firm jelly like texture which makes it fun to apply. It feels refreshing and non greasy, and it is more moisturizing than a typical gel/cream mask. Even during this change of season, it is nourishing enough to keep my dry skin at the bay for one to two days. Highly recommend this to all skin types. This product is parabens, mineral oil free.

MORITAYA Tofu Mask – This mask is extremely popular in Japan as it was constantly rated the best drugstore mask in the beauty magazines. It contains a mixture of soy based yoghurt to hydrate and brighten up the skin. The texture is like a delicious creamy yoghurt with a heavenly soy milk scent that I am obsessed with. It leaves my skin very moisturized but not greasy, soft and appears more evenly toned after each use. This is another really good value for money product that I highly recommend to anyone with all skin types.

4. NUXE Creme Fraiche 24hr Soothing and Rehydrating Fresh Mask – This is my last resort if my skin becomes very dry and irritated. It has a milky texture with a really lovely vanilla scent that feels very calming to the skin. Like most rich European masks, this one tends to leave an oily film on the skin that acts like a protective barrier. It guarantees to replenish moisture and repair my desert dry skin, but I only use this one in colder weather otherwise it would be too rich and might cause a break out.

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