2017

Club Monaco

December 28, 2017

I received a lot of questions about this top so I thought I’d share it on my blog because it is currently on sale for under $50! It’s from one of my favorite affordable brands called Club Monaco and every season they never fail to deliver some great trendy but not-over-the-top pieces of decent quality (much better than Zara and Topshop).  You can find the brand on Shopbop, Neiman Marcus, or from their website directly which ships worldwide for free. On a side note, Shopbop is having the additional 25% off on all sale items with code JOY25,I have just added this pair of boots to my shopping cart…yay!


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Top – Club Monaco

Jeans – Camilla and Marc (very similar styles here and here)

Shoes – Paul Andrew (another color is on sale)

Bag – Hermes Birkin 25 Gris Asphalt

Sunnies – Chanel

Necklace – Van Cleef & Arpels

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Today’s lipstick swatching is for the gorgeous Givenchy Le Rouge Sculpt Two-Tone Lipstick in 04 Corail (also available at Sephora). I am obsessed with any lip color in the tone of brick reddish brown – it’s a very autumn color that reminds me of maple leaves. It seems the whole world is obsessed with the shade currently, so it is getting harder and harder to get hold of them from the popular brands in Australia. I accidentally came across this lipstick at Sephora and it was love at first sight with this color.

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The two-tone concept is interesting, but I find it very hard to achieve an even two-tone look on my lips without spending a minimum of 10 minutes which nobody would. So in the swatch, I have mixed the two colors together. 04 Corail is in half true bright coral and half brick red. The beauty of a two-tone lipstick is that you can adjust the brightness and color by applying it with a lip brush. In my swatch, I have applied with 50% brick red, and 50% coral. The texture is silky smooth and feels very lightweight on the lips with a 4 to 5 hours staying power (without drinking/eating) in a satin finish.

Closer look

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Swatch

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Here is a selfie wearing Givenchy Le Rouge Sculpt 04 Corail. Other makeups include Giorgio Armani BB FluidChanel Les Beige Gel Foundation, and Smashbox Eyeshadow Palette in Ablaze (reviewed here) on the eyes.givenchy-le-rouge-sculpt-two-tone-lipstick-04-corail-review-swatch-3

 

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Current Favorite Makeup

December 19, 2017

Rounding up some of my favorite makeups this month! A lot of the items in this post are not easy to get due to their popularity and they are often sold-out worldwide, and the thrill of being able to get hold of them is just surreal. I always tell my friends that buying beautiful luxury makeup is the entry point of indulging in retail therapy. They are relatively much cheaper than any luxury fashion goods, but the thrill and happiness are no less.

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Clockwise:

Tom Ford Soleil Eye and Cheek Palette Violet Argent (available here in Australia) – To me, the Tom Ford Soleil is the most beautiful collection he releases every year. Every piece is exquisite and is like a collectible-item. The Violet Argent has all the wearable shades in the most stunning packaging. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping. As I have mentioned in a previous post, I am shifting my shopping sites to mainly UK-based, as I find the currency exchange rate is much more favorable than the US sites, and Selfridges is my top favorite site for all the best beauty products. I have also subscribed to their annual $65 unlimited international shipping!

Pat McGrath MatteTrance OMI Lipstick – Must must-have lippie of the year! (swatched here)

Hourglass Confession Ultra Slim High-Intensity Lipstick (refillable)- The newest lip color range from Hourglass. If you could get your hands on the shades I Can’t Live Without, or At Night, you should snatch one straight away because they are both stunning and extremely hard to get. Review to come soon. I bought mine here.

Chanel Longwear Color Corrector/Concealer– Chanel has recently reformulated their concealer. It now comes in two color ranges – color correcting and concealers. I love the lightweight, super hydrating creamy gel consistency that melds into the delicate skin around the eyes, and it covers my mild dark circles perfectly without creasing over time, nor enhancing any dry lines. I bought mine here in Australia.

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Foundation – This is the first cushion-like foundation from Chanel! Apparently, one is sold every 2 seconds, and the lighter shades are out-of-stock at most department stores in Australia. It is also called the Jelly Cushion foundation because it is slightly different to the conventional cushion foundation. The consistency is very watery and it gives an instant cooling sensation when applied. It feels so fresh on the skin and perfect for the summer and gives a satiny dewy finish with a sheer coverage. The color is about 1 shade lighter than usual. Will give a detailed review soon. Available on Chanel.com in the US, Selfridges, Cosme-de, and David Jones in Australia.

 

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Holiday Party Look

December 18, 2017

I received a lot of compliments on this beautiful angelic Manning Cartell dress when I wore it to a recent Christmas party, so I thought I’d share this party look here. It was love at first sight with this dress albeit the price was slightly hefty based on the “cost per wear” as I bought it at full price. It is currently on sale in both the lavender and dark navy color. The material is made of pure silk chiffon, so the whole dress is so delicate and flowy, and fits just right on the body without being too tight nor too oversized. I am wearing size 8 which still fits quite generously on me with plenty of room. For the accessory, I found a pair of Dolce & Gabbana floral earrings that matched the dress perfectly.

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Dress – Manning Cartell

Earrings – Dolce and Gabbana

Necklace – Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra

Shoes – YSL Tribute Sandals

 

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The Pat McGrath LUXE Lipstick was crowned “The World’s Best Lipstick” as soon as they were launched, and they sell out in a blink of an eye. I couldn’t resist and ordered some of her popular shades on her website, and OMG they are totally lives up to its title and are simply irresistible. The pigmentation and the formulation are flawless that have totally set a new standard for me! The lipsticks have recently been restocked, and her entire line is currently 15% off on any order with code LABLOVE15 for a limited time. I thought I’d quickly share a swatch of one of her most sought-after shades – LUXE MatteTrance OMI. It is my new HG lip color now, and I will be getting many backups of it because it is too beautiful!

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pat-mcgrath-mattetrance-lipstick-omi--review-swatch-1 OMI is an opaque mid-tone terracotta rose color in full matte finish. Swatch is done with 1 swipe only. The color is the most flattering brown rose I have ever used – it doesn’t look too dark nor too beige, and would be suitable for most complexions.

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Pat McGRATH LUXE Lipstick OMI

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I have done a lot of ‘homework’ before I placed the order, and here is a list of all of her popular lipstick colors that are high in demand.

MatteTrance – OMI (Must-Have!); 1995; Obsessed; Flesh (which is still out of stock worldwide)

LuxeTrance – Beautiful Creature (highly recommend!); Strange; Sedition; Lavish; Unfaithful; Unnatural Natural

Stayed tuned for a more detailed review and swatches

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Today is the day for some serious shopping while making great savings! I put together a list of great retailers (that I shop at regularly) for fashion and beauty with the best deals that might be of interest to most of you!

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FASHION

Shopbop –  Up to 30% off full-priced as well as sale items use code MORE17

ASOS – 20% off everything use code WIN20

ICONIC – 30% OFF use code BLACK30

Selfridges – 20% off Fashion use code SELFCCE

Missguided – 50% off everything use code CYBER50

Topshop – Up to 50% off everything and free international delivery

Boohoo – 50% off everything use code BOOM

Farfetch – 10% off full price items use code 10BF. Valid from 24/11 until 28/11. Extra 10% off sale items use code X1017

Stylebop – 15% off all styles use code SAVE15

Mytheresa – 30%off sale items (discount apply automatically at checkout). Valid from 24/11 until 28/11

Fashion Bunker – 25% off full priced style use code BF25. I love the affordable Jaggar Footwear!

& Other Stories – Up to 50% off. This is my all-time favorite high street brand, I wish they can deliver to Australia!

Nordstrom – Extra 20% off

Saks – Earn a $75 Gift Card with your $150 purchase use code BLKFRI17

BEAUTY

Sephora AU – 15% off storewide, one day only! My favorite range is the Fenty Beauty!

Lancome – 20% off everything use the code FRIENDS

Selfridges – 10% off Beauty use code

David Jones – Receive up to $50 gift cards on beauty

CultBeauty – 15% off orders over £20 use code 15BLACK, and 20% off orders over £200 use code 20BLACK.

Charlotte Tilbury – Over 50% off selected beauty kits.

SpaceNK – Receive a full-size beauty gift of your choice!

Look Fantastic – 25% Off all order with code LFBF25

Feel Unique – 20% off all order with code BLACKFRIDAY

Cosme-de – Up to 25% off all order

BeautyLish – Up to 40% on Jeffree Star collection

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The Perfect White Dress

November 22, 2017

I am always on the lookout for the most beautiful versatile white dresses! My Zimmerman dress that I bought earlier this year has earned a lot of compliments and I get many wears out of it.  The Ulla Johnson Dress (currently on sale on Shopbop!) is my recent addition – it is made of cotton so it is great for both casual and evening wear and it gives a relaxing and effortless vibe to it. The ruffled collar and the balloon sleeves are very on trend, and instantly gives an updated modern silhouette. Pairing it with my go-to Schutz Cadey Lee Sandals which are budget-friendly, and a pair of Oscar de la Renta earrings.

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Dress – Ulla Johnson

Sandals – Schutz

Earrings – Oscar de la Renta

Bag – YSL Monogram Chain Wallet (Mini)

Also quicky sharing the sales info on Shopbop at the moment. The deal is great because the discount also applies to the already discounted items. I will definitely be busy for the rest of day filling up my cart lol!

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I’ve been raving about the Lancome Matte Shaker on my Instagram a lot, so it’s time for a proper review (bought mine here in Australia). The most popular shade is the Beige Vintage which is often sold-out worldwide, and it has earned many raves amongst all the beauty enthusiasts. It was out of stock in Australia for a long time until it was re-stocked recently. Along with the beige vintage, I’ve also picked up the shade Magic Orange which I am also really loving.

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The Matte Shaker is similar to a liquid lipstick – in a lightweight, watery and highly pigmented formula (aka lip cushion) that is done in the same fashion as a cushion foundation versus the traditional liquid formula. It glides on weightless and feels very hydrating to the lips even for a matte formula. The special sponge applicator gives a stamped-in affect, and the color is completely blended in with the lips, that gives a stain-like finish that looks very natural – there is no cakey, dry and chalky feeling on the lips. It takes about 1-2 minutes to dry down to a full-matte finish and stays put for at least 5-6 hours. The best way to apply the product is to use the fingers to pat it in for an ombre look, and it is important to shake the bottle before use.

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I have to apologize for the swatching in this post. I did take some high res pictures but I did not like the lighting, so I did it again with my phone and once you cropped the pictures the res quality is very low!

Beige Vintage – as the name suggests it is a universally flattered muted beige rose shade that would suit everyone.

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Magic Orange – is a super pretty bright coral orange with a hint of baby pink.

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Here is a selfie wearing Beige Vintage!

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