kiss

Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duo Review and Swatch – Lush & Libido and Kink & Kisses

October 10, 2016

I haven’t bought any new blushes for a while, as there wasn’t anything exciting until the launch of Marc Jacobs Beauty Air Blush Soft Glow Duo. I knew I would like them as soon as I saw pictures starting to trickle around on the internet, and they certainly did not disappoint when I finally got them on my hands. The colors I picked were Lush & Libido and Kink & Kisses, and they were bought on Sephora AU Online. The current stocks are quite limited as they are selling out really fast.

Marc Jacobs Beauty is certainly a relatively new beauty brand that is growing on me. As you can see my collection is growing, and I still have a big wish list for them – currently eyeing on this to-die-for palette which is not available in Australia yet! The Air Blush comes in its signature black and round compact case. What sold me to these blushes is because of this short clip – it looked so promising and as I read the info, I found that this blush was made with a new ingredient called Japanese Airy Powder with a process called Soufflage (French for “air-whipped”). How intriguing!

The Air Blush definitely lived up to my high expectations after putting it to the test. It has a buttery and silky soft texture, and it imparts a soft natural luminous glow to the cheeks. The finely-milled airy pigments are almost undetectable on the skin, as it goes on ultra lightweight like a feather and gives a super natural flush of color. It blends effortlessly with no visible edge. The finish is beyond pretty – it doesn’t have any shimmer to it but it still adds a touch of satiny radiance which makes your cheeks pop and plump that look very youthful.

The multi-striped colors give a dimension to the color. I like the thoughtful design as there is enough separation between the light and the darker colors, so you can add one or the other color more for your preferred finish.

I picked up two colors that I know would work for my complexion (NC15-20).

Lush & Libido is a soft cool-toned pink in satin glow

Kink & Kisses is a universally flattering peachy pink in satin glow

Swatch

Closer look at how finely filled the texture is and the beautiful luminosity

Bottom Line: Must-have! One of the best new blush formulae released this year.

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Labels: BLUSH • MARC JACOBS BEAUTY

Chanel LA Sunrise Spring 2016 Makeup Collection – Sunkiss Ribbon Blush Review, Swatch and FOTD

January 19, 2016

The Limited Edition Chanel Sunkiss Ribbon Blush from the LA Sunrise Spring 2016 collection is definitely the item to look out for this season (available online here in Australia). It looks gorgeous in the pan, and just as equally pretty on the face. As for the other items from the collection, I have only picked up the Le Vernis Sunrise Trip, and passed the rest.

It has an ultra buttery creamy texture and is smooth to apply. In terms of pigmentation, it is one of those ‘rare’ blushes from Chanel that offers extremely intense color payoff, and it even puts a Nars blush to shame when I did a quick comparison. Each of the color strips are equally pigmented (not one color significantly more pigmented than the other), so when they are mixed together, you get an even blend of color. There is a small amount of shimmer in the blush, and once applied it translates to a cream finish with a soft glow on the skin.

What I love about this product is that it contains all sorts of colors for a blush – there is the cool fuchsia, a soft pink, an orange, a rosy pink, and a soft brown color, which makes it very fun and versatile to apply. You can mix all the colors together for a base color, and it translates to a complex peachy pink color with a coral undertone. Since each color is highly pigmented, you can also layer another single color on top just to make the color pop a little.

Swatch clockwise

All colors mixed

Comparing it to Nars Orgasm

FOTD (picture was taken with the CASIO Selfie Camera TR35!)

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Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liners and Liquid Eye Pencil Review and Swatch – Kiss n Tell, Pink Venus, Eye Cheat

March 16, 2015

I have been wearing makeup for as long as I remember, but I’ve only started wearing lip liners recently! So I decided to get some Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liners as I have heard nothing but good reviews about them. Just like my lipstick colors, I picked up a red (Kiss N Tell) and a pink (Pink Venus), so they match most of my lip stick colors. Along with that, I have also got the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil in Eye Cheat. It is the item that I have been looking for for years since Guerlain discontinued theirs, and I am glad that I finally found the replacement!

The Charlotte Tilbury Lip liners are ultra pigmented, and feel soft and silk smooth to apply. Even if you use it over your entire lips like I do sometimes, it does not dry them out. And best of all, if I apply a lipstick over the lip liners, they really help to extend the color wear time by hours. As I always apply my lipstick straight from the tube, the lip liners play an important role for creating a perfectly defined pout, and these liners are effortless to use for drawing a precise line. It is also easier for creating gradient lip with a lip liner. I just color the center of my lips with a lip liner first, then apply a semi-sheer lip stick all over the lips for a super fresh and cute Korean inspired gradient lips.

The Charlotte Tilbury Kiss N Tell is a true scarlet red, and the Pink Venus is a muted rosey pink that blends with most variations of pink lip stick colors that I own.

Swatch From Left To Right: Kiss N Tell; Pink Venus; Eye Cheat

I use the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil Eye Cheat as a multi-purpose concealing pencil. It’s an ultra pigmented flesh-colored pencil liner that has a creamy and soft consistency. When it is used for lining the waterline, it glides on like silk without tugging the skin nor does it irritate the eyes. I love using this on my waterline for a more fresh and awakened look. In addition, it also does a wonderful job for altering and concealing the lip lines or even a breakout as it is much more pigmented than a normal cream based concealer !

The Charlotte Tilbury Line is available at Nordstrom in the US, Selfridges in the UK, and I bought mine at NAP which ships internationally.

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • Lip Liner

Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick Review and Swatch – Bitch Perfect and Coachella Coral

October 20, 2014

Net-A-Porter is currently offering free shipping again! So I took the opportunity and ordered some more Charlotte Tilbury makeup (also available at Nordstrom) which is really growing on me as a beauty brand in general. Today’s review is for the Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipsticks. I picked up the color Bitch Perfect and Coachella Coral which I believe are two of their best selling colors.

The lipstick has a smooth and non slippery texture with a satin finish. It applies evenly and feels quite soft and weightless (not waxy) on the lips. It doesn’t enhance any dry patches and lines on the lips, and neither does it dry out the lips. Lasting power is about 3-4 hours on me with the brighter color lasting relatively longer. Both shades have good color pay-off – they are neither sheer not too intense which makes the formulation ideal for most people.

Bitch perfect is a soft pink nude color on me, with a tiny tinge of nude brown undertone. It’s a flattering your-lips-but-better shade that still gives your lips a soft wash of color without washing you out, and is easy to pull off with any makeup look everyday. Perfect for those of you who love wearing nude lips , or anyone who is into natural looking lip colors.

Coachella Coral is my favorite out of the two. I have mentioned earlier that I am into the bright lip color phase, and this shade is right up my alley. It’s a lovely rosey pink coral color that just takes away any dullness from your complexion as soon as I have this color on the lips, and it brightens up my mood as well. The color is young yet sophisticated. I can wear it sheer for everyday use, or layer it up for a more bold and defined look.

Swatched under natural lighting

Left Bitch Perfect Right Coachella Coral

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK

Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour 325 Rouge Kiss Review and Swatch

August 21, 2014

Currently going through a phase of bright and sheer red lips at the moment, so the newly released Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour 325 Rouge Kiss caught my attention immediately as soon as I saw this shade worn on the stunning Natalia Vodianova in their promo picture.

Love the packaging of this new range of lipsticks by Guerlain, which comes in a black lacquered tube (prone to finger prints though..) that looks much more modern and chic than the other KissKiss ranges.

Guerlain lipsticks have always been quite underrated, and this revamped version certainly deserves more attention and love for its superior quality. I have very dry lips at the moment due to the cold weather, and I am very pleased that this lipstick feels very moisturizing and does not enhance any flakes and lines on my lips. It is hydrating and silky smooth with a solid texture (harder than YSL Rouge Volupte but slightly more emollient than the Tom Ford’s sheer lipsticks), so it applies very lightweight rather than feeling like you have a thick layer of lip balm on. The pigmentation is on the rich side for a sheer lipstick – it applies to its true color with a translucent glossy finish in only 2 swipes, and you can always apply more layers to build up the opacity. It lasts for 4-5 hours on me, and it fades into a lip stain after drinking and eating.

325 Rouge Kiss is a warm translucent watermelon red in semi-gloss finish. I love a sophisticated bright red that brightens up my complexion, and the hydrating formula makes my lips appear more plumped and youthful looking.

Lip swatch of 325 Rouge Kiss

Compared to some of my other “sheer” red lipsticks

From Left to Right: Guerlain Rouge Kiss, Tom Ford Firecracker (reviewed here), YSL 12 CORAIL INCANDESCENT (reviewed here), Suqqu KARAKURENAI (reviewed here)

I bought mine here for AUD$41 (FYI Guerlain recently had a price decrease around 20% in Australia), and they are also available at Nordstrom and Saks in the US.

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Labels: GUERLAIN • LIPSTICK

Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash, L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen and KissMe Impact Frame & Curl Mascaras Reviews

November 29, 2012

I received a large response from my last mascaras review post, and many of you have given me a lot of suggestions on other drugstore mascaras. Thank you all! I have indeed purchased a lot based on your recommendations, and here are the three mascaras I have been using for the past 3 months – the Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash, L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen and KissMe Impact Frame & Curl Mascara.

To recap: I have stick straight lashes with medium volume and medium length (Asian standard..). I need my mascara to hold the curl (I use my Shu eyelash curlers), volumize and separate the lashes and to be smudge proof. I also use mascara on my lower lashes so preferably the brush of the mascara is easy to work with, without staining my skin, and is black enough to make my lashes pop.

1. L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen Plumping Mascara Blackest: This is a mediocre mascara for me. I like the brush which reminds me of the infamous DiorShow. The formula is on the dry side and is quite waxy, so it tends to clump my lashes but are fixable using an eyelash comb (I love mine which is by tweezerman!). It gives medium volume and length, holds the curl and stays put all day. Overall it is quite a satisfactory mascara but there is no aspect of it that blows me away.

2. KissMe Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara: I am a big fan of the original KissMe Heroine Make Volume and Curl, so I was very excited to try out their newer version. It has a comb style, and the teeth is finely spaced so it separates the lashes amazingly. I absolutely hated this mascara when it was first opened, as the formula was so wet it made my lashes look spidery. I gave this mascara a second chance after letting it ‘dry’ for 2 months, and an amazing thing happened – it worked so well for my lashes as the result was even slightly better than my beloved Maybelline Falsies. It adds medium volume and length, but the unique comb just really helps to separate and fan out the lashes beautifully. It holds the curl all day without smudging, so a big thumbs up from me! I probably would repurchase this one, but the fact that I had to wait till it dries is off putting.

3. Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash Jet Black – Compared to the above two, this is a very dramatic mascara. It is ultra black and thickens the lashes a lot! The effect is more of a doll-like (thick and slightly clumpy lashes) rather than natural-but-better lashes effect. I like it because it is so black and I only needed a little bit on my lower lashes which really helps to open up my eyes. I only wish it had a better brush design for separation.

Whilst the quality of makeup is generally improving in newer releases, I think the overly saturated mascara market can be a little gimmicky with their newer inventions (ie. the 360 degree rotation brush). So I don’t keep track of the new mascaras, but if you have discovered any new ones that knock your socks off, please let me know!

{ 11 comments }

Labels: KissMe • L'oreal • Makeup For Ever • MASCARA

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick Review and Swatches

August 29, 2017

I took a mini break from blogging as I just felt exhausted from everything, and after my two weeks of holiday in Japan, I am mentally re-charged again to get back to my usual routine of life including my favorite blogging. This review is long overdue, as I have had the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips for a while. I ordered 5 amazing beautiful shades on Net-A-Porter based on these online swatches (big thumbs up for the swatches on her website as they are always accurate and reliable). It was a 100% successful order for me, as every color is what I expected and they all wear so beautifully that I struggle to pick a favorite!

Left to Right: Miranda May; Super Cindy; Kidman Kiss; Secret Salma; Hot Emily

Charlotte has several lines of lip colors, and the Matte Revolution (reviewed here) is the best for the texture and finish in my opinion. The HOT Lips lipstick range was born under the collaborations with 12 female celebrities (hence all lipstick shades are named after them), and it has the formula as the matte revolution line. It gives a velvety matte finish without making the lips look and feel dry, and the color stays put for 5-6 hours depending on the color. It applies silky smooth and streak-free, and it has a lovely buttery but non-slippery consistency so it is easy to blend without feathering. It makes the lips feel soft and plump for a youthful look. Overall as a matte lipstick, this is one of the best formulas you can find in the market.

As usual, I picked up some nude, MLBB and red and pink lip colors. All the colors are very effortless and are great for everyday wear, and they go with all sorts of makeup looks and occasions.

Kidman Kiss – is a medium peachy-pink nude. The color is similar to my natural lip color so it doesn’t wash me out and is a such an easy to wear elegant color for a natural look.

Super Cindy – is a true medium muted nude color. It has the perfect balance of nude and dusty pink that instantly makes your lips look more sultry and edgy. One of the IT shade to get your hands on now!

Secret Salma – is a true medium MLBB rosey pink. This is a must have color that most girls can’t get enough of including myself!

Hot Emily – is a coral red that is just as pretty and hot and takes your breath away like the real person. Dab it to the center for a gradient look that gives a more youthful and girly appearance.

Miranda May – I would say this is a very Miranda Kerr color as she always wears a similar lip color in pictures. It is a very pretty and friendly pink coral that would look flattering on most girls, and it instantly brightens up your complexion.

Group Swatches:

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK

CHARLOTTE TILBURY INSTANT LOOK IN A PALETTE Review and Swatches – SEDUCTIVE BEAUTY & NATURAL BEAUTY Comparison

March 14, 2017

Following on from the sell-out success of the Instant Look in Palette -Natural Beauty from last year which I absolutely adore, Charlotte Tilbury has recently released another Instant Look in a Palette – Seductive Beauty (Limited Edition). The concepts are the same – an easy and quick to use all-in-one palette for the whole face for women of all age groups. The Seductive Beauty offers more dramatic coloring than Natural Beauty, with slightly darker colors for the eye shadows and the blushes, so it can transform your look from day to night.

The new palette is of the same high quality as the previous release. It contains 3 eyeshadows, 2 blushes, 1 bronzer and a face highlighter – in harmonious complementary colors. The palette is made in Italy, and all products are of decent sizes, so you won’t have the problem of accidently running into other colors with a brush. The powders are luxurious – they are finely milled and apply silky smooth and blend seamlessly without any fallout.

Left Natural Beauty Right Seductive Beauty

Closer look between the two palettes.

Color descriptions for Seductive Beauty

Eyeshadow 1 (Highlight): A shimmery ivory champagne color for highlight.

Eyeshadow 2 (Enhance): A true neutral taupe color in satin finish.

Eyeshadow 3 (Smoke): Dark brown with gold shimmer.

Cheek 5 (Swish): A soft salmon pink color with very fine shimmer. Looks so pretty as a base blush color that will never make you look like a clown.

Cheek 6 (Pop): – A neutral pink color that compliments the other cheek color. Add it to the center of the apples for a more dimensional look with a pop of color.

Face 4 (Bronze) – A warm medium brown in satin finish. Great for soft contouring or a sunkissed glow.

Face 7 (Highlighter) – A gorgeous shimmery pink champagne that adds a soft candlelit glow to the face without overdoing it.

Swatch for Seductive Beauty

Comparison Swatches to Natural Beauty

Bottom Line: I love this palette. Every color in the palette is what I would reach for every day as they are extremely flattering and easy to use. This palette fits the concept perfectly as it takes very little effort and time to create a beautiful natural-looking makeup. It contains Charlotte’s 7 iconic and most-loved shades. If you want to start experimenting with her brand, this is the product to go for as it is good value for money and you get to have the best colors from Charlotte Tilbury! Also, the highly popular Natural Beauty palette is back in stock for a limited time due to high demand!

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury

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