CLE DE PEAU

Loving Right Now

May 17, 2017

Just a round up on what I am loving recently.

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  1. Cle De Peau Silky Cream Foundation (previously named teint naturel fluide cream foundation) – One of the staples I have had for many years, and it’s one of the most classic foundations of Cle De Peau which has been around for a long time under different packaging and names! I am up to my last backup and due for a repurchase (reviewed here). It’s just a classic Cle De Peau foundation that stands the test of time – gives a beautiful semi-matte finish with a great coverage whilst still looks natural. The texture is phenomenal and only a small dab is enough for the whole face and it blends effortlessly with just the fingers. Highly recommend if you are after an all year-round foundation and want to dip your toe into the luxury beauty world of premium Japanese beauty Cle De Peau.

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2. Verso Lip Serum – It offers more than a lip balm. This is an anti-aging lip serum that only needs to be used once before bedtime. I was a little shocked at the price of it but it beat any lip balms that I had used for nourishing my dry lips and restoring the youthful appearance as it is formulated with their signature retinol ingredient for anti-aging and plumping. Full review to come soon.

3. Dior Forever Cushion Foundation – Can’t stop gushing about this cushion foundation – reviewed here. If I want a no-makeup makeup look, I opt for this one.

4. Benefit Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer – Contouring products are over saturated in the market, but I am still having difficulty finding a product with the right shade that is neither orange nor too dark for my complexion. The newest Hoola Lite powder is perfection for mimicking a real shadow effect. One of the best contouring powders I have came across, and I need a backup!

5. Byredo Candle – You probably would have seen this in many instagram pictures lately. This month I am loving the Breydo which is my favorite alongside Diptyque – they offer a wide range of fragrances in candles that are very unique. Love their minimalist design and the quality is on par with Diptyque. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping.

6. Suqqu Eyelash Curler – Back to loving this eyelash curler. I didn’t understand the rave about it when I first got my hands on it, but the more I’ve used it the more I love it for curling my deadly stubbornly straight Asian lashes. Reviewed here.

7. Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm – A super luxurious and nourishing body cream for my dry skin in winter. It has a signature Aesop aroma scent and it lingers on the skin for a long time! Love it. Also available in smaller size.

8. Dior Addict Lacquer Stick – I am always spoilt with many choices of lip colors. This month I am loving the new Dior lacquer sticks (reviewed here). I wear lazy during the day most of the time, and love Party Red which is a super flattering red when I am in the mood for color!

9. 3CE Liquid Lip Color – I have previously talked about this Korean Brand and they have a huge range of makeup at an affordable price point, albeit the quality is a bit hit and miss. I bought many shades on StyleNanda, as I just can’t resist these beautiful colors that are right on point yet very wearable for my complexion. Some shades have a lovely full coverage consistency, and some shades are quite watery. They are also available at Sephora Australia.

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Monthly Favorites!

February 5, 2017

Just a quick post on the weekend rounding up some of my favorite products over the past few months. Some have already been reviewed, and some are recently acquired that I fell in love with.

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1. Dior DreamSkin Perfect Cushion Foundation – Out of all the cushion foundations I have, this one is my top HG as it just enhances the skin to perfection! Not quite a foundation, more of a skin perfector – Reviewed here.

2. Suqqu Dual Ended foundation brush – This is the latest brush released by Suqqu, and you will never go wrong with them!

3. Zovea Nude Eye Shadow Palette – Been reaching out to this affordable palette a lot for an array of beautiful neutral shades in different finishes, and it is especially great for travel. Reviewed here.

4. Chanel Le Rouge Lip Crayon – Best formulas for lip crayons ever! Reviewed here.

5. Cle De Peau Radiant Fluid Foundation – It gives a beautiful natural radiant second-skin finish that lasts the whole day. Review to come soon.

6. Sisley Double Tenseur Moisturizing Gel – My HG daytime skincare lotion as well as a makeup primer that hydrates and lifts the skin instantly. Reviewed here.

7. SK-II Genopitcs Aura Essence – A hydrating and brightening serum that gives the skin a beautiful radiance and glow. It truly works overnight as well as over the long run. Review to come soon.

8. Baby Quasar MD Plus – Can’t live without this tool and even got my mum hooked on to it. It is expensive but it’s the best beauty investment I have ever made for anti-aging treatment at home. It’s easy to use and gives a pro-salon result over a short time. Review to soon.

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Cle De Peau Beaute is one ultra-prestige skincare line that I am always curious about. Unfortunately, Cle De Peau is not available in Australia, and buying them online from overseas is also not an easy job. After hearing lots and lots of raves on one of their star products – the Essential Correcting Refiner (also available here), I finally managed to get my hands on it a while ago, and I love it to bits as a gentle clarifying toner for re-texturizing and pore refining my combo skin.

It is specifically formulated for treating the pores and skin congestion (black and white heads). It can be used on all skin types (except for very dry), and the philosophy is to balance the water and oil level of your skin to keep the pores clean and clear for a refined complexion. I know many of us suffer from combo skin (oily and dry at the same time), and this little purple bottle of water may be your perfect solution to treat two skin issues at the same time.

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The lotion has three key ingredients. The super hyaluronic acid for hydration, and refining and illuminating complex for retexturing the skin for a smooth and radiant complexion, as well as oil absorbing powder for oil controlling all day. It also contains alcohol (as with most famous Japanese essence lotions such as the SKII, Kose Sekkisei Lotion or Albion Skin Conditioner which I also adore), and I personally don’t mind it as my skin is not allergic to it.

I have used products with absorbing powder before, and I wasn’t so impressed as I find them quite drying. With the Cle De Peau, it is hydrating and clarifying at the same time, and most importantly it clarifies and deep cleanses the pores. For the application, give the bottle a good shake, then pat the lotion onto the skin. Immediately your skin feels hydrated, refreshed and incredibly velvety smooth, and the complexion appears more even-looking and refined with a semi-matte finish.  For treating the problematic areas such as the nose and chin, I then wet a cotton pad with the lotion, and wipe the cotton pad in a circular motion, and you will see it dissolve the dirt and oil on the surface. Over time, this product helps to unclog the pores and minimize the white/blackheads.

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It is the time of the year where everybody has lots of social gatherings planned, and we all want to look at our best! I have been good with my diet (trying to eat very clean food so I can fit into my party dresses and look less bloated), and most importantly I picked up some skincare products and tools that will instantly transform the appearance and texture of the skin to a better condition, and preps my skin to be party-ready (radiant and smooth).

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Baby Quasar MD Plus – Salon therapies definitely give you an instant skin transformation, but they are pricey and requires down time. At-home beauty tools are always a cheaper option to try, and they are far more effective than solely relying on the skincare. My latest addition is the Baby Quasar MD Plus. I have had it a few times in salons, and I finally decided to get the home version. It is not cheap, but I like the result it delivers and it is a gentle tool to use. It emits 4 different wavelengths that deeply penetrate,  stimulates collagen reproduction and over a short time your skin appears firmer with an improved density. I will do a full review on the tool soon, but in summary, this tool makes my skin appear  plumped up and more youthful looking with a glow instantly.

Kate Somerville Exfolikate – Still my HG exfoliator. I use it more intensively 2 weeks before the events/parties. It makes my skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom, and prevents congestion from clogging up.

GlamGlow TingleExfoliate Treatment – Another HG skincare item. A deep cleaning and clarifying mask that brightens and detoxifies the skin. Skin looks ultra clear and luminous after use!

Cle De Peau Essential Correcting Refiner – Best of the best pore refining lotion in the market! Full review coming soon

SKII Facial Treatment Essence – Alternating Cle De Peau with SKII, this famous highly concentrated Pitera liquid lotion deeply hydrates, clarifies and brightens for achieving crystal clear skin.

Suqqu Massage & Mask Creme – Face lift in a jar and is equivalent to the result of having a facial. It is a nourishing and moisturizing mask that gets rid of water retention, instantly creates a slimmer and more toned jaws and lifted cheeks and eyes following the enclosed GANKIN massage techniques.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream – Best seller from Charlotte Tilbury that she uses on Celebs and models before events. It cheats the appearance of 8 hours sleep and gives a plumped, glowing, youthful dewy complexion in a flash!

Chanel Le Lift Cream – Reviewed here. My go-to moisturizer for recontouring and refining the complexion.

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My previous post on my reader’s requests about how I clean my brushes was very well received, so I though I’d include a post that addresses some of the other most frequently asked questions. Today’s round-up is my picks for the base products for normal, combination to oily skin that have a great staying power in hot and humid weather and still look natural.

This is the list of my favorite products that are great for controlling the oil throughout the day, and most importantly they tick the criteria for not looking too matte, powdery and cakey on the face.

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1. MAC Prep and Prime -I bought the full size bottle of this after using a sample as I loved it so much. I am not a big fan of MAC base products but thumbs up for this one. It smoothes out the skin, covers and fills up the pores and creases, and slightly mattifies the skin without feeling silicony and heavy. The foundation sets beautifully on top of this primer, and gives an airbrushed finish of a more even and refined skin texture. It also helps to keep the shine and oil away for a longer time.

2. Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer – Similar concept to the MAC, but more mattifying and covers the pores better. It has a heavier silicone texture than the MAC, and takes away excess oil and shine completely. Highly recommend it to anyone who has oily skin with large pores.

3. Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation – My go-to foundation for the hot weather. It has a milky fluidy texture, feels lightweight, and offers a great coverage. It sets slightly more matte and powdery than the other fluid foundations, but it still gives the signature Chanel radiant glow from their Lumiere range. It also photographs beautifully – natural with a soft glow but not shiny.

4. Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation (reviewed here) – I wasn’t very impressed with this foundation at first as I was in a ‘dewy foundation’ phase back then, and fell in love with it during the summer time, as it has an amazing stay power and keeps my face looking fresh and clean for the whole day. It gives a velvety finish that is a tad more matte than the Mat Lumiere upon application, and it becomes more natural and luminous over time. Would only recommend this to normal to oily skin types.

5. Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder – A very mattifying powder, and a little goes a long way. I only dust a very sheer amount on to my t-zone on a normal day, and it keeps the shine away for the whole day. I brought this along with the Mat Lumiere foundation to my last tropical vacation, and they worked wonders keeping my makeup on without melting for the whole day in very humid weather. It can look slightly powdery if applied too much, and it is not the most finely milled powder (can slightly enhance the pores around the cheeks) compared to the other high end powders I have in my collection.

6. Cle De Peau Translucent Loose Powder – My absolute holy grail for so many years. The most luxurious, silkiest and finely milled loose powder you can find in the stores. It looks natural, non powdery, and gives a brightening and more refined finish as it helps to cover the pores and lift the dullness. It slightly mattifies the skin and guarantees to keep your makeup stay put all day.

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The Clé de Peau Beauté cleansing foam is one of the best foaming cleansers I have ever used which deserves a proper review post.  This is the cleanser that would testify ‘good skin begins with good cleansing’. I have been using this on and off for the past 10 years, and every time I go back to it , I always feel my skin’s condition is improved.

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I would call this a deep cleansing cleanser for every day use as it does the most thorough cleaning job – it takes off every single trace of impurities and makeup, and it purifies to the bottom of the pores so it makes the them look very clean. Your complexion appears exceptionally clear, brightened and full of radiance after washing with this compared to the other cleansers. It comes in 2 variations – Gentle Cleansing foam that is designed for normal to dry skin, and the Refreshing Cleansing Foam for normal to oily skin. I am using the gentle version which works really well for my dry and sensitive skin. It makes the skin feel squeaky clean and refreshed without stripping off the moisture. It has a clean and delicate flora soapy scent, and has a creamy white paste texture that lathers up to the creamiest and most dense and emollient foam.  The resilient lather feels uber luxurious and velvety against the skin. It is on the expensive side, but a little product goes a long way and this tube will last you a very long time.

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Bottom Line: If you are still on the look out for a perfect foaming cleanser, give this one a try! The Clé de Peau Beauté cleanser is available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and SAKS in the US.

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What’s on my Wishlist

September 24, 2014

It’s been a busy week for me but I still have time to ‘window shop’ and put together my wishlist for this month!

1. Gucci Makeup!! – I am so excited about the new Gucci makeup line which is the talk of the town at the moment. The packaging speaks for glamour and luxury, and I sense that these following products will be mine very soon after browsing through the entire range over and over again.

– Gucci Lipstick Exposure and Hibiscus Thrill

Gucci Color Shadow Mono

Gucci Nail Lacquer

– Gucci Eyeshadow Quad Crystal Copper and Tuscan Storm

2. La Mer LE Illuminating Powder – The La Mer  loose powder is the best I have ever used (reviewed here) and it’s sad to see that it’s being discontinued. So thrilled to find this  limited edition illuminating powder set that makes me swoon.

3. La Mer Intensive Revitalizing Mask – If you have read my previous skincare posts, you would know that I am a big fan of La Mer. It’s a brand that you either hate, or you love and you will stick to their products for years and years, and I am the latter. I have seen visible and great results from their products, and I always wished for a more ‘affordable’ wash off type mask from La Mer. So my wish has been granted and I am definitely going to get this one! Also available in Australia now – here.

4. Cle de Peau Radiant Fluid foundation – Cle de Peau’s foundation is the crème de la crème for over a decade in the market. Very intrigued by their latest radiant foundation which sounds even better than the previous ones (reviewed here)! FYI Cle de Peau is currently offering a gift with purchase at Nordstrom.

5. Bottega Veneta Knot – Another amazing fragrance from this designer house! Been wearing the sample everyday and I am completely head over heels with the scent. If you love the Tom Ford’s Neroli Portofino you would love this one! Fresh, unique and sophisticated.

6. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar On the Go – The latest Filmstar range is available on NAP now! I particularly love the color combination of this one.

7. Chloe Drew – Last but not least, a fashion item which is the IT bag at the moment that is spotted everywhere at fashion weeks.  I don’t normally crave for soft pink bags but somehow this bag just grows on me day by day. Such a delicate design with beautiful gold hardware that looks tres chic rather than overly cute. Sold out everywhere except here.

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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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