October 2014

There are so many great deals happening today which is the Vogue Online Shopping Night, Here are my picks for some bargain grabs from some local and international shops.

1. Paul and Joe Sister Sweater – currently 30% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14 (one day only).

2. Joe’s Jeans Slouched Slim Jeans – currently 30% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14 (one day only).

3. Tony Bianco espadrilles -(in leopard and black/white) – 25% off with code VOGQ one day only. These espadrilles are stylish, Chanelesque, good quality with leather upper and lining and affordable! I love them so much so I have them in both colors!

4. J Brand White Tee – Currently 40% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14. J Brand makes the best white Tee. I am debating if I need a backup of this since this style rarely goes on sale!

5. Rag and Bone Denim Shorts – Currently 60% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14 (one day only).

6. Alice D Leather Tote – Currently 30% off. Very well priced for a made in Italy all leather stylish tote.

7. Birkenstock – 25% off with code VOGQ one day only.

8. Jennifer Zeuner Evil Eye Necklace – 30% off with code VOGUELOVE from my favorite local fashion jewelry store. I’ve been eyeing this for a while.

9. Amber Sceats Bangle – 30% off with code VOGUELOVE. Bow and Knot bangles are the style to go for at the moment

10. Gorjana ring set 1 – Currently 20% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14.

11. Gorjana ring set 2 – Currently 20% off and in addition there is a $25 gift card for every $100 purchase with code VogueAu14.

 

 

 

 

 

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October Favorites

October 28, 2014

Whilst I am still in the process of putting together some more reviews for the other products I picked up from the Chanel Holiday 2014 collection, I thought I’ll quickly share some of my favorite products for the month of October before it ends. The monthly favorite posts are my all time favorite posts/videos to watch from other bloggers, and I don’t know why have I never done one?! So I am definitely going to incorporate this new series into my blogging schedule going forward.

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette – So glad I was able to get hold of this one from Net-A-Porter. I’ve been holding out on buying the individual blushes in the hope that they would release a palette one day, and my wish has been granted! It’s also available here in the US. Detailed review for this one as well as the highlighting palette is coming soon.

2. Chanel Camelia De Plumes Highlighting Powder – Every year Chanel releases an art piece of highlighter which is worthy of collection. This piece is stunning on its own, and also works great as a highlighter without looking frosty on me. Detailed review coming soon.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick Lost Cherry – Definitely one of my favorite purchases from Charlotte Tilbury (reviewed here). It’s longing lasting and can be worn for a polished look or sheer it out as a lip stain (the latter is my preferred method of wear).

4. Tiffany Key Necklace – Starting to wear and mix and match my jeweleries more now that my boy is bit older so he doesn’t pull them off me anymore 🙂

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It is no secret that Chanel makes my heart flutter. I wasn’t planning to get that many items from the PLUMES PRECIEUSES De CHANEL Holiday 2014 Collection, but I succumbed when I saw them in real life. They are simply stunning and all look very flattering on my skin tone with the items I picked.  Today’s review is for the Chanel Joues Contraste Blush CARESSE 180 and the Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow Envol 847.

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I won’t go into the details of the texture of Joues Contraste Blush as they have been reviewed many times on my blog. In short they are ‘baked’ to perfection – very smooth, finely milled and easy to apply.  CARESSE looked like a plain pale peach with micro silver shimmer from the pan, but once I tried it on my face I just couldn’t let it go. It shows up as a soft wash of coral peach with a hint of rose-gold undertone with the signature Chanel soft glow that gives a youthful, glowy and plumped effect.  This color made me appear a lot more revived as soon as I had it on my face after a long day of work, and I knew I had to bring it home and it will be the workhorse blush as part my everyday makeup items. It has medium opacity and it can be applied sheer or layered for more color.

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The Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow in Envol is another must buy item from this collection for the neutral makeup lovers. The color is very similar to the CARESSE blush, but more translucent and shimmery with a stronger undertone of rose gold. It provides a soft and shimmery wash of color which serves as a good wash for the eyelid, as well as for highlighting purpose. The color, wearability and its versatility makes this a worthy purchase.  I have mentioned that I adore the formulation of the Illusion D’Ombre cream eyeshadow –   the cushiony soft texture makes it easy to apply and blend, and the shimmery finish is neither metallic nor frosty. The longevity is also outstanding. I have had cream eye shadows from other brands which were purchased around the same time as my first few Chanel Illusion D’ombre,  and they have all dried up since then, except for the Chanel ones which are still performing as good as they were new.

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Left: Caresse Sheer Swatch, Middle Caresse Heavy Swatch, Right Envol

chanel-joues-constraste-blush-caresse-180-illusion-d'ombre-eyeshadow-envol-847-review-swatchCloser look

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I have been meaning to write a baby skincare post for a while. Being a new mum and a beauty enthusiast, I am very cautious with what I put on my baby’s skin! So when it comes to everyday baby products , I have tried tons of brands and one of my favorite baby brands in general is by MILK and CO. It’s affordable and it’s an Australian company (founded by the swimmer Michael Klim) with all of their products made in Australia with natural and green ingredients only (paraben free)!

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I was drawn to this brand first because of their clean packaging and the brand name MILK – they just seem very pure and organic to me. My favorite product is the MILK baby shampoo and conditioner. It’s softly scented and smells delicious – like a creamy smoothie with a hint of lavender done in a very soothing (not empowering) way. Even my hubby is addicted to the smell, and we just can’t stop sniffing our baby’s hair after washing every time. It’s a shampoo and conditioner in one, so it’s really great for babies who have lots of hair and prone to tangle. I absolutely love this one and have gone through several bottles of this because it’s not expensive but feels and  performs way beyond other supermarket brands.

Australia sun is so harsh so I’ve already started using sunscreen on my baby if we go out during the day. It was a struggle for me to find a baby sunscreen that doesn’t smell like a typical sunscreen and not greasy. The MILK Protect Me Sunscreen is still the best I have used so far compared to the others  (though it’s still not perfect..). It’s suitable for babies 3 months + with SPF30+ protection, and contains no nasty chemicals.  It has a cream texture that is easy to spread and stays put for several hours as well as very water resistant. The trade off was that it is slightly greasy for my liking but as babies naturally have dry skin, maybe this was part of their formulation. It doesn’t leave a white cast on the skin and has a soft milky vanilla scent. Overall I quite like this gentle sunscreen especially made for a baby’s fragile and sensitive skin.

Last but not least, The MILK Body Oil is really fantastic. Designed to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, and uneven skin. As most MILK products are, this product is lightly scented with essential oils of lavender which smells very calming and soothing.  I apply this on my slightly damp skin after shower, and this light oil absorbs into my skin within seconds without leaving a greasy film. It makes my skin so soft and moisturized for days! I can get away without apply body moisturizer for the next two days. I also love using it on my baby as a  massaging oil as well as a moisturizer. I am absolutely impressed by this product and it will definitely be a bathroom staple for me. Highly recommend this one to anyone who is after a quick and fuss-free body moisturizer application, and also great for preventing stretch marks for the mums-to-be!

I normally stock these products from my local supermarket (the baby section), or they can be found here online and they are currently running a promotion to support the McGrath Foundation.

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In addition to the KISSING Lipsticks (reviewed here) I also bought two new Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks (Amazing Grace and Lost Cherry) from Net -A-Porter which I absolutely adore (also available at Selfridges). I bought these online without having read much reviews about them, so I really didn’t have a high expectation on them as matte lipsticks normally don’t work that well with my naturally dry lips. But these ones are phenomenal in terms of formulation, and the velvet finish is very modern and fashion-forward.

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The Matte Revolution Lipstick is ultra velvety smooth to apply without settling into the lines of the lips, and feels lightweight and non-drying on the lips. It’s very pigmented (more richer than the KISSING lipstick), and gives a very opaque and even finish with only one coat required. What appeals to me the most is that it is not a completely matte lipstick , and it provides more of a velvet finish with a semi-satin sheen that makes your lips appear more youthful than a typical matte lipstick does. Lasting power is about 4-5 hours on me. The only drawback to note is that it’s not a grab-and-go lipstick as you have to apply this in front of a mirror with some level of care for a clean look. Overall I am very impressed with the formulation of this lipstick. I can finally rock the matte lips look which is trending everywhere without the sacrifice of making my lips dry!

Amazing Grace looks like a dusty nude pink online, but in real life it is a dusty rosey pink that is a tad darker than I expected. Nevertheless the color is still beautiful and demure which would be flattering for all age groups.

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Lost Cherry has completely wowed me. It is a fresh and bright cherry pink red that makes me wanting a backup! There is something about this color in the velvet finish makes it arresting.

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Comparison Swatches

Left Amazing Grace Right Lost Cherry

charlotte-tilbury-matte-revolution-lipsticks-swatch-review-2Compared to the KISSING lipsticks

From my instagram

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Bottom Line: The Matte Revolution lipsticks are definitely one of my top picks (along with the Filmstar bronze and glow – reviewed here) for anyone who is new to the Charlotte Tilbury beauty line. They are now available at Net-A-Porter worldwide!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Swatched under natural lighting

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I have an obsession with cashmere sweaters. As JCrew always say “The best things in life are cashmere“. Cashmere sweaters to me are like the fashion equivalent of Suqqu brushes for beauty – they are investment-worthy, feel so whispering soft and luxurious against your skin. As for the chic factor, if you have read this ultimate fashion bible (which is my all time favorite fashion book and I highly recommend to everyone), you would know that cashmere is the ultimate hero item to be invested in for a timeless wardrobe.

I like to collect quality cashmere sweaters every fall, so over the time I have accrued many across major contemporary brands that are known for making them such as JCrew, Vince and Equipment. I have seen some cheaper ones from the high street brands such as Zara and Uniqlo, and I wasn’t impressed… Since the good ones can be pricey I thought I’d share my thoughts on some of my all time favorites.

The JCrew Cashmere Boyfreind Sweater was my first cashmere sweater (currently 30% off!). I love it so much so I bought them in three different colors  – the navy, black, and a hot pink. I love the V neck paired with a relaxed fit which just makes this style so Parisian chic and effortless. JCrew cahsmere is the thickest and most weighty brand than all the others so it’s the most winter-proof.

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The Vince Breton Cashmere Sweater is the softest and feels the most plush (currently 20% off at SAKS!). I was in this sweater nearly this entire fall because it felt weightless yet kept me really warm and cosy. It has a longer and more boxy fit so it’s great for wearing it over a shirt like this model, and the stripes makes this sweater perfect for running errands whilst still looking chic.

from my instagram

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The Equipment Sloane Cashmere Sweater (also available here). It has a slightly relaxed fit but more slimmer than a typical boyfriend sweater.  I find this cut the most versatile, as I can easily wear it alone, or over a shirt as well as underneath a blazer. The quality is amongst the best – it feels tender, soft and plush, and stays in shape without balling up. I have been wearing it regularly and tossing it around everywhere, and it still stays in tip top condition!

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Sunglasses – Karen Walker (bought here)

Skirt – (on sale here)

Booties – Toga Pulla (bought here)

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I am so excited to find out that Shopbop’s FRIENDS and FAMILY Sale Event 25% storewide is back on again!! It’s probably the best online deal of the year and as usual I shopped up a storm from this event and bought some clothes (including this one, this one, and this one) which I have been lemming for a while.

Enter discount code “FAMILY25” at checkout to enjoy 25% off storewide between October 14th -16th.  Such a great mid-week pick-me-up event and happy shopping everyone!

 

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