Just thought I’d let you know that there are some really exciting makeup launches in Australia and globally happening now!
One of the foremost collections that has just released online in Australia is the Tom Ford Fall 2015 Collection. The collection includes the highly coveted Skin Illuminating Powder Duo, and the Flawless Powder Foundation (permanent) and the Complexion Enhancing Primer (permanent). What excites me the most is that the new Tom Ford Lip Colors (13 new shades) are also available online now. I have just placed my order based on the swatches here.
The world’s most expensive lipsticks by Christian Louboutin Lip Colors are also officially launched in the US and UK. They are now available at Nordstrom and Sephora in the US, and Selfridges in the UK. NAP also stocks them for certain countries. Will you buy them? As for me I have not made up my mind yet…
Charlotte Tilbury‘s makeup line has taken off in a huge success within a short time. Her must have product – the super creamy Lip Cheat (see my review here) now has 5 new shades, and they are available here worldwide, and at Nordstrom in the US. I want all the shades especially crazy in love as it is selling like hotcakes! Her newest foundation – the Magic Foundation can also be purchased here with international shipping avaialble.
5 new shades are Crazy in love, Bad Romance, Hollywood Honey, Berry Naughty, Foxy Brown.
Last but not least, there is an awesome deal on Jurlique at David Jones happening now. It is time for me to replenish their famous Herbal Recovery Advanced Serum as I’ve been using it on and off for the past 10 years.
Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • Christian Louboutin • JURLIQUE • New Collections • Tom Ford
It is the time of the year when Sydney is running the major Vogue Fashion Night Out event, and the highly anticipated exclusive Chanel Blue Rhythm Collection is only available on the night in Australia. Chanel fans would know that they always release some stunning nail colors for VFNO, and this year the two blue Chanel Le Vernis FORTISSIMO 681 and VIBRATO 665 are no exceptions. Along with the nail polishes, I also picked up several other products which will be covered in a future post.
Fortissimo is a midnight blue color with micro shimmer. As with most Chanel nail colors with shimmer, once this is applied on to the nails, it goes on to a cream finish and shimmer that can only be seen at certain angles. When I first saw the two colors, I was immediately drawn to Fortissimo as it looked quite wearable for a blue color. But once I had tried Vibrato on my nails, I could not take my eyes off this color – it’s a bright dark cobalt blue color that will catch people’s attention to your nails straight away. The color is very fashion-forward in a Chanel way, as it’s not over the top, but it just has some special element to it that makes it look expensive but young.
Swatch – 2 coats each color. Both colors are very opaque and apply smoothly and evenly.
Both nail colors are limited editions, and they are now available on Nordstrom and Chanel Online with the Blue Rhythm De Chanel collection in the US.
Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH
It was love at first sight for me with the Extra Dimension Eye Shadow collections from MAC lately, and as much as I tried to resist on buying single eye shadows as well as MAC makeup.. I couldn’t help but pick up these two beautiful neutral colors in Sweet Heat and A Natural Flirt.
It is quite difficult to capture the true beauty of these eye shadows in photos, as they have the most amazing liquid sheen with a metallic effect to it. They look like semi-wet eye shadows from the pan (but they apply dry), and the colors can look different depending on the angles you are looking at. One swipe convinced me that I had to get few colors from the collection- they feel silky smooth, extremely finely milled, and highly pigmented. They don’t show up as metallic once they are swatched as you see from the pan – just a shimmery wash of colors with a hint of metallic sheen that add an impact to the rather boring neutral colors.
A natural flirt is gorgeous. It is a light ivory champagne color with an iridescent pink undertone. Yes I probably can find tons of similar shades from my collection, but this one will make it to my top 3!
Sweet heat looks dark and chocolaty at some angles, but in real life it is a stunning medium sandy copper color that has a light rose gold metallic sheen to it.
Swatches
I bought the MAC Extra Dimension Eye shadows here in Australia. They retail for AUD$40 each.
Labels: EYESHADOW • MAC
I have used tons of brightening products (some were really expensive!) in the hope of improving the appearance of the pigmentation problem on my complexion, but I hardly reviewed any on the blog because they never worked for me. You may have heard me saying some brightening products did improve the skin luminosity, but I would have never said that my freckles were faded after using them. So today I’d like to introduce you to an amazing and phenomenal product that really worked – the SkinMedica LYTERA brightening complex, which is probably the only product I have ever used that made a big difference in reducing pigmentation!
The SkinMedica Lytera was recommend by my dermatologist after I received several IPL sessions (see this post). Had he not introduced this brand to me, I would have never heard of it. I started using this product 6 months into having the IPL done when I noticed that my freckles had started re-emerging! I was very keen on seeing the result because I read so many great reviews about it on the internet and some have even described the result of using Lytera to be on par with the effect of having IPL. At first I was disappointed with the result as I didn’t see much of an improvement after a few weeks. So just like many other skincare products, I kept on using it without holding my hope high..and it was around the 2 month mark where the ‘transformation’ happened – my freckles were noticeably faded. The result was not as dramatic as if having a laser, but I do remember there was one morning I looked into the mirror and I could not believe how clear my complexion looked again. I even re-wiped my mirror just to double check!
The Lytera has a very lightweight gel texture that is absorbed into the skin immediately. It is slightly hydrating but if you have dry to very dry skin, you will need a better serum for hydration purposes. It doesn’t sting and nor does it make the skin red. One thing to note is that if you are using this product during the day, be sure to apply lots of sunscreen as it does make the complexion slightly more sensitive.
I have just finished my first bottle of Lytera which lasted about 4 months (one pump per application), and I am up to my second bottle. I didn’t see any further improvement after 2 months, so this is more for up-keeping.
Ingredient list
Also a brief review on the SkinMedica AHA/BHA Exfoliating Cleanser which I also can’t stop gushing about. It’s a clear gel cleanser with micro-beads in it and I use it every night with my Clarisonic (reviewed here). It makes my skin very clean without stripping off the moisture, keeps the pores clear and makes the skin texture incredibly smooth. If your skin texture is looking uneven and feeling a little rough, or if you think your makeup is just sitting on top your skin (doesn’t sink in) then that is most likely because your skin is in need of a better exfoliation product. If it is still a mild case I highly recommend incorporating at least one product that contains BHA/AHA such as this cleanser into your routine. Using it in conjunction with the Clarisonic, they help to improve my skin texture dramatically and make a big difference in how good my makeup holds.
Labels: CLARISONIC • CLEANSER • SKINCARE • SkinMedica
I have about a dozen new foundations sitting on my dresser, so I thought I had better get my act together to resume my reviews for foundations as I haven’t done one for so long! The Dior Diorskin Star Studio Foundation is the one I have been reaching out for constantly, as it just works really well with my skin and I love the naturally radiant and luminous finish.
Texture and formulation
The Dior Star Foundation has a slightly thick milky texture (not as fluidy as other liquid foundations), and it is best to be applied with a foundation brush or sponge for an even finish. My top preferences are either the Dior Backstage foundation brush which gives an airbrushed finish with a fuller coverage, or with the beauty blender which gives a slightly more translucent and dewy finish. Except for oily skin, I think the formula works great for most skin types. I have used this foundation in extreme cold weather conditions, and the formula is ‘creamy’ enough to be used on dry skin as the light-reflective pigments makes the skin appear more plumped and it does not enhance any fine lines nor dry patches. On days that my skin behaves normally, this foundation holds nicely throughout the day, and it does not fade nor crease. However there is a little bit of oil coming through around my t-zone after half a day of wear.
Coverage and finish
For a fluid foundation, the Dior offers pretty decent coverage. I normally use less than a pump and it gives a medium coverage (dependent on the tool you use) that takes away the dullness, redness and most of the mild imperfections. It feels weightless on the skin, and it goes on seamlessly and completely blends into your own skin. It gives a semi-satiny finish with a soft luminous glow – like a soft beauty light shining on your face that helps to diffuse and reflect the light on your skin to camouflage the imperfections rather than masking them. If you look at the swatches below, you will see that the Dior has a velvety finish (not as dewy as the others) and once it blends into the skin it just looks really beautiful and natural but not dull and matte.
Color
I bought the foundation in shade 020 light beige which has a hint of pink undertone to it. It matches my skin well with a slight brightening effect which I absolutely adore. The brightening effect makes your complexion look radiant, healthy and well-rested but doesn’t make you look pale white. In a way the effect of this foundation is quite similar to the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation with an emphasis on “creating light” on your skin.
Comparison swatch (left to right): MAC Mineralize NC20 (reviewed here); Chanel Perfection Lumiere 20 ; YSL Touche Eclat BK20 (reviewed here); Giorgio Armani Designer Lift 3 (reviewed here); Dior Star 020
I bought the Dior Star Foundation and the Dior Backstage Foundation brush here and here in Australia. Always have my beauty blenders restocked on NAP.
Labels: DIOR • foundation
Winter is certainly not as fun as summer, but the upside is that we can wear chunky sweaters and knits! I love throwing myself into cozy and over-sized knits, and I am constantly adding new pieces into my closet. In this ootd I am wearing my current favorite sweater by Bassike. I have been looking for a military green color sweat for so long and I am so glad I found the perfect piece. It has the signature Bassike relaxed cut – like a slimming boyfriend style that doesn’t look boxy nor wide. It is made of wool and cotton with ribbed knit over all which gives a very effortless and chic feel to it. Styling wise, can’t go wrong with ripped denim (my other obsession atm) and a touch of rockstud!
Sweater – Bassike (bought here)
Jeans – Frame Denim (sold out and similar here and here)
Shoes – Valentino (bought here and featured in this post)
Sunglasses – Tom Ford Aviator Sunglasses (bought here)
Necklace – Jennifer Zeuner (available here)
Bag – Mansur Gavriel (featured in this post, try your luck here and here!)
lipstick – Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet (reviewed here, available here and here)
Labels: BAG • Charlotte Tilbury • Fashion • OOTD • SHOP • Tom Ford • VALENTINO
Bold lips have been my statement look over the past year – whether wearing the red lip color in a full opaque coat or as a sheer stain, I am infatuated with how much impact it adds to the overall look. Today’s review is for my 3 current favorite red lip colors – Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet, Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 and Surrat Automatique Lip Crayon P.O.C. They are all of different texture and finish, so they offer different options for achieving different looks.
The Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 (available here in Australia) is from the Chanel Summer 2015 Collection. It is a highly pigmented rosey red color that has a transparent finish which makes it very wearable for the day and night. I really like the Glossimer formulation for intense colors, as it is very easy to sheer out and gives a lovely wash of stain on the lips in a glossy finish. During the day I’d like to wear a sheer layer of this – it’s pretty and youthful and the color helps to brighten up the complexion. If you are after a dramatic and bold look, the lip gloss is intense enough for delivering its full color with a jelly like finish.
As the name suggests, this Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet is the red color for making a statement. It is a cool deep ruby red with a hint of burgundy undertone in a matte finish. It is bold, sultry, a little vampy and the velvety matte finish adds an edgy and fashion-forward spin to this classic color. I absolutely adore the formulation of Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipsticks (detail reviews on other colors are covered in this post). Red carpet is no exception – it ‘s non drying and extremely long lasting. Available worldwide here.
Surrat is a new makeup brand that I am still uncovering. So far I have only tried their lip products, and also interested in exploring their luxury brushes range! Love their sleek frosted black packaging design, and their Automatique Lip Crayon range has some stunning colors. I picked the color P.O.C which is the most beautiful warm red with a hint of orange tone that I have ever seen. This is a summery red in my opinion, and looks great on either fair or tanned complexion. It has a non slippery crayon-like texture so it goes on very opaque and applies relatively creamy and smooth. I would say the texture is quite similar to the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, if you are interested in exploring new brands, Surrat is a good option. Available here worldwide.
Group Swatch:
Labels: CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • LIP PENCIL • LIPGLOSS • LIPSTICK • Louis Vuitton • LV • MAKEUP POUCH • SURRAT
Today’s review is for the absolutely stunning limited edition Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in VIBRATION 270 from an exclusive collection. Australia seems to be the first country that has received this collection which also includes the Chanel Infiniment Illuminating Powder (reviewed here), and as far as I know they will be launched in the US in the very near future (now available at Nordstrom). I have a substantial collection of Chanel JC blushes, and not every one of them is a must-have due to the high price tag and many of them are quite similar. But Vibration is phenomenal – I haven’t seen a beautiful blush color like this for a very long time.
Unlike most of the other Chanel JC blushes, Vibration is a matte color without any shimmer, but the texture is creamy and silky smooth to apply. It applies to a semi-satin finish with a soft glow that looks so pretty and like a natural flush of color. The pigmentation is ultra intense, so for application I would recommend to use a soft and fluffy blush brush to pick up the pigment softly and blend. Vibration is a beautiful coral pink with a hint of red undertone to it. This is the color that would look flattering on both the warm and cool skin-tones, and it would help to brighten up the complexion and add a youthful pink wash of color to the cheeks without looking too girly.
Swatches:
The Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Vibration is only available online here in Australia.
Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL
