2016

Chanel Libre Holiday 2016 Collection – Joues Contraste Blush Hyperfresh and Rouge Allure Gloss Super Nude Review and Swatch

November 10, 2016

Continuing with my review for the Chanel Libre Holiday 2016 collection. The Chanel Velvet Nail Polish Pink Rubber was reviewed here, and today’s post is for the Joues Contraste Blush in Hyperfresh and the Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Nude. These were the only two makeup items I picked up from the collection. I bought them in a heartbeat as soon as I saw them in the store. Both colors are very pretty, and most importantly, they look very flattering when they are applied and are great for everyday use rather than being limited to a festival makeup.

Hyperfresh is an ultra vibrant warm pink blush. Chanel is known for their subtle and elegant color payoff, but every now and then, they make the most vibrant and rich hues that you can’t miss such as this color. There is very subtle shimmer in it, but once applied the shimmer is not detectable on the skin. As usual, it gives a lovely flush of pink color with a soft glow. Since it’s ultra pigmented, I would suggest using a very soft and fluffy brush (such as the HG Suqqu Cheek Brush) for the application.

Hyperfresh is a vibrant neutral pink color with a hint of coral undertone. It may look like a hot pink blush from the picture but once it is applied the warmth comes through.

If you have been following my blog for a while, you would know that I have been obsessed with nude to brown lips lately. The Chanel Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Nude is perfection. I was wowed by how flattering it looked on me for a nude color. I would describe it as a medium beige shade with a peachy undertone so it doesn’t wash you out. To me, this color is right on trend but also elegant, and is easy to wear.

As for the formula, in general, the Rouge Gloss has a lovely moisturizing and creamy consistency, and you can find a detailed review here for other colors. It goes on semi-opaque in a high shine finish and gives a plump effect.

Super Nude Swatch

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Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL • Holiday 2016 Collection • LIP GLOSS

My Favorites Lately

November 7, 2016

Here is a quick round-up of the products that I have been loving a lot lately.

Capture Your Style – You probably would have seen a lot of pictures of this book on my insta! Love Aimee’s blog and style (well who doesn’t?!), and different to the usual photography books, this book is written from the fashion/beauty/Instagrammer lovers’ perspective of how to take and style your pictures with your phone – think about Song of Style’s feeds.

Tom Ford shades – Lately I love wearing aviators for a casual chic vibe and this pair by Tom Ford fits my typical flat Asian face perfectly!

Marc Jacobs Contour Powder – This is still one of my favorite go-to highlight and contour palettes that is easy to use and fool proof for a natural contouring effect.

Givenchy Le Rouge 105 Brun Vintage – It is a gorgeous MLBB color that is on trend. I didn’t think I needed a backup of any of my lipsticks as I never get to finish them, but Givenchy 105 was an exception. I heard there is a long wait-list in some countries for this color, so I decided to get another one in case it runs out in Australia! Reviewed here

Chanel Velvet Nail Pink Rubber – Must have for anyone who loves pastel nail colors with an edgy twist. Reviewed here

Dior Dreamskin Cushion Foundation – The more I use it the more I love it. Though the coverage is sheer, it is making my skin look poreless and refined. Reviewed here

Suqqu Concealer Palette– Love this convenient palette for covering every type of imperfection, and the result is never cakey! Reviewed here

Artis Brushes – I have been gushing about how much I love these brushes to everyone! They have completely surpassed my expectations as they deliver pro-blending results without any skill required. Review to come soon.

Breydo Handcream Suede – Smells amazing (soapy with a hint of leather) and very moisturizing without feeling greasy.

Tom Ford Velvet Bloom Nightbloom Powder (just released in Australia) – Oh I can’t let this powder go. It’s a beautiful brightening powder for people with cool to neutral complexions. Review to come soon.

Shu Curler (LE) – I always wanted a black lash curler, so happy to see my HG eyelash curler come in the black version from the 2016 holiday collection.

Bottega Veneta Fragrance – This is a lovely sophisticated all year round fragrance for me. It has a perfect blend of soft floral notes (with jasmine and gardenia) and accented by a modern twist (with pink pepper and bergamot).

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Labels: ARTIS • BOOK • BYREDO • DIOR • FRAGRANCE • GIVENCHY • LIFESTYLE • MARC JACOBS BEAUTY • MONTHLY FAVORITES • My Favorites • PERFUME • SUQQU • Tom Ford

Chanel Le Lift Serum and Cream Review

November 5, 2016

It is very clear that my biggest skincare obsession now is fighting against gravity. I am a firm believer in that if we start caring for our skin from an early age for preventative purposes, we can delay the skin from sagging and aging relatively. The Chanel Le Lift range is my current favorite because the products really work. I was given a couple of samples of the Le Lift Cream when it was first launched, and I loved it so much, so I bought a full-size jar, as well as the Le Lift Serum for the best optimum result.

LE Lift CREAM RICHE (bought here in Australia)– It is housed in a weighty black glass jar, and comes in 3 different textures – fine, normal and riche.

Since I have dry skin, I go for the rich version which works well for my skin in winter. It actually doesn’t feel that rich compared to other well-known heavy duty moisturizers such as La Mer Cream or Fresh Creme Ancienne. It has a lightweight creamy texture and absorbs into the skin without feeling greasy, but it still leaves a nice moist and soft touch to the skin. It makes your skin appear smooth and radiant and works wonderfully as a makeup base for the day. I have been using it every day, and it keeps the skin well moisturized even in the season transition time.

As for firming, it is a mini ‘face-lift’ in a jar for a quick fix for getting rid of morning puffiness, as well as making the face shape appear more toned and lifted. Since it has a nice slip consistency, you can massage the product in an upward motion for 1-2 minutes. If I apply this product liberally, I notice an instant tightening effect around the cheeks and jaws, and the contour appears more defined with a more V-shaped face. The lines around the nose are also less visible. Overall, I am impressed with this moisturizer and will re-purchase!

LE LIFT SERUM

I would give 9/10 to the moisturizer, and 7/10 to the serum. One pet peeve is that it is packed in a plastic bottle which does not equate to the high price tag. It has a milky texture, and feels lightweight and absorbs completely into the skin upon application. It adds mild hydration to the skin and makes the skin appear more plumped. There might be some long-term benefits over a period of use (which is hard to measure anyway), but for delivering an instant result, the moisturizer is more superior for lifting. I feel the serum is giving an anti-oxidant and hydration boost to the skin and supplements the moisturizer for achieving the best firming and anti-aging results.

Bottom Line: I am very pleased with the result they deliver, as I see an improvement in my skin in the texture and firmness from using the Le Lift Range. Overall they are worth looking into if you are after firming skincare products that really work. Once I finish the serum, I will try out the new Chanel V-Flash which is already launched in the US but not yet in Australia.

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Labels: CHANEL • SKINCARE

Chanel Libre Holiday 2016 Collection – Velvet Nail Colour Pink Rubber Swatch and Review

November 3, 2016

I haven’t bought new makeup from Chanel for a while, as I felt their past few collections just fell short of my expectations and the colors did not appeal to me. Really pleased to see that the Chanel Libre Holiday 2016 Collection brought me back again! This collection is not boring, and the products and the color theme are wearable for me. The items I picked up include the LE travel brush kit (been longing for a set of Chanel mini brushes for years!), the breathtaking Blush in Hyperfresh , and super polished Rouge Allure Gloss in Super Nude, and last not least, the VELVET Nail Colour in Pink Rubber (LE) – The entire holiday collection is available here in Australia.

It was love at first sight with this nail polish, as it is so right on point. Velvet is the big trend this season, and I just love how Chanel translates fashion to beauty. Pink Rubber is a pale ballerina pink nail color with a hint of salmon peachy pink undertone to it. On the nails, it looks very polished and clean, yet unique and edgy with the special velvet finish. The formula is relatively smooth (but not as nice as with a gloss formula) and opaque. The first coat is streaky, but you can achieve an even and streak-free finish with 2 thick coats. Drying time is phenomenal, as my nails were fully dried within 5 minutes without any additional fast drying topcoats.

Swatched with 2 coats

Compared to the traditional matte finish, the velvet finish is more gel-like and opaque which reminds me of the buffed acrylic nails before having any nail colour applied.

Here is a picture of my picks for the Libre Collection so stay tuned for more reviews to come!

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Labels: CHANEL • Holiday 2016 Collection • NAIL POLISH

DIOR Dreamskin Perfect Skin Cushion Foundation Review and Swatch

November 1, 2016

Dior has had several cushion foundation releases over the past 2 years, and their latest is the Total Capture Dreamskin Perfect Cushion Foundation with SPF50. Since I am a big fan of their Capture Totale Dreamskin Serum, which is the best daytime serum I have used from all the high-end beauty brands in the $100ish price range, I had to get my hands on this cushion foundation. It is on the high price end, but the good news is that it comes with a refill!

Dior claims that it is a hybrid of skin care and makeup that visibly improves pores, redness and shine, and leaving skin looking flawless and luminous. It boasts the same skincare ingredients as in the serum, so it works as a skincare and makeup that nourishes, protects as well as enhances your skin continuously throughout the day.

I have been using it for the past two weeks, and my conclusion is that it is more of a skin perfector with the benefit of cushion foundation. It has the most hydrating (but not creamy) and lightweight formula compared to the others. The texture is ultra fine, and it melds into the skin as soon as you stamp the sponge. For the application, there is no sweeping and blending required, and it leaves absolutely no traces of makeup. The formula is so hydrating that it almost feels like I am spraying a hydrating mist, and it instantly makes the complexion appear more plump and dewy and takes away all the dry skin patches and fine lines. It also leaves a semi-matte finish with radiance and dewiness that looks like your-skin-but-better. The formula would work particularly well in humid weather condition as it controls oil and shine, as opposed to the other more creamy cushion foundations that tends to crease during the day.

It blurs out the pores and evens out the skin tone exceptionally well for such a lightweight and silicone-free product. I am very impressed with how poreless, fine and smooth the skin texture looks with this product. The only shortfall is that it has quite a sheer coverage compared to the other brands such as YSL (reviewed here) and Sulwhasoo (reviewed here). It doesn’t cover the freckles nor the acne marks. For a flawless yet natural finish, I would suggest to apply a layer of tinted base first, then apply this cushion on top.

Formula comparison

YSL Fusion Ink Cushion – most opaque with the best coverage

Sulashoo Perfecting Cushion – most creamy with a medium coverage

Dior Dreamskin Cushion – most hydrating with the best staying power, and works the best for oil control with a sheer coverage

Swatch comparison

I bought the Dior Cushion in shade 10.

Bottom Line: If you prefer coverage, this product does not deliver unless you combine it with other complexion products. I see it as a skincare product with a sheer coverage that I can use any time of the day to hydrate, refresh and even out my complexion. On the other hand, If you have good skin with little skin concern, and after a ‘no-makeup’ feel, then this product alone will make your skin look like absolute perfection.

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Labels: CUSHION FOUNDATION • DIOR • foundation

Sweater Dress

October 29, 2016

The weather is so beautiful today so I decided to wear my new dress from SACAI which is perfect for the Spring and Fall. Love the sweater fabric for an effortless vibe, and the much up-to-date flared sleeves. It’s easy to pull on and looks great for dressing up or down. Pairing the dress with this perfect pair of chelsea boots from Acne Studios.

Dress – SACAI

Shoes – Acne Studios (available here and here internationally)

Bag- Hermes Kelly

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Labels: ACNE STUDIOS • Fashion • HERMES • OOTD • SACAI

My Favorite Hero Products from My Current Skincare Regime

October 26, 2016

Here is a quick rundown on some of my favorite products from my current skincare regime. Overall I am very pleased with the results, as my skin has been looking radiant and clear with a natural glow from within all the time – like I have had 8 hours of sleep every day! The texture is smooth and supple which also makes the makeup look and sit better on my skin.

1. Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Refining Cleansing Oil – It’s very easy and quick to remove the most stubborn and waterproof makeup thoroughly with this oil, without feeling rich and greasy on the skin. Reviewed here.

2. SKII Facial Treatment Essence (bought here in Australia) – One of my holy grails as the first step after cleansing. Been using it on and off over the past ten years, and the formula is great for all skin types, as well as all year around.

3. Chanel Le Lift Serum and Cream – Effectively and noticeably firm, and lift the skin. It gives a more lifted contour and reduces morning puffiness. Loving the range and will post a full review soon.

4. La Mer The Concentrate – Miracle in a bottle. It significantly reduces the appearance scarring, and repairs and rejuvenates the skin rapidly!

5. Creme de La Mer Moisturizing Cream – Holy grail moisturizer that I have been using over a decade! I go for the original cream formula in winter and prefer the new soft formula during the summer time.

6. La Mer Reparative Face Sun Lotion SPF30 – My favorite morning lightweight sunscreen that I use as my morning moisturizer. It has the same luxury smooth texture as a moisturizer that makes the skin super soft and supple without the sunscreen grease.

7. Le Weekend De Chanel – Really like the one-step skincare system from Chanel, particularly from a busy mommy perspective. I use this product in place of all other products every weekend. It is packed with glycolic acid complex so it is great for exfoliating, detoxifying the skin for a more clear and smooth complexion.

8. Philosophy Microdelivery Overnight Peel – Whenever I feel that my skin is starting to feel ‘rough’ and the makeup looks like it’s just sitting on top of the skin, I use the peel and it removes the dead skin cells and reveals new skin with finer texture. Reviewed here.

9.GLAMGLOW YouthMud – Another great deep cleanse mask for unclogging the pores, boosting radiance and smoothing out the skin. This gives you a ‘facial-like’ result that transforms the luminosity of your skin after only one use.

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Labels: CHANEL • GLAMGLOW • LA MER • My Favorites • Philosophy • Shu Uemura • SKII • SKINCARE

Makeup Tutorial – Ombre Peach and Brown Lip Color

October 24, 2016

Hoping everyone had a good weekend. I happened to have some spare time, so I took the opportunity and made a tutorial. I have always been asked by my readers to post more tutorials on the blog, so today I wanted to share my current favorite way of wearing the brown lips. I adore the brown lip color which is trending everywhere now, but if you find that the color is too retro and grown-up for you, then I think mixing it with a soft peach color makes it more pretty and youthful.