2016

What’s on my wishlist

October 20, 2016

As the holiday is approaching, my wishlist is becoming uncontrollably bigger. Here is a quick post sharing the makeup items that are currently on the top of my wishlist. I’ve already acquired some items on the list, but haven’t had a chance to post a review yet.

1. Tom Ford Orchid Collection – I want everything especially the Night Bloom Powder. It is already released in the US,and will be launching in Australia on the 30th October. Pencil this important date in!

2. Tom Ford Holiday 2016 Collection – Absolutely divine. My picks are the Soleil Eye & Cheek Palette, and the limited edition brush sets!

3. Becca Blushed with Light Palette – I like this palette more than the Jaclyn Hill cheek palette as the colors are more neutral and wearable for me.

4. Charlotte Tilbury Legendary Muse Palette – Love the Dolce Vita palette from CT, and this is my second palette that caught my attention from the brand (review coming soon). Available here in Australia.

5. Giorgio Armani Lip Magnet – Just bought them from David Jones online, and love the colors and finish so much. Review coming soon

6. By Terry Impearlious Ombre Blackstar Gift Collection – Such a good value for 5 amazing eye shadow pencils in beautiful neutral colors. Available here worldwide.

7. Suqqu Holiday 2016 Kit A (Japan exclusive) – I always prefer the Japan releases than the UK releases for Suqqu.

8. Suqqu Extra Rich Cream Foundation – Can’t wait to get my hands on this new foundation.

9. Marc Jacobs Beauty Face and Eye Palette (LE) – Perfection for neutral lovers!

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Labels: Holiday 2016 Collection • SHOP • WISHLIST

Givenchy Le Rouge Semi-Matte Lipstick Review and Swatch – 105 Brun Vintage and 106 Nude Guipure

October 18, 2016

Givenchy was one beauty brand that had been off my radar until I consistently saw people raving about their lip products, so I decided to test them out at Sephora recently. The unsurprising outcome was that I liked the Givenchy Le Rouge Semi-Matte Lipstick so much, it was a case of limiting myself to 2 colors only, so I picked up the shades 105 Brun Vintage and 106 Nude Guipure which are all neutral MLBB with a hint of brown undertone.

The packaging of these lipsticks is beyond luxurious and gorgeous. Love the genuine leather tube, and the ultra-modern silver metal case, and it feels so sturdy and weighty in hand. I didn’t think any brand could beat the lipstick packaging of Tom Ford, but Givenchy is on par.

Le Rouge is a rich and creamy lipstick that applies silky smooth, streak-free with a medium slip feel, and it feels lightweight on the lips. It has a good coverage and applies true to its color with one to two strokes only, and it gives a semi-matte finish with a satiny sheen. If you think the full matte lipstick formula is too drying for your lips, then I highly recommend the semi-matte formula. The Le Rouge feels moisturizing, and it fills the dry lines and gives the lips a more plump look, but you still achieve this retro matte finish. For a precise application, I like to use a lip brush such as the Artis Circle 1 as shown in the fist picture

105 Brun Vintage is an MLLB medium muted rose color with a hint of brown undertone. Definitely a very easy-to-wear and flattering color for most complexions.

106 Nude Guipure is a medium brown nude lip color with a rosy beige undertone. It’s very easy to pull off for a brown nude color without looking too nude and pale.

Group Swatch

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Labels: GIVENCHY • LIPSTICK

Philosophy The Microdelivery Overnight Peels Review

October 14, 2016

I always like to include a peel product in my skincare regime, and lately, I’ve been using the Philosophy The Microdelivery Overnight Peel. I like the results of peels from the salon, with at-home kits, as they are much gentler. I’ve been trialing with different brands, and so far I like the Philosophy the most (the result is nearly on par my favorite the La Prairie Cellular 3 Minute Peel), but based on result vs. value, this is a good option.

Why Peel?

As mentioned in my previous skincare posts, once you’ve passed the age of 28, your skin metabolism rate goes down by a lot. A normal skin renewal cycle is probably 14 days, but my skin is acting sluggish and hardly does any self-renewal. Peel is for peeling the dead skin cells in a more intensive way than an exfoliator, so it reveals newer skin hence it makes your skin appear smoother and with finer pores. It is also great for fading superficial pigmentations at the top debris layer.

How to Use

The overnight kit includes a liquid peel solution as step 1, and a night gel as step 2, with a small bag of cotton pads. For the application, you saturate the pads with the solution and wipe it on your face in a circular motion then leave it for 2 minutes. Then you apply a thick layer of the night gel which is a hydrating leave-in sleeping mask. The peel solution contains alpha/beta hydroxy acid and feels quite gentle and doesn’t sting nor irritate my skin. The night gel has a jelly-like texture, and it is designed to hydrate, soothe and restore your skin from potential irritation that may occur from the peel overnight. You can also add your preferred moisturizer on top.

The Result

As with most at-home peels I have used, the only noticeable result is having the skin look more smooth, glowing and luminous the next day. Peel is used for long-term results, as it helps to renew the skin at a quicker pace. I am more than half way through this kit, and overall the texture of my skin appeared more refined, even and clarified, with less congestion and more clean pores.

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Labels: Philosophy • SKINCARE

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

The Best Eye Brow Pencils I have used

October 8, 2016

A makeup chat with girlfriends leads to this topic today – which makeup item I cannot live without, and my answer is the brow pencil without any hesitation. It is one boring makeup product but critically essential. In this post, I am sharing some of the best and my favorite brow pencils I have used.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer in Taupe – Comes with a grooming brush on the other end. A beautiful taupe brow pencil that is neither too brown nor too gray. The slanted triangular tip is a new favorite, as it is very easy to define and sculpt the brow shape as well as the arches with this design, and you can also control the thickness/thinness of the strokes. It has nice pigmentation and it lasts about 6-7 hours on me.

Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil in 3 (bought here in Australia) – Very similar to the Anastasia that also has a slanted triangular shaped tip, except that the color leans more of a warm brown on me. It is slightly more pigmented and only takes about a few seconds to fill out the whole brow. Both the formula and design are very pleasant to use, and big thumbs up for its outstanding long wear performance (about 7-8 hours).

Chanel Crayon Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil in 30 Brun Naturel (comes with a sharpener, link here in Australia) – Love it. I bought this after hearing some celeb makeup artists rave about it. It is pigmented in a medium to hard formula so it still gives a soft finish for the brows without looking ‘drawn on’. It glides on easily, and the lasting power is about 6-7 hours on me.

IT Brow Power Super Skinny in Universal Taupe (bought here in Australia) – This pencil has an ultra fine micro-tip that is designed to create hair-like strokes. It is pigmented and hard enough for mimicking real brow hair and it gives a natural looking result. The downfall is that since it is so skinny it takes a while to fill out the entire brow compared to the normal sized tip. I normally like to use it for defining the brow head in an upward motion.

Kanebo COFFRET D’OR Brow Designer in Light Brown – Very similar to my holy grail Shu Uemura brow liner that has been discontinued. It has a medium round tip that gives a quick and precise application and a natural finish. I particularly like the sponge applicator at the other end as I can use it to smudge the color and the edge for a softer finish. It is really convenient and a must-have brow pencil for me in the makeup bag.

Shu Uemura Eyebrow Liner – One of my old holy grails that I have been using for years but unfortunately it’s been discounted, and has now been replaced by the Brow Sword. I got this in Seal Brown color as I think this is the most perfect taupe color for brows, so I’ve included it in this post for color reference.

Generally speaking, if you prefer soft look brows, then go for the pointed tip such as the Chanel. The triangular shaped pencil makes the brows look more defined and sharp.

Swatch

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Labels: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS • BENEFIT • BROW • BROW PENCIL • CHANEL • IT COSMETICS • Shu Uemura

La Mer The Concentrate Review – Truly a Miracle Product

October 6, 2016

If I could only have one skincare product, it would be the legendary La Mer The Concentrate (bought here in Australia). I first splurged on it about 5 years ago, and I’ve been hooked on it ever since though my heart bleeds every time I hand over my credit card.

We all know the story of La Mer, whose founder was severely burnt and he invented this legendary formula of ‘miracle broth’ that healed his burnt skin. The miracle broth can be found in most of La Mer’s skincare products, and one of the most famous is of course the La Mer Cream which people swear by its moisturizing ability as well as repairing and healing of sensitive and irritated skin. I love La Mer cream (one of my staples), but the La Mer Concentrate is totally on another level for healing and regeneration that really blows me away. At my sad age where the natural skin renewal process has gone down drastically – you will notice that if the acne scars/marks from your breakout never goes away, then this is when I need to heavily rely on premium skincare products for stimulating the regeneration process.

Texture:

It has a clear milky white elixir consistency with silicone feel. Once it is applied, it makes the skin feel silky smooth and velvety (almost like a makeup primer) without feeling heavy and sticky. It also has an interesting slightly powdery minty scent. If you look at the ingredients list, you will find a list of common ingredients but what makes this product so special is the patented treatment and process of the fermentation of seaweed, and The Concentrate contains the highest dose compared to all the other La Mer products.

How I use it:

I use it sparingly, and 2-3 times a week due to the high price tag, and mainly along the lower jaw lines for a lifting effect, and the area of the skin where it needs to be ‘repaired’. If my budget allows, I really wouldn’t mind it using it twice a day like a normal serum.

My experience:

The most miracle serum I’ve ever used for skin repairing. If I get a new breakout, and the scar never goes away without using any skincare product. With the concentrate, I apply it for 3 consecutive days on the new acne scar and it completely diminishes the mark. On old acne marks, it also helps to heal and fade the marks visibly over time. If I am having occasional dermatitis, sensitive, and irritated skin due to season transitions, this serum heals my skin and brings it back to its normal state overnight. If my skin has been ‘traumatized’ ie. extractions from facial, laser treatment, then this serum calms it down within a few days. I don’t have any surgical marks on my body, but one of my girlfriends used it on her surgery scar from c-section, and it completely healed it as well!

Bottom line:

Truly a miracle product! As a loyal fan, I always go for the 1.7 oz (50ml), and the smallest size it has is the 0.5oz (15ml). If you only use it for mild acne scarring, a small bottle will last more than 6 months. A brief mention that please do not buy prestige skincare samples such as La Mer, La Prairie etc on Ebay, as 99% of time they will be fake.

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Labels: LA MER • SKINCARE

Suqqu Face Designing Concealer Palette Review

October 4, 2016

One of the main reasons I love Japanese beauty products is because they always put in some extra thought into the concept, and you will always find some amazing products that you wished had existed long ago. Case in point is the relatively new Suqqu Face Designing Concealer palette that was released last year – it is a customizable palette that includes 3 types of concealers with different coverage and purpose such as highlighting, covering dark circles or blemishes. I thought it was a brilliant idea and I’ve been pretty much reaching out to this convenient palette every day.

There are 8 shades and 3 different finishes to choose from, and the below chart will give you a more clear idea. Basically any shade that starts with H is for highlight purposes, C is for high coverage ie blemishes, and N is for covering the under eyes. You need to buy the compact case separately, and it comes with a mini concealer brush and sponge applicator. As usual, Suqqu makes the best mini brushes which are very pleasant to use.

I picked H-01, C-01 and N-01.

H-01 is a sheer white shade, and is designed for lifting the color by 1 or 1 ½ tone without altering the skin color. When it is applied under the eyes, it brightens and reflects the light.

C-01 has a neutral undertone, that is more suitable for covering the imperfections on the face.

N-01 has a hint of peachy tone, so it counteracts and neutralizes the typical dark circle color.

Swatched on bare skin with 1 swipe each, once they are blended, they match my skintone (NC15/20) perfectly.

All 3 concealers have a silky and creamy texture but not overly emollient, rich and thick. They all apply nearly streak-free with a flat synthetic brush (still good to have the fingers pat it in as a final step), and it melds into the skin without much blending required.

For under eyes, I apply a layer of N-01 first (or more), then apply the highlight shade (H-01) to brighten it up. The texture is very lightweight, so it never looks cakey and heavy under the eyes regardless of how much coverage you want to build up. It dries down to a semi-velvet finish, and no extra powdering is required. It stays put the whole day without enhancing the dry lines and creasing.

C-01 has a tad more coverage than N-01. It covers mild imperfections such as small blemishes or the dark areas around the nose/mouth corners, and I personally like to use it for concealing the lip lines. However it is not a heavy-duty concealer that will cover big acne/scars etc.

Overall big thumbs up for this palette, particularly for under eye concealing. I have had a fair share of concealing and highlight products designed for under the eyes. I find the cream concealers (such as the Bobbi Brown Creamy concealer) are too creamy and emollient, so they tend to crease over time and makes my eye makeup smudge. Most highlighter pens I have used are a little drying (such as the iconic YSL Touche Eclat). The liquid concealers are not opaque enough for other uses. If you have the same issue as me, then I highly recommend you to give this palette a try, as they are probably the best all-purpose concealers I have ever used that covers, and brightens, and stays put beautifully on dry skin.

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Labels: CONCEALER • SUQQU

If I Could Only Have One Sweater

October 1, 2016

Though the weather is getting warmer in Australia, I couldn’t help but pick up this cozy Acne Studios Deborah Sweater recently as soon as i saw it online. It is oversized, chunky, ribbed with slightly puffy sleeves – it’s such an everyday easy-to-wear style but so-on point with the silhouette. I love it so much that I really want to get the grey piece as well! Size-wise, for a boxy fit or layering, stay true to your size, otherwise go down a size for a more fitted look.