Front Row Beauty

Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB Cream Review

October 20, 2013

As we all know the BB cream and CC cream are taking the world by storm. The latest release of Perfect Hydrating BB Cream by Shiseido just hit the Australian shores recently, and I was extremely eager to try it out as I am going through the BB and CC cream phase at the moment, and have been reaching to them more frequently than the usual foundations.

I have been using BB cream on and off for years – when it was first introduced in Korea many years ago. Back then I thought BB cream in general was way too over hyped as most of them that I tried were quite ordinary. Fast forward to now, and there are much better BB creams in the market as the technology has evolved. I am very impressed with the new ones that I have purchased lately, and the Shiseido BB Cream is one of them.

Product Information:

– A multifuntional BB cream with a makeup effect and skincare benefits for bright, vibrant lookinng skin that is moistruized, and protected against UV damaage. It is oil free and has SPF30. For the ingredient list [;ease refer to the Sephora website.

My Thoughts:

Texture:

Unlike the traditional BB cream which is thick and heavy, the Shiseido has a silky fluid texture. The lightweight formula blends evenly and instantly assimilates with the skin, and leaves no traces of makeup on the skin. It is perfect for those of you who don’t like the feel of wearing makeup. It also keeps the skin quite hydrated and supple, so there is no need to prep the skin with loads of other products prior to using this one if you don’t have dry skin. However you might find this product not nourishing and rich enough if you have very dry skin.

Color:

The color match is also great for people with fair complexion. I bought it in Light Clare which is the lightest shade of the range. It matches me perfectly (I am NC15) without any grey cast and oxidation – as you can see in the comparison swatch below.

Coverage:

It offers a sheer coverage that helps to even out the complexion with a natural, translucent and slightly dewy finish. It helps to conceal the pores and redness moderately, and does not enhance any dry skin. I personally like to use this product first, then followed by using a concealer to cover up the problematic areas.

Bottom Line: If you have good skin to begin with, you would love this product as it offers the most natural and comfortable even-toned finish with a soft glow. It also serves a great foundation primer as it is extremely lightweight and comes with a decent level of SPF30.

The Shiseido Perfect Hydrating BB cream is available at Sephora and Nordstrom in the US, and House of Fraser and Harrods in the UK with international shipping available.

I bought mine at David Jones for AUD$52.

{ 5 comments }

Labels: BB Cream • FOUNDATION • SHISEIDO

Wardrobe Essential – The Peg Pant

October 15, 2013

I live in peg pants now, and I have it in all different prints. Not only is it trending now and has a menswear-chic look, the utterly flattering low slung and slouchy style also helps to conceal every unflattering bit from the waist down! My favorite has to be the Joie Mariner Pants in the most classic color of black (also comes in navy). It has an elastic waist band with legs that are tapered with a slouchy slim fit. It requires no maintenance as the fabric doesn’t wrinkle which is perfect for the busy mums like me.

I have been holding out on my shopping just for the Shopbop Family and Friend’s Sale which finally starts today! Enter code INTHEFAMILY25 for 25% off your order.

On a side note, here are some fun stats about my weight loss journey.

Total weight gain during pregnancy = 13 kgs

No. of Month since the delivery = 2 months

Total weight lost so far = 6 kgs

Goal = Another 7-8 kgs to lose!

Brian Lichtenberg Feline Tee

Joie Mariner Pants

Mimco Necklace

Chan Luu Bracelet

{ 11 comments }

Labels: Fashion • OOTD

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in 86 Discretion Review and Swatch

October 9, 2013

I popped into the Chanel Makeup studio to check out the new Vitalumiere Compact Douceur. To my surprise I also spotted two new Joues Contraste Blushes 85 Evocation and 86 Discretion just being released. In the end I decided to pass on the powder foundation as it just feels too dry for my desert-dry skin at the moment, but I couldn’t resist the beautiful Joues Contraste Powder Blush in 86 Discretion.

The texture of Discretion reminds me of Fleur De Lotus that was released as part of the Le Blanc Collection last year (reviewed here) – it feels noticeably more buttery softer than the other JC of baked version in the permanent line. Even though the color is very light, the color payoff is greater than I expected. I only needed 1 to 2 swipes for the color to show on my face, as opposed to multiple swipes needed with other JC blushes that have a harder texture.

The color is also quite interesting. It looks like a pale baby pink with iridescent micro shimmer in the pan. When it is applied it shows up as a pale pink with a hint of coral undertone. As you can see in my comparison swatches below, going by that Narcisse is a true baby pink, Discretion is more warm and brighter. As with most Chanel JC, the finish of Discretion is natural and soft with a lit within glow, and you will never go overboard with this blush.

Bottom Line: A must have pretty and soft pink blush from Chanel in my opinion.

{ 7 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL

Le Blush Cream de Chanel 65 Affinite and 63 Revelation Review, Swatches and FOTD

September 29, 2013

I finally get back into the swing of shopping and wearing makeup again! And my first purchase since my “break” was the Le Blush Cream De Chanel in 65 AFFINITE and 63 REVELATION. I wore these on several occasions and I absolutely adore them. They are now becoming one of my top three favorite cream blushes – on par with my Addiction Cheek Sticks and the Stila Convertibles.

My thought on these cream blushes is that the texture would go well with every skin type. The cream blush is extremely finely milled so it doesn’t settle into the pores. And it is extremely easy to blend into a natural and even finish. I only need a tiny dab of it to create a natural flush of color on the cheeks. The finish strikes a perfect balance between creamy and powdery (see the comparison swatch below), and it sets into the skin seamlessly without enhancing dry patches and pores.

There is no surprise that I picked up two of the most popular pink shades from the range. The must-have 65 AFFINITE which has been out of stock for a long time, and the 63 REVELATION that goes with any makeup look all year round.

65 AFFINITE is a bright strawberry pink with a hint of blue undertone that sets into a semi-matte finish. If you think the color looks quite ordinary when it is swatched on hand, then you should give it a try on the face. It’s one of those ‘magical’ bright pink shades that instantly transforms a dull and lifeless complexion into a fresh and youthful looking one.

63 REVELATION is a warm peachy pink. It is a no brainer soft pink shade that is easy to wear when you are on the go.

Comparison Swatches with Addiction Cheek Stick Amazing; Stila Convertible Gerbera, YSL Cream Blush 9 (reviewed here), Stila Convertible Lillium

FOTD 1 wearing shade 65 AFFINITE

FOTD 2 wearing shade 63 REVELATION

Other products used:

RMK Foundation, Lunasol Summer Eyes 2013, YSL Lipstick PINK IN PARIS in FOTD 1, and CORAIL INCANDESCENT in FOTD 2 (reviewed here)

Bottom Line: If these blushes can make me look like ‘have slept for 8 hours’ (which indeed I only sleep less than 5 hours a day…), then they really are doing something magical that’s worth the splurge. I bought the Chanel Cream Blush at David Jones for $60 each. Both shades are available here in the US. You can also get them from Harrods with international shipping and VAT Tax deduction available.

{ 20 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL • FOTD • YSL

Logomania

September 10, 2013

These witty Brian Lichtenberg logo Tees are my first purchase since I became a mum. They are young, quirky and hip, which is exactly what I need to feel after being pregnant for so long (and I also can’t wait to get back to wearing heels)! Since I will be off work for a while, these Tees will be classic off-duty staples in my closet. Teaming them with jeans or slouchy pants for a relaxed laid-back style.

Left: Ballin Muscle Tee Hot Pink, Right: Feline short sleeve Tee White

{ 6 comments }

Labels: Fashion • SHOP

It’s a BOY!

September 3, 2013

Three weeks ago, my little bundle of joy arrived into this world. He decided to give mummy a surprising kick the day before my birthday so my water broke, and he was delivered the day after my birthday after a painful 38 hours of labour! Thinking back, I had no idea how I was able to pull it through. It’s only been 3 weeks but I felt it’s been a decade. My whole world has changed since his arrival – being a parent is what matters to me the most now. Yes, the pregnancy, the labour and post delivery recovery were all difficult, but it’s all worth it every time I look at my precious little beautiful boy. He brings the utmost joy and happiness to my family. And just like every mother, he is the cutest and most beautiful baby in my eyes.

I have mostly recovered after locking myself at home and stuffing myself with loads of food for confinement (which is an Asian thing) for the past few weeks. I will be on maternity leave for 6 months which I hope will allow me to lose all the baby weight and update my blog as much as I can.

{ 77 comments }

LUNASOL SUMMER 2013 Kit Review, Swatches and EOTD

August 10, 2013

I was drooling over the Limited Edition LUNASOL Summer 2013 Kit which was only exclusive to Japan as soon as it was released, so when my dear friend Elaine happened to be in Japan at that time, I jumped the gun and asked her to purchase this set for me (along with some other beautiful makeup items)! I just received all the goodies today and this set is truly taking my breath away – I love every single product included in the set and particularly the beautiful coral eye shadow quad.

The coral themed LE Summer 2013 kit contains the following items which retails for $8400 YEN + tax that is very good value for money!

* Summer Eyes 2013 EX01 Light Coral Beige (full size)
* W Gloss Lips EX03 Fresh Coral × Fresh Red (full size)
* Lucent Cheeks EX03 Light Coral (mini size)
* Nail Finish N EX16 BrightRed (mini size)
* a well-made canvas cosmetics bag

The Summer Eyes 2013 EX01 Quad is the main reason that got me to purchase the set. I love the fact that it contains a soft coral and a pink color that just add a different twist to a “tired” neutral palette. It is a very fresh and feminine palette to wear during spring and summer. Wearing a pop of pink or soft red shade on the eyes is trending in Asia lately as they make your eyes appear more innocent and youthful looking. Along with this quad, my other favorite pick is the Suqqu Blend Color eyeshadow EX16 from its Fall 2013 Collection which also contains a hot pink shade that is on the way!

The quality of this quad is of typical premium Japanese eye shadows (very similar to Addictions) – all of the eye shadows are velvety smooth and cushiony soft. All shades are moderately pigmented in pearly translucent finish, and they all have micro shimmer with a soft gleam.

Swatch of Lunasol Vivid Clear Eyes Summer 2013 EX01

Swatches of the rest of the items:

EOTD:

Wearing (A) all over the lid, (B) over the eye socket area and (D) along the upper lash line with (E) added on to the outer-v.

Wearing (B) along the lower lash line, then (C) is added to the tear duct and lined (E) to the outer one third.

Lip Gloss Swatch with both colors layered together:

Bottom Line: You should not miss out on this kit if you can get your hands on it! Please refer to this post on Rouge Deluxe for availability in Japan.

{ 6 comments }

Labels: EYESHADOW • LIPGLOSS • LUNASOL

CLOUD NINE Hair Curling Wand Review

August 2, 2013

I am so excited that I finally have the CLOUD NINE Hair Curling Wand which has been on my wishlist for so long! And I cannot be more happy with it – it is worth every penny and it does everything I ever wished for a hair curling tool can do. Prior to this I have tried tons of mid range curling tongs, and although they function as expected, the Cloud Nine Wand just completely blows the others out of the water in terms of design and performance.

For those of you who are not familiar with the brand Cloud Nine, it is a company that makes professional and revolutionary hair styling tools. The founder of Cloud Nine is actually the creator of the legendary GHD straightener, and they have established this relatively new brand after the huge success of GHD. So as soon as I heard about this I just knew their products would wow me.

Packaging is sleek and modern, it also comes with a glove to protect your hand

What is CLOUD NINE Wave & Curl Wand:

It is a hair curling/waving wand that has 3 heat settings. The barrel is coated with their signature ceramic finish which is designed to give your hair added shine and smoothness. The tapered barrel design also gives you the freedom to create different sizes of curls. When I first received the wand, I was quite surprised at how big this wand is compared to others.

The Wand comes with a protective heat guard in frosted finish

Compared to the other large hair curling tongs

Why should you have it?!

1. It heats up within 2 seconds. The design is very sleek and it looks and feels expensive.

2. I normally use the highest heat setting which works magical for my hair type. I have naturally frizzy medium/coarse hair which is very curl resistant. The problems I had with my other ordinary curling tools is that they take a long time just to curl one small strand of hair. Since I have so much hair, by the time I reach the other side of the head, the first section of hair became straight again! So I always had to go back and re-curl some hair over and over, and the entire process was very time consuming and frustrating. With the Cloud Nine Wand, it takes literally no effort to curl the hair – I can just grab a large strand of hair and wrap it around the wand and take it off immediately (without holding it for seconds). And voila the curl looks smooth and stays in its shape all day! It allows me to curl all my hair within 10 minutes with very minimum effort.

3. I have previously mentioned in my other hair tool review posts that I am very bad with hair styling, especially with curling my hair. This wand is a life changer for me as it is definitely designed for novice users like me. The tapered design of the barrel gives you the freedom to create all types of curls, and the extra large size is also a bonus for people with long hair. I can easily create the looks below in a short time:

Wrap a small section of hair around the thinner end of the barrel to create tight and mermaid-like curl.
Wrap a medium section of hair around the whole barrel to create voluminous Victoria Secret like waves.
Wrap a large section of hair around the whole barrel to create an effortless beachy waves.

Bottom Line: When it comes to electronic beauty items, I am a firm believer in what you pay is what you get. The Cloud Nine Wand is a life changer for hair curling for me. If you are frustrated with the fact that you can never achieve the “magazine perfect curls” as you’ve seen on celebs/models with the tools you have, then I highly suggest you give this one a go. It works with all hair types, and it will blow you away at how easy and fast to use. The CLOUD NINE Hair Curling Wand is available here (currently on special!) with more information on the product.

{ 21 comments }

Labels: Beauty Tools • CLOUD NINE • HAIRCARE

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →