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October 27, 2011

I needed a pair of new flats desperately. As I was browsing my usual websites Neiman Marcus and Saks for ideas…I clicked into Ferragamo subconsciously. It is a brand that I adore for their flats and pumps for their timeless styles. My heart skipped a few beats when I saw this pair, it is everything I wanted for my new flats – beigy taupe color, chunky gold buckle at the front, intricate leather detailing. So I rushed down to my local Ferragamo counter and bought the last pair in my size. Love it!

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Labels: Fashion • Ferragamo • SHOP

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Smoothing Firming Foundation Review

October 26, 2011

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Smoothing Firming Foundation with SPF20 is my latest foundation acquisition. I tried to refrain myself from buying new foundations because I have way too many, however this foundation is just too good to be passed upon testing at the counter so I promised myself that this will be my last foundation for this year! (although the new Sisley foundation SKINLEYA is calling my name every time I walk pass..)

I love GA foundations in general, and if you have read my review here, you will know the Luminous Silk foundation has been my HG for years. It is due for a replenishment but I was more than curious to try the new one out.

I was matched with shade 03 and 04 and it appears 03 is a perfect match for me. The SA also told me the shade 03 is equivalent to GA LSF 04 .

It has the signature GA foundation scent that lingers on my skin for quite a while. I find that the scent is quite pleasant and smells expensive. The texture of this foundation feels very unique – silky, dense and creamy in an emollient milky formula – GA describes it as a gossamer-like texture and I cannot find a better word than that! Compared to LSF it is more creamy. Since it has a denser and more opaque consistency than most liquid foundations, a tiny amount of it goes a long way. It glides over the skin and spreads effortlessly, but for a weightless finish I like to use a foundation brush to apply a sheer layer of it, followed by patting my skin using the beauty blender just to make it more sunk into the skin. The result is extraordinary – flawless yet natural looking, translucent, dewy and feels weightless. It stays put for 10 hours of wear and still looks amazing by the end of the day.

On to the most impressive part:

A NEW Beauty Breakthrough has been introduced into this foundations – A NEW BLUE

Young, vibrant skin has a higher blue light retrodiffusion. Yet as we age, the blue light component decreases and a yellow tinge takes over, causing the skin to loose its natural radiance. Designer lift pioneers a bold movement towards including a precise dose of the magical Prussian blue pigment to diminish dullness, maintain flawless coverage, and “backscatter” radiance on the face.

I am normally quite skeptical with the so-called beauty breakthroughs, however with this one I can really see the difference. Most foundation shades are either yellow or pink based. As an Asian with not so yellow skintone, whenever I go for the yellow based shades they always appear quite yellow or even orange on me, and they wear into half a shade darker once it settles in with my skin’s own natural oil. As what they said, once the yellow tinge appears more prominent, I tend to look dull and tired.

I can really see the difference with the blue pigment used in this foundation. It counteracts the yellowness and brightens up my skin without looking too pinkish or white. Visually my complexion looks more lifted. At the end of the day it stills look radiant and fresh on me, almost like I have a softbox cast over all my face all day! Truly amazing…

I pulled out some foundations from my stash that are similar to shade 03, and from the swatches I hope you can see the difference in the undertone.

From Left to Right:

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Shade 03 – compared to the other pink and beige based shades, this one strikes a perfect balance.

DiorSkin Nude Shade 02- pink based

Chanel Mat Lumiere Shade 20 Clair

BECCA Luminous Skin Color Shade Cashmere

MAKE UP Forever HD Shade 125

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Shade B20

Bottom Line: Perfection! I love this foundation more than any others now. If you have normal to dry skin and looking for a new foundation to try, this is the one to go for! But ladies with very oily skin might have to stay away from it. The GA Designer Lift Foundation is available here or here.

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Labels: FOUNDATION • Giorgio Armani

Suqqu Eye Shadow Brush Medium Review

October 25, 2011

I bought two Suqqu eyeshadow brushes a while ago. I have already reviewed the Suqqu Eye Shadow Large and this is my review for the Suqqu Eye Shadow Brush Medium, also called Socket Brush. As you all know Suqqu brushes are expensive- this little socket brush retails for $48 pounds on Selfridges. But I am using this brush with so much joy everyday, so really it’s worth its weight in gold.

The Suqqu eyeshadow brush medium is a round crease brush that is made of 100% premium gray squirrel hair. The size is a little unusual – larger than a pencil brush and smaller than a normal blending brush (ie MAC 217). The hair is the softest you can get and it is densely packed which just gives enough control over applications such as contouring, and gentle blending for small areas.

Compared to some of my other pencil brushes, the Suqqu is relatively larger, and the softest and fluffiest. I have also included MAC 217 in the picture to show you the size differences.

Suqqu brushes are very unique and original as the the design is always different to the mainstream brushes for the same purpose, which makes them extremely versatile and practical. I personally find that this brush is great for the following uses:

– It is great for applying the eye shadows into the crease/socket line.

– My favorite use of this brush is for adding color to the outer edge of the eyes (as seen in many Lisa Eldridge makeup tutorial videos as that’s how she uses this brush). I normally like to apply a darker color on the outer v, and this brush picks the perfect amount of color as well as giving a full control on defining the edge on my small eyelid space.

– Gentle blending for small areas

– Adding a light wash of color along the lower line which is great for creating soft smoky eyes.

Bottom Line: My life (in the world of makeup) wasn’t complete before I had this brush. If you are on a constant lookout for brushes, Suqqu is the ultimate brush to go for.

FYI, Suqqu brushes are made in Japan by Chikuhodo, and the hairs are sourced from China.

Just a little information on Chikuhodo if you are interested. They are one of the best makeup brush makers in Japan – not only do they have the biggest cosmetics companies such as Suqqu, Shiseido and Kanebo as their clients, but their own series of brushes are even more amazing. For example, the Z-series is their second best series – all brushes in the Z-series are made of 100% gray squirrel hair and have a similar design to Suqqu. Some people say you only need to invest in either one. I personally find that the bristles of Z-series brushes are too silky and densely packed (been playing with them for the last couple of days), it lacks the fluffiness of Suqqu and picks up less color.

Now I want to talk about the P-series which is their best premium range. These brushes are the creme de la creme… can you believe the powder brush retails for 157,500円, that is equivalent to USD2000??!!!

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Labels: BRUSHES • SUQQU

Lunasol Three-Dimensional Eyes 03 Mysterious Beige Review, Swatch and FOTD

October 24, 2011

Lunasol is known for their neutrals, and this fall Lunasol has taken it up a notch and delivered a set of new eye shadows – the Three-Dimensional Eyes, that lets you to manipulate light and shadow more effectively to add depth to your eyes. The star feature of this collection has to be the graduation of the neutral colors, as in each palette the Highlight Color and the Shade Color consists of three different textures and levels of luster. Being an Asian who doesn’t have deep set of eyes, this concept is really intriguing.

Under the influence of my beauty pal Elaine who is a purple-holic, I went for 03 Mysterious Beige which has a purple color (the old me would have gone for the neutral beige but I decided to venture out…)

The highlight color which is a pinkish ivory comes in three different textures – 2 shimmery’s with slight variations in undertone (however on the eyes I don’t see much difference), and 1 sparkly shade.

The purple leans lavender and is very similar to the purple shade in Nars Nouveau Monde, but a softer version.

The shade color is brown with a hint of charcoal undertone – it comes with 2 shimmery shades in variant undertones, and a sparkly shade.

A safe shimmery peachy beige, very similar to Stila Kitten.

Group Swatches: All shades are very smooth and easy to blend.

How I wear this palette:

I firstly applied the shimmery highlight colors all over the eye lid up to the brow bone, then applied the purple shade all over the eye socket area and added the peachy beige into the socket line only. Applied the shimmery shadow colors along the lash line up to the outer v and patted the sparkly shadow over.

On the lower lash line, the sparky highlight color was added to the inner corner and the sparkly shadow color was added to the outer corner. Blend the edge using the peachy beige color.

Finished with a set of quite dramatic lashes, so if you want your eyes to appear 10 times bigger this is the style to go for! (picture can be found in this post)

Overall Look:

I hope you like my take on the soft smouldering look with the Lunasol Mysterious Beige. I also really love how Elaine wears it, check it out here.

For other colors that are available in this range, you can find them on Lunasol’s website.

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Labels: EYESHADOW • FOTD • KANEBO • LUNASOL

Weekend Wear – All Black

October 23, 2011

I am completely obsessed with Zara! Ever since Zara opened its first store in Sydney, I make sure I pop in every week to check out their new arrivals. There really wasn’t anything new that suited me last week, so I hopped over the basics section and bought a really simple black top as my ‘weekly Zara obligation’. This weekend I dressed myself in black from head to toe.

Top – Zara

Leather Skirt – Sportsgirl

Bag – Balenciaga

Heels – Gucci

Necklace – Mimco

Belt – Sheike

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Labels: Fashion • OOTD

Chanel Mat Top Coat Velvet Review and Swatch

October 22, 2011

If I have previously said ‘I don’t like matte nails..” *cough cough* I take my words back! After I purchased my Chanel Le Vernis in Pirate and Rose Cache, I went back to the counter and tested the Chanel Mat Top Coat Velvet. Surprisingly it was very nice and did not make my hands look dull as I thought it would. For those of you who enjoy wearing nail polishes, I think the Chanel Mat Top Coat gives a modern spin.

It applies the same as any other top coat – transparent and smooth, and dries into a matte velvety finish. It was quite fun watching my nails changing from glossy to matte.

Although the Chanel SA recommended that it is best to be used with darker colors, I just felt like experimenting with all the various shades. The Chanel Le Vernis shades swatched here:

– Particuliere; Pirate; Vendetta; Blue Boy; Mimosa

The mat top coat also dries up the nail polishes within minutes, which is an added bonus. However the only downside is that it fades within a few days as by day 3 my nails would look semi-matte.

Do you like matte nails? And do you think it looks the best on dark colors?

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Labels: CHANEL

SKII Treatment Essence VS SUISSE PROGRAMME Cellular Boosting Solution

October 20, 2011

I go through tons of skincare products and there is only a handful of products that I will repurchase. The SKII Treatment Essence is one of them and I have been using it on and off for years. Lately I am trialing the SUISSE PROGRAMME Cellular Boosting Solution. It is a relatively new product and is being marketed as an all purpose lightweight essence and costs the same as SKII. It gained its popularity quickly and has been receiving great feedback so it’s definitely giving the SKII’s treatment essence a run for its money.

SKII Treatment Essence

This product has been featured in numerous magazines and beauty blogs, so I don’t want to do another detailed review to bore you. Basically it is an essence in water consistency. It can be used as a toner, or serum or a step in between. It contains 98% of SKII’s signature ingredient – Pitera. Although there has been some controversy on the effect of Pitera, this product has been around in the market for over 80 years and remains one of the best selling products. So to me it’s the consumers feedback that counts more . Of course I personally have experienced a great result with this product. It is moderately hydrating for my skin type, and best of all it soothes and calms my skin and does a wonderful job for regulating oils and improving clarity. I reach for this product religiously whenever my skin feels sensitive or suffering from breakouts.

From the negative reviews I have read, this product doesn’t fade pigmentation and diminish the appearance of wrinkles. I agree, however it is not a miracle anti aging product that will turn back the clock. I was told it is best to start using this product from the age of 25 as it preserves the current state of your skin and delays the aging process. I started using this when I was 20 and I have not seen any visible signs of aging on my skin yet.

SUISSE PROGRAMME Cellular Boosting Solution (130ml)

Obviously it is a swiss brand and this is one of the best selling products. I expected a lot from this product as it’s been receiving rave reviews.

A little overview on this brand and the product:

SUISSE PROGRAMME Celluar Skin Care is a highly effective skin treatment program resulting from the reputable Swiss cosmetic traditions. It has developed an exclusive Biodynmaic Celluar Complex (BCC) containing active biomolecules capable of acting synergically on the celluar respiration or oxygen consumption within the human cells. The BCC increases the skin regeneration processes and improves skin vitality. This exclusive complex of active ingredients restores skin radiance and reinforces the natural moisturizing action.

SUISSE PROGRAMME Cellular Boosting Solution is a multi-active treatment boosts the transformative effects of daily skincare. It combines the power and effectiveness of three high-tech formulas to help banish signs of skin fatigue and dullness to give you a smooth, radiant and luminous complexion. This high-function solution is designed as a 24 hour effective treatment to counteract signs of premature ageing, preparing the skin to receive and boost the benefits of other skincare treatment.

My Thoughts:

Unlike the SKII Treatment essence, the Suisse Programme Cellular Boosting Solution has a serum consistency. It is very hydrating yet lightweight, feels even more hydrating than my regular serum. Since it comes in a big bottle I apply this liberally every morning and evening, and this sensation is amazing – it makes me feel I am drenched in serum! As the consistency is thicker than the regular toner, it takes about half a minute to completely absorb into the skin. The result is immediate and my complexion appears instantly more even-toned and plumped. I feel I can certainly live without other serums and moisturizers as this product alone keeps my skin hydrated and soft all day long. This product also claims that it boosts the benefits of other skincare treatments. I agree because when I use this product together with my regular serum and moisturizer, I felt my skin is over hydrated! My only gripe with this product is that it contains alcohol.

Bottom Line: The Suisse Programme Cellular Boosting Solution certainly lives up to my expectation. I can’t say which one I prefer more as they are for different needs. The SKII keeps my skin calm and soothed and reduces the breakout to minimum, whereas the Suissie Programme is more potent in terms of hydration and anti-aging but can be too nutritional for younger skin. I will repurchase both of them.

I bought my SKII Treatment Essence at the Singapore airport dutyfree, it was USD$120 for a150ml bottle.

SUISSE PROGRAMME Cellular Boosting Solution (130ml) retails for USD$100. I bought mine from sasa.com

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Labels: SKII • SUISSE PROGRAMME

Tuesday OOTD – My Workwear

October 18, 2011

I am always in a silk blouse paired with an A-line skirt for work. I have tons of them and they are easy to mix and match. I work in a conservative corporate environment so I find that such a look is work appropriate whilst letting me add a touch of fashion.