Front Row Beauty

My Skincare Routine Part 2 – Minimizing pores and congestion

September 7, 2011

If Part 1 of my skincare routine is all about keeping my skin soft and hydrated, then part 2 is all for a smooth and congestion free complexion. Congestion is probably my biggest skin concern – I have been battling with it (mainly the nose area and some pores on the cheeks and chin) for years! I used to go for facials (for extractions) at least once a month – although it really helped to keep the pores clear, it was just a temporary fix as my pores would be blocked again within weeks. I also noticed that my pores were enlarged over time. For years I have been seeking every possible way to keep my skin congestion free as well as have my pores minimized. This is the routine I have been following and I have noticed a significant improvement in my skin.

The best thing I have ever done for my skin was to stop using the products that are designed for oily skin. I had oily skin so I was told to use the oil controlling products at every cosmetics counter I visited. These products were so harsh to my skin that they completely stripped the natural oil, and as a result my skin became even more oily. The day I switched from these products, my skin completely went back to normal – I didn’t have to blot my face throughout the day anymore!

Other than taking care of my skin in the right way on a daily basis, these are the products I use probably once a week to keep my complexion smooth, radiant as well as helping the prevention of blackheads and whiteheads from occurring.

EXFOLIATORS – twice a week

I am quite addicted to using exfoliators as I love the smooth feel of the my skin afterwards. I am currently using the Cosmedicine Self Adjusting Exfoliator – my all time favorite..sad that this brand has been discontinued…Glad that I have recently found Elemis Skin Buff which is just as good, love the extra fine granules. The Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-texturizing Micro Dermabrasion is not a bad product, but I find it doesn’t make the skin as smooth as the other two exfoliators.

PEELS – once every 2 weeks

My recent obsession. Peels keep my skin staying radiant and fresh for days. I have already reviewed the Philosophy Microdelivery Peel, it does what it claims to but I was on a hunt for a better product. Absolutely love my recent purchase of the Decleor Experience De L’Age Resurfacing Gel-peeling – it is easier to use and it makes my skin silky smooth and luminous for days.

DEEP CLEANSING MASK – once or twice a week

At the moment I am using REN Multi-Mineral Pore Minimising Detox Mask. It is a gentle deep cleansing mask designed to reduce the pore size, combat blackheads and leave the skin decongested. It comes in a soft clay texture and it can be removed by rubbing it off with fingertips.

AHA and BHA – I use it whenever I see blackheads/whiteheads forming

I don’t have congested skin on my cheeks and chins anymore. But when everything else fails to keep the pores clear on my nose, I like to apply AHA and BHA on the affected area. I used to use Neo Strata AHA 15 in conjunction with Paula’s Choice 2% BHA – they work great but might be irritating for sensitive skin. The Avene Cleanance K with AHA and BHA is a more gentle version and can be used daily to help eliminate blackheads and other blemishes.

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Labels: DECLEOR • ELEMIS • KIEHL'S • Philosophy • REN

Nars Blush Bronzer Trio Review and Swatches

September 6, 2011

Every now and then Nars would release a set of limited edition makeup containing some of their best selling products – none of them have caught my attention as I have already collected most of the Nars makeup . When the Nars Blush Bronzer Trio was released a few months ago, it featured some the most iconic Nars shades including the 0rgasm blush, albatross highlighter and the laguna bronzer. I didn’t give it a second thought until I read from BestThingsinBeauty that the blush from the palette is different to the original blush. I was intrigued by what she said as well as her pictures- as much as I love the original 0rgasm shade, the “new” shade just looked so much better! Since this palette was not available in Australia I wasn’t able to swatch them at a counter, so I couldn’t help but order it online.

It comes in a zippered compact nylon case which is handy for traveling – not a big fan of the design but at least the nylon will be more durable than the usual rubber case which I detest…

Swatches of the three must have shades by Nars:

First thing I did when I received this palette was to compare it with my original blush. I held the swatch under every lighting – it was much to my delight that the “new” shade is much more pink than the original.

Another comparison:

Bottom Line: What a lovely surprise! I love the “reformulated” shade more than the originals.

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Labels: BLUSH • HIGHLIGHTER • NARS

Jill Stuart Mix Blush Compact 105 Sweet Lock Review and Swatches

September 3, 2011

Out of the entire Jill Stuart Fall 2011 Collection I was looking forward to the Mix blush compact in 105 sweet lock the most. The shades in the blush appear to be beige toned, which is different to the usual different variations of pink blushes that Jill Stuart has released. This limited edition has a white over-spray of the Jill Stuart signature.

The case also has a special jewel cast. As usual, it comes with a really pretty retractable brush that is detachable. I find these blushes are very handy as I like to keep one in my makeup bag, and it feels much better quality than the cheap retractable blushes you find at the drugstores.

Upon swatching I realized that this is just another pink blush! Quite disappointing for me as I anticipated it to be a beige and peachy blush judging by the colors from the pan. It contains 2 matte and 2 shimmery shades. Except for the pink shade on the bottom right, the rest of the shades are all on the sheer side.

Under direct sunlight

In the shadow:

FOTD: As said this blush is very sheer. When applied using a dense brush such as the attached Jill Stuart brush, the colors do show up on my NC15 skintone but the effect is very soft and subtle.

Compared to the Jill Stuart blush blossom dual cheek color in Classic Camellia, the colors are pretty similar but Sweet Lock is incomparably sheer. If I had known they were both pink blushes I would have only purchased one. I personally would buy the dual cheek color and pass up on this one, as dual cheek is more pigmented and it can be used either as a matte or shimmery blush.

Bottom Line: A lovely soft pink blush that provides a sheer wash of color on fair skin. If your skin tone is darker than NC25 I doubt it will show up. I won’t say it’s a must have as it is not any different to the past pink blushes released by Jill Stuart. If you are interested in purchasing a Jill Stuart Mix Compact blush, I highly recommend you to check out the permanent line.

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Labels: BLUSH • BRUSHES • Jill Stuart

My Daily Skincare Routine – Part 1

September 1, 2011

This is a long overdue post as I have been requested to do a rundown on my daily skincare routine many times. Well the reason I’ve been procrastinating was because I had no idea where to begin! Between makeup and skincare, I am probably more passionate about skincare although I don’t talk much about it on this blog as often as makeup. I shop and go through lots of products every month. My approach is quite open-minded so I’m always open to try new things – I am not one of those girls who thoroughly check the ingredients before making a purchase. As long as I think the product will work for my skin type I’m always happy to give it a go.

Just some background information before I embark on my skincare routine. My skin is oily on the surface and dehydrated inside. If it is not well hydrated my makeup would appear just sitting on top of my skin whilst it still produces a lot of oil throughout the day. I also have pigmentation (freckles) across my cheeks. Other than that, I don’t have wrinkles, fine lines, and no signs of loss of firmness. My main goal is to keep my skin looking and feeling fresh, supple, moisturized, firm and plumped with no visible appearance of pores.

These are the products I have been using everyday for the past 2 months. Some of these are my holy grails, some of these are new products I have been trialing through, and I like the results so I have incorporated them into my daily regime. I tend to go for products that are gentle, lightweight and hydrating with some anti-aging benefits. Anything that is too rich and oily will cause congestion or even break-outs to my skin.

As you can see I am not loyal to any brands haha..I generally prefer high end brands for basic skincare but I also have a love for Asian drugstore brands for masks (I have tons of them!).

My Morning Routine:

I clean my face with Elemis Rehydarting Rosepetal Cleanser, then I apply SK II Facial Treatment Essence generously on my face, and pat my face till it absorbs. SK II Aqua Physics Serum is full of pitera and hyaluronic acid which keeps my skin supple and hydrated all day. Finish with Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturising Gel. (probably the best product out of the entire white lucent range)

For my eyes I like to use La Prairie Cellular Revitalizing Eye Gel – have gone through tons of anti-puffiness eye gels and this is the only one that really works!

My Evening Routine:

I remove my makeup with the Eve Lom Cleanser with its muslin cloth – my HG cleanser, then apply the SK II Facial Treatment Essence liberally again. Serum is an essential item in my skincare routine – at the moment I am using the Trilogy Age Proof Nutrient Plus Firming Serum and the CQ10 Booster Serum interchangeably. Trilogy is one of my favorite organic skincare lines that is based in New Zealand. If you are into natural skincare I highly recommend giving them a go as they are affordable and really deliver what they claim to. Moisturizer is switched to the Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion W – it’s designed for nightime so the texture is slighter richer than the gel version.

I also use a different eye cream at night time – the Shiseido Bio Performance Super Eye Contour Cream keeps the fine lines at bay without being too nutritional for my age so it doesn’t cause any milia. Don’t forget to take care of the neck girls! I am using the Shiseido Benefiance Concentrated Neck Contour Treatment.

That’s it for my basic skincare. I use more products as special treatments throughout the week so there will be part 2, part 3….

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Labels: ELEMIS • Eve Lom • La Praire • MOISTURIZER • SHISEIDO • SKII • Trilogy

Jill Stuart blush blossom dual cheek color in 102 Classic Camellia Review and Swatch

August 30, 2011

The Jill Stuart blush blossom dual cheek color in 102 Classic Camellia from its 2011 Fall Collection is pretty, from little details such as the embedded diamante to the signature Jill Stuart floral scent in every product. Like most girls I got lured into Jill Stuart makeup for their pretty packaging, then I found myself addicted as I find the quality of their products are just as superior.

It retails for around $50 USD over the counters in Asia which I think is reasonably priced for what you get. The duo blush comes in loose pigment form – one side is for the cheek and the other is an illuminator. It also comes with a decent sized retractable brush that feels of high quality.

Not a big fan of using loose pigment as I am quite clumsy! However the design of this blush gives you really good control over how much product to dispense by gently pressing the brush into the mesh. You can then use the inner lid to mix the color or remove excess powder.

The cheek color is a soft cool toned pink that looks almost angelic on fair skin – as often seen on the models in the Japanese Beauty Mags. It has slight shimmer in it when swatched on my arm but doesn’t really show up on my face. If your complexion is warm-toned and you have trouble finding a blush that shows up as baby pink without the lavender and mauvy tone, this is the blush to go for. The highlighting shade is a shimmery ivory white with a pink undertone. When used sparingly it gives a soft glow to the face.

FOTD:

Both shades are very pigmented – a little bit of it goes a long way and they lasted on me for the whole day. I applied the cheek color on my apples then the highlighter along the top of my cheekbones.

I personally find that Japanese brands make the best cool toned pink blushes for Asian complexions. Comparison of some possible dupes:

Clockwise:

Canmake cream cheek color in 03

RMK cheek color in 03 Light Pink

Etude House Miss Tangerine Cream Blusher in Miss Berry (Korean brand)

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Labels: BLUSH • Jill Stuart

Jill Stuart Fall 2011 Collection Haul

August 28, 2011

This post might create some serious lemming for those of you who are into girly and cute makeup, so be prepared if you happen to be on a shopping ban this month! Jill Stuart Fall 2011 Collection was released in Asia about 3 weeks ago, I was totally smitten by this collection as soon as I saw the promo pictures. I cannot thank Jennifer from Lifeandlensofbeauty enough who kindly offered to purchase these products for me in Hongkong. She told me that they have been so popular that as soon as the release was out, she had to send all of her relatives to different Jill Stuart counters..This is just incredibly sweet of her!

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Jill Stuart Makeup – it is a high end makeup line originated in Japan with an über dreamy princessy packaging. It is my must-visit spot whenever I go to Asia – not only do I love collecting their blushes (which is their best selling product) I am also deeply infatuated with all the cute girls working at Jill Stuart who look like real life Barbies haha.

The Jill Stuart Fall collection contains 2 LE blushes, 3 LE nail polishes, 4 LE lip glosses and a whole new permanent line of Prism Carat Eyes which are cream and loose eyeshadow duos – I passed these up as I am not that into loose pigment. To find more information on this release check out this post from Rouge Deluxe.

I bought

– the Limited Edition Blush Blossom dual cheek color in 102 classic camellia (left), and

– the Limited Edition mix blush compact in 105 sweet lock (right)

Three nail lacquers in (from left to right)

– 51 opaline georgette

– 50 layered petal

– 52 vintage beads

I will be reviewing these products very soon 🙂

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Labels: Jill Stuart • SHOP

Chanel Le Vernis Tendresse and Ombres Tissées Beiges Reviews

August 27, 2011

I bought the Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges and the Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color 507 Tendresse a while ago (soon after I posted it here) but never had the time to swatch them for you. For the Chanel makeup lovers in Australia, unfortunately we have only received these two products from Les Aquarelles de Chanel Collection, which means we miss out on the rest of the products such as the JC blush in pink cloud and the Rouge Coco Shine in Royallieu which I am dying to get my hands on! As usual, both CafeMakeup and TheBeautyLookBook have great reviews for all the products from the Les Aquarelles de Chanel Collection.

The Ombres Tissées Iridescent Effects Eyes in Beiges is truely a master piece of art – it shines in the light like a precious jewel.

Once the overspray is removed it loses its glamorous appeal…

Swatches with the overspray

Swatches without the overspray are luminous but without the frost and glitters. They look the same on the skin once they are blended.

Layered it with a matte pink blush

FOTD: I have applied the Chanel Beiges on top of a matte grey shade on my eyes. On my cheeks I applied a pink cream cheek color on the apples then added the highlighter from the center of the apples towards the temples. I would say it is a good highlighter for people who are not overly tanned. On my NC15 complexion it delivers a soft candlelit glow to the face without changing the skin color.

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color 507 Tendresse is a lovely nude neutral pink – my number one staple shade if I want my hands to look polished and clean. The consistency of this polish is very thin and liquidy compared to the other Le Vernis. I had to apply 4 thin coats to achieve a semi opaque jelly-like finish.

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Labels: CHANEL • HIGHLIGHTER • NAIL POLISH

Suqqu Eyeshadow Brush Large Review

August 23, 2011

Suqqu Eyeshadow Brush Large could be the best buy of the year for me. It is expensive (costs around USD$75) but it is worth every single penny! Ever since I got this brush I barely used any of my other blending brushes in my stash. It is made of 100% grey squirrel hair. The softness is on par with the Suqqu cheek brush (reviewed here). My eyes have been super sensitive lately – as a result I cannot use some of my usual go-to brushes because I find them irritating on my fragile skin around the eyes. This brush feels exceptionally silky soft and soothing, it makes applying makeup just that little bit more enjoyable!

The shape of this brush is wide and rather flat compared to the usual blending brushes such as MAC 224 or MAC 217. The brush is fluffy, voluminous and bouncy – you will love the feel of the soft resistance coming from an ultra soft brush, which is what a goat hair brush lacks.

Although this brush appears quite flat from the side, the brush head is just as fluffy as the MAC 217 and 224 but more tapered. Quite a multifunctional eye brush in my opinion. I like to use the wide side to apply the eye color over a large area, and the tapered tip for defining the crease and for swirling the brush to blend. This brush is designed to provide a sheer wash of color (not a laydown brush) so it picks up about the same amount of color as MAC217.

The amazing thing about this brush is that it applies the eyeshadows beautifully. I have no idea what magic has been cast on to this brush (could be the fact that it is made of super fine and silky smooth natural ending squirrel hair)..I have been using this brush with all sorts of eyeshadows ranging from sheer to rich, shimmery and powdery (ie baked version of Chanel). It never fails to distribute the color incredibly evenly over the area you apply, and it polishes to a smoother finish.