GUERLAIN

May Favorites

June 2, 2011

The problem with having too many makeups is that I never know which product to use..it’s like a kid in a big candy shop..too many options to choose from. Monthly favorite posts help me to share my love equally – I like to put the makeups I have been using for the past month aside and pick a new set of  makeups for the upcoming month.

Being a makeup minimalist, I like to stick with just a small handful of makeup items for the whole month.

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MAKEUPS:

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick in Baby – my all time favorite lipstick by Guerlain, gives you baby lookalike lips!

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in 06 – been raving about it for the entire month 😛 reviewed here and FOTD here

Nars Blush in Luster

Chanel Ombre Essentielle in Fauve

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Becca Lost Weekend Eyeshadow Palette (Fall Limited Edition)

Mac Eye Kohl in I get No Kick

Chanel Under Eyes Corrector

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Nars Larger Than Life Volumising Mascara – truly exceeded my expectations!

Nars Smudge Proof Eyeshadow Base

Stila Convertible Color in Peony

Stila Lip Gloss in Blush – a nudy pink color

nars-larger-than-life-volumising-mascaraSKINCARES:

KIEHLS Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion: It does its job and it’s gentle enough to be used every two days.

My Beauty Diary Sunflower Face Sheet Mask: Long time fan of their masks, this limited edition is beyond amazing! For those of you who aren’t aware, Beauty Diary has recently improved their face sheet – it is a lot thinner and adheres to your face without any air bubbles . I have to stock up more before it is discontinued..

L’OCCITANE Ultra Rich Body Cream in Vineyard Rose: Another limited edition product that was recently released. A very rich body cream that smells like..Heaven. If you love rose and soapy scents, then this is The One! It can’t stop sniffing at it.

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HAIRCARES:

TSUBAKI Head Spa Extra Cleasing Shampoo with essential oil: I use this one once a week – it is better than any of the high end clarifying shampoos that I’ve tried.

TSUBAKI Head Spa Massage Mask with essential oil: It’s a treatment for the scalp, feels relaxing and promotes healthy hair growth.

Living Proof Frizz Free Styling Cream: a silicone free product that really works!

KERASTASE Nectar Thermique: a weightless gel that protects my dry hair from heat everyday

KERASTASE Serum Nuit: an overnight treatment I’ve been using every night that renews my hair from looking dull and lifeless

tsubaki-and-kerastase-haircareGeez..I am quite high maintenance aren’t I 😛

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One of my dear readers has requested for a review of Guerlian L’OR Radiance Concentrate with Pure Gold Makeup Base. I started using this product on and off since I came back from my holiday. It is the perfect time to test this product out because the weather has been so cold. As a result my skin is dryer than usual and needs some extra help to make my makeup look better.

Guerlain does some amazing makeup bases. The L’OR Radiance Concentrate has been around for the longest time of them all – it is almost a cult product as a makeup base.

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Guerlain’s promise about this product:

It is a hydrating makeup base gel. The 24 carat gold has been fashioned into precious flakes using a unique time-honoured method, to integrate them magically into the gel. As though suspended in the air, the flakes sparkle to reveal their precious treasure: radiance. The complexion is immediately awakened, thanks to the formula’s extreme hydrating action.

My thoughts:

Love the packaging. It speaks luxury. It is packed in a sterdy heavy glass bottle, not plastic. The reflection of gold flakes makes the product look ultra luxurious.

I have mixed feelings about this product. To sum it up it is basically a soothing makeup gel that hydrates your skin and gives you a dewy complexion. It is definitely the most hydrating makeup base I have ever come across. When applied on the skin it does feel slightly tacky – I normally wait for a minute till the tackness wears off. This product allows the foundation to glide on like a dream – it saves you time from blending and the foundation sinks into your skin without a sign of cakiness or flakiness.

As for the radiance, the gold flakes dissolves with the gel into your skin. It gives a nice dewy finish without any shimmers, which is what I prefer anyway.

guerlain-l'or-radiance-concentrate-with-pure-gold-before-and-afterTo give you a better idea, I am brave enough to show you my bare skin and the after effect! (*please excuse my freckles, large pores..)

What the camera can’t show is that my skin looks more hydrated and supple. The radiance on my skin is very subtle, because this product is so hydrating it plumps my skin up a little giving a dewy glow. But please note  it will NOT give you an ultra luminous glow as some other shimmer products do.

guerlain-l'or-radiance-concentrate-with-pure-gold-before-and-after-swatch

Once I apply the foundation over, the radiance effect becomes less noticeable. It only makes your foundation sit better on your skin and keeps your foundation looking fresh (without oxidizing) for an extended period of time – about  8 hours indoors for me.

with foundation

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Would I repurchase it: No for now.

Although it is a good all rounder makeup base and I love the hydrating effect it gives. (imo it is definitely better than my Nars makeup base)  I won’t classify this product as a makeup base that will give you a radiant glow.  For such an expensive product (around $110 in Australia), it should work more than a hydrator . There are a lot of other cheaper hydrating makeup bases that might work just as good as this one. For now I am going to explore further on other products.

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April Weekly Haul

April 7, 2011

I want to do more product reviews or FOTDs, but I have been working extremely long hours lately, by the time I get home my face is left with nothing but stress and  dust haha. Since I shop almost every week, I think I might as well show you what I have bought lately.

No matter how tired I get, I always have some energy left to shop!  I managed to stock up some of my all time favorite products as well as some new products I have been lemming for a while.

Here you go, a group picture.

frontrowbeauty-haulI love Inglot makeups, can’t rave enough about it! I picked up some beautiful pigments, a gel lipstick and a super moisturizing lip crayon.

inglot-makeups

Two products from Mecca. My all time favorite world’s best cleanser by Eve Lom – this is my third pot. I am still using other cleansers but I don’t feel secure without this one.

eve-lom-cleanserI have never tried the Living Proof haircare line,  it sounds really enticing on Mecca’s ads.

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Guerlain Radiance concentrate with Pure Gold Makeup Base. What?!! Another primer! I have always been wanting to try out this product, heard so many good things about it.

guerlain-radiance-concentrate-with-pure-gold-makeup-baseReviews and swatches for these products are coming soon 🙂

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