Beauty

Net-A-Porter Beauty Haul and Favorite Picks

September 16, 2016

Ever since Net A Porter launched beauty, I became a loyal shopper (I meant – always tag a few beauty products along with my fashion purchases in every shopping cart!) . They don’t have the biggest selection of beauty products as with the department stores, but I like their picks and some of their exclusive beauty brands which are not found in Australia. At the moment they are offering free shipping for orders over AUD$150/USD$300 (normally free shipping for order value of AUD$300 or greater) which I thought was a good opportunity to stock up.

Sharing my hauls and the picks from NAP.

1. Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick – I love CT matte revolution lipsticks (see my review here), and recently she has launched the Hot Lips collection in some beautiful new shades. I posted a few pictures of my picks for the Hot Lips on my insta, but haven’t had the time to do a full review for the blog yet.

2. Charlotte Tilbury Life Changing Eyelash Curler – Reviewed here. It’s so pretty and works as good as my HG Shu curler.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette – A natural everyday palette for the entire face. Love all the colors in the palette and it is such great value for having lots of multi-purpose shades in one palette. Unfortunately, it is currently sold out, but you can add it to the wishlist and you will be notified.

4. Beauty Blenders – Can’t live without them! I use a new one every 3 months, and I have got them in every size and color!

5. OUAI Haircare – Possibly the hottest haircare brand at the moment. This brand is launched by Kim Kardashian’s hairdresser, and they are an instant hit. I’ve been trialing out some products lately and absolutely love all of them, especially the treatment mask.

6. Artis Elite Mirror Brush – Totally a new concept for makeup brushes. The foundation brush is my first brush from the brand, and so far I like it very much.

7. BBROWBAR – A great brand that specializes in brow products for every single brow issue. I love their brow pen (have them in several colors) as it is really great for drawing short and hair-like strokes for the most natural real-brow look, and I find them more pigmented and longer lasting than the Japanese brands.

8. Christophe Robin Cleansing Purifying Scrub – I just bought it and it’s on the way so it’s not in the picture. Heard so many raves about this hair scrub for an intensive cleanse and scalp detoxification.

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Labels: ARTIS • BeautyBlender • Charlotte Tilbury • HAUL • LIPSTICK • My Favorites • OUAI • SHOP

My 6 Best Eye Shadow Blending Brushes

September 11, 2016

I love doing top 5 (or more) picks posts, and today I am sharing some of my ultimate favorite eye shadow blending brushes. If you ask me to pick only a few favorite lip colors, it will be nearly mission impossible, but with brushes it’s a relative easy job as I tend to reach out for these brushes all the time, and I just know that my makeup routine will not be the same without them! They are suitable for all budgets, ranging from the most premium high end such as Suqqu, to the very affordable brand from the rising star Zoeva.

From left to right:

Suqqu M, Chanel Large Tapered Brush #19, Tom Ford Blend Brush, MAC 217, ZOEVA 227, Edward Bess Luxury Eye Brush

All of these brushes are of very high quality, even though they are priced differently because of the type and source of bristles, where they were made and the packaging along with the brand name. However in terms of usability, they all stand the test of time and will last you at least 10 years of use. I have had each of them for a very long time, and none of them shed hair, change shape or fall apart.

MAC 217 – Using the MAC 217 as the standard blending brush. Needless for me to say how useful this brush is for eye shadow application, and you can find my detailed review for MAC brushes in this post.

ZOEVA 227 Soft Definer – If you love the MAC 217, you will love this ZOEVA brush made with goat hair which pretty much feels and works the same. The hair softness is similar, with an oval shape, but a tad more flat than 217 which is great for working the color into the crease. I love ZOEVA brushes in general which I have hauled a lot lately – they are affordable with a big selection, and I find that the quality is on par with MAC. Each brush comes in an individual zip bag.

Edwass Bess Luxury Eye Brush (available here in Australia) – This is the star product from his line. I have had this brush for more than 5 years. It boasts the same dome shape as the MAC 217, but slightly larger and feels softer and more dense against the skin. It is a powerful blending brush that gives lots of resilience so it blends eye shadow effortlessly. I normally like to use this brush for applying a neutral color over the entire eye crease area, and it only takes 1 to 2 strokes for the color to distribute evenly and seamlessly.

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Blend Brush (bought here in Australia) – The ultimate luxury eye shadow blending brush you could ever find, as the packaging and the handle feels so luxurious and precious that makes you not want to ever use it! Once you overcome the ‘obstacle’, you will find this is such a practical blending brush. The bristle is made of premium super soft goat hair, and it is all hand made in Japan. It is about the same size as MAC217, but the head is more tapered for a more precise application. It’s particularly great for blending the color just along the crease, and blending multiple colors.

Chanel Large Tapered Blending Brush (exclusive to Chanel.com only) This is best-seller out of the entire Chanel brushes collection. I was actually on the wait list for a while until it became available again. All Chanel brushes have black bristles, except for this exclusive edition with white bristles which makes me adore it even more! It’s made of goat hair, and is made in France. It’s a cute and ‘chubby’ blending brush compared to the MAC 217. The brush head is more rounder and dense with shorter hair, and it picks up lots of pigments which works perfectly with eye shadows that do not have intense color payoff. If you always want a brush that is tad smaller than MAC217, then this is the one to look out for.

SUQQU Brush M – Last but not least, leaving the best at the end. The Suqqu is the crème de la crème, as it has the softest squirrel hair that feels non scratchy even on the most sensitive skin. It is a smaller blending brush (same size as the Chanel) with a tapered end. The ultra fine and silky soft bristles deposit the pigments softly on the skin, so it is the best for applying dark colored eye shadows to create perfect shade gradation, as well as allowing for precise application around the eye corners. I have a post for the entire Suqqu brushes.

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Labels: Beauty Tools • BRUSHES • EDWARD BESS • MAC • My Favorites • SUQQU • Tom Ford • ZOEVA

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color Monochrome Swatch

September 5, 2016

I’ve finally got some time to paint my own nails (been having lots of shellac lately), and I picked Chanel Le Vernis Monochrome 522 (bought here in Australia) for this week. Since I always receive a lot of compliments on this nail color every time I wear it, I thought I’d post some swatch pictures on my blog.

It is from the newly reformulated Chanel Le Vernis Longwear line which has more superior consistency and finish than the previous discontinued line. Monochrome applies completely smooth and streak free (even for the first coat), and it gives a full opaque and glossy gel-like finish with 2 coats. Lasting power is about 5-7 days on me (with buffing the nail prior to the application which tends to extend the nail polish wear time significantly). It’s a very elegant pale dove grey color in cream finish that compliments my skin tone.

Swatched with 2 coats of Monochrome

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Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

Shu Uemura Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Cleansing Oil 2016 Review – New Formula

September 2, 2016

It doesn’t matter how many new and innovative makeup removal products I try, at the end of the day I always go back to the most trusted makeup remover – the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil. This year Shu has released a new reformulated cleansing oil – the Anti/Oxi Skin Refining Cleansing Oil (bought here in Australia) and as I was in the need for restocking, I decided to give this new formula a try.

A quick rundown on my experience with the Shu Uemura cleansing oils. They have lots of different oils for different skin types, and I have pretty much used most of them. Prior to this, my favorite was the Blanc Chroma (the purple oil) as it felt refreshing and I liked the slight brightening effect after washing. As far as I know, their best seller last year was the Ultime8 which I found to be too rich for my skin so I did not repurchase (but it is really great for dry skin).

I have been using the new formula for about a month now, and it is now my favorite cleansing oil. It is formulated with green tea extracts along with other anti oxidant ingredients for a more clear and radiant complexion. The main differences in this new formula

no mineral oil
can be used with wet hands
suitable for removing lash extensions! (which doesn’t really apply to me)
more powerful removability

This oil lives up to my expectations. I am not the biggest fan of using cleansing water for removing makeup on a daily basis as it can be a little too scrubby with the use of cotton pads, and I feel it is pulling my skin too much. With cleansing oil it is lubricating enough to not cause any friction to the skin. The consistency of this oil is lightweight and doesn’t feel greasy, and it emulsifies (turns into milky lotion) really well as soon as you add water to it. Takes less than a minute to completely dissolve the most stubborn makeup including liquid eyeliner, waterproof mascara, long lasting foundation and liquid lipstick. It makes the skin feel supple, smooth and refreshing, and leaves no oily film and residue to the skin. Of course second wash is recommended! It doesn’t clog the pores nor cause breakouts for me.

The new formula also promises to give you an extraordinary cleansing experience with a blend of essential oils that invigorates your senses while washing. To me it mostly smells like strong green tea (more like Matcha) with a hint of lavender and wood. It is quite an interesting stimulating scent, but not blowing me away.

Overall I highly recommend this oil. It comes in 3 sizes – 450ml (as pictured), 150ml and 100ml (good for travel). A bottle of 450ml normally lasts more than 6 months with daily use.

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Labels: CLEANSER • Shu Uemura • SKINCARE

By Terry Terrybly Velvet Rouge Liquid Lipstick Review and Swatch – Dream Bloom, Bohemian Plum and Bankable Rose

August 30, 2016

I searched high and low for the most moisturizing matte liquid lipsticks, and I finally found the perfect formula from By Terry – Terrybly Velvet Rouge Liquid Lipsticks. By Terry is known for their super luxurious lip products enriched with hyaluronic acid, and the same goes with this as it feels ultra nourishing and comforting on the lips without drying them out. It is more pricey than the highly popular middle-end brands such as the Kat Von D Everlasting Lipstick (reviewed here), MAC Retro Matte and Too Faced Melted Lipstick, but I personally think this formula is unbeatable for delivering the most hydrating, vibrant and long lasting matte finish.

The By Terry also has the best sponge applicator for a liquid lipstick I have ever used. It is ergonomically designed – in a 2-sphere shape, and it allows for a much easier and more precise application. It has an airy lightweight velvety texture, and it glides on silky smooth and creamy (like a balmy paint) without any bleeding and feathering. It takes about 1 to 2 minute to fully settle, and it dries down to a matte finish with a hint of creamy sheen. The formula is ultra nourishing and forgiving for naturally dry and chapped lips. It doesn’t enhance the dry lines nor flakes, and it actually makes your lips feel softer and supple. Pigmentation is highly intense, so with all of my swatches, I only dabbed a little product on the center of the lips, then blended outward to fill the lips.

I picked 3 colors, with shade 03 Dream Bloom being the absolute must-have shade for me. It is officially now my new holy grail everyday lip color, and I can’t stop gushing about it.

From left to right: 3 Dream Bloom; 4 Bohemian Plum; 7 Bankable Rose

Dream Bloom 03 – The most beautiful soft rosy pink MLBB shade. It just has the perfect balance of pink and rose with a hint of mauve, so it looks so flattering, soft and pretty but sophisticated. It also compliments and brightens up my complexion color.

Bohemian Plum 04 – My second favorite shade from the range. Love this berry shade that is slightly vampy but still very wearable for me. I love the name of the shade, and this is exactly what I would name it. There is an effortless and cool-chic vibe to it.

Bankable Rose 07 – A bright and vibrant bubblegum pink color. Looks stunning with a full opaque coat as swatched, but for everyday wear I would sheer it down to a gradient wash of color so it looks subtle and pretty.

Group Swatch

The By Terry Liquid Lipsticks are sold at Net-A-Porter, SAKS, and Space NK.

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Labels: BY TERRY • LIPSTICK

Dior Skyline Collection – 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette 506 Parisian Sky Review and Swatch

August 27, 2016

This fall, I didn’t have as much interest in the fall makeup collections as the old times. Mainly because there aren’t that many stand out items that I don’t already have 10 of! I even passed on the entire Chanel Le Rouge collection as I didn’t think they would suit me. Anyhow the only collection and the star product that took my breath away was the Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette LE (bought here in Australia) from the Dior Skyline Collection 2016. I chose the color 506 Parisian Sky as I liked the two neutral colors of this palette more than the other color 806 Capital of light. Other products from the Skyline Collection are reviewed here and here.

Love the lacy design of this palette which makes it so desirable, as the intricate detail makes it look super luxurious and brings out the colors more. As usual the color payoff with Dior eye shadow quads is at the middle end – neither too sheer nor too intensely pigmented. They work well with natural hair brushes for application, and the colors apply and blend easily and they have a translucent finish so the colors won’t look too cakey and heavy on the eyes. Texture is superbly smooth and silky, and all shades apply with no fall-out.

Color description (clockwise)

Top Left: This is the most beautiful shade of the quad. It is a medium sandy taupe color with shimmer in satin finish. Looks amazing over the eye crease.

Top Right: Another beautiful neutral color. It is a sandy champagne with shimmer in satin finish. It particularly compliments the taupe color.

Bottom Right: Dark chocolate brown with shimmer but applies to a semi-satin finish.

Bottom Left: Aqua Tiffany blue color with shimmer in satin finish. I like the sheer finish of it as it doesn’t look too opaque and blue on the skin. I mainly use this color along the lower rim and it looks fresh and makes the eyes pop.

Middle: An icy dusty blue color with a hint of grey undertone. A lovely highlighting shade that goes well with the color theme of this palette.

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Labels: DIOR • EYESHADOW

La Prairie Cellular Revitalizing Eye Gel Review

August 24, 2016

I always include an eye cream in my skincare regime, particularly for the morning when I like to use a light eye gel/lotion for hydration as well as for anti-puffiness. One of my favorites is the La Prairie Cellular Revitalizing Eye Gel which really does its job as it claims, and the price tag is not as jaw-dropping as the other products from the line! This is my third bottle and as you can see it’s nearly half way through.

The eye gel has a refreshingly aqua blue gel texture that feels non-sticky and is absorbed into the skin immediately. It mildly hydrates and smooths out the delicate skin around the eye areas, and it doesn’t leave a film or make the skin too slippery so it makes a good base for under the eye makeup. What I love about this eye gel the most is that it gives an interesting sensation upon application. It feels very cooling on the eyes, which is expected from most eye gels for anti-puffiness. However this eye gel also gives a warm tightening feel at the same time, and it makes you feel that it is doing its job by eliminating the excessive fluid from the applied areas. After 2-3 minutes the sensation disappears, and my morning ‘tired looking’ eyes look visibly more ‘awake’ and less puffy with the skin appearing slightly tightened. Best of all, it doesn’t cause milia (the stubborn white heads around the eye areas if the eye cream is too rich). If you suffer from puffy eyes in the morning then I highly recommend to give this eye gel a try!

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Labels: La Prairie • SKINCARE

Vacation Beauty Essentials – My Picks

August 20, 2016

I had a wonderful vacation at Phuket for 10 days which I am currently organizing some pictures to post soon. It never feels long enough but that’s what makes our vacations so special in our lives (well unless you are a celeb or a global jet setter blogger!) As for me, I am happy with our holidays every 6 months, and I thoroughly enjoy the entire planning process including what to pack! This post is for sharing the skincare products that I brought with me on holiday. Since the destination is a hot tropical island, I brought lots of lightweight hydrating and brightening serums/lotions, and because I love taking pictures I like to have products that keep my face looking firm and lifted so more photogenic… Last but not least, lots and lots of sunscreens are a must.

My favorite beach bag is bought here

CLEANSERS

Using the Bioderma Micelle Water (travel size) for makeup removal. I love the Ren Rosa Centifolia Cleansing Gel so much so I bought a full size of this. It’s a rose-infused gentle gel cleanser with a fresh rose smell that feels extremely soothing and refreshing which makes it a perfect morning cleanser. It doesn’t strip any moisture off, and keeps the skin supple and fresh. Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant is one of my HG cleansers for night time use, so I have to bring a travel size along with me. It’s a cleanser and an exfoliator in one that purifies the skin and deep cleans the pores without feeling harsh and drying on the skin. The Clinique Clarifying Lotion 1 is a refreshing toner for sweeping away any dead skin cells, and completely removes last traces of dirt and oil collected in your pores. In such a hot weathered place, I prefer to use multiple cleansing products just to keep my skin very clear and clog free.

SERUMS and MOISTURIZERS

I prep my skin with the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum – it’s a highly potent treatment lotion that immediately hydrates the skin and boost the benefits of other skincare products, (detailed review here). Followed by the luxurious Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum (reviewed here). It’s hydrating, soothing, anti-aging and provides a lifting effect to the face. During the day, I also apply the Tracie Martyn Face Resculpting Cream which is their signature product from the line. This is the travel friendly size which was made exclusive for Net-A-Porter. It can be used on the face as well as on the body for an immediate sculpting and firming effect. I have quite mixed feelings about it, as it works much better on the body than on the face for me. If you are after a face firming lotion for less than $100, nothing beats the famous Clarins Shaping Facial Lifting Total V Contouring Serum.

MASKS

I have dozens of paper masks with me (a mix of high and low end) on holiday, as the plan is to use at least one per day. As ironic as it sounds for spending most of the day at the beach and the pool during vacay, I don’t want to be tanned because my skin is prone to pigmentation! So every 2 nights I use the Sulwhasoo Snowise Ex Brightening Mask (reviewed here), It’s the best brightening mask I’ve ever used, as it definitely prevents my face from being tanned under long time sun exposure, and it helps to brighten up by one to one and a half shades after long term use. For hydrating and instant radiance boost, I like to use the SK II Facial Treatment Mask. A budget friendly brand is the Korean SNP Masks. I have used lots of theirs animal masks and liked them all. My favorite has to be the rabbit – it’s a multi purpose product that serves as a brightening beauty mask as well as keeping my 3 year old entertained by having a rabbit-faced mommy!

SUN PROTECTION

Using the french drugstore brand LA ROCHE-POSAY as they are rated very highly in a Japanese beauty magazine. Overall they are pretty good. The UVIDEA XL Melt In Cream SPF50 PA++++ is for the face that has a milky lotion texture and is non-greasy and feels light weight on the skin without feeling like having sunscreen on. The Anthelios XL Ultra Light Fluid SPF50 (best seller) is for the face and the body. It is slightly richer, so I use it on my body as well as for my son as the formula is made for sensitive skin and feels light on the skin so it doesn’t clog the pores and leave a white film on the skin.

BABY

Highly recommend the LA ROCHE-POSAY Baume B5 Soothing Repairing Balm for babies/toddlers. It helps to heal sensitive skin, rashes and insect bites.

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Labels: ACCESSORY • BAG • BEACH • BEAUTY • HOLIDAY • PHUKET • SKINCARE • VACATION

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