Beauty

Dior Diorskin Star Studio Foundation Review and Swatch

August 26, 2015

I have about a dozen new foundations sitting on my dresser, so I thought I had better get my act together to resume my reviews for foundations as I haven’t done one for so long! The Dior Diorskin Star Studio Foundation is the one I have been reaching out for constantly, as it just works really well with my skin and I love the naturally radiant and luminous finish.

Texture and formulation

The Dior Star Foundation has a slightly thick milky texture (not as fluidy as other liquid foundations), and it is best to be applied with a foundation brush or sponge for an even finish. My top preferences are either the Dior Backstage foundation brush which gives an airbrushed finish with a fuller coverage, or with the beauty blender which gives a slightly more translucent and dewy finish. Except for oily skin, I think the formula works great for most skin types. I have used this foundation in extreme cold weather conditions, and the formula is ‘creamy’ enough to be used on dry skin as the light-reflective pigments makes the skin appear more plumped and it does not enhance any fine lines nor dry patches. On days that my skin behaves normally, this foundation holds nicely throughout the day, and it does not fade nor crease. However there is a little bit of oil coming through around my t-zone after half a day of wear.

Coverage and finish

For a fluid foundation, the Dior offers pretty decent coverage. I normally use less than a pump and it gives a medium coverage (dependent on the tool you use) that takes away the dullness, redness and most of the mild imperfections. It feels weightless on the skin, and it goes on seamlessly and completely blends into your own skin. It gives a semi-satiny finish with a soft luminous glow – like a soft beauty light shining on your face that helps to diffuse and reflect the light on your skin to camouflage the imperfections rather than masking them. If you look at the swatches below, you will see that the Dior has a velvety finish (not as dewy as the others) and once it blends into the skin it just looks really beautiful and natural but not dull and matte.

Color

I bought the foundation in shade 020 light beige which has a hint of pink undertone to it. It matches my skin well with a slight brightening effect which I absolutely adore. The brightening effect makes your complexion look radiant, healthy and well-rested but doesn’t make you look pale white. In a way the effect of this foundation is quite similar to the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation with an emphasis on “creating light” on your skin.

Comparison swatch (left to right): MAC Mineralize NC20 (reviewed here); Chanel Perfection Lumiere 20 ; YSL Touche Eclat BK20 (reviewed here); Giorgio Armani Designer Lift 3 (reviewed here); Dior Star 020

I bought the Dior Star Foundation and the Dior Backstage Foundation brush here and here in Australia. Always have my beauty blenders restocked on NAP.

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Labels: DIOR • foundation

Current Favorites – Red Lip Colors by Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury and Surrat

August 17, 2015

Bold lips have been my statement look over the past year – whether wearing the red lip color in a full opaque coat or as a sheer stain, I am infatuated with how much impact it adds to the overall look. Today’s review is for my 3 current favorite red lip colors – Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet, Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 and Surrat Automatique Lip Crayon P.O.C. They are all of different texture and finish, so they offer different options for achieving different looks.

The Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 (available here in Australia) is from the Chanel Summer 2015 Collection. It is a highly pigmented rosey red color that has a transparent finish which makes it very wearable for the day and night. I really like the Glossimer formulation for intense colors, as it is very easy to sheer out and gives a lovely wash of stain on the lips in a glossy finish. During the day I’d like to wear a sheer layer of this – it’s pretty and youthful and the color helps to brighten up the complexion. If you are after a dramatic and bold look, the lip gloss is intense enough for delivering its full color with a jelly like finish.

As the name suggests, this Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet is the red color for making a statement. It is a cool deep ruby red with a hint of burgundy undertone in a matte finish. It is bold, sultry, a little vampy and the velvety matte finish adds an edgy and fashion-forward spin to this classic color. I absolutely adore the formulation of Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipsticks (detail reviews on other colors are covered in this post). Red carpet is no exception – it ‘s non drying and extremely long lasting. Available worldwide here.

Surrat is a new makeup brand that I am still uncovering. So far I have only tried their lip products, and also interested in exploring their luxury brushes range! Love their sleek frosted black packaging design, and their Automatique Lip Crayon range has some stunning colors. I picked the color P.O.C which is the most beautiful warm red with a hint of orange tone that I have ever seen. This is a summery red in my opinion, and looks great on either fair or tanned complexion. It has a non slippery crayon-like texture so it goes on very opaque and applies relatively creamy and smooth. I would say the texture is quite similar to the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, if you are interested in exploring new brands, Surrat is a good option. Available here worldwide.

Group Swatch:

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Labels: CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • LIP PENCIL • LIPGLOSS • LIPSTICK • Louis Vuitton • LV • MAKEUP POUCH • SURRAT

Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush Vibration 270 Review and Swatch

August 15, 2015

Today’s review is for the absolutely stunning limited edition Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in VIBRATION 270 from an exclusive collection. Australia seems to be the first country that has received this collection which also includes the Chanel Infiniment Illuminating Powder (reviewed here), and as far as I know they will be launched in the US in the very near future (now available at Nordstrom). I have a substantial collection of Chanel JC blushes, and not every one of them is a must-have due to the high price tag and many of them are quite similar. But Vibration is phenomenal – I haven’t seen a beautiful blush color like this for a very long time.

Unlike most of the other Chanel JC blushes, Vibration is a matte color without any shimmer, but the texture is creamy and silky smooth to apply. It applies to a semi-satin finish with a soft glow that looks so pretty and like a natural flush of color. The pigmentation is ultra intense, so for application I would recommend to use a soft and fluffy blush brush to pick up the pigment softly and blend. Vibration is a beautiful coral pink with a hint of red undertone to it. This is the color that would look flattering on both the warm and cool skin-tones, and it would help to brighten up the complexion and add a youthful pink wash of color to the cheeks without looking too girly.

Swatches:

The Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Vibration is only available online here in Australia.

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Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL

Chanel Fall 2015 Collection – Les 5 Ombres de Chanel Entrelaces Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatch

August 13, 2015

I have been passing on the eye shadows from Chanel for the past several releases, and this fall Chanel has finally delivered the beautiful Les 5 Ombres De Chanel Entreslacs Eyeshadow Palette that was special enough for me to make a purchase. The 2015 Fall Collection is all about playing with shadow and light, so you will find that most of the products echo the theme with a neutral color palette. I personally think that this eye shadow palette is the star product of the collection, as it comes in a limited edition palette form with 5 eye shadows, and all the colors are the best neutral colors that you could ever get.

I absolutely love the variation of the colors included in this palette – it’s almost like a contour kit for the eyes. They work with various skin tones, and each color compliments and works in perfect harmony. They can be layered together for mimicking a shadow and light effect for creating an illusion of deeper set eyes in an effortless way. This is the ultimate appeal of a neutral eye shadow palette, with the right balance of matte and shimmery eye shadows that can be worn in so many ways for different looks.

The quality of this palette is also phenomenal, as the texture of all the eye shadows are buttery soft and glide on like silk without any fallout. The pigmentation is also lovely – a gentle dip into the eye shadow is suffice for an entire application.

Color description (from left to right)

1. shimmery ivory vanilla – Perfect for highlighting the brow areas and the inner corners.

2. semi-matte soft neutral brown – This is a rather ‘common’ color but it adds so much value to an eye shadow palette, as both the color and the finish are perfect for contouring the eyes which makes them appear deeper set and less puffy.

3. shimmery chocolate brown with gold micro glitter – A great color for layering or deepening the outer v, and the shimmer adds a lovely touch for creating a multi-dimensional finish.

4. satin charcoal brown – Great for creating smoky eyes, or can be used as an eyeliner. The subtle shimmer makes the color appear less harsh on the eyes.

5. shimmery pale peachy pink – I can never have enough of this color! Sometimes all I need is a wash of this color on the eye lid that will just transform the eyes.

Bottom Line: Must have for the neutral eye shadow lovers! One the best eye shadow palettes I have acquired in this year. I bought the Les 5 Ombres De Chanel Entrelacs Eyeshadow Palette here in Australia, and it is also available at Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus and Chanel Online in the US.

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Labels: CHANEL • EYESHADOW

Chanel INFINIMENT Illuminating Powder Review and Swatch

August 9, 2015

Every year Chanel releases an exquisite limited edition illuminating powder of which many makeup enthusiasts deem it as a collectable item. This year the Chanel INFINIMENT Illuminating Powder is no exception – it looks breathtaking, smells amazing and it is also a practical powder that would wear beautifully on most complexions. As always, this product is flying off the shelf in Australia. I am not sure if it is available in other countries now, so best to give your Chanel SA a call.

The main part of the powder is a light beige color, with the interlocking C in slight shimmery peachy color embossed in the middle. If you look carefully, the signature Chanel logo has a delicate weave texture that just shows how intricately made this product is. The powder is very finely milled and feels buttery smooth and silky to apply. It gives a semi-matte finish with a hint of illuminating effect. Depending on your skin tone, on my NC15-20, I would say this is more of a setting powder that adds a healthy warm glow to the skin (very similar to the effect that Chanel Les Beige Powder gives). On a darker skin tone, this would work more as an illuminating powder.

Swatch of Chanel Infiniment Illuminating Powder

If you are wondering if it is necessary to have this powder if you already have the Chanel Les Beiges in the lightest colors such as NO1 or Mariniere 01 (reviewed here). I personally prefer the finish of Infiniment. The texture feels more creamy, and it also offers better coverages as it gives a more opaque and air-brushed finish so it completely covers the pores and blurs out other imperfections. It is also more long lasting and heat resistant. Of course the fact that this is highly coveted and limited edition is always a reason to get your hands on it!

Comparison swatch between Chanel Les Beiges NO1 and Infiniment:

Heavy swatches – left Chanel Les Beiges No1 (all colors mixed), Right Chanel Infiniment (all colors mixed)

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Labels: CHANEL • HIGHLIGHTER • POWDER

Makeup News – Tom Ford, Chanel, Dior

August 4, 2015

Just a quick post to let you know that there are some super exciting makeup collections just launched today in Australia. The most highly coveted collection is the Tom Ford Summer 2015 Makeup including the Eye & Cheek Palette, the Cream & Powder Eye Color, the Cream Cheek Color and the Lip Color Sheer in Summer Fling & Incorrigible. I have been drooling over this pretty collection for as long as I can remember, and its finally available in Australia after such a long wait. As usual you need be very quick as Tom Ford makeup with white packaging tend to sell out extremely fast, and most of the products are no longer for sale worldwide as they are all limited edtion.

The second to-die-for collection is the Chanel Fall 2015 Makeup Collection. I placed an order for the Chanel ENTRELACS Eyeshadow Palette immediately! The whole collection is available online and in store.

Last but not least, the Dior COSMOPOLITE Collection for FALL is also here. There are a lot of interesting new products from Dior included in this collection such as the Cheek Stick and the Fluid Eye Shadow.

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Labels: CHANEL • DIOR • SHOP • Tom Ford

Best Cleansers for morning use

July 28, 2015

Morning cleansers play a very important role in my daily skincare routine. Not only do they have to gently cleanse the skin and provide skincare benefits, I also like them to be soothing and uplifting to make me feel better as I am just not a morning person. This is a review for some of my all time favorite cleansers for morning use, and they are all lotion/cream type as they are gentle enough for all skin types without stripping the moisture off.

Elemis Rehydrating Rose Petal Cleanser – I am a big fan of this luxury spa brand, and this is my favorite product from this line (my 5th bottle!). If you love rose scent, you would absolutely fall in love with this cleanser. It smells like the most delicate fresh roses just cut from your garden, and makes you feel so relaxed and pampered when you use this cleanser in the morning. It has a very lightweight milky texture, and feels very gentle on the skin and makes your skin feel silky and supple after use. It is not a heavy duty cleanser (not for removing full makeup), but good enough for taking away the oil and dirt build-up from overnight.

THREE Balancing Cleansing Milk – Another heavenly scented cleanser that I am obsessed with. THREE is a luxury organic Japanese beauty brand, and this cleanser is made with a blend of premium skin nourishing essential oils and purified bamboo and rose flower water. It has a creamy milky texture, does a great cleaning job (can also be used as a makeup remover) that melts away all the dirt and makeup and replenishes the skin’s moisture at the same time. It is gentle but also has some purifying properties that help to balance the oil and moisture of the skin. My skin feels supple and hydrated after use. More information can be found on THREE website.

IPSA Premier Line Cleansing Creamy Paste – I love exploring premium Japanese skincare lines, and this is another luxurious cleanser that I splurged on. It is a lather free cleanser in an interesting creamy paste texture. Though this premier line targets at anti aging and face lifting, I find this cleanser to be very refreshing and hydrating. It feels creamy but light weight on the skin, and it has a slight minty sensation which helps to make me feel uplifted in the morning. It contains enzymes so it helps to dissolve dirt and provides a very mild exfoliation to the skin.

Antipodes Organic Hallelujah Lime & Patchouli Cleanser – Last but not least, I wanted an affordable and readily available cleanser that is just as good as the expensive ones as mentioned above. After testing a whole bunch of them, my favorite is the Antipodes. It has this expensive invigorating aromatic scent, and it cleans and cares for the skin at the same time which makes it a great morning cleanser. This product is best to be used within 3-4 months, as with most organic products that have a heavy base of oil, the scent changes slightly over a period of time after it opens. This is normal (just like cooking oil) and is probably a good indication that this product is all natural and contains no preservatives! Currently 40% off in Australia here.

My other recommendations that are not shown in the picture include the Decleor Aroma Cleanse Essential Cleansing Milk and the Sunday Riley Ceramic Slip Cleanser. They all work very similar to the other ones – gentle, soothing, and rinse off without residue which is what I look out for in a good cleanser!

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Labels: ANTIPODES • CLEANSER • DECLEOR • ELEMIS • IPSA • SKINCARE • Sunday Riley • THREE

Chanel Le Vernis 767 FRAICHEUR Review and Swatch

July 21, 2015

On my nails today is the beautiful Chanel Le Vernis 767 FRAÎCHEUR that is exclusive to Chanel Online. It was released together with the new Chanel Chance Eau Vive Fragrance Collection, and Le Vernis FRAÎCHEUR matches with the Chance Eau FRAÎCHEUR. Chanel always make everything elegant – even for the most tricky colors like green. Remember the mint color that was released years ago and it was sold out literally within a minute world wide, this trending beauty is probably the second best green nail color from Chanel that you can add to your collection.

FRAÎCHEUR is a neutral green that leans slightly warm (depending on the angle you are looking at). It has micro gold shimmer, and as with most Chanel polish, it applies to a cream glossy finish. The texture is smooth and applies streak free and opaque with 2 coats. It is a fresh and fashion-forward color that will definitely compliment your spring outfit if you are in the northern hemisphere, but as for me this color adds a playful spin to my rather neutral and boring winter outfit!

Swatch with 2 coats