Beauty

Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation Compact Review

July 4, 2015

There is a buzz going on around the cushion foundation which is another brilliant invention from Korea in the wave of BB and CC creams. I got myself the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation Compact which has won the best reviews amongst all the other Korean beauty brands, and I am loving this foundation to bits!

To those of you who are not familiar with the brand, Sulwhasoo is a high-end Korean beauty brand that is known for their ultra nourishing Ginseng infused skincare products and they have also released some popular makeup products including this one. It is owned by Amore Pacific which is the biggest beauty company in Korea, and is probably the most well-known and popular high-end Korean brand that is available internationally (you can find them at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus).

The Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion Foundation is housed in a round ivory compact case, with a full size foundation and sponge refills. The case is sturdy and looks quite elegant, and it has two compartments and the sponge is placed on a divider so it’s more hygienic. The foundation has a liquid texture, and is protected under a mesh. For application, you gently tap the sponge on to the mesh to dispense the foundation. Cushion foundation comes from the concept of applying foundation with a damp sponge, so the texture is more sheer and watery, and it goes on more dewy and natural. If this is your preferred way of application, then cushion foundation is your ideal alternative to a conventional foundation that is more convenient and fun to use.

The coverage of this foundation is on the low side, as it only helps to blur out the unevenness and the pores, but it does not cover much imperfections or redness. I normally wear a sheer layer of BB cream or tinted primer underneath the cushion foundation for a flawless yet natural looking finish. If you have good skin to begin with then wearing this product alone is suffice for a ‘your-skin-but-better’ finish. It has a translucent, semi-dewy finish and adds a ‘filter-like’ radiant glow to the skin, and because of its high water content, it makes the complexion appear more hydrated and plumped. Instead of calling this foundation, I would say this is more of a skin perfecter as it further enhances and improves the appearance of the complexion. I have worn this over all sorts of base products including foundation, powder, and also used it for retouching my makeup throughout the day, and it never fails to make my skin appear more refreshed and glowy without caking up. Lasting power is about 6-7 hours on me in an indoor environment, and is SPF50+.

I bought the Sulwhasoo foundation in shade No21 which is quite similar to NC20. I am currently NC15 so this shade is a tad warmer for my complexion, but overall I can still wear this without a noticeable mismatch.

Swatch

{ 3 comments }

Labels: foundation • SULWHASOO

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder in MARINIÈRE 01 – Summer 2015 Collection

June 27, 2015

A very late review for the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi Colour Powder in MARINIÈRE N01 (right) from the Les Beiges Summer 2015 Collection as I have had it for a while now. I have also included the Healthy Glow Powder in N01 (left) from a previous collection in this post as it is very similar to the MARINIÈRE in terms of finish and color when it is applied on to the skin. Both powders are limited edition, so if you missed out on the first one, be sure to grab a shade from the 2015 collection!

The Les Beiges powder is designed for enhancing skin’s natural beauty with a healthy glow and a hint of color. The powder has a lovely delicate “classic Chanel” rose fragrant – I love the smell of this every time I open the case. The ultra silky and creamy powder applies like a dream as it never looks cakey no matter how much you apply, and helps to blur out the pores with a touch of coverage. It comes with a high quality high moon shape brush, that is versatile enough for applying the powder over the entire face, or for shading and highlighting purposes.

MARINIÈRE contains strips of light peachy beige color and pinky lavender color with very fine silver shimmer. The finish is very natural, and it goes on semi-translucent with a brightening effect when applied 2 colors mixed together. On my NC15-20, I can use this as a setting powder that adds a touch of warm glow to the complexion without the visible shimmer. The hint of lavender tone helps to counteract the dullness as well as for brightening. I love a setting powder with a subtle brightening effect, especially with a lavender undertone for my yellow skin as it really helps my complexion to appear more fresh and youthful. (For Asians, the older you get the more dominant the yellow tone!)

Swatches

comparison swatch between the two LE powders

The Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder from the Summer 2015 Collection (LE) is currently available here and here.

{ 0 comments }

Labels: BRONZER • CHANEL • HIGHLIGHTER • POWDER

Skincare Routine for the season transition

June 22, 2015

A quick skincare post for the transition season from Fall to Winter. As always moisturizing is the core of my routine. I opted for some richer face products to cater for my very dry and sensitive skin in this weather. This post only covers the basic moisturizing products that I use daily, and I combine these products with a lot of other skincare products accordingly that target at specific skin conditions such as pigmentation, brightening, anti aging etc.

La Mer The Radiant Infusion – is the most hydrating serum-like lotion I have ever used. It instantly re-hydrates and plumps up the skin upon application without the tackiness, and helps to improve the luminosity of the skin overnight. And on a lazy day, I can get away with only using this lotion as it keeps my skin supple and hydrated for many hours. Not happy that this product is being discontinued, so next on my radar is the La Mer The Treatment Lotion!

Decleor Aromessence Angelique Nourishing Serum – I am a big fan of face oil, and after trialing tons of new oils I decided to go back to the old but good Decleor. Love the pure essential oil smell, as it helps to sooth and wind down the day for me. It does a great job for moisturizing and nourishing my dry skin for the whole day with only a drop, and I wake up with a glow. If you like the foundation to appear more dewy and radiant on the skin, this oil also serves as a good base.

Trilogy Organic Rosehip Oil – Every model raves about rosehip oil – often found in affordable organic beauty brands. The Trilogy oil was completely sold out in UK after The Duchess of Cambridge credited her ultra radiant complexion to this oil upon receiving a bottle during her tour to New Zealand. I am quite neutral about it, as it does help to moisturize the skin but the oil is not as finely milled as the expensive ones so it tends to sit on top of the skin. Otherwise it is a lovely and affordable oil to use for both the face and the body, and I like rubbing a thick layer on the scar areas with the use of derma roller and I have seen a great improvement.

FRESH Creme Ancienne Anti Aging Treatment – I have had the FRESH cream for over a year now and I am finally using it up! It is ultra thick, rich and heavy. It has a wax-like texture and you only need less than a pea size of this cream for the whole face. It feels a little heavy on the face, and forms an invisible barrier on the skin that traps the moisture for the whole day, and protects your skin from external hazards. This would be the perfect cream for very dry skin types, or if you live in an extreme cold weather condition. Otherwise it would be way too rich and may clog your pores. A lot of people compare this cream to the Creme de la Mer, but I personally prefer the latter for everyday use.

Jo Malone Vitamin E Gel (reviewed here) – This is my second tub – a multi-purpose luxurious vitamin E balm that can be mixed with other moisturizers that deeply nourishes and helps to repair the skin. It can also be used as a lip balm and mixed with other products for a makeup base. This gel is more heavy duty than the face oil, and I normally go for this one at night if I want a boost of moisture and radiance the next day.

{ 2 comments }

Labels: DECLEOR • FRESH • Jo Malone • LA MER • SKINCARE • Trilogy

Marc Jacobs Beauty The Shape Contour and Blush Brush No 15 Review

June 20, 2015

Today’s review is for the Marc Jacobs Beauty The Shape Contour and Blush Brush No 15 (available here in Australia) that is perfect to go with the Light Filtering Contouring Powder (reviewed here), or any bronzing powder for contouring purposes. If I could only pick one beauty trend of this year it would be contouring, and as you would have noticed there are many beauty brands have released a makeup brush that is designed specifically for contouring. I am still in the process of trialing some others, and this thus far is my favorite brush.

The Marc Jacobs Beauty brush is very similar to the MAC 125 Split Fibre Dense Face Brush, but better in terms of quality in my opinion – it is more weighty and feels more luxurious. The handle is coated with high gloss enamel that feels sturdy and looks expensive. The brush is made of the finest antibacterial synthetic bristles so it is suitable for even the most sensitive and acne-prone skin types. The bristles feel ultra soft and plush on the skin. It is very densely packed with a flat top in an oval shape, and it works similar to a kabuki brush – it picks up maximum color and it helps to blend and sheer out the product into the skin with minimum effort. The best thing about this brush is the relatively large oval shape brush head, as it just fits perfectly under the cheekbone, as well as along the jaw line. It allows for even pigment deposit on to the skin, and a more precise and quicker contouring application as opposed to a smaller contouring brush or a tapered brush.

Bottom Line: An excellent higher end brush investment that allows for an easy and precise contouring application even for the makeup novice. Highly recommend!

{ 1 comment }

Labels: BLUSH • Marc Jacobs

Marc Jacobs Beauty Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder 02 Dream Filter Review and Swatch

June 18, 2015

I picked up the Marc Jacobs Beauty Instamarc Light Filtering Contour Powder recently which has become an absolute necessity in my makeup kit now. The matching Shape Contour and Blush Brush is also fantastic and works really well with the product.

My first impression of the palette was that it was huge. It is housed in a very large pan with a big mirror, and each bronzer/highlighter contains 0.31oz of the product. Compared to the other contour kits in the market, this set is absolute great value for money. It comes in 3 colors – Dream Filter 20, Mirage Filter 40 and 60 HiFi Filter. The bronzer shade in the 20 and 40 are very similar, and for my complexion (NC15-20) I could go with either of them. The main difference between them is that 20 has a stronger pink hue in the highlighter shade and 30 has an dominant undertone of yellow/beige. Since I have a cool complexion and I have an affection with pink colored makeup I went for the color Dream Filter 20 in the end.

The powder of both the bronzer and the highlighter is very silky and finely milled. When they are applied with a kabuki brush, they are blended into your skin seamlessly like a natural shadow and highlight effect without looking cakey and powdery. The bronzer is pigmented and is easy to blend (no bronzey patches on the skin!), and it is a medium neutral brown that would work as an ideal contour shade for most fair skin types without looking too warm or muddy. It is also completely matte so it mimics a natural shadow effect for sculpturing the jaws, cheekbones and the nose bridge as well as creating a slimming effect. The highlighter has a silky and creamy texture and is slightly opaque which can be doubled as a setting powder, that provides a subtle brightening effect with a hint of pink hue, and some coverage that helps to blur out the pores.

Heavy Swatch:

Bottom Line: An easy to use high quality contour kit that creates natural looking definition and contour. I also highly recommend the Shape and Contour brush for application which will be covered in another post.

{ 0 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • BRONZER • HIGHLIGHTER • Marc Jacobs

Dior Addict IT LINE Liquid Eyeliner Review and Swatch

May 24, 2015

I don’t normally write an individual post for an eyeliner, but this Dior ‘Addict It-Liner’ Liquid Eyeliner deserves a review of its own! Where have I been all this time as a beauty blogger – this is one incredible eyeliner that just blows me away!

The Dior Addict Liner has probably the best packaging I have ever seen for a liquid liner. The formula is also pure perfection – it’s glossy jet black that is much more intense than the pen-style liners, and the intensity of the color stays put the whole day. The color applies on ultra smoothly and evenly, and it dries within seconds. The brush applicator is ultra thin for precision, yet the bristles are flexible which gives you a better control for drawing a sharp thin line or a thicker liner for the flick. The formula is waterproof that has withstood my tears on some occasions, but on the other hand it can be easily removed with any makeup remover. Last but not least, this liner will last you a very long time as the formula is so intense a little goes a long way.

Swatch

{ 2 comments }

Labels: DIOR • EYELINER

Dior 5 Colors Couture Eye Shadow Palette Ambre Nuit 746 Review and Swatch – Dior Tie Dye Collection

May 22, 2015

Everyday I am telling myself that I really don’t need another palette of eye shadows, but I keep on making the same mistake whenever I spot a beautiful neutral palette. Case in point is the Dior 5 Colors Couture Eye Shadow Palette 746 Ambre Nuit from the 2015 Summer Tie Dye Collection that I acquired recently. I am in love with every single color so I can not let it go!

What draws me into this palette is the color combination – they are neutral and fresh. If the Dior Eye Reviver (reviewed here) was a sophisticated palette, then the Ambre Nuit would be a pretty palette with a youthful touch. There is a variety of textures in this palette range from semi-satin to shimmery, and the colors are great for creating depth and impact to the eyes without aging you.

I don’t need to repeating the quality and texture of Dior 5 colors Couture Eyeshadows. They are always excellent – great pigmentation, silky smooth texture, and takes no effort to apply them with absolutely no fall out. The colors are more suitable for day time wear, as they look very soft and natural looking on the eyes. I always have a flair for these kind of eye shadows, as anything that is too intense or opaque tends to make me look fierce.

Color Description: (clockwise)

Top Left – Peachy pink with a hint of rose gold sheen in a semi-satin finish. I can guarantee that this color will be hitting the pan the soonest as it applies beautifully as a wash of color over the eye socket.

Top Right – Medium brown shimmer that gives a lovely sheen depending on the angle you look at.

Bottom Right – A perfect taupe color with an eggplant undertone in a semi-matte finish. This cool neutral color complements the rest of the warm shades perfectly.

Bottom Left – Dark brown with very fine silver glitters. An intense color and is easy to blend with the other colors.

Middle – An icy ivory color in high shimmer. The shade is very pigmented, so a little goes a long way for highlighting purpose and it is extremely buttery smooth to apply.

Swatches

Bottom Line: A must-have neutral eyeshadow palette to have for this year!

The Dior Ambre Nuit is available at Nordstrom in the US, and here in Australia. I bought mine in my current second home town Stockholm 🙂

PS: Nordstrom has started their half yearly sales!

{ 0 comments }

Labels: DIOR • EYESHADOW

Dior Vernis Sunwashed 319 Review and Swatch – Dior Tie Dye Summer 2015 Collection

May 13, 2015

I am currently wearing the Dior Vernis SUNWASHED 319 from the Tie Dye Summer 2015 Collection on my nails. I personally love wearing pastel nail colors for the summer season as it’s all about being fun and experimental with bright colors. The SUNWASHED is a creamy lemon yellow color in a glossy finish that compliments my skin tone nicely without making my skin appear more yellow. I am in the process of growing my nails long (if they don’t break)…and I think this would be the perfect color to wear on longer nails without looking too matronly or vampy.

Dior usually makes the best nail polishes in the high end market in terms of quality. Unfortunately this color applies a little streaky for the first two coats, so I had to apply a third coat for a complete opaque and even finish. I wish the consistency was better, however I am not that surprised as I have never come across a yellow nail polish that applies as good as the darker colors.

{ 1 comment }

Labels: DIOR • NAIL POLISH

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →