Beauty

Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo Corrector Pen Review and Swatch

March 27, 2015

An under-eye concealer highlighter pen is one product that I can’t live without. For years I have been quite loyal to the renowned YSL Touche Eclat, and it has now been officially replaced by the latest Le Camouflage Stylo Corrector Pen from Chantecaillie.

Chanetecaille is known for their luxurious base makeup products. Yes they all have a hefty price tag, but everything I have used so far is truly worth the splurge including the Future Skin Foundation (one of my HG foundations reviewed here), the amazing Loose Powder as well as this new concealer pen. I was immediately sold to this product as soon as I read it contains hyaluronic acid and lots of other hydrating and brightening ingredients. And it totally lives up to my expectations, as this formula feels very hydrating so it makes the skin appear slightly plumped and less dull looking which is excellent for the delicate area under the eyes. It has a very lightweight milky texture (slightly more runny than the YSL ) that gives a natural and luminous finish. It sets crease-free and doesn’t settle into the lines. As an under-eye concealer, the lightweight formula is enough to take away my mild dark circles with just a small amount of product. And it also works brilliantly as a liquid highlighter as it gives a subtle light-reflecting brightening effect.

I bought the concealer in shade 1 (has a pink undertone), and fyi shade 2 is very similar to 1 but with a yellow undertone. Here is a swatch of Chantecallie Le Camouflage Stylo Shade 1 against the Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Alabaster.

Bottom Line: The best highlighter pen I have used so far! If you love the Future Skin foundation, you would absolutely love this one! The Chantecaille Le Camouflage Stylo is available at Nordstrom in the US, SpaceNK in the UK, and Net-A-Porter with worldwide shipping.

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Labels: CHANTECAILLE • CONCEALER • HIGHLIGHTER

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour Review and Swatch – 426 ROUSSY and 444 GABRIELLE

March 24, 2015

Chanel has recently launched the newly reformulated ROUGE COCO Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour, and they tick every check box for a perfect lipstick. After playing around with 6 colors at the counter, I decided to bring 426 ROUSSY and 444 GABRIELLE home. The old me would have probably purchased them all, but I am definitely a lot more “choosey” with colors now and more sensible with makeup shopping lately..

The new formula is divine – it is ultra pigmented with a firm texture (not balmy), and feels extremely silky and luxurious to apply. As a full coverage lipstick, it is quite moisturizing, and feels exceptionally weightless and comforting on the lips. Both colors are on the vibrant side with a satiny finish that has a touch of jelly sheen depending on the angle you are looking at. They apply true to the actual lipstick colors, no feathering and one to two swipes gives a full opaque finish. For a more sheer finish I suggest to use a lip brush for application. Lasting power is about 4 to 5 hours wear time.

The Rouge Coco in 426 Roussy is my sort of color. At first glance you would think it’s a cool pink (almost bordering barbie pink) but once you apply on to the lips, there is the warmth that comes through which makes the color very wearable and pretty (if you love pink)!

The Rouge Coco in 444 Gabrielle is the color to buy from this new range (it is the color that Keira Knightley wears in the ad)! I was debating between a few reds and in the end I decided to go with Gabrielle. It’s a saturated deep military red, and since I am obsessed with the utility trend I thought this would be the perfect color to match with my clothes! In my swatches I have shown two ways of wearing it. The full coverage is more sophisticated and fashion-forward, whereas the gradient look is more girl-next-door, youthful and makes the lips appear uber juicy and kissable! I have done a tutorial for this look , and in this swatch I was using the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil in Eye Cheat (reviewed here) for concealing the lip lines.

Full Coverage

Gradient

Group Swatch

I bought mine at David Jones , and the new Chanel Coco Rouge lip colors are also available at Nordstrom in the US.

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Labels: CHANEL • LIPSTICK

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liners and Liquid Eye Pencil Review and Swatch – Kiss n Tell, Pink Venus, Eye Cheat

March 16, 2015

I have been wearing makeup for as long as I remember, but I’ve only started wearing lip liners recently! So I decided to get some Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liners as I have heard nothing but good reviews about them. Just like my lipstick colors, I picked up a red (Kiss N Tell) and a pink (Pink Venus), so they match most of my lip stick colors. Along with that, I have also got the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil in Eye Cheat. It is the item that I have been looking for for years since Guerlain discontinued theirs, and I am glad that I finally found the replacement!

The Charlotte Tilbury Lip liners are ultra pigmented, and feel soft and silk smooth to apply. Even if you use it over your entire lips like I do sometimes, it does not dry them out. And best of all, if I apply a lipstick over the lip liners, they really help to extend the color wear time by hours. As I always apply my lipstick straight from the tube, the lip liners play an important role for creating a perfectly defined pout, and these liners are effortless to use for drawing a precise line. It is also easier for creating gradient lip with a lip liner. I just color the center of my lips with a lip liner first, then apply a semi-sheer lip stick all over the lips for a super fresh and cute Korean inspired gradient lips.

The Charlotte Tilbury Kiss N Tell is a true scarlet red, and the Pink Venus is a muted rosey pink that blends with most variations of pink lip stick colors that I own.

Swatch From Left To Right: Kiss N Tell; Pink Venus; Eye Cheat

I use the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil Eye Cheat as a multi-purpose concealing pencil. It’s an ultra pigmented flesh-colored pencil liner that has a creamy and soft consistency. When it is used for lining the waterline, it glides on like silk without tugging the skin nor does it irritate the eyes. I love using this on my waterline for a more fresh and awakened look. In addition, it also does a wonderful job for altering and concealing the lip lines or even a breakout as it is much more pigmented than a normal cream based concealer !

The Charlotte Tilbury Line is available at Nordstrom in the US, Selfridges in the UK, and I bought mine at NAP which ships internationally.

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • Lip Liner

All About Sunscreens

March 14, 2015

I have been road testing a lot of sunscreens in recent years, and in this post it covers some of my absolute favorites. As we all know, there are two different types of UVS – the UVA and UVB . What you probably aren’t aware is that UVB rays can burn the skin, whereas what we women really have to watch out for on a daily basis is the UVA rays that causes aging and pigmentation. SPF is only for blocking UVB. In most western brands, if the sunscreen also protects you from UVA it is indicated by the word “Broad Spectrum”, however how much coverage it provides is unknown. I personally prefer the Asian standard of labeling for UVA protection as it is denoted by the PA+. The more plus signs there are, the better job it does for blocking UVA which is valuable information for those who are sensitive to the sun.

1. Estee Lauder CyberWhite HD Advanced Brightening UV Protector SPF 50 PA+++: My top favorite and I would repurchase it over and over. It has all the protection I need, and the texture is like a lightweight gel cream that feels invisible and hydrating on the skin. It is neither greasy nor drying. And unlike other gel sunscreens, this one does not flake up and sits well under makeup. Highly recommend! (Asia version here)

2. DIOR DIORSNOW White Reveal UV Protection SPF 50 PA+++: It’s a sunscreen with moisturizing and brightening ingredients, so it doubles up as a makeup primer as it helps to brighten up and even out the skin tone. The texture feels very rich upon application – almost like a heavy moisturizer for dry skin but it absorbs into the skin after a few minutes without the oily residue, leaving your skin supple and slightly dewy. A lot of my friends who have dry skin really love this sunscreen because of the dewy finish. (Asia version here)

3. Lunasol Control Essence UV SPF34 PA+++ : It feels just as good as the Estee Lauder -very lightweight, and has a luxurious serum-like lotion texture that feels refreshing and hydrating on the skin without changing the skin color. I would rate this one as my second favorite because it has a lower SPF.

4. BECCA Mineral SPF30 Face and Body Sunscreen: This is a mineral sunscreen so it is better for sensitive as well as acne prone skin types, and more importantly, they become effective immediately upon application as opposed to the classic sunscreens that should be applied at least 20 minutes before exposure to the sun. The texture of this is lovely – it is creamy but non greasy, feels refreshing on the face but it might leave a white cast if your skin tone is darker than NC30.

5. ORBIS UV Cut Sunscreen FACE SPF34 PA+++ – A Japanese drugstore brand and their UV CUT line that is highly raved about and just blows the western drugstore sunscreens out of the water. This is a mineral sunscreen with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It has a watery milky lotion texture with more than 80% moisturizing ingredients that just melts into your skin and prevents oxidization. It sets immediately to a semi-matte finish without feeling drying nor powdery. I love using this one on days I don’t wear makeup, as it is tinted with a pale beige color that makes the complexion look really fresh and clean. My top pick for an affordable sunscreen!

6. ORBIS UV Cut Sunscreen SUPER SPF50 PA++++: Offers maximum protection, and the texture is very similar to the face product without the beige tint, so it can be used for both the face and the body without leaving a white cast as it goes on invisible. Since it has the highest PA protection, it is great for prevention from being tanned.

7. Peter Thomas Roth Instant Mineral: Another mineral sunscreen but in powder form! I thought this is a brilliant idea as I like to re-apply sun protection every few hours without having it messing up my makeup! It applies pretty much like transparent loose powder, but the brush feels coarse and it doesn’t fit into the cap so it can get messy for carrying it around.

Swatches from left to right: Estee Lauder; Dior; Lunasol; Becca; Orbis Face; Orbis Super

slightly blended

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Labels: BECCA • DIOR • ESTEE LAUDER • LUNASOL • ORBIS • Peter Thomas Roth • SKINCARE • SUNSCREEN

BBrowBar Brow Pen Review

March 10, 2015

I am always on the lookout for a good eyebrow product and recently I have been very impressed with the BBrowBar Brow Pen. While I was placing an order for some Charlotte Tilbury products on NAP, I came across this interesting product which I was curious to give a try. A brow pen is quite common amongst Japanese drugstore brands but this is the first time I have seen it from a western brand.

If you are not sure if a brow pen would suit you, I would say that the benefit it offers is the same as how an eyeliner pen performs compared to an eyeliner pencil. It’s much longer lasting, and provides a more intense and precise finish. I can’t live without it (as mentioned in the tutorial post) because I have naturally thin and sparse eye brows, so I really need this to define the brows to make them appear thicker and more bold, and most importantly it lasts a whole day! It is a little more sophisticated to use than a pencil because of its intensity, but if you are not a makeup newbie it won’t take too long to master the skill required!

What makes the BBrowBar Brow Pen better than the Japanese ones I have used (all very sheer imo) is that it has the perfect balance of pigmentation – it’s not too dark neither too sheer. And it has a long, very sharp and thin flexible felt tip, which makes the application super easy as it allows you to control the intensity and the thickness of the stroke. The ink dispenses smoothly and consistently for an even and smooth line. Lasting power is at least 8 hours on me (non smudging and it’s waterproof)! To me such a product is a must have as I hate to redefine my brows throughout the day!

I bought this in color Indian chocolate – it’s a dark chocolate brown that has a dominant red tinge to it once it’s applied on me. It’s not my preferred color (I prefer more ashy) but it can be fixed by applying ashy colored brow powders such as the Suqqu Balancing EyeBrow (reviewed here) over it. I will definitely be buying it in color cinnamon spice next time because I absolutely love the formulation.

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Labels: Eyebrow Pen

Dior Lady Nail Lacquer Swatch

March 7, 2015

I have not been posting about nail polishes for a long time so a quick post on the Dior Lady 294 Nail Lacquer today. The reason I have not been writing about nail polishes is because I completely stopped wearing them for several months. My nails became so damaged after having shellac gel several times – they became very brittle and thinner, and the surface got very rough as I had to sand them off each time. From this experience I would probably never having them done again (sorry shellac!).

Dior Lady is a muted dusty pink with flesh undertone in cream glossy finish. It’s a very classy and elegant shade and would suit most skin tones. The quality of Dior nail polishes is the best in the market – 2 coats give you a smooth, streak free, and opaque cream finish with a gel-like shine. Unfortunately for this post I still can’t take close up shots of my nails as they have not returned to the tip-top conditions, hope you get the idea of what the color looks like when it’s painted!

I bought mine at David Jones, and it’s also available here in the US. Other products featured in the pictures include Vita Fede mini bracelet; Vita Fede mini v ring; Vita Fede mini pearl ring; Diptyque mini candle from the mini candle set.

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Labels: DIOR • NAIL POLISH

March Beauty Wishlist

March 2, 2015

There are too many new things that have caught my attention lately, and here is my latest wishlist edition. Some products are on the way as they are available online, and for some products I have to wait patiently until they hit the Australian shores!

1. Anya Hindmarch Cosmetic Case – I have been on the lookout for a new makeup pouch lately, and this one is calling my name! It is super cute – love AH’s latest design with the leather stickers, and this case is a perfect size.

2. Nars Dual Intensity Blush – Absolutely can’t wait for these new blushes. They will be available on Nars Cosmetics from the 4th of March.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner – I have a newly found interest in lip liners lately, and I want these in every color. Bought some already on NAP with free shipping that ends today.

4. Albion Tight Film Foundation – It completely meets my obsession of achieving a slimmer face! It’s a cream-gel foundation that is designed to make the face appears slimmer.

5. Dior Eye Reviver Eyeshadow Palette – I don’t buy that many Dior eyeshadows, but this one is a must have for me.

6. Lancome Absolue L’Extrait Regenerating Ultimate Elixir – This new luxurious cream with an exorbitant price tag has been voted the best night cream by Harper’s Bazaar this year. I read the product information over and over and finally caved in and purchased one.

7. YSL Couture Variation Palette – Another must-have limited edition neutral eye shadow palette that is worthy to collect this year.

8. Lancome Le Duo Coutour & Highlighter Sticker – I have been praying for a product like this! And I’m so grateful that Lancome heard my prayer 🙂

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Labels: SHOP

Beauty Bar 24K Gold Face Perfecction BEAURA Review

March 1, 2015

I received a lot of questions about the Beauty Bar 24K Gold Face Perfection BEAURA that was featured in this post, so I made sure my review was up asap! When I first heard about this tool many years ago, I laughed off the idea as it sounded very gimmicky to me. Surprisingly it quickly became a top selling beauty tool across Asia. It wasn’t until I came across an interview with one of my favorite celebrities who is in her 40s but still looks like in her 20s without the frozen face, and she swears by this product. So the next thing you knew, I placed an order for this (the newer version) immediately.

I have been using it for several months and I absolutely cannot live without it! It actually went missing in my house for a week and I was paranoid! This brand currently sells two versions of this. The original version has a bar head, and the new version has the circular head. I chose the latter as it is more suitable for massaging around the whole face including the eye areas and the forehead.

What does it do

It is a face massaging tool that is plated in 24K gold that releases gold ions and provides micro-vibration for up to 6000 a minute which provides enough stimulation to the facial muscles for skin-tightening and lifting-contour effects. It also claims to provide skin whitening and anti-aging benefits but I cannot attest this based on my skin condition.

My experience

I am using this tool solely for face lifting purposes, and it really works as per my expectations. I normally wake up with a puffy face that appears much rounder than in the evening, so I use this bar to massage my cheeks along the jaw lines in an upward motion for about 5 minutes in the morning. It completely takes away the water retention, and makes my face contour appear much more defined. With this tool, the longer you use it, the better the results you will see. If I want my face to appear extra slimmer with a more lifted (the V shape) effect, then it’s achievable if I use this tool for about 10 to 15 minutes. I also find this helps to minimize the appearance nasolabial folds (may work for other deep creases) by pressing the beauty bar against it for about several minutes. What I love about this tool is that it’s extremely portable and easy to use, as it’s about the size of a highlight concealer pen so I can carry it with me all the time. Being a mum I have very little “own time”, so I really appreciate the fact that I can multi-task while using this tool. And it does not require special gels to be used underneath and can even be used over makeup.

If I have to pick on one flaw, it would be that it does not allow you to adjust the intensity of the vibration. Therefore I cannot use this on my eye lid to de-puff as the vibration is just way too strong for the eyes, but it’s not a problem to be used around the outer corners of the eyes for me.

How I use it

Hold the tool at the bottom to get the maximum vibration, as the vibration will be reduced if you are holding it too close to the massage head. I normally use it after applying the moisturizer and before makeup. For optimum and fast results, I always incorporate a face firming lotion/cream into my skincare routine before the massage such as my current favorite The Chanel LE LIFT or the cult favorite Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Total V Conturing Serum.

Bottom Line

A must have if you fall into the following categories:

– suffers from water retention and puffiness in the face like me

– starts to show initial signs of face sagging, and formation of jowl!

– wants to look more photogenic

I bought my Beauty Bar 24K Gold here, and a similar version by LANCER is available at Nordstrom here.

Update to include more information about the tool

– The product is made in Japan, and beware of the fake ones on some sites.

– It requires 1 AA Battery, and it lasts about 3 months for daily use.

– not rechargeable (no power charger)

– waterproof

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