Beauty

Giorgio Armani Cheek Fabric Blush Review and Swatches – POP, FLESH, ATTITUDE and SKIN

August 31, 2014

Giorgio Armani has revamped their iconic Sheer Blush this year with the old range being discontinued. The new range is called Cheek Fabric Blush and I picked up the pinks 500 POP and 507 FLESH, and the peachy pinks 306 ATTITUDE and 502 SKIN. I love their Sheer Blushes for the quality, but I am also pleased to see this new range as they certainly look more appealing in the aspect of packaging as well as color choices.

The new Cheek Fabric Blush is housed in a glossy black lacquer case with an incase mirror. First impression was that it is a lot smaller than the previous version – it only has 4 grams of product whereas the Sheer Blush was 6 grams. The con is that it retails for the same price but you get much less product (as with everything else these days…), and the pro is that it is more compact and portable to carry.

It has the silkiest and smoothest texture you can ever get from a blush, and it is ultra finely milled as with all Armani makeup so it looks very light and easy to blend on the skin. In terms of finish, the Cheek Fabric applies slightly more vibrant and brighter, so if you think the old range was too sheer you will be happy with the color payoff of this one. It retains its signature seamless flush of color look with a lit-from-within soft glow, which means it wold never look patchy and heavy with a visible edge line/border.

The new colors that I picked are quite similar to the old ones (as you can see in my below swatches). Nevertheless they are really beautiful everyday colors (particuarly the pinks), and I am sure I will get frequent use out of these.

500 POP (Limited Edition) is an angelic matte milky pink with no shimmer. Compared to Sheer Blush 12 it leans more of a neutral pale pink, and can be used either as blush for fair complexion, or as an overall beauty powder that gives a sheer wash of soft pink glow to the cheeks.

507 FLESH is a bright candy pink with micro gold shimmer which doesn’t show up on the skin. This is a must-have color from this new collection for me!

306 ATTITUDE is a bright peachy pink with silver shimmer. The color is similar to Sheer Blush 10 but leans slightly more coral. This is a universally flattering color that would look lovely on anyone (think about Nars Orgasm…)

502 SKIN is a softer version of peachy pinky with micro silver shimmer. It looks very similar to Sheer Blush 02 in the pan but goes on more vibrant and has a stronger pink undertone.

This is a FOTD/Selfie wearing the Cheek Fabric 502 SKIN which was taken with my new selfie camera CASIO TR35. If you follow me on Instagram you would know I just spent a ridiculous amount of money on this camera. It wasn’t love at first sight as I had really high expectations on it but I am starting to love it more and more as I get to know how to operate this camera better. I will definitely post a proper review for the camera in the coming weeks.

Overall the new range has better color pay off and feel silkier than the Sheer Blushes. The quality difference is not that significant compared to the Sheer Blush as they were already superior to begin with, however they are worthy to collect as the new generation blush from Giorgio Armani. The Cheek Fabric is available at Nordstrom, and you can still get hold of the Sheer Blushes on Neiman Marcus online in the US.

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Labels: BLUSH • FOTD • Giorgio Armani • SELFIE

Charlotte Tilbury Makeup – Initial Thoughts

August 28, 2014

I was going to post my review for the Giorgio Armani Cheek Fabric Blushes which I have already sneak peeked on my Instagram, but I got sidetracked with the arrival of my Charlotte Tilbury Order from Net-A-Porter (as mentioned in my previous post they are currently offering free shipping to certain countries for all orders). Always enjoy the shipping service provided by NAP as it took only 2 days for the package to arrive! This is my first Charlotte Tilbury purchase and my feelings for the products are quite mixed as some are absolutely fantastic whereas some are let downs, so I thought I’ll quickly share my initial thoughts.

Charlotte Tilbury Eyeshadow Palette The Dolce Vita – Absolutely Amazing! This is my favorite product out of this order, and I would say if you can only have one product from this line – this is the one! The picture doesn’t do this eye shadow palette justice, as it looks far more beautiful and complex in real life. Review for this product will be posted shortly.

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow – Another must-have product from this line. I am not a fan of using shimmery bronzer on me, however this product surpassed my expectations. Both the bronzer and the highlighter are stunning and look flattering on my skin tone. If you apply the shimmery bronzer light handed, it gives a lovely warm glow to this face that works for my fair complexion. Review for this product will be posted shortly.

Charlotte Tilbury Lipstick Coachella Coral and B*tch Perfect – My feelings for the lipsticks are mixed – love the colors and the quality of the lipstick, but I am quite peeved at the packaging. It is very lightweight and looks quite cheap for its price (nowhere near as luxurious as the YSL or Tom Ford lipsticks). Somehow I feel that the packaging is “inspired” by those free Estee Lauder lipsticks that are always included in their gift-with-purchases during the Christmas time lol..

Charlotte Tilbury Lip Lacquer Hall of Fame – I am sorry to say that but I am very disappointed with this lip gloss. The swatch online shows a lovely milky pink color, but the actual color is pretty much transparent. I don’t mind a clear lip gloss if the quality is great, but this product looks and feels downright cheap, and it has a typical vanilla scent that reminds me of those cheap $2 lip glosses you find at the sales bin at the local drugstore.

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • EYESHADOW • HIGHLIGHTER • SHOP

Beauty Wishlist – Net A Porter Edition

August 25, 2014

Net-A-Porter is currently offering Free Shipping for All Orders which is a perfect opportunity to stock up some of their exclusive beauty products (their free shipping normally requires a minimum order value of at least few hundred!). I thought I’d share my wishlist of the beauty products that I am planning to purchase, as well as the ones that I absolutely love and frequently buy from NAP.

1. Sunday Riley Ceramic Cleanser – I have talked about how much I loved Sunday Riley products a long time ago in my blog, and one of my favorite skincare product from the brand is this Cleanser. It’s a great gentle cleanser for all skin types that retains the moisture of your skin and feels uber luxurious.

2. Sunday Riley Cellular Face Oil – I am a big fan of face oil and I have been eyeing their newest product for a while. Love the gradient bottle design and I have heard nothing but wonderful reviews of this gem.

3. Anya Hindmarch Cosmetic Case – A perfect vanity case for traveling in style!

4. Original & Mineral Original Detox Shampoo– This is the best detox/clarifying shampoo I have ever used! I always buy several bottles of this from NAP.

5. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Palette – I raved about this product on my Instagram. It’s my favorite highlighter kit now as the colors are so versatile and they add a beautiful soft glow to the skin. Good to see that it’s finally back in stock!

6. Charlotte Tilbury Lip Liner Pillow Talk – This is the brand that I am dying to try so I took this opportunity and ordered a few products. I have heard mixed reviews about her products and I would love to test them on my own. I have been looking for a good nude lip liner for so long and this one looks fool-proof to me.

7. Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow – As we all know this palette has caused a stir and sold out within a short time when it was on Nordstrom. So happy to see that this palette is now on NAP!

8. Charlotte Tilbury Beach Stick – Planning my next holiday so I am on the lookout for some beach-friendly makeup! Love the color of this one.

9. Kevyn Aucoin Lip Gloss – Can’t get my eyes off this beautiful bright pink lip gloss.

10. Philip B Lavender Hand Wash – The most important bathroom essential to me is a heavenly scented hand wash housed in a gorgeous bottle.

11. Kevyn Aucoin The Shimmer Shadow Set – I always love the idea of carrying small roller balls whether they are for fragrance or makeup. Love the neutral color of this set and they look great for adding a wash of shimmer colors to the eyes for retouching makeup.

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Labels: SHOP

Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour 325 Rouge Kiss Review and Swatch

August 21, 2014

Currently going through a phase of bright and sheer red lips at the moment, so the newly released Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Colour 325 Rouge Kiss caught my attention immediately as soon as I saw this shade worn on the stunning Natalia Vodianova in their promo picture.

Love the packaging of this new range of lipsticks by Guerlain, which comes in a black lacquered tube (prone to finger prints though..) that looks much more modern and chic than the other KissKiss ranges.

Guerlain lipsticks have always been quite underrated, and this revamped version certainly deserves more attention and love for its superior quality. I have very dry lips at the moment due to the cold weather, and I am very pleased that this lipstick feels very moisturizing and does not enhance any flakes and lines on my lips. It is hydrating and silky smooth with a solid texture (harder than YSL Rouge Volupte but slightly more emollient than the Tom Ford’s sheer lipsticks), so it applies very lightweight rather than feeling like you have a thick layer of lip balm on. The pigmentation is on the rich side for a sheer lipstick – it applies to its true color with a translucent glossy finish in only 2 swipes, and you can always apply more layers to build up the opacity. It lasts for 4-5 hours on me, and it fades into a lip stain after drinking and eating.

325 Rouge Kiss is a warm translucent watermelon red in semi-gloss finish. I love a sophisticated bright red that brightens up my complexion, and the hydrating formula makes my lips appear more plumped and youthful looking.

Lip swatch of 325 Rouge Kiss

Compared to some of my other “sheer” red lipsticks

From Left to Right: Guerlain Rouge Kiss, Tom Ford Firecracker (reviewed here), YSL 12 CORAIL INCANDESCENT (reviewed here), Suqqu KARAKURENAI (reviewed here)

I bought mine here for AUD$41 (FYI Guerlain recently had a price decrease around 20% in Australia), and they are also available at Nordstrom and Saks in the US.

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Labels: GUERLAIN • LIPSTICK

GOLDWELL DUALSENSES Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum Review

August 20, 2014

The GOLDWELL DUALSENSES Rich Repair 6 Effects Serum is a hero product for making my dry and chemically processed hair look shiny and sleek. I’ve been using it everyday for the past month and I would recommend this to anyone who suffers from frizzy, dry hair as well as styling with heat on a frequent basis. It is quite a concentrated serum that aims to repair severely damaged and stressed hair.

On damp hair after washing, I normally apply less than a pea size to the ends of my hair, and it helps to control the frizz and makes my hair feel moderately moisturized. Applying more than a pea size of this serum tends to make my hair feel overly soft… I love mixing this serum with my favorite hair oil, and the combination just completely reverses the damaged appearance of my hair – making them look healthy and smooth, and much easier to manage with less tangle.

The beauty of this product is that it is suitable to be used to on unwashed hair. Since I wash my hair every two days, and on day two the ends of my hair would start to feel dry and look frizzy again. This is an excellent product to be used as a dry leave-in conditioner, and I would totally re-purchase it for this reason as most hair oils are heavier. This serum has a lightweight milky texture that absorbs into the hair instantly without feeling sticky and greasy. When I have extra time, I like to quickly run the ends with my Steampod (reviewed here), and that would make my hair fresh and conditioned with a natural shine .

Disclaimer: This post contains product sent courtesy of GOLDWELL for review

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Labels: HAIRCARE

YSL Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation Review and Swatch

August 17, 2014

I have been really into YSL makeup lately, almost on par with Chanel. They have released some stellar products in recent years including the highly coveted YSL Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation. It was an instant success with this foundation as it was claimed to be the foundation version of their cult product concealer. I was not that into other foundations for a very long time as I was content with what I had, until I tried a sample of this several months ago. I fell in love with its signature soft glow finish and went ahead and purchased one along with many other “newer” foundations…

What I love about this product the most is that it is such a versatile foundation. It gives a natural and satin finish with a soft glow which is neither matte nor too dewy, and it would look lovely on any skin type. It gives the skin just the right amount of radiance for the day, and it photographs particularly well without looking too shiny. If I want to make my skin look extra dewy, I normally add some liquid highlighter. Over the T-zone I would dust some loose powder for a slightly more matte finish. It has a standard medium coverage that cover up the pores and blurs out uneven skin tones, and it can be sheered down or built-up. When this is applied with a beauty blender it tends to give a softer and more bare-faced look. Applying with a foundation brush (such as the Tom Ford Cream Foundation brush) gives a more polished and airbrushed look otherwise. I find that the Touche Eclat Concealer can look a little dry on the skin in cold weather, and if you have the same problem with the concealer, rest assured with this one it won’t happen! It has a lightweight milky texture that performs well on my dry skin in winter without enhancing the pores and dry patches.

If I have to pick one aspect that I don’t like, is that it doesn’t melt into the skin upon contact – which many of my other holy grail foundations do. This foundation is designed for all skin types so perhaps on my dry skin it takes some time to blend into the skin seamlessly. Lasting power is fine with me. I normally use this with a primer such as the YSL CC cream, and the combo lasts around 6 -8 hours in an air conditioned environment.

I bought the shade in Beige Rose 20 as I have a cool skin tone, and it matches me very well. Here are some foundation swatch comparisons.

Overall the coverage and its beautiful finish makes it an excellent everyday foundation for me. The price is also not too bad compared to the other high end foundations. I bought mine here in Australia, and it’s also available at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in the US.

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Labels: foundation • YSL

5 minute makeup essentials

August 10, 2014

Life has been extremely busy for me lately. Returning back to work full time, and trying to spend as much time as possible with my baby, and blogging after he goes to bed along with several other projects going on is really a juggle for me. As a result I’ve learnt to cut down my makeup time drastically, which is something I swore I would never do because I absolutely enjoy putting makeup on with my endless stash of makeup! Anyway I figured that my top priority right now is to catch up on my beauty sleep so I have carefully edited a selection of my favorite makeup that give me the look I am after under 5 minutes.

When it comes to quick makeup – perfecting the complexion is always my number one priority. If I can get a nice clean and fresh complexion then it makes the rest of the makeup application a breeze. My current favorite combination is the Bobbi Brown Enriched Vitamin Face Base (reviewed here), then a sheer layer of the YSL CC Cream Lavender (reviewed here) which gives me a well-rested glow, followed by YSL Touche Eclat Foundation applied with Beauty Blender. All together takes about 2 minutes, and these three products are guaranteed to give me a natural and flawless complexion with a moist and dewy glow.

For the eyes and cheeks, I go for cream based products and I like to apply them just with my fingers. I use the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre 93 Impulsion for highlight around the eyes, and Mirage on the crease. The By Terry Hydra Blush 3 Bubble Glow gives an effortless coral-pink flush to the cheeks that instantly brightens up the complexion.

Eyeliner and mascara are essential items for me which I would never skip. I have been wearing a brown eyeliner instead of black lately as it makes my eyes appear softer. The Creer Beaute makes the best waterproof and easy to apply liquid eyeliner in my opinion, and their latest Sailor Moon Star Power Liquid Liner (brown) is a medium warm chocolate brown liquid eyeliner that goes well with my neutral eye shadows. It leans a little to warm and reddish for my liking so I am still on the hunt for a perfect dark cool brown eyeliner. The Le Volume de Chanel Mascara came as a surprise for me. I didn’t like any other Chanel mascaras that I tried before but this one is a gem and worth the hefty price tag!

Last but not least, having lipstick on defines me! I always have at least 5 lipsticks that are on high rotation every week, and the Chanel Rouge Coco 60 Triomphe (reviewed here) is my go-to lipstick of the week that goes well with my By Terry blush.

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Labels: BY TERRY • CHANEL • foundation • Makeup Base • My Favorites • YSL

Suqqu Blend Color Eye Shadow 16 HANASHOUBU Review, Swatch and FOTD

August 4, 2014

I love looking at new makeup, as much as I love having my wardrobe filled with brand new clothes with tags on. Is there a name for such a syndrome?! Anyway I finally decided to use my beloved Suqqu Blend Color Eye Shadow 16 HANASHOUBU for the first time last week which I have had for quite a while. It is such a beautiful palette that is not so neutral so I decided to take some FOTDs.

I fell in love with this palette as soon as I saw the preview picture from its Spring 2014 collection. A bright lavender is the only pop of color I feel comfortable having it on my eyes other than the usual neutral shades, and I have 100% faith in this palette by Suqqu. The rest of the colors are beautiful neutrals that complement the purple. The quality is as good as an eye shadow can get in a refined and elegant way. All shades are velvety smooth, soft, and adhere to the skin beautifully without enhancing any dry lines on your eyes. All the colors have a soft shimmer with a delicate gleam.

Color Description:

Top Left: Milky vanilla with shimmer that makes a perfect base color

Top Right: Medium taupe brown with shimmer – perfect neutral brown shade for my complexion

Bottom Left: Lavender with iridescent shimmer that is highly pigmented

Bottom Right: Nude pink with shimmer (slightly more sparkly) that is great for highlighting

FOTD

I applied the vanilla shade all over the lid, then the taupe brown along the upper lash line then I layered the lavender on top to create a soft smoky look.

For the lower lash line, I just lined the lavender shade along the outer 2/3, and highlight the inner corner with the pale pink shade.