Beauty

Chanel Hong Kong Collection – Ombres Matelassees Pearl River Eyeshadow Palette Review and Swatches

March 1, 2013

The Chanel Hong Kong Collection has quietly made its way to Australia. The capsule collection contains the Eyeshadow Palette Ombres Matelassees Pearl River which will be my review for today, and two Le Vernis Western Light and Eastern Light with reviews coming soon.

Pearl River is a beautiful palette of five eye shadows in mostly neutral shades. I always have a soft spot for Chanel eyeshadow palettes as they always manage to release a set of shades that are highly complementary to each other, classy yet with an edge, and with some degrees of variation to what they have done in the past. As much as I appreciate some makeup brands releasing color palettes with creativity and fun elements into it, at the end of the day wearability is my top priority when I shop for makeup, and Pearl River reaffirmed my choice. The quality of this palette is top notch and worth the high price tag, and it is different to their quads. If you aren’t convinced by Chanel’s regular quads, then you should definitely give this palette a try. These eye shadows feel noticeably softer, creamier with a velvety touch to it compared to the US/European quads. They are all nicely pigmented and swatching them was a breeze.

More close up pictures:

Shade description from left to right:

Shimmering silvery white
Shimmering golden champagne
Shimmering muted gold
Shimmering peach with a hint of rose-gold undertone to it. To me this is the star shade of the palette as it is stunning on its own, and can be easily mixed in with other colors in the palette.
Dark chocolate with multi-colored micro shimmer. Texture of this shade feels slightly dryer than the rest.

closeup shot

with flashSwatches:

I will be posting a FOTD wearing Pearl River this weekend and will provide an updated review if it’s different to my initial thought. For reviews of the nail polishes, check out The Beauty Look Book and The Makeup Blogette.

I bought the entire Hong Kong Beauty Collection at Chanel Makeup Studio in Sydney, and they are selling out fast! The Pearl River Palette retails for AUD$100. You can also purchase this on Chanel US.

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Labels: CHANEL • EYESHADOW

DIOR Cherie Bow Blush 729 Pink Happiness Review, Swatches and FOTD

February 27, 2013

The DIOR Cherie Bow is a collection that catches my heart this season. The theme is just so pretty, delicate and pink. I can’t pass by a beautiful blush like the DIOR Cherie Bow Blush in 729 Pink Happiness. It’s one of the most-wanted items for me from this collection when I first saw the preview, and after have been wearing it for the past few weeks it totally lived up to my expectations.

DIOR Cherie Bow Blush 729 is a dual pink powder blush in neutral pink. One side of the blush is matte, and the other side is slightly shimmer. I always like blushes that come with different textures, so it won’t look too flat on the face and always seem to make the application easier for a natural layering effect. The texture is standard Dior. It’s very densely packed so it doesn’t get powdery when you swirl the brush over. The powder feels silky smooth, and the pigmentation is good enough to show with a few swipes. For application, you can apply the matte side first then add the shimmering part for a layering effect. Or you can mix them up then apply as a lazy person like me would do! The results are the same – it adds a delicate touch of pink to the cheeks with a soft glow. It is not an overpowering pink, but pretty enough to give you a youthful look and make the face look more alive .

Swatches: Left: Matte, Middle: Shimmer, Right: Mixed

FOTD wearing Dior Cherie Blush in 729, and the Dior Diorshow Mono Eye Shadows in Spencer and Tweed (reviewed here) on my upper lid, and only Spencer on my lower lid.

On my face which is very tanned at the moment, the blush shows up very close to a neutral pink with a hint of coral.

Bottom Line: Definitely a must have blush if pink is your weakness! I bought mine in Australia for $75. It is also available here in the US, or here that ships internationally except Australia..

On a side note, a good news for the fashion fellas! Shopbop is holding its annual Spring Event with the following discounts. I always prefer this type of event as it applies to all merchandise (not just for the past season items), and I have so many items on my wishlist but I need to narrow them down from a maternal perspective which is very challenging 😛

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Labels: BLUSH • DIOR • EYESHADOW • FOTD

Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows Swatches

February 11, 2013

A quick post on the new Dior Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows that just landed in Australia this week. The testers of the entire collection are out for display in major department stores, but not all shades are available in stock yet. So I have only picked up 452 Spencer and 760 Tweed for today, and still awaiting on the other shades I am interested in such as 653 Mordore which will arrive over the next few weeks.

The Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows can be used wet or dry. Dior makes richly pigmented and buttery soft eyeshadows, and these ones are no exception. Compared to the old Dior singles (which now have been discontinued), I find the new ones are of better quality. Most shades from this collection have a shimmer to mega-sparkly finish. The level of pigmentation is suffice for a natural finish when applied dry, but if you want a more intense finish with some extra wattage of the shimmer, it’s best to apply them with a damp applicator.

Some swatches of the entire collection I have taken with my iphone in store.

Top Row: Swan, Gris Montaigne, Sequins, Mordore, Spencer

Second Row: Garden Party, Ribbon, Grege, Panama, Swan

Left to Right: Bikini, Bow, Tweed, Lilas Mitzah, Mariniere

Left to Right: Blue Denim, Camouflage, Khol

A quick thought on the two shades I picked up today, which I thought are the two most interesting shades out of the collection that are unique to my current stash.

452 Spencer is a moss green grey with a silvery undertone. I picked this one because it’s a very wearable and earthy shade but not in the usual family of brown and taupe.

Left: Dry swatch Right: Wet Swatch

760 Tweed is a rosey mauve shade with a silvery taupe undertone. I chose this one because it reminded me of the Rose Platine Eyeliner by Chanel which I always hoped to have it in an eyeshadow form.

Left: Dry swatch Right: Wet Swatch

The new Diorshow Mono Eyeshadows are available here or here in the US. You can also purchase them here with free international shipping available.

I bought mine at Myer for AUD$47 each. There is a GWP at DIOR with a single purchase over $110 in Myer now.

On a side note, some of you may have noticed that I have not been blogging frequently lately. There are a few exciting things happening in my life which I would love to share the news with you all soon! So as much as I love blogging, it has taken a backseat for a while. But I am all ready to come out of hibernation and can’t wait to share and communicate with you all through this channel again 🙂

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Labels: DIOR • EYESHADOW

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity One Review

December 17, 2012

I recently splurged on the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity One. Makeup products designed for contouring is never really an area where I like to splurge on, but as my obsession grows I have decided to try out some of the best products in the market. What drew me in with this product is that it is a duet of highlighter and shading cream.

The packaging is exactly the same as their eye shadow quad. I have this in Intesntiy 01 which is a good match for my skin tone (NC15-20).

I generally prefer a fluid or cream based product for contouring over powder form. They blend into the skin seamlessly so it makes the result appear more natural (like your own shadow). In the old days I would normally use a darker foundation for contouring for a very subtle result. Compared to my old method, the contouring cream shade is much more pigmented and intense so it’s easier to use but I have to be very light-handed. A little bit of the product goes a long way and the color applies and blends evenly without too much effort! This is what I love most about this product as many contouring products can look uneven, patchy and bruisey on the face. The texture is also perfect- creamy enough to blend the product into skin seamlessly but not so slippery so it allows for a precise application for sculpturing and defining the face.

The cream highlighting shade feels like a solid clear cream gloss. Compared to the contouring shade, this texture is much more emollient and is super sheer. It can feel a little tacky on the skin if too much product is applied. On the face it gives this soft, translucent and wet-like glow that is often seen on the backstage models. It also makes the applied areas look more moist and dewy – dab this product on the apple of the cheeks makes you look instantly younger and fresher . On the downside, this cream highlighter only lasts for a mere of 1-2 hours if applied alone. If I apply another product over it, it defeats the purpose of using this for a natural and dewy glow. For that reason I would probably only use this highlighter for taking pictures as it photographs extremely well.

I bought mine in Australia here for AUD$98. The Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate can be purchased here in the US. A contouring tutorial using this product can be found here.

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Labels: HIGHLIGHTER • Tom Ford

Lancome Le Crayon Kohl 015 Jazzy Taupe Review and Swatch

December 3, 2012

If you are looking for a perfect taupe eyeliner, look no further than the Lancome Le Crayon Kohl in 015 Jazzy Taupe from their Holiday 2012 Collection. I didn’t think I needed any more eyeliners after I got my hands on the THREE Flash Performance Eyeliners (reviewed here), but this one is just a must have for me!

The packaging is just downright ugly for such a high end brand. It reminds me of those really cheap eyeliners you get at the drugstore – a plain pencil type with a gold cap. No sharpener, no sponge applicator, and it was glad wrapped without a proper case… But do not get discouraged by its cover, the texture of this pencil is near perfection based on my holy grail standard of THREE . It’s a kohl pencil eyeliner with a buttery texture. If you ever wonder how soft are the THREE Eyeliners, this one is about 90% close! It gives a shimmery satin finish without any glitter. It glides on my sensitive eyes easily without tugging the skin, and stays put all day. Best of all, it is the most perfect brown taupe and it complements my mostly neutral eye shadows perfectly. I probably need a back up of it as taupe eyeliners are just so hard to come by!

Swatch of Jazzy Taupe

Compared to Urban Decay Underground, Chanel Rose Platine (reviewed here), and THREE 01

Le Crayon Kohl Jazzy Taupe is part of Lancome’s Holiday 2012 Collection in Australia (I believe in Europe as well..), but it is not in the Holiday Collection on the Lancome USA website. So I am a bit confused! Can any of you shed any light on this 🙂

I bought this for AUD$45 at David Jones. You can also get this here or here from UK.

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Labels: EYELINER • LANCOME

Balenciaga Florabotanica Eau de Parfum Spray Review

December 1, 2012

Hi everyone, happy weekend! Today I have a rather unusual product to review – The Balenciaga Florabotanica Eau de Parfum Spray. I hardly review fragrances as I am really not that great describing scents, but I like this one very much so I thought I’ll share my two cents with you.

“Balenciaga Florabotanica is inspired by the woman who is beautiful but dangerous like many rare botanical flowers. This new scent twists Turkish rose with hemp and vetiver roots for an addictive trail”.

A lot of floral fragrances can smell too sweet for me, but this one is very unique, complex yet feminine. I didn’t think it was my type of scent when I first sampled it, but it grew on me day to day. So I bought the 100ml (3.4oz) bottle in the end! I would describe the first note as a fresh floral scent with a hint of violet, leaf and mint. Once it dries down, the main note becomes a powdery woody scent (vetiver) – it’s clean, sexy and slightly floral. If my ordinary description does not tick your fancy, I urge you to give it a try at a shop if you get a chance. It is such a distinctive scent! It lasts about 8-10 hours on me with 4 and 5 sprays.

This Balenciaga makeup pouch was a gift with purchase

I bought mine at David Jones for AUD$155. You can also get this at Neiman Marcus in the US.

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Labels: Balenciaga • FRAGRANCE

Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash, L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen and KissMe Impact Frame & Curl Mascaras Reviews

November 29, 2012

I received a large response from my last mascaras review post, and many of you have given me a lot of suggestions on other drugstore mascaras. Thank you all! I have indeed purchased a lot based on your recommendations, and here are the three mascaras I have been using for the past 3 months – the Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash, L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen and KissMe Impact Frame & Curl Mascara.

To recap: I have stick straight lashes with medium volume and medium length (Asian standard..). I need my mascara to hold the curl (I use my Shu eyelash curlers), volumize and separate the lashes and to be smudge proof. I also use mascara on my lower lashes so preferably the brush of the mascara is easy to work with, without staining my skin, and is black enough to make my lashes pop.

1. L’oreal Extra Volume Collagen Plumping Mascara Blackest: This is a mediocre mascara for me. I like the brush which reminds me of the infamous DiorShow. The formula is on the dry side and is quite waxy, so it tends to clump my lashes but are fixable using an eyelash comb (I love mine which is by tweezerman!). It gives medium volume and length, holds the curl and stays put all day. Overall it is quite a satisfactory mascara but there is no aspect of it that blows me away.

2. KissMe Heroine Make Impact Frame & Curl Mascara: I am a big fan of the original KissMe Heroine Make Volume and Curl, so I was very excited to try out their newer version. It has a comb style, and the teeth is finely spaced so it separates the lashes amazingly. I absolutely hated this mascara when it was first opened, as the formula was so wet it made my lashes look spidery. I gave this mascara a second chance after letting it ‘dry’ for 2 months, and an amazing thing happened – it worked so well for my lashes as the result was even slightly better than my beloved Maybelline Falsies. It adds medium volume and length, but the unique comb just really helps to separate and fan out the lashes beautifully. It holds the curl all day without smudging, so a big thumbs up from me! I probably would repurchase this one, but the fact that I had to wait till it dries is off putting.

3. Makeup For Ever Smoky Lash Jet Black – Compared to the above two, this is a very dramatic mascara. It is ultra black and thickens the lashes a lot! The effect is more of a doll-like (thick and slightly clumpy lashes) rather than natural-but-better lashes effect. I like it because it is so black and I only needed a little bit on my lower lashes which really helps to open up my eyes. I only wish it had a better brush design for separation.

Whilst the quality of makeup is generally improving in newer releases, I think the overly saturated mascara market can be a little gimmicky with their newer inventions (ie. the 360 degree rotation brush). So I don’t keep track of the new mascaras, but if you have discovered any new ones that knock your socks off, please let me know!

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Labels: KissMe • L'oreal • Makeup For Ever • MASCARA

Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick Black Orchid Review and FOTD

November 27, 2012

Tom Ford’s Private Blend Lipstick Black Orchid is the one and only vampy lipstick that I have bought this season. It is a very bold and daring deep wine color with the most intense pigmentation – it’s one of those dramatic shades that gives you an attitude and a ‘bad-girl’ look, and makes you feel powerful!

I have expressed how I feel about Tom Ford’s lipsticks in my previous post, so I won’t repeat that again here. In short every inch of Tom Ford lipstick is totally luxurious and I just absolutely love them. From packaging to the most fashion-forward color selection, I cannot pick a single fault. I love the texture with most of the shades that I have tried, but I have some issues with this particular shade.

Black Orchid gives a satiny finish. The texture feels the same as the others and it still glides on ultra smooth. Unfortunately it enhances every single dry patch/skin on my lips which I was not even aware of, so the finish looked very uneven on my lips. You may not be able to see this in my FOTD, but that’s because I had spent a great deal of time to make it work with a lip brush by applying a thin layer over and over until it looked reasonably even. This lipstick will not work for me if it is directly applied from the tube. However, to be fair, I have experienced the same issue with vampy lipsticks of other high-end brands as well. The highly raved Chanel and YSL also added more dry lines to my lips than I thought.

In this FOTD, I am wearing the Tom Ford Black Orchid in full opaque layer. I probably applied 5 thins layers of it and I blotted my lips between each application. I am also wearing it as a blush (as suggested by Claire – check out her awesome blog here!) I applied the color on the back of my hand and mixed it with Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè so it turned into a cream blush. It goes on pink with a plummy undertone, and the Embryolisse Cream gives a lovely dewy finish.

If you don’t feel comfortable wearing such a bold shade out (including me…), you can wear it as a lip stain. I have a FOTD showing this, and I paired it with a clear lip gloss to take away the dryness.

I bought mine at David Jones for a record high of AUD$65. It is available in the US here and here. Good news to the fellow Aussies – international delivery of Tom Ford makeup is now available at Harrods with 10% VAT deduction off the retail price.

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Labels: BLUSH • FOTD • LIPSTICK • Tom Ford

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