Beauty

Chanel Fall 2012 – Ombre Essentielle Single Eyeshadow COMPLICE and Joues Contraste ROSE INITIALE Review and Swatches

September 23, 2012

I bought some makeup from the Chanel Fall 2012 Collection months ago including the Ombre Essentielle Single Eyeshadow in 93 COMPLICE and the Joues Contraste in 72 ROSE INITIALE and I finally got the time to play around with them. A bit of a delay..but with a somewhat busy work schedule, I have not been very prompt with reviewing the new makeup collections lately. I hope I will be more productive in the coming months.

The Chanel Ombre Essentielle Single Eyeshadow in 93 COMPLICE is a beautiful neutral eye shadow. It is a universally flattering champagne color with high shine micro shimmer. The luxurious Chanel packaging and the texture justifies the high price tag for a single eyeshadow – buttery soft, smooth and very finely milled. There are more budget friendly dupes in the market such as Stila Kitten, or MAC Naked Lunch. I can easily enlist at least 20 different brands that make the same shade, and yes I have them all! But I can never resist a timeless champagne colored eyeshadow that I can use everyday, especially since it is embossed with the legendary interlock C!

On Me:

The Chanel Joues Contraste in 72 ROSE INITIALE is a beautiful rosey pink blush with a neutral undertone. Mine is in the US version so as you all know – the texture is softer and more pigmented. It has a satin finish and it has a great lasting power on my combination skin. I would call this a grown-up pink that would complement any makeup look, and the subtle rosey hue appears to make my complexion look more energized.

Lastly, I wanted to give a special mention to my lip color! I suddenly developed an odd obsession for vampy lip color (which is totally not me) since I missed the Chanel PROVOCANTE. And I found this abandoned Guerlain KissKiss Lipstick in Rose Malicieux (bought here) lying in the corner of my drawer (bought it by mistake due to the incorrect online swatch) which I have not even opened. Then I topped it with Stila Lip Glaze in Majesty (another forgotten makeup item…). And voila..I got a nice deep rosey plummy color..though it’s not quite the vampy color. The moral of the story is..don’t throw out your old makeup unless they are expired 🙂 You never know when you will rekindle the love with them!

The Chanel 2012 Fall Makeup Collection can be purchased here in the US. International order is available here.

{ 20 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL • EYESHADOW • FOTD • GUERLAIN • Stila

Jill Stuart 2012 Patisserie Collection – 108 Berry Tiramisu Mixed Blush Review and Swatch

September 18, 2012

I made a huge discovery during my trip – that is, I was advised by the Suqqu MUA that I have a cool skin-tone. And that basically means I should always go for pink-based foundation as opposed to yellow, and any pink with a blue undertone would suit me more. It totally explains why I always inevitably gravitate towards cool pink! And that was the perfect excuse for me to buy the Jill Stuart Mixed Blush in 108 Berry Tiramisu from the Patisserie Collection.

The Jill Stuart Mixed Blush is their signature product – the line offers an array of different shades of pink that would rival any small girl’s closet. I personally find them irresistible. The ultimate girly packaging, and it has 4 different shades of color which allows for mix and match. It also comes with a beautifully designed decent-sized portable brush that has the best quality compared to other brushes of the same size. Pigmentation is not so crazy, but good enough to show up with a few swipes using the JS brush (or my Suqqu Cheek Brush). 108 Berry Tiramisu comes with a pale pink (top left), a soft apricot (top right), a berry pink (bottom left) and a light mauvey brown (bottom right). Except the berry pink which is highly pigmented, the rest is all (purposely) very sheer and swatch pretty much translucent. When they are mixed together, it translates to a most perfect shade of milky pink on my NC15/20 skin. The finish is semi-matte, with a touch of soft glow. I was really blown away by how pretty it was.

Swatch:

On me:

Jill Stuart is the master of pretty and girly makeup (available here)! Have you tried any of them and what is your favorite shade? And I’m interested to know how many of you know your skin-tone (cool/neutral/warm)? Please share 🙂

{ 24 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • Jill Stuart

Chanel Les Twin Sets – LA DÉLICATE, L’INFIDÈLE and LA PROVOCANTE Swatches

September 11, 2012

Some swatches of LA DÉLICATE, L’INFIDÈLE and LA PROVOCANTE from the Chanel Les Twin Sets Collection. Pictures were taken using an Iphone at the Chanel Makeup Studio when I was shopping for the nail polishes (reviewed here). As mentioned in my post, I didn’t get any of the lipsticks but I am having a MAJOR regret moment of passing on LA PROVOCANTE!! All lipsticks come in the Rouge Allure Velvet formula, and the finish is velvety smooth, matte with a hint of soft gleam when it’s under the sun.

department store lighting

under the sun

{ 12 comments }

Labels: CHANEL

Jill Stuart 2012 Patisserie Collection – 01 Cherry Custard and 02 Apple Custard Lip Pots Review and Swatches

September 8, 2012

I posted my beauty wishlist a while ago and I am slowly working my way through (along with some other impulse buys!) Today I am reviewing the cutest lip products ever – the Custard Lip Pots in 01 Cherry Custard and 02 Apple Custard by Jill Stuart’s Patisserie Collection 2012. Different to the collections from the western brands where they always focus on creating sexy and sultry makeup looks, I thought the Jill Stuart’s “themed” collection around french patisserie was very sweet and brought back many fond thoughts of lunching at Ladurée.

The texture of these lip pots feels like lip balm which is creamy and smooth. It has a semi-matte finish with a hint of moist glow that almost mimics the natural texture of the lips. The pigmentation is also semi-opaque. I have tried to apply it with a lip brush and it goes on sheer so it takes some effort to achieve the desired intensity . My preference is to directly apply them with a finger, as a few dabs-and-swipes is enough for the color to show and completely cover the natural color of my lips. Since both shades are lighter than my own lips, I have to apply some concealer to cover the lip lines. The only downside is that they are a little “high-maintenance” – I have to make sure my lips are well exfoliated and moisturized before the application, otherwise they can enhance the flakes on the lips.

01 Cherry Custard: Surprise surprise…it’s a cool-toned nude pale pink. Long time readers will know my obsession for this color!

02 Apple Custard: is a nude peachy beige with a hint of pink. It is similar to the Cherry Custard but with a warmer undertone.

Swatches of both:

Overall I like both of them. I wouldn’t say that they are must-haves as the textures don’t knock my socks off (having said that my standard is based on my HG Suqqu lipsticks), but the dreamy packaging and the cute colors make them worthwhile to collect. And a big thanks to the lovely Jen from Lifeandlensofbeauty who purchased these for me from Hong Kong!! 🙂

{ 9 comments }

Labels: Jill Stuart • LIPSTICK

Twin Sets de Chanel – Le Vernis Nail Colors in DÉLICATESSE, INFIDÈLE and PROVOCATION Reviews and Swatches

September 6, 2012

Continued from last year’s tradition, Chanel has created 3 new limited editions Le Vernis nail colors (DÉLICATESSE, INFIDÈLE and PROVOCATION) for 2012’s Vogue Fashion Night out, along with three corresponding Rouge Allure Velvet shades which make up three limited edition Twin Sets de Chanel. I made sure I got my hands on the nail colors as soon as I could as they sell like hot cakes! Upon swatching the lip colors in the store I have decided to give them a miss. The new nail shades are as gorgeous as I expected from what I have seen in the preview, although I would say the colors from the preview pictures slightly deviates from the real products. I feel that with this release Chanel has done what they do the best – the colors are so on-trend, fashionable yet wearable.

Closer up shots of DÉLICATESSE, INFIDÈLE and PROVOCATION.

Swatches with 3 coats:

DÉLICATESSE: is a refined beige with a hint of brick brown undertone

INFIDÈLE: is a deep muted pinkish berry.

PROVOCATION: is a unique rich autumn plum shade.

My favorite? It’s gotta be PROVOCATION as I am always more in favor of dark and vampy shades, so I have repainted my nails with it.

Have you picked up any from the Twin Sets de Chanel or are you planning to?

{ 11 comments }

Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

What I packed for travelling – part 1 skincare products

September 3, 2012

Hi everyone, it’s a been a long time since my last post! And I miss you all! Thanks to all of you who dropped me a message/comment during my absence – I am well. I just came back from my 4 weeks holiday in Europe. I was in Paris and London most of the time enjoying the food and shopping there, and I also went to Vienna and Prague for the first time which I will probably share my shopping/traveling experiences in my future posts.

Today’s post is about the skincare products I packed for long-haul flights as well as for long vacations. I won’t say I am a light traveler as I tend to bring more clothes and shoes than I would wear. But when it comes to skincare and makeup I try to only bring the bare minimum as they can get heavy and take up a lot of space. I would normally start to ‘save’ the sample skincare of my ‘tested and trusted’ brands months before the trip so I would have enough to bring.

Products I used during long-haul flights – they are mainly for hydration

YSL cleansing water: I don’t wear makeup on flights , so I only needed a gentle cleanser (rinsing not required).

Caudalie Beauty Elixir – I then spray my face with this after cleansing – it’s very soothing and calming (great for flights!) for the skin and the mind 🙂

SKII Repair C Serum – One of the best hydrating serums I’ve used so I always bring some samples of this with me for holiday use.

Jurlique Skin Balancing Face Oil: This is a second layer for hydration. I only use 2 drops of it and mix it with the Caudalie Beauty Elixir . The cabin air gets extremely dry so I like to supply some good oil to my skin.

Naruko Rose & Snow Fungus Hydrating Night Jelly: The last step is to lock in all the moisturizing products I applied. I personally prefer sleeping mask over heavy cream. I slather a thick layer of it all over my face and wash it off before landing. It really is a key product to keep my skin staying plumped and hydrated after a 12 hour long flight.

Elizabeth Arden 24 hours Cream (not in the picture)- I apply a thick layer of it on my lips every few hours. Don’t like the smell but it works.

Skincare Products I used during the Holiday:

My main goal is to keep my skin clear and moisturized, so I brought sample sized products mostly from La Mer and Shu Uemura. I have been using these brands for years so I know they will do a good job without breaking my skin.

Cleansers: Shu Cleansing Oil as the makeup remover, and Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Cleansing Foam as my daytime cleanser.

Toner: Caudalie Beauty Elixir

Exfoliate: La Mer the refining facial

Moisturizer: La Mer Moisturizing gel-cream and Shu Vitalizing Rejuvenating Cream

Eye Cream: La Mer Eye Balm Intense

Blemish Treatment: Peter Thomas Roth Acne Spot Treatment just in case I get blemishes.

I know I will be taking lots of pictures during the holiday so I also brought some Clarins products from the Facial lift line . The Clarins Shaping Facial Lift Serum (full-sized) is my go-to face product for anti-water retention, and along with the new Shaping Facial Lift Wrap Mask, they really help to keep the puffiness at bay and enhance the facial contour even after eating fatty and sodium rich foods everyday.

Oups how could I forget to mention sun protection for a summer holiday! I like to wear the Shiseido Anessa Perfect Essence Sunscreen when I’m frequently outdoors. It is SPF50+ and PA+++, so it offers the maximum sun protection and also ideal if you don’t want to get tanned. I also brought many packets of Silk Whitia Anti-Oxidation Whitening Mask which I used every few days for brightening and moisturizing purposes.

Pictures of these products were taken before the trip and I have managed to use all of them up by the end of trip! (Yay) I will be doing a part 2 for makeup.

Hope you are all well 🙂

{ 31 comments }

Labels: CLARINS • LA MER • Shu Uemura

Giorgio Armani Skin Lacquers Collection – Rouge d’Armani Sheer Lipstick 505 Review and FOTD

July 24, 2012

I don’t get more excited than finding the perfect soft milky pink lipstick – meet my lipstick of the moment which is the Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheers 505 from the skin lacquers collection. Finding a light pink shade that works for me is not an easy mission. Most milky pink can be a little tricky to pull off for Asians with a yellow skin tone. I have made a lot of mistakes in the past (used to wear the most unflattering pink on myself), so I am glad I am a little more “tasteful” now and I know how to work out the right pink for me.

The Rouge D’armani Sheers, skin lacquers collection just landed in Australia , and 505 was the only shade that caught my eye instantly, as it reminded me of my all time favorite light pink lipstick The Shiseido Doll Pink (which is shown in the comparison picture below) . As the name suggests, the formulation is sheer (but not as sheer as Chanel Rouge Coco Shine) with a glossy finish. Two or three swipes are enough for the color to show. The texture is light and has a good slip, and feels quite hydrating on my dry lips with a longer than average lasting power (about 3-4 hrs) than most sheer lipsticks.

Compared to the other light pink (slightly blue based) lipsticks:

From left to right: Rouge d’Armani 505; Shiseido Sheer Gloss Lipstick Doll Pink; MAC Victorian, Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Chance

Overall Look:

Foundation: Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation

Eyes: Giorgio Armani ETK 29 Rose Titanium as a wash, and ETK 27 Oxidised Silver over the lid. (both shades are reviewed in this post)

Cheeks: Jill Stuart mix blush 105 sweet lock

I purchased mine at DJ for AUD$52. The collection is also available here online.

{ 11 comments }

Labels: FOTD • Giorgio Armani • LIPSTICK

Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè 24 Hour Miracle Cream Review

July 23, 2012

The Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentrè (24 Hour Miracle Cream) has been a cult product amongst the supermodels and top makeup artists. Every now and then I come across magazines featuring big names (in the beauty/fashion industry) that swear by this moisturizer, so I had a very high expectation for this product. After using it for more than 2 months and having gone through half a tube of it, my personal thought was that it is over-hyped. I think people are just drawn to the fact that it is made-in-France, and as with many other French products, the Embryolisse is almost impossible to get outside of France.

I am always attracted to hard-to-get products, so I scouted the internet high and low and finally found it available here (which is the only online resource I can find)! The packaging is of standard French drug store products – simple, low key with a ‘medicinal’ aesthetic to it. It’s a lotion with a rich and creamy milky consistency, and it is fragrance free. For a lotion, it feels a little on the rich side. If I apply more than a pea size , it can feel a little greasy on my face for a short while. It doesn’t feel moisturizing enough for me if I apply anything less than that. It makes my skin feel nourished and softer immediately, and it did not make my skin break out. It keeps my skin moisturized for about 5-6 hours.

However, it works and feels pretty much the same as many other basic moisturizers that I have used in the past (far from being a miracle cream!). For a product with such a cult status, I expected more. I prefer a moisturizer that makes my skin feel drenched in water and plumped up immediately like Shu Uemura’s Depsea Hydrability Moisturizing Cream. Additionally I prefer a moisturizer that makes my skin glow and look “refreshed” and vitalized the next day like Creme de La Mer or Guerlain’s Issima Midnight Secret. I would consider any moisturizer that ticks one of these criteria as a keeper, and unfortunately the Embryolisse 24 Hr Miracle Cream met neither. On a different note, it works brilliantly as a makeup base. It can also be used as an emergency makeup remover.

Overall It is a very affordable and basic moisturizer that would work ‘safely’ for any skin type at any age group, and versatile enough to be used for other functions. It will be a staple for my traveling kit, but not a moisturizer for my everyday skin care.

{ 13 comments }

Labels: MOISTURIZER • SKINCARE

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