Beauty

NARS 9966 DANMARI All About Cheek Palette Review

December 2, 2011

The NARS 9966 DANMARI All About Cheek Palette was on top of my shopping list before I went to the States, so the first item I grabbed from Sephora was this one. Actually it was all sold out at the first Sephora so I had to go to another store.

I am sure by now you will have read thousands of reviews on Nars blushes so I really don’t want to bore you with my opinions. Basically I love Nars blushes, as they have been my staples ever since I started wearing makeup. I don’t collect all of them as some shades just don’t work with my complexion. I bought this palette mainly because it is just too good value for money – it only retails for USD$65 for 6 blushes which will normally set you back $107 if you buy them individually (almost half the price)! It contains some of the most classic Nars shades such as the 0rgasm and desire which I already own – they are so beautiful so it doesn’t hurt to have multiples of them. Sin is also a good addition as it has just been repromoted in the2011 holiday collection. The rest of the shades are nice to have for me but are not necessary.

Top Row: Hungry Heart Duo II, orgasm, Desire

Bottom Row: Casino, Super 0rgasm, Sin

Top Row Swatch:

Bottom Row Swatch:

Group Swatch:

My Nars Blushes Family Photo: The NARS 9966 DANMARI All About Cheek Palette has completed my Nars blush collection. As you can tell I tend to go for the muted colors by Nars.

Bottom Line: Not matter how many Nars makeup you have, Nars palettes are just too good to pass! This is a limited edition palette and at the moment it is only exclusive to Sephora.

{ 15 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • NARS

Loving it – Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse Review

November 30, 2011

Wow…what can I say about the Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse Cleanser, other than I am totally in love with this. I’ve used up quite a few tubs of the Eve Lom Cleanser in a row so I felt a little bored and I had the urge to try something different. As you all know Eve Lom is my all time favorite cleanser, so finding something as good was a difficult mission. I spotted this cleanser while shopping for other Bobbi Brown skincare stuff, and it was flagged as “Bobbi Brown’s award winning cleanser”. Naturally I wanted to find out what’s so special about this cleanser, and the minute I opened the jar it was instant gratification so I had to bring it home with me.

I use this cleanser every night to remove my makeup – it does a wonderful job. I have previously used some cheap Japanese cleansers that also removes my makeup perfectly, for only $10. So I question myself why do I prefer to use such an expensive cleanser? The answer is it’s all about the experience and the sensation I am getting out of a product. What matters to me the most is the way the cleanser makes me feel. After a day of stressful work, removing makeup every night can be a chore. The Bobbi Brown Balm Rinse ticks every single box to wind down a day of stress and makes me feel relaxed and pampered. I love the look of this elegant glass jar sitting on my vanity, I love the bright yellow texture of the cleanser (yellow is a happy color!), and I love the fresh citrus scent. It is extremely soothing, refreshing and smells expensive. You just know it is made of premium essential oil, and this smell reminds me of all the expensive day spas I have visited in the past. If money wasn’t an object I would go for a spa treatment every week, right now I am really happy that the Bobbi Brown is reminiscent of the day spa.

Very similar to the Eve Lom , it has a balmy consistency but thicker. It also has a warming sensation when it is first applied to the face, which helps to open up the pores for a deep cleansing. I massage it onto dry skin for about 5 minutes before rinsing it off. My skin feels very calm, clean (but not squeaky clean), soft and fresh after washing without a single trace of oily residue. It felt so gentle to my skin I was worried that my makeup might not be removed completely, so I wiped my face with the Bioderma as a test and it passed with flying colors! Because it is made of essential oils I won’t use it to remove my eye makeup – I did it once and it stings a little.

It contains orange oil to leave the skin feeling immediately refreshed, and olive oil for a smooth, cushiony finish.

Full Ingredient List:

The Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse is quite expensive for a cleanser, as it retails for USD$55 + tax (also available here in Australia for AUD$90) but it comes in such a huge tub and I think it will last me more than 6 months.

Bottom Line: A little luxurious spa quality-like cleanser for women who like to spoil themselves 🙂

{ 15 comments }

Labels: BOBBI BROWN

Nars Larger Than Life Lip Gloss Pirée Review and Swatch

November 29, 2011

I spotted the new Nars Larger Than Life Lip gloss at Sephora . It is probably one the most interesting new collections by Nars for me lately, as for some reason both the fall collection and the holiday collection just didn’t intrigue me as much as before. At the moment the new lip glosses are only exclusive to Sephora..hopefully they will soon be available at other stores, so if your country doesn’t have Sephora (I mean Australia!) it’s just going to be a matter of time.

I bought the shade Pirée. There are also a few other interesting shades but I am trying to be more selective, so I only picked one shade which looked the best on me upon testing . Pirée is a gorgeous “your-lips-but-much-much-better” shade, as it is almost the same color as my lips but slightly nudish. The color is not as intense as the rest of the shades in the collection – it goes on semi-sheer with a wet glossy finish, and has no shimmers. The formulation is lovely as well – smooth, lightweight and non sticky. Compared to the old Nars gloss I would say the new gloss offers a richer color and a higher impact shine.

As you can see, the new Larger Than Life Lip gloss comes with a tiny brush applicator for precise application. To be honest I am not very fond of this new design, as I have full lips and it just takes more effort to apply lip gloss with this extra small brush.

Pirée Swatch:

Paired with neutral eye makeup:

Pirée is also very similar to Nars Lipgloss in Chihuahua

Bottom Line: A lovely new line of lip glosses delivered by Nars. If you are into new makeup, definitely worth to have them checked out.

{ 16 comments }

Labels: LIPGLOSS • NARS

Christmas Party Look with Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill 04

November 28, 2011

Christmas is just around the corner, which means the party season is truly upon us! Are you all excited? I am, because the many “non-neutral-makeup” that I bought for special occasions are finally on high rotation of use. I attended a few parties after work last week, and I needed makeup that can transform my look from day to night within minutes. I thought I’ll give the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eye shadow 04 a try – I wanted this one so much until I got the Chanel Illusoire but I bought it anyway at SAKS to qualify for the gifts with purchase.

I love Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Eye shadows in general, and I have already reviewed the other shades in my previous post, so I am not going to review the quality of these eye shadows again. The shade 04 is a gorgeous taupe shade in the pan, but I am little disappointed that the color doesn’t show up on me quite the same as it appears in the pan. It pulls a little too gray with a gunmetal metallic sheen – such color can look too harsh against my complexion and I don’t feel comfortable wearing it alone. I personally prefer taupe with a brown tinge to it and that’s what this shade is missing.

Compared to Chanel Illusoire:

My Giorgio Armani ETK Eyeshadows Collection as of today:

Bottom Line: Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill 04 is a stunning color but I think it takes the right complexion to pull it off. It allows you to create a multi dimensional smoky eyes within minutes, and also serves as a good base for an even more intense and dramatic eyes. I like it but not love it. I think there are better GA ETK shades to invest in, and if I have to choose between ETK 04 and Chanel Illusoire, I would go for the Chanel.

{ 19 comments }

Labels: EYESHADOW • Giorgio Armani

Tanda Zap Review

November 26, 2011

My skin started to break out when I was in the States, mainly due to lack of proper skin care as I only brought some random samples with me, as well as daily french fries indulgence… I freaked out when I noticed I had six blemishes on my face and I knew I had to do something about it. So I went “high tech” this time and bought the Tanda Zap. It seems it is just as popular as the Clarisonic as I can see them at every beauty store I go to.

If you are into skincare, you would know that there has a been a trend in the use of red infrared light to combat aging, and the use of blue infrared light to combat acne. It is a common treatment that is carried out at most advanced beauty salons, and I have seen more and more home versions of these tools being released – the difference would be the home version generates a lesser wavelength infrared light than the professional machines.

What is Tanda Zap:

Tanda Zap is clinically proven to clear or fade blemishes within 24 hours. Tanda Zap is the triple threat for pimples: it uses powerful blue light to destroy acne-causing bacteria while gentle vibration and warming help to open pores so bacteria has nowhere to hide.

It retails for USD$49, at a price that is affordable to anyone who is desperate to get rid of their acne. I was highly skeptical about it but I thought I could always return it if it didn’t work. I followed the instructions and used it on both inflamed and un-inflamed blemishes at least 4 times a day. After 24 hours, I saw absolutely no changes to my blemishes – nothing was diminished nor shrunk. After one week of use, I can confirm it had done nothing to improve clearing up the blemishes . Some reviews said it only worked for un-inflamed acne, unfortunately it didn’t work me either. It has some anti bacteria effect to it so my un-inflamed blemishes did not grow into a bigger size, but they didn’t fade either and just stayed on my skin for as long as I was using it.

It takes about 2 minutes to treat each blemish, I had about 6 blemishes on my face and treating all of them for 4 times a day is utterly boring. By day 3 the batteries will be semi flat and I could feel that the vibration was not as strong.

You might wonder why didn’t I return it? Well, the hotel housekeeping threw the packaging away!

Bottom Line: A waste of money.

Have you used any of the blue and red light tools to take care of your skin? Which brands do you use and do you like them?

{ 9 comments }

Suqqu Cream Glow Lipsticks in SAEBANA and URUMISHU Review and Swatches

November 3, 2011

If people asked me “what was my holy grail lipsticks’ before I had my Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks, I seriously wouldn’t have a clue considering I have a lot of them! I love lipsticks, and I share my love for them equally, they all have their own pros and cons. However after I have tried the Suqqu, I can confirm that they are the perfect lipsticks for me. Just like when you have met the one, at this moment my heart doesn’t have any spare space for other brands! So I got my friend to get me a few more shades from London which I haven’t received yet, but because I am going on holiday very soon I thought I will swatch the ones I have with me for you.

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick has a soft and extremely silky texture – it reminds me of YSL Rouge Volupte which I adore for its buttery texture, but the difference is Suqqu applies smoothly, almost melts into my lips without a single streak,whereas YSL goes on streaky and can enhance lip lines. It feels moist and lightweight, completely camouflage the dryness of my lips and provides a subtle satiny glow. The coverage is medium, and what you see from the tube transforms accurately on to the lips.

I bought three shades from my first purchase, except for the red shade KARAKURENAI that I reviewed here, the rest are the best selling and most wearable shades from what I have heard prior to purchase.

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick in 10 URUMISHU潤朱 is a persimmon coral and contains no shimmers. It’s one of those colors that is flattering on any complexion and looks appropriate for any occasion.

Overall Look:

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick in 01 SAEBANA冴華 is a neutral angelic pink. Still looking for a soft barbie pink? This is your answer! SAEBANA is also regarded as the must-buy shade by many Suqqu fans.

Overall Look: I am also wearing the Sleek blush in Rose Gold on my cheeks, isn’t it gorgeous?!

Bottom Line: If you love lipsticks, I urge you to try out the Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks, you will not be disappointed! I can’t wait for more Suqqu that I have ordered recently 🙂

{ 37 comments }

Labels: LIPSTICK • SUQQU

Amazing – Essential Massage Mask by The History of Whoo Review

November 2, 2011

Still in the process of putting together a post for my skincare part 4, in which I will talk about my biggest skincare passion – Masks! I have way too many so I am still “shortlisting’ them which might take me a while. But I can’t wait to talk about this one – Essential Massage Mask by The History of Whoo. It’s one of my most recent discoveries and the result has truly blown me away.

For those of you who haven’t heard of the brand The History of Whoo, it is an exclusive high end Korean skincare line based on the oriental medicine. All products are formulated from rare ingredients that were used in the ancient royal family. They have limited production volume because these ingredients are hard to find. The Essential Massage Mask is the star product of this brand. It retails for around USD$80 depending on the vendor.

First of all, I like the unique packaging design, which is very over the top and it probably is the only thing that I own that has a touch of royalty to it!

The texture looks beautiful, filled with gold flecks. Since it is designed for massaging, it has a rich balmy consistency but not greasy.

It comes with a traditional Oriental massaging tool and is made of the most expensive wood – Rosewood. With this tool it allows you to massage your face following an ancient massaging technique that stimulates the pressure points along the chi (energy flow) pathway, for detoxing and bringing vitality back to the skin. Personally I have a very special attachment to this technique because I grew up watching my grandma massaging her face using this way.

Application Method:

There are some pictures enclosed in the pamphlet. Basically you spread the mask over the face, start massaging using the tool from forehead to cheeks and jawlines then all the way down to the neck following the steps in each picture. It is designed to stimulate lymph flow and blood circulation. The whole process takes about 10 minutes.

First impression after rinsing the mask off was – wow my skin has never been that supple and bouncy. It gives my skin back the vitality as if I just had a 10 hours sleep. Skin tone appears more clear and radiant. Best of all my complexion appears visibly firmer and lifted, and the fold around the nose is noticeably faded. As the pressure points have been stimulated, the facial swelling as a result of water retention is gone. My face shape has changed from oval to V-shape! Of course as with any other mask, the lifting effect is temporary but with frequent use it will prolong the effect.

Bottom line: I love this! It gives me radiant and super soft skin, and it stays well hydrated for days. There are a lot of firming products on the market, but this is one of the few that can make my skin more elastic and visibly lifted immediately after use, without feeling that there is an artificial gluey product “tightening up” my skin. Whenever I have a party or special event where I want my face shape to look more sharp and lifted, (so looks better in the photos!) I have to rely on this one. Ladies with acne prone skin type need to stay away from it.

{ 27 comments }

Labels: MASK • The history of Whoo

October Favorites – Drugstore Products Edition

October 31, 2011

I haven’t done a monthly favorite for a while. Reason being I use way too many products throughout a month that is impossible for me to consolidate a list of things into a short post. So I have decided to resume my favorite posts as of this month but will focus on one particular category. For the month of October I would like to do a Drugstore Products Edition! Surprise?! I just feel like I always talk about high end products, but in the mean time there are some really wonderful and affordable products that deserve a shout out!

Western Brands:

PANTENE AQUA LIGHT Lightweight Nourishing Shampoo, Conditioner and Treatment:

These are absolutely amazing!!! I have been neglecting my high end shampoos and conditioners ever since I had them. They have made my hair feel soft, smooth, tangle free and most importantly as light as feather. The first few times I used them I literally could not stop swinging my hair (like the girl in the shampoo ad but in a clumsy way). It is the same feel as if you just had a hair cut – the hair just feels so healthy, manageable and light. I need to re-iterate, these are amazing 🙂

OPI NAIL ENVY

I wear nail polish everyday as a result my nail becomes yellow and dull. This product has completely rescued my nails and serves as a good base for nail polishes.

Covergirl Lash Blast Volume Waterproof Mascara

An oldie but a goodie. It separates, volumises, holds the curl and doesn’t budge. May not be the best mascara in the market but definitely best value for money!

SLEEK Blush in Rose Gold

Gifted by my sweet beauty pal Joyce! She always raves about it and I totally understand why she loves it more than the Nars 0rgasm blush the minute I opened it. The color is gorgeous. I will do a comparison post later in the future, for now please check out Joyce from Atelier Beauty’s review here.

Asian Brands:

LAVSHUCA Eyeshadow Palette

Newbies to Japanese drugstore brands? Lavshuca is the brand to go! It is a affordable line of Kanebo. Though the packaging may not look as elegant Lunasol quads, the actual eye shadows are just as good – smooth, finely milled and great color payoff with a soft shimmery finish. If I only had 10 dollars as my budget for eyeshadow this will be the one.

K-Palette Liquid Eyebrow Pen

Big fan of liquid eyebrow pens because they last 24 hours on me. If you love the Suqqu liquid eyebrow pen, you would love this one. Actually they are pretty identical to me and K-palette is only a fraction of the cost.

Etude House Cream blush

They are housed in a sterdy glass jar with an adorable packaging. These are very pigmented, cool tone pink blushes. They have a perfect texture of cream blush that is not too creamy nor too dry, and give a dewy finish that lasts all day. What more can I ask for?!

From LTR:

Dolly Wink 02 Sweet Girly: super long and dramatic, wore them in this post.

Dolly Wink 04 Feminine Style: these are cute corner lashes, very natural and suitable for daytime wear. Wore them in this post.

Dolly Wink 01 Sweet Dolly: the perfect style for a sweet and dolly looking eyes. Wore them in this post.

Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Feline Extravaganza Waterproof Mascara (AUD$48)

Okay I am cheating… this is not a drugstore brand. I am just loving this one too much that I have to include it in this month’s favorite! HR Lash Queen Feline Extravaganza WP Mascara is my Holy Grail Mascara. I have tried tons and tons but nothing else beats this one! I always get a few backups whenever I get a chance to shop at DFS Galleria.

{ 21 comments }

Labels: BLUSH • DOLLYWINK • Etude House • FALSE LASHES • HAIRCARE • Helena Rubinstein • KANEBO • MASCARA • My Favorites • OPI

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