Beauty

Chanel Le Vernis Pirate and Rose Caché Swatch and Review

October 15, 2011

I thought I can have a small Chanel makeup break until the holiday collection arrives, but I caved in when I spotted the new Le Vernis Shades as part of the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet collection. There are three new shades being released – Pirate, Rose Caché and Rose Exubérant, and a new limited edition topcoat that provides a matte finish.

I picked up Pirate and Rose Caché. The quality of these is standard Chanel Le Vernis. Opaque and easy to apply, 2 to 3 coats gives a glossy and non streaky finish.

Out of the entire collection Pirate caught my attention immediately – it is a bold rich red in cream finish and there is no shimmers in it. It may not be the most unique red in the market, but after swatching it on my nails I decided I need this red in my life.

Swatches with 3 coats:

Compared to Chanel Le Vernis Fire, Pirate is slightly darker.

Rose Caché is a muted vintage pink with tiny flecks of pink shimmers. Like many other Chanel Le Vernis, it has a complex undertone depending on the angle I look at it. In some angles it leans pink with a hint of mauve undertone that comes from the shimmer, and in other angles it looks peachy beige when the shimmer is less noticeable. (I didn’t get a chance to capture the peach undertone though). Overall it is a unique neutral shade that gives a polished mannequin-hands look with an edge – definitely worth to check out.

I am not a fan of matte nails hence I didn’t pick up the matte topcoat. Do check out Joey from JoeySpace swatches here.

{ 26 comments }

Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick KARAKURENAI – The Perfect Red

October 11, 2011

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipstick KARAKURENAI 唐紅花 is THE red lipstick that I have been searching for my whole life . I could write a lengthy post praising how beautiful this red is..not berry, not plummy, not orangey, just a perfect flaming scarlet red on me that took my breath away…but I believe pictures speak a thousand words.

Texture is the most luxurious you can get – opaque, creamy, lightweight and moisturizing. My bare lips have been looking quite dry lately, but with the Suqqu creamy glow lipstick on, there is no signs of dryness as you can see in these close up shots.

OVERALL LOOK:

Bottom Line: Everyone woman should have at least one or two red lipsticks, as it is an instant accessory that makes you feel sexier, put-together and more glamorous. If you are still hunting, get your hands on this one!

{ 33 comments }

Labels: LIPSTICK • SUQQU

Suqqu KAKITSUBATA Eye Color Palette FOTD

October 9, 2011

I have an important mission to complete today, which is to convince many of you that Suqqu KAKITSUBATA 杜若 (reviewed here) applies just as beautifully as it looks in the palette. I had the same concern as many of you with the blue shade as it is out of my comfortable zone. But I am very confident with Suqqu – just like Visionary Beauty said, it is such a sophisticated brand that is just wearable across the entire range. (her blog also has many wonderful reviews on Suqqu products, check it out!)

EOTD (I have decided to include brushes in this post as this is one of my most frequently asked questions)

Upper Lid:

Applied the matte cream beige color as a base from lash line to brow bone.

Using the Suqqu eyeshadow brush large (reviewed here), applied the shimmery peachy shade all over the eye socket area.

Apply the blue shade along the lash line and the outer v.

Using the Suqqu eyeshadow brush medium (not yet reviewed), layer the shimmery mocha shade on top and blend slightly outward past the crease of the eye.

Lower Lid:

Using the Chanel precision eye brush 24 , intensify the outer corner with the blue shade.

Using the Laura Mercier smoky eye liner brush, smudge the mocha shade into the lower lash line.

Applied the peachy shade on to the inner corner for highlight.

FACE:

Since the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation is about 1 and a half shades darker on me, I mixed it with the Shiseido UV White Protect Base in Green to match my current skin color.

Dior Radiant Base is applied along the cheekbone for extra radiance.

Shiseido natural finish cream concealer is applied under the eye areas.

CHEEKS:

Applied the peach side of Suqqu Balancing Cheek OSHAGECHA from the centre of the cheeks towards the temples.

Contour using the darker side (which is THE perfect contouring shade for fair complexions) along the jawlines, and along the sides of the nose bridge.

Highlight the cheekbones with the purple side of the MAC Hang Loose Mineral blush.

LIPS:

Prepped my lips with the Chanel Hydramax Lipbalm first, then add color with Bobbi Brown Lip Color in Salmon.

OVERALL LOOK:

Are you convinced yet that Suqqu KAKITSUBATA is wearable?

{ 24 comments }

Labels: BOBBI BROWN • EYESHADOW • FOTD • SUQQU

Dior Christmas Collection 2011 – Rouge Or Vernis swatches

October 8, 2011

I was notified by my Dior SA that the much anticipated Dior Christmas Collection – the Rouge Or Collection is available for preview only in Sydney Australia now, and they will be on sale from the 18th of October. I dropped by the Dior counter today and swatched the beautiful nail polishes which I have set my eyes on.

In Australia, this collection is called Dior Daring Golden Collection

If you have the Chanel JC blush in Rouge and OR, then these two are pretty much the nail polish versions of them. Don’t you think?

Swatched with one single stroke.

Another two stunners

Other than the shade on the far right which reminded me of Chanel Peridot (I am sure it will pull too warm and muddy on my complexion), I will definitely be getting the rest of the collection. Dior’s formulation are amongst the best and these stunning shades cannot be missed by any nail polish lovers – they are unique and timeless at the same time.

{ 8 comments }

Labels: DIOR • NAIL POLISH

Suqqu KAKITSUBATA and MATSUKASA Review and Swatches

October 4, 2011

I have been using the Suqqu 01 KAKITSUBATA 杜若 and the Suqqu 03 MATSUKASA 松球 interchangeably in the past few weeks, the weather has been looking sad and gloomy so I haven’t had a chance to take FOTDs for you… so I might as well share my thoughts and some swatches with you today.

Suqqu Blend Eye Color Palettes are one of the most expensive palettes I own. I bought them in UK currency and I believe they retail more than Chanel quads and Dior quints but less than Tom Fords. So are they worth the high price tag? That’s a YES in my opinion. The high quality of Suqqu eye shadows is reflected in every aspect – from the ultra sleek, expensive looking but understated packaging, to the enclosed brushes that are made of 70% squirrel hair.

Unlike MAC that has a large customer base from students to the makeup pros, Suqqu is a brand that is targeting at a specific group of customers – women who are confident and love to wear makeup to enhance what they have, rather than having fun and being playful with makeup. Their color selections are very neutral hence office appropriate.

First Quad is the Suqqu 01 KAKITSUBATA 杜若 – this is one of their best sellers and is featured in Suqqu advertising campaigns.

All Suqqu Blend Eye Color Palettes contain two shimmery shades (top row) and two matte shades (bottom row). The shimmer shades last about 8 hours on me without creasing, and the matte shade last about the same time but starts to fade after about 4-5 hours of wear. They impart a silky veil of colors to the eyes – nothing dramatic but elegant and poised. Applying them using my Suqqu eye brushes is enigmatically pleasant.

A closer look at the eye shadows:

Suqqu 01 KAKITSUBATA 杜若 Swatches

Suqqu’s shimmery shades are second to none, because the finish is the finest sheen you can get from the market and they stay intact for the whole day. All my swatches are taken very close up therefore you can see the lines. In actual fact they give younger looking eyes in real life as the eye shadows are extremely finely milled so they smooth out the imperfections.

Suqqu 03 MATSUKASA 松球

Suqqu 03 MATSUKASA 松球 Swatches:

The enclosed applicators

Suqqu KAKITSUBATA and MATSUKASA are available here.

{ 21 comments }

Labels: EYESHADOW • SUQQU

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation Review and Swatch

September 30, 2011

Being an avid user of Chanel foundations, I got my hands on the Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation as soon as it was landed in Australia about two weeks ago. It retails for AUD$86, which is the same price as the other Chanel foundations. This range replaces the pro lumiere foundation.

The 4 things about this foundation that Chanel promises to deliver:

– Long wear flawless makeup with SPF10

– It flatters your face with a perfect balance of correction and light: with the use of the patented Chanel Perfect Light Control Complex

– Offers your complexion incomparable perfection: color and radiance lasts all day long – at the end of the day your makeup is still fresh and intact.

– Perfection has never been this simple: the fluid and light texture glides on seamlessly for adjustable yet lightweight coverage

Others

– Oil Free, dermatologist tested and non-comedogenic.

– Made in France and contains 30ml of product.

Shade: I bought the shade 30 Beige. Please note that I am currently NC15-20, and 20 Beige is a perfect match for me, but I went with B30 as summer is around the corner and my mission is to go a few shades darker!

Texture and finish:

The finish is a cross between natural looking and semi-matte (depending on the wear time) with a natural radiance (not dewy). The fluid texture feels quite creamy when it is dispensed from the bottle but translates to a velvety powdery finish on the face with a hint of luminosity. If you like to use a silicone based primer underneath your foundation to smooth out the pores, then this foundation gives a very similar finish. It totally evens out the complexion and gives a very flawless airbrushed look. Even though the finish is more matte than my usual preference, this foundation is extremely finely milled therefore blends into my skin seamlessly, and it doesn’t enhance any dry patches on the skin. However I find that it looks a bit too dry on my under eye areas. Coverage is buildable from medium to full.

The skin starts to look more and more natural and luminous on me over time. Overall the finish remains semi matte and the coverage stays the same for an entire day. I am most impressed about the staying power of this foundation, as this is the only foundation I have ever came across that after 10 hours of wear it stills looks freshly applied, no oxidation, no transferring, and no fading.

Compared to the Mat Lumiere:

Honestly I don’t really notice any difference in terms of the finish between the two. They are both quite mattifying on me and more natural looking and luminous over the day. If you are considering buying Mat Lumiere, I highly recommend you to check out the Perfection Lumiere as it lasts twice as long as Mat Lumiere.

Compared to the Vitalumiere Aqua:

Perfection Lumiere offers a better coverage and longer wear time than Vitalumiere Aqua. But I personally prefer the melt-into-your-skin texture of Vitalumiere Aqua and the youthful dewy finish.

Compared to Teint Innocence

Again I believe Teint Innocence is targeted at a younger age group for a naturally luminous finish, whereas Perfection Lumiere offers a very flawless and polished look.

Compared to the Pro Lumiere:

Might be disappointing to the Pro Lumiere fans as this foundation has no similarities. As mentioned earlier, it is a semi matte foundation that doesn’t offer the same dewiness. If you are like me where Pro Lumiere turns your face into a grease ball after a few hours of wear, then Perfection Lumiere is your savior as I can skip the oil blotting for the whole day.

Swatches:

Perfection Lumiere 30 Beige: 2 shades darker

Mat Lumiere 20 Clair: perfect match on me now

Vitalumiere Aqua B20: a tad darker

Teint Innocence 40 Beige: about the same as Perfection Lumiere in 30 Beige

A more blended out version

Bottom Line: I think this foundation will work brilliantly for the summers as well as for people with oily skin. I like it but I don’t love it, at least not for now as the weather is still quite cold in Sydney so I tend to reach for foundations with a more moisturizing formula. As said, this foundation offers a very flawless and polished look, and I personally prefer a sheer foundation that gives a fresh and youthful look.

{ 37 comments }

Labels: CHANEL • FOUNDATION

My Skincare Routine Part 3 – Makeup Removers

September 28, 2011

After I posted my basic skincare routine, I had a few people asking me what products I use to remove my makeup which I forgot to include. I wear makeup almost everyday, so finding the right makeup remover that is effective, removes makeup thoroughly yet gentle to my skin can be a little tricky. I go through tons of different brands and these are the products that I love the most.

If my makeup of the day is not too heavy I like to use my Bioderma Crealine H2O Cleanser – it smells and feels so fresh, extremely gentle to the skin and removes face makeup effectively. It is designed for sensitive skin as the entire product is water based without any alcohol and perfumes, so girls with sensitive skin can totally rely on this product. It is also excellent for removing eye makeup, but can take a while to remove waterproof mascara completely. It is also great as a last step cleanser. I know a lot of girls like to use a toner/astringent to remove the last traces of makeup, but this product does the same job without stripping moisture off the skin. My skin actually feels quite hydrated and fresh after using it.

On a full face makeup day, I opt for the Eve Lom Cleanser (Vogue call it “world’s best cleanser) to remove my makeup thoroughly. I know I have said it many time that this is my HG cleanser 😛 It has been doing a wonderful job to my skin so I just like to share my love of this product around! The concept of this cleanser is that it improves the blood circulation, opens pores, cleanses, exfoliates and tones the skin to achieve a perfectly clear and well balanced skin.

This product is made of different blends of aromatic oils with cleansing, decongesting and soothing properties. It has a lovely soothing herbal scent and a balmy consistency that is designed for massaging. By following the massaging steps provided in the enclosed pamphlet, it helps the lymphatic nodes to drain the congested areas and eliminate toxins. Then use the muslin cloth to remove the product in hot water to open the pores and cold water to close the pores. The result is instant – not only is the makeup completely removed, my complexion has a “just-had-a-facial” radiance and looks more lifted and toned. Over time I have also noticed a significant improvement in the clarity of my skin.

As you can tell from the size of the bottle, the Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil is also my favorite. I am not using it now but I like to keep a back up of it. This product has received numerous awards over the last decade. Needless to say it is a superior product. I like to use a makeup remover that cleanses and treats my skin at the same. The entire cleansing oil line by Shu comes in many formulations for different skin needs and I have pretty much tried them all. My favorites are the brightening oil from the premium line and the balancing oil as pictured below. My least favorite is the enriched formula which feels quite heavy on my skin. There are a lot of cheaper cleansing oils in the market but I always go back to this one as I like the consistency of this oil and its wide range of options.

For my stubborn eye makeup, I like to use the Neutrogena Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover. It is a winner for me as I really don’t notice a difference between the expensive ones and the cheap ones. The Neutrogena removes the most stubborn waterproof mascara with one swipe, and it is not irritating to my eyes. Just like many other bi-phased removers, it leaves a slight residual film on the skin.

{ 20 comments }

Labels: BIODERMA • CLEANSER • Eve Lom • Neutrogena • Shu Uemura

Suqqu Haul

September 23, 2011

As soon as mum told me she would be going to UK, I was over the moon! Partly because I was excited for her trip, and mostly because she could bring me back Suqqu – a brand that I lust after THE most.

You know you can trust a woman to buy your makeup for you, and mum did a fantastic job as she got me everything I had on my shopping list. I was like a little kid opening lots of Christmas presents, and so far everything totally lives up to my expectation. They just look and feel amazing, and look too precious to be used.

The shopaholic side of me was kicking myself that I really should have gotten more – ideally the entire range. The realist side of me was glad that I didn’t..the bill of these items was quite shocking already haha.

Ok end of my rambling and here are the amazing beauties:

Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in KAKITSUBATA

Suqqu Blend Color Eyeshadow in MATSUKASA

Suqqu Balancing Cheek MOMOZOE

Suqqu Balancing Cheek MUKUGE

Suqqu Balancing Cheek OSHAGECHA

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks in KARAKURENAI

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks in URUMISHU

Suqqu Creamy Glow Lipsticks in SAEBANA

Joey from JoeySpace also recently did some great reviews on Suqqu Blend Eyeshadow and Balancing Cheek, check out her reviews here and here, and her FOTD here.

{ 22 comments }

Labels: SHOP • SUQQU

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