Beauty

Lancôme Teint Idole UltraWear 24H Foundation Review and Swatch Comparison

September 21, 2017

The matte and ultra long-wearing foundation is certainly making a comeback this year. There are a lot of brands releasing a new version, and the cult favorite Lancôme Teint Idole UltraWear 24H Foundation (available here in Australia) is my favorite. It has been their signature foundation for over a decade – it was actually my first bottle of high-end foundation! To mark the 20 years of the product, Lancôme has revamped their iconic foundation with a newer and better formulation in a wide range of shades. I have been wearing it every day throughout the chilled winter days in Sydney as well as the scorching summer with high humidity in Japan, and the formula is near flawless for me in both extreme seasons!

Texture and Finish

It has a fluid creamy texture that blends into your skin seamlessly. Surprisingly as an ultra long wear foundation, the formula feels very lightweight on the skin and your skin still feels breathable. It looks very natural (not cakey and powdery), and it gives a semi-matte finish with a hint of glow that just looks like your own fresh skin. No powder is needed if you have normal to dry skin, and your complexion stays fresh-looking for at least 10 hours without creasing and fading!

Formula

The formula is suitable all year round for my normal to dry skin type. It has the right balance of consistency that wears comfortably on my skin without feeling dry nor greasy. In winter, the foundation applies smoothly without looking patchy and enhancing any dryness/fine lines. If I want to boost up the radiance or hydration, I normally add a layer of hydrating primer underneath. In summer, this foundation wears even better and looks better over time with no oxidation! Unless you have ultra dry skin, the formula of this foundation is friendly for most skin types and weather conditions!

Coverage

The coverage is medium and buildable to high – it blurs out imperfections, evens out skin tones, and covers the pores naturally.

Lasting power

It stays put the whole day with amazing oil control power when I am in Australia. I decided to bring it with me on holiday to Japan which could be a true test as the weather there was hot and humid. To my pleasant surprise, the foundation surpassed my expectations. I was mostly outdoor sweating under the sun, and the humidity level there was 100%. I wore this foundation with powder on top, and my makeup held up nicely for more than 12 hours with minimum oil come through. I did not have to worry about touch-up at all!

Shade

I am shade 02 Lys Rose (pink base) and it matches me perfectly.

Shade comparison

The Lancôme foundation is available at Nordstrom at 15% off currently. For all the US readers, Nordstrom is currently offering great beauty deals with lots of GWP and samples.

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Labels: foundation • LANCOME

My Go-To Favorite Oils – Dior Prestige Oil Serum, OUAI Hair Oil and Omorovicza Oil Review

September 5, 2017

Sharing my thoughts on some of the best oils for face, body and hair that I have used so far – the Dior Prestige Replenishing Oil Serum, OUAI Hair Oil and the Omorovicza Firming Body Oil. All of them are ultra-luxurious aesthetically and the formulas are to-die-for with the most incredible scent. I have been using these 3 oils religiously every night, and they are my minimalist approach to taking care of my skin and hair in less than a minute instead of using 10 different products. They are effective, and I love how they make me feel pampered and relaxed. The amazing smell of each oil helps me to unwind from a stressful and chaotic day so I am very addicted to them.

Dior Prestige L’Huile Souveraine Oil Serum – I have a detailed review here. It is amazing for rescuing the driest skin along with the best anti-aging benefits. My skin appears moisturized, plumped and radiant day after day. It is pricey, but all you need is one/two drops per application. I’ve been using it every day for 3 months now and I am not even half way through. Best of all, this oil is derived from premium French roses, so it will literally make you feel like you are in a fresh rose garden.

OUAI Hair Oil -I bought this oil (from here) after hearing lots of great reviews. It has a very lovely musky jasmine smell to it, and the oil is lightweight and instantly absorbs into the hair. It nourishes the dry ends and smooths out the frizz without feeling greasy and heavy, and keeps the hair looking and feeling healthy. My HD recommended me to apply a drop of oil to the hair before bed, and I’ve been following her advice which seems to make a difference to the condition of my hair in the morning. My hair feels smooth and soft, and less tangled so it takes less time to style in the morning.

Omorovicza Firming Body Oil -I had an incredible body massage at a spa recently with this oil. I loved it so much I had to get one for myself (bought here) at home! It is a luxurious body oil serum with a blend of aromatic essential oils that targets at skin firming and toning. I love the smell as it instantly reminds me of a tranquil spa. Apart from using it all over the body for moisturizing, I particularly love applying it on the neck, shoulder, and décolletage every night. The heavenly aroma helps me to relax and gives me a good sleep. The oil has rosemary and chamomile that are anti-inflammatory and helps to relieve muscle tension. I was advised to apply this oil (as I have a stiff neck and shoulder) immediately after a hot shower which will help to soften the muscle and any tight knots!

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Labels: Body Oil • DIOR • FACE OIL • Hair Oil • HAIRCARE • OMOROVICZA • OUAI • SKINCARE

Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips Lipstick Review and Swatches

August 29, 2017

I took a mini break from blogging as I just felt exhausted from everything, and after my two weeks of holiday in Japan, I am mentally re-charged again to get back to my usual routine of life including my favorite blogging. This review is long overdue, as I have had the Charlotte Tilbury Hot Lips for a while. I ordered 5 amazing beautiful shades on Net-A-Porter based on these online swatches (big thumbs up for the swatches on her website as they are always accurate and reliable). It was a 100% successful order for me, as every color is what I expected and they all wear so beautifully that I struggle to pick a favorite!

Left to Right: Miranda May; Super Cindy; Kidman Kiss; Secret Salma; Hot Emily

Charlotte has several lines of lip colors, and the Matte Revolution (reviewed here) is the best for the texture and finish in my opinion. The HOT Lips lipstick range was born under the collaborations with 12 female celebrities (hence all lipstick shades are named after them), and it has the formula as the matte revolution line. It gives a velvety matte finish without making the lips look and feel dry, and the color stays put for 5-6 hours depending on the color. It applies silky smooth and streak-free, and it has a lovely buttery but non-slippery consistency so it is easy to blend without feathering. It makes the lips feel soft and plump for a youthful look. Overall as a matte lipstick, this is one of the best formulas you can find in the market.

As usual, I picked up some nude, MLBB and red and pink lip colors. All the colors are very effortless and are great for everyday wear, and they go with all sorts of makeup looks and occasions.

Kidman Kiss – is a medium peachy-pink nude. The color is similar to my natural lip color so it doesn’t wash me out and is a such an easy to wear elegant color for a natural look.

Super Cindy – is a true medium muted nude color. It has the perfect balance of nude and dusty pink that instantly makes your lips look more sultry and edgy. One of the IT shade to get your hands on now!

Secret Salma – is a true medium MLBB rosey pink. This is a must have color that most girls can’t get enough of including myself!

Hot Emily – is a coral red that is just as pretty and hot and takes your breath away like the real person. Dab it to the center for a gradient look that gives a more youthful and girly appearance.

Miranda May – I would say this is a very Miranda Kerr color as she always wears a similar lip color in pictures. It is a very pretty and friendly pink coral that would look flattering on most girls, and it instantly brightens up your complexion.

Group Swatches:

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK

Dior Prestige White Collection Brightening Lotion (Essence Water) Review

July 7, 2017

I gushed about how amazing the Dior Prestige skincare line was lately. Along with the Huile Souveraine Replenishing Oil Serum (reviewed here), I am sharing my thoughts on this most luxurious hydrating toner/essence from the Dior Prestige White Collection Line. It is not easy to get hold of it unfortunately, as I noticed this special white line is only available in certain countries. In Asia, this product is called Satin Brightening Water, whereas in Europe it is called White Brightening Light In Lotion – but they are the same product.

When it comes to the first step in skincare after cleansing, I always like to prep my skin with a layer of toner/essence water. They tend to offer better anti-aging benefit with more intense hydration than a normal toner does. Dior has several different types of essence water in the Prestige line (also eyeing for the Rose Essence Lotion). I chose this because it has brightening ingredients along with their signature Rose Souveraine Absolute concentrate. For my prone-to-freckles skin type, it is always a good habit to incorporate as many brightening products into the routine as I can.

As usual, the packaging from the line is on another level – it is housed in a very weighty glass jar with a gold cap that looks so clean and pure, and instantly glams up your vanity! The consistency of the product is quite rich – like clear gel-water and a little bit goes a long way. With this product, I only need half the amount of other similar products for one application. You can either pat it into the skin and it takes about half a minute to fully absorb as it almost feels like applying a rich essence! Otherwise, you can apply it with a cotton pad for a more refreshing feel and it cleans the pores and removes any traces of dirt and makeup residues.

This Dior White Brightening Lotion is for the ultimate hydration and regeneration. My complexion feels immediately drenched with water and appears plumped up, even-looking and brightened. It is so hydrating that I even skipped the real essence since I have this in my routine! What I also really like about this product is that it is very long lasting, even if you don’t apply other skin care products after this, it keeps your skin moist and supple for many hours.

Overall, this is the best of the best essence water you can find in the market for normal to dry skin.

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Labels: DIOR • SKINCARE

Dior 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette Attract 867 – Summer 2017 Collection

June 28, 2017

My love interest in eyeshadows has been shifted from the cool taupes to the warm, coppery and berry shades lately – perhaps it’s due to the craze for palettes like Tom Ford Honeymoon (reviewed here), the Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance (reviewed here), or the Huda Rose Gold Palette which are taking over the beauty world by storm! My latest addition is the Dior 5 Colours Eyeshadow Palette Attract 867 from the Summer 2017 Collection (LE). It was love at first sight as it has all the beautiful colours that I am drooling over for, yet it’s an ultra wearable every-day palette without looking too over the top.

The quality is consistently good. The eyeshadows in the palette are buttery to the touch, and silky smooth to apply without being powdery. The powders are densely packed, and they can be easily picked up with a soft bristle brush such as Suqqu and blends effortlessly with no fallout. All the colors have a great color payoff – a gentle dip and one swipe is good enough to get a nice wash of the colors on the eyes.

The four gold colors on the corner have shimmers with a hint of metallic finish to it, which really compliments the coppery and berry tone. When applied on the eyes, there is a subtle gleam to it that really makes the eyes pop. The touch of pink berry shade is stunning – I normally add a little to the outer corner of my eyes, or line the outer edge of my lower lines, and it instantly adds a pretty touch and gives a different appeal to the usual ‘soft brown’ eye makeup.

Closer Look

Color Description:

Top Left: Shimmery rose gold

Top Right: Shimmery nude pink

Middle: Raspberry pink in satin finish

Bottom Left: Shimmery medium brown with gold shimmer

Bottom Right: Shimmery medium burnt burgundy brown

Swatch

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Labels: DIOR • EYESHADOW

DIOR Prestige Huile Souveraine Replenishing Oil Serum Review – simply extraordinary

June 15, 2017

I have had a fair share in the luxury skincare department (yep I started ~~splurging~~ ‘investing’ in brands such as La Prairie, La Mer etc since I was very young!), and one skincare line that absolutely blows me away is the Dior Prestige, and the Dior Prestige huile souveraine replenishing oil serum is one of my favorites from the line (bought here in Australia). My affair with Dior Prestige can be backdated to a simple chat with a friend who has amazing taste, and she told me that once you have tried Dior Prestige products you can’t go back to other brands! I was deeply intrigued from that moment, and as a crazy beauty fanatic, I started doing research and found out that despite the exorbitant price tag, the sale of Dior Prestige skincare line is consistently topping other products/brands. Another interesting fact is that apparently, Dior spends the least amount of money on advertising their most expensive beauty products. Reason being – they don’t need to because they are selling so well and women are just hooked.

Formula

Unlike most companies who purchase pre-made ingredients from factories in bulk, the prestige houses develop and make their own ingredients with the best raw materials. In this lush oil-serum, Dior has sourced the most expensive and rare roses – Rose Souveraine, which is the favorite rose used by Queen Marie Antoinette. Only the petals are used (not the entire rose) for extractions of the oil, and Dior undertakes a unique and ultra time-consuming extraction process (like a cold-press) to ensure the oil is ultra potent and efficient. The formula is simple yet luxurious – made of 100% natural oil and contains the highest concentration of Rose Souveraine for treating dry and aged skin, that guarantees to replenish and restore your skin like nothing else!

My Experience

The packaging is to-die-for. It is housed in a sturdy crystal-like glass bottle and truly looks like a piece of art. The formula is like an oil serum, and it has the finest and silkiest consistency that I have ever used. I actually can feel the difference in texture compared to other face oils when I had it applied the first time. It is absorbed into the skin immediately, with zero greasy residue and it does not make the face look and feel oily. There is also a beautiful soft fresh rose smell that lingers on the face for a while, which makes this oil even more luxurious to use.

Immediately your skin feels deeply nourished and unbelievably soft and radiant. Overnight, regardless of how dry and sensitive your skin is, the serum will restore the moisture level back to its best. I have used it in the minus zero winters in the Northern European countries as well as during seasonal changes where my skin was dry and irritated, and the serum never failed to work as a miracle oil overnight. Over time, I can clearly see that my complexion is rejuvenated as it appears more even and plumped with a glow, and makeup glides on beautifully. Best of all, if you want to adopt a simple skincare regime, this powerful anti-aging serum is all you need after cleansing and toning, as it doubles as a serum and moisturizer, and the product alone is more effective than having multiple average products.

Application

Use once or twice daily depending on your skin condition, or as a one-month intensive treatment. About two pumps are needed per application. The oil is 50ml so it will last you 4-5 months of daily use.

Bottom Line

My Holy Grail and highly recommended!!

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Labels: DIOR • FACE OIL • SERUM • SKINCARE

Chanel Le Vernis Beige Beige Review and Swatch

June 8, 2017

My obsession with nude nail colors continues – sharing a quick swatch post for my current favorite nail color – the Chanel Le Vernis Beige Beige 556 (bought here in Australia). It’s a classic true beige color with a peachy pink undertone in gel finish. If the look of muted blush, beige and soft brown tone is your thing, then this color is right up your alley!

The consistency of this particular color is slightly too thick for my liking as I always prefer applying multiple thin coats. I need to add a few drops of nail polish thinner so it applies beautifully with 3 coats in a streak-free finish. The reformulated formula stays chip-free on me for at least 5-6 days.

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Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

Tom Ford Soleil 2017 Clutch Sized Lip Balm Review and Swatch – 02 Neotropic and 04 Fathom

June 2, 2017

Whenever there is a new Tom Ford makeup release, we all know there’s going to be a race as a lot of popular items tend to sell out within hours! With the latest Tom Ford Soleil 2017 collection, I managed to pick up two of the most popular clutch sized Soleil lip balms (LE) – 02 Neotropic and 04 Fathom (bought them here in Australia) These lip balms have taken luxury to a new level packaged in the iconic Tom Ford design in a super cute mini size. The formula is very user-friendly for applying on-the-go for adding a flush of color as well as moisturization.

marble plate is available here

The lip balm has the size as the lips and boys, but in a beautiful glossy white case with gold trim. It doesn’t feel waxy nor ultra balmy like a traditional lip balm. The texture is quite hard (unlike the FRESH lip treatment that breaks easily) so you will not add too much product on the lips. It applies silky smooth and feels completely weightless on the lips. The pigment is on par with a sheer lipstick – 2 swipes give enough coverage for adding the right amount of color with a degree of translucency. It doesn’t make your lips look overdone, and gives a very pretty youthful and fresh look. Lasting power is about 4 to 5 hours.

As for a lip balm, it moisturizes the lips mildly – good enough for keeping your dry lips soothed throughout the day, but not nourishing enough for dry and chapped lips.

02 Neotropic is a bright orange color. It’s must-have color me as it’s different to the usual pinks and reds, and it’s a very wearable orange color as it’s not too warm and it instantly brightens up the complexion

04 – FATHOM is a pretty pink red

Swatch on hands – the finish appears more glossy when swatching on the hands, but once it’s applied on the lips and blended out it gives a semi-satin finish.

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Labels: LIP TREATMENT • LIPBALM • LIPSTICK • Tom Ford

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