Front Row Beauty

All Black

February 28, 2018

Just sharing a simple all black outfit that I adore lately. The satin oversized black top is from the latest Uniqlo U collection which is the most exciting collection that I anticipate every year. Everything is affordable, super chic and good quality. I bought so many pieces from the collection this year and they tend to sell out really fast. The pants are from ALC – it’s their most classic and iconic pants such that every time I wear them out, I have girls stopping me on the street to ask where I got them from! I bought it on Shopbop which is currently on sale with up to 25% off with code GOBIG18! The black mules with satin bows are from The Row. This is my first pair of shoes from the brand and I can sense there is a new brand addition coming up!

Top – Uniqlo U Collection

Pants – ALC

Shoes – The Row

Necklace – Tiffany Key

Bag – Hermes Birkin 25 in Gris Asphalt

Lipstick – Charlotte Tilbury Dangerous Liasion (reviewed here)

Here is a summary of the Shopbop’s Buy More and Save More Sales for 5 days only. Offer ends on March 3 2018.

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Labels: BIRKIN • Fashion • HERMES • OOTD • THE ROW • UNIQLO

Holy Grail Skincare Products Roundup

February 25, 2018

Here is a roundup of my all time favourite skincare products! I have a huge passion for skincare and instead of reviewing individual productS, I really like recommending the best ones out of the thousands I have used!

Best Treatment Lotion – Jurlique Activating Water Essence (bought here in Australia). For the best all-purpose essence lotion, it is a tie with the SKII Treatment Essence (reviewed here). Since I’ve been using SKII for years, and the Jurlique is my new discovery from last year so it deserves to be crowned. It’s a water-essence lotion that hydrates and plumps up the skin immediately and preps the skin for better absorption of other skincare products. The perk of this lotion is that it has no alcohol and feels gentle and invigorating to the skin. The scent is amazing and it makes you feel instantly soothed and relaxed. One of my favorite products from Jurlique!

Best Exfoliator – Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains for Face. I really like this simple grain exfoliator, and it looks very pretty in the glass jar. A little goes a long way, and you just need to mix it with your other cleansers (preferably lotion/cream based). There is nothing fancy about the ingredients of this product, but the finely milled blend of grains does an amazing exfoliation job and gives the most satisfying baby-smooth skin afterwards compared to other exfoliators I have used.

Best skin regeneration/repair serum – La Mer The Concentrate (available here in Australia). Best of the best for skin healing, improving the appearance of skin scarring, regeneration and anti-aging. We all know the healing power of La Mer’s iconic ingredient The Miracle Broth, and this bottle has the highest concentration. I love it so much so that I splurge on the large bottle – it is expensive but worth the money. A detailed review is here.

Best anti-aging serum/oil – 111SKIN Celestial Black Diamond Retinol Oil. If you haven’t heard of the brand, it’s developed by a leading cosmetic surgeon Dr. Yannis Alexandrides in UK who has an array of famous celeb clients. This product is extremely powerful and potent, as it contains a maximum strength of 1% pure retinol as an over-the-counter product. It is formulated with black diamond particles and the oil is moisturizing yet delivers powerful anti-aging and resurfacing benefits at the same time. It feels gentle upon application, but I think it is quite strong for daily use. I only use it 3 times a week, and over a short period of time I have noticed my skin texture appearing noticeably smoother and refined. To achieve the best results the brand suggests pairing the retinol oil with their best selling Y Theorem Repair Serum NAC Y2.

Best day/night moisturizer – La Mer The Moisturizing Soft Lotion (bought here in Australia). Absolutely the best moisturizer I have ever used. I loved the La Mer’s cream to bits, but this lotion is wayyy better for absorption whilst delivering the same result as the original cream. The milky consistency feels ultra-luxurious on the skin and it instantly absorbs into the skin leaving the skin incredibly supple, smooth and moisturized. The consistency is perfection as it feels just right all year around– doesn’t feel too heavy in summer and it works well in winter. I use loads of exfoliation products such as peel, scrub, AHA, Retinol etc and there is something about this lotion that just instantly calms my skin down. Really can’t gush enough about this lotion!

Best Brightening Essence – Haku Melanofocus 3D. I like this brightening and whitening essence as much as the SKII Genoptics Aura Essence (reviewed here). Both of them deliver brightening results over time, helps to fade acne scars and gives a well-rested radiant glow to the complexion overnight. I thought I’d introduce this product in my post as it is much cheaper than SKII, and feels more moisturizing.

Best Face Lifting Lotion – Sisley Double Tenseur Instant & Long-Term Gel (bought here). Detailed reviewed here. I have gushed about this miracle gel over and over on my blog. It gives an instant face lifting effect that noticeably reduces the appearances of nasolabial folds and gives a better v shape to the face. It hydrates and sits beautifully on the skin as a makeup primer. I am up to my third bottle now!

Best Sunscreen – ANESSA Whitening UV Protector SPF50 PA++++. Ultra lightweight with the highest sun protection. It feels like a light-weight moisturizing lotion that instantly absorbs, feels silky smooth and instantly makes the skin feel more soft and supple. If you are familiar with the Japanese sunscreen, you should know that Anessa’s gold bottle is the best seller but the consistency still feels a tad greasy and powdery in my opinion (so I use it on my body only), whereas the white bottle has the perfect formula for the face that doesn’t make you feel like you are wearing sunscreen at all.

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Labels: 111SKIN • BOBBI BROWN • HAKU • JURLIQUE • LA MER • SHISEIDO • SISLEY • SKINCARE

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Liquid Lipstick Dangerous Liaison Review and Swatch

February 18, 2018

I am on a mission to track down every single hot lip color at the moment. My latest acquisition is the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Liquid Lipstick Dangerous Liaison – it is so beautiful that it literally took my breath away when I first applied it. It is a hugely popular shade amongst beauty lovers worldwide, and it’s been sold out for a very long time but it’s just been restocked!

I am trying to make all of my lip swatch posts short and sweet. Overall Dangerous Liaison is a stunning neutral rusty red color with a hint of rose. If you wear it in full coverage, the rose undertone tends to show up more (as you can see on Charlotte Tilbury’s swatch). I love wearing it sheer, so it looks more warm and rusty and gives a nice fall and edgy retro look. The texture is also lovely for dry lips – goes on creamy smooth and settles down to a matte finish without drying the lips over time. Just a tiny teeny bit of the color is enough for the whole lips.

Swatch

Under natural sunlight

Indoor lighting

Collage

The Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Liquid Lipstick can be found here in the US. For worldwide shipping, you can check the stock on Selfridges (where I bought it from), Net-A-Porter, BeautyLish, and CultBeauty. I think my swatch is very close to what I see on my lips in real life. On each website mentioned here, the swatch varies by a small degree, and I would say NAP has the most accurate presentation of the color for me.

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK • LIQUID LIPSTICK

Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Persuasive 333 Review and Swatch + Giveaway

January 21, 2018

I’ve been obsessed with lipsticks lately, particularly in the color range of brick brown red/maple leaf sort of colors which is the color of the year. I was over the moon when I finally tracked down Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte Persuasive 333 which is almost sold-out worldwide! If you can find one, get it right now! It is a stunning autumn color but I am totally loving it for the hot weather. All pictures in the post are taken with an iphone with my new illuminated selfie phone case that gives better lighting.

The Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Matte formula is amongst the best that glides on silky smooth and feels non-drying and lightweight even for the dry lips (on par with the Tom Ford Matte and Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution which are my top favorites). It is highly saturated so a little goes a long way. I suggest that for the application you just need to dab the color gently on the center of the lips and smudge with your fingers for a softer and blended-in look.

Closer look

The color Persuasive 333 is absolutely stunning and worth the hype. I describe the color as a dusty terracotta warm red with a hint of pumpkin undertone. As the warm-toned eyeshadow trend is taking over the world, this lipstick makes the perfect compliment. It goes well with most skin tones, and the bright base color instantly brightens up your complexion, whereas the muted tone still makes the color look natural and wearable everyday without looking too glamorous.

Swatch – taken with iphone with LuMee Duo phone case! No color filter applied

Here is a picture of me wearing Persuasive taken outdoor

Bottom Line: If you could have one lipstick this year, make it this one! The Pure Color Envy Matte range is available at Nordstrom and Estee Lauder US online. I bought it here in Australia, and you can also find it on David Jones online. Selfridges is another place where you can try your luck. It seems the shade Persuasive is out of stock everywhere, but there are some other beautiful similar shades such as Raw Edge, Decisive Poppy; Irrepressible and Desirous from the same range that I am also drooling over!

I was recently sent the LuMee illuminated DUO phone case and absolutely adore it! It has adjustable front and back LED light so you can take pictures and selfies in any lighting condition. I prefer using the dimmed light during the day, and at night the full light setting is guaranteed to give you good quality pictures without the use of flash. Here is a giveaway for one lucky winner. The prize is a LuMee iPhone case of your choice with the value up to USD$100 that you can find from the LuMee website!

To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment below and I will pick the winner at random. The giveway is available to US residents only.

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Labels: ESTEE LAUDER • FOTD • light up selfie cases for the iphone • LIPSTICK

Guerlain Midnight Secret Late Night Recovery Treatment Review – miracle product to revitalize and freshen up your complexion

January 19, 2018

Overnight treatment is definitely my go-to instant skin fix that fits well with my lifestyle, so I’ve been trialing a lot of them over the past year. The cult-fav Guerlain Midnight Secret is my absolute favorite – I can’t believe I’ve only just discovered this little gem! It has always been the ‘secret product’ for the celebs and beauty insiders as it claims to give you an ‘8-hour well rested radiant complexion’ that makes up for the lack of sleep, so the mask is infamously known as ‘an overnight treatment that smooths away any signs of fatigue for short nights!’

I don’t get much sleep at all – 6 hours on average, and the way my skin reacts is never the same as the younger days. I can easily look dull and tired in the morning, so this intensive treatment that works like a mask is a life changer for me. You only need to apply a thin layer of it all over the face as the final step of your night time skincare routine. Leave it on for 10 minutes before going to bed so it’s fully absorbed and doesn’t leave a sticky mark on the pillow. The texture is somewhat similar to a medium-rich night cream but absorbs slowly, and for my combo skin it works fine without feeling too rich. I love the effect when I rinse it off the next morning – my complexion appears noticeably brightened, revitalized with an amazing glow. My skin is hydrated and the makeup glides on beautifully.

My only pet-peeve is the tiny size which is only 15ml. I wish Guerlain would release a bigger size, but on the other hand this size makes it convenient for travel.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended! I bought mine here in Australia, and you can find it at Neiman Marcus in the US, or here with free worldwide shipping.

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Labels: GUERLAIN • MASK • SKINCARE • SLEEPING MASK

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Foundation Review – A complexion enhancer that hydrates, adds glow and erases your pores

January 15, 2018

Finally here is a review of my current beloved base product – the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Gel Foundation SPF25 PA+++. There was a lot of anticipation for the first cushion foundation ever released by Chanel last year, and it has been my most used base product ever since. Apparently, it is extremely popular in Asia with 1 sold every 2 seconds. The light shades are sold out at many department stores in Australia as well.

The packaging of Chanel makeup is always beyond gorgeous – the square case makes the cushion foundation more unique looking and classic. It has a refreshing aqua-gel formula packed with hyaluronic acid that feels ultra hydrating and lightweight on the skin. The consistency is quite wet and watery, so it applies very dewy and cooling (feels like a mist), and it instantly makes the complexion look more fresh, youthful and plump with a dewy glow. It is perfect for the midday touch up to erase any signs of fatigue, as this foundation gives an instant boost of hydration and will make your makeup look fresh again. The other bonus is the sun protection of spf25 and PA+++ that you can apply anytime and anywhere.

Coverage:

The coverage is sheer which is what the product is designed for. Here is a before and after shot with one coat of the foundation. As you can see, it instantly brightens and makes the skin appear more even-toned and luminous. The skin still appears translucent, natural and poreless. Both pictures were taken at the same angle and lighting with no editing nor filter applied.

Color / Lasting Power:

My shade is N20. This foundation runs lighter than usual – if you are a N20 with other Chanel liquid foundation, you might need to go N30 (a shade darker) with this cushion. Lasting power is about 5-6 hours, and if you set it with loose powder it extends the wear time up to 7-8 hours with indoor conditions.

Application:

As I normally go for sheer to medium build coverage, I like to apply a layer of tinted base underneath such as my fav Shu Uemura CC UV base mousse, and the Chanel Concealer under the eyes, then pat the Chanel cushion all over my face as a “top coat” in the morning with Chanel retractable foundation brush, and it gives the most perfect natural-looking creamy and radiant complexion. Finishing with a sheer dust of Givenchy Prisme Libre Powder over the t-zone.

Bottomline: Overall, this is a perfect complexion enhancer that adds a sheer coverage, radiant glow, and makes the complexion looking absolutely poreless and fresh.

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Labels: CHANEL • CUSHION FOUNDATION • foundation • Makeup Base

Club Monaco

December 28, 2017

I received a lot of questions about this top so I thought I’d share it on my blog because it is currently on sale for under $50! It’s from one of my favorite affordable brands called Club Monaco and every season they never fail to deliver some great trendy but not-over-the-top pieces of decent quality (much better than Zara and Topshop). You can find the brand on Shopbop, Neiman Marcus, or from their website directly which ships worldwide for free. On a side note, Shopbop is having the additional 25% off on all sale items with code JOY25,I have just added this pair of boots to my shopping cart…yay!

Top – Club Monaco

Jeans – Camilla and Marc (very similar styles here and here)

Shoes – Paul Andrew (another color is on sale)

Bag – Hermes Birkin 25 Gris Asphalt

Sunnies – Chanel

Necklace – Van Cleef & Arpels

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Labels: ACCESSORY • BAG • CAMILLA AND MARC • CHANEL • CLUB MONACO • Fashion • HERMES • OOTD • PAUL ANDREW

Givenchy Le Rouge Sculpt Two-Tone Lipstick Review and Swatch – 04 Corail

December 23, 2017

Today’s lipstick swatching is for the gorgeous Givenchy Le Rouge Sculpt Two-Tone Lipstick in 04 Corail (also available at Sephora). I am obsessed with any lip color in the tone of brick reddish brown – it’s a very autumn color that reminds me of maple leaves. It seems the whole world is obsessed with the shade currently, so it is getting harder and harder to get hold of them from the popular brands in Australia. I accidentally came across this lipstick at Sephora and it was love at first sight with this color.

The two-tone concept is interesting, but I find it very hard to achieve an even two-tone look on my lips without spending a minimum of 10 minutes which nobody would. So in the swatch, I have mixed the two colors together. 04 Corail is in half true bright coral and half brick red. The beauty of a two-tone lipstick is that you can adjust the brightness and color by applying it with a lip brush. In my swatch, I have applied with 50% brick red, and 50% coral. The texture is silky smooth and feels very lightweight on the lips with a 4 to 5 hours staying power (without drinking/eating) in a satin finish.

Closer look