Front Row Beauty

Current Wishlist

November 7, 2017

My makeup shopping mojo is back in full swing so I’ve been shopping a lot, as well as adding a lot of things to my never-ending wishlist. I thought I’d share what I have bought lately, and what is on my mind! Clearly, I am going through a warm brown eye shadow phase – as you can see in my wishlist. Taupe is so last year so I have put all my cool taupe palettes aside, and I am now on a mission to collect every variation of warm brown color, particularly in the color families of terracotta, reddish clay and burnt rusty brown.

1. Huda Obsession Palettes – Huda just released a set of new eyeshadow palettes in smaller packages. I ordered the warm brown palette here as soon as they became available as I know they will sell out soon. Currently, CultBeauty is offering free international shipping for Huda Beauty (no minimum order value).

2. Anastasia Beverly Hills Prism Eye Shadow Palette – Another beautiful highly sought-after eyeshadow palette that I just bought! I love the Modern Renaissance so much (reviewed here), so it’s a no-brainer for me to pick up her newest release, and the colors are right on point.

3. Fenty Beauty Match Stix – Totally worth the hype and I am really impressed with the quality of Rihanna’s beauty line, and my favorite product of her line is the Match Stix. This MatchStix Trio Set in light is possibly the best contour and highlight set I have ever used! Review to come soon.

4. Smashbox Cover Shot Eye Palette – Just can’t resist the reddish terracotta shades, so I had to have the highly raved palette in the color Ablaze.

5. Giorgio Armani Cushion Foundation – Absolutely amazing formula. It’s definitely a must-have if you like cushion foundations.

6. Natasha Denona Sunset Palette – I heard so many good reviews about her eyeshadow palettes and her best seller is finally back in stock!

7. La Mer The Sheer Pressed Powder – La Mer offers a lot more than their legendary cream. I am a big fan of their powder as they make the finest airy powder so I can’t wait to get my hands on their newest release.

8. Suqqu 2017 Japan Christmas Collection – Trying to get hold of Suqqu is exhausting. I just received my Suqqu palettes from the UK 2017 Christmas Collection, and now I have my eyes set on the Japan Christmas Collection! If you know where to get them without the exorbitant additional margin, please let me know!

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Labels: ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS • FENTY BEAUTY • HUDA BEAUTY • LA MER • NATASHA DENONA • SHOPPING • SMASHBOX • SUQQU

Exclusive Chanel New In – Joues Contraste Blush Rose Petillant and Nail Color Rose Prodigious

November 5, 2017

Chanel has released some pretty colors lately. The first item that caught my eye was the stunning Joues Contraste Blush ROSE PÉTILLANT. Also swatching the beautiful Le Vernis Nail color 586 ROSE PRODIGIOUS. I am so obsessed with this color that I have been wearing this color repeatedly! Both items appear to be exclusive shades that you can only find on Chanel online or some Chanel Makeup Studios in Australia.

The blush ROSE PÉTILLANT is the most perfect flattering peachy pink with gold shimmer I have ever seen. It’s not the most unique shade ever since Nars introduced his iconic Orgasm blush (aka the universally flattering peachy pink shade), but this color still has the ‘wow’ factor and stands out from every other brand I have seen. The texture is also amazing – it feels creamier and it’s super pigmented and opaque that is different to the regular JC blushes. It is silky smooth to apply and blend, with just a single swipe that is enough to give a flush of color on the cheeks for fair to medium skin. The rose gold shimmer adds a glow and dimension to the cheeks but it is not visible on the skin and will not enlarge pores.

Close-up

Swatch

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Color 586 Rose Prodigious is a beautiful pink rose with gold shimmer. Flawless and streak-free consistency in high shine gel finish. Swatched with 2 coats.

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Labels: BLUSH • CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

Suqqu Lip Defining Pencil Review and Swatch – Beige and Cinnamon

October 29, 2017

My affection with lip pencils continues, and I am glad to say I have finally found my holy grail formula from Suqqu! Suqqu is known for superior quality, and once again their latest Lip Defining Pencil Series has blown me away. I picked up the neutral shades in Beige and Cinnamon. The silky and moisturizing texture in a matte finish is something I have never seen from other brands.

The lip pencil comes in a retractable black glossy pen that feels weighty in the hands. As usual with Suqqu, you buy the holder and the refill separately, and once the pencil is finished, you just need to buy the refill that works out to be much cheaper. The formula and consistency are unparalleled. Apparently, the new Lip Defining Lip Pencil series is developed with thoughts concerning aging around the lips. It has the most silky smooth and moisturizing texture for a long-lasting matte finish. It goes on not too hard, and not too soft and gives a perfectly smooth finish without looking harsh. It does not feel chalky, nor does it make your lips look and feel dry over time.

The lip pencil also has a fatter sharp tip which makes the application quick and easy for filling in the entire lips. The two colors I picked look stunning on their own, and they also work great pairing with most neutral lip colors. I love wearing nude lip pencil with MLBB lipstick, as they add more volume and drama to the lips with an edge. The combination makes the color super long lasting – there is hardly any color fade after having your meal!

Swatch

Beige – is a true medium nude beige color with a hint of peachy pink.

Cinnamon – medium muted rosey nude color

I purchase most of my Suqqu products at Selfridges as they work out to be the best price even compared to buying them directly from Japan. I’ve recently bought their $65 for one-year unlimited international shipping which I highly recommend as there are a lot of great beauty and fashion brands that are cheaper than the US and Australia!

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Labels: LIP PENCIL • SUQQU

OUAI Haircare Review

October 23, 2017

Caring for my hair has become the top priority ever since I coloured my hair very light, and I’ve been recently trialling out a lot of OUAI Haircare products so I thought I’d mention my picks for the best ones from the range. If you are a heavy social media user, you would have seen this new brand everywhere when it was just launched. The founder Jen Atkin is a top celebrity hair stylist whose clients include Kim K, so consequently any products she launches will be a huge internet success.

As a beauty addict I am always excited to try out new products. I decided to give her products a go (as usual I am not affiliated with any brands and everything I reviewed were purchased with my own money), and to my pleasant surprise, the haircare range has surpassed my expectations and they have quickly become one of my favourite haircare brands.

OUAI Repair / Smooth Conditioners – The conditioners are amazing. I have used a lot of amazing conditioners, but these two still stand out and really wowed me after washing. They truly do their job as they claim. The Smooth Conditioner makes my hair feel incredibly smooth, silky and soft. A little product goes a long way, and my hair stays frizz free and very easy to manage. If you have unruly hair and simply want more sleek and straight hair, I highly recommend this conditioner! The Repair Conditioner is just as good. It repairs and nourishes damaged and coloured hair from within. Even after having my hair bleached multiple times, this conditioner greatly helps to strengthen my hair and keeps them in top condition. My hair feels stronger and bouncier with noticeably less breakage and knots. I alternate between the two, and together they make my hair look and feel super healthy.

OUAI Hair Oil – To me this is a very reasonably priced hair oil that does an amazing job. I have used hair oil that is the double the price, and I still prefer this one that I will re-purchase over and over. First of all, I am addicted to the soft floral scent – a mix blend of gardenia, white musk and ylang ylang. It smells incredibly fresh, and the delicate floral fragrant lingers on your hair for a few hours. The oil can be applied on either wet or dry hair – either way it is absorbed by the hair without feeling greasy. It is very nourishing for dry ends – instantly smooth out the frizzes, and adds moisture and shine to the hair without weighing the hair down.

OUAI Hair Masque – An intensive treatment mask that deeply moisturises the hair and repairs the damage. The packaging is quite unusual (comes with 8 sachets) – the pro is that it is easy to carry it around for travelling, and the con is that you can’t adjust the usage amount. I have thick and medium long hair, and I feel one packet is just enough. The mask has a rich creamy texture, and you leave it on for 10 minutes. Again, I am impressed as I can noticeably feel and see the difference it makes to the hair. The result is on par with a pro-treatment, and the condition of your hair just feels much better in every aspect, after a single treatment.

The OUAI haircare range is available here and here with free worldwide shipping (for the best price)!

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Labels: HAIRCARE • OUAI

Chanel La Crème Main Review

October 18, 2017

The much highly anticipated Chanel La Crème Main Hand Cream is finally available online (you can find it here in Australia). It was love at first sight for me when I first spotted it online, and I knew I would just get it for the sake of its look! The design of this hand cream is definitely making it special and would make it a perfect handbag accessory.

The hand cream is housed in a cute egg with a cap. You just need to gently squeeze the egg to dispense the product. Apart from its innovative look, the highlight of the product is that the design is much more friendly and hygienic to use than the conventional “tooth paste” tube. Because of the ball-shape it has an air suction so it doesn’t over squeeze and the product also doesn’t flow out by itself and get stuck everywhere around the cap which always bugs me. The packaging also doesn’t change its shape over time, and the cap will never accidentally come off when you keep it in your handbag!

The formula is very lightweight and completely grease-free. The product is instantly absorbed into the skin, and provides instant hydration and protection without any sticky residue. The skin also appears more plumped and noticeably brightened and even-toned. It has a soft floral scent that is not overwhelming. Chanel also claims that it also helps to strengthen the nails by 70%. I have dry hands, and I like to use a heavy-duty hand cream before bed such as my HG Jurlique Rose Hand Cream, but during the day, this cream has the perfect on-the-go formula for keeping my hands hydrated, soft and crease-free for hours. It also looks way too cute to be kept at home, so it makes perfect sense to carry it around in your handbag!

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Labels: CHANEL • SKINCARE

Chanel Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour – Rose Confidentiel is now in the new formula!

October 15, 2017

Ever since Chanel reformulated their nail polishes (yes the new formula is wayyy better!), they are re-promoting some of their most popular colors in the seasonal collections. In their latest release I was more than happy to spot one of my all-time favorite colors – Rose Confidentiel 491 in the new formula. Rose Confidential in 2 coats translates to a muted rosey brown color – it’s very elegant and classy (yet not looking so mature) because of the muted brown tone that adds an edge to it. The new formula is very easy to apply in streak-free high shine gel finish, and best of all, it lasts for at least 5 days without chipping!

It appears that the Rose Confidential is currently only exclusive to Australia. I bought mine here, and it is also available here online.

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Labels: CHANEL • NAIL POLISH

Current Favorite Cleansers

October 12, 2017

Sharing some cleansers I have been using lately. As usual, I love to have a lot of products to choose from depending on my mood. There is a mix of Japanese skincare products in my routine now as I brought back a suitcase of them from my trip to Japan!

Shiseido ELIXIR WHITE Purify Cleansing Gel Cream – I really love this fresh gel cleanser in a clean white pot. It is a makeup remover that reminds me of the cult favorite Eve Lom, and it is best to be used together with a muslin cloth. The difference is that it’s much cheaper with a very lightweight jelly-like consistency. It applies like a creamy jelly – doesn’t feel balmy nor oily, but removes and dissolves the makeup including waterproof eye makeup thoroughly. It is ultra-gentle and feels very hydrating to the skin, and your complexion feels very clean, fresh and supple once it’s removed with a muslin cloth. Highly recommend it if you are after a non oil-based lightweight makeup remover but still does a good job.

Sodashi Clay Cleanser with Lime – A luxury under-the-radar organic skincare brand. If you are into luxury spas, you will be quite familiar with ultimate heavenly Sodashi facials and treatments that are widely used in a lot of high-end hotels such as the Four Seasons Resorts around the world, and the Qualia resort in Australia. I couldn’t help but buy some products to try after having the Sodashi facial years ago. Since then I was hooked on the Clay Cleanser which I have repurchased over and over. It’s a luxurious, gentle cleanser with a milky clay texture. It cleans the face, helps to restore the moisture and balance, and the clay helps to calm and detoxify the skin. The amazing invigorating spa-like smell also instantly brightens up my mood when I use it in the morning. Totally love it.

Kate Somerville Exfolikate Cleanser – Since I love their Exfoliating Treatment so much, I bought the cleanser version of it! It has a blend of AHA (glycolic acid and lactic acid) and enzymes that help to exfoliate and renew the skin mildly. It’s very gentle to my normal-dry skin, and doesn’t strip the moisture off. I love using it at night after removing my makeup. It has a creamy minty green clay texture that doesn’t lather much. Overall it brightens up my complexion after use and keeps the skin very clean and keeps the pores clear. Another big thumbs up from me!

Kanebo SUISAI Beauty Clear Powder – These cute little tiny pots of powder cleanser is trending everywhere in Asia now. It’s very affordable and I love the packaging which is very convenient for traveling. One pot lasts for two uses for me depending on the condition of your skin. The powder is quite grainy, and it lathers up mildly and cleans the skin thoroughly with a mild exfoliation effect. It is gentle and non-drying to my dry and sensitive skin. It makes a great and affordable dupe for the cult Dermalogica daily microfoliant.

Kose SEKKISEI White Powder Wash – I am going through a powder cleanser phase, so I also picked up this product to give it a try as well. This powder feels quite different to the Suisai Beauty Powder above, as it works like a typical Japanese foam cleanser that lathers up to an ultra-rich creamy foam, and deeply cleanses the skin with a squeaky clean feel. If you have combo to oily skin, you will like this one. I personally find it too strong for my dry skin during the cold days.

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Labels: CLEANSER • KANEBO • Kate Somerville • KOSE • SHISEIDO • SHISEIDO ELIXIR • SKINCARE • SODASHI

Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Eyeshadow Palette and Stylo Sourcils Waterproof Longwear Eyebrow Pencil Review and Swatch

October 7, 2017

So, I haven’t bought any Chanel eyeshadows for a very long time, until I saw the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Eyeshadow Palette (bought here) which was released more than a month ago in Australia. I picked it up before my holiday to Japan, and I finally started breaking into this beautiful palette. Along with the eyeshadow, I also picked up their latest Stylo Sourcils Waterproof Longwear Eyebrow Pencil (available here in Australia). Chanel’s eyebrow products are quite under the radar until you have personally used it. I got hooked onto Chanel’s brow products from a celeb recommendation, and their latest brow pencil is the best I have used so far (yep it’s officially my HG pencil)!!

The Les Beiges eyeshadow inherits the highly popular Les Beiges packaging which I absolutely adore with 3 applicators and a large mirror. This palette has the same concept as the entire Les Beiges line – they represent a new simple and intuitive makeup approach with five harmonious neutral shades that are easy to wear for a variety of looks. There is nothing bold and dramatic about it, but it’s one of those fool-proof palettes that you will always reach out to on a daily basis and you will never look overdone with your eye makeup. I don’t wear heavy eye makeup so this palette is right up my alley, and both the finish and the effect reminded me of the iconic Lunasol Beige Beige.

The texture is buttery to the touch (even for the matte shades!) and they are easy to blend without being powdery. One to 2 swipes with a fluffy eyeshadow brush gives the perfect color payoff. The powder applies without looking cakey.

Indoor lighting

Natural lighting

Shade Description:

Top: Semi-matte ivory color that serves as a great base color. It evens out the eyelid color and makes the eye makeup look fresh and clean.

Second Left: Medium taupe brown in satin finish

Second Right: Medium soft brown in satin finish

Bottom Left: Semi-matte charcoal

Bottom Right: Shimmer ivory

Swatch:

I did a post about my favorite brow products a while back, and I definitely need to update my HG list because the Chanel Stylo Sourcils Longwear Eyebrow Pencil has made it to the top which I will repurchase over and over! Love the sleek and retractable twist-up pencil packaging (as opposed to the conventional pencil type), as it just feels very sturdy and expensive in the hand.

It has a medium to hard formula that glides on smoothly with just the right amount of pigments with a single stroke. I particularly love the slanted tapered tip that allows for an adjustable thin or thick line. You can draw a super thin and sharp line with this pencil which makes a big difference for defining the brow shape. The color is also near perfection – I picked up 808 Brun Clair which is medium brown ash tone without looking too red, warm and harsh.

Swatch – one stroke in 808 Brun Clair

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Labels: CHANEL • EYE SHADOW • EYEBROW • eyebrow pencil

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