DIOR

DIOR Backstage Face and Body Foundation Review – Shade Cool Rosy 1CR

September 27, 2018

My most recent foundation purchase is the Dior Backstage Face and Body Foundation from their newest backstage line (bought mine here with worldwide shipping). The whole line has an awesome range of colors so surely there will be a perfect color match for you.

The foundation is housed in a round and chubby plastic bottle that is rather cute. The formula is lovely. Most of you would have used the face and body foundation from MAC or Makeup Forever – their formula is very lightweight and watery which is great for oily skin but not so lasting. The Dior formula is milky (which means it has silicone) yet ultra-lightweight which works well for my normal to dry skin. It blends onto the skin seamlessly just with your fingers and leaves a natural second-skin like glow.

One thing worth mentioning is that it feels very comfortable on the skin (almost like applying a skincare lotion) and you actually don’t even feel like you are wearing makeup with this foundation. It’s breathable and makes your skin feel supple and soft. The coverage is about sheer-to-medium – better than the MAC and MUFE and provides better coverage than tinted or bb cream. The finish is very natural and it doesn’t matter how many layers you apply, it always gives you a healthy ‘no makeup’ look with a soft matte finish. You will need concealer to cover the spots and dark circles.

Coverage rating

Even out complexion 4.5/5

Pores – 4.5/5

Pigments/Heavy Acne Marks 3/5

Lasting power is also pretty good. I recently added the Urban Decay Setting Spray (which I can no longer live without) to my routine and it makes a whole world of difference to your makeup. I wore only this foundation with the spray, and the makeup literally lasted a whole day in the extremely hot and humid weather in Singapore during my recent holiday. On a normal day where I spend 8 hours in the office and 1- hour gym session, my makeup still looks quite fresh and glowy over time with no oxidation. If you are after a completely matte look, yes you do need to apply powder or blot the oil throughout the day with this foundation.

Swatch – I bought the shade 1CR Cool Rosy

Overall I like this foundation for its comfort and how natural it looks on the skin while still providing a decent coverage. Dior is a high-end brand and this foundation is actually priced quite reasonably. I think it’s a great entry product for girls of all age groups with different skin types. It’s a basic foundation that actually surpassed my expectations.

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Labels: DIOR • foundation

DIOR DIORSKIN FOREVER UNDERCOVER 24H Full Coverage Foundation Review and Swatch

March 19, 2018

Here is a review of the latest foundation from Dior – the DIORSKIN FOREVER UNDERCOVER 24 Full Coverage Foundation (currently 15% off!). I have been wearing it for the past few weeks, and as usual it has its pros and cons and my feeling for it is quite mixed due to my skin type. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping, and it is also available here in Australia.

PROS:

The foundation comes in a plastic bottle and it’s best to give it a shake before you use the foundation. It has a fluid and milky texture that dries down to a velvety powdery finish within a minute upon application, so there is no need to apply more powder again to set the makeup. The greatest thing about this foundation is the lasting power and it doesn’t budge nor transfer at all throughout the day. The formula would work the best for oily skin type, as it controls oil and keeps the makeup staying fresh with minimum fading for up to 8-10 hours for me. The coverage is full as it claims, as the formula is highly pigmented and a pea size is more than enough for the whole face to cover most of the imperfections, acne marks and pores.

CONS:

I would love this foundation if I had oily skin, but unfortunately I have normal to dry skin so making the formula work for my skin type can be a little challenging sometimes. Since it dries down to a powdery finish, it tends to enhance the dry patches and pores if my skin is not super hydrated. It also gives a full matte high coverage finish which is a bit of a double edged sword because it can look a bit heavy and sit on top the skin if my skin is too dry and the foundation is not fully blended in. To make the foundation look flawless yet natural on me, I need to prep my skin with lots of hydration products, including applying a hydrating primer underneath the foundation – my preferred primers include my go-to Laura Mercier Hydrating Primer or the iconic Guerlain L’Or Primer.

Application:

Fingers and beauty blenders are my preferred application method with this foundation. With fingers, it gives a more flawless look, whereas with beauty blenders it sheers down the formula and adds a hint of luminosity to the skin which works out to be better for my skin condition.

Shade:

Since I am very fair at the moment I bought the shade 010 Ivory which is the brightest shade from the range. It has a hint of a pink undertone and I included a swatch comparison with the Dior DiorSkin Star foundation (reviewed here) in shade 012.

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Labels: DIOR • foundation

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

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

Loving Right Now

May 17, 2017

Just a round up on what I am loving recently.

Cle De Peau Silky Cream Foundation (previously named teint naturel fluide cream foundation) – One of the staples I have had for many years, and it’s one of the most classic foundations of Cle De Peau which has been around for a long time under different packaging and names! I am up to my last backup and due for a repurchase (reviewed here). It’s just a classic Cle De Peau foundation that stands the test of time – gives a beautiful semi-matte finish with a great coverage whilst still looks natural. The texture is phenomenal and only a small dab is enough for the whole face and it blends effortlessly with just the fingers. Highly recommend if you are after an all year-round foundation and want to dip your toe into the luxury beauty world of premium Japanese beauty Cle De Peau.

2. Verso Lip Serum – It offers more than a lip balm. This is an anti-aging lip serum that only needs to be used once before bedtime. I was a little shocked at the price of it but it beat any lip balms that I had used for nourishing my dry lips and restoring the youthful appearance as it is formulated with their signature retinol ingredient for anti-aging and plumping. Full review to come soon.

3. Dior Forever Cushion Foundation – Can’t stop gushing about this cushion foundation – reviewed here. If I want a no-makeup makeup look, I opt for this one.

4. Benefit Hoola Lite Matte Bronzer – Contouring products are over saturated in the market, but I am still having difficulty finding a product with the right shade that is neither orange nor too dark for my complexion. The newest Hoola Lite powder is perfection for mimicking a real shadow effect. One of the best contouring powders I have came across, and I need a backup!

5. Byredo Candle – You probably would have seen this in many instagram pictures lately. This month I am loving the Breydo which is my favorite alongside Diptyque – they offer a wide range of fragrances in candles that are very unique. Love their minimalist design and the quality is on par with Diptyque. I bought mine here with worldwide shipping.

6. Suqqu Eyelash Curler – Back to loving this eyelash curler. I didn’t understand the rave about it when I first got my hands on it, but the more I’ve used it the more I love it for curling my deadly stubbornly straight Asian lashes. Reviewed here.

7. Aesop Rejuvenate Intensive Body Balm – A super luxurious and nourishing body cream for my dry skin in winter. It has a signature Aesop aroma scent and it lingers on the skin for a long time! Love it. Also available in smaller size.

8. Dior Addict Lacquer Stick – I am always spoilt with many choices of lip colors. This month I am loving the new Dior lacquer sticks (reviewed here). I wear lazy during the day most of the time, and love Party Red which is a super flattering red when I am in the mood for color!

9. 3CE Liquid Lip Color – I have previously talked about this Korean Brand and they have a huge range of makeup at an affordable price point, albeit the quality is a bit hit and miss. I bought many shades on StyleNanda, as I just can’t resist these beautiful colors that are right on point yet very wearable for my complexion. Some shades have a lovely full coverage consistency, and some shades are quite watery. They are also available at Sephora Australia.

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Labels: AESOP • BENEFIT • BYREDO • CANDLE • CLE DE PEAU • DIOR • My Favorites • SUQQU • VERSO

Dior Addict Lacquer Stick Review and Swatch – Lazy, Turn Me Dior and Party Red

May 6, 2017

It’s been a while since my last update, and every day I was blaming myself for not posting a review for the lovely Dior Addict Lacquer Stick (currently 10% off on Nordstrom!) which I have acquired a while back. It was one of the most exciting lip color collections that I had anticipated, and being a beauty fanatic I was sitting in front of my pc and placed an order as soon as the collection was available online several weeks back (some colors sold out fast at some shops overseas!). I picked the colors LAZY, TURN ME DIOR and PARTY RED which is my favorite. I bought them here in Australia.

The design of the lacquer stick is the best I have seen from Dior so far. The black and purple tinted glossy tube makes it very high end and modern. The gel formula seems to be the new trend now. The Dior Lacquer has the comfort of a hydrating lip balm, and the intensity of a highly pigmented lipstick, and mirror shine of a lip gloss. Basically, this is the best of all-in-one lipstick you can have. It feels very silky smooth on application, and it gives a nice hydrating slip feel to the lips but feels much smoother and more lightweight than applying a lip balm. The color seems to meld into your lips and gives a lacquered glossy finish that makes your lips appear more youthful and plump.

One swipe gives a full coverage for all 3 colors I own. Lasting power varies on the color. For the highly saturated colors I can get up to 6 hours of wear, and for soft and nude color such as Lazy it is about 3-4 hours of wear.

577 LAZY is muted mauve pink. The color is quite close to YLBB, with a more dominant mauve undertone.

744 Party Red is my favorite color! It’s a vibrant orange red which is the type of red that looks the best on me! It looks young and makes a great gradient lip look.

877 Turn Me Dior is the color they are promoting with for this range. Jennifer Lawrence wore this color for the ad, so did the Asian Makeup Maven Pony. It’s a bright red color with a raspberry pink undertone that looks more glamorous. As for me I like to dab just a tiny bit of this color to the center of my lips then blend for an everyday look.

Group Swatch – All colors are applied with one coat only. It gives a full coverage and conceals all the dry lines beautifully.

Bottom Line: Perfection! The formula is hydrating, ultra-weightless and very easy to apply on the go. The Dior Lacquer Sticks are available at Nordstrom with 10% off, or Neiman Marcus who are running a beauty event GWP at the moment. They are also available here with worldwide shipping.

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Labels: DIOR • LIPSTICK

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