foundation

YSL Youth Liberator Serum and Youth Liberator Foundation Review and Swatch

November 5, 2014

I tend to buy multiple products from the same range if I like one particular product, therefore I have both the YSL Youth Liberator Serum and the YSL Youth Liberator Serum Foundation. I don’t have access to 98% of my makeup at the moment as I am currently staying at my parents place, so the delay in reviewing them. On a side note, my mere 2% of beauty products is growing at a rapid pace due to the amount of packages being delivered to this new address lol!

The YSL Youth Liberator Serum retails for US$155 in the US, and AUD$129 in Australia here. When it comes serum, I like to splurge – it’s the product that plays the utmost important role in terms of delivering the optimum result. So to me this is a mid priced range serum that is targeting at a younger age group (20-30) who doesn’t have that many aging concerns, and just starting to incorporate mild anti aging products into their skincare regime.

This serum promises to stimulate regeneration, improves skin texture and luminosity as well as reducing the appearance of wrinkles. It has a runny oil-free lightweight elixir texture that is easily absorbed. I am almost half way through this product (I use it every morning and night), and my experience so far has been great. It hydrates, keeps your skin supple and improves absorption for other products. I have noticed it has improved the radiance and luminosity of my skin over time, as I rarely wake up with dull skin with the help of this product. It also helps the makeup to glide on effortlessly. The regeneration function of this serum is on the lower side which is what I expected to be at this price range. Unlike the regenerating serum that cost me an arm and a leg (such as this one and this one) that just transforms my skin over few days, I need to be patient with this serum to see a noticeable result for smoother texture and repairing of acne marks. Overall this is quite a good product for early anti-aging for all skin types.

There is huge buzz on skincare foundation at the moment. Every high end brand has released a new foundation that contains their prestige skincare ingredients, such as the Shiseido Future Solution Radiance Foundation , or Estee Lauder Perfectionist Foundation, and the list goes on! I for one who absolutely adore this idea – after all I have foundation on my face for at least 8 hours a day, and it’s always a bonus if it also doubles as a skincare product that protects and repairs my skin continuously.

The YSL Youth Liberator Foundation has very lightweight texture which almost feels like a gel lotion. It applies ultra smooth and silky, and melds into the skin upon application. It makes my skin appear more plumped, softer and provides a luminous satin finish that looks like your own radiance but better. The formula provides buildable sheer to medium coverage . The lasting power is about 5 to 6 hours on me, so it’s not the greatest but I don’t mind as I actually get to use my compact foundation during the day! The formula is ideal for normal to dry skin types, but if you have combo to oily skin it tends to slip and won’t last too long.

Comparing the Liberator Foundation with the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation (reviewed here), I much prefer this as it works better on dry skin, provides easier application, and looks more luminous in a natural way on the skin. It photographs particularly well as it gives a soft focus finish to the complexion. As a foundation that is packed with skincare ingredients, it has certainly made my complexion appear better in general (less dull, still moisturized) after having the makeup removed compared to just having a regular foundation on.

{ 2 comments }

Labels: foundation • SKINCARE • YSL

Chanel Vitalumiere Loose Powder Foundation with mini Kabuki brush Review and Swatch

September 13, 2014

Chanel has recently added a new foundation to their Vitalumiere line called Vitalumiere Loose Powder Foundation with Mini Kabuki Brush SPF15 recently. It is a new generation of foundation that looks light loose powder but gives the result of a fluid foundation without a sign of cakeness and thickness with an excellent coverage. I have splurged on so many foundations in the past months, but I still decided to get this one as it just sounded amazing to me, and I loved every single product I have tried from their Vitalumiere line so I had a strong faith in this product.

Below is the official product description which I think is pretty accurate:

Product description

“Inside its new “LIGHT BOX,” which holds the secrets of a naturally luminous and even complexion, CHANEL unveils an unprecedented duo. A loose powder foundation and a precious accessory: the MINI KABUKI BRUSH. The surprise: a texture with the evanescence of a loose powder and the smoothing result of a fluid foundation. For a natural second-skin result with no hint of thickness and an amazingly even and smooth skin texture.
-A new generation of high-definition light pigments that makes it possible to capture and diffuse softer light that is more flattering for the complexion.
-Mica powder, which optimises light reflection for a natural satiny effect.
-Canola oil derivative, which improves skin suppleness and provides a sensation of comfort on application and all day long.”
-A sunscreen for SPF 15 protection.”

My thoughts:

Packaging

The foundation is housed in a sturdy and frosted plastic jar, and the design is user-friendly as you can press the brush into the mesh to get the powder to avoid the mess. It comes with a cute mini KABUKI brush, which is made of synthetic bristles and feels very dense and soft. If you are not so fussed with makeup tools, then this brush is good enough for applying the foundation. As for me I prefer other larger brushes that I have in my collection for a quicker application. Having said that, this mini brush is particularly great for working around the small and hard to reach areas.

Color
I always seem to have problems with foundation color matching at the Chanel counters. I am normally BC15-BC20 for Chanel foundations, and I was told that this foundation runs a little lighter than the others so BC20 would look too greyish on me. I went by the SA’s advice who matched me with BC30 which turns out to be a tad darker and more yellow on me. It is still wearable, but if I get to choose again I would have picked my normal BC20 shade. If you are in between a shade, then I would suggest to go for the darker shade.

Surprising that the Vitalumiere Loose Powder appears to be the lightest in this comparison swatch. I think it’s because that the regular liquid foundations are more oqaque and thicker in texture so they look darker when unblended.

Coverage and Finish

The texture of the powder is extremely finely milled, and once it is applied on to the skin it does transform into a soft and non-powdery airbrushed finish. I never liked the mineral powder foundation as it just looks heavy and drying on my dry skin, and I can assure you that this one looks very natural and light on skin without enhancing any dry patches and settling into the pores. It gives a semi-satiny finish that is neither dewy nor matte which would be ideal for normal to combo skin, and it also serves as a good base for adding highlighters later on to achieve your desired finish. The coverage is medium to full – it evens out the complexion and covers up mild to moderate imperfections. Lasting power is similar to a liquid foundation and I get 6 to 7 hours wear out of it without oxidization. Last but not least this is the type of foundation that looks better in a more translucent and luminous way after several hours of wear.

Overall

I really like this foundation for a flawless and airbrushed look, but it’s not my holy grail because I have dry skin and I prefer foundation that gives a more dewy and radiant finish. If you have oily normal to combo skin, this foundation will most likely play really well in all seasons without making you look overly matte. As for me this will be reserved for the summer and traveling as it can pretty much be used as a foundation as well as setting powder.

The Chanel Vitalumiere Loose Powder Foundation is available here and here with international shipping available, and there will be a 15% VAT deduction at the final checkout at Harrods for orders outside of Europe.

{ 3 comments }

Labels: CHANEL • foundation

YSL Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation Review and Swatch

August 17, 2014

I have been really into YSL makeup lately, almost on par with Chanel. They have released some stellar products in recent years including the highly coveted YSL Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation. It was an instant success with this foundation as it was claimed to be the foundation version of their cult product concealer. I was not that into other foundations for a very long time as I was content with what I had, until I tried a sample of this several months ago. I fell in love with its signature soft glow finish and went ahead and purchased one along with many other “newer” foundations…

What I love about this product the most is that it is such a versatile foundation. It gives a natural and satin finish with a soft glow which is neither matte nor too dewy, and it would look lovely on any skin type. It gives the skin just the right amount of radiance for the day, and it photographs particularly well without looking too shiny. If I want to make my skin look extra dewy, I normally add some liquid highlighter. Over the T-zone I would dust some loose powder for a slightly more matte finish. It has a standard medium coverage that cover up the pores and blurs out uneven skin tones, and it can be sheered down or built-up. When this is applied with a beauty blender it tends to give a softer and more bare-faced look. Applying with a foundation brush (such as the Tom Ford Cream Foundation brush) gives a more polished and airbrushed look otherwise. I find that the Touche Eclat Concealer can look a little dry on the skin in cold weather, and if you have the same problem with the concealer, rest assured with this one it won’t happen! It has a lightweight milky texture that performs well on my dry skin in winter without enhancing the pores and dry patches.

If I have to pick one aspect that I don’t like, is that it doesn’t melt into the skin upon contact – which many of my other holy grail foundations do. This foundation is designed for all skin types so perhaps on my dry skin it takes some time to blend into the skin seamlessly. Lasting power is fine with me. I normally use this with a primer such as the YSL CC cream, and the combo lasts around 6 -8 hours in an air conditioned environment.

I bought the shade in Beige Rose 20 as I have a cool skin tone, and it matches me very well. Here are some foundation swatch comparisons.

Overall the coverage and its beautiful finish makes it an excellent everyday foundation for me. The price is also not too bad compared to the other high end foundations. I bought mine here in Australia, and it’s also available at Nordstrom and Neiman Marcus in the US.

{ 4 comments }

Labels: foundation • YSL

5 minute makeup essentials

August 10, 2014

Life has been extremely busy for me lately. Returning back to work full time, and trying to spend as much time as possible with my baby, and blogging after he goes to bed along with several other projects going on is really a juggle for me. As a result I’ve learnt to cut down my makeup time drastically, which is something I swore I would never do because I absolutely enjoy putting makeup on with my endless stash of makeup! Anyway I figured that my top priority right now is to catch up on my beauty sleep so I have carefully edited a selection of my favorite makeup that give me the look I am after under 5 minutes.

When it comes to quick makeup – perfecting the complexion is always my number one priority. If I can get a nice clean and fresh complexion then it makes the rest of the makeup application a breeze. My current favorite combination is the Bobbi Brown Enriched Vitamin Face Base (reviewed here), then a sheer layer of the YSL CC Cream Lavender (reviewed here) which gives me a well-rested glow, followed by YSL Touche Eclat Foundation applied with Beauty Blender. All together takes about 2 minutes, and these three products are guaranteed to give me a natural and flawless complexion with a moist and dewy glow.

For the eyes and cheeks, I go for cream based products and I like to apply them just with my fingers. I use the Chanel Illusion D’Ombre 93 Impulsion for highlight around the eyes, and Mirage on the crease. The By Terry Hydra Blush 3 Bubble Glow gives an effortless coral-pink flush to the cheeks that instantly brightens up the complexion.

Eyeliner and mascara are essential items for me which I would never skip. I have been wearing a brown eyeliner instead of black lately as it makes my eyes appear softer. The Creer Beaute makes the best waterproof and easy to apply liquid eyeliner in my opinion, and their latest Sailor Moon Star Power Liquid Liner (brown) is a medium warm chocolate brown liquid eyeliner that goes well with my neutral eye shadows. It leans a little to warm and reddish for my liking so I am still on the hunt for a perfect dark cool brown eyeliner. The Le Volume de Chanel Mascara came as a surprise for me. I didn’t like any other Chanel mascaras that I tried before but this one is a gem and worth the hefty price tag!

Last but not least, having lipstick on defines me! I always have at least 5 lipsticks that are on high rotation every week, and the Chanel Rouge Coco 60 Triomphe (reviewed here) is my go-to lipstick of the week that goes well with my By Terry blush.

{ 9 comments }

Labels: BY TERRY • CHANEL • foundation • Makeup Base • My Favorites • YSL

YSL CC Cream in Rose and Lavender Review and Comparison

July 12, 2014

The YSL Forever Light Creator CC Cream is my latest obsession, as you an see I have them in both the ROSE and the LAVENDER. I had them for about a month now and I have been using them every single day which is rare for me!

Before my review for the YSL CC cream, I thought I’d share my thoughts on CC cream in general first. Basically CC cream stands for color control, and they have been marketed as the “latest beauty breakthrough innovation” after BB cream. To me they are nothing new, I have similar products for correcting complexion colors many years ago, such as the Makeup Forever HD Primer Color Control which I absolutely love. After trying out many latest CC creams, I have concluded that the only difference is that the newer products have better texture (more creamy and fluid) and more moisturizing to the skin because they all contain some skincare properties. So they are good products to own, particularly for those of you who wish to correct the appearance of dull skin without using a dozen of products.

Many of you may also be confusing BB Cream with CC Cream. I have also purchased several CC creams of Korean brands that look and feel exactly like BB cream, but upon application the CC cream generally makes the complexion a lot brighter than the BB cream. I am not a big fan of those particular CC creams.

I was sold to the YSL version after I read that my favorite Asian MUA swears by the combo of YSL CC cream and Youth Liberator Foundation (to be reviewed soon). Since I really like the foundation so I thought why not to give the CC cream a try! They come in 3 different colors – ROSE; LAVENDER and APRICOT, and all have SPF35 and PA+++. As a pink makeup lover I purchased the ROSE one first, and the lovely sales lady also gave me a generous sample of the Lavender one which I loved so much I went back and purchased it again!

The YSL CC Cream has a lovely milky and fluid texture. It is very refreshing and lightweight yet hydrating enough to the dry skin. It feels like a nourishing light skincare lotion, and it doesn’t enhance pores nor the dry patches. Both of them are very pigmented for a color corrector for the complexion, and I only need tiny a little bit (half of the pea size) for the face. They help to brighten, corrects and even out the complexion so it reduces the need for subsequent foundation. On days where I don’t feel like a full face makeup, I normally just wear this on my T-zone, under the eyes and along the cheekbone alone. It’s almost like an instant-highlighter-but-better that makes you look so fresh and well-rested.

ROSE brightens up the skin with a hint of pale rosy glow. It’s a pretty color that makes the complexion appears more youthful and radiant, and works great with other pink based makeup. However if you have some redness in the skin this product tends to enhance it.

LAVENDER helps diminish the look of sallow skin and yellow-looking skin. I love this because it makes my complexion appears so fresh and clean with a natural glow. I wore this on days where I had the worst flu, and I still got compliments on how great my skin looked, so this product must be doing something magical. I only apply this to the areas of the face where I would normally apply the highlighter, and the result is similar to “the moment you just take off your brightening mask”. Using this as a makeup base also helps other colored makeup show up better.

Swatch comparison with the Korean brands. On a quick note, Tony Moly Aura and Tony Moly BCdation makes me way too white and geisha-like. Hera CC Cream is more like a BB cream and isn’t worth its high price tag.

I bought these at David Jones for $89 each. You can get them here or here with international shipping available.

{ 6 comments }

Labels: foundation • HIGHLIGHTER • Makeup Base • YSL

Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation Review

July 17, 2013

The Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation will always have a special place in my heart. It is the product that drove me into the whole frenzy of high end makeup. I bought my first future skin foundation when I was in high school and have been repurchasing it ever since! Back then it was a lot of money for a high school student, but I’d rather buy less other things so I could afford this foundation, as it was considered as a revolutionary foundation and it truly outperformed every other foundation I had used.

Fast forward to now, I have a greater exposure to a lot of high end foundations these days, and this foundation still remains one of my holy grail products. I love the image of the brand in general – it is one of the very few exclusive high end cosmetic companies that still runs in a family, and they are renowned for their unique approach to natural beauty with their high concentration of natural botanical formulas. They don’t do as much advertising as other giant cosmetic companies do, so you know most of your money is paying for the supreme quality of their products!

What does Chantecaille say:

An innovative, oil free gel foundation containing 60% charged water and seaweed. Skin looks totally perfected and dewy; sebum is balanced. Aloe, Chamomile and Mica calm irritation. Rosemary, Green Tea and Rice Bran help prevent oxidation. Adjust coverage from medium to full.

My Thoughts:

The texture of this foundation is a hybrid between gel and cream. Ultra lightweight, and it does not feel like you are wearing makeup at all when it is applied. It goes on smoothly and melts into your skin, and it does not enhance any dry patches or pores. It makes your skin look flawless, dewy and illuminated. The coverage is sheer to medium – I would use less than a pea size of it for daytime wear for a “no makeup makeup look”, and it is buildable to an airbrushed and flawless finish (and with a bit of help of concealer if required). The beauty of this foundation is that it always applies and sets beautifully no matter what your skin condition is. My skin has transformed from combo-oily to normal-dry throughout all the years, and this is the only foundation that just works with it. It helps to control oil on the t-zone and lasts all day without any oxidation when my skin was oily, whereas it also feels really hydrating and gives this soft glow to my dry skin.

My shade is Alabaster

Ingredient List:

Bottom Line: My HG foundation. A luxurious foundation that is suitable for most skin types (even for very sensitive) all year round as Chantecaille is known for its natural and botanically based formulas. It is expensive, but a little bit of it goes a long way, and a tub will last you a long time. I have used many products from the Chantecaille line, and if I can only recommend one product from this brand, it’s gotta be this one!

The Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation is available here in the US, or here with worldwide free shipping.

{ 7 comments }

Labels: CHANTECAILLE • foundation

Clé De Peau Teint Naturel Fluide Cream Foundation Review

September 15, 2011

Clé De Peau Teint Naturel Fluide Cream Foundation is a new member to my family of Holy Grail foundations. It’s the latest foundation released by Cle De Peau that was to replace their previous cream foundation . I have always wanted to try their foundations as they are famous for their base makeup. When I was in Hong Kong last time I took the opportunity to visit the Clé De Peau counter and sampled all of their foundations, rather than risking ordering it online. The service was second to none as the girl who served me was extremely patient and not pushy. She pretty much did a free facial on me using their deluxe skincare products before sampling their foundations on me. In the end we both thought that this foundation looked the best on me – it also happened to be the most expensive foundation out of all, which set me back a record of AUD$128 (around USD$130) for a tiny bottle of foundation (25ml).

Clé De Peau Cream Foundation is the most finely milled foundation I have ever come across. It spreads and glides on my skin like the finest silk – the fingertips are the best way to apply this foundation because it doesn’t require any blending. It blends seamlessly and just melts into your skin like your second skin.

As opposed to their claim that it “gives a flawless coverage”, in my opinion the coverage of this foundation is sheer to medium. It doesn’t fully cover any visible blemishes and pigmentation on my skin but it really enhances my complexion to the best it can whilst still looking completely natural. It provides a semi matte finish with a natural radiance that seems to come from within. It maintains for about 5 hours with a “just-applied” finish then it starts to wear off.

I have been extremely picky with foundations lately ever since I bought a 5 magnification vanity mirror. I really can’t detect any trace of foundation on my face when I look into the magnified mirror. Even around the edge of nose and mouth, it does not collect up.

Applied only the Clé De Peau Cream Foundation on my face – my shade is 010.

It still has some flaws as I noticed that it flakes a little on top of some gel moisturizers, so I had to switch to a lotion underneath it. The texture almost absorbs into the skin too well – I need to use a pearl size amount of it which is more than what I would normally use with a foundation (normally it’s pea sized). For such a tiny bottle I can go through it within a months time which is really not cost effective.

Bottom Line: If you already have relatively good skin and you are after a foundation that gives “your skin but much much better”, then this is the one for you! When it is used in conjunction with their award winning concealer it almost warrants a flawless complexion. The foundation is available here and here.

{ 22 comments }

Labels: CLE DE PEAU • foundation

MAC Lightful Ultracharge Foundation Review

July 23, 2011

I am probably not a big fan of MAC makeup…there are only a handful of MAC products that I love and will always repurchase them. One of them is the MAC Lightful Ultracharge Foundation SPF 25 Compact. Unfortunately it is an Asia exclusive product as this line is designed for brightening the complexion – since fair skin is high in demand in Asia.

This is the third time I have purchased this – I always re-stock them whenever I get to go overseas. The packaging is much better than the normal MAC products – it comes with an ivory white lacquered finish case that feels sturdy and weighty. It includes a mirror and has two compartments allowing you to store the product and the sponge seperately.

It can be used as a foundation alone or as a powder. The powder is so finely milled and silky smooth and the texture reminded me of the finest velvet. The coverage is sheer to medium so I mainly use it for retouching my makeup throughout the day. It blends into my skin perfectly without looking powdery and cakey. On the oily t-zone, this powder doesn’t look blotchy and absorbs the oil.

Applied MAC Lightful Ultracharge powder on top of Becca Luminous skin finish which is a very sheer foundation that has no coverage. As you can see, it looks very natural (doesn’t enhance any dry patches and fine lines) whilst offering a nice coverage and covers the pores.

A closer shot – there is no trace of powder on the cheek area. However it tends to collect around the edge of the nose, which is the case with any powder foundation.

On the left side of my face, I applied MAC Lightful Ultracharge Powder as a foundation on bare skin using the sponge applicator. The finish is pretty much identical to the above, except that it slightly enhances the dry skin around the nose.

Bottom Line: I love it for retouching my makeup, not as a foundation. Compared with some other compact powders that are on the higher end such as La Mer, La Prairie, Guerlain and Chanel that I have used, this one works the best on my skin type for a natural finish and good value for money. The SPF25 is an added bonus!

Some of you may ask how does this one compare to MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural? Size wise, the MAC Lightful contains 14 grams of product and the Skinfinish contains 10 grams. The texture of MAC Lightful is more finely milled hence it feels much more smoother and looks finer on the skin than the Mineralize Skinfinish. They both last about 5-6 hours on me.

In terms of shades, I am MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in light, and MAC Lightful in NC 20. They appear quite differently in the pan but once blended out on the skin they are both translucent.

The MAC Lightful has a yellow base to it which I believe would suit people with a warm skin tone better.

MAC Lightful retails for around $50 in Australia. I bought mine at the Sydney Galleria Duty Free Shop which is the only shop in Sydney that stocks High End Asia exclusive products.

That’s all! Hope you all have a good weekend 🙂

{ 13 comments }

Labels: foundation • MAC • POWDER

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