LIPSTICK

Current Favorites – Red Lip Colors by Chanel, Charlotte Tilbury and Surrat

August 17, 2015

Bold lips have been my statement look over the past year – whether wearing the red lip color in a full opaque coat or as a sheer stain, I am infatuated with how much impact it adds to the overall look. Today’s review is for my 3 current favorite red lip colors – Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet, Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 and Surrat Automatique Lip Crayon P.O.C. They are all of different texture and finish, so they offer different options for achieving different looks.

The Chanel Levres Scintillantes Glossimer Rose Paradis 447 (available here in Australia) is from the Chanel Summer 2015 Collection. It is a highly pigmented rosey red color that has a transparent finish which makes it very wearable for the day and night. I really like the Glossimer formulation for intense colors, as it is very easy to sheer out and gives a lovely wash of stain on the lips in a glossy finish. During the day I’d like to wear a sheer layer of this – it’s pretty and youthful and the color helps to brighten up the complexion. If you are after a dramatic and bold look, the lip gloss is intense enough for delivering its full color with a jelly like finish.

As the name suggests, this Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Red Carpet is the red color for making a statement. It is a cool deep ruby red with a hint of burgundy undertone in a matte finish. It is bold, sultry, a little vampy and the velvety matte finish adds an edgy and fashion-forward spin to this classic color. I absolutely adore the formulation of Charlotte Tilbury’s Matte Revolution Lipsticks (detail reviews on other colors are covered in this post). Red carpet is no exception – it ‘s non drying and extremely long lasting. Available worldwide here.

Surrat is a new makeup brand that I am still uncovering. So far I have only tried their lip products, and also interested in exploring their luxury brushes range! Love their sleek frosted black packaging design, and their Automatique Lip Crayon range has some stunning colors. I picked the color P.O.C which is the most beautiful warm red with a hint of orange tone that I have ever seen. This is a summery red in my opinion, and looks great on either fair or tanned complexion. It has a non slippery crayon-like texture so it goes on very opaque and applies relatively creamy and smooth. I would say the texture is quite similar to the Nars Velvet Matte Lipstick Pencil, if you are interested in exploring new brands, Surrat is a good option. Available here worldwide.

Group Swatch:

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Labels: CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • LIP PENCIL • LIPGLOSS • LIPSTICK • Louis Vuitton • LV • MAKEUP POUCH • SURRAT

Bobbi Brown Hot Collection – Cheek Palette Pink and Art Stick in Hot Pink Review, Swatch and FOTD

March 30, 2015

I have been eyeing some Bobbi Brown blushes for as long as I can remember – there are some really beautiful pink shades in their individual blush range. And I am glad I waited that long as Bobbi Brown has recently released a limited edition Cheek Palette in Pink from the Hot Collection that contains all the pink blush shades I have been longing for! Of course I had to get this palette (as it’s a lot cheaper than acquiring the blushes individually), as well as the matching lip Art Stick in Hot Pink.

The Cheek Palette is housed in a classic Bobbi Brown black glossy case. I was told by the SA that this case was all hand made so I have to handle it with care. I examined the case inside-out and up-side down, and I really couldn’t tell the difference between this case and the other Bobbi Brown non hand made case. The palette contains 3 variations of pink shades in different finishes, which is what I love about buying a palette as I love layering for different looks.

Shade Description (from left to right):

Pale Pink – A blue based bright pink in matte finish. It is non powdery, has a matte finish and is easy to apply and blend.

Pink – A pale pearly pink shimmer with a hint of golden peachy sheen. It can be used alone as a highlighter or layer it over the blush for a subtle glow.

Powder Pink – A neutral baby pink in matte finish. I absolutely adore this shade as it looks so soft and pretty alone , or can be layered with Pale Pink to add some dimension for a more fresh look.

The Bobbi Brown Art Stick is a hybrid between lipstick and lip liner that comes with a sharpener. It has a creamy crayon-like texture that is blendable, and doesn’t feel heavy to be used over the entire lips. It is not as moisturizing as the good lipsticks, but it’s not drying my lips out either. It applies quite creamy and sets to a semi-matte finish. The pigment is very intense so a little goes a long way, and it lasts a good 6-8 hours on me.

The Art Stick in Hot Pink is an ultra saturated neon bright pink. It may not be the shade for everyone, but as for me I love how it looks against my complexion as it just instantly brightens it up and makes me appear more energized. Since it’s so bright and long lasting, I also love the fact that it fades into a softer pink throughout the day.

Group Swatch

From left to right: Pale Pink, Pink Highlighter, Powder Pink, Art Stick Hot Pink

FOTD wearing all 3 blush shades layered together, and Hot Pink on my lips.

I bought mine at David Jones, and the Bobbi Brown Hot Collection is also available at Nordstrom in the US.

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Labels: BLUSH • BOBBI BROWN • FOTD • LIPSTICK

Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour Review and Swatch – 426 ROUSSY and 444 GABRIELLE

March 24, 2015

Chanel has recently launched the newly reformulated ROUGE COCO Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour, and they tick every check box for a perfect lipstick. After playing around with 6 colors at the counter, I decided to bring 426 ROUSSY and 444 GABRIELLE home. The old me would have probably purchased them all, but I am definitely a lot more “choosey” with colors now and more sensible with makeup shopping lately..

The new formula is divine – it is ultra pigmented with a firm texture (not balmy), and feels extremely silky and luxurious to apply. As a full coverage lipstick, it is quite moisturizing, and feels exceptionally weightless and comforting on the lips. Both colors are on the vibrant side with a satiny finish that has a touch of jelly sheen depending on the angle you are looking at. They apply true to the actual lipstick colors, no feathering and one to two swipes gives a full opaque finish. For a more sheer finish I suggest to use a lip brush for application. Lasting power is about 4 to 5 hours wear time.

The Rouge Coco in 426 Roussy is my sort of color. At first glance you would think it’s a cool pink (almost bordering barbie pink) but once you apply on to the lips, there is the warmth that comes through which makes the color very wearable and pretty (if you love pink)!

The Rouge Coco in 444 Gabrielle is the color to buy from this new range (it is the color that Keira Knightley wears in the ad)! I was debating between a few reds and in the end I decided to go with Gabrielle. It’s a saturated deep military red, and since I am obsessed with the utility trend I thought this would be the perfect color to match with my clothes! In my swatches I have shown two ways of wearing it. The full coverage is more sophisticated and fashion-forward, whereas the gradient look is more girl-next-door, youthful and makes the lips appear uber juicy and kissable! I have done a tutorial for this look , and in this swatch I was using the Charlotte Tilbury Liquid Eye Pencil in Eye Cheat (reviewed here) for concealing the lip lines.

Full Coverage

Gradient

Group Swatch

I bought mine at David Jones , and the new Chanel Coco Rouge lip colors are also available at Nordstrom in the US.

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Labels: CHANEL • LIPSTICK

SHISEIDO MAQUILLAGE Dramatic Melting Rouge Lipstick Review, Swatches and FOTD – PK227 and RD425

February 11, 2015

Sheseido Maquillage has released a new line of lipsticks this year called Dramatic Melting Rouge. Since I am a devotee of their highly popular lip gloss (Essence Glamorous Rouge that has won many beauty awards in Japan), I was excited about this new launch. Similar to the lip gloss that was enriched with hyaluronic acid, this new lipstick claims to have a high concentration of their unique blend of ‘beauty oil’ that hydrates your lips like moisturizing essence, and provides a full coverage with a mirror shine gloss.

I picked the colors PK227 and RD425 – a pink and a bright red as they are my go-to colors these days. The texture completely lives up to my expectations as they are ultra smooth and glides on like silk that just melts into your lips. It nourishes even the driest lips without enhancing any dry skin and lines, and make them appear fuller and youthful. It feels very lightweight and extremely hydrating on the lips. The coverage is excellent and it’s opaque with a degree of translucency. It also has a jelly like shine without any shimmer which I absolutely adore. Best of all, they are very long lasting for a glossy lipstick. The colors remain at full intensity even after 4 hours of wear and I even had snacks in between!

Shiseido Maquillage Dramatic Melting Rouge in PK227 is a beautiful girly and soft neutral pink that is neither too cool or nor too warm. You probably would have seen a gazillion of them on my blog, but this shade just guarantees to make me feel happy and pretty which is the most important purpose of wearing makeup!

Lip Swatch with a single swipe – natural day light

FOTD wearing PK227

Shiseido Maquillage Dramatic Melting Rouge in RD425 is a bright cherry red in high gloss. You can either apply this color to the center of your lips for a gradient look, or you can apply it to your entire lips for a more glamorous look but still stay young and fresh.

FOTD wearing RD425

Group Swatch

Left PK227 Right RD425

Other makeups used in the FOTDs include

DIOR Diorskin STAR Studio Foundation

CHANEL Natural Finish Loose Powder

YSL Touche Eclat

NARS Illuminator Limited Edition

HOURGLASS Ambient Blush Palette Limited Edition (reviewed here)

JILL STUART Ribbon Couture Eye 03 Vintage Satin (reviewed here)

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Labels: CHANEL • DIOR • FOTD • HOURGLASS • Jill Stuart • LIPSTICK • Maquillage by Shiseido • NARS • SHISEIDO

Nars Audacious Lipstick Natalie Review and Swatch

November 16, 2014

I was recently ‘challenged’ by a tag on Instagram to show my one-and-only favorite lipstick. I thought that was such an interesting challenge to take on as it is near mission impossible to only narrow down to one favorite lipstick from my collection! I have been thinking about this tag seriously for days and the one that popped into my head the most frequent was the Nars Audacious Lipstick in Natalie – partly because it was one of my recent purchases, and partly because this was the perfect pink I had not seen for a while!

You probably would have read tons of reviews on the latest Nars Audacious Lipsticks, so I’ll keep my review short and sweet. Out of the entire range, I only picked up one color which is the Natalie. It wasn’t because I didn’t like the other colors, but as soon as I swatched this on my lips, I thought I found the lipstick. I haven’t bought Nars makeup for a while as I just couldn’t put up with their rubber packaging. But I am very pleased that this new release comes in sturdy plastic tubes, and the formulation is as divine as you could get from a premium luxury lipstick – it applies silky smooth and evenly with only one coat required for full coverage, and feels lightweight and creamy on the lips. The more I wear this one the more I am infatuated with this new range, and I will definitely be picking up more colors in the near future.

Natalie is a bright and fresh neutral pink with a hint of coral undertone. There is something in this color that just makes it a standout for me, as if it is custom made for my complexion (NC15-20)!

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Labels: LIPSTICK • My Favorites • NARS

October Favorites

October 28, 2014

Whilst I am still in the process of putting together some more reviews for the other products I picked up from the Chanel Holiday 2014 collection, I thought I’ll quickly share some of my favorite products for the month of October before it ends. The monthly favorite posts are my all time favorite posts/videos to watch from other bloggers, and I don’t know why have I never done one?! So I am definitely going to incorporate this new series into my blogging schedule going forward.

1. Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette – So glad I was able to get hold of this one from Net-A-Porter. I’ve been holding out on buying the individual blushes in the hope that they would release a palette one day, and my wish has been granted! It’s also available here in the US. Detailed review for this one as well as the highlighting palette is coming soon.

2. Chanel Camelia De Plumes Highlighting Powder – Every year Chanel releases an art piece of highlighter which is worthy of collection. This piece is stunning on its own, and also works great as a highlighter without looking frosty on me. Detailed review coming soon.

3. Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipstick Lost Cherry – Definitely one of my favorite purchases from Charlotte Tilbury (reviewed here). It’s longing lasting and can be worn for a polished look or sheer it out as a lip stain (the latter is my preferred method of wear).

4. Tiffany Key Necklace – Starting to wear and mix and match my jeweleries more now that my boy is bit older so he doesn’t pull them off me anymore 🙂

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Labels: ACCESSORY • CHANEL • Charlotte Tilbury • HIGHLIGHTER • HOURGLASS • LIPSTICK • MONTHLY FAVORITES • My Favorites • NECKLACE

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lipsticks Review and Swatch – Amazing Grace and Lost Cherry

October 21, 2014

In addition to the KISSING Lipsticks (reviewed here) I also bought two new Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution lipsticks (Amazing Grace and Lost Cherry) from Net -A-Porter which I absolutely adore (also available at Selfridges). I bought these online without having read much reviews about them, so I really didn’t have a high expectation on them as matte lipsticks normally don’t work that well with my naturally dry lips. But these ones are phenomenal in terms of formulation, and the velvet finish is very modern and fashion-forward.

The Matte Revolution Lipstick is ultra velvety smooth to apply without settling into the lines of the lips, and feels lightweight and non-drying on the lips. It’s very pigmented (more richer than the KISSING lipstick), and gives a very opaque and even finish with only one coat required. What appeals to me the most is that it is not a completely matte lipstick , and it provides more of a velvet finish with a semi-satin sheen that makes your lips appear more youthful than a typical matte lipstick does. Lasting power is about 4-5 hours on me. The only drawback to note is that it’s not a grab-and-go lipstick as you have to apply this in front of a mirror with some level of care for a clean look. Overall I am very impressed with the formulation of this lipstick. I can finally rock the matte lips look which is trending everywhere without the sacrifice of making my lips dry!

Amazing Grace looks like a dusty nude pink online, but in real life it is a dusty rosey pink that is a tad darker than I expected. Nevertheless the color is still beautiful and demure which would be flattering for all age groups.

Lost Cherry has completely wowed me. It is a fresh and bright cherry pink red that makes me wanting a backup! There is something about this color in the velvet finish makes it arresting.

Comparison Swatches

Left Amazing Grace Right Lost Cherry

Compared to the KISSING lipsticks

From my instagram

Bottom Line: The Matte Revolution lipsticks are definitely one of my top picks (along with the Filmstar bronze and glow – reviewed here) for anyone who is new to the Charlotte Tilbury beauty line. They are now available at Net-A-Porter worldwide!

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK

Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipstick Review and Swatch – Bitch Perfect and Coachella Coral

October 20, 2014

Net-A-Porter is currently offering free shipping again! So I took the opportunity and ordered some more Charlotte Tilbury makeup (also available at Nordstrom) which is really growing on me as a beauty brand in general. Today’s review is for the Charlotte Tilbury KISSING Lipsticks. I picked up the color Bitch Perfect and Coachella Coral which I believe are two of their best selling colors.

The lipstick has a smooth and non slippery texture with a satin finish. It applies evenly and feels quite soft and weightless (not waxy) on the lips. It doesn’t enhance any dry patches and lines on the lips, and neither does it dry out the lips. Lasting power is about 3-4 hours on me with the brighter color lasting relatively longer. Both shades have good color pay-off – they are neither sheer not too intense which makes the formulation ideal for most people.

Bitch perfect is a soft pink nude color on me, with a tiny tinge of nude brown undertone. It’s a flattering your-lips-but-better shade that still gives your lips a soft wash of color without washing you out, and is easy to pull off with any makeup look everyday. Perfect for those of you who love wearing nude lips , or anyone who is into natural looking lip colors.

Coachella Coral is my favorite out of the two. I have mentioned earlier that I am into the bright lip color phase, and this shade is right up my alley. It’s a lovely rosey pink coral color that just takes away any dullness from your complexion as soon as I have this color on the lips, and it brightens up my mood as well. The color is young yet sophisticated. I can wear it sheer for everyday use, or layer it up for a more bold and defined look.

Swatched under natural lighting

Left Bitch Perfect Right Coachella Coral

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Labels: Charlotte Tilbury • LIPSTICK

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