Makeup Base

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

A Round-up of the Best base face products for combination and oily skin

November 28, 2015

My previous post on my reader’s requests about how I clean my brushes was very well received, so I though I’d include a post that addresses some of the other most frequently asked questions. Today’s round-up is my picks for the base products for normal, combination to oily skin that have a great staying power in hot and humid weather and still look natural.

This is the list of my favorite products that are great for controlling the oil throughout the day, and most importantly they tick the criteria for not looking too matte, powdery and cakey on the face.

1. MAC Prep and Prime -I bought the full size bottle of this after using a sample as I loved it so much. I am not a big fan of MAC base products but thumbs up for this one. It smoothes out the skin, covers and fills up the pores and creases, and slightly mattifies the skin without feeling silicony and heavy. The foundation sets beautifully on top of this primer, and gives an airbrushed finish of a more even and refined skin texture. It also helps to keep the shine and oil away for a longer time.

2. Make Up For Ever Smoothing Primer – Similar concept to the MAC, but more mattifying and covers the pores better. It has a heavier silicone texture than the MAC, and takes away excess oil and shine completely. Highly recommend it to anyone who has oily skin with large pores.

3. Chanel Mat Lumiere Foundation – My go-to foundation for the hot weather. It has a milky fluidy texture, feels lightweight, and offers a great coverage. It sets slightly more matte and powdery than the other fluid foundations, but it still gives the signature Chanel radiant glow from their Lumiere range. It also photographs beautifully – natural with a soft glow but not shiny.

4. Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation (reviewed here) – I wasn’t very impressed with this foundation at first as I was in a ‘dewy foundation’ phase back then, and fell in love with it during the summer time, as it has an amazing stay power and keeps my face looking fresh and clean for the whole day. It gives a velvety finish that is a tad more matte than the Mat Lumiere upon application, and it becomes more natural and luminous over time. Would only recommend this to normal to oily skin types.

5. Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder – A very mattifying powder, and a little goes a long way. I only dust a very sheer amount on to my t-zone on a normal day, and it keeps the shine away for the whole day. I brought this along with the Mat Lumiere foundation to my last tropical vacation, and they worked wonders keeping my makeup on without melting for the whole day in very humid weather. It can look slightly powdery if applied too much, and it is not the most finely milled powder (can slightly enhance the pores around the cheeks) compared to the other high end powders I have in my collection.

6. Cle De Peau Translucent Loose Powder – My absolute holy grail for so many years. The most luxurious, silkiest and finely milled loose powder you can find in the stores. It looks natural, non powdery, and gives a brightening and more refined finish as it helps to cover the pores and lift the dullness. It slightly mattifies the skin and guarantees to keep your makeup stay put all day.

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Labels: CHANEL • CLE DE PEAU • foundation • MAC • Makeup Base • MAKEUP FOREVER • My Favorites • POWDER • PRIMER

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.

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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.

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Labels: foundation • HIGHLIGHTER • Makeup Base • YSL

Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Fase Base Review

May 29, 2014

Bobbi Brown’s skincare products are just as divine as their makeup line. Though it is primarily a makeup brand, the skincare products I have used are just far more superior than some other major big brands. A case in point is the Bobbi Brown’s Vitamin Enriched Face Base that remains as their best seller for many years..

This is a double duty product – it can be used as a moisturizer or makeup primer. I bought it for the purpose of using it as a makeup base. The minute I took it out from the box, I was drawn to its simple and sleek glass jar design, and its signature luxurious citrus scent. The texture is creamy but silky and lightweight, and it glides on skin soft and smooth like cashmere. It gives the skin an instant boost of moisture with a radiant glow, so it gives the appearance of more plumped skin. This is a product for people with normal to dry skin, or anyone who wants to achieve a natural glowy complexion for a photo shoot. It makes the skin slightly emollient (but doesn’t feel like a film) with plenty of slip, so it allows the foundation and other base product to adhere to the skin much better as well as for ease of blending. The only drawback would be it makes my T-zone slightly oily after 5-6 hours of wear (which is fine with me as at this old age I appreciate any natural oil on my face!), so this will not be the right product for anyone with oily skin or living in humid/hot weather condition for daily use.

I personally do not like any primer that feels siliconey with a matte finish. My skin is dry, so I need a good moisturizer-like primer that is packed with nurturing ingredients that makes my complexion more smooth and dry patches free for subsequent makeup application. The Bobbi Brown is a savior for people with normal to dry skin as it turns any foundation into dream-like application for a radiant finish. It’s a just a classic product to have in your makeup kit.

I have used quite a few BB skincare products and I absolutely love them all – here are the backups of some of my favorite Bobbi Brown products!

Intensive Skin Supplement; Buffing Grains; Hydrating Gel Cream; Vitamin Enriched Face Base. I have also reviewed the luxurious Extra Rinse Balm here.

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Labels: BOBBI BROWN • Makeup Base • MOISTURIZER

Cle De Peau Beaute Brightening Enhancer Base SPF35 PA+++ Review

June 24, 2013

I’ve been very obsessed with multi-purpose base products that can be used as a makeup base and also containing a decent level of SPF for sun protection. Cle De Peau Beaute is a premier Japanese beauty brand that is known for their base products for a smooth and flawless complexion, so when I found out that they have released a new Brightening Enhancer Base which has SPF35 with PA+++, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on it as I knew it would be an ideal product to meet my needs!

A makeup/foundation base may not be an essential product for many women, but it is absolutely a must-have for me! Over the years I have learnt that if you have the right products that make your skin well-hydrated and translucent, you can pretty much use any foundation to make your complexion look naturally flawless and radiant. It is all about the preparation than piling on layers of foundations and concleaers. Whilst most of us don’t have the budget and time to prep our skin with an SKII paper mask (that many MUA swear by), I have been spending my time to find some of the best base products in the market, and I am very happy with this purchase.

As a Makeup Base:

Cle De Peau claims that “it transforms bare skin into pure clarity“. It has a serum-like fluid texture with a pink beige color. It is very light and blends into clear color which is suitable for most skin colors. Upon application it evens out the complexion moderately and imparts a subtle radiant glow to the skin with a semi-matte finish. It certainly reduces the amount of foundation needed afterwards as it already helps to improve the texture and clarity of the complexion. You could probably even skip the foundation if you already have good skin to begin with. I find that the brightening effect can also be used for highlighting purposes. Formula-wise, it is quite hydrating and makes your skin softer but not the most hydrating. I think it would be wonderful for combo-skin type or in humid/hot weather.

As a basic suncare product for everyday use:

Anything above SPF30 is enough for my everyday use as I don’t stay out-door a lot (mostly home to the office, sad I know.. ) The Clea De Peau Brightening Enhancer Base feels completely weightless on the skin, and unlike many other products with a high SPF, I feel that my skin can still breathe with this one. It doesn’t cause any breakout and congestion to my skin. It also contains some brightening ingredients which might help to brighten/whiten your complexion over time – however it’s not evident from my experience.

Bottom Line: An ultra luxurious makeup primer if you have the budget for it. It’s not something that will transform your skin completely, but it does draw you to its beautiful packaging, the expensive floral scent and the luminous finish. I would say it is suitable for all skin types (exclude acne-type), and you will appreciate this product more if you have oily to combo skin.

It retails for $6000 JPY + tax (approx around $70 USD and $75 AUD) for 30 grams of product. Made in Japan.

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Labels: CLE DE PEAU • Makeup Base

Dior 5 Couleur Grand Bal Eyeshadow Palette 524 Fairy Golds Review, Swatches and FOTD

November 17, 2012

This is another eyeshadow review for the Dior 5 Couleur Grand Bal Eyeshadow Palette in 524 Fairy Golds (Limited Edition) from the Grand Bal Holiday 2012 Collection. My compulsive makeup hoarding is getting a little out of control lately as I am completely engulfed by the waves of new eye shadows being released at the moment. But what could be a better time to shop than this festive time of the year?!

Before I start my review, please allow me to ramble about the sub-par service at various Dior counters. The SAs were either busy chatting or showed no interest in doing their jobs at 3 different counters I visited! Whilst most of the other cosmetic counters thrive to deliver the best possible customer service in such a competitive economy, it was such a let down experience from a premium beauty house like Dior.

Nonetheless, this did not distract me from buying this uber gorgeous eyeshadow quint. It’s a neutral eye shadow palette with some of the most beautiful sparkly shimmery shades I have ever seen – and that is what drew me in the most! I love a sparkly shade when it is done right. It needs to have the perfect spongy creamy texture (not gritty) and adheres without any fallout, and most importantly it needs to be sparkly in a grown-up way. And the color is important too, as it needs to be subtle but you can still see the color with some translucency so it doesn’t overpower the base eye color when you apply the sparkly shade on top. This Dior quint ticked all the boxes.

COLORS

Top Left: Shimmery champagne pinky beige

Top Right: Rusty gold with a sparkly finish

Middle: Silvery white with a sparkly finish

Bottom Left: Shimmery mushroom taupe

Bottom Right: Shimmery chocolate brown

All shades are rich in pigmentation, feel buttery soft and blend so well. As mentioned above, the two sparkly shades are exceptionally superior and rivals the Tom Ford which I thought were the best!

SWATCHES:

FOTD:

Upper Lid: Applied the beige color all over the eyelid, then I blended the light taupe color from the upper lash into the eye socket. The dark brown shade was only added to the outer-v, and I used my finger to pat the gold sparkly shade on the inner corner, and the silvery white shade on top for an ultra sparkly festive look!

Lower Lid: The white sparkly on the inner third, and the brown on the outer third.

It is worth nothing that I have been obsessed with highlighting and contouring lately, so I have used more-than-the-usual amount of base product to create a luminous complexion that also looks more defined.

OTHER PRODUCTS:

Face: Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation (discontinued) mixed with Dr Jart+ Waterfuse Moist BB Cream.

Highlight & Contour: Prescriptives Contour Stick (discontinued) + Nars Copacabana Illuminator. YSL Touche Eclat for under eye concealing.

Blush: Chanel JC in Rouge

Lipstick: Shu Uemura Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine SS BG 957 (reviewed here) + MAC Dazzleglass Glamour

Bottom Line: A perfect eye shadow palette for a touch of sparkly glamour this festive season.

I bought mine at David Jones for AUD$99. The Dior Palette can be purchased here in the US. You can also get this new collection including the palette here with free international delivery, and use the code GIFT10 for 10% off!

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Labels: BB Cream • DIOR • EYESHADOW • FOTD • FOUNDATION • HIGHLIGHTER • Laura Mercier • MAC • Makeup Base • NARS • Shu Uemura • YSL

Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer Review

February 21, 2012

I got asked about my thoughts on the Sunday Riley Effortless Breathable Tinted Primer after I mentioned it was one of my all time favorite base products. Sunday Riley is a relatively new cosmetic brand – they are known for their skincares and they recently released a remarkable collection of makeup which is only available at Barneys for now. I was initially interested in their skin care products while I was browsing, but the gorgeous SA insisted that I should not miss the tinted primer which is their signature product. I normally do not like SAs trying to sell me a particular product, but I was totally sold after I noticed there were many gorgeous girls dropping by the counter just to pick up this primer. So I managed to get myself the last bottle of this on that day! *phew*..

The Sunday Riley Tinted Primer is housed in a plastic bottle, the packaging is sturdy but I won’t say luxurious. On the contrary, the ingredients are the most luxurious you could ever get for a tinted moisturizer and that’s what makes it stand out from norm. It has

– Peptide: for regeneration and anti-glycation.

– Sodium Hyaluronate : a form of hyarulonic acid that contains higher molecular weight (totally out of topic – most fillers are made of that) that leaves skin fine-textured and appear more plumped.

– Paraben Free

I thought it was a perfect formulation for me as I am constantly on the look out for products that prevent the first signs of aging and the first two ingredients are known for that. The texture is mousse-like and ultra lightweight, and it feels silky smooth and melts into the skin upon application. The use of hyaluronate never enhances the dry patches on the skin and keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day without getting greasy. The coverage is about the same as any sheer foundation, and it leaves the skin appearing more even toned, smooth and finely textured with a touch of dewiness. I normally let it settle for a few minutes, then quite amazingly, my skin appears noticeably more plumped and radiant, and the signs of dullness is diminished. I have seen such results with a good moisturizer, but for a makeup product that can deliver this it truly blows me away.

The Sunday Riley Tinted Primer can be worn alone for a sheer wash of color, or followed with your foundation if you prefer more coverage. As for my complexion, I like to use it alone with a touch of under eyes concealer and I’m good to go. It also keeps my base makeup looking like it’s freshly applied all day.

Full ingredient list: