POWDER

Today’s post I am covering 2 drop dead gorgeous products  – the Tom Ford NightBloom Powder in Velvet Orchid and the Guerlain Météorites Perles de Légende (available here in Australia) from the Holiday 2016 Collection. Both of them are powders with a tinge of colors, and add a luminous glow to the complexion, so I thought it’s a good idea to have them combined.

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The Tom Ford Nightbloom Powder in Velvet Orchid is a must have for me. Australia just received this collection, and at the moment the Nightbloom Powders have just been re-stocked in both colors online here. As usual, Tom Ford never fails to deliver a superior product from packaging to the finish. I love the idea of this powder – it’s not quite a blush nor a setting powder.  It is more of a color correcting powder, or like a beauty powder (think of MAC) that adds a tinge of color to give your cheeks a softer and brighter look. Since the color payoff is so subtle, I love applying it over the blush for blending out the harsh edges to achieve a gradient, dimensional and doll-like finish as it transforms any blush color to more cool-toned.

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The powder feels silky and smooth (not powdery). There is subtle shimmer in it and you can only see it under some certain angle of lighting. Once applied on the face, it goes semi-translucent with a hint of lavender tone. If you have a neutral to cool complexion, this powder is amazing to have.

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Heavy swatch with 6 swipes

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Each holiday Guerlain releases their signature Météorites in a limited edition packaging with a slight difference in the colors of the pearls. In my opinion, these multi-colored pearls work better for setting the makeup than a traditional loose powder. It is very light, and due to the mix of warm and cool colored pearls, it never makes your makeup look flat. There is also an elegant glow to it – unlike the shimmer and the over-the-top highlighters, this is the product that I would reach out to every day for swipe-and-go.

This limited edition contains gold and pastel pink and tiffany blue pearls with micro glitters. The pearls are more fragile and softer than the permanent editions, so they are prone to break. When applied, it goes on translucent for my NC15-20 and a hint of brightening effect.  It adds a touch of radiance to it, takes away the shine and gives your makeup a polished and clean look without looking too matte.

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A lot of people are concerned about the glitters. I too am not a fan of any glittery products, and I would not recommend any product that makes you look like a glitter ball.  With this product, the micro-glitter is very fine and is almost undetectable on the skin. Under the sun, you can see the little glitters here and there if you look at your face very closely, and from a distance, it just creates a youthful and subtle dewy glow.

Heavy swatches

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This spring there are two must-have lust worthy gorgeous highlighters to collect – the Chanel Perles ET Fantaisies Illuminating Powder, and the Dior DiorSkin Nude Air Glowing Gardens Illuminating Powders in Glowing Pink. First of all the designs of both powders are to die for, as well as the quality and the finish are just flawless and look extremely flattering on fair to medium skin tones as you would expect from a premium beauty brand. Both products are limited editions, and it seems the Dior is already sold out everywhere in the US, but I think you can still find them in Australia. I am combining these two products into one post as they are quite similar in terms of finish.

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The texture of Chanel Illuminating Powder feels buttery silky smooth. It is so creamy and finely milled that when I rub my fingers over the powders I don’t feel any grainy and powdery texture. Both the white and pink powders are pigmented enough with one to two swipes to show the color and give a glowing effect. It is not as intensely pigmented as some other highlighters such as the Nars and the Becca (reviewed here).  I actually prefer this level of pigments, meaning I can easily create a soft glow effect without worrying of being overdone.

comes with a mini fan brush

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The white powders applies to a translucent shimmery icy white color which also makes a great color to highlight in the inner corners of the eyes.  The pink color is beautiful, when it is applied it actually doesn’t show up as barbie pink as it looked in the pan. It is a translucent shimmery baby pink that adds just a perfect touch of fresh color as a highlighter to the face. When mixed two colors together, the pink adds a touch of warmth to the white, and that gives a natural, lit-from-within glow without looking frosty. Highly recommend this illuminating powder if you are after a pretty luxurious product that gives a natural glow, and it works well on fair to fair/medium skin tones.

Swatches

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The Dior Glowing Pink Powder gives a very similar illuminating effect as the Chanel.  The texture is also superb, and the powder feels slightly more firm and not as moist as the Chanel. It doesn’t enhance pores, and also sets beautifully on dry skin.  The color is a pale delicate pink with a hint of champagne pearl tone to it, so it would work better on warmer skin tones. The finish is a tad more shimmery than Chanel, imparting a radiant dewy glow to the skin.

comes with a mini kabuki brush

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Swatch:

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Comparison Swatch:

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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.

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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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It seems every beauty enthusiast is deeply infatuated with the Guerlain Winter Fairy Tale Holiday 2015 Collection, hence the sellout of many products from the collection within days of launching worldwide. The hit products are the whimsical Meteorites Perles des Neiges (limited edition) and the Rouge G Collector Lip Color. I have always been a fan of the original meteorites, so I made sure I got hold of the beautiful edition when it was released in Australia last week (yes I called up several stores!).

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I don’t normally follow Guerlain makeup collections, and I had to admit that at first I bought it simply because of all the hype around it. As I have been using it till now, it is a really phenomenal product that’s worth the purchase that doesn’t just have the pretty design. If you like the original meteorites, you will love this even more. And if you don’t own any, this is possibly the best illuminating/setting powder to use for a soft glow.

The Meteorites Perles des Neiges contains 3 different colored balls of golden peach, pale pink beige and ivory beige in a soft shimmer finish. It also contains silvery white stars in sparkly finish. When applied together it gives a translucent finish with a brightening and soft illuminating effect but not sparkly on the face. It can be used for highlighting purposes for a subtle effect, but I prefer using this as loose powder all over the face. Particularly if you find that the traditional loose powder makes your complexion look too powdery and flat, then the meteorites is perfect for setting the makeup, taking away the unwanted shine but adding a touch of soft radiant glow to the face. Compared to the original Meteorites in Light, this edition is slightly more brighter and the undertone leans more ivory. On my NC15-20 complexion, it matches me well and it goes on clear like transparent loose powder.

Meteorites-Perles-des-Neiges-guerlain-winter-fairy-holiday-2015-collection-review-2Bottom Line: Get it if you can still find it!

 

 

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Every year Chanel releases an exquisite limited edition illuminating powder of which many makeup enthusiasts deem it as a collectable item. This year the Chanel INFINIMENT Illuminating Powder is no exception – it looks breathtaking, smells amazing and it is also a practical powder that would wear beautifully on most complexions. As always, this product is flying off the shelf in Australia. I am not sure if it is available in other countries now, so best to give your Chanel SA a call.

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The main part of the powder is a light beige color, with the interlocking C in slight shimmery peachy color embossed in the middle. If you look carefully, the signature Chanel logo has a delicate weave texture that just shows how intricately made this product is. The powder is very finely milled and feels buttery smooth and silky to apply. It gives a semi-matte finish with a hint of illuminating effect. Depending on your skin tone, on my NC15-20, I would say this is more of a setting powder that adds a healthy warm glow to the skin (very similar to the effect that Chanel Les Beige Powder gives). On a darker skin tone, this would work more as an illuminating powder.

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Swatch of Chanel Infiniment Illuminating Powder

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If you are wondering if it is necessary to have this powder if you already have the Chanel Les Beiges in the lightest colors such as NO1 or Mariniere 01 (reviewed here). I personally prefer the finish of Infiniment. The texture feels more creamy, and it also offers better coverages as it gives a more opaque and air-brushed finish so it completely covers the pores and blurs out other imperfections. It is also more long lasting and heat resistant. Of course the fact that this is highly coveted and limited edition is always a reason to get your hands on it!

Comparison swatch between Chanel Les Beiges NO1 and Infiniment:

Chanel-INFINIMENT-Illuminating-Powder-review-swatch-les-beiges-healthy-glow-no1Heavy swatches – left Chanel Les Beiges No1 (all colors mixed), Right Chanel Infiniment (all colors mixed)

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A very late review for the Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi Colour Powder in MARINIÈRE N01 (right) from the Les Beiges Summer 2015 Collection as I have had it for a while now.  I have also included the Healthy Glow Powder in N01 (left) from a previous collection in this post as it is very similar to the MARINIÈRE in terms of finish and color when it is applied on to the skin. Both powders are limited edition, so if you missed out on the first one, be sure to grab a shade from the 2015 collection!

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The Les Beiges powder is designed for enhancing skin’s natural beauty with a healthy glow and a hint of color.  The powder has a lovely delicate “classic Chanel” rose fragrant – I love the smell of this every time I open the case. The ultra silky and creamy powder applies like a dream as it never looks cakey no matter how much you apply, and helps to blur out the pores with a touch of coverage. It comes with a high quality high moon shape brush, that is versatile enough for applying the powder over the entire face, or for shading and highlighting purposes.

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MARINIÈRE contains strips of light peachy beige color and  pinky lavender color with very fine silver shimmer. The finish is very natural, and it goes on semi-translucent with a brightening effect when applied 2 colors mixed together. On my NC15-20, I can use this as a setting powder that adds a touch of warm glow to the complexion without the visible shimmer. The hint of lavender tone helps to counteract the dullness as well as for brightening. I love a setting powder with a subtle brightening effect, especially with a lavender undertone for my yellow skin as it really helps my complexion to appear more fresh and youthful. (For Asians, the older you get the more dominant the yellow tone!)

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Swatches

chanel-les-beiges-healthy-glow-multi-color-powder-n01-MARINIÈRE-2015-summer-collection-review-swatch-5comparison swatch between the two LE powders

chanel-les-beiges-healthy-glow-multi-color-powder-n01-MARINIÈRE-2015-summer-collection-review-swatch-6The Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Powder from the Summer 2015 Collection (LE) is currently available here and here.

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If you have been drooling over this highly coveted limited edition as well as Asia Exclusive Les Neiges de Diorsnow Rainbow Powder, the good news is that it is available here worldwide. The bad news is that it is currently sold out on the site, but you can add the item to your wishlist and it will notify you once it is in stock. I did that and I was thrilled that I got a notification within a week!

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When it comes to a limited edition or exclusive makeup, it is all about the design and the color. The DiorSnow Rainbow Powder is an ultimate collector’s item – it’s so pretty and whimsical, and makes my heart skip a few beats every time I look at it. The matching pink Dior brush is also a thoughtful design that “completes” the product. It is not the softest brush I have used, but it’s portable and cute, and is good enough to pick up the color for a quick application.

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It consists of 4 different colors, in a beautiful mosaic print with a snow flake and the Dior logo laser imprint. The colors work together to softly brighten and counteract the yellow tone in your complexion. When it is applied it goes on almost translucent with a touch of lavender undertone. It is more of a setting powder than a highlighter that brings a subtle luminous glow to the skin but it doesn’t provide any coverage. The texture is very finely milled and silky smooth, and it sets beautifully on my dry skin (including the under eye areas) without enhancing the flakes and lines. The finish is very natural and semi-matte. If you don’t like shimmery highlighter, this product works particularly well for providing a subtle brightening effect and taking away the dullness in your skin.

The overall use of this powder does remind me of the cult Guerlain Meteorites Pearls in 02 Claire. The only difference would be that it doesn’t have any shimmer, and it provides a better brightening effect as the color is slightly more opaque.

Swatch of DiorSnow Rainbow Powder

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Finally got some time to update my blog after a busy week. Today’s review is for the YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat Compact Illuminating Powder Foundation SPF35+++ (Asia exclusive) which I can’t stop gushing about! It was the talk of town when it was launched last year in Asia, but I was just not that into it back then. Recently I was on the hunt for the best compact powder foundation, so I went a little overboard and bought everything on my wishlist and The YSL happened to be the most affordable as well as my favorite so far!

Packaging:

The YSL Le Teint Compact Powder Foundation is housed in the signature YSL gold mirrored case that’s quite prone to finger prints. The sponge that comes with the products feels a little cheap. I bought mine at David Jones (so glad that it’s available in Australia!). The case and the actual product are sold separately.

Texture and Coverage:

The compact powder is extremely finely milled so it gives a  silky and creamy touch to it. On my dry skin, it applies seamlessly and flawlessly so does not look powdery at all. If this is applied by a powder blush, then it sets as natural as a good loose powder but offers much better coverage. I normally apply this on top of a sheer foundation with a brush, and it covers up the rest of the small imperfections such as pores and redness that your normal foundation does not cover.  Otherwise if it is applied by a sponge, it gives more of an airbrushed foundation-like finish with a build-able coverage.

The Glow

Compared to the traditional compact powder foundations, this one gives the most beautiful illuminating glow but also helps to mattify the skin so it doesn’t make your complexion look flat and cakey. I love using this one on top of a sheer layer of the YSL Touche Eclat Foundation (reviewed here), and together they make my skin look like I have a beauty dish light shining on my face! Overall I would describe the finish as a creamy satin finish with a beautiful glow (not dewy) when it’s freshly applied.

Why do I love it?

The best thing about this product is that it does not oxidize, and makes your complexion look even better over time. I find my complexion appears miraculously brighter and more luminous after a few hours of wear when the oil starts to come through, giving it a more natural and slightly dewy look that I absolutely adore for my dry skin.

Color

I bought the color B10 which matches me perfectly. It’s impossible to swatch powder and hopefully my picture will give you an idea of how B10 matches my skintone (NC15).

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Bottom Line: Perfection and definitely enhanced the performance of the Touche Eclat liquid foundation! I bought mine at David Jones, and unfortunately this one is not available in the US and Europe.

 

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