Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No7 204 The Starlet Palette: Silver-Taupe Lids with Fuchsia-Red Glossy Lips

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I attended a Marc Jacobs Beauty launch event the other day, and this was the look worn. I recreated it with a few minor changes to the products used as I wanted to try out the Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation and Obsessed blush, but the overall effect is the same.

To see my thoughts on the foundation itself, click here!

Products used:

Primer: Lancome La Base Pro (this thing really impressed me by extending the wear of my foundations and making the application silky smooth)

Foundation: Marc Jacobs Genius Gel Super-Charged Foundation 22 Bisque Light

Concealer: Marc Jacobs Re(marc)able Concealer No3

Powder: Givenchy Prisme Libre in 7 Voile Rose for under eyes, ClearLast powder in Medicated Ochre everywhere else

Brow pencil: VDL Festival Brow pencil in Grey Brown

Eyeshadows: Marc Jacobs Style Eye-con No 7 204 The Starlet

Eyeliner: NYX Skinny Brown Liner

Mascara: Laura Mercier Full Blown mascara

Blush: Marc Jacobs Shameless Bold Blush 204 Obsessed

Lipliner: Boots No7 liner in Nude

Lipcolor: Dior Fluid Stick 872 Mona Lisette

Review: Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB and Micro Blur Skin Perfector!

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If you love the lightweight, silky texture and effectiveness of Kiehl’s  Dermatologist Solutions Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 PA+++ (I believe it’s called Super Fluid UV Protection SPF 50 PA+++ in the US), you’ll be excited to know they finally came out with a BB cream which has the same sun protection rating.

I don’t know about you but I’m kinda glad at the return to old-school BBs with an emphasis on skin treatment, after the slew of later bandwagon products that claim to have 6-in-1, 8-in-1, 10-in-1 properties, but mainly just give coverage and hydration with minimal skincare.

Kiehl’s promises theirs has not just immediate color-true coverage but also clinically-proven results to protect and improve skin tone over time. 

Pros:

The key ingredient is the high level of stabilized Vitamin C, which can prevent oxidative stress on the skin and also clarifies uneven skintone. I haven’t used this long enough to see a noticeable difference yet but I would pick 3 straightforward promises rather than 10 gimmicky benefits. 

The coverage is very lightweight, as you might expect of a tinted sunblock, but as shown above, it IS buildable and stays natural-looking when layered. 

It’s extremely lightweight, but stays dewy and moist-looking. I would think this might be a great product for adding some natural looking radiance to dry or mature skins. 

Cons:

The first one I can mention would be the strong medicinal smell. This is completely fragrance-free but the smell might get to you. It does fade away a minute after applied, but I’m just letting you know!

There are only 3 shades available (4 in the US) and I - at NC25 - am wearing the deepest shade available in Singapore, Natural. The pigments are a nice neutral tone and seem to be quite forgiving so I believe it will fit a pretty good range of skin tones, but I’m just not sure it can cater to darker skins.

This is not greasy, but the dewy finish can be problematic for very oily skins. You will probably need to set with powder if you have oily/combi skin.

Kiehl’s Actively Correcting & Beautifying BB retails in Singapore for $52 (US$37).

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Another product that might be exciting for those who are concerned about grease and visible pores is the Micro-Blur Skin Perfector, which will be launching in May 2014.

Unlike most mattifying primers which don’t really do more than just layer a lot of silicones and silica on the skin to absorb a bit of oil and create the illusion of matte skin, Kiehl’s again expects their product to be dual-function. Besides mattifying the skin instantly, it also contains lentil extracts to tighten pore walls and Lipo Hydroxy Acid (LHA) to support gentle exfoliation, which automatically reduces the appearance of blackheads. 

The thing this geek is most interested in is Lipo Hydroxy Acid, which is a popular surface exfoliant for those with sensitive skin. If you haven’t heard about it, It’s an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory acid like Salicylic Acid but structured slightly-differently so it doesn’t penetrate as deep or have the same irritation potential. While it’s not as good at pore-clearing, it does give cleaner and more even surface exfoliation so it allows women with more sensitive skin to do gentle exfoliation for radiance.

Long term use also has been show to stimulate cell renewal and to strengthen the extracellular matrix, so definitely look out for this ingredient!

Kiehl’s recommends Micro-Blur Skin Perfector as the final step in the skincare regimen, to be used after application of UV or BB Cream, in place of primer, before foundation.

What I found is that:

• it takes a couple of minutes to reach maximum “matteness”. When you just pat it on, it still looks dewy. Resist the urge to keep applying more and more. (I was surprised when I took a photo a couple of minutes later because I initially thought, “It’s not mattifying at all!” but it did become more matte after awhile.)
• Even if you use a patting motion as recommended by Kiehl’s, there’s no avoiding the removal of some coverage. The red/brown spots on my skin became more visible after I patted this on, even though skin texture was noticeably more matte. You’re probably going to need to follow with some concealer if you have any blemishes to conceal.

Cons: 

It does work as a mattifying primer, but only slightly. Don’t expect dramatic matte results, and don’t expect to stay matte for many hours either. 

That said, this is not a problem for me because I don’t use primers for their mattifying effect anyway. It’s just a temporary effect and a blotting sheet is my preferred choice. Remove the excess oil, don’t hide it.

Pros: 

I would still pick this over regular primers in a heartbeat, just cos of the additional skin regulating properties. A good primer should either make your foundation look better and last longer, or help treat/protect your skin. It shouldn’t JUST look matte.

Kiehl’s Micro-Blur Skin Perfector will retail in Singapore for $52 in May 2014. (I don’t have details on the US release at this time!)

Some Of My Fave Beauty Multi-taskers on Dayre today!

There are a lot more than what’s shown here, so hop on over to this page if you want to take a quick look at skincare and makeup items that do more than one basic thing!

Marc Jacobs Beauty Style Eye-Con No7 206 The Lolita: Simple Neutral Look

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If you haven’t heard, 7 is Marc’s favorite number, which is the reason his eye palettes contain specifically that number of colors, and why there is a “No 7” in their name. 

This is one of the most popular of Marc Jacob’s 7-shade palettes; 207 The Lolita. 

Quick Review:

3 shades on the left are matte, the center is a glittery metallic, and the 3 on the right are pearl/metallic. 

I still think the same thing I said previously. That they haven’t got their matte formulas right. The darkest brown here is still patchy and hard to apply evenly, but the tan and beige are pretty good. All the metallics are beautiful as usual. It’s just the sparkly shade that is a little powdery and will fall all over the place.

Try to apply with a damp brush for intensity and smoothness.

Fresh. Roses.
Not beauty-related?

Actually it is! Fresh is launching their new Rose Eye Gel (along with Sugar Lip Treatment in Tulip and Fresh Life fragrance) and this was waiting for us when we reached the event venue. 

TOO gorgeous.

(More on the products later. I’m already in love with the Rose Floral Toner.)

Lancôme Lip Lover! A New Love And The Epic 18-Swatch Post

Lancôme’s new lip-treatment slash plumping lip-gloss, aptly called Lip Lover, finally hits Singapore, and aren’t the shades just glorious? The best thing is these don’t feel like typical sticky glosses that look shiny but feel drying on the lips.

And my lips are testament to their conditioning properties because usually by the 4th or 5th lip swatch, they’re all parched and wrinkly-looking and by the end of the night they’ll be all raw and painful. I managed to hang on through 18 consecutive swatches (ouch), and they were going numb towards the end, but looked perfectly smooth even after the product was removed LOL.

Pros:

• Non-sticky
• Lip-balm texture with 1/3 emollients to provide lip-care properties
• More pigmented than typical glosses
• 18 gorgeous plumping shades from nudes to brights to deeps, available in Singapore, and it was hard to pick out faves below
• Can be applied sheer or built up for lacquer like shine
• Super easy-to-use applicator that doesn’t deposit too much or too little product

Cons:

• Pricey (SGD40 per tube)
• Very lightweight and balm-like so lasting power is as you’d expect; you might reapply more and run out of product quicker than with a sticky gloss
• Some of the paler and darker shimmery shades have pigments that will settle into lines, but that’s mostly only visible on camera in hi-res with bright lamp light, and not very obvious in real life
• A couple of the fuchsias look slightly similar to one another

My favorite colors?

Soft shades

• 316 Rose Attrape-Cœur - a soft pinky beige shimmer that’s one of Lancome’s recommended “it shades”
• 320 Ambre Arabesque - soft coral-beige shimmer
• 321 Rose Contre-temps - perfect My Lips But Better shade

Brighter shades

• 336 Orange Manège - bright pink coral
• 337 Lip Lover - the namesake of the collection is a soft neutral rosy shade with a magenta pink shift

Stronger shades

• 355 Framboise Etoile - slightly sparkly deep fuchsia
• 353 Rose Gracieuse - not quite red, not quite rose, not quite coral

In Singapore, Lancôme Lip Lover will only be available at Sephora from 1 - 14 May, before it reaches other counters island-wide from 15th onwards. My recommendation is to try these on the lips instead of just looking at the tube or swatching on the hand. These have varying degrees of translucency and many have multi-dimensional pigments so just looking at it in the tube is not going to be accurate.

Guerlain Météorites Aquarella for Summer 2014

This year, Guerlain is launching 3 key pieces for Summer. A gorgeous pink-tinned Meteorite powder called Aquarella, which contains regular rose, beige, and ivory pearls, a long with metallic gold and sparkly silver ones to jazz up the skin.

I’m completely in love with it; it’s gorgeous. But unlike the regular Meteorites, it’s definitely slightly more shimmery and sparkly (see concentrated swatch above) so it would work better as a highlighter than an allover powder for most people except the ultra fair.

The second is a Terracotta Sun Celebration bronzer compact. It’s beautiful to look at for sure, but before you rush out to buy it, take note the gold overspray is ruined from the first use and I personally find the mix of tan, orange and terracotta-red shades a bit unflattering for fairer complexions. It would probably be lovely on those with tan to darker skins though. 

The last is Thierry Wasser’s latest masterpiece, Terracotta Le Parfum Edition Limitée 30 Ans. Centered on tropical white flowers like Tiare, Jasmine and Orange Blossom, but has the undeniable sunblock-like notes of coconut. A whisper of musk and vanilla sweeten the background and give the perfume a bit of structure and solidity. Thierry Wasser describes it as "the allure of the sun in a bottle."

Before you get happy, make sure you give your nearest Guerlain counter a call first. The stocks are extremely limited globally, as far as I can tell. In Singapore, only 12 - yes, you read it right - 12 pieces of each item were brought in for the entire country. By noon of the first day of launch, when I tried my luck at the 2nd of 2 counters where these were available, there were only 2-3 pieces of each left. The other was completely out.

Ah, Guerlain… WHY?!

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P.S. A quick note on Meteorites jars; mine look super full because I put the powder puff at the bottom instead of on-top. I don’t use the puff, so this way I can reach them easily with my brush, AND it looks a heck of a lot better than a “half-empty” tin!

Lee Hyori Inspired Graphic Cat-eye Liner Look

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I love Lee Hyori. She’s just incredibly sexy, and stands out among the sea of carbon-copy K-stars. 

AND - that lady can pull off just about any makeup look you throw at her.

One of her signature looks is a very pronounced cat-eye, gold skin and nude lips. I’m channeling a bit of that with this pictorial using mostly Lancôme products.

Products Used:

Foundation: Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation 

Concealer: Lancome La Touche Pro Concealer

Powder: Teint Miracle Translucent Loose Powder 02

Brows: Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 in Grey

Gold shadow: Bottom+left shades (gold and soft brown) in the Hypnose Star ST7 Brun Au Naturel palette mixed together

Black Pencil Liner: Khol Hypnose 01

Black Liquid Liner: Artliner 24H in Black Diamond

Black Mascara: Laura Mercier Full Blown Mascara

Blush: I didn’t use any in this look, but if you want, you can try a little bronzer or contour powder; Hyori often looks very tan and caramel-y, or if you prefer a regular blush, try a more neutral-mauve shade like 041 Fig Espiègle

Nude-pink gloss: She tends to go for nudes with a slight pink undertone cos that brings out the tan more; try Lip Lover 313 Rose Ballet (if you find the pigments settle into your lip lines, then apply a layer of nude liner beneath like I did in the lip swatch image)

Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Base, Foundation, Powder Review: Glowy matte skin and Red Lip Demo

It’s ironic that outside of Japan, Koh Gen Do was first hyped up in the West before it made its way back to other parts of Asia. They’re known mainly for their base products, which are designed to gently blur imperfections while looking natural in high-def cameras.

First part of this quick post is a quick review of 3 best-selling Koh Gen Do Maifanshi products. (Images are shown above.)

1. Maifanshi Makeup Color Base in Pearl White - micronized pearl powders give a translucent optical smoothing and brightening effect. When I swatched it I was worried that it would go on too white. But when smoothed over the face, it actually looks alright. I was shocked at how well it blurred marks and small spots when it doesn’t have any coverage. Unlike other highlighters, it doesn’t give that gleaming sheen; more of a subtle glow. Still, if you’re not very pale, I’d suggest applying down your neck and chest so you don’t end up with different colors. 
2. Maifanshi Moisture Foundation - the latest of Koh Gen Do’s reknowned foundations, Moisture Foundation actually goes on semi-matte instead of dewy as the name (and the 60% water, 30% emollients formulation) might suggest. It goes on sheer but can be layered and layered and built up for more coverage without looking unnatural. But there’s no oil control so if you have oily skin, expect shine in about 1-2 hours.
3. Maifanshi Pressed Powder - this finishing veil adds no color but has a soft-focus optical filter effect which improves the appearance of skin the way regular HD/translucent powders can’t. *Note: In the picture with the Maifanshi Pressed Powder, I’m already wearing undereye concealer.
   

The odd thing I found was that on camera, it comes off as being more “perfected” than it looks to me in real life, so I can only say these products are REALLY designed to look good on camera, and I’d actually recommend you consider checking out this line if you are going for a shoot, or you’re looking for an option for a wedding. 

For the makeup portion of this post, it’s pretty straightforward! Steps all above and products are all listed here for reference!

• Base: All listed above except concealer
• Concealer: Lancome Concealer Duo Pro
• Brows: Shu Uemura Hard Formula 9 in Seal Brown + Canmake Coloring Brow Mascara in 01
• Eyeshadows: Chanel 79 Spices Quad (if you have it in this baked formula, color payoff is terrible unless you use the applicators included; don’t throw them out!)
• Brown Cream Shadow: Givenchy Ombre Couture 9 Brun Cachemire
• Black Mascara: Laura Mercier Full Blown Mascara in Black
• Terracotta Blush: Marc Jacobs 210 Irresistible
• Gold Highlighter: Diorskin Nude Tan Transat Edition
• Red Lipstick: YSL Rouge Volupté No 17 Rouge Muse

"Heroine Make" Super WP Mascaras 

Heroine Make is legend among many of us Asian beauty bloggers because it’s one of those Japanese brands that makes eyeliners and mascaras that are virtually “bullet-proof”.

The mascaras have recently been updated and I just put them to the test. Heroine Make mascaras are famously/infamously hard to remove. WP means Waterproof, and they’re not kidding. You need an oil cleanser or a bifacil remover to remove these. Bioderma is NOT going to do the trick. They are tear, perspiration, water, and sebum resistant. 

The “Long & Curl” Super WP Mascara Flash-Review

Contains 5mm fibres to extend lashes; they do lengthen lashes and give a very clean and natural look, but if you don’t work fast, you DO get some tiny clumps along the length of the lashes.

Curved brush allows you to easily reach corner lashes, and also helps you to lift and curl your lashes during application.

Formula holds curl very well. I did not curl my lashes before use and the mascara managed to lift them. 

Expect clean fine length.

The “Volume & Curl” Super WP Mascara Flash-Review

Formulated with a special thickening powder to coat each lash for extra thickness. They DEFINITELY thicken, but you also get more noticeable clumps with this if you try to layer it.

Conical bristly brush grabs lots of lashes to deposit mascara quite evenly.

This formula doesn’t curl quite as well as the Long & Curl formula, but it definitely gives length even though that’s not one of the promises.

Expect drama.

Cons?

Both can’t be layered. Or rather, you can layer them but they will probably turn into clumpy messes. The polymers set and dry, and unlike non-waterproof mascaras, the first coat doesn’t soften or dissolve when you apply a second. 

They are also a serious pain to remove - literally - without some sort of oil in your remover. But that means it’s good for those of you who have runny eyes or oily lids and get mascara smudges all the time.

Conclusion?

I’d say my money’s on the Volume & Curl. You can see that it gives both volume AND length, and the brush also reaches and coats more lashes, so you look like you have a lot more. You definitely get much more NOTICEABLE lashes overall, and I’d actually say it’s a good all-rounder whether you want length or volume. 

Long & Curl is cleaner and subtler, but I know you girls. The bigger and fluffier the better.

Last-Minute Mothers’ Day Gift Ideas

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Mothers often spend too much time on others and never enough on themselves. Mother’s Day is the one day of the year when everyone focuses on them instead, so here is a list of some nice stuff that I think would make great treats for the Mrs in your life. 

If you haven’t been able to find something yet, here are 9 suggestions for you!

1. Mrs On-The-Go: Chanel Les Beiges Harmonie Poudre Belle Mines No 1 - highlight, bronzer, and coral blush combined. (Above S$50)
2. Mrs Classy: A tin of Guerlain Meteorite powder is just the thing for her boudoir when she wants to powder her nose with a little something luxe. (Above $50)
3. Mrs No-Fuss: A nice little box from Crabtree & Evelyn filled with pick’n’mix Bath Gel, 2 x Hand Therapies, and a Body Lotion will allows her a bit of pleasure when she manages to find a quiet moment in the day. And she gets to choose from 4 scent ranges; Rosewater, Lily, Lavender, Wisteria. (Below $50)
4. Mrs Quiet-Elegance: Any item you pick from Fresh’s Rose series would be a lovely sensorial treat for her skin AND her nose. My recommendation would be the Floral Toner and Face Mask to pamper, tone and refresh her skin. (Ranges from below to above $50)
5. Mrs Ageless: Being busy and tired often means you need extra help in the skin department. Pick up a 75ml jumbo size Powerful Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate from Kiehl’s this May and let the 10.5% pure Vitamin C formula go to work on her skin tone, texture, radiance, and fine lines while protecting against future damage. And while you’re there, you might want to check out Super Multi-Corrective Cream, which contains jasmonic acid, hyaluronic acid, and beech tree extract to help retexturize, firm, and hydrate the skin at the same time. (Above $50)
6. Mrs Radiant: VDL Lumilayer Primer is a quick and inexpensive treat to add an instant glow back to the skin when she doesn’t have the time to go for a facial. It feels fresh and works under AND over makeup. (Below $50)
7. Mrs Yummy Mummy: YSL’s limited edition Rose Baby Doll nail lacquer and lip varnish are a gorgeously intense shade of rose. Not quite red, not quite fuchsia. Just very very chic and pretty. (Below $50 for one, above $50 for both)
8. Mrs Sweetie-Pie: It doesn’t always take an expensive gift to make her feel happy. Something as simple as Too Faced’s Sweet Hearts blushes will bring a smile to her face simply because they’re so cute. (Below $50)
9. Mrs Chic: Dior’s silver-quilted Nude Shimmer No 1 Rose compact makes quite the statement when she pulls it out for a mid-day touch-up, and the blush-pink shade looks pretty on most skins. 

Givenchy’s Newer Releases: Prisme Libre Reformulation and Ombre Couture Shadows

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Prisme Libre

Givenchy’s relaunched its distinctive quadrangled Prisme Libre loose powder in a newer formulation which is lighter, and more radiant than the previous. But what we love most about it is the fact that there are 4 corrective nude tones that you shake together as one.

However, besides the regular matte nude shades, there is also one special shade, a No 7 Voile Rosé shown above, which is more of an illuminating powder which comes in blush and mother-of-pearl tones to add radiance to the skin.

Aside from these, there’s also going to be a translucent Poudre Premiere, which is Givenchy’s answer to a universal HD powder

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Ombre Couture

This isn’t quite as new, since it launched last month, but Ombre Couture is the latest addition to Givenchy’s color range. The shade range might differ from country to country, but in Singapore, there are 9 shades ranging from soft neutrals to deeper smoky tones. 

Of the 4 I received for review, I do have to recommend Blanc Satin and Brun Cachemire for their multi-tasking functionality.

• Blanc Satin is pearl-white flecks suspended in a translucent base. You can use it as a base, on its own, or as a top coat to add sparkle to regular shadows. 
• Brun Cachemire might look a bit more dull and boring, but it’s a nice rich chocolate brown that makes a beautiful base to enrich any neutral eye look, and a nice soft brown liner.

There’s also a shade I love wearing all on its own. 4 Bleu Soie is a drop-dead gorgeous sapphire blue with hints of violet. 

The textures are long-wearing, silky smooth and more like a lightweight version of MAC’s Paint Pots than the bouncy mousse-creams from Chanel and Dior.

Have you checked out the range yet?

Black Dahlia: Deep, Dark, Luscious Lip Colors from Sheer to Intense

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I have a weakness for deep dark black-cherry shades. But while all of them look intensely dark in the tubes, many of them are actually quite sheer or have different undertones. 

Tips:

• A black cherry lip that has a bit of red/berry tone actually brightens the face and the darker/richer your skintone, the blacker you can go on the lips without having to change the makeup on the rest of your face. 
• If you’re very pale and you like dark lips, you might need to add a bit of warmth back to your cheeks with a blush that has some pink/red in it if you don’t want to look straight-up goth or 20’s Noir. Then again, I do love 20’s Noir makeup with smoky droopy eyes and deep dark lips.
• Sheerer berry shades can look very patchy and uneven. The best way to wear it is as an ombre stain. Apply, blot to remove most of the color, then reapply just around the center or the entire bottom lip, and then transfer just a bit of color to the top.
• For deep dark shades, do try to wear a lip liner or clear liner to prevent bleeding cos it will be VERY obvious.

The shades shown:

• YSL Rouge Volupté Sheer Candy in No 5 Mure Exquise is a more berry/rose-toned version of Clinique Black Honey, which can pull a little brown and unflattering on me sometimes.
• Michael Kors Lip Lacquer in Dame. This is actually not a fave. It’s almost impossible to wear this evenly unless you have very rosy or dark lips to begin with. If you’re not careful, you can end up with patchy, corpse-like lips.
• Chanel Glossimer 176 Crushed Cherry. Gorgeous gloss that pulls a little purple. It’s gorgeous on top of nude liner and glorious applied around the center over red lipstick!
• Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited WN 20 S is a raisiny deep shade with soft shimmers. If you want a less cool-toned alternative to the Chanel, or a slightly more even application, this one is good.
• Marc Jacobs 132 Saboteur is the darkest shade in his range, and unlike Little Pretty, the next darkest purple-toned shade, this one has a bit more red and goes on more evenly and more opaque.
• Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet 327 La Desiree. It’s amazing how “bright” it looks compared to the other shades here! But it’s really quite a deep and rich rose-red shade in a velvety lightweight matte texture.
• MAC Diva is a classic. It’s one of my all-time favorite dark liver reds. While it looks a little plummy and dull here, believe me when I say it looks beautiful on the lips. Perfect when you have hardly anything on your face except a little mascara and this dark, rich, intense lip. 
• Sephora Long Lasting Lipstick No 23. This is a nice alternative to MAC Diva, but it’s a little creamier to apply, and more lightweight. Doesn’t wear as intense and dramatic as Diva in real life though.
• OCC Black Dahlia is one of the treasures in my Lip Tar collection. I knew I had to have it the moment I saw it. It’s a perfect black cherry red. So dark it’s almost black. For a 20’s look, this is a fantastic shade.
• OCC Metallic Black Dahlia is one of my more recent purchases. I was repurchasing Pretty Boy, and saw this shade on their site. I usually steer away from the metallic shades because a lot of the lighter colors I’d tried previously went on patchy and looked unflattering, but obviously the same thing doesn’t apply to the dark shades because this thing is GLORIOUS.

My Lush Collection!

Not sure how many of you are LUSH freaks but I first purchased their soaps and shower gels about 10 year ago, and I’ve seen a lot of favorites come and go.

They’ve become more popular among the younger crowd in Asia recently, and just opened a new outlet at Gateway (Orchard) in Singapore. If you’re not too familiar with the brand and are curious, here are some of my favorites. But I want to know what your faves are as well, so comment below and tell me!

Even after all these years, my favorites from the brand are still the shower products, although I dabble with their face products sometimes. I don’t have a bathtub in my apartment so I really only use the bath-bombs and bubble-bars when I’m traveling.

1. Honey I Washed The Kids and Rock Star soaps: These are 2 very sweet soaps and bestsellers in LUSH’s range. Honey I Washed The Kids is really a caramel scented soap with some powdery honey scent thrown in, so I need to be in the right mood for it cos it can smell a bit heavy in warm weather. In cold weather it’s perfect, not just for the comforting scent but also because it’s very moisturizing. Rock Star is a fun one for those of you who love the sugary smell of bubblegum and vanilla. I didn’t like it initially but got a small bar one day and found myself getting quite addicted to it.
2. Snowcake: I am hopelessly addicted to this delicate milky-almond scented soap and it’s changed appearance over the years, but the rose- and benzoin-infused formula is still as soothing and smoothing on the skin. I even use it on the face when I need a quick gentle cleanse. This is a holiday-only product in the West, but it’s available year-round in Singapore. (Yay.)
3. Lust: I have an all-abiding lust for all things Lust, from the soap bar to the Gorilla perfume. I mentioned it awhile back as a “dirty jasmine”. It’s made with a very dense and rich jasmine absolute with a slightly green and very natural kick; and there’s a warm vanilla to round it out without turning it into a sticky candy-ish mess. Sadly I can’t find the soap on the UK/US sites anymore so I’m worried it’s been discontinued. The perfume and dusting powders might be the only things left of this range.
4. Orange Jelly, Sexy Peel and Miranda soap: I love citrus soaps in the shower, so I’ll always have a bar lying around. They’re toning and invigorating, and I love how they scent the entire bathroom for hours after. 
5. BIG shampoo and Seanik shampoo bar: I need volume for my limp locks, and BIG is one of the best I have ever tried. Just a tiny scoop of this grainy sea-salt infused shampoo goes a long, long way, and one jar lasts a long time even though it’s quite expensive. Ditto for the shampoo bars if you’ve never tried them. One small bar lasts me about 3 months (in a soft-water region) so it works out to be quite economical. And an extra bonus, these both smell divine.
6. Happy Happy Joyjoy Conditioning Hair Perfume: This is one of those things I use just because it smells so gorgeous. If you like orange blossom and grapefruit, and most conditioners weigh your hair down, give this a try. This never makes my hair limp or greasy.

Tip: To get them to last longer, cut out a smaller chunk to use and/or place them on a proper soap dish to drain the water away. Soaps don’t last well and their scents fade if they’re constantly wet.

Face scrubs/masks:

I’ve only just started exploring the Fresh face masks so I’m not the expert on those, but I do enjoy Cosmetic Warrior (after I got over the very medicinal tea tree and garlicky smell) as a anti-blemish mask and I might try Cupcakey next! I did try Mask of Magnaminty a few years back but I wasn’t impressed. It didn’t do anything a normal clay mask couldn’t do better. (Sorry LUSH!) 

The problem with the Fresh masks like Cosmetic Warrior and Cupcakey is you need to refrigerate them and use them up by the stated expiry dates, and it’s almost impossible to, unless you mask almost daily. So it’s worth considering splitting one tub with a friend so you don’t waste product and money!

The ones that keep for slightly longer are the exfoliating cleansers like Dark Angel (blemished skin) and Herbalism (Sensitive/combi), but I do still recommend keeping them in the fridge. You take a small amount in your palm, add water until you get a paste, and then you apply and massage over your face gently before rinsing. Dark Angel, I actually leave on like a mask. I find the charcoal bits a bit too rough on the skin. Herbalism on the other hand, is very very gentle and quite fun to use.

A note on LUSH massage bars:

I won’t say too much cos these are quite self-explanatory. They’re solid shea and cocoa butter bars that melt at skin temperature, and there are so many to explore, including holiday limited editions. I always break them into smaller pieces and bring them out in tins cos they make a nice quick moisturizer in the middle of the day when my skin’s feeling parched in air conditioning.

The one I’ve used and repurchased for years is Hottie, the sweet and spicy bar with pepper and ginger to soothe aching muscles. But I really just like the very soft zing from the spices mixed with the sweetness of the nut butters.

One final tip before you go!

If you’re keen to check out lots of exclusive new formulas in small batches that haven’t been released yet, check out LUSH Kitchen on their UK site. I was actually tipped off to this by the LUSH team in Singapore. They’ve been fanatically ordering and shipping new products to try. I’ve already got my eye on a few items!

Clarins’ Shaping Facial Lift Total V contouring serum

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Clarins has updated its bestselling Shaping Facial Lift, and like the original formula, it reduces puffiness and firms the facial contours. But the new formula also aims to lift and reshape, so it helps with double chins as well.

I’ve used the serum for quite awhile, so I can attest to the draining abilities. But I can’t quite tell if it can lift a double-chin so you’ll have to try it and let me know!

But Clarins’ face draining routine is not just applying a serum. It’s a 7-step lymph draining massage pictured above, that REALLY helps. I’ve used it for years and it works great whenever my face is puffy.

The routine works from top to bottom, center outwards and applies gentle pressure to drain excess fluids from the face quickly. 

"Some people grumble that roses have thorns; I’m just grateful that thorns have roses."- Alphonse Karr

Saturday morning theme of soft pink rosy things to kick off the weekend.

Fresh Rose Floral Toner - love this hydrating mist
TomFord 12 Seductive Rose palette
Chanel Le Blanc Brightening Loose Powder 20 Opaline
LJH Vital CC Cream
MarcJacobs Shameless Bold Blush 206 Reckless
AnnaSui Limited Edition 2014 Lipstick 01
Dior Miss Dior Cherie Blooming Bouquet purse spray

Doing the 5-minute Face in 2 Ways!

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Here are 2 ways to get out the door quick while looking polished. 

Tips:

1. Look for bases with high coverage. Whether you do the first method (powder foundation) or second method (liquid/cream) the key is something that gives a lot of coverage quickly.

2. If you have very oily skin, the first method is better for you. If you have dry skin, the second method gives you a better effect. If you have normal skin, you can do either!

3. When you don’t have much time, the easiest way to look “done” is to use a stronger lip color and/or blush and keep the eyes simple. Strong eye makeup usually takes more precision and time to do.

Products for The Powder Foundation Method:

• A good concealer. If you need to cover spots and scars, look for high-coverage concealing products like The Body Shop’s Pencil Concealer, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer, or any camouflage cream. 
• A high-coverage powder foundation that has some luminosity. Powders can look quite flat and heavy so products with some reflective properties like Shu Uemura’s The Lightbulb Powder Foundation would be better. (As mentioned in the picture above, never buff your powder on if you don’t want to buff off the concealer you applied beneath. Pat.)
• An oil-free lip/cheek cream or stain goes on quickly and will last well. But if you did a lot of concealing on your cheek area, a powder brush will work better.
• A powder highlighter in a soft, universal shade like champagne or beige.
• Mascara and lip color.

Products for The Liquid Foundation Method:

• A full-coverage camouflage cream or foundation that can be diluted as foundation and used straight from the tube/pot as concealer. Products like Cover Mark Extra Formula, Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer, or Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation work well.
• A primer or lotion to “dilute” the foundation. Choose based on your needs. If you want a matte effect like I did above, go for something like Lancome’s La Base Pro. If you need hydration, use either your favorite lotion or something like Laura Mercier’s Hydrating Primer.
• A powder blush. Again, this was chosen as I was going for a matte effect, but if you prefer a dewy finish go for a cream blush.
• A powder or cream highlighter for the center of the lid.
• Mascara and lip color.

LJH Vital CC Cream and Oxygen Bubble Brightening Pack Trial

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I hadn’t heard a whole lot about LJH (Lee Jiham) Doctor’s Care Cosmeceutical products before this, but I recently got the opportunity to check out some of their best-selling products via HKCplaza.com. They might not be the most well-known internationally but they were apparently one of the first companies in Korea to start selling cosmeceutical products (cosmetics with skin-treatment properties).

Outside of Korea, it’s hard to get hold of their products but HKCplaza.com ships internationally for free - without any minimum purchase required. The products aren’t cheap though, so it’s up to you which products to check out, and make sure you take note of the free trial product redemption and discount code at the end of the post!

Above are demos of 2 bestsellers; the Oxygen Bubble Brightening Pack, and Vital CC Cream.

Oxygen Bubble Brightening Pack is a rinse-off oxygenating mask similar to Bliss’s. What it does is:

• Brightens and evens
• Detoxifies
• Exfoliates

How you use it? You apply 1-2 pumps of the white-ish gel over your face and it will quickly puff into a layer of fine foam. After that, you can start to rub it in until it disappears.

My experience? This does brighten and remove dead skin very well, but if you have sensitive skin, don’t leave it on or rub too long. I felt a bit of mild stinging when I rubbed and rubbed for a longer than instructed. This is a quick-acting mask! 

For those that wonder: this brightens by exfoliating; no bleach and I wouldn’t try or recommend anything that does!

Price in SGD: $58

Cellabel M.C. Vital CC Cream

A lot of CC creams claim to correct skin tone but end up an odd color with little coverage. This is a white cream that blends out and adjusts to a skin-tone and does a decent job of covering flaws. 

Natural-looking satin finish (not matte, not dewy)

Evens out skin tone and texture with medium coverage

Natural, neutral coloring

Vitamin C and plant extracts to condition, protect and treat the skin

How you use it? Just dab on and blend like you would any product. I would recommend working with your fingers just so you can properly activate the pigment capsules or it can look a bit pale and unnatural if not blended out well.

My experience? Definitely worth checking out if you’re a BB/CC cream fan. This is more natural looking than a lot of BB or CC creams from Korean brands that have very few shade options. It really doesn’t look like makeup after blended in. Just nicer skin. You won’t need much concealer after that. It promises to be gentle enough and non-aggravating for acne-prone skins but you will probably need a bit of powder to help it last longer if you are very oily.

Price in SGD: $72 (But this is 50% off now while stocks last so it’s $36!)

10% discount code: SB01000JAD (usage guideline) 

Ahh it’s #Monday again. How’s your day going so far?

I just want another 2 hours of sleep lol. 😣 Barring that, I’m faking it with luminous BB cream and concealer.

#Laneige BB Cushion
#MAC Well-dressed blush
#Benefit Fake-Up Concealer - this actually works well on flaking spots
#Hourglass Ethereal Glow highlighting blush - need all the “Glow” I can get
#MAC Pro Longwear Paintpot in Let’s Skate
#Givenchy Le Prisme Yeux Quatuor 71 Purple Show
#Benefit They’re Real mascara
#ShuUemura M PK 356 - bring on the bright pinks
#Fernanda fragranced UV Cut Spray SPF50 PA+++ in Maria Regale - 💗 whee finally found a fresh portable spray-on sunblock that smells pretty

#makeup #skincare #beauty #cosmetics #concealer #bbcream #blush #eyeshadows #sg #beautydirect #pink

KATE TOKYO Spotlighting Shadows: Swatches and a Pictorial on How To Use Them!

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KATE has been the best-selling drugstore makeup brand in Japan for 11 years running, and I’ve always loved their edgy style and wearable colors. (It’s not “Pastel-Land”.)

They’ve updated their name this year to KATE TOKYO to identify more strongly with their roots (a la Rimmel London, Maybelline New York, L’oreal Paris). 

That aside, they’ve also launched the Spotlight Eyeshadow series, of which 5 palettes are available in Singapore. I admit I initially thought “oh no, more unflattering pale glitter-mania” i.e. not the kinda colors that I’d wear to work or even on most days.

My experience with these?

When I swatched them and put them on, I was actually pretty impressed. The bright shades aren’t the unflattering pale pearl shades common to a lot of Japanese makeup palettes. They are made with a high-translucency pearl to give your lids a veil of sheen. And the medium and dark shades are rich and pigmented enough to define the eyes.

The images above are self-explanatory; swatches of all 5 palettes (S$27 each) and how you can apply them. To put it to the test in the pictorial, I used nothing but my fingers and the fine sponge-tip applicator for lining.

The broad sponge-tip is kinda crap. Just use your fingers and be done with. A lot of Japanese drugstore eyeshadow textures are made with a pigment-and-lipid blend so they have a creamy feel and often work better applied with fingers than with brushes. Brilliant when you’re in a rush.

I still recommend applying primer first if you want these to last all day without fading.

Palette used in pictorial: BR-2

Mascara used: Benefit They’re Real

False Lashes: Diamond Lash “Little Devil” half strips

My Favorite Palette here?

OR-1, the soft grapefruit-coral pink and bronze palette.