Posts Tagged ‘make-up’
Review – Urban Decay Naked Skin
Today’s review is a new foundation from Urban Decay – the Naked Skin Weightless Ultra Definition Liquid Makeup. This is the first foundation i’ve tried with a HD formula. Retailing at S$62 (30ml), I took the opportunity to buy this during the recent Sephora member’s sale with 20% discount.
I was matched to Shade 4.0, which is a medium-light shade, with golden olive undertones. (If you need an equivalent, i’m a MAC NC25)
The packaging is simple and aesthetically pleasing. It comes with an attractive metallic chrome cap, but it is definitely a fingerprint magnet. It also has mixing balls inside the bottle, and you can hear them when you shake the bottle (which is recommended before usage).
With a pump dispenser, it’s extremely easy to dispense the liquid foundation and control the amount needed.
From the swatch above, you can see that it has a watery, and very lightweight texture. It provides a light to medium, yet buildable coverage. If you prefer a sheer, semi-matte satin finish, you will like this.
The finish looks pretty good after application, though it doesn’t quite give me that brightened complexion as with the Shu Uemura Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation. In terms of sebum control, its performance is so-so. I’d definitely recommend setting powder for this foundation. After about 4 to 5 hours, you don’t see that smooth satin finish and a touch-up is needed especially if you tend to get oily around the T-zone areas.
I tend to avoid using this during the weekdays for work, simply because it isn’t long-wearing and i hate to have to touch-up during the day. I do enjoy wearing this on the weekend for an afternoon out though. It is weightless and feels comfortable on my skin.
Here’s a FOTD featuring the Naked Skin foundation and a EOTD using the Sleek Glory Palette. Thanks for looking!
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.
Review – Shu Uemura Glow On Blush medium peach 560
Yet another recent duty free purchase, today i’d like to share a little bit about the Shu Uemura Glow On Blush in medium peach 560. They have several beautiful shades, so it wasn’t so easy picking a color for my first Shu Uemura blush. I didn’t have much time to properly swatch and compare the shades, as we were expected to board soon at the airport in Jarkarta. I settled on a coral pink shade which i was confident would look good on me.
Here are some pictures of the product in its casing and a swatch of the medium peach 560.
My thoughts:
To be honest, i’m not too crazy about its packaging. Yes, it is very compact, fuss-free and minimalist. However, i think they can do something about its plastiky, lightweight casing – which, by the way, you have to pay extra for. For the price you are paying, you’d think they can do better. After all, i do like the glass bottle packaging for their liquid foundations.
I paid a total of US$28 (~S$36) for the blusher and its casing. If i’m not wrong, the normal retail price at counters in Singapore is about S$50.
What i do love about it is that it’s really pigmented and easy to blend. It even gives a very subtle glow to your skin upon application. You will see from the swatch above, that it is really leans more towards pink than coral though. I don’t mind that, as it applies beautifully on my skin (not blotchy at all!) You may want to keep this in mind if you’re really looking for a peachy kinda shade. In terms of staying power, it does pretty well in my books. I can still see the color on my cheeks well past lunch time.
Hope this review was useful to you!
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.
Review – Duwop Crush 18 Karat Eyeshadow Trio
Today i’d like to share with you my review on the Duwop Crush 18 Karat eyeshadow trio. This was a gift from my friend and fellow blogger, Carot! Thank you so much, i really love it! 
As you can see from the picture, it is a trio of beautiful jewel-toned hues. They give a velvety, metallic finish which looks pretty awesome really. Crush is paraben-free, sulfate-free, petrochemical-free, free of synthetic fragrance and pthalates, contains no GMO’s, no PPG’s, no MEA’s, DEA’s, TEA’s and is formaldehyde donor-free, and triclosan-free. I’m sure that was a real mouthful, but you get the picture. ;p
Here are the swatches on the back of my arm. Aren’t they pretty? This picture was taken in natural light, indoors.
The texture is smooth, and they apply beautifully, giving you great color pay-off. Blending was a breeze, though there was some minimal fall-out. i like how the intense the colors are and the sheen you get with this simple trio of colors. You can get a lot of mileage from colors like these, cos they are easy to use for everyday looks. Nothing over the top, but the metallic sheen really makes your eyes pop! In a good way of course
And here’s my FOTD using all the colors from this eyeshadow trio. I used minimal blush on my cheeks and used a colorless lip balm to keep the rest of the face simple.
What do you think? Do you like it?
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.
Review – Benefit Porefessional
Sponsored Review
Today, i’ll be doing a review on the Benefit Porefessional. I’ve been wanting to try this product out for the longest time, so i was more than happy when i was asked if i would like to review it!
A PRO balm meant to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines, it possess dual-action to both prime and touch-up during the day. It also contains a Vitamin E derivative known to protect skin from free radicals.
One of the best things about Benefit cosmetics is definitely their awesome packaging – always girly and fun.
Here are some pictures for you
You will see from the swatches below that it is a silky, lightweight product. That was kinda a surprise to me, i was expecting it to be thicker in consistency for some reason.
I’m not one who’s really big on primers as it takes up too much time in the morning. (i love my sleep!) However, my experience with this product has been more than pleasant so far. I love that it performs fairly well as a primer underneath my make-up and also helps to minimize the pores on my nose, side of my nose and my cheeks. It has a mattifying and smoothening effect which is great for my oily skin. I also believe it should work fine on sensitive skin, as i haven’t experienced any break-outs so far.
You’ll only need a pea-sized dollop for your T-zone, and it blends in really fast. I’m pretty sure the 22ml tube will last a pretty long time. The product looks like it’s tinted when swatched on the back of my hand, but it is color-less after blending it out. So no worries there about color matching!
To use under make-up: Apply to moisturized skin to help make-up stay put. Focus on problem areas and blend with fingertips. Pat it on, and don’t swipe!
To use over make-up for touch-ups: Pat on lightly over makeup and blend
Disclaimer: Product featured was provided for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with or compensated by the company.
Face of The Day – Shimmery + Smokey + Sexy
Today’s FOTD is a look i’d wear on any other day – to the office or out to play. It’s a brown smokey eye, just with a little more oomph than usual. The camera isn’t really picking up much of the shine on my eyes. Even with this much shimmer, i still think it’s office appropriate. But i guess that depends where you work right? ;p
Anyway, for this look, i’m using Lunasol’s 3 dimensional eyes 02 Soft Beige eyeshadow palette and glowing powder cheeks, as well as the recently featured Rouge Coco in 40 Charme from Chanel.
This eyeshadow is amazing – soft like butter, glides on like a dream and stays on the whole day with no creasing. And the blush, there’s a soft subtle glow and it doesn’t ‘melt’ away through the day. The lipstick is a god-send – that’s all i’m going to say about it.
I’m really discovering more and more products that i love and they each outperform whatever i’ve used in the past. This is great, but not so great for the pocket. But hey, i’m happy to be doing what i’m doing and i love to share my reviews with you so you can make informed decisions before making your purchases.
What do you think of this look? I’ve used an extremely easy way to do this smokey eye look. I layered a dark shimmery bronze over the entire eye lid, going slightly above the crease. Then i layered a taupe all over the lid again. No need for precise application. And for the last step, i just took a blending brush and softened the edges to create that smokey effect. This is faster and more convenient than using a crease brush to apply and blend color only into the crease, of which you still have to blend away the harsh edges again after.
Thanks for looking! There’s still Part 3 of my Metro haul coming up, so pls stay tuned!
Review – Biotherm White D-Tox BB Cream SPF25 PA+++
I’m sure some of you might remember this sample from my post on the June Bellabox here. I’ve been using this for the past week, and my 5ml sample has officially run out. A week is definitely good enough for me to decide if it is something i would purchase , so read on to find out what my experience with this bb cream has been like.
Just a recap on what this product is all about - This BB cream gives you 24-hour coverage, unified skin tone, maintains hydration all day long and lets the natural pink undertones of the skin shine. With repeated use, dark spots fade and skin simply radiates. Suitable for all skin tones. A 30ml tube retails for $70 available from Biotherm counters.
Firstly, here’re some pics of the sample and a swatch.
This is one of the lighter BB creams that i’ve come across so far, which still manages to retain its creamy texture. I’ve noticed how some base products that are light tend to lean towards runny. The consistency is somewhat similar to the Laneige Snow BB Cream, but i prefer how this applies on the skin. The coverage is sheer towards medium, and it dries off with a nice satin finish. The product was able to conceal all the redness on my face, giving it an even tone all throughout. Dark spots were also well concealed, except for the 1 or 2 more stubborn ones that require concealer. Overall, my skin felt nice and moisturized upon application. I didn’t experience any breakouts either on my sensitive skin.
In terms of color, it resembles the shades that you would usually see in liquid foundation. I like that it doesn’t leave any white or grey cast on the skin for me. It also seems to oxidize with time to match my skin tone. I’ve been using this bb cream with my Chanel Mat Lumiere Powder Foundation, and the sebum control has been impressive. Of course, with skin like mine there is no product where blotting becomes a thing of the past. With the use of this winning combination, i’ve noticed a big difference where my t-zone is much less oily and i also realize i don’t blot as much. So far, the only downside to this product is its price. But at $70 for 30ml, you’re getting great quality and for those of you who don’t bat an eyelid at paying more for quality brand name cosmetics/skincare, i’m sure you will enjoy this product. I can foresee myself forking out the extra cash to buy this in the near future, because of its great sebum control properties.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Here’s a simple FOTD using the Biotherm White D-Tox BB Cream
Disclaimer: All opinions expressed on this blog are my own, and have not been influenced by PR companies or advertisers. Products featured/reviewed are purchased with my own money, unless otherwise stated.
Review – Beauty with Heart: Limited Edition Lily Cole Makeup Collection from The Body Shop
Sponsored Review
You must have heard of Lily Cole before? She is a well-known activist, model and actress. She is also The Body Shop’s new brand advocate! As part of their collaboration with Lily Cole, The Body Shop is launching a new limited edition cruelty-free make-up range. Celebrating their against animal testing ethos, all their make-up including this range of products contains no animal products and hasn’t been tested on animals. You can expect to see ultra-expressive colors, shimmering looks and super soft giant puffs for perfect application every time. This entire range is limited edition and will be launched on July 9.
Do support this cause by signing the pledge either at any The Body Shop stores from July 9 onwards or at www.crueltyfreeinternational.org/telltheworld. While you are at it, do check out The Body Shop Singapore Facebook page as well!
If like Lily Cole, you are against animal testing and hold this cause close to your heart – you will be happy to know that all the products in this range are vegetarian and 100% cruelty-free. How so, you may ask?
No Bug Shells
Their cruelty-free make-up contains no bug shell extract to color the product. Because their love for animals includes bugs, insects and other creepy crawlies.
No Shellfish
Their shimmer effect is made from mineral mica and their binding agents are made from natural vegetable materials instead of crushed shellfish.
No Animal Hair
Their make-up brushes use artificial hair instead of goat hair, which helps to make sure your conscience stays clean and goats stay bearded. Which is as it should be, after all.
This is what Lily Cole had to say when asked what ‘Beauty with Heart‘ means to her.
”There is nothing more attractive than someone with a beautiful heart – it just shines out. It is so contradictory to seek external beauty through products at the cost of other living beings. To me, beauty with heart means trying to achieve beauty in a way that is harmonious with your inner values.”
Without any further ado, please allow me to introduce the make-up products from the ‘Beauty with Heart’ range i received courtesy of The Body Shop.
It leaves a pink-toned luminescent finish and is perfect for face, cheeks and décolletage. With a super soft puff, its radiance gone radical.
My thoughts – I love the pink puff applicator that comes with this product – it is super soft and feels really nice against the skin. The extra sheen on the face that comes with this product is subtle and great when you need that extra something for a night out. However, if you are prone to oily skin, do ensure you prep your face with a primer first so it doesn’t slide or ‘disappear’ as the hours pass. I have oily combination skin, so this is probably not something i will reach for on a daily basis. But for special events and night outs, this is more than welcome in my stash.
2) Lip & Cheek Dome (Lily’s favorite product in the range!)
A creamy gel in an easy-to-use, innovative dome format that can be applied directly onto cheeks or onto lips. Available in Pinch Me Pink and Crazy For Coral.
My thoughts – The texture is very creamy and easy to apply, giving you a fresh dewy look. In the picture below, you will see that i have swatched it very heavily on the back of my hand so that you can see the actual shade. Don’t be alarmed, the colors are actually very pretty and subtle when you blend it out. It’s not very pigmented, so don’t worry about precise application as blending it out to create a nice flush of color on the cheeks is easy to achieve. However, it wasn’t very long-wearing and tends to fade. I doubt it will last through an entire day out.
3) Liquid Eyeliner
The Body Shop’s brightest, most dramatic violet yet! Smudge-proof and easy to apply, its fine tipped felt applicator delivers a vision in violet exactly where you want it.
My thoughts – I love this! It was actually easy to apply with the felt applicator and the color intensity is pretty good when applied onto my upper lash line. It managed to stay put despite my oily lids, with the help of eye primer of course. But what i love best about this is that pop of color it lends to the entire look. The color seems to lean towards a dark navy in the swatch below, but it really is a lovely shade of violet.
4) Pearl Radiance Primer
These radiant, light-diffusing pearls give skin a pure radiance. Use before your foundation or just on its own. In just one step, your skin is hydrated and your complexion perfected.
My thoughts – While i like the idea of primer that lends an extra boost of radiance with it, the product did not apply very well on the skin. The texture was a little ‘lumpy’ and you’ll need to take extra care to blend it out carefully. The shimmer in it is subtle (which is good!) and it does somewhat help with sebum control, which is great for someone like me. I would recommend using it on your T-zone and cheeks.
5) Shimmer Cubes
Pick one, two or more shades to blend and create your own look. The Shimmer Cubes come in a range of iridescent pinks and lilacs. Think Pink, Live Lilac, Go Violet and Tint It Pink. Crease resistant and suitable for contact lens wearers.
My thoughts – This set of colors are very complementary and easy to use with one another. They are shimmery and easy to apply, color payoff is not bad. Go Violet seems to contain less shimmer and tends to be slightly on the chalky side. So do tap off any excess from the brush before you start to apply it. Otherwise, i did not experience any major fall-out during the application process. In terms of lasting power, they managed to stay put for the 6 hours that i’ve had them on without any noticeable creasing. Only thing i noticed is that the colors have somewhat faded a little. If your day sees you out and about for most of the day, exposing yourself to the warm and humid weather here in SG, these might not be for you. If like me, you are desk-bound and enjoy an air-conditioned environment, this should work just fine!
6) Mini Hi-Shine
Available in Go Pink, Go Wild, Go Play and Go Naked, this super shiny gloss can be applied straight to your lips for super sexy, hi-gloss lips. With a fun and fruity flavor, this wet-look gloss is set to be a hit.
My thoughts – The color is quite subtle, so it doesn’t quite show up on my pigmented lips. Having said that, it does provide a lot of shine, giving the illusion of full, luscious lips. Lip gloss in general is not a favorite product of mine, the texture tends to be quite sticky, as with this product. Personally, I’m more of a lipstick person. But for those of you who have a thing for lip glosses, this should sit in well with you
And finally, here’s a Face of The Day where i’ve used the products that have been mentioned above.
Follow these simple steps to achieve this look:
- Apply Pearl Radiance Primer to your forehead, T-zone and cheeks, and blend it out.
- Apply your usual base
- Use an eyelid primer to allow your eyeshadow to stay on longer and to enhance the colors
- Sweep Think Pink over your lids and blend upwards to stop just above the crease
- Apply Go Violet to the outer 1/3 and blend to create depth and dimension
- Sweep Tint It Pink on your brow bone
- Dab a little of Live Lilac onto the centre of your lid
- Line your upper lash line with the Violet liquid eyeliner for a pop of additional color
- Curl your lashes and give it a coat or 2 of mascara
- Smile! then dab the Lip and Cheek Dome to the apples of your cheeks going upwards towards your hairline. Remember to blend it out nicely for a natural flush.
- Apply the Mini Hi-Shine to your lips to complete the look.
Thanks for looking everyone! Have a great week ahead, I’m already looking forward to Friday
Disclaimer: Products featured were provided for review. Review is my complete and honest opinion. I am not affiliated with or compensated by the company.
Face of The Day – From work to play
In a previous post, i shared one of my favorite classic looks with a pink/mauve theme. For make-up novices, i hope it helped you to achieve that simple yet sophisticated look for your eyes in a matter of minutes.
Today, i’d like to share another favorite classic look i use often which brings me from work to play. You can never go wrong with browns – they are clean and simple. Most shades of brown suit several skin tones; it is popular and very versatile so i’m pretty sure this is another look you will find yourself sporting often.
All the colors i’ve used here are from the Urban Decay Naked palette. You can use any other similar shades to achieve the same look.
All you need to achieve this fuss-free look:
1) Sweep Hustle all over the lid and blend well
2) Apply Buck on the outer 1/3 of eye and blend to a create soft smokey effect
3) Apply Sin on the brow bone and inner corners of your eyes to catch the light, this really helps to ‘open’ up your eyes
4) Use a smudge brush and apply Half Baked on the lower lash line to brighten the eyes (optional)
5) Curl those lashes and add a coat or 2 of waterproof mascara to finish off your look
Thanks for looking! Have a great week ahead
Face of The Day – From work to play
If you’re not a morning person like me, then i’m sure you would be racing against time every day. We all want to look pretty before stepping out of the door each day. Honestly, i’d hate to lose that extra 15 minutes of sleep. But I’ve realized you don’t always have to pay a price for beauty. It’s simple, just stick to a few classic looks that can bring you from work to play in a matter of minutes. Keep the more dramatic looks for a night out on the town or special events.
I do my make-up in 10-15 minutes tops, and i still manage to have my make-up look complete. You don’t need to invest in several costly make-up products to achieve a classic look really. Drugstore make-up brands can be your best friends too. In fact, many of my much-loved products are drugstore brands.
Here is one of my favorite go-to classic looks that is really easy to do. A pink/mauve on the eyes is flattering for most skin tones so whether you’re fair or dark, this should settle in really well.
All you need to achieve this fuss-free look:
1) Complete your base like what you usually do – bb cream/foundation (Lucky gals who have nothing to conceal should totally skip this)
2) Fill in your brows (preferably with an eyeshadow so it looks more natural, and not too harsh on the face)
3) Apply a rose pink / mauve color as a wash over the lids and stop just below the crease
4) Use a matt light brown eyeshadow and blend it right into the crease (To create depth & dimension. You can use this with several other colors)
5) If you have a bronze-y gold shadow, just swipe a tad of color right onto the centre of your lid (Optional)
6) Apply a light shimmery gold color onto the brow bone and blend.
7) Line your upper lash line water line
8) Apply a pink blush to the apples of your cheeks
9) Curl your lashes and apply a coat of mascara
10) Slap on a pop of color onto your lips
And… You’re done! Super easy, you don’t even need to waste time thinking about which color to wear, and what colors go with which.
I hope this was useful for some of you, thanks for reading
Unboxing the Bellabox – Jun 2012
Talk about generosity! June has been great so far, where my Bellabox is concerned. June’s bumper box gives you 8 great samples, instead of the usual 5. And…that pretty little pink box that i love is BACK…!!
This month’s theme is all about summer, and what happens when summer comes around? For sure … we’re talking about taking better care of your skin, protecting it against the natural elements and restoring the youth back into your skin. And since it’s summer all year round here in SG, it’s important to give our skin that much-needed TLC. Forever young (at heart in my case) !!
Let’s see what we have for June’s great offerings!
1. Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner
Made with real Marigold whole flowers and still to this day, hand-picked and placed in each bottle by hand, the Calendula toner remains a customer favorite 5 decides since it was first formulated.
125ml for $54, 250ml for $78 and 500ml for $110 available from Kiehl’s outlets
2. Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate
This multi-award winning, 99.8% naturally derived botanical elixir was formulated to biologically replicate skin’s natural lipids for optimal skin repair during the night, so you wake up to healthier and younger-looking skin.
30ml for $90 available from Kiehl’s outlets
3. Lancome Genifique Youth Activator
Genifique is the first Lancome skincare that revives genes’ activity and stimulates the production of youth proteins. It is now clinically proven that the more you use Genifique, the better the results. All it takes is just 7 days to see the results.
30ml for $130, 50ml for $170 and 75ml for $210 available from Lancome counters
4. Lancome Blanc Expert Derm-Crystal
Empowered with Dermactyl complex, dermal cells are stimulated to produce bright new collagen, preventing darkening and reducing melanin production. Skin is more translucent, luminous and brighter from within.
30ml for $175 available from Lancome counters
5. Biotherm White D-Tox BB Cream
This BB cream gives you 24-hour coverage, unified skin tone, maintains hydration all day long and lets the natural pink undertones of the skin shine. With repeated use, dark spots fade and skin simply radiates. Suitable for all skin tones.
30ml for $70 available from Biotherm counters
6. Biotherm Lait Corporel Body Moisturizer
Achieve soft, supple skin with high quality ingredients that prevent dryness and hydrate your skin. Glycerin, olive oil, vitamin E and Pure Thermal Plankton combine for outstanding results.
200ml for $52 available from Biotherm counters
7. Ralph Lauren Romance
A timeless interpretation of the classic love story; Romance embodies the pure and refined feelings of a woman in love.
50ml for $116 and 100ml for $149 available from Ralph Lauren fragrance counters
8. Shu Uemura White Efficient Gentle Cleansing Oil
New cult, best seller, wash away dullness. Contains natural mito-white complex and vitamin C to help prevent the accumulation of melanin deep within. Use daily for clear and translucent skin.
150ml for $58, 450ml for $155 available from Shu Uemura counters
I love all the samples this month and can’t wait to try them all. With the exception of the Ralph Lauren Romance which i’ve tried before, the rest are all very exciting! I have a weakness for serums and bb creams
See what the May and April bellabox was all about.
If you would like to subscribe to Bellabox, check it out here.
