Saturday, April 30, 2011

NARS Turks and Caicos Multiple Tint FOTD

I went to the NARS counter last weekend to ask for the "New Order" blusher, then spotted this bright, orange, jelly looking stick and swatched it on my arm. Orange. No big deal I thought. But when I went outdoors it turned into this gorgeous shade of pinkish peach. It looked awesome against my skin... I had to have it! 

 A part of the NARS Summer 2010 collection Multiples, Turks & Caicos is a limited edition shade I believe. I know I'm a year late to the party but at least I got to try this! 
love how the NARS print matches the color of the product!



It reminds me of Tarte blushers my sister used to give me when I was younger but this one is not as tacky especially after it sets on the skin. Plus its more pigmented and it lasts the whole day. IN SUMMER! Take that humidity!
I'm not a beach bum, but if I was, and can only bring one beauty product to the beach, I'd bring this... Its very easy to use, I just dab it straight onto my cheeks or lips. No blending skills required.

swatch:
I love how it looks so sheer and natural, it has no shimmer but it gives off a nice sheen to the cheeks/lips.

The only drawback for this product is the price, Php2,150 locally (approx. USD 50) but to justify, its a multi-purpose product and the quality is amazing I'm sure you will love it as much as I do. As for availability, I have no idea if they still have this abroad but if you're in the Philippines, NARS Rustan's Makati still has it in stock.

My bright and summery FOTD:


products used:
BASE: 
DiorSnow White Reveal UV Base in beige
Canmake 5-effects foundation 03
Cle De Peau concealer in ochre
MAC Prep + Prime eye primer in medium

POINT: 
NARS Turks & Caicos Multiple
Esprique Precious Dress-on Shiny Eyes C-4
Shu Uemura Hard 6 eyebrow pencil
Urban Decay 24/7 eyeliner in Bourbon
Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing Mascara
Etude House Miss Tangerine Follow Me lip tint #2

I hope you enjoyed today's post. Have a fun weekend everyone!
♡,
G

Friday, April 29, 2011

Kosé Esprique Precious Dual Gradation Eyes D-2 EOTD

After my pleasant experience with Esprique Precious Dress On Shiny Eyes palettes, it was inevitable to want another palette from the brand, so I picked up D-2 from the Dual Gradation Eyes. A part of their Spring 2011 collection. These are available locally, I bought mine at Rustan's Shangri-la for Php1,450. Surprisingly, price is better there compared to adambeauty! :)

Here is the palette:
Esprique Precious always have very nice compact designs, this one reminds me of MiuMiu Harlequin designs. :)

D-2 has the most gorgeous shade of moss green (A), the main reason why I wanted this palette.
it comes with 2 handy dual-sided applicators which comes standard with Japanese eyeshadow palettes and a plastic sleeve with quick instructions on how to use all 5 shades.

This is the most adorable eyeshadow design I've ever seen in my beauty junkie life, the tiny hearts collectively make a clover shape, which I think is perfect for spring theme! 

The texture of the eyeshadows are soft and buttery, color payoff is superb and staying power is great! The only thing I don't like is the fallout. I always end up with bits of dark powder and loads of shimmer on my face after applying the eyeshadows. >.< 

I recommend putting on eye makeup first before foundation so you won't look like you fell face flat on a floor full of shimmer.

swatches on bare skin:

swatches with primer:
soft and shimmery white cream base, moss green, dark taupe, pinkish cream and apricot highlighters

As you can see its very pigmented they swatch easily even without primer, but I still use primer to minimize fallout and prolong wear.

simple EOTD:
I just followed the recommended application shown in the plastic sleeve, also using Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing mascara if anyone is curious.

Overall a nice palette to have if you like shimmery eyeshadows, but if I can find a dupe for the moss green shade, I'd get that since I already have a lot of palettes with the same cream base, and super shimmery highlight shades.

Thank you for reading!

♡,
G

Thursday, April 14, 2011

CHANEL Rouge Coco Shine in Biarritz, Boy and Romance

The latest release from Chanel cosmetics, Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks are lightweight, sheer lip colors which melt as soon as swiped over your lips giving it a wet looking, shiny finish.

I tried all the colors which appealed to me the most, wanting to decide on which (1) shade to get. Unfortunately for my wallet, I liked Biarritz, Boy and Romance very, VERY much I couldn't just leave them there. I had to take them home! xD

42 Biarritz

54 Boy

55 Romance

Compared to Rouge Allure and Rouge Coco lipsticks, Rouge Coco Shine is housed in slimmer tubes which contain 3 grams of product. According to their website, these babies can last up to 8 hours of wear, but thats not the case with me as I only get 2-3 hours, then I need to reapply it. That makes me confident about finishing these lipsticks. I'm not sure if thats a good thing. ;)

Swatches:
42 Biarritz (coppery beige), 54 Boy (rosy pink) and 55 Romance (bright pink) - all shades have very light micro shimmer which is undetectable on the lips.

The formula for Rouge Coco Shine is buttery smooth, balm-like and very lightweight, however, even if it feels hydrating, there were times wherein my lips became dehydrated while wearing Romance. So I still recommend applying lip balm or essence underneath the Rouge Coco Shine's. Pigmentation varies from very light beiges to striking reds.

 Local price is a whopping Php1,850 (approx. USD42) and no, I did not get any gifts with purchase. In fact, I've never received any GWP from any local Chanel counter. hmm... :\

The Chanel website says there are 18 shades, but there are 25 shades available in Manila. *confused*
I posted this photo on my Facebook page and a lot of lovelies "liked" it as expected. But one high school friend commented about my successive makeup posts which made me laugh. I dont think HE knows I'm a beauty blogger. ^_~


Happy Thursday!
♡,
G

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Etude House Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blush Swatches

Hello lovelies! I went to Etude House yesterday to swatch the Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blushers for my blusher fiend of a friend Jennifer. :P

Remember in my last Miss Tangerine post I said none of the other products from the line caught my fancy? Well I'm going to eat my own words today... cause I realized all they needed was a chance to be tried on. ;)

Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blushers are dry cream blushers which are smooth and long wearing.
The packaging is so cute! :)

here are the swatches:
(L-R) #1 Miss Tangerine #2 Miss Peach #3 Miss Berry #4 Miss Grape 

orange, peach, pink and lavender shades

I tried on all the shades on my cheeks, #1 made me look like an Oompa Loompa #2 gave me a natural looking peachy flush, #3 is a bright and pretty pink and #4 gave a brightening effect to my face. Oompa Loompa is not a good look for me and I already have LOTS of bright pink blushers so I only got #2 and #4.

The Miss Tangerine Cream Choux Blushers retail for Php328/per tube (approx. USD7) which is not bad for the amount and quality of product (12g) you will get. They are pigmented (especially #1 and #3), very easy to blend and lasts the whole day. The shades are targeted to suit fairer asian skin with yellow undertones so I recommend it to those who belong in that category.

my mini haul :)

blended swatch of #2 Miss Peach and #4 Miss Grape

GWP! for every Php2,000 purchase - I got some stuff for friends too :P

I love shopping at Etude House for their really cute gifts with purchase. This is the most functional and practical one I've received from them so far. <3


Thanks for reading!
♡,
G

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Aqualabel Blue aka White Up (Whitening) Line


Got an email from a lovely reader today asking about the Aqualabel Blue/White Up Line so I thought of posting my review of the products here to make the information available to everyone who needs it since I understand reviews for this particular brand are quite scarce. 

Aqualabel is a Shiseido conglomerate focusing on skin care, the brand is geared towards women who need great quality skin care which is practical and affordable at the same time. I chose the Blue/White Up line because my main concern was to lighten my acne scars and achieve an even skin tone.

L-R Aqualabel White Up Lotion S (toner), White Up Emulsion S (moisturizer), Aqua Enhancer WT (effector), Perfect Protect Milk UV SPF 50+·PA+++, Reset White Mask

Purchased everything from Adambeauty except for the Aqua Enhancer WT which was CP'd by a friend. (Thanks M!)

White Up Lotion [S] 200ml (HKD115)
The White Up Lotion is available in R (for dry skin) and S (normal-oily) varieties. Its basically a toner and the first to be applied after washing the face. I believe this contains alcohol but its very mild I honestly don't detect it. When I sniff directly from the bottle, all I smell is a very faint floral scent which disappears when the product gets to my hand. 

I apply this using a thin cotton pad and pat lightly onto my face. It absorbs almost instantly, makes my skin feel supple. This prepares the skin for better moisture absorption. Best toner I've tried so far, it totally beats Kanebo Blanchir, Ettusais and DiorSnow in all aspects! Been using this for 4 weeks now and it didn't break me out. Only drawback is its not available locally. Fortunately, its easy to purchase online.

Repurchase? Yes!
Recommended? Yes!

White Up Emulsion [S] 130ml (HKD125)
Applied after the White Up Lotion (toner), the White Up Emulsion [S] is a light, smooth and creamy lotion which is absorbed by the skin almost immediately. It blocks the production of melanin which causes dark spots while giving my skin the moisture and whitening properties it needs. Gives off a refreshing feeling and makes my face look dewy and smooth. Amazingly, it made my skin look brighter and even toned! I can also say it helps in fading away my dark spots (FYI, I use Paul & Joe's Whitening Serum at night and exfoliate at least once a week) and helped get rid of those pesky bumps on my face caused by a random allergic reaction. My skin loves this.

Repurchase? Yes!
Recommeded? Yes!

Aqua Enhancer WT 130ml (HKD119)
The last product to be applied to the face (skin care wise), the Aqua Enhancer is "a beauty essence that promotes the absorption of the prior products, the effect of lotion and emulsion and to clarify skin". Like the White Up Lotion [S], consistency is liquid and runny, the only difference is the Enhancer looks glossy when in my hand. I initially thought I wouldn't need this, but when I started using it, I got hooked! It made everything work better and get absorbed faster! I apply this using my hands, I just pat it on my forehead, cheeks, chin and neck. I also dab it onto my eye area so my eye cream/gel gets absorbed faster by my skin. It locks in everything and makes all the products work better. Awesome product. Thank you Cynthia for telling me I needed this! :D

Repurchase? Yes!
Recommended? Yes!

Perfect Protect Milk UV SPF 50+·PA+++ 45ml (HKD119)
As some of my long time readers know, I love Japanese made sunscreens because of how light they are. The Aqualabel Protect Milk is no exception. Honestly, I haven't tried this on my face yet because I'm still trying to finish my gold Kanebo Allie, but I tried it on the back of my hand just to feel the texture and wow, its so smooth it glides on easily on my skin. Don't be afraid of the white color as it sheers out as you spread it. It has this soft focus effect when blended and it is also absorbed very quickly by the skin. If you're looking for a light and breathable sunscreen with high SPF, give this a try.

Repurchase? Maybe.
Recommended? Likely, will update this post once tested on the face.

Reset White Mask 23ml/pack, 4 packs/box (HKD110)
Description from Aqualabel: Intensive whitening care mask which also replenishes the skin with sufficient amounts of moisture, and locks in moisture with Moist Aqua Keeping Base. Contains M-tranexamic acid, saxifrage extract and peony extract. This mask softens, smoothes skin complexion, and the special S cut in masks provides a lifting effect for firmer skin.
I've tried 2 sheets of this mask already, and it fits my face nicely. It also does its job of giving a bit of brightening and lifting effect. However, I find the mask a bit dry. Maybe if they put more essence in it I would like it more. But for me there are better "whitening" masks out there. (I specifically like FaceQ and Silk Whitia's whitening masks)

I don't have problems with enlarged pores, but its very likely this regimen would work for those who have trouble with minimizing pore visibility.

Repurchase? No.
Recommended? Not really, maybe to those who are not fond of dripping wet masks.

OVERALL, Im very happy with my current skin care regimen, I didn't think much of Aqualabel before trying it, but now that I've been using it for 4 weeks, my skin feels really smooth, my skin tone even and my complexion is getting better and brighter as my acne scars/dark spots slowly fade. Oil control is pretty good too.

The best thing about this line is how fast it gets absorbed by my skin, ALL the products sink into the skin almost instantly after application. I used to wait for a few minutes in between skin care products but now applying skin care is faster because the waiting time has been omitted. Im sticking to Aqualabel for a long while. Up until my heart (and skin) longs for SK-II. ;)

Thanks for reading!
♡,
G


ps. I hope you find this helpful S! Let me know if you have any more questions. :)

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Recently Finished Products: DiorSnow Lurve


Quick post today loves! This is the first time I'm posting products I've finished, thought of doing it 'cause it felt like an achievement for someone who has a lot of products to go through! XD
Dior Lip Glow and DiorSnow White Reveal Makeup UV Base SPF35 PA+++

I was really surprised to see the end of the tube of my Dior Lip Glow, really liked it, it moisturizes my lips and gives it a pinkish tint at the same time. I would repurchase, but the local price is insane (thanks to the tax) so I will wait until I go out of the country or go to Duty Free to purchase another tube. :)

The DiorSnow White Reveal UV Base is my HG Makeup base, it gives me a glowy complexion, my makeup stays put all day and it doesn't break me out. It has SPF 35, saving me some prep time in the morning 'cause I can skip sunscreen. Already repurchased this because I just cant live without it. Got to have my glow! :)

also wanted to share my excitement on hitting pan on my Canmake 5-effects foundation! haha
you can read my review here.

Happy Tuesday!
♡,
G