Few months ago Givenchy relaunched their Poudre Bonne Mine Powders. Meant to naturally energise the skin with light, these are a staple to look healthy and glowing all year round.

There are 4 colours which are now available in Asia.

00- Moonlight Saison

01- Première Saison

02- Douce Saison

03- Ambre Saison

As with all things Givenchy Beauty, it’s the packaging that captures the heart first! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to hoard this beautiful compact in it’s pristine condition forever and ever and EVER.

The exterior of the packaging is absolute perfection. It’s a slim black compact with the Givenchy logo up top in rose gold. Unfortunately the black casing is a magnet to finger prints and dust and it’s been quite the task keeping them looking shiny and pretty.

I also like that the compact is in fact compact! Unlike most seasonal bronzers which arrive in mega sized pans making them totally travel unfriendly.

The only negative I see is, these don’t come with a protective velvet case as you’d expect of high end beauty brands. Which makes the compact susceptible to scratches.

The Bonne Mine Formula

According to the press info at hand. The Bonne Mine powders are a talc free formula. These are a baked gel with no excess powder that showcase colour perfectly. The technology used gives this powder a weightless quality that makes it virtually undetectable when applied on the skin. I can assure you, no powdery look or feel!

I also like that the formula doesn’t kick up product, which means less wastage! PLUS this keeps the compact looking clean and less grubby. Yayyyy!

Swatches 

Swatching these I noticed they have good colour payoff, a silky texture and a satiny sheen. Unlike most bronzers on the market today which are matte, these Healthy Glow powders literally glow with radiance.

There’s a good colour selection for pretty much most skin types.

00 Moonlight Saison a pale shimmering cream for radiance & highlighting.

01 Premier Saison a golden wheat beige – for fair complexions

02 Douce Saison with more reddened bronzy tones for medium complexions (appears darker than Ambre Saison)

03 Ambre Saison with golden tones for medium complexions

*04 Extrême Saison – for medium -deep complexions (US & Europe exclusive)

Upon application I found the colour soft, buildable and blends easily, making it near impossible to overdo.  Also glad that the final look is far from shimmery as brush application allows a more diffused look in comparison to the swatches which are obviously heavily applied in order to be photographed.

Wear & Longevity

I’ve discovered these powders do not contain any oil control properties and works best on skin that’s already been set with a powder (at least on the portions that are prone to excessive oiliness).

Applied over my usual base makeup, it lasted well throughout the day (I didn’t test out exact wear time), and looked fresh and glowy throughout without fading mid wear.

Bottom Line

If you are after a powder that brings radiance and a naturally sun kissed effect, these are for you! No weird orange-y tones or excessive red pigments. They would work effortlessly on fair and medium complexions alike.

I find the overall effect of these Healthy Glow Powders similar in concept to the Hourglass bronzers except less shimmery, smoother & as you’d expect, more refined in quality. A closer dupe would be the LE Chanel Les Beige powders that come out each summer (of which I am also a fan) though these look clearly more matte in comparison and usually tend to be geared towards the fairer complexions (limited colour variations, usually two).

Bottom line, it’s a gorgeous formula and I highly urge you to check them out. I hope you love them as much as I!

Other Info

SGD80 for 10g of product.

Currently at Givenchy counters at Sephora Singapore & Metro Paragon.

*Samples kindly provided by Givenchy Singapore for review.

It’s always a spectacular affair these NARS previews. There’s always something to get everyone buzzing with excitement. And this fall, the biggest deal were the new Velvet Lip Glides that will be launching this October (applicable to Singapore).

As always I come armed with loads of preview pics as well as a set of swatches just for you. Do read on!

According to the NARS press release,

These new lipsticks strike a perfect balance between softness & strength, coverage and comfort in a full range of colours. Laced with NARS’ Oil Infusion Complex, this hybrid lip colour combines the fluidity & effortlessness of a gloss with the coverage and comfort of a lipstick. Oil Infusion Complex also allows for a smooth-glide effect, instantly delivering saturated colour with sensorial comfort.

Formula & Texture

I found these to be lightly scented, highly pigmented, with the texture of a nourishing lip gloss/cream hybrid. Even the paler shades provided pretty much opaque coverage without having to layer on. Something I did not anticipate.

Additionally these Velvet Lip Glides feel lightweight on the lips and never overly slippery or sticky as a traditional gloss, these feel more like lipsticks with a velvety cushion-y feel.

Here’s a line up of the shade range.

On to some swatches from the preview. All done in a single swipe.

*Note, although the swatches look rather wet and glossy, the finish on the lips is more of a creamy, soft look.

Bottom Line

The formula is divine. Think Audacious lipstick in a liquid cream format. Intensely pigmented, lightweight and comfortable. If you are tired of the matte liquid lipstick trend, it’s time to hop onto the Velvet Lip Glide bandwagon. You won’t regret it.

Pricing and Availability

Available at all NARS counters (Tangs, Robinsons at Heeran). Retail price SGD45 for 5.7ml

So I wasn’t planning on reviewing these, but here I am!  Let’s talk about NARS Lip Covers from Summer.

According to NARS,

Lip Covers are a highly pigmented liquid lipstick for a high fashion effect. Lip Covers deliver saturated slicks of coastal colour steeped in exclusivity & ease. Rich & lustrous. Luminous finish. 

Packaging

The packaging is similar to the NARS glosses in size and shape, except these sport an all black exterior in matte black. They are difficult to keep clean as with most NARS packaging, highly prone to collecting fingerprints and stains as you’d expect.

The wand is a straight forward doe foot.

The tapered edge makes neat application a breeze and the flocked applicator smooths out the product with no streaks.

Formula 

There has been much debate about the finish of the Lip Covers. Most bloggers comments were that they are a soft matte.

To put the confusion to rest, they are a cream finish. Think Armani Maestro liquid lipsticks. They aren’t glossy and they aren’t matte. It’s an in between creamy formula. Comfortable on the lips and hydrating in comparison to other liquid lipsticks on the market right now. Which are mostly matte as the current trend.

These Lip Covers are  highly pigmented delivering awesome colour payoff in a single swipe (as seen above). They glide on like butter. No weird streaks to correct, no unevenness.

Here’s what they look like worn. 1st swatch is a single layer application. As you can see, opaque and smoothing. I like that they don’t emphasise lip lines.

The bottom swatch is after a single blot. I prefer the softer effect blotting creates and it’s how i’d normally wear them.

The colour still looks vibrant, but with a dulled shine. Low maintenance too since there’s less room to transfer &/or slide around therefore prolongs wear time.

Longevity & wear. 

These wore around 4-5 hours on me. And since the colour is quite similar to my natural lips, the fading wasn’t obvious. I believe the reds would need to be reapplied more frequently.

Overall I found this to be very comfortable worn. No dryness or flaking. It’s a perfect formula in my eyes.

On to some comparisons I put together.

Clearly I had no difficulty rounding up a lineup of pink and peachy nudes! They are my favourite. Here’s how they compare.

1.Mac Kinda Sexy is more matte in comparison, lighter in tone and peachier.

2. Mac Whirl contains more brown tones and deeper.

3. Get Dirty is a warm medium to deep nude with terracotta tones.

4. Estée Lauder Naked Ambition* is one of my favourite nude liquid lipsticks. This has more of a neutral beige brown colour. Comfortable formula and quite similar in texture to NARS. I find these less pigmented and lustrous though.

5. By Terry Lady Bare* is slightly paler with less warm tones. Also less pigmented with semi opaque coverage. This one feels ‘wet’ on the lips.

6. Gerard Cosmetics Serenity* is more truer peachy nude. Also completely different in formula as this dries down to a solid matte.

7. Anastasia Crush* is a dusty, rosy light/medium pink. The most lightweight liquid lipstick I own and a true matte formula. Quite comfortable and a nice everyday MLBB shade. Best for fair skin tones as it’s deceivingly paler on the lips (contains a lot of white pigment and can look ashy).

8. Tom Ford First Time* (matte). A lighter peachy pink nude. Quite similar to MAC Kinda Sexy but a better formula in terms of pigment.

9. Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy in Potent is a paler pinky nude. The formula is creamy and hydrating though less pigmented than the NARS Lip Covers.

*Liquid lipsticks

Bottom Line

I really like these Lip Covers. Pigmented, comfortable on the lips and lasts well throughout the day. Touch ups aren’t difficult either as these don’t get crusty like most liquid lipstick formulas. Definitely a product to consider if you like a bold statement.

Note – If you prefer a liquid lip colour that doesn’t transfer, and sets, these aren’t for you. There are other bulletproof products in the market that’ll suit your needs better.

For swatches of all 4 shades, you can check out my previous NARS summer preview post. Here.

Pricing & Availability

I believe I paid around SGD 45 for this.

Available at Tangs Orchard.

NARS fall collection 2016 is looking quite exciting! Apart from their seasonal Colour Collection, there are few other new additional product launches, as well as new shade extensions to existing lines.

Today I’ll be giving you a quick preview and swatches of each of the collections which I photographed at the blogger preview from last week. I hope you find them useful!

The NARS Colour Collection is made up of seasonal hues of shimmering gold, deep indigos & signature NARS colours that work seamlessly together to transition to fall.

Here’s a breakdown on what’s in store.

Dual-Intensity Eyeshadows – SGD 45

Antares – Iridescent white gold

Rigel – Shimering rose gold

Arcturus – Shimmering deep indigo

Velvet Matte Lip pencil – SGD 38

Infatuated Red – Garnet

Consuming Red – Bordeaux

Contour Blush – SGD 62

Melina left side – Café Au Lait/ right side – Espresso

Talia left side – Light Caramel/ right side – Nutmeg

Velvet Eyeliner – SGD 36

Black Moon – Black

Mambo – Rich hazelnut

Curaçao – Turquoise blue

Kalisté – Teal

London – Stormy grey

Blue Lotus – Periwinkle

Last Frontier – Espresso

Las Pozas – White Pearl

Darklight – Navy

Here’s a look at the swatches!

T-B – Rigel, Antares, Arcturus

My favourite Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow were Rigel (rose gold), swatches beautifully and would work great as a solo lid colour.

L-R – Kalisté, London, Mambo, Black Moon, Darklight, Blue Lotus, Last Frontier, Curaçao, Las Pozas

These new Velvet Eyeliners were the star release of this collection. A soft creamy formula that can be smudged to create a variety of eye looks. The shades that stood out were, Darklight (navy) & London a rather interesting grey.

Lastly Velvet Matte Lip Pencils. Top – Consuming Red, Bottom – Infatuated Red

NARS Velvet Matte Lip pencils are a favourite! I love the formula. They are very soft, smooth pencils with great colour payoff and a comfortable matte finish. These were no exception. Get them both!

On to the next fall collection, the Audacious Collection Chic Out.

This collection consists of 5 new shade additions to the Audacious lipstick line (several other shades such as Michiyo will be discontinued) , all new Brow defining cream and limited edition Unrestricted Eyeliner Stylo in matte & satin versions.

Audacious Lipstick – SGD 44

Apoline – Pink rose

Shirley – Red crimson

Stefania – Deep fuchsia

Kate – Purple orchid

Mona – Mahogany

Brow Defining Cream – SGD 35

Sonoran – Blonde

Al Djouf – Light brown

Tanami – Auburn

Danakil – Dark brown

Unrestricted Eyeliner Stylo – SGD 42

Audacious Mascara – SGD 44 (Repromote)

Lipsticks always catch my eye first!

T-B – Apoline, Mona, Shirley, Kate, Stefania

T-B – Danakil, El Djouf, Sonoran

I found these to be ultra long wearing and waterproof. I see them holding up well in sweaty weather. An exciting new product to look forward to!

Last but not least, releasing in October are an all new line of liquid lipsticks! The Velvet Lip glides! I’ve already churned out a swatch post for this. Click HERE.

That concludes the preview of whats to come. So far part of the fall collection has already released online (in the U.S) with Singapore receiving the Colour collection right after in August.

Official Release Dates (applicable to Singapore)

August – Fall 2016 Color Collection, Velvet Eyeliner, Narsissist Dual Intensity Blush Palette (blog post to come)

September – Audacious Collection. Lipsticks, Brow Defining Cream & Unrestricted Eyeliner Stylo

October – Velvet Lip Glide

This July Origins added two new products to the GinZing™ line. You would have already seen #MaskMonday photos on IG with people posting their happy metallic coppery faces. But does this mask really work? I’ve seen a couple reviews a few weeks back and have to say some bloggers truly mislead the public. No, it’s not any of the big bloggers in case you were wondering, just the smaller ones who don’t test out product properly (or read instructions!) and end up writing something completely false. Anyways rant aside, if you currently enjoy the GinZing™ range or feel your skin forever looks dull and grey without much brightness, do read on! I might be able to enable you on this😉

According to Origins, the Ginzing™ Peel-off mask is for instantly energising and lifting dullness from tired skin. The active ingredients that enable this is Ginseng known for it’s ability to strengthen the body, boost immunity and energise & Caffeine derived from coffee beans which is a natural anti-irritant that instantly helps you look refreshed! 

The actual mask is a really cool coppery, rose shade with a pearlised metallic effect. Slightly gimmicky if you ask me, but what’s really habit forming is the ‘peel-off’ action. I’ve tried these peel off masks before and I can tell you nothing’s more satisfying than peeling off a layer of mask. Seriously!

So remember that rant earlier? Someone mentioned this mask can be used on parts of your face for targeted treatment. Firstly I don’t know who wants just parts of their face brightened or energised. I for one don’t! I want the entire complexion looking brighter and looking refreshed! Right?

Anyways long story short this is for the entire face. You CAN’T use this as you would a mud mask or a hydrating mask for just targeted areas. If you do use this on one portion of the face (which is what I did to see results) you’ll notice just that half brightened and immediately noticeably fairer than the unmasked potion.

Application as you’d imagine is straightforward. Use a generous amount and spread it evenly over a clean, dry face avoiding the eyes, brows and hairline. I don’t recommend a thin layer as this would make peeling off somewhat harder. And a slightly heavier layer lets this come off in one clean tug leaving little to no residue. If you do have any residue, you can wipe it off or rinse.

*One thing that I did notice is that the mask had a strong scent and made my eyes tear. This sensation wears off soon, but just a warning for anyone who’s overly sensitive to strong scents, you may want to try a sample first and see if it’s bearable. 

**The GinZing™ Peel-off Mask contains a blend of  Grapefruit, Lemon & Spearmint (essential oils) for that uplifting signature Ginzing™ scent.

Results! 

I tested this several times over the last month and can attest to the fact that it truly does brighten and wake your skin up. If you’ve had a particularly tiring week, this is the mask to slap on. You’ll notice your skin instantly brighter, fresher and feeling more energised. The peeling off action also grabs any dead skin for some light exfoliation which leaves your skin much smoother and healthier looking too.

In addition the mask also contains a multi fruit acid complex to gently exfoliate and refine the pores which is also a bonus. Good news for all my acid peel junkies!

Bottom Line

I pack this whenever I fly. It helps lift the dullness and vital to looking fresh if I have any important meetings to attend. All I need is 15 mins to recharge my skin and look brighter! The results I noticed aren’t long term. Just a quick fix that lasts about a day.

Recommend using this about 2 times a week. Avoid if you have any irritation, broken skin or sunburn.

Suitable for everyone except dry and sensitive skin. 

Ingredients list

Water. Alcohol. Polyvinyl Alcohol. Corn starch. Silica. Hexylene Glycol. Lemon peel oil*. Grapefruit peel oil*. Spearmint leaf oil*. Orange peel oil*. Limonene, Lynalool, Citral. Ginseng root extract. Apple fruit extract. Algae extract. Green Tea leaf extract. Orange fruit extract. Lemon peel extract. Sugarcane extract. Isoceteth-20. Caffeine. Xanthan gum. Aminomethyl Propanol. Carbomer. Phenoxyethanol. Mica. Iron Oxides. Titanium Dioxide.

*Essential Oil

Retail price – SGD50 for 75ml.

Next up! The Origins GinZing™ Energy-Boosting Treatment Lotion Mist.

A refreshing, oil free treatment mist that’s for instantly uplifting and gently hydrating skin.

It’s to be used in the mornings (post cleanse), and rightly so as the refreshing scent of Lemon, Grapefruit & Spearmint helps wake up the lazy, sleepy body!

The ingredients to look out for are Panax Ginseng, Caffeine, Pomegranate extract for it’s antioxidant powers and Witch Hazel to purify skin with it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

I haven’t given this more than a few weeks of use so long term results can’t be discussed. But I do love the instant hydration and energy boost this gives my skin.

So far my only problem has been the pump in my bottle. It sprays out the mist in a strange squirt which has now got me into the routine of spraying this in my hands and then pressing onto my skin while I inhale the zesty, minty goodness.

It’s definitely a product worth looking at and provides that extra boost of moisture that my skin loves and a step in my morning routine that will be missed if skipped.

Ingredients List 

Water. Butylene Glycol. Alcohol denat. Polysorbate-20. Lemon Peel Oil*. Grapefruit Peel Oil*. Spearmint Leaf Oil*. Orange Peel Oil*. Limonene, Linalool, Citral. Bambusa Vulgaris (bamboo) extract. Salvia Sclarea (Clary) extract. Saccharomyces Lysate extract. Caffeine. Glycerin. Panax Ginseng root extract. Pantethine. Pisum Sativum (pea) extract. Witch Hazel extract. Sorbitol. Laminaria Saccharina extract. Caprylyl Glycol. Creatine. Acetyl Carnitine Hcl. Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate. Punica Granatum (pomegranate) fruit juice. Yeast extract. Tourmaline. Adenosine Phosphate. Folic Acid. Glucosamine Hcl. Sodium Hyaluronate. Citric Acid. Sodium Benzoate. Hexylene Glycol. Tocopheryl Acetate. Sodium Citrate. Disodium Edta. Phenoxyethanol

*Essential Oil 

Formulated without– Parabens, mineral oil, PABA, artificial colours, synthetic fragrance, animal ingredients. 

 Retail Price SGD42 for 150ml. 

* Press samples provided for review consideration.

At a recent Bobbi Brown preview I spotted two new additions to their base product line up. The soon to be released Retouching Wand & the Retouching Face Pencil which will be marketed under their Retouching Franchise Fall 2016.

A few weeks ago I posted complete swatches of both new products on my Instagram and today i’ll be sharing a comprehensive review on the Retouching Wand which I’ve been testing out since.

 “invisible & weightless – like a magic wand for your skin”. – Bobbi Brown

The product is a hybrid between a concealer and foundation. Instantly erasing imperfections such as redness, and dark circles with a quick touch of the sponge. It’s said to feature a patented pigment technology that makes possible a formula light and virtually undetectable on the skin. Which I believe to an extent is true.

A quick look at packaging!

The product comes in a clickable pen.

Basically twisting the base pushes up the product, dispersing it via a sponge tip applicator. Although built in applicators aren’t my favoured form of packaging, i’m willing to get around it by regularly sanitising the tip with alcohol just so my germaphobic self won’t loose sleep.

The pen disperses product evenly without gloops and all you need is a quick pat with fingers to smooth everything into place.

Formula 

It’s a lightweight texture with sheer to medium coverage that blends onto skin easily. Unfortunately this is not very buildable and run the risk of sliding around if too much is applied. The naturally radiant finish however keeps the ‘retouched’ areas fairly unnoticeable. Although I do notice it creasing around the nose and emphasising any texture.

So far i’ve discovered they are great (paired with a BB cream) for day to day just to cover up redness around the nose and under eyes without looking makeup-y, and a good no-makeup makeup product for anyone who’s looking for that natural finish.

*I’ve been using the shade Medium (i’m a NC35 in MAC shades) and could also wear Light if I require a more brightened effect.

The only downside I see is the liquidy texture gets into fine lines so easily and require powdering the second this goes on. If you already have a decent share of expression lines, I foresee this being a difficult formula to work with.

Bottom Line

It’s a great product for on-the-go use. Touchups are easy and a no-mess product if you tend to do your makeup in the car.

I brought this along on a beach vacay and have been using it to coverup dark circles and redness. The product does in fact look very natural and covers enough to look presentable in a rush. I’ve been faking great skin without having to layer on tonnes of foundation. Yay!

If a natural makeup look is what you require, these are a good investment. They blend well over clean skin or foundation to perfect the complexion without it looking crape-y or fake.

Other Info

The retouching wand comes in 9 shades ranging from Porcelain to Rich, all with yellow to neutral undertones as expected from Bobbi!

Available at counters from Sept 2016. Retailing at SGD64.

*Includes samples sent for review consideration.

August is the month of vacations! Everyone’s off on holiday catching the rays and celebrating life with the fam. It’s my favourite time of the year as well and come summer I like to change up my body care and skincare to suit the boiling hot temperatures here in Sri Lanka & prepare for adventures to come.

Apart from the obvious sunscreen hoarding, (trying to save our skin here. Literally) I find myself hoarding body oils. I LOVE them for summer! They don’t melt off as lotions and creams do and continue to hydrate the body throughout the day.

As you can see, I’ve managed to accumulate quite the collection (what’s scary is this isn’t all LOL) and over the years discovered a few favourites i’d like to share with you today. The best ones come from France. Unfortunately. I know a lot of you don’t have access to these brands but some are widely available and i’m sure i’ll be able to recommend something you’d like.

My most used/ all time favourite has to be the Lierac Sensorielle Regenerating Oil & Toning Oil.

If you love white flower scents, this one’s for you! I literally can’t get enough of the fragrance. It’s this incredible floral scent mixed in with hints of citrus. The essence of summer captured in a bottle.

To nourish and hydrate skin, these oils contain a few delightful skin loving ingredients such as Almond Oil, Apricot kernel oil & Sesame oil. Applied freshly after a bath, they absorb well and don’t feel sticky or uncomfortable. Both versions are equally good with the toning oil slightly less nourishing in comparison if you feel the you need a lighter option.

I also love that this particular oil comes fitted with a spray. No spills and messy oil drips. It’s a winner across all boards.

Next up, a fairly recent acquisition. The NARS Monoi Glow body oils.

These are the latest (reformulated) versions of the cult favourite Monoi Oil by NARS.

The primary ingredient used here is Tiare flower infused Coconut oil (60%). Nourishing and hydrating as the Lierac but more exotic in scent. It instantly transports you to your last summer escape, bringing back memories of the beach and sun kissed glowy skin.

I don’t own the previous version, (though I did take a quick whiff at the counter and concluded) this one’s more perfumed and sweeter with intoxicating notes of White Frangipani, Ylang Ylang & Vanilla.

Only downside is these Monoi Body Glow Oils don’t come with a spray & the bottle opening is quite large making it difficult to control the amount dispensed.

The African Botanics Marula Shimmering Oil is something special.

100% Organic, 100% Vegan & preservative free!

I received this as part of a skincare sampler set I purchased off Net-a-Porter (this one’s a mini size btw) & really like the soft shimmering glow this imparts as it nourishes and moisturises.

Marula oil, the key ingredient is a ‘super oil’ with a high concentrate of Omega 6 & 9 and Vitamic E and C. These deeply nourish and heal the skin, reducing redness & improving skin elasticity. The only downside is i’m not a huge fan of the Marula scent. It can be slightly too sweet at times and I don’t find myself reaching for this much. However if you are on the look out for products with clean ingredients. This is a good one to consider!

Next up, Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse.

If there’s one body oil that started it all. It’s this cult favourite all purpose oil that truly lives up to the hype.

I find this very exotic in terms of smell, floral with a hint of incense or something along those lines…… Quite universally appealing I feel.

Ingredient wise this contains 6 precious plant oils including Sweet Almond, Camellia, Macadamia & Hazelnut & Vitamin E. A combination to nourish and soften the skin and eliminate stretch marks etc.

What’s great about the Nuxe oil is that it’s easily available! Most drugstores carry this (in Singapore you can find this at Watsons) and is moderately priced too. Around $50 or so.

*What you see here is the smaller (LE) size that was released last year & a tiny shimmer version (again part of a gift set which came with a candle. And OMG you need the candle!).

Onto another favourite! The Roger & Gallet Huile Sublime.

Roger & Gallet is one of my favourite French Pharmacy discoveries. I managed to stock up on quite a few of their products last time in Paris and have to say I’ve loved every single purchase including this oil (which I managed to get my hands on a while after, thanks to my lovely bro).

This again is another zesty, orangey scented oil that’s soo addictive just as the Lierac. And praise the lord, it comes with a spray! I also find the packaging soo beautiful, and possibly the most luxurious of the oils I own. A collectors piece if you may. I hope I never run out!

In terms of ingredients, it’s formulated with 8 precious oils that nourish & moisturise the skin and quite lightweight in comparison to some of the others. Unfortunately I believe the oil is limited edition but they do tend to relaunch it once in a while, so keep an eye out if you do happen to be at a store. I highly recommend it!

Other Info

The Nuxe, Lierac, Roger & Gallet are all available in French pharmacies. I believe Feel Unique stocks a few of these brands too. *Nuxe is available locally at Watsons.

African Botanics can be purchased via Space NK or Net-a-Porter.

NARS Body Glow is available at all NARS Counters (Tangs Orchard and Robinsons).

Lastly, hope you found this post an interesting read What are your favourite body products for summer?  Do you use body oils or any multi purpose oils as the above? Please share!

Among the most highly requested swatches this season, Clé de Peau ranks no 1! I’ve had countless requests for swatches of the new Luminizing Face Enhancer as well as plenty inquiries about the new Radiant Liquid Rouge formula. It’s been a highly anticipated collection to say the least!

Although my collection roundup has been slow, I’ve finally put together a post! Entire collection’s swatched and accompanying loads of pics which I hope would prove useful.

The new collection consists of one brand new product, the Radiant Liquid Rouge as well as shade additions to the eyeshadows quads, cream shadows & highlighters. I’d have to say the liquid lipsticks were my favourites. Absolutely divine in terms of formula and what can I say, i’m a sucker for good packaging. It’s a LOVE. 

The collection draws inspiration from artist Tamara de Lempickas bold aesthetic, sensuous sophistication and expressive colour palette. Impossibly delicate, yet as fearlessly seductive as the new found liberation of this era. 

Collection Breakdown

2 Eye Colour Quads – 315 Modern Era,  316 Golden Age

2 Cream Eye Colour Solo – 306 Blue Notes,  307 Smoke Stream

8 Radiant Liquid Rouge

1 Luminizing Face Enhancer – 16 Almond

Golden Age is a stunning mix of bronze, peach, fiery orange and reddened brown. A breathtaking combination that’ll work through summer and fall!

Modern Era is a celebration of greens. A mix of Khaki, sage and forest green mixed in with a pewter grey/green.

Between the two I prefer the warm golden tones of Golden Age and also feel in terms of quality, this one’s slightly better. The only shade that didn’t perform as well was the last colour in the quad. The other three felt soft and buttery to the touch and swatched smooth with good pigmentation.

Modern Era though stunning in the pan contained 2 shades that underperformed. I found the second and the last slightly harder pressed and a tad dry. Both swatched with difficulty (the last more so).

Since i’m yet to try them on the eyes, hopefully Modern Era would work better applied with a brush. Let’s see! I shall update you when I do a look featuring this quad.

Next in line, the Cream Eye Colour Solos.

What you see here is Smoke Stream, one of the two cream shadows released with the collection. It’s a smoky black with specks of coloured shimmer. (For swatches of both shades scroll right down to the preview collage).

The formula of the cream shadows are more balm like than other cream shadows you find at this price point. It’s not the creamy whipped consistency you come to expect. If you are familiar with the Shiseido cream shadows, these are the more pigmented and refined counterpart! They work well as a subtle wash of colour or as eye shadow base.

On to the piece de resistance! The gorgeous Luminizing Face Enhancer, Almond!

Almond is a mix of pink, beige & ivory that applies as a pale champagne glow. It’s a neutral undertone which would work great even on the palest of complexions without looking too yellow.

Here’s a comparison of Almond among other Luminizing Face Enhancers in my collection. YES! I ‘needed’ them all.

Top row L-R : 11 Pastel, 16 Almond, 15 Golden Apricot

Bottom row L-R : 13 Sand Beige, 14 Delicate Pink

As you can see, the variances between the lighter shades are subtle and quite hard to capture. It’s one of those products you need to see in person to appreciate it’s beauty.

Here’s a macro I took in it’s pristine condition. The shimmer overspray still intact.

For a more detailed review on the formula, you can check out THIS POST.

Saving the best for last, the Radiant Liquid Rouge! THE most luxurious liquid lipstick i’ve ever come across. The packaging is glass, with a beautiful black ombre which allows the colours to show through.

There’re 8 shades released. I’ve got 4 with me to swatch, but I also have swatched the entire collection at the preview, scroll down!

These glide on like butter and look amazing on the lips. I love how nourishing & comfortable they feel and truly represent the Clé de Peau aesthetic. Luxury in every sense!

Quick look at the complete shade range.

Heading onto some more pics taken at the Clé de Peau A/W preview! I got to swatch everything over a cosy lunch with the lovely girls of Clé de Peau Beauté Singapore. It was makeup HEAVEN!

Pricing & Availability

Radiant Liquid Rouge – SGD80

Eye Colour Quads Refill – SGD 80

Eye Colour Quads Case – SGD 30

Cream Eye Colour Solos – SGD 60

Luminizing Face Enhancer – SGD 140

Collections available now at all Clé de Peau Beauté counters (Tangs, Takashimaya)

Everything seen here will be joining their permanent line up. Which means they won’t be selling out! Yay!

Post includes press samples and a few pieces I purchased myself. 

This August Estée Lauder introduces a brand new product to their Advanced Night Repair range. The Advanced Night Repair, Intensive Recovery Ampoules.

Having experienced impressive results with their previous launch, the PowerFoil mask (reviewed here), I was more than happy to give these new ampoules a go!

These ANR ampoules are for over-stressed skin. Skin that’s been stressed from causes such as lack of sleep, increased pollution, travel or weather changes. Basically as increasingly stressful work life combined with city dwelling takes a toll on our skin, this is what you turn to, to rebalance, recharge & bring your skin back to it’s happy place.

Within each of these ampoules is a 100% active formula in a precision micro-dose that offers rapid relief to address any irritation that can cause premature signs of ageing. It’s like an SOS treatment for the skin.

Formula & Technology

These ampoules feature a brand new ChronoluxAl Technology, a dual action anti-irritation & synchronization technology that helps skin address all phases of irritation and supports skins natural synchronisation. Visible irritation is quickly reduced as skin becomes stronger & more resilient to future aggressors.  

Application 

I began using these ampoules as treatment for my irritated, unbalanced skin. A result of insufficient sleep paired with constant travel & daily stress. It was a time my skin was breaking out badly and was looking rather textured and red.

One ampoule at night after cleansing and toning is all I needed, followed by my trusty Estée Lauder Radiant Moisture Cream as I do on most days. This helps seal in the oil as well as keep skin hydration levels in check.

The texture of this is a lightweight oil. Not so much a heavy, nourishing oil. More like a serum-y oil that absorbs well. Therefore a moisturiser on top would be a must to seal in hydration so you don’t wake up with parched skin.

Results

I noticed instant overnight results (as you’d expect from an SOS treatment!). My skin looked more even, all the redness around my cheeks and blotchiness had faded away. It’s like waking up with brand new skin each morning. Overall my complexion looked more luminous and rested. I loved it!

Needless to say, I then proceeded to pack these ampoules (in a travel container) with me whenever I fly, so I would never be without it! I am quite convinced I need them in my life.

Bottom Line

If you suffer from continuously irritated skin, or have a particularly stressful lifestyle with skin that seems to never quite feel ‘settled’ and constantly act up, I’d recommend this to you. It’s something I truly believe has worked for me and worth investing in.

*For intensive treatment, pair with Advanced Night Repair Serum as a 2 week detox.

Although I see plenty results using this on it’s own too! 

Pricing and Availability

These ampoules come in a jar of 60 which retails at SGD 196.

Hello!

Back with a comprehensive review on these precious liquid lipsticks from Clé de Peau A/W 2016. After a slight delay due to a mid week deadline, glad I made it in time before the weekend hit!

I hope you find this detailed post informative.

As seen in my previous Clé de Peau A/W collection roundup (here), I have 4 of these beautiful lipsticks to test. Three generously provided by Clé de Peau Beauté, with one shade purchased by me. I’m happy I grabbed it while I had the chance since, as of now all 8 shades of Radiant Liquid Rouge are out of stock in Singapore (but will return shortly).

The shades in my possession are, 12 Chenille, 13 Flushed, 15 Fast Lane & 17 Bugatti Red.

Packaging

They say good things come in small packages and never were more truer words uttered. Encapsulated in art deco inspired packaging these new lipsticks are so tiny (adorable), delicate and just luxurious to hold.

I was also pleasantly surprised to discover the black ombré case was glass, which give them a nice weightiness. It adds to the overall luxurious feel of the product.

Formula

According to Clé de Peau Beauté these new lip lacquers boast a moisture-rich, lustrous formula for a seductive long lasting finish.

I find these a hybrid between a gloss and lipstick. A lightly scented, creamy gel formula that glides on and stays put for much longer than your average gloss or glossy lipstick. Even though they never quite set and do transfer, I got substantial wear time with these. An average of 4 hours with moderate eating & drinking.

I also found the formula very nourishing and throughout wear lips feel deeply conditioned and never dry or flakey.

The wand as you see is features a slightly curved edge to fit the lip contour for better control & easy application. If you have trouble with regular liquid lipstick, you won’t have a problem with these. It smooths on colour evenly without any streaking.

The coverage you can expect is semi-opaque, with some shades (such as 15) less pigmented, applying sheerer than the others. On a side note, with this formula I prefer a single pump of product per application as it can feel heavy if you dip in twice.

Also less product gives it less slip. Meaning less feathering around the lip line so you can skip lip liner. I also noticed the more product you use, the more chances of the excess ending up on the teeth. Try applying these in the thinnest coat possible.

Overall verdict,

I do like the luminosity they bring to the lips. A fuller, plumper pout with good coverage and no sticky feeling.

On to swatches!

17- Bugatti Red is a bright red with a blue undertone

15 – Fast Lane is a neutral pink orchid with lilac tones

13 – Flushed is a pink nude with fine shimmer

12 – Chenille is a neutral medium brown with hints of rose

As always I put together a few sets of comparison swatches for each in case you plan on purchasing these online.

I was surprised by how deep 12 Chenille wore next to other similar shades I had in my stash. It has a very unique hint of rose that makes it super flattering on medium skin tones without pulling too warm. As I was gathering samples for comparison I figured NARS Corsica, a limited edition from a holiday collection few years ago looked quite similar. Chenille is almost a deeper more intense version of that.

13 Flushed was also rather unique in my stash. I don’t normally gravitate to medium pinks as much though I do enjoy a good pink! Most of what I own are blue based pinks. However I found this really pretty on the lips and should be a universally flattering shade for most skin tones.

15 Fast Lane was the very first shade to catch my eye when initial promo pics started circling on social media. It’s one of those blue based pinks I LOVE to wear. Surprisingly I had only one lipstick I thought similar in my stash. Tom Ford Jack from the the first Lips & Boys collection. It’s almost identical.

Reds! I found most of the liquid reds I own fall into a similar category. There are slight variances when worn on the lips which are harder to notice in the swatches, though I hope you can see the texture of 17 Bugatti Red! So creamy and opaque!

Here’s how the 4 shades look like worn.

I paired these lipsticks with very soft eye makeup using just a wash of light pink cream shadow (Clé de Peau Cream Eye Colour Solo in shade 302) paired with the lightest peach shade from the quad Golden Age (Clé de Peau A/W2016) and some crease definition using an older quad, Baby Universe. One of my go-to favourites for nude eye looks. On the cheeks I used NARS Madly. A blush that practically looks great with any eye or lip look.

Bottom Line

I find the formula falls into the nourishing lip colour category. Similar to the MAC Huggable Lip Glosses, Rouge Dior Brillant glosses & Clarins Instant Light Perfectors, all of which I LOVE. These lip formulas are distinctively nourishing and clearly categorised as glosses, whereas the Clé de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge stands alone as a nourishing liquid lipstick.

It is without a doubt one of the most luxurious, if not, THE most luxurious of liquid lipsticks available on the market right now. The end result is sophisticated, polished and elegant. Perfectly suited for the discerning customer this prestigious brand attracts.

Although the price is steep, I believe you pay for the quality, packaging and experience. And by what i’ve seen so far. It’s well worth the price and highly recommend you try one if your budget permits.

Pricing and Availability

Each liquid lipstick comes with 5.5ml of product retailing at SGD 80.

Available at Tangs & Takashimaya Clé de Peau Beauté (Singapore).

It seems so long ago that NARS released their initial Audacious lipstick collection. One of the first brands to ever come out with lipsticks in such a huge colour range.

I remember seeing them at the preview and thinking wow, I pretty much need them all! It was pure makeup porn! I swear.

The pigmentation and formula was soooo on point! And to be very honest, I haven’t seen any other cream lipstick outperform the pigmentation of these Audacious lipsticks since then. I still believe it’s THE best pigmented lipstick that… ever lived.. so to speak.

This fall NARS launched 5 more Audacious lipsticks (replacing 5 others which will be discontinued. For more info, click HERE).

Apoline – Light pink rose

Shirley – A deep wine red

Stefania – A deep fuchsia

Kate – A purple orchid

Mona – A medium mahogany

I’ve received two as press samples & since i’ve already reviewed the formula before (HERE), I thought i’d focus on a comparison swatch post against a bunch from my existing NARS collection.

Here’s Shirley & Stefania.

Shirley is your go-to Fall statement lip. The perfect deep, rich red with a warm undertone. If reds and wines are your vice. This is one to look into.

As I’m not so much into the deeper reds I figured I won’t get much use off this. Until a lip swatch proved otherwise. Consider me sold! I am LOVING this shade for fall.

Here’re some of my NARS reds I find work well for comparisons.

(I’ve marked the Audacious shades with a * . The others are either Velvet Matte Lip pencils or Cinamatic Lipsticks)

Jeanne is the closest match to Shirley. Almost Identical when worn, though Shirley heavier on the reds in comparison to Jeanne which is ‘brown-er’.  I also found Shirley to have more slip and a silkier formula to Jeanne. This new lipstick just glides on like BUTTER.

Consuming Red, the latest Velvet Matte Lip Pencil from fall 2016 is also quite similar, so I threw this into the swatch comparison as well. If you prefer a matte lip, NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are such an amazing formula. Richly pigmented and less drying than most matte lipsticks out there.

P.S- Have I ever mentioned the NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencils are one of my all time favourite products? Well now you know!

NARS Audacious Stefania. A stunning deep Fuchsia. This applies much brighter than expected, and obviously I love the result!

At first swatch I imagined Michiyo to be a very close dupe. However after comparison, I found Michiyo much lighter in tone and brighter. I’d say Stefania contains slightly more purple hues too, a colour which would look stunning on olive complexions.

Bottom Line

I’m sensing there’s a slight improvement in formula. Both shades are silkier, and glide on like butter. I can’t recall how the other three swatched though (it was over a month ago since previewing these).

The pigmentation as you’d expect is also out of this world and boasts very long wear even though they do transfer with eating and drinking. I also find they stain a bit and wear out evenly. Therefore touch ups aren’t needed as often as any other regular lipstick.

If you are hooked on reds or pinks like me, these are two beautiful additions to your collection. I highly recommend!

Pricing & Availability

Retailing at SGD 44 each, September onwards (Singapore release dates).

Lately I feel my skincare routine has been all about lotions. Not the moisturiser type, but the toner step type lotion to soften and add moisture. In fact all steps in my skincare routine revolves around moisture, cos apparently my combi skin is incredibly dehydrated and needs to be watered regularly.

Enter, Origins Original Skin Essence Lotion.

Original Skin Essence Lotion is for skin renewal and hydration. It encourages cell turnover and minimizes pores.

If dull or lacklustre skin is your problem, it’s a line that’d suit your needs perfectly.

The essence lotion is a lightweight (oil free) fast absorbing liquid scented with an uplifting fragrance found in most Origins products, a zesty minty mix.

I really enjoy this in the mornings especially when I use a foaming cleanser. It instantly tops up moisture levels and leaves skin feeling hydrated, refreshed and satisfied.

Original Skin Essence Lotion contains a Dual Ferment Complex of Molasses and Phytosphingosine. Molasses to help boost skins even tone while the Phytosphingosine provides anti irritant benefits to keep skin glowing.

This formula also contains Chestnut Seed extract to help smooth skins surface for a softer feel.

According to Origins (through clinical testing) within 4 weeks of use, you can expect.

Visibly minimised pores

Visibly even skin tone

Boosts skin’s radiant glow

Softer skin texture

Soothed to keep skin healthy

Application

I take two splashes to my palms, rub them together and press it onto my face. This avoids wastage and you get the products straight onto the skin. Then pat it on a bit more till it absorbs.

*Normally I avoid applying anything with cotton pads unless it’s a micellar cleanser.

Results! 

Up on application you’ll notice skin feels deeply hydrated and much more supple to the touch. Any roughness caused by dehydration is diminished. I also found the moisture this imparts is retained for hours as I sometimes skip a moisturiser and this has worked great on it’s own to keep skin from dehydrating.

Long term benefits include better skin texture (through it’s continuous renewal process) and an overall hydrated healthy looking skin. If texture and bumps is something you suffer from I can say this is a welcome extra step to your skincare.

I didn’t notice a change in pore size, though with 2-3 weeks of regular use my skin did look more even, radiant and less blotchy.

Bottom Line

I believe this is a product that should be wonderful for anyone who requires a youthful, even skin tone and specially great for young adults who are looking for affordable yet effective skincare that delivers.

GIVEAWAY (Singapore Residents Only)

For a chance to take home a Skin Saviour Kit (the entire collection of the Original Skin range plus Checks & Balances Frothy Face Wash, Maskimizer Skin-Optimising Mask Primer & Drink Up Hydrating balm), Origins Singapore has put together 3 sets (valued over $300) for you my readers via a giveaway.

All you have to do is share a selfie on Instagram capturing your essence (this could be anything basically, a selfie that reflects you) and tag it to @Origins.sg and hashtag #quarterlifecrisis #sweepstakes to enter. MAKE SURE you also mention ‘BubblyMichelle’ in your caption so Origins SG can easily identify which giveaway you are entering for.

Giveaway ends on the 31st August after which Origins will announce winners. Good luck!

P.S-  have fun! The selfie should capture your personality, and no need to be anything than you just being you!

Other Info

Available at all Origins boutiques

Original Skin Essence Lotion with Dual Ferment Complex 150ml – SGD52

Original Skin Renewal Serum 50ml – SGD98 | 30ml – SGD78

Original Skin Renewing Mask With Rose Clay 100ml – SGD50

This fall Estée Lauder will be releasing two new products to their Pure Color Envy line up. The Hi-Lustre Sculpting Lipstick and Vinyl Lip Color.

I’ve already posted swatches of the Hi-Lustre Sculpting Lipsticks back when I previewed the collection (click here), and today will be focusing solely on the limited edition Vinyl Lipsticks (that hit the counters just about a week back).

There are 5 shades in total. L-R : Ripe, Shameless, Controversial, Burn & Shock.

Packaging

The casing is identical to the Pure Colour Envy Liquid Lip Potions from last year, except these sport a black logo up top instead gold.

Overall the packaging is lightweight, aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Formula 

According to the press release, these Vinyl Lip Color’s are essentially a glossy lip stain. A hydrating, pigmented formula for lasting colour & high shine.

The key ingredients; NEW optical pearl blend (to transform lip shape with a unique prismatic optic blend for amplified lips), Volume Boosting Complex (with a blend of 9 enhancing volume boosers such as jojoba, sunflower, avocado and hyaluronic acid) paired with Advanced True Vision Technology (colour pigments that provide a glistening shine) create a winning mix. A long wearing formula that remains vibrant and bold throughout wear without drying out the lips.

I find the consistency of these are between a gloss & a gel with the swatches looking like jelly. It has a translucent quality to it which makes this product look juicy!

Swatches! In natural light as always.

Ripe is a rich cherry red with plummy tones. Shameless is a medium blue based pink. Controversial is a warm medium red. Shock is a warm bright pink & Burn, a medium warm orange.

P.S- Most of the shades as you may have noticed contain some degree of shimmer. Although strangely they never seem apparent when worn. I believe they add to the lustrous glow but don’t show through the shine of the glossy base.

These are very reminiscent of the Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color that launched earlier this year (reviewed here). The same kind of intense gloss with great pigmentation (though the Estée Lauder Vinyls are more semi opaque than opaque). The only downside I see is these tend to be high maintenance.  A lip liner would be a must and certainly not something to wear on windy days if you have long hair.

On the positives, I really like how they keep the lips hydrated and moist. I also find they wear REALLY well as they stain the lip. Practically an entire days wear if you consider the longevity of the stain alone!

Bottom Line

It’s a fun fresh lip look. And between the vibrant mix of shades (from pinks, to plums to reds & oranges) you are bound to find something you like provided you enjoy this kind of look. I for one am super excited to pack these for my next beach vacay. Hair up, with a bright juicy lip truly screams summer even though these are fall releases. I’m glad they are here.

Here’s how my favourite shade Shock looks on the lips. Absolutely love it! It almost looks neon on my olive skin and contrasts so beautifully!

Top Picks

Apart from Shock, I believe Ripe is also a must if you aren’t afraid to rock a bold lip. The mix of cherry plum with the added shine is truly show stopping. Great for those holiday parties if you aren’t fussed about touching up or transfers on the wine glass

Pricing 

Available at all Estée Lauder counters and stand alone boutiques (Ion Orchard).

Retail price SGD48. (Limited Edition)

A few weeks ago I posted a summer themed photo on Instagram with a sneak peek of the soon to release Chanel liquid lipstick, Rouge Allure Ink in Séduisant. And as anticipated, many of you were interested to know how the performance and wear was, given at the time reviews of the collection hadn’t started to circulate yet.

Since i’ve been completely swamped with other new releases (mostly press samples from my favourite brands, the ones I blog each season) this review has been a bit slow. But as these just released (1st Sept) and finally available for purchase, I decided to squeeze in this quick but detailed review, so you know what you are getting into, so to speak.

The shade I have here’s 146 Séduisant. A pink heavy coral red infused with fine gold shimmer.

Packaging

As you’d expect it’s nothing short of perfection. It’s a Chanel thing, no surprises!

The tube is frosted glass with the cap in elegant black accented with a gold CC logo.

As far as size goes, these are quite small. Similar to the Clé de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge lipsticks I blogged about here. Easy to slip into even your tiniest purse as you head out the door.

Formula

These liquid lipsticks are creamy, easy to work with & pretty fool proof in terms of application due to the perfectly designed paddle type wand that allows more control.

Although this lipstick goes on relatively evenly, you may have to work in and go over a few streaky spots here & there. And thankfully, the formula allows plenty of play time so you don’t have to rush with these (a problem i’ve been having with the MAC liquid lipsticks and Anastasia etc). The struggle is in fact REAL.

Once applied, I find the Rouge Allure Inks take around 5-10 mins to achieve it’s final dried down finish. A soft satin matte which feels positively weightless and comfortable on the lips. As you can see from the lip swatch photo taken around 10 mins after application, lips don’t look crazy dry. And as someone with very dry lips and prone to flaking, I am pretty thrilled with the final result!

Longevity & Wear

Overall I find these extremely comfortable on the lips. It’s what I feel is an ideal formula for a matte liquid lipstick. They don’t dry out the lips and wear all day, even though they do transfer (very slightly) with eating and drinking.

Bottom Line

In my honest opinion they are worth every cent you pay. From the packaging to the formula, it’s an A+. I can’t stress how impressed I was with these, even though i’m not a fan of matte liquid lipsticks or Chanel lipsticks in general (I think I only own 2!).

Lastly, here’re links to some helpful posts!

More swatches Here.

Collection info, Here.

Pricing and Availability

These are new and permanent & come in 8 shades.

Available at all Chanel counters for SGD49 a pop.

Since the Spice Girl days, Victoria Beckham/Posh Spice has come a long way. A British pop icon turned style icon and now the designer behind her very own label, Victoria is the definition of a strong independent woman.

As someone who’s admired her work, passion for design and work ethic I feel Victoria is the prefect role model for young girls all around the world.

Victorias business plan is a simple one. Give women what they need.

It has worked great for her label and now she’s applying it to makeup! Mrs Victoria, aka VB has now collaborated with cosmetics giant Estée Lauder to bring out a limited edition collection of essentials that every woman needs in her life. A dream come true for all VB fans and makeup addicts alike!

The collection is broken down into 4 looks. Inspired by Victorias favourite cities.

The London look.

Intense sooty black eyes marked with liner. Oil-slick shadow. Flecks of gold. Nude polished lips. Tough with edge, yet beautifully feminine at the same time. 

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Eye Ink in Black Myrrh

Eye Foil in Blonde Gold

Eye Metals Eyeshadow in Bitter Clove

Lips in Brazilian Nude

The New York Look

A sapphire eye. Luminous skin contrasted by matte bronze. The nudest glossy lip.

Bronzer in Java Sun

Eye Palette

Lip Pencil in Victoria

Lip Gloss in Moroccan Heat

The L.A Look

A youthful, laid-back look.Perfectly sun-kissed with nude lined eyes & fresh glossy lips. 

Bronzer in Java Sun

Highlighter in Modern Mercury

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Lip Gloss in Moroccan Heat

The Paris Look

Lips are matte in Sunset. Eyes are dramatically lined in charred emerald. Edged in charcoal foil.

Eye Foil in Burnt Anise

Eye Kajal Duo in Black Saffron/Vanille

Eye Metals Shadow in Charred Emerald

Lipstick in Chilean Sunset

The collection features 14 products ranging from primers to face enhancers, eye & lip products.

Starting with beautiful skin using Morning Aura Illuminating Creme. Part moisturiser, part primer, this is to brighten and give skin a fresh morning glow.  Retail price SGD 102.

A must have from the collection would be Modern Mercury. The legendary rose gold highlighter in Estée Lauder’s speciality gelee formula. This product is said to be one of Victorias favourites for creating that sexy sweaty skin look. Glad it’s back and now in this smokin hot VB packaging! Yessss! Retail price SGD 104.For contrast between glowy skin, the collection features a matte bronzer Java Sun. A perfect neutral shade that can be used for a subtle sun-kissed effect, or worn beneath the cheekbones for definition & contour. 

For intense sooty black eyes use Black Myrrh. A cream eyeshadow in a pressed gel-cream formula which can be used wet or dry.  This densely pigmented product delivers an almost black shade infused with pearl for a sexy look. SGD 70.

The collection also includes two Eye Metals Eyeshadows. Bitter Clove & Charred Emerald. These feature a precious metal finish with densely pigmented colour for strong and sexy eyes. Can be worn alone or layered over Black Myrrh for a high octane finish. Retailing at SGD70.

The collection also debuts a new and innovative product, referred to as Eye Foils. These liquid metal eye enhancers come infused with sparkling pigments & flecks in gold and silver to deliver vinyl like shine even after they dry. Two shades available, Burnt Anise & Blonde Gold. SGD 70.

All makeup junkies are bound to find The Palette containing shades of metallic blue, shimmery copper & charcoal grey irresistible! It’s a nice mix of neutrals with two bursts of colour, just enough to add interest and steer away from the boring. Retailing price, SGD116.

Victoria also takes an everyday staple, kajal liner to come up with her version of a dual purpose liner and brightener. Eye Kajal in Black Saffron/Vanille is a nifty little product for enhancing the eyes by subtle definition and brightening by using the lighter side to outline the lower waterline. Retail price SGD50.

To complete the eye looks, this collection features two lipsticks. Brazilian Nude and Chilean Sunset. Two staples in any woman’s wardrobe. It’s about having the basics to go from day to night. These retail at SGD76.

To achieve Victorias signature nude lip. Use the matte lip pencil in the shade Victoria. Either to outline or completely fill in the lips, a must have from the collection. Retail price SGD50.

Last but not least, for glossy lip lovers there’s a gorgeous warm nude lip gloss Moroccan Heat. Infused with Estée Lauders signature fig scent this gloss can be worn as is or over lipstick for a fuller pout. Retail price SGD50.

Concluding the preview of this collection, what were your favourites? I’m thinking the Modern Mercury highlighter and single shadows are must haves. And of course the nude lipstick Brazilian Nude to achieve Victorias sexy sophisticated pout! Gotta have ’em all to be honest. But at this price range one must prioritise and make that long list… 

Collection launch is set for October. 

*All information taken from the official VBxEstéeLauder press release.

When it comes to curating a great skincare routine, a good cleanser that suits your skin/needs is a must. Specially since all serums and expensive moisturisers are pretty much useless when applied on poorly cleansed skin.

I choose my cleansers based on a) how much makeup i’m wearing that day b) my skin type. And as my skin changes so frequently I like to switch up my cleansers too. As you’d imagine, i’ve accumulated quite the stash and have tested a fair few.

This fall Clé de Peau Beauté takes cleansing to a whole new level introducing 7 cleansers to address various needs and skin types. All packaged in pristine white with gold accents.

It’s a selection of cleansers that not only look good in your skincare cabinet but also transforms the routine of cleansing into a luxurious night time ritual to pamper and ensure the wind down is a blissful one.

The collection includes the following,

Softening Cleansing Foam

Clarifying Cleansing Foam

Cleansing Clay Scrub

Cleansing Cream Oil

Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

Eye & Lip Makeup Remover Towelettes

Gentle Cleansing Milk

I’ve been testing 4 of the 7 cleansers these past months, and i’ll be talking about those in depth today.

Kicking off with my favourite from the bunch. The Softening Cleansing Foam. A surprising choice as i’m usually never drawn to foaming cleansers. Hah!

The Softening Cleansing Foam is a creamy foaming cleanser that foams rather thick. An absolutely silky & luxurious formula that makes the ritual of cleansing a more indulgent experience.

The formula is said to contain a ‘special combination of moisturising ingredients’ (including Hyaluronic acid) and an Intelligent Cleansing Technology that helps create an ideal environment for skin, therefore never too stripping, even on drier skin types. Since I have combination/dry skin, this suits my needs perfectly and cleanses dirt & grime from the day without dehydrating my drier areas further.

This also is my go-to on lazy days since I know it does a thorough cleanse and I can then rush through my serums & moisturiser and get to bed ASAP.

As a strong believer in double cleansing, on days I wear a full face of makeup I tend to use this as a second cleanse, relying on an oil cleanser to take off a bulk of my makeup. Overall this is great for all skin types (except the extremely dry ones) and also perfect for one step cleansing if you don’t wear heavy makeup day to day.

Application 

The method of use is a simple one.

Place approximately 1cm of cleansing foam (use less than you think you need) into the palm of your hand and lather up with some water. You can then apply this foam on damp or dry  skin and cleanse with circular motions. Rinse well and pat dry.

Ingredients

Water. Glycerin. Stearic Acid. Sorbitol. Myristic Acid. PEG-6. PEG-32. Potassium Hydroxide. Lauric Acid. PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate. Lauryl Betaine. Glyceryl Stearate SE. Bees wax. Polyquaternium-39. Polyglyceryl-4 Lauryl Ether. Acrylates Copolymer. Fragrance (parfum). Disodium EDTA. Trehalose. PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether. Sodium Benzoate. Iron Oxides (CI 77492). Pearl Powder. Silk Powder (Serica/Poudre de soie). Serine. Sodium Hyaluronate. Iron Oxides (CI 77491). Tocopherol. Theanine. Diamond Powder. Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate. Butylene Glycol. Polyquarternium -51. Hydrolyzed silk. Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein. Phenoxyethanol.

Next up is the Cleansing Clay Scrub. A cleanser that incorporates gentle exfoliating into your cleansing routine.

The Cleansing Clay Scrub is great to maintain healthy skin when incorporated once or twice a week alternating with your regular cleanser. The non abrasive scrubies are perfect for clearing off any dead skin build up and deep cleanses pores with it’s clay base. .

The formula also contains peony extract to help manage surface sebum & the same Intelligent Cleansing Technology as the Softening Cleansing Foam. The overall result is a smooth, radiant skin with less surface texture.

Application

Take approximately 4cm of product and work in with circular motions onto dry or wet skin avoiding eye area. Rinse and pat dry.

Ingredients

Water. Glycerin. Dipropylene Glycol. Kaolin. Glyceryl Stearate SE. Zinc Oxcide. PEG-60 Glyceryl Isostearate. Butylene Glycol. Talc. Bentonite. Alcohol Denat. Behenyl Alcohol. Stearyl Alcohol. Microcrystalline Cellulose. Phenoxyethanol. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate. Disodium EDTA. Trehalose. PEG/PPG- 14/7 Dimethyl Ether. Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Isostearic Acid. Fragrance (parfum). Lauryl Betaine. Barium Sulfate. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate . Aluminium Hydroxide. Paeonia Albiflora Root Extract. Serine. Tocopherol. Theanine. Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate. Benzoic Acid. Sodium Benzoate. Polyquaternium-51. Hydrolyzed Silk. Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein.

Following with a luxuriously silky cleanser that’s perfect for dehydrated, drier skin types. The Cleansing Cream Oil.

This smooth creamy emulsion which transforms into a luxurious oil, cleanses skin without dehydrating or stripping. The texture is sublime, gently breaking down even heavier makeup with silky smooth strokes.

This too, formulated with the Intelligent Cleansing Technology, creates the ideal environment for skin and promotes smooth, radiant and more even textured complexion. In addition it also contains Argan Oil, an ingredient known for it’s skincare benefits including moisturising and healing.

Application

Take approximately 3cm of product and massage into dry skin with soft circular motions. Once transformed into oil, the cleanser breaks down all makeup which then can be rinsed clean or tissued off.

I’d recommend this for dry to very dry skin types as this particular one rinses off leaving a oily residue (which essentially keeps skin moisturised). Something to keep in mind if this bothers you.

Ingredients

Hydrogenated Polydecene. Pentaerythrityl. Tetraethylhexanoate. Sorbitol. Water. Glycerin. Isododecane. Dimethicone. Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone. Sucrose Stearate. PPG-15-Buteth-20. PEG-60 Hydrogenated Caster Oil. Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate. MethylParaben. Trehalose. Argania Spinkosa Kernel Oil. PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether. Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891). Sodium Citrate. Algin. Citric Acid. Fragrance (parfum). Butylene Glycol. Sodium Metaphosphate. Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate. Aluminium Hydroxide. Tocopherol. Limonene. Crataegus Monogyna Flower Extract. Trisodium EDTA. Serine. Theanine. Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate. Sophora Angustifolia Root Extract. Polyquaternium-51. Hydrolyzed Silk. Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein. Phenoxyethanol.

Lastly the Eye & Lip Makeup Remover

An essential in every woman’s life. A point cleanser is perfect for taking off stubborn makeup (waterproof mascara) with ease. As with most eye and lip makeup removers, this too is a two phase formula easily identifiable with the separating of the ingredients into two layers.

What’s special about this particular one is, I find it leaves a relatively less oily residue than other two phase makeup removers. Most of which cause blurry vision as the ‘oils’ seep into the eyes. I find this effectively takes off gel or liquid liner (an exception being the TF liquid liner which most cleansers struggle to remove btw) making your next step of facial cleansing a comfortable experience. You wont be left partially blinded through the rest of your cleansing routine!

This gentle formula is easy on the delicate skin around the eyes and lips and pampers the skin with moisture.

Application is pretty straight forward. Just spritz a few drops onto a cotton pad and press over the eye area or lips to dissolve makeup, wait 5-10 seconds and wipe off. Follow with your regular cleansing routine.

Ingredients

Water. Cyclomethicone. C11-12 Isoparaffin.Butylene Glycol. Neopentyl Glycol Dicaprate. Cetyl Ethylhexanoate. Glycerin. Alcohol Denat. Sodium Chloride. Phenoxyethanol. Trehalose. Argania Spinosa Kernel oil. PEG/PPG-14/7 Dimethyl Ether. Trisodium EDTA. Benzalkonium Chloride. Fragrance (parfum) . Camellia Japonica Seed Oil. Serine. Theanine. Sodium Citrate. Polyquaternium-51. Tocopherol. Citric Acid. Hydrolyzed Silk. Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate. Hydrolyzed Conchiolin Protein.

Bottom Line

For those willing to fork out the cash for a truly decadent experience, these are worth a look. The standout products were the Softening Cleansing Foam which I thought was an excellent cleanser and also great value for money as the tiny amount needed per cleanse would really stretch this tube for quite some time.

My second recommendation would be the Cleansing Cream Oil. Apart from it’s (obvious) excellent cleansing abilities, I found this such a luxurious experience. A must try.

Pricing & Availability

This range is currently available at all Clé de Peau Counters.

Price list, to be updated.

This fall Tom Ford adds yet another new product to their lip colour category and as always, the mere mention of a new product had me counting down to the release. Of course the arrival of press goodies was a celebrated affair and I dove right in to see what they look like in person.

The packaging is as exquisite as i’d hoped. Sleek, sexy and everything i’d come to expect from my favourite brand.

I picked 4 of the 8 shades released. Two ‘nudes’ & two bold colours just in case I need something to refresh my fall makeup wardrobe.

The Lip Contour Duos are quite an innovation. The idea of combining a lipstick with a matching lip shaper/liner in a single product is pure genius. And the fact that it’s so beautifully designed with the lipstick fitting into such a sleek wand is even more enticing.

Packaging

What I noticed first off was, uncapping the lipstick can be tricky business. If you aren’t careful, the risk of damaging the lipstick by stabbing it with the packaging is pretty high.

The lip shaper also came with it’s own set of problems. The extra soft formula makes the tip quite fragile and in an attempt to twist up more product the worst happened and it broke off.  My suggestion is, only wind up just enough to apply so that the soft tip does not break.

Formula 

This duo combines a lip shaper in a soft, pigmented, shimmer infused formula.

What’s interesting is that the shaper is also a few shades lighter in comparison to the corresponding lipstick. According to the press info this is to contour the lip for a subtle ombré effect when paired with the deeper lip colour.

For those of you concerned ’bout the shimmer factor. It is less than subtle.. (slightly chunky & bordering a glitter look). Personally I didn’t get the purpose of a glitter infused liner, specially since it’s barely noticeable once the lipstick is layered on.

The lipstick portion of the duo is a pigmented, creamy, luscious one. A near perfect formula. Everything I want in a lipstick & very comparable to the regular TF lippies from the permanent line. I also feel that they are slightly smoother and glossier somehow too.

Count me a fan!

Application

The lip liner prolongs the wear of the lipstick though also at the same time makes the overall finish of the lipstick slightly heavier on the lips (as you’d expect with layering product).

How i’ve been wearing it most days was, filling in the lips fully and applying the lipstick on top. This gives the most even result.

Overall I believe I could do without the liner. Or swap out the liner for a glitter free formula.. Personally the liner isn’t really working for me how i’d hoped it would.

Onto the SWATCHES!

The shades are, L-R

No.4 Show it Off, No.6 Devil Inside, No.8 Make Me, No.3 Dream Obscene

Devil Inside is a warm medium red which transforms more coral when layered over the liner.

Make Me is a deep plum which pulls rosy worn over the liner.

Show it Off is a neutral taupe brown.

Dream Obscene is a rosy pink with hints of lilac.

And another look!

Bottom Line

I believe these would be perfect for anyone who prefer to wear liner with lipstick. Saves the trouble pairing liners to your favourite shades & the hard work of searching for the perfect match.

Personally I do love the colours within the collection and find Show It Off a must have, even though i’d use it mostly without the liner. It’s a nude without much warmth & yellow tones which I find rare.

Another favourite in terms of colour was Make Me. An absolutely stunning shade of plummy goodness. Though deeper bolder shades as this aren’t something i’d wear regularly, I do appreatiate a plummy wine done right. Highly recommend!

Pricing & Availability

These new Lip Contour Duos are new and permanent. Find them at Tangs Tom Ford beauty counter as well as MBS Tom Ford Boutique.

Retailing price & launch dates – to be updated.

September has been quite the exciting month in terms of beauty hasn’t it?  We’ve seen tonnes of new lipstick releases, a flood of fall collections and also the highly anticipated Victoria Beckham collab with Estée Lauder.

I was beyond excited to review the collection so today I’m all set with speedy swatches and pics to give you the low down.

I received the London look + Modern Mercury highlighter as part of a press  gift. Everything which i’d normally gravitate to.

The London Look includes,

Eye Foil in Blonde Gold. A shimmering liquid eye product which can be layered over eyeshadow for a metallic high shine effect.

Eye Metals Eyeshadow in Bitter Clove. A deep molten bronze.

Eye Ink in Black Myrrh. A shimmering high pigment shadow meant to be used smudged for a sooty, smokey look.

Brazilian Nude Lipstick. A warm medium nude with strong yellow undertones.

Eye Kajal Duo Black Saffron/Vanille. A kajal duo of deep black & peachy beige.

All powder products within the collection come packaged in sleek black compacts. The effect is almost a matte, ribbed leather look which compliments Victorias edgy London style. The gold hardware too lends to the overall vibe of the packaging. Slightly oversized in proportion to the compacts and totally badass.

On the whole I like how sturdy the packaging feels. A little more ‘chunky’ than expected however still very luxe and could definitely take a beating day to day.

For a sexy evening look Bitter Clove would be my go-to single wash of colour. The texture is soft, bouncy and packed with pigment.

If a metallic, shimmery eye look is what you are after. Bitter Clove is THE product to look out for. What sets it apart from a sea of other similar eyeshadows would be the ultra intense shine and easy to blend formula. Almost a creamy, bouncy feel as you dip your fingers in.

Here’s a swatch set I took in direct sunlight to capture the shimmers better.

The closest match I found in terms of finish was the Gucci Mono Eyeshadow in Iconic Bronze. Similar in shimmer content and intensity, and catch the light similarly. The others never quite achieved the unique grungy shine Bitter Clove possesses.

For best payoff i’d recommend skipping a brush and using just fingers. It smooths out well and blends quite easily with barely any fall out (brush application gets the shimmers everywhere, it’s quite messy). An absolute dream to work with.

Black Myrrh unlike Bitter Clove is a less ‘vibrant’ formula. More modest in bling factor, but similarly well pigmented and blendable. The soft shimmers catch the light adding dimension to smoked eyes and plays well with bitter clove to contour the eye socket.

Digging through several black formulas I had at hand, I discovered the Tom Ford Cream Shadow in the LE Black Oyster duo almost identical. Even though in photographs subtle differences seem to amplify, to the naked eye, not so much. The only difference was that one was a powder and the other a cream, both achieving the same colour and shimmer factor.

That being said, powder shadows and cream layer and build in different ways, similar swatches don’t necessarily mean you won’t find a place for Black Myrrh in your stash.

For lining the waterline and tight lining, the Eye Kajal Duo was sublime. The formula, creamiest ever, with pigment to rival any other eye kohl on the market.

I also found these to wear really well with minimal smudging. Only transfer I noticed was in the outer and inner corner of the eye.

Sadly in terms of packaging, this Black Saffron/Vanille duo didn’t quite fit in with the rest. The overall look dare I say, was slightly cheap looking. Specially at this premium price, i’d expect something a little more luxe.

Among the more unique offerings, these new Eye Foils caught my eye. Something like a shimmer top coat for the eyes, they pack some serious bling. I’d reserve them for special occasions normally but don’t mind whipping them out on date nights too.

Packaging is pretty much a flocked doe foot that comes in a shiny black tube. Easy to use and mess free. Just swipe on eyes and blend with fingers.

These wear beautifully as the formula sets, with no noticeable transferring then on. The shade I have here is Blonde Gold, one of the two colours that released with the VB collection.

Moving onto Modern Mercury! As mentioned in my last VB x Estée Lauder preview post, Modern Mercury‘s a definite must have.

Initially released a few years back, when rose gold highlighters weren’t so easily available (which made it unique and highly sought after). This one’s a highlighter on steroids! Hands down THE most intense, high shine, mad pigmented highlighter I own.

I feel the deeper base may not quite play well with fairer skin, though definitely a must have for anyone who’s looking to shine bright like a diamond!

Here’re some comparison swatches.

The exceptional pigmentation and payoff of Modern Mercury is hard to miss! I just love how it looks next to all my other top rose gold picks. The closest in terms of colour would be Tom Ford Moodlight which leans slightly more pink and less intense.

For those who don’t shy away from a killer highlight, Modern Mercury is a must have although anyone with textured skin be warned, this does amplify pores and any rough areas.

Last but not least, Brazilian Nude.

If there was one product that’s signature Victoria, this would be it.

As I applied it for the very first time, I couldn’t help think, WOW that’s the exact colour I always see Mrs. VB wearing!

What’s unique about Brazilian Nude is it’s noticeable yellow tones and lack of pink or peach. A true beige-y nude. Something that should work very well on skin with neutral or warm olive tones.

The most similar to Brazilian Nude is Givenchy Beige Mousseline. Sheerer in formula though pretty close in terms of colour.

Touching on formula, Brazilian Nude is a cream finish with semi opaque coverage. The colour is buildable though I do prefer the slightly sheer look which makes this more youthful as opposed to a flat block of colour.

As you’d expect from EL lipsticks, the formula is very comfortable worn. Creamy with an almost a balmy gel feel which seems to hug the lips. It wore well for 3+ hours and quite nourishing throughout.

Overall I do like Brazilian Nude and will be adding it to my daily nude lip rotation pile as I foresee myself using this tonnes. Plus the small packaging makes this ideal for lugging around in your makeup bag

*One more tiny detail to cover before heading to my final thoughts on the collection. These lipsticks come in a very compact size. Similar in concept to the Tom Ford Lips & Boys (though the VB lipstick contains much MUCH more product. I compared it side by side to a regular Estée Lauder lipstick and it looks pretty much the same size). The overall look is of a vintage lipstick, petite and space saving to fit into tiny evening bags. 

The London Look

Here’s the look I created using The London Look. I aimed for a shimmery unfussy eye and light base. Followed with strong brows and nude lip.

Prep the eye lid with a primer and some matte taupe shadow. Then a layer of Bitter Clove all over the lid (patten on and blended with fingers). Following with the eye kajal to the outer corners of the eyes close to the lash line and smudged it out. Set and smoke it with Black Myrrh.

For the face I used the soon to be released Tom Ford Waterproof foundation. Review to follow

Cheeks lightly defined with a warm beige (MAC Cheek Pollen) and topped with Modern Mercury as a highlight.

Lastly pulling the look together, two swipes of Brazilian Nude. Done!

And a closer look at the lips!

Bottom Line 

As far as collaborations go, Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder nailed it in terms of concept, quality and packaging. There hasn’t been a single dud in the selection I reviewed. The only product that fell short in terms of overall score was the liner which lost points for packaging though performance wise, one of the best liners ever! Super smooth and ultra blendable.

My top picks from the collection remain the same, except Bitter Clove has now topped the list, bumping Modern Mercury to second place. I feel it’s a product that excels in quality and will also prove to be a work horse in your collection. If you plan on getting just one thing alone, make it this!

Other Info

The VBxEstéeLauder collection is limited Edition & currently available for purchase at Tangs Beauty Dept. Also available at Estée Lauder stand alone boutique at Ion Orchard from the 1st October.

For complete price list, click here.

Among the many things La Prairie does well, eye care has got to be my favourite. To save the eyes from looking tired, lifting and wrinkle busting, my go-to’s in the past has always been La Prairie (Click here  to see old favourites).

This year I put yet another La Prairie eye serum to the test. And after many months of trialling I’m here to finally let you in on my new anti ageing secret. Shhhh…

As someone who’s constantly battling under eye issues (mainly wrinkles and puffiness) an eye serum is a must have. I find them effective in delivering results faster than creams do as they contain concentrated doses of actives.

The Essence of Skin Caviar by La Prairie is specially formulated for lifting & firming. Something essential to keeping the skin looking younger; and the Eye Serum as you expect, specially targets muscles that have lost their tone and visibly drooping. Effectively delivering a more lifted and firm eye contour.

Morning and night i’ve been using one drop of this serum massaged into the eye contour. It’s fast absorbing and a very lightweight, therefore perfectly suitable for the eye lids as well.

The dropper dispenser ensures you don’t dispense too much product (which is wasteful, not to mention painful at this price point) and also ensures a longer shelf life as you don’t contaminate the product by dipping your fingers in. Simple hygienic design that works great!

The combination of Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex with my current eye cream , the Cellular Swiss Ice Crystal Eye Cream is very light. Works great even under makeup & nourishing enough for the night time to wake up with a gently hydrated, refreshed eye area.

Results

I’ve gone through close to a 1/4 of the bottle over approximately 2 months and the results are impressive. My under eye area is much more toned, tighter and youthful with visibly less lines as well.

I’ve also seen my undereye become more luminous, though this I attribute to the cream more than the serum.

Overall i’m loving the results. Hence my speedy review!

Bottom Line

This is a product for anyone who find their eye area could use a little bit of a lift. It snaps back muscles back into the position is use to be and ensures a more youthful appearance.

Overall I find the results very impressive, therefore will not hesitate to recommend this to anyone who’s looking for some serious anti ageing care for the eyes.

If your budget permits, do not hesitate. It’s a pricey gem that you’ll be sure to repurchase!

Other Info

The Essence of Skin Caviar Eye Complex retails at SGD 260 (15ml)

Available at Tangs Beauty Department as well as Takashimaya.

This October Tom Ford launched another brand new foundation. The Waterproof Foundation/Concealer.

Tom Fords first full coverage foundation that conceals flaws while maintaining a skin like finish.

A month ago I was sent a sample of this gem by Tom Ford PR for a test run and of course I was very keen to try it out! So here I am today to share with you my thoughts on this baby.

Packaging

The foundation wasn’t exactly what I anticipated packaging wise. It’s a tube!

Although as far as tube packaging goes, this one looks darn nice! A delicious chocolate shade with luxe gold lettering.

I also like that the foundation is visible through a clear strip close to the nozzle. This allows you to monitor usage so you know just about when you’ll be running out!

On the whole, i’m a huge fan of tube packaging. You can easily control the amount of product dispensed and is also hygienic. Tubes are also by far the safest to travel with (unless you have a faulty cap). It’s easy, functional & ideal for packaging things like creams and foundations.

With regular use I noticed, this packaging gets very messy around the nozzle. Even though it never leaks, the product collects in the cap however meticulously I clean up before I recapping. It’s not a deal breaker, but I know some may find it quite irksome, so this is just a mention of my experience.

Formula, Coverage & Finish

The Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer is a creamy almost gel like consistency & incredibly well pigmented that a small amount is sufficient to cover a large area.

I like that it almost fuses with the skin when applied (almost tacky). It’s what helps the foundation last so long and also look like it’s one with the skin and not just sitting on the surface.

For application, i’ve used this with brushes, fingers and also a Beauty Blender. Method of application doesn’t seem to affect the finish. I feel it spreads well and blends in quite nice either way. Overall I can achieve almost full coverage with a light layer and I love that this can be sheered out easily to almost nothing!

For the most part blemishes are concealed. Redness and any unevenness in skin tone is effortlessly perfected leaving the complexion radiant, looking like a better version of itself.

Overall the effect is a natural, semi matte finish. Not too dewy, not too matte. 

On to how this looks on the skin!

Starting off with my bare face. Just brows and lip balm. As you can see I don’t have a whole lot to cover, just some annoying hormonal blemishes on my chin that never seem to leave and plague my life!

Here’s the after. I used Tom Ford Waterproof Foundation/Concealer in the shade Sable. A really good match for my NC35 skin. Maybe a tad light, but a pretty close match.

I’ve only used a single layer here. If needed, this can be build it up a bit more with another layer. Though for day to day I feel this is more than enough coverage.

What I love about this foundation is that it evens out my skin tone so well, all redness is instantly corrected. Like MAGIC.

Longevity

Although this foundation is said to withstand harsh weather conditions such as extreme heat, humidity and water I find it doesn’t survive well in sunny Asia. Extended wear outdoors causes it to melt and separate fast and subsequently settle into pores. In an air conditioned environment this fares better and wear beautifully all day and yes, the waterproof claim is also true. It does repel water!

I also like that the foundation doesn’t settle into fine lines. A problem I usually face as the day goes on. The fact that the formula is so pigmented and spreads so thinly, ensures there’s no excess product to seep into said lines.

Bottom line

It’s a beautiful foundation. The coverage is customisable as it can be built up or sheered out. Also love how wearing this gives me a gorgeous flawless finish. It instantly ups my confidence.

Who is this for?

• Anyone who’s looking for a long wearing foundation.
• A flawless, full coverage, skin like finish.
• Anyone with normal to dry skin.

Avoid if,

• You have excessively oily skin and/or live in extremely warm climates or spend most of the time outdoors.
• Prefer a dewy finish.

 Other Info

Available at Tom Ford counters in Singapore from October.

*Swatches of complete shade range & ingredient list to be uploaded.