My Beauty Hoard

Hakuhodo Slide Face Round and Flat J601 review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 24 May 2013 02:49:00 +0000

(Information taken from Hakuhodo USA website)

Features:

The bristles pop out from the tip of the brush when the cap is inserted from the bottom of the handle, allowing you to open and close the brush as needed. The moderately resilient bristles of this powder and blusher brush enable you to achieve a seamless finish and deliver powder to the contours of your face.

Product Info

Use： Powder brush

Hair Type ： Goat

Handle Type ： Synthetic resin/black

Size： A. Full Length: 125.0㎜ in place 90mm B. Hair Length: 38.0㎜

C. Thickness: 15.5㎜

I decided to buy a retractable face brush from Hakuhodo because I needed something to reapply my blushes and NARS Reflecting Pressed Powder on the go. My old MAC short handle face brush was cutting it anymore. It was shedding and I couldn't put in my cosmetic pouch without it getting dirty. I bought a Sephora retractable brush but it was too hard and prickly. So when Ruby from Miaka's Life and Loves was buying from Hakuhodo I jumped at the chance to get a retractable brush for myself.

The one thing I love about Hakuhodo brushes, is the high quality. All the brushes I have bought (I usually buy the mid range ones) have not let me down. It keeps it shape after wash and never smells of goat. This is a very soft and fluffy brush so it is more suitable for blush application. I found that it could not pick enough powder for my NARS powder.

The plastic casing is study and it is easy to slide the brush up and down. It fits nicely into my cosmetic pouch and I couldn't be any happier with it.

It costs USD $39.

Ratings: 4 lipsticks

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I have been told that Illamasqua blushes are good and have been recommended by quite a few friends to try them since I'm such a blush whore. I never got around to buying any of these so when I found this in the paper bag that Ruby from Miaka's Life and Loves passed to me as part of Project Swap, I was absolutely excited.

(Information taken from Illamasqua website)

ALC, DIMETHYLIMI- DAZOLIDINONE RICE STARCH, MICA, AQUA (WATER), MAGNESIUM MYRISTATE, PROPYLENE GLYCOL, OCTYLDODECANOL, ISOPROPYL MYRISTATE, GLYCERYL STEARATE, PHENOXYETHANOL, PEG-150, SILICA, RICINUS COMMUNIS OIL (RICINUS COMMUNIS (CASTOR) SEED OIL), CETEARYL ALCOHOL, QUATERNIUM-26, METHYLPARABEN, GLYCERYL RICINOLEATE, ETHYLPARABEN,CERA CARNAUBA (COPERNICIA CERIFERA (CARNAUBA) WAX), CANDELILLA CERA(EUPHORBIA CERIFERA (CANDELILLA) WAX), SODIUM CETEARYL SULFATE, STEARIC ACID, PROPYLPARABEN, CERA MICROCRISTALLINA (MICROCRYSTALLINE WAX), TETRAHYDROXYPROPYL ETHYLENEDIAMINE, PARAFFINUM LIQUIDUM (MINERAL OIL), CETYL ALCOHOL,CERA ALBA(BEESWAX), PARFUM (FRAGRANCE) AND MAY CONTAIN: [+/- TITANIUM DIOXIDE CI 77891, IRON OXIDES CI 77491, CI 77492, CI 77499, CARMINE CI 75470, ULTRAMARINES CI 77007, RED 36 CI 12085, YELLOW 5 LAKE CI 19140, RED 7 CI 15850, RED 21 LAKE CI 45380, BISMUTH OXYCHLORIDE CI 77163, YELLOW 6 LAKE CI 15985, MANGANESE VIOLET CI 77742, FERRIC FERROCYANIDE CI 77510, RED 40 LAKE CI 16035, RED 27 LAKE CI 45410] MAY CONTAIN CARMINE AS A COLOUR ADDITIVE. STOP USE IF IRRITATION OCCURS.

Made in Germany

To be honest, I am not in love with the bulky packaging. It could have been slimmer which will make it easier to tote around.

I love the colour! For my skin tone, I find peaches, oranges and corals more natural looking on me. I love the bright matte peach orange. When I swatched it, I was amazed at how pigmented it was. It is powdery though and kicks up a bit of powder when I used a brush or finger on it.

Knowing hat it was quite pigmented, I purposely used my MAC 187 Duo Fiber brush to pick up the pigment. Quite a bit of pigment was picked up and I had to shake the excess. It took a few swipes to get the intensity that I want.

I don't usually like my blush to show up too strongly so I hope you are able to see the colour on my cheeks. These days I wear my fotds out so I don't intensify any of the colours although it will show up better in pictures.

Here is the entire look that went with the blush.

Eyes:

NARS Smudgeproof Eyeshadow Base

SUQQU Blend Eye shadow in EX-06 Usuchaori

Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Liner in Black (trying out for the first time, will be reviewed)

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Waterproof mascara

Lips:
Lancome Le Lipstique in Inspire
Dior Addict in Fire

Base:

Make Up For Ever High Definition Primer

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

Make Up For Ever High Definition Powder

Cheeks:

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover

You can get Illamasqua products from ASOS which also provides free international shipping. This blush costs about SGD $39 which is a pretty good price I must say for a really nice blush. It may not be as finely milled or elegantly packaged as compared to its luxe sisters but the colour and pigmentation definitely makes up for it.

Ratings: 4+ lipsticks

Giorgio Armani Summer Collection 2013 Face and Eye Palette swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 21 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I rescheduled all my posts because I think I need to show you this little piece of makeup heaven. Yes I present to you the Face and Eye palette from Giorgio Armani. I couldn't risk not owning this so instead of patiently waiting for this to arrive at the Singapore counters I bought it the moment I saw it online. This is by far the best summer makeup piece I have bought at the moment.

The Face and Eye palette features a strange elliptical shape. It is hard to describe unless you see it for yourself. It has a shiny black plastic casing that is study. It is palm sized and has a magnetic closing to keep the cover closed at all times.

As you can see, there are two trays. One holding the precious bronzer that I will reveal really soon and one for the three eye shadows and the applicators.

Just look at that gorgeous bronzer. Unfortunately the golden glimmer is just an over spray. I haven't had the heart to remove all the over spray so I can't tell for certain how it looks without it.

The bronzer itself is a golden camel brown shade. It is not a matte instead it has like a satiny texture. Very suitable for my NC35 skin tone. As you can see, the bronzer gleams in the sun.

I used my Sigma Large Angled Contour F40 to apply my bronzer. It is not the best brush ever and I am not in love with it. Until this day it still smells faintly of goat. But it picks up a good amount of powder for me to work with. The bronzer powder is soft and finely milled. It does kick up a fair bit of powder when I run my brush around the pan. Afterwards I find that my whole palette has a dusting of bronzer powder all over.

Not blended

See how it glows on my cheeks?

The trio of eye shadows are satiny and soft. The first is a beige champagne shade. Great as a brow highlighter and for the inner corner of the eyes. The second is a beautiful peach shade, great as an over lid colour and finally a soft satiny brown shade.

The colours may not be special but the quality definitely makes up for it. It lasted the entire day on my lids with primer.

Swatched without primer

My look for the day. I am very pleased with how it turned out.

The Face and Eye palette sells for USD $88. That is quite a hefty sum to pay but you get a gorgeous bronzer and three pigmented, high quality eye shadows to play with.

If you love bronzers and soft neutral shades that gleam and glow when light hits it then this is the perfect palette you have to get for summer.

Ratings: 5+ lipsticks

Sak's Friends and Family Haul

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sat, 18 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I am telling you the summer collections are hitting me hard. I have a hard time resisting anything gold, coral, bronze etc.

My toner was running low so I decided to try out The Mario Badescu Special Cucumber Lotion. In addition, I picked up a Tony Burch wrap bracelet I have been eyeing for 20% off. I am not one for accessories. I cannot mix and match them for nuts. I have been checking out Farah from Farahdean at Instagram and Sophia from The Makeup Blogette. Those two ladies have a sense of style I admire. I love their arm candy posts.

Anyway I bought a black studded wrap watch from La Mer at the beginning of the year. I have been wanting to do my own arm candy. I saw this bracelet and thought it was cool so into my shopping cart it went.

I wished it was a little tighter because I have small wrists. What do you think?

I saw pictures of this at The Beauty Look Book and I said to myself I had to have it. The bronze colour is just to die for.

I already own the Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzing Powder so I had absolutely no reason for picking this up. I got sucked in by the lovely coral shade and the pigmentation. Ruby from Miaka's Life and Loves really digs her Pink Glow and I thought what the hell I get the Coral Glow since it is not available in Singapore.

Swatches and reviews soon.

Benefit Sugarbomb swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 15 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Here is another "toy" I have been given to play with by Ruby from Miaka's Life and Loves. It is one of her favourite blushes. I had two boxed blush from Benefit before ( a long long time ago). Dandelion and Coralista. I wasn't in love with those blushes back then and therefore stopped buying anymore.

I have an issue with the boxed packaging. Though study and lightweight I just didn't feel that it warranted the high markup I have to pay for them. I am not sure how much they cost now but I believe it costs about SGD$55 and USD$28. (Please correct me if I'm wrong.) I rather pay for a Burberry or Chanel blush if I am going to pay that price.

I feel kinda blah about the pigmentation as well. They look very shimmery and didn't show up well on my arm swatch.

It didn't really show up much on my cheeks either. It did give me a subtle glow so perhaps it could be used as a highlighter for me. I bet it would look much better on someone with a lighter skin tone.

I am thankful that Ruby helped me satisfy my curiosity about Sugarbomb. But it is not something I really see myself using on a regular basis.

Ratings: 1 lipstick

Happy Mother's Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:56:00 +0000

Hi everyone, I hope I'm not too late in wishing all mommies out there a Happy Mother's Day.

This is my mom. I am so glad I inherited her boobs (hehe) and legs. She is close to seventy now but still as active as ever. Because of her, I can work with peace of mind that my son is well taken care of. She makes the best bee hoon and chicken and mutton curry ever. She still treats me like a princess.

It is when you are a mom yourself that you realise how difficult it is to be a mother and the kind of sacrifices your own mother had to make for you.

Let everyday be a Mother's Day. Let us treat all our moms like queens.

Shiseido Maquillage Eyes Creator 3D GY 867 swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 12 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I am featuring yet another makeup item from Project Swap. The Shiseido Maquillage Eyes Creator 3D in GY 867. What a mouthful and trust it to the Japanese to come up with interesting names. It is not just an eye shadow palette, it is an Eyes Creator!

Maquillage is part of the Shiseido group. I think you can only get Maquillage in Asia but correct me if I'm wrong.

I have to let you know that I'm not a big fan of Japanese brand eye shadows except for Suqqu. My impression of them is that they are mostly sheer and subtle glittery colours.

Of course there are exceptions. I hear great things about brands like Addiction. Shiseido itself has great eye shadows too.

My preference are pigmented eye colours that are more satiny than glittery.

Anyway when I first opened up this palette, the first thing that caught my eyes was the middle shade taupish grey shade. It looked kinda sexy.

Middle shade

I was impressed by the finger swatches. They looked great. I love the dark brown cream shade too.

Here is how I use the palette.

Beige gold cream shade all over the lids.

Patted the champagne shade all over the lids to above the crease. I found this shade to be glittery.

Added the taupe grey shade on the outer corner of my lids and added some of the pearly white shade on my brow bones.

Next I added the dark brown cream shade on the outer corner of my eyes. I found that it didn't apply well over the powder shadow. I should have added the dark brown colour as a base before applying the taupe grey shade instead. I also don't think the dark brown makes a really great eye liner either.

Finally, my trusty black eye liner and mascara.

Suqqu lipstick in Asasuo.

Here is my overall look.

I'm not in love with this palette. Unfortunately. It is kinda too subtle for me. I was happy with the finger swatches but somehow the pigmentation did not translate to my lids.

I can see how ladies who aren't into intense shades might find this palette easy to use. After applying the cream shades I found that it smudged and affected the longevity of the powder shadows. I also suffered from some glitter fallout.

A check with the Maquillage website shows that a new series of eye shadow palettes called Tue Eye Shadow. I think Eyes Creator was part of their 2010 to 2011 range. I'm not sure if you can still find this at the counters. It cost SGD $69.

I rather spend my money on a more pigmented palette. Give me Burberry or Tom Ford any day.

Anyway here are alternative views of the Eyes Creator done my Makeupstash and Rouge Deluxe.

Ratings: 2 lipsticks

Dolce & Gabbana Luminous Cheek Colour No. 33 Rosebud swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I ordered this after seeing Rosebud in real life when I ordered it for Ruby from Miaka's Life and Loves. I was attracted to the lovely matte shade.

This is my virgin Dolce and Gabbana buy. It is not available in Singapore. Have you noticed that I have a penchant for getting stuff not available here? I think the exclusivity makes it even more alluring for me.

The velvet pouch is sort of a tight fit for the blush but after a while it becomes easier to slide out.

Hehe I love the gold case. It is hefty and small enough to hold in the palm of my hands. It comes with a cute brush applicator but I wouldn't use it unless I have to because it does not feel soft at all.

I had a hard time photographing this blush. Somehow it just refuses to show its true colour. Rosebud is actually a bright matte rose pink shade. It is not super pigmented but can be layered. I prefer my blushes not to be too pigmented because I hate having clown cheeks. I prefer adding more blush when I need to rather than having to figure out how to take it off.

I took two sets of pictures of the two different times I wore it because I was unhappy with how the pictures turned out. I can't really see the blush in the pictures but I swear it is there.

Rosebud is finely milled and soft. It is also very blendable and lasts well on my cheeks. If I were to rate it among my favourite blushes. This is how I would rank them.

1st place - Burberry and Chanel

2nd place - Suqqu, Tom Ford and LMdB

3rd place - Dolce and Gabanna

I paid USD $45 which is about SGD $56.

I am happy with my purchase. I might consider getting either Apricot or Peach in the future. However this blush isn't sending me into blush nirvana just yet.

Ratings: 3+++ lipsticks

Anyway these are the point makeup items I used in my second fotd. I thought I would give my old loves some loving for the day.

Chantecaille Coral Reefs Palette

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine in Monte Carlo

We went out to Clark Quay for lunch on a Sunday and came across the Gmax seats. We thought we would ham it up.

Clark Quay in the afternoons is really quiet. It is only happening at night. Anyway, I love sitting by the riverside to look at boats go by. The weather has been rainy lately so we were watching the rain clouds roll by.

Thanks for looking!

Tom Ford Lip Color 04 Indian Rose swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 03 May 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I knew I wanted a Tom Ford lipstick but did not get around to getting one until recently. The lovely Mag at Makeupstash spoke about Pink Adobe a beautiful brown pink. I was deciding between that and Indian Rose. I swatched both at the Tom Ford counter at Tangs and decided that Indian Rose would be more suitable for me.

This costs SGD $70. I paid USD $48 which works out to about SGD $59. I paid about $3 for shipping so I'm pleased that I got this for slightly cheaper.

The casing is just gorgeous. It is a heavy chocolate brown metal casing. There is a satisfying click when I close the cap.

Indian Rose is a pinky brown like Pink Adobe but it has more pink in it and is a tad brighter. It is a very wearable everyday colour. It has a vanilla scent which God forbid reminds me of a MAC lipstick!!!

It is a creamy lipstick with an opaque finish. It feels heavier in texture as compared to my favourite Burberry Lip Covers. I would have preferred it to have been more lightweight. It was neither moisturizing nor drying.

I'm not sure why but other than the lovely casing I don't feel that the lipstick formula is that special.

I'm not sure how I can explain this but when I apply my Burberry Lip Covers or even my Suqqu Creamy Glow lipstck I get a sense of wow when I apply it. The Tom Ford lipstick just didn't give me that sense of wow.

If I was going to spent a lot of moolah I rather splurge on Suqqu lipsticks.

Ratings: 3 lipsticks

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzing Powder 00 Nude Swatches and Review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Sometime back, Sak's Fifth had free international shipping if USD $99 was spent. Being an addicted online shopaholic I had to check it out.

I bought my very first Dolce and Gabbana blush after seeing Ruby's. And I also picked up the new bronzing powder from Guerlain.

I have way too many bronzers. My Guerlain Emillio Pucci bronzer is still only lightly used so I definitely do not need another bronzer to add to my stash. But if you have seen the beautiful promo picture you would understand how difficult it was to resist when they added that lovely pink into the mix.

Guerlain did wonders with the gorgeous dark brown metal casing. It feels weighty and oh so luxurious. What a beauty it is to behold.

The lightest shade is almost invisible on my skin but the other three shades provide subtle colour. It is finely milled and feel smooth to the touch. It also lasts quit well on my cheeks. After 4 hours of dance classes, it was still visible on my cheeks.

There is quite a strong fragrance to it. Not as nice as the Emillio Pucci bronzer but it is fine by me.

I use it more like a subtle nude blush than a bronzer per se. I love that it gives me a soft healthy look. For this bronzer, I use my Hakuhodo blush brush which picks up just enough pigment.

This sells for USD$75. I paid SGD$100.80 for it because Sak's Fifth converts the price automatically to Singapore currency at checkout. I found out it cost about SGD $101 at local counters and if you happen to visit DFS Changi, it is going for SGD$91. Grab it at the airport!

Off the topic but somewhat related. I was kinda miffed, a few months back when I heard that the Guerlain Emillio Pucci bronzer was selling at a discount during one of those brand sales. It was selling for SGD $50 then. You can check out Luna of Lunaface and Meryl of Memoseille's posts about it. I paid a good SGD $100 because I wanted to get my hands on it when it first came out. There is a Chinese saying which I was try to translate, heart pain and I'm adding this, wallet pain. That's what I feel when I heard it was going for half the price. Ah well, that's the price I pay for not being patient.

My two beauties together

Would I wait for this bronzer to be in a sale. Nope. I'll gladly pay the full price for it.

Ratings: 5 lipsticks.

Burberry Lip Velvet No. 310 Military Red swatches and reviews

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

Do you know how long I have been hankering for this lipstick? Since the Lip Velvets came out I had wanted Military Red. When I visited the Burberry counter at Tangs to swatch them, I brought home Fuchsia Pink thinking I bought Military Red (by the way I love Fuchsia Pink too).

Anyway dear Meryl at Memoiselle gifted this to me (thank you so much babe! Hugs!) and so now I feel absolutely contented to have yet another beautiful red to add to my collection.

Military Red is a warm dark red. I love the formula of the Lip Velvet. They are lightweight with a matte satin feel and look. The best part is they do not dry out my lips.

Here is a comparison swatch of my latest Red lipstick acquisitions. As you can see the Rimmel is just a tad cooler than Military Red.

Left to right: Rimmel versus Military Red

Left to right: Military Red versus Fuchsia Pink

Here is a comparison between Military Red and Fuchsia Pink. Fuchsia Pink is more of a pink red as compared to Military Red.

Anyway if you love your reds, Military Red is something you will want in your collection. Something about a matte red makes it sophisticated and alluring. At SGD $43 it is a luxurious splurge but you will not regret it.

Ratings: 5+ lipsticks

NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

For a really long time, I did without ever having to use a pressed powder to touch up. After setting my foundation with loose powder I was good to go and I could last the whole day without blotting. Ever since I stopped my Diane, my oilies have come back in a big way. (Psst I gave in and started my Diane again) and so found myself in need of a pressed powder to ring along with me.

I actually did buy one a Chanel pressed powder in December but never get around to reviewing it. You can guess by the fact that I haven't reviewed it, just how much I liked it.

Anyway a few of my makeup buddies have been squealing over how lovely this is that I just had to try it for myself. If I am not mistaken the first batch that went on sale sold literally like hotcakes and it was sold out in a couple of days.

You can check out their reviews at Miaka's Life and Loves, Memoiselle and Kaslovesmakeup.

I love the pouch it comes with, I am not in love with the rubberized packaging. Right now my palette is sporting a big powdery thumbprint that I can't seem to wipe off. It is annoying to say the least. I'm not looking forward to the casing becoming greasy.

Anyway I didn't realise that there was a little sponge tucked inside the pouch till a couple of days later so I don't have a picture of it. I would prefer using a brush to apply this, sponges in compacts sometimes give me the heebie jeebies because of the amount of bacteria that can grow there if we are not studious about washing them regularly.

You can see a layer of shimmery white powder. You need to use a tissue to wipe off the first layer and then you are good to go. You won't look like a disco ball, it fact the powder mattifies my face wonderfully.

As you can see it brightens my face too but I need to be careful not to overdo it, lest I start looking like a geisha.

I am totally in love with this setting powder. It is finely milled and keeps my oilies at bay (at least for a while).

You can find this at the NARS counter at Tangs and it sells for SGD $50. Strangely enough I don't see them selling at Nordstrom or even ASOS. The loose powder version sells for USD $34. I believe it should be the same for the pressed version. The price here is still marked up quite high. But if you want the pressed version, no choice you have to suck it up and pay for the mark up.

Ratings: 4 lipsticks

Rimmel Marshmellow Look Lipstick in 012 swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

A very generous babe by the name of Farah from @farahdean from Instagram gifted me with this gorgeous red lipstick. Thank you so much Farah!

I am embarrassed to admit that I'm a makeup snob. I haven't been buying any drugstore brands in a long while. The thing of red lipsticks is, all this while I have not found a nice drugstore brand red lipstick. You see I like my red lipsticks deep. Most of the red I see just happen to be too bright for me.

This Rimmel lipstick blew me out of the water. Just my kind of red.

Rimmel London Marshmallow Look lipsticks can only be found in Japan. I simply cannot find any information about these lipsticks so if anyone has some information about them I would love to hear from you.

For a drugstore brand, I love the sleek black packaging. It has a metal casing that feels lightweight yet sturdy.

Just look at how gorgeous it is!

It is wonderfully pigmented and gives a strong red colour with just one swipe. It is creamy and glides on my lips without being slippery. It has a satin finish. It lasts for about 4 hours when I sip on water but after a meal I need to reapply my lipstick. It doesn't feel hydrating but it does not cause my lips to peel either.

So does it feel better than or on par with my favourite Burberry or Giorgio Armani? Nope, I still feel that there is a difference in quality especially the feel of it. My luxe lipsticks feel creamier and still leaves my lips soft and supple after a whole day of wear. I won't be stopping my luxe lipstick hoarding anytime soon. Heh heh.

Comparison swatches: Left to right: Rimmel, Girogio Armani 400 and Chanel Rouge Allure Passion

This is fast becoming one of my favourite red lipstick. For a drugstore price this is just amazing. If you happen to be in Japan, I definitely highly recommend you hunt down this, it is just too good to pass up.

Ratings: 5+ lipsticks

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine No. 12 Corail Incandescent and No. 13 Pink in Paris swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I couldn't resist picking these up when I attended a YSL workshop recently. I have seen these in Joey's Space and The Make-up Blogette and I am totally smitten by the shades and swatches.

I have yet to own any of the signature YSL Rouge Voluptes because I felt that the original versions had too much slip in them. It was high time I added these beautiful lipsticks to my collection.

If you want more information about the Rouge Volupte shines, you can check it out at The Make-up Bloggett.

There are a total of 19 shades. I knew immediately that I wanted No. 12 and No. 13 because I fell in love with how they looked on both Joey and Sophia's lips.

I love the packaging! Though a finger print magnet, it is just the nicest gold casing which I don't mind whipping out to touch up. It has a good heft that just says good quality to me.

Left to right: Corail Incandescent and Pink in Paris

Corail Incandescent is a orange coral whereas Pink in Paris is a more of a pink with hints of coral. These two are lovely summer colours which I am very attracted to.

Rouge Volupte Shines feel very much like the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. They are emollient and balmy in feel. They provide semi transparent colour that can easily be layered for a more pigmented look. They do not last as long as full coverage lipsticks and I do feel that after an entire day of reapplying, they leave the lips with a uniformed stained look. They feel very moisturizing when first applied and they don't dry out my lips but my lips don't feel moisturized at the end of the day either. Did I mention that they have a lovely watermelon scent?

Left to right: Multiple swipe versus single swipe

I made comparison swatches of the Rouge Volupte Shines against the Chanel Rouge Coco Shines. Chanel Rouge Coco Shines vary in pigmentation. My Sari D'eau was nicely pigmented whereas En Vouge took a few more swipes for it to show up better.

Left to right: Corail Incandescent versus Sari D'eau

Left to right: Pink in Paris versus En Vogue

These sell for SGD $45.

Here is how Corail Incandescent looks on me. You can check out how it looks on a fairer skin tone at The Make-up Blogette.

And finally this is how Pink in Paris looks on me.

Ratings: 4+ lipsticks

Boscia Little Black Book review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I bought the Boscia Little Black Book about a month ago in a fit of desperation to do something about my acne problem and oil control issues. The SA at Sephora mentioned how she liked the Boscia mask. I thought why not try the sample set which included the mask. It comes with 4 products for me to try at SGD $74. I love the concept of sample boxes like this. I can try a few products and if I didn't like them, it wouldn't make me feel too bad about having full sized products that I wouldn't finish.

The sample box includes the Detoxifying Black Cleanser, Revitalizing Black Hydration Gel, No Pores No Shine T-Zone Treatment and Luminizing Black Mask.

The cleanser is a transparent grey gel cleanser that feels warm when first applied to the skin. It isn't particularly foamy but it does foams up and does an okay job of cleansing my face. My face doesn't feel tight or uncomfortable after washing. I don't use my Clarisonic with this.

Both the Hydration gel and No Pores No Shine treatment are easily absorbed into my skin. The Hydration gel does a good job of hydrating my skin. The treatment however is an disappointment, my pores are still very visible after application and it does nothing to mattify my face. After an hour of use my face is still very oily.

I had the most fun with the mask. I have itchy fingers and I do really bad things to my nails when I bored. I'm very embarrassed to say this but when I was little, I use to glue my hands and wait for it to dry and start peeling the bits. And guess what, this satisfies my urge to peel stuff.

The mask is an opaque and sticky goo. I notice that it stings my eyes even though I am careful not to apply it too near my eye area.

If I apply too thin a layer, it is quite hard to peel off the mask so I make sure I apply a generous amount. It take about 15 minutes for the mask to dry. When it is dry, it is quite easy to peel off the mask. I use lukewarm water to wash away the remaining bits.

After using this mask my face feels squeaky clean. I have been using this mask for 3 weeks, twice weekly. I don't see it controlling my sebum my face is still as oily as ever. It does not significantly minimize my pores either.

I'm on the fence with this mask. On one hand I love applying this but on the other hand I'm not seeing any significant improvements to my face after using it.

Overall I'm glad I tried the sample instead of buying full size ones for these. I don't think they work well for my super oily and acne ridden skin. It may be better for those normal skins or those with only mildly oily skin.

Ratings: 2 lipsticks

Make Up For Ever High Definition Primer swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I have been using my Giorgio Armani Master Fluid Primer for the longest time. I decided I wanted to try something different for once and took the plunge with Make Up For Ever's HD Primer. I have always been wanting to try out MUFE's primers since I played with them at their launch.

The SA at Sephora Ion suggested I use the beige version to brighten my face. She mentioned that the HD Primer does not contain silicone.

Well here is the ingredient list and I specifically see Dimethicone stated as an ingredient. A quick check on Dimethicone mentions that it is a silicone-based polymer. So correct me if I'm wrong but this primer does have silicone.

Personally I love silicone in my primers, I love how my face feels velvety matte and how it instantly erases the look of my pores. I do not have problems with silicone breaking me out whew!

This primer smells very synthetic and artificial when first applied so if you have a sensitive nose you might just want avoid this altogether. I can tolerate it because it goes away very quickly.

It is easily blended into the skin and gives me a smooth finish. It mattifies my face slightly but I still think my GA primer does a better job.

Anyway with my currently skin condition, it still does not keep my oilies away. Nothing does at the moment until I let my Diane run its course and do its job.

My foundation is was not able to last the whole day with this primer. After two hours I get shine all over my face and I need to blot.

This cost SGD $67 and can be found at Sephora or the Make Up For Ever Pro Loft.

If you don't have oil issues like mine and have relatively normal skin I think this would be an okay primer to try. It was an okay but not wow for me.

Ratings: 2+ lipsticks

Make Up For Ever High Definition Powder swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sat, 06 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

(Information taken from Sephora)

What it is:

A universal translucent finishing powder to be applied over foundation or worn alone.

What it does:

This luxe finishing powder sets the foundation and slightly mattifies skin without changing its natural contours. Made of 100 percent-mineral silica, it softens the appearance of imperfections and completely evens out the complexion for a glowing, radiant look. This translucent, dermatologist-tested, and talc-free formula does not dry the skin. One universal shade works for all skintones.

I have been wanting to try this for the longest time but my tub of Giorgio Armani Microfil Loose Powder just doesn't want to finish up. I kinda gave up and bought this.

I hear complains about the powder flying up and all over. I don't peel off the sticker attached to the sifter all the way. I cover most of the holes in the sifter and allow only 3 holes uncovered. That way I can control the amount of powder that comes out. I just give the container a little tap and use what remains on the cover for my face. That is all that is needed to powder my face.

The powder is very finely milled and super soft. When I apply it to my face, it mattifies it and brightens it up a little. Applying too much will make my face look white.

The current condition of my skin is super oily so even though this mattifies my face and sets my foundation, I find that after 3 hours tops my face is oily. If you have no such problems this would be a nice loose power to use.

I bought this for SGD $55 for 10g of product. It sells for USD $34.

This loose powder will be great of normal to slightly oily skinned ladies but not for ladies with serious oil issues like mine.

Ratings: 3 lipsticks

Giorgio Armani Face and Cheeks Duo Platte Ecailles

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I have been eyeing this beauty for the longest time. I first saw it on Joey's Space. I took a long time to buy this but I finally gave it and put it in my Sak's Shopping Cart.

I always love the Giorgio Armani packaging, very sleek and handy. It fits in the palm of my hands and has a magnetic closure.

The highlighter is a pearly white. The blush looks to me like a muted rose shade with a lovely sheen. The blush is not super pigmented but shows up when I use my Koyudo brush. This blush is not easy to overdo but may not show up well on darker skinned ladies.

I'm am particularly wary of shimmery blushes because with my currently skin condition (very oily face) I do not want the shimmers to emphasize my ginormous pores. Thankfully it does not, instead it makes my cheeks glow subtly.

I paid USD $59 for this. Inclusive of shipping and exchange rate I paid about SGD $77. I'm not sure how much it costs in Singapore though, would anyone care to update me?

Overall I am very happy with this purchase, this subtle blush and highlighter is able to take me anywhere and can go with whatever eye and lip look. The beautiful sheen and texture makes it more interesting that a normal matte blush. The powder is finely milled and lasts about 3 to 4 hours on my face.

Ratings: 4+ lipsticks

Sephora Haul and ramblings

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 31 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I was at Sephora the other day. My favourite Giorgio Armani Master Fluid primer ran out and I was torn between buying a replacement or try something new. In the end I decided to try out the Make Up For Ever primer and the HD Loose powder. (My Giorgio Armani Microfil Loose Powder has been with me for way longer that it should, high time I threw it away.)

I suffered from adult acne through out my adult life. After delivering my son and visiting the dermatologist, I took Diane for quite a few years to control my acne. It did a marvelous job, no more pimples and it controlled my oily face very well.

Last year I decided to stop using Diane because I didn't think it was wise to continue taking it for too long. I think I stopped around September last year. After a week, I could feel that my face was getting oilier. It didn't faze me much because I just had to tell myself to blot often and get used to it. But by December I was getting really bad pimples around my chin area. They would dry up, go away and new ones would appear. I think February was the worst time for me. I had pimples all around my eye brow area and the chin area just got worst.

It was around this time that I went to Sephora and decided to pick up the Boscia Little Black Book to try out. I was desperate to try anything. I'll let you know how I feel about it.

I forgot how devastating it feels with so many pimples on my face. My face feels heavy with oil and hurts often because of the fresh huge pimples. I was feeling very low and honestly not in the mood to put on makeup. None of my foundations stay on my face for long. My whole face becomes oily after an hour.

I threw the towel in and went back to my doctor for Diane. I just couldn't take it anymore. I'm not sure if I made a wise decision. The thing with taking birth control pills is that I must perform regular breast examinations to check for lumps. Pap smears are a must every year. I'll be honest, I hate Pap Smears because they just feel very uncomfortable but for the sake of my face and health I'm just going to suck it up and do it.

I'm not sure if it is a wise decision on my part. Today I am eating my third pill from the first pack. I can't wait for the oliies to go away and my pimples to settle. Wish me luck.

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold and Orchid swatches and review

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I heard about new Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks been released and I after I saw the pretty colours I knew I had to get them. There were originally only 9 shades available and they were mostly the darker colours. This year Laura Mercier came up with new colours and thankfully there were more lighter shades. So now there are a total of 17 shades.

The new ones being:

Pink Opal

Grey Pearl

Rose Gold

Mint Snow

Sand Glow

Sugar Frost

Orchid

Seashell

Sterling

I chose Orchid and Rose Gold because I wanted them as washes of lid colour.

Orchid is a pretty lilac colour that is dark enough to use as a wash of colour and still be visible on its own.

Rose Gold on the other hand disappears onto my lids and is barely visible as a sheer gold shade. I use as a base of my neutrals because Caviar Sticks actually last on my oil lids without smudging. I'm not sure about the darker Caviar Sticks though.

Here I added MAC Green Brown pigment on top of Rose Gold for a more complex look.

Orchid gives me a pink lilac pearl finish that is more visible to the eye. For a very simple look I just add on my liquid liner for a bit more oomph.

Caviar Sticks are easy to blend. I love using my fingers to blend. They are fast drying but there is still time to blend them out to your satisfaction before they set. They do slightly smudge at the end of the day but because I chose the lighter shades, they aren't that obvious.

I love that they are pen like which makes they easy to tote around.

These sell for USD $24. They sell for SGD $39 which is hell of a markup. With shipping I only paid SGD $33 each.

Laura Mercier Caviar Sticks are fantastic for lazy girls who do not want the hassle of applying too many colours onto their eyes. They also make great eye bases. You don't need any tools to apply them either. They work wonderfully with fingers.

I'm definitely going to try out one of the darker colours perhaps in Jungle or Smoke to see if they smudge badly.

Ratings: 4 lipsticks

Megalicious haul!

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 00:00:00 +0000

I just had to share with you this gorgeous picture. If I could roll in bed with them you bet I would have. A few of us makeup addicts decided to haul from Sak's and this is what we bought collectively.

This is my haul.

I wanted the new Laura Mercier Caviar sticks. I finally gave into buying the Giorgio Armani face and cheek duo Ecailles after seeing Joey rave so much about it. I also decided to take the plunge and get a Tom Ford lipstick.

My lovely friends allowed me to take pictures of their haul so thanks sweeties. Go ahead and drool at the orgasmic pictures below.

Tom Ford Blush in Frantic Pink. Dear Joy from Look Nook Hook has already put up her review about it here.

Chanel Raffinement belongs to dear Meryl at Memoiseille. I can't wait for her to post her review because when I saw her swatch this quad I kinda drooled all over her hand.

The Dolce & Gabbana Rose Bud blush and Tom Ford lipstick in Casablanca belong to Ruby at Miaka's Life and Loves. If I ever wanted to buy a D&G blush, I think Rose Bud will be the shade I buy. It is so pretty. I can't wait for her reviews too.

My swatches and reviews will be up shortly.

Beauty Blogger Tag: 32 things You didn't know about me

noreply@blogger.com (Jacqueline) — Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:22:00 +0000

Hi everyone! This is an impromptu post. Dear Joy from Look Nook Hook tagged me to do this. Honestly I've not done one because I'm not sure if any of you would want to read it but here goes.

1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?

It’s naturally straight but I have very unruly and thick hair. I hated it until my hairdresser finally convinced me to do a soft rebond. Now its manageable and I don't have to fuss over it.

2. What’s your natural hair colour?

It is a dark brown.

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?

I haven't dyed my hair for a couple of years. I kinda like it as it is.

4. Do you wear the same style every day or do you change it?

It is always the same unless it gets really hot, then I tie it up. I am very resistant to changing my hair style.

5. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?

I haven't done a mani or pedi for more than a year now. I haven't had time to go to a salon! The closest is the stick on nail polishes and I save those for special occasions.

6. How often do you change your nail polish?

I don't.

7. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?

Nope.

8. How long does it take for you to put on your makeup?

It takes me about 20 minutes to put on my makeup but I love taking my time if I can afford to. Longest time taken is about an hour.

9. What do you do first, face or eyes?

Face first, I tried doing my eye makeup first but it just didn't feel natural for me.

10. Do you “collect” makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?

Ha ha that's easy, I collect. I'm not called a hoarder for nothing. And I have a weakness for luxurious brands. I'm a makeup snob!

11. How often do you wear false eye lashes?

On weekends if I have the time and Friday date nights with my DH. I love the natural ones best because they enhance the eye. I don't like the really obvious ones though because they look just plain scary.

12. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?

Yes I do on most work days.

13. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone, or with family?

I don't wear makeup when I'm at home alone.

14. Will you leave the house without makeup?

Yes I do, when I'm going to a nearby supermarket to get groceries or when I know I'm going to be sweating a lot. But when I go to town area I feel funny without my makeup on.

15. How many high-end products do you have?

Quite a few

16. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?

I do, I rummage through my clothes and plan out what I want to wear in advance. I cannot afford to think about what I want to wear on the day itself, no time! I also like to plan what makeup item I want to use for that day, be it an eye palette, blush or lipstick and I work my look around it.

17. How often do you change your handbag?

I currently have 3 bags. My green bag I use for work. My grey shoulder bag I bought from Zara for my casual days and finally my coral handbag I save for special occasions.

18. What time do you get up and go to sleep?

I am in bed by 9.30 in the night but I mess around with my iPad and only sleep at around 10.30. I wake up at 5.30 in the mornings.

19. How often or when do you work out?

Almost everyday. I jog on Monday evenings, practice my pole and dance throughout the week int eh evenings too. I rest on Fridays and have a 3 hour dance cum pole session on Saturdays.

20. Left handed or right-handed?

Right handed.

21. How tall are you?

Very short! 1.57 cm.

22. Do you speak a foreign language?

Nope I can't even speak Mandarin well, so embarrassing.

23. How many pets do you have?

I had dogs, a cat, hamsters, a rabbit and fish before but currently I'm petless.

24. How often are you on Blogger (or your other blog platform)?

Everyday.

25. Do you read comments posted on blogs?

I do.

26. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?

I do have a mental want list which changes constantly.

27. How did you come up with your blog name?

I was thinking bout how I hoard my makeup and that is how I came up with it.

28. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?

A Panasonic Lumix.

29. How often do you clean your house?

I'm a very bad housewife, I don't clean! I get a cleaner to come in once a week. My flat is very untidy and messy.

30. What is your favourite colour?

Yellow.

31. Do you swear?

Yes, everyday.

32. What are you doing with the rest of your day?

I'm going to the Botanic Gardens to watch the Thomson Big Band. I love swing music.

My Beauty Hoard

Hakuhodo Slide Face Round and Flat J601 review

Illamasqua Powder Blush in Lover swatches and review

SUQQU Blend Eye shadow in EX-06 Usuchaori

Giorgio Armani Summer Collection 2013 Face and Eye Palette swatches and review

Sak's Friends and Family Haul

Benefit Sugarbomb swatches and review

Happy Mother's Day!

Shiseido Maquillage Eyes Creator 3D GY 867 swatches and review

Dolce & Gabbana Luminous Cheek Colour No. 33 Rosebud swatches and review

Sponsored: Lancome Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate Review

Tom Ford Lip Color 04 Indian Rose swatches and review

Sponsored post: Rodial Size Zero Daily Toning Body Moisturiser

Guerlain Terracotta 4 Seasons Bronzing Powder 00 Nude Swatches and Review

Burberry Lip Velvet No. 310 Military Red swatches and reviews

Sponsored Post: Rodial Beauty Event

NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder Pressed swatches and review

Rimmel Marshmellow Look Lipstick in 012 swatches and review

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine No. 12 Corail Incandescent and No. 13 Pink in Paris swatches and review

Boscia Little Black Book review

Make Up For Ever High Definition Primer swatches and review

Make Up For Ever High Definition Powder swatches and review

Giorgio Armani Face and Cheeks Duo Platte Ecailles

Sephora Haul and ramblings

Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour in Rose Gold and Orchid swatches and review

Megalicious haul!

Beauty Blogger Tag: 32 things You didn't know about me