The Convenient Beauty

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup 06/16/2013

2013-06-16T10:56:00.000-05:00

Happy Father's Day and Sunday everyone! We have a party today and of course I must share my sister bloggers' favorites of this week. Enjoy!

Ishah x Beauty: Ishah and her BFF went to Generation Beauty and met the transformation genius Promise Phan!
Mama Fashionista: Attention curly mamas! Mama Fashionista thinks Mixed Chicks is the perfect line for you and your mini me's!
MakeUpMom123: Spectacular One Year Blogaversary Giveaway!
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you love facial cleansing oils, then you must try TATCHA Pure One Camellia Cleansing Oil- it is a revelation!
TheFabZilla: Click to see what TheFabZilla used for her Summer Beach Waves.
Makeup Demon: M.U.F.E. HD Primers - reliable products for a long lasting Summer makeup.
The Glossy Pages by gloss48: Q&A with Krystal from PolishGalore and her swatches of the LVX Summer Collection 2013.
Beauty by Miss L: Is NOVExpert Gentle Make-Up Removing Milk as good as it sounds?
Geniabeme: Geniabeme curls her hair with Conair's Infiniti Pro auto rotating curling iron!
Fun Fierce Fabulous Beauty Over 50!: It's not to late to indulge in Chanel Spring Collection Illuminating Powder!
ColorMeSoCrazy: Review of Schwarzkopf OSiS Dust It.
Midnight Manicures: Does Summer have your skin needing a little relief? Check out Jamie's review of the Glisten & Glow Spa Products.
The Convenient Beauty: Perfect rosy nude lips with Chanel Exquisite and Tom Ford Rose Crush.
Beauty by Arielle: Everybody Loves a Haul! Check Out Arielle's from The Makeup Show.
Baking Beauty: Baking Beauty features a review and giveaway of some Judith August Cosmetics.

Look: Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 with Escapade and Pink Haze

2013-06-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

Boo!!! You thought this look would be an interpretation of Tom Ford ad campaign. I'm no Charlotte Tilbury guys. And I want to use Tom Ford products in a wearable fashion that proves that we can all wear sexy edgy Ford's makeup. Since I'm in the full mood for bronzing cheeks, it's the focus of this look. I keep the skin matte and a subtle sheen on the lips to balance out the shimmery eyes. I did apply more cream eyeshadows Escapade and Pink Haze than usual for the sake of the photos. Hope you enjoy! Scroll down till the end for the list of makeup worn.

Close-up of the eye makeup.

With warmer lighting

Makeup breakdown

Face

Clarins Ever Matte SPF 15 in Sand 108

Nars Creamy Conealer in Custard

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminiate #2 (highlighter)

Dior Aurora Bronzer (summer 2011 limited edition)

Tom Ford blush in Savage

Eyes

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso

Tom Ford cream eyeshadows in Escapade and Pink Haze as main lid color

Tom Ford eyeshadow quad in Cognac Sable all but the copper shimmer

Bobbi Brown long wear gel liner in Espresso

Dior mascara Extase

Lips

EOS lip balm

Chanel Rouge Allure Exquisite

Tom Ford lipgloss in Rose Crush

Favorite combo: Tom Ford Lipgloss Rose Crush and Chanel Rouge Allure Exquisite

2013-06-13T15:00:00.000-05:00

You guys probably remember that I love pink lips. I find them the most flattering and easy to rock. But I don't want a predictable cute sweet pair of pink pouts. I want characters, versatile and shine, and of course pink. Chanel Exquisite is a bit overly sweet for my everyday while Tom Ford Rose Crush adds slightly too much earth to my lips. Since Chanel Exquite is a warm medium pink with golden shimmer, I thought it'd be the perfect base under a rosy nude brown Ford's signature. The results is understated enough for smokey eyes while adding enough oomph for a minimal eyemakeup.

I've been pairing this duo non-stop. Together they last for good 5 hours on top of a lip balm, either EOS or Fresh. Loving them!!!!

Swatched under direct sunlight

On my lips. Please pardon my hair and pimple.

What's your current favorite lip combo?

My Beauty Revolution: Bronzers As Bronzers

2013-06-11T16:24:00.001-05:00

Another stereotype about Asians I want to put down: tanning-phobic. Americans have tanning-beds. Asians take whitening bath. But then both are aggressive for our skin. In Asia, whitening makeup and skincare sell like oil and gas and here we have spray tanner and bronzers. It sounds like no-brainer to create sun-kissed (or bronzed) complexion with bronzers. Ultimately, that's why they're called bronzers eh? I just didn't get it. Before you guys call me silly, I must confirm that I'm not afraid of being too pale nor too tan. In fact I really enjoy the tone and depth of my skin color, to the point that I didn't see any reason to warm it up or cool it down. So I used bronzers as blushes :D.

Then I found my perfect foundation match (Clarins Ever Matte, Burberry Sheer Luminous, and Tom Ford Traceless Stick) and realized that my face needed some dimension. The foundations even out my skin tone, which is awesome, yet also flatten my face. Since I'm not up to high-tech contoured cheekbones on a daily basis, faking sheen and bronzed cheeks sounds much easier. Now, I LOVE bronzers, those with satin finish in particular.

Thanks to a shameful number of hours spent on blogs, tutorials, trials and errors, I finally figured ways to create an over all healthy looking skin. Here are how.

Warm up my foundations especially for the forehead area. I've found peachy bronze is the most natural looking for this purpose and adding warmth to the high points of my face. Dior Aurora is my all time favorite.

Add natural glow. I love bronzers with satin finish because my skin isn't completely matte. A matte bronzer doesn't look believable on me. Edward Bess Daydream works like a charm on my the high points of my cheeks.

Create dimensions for my face. It doesn't necessarily sculpt my bone structures although we could use bronzers to contour the face for sure. Instead, I apply bronzers on to the areas where the sun naturally hits the face, i.e. forehead, sides of nose, apples of cheeks, and high-points of cheeks. Nars Laguna is a classic. For a total bronzed look, I love to layer Tom Ford blush in Savage on the apples of my cheeks on top of bronzers. This gorgeous red-tinted brown creates my natural redness when I got tanned.

I finally GOT IT.

Do you use bronzers at all? What are your favorites? And how do you use them?

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup 06/02/2013

2013-06-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

Mama Fashionista: Quinn's Mini Fashionista, Peyton shares her five favorite things from May!
Adore A Polish: Kristina shows us her current skincare favorites.
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: If you love a great lip balm, then you will madly love Osmia Organics Honey-Myrrh Lip Repair! It's that great!
TheFabZilla: Think outside the kitchen! TheFabZilla shares how she stores her makeups using kitchen utensils organizer.
The Glossy Pages by gloss48: Meet the ladies behind beauty startup gloss48 on Boldfacers!
The Socialite's Closet: Enter to win the Aveeno Protect & Hydrate line via scentednights.
Beauty Professor: Forever on a peachy-pink lipstick hunt, the Beauty Professor has fallen in love with Top Shop's rendition called Whimsical!
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel plays with Chanel's new colored mascaras from their Summer 2013 collection and is less than impressed. Find out why.
Beauty Apocalypse: Beauty Apocalypse has some great make-up tips for traveling!
ColorMeSoCrazy: Nail Stamping Challenge! Best design to date!!
Beauty by Miss L: Is Palmer´s Eventone BB Cream as good as it is promised on the packaging?
The Convenient Beauty: Joanne redoes her wedding makeup from a few years back and feels much better.
The Passenger Element: Hourglass Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick in Icon.
Daydreaming Beauty: How to make an all natural coconut lip scrub!

Look: Wedding Makeup Take 2

2013-05-29T22:38:00.002-05:00

How I would have done my wedding makeup? For the peace of mind, I hired a professional makeup artist. And I think she did a good job for the pictures. They turned out OK. I still looked like myself! But I wasn't satisfied. My dress has peal and crystal details, so does the veil. The make up was a bit too done up especially with the eyes. She used a pair of natural looking false lashes and jet black eyeliner. She also altered the shape of the inner corners of my eyelids so that they appeared to be more even. Why on earth did I let her do so? Those eyelid tapes were uncomfy and didn't feel right, although they were teeny tiny.

I felt like a more subtle and relax look would balance out my wedding gown better. Here are my wedding makeup for pre-wedding photos. And by the way, the hubs and I endured the photo session for the sake of our parents. We knew back then that we would laugh at these pictures some day. We already did.

The dress. Me a few years back, a couple of days before the wedding ceremony.

The traditional dress. I was very into bright floral at the time. Now I would opted for a simple white instead.

This is how I would have much preferred. Glowy skin, softly contoured cheeks, natural eye shadow, crisp eyeliner, and casual red lips. So I keep my complexion matte with glowy cheeks. I want full brown, natural and well defined eyeshadows and NO FALSIES. No objection to false lashes but I love the relaxing look of my lashes. I also opted for a undone throw-away red lips instead of the classic bridal soft pink lips. There you have it.

My re-do makeup. Cool lighting. I wasn't topless guys.

My re-do makeup. Warm lighting. My actual wedding jewelry. Peals!

Makeup breakdown

Face

Clarins Ever Matte Foundation SPF 15 in 108

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer Custard

Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder

Edward Bess All Over Seduction in Sunlight (everybody should own it)

Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Intensity 2 (contour shade)

Tom Ford Blush Narcissist

Eyes

Dior 5-color eyeshadow quint Beige Massai (my all time favorite palette)

Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel liner Espresso

Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Stretch Mascara

Tom Ford Brow Sculptor Espresso

Lips

EOS Lip balm

Laura Mercier Satin Lipstick Cherrywood (same here)

I had so much fun writing this post. Tell me what you think ladies. And if there's enough interest, I'll do another look (yes, I have something else in mind too).

Joanne xoxo

Review: Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer

2013-05-26T22:41:00.003-05:00

Hello lovelies! My last regular post must have been eon ago. Claiming myself busy is a lame excuse although it's true. I'm in the process of making adjustments for my blog and it's time consuming. Then there's always my non-blogging life. So here is the star product I've wanted to share with you within a few days of testing it.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer ($21.5 for 6.7 oz) makes my life so much easier. You know the tighten feeling on your face post cleansing? Liz Earle toner contains herbal oils that soften my skin remarkably. Everything applied after it just glides on smoothly. I spray it all over my face, let it settle for 30 seconds then slap on my moisturizer. It's just so easy, no massage needed although it will make the oils absorbed faster.

Under muggy weather (like what we're experiencing in Houston), I skip face moisturizers as the oils in the toner hydrates my skin well. During drier months when moisturizers alone don't keep my skin hydrated enough, Liz Earle Tonic Spritzer adds the moist back to my skin. I am totally in love ! The nice thing is it doesn't feel either oily nor sticky. My skin is flake-free and looks fresh and glowy ever since I started the toner 3 months ago. It's perfect after deep cleansing with Clarisonic Mia and exfoliators.

The toner comes in three sizes, 1 oz ($8.5), 1.6 oz ($8.5 oz) and 6.7 oz and the company offers spritzer package for 1 oz and 6.7 oz and bottle for 1.6 oz and 6.7 oz. How thoughtful! Smaller sizes are ideal for traveling or on the go.

Now the toner also contains fragrance, which some of you might want to test first. You can check out the return and exchange policy here. I find the scent light and pleasant even though I generally dislike scented beauty products.

Bottom line. On my repurchased list. Highly-recommended!

What's your go-to toner? Why do you love it? Have you tried Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer?

Guest Post on Gummy Vision

2013-05-19T11:50:00.000-05:00

Yay!! I'm a guest again. The ever lovely Gummy hosts a series of skincare routine featuring guest bloggers. I'm so honored when she extended the invitation as she's my skincare mentor and her guest bloggers are all talented and have great sense of humor. Peer pressure you know! Her wonderful blog, Gummy Vision has moved to a new server and she did a great job designing it in chic and clean interface. I highly recommend you guys check out her blog.

You can check out my guest post on Gummy Vision here. Talk to you all soon. Joanne

Montreal Five-Love

2013-05-15T15:09:00.000-05:00

Running The Convenient Beauty has been a bit of a challenge since April. Not only I haven't had much time to finish my draft posts, but my mentality for the blog has evolved. In the chaos of changes in my non-blogging life, I had a much-needed trip to Montreal. It was such a refreshment after over a year living in Houston. Montreal has a special charm especially during spring time. I LOVE the city for many reasons, but here are five loves of the trip.

1. David's Tea shop. A more fun version of Teavana. It's hip, friendly, cute and relaxing. We ordered caffein-free tea. Delicious!!

2. Strangely-looking and tasty veggie - Tetes de Violon. I forgot to grab one package ughhh. This is served only at restaurants in Houston, I think.

3. BIXI - a bike sharing service that's similar to Houston B-cycle. Me, biking through one of the city parks.

4. One of the neighbors' cat. She's a ninja but from time to time, she's laid back like this. Her belly is huge!

5. My niece. She can flip and sit (for a while). Precious!!

Hope things are going well where you are now.

Joanne

Review: Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 - Escapade and Pink Haze Cream Color for Eyes

2013-05-09T10:35:00.001-05:00

Tom Ford Cream Color for Eyes ($40 for 0.21 oz) in Escapade and Pink Haze are my first real-deal cream eyeshadows. Not that I don't like the cream formula, I often find cream eyeshadow a bit hard to handle, particularly with blending. Escapade and Pink Haze blown me away with how blendable and layerable they are. Plus the colors are supreme.

Escapade and Pink Haze has a hybrid texture of cream and whipped mouse texture. They are incredibly smooth and blend seamlessly into the skin. It weightless and doesn't dry out though out the entire day or look greasy. Phenomenal!

Both stay fresh for over 10 hours over a standard primer. While Pink Haze gives me the same powerful wearing with and without a primer, Escapade creases on my eye lids after 4 hours without a primer. I haven't seen any reviews that report this issue. There's also no creasing if I layer a powder eyeshadow on top of Escapade. This could mean I need to test it a little longer. Priming my eyelids is part of my daily makeup routine but I thought I point this out. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to creasing guys.

Escapade is a golden/yellow peach with multicolor shimmer. Pink Haze crosses between brown pink and burgundy pink with silvery/multicolor shimmer. Escapade is a touch less pigmented than Pink Haze. Both are sheerer than in the pot but can be layered for maximum opacity. Escapade and Pink Haze look dazzling alone with just the eyeliner and mascara if you opt for more simple and clean look. I love to wear them together then define my outer V with one of Tom Ford's brown eyeshadows in Cognac Sable or Golden Mink, or Dior Beige Massai. They also work well as base color to add warmth and sophisticated sheen to the lids underneath my powder eyeshadows like Dior Rosy Nude, Dior Rosy Tan, Dior Sunset Cafe, Burberry Midnight Brown, Burberry Pale Barley, Rimmel Spicy Bronze, Edward Bess Back to Basics and the list goes on. Escapade and Pink Haze have become an important part of my eyeshadow collection.

I've emphasized this in all my Tom Ford posts and am doing it again: don't be shied away by the shimmer. It's opulent, edgy and sexy in the ultimately delicate fashion. The word shimmer/glitter itself seems to often be associated with teenagers, proms, and bling. Tom Ford has created and elevated the shimmer/glitter to a whole different class and made it wearable to suit the most elegant, simple and chic taste. Of course it's my personal view but if you try Tom Ford's beauty line in person, you'll know.

I don't have similar cream eyeshadows to compare with Tom Ford Pink Haze nor Escapade. I highly recommend you guys check out Makeup Magpie's marvelous review and the lovely eye look she did with both. Below are some peach and beige shades for you gauge how Tom Ford's sit in the color range.

Comparison swatches. Tom Ford Escapade has the most peach. Tom Ford Cognac Sable (peach shade) has much more golden bronze. Dior Rosy Nude (peach shade) is considerably pinker. Burberry Pale Barley is much more beige (although contains golden shimmer).

Swatched next to the window to show the color bases.

Swatched under direct sunlight to show shimmer

The high price point of Tom Ford is always up for debate. A single eyeshadow for $40 isn't wallet-friendly for everyone. But you'll get a great amount for what you pay, 0.21 oz or $190.5 per ounce. Chanel Illusion d'Ombre provides 0.14 oz at $36 or $257 per ounce. Bobbi Brown, another Estee Lauder's beauty brands, offers 0.12 oz at $24 or $200 per ounce. Basically, we Tom Ford's fans need to get over the first shot to own the eyeshadows, then they'll last for a long time. The question is whether you like the color and quality enough to give it a try. I do and both Escapade and Pink Haze are must-haves for me. They're worth every penny!

Bottom line. The biggest hits of the collections, and of this summer. I must own both Escapade and Pink Haze. Get them before they're gone guys!

Have you checked out Tom Ford beauty summer collection? What are your picks? Which items you're most excited about?

Review: Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 - Vapor Nail Lacquer

2013-05-05T23:43:00.001-05:00

Guys, my first luxurious nail polish and also my absolute favorite until today is Tom Ford Vapor . I don't wear nail polishes very often, hence the clumsy application in the pictures below :D. When I do, my go-to brands include Essie, Zoya, Revlon and the base and top coats by Butter London. I don't want to spend $$$$ on nail polishes either. So what's special about Vapor?

Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Vapor ($30 for 0.41 oz) is part of a well-edited summer collection from the brand. As soon as I saw the promo picture a few months back, I knew Vapor would be an instant click for me. When I swatched it at the counter, it turned into a love struck!

The color, shimmery pearly white that reflects light gracefully, got me right from the start. Yes, pearly white has existed for aeon. But this white is rather unique. It's very me. It pops against my skin color in a subtle fashion and brightens up my skin. The delicate shimmer, as I expected from Tom Ford, adds fabulous touch for the color and yet isn't overdone. Under the strong light, you can see the gorgeous multicolor shimmer. Adored!

The applicator. Quite easy to handle except for the bulky cap.

Vapor goes on opaque with 3 layers although I also really enjoy the sheer look of just one or two layers. It's chic, classic and not boring! The texture is weightless and smooth with excellent consistency. As you can see from the swatch, Vapor is streaky, which doesn't bother me at all. I know some people prefer a uniform look of the polish so this could be a drawback. Also, once applied the streaky finish can't be altered by my Butter London top coat.

Next to the windows - 3 coats

Direct sunlight - 3 coats

What really won my heart over is the long wearing. Vapor isn't chip-resistant like gel nail formula, of course. I wash dishes, do gardening, move things around etc... all with my bare hands. Now most of my go-to brands will peel by half of the nail after day one with all these activities. Vapor stays put on the major part of my nails, only the tips peeled after day 7. Love it!

Super fine shimmer

Now, I'm not familiar with nail polishes from other high-end brands although I tested many of them out at the counter. I can't say Vapor beats all white nail polishes in the market but it's an excellent choice for day or night, work or party and even the beach. It's so versatile that I know I'll wear the heck out of the 30-dollar bottle. My affection with Vapor is, like I said, a love struck. Not a single nail polish have ever caught my attention like Vapor. No one was even selling it to me at the counter. I played with it by myself then bought it.

Vapor offers slightly less quantity than a typical nail polish bottle (0.41 oz vs. 0.5 oz) and comes with a hefty $30 price tag. I believe you can find a similar shade in other brands, drugstore or high-end but I've never come across a pearl white like Vapor. Depending on what you already have, it might or might not be a must-have. In any case, I still strongly recommend you check it out. It's too lovely to be missed out.

Bottom line. Definitely a must-have for me. A classic shade that stays strong. Highly-recommended!

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundups 04/28/2013

2013-04-28T21:21:00.003-05:00

Mama Fashionista: Quinn of Mama Fashionista tells you how to get Sexy Smooth Legs in 3 Coconutty Steps!
Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: NYX Cosmetics Haul. I got all this for $60!
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Not quite ready to show off your cute summer sandals because your winter feet aren't quite ready? Then follow these simple foolproof steps for pretty feet!
Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: The new Zoya Stunning Collection is very aptly named! Check on Destany's post featuring the polishes.
ColorMeSoCrazy: Color Club Holo Hues 2013.
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel plays with the revolutionary new Armani Flash Lacquer and finds a new lipgloss love!
TheFabZilla: It's a feat! Consuming products down to their last drop that is. Check out TheFabZilla' fourth batch of Empties!
Makeup Demon: Purple makeup idea not only for photo shoot!
MakeUpMom123: Internet Friends & Lots of Nail Polish.
Beauty by Miss L: Miss L reviewed e.l.f. Therapeutic Conditioning Lip Balm which she just loves.
The Convenient Beauty: Want a sexy and opaque nude that doesn't wash you out? Check out Tom Ford Rose Crush lipgloss.
Beauty by Arielle: Checkout the Spring 2013 Revlon Lip Butters.
Shades Of Beauty, Inc.: Here Comes The Sun...Salon Perfect Orange A-Peel.
Beauty Professor: Hourglass Cosmetics just released their innovative #28 Lip Oil...the Beauty Professor weighs in on her experience with this luxe product!

Review: Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad 01 Golden Mink

2013-04-28T10:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Ford Eyeshadow Quad 01 Golden Mink ($75 for 0.35 oz) is one of the only two eyeshadow quads in my collection from the brand. It's a more neutral palette than Cognac Sable and I have seen it complement more skin tones too. However, I have mixed opinions about it.

Golden Mink, housed in a signature Tom Ford brown case with large mirror and two applicators, features four stunning rather neutral to warm shades. You'll have two glitter shades, one light lime yellow and one bronzy peach. The others two shades are a frosty warm taupe and a shimmer neutral brown. I love the color theme of this quad and all shades work well together. Don't be shy of the shimmer in Tom Ford powder products as it's ultra delicate and wearable. The shimmer creates a sheen rather than sparkles on the skin and it merges well with the pigment. The two bottom shades alone can create a beautiful everyday look. The colors, I heart!!!

Tom Ford is one of a very few brands that execute shimmer/frost/glitter brilliantly, in my opinion. It thoroughly impresses me with Cognac Sable and I was expecting the same phenomenal quality of the two glitter shades in Golden Mink. Unfortunately, they're noticeably drier in texture and less pigmented than the bright bronze glitter in Cognac Sable. So 50% of $75 was spent on the less-than-excellent glitters that I don't use often. Ouch. I'm not happy. Although the glitter is still of high quality than the rest that I've tried, it doesn't live up to the Ford standard. For that price, I want perfection.

Comparison swatches. Golden Mink is neutral, soft, and less pigmented. Cognac Sable is richly warm, and opaque

What questions my affection with Golden Mink the most is the wearing. I know many people experience the consistent long-wearing of 8 hours with Golden Mink. I don't. For some odd reason, it stays put that well in certain days and doesn't in others. Puzzled! Same primer, same activities, same weather, different wearing.

Golden Mink under direct sunlight

Now, Golden Mink isn't a trashy quad. It delivers good quality that's in line with other high-end brands and offers beautiful wearable colors even the glitter. However, it's priced considerably higher per item (for discussion of price per quantity please click here) and since Tom Ford does have outstanding eyeshadow quads, Golden Mink should have been phenomenal.

Bottom line. Like but not love! Good but not great! I'd rather trade one of the two glitter shade for a highlighter peach or ivory. Since I don't use glitter very often, Golden Mink doesn't maximize my investment.

Any thoughts on Tom Ford eyeshadows? Do you experience the same wearing inconsistency like me?

Preview: Tom Ford Beauty Summer 2013 - My picks

2013-04-25T19:03:00.003-05:00

***Update: Review of nail lacquer Vapor is here. Review of Escapade and Pink Haze can be found here.

What a day today! Hectic, exhausted, nervous, and satisfied!!!

I'll dedicate a whole post for the first part of my day. Let's fast forward to my beyond satisfying purchases of Tom Ford Summer 2013. I didn't have as much time as I wanted to test out the collection thoroughly. Beside the two powder bronzers repromoted from the permanent line, we have two illuminating sticks, one illuminating liquid, a lip lacquer, a nail polish, and two cream eyeshadows.

Here are my picks.

Vapor is my first high-end polish. I didn't expect to love it at all. It's pearl white and apply smoothly on my nail. I'll report back to you guys how well it wears on my nails but for now: ADORED!

My first instinctive choice was of course Escapade cream eyeshadow. It's a shimmery light peach that has excellent buttery texture and stunning color that is both subtle and intense enough to be worn alone. The biggest wowing item from the collection is Pink Haze. It has bronze/golden shimmer that keeps the pink wearable. Trust me, I have the toughest time to pull of pinks and just recently reconciled with the color. I'm completely obsessed with Pink Haze. Give it a try ladies!!!!

I also grab Tom Ford eye brush #13, the perfect eye blending brush. It created the chaos today. More about that later! :D

Now, I (temporally) skipped all the illuminating sticks and liquid as I feel like they're a bit too sheer and redundant, especially with my Tom Ford Illuminating Primer. I mix the primer with foundations too and it creates fabulous glow. The lip lacquer was so-so in terms of color and quality so I decided to save my wallet for one of the new stunning bronzers from other brands.

In the next few weeks I'll have more time to test them out. I'm going on a trip tomorrow and still have laundry, packing and cleaning to do. Talk to you all soon.

xx

Haul: Sephora VIB Sale

2013-04-23T16:30:00.000-05:00

Sephora discounts always attract me. Having said that, I must admit my makeup-ban determination has really toughened me up. I used April Sephora VIB sale to procure only basics for daily uses and for my upcoming trip. No eyeshadows, blushes, lipsticks since last December!!

Korres wild-rose 24 hour moisturizer. It feels light and comfortable on my skin. I love to use it for both day and night treatment to brighten up my skin in place of my running-out Korres wild rose + Vitamin C moisturizer. The later acts more like a mask for night time and feels a bit heavy for day time. After few uses, I think I made the right decision.

Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard. It's light weight, opaque, and dry in a satin finish that looks natural and blends seamlessly into my skin. While I love YSL Touche Eclat, Nars Custard does the job better. I now use YSL Touche Eclat for like a highlighter, the use recommended by the brand.

Nars Pro-prime Eye primer. I've used up my sample of the Sephora's 500-points gift from last year. I love it so much that the full-size version dropped unavoidably into my shopping cart. It keeps my eyeshadows in place longer than Urban Decay Primer Potion and Laura Mercier Eye Basics.

Josie Maran Argan Facial Oil. I won't be able to stuff 6.7-oz spraying toner in my carryalls and I've wanted to try Argan Oil for ages. So there I have it :D. It feels a bit heavy on my skin in Houston weather. Maybe, it suits the cold weather up north better. We'll see.

That's it.

Did you catch Sephora sale? Or did you choose other retailer's gift with purchase? What have you rewarded yourself? Any thoughts on the items mentioned here. I'd love to hear about it all. xx

Review: Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lipgloss 02 Rose Crush

2013-04-21T11:00:00.000-05:00

Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lipgloss 02 Rose Crush ($45 for 0.24 oz) is a rosy brown that goes on opaque in one layer. I particularly love Rose Crush to create nude lips that don't look dead. It gracefully tones down bright lip colors while retaining the characteristics of the colors. Rose Crush adds a healthy shine to my lips. All in all it's a flattering shade for my skin tone (light warm yellow undertone). While I adore the color, I don't think it's insanely unique to deserve the price. So let's explore the texture and the packaging of Rose Crush.

Like other Tom Ford lip glosses (and almost all other lip glosses from any brands), Rose Crush feels a bit sticky on my bare lips. Layering it on top of lip balm or other lipsticks reduces the stickiness and facilitates even application. I don't particularly bother with prepping my lips but it'd be nicer if the texture were more comfortable. However, I think the stickier texture allows Rose Crush to stay put longer on the lips.

Close-up of the applicator

Tom Ford Rose Crush comes in a chic and elegant square tube with golden trip and the brand's signature brown cap. The applicator is surprisingly user-friendly. It's small and narrow yet possesses the right stiffness that helps the glosses glide on smoothly and evenly. I love the case and the applicator! I'm glad it's not the typical doe-footed shape as I have more control of the gloss amount with the brush.

Swatched under direct sunlight. Rose Crush appeared warmer than actual shade.

Tom Ford Rose Crush last good 5 hours on my lips on top of lip balm or lip sticks. When worn alone, the wearing extend to hour 6 but feels sticky and thick on the lips. For all this, I don't think Rose Crush lives up to the price. I'd prefer it in the 30s range.

Bottom line. Love! Rose Crush is a high-quality nude-but-not-dead lipgloss that would flatter many skin tones. The shade isn't that original and the price could be more wallet-friendly, though.

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup 04/19/2013

2013-04-19T21:28:00.001-05:00

Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the amazing Effie's Trinket!
Mama Fashionista: Mama Fashionista tells you why should HURRY! to get your Total Beauty Collection Resolution Solutions box (especially since it's on sale)!
Emily Hudspeth, hair design and makeup artist: Concerned about Parabens in your Skin Care?
Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: Susan Thompson Cosmetics has an all new Liquid Blush in Just Peachy that is also the perfect contour and bronzer!
Adore A Polish: After the reviews, opinions can change. Check out which products Kristina is reviewing for a second time.
TheFabZilla: TheFabZilla reviews AVA Protective hot oil treatment and styling aid. Will it make it to your haircare must-haves?
The Convenient Beauty: If you want a blush that's edgy, unique, extravagant, and sensual all in one package, check out Tom Ford Ravish.
ColorMeSoCrazy: Greek Week is here at Duquesne- Look what I did!
Beauty Fiends: Finding the right dry shampoo can make all the difference in your hair. See what brand made a believer of Julia at Beauty Fiends!
Cosmetics Aficionado: Like matte eyeshadows? Review and swatches of the Kat Von D Ladybird True Romance Eyeshadow Palette.
The Passenger Element: Review and Swatch of NYX shadow base in Skin Tone ESB03.
Beauty by Miss L: Miss L reviewed Lohashill BB cream this week.
Shades Of Beauty, Inc.: Autism Awareness: Finger Paints Inkblot Blue w/ China Glaze Gleam Me Up.
MakeUpMom123: Easy Peasey Nails.
Beauty by Arielle: Looking for a budget nude palette? Try NYX Love in Paris.
Peace Love & Glitter: Easy tip to get any lipstick to last for hours! Even the cheapies!
The Fabulous Mind of a Wacky Mama Bear: Check out my updated review of Parnevu Hair Products + Giveaway!

Review: Dolce and Gabbana Eyeshadow Duo in Laguna

2013-04-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

Two things I really appreciate about Houston: Tom Ford and Dolce and Gabbana counter access. Huh? Yes, I'm a beauty enthusiast. What can they be? While Tom Ford has quickly won my heart right from the get-go, I remain skeptical with Dolce and Gabbana. It's because of their eyeshadows. Although I wasn't particularly impressed with any of their eyeshadows in the store, my excitement after reading Temptalia's glowing review of Laguna Duo won me over. I took it home with anyway and barely used it since then.

Dolce and Gabbana eyeshadow duo in Laguna ($36 now $42 for 0.17 oz) features two stunning a color, a blue with teal shimmer and a deep forest green with gold and green shimmer. I love both of the colors so very much. The powder is silky and smooth. It reminds me of a more refined version of Nars duos. It feels like loose powder is pressed in layers. The duo is housed in an chic and luxurious metal case with sponge-tipped applicators. My admiration for Laguna pretty much stops here though.

I have a the hardest time to make both of the shades stick on my primed lids. Both shades fade as soon as I finish my eye makeup. Even opaque base like Laura Mercier eye basics doesn't help. The sky blue teal is beautiful while the green looks muddy on my lids no matter how intensely or lightly I apply it. I also experience serious fall-outs. My eyes turns to raccoon sexy every time. Wonder why I don't gift it away yet? See how stunning and vibrant it is in the swatch. My heart melts. I couldn't depart with Laguna (yet).

Another look at this stunning duo. Oh my broken heart.

Dolce and Gabbana has just raised the price for their duo from $36 to $42 since last year. It's still in line with Nars duos ($34 for 0.14 oz) but what a big skip! If Laguna offers Nars' quality, I won't be bothered with the price. But I don't get much beside pretty golden case and eye-candy colors that only look good in the pan.

Bottom line. A total miss for me. While the color and mix finishes are absolutely gorgeous, everything else quality-wise fails short.

Review: Tom Ford Blush 05 Ravish

2013-04-11T23:13:00.000-05:00

Long time no see guys!!! From time to time, The Convenient Beauty experiences quiet moments, which is weird given how much I love talking! I wasn't feeling well and had to restrain myself from sitting long at the computer. Now that I get better, I hope to go back to my usual posting schedule. Today's focus is my beloved Tom Ford Ravish, a sophisticated blush color that's surprisingly edgy and wearable.

Tom Ford Cheek Color 05 Ravish ($55 for 0.28 oz) is a luxurious pinky brown with cool pink undertone that looks similar to that of Narcissist. When applied sheerly on my cheeks, it resembles Savage only pinker. In the pan, Ravish seems to wander far from my comfort zone. It's too red to be a contouring powder or bronzer for my skin tone. It turns out to be such a wearable rosy tan when applied lightly. I LOVE paring it with Edward Bess lipstick in Tender Love. Incredibly flattering for work days. Although Ravish has cool pink shimmer, it produces a natural sheen on my skin. My cheeks look glowy and healthy.

Ravish is buidable and would compliment loads of skin tones thanks to it exquisite blend of warm brown and cool pink. However, I think Ravish shows off the edgy and unique side when applied more intensely. I personally like Ravish on deeper skin tones.

Like the rest of Tom Ford powder products, particularly his blushes, it has velvety texture that feels so silky smooth. But it's not over powdery. The blush blends seamlessly and effortlessly into my skin, producing a second-skin layer. Some bloggers have reported not-so-smooth texture of Tom Ford blushes on the skin. I, however, have been beyond happy with all the blushes. I checked them in magnified mirror and didn't see them emphasize pores, lines or my skin texture. I'm not sure it's because my skin has improved dramatically or my magnifying mirror doesn't zoom in enough. May be my standard for smoothness is simply not as high :D

Heavy swatches against Savage and Flush

Some rosy tan blushes I own

Swatched under direct sunlight.

Tom Ford Ravish is the reddest. Burberry Tangerine has more orange. Tarte Exposed is the pinkest.

Tom Ford blushes come with a velvet pouch and large mirror. I love the case design but will prefer a more sturdy/luxe material. And usually with a price like this, I expect a nice quality brush like Burberry's. It doesn't mean that I'll use it. It's more for the convenience on the go.

Finally, I want to discuss the price point. You pay $55 for 0.28 oz of product or about $196/oz. This is double the amount of a standard blush. How does it compare to other high-end blushes?

In terms of price per quantity:

Burrberry: $42 for 0.24 oz ($175/oz).

Chanel: $43 for 0.21 oz ($205/oz).

Guerlain Duo: $50 for 0.21 oz ($238/oz).

Dior: $42 for 0.26 oz ($161/oz).

Le Mertier de Beaute: $30 for 0.13 oz ($230/oz).

Tom Ford blushes are priced in the higher range among the designer brands yet not the most expensive. Some may argue that Tom Ford Beauty enters the market recently while the others have been there for decades. It might not be reasonable to price the products at that range. I've tried all of the above except for Le Mertier de Beaute and the quality of Tom Ford blushes, Ravish included, is extremely competitive to the other brands.

Bottom line. What can I say? Get it ASAP.

Lately

2013-04-02T08:00:00.000-05:00

My husband's love of golf must have had certain effect. I was surprised the other day when my friends ask me the hottest players at the Shell Houston Open this year. I can name good 20 dudes who are currently under the radar!!! For those of you who don't follow the sport, Shell Houston Open is an annual professional golf tournament. We earned some free tickets as my husband volunteered for the event. While the hubs was marshaling the spectators near the green, I spent much of last Saturday beside him sunbathing and cheering his favorite golfers. Well, I do like Louis Oostheizen for his effortless powerful swing and calm manner. I also like Keegan Bradley. He's such a cute kid. Still, watching a bunch of guys hitting tiny white balls never sounds appealing idea to me. So I piled on sunscreen, put on sunglases, and scrutinized the makeup and outfits of some particularly well-dressed audience. Got some really good ideas from them!

Back to my recent love. I've been really enjoying the Real Technique brushes. Affordable, decent quality and great result.

As usual, Sephora Birthday Gift this year is a sweet little treat. The retailer has been upgrading the gift recently. I remember about 5 years ago, it was just Sephora lipgloss duo. I didn't even use them. This year, I received deluxe sample of They're real mascara and What's up highlighter which has the same amount of product as Edward Bess full size highlighter. Not bad right? Both have good quality, too

After much pondering and testing of Tom Ford fragrance, I settle down for Santal Blush and Black Violet (I think :D). However, I must admit that I prefer those little sample than the full size bottles. I can't really choose which to get from Tom Ford. With only few exceptions, I love all the scents I've sniffed.

Hope you're doing fabulous! Any plans for April?

Beauty Blogazons Weekly Roundup 03/30/2013

2013-03-30T20:10:00.001-05:00

Lola's Secret Beauty Blog: As a new convert to the Maybelline Color Whispers, Helen has fallen hard for their lovely colors and formula.
Mama Fashionista: March Julep It Girl Unboxing!
Makeup Demon: Looking for nail caring oil? Read the review of Essence Studio Nails Caring Nail Oil.
TheFabZilla: Enter to win Too Faced Better Than False Lashes. Ends April 7, 2013. Full details on TheFabZilla.
Confessions of a Sarcastic Mom: Destany tests out FEVERshadow from Wishful Bath & Beauty is the stunning Rue's Wildflowers!
Beauty by Miss L: This week Miss L reviewed her favorite hair care products by Keune.
Love At First Site!: MAC Archie's Girls Betty Bright Lipstick International Giveaway! Do you wanna win this Limited Edition MAC lipstick?
Chickettes.com: What's the difference between UV and LED nail lamps? Find out which is best for your gel manicure needs.
The Convenient Beauty: Improve your skin texture with Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser.
Rachel's Makeup and Skincare: Rachel feels the Tom Ford Brow Sculptor hasn't gotten as much love as it deserves and as such has decided to give it some.
Cosmetics Aficionado: Go bold and orange with Milani Sweet Nectar lipstick.
Cult of Taupe: I recently rescued 3 knock out shades from Fyrinnae. Come see what I've been missing!
Beauty Professor: Already in love with the formula, the Beauty Professor reviews her latest lipstick acquisition: By Terry Sheer Rouge.
Midnight Manicures: Check out Jeanie's Milani COLORstatment Naturals and Browns Lipsticks and Lip Liners Review. Another win for Milani Cosmetics!
Baking Beauty: Does Aveeno's Positively Radiant Cleanser really even skin tone and texture?
MakeUpMom123: Don't Be Afraid of Glitter Eyeliner!
The Passenger Element: Tiny purchase @ SiJCP ft Cover FX.

Review: Chanel Sculpting Veil Notorious

2013-03-28T16:30:00.000-05:00

You well remember this notorious sucker, don't you? It was flying off the shelf everywhere last year. One search on Google, you'll see millions of photos on millions of beauty blogs. I feel like everybody owns it. And I bought into the hype. I rushed to Neiman Marcus to get it without even trying it on. Why? Because I thought I'd look seductive like this. Because Neiman ran out of tester. Because EVERYONE was talking about it. Because I began to succeed in a decent contouring, which I battled for years. I regret.

Now this post won't be a complete rant on Chanel Sculpting Veil Notorious ($43 for 0.14 oz). Instead I'll tell you why I'm not impressed with everything about it.

Notorious is a sheer shimmery grey with a tiny hint of mauve. It's smaller than a regular Chanel round blush (0.21 oz) and was priced the same. Not a good sign! On my cheeks, it's more wearable than in the pan. I found it look more flattering in the photos as the camera generally takes away 20% color intensity. So it's kind of believable that I have defined cheeks. It does give me that runway high-fashion fierce cheeks. If I just stopped here then I like it. However, this grey color however doesn't complement my skin tone in real life. It's just off and unnatural looking. My hubby was asking me why my cheeks looked grey. Oops!!!! I did blend it out and used a very light hand.

Then I tried Notorious as an eyeshadow. Grey is one of my favorite eyeshadow colors so I expected to love it. Nah. Not at all. Notorious is so sheer and doesn't hold off until I finish applying my makeup. The texture is dry and a little hard that requires 3-4 layers for the color to show up on my primed lids. I can deal with the low pigmentation but I dislike the texture. *Sign*

If you have cooler and lighter skin tone than mine, Notorious will probably flatter you better. It doesn't have enough depth to show up without looking hollow on me. Until today I haven't figured out how to coordinate it with the rest of my makeup. I think it suits editorial makeups better than everyday.

Swatched under direct sunlight

From all the reviews I've read so far, people either love Notorious or hate it. This shade is definitely more tricky to pull off than friendly bronzer or brown-based contour powder. I agree with Lily of ChloeAsh that Chanel Notorious isn't easy for someone how's new to contouring.

Bottom line. Not for me. The quality isn't as good as regular Chanel blushes. And it's more expensive.

Did you get Chanel Notorious? If you passed it or missed it, what did you think? I know some of you really love it. I would love to hear your thoughts.

Review: Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

2013-03-25T16:00:00.000-05:00

There're products that come and go out of your life. And there're that just stay as long as you can find them on the market. Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanser ($40 for 6.7 oz and also available in different sizes), together with Liz Earle Instant Boost Tonic Spritzer, has changed the life of my skin and how my makeup performs. In 2012, it was voted as the most revolutionary beauty product in the past 20 years by CEW (UK). The widely popular cleanser also receives numerous prestigious awards from the beauty industry insiders. It does work magic on my skin.

The most important benefit I seek for in a daily cleanser is to gently and thoroughly remove dirt, built-up grease and makeup left-over traces to keep it clean and prevent future heavy build-up. I got it all with Liz Earle plus it polishes my skin, and gives it a healthy glow canvas for the next products to glide on.

Liz Earle Cleanser comes with a cotton cloth but I've found my regular facial towel is also gentle enough to massage the cleanser against the skin. Note that it won't feather up like other cleansers. So it doesn't work well with skin care gadgets like Clarisonic. Here's how I use the cleanser.

#1. Apply it on the dry skin then take time to massage it into the skin. It won't produce any feathery bubble like regular cleanser. It feels more like a moisturizer instead.

#2. After the cleanser sets in just a little bit, I soak the cotton cloth or towel with hot water and gently rub it upward from my neck to the forehead.

#3. Squeeze out the water, repeat step 2 about twice more.

#4. Splash cold water on my face and slap it all over. Yes, you hear me right. I like to slap my face daily to increase the blood flow under the skin. It like giving my face a little massage.

#5. Let my face cool down and spay Liz Earle Instant Boost Toner Spritzer from my chest up and a bit on the back of the neck. And finish the rest of my skin care ritual.

My skin has become much smoother, more even and brighter. The darkspots and acne scars is blurring away. Yay!!! I still have pigmentation around my nose and sun spots to fight. But the texture of skin is soft and silky. My hubby was at awe the other day. No kidding! My skin feels like a baby's. And he's one of those who won't notice if I have a bob hair cut or a pony tail.

Of course, the cleanser by itself doesn't turn around my skin problems. But I do see the difference just after one week adding it to my routine.

How to and the ingredients. Sounds good right?

Bottom line. As magical as recognized. A must-have for me and highly recommended to all skin types! Guys, you need this cleanser in your life.

Have you tried anything from Liz Earle? What cleanser are you using?

Review: Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick 05 Natural

2013-03-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

After disliking the liquid formula, I didn't expect to fall in love with Tom Ford Traceless Stick. The liquid version oxidizes on my skin quite badly and doesn't provide the coverage I want with a thin layer. When built up for full coverage with 3 layers, it looks heavy and unflattering. It also has strong chemical scent. I tested Traceless Stick during each visit to the counter. Each time I left with a rising appreciation of the absence of oxidation, second-skin texture, perfect color match and no chemical scent. The issue for me is just how well it wears on my skin. After using it non-stop for the past month, I now can declare it one of my staples, permanently.

Tom Ford Traceless Stick Foundation ($78 for 0.5oz/15g) is housed in a Tom Ford's signature elegant, sleek and chic glossy brown tube with golden rim and TF logo. It's exquisite! I love the packaging and I don't even tend to pay attention to it! The tube is shorter than my palm with the cap close tight. It was tossed around in my purse and the cap didn't come off. It'll also be handy for traveling.

I apply Traceless Stick directly from the tube in strokes. Three small strokes on the forehead, one long swipe on the nose, three large strokes on each cheeks, one short stripe on the chin and one gentle dab on the upper chin. Then I blend the foundation gently with a dense synthetic brush like Urban Decay Naked Foundation Brush or Real Technique Expert Face brush. The result is flawless and natural like second-skin.

Tom Ford Traceless Stick comes in twelve shades that are all yellow-based. They have the mixture of both pink and yellow, and integrate cool, neutral and warm in the color. So there is no real yellow or pink shade in the range. My perfect shade match is number 5 Natural which is actually more neutral and a bit lighter than number 4 Bisque. I can't find anything to criticize the match :D.

The spot-on shade match is also maintained throughout the day on my skin thanks to the infinitesimal oxidation of Traceless Stick. In this regard, it beats my other favorites Burberry Sheer Luminous and Clarins Ever Matte. The other two, albeit excellent, oxidizes more noticeably on my skin after 5 hours of wearing. It's a record time on my skin but Tom Ford Traceless Stick is better. Totally in love!

I don't experience any break out but some do. The ingredients look innocent so I'm not sure what might cause the problem.

The ingredients

Tom Ford Tracessless Stick provides sheer to medium coverage and can be built up to full. The highly consistent creamy formula allows it to cover minor blemishes, vein, acne scars, dark spots and the likes on my skin in just one thin layer. It's opaque in the way that mimics your skin texture rather than creating it. The result is truly traceless as it claims. As you can see from the swatch below, before blending both Burberry Sheer Luminous and Clarins Ever Matte look smoother than Tom Ford Traceless Stick. However, when blent out Tom Ford Traceless Stick becomes seamless with the skin. It's hard to distinguish where the foundation begins or ends. That's what I expected from Giorgio Armani Maestro and Estee Lauer Invisible Fluid, both of which promise invisible natural skin-like texture that I found too sheer to cover minor blemishes. Some double Traceless Stick as a concealer (yes, the consistency is that good) for both blemishes and the under eye areas. But I find it a bit too thick for my under eyes. I rather use my YSL Touche Eclat instead.

Tom Ford Traceless Stick dries in semi-matte finish (or semi-dewy, what's the difference anyway?). In the swatches below, the finish lies between matte of Clarins Ever Matte and luminous of Burberry Sheer Luminous. Although the texture of Traceless Stick is creamier than that of Clarins Ever Matte, the finish can be a bit dry if my skin is not thoroughly moisturized under dry weather. For this reason, I think Traceless Stick functions best during the more humid months. But this isn't a major drawback or nuisance. You just need to remember to exfoliate your skin regularly and prep it well with moisturizer before applying the foundation.

Before blending

After blending

Tom Ford Traceless Stick stays fresh on my skin for 8 hours without a primer or setting powder, or up to 12 hours with a standard primer. It doesn't cake up or greasy up during the wear. I love to use it alone without priming or setting.

For all those wonderful benefits of Traceless Stick, how much extra must I pay? Compared to other two popular foundation sticks by Bobbi Brown ($42 for 0.31 oz/9 g) and Shu Uemura ($44 for 11g), Tom Ford's is more expensive ($78 for 0.5 oz) for more quantity of course. In order to get the same amount as Tom Ford's, Bobbi Brown would charge $67 and Shu Uemura would take $60 from your wallet. Pricey Ford! Yet I'm so blown away and happy with the quality and the quantity I have from Tom Ford that I'm no longer tempted to try Shu.

Will I purchase it again? Oh yes, if I ever finish it :D

Bottom line. Exceptional. Impeccable. Tom Ford Traceless Stick delivers the opacity in one thin layer, generating a skin-like finish that lasts all day with an unnoticeable oxidation. A must-have and added to my all time favorites list.

Have you tried Tom Ford foundations? How do you like them? Yay or nay?

Review: Tom Ford Blush 04 Savage

2013-03-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

A warm brown with red and pink undertone is the usual "safe" color of choice for my blushes. Not that I'm scared of brown (it can always work as contour powder or bronzer in certain ways), but I didn't find it particularly flattering on me. After several years trying on more dramatic blushes, I thought I settled for the ordinary peach/pink/rosy/neutral blush. Tom Ford blush in Savage, together with Ravish, has revolutionized the way I wear blushes and enjoy them. It ain't just another brown.

Tom Ford Cheek Color Savage ($55 for 0.28 oz) is a rich warm brown with hint of cool pink that is opulent and sensual. Very sensual. Everything about this blush goddess is done right. The sophisticated brown, the ultra fine shimmer, the velvety texture and the pigmentation dance accordantly to create a blush of superb quality and versatility. You sure can use it as a bronzer, especially if you're medium to deep skin. On top of that, it stays in place until being removed 8 hours later.

Savage is highly pigmented yet the sheerest of the bunch I own. It has the same shimmer level as Narcissist, very subtle and well blent with the pigment. The shimmer is fused exquisitely with the pigment and seems inseparable when applied on my cheeks. In the pan, Savage looks rather deep and intense but it's lovely and very natural on the skin. It produces a stunning sheen (like all other Tom Ford blushes). So anti-shimmer wearers, don't worry about overly sparkly cheeks or cheesy shiny cheekbones! Savage warms up my skin and gives it kick of healthy glow. I love wearing it higher on my cheekbones. When I turn my heads under different lighting, my cheeks look lively and sun-kissed *self-promotion*.

Isn't Savage gorgeous?

Like the rest of Tom Ford powder products, particularly his blushes, Savage has velvety texture that feels so silky smooth without being powdery. The blush blends seamlessly and effortlessly into my skin, producing a second-skin layer. Some bloggers have reported not-so-smooth texture of Tom Ford blushes on the skin. I, however, have been beyond happy with all the blushes. I checked them in magnified mirror and didn't see them emphasize pores, lines or my skin texture. I'm not sure it's because my skin has improved dramatically or my magnifying mirror doesn't zoom in enough. May be my standard for smoothness is simply not as high :D

Tom Ford Savage against Flush and Love Lust. You think it's like a bronzer?

At first, I was certain of a dupe of my collection. Naive belief! It turns out all of my bronzers are either lighter, peachier or yellower than Tom Ford Savage.

Here are comparison with some of bronzers in my stash

Tom Ford Savage has more red than the rest of my bronzers. It's also the deepest shade.

Tom Ford Savage in action (makeup worn)

Finally, I want to discuss the price point. You pay $55 for 0.28 oz of product or about $196/oz. This is double the amount of a standard blush. How does it compare to other high-end blushes?

In terms of price per quantity:

Burrberry: $42 for 0.24 oz ($175/oz).

Chanel: $43 for 0.21 oz ($205/oz).

Guerlain Duo: $50 for 0.21 oz ($238/oz).

Dior: $42 for 0.26 oz ($161/oz).

Le Mertier de Beaute: $30 for 0.13 oz ($230/oz).

Tom Ford blushes are priced in the higher range among the designer brands yet not the most expensive. Some may argue that Tom Ford Beauty enters the market recently while the others have been there for decades. It might not be reasonable to price the products at that range. I've tried all of the above except for Le Mertier de Beaute and the quality of Tom Ford blushes, Savage included, is extremely competitive to the other brands.

Bottom line. Another must-have blush for me.

Do you double your brown blushes as bronzers and use your bronzer as blushes? Have you tried Tom Ford Savage? Thoughts?