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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Review: Dior Addict & Chanel Rouge Coco Shine Lipsticks



My apologies to those whom I promised a review for these lippies :(

Apparently, Blogger disapproves of my long rambly review and chose to eat up the 99% completed-draft just before publishing,
then spit it back out unceremoniously in gibberish =_=

I attempted regurgitating the review - I REALLY tried!
However, my irritation and resentment totally thwarted my efforts...  

Anyway, to cut though the chase, 
like most people who compared these 2 formulations, 
I prefer Dior Addict over Chanel Rouge Coco Shine.  

And for once, a SUPER CONCISE EXPRESS review comparing the 2 Titans of this season's lipsticks!



Vanessa for Chanel to the Left                                               Kate for Dior to the Right

Monday, May 23, 2011

Review: Nude Cosmetics Signature Cream Blush Duo (01 Pink & Orange) and Signature Pressed Blush Duo (01 Coral & Brown)


To find out more about Nude Cosmetic ("NudeCos"), click HERE - Nude Cosmetic - An Introduction

To read my reviews on other NudeCos products:

[1] Skin Radiance 3 In 1 Multi BB Cream

[2] Skin Radiance Powder Pact

[3] Perfect Foaming Make-Up Cleansing Oil


PACKAGING


The packaging of NudeCos' point-makeup line, "NudeCos Signature",
seems to be a significant departure from its base-makeup line,
and the rest of its other products for that matter.

If anything, the whole design concept is exceptionally...mature.
None of the cutesy, princessy frills ala Baviphat and Etude house...
nor the zen-like minimalist lines of Innisfree and Laneige.

What we have here is an elegant, metallic burgundy compact embossed with gold sakuras/cherry blossoms
- an article women in their 30s and beyond would't feel embarassed to whip out for touch-ups.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

From UK With Love...

A short commemorative post about my First...Ever...Purchase of Hand-Made jewelry...online...
For real - my FIRST EVER! ^_^

And to think that it all started with Japan's earthquake in March...

Yasumi of "Worship at the House of Blues" threw herself into making and selling shiny "fings" to raise funds for the cause...
And succeed she did - raised quite a bit of moolah for Japan!

I wanted to support the cause because I know it's VERY close to her heart,
and knowing her impeccable taste and standards,
I knew her pieces would not fall far from perfection...

Thus I purchased the Swarovski heart pendants along with the "Rights of Admission Reserved: A NeckLace"...
(Note: When she says "Swarovski", she means "Swarovski...
Extremely specific about the specifications of each piece so you know exactly what you're paying for )

Soon after, she dedicated a blog to her "fings": The WorshipBlues Emporium,
...which I stalk obsessively...
...for she makes a VERY limited quantity of each piece....
...and she loves posting new items when I'm asleep...T_T

When a piece is gone, it's gone...Forever...

The eagle landed last week...
And WAS . I . PLEASED!


[Top: Japan Donation Drive Pieces]                    [Bottom: "Right of Admission Reserved: A Necklace"]

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

[CLOSED] GiveAway: 6,000 YouTube Subscribers and 450 Blog Followers


Hiya,

Thank you for dropping by.

Well, 6,1XX...And to think that I was literally whooping with joy when I hit 150 when I first started!
6K is rather overwhelming...In a good way, of course ^_^

I hope everybody will support my magazine-sharing transition in FaceBook.
As my subscriber count increases and YouTube's stand on published materials remains iffy, I think it's better to be safe than sorry...
I would literally cry my eyes out if my earlier videos were deleted T_T

However, I do harbour ambitions of making live videos...So... *fingers crossed* ^_~

In the meantime, after the previous Give-Away at 3,030 subscribers,
it's time again to give back to everybody whose supported me from Day One *hugs & kisses*

I appreciate EACH and EVERYONE!
My subcriber count increases at a snail's pace, but on the bright side, I could actually keep track of my "regulars", so to speak.

Again, THANK YOU!

Thursday, May 5, 2011

BB Creams for Darker Skin / Yellow Skin - Reviews and Swatches

Note:
This Post has been and will be constantly undated with new 'finds' ^_^
(Update 4 June 2011: Added Hada Labo BB Moist Cream SPF32 PA+++ and Hada Labo BB Moist Emulsion SPF50 PA+++)
(Update 4 September 2011: Added  Coffret D'or Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream SPF33 PA++)


Apologies for these HUGE-ass pictures,
but I really wanted to share my finds after COUNTLESS (well...actually...more than 30 FAILS
- I gave up swatching after THIS Blog Post:

"  BB Cream/Blemish Balm Swatches - All 16 of Them  "

It's depressing, you know... :(

And thanks to Yasumi, I finally found several BB creams which match my NC25-30 skin with YELLOW undertones!
{Note:
My face is closer to NC25; neck NC30.
And with my super short hair, base matching is HELL! =_=}
{Note 2: You can mix your BB cream with a yellow-toned liquid foundation (I just think this defeats the whole purpose of a BB cream) or set with a yellow-toned powder (I just don't like to ;))}

Oh joy! ^_^
No more disappointing sighs looking myself at the mirror...
Lamenting away how GRAY or PINK my face is...

By the way, the Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream #23 does absolutely NOTHING for me.
The colour depth is OK, but I look sallow... ~_~

And I have this pet peeve that many people rave and rave about Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream...
Try other brands - you'll be surprised at how superior some OTHER brands are...

{Note 3: If your skin's undertone is PINK, these BB creams may turn you ORANGE, so...you've been warned ;))

*Drumroll, please - The Line Up*


Products - Left to Right:

[1] Ishizawa Nanoce BB Moist Cream in #2 Healthy Ochre 
~  (Apparently it's the No. 1 best-selling BB in Japan)
[2] SANA Quzulan Gelo Liquid BB Essence SPF29 PA++ in #1 
[3] Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB SPF20 PA++ in #2 Natural[4] Cyber Colors Duo White Essence BB Cream SPF25 PA++ 
~ (Cyber Colors is a Korean brand available in Sasa)
[5] Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream SPF26 PA++ in #2 Natural 
~ (Odd that its packaging is different from the original #1, which doesn't match me anyway)

Products - Left to Right:
[1] Hada Labo BB Moist Emulsion in #1 Natural Beige SPF50 PA+++
[2] Hada Labo BB Moist Emulsion in #2 Natural Ochre SPF50 PA+++

[3] Hada Labo BB Moist Cream in #1 Natural Beige SPF 32 PA+++
[4] Hada Labo BB Moist Cream in #2 Natural Ochre SPF 32 PA+++




Products - Left to Right:
[1] Coffret D'or Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream #02 Natural Tone SPF33 PA++
[2] Coffret D'or Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream #03 Healthy Tone SPF33 PA++

SWATCHES :


Swatches - Left to Right:

[1] (I forget - obviously a TOTAL FAILURE ~_~)
[2] Ishizawa Nanoce BB Moist Cream in #2 Healthy Ochre
[3] SANA Quzulan Gelo Liquid BB Essence SPF29 PA++ in #1
[4] SANA Quzulan Gelo Liquid BB Essence SPF29 PA++ in #2
[5] Holika Holika Aqua Petit Jelly BB SPF20 PA++ in #2 Natural
[6] Cyber Colors Duo White Essence BB Cream SPF25 PA++
[7] Maybelline Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream SPF26 PA++ in #2 Natural


Swatches - Left to Right:

[1] Ishizawa Nanoce BB Moist Cream in #2 Healthy Ochre
[2] Hada Labo BB Moist Emulsion in #1 Natural Beige SPF50 PA+++
[3] Hada Labo BB Moist Emulsion in #2 Natural Ochre SPF50 PA+++

[4] Hada Labo BB Moist Cream in #1 Natural Beige SPF 32 PA+++
[5] Hada Labo BB Moist Cream in #2 Natural Ochre SPF 32 PA+++


  
Swatches - Left to Right:

[1] Ishizawa Nanoce BB Moist Cream in #2 Healthy Ochre
[2] Coffret D'or Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream #02 Natural Tone SPF33 PA++
[3] Coffret D'or Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream #03 Healthy Tone SPF33 PA++
 

SHORT REVIEWS :

 

SHADE/
COLOUR MATCH

(All are pre-dominantly yellow-undertoned )
TEXTURE
COVERAGE
FINISH
OIL-CONTROL

(With Setting Powder)
SCENT
SPF
Ishizawa Nanoce
BB Moist Cream
#2 Healthy Ochre

Very yellow.

I have to be a little careful about looking sallow.
A lightweight cream

Not too thick, not too runny.
Almost Medium

Easily buildable
Satin/Semi-matte
A little drying for me, so my skin compensates by secreting more oil that usual

MAY look blotchy if I don't moisturise well before hand!
Herbal
Not stated

Just says "UV protection"
SANA
Quzulan Gelo Liquid BB Essence
#1

Also predominantly yellow, but with slight beigey hue.

Oh, and it oxidises.
Similar to lighter liquid foundations

And I can tell from the slip that it has a fair bit of silicones :(
Almost Medium

Easily buildable
Satin
Just right

I just get glow-ier as the day goes by ^_^
Barely noticeable
SPF29 PA++
Cyber Colors
Duo White Essence BB Cream
Only 1 Shade Available

Predominantly yellow, with a hint of peach.

Thus it has a slight brightening effect
Lightweight lotion
Almost Medium

Easily buildable
Glowy
Just right

I just get glow-ier as the day goes by ^_^
A light floral scent
SPF25 PA++
Holika Holika
Aqua Petit Jelly BB
#2 Natural

Yellow, but with slight beigey hue.

A little too light for me, but I mix it with moisturiser, so it still works :D
SUPER
lightweight gello!
Light

because I usually do a moisturiser mix and it's sheered out.
Dewy

due to the moisturiser mix
I don't use this neat, but oil-control isn't too great.

Probably due to the moisturiser I mix it with.
ACK! STRONGLY-SCENTED!

Artificial fruit and it takes a lonnnnng time to wear off T_T
SPF20 PA++
Maybelline
Clear Smooth Minerals BB Cream
#2 Natural

Almost perfect.
Very fluid
VERY light-weight.
Dewy

due to the moisturiser mix
I don't use this neat, and  oil-control isn't too great.

Probably due to the moisturiser I mix it with.
Barely noticeable
SPF26 PA++
Hada Labo
BB Moist Emulsion
A mixture of
#1 Natural Beige & #2 Natural  Ochre
to match
my NC25 face
and 
NC30 neck
(ratio differs)
Featherlight

Think SUPER runny, watery, Asian shake-up sunscreens!

Sheer to light-medium
Easily buildable

Considering its feather-light texture, the coverage is deceptively good.
Glowy
Just right

I just get glow-ier as the day goes by ^_^
Barely noticeable
SPF50 PA+++
Hada Labo
BB Moist Cream
A mixture of

#1 Natural Beige & #2 Natural  Ochre
to match
my NC25 face


#2 Natural  Ochre is a perfect Match for my NC30 neck.
A VERY light gel consistency.

Similar to Make Up For Ever Face & Body
Light to light-medium
Easily buildable

Considering its feather-light texture, the coverage is deceptively good.
Glowy
Just right

I just get glow-ier as the day goes by ^_^
Barely noticeable
SPF32 PA+++
Coffret D'or
Fast Beauty Foundation UV BB Cream


A mixture of
#02 Natural Tone &
#03 Healthy Tone
to match
my NC25 face


#03 Healthy Tone is a tad dark for my NC30 neck.

Note:
It oxidises a little. Thus, I have to compensate by mixing it a tad lighter. 


Similar to a light liquid foundations.

And I can tell from the slip that it has a fair bit of silicones :(

However, I really LOVE the cooling sensation during application

Light to light-medium
Easily buildable
Satin-matte
upon application.

Glowly
after settling in.

Just right

I just get glow-ier as the day goes by ^_^
 None
SPF33 PA++