Product of the Week Archives - Page 3 of 5

March 24, 2015

NARS Luminous Weightless Foundation Review

I’ve mentioned this foundation before on my Instagram account when I first tested it, and here is my NARS Luminous Weightless Foundation review! I’ve worn this foundation couple times last week to go out and for tutorials. I actually wore this foundation when I went to the Toronto Comic-con 2015 last Saturday for 12 hours!

NARS really do make amazing foundation. I remembered when I finished a bottle of the NARS Sheer Matte foundation couple years a go, it’s just one of those foundation that I kept going back for. I do have high expectations for this foundation. To find out how I feel about it, keep on reading! For a quick summary, scroll all the way to the bottom.

Have you guys tried this foundation? What is your experience with it? Let me know by leaving comments below or on my Instagram account!

Before I proceed, I know there’s been mixed reviews regarding this foundation. I have a good experience with this foundation on my combination skin. Word of advice: shake well, apply sparingly, use fingertips or damped beauty blender/sponge.

In any case, do NOT use buffing motion if you do apply it with a brush. Buffing motion will exfoliate any dry patches, which will cause the foundation to cling to any dry flaky skin. If you have oily skin, you might want to set the foundation with powder.

What is NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation?

An oil-free foundation that delivers full, natural-looking coverage with one drop, for lightweight, 16-hour wear.

What it does:

Achieve full-coverage, lightweight foundation that leaves a natural finish. Highly pigmented and perfectly balanced, this breakthrough, full-coverage formula builds and blends effortlessly. Its Even Tone Technology instantly neutralizes redness and dullness, while it works to reduce discoloration for more even, uniform skin. Perfect for all skin types, it features Weightless Long-wear Technology, an exclusive blend from NARS with flexible polymers and treated pigments that move with the skin while providing 16 hours of staying power.

Sephora, 2015

Packaging

The NARS Luminous Weightless Foundation comes in the usual NARS foundation bottle. However, this time, they include the pump *yay*! The NARS Sheer Matte/Glow foundations do not come with a pump, you have to buy it separately. This time, the foundation does come with a pump! It also comes in a gorgeous opaque bottle, with a huge NARS logo on it. I love the bottle, and the pump. It looks very sleek and luxurious, with a simple design. Love it!

Application

The foundation needs to be shaken really well, if not you’ll find the foundation will break (separation between pigment and liquid). I find that the best way to apply this foundation is using my fingertips.

I have applied this foundation using a damped beauty blender sponge, and a foundation brush with no issue. Personally, I do not recommend using any buffing brush to buff this foundation into your skin.

Coverage

The coverage for this foundation is full coverage. You can sheer out this foundation using a damped beauty blender/sponge.

NARS claimed that this foundation provides full coverage with just 1 pump, which I agree with. At first I kept pumping 2 drops, but soon enough I realized that 2 pumps gave me quite a bit of leftovers. 1 pump is pretty good, if you need more coverage, you might need 1.5 pumps.

As you can see from the pictures, my skin looks very even. It covers all the redness on my cheeks, and around my nose, as well as the dark pigmentation on my chin.

Shades and Finish

20 shades for all skintones and types.

I’ve a yellow undertone and a medium skintone. For this foundation, I’m wearing a shade called Punjab. For your reference, I’m in between MAC NC25-30 & MUFE HD 120.

If you’ve worn NARS Sheer Matte/Glow previously, please do a color check again, because even though the shades have the same name, the color might not match. For example, I’m a Stromboli in NARS Sheer Matte, but for the NARS All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, my shade is Punjab.

This foundation, despite its “luminous” name, has a natural finish. As you can see below, my skin still looks like skin. It’s not too dewy, nor matte.

Longevity

I wore this foundation from 9am-9pm on Saturday, when I went to Comic Con. I did not wear any primer underneath, nor powder to set it. It stayed on my skin pretty well throughout the 12 hours. I noticed a bit of shine on my T-zone after 10-hour (like barely), but the foundation stayed pretty much the same throughout the day. My skin looked pretty good in the picture with Aaron Ashmore, no noticeable shine on camera. The foundation did not sink into my pores at the end of the day.

Price

CA$57 for 1 oz (before tax). The price is pretty steep, but if you like a full-coverage foundation with a natural finish, then I guess this is a foundation worthy of its price. For me, I find this is one of those foundation I’ll find myself going back to over and over again.

Pros

Lightweight! The foundation does not feel heavy nor cakey at all, despite being full coverage.
20 different shades, which is pretty good considering most brands carry less.
Comes in yellow, pink, and beige undertones.
Natural finish.
Full coverage.
Comes with a pump.
Long-lasting.

Cons

Pricy

Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated/endorsed by Sephora nor NARS. I do not earn any money from the links, and I am not paid to do this review. This foundation was not sent to me. I bought this foundation out of my own pocket, and my review is based entirely on my own experience with the foundation. This review is honest and is based on my own opinion. Please do a test patch before buying any makeup product to avoid any reaction.

March 2, 2015

Diorskin Nude Air Review

Another year has passed, and I’m a year older and wiser! My birthday celebration last week was small and quiet, and enjoyable. Thank you for those who left their wishes on my Instagram, kisses and hugs to all! Anyways, as promised, here’s my Diorskin Nude Air review! I do apologize for taking so long to post this up, but life happens, and I was caught up in it.

If you are interested to see how fluid and easily blendable this foundation is, please take a look at my Instagram account since I posted a short clip about this foundation there. If you want to know how I feel about this foundation, keep reading. If you don’t want to read all the details and just want to check out the pros and cons, and/or whether you should buy this foundation please go all the way to the bottom of the page for summary.

Just FYI, this is NOT the first serum-type foundation I’ve used. My first serum-type foundation is the Giorgio Armani Maestro foundation. I love that foundation, it’s my Holy Grail. Anyways, other brands are starting to carry this type of foundation, notably this Diorskin Nude Air, as well as YSL Fusion Ink Foundation. MAC will release one soon as well!

What is Diorskin Nude Air?

Dior’s Diorskin Nude Air is a weightless, ultra-fluid foundation serum that creates a nude makeup look. Formulated with SPF 25, it offers sun protection and the fresh-faced beauty of a natural-looking glow. Infused with Oxygen Activ™ technology, an innovative blend of a hyper-oxygenated oil, cranberry oil, vitamin, and minerals, this serum’s high-precision dropper deposits an undetectable film of makeup onto the skin, while its soft-focus agents and glazed pigments instantly produce an even-looking complexion that achieves the right amount of coverage for a radiant, sheer finish.

This product is free of talc.

Sephora, 2015

Packaging

Oh Dior, you sure know how to make things beautiful. From Diorskin Star foundation to Diorskin Nude Air Serum foundation, everything is so gorgeous. The foundation comes in a pretty clear glass bottle, with a silver cap. Even the pipette is of silver color making the whole thing cohesive with the cap. Beauty!

The foundation bottle comes in the classic Dior packaging – blue box, and it also comes with a booklet. The booklet is filled with information regarding the foundation in different languages.

Application

For me, I apply a drop or two on my fingers and apply it on my face. I find serum-type foundation is best applied using fingertips than brushes.

Coverage

Dior claims this foundation to have a sheer coverage, which I agree with. However, I feel that this foundation is buildable too. You can layer the foundation to create a somewhat medium coverage.

The foundation evens out the skin pretty nicely. Concealer is still needed in certain areas, for me, on my new breakout on my upper lips area.

Shade and Finish

So far, from the Sephora store and website, I could only find 8 shades. I’ve yet to check out the Dior store at Sears/Bay, since I bought mine at Sephora.

The 8 shades are – Ivory, Light Beige, Medium Beige, Linen, Peach, Honey Beige, Dark Beige, Mocha.

My shade for this foundation is 021, which is Linen. I almost bought 030 (Medium Beige) since that’s my shade in Diorskin Star, but when I tested it on my collar bone, it was too dark. I went ahead to test 021 (Linen), it’s not perfect match but it’s the closest I can get to my skin.

021 is the most yellow-undertone shade amongst the 8 shades, BUT it still is slightly too pink on my skin. I’m MAC NC25/30, and MUFE HD Foundation 120 for your reference.

This foundation has a natural finish.

Longevity

I wore this foundation without setting it with powder for 10-hour. The foundation stayed well throughout the day. I can see some shine after 6 hours on my T-zone but it was not much. The foundation did not sink into the pores, my skin looks pretty great by the end of the night.

However, keep in mind that Canada is pretty cold at the moment, and my skin does not get as oily now compared to Summer. So, if you have oily skin, I suggest setting your foundation with a powder.

Price

CA$53 at Sephora (before tax).

L-R: Bare face; With foundation

Pros

Lightweight
Natural finish
Blends really well into the skin
Don’t need much product to cover the entire face
Covers up pores really well
Foundation is great for those with combination-oily and oily skin

Cons

Clings to dry skin
Only 8 shades available

I think my skin looks great with this foundation, no one notices I wore any foundation on my face. Unlike Diorksin Star, though, no one compliments how good my skin look. So, in that regards, Diorskin Star’s effect is probably better than the Diorskin Nude.

Compare the before and after on the photo above, I think my pores just disappear in the after! I absolutely love this foundation, and I want to love this foundation as much as I love my Giorgio Armani Maestro. However, I’m planning to return this foundation as much as I don’t want to. The shade is NOT working for me. The undertone is too pink, and even though it’s not noticeable for others, it is noticeable for me. I can fix it by setting it with a yellow-based powder, but really, I paid way too much for this foundation to correct the shade using powder.

This is the one product I’d wish it had work, but it didn’t. Dear Dior, please fix your undertones and get more shades on this foundation because this is a great foundation!

Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated/endorsed by Sephora nor Dior. I do not earn any money from the links, and I am not paid to do this review. This foundation was not sent to me. I bought this foundation out of my own pocket, and my review is based entirely on my own experience with the foundation. This review is honest and is based on my own opinion. Please do a test patch before buying any makeup product to avoid any reaction.

February 23, 2015

Smashbox Double Exposure Review

As promised, here’s my Smashbox Double Exposure Review post! You all know how much I love this palette already, right?! If you are in between the Full Exposure and the Double Exposure, please check out this post and my Full Exposure review to see which one is for you. They are 2 different palettes, with different shades. I’d suggest the Full Exposure for those who prefer neutral shades, and the Double Exposure for those who want to experiment with colors.

*update – another blogger mentioned that she couldn’t get a pigmentation like what I get on my previous tutorials (Valentine’s Day Soft Makeup and Smashbox Double Exposure tutorial #2). I’d like to mention that I applied Urban Decay Primer Potion (as mentioned on the product list), and I applied my eyeshadow with a dense brush (especially on the tutorial #2).*

Anyways, let’s get into the review! If you don’t care about what I write, just scroll all the way to the bottom to see the pros and cons of this palette, and my summary for it.

What is Smashbox Double Exposure Palette?

This innovative eye palette features coated pigments formulated with coating technology to create multiple effects when wet, allowing the shadows to transform in one of four ways—allowing these 14 shadows to become 28 shades in just one palette. When wet, these colors amp up vibrancy, become deeper, turn metallic, or create sparkle for endless, customizable eye looks.

Sephora, 2015

Packaging & Insert

Gorgeous packaging! Beautiful rose gold cover against black background with white lettering. Similar to the Smashbox Full Exposure Palette, it seems that it’s made from a carton/box-like material. It also comes with a big mirror.

It contains 2 leaflets: 1) dry/wet eyeshadow transformation booklet, and 2) a #shapematter booklet – a leaflet that shows where to apply your eyeshadow depending on your eyeshape. It also comes with a sample size Full Exposure mascara (not in picture).

It also comes with a double-ended eye brush – flat dome eyeshadow brush and an angled “fluffy” brush. I love the flat dome brush because it does apply the eyeshadow nicely, especially when it’s wet. The angled brush, not a big fan. I expected the angled brush to be more like a blending brush, but mine was super stiff. I might have to wash it several times and see if it’ll get softer, but as of this moment I’m not liking the angled brush end.

Pigmentation/Blendability

I love the shades that come in this palette, however, I do have to say that some of the shades are not impressive. I absolutely love all the shimmers, I think they have great pigment pay-off wet or dry, and they blend easily.

The satin shades are buttery and creamy, amazing colors. Veiled, however, is the same shade as my skintone, so it doesn’t really show up when I apply it dry. Veiled is a good eyeshadow for me to blend out any harsh edges.

I’m not quite sure what happen to the matte shades. Out of all the finishes, the mattes were my least favorite. They aren’t quite as pigmented when applied dry, quite sheer actually. Also, a lot of fall out. Nevertheless, it’s still workable, and blend easily.

Shades & Finish

14 eyeshadows (0.042 oz/each)

Top
- Silver – shimmer (dry); metallic (wet)
- Mauve – satin (dry); metallic (wet)
- Peony – shimmer (dry); metallic (wet)
- Blanc – shimmer (dry); metallic (wet)
- Quartz – shimmer (dry); amps up vibrancy (wet)
- Flushed – shimmer (dry); gets deeper (wet)
- Veiled – satin(dry); amps up vibrancy (wet)
Bottom
- Midnight – satin (dry); add sparkles (wet)
- Temper – satin (dry); add sparkles (wet)
- Haze – shimmer (dry); gets deeper (wet)
- Noir – matte (dry); gets deeper (wet)
- Copper – shimmer (dry); metallic (wet)
- Fig – matte (dry); gets deeper (wet)
- Espresso – matte (dry); gets deeper (wet)

Price

CA$60 in Sephora Canada

Pros

Can be applied dry and wet
Eyeshadows do not get glazed after wet application
Great mixtures of colors and texture
Includes both warm and cool undertone shades
Beautiful packaging
Comes with a double-ended brush and a sample size mascara
Reasonable price
Very little fall-out

Cons

Matte shadows have poor pigment pay-offs

Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated/endorsed by Sephora nor Smashbox. I do not earn any money from the links, and I am not paid to do this review. This palette was not sent to me. I bought this palette out of my own pocket, and my review is based entirely on my own experience with this palette. This review is honest and is based on my own opinion.

December 8, 2014

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer Review

My brand new obsession! Today’s The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer review would make you want to go grab this highlighter at your nearest store! This highlighter/luminizer is staying permanently on my kit. I’m not a big fan of powder highlighter since I have huge pores, and I find powder highlighters sit on my pores and make them appear even larger. However, this gorgeous product just give the nicest sheen on the skin, it doesn’t look powdery, and the way it reflects light in real life is ah-maeeee-ZING!

What is Mary-Lou Manizer?

Meet Mary-Lou Manizer, a seemingly innocent honey hued luminiser that catches everybody’s eye. This highlighter, shadow and shimmer diffuses light so your skin looks softer and younger while adding a subtle glow.

The Balm, 2014

I’ve worn this highlighter in my Smokey eyeliner tutorial, Grunge Smokey tutorial, as well as Fall Makeup tutorial.

Packaging

Lovely compact, with a mirror inside. The compact doesn’t feel like plastic, feels more like it’s made from some sort of metal. Packaging feels very sturdy, doesn’t feel cheap.

Finish

The swatch picture on my hand is applied a bit heavy handed, so it can be captured on camera. However, apply it lightly on your cheekbones with a small fluffy brush and it applies very nicely to a soft glowy finish.

Shade

This highlighter is more on a champagne color, I think it suits light to medium skintone, medium dark might be pushing it a little but still possible. Might look frosty on darker skin tone. If you are a MAC NC10 or paler, this highlighter might work better as an eyeshadow, might be too dark for your skin tone.

Price

USD$ 24, CAD$ 26, IDR 375k for 8.5 gr.

Where to buy

I bought mine in Bandung couple months a go at Metro Department store at Trans Mall Bandung. In Jakarta, you can grab them at The Balm counter in Seibu Department Store Grand Indonesia (from what I know).

In Canada, you can find them at Rexall pharmacy (some locations I think), and online you can grab them at Nail Polish Canada.

Pros

Works for light to medium skintone
Gives a subtle sheen
Multi-purpose – highlighter, eyeshadow, shimmer
Beautiful sturdy packaging
Fine light-reflecting particles, does not make pores look bigger
Gives a nice overall glow to the face when apply lightly
Does not look too shiny on oily skin if applied properly (read: light handed)
Smooth and easily blendable

Cons

Dark skintone might find this highlighter to be too light/frosty
Super fair skin tone might find this to be slightly darker than their skin tone.

November 24, 2014

GlamGlow Super Mud Review

This week started out with a GlamGlow Super Mud review post since I’ve been holding in back last week! I was going to post it on the weekend, but I was invited to join GlamGlow Power Mud product launch, so I decided to compile everything for today’s post. If you followed me on Instagram (if you haven’t please do!), you’d noticed that I’ve posted a few photos regarding the mask and the event. I’ll post more photos from the event on Instagram, so please do follow me there!

Everyone knows about GlamGlow right? The masks that took Hollywood by storm, the masks that everyone talks about, THE MUD MASK that’s in everyone’s wish list! Finally, I decided to BUY it last week and gave it a try. I was having issues with breakouts and clogged pores, so I decided to grab the GlamGlow SuperMud.

Let’s unbox the SuperMud together! Photo below as reference.

So the SuperMud came in a beautiful white box.
When you open the cover, you’ll notice their tagline “Hello Sexy”
Then, you’ll receive a pamphlet that talks about the benefits of each ingredients in the mask, as well as a few words about the creators.
You’ll get a jar of mask in the middle of the box.
The back of the box talks about instructions, ingredients etc.

Curious yet??? So, what exactly is GlamGlow SuperMud Clearing Treatment?

What it is:
A scientifically advanced SUPERMUD™ clearing treatment to target, prevent, and heal problem skin.

What it is formulated to do:
This formula was clinically developed by GLAMGLOW® dermatological chemists to help fight all common skin concerns including breakouts, discoloration, black and white heads, razor bumps, and in-grown hair. Powerful, skin-clearing mud visibly draws out dirt and congestion while a proprietary six-acid blend dramatically brightens and softens skin. It works to magnetically draw out dirt and pores with Activated-X Charcoal, leaving skin smooth and healthy-looking.

What it is formulated WITHOUT:
– Parabens
– Sulfates
– Phthalates

Research results:
Based on consumer trials:
After 1 day of use:
– 94% felt their skin looked renewed
– 91% saw an improvement in skin clarity
– 94% felt it gently cleared their skin

On day 7 after using it 3 times in a week:
– 98% felt their skin looked renewed
– 97% saw an improvement in skin clarity
– 97% felt it gently cleared their skin

Sephora Canada, 2014

Ingredients:

–ACNECIDIC-6™ 4.4%: A proprietary six-acid blend of AHA and BHA acids perfectly PH balanced to deal with damaged skin, de-clog, and minimize pores, pigmentation, scaring, and breakouts.
–Activated-X Charcoal: An extreme absorption carbon, attracting toxic substances into its mass up to 500 times its volume from all skin types.
–K17-Clay™: Extracts and encapsulates excess sebum oils, bacteria, and toxins in a controlled stasis state.
–TEAOXI™: Delivers daily fresh natural eucalyptol, natural-linalool oil, and powerful flavonoids direct into the formula from real pieces of eucalyptus leaf.

Water, Kaolin, Magnesium Aluminum Silicate, Sodium Hydroxide, Eucalyptus Globulus, Mandelic Acid, Charcoal, Parfum [Benzyl Benzoate, Linalool], Glycolic Acid, Lactic Acid, Azelaic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Salicylic Acid, Xanthan Gum, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Iron Oxides, Peppermint Oil, Butylene Glycol, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Glycerin, Chamoilla Recutita Flower Extract, Calendula Officinalis Flower Extract, Cucumis Sativus Fruit Extract, Hendera Helix Extract, Symphytum Officinale Leaf Extract, Phenoxyethanol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Caprylyl Glycol, Hexylene Glycol, Methylchloroisothiazolinone, Methylisothiazolinone.

Sephora Canada, 2014

Impression and Verdict

So, I’ve only tried this mask once as an overall mask, and once as a spot treatment. Both times, I loved it! The mask has a minty smell to it, it doesn’t really give much sensation when you apply it all over your face. I applied my mask using a clean foundation brush, you can use your finger if you want.

The mask is of a dark grey color when it’s wet (you can see it on the side of my nose), and when it dries, it hardens and turns into a light grey color. If you notice my nose area, you’ll see there’s a few spots, that’s all oil. Yep, I’ve oily nose, and those oil started to secrete onto my skin when the mask was drying out. The oil was absorbed by the mask.

After leaving the mask on my skin for 10-minute, I went to wash my face, then continued with my normal skincare routine. My face felt fresh, a little bit tight, but my skin looks a bit brighter than before. My sis even commented how good my skin looks the day AFTER, even though she didn’t know I’ve tried the mask. She said my skin looks smoother than before. So, YAY!

I think the biggest difference before and after the mask is my pores. It doesn’t feel clogged anymore. I felt cleaner, fresher, and definitely feel my skin looks brighter. I have yet to notice any big difference in my skin yet, but that’s probably I’ve only tried this product once. When doing the spot treatment, I left the mask on my zits and leave it overnight. The next morning I noticed the swelling has reduced.

I definitely would buy this mask again, and probably would try their other masks! This mask is great for weekly treatment. The price is a bit steep though. For a jar (1.7 oz) it costs IDR 780K in Sephora Jakarta, and CAD$76 (before tax) in Canada. It’s a luxury item, not a must have.

If you live in Indonesia, you can grab the GlamGlow mud masks at Sephora Indonesia or Glam Glow Studio both located in Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta. If you do go to the Glam Glow Studio, you can ask them to let you try the mask first!

So, AFTER I bought the mask, I was invited to join Glam Glow PowerMUD product launch event as a Clozette Ambassador. Curious what a Clozette Ambassador is? Check out my Clozette Indonesia post!

Anyways, so on Saturday I went to the product launch event along with fellow Clozette Ambassadors and bloggers. There, we were given a chance to try out the PowerMud mask. I didn’t give it a try since I was in a rush for another appointment, but I did take a lot of photos with the other bloggers! So, please do go over to my Instagram to check them out!

The POWERMUD mask is a mask I wished I had bought earlier! I wished this mask was there when I bought the SuperMud. Nothing wrong with the SuperMud, but the PowerMud is infused with cleansing oil. This mud mask is meant to be used after you remove your makeup. It also contained exfoliators and astringents which help to deep clean your skin! I do love the SuperMud, but I feel like the SuperMud would be an excellent mask to deep cleanse the skin weekly to remove makeup build up.

I did open up the tester jar for the PowerMud and it smells amazing! Smells like apples or pears, can’t really quite put my finger on the smell, but smells so good! It also has bits of scrubs which will help to exfoliate your skin. I received 5 sample size PowerMud, and can’t wait to give it a try!

Again, don’t forget to sign up at Clozette Indonesia, and if you become Clozette Ambassadors, you might just see us on the next event! Can’t wait to see everyone again!

xoxo

November 11, 2014

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Review

I’m back with a new post ya’ll! Today is my Bioderma Sensibio H2O review! Apologies for the late update, been super duper busy with work, and my health condition wasn’t at its best. However, if you have followed me on Instagram, you would have known that I was recently featured on a talkshow called Ping Me at RTV in Indonesia. Just a small segment, but it was a pretty cool experience. Photos are over on my Instagram!

Anyways, let’s get back on today’s topic: Best makeup remover ever! If you have not heard of this makeup remover, shame on you! Let’s take a look at the before and after photos below shall we?

On the left, my face was filled with makeup products from my “Dr. Who the Waters of Mars” makeup tutorial.
- I have foundation on, eyeshadows, eyeliner, and face paint.
On the right, my face after I removed all the makeup using Bioderma Sensibio H2O makeup remover.
- 2 cotton pads somewhat half-soaked in the makeup remover.

So, I’ve used Bioderma since 2010, and when I returned to Indonesia in 2012, I couldn’t find any. However, in 2013, Bioderma entered the Indonesian market, and I was thrilled! I was even more excited this year when Bioderma’s Brand Manager and Marketing Director invited me for a coffee break last month! Amazing! So awesome to have meet both of them, and they were so kind as to give me their 2 best-sellers! Thank you and thank you and thank you Bioderma Indonesia!

Let’s get back on track a little, shall we? What exactly is Bioderma?

” The Laboratoire Dermatologique BIODERMA, based in Lyon, France, develops and markets, in close collaboration with dermatologists and renowned institutional research centers (CNRS. INSERM, CHU, Universities,…), dermo-cosmetic products intended for medical prescription and medicinal consultancy.

BIODERMA is among the most frequently prescribed laboratories by French dermatologists. Present in more than 70 countries, BIODERMA is growing very fast at international level. (…)

Bioderma’s reserach is performed by a team of highly qualified scientists and extremely reputable operators. (…) These works gave birth to numerous innovations which since became references:

The 1st non detergent shampoo : NodéFluid.
The 1st cleansing waters : the micellar solutions Sensibio H2O and Sébium H2O.
The 1st biologically-active sunscreen ingredient that counters the long-term damaging effects of UV exposure : Photoderm and the patent Cellular BIOprotection^®.
The 1st skincare product that corrects the quality of sebum : Sébium AKN and its patented ingredient, Fluidactiv^®.
The first skincare who acts directly on the main cause of skin redness : Sensibio AR and its patent Rosactiv^®. “

Bioderma, 2014

As you all can see, Bioderma is the pioneer in creating “Cleansing Water”. The micellar technology comes from Bioderma, and they are still the best at it. I’ve tried other micellar-based makeup remover, but none of them are as superior as Bioderma’s.

What is a micellar technology?

(…) Micelles (…) effectively micro-emulsify impurities while maintaining the skin’s balance (soap-free, physiological pH).

Bioderma, 2014

So there’s 2 actions in the Micellar technology:

Break down impurities
Restore skin to its optimal condition

This makeup remover has these tiny molecules called Micelles. What micelles do is to break down any impurities (dirt, oil, makeup etc) as soon as it touches your skin. However, instead of breaking down your skin cells along with all these impurities, it detects and recognizes your skin cells. The micelles molecules will then restore your skin’s condition to its optimum balance.

Isn’t Science amazing?! Awesome!

So, I was given 2 products – the Sensibio H2O and the Sebium H2O. I’ve only been using the Sensibio H2O, so I cannot say much about the Sebium. However, I’d have think that the Sebium would give similar result to the Sensibio.

There’s 2 main difference between the Sensibio and the Sebium:

The Sensibio is catered towards sensitive skin, while the Sebium is for oily skin.
The Sebium cannot be used in the eyes and lips area while the Sensibio can be used in those areas.
- The reason why the Sebium cannot be used in the eyes and lips area is because those areas are more sensitive. Since the Sebium is made for oily skin, it’ll absorb excess oil on the skin. However, since the eye and lip areas aren’t as oily as the skin, using the Sebium in those areas might cause it to be dried out and thus irritated.
- Please do avoid using the Sebium on the eye and lip areas.

Below is a list of pros and cons for Bioderma Sensibio H2O

Pros

Removes makeup without the need to rinse.
Will remove even the hardest waterproof mascara and eyeliner.
- Soaked the remover on a cotton pad, leave it on eyes for 3-5 minutes and wipe away.
Suitable for every skin type.
Does not dry out skin.
Does not leave any weird sticky or oily residue on skin.
Does not irritate the skin and eyes.
PERFECT to clean up the edges of your WINGED LINER.
Fast and quick makeup removal, especially for makeup changes.

Cons

Removing mascara and eyeliner might take a few minutes for the remover to break it down. I prefer using Shu Uemura cleansing oil for this instead, since I always rinse my face after removing my makeup anyways.

March 4, 2014

Product of the Week:NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette Review

I’ve been asked to do a NARSissist eyeshadow palette review ever since I posted a picture of the palette on Instagram couple weeks a go. I’m so sorry that this review is up a bit late, I’ve been having too much fun here in Jamaica (as you all can see on my Instagram..lol). Not to mention, last week I was celebrating my birthday, so sorry but not that sorry…hehehe..

Anyways! Here’s my NARSissist eyeshadow palette review! I hope you’ll enjoy reading it.

What is a NARSissist eyeshadow palette?

A palette of 15 NARS signature eye shadow shades for creating unlimited artistic effects.
Connect with captivating colors that will have all eyes following you. Ready to wear every day, every way—15 signature eye shadow shades every NARSissist adores.

(Sephora, 2014)

At first glance, this NARSissit eyeshadow palette is not as eye catching as the Urban Decay’s. It doesn’t have anything rosy, the packaging is black, it doesn’t stand out much. However, since it is NARS, of course I have to walk on that aisle to admire it. The simple and sleek design of the packaging is what makes this palette look so very elegant! To be honest, I didn’t even stop to take a look closer, I just grabbed it and go.

With all the neutral palettes that are out in the market (i.e. UD Naked, UD Naked 2, UD Naked 3, Smashbox Full Exposure) I felt that perhaps NARS was just jumping in the bandwagon. However, the more you look at this palette, the more you’ll realize there’s quite a difference between the rest of the palette and NARS. I find that this NARSissist palette has more of a “grown-up” feeling to it. There’s some sort of elegance to the range of shades in this palette. I love the mixture of cool and warm neutrals, and I find that the darker shades are slightly more on the sultry side compared to the other 4 palettes that I mentioned earlier.

This palette consists of eyeshadows that are available in singles or duos, with the exception of Bad Behavior. However, the palette in itself is a limited edition. If you do like the shades in the palette, but can’t buy the palette anymore, you can still purchase the eyeshadow in singles/duos. This palette is so worth the price. I’ll talk more about the value of this palette under “Price” below, so please keep reading or scroll down if you are curious!

Packaging

Like I’ve mentioned above, the packaging is simple and sleek. Very NARS. This palette comes in a black case. Inside you’ll find a big mirror on one side, and 15 eyeshadows on the other.

Longevity

I have worn this eyeshadow with Urban Decay Primer Potion and it has minimal to no creasing after a 10-hour wear (in a warm climate)

Shades & Finish

Please note that I and II indicate whether the shade is on the Left or Right side of the duos, since these shades are also available in singles/duos (for more info read under Price).

Top Row (L to R) –

All About Eve I – flesh toned neutrals.
Madrague II – matte caramel.
Fez – velvety cocoa.
Bali – neutral.
Coconut Grove – deep brown infused with reflections.

Middle Row (L to R) –

Madrague I – matte cream (pretty much non-existence on my skin tone. It matches my skin color exactly)
Nepal – soft sheer rose.
Ashes to Ashes – shimmery violet based brown.
Brousse II – black violet.
Mekong – espresso infused with gold.

Bottom Row (L to R)

Bellissima I – shimmering beige with subtle glitter.
Lhasa – lavender grey.
Bad Behavior – deep pewter. (Not available in single/duos)
Dogon II – charcoal black.
Pandora II – matte black.

*shades description taken from Sephora*

Price

CAD$85 for 15 eyeshadows (0.03 oz/each).

Keep in mind that each singles are CA$28 (0.07 oz), while duos are CA$39 (0.07 oz/shade). If you only like a couple of the shades from this palette, I think buying the singles/duos is far more worth it than buying the whole palette.

However, if you have to have this palette, it’ll come down to CA$5-6/shade compared to $28 each (singles) or s20 each (duos). You pay significantly less for half the amount, so I think it is a good deal.

Pros:

Great for makeup artists or beginners who want more neutrals in their palette without breaking the bank.
The eyeshadows in the palette are very smooth and easily blendable.
Great value for money.
The eyeshadows are not limited (except for Bad Behavior), so if you’ve finished a shade on the palette and want more you can buy it in singles/duos.
Highly pigmented and easy to work with.
Great mix of matte and shimmer.
Would be a great alternative to the Naked palettes.

Cons:

You have to prime your eyelid with an eyeshadow primer – dry skin will find it’ll help the eyeshadow to stick to the lid better.
Without primer, some of the shades end up looking a bit more sheer.
The color range is so-so. You can find similar shades from different brands.

I’ll try to do a tutorial using this palette soon! 😉

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated nor sponsored to do this review. This palette was bought out of my own pocket, and I do not gain any monetary profit out of it.

February 6, 2014

Product of The Week: Cover FX Cream Foundation Review

I’ve recently purchased a few Cover FX Cream Foundations, 3 to be exact, and their cream foundation brush. I have had used the Cover FX foundations before, back when I went to makeup school, Complections, it was part of our makeup kit. So, today’s post will be an in-depth review of this foundation. Please bear with me, but if you can’t scroll all the way down for the pictures, and Pros and Cons!

That was in 2010/11, fast forward to 2014, I’ve finished my kit supply, used another brand, and yet I couldn’t help but drawn into the Cover FX cream foundation again. I heard that the foundation was reformulated, and I was intrigued.

See, back then, this foundation was notoriously known in my class as a hard to blend foundation. We were taught to mix it with either primer or moisturizer before application. If you didn’t mix it well, the foundation will become patchy upon application. Nevertheless, it was one of the best cream foundation I’ve ever used – great for every skin type (esp. sensitive skin), a large range of shades based on real people, full coverage, and very pigmented. You don’t even need to buy an extra concealer for it.

So, I gave the foundation another try as soon as they arrived, and I realized that this time the foundation is much more emollient. It’s creamier, and blends a lot easier compared to the old ones. I didn’t even have to mix it with moisturizer or primer. I went over to Twitter and asked them if they’ve changed the formulation, and they replied it with a Yes, and apparently, they also added antioxidants and vitamins into their foundation.

I don’t recall the old foundation came with SPF, however, this new ones do – SPF 30. I did not check for flashback, because I didn’t realize it has SPF. I’ll give an update once I checked for it next time I use it.

Along with their foundation, I also owned their cream foundation brush. Back then their brush handle is longer and the bristle was made from goat hair. I love that brush, and it gives the most beautiful finish to the skin. So, I thought, well I need another one! The NEW Cover FX cream foundation brush, however, has a synthetic bristle. It feels different, and I have yet to give it a try. I sure hope it’ll give a beautiful finish too! I’ll do a brush review next time, since this post has a lot of information already!

Ok, so I bought 3 colors – G20, G40, and N110. My base shade is G40, it’s the most perfect shade for my skin so far. I’m usually an in-between shades, for example for MAC I’m in between MAC NC25-30. I also have a darker face compared to my chest, so I have to be careful when choosing my foundation. With the Cover FX, however, I used G40, and it matches perfectly to my chest and face. The G20 is about 2 shades lighter, and I used it as highlighter. For the contour color, I chose N110 which is a lot darker than my skin, and it has equal part yellow and red undertones.

What is Cover FX Total Cream Foundation?

A rich emollient based cream foundation with SPF 30 offering flexible coverage.

An antioxidant-rich, 2-in-1 concealer and foundation offering broad spectrum SPF 30 protection with medium to full, buildable coverage.What it does:
This foundation provides an all-day radiant finish that nourishes and protects with anti-aging benefits. The buildable formula can provide medium to full coverage and offers SPF 30, full UV protection, and all-day wear.

Provides optimum coverage of skin imperfections such as acne, redness, under eye circles, uneven skin tones, post-surgical bruising, vitiligo, and tattoos and protection from wind, sun and pollution.

This clinically tested product does not contain the Inflammatory Five: gluten, mineral oil, fragrance, parabens or talc.

(Cover FX, 2014)

(Bare Face)

Coverage

Sheer to Full coverage! You can make this as sheer as you want, or as full as you want. I’m not joking! This foundation has the best type of coverage. If you want it sheer, you can apply it with a damped sponge (or beauty blender), if you want a full coverage you can apply it using a foundation brush. Choose whatever coverage you want, and it will work. Sheer, medium, or full, whatever floats your boat!

If you take a look at my pictures below, you’ll see how it covers everything from my redness (around my nose, and cheeks), uneven skintone (i.e darkness on my chin), blemishes, under eye circles, and my huge pores. My skin looks pretty amazing on the last picture on this page, no?!

Finish

This foundation has a semi-matte finish. It says on the website that it’s a radiant finish, I’m not sure what “radiant” finish is. I think this foundation has a semi-matte finish. It’s not completely natural, you can still see on the pictures below that it is somewhat matte, but not completely.

(Left: with CoverFX; Right: Bare Face)

Shade

28 shades ranging from Pink (P), Neutral (N), and Golden (G). Pink shades have a pink undertone, Neutral has equal parts of yellow and pink, while Golden has a yellow undertone.

The shade comes with a numbering system as well, ranging from 0 – 110; with 0 being the lightest and 110 the darkest. The Pink shade comes in P10-P60, Neutral comes in N0-N110, and Golden comes in G10-G80.

Price

CA$42 for 10g/0.33oz. If you are a Pro Makeup Artist, you can register for membership to get 40% off. If you are a working professional in the beauty/fashion industry, you can also register for membership to get 30% off.

If you are not a professional, you can still buy it from the Cover FX website and get 15% off on your first purchase!

(With Cover FX Cream Foundation)

Pros:

Great for every skin type – oily, dry, mature, sensitive, combination.
A huge range of shade – 28 shades for all undertones! Amazing!
Buildable coverage – sheer to full.
Doubles as concealer.
Lasts for the whole day – I’ve worn it for 8hr set with powder. With the old ones, I’ve used it for photoshoots and short film, as well as theater makeup, which work for the full day, barely needing any touch-up.
Price is reasonable, considering the discounts.
Semi-matte finish.
It has SPF 30.
Can be used to cover any imperfections, as well as tattoo.

Cons:

Can’t think of any!

On the picture below, I’ve done a little bit of contouring and highlight using N110 and G20. I’ll show you guys how I do it next time! For the full makeup tutorial (eyes, lips, cheeks etc), I’ll post that tomorrow, or the day after tomorrow.

(Pores, begone!!!)

Disclaimer: I’m not sponsored, nor affiliated with Cover FX. Clicking on the links will not earn me any monetary profits.

January 16, 2014

Product of The Week: UD Naked 3 Review

Finally, I get the chance to do the UD Naked 3 review! As you all know, I LOVE this Naked 3 palette. I’ve done several tutorials with this palette- Rose Smoky Eyes, UD Look#2, Berry lips, and Rose Smoky Eyes 3. I do owned the other 3 palettes, Naked 1, Naked 2, and Naked Basics.

Anyways, I do have to say that this is by far my favorite Naked palette! I absolutely recommend this palette for everyone. The UD Naked 3 palette consists of such soft, rose and gold colored hues. I absolutely love it!

What is the UD Naked 3 palette

“Naked3 debuts 12 insanely beautiful rose-hued neutrals in an impressive range of shades—from pale, shimmery pink to deep black matte with red microglitter—in ultrasmooth matte, pearl, and glimmering metallic finishes. Each shadow features Urban Decay’s Pigment Infusion System™, the proprietary blend of ingredients that gives every shade its velvety texture, rich color, serious staying power, and blendability.”

(Sephora, 2013)

Packaging

Gold letters embossed on a rose-colored tin case. The eyeshadows are in a rectangular pan, with mirror on the other side.

Longevity

I’ve never worn this eyeshadow without a primer, since I know I do have oily lids. So, with UD Primer Potion primer, the eyeshadows last up to 8-hour with no creasing.

Finish

From Left – Right

Strange: pale neutral pink matte (satin)
Dust: pale metallic pink shimmer w/iridescent micro glitter (glitter)
Burnout: light pinky-peach (satin)
Limit: light dusty rose (matte)
Buzz: metallic rose shimmer w/silver microglitter (glitter)
Trick: light metallic pinky-copper shimmer w/tonal microsparkle (shimmer)
Nooner: medium pinky-brown (matte)
Liar: medium metallic mauve (shimmer)
Factory: pinky-brown (satin)
Mugshot: metallic taupe shimmer w/slight pink shift (shimmer)
Darkside: deep taupe-mauve (satin)
Blackheart: smoky black matte w/rosy red microsparkle (matte with sparkle)

Price

CA$52 in Sephora, for 0.05oz x 12 eyeshadows, double-ended makeup brush, and 4 primer potion samples.

Pros:

Beautiful rose-colored shades
You get the best of all textures – matte, shimmer, metallic, glitter, and satin
Great pigment pay-off
You get neutral shades, so it’s wearable for daily use
12 eyeshadows in 1 case!
You get highlight, medium, contour and eyeliner colors
Excellent double-ended brush
4 primer potion samples that last for up to a week for each
Works for any skin tones

Cons:

Blackheart is not dark enough. I find UD Blackout from Naked 2 is a better black eyeshadow than Blackheart
Dust tends to have a lot of fallout

November 22, 2013

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette Review

As promised, today I wanted to share my new favorite palette – the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. This palette would make a really great Christmas gift! I wanted to post this next week as my Product of The Week, but I really want to post this today because I’ve been teasing you all with tutorials using this palette. So, I’ll categorize this under Product of The Week even though I do not put it up on the title.

*Update (Feb. 23, 2015) – I have a Smashbox Double Exposure Palette review for you!*

What is Smashbox Full Exposure Palette?

“A set of universally awesome neutrals that’s essential, effortless, and enhanced for your eye shape. […] This totally versatile palette is organized with crease-resistant, long-wearing shimmers in the top row and velvety smooth mattes along the bottom. Fourteen essential neutral shades include a range of nudes, blacks, shimmers, and mattes. Use the brilliant eye shape chart, dual-ended brush, and Full Exposure Mascara to complete any look.

[…] Smashbox has taken the guesswork out of application with a cool, new dual-ended brush. There’s a fluffy end perfect for blending matte shades and a flat end to easily lay down the shimmer shades without sparkle overload. Plus, it’s double-sided with black bristles on one side and white on the other, so you’ll never accidentally dip a light shade into a dark shade.”

Sephora, 2013

At first look, I was attracted to the huge flecks of glitters in the top row of the Smashbox Full Exposure palette. They did say it’s actually shimmer, but I feel that the light-reflecting particles are definitely too big to be considered as shimmer. I was, also, quite skeptical regarding how well the glitters would stay on the lid when being used dry since I’ve negative experience with other brands.

When I swatched the eyeshadows on my hand in Sephora, I was very surprised and happy that the glitters stayed really well at the back of my hand. That sealed the deal for me! I took the beautiful palette and paid for it.

I know quite a few reviews in Sephora website said that they hated this palette because the glitters couldn’t stick well to the skin. Well, I didn’t have this issue at all, perhaps because I applied the glitters in a different way. First of all I applied eyeshadow primer on my eyelid. Then, I used a dense flat eyeshadow brush to apply it.

If you want to see samples on how I applied the “shimmer” eyeshadow from the Smashbox Full Exposure palette, please check my posts in Smashbox Full Exposure Look #1 and Holiday Look using MAC Diva.

Packaging

A black sleek carton packaging. 14 eyeshadows in a square (yay) pan. The Smashbox Full Exposure Palette also contains 1 sample-size Full Exposure mascara tube, a double-ended split-fiber eyeshadow and fluffy blending brush, as well as a large sheet (folded in the picture) of eye makeup tutorial.

The eye chart sheet shows information on how to create several looks based on your eye shape.

Longevity

I’ve yet to wear this palette without a primer underneath. With Urban Decay Primer Potion, the Smashbox Full Exposure palette proves to be quite resilient. It lasted for 8hrs without creasing.

Finish

Top row: shimmer (S1-S7); Bottom row: matte (M1-M7)

S1 – Chocolate Brown with Golden Pearl
S2 – Deep Golden Brown with Gold Pearl
S3 – Soft Gold with Gold and Silver Pearl
S4 – Light Tan with Gold and Silver Pearl
S5 – Golden Wheat with Gold Pearl
S6 – Midtone Slate with Silver Pearl
S7 – Rich Grey with Multicolor and Silver Pearl

M1 – Matte Warm Chocolate Brown
M2 – Matte Midtone Brown
M3 – Soft Matte Midtone Tan
M4 – Creamy Matte Beige
M5 – Soft Light Taupe
M6 – Ashy Dark Brown
M7 – Suede Black

Price

CA$58 (before tax) for 0.035oz x 14 eyeshadows, double-ended makeup brush, mascara and eye chart.

Pros:

Excellent colors – browns, nudes, and greys.
You get 2 different textures – shimmer and matte.
Great pigment pay-off.
Glitters stick well to the skin if you pack the eyeshadow with a flat and dense eyeshadow brush.
Matte eyeshadows are not chalky, it has quite a velvet finish to it.
You can mix the matte eyeshadows to be used for the brows.
Palette have a great range of colors, which is great for different skin tones.
Great eye chart for inspiration.
Awesome brush and mascara.
Not too pricy – considering it’s around $5/eyeshadow when you break it down individually.
Makes for a great bridal palette!

Cons:

The flat split-fiber eyeshadow brush does not pack the glitter on the eyelid that well. You might have to use another brush for the glitters.
Quite a fall-out from the “shimmer” rows, so watch out! Try to do your eye makeup first before your base.

Kirei Makeup

Category: Product of the Week

NARS Luminous Weightless Foundation Review

Diorskin Nude Air Review

Smashbox Double Exposure Review

The Balm Mary-Lou Manizer Review

GlamGlow Super Mud Review

Bioderma Sensibio H2O Review

Product of the Week:NARSissist Eyeshadow Palette Review

Product of The Week: Cover FX Cream Foundation Review

Product of The Week: UD Naked 3 Review

Smashbox Full Exposure Palette Review