Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Guerlain - Terracotta Sun Elixir 01 Ultimate Gold




Introduction
The full name of this product is Guerlain Sun Elixir Tan Magnifier . It was being released as limited edition item for Summer 2007.
Packaging
I have to crown Guerlain as the most innovative brand in packaging. This is one of the most unique packaging from Guerlain. It has a sponge attached to the cap. The powder is stored at the bottom of the round shape container and being dispensed to the surface after being shaked and stick to the sponge. You don't need to worry about powder flying everywhere with this.
Texture
Slightly scented with Guerlain signature scent. Powder is ultra fine and pigmented.
Price
RM189.
Review
Guerlain always surprises me with their creative ideas and packaging. This product is amazing. There are 2 colors being released, 01 Ultimate Gold and 02 Ultimate Copper. I got Ultimate Gold as I think it suits my fair skintone better. I'm amazed by the fineness of the powder. The particle is so fine that it feels like pure pigment on my skin. Despict of the name Ultimate Gold, I didn't see any gold color on my skin. It reflects silver with hints of bronze on where the light hits and looks coral gold on certain angle.

I use it as an eye shadow and it is very beautiful! It can be used as highlighter too but since it is ultra shimmery so a little goes a long way.Somehow I feel the powder contains a bit of moisture and makes it stays on my lids without flying all over my face. I guess the name 'Elixir' make some sense. It gives the perfect summer look. Although the design with a sponge is nice but I find it not very practical. The sponge is too big and since the powder is quite pigmented, I couldn't apply the powder directly to my face with the sponge. It will be very overdo but i would feel pampered to use it on my body.

Stila - Summer Bloom Blush duo Quiant & Coral


Introduction
This is a limited edition powder blush being released for summer.

Packaging
The tin is big. Unlike their usual cardboard packaging, this container somehow looks like metal with the copper metalic coloring, it feels like metal too. The clear top reveals the color inside at one glance and it is definately a plus point. Love the light weight packaging.

Texture
Scentless, powder is a little coarse compares to their regular powder blushes. Quite powdery.


Price
N/A. Value for money.

Review
This blush duo contains a warm peach and a ballet pink. Both shades are ultra shimmery. I guess this could be the one if I'm only allowed to own 1 blush. The reason being is it has both the warm and cool shades put together in a big tin. Every girl should have at least 2 blushes which are in cool and warm tones to match their makeup and clothes. The warm side is a medium shimmery peach. The cool side is a shimmery ballet pink. I think every skintone can use this blush all year long with this kind of combination. The texture is quite powdery so be sure to use a light hand to avoid picking up too much powder on your brush. Generally, this blush is great but of cause I'm allowed to own more than 1 blush so it is not a must have for me but perfect for a makeup beginner.

Anna Sui - Blush Accent : 01



Introduction
This is a limited edition item being released in Christmas 2007. It is from a set of blush, lipgloss and purse. I bought this blush separately from eBay.
Texture
Very fine powder, heavily scented with Anna Sui's signature scent.

Packaging
Anna Sui's packaging is one of my favourite. Their new packaging for blushes is more practical with the flip-up and see through casing than the traditional screw top. Althought the older one looks more luxury and classic. The little brush that comes with it also quite useful for touch up outside.

Price
RM165 including a purse and a lipgloss

Review
I know I must have it when I saw the picture of this on the magazine. They came in 2 color. I got the color 01. The rose in the center is the actual blush color, the purple area around the rose is their purple loose powder in pressed form. I was sold when the sales assistant swiped the color on my hand. It is a beautiful coral pink. It complement my yellowish fair skin so well. I was told that the purpose of combining the purple press powder is to make the blush looks more natural and prevent the color looking blotchy on skin. The color is very sheer, I have to layer on many times to make the color shows up on me but when it shows, it is beautiful. The other color 02 is a orange with beige shimmer powder around it which looks nothing unique on my skin as I already have MAC's Foolish Me. The scent doesn't bother me much as it will disappear in few seconds. It is enjoyable to use as the rose imprint is so beautiful!

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Shiseido Maquillage - Color Fit Climax RD359



Introduction
This is Shiseido's young line Maquillage's latest range of lipsticks released in Spring 2008. It contains memory oil cells that makes the color stayed on lips.

Texture
Very moisturizing, scentless, smooth.

Packaging
I love their packaging. The color on the cap reflects the actual color of the lipstick and make it easy to identify.

Price
RM89, 4g

Review
I had to get another lipstick from this range after I fall in love with the RD357 which I had reviewed earlier. This color is medium rosy pink. Kind of 'your lips but better' color. It is not as flattering as the RD357 but is a safe color for most skintone. Even though it claims to have more staying power but I still find the color doesn't last long. It gone in less than an hour and I have to reapply again. Again, the texture is to die for. By the way, my friend that went with me also bought the RD357 after tested it.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

Shiseido Maquillage - Climax Moisture Gel Foundation



Introduction
Ok, the name is crap. This is a seasonal product that only available in autumn/winter and limited to certain countries in Asia like Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan.
Price
N/A, 30ml.

Packaging
This comes in a huge pump bottle with a sponge in a plastic case. I always love Japan product's packaging. The bottle is opaque so you can't tell how much product is left in the bottle. But wait, the japanese has thought about it and comes with solution. It has a small window on the bottle which shows the color of the content. If the window's color has changed to white, that means you have about 15 applications left and that's enough time for you to get a replacement bottle. How clever! They also give you a plastic case to store the sponge so you can touch up while you're out. However, I found the bottle is quite bulky, I wish they could be smaller.

Texture
Slightly scented. Gel/mousse texture. Light weight.

Review
We have all the Maquillage makeup range in Malaysia except the foundation and primer. I'm very impressed with this product. It could be my holy grail if only the color is a shade lighter. I got the shade OC30. It is a fair to medium shade but very yellow tone. I can see the yellowness on my skin.
The texture is quite interesting. It feels like a mousse but when you spread it, it feels like gel. It is best to apply using the sponge included. Fingers just won't do the trick and you might end up blotchy if apply with fingers. The coverage is amazing! All my pores are gone! I also like the moisturising effect, non-greasy but just great. This is one of the best foundation that I've tried. How I wish they are available in Malaysia.

Giorgio Armani - Armani Silk Reds Collection Lipstick #42





Introduction
I believe this is an limited edition item which comes in their Armani Silk High Color Cream Lipstick Reds Collection. I got it as a Gift With Purchase.

Price
RM69. 4g/0.14oz.

Packaging
I love the shinny red tube very much. The shape is slim and elegant.

Texture
Creamy and pigmented. Scentless.


Review
I would never buy a bright red lipstick if this is not a GWP. Anyway, this is a surprise for me. Since the red lips is so IN this season so I just tried it on since I got it free. The color is a bright hot chili red from the tube and amazingly the color doesn't differ much on my lips than in the tube. The red is more on the coral tone. My lips look sexy. This lipstick is quite moisturising but I hope it could be more moisturising. It doesn't cover much of the lips wrinkles so you need a very good condition lips to start with. Although the texture has much to be desire but I love the color. It last long too. I think I've found my perfect red lipstick.

Thursday, April 03, 2008

Shiseido Integrate - Lipgloss OR302



Introduction
Integrate is Shiseido's drugstore brand with lower price range. Angelina Jolie is the spoke person for this range.

Price
1260 yen, 1.8ml.

Packaging
What a packaging! I never seen anything like this, at least not for a lipgloss but apparently they are good. The bristle is a spatula shape transparent silicon with a hole on it and a tube in the center to dispense the gloss to the bristle. You twist the tube clock wise at the bottom to dispense the color to the bristle and then twist it anti-clockwise to make the gloss back to the tube from the bristle. No more worries of mixing the lipcolor into the wand and waste of lipglosses or applying lipgloss with your finger from the squeeze tube.

Review
The Integrate range only sold in Japan and Taiwan. My best friend brought it back for me from Japan. I got the color OR302 which is coral pink with fine shimmer. Although it is in the orange color family but it actually appear as light pink on my lips. The color OR302 is very sheer that it hardly shows on my lips. It appears like clear glitter gloss on. However, when I applied it after put foundation on my lips, it shows up as a very nice pinkish nude. I also found the texture is a little sticky but it makes my lips ultra glossy. Looks good with any lipstick.
The packaging is a bit tricky to use, you have to use it like a butter knife and spread the gloss on the lips to get a good result. It is comparable to any high end lipglosses in every aspect.

Shiseido Maquillage - Color Fit Climax RD357





Introduction

This is the latest range from Shiseido Maquillage being released for Spring 2008.

Price
RM89, 4g.


Texture
Scentless, very soft, moisturising and glossy.


Packaging
I found this range has the same design as Shiseido's discontinued range Pieds Nus Rouge Aqua X. The tube is slimer and long which is different from the usual fat and short tube. It also has a color similar to the lipstick on the cap of the tube for easy identification. Definately sleeker and more elegant than the usual packaging.


Review
Oh, i love this lipstick very much. I got the color RD357 which is the color used on the model in the poster. The code RD indicates the it is from the red color family. The color is a coral red which is rich but not bold. It appears super glossy on my lips and makes it looks so plumped up! I can't stop staring on my lips. Haha. Unlike their other range (sheer climax, color on climax), this range has a rich color and shows up nicely on my rather pigmented lips. Just beautiful! I'll rank it the best lipstick of the year and get my hands on more colors.

Check out the video below. This is the color I bought.