Steam Cream will be releasing these new can designs on 2 September at BHG in Singapore. Do also check out their Facebook page!
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Tuesday, 30 August 2011
Gransenbon Discontinued
Just read on 2Channel that Gransenbon has ceased production and is being withdrawn from retail outlets in Japan. Even the official website has vanished from the website of its parent company, Cuore Cosme, which also makes K-Palette. Gransenbon hasn't released any new products for many months now, so the prospects for it weren't looking good.
It's always sad to see a brand meet its demise although to be fair, the brand's products were very much hit-and-miss. I'll treasure my collection of their blushes even more now. BHG has been selling Gransenbon blushes at just $15 each for awhile now. If you've been wanting to purchase them, don't wait too long!
It's always sad to see a brand meet its demise although to be fair, the brand's products were very much hit-and-miss. I'll treasure my collection of their blushes even more now. BHG has been selling Gransenbon blushes at just $15 each for awhile now. If you've been wanting to purchase them, don't wait too long!
Aube Couture Fall 2011
For this fall, Aube Couture will release a limited edition series of Designing Compact palettes (5250yen), each containing 5 eyeshadows and 3 lip colours.
There are two palette cases and four shade combinations to choose from: 01 Platinum Purple (with pink lip shades), 02 Platinum Brown (with rose lip shades), 03 Platinum Orange (with red lip shades) and 04 Platinum Beige (with beige lip shades). You can see a preview pic of the four combinations on Iroha and here. These will be released on 4 October in Japan.
The ad visuals feature Japanese actresses Esumi Makiko (for the black compacts) and Kanno Miho (for the white compacts). Pics and info from Biteki.com.
There are two palette cases and four shade combinations to choose from: 01 Platinum Purple (with pink lip shades), 02 Platinum Brown (with rose lip shades), 03 Platinum Orange (with red lip shades) and 04 Platinum Beige (with beige lip shades). You can see a preview pic of the four combinations on Iroha and here. These will be released on 4 October in Japan.
The ad visuals feature Japanese actresses Esumi Makiko (for the black compacts) and Kanno Miho (for the white compacts). Pics and info from Biteki.com.
Sunday, 28 August 2011
Suqqu Mascara Volume Long N and BRTC Glamorous Sparkling BB Cream
This week, I've been wearing the Suqqu Mascara Volume Long N, that I purchased as part of last year's Christmas Makeup Kit. It is a water-resistant mascara containing resin fibres, that promises to help create soft, curled lashes. The mascara can be removed with warm water.
The mascara is a deluxe sample size of 4g/0.14oz. I could not find any information on the weight for the regular retail size but one of Suqqu's other mascaras is 4.6g. It retails for £29 (about S$58) in Selfridges in the UK and 5250yen (about S$83) in Japan. The price in Japan is way beyond what I would shell out for a mascara as mascaras have to be discarded after just a few months for hygiene purposes.
There are only a handful of reviews for Mascara Volume Long N on Cosme.net and most of them are negative, with criticisms of the mascara's lack of curling and volumising properties. Also, attempts to remove it with just warm water often led to unsightly black smudges around the eyes.
My lashes after using the MAC eyelash curler.
The first couple of times that I wore the mascara, it didn't hold the curl of my lashes very well although my lashes didn't straighten out completely. On the third try (which is pictured below), I got much better results and my lashes stayed nicely curled over more than 6 hours of wear without any flaking or smudging.
The mascara is good for adding length and definition but not at adding volume. If you want a volumising mascara that gives greater impact, Benefit They're Real! will give you better results. The Suqqu mascara requires quite a bit of layering to build up the length but it doesn't clump or make the lashes feel stiff and crunchy after it dries.
The slim brush also works well for defining and lengthening the super short and sparse lashes on my lower eyelid, without smudging against the skin.
I couldn't remove this with my Bioderma Sebium H2O but it came off with the Body Shop Shiso Make-up Cleansing Oil. Even for mascaras that are supposed to be removable with warm water, I prefer to use an eye makeup remover or cleansing oil to avoid having to rub the lashes too much.
Overall, I think Suqqu Mascara Volume Long N is a decent mascara and I will continue to use it regularly but it didn't impress me enough to justify the exorbitant price tag.
The products used for this look include: BRTC Glamorous Sparkling BB Cream, Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation 102 Natural Ivory, Tarte Tipsy blush, Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer 05 and Eye Gloss Duo B 03, RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer EX-01 and K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow 01.
The BRTC BB cream is thus named as it contains soft shimmer particles to give the skin a refined glow. Although it was a good match for my skintone, the finish was too dewy for my liking and it didn't even out the skin surface as well as some other foundations that I've tried. Oil control was average with blotting required every couple of hours. The ultra fine shimmer particles were only visible when viewed up close under direct sunlight. In the photo below, I swatched it on the right half of my hand. Fortunately, I only paid about S$2 for a 5ml tube (as part of a sampler pack of 4 BRTC BB creams) from Guardian Pharmacy.
The mascara is a deluxe sample size of 4g/0.14oz. I could not find any information on the weight for the regular retail size but one of Suqqu's other mascaras is 4.6g. It retails for £29 (about S$58) in Selfridges in the UK and 5250yen (about S$83) in Japan. The price in Japan is way beyond what I would shell out for a mascara as mascaras have to be discarded after just a few months for hygiene purposes.
There are only a handful of reviews for Mascara Volume Long N on Cosme.net and most of them are negative, with criticisms of the mascara's lack of curling and volumising properties. Also, attempts to remove it with just warm water often led to unsightly black smudges around the eyes.
My lashes after using the MAC eyelash curler.
The first couple of times that I wore the mascara, it didn't hold the curl of my lashes very well although my lashes didn't straighten out completely. On the third try (which is pictured below), I got much better results and my lashes stayed nicely curled over more than 6 hours of wear without any flaking or smudging.
The mascara is good for adding length and definition but not at adding volume. If you want a volumising mascara that gives greater impact, Benefit They're Real! will give you better results. The Suqqu mascara requires quite a bit of layering to build up the length but it doesn't clump or make the lashes feel stiff and crunchy after it dries.
The slim brush also works well for defining and lengthening the super short and sparse lashes on my lower eyelid, without smudging against the skin.
I couldn't remove this with my Bioderma Sebium H2O but it came off with the Body Shop Shiso Make-up Cleansing Oil. Even for mascaras that are supposed to be removable with warm water, I prefer to use an eye makeup remover or cleansing oil to avoid having to rub the lashes too much.
Overall, I think Suqqu Mascara Volume Long N is a decent mascara and I will continue to use it regularly but it didn't impress me enough to justify the exorbitant price tag.
The products used for this look include: BRTC Glamorous Sparkling BB Cream, Body Shop Extra Virgin Minerals Loose Powder Foundation 102 Natural Ivory, Tarte Tipsy blush, Paul & Joe Lip Lacquer 05 and Eye Gloss Duo B 03, RMK Super Basic Liquid Concealer EX-01 and K-Palette Lasting 2-Way Eyebrow 01.
The BRTC BB cream is thus named as it contains soft shimmer particles to give the skin a refined glow. Although it was a good match for my skintone, the finish was too dewy for my liking and it didn't even out the skin surface as well as some other foundations that I've tried. Oil control was average with blotting required every couple of hours. The ultra fine shimmer particles were only visible when viewed up close under direct sunlight. In the photo below, I swatched it on the right half of my hand. Fortunately, I only paid about S$2 for a 5ml tube (as part of a sampler pack of 4 BRTC BB creams) from Guardian Pharmacy.
Saturday, 27 August 2011
Stila Holiday 2011: Dream In Full Colour
It's not even September yet but Stilacosmetics.com and Sephora.com have already started listing the Dream In Full Colour holiday collection! The excellent Lipglossiping posted gorgeous photos of the collection earlier, which had me gasping at the dreamcatcher-styled palettes.
The collection includes:
1. Dream In Full Color Palette (US$39): 29 eye shadows (total net weight:0.65 oz. /18.5 g), seven cheek colors (0.38 oz. /10.8 g), a Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray, and a 12 -page step-by-step look book.
2. Daydream Palette (US$18): 22 eyeshadows (total net weight: 0.48 oz. /13.6 g )
3. Lipglaze Set of 8 lipglosses (US$25) including 4 new, limited edition shades
4. 5-piece brush set (US$28)
In the e-mailer sent out by Stila today, there is also a Find Your Magic Palette pictured but it's not listed on Stilacosmetics.com. Hopefully, it'll show up later as I definitely would like to add it to my collection!
If you are in the US, you can enter Stila's sweepstakes on their Facebook page to win the entire collection (no purchase is necessary).
The collection includes:
1. Dream In Full Color Palette (US$39): 29 eye shadows (total net weight:0.65 oz. /18.5 g), seven cheek colors (0.38 oz. /10.8 g), a Smudge Stick Waterproof Eye Liner in Stingray, and a 12 -page step-by-step look book.
2. Daydream Palette (US$18): 22 eyeshadows (total net weight: 0.48 oz. /13.6 g )
3. Lipglaze Set of 8 lipglosses (US$25) including 4 new, limited edition shades
4. 5-piece brush set (US$28)
In the e-mailer sent out by Stila today, there is also a Find Your Magic Palette pictured but it's not listed on Stilacosmetics.com. Hopefully, it'll show up later as I definitely would like to add it to my collection!
If you are in the US, you can enter Stila's sweepstakes on their Facebook page to win the entire collection (no purchase is necessary).
Lush Holiday 2011: The Christmas Factory
For a sneak peek of the holiday offerings from Lush this year, check out Hirona's blog. Several products from previous years are being brought back like Satsuma Santa, Snow Dome soap and Christmas Eve soap. There is also a yummylicious Rudolph Chocolate Massage Bar, a Melting Snowman bath melt, a Magic Stick bubble bar shaped like a pink star, a lime green Sparkling New York City shower jelly with notes of cinnamon and gold glitter, a Snow Taffy soap and bath bombs shaped like Ginger Cookie House and ribbon-wrapped boxes.
Here's a clip from Sankei News on the press event which was held at the British embassy in Tokyo. According to the clip, 7 winter bestsellers will be launched on 1 October while 21 Christmas items will be released on 1 November in Japan. You can see more pictures on Kirehon and Kokusaishogo
Here's a clip from Sankei News on the press event which was held at the British embassy in Tokyo. According to the clip, 7 winter bestsellers will be launched on 1 October while 21 Christmas items will be released on 1 November in Japan. You can see more pictures on Kirehon and Kokusaishogo
Friday, 26 August 2011
YSL Holiday 2011
If you are a YSL fan, do check out this Japanese blog for several posts on the YSL holiday 2011 collection.
The collection will be launched on 28 October in Japan. It includes:
1. Palette Noel (7980yen): One white eyeshadow and four black/grey eyeshadows in varying textures.
2. Palette Blanc (8190yen)
3. Ombres Duo Lumiere No. 43 Gold Lamé/Silver Moaré (Asia-exclusive) (5565yen)
4. Manicure Duo No. 6 Duo Noel: Matte black and glossy black. (4725yen; 2x6ml) See a close-up of the model's manicure in the ad visual here.
5. Rouge Pur Couture (3885yen) : No. 37, No. 30 Rosé Aphrodite, No. 39 (LE) and No. 40 Rouge Eros (LE).
6. Golden Gloss (3465yen): No. 44 White Gold Diamond, No. 45 White Gold Pearl, No. 46 White Gold Quartz, No. 47 White Gold Topaz and No. 48 White Gold Amethyst. All are limited edition except No. 44.
Both the Palette Noel and Palette Blanc come with a black obi. See more pics on Kuri's Beauty Report and Rascal.
The collection will be launched on 28 October in Japan. It includes:
1. Palette Noel (7980yen): One white eyeshadow and four black/grey eyeshadows in varying textures.
2. Palette Blanc (8190yen)
3. Ombres Duo Lumiere No. 43 Gold Lamé/Silver Moaré (Asia-exclusive) (5565yen)
4. Manicure Duo No. 6 Duo Noel: Matte black and glossy black. (4725yen; 2x6ml) See a close-up of the model's manicure in the ad visual here.
5. Rouge Pur Couture (3885yen) : No. 37, No. 30 Rosé Aphrodite, No. 39 (LE) and No. 40 Rouge Eros (LE).
6. Golden Gloss (3465yen): No. 44 White Gold Diamond, No. 45 White Gold Pearl, No. 46 White Gold Quartz, No. 47 White Gold Topaz and No. 48 White Gold Amethyst. All are limited edition except No. 44.
Both the Palette Noel and Palette Blanc come with a black obi. See more pics on Kuri's Beauty Report and Rascal.
L'Occitane Holiday 2011
Biteki.com has a sneak peek of L'Occitane's holiday collections. First up is the Delice des Fleurs fragrance and bodycare collection, which will be released on 27 October in Japan. The romantic floral scent has rose and violet notes. It includes an eau de toilette, solid perfume, shower gel, body milk, hand cream and lipgloss.
The Delice des Fruits collection will be launched on 17 November. The juicy citrus scent also has notes of cedar and musk. The line-up includes a body milk, shower jelly, hand cream, soap, lip balm etc. See more pics from the press event in Tokyo on Kuri's Beauty Report.
The Delice des Fruits collection will be launched on 17 November. The juicy citrus scent also has notes of cedar and musk. The line-up includes a body milk, shower jelly, hand cream, soap, lip balm etc. See more pics from the press event in Tokyo on Kuri's Beauty Report.
Canmake Moist Souffle Shadow
Canmake will release a new Moist Souffle Shadow (714yen) on 1 September in Japan. Available in three shades, the souffle shadows transform into a powder upon contact with skin, providing a translucent, shimmery wash of colour. They are formulated with seven hydrating ingredients: hyaluronic acid, royal jelly, squalene, aloe vera, honey, extracts of rosemary and geranium.
L'Occitane Verbena Leaf Soap
Last week, I got tired of dealing with the slippery Lush Sweetie Pie Shower Jelly, so I popped into L'Occitane and picked up their Verbena Leaf Soap (S$10).
I love the fresh citrusy scent of L'Occitane's Verbena range, which isn't too sharp or generic. I've tried both the Verbena shampoo and conditioner previously but they didn't work well with my hair.
Aside from the lovely scent, I also like the good exfoliating action provided by the crushed verbena leaves in the soap. The scrubby bits don't feel as sharp on my skin as Lush Porridge Soap. The all-vegetal, non-detergent cleansing base is supposed to be non-drying. And indeed, it doesn't cause any dry patches or tightness on my skin after rinsing off, unlike many other bar soaps. Nevertheless, I still use a body lotion post-shower to keep my skin properly hydrated.
It also lathers up much faster than Lush Shower Jelly and doesn't leave a strong scent on my skin. I like to use this especially if I've worn sunscreen lotion on that day, as this cleanses my skin thoroughly.
Love this!
I love the fresh citrusy scent of L'Occitane's Verbena range, which isn't too sharp or generic. I've tried both the Verbena shampoo and conditioner previously but they didn't work well with my hair.
Aside from the lovely scent, I also like the good exfoliating action provided by the crushed verbena leaves in the soap. The scrubby bits don't feel as sharp on my skin as Lush Porridge Soap. The all-vegetal, non-detergent cleansing base is supposed to be non-drying. And indeed, it doesn't cause any dry patches or tightness on my skin after rinsing off, unlike many other bar soaps. Nevertheless, I still use a body lotion post-shower to keep my skin properly hydrated.
It also lathers up much faster than Lush Shower Jelly and doesn't leave a strong scent on my skin. I like to use this especially if I've worn sunscreen lotion on that day, as this cleanses my skin thoroughly.
Love this!
Esprique TV CM featuring Namie Amuro
Check out Namie Amuro's TV CM for the new Esprique Forming Beauty Pact UV (Moisture) foundation! This was shot on the island of Mallorca.
The fragrance-free foundation has SPF20 PA++ and comes in 7 shades. It contains hyaluronic acid, collagen, "super flat powder" to conceal pores and "shape effect powder" to help the face look slimmer. The Esprique website also has a clip on the shooting of the ad here.
The Esprique brand is launching at Kose counters in Singapore this month, replacing Esprique Precious (which I will miss sorely!). You can read more about Esprique on Shine, Shimmer & Sparkle and Everbluec. Yuki's Lazy Channel and Worship at the House of Blues also have swatches of the new Blend Dimensional Eyes palettes for fall.
The fragrance-free foundation has SPF20 PA++ and comes in 7 shades. It contains hyaluronic acid, collagen, "super flat powder" to conceal pores and "shape effect powder" to help the face look slimmer. The Esprique website also has a clip on the shooting of the ad here.
The Esprique brand is launching at Kose counters in Singapore this month, replacing Esprique Precious (which I will miss sorely!). You can read more about Esprique on Shine, Shimmer & Sparkle and Everbluec. Yuki's Lazy Channel and Worship at the House of Blues also have swatches of the new Blend Dimensional Eyes palettes for fall.
Thursday, 25 August 2011
FOTD with Lancome Rouge Faubourg and Armani Eyes To Kill #4 Pulp Fiction
As part of its 29 Rue St Honoré fall makeup collection, Lancome released three Le French Touch Absolue lipsticks: Rouge St. Honoré, Rouge Faubourg and Rouge 29.
The luxurious gold packaging is a modernized version of Lancome's first lipstick, known as "Shaker". Of the three shades, Singapore will be receiving only Rouge 29 (S$65). It seems like only the European countries will be receiving all three shades. (Beaut.ie has the details on the European release.) The Maison Lancome blush looks very nicely put together in the pan but when swirled and applied, it's basically just a pink-toned face powder with a dreamy finish so I skipped it.
The tube is much smaller than the usual Lancome lipsticks, but the cap feels fairly weighty. Lancome didn't skimp on the actual amount of product though. The lipstick is 3.7ml/3g/0.1oz (same as a MAC lipstick)
I got to play with all three shades recently and decided to purchase #104 Rouge Faubourg, a vibrant red with red micro shimmer.
Rouge Faubourg has excellent colour payoff and wears very comfortably on the lips. True to the description on the box of it as a "silky cream", it glides onto the lips very smoothly for a velvety, satin finish. The micro shimmer is not really visible on the lips. It does stain the cup when drinking and requires touching up after a meal.
I also tried out the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill #4 Pulp Fiction today. It is a metallic grey with red flecks.
I applied Pulp Fiction along the lower lashline and from the upper lashline to the crease, without any primer underneath. I used a pale blue shade from my Lancome Ultra Lavande Cold Harmony palette over the brow bone area and the blue-toned purple shade in the crease.
The Eyes To Kill has truly impressive lasting power. I didn't see any fading or creasing even after more than 12 hours of wear. However, Pulp Fiction didn't strike me as being a particularly unique shade. After trying the two Eyes to Kill shades that I purchased (Pulp Fiction and #3 Purpura), I think they are good quality but I'm just not in love with them enough to want to pick up more shades.
For today's look, I also used Addiction Tinted Moisturiser #1, Shu Uemura Face Powder Sheer, Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Royal, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 01, Tarte Tipsy blush, Lancome Natural Light Creator Bare Skin Perfecting Corrector Pen #1 and Benefit They're Real! Mascara.
The luxurious gold packaging is a modernized version of Lancome's first lipstick, known as "Shaker". Of the three shades, Singapore will be receiving only Rouge 29 (S$65). It seems like only the European countries will be receiving all three shades. (Beaut.ie has the details on the European release.) The Maison Lancome blush looks very nicely put together in the pan but when swirled and applied, it's basically just a pink-toned face powder with a dreamy finish so I skipped it.
The tube is much smaller than the usual Lancome lipsticks, but the cap feels fairly weighty. Lancome didn't skimp on the actual amount of product though. The lipstick is 3.7ml/3g/0.1oz (same as a MAC lipstick)
I got to play with all three shades recently and decided to purchase #104 Rouge Faubourg, a vibrant red with red micro shimmer.
Rouge Faubourg has excellent colour payoff and wears very comfortably on the lips. True to the description on the box of it as a "silky cream", it glides onto the lips very smoothly for a velvety, satin finish. The micro shimmer is not really visible on the lips. It does stain the cup when drinking and requires touching up after a meal.
I also tried out the Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill #4 Pulp Fiction today. It is a metallic grey with red flecks.
I applied Pulp Fiction along the lower lashline and from the upper lashline to the crease, without any primer underneath. I used a pale blue shade from my Lancome Ultra Lavande Cold Harmony palette over the brow bone area and the blue-toned purple shade in the crease.
The Eyes To Kill has truly impressive lasting power. I didn't see any fading or creasing even after more than 12 hours of wear. However, Pulp Fiction didn't strike me as being a particularly unique shade. After trying the two Eyes to Kill shades that I purchased (Pulp Fiction and #3 Purpura), I think they are good quality but I'm just not in love with them enough to want to pick up more shades.
For today's look, I also used Addiction Tinted Moisturiser #1, Shu Uemura Face Powder Sheer, Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Royal, K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 01, Tarte Tipsy blush, Lancome Natural Light Creator Bare Skin Perfecting Corrector Pen #1 and Benefit They're Real! Mascara.
Wednesday, 24 August 2011
Sneak peeks of holiday collection from Lunasol, Anna Sui, Suqqu and YSL
Japanese beauty journalist Tomoichi tweeted these pics of the holiday collections from Lunasol, Anna Sui, Suqqu and YSL. The release dates stated are for Japan.
Lunasol Party Coffret 2011: To be released on 11 November, this year's coffret includes a new Three Dimensional Eyes palette, a pink Cream Cheek, a mini face powder and a lipgloss.
Anna Sui limited edition mirror (2625yen) to be released on 3 November.
Suqqu base makeup set to be released on 18 November. Includes a full size foundation and deluxe samples of the moisturising cream, lotion, essence and another cream.
YSL Palette Noel, to be released on 28 October.
Lunasol Party Coffret 2011: To be released on 11 November, this year's coffret includes a new Three Dimensional Eyes palette, a pink Cream Cheek, a mini face powder and a lipgloss.
Anna Sui limited edition mirror (2625yen) to be released on 3 November.
Suqqu base makeup set to be released on 18 November. Includes a full size foundation and deluxe samples of the moisturising cream, lotion, essence and another cream.
YSL Palette Noel, to be released on 28 October.
Fred Farrugia Makeup
Formerly the artistic director of Lancome cosmetics, Fred Farrugia broke new ground by inventing the first ever all-cake brand offering customisable palettes that are highly portable and easy to apply.
Known as the "iPod of makeup" thanks to the ingenious packaging designed by Ora Ito, the line offers powder eyeshadows, lipglosses, foundations, concealers, highlighters and even cake mascara in generously sized pans within a sleek white "module".
You start with the First Kit, which includes the top and bottom covers and a black sleeve (similar to those made for iPods), and simply add the modules that you desire. The bottom module includes a mirror.
The modules snap together easily and swivel out for convenient access. The interlocking mechanism is made such that the modules close up with a reassuring click and stay closed no matter how they are held.
For modern day nomads, the slim lightweight packaging is a welcome relief from the bulky blockbuster palettes proffered by other brands. Each eyeshadow pan is 0.05oz (same as a MAC eyeshadow) while the blush is 0.15oz. They are made in France.
The sleeve comfortably fits my palette, which currently includes four eyeshadow modules and one blush, with enough space for me to add another module.
It covers up the palette well, so that there is no need to worry about the modules accidentally swiveling out while in one's bag.
When browsing the Fred Farrugia display, I was naturally attracted to the vast array of Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadows. The first pair I picked was #10 Vert Sapin / Gris Platinium. The Gris Platinum shade reminded me of Lancome's Erika F eyeshadow but when applied, it has less of an olive undertone than Erika F.
My next pick was Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadow #27, a shimmery grey mauve paired with a shimmery violet. The violet shade felt dry and dusty whereas the grey mauve shade has a smoother texture. Both have to be layered a bit to show up well.
Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadow #34 is another shimmery grey with a shimmery light turquoise.
Satin Eyeshadow #37 is a satin white with a cobalt blue that reminded me of NARS Outremer Eyeshadow from their fall collection.
To complete the palette, I added Blush #2, a satin coral orange.
Swatches on bare skin without any primer underneath.
The eyeshadows are formulated with shimmering mother-of-pearl particles rather than glitter. When applied over a good primer, they last very well over more than 13 hours of wear on me with very minimal fading and creasing at the inner corners. The texture and level of color payoff do vary amongst the individual shades. Some shades required a bit of effort to pick up with my brushes. The pearlized twinkle eyeshadows look very rich and sparkly in the pan but most of them are not intensely pigmented like Sleek eyeshadows. Instead, they require a bit of layering.
Here's the look that I did today with Satin Eyeshadow #37 and the light turquoise shade from #34, with Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Curacao along the upper lashline.
When wearing such a bold, vivid shade, I usually refrain from applying it above the crease so that it does not look too over-the-top. Even then, the cobalt shade was eye-catching and got noticed by friends. It's not a shade that I would wear very often but it's fun to play around with on days when I'm feeling more adventurous.
For more reviews, do check out Makeup Stash and Makeup & Beauty Blog's posts here and here.
Known as the "iPod of makeup" thanks to the ingenious packaging designed by Ora Ito, the line offers powder eyeshadows, lipglosses, foundations, concealers, highlighters and even cake mascara in generously sized pans within a sleek white "module".
You start with the First Kit, which includes the top and bottom covers and a black sleeve (similar to those made for iPods), and simply add the modules that you desire. The bottom module includes a mirror.
The modules snap together easily and swivel out for convenient access. The interlocking mechanism is made such that the modules close up with a reassuring click and stay closed no matter how they are held.
For modern day nomads, the slim lightweight packaging is a welcome relief from the bulky blockbuster palettes proffered by other brands. Each eyeshadow pan is 0.05oz (same as a MAC eyeshadow) while the blush is 0.15oz. They are made in France.
The sleeve comfortably fits my palette, which currently includes four eyeshadow modules and one blush, with enough space for me to add another module.
It covers up the palette well, so that there is no need to worry about the modules accidentally swiveling out while in one's bag.
When browsing the Fred Farrugia display, I was naturally attracted to the vast array of Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadows. The first pair I picked was #10 Vert Sapin / Gris Platinium. The Gris Platinum shade reminded me of Lancome's Erika F eyeshadow but when applied, it has less of an olive undertone than Erika F.
My next pick was Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadow #27, a shimmery grey mauve paired with a shimmery violet. The violet shade felt dry and dusty whereas the grey mauve shade has a smoother texture. Both have to be layered a bit to show up well.
Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadow #34 is another shimmery grey with a shimmery light turquoise.
Satin Eyeshadow #37 is a satin white with a cobalt blue that reminded me of NARS Outremer Eyeshadow from their fall collection.
To complete the palette, I added Blush #2, a satin coral orange.
Swatches on bare skin without any primer underneath.
The eyeshadows are formulated with shimmering mother-of-pearl particles rather than glitter. When applied over a good primer, they last very well over more than 13 hours of wear on me with very minimal fading and creasing at the inner corners. The texture and level of color payoff do vary amongst the individual shades. Some shades required a bit of effort to pick up with my brushes. The pearlized twinkle eyeshadows look very rich and sparkly in the pan but most of them are not intensely pigmented like Sleek eyeshadows. Instead, they require a bit of layering.
Here's the look that I did today with Satin Eyeshadow #37 and the light turquoise shade from #34, with Stila Sparkle Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Curacao along the upper lashline.
When wearing such a bold, vivid shade, I usually refrain from applying it above the crease so that it does not look too over-the-top. Even then, the cobalt shade was eye-catching and got noticed by friends. It's not a shade that I would wear very often but it's fun to play around with on days when I'm feeling more adventurous.
For more reviews, do check out Makeup Stash and Makeup & Beauty Blog's posts here and here.
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