Use the code VALENTINE for a 20% discount on Zuneta.com from now until 14 February. It's a great time to splurge on Rouge Bunny Rouge and Hourglass which are usually phenomenally expensive.
Showing posts with label Zuneta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zuneta. Show all posts
Friday, 8 February 2013
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Becca Balearic Love Collection
Last week, I ordered Becca's new Balearic Love collection from Zuneta, which was offering a Shimmering Skin Perfector (15ml) gift with any £40 purchase of Becca products. The GWP was so popular that it lasted just two days on the website. Thanks to the ELLE20 code (valid until 28 February), I also got a 20% discount off my order.
The Balearic Love Palette (£35) is for me, the highlight of Becca's 10th anniversary collection.
The slim case houses three powder eyeshadows and a brush for creating the perfect smoky eye look. Each eyeshadow is generously sized at 1.5g, the same weight as a MAC eyeshadow single. Zuneta has a short video demonstrating how to create gorgeous smoky eyes with it.
The rubberized case isn't my favourite material because like NARS packaging, it can develop stickiness over time in humid tropical weather.
The two photos below were taken under a bright spot light so the tones look slightly different compared to the photos above which were taken under normal room lighting.
Atlas is a matte dusky tan that looks muddy on my skintone while Romal is a matte smoky blackened brown. Romal is incredibly well-pigmented, so tapping off the excess on one's hand is recommended before applying to the lids as otherwise the brush easily deposits too much product. Atlas takes a bit of layering and is the most sheer.
Marcella, a shimmery dirty bronze shot through with micro gold flecks, is the most complex shade in the palette and my favourite of the three. Becca's description of this palette as containing "jewelled tones of bronzed plum and violet" does not seem accurate as the three shades are more bronze and brown-toned rather than plum and violet.
Below is the list of ingredients.
The Balearic Love Smokey Eye Set (£44) contains a Line & Define Pencil in Cabrera, Romanticism Eye Tint, the Ultimate Mascara and an Anti-Bacterial Sharpener. If purchased individually, these cost £20, £20, £18 and £8 respectively, so the set represents savings of £22.
Romanticism Eye Tint is a sheer light bronze with a slightly shimmery finish. Zuneta has a helpful video showing how it adds a nice subtle gleam and dimension to the lids. Swatched on its own, it is not the kind of shade that wows instantly as it starts off very sheer and does not become particularly rich or intense even when layered. However, it did work very well as a base under the eyeshadows from the Balearic Love Palette and lasted through more than 8 hours of wear without creasing or fading.
The Ultimate Mascara held the curl of my lashes well, and adding decent volume and length without clumping. The brush also performed well for coating the super short and sparse lashes on my lower eyelid.
The sharpener is not something I would have bothered to purchase on its own as I'm happy with my Urban Decay Grind House sharpener. The blade is treated with a special silver and zinc based anti-bacterial additive to sanitize pencils with each sharpening.
The box states that it has "one hole for creating a pointed tip and an adaptor for creating a rounded tip". However, I can't figure out which is the adaptor part! It also comes with a cleaning wand, which is definitely useful for getting the pencil shavings off the blade.
The Line + Define Pencil in Cabrera is a smoky dark brown paired with a dark bronze. These had decent payoff but tugged a little at the skin.
Ingredients lists.
Below are swatches of the Balearic Love Palette, Cabrera pencil and Romanticism Eye Tint (with Baroque Eye Tint for comparison) done on bare skin without any primer. You can see more swatches on Perilously Pale and Indigo Kir Royale here and here.
For this look, I used Romanticism as the base, Marcella along the upper and lower lashlines, Romal blended into the outer half of the crease and Atlas in the inner half of the crease with a glittery blue Shu Uemura eyeshadow on the lower lashline. I also used the Ultimate Mascara and Cabrera eyeliner.
I also picked up Tempranillo Nail Color (£12), a deep blood red. Zuneta also has a video showcasing this polish. It's a chic hue that gets darker with each successive layer but similar shades probably exist in most nailpolish brands.
Zuneta also offers three samples with each order, so I picked Becca Luminous Skin Color in Sand, and Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers and Sea of Nectar. I used to own Becca LSC years ago and was disappointed by the sheerness but I thought I'd just give it another try, to see if it gets along better with my skin. Unfortunately, it still does not sit well on my skin and started balling up when I applied it with my fingertips.
Shopping at Zuneta is truly a breeze as they are so fast, reliable and prompt in responding to email queries. If you are outside the EU, the prices are also automatically adjusted to exclude VAT (after you create a profile and log in). This was my third order in two months and each time, the items arrived speedily in perfect condition.
The Balearic Love Palette (£35) is for me, the highlight of Becca's 10th anniversary collection.
The slim case houses three powder eyeshadows and a brush for creating the perfect smoky eye look. Each eyeshadow is generously sized at 1.5g, the same weight as a MAC eyeshadow single. Zuneta has a short video demonstrating how to create gorgeous smoky eyes with it.
The rubberized case isn't my favourite material because like NARS packaging, it can develop stickiness over time in humid tropical weather.
The two photos below were taken under a bright spot light so the tones look slightly different compared to the photos above which were taken under normal room lighting.
Atlas is a matte dusky tan that looks muddy on my skintone while Romal is a matte smoky blackened brown. Romal is incredibly well-pigmented, so tapping off the excess on one's hand is recommended before applying to the lids as otherwise the brush easily deposits too much product. Atlas takes a bit of layering and is the most sheer.
Marcella, a shimmery dirty bronze shot through with micro gold flecks, is the most complex shade in the palette and my favourite of the three. Becca's description of this palette as containing "jewelled tones of bronzed plum and violet" does not seem accurate as the three shades are more bronze and brown-toned rather than plum and violet.
Below is the list of ingredients.
The Balearic Love Smokey Eye Set (£44) contains a Line & Define Pencil in Cabrera, Romanticism Eye Tint, the Ultimate Mascara and an Anti-Bacterial Sharpener. If purchased individually, these cost £20, £20, £18 and £8 respectively, so the set represents savings of £22.
Romanticism Eye Tint is a sheer light bronze with a slightly shimmery finish. Zuneta has a helpful video showing how it adds a nice subtle gleam and dimension to the lids. Swatched on its own, it is not the kind of shade that wows instantly as it starts off very sheer and does not become particularly rich or intense even when layered. However, it did work very well as a base under the eyeshadows from the Balearic Love Palette and lasted through more than 8 hours of wear without creasing or fading.
The Ultimate Mascara held the curl of my lashes well, and adding decent volume and length without clumping. The brush also performed well for coating the super short and sparse lashes on my lower eyelid.
The sharpener is not something I would have bothered to purchase on its own as I'm happy with my Urban Decay Grind House sharpener. The blade is treated with a special silver and zinc based anti-bacterial additive to sanitize pencils with each sharpening.
The box states that it has "one hole for creating a pointed tip and an adaptor for creating a rounded tip". However, I can't figure out which is the adaptor part! It also comes with a cleaning wand, which is definitely useful for getting the pencil shavings off the blade.
The Line + Define Pencil in Cabrera is a smoky dark brown paired with a dark bronze. These had decent payoff but tugged a little at the skin.
Ingredients lists.
Below are swatches of the Balearic Love Palette, Cabrera pencil and Romanticism Eye Tint (with Baroque Eye Tint for comparison) done on bare skin without any primer. You can see more swatches on Perilously Pale and Indigo Kir Royale here and here.
For this look, I used Romanticism as the base, Marcella along the upper and lower lashlines, Romal blended into the outer half of the crease and Atlas in the inner half of the crease with a glittery blue Shu Uemura eyeshadow on the lower lashline. I also used the Ultimate Mascara and Cabrera eyeliner.
I also picked up Tempranillo Nail Color (£12), a deep blood red. Zuneta also has a video showcasing this polish. It's a chic hue that gets darker with each successive layer but similar shades probably exist in most nailpolish brands.
Zuneta also offers three samples with each order, so I picked Becca Luminous Skin Color in Sand, and Rouge Bunny Rouge Highlighting Liquid in Sea of Showers and Sea of Nectar. I used to own Becca LSC years ago and was disappointed by the sheerness but I thought I'd just give it another try, to see if it gets along better with my skin. Unfortunately, it still does not sit well on my skin and started balling up when I applied it with my fingertips.
Shopping at Zuneta is truly a breeze as they are so fast, reliable and prompt in responding to email queries. If you are outside the EU, the prices are also automatically adjusted to exclude VAT (after you create a profile and log in). This was my third order in two months and each time, the items arrived speedily in perfect condition.
Wednesday, 11 January 2012
Zuneta, ASOS & Sephora Hauls: Paul & Joe, Nude, Rouge Bunny Rouge, Urban Decay
After learning about a 20% discount code ELLE20 for Zuneta.com, a UK-based online retailer that offers prestige brands like Becca, Hourglass, Nude and Rouge Bunny Rouge, I placed my first order. Zuneta orders free international delivery for orders over £65. My order was placed on 8 January, shipped via DHL on 9 January and I received it on 10 January in Switzerland, less than 48 hours after placing the order!
I've been curious about trying out more Rouge Bunny Rouge products after WorshipBlues Curator gifted me with their Orpheline blush. This Best Things in Beauty review of their Milk Aquarelle Liquid Foundation convinced me to take the plunge. I purchased this in 025 Almond Milk Parfait.
Nude is another brand that I've always wanted to try, in particular their Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum which received positive reviews on The Beauty Bite and London Makeup Girl. It is super pricey but the discount code enabled me to finally take the plunge. Zuneta is currently offering a Miracle Mask (15ml) with a 30 purchase of Nude skincare. The ELLE20 code is valid until 28 February. If you are based outside UK/Europe, you also pay lower prices less the VAT.
From the current ASOS sale, I picked up a Bliss Snow Wonder Scent-sational Set of a body butter and body wash for just £15, a 50% savings. My order was placed on 1 January and I received it today by UK Royal Mail post. ASOS offers free international shipping.
The Pixi Autumn Winter Essentials set also looked like a worthwhile deal at £19, down from £31. The price has gone up slightly since I placed my order and is now £21.50.
The set includes an All-Over Magic Radiance Powder No.2 Rose Radiance (7.09g/0.25oz), Flawless & Poreless primer (15ml), Endless Silky Eye Pen No. 1 Black Noir (1.2g) and Lips & Line No.2 Fresh Pink.
As ASOS.com was the first online retailer to launch the Paul & Joe spring collection, I also purchased the new Lipstick C in #77 Catwalk and #75 Sex Kitten (£16 each). Each lipstick is engraved with 10 paw prints. I skipped the Face & Eye Colors as the gradational color schemes did not look that attractive to warrant the £21 price tag.
The prices of Paul & Joe makeup on ASOS are cheaper than the counters in Singapore, where the lipsticks usually retail for S$39. However, the drawback is that ASOS never offers any cute gifts with purchase. They also do not wrap cosmetics properly to prevent breakage, so I would not order anything that is too fragile from them.
Accessories from Lipsy and French Connection.
Over at Sephora in France, several holiday sets had been marked down. The Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, which was originally priced at €58, was now just €40.60. The BOSIV hasn't been as well-received as the Naked palettes and the 15th Anniversary palette, which is much more compact with a more vibrant selection of shades.
I wasn't too keen on BOSIV, as I already own the 15th Anniversary palette, BOSIII New York and the Alice in Wonderland palette. However, at the sale price, BOSIV looked like a pretty good deal considering the number of products in it, including a mascara and a full-sized liquid eyeliner. Plus I always have a weakness for pretty butterflies!
The mini speaker is pretty nifty, and works perfectly with my Samsung Galaxy Ace phone for playing music. It was a real struggle trying to get the speaker out of the box though, as it is squeezed in so snugly.
The Fred Farrguia Midnight Kit, which includes the Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadows #15, Illuminating Powder #1 and Creme Lipstick/Lipgloss #24.
A Yes To Cucumbers Ultimate Calming Facial Kit comprising the Calming Facial Moisturiser, Soothing Eye Gel and Natural Glow Facial Towelettes.
And finally, at Carrefour, I spotted the new Dream Nude Mousse foundation by Maybelline. This doesn't seem to have very positive reviews online but still, I was curious to see how it compares to the Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation by Shu Uemura , which is also owned by L'Oreal. The US and UK version is called "Dream Nude Airfoam" with identical packaging but I don't know if the formula is the same. The Dream Nude Mousse version sold in France is made in Belgium.
Thanks for reading!
I've been curious about trying out more Rouge Bunny Rouge products after WorshipBlues Curator gifted me with their Orpheline blush. This Best Things in Beauty review of their Milk Aquarelle Liquid Foundation convinced me to take the plunge. I purchased this in 025 Almond Milk Parfait.
Nude is another brand that I've always wanted to try, in particular their Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum which received positive reviews on The Beauty Bite and London Makeup Girl. It is super pricey but the discount code enabled me to finally take the plunge. Zuneta is currently offering a Miracle Mask (15ml) with a 30 purchase of Nude skincare. The ELLE20 code is valid until 28 February. If you are based outside UK/Europe, you also pay lower prices less the VAT.
From the current ASOS sale, I picked up a Bliss Snow Wonder Scent-sational Set of a body butter and body wash for just £15, a 50% savings. My order was placed on 1 January and I received it today by UK Royal Mail post. ASOS offers free international shipping.
The Pixi Autumn Winter Essentials set also looked like a worthwhile deal at £19, down from £31. The price has gone up slightly since I placed my order and is now £21.50.
The set includes an All-Over Magic Radiance Powder No.2 Rose Radiance (7.09g/0.25oz), Flawless & Poreless primer (15ml), Endless Silky Eye Pen No. 1 Black Noir (1.2g) and Lips & Line No.2 Fresh Pink.
As ASOS.com was the first online retailer to launch the Paul & Joe spring collection, I also purchased the new Lipstick C in #77 Catwalk and #75 Sex Kitten (£16 each). Each lipstick is engraved with 10 paw prints. I skipped the Face & Eye Colors as the gradational color schemes did not look that attractive to warrant the £21 price tag.
The prices of Paul & Joe makeup on ASOS are cheaper than the counters in Singapore, where the lipsticks usually retail for S$39. However, the drawback is that ASOS never offers any cute gifts with purchase. They also do not wrap cosmetics properly to prevent breakage, so I would not order anything that is too fragile from them.
Accessories from Lipsy and French Connection.
Over at Sephora in France, several holiday sets had been marked down. The Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, which was originally priced at €58, was now just €40.60. The BOSIV hasn't been as well-received as the Naked palettes and the 15th Anniversary palette, which is much more compact with a more vibrant selection of shades.
I wasn't too keen on BOSIV, as I already own the 15th Anniversary palette, BOSIII New York and the Alice in Wonderland palette. However, at the sale price, BOSIV looked like a pretty good deal considering the number of products in it, including a mascara and a full-sized liquid eyeliner. Plus I always have a weakness for pretty butterflies!
The mini speaker is pretty nifty, and works perfectly with my Samsung Galaxy Ace phone for playing music. It was a real struggle trying to get the speaker out of the box though, as it is squeezed in so snugly.
The Fred Farrguia Midnight Kit, which includes the Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadows #15, Illuminating Powder #1 and Creme Lipstick/Lipgloss #24.
A Yes To Cucumbers Ultimate Calming Facial Kit comprising the Calming Facial Moisturiser, Soothing Eye Gel and Natural Glow Facial Towelettes.
And finally, at Carrefour, I spotted the new Dream Nude Mousse foundation by Maybelline. This doesn't seem to have very positive reviews online but still, I was curious to see how it compares to the Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation by Shu Uemura , which is also owned by L'Oreal. The US and UK version is called "Dream Nude Airfoam" with identical packaging but I don't know if the formula is the same. The Dream Nude Mousse version sold in France is made in Belgium.
Thanks for reading!
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