December 20th, 2014
I’m not going to lie about it, the last time I touched any makeup items from The Body Shop was decades ago (yes I am that old!) when I was in high school. I mean no self-respecting grown woman confesses to using The Body Shop makeup, right? WRONG!! If you’ve been dabbling in high end makeup for as long as I have, it is a lot of fun to look for dupes in all the unlikely places. And when they come in such cute and funky packaging, and so easy on the pocket, you start looking for reasons to buy some. Perhaps a gift for a teenage cousin / niece or even stocking stuffers for that girlfriend who doesn’t wear makeup? For me, i’m hoarding it all for fun weekends and budget getaways (these days lost baggages are a reality, people!).
Check out that cute Lip & Cheek Doll!!! KAWAII!!! This is limited edition [priced at SGD39.90, USD16] of course, and houses The Body Shop’s original lip & cheek stain in a rosey red. It sheers out, making it easy for a cheek stain, and is everyday wearable on the lips. All too often lip stains tend to dry out my lips, but this one doesn’t, nor does it look too old-lady red. Love! Pop it in your handbag, and it’s a fun topic of conversation at parties!
The other holiday party essential in my opinion, is that Glitter Liquid Eyeliner [SGD24.90 or USD14]. It packs enough silver shimmers so that you can draw an opaque line near the lashes for some blink-blink action. Or, you can even choose to smudge it out all over on top of one of the eyeshadows.
To dress up the eyes for holiday parties, The Body Shop has produced 2 seasonal eyeshadow palettes - a Frosted Pastels Palette to channel that wintry princess, and a Dolly Pastels Palette [SGD39.90 or USD28 each].
I was quite happy to note the black shade in the Frosted Pastels Palette packed a good level of pigmentation, was smooth to apply, and has some lovely shimmers!! The green is a tad frosty, but hey, what is the winter holidays without some frost? I think it layers on very prettily over the shimmery black. The other 2 shades are somewhat sheer and chalky for me, but they layer well and do not blend into nothingness.
I can see many girls loving this Dolly Pastels Palette for the pretty baby pink and coral shades. And when I first saw this palette, I thought it bore strong resemblances to SUQQU’s EX-2o palette [reviewed here]. Of course, at a third the price of SUQQU, Dolly Pastels Palette is not as pigmented and lacks the complex shimmers, but fun nonetheless.
One way to get the eyeshadows to adhere better, and last longer, is to first prep the lids with The Body Shop Instablur Eye [SGD24.90 or USD18]. I’ve been using this for the past few months since it was launched last summer, and regretfully hadn’t gotten around to reviewing it properly. For lack of time here, I will just let you in on a little tip - that when I’m on the fly, and need to just touch my eye makeup between events, especially to get from a full day at the office to a party, I squeeze a tiny bit of this between my fingers and then dab over my lids. It’s barely bigger than my finger, and fits in the tiniest of clutches. And you don’t need any brush or tools to apply, just dab! No time needed to set or dry, nor do you need to powder over.
For the final finishing touch to your party look, you can choose to go with Glazed Apple Lip Gloss [SGD16.90] or The Sparkler [SGD39.90]. Both have a slight sweet candied scent when first applied, and gives a fun touch of something shimmery.
I love the transparent glass puff bottle The Sparkler comes in, and the shimmery powder is no less fun than Guerlain’s Coque d’Or [reviewed here], and at a fraction of the price!
And here is a quick look that I created using some of the items discussed here today.
On eyes: The Body Shop Dolly Pastels Palette lined with Glitter Liquid Eyeliner.
On cheeks and lips: The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Dolly
Any of these caught your eye?
These products were provided to me by The Body Shop Singapore for my consideration. All views expressed above are my personal honest opinion, and are not biased in any way.
October 8th, 2014
Chanel recently launched a couple of base products that I’m loving immensely. Unlike their seasonal offerings, Chanel seems to have a practice of quietly releasing permanent products to very little fanfare (so different from their competitors!). I would have missed them completely if not for a very enlightening workshop which I attended recently.
April 3rd, 2014
Are you ready for summer? You’d better be, because a whole new class of summer-ready makeup are coming your way! Let’s start with bases, shall we?
Last year we saw BB creams of every shade and texture from every brand, and this year we’re going up 1, to CC creams. Now it’s important to abandon your previous understanding of CC creams, because we are no longer talking about improved-BB-cream types of colored bases (like Chanel’s CC Cream). This year’s new improved class of CC creams are lighter, more skincare than makeup in the traditional sense (similar to Dior’s serum/primer concoction).
To avoid confusion, SK-II has avoided the CC naming, choosing instead to market its latest offering as the Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream. Yeah, that’s not confusing at all!
SK-II’s new Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream promises to keep skin hydrated for 12 hours. It also contains linseed extract, along with three colors of pearly ingredients, to even out skin tone. There is only 1 shade available, looks white-ish out of the tube, but blends into the skin and becomes invisible. The texture is a light cream, incredibly lightweight, feels more like a moisturizer than makeup. Once applied, the difference is very subtle, not quite as obvious as Dior’s Capture Totale DreamSkin nor YSL’s CC Cream, but there is a visible brightening and smoothening effect.
The SK-II Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream is intended to be a skin primer, used before foundation to keep skin well hydrated. It also carries a sun protection factor of SPF25 / PA+++, which is nice for a few hours out in the sun.
As a makeup primer, I find SK-II’s Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream did not really keep shine at bay. It works beautifully paired with powder foundations, creating a perfectly velvety base that does not go too flat matte nor does it dry up my skin as the day progresses. It is lovely with liquid foundations as well, but I find it pales in comparison to other true primers (my favorite being the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer) in terms of pore control and extending the wear time.
If you remember, I tried YSL’s CC Cream (read here) recently, and had a tough time getting it to work on me. In contrast, the SK-II Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream has a much better texture – lighter, more hydrating, easier to blend (both on its own and layered with liquid foundations). However, I think they are 2 different products – the YSL is more of makeup base whereas SK-II is a skin primer (more skincare than primer). What it means is that if you are ever caught in a jam for time (which I always am), you may skip your moisturizer / sunscreen / primer routine, and just slap on the SK-II Clear Beauty Care & Control Cream. I always find buffing on powder foundations much faster with my Koyudo Fu-Pa 14 than blending out liquid foundations, so this is a real quick combination for casual weekends or morning rush hour.
For the launch, SK-II has some amazing gwp promotions. Do check with your local counter for more information! xoxo
April 2nd, 2014
I always love it when the beauty industry innovates, and one area that that I’m particularly interested in is the blurring of lines between skincare and makeup. Sure, there are BB creams and foundations with increasing moisturizing / anti-aging benefits, etc. But what about skincare that actually gives a more refined look to the skin?
This Spring, Dior has introduced the new Dior Capture Totale DreamSkin to fill the serum/primer gap in our beauty arsenal. It works for all ages and skin types, and targets skin tone and texture. DreamSkin contains mineral bio-mimetic powders such as mica platelets and hollow silica microspheres to mimic the epidermis’ optical properties. Right after application, my skin looks visibly brighter, smoother and more even in tone. Dark spots and redness are reduced, and pores minimized. I know it sounds like I just copied and pasted marketing speak here, but right after I tried DreamSkin for the first time, I felt good enough to go, skipping my foundation entirely (something I NEVER do!).
DreamSkin contains plant extracts to improve skin from within. Longoza extract from Dior’s garden in Madagascar helps to combat wrinkles along with loss of radiance and firmness. And from a new garden in Burkina Faso, opilia extract helps reduce dark spots and redness, bringing dull complexions back to life. Used day after day as the last step in your skincare routine, DreamSkin promises to produce younger-looking skin.
So is it serum or primer really? The answer, is both. Curiously, while few people have problems embracing makeup with skincare benefits, there seems to be a struggle with DreamSkin. The reason, I feel, is that it feels more serum like (lightweight fluid that absorbs completely, leaving no trace) than makeup. It also does not have the sort of opacity that makeup generally has. However, people do not seem to like the idea of skincare that makes their skin look good. Why ever not???
Swatches of Dior Capture Totale DreamSkin. On left is freshly dispensed product from bottle. On right is DreamSkin completely blended into skin, leaving no trace of product at all.
Putting aside the silliness of conventional wisdom, DreamSkin works marvelously as a primer. It is lightweight, non-silicon-y, and gives instant results. At the same time, I found it to be mattifying and holds my makeup wonderfully. One note though, I know some people have found DreamSkin to dry up their skin. The SA who recommended this to me told me to use it after my regular moisturizer, and I have had no problems with dryness. Of course at SGD150 this is some seriously expensive primer. My recommendation is to go, run don’t walk, to your nearest Dior counter and try this out for yourself. Get a sample and experience it in the comfort of your own home. And then tell me all about it!
xoxo
February 23rd, 2014
I was recently reminded (again) that I have yet to produce a sequel to my Battle of the Primers mini-“series” (er-hmm!). The truth was, I kind of lost interest in putting my poor face to the silicon-or-not test. And then, of course, life took on a different dimension when I finally got my hands on the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer!
This is not a new product in any way, but since Hourglass is no longer available locally, it requires a leap of faith and some online finagling to get ahold of. I wished I did earlier, because this is now my daily HG primer!
The Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is an ultra-lightweight liquid makeup base that feels silky to the touch, and a tiny amount spreads out easily to cover the entire face. Although it is described as helping to “conceal redness and soften the appearance of pores, fine lines and imperfections”, I can’t really say I noticed a huge amount of color correction, but there is a slight blurring effect that does make the skin look better. And it lets my foundation go over much smoother!
My most important requirement for a primer is that it has to hold my makeup in place throughout my long (12-16 hours!) days, and keep shine at bay. And the Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer does both of that fabulously. When coupled with my HG long-lasting Guerlain Tenue de Perfection Foundation (reviewed here), I hardly ever feel the need to blot or touch-up! If you are hoping to make some headway in using up your powders and blotters, I wouldn’t recommend you pick up this combination!
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer comes in a simple glass pump bottle. It provides SPF15 broad spectrum protection which is always nice to have. More importantly, it is free of oil, parabens, phthalates, gluten, sulfates, fragrances, and is vegan-friendly. What that all means is you have less likelihood of breaking out from using this!
Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer is currently available on net-a-porter.com with free shipping & returns! Happy shopping! xoxo
March 22nd, 2013
I have been on the prowl for a good primer for a long time. In the past, I had embraced Paul & Joe, but then they withdrew from Singapore. Later on, I fell in love with Stila, only to have that taken away from me again. When the wave of stay-all-day foundations hit, I abandoned primers altogether. Now, there seems to be a resurgence of primers, packed full of skincare benefits and ever smoother for those HD photos.
My requirements for a good primer are fairly basic. It has to help my makeup stay on for 8-10hrs without sliding off or oxidizing (too much). Ideally, it should also be light-weight and easy to apply. I have normal / combination skin, and by no means OILY in the traditional sense. So I don’t think my requests are too far-fetched. So imagine my dismay when I found one after another primer to not only NOT work, but went so far as to cause breakouts and even spots of sensitized skin!
The main culprit, I have discovered, is the use of silicone and its various derivatives (dimethicone, silica, etc)! Silicon is often added to create a mask-like effect over the surface of the skin, trapping in moisture (AND dirt, oil, etc), and allowing smoother application of makeup. Sensitivity to silicon is fairly common, but it is still widely used in makeup and skincare products. So why did my skin react to silicon in primers and not in makeup or skincare? Unfortunately I’m no dermatologist, but my guess is the variant of silicon used, and the amount of silicon in the product. For example, dimethicone is fine for me, but not silica. So if you’ve been breaking out and don’t know why, take a look at the ingredient list!
Silly me, must have gone through half the beauty hall before I figured this out. Along the way, I got to experience some of the latest and bestest. In this and following articles, I will attempt to summarize my thoughts. If you have specific questions or any primer you’re interested in that you don’t see here, please drop me a note!
1. Smashbox Photo Finish Dark Spot Correcting Foundation Primer
This was one of the first primers that was recommended to me by the SAs at Sephora, together with Makeup Forever. To me, Makeup Forever doesn’t seem to do much more than create a smooth canvas, whereas Smashbox Photo Finish Dark Spot Correcting primer has additional brightening and lightening effect. This is the latest addition to Smashbox’s family of Photo Finish primers (consisting of various color correcting, hydrating, radiance, and SPF formulas).
The primer is a milky fluid that is rather watery, making it easy to apply. A pearl-sized amount covered my entire face. It leaves a dewy finish, so would be good for girls with drier skin. For me, I actually need something to control shine, which this does not do.
I did not notice much of a dark spot correcting effect (I had some old pimple scars), although prolonged use is needed for noticeable results. It did nothing for me in terms of making my makeup last. The deal breaker for me was that this made me breakout the most out of all the primers I tried.
2. Clarins Instant Smooth Perfecting Touch
This was part of the Tangs mystery bag that I purchased last year, and has actually been discontinued… baaad Clarins for trying to smuggle an old (maybe even expired) product to unsuspecting customers!!!
Regardless, I kept an open mind since I used to think Clarins products are all decent (not anymore!). Sadly, this is probably the worst product of them all!
First of all, this primer is packaged in a JAR! I mean, come on, your fingers are bound to touch all sorts of messy stuff when you’re applying makeup, and you’re supposed to redip into this jar?? Clarins didn’t even have the foresight to include a spatula or some means of taking the product out. Worse, this is not any fluid or cream texture, but a balm, which needs to be dug out with your fingernails!
To be fair, once you manage to blend this over your face (which is no small feat), it creates a very smooth canvas that holds makeup in place well. Clarins claims there are vitamins and some micro-pearl technology to reduce wrinkles and lines… but all I see on the ingredient list is silicon, silicon, and more silicon!!! Each time I applied this, I was rewarded not just with pimples (as if that is not bad enough)… I ended up with angry red patches too!! This is the only time I can recall ever developing red patches from using any makeup product, much less one from a skincare brand! I suspect the product is expired, but it’s impossible to tell since there is no expiration date printed on the packaging. I spoke with several Clarins SAs about this, and they all made me feel like I was crazy. Seriously disappointing…….!
3. Murad Skin Perfecting Matte Finish Primer
I picked this up randomly at Sephora because it said “matte finish”, and bore one of those beauty awards stickers. This is a “hybrid” primer that is supposed to help control shine, and even out skin tone & texture. There is also a tint that is supposed to adapt to individual’s skin tone.
The so-called tint, is actually rather dark. While it did melt into my skin and provides some coverage, it left it looking rather dull. For those who are looking for something to even out skin tone without going so far as a foundation, I would recommend a BB cream that does so much more.
The most disappointing bit, was that this did nothing to help me control oil. It felt thick, and did not help my makeup stay on. And unsurprisingly, this caused pimples too.
4. Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Face Base
This is actually not a primer, but a moisturizing base. It feels rich, but it’s not greasy. The formula contains Shea Butter, Carrot Extract, Vitamin A Complex, Vitamins C and E. There is also a crisp Grapefruit and Geranium fragrance that I adore.
This is true to Bobbi Brown’s philosophy of creating natural canvasses. It helped brighten up my skin, and created a smoother finish. I like to use this under my BB cream for casual days. However, if I need more coverage and longer lasting finish, this is not sufficient.
Stacked against the other three here, Bobbi Brown is a clear winner!
I have more primers! Here is the current reigning champion!
Do you have a fave primer, or suffer the same silicon-aversion as me? I’d love to hear your experiences!! XOXO
