Yves Saint Laurent Volupte Tint In Oil (I Rose You) - Review & LipSwatches

Body oils, face oils, hair oils ... it is no surprise that companies are finally coming out with lip oils. Paired together with YSL's oh-so-famous lipstick packaging, these tint-in-oils intrigued me even more. How could I have said no, right? During the Sephora 15% off VIB sale, I spoiled myself with one of these gorgeous lippies. I chose the shade "I Rose You" (No.4), which is one of the lighter colours in the collection. 

YSL's Product Description:

A revolutionary lip colour with a lip tint suspended in a deep conditioning oil. Coat your lips with this lip tint for a lightweight texture that instantly melts onto lips. It is infused with a blend of four essential oils for deep hydration: apricot kernel oil, coriander fruit oil, jojoba seed oil, and possiflora edulis seed oil. Its exclusive applicator envelops the lips in full colour and allows for a precise and uniform application. Lightweight and non-sticky, this lip tint offers a new and luminous shine while the tint effect enhances the natural beauty of the lips - making it the perfect combination for youthful looking lips. 

My thoughts ... 

I really wanted to like this product. I thought this tint-in-oil would be perfect to keep in my bag for on-the-go touchups. Not only is the packaging insanely gorgeous, but it claims to give my lips hydration AND a pretty tint. After testing this tint-in-oil several times, I had no choice but to return it back to Sephora. 

The main reason why I was so disappointed with this product is that it makes my lips peel like crazy. Although it does feel very moisturizing when I first apply it, the moisture doesn't seem to deeply penetrate my lips. Instead, it just sits and stays on top (which can be good too since the glossy finish is quite long lasting - until you eat, of course). Once I remove this oil from my lips, I find myself literally peeling off strips of dead skin from my lips ... not exactly the most attractive thing. 

Another reason why I decided to return it is because of the "tint" that it gave my lips. The display at Sephora and the packaging of the specific shade (I Rose You) that I had picked up gave me the impression that this lip oil would give my lips a pale rosy-pink tint. Instead, it actually made my lips look brighter. As my lips are quite pigmented to begin with, the additional colour and shine made them look a bit swollen in my opinion; however, based on your own preferences, you may really like the tint that this gives your lips. For a lip tint, it really has good pigmentation! 

Pros:

- makes my lips look very smooth (blurs out all the lines) ** 

- gorgeous packaging

- very good pigmentation for a lip tint ** 

- not sticky at all (extremely silky) 

- applicator hugs the lips perfectly and gives precision in application 

- gives my lips an incredibly shine **

Cons:

- cannot be applied over lipstick (the lip colour underneath will start to break apart and "float around" in the oil) 

- makes my lips peel ** 

- didn't give my lips the pale pink tint that I wanted  

- expensive 

- the sweet candy smell can be irritating to some people 

Final Verdict?

If this product doesn't make your lips peel and you like a nice bright tint to your lips, this product is definitely worth a try! 

[ Details ]

- net weight: 6mL / 0.20 fl. oz. 

- price: 32 USD or 35 CAD 

- colour range: 8 shades 

- my shade: I Rose You (No.4)

Hope this review was helpful :)

Chansie 

Dior Rosy Glow Awakening Blush - Review & Swatches

Dior's Product Description:

Rosy Glow reacts to the moisture in the skin to bring a delicate flush of colour to the cheeks. The fresh and luminous colour upon application develops into a rosy blush to suit each individual complexion for an incredibly natural, custom healthy glow that lasts all day. 

My thoughts ...

Because my skin tone is quite fair (NC15-20), I was a bit hesitant to try this practically neon-looking pink blush; however, with all the rave reviews out there, I gave in. What really intrigued me was that at certain Sephoras, the Rosy Glow Blush that was put on display wasn't neon pink at all. It was actually a white powder with hints of pink in it.

After playing around with this blush for awhile, I've realized that the 'white powder' aspect of it plays a major part in the product's claim of having an "awakening" effect on the cheeks. Let's say that we want our bright eyeshadows to really pop on our eyelids. What would be a technique that we could use? To put a white base underneath. In ways, the white powder (which is not visible when the product is still relatively new) acts as a canvas for the pink pigments to really pop on the cheeks, giving the face a healthy flushed glow. Because of this, I believe that the Rosy Glow Blush is suitable even for those with deeper skin tones.

One thing to keep in mind is that even though the blush is called Rosy "Glow", it is completely matte and does not have any sort of shimmer in it. Great for everyday use!

Pros:

- rose scented (bonus points!) 

- gives the cheeks a natural pink flushed look 

- decently long lasting (6-8 hours)

- does not appear patchy when it begins to fade on the cheeks 

- includes a decent brush (good for touch ups) 

- a little bit of product goes a long way 

- lightweight, sturdy packaging (not to mention very pretty) 

- very finely milled 

Cons:

- expensive $$

- can look overdone if applied with a heavy hand 

- scent may be irritating to some people 

[ Details ]

- net weight: 7.5g 

- price: 44 USD 

Hope this review was helpful :) 

Chansie 

The Balm Nude 'tude Eyeshadow Palette - Review & Swatches

The Balm's Product Description: 

This amazing palette consists of 12 beautiful shadows that make wearing nudes sexy! These satiny smooth colours can be applied naturally, i.e. "let me slip into something comfortable" or beautifully layered. The wide range gives you light highlighters as well as brazen bold shades that work to add definition and emphasis to your lids. Nude 'tude allows you to dramatically dress up your eyes - if nothing else! 

There are 2 versions of the Nude 'tude palette: the naughty and the nice. Both versions contain eyeshadows that are exactly the same in quality, pigmentation and colour. The version that I bought is the 'nice palette'. 

Every time I see a neutrals palette, my first instinct would be to compare it to my beloved Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palettes. Because of the more wallet friendly price tag, I was really hoping that this palette would be a 'cheaper' alternative to the Naked Palettes when it comes to neutral eyeshadows.

My verdict? I still prefer my Urban Decay ones over the Nude 'tude palette. 

My thoughts ...

Pros: 

- very pigmented (the swatches below are not applied over a primer) 

- blendable 

- good colour range 

- nice mix of matte and satin finish eyeshadows 

- long wearing and crease free (with eyeshadow primer underneath) 

- the palette is very slim and light (good for travelling)
- friendlier price tag (sometimes available on Hautelook) 

Cons: 

- the 4 darker shades on the right-end of the palette are more 'dry' and stiff compared to the rest

- overall, the eyeshadows are not as creamy/buttery as those from the Urban Decay Naked Palettes 

- there is less product in the Nude 'tude palette compared to the Naked Palettes (11.08g vs 15.6g)
- shadows are very soft and powdery: make sure you tap off the excess before applying or else there will be a lot of fallout 

Final Verdict:

Nude 'tude is definitely a great neutral eyeshadow palette; however, if I could only choose one and I had enough money to invest a bit more into a palette, I would 100% choose any of the Urban Decay Naked Palettes over this one simply because I like the colours and the creaminess of those eyeshadows much more than the ones from Nude'tude. 

[ Details ] 

- price: 36 USD 

- size: 11.08g (0.9g / eyeshadow) 

Hope this review was helpful!

Chansie 

Urban Decay Naked Eyeshadow Palette Collection - Swatches & Photos

Hello my lovelies! 

I've recently rediscovered my love for my Urban Decay Naked Palettes. With all the rave reviews out there about these famous eyeshadow palettes, there is probably no need for me to write a long essay about why I love them so much. To put simply, these eyeshadows are extremely pigmented, creamy, long-lasting and blendable. What more can I ask for from eyeshadows, right? My only complaint about these palettes is that the colours are quite dark. Depending on the type of eye look you're used to wearing on a daily basis, these palettes may or may not be too dramatic for daytime wear. Nonetheless, I still believe they're worth checking out. 

For reference, my skin tone is around NC15-NC20. The following swatches are applied on top of bare skin with no primer underneath. As seen below, these eyeshadows are pigmented even without an eyeshadow primer; however, because I have oily eyelids, I find that I do need to apply a primer in order to prevent these shadows (or any shadows) from creasing. 

Naked Palette

Naked 2 Palette:

Naked 3 Palette: 

[ Details ] 

size: 1.3 g / eyeshadow 

price: 64 CAD

Hope this brief review and photos were helpful :) 

Chansie

Kose Sekkisei White BB Cream Review & Swatches

The only item that I have ever tried from the Sekkisei line is the ever so famous, whitening lotion. Although I am not a big fan of that lotion due to its high alcohol content and smell, I am, however, a huge fan of this BB cream.

Let's first take a look at the product's claims, shall we ? (from Kose's website) 

- Hides blemishes to give even & natural coverage

- Brightens skin to look lit from within

- Lightweight texture spreads easily & smoothly

- Cares for skin with oriental plant extracts & UVA and UVB protection

- Time-saving, long-lasting, non-cakey, hydrating

- Mineral-oil free

My Skin Description: 

- dry: cheeks, chin & around the nose

- large pores

- pale complexion (Mac NC15-20, Chanel 10, Bobbi Brown Porcelain)

- yellow undertones

My thoughts ... 

Color Match: I purchased shade 01 and it matches my skin tone/undertone perfectly. Like all BB creams, the White BB cream does not come with an extensive shade range. Sekkisei only offers two shades: 01 & 02 (both of which are better suited for those with fair complexions). 

Coverage:
- one layer: light/medium coverage
- two layer: medium coverage
*very buildable*

Finish: I would say that Kose's description of the BB cream's finish is very accurate. It definitely brightens up the complexion for a lit from within look. This White BB cream is not one of those bases that stays feeling "wet" or "tacky" as if it would just slip and slide all over the place; therefore, when it dries down to a satiny finish on the skin, I usually don't find the need to set it with any powder.

Texture:
- creamy texture
- not runny at all 

Longevity: I usually know how well my foundation is lasting by looking at my blush. By the end of 8 hours, my blush still looks exactly the same as when I first applied it *thumbs up*. I did notice, though, that the area around my nose did start to slightly fade around 6 hours. Besides that, everything else looked perfect ! Definitely one of the longest wearing BB creams that I've tried.

Because I am currently living in Beijing, I always have to wear face masks to help filter the heavily polluted air. I find that this BB cream did not transfer at all onto my mask ! Keep in mind that I didn't even set my foundation when I first applied it ! Completely impressed ...

Scent: This BB cream smells EXACTLY like the Sekkisei whitening lotion but without the strong alcoholic smell. To me, this scent actually reminds me of the aerosol colour hairsprays that I used to use on Halloween when I was a little girl to put funky highlights all throughout my hair. Of course, this BB cream actually smells pleasant to some people versus how those colour hairsprays are just a complete no no. If I were to describe this scent, I would say it smells slightly musky and powdery. I'm not the biggest fan on how this BB cream smells, but because of the fact that it isn't too heavily fragranced and that the scent doesn't linger on the skin, it doesn't really bother me.

Overall: I would definitely recommend this BB cream for those with all skin-types ! Not only did it not emphasize any of the dry patches on my cheeks or around my "recently-popped-pimple", it also controlled my oily T-zone very well ! In addition, it covered the humongous pores around my T-zone beautifully. There is honestly nothing more that I can ask for from a BB cream.

[ Details ]

Sun protection: SPF 40 PA +++ (UVA + UVB protection)

size: 30g

shade: 01
price: 1825 yen

Hope this review was helpful ! 

Chansie

Chanel Camelia De Plumes Review and Swatches

Winter is here and we all know what that means ... holiday collections are out ! The one that I was the most excited about this year is Chanel's. Every year Chanel would come out with gorgeous powder compacts and the little collector in me can just never say no to them. 

Lets get to the review, shall we ? 

Colour: a shimmery, cool-toned champagne highlighter 

Texture: smooth and soft

Longevity: lasts me a good 6-8 hours 

Finish: This highlighting powder is quite pigmented and shimmery so a light sweep of product is enough for me to get a nice sheeny glow to my skin.  

Application: Because I wouldn't consider this highlighter as a subtle one at all, I recommend to only apply it on the tops of the cheeks or anywhere else on the skin that doesn't have a lot of texture or pores. I like to use a small tapered powder brush for this highlighter and it blends in the product so effortlessly into the skin. 

Overall: I believe Camelia De Plumes is a good highlighter but it may not be one thats suitable for everyone. If you're a collector or makeup lover like myself, I do recommend you picking this highlighter up as well. One of the reasons why this product is so unique to me is because of its colour. It almost looks both warm-toned and cool-toned at the same time ... 

For those who are looking for a natural, everyday, easy-to-use highlighter, this probably isn't the best option for you. Instead, I would recommend checking out Kevyn Aucoin's Candlelight, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powders or Cle de Peau's Face Luminizers. 

[ Details ] 

size: 8g 

price: 540 HKD 

- limited edition 

Thanks for reading and I hope this review was helpful !

Chansie 

Sulwhasoo Voluminating Foundation Review & Photos

At first glance, I was quite confused about the design of this foundation; however, after playing with it for awhile, I've realized that it is basically a cushion foundation that comes with a sponge applicator that has "a handle". A fan of Sulwhasoo's Evenfair Perfecting Cushion, I had pretty high hopes for this foundation as well.

Sulwhasoo's product description:

A cream-type foundation formulated with Sulwhasoo Essential Firming Cream, to lift up your skin, while leaving it feeling light and comfortable all day. 

How to apply: 

Apply an appropriate amount and spread thinly over face using the puff as your regular foundation. Gently pat over the *U line once again ( *U line: The line that connects your eyes to the lips through the cheeks). 

My skin description: 

- dry: cheeks, chin & around the nose 

- oily: nose (after a few hours) 

- normal: forehead 

- large pores 

- pale complexion (Mac NC15-20, Chanel 10, Bobbi Brown Porcelain) 

- yellow undertones

My thoughts ... 

Color Match: Similar to Sulwhasoo's Perfecting Cushion's colour range, the colour selection for this foundation is very limited as it only comes in two fairly light shades: No.21 medium pink and No.23 medium beige. In addition to these two options, Sulwhasoo also offers No.C21 and No.C23 which are basically the same shades but with more coverage. The shade that I selected is No.C23 (a perfect colour match for my complexion). In my opinion, No.C23 for this foundation is almost exactly the same shade as No.21 in Sulwhasoo's Perfecting Cushion when applied onto the face. 

Coverage: 

- one layer: light coverage

- two layers: light-medium coverage
Despite the fact that I got No.C23 instead of No.23, I find that the coverage still leans on the lighter side; therefore, I wouldn't recommend this product for those who are looking for more high coverage foundations. 

Finish: The finish of this foundation is actually very similar to that of Sulwhasoo's Perfecting Cushion - both glowy and very natural looking; however, this foundation is slightly different in the sense that it doesn't help to minimize the look of my humongous pores. Because of this, I find that it is absolutely necessary for me to set the area around my nose with a powder to avoid accentuating my pores as this foundation does have a slight glow factor to it. 

Application: Sulwhasoo tells us to press the sponge into the plastic mesh of the foundation and then apply (with dabbing motions) onto the skin. To me, the sponge applicator is completely useless. It is stiff and hard, making it very difficult to blend the foundation around the nose, between the eyebrows, and underneath the eyes. Because I have to spend a lot of time just to be able to decently blend the foundation into my skin, my arm actually gets tired before I can even achieve the effect that I want. On top of that, I find that the sponge absorbs more product than it actually dispenses onto my face. Because of all these reasons, I personally prefer to just use a Beauty Blender for this foundation instead. I simply push the Beauty Blender into the plastic mesh and it picks up just the right amount of product for each "section" of my face. The finish on the skin looks more flawless AND it takes less time/effort. 

Longevity: Since this foundation does have a dewy finish, I really didn't have very high hopes for its longevity factor at all. For my skin type, I find that I would need to touch up with some powder on my oily T-zone approximately every ~3 hours. Although this foundation doesn't control oil production very well, it still manages to stay put on my face for a good 6 hours. 

Scent: 
- has a strong scent but not noticeable after applied on the face
- hints of citrus/floral/herb 

Overall: After experimenting with this foundation for quite some time, I believe that it is better suited for those with dry skin since it really does help to brighten up the complexion and doesn't cling or accentuate any dry flakes on the skin. Although this product does claim to help "lift" the skin, I haven't seen any noticeable changes to the overall "tone" of my face; however, I still believe that it is a good foundation for those with mature skins as it is quite moisturizing and doesn't settle and accentuate the fine lines underneath my eyes. For those with oily skin or with enlarged pores, I would suggest staying away from this foundation since it doesn't control oil production or minimize the look of pores very well. Packaging wise, I find that it isn't the most sanitary since it does require me to press my Beauty Blender onto the plastic mesh, apply to my face, and then press again onto the plastic mesh to get more product. In my opinion, the facial oil or dirt that may be on my Beauty Blender can easily come in contact with the product in the container and contaminate it. Because of this packaging, it might not the best choice for those who have acne on their face. 

If I ever had to choose between this and the Sulwhasoo Perfecting Cushion, I would definitely choose the latter. The finish on the skin is very similar but the Perfecting Cushion helps to diminish the appearance of enlarged pores and is also more long lasting than the Voluminating Foundation. 

 

[ Details ] 

size: 30g 

price: 80 000 won 
shade: No.C23

Hope this review was helpful !

Chansie