Haul-Review / Makeup: Benefit - That Gal Brightening Face Primer

This haul was done way back in Dec 2010 when Benefit was offering $20 off for every $100 purchase. Hence I tempted a few of my BFF to consolidated enough orders to qualify for the offer and free international shipping.

The Pretty packing within....

The goods within.. Only "That Gal" is mine...

Item Name: Benefit - That Gal Brightening Face Primer
Size: 11 ml
Price: USD28.00
Available At: benefitcosmetics.com
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com

Product Description from Manufacturer:

Our silky pink primer takes your complexion from dull to darling! Simply smooth on for the look of brighter, smoother skin.

One shade helps brighten all skin tones. Can be worn alone, under or over makeup.

Twist the base until the primer is distributed on the top. Apply with fingertips onto the face. Blend this silky pink primer in an even, upward motion. Wear alone, or under makeup for smoother makeup application. Gently pat on during the day to re-brighten your complexion.

Why I bought it:
I need a highlighting primer and I've heard raves about this product, so I decided to try it out, since there was a discount plus free shipping.

Packaging
Slick plastic packaging. Instead of squeezing, you need to twist the base to get the product out. Kind of freaky to see globs of product oozing out from their tiny holes.

Thereafter, you just swipe up all the product that oozed out with your finger to apply.

It takes a little practice get used to how many turns to do so that you don't end up with too much product.

Texture:
Shiny gel like consistency. There is a faint smell that might take some time to get used to.

Price:
The price of the product came up to approximately SDG34.00 after the discount and free shipping. With 11 ml, I would not consider it as cheap. But given the amount that I use at one time, it should last a while.

Road Test:
First of all, a little goes a long way. The first few times, I ended up with too much product. But once I got the hang of it, it was a breeze.

I applied the product after foundation by patting it in lightly to the bridge of my nose, the top of my cheeks where the light hits and also the "C" area on the outer sides of my eyes.

This is the "heart" shape area as taught by Kevin 老師..

My face became radiant instantly !!! A colleague even commented that I looked like I'm in love!!! 

Source: Kevin老師's Facebook

Verdict:
Definitely a new HG!!! The product gives me a radiant highlight that looks so au naturale. And a little goes a long way!!!


Other Pictures:

Haul-Review / Makeup Tool: Drugstore - Beauty Blender & Smashbox

Drugstore was offering a 2-day 20% discount off my purchase and I went ahead with the Beauty Blender that I've been lemming for since I first laid eyes on it.

The set I bought comes with 2 egg-shaped sponges and 1 bottle of cleanser. The online price is USD39.95 before discount. The Smashbox eyeshadow (USD28.00) was just an impulse buy to sort of defray the shipping cost.

Shipping to borderlinx is free and shipping from Boderlinx to SG came up to approximately SGD20.00.


Item Name: Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge
Size: NA
Price: USD39.95
Available At: Drugstore.com
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com

Product Description from Manufacturer:

Now you can look like a movie star without the pricey services of a major make up artist. Introducing Beautyblender, the ultimate make up sponge applicator. Invented by top Hollywood make up artist Rea Ann Silva, Beautyblender has been created to leave you with a professional finish and a flawless complexion. Silva knows that the key to a perfect face is simple: a perfect blend. So forget your fingers or sharp-edged triangular sponges, these application methods waste make up and can leave visible streaks.

Beautyblender’s patent-pending elliptical shape makes application foolproof by allowing you to access hard-to-reach areas with stunning ease. Its suede texture is sensual to the touch and its unique curves fit the contours of your face, leaving your make up dazzling and undetectable. Beautyblender is latex free, non-allergenic and odor free.

Why I bought it:
I read about this product when I was doing research on makeup sponges some time back. Many celebrities and famous bloggers raved about this little miracle worker. And being someone who is always after a flawless skin finish, I finally decided to take the plunge and try out this product.

Packaging:
Elliptical shaped makeup sponge in bright shocking pink. Product is housed in a clear box. It comes with a plastic canister stand, this is to allow the sponge to dry when not in use.

Texture:
Similar texture to that of a normal sponge except that there are no sharp edges.

Price:
For a makeup sponge, it is EXPENSIVE! Which was why I took so long to finally decide on this purchase. The instruction says it can last for 3 months , given daily usage. I hope it does.

Road Test:
On the first day, I decided to try it dry with foundation dabbed straight from the back of my hand and onto my face. It didn't really wow me at all. In fact, it absorbed too much foundation, resulting in wastage and the finish was patchy and thick, probably from too much foundation.

On the second day, I decided to try it wet as per the recommendations from the website. The product swells to double it's size when wet.

This time round, instead of dabbing foundation from the back of my palm, I decided to spread the foundation on my face first, like what I would usually do. I then even out the foundation by stippling.

This time round, there was less wastage and the finish had a air-brushed feel to it. However, I spent a good amount of time to ensure that the stippling did not create any uneven patches. The finish was nice but it took too much of my time. Plus, I ended up with an uneven finish due to my less than stellar proficiency with stippling.

The third day, I decided to try it dry again. But this time round, I used it the same way as my normal sponge. The result, a smooth finish without the usual streaks. Top it with loose powder and the result is a velvety smooth and polished finish!!! I'm totally in love with it!!!!!

I also find that this sponge works better with foundations that has a thicker consistency. However, be cautioned of patchiness though.

Verdict:

This is one of those products that works very well, given that you found that one method that works for you.

This product is good but given the price and function, I find that it's a little over-priced. There are other alternatives out there that may do the same job at a fraction of the price. Example would be Sephora's Precision Sponge and Sonia Kashuk's Blending Sponge. In addition, it's currently not available in Singapore and have to be ordered in from USA.

Haul-Review / Makeup: MAC - Charged Water Skin Hydrating Mist

Item Name: MAC - Charged Water Skin Hydrating Mist
Size: 100 ml
Price: SGD37.00
Available At: Tangs Vivocity
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com

Product Description from Manufacturer:

Charged water, fused with vital ions from a diamond and instilled with a spirit-lifting therapeutic aroma, then delivered to the skin in the soothing aura of a revitalizing hydrating mist. Like its source – a diamond – on application it makes the skin feel clear, sparkling, pure and energized. Its aroma, a blend of green tea and citrus.

Why I bought it:

This was really an impulse buy. My original intent was to purchase the MAC Fix+ to see if it works better than my Avene atomiser. However, according to the MAC consultant, it was out of stock islandwide for months already.

So, she recommended me this product instead. It's more expensive but it was supposedly to be better than Fix+. And so, I decided to purchase this instead, for the adventurous spirit in me.

Packaging:
Plastic spritz bottle with lock for travelling.

Texture:
Normal toner water with a subtle flowery scent.

Price:
SGD37.00 is steep compared to my drugstore Avene Atomiser.

Road Test:
I used this product as a finish for my makeup to avoid looking too powdery.

It does give a nice finish to my makeup but the mist wasn't as fine as compared to Avene, and I had some problems with the plastic spritzer. I had to press extra hard to get the product out.

Verdict:
I like this product,but given the price, I don't think I would repurchase after this bottle runs out. My Avene performs the same at half the price.

Haul / Makeup: Dior - Diorshow 360

I've wanting to try out the Dior Mascara after seeing how good it performed after getting the sampler set. And so, when I got some Metro Shopper Cheques, I decided to go for the Diorshow Waterproof Mascara.

But the SA recommended me their latest product in their Mascara arsenal instead, the Diorshow 360. It comes with a mechanical brush that rotates at the flick of the switch. Intrigued by the rotating brush and seeing that the price difference is not that great, I decided to go for this product instead.

Retails at SGD62.00 but I had SGD40.00 worth of shopper cheque. So in the end, I paid SGD22.00 for it only.

Will try and review this out when I can find time to do some serious eye makeup. These days, I just apply a thin layer of cream eyeshadow and I'm out of the house.

The insides. The brush and product is packed separately.

Haul-Review / Makeup: Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation in #4

Yes yes yes, another conquest for this foundation fiend... After an extensive online research and going through swatches after swatches, I finally took the plunge and got a friend to pick this up when he dropped by Hong Kong for a business trip.

Such a sweet man, I was expecting him to tell me that he wasn't able to find it, or bought the wrong item, since makeup isn't really his forte. But he actually took the effort to visit the boutique and duty-free to help me find it, despite his busy schedule.. *gushes*.. It's just too bad that he doesn't have the hots for me..

Anyway, it's the famed Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in #4 (HKD430 for 30ml)!!! It comes up to approximately SGD70.00, which is actually cheaper than buying from US direct, RRP is USD59. And nope, they don't sell it here in Singapore.

Product Description from Manufacturer:

As seen in the press, capture the glow of perfect skin with this award-winning foundation. Luminous Silk foundation is an oil-free fluid with exclusive Micro-fil technology. So weightless, it redefines foundation. Its hydrating fluid glides on seamlessly with a silky texture and all-day, buildable coverage. For all skin types.

weightless and luminous oil-free fluid
natural finish
all-day sheer to moderate coverage


Why I bought it:
What can I say, this has been on the foundation IT-List for the longest. I've heard so much raves that I had to try it out.

Packaging:
Housed in a sleek frosted-glass bottle with a pump. Hygienic and fuss-free.

Texture:
Very runny and light consistency. But I feel that NARS Sheer Glow is more runny as compared to LSF though.

Price:
More expensive than my HG foundation. But I just got to try it.

Road Test:
The shade I chose was #4, which was deduced from online swatches and foundation matching matrix. So if you are a Diorskin Nude #20, LSF#4 should match you pretty well, more so if you're on the warm side than neutral.

I was really relieved that the shade did match my skintone. However, I do find that it's still a tad yellowish for my skin.

The foundation dries pretty fast, so be sure to apply with a quick hand, otherwise, it may end up being patchy.

I encountered some problems with trying to build up on the coverage, the top layer don't seemed to be able to blend in with the lower layer. I actually find that this foundation works better if it is stippled in, rather than spreaded. It gives an air-brushed look when stippled with my beauty blender.

Coverage wise I would say sheer to medium, which, is surprising given the runny texture of the product. But it did cover some of my redness.

It dries more to a luminous matt finish rather than the typical luminous dewy finish, which I am more used to. So I skipped finishing powder altogether since I didn't want to look like a mouldy pancake (Yes, I think too much..)

The foundation do last well. I wore it for more than 10hours and it was still intact by the end of the day. I didn't even bothered to blot it during the day.

Verdict:
Definitely a HG potential! However, given the price, I would say that if you 've already found a HG and don't suffer from an OCD like mine, you can skip this foundation altogether. It's good but it doesn't really WOW.

Below are some pictures:

I didn't bother to do a face application since weekends is my skin's off-days and my camera is currently with my sister, who is out of the country.

So, please do bear with my lousy camera phone that do not allow me to take high-def macro shots.

The beauty just out of it's box..

 The inside, with the pump.



The Swatch between 2 foundations

Haul / Swatch : Make Up Store - Blusher in Glam Rose

The next few entries would be overdue haul posts that I've accumulated over the past 2 months... Will find time to do reviews when my workload starts to reduce come Mar 2011.. (I hope)..

Alright, this purchase was really an impulse buy. I had originally wanted to get a MAC Blush in Loverush during the Tangs 12% Rebate sale on 10th Feb 2011.

But after a long day of back to back meetings and a major presentation, I wasn't really in the right form to battle the long cashier queues, not to mention I was feeling kind of drowsy from my allergy medication.

Since I figured I wasn't really in need of a blusher, just the need to do some retail therapy, I gave up on the purchase while waiting for the MAC consultant to attend to me.

So feeling a little unsatisfied, I popped by Make Up Store during lunch the next day and came out with one of their blushers, the Glam Rose @ SGD32.00.

Make Up Store hails from one of my favorite European countries, Sweden and have been in Singapore for some time now. It's just that I never quite found the opportunity to browse their products. So, this blusher is actually the first item that I own, under the Make Up Store brand.

The packaging, product offering and prices are very similar to MAC and some may mistake it for being a MAC wannabe. But on a personal note, I find that the quality is actually better compared to MAC's. It is very pigment and the powder is more finely milled, compared to MAC.

So next time when you are near a Make Up Store, be sure to check their products out!

The item straight out from the store.

Minimalist packaging.

It was wrapped in a black thin tissue.

Love the chic details on the cover!!

Glam Rose - 2.5g at SGD32.00. Noticed that it's made in Canada (land of MAC).

Gorgeous pink.

The swatch. A little goes a long way.

Comparison swatch between NARS Deep Throat.

Base Makeup - Foundation Swatches & Lemmings

I have to admit, I'm obsessed with flawless skin and I'm always on the lookout for products that would help me look less ruddy and more polised.

Today is a showcase of the foundations that I own and a short introduction on them. Not a lot and I'm still a long way from building a foundation bible.

I do hope that this can help those who are trying to buy foundations with absolutely nothing to rely on, except for online swatches for comparison.

This idea came about when I realized that there were very little cross foundation swatches to be found on the WWW. Maybe my search parameters wasn't good enough, I don't know.

Anyway, I decided to pull out all the foundations that I currently own and swatch them. For the benefit of others, who like me, don't have the luxury of testing out products in person.

Click Image for larger pic

Lunsol Water Cream Foundation in YO02:
You can read my review on this foundation here.

RMK Liquid Foundation in 101:
I bought this out of impulse when it first re-launched in Singapore. Frankly speaking, I didn't quite use this foundation due to the heavy yellow undertone. Moreover, the coverage was not enough to cover old and blemished skin like mine.

Paul & Joe Liquid Foundation in 010:
The first Japanese foundation that I bought. The color is a tad too light for me but the undertone was perfect. The only drawback is that, it doesn't really provide the coverage that I need.

IPSA Pure Protect Foundation in 100:
You can read my review on this foundation in my last post here.

DiorSkin Nude Liquid Foundation in 020:
What can I say? My perfect HG foundation. Gives the best finishes. You can read about my review here.

NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville:
One of the latest addition to my makeup collection. Color is a tad light for me but once it oxidizes, it's a perfect finish. You can read about my review here.

As for my lemmings:

Burberry Sheer Luminous Fluid Foundation in Trench 4
Armani Luminouse Silk Foundation in 4
Laura Mercier Moisturizing Foundation in Sunny Beige
NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Santa Fe
Chantecaille Future Skin Foundation in Chamomile
Chanel Pro Lumiere Foundation in Clair-Cameo


A good resource is the Foundation Matrix on Temptalia. Go take a look if you're interested.

Review / Makeup: IPSA - Pure Protect Foundation

This is another foundation review that I recently purchased. It's the IPSA Pure Protect Foundation in 100

Item Name: IPSA - Pure Protect Foundation - 100
Size: 30 ml
Price: SGD63.00
Available At: Tang Orchard
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com

Product Description from Manufacturer:

A brightening liquid foundation that evenly covers spots, freckles and pores with single application for a translucent finish. Provides a silky smooth texture and perfect adherence to the skin. Resists perspiration and sebum to prolong the initial beautiful finish. Prevents spots and freckles caused by exposure to the sun while protecting skin from dryness. Contains a highly moisturizing ingredient, hyaluronic acid

Why I bought it:
I've almost been interest in IPSA's products for reasons unknown to me. Maybe it's their packaging, maybe it's their product line.. It seems to be such an underrated brand in Singapore. So, I decided to purchase the foundation during the Tangs Closed Door sale.

I googled the product and wasn't able to find a swatch on these foundations. I had no choice but to go to IPSA's website. From the color chart, I figured that I would lie somewhere in 101.

However, I let the salesgirl sweet talk me into getting 100, which was actually too light for me. Lesson learnt: Always go with your gut instincts.

Packaging:
Housed in a sleek glass bottle with a pump. Which I like.

Texture:
The foundation wasn't as runny as compared to my other foundations. In addition, maybe because of the hyaluronic acid, it has a slight gluey feel to it.

Price:
The RRP is comparably to my HG, and so, I'm not complaining.

Road Test:
The foundation is too light for me, which made me look a little like Geisha. 101 would have made a better choice.

It's wasn't as spreadable as my other foundations. Coverage wise is from sheer to light. Definitely weaker than what NARS and Dior provides. Some of my larger pores and redness still came through even after I've patted in another layer of foundation. It wasn't as buildable as I thought it would be.

The finish is glowy but not shiny like a disco ball. But the finish was kind of patchy, probably due to the wrong shade and my dry skin.

The foundation did last well though and I only had to touch up a little in the late afternoon. But I had this feeling of my pores being suffocated after a long day. I think this foundation is just not meant for the tropics.

Verdict:

Well, I'm having mixed feeling over this foundation. The shade was wrong and it didn't spread well. I had really wanted to like this foundation but I just wasn't able to find a good reason to like it at all. Other than the fact that it's a Japanese foundation. I just don't understand why Japanese skincare works on me but never their makeup.

I'll give it another go again next week. The patchy finish could have been due to my recent skin problems. I was stressed, sleeping late, not having enough liquids and eating trashy food.

I'll update again on this foundation.

Below are some pictures.

Swatches. The below is meant for my next post but I got lazy..

Review / Makeup: NARS - Sheer Glow Foundation

Today, I'm going to review one of my latest foundations buy, the NARS Sheer Glow Foundation in Deauville.

Item Name: NARS - Sheer Glow Foundation @ Deauville
Size: 30 ml
Price: USD42.00 + ~SGD3.00 (Shipping)
Available At: Beauty.com
Picture Source: klutzbeauty.blogspot.com

Product Description from Manufacturer:

A glowing, satin-finish foundation with sheer and buildable coverage. Replete with skincare benefits and the NARS Complexion Brightening Formula, skin is hydrated, more luminous, softer and smoother. Used daily, Sheer Glow Foundation improves skin brightness, radiance and texture. For normal to dry skin types.

* Minimizes visible discoloration

* Brightens and clarifies overall skin tone

* Improves skin luminosity and radiance

* Hydrates for softer and smoother skin

* Dermatologist tested. Non-comedogenic. Fragrance free.

Why I bought it:
I've read raves of this foundation online. Being a foundation fiend, the bug just couldn't rest until I had a go with this foundation. I had to see whether it was as good as the rest made it out to be.

The opportunity came when beauty.com was offering 20% off for their Family Sale, and so, I took the plunge. The total amount came up to SGD47.00 (inclusive shipping), which is comparable to a MAC foundation.

I did a lot of research by using my DiorSkin Nude 020 as reference and decided on Deauville ultimately.

Packaging:
Housed in a sleek glass bottle, with NARS trademark rubberized texture cap. There is actually a smaller screw cap hidden by the bigger cap, to prevent spills I suppose.

The bottle doesn't come with a pump but it can be purchased from NARS website. It didn't occur to me to purchase the pump when I placed my orders.

I guess I can only buy it during my next spree. Anyway, it is definitely not as messy as my Lunasol Cream Foundation. So, it's not a major issue for me.

Texture:
The foundation is actually quite runny and definitely feels lighter than my DiorSkin Nude Foundation.

Price:
The RRP is definitely steep had it not been for the 20% discount. However, given the price of my current HG, I would think that it is comparable.

Road Test:
The first time that I used it, I layered the Ipsa Pore Clear base underneath it and by mid afternoon, I was a melted mess.

The second day, I decided to go only with the RMK makeup base and the foundation stayed throughout the whole day.

The coverage is from sheer to medium. Definitely buildable and works well enough to cover my enlarged pores. It even covered a good part of my redness on the cheeks.

Deauville matched my face but I think it's a tad light and yellowish for my skin. Well, nothing a blush and bronzer can't fix.

The foundation did oxidize a little and made my face look darker but it did not turn me into pumpkin soup.

Verdict:
It's still too early to elevate this to HG status but this foundation certainly have the potential. As of now, my DiorSkin Nude 020 is still my to-go foundation when it comes to special occassions.

Probably it's due to the shade. I find that it's still a little off as compared to DiorSKin Nude 020, which matched me perfectly. I had read somewhere that some of the ladies on NW20/NC20 uses Santa Fe. And the swatches on KarlaSugar does suggest so, when I compared with my DiorSkin Nude 020.

Maybe, I will get the Santa Fe if I have the chance.

The finished look is more of satiny, rather than glowy.

So do I recommend? Yes, if you're a foundation junkie like me or has a NARS counter somewhere to do a match.

No, if you can't be sure of your shade and you don't need a new foundation.

Anyway, next are some scary pictures. *Beware!!!*

Without Makeup - Enlarged pores, wrinkles, spots and redness.

Product distributed on the face and ready for blending.

 End result after first round of blending

I patted on additional foundation on the cheeks where the redness is.

Haul: Collective - Origins, MAC, Clinique, Dior, Prejume

This entry is a collective haul post on the stuff that I got some time back. So, this is really a guide for me to keep track of the things that I buy....

First up is Origins - Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins, Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Serum. My friend knows that I chomp through this serum like a mean grinding machine. And so, whenever there is an offer on this serum, she would be the first to sms me. I got 2 x 30ml at SGD25.00 each!

Next up is the MAC 217 brush and this is my second 217. This brush is very soft and perfect for blending out the eyeshadows! SGD33.00 available at all MAC Counters across Singapore.

Next, the Clinique Take The Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes and Lips (SGD39.00). My sampler bottle ran out and I've decided to purchase the full sized bottle since this worked quite well to remove my eye makeup.

Next up, is the Dior - Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Fresh Powder Makeup (SGD70.00). I was looking for a loose powder and the BA recommend this loose powder to me since I'm using the Dior Skin Nude Foundation. The BA assured that it wouldn't be heavy since I recalled that one of the BA at Takashimaya told me that this is actually mineral powder foundation. However, I really think that using this powder on top of the Diorskin Nude foundation is a little overkill for me. In addition, the actual size is really puny and paltry, compared to other Dior Loose Powder that are bigger in size with about the same price.

Lastly, Prejume hair wax that my hairstylist brought back from Hong Kong for me (SGD29.00). I totally like this hair wax. It has a rice paste texture , styles but not oily at all!!