All under one roof

Hello ladies!

I have not been able to catch up on the reviews of the products I've been trying out! I'm probably going to relook the length of reviews so I can get the views out to share with you!

Here's the lowdown of some of the products I've used over the last couple of months, in no order of preference:

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream: Will not repurchase

too rich for me, caused milia seeds. 

Burberry eye-shadows : will add more to collection if $$ permits
great pigmentation, love it but its costly.

Diorshow Iconic Extreme Mascara: Yes! but its often out of stock!
Love this baby. It gives a distinct yet not too dolly/dramatic look! Love how the lashes separates and lengthens with the brush!

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid: will not repurchase
Too rich for my skin type and too expensive as well!

Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin: on the fence
I have a love-hate relationship with this product. I'm questioning the underlying reason for its brightening effect and if might be due to the shimmery pearly pink extracts they have added to the serum.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Ex: my new HG!
Love how this gel like product keeps my skin supple and soft the next month despite sleeping in an extremely dry environment. My must-have product!

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder: repurchased once but...
Very fine and lightweight powder, does not cause end of day cracks in the make-up as much as Bobbi's brown loose powder (old version)

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer: No way I'm buying again
I don't like this at all, no intention to repurchase. In fact I barely touched the tube.

Loreal Impact Collagene Curl-Fixing Volume Mascara: Not really my type of mascara

ok for the price, slightly clumpy after 2 straight week of use. 

Moogoo Oil Cleansing Method (Combi Skin): Don't waste ur time on this product
Oh this is horrible, the oil is so thick that it clogs my pore. I've suffered tremendous breakouts, likely accrued to this product!

Talika Gentle eye cleanser: Will not repurchase
Not friendly for my eyes, has caused irritation thrice throughout entire use

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And for the next couple of weeks/months... I'll first be trying out Ettusais Skin Extra Version Up, Aqua Shooter and Acne Nighttime Defense Powder!

+

new products which my mom kindly gave me from VMV Hypoallergenics where I spotted a new store in Ion Orchard, Singapore. Its apparently an American brand.

Thanks babe for stopping by, I hope the low-down helped! Do email me at dollypalettes[at]gmail[dot]com if you would like me to cover any one of the above in detail before I get to it! (Yes, I know I'm slow!)

psst: have you supported the breast cancer initiative? Its National Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October (:

xoxo

beauty hauls from the trip!

Hello ladies!

I'm so so sorry for my lack of posts! Workload has gotten more intense and I've been traveling as well. Pardon me!

I bought quite a fair bit of items from my trip this time round (See above); the picture above does not include some other items such as a Loreal Impact Collagene mascara (i forgot to bring my mascara for the trip) and some other daily items such as my bobbi brown corrector and concealer and the recent sheer loose powder! 

I was also really excited that Biotherm came up with a XXL AquaSource moisturizer! Now that makes the most sense for an almost daily user like me!

The Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin and Dior Addict Lip Experts Duo were both both on flight! So far the Tsuya Skin together with my moisturizer and night sleeping mask has returned most of the moisture my face needs to keep it supple! However, much of the brightening/ 'radiance'  effect seem to come from the 'stardust' bits they have stirred into the mixture. Still, it has a lovely smell (well at least to me!)

My favourite of the lot is a make-up palatte from lancome! I love the blush design and the subtle glitter that came with the shadow and blush! Lovely lovely!

Review: Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate

Hello! Today I'm back with a review on Biotherm's Skin.Ergetic Concentrate. Yes I know that this product was out last year and I've been trying it since January this year. I prefer to give a suitable amount of time before reviewing products as the effects may take time to come through or on the flipside, see negative impacts after some time too.

When I was shopping for a serum, my final 2 choices were between this product and Lancome's Genifique. Due to the latter's high alcohol content, Biotherm's gimmick of the broccoli extract won me over! Since none of my friends around me have tried this product, I read several reviews and decided that I should just go for it... afterall I was looking really tired and this serum as meant to "to fight the most visible sign of fatigue". Yes marketing sells sometimes...

The other selling point of this product was the target group - for a younger crowd - who notices their first sign of aging! It claims to reverse the aging signs to boost radiance and smoother features. This selling point was backed with the product's 99% of Natural Origin ingredients, paraben-free, mineral-oil free, synthetic colorant-free and most importantly, suitable for sensitive skin. It has ingredients such as Broccoli (sulforaphane), Apple (botanical cell), Soy (protein), lemon (AHA), Sugar Cane (AHA) etc.

The packaging was gimmicky with a "mix your own serum" which makes you feel that the product is truly amazing or 'fresh'. It claims to have a lifespan of approximately 3 good months before the miracle of the powder which you inject into the bottle runs out.

In essence, they give you a sachet of powder which Biotherm claims to contact broccoli extract and you are meant to use the other they gave to inject the powder into bottle, shake it well, before you start using with the dropper. A 1.5cm diameter amount is sufficient for each use. This website gives a clear step-by-step process of injecting the powder.

In terms of the serum, it is white, smooth and has a slight tinge of veggie-fruity-like fragrance which is calming to some but not for anti-veggimites. It applies well with a slightly thicker consistent texture (some say a little slimy) and is quickly absorbed into my skin but the smell stays on the skin for some time. The serum does not leave a sticky or oily layer which works well if you are applying your moisturizer after that.

Unfortunately for me, this product did not work for my sensitive skin. I wanted so much to believe in it but my face kept breaking out with red irritation and lumps of acne that doesn't seem to be extractable after using this serum. I'm still stuck with some of this bumps. I gave it a couple of tries, stopping in between each breakout but this product simply did not work for me. Besides the irritation, my face did not improve in radiance nor was sufficiently providing moisturizer (to my horror, many commented on my dry facial skin only after I started on this product. This made me wonder about the real ingredients of this product.)

So all in all, this is no go for me and I certainly would not be recommending it to anyone at all. Harsh but no I won't want to risk it again especially every time I see the unextractable bumps... sobs. Do note that I have nothing against Biotherm, in fact i've been using their Aquasource moisturizer for a long long time, amidst all the product changes that it has gone through. Still, as mentioned that much as I wanted this product to work, it failed me. No bias-ness.

Nail Designs

Love exploring new ways of painting my nails! 

My first attempt using nail glue!

Newspaper nails! Heart this.

The 2nd nail picture is a simple newspaper nails! looks chic and very easy to achieve! Just paint as usual, using a light base color. Swipe your newspaper in alcohol and place on your nail for 5-7 seconds. Paint a glitter top coat or normal top coat. You're done!

Reivew: Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Review

Hello sweeties! I'm back today with Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX Review! Despite Singapore being a hot and humid tropical country, I find my facial skin dehydrated. This is likely caused by my long hours in an air-conditioned room (office + sleeping time) and the make-up I slap on my face each morning. So I went in search for a hydrating solution, tried a couple of brands and viola! This finally worked!


DollyPalette's quick review summary: Recommended to buy, good for hassle-free hydration especially for dry skin type and those living in wintery or cool conditions. Appear to suit sensitive skin. Like the fact that there's no alcohol content in the formula. If you must just have one overnight leave-on mask, choose this if cost isn't too much of a concern. 

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack is a gel mask that allows you to leave it on your face before sleeping, leaving the formula to work itself overnight to 
(i) aid facial hydration loss (especially if you sleep in an air-con room or wintery conditions);
(ii) help replenish your face's hydration needs leaving your skin supple
(iii) rejuvenate and brighten your face
In short, one key purpose for applying this facial mask -- facial hydration!


The one I am using today is the Water Sleeping Pack_EX, which apparently is the new improved version. I didn't use the predecessor. 


Given my sensitive skin, most of the Laneige water bank solutions did not work for me. Hence I was rather skeptical when my good friends recommended me this product. I was afraid of peeling, itchy red skin after my experience with the water bank series. However, after a long search for an overnight mask, which included the highly recommended Avene Soothing Moisture Mask for Sensitive Skin, only Laneige Water Sleeping Pack worked as promised on its packaging. Moisture was locked into my face evident every morning after I used it. It's so simple and easy to use that I'm addicted to it, leaving it on my face at least 4-5 times weekly. To be honest, I'm surprised it worked for me given the fragrance which they had injected into the gel.




The top ingredients, other than WATER which is the first, for this product includes: 

• Butylene Glycol is not Ethylene Glycol. BG helps to retain moisture and is even safe to consume in v small amounts; 
• Cyclopentasiloxane is clear and odourless, in this case, I'm guessing it should be used to help the formula evaporate faster to prevent leaving a gooey finish; Trehalose
• Glycerin helps to retain moisture and commonly used in health and skincare products
• Trehalose high water retention capabilities with an anti-oxidant edge
• Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract can apparently help to treat bacteria infection

Key notes from the ingredient analysis:

• no oil and alcohol content! hurray!
• loves the fact that water is the first and main ingredient
• The top 5 ingredients are all pretty harmless and mainly focused on hydration

 
How I use this product:

After my routine nightly cleanse and toner, I use the spatula provided to scoop a suitable amount out for application. I leave it to sit on my face for at least 30 mins before sleeping. I massage the gel in circles and end it with a few light pats on my face to ensure that all is absorbed. Lastly, I exercise my face a little as proposed by Laneige (see their website). You're done and prepared for your hydrating beauty sleep!


Next morning, you'll notice a layer or clear thin residual on your face which can be removed after a splash of water, if it doesn't, then massage your face in circles. It should come off pretty quickly. Proceed with your usual routine. Mine's a facial wash, toner and moisturizer before painting my face for the day! 


By the way, I heard that if you aren't sleeping in a cool environment, then you'll expect to wake up with a oily flm instead, but after washing it off, you should still be able to enjoy the hydrating effects. 


Let your face enjoy the pampering hydration!


What I think after 3 months of testing:
No doubt my facial hydration has improved, more supple, but no... I still don't see a crystal clear effect. The brightening effect is also rather muted. 

Do you see one side looking more moisturized?

In short... I'm really sold to this product but it has also made me lazier such that I have on lesser facial masks like the ones I really like from Skin Food. Having said that, as long as you get your facial skin smooth and supple, there's no saying that you have to use ALL these products ain't it? 


So yes, if you're still hesistant, I strongly encourage you to go get a pack for yourself to try. My travel size pack, which I used as a tester, is sold on Sasa's webpage. Get that if you don't want to pay S$45 for a tub yet. 


Would I repurchase? Certainly! In fact, I just bout the duo set from Changi Airport which is a travel exclusive. (approx S$60+) Otherwise, you can find it at all major departmental stores in Singapore which houses Laneige counters. 

I'm still here!

Hello my dear readers, I apologize for the long hiatus as I struggle to balance between work & rest during this period.

I'll try my best to write soon, do email me if you have any queries which you think I can help!

Friday is here! TGiF! Have a good wkend!

xoxo

My bling bling nails!

My own blue glitter manicure to mark a special occasion!

Review: Talika Anti-Acne Mask & a homemade scrub

Hello folks! I just had an awesome bath using a Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub! It left my skin really smooth and tender! This is a nourishing and moisturizing scrub.

Honey, Milk & Olive Oil Sugar scrub

If you're interested to make the scrub, all you need is..

Ingredients:
10 tbsp sugar (fine grains)
3 tbsp honey (organic is preferred)
1 tbsp Extra virgin olive oil
4 tbsp milk

How to?
1. Put 7 tbsp of sugar into a bowl
2. Add honey to the bowl, mix well.
3. Add 3 tbsp milk to the bowl, stir.
4. Add olive oil and stir. Slowly add the remaining sugar little by little.
5. Depending on the honey you use, the last tbsp of sugar may or may not be needed.

You should get a sand like consistency before you enjoy your bath!
psss: you can use this both on your face and body, just remember to be gentle with your face!

Review: Talika Renaissance Mask - Anti Acne

I have also tried a new mask from Talika recently. It is also labelled as the second skin. The particular one I tried was an Anti-acne mask.  This mask aims to reduce imperfections (pimples, blackspots and redness) as well as 'closes' pores. It is made of a nano-natural fiber (biocelulose). I didn't buy this mask, my mom passed it to me after seeing my recent breakout. Apparently this mask was released in 2010.

This came in handy as I've been experiencing bad breakouts recently. I left it on my face for approximately 15-20 mins, massaged in the rest of the formula.  The result was lovely! I do see my red acnes fading off! After 2 uses, I'm glad to say that my acne did seem to heal faster than normal! The red spots which were faded (just slight pinkish) was also easier to manage.

There is no perculiar or dishasteful smell associated with this mask. The mask sheet was gel-like unlike those you'd get from korean brands and it came with an extra layer of protection when applying. I believe that helps to retain moisture better, which was really thoughful of the Talika designers.

Unfortunately I did not manage to locate any Singapore stores selling this mask nor find it on their webpage. So I'm sorry ladies, the only website I managed to locate selling this mask is here (sweetcare). However, I must disclaim that I have never purchased from the website and I'm not sure how reliable or unreliable it might be.

My verdict: ❤❤❤❤❤/ ❤❤❤❤❤
I generally liked the product. However due to the absence of price, I'm not sure if I'll purchase it again. Should it be very costly, then I will definitely not repurchase this product. However if each mask sheet falls below S$15, I may consider using it if I have breakouts again!

Short answer? Yes I will repurchase if the price is reasonable to help my occasional breakouts!

Review: Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip

Hello ladies!

I've been using a couple of different eye make-up removers, ranging from Lancome's  Bi-Facil and L'oreal's Gentle Lip & Eye makeup remover before embarking on my journey with Biore's Pink formula. 

L'oreal's and Lancome's remover were rather similar in my opinion, with the Lancome's formula being a tad stronger than L'oreal's. However both did leave some of my eye makeup smudging after cleansing. 

Still, Lancome's formula was a tad too expensive. So I switched. 

So back to Biore's. I'm only 1/3 through the bottle and I can't wait for it to finish. I won't do my table review for this product as it doesn't quite fit. I'm just going to outline some key pointers.

What I like about the product:

• almost odourless and pleasant
• simple packaging and easy to use

What I dislike about the product

• it doesn't fully remove my waterproof makeups and is not as strong as the L'oreal's formula. It takes quite a few wipes on a few different cotton pads before my makeup is full removed. This will dehydrate the eys and perhaps even cause fine lines. A big no-no. 
• I hate the nozzle as it causes uneven squirts onto my cotton pad, which sometimes causes too much of the formula to be squirted on the cotton pad and hence getting into my eye
• I personally find it too oily but wouldn't mind if the oil works. I don't think the oil is doing its job for this product.

I will not repurchase this product. I will just diligently finish my 2/3s. 

I'm looking forward to try the new Talika gentle eye cleanser for sensitive eyes (retailing S$52 in Singapore) - see the other post.  

Talika Lipocils New Mascara

New products to try from Talika!

• The Eyelash conditioning cream (the small box) - RRP Singapore - S$53
• Duo Mascara - one side for natural eyelash growth and the other a black mascara! - RRP (Singapore) - S$69
• Gentle Eye Cleanser for Hypersensitive Eyes - RRP (Singapore S$52)

I believe that the duo mascara is their new item. They recommend applying Lipocils then the Black mascara above it. Its meant to be water-resistant which should work fine in hot and humid countries unless you are going diving or swimming with mascara!
However, it might be awhile before i get started on this mascara as I just bought the DiorShow mascara not too long back and its still unopened!! Please be patient as I try out these products! 

Floral Nails

My pretty floral inspired nails! 

Review: Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid & Biotherm Aquasource

To be very honest, I've found it really hard to evaluate skincare. I'm not sure if you feel the same? In my opinion, the impact is generally milder and the side effects take longer to show.

This review will be split into three review portions, first my old love - Biotherm Aquasource Moisturizer followed by my new love - Elizabeth Arden Hydrating Fluid and lastly a comparison against each other. Its going to be a long post, be prepared!

1. Biotherm Aquasource Non-stop Moisturizer (for combination skin) - the green gel

My background with moisturizers are quite straightforward. From as far as I could recall, I've been using Biotherm's Aquasource since its old formula (lighter and less fragrant) and old packaging. I think it has been approximately 10 years since! (woah) Unfortunately, no biotherm has not rewarded me very much for being such a loyal fan, in both monetary/gift benefits and skin benefits, especially after I've started a full make-up regime on a day to day basis. As such I've decided to move away from Biotherm Aquasource.

So let's get digging into the review!

Ingredients

Aqua, Alcohol Denat, Cyclohexasiloxane, Glycerine, Prunus Armeniaca Kernel Oil, Butylene Glycol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Carbomer, Triethanolamine, Dimethicone, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Hexylene Glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum, Chlorphenesin, Xanthan Gum, Magnesium Gluconate, Serine, 2-Oleamido-1,3-Octadecanediol, Citrulline, Cholestrol, Liminene, Fructose, Glucose, Tocopherol, Vitreoscilla Ferment Extract, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Disodium EDTA, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Hexyl Cinnamal, Benzyl Salicylate, Urea, Menthoxypropanediol, Zinc Gluconate, Linalool, Ceramide 3, Hydroxypalmitoyl Sphinganine, Citral, Dextrin, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Benzyl Alcohol, Copper Gluconate, Hexyl Nicotinate, Sucrose, Glutamic Acid, Manganese Gluconate, CI 42090, CI 19140, Aspartic Acid, Alanine

To be fair, let me highlight that this moisturizer is not a bad moisturizer. I love the gel-like formula which leaves my skin a refreshed and supple! It has a fresh and a cooling hydrating texture just like spa water! Furthermore, it is light, gentle to sensitive skin (mineral oil and paraben free) and easy to apply - does not leave a greasy oily feel, perfect for summer weather. But on the long run, it does not work miraculously, definitely not for dry skin types, and more importantly, it is insufficient for your skin if you are like me, spending 5 days a week in air conditioned spaces. Oh yes, and nah, put this aside if its winter.

Summary: I will not repurchase this unless I'm dying for a quick spa pampering perk-me-up as it does not do much for my facial skin. Besides, the increasingly hefty price tag for this product with such strong alcohol denat content makes me ponder twice before purchasing for that quick perk.

2. Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid (S$221)
{see EA's official page}

I've been using this new product launched by Elizabeth Arden (EA) in March 2012 (Singapore). It was launched together with Prevage triple defense SPF 50+++. Anyway given my experience with Biotherm Aquasource as described above, I decided to embark on a new journey with this moisturizer which was meant to be light weight for oily to combination skin & suitable for sensitive skin as well. It was also meant to be suitable for folks living in a humid climate (yay, that's Singapore) EA also mentioned that this can be doubled up as a primer!

Prevage was range developed by EA to combate skin aging signs which are caused by environmental factors like air pollution and our exposure to the harmful sun rays (UVA, UVB and Infrared-A). These will eventually lead to fine lines, skin dryness and pigmentation visibility on our skin.

This moisturizer is orange in colour and easily absorbed into the skin, leaving a silky finish. It contains two antioxidants (Idebenone and Thiotaine), Soy protein, glycerin and peptide complex to help combat these environment stress, repair and hydrate the skin.

Unfortunately this product comes with a hefty price tag (S$221) at all EA counters since March 2012. The bottle is not opaque and hence I'm not sure how long it will last. At the moment, I use 1.5 - 2 pumps per use in order for full face coverage. Just after 2 - 3 weeks of using this moisturizer, I've seen my facial skin improving - smoother, more radiant and more hydrated! However, I'm concerned about the trade off between the cost and its benefits.


Elizabeth Arden's Prevage Hydrating Fluid vs Biotherm Non-stop Aquasource Moisturizer - who wins?

Well its pretty obvious that EA's product won Biotherm's handsdown given the scoring. However, it is note worthy to point out that Biotherm's product application was smoother and it gave me a more relaxed feeling. Unfortunately that does not live up to its product function as a moisturizer. I also just started on EA's Ceramide Intense Moisture & Renewal Regeneration Eye Cream as I'm done with Bobbi Brown's Extra Eye Repair Cream. More of that at a later date!

By the way, I've also tried Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate from 1 Jan 2012 to date. I've decided to boycott that product as it was simply a waste of money. [Afternote: I've reviewed the product in September, see here]

Thanks for your continual support for my page! hugs! Till the next post!

Honey Yogurt Oat Mask

Hello! I'm back with a homemade recipe mask today!

Honey Yogurt (Yoghurt) Oat Mask 

- a moisturizing mask for dry skin
Remember to do a skin patch before applying to your face! You won't want to end up with an irritated face!

Ingredients:

• - 2 tablespoons plain yogurt (the fattier the better)
• The most important part of yogurt mask is to use regular yogurt that has fat, do not use non-fat yogurt as a mask, the result will not be noticeable or the mask won’t work at all. 



Honey Yogurt Mask - Paste Like

• If you are afraid of drippy masks, use a cream yogurt.
• - 1 tablespoon honey
• - 1-2 tablespoons cooked & cooled oatmeal

How to?

Mix everything together until it forms a smooth paste. Spread over the face and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Wash off with a warm water/washcloth.

How long can it be kept?

Normally I'll keep it in a tub for a maximum of 1-2 weeks depending on the condition of the mask by then. Once you spot green dots on the surface, discard the mask. If you think it looks out, smell it - anything remotely slightly sour is terrible - throw!

Variations:

• Use only Fatty Yogurt: Perfect if you just got off a flight/overseas
• Good Scrub: Replace Oats with 2tbsp of finely ground almonds & 1/2 tsp of lemon juice 
• Combat Acne: Replace Oats with 5 uncoated aspirins (dissolved in water)
• Face Brightener: Replace Oats and honey (optional) with 1-2 drops of lemon juice (citric acid helps, but not too much otherwise it might irritate your face)

You should get a smooth paste. Enjoy!

Hauls from Changi Airport!

Hello folks! I'm back from my trip, along the way I also picked up some beauty products from Singapore's Changi Airport Duty Free by Nuance Watsons! They carry a huge range from perfume, skincare to make-up & nail polishes! I like to pick up some products on my way out of the country as its tax-free! However, don't expect good advise from the CSAs as they are mainly generalists or newbies. So its good to make sure you know what you want or if you have an acute sense of being able to tell from self-testing. 

Here are my hauls from this trip: 

1. Bobbi brown Long Wear Gel Eyeliner set - I bought this as my sepia ink liner is running out and there's a free ultra fine travel brush together with the black liner. A pretty good deal - S$58.50

2. Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer (Natural shade)- to stock up on what I'm currency using - S$33.10

3. Lancome Subtil Rose Blush - I saw it the last time round I was going out of the country and though it looked pretty, randomly chose the #30 shade after some testing on my arms. Love the mix of shimmer come peach/pink undertones! A pretty full color match! - S$48.00

4. Dior Show Iconic Extreme Black - heard pretty good reviews about this so I decided to buy one to try. - S$43.60 (Still, I'm loving my Lancome Hypnose Waterproof (Noir) very very much! - retails at Changi airport for S$35.60).

Mt Sapola Sweet Dreams Sugar Scrub -
Untouched so the essential oils are floating on top!

I also bought the Mt Sapola Lavendar scrub and room mist at Bangkok's airport. Will review them in the future after some use. Hearts the soothing effect from the Lavender room spray!

Baby with eczema?

If your baby has got eczema, you can try

• Moogoo Skincare range (Australia, Ireland, Malaysia but shipping overseas available)
• Aden & Anais (available in Mothercare, Singapore) 
• Mustela (Europe/USA)

I have previously tried Aveeno as well but that's more for adult + it didn't work for me. Eczema is a tricky thing. You have trial and error and look out closely for reactions. 

Good luck! 

Primers

My dear readers, apologies for the hiatus as I'm sick at the moment and heading off for a trip soon! I'll be back soon with some reviews!

Meanwhile I'm wondering if I should purchase Laura Mercier's oil free primer. The last I checked, it was currently out of stock at all Sephora LM counters. Does anyone have any thoughts or feedback on this product? If not, what are you using as your primer?

Review: Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder

Hello folks! Chanel's Natural Finish Pressed Powder (Poudre Universelle Compacte) is the key product for review today. I've been using this pressed powder for over 2 months and decided that it was time to put something down in black and white.

Chanel created this pressed powder to produce a translucent, natural matte finish (not flat matte). It is ultra fine and light weight, to be used after your foundation or after your face makeup. There is also a slight tinge of floral fragrance to the powder. Do not use this powder if you are looking for a medium to heavy powder coverage. 

The ingredients are:
Talc, Nylon-12, Silica, Lauroyl Lysine, Magnesium Myristate, Hydrogenated Coco-Glycerides, Magnesium Stearate, Boron Nitride, Isopropyl Lanolate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Potassium Sorbate,  Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Parfum (Fragrance), tocopherol, Lecithin, Glyceryl Stearate, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Glyceryl oleate, Citric Acid

I love the sleek compact black packaging that comes with it (well, it's channel afterall!). There's also an applicator puff that comes with it but I generally prefer to use my own powder brush to pick up the powder. There's also a mirror in the package, so its really simple and easy to use on the go, for touch-ups or for setting make-up.

With talc being it's first ingredient, it is no wonder that the powder is so fine and light. While the product does not guarantee to be oil-free nor shine-free, it does allow my make up to stay matte for a good number of hours (8 - 5pm). It is also relatively lightweight such that you do not feel an uncomfortable layer of powder on your face. It doesn't create the kind of over-powdered look which some other powders may give. Most importantly, as my face is really sensitive, I was amazed that this powder did not give me any breakouts or rash despite the floral scent.

However this powder range has only 4 colour choices - clair 20; naturel 30, dore 40, muscade 140 - which I felt was a little limiting. I was matched with a 30 naturel despite my Chanel matlumiere foundation being 20 clair. I guess this was to avoid me looking like a geisha of sorts. Chanel also has another range of oil-free powder which was only suitable for ladies with a really oily texture and needed proper oil-control powders. Otherwise Chanel's Natural Finish Pressed Powder would work for normal to combination skin ladies.

How does it look versus some peers?

When compared to Loreal True Match Super Blendable Powder which is much heavier, Chanel's powder wins hands down for me. Loreal's powder has only 3 shades, of which none really works for me. Also, it's not oil-free, leaving my face looking greasy by midday. Chanel's pressed powder doesn't do the same!

I would also like to compare this against Bobbi Brown's Sheer Finish pressed powder and Laura Mercier's Loose powder. When put against BB's pressed powder, I felt that Chanel's oil control abilities were much better and it also felt lighter than BB's product. Unfortunately, BB does have a wider range of colours which may help to match our face shades better. Lastly, when put up against LM's loose powder, I felt that both worked wonders with different foundations. Chanel's powder had a little more coverage than LM's but LM's mattifying properties edges over Chanel's pressed powder slightly. Still, both powder's key ingredients are talc, which in essence is simply powder.

Summary

In short, I love this powder as I generally prefer lightweight makeup but the price tag at S$72.00 is pretty hefty! I would use this concurrently with my Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder.

Foot Glide - Blisters no more! Hurray!

Hello ladies! Ever felt apprehensive of fitting into a new shoe... weary of blisters or other forms of abrasion when wearing covered shoes, heels and boots?

I've recently tried this new product - Anti Blister Foot Formula Pretty Feet from Foot Glide brand, and it works like a miracle! It costs S$17.90 at all Watson (Singapore) stores and you can also easily find it at your local pharmacies.

Packaging in stores - Picture taken at Watson Singapore -
Retail Price: S$17.90 in Singapore, 2012

It's colorless, non-greasy , easy to apply and most importantly, long lasting! It is also resistant to humidity, perspiration and water. Remove with Soap & Water.

The packaging and formula. Just turn that dial at the bottom of the bottle
and you'll get the formula in a harden wax format.

One application per day is sufficient for my use (morning 8am all the way till past midnight in my new pointed heels from nine west!). So a tube will probably last you pretty long! An awesome partner for your feet but best used before the trouble start!

Ingredients & other notes

It is a roll-on applicator. All you need it to rub it wherever blisters may occur in your opinion! No more packs after packs of handiplast (plasters) and suffer from painful blisters when wearing pretty and nice shoes! I hope this helps to solve your woes as much as mine!

Note: this is not an advertorial, I was not paid to write this nor did I receive any free samples from Foot Glide. I truly feel that this saves more money than me buying packs after packs of plasters. All recommendations came from my bestie who has used it for several months before I hopped on the boat! Enjoy!

At last, Laura Mercier in Singapore!

I made my round at the Laura Mercier shelves at Sephora, Ion Orchard, Singapore this evening! Unfortunately I came back a tad disappointed. First off the SAs were not very helpful and does not seem to know much about the LM products that were on the shelves and unlike Sephora in the states, there were no samples. Due to the bad service and change in LM products since I last saw in the States, I only went home with LM's Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

So here's my first impression/quick verdict of the items I tried. 

(a) Laura Mercier's Oil Free Supreme Foundation - New in stores as at April 2012 - RRP S$68 at Sephora Singapore

Chanel's AquaLumiere Foundation -
pic taken from Chanel

I had tested LM's previous oil-free foundation in the States and was quite impressed with it. Unfortunately LM decided that they would get rid of it and replaced it with their 'Oil Free Supreme Foundation'. Like previously, I was matched with Sunny Beige. However this time round, it was alot tougher to test it out on my hands! The texture like spreading unmelted-almost-hardened cream cheese or butter feeling! I made a comment and the SA told me "oh oil-free products are typically thicker and harder to spread"! Imagine that statement! Don't buy into that. Just pop into Chanel (Beauty) at Ion and they will happily show you AquaLumiere, their oil-free foundation, which fyi, is a world of difference from LM's new product. Ok these statements does not consider the fact that LM's oil free supreme foundation is medium to full coverage as informed by SA while Chanel's Aqualumiere was sheer coverage. Still, I was disappointed with LM's new oil-free foundation formula. It is certainly not lightweight and doesn't glide on at all. I also took the formula outdoor, hoping that it does have some redeeming factors... unfortunately, I felt that it oxidised quite a fair bit and turned slightly orangey. I do not think that this is a foundation that I will purchase. I was utterly disappointed. 

Laura Mercier's Oil Free Supreme Foundation
- picture taken from hotbeautyhealth.com

(b) Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 - RRP S$68 at Sephora Singapore

Laura Mercier's Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer - picture taken from miss wiggle.blogspot.com

This remains as I last saw it. You can see some swatches at Miss Wiggle's blog. While I'm not a fan of tinted moisturizer, this is what I call lightweight. It is sheer and doesn't settle into fine lines. It sort of leaves a 'glittery' finish when light shines at certain angle. This is something which you may want to becareful with especially if you already have oily-to-combination skin. More shimmers and glitter will make you appear more 'oily' if not well applied and combined with other facial make-up. 

Benefit's You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer

Well, this Oil Free tinted moisturizer is certainly better than Benefit's You Rebel Tinted Moisturizer which I feel clogs pores and provides an unnatural finish. (This product caused me alot of breakouts! sobs) 

(c) Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Powder -- RRP S$58 at Sephora Singapore

LM continued to use the same formula for their translucent powder, whose main ingredient is Talc. Yes you didn't read wrong, that's powder. The texture is so fine that it will sit nicely on your skin. However the price tag is a little hefty for powder. Still it's 1oz in volume and it should last you for some time!

When I used it previously, it does help to keep my skin oil-free for most of the day. However, that was the period where I was largely in Australia. I'll try it out in humid Singapore and let you know if I see the same results. Look out for my review once I've tested enough! 

Laura Mercier's Translucent Loose Powder

That's all for now folks.. I doubt you'll be seeing much of me lurking at LM's shelves...