laura mercier on the make-up blogette

FAQ & DISCLAIMER

About Me

My name is Sophia, and I am in my early 30s. I am from Singapore and I am the sole writer of this blog.

About this Blog

I started this blog in 2006, I like to use a wide range of brands though I seem to have a growing preference for higher-end brands in recent years. I also like to share interesting things I have come across about makeup and beauty.

Currently The Makeup Blogette receives 39,000 unique views monthly or 2,238,932 views and counting.

My Makeup Style

I like classic looks (neutral tones on eyes, anything goes for lips & cheeks), though occasionally I try out dramatic/ statement looks. I believe that a flawless base is the key to achieving great makeup looks. I also believe that if you don't have great skin to start with, fake it with a good foundation routine, and even greater skincare. I am currently loving Clarins & Lancome skincare products, and Vichy NormaDerm for tackling with breakouts.

What Cameras do I use?

Most of the pictures you see in post 2010 entries are taken with my Canon G-11. Previously I was using Canon Ixus 80. I do post some pictures which are taken with my iphone4 which I will state in that particular entry. I have stopped watermarking my pictures as of 2011, because I think watermarks are ugly in general, and does not prevent people from stealing my pictures if they wish to. I just take it as a compliment that my pictures are even worth stealing in the first place. I might look into getting a Canon EOS next year, not just for blogging purposes, but I also like photography in general.

My Favourite Makeup Brand(s)

It is hard to name just one, but I like NARS, Chanel, Illamasqua and the ocasional Guerlain, Dior & Urban Decay item. I own quite a stash of MAC items, but recently I have stopped catching up with their collections, and I much prefer to splurge on a few really outstanding items.

Where to find me

Twitter (link button above!) Email (stated above!) Instagram (makeup_blogette)

I have no official Facebook fan page, and currently have no intention to start one at all. The Makeup Blogette remains my personal hobby and property, so as such, I don't believe in having a Facebook fanpage for it.

Final Disclaimer

I bought/ paid for all of the products mentioned in this blog. I am not affliated to any company. If certain products are sent to me for review purposes, I will say so and express my honest opinions about them. In any case, I will only review and showcase the products which I have personally tried and tested, and enjoy using. I do not get paid to review anything.

No ads, no paid links etc please. I am in charge of all content and pictures here.

I am not a makeup artist, nor do I have any professional training in makeup.

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Laura Mercier Lavender Cloud Nail Lacquer

Hi hi!

This entry features Laura Mercier's Lavender Cloud which is released with their previous summer (2012) collection. It is a beautiful milky pastel lavender shade. The formula is very creamy and smooth, and I applied two coats here for full intensity. I think we need more Laura Mercier polishes to be available here. (this was purchased in Taiwan) My gf has loaned this to me to play with and try out.

While it's really pretty, it is not entirely unique, and you can find lots of Essie & OPI dupes. :)

Hope this is helpful, and thanks for looking!

Posted on April 11, 2013 at 8:22AM | Permalink | 1 Comment

Filed in: Nail Polish, laura mercier, Swatches, Lavender Cloud | Tagged with: nail polish, laura mercier, swatches, Lavender Cloud

May 08, 2012

Haul: Laura Mercier Base Products [Photos, Swatches & Quick Review]

Hi hi!

This has been a haul entry which has been sitting in my drafts for several weeks. Since end of March.. I think - when Laura Mercier first launched at Sephora. I happened to be there, and I kind of needed to spend some $$ to get the next $40 voucher (you know how they suck you in like this) and this explains the purchase. In any case, base products are things that I would use the most often, so it wasn't difficult to pick out a few items and try out some stuff which have been raved,and I need to try out for myself.

I bought 3 items, a liquid foundation, a cream concealer palette and lastly a eyeshadow base thing. I have been using these products pretty often the past month (of April, fyi) so I can also give you some of my quick thoughts, and whether I would recommend them.

Firstly, we have the oil-free supreme foundation - I got myself the shade Blush Ivory which is pretty much a perfect matching shade for me. To be honest, I chose this foundation because I thought it was the cheapest among their foundations (certainly cheaper compared to their famous creme foundation) but it prolly turned out to be only $4 or $5 cheaper. I wasn't paying attention to the price tags, and just grab what I though was a $52 foundation. (I think it cost $68). Anyway...the price is not even important. The price points of Laura Mercier at Sephora is very comparable to US prices, so you aren't really paying rip-off prices - and that's the most important thing you need to know.

My thoughts:

While the shade is a good match for me, I couldn't help but think that it oxidises ever so slightly on me. I was at the gym the other day, and I thought that my face look a little dull-ish (note: not worn off) in the late afternoon. Now this could be due to the hot afternoons, sweaty days, but I have used many foundation combinations that look as fresh and light without any oxidisation throughout the day. When you spend most afternoons running away on the treadmill - with the mirror in front of you, you get plenty of time to scrutinise your foundation!

I usually compensate the slight oxidisation by using a brightening primer, such as the Shiseido White Lucent Spot Target control (pink), or a pale BB cream (such as the Rachel K light cc cream, etc).

The finish of the foundation is semi-matte, and lasts a decent amount of time on me (8 hours at least). It is great as an everyday foundation - nothing really stands out pow wow to me. The texture is very liquidy (not watery), reminding me of some of the Bourjois foundations. If you want a good basic foundation, this is great - you can build up coverage as required. It doesn't look cakey at all.

I usually set it with Laura Mercier translucent loose powder, or La Mer powder. If you have existing HG foundation(s), I think it is safe to give this a miss, and go straight for the silkcreme foundation instead since that's really their most highly raved foundation. I do like it but it's not something I will be raving about unlike other foundations I have reviewed before.

Photos and details of the Oil Free Foundation:

Next, I purchased the Secret Camouflage concealer in SC-03:

This is quite a star product from Laura Mericer. It comes with two shades in each palette, and for mine - one is a pale peachy nude, while the other one contains a more beigy tone. I got this after seeing Lisa Eldridge using it in many of her videos, and a few of my friends swear by this product too.

I only use this for spot concealing. The texture is quite thick, but it applies rather smoothy on the skin. I don't know if it is just my item, but the concealer is extremely 'solid' and doesn't seem to 'melt' creamier despite the heat of our weather. Because of this, I find that it is much better to pick up the product with a brush (since my fingertip can't seem to pick up enough product) and use the brush to apply the concealer precisely on the spot. Then I use my finger to lightly dab to blend in with rest of the face. It gives good enough coverage for most of my spots. I just wish that it is (or maybe just mine) is creamier in consistency.

Overall, it is a decent product, and if you are looking for this type of concealer, you won't be disappointed. It isn't my holy grail concealer though (my cle de peau stick concealer still takes the HG spot). I believe the price is also quite reasonable ($46 I think) for the amount of product you are getting, and the fact that the compact is sturdy and comes with a mirror is an added bonus.

Lastly, we have the Eye Basics in Flax - I think it comes in 4 or 5 shades, all neutral ones like this, I think there is a Wheat, and can't remember the rest. This is the second lightest shade. I use this like an eyeshadow primer.

The texture is very light and smooth, and a little goes a long way. It blends right into the skintone on my lids, and I am sure you might have noticed this product listed in most of my recent LOTDs. Even on days when I don't use eyeshadows, I slap this on my eyelids, to even out the color, and add just the tiniest bit of sheen on my lids- kind of look fresher. It also prevents the weird crease line you get from applying foundation all over your face. I would like to get a couple of other colors, but I doubt I would be running out of this anytime soon. Currently, I am rotating between this, my NARS eyeshadow primer and MUFE primer for eyeshadows.

Here are swatches of all 3 products in different lighting/ indoor shade (natural daylight)

Overall, when I think Laura Mercier, I think good dependable base products and great eyeshadows - it's more like my kind of 'Bobbi Brown' if you know what I mean. The next product I am likely to try from LM might be one of her blushes, as I have been seeing quite a few raves online. It's good that LM is now readily available, and you can swatch and play to your heart's content at Sephora.

I hope this has been helpful, and thank you for reading.

Posted on May 08, 2012 at 5:05PM | Permalink | 10 Comments

Filed in: Review, haul, laura mercier, concealer, foundation, eye basics, flax, oil free foundation, secret camouflage concealer | Tagged with: review, haul, foundation, laura mercier, concealer, Eye Basics, flax, oil free foundation, secret camouflage concealer

April 27, 2012

LOTD: Summer Trend with DIOR Swimming Pool & Tangerine

Hi!

This is a LOTD featuring the Dior Swimming Pool palette from their latest summer collection (available 1 may) --- click here, for detailed photos & swatches of the palette.

3 of the shades in the palette are very pale ones, so I know that only two shades can be used on my lids - which are the teal and the blue in the middle of the palette. I will show you the color placement in a picture later on.

The overall eyelook is very light, and almost airy. I used my regular lashes to add definition to the look, because I personally think that using these light colors on my eyes can tend to make them look smaller. I only used a little bit of gel liner, applied and blended them in between my upper lashes. I left the lower lashes totally bare.

I tried to keep the skin very flawless and smooth looking. And then I lightly bronze the sides of my face, and give cheeks a pop of color. Then I remember there is a tangerine/ orange looking lipgloss in the collection, so I decided to use my Shiseido lipstick. Somehow the whole teal/ blue and orange combo seems to work, and make each other even more outstanding.

Ended up with a matchy lips and tee color + matchy nails and eye colors. I personally feel it is quite cute, and it's colorful without being too loud.

For a expert demonstration of this pastel candy color makeup, click here to watch Lisa Eldridge's tutorial (where she also featured the same Dior palette, but didn't actually use it) link link link! She also shares tips on how to wear candy colors according to your skintone, and how not to look too washed out with pastels.

as you can see, from above the crease upwards, you can't really see the differences in the pale shades...

all products used:

face - Lancome pro base, Lancome Teint Miracle liquid foundation, Lancome Teint Miracle loose powder

cheeks - Dior Nude Glow 001 Aurora (bronzer), Dior Healthy Glow 001 Petal (blush)

eyes - Laura Mercier flax (base), Shiseido Shimmering Cream eyeshadow BL215, Dior Swimming Pool palette

lips - Shiseido shimmering rouge OR316

liner - Bobbi Brown black caviar ink

nails - Dior 401 Saint Tropez

That's all, and thanks for looking!

Posted on April 27, 2012 at 4:38PM | Permalink | 8 Comments

Filed in: laura mercier, Lancome, Swatches, LOTD, Dior, Eyeshadow Palette, Shiseido, summer 2012, Croisette, 224 Swimming Pool | Tagged with: Lancome, dior, laura mercier, Shiseido, swatches, LOTD, eyeshadow palette, croisette, summer 2012, 224 Swimming Pool

March 31, 2012

Haul: Laura Mercier Launches at Sephora

On Thursay, I met Sarah & Joey for a dinner chit-chat catching up, and we met at Sephora, and none of us walked out empty handed. Firstly, we were all poring over the Laura Mercier display, swatching and oohhhing over the products. Probably half an hour later, we were all a little sheepish, and discussed our purchases over dinner.

If you have seen my instagram feed, none of these is new to you, of course.

I bought 3 items, all base products - and now I have a complete routine using Laura Mercier products. (speaking of which, I have a series of brand specific base routines & reviews coming up, Lancome Teint Miracle, Guerlain, DiorSnow, and lastly Laura Mercier).

The color makeup products look really yummy too, but I can't justify buying one more eyeshadow or one more blusher. We were all very happy to know that the LM prices at Sephora are extremely comparable to the US prices, and way lower than the LM prices at True Colors!! For example, I was told, the secret camou concealer palette retails for over $70 at True Colors, but I only paid $46 for mine at Sephora. Besides everything at Sephora is FRESH stock, they didn't come out of funky smelling drawers at True Colors.

I will do swatches together with my routine & review in a later entry. I wish they brought in the nail polish range though. But the range of products they have is quite comprehensive, including 3 skincare items & makeup brushes.

But I bought:

1. Secret Camouflage Concealer SC-3 - $46

2. Oil Free Supreme Foundation Blush Ivory - $68 (I think so. It was so easy to find my shade!)

3. Eye Basics in Flax $35 - kind of like an eyeshadow primer

and I already have the existing LM products to complete the foundation routine:

Translucent Loose Powder (retails for about $58 here I think)

Travel sized Tinted Moisturise (Bought in US)

a few pictures of the display

their Shimmer Bloc which looks like the BB Shimmerbricks

Have you checked out the Laura Mercier products yet?

That's all, and thanks for looking!

Posted on March 31, 2012 at 8:27AM | Permalink | 4 Comments

Filed in: Sephora, haul, laura mercier, foundation | Tagged with: sephora, haul, foundation, laura mercier, concealer

December 27, 2011

Haul: Three Color Pencils from NARS & Laura Mercier [Photos & Swatches]

I purchased these when I was in Hong Kong last week. Two NARS pencil liners, and a Laura Mercier caviar pencil.

I have heard great stories about the NARS Larger than Life pencils not smudging from my friends who have used them, so I was very keen to give these a try when I get the chance to swatch the whole range. I ended up with two basic colors, in black and flesh toned, because I already own nice colored ones from Urban Decay. They lasted pretty well, and stayed on my hand without any smearing once they are set. I have been loving the flesh tone one as a under eyelid liner, and it is the perfect nude shade for me. Well, it is a creamier version of my MAC Chromo pencils in the flesh tone shades. I usually use a black pencil liner if I want a smudgy upper liner, and I will then line over with a liquid eyeliner anyway. But this is nice creamy and super black, so it is something which I can have in as a staple in my stash. They retail for HKD240 each. Rather steep.. if you ask me, even in USD. They are the same price as a powder blush... just to put things in perspective.

The NARS pencils also have neat packaging, as you will see in my pictures below --- you don't need a sharpener at all to keep these pencils pointy. They come with a little sharpener thingy built into the other end of the pencil, and you can twist up the pencil as you were a retractable pencil liner. That's really cool, because the pencil body will be as long as the first day you bought it. Clever idea! (Exactly like the mac greasepaint sticks).

I also bought one Laura Mercier caviar stick because my friend wanted me to CP the black one for her, and she told me the black one is always OOS at True Colours at Ngee Ann City... that got me intrigued, and I swatched all the shades --- these are designed for you to create smokey eye looks, and I can see why... they are creamy enough for you to blend out, and come in a good range of colors for creating smokey eye looks. Again, once these creamy rich pencils set, they won't budge at all. I am impressed! They retail for HKD210 each (for more product than the NARS liners if you compare...)

You can find NARS at

the NARS store at Langham Place

Laura Mercier & NARS counters at Lane Crawford (IFC Mall, Harbor City, Times Square)

More photos & swatches -

There is nothing like being able to swatch and play with the products in person when you have the chance to, especially for these brands like NARS which are not found in Singapore.

Hope these swatches helped... and thanks for looking!

Posted on December 27, 2011 at 8:48AM | Permalink | 3 Comments

Filed in: NARS, haul, laura mercier, Swatches, eyeliners, makeup and beauty, larger than life eyeliners | Tagged with: nars, haul, laura mercier, eyeliners, swatches, Makeup and Beauty, larger than life eyeliners

October 15, 2011

Faking Flawless Skin: How I Layer My Base Products

Hi hi!

This is sort of like another updated foundation routine entry.

Recently, I have always listed using a bb cream, liquid foundation etc etc etc in my LOTDs, and have been asked before isn't this combination too heavy or thick for daily use. So, in this entry, I hope to show you what I do on a daily basis (whether I am going out for work or play) my tips and tricks for long-lasting foundation. I have several fool-proof combinations which I will share with you at the end of this entry. But the steps in which I go about layering products is the same. I also tend to use my fingers to blend the products, simply because it is the fastest in the morning, and sometimes I do think that using a brush might just give more coverage which I don't really want.

I also want to state that if you don't need so much coverage, you have fairly good and clear skin, you definitely don't need to layer on like I do. My main problem is to cover zit spots which always look red and angry against my fair skin.

This combination will last me a good 8 - 10 hours, and I don't touch up with powder throughout the day. I just blot every 4 - 5 hours around my T-zone and the skin looks powdery fresh again. I only carry around a compact powder simply because I want to, just in case.. but I don't usually use it. At the end of the day, I also thoroughly removed my makeup with Shu Uemura cleansing oil, and a cleansing foam (and sometimes use a toner to further make sure my face is clean) ---- this is to avoid any clogged pores not due to the makeup itself, but due to improper removal process.

Why do I like using BB cream as a base?

evens out my skintone which means I use less liquid foundation
provides sun protection (which means I skip using a separate sunscreen if I am using my bb creams)

My favourite BB creams?

Freshel BB cream
Rachel K CC Cream
Ettusais Mineral BB Cream
Leaders Clinic Mild Sunscreen

(links to reviews can all be found in the side column)

My current favourite non-BB cream primers?

Lancome Pro Base
Shiseido White Lucent Spot Control Base

My current favourite liquid foundations?

Illamasqua skinbase
Maquillage Essence
Clarins Skin Illusion
Loreal True Match
Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua

(links to reviews can all be found in the side column)

My current favourite setting powder?

Ettusais Mineral Loose Powder
La Mer Loose Powder

Ok, so let's begin!

In this demonstration, I am using Clarins Skin Illusion (review coming this week), and Ettusais Mineral BB cream. But almost any combination of the above mentioned products will work too. I also tend to use less liquid foundation when I use a BB cream as a base/ primer.

Prior to applying bb cream, I have on my day eye cream, day serum and day moisturiser. If I have time, I will wait about 5 minutes for skincare to be absorbed into my skin before applying makeup.

I dot the bb cream all over my face, usually on places where I need coverage, and then blend outwards to rest of my face.

After BB cream, my face and overall skintone is even out... but the spots are still visible. So if you have no spots, you can just set with powder, and you are good to go. But I always go one step further, and apply a liquid foundation (you can probably use a powder foundation if you wish).

Next is applying liquid foundation -- just a thin layer to further smooth out the skin. I just find this combination extends the longevity of most foundations I am wearing. And most products I am using are rather light-weight ones... so there is no icky thick feeling of wearing a mask.

I have not applied any undereye concealer, and I did some spot concealing only on my forehead, but this is what I get after the two layers of base. Meanwhile, I usually go on to do my eyemakeup (usually a quick slap of color on my lids and fill in my brows),... I usually set with loose powder at the end, before my cheek products. This gives the layers time to settle in my skin, and look even more natural.

If you watch Wayne Goss' latest videos, he once again emphasised the importance of press and roll the powder puff on your skin -- this minimize the look of pores and also help makeup to last longer. I have come to accept that it is normal for people to have pores, and as long as they are not gaping obvious, I can live with blurred out looking pores. If I find that it's a little too powdery, I just spritzed my face with the Avene facial mist.

Close up look of everything.

Personally, I don't think this is very thick at all, and because it is a perfect match to my skintone, it is not as though you can see any difference between my face and neck (I usually blend foundation to my jawline only and never down my neck). And I can even skip undereye concealer because there isn't much left to cover. You can still see the natural rosiness of my cheeks showing through the foundation, and it's not a flat matte lifeless look too.

I hope this has been helpful to anyone who is seeking a flawless finish to their foundation and also clear some questions regarding when to use which products etc etc.... . For more indepth steps and routine, click on this full foundation routine ENTRY.

If you have any questions, leave them in the comments below!

Thanks for looking.

Posted on October 15, 2011 at 10:39PM | Permalink | 20 Comments

Filed in: NARS, laura mercier, Clarins, maquillage, Ettusais, makeup and beauty, foundation routine | Tagged with: nars, laura mercier, clarins, Maquillage, Ettusais, Makeup and Beauty, foundation routine, Makeup Basics

April 18, 2011

Overview: Liquid Foundations, Loose Powders & Fave Combinations

Hi hi!

This entry will feature, as the title states, my overall thoughts on liquid foundations, loose powders and my favourite combinations. This might turn out to be a massively messy and disorganised entry, but I want to include everything I can think of in one entry, and always be able to link back here whenever I want to mention or refer to any foundation.

It is no secret that I am a foundation junkie, and foundation/ base products are the first I check out when venturing to a new makeup brand/ counter. If anything is touted to be refining, flawless, long wearing, pore refining, then I will be hopelessly sucked in! I am also very lucky to be able to try out many great foundations because of my blog, and I can make lots more recommendations based on my experience.

** none of these foundations have known to break me out, PHEW! And note, I don't use any MAC foundations except for the Face & Body. [I have tried Studio Sculpt and Studio Fix Fluid in the past - but I have found their shade range is a little off for my tone - I think I hover between NC 15-20].

I seldom use a brush to apply loose powder, unless I want a light sweep to clean away eyeshadow fallouts, so I mainly use the powder puffs that come along, and gently press and roll the puff over my face. And I usually SET my face with powder AFTER the whole makeup routine is done.

A few things I just want to point out though:

1. it is impossible to expect any foundation to last 15 - 16 hours no matter what they claim, due to our horrid humid weather, and especially if you are exposed to the insane weather here. The humidity and heat will definitely wear off your makeup products, in which case, you want to keep your face fresh, dry and shine-free --- and not still look like you have a thick layer of foundation that wouldn't budge under the hot sun.

2. it is also impossible to expect a foundation that will make you OIL FREE and SHINE FREE for the whole day -- maybe 4 - 5 hours ok, and then you prolly need to blot your T-zone. Which is very normal and human. Any foundation that can keep you absolutely shine-free for the whole day, or claims to be, you got to be careful of how it does that! I would make sure I remove every single bit of that foundation off my face, otherwise it will clog up your face! So, it is OK to be shiny after a few hours, it is OK to blot/ powder your face time to time.

3. we don't want a thick layer of foundation. [remember Lisa Eldridge's acne covering tutorial?] Foundation is meant to even out your skin tone. Use concealers sparingly only where you need to. so I tend to like medium buildable coverage foundations instead of a thick layer of full coverage foundation. This also depends on my skin condition, right now, with the exception of spots, I am quite happy, and most foundations I use are able to give me a smooth even coverage without major concealing.

4. I believe in spending the most on foundation. Hence, most of the foundations in my stash are in the mid to high (but not super high end either) range. Foundation is something you put all over your face, and you want to make sure the ingredients are the best, the formulation doesn't cake up your skin, and also give you some skincare properties at the same time, such as sun protection.

5. I have oily-combination skin, and usually I am in the second palest skintone of most foundation brands - neither too pink nor yellow. So it is relatively easy for me to eyeball, and pick a foundation that matches my skintone. This is also bad, cos then I end up with this scary arsenal of foundations.

In this entry, I would not be showing any product swatches, or how I apply them... because I have already many related entries on these. I will just try to describe as succintly as I can, and hopefully it will be hopeful to some of you.

If there is any foundations pictured here which I missed out, it is most likely that I haven't gotten to using them enough to talk about them... and do leave a comment, if you want me to do any specific follow up entry, I will be most glad to do so!

Some foundations may over-lap some categories

BEST EVERYDAY FOUNDATIONS

Clarins Extra Firming Foundation, Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum, Chanel Mat Lumiere, Cover Girl Clean Oil Control

Lasts relatively well throughout the day (8 hours), with a fresh and clean appearance
Goes best with a colored loose powder if you want more coverage
Mat Lumiere and Cover Girl are great at keeping shine at bay
Easy to blend, and all the colors suit me (esp Mat Lumiere 20, which was a tad dark on me, is now OK cos maybe I am burnt ard my neck and so I can go with a slightly beigier shade)

** Try setting with DermaBlend, Laura Mercier Translucent, Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder

BEST PERFECT FINISH FOUNDATIONS

Lancome Teint Miracle (both the LIQUID AND CREAM versions), Guerlain Lingerie De Peau, Armani Lasting UV, NARS Sheer Glow

All are relatively light in texture.
All give flawless, slightly glowy but not oily finish
Teint Miracle foundations last the longest
The Armani Lasting UV did not last as long in our humid weather, but it was beautiful while I was in HK where the weather was cooling and not as humid.
NARS Sheer Glow needs to be matched with NARS Loose Powder for maximum impact in terms of finish and lasting power
I use these when I want my skin to be extra extra flawless, and I usually top up with Chanel Ultra Fine loose powder (it's like MUFE HD POWDER)

** Try setting with Chanel Ultra Fine Loose Powder, NARS Loose Powder, La Mer Powder

BEST TO SMOOTH OUT COMPLEXION [gives illusion of poreless smooth skin]

Maquillage Cream Stick Foundation

One of my all time faves - this is a repurchase which I never got to open, because of the many others I am currently using.

** Try setting with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder, MUFE Super Matte

LONG LASTING FOUNDATIONS

Estee Lauder Double Wear, Chanel Mat Lumiere, Chanel Pro Lumiere, Max Factor Lasting Performance

Chanel Mat Lumiere has the coverage and lasting power of Double Wear without the 'thickness', which I now like. Double Wear is my top recommendation for long lasting hard core foundation.

** Try setting with DermaBlend, or Laura Mericer Translucent

If you want a luxe foundation, try the Dior Totale Capture and Cosme Decorte cream foundation. The Dior Total Capture foundation feels creamy and slightly heavy to some people, but it blends it and is not cakey. I find it to be an average performer, perhaps not really worth the over $90 price tag. The Cosme Decorte cream foundation smells amazing, and the texture is ultra smooth and whipped. But it is not very long lasting, however, though, as compared to the Shu Uemura face architect, the Cosme Decorte one has a much better consistency and finish.

I use the two MAX FACTOR foundations mainly to lighten any foundations if necessary. But I hardly need to do that right now, because everything fits. The same goes for the Chanel Pro Lumiere, because it is in the shade 030, and used to darken any foundations which are too stark on me.

BEST FOUNDATIONS IF YOU ARE HAVING A GOOD SKIN DAY AND DON'T NEED MUCH COVERAGE

MAC FACE & BODY FOUNDATION, NARS SHEER GLOW

I really like MAC Face and Body for the real skin texture/ finish it gives, but my insecurity about my spots showing through means I hardly reach for it. I only use it on days when I know I won't be out the whole day or meeting a whole bunch of people. I also find that the MAC Face & Body works a lot better, more coverage if you pour it into the palm of your hand, and warm it up before applying directly to your face. Both foundations also photograpgh very well.

BEST FOUNDATIONS FOR PHOTO TAKING

MAC Face & Body, Armani Lasting UV, Lancome Teint Miracle, Chanel Mat Lumiere

[I think this is self-explanatory? Your face will look even more smooth and flawless with these foundations on]

BEST OVERALL LOOSE POWDER

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

It's not that expensive, it is translucent, so suitable for all skintones. Finely milled, and gives lasting smooth finish to any foundation. Only downside, it is quite hard to find in SG, except at True Colors and we all know the products there all smell FUNKY. Ewwww.

MY PERSONAL FAVOURITES

La Mer Powder, Chanel Natural Finish, MUFE Super Matte

These give some extra SLIGHT coverage, and smooth flawless finish. I love my La Mer powder the best, the texture is somehow so creamy, and so fine, and it evens out your skintone even if you just have sunscreen on. (but it's still translucent, doesn't add color)

The Everyday Minerals powder, and I have several of their samples, while they are smooth and finely milled, I find they don't sit too well on my skin? It's like the powder just sits on my skin, and not 'fused' with my foundation. Maybe because of the mineral formula, and/or I am not applying them right.

FAVOURITE FOUNDATION+POWDER COMBINATIONS

Teint Miracle foundations + La Mer Powder

Chanel Mat Lumiere + Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder

Clarins Extra Firming + Laura Mercier

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum + Laura Mercier / La Mer

NARS Sheer Glow + NARS Loose Powder

I have not mentioned any PRIMERS, POWDER FOUNDATIONS and BB CREAMS in this entry. Do let me know if you want me to do a similar overview for FACE PRIMERS - cos that's another area where I can ramble on and give you a basic low down.

I hope this has been helpful, and if you have any specific questions, please leave them in the comments below - I hope the 'format' isn't too messy, and somehow it makes sense?

My Foundation Wishlist:

1. Burberry Liquid foundation

2. Laura Mercier Silk Creme (hope I got the name right)

3. Estee Lauder Double Wear Light

4. Chanel Le Blanc Liquid foundation

5. Dior Nude

6. La Mer Creme Foundation

Thanks for reading! And kudos to you, if you made it this far! :)

Posted on April 18, 2011 at 6:10AM | Permalink | 15 Comments

Filed in: Review, foundations, Overview, Loose Powder, liquid foundations | Tagged with: chanel, Anna Sui, Lancome, Mac, review, Shu Uemura, laura mercier, Guerlain, Shiseido, La Mer, Loose Powder, Foundations, overview, liquid foundations

December 25, 2010

My Top Products of 2010

Hi everyone!

I did mention a few entries ago I would do an entry for my most favourite products this year. Let's get on with the list!

Best Perfume: Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey

Best Foundations: Lancome's Teint Miracle, Maquillage Long Lasting Stick Foundation

Best Face Primer: RMK Creamy Base

Best Eyeshadow Primer: NARS Pro-Primer

Best Setting Powders: La Mer The Powder, Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder

Best Concealer: Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer

Best Eyeshadow for Highlight: NARS Abyssinia

Best Blushes: NARS Madly, Illamasqua Tremble

Best Lipsticks: Maquillage Gloss Rouge, Chanel Rouge Allure, YSL Rouge Volupte

Best for your Skin: Clarisonic Plus Sonic Cleansing System

Best Skincare Discovery: Clarins

Best Pimple Buster: Vichy NormaDerm Active Anti-Imperfection Concentrate

Best New Brand to hit our shores: Soap & Glory

Best Nail Polish: Rescue Beauty Lounge

p/s I have reviewed/ raved and mentioned these products numerous times in my blog, so, do search around, you will be sure to find the corresponding entries!

If you roll your pointer over most of the products mentioned above, you will be led to the rave/ haul/ swatch entries.

I have many many products which I love, but I just want to mention those that are really outstanding to me! It's terribly hard to come up with fave eyeshadows, because I must say every eyeshadow I use is very good, and with a good primer, any eyeshadow would be decent too! The same goes for blushes, there are just too many colors which I wear, and I can only narrow down to the couple above which I repeatedly feature in LOTDs.

If you read my monthly faves entries throughout the year, that should also give you pretty good idea of the products which I am loving at that point in time.

A few products gave me some kind of anti-climatic feeling after all that hype --- I don't HATE them --- but I wasn't super WOW by them:

1. NARS Sheer Glow - it's nice...but I don't get the hype.

2. Illamasqua Lipsticks - why so dry? I find them a little hard to work with, though the colors are beautiful.

3. Shu Uemura foundations in general - I find them average only, and I think I have higher expectations from one of my fave makeup brands.

All in all, I am very happy blog-wise! Lotsa opportunities to review great products, lotsa hauling opportunities and I can say I have kept this little space the way I want it to be -- it is still all about ramblings of my own experiences!

What are your most favourite products of this year?

Posted on December 25, 2010 at 7:06AM | Permalink | 6 Comments

Filed in: chanel, NARS, laura mercier, La Mer, Clarisonic, illamasqua, rmk, makeup and beauty, favourite products 2010 | Tagged with: chanel, nars, laura mercier, La Mer, Clarisonic, illamasqua, RMK, Makeup and Beauty, favourite products 2010

November 06, 2010

Basic Makeup Part One: Anybody can Fake Flawless Skin (Primer, Foundation & Concealer)

See this before and after foundation?

This will be a mini-series on how to achieve a very basic yet groomed makeup look. Part One is mainly about applying foundation, concealer and setting foundation.

I believe a large part of looking groomed and made up is due to a very flawless base. If you have very nice skin, you won't and shouldn't need to pile on more products on your face. Of course, we aren't always blessed with perfect skin. Some of us have dark circles, some of us have spots to conceal and so on... but with some little tricks here and there, anyone can achieve this overall natural look. It takes some practice, and some trial and error, but it can be done!

I ain't a professional, and I am not endorsing any products mentioned here. Also, I can't really tell you what shades suit your needs, because I only know what works for my specific skin tone (all my matching foundation shades are listed in the side column). For that kind of advice, you really do need to go to a makeup counter, and ask the BAs and swatch products in person.

The point is to really just show you what can be done, what products you might want to look into, what sort of tools would be useful to help you re-create your perfect nude/natural makeup look. When I say nude makeup look, it actually means using whatever it takes to make you look like you are not wearing any makeup, BUT you still look made up. Does that sound crazy?? I hope you know what I mean!

Let's get started!

Step ONE: Apply Primer. The benefits of using a foundation primer is to keep your makeup looking fresh for long hours, and also to even out your skin surface. Whether you wish to use a tinted one, or a clear one, it's really up to you. For me, a primer must be able to even out my skin surface. I am using Lancome's pro base primer. Click HERE for the detailed review.

You might want to give the primer a few minutes to settle before applying foundation.

Step TWO: Apply foundation. I have been a long time user of liquid foundations. Here, I am using the Guerlain Lingerie De Peau -- my latest addition. I really like the finish of this foundation. It is very natural, and gives a subtle glow. Over time, I am used to applying foundation with my fingers. The warmth from your hands will 'heat up' the foundation, and makes for easier blending. Of course, you can use a brush, if you prefer.

Here you can see the results after primer and foundation:

Step THREE: Concealer!! Now there are many types of concealer. And depending on what you want to concealer, the shade you want to use will be different. As a guide, if you are concealing dark circles you want something peachy/ orangey to neutralise the dark undertones. If you are concealing red spots, or blemishes, you want something more yellowy (and in extreme cases, you might want to use a green corrector first).

I don't have very serious dark circles, but I show you how you can brighten up that dull area with a concealer pen. I am using Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector in the shade 01. It is pinkish, and perfect for me to brighten up my under eyes. Makes me look awake.

Concealing tips and tricks:

And if you are concealing blemishes and spots, use a concealer that is very very close to your skintone. You want the spot to be invisible, so you cannot, and I stress, CANNOT use a concealer that is lighter than your skintone, despite what everyone else, even the BA can tell you. If you use a too light concealer, you end up with an ashy patch, or brighten up/ highlighting that spot, making it more obvious! Horrors! So, for this reason, you probably need to have several shades of concealer in your stash for all sorts of different purposes.

In the pics below, I am showing you how you can even out certain darker corners and crevices of your face, for example, around the nose, around the mouth, etc. I use Clarins Instant Light Brush-On Perfector in the shade 00.

And also how to 'erase' the spots on your face. I use MAC Studio Sculpt concealer. I sometimes do the 'erasing' as a final step to my whole makeup routine. I stand a distance away from the mirror, and use a brush to lightly tap on the concealer on those spots. Because I am standing farther away, I am kind of like imagining how others would see my face. If my spots aren't obvious like 2 metres away, then I don't even bother concealing them. This way, you make sure you just hide the more prominent spots.. and not end up looking overly made up.

And after concealing....you can see the differences:

Step FOUR: Setting the foundation. Don't make the mistake of using too much powder to set. You just need a little wherever you need. Whether you use a 'colored' one, or a translucent one, a pressed powder, it doesn't really matter. What is important is your METHOD of applying the powder. You want to lightly dust the powder on, especially in places where you tend to get oily/ shiny. And you don't want to 'rub' away all that concealer which you have applied earlier. If you use a powder puff, the press and roll method is ideal. In my pictures, I show both ways.

And that's how you fake flawless skin. I know it sounds like many steps... and maybe many products, but hey, you do whatever you think you need! And that's what I think I need to fake it. LOL.

Next part (which might be up later) will be about how I apply cheek color, some basic contouring to make your face look *ahem* slimmer!

Here are other foundation routines I have done in the past -- yes, the list is long, and I am a foundation junkie!

Recent updated face routine feat lancome pro base

Clarins Hydra Luminous Flawless Powder Foundation routine

Lancome Teint Miracle Foundation application and review

Foundation Routine with Shu Uemura Nobura foundation

Maquillage Cream Stick foundation review and routine

Nude look featuring MAC Face & Body foundation

MUFE Mat Velvet+ routine

That's all, I hope this has been helpful, and thanks for reading!

Posted on November 06, 2010 at 7:36AM | Permalink | 17 Comments

Filed in: NARS, laura mercier, Clarins, makeup and beauty, foundation routine, guerlain lingerie de peau, makeup basics | Tagged with: nars, laura mercier, clarins, Makeup and Beauty, foundation routine, Makeup Basics, guerlain lingerie de peau, mac studio sculpt concealer

October 05, 2010

Goodies In The Mail Make Me Happy!

Today, I received two packages in the mail, and I am super excited and happy to see everything inside.

The first one is a couple of items which I bought at pearlicious' blogsale over the weekend. I just woke up in the morning, and saw the email notification, and immediately hopped over, as I have seen her using lotsa of yummy goodies in her haul entries and LOTDs. And indeed, I bought two items at super great prices.

Benefit Coralista blush - this needs no introduction, as many of you have heard or seen this pretty peachy pink blush. It is practically brand new, and for $25, I had to grab it!

MUFE HD Primer - I have never tried MUFE primers before, and this is a good way to try, it is a mini tube (15ml) for $8, and smells so nice, I usually don't associate scents with MUFE products (they are usually fragrance free). In the swatch below, you can see the liquidy texture of the primer (phew, it is not the silicone type), and blends out nicely and even out the surface of my skin.

And she is also super generous, and included a SK-II eye mask for me. So, major thanks to you, Hafiza! :)

Next, I received a package from Joey today, she asked to send over something to me, and everything inside is sooooo nice, and super thoughtful of her!!

I quickly swatched the items, and oh man, this is bad, cos I think I wanna buy more of the goodies! You will know what I mean in the pictures below.

An Estee Lauder lipstick which is totally my type of color! She knows me well! :)

A Laura Mercier star-shaped badge, and a mini eyeshadow, omg, the texture of this eyeshadow is buttery soft with superb color payoff. This is a pretty all over the lids color. Loves! And it is so cute!

Next, are two pigment samples. One is an Inglot pigment in #35, it had a lilac taupe base (I think) with a golden sheen... super pretty!! And the next one is Illamasqua's Alluvium which is from their latest Art of Darkness collection... this color is zomg. On the website it is described as a irisdescent midnight blue. The multicolor shimmers is super eye catching.

Some swatches:

She also included two Bliss towel face wipes, and a sample of Shu Uemura's cleansing oil which I used years before to remove my makeup (before I discovered and fell in love with the Fancl one instead). These are great for travel!

So I want to say a big thanks to both ladies for these packages of happiness today!

Posted on October 05, 2010 at 5:29AM | Permalink | 24 Comments

Filed in: haul, laura mercier, MUFE, illamasqua, makeup and beauty, benefit coralista, inglot | Tagged with: haul, laura mercier, MUFE, illamasqua, Makeup and Beauty, Inglot, benefit coralista

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Laura Mercier Lavender Cloud Nail Lacquer

Haul: Laura Mercier Base Products [Photos, Swatches & Quick Review]

LOTD: Summer Trend with DIOR Swimming Pool & Tangerine

Haul: Laura Mercier Launches at Sephora

Haul: Three Color Pencils from NARS & Laura Mercier [Photos & Swatches]

Faking Flawless Skin: How I Layer My Base Products

Overview: Liquid Foundations, Loose Powders & Fave Combinations

My Top Products of 2010

Basic Makeup Part One: Anybody can Fake Flawless Skin (Primer, Foundation & Concealer)

Goodies In The Mail Make Me Happy!

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