NEW IN: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick (La Fascinante)

Back to back posts to make up for the lack of activity in this blog! ;A;

This isn't as 'new' as you think, since I got it around 2-3 months ago. Yes, this is some serious backlog, but I did want to form a bit of an opinion on it in case you guys are interested in the Rouge Allure Velvet line. After all, Chanel lipsticks are expensive. (_ _)

I got this from one of my great aunts when she visited a few months ago. She literally pulled it out from her bag and handed it to my mother, saying she could keep it. My mom isn't a fan of red lips (much less matte lipstick) which meant that it was mine for the taking!

The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet line is, from what I understand, their matte lipstick range. It's definitely not the overly drying kind of matte akin to MAC's Ruby Woo. Instead, it drags less and feels a bit less moisture-draining, which I am a fan of! I can't stand getting dry, chapped lips because of lipstick formulations, so this lipstick is more than welcome.

I will say though, it is not a powder matte in terms of finish. There is a hint of shine visible, which makes you question if this is a matte at all. It's closer to a satin finish, which would be further amplified if you wore lip balm underneath the lipstick. I just wanted to give this disclaimer in case you were looking for a true matte lipstick in terms of finish.

The colour itself, La Fascinante, is a red with pinkish undertones, though this undertone would only be seen if the lipstick is applied sheerly or swatched beside other lipsticks. Its very, very pretty and I'm happy to own a red like this, as I've wanted a vintage red for a while!

Swatched with other reds for comparison
L-R: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet (La Fascinante), Etude House Minnie Kissing Lips (1 Minnie Red) (LE), NARS Audacious Lipstick (Audrey), NARS Satin Lip Pencil (Mandore), Etude House Play 101 Pencil (21)

As for lasting power, I will say that this is one of the weaknesses of this particular lipstick formulation. If applied without blotting or powdering it down to make it last, it will easily adhere to cups or mugs when drinking, and will fade when eating. It is kind of disappointing considering that this lipstick is quite expensive. I wonder if Chanel will be reformulating this line soon like they did with the Rouge Coco's.

In the end, I would say that there are better vintage reds in better formulations out there! If I was not given this, I probably wouldn't have purchased it for myself, mainly because of the mediocre staying power. If you are a fan of Chanel lipsticks though and not fussy about lasting power, this would still be worth a swatch because of the pretty colour!

What about you guys - have you tried Chanel lipsticks before? Which ones are your favourites? Feel free to let me know below!

Friday, November 13, 2015

NEW IN: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick (La Fascinante)

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: MAC Plumful

Life update: my laptop has returned! We are back to regular programming!

Yes, another MAC lipstick. I did say that I'd get this lipstick anyway, but I didn't think I'd get it so impulsively. I literally just walked into MAC, swatched it, and before I knew it, I was at the counter. (_ _) I guess I figured that if I kept swatching it every time I went to MAC, I might as well get it.

MAC Plumful (Lustre) shouldn't be too unfamiliar if you watch beauty bloggers on YouTube. Its a shade that always made me curious as it looked so different on every skin tone, but still looked so unique. MAC describes it as a 'blossoming rose plum' and I can definitely see those tones in the lipstick. 

It swatches lighter than it appears on my lips, at least in my case. Several people have commented on how dark this lipstick looks on me, though I don't find it to be so. It does look quite dark and scary in the tube, but it applies as a very wearable, inoffensive plum with hints of pink.

It is a lustre formula, so it isn't terribly pigmented or long-wearing. It is, however, one of those lip colours that can be applied without a mirror or used on lazy days. It'll last for 3 hours, or up until you start eating or drinking. This is something I don't mind, as I find that it fades evenly and doesn't leave that dreaded lipstick halo. It is also quite moisturising because of the lustre formula, but doesn't slip and slide too much like a lot of creamy lipsticks.

As the formula for this lipstick is more sheer and lightweight, I would say it lasts about 3 to 4 hours without eating or drinking. You will have to reapply as soon as you do, but I don't find this to be an issue as I like reapplying anyway. It doesn't fade awkwardly especially when you blot in between layers, as it leaves a tiny stain behind.

I haven't had a chance to use this as much as I did See Sheer, but it's still to early to say considering I've only had it for about a month or so. I will say that I am very happy to finally own it because its so unique and pretty! I'm definitely making it a point to try it out more until I get to use it regularly. It seems like the best lipstick colour for rainy days.

That's it for now! If you guys have any suggestions, especially for similar shades (lighter or darker), feel free to leave them down below!

Friday, September 25, 2015

NEW IN: MAC Plumful

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick (05)

Who hasn't heard of Kate Moss' collaboration with Rimmel, right? I wasn't around during the time she first released the Lasting Finish by Kate line, but I remember reading and watching all the blogs and YouTube videos on the lipstick in 107 (which was really big in the beauty blogger world around late 2012). Since updating myself on make-up a year later, I knew I had to try at least one of the lipsticks for myself. I did...almost two years later. Hah.

This updated Lasting Finish range by Kate claims to contain black diamonds that helps reflect light while on the lips, and is said to last for 8 hours. I don't know about diamond powder, but a lipstick claiming to last for 8 hours makes me very skeptical because it can mean that it would be very drying on the lips. Thankfully, this wasn't the case with this lipstick at all.

I got the shade 05 which is a slightly dark pink with a hint of red. Not the best colour description, I know. Alex from The Red Eyeliner (just the usual mention) describes it as a cerise pink in her review, which is much more pleasant to hear, so we'll use that for now. For me, the colour is both unique and nostalgic, because I rarely see drugstore brands come up with colours like this, and because this is a colour my mom used to wear a lot when I was first getting into make-up in high school.

On my lips, the colour comes out a little more red, especially when I build it up. This is probably due to the fact that I have pigmented lips, but otherwise it will apply true to the colour in the tube. I love this on me because it adds a bit of brightness to my face without being too bold of a colour. Also, because of the red undertones, I think it would be a very versatile colour for a range of skin tones. I say this because a lot of pinks have blue undertones, which seems to only suit those on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to complexion. 

Its neither moisturizing nor drying, but it doesn't leave my lips shrivelled after a few hours, which is always a good sign. I prefer this kind of feeling because a creamy lipstick would transfer easily, and a long lasting lipstick would be murder on my dry lips. It dries down to a satin finish, and has pretty good staying power. I added two layers and blotted in between, which is why it managed to survive with a stain after a drink and a meal without leaving that horrid lipstick halo. I'm not sure about 8 hours, but it will definitely last you 4-6, give or take. 

I really love this lipstick and I'm so happy to have purchased it. I think I'll be getting one for my mom because she likes this colour. I'll also be checking more from this range if they have any more interesting colours that I could add to my collection! I hope you guys found this interesting if you're in the market for a red-toned pink lipstick.

Have you guys tried the Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate lipsticks? What's your favourite colour? Feel free to leave me a comment down below! :)

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Friday, April 24, 2015

NEW IN: Rimmel Lasting Finish by Kate Lipstick (05)

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: First MAC Lipstick (See Sheer)

Sorry for the late post! I do promise more than one post this week to make up for it. :) It's hugely because I realized the need to take self-portraits for a lot of my succeeding posts, and I'm never alone at home to be able to take these pictures. So yes, this post is also my face debut on this blog! Hope I don't scare you away with it haha!

It's interesting to me how MAC seems to be such an essential brand for most beauty bloggers. Somehow, everyone needs to have something MAC in their make-up collection. It's probably because of their very wide selection, which has always overwhelmed me whenever I visited their counter. I thought I'd share with you today my second MAC product and very first MAC lipstick - See Sheer!

I never wanted a MAC lipstick as badly as I did this year. I clearly lacked S/S lip colours (and lip products in general), and felt like this brand would have at least one lipstick that would be close to what I wanted. I don't know if I ever mentioned, but I'm very picky with my coral lipsticks since I'm not a fan of orange. I discovered this colour in Essie Button's Top 5 MAC Lipsticks video and since then I've always been interested in it.

See Sheer is described by MAC as a 'grapefruit pink'. Its quite muted so it makes it much more wearable for me than a bright coral, which I don't think suits me that well. It's a lustre finish, so the pigmentation isn't as strong as their other formulas (say Amplified or Cremesheen) which is just fine by me since the Lustres are apparently more moisturizing. As a person with dry lips, I don't mind sacrificing staying power for more moisturizing formulas.

I honestly didn't know if this lipstick would work or not, but I'm so glad it did. It doesn't have a white base to it, which can make the colour look stark and just very wrong on anyone who isn't pale. It just adds some warmth to the face without being too bold. As someone who has only worn sheer pinks and reds, See Sheer is a great change and has reopened me to the idea of trying coral lipsticks again.

Note: I do have a resting b*tch face, so please don't think I'm angry! And I realized that the right side of my lip is bigger than the left, which I find strange.

I still apply a lip balm prior to applying this for a smoother application, and out of habit. I apply about two to three layers but I think on lazy days, one layer will do me just fine. It does have that signature vanilla scent that MAC has so it might bother some people who are sensitive to scents. I will admit it is stronger than my other lip products but so far it hasn't irritated me that much.

One thing that bugs me though is that the lipstick started to sweat (droplets forming on it) which has never happened to any of the lipsticks that I own. I guess I'll be placing it in the refrigerator a few minutes before I use it, but if ever you do live in a hot, humid climate like I do, you might want to store your MAC lipsticks in a cool, dry place.

All in all, I'm pretty happy with this lipstick and I'm glad I added it to my collection. I also feel like I opened a gateway to getting more MAC lipsticks (currently eyeing Plumful, Lustering, Hug Me, and Ladybug) which may or may not be a good thing. Hoping I can get Plumful or Hug Me for my birthday or for Christmas!

What about you guys? What was your first MAC lipstick? Have you tried See Sheer before? Leave me a comment below!

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Tuesday, April 07, 2015

NEW IN: First MAC Lipstick (See Sheer)

By Pauline Read More

NEW IN: Skin Care

Hey everyone!

This new series called 'New In' is going to replace my old 'First Impressions' posts. It's still the same thing, but I figured a shorter name would make it easier to tag and to remember as well. For my first post, I'm going to talk about the new skin care products I've been using!

Prior to a change in my routine, my skin was oily and dehydrated. It was rough even after exfoliating, and felt tight even with moisturizer. I also had redness everywhere which bothered me a lot. I used to use the Etude House Wonder Pore Freshener because it worked fine the first time I used it, but when I bought the bigger bottle in my Seoul 2014 Haul, I realized that it was far too harsh on my skin. I also realized my moisturizers weren't as great for my skin as they were initially, and that I needed an eye cream with anti-aging benefits.

Since switching up to the products I'm about to talk about, my skin has not felt tight at all, and is as smooth as ever. I only ever need to exfoliate once a week, which is amazing in my opinion! I also get less breakouts and have less to no redness, which are the biggest changes of all. I won't go too much into detail as I do want to do full reviews soon, but I'll just go through these quickly!

I also couldn't help but notice that these are all Asian products. Yay #asianpride!

Muji Light Toning Water for Sensitive Skin (High Moisture)

Alex from The Red Eyeliner and I were interested in trying toners from Muji mainly because of the ingredients and price. It claims to have no harsh chemicals and unnecessary fragrances, contains hyaluronic acid, and is alcohol-free. It comes in a minimalist bottle with measurements at the sides so you can see how much you have left in the bottle. It's the first toner I've ever used that doesn't leave my skin feeling tight, gives me redness, or stings my skin! I think this and the next product I'm about to mention has made the biggest difference to my skin.

Laneige Water Bank Essence EX

I've been wanting this for years but never got it in favour of cheaper moisturizing essences. I finally gave in after trying a tiny sample and I'm kicking myself for not trying this sooner. This claims to hydrate and smooth the skin, and it does exactly that! This has done wonders for my dehydrated skin. I'm so impressed with this product so far and I hope it keeps giving this result.

Laneige Pore Clear Essence

I got samples of these before and in my recent purchase of the Water Bank Essence, and it was recommended to me to clear my pores as I wear make-up everyday to uni. It claims to clear out dirt and impurities, and I always feel my skin become smoother. Whenever I put this on my pimples, it helps get rid of them faster without leaving as much of a mark as it usually does. I might buy a full sized sample of this soon!

Nature Republic Snail Solution 70 Eye Cream

I talked about this before on my November Favourites, but I've been really liking this eye cream! I've had a few bad nights leaving me with puffy eyes and putting this on helps the puffiness lessen by the morning. I like that the packaging is in a tube instead of a jar so you can easily take it along if you want to. It has also reduced the milia around my eyes which is a very big plus!

There you go! Feel free to leave any comments about the products: if you've tried them before, if they've been on your list, or if you have any products that have made huge differences to your skin.  Until my next post!

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Friday, December 19, 2014

NEW IN: Skin Care

By Pauline Read More