(SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow & Chanel Mat Lumière)
(ample amount for numerous applications)
I happened to get some generous trial samples of two of the foundations I was looking forward to trying out: Chanel Mat Lumière and SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow. The samples allow many applications so I was able to really compare them.
Finish:
Both have a pleasingly matte finish. Chanel’s finish lives up to its name, as it is predominantly matte but with a natural and subtle luminosity. SUQQU creates more of a velvety matte finish, which looks very polished. I am happy with both.
Coverage:
As I usually go for a medium or medium-to-full coverage, SUQQU wins it here for me. It has an effortless medium-to-full coverage without looking chalky or cakey at all. The ultra-smooth powder almost has a moist feel, which is a joy to use. On the other hand, Chanel gives a natural and sheer-to-medium coverage. Personally, I would like a bit more coverage than this.
Pore Concealing:
Again, SUQQU wins it hands down in this category. Powder foundations from Japanese brands often do exceptionally well in smoothing out pores. Chanel falls short in covering pores effectively.
Shine Control:
This is where Chanel performs better than SUQQU. Sometimes, the trade-off for a velvety and almost moist powder foundation is that the powder doesn’t absorb sebum very effectively. In this case, Chanel’s slightly dryer powder tackles this area more successfully.
Overall, I still prefer SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Glow. It creates a great coverage and finish, and it conceals pores very well and gives a smooth and polished look. (I just need to remember to blot out the shine a bit more often.) But Chanel’s Mat Lumière is not bad at all, and it will suit someone that wants a sheer and natural look. Both are a worth a good look.
Notes on the basics: Chanel Mat Lumière: 6 shades, SPF 10 PA + SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow: 5 shdes, SPF16 PA ++ (PA indicates the strength of UVA protection, ranging from PA+ to PA ++++)
(My three Sofina Raycious pressed powder compacts:
Left: Raycious Lucent Powder
Middle: Raycious Ray Blend Powder
Right: Raycious Ray Contrast Powder)
After showing you all my Sofina Raycious powder foundation cases (you can read both Part One and Part Two of the post), I am now bringing you more items from my Raycious collection.
This time it is all about the pressed finishing powder.
Apart from powder foundations, Sofina Raycious also releases pressed finishing powder compacts, which are mainly used with Raycious’ liquid foundations. But I do use them after my powder foundation to create a polished look.
The one on the left (in the photo above) is the first edition (Raycious Lucent Powder), released several years ago. It comes in two finishes. The upper section is sheer and completely matte. It is simply the best finishing powder I have ever used in term of controlling shine and concealing pores. The polished look is also long-lasting. The lower section is a wonderful highlighting powder. It imparts a natural luminous glow without being shimmery or glittery. (I have several refills of Lucent Powder and I put in a new one for the photos.)
The middle one is the second edition (Raycious Ray Blend Powder) and the right one is the third and (the only) currently available edition (Raycious Ray Contrast Powder). (Just like the Raycious powder foundations, when a new edition is released, the previous one is discontinued.) The second edition gives more overall luminosity while the third edition has a section for subtle shading.
All of them have SPF 14 and PA+.
The first edition comes with a square puff, and the other two come with a brush:
As for the packaging (seen below), the first edition is on the left and the third is on the right. (I only bought the refill of the second edition at the time. The second-edition case is in the same shape as the first one. The only difference is that the case is semi-transparent.)
Overall, most Raycious foundations really suit me and the finishing powder is no exception. I will always look forward to any new edition.
I have some more Raycious items to come in the future!
I think most of you might still remember the curvy and quirky original packaging of Nina Ricci‘s makeup and skincare items. It was fairly cute but I wasn’t particularly a fan of that. But, around 2002, the packaging went through an overhaul and personally I think it came out so much better. Using both reflective and frosty finishes, the new look was sleek and modern.
The two items I have from the revamped range were the
Tender Lacquered Lipglaze in #2 Rose Jupon and Extension Lashwear in #01 (black). The Extension Lashwear mascara does a good job in separating and defining the lashes, while the lipglaze is one of the best lip glosses I have ever used thanks to the richness of the color and the syrupy and glassy finish.
(my two Nina Ricci items)
What I also like about the new Nina Ricci makeup line is that each season they released a beautiful seasonal look. Like the packaging, the seasonal looks were modern and with a slight editorial edge which varied from season to season. Each seasonal look was on a leaflet featuring the key items. The styling of the leaflets was consistent, which made it fun to collect and compare them. You can see some of the beautiful seasonal looks above.
Sadly, Nina Ricci left the UK a couple of years ago. (Now only the fragrances are sold here.) The website is functioning but the beauty section has not been updated for a long time. It makes me wonder whether they are still coming up with new items in other countries. I don’t think so, but if you have any information on Nina Ricci where you are, I’d be very interested to know!
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I thought it would be fitting to do another A Splash of Color post on another of my favorite colors, pink.
I’d also like to invite you to have a look at the website of Breast Cancer Care, UK’s leading organization which provides information, practical assistance, and emotional support for anyone affected by breast cancer. You can read more about exactly what Breast Cancer Care does.
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Featured Items:
Makeup
Lavshuca Cheek Color in PK-1 Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PK-1 AYURA Aura Veil α in PK-11 Sweek Pink AYURA lip gloss PK60 Paul and Joe lip gloss 04 Sofina Raycious Glamour Skin Powder (limited-edition pink case) Clinique Glosswear for Lips in Cosmic Pink Dior Diorissime Palette in 002 Seduction Drama Dior Princess Ring in 001 Chanel Irréelle Blush in Tea Rose Fragrance
(Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting… Loving the McQueen logo)
I have bought this on Monday and I have tried it on today. I think I am liking it…
As I said on my last post on this eyeshadow, I spent quite some time deciding whether to get this or not. The main reason is that I have a similar shade, the turquoise shade in Dior’s two-color eyeshadow in DiorLagoon. While in the store, I went over to the Dior counter to put the turquoise shade on the back of my hand and then put Haunting next to it. They looked very similar and I decided at the time not to buy it and left the store.
But, under the natural sunlight, I immediately noticed a difference. Haunting is more blue than DiorLagoon and is a tad lighter. As a lover of turquoise shades, I decided that this particular shade was different enough to justify the purchase, so I went back to get it.
(This is actually my first MAC eyeshadow in several years…)
One of the things I have noticed from comparing the actual item with how it looks on the promotional images is that Haunting is darker when seen in person. I thought it would be a light aqua-ish turquoise but it is basically a proper turquoise with a subtle blue undertone.
I tried it on today and I do like it. I like the very slight blue undertone compared with the usual turquoise shades. I also think MAC’s Satin is a finish I like. It has a smooth and mildly luminous finish, not shimmery or glittery.
So I am glad I got this. Also, I like the Alexander McQueen Fall 07 print on the lid. Very chic!
Update (October 15, 2007)
Beauty Anonymous also picked up Haunting. Do have a look at her review!
Taiwanese pop artist A-Mei (image from Specktra.Net)
Am I gradually becoming a MAC person? First of all, Alexander McQueen for MAC really caught my eye and I have got the eyeshadow in Haunting. Also, some items from the Holiday 2007 Antiquitease collection have already been on my shopping list for a while.
Then, a couple of days ago, I saw the face of A-Mei (pronounced “Ah-May“, a Taiwanese pop star) on Specktra Beauty Blog. (I saw her name as the name of one of MAC’s future releases earlier on the site, and I was wondering back then.)
For people who grew up or have lived in any part of the Chinese-speaking part of the world, A-Mei needs no introduction. I think it is fair to say that she is the queen of pop in the Chinese-speaking world.
Ethnically, A-Mei is Austronesian (not Han Chinese or Sino-Tibetan, in a more general term) as she shares genetic ties with peoples in the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Oceania, which is reflected on her features. Her ancestors have been living in Taiwan for thousands of years before Han Chinese began settlements in Taiwan four centuries ago. In many people’s eyes, she and her heritage say more about the Taiwanese history, even though the Austronesians only account for around 2% of the Taiwanese population.
After winning a major talent contest and releasing her debut album in 1996, she became an instant sensation. (For me, that album is still a sentimental favorite of mine, among all her others.) Her fame grew and grew as she became a household name in many East Asian countries.
As she reached an iconic status in Asia, her achievements unavoidably carry a weight of cultural significance. I will be excited to see A-Mei’s stunning features gracing MAC counters! We still haven’t seen the actual shades of the line-up, but who knows…maybe they will be on my list later on.
According to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, the A-Mei collection will be sold in selected shops in the US and various countries in Asia. I will definitely follow the news of this upcoming collection and keep you posted.
Update on December 7, 2007:
Check out this clip, freshly out today. A-Mei looks great here!
I assume the first part of the clip features the shooting of the promotional images. In the second part of the clip, A-Mei mentions that she is very happy to be collaborating with MAC on the upcoming color collection. She also says that she is not usually used to wearing such a red lip color (she usually wears quite nude shades) but that she is now getting into it more.
Also, she looks forward to all the challenges in 2008, including a production of Turandot in Japan. But at the moment she is gearing up for the three concerts in Taipei later this month.
One thing I have noticed about the MAC A-Mei logo design (00:56 and throughout the clip) is the use of cross-stitching patterns featured in the traditional costumes of her native Puyuma tribe in Taiwan. I think it is a great touch.
(MAC for A-Mei Color Collection) (image from www.urcosme.com)
Again, the packaging features colorful cross-stitching patterns from A-Mei’s native Puyuma tribe. I like the fact that the packaging reflects and celebrates A-Mei’s heritage. I am particularly liking the one on the right (both the packaging and the shades). Perhaps a potential purchase!
Updated on December 11, 2007:
Check out this link to see a striking image of A-Mei wearing the collection, which was released to the Taiwanese press.
Also, she has pointed me to a thread on Specktra.Net Forum, which includes stock images of the collection. Let’s keep track of this thread and hopefully see more and more images of the collection!
Thank you very much, Janice!
I love the stock images. It was fantastic to see the actual items up close. The packaging is as stunning as it appears on previous images, and it almost gives me goosebumps to see the colorful tribal cross-stitching concept being well carried-out with a good sense of authenticity. Marvelous!
(The comment function for this post doesn’t seem to be working at the moment. I do apologize for this. If you would like to leave a comment, please do so under the post where you found this update. Thank you very much!)
Updated on January 11, 2008:
The collection was out earlier this month. Check out this post for photos of the storefront decoration for the launch of the A-Mei collection in a MAC store in Taipei, collection counter display, and color swatches.
safely made it to my shopping list) (image from www.cosme.net)
Three upscale department stores in London, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols, and Harrods, have launched several holiday 2007 makeup collections. It’s getting earlier and earlier each year. I think it is rather ridiculous for shops to display Christmas gift sets in the beginning of October, but at least I have enough time to look through the items without making any impulsive purchase.
As promised, here are my initial thoughts after I saw the actual items. (Please follow the links to see all the photos.)
First I saw the Trotter Romantique palettes in Harvey Nichols. The larger one (with the mascara and the lip gloss) looks decent with wearable colors. It is smaller than the similar ones I saw. (The sales assistant seemed defensive when I compared it with the pink purse palette that I saw in Heathrow Airport, but I did mean it as a compliment. I would love to see more airport-exclusive Dior items sold in department stores.)
The two smaller square palettes are disappointing. There is no problem with the shades. It is the flimsy packaging. Very un-Dior-like. The lids are a bit wobbly and the shiny black PVC edge trimmings look brassy. The quality of the packaging is simply not as good as that of the Detective Chic or the Diorissime palette.
Then I saw the DiorLight pendant in Selfridges. The surprise is that it is bigger than what I imagined. I thought it would be slightly bigger than the size of a cherry, but it is only slightly smaller than a ping-pong ball. Quite a huge pendant. But it also highlights the fact that it is very light…almost too light, even though it sports many Swarovski crystals. (The Holiday 2006 Dior Pretty Charms is pleasantly weighty.) The two shades are the usual warm pink and light beige.
The sales assistant seemed bemused at the fact that I was carefully checking out the details of the “crystal ball”. Well, it costs 54 pounds (108 USD), and obviously it is the packaging that we are paying for, not the gloss.
I do like it and I will consider getting it, but I will think really hard about whether to spend that amount of money on a gloss pendant.
I saw all the holiday 2007 items in Harvey Nichols. The heart-shape pendant, unlike DiorLight, has a good chunky feel. But I still think that, while the design idea is good, the actual finished product is not. I personally think that It needs more fluidity in the whole design.
As for the silver palette, I like the cute color of the blusher. There is actually a heart-shape spongy pad placed on top of the blusher pan. Cute, but not very useful. (But maybe it is precisely for printing a heart-shape blush on your face or body.) The other shades are very nondescript. After seeing in person the first silver holiday palette for YSL in years, I still prefer the gold packaging, like I said before.
The main buzz surrounds the Forever Gold Sublime Radiant Powder, which, along with the rest of the Guerlain Holiday 2007 collection, was launched in Selfridges. I spayed it on the back of my hand and saw a veil of delicate but very sparkly shimmer revealed itself. I was impressed with the gentle and even finish, and it should be great to add a touch of shimmer to the face and the body. The idea of the product works in theory and in reality, and I am sure this unique item will sell very well.
Givenchy: (image from Bjooti.Net, another image here)
The star item is Prisme Solitaire, which I saw in Harrods. Compared with Guerlain’s Forever Gold, this one gives a more intense and concentrated shimmer. (Guerlain’s Forever Gold is soft and airy, but still very sparkly.) It really is like diamond dust. Depending on how you use it, it can be an all-over shimmer or it can inject a dose of beaming sparkles to your eyes. Packaging-wise, I like the case very much, which looks like a real diamond ring case.
I personally don’t like too much shimmer, so Guerlain’s Forever Gold and Givenchy’s Prisme Solitaire will not make any appearance on my shopping list. But, if you like sparkles and shimmer, I highly recommend that you check out these two.
So far, the items on my holiday shopping list are Dior’sDiorLight and palettes from MAC’s Antiquitease. I can’t wait to see Antiquitease in person…
(Alexander McQueen for MAC Eye Shadow in Haunting)
The Alexander McQueen for MAC collection is exclusive to Harrods in the UK and was out on October 3. The eyeshadow in Haunting was the item I looked forward to the most. I stopped by Harrods today and decided to buy it after being so indecisive about whether to get it or not. (I shall explain more later.)
I will post a review of this after I try it on. Do come back!
(See images of the items and the swatches of the collection on Specktra.Net Forum.)
AYURA is one of my all-time favorite brands and it would be the brand of my choice if I could only live on one cosmetics brand. I will certainly bring you more AYURA items one by one later on. (See the Japanese site for all the more current information and images of the products. Both sites, like most other websites for Japanese cosmetics brands, are for information only and don’t offer on-line ordering.)
AYURA Aura Veil α was out in spring 2006 to replace the previous AYURA blushers. It comes in four shades and mine is PK-11 Sweet Pink. It is a gradation blusher with the shade running from a light peach on the right to a soft coral pink on the left.
The blusher is fairly well-pigmented and with minimal shimmer.
I love the very understated and elegantly curvy packaging (which is always the case with AYURA products):
(the tulip-shape packaging)
There is a separate compartment for the brush. It is a good-quality brush and I can sometimes simply use this one to apply the blusher instead of my usual blusher brush. (The case/brush set is sold separately and the quality doesn’t disappoint.)
The blusher goes on the bottom layer:
The colors stay fresh, don’t darken overtime, and last well. They are girlie and playful shades that I enjoy using from time to time to create a warm complexion. Also, in recent issues of some Japanese cosmetics magazines, I have noticed that soft warm blushers like this are often used to accompany minty green eyeshadows to create a very fresh look. Overall, like Anna Sui’s Face Color Accent, it scores good points in many aspects!
(SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow & Chanel Mat Lumière)
(ample amount for numerous applications)
