Haircare Review – Crème of Nature

by PJ on Friday, May 23, 2008

in haircare

(Kiwi & Citrus Moisture-Active Shampoo)

Today I am reviewing three products from Crème of Nature. If your hair tends to be on the dry side and needs more moisturizing haircare products, then these might be worth looking into.

– Kiwi & Citrus Moisture-Active Shampoo

This shampoo foams very well, but it is also very conditioning. It does take more time than usual to rinse and I feel that it is a little bit too emollient for my scalp, but the hair itself is left soft and nourished. While this is a good cleansing product for my slightly dry hair, I think it will suit people with both dry scalp and dry hair better.

(Jojoba & Olive Oil Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Treatment)

– Jojoba & Olive Oil Moisture-Active Deep Conditioning Treatment

This is a hair treatment that is left for 20 minutes after shampooing. I have tried using this after my deep-cleansing shampoo (Pantene Pro-V Clarifying Shampoo, which is basically a shampoo with more detergent than standard shampoos) to remove product build-up and to see how well this treatment works. It does work well in infusing moisture into the hair, which is left conditioned and manageable.

(Most of the time, I shower when a hair treatment is at work. But with this product, which contains many rich emollients like paraffinum liquidum, coconut oil, soybean oil, shea butter, cocoa seed butter, jojoba seed oil, and olive oil, I rinse it off completely before showering. Otherwise there will be some unwanted emolliency particularly around the back of my neck and my back.)

(Lemongrass and Rosemary Leave-in Crème Conditioner)


– Lemongrass and Rosemary Leave-in Crème Conditioner

This is my favorite of the three. A leave-in conditioner or a (silicone-based) hair serum (like John Frieda’s Frizz-Ease) helps me a great deal in keeping my hair manageable, and this item does the job well. It has a light-cream texture and a little goes a long way. It adds moisture and a bit of gloss to the hair, but it does not make the hair look or feel greasy (provided that I don’t over-use it). The moisture is able to last throughout out the day.

If you have normal/oily hair that doesn’t have dryness issues, then these three products might not suit you and you might find them to be too rich. But if you have dry scalp and dry hair and/or if you regularly color-treat or heat-treat your hair, then these products might be worth a try.

(Crème of Nature products are currently available in the US.)

(A note on my hair: I have short-length and wavy hair. I have slightly oily scalp and slightly dry hair. Volume is never something I need to boost up, since I have quite a lot of hair. My hair can be on the puffy and unruly side, so I use haircare and styling products that make it look flatter, sleeker, and more groomed. I don’t color-treat or heat-treat my hair.)

Other Haircare Reviews:

Profound Beauty

James Brown

Dove

Von Natur

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(More from Coffret D’Or fall 2008)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

I have been quite excited about Coffret D’Or’s early fall 2008 collection, and now there is more.

On July 16th, Coffret D’Or will release Part II of its early fall 2008 collection, which includes:

Fluffy Shine Eyes (new, 5 shades, seen above)
Combient Rouge (5 new shades)

The Fuffy Shine Eyes shades look soft and wearable. I am liking the lilac and the pale cool green at the moment. I think the emphasis will be on shimmer rather than pigmentation.

I’d like to see swatches of these to have an idea of the finish, as I much prefer something not too shimmery or glittery. Before that, I will concentrate on saving up for the upcoming Trance Deep Eyes palettes.

Related Posts:

Coffret D’Or 3D Lighting Eyes in Purple and Gold Variations

Coffret D’Or Full Styling Rouge in RS-241 & RS-242

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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(Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation
& SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh)

Today I am bringing you the third foundation face-off, this time between Jill Stuart’s Smooth Silk Powder Foundation and SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Fresh. Both are spring/summer 2008 releases.

(A note on my foundation concerns, preferences, and habits to set the perspective for the review: I have oily skin which is prone to some slight redness. I prefer powder foundations that control shine well, offer at least medium coverage, and have decent pore coverage. I usually don’t wear a primer or a concealer.)

Basics

– Jill Stuart Smooth Silk Powder Foundation: SPF 20/ PA ++, 5 shades
– SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh: SPF 27/ PA ++, 6 shades

Finish

Jill Stuart has a very soft-focus and glowy finish, while SUQQU gives a luminous matte finish. Neither has visible shimmer.

Texture

Jill Stuart’s powder is very smooth and velvety and has an almost-moist feel. SUQQU’s powder is slightly drier but it is still quite silky.

Coverage

Jill Stuart offers a nearly-medium coverage, which I am quite happy with. SUQQU offers a good medium-to-full coverage. I feel that SUQQU covers my mild redness better than Jill Stuart, but I think this might be only because the SUQQU shade I tried, #25, is more yellow-based than Jill Stuart’s #103.

Pore Coverage

Jill Stuart’s pore coverage is satisfactory, while SUQQU’s pore-concealing ability has some room for improvement.

Shine Control

For me, this is usually the deciding factor on a foundation. Here, the luminous and glowy Jill Stuart fails to impress me as it has very little shine-control ability. Even a good matte loose powder can’t keep the shine away (my face becomes shiny within an hour) and constant touch-ups are a must for me.

On the other hand, even though SUQQU’s shine control is not the best that I have experienced, at least it is what I would expect from a spring/summer powder foundation release from a Japanese brand, which is usually more about sebum control than a fall/winter release. (Again, out of all the foundations featured in the face-off posts along with the ZA Two-Way Foundation, Coffret D’Or’s Beauty Lasting Pact UV offers the best shine control.)

Staying Power

Neither of them darkens overtime or loses the coverage too quickly, but, as mentioned above, Jill Stuart’s silky smoothness turns shiny very quickly on me, making it a very high-maintenance foundation for my oily skin.

Between the two, I favor SUQQU Powder Foundation Fresh. It offers good coverage and decent shine-control, and it stays on well throughout the day. A good loose powder can easily enhance the pore coverage. I think this should be a good powder foundation for most skin types. As for Jill Stuart’s Smooth Silk Powder Foundation, I wouldn’t recommend it if any part of your face tends to be on the oily side, as it doesn’t control shine and the glowy finish will make shine appear more obvious.

(I’d like to thank my friend Betsy at Autumn Masquerade for very kindly sending these samples to me. Please head over to read her review on SUQQU’s Powder Foundation Fresh.)

Related Posts:

Foundation Face-Off (1) – Chanel vs. SUQQU

Foundation Face-Off (2) – Lunasol vs. Coffret D’Or

My Latest Foundation Cases
(Anna Sui and Jill Stuart)

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Beauty Duty for May 20, 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, May 20, 2008

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

All About the Pretty is helping everyone get ready for summer travel with destination pretty.

KRiSTOPHER hangs with strippers in Tokyo.

Makeup Moxie reviews Hourglass Superficial Lash mascara.

SugarShock Beauty ponders whether wearing glasses makes you more – or less – attractive.

Lianne at TheMakeupGirl found a flat iron that has made her hair flippy, swingy and shiny!!

WE LOVE BEAUTY.com chatted up celebrity stylemaker and hairstylist Adir Abergel to get the 411 on Christina Ricci’s Met Costume Institute Gala sleek pony!

A Touch of Blusher gets the “false-eyelash treatment” from YSL.

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(part of CHICCA’s fall 2008 collection)
(image and information from www.nikkei.co.jp)

One of Kanebo’s top-end brands, CHICCA, will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on August 6th. The collection includes:

Enthralling Soft Pencil Eyeliner (new, 5 shades)
Enthralling Powder Eye Shadow duo (5 new variations)
Enticing Lip Stain (5 new shades)
Enticing Lip Gloss (5 new shades)

This collection focuses on the eyes, and each of the five shades from the four products will altogether create one of CHICCA’s five looks for fall 2008 (this is similar to how Lunasol’s new items were promoted in 2007):

– Night Glow (blue-based)
– Evening Party (green-based)
– Tête-à-tête (brown-based)
– Love Avenue (purple-based)
– Mysterious Love (lead-based (dark grey))

Since I came across the news of CHICCA’s launch earlier this year, I have been waiting to see a powder blusher and a loose powder (two of the makeup items that I have recently been interested in the most). The powder blusher is not featured in the fall lineup, but perhaps the fall/winter base makeup collection (if CHICCA is releasing one) will include a loose powder….

(The photo above shows the Love Avenue items (not the blue-based Night Glow look). Sometimes, photos on Nikkei Net do not do the products justice and the colors are not accurate. I look forward to seeing the items on the CHICCA website later on.)

Updated on August 26th, 2008:

The CHICCA website has been updated to include information on the fall 2008 collection. Please click on the link above to have a look.

Related Posts:

CHICCA Summer 2008 Collection

Brand Launch: Kanebo CHICCA

Lavshuca Fall 2008 Collection

Kate Fall 2008 Collection

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(YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils in 1 High Density Black)

Two weeks ago, I wrote about Clinique’s Naturally Glossy Mascara, which is one of my favorite mascaras due to its natural subtlety. Today the mascara I am talking about is almost the polar opposite.

YSL‘s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils does add length, but it is mostly about volume. The heavy-duty densely creamy mascara coats lashes effectively, making them look thicker with minimal efforts. Very little layering is required to achieve a good deal of volume.

The shade in 1 High Density Black is a fairly black shade without greyishness. The intense shade adds to the dramatic effect.

(Perhaps one of the most beautifully packaged mascaras…)


What I have found is that I do have to be quite light-handed with the application. Otherwise it will clump a little. I think the best way to apply this mascara is to use soft upward strokes. The zig-zag technique, which is usually useful in building up volume, will create clumps with this mascara. Also, the mascara seems to dry fairly quickly, so a speedy application is more ideal.

Overall, I think this mascara is designed to perform efficiently with very simple, swift and soft strokes. Some initial practice does pay off in the end.

Like Clinique’s Naturally Glossy Mascara, this mascara has also been around for years, and I am not surprised. If you are after (instant) volume for your lashes, then this mascara might be worth considering.

Related Posts:

YSL Golden Gloss
(gold for packaging, gold for lips)

YSL Gold Celebration Palette
(from Holiday 2006)

Keep It Gold – YSL
(my personal take on YSL)

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Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Christine at 15 Minute Beauty Fanatic shares her tip for fast and easy pefect manicures and pedicures!

Beauty Anonymous shares her first impressions of Chanel Summer 2008 Makeup Collection!

Makeup Moxie reviews Hourglass Superficial Lash mascara.

Cybelesays finds their next addition to the Hall of Fame! A straightening iron that gets strands stick straight.

StyleBell reviews one of the best flat irons on the market the GHD. Move over CHI!

Savvy Skin
picks her favorite drugstore sunscreen – Blue Lizard sunscreen.

Beauty and Personal Grooming writes about Aspirin face masks.

Beauty Blogging Junkie scores an exclusive interview with Daisy Fuentes about her new perfume, Dianoche Ocean.

Face Candy dishes on the brand new Vincent Longo Collection- Shimmer, Glimmer & Shine.

The Makeup Divas reviews Sue Devitt’s Eye Intensifier Pencil in Zaire.

The Muse reviews Majorca Majolica’s HOT Summer Collection from Japan and shares a FOTD!

Beauty Banter checks out more Spring Hair Trends… with pics and products!

Hello Dollface features Celebrity fashion and beauty!

Beauty Junkie in SF scopes out hot new makeup from Kat Von D.

Want to achieve cream blush perfection? Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you the only brush you need for a flawless, airbrushed look: Sonia Kashuk’s Flat Top Blusher Brush.

Nars takes Joy from Makeup Junkie to South Beach thanks to The Multiple in South Beach!

This week, Spoiled Pretty is giving you a chance to win SPINLASH – the mascara with a rotating brush that simultaneously separates, curls, coats, lengthens and volumizes eyelashes. Intrigued? Of course you are. Enter right now!

Toya does her Mother’s Day FOTD with products from the Sally Hansen Natural Beauty line (inspired by Carmindy)!

A Touch of Blusher can’t decide which new eye palette to get…

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Fragrance Review – Escada Moon Sparkle

by PJ on Friday, May 16, 2008

in fragrance

(Escada Moon Sparkle)
(image from Escada)

Escada‘s Moon Sparkle (eau de toilette) is a light and fresh scent for the summer. It reminds me of the abundance of colorful and flavorful summer fruit, which spices up a warm and languid evening.


Top notes
: strawberry, blackcurrant, citrus accord, red apple
Middle notes: freesia, jasmine, rose, sweet pea
Base notes: musk, raspberry, sandalwood, amber

The scent opens with a combination of sweetness and a citrusy vibe. The zingy sensation is tamed by the sweetness of strawberry. Initially I found the combination too sweet but it has been growing on me. I think, overall, fruity sweetness does appeal to me a little more than floral sweetness.

The middle notes show up very mildly on me, as the core floral notes seem to blend well with each other and with the top fruity notes.

My favorite part of the fragrance is how it dries down. Musk, sandalwood, and amber are obviously common choices for base notes, but the inclusion of raspberry makes a good deal of difference. The fresh fruity flavor of this fragrance continues to the end, and the air smells as if there were fresh berries in a glass fruit bowl.

Moon Sparkle might not appeal to those who seek depth in a fragrance and who want to travel through the flow of the notes. But I think it is a successful summer fragrance as it is light-hearted and invokes a sense of refreshment. It is a very pleasant and easy-to-wear scent for your beach excursions and for capturing the feel of summer.

More Summer fragrances:

Sheer Stella 2008

Bond No. 9 Coney Island

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(Face savers…)

“Why is PJ showing a photo of paper napkins?” you may ask…

These napkins are a hugely indispensable part of my daily beauty-maintenance routine, because they are the best oil-blotting paper I have ever used and only Starbucks has the kind that I like.

It all happened more than 10 years ago when I forgot to carry oil-blotting paper and I had to make do with one of these napkins to matte out the shine. But, to my surprise, it was so absorbent and worked so efficiently that my remaining stock of blotting paper was then left untouched for years.

Made with 100% recycled paper in a bleach-free process, these napkins work very well as blotting paper and normal tissue paper simply can’t compare. One sheet is more than enough for a whole day running around outdoors during summer.

If you have oily skin and need several sheets of blotting paper at a single “blotting session”, do try one of these next time. But do be gentle, since these napkins are obviously not designed for the face and the texture is coarser than the usual blotting paper. (But, interestingly, I have noticed that the Starbucks napkins are getting thinner and softer over the years…)

Other things I can’t live without:

ZA Two-Way Foundation

RMK Cleansing Oil N

Garnier Hand Cream

Dove Body Silk

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(part of the Lavshuca fall 2008 collection)
(image from www.nikkei.co.jp)

Lavshuca will release its fall 2008 collection in Japan on August 1st. The collection includes:

Rouge Star Classics (11 shades)
Dual Prism Eyes (8 variations) (More lilac, please…)
Powder Compact Eyebrow (2 shades)
Liquid Pen Eyeliner (2 shades)
Eyeliner Pencil N (2 shades)
Eyebrow Pencil N (3 shades)
Creamy Liquid Foundation (5 shades)
Color Conc Rouge (2 new shades)
Grade Color Select (2 new shades)

Even though there were a couple of good items, I wasn’t very impressed with Lavshuca’s fall 2007 or spring 2008 collection overall. But they came up with a great summer collection this year and the beautiful packaging evolves towards fall. The look of both the lipsticks and eyeshadow duos is stunning.

For me, it is probably set to be Lavshuca’s best seasonal collection since spring 2007. I think I will surely pick up some of these items!

Related Posts:

Lavshuca Eye Color Select in PU-2
(from fall 2007)

Lavshuca Color Conc Rouge in PK-1

(from fall 2007)

Lavshuca Winter Make Collection
(from holiday 2007)

Loving Japanese Brands – Lavshuca
(my personal take on my favorite Japanese drugstore brand)

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