A Touch of Blusher — Makeup, Skincare, Fragrance and a Bit of Fashion

Weekend Beauty Read for March 15, 2008

by PJ on Saturday, March 15, 2008

in Weekend Beauty Read

Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tries out Elizabeth Arden’s new Intervene Foundation and loves the results!

Makeup Moxie reviews Calvin Klein Tempting Glance Intense Eyeshadow.

The Muse shares her current beauty addictions and asks what are some of yours?

A Touch of Blusher will be buying the latest fragrance from Stella McCartney.

Mischo Beauty shares why she lovesWella Salon Professional Power Mask.

The Beauty of Life falls down the rabbit hole for the Alice in Wonderland nail lacquers from Goldie!

Beauty Blogging Junkie kicks off Wash Me Amadeus Week with Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash.

Beauty and Fashion Tech reviews Philosphy A Pigment of Your Imagination, a suncreen and melasma treatment in one.

Emo Hairstyles are all the rage and totally cool – StyleBell asks: Do you have scene hair?

Face Candy checks out MAC’s new Beauty Powder Blushes.

The Makeup Divas reviews 2 eye shadows from a new cosmetic line calledMellies Makeup.

Temptalia tells you whether the Zeno Acne Clearing Treatment Device is worth it!

SugarShock is having a Hair Plump Showdown: it’s T3 360 Plump versus Fekkai All-Day Hair Plump. Find out who comes out on top!

Beauty Anonymous shares her experience with DHC in the US.

The Beauty Blog Network welcomes newest member Mischo Beauty to the network.

Elke starts her 5 part series on Eyebrow No-No’s and how to fix them.

Stylish Opinion ponders which manicure to get from Dashing Divas…….. the Spoiled Diva or the All Out Diva?

Beauty and Personal Grooming writes about the alternative uses of lip gloss.

Raging Rouge dives into the Spring 2008 Urban Decay collection, including reviews of Loose Pigment Eyeshadow and 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencils!

Mystical Beauty’s Musings overhears a conversation about Bacon Perfume, and asks if you would wear it.

Beauty Banter goes behind the runway at L.A. Fashion Week to get the scoop on the beauty inspiration…

Glossypink tells you how to get Rachel McAdams’ ravishing look!

makeup loves me is having a giveaway with whole foods for some dr. hauschka products! hurry over to get yourself entered!

Looking for a liquid liner that’s easy to use and makes your eyes POP? Look no further…Spoiled Pretty has found it! Plus, enter our Chloe and Jane giveaway!

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog shows you how to make your eyeshadow colors look bolder and brighter with MAC Cream Color Base in Pearl.

Are high-end brands better than drugstore brands? The Daily Cookie weighs in and compares two toners to find out.

Pursebuzz.com takes a trip to LA for LA’s fashion week. Gregory A., M.A.C senior artist gives her a chance to pick his brain. Find out what his top favorite tips are and more here.

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Thymes Red Chérie Collection

by PJ on Friday, March 14, 2008

in fragrance

(Thymes Red Chérie Collection)

(image from www.thymes.com)

Thymes’ Red Chérie is one of the latest scent collections from the brand and is particularly welcome at this time of year.

Both the scent and the packaging of this range evoke the colorful vibrancy in the springtime. I especially like the pink and red cherries against the minty green. The whole packaging is elegant and has an organic feel.

The sweetness of the scent is both fruity and floral, as the aroma is a combination of pomegranate, red cherries, passion flower, jasmine, lycee, and musk. It has an uncomplicated fresh and effervescent vibe that dries up to a sweet and slightly creamy finish.

I wouldn’t say this is an all-year-round fragrance, as it can be too bouncy and sweet for me in colder months. But, as the warmer weather approaches, a bit of sweet indulgence seems well justified…

Sheer Stella 2008
(a must-have for me, definitely)

SUQQU Sanzekan (Eastern Orchid)
(a recent favorite)

Bond No. 9 Coney Island
(welcoming warmer weather)

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SUQQU Makeup Base Creamy & Brightup

by PJ on Thursday, March 13, 2008

in -SUQQU, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup - base makeup - primer/concealer, stash focus

(samples of SUQQU Makeup Base Creamy (left)

& Makeup Base Brightup)

SUQQU Makeup Base Creamy and Makeup Base Brightup are part of SUQQU’s Fall 2007 base makeup lineup.

For me, they are very welcome additions, since SUQQU’s then only primer, simply called Makeup Base, is loaded with alcohol and I simply wouldn’t put it on my face.

According to the SUQQU website and the counter staff, Makeup Base Creamy is designed to be used before SUQQU’s (cream) Foundation and Makeup Base Brightup is used before Powder Foundation Glow. For me, I have been trying out these two primers under my usual Shiseido ZA Two-Way Foundation (which I will review later this month.)

(SUQQU Makeup Base Creamy)

(image from www.suqqu.com)

Makeup Base Creamy has a light cream texture. It has a nice slip and goes on very easily. Unlike most primers, which impart luminosity and/or carry pigments to even out the skin-tone, this primer seems to disappear into the skin as it goes on more or less transparent and without any visible shimmer.

However, after application, the skin feels very moisturized and well-conditioned and is ready for all the powdering action. My powder foundation goes on more smoothly, and, more importantly, it helps the foundation last a lot longer.

As it has relatively little efficacy in concealing pores and it doesn’t really control shine, I position it as a skin-conditioning primer that helps the foundation stay fresh for longer.

(SUQQU Makeup Base Brightup)

(image from www.suqqu.com)

Compared with Makeup Base Creamy, Makeup Base Brightup has a creamier consistency. It also has some subtle shimmer to add luminosity and brightness. (I can understand why this is marketed as a primer for a powder foundation, since the powder needs something to stick to.)

Having said that, the two share most traits in terms of their performances. Again, Makeup Base Brightup successfully helps the foundation last longer.

Overall, I prefer Makeup Base Creamy, since the texture is lighter and it has no shimmer. It suits my oily skin better and it is more in tune with the matte finish I want from my foundation.

Note that neither of the two primers has any SPF.

If you have a powder foundation that is spot-on for your skin-tone but your skin is often too dry for a powder formula to wear well, then either of these two primers could be worth considering.

[I haven’t checked the outer packaging of full-size products to see if these two primers contain alcohol. But they don’t smell of alcohol or irritate my skin. Even if they do contain alcohol, the portion should be relatively minimal.]

Bodycare Review – E45 Endless Moisture

by PJ on Wednesday, March 12, 2008

in bodycare

(E45 Endless Moisture

Light Caring Body Milk)

Since E45 products are not available in many countries outside the UK, most of my readers might not be familiar with this line. E45 is a major and reputable British drugstore skincare and bodycare line. Widely available here, the line mainly caters to people with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema.

The new Endless Moisture bodycare range includes the two products I am reviewing below. The range focuses on bringing long-lasting moisture to the skin. (Both products have fragrance-free and lightly-fragranced options. The ones reviewed below are fragrance-free.)

– E45 Endless Moisture Light Caring Body Milk
(for normal to dry skin, seen above)

Free from silicone derivatives, this body lotion leaves an unexpected smooth and silky feel to the skin. With glycerin and paraffinum liquidum (mineral oil) as the main ingredients, this straightforward moisturizer (without an absurdly long ingredient list) should be relatively ideal for people with sensitive skin.

It has a very light and milky consistency, and it is easy to apply and absorbs well. The moisture does seem very long-lasting and the skin feels soft and supple throughout the day. My only issue is that I need something more emollient for drier areas like the heels.

(E45 Endless Moisture

Replenishing Care Body Cream)

– E45 Endless Moisture Replenishing Care Body Cream
(for dry to very dry skin)

This body cream has almost all the assets of the body milk reviewed above, but it has a much creamier consistency partly thanks to shea butter (Butyrospermum parkii butter) as the main emollient. The body cream also leaves a touch of healthy sheen to the skin.

It tackles my drier areas really well. When I use it as an all-over body cream, it does take a few minutes for everything to sink in. But it is worth the wait, as the skin is optimally moisturized.

I mainly use the Body Milk and resort to the Body Cream to care for drier areas. In the warmer months to come, I can probably just do with the Body Milk. Overall they both work very well to keep my skin properly moisturized and conditioned.

[Check E45’s Links page for authorized on-line retailers that deliver internationally.]

Sheer Stella 2008!

by PJ on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

in -Stella McCartney, 2008 Summer, fragrance

(Sheer Stella 2008)
(image from www.cosmoty.de)

This is the look of the new Sheer Stella 2008.

For the first time, the bottle design of Sheer Stella is not incorporating the romantic plum/pink color theme and goes for a fresh peachy pink tone, which reminds me of Stella in Two. Also, the cap appears to be silvery or white instead of the usual black.

According to Now Smell This, Sheer Stella 2008 has been updated to include notes of spicy white rose, peony, white freesia, pink pepper, white musk, and raspberry. To me, all the Sheer Stella fragrances (from 2004 to 2007) have been very similar. I am curious to see how different this will turn out to be.

In the UK, according to Debenhams, Sheer Stella 2008 will be sold exclusively in Debenhams in-store (from March 16) and on-line (from March 14), priced at £35. However, I suspect it will at least also be available at the Stella fragrance counter in Selfridges Oxford Street.

I am not going to say no to this…and I thought I was doing so well with my March beauty budget……

Sheer Stella Showcase
(featuring Sheer Stella from 2004 to 2007)

Stella Velvet Edition
(fully clothed)

My Fragrance Favorites
(when East meets West)

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Beauty Duty for March 11, 2008

by PJ on Tuesday, March 11, 2008

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

A Touch of Blusher loves Anna Sui.

Beautiful Makeup Search cannot believe her eyes when she sees that Bare Escentuals is being sold at Target. Still shocked, she gets the real scoop and learns that Target is not even authorized to sell it.

GlamBlush spent a delectable long weekend at The Blue Lagoon in Iceland. Read 10 reasons why you should go to!

KRiSTOPHER gets tagged to play Q&A.

Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint share the secret of keeping your coloured hair from fading.

Makeup Moxie tests out Oscar Blandi Pronto Dry Shampoo.

Leap into Spring with The Organic Beauty Expert. Throughout the month of March enter for your chance to win more than $300 worth of organic body treats! Sponsored by Futurenatural.

Lianne from TheMakeupGirl is not feeling green hair down there….

WE LOVE BEAUTY.com & Celebrity Stylemaker Mark Townsend are obsessed with hair accessories!

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Superbly Blendable – Paul & Joe Light Cream Foundation

by PJ on Sunday, March 9, 2008

in -Paul & Joe, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - base makeup, makeup - base makeup - foundation, stash focus

(Paul & Joe
Light Cream Foundation in 03 Clair)

Most of the time, I wear a powder foundation, and my favorite by far is Shiseido ZA’s Two-Way Foundation (which I will be talking about in two weeks). In short, it has good coverage, controls shine fairly well, covers pores effectively, and is long-lasting.

But, occasionally, mostly in winter, I am tempted to play with liquid or cream foundations. At 26 pounds in the UK (around 51 USD), Paul & Joe‘s Light Cream Foundation (SPF 15 PA ++) would be a little too expensive as something to experiment with from time to time. But when I saw it at 13 pounds during the winter sale after Christmas last year, I decided to take it home.

I have used it for quite a few times, and here are my thoughts:

Texture & Consistency: The name “Light Cream” is not a very accurate description of the consistency, but almost in a good way. It is actually a lot more fluidy than many liquid foundations I have tried. I tend to go for a light and liquidy texture rather than a creamier texture, so I am very happy with the smooth double-cream consistency.

Slip & Blendability: There are some quite liquidy foundations that don’t have enough slip and dry too quickly to be blended evenly. Not this one. Out of all the liquid/cream foundations I have tried, this one probably has the best slip. It spreads and blends so easily that it feels like a smooth moisturizer.This is by far the best aspect of this foundation.

Finish: It imparts a luminous sheen, without any visible shimmer. Even though the finish is not overly shiny, I’d still set the foundation with a matte loose/pressed powder. (Also, please note that this foundation is not formulated to control shine.)

Coverage: I have come across a couple of reviews of this item where users praise the good coverage. But I suspect that this observation is based on the comparison with other Paul & Joe foundations, as the brand is known for sheer and ultra-natural foundations. I would still describe Light Cream Foundation’s coverage as light (not even light-to-medium).

Pore Coverage: I have very rarely come across a liquid/cream foundation that gives the pore coverage I want, and I always use a loose/pressed powder afterwards for that purpose. So I didn’t expect much. But because it has a superb texture and slip and it adheres to the skin well, the pore-diffusing ability is fair.

Lasting Power: Due to the sheer coverage, it is not easy to tell how good the lasting/staying power is. Considering the coverage does retain for a good number of hours, the lasting power appears to be relatively satisfactory.

Even though this foundation has an exceptionally pleasing texture and slip, it falls short on coverage. After using it for several times, I actually decided to use it more as a primer and then use a powder foundation to gently add coverage and matte out the shine. For me, this item works the best this way.

(Light Cream Foundation was replaced by Light Cream Foundation N, which is why this original version was being reduced. Currently it is not available at UK Paul & Joe counters anymore. But, several authorized on-line retailers still carry it. Please check the shop list on Paul & Joe’s global website for details. Some shops ship internationally.)

Weekend Beauty Read for March 9, 2008

by PJ on Sunday, March 9, 2008

in Weekend Beauty Read

Enjoy!

From The Beauty Blog Network:

Coarse hair? Read EyeshadowCult.com‘s Hair, of coarse article with tips for women of color.

The Makeup Divas reviewsMy Chic Things Boutique as well as an interview with the owner.

StyleBell shows you how to Create Carefree Curls with a Flat Iron.

SugarShock is turning one and we’re celebrating! Enter our contest to win one of 50 Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleansers.

Girl Gloss loves Archipelago Botanicals Grapefruit Lip Butter!

Raging Rouge gets a taste of Maternity Beauty- Courtesy of Mama Mio.

Canadian Beauty reviews an oil cleanser – and loves it.

Temptalia has a makeup tutorial for a dramatic, bold green and blue look!

Elke announces her new website, “beautyurls.com“. A complete beauty aggregator bringing you the latest news, headlines and beauty info in the beauty industry. Visit daily for the latest or subscribe to the blog.

Stylish Opinion gives you the scrub of the month club.

The Beauty Blog Network Blog welcomes their newest members to the network.

A Touch of Blusher reviews a beautifully on-trend eye palette from Chanel.

Beauty Blogging Junkie recommends a foolproof way to achieve a smokey eye .

Beauty Anonymous invites you to discover the scents of Chanel Les Exclusifs Perfume Collection.

What’s really in Origins’ new Youthtopia Eye Cream? The Daily Cookie does a little investigating to find out.

Karen from Makeup and Beauty Blog visits Shu Uemura’s Lash Bar and finds false eyelash nirvana, where the lashes are affordable and the appointment booking process couldn’t be easier.

Mischo Beauty takes her readers to school for a lesson on serums!

The Beauty of Life continues to bring you her weekly Wallet-Friendly Wednesdays column. This week, she found some truly amazing deals that are suitable to take with you on the plane!

The Muse showcases a Shu Uemura Face Chart created exclusively for readers of Musings of a Muse!

Glossypink has the low-down on some sizzlin’ hot lip gloss!

Marina at makeup loves me gets a mani/pedi at dashing diva!

Beauty Banter asks celebrity Brow Specialist, Sarah, to give a step-by-step tutorial on achieving beautiful brows!

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic tries out Creme de la Mer and discovers why J. Lo slathers herself in it!

Pursebuzz.com reviews NYX Chrome Shadows one of her favorite inexpensive shadows.

Spoiled Pretty is giving away J.Lo’s newest fragrance, Deseo to five lucky readers. Will one of them be you?

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We Love Anna Sui – Limited-Edition Official Book

by PJ on Saturday, March 8, 2008

in -Anna Sui, all about Japanese cosmetics

(We Love Anna Sui)
(image from www.jbook.co.jp)

If you have been following the latest news on the Anna Sui website, you might have come across the information on the release of the official mini-encyclopedia of Anna Sui Cosmetics.

It covers the history of the brand, the 7 keywords of Anna Sui Cosmetics (rose, butterfly, purple, red, black, glitter, antique), makeup looks using Anna Sui items, Anna Sui fans’ favorite items in various categories, and a lot of images of the brand’s past limited-edition items. The book also comes with a rectangular case and a round coin pouch, both limited editions.

If you are ready (I am serious…some of you might want to go through all the trouble to have your own copy), a blogger has posted photos of almost all the pages.

At the moment, the book has been more or less sold out in Japan, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, and it is more likely to find it on auction sites.

According to JBook and Amazon Japan, it appears that it will be back in stock in Japan at the end of this month. However, Amazon Japan has stopped offering International Economy Shipping. With International Express Shipping as the only option, a book will cost 30 USD and 36 USD to be shipped to North America and Europe respectively. It is a lot of money, considering that the book itself is only 1365 yen (around 13 USD).

I’ll have to leave you to make that decision…

Loving Japanese Brands – Anna Sui
(my take on Anna Sui)

Anna Sui Lip Gloss in 100
(from Anna Sui Spring 2008 Collection)

Anna Sui Fall 2007 Collection
(featuring another photo of my Anna Sui stash)

Anna Sui Foundation Case Mini-Galore
(I might be adding one to my collection from here.)

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Product Review – Zensation Bio Regenerating Serum

by PJ on Saturday, March 8, 2008

in skincare, skincare - moisturizing/others

(Zensation Bio Regenerating Serum)
(image from Zensation Skincare)

Zensation Bio Regenerating Serum with Liposomes & Matrixyl® is a light-weight serum that is absorbed relatively well. Whether it has sufficient anti-aging efficacy is another matter.

There are some notable pluses and minuses. It is alcohol-free, which is always ideal. (It is surprising that many serum-type products that claim to be ultra-moisturizing have alcohol, which does the exact opposite from moisturizing the skin.) Also, if parabens are your concern, then this paraben-free serum might be worth considering.

It contains a very small amount of echinacea (coneflower) extract, which can have soothing properties.

However, it contains rose flower oil and pineapple extract, both of which can be skin irritants.

The trademarked ingredient, Matrixyl®, is Palmitoyl Pentapeptide 3. (It is listed as Palmitoyl Pentapeptide 4 on the packaging, but both go by the same trade name.) There is non-independent research showing it performs better than retinol and vitamin C. Even if this happens to be the case, Palmitoyl Pentapeptide 4 is listed as the last ingredient on the list and it is extremely unlikely to have any benefit for the skin.

Overall, I’d position this as a moisturizing serum, not an anti-aging item. Without the ingredients that could pose as potential irritants for some people, this product would be even more ideal for those who need additional moisture in their skincare routine.

Related Posts:
(some of the items I use for nighttime skincare)

RMK Cleansing Oil N

Lancôme Tonique Douceur

Olay Complete Care Night Enriched Cream

Related Sites:

Paula Begoun’s Ingredient Dictionary