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

Bodycare Review: Principessa Hand Cream, Body Lotion, and Lip Balm

by PJ on Friday, November 9, 2007

(From left: Principessa Cattiva Diva Silky Hand Cream
Bacio Me Lip balm,
and Dolce Dreams Whipped Body Lotion)

Principessa is a bodycare line with pink and feminine packaging, which is cute and not overly girlie, and some nice goodies to take care of your body.

Dolce Dream Whipped Body Lotion is my favorite among the three products that I’ve tried. Rich and creamy, it leaves the skin very smooth and moisturized. I also like the fact that, as with the other two products, the Body Lotion is very mildly scented. Unless I am using a body lotion from a fragrance range, I don’t particularly go for the ones with a strong scent. In this case, this one is a great all-rounder for me.

Cattiva Diva Silky Hand Cream has a lighter texture compared with some of my favorite hand creams. But it is pleasantly moisturizing and a little goes a long way. It doesn’t particularly leave the hands greasy so it is something nice to have at the desk.

Bacio Me Lip Balm works very well…on nails and cuticles. Used on the lips, it is greasy and does not absorb well. But I have found that it is a great cuticle moisturizer. I massage it into the nail and cuticle areas right before bedtime. It does leave a slightly greasy film, but I don’t mind it at all. Personally, for a night cuticle treatment, the more emollient the better. The next day, the cuticles look soft, moisturized, and pampered.

If you are looking for body products that moisturize well and look good on the shelves or if you are looking for products that don’t interfere with the fragrances you wear, these items are certainly worth a look.

Cake Beauty Plane Friendly Travel Kit

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A Touch of Blusher is one year old!

by PJ on Wednesday, November 7, 2007

in announcement, blog anniversary

(Would you like some homemade chocolate brownie?)

One year ago today, I was browsing through some fashion magazines in a bookstore. Then, after having the idea of writing my own blog for a few weeks, I decided to make it a reality.

I’d say that it started as an act of self-indulgence, since I love reading about and discussing with my friends about beauty and fashion. Then, little by little, it has almost become a conversation between all of you and me.

I’d like to thank everyone that has stopped by my blog as well as all the regular readers and subscribers. Anyone that blogs or writes for any medium knows how great it feels to know that there are people who are interested in what he or she has to say. I have been enjoying getting all the comments and e-mails, and many of the discussions have given me ideas of new topics to talk about. keep them coming!

Also, thanks to my other half, Andrew, who, after my failing attempts to think of a decent name for the blog, came up with A Touch of Blusher, which instantly felt right…(and he made the brownie as well……)

Now, do please allow me to indulge myself again and bring you through some of the posts that mark the first twelve months of A Touch of Blusher. Enjoy!

November 2006:
I talked about Gemma Ward fronting Kosé’s new line, Esprique Precious.

December:
I shared one of my great finds in Japan (and one of my favorite makeup items, ever): Clarins’ Palette Impression.

January 2007:
I compared western and Japanese cosmetics.

February:
I talked about Lavshuca Eye Color Select palettes, two of my favorite makeup purchases of the year.

March:
It was an interesting experience to know that I would be writing about it on my blog before stepping inside the beautiful Marc Jacobs’ first boutique in the UK.

April:
I shared all my various versions of Sheer Stella fragrances.

May:
I wrote about Calvin Klein Cosmetics as the start of the Bring It Back! series, where I talk about cosmetics lines that I wish would make a comeback. (It is fantastic to know that Calvin Klein has re-launched the makeup line in Hong Kong and Taiwan in September.)

June:
I traveled to Nottingham for an inspirational fashion show and found out the fashion blood of the city.

July:
A reader’s comment inspired me to talk about Kate, Lavshuca’s edgier, darker sister.

August:
I devoted one week to anti-aging skincare.

September:
Plans to visit Japan again have been underway, and I share my dream shopping list.

October:
I introduced A-Mei, who will collaborate with MAC for a collection in January 2008.

There will be more interesting things coming up on my blog, one of which is a new series where I reveal my own must-have cosmetics items. The first post will be up next week. So do stay tuned and do consider subscribing to my blog via e-mail to keep track on my future posts! Thank you!

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Magie Deco Holiday 2007 Collection

by PJ on Wednesday, November 7, 2007

in _Japanese Brand Profile, -Cosme Decorte, -Kosé, -Magie Deco, 2007 Holiday, makeup, makeup - base makeup

(Romantic Illuminate:
Magie Deco Holiday 2007 Collection)
(image from www.cosmedecorte.com/magiedeco/)

Kosé’s top-end line, Cosme Decorte, released a new makeup line in August called Magie Deco. Price-wise, it is cheaper than Cosme Decorte’s existing makeup collections but it is still a high-end line.

Naturally, these are Magie Deco’s first limited-edition seasonal items, and they are certainly keen to make an impression.

The two items, Shadow Brilliance and Face Powder, are sold as a set. As with many other holiday items for Japanese brands, they feature wearable and shimmery shades, great for the party season. (I think the Face Powder will be a straightforward sheer face powder with some shimmer.)

I really like the prints on one of the eyeshadows and on the gold lid of the Face Powder case. Feminine, flowy, and glamorous.

Magie Deco’s sophisticated brand image has been grabbing more and more of my attention. This is certainly a line I will pay attention to in the coming seasons and it will be very interesting to see how it develops.

Magie Deco Loose Powder
(one of the shortlisted items on my loose powder list)

Holiday 2007 Collection Galore
(photos and more photos…)

Holiday 2007 Collection: First Thoughts
(after I saw some of the items in the shops)

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A Touch of Lunasol Blusher: Contrasting Cheeks in Light Orange

by PJ on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

in -Kanebo, -Lunasol, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - blusher

(Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks in #03 Light Orange)

Since its launch in 1999, Lunasol has been among my favorite brands. I love the good quality and the polished and sophisticated packaging and brand image.

One of the Lunasol items I have is Contrasting Cheeks in #03 Light Orange. It is not peachy or coral. It is, as the name indicates, a soft light orange. (But this shade has actually been discontinued. You can see the currently available shades below.)

(Lunasol Contrasting Cheeks)
(image from www.kanebo-cosmetics.jp/lunasol/)

I suppose it is called Contrasting Cheeks because every shade comes in two finishes. The two squares on the top left and bottom right in the pan have shimmer, while the rest is basically matte with very little shimmer. When I use the blusher brush to sweep across the pan and apply the color, the finish is still predominantly matte. I can also use the shimmery portion on the center of the cheek areas to impart an accent glow, which adds a very subtle dimension to the cheeks.

I chose this shade because I had quite a few of pink-tone blushers and I wanted something different. After testing it at the counter, I found that it was relatively sheer and thought I could “work” this. Indeed I can. It gives a healthy sun-kissed glow and the color merges with the pink undertone of my face very well. It does not make my cheeks look too orange at all.

For me, this is more of a summery shade. But it is certainly natural enough to be used all year round. Another great member of my blusher family…

More touches of blusher:

AYURA Aura Veil α

Lavshuca Cheek Color

Anna Sui Face Color Accent

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Beauty Duty for November 6, 2007

by PJ on Tuesday, November 6, 2007

in Weekly Beauty Duty

Enjoy!

99Products wants you to know the real reason why she loves MAC makeup so much here is the “backstory”.

A Touch of Blusher on Mascaras: You Mean That’s NOT Real?

Beautiful Makeup Search shares what she loves about MAC’s Viva Glamorous palettes.

GlamBlush: Lindsay Lohan loves living life as a blonde. We’re just calling her Goldilocks.

Kristopher wants you to wrap yourself up as your own Kwanzannukah gift, with these bowed Christian Louboutin shoes.

Lipstick, Powder ‘n Paint loves Benefit Cosmetics. Here are some of the newest additions…

You’re going to want to add this NARS lipgloss to your Christmas list! Come check it out over at Make Her Up.

There’s hair issues over at Makeup Bag…

Want to try Mario Bandescu’s skincare products? Product Girl tells you how.

TheMakeupGirl’s November contest has her giving away a full set of Billy B’s fantastic makeup brushes!

WE LOVE BEAUTY.COM and Celebrity Makeup Artist Paul Starr, show you how to get Mariah Carey’s look from Glamour Magazine.

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Chanel Ombre d’Eau Eyeshadow: A Joint Report with Beauty Anonymous

by PJ on Monday, November 5, 2007

in -Chanel, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow, stash focus

(Chanel Ombre d’Eau in #50 Bay)

Today, Beauty Anonymous and I are joining together to bring you our thoughts on Chanel’s Ombre d’Eau Eyeshadows. I will focus on #50 Bay and there is a review of #10 Glacier and #20 Fountain over on Beauty Anonymous.

A couple of years ago, I was in a phase of neutral shades for eyes. Chanel’s Ombre d’Eau Bi-Phase Eyeshadow grabbed my attention, with many wearable shades. (They are called Ombre d’Eau Fluid Iridescent Eyeshadow in the US.)

I bought (or, to be more precise, used my Boots advantage points on) #50 Bay, which is a warm bronze with quite a lot of fine iridescent shimmer to create an almost soft metallic finish.

Before taking out the sponge applicator, I shake the container vigorously to mix the pigment and the liquid. (There is a small stainless steel ball inside to help the mixing. It reminds me of using a Liquid Paper correction pen.)

The sponge applicator makes the application easy and fuss-free. The slanted facet of the sponge helps sweep the color onto the eyelids, and I can also line the eyes with the tip of the angled sponge (without blending afterwards). (It won’t be a very thin line. The thinnest line you can create is around 2-3mm.)

Once the color is applied on the eyelids, speedy blending is vital as the liquid does dry up rather quickly. If you leave it to dry, the slip disappears. When the color is in place, it is quite long-wearing.

One thing I have recently observed is that the pigment is not water-resistant at all. I was surprised to find that, when I applied the color on the back of my hand and place my hand under running water, the color was completely gone, with no rubbing, within seconds. (On the other hand, it is usually hard to rub off a powder eyeshadow just with water alone.)

But on my eyelids, under usual circumstances, I have never noticed fading, creasing, or transferring.

Overall, I enjoy using it. Even though the shimmer can be slightly too much for daytime, the fact that most of the shades are very low-key still makes them wearable in any time of the day.

Do head over to Beauty Anonymous, where you can read about two other lovely shades: #10 Glacier and #20 Fountain.

– Read about my personal take on Chanel.

– I compare Chanel Mat Lumière & SUQQU Powder Foundation Glow. See who wins!

– Find out why I won’t buy Les 4 Camélias de Chanel.

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Weekend Beauty Read for November 3, 2007

by PJ on Sunday, November 4, 2007

in Weekend Beauty Read

From The Beauty Blog Network:

15 Minute Beauty Fanatic: How Antioxidants Work

A Touch of Blusher (it’s me!): All About Japanese Cosmetics

All Lacquered Up: OPI’s Holiday in Hollywood Dazzling Darks & Neutrals

Beauty and Personality Grooming: Homemade Rich Nail Cream

Etailers Mall – The Blog: PlumSmoke

Face Candy: Bridal Beauty

Makeup and Beauty Blog:
MAC Holiday 2007 Curiositease Lip Sets: What to Buy, What to Pass Up!

Makeup Loves Me: Refreshing Facial at Fresh

Makeup Moxie’s Beauty Blog: Cover Girl Lashblast Mascara

Musings of a Muse: First Look at the Sephora 2007 Catalog

Mystical Beauty’s Musings:
How do you feel about your makeup talking to you?

Savvy Skin: Skimpy Thinning Eyebrows

SugarShock: Fragrance Notes: Factory Girl

Temptalia: MAC Curiositease Review, Swatches, and Photos!

Have a great weekend!

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Bodycare Review: Green by Nature Starter Kit

by PJ on Friday, November 2, 2007

in bodycare

(Green by Nature Starter Kit)

Judging by the name of the line, Green by Nature, it seems that it is a line that promotes all-natural ingredients. Indeed, this is one of their claims.

To be more specific, they claim that all their products are 91%- 99.9% natural and 100% paraben, sulfate, and DEA-free.

I have to say I am amazed that they are able to make this claim. It shows that no one is properly regulating the claims that cosmetics companies make.

All the six products in the Green by Nature Starter Kit have propylparaben in the ingredient lists, and five of them also have methylparaben. So none of these six products is paraben-free at all.

Personally, I am not adverse to parabens. Preservatives are essential in preventing bacterial and microbial contaminations in skincare products, especially for those that contain various extracts from natural ingredients. It is much more risky to use a contaminated product than to use one with parabens, which are considered to be less irritating than most other preservatives. Overall, parabens are a necessary evil.

Still, it is far from a precise claim that Green by Nature’s products are 100% paraben-free.

I understand why many people are specifically looking for paraben-free products. If you are one of them, products from Green by Nature are not what you want.

The Green by Nature Starter Kit includes:

Ginger Lemon Body Wash (30g)
Mint Green Tea Body Lotion (30g)
Almond Cocoa Body Butter (20g)
Banana Shea Hand Cream (10g)
Banana Shea Lip Butter (4.25g)
Peppermint Lip Shine (14g)

The ones I like are Mint Green Tea Body Lotion and Almond Cocoa Body Butter. Both leave the skin nicely moisturized. The butter-like texture of Almond Cocoa Body Butter is particularly good for dry patches.

Peppermint Lip Shine includes peppermint oil. While it can have antimicrobial properties, it is also considered to be a skin irritant (which did irritate my lips) and should be avoided in any skincare product.

If you are interested in knowing more about ingredients in cosmetics products, do have a look at these entries and article from Paula Begoun’s website, which quote and eloquently summarize unbiased independent scientific research:

parabens

DEA

preservatives

Updated on December 16, 2008:

After this review went up, I received the latest version of the Green by Nature Starter Kit along with two other tubes of Lip Glaze (formerly named Lip Shine), Cherry Mint and Strawberry Mint. The ingredient lists indicate that all the products are now paraben-free.

Like the Peppermint Lip Shine reviewed above, both Cherry Mint and Strawberry Mint Lip Glaze include peppermint oil, which, as mentioned above, should be avoided in skincare products.

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Holiday Flashback: Sofina Aube Astral Rouge

by PJ on Thursday, November 1, 2007

in -Aube (Couture), -Kao, -Sofina, all about Japanese cosmetics, makeup, makeup - lip color, makeup - lip gloss

(Sofina Aube Astral Rouge)

Sofina Aube Astral Rouge lip palette is among the first holiday items I have ever purchased, back in 2000. (Obviously I have not been using it for quite some time. But this very pretty item will always be among my permanent collection.)

(Sofina Aube’s original navy blue packaging)

Sofina Aube has gone through at least three major packaging overhauls, and the packaging of this palette reflects what Aube (Sofina’s color makeup line) used to look like around 2000, with a deep navy blue color scheme. (I do have to say I prefer the Aube packaging back in the “old” days…)

(loving the shades…and the star)

The palette includes four lip colors (wearable pink shades with various tones) and two lip glosses (a very sheer pink with minimal shimmer and a pearly white with more intense shimmer).

This palette does bring back memories of the occasions where I had some of these shades on. It is interesting that some of my makeup purchases punctuate the various phases in my life. I know it sounds slightly silly and overly sentimental, but I am sure you know what I mean.

I will bring you more of my past holiday items every now and then. But if you want more of them now, do stop by Musings of a Muse for some more past holiday delights.

Holiday 2006 Items
(See what made the cut last year.)

Holiday 2007 Items
(See them at a glance!)

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Maybelline Dream Mousse Eyecolors: Divine Lilac & Fabulous Turquoise

by PJ on Wednesday, October 31, 2007

in -Maybelline, makeup, makeup - eyeshadow

(Maybelline Dream Mousse Eyecolors)

On the whole, I tend to save money for slightly pricier products with both wonderful quality and exquisite packaging. But, every now and then, I come across little gems like Maybelline’s Dream Mousse Eyecolors and I feel glad that they are very affordable. (I do like these chunky glass pots as well.)

What I like about Dream Mousse Eyecolors is that the finish is very flattering and the subtle shimmer effectively adds a little bit of dimension to the eyes.

If you want an intensely pigmented and shimmery finish from this collection of eyeshadows, then you will probably be disappointed. But if you want something natural and effortlessly pretty, then do give them a try.

(Divine Lilac & Fabulous Turquoise)

I have two shades, Divine Lilac and Fabulous Turquoise. (Divine Lilac is called Lilac Cloud in the US.) I have reviewed several lilac-based eyeshadow palettes, but Divine Lilac is actually the first lilac eyeshadow I purchased and it kick-started my collection of lilac eyeshadows. The shade is on the warm side, which, for me, is very wearable and flattering.

Fabulous Turquoise is a new shade that I just bought a few weeks ago (before I bought MAC’s Haunting). When I saw this in the shop, I was reminded of so many turquoise eyeshadows that I had tested before that had disappointing green and yellow shimmers. (Rimmel‘s Colour Mousse Eye Shadow in Splash and Bourjois‘ Mono Eyeshadow in Turquoise Ensoleillée…I am mainly talking about you two…) So I was ready for another turquoise disappointment. But I was delightfully surprised, as this is a nice real turquoise. The delicate finish and flattering shimmer are both present, and I immediately decided to bring it home.

For me, Divine Lilac is a wonderful everyday shade, while anything turquoise is always a bolder color and I wear Fabulous Turquoise sparingly.

It seems that a couple of new shades are quietly added to the Mousse Eyecolor lineup each season, so I will always check back to see if there are other mousse treats waiting for me.

If you love lilac:

Kanebo T’Estimo Frame Impact Eyes in 03

Lavshuca Eye Color Select PU-2

If you love turquoise:

Alexander McQueen for MAC Eyeshadow in Haunting

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