Givenchy – Bubbly Michelle

Best of Beauty 2016

January 18, 2017November 10, 2018by Bubbly Michelle11 Comments

best-in-beauty-bw

Super excited to deliver my round up of the best of 2016! Getting back into the swing of blogging has been slow after the holidays, but I believe a quick look at the past year and closing the book of 2016 is a great way to get on with business this new year.

Best of Beauty 2016

1. Givenchy Healthy Glow Powder – I hadn’t been a regular user of Givenchy beauty till this came into my life. Absolutely stellar product on all fronts, packaging, quality and finish. Blogged here.

2. NARS Hot Sand Illuminator Duo – If epic highlighters aren’t your thing, NARS Hot Sand is your match made in heaven. A wonderfully glowy highlight with a soft peachy pink base, this adds subtle glow for delicate radiance. Although initially LE, I’m happy to see it come back in another newly released face palette. The Unfiltered 2 Cheek Palette. Blogged here.

nars-hot-sand

3. Dior Nude Air Glowing Gardens 002 – In 2016 Dior ruled the world of highlighters. Each season I could not resist getting at least one! Possibly my favourite highlighter of the year. Also was available in a pink option.

P.S- how stunning is the floral embossing ❤

highlighter-duo

4. Dior Diorific Splendor – Part of the holiday collection, this highlighter was the key piece / must-have which everyone needed in their lives. Sadly, did not make it to the U.S market. Luckily I live in sunny Asia and for once I was happy to be here! Didn’t waste any time picking this up for myself. wink. I also got a few extras as gifts!

The packaging, quality and colour was just perfect for that extra sparkle for the holidays. Get it while you can!

5. Clé de Peau Radiant Liquid Rouge – As someone who did not hop on the matte lipstick bandwagon, I was mighty pleased CPB came out with these ultra luxe glossy liquid lipsticks! They are luxury in every sense. If you loath the dry lip syndrome that’s plaguing the world right now, maybe this nourishing glossy type would interest you 😉 Read all about this collection here.

lip-stuff

6. Bobbi Brown Nourishing Lip Colour – Possibly my favourite lipstick release this year. Think ultra nourishing, balmy colour with superb pigmentation! It’s all my lips want to wear this season. To be blogged soon!

7. Tom Ford Lips & Boys 2016 – It seems the Lips & Boys get better each year! This year, the colours to watch out for were the new matte ones. Absolute must haves. Blogged here.

8. VB x Estée Lauder collection – Overall my favourite collection of the year! The formula, packaging and colours were to die for! Even though I loved almost everything I received, the stand out products were the nude lipstick in Brazilian Nude, the eye kajal duo & the single shadow Bitter Clove. Unfortunately LE collection sell out fast. However if you come across any, do not hesitate! Blogged here.

P.S- There’s talk of a new VB collab happening soon. Keep your eyes peeled!

9. Tom Ford Fiber Brow Gel – The perfect solution for light short brow hairs. I find myself reaching for this almost every time I do my makeup. It’s got the perfect formula to set your brows in place while also adding colour and some body. It’s brows-on-fleek, all day, everyday! To be blogged soon!

10. Tom Ford Le Mepris – Part of the summer collection, this little number was clearly a hot item, specially with that irresistible LE white packaging!! Blogged here.

11. Dior Diorific Nova – 2016 wasn’t the year of nail polish that’s for sure. Almost all brands left me with boring options. However, just as the year ended Dior launched their holiday Diorific Vernis and this unique little number was quick to come home with me. Almost like fairy glitter/flakes on the nails, this works great as a topper or on it’s own. Don’t miss out!

12. Zoeva Concealer Buffer Brush – I am so happy I finally got to try Zoeva brushes this year and this brush in particular is now my essential/everyday, concealer blending brush. Everything just sits better when buffed with this and i’m happy to recommend it to everyone. To be blogged soon!

13. Zoeva Luxe Fan – A great multi purpose brush, (not just for highlighting). This is my go-to for flicking off any eyeshadow or mascara fall out, dusting off excess powder and of course applying highlighter PERFECTLY. A must have brush in any collection.

14. Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting brush – On a whim I purchased this brush off Net-a-Porter last year. I just needed something precise that’d work for contouring smaller areas of the face. Not surprised, this works brilliantly! It’s my favourite for some nose contouring (which is the only contour I ever do) whenever I know i’ll be taking photos or for special events. Love it!

15. Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage – The only product that’s featured here which isn’t new for 2016. However it’s new to me! I picked this up from a sale last year and let’s just say, my world is a better place. The Cocoa Mirage palette is pretty much the standard matte shadow palette but BETTER. Perfectly curated and multi functional as this mixes great with any other TF palettes you may have. The light cream shade is my go-to brow highlight, there’s a perfect transition shade that’s not too warm, and also a shimmer shade thrown in just for variety. ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE if you are on the look out for a great everyday palette that delivers. Can’t recommend this enough!

That rounds up my list of favourites. Products i’ve used and loved! Unfortunately in terms of foundation & concealers I didn’t find anything new that was truly outstanding, therefore left out a fair few that I tested last year. What you see here is a brutally edited skinny version of what has been tested and I find to be A+!

xx.

Makeup

Givenchy Poudre Bonne Mine (Healthy Glow Powder) | Review & Swatches

July 8, 2016July 17, 2016by Bubbly Michelle3 Comments

Few months ago Givenchy relaunched their Poudre Bonne Mine Powders. Meant to naturally energise the skin with light, these are a staple to look healthy and glowing all year round.

There are 4 colours which are now available in Asia.

00- Moonlight Saison

01- Première Saison

02- Douce Saison

03- Ambre Saison

As with all things Givenchy Beauty, it’s the packaging that captures the heart first! I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to hoard this beautiful compact in it’s pristine condition forever and ever and EVER.

The exterior of the packaging is absolute perfection. It’s a slim black compact with the Givenchy logo up top in rose gold. Unfortunately the black casing is a magnet to finger prints and dust and it’s been quite the task keeping them looking shiny and pretty.

I also like that the compact is in fact compact! Unlike most seasonal bronzers which arrive in mega sized pans making them totally travel unfriendly.

The only negative I see is, these don’t come with a protective velvet case as you’d expect of high end beauty brands. Which makes the compact susceptible to scratches.

The Bonne Mine Formula

According to the press info at hand. The Bonne Mine powders are a talc free formula. These are a baked gel with no excess powder that showcase colour perfectly. The technology used gives this powder a weightless quality that makes it virtually undetectable when applied on the skin. I can assure you, no powdery look or feel!

I also like that the formula doesn’t kick up product, which means less wastage! PLUS this keeps the compact looking clean and less grubby. Yayyyy!

Swatches

Swatching these I noticed they have good colour payoff, a silky texture and a satiny sheen. Unlike most bronzers on the market today which are matte, these Healthy Glow powders literally glow with radiance.

There’s a good colour selection for pretty much most skin types.

00 Moonlight Saison a pale shimmering cream for radiance & highlighting.

01 Premier Saison a golden wheat beige – for fair complexions

02 Douce Saison with more reddened bronzy tones for medium complexions (appears darker than Ambre Saison)

03 Ambre Saison with golden tones for medium complexions

*04 Extrême Saison – for medium -deep complexions (US & Europe exclusive)

Upon application I found the colour soft, buildable and blends easily, making it near impossible to overdo. Also glad that the final look is far from shimmery as brush application allows a more diffused look in comparison to the swatches which are obviously heavily applied in order to be photographed.

Wear & Longevity

I’ve discovered these powders do not contain any oil control properties and works best on skin that’s already been set with a powder (at least on the portions that are prone to excessive oiliness).

Applied over my usual base makeup, it lasted well throughout the day (I didn’t test out exact wear time), and looked fresh and glowy throughout without fading mid wear.

Bottom Line

If you are after a powder that brings radiance and a naturally sun kissed effect, these are for you! No weird orange-y tones or excessive red pigments. They would work effortlessly on fair and medium complexions alike.

I find the overall effect of these Healthy Glow Powders similar in concept to the Hourglass bronzers except less shimmery, smoother & as you’d expect, more refined in quality. A closer dupe would be the LE Chanel Les Beige powders that come out each summer (of which I am also a fan) though these look clearly more matte in comparison and usually tend to be geared towards the fairer complexions (limited colour variations, usually two).

Bottom line, it’s a gorgeous formula and I highly urge you to check them out. I hope you love them as much as I!

Other Info

SGD80 for 10g of product.

Currently at Givenchy counters at Sephora Singapore & Metro Paragon.

*Samples kindly provided by Givenchy Singapore for review.

Makeup

Givenchy Rouge Interdit Vinyl Lipsticks |Review, Photos & Swatches

June 7, 2016July 14, 2016by Bubbly Michelle7 Comments

Wow feeling a bit rusty blogging about makeup today! I can’t believe the last makeup review was when I did summer previews (quite a while ago oops!). Anyways back with a bang with new lipstick reviews and first up it’s Givenchy’s newest lipstick launch, the Rouge Interdit Vinyl range.

Luckily I had the privilege of a brief glimpse at these a few months ago at the Givenchy Les Saisons preview, here and have been super excited for their launch. Glad to see them finally here!

The Rouge Interdit Vinyls are all about extreme shine & impactful shades created with rare, precious ingredients for comfortable wear.

Unlike the Le Rouge lipsticks that come in leather packaging, these new Rouge Interdit Vinyls sport sleek black acrylic packaging complete with a pretty ribbon.

I also find this type of ‘barrel’ packaging rather clever as the cap is decently sized and less prone to slipping off your hand. Clumsy girls like me appreciate features like this and I can’t tell you enough, how annoying it is to loose a cap in the car!

Formula & Longevity

This new formula is ultra glossy and nourishing on the lips. The secret ingredient behind this is black rose oil which is added for maximum comfort during wear.

The Black Rose oil is combined with a silicon resin to form that vinyl shine that these lipsticks provide. A very fresh take on bold colours since most pigmented formulas come in matte finishes these days. The silicon in this lipstick also brings in a soft focus element that blurs out fine lines and gives the illusion of a plumped up effect. Specially flattering on mature lips that loose fullness with age.

So far i’ve experienced wear time of around 3-4 hours with slight fading and approximately one touch-up for the day. Of course this depends on how much you’ve been snacking as the lipstick wears off quite easily while doing so. But overall I like that it fades evenly and wont leave you with a strange ring of colour around the outer parameter of your lips.

*If you have noticeable fine lines, the moist formula does migrate and bleed into them and a lip liner would be essential. However for a more youthful carefree approach I wear them as is, since the slight migration does not bother me!

On to some swatches,

I received 4 shades from Givenchy as PR samples.

Fuchsia Illicite – A bright fuchsia with strong blue tones.

Rouge Rebelle – A warm red.

Noir Révélateur – A unique transparent colour that changes according to one’s PH and wears different from person to person. You can expect a colour from mauve to plum.

Nude Ravageur – A light peachy beige (More suited for fairer skin tones).

Bottom Line

These are lipsticks for everyday wear. They won’t dry out your lips and impart bold colour without emphasising fine lines or texture. It’s a very forgiving formula that’s will be your everyday favourite once you find your perfect shade.

My picks are the bright pinks and corals. I feel these truly outshine the nudes as they tend to wear a lot more opaque and therefore more impactful. The nudes unfortunately don’t show up too well on me and the pigmentation seemed lacking.

Final verdict, if you are on the look out for a great everyday lipstick and/or suffer from dry lips, these are for you!

Rouge Rebelle Party!

If you reside in Singapore and want to try out these new lipsticks, do join me this Saturday (11th June) at Paragon lobby (2pm-4pm) or Hylam Street at Bugis Junction (6pm-8pm) for a fun filled launch party hosted by the lovely ladies of Givenchy Singapore!

I’m excited to mix and mingle with you as well as share my favourite bright lippie looks and tips to wearing bold colour, specially if you are new or shy to wear them!

There’ll be cupcakes, champagne and also photo booths to document your day! And of course you go home with a goodie bag courtesy of Givenchy too!

Do RSVP to rsvp@37comms.com and mention your name as well as any friends you’d like to bring along to the party! (limited slots available)

I’ll see you there! ❤

For additional info see this post.

Pricing & Availability

Rouge Interdit Vinyl lipsticks will be available in Singapore (Paragon & Sephora outlets) from the 6th of June.

There are 14 shades in all from which 12 will be available locally retailing at SGD 48.

Makeup

Givenchy Les Saisons (Cruise Collection 2016) : Preview, Photos & Swatches

March 22, 2016March 23, 2016by Bubbly Michelle10 Comments

Summer is so close you can almost taste it! And as always we see summer bronzers making an appearance well ahead.

One of the most beautiful bronzers i’ve seen this year is brought to you by Givenchy. They’ve taken a route less explored, delivering a luminous/radiant finish. I’m not talking satin here, it’s a full on luminous/glowy look to bring out the J-lo in you!

Over a delicious dim sum lunch, I had the opportunity to preview these beauties and more. So if you are keen on swatches, read on!

‘Les Saison delivers a beautiful sun-kissed complexion, or the perfect complexion for a sun-kissed day.’

Within the collection are 5 bronzers, of which 4 will be released in Singapore. The colours range from pale pink cream to caramel as seen below.

No.1 Moonlight Saison

No.2 Première Saison

No.3 Douce Saison

No.4 Ambre Saison

No.5 Extrême Saison

‘Poudre Bonne Mine is already known for their talc free formula, a baked gel with no excess powder, which showcases colour. This new-generation technology gives rise to a lighter texture with no visual substance effect’.

What I love about these powders was the texture. They are ultra light, silky smooth and very finely milled; and since they are designed to be multi-use products these can be used to highlight, sculpt and bronze the complexion or even as eyeshadow and blush.

On to swatches! I managed to capture a decent set of swatches by the window so they appear as true to colour as possible.

The powders are well pigmented and a dream to work with. I’ll get a review up once i’ve tried them on but for now, i’m pretty impressed.

P.S- did you notice No. 3 Douce Saison darker than No. 4 Ambre Saison? >.<

Anyways, summing it up. I believe Moonlight Saison and Première Saison can be used as highlighters and Douce Saison & Ambre Saison as Bronzers. However depending on how deep or fair your complexion runs, it’s all relative. I guess an NC 35 like me can get away with Première Saison as a highlighter rather than a bronzer.

On to more interesting products that caught my eye at the preview!

Here’re the new Rouge Interdit Vinyl Colour Enhancing Lipsticks. I tried one on after lunch and these are a great balmy texture. The pigmentation was also pretty good and delivers a semi-opaque outcome but best of all, this lasted well. The colour almost hugs the lips and stays on for ages.

A swatch of the colour I tried on (this is around 3 passes).

So if the rainbow of liners caught your eye, these gorgeous Khol Couture Waterproof Liners will be out this summer! (May if I recall correctly).

My favourite was the Turquoise. It had the smoothest application and I really liked the colour. A must have for all possible beach vacations to come this summer.

Here’s one more look at the liners. Such a cheery bunch!

Top to bottom we have, Brown, Black, Intense Green, Turquoise, Electric Blue & Purple.

Apart from what’s seen at the preview there’s also new Mister Radiant Blush, Primer & Bronzers coming out with the Les Saisons collection. It’s a gel product with suspended colour capsules. Here’re some images taken from the press release.

Also new are the Cushion Kiss nourishing, plumping gloss balms which come in two pretty colours, Coral Kiss & Berry Kiss for a no fuss summer pout. Super excited to try these!

That concludes todays post. I hope you found this entry useful and enjoyed the sneak peek of what’s to come! Summer couldn’t possibly arrive soon enough, but at least we have these gorgeous babies to look forward to right??? 😀

Retail info

Poudre Bonne Mine Saisons Incolore (Bronzers) – S$80

Khol Couture Waterproof liners – To be updated

Rouge Interdit Vinyl lipsticks – To be updated

Cushion Kiss Les Saison – S$38

Mister Radiant Incolore – S$64

Mister Radiant Blush – S$51

Makeup

Givenchy Prisme Libre, Voile Rosé : Review, Photos & Swatches

April 24, 2014by Bubbly Michelle4 Comments

This May Givenchy launches Poudre Première and Prisme Libre. Two loose powders suitable for all complexions, fair, medium or dark.

The Poudre Première is perfect for those who prefer a sheer, matte, luminous finish and the Prisme Libre for those who like a more pronounced radiance. Lit from within glow if you may.

Many of you are already familiar with the iconic Prisme Libre powder as it’s one of Givenchy’s top selling products since it’s launch in 2006. In May launches a newly reformulated version of the original (if I remember correctly, which was a very lightweight translucent finish with no detectable shimmer).

I had the opportunity to attend the press event and was generously presented with this gorgeous Prisme Libre for review!

Here’s a little peek at the Givenchy event which was organized by Touch PR & Events. It was pastel themed complete with pastel pink, buttercream and lilac balloons to mimic the Prisme Libre harmonies where the new product unveiled in a cloud of smoke! Talk about a dramatic entrance!

Before I head to the actual review here’s a little info on Poudre Première (seen above). Possibly the sexiest loose powder packaging I’ve encountered!

POUDRE PREMIÈRE

AN ODE TO SIMPLICITY

What’s the idea? Only one shade, which fuses together with all skin tones, from the fairest to the darkest. Nicolas Degennes has invented a product that changes lives: a universal, superfine and comfortable powder, which is applied to bare or primed skin for a completely sheer result. And which always guarantees an even, matte and naturally radiant complexion, in complete simplicity.

Black box. The POUDRE PREMIÈRE case is presented in an utterly glam, rock’n’roll and chic Couture case. Black enamel is used to set off the powder and plays on the Givenchy logo both above and beneath the lid. Each POUDRE PREMIÈRE features a white microfiber powder puff, which is soft and delicate, but if preferred, the powder can also be applied very easily with a brush.

Ok! Now onto the review!

PRISME LIBRE

THE MODERNISED ICON

A cult object from the House of Givenchy. Since 2006, PRISME LIBRE has been the only loose powder, encapsulated behind a mesh screen, combining four shades to create buildable harmonies, in nude tones. Presented side by side in the same case, these four powders are completely versatile, leaving the complexion matte and luminous.

A new sheer and luminous texture. It is a unique and perfected version, where the pigments become more lightweight, refreshing and softening complexion to perfection. A veil of powder delivers a breath of radiance and luminosity which lifts the whole face. The secret of its formulation? Pigments treated with atomisation technology. They are of equal size and glide on evenly for an ultra-natural peachy-soft skin effect. Along with this impression of absolute comfort comes an exquisite fragrance trail featuring lilac and white musk.

The Prism Libre comes in 3 different harmonies.

Mousseline Pastel No. 1: sugar-coated colours which correct and reduce imperfections for a very natural opaline effect.

Taffetas Beige No. 2: a cocktail of beiges, apricot and yellow, which delivers a healthy glow in just one stroke of a brush. The skin appears to have been invigorated by fresh air.

Voile Rosé No. 7: sensuality and voluptuousness in a mingling of pinks and mother-of-pearl. The result on the skin: a halo of light and radiance.

I received Voile Rosé No. 7

The Packaging

Prisme Libre comes in a transparent square shaped packaging with a faux leather finish lid. The powder box is compartmentalized into 4, which houses four different shades of loose powder. Overall it has a graphic, minimalistic luxe look which is very Givenchy!

The powder comes with one microfiber puff which could be used for application. And the powder is dispensed through a very unique design detail, a 4 G screen!

The Product

Voile Rosé is a combination of pink, cream, white and peach.

These colours are associated with brightening when it comes to makeup artistry.

You could imagine my excitement to review this! I LOVE anything radiance enhancing and brightening.

The Prisme Libre is a very finely milled setting powder. Like a gossamer veil; when applied, this disappears onto the skin and is virtually undetectable.

This product sits beautifully on the skin. I could clearly see a glow when I applied this on my face, like a halo effect. And all those little particles reflecting light, stops your makeup from looking flat (one dimensional), giving it definition and of course radiance.

On the flip side, in bright light conditions it looks incredibly shimmery. Yesterday I had an Edward Cullen moment while I was out shopping when I stood under a spotlight at the Giordano store (buying ‘I heart Singapore’ tees out of all things!) and accidentally happened to check myself out in that lighting. Boy did I sparkle!

So just to be on the safe side I’d recommend using this lightly as a highlight on the forehead, higher parts of your cheekbones and bridge of your nose if you are heading out in bright sunlight or going to an evening event where you might end up under a spotlight.

In natural or dim lighting though, this makes for a beautiful setting powder! Two thumbs up!

Application method

So there is no set method to applying this. You could either use the microfiber puff that comes with this powder or a brush. It comes down to personal preference. I like to go in with a brush.

But incase you plan to use the powder puff. You could try the ‘shake and mix’ technique. Just place it on the screen while pressing it down firmly with your fingers and turn the jar upside down and shake it repeatedly to dispense the powder. Then fold the puff in two and squish it around to mix (you can skip this step if you wish, I promise you wont be left with sections of your face looking pink, white and peach!) and pat on the powder. Simple!

So who is this best suited for?

If you like satin finish setting powders, this is for you. It mattifies and sets makeup while at the same time imparting a luminous glow.

If you prefer a matte porcelain doll finish but with a glow, this might NOT be your cup of tea. You might want to consider the Poudre Première instead.

*In case you were wondering if this is a Guerlain Meteorites-esque product, this isn’t. Firstly this is a setting powder and Meteorites is a finishing powder. And most importantly Guerlain meteorites doesn’t shimmer under bright lights, or natural lighting for that matter. Although you may see similarities in the colour harmonies of the two products, that’s pretty much where the similarity ends. They are nothing alike and cannot be considered a substitute or a dupe if you may.

Final thoughts

I love the overall product, though I find the satin finish might be a bit much for some, when used as an ‘all over face’ powder. But for everyday use, I can’t complain cos I don’t normally go around standing under random spotlights! 😉 and I do love the glow it creates.

Other Info

Poudre Premiere and Prisme Libre launch in Singapore this May.

Retailing at all Givenchy counters for $86.

Comes with 3x4g of product.