Guerlain – Bubbly Michelle

What’s in my makeup bag?

January 5, 2015August 1, 2015by Bubbly Michelle11 Comments

Hi There!

How’s the beginning of the year been treating you so far? Good I hope!

In my case, the start of the year has been somewhat busy and I have just returned back to the city from a week long stay at the beach.

So today I dumped out the contents of my makeup bag so I can share with you a couple of things that have been proving quite useful while I was away!

Here’s a little peek.

As you can see i’ve changed my makeup bag, yet again. This time I swapped it for a very light weight, black Ferragamo version which basically was free. It’s the Qatar airways travel pouch from my last trip. The case can be wiped clean and is pretty sturdy and most of all it’s the lightest makeup bag I have ever owned! Which means… I get to stuff it with even more product without it weighing a tonne!

What’s inside?

As always i’ve got my Chanel mirror and Hakuhodo lip brush in there, staples. In addition, this time I also have a brow brush, also by Hakuhodo which I use with my Tri Brow palette by Make Up Store. The Make Up Store brow powder is a new addition to my stash. And is great for speedy brows. In the event I don’t have time to whip out my Anastasia Brow Wiz, this is my next best option. On it’s own it doesn’t give me a perfectly defined brow as I do have rather patchy brow hair which also is very fine! But when i’m running late, i’d rather have presentable brows than no brows at all!

In the event you do have rather neat groomed brows without too many bald spots and you want some extra definition, a brow powder will be your friend. It’s easy to use and gives your brows a very natural finish.

On regular days I use my Anastasia Brow Wiz to fill in bald spots and give the ends of my brows a bit more definition by using the darkest shade in my Make Up Store Tri Brow. It really defines them well and gives the illusion on a fuller, more youthful brow.

Next up, lips. I haven’t got any lipsticks in there. Mainly cos I don’t wear lipstick while i’m chilling at the beach, unless it’s dinner of course and I whip out a bright orange.

The three products I relied on were the Tom Ford Rose Crush Gloss, my very first Tom Ford gloss, Tarte Blissful Lip Surgence lip gloss that came in a Sephora lip kit set, (I never really went out and purchased this) and my holy grail lip balm, the Ettusais Lip Essence. In fact I’m just reapplying it right now.

The Tom Ford lip glosses truly are hard to beat. They are non sticky, highly pigmented (as far as lip glosses are concerned) and long lasting. Rose Crush is my most used colour and it goes really well with medium tanned complexions. I highly recommend this.

The Tarte Blissful gloss is a sheer peach coral shade. Smells like sugary vanilla and does a good job of keeping the lips hydrated. I enjoyed this gloss, although for some, the smell could end up a bit overpowering.

For skincare, I relied on my Crabtree & Evelyn handcream in Caribbean Island Wild Flowers & the Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA+++.

Truth be told, I packed this C&E handcream for it’s very beach appropriate, fresh smell and pretty packaging with the coral motif. There I said it. However C&E is in fact one of my current favourite hand cream formulations as it’s hydrating, yet non greasy. It’s a good medium between my heavy La Mer handcream and other lighter options like the L’Occitane ones.

The Kiehls sunscreen on the other hand was as essential. I use this for my arms and chest, hence why I have it in this lager size. For the face I strictly rely on my Avene one which has SPF 30. I don’t take that around in my makeup bag as I never reapply my sunscreen on my face. Bad I know. But I do liberally apply the Kiehl’s one on my arms every 2-3 hours or so. It’s a nice light texture and doesn’t have that god awful, typical, old-school sunscreen smell.

Next up two perfume samples I carry for touching up. My favourite between the two, Guerlain Aqua Allegoria in Manderine Basilic. I love the fresh zesty fragrance of this and pairs well with humid, sweaty weather. I plan on purchasing the full size when I go back to Singapore next week.

The other newer addition was the Giorgio Armani Si Perfume. Something a little too sweet for my liking, but it came in my travel pouch so I let it be there.

Last but not least, two essentials. Oil blotters by The Body Shop (a must in this crazy humidity) and a mini deodorant spray by Sephora. Normally I would stock up on the Sephora Deodorant Wipes. They are easy to carry in your bag and great for a quick freshening up midday. I picked up the spray this time around as I believe it was something new at Sephora SG. Since i’m yet to use this, can’t tell you anything except that it will fit into your tiniest of clutches, no problem 🙂

So that concludes my ‘What’s in my bag’ mini post! I hope you found it a useful read and discovered something new.

Wishing you a great start to the week AND new year, Michelle.

Makeup

December favourites

December 30, 2014August 1, 2015by Bubbly Michelle11 Comments

Given that most of these last months have been spent living out of a suitcase, it’s been rather difficult to determine favourites each month. Luckily December was more anchored and I have had decent access to makeup and I finally put together an informative (In my opinion at least) post on what I have been reaching for the most these holidays.

Please note, some of the products are fairly new to me and are first impressions and by no means what i’d call a ‘proper review’. This post is purely me sharing favourites and I hope you find it useful!

Anyways, chatter aside, here’s the menu for today!

As you may have noticed, I haven’t included any eyeshadows as there were just too many favourites to cover, I thought i’d edit it and focus on the most used. First up a bunch of lipsticks I have been enjoying loads.. maybe just a bit too much come to think about it, as I’ve clearly neglected everything else I had brought along with me!

Left to right, it’s Alexander, Matthew, Ruby Rush & First Time. From the latest Tom Ford releases the clear winners to me were the matte lipsticks, excelling in texture as well as coverage. They aren’t as drying as regular matte lipsticks and are perfect for those with eternally parched lips like mine. If you are a red lipstick lover i’d suggest Ruby Rush. It’s currently my favourite red and last hours upon hours without any fading or slipping around. It’s a prefect candidate for party looks as it’s pretty ‘sip resistant’. For nude lip lovers First Time would be an ideal choice. A pink beige nude, this would suit most complexions below NC35 beautifully. And of course, the pigmentation of these are just stellar and unrivaled.

Moving on to the 50 Lips and Boys released I have been wearing mostly Matthew and Alexander. Between the two i’d say Alexander was harder to wear (in terms of tone) and application was rather tricky too, but still made it to my favourites as it was a rather unique pink in my collection. Matthew on the other hand was a dream as far as application is concerned and was very similar to the regular Tom Ford lipstick formula. I believe it’s a must have for spring or summer and truth be told who could possibly resist such a pretty peachy coral, yes? Next up two darlings from Hourglass.

So I may be a bit late to rave about how amazing Hourglass blushes are. Mostly due to the fact that I am easily put off by overhyped products also I wasn’t reaching for my one and only Hourglass Ambient Powder as much as i’d like. Luckily for me, Hourglass recently released their blushes in palette form! And the exclusive shade that was included in this palette was just too tempting to pass. I use this on days where I just can’t decide which blush to pair with my makeup (which are most days, since i’m eternally running late!). All of them are very flattering and pretty much suit every day-makeup look I have ever worn! The blushes are easy to work with and add a youthful glow. I also love that these blend like a dream and diffuse the colour for an almost airbrushed glowy look even if you use a s***** brush. Hourglass blushes are a great beginners product to invest in. Two thumbs up!

Apart from that I also have been enjoying the Hourglass Ambient powder in Luminous light paired with this (blush palette) as well as other blushes for a subtle daytime highlight. Although Kevyn Aucoin Candlelight still remains my HG highlighter, the Hourglass one is a close second for it’s ease of use and complexion friendly colour.

Next up, is this fabulous new addition to my complexion product arsenal. The Gucci Luxe Finishing Powder. This ultra finely milled powder glides on like silk and sets makeup without the powdery look. No more powdery, cake face! On oily to combination skin this lasts around 3 hours before the first blot (just around the t-zone) therefore I can’t say it has commendable oil control properties. However I still love this for ease of use and is the very first pressed setting powder i’ve truly loved as most pressed setting powders can be very noticeable and powdery once applied. P.S- The shade I use is 040 Medium which suits light medium complexions.

Now onto a holiday release for 2014. The Guerlain Meteorites Perles d’Etoile. I have been using this as a warming blush paired with a red lip. It adds just enough colour for a rich festive look. I believe it’s important to stress that this LE version is more shimmery compared to the regular meteorites in the permanent collection and has a reddish golden glow. For those of you who are very light in colour the red may show up excessively, i’d suggest taking out the red ball (I only had one in my tin!) and using just the rest for a beigey golden glimmer. It’s actually a very wearable shimmer that doesn’t look cheap or loud. I highly recommend this product.

More holiday releases, and one random eye liner. From the Nars holiday release one of my favourites have been this ultra wearable lip gloss Corsica. I have been reaching for this a TONNE. A perfect my-lips-but-better colour for medium complexions as well as flattering pinky brown for lighter complexions, this one’s a work horse.

Next up, my favourite highlighter for the eyes. Lithe, from the MAC Gold-Beige pigments set from MAC Holiday 2014 gifting collection. This pigment is ultra fine and looks amazing as a inner eye highlight. It isn’t overly warm and the beigey tones pretty much make it a suit-all-complexions shade. I also like pretty much all the colours in this pigment set, especially the matte brown one! Just gorgeous.

Another recent release that has been much loved is my Ettusais Creamy Lip Crayon. I love the pink one best from the five that released. They are easy to use and take up minimal space in ones handbag for quick touch ups. On top of that these have Rose Hip oil for conditioning the lips and are fragrance free, which makes this a winner to me!

Lastly, Eyeko Eye Do eyeliner. I have mentioned this several times before as one of those fool proof eyeliners that are very easy to use. I love the felt tip that gives maximum control while the precision tip easily creates an enviable flick to your cat eye liner looks. It’s my go to these days and I am already on my second one. My only beef with this product is that if I open the cap in a hurry i’ve noticed the ink splashes! I have experienced this a few times and have now learnt to open the cap slooooowlllyyy.. apart from that little annoyance, it’s a great product.

For blush options, my favourites are NARS Madly (a warm beige) & NARS Ukraine blush (a deep cranberry shade). Madly has been my go to blush topped with Hourglass Luminous light powder. And for a pop of colour I use Ukraine on just the apples of my cheeks for a very season appropriate flush. Both are highly pigmented and last all day (i’m talking well over 7-8 hours, maybe even more). I specially recommend Madly for day to day wear for adding a soft contour and colour to your cheeks. Excellent product as expected by NARS.

Another unexpected favourite from daily blushes has been Modest Blush by MAC from their holiday release, The Heirloom Collection. It’s a soft dusty pink which adds the subtlest flush. I love how easily this blends and is very finely milled. Something i’d recommend to girls who love a girly flush and colour phobic.

So girls, that’s rounds up my favourites for the month of December, all amazing products in terms of quality and wear.

Which products have you been enjoying lately? If there are any you’ve found back up worthy or repurchasing, please share! I’d love to hear suggestions.

Lifestyle, Makeup, Skincare

5 Simple steps to get the ‘glow’

August 4, 2014August 4, 2014by Bubbly Michelle12 Comments

‘Lit from within’, ‘glowing skin’ phrases we hear almost everywhere. Personally I am sick of hearing it over & over, but then it’s summer, who doesn’t want to look healthy and glowy right?

So here’s a guide to achieving glowing skin. A 15 min manual if you may, cos I know we all are pressed for time!

I like to start with skincare. As no amount of makeup can make up for unhealthy skin.

Also since this is a quick guide. I am just focusing on speedy remedies. Starting with..

Exfoliation
As you may already know, our skin is made up of layers and layers of cells. The oldest layer being right on the top.
As skin renews its self and constantly pushes new cells to the surface, this older layer sits on top and starts to accumulate as a coating covering the new healthy skin underneath. This is how you find skin to be dull and lackluster.
In order to achieve maximum luminosity, the accumulated dead skin cells need to be gently brushed away. So we use an exfoliator. Personally I prefer a chemical exfoliator over a mechanical exfoliator (regular face scrubs or wash cloths) which is a very mild form of exfoliation using peeling products with fruit acids or lactic acids (which I shall do a separate post on later). But since many of you are most likely to have a scrub of some sort at hand, I say grab that. If it’s a brightening exfoliator, even better!

Gently exfoliate your skin with this. Vigorous, over enthusiastic buffing is not advised as this leads to broken capillaries and sensitized skin which leads to red and raw skin. Not the look we are aiming for.

Moisturize
For the new skin to be glowy we need to ‘water’ it.
Exfoliation temporarily takes away the natural layer of sebum on top of your skin. So we absolutely must moisturise after exfoliation. This stops skin from loosing its moisture as well as help retain and capture moisture to the upper layers with the help of ingredients such as Hyaluronic acid.
Moisturisers also help temporarily take care of dry flaky skin. Which is the key culprit that inhibits light reflecting off your face (which is what creates the said glow we are after). The best way to explain this is, think of how light reflects off a smooth flat surface as opposed to an uneven bumpy surface. You see where I am going with this right?

Bronze
So it’s summer and the hottest chicks around are sporting a tan. Why aren’t you? Let me break down the benefits of a little tan.
1) Bronzing instantly slims down your face. Especially if you concentrate it towards the outer areas of your face when you bronze. So Ideally you do a quick sweep all over and then go back again just around the outer parameter deepening the tan.
2) You are instantly able to wear brighter lipsticks and blushes than what you are usually confortable with, which in turn draw attention to your features. AND you can easily pull off more dramatic makeup looks! As much as the ‘pale and interesting’ look can be appealing, try a bit of bronzing if only for summer.
3) You look like you came back from an exotic vacation. To me, this is reason enough!

Highlight
So bronzing and highlighting go hand in hand. When a bronzer darkens and ‘recedes’, you need to ‘bring out’ certain areas of your face with a little highlighter. This instantly lifts your features and make them look more sharp and defined. A little highlighter dusted on the high points of your cheekbones, bridge of your nose and chin goes a long way.
If you are naturally oily around the t zone, you can skip the nose as you are most likely averse to highlighting that area.
However I find that if you use a good mattifier under makeup, then this is an extra step that makes your skin look beautiful. As much as I hate oil, I love a lit from within glow. And a highlighter is the quickest way to give you bucket loads of this.
*Of course less is more. Always keep that in mind when using a highlighter. In general use a very sparse, tapered brush or a fan brush for best results.

Finishing powder
This is the final step. A good finishing powder is like the invisible butler. You never see it but you know that the job is being done. So what exactly does a finishing powder do?
It essentially smooth’s out the complexion, like photo shopping an image.
Pores and fine lines are blurred and look less visible. Also the fine shimmer in these helps light reflect off your face better giving you ‘the glow’. It basically makes your skin look healthy and even. I personally never skip this step. Hence why I have my trusty Guerlain Meteorites with me no matter where I travel!

So there you have it. The secret to healthy and beautiful skin. Although it was a lot to read, this only takes a very little time when you actually get down to doing it. After which you are left with gorgeous youthful fresh skin that is luminous!
I hope you enjoyed this post and stay tuned for some body basics that will be coming up later this week to help you get the ultimate summer/beach ready body.

Wishing all of you a happy week ahead!
xx
Michelle.

Lifestyle, Makeup

Packing a travel makeup bag

July 19, 2014July 19, 2014by Bubbly Michelle18 Comments

What better time to do a post on how to pack a travel makeup bag other than when I am about to travel right? So here I am transiting in SL, waiting for some last minute documentation to come through and head on a nice little summer vacation to an undisclosed place 😉
In the mean time let me show you what I’ve packed.

This looks like a lot. And yeah maybe it is. But other than those few extra eye palettes, everything else is my day to day makeup. Plus it’s for a slightly longish trip so I needed a few extras to avoid regret!

To make sure you don’t miss anything, I suggest you follow a check list or pack things in the sequence you apply your makeup, so you go step by step and don’t forget anything. I have a nasty habit of leaving mascaras and eye primers behind, so I have finally, FINALLY got a checklist ready to make sure I don’t leave things behind in future!

So here’s a list of what would essentially be in my travel makeup bag.

1) Foundation (Or BB cream, tinted moisturizer depending on preference)

2) Primer* (Essential if you want to keep your foundation in place. No time for touch ups when you are busy relaxing or just having fun right?)

3) Concealer

4) Setting Powder (I use the Chanel Les Beiges in 02 and I also packed a little sample of my La Mer powder in a Sephora jar as well!)

5) Finishing Powder (Optional)

6) Bronzer (Optional)

7) Blush (One pink and one coral toned is ideal so that there’s something that matches your lipstick choices, if you wear deeper shades of lipstick, a nude or a beige blush will be good to have as well)

8) Highlighter (I didn’t pack a separate highlighter as I plan on using the lightest shade of my Edward Bess Quad Royale! Love a good multitasker)

9) Eye Primer

10) Eyeshadow palettes (Easier to travel with than packing a load of singles. I usually pick one neutral quad for daytime and a smokey quad for night, I also pack a peachy shade too cos I am obsessed with peach and can’t live without a peach fix even while I’m on vacay!)

11) Eye liner (Liquid or khol liner depending on preference. And if you are heading somewhere beachy, some colourful waterproof eyeliners are a great addition since they are a fun, easy way to update a neutral day time look with minimal effort, and the best part is, they take up very little space and I love throwing a few of those in)

12) Mascara

13) Lash curler (Optional)

14) Brow products (Pencil or powder or BOTH if you are brow obsessed like me)

15) Lip products (I usually pack reds and nudes as they are easy to pair up with my daily looks)

So here’s more close ups of what I packed. I used my Laura Mercier Artists portfolio to pack a majority of these.

The foundation + Kevyn Aucoin SSE + primer ( I packed in a zip lock bag), lash curlers (in their original box) and the massive It Palette, they all went in my cabin bag safe and sound, tucked between my clothes for extra cushioning. The Guerlain travel Meteorites though I packed in their original box and put it in my hand luggage as it’s packaging is fragile. I don’t want to have to deal with a cracked jar while on vacay! Instant fun spoiler >.< .

As you can see I went to town with lip products and eyeshadows, of course this is totally unnecessary and you don’t have to pack that much! In this case the eyeshadows were packed mainly cos I want to test them out for upcoming blog posts, and the extra lipsticks though are simply cos I like having tonnes of choice in the lip department as it’s usually an easy way to tie an outfit together and look well groomed without much effort. Normally I transfer all of these into a little pouch when I arrive at my destination so that they are in one place for easy access when I put my makeup on.

So there you have it. Packing made simple. Of course many things I included are luxuries to have while on vacay. But if you are like me and consider your daily makeup routine more of a relaxing ritual, then all of these are essentials 😉

Finally, thank you for dropping by today, I wish you all a wonderful weekend, and don’t forget to enter the Benefit Giveaway thats open to Singapore residents (P.S- make sure you read the giveaway instructions well so that your entry qualifies for the giveaway).

Michelle.

Makeup

Summer Dreams

June 10, 2014June 10, 2014by Bubbly Michelle5 Comments

So it’s finally summer! Armed with two beach vacations under my belt, I believe I am ready to dish my list of essentials for a sunny getaway.

Here’s the round up.

If you hadn’t noticed already, I am a huge fan of bronzing.

Personally I don’t think pasty white legs or face for that matter looks very beach worthy. So for a skin safe option (Cos nobody wants to run the risk of getting skin cancer), I like to pack a bronzer or two. Golden and glowy, the safe way.

The two I have been loving the most so far are my Chanel Les Beiges in No. 02 that came out this summer and this older LE version which I have been enjoying as a blush. It’s actually the ideal mix of corally pink bronze that mimics the natural light rosiness you get on the high points of your face after a good day in the sun. (I like to use the top three stripes, as it’s the darkest and suits my current NC 35 skin well)

So to talk more about the Les Beiges No. 02 since it’s still available…

This is a very light bronzer to add just a hint of warmth to your face. I usually use the top two stripes. And the top most stripe (which is the lightest) contains a very light shimmer and imparts a radiant glow (You can use it alone as a subtle highlighter). The last stripe if used by itself is great as a summer blusher or defining your cheekbone a bit more for a soft contoured look.

Bottom line, it’s a very finely milled luxurious product that’s of good quality. I highly recommend it.

Next up, I want to share something i’ve been loving for a while now, not only is it conveniently packaged for travel. It’s also a quality product that works!

The Cle de Peau Concealer.

Needs no introduction, and is indispensable for covering up any blemishes or dark under eyes circles.

I usually don’t wear foundation while on vacay as I like my makeup fresh and light and this is perfect for covering up the nasty little blemishes that may pop up and evens out the complexion. If your budget permits, it’s worth picking up!

Another summer favourite are cream blushes. They are perfect for adding colour without the powdery feel. And usually longer wearing and budge proof compared to their powder counterparts.

My personal favourites are coral blushes, and Chanel Intonation is the perfect bright coral to rock with your freshly acquired tan. It’s super easy to apply (I just use fingers FYI ) and get a believable, natural flush every time. Just make sure you pat and blend well so that you don’t end up with a harsh streak of blush across your cheek.

For eyes, the obvious. Water proof mascara.

It’s a must have for keeping your eyes looking defined and wide open. I usually never wear waterproof mascara, but always pick one up during the summer months specially for hitting the beach. One of the best out there are by Helena Rubinstein. Her line of mascaras are HG material. And I love them. They last all day and are budge proof.

Another eye essential is colourful bright eye liner. Somehow every year this trend keeps coming back and I really love it.

It’s a great way to add a fun touch of colour to define your eyes and draw attention to them. For waterproof versions, the Stila ones are great and they come in a load of gorgeous colours. My current favourite is this pretty, light blue liquid liner I packed last weekend for my trip to Krabi.

So eye shadow is not something i’d consider a summer vacation staple. But if there was one eyeshadow I recommend you take on your beach vacay, it’s Kauai.

Kauai was a LE duo that came out this spring and if you didn’t pick it up.. ooops! you missed out on something amazing! The gold and purple combo is soo buttery smooth and the pigmentation was out of this world. It is by far my favourite Nars duo ever. The gold in this is perfect for a wash of colour and I paired it with this pretty aqua blue YSL liner from Summer 2014 for a quick eye makeup look.

The purple shade was great for night time, and creates a very fresh smoky look when paired with the gold.

So if you didn’t get a hold of this, I highly recommend you check out the Nars duos that came out for summer this year. Do not miss out! (The green/lavender version is stunning for those who are bolder with their eye makeup, and the pigmentation was excellent!)

Now onto Lips!

So I packed a few bright lipsticks, but none of them ended up being used! But guess what I did use everyday as my go-to lip colour?

This new lip tint by Clio!

It was an unexpected find while on a routine visit to the drug stores. I love that it’s quite moist on the lips and feels feather light and undetectable due to it’s watery texture. This is one of my top favourite products this summer and very budget friendly, and I highly recommend it.

Lastly here are some new summer fragrances that I have been enjoying.

Below is a lovely little travel set of Guerlain EDT’s that released for summer in the DF. It comes with 4 fragrances that are light and fresh.

The Manderine Basilic was my favourite and has a very uplifting effect. Perfect for a quick splash in the mornings to wake up the senses before heading out.

Also another great makeup bag essential I chanced upon is this gel type perfume by L’occitane. I love the convenience of this type of packaging as its’ spill proof and great for mid day touch ups.

Plus the gel is quite interesting so it caught my eye! haha I just had to have it.

The fragrance is very fresh and slightly sweet. And if you are someone who like more feminine scents, this one’s for you!

So that’s what I have been enjoying this summer. Of course if I find more interesting summer goodies i’d be sure to keep you informed. But for now, these get my stamp of approval as they are of excellent quality and travel friendly.

Thank you for reading.

Wishing you a fab week ahead!

Makeup, Skincare

April Favourites 2014

May 5, 2014May 5, 2014by Bubbly Michelle5 Comments

Another month gone! So it’s time for a favourites post. Yeah thooooose patchy entries lol!
So this month was pretty much mostly about lipstick. Nearly every brand I loved, released one form or the other of liquid lipsticks. Matte AND gloss versions!

Apart from the lip products there’s also new base products I’ve been trying out as well.. so read on and I hope you like the mix of things I plan to share with you today!

…Starting with lipsticks…

The Shu Uemura Tint in Gelato sticks which were the first to release. They are a matte liquid lipstick formula that can also be used as a cream blush for cheeks. In general I am not all for matte lipsticks as they can be pretty drying and uncomfortable to wear. However I feel the Gelato sticks are something in between matte and cream lipsticks and are of a whipped texture. They aren’t drying and don’t have that extreme matte feel.

My most go-to is PK03, the one I initially thought was unflattering on me! >.<

Next to release were the Dior Fluid Sticks. A hybrid between gloss and lipstick. This wore with an intense shine while at the same time packing on some serious colour! I found the feather light formula comfortable to wear and was quite long lasting (as far as gloss lipsticks go). And if you have a weakness for red, as do I, this collection is heaven sent.

The last installment of the liquid lipstick was the Lancôme Lip Lover. They just released in May but I had the opportunity to sample them before they hit the stores. I felt they were very well pigmented lip glosses and not necessarily lipsticks. The one thing that stood out though was that they looked so juicy when applied. My lips looked plump and lip lines were visibly reduced so they looked more luscious and ‘kissable’. I also loved how the colours mix well together and you could do a no fuss ombre lip with these in 30 secs.

Apart from the liquid lipsticks I also enjoyed #18 Colour Crush Shine lipstick by The Body Shop. It was a perfect non fussy lipstick (coral peach) for everyday use, which didn’t break the bank. I’d highly recommend that one if you are looking for something new to try.

Now onto base products!

I am very happy to say that I think I may have found the perfect foundation for myself colour and finish wise. The Chantecaille Future Skin foundation.

I really love how light the texture is and that it looks soo skin-like. There’s no way anyone would detect this on your face EVER! And given that I find it soo darn hard getting a proper foundation colour match (without having to mix two shades). I was ecstatic that the shade Chamomile matched perfectly.

It’s an oil free water based formula, so it doesn’t add to an already oily situation which we deal with in hot weather like this. What’s more, it’s specially formulated to keep skin feeling hydrated all day! So your makeup stays looking fresh throughout.

Another excellent new find is the Dolce & Gabbana Perfect Luminous foundation. This is a more fuller coverage foundation compared to the Chantecaille one. I love the smooth finish and it sits on the skin well. It also doesn’t oxidise on me and is perfect for mixing with Future skin if you want higher coverage with a more skin like finish. Both wore very well, although blotting was inevitable around the 4-5 hour.

You can read more about this foundation over here at my sweet friend MonsiieurAlexx’s blog 🙂

And finally onto something I’ve been steadily using since January but never did a full review on! The amazing Clé de Peau concealer. This is the best concealer I have ever tried. And I love it for the undereyes as so far nothing I’ve tried has managed to achieve such opaque coverage with a lightweight formula. It’s slightly on the dryer side so I recommend never skipping eye cream when using this.

One of the pluses of a dryer formula is that they don’t slide around and migrate as your day goes on. It stays put. Although many claim that this doesn’t settle into lines, I find that it does. Minimally though. Maybe cos my two wrinkles are pretty deep >.< Anyhow, overall I am in love with this and would recommend it to everyone who is on the look out for a good concealer. On the downside, it’s not the most wallet friendly option!

Come Spring/Summer I start including my trusty old Guerlain Terracotta bronzer in my daily routine! This little fella and I go a long long way back. Been almost two years now and we still love each other very much. If you are looking for a bronzer without that evil orange undertone, you need to stop by the Guerlain counter. They make the best. I use this to warm up my complexion whenever I tan so that my face matches my arms.

My current shade is 03, meant for beige complexions (01, 03 are for warm undertones and 02, 04 are for those with cooler undertones). Unless you are very fair, the shade 01 might be a little too light of a bronzer. I feel many could get away with 03 depending on how much product you use in one sitting. I actually need only a very little to warm up my face as this is a significantly dark shade. But the slight satin finish and the weightless formula is undetectable and I love that about it.

Another good one to try is the 4 seasons bronzer by Guerlain which was a newer addition to its range of permanent bronzing powder products.

On to more powder products that I have been loving lately, this gorgeous Chanel Blush in the shade In Love. I totally forgot to take a close up of this beauty but it’s a blush that would universally flatter warmer skin tones. I love this satin peachy beige, as it pairs extremely well with smokey eyes or on days when you want to go for a natural look.

Now moving on to a few eyeliners that made it into my HG products.

The Shu Uemura Calligraph:ink liner and the Long Lasting Soft Gel Pencil. Both are incredible as far as pigmentation goes. The blackest black I have ever seen. I have tried many drugstore and high end liners and they don’t even compare to these. Pure love!

You can read more about this product in a comparison review I did a few posts back.

And finally as we near the end of my favourites post, I want to sneak in this new UV protection I’ve been trying. It’s by Avène. Their Day Protector UV EX which has SPF 30 .

Possibly the best sunscreen I have used as far as texture goes. I love that it feels more like a moisturizer than a sunscreen and absorbs easily without leaving any oily residue. A full review on this will be up hopefully by next week. Just in time for you to stock up on sunscreen for Summer!

So last but not least brushes!

I know some of you love brush reviews so here are a few that I’ve been really enjoying this last month. All are new brushes from my last Hakuhodo haul. Initial entires here and here.

First up is this magnificent brush, the Hakuhodo Kokutan blush brush H2282. Possibly the most luxurious brush in my possession. And yes! Love it more than the Tom Ford one.

The soft bristles are tapered and apply blush with the lightest feathery stroke. Although I looks similar in shape to the Chikuhodo Z4 I find this one a tiny bit smaller and a very good size for my face. Between the two if I had to pick, it would be the Kokutan brush, as it has a softer, lighter touch.

Apart from performance, it’s very hard to ignore the beauty of a wooden handle with signature carved Japanese lettering. Just a work of art. I will most certainly be buying more of those!

Second up, no surprise here, is the J5523. The work horse of my brush collection. This is actually the second one I purchased and I use them everyday! It’s so easy to use and is very soft and blends all eye makeup without causing any irritation. If you love your Mac 217, then this is something you need to try. It’s the Mac 217 on steroids!

Lastly the final final favourite of the month, the Hakuhodo B133 a flat eye brush made of Canadian squirrel hair. This is used for placing and building up eyeshadow on the lid. I really love it for it’s impossibly soft feel. And the size is just perfect without it being too big or too small. Something luxe to have in anyone’s collection.

With that I conclude my lengthy favourites post! Thank you for dropping by,

Michelle.

Makeup

Guerlain Universal Eyebrow kit

April 1, 2014April 11, 2014by Bubbly Michelle5 Comments

So after a whole week of testing, it’s time for a review… The Guerlain Universal brow kit.

In my eyes Guerlain could do no wrong. I love their products right from the packaging down to the faultless formula. Being a big fan of their bronzers and Météorites (reviewed here) , I was super excited to see a new product! And before I knew it, it was on my wishlist! Luckily for me though I was sent a sample by the lovely people at LuxAsia 🙂 And although I’ve been sitting on it for a while, glad that I unboxed this and got busy with my reviewing.

As always starting off with the packaging.

This brow kit comes in a sleek, lacquered black case (not the cheap shiny plastic rubbish) with the Guerlain logo etched in. I love the size of this, compact yet weighty so it doesn’t feel flimsy, it screams luxury at every perfectly curved corner.

Inside is a dual ended brow tool which has a spooly at one end and a brow brush on the other, personally I found this a bit too short and felt awkward and clumsy holding it, I’d rather use my regular brow brush, but for an emergency this brush would do just fine!

Also housed in this, is a decent sized mirror that’s good enough for on the go makeup touch ups in case the need arises.

So this palette comes with 4 colours. Three of which are brow powders and one brow highlighter shade.

I really love the idea of 3 brow colours as opposed to 2, which most companies offer these days. I believe this is great for people like me whose hair colour changes with the seasons. Mine’s courtesy of a 3 hour hair appointment! 😉 But you get what I mean. Scrutinising the brow shades further, I find this palette might not work for everyone, although the name implies that it would. All the colours lean warm and makes me wonder, what about those palest blondes who usually sport a cool toned grey brows?

Luckily where I live, not many fit that description so I think it’s safe to say this one will work for many without any problem 🙂

Top to bottom

A pale pink highlighter shade

A light warm brown

A medium warm brown with red undertones

A dark warm brown

In case you were wondering how I fill in my brows with this palette, this is how I do it.

I start from outlining the lower brow line with the medium brown shade (I find the brow brush enclosed in the compact perfect for this as it’s very slim and stiff so a precise line can be achieved). Then I fill in the middle portion of the brows using the same shade. I then take the darkest shade and fill in the outer corner of the brows. Lastly I take the lightest shade and fill in the inner corner, rather lightly (I don’t want to end up with a scouse brow as Goss Makeup Artist terms it >.<) and Viola! Done!

If you fancy doing some brow highlighting, you could use the pinky shade just under the brows for an instant lifting effect. Although I need to mention at this point that this particular shade was a bit powdery.. I was afraid it’d look a bit chalky, but it’s not noticeable when blended out.

So here’s my brows done with this palette 🙂

Now if you have very sparse brows with gaps in between, usually a brow powder isn’t enough. You need to fill in any gaps with a hard brow pencil before we start filling them in with a brow powder. I usually prefer having a very precise brow look, so I always get a little extra help from one of my trusty brow pencils 🙂 Luckily though good brow pencils can be purchased at all price points so you don’t have to feel bad about using a brow pencil AND splurging on this palette.

Other Info-

This palette comes in one shade- 00 Universel

And retails for SGD 62.

It’s available at all Guerlain counters island wide, (Tangs, Takashimaya etc.)

Makeup

Guerlain Météorites 02 Clair (Comparison post between original and reformulated version)

March 24, 2014March 24, 2014by Bubbly Michelle6 Comments

Here’s another post that I’ve had several requests for, my thoughts on the reformulated Guerlain Météorites.

If you’ve been following my Instagram you’d know that it’s one of my favourite products in my everyday makeup arsenal. I adore it with all my heart. Trust me when I say, this product does ‘Photoshop’ your face. I have actually sat in front of a mirror facing a window and compared the sides of my face with and without Météorites. It’s like a vanishing act at a magic show. Pores are less visible, wrinkles somewhat blurry and face looks so smooth, like silk; and most importantly that unmistakable ‘Guerlain Glow’.

So you might start to wonder why in the world did they change the formula, why fix it if it ain’t broke? Well that’s the question I’d like the answer to as well!

Anyways, here’s my two cents on this whole thing. Just facts for you to digest.

Before we proceed any further here’s a quick look at the new ‘stardust’ technology that goes into the reformulated Guerlain Météorites and how it works (taken from the official press release).

Guerlain, skilfully creates a glow and highlights lovely skin, capturing the “gleam of stardust” for the first time. Each Météorites pearl contains a spherical pigment at its heart. On contact with light, it diffracts it in a new direction, converting light rays that are invisible to the naked eye into visible, correcting light.

As always let’s begin with the packaging. Keeping with tradition, the packaging of Guerlain products always looks luxurious and oh so covetable.

The new formula comes in a newly designed tin, shiny and beautiful, with a gorgeous fish scale imprint all around it and the lid adorned with a beautiful rosette in shades of pink. Also worth a mention is, instead of the usual sponge that sits on top of the Météorites pearls, we have this pretty little powder puff. I am not sure why this change took place, but can’t help but wonder if they intended it to be used for application..

Upon revealing the contents, there is one distinctive difference. The quantity of pearls in the tin is noticeably less (5g less to be precise). Now, to be quite honest I have had my Météorites for the last 2 years, using it pretty much everyday; and I haven’t really noticed the quantity of product drop, except for some of the pearls that have shrunken from use. I mean, if you bought one of these, my guess is you’d use it for a good 5 years. So the reduction in quantity is not a deal breaker to me. But I know some of you really do feel differently about it.

(L-R, 02 Clair, Teint Rose)

So as for as the product goes, I noticed that the new one is powdery, softer and the pearls more fragile, and if you look at the comparison of the amount of product that the brush picks up with two swirls, it’s a lot compared to the old version. Now this is where the ‘less product’ issue comes to play!

(top to bottom- Clair swirl, Teint Rose swirl)

Stemming from the softness of the pearls, I feel that once the product is applied, it is now more visible on the skin. For the first time in my life, I can actually see Météorites on my face. And that’s not necessarily a good thing. So for those of you who love brightening your face with white powders, you will love this new version (specially 01 Blanc de Perle or 02 Clair)! However my recommendation is to go with a shade that suits your skin tone if you truly want this to be undetectable (before you could pretty much get away with any shade of Meteorites as they all just melt into your complexion, although Teint Rose was my favourite as it had the most brightening effect, sans the white cast).

All in all, I still love Météorites, though I am quite partial to the older formula and mighty glad I have a backup.

I’d suggest you get a shade that sits as close as possible to your own skin colour and the results would be almost the same, except the extra powderiness.

Other info

There are 4 shades in this new and permanent collection of Météorites, from the ‘Blossom collection’

01 Blanc de Perle (Asia Exclusive)

02 Clair- PURE LIGHT FOR FAIR SKIN: within the legendary harmony, green pearls form a halo for skin prone to redness, white pearls reflect the light to make the complexion glow and champagne pearls become one with the skin tone to gently illuminate it.

03 Medium -TONE-ON-TONE LIGHT FOR MEDIUM SKIN: the most nude harmony, in which beige pearls act as complexion-perfecting agents, champagne pearls naturally reflect the light and peach pearls give a satin sheen and a unique glow to the skin.

04 Doré – WARM LIGHT FOR GOLDEN SKIN: the most smouldering harmony highlights beige pearls that even out the complexion, chocolate pearls with satin shimmers and vivifying fushia pearls that revive radiance for de- liciously beautiful skin.

Météorites Perles retail at all Guerlain counters in Singapore for $81

Mine was a sample sent for review by the lovely folk at LuxAsia 🙂