summer 2016 – Bubbly Michelle

NARS Get Dirty Lip Cover (Summer 2016) | Review, Photos & Swatches

July 20, 2016July 21, 2016by Bubbly Michelle1 Comment

So I wasn’t planning on reviewing these, but here I am! Let’s talk about NARS Lip Covers from Summer.

According to NARS,

Lip Covers are a highly pigmented liquid lipstick for a high fashion effect. Lip Covers deliver saturated slicks of coastal colour steeped in exclusivity & ease. Rich & lustrous. Luminous finish.

Packaging

The packaging is similar to the NARS glosses in size and shape, except these sport an all black exterior in matte black. They are difficult to keep clean as with most NARS packaging, highly prone to collecting fingerprints and stains as you’d expect.

The wand is a straight forward doe foot.

The tapered edge makes neat application a breeze and the flocked applicator smooths out the product with no streaks.

Formula

There has been much debate about the finish of the Lip Covers. Most bloggers comments were that they are a soft matte.

To put the confusion to rest, they are a cream finish. Think Armani Maestro liquid lipsticks. They aren’t glossy and they aren’t matte. It’s an in between creamy formula. Comfortable on the lips and hydrating in comparison to other liquid lipsticks on the market right now. Which are mostly matte as the current trend.

These Lip Covers are highly pigmented delivering awesome colour payoff in a single swipe (as seen above). They glide on like butter. No weird streaks to correct, no unevenness.

Here’s what they look like worn. 1st swatch is a single layer application. As you can see, opaque and smoothing. I like that they don’t emphasise lip lines.

The bottom swatch is after a single blot. I prefer the softer effect blotting creates and it’s how i’d normally wear them.

The colour still looks vibrant, but with a dulled shine. Low maintenance too since there’s less room to transfer &/or slide around therefore prolongs wear time.

Longevity & wear.

These wore around 4-5 hours on me. And since the colour is quite similar to my natural lips, the fading wasn’t obvious. I believe the reds would need to be reapplied more frequently.

Overall I found this to be very comfortable worn. No dryness or flaking. It’s a perfect formula in my eyes.

On to some comparisons I put together.

Clearly I had no difficulty rounding up a lineup of pink and peachy nudes! They are my favourite. Here’s how they compare.

1.Mac Kinda Sexy is more matte in comparison, lighter in tone and peachier.

2. Mac Whirl contains more brown tones and deeper.

3. Get Dirty is a warm medium to deep nude with terracotta tones.

4. Estée Lauder Naked Ambition* is one of my favourite nude liquid lipsticks. This has more of a neutral beige brown colour. Comfortable formula and quite similar in texture to NARS. I find these less pigmented and lustrous though.

5. By Terry Lady Bare* is slightly paler with less warm tones. Also less pigmented with semi opaque coverage. This one feels ‘wet’ on the lips.

6. Gerard Cosmetics Serenity* is more truer peachy nude. Also completely different in formula as this dries down to a solid matte.

7. Anastasia Crush* is a dusty, rosy light/medium pink. The most lightweight liquid lipstick I own and a true matte formula. Quite comfortable and a nice everyday MLBB shade. Best for fair skin tones as it’s deceivingly paler on the lips (contains a lot of white pigment and can look ashy).

8. Tom Ford First Time (matte). A lighter peachy pink nude. Quite similar to MAC Kinda Sexy but a better formula in terms of pigment.

9. Estée Lauder Pure Colour Envy in Potent is a paler pinky nude. The formula is creamy and hydrating though less pigmented than the NARS Lip Covers.

*Liquid lipsticks

Bottom Line

I really like these Lip Covers. Pigmented, comfortable on the lips and lasts well throughout the day. Touch ups aren’t difficult either as these don’t get crusty like most liquid lipstick formulas. Definitely a product to consider if you like a bold statement.

Note – If you prefer a liquid lip colour that doesn’t transfer, and sets, these AREN”T for you. There are other bulletproof products/formulations in the market that’ll suit your needs better.

For swatches of all 4 shades, you can check out my previous NARS summer preview post. Here.

Pricing & Availability

I believe I paid around SGD 45 for this.

Available at Tangs Orchard.

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

NARS Summer 2016 Preview : Photos & Swatches

April 1, 2016April 1, 2016by Bubbly Michelle5 Comments

Quick post on NARS summer today! A drool-worthy collection I had the privilege of previewing while in Singapore just a few weeks back.

I couldn’t post any swatches due to the embargo which was until April 1st, so here you go, finally, feast your eyes on all these beauties that’ll be hitting our warm sunny shores soon.

This new collection comes in gorgeous LE packaging with chic illustrations by the artist Konstantin Kakanias. Colourful and ultra summery!

I also love that each product gets it’s very own illustration/packaging which means…. MUST COLLECT THEM ALL!!!!

Summer 2016 is looking Good! ❤

Collection consists of,

4 all new Lip Cover liquid lipsticks – Overheated, Get Dirty, *Members Only, Do Not Disturb

4 Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow – Deep End, Tan Lines, Pool Shark, Topless

2 Dual-Intensity Blush – Liberation & Sexual Content.

Onto some photos I took at the preview.

Dual-Intensity shadows! One of my favourite eyeshadow formulas of all time!

Onto swatches!

How gorgeous is Pool Shark? A pretty iridescent periwinkle blue!

Next up, blushes! Two gorgeous duos that enhance a summer tan.

Lastly, what i’m most excited about, Lip Covers!

*Unfortunately Members Only won’t be available in Singapore.

That’s it for todays little preview, I hope you enjoyed the overview of NARS summer. I’ll be following up with some individual reviews & pricing etc. so stay tuned!

*NARS Summer is set to launch in Singapore in MAYYYYY!!!!

Makeup

Tom Ford Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo : Review, Photos & Swatches

March 26, 2016March 29, 2016by Bubbly Michelle20 Comments

Hello and happy Friday! Kicking off phase 2 of the Tom Ford Summer 2016 reviews starting with one of my favourite new releases, the Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo.

Bicoastal sports typical Tom Ford summer packaging. Glossy white with accents of gold for a luxurious yet light summery feel. The palette is a very compact size (same as the mini bronzers) and fits in the palm of your hand. I find this a good size for travel that doesn’t take up too much space.

As always these powder compacts also come with a matching white sleeve to protect the glossy white from staining and scratches. A nice touch which I believe adds value to an already splurge-y indulgence.

As seen above, there’s one highlighter and a brighter blush shade.

On top we have a light shimmering peachy pink. Very soft to the touch with excellent payoff & smooth application. It’s a perfect summer highlight to contrast on golden skin, something that a gold toned highlighter lacks. However on deeper skin tones I assume this would look slightly too pale.

I also observed, the extra shimmer content emphasises pores and texture a bit. However I do love how this looked paired with shade 2 applied just at the high points of the cheek to add that glow.

On the bottom we find a brightened, medium rose pink. It’s a delightfully vibrant pop of colour that pairs well with sun-kissed skin. The texture of this was less shimmery (more satin) in comparison to the highlighter shade and was harder pressed, therefore needing more pressure to pick up colour for swatches. With a brush however I had no problem as such and the product picked up just fine.

On to swatches!

For comparisons sake I swatched Bicoastal along with the other cheek products that come out this summer (both cream versions with Pink Sand a repromote), as you can see, the supposedly sheer, Sheer Cheek Duo Bicoastal swatches pretty intense. However for a more natural, sheerer effect, wet application is suggested.

Personally I really love how they look wet. It practically becomes one with the skin and imparts a very natural flush. And paired with a fresh summer tan, the stained cheek does look utterly effortless.

Application

For wet application i’d suggest lightly misting your brush with water, wiping off any excess on a tissue and dipping the brush in. A few swirls to pick up product and then you can start stippling on the area you want the most amount of colour (apples of your cheek) working your way to blending the edges and sweeping colour for the desired blush placement.

So far i’ve had no problem doing this over a powdered face, however if you prefer, this step could be done before you set your base with powder. Overall with wet application i’d suggest keeping the powdering to a minimum concentrating on areas that are oilier and truly need reenforcement. It just looks better on glossier, fresh skin rather than a completely matte complexion.

More swatches! This time alongside some of my Tom Ford blushes from the permanent collection.

Bicoastal is unlike anything that’s found in the permanent line up. I’m missing Savage here, though that’s more of a caramel toned blush.

On to a closer look at how this applies. I used the blush shade wet (using my Tom Ford blush brush) and the highlighter shade dry.

I love that the pink highlighter adds a pretty glow to the tops of my cheekbones and contrasts well without disappearing on my skin as a typical golden highlight would.

Bottom line

I love the quality and the finish of the product and I feel it’s good value for money considering there’s two products in one, AND each pan is fairly large in size.

I also like the option of wet or dry application, which comes handy when adding variety to the looks you can create with this palette.

Lastly considering the colour mix, it’s pretty flattering on practically all skin tones and the well pigmented formula will most certainly show up even on deeper complexions.

It’s a winner on all fronts!

Availability

Bicoastal will be available at the Tangs Tom Ford Beauty counter from May for a limited time.

Retail price, SGD 119.

For more swatches and a preview of the collection, please refer my previous post here.

Lastly thank you for reading and wishing you all a blessed Easter weekend! xx, Michelle.

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

Tom Ford Soleil Collection for Summer 2016 : Preview, Photos & Swatches

March 14, 2016May 6, 2016by Bubbly Michelle18 Comments

Finally getting down to typing up a post on the Tom Ford summer fragrance & colour collection I previewed last Thursday.

As with all things Tom Ford, the press event was a decadent affair. From the dapper butlers serving canapés & champagne, to the entire hotel suite transformed to look like an extension of a Tom Ford boutique, it seemed like no expense was spared.

In cosy settings invitees were encouraged to swatch and play with the new seasons offerings.

There’s loads of new lipsticks, complexion perfecting products & new additions to their Neroli Portofino fragrance collection AS WELL AS a brand new scent for summer. So much to get excited about!

My personal favourites as always are the lipsticks and there’re two new offerings this season. The Moisturecore Lip Colour & the Ultra-Rich Lip Colour.

The Moisturecore Lip Colours are a sheerer formulation with an outer casing of luminous, shimmery lip colour and an inner core of moisturising passion fruit oil for continuous hydration during wear. All shades contain a percentage of golden shimmer and a hint of pink (via the pink core) for soft summer lips to compliment sun-kissed skin.

The Ultra-Rich Lip Colour (not to be confused with the Lip Colour Sheer from previous releases) are a new high coverage lip colour with an exceptionally moisturising formula. They come in a satin & cream finish. Absolute must haves from this collection in my opinion.

*For a semi opaque lip, two passes is all you’ll need, though these don’t swatch as intense as the lipsticks from the permanent line.

To compliment the gorgeous lipsticks there’re two Cream Cheek Colours this season. We see Pink Sand back again (repromote from last summer) as well as a new addition Pineo Sole. A gorgeous golden bronze seen far right.

There’s also a new bronzer making it’s debut this summer. It’s a deeper warmer matte bronzer ideal for anyone that fits within a medium-deep to deep colouring.

Here’s a look at Bronze Age!

For those of you who prefer liquid bronzers to powders, the new Bronzing Primer is sure to pique your interest. It’s an ultra blendable creamy formula that imparts colour & luminosity to the complexion. I love that it’s not orange and a very natural looking shade. Something that’s suitable for the lightest as well as medium complexions. A light dab blended just on the cheekbones adds a tanned sheen as a day out in the sun would.

Onto some exciting repromotes this year, starting off with Firelust. A golden coral skin illuminator which can be used mixed in with your foundation or even moisturiser for glowing skin.

There’s also the Cream & Powder Eye Colours making a come back this summer, which i’ve already reviewed here if you are interested in swatches & my thoughts on these.

Apart from the colour collection that’s highly sought after, this season we see a new body product that’s bound to be a favourite. The Radiant Moisture Soufflé. It’s an unscented lightweight yet rich cream that’s infused with gold shimmer and skin loving ingredients to impart radiance & vitality to fatigued skin. The skin looks drenched in moisture and glowing gold. The perfect companion to take on all your summer vacations this year.

Definitely something I urge you to check out.

Now on to some swatches!

Starting off with the lipsticks here’re the Moisturecore Lip Colours.

Next up, Ultra-Rich Lip Colours,

Here’s a comparison swatch of Bronze Age bronzer against Terra and Gold dust. Also included are the two Cream Cheek Colours far right.

And some quick swatches of the Bronzing primer & Firelust.

Lastly, my thoughts & some swatches of the pièce de résistance, The Afternooner Soleil Contouring Compact and the stunning Sheer Cheek Duo, Bicoastal.

The Afternooner is a trio containing a golden beige highlighter, coral blush and a warm bronzer. The blush and bronzers were matte with soft shimmer dispersed within. However overall they both apply pretty much matte. The swatches came out well pigmented though the matte finish did somewhat affect the overall feel & texture. They don’t swatch as impressively as the regular Tom Ford blushes from the permanent line.

Bicoastal was my favourite between the two palettes. I found this swatched very similar to the Moodlight highlighter with the same rich silky feel. Both shades were well pigmented and blends easily. Needless to say I believe this palette is a must have so get it before it’s gone!

Now onto some swatches,

My picks!

My top picks of the collection were the Ultra-Rich Lip Colour Les Mepris, Purple Noon and also Moisturecore Lip Colours Carriacou and Mustique (both quite sheer and light shades). I believe the colours were absolutely stunning and pair well with a summer tan.

For those who missed out on Pink Sand last year, I highly recommend you grab one this time! It’s possibly the most perfect flush for summer time. And one of my all time favourite Tom Ford releases EVER. Also from the repromotes i’d recommend the Cream & Powder Eye Colours Naked Bronze (containing the cream colour Spice) as well as Golden Peach. These are excellent in terms of quality and are perfect for creating sultry eyes all year round.

Between the palettes I was strongly leaning towards Bicoastal, though I thought both make lovely palettes for travel. It’s a matter of choosing something suitable for your needs. Though just so you know, The Afternooner is a larger compact (similar to the full sized bronzers) and Bicoastal is a smaller more travel friendly size.

Concluding my Tom Ford summer preview, I hope you found this post useful! I tried my best to take as many swatches as I could. If you need any clarification or extra info about the products, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d get to you as soon as possible 🙂

Launch Info & Pricing

The Soleil collection is set to hit our shores in May retailing exclusively at the Tangs Tom Ford Beauty counter.

The Afternooner Contouring Compact – SGD180

Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo – SGD119

Resort to Pleasure Bronzing Primer – SGD97

Bronzing Powder Large, SGD160, Small SGD104

Pieno Sole, Pink Sand Cream Cheek Colour – SGD104

Fire Lust Skin Illuminator – SGD97

Radiant Moisture Soufflé – SGD165

Cream & Powder Eyeshadow duos – SGD85

Ultra-Rich Lip Colour – SGD75

Moisturecore Lip Colour – SGD77

Stay tuned for further updates via Instagram. Username – bubblymichelle

Lastly, a big thank you to the Tom Ford Singapore team for the invitation to preview summer! It was a pleasure joining you as always!