REVIEW: Sephora Members Sale

~AG~

Sephora was having 20% for its members last week. It created the perfect opportunity for us to stock up on some beauty products. 

AG Purchase

Fenty Beauty Bomb Baby Mini Lip and Face Set (S$23)
Two of Fenty Beauty's bestseller in a mini set. Their universal lip luminizer, Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow. The peach champagne Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter

 

Glamglow Supermud Clearing Treatment mini (S$25)
This activated charcoal mask is designed for those with oily and combination skin. It supposedly helps to clear clogged pores and minimizes pores. What is special about Glamglow Supermud is that it contains 6 acids: glycolic acid, salicylic acid, lactic acid, mandelic acid, pyruvic acid, and tartaric acid. 

Hourglass Veil Translucent Setting Powder mini (S$18) 
This ultra-refined mini powder formulated with light-reflecting particles to blur imperfections.
This powder blurs the appearance of pores, fine lines, and wrinkles for an airbrushed finish.  

MG Purchase

Kora Organics Turmeric 2-in-1 Brightening & Exfoliating Mask (S$68)
A 2-in-1 facial exfoliating mask that is designed to brighten and support skin cell renewal. It is a gentle alternative to AHAs or acid based glycols.  

Tatcha Violet-C Radiance Mask (S$95)
This wash-off mask was highly recommended by a friend. She mentioned that this mask will create a noticeable brightening effect after use. This anti-aging mask contains Japanese beautyberry that is high in antioxidants.

Dr GL Restore Gel Mask mini (S$18)
This skincare product is packed with antioxidant, anti inflammatory and antibacterial ingredients to soothe skin. It can be used as a mask or a gel moisturizer to counteract redness, irritation or dryness.

REVIEW: Travel-Size Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light

~AG~

Bought Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Diffused Light to try out. It is great that it comes in a travel size version. It costs US$22 (S$30) for the travel size version. On Hourglass website, the travel size version is available in 4 shades: 

The full-sized version retails for US $46 (S$63) and is available in 6 shades. Since it takes a long time to finish using a compact powder, the travel size version is perfect for me. The Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is an universal powder that recreates the most flattering light sources such as moonlight or candlelight. Each powder captures, diffused and softens surrounding light with groundbreaking Photoluminescent technology. By filtering out harsh lights, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder conceal skin imperfections, pores and wrinkles. The powder is suitable for all skin tones, and can be worn day and night.

Diffused Light is a warm pale yellow which is suitable for Asian skin tones. It conceals redness and gives skin clarity like the soft morning light.  I use the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder to set my concealer. It is a good soft powder that does not make the skin looks cakey. In terms of brightening, it does have finely milled shimmers, but the shimmers are less than that of highlighters and blushes. Overall, Hourglass Powder is a good powder to have to create a natural radiance. I would not hesitate to try the other shades available.

NEW BUY: Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder

Photo Credit: Sephora.com

~AG~

My HG Ettusais Quick Fix Powder had hit pan, so I decided to try a new pressed/setting powder. Walked into Sephora to look for a setting powder, and was confused with the numerous products there. I remember that Make Up For Ever (MUFE) is popular for their HD powder. The saleslady at the Make Up For Ever area suggested the Ultra HD Loose Powder, as it gives a more luminous finish. However, loose powder can get too messy for my liking. So I decided to buy the MUFE Ultra HD Pressed Powder in 01 Translucent. It costs S$61 for a 6.2g pressed powder. A heavy price tag for a pressed powder.

According to Sephora Singapore, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Pressed Powder is a micro-finishing pressed powder that gives a light matte effect and smooth, luminous finish. The invisible veil of powder combines synthetic mica, silicone powders and silica to instantly blur fine lines, pores and imperfections for a beautifully smooth complexion. Enriched with hyaluronic acid, ULTRA HD Pressed Powder also has moisture-retaining benefits.

After reading this, then I realized that this pressed powder contains hyaluronic acid. My skin does not react well with hyaluronic acid. Hope this MUFE Pressed Powder can work well on my skin and does not trigger any bumps. Will give a review of this product after an extended use of this pressed powder. Stay tuned!

REVIEW: Benefit Dandelion Travel Size

 ~AG~

Sharon Park, my wonderful makeup artist used this blush/highlighter on me for the prewedding (engagement) photoshoot and it surprisingly showed up well on my skin. Since I still have a handful of other blushes in my collection, getting a mini version makes me less guilty. This travel-sized version also comes with a soft bristle brush. Bought this from Ulta Beauty for US$15 (S$21). This box powder blush from Benefit is an iconic beauty product. Dandelion is a pale pink powder that has soft shimmers. This box powder gives a nice radiant glow. I would have never thought Dandelion would be suitable for my warm skin tone. For shade reference, I am Urban Decay Shade 3.0, Bourjois Shade 52 (Vanille), MAC NC 30, Bobbi Brown Beige (3) and Chanel Beige (10).

A soft pink shimmer

This box powder comes with a brush

Dandelion is a great highlighting powder to use everyday to achieve that healthy glow. You can layer it on to make the pink pop more. The good thing about this blush is that it will not be powdery even if you layer it on. *thumbs up* I would recommend Benefit Dandelion for those with light to medium skin tone. 

Q&A: innisfree no-sebum mineral pact

innisfree no-sebum mineral pact is a replacement for oil control paper that leaves the skin soft and matte. Its double sebum-control system controls the secretion of sebum to keep the skin soft and fresh all day long. Jeju minerals and mint control skin oil and moisture to keep skin healthy.

~MG~

Q: How much did you buy innisfree no-sebum mineral pact for?

A: Bought this powder pact at innisfree Singapore for S$17.

Q: Why did you decide to try this innisfree no-sebum mineral pact?
A: This is one of innisfree's best-sellers. There are plenty of good reviews about innisfree no-sebum mineral pact online. 

Q: How long have you been using this powder? 

A: Mine lasts me for more than 2 years. I used it 2 or 3 times a week to set my face makeup or to reduce the shine on my face. 

Q: What do you like about this product

A: The affordability of this setting powder is the highlight about this product. It costs under S$20, which is such a bargain. The packaging is compact and durable, making it very handy to travel with. The oil control of this powder is medium; and I would not say it has great lasting power. My skin did not have any allergic reaction to this innisfree powder. This mineral pact  also did not cause my acne-prone skin to breakout. 


Q: What do you want to improve about this product?

A: As it is a setting powder, there is no coverage. You need to blend it well as it is a white powder, if not you will look blotchy. Your face can look cakey if you apply too much powder.

Q: Would you recommend this powder to your friends? 
A: Would not repurchase because I prefer powder that is more finely milled. This innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder is not as fine.

Pictures courtesy of innisfreeworld.com

REVIEW: Ettusais Quick Fix Powder

Palm-sized powder compact

Cute pink and white packaging

~AG~

Bought this Ettusais Quick Fix Powder from Metro Paragon for S$28. It is rather pricey for a setting powder, but was in need of a good quality powder to keep my creamy concealer in place. This is my first Ettusais purchase in a long time. The last time I bought a product from Ettusais was in Secondary School, which was many years ago. The reason why I decided to try Ettusais powder is because of the good experience I had using one of Ettusais's powders during Bloom by Roseanne Trial Makeup Class. When I applied the Ettusais's loose powder, which is either the BB Mineral Powder or Premium CC Loose Powder, the texture was soft and nice. The powders were finely milled and did not leave my face looking cakey at all. The main reason that I did not purchase Ettusais BB Mineral Powder or Premium CC Loose Powder instead was due to the packaging. Loose powder packaging can be bulky to travel with, plus they tend to get messy during the application. With my past track record of leaving loose powder unused, I decided to go for a compact powder instead.

Naturally colored powder

Comes with a fluffy puff

The Smooth Fit Coat that covers each powder particle helps powders fit onto skin beautifully so your make-up won’t look cakey after touching up. The Shine Prevention Powder also prevents shine from showing too quickly and helps for a longer lasting finish. Contains SPF 10 PA ++. Ettusasis Quick Fix Powder is a colorless powder that sets makeup. Ettusais claims that the powder can even out skin texture and tone, without looking cakey. Furthermore, Ettusais's skin roughness preventing mineral powder claims to show beautiful, natural skin. 

After using Ettusais Quick Fix Powder for a week, I can safely say that this setting powder does not trigger any adverse reactions on my sensitive skin - no bumps or new breakouts were noticed during this time. The powder is very finely milled and feels natural on the skin. Yes, your face would not look cakey after applying it. Even though it is a setting powder, you have to generously apply the powder to notice its mattifying effect. The first few times I used this Ettusais Quick Fix Powder, I did not apply enough product to achieve the ideal matte look. After a few more tries,  and I finally found the magic formula and I was pleasantly surprised with the lasting power. When I checked my face at around 3pm (4 hours after application), my skin was still matte. *thumbs up* FYI, my T-zones tend to get oily after 2-3 hours.

Since it has little or no coverage, this powder will not do for those that prefers more coverage. In my case, Ettusais Quick Fix Powder's sole purpose was to keep my creamy under eye concealer in place, but it was able to perform its duties. With that being said, I will definitely try the other powder selections from Ettusais, as the powders are very soft and natural, and would not repurchase Ettusais Quick Fix Powder. 

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder Tips

The many uses of Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Powder

This affordable powder can be used not only for your face, but also on your hair and even on your nails. What a great tip!

 

~MG~

Credit: Innisfree

NEW BUY: Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Compact

 

 

 

~AG~

 

My Guerlain Meteorites Compact Powder (See: Guerlain Meteorites Compact Powder Review) broke to pieces a few weeks ago. I was so sad because I barely used it. I put what remained of it into my Shu Uemura Colorless Face Powder packaging. Below are pictures of my broken Guerlain Meteorites Powder.

 

 

 

Anyway, it was time for me to look a more trusty compact powder. Chanel Double Perfection Lumiere Long Wear Flawless Sunscreen Powder was the first choice that came to my mind. I had used it a few years ago while studying in the States. It was a great compact powder but I did not re-purchase it because of the expensive price tag. Another reason was because I stopped using face powder for a while. So, last week when I was flying off from Changi Airport, I took a look around Shilla Duty Free for the Chanel Double Perfection Powder. Unfortunately, the Chanel counter has not opened, it was still under renovation. I noticed the Giorgio Armani section and was instantly attracted to it. I have heard great things about Giorgio Armani foundations, so I decided to check it out. After wandering the duty free shop for other compact powder choices, I ended up going with Giorgio Armani Lasting Silk UV Compact. When I tested it on my skin, it had a nice texture and it did not feel too powdery. Plus, the shade (# 4) matched my skin perfectly.

 

The only downside is that the actual compact comes in two components. You have to buy the compact packaging ($52) and the powder (S$26) separately, which adds up to the total bill of $78. But it is also more environment-friendly and convenient because all you need to do is purchase the refill and replace it. It will be cheaper with subsequent use as you only need to purchase the S$26 refill powder. 

 

I will let you all know how well the powder works for me. I prefer compact powder that gives a light coverage and leave my skin looking matte, without being too powdery. I hope this Giorgio Armani compact powder live up to its expensive price tag.

 

 

 

REVIEW: Laura Mercier Undercover Pot

~AG~

The shade that I use is UC-3 which is for light to medium skin tone. It retails for USD$34 at Sephora. But I bought it during their Family & Friends sale. So there was a 15% or 20% off the retail price. Previously,  I have used the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. I somehow missed out on doing a review on that product on this blog. Anyway, I really liked the Secret Concealer. I used it to conceal my dark circles. The salmon shade help neutralise the darkness, and brightens the eye area. Its creamy consistency makes it glides on easily. Even though it is creamy, I find that it does not crease. Overall, it was a good under eye concealer 

I decided to get the Laura Mercier Undercover Pot because I thought it will be a great go-to concealer for travelling. Instead of bringing various concealers and loose powder while travelling, I had hope that this will meet all my concealing needs. The Secret Concealer (on the right side of the pot) to conceal dark circles and the Secret Camouflage (on the left side of the pot) to conceal redness and blemishes. Plus, it comes with the Translucent Loose Setting Powder to set the concealers. 

It turns out that I used the Secret Concealer faster than the Secret Camouflage and Translucent Loose Setting Powder. That bit of Secret Concealer lasted me less than six months. I use it everyday to conceal my dark circles. About the Secret Camouflage, it has a thicker consistency compared to Secret Concealer. It is also more yellow-based, and I find it more powdery. It does work to conceal redness, but it has a more light to medium coverage compared to my Cle de Peau concealer. So I have to apply more to cover up the redness around my nose. Sometimes, this tends to make my makeup looks cakey. It does not work well on huge blemishes because of the inadequate coverage. The Translucent Loose Setting Powder is pretty good. It does not make my makeup looks too powdery. It is rather finely milled. It does not have any color as it is a setting powder. I use a small powder brush to apply it. 

Overall, I do recommend it for those who want an all-in-one product for all their concealing needs. It is a convenient product to have in your makeup bag. However, if you are those that mostly need to conceal dark circles, I will recommend the Secret Concealer instead. Because the amount of Secret Concealer in Undercover Pot is too minimal, and Secret Camouflage does not work well on dark circles. But for those that need to conceal redness and minor blemishes, the Secret Camouflage is adequate. 

Above Left: The right side of the pot is the Secret Camouflage. On the left side of the pot, I have replaced it with my Bourjois foundation.  
Above Right: The Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

REVIEW: Shu Uemura Face Powder Colorless

~AG~

It is a review of the Shu Uemura Face Powder that I bought a few months ago. I bought the colorless one to use as a loose powder to set my makeup. The powder also comes in 4 other shades (7yr light, 7yr medium light, 5yr medium light and 5yr light.

The packaging is quite bulky and not convenient for traveling. It comes with a filter cover and a powder puff.

I started using the powder about two months ago. After applying concealer to my under eye areas and blemishes, I use the powder puff that comes with it to apply powder all over the face. I concentrate mostly on my T-zones where I am most oil-prone.

I will have to say that this powder gives a nice matte finish without looking too cakey. My skin looks more polished after application. Even though it is colorless, it does have some coverage. It makes my skin looks more even. The powder helps keep my concealer lasts longer. My under eye concealer can stay on for about 4-5 hours without melting off in this humid weather.

 (A picture of myself with Shu Uemura Face Powder on)

This powder did not cause my skin to have any adverse reaction.

It retails for US$39. For the quantity and quality given, I think it is worth the price. 

They longer have Shu Uemura cosmetic stores in the States so you can only buy it at their Shu Uemura USA website.
In Singapore, you can find it at Takshimaya,Tangs, Robinsons department store. Shu Uemura have their own stores islandwide. 

I will definitely repurchase this product.

REVIEW: Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte

Chanel Poudre Universelle Compacte in 20 Naturel (USD $45)

Imparts a translucent, natural matte finish when applied over makeup in the morning or as an anytime touch-up. Ultra-fine lightweight formula with light-reflecting pigments and luxuriously soft feel creates a flattering, halo-like look.

~AG~

This is a translucent pressed powder that gives a matte finish and provides minimal coverage. Contrary to its description,  I cannot see its light-reflecting properties on my skin. I bought it together with a Chanel Mat Lumiere foundation. It comes in several shades (20-Clair, 30-Naturel, 40-core, 140-Muscade). The Chanel sales associate matched Shade 20 Naturel to my skin-tone, but the powder itself does not have much color. Since I do not use much foundation on a daily basis, this pressed powder was highly neglected. 

However, much later on, I found a use for it. Since my Benefit Erasepaste concealer would melt when I apply it under my eyes during the summer, I used this pressed powder to set it. This pressed powder does help make my concealer more melt-proof. 

The only downside to this product is that it will look too powdery if you use the powder puff that comes with it. However, when I use a large powder brush instead, it is fine. When properly applied, it would not accentuate my fine lines. 

Overall, this is a good pressed powder for setting your makeup, though it is pricy. 
I recommend Chanel pressed powder for those with oily and combination skin. And will not recommend it for those with dry skin. The Guerlain pressed powder will work better for those with dry skin. 

REVIEW: Guerlain Meteorites Compact Powder in Teint Beige

Guerlain Meteorites Compact Powder in Teint Beige (02)

 





~AG~

PROS

• The floral embossed powder is beautiful
• The packaging looks metallic but is actually a plastic-like material —> Lightweight yet sturdy, great for traveling.
• Very softly milled and goes on flawlessly
• Has a sweet rose scent
• Gives a nice matte finish that is not too flat
• No to little coverage - great as a finishing powder

CONS

• The powder is too soft. The plastic cover accidentally scraped the powder and it broke to pieces. See pictures for details. On one occasion, my long fingernails scraped it and broke off a substantial amount of powder. My heart was in pain when it happened. So now, I’m extra cautious when using this powder.
• Some people might not like the obvious rose scent
• No coverage so it does not work well as a touch-up powder
• Pricey at USD $56

Shu Uemura Face Powder Colorless

~AG~

Soft matte finish with long lasting effects. This super fine, fitting, light-weight powder is comfortable on skin, without drying. Packaged with a specific puff designed for the finish.

Bought this loose powder recently because I have been looking for one to set my makeup, especially my under eye concealer. I saw my cousin using it, and she said that it was not too bad. She said there was a colorless one too. So I decided to try it instead of using my Guerlain compact, which I keep as a to-go touchup. Will try it and let you all know how it is.