Indigo Kir Royale

I've been meaning to post about the latest, ultra luscious lipstick range from Clinique for some time. It's their Pop Lip Colour + Primer lipsticks. I have been secretly and thoroughly enjoying these since I got them back in May(!) ;) It's been hard to keep up as there have been plenty of amazing new lipsticks released from various brands for their spring collections. Nonetheless, I share these with you now, because they are definitely worth checking out.

"Luxurious yet weightless formula merges bold, saturated colour with a smoothing primer. Glides on effortlessly to a modern-velvet finish. Colour stays true, keeps lips comfortably moisturized for 8 hours. Allergy Tested. 100% Fragrance Free."

There are 16 shades to choose from (grouped into nudes, tawnies, pinks and violets). I picked up three shades (above left to right): Cherry Pop (08) from the tawnies range, Punch Pop (10) and Wow Pop (11) from the pinks range. All shades have a demi-matte finish (velvety matte with a bit of luminosity). The formula glides on the lips smoothly and feels fairly creamy, yet doesn't seem to move about during wear (I'd say it's like a mix of a creamy lipstick and a lip balm). It also feels fairly lightweight, very comfortable and moisturising on the lips. The pigmentation is excellent with full colour achieved in a single swipe - at least with the three bright shades that I've picked up.

The packaging is relatively compact, simple and fairly sleek with its reflective silver cap and square-shaped tube. Love that the bottom half of the tube matches the shade of the lipstick so you can easily spot the colour you want. Below are the product description labels on the bottom of the lipstick tubes.

Wow Pop (11) is a "bright, blue pink creme". I think this would suit me more if it were just a little bit darker or it had less of a white base to it.

Punch Pop (10) is a "rich, fuchsia creme". This is my favourite of the three as it's the most flattering on my medium, olive (~NC30) skin tone, and it's not surprising that it's been my most worn lipstick for the past few months! It has such a lovely balance of brightness and depth/richness to it that makes it so easy to wear (i.e. not too loud) and easily lifts my complexion (aka face) - and consequently, my spirits! ^_^ I love it when a lipstick does that.

Cherry Pop (08) is a "rich, blue red creme". Again, I think I would love this shade more if it had been just a tad darker. But, I can see this would look absolutely stunning on those with fair complexions.

Swatches

Below are swatches photographed indoors using a strobe.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches. Chanel Rouge Allure lipstick in Pirate (99) is more blue-toned and deeper than Cherry Pop. Punch Pop is noticeably brighter, more saturated and more pigmented on the lips than Tom Ford Lip Color in Aphrodisiac (19) (the difference is more apparent in real life). Wow Pop is lighter (more white base and blue-toned) and brighter than Rouge Dior in Deauville (671).

Overall

Great, easy to wear lipstick formula with many shades to choose from so I highly recommend trying them out in store and seeing which shade(s) you fancy and suits you best. If you have medium, olive skin like me - definitely check out Punch Pop! I adore this shade on me and it's still my favoured go-to after months of wearing it most days. It makes me look alive even when I'm feeling so, so tired and hence, looking so haggard (esp. getting so close to my first child's due date!) - it's done wonders for me to the point of also feeling more alive on the inside. It's a shade that certainly lifts the spirits! I'll take whatever helps - thank you very much. *grin*

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for stopping by! ^_^ xo

Have you tried this range? What's your favourite shade? Do share in a comment below! :)

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If you blink you might just miss it(!), but Chanel have snuck in a new limited edition nail colour to celebrate the release of their new interpretation of the Chance fragrance - the "floral-zesty" Chance Eau Vive. Each Chance fragrance variation has a matching coloured nail polish and Fraîcheur (767) - a lovely, pretty, fresh, pale, warm-toned mint green is intended to pair with the Chance Eau Fraîche. It has very subtle, darker, metallic green iridescence to it. The other three shades are re-promoted colours: May (535) (reviewed here), Peche Nacrée (515) and Ballerina (167) - the very first Chanel nail polish I purchased!

Seeing it first online, I wasn't sure if it was going to look as pretty against my medium, olive (~NC30) skin tone, however now that I have it and tried it on, I'm glad I picked it up! I think the yellow undertone of the nail polish makes it go well with my skin tone and the finished look is beautiful and well...dare I say it again, fresh! It's like spring on my finger tips and a much welcomed one in this wintry cold climate down-under. :)

I prefer Fraîcheur's lighter shade to Dior's Waterlily (see comparison swatches further down below) as it looks that little bit more flattering and brightening against my skin tone and the lightness gives it more of a delicate, fresher and cleaner look.

Packaging

All Chanel nail polishes come in the square-shaped glass bottles. The square cap at the top can be removed and used to rest your finger tip on as you apply the nail polish.

The applicator brush is thin allowing for precise application. It makes it particularly easy for those with little or narrower nails.

Formula & Application

Fraîcheur requires at least 2-3 coats for decent coverage. The consistency of the nail polish is a little thinner than what I'm used to from Chanel, so at first application it seems as though it may leave uneven patches, but the formula does self-level fairly quickly which is a relief. So, you can easily gently dab a touch more polish over any thin patches to correct it and it will level out itself after a couple of seconds. Overall, the finish is nicely smooth and even. I haven't fully tested the longevity of this yet, but Chanel nail polishes typically last up to a week on my nails with very minor tip wear.

On My Nails...

Below are shots of Fraîcheur on my nails in two coats (no base or top coat used). For reference, I have medium, olive (~NC30) skin and all images (unless specified otherwise) were photographed indoors using a strobe.

Below - shows the darker, metallic green iridescence of Fraîcheur captured in full sun.

Comparison Swatches

Below is a comparison of Chanel's Fraîcheur with Dior's Waterlily (504) - a limited edition from Spring 2012 (reviewed here). Waterlily (applied only on my ring finger below) is 2 or 3 shades darker and when in full sun it also has the same darker metallic green iridescence to Chanel's, but there's more of it.

I have read Fraîcheur is comparable to Chanel Jade (407) - a long discontinued, popular shade which I unfortunately do not own, but check out All Lacquered Upand Color Me Loud for comparison swatches if you're interested.

Key Ingredients & Formula

"A bioceramic-based active ingredient, phycocoral, delivers calcium, iron, zinc and magnesium to the nails to strengthen them. Ceramides to help hydrate the nails. - A high concentration of pigments and/or pearlescent pigments for an intense lacquered result. A formula enriched with a cotton-derived resin for a sheer, shiny and resilient coat of colour. Formulation free of toluene, formaldehyde, dibutyl phthalate (DBP) and camphor. Dermatologist tested."

Size

13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.

Availability

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques in Australia while limited edition stocks last. I purchased mine from Chanel beauty boutique in Bondi. (I have not seen this in Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones, so I can't say for sure if these are only available from the boutique store or not. Do ring them to make sure!).

Verdict

I love Fraîcheur. I'm sure I will be showing her off a lot next month to celebrate spring! ^_^ If you're a fan of Chanel nail polishes like I am then I'd say this is worth adding to your collection. :)

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

Will you be picking up either the new Chanel Chance Eau Vive fragrance or this new nail polish? Do share in a comment below. :)

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Hi folks! Hope you've been well and looking forward to the new season (yay for spring down-under!). I've just become a new mum(!!), so apologies for being MIA. I've got so much to share in terms of new autumn collections, fave hair care products and makeup remover, but I just haven't had the time. Hopefully, I shall start getting them up over the coming weeks - maybe not all unfortunately, but at least a few *fingers crossed*. In the meantime, I thought I'd quickly share one of the latest and exciting products to have arrived at Indigo Kir Royale HQ and my first impressions of them. It is the Sakura (Brush) Collection by Chikuhodo and Beautylish. The first time these were released, they'd sold out pretty much instantly, so I was lucky to be able to pre-order the next time they'd restocked. They only just arrived recently after some delay. They appear to be out of stock again, but you can sign up for an email notification once they restock again. So do that if you are interested!

I'm already a fan of Shiseido, Hakuhodo and particularly Suqqu Japanese brush brands (you can do a search for these on my blog for reviews - see reviews here and here for example). This is my first venture into the Chikuhodo brand, which is quite popular among makeup brush lovers, so I'm thrilled to finally try them.

Here's a little something about the brand:

From its humble beginning of creating paint brushes for doll manufacturers, the Kumano, Japan–based Chikuhodo has built a reputation as one of the most respected makeup brush makers in the world. Every single brush is handmade over the course of a week, passing through more than 100 artisans and 60 steps. The result: the softest brushes your skin has ever felt, which are also expertly designed to make your favorite products work even better.

THE BRUSH SET

This limited edition collaboration between Chikuhodo and Beautylish features five exquisite brushes – designed by us and handcrafted in Japan.
The set features:

A Powder brush, made of Saikoho goat hair and gray squirrel. Perfect for contouring, highlighting, and applying a setting powder. The soft angle allows you to emphasize your most flattering facial features without disturbing your foundation.

A Cheek brush made from the hair of gray squirrel. It is designed to work with your favorite blush or highlighting powders.

A Crease brush made from the hair of blue squirrel. The unique shape makes it easy to blend the perfect smoky eye while the precise tip allows you to get deep into the crease.

A Shader brush made from the hair of blue squirrel. The soft edge of the brush is curved and dense enough to deposit and shade your favorite cream or powder shadows.

A Detail brush made from the hair of fitch. It is the ultimate detail brush. The precision tip is ideal to blend the smallest kohl liner or create the perfect lash line. It can also be used for applying concealer, lip color, or adding a highlight to the corner of your eye!

Above (from bottom): Powder brush, Cheek brush, Crease brush, Shader brush and Detail brush.

Above: the black lacquer handles with exquisite, floral art work in metallic paint.

Below: The set also comes with a small Chikuhodo pouch that you can easily wipe clean with a damp cloth. It has a velcro closure. There's also a bigger, zip pouch from Beautylish in black, which I can see using as a makeup case (pictured in the first two photos above).

Like many of the Japanese makeup brushes I've tried, these Chikuhodo brushes are relatively short (e.g., in comparison to Mac brushes), which suits my smaller than average hand and great for personal use. Some makeup artists on the other hand, prefer longer handles as they provide a greater distance when applying makeup on others. The Chikuhodo brushes are also very lightweight (similar to Suqqu brushes) and have an even distribution of weight across each brush, which makes them travel friendly and easy to hold. Below is the Chikuhodo Powder Brush with respect to my slightly smaller than average hand.

Below: the Chikuhodo Detail Brush - with a very short and pointed brush shape, which is unique in my brush collection.

BRUSH COMPARISON PHOTOS

OVERALL

I'm very impressed with the quality of these brushes so far. The set contains the basics and essentials you would need on your dressing table and on-the-go. However, I will say that I personally prefer a more rounded fluffy eye blending brush than the very pointy crease brush for my everyday use and my larger, rounded eye lid space. Otherwise, I think that it's great for more precise, crease work, or for those with smaller eye lids or monolids. The detail brush is an interesting one and is a great multi-purpose, precise brush. There's no doubt most of the brushes in this set will join my everyday staples. I reckon these brushes are on par with Suqqu in terms of softness and quality, but are denser. Simply beautiful. Chikuhodo is a luxury brand, but Suqqu is a lot more expensive in comparison (probably around 30% more expensive) and Suqqu is also more expensive to ship (to Australia at least) from Selfridges (you can also get Suqqu from Ichibankao online). So I recommend trying Chikuhodo out if you are a makeup brush lover like myself, or looking to venture into amazing, luxury Japanese artisan makeup brushes. I'm afraid I've now ventured into a new brand that I won't be able to resist buying more brushes from in future! >_< ;-)

Have you tried Chikuhodo brushes? If so, what is your fave brush(es) from the brand? Do share in a comment below! :)

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Magnet Eyes (#3) is the third and latest Eye Designer Palette created by By Terry. They other two colour palettes: Smoky Nude (1) has been reviewed HERE and Color Design (2) - reviewed HERE. Each palette contains ten eye shadows and has a mix of finishes and can be applied dry for softer, every day wear or using a damp brush for added colour intensity.

Packaging

Like with other luxury makeup brands, the By Terry Eye Designer Palette comes with a violet velvet pouch for protection during storage or travel.

The palette itself looks very luxe and sleek in its signature purple colour. :) The surface of the lid has a rubber texture so it feels tactile and secure to hold in your hand. Unfortunately, it does mean it attracts any dirt and dust. /:-\ The palette clicks to close. It is secure enough, but I feel it could be made even more secure, especially when it's put in your hand bag without its velvet pouch.

The palette has a magnetic closure and is made from solid, quality plastic and there's a little bit of weight to it, but not too heavy so it's easy to travel with. I'm relieved it's not made from weighty, metal like By Terry's powder blush (featured here and here) - while it looks and feel luxurious, it's not the most practical! ;)

Below is the size of the palette compared to my slightly-smaller-than-average hand.

And...how it compares to the size of the new NARSissist Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow Palette. It's the same width, but slightly shorter in length.

Below: the product description label on the bottom of the palette.

A large mirror is provided on the underside of the lid. Unlike palettes 1 and 2 where each eye shadow is embossed with the By Terry logo all along the outside, palette 3 doesn't have the embossing on the more shimmery shades.

Below is the dual-ended applicator brush provided. One end is a mini natural-bristled, soft, fluffy blending brush and the other is a nice, firm and precise eye liner brush. I like the long length of the dual-ended brush as it makes it easier to hold and I'm less likely to lose it compared to tiny ones! ;-) I would not recommend using the blending brush for picking up product from the pan and depositing onto the eye lids though as it's not dense enough for this and provides too much movement. I recommend a flat-shaped, soft, dense eye brush instead. The one provided in the palette is suitable just for blending out the edges.

Colours, Finishes, Texture & Application

The palette consists of ten powder eye shadows - an interesting mix of neutrals, deep jewel tones and a surprising bright peacock green and an even more surprising chartreuse thrown in. There's a mix of satin, shimmer and frost finishes. This palette is designed for creating a soft touch of colour for day to more dramatic, intense, shimmering jewel toned eye looks for a night out.

Above: the palette photographed indoors using a strobe.

Above: photographed in low light (without a strobe) to capture the shimmers.

The top row of palette from left to right consists of:

// Bright peacock green (shimmer to frost)

// Deep taupe brown (satin) - this one felt a little harder in texture compared to the rest of the palette, but it still applied evenly and with great colour pay-off.

// Blackened navy (with pink and electric blue shimmer)

// Pale greige / grey beige (satin)

// Ice blue (shimmer to frost)

The bottom row from left to right:

// Medium chartreuse (satin)

// Medium to deep teal blue (shimmer)

// White (satin) - unlike other white powder eye shadows I've come across that are often chalky, this one is buttery smooth in texture and applies beautifully and evenly!

// Medium steel teal (shimmer)

// Light copper (satin)

Consistent with the previous two palettes, all eye shadows in this new palette are also pretty good quality in terms of having a smooth, silky, buttery texture, excellent pigmentation and ease of application. However, I did experience some fall-out with the shimmery shades when applied with a dry brush.

Swatches (Dry)

Below are swatches applied dry (no primer) with a clean finger on my medium, olive (~NC30) skin tone. All were photographed indoors under artificial lighting and using a strobe unless indicated otherwise.

Above: Top row of palette from left to right.

Above: Again, but shot in low light without a strobe to capture any iridescence in the eye shadows.

Above: Bottom row of palette from left to right.

Above: In low light without a strobe to capture any iridescence in the eye shadows.

Swatches (Wet)

Here are the swatches applied with a damp brush.

Above: Top row of palette from left to right.

Above: In low light without a strobe to capture any iridescence in the eye shadows.

Above: Bottom row of palette from left to right.

Above: In low light without a strobe to capture any iridescence in the eye shadows.

Ingredients

Click on the image to enlarge.

Size

Each of the ten eye shadows contain 1.4 g / 0.05 oz of product.

Made in Italy.

Overall

The unusual colour combination in Magnet Eyes makes it unique in my collection, but it does mean that it is a little tricky for me to use some of the shades - the chartreuse in particular is one I'm still figuring out how to wear. If you have any ideas - do share in a comment below! ;) Also, I'm not usually drawn to teal shades, but this will give me a chance to play around with these colours more and branch out! The peacock green will be amazing for summer on its own applied wet or as an eye liner, and of course that shimmering blackened navy blue is stunning for nights out or celebratory occasions. The neutrals are a no-brainer to use and the utterly divine textures make them effortless to apply and blend. I'm especially loving the light copper for day.

Overall, the unusual combination of this palette takes some thought and getting used to and perhaps not ideal for beginners. Makeup artists and makeup lovers who crave something different will certainly enjoy this palette.

Availability

Limited edition. I purchased mine online from Beautylish.

Hope this was useful. :)

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

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Hello my gorgeous, fellow beauty lovers! ^_^

There's several new fab beauty things that I've purchased over the last couple of months or so that I've been playing around with - just check out the delightful spread in the above photo! Poor wallet though... *sigh* Here's a list of the items pictured:

From the new Blue Rhythm de Chanel Collection (yesss! I'm a true lover of blue!):

// Chanel Les 4 Ombres Multi-Effect Quadra Eyeshadow Palette in Tissé Jazz (244) - limited edition.

// Chanel Liquid Eyeliner Intensity Definition in Dream Blue (60) - limited edition. LOVE.

// Chanel Plumping Lipgloss - been a while since I bought a lipgloss, but when I tried this in store I had to have it!

// Chanel Illusion D'Ombre Velvet in Melody (98) - a matte version of their cream eyeshadows. I wasn't sure about this to begin with on my medium, olive skin, but it looks brightening (albeit maybe slightly 60s mod), and would also definitely serve well as a base.

// Chanel Soft Touch Eyeshadow in Swing (116)

// Chanel Nail Colour in Fortisimmo (681) - limited edition.

// Chanel Nail Colour in Vibrato (665) - limited edition.

// Le Volume Ultra-Noir de Chanel Mascara in Noir Khôl (90) - sample only not pictured. I love the original Le Volume Mascara (not the waterproof one!), so I can't wait to try this sample and see how the two compare.

From the Dior Fall/Autumn collection, I only picked up one item which was the nail colour in

// Darling Blue (791) - a limited edition.

The two things I picked up from the Tom Ford Fall/Autumn collection were the:

// Eye and Cheek Shadow in Pink Ombré (02) - I couldn't resist the pink. The plum shade tempted me, but it appeared a little more brown than plum to me in some of the swatches I've seen online so I skipped it.

// Skin Illuminating Powder Duo in Moodlight (01) - I couldn't resist this being a highlighter addict, and I reckon I've done well to resist buying too many highlighters in the past year, so this was a bit of a treat for me and a kind of reward. ;-) Ha! :-P

Outside of the Fall collection I picked up the Tom Ford Lip Color Matte Lipstick in Electric Pink (15). I'd say this is probably the most spectacular bright lip colour I've come across - ever! It's extremely saturated in pink deliciousness. >_<

From Mac Cosmetics, my eye was immediately drawn to another bright, matte lipstick(!) at the counter - the Retro Matte lipstick in Flat Out Fabulous, so this had to come home with me. Ha! #TotalLipstickAddict.

Surratt Beauty has recently become available at Net-A-Porter (Yay!). Previously I've had to get it from Barneys online (before it became available at Sephora USA) and parcel forward to Australia. I should really do a blog post on my experience with this lovely, luxury brand - I've been meaning to do it for so long! So far I've only tried their eyeshadows and blush. This time I've picked up their Expressioniste Brow Pomade. Enhancing my brows is essential to me, so I'm very excited to try this indeed. Psst...to my fellow Aussies: from the Mecca Cosmetica email notification I received back in July this year, Surratt Beauty will become available at Mecca Trove soon! I cannot wait!

New in Burberry Beauty is their First Kiss range of tinted gloss-balm hybrid lip products that are meant to give fuller looking lips and up to 8 hours of hydration. Love its tube packaging and unique cooling and hygienic ceramic applicator. I picked up two of the five available shades it comes in: Rose Blush (03) and Sweet Plum (05). So far, I'm loving the way these make my thin lips look fuller and the way they feel on the lips - nourished, and application/reapplication is addictive! :)

Last, but not least, I've finally managed to get a hold of the Bobbi Brown Eye Shadow in Camel (5) from Harrods online. This has been raved about as an excellent crease eye shadow and a dupe for Mac's eye shadow in Uninterrupted - but a better formula than Mac's apparently. I'm happy to have this unique and interesting shade in my collection - looking forward to seeing how it looks against my skin tone. :)

I can't wait to share swatches and my thoughts about some of these over the coming weeks. I would normally get them out sooner, but bubs is keeping me busy as you can imagine! She's such a tiny, beautiful being and I'm loving every moment I spend with her (ok, maybe not so much when she's crying!).

Meanwhile, hope you're having a great start to the week! ;)

Thanks for stopping by. ^_^ xo

What fab new beauty things have you purchased recently? Do share in a comment below! :)

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Blue Rhythm de Chanel Collection was released last month in Australia. The collection is -

"inspired by the spirit of JAZZ, this makeup collection celebrates the boldness of BLUE."

It features two new limited edition nail colours: Vibrato (665) - a vibrant, electric blue (no shimmers), and Fortissimo (681) - a dark, denim blue with subtle shimmers that are more evident in sunlight.

VIBRATO | 665

Packaging

All Chanel nail polishes come in the square-shaped glass bottles. The square cap at the top can be removed and used to rest your finger tip on as you apply the nail polish.

The applicator brush is thin allowing for precise application. It makes it particularly easy for those with little or narrower nails.

On My Nails...

I applied two coats on my nails with no base or top coat. For reference I have medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. Unless specified, all swatches were photographed indoors using a strobe.

Comparison Swatches

FORTISSIMO | 681

Below: The tiny shimmers in Fortissimo are more evident in full sun.

Below: a snapshot of Fortissimo in all its sparkly glory in full sunlight (taken using my phone camera).

Comparison Swatches

FORMULA & APPLICATION

Both nail colours require at least 2 coats for full/opaque coverage. Their formula is consistent with most of Chanel's nail polishes in that it's not too thick or too thin and applies fairly easily and evenly. There were bubbles upon application of Fortissimo, but there were very few and tiny that they're negligible and fortunately don't bother me. All Lacquered Up on the other hand, reports. much worse bubbling in her experience so you may want to try in store first. Also, I recommend applying a base coat as blue nail polishes have a tendency to stain your nails, especially something dark like Fortissimo. I haven't fully tested the longevity of these yet, but Chanel nail polishes typically last up to a week on my nails with very minor tip wear.

KEY INGREDIENTS

SIZE

13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.

AVAILABILITY

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia while limited edition stocks last.

OVERALL

While there is much love of Vibrato in the blogosphere, I found myself surprisingly much more enamoured with Fortissimo against my olive skin tone. Its "Chanel-esque" sparkles and depth of colour makes it a bit more complex and beautiful. Still, I have an undying love of blue and both of them are unique in my collection so I'm pleased that I purchased both. ;) Vibrato will be a fun one to wear for spring and summer.

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

What is your pick? Are you team Vibrato or Fortissimo? Perhaps both? ;-)

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As you may or may not know, I rarely delve into MAC collections. For one, they come and go so quick and in such huge numbers and two, I don't usually gravitate towards the brand compared with others. I am however, a fan of the MAC 239 brush and some of their blushes. I rarely pick up anything else like their eye shadows as I find the quality and finishes are not as good as I'd like them to be (i.e., in comparison to more high-end brands like Burberry, Chanel and Tom Ford eye shadows. Yes, those brands have spoilt me indeed! ;) ). However, when I heard that the M.A.Cnificent Me! Eye Shadow x 9 Palette was pretty good, I had to see for myself...and I'm glad I did! Here's some photos, description, swatches and my brief thoughts on this palette and other products I picked up from the same collection (yes, I picked up other stuff!!! :-o )

I do love the motivation behind the M.A.Cnificent Me! Collection which is:

"Whoever you are, whatever your style…put your heart and soul into it. Be passionate, be yourself, be M·A·Cnificent!"

Just simple and beautiful. ^_^

M.A.CNIFICENT ME EYE SHADOW X 9

"Show the world your true colours with an eye-catching new palette of Eyes x 9, in shades from light taupe to mid-tone rose and passionate deep brown. Textures from matte to velvet to frost for looks for day and night. The saturated, soft and smooth hues are in one compact for easy portability."

Colours

Below are the 9 shades in the palette:

Top Row (L-R):

MACnificent Me - "pinky white frost"

Quiet Type - "medium bronze shimmer"

Dance in the Dark - "deep cool brown"

Middle Row (L-R):

Fabulous DNA - "light pink shimmer"

Pleasing to the Eye - "mid-tone rose"

Sable - “gold plum with bronze pearl"

Bottom Row (L-R):

Frankly Frosty - “light grey taupe.

In My Element - “cool silver pearl.”

Cool Complement - “cool medium brown".

Size

I must admit that the cute, compact size of this palette was one of the main selling points for me. :D It is also a very practical size for travel or on-the-go touch ups or taking a day time look to evening straight after work. Below is how it compares to my smaller than average hand.

The palette compact is the same size as my (only) existing custom MAC eye shadow palette compact of four full-sized shades. Each eye shadow in the the 9 x palette is 0.8 g / 0.02 oz of product compared to 1.5 / 0.05 oz in the full size pans.

Swatches

Below are swatches of the eye shadows on my medium to tan, olive skin (~NC30-35) and photographed indoors using a strobe. They are swatched left to right from top to bottom of the palette.

Below, the swatches under low light to capture any iridescence (photographed without a strobe).

Texture and Pigmentation

Most of the shades in the palette are very finely milled and felt very silky smooth and had decent pigmentation. In My Element was the only shade that felt hard in texture and therefore, difficult to pick up and apply. Quiet Type had a bit more body to its texture compared to most of the others as it has shimmer particles, but still applied well. Overall, I'm pretty impressed with how this palette swatched and I can't wait to play with it more. :)

PRO LONGWEAR PAINT POTS

I hadn't planned on purchasing anything else apart from the palette, but when I swatched these paint pots in store, I just had to get them. Believe it or not I only own one other MAC paint pot which I got years ago from a collection and it was a very shimmery white (great top coater). In fact, most of my cream eye shadows are more complex, shimmery shades, so it's great to add more shades in my collection that have more subtle sheen, satin to matte finishes which are more suitable for work, every day wear and can also be used as a base for other eye shadows. I purchased 3 of the 5 from the collection.

Stormy Pink - a "muted grey purple" - matches the Simply Swinging nail lacquer I purchased (see further down below for swatches). Love this as it has a matte finish and anything grey purplish goes beautifully with brown eyes and olive skin I reckon. :)

Nice Composure - "mid-tone cool grey" with a satin finish. Again, grey is a flattering shade for those with brown eyes as it gives a gorgeous contrast and makes the eye colour really stand out. I used to wear grey eye shadows a lot a few years ago, and I think this paint pot has inspired me to get back into it again.

Imaginary - "deep blue plum shimmer". I love a blue and with this texture and intensity, it really stays a vibrant blue when applied on my olive skin tone rather than turn smokey on me as many navy blues do particularly in powder form.

All these shades applied smoothly and easily on the lids with excellent colour pay off. I can see that these are definitely going to have long wear times on the eye lids indeed considering they did take a bit of effort to remove from my arm!

Swatches

Same swatches below, but in low light to show any shimmers.

SIMPLY SWINGING NAIL LACQUER

Simply Swinging is a "lilac grey" and is a cream nail lacquer. Gorgeous neutral with a touch of colour - very appropriate for work in particular. I've nothing quite like this in my collection, but I do love this shade so it's a much welcome addition!

Comparison Swatch

I applied two coats with no base or top coat. You could probably get away with a thick, single coat if you were really in a rush (or lazy like I often am!), but of course, it's nicer in two coats I reckon and probably will give you a touch more longevity. Simply Swinging is much darker and more purple than Burberry's Ash Rose (No. 103) which is one of my fave neutral nail polishes.

OVERALL

Even though I haven't had a good go at playing with all the products, so far, I'm very pleased and excited with all my purchases. :) They're all very wearable and I would definitely get a lot of use out of them. All have fairly decent quality for your money. I especially love the purply grey tones! I highly recommend picking something up from this collection before it's gone at lightning fast speed as is with all MAC collections. ;)

AVAILABILITY

This collection is out now for a limited time online at maccosmetics.com.au and at MAC stores and MAC counters in select David Jones and Myer department stores.

Hope this was useful. :)

Thanks for visiting! ^_^ xo

Did you pick anything up?

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I do love me some blue, so it's no surprise that I gave my wallet a really good work out in Chanel's Blue Rhythm Collection. ^_^ You may've already seen my swatches and thoughts on the nail polishes I picked up from this collection in this post. Here are the rest of my picks with swatches further down below. :) This collection has been out for a few weeks or so now here in Australia so best get your hands on any that take your fancy ASAP! >_<

OMBRE ESSENTIELLE IN 'SWING' (116)

Swing (love the name!) is a gorgeous, medium to dark navy blue eye shadow with eye catching, light blue sparkles. It's hard to resist when it looks that beautiful in the pan!

Below is another photograph of Swing, but in lower light to capture its pretty sparkles even more.

Below - how Ombre Essentielle compact packaging looks like along with the provided black velvet pouch.

Unfortunately, Swing does fall short when it comes to applying it dry on the lids. I found it quite sheer and its vibrancy is lost. The sparkles are not as intense. The effect is a deeper, smoky/blackened navy - looks "meh" compared to what you see in the pan. Its texture is quite dry with nothing much to bind the particles together so that it picks up easily and goes on smoothly. However, this formula can also be applied using a dampened applicator and this results in an amazing finish and intense pigmentation that is more consistent with how it looks in the pan! You can see the difference in the swatches at the end of this post. I think this will best applied dry either as a sheer top coat on the centre of the lids, or wet as an all-over intense blue, sparkly colour just over the mobile eye lids for a fancy night out. :)

LES 4 OMBRES MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW IN 'TISSÉ JAZZ' (244)

Since I already own the original, discontinued baked eye shadow formula of Lagons (these were very sheer and dry formulas, which I really did not like! See comparison swatches below) and the new, much better reformulated eye shadow formula in Tissé Riviera (reviewed here), I was hesitant to get yet another Chanel blue eye shadow quad as much as I love blue! Still, Tissé Jazz contains one of the best white eye shadows I have come across (too many have been too powdery or sheer in my experience), and a couple of blues that are unique in my collection. The top left having a more yellow undertone to it - gorgeous and vibrant on its own for summer (over the mobile lid applied dry or wet for a far more intense colour on the lid or just as a liner), and the bottom left - a medium to dark denim blue - lovely! This is a limited edition and highly recommend it if you don't already own as many blue eye shadows as I do - ha!

ILLUSION D'OMBRE VELVET IN 'MELODY' (98)

Melody is a light apricot - a great, complementary shade to blue. I wasn't sure about its shade at first as it's quite light and sort of looks a little 60's or mod on my medium, olive skin tone. However, it grew on me as it does help brighten up my eyes and if I just apply it softly, I can get away with wearing it on its own for day wear (minus a thick, black eye line, of course! ;-) ), otherwise it's a good 'un to use as a base since unlike the original Illusion D'Ombre gel-cream eye shadows which are usually very twinkly and sparkly, this one is the *velvet* version, which has a "luminous matte" finish.

Interestingly, the velvet applicator is a sponge versus an eye liner brush that comes with the original Illusion D'Ombres.

GLOSS VOLUME (PLUMPING LIPGLOSS)

Below is a shot of the plumping gloss' doe foot applicator.

This lipgloss doesn't look all that exciting and I initially would have easily skipped this. However, Rae from the Raeview raved about it in her August 2015 video (watch it here), so it got me curious enough to try it in store and when I did, I totally understood her high praise for it. This translucent lip gloss - packaged in the same way as the Chanel Glossimers - gives a beautiful shine to the lips and also makes them look naturally fuller. It takes a couple or so minutes for the effect to take place. It does give a slight tingly, cooling sensation for the first 10-20 seconds of application - a bit like toothpaste can sometimes do - and it actually does have a very subtle and pleasant minty taste to it, too. It contains "emollient oils to soften and hydrate and vitamin E for anti-oxidant protection", and I can concur that my lips do feel a bit more nourished even after the gloss has worn off. This product is definitely one of my unexpected must-haves from the collection! I've been obsessed with it since I purchased it - layering it over most of my lipsticks nearly everyday! This is coming from someone who doesn't wear lip gloss all that often (I am a lipstick kinda gal!). I'm so glad this is not a limited edition!

LIGNE GRAPHIQUE DE CHANEL IN 'DREAM BLUE' (60)

Below, the very fine brush applicator that serves for precise application of the liquid eye liner.

Dream Blue is an amazing, metallic medium to dark navy blue. I love that it is deep, yet vibrant enough on my medium, olive skin. Simply divine! Such a simple, yet effective way to add colour to your look when worn on its on on the eyes - winged out or not (avec mascara, of course!) without having to apply, blend and mess about with eye shadows, etc. This is definitely another must-have from the collection. It's a limited edition, so don't miss out!

SWATCHES

Below are swatches on my medium, olive skin (~NC30-35). Unless specified, all were photographed indoors under artificial lighting an using a strobe.

Above: 'Swing' is swatched dry and without primer, and again below but in sunlight.

Below are swatches of Tissé Jazz - applied dry without any primer.

The same swatches again, but photographed in natural light by the window.

Below are swatches of Tissé Jazz and Swing when applied with a damp sponge or wet clean finger.

The same wet swatches again, but in low light (no strobe) to capture the iridescence.

COMPARISON SWATCHES

Below are comparison swatches of Tissé Jazz with Lagons and Tissé Riviera - using a clean, dry finger (no primer used).

OVERALL

Another impressive blue collection from Chanel. Although they do it yearly, I look forward to it each time! My must-haves are the liquid eye liner in Dream Blue, Volume Gloss (but this a new permanent addition, so you needn't rush), Tissé Jazz eye shadow quad (if you don't already have too many blue eye shadows) and the two limited edition blue nail polishes - Fortissimo and Vibrato (reviewed in this separate post).

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks for stopping by! Bon weekend! ^_^ xo

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Today - with bub on hand (quite a challenge to be out at the shops with a 10 and a half week old for the first timeby yourself I must say - even for a brief moment!) - I went ahead and picked up my fourth Mecca Beauty Loop Box of the year. These are available to Beauty Loop members from 21st October to 4th November, or while stocks last. Here's a sneak peek of what's inside the Level 3 box and quote their product descriptions in case you were interested. As with the previous box, there are four products included, but again, no full-sized ones unfortunately. Still, there's some pretty good and exciting new, deluxe-sized products for me to try...

// Nars Audacious Mascara (3 ml / 0.12 oz)

This is the latest and greatest mascara from Nars to replace the existing ones. "Lashes are lengthened, amplified and coated from roots to tips". It has a rather mean looking brush...perhaps even slightly intimidating(!), but I can't wait to try this, especially given Wayne Goss' rave review on it (watch it here).

// Darphin Intensive Treatment (4 ml / 0.14 fl. oz)

"Restores healthy-looking radiance to damaged skin and guards against dehydration". Sounds good to me. :) I have been enjoying the deluxe sample of Darphin's beauty cream from the previous box (see it here).

// Bareminerals Marvelous Moxie Lipstick in 'Make Your Move'

"A super-saturated, ultra-pigmented, creamy lipstick that provides full coverage with a rich, satin finish". Believe it or not, I had not tried anything from Bareminerals until now! >_< 'Make Your Move' is a "soft neutral pink" lippy so it should suit many skin tones. I've just had a quick try of it and really liking how it looks on me. It can be tricky to find good, neutral/"nude" type shades for my medium, olive skin, but this is a good one. :) It has a delicious scent, too.

// Perricone MD No Foundation Foundation (7.5 ml / 0.25 fl. oz)

"This foundation, formulated with Alpha Lipoic Acid and Vitamin C Ester, works to reduce the look of wrinkles and pores, correct undertones and protect with a mineral based SPF 30". This is another brand I've not tried! I love a "no makeup" makeup look, so this sounds perfect for achieving just that. I'm very curious and can't wait to try this product out.

Hope this was interesting / helpful.

Thanks for stopping by! ^_^ xo

Have you collected your Mecca Beauty Loop Box yet? I'd be interested to know what's in the Level 1 and 2 boxes. Have you tried any of these products or brands? Any recommendations? Let me know in a comment below!

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Above: me going ballistic with all things makeup and artist's paints that I could find that inspired me.

Front Cover.

Back Cover.

Above: Stunning photography of utterly beautiful vintage makeup!

Above: Book Contents

More gorgeous imagery. How I'd love to see a makeup tutorial on that! #amazing.

The much anticipated first book by renowned British makeup artist, Lisa Eldridge arrived at my doorstep yesterday! I pre-ordered my copy from Book Depository online the day before it was released on the 13th October. It was shipped on the 15th and arrived on the 23rd with free shipping to Australia. :) It was AU$30.95 at the time I purchased it. Unfortunately, it's currently out of stock there. :( However, you can try getting notified for when it is restocked, or click here for other places to find it. I've only just done a quick flick through it and so far, I'm loving all the gorgeous photography and excited by the general content of the book which is themed around the history of makeup from ancient times through to the modern era. There's also a section on various glamorous makeup icons like Audrey Hepburn through to Madonna that talks about their makeup. This is a beauty blogger's / lover's must-have / dream book. I can't wait to get into it! Perfect timing, too for a weekend read. ^_^

For more on it: watch Lisa's book intro / Lisa's incredibly creative film montage for the book / Lisa's Marie Antoinette Makeup Tutorial.

Thanks for looking. :)

Have an awesome weekend! ^_^ xo

Have you got your hands on a copy? Let me know what you think of the book!

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The Chanel Christmas 2015 collection has just been released in Australia. In Europe and Australia it's known as the Rouge Noir Absolument Collection, whilst in the USA it's called the Vamp Attitude Holiday collection. This colour story celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Nail Colour in Rouge Noir (18) as it is known in Europe/Australia, or equivalent Vamp (18) in the USA. It is an iconic black red nail polish and the entire makeup collection carries this dark, rich hue along a bit of pinkish purple thrown in. You can view the entire collection in the official French Chanel website. Below are my picks. I had not planned on purchasing the eye shadow quad or the highlighter blush, but I was smitten when I saw them on the gorgeous Karen from the Makeup and Beauty Blog (see the eyeshadows worn in her video here), and when I tried the highlighter on in the store. Of course, Chanel does the most incredible highlighters in my opinion so it was impossible not to succumb to yet another one (trying it in store is always my downfall! >_<)! Does anyone else try to avoid trying makeup in store for fear they'll love it and end up taking it home?! Ha! Leave a comment below if you do.

// Rose Fusion (757) Nail Colour

// Le Top Coat Lamé Rouge Noir (Gold Sparkle Nail Coat)

// Signe Particulier Quadra Eyeshadow

// Coups de Minuit Joues Contraste Lumière (Highlighting Blush)

// Rouge Noir (857) Illusion d'Ombre (Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadow)

// Vaporeuse (237) Rouge Allure Lipstick

Of course, there is also a gorgeous, vibrant raspberry red Rouge Allure Velvet called Le Merveilleuse (347), which is right up my alley, but I had to resist given I probably have similar shades already. >_<

All my picks are limited edition save for the new Rouge Noir Illusion d'Ombre.

I'll post swatches and thoughts of my picks soon. Meanwhile, enjoy your weekend! :) x

Did/Will you pick up anything from this vampy collection?

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"The Christmas collection pays tribute to LE VERNIS Rouge Noir nail polish with a limited-edition top coat featuring gold lamé shimmers. Day and night in this festive season, its transparent formula, infused with golden pearlescent pigments, dresses up nails in precious sparkling effects." ~ Chanel.com

This is a tri-phase top coat. Below is how the top coat looks when it has not been shaken. You can see the clear top coat at the top then the deep plum tint/pigment in the centre followed by the gold particles that are the heaviest and have, therefore settled down the bottom of the bottle.

Packaging

All Chanel nail polishes come in the square-shaped glass bottles. The square cap at the top can be removed and used to rest your finger tip on as you apply the nail polish.

The applicator brush is thin allowing for precise application. It makes it particularly easy for those with little or narrower nails.

On My Nails...

As I haven't picked up Chanel Rouge Noir, I used Tom Ford's Bordeaux Lust instead. I applied two coats of that followed by one to two coats of the Rouge Noir Gold Sparkle Top Coat. You can apply more layers of the top coat if you wish to intensify the effect of the golden sparkles. For reference I have medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. All swatches were photographed indoors using a strobe.

Formula

Overall, the formula is pretty good as it isn't too thin or too thick. It easily glides on over the top smoothly and evenly without disturbing the nail colour underneath (provided it is dry, of course). The gold particles also seem to apply relatively evenly across the nail provided you have shaken the bottle well beforehand. I really like that the gold aren't huge glitter chunks that leave the nails feeling gritty. The particles seem to lay flat and the nails feel mostly smooth overall so I reckon they're more like ultra thin gold foil particles perhaps rather than traditional glitter.

Size

13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.

Availability

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and select Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia while limited edition stocks last.

Overall

This metallic gold sparkle top coat is unique in my collection and probably the first that has the same glitter effect without feeling gritty and chunky on the nails. I often like a bit of glitter, but hate that grittiness! I also love its ease of use and the even application and distribution of the gold sparkles on the nails with a single swipe. I usually have to go and reapply on certain areas to ensure a blank patch is filled with traditional glitter polishes, but not with this one. You can apply this on any nail colour, but I think it's apt and beautiful on top of a deep, blackened red for the festive Christmas season. I may even wear this on top of black nail colour for New Year's celebration. :) I'm sure Chanel nail polish fans will not want to miss this one. It's my favourite out of the three nail products in this collection.

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

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This new limited edition highlighter from the Chanel Rouge Noir Absolument (or Vamp Attitude as it is called in the U.S.A) Christmas Holiday 2015 Collection. It's packaged in the same way as their Joues Contraste powder blushes, but it is definitely a highlighter rather than a blush. It's designed to be used as a "highlighter that can be applied to any areas that catch the light: on top of cheekbones, between eyebrows, on the chin, in the dip of the décolleté and on the top of shoulders; to wear alone or over a Joues Constraste shade".

"Perfect for both everyday use or when creating an evening look, this peach beige highlighter illuminates cheekbones with a halo of light. Its soft, fine texture catches the light and accentuates contours for a dazzling effect. The complexion is luminous and radiant." ~ Chanel.com

Above - the sleek, black lacquer compact is lightweight and comes with a black velvet pouch. Below - product description label on the bottom of the compact. The compact has a mirror and an applicator brush with natural bristles.

Below - Coups de Minuit photographed with low light (no strobe) to capture its iridescence.

Swatches

Below are swatches of Coups de Minuit on my medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. Unless specified, they are photographed indoors using a strobe.

Same swatches below, but photographed in low light without a strobe to capture its iridescence.

Comparison Swatches

Same swatches again below, but in low light to show any iridescence in the product.

Texture & Finish

One of the main things I love about Coups de Minuit and why I had to go back to the store to pick it up is its gorgeous, soft, silky, fine texture. It's glides on the skin effortlessly. It doesn't leave the skin with a powdery texture - just a beautiful subtle veil of soft glow with some pretty sparkles (visible up close) that only Chanel can do! It's hard to detect it on the skin under bright store lighting, but under soft lighting - it's simply exquisite! Like a soft, moonlit glow with subtle shimmers! This definitely makes it subtle enough for day while adding a little something special to your complexion on evenings out.

Overall

I just can't get enough of Chanel highlighters. They're never "in your face" or too harsh/strong on the skin, so they're difficult to overdo. I'm addicted. I personally think Coups de Minuit is the star of the collection. It's a highlighter that is versatile enough that it can be layered over top any blush for a glowing flush on the cheeks or more traditionally - applied to the high-points of the face. I think it will also suit all skin tones as it's fairly neutral in colour (peachy-beige with a hint of rosiness) and can be paired with any colour you were on the rest of your face. I can't believe I was going to pass up on it initially! >_< But, all is well now. Haha! ;-) So, yes - methinks this is a definite must-have!

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Happy Hump Day! ^_^ xo

Availability

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and select Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia while limited edition stocks last.

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"LES 4 OMBRES gets festive and takes on the spirit of the iconic Rouge Noir nail polish for a palette full of contrasts: soft yet vibrant, luminous yet dark. Revolving around a deep, luminous and matte rouge noir, a warm saffron gold lights up makeup, a velvety parma violet adds a touch of softness and a slightly rosy satiny beige delivers a touch of light."

~ CHANEL.COM

Packaging

As with all Chanel eye shadow quad palettes, they are housed in the black velvet pouch with the Chanel interlocked 'C's logo on it. The palette itself is the typical simple, sleek, lightweight, black lacquer compact with a mirror on the underside of the lid.

As usual, high-quality sponge applicators are provided (smooth, not too porous and won't fall apart easily). They're pretty decent for laying the product down on the lids, so handy for travel when you may not want to carry too many brushes or spend too much time cleaning the same brush when switching between colours. Each side of the sponge applicator can be used specifically for a shade every time.

Colours, Finishes & Application

Clockwise from top left corner of the quad:

// "Parma violet" (velvet or satin to matte pale violet) - great as a wash of colour all over the eye lid as a base for layer the rest of the eye shadows, and/or to highlight the inner corner of the eyes or under the brow bone.

// "Satiny rosy beige" (or a soft, satiny light to medium mauve taupe) - this is lovely on its own for day wear as it has a really gorgeous soft radiance or luminosity to it. It's also great for applying in the outer corners and/or crease to give depth for day look, or on the mobile lid and/or crease as a transition shade when layered with other shades in the palette. This is probably my favourite shade in the palette. :)

// "Deep rouge noir" (matte deep, slightly blackened plum) - beautiful as an eye liner or applied in the outer corners and/or in the crease to add depth to the eyes, or just on its own all over the mobile lid. Surprisingly, this shade looks more plum/purple to me than a red black as Chanel describes, but I rather prefer it that way I think as it's more wearable.

// "Metallic saffron gold" (very rich, metallic and very yellow in colour) - this is lovely when worn as an eye liner in the lower lash line, or in the inner corners of the eyes and/or on the centre of the eye lids as a highlight or added dimension.Of course, you could also wear this all over the lid on its own, too!

Pigmentation & Texture

The eye shadows have decent pigmentation and is buildable. I find I can still use the softest of eye shadow brushes such as the Suqqu eye brushes and it will still give enough colour pay-off on my medium to tan skin tone that is appropriate for day wear. For more intensity and for evening wear, I find natural brushes with slightly firmer, coarser hairs such as goat hairs (e.g., Tom Ford Eye Blend Brush) are best as they easily pick up more product.

The texture of the powder eye shadows are quite soft and ultra fine so they glide onto the skin effortlessly and evenly, and blend seamlessly.

Swatches

All swatches were applied with a clean finger without a primer. For reference, I have medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. All were photographed indoors (using a strobe, unless otherwise indicated).

Below are the iridescence in the eye shadows when photographed in low light (no strobe).

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches of Signe Particulier to Regard Signé De Chanel Topkapi and Harmonie du Soir.

Below are the same swatches in low light (no strobe) to depict the iridescence in the eye shadows.

Size

4g / 0.14 oz. of product

Overall

As I've said in my Chanel Holiday Collection Picks post, I did not initially plan on purchasing this quad just based on seeing the palette online in the promo ads, but after trying it for myself I'm really pleased I picked it up! :) I think the colour combinations in the palette are absolutely beautiful. I love the plummy/purple tones throughout most of the quad in various degrees of depth and finishes. The gold provides a stunning contrast and complements the plum. I love that it's a really intense, rich gold, too - I don't have anything quite like it, and it's very festive. Oh, the deep dark plum against that bold, metallic gold!! *sigh* So, so pretty! Though it's not a "red black" palette, the purple plum is still harmonious with the iconic Rouge Noir nail polish and provides a very wearable "vamp" look.

Overall, Signe Particulier pairs well with the Rouge Noir nail polish it celebrates and is a stunning palette for autumn/winter with a little somethin', somethin' for the festive season. With a softer brush, I also love the fact that I can still wear the top two shades for every day throughout the year, and add the deep plum for added depth or definition. I absolutely adore the satiny rosy beige/mauve taupe on its own or as a crease/transition shade, too! I think I will be wearing this particular shade a lot throughout the year. I highly recommend you check this palette out and the Illusion D'Ombre in Rouge Noir (which I will post swatches of next)! The whole look is intensified to the max(!) when the latter is used as a base eye shadow for the palette and/or added as a sparkly top coat/highlight on the lids.

Availability

Limited edition. Available now in select Chanel makeup counters in Myer and David Jones and Chanel Beauty Boutiques.

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for looking. ^_^ xo

Will you be getting this palette? Or if you have it already, what do you think of it? Do share in a comment below. ^_^

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Rouge Noir (857) is the latest permanent(!) addition to the existing range of Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre Long Wear Luminous Eyeshadows. It's described as a "shimmering black red", but I think it looks more plummy when it's applied on the eye lids. It's released as part of their Rouge Noir Absolument Christmas Collection for 2015 (see my picks here that has links to reviews and swatches) - a colour story that celebrates 20 years of the iconic Rouge Noir (18) nail polish.

Below is Rouge Noir's multi-coloured micro-shimmers captured in low light.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches of Rouge Noir with Diapason and Ébloui on my medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. They are photographed indoors using a strobe.

Below - the swatches photographed without a strobe to capture the iridescence.

Illusion d'Ombres have a truly unique texture. It's soft and cushiony or like an airy mousse in the jar then when you apply it onto the skin, it feels super, super silky smooth and glides on effortlessly. The pigmentation is easily built up for more intensity. Two to three layers is sufficient for me to wear it for an evening out. I find the best way to apply it with is a clean finger. Use a gentle tapping motion to easily build a layer of colour and a sweeping motion to blend. These blend super easily. You can use a clean finger to blend out any edges. It's such a quick, no-fuss, easy to use eye shadow, but the finish and effect it leaves on the eyes is sophisticated and beautiful - as if you'd spent ages applying it when it's really just taken a minute...maybe two at the most!

The formula is designed to be used as an eye shadow or as an eye liner. You can use it on its own, or as a base for powder eye shadows to give a much more intense colour pay off (pairs perfectly well with the gorgeous Signe Particulier Eyeshadow Quad (from the same Christmas collection reviewed and swatched here), or as a light layer on top of other eye shadows to give a highlight or iridescent top coat.

It leaves a beautiful, subtle, multi-coloured sparkly finish, but not as shimmery as most of the other Illusion d'Ombres. So, if you don't like the super sparkly (albeit not glittery) ones, you may prefer Rouge Noir's finish.

Size

4g / 0.14 oz of product.

Availability

New and permanent. Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and select Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia.

Overall

I don't believe I have anything like Rouge Noir in my makeup collection. It's such a gorgeous, dark plummy shade. If you want something that easily gives a statement or dramatic look without much effort then this is a must-have. It gives a smokey effect and almost looks 20s even! I really like it. :) Definitely get this if you're also getting the Signe Particulier Eyeshadow Quad from the same collection!

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you're having a great weekend! ^_^ xo

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Rose Fusion is described as a "luminous purple grey". It's a new, limited edition shade for Chanel's Rouge Noir Absolument Christmas 2015 collection - click here for my other picks from the collection with links to reviews and swatches. Below is how Rose Fusion looks on my medium to tan (~NC30), olive skin - photographed indoors using a strobe. I applied two coats without a base or top coat.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches of the closest shade I have - Chanel's Quartz (525) from Autumn/Fall 2011. The latter is more beige in comparison and is even in colour all throughout - i.e., it doesn't have the two-tone shade (taupe with tinge of purple) of Rose Fusion.

Formula

As with most Chanel nail polishes, Rose Fusion's consistency is pretty good as it isn't too thin or too thick. If you were in a rush, you could get away with a single coat - it looks fairly even and the nail line isn't really that obvious to my eye. To the very fussy, you may notice a little bit of "streakiness", but this doesn't bother me personally. The pearly finish helps to detract the obviousness of such a minor flaw when viewed in different angles and in different lighting situations.

Size

13 ml / 0.40 fl. oz. of product.

Availability

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and select Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia while limited edition stocks last.

Verdict

Rose Fusion is OK. I must say, I expected it to be more beautiful in person based on what I'd seen in campaign ads and the way it was described. When I applied it, it was OK, but it didn't wow me as some Chanel nail polishes do. If you already own Chanel's Quartz then I would skip this even though they are slightly different in colour - you can't really tell unless you were up close and you had a beauty blogger's eye. ;-) I would have skipped it had I known this myself beforehand! Doh! However, if you normally like neutral nail colours then this may be worth checking out. The hint of colour and pearlescent finish adds a bit of interest.

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

What did you think of Rose Fusion?

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Vaporeuse (237) is described as a "light pink purple". Initially, I would have skipped this based on the campaign ad images - it had the danger of looking too pale for my medium to tan (~NC30-35), olive skin and naturally blue-toned, pigmented lips. However, Karen from the Makeup and Beauty Blog raved about this lip colour from the Chanel Rouge Noir Absolument (or "Vamp Attitude" if you are in the U.S.A) Christmas collection for 2015. She has darker complexion than I do and darker lips, so I figured this would work on me. Also, I don't have anything exactly like this shade in my collection so I was intrigued and ordered it without first seeing it in person.

The Rouge Allures are packaged in a click-dispense type of lipstick tube where you click the end of the lipstick (where the interlocking Cs iconic logo end is) and the tube comes out. (Click on this post for pictures of what I mean). Love this packaging. It's so sleek and elegant. :) Below is the product description label on the bottom of the lipstick tube.

Swatch
Below is a swatch on my skin tone - photographed indoors using a strobe.

On My Lips

Size

3.5 g / 0.12 oz.

Pigmentation, Texture & Finish
The Rouge Allure lipstick range have a luminous, radiant and satin finish. It does make your lips look and feel moisturised with a natural-looking, healthy luminosity. The first time I applied Vaporeuse I did not moisturise my lips (I had very dehydrated lips at the time) and it looked uneven and patchy and the product moved around too much. However, I found the next time I wore it, it looked a LOT better after I conditioned them a little. Then I removed everything from my lips and applied it and it looked wonderful. It also felt much nicer and comfortable on the lips (similar to a lip balm) and the pigment applied much more evenly. The pigmentation is buildable - sheer to semi-opaque - so not quite the "intense" lip colour as the name of the range claims. On me, it just covers the darkest and bluest part of my lips (that is the outline or lip line) - enough not to require a lip pencil.

Verdict

This is a nice to have lipstick, but not a must-have. I like that the tiny hint of purple adds a little bit of something different from your average pink-based everyday lipstick. I certainly do not have anything close to it in my collection. I'm pleased that Vaporeuse is *just* right for me to wear (phew!). I'm glad it isn't any paler than it is otherwise I couldn't wear it! If you have similar skin tone as I do or darker, I would recommend you try it out on your lips in store first to see how you like it.

Availability

Available now at Chanel beauty boutiques and select Chanel counters in Myer and David Jones in Australia while limited edition stocks last.

Hope this was helpful.

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

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Last week Charlotte Tilbury has released The Book of Makeup Magic as part of her range of makeup sets for Christmas 2015. This particular one is a 12 day advent calendar and I signed up for notification as soon as it was released (on CharlotteTilbury.com) so I wouldn't miss out. It arrived at my door step two days ago (a week after I ordered it with free standard shipping) so I'm very excited to show what's inside in case you were interested. ^_^

Here's what Charlotte Tilbury says about this advent calendar:

"THE BOOK OF MAKEUP MAGIC TO CAST A SPELL…
A book of 12 best-kept beauty secrets, beautifully presented in 12 mini makeup cabinets. It’s the perfect way to discover the world of Charlotte's makeup products. The kit is a mix of mini and full size versions of all of Charlotte's time-tested favourites from the world of fashion, makeup artists, facialists and industry insiders, this exquisitely-indulgent gift is the perfect present for making a loved one feel empowered by makeup.
And as an extra-special, exclusive Christmas treat, Charlotte has included her not-yet-launchedMAGIC NIGHT CREAM, in the final cabinet, so you can be one of the first people to try it for yourself."

The package arrived safely and beautifully wrapped with Charlotte's signature wine and rose gold colour scheme. Love how the receipt comes in the letter-sized envelope. It feels kinda personalised. I bought the cute little white squirrel from the gift shop at St. Paul's Cathedral in London years ago. It's so cute so I just had to add him in there for a bit of holiday/Christmas ambience. [grin]

Above: three sides of the box have rose gold lines on them to make them appear like the pages within the "book".

Above is a shot of the side of the box which is designed to look like the spine of the "book". Below is the back of the book with the "blurb" and it has a large sticker that lists the sizes and all of the ingredients in each product included in the Book of Makeup Magic.

Each of the products in the book come in their own little box packaging as per the photograph below. Love the "You are a Star" message - it just gives a lot of love and positivity for that special someone you are gifting this to, or for yourself. ;-)

There are twelve boxes/products in total. It's a bit of fun putting the boxes back in like a puzzle. Ha!

Each box has the product description of what's inside it, which is very helpful.

As an example, the first box is a deluxe mini-size of the Goddess Skin Clay Mask. This one contains 15 ml of product and I've photographed it with its full sized version (75 ml) next to it for comparison. I bought the full size tube of this a while ago and have used this a couple of times and so far I quite enjoy it (finding the time to use it a bit more often is a bit challenging with a new bub to look after, so it's a real treat when I have managed to find time to use it!).

Below is box for day 4 of the advent calendar. It's the new Nocturnal Cat Eyes to Hypnotise Easy Shadow in the shade 'On the Prowl'.

Above are all the twelve products included in the book - they are as follows:

1/ GODDESS SKIN CLAY MASK 15ml

2/ MAGIC CREAM 15ml

3/ WONDERGLOW 15ml

4/ NOCTURNAL CAT EYES Eye Shadow: On The Prowl

5/ Mini ROCK ‘N’ KOHL Eye Liner: Supernova

6/ LIP MAGIC

7/ Mini K.I.S.S.I.N.G Lipstick: Penelope Pink

8/ MATTE REVOLUTION Lipstick: Red Carpet Red

9/ SUPERMODEL BODY 15ml

10/ TAKE IT ALL OFF 15ml

11/ MULTI MIRACLE GLOW 15ml

12/ MAGIC NIGHT CREAM 15ml *** brand new product to be released next year!

Same products below shot up a little closer...

This looks to be an amazing way indeed to trial several Charlotte Tilbury's products including some new ones - not to mention a small size of the new Magic Night Cream that's to be officially released next year! A great gift for the beauty aficionado in you or someone special.

You can also get this luxurious advent calendar from Selfridges.com.

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

Are you already thinking of Christmas? My, hasn't time flown?! >_< Which of the many beauty advent calendars available this year are on your wish list?

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Bonjour! L'Occitane have some new things out at the moment (well, they always do), but I was particularly keen on checking out the new limited edition range in collaboration with Pierre Hermé, and of course their new Christmas Beauty Advent Calendar. Their current, excellent GWP was certainly another incentive (yes, I'm a sucker for those things sometimes!). This GWP offer (see image below) is valid with a minimum AU$80 purchase and ends today 8th November (for Australian customers), so hurry!

Above: GWP includes mini sized Jasmin Immortelle Neroli Hand Cream, Pamplemousse Rhubarbe Shower Gel, Cleansing Oil and Light Comforting Cream + an adorable beauty bag.

So, I paid a visit to my local store and enticed with a delicious cuppa tea as I perused the latest offerings, and being assisted by one of the best sales assistants I have ever encountered (yes, I reckon I would have given her my entire life savings had she kept me in there for another 5 minutes! Srsly...I wish all sales assistants were more like her (probably not so good for my wallet though!) ;-)) I digress! The advent calendar is cute, but I decided to skip it as while it contained some nice goodies and favourites of mine, I felt they were all quite tiny in size for what you pay. L'Occitane usually always have great value Christmas sets and I didn't even get around to checking those out, but I'll probably end up going back when I need to do my Christmas shopping (last minute as usual).

About L'Occitane & Pierre Hermé Collection:

"Olivier Baussan, founder of L'OCCITANE, invited his friend, pastry chef Pierre Hermé, to compose a collection of scents for L'OCCITANE just the way he wanted.

They found themselves together on the island of Corsica one summer evening, and there dreamed up a collection of gourmet perfumes. Combining the typical scents and flavors of Corsica, this unexpected collection highlights the unique world of this passionate duo."

JASMIN IMMORTELLE NEROLI

"Floral and absolutely feminine, the fragrance of pastry chef Pierre Hermé balances the white notes of gardens at dawn with the gold of a flower that still flourishes throughout the Corsican maquis."

From this fragrance range, I picked up the Shimmering Body Powder, which is exclusive to this fragrance range only, unfortunately. I don't normally like Jasmine in a fragrance as it often reminds me of toilet and bathroom cleaning products(!), but this combination is just right for my nose and one that I could actually wear! The powder is also scented in the Jasmin Immortelle Neroli fragrance. It's quite lovely! But, in the end, I am a real gourmand at heart and so I picked the Pamplemousse Rhubarbe fragrance (as part of a value set - see further down below) over this floral scent.

Below are swatches of the Shimmering Body Powder against my medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. The first is photographed indoors using a strobe. You can't really see it when it's blended out in this photograph, but you can see the beautiful, subtle shimmers on the next photograph which is shot in low light (without the strobe). I love it! Great for the festive season and going out to a fancy dinner. :) Love that it doubles as a fragrance, too.

PAMPLEMOUSSE RHUBARBE

"A tantalizing accord. Who other than Pierre Hermé would dare to combine the flavours of Rhubarb, Clove and Nutmeg with the temperamental scent of Grapefruit?

Discover a collection with a soft and subtle fragrance, both tantalizing the nose and teasing the palate."

I decided to get the entire gift set above as apparently you get a AU$30 savings value and who could resist that fragrance in other forms...plus just look at that box?! Not only does this collection entice your sense of smell, but your eyes and the flavours that have inspired it. I can imagine opening that box to find the most amazing dessert inside - a decadent cake or a boxful of crispy and chewy macarons, perhaps...or both! :P

Below: the set contains full sizes of the fragrance in the Shower Gel, Soap, Body Lotion and Eau de Toilette forms.

Gorgeous packaging no?

There is also the MIEL MANDARINE scent for hands and lips, which I didn't get to check out at the store, but the sound of "golden honey crystallized on a sun-drenched slice of Mandarin Orange... and, Spun Sugar and Almond" sounds warm and delicious indeed. I may have to go back to smell this for myself. >_<

Finally, I also picked up this super cute hand cream set which was done in collaboration with Elle magazine. It's "The ELLE Collector Hand Cream Quattro", which includes:

1 x Shea Elle Hand Cream 30ml

1 x Cherry Blossom Elle Hand cream 30ml

1 x Verbena Elle Hand Cream 30ml

1 x Almond Elle Hand Cream 30ml

Who wouldn't love to pull one of these hand creams out of their hand bag? ^_^ And, that tin!!! It's totally adorable for storing bits and bobs.

L'Occitane has certainly made me smile (and possibly a little hungry! LOL) with all my purchases.

Thanks for looking! Bon week-end! ^_^ xo

Have you checked any of these out? What do you have your eye on? Any L'Occitane favourites?

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Steven Klein One Shocking Moment Cheek Studio Palette is one of several limited edition Christmas gift sets this year. The palette is part of their new "Fantascene"collection, which is the result of a collaboration with the iconic fashion photographer, Steven Klein.

Below is the product label that has all the names of each item in the palette, which is pretty handy as there have been previous Nars palettes that didn't have this on the palette itself!

The palette contains:

Top left - Paloma Contour Blush Duo: "Pink beige and deep rose"

Top right - Laguna Bronzing Powder

Bottom L - R - Robotic, Blasphemy, Luster and Dolce Vita blushes.

Below are swatches using a clean finger (without primer) and are applied on my medium, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone. Photographed indoors using a strobe.

As much as I sometimes don't like palettes that contain permanent shades in them and this often is the case with Nars - especially the same shades being used repeatedly such as their Laguna bronzing powder and Dolce Vita blush...I couldn't resist this one! >_< First of all, it's nice to have the photographer's work displayed on the actual palette itself, and it has a couple of new blush shades that are exclusive to the palette as well as the contour blush duo, which is new to me. Laguna and Dolce Vita - although permanent, are actually great staples to have (which is why they are among Nars' most popular products). Luster is also fairly popular, which I do already own and I've only recently just rediscovered and formed a growing love for (I always found it too orange for my liking so I've hardly worn it in the past).

Overall

A great gift for makeup lovers - old and new to Nars. It's great value and convenient to travel with as it has all the face colour powder products you would need for various looks. All the powders are soft and silky, very pigmented and applied beautifully on the skin. Last, but not least, the Steven Klein photograph is a collector's piece in itself!

Availability

Limited edition. I purchased mine from Mecca Cosmetica.

Hope this was helpful. :)

Thanks for looking! ^_^ xo

DO NOT REPUBLISH CONTENT OR PHOTOS WITHOUT PERMISSION

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