Indigo Kir Royale

The new L'Amour, Toujours L'Amour Eyeshadow Palette from Nars contains twelve eyeshadows with matte and shimmer finishes. These are "everyday neutrals meet eight accents in this full-spectrum wardrobe of curated shadows".

The packaging is nice and sleek. It does look more impressive in comparison to their original black packaging with the rubberised texture. Although, I do like the tactile feel and slight grip (and hence, "safety" and security) the original packaging gives (for those with butter fingers like myself). I find myself being extra careful and more precious with the new one with its shiny, mirror and all - you wouldn't want to scratch let alone break that! (If you believe in suspicions then yikes!). :-O

Both the outer box and palette have a mirrored finish. I've still got the clear protective plastic on the palette's mirrored lid just to help keep it pristine. #OCD :P

The palette has a very handy, large mirror underneath the lid, although there's no reason why you couldn't use the mirrored top of the palette as well! ;)

Below is the bottom of the palette that has the product description label and the names of each of the eye shadows in the palette.

Colours

Below is another shot in lower lighting to capture any iridescence in the eye shadows.

The shades are:

I - Cream Bisque

II - Shimmering Pink Sand

III - Amethyst Ash

IV - Black Truffle

V - Golden Starlight

VI - Sunburst Copper

VII - Café Au Lait

VIII - Pistol Grey

IX - Industrial Steel

X - Regal Blue

XI - Shimmering Taupe Cashmere

XII - Shimmering Liquorice

I appreciate the extra larger sized base shades as they are expected to be used more frequently. Although, I wish that gorgeous VI (Sunburst Copper) shade came in the larger size, too coz, hello? I'm a use this erryday on the lids and lower lash line! ;-) So purdy.

My favourite shades are VI (Sunburst Copper) and X (Regal Blue). VI (Sunburst Copper) will look great on a lot of people. X (Regal Blue) looks amazing on those with dark brown eyes and complements olive skin tone like mine. :) You can see it worn in the Nars video tutorial (for a night time look) on their official website. VII - Café Au Lait also makes a wonderful transition colour. III - Amethyst Ash is a nice, wearable taupe on my olive skin tone as it has a mauve undertone. XII - Shimmering Liquorice reminds me of Chanel's Illusion D'Ombre in Mirifique (#85), but a powder version.

Swatches

Below are the eye shadows swatched using a clean, dry finger with no primer used. For reference, I currently have medium to tanned, olive skin tone (~NC30-35). The first photograph below was shot using a strobe.

Below are the same swatches photographed in low light (without a strobe) to capture the level of iridescence in the eye shadows.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches to most of the shades in the palette. Check out Temptalia's post for other similar shades.

Pigmentation, Texture, Application & Longevity

It's only when swatched that the three of the matte shades VII - Café Au Lait, IV - Black Truffle and X - Regal Blue appear to be a bit sheer, but all the shades have sufficient pigmentation when applied on the eye lids with a brush.

I am very impressed that the matte eye shadows have an incredibly soft, silky, uber finely milled texture. The more shimmery shades felt just a tad stiff and didn't glide on as smoothly during swatching, but delivered good and even colour pay-off. VII - Café Au Lait had the smoothest feel of the mattes, while VI - Sunburst Copper seemed to swatch the easiest out of the more shimmery shades. I did find IV - Black Truffle to be a little tricky to blend as its quite dark and it didn't blend out as evenly or as smoothly as I'd hoped when I was trying to create a smokey look with it.

Like other Nars eye shadows that I've come across, these also result in fall-out or drop-down of eye shadow powder upon application, so I highly recommend applying eye shadow first prior to foundation and concealer, to save you from having to clean it up and re-doing your base.

I found the eye shadows seem to last long enough on my eye lids which have normal skin condition (neither oily or dry), with only a little fading by the time I remove my makeup before bed time. This is without use of any primer.

Product Weight & Ingredients
Click on the image below to enlarge.

Overall

Great packaging. I wish this palette didn't have fall-out like previous Nars eye shadows I've tried. I don't know why they can't produce it when so many other brands don't have eyeshadows with this issue! Other than that, I think it's a nice palette with a couple or so wearable accent colours and will suit many skin tones. In particular, those who want cooler toned eye shadows and achieve neutral smokey eye looks should check this out. If you are a makeup lover with a lot of eye shadows in your collection, you will most likely own similar shades that are in this palette already so won't need it. Also, those looking for more warmer toned shades and more unique colours will probably want to give this one a miss. Personally, I prefer the Urban Decay Gwen Stefani Eye Shadow Palette to this one in case you were wondering as I would get a lot more use out of it for every day wear compared to darker, smokey colours, and it's also a bit more fun to use colour wise and packaging wise. ;) However, I'm happy to own the Nars palette just for the VI (Sunburst Copper) and X (Regal Blue) colours though! Makes it worth it for me. LOL. ;)

Availability
I purchased mine from Selfridges.com, but it's now available in Mecca Cosmetica for those in Australia.

Hope this was helpful. :)

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"A NEW, LIP COLOR INNOVATION COMBINES A LIP STAIN WITH AN ULTRA GLOSSY FINISH. PRESENTED IN A UNIQUE, EASY-TO-USE CLICK-PEN WITH PLUSH, SPONGE-TIP APPLICATOR, PATENT FINISH LIP COLOR DELIVERS INTENSE, VIBRANT COLOR WITH LONG-LASTING HIGH-SHINE. WITH LIGHTWEIGHT TEXTURE AND FLEXIBLE, COMFORTABLE WEAR, STAY-TRUE COLOR GLEAMS IN EIGHT DECADENT SHADES."

~ Tom Ford

The pen is very lightweight so it's super easy to carry around in your pocket or hand bag.

The "TF" logo appears at the top of the pen.

The shade name label can be found at the bottom of the pen where you click to dispense the product.

Below is how the pen size compares to my slightly smaller than average hand.

Below is the sponge-tip applicator. This feels very smooth and comfortable when it glides on the lips, and it does deposit and blend the product evenly across the lips. The applicator does work well and easily enough, but it is tricky to get precision in the corners of your mouth. With such vibrant, intense colours that this product comes in, there's little to no room for error so you do need to be a more careful!

Note, it took a *LOT* of clicks to dispense the product the first time! I lost count and for a moment I thought I might've received a broken one, but eventually the product came out. Whew!

Colour

This product comes in 8 shades and I chose Infamy (04), which is a vibrant, medium to dark fuchsia pink. I was debating between this shade and Erotic, but based on the swatches I've seen online and Temptalia's comparison I could barely tell the difference - apparently a 95% similarity! Given such a hefty price tag on these, you probably want to get something more distinctive in colour if you wanted to get both. And, if you're looking for something lighter or more neutral then you won't find it in the current available range of colours. All of them are fairly intense, vibrant medium to dark colours and just as well as these provide the most versatility such that you can wear them as a more natural, "just bitten" lip stain, a more opaque liquid lipstick type of finish, to a richer, glossier finish for a night out or special event.

Finish

Infamy gives the most beautiful sheen + gloss - up close you can see the tiniest sparkly shimmers that glimmer and dance in the light - similar to what the Chanel Glossimers are known and adored for, except the Tom Ford's combines this with intense colour. I really love the beautiful finish it gives. It's really classy and ultra luxurious. Very Tom Ford. Stunning. Red carpet stunning.

Formula

This has a very lightweight, gel-like feel and isn't too tacky, so it's very comfortable to wear. The formula and product are most reminiscent of the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stains, but these do have a little bit of a thicker consistency (not as watery and is a touch closer to a liquid lipstick), and the finish at least for the colour Infamy (I can't say for the others as I have not seen them in person), is unique. I do find that it feels nourishing on the lips, too and is one of those that you can't help but keep reapplying coz it feels so good. :)

On My Lips...

Here's how Infamy looks with one, two and three layers on my naturally, blue-toned pigmented lips and against my current medium to tanned, olive skin (~NC30-35).

1 Layer (stain)

2 Layers

3 Layers.

Comparison Swatches

For colour reference, below are swatches to a couple of lip glosses I have in the same colour family.

Scent
Similar to other Tom Ford lip products, this also has a soft sweet vanilla cake scent, which isn't really noticeable once it's applied on the lips. There's no noticeable flavour when you lick your lips.

RRP & Size
US$52 / £38 for a tiny amount of 0.07 oz / 2 ml. Ouch! >_<

Overall
Other brands have come out with click lip pens before, but this is the first to use an angled sponge-tip applicator (typically the same flocked material for lip gloss doe-foot applicators but for lip stain, lipstick and gloss in one). It's an interesting one, but probably not the best and easiest to use especially with a more fluid formula and strong, unforgiving colours. Many will appreciate the versatility this single product gives for achieving different looks, so it's worth getting and will be of great use especially when you're travelling and multi-purpose products enable you to carry less. Finally, but not least, I personally think it's the beautiful, glistening finish it leaves on the lips that really sets it apart from the rest. So, overall, I think it's worth splurging on one shade if it's within your budget. What lacks in quantity is made up for in the quality and the versatility of the product (though having said that, I rarely finish up an entire lip product!), and you are, after all, buying Tom Ford. Not for neutral lovers, though. ;)

Availability
Permanent so you can take your time choosing and thinking about it! I purchased mine from Selfridges.com, which ship internationally.

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Chanel have a new foundation out now in Australia, which is part of their Les Beiges range and it is called the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation SPF 25 / PA++. It was released about the same time as their L.A. Sunrise Collection for Spring 2016 - so in the beginning of January. So, I've been testing it since.

Chanel describes their new product as:

"An invisible foundation that creates a natural healthy glow by giving skin the radiance of a day spent outdoors, while protecting it from harsh environmental conditions."

Packaging

The foundation comes in a glass bottle, which while isn't the most practical for travel, feels luxuriously hefty and looks gorgeous on your dressing table. The cap clicks securely into place. The interlocking Cs of the Chanel logo are in beige, of course - to tie in with the rest of the Les Beiges range. It's simple, yet elegant - typical Chanel.

The foundation comes with a convenient and hygienic pump dispenser. Unlike some pumps, this one gives a small amount rather than too much to begin with, which prevents wastage. I find just a single pump is sufficient to get the medium coverage I like for my entire face.

Below is the shade number label at the bottom of the foundation bottle.

Shades
There are currently 8 available shades in Australia: No. 10, 20, 21, 22 Rosé, 30, 40, 50 and 60. Beware when trying to shade match in store as I found that the shades when first applied appear lighter than normal in other Chanel foundations. However, after 20-30 mins of application, the colour does turn a much warmer and darker - maybe two shades darker even. I don't know if this is just on my skin that it oxidises, or perhaps what is intended by the product as it does claim to give your skin a "radiance of a day outdoors". If it is the latter, then I can definitely confirm that it does!

I found the No. 30, 40 and 50 are lighter than those in the same shade for other Chanel foundation ranges. I noticed this as these are the three shades I have used before (but, in most Chanel foundations I am either a No. 30 in winter and a No. 40 in summer - except for Chanel's Vitalumiere Powder Foundation which runs a shade darker than normal - I use a No. 40 and 50 in that range). I suspect the other shades in the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation are lighter than normal, too. My skin currently has a summer tan and was initially matched to shade No. 50 in store, but I found this ended up looking darker, muddy and much warmer on me after 20-30 minutes, so I've switched it for No. 40. The same thing happened with No. 40 - it initially looks a shade lighter on my current tanned skin (lighter than the usual No. 40 in other Chanel foundations), but after a while, it turns a couple of shades darker so it even looks a shade darker than my neck and the rest of my body. It's also much warmer as if I'd been out in the sun the entire day!! Or as if I've had a tan or applied bronzer all over my face. LOL. The only other time I've looked like that in my life was after honeymooning in the Maldives. Ha! It has a slight beige pink undertone to it mimicking a sun kissed effect. So, if this effect is all intentional, then I would almost say this product is unique and I wouldn't classify it as your typical foundation. It's like a foundation with a fake tan in it! I am naturally tanned so I don't need this effect.

So, I would highly recommend you try this foundation first for the entire day or at least an hour to see how it looks on you. If you experience the same thing as I did AND you want to have a tone-on-tone effect that matches your skin, then I recommend you get a couple of shades lighter than what you are initially matched to, or if you know your normal Chanel foundation shade, get a shade lighter (e.g. if you are normally a No. 40 then get No. 30). Otherwise, if you want that tanned look, then get your usual shade and you will find that even though it looks much lighter when first applied, it will turn a couple of shades darker after 20-30 mins. In hindsight I should have purchased the No. 30, but then again this foundation isn't really suitable for my dry, dehydrated skin type anyway!

Swatches of All Shades

My favourite Chanel rep at at my local Myer store was kind enough to swatch all the shades on her arm for me to take photos of. For reference, she has lighter skin than me - I think she's usually matched to a No. 20, but No. 30 for this new Les Beiges Healthy Glow Foundation. Apologies for the lower quality as I took these using my phone camera. Please also note that these were photographed under store lighting.

Swatches of No. 40

Below are swatches of No. 40 photographed indoors with a proper camera and a strobe.

Application

Chanel recommend that fingertips be used for application and I find this works well indeed. Similar to the application and use of the Les Beiges Powder (reviewed here and here), you can choose one shade lighter for radiance, a matching shade for an "imperceptible result", or a darker shade for a more sun-kissed effect. Again, beware of the change in shade after a while as mentioned.

Consistency, Coverage, Finish, Texture & Feel

This foundation has a liquid to cream-like consistency so it's not runny, but it's not too thick/rich or heavy. It gives a sheer coverage, but I find it is also buildable to a medium coverage. Although, it starts off looking a little matte upon first application, after a few minutes it does leave the skin with a healthy, glowy finish. Actually, the very first time I tried this I was surprised at how matte it felt and looked on my already dry skin. I expected and hoped it was going to feel more moisturising and dewy even! There is no detectable shimmer. It just looks like natural skin with a healthy, youthful-looking sheen. It also appears to have a soft focus effect, too so great if you need to blur out any imperfections you might have. It dries down completely so there's no dewiness or leaves the skin feeling wet or tacky. So, if you have oily or combination skin, this will most likely feel comfortable for you. Dry / dehydrated skins like mine will definitely need to moisturise well beforehand and even mix the foundation with a bit of moisturiser. I also found it a bit drying throughout the day most likely due to the alcohol content (see ingredients below) and it was helpful to spritz my face with the Chantecaille Pure Rosewater (it's what I'm currently using at the moment to help refresh and rehydrate the skin - it's lovely, but expensive! ;)). Overall, it does feel lightweight on the skin.

Longevity
I do find this does not last as long as some of my favourite foundations. It's noticeably faded by the evening and my skin more glowy, particularly around my "T-zone" (typically where I produce more oil throughout the day) and any other areas that gets touched (by baby!) like my cheeks. This is on my dry skin and without use of a primer. I'd say its lasting power is probably similar to that of Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Foundation on me. So overall, it's OK for everyday, but I wouldn't choose this for a day when I knew I had to go out for the evening as well and need that extra lasting power, or for a special occasion.

Size
Contains the standard 30 ml / 1 fl. oz for liquid foundations.

Scent
This has a fairly strong perfume scent (similar to the rest of the Les Beiges powder), so those with sensitive noses will need to test this out in store first.

Ingredients

Click on above image to enlarge.

Overall
I adore the Les Beiges range, so I was very excited for this new foundation to come out and given Chanel foundations are among my favourite I had high expectations for this one. I was hoping that this "healthy glow" foundation would feel more nourishing and have a more dewy finish, so I'm very surprised and let down in that regard, especially for someone with dry, dehydrated skin. Nonetheless, I'm sure those with combination to oily skin types will enjoy this if you're looking for a lightweight foundation with sheer to medium coverage. From my experience, I believe the "healthy glow" effect is really the sun-tanned look it gives rather than the traditional "lit from within" / healthy sheen look. From that perspective, then I definitely see this product as one of a kind and worth checking out, but it may be tricky trying to find a shade that suits the effect you want given it changes after a while.

Have you tried this foundation? Did you experience the same colour change as I did? Let me know what you think! :)

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Hi lovelies! Hope you've been well. :D I thought I'd share my latest makeup acquisitions over recent weeks. I've been away for the last week for my 6 month old daughter's Christening - hence the lack of activity on my blog. Travelling by car with baby and dog over a two day(!) duration back to our home town was quite a challenge, but we got through it and she ended up sleeping for most of it thankfully. :) I even took some of the goodies with me in the hope that I could quickly take photos of them to share during the trip, but turns out that was a bit too optimistic. Ha! Anyway, here they are - all the new and exciting things I've delayed in sharing with you. ;)

I've shopped at Burberry.com once before, but this time they've changed to free shipping! Much excite! And, they do free gift wrapping, which is amazing. Look at the first photo above - each item individually wrapped, boxed with bow and note card! So beautiful. From there I picked up the following:

// Burberry Effortless Contouring Pen for Face & Eyes in Dark (No. 02)

I've been eyeing this for some time, but couldn't decide which of the two shades to choose (medium or dark). In the end, I stuck with Dark since I figured it would work well on my summer tan as well as sheer it out for my paler winter skin.

// Burberry Eye Colour Contour / Smoke & Sculpt Pen

New to the brand. I just love eye shadow sticks like this. By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Eyeshadows are my favourite and would be interesting to see how these compare. I picked up three of the seven shades available: Rosewood (No. 112) and two of the brand's makeup artist Wendy Rowe's favourites: Midnight Brown (No. 108) and Pale Copper (No. 106).

// Burberry Eye Colour Cream in Nude Gold (No. 121)

This is a new and limited edition shade that is inspired by hand-embroidered military-style gold work from the Burberry womenswear runway show. (I've swatches of several of their other permanent shades in the range in this blog post).

// Burberry "London with Love" Illuminating Bronzer Palette

This is also a new and limited edition bronzing powder duo, which is designed for illuminating and giving the complexion a "sun-touched effect". It celebrates playful prints from the Burberry Scarf Bar where the bronzer and highlighter powder is set with an embossed heart pattern. Isn't it gorgeous! ^_^ The two powders can be used separately or blended together.

Chanel have just officially launched their new range of Rouge Coco Stylo lipsticks and reformulated nail polishes this past Sunday in Australia. I was lucky enough to get a hold of them days earlier (sneaky, sneaky!). I picked up:

// Longwear Nail Colours in Organdi (504), Gitane (510) & Garçonne (520)

I personally found that most of Chanel's original nail polishes quite long-lasting already - in face one of the most long-lasting out of all nail polishes I've tried. They would typically last at least a week with only very minor, barely noticeable tip wear. So, it would be interesting to see how these compare! I've been told that most of the colours have been reformulated, but there are also a few new shades. I picked up three that are new: Organdi, Garçonne and Gitane. A lighter grey shade called Monochrome also captured my attention, but it reminded me of a limited edition called Frenzy (one of my fave neutrals) which I already own. I'm planning to go back to the counter soon with my bottle of Frenzy on hand to confirm my suspicions. ;) But, I reckon Monochrome is a more straight up grey rather than lilac-greige. If they're different enough in that respect, then I'll most likely purchase it. I love Chanel nail polishes! >_<

// Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine in Roman (208) and Lettre (216)

A new range of lipstick pens that currently come in seven shades. I picked up two: Roman (an intense fuchsia) and Lettre (a warm light to medium pink). I love travel-friendly makeup so this excites me. The formula is supposed to be a hybrid of a lipstick (in terms of colour intensity), gloss (in the shiny finish it gives) and balm (in the comfort and feel it gives). Sounds good to me. :)

Last, but not least, I strolled my way into Mecca, while I had a brief moment to spare during my week away. I was completely surprised to find they had Surratt Beauty! Only very few stores have it otherwise it is available on their online store. Finally, I had a chance to see in person all the other products from the brand I had not tried. I already own and use a few of his eye shadows and blush, which I purchased in the U.S.A years ago. So, I've extremely excited to get a hold of a few more goodies:

// Surratt Artistique Highlight Brush

All his brushes (at least the face brushes I played around with while I was there are divine), and after much consideration, I decided on this one. It seemed the most versatile and suitable for my relatively small face shape. It's fairly dense and is ultra-soft (all the brushes are). All brushes are hand-crafted in Japan and are not laser-cut to maintain their natural fine tips and give that luxuriously soft feel. This highlight brush uses blue squirrel hair. I love the French made cardboard box that it comes in, which has a sliding lid. The brush is comparable to my all-time favourite brush: Suqqu Cheek Brush (reviewed here), but based on first impressions, it is denser and more tapered. I might do a comparison post one day if I get a chance. I have a feeling this won't be my last Surratt brush I will purchase. >_< ;-)

// Surratt Lipslique in Pom Pon

This is a lip tint - lighter in texture than normal lipsticks and very nourishing on the lips like a lip balm. I debated between this blue-toned pink and a lovely sheer coral called Ritzy, but in the end I fell for the pink like I always do! Again, I can't get enough of the pens that seem to be released by lots of brands these days. So handy!

// Surratt Expressioniste Brow Pencil in Raven

This is Rae from the Raeviewer's current favourite brow pencil that she's been highly praising so I had to pick it up. I did try it in store and liked it. Raven appears to be a good match for my naturally black (but, sparse) eye brows. I really like the idea of buying refills, which is less wasteful and more affordable in the long-run. I'm excited to see if this becomes a staple in my makeup bag as it has for Rae.

// Hourglass Ambient Strobe Lighting Powder in Brilliant

This new range by Hourglass has been raved about (as with all their other Ambient powder products!), so I had to pick one up for blogging research purposes. *grin* ;-) The yellow-tone in Brilliant apparently suits my olive skin tone. I like that this powder is not your typical strobing, intense, in-your-face highlighting powder. Chunks of glitter in highlighters doesn't really appeal to me. This is one of the reasons why Chanel highlighters are still my all time favourites.

// Nars Eyeshadow Duo in Cordura

This is an oldie, which somehow missed my radar, but apparently a goodie according to Karen from The Makeup and Beauty Blog (I love her "Neat and New to Me" series of posts, which focus on permanent products that are she's discovered recently and loved), and was also featured on The Makeup Box's instagram where I first spotted it and started lemming over it. I'm totally excited for this golden brown and plummy chocolate duo. Fingers crossed.

So, there! Lots of exciting goodies for me to play with over the coming weeks. I will try to post swatches and my thoughts over some of these soon - particularly the new Chanel and Burberry items and anything else that I end up really loving and need to tell you about!

Meanwhile, hope you're week's been great so far. ^_^ x

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It seems makeup "pens" are trending in 2016. They are lightweight, convenient and small enough to fit in your pocket and more importantly, easy to apply - all practical things that I love. Concealer sticks, and eye shadow sticks or pens have been around for a while in some brands like By Terry, but now we're seeing more and more of this type of packaging for lips (e.g., Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color) and face contouring and highlighting (e.g., Burberry). More brands will follow suit. I'm excited.

Chanel's rendition for lips is their brand spanking new Rouge Coco Stylo Complete Care Lipshine. Its formula is designed to be a hybrid of a lipstick in terms of its intense colour pay-off, a gloss in its shiny finish and a balm in the comfort it provides. They also contain a "high concentration of natural active ingredients" such as "apple-seed extract and plant oils" (e.g., coconut and jojoba) to leave your lips feeling nourished, which provides the "complete care" aspect of it I suppose.

Colours

There are currently 7 shades available and I chose 'Roman' (208) and 'Lettre' (216) below. Roman is a "lively, smouldering fuchsia pink" and Lettre is a "soft and subtle rosewood".

Application

You simply twist the bottom of the pen once and that is usually enough for one application. Though after a few uses, I'm finding it takes a few more twists to dispense. I try not to twist too much at a time, but if you do happen to dispense too much the pen does allow you to retract the product back in by twisting in the opposite direction, which is handy! It takes several twists though. ;) The slanted shape of the product when it dispenses makes it easy to apply on the lips and you get a fairly precise application.

Pigmentation, Feel and Finish

The colour pay-off is excellent. I'm actually surprised given how almost weightless in feel it gives, so it's definitely packed full of pigment! It goes on with a cream texture then feels a slightly oily on the lips (I suppose this is due to the natural oils in the product). The pigment doesn't separate unlike say the original Chanel Rouge Coco Shine - sometimes the colour separates and just sits on the lips until it's blended out with a lot of creamy, lightweight formulas, but this product goes on perfectly evenly from the very first swipe and is perfectly opaque. This is probably the most lightweight of all Chanel lipsticks I've tried or from any other brand I reckon. So, it super comfy and feels almost as if I'm not wearing anything on my lips. There are ultra-fine micro shimmers in both shades, which give it a nice, luminous sheen (as opposed to noticeably shimmery) finish on the lips. It's almost a bit like the finish of a light layer of lip gloss so it's not too glossy and makes it very wearable. Despite the moisturising properties it aims to give (similar to a balm), I would say that it doesn't really leave my lips feeling very moisturised unfortunately. I don't find it dries my lips any more than it already is though.

Swatches of Roman & Lettre

All swatches are applied on my current medium to summer tan, olive skin (~NC30-35) and photographed indoors using a strobe.

Comparison Swatches to Roman & Lettre

I've found duplicates in my stash for both shades - albeit in different formulas and finishes. Roman is gorgeous, but in hindsight, I probably didn't need another one in this shade. LOL. I've just swatched it against a couple of other similar shades (but, I have others I'm sure!). The closest is Tom Ford's Patent Finish Lip Color in Infamy (reviewed here). It's pretty much exactly the same if you apply it in 1-2 layers only. I'm surprised I found a dupe for Lettre in the Chanel Rouge Double Intensite in Rose Quartz. I'm not sure this shade exists any more, but it was a shade I purchased in the U.S.A. years ago. I tend to gravitate towards brighter, more intense lip colours naturally, so I'm shocked to find the same shade in my relatively small collection of neutrals!

Roman & Lettre On My Lips...

For reference, I have naturally blue-toned, pigmented lips particularly on the outline of my lips and the lipsticks have no trouble covering them up and applying colour evenly all over my lips.

Swatches of All Shades

Below are swatches of all seven shades photographed using my phone camera so apologies for the lower quality. They were shot in natural lighting.

Colour names and descriptions are as follows (you will note that the names are aptly related to the theme of writing!):

// Conte (202) - "A fresh, tender and delicate pink".

// Article (204) - "A bright, luminous coral".

// Histoire (206) - "A fresh, vibrant and intense red".

// Roman (208) - "A lively, smouldering fuchsia pink".

// Récit (212) - "A deep purple".

// Message (214) - "A brownish rosewood".

// Lettre (216) - "A soft and subtle rosewood".

Longevity

I've tested Roman for longevity and I must say it lasted at least a good six hours with some fading through several glasses of water, snacks and a light meal. It did leave a nice medium to light stain by the end of it. This is pretty impressive for such a lightweight, non-matte formula, but obviously since Roman is the darker of the two shades it will last much longer.

Scent

There's a slight perfumed scent, but I don't notice it once it's on the lips.

Size

2 g / 0.07 oz.

Ingredients

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Verdict

Great lightweight formula and pigmentation in a convenient, easy-to-use, simple and sleek packaging. I love both colours, but for the first time(!), I'm maybe just a teeny bit more excited about the more subdued Lettre. It's not often I find a great "nude" match for my skin tone and this one is just perfect. I think it's also something to do with the fact that since becoming a mum, I've much less time to put on makeup (when I get the chance) and neutral shades like this are quick and low maintenance. :) Definitely check out these new Stylo Pens! Conte (202) is also calling to me... >_<

Availability
Out now at Chanel counters in David Jones and Myer and Chanel beauty boutiques.

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One of my favourite luxury beauty brands By Terry have released their latest creations of their Designer Palettes (see their Eye Designer Paletteshere, here and here). This time they're face colour palettes called the Sun Designer Palette (Sunkiss Powders) that consist of two sections: the left section contains three different blush colours and the right has a couple of bronzer shades and a highlighter. There are currently two Sun Designer Palettes: Tan & Flash Cruise (1) which is the one I purchased from Space NK (UK) and the other is Light & Tan Vibes (2). The former has much brighter blush colours and the latter is more tonal and is more peachy and bronzy. I love pinks and brights, so the first palette was definitely more up my alley. If you prefer more toned down, natural colours then check out the second palette. D

I will post swatches and my review of this palette as soon as I can, so keep your eyes peeled on my blog if you're interested (you can follow via BlogLovin). ;-) Note, I also tend to send new blog post notifications via my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook page so please follow me there if you prefer. ^_^ x

Meanwhile, I hope you're having a fantastic week! :)

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Introducing the new Eye Colour Contour Smoke & Sculpt Pens by Burberry. Like more and more other luxury brands, they are churning out gorgeous makeup packaged in super convenient, easy-to-apply pens. The trend of 2016.

But, it's not just about the packaging that's great about them. (Although, I will note that two of my pens - as shown in the above images - arrived in the post with the cream shadow sticks dispensed further out that they should initially and I couldn't retract them back into place! Midnight Brown was perfect though, so perhaps they were damaged during transit - just beware!). These eye shadow sticks do not budge, crease or fade! For reference, my eyelids have normal skin condition (neither oily or dry) and I tested these without a primer or any base underneath. By Terry Ombre Backstar Cream Shadow pencils feel a little more creamy in texture and they fade a little by end of day, but not enough to worry about retouching. The Burberry pens do not fade at all! Even though they are slightly drier texture, they are still creamy enough to apply without tugging on the skin and blend without any problems either using a brush or clean finger tips. They work well layered and blended together as pens (e.g. Rosewood as a base all over the mobile lid with Copper on the inner corners of the eyes to brighten and Midnight Brown in the outer corner of the eyes for depth and definition) as well as with eye shadow powders. They also set very well soon after application.

The names of the colours are fairly accurate. However, Midnight Brown is lighter than it is in its original powder form (swatches here) that is the Burberry Sheer Eye Shadow (discontinued formula). Pale Copper is my favourite pick of the three. Gorgeous! And, it would be a standout colour on all skin tones as it gives enough contrast and brightness, whereas Rosewood is a more natural colour, especially on my medium to tan, olive skin (~NC30-35), so it best serves as a long-lasting base colour, and Midnight Brown gives a natural-looking depth and definition to the eyes. True to the Burberry brand, you will probably find most of the shades on offer are more on the effortless, chic and natural side that enhance your natural beauty with only a few shades that have stronger shimmery sheen finishes like Pale Copper. In comparison, something like the By Terry Ombre Blackstar Cream Shadows will have more stronger, contrasting shades available and more shimmery finishes. Something to think about in terms of what you prefer. ;-)

Swatches

The swatches below are applied on my current medium to tan, olive skin (~NC30-35) and photographed indoors using a strobe.

Comparison Swatches

I don't have an exact dupe of any of the three shades in my collection, but here are a couple from other brands' cream eye shadow pen that are in the same colour family. Chanel's Caroube is a reddish brown in the same family as Rosewood though the former is darker, warmer and has more of a satin finish. By Terry's Bronze Moon is quite different, but it is in the same brown family as Midnight Brown, but the former has more taupe and has a stronger sheen.

RRP & Size

Even though this is a luxury brand, it is a more affordable one compared to By Terry. These retail for AU$49 each versus By Terry Ombre Blackstar's AU$61, so it's a great alternative and it has even better wear (although both are great in that respect!). However, Burberry's contains 1.5 g (0.05 oz) of product whereas By Terry's has a touch more at 1.64 g.

Verdict

Easy application and impressive longevity. Great, natural-looking colours for a Burberry-esque effortless look. Copper and Midnight Brown (if you don't already own a natural brown) are definitely must-haves as per Wendy Rowe's recommendations. Of course, how could any one doubt her! ;)

Availability
I believe this is a new and permanent range. I purchased mine from Burberry.com which ship to Australia free and express! :-D

P.S. I hope my blog posts have maintained a high quality, particularly over recent months! I tend to do them quite late at night when bubs is (finally) asleep and I'm half awake along with the months and months of sleep deprivation (and no one look them over)! >_< Nonetheless, I am doing my best. ;-)

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Above is the new By Terry Sun Designer Palette in Tan & Flash Cruise (1) in all its glory (and as you may've already seen in my sneak peek photographs and post here). It's one of their two new "sunkiss face powder" palettes. [Angels sing] Aaaahhhh... Enough drooling...here's more about it along with my thoughts, swatches and comparison swatches. ;)

Packaging

Above is the outer box packaging in the lovely signature By Terry purple goodness and reflective finish.

Like most luxury brands the palette comes with a velvet pouch - yes, you know, the one that attracts all the lint and dust. Ha! If you can stand it, it's certainly handy when you want to travel with the palette and keep it safe and secure. Otherwise, it ends up in "velvet pouch heaven" (unless it's a handy little fold up one like this and I like to keep my headphones in it, or jewellery etc).

The palette itself is gorgeous (innit?) with its tribal-like print design in copper, white and signature By Terry purple. The palette is a bit longer than my slightly smaller than average hand. It's very lightweight being made of plastic, which is convenient. The underside of the lid has a nice, long mirror. Below is the product description label on the bottom of the palette.

Love that the powders inside also reflect the zig-zag tribal pattern as well from the outside of the packaging! Beautiful! The palette consist of two sections: the left section contains three different blush colours and the right has a couple of bronzer shades and a highlighter. In some palettes, multiple shades are housed in the same pan, but in this palette each shade actually resides in its own pan so the black lines you see are plastic and divide up the colours. (Below is the palette photographed indoors using a strobe). Still, one might complain that the shades are way too close to each other so the powder colours will have a tendency to contaminate the others during use making it difficult to use a particular colour at a time. But, it is also convenient when you want to mix colours together to create a custom colour.

Below is the palette photographed in low light (without a strobe) to capture the iridescence.

Colours, Finishes & Swatches

Below are swatches applied on my medium to tan, olive skin (~NC30-35) and photographed indoors using a strobe.

Above: are the blush swatches taken from the bottom to top of the palette. Left to right on my arm swatches is an uber neon bright, super cool orchid pink (j'adore!) with very subtle iridescence (just gives the effect of a subtle glow on the cheeks the same as a satin finish); an uber neon bright coral with similar subtle iridescence; and a matte, medium to dark, neutral to warm rose pink or hydrangea pink.

Above are the bronzer and highlighter swatches taken again from bottom to top of the palette. Left to right on my arm is a "bronzy" light to medium, neutral to warm apricot / peach and maybe the slightest rose hue with subtle iridescence, which can be used as a blush on its own, a subtle sun kissed bronzer, or as a transition colour between the deep bronzer shade and a brighter blush (this is surprisingly enough probably my favourite colour in the palette! It's so versatile and just gorgeous and not too warm so it's very wearable - I don't have an exact dupe of it in my collection); dark neutral to warm bronzer with subtle iridescence (it's not noticeable when applied on your face (compared to heavy swatching) that you can use it to contour underneath your cheek bones if you wanted to); matte(!) beige highlighter with a peach undertone - this one barely shows up against my current medium to tanned skin - it's very subtle especially being matte so you could use it as a base powder eye shadow as well, or for a very natural highlight (so definitely not your strobing powder and is for the "highlight-shy"!).

Overall, I think the palette would work well on most, if not all, skin tones. Fairer complexions will need to apply much less and you can build colour without any issues (or much product!) to suit deeper complexions.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches for reference. Surprisingly, I don't have any exact dupes of any of the shades in the palette. I came across several that I thought might be a good match, but turned out to be different when swatched.

You will note that I compared the highlighter with an eye shadow instead (just so you can see the subtle colour / hue differences) as I don't own any highlighter like it - let alone a matte one!

Texture, Pigmentation & Longevity

Consistent with the texture of the powder in the By Terry Eye Designer Palettes (reviewed here, here andhere), these face powders are also exquisitely finely milled and feel silky, airy, buttery smooth to touch - it almost glides on the skin like a super lightweight cream. I'm sure makeup lovers will sigh with delight when you swatch these for yourself. LOL. The powders are among the softest and most delicate of powders so it doesn't take much to disturb the pan so be very light-handed! As light as almost just letting the brush *touch* the powder without applying any force. The pigmentation is super strong so a little goes a long way anyway. And, I can't recommend enough that you use the softest brush you own (or get one) similar to a blue/grey squirrel brush. For example, I have to use a brush as soft as my Suqqu Cheek Brush or the Surratt Artistique Highlight Brush for these. You can gently blow off any excess powder that might get onto other pans in the palette. I found these blended out very easily without any problem. The longevity isn't the longest in that there was noticeable fading after about six hours on my dry skin and without use of any primer.

Scent

Unless I literally stick my nose onto the powder, there's no discernible scent of any kind, so this won't bother anyone with sensitive noses. :)

Size

15 g / 0.53 oz.

Ingredients

Click on the image below to enlarge.

Bottom Line

A must-have. Period.

(Or if that's not good enough LOL...it is worth the splurge and there's a great selection of colours (unique to me) and the quality inside and out are out of this world! Period.) ;-)

Availability

Limited Edition. There are two colour palettes available (the other a more natural, peachy, tonal bronzy palette that will help accentuate tanned skins) and I purchased this particular one from Space NK (UK) online which ship internationally such as to Australia. I believe the other called Light & Tan Vibes (2) is currently available for pre-order for end of March dispatch from Space NK (UK) - do check their site for updates! ;-)

Hope this was helpful! Have a great weekend guys! You are awesome for checking out my blog - REALLY! Thank you! ^_^ xo

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Every year Chanel release a makeup collection specifically for eyes and this year it features actress Kristen Stewart as the face of this collection and photographed by Mario Testino. There are three new eye shadow quad palettes - only one of which is limited edition that I purchased (see photo above) and it is called Tissé Particulier (264). Upon receiving the palette I discovered it is made in France (instead of Italy which I've observed is where the best powder products are made), which unfortunately means the formula is of the old / original baked version, which in my experience is very dry and sheer. :-( Looking at it in the pan, it certainly looks that way, but I will confirm once I've watched and had a play of it. The new Stylo Eyeshadow crayons (made in Italy! ;-) ), which I love are back with new colours, but as usual only for a limited time. I restrained myself and picked up two of the five: Beige Doré (157) and Bleu Nuit (207). For full details of what's in the collection, visit the Chicprofile, or the official Chanel USA website, which has all the collection in stock. Otherwise, I believe they're now available in Europe like the UK where I purchased mine from (Harrods.com). There are a few repromoted items, some new limited editions, new permanent additions, a new mascara formula and new brow products, etc, so worth having a look if you're a Chanel makeup lover.

I'll post my thoughts and swatches of the items I purchased soon. Meanwhile, have a great end to the working week and hope you have a safe and enjoyable Easter long weekend! ^_^ xo

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H A P P Y E A S T E R ! ^_^

Aussies, did you know that Becca Cosmetics AU online is having 20% off everything this easter? Luckily (or should I say, unluckily for my wallet) I signed up for email notifications so I knew about it. I don't recall Becca having such a sale on their entire site so of course, I had to jump on it. I'd been meaning to finally get that Ombre Nudes Eye Palette everyone's been raving about for a while and the Ultimate Full Flash Perfecting Mascara that Wayne Goss claimed is one of his favourites. I could never justify paying AU$65 (say what?) for a mascara on sephora.com.au - which, makes it THE most expensive mascara I've come across ever. I genuinely think this is a mistake (or an unjustified, ridiculous markup), because on the official Australian Becca Cosmetics website, it is AU$45 - so, while still fairly pricey (they are a high-end brand after all), it is a lot more reasonable than what's on Sephora! >_< Anyway, I'm very much looking forward to trying this mascara out. Also, the original Becca The Ultimate Mascara from years and years ago was my go-to/favourite for ages, so I'm not really surprised that their latest one seems to be a hit. As for the palette, well, do I need another warm neutral palette? No, but it has been *years* since I've tried Becca's eye shadows and as a beauty blogger, I just had to keep myself up-to-date. ;-) Btw, Becca Cosmetics AU do standard shipping for free and use the code "easter20" on check out to receive the discount this long weekend.

Today, I was out and about shopping for bubs and intended to buy only one thing at Mecca Cosmetica for myself. That was a success. The Nars Isolde eye shadow duo that everyone has talked about for years is now finally mine. I've been loving Surabaya (which I only purchased last month) and addicted to all things warm on my eyes lately - especially now autumn is upon us down-under, it's so apt. The walk via the department store through the beauty department was unintentional and I naughtily came away with the new, limited edition for spring 2016 YSL nail polish in Love Pink (I actually wanted Peace Green, but they were sold out, but this one looked equally gorgeous), and one of their brand new Touche Éclat Neutralizer Corrector Pens in Abricot Bisque to hopefully help my dark circles appear less apparent. Actually, I'd been very keenly waiting on all of these new YSL to come out in Australia and so glad they made it to my little local counter in David Jones.

Well that's that. Thought I'd share a little sale news in case you weren't aware and a few new things that have made it to Aussie shores. I'll hopefully get on with the review of the new Chanel goodies I purchased (sneak peek HERE) and publish it very soon!! Hope everyone's enjoying their long weekend so far and a chocolate or two...(kilograms for me. Ha!) Anyone else did a spot of beauty shopping this Easter? Do share!

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Hey Aussies! Did you know that the Too Faced Peanut Butter and Jelly Eyeshadow Palette has arrived on our shores? It officially launched 29th March - but those with Mecca Beauty Loop 3 got a sneaky early access a day earlier and so I quickly snatched it up online and it arrived this morning. >_< This is a limited edition and already it appears to be unavailable online now that I've checked it! Hopefully, they will restock? Fingers crossed! The colours are inspired by the combination of peanut butter and jelly. The palette contains 9 matte and shimmer shades "all enriched with antioxidant-full cocoa powder", and features neutral nudes to shimmery coppers and a splash of purple that will carry your day look to evening. Most importantly (let's face it! ;-) ), it smells absolutely delicious... *drool* Can't wait to try have a play with it (whilst trying not to eat it!). I'm now keen on trying out their Chocolate Bar palette - I didn't realise just how enticing the scent really is! No wonder these are a hit.

Note, the palette is pictured above with my other Mecca online haul, which is the Lipstick Queen Seven Deadly Sins Lip Gloss in Envy - an equally yummy looking purple for lips. I've been after this to go on top of the YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Pourer Divin (39) to try and replicate Lisa Eldridge's look in this video. Doesn't it look divine indeed.

Did you manage to get your hands on this palette? If so, what do you think of it?

P.S. I shall get back onto proper, usual reviews (yes, including that Chanel one! >_<) soon! Bubs has only recently started to crawl properly (yay!) and has been on the go-go-go since! I just can't get her to keep still or have her usual naps so it's been tricky to find the time and I'm totally exhausted by the time it gets to my usual late night blogging period when she's finally asleep. Just managed to sneak this brief post in though! Thanks for your patience. :) xo

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EAUX DE PARFUM
"To further enhance the beauty of its surprising accords, inspired by nature or travel, diptyque has decided to concentrate more on its symbolic Eaux de Parfum. A familiar yet reinvented interpretation, with accentuated, enhanced major notes... the Eau de Parfum expresses itself with even more personality, audacity, intensity and tenacity."

A brief visit to my local Mecca Cosmetica while hubby looked after bubs led me to a surprise discovery of the new Diptyque Eaux de Parfum on display (photographed above using my phone camera so sorry for the lower quality image!) Apparently, these have been around for a while, but have just released in Australia. These were created to have greater intensity and longevity and packaged in an even more luxurious and classy, blackened glass bottle. Aren't they just divine? *_* Love the packaging a lot and wish I could repackage my current huge bottle of L'Ombre Dans L'Eau Eau de Toilette in this bottle instead, or just buy the parfum version of it! ;-) Sooo tempting. Like all perfumes the sillage and longevity of these may vary on different people. Tam Dao was kind of calling to me, however, it was extremely mild on me and I could barely smell it unless I stuck my nose on my skin! L'Ombre Dans L'Eau EDP, on the other hand, was a lot stronger on me.

This will surely excite those who have longed wanted their favourite Diptyque Eau de Toilette fragrance as an EDP! So, go have a sniff or admire the new packaging at your local counter. They are currently only available in 75 ml bottles (RRP AU$208) and EDP fragrances include: Philosykos, Do Son, L'Ombre Dans L'Eau, Volutes, Tam Dao and Eau Duelle.

Have you tried the EDP range? Which is your favourite Diptyque fragrance? Mine is L'Ombre Dans L'Eau if you hadn't already guessed. ;-)

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As part of Chanel's latest collection for eyes (Eyes Speak Volumes) they released five new Stylo (Fresh Effect) Eyeshadows - all limited edition shades (all Stylo Eyeshadows usually are it seems). I purchased two and I'm finally posting my review here after bubs went to bed a little earlier tonight than expected (huzzah! Thank you for your patience! ;-)).

Packaging

The cream eyeshadows are packaged as a convenient, lightweight, easy to carry retractible crayon so no need to sharpen. The tips are slanted to fit the contour of the eye lids nicely for direct application. Overall, it's simple, practical and sleek.

Colours & Finishes

Bleu Nuit - midnight blue with an iridescent sheen finish.

Beige Doré - golden beige with a strong metallic frost finish.

Comparison Swatches

Below are comparison swatches of the eye shadows and other cream eye shadows (in pots rather than in stick or crayon form) I have that I found were the closest match. For reference, these were swatched on my medium to tan, olive skin tone (~NC30-35) and photographed indoors using a strobe.

Tom Ford's Night Sky (cream only) is a little darker and has more visible shimmers compared to Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Bleu Nuit. Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise in Norma Jean has a pink undertone rather than gold and not as intensely frosty in finish compared to Chanel's Beige Doré.

Formula, Pigmentation, Texture & Longevity

Upon application, the cream eye shadow gives a nice, cooling sensation leaving your eyes feeling fresh. It's highly recommended that the cap be secured back on the pen after each use to preserve this effect in the formula. Note, according to Chanel, this product cannot be used as a kohl along the inner eyelid rim. If you wear contact lenses, this product is suitable for you as well as it has been ophthalmologist tested according to Chanel.

The pigmentation is excellent. The texture is a smooth and creamy enough to glide on the skin easily. There's ample time to blend the product out before it sets as it blends really easily - it doesn't take much time or effort to do so anyway. On my dry, dehydrated skin and without the use of a primer, I find it doesn't crease or settle into the crease of my eyes. It also lasts from first thing in the morning through til I take it off late in the evening without any noticeable fading.

Ingredients

Click on image to enlarge.

Overall

Unfortunately, I personally found Beige Doré too frosty for my liking and too harsh against my medium to tanned skin, so I could have done without it. However, I adoreBleu Nuit. I'm naturally partial to blue (it enhances brown eyes in particular), but when it's this pigmented and easy to apply using a crayon-style applicator - it's a must have in my book! Despite not receiving much hype in the general blogosphere (I'm not sure why!), Stylo Eyeshadows are among my personal favourite makeup ranges from Chanel and I always pick at least one up whenever they release new colours so I highly recommend them. ^_^

Availability

Out now for a limited time while stocks last in Chanel beauty boutiques and counters in David Jones and Myer stores across Australia.

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One of my favourite luxury Japanese brands, Suqqu are launching their first UK Exclusive Summer collection.

"The collection is inspired by ancient Japanese playful colours "Kasaneiro" or "Awaseiro", colour combinations that have been treasured in Japanese culture for over 1000 years. Brought to life through SUQQU's eyeshadow palettes, Japan's summer offers dramatic scenes and alluring seasonal colours such as deep blue oceans, fresh green grass and bright blue skies; and earthy scenes such as glaring sunshine filtering down through the trees".

There are two eye shadow quad palettes, two lip colours and a new waterproof mascara in the collection.

Both eyeshadow palettes contain three matte shades for contour, highlight and star accent shade, and one sheer, shimmering shade to wash over the top to bring the colours together and transition from day to night.

EX-30 Hekikai Blend Color Eyeshadow Palette - inspired by deep blue oceans, fresh green grass and bright blue skies. This palette consists of a bright white highlighter, navy for contouring, the star accent of a bright lime green(!) and a glimmering turquoise. Wondegondigo and Color Me Loud have swatches of it here and here respectively along with their personal thoughts.

Here I have EX-31 Gyoukou Blend Color Eyeshadow Palette for review, with colours inspired by a warm summer sunset. It has a matte deep brown for definition and contour, with a vibrant matte orange as the star accent shade; a warm matte cream highlighter and a glittery gold as a finishing touch. Personally, I'm glad I received this out of the two palettes, as based on the pictures I've seen, I find this one more wearable. As much as I love blue, I don't know how I could pull off a bright lime green eye shadow in Hekikai. ;-)

EX-31 Gyoukou Blend Color Eyeshadow Palette

Packaging

Both the palette and lipstick are encased in sleek black lacquer with the brand name embossed on the ront. Simple, beautiful and more practically - slim and fairly lightweight for travel. Also, the palette does come with a black, suede-like pouch (not pictured).

Underneath the lid is a large mirror for on-the-go application and/or touch-ups. The palette also comes with a dual-ended sponge applicator and a dual-ended brush applicator. They're excellent quality.

The brush have ultra soft, silky hairs - similar to their full-sized brushes. I'm very happy to use them. ^_^ One end is shorter for packing on the product on the lid, and the other brush is longer and used for blending. The sponges are high high quality and fairly dense. The thinner end is great for lining the eyes precisely, while the other larger sponge end is used for packing product.

Texture, Pigmentation & Longevity
As with all the eye shadows I've tried that are made in Japan, these have super finely milled, lightweight, blendable texture that melds with the skin easily and seamlessly. Application is smooth and even. I didn't experience any fall out at all.

While the powder is delicate, the pigmentation is by no means lacking - it is extremely packed with colour! It's best to work just a tiny bit of colour onto the back of your hand with your eye brush beforehand to take any excess off with each layer and just build colour that way rather than applying directly onto the eye lids - especially with the bright accent colour.

I found the eye shadows lasted from morning til night with only slight fading on my eye lids which have normal skin condition (i.e., neither oily or dry), and without primer.

Day-Time Application
My favourite way to apply this eye shadow palette for day wear (appropriate for work), is to apply the matte highlighter shade all over the eye lids, but mainly focusing on the mobile lids, in the crease and on the brow bone. I then line the upper lash line with the brown shade. I like to do this relatively thickly as you apply it towards the outer corners of the eyes - almost covering the entire mobile lids when you look straight ahead. I find it easy and precise enough to use the provided sponge applicator with the fine tip. To intensify the roots of the upper lashes, I go over it very thinly with a brown liquid eyeliner. Then, I apply the orange very softly along the crease, blending it out in wind screen wiper motion with a soft fluffy, eye blending brush like the Suqqu Eyeshadow Brush L or the blending brush provided in the palette. With a clean, fluffy blending brush, I blend where the two shades meet to soften the transition. To open up the eyes, I apply the gold shade along the inner corners. Finish off the eyes by curling your lashes and applying your favourite mascara. This look was used on my makeup looks pictured further down this post.

Alternative looks include simply using the orange to line the upper or lower lashes.

Swatches
Below are swatches using a clean finger without primer. For reference, I have medium to tanned, olive (~NC30-35) skin tone and the swatches were photographed indoors using a strobe.

Comparison Swatches
The closest palette that this reminds me of and that I have in my collection is the limited-editionDior Croisette Edition 5 colour palette from 2012, called Aurora (654). Obviously, the colours, finishes and textures are not the same so I'm happy to have both. Although, I do prefer the Suqqu one for every day use as it's mostly matte. I have swatched below three of the most similar shades from Dior's to Suqqu's.

I also compared a few other orange eye shadows I have with Suqqu's below.

Above (left to right): By Terry Eye Designer Palette in Color Design (2), Stila Eyes Are The Window Shadow Palette in Mind, Dior 5 Couleurs Croisette Edition Palette in Aurora (654), Suqqu Gyoukou (Ex-31) Blend Color Eyeshadow Palette.

Lip and Cheek Pairings

Any neutral or warm, orange toned lip and cheek colours will work well with this eye shadow palette. Below are a couple of my favourites.

For a bright lip option, I love a matte orange red paired with a neutral to warm blush. The ones I used for the look below are Nars Heat Wave Lipstick and Nars Luster Blush, which has an orange tone.

The rest of the makeup (except for my base) and tools used include:

// Chanel Le Volume de Chanel Mascara in Noir (10)
// Chanel Eyeliner Pen in Brun (brown) - not as harsh as black and makes it more day-time friendly.
// Suqqu Eyebrow Liquid Pen in Moss Green (01) - I have a lot going on the rest of my face so I chose a product that gives me the most natural-looking eye brows that just fills in some of the gaps.
// Suqqu Cheek Brush
// Suqqu Eyeshadow Brush L
// Suqqu Eyeshadow Brush F

[Taken with my phone camera in natural lighting]

For a softer, more natural looking makeup that's great for every day wear, I chose Estee Lauder Pure Color Crystal Lipstick in Crystal Coral (311) and Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Frivole (76).

[Taken with my phone camera in natural lighting]

Ingredients

Click on the image to enlarge.

Size
4.6 g / 0.16 oz

Ex-21 Sen Ka Creamy Glow Lipstick Moist

Sen Ka is described as a "bright pink with blue undertones". To me, it appears as an intense raspberry pink. It's brighter and pulls red-toned compared to the more plum-toned Benefit's Wanna? Lipstick in Betty (see comparison swatch below).

Comparison Swatch

On My Lips...

Texture & Pigmentation
The formula of this is very richly pigmented, very creamy (but, doesn't slide around) and has thick balm-like in texture. It goes on very smoothly and evenly. If you have dry or dehydrated lips, I'm sure it will love this! It really nourishes the lips. The finish is quite glossy and really does give the effect of juicy, fuller, plumper lips.

Ingredients

Click on image to enlarge.

Size
3.8 g / 0.13 oz

Scent
There's no scent, so it's great for those who have a sensitive nose. :)

Overall
I've really been enjoying wearing this palette on a day to day basis, so I highly recommend you check it out. It has incredible pigmentation with great, blendable texture that makes it so quick and easy to create looks with. While the uber bright orange may seem intimidating, it works beautifully when applied as a soft crease colour and layered with the brown for a day look and then amped up for an evening look with a bright orange-toned lipstick. If you have brown, blue eyes or pale eyes then the orange will be particularly flattering on you and will intensify your eye colour. It also helps to make the whites of your eyes appear much whiter. The lipstick has a gorgeous, moisturising formula that's super creamy, gives full coverage colour, and fuller, plumper looking lips. If you want one that pairs well with the Gyoukou palette then definitely get the coral shade Ex-20 Hyaku Daidai.

Availability

Available April 28th 2016 at Harrods and Selfridges online and in-store at Fenwick of Bond Street.

These samples were sent to Indigo Kir Royale without charge for consideration for review. (For more information, see Disclosure)

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Et voilà! Here we have the second Mecca Beauty Loop Level 3 Box for 2016, which is out now til the 4th of May or while stocks last. It contains four deluxe samples. Here's what's inside (left to right in the image above):

Ren Bio Retinoid Anti-Ageing Cream (10 ml / 0.34 fl. oz)

Can't use this at the moment coz I'm breast feeding, but it's a retinol-based cream you can use without irritation and is aimed to "enhance long term skin health and vitality". From memory, my skin did not react well with retinol (broke me out!) when I tried it (not this particular product) years ago, so I've pretty much avoided it since. It would be interesting to see how this one goes when I'm able to try it out as apparently retinol is the only real tried and tested ingredient that makes a difference to the skin.

Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray (15 ml / 0.5 fl. oz)

I've heard so much about setting sprays, especially from brands like Urban Decay and Skindinavia and I've always wanted to try them just out of curiosity. I don't personally need them, especially over the last few years where my skin has been dry/dehydrated and makeup tends to last reasonably well with just the use of setting powders just in any concealed areas. I think these would come in very handy for long, big events such as weddings. I might test this to see how this compares with using setting powders. However, the other apparent advantage these have apart from increasing the longevity of makeup is to remove any powdery look, which might come in handy for me as well. Although I have used thermal spring water sprays for the same purpose of helping to give a more natural, seamless finish. I'm hoping this spray will give a matte or natural finish as I've heard some setting sprays have a tendency to leave a somewhat shiny film over the skin, which I definitely want to avoid. If you have any thoughts regarding this product, let me know in the comments below. :) Anyway, this is a nice deluxe sized, travel-friendly sample spray and I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

Malin + Goetz Clarifying Clay Mask (15 ml / 0.5 fl. oz)

I love a good clay mask as it helps to lift any impurities from the skin and it doesn't irritate or dry out the skin. It's especially great for those with acne-prone or oily skin, but in general is a useful one to have in your skincare regime, in my opinion, as an exfoliator and leaving the skin refreshed, soft and supple. So, this is a much welcome addition and a new one to try for me. Malin + Goetz is a really good brand to try, particularly for those with sensitive skin which is what they aim at catering for and I also love the fact that everything they have can be used by both men and women. Their packaging is simple, yet pleasing and unisex. I used to repurchase their shampoo and conditioner lots years ago, so I'm excited to revisit this brand again and try this product.

Josie Maran Argan Enlighten Illuminizer (7 ml / 0.23 fl. oz)

I've not tried anything from Josie Maran so happy to have this in my box indeed, and especially since it's an illuminizer! ^_^ Can't get enough highlighters and illuminizers in my dry and dehydrated skin life. This one, like everything from the brand uses argan oil, which is a great, nourishing skin care ingredient. Love makeup with added skin care benefits. And, thankfully this deluxe sample comes with a convenient pump! Woohoo! This is a nice, neutral champagne colour, too so it will suit many skin tones and should give a natural-looking glow. These types of liquid illuminating products are quite versatile, too as they can be used alone all over the skin, or mixed with moisturiser, oil or base makeup, or patted on high points of the face as a finishing, glowing touch.

So, I'm very pleased with this box of goodies (except for one that unfortunately I can't use at present!).

Have you picked up yours yet? Let me know what's in your box if your a Level 1 or 2.

Meanwhile, hope you're enjoying a safe, long weekend. Lest we forget. x

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Introducing the latest Burberry makeup launch and following the "makeup pen" trend of the year: Burberry Full Kisses Lip Pens. I think these would have to be one of my most exciting releases so far this year and not just because of the fact that it's from one of my top beauty brands or that it's a pen style packaging, but the actual lip product itself is really quite impressive! But...firstly, let's pause for a moment and appreciate the exquisite and lush packaging that Burberry have done (photographed above). *sigh*

In keeping with the Burberry makeup line, the Full Kisses Lip Colour Pens have a sleek, modern, gunmetal finish and their iconic check pattern on the caps. The pens are chubby in comparison to say the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo Pens (reviewed here) and are more closer in size to the Clinique Chubby Sticks, but a tad shorter. To dispense the product you simply twist the bottom of the pen.

Below are the product description labels on the bottom of the pens.

Above left is Rosehip (No. 537) and right is Lilac (No. 541).

The Burberry Full Kisses Lip Colour formula is designed to deliver full coverage in one stroke and have a long-lasting power of up to eight hours. These give a luminous finish to the lips. After testing these out, I can concur! Even after eating a saucy pasta dish for dinner, I still had a decent stain left behind when I wore Lilac (this one lasted from morning til I took it off before bed time!). So good! I would suspect the deep or bright shades such as this would have particularly longer longevity. These feel very substantial on the lips as if they're hugging them (unlike the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo which are much more lightweight). My lips feel comfortable and richly moisturised while they're on and even afterwards. Rosehip felt creamy, while Lilac seemed to look and feel a little more juicy. :)

Rosehip (No. 537)

Rosehip is a beautiful, warm, mid-tone, rose pink. I often have trouble wearing this type of neutral shade as they can sometimes be a touch too light for my medium to tan, olive skin tone (~NC30-35), but this one is just perfect. I love that it has enough brightness to add a little bit of colour to my lips despite it still being fairly neutral (aka an "MLLB" look). This helps to lift my entire complexion, which is otherwise dull, and make me look more alive (i.e., "no I didn't just stay awake for most of the night with baby and the flu" look). This one is excellent for every day or the office.

The shape of the lipstick is unique as it's slanted to fit the shape of the lips and it's straight/flat at the ends to help give precise application along the lip lines/edges.

Lilac (No. 541)

Lilac is a very pretty, bright orchid/purple pink. Definitely my colour. My favourite of all lip colours. I have plenty already, but I couldn't let this one escape me. >_< It looks great on cool-toned folks and even more smashing on those with medium to tanned olive skin tones.

On My Lips...
I have naturally blue-based pigmented lips especially along the upper lip outline, but these covered it all up - applying smoothly and with even colour coverage. For reference, these were applied directly onto the lips straight from the bullet with no primer or lip pencil.

Rosehip (No. 537)

Lilac (No. 541)

Comparison Swatches
Below are swatches and comparisons on my medium to tan, olive skin and photographed indoors using a strobe.

Size
2.0 g / 0.07 o.z (same amount as the Chanel Rouge Coco Stylo).

Scent
There's no detectable scent so those with sensitive noses need not worry! :)

Ingredients

Click on the above image to enlarge.

Overall

There have been plenty of lipsticks from various brands released - all great, but this one would have to be an absolute stand out. If you are overwhelmed by the choice, definitely look no further! There are currently ten shades to choose from ranging from neutral nudes, to brights and deep dark colours - such as Dewberry (a dark plum), which I'm so tempted by! Overall, I'd say this is one of the most impressive product launches of 2016. Great packaging and formula with impressive pigmentation and wear-time. Must-try!

Availability
Available now from Burberry.com which ship to Australia via express and it's free(!) along with the most gorgeous packaging ever! ^_^

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Introducing the new Juicy Shakers from Lancome! This is a new range of pigment infused bi-phase lip oil products inspired by the cocktail shaker lipstick from 1945 and their Juicy Tubes from the 90s.

You can see below the bi-phase product before it has been shaken and mixed where the top layer is the oil and the bottom layer is the pigment. The oils consist of sweet almond oil, omega 3 and cranberry oil, which help nourish the lips.

How to use:

"Shake like a cocktail shaker up to 5 times to mix the pigment and oil together.
Tap the cushion applicator onto lips for a tint of color with sheer finish.
For a more pigmented look build a base using lip liner or matte lipstick then tap on Juicy Shaker.
For a plumped lip look tap onto the corners of the cupid’s bow on the upper lip."

Below are how the Juicy Shakers look after they've been shaken and mixed together. (A shot of how they look before they are mixed is in the first photograph).

These are currently available in 13 shades and flavours and 1 limited edition, called Mint to Be (400), which is very minty and refreshing (great for going on dates! ;-) ) and is a bright light blue colour that essentially goes on clear, but just helps to make your teeth look whiter. I picked up three (pictured above from left to right): Mangoes Wild (381), Boom-Meringue (313) and Berry In Love (283).

Below is the size of the Juicy Shaker with respect to my slightly smaller than average hand.

The pointed dome cushion applicator (below) is pretty good at applying the product precisely from corner to corner, and it doesn't appear to wipe off the product as I thought it might - it actually deposits and applies colour sufficiently (so long as you've given the Juicy Shaker a good shake beforehand) as you gently dab and swipe on the lips.

It is lovely and incredibly soft and squishy as hopefully captured in the image below. ;-)

There are three little holes inside the tube that allows the oil tint to go through to the sponge as you shake it ready for product application.

The formula feels really good on the lips! Sooo nourishing, yet extremely lightweight and doesn't feel sticky at all. It uses very thin lightweight oils that feels like they absorb into the lips easily and well rather than thick ones that you have to work into the lips and you can feel sitting on top. So, overall it feels super comfortable and it's a lip product that you want to keep applying throughout the day coz it just feels divine! The only thing is that it doesn't really keep my lips feeling that way after it's come off sadly. Though it doesn't dry them out, which is good. Obviously, these type of oil products do not last long on the lips so you do need to keep reapplying every couple of hours or so or after drinking or eating. I'm sure most won't mind coz you get to whip out your cute little cocktail shaker and show it off every time you reapply. ;-)

On My Lips...

Below are the lip swatches of each of the three colours on my naturally, blue-toned pigmented lips. For each of the shades I applied three layers on my lips. These definitely make my thin lips look plump, nourished and naturally glossy with a gorgeous, evenly applied stain of colour.

The flavour isn't very strong when you lick your lips - it's quite subtle and tastes somewhat sweet at first then disappears. The smell is stronger in comparison and smells of the fruit or ingredient that the shade is named after. I think it smells delicious!

Overall

Whether you're a lip balm lover, lip gloss lover or a real makeup obsessed person like I am, these are definitely a must-have for you! It's a great, new innovation both product and packaging-wise so it will sure to utterly excite any lip product lover out there. I highly recommend getting at least one shade or two. (Three was probably excessive even for me, but the discount tempted me (see below)! >_<)

Of course, I adore brights and especially purple pinks, so my favourite is without a doubt, Berry In Love. ^_^ (It's also the one worn by gorgeous model Lupita Nyongo in their campaign ad). But, I plan on layering it on with Boom-Meringue now and then, too to give a custom, lighter colour. Mangoes Wild looks very natural on me, but I love the smell and staring at the incredible, bright neon bi-phase colours in the shaker. :-D

Availability, RRP & Size

These are out now at Lancome counters in Myer and David Jones across Australia (official release date is May 8) and online (released earlier on April 20). I purchased mine as soon as it launched online at Lancome.com.au - there they have a AU$6 saving if you purchase 2 or a AU$12 saving for three (and free standard shipping). Otherwise they are AU$34 each. Each contain 6.5 ml / 0.22 fl. oz of product.

Btw, HAPPY MOTHERS DAY! Hope you'll be spoiled today just like I have been on my very first mothers day! :-D I still can't believe it. >_<

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Tissé Particulier (264) is the limited edition eye shadow quad from the Eyes Speak Volumes Collection. The colours look gorgeous together in the pan (look at that eye-catching blue!), which is what attracted me to it in the first place...and of course, the fact that it is limited edition always sucks me into buying it in fear of regretting it later if I don't. >_<

Below is the product description label on the bottom of the compact. I had assumed when I purchased this that it was like the latest Chanel eye shadow quad formula which are exquisite (creamy, smooth and pigmented).

Below indicate where the eye shadow quads are made from the original European baked formula (terrible, dry and very sheer formulation) on the left, which is made in France; the more recent quad (Tissé Rivoli reviewed here) with a more buttery, smooth texture (excellent pigmentation and lasting power) made in Italy, to the quad released in this collection, which is made in France (which is only a little bit better than the original formula, but no where near as good as the ones made in Italy).

Packaging-wise, the compact is very lightweight and sleek-looking. It has a mirror under the lid and two high-quality sponge tip applicators, which I do sometimes use particularly for this quad as the patting motion works best with its formula (see more about it below).

Colours, Texture & Pigmentation

Clockwise in the pan:
// Shimmering pale, pastel pink with a slight warm undertone. Its texture and pigmentation is ok and gives a soft effect.
// Shimmering white. This also has a reasonable pigmentation, but gives a soft effect.
// Copper pink or rose gold - gorgeous shade that looks lovely on its own, which is what I've been using for a quick, fresh makeup look. I'd say this shade had the best texture (more on the buttery side) and pigmentation in the quad and what I wished all the other shades were like.

// What appears as a bright royal blue in the pan is actually more of a navy blue when swatched and it doesn't have as much subtle shimmers as the others in the pan. This shade performed the worst in that it was sheer, dry, did not last long on the eye lids and transferred! :-( You definitely need to use a base underneath this one!

Swatches
Below are the eye shadows in the Tissé Particulier palette swatched dry with a clean finger and photographed indoors using a strobe. For reference, I have swatched them on my medium, olive skin (~NC30).

Below are the swatches again, but in low light to capture any iridescence.

Comparison Swatches of the Blue Shade

Below left is Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Bleu Nuit (reviewed HERE); middle is Tissé Particulier blue shade layered on top of the Chanel Stylo Eyeshadow in Bleu Nuit. Note, that applying that eye shadow on its own with a damp applicator gives a similar intense colour pay-off. The right is the blue eye shadow on its own, swatched dry.

Ingredients

Click on the image to enlarge.

Overall
Unfortunately, for the price point and being Chanel, we should expect better. :( Although blue eye shadows are generally difficult to get with good pigmentation, there are definitely a few out there that perform a lot better and I can't see why a luxury brand like Chanel can't even match them. The only way I can use the blue shade is over a base or cream eye shadow to get the colour pay off and lasting power. Overall, this palette is one to miss. I really hope Chanel go back to getting their eye shadows made in Italy again as these have much better quality.

Availability
Limited edition. Available now in Australia in Chanel beauty counters in Myer and David Jones and in Chanel beauty boutiques.

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It's been a long time since I've used a parcel forwarding service - i.e., back when the Australian dollar was up! There'd have to be some really good excuse to buy from the USA nowadays and that time has finally come. :D

Pat McGrath Labs was my primary reason!

Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish 003 in Nude and Golden
I bought both sets. Each set includes a shiny stick highlighter + balm duo, a highlighting pigment and a buffer (003) brush. These are limited edition and already look to be out of stock on Sephora! Like most makeup lovers, I adore highlighters. I was mostly keen on the interesting duo-chrome effect of Nude and also I'm not a huge fan of highlighters with very strong yellow tones, but after seeing many reviews, I am most excited for the clear balm and the unique, gorgeous wet, dewy effect it gives. It's what I'm looking for nowadays when my skin feels and looks so dry and dull (with age, being a new mum and winter setting in). I figured if I get both, I'll end up with two of these balms and it'll be worth it if I do end up loving it! Fingers crossed this will help bring youth back to my skin (at least the look of)! :-P

I think I will be reusing the pretty little sequins to make several little sensory toys for my little one. I'm sure she'd love them. :-) Otherwise, I could see these might also be nice to use to fill a brush jar and keep the brushes standing upright if you were so inclined.

Very excited for these products and glad I didn't miss out!

Of course, there were then a few other things that then needed to add to my shopping list...

Chanel 2-In-1 Foundation Brush Fluid and Powder (8)

I've got the mini version of this brush from the holiday collection from a couple of years ago (see here) and it's one of my favourites to use. It's similar to the Shiseido Perfect Foundation Brush (8), which was the first brand to release this type of brush. They sold it in Australia for a while then for whatever reason, the supply from Paris has stopped. I'd been waiting and waiting for it and not knowing when it will be restocked, I decided to get it from the USA as part of this haul. It's also available in Harrods online, which also ships to Australia if you were interested. So I'm very happy that it's finally in my hands! ^_^

Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer

I have the shade in Ocre/Ocher for my medium, olive (~NC30) skin. I'd have to say this has been my all time favourite, all-round concealer for under the eyes and blemishes. While it is extremely expensive, my first one lasted me at least a couple or so years! I'd been desperately trying to use the last bit of concealer so sparingly for fear of running out of it and having to live without it! *sigh* #beautybloggerproblems ;-) But, a little goes a long way. So it's great value for money in the end, but it's hard to come by! I highly recommend it if you have the chance. I have never done a proper individual review of this fantastic workhorse staple, but I'm sure I've featured it in a few favourites posts before.

Tarte Tartelette in Bloom Amazonian Clay Palette

This has been out of stock in Sephora.com.au for a while and have been 'umming and ahhing' about it since I have so many neutral eye shadow palettes already. But, I suppose the fact that it's been hard to get made me want it more along with the pretty packaging and colours. I'm pleased to own it now and play with it!

Nars Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow in Pool Shark

After seeing this swatched by Bubbly Michelle (one of my fave Instagrammers and beauty blogger), I knew I had to have this gorgeous periwinkle blue. >_< This is one of Nars'"Under Cover" Summer Collection released items. I will await seeing the rest of the collection in person when it launches in Australia to see if any more take my fancy (particularly the new Lip Cover liquid lipsticks)! Can't wait to try this. It definitely screams summer. For some bizarre reason I do enjoy bright summer colours during the colder months (which is where we are at here down-under), well, any day really! It just brings such joy. ^_^

Zara (TRF) Embroidered Tunic Dress

This is the only non-beauty item I purchased. The size I was after here in Australia had sold out everywhere(!), but I managed to find it in the USA website. Yay! This is such a pretty, understated dress and I love how it fits on me for casual wear or dressing it up a bit more for the evening. I especially love that it's a tunic style, so it's more flattering and most importantly, comfortable for my postpartum (and post-C-section) figure. Also, love the grey and embroidered detailing. I don't own that many grey clothing in my wardrobe. It's 100% cotton, so it's super light and breathable. I can see this will still be comfortable to wear in the summer even though it's long-sleeved as the material is reasonably thin. At the moment, I'm looking forward to layering this piece for the winter months.

My Experience with Shop and Box
Fairly quick and simple to use. You are assigned a "boxer" who will shop and box the items for you for shipping. I think their fee is a bit more (a percentage of total amount (13% this decreases as your shopping total goes up - starting at 14%) than the only other parcel forwarding service I used (several times), which was Parceliton (unfortunately this service doesn't seem to be available anymore!), and the DHL shipping option was the only one available for my case from USA to Australia (with or without insurance) and this I think was more expensive than what I'd used for Parceliton (USPS I believe). Nonetheless, DHL are usually pretty reliable (I've used them a lot). Shipping was fast. This one took 4 business days to deliver to Australia via DHL. I chose to pay the additional US$12 for insurance and peace of mind especially since the total of goods was quite hefty! >_< Anyway, check out their site for more information on how to use them. I think I would use them again as they have fast and simple service. Most of my queries were answered promptly. The only thing is that they don't give you a US address, so you can't just log in with your Sephora account for instance and acquire and use your points and other benefits. So that's unfortunate. However, the boxer assigned to me ("Dan") was kind enough to include samples and also offered to try to get any reward items for me (I'm not clear on how exactly that works though, but they are able to!). Also, the advantage of services like Parceliton was they could keep your items in storage for up to three months (from memory) so you can shop within a much longer time frame before consolidating it all together into the one international shipment saving lots of money. If you know of any other similar type service that has that capability, please let me know in the comments below! :-) Another upside to Shop and Box is that you can use them across the globe not just the USA, but only one country at a time though I believe. I'm considering the UK and Japan next! ;-)

Hope this was helpful / interesting. :-)

Let me know if you have any parcel forwarding recommendations as well as any items I should consider for my own shopping cart (not that I really need any more). LOL.

Almost Friday! Hope you're having a great week thus far. x

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Here's a sneak peek of my personal picks from the new Chanel Summer 2016 ("Collection Dans La Lumière De L’été) makeup collection, which is now trickling its way in Chanel counters across Australia.

Colour Story:

"In the spirit of adventure, a new makeup collection unveils a shimmering desert oasis. Brilliant coppers and sandy browns give soft intensity to the eyes, while pinks and oranges sparkle on the lips."

I must admit that initially, I wasn't drawn to this collection as I'm not a huge fan of green eye shadow (which is in their limited edition quad) and nothing seemed to stand out to me - save for the rather unique looking green shimmer nail polish. However, after having a play in store, I ended up unable to resist three other items as they turned out to be quite purdy. >_<

// Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Duo No.02 (limited edition)

// Le Vernis Longwear Nail Colour in Émeraude (536)

// Lèvres Scintillantes Gloss Aqua / Aqua Glossimer in Sahara (610) (limited edition)

// Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long Lasting Eyeliner in Sable (827) (limited edition)

I will try to post my thoughts and swatches soon. Have you seen these yet? Which ones take/took your fancy?

Happy weekend! ^_^ xo

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NARS L'AMOUR, TOUJOURS L'AMOUR EYESHADOW PALETTE

TOM FORD PATENT FINISH LIP COLOR IN INFAMY (04)

CHANEL LES BEIGES HEALTHY GLOW FOUNDATION SPF 25 / PA++

RECENT ACQUISITIONS | BURBERRY, CHANEL AND MECCA COSMETICA HAUL

CHANEL ROUGE COCO STYLO COMPLETE CARE LIPSHINE IN 'ROMAN' (208) &'LETTRE' (216) + SWATCHES OF ALL SHADES

SNEAK PEEK! BY TERRY SUN DESIGNER PALETTE IN TAN & FLASH CRUISE (1)

BURBERRY EYE COLOUR CONTOUR SMOKE & SCULPT PENS IN ROSEWOOD (NO. 112), MIDNIGHT BROWN (NO. 108) & PALE COPPER (NO. 106)

REVIEW & SWATCHES | BY TERRY SUN DESIGNER PALETTE IN TAN & FLASH CRUISE (1)

SNEAK PEEK | CHANEL EYE CAN BE / EYES SPEAK VOLUMES COLLECTION

A LITTLE EASTER WEEKEND BEAUTY HAUL

FOOD AND MAKEUP?! TOO FACED PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY EYESHADOW PALETTE [ SNEAK PEEK ]

DIPTYQUE EAUX DE PARFUM OUT NOW IN AUSTRALIA

CHANEL STYLO EYESHADOWS IN BEIGE DORÉ (157) & BLEU NUIT (207)

UK EXCLUSIVE SUMMER COLLECTION | SUQQU BLEND COLOR EYESHADOW IN EX-31 GYOUKOU & CREAMY GLOW LIPSTICK MOIST IN EX-21 SEN KA

UNBOXING | SECOND MECCA BEAUTY LOOP L3 BOX OF 2016

BURBERRY FULL KISSES LIP COLOUR PENS IN ROSEHIP (NO. 537) & LILAC (NO. 541)

LANCOME JUICY SHAKERS IN BERRY IN LOVE (283), BOOM-MERINGUE (313) & MANGOES WILD (381)

CHANEL MULTI-EFFECT QUADRA EYESHADOW IN TISSÉ PARTICULIER (264)

USA HAUL VIA SHOP AND BOX

SNEAK PEEK | MY PICKS FROM THE CHANEL SUMMER 2016 COLLECTION