Hello everyone, how is 2012 so far? Seems like 1 Jan was just yesterday – we are already at end of January, how fast is that? This month, I have a beautiful range of products to share with you – from fragrance, lipstick to a fantastic brush I use for powder application.

How are you liking the new layout for my monthly favourites?

I am totally in love with Bottega Veneta Eau de Parfum – it’s a scent I have been wearing most days this month. I have been wanting to get a bottle since it launched but never got around it somehow until last month. It’s light and powdery – very feminine and I simply love the packaging, very simple and elegant.

Next, I have Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick in Eternal Passion – a colour that brightens up my complexion and a colour that has so many ways to wear. Personally, I like to wear it over a lip balm to tone it down for daily use. The lipstick smells lovely, texture is buttery smooth and colour payoff is excellent. If you have been wondering what lipstick colour I have been wearing in some of my review pictures, this is probably the one.

Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush is one of the most innovative product I have come across in a while. I adore everything about this product and if I am not busy trying out other blushers, this would be the one I am using. It’s natural and creates a healthy sheen on my cheeks – kind of make them look fuller, absolutely lovely.

Review and swatches of Dior Rosy Glow Healthy Glow Awakening Blush can be found here.

Last month, I tried out the Ettusais Lip Essence Stick – I loved it. This month, I tried out the Ettusais Lip Essence and I am also loving it. Both are very different in terms of texture and finish. The Lip Essence has a glossy finish and comes in a tube – perfect for layering over lipsticks to tone the colour down or add that extra shine. It’s not sticky nor heavy, feels very comfortable to wear.

Last but not least, I have been using the Elizabeth Arden Foundation Brush almost everyday. It’s ideal for applying loose powder over foundation or for buffing compact/loose powder foundation all over the face. I believe that this brush was originally introduced together with their mineral foundation 2 years ago. The angle of this brush also helped reach areas around the nose and eyes without any problems. Bristles are soft and gentle on the skin – bristles are also very dense which makes it feel extremely comfortable against the skin.

What are your favourites this month?

Thank you for reading.

Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in 28 Teal Topaz is a clean and sharp baby teal. Texture is amazingly smooth and the opacity is brilliant – this shade can easily pass off as a one-coater. Beautiful consistency which allows easy and quick application.

All in all, loving it. I have taken quite a number of photos, hope you like them.

Swatches taken with natural sunlight, without flash – Nail Tek Foundation II Ridge-Filling Base Coat, 2 coats of nail polish and Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat.

After taking photos of swatches above, I felt like giving them a matte makeover – I thought it looks beautiful and fun.

Swatches taken with natural sunlight, without flash – Nail Tek Foundation II Ridge-Filling Base Coat, 2 coats of nail polish, Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat and Chanel Top Coat Velvet.

A few comparison for you below – all photos taken without flash, no base nor top coat.

Initially, when I purchased the bottle of Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in 28 Teal Topaz, I thought it would be very similar to China Glaze For Audrey but when I put them side-by-side, they are in fact, nowhere close. Teal Topaz is a whole lot deeper but they compliment each other very nicely.

I would say OPI Mermaid’s Tears, China Glaze For Audrey, Estée Lauder Teal Topaz and Chanel Nouvelle Vague are from the same family, with a similar undertone - one lean slightly greener, has a hint of shimmer and perhaps a littler brighter.

Out of all the 8 colours up for comparison, Dior Nirvana seems to be the closest but with a more distinct hint of green. Rest of them are a lot more blue than anything else.

What do you think of Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in 28 Teal Topaz?

Thank you for reading.

My inspiration behind the collection was vacationing in Arizona, enjoying the warm sun, the amazing desert colors and the shadows that play on the sand and rocks. I was thinking of a gorgeously healthy-looking woman who had an element of fantasy in her personality. I wanted to convey that with a palette of strong yet soft colors.

Tom Pecheux
Estée Lauder Creative Makeup Director

This collection includes;-

• Pure Color Five Color Eyeshadow Palette in Topaz Mosaic
• Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Black and Dramatic Teal
• Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee in Topaz Chameleon
• Pure Color Gloss in Citron Kiss
• Pure Color Sensuous Rouge Lip Color in Sultry Caramel, Sensuous Nude and Sublime Nectar
• Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Teal Topaz

Following the success of Pure Color Illuminating Powder Gelee which made its first appearance last Fall, Modern Mercury now has a little sister, Topaz Chameleon. I didn’t purchase Modern Mercury, neither did I purchase Topaz Chameleon but I am very impressed with both textures and colour payoff. They are very pigmented – for comparison of both, please visit Best Things In Beauty here.

Two items from this collection captured my heart, namely – the Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Teal Topaz and Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal. Absolutely loving both the teals at the moment. Crisp and sharp yet understated in their very own ways.

These items were purchased during my recent trip to KL. Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Teal Topaz retails for RM70, about S$29 and Pure Color Intense Kajal Eye Crayon in Dramatic Teal retails at RM75 which is about S$31.

Do you have anything in mind from this collection?

Thank you for reading.

For those who adores Shiseido’s Shimmering Cream Eye Colors and Shimmering Rouges, you will be very happy as this Spring, Shiseido will be adding new shades to their existing range.

Visit Shiseido YouTube Channel for more videos.

Click on the following links for more information about the Shimmering Cream Eye Colors;-

• Introducing Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color – all you need to know about them [here]
• My thoughts about the Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye Color – including swatches of all the 12 shades [here]
• Look In Purple Dawn [here]
• Look In Sable & Techno Gold [here]

Below are some posts about the Shimmering Rouges;-

• When they first debut during Spring 2011 [here]
• Look In Iron Maiden [here]
• Look In Trollop, Slink & Lick [here]

New shades includes;-

Shimmering Cream Eye Color

• PK 214 Pale Shell
• BL 215 Ice
• OR 313 Sunshower

Shimmering Rouge

• PK 214 Opal
• OR 316 Mango
• BR 317 Butterscotch
• PK 415 Sorbet
• RS 619 Venus
• RD 320 Temptress
• RD 718 Sugarplum (not pictured)

I do apologise about the quality of images above, they were taken with my iPhone at the mall when I was in KL for Chinese New Year. RD 718 Sugarplum is missing from the display thus I don’t have a swatch of it.

Thank you for looking, I hope the information has been helpful.

KISS & BE HAPPY WITH CLINIQUE THIS VALENTINE’S DAY

Every year on February 14, we celebrate our love for those close to our hearts. For decades, lovers have been sharing velvet red roses and candle-lit dinners while friends give and receive vibrant flowers and sweet confectionaries. This year, serenade your loved ones in happy kisses with this charming gift package from Clinique.

Give them sheer delight of head-to-toe happiness with Clinique’s signature citrus-based fragrance Happy Perfume Spray and skin-silkening Happy Body Cream. Plus, make their lips happy with a big dose of sheer colour and shine with Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm in Chunky Cherry. All in a cheerful floral drawstring bag.

Nothing else says ”I love you“ quite like Clinique’s Kiss and Be Happy.

—————————————-

Clinique’s Kiss and Be Happy Set includes;

• Happy Perfume Spray  30ml
• Happy Body Cream 30ml
• Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Chunky Cherry 1.2g
• Drawstring Pouch

Available from 1 February – 14 February 2012 at Clinique counters island-wide for S$58 (worth $70), while stocks last.

Information extracted from press release provided by Clinique