Beauty Emergency!

I've been using MAC's Studio Fix Fluid Foundation and Blot Powder Loose for a week now and THEY CAUSED ME TO BREAKOUT!

Which means that no matter how good their products are or how much people rave about them, I can never use them because I am sensitive to something in MAC!

Which also means I'm on the lookout for another foundation+loose powder...

MAC Blot Powder Loose

I've tried MAC's Blot Powder Loose (in Light) for a day now, on top of Studio Fix. And I love it! The powder is very translucent, finely milled and absorbs oil well. Used together with Studio Fix, the oil control is pretty good; shine was visible on my face only after about 5 hours. I just hate the container though. Unlike most loose powders, MAC's doesn't come with a powder puff. I didn't realise that until I opened it! Now I'm going to have to get a nice, big, fluffy Kabuki brush...

MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF15 (and a minor rant)

I'm a MAC almost-virgin. Honestly! I've never tried any MAC products before except for a lipstick and their famed lipglass (which is why there is an "almost") but nothing else. I don't know why but I've never really been tempted by MAC before.

I've noticed that MAC foundation shades have sort of become a standard in the world of makeup. In beauty and makeup forums, whenever people discuss various foundations, they are always saying stuff like "Oh, I'm a MAC NC30 and brand X in shade Y is a perfect match," or "I'm a MAC NW25, can anyone tell me what shade I will be in brand X?" MAC foundation shades now seem now a true beauty standard!

I for one, never knew what MAC shade I was. Which makes discussing various foundation shades in forums a tad difficult. So today, I traipsed down to the MAC counter and requested for a foundation match. Unfortunately, I was served by a very un-MAC lady (MAC fans, you know what I mean by true MAC staff - usually in black and rather edgy-looking). Well, this lady was NOT MAC-like at all. She was middle-aged and had really poor product knowledge. When I told her I was looking for a foundation which has good oil control, she stared blankly at me. A fellow MAC staff (this other lady was more MAC-like) had to help her out. Then, un-MAC lady guided me to a seat and proceeded to pile the foundation on my face without removing the foundation I was wearing at that time. I was rather wary by this time so I told her to please remove my foundation first before testing the new shade on me. If not, how am I going to tell if the shade is a match for my skin? She stared at me so I repeated what I said. Then she got a makeup wipe and proceeded to do what I asked her to do. Not a very good first experience with MAC.

Oh well.

Anyway, on to the foundation. MAC Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 is meant for women with oily skin. I've been wearing it (shade NC25!) for an afternoon now and the foundation isn't such a big deal. Yes, it is buildable and gives medium coverage but it oxidises rather quickly (after about 3 hours) compared to my previous staple, Kesalan Patharan Liquid Foundation N. However, it does cover pores quite well and doesn't end up cakey. There is also a wide variety of shades which makes it easy to find a good match. Overall, it isn't a lousy foundation but neither is it a great foundation. I will probably continue using this foundation until I'm done with it but whether I will re-purchase it in the future will depend on how it performs in the long run.

Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Lengthening Mascara

I headed over to the Bobbi Brown counter yesterday to find out when the new Fall collection would be launched. It turns out it will only be launched end July/early August! I was rather disappointed as the collection has already been launched in the UK and US, and I was really looking forward to trying out the palette.

Anyway, while I was at the counter, a mascara caught my eye. Bobbi Brown's Lash Glamour Lengthening Mascara comes in a squeeze tube, very much like toothpaste! It's adorable!


The mascara comes in two shades - Bark (a deep chocolate brown) and Smoke (pure black). Of course, I chose the latter. I have to say that this mascara is amazing! It gives me dark, glossy lashes and guess what? It does not clump! It really doesn't! And it is waterproof! The brush is easy to handle and separates my lashes nicely. There is also none of the yucky, heavy-looking lash-look that is common for mascaras which promise extreme length. This mascara, however, is not one which gives dramatic-looking lashes. It does lengthen but the look is pretty and natural.

I love this mascara and you should too!

Have you tried any Bobbi Brown mascaras? Do you love them? Hate them? Not sure about them?

Drop me a comment and let me know!

XOXO
K.M.

Bobbi Brown's Mauve Face Palette for Fall

Summer is not yet over and beauty companies are starting to release their fall collections! Fall has always been my favourite season as that's when rich colours like plums, purples and greys are released. I love the smoky look which is always associated with Fall.

Since I was on the subject of Bobbi Brown, I came across their new palette for Fall.

Isn't this gorgeous? The left column consists of 3 eyeshadows, the middle is a blusher, and the right side consists of 3 lip colours. And look at the face of Bobbi Brown this Fall!

Now, isn't that look simply elegant and sophisticated? Of course, I know that using the palette doesn't mean I will look like her and have her razor-sharp cheekbones and wonderfully plush lips but I love how the entire look is simple, yet sophisticated and alluring.

Bobbi Brown will also be releasing a new shade of its best-selling Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner called Black Mauve Shimmer which is according to the product description, "black mauve infused with bronze and gold pearl pigments". Sounds delightful! I'm a fan of Bobbi's Long-Wear Gel Eyeliners; they are really long-lasting and look as great as liquid eyeliners when applied (minus the mess)!

I really hope the Fall collection will be launched in Penang soon. Reviews will come along once I get my hands on the palette and liner!

What do you think of Bobbi Brown? Love the Fall collection? Hate it? Not sure about it?

Drop me a comment and let me know!

XOXO
K.M.

Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick Compact

I've come across Bobbi Brown's Shimmer Brick Compact many times in the past but never thought of trying it out until last week. While browsing through the cosmetics and fragrance duty-free stores at Singapore's Changi Airport's Terminal 3, I heard the compact calling out to me so I bought it on a whim. There are five shades to choose from - bronze, beige, pink, rose and apricot. Being a "pink" person, I bought the compact in Pink. The set I bought came with a miniature face blender brush.

Even though there are 5 shades within each compact, you are supposed to sweep a brush over all 5 shades before dusting it over your cheekbones. I first applied it as a blusher and the result was a very sheer, very light pink wash of colour on my cheeks. The colour was so light I could hardly see it; all I saw were pops of shimmer which were not very flattering. The next time I tried it, I applied a pink blusher first, followed by the shimmer brick compact over the blusher. The result was fantastic! The shimmer highlighted my cheekbones and gave me a fairy-like glow.

Unfortunately, the brush that came with the set had extremely stiff and rough bristles. It picked up huge amounts of powder and I had to dust off the excess before applying it on my face. If you encounter the compact+brush set at Bobbi Brown counters, and are tempted to get it, I would advise you to give the set a miss. Just get the compact! The brush isn't at all fantastic.

I would recommend using this compact as a highlighter on top of a matte pink blusher to give your face an extra pop of glamour.

Do you own a Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick Compact? Love it? Hate it? Not sure about it?

Drop me a comment and let me know!

XOXO
K.M.

Louis Vuitton's Neverfull

For my inaugural post, I will be talking about one of LV's hottest (in terms of the number of people who own one) bags - the Neverfull! Ok Ok, I know the Neverfull was launched last year and the rest of the LV world has probably blogged about it but I just bought one last week in Hong Kong so I have to talk about it!

I fell in love with Louis Vuitton two years ago, when I received the Damier Canvas Papillon 26 from my then boyfriend (now my wonderful husband). There was something so elegant about the Damier print and I was so in love with the bag I carried it everywhere! I felt so much more like a woman with it! The Papillon was followed by the Damier Canvas Nolita and just last week, I bought the Monogram Canvas Neverfull GM!

I know almost everyone has this bag, including their sisters, daughters, mothers, grandmothers etc. But I was looking for a practical bag to store all the many kgs of stuff I lug around and the Neverfull came to mind. I did consider getting the MM but it was a little small for me and I just love big bags. The GM is huge indeed and I could probably even stuff myself inside. Unfortunately, the Neverfull GM does possess some minuses. The straps are rather thin and when the bag is stuffed to the brim, the thin straps do look a little out-of-proportion compared to the sheer size of the bag itself. The leather trimming is also vachetta which means it will probably oxidise to a honey-brown colour after some time. Most people like the occurrence of patina* but in my case, I don't. I like the light, tanned colour of the straps as it is. However, after trying out the bag, staring at myself in the LV store mirror for ages, and taking into account that even though the straps are thin, each resists up to 230lbs of stuff, I decided to get it. And I have to say, I love it! I just have to hope patina doesn't set in too soon...

The Monogram Canvas Neverfull GM retails for about US$735.00 which is a steal for an LV bag. I've heard that the Neverfull will be launched in Damier Canvas soon...Can't wait to check it out!

*Patina - The natural oxidation of vachetta leather to a darker shade

Do you own the Neverfull? Do you love it? Hate it? Not sure about it?

Drop me a comment and let me know!

XOXO
K.M.