All posts tagged: beauty review

Nars Velvet Lip Glide

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The lip products from Nars are always a dream to use. Formulated with the latest technology from its parent company – Japanese beauty conglomerate Shiseido – the lipsticks always deliver. The new Velvet Lip Glide collection comprises of 13 shades of nudes, pinks, reds, and plums. How the liquid lipsticks feels like on the lips: Lightweight, semi-translucent in one coat but packed with vibrant colour pigments, non-sticky, moisturising, comfortable, semi-glossy finish, stains lips. Easy-to-use wand, fuss-free. Pictured here from left: Deviant (deep burgundy); Unlaced (nude pink); Danceteria (fuchsia); Le Palace (deep cherry red); Area (rich chestnut); Playpen (pink coral). Check out the swatches here.

Loewe 001 Woman

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Inspired by the unbearable delicacy of the ‘morning after’, Loewe 001 Woman is part of a duo of fragrances by the brand’s creative director Jonathan Anderson. The Loewe 001 range is the first by the designer. “This is a very personal project for me. I spent alot of time working on it because it’s something I really believe in. Above all, I wanted the fragrance to feel credible, an organic extension of what Loewe stands for today.” The brand says it smells like: “…an upper register of tangerine and bergamot and a sandalwood middle section with lower hints of jasmine and vanilla.” What this EDP smells like to me: vanilla, tonka beans, caramel, balanced with white florals and a hint of musk and suede. Feminine with an edge.

La Prairie Skin Caviar Essence-In-Lotion

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This new extension of La Prairie’s signature caviar skincare line is a viscous, watery lotion. Absorbed easily and leaves skin with a satiny afterfeel. Like a skin softener, it prepares the face for serum and moisturiser; and adds an extra layer of suppleness to the skin. Or use it alone so the foundation goes on more smoothly. It contains panax ginseng root extract, caviar extract, a patent-pending cellular complex, lentil seed extract, oat kernel extract, yeast extract, and lactobacillus ferment, among others. The scent of this product is pretty strong; so best used on those without skin sensitivities.

Neal’s Yard Remedies X Deliciously Ella

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The anticipated skincare collaboration between the eat-clean, live-clean guru Ella Woodward of Deliciously Ella and Neal’s Yard Remedies, is now available in stores. If you don’t know who Ella is, here’s a quick rundown: When she had just hit 20, Ella found herself constantly sick with allergies, headaches, chronic fatigue and stomach aches; and a nervous system that would not function properly. So she decided to take matters into her own hands by leading a healthier lifestyles, starting from cutting out processed foods from her diet. Her successful blog – filled with healthy relish recipes – led to a highly-rated app, and best-selling cookbooks. And now, she has embarked on a beauty journey with Neal’s Yard Remedies, which is known for its organic skincare ingredients, and aromatherapy-based formulas.   The Rose, Lime & Cucumber comprises of the Facial Wash and Moisturiser  (for now, with more to come in the coming months). They are made for women in their early 20s, and 30s. Ella and NYR picked balancing rose water, skin-toning lime oil, cooling cucumber water, as well …

Philosophy Ultimate Miracle Worker Pearl Mask

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I’ve tried many masks, but nothing like this.  The active anti-ageing ingredients apricot oil and hyaluronic acid are encapsulated in a pearlescent jelly material, so they remain fresh.  This pearlescent jelly material cannot be dissolved when rubbed onto the skin.  The pearls are submerged in a clear gel made of a pea extract and moisturising peptides. So, you put a spatula of the pearls into a muslin sachet (each box comes with 12 disposable sachets).  Then press onto the pearls in the bag to burst and apply them onto the skin.  The watery serum is very lightweight and even foams up a little as I gently rub the bag in circular motions onto the skin. The best part? My skin is gently exfoliated at the same time.  This product feels more like an exfoliator and serum more than a mask.  I used this Pearl Mask on clean skin before bed, in place of my serum and noisturiser. But if you have dry skin, layer a cream on top.  The next morning, after one use, my …

Canvas Stress Relieving Set

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Natural plant oils are my favourite skincare items. Because they penetrate the skin easily, are effective, and the quality ones are free of nasty chemicals. So when I spotted these at Maven, I had to try them. This set is unique as it comes with tiny 1ml bottles of organic and pure essential oils to be added into the larger 50ml bottles of pure sweet almond oil. The essential oils comprise of bergamot (an anti-depressant that also stimulates the appetite); Egyptian geranium (to balance emotions and hormones, reduce anxiety and tension); and (calming) lavender. So you can pick, and blend whichever best suits your state of mind and body. When the essential oils are blended into the sweet almond oil, you get a beautifully scented body massage oil or luxurious skin-hydrator. The oil is absorbed easily, with sticky after feel, and skin is left soft, smooth and supple.   Quick 101 on essential oils and carrier oils Essential oils are super potent and can really affect the body’s disposition, so a tiny bit is all you …

Skin Inc’s new serums

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These coloured dropper bottles, each filled with little pastel-coloured globules suspended in a clear liquid. Slowly but surely, these bottles – that come in technicolor shades – are becoming iconic and making waves in the international market. What Skin Inc offers is something I have not seen in any other beauty label: skincare that is simple, effective, and customised to one’s skin condition. There are 10 serums to choose from, and each contains one main active ingredient that addresses a specific skin concern. The active ingredient is encapsulated in those pastel-coloured bubbles so it is kept fresh, and burst upon application. The clear liquid is made of water and skin-hydrating glycerin. Because the active ingredients are encapsulated, customisation is simple and can even be done at home. It is all a matter of mixing up to three of the individual serums that suit your skin concerns into one bottle. French pine bark – Antioxidant protection Vitamin A – Even out skin tone Chlorella – Brighten and anti-spot Licorice – Calm irritated skin Hyaluronic acid – …

Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder

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We first got wind of the exciting limited edition collab between Victoria Beckham and Estee Lauder in April. Now, it is finally here. “I WANT TO MAKE WOMEN FEEL EMPOWERED, TO FEEL SEXY AND CONFIDENT. THIS MAKEUP COLLECTION DOES THAT. I LOVE TO MAKE WOMEN FEEL LIKE THE BEST VERSION OF THEMSELVES.” – Victoria Beckham The 13-piece collection lets you achieve VB’s signature make-up look: smokey eyes with an edge, highlighted razor-sharp cheek bones, glowing skin, and more. A few surprises which are not very VB, like a bright lipstick, and metallic eyeshadows, are also thrown in. And that’s what I love about this collection: it is not predictable. Prices start from $50 for a lip gloss, to $116 for a six-shade palette. Available at TANGS.com and TANGS at Tang Plaza exclusively from September 23, 2016; and the Estee Lauder Boutique @ ION Orchard from October 1, 2016. Here are The Beauty Gazette’s picks from this beautiful collection – the pieces that make up the Paris look, one of the clotheshorse’s fave cities.   Morning Aura …

Aesop’s Holiday 2016 Gift Kits

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Aesop’s gift sets are perfect for those who are into design, and quality honest-to-goodness no-frills skincare items. The kits are always beautifully packaged with an illustrated sleeve, and a re-usable toiletry box. This year’s sets – named Pursuits of Passion – are inspired by the naturalist illustrators of yore, and designed by Norwegian artist Bendik Kaltenborn. There are six to choose from, and my pick is The Ardent Illustrator, named after the 19th-century naturalist Genevieve Jones. An avid collector of birds’ nests and eggs, she also paints vivid images of her rare finds. Inspired by John James Audubon’s masterpiece The Birds of America, she published a first volume in 1879, but died from fever shortly. Due to popular demand, her family completed the series in 1886 with a two-volume Illustrations of the Nests and Eggs of Birds of Ohio. Inside The Ardent Illustrator set is a skincare trio of the signature items from the Parsley Seed range. The Parsley Seed Facial Cleanser (200ml) foams up easily to cleanse and gently exfoliate the skin; the Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Serum (100ml) …

Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Treatment Lotion

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Origins’ bestselling lotion from its signature Dr Andrew Weil range now comes in a limited edition bottle and an extra large 400ml size ($99). Formulated with the potent reishi mushroom and antioxidant-rich sea buckthorn, the relatively viscous lotion is made to calm sensitive skin, while protecting and softening it. Perfect for use in this hazy weather. Use it as the first step of your skincare routine after cleansing and before the serum, for more supple, smoother, and more resilient skin. I love its fresh herbal scent too, which reminds me of a resort spa. Other reasons to love Origins:  The formulas are made without parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, paraffin, synthetic colour and fragrances – just what those with intolerant skin, needs.  Dr Andrew Weil also donates all after-tax profits of his royalties to the Weil Foundation; which champions integrative, and more humane medical treatments.