All posts tagged: makeup

Shu Uemura Stage Performer Block:Booster Protective Moisture Primer SPF 50 PA+++

Published by

When you need your makeup to last from the morning board meeting to evening cocktail drinks, a good primer is your secret weapon.  Shu Uemura’s new Stage Performer primer is a good option.  The multi-tasking formula moisturises with a lightweight gel formula, protects skin from pollutants to a certain extent, contains good UV protection – SPF 50 PA+++, and colour corrects (I like Fresh Pink) for that healthy glow.  Of course, it also smoothens the skin for easy makeup application, and helps the face paint stay on for longer.  My foundation lasted all day with the Stage Performer. Without it, my foundation is almost always gone by mid-day, and I’ll have to touch-up with a BB cushion compact. This make-up base can also be worn on its own for off-duty days, for smoother-looking and more even-toned skin.

Tom Ford Velvet Orchid collection

Published by

I love the idea of a make-up extension line that is inspired by a perfume. There is a cohesiveness in the story line. And if make-up were part of the outfit that a woman slips on before a night out, the fragrance completes it. Tom Ford’s Velvet Orchid EDP was launched in 2014, to complement the house’s iconic Black Orchid EDP.   How the brand describes the scent: “An oriental floral that evolves the carnal grandeur and seductive power of the iconic Tom Ford Black Orchid into an uber-feminine fragrance lavished with notes of cool citrus, dramatic petals, suede accord, and vanilla. Rich, spicy, and intensely floral, it evokes a warm exotic garden. Notes: Orange Blossom, Hyacinth, Jonquil, Cattleya Leopoldii Orchid, Suede Accord, Vanilla Tincture. Lavish. Dramatic. Seductive.” What it smells like to me: Rich and sexy, sweet and musky; suede, relatively intense, warm and womanly. Like the perfume, the new make-up from the Velvet Orchid collection is encased in luxe and hefty, gold and purple packaging. The Velvet Bloom blush is a light pink mauve …

Nars Velvet Lip Glide

Published by

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.

Sarah Moon for Nars Holiday 2016

Published by

The best thing about Holiday collections: the beautiful limited edition sets. Like the Sarah Moon for Nars line, where ethereal images of beautifully made-up women adorn the boxes. A French fashion photographer, Moon is known for her somehow touching, out-of-focus, and translucent pictures that look like water colour paintings. She is also recognised for her work in the famous Pirelli calendar, and commissions by Chanel, Dior, Vogue and Comme des Garcons. Pictures: Sarah Moon And here’s how Francois Nars first met her, in his own words: WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER SARAH MOON AND HER WORK? I discovered Sarah’s work in the early ‘70s when she was doing quite a bit of editorial work for ELLE and Vogue. I never actually met her until we decided to work together though. It was really incredible to be able to do this collaboration and work with her for the rst time after all those years of admiration. HOW DID YOU PICK SARAH MOON AS YOUR NEXT COLLABORATOR, WHAT DREW YOU TO HER? I pick the people whom …

Top picks from escentials for Holiday 2016

Published by

unnamed, Byredo To mark the 10th anniversary of the Swedish perfume house, its founder Ben Gorham decided on offering its fans a bottle of juice that is open to interpretation. A concoction of  pink pepper notes, gin accord, orris stem, violet, moss and fir balsam. “The names of the BYREDO fragrances often describe the origin of an idea, a thought that leads to a brief presented to the perfumer. With fragrance being completely subjective these names spark the imagination of the perfumer and finally the customer. They each experience the fragrance even before they smell the ingredients in the bottle. We still find it fascinating that people interpret our fragrances in so many ways. To celebrate BYREDO’s 10 year anniversary we created an unnamed fragrance that allows our customers to choose a name meaningful to them, and customize the label of their bottle.” -Ben Gorham The festive fir tree: A lush, pine-laden forest, woody tones of resin, cedar and patchouli       3. A la Rose set, Maison Francis Kurkdjian The A la Rose EDP – …

Victoria Beckham x Estee Lauder

Published by

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 …

Kat Von D Lock-It Foundation

Published by

So much has been said about Kat Von D’s signature Lock-It Foundation. Here’s what I think about it: It is pigmented and evens out redness and hides other imperfections quickly. Apparently, it can even hide tattoos too. The shades are on-point; I’m Asian with with a rosy-golden complexion, and Light 44 melds seamlessly with my natural skin tone. So I don’t look like I’m wearing foundation. Once on, the foundation does not transfer, or oxidise, and is long-lasting. I applied this foundation with warm fingertips, my favourite method to get a flawless-looking complexion. And I found this formula rather dry, without the slip that I usually prefer when blending on foundations. But perhaps its thick, paint-like consistency is what allows it to stick well to the skin. So prep your skin thoroughly with skincare before layering this foundation on. Matte finish. I prefer satin matte or dewy textures, so I spritzed on some skincare mist to add a glow to my skin. The mist also helped to add a hydrating layer on top of this …

La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer · Foundation SPF15

Published by

At US$220, this concealer/ foundation is pricey. But so worth it. Firstly, because this product is made up of a concealer and a foundation. Flip up the cap, and you get the cream concealer. It provides high coverage, and is made for hiding dark circles and other minor inperfections. The texture is a little dry, but nothing like a little eye cream layered underneath to fix it. Then when you twist open the “cap”, which is really the pot of concealer, you get this gel-cream foundation. Which is amazing. It provides high coverage, so a little blob is all you need. I like to apply liquid foundation with warm fingers, because I think it allows for a seamless application. And this La Prairie one is perfect for finger application. It glides on like buttah, and evens out the conplexion quickly without patchiness. And the more I pat it in, the more it blends into my skin to look like I was barely wearing any foundation. Then the magic happens after the foundation sets, in about …

Sneak peek: Urban Decay’s 2016 Holiday Collection

Published by

It is never too early to start planning for your Christmas shopping. Or just strategising on stocking up on the best value-for-money Christmas sets/ limited edition items. Here are The Beauty Gazette’s picks from Urban Decay’s Holiday Collection:   1) Liquid Moondust Eyeshadow The sparkliest eyeshadow around is now available in a liquid version. Available in eight shades. UD says: “Our innovative, lightweight formula feels cool and wears comfortably. Creamy to the touch, Liquid Moondust blends easily. After you apply it, you’ve got about 30 seconds to blend the colour out. And once it’s dry, Liquid Moondust won’t budge or crease.”     2) Naked Ultimate Basics Because you can never have too many neutral matte eyeshadows…Urban Decay’s Naked Palettes are the original ones that have you covered from barely-there eye contours to out-there smokey eye looks. (Before so many other brands hopped on the same make-up train and churned out their palettes that are also packed with neutral shades.) And that extra large mirror on this palette is literally another plus. UD says: “We …

Shu Uemura The Lightbulb Aerial

Published by

A new addition to Shu Uemura’s stand-out Lightbulb range of foundations that are made to give skin a glow that seems candle-lit. The Lightbulb Aerial is a powder compact that offers light to medium coverage. The finely-milled powders soften the appearance of imperfections, and do not leave skin with a powdery, white cast. As compared to the other two products in the Lightbulb range, this compact has the most matte texture, albeit with a subtle pearlescent finish. It also has SPF 13 PA ++. I prefer to use it with a kabuki brush as a finishing powder, or with the flocked side of the complementary Lightbulb sponge for a light touch. In comparison, the Lightbulb UV compact (SPF 30 PA +++)gives skin high to medium coverage, and a polished porcelain-like glow. While the original Lightbulb fluid offers high coverage and a megawatt, dewy glow.