Review & Giveaway! Revlon Age-Defying 2-way foundation with Botafirm

The folks over at Revlon contacted me recently to test-drive their new Revlon Age-Defying 2-way Foundation with Botafirm in 05 Sand Beige. Whew! What a mouthful! What it essentially is, of course, is a 2-way powder foundation. 2-way because it can be used both wet and dry. Wet for more coverage and dry for less. I only ever use my powder foundations dry so my review will be based on that. There is a giveaway too at the bottom, so please read on!

First of all, the packaging. I love it! The powder foundation comes in a slim red case which is similar to the rest of the Revlon Age-Defying line. But what I really like is the slimness and the sleekness of the design. It actually looks and feels more expensive than it really is. Continue Reading >> Review & Giveaway! Revlon Age-Defying 2-way foundation with Botafirm

Kanebo Lavshuca Summer 2008 palettes

Previously, I reviewed Lavshuca by Kanebo eyeshadow singles and decided I did not quite like them. Since then, and because Lavshuca isn’t readily available to me here in Malaysia, I stopped buying anything else from the brand.

Now, I’m rethinking this after seeing pictures of Lavhuca’s Summer 2008 eyeshadow palettes:-

Lavshuca Blue / Cool palette

Lavshuca Gold/Warm palette

The way the palettes are divided, I’d say that the one with the white case is for day and the darker case is for night. I think its so cute for them to be so thoughtful. The day colours are lighter and the night ones darker. I wish there was a way I could test these in person before I decide if I want them, but there isn’t so I might just have to suck it up and get it online later!

I’d probably get the blue palette. The warm one looks a little too warm for me. This is definitely giving the Stila Kitten palette a run for its money in my book!

Truly Custom Palettes from Bobbi Brown

Previously, when Bobbi Brown first launched her Metallics eyeshadows, the sets were marketed as “custom palettes“. However, one could not change or mix and match the eyeshadow colours in the palette. All you could do is to choose which palette to purchase in your set.

Now, you can truly create custom palettes from Bobbi Brown.

Bobbi Brown has come up with a whole new set of eyeshadows and blushes in square pans. The eyeshadow and blush textures come in matte and shimmer and the shades are all labeled new. The colours all look muted and neutral, just like the regular line of Bobbi Brown eyeshadows.

The palettes are sold separately and come in 2 forms - square palette that fits 4 and long rectangular palettes that fit 3.

Based on the description on the website, which place the blushes in flip top packaging with “pop out” pans, I reckon they are designed like Make Up For Ever eyeshadows and blush, where there is a hole in the back of the packaging to make it easy to depot. The site doesn’t say if the palette is magnetic. I think its better if it is - its easier to move pans and colours around and less messy than glue.

Bobbi Brown had palettes before this, but their palettes held the whole eyeshadow or blush including its case. That made for a very bulky palette. To be honest, I don’t know what has taken them so long to come up with this concept.

Clearly, consumers like to customize their own palettes - MAC, Stila, Make Up For Ever, all have eyeshadow and blush pans and palettes from way before. Bobbi Brown sure has taken a long time to catch up.

I’d like to check these out when they get here. I don’t expect the colours and textures to be any different from the present collection, but having square pans is a bit of a novelty in Western makeup. Most western brands come in round pans and most Asian brands come in square or angular pans. I’m not sure why it works that way but it does. I’ll post details if I get any.

Stay beautiful,

Weekend Thoughts: Where do I find nice oversized clutches?

I’ve been obsessed with the idea of having an oversized clutch ever since I watched the controversial cult movie “Lust Caution“. I found the movie plodding mainly due to my poor grasp of Mandarin and because the subtitling on my copy of the DVD was terrible!

But that did not detract from the visual feast of vintage fashion that was ever present throughout the movie. I was most taken in by the oversized clutches that the main actress played by Tang Wei carried throughout the film.

They looked so classic and elegant and because they are large, they look like the could fit a ton of stuff in there. She ably demonstrated this in one scene when she was throwing all her cosmetics and little things into her clutch. I love the idea!

I’ve been looking locally for a nice and affordable large or oversized clutch since then but to no avail. Some of the clutches I see here have a cheap feel to the vinyl or patent leather. Does anyone know where I can find a nice leather or canvas oversized clutch whether in Malaysia or an online store that ships internationally?

Stay beautiful,