Archives for February 2008

Bobbi Brown Raspberry Pink face palette review

Paris B 6 Comments

bb_raspberry

This Raspberry Pink face palette by Bobbi Brown for Spring 2008 has been the subject of lust for a while. I wrote about its launch a while ago and have been waiting for it to launch here, so I can see it for myself.

Today, I finally got my chance when I popped by the Bobbi Brown counter. This limited edition palette is the same size as all other Bobbi Brown face palettes. However, the contents have been reduced from 3 eye and lip colours to only 2 now. The blush palette in the middle remains the same – a large pan.

First off, I’d say I found the whole Raspberry Pink palette underwhelming. The 2 eyeshadow colours – Navajo and Fog look pretty much like any cream and dark grey color shadow in the Bobbi Brown collection. They are also matte and felt hard to the touch. In fact, I could hardly raise any colour from Navajo when I swiped the tester palette, even though it was a brand new tester! Very disappointing.

bbraspberryThe main item I was interested in was the blush. Pink Raspberry looks like a pink-peach in pictures and looks like a nice flush on the model. I read some reviews online that said that it would suit people with warm coloring so I was quite intrigued to see if it would work for me. It is not easy to find a straight pink blush that works for my skintone.

However, I was quite disappointed when I swiped the blush. It is a straight pink on my skin and was too cool for my skintone. I have a neutral skin tone but this blush just sat on the top of my skin looking pink and flushed. I actually rather hated it!

I did not try the lip colours but they look darker in real life than they do in the picture.

I am glad I saw the palette in real life before I purchased it online. It retails for RM190 at Bobbi Brown counters and is a limited edition item. If you tend towards being cool toned, its a pretty decent purchase but I’d advise that you check it out in person before buying.

Bobbi Brown Pink Raspberry palette [rating:3/5]Â

The upside to visiting the Bobbi Brown counter is that I have fallen in love with BB’s Coral blush! Its a lovely coral peach with shimmer and I’m dying to get it. I’ll be sure to review when I do!

Tip: How to do your Makeup for Photos

Paris B 4 Comments


Picture credit of Shiratski

Have you noticed how many times, your portrait shots just never do you or your makeup justice? The most common complaint is of you looking washed out in photographs especially portrait shots for when you are having your yearbook photos or driving license or passport photos or even your identity card photos taken. I too hate my identification photos but some tips I picked off the internet and from makeupalley.com has helped a little.

No sunscreen or SPF
– The rationale behind this is because most sunscreen or products with SPF contain light reflecting ingredients like titanium dioxide or zinc dioxide. It is what reflects the sun and UV rays and will react the same with the photographer’s flash thereby washing you out.

Mix a LITTLE gel bronzer with your foundation to make it slightly warmer
– This apparently looks better in pictures though I have not tried it.

Define your eyebrows
– If you have defined eyebrows then just tidy them up. If you have sparse eye brows, now is the time to draw them in with a pencil or brush, and define them. You don’t want to look like you have no eyebrows in your photos right?Continue Reading

Review: Makeup: Canmake Glitter Eye eyeshadow

Paris B 3 Comments

I happened to be passing by a Sasa store when I saw a selection of Canmake products with some new ones I haven’t checked out previously. One such product is the Canmake Glitter Eye eyeshadow palette.

Canmake is a range of cheap makeup from Japan and I happen to like the Canmake eye nuance trios. These little palettes caught my eye because they are so cute and sparkly and cheap! I think they are about RM29.90 or thereabouts at Sasa.

You get 2 colours and a pan of glitter powder. However, the gushing stops there for although it is cute and cheap, I found the texture gritty and colour payoff was quite poor. True, for under RM30 one can’t really complain, but their trios have a pretty smooth texture (though sheer), so I guess I was expecting something similar.

All that said, its a cute little item, and if you are making up favors or gift packs or sending little gifts to girls overseas, or simply if you just want something fun and glittery for parties, its worth checking out.

Pros: Cheap, glittery and fun

Cons: Gritty and poor color payoff

[rating:3.5/5]

Revisiting Marks & Spencer women’s fashion

Paris B Leave a Comment

I happened to chance upon the Marks & Spencer’s Relocation Sale in the Old Wing of 1 Utama shopping centre, just like ShoppingnSales did (picture courtesy of SNS). Go to SNS’s site to read why there is a sale 😉

I don’t usually shop at Marks & Spencer here in Malaysia because the prices are way too high for my wallet and the fashion as I remember is a tad frumpy for me. I’m pretty much a budget or sales shopper but even during sales I am loathe to buy anything from M&S simply because its just too expensive. The last time I bought anything from M&S was when I was in London years ago – that tells you just how long ago it was.

I was quite pleasantly surprised however, after browsing through some racks, that fashion in Marks & Spencer has evolved somewhat, from frumpy school marm clothes to clothes that are classic yet with modern and younger touches. Could it be that I’m getting older? I’d just like to think that M&S is moving with the times. 🙂

Another thing that made me happy shopping at Marks & Spencer was the fact that I fit nicely into a Size 8 which I believe is the smallest size carried. It is such a huge boost to the female ego to know you fit into the smallest size available! Plus, the designs now look younger especially the Per Una range. Even the lingerie has evolved from being frumpy and plain but servicable bras and panties, to cute and racy lacy things. Worth buying during a sale!

I ended up with a midnight blue party dress which cost me quite a bit, but which I know will serve me well, and a comfy woollen cardigan which I wanted for long car rides or for travelling. Pictures will soon follow once I get my camera up and running.

I can see myself visiting Marks & Spencer more, to browse if not to buy. Oh my poor wallet!

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