Archives for April 2008

Why use neutral eyeshadow?

Paris B 23 Comments

I received an Isetan mailer recently which had pictures of the new Bobbi Brown Nude eye and lip palette (RM210). I also saw the palette in person last week and the shadows were 4 similar colored nude or neutral eyeshadows. It reminded me of a question I used to ask before – Why would anyone want to use neutral eyeshadow or eyeshadows that look nude? Isn’t the purpose of eyeshadow having colour on the eyes?

nude eyeshadows
Clockwise from bottom left: Bourjois Brun Irrel, Bourjois Beige Rose, MAC Coco pigment, MAC Naked Pigment,
Shu Uemura ME Silver 945, Stila Kitten, Wheat, Oasis, Sun

I’ve since worked out the answer for myself. There are some days or some occasions when having other colours on your eyes won’t do. Examples are strict work places or serious events or even just when you want to be taken seriously like if you have to attend meetings or meet new customers or clients or business partners. If you are in a serious sort of job, having beautifully made up eyes with coloured eyeshadow just won’t do because people just don’t take you seriously otherwise (unfortunate but true). (Read more after the jump) Continue Reading

Review: Makeup: Shu Uemura Glow On Blush

Paris B 10 Comments

While looking back at my product reviews, I realised I had not reviewed what used to be one of my favourite blushes – the Shu Uemura Glow On blush.

Clockwise from left : M Pink 33E, M Amber 83, P Peach 40, P Purple OB5

My lighting is a little off in the picture above. The Amber and Peach shades look much peachier in real life than orange.

Texture wise Shu Uemura Glow Ons are awesome. They are very finely milled and go on very smoothly. There are 2 textures available – M – Matt and P – Pearl (shimmer). What is nice about Shu Uemura is that the shimmer isn’t over the top but is very subtle so you never end up looking like a disco-ball.

In terms of colour, Shu Uemura is par exellance. Color selection is wide and you can literally, find any colour to suit your skin tone. Colours range from red to pink, from orange to peach and every other colour in between. If you have trouble finding a blush colour to suit you, try Shu Uemura.

The colour pigment is also very good. Those with very fair skin have complained that pigment is so good that they have to use a very light hand with Shu Uemura Glow On blushes. I am fair as Asian skintones go, and I find that whilst color pigment is good, it isn’t as strong as say, Nars. So, I never have to fear over doing my blush when using Shu Uemura Glow Ons, as I do with Nars. The staying power is also very good with it lasting all day without fading.

I do have 2 gripes with the product though. One is the packaging. Shu Uemura uses these plastic clear cases that have a nice zen look to them, but fail miserably in terms of the blushes. Most of the clasps don’t work after a while so it ends up very loose. The blushes are made so they can be depotted or removed from the packaging easily (as with all Japanese makeup). There is a hole at the back by the label where you can poke a pin through to remove the pan and then place the pan in a palette. Shu Uemura does sell palettes for this purposes but they are expensive.

My second gripe is that the surface of the blush has a tendency to harden after a spell. I did not notice this initially when I was using it a lot, but after a spell of not using these blushes, I realised that the surface texture was different. A quick brush with an old toothbrush or a hard rub with some tissue paper solves the problem though.

My favourite blush of all I have is M Amber 83. It is a matt amber shade that sounds scary but isn’t. Its like Nars Amour – a very neutral shade that makes me look like I don’t have blush on, but just a nice healthy glow. Very pretty.

Shu Uemura blushes are definitely worth checking out. They used to retail for RM75 (US$23.51) but I’ve stopped going to the Shu Uemura counter now so I’m not sure of the current price. Perhaps a reader could update? 🙂

Pros: Good colour selection, Pigmented, Long lasting

Cons: Packaging sucks, the surface of the blush hardens over time

[rating:4/5]

Steve Madden ships internationally!

Paris B 6 Comments

I was browsing in Robinsons at The Gardens when my eye fell on a pair of darling polka dotted wedges by Steve Madden. See, they were even featured in Cleo Magazine!

The price is RM299 but Robinsons were having a 50% discount. Such a good deal and so cute on the feet. Unfortunately, they were out of my size. The only had a size 6.5 which I think is USA sizes. Whatever it was, it was too large for me.

Anyway, I hopped on online to see if Steve Madden’s site might have this style still in stock. But apparently they did not.

I did not find the cute polka dot shoes online but I did find this lovely pair called TRULY BLACK SUEDE. A nice d’orsay peep toe pump in black suede. Its only US$19.99 (RM64) on clearance too! Not in my size unfortunately and that 4″ heel looks killer! But I rather like it anyway.

I did find out that Steve Madden ships internationally at $29.95 for the first item and $12.95 for each additional item. I felt it was a reasonable shipping price. Oops! More shoe shopping perhaps? 😉

Stay beautiful,

Revlon Mineral collection and Limited Edition

Paris B 15 Comments

I was looking around online when I stumbled upon Revlon’s site. Now, Revlon is to me, one of the most unexciting brands around. Yes, I love their lip colours and I’m told that their loose powder and foundations are good, but you have to admit that as a brand, its quite unexciting.

Until now, that is.

Look what Revlon has, that we don’t get here in Malaysia?

A Revlon Mineral makeup collection!

The Colorstay Mineral Collection has a mineral powder eyeshadow trio, a mineral powder blush and the Colorstay Mineral Foundation. The Mineral foundation looks like its a liquid but according to the Revlon website, its a powder foundation with a brush in the cap, like L’oreal. Interesting! The one that strikes my fancy the most is the blush (but of course!) I wonder when we’ll see this one come in.

The bottle in the picture is a Revlon Custom Creations Foundation. It comes in various shades but there is a dial on the cover that you can twist to mix the foundation to the EXACT color of your skin. I think the colours blend as they are pumped out. A bit gimmicky but I can see it selling like hot cakes to people who want the PERFECT foundation.

Revlon too has a limited edition collection which they also had last year. That was the collection with the gold swirl on the berry blush and that midnight lipstick swirly thing. I was quite unimpressed with that collection. But not with this one!

Just look at that blush! A Floral Affair by Revlon. It looks rather like the blush from Clinique with the flower on it. Very pretty! There are 4 colour combinations too. Can’t wait till it gets here.

Then there’s a Mix and Mingle lip palette with lovely swirly patterns on it. Very pretty too although lip palettes aren’t really my thing. Beetrice wrote about it too previously so that makes 2 of us waiting to see it in person.

The Make a Sheen eyeshadow palette looks quite interesting too. I hope the colour is pigmented because the neutral earth tones look nice. Oh and that Pinch Me gel blush looks like a Benefit Benetint knock off? Interesting!

I also saw on another site that Revlon has a kabuki brush which isn’t on the main Revlon site. I’m not sure why. I’m always on the lookout for a good kabuki brush that isn’t too expensive so has anyone tried the Revlon Kabuki brush and have a comment to share?

I wonder when these collections will reach our Malaysian shores. Or if they ever will!

p/s This is NOT an April Fool’s joke! 😉

Stay beautiful,

The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws