Archives for November 2013

I went a little crazy for the Guerlain Crazy Paris Christmas 2013 collection

November 8, 2013 Paris B 36 Comments

Mmmm words deepfried and dipped into ketchup are delicious! Anything deepfried is – I dare you to disagree!

Many of you may be familiar with my wee obsession with Guerlain’s Meteorites Perles. I have been collecting (and using) the last few limited edition ones that came out at Christmas. This year, I was looking forward to picking up the Champs Elysees Christmas balls when I saw the packaging and fell over myself running in the opposite direction. No matter my prejudices, ugly packaging turns me off, even if the contents appeal to me (Yes I find the Crazy Perles tin ugly – sue me). Fortunately also, I thought the Crazy Meteorites Perles looked rather like the Dragon pearls from last year so I’m safe! Anyway, I declared that Guerlain’s Christmas offering was persona non grata for me.

But when I went shopping for a friend, I *ahem* did cave for a couple of other items that I’d initially overlooked. Oops!

On the bright side, no other Christmas collection appealed to me, so wallet is now safe. On the even brighter side, I picked up a couple of items that I’d been eyeing for the longest time ever but was previously reluctant to shell out for.

The collection is only just available in stores here in Malaysia. I can show you pictures but no swatches nor full reviews because I need time to test it out and it’s not going to happen in the next week or so. Yet, I didn’t want you to miss out in case you were really eyeing something. So, here are pictures, quick thoughts and where to get them 🙂

New! Aesop assembles A Futurist Assembly for their Gift Kits 2013-2014

November 8, 2013 Paris B 16 Comments

We’re into November which means one thing – you know what that is right? Christmas Gift sets are here! Brands will start rolling out their Christmas gift sets in stores and I’ll have a few to show you as we go along. Let’s kick things off with something from skincare brand, Aesop.

On Press day, when I saw this, I have to admit I had no idea where anything was going. What seems like a typographical mess actually isn’t. It’s art. Who’d have thought eh? The Aesop gift kits this year, themed A Futurist Assembly, have the central theme of Futurism, an artistic and social movement originating in Italy in the early 20th century. You can read more about it in gist here because I can’t explain it 😛 Not having much of an appreciation for art (I tend to favour the Classics where people looked like people and things looked like things, you know what I mean?) it is something that is a little lost on me.

However, there is one thing I like about the Aesop gift kits this year.

Shiseido Ibuki put on trial : How does the Softening Concentrate and Refining Moisturiser fare?

November 7, 2013 Paris B 35 Comments

A while ago, I told you about a new range of skincare from Japanese cosmetics giant, Shiseido called Ibuki. You can read more about it in the previous post. In a nutshell, Ibuki works to build and repair skin’s resistence to external stresses – pollution, uv etc and strengthen it.

I had the opportunity to put a few of the products to the test, which I did. Here’re my thoughts on the Ibuki Softening Concentrate and the Refining Moisturiser.

The Ibuki Softening Concentrate is their star product. But to understand how this product is used means having to overhaul how you view toners and lotions. If you are familiar with Asian/Japanese skincare methodology then it’s easy to understand when I tell you that this is a softening lotion, and a pre-moisturiser.

If for you that step between cleanser and moisturiser is something you’d view as a toner then you will have to understand that the Ibuki Softening Concentrate is not a toner. This is a lotion that works to soften your skin after cleansing, add moisture and basically prepare your skin for moisturiser. Think of it if you will, as a pre-moisturiser. If you do use an exfoliating or astringent toner, use the toner before this concentrate. Confused yet? LOL! You’ll get there 🙂

With the affordable Maybelline Bold Matte Lipstick you may discover you like bright lipstick that’s Mat 2

November 6, 2013 Paris B 30 Comments

Neon Coral lips. Kinda cool, especially here in our warm tropical climate.

How about neon MATTE Coral lips? You know, if you’re going to try a bold lip colour, or a new lipstick texture, it’s always great to have an affordable option. Just in case you hate it you know. At least your wallet won’t cry.

Well I’m not one for matte lipstick myself. From experience, they tend to make me look older (Heaven knows, I don’t need to actually LOOK my age do I?) and has a tendency to dry out my lips. Well, the Maybelline Coloursensationals Bold Matte lipstick promises not to do all that.

The one I have here is Maybelline Bold Matte lipstick in Mat 2 – Sugar Pink. I’ve seen about 5 shades available at the pharmacy when I was last there, but only Mat 2 had a name on the base. The others go by numbers so you have Mat 1, Mat 2 etc. They all come in varying shades of bold reds and oranges. Quite unique for something from the drugstore.

Mat 2 Sugar Pink is a bright bright coral in the tube that is almost neon in it’s brightness. I was a little afraid at first. Yeah, I was! You see, colours like this can go one of two ways on my skin – beautifully brighten up my features, or make me look sallow and sickly. No middle ground here. Which was it for me? Ahh….