Archives for September 2014

Sharing my thoughts on Shiseido Ultimune Power Infusing Concentrate (I ran out of clever titles)

September 25, 2014 Paris B 24 Comments

A month ago, I previewed you this new pre-serum from Shiseido which is their biggest skincare launch and innovation this year. You can read about it there, so I don’t repeat myself 🙂 In gist, the technology of this pre-serum is said to be able to boost skin immunity, to make it stronger and therefore more receptive to the serums and creams that follow. It’s supposed to also combat the signs of aging and look younger and smoother.

Well, I hadn’t been using a pre-serum product for a while since I finished up the Sulwhasoo First Care Activating Serum so I put this into my routine to see how I’d like it.

Comments on the bottle first. I love the interesting curved shape of the bottle. We’re visual creatures and the bright red bottle with its gradational shading and interesting shape is the first thing that catches the eye. The bottle is glass with a rather incongrous plastic feeling cap.

The pump is also rather lightweight plastic which again, feels a little incongruous in view of the more solid feel of the rest of the bottle. Packaging aside, what did I think of this serum? It’s been available since early this month, so if you’ve tried it, please share your thoughts.

Save & Splurge: Coming up Roses – The Rose Floral Water Facial Mists Edition

September 24, 2014 Paris B 27 Comments

I’m not the world’s biggest fan of rose scents but I cannot deny that the delicate scent of fresh rose blooms uplifts the spirit and makes me feel girly and happy. Rose water is also popular for use as a face mist, to hydrate skin, set makeup or just refresh yourself when it’s hot.

I happen to be quite a fan of the Melvita Damask Rose Floral Water of which I’ve already gone through about 2 bottles thus far, from the days when it came in a lovely glass bottle, till it’s current packaging in a plastic bottle. I like how soothing and comfortable it is on my skin and I use it primarily as a post-cleanse facial treat.

But you know what? As lovely as it is, I found it pricey. I recently tried a new brand on a bit of a whim and to my surprise, I like it, and it’s very kind to my wallet. So here we have it – a Save and Splurge post for rose floral waters. I haven’t done one of these for a long time have I? 😀

Your Say: Do you buy things or shop on Facebook or Instagram?

September 23, 2014 Paris B 24 Comments

Online shopping is now something most of us are accustomed to and I’m sure every single one of you reading this has, at one point or another, bought something online. But a relatively recent phenomenon I’ve noticed, is the selling of products via Facebook or increasingly, Instagram. I don’t know if it’s just a local phenomenon or if it’s something that’s also happening elsewhere in the world so it’ll be interesting to hear your views.

I realise these 2 platforms have a low cost entry (free) with no need to own a domain or host a website or have an estore template. A lot of the time, from what I observe, you email, leave a comment, or more popularly, send a private message or text by Whatsapp to the seller to purchase the items you are interested in.

I do notice that a lot of luxury product resellers use this medium of sale, as do sellers of imported cosmetics or people who run “sprees” for hard to get products or cosmetics. I’d watched and observed this for a while and while I note that some very popular Facebook pages or Instagram accounts seem to do a roaring trade, which does boost their credibility, I’d always been hesitant because I’m a bit of a traditionalist.

I prefer shopping from a proper online store and I stick to the big ones unless I’m looking for a very niche item. I basically want someone I can hold accountable if something goes wrong. But I recently dipped my toes into this grey world of Facebook/Instagram shopping and I have to say that it has left me feeling wanting.

I’m curious if any of you do buy things or shop on Facebook pages or through Instagram accounts, or if you are a seller, if you find it to be an effective or successful medium 🙂

After 20 years NARS launches lip colours so bold and pigmented, they’re simply Audacious!

September 22, 2014 Paris B 46 Comments

If you’re a fan of lipsticks and particularly of NARS, or even if you aren’t, you wouldn’t have missed the buzz that has been going around regarding a new and promising lipstick in town. Officially launched last week, during the NARS 20th Anniversary celebrations, Francois Nars has taken his lipsticks and given them a whole new lease of life, injecting into them strong pigment, smooth creaminess and and opacity so seductive, it’s Audacious 😉

The NARS Audacious lipsticks come in square cases with a magnetic base, so the cap stays on with a magnetic hold. The body of the lipstick is a smooth, cool, matte metal that is a nice departure from the usual rubbery texture we’ve come to associate with NARS products, but as you can see from the picture, it does and will mark from the oils of your fingers. I tried to clean it as best I could but I thought it was best to show you how you can expect it to look like after a while.

The brand name and logo is spelt out around the lipstick base, picked out in glossy text, and if you have 4 lipsticks, you can spell out the name… except I couldn’t quite get it right, because the N kept repelling itself against the A. You could say therefore, that they are poles apart! LOL! 😀

Now, I’m not the biggest fan of NARS lipsticks, I’ll tell you so right now. I’ve owned a few (Niagara was so dry and drying, Manhunt was ok, as was Gypsy but not memorable) and some disappointed, some were ok but they weren’t particularly products I’d reach out for. Well, the Audacious lipsticks, which have received raving reviews worldwide might change my mind. Or maybe it won’t. Let me show you some swatches and a whole bunch of photos 🙂

Archives for September 2014

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