Product Reviews

This category houses all the product reviews featured on My Women Stuff. All reviews are impartial and feature pros and cons to educate and assist you to make a decision on a product or service. Where products or services are provided by PR or the brand company, they will be indicated accordingly. No money has exchanged hands for product reviews and we value our integrity in keeping it that way.

Review: Makeup: Shu Uemura Hard Formula eyebrow pencil

Paris B 8 Comments

My sister was using this eyebrow pencil before I did, and she used to tell me how quick and easy it was for her to get natural looking brows. So, I picked up one to try.

Shu Uemura Hard Formula eyebrow pencil

The Shu Uemura Hard Formula eyebrow pencil is an eyebrow pencil, just like others. However, what makes it rather unique is that if you were to draw it on your hand there isn’t much colour payoff. Most people have discounted it because of this, as they felt that it wouldn’t do anything for their brows.

However, try drawing directly on your brows and you’ll notice that there is colour payoff after all. The colour grabs onto the hairs of your brows and adds colour and volume. As it doesn’t show up much on the skin, it looks more natural than if it were just drawn directly on the skin. Also because its not drawn on the skin, I find that stays on a long time, even until the end of the day, without budging much.

The colours available are also quite good. The browns are very natural and don’t look garish. Unless you have very dark hair, you might not want to go for a black pencil, as it would look too stark.

This pencil can be sharpened just like a normal pencil, with a sharpener. However, I take mine to the Shu Uemura counter to get the sales assistants to sharpen it for me. Its a service they provide for free. What they do is use a pen-knife and sharpen it to a broad flat shape. I find it makes it easier to draw and I’m less likely to make mistakes that result in stiff unnatural looking brows. You could probably do it at home yourself, but I dare not. I’ll try to take a picture to show what I mean soon.

It retails for about RM50 or so at all Shu Uemura counters. Pretty steep pricing for an eyebrow pencil but it will last you a long long time.

Pros: Long lasting, Easy to use

Cons: Rather pricey

[rating:4/5]

 

Review: Makeup: Shiseido Integrate lipgloss

Paris B 2 Comments

My friend loved this lipgloss by Shiseido Integrate so much that she sent me this as a gift. Integrate is another brand under the Shiseido umbrella and its presently only available in Japan. Some stores in Hong Kong or Taiwan may stock some of the items or colours, but in the main, this is a Japan only brand. Pity really, as this looks like an interesting brand.

The Integrate Glamourous Rouge lipgloss comes in the shape of a pen with a clear body where you can see the colour of your gloss. However, the amount is very little. That bit of colour you see is about all you’ll get.

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Initially, I thought that it was similar to the Stila Lip Glazes, where there’s a brush as an applicator. However, when I opened up the cap, I was surprised to see that there was no brush at the end, but a silicone spatula. Very odd.

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You twist the bottom of the pen and the colour will ooze out the middle bit of the applicator. You then dab the colour on your lip and spread it out using the spatula. As its made of silicone, its pretty flexible. However, I found myself scraping off the colour rather than spreading it. That was until I pretended it was a butter knife and applied it that way. Then, I got it to spread nicely.

When you are done, just twist the bottom in the opposite direction and the excess colour will be sucked back into the tube so you don’t get a mess. Clever!

The colour looks scary in the pen, but when applied, its a cool sheer pink without much shimmer. Its not sticky and in fact, feels very comfortable on. Its not super shiny either. Just a nice sheer gloss with a tint of colour. The colour stays on quite long too, for a gloss. However, what puts me off a little, is the scent. When you apply the gloss, there is a sweet scent that lingers for a bit. I found it a tad cloying.

I’m not sure of the price, it being a gift, but I think Integrate ranks slightly below Maquillage, so I don’t expect it came cheap. In fact, they use Angelina Jolie as their spokes model. She can’t come cheap!

I’m not sure if or when this line will be released overseas. If you’d like to try it, there are some limited items from this brand in Adambeauty. I haven’t tried buying from them, so you are on your own there!

Pros: Long lasting for a gloss, sheer glossy colour, innovative design

Cons: Sweet scent, not much product

[rating:3.5/5]

 

Review: Makeup: Shiseido Maquillage eyeshadow palette

Paris B 1 Comment

When the Shiseido Maquillage line was first launched, I was quite excited to try their products. I am a little allergic to Shiseido The Makeup’s eyeshadow so was curious to see if I would be similarly affected by the Maquillage line.

I got the eyeshadow palette in BL761 which is a blue based palette.

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The palette is quite big in size but isn’t bulky. There are 3 powder eyeshadows and one cream liner which is very useful. The 3 colours are a light shimmer blue, light shimmer yellow and seafoam teal. The liner is a dark cobalt blue.

I found the eyeshadow colours a bit sheer. The light blue applies nearly white on the lids with fine shimmer. The yellow is a highlight shade and is a light champagne on. The main colour is actually that of the seafoam which also applies sheer. The dark blue liner is smooth and creamy and easy to apply. However, I found the colours faded by the end of the day, which isn’t very good.

Overall, I found the texture of the powder shadows soft and easy to blend. However, the sheerness of the colour puts me off a bit. In a way, you might say the sheerness is good for you can get away with wearing colour to work. However, for those who prefer a bit more colour, then you might want to pass on this palette.

Pictures 055 As with all Japanese eyeshadow palettes, at the back of the box the palette comes in is a diagram showing you how you may apply the colours in the palette for maximum benefit.

I find its easy to follow even if you dont’ read Japanese. Just follow the diagram and you end up with perfect looking eyes every single time. Maybe the way its meant to be applied suits the colour and texture of the shadows.

The palette comes with a dual-ended sponge tipped applicator. Using the applicator might give you more colour on. I usually use my fingers which might explain the sheerer tone. There is also a dual-ended brush with an angled stiffer brush for the liner. Very useable and user-friendly.

If I recall correctly, this palette might retail for RM125 but do check at the counters. Its available at all Shiseido counters under the Maquillage line. This is the older eyeshadow palette that came out as part of the original collection. And I’m happy to report that I did not experience any allergies with this palette.

Pros: Easy to use, cream liner is very good, Instructions make for a perfect eye

Cons: Sheer, Faded by end of day, quite expensive

[rating:3.5/5]

 

Review: Makeup: Guerlain Radiant blush

Paris B 2 Comments

I never used to look at Guerlain’s blushes for the simple reason that the brand does not excite me. I associate it with older women and the fact that the Guerlain counter at the malls are always quiet and manned by older ladies doesn’t help that image.

However, on a whim, I purchased 2 Guerlain Radiant blushes from StrawberryNET.com a couple of months ago when they were running a promotion. The two I got were Apricot Souffle D’or and Rose Pluie D’or. D’or in French indicates that there’s gold shimmer and I like shimmer in blushes.

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Packaging

The blushes come in a large square case with a beaten gold cover. The bottom that houses the blushes is a clear plastic and the back has a large circle with a colour matching the blush inside and the name printed on it. I guess it makes it easier to locate the colour you want without having to open it up. The case is easy to open and it comes with a brush that I never use anyway. Its always a surprise to me to see that the blush is only half the case. There is 4.5g of product and I find the packaging too bulky to travel with.

Product

I must warn anyone sensitive to fragrance that this product has a very strong fragrance. I find it a tad cloying even if you take a big sniff of the product. However, it goes away after application which is a consolation.

The pigmentation is on the sheer side. Thats good for blushes, as you don’t want to end up with clown cheeks. So, sheer pigments allow you to layer for more colour without going overdone. The shimmer is subtle and it doesn’t give you that disco-ball look.

Apricot Souffle D’or is a peachy apricot colour that gives you a nice glowy healthy look. It looks bright but isn’t really. Since its so light, I’d only recommend this for fair-skinned girls. If you are medium to dark skinned, I’d just avoid it for it won’t show up at all. I’m pretty fairskinned and even I have to layer it a bit. However, after about 2-3 layers I achieve the glowy look which makes it look like I’m not even wearing blush! I fooled myself into thinking it did not work until I got compliments on my blush that day, so I guess it works in a very subtle way.

Rose Pluie D’or is a shimmery plum shade. I swiped this colour at the Guerlain counter and fell in love with it so I bought it. It applies slightly more pigmented than Apricot Souffle and shows up a plummy shade. I made the mistake of testing the shade on my hands only so unfortunately it doesn’t show up as prettily on my cheeks than on my hands. Its still a nice colour though, just be careful not to over do it and use a light hand or you’ll end up looking like you have bruises on your cheeks if you are fair skinned. However, if you are tanned or have medium-darker skin I think this would look lovely on you.

Lasting power was good. I had it on in the morning and it was still there at the end of the day. The powder is finely milled and it goes on smoothly. I did not use the brush that came with it so I cannot tell if its decent enough or not.

Overall Verdict

I’d recommend a buy on the Guerlain Radiant blushes. In fact, I’m eyeing more, but have to restrict myself lest I go overboard! If anything, it’ll be the scent that puts me off. Otherwise its a great product. StrawberryNET.com presently has the Radiant Blushes on offer for US$33 (RM112). I don’t know how much they are at the Malaysian counters, so do check out the price first and only buy it online if its cheaper there. If you are one of those with money to spare in paypal, then why not give this one a shot? Strawberrynet takes paypal and ships worldwide for free 🙂

Pros: Applies sheer and gives glowy look, long lasting

Cons: Expensive, Strong fragrance, packaging is too bulky to travel with

[rating: 4/5]

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