Tips

When it comes to your skincare – is less more? Should you go on the Skincare Diet?

November 9, 2018 Paris B 8 Comments

A few years ago when Korean skincare and k-beauty took the world by storm, the 14-step routine suddenly became popular and the gold standard. Lotions! Essence! Creams! Layer them on! The more the merrier!

A few years later, someone decided that putting lotion or essence on their skin 7 times was a good thing. And everyone was doing it!

Is it surprising therefore that, as with all demonstrations of excess, people would then turn torwards the minimal?

I was prompted to think about this, when a friend sent me an article about what is known as “the Skincare Diet”. And truth be told, I had a good laugh over it 😛

Le Lion de Chanel invites you for a roaring grand time in the Chanel Collection Libre 2018 Maximalisme de Chanel

October 22, 2018 Paris B 23 Comments

Yes I know it’s just October, and yes, I know that Christmas is about 2 months away, and yes, I moan each year about how much earlier Christmas collections become available (and sell out!) every year. But if you can’t beat them, I guess you have to join them! So if you don’t want to miss this exclusive Chanel Collection Libre 2018 Maximalisme de Chanel collection, it’s time to hotfoot it down to your nearest Chanel beauty boutique!

While I am jaded and roll my eyes at the repetitive colours that appear in the Christmas (aka the more politically correct Holiday) collections, I confess to secretly keeping an eye out for Chanel’s this year. The reason was simple – I was intrigued by le Lion de Chanel! 😀

Why the lion head you might be wondering. Apparently, the lion is Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel’s favourite icon, and Lucia Pica picked it to represent the grandeur and intensity of the season. Here is a quote from Lucia Pica I wanted to share.

“The woman who wears MAXIMALISME DE CHANEL doesn’t hide, she loves being looked at,” Lucia Pica says. “She treats makeup almost like she would an accessory – an adornment that brings subtle drama to the mix without necessarily drawing attention to itself. She chooses between products to create striking oppositions.”

I say this often, but I love the refreshing vibe that Lucia Pica has brought to Chanel makeup, and how more daring and different the brand has become under her direction. Instead of a large, sprawling gold and red infested collection as infects most brands for Christmas, the Maximalisme de Chanel collection isn’t too large. I don’t have all the pieces, but what I have is representative of the collection, which I’ll share with you here 🙂

Will applying foundation with your fingers give you a better base? Step-by-step tutorial on how to use your best foundation tool

October 19, 2018 Paris B 23 Comments

When I first started out using liquid foundation, I used my fingers to apply. I’m not sure if it was a bad colour match – I looked orange! – or poor application, but I looked awful. Hat-tip: Never try a new foundation (or new makeup for that matter) for an important occasion! My mom asked me what happened to my face, so I washed it all off and nothing was ever said of it again.

The next time I learnt how to use liquid foundation, it was with a brush. I’d experimented with using my fingers again over the years, this trick in particular was very helpful, but in the main, I used brushes. I’ve amassed a large number of foundation brushes over the years!

But recently, I found myself reverting back to using my fingers to apply foundation, and I loved it! 🙂

It started out when I was introduced to the Nars Radiant Longwear Foundation which does look best when applied with fingers, and I was sold on the idea. So, I used the same technique with other foundations, and I discovered a few things that I thought would be helpful to share.

The Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme is the epitome of the ideal intense matte lip colour

October 17, 2018 Paris B 10 Comments

In recent years, I’ve noticed a significant shift by brands towards favouring matte lipsticks. This leaves me conflicted because I want to do these new products justice, yet matte lipsticks are not my personal choice nor preference. I am all about a creamy lip with a slight gloss. So, when I spotted the new Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme, I almost recoiled in horror.

Not content with a mere matte lipstick, as found in their Rouge Allure Velvet range, Chanel has upped the ante, and introduced an INTENSE MATTE lipstick!

After my initial look of disbelief, I did deign to try these to see just how much more intense a matte lipstick can be. I must confess that while I do not wear matte lipstick at the best of times, if I do wear one, it is inevitably the Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet.

I first discovered them about 5 years ago, and they are the only matte lip products I will wear for the simple reason, they are lightweight and not drying. They also come in beautiful opaque shades that are incredibly flattering.

So I had a very valid concern with the Rouge Allure Velvet Extreme – does extreme, intense matte come with extreme, intense drying effects? 😛

Tips

The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws