Bubbly Michelle

Givenchy Les Saisons (Cruise Collection 2016) : Preview, Photos & Swatches

March 22, 2016March 23, 2016by Bubbly Michelle10 Comments

Summer is so close you can almost taste it! And as always we see summer bronzers making an appearance well ahead.

One of the most beautiful bronzers i’ve seen this year is brought to you by Givenchy. They’ve taken a route less explored, delivering a luminous/radiant finish. I’m not talking satin here, it’s a full on luminous/glowy look to bring out the J-lo in you!

Over a delicious dim sum lunch, I had the opportunity to preview these beauties and more. So if you are keen on swatches, read on!

‘Les Saison delivers a beautiful sun-kissed complexion, or the perfect complexion for a sun-kissed day.’

Within the collection are 5 bronzers, of which 4 will be released in Singapore. The colours range from pale pink cream to caramel as seen below.

No.1 Moonlight Saison

No.2 Première Saison

No.3 Douce Saison

No.4 Ambre Saison

No.5 Extrême Saison

‘Poudre Bonne Mine is already known for their talc free formula, a baked gel with no excess powder, which showcases colour. This new-generation technology gives rise to a lighter texture with no visual substance effect’.

What I love about these powders was the texture. They are ultra light, silky smooth and very finely milled; and since they are designed to be multi-use products these can be used to highlight, sculpt and bronze the complexion or even as eyeshadow and blush.

On to swatches! I managed to capture a decent set of swatches by the window so they appear as true to colour as possible.

The powders are well pigmented and a dream to work with. I’ll get a review up once i’ve tried them on but for now, i’m pretty impressed.

P.S- did you notice No. 3 Douce Saison darker than No. 4 Ambre Saison? >.<

Anyways, summing it up. I believe Moonlight Saison and Première Saison can be used as highlighters and Douce Saison & Ambre Saison as Bronzers. However depending on how deep or fair your complexion runs, it’s all relative. I guess an NC 35 like me can get away with Première Saison as a highlighter rather than a bronzer.

On to more interesting products that caught my eye at the preview!

Here’re the new Rouge Interdit Vinyl Colour Enhancing Lipsticks. I tried one on after lunch and these are a great balmy texture. The pigmentation was also pretty good and delivers a semi-opaque outcome but best of all, this lasted well. The colour almost hugs the lips and stays on for ages.

A swatch of the colour I tried on (this is around 3 passes).

So if the rainbow of liners caught your eye, these gorgeous Khol Couture Waterproof Liners will be out this summer! (May if I recall correctly).

My favourite was the Turquoise. It had the smoothest application and I really liked the colour. A must have for all possible beach vacations to come this summer.

Here’s one more look at the liners. Such a cheery bunch!

Top to bottom we have, Brown, Black, Intense Green, Turquoise, Electric Blue & Purple.

Apart from what’s seen at the preview there’s also new Mister Radiant Blush, Primer & Bronzers coming out with the Les Saisons collection. It’s a gel product with suspended colour capsules. Here’re some images taken from the press release.

Also new are the Cushion Kiss nourishing, plumping gloss balms which come in two pretty colours, Coral Kiss & Berry Kiss for a no fuss summer pout. Super excited to try these!

That concludes todays post. I hope you found this entry useful and enjoyed the sneak peek of what’s to come! Summer couldn’t possibly arrive soon enough, but at least we have these gorgeous babies to look forward to right??? 😀

Retail info

Poudre Bonne Mine Saisons Incolore (Bronzers) – S$80

Khol Couture Waterproof liners – To be updated

Rouge Interdit Vinyl lipsticks – To be updated

Cushion Kiss Les Saison – S$38

Mister Radiant Incolore – S$64

Mister Radiant Blush – S$51

Makeup

Tom Ford Soleil Collection for Summer 2016 : Preview, Photos & Swatches

March 14, 2016May 6, 2016by Bubbly Michelle18 Comments

Finally getting down to typing up a post on the Tom Ford summer fragrance & colour collection I previewed last Thursday.

As with all things Tom Ford, the press event was a decadent affair. From the dapper butlers serving canapés & champagne, to the entire hotel suite transformed to look like an extension of a Tom Ford boutique, it seemed like no expense was spared.

In cosy settings invitees were encouraged to swatch and play with the new seasons offerings.

There’s loads of new lipsticks, complexion perfecting products & new additions to their Neroli Portofino fragrance collection AS WELL AS a brand new scent for summer. So much to get excited about!

My personal favourites as always are the lipsticks and there’re two new offerings this season. The Moisturecore Lip Colour & the Ultra-Rich Lip Colour.

The Moisturecore Lip Colours are a sheerer formulation with an outer casing of luminous, shimmery lip colour and an inner core of moisturising passion fruit oil for continuous hydration during wear. All shades contain a percentage of golden shimmer and a hint of pink (via the pink core) for soft summer lips to compliment sun-kissed skin.

The Ultra-Rich Lip Colour (not to be confused with the Lip Colour Sheer from previous releases) are a new high coverage lip colour with an exceptionally moisturising formula. They come in a satin & cream finish. Absolute must haves from this collection in my opinion.

*For a semi opaque lip, two passes is all you’ll need, though these don’t swatch as intense as the lipsticks from the permanent line.

To compliment the gorgeous lipsticks there’re two Cream Cheek Colours this season. We see Pink Sand back again (repromote from last summer) as well as a new addition Pineo Sole. A gorgeous golden bronze seen far right.

There’s also a new bronzer making it’s debut this summer. It’s a deeper warmer matte bronzer ideal for anyone that fits within a medium-deep to deep colouring.

Here’s a look at Bronze Age!

For those of you who prefer liquid bronzers to powders, the new Bronzing Primer is sure to pique your interest. It’s an ultra blendable creamy formula that imparts colour & luminosity to the complexion. I love that it’s not orange and a very natural looking shade. Something that’s suitable for the lightest as well as medium complexions. A light dab blended just on the cheekbones adds a tanned sheen as a day out in the sun would.

Onto some exciting repromotes this year, starting off with Firelust. A golden coral skin illuminator which can be used mixed in with your foundation or even moisturiser for glowing skin.

There’s also the Cream & Powder Eye Colours making a come back this summer, which i’ve already reviewed here if you are interested in swatches & my thoughts on these.

Apart from the colour collection that’s highly sought after, this season we see a new body product that’s bound to be a favourite. The Radiant Moisture Soufflé. It’s an unscented lightweight yet rich cream that’s infused with gold shimmer and skin loving ingredients to impart radiance & vitality to fatigued skin. The skin looks drenched in moisture and glowing gold. The perfect companion to take on all your summer vacations this year.

Definitely something I urge you to check out.

Now on to some swatches!

Starting off with the lipsticks here’re the Moisturecore Lip Colours.

Next up, Ultra-Rich Lip Colours,

Here’s a comparison swatch of Bronze Age bronzer against Terra and Gold dust. Also included are the two Cream Cheek Colours far right.

And some quick swatches of the Bronzing primer & Firelust.

Lastly, my thoughts & some swatches of the pièce de résistance, The Afternooner Soleil Contouring Compact and the stunning Sheer Cheek Duo, Bicoastal.

The Afternooner is a trio containing a golden beige highlighter, coral blush and a warm bronzer. The blush and bronzers were matte with soft shimmer dispersed within. However overall they both apply pretty much matte. The swatches came out well pigmented though the matte finish did somewhat affect the overall feel & texture. They don’t swatch as impressively as the regular Tom Ford blushes from the permanent line.

Bicoastal was my favourite between the two palettes. I found this swatched very similar to the Moodlight highlighter with the same rich silky feel. Both shades were well pigmented and blends easily. Needless to say I believe this palette is a must have so get it before it’s gone!

Now onto some swatches,

My picks!

My top picks of the collection were the Ultra-Rich Lip Colour Les Mepris, Purple Noon and also Moisturecore Lip Colours Carriacou and Mustique (both quite sheer and light shades). I believe the colours were absolutely stunning and pair well with a summer tan.

For those who missed out on Pink Sand last year, I highly recommend you grab one this time! It’s possibly the most perfect flush for summer time. And one of my all time favourite Tom Ford releases EVER. Also from the repromotes i’d recommend the Cream & Powder Eye Colours Naked Bronze (containing the cream colour Spice) as well as Golden Peach. These are excellent in terms of quality and are perfect for creating sultry eyes all year round.

Between the palettes I was strongly leaning towards Bicoastal, though I thought both make lovely palettes for travel. It’s a matter of choosing something suitable for your needs. Though just so you know, The Afternooner is a larger compact (similar to the full sized bronzers) and Bicoastal is a smaller more travel friendly size.

Concluding my Tom Ford summer preview, I hope you found this post useful! I tried my best to take as many swatches as I could. If you need any clarification or extra info about the products, feel free to leave a comment below. I’d get to you as soon as possible 🙂

Launch Info & Pricing

The Soleil collection is set to hit our shores in May retailing exclusively at the Tangs Tom Ford Beauty counter.

The Afternooner Contouring Compact – SGD180

Bicoastal Sheer Cheek Duo – SGD119

Resort to Pleasure Bronzing Primer – SGD97

Bronzing Powder Large, SGD160, Small SGD104

Pieno Sole, Pink Sand Cream Cheek Colour – SGD104

Fire Lust Skin Illuminator – SGD97

Radiant Moisture Soufflé – SGD165

Cream & Powder Eyeshadow duos – SGD85

Ultra-Rich Lip Colour – SGD75

Moisturecore Lip Colour – SGD77

Stay tuned for further updates via Instagram. Username – bubblymichelle

Lastly, a big thank you to the Tom Ford Singapore team for the invitation to preview summer! It was a pleasure joining you as always!

Makeup

NARS Spring 2016 – Collection Review, Photos & Swatches

March 8, 2016March 8, 2016by Bubbly Michelle8 Comments

Be it jetting off to an exotic holiday destination or just looking for some great neutrals to refresh your makeup wardrobe for spring 2016, NARS has got you covered. There’s a creative palette of blues, mulled wine, warm pinks to choose from and cater to every makeup addicts needs.

The NARS 2016 Colour Collection consists of,

3 Dual Intensity eyeshadows, Tarvos (mint), Cressida (midnight blue), Kari (warm rose)

Duo eyeshadow Hammamet with a matte beige & bronze rose

Impassioned blush – A soft muted pink

2 Lip glosses, Instant Crash (soft apricot), Vida Loca (guava)

2 Lipsticks, Rosecliff (soft rose) & Banned Red (mulled wine)

My favourites as always are the Dual-Intensity eyeshadows. Even though the colours seen here aren’t for day to day use, I really love them for a creative, fresh evening eye look. My personal favourite is the minty shade Tarvos. The pigmentation is excellent, silky smooth and almost metallic worn wet!

Cressida on the other hand was slightly sheerer with less colour pay off but equally pretty. I really love the two combined for maximum shock effect.

For those of you who can’t get enough of the NARS lipsticks, Banned Red is a must! As always the formula is ultra comfortable with good colour payoff. For a fully opaque seductive mulled wine pout you only need two passes. However I prefer to wear this pushed onto the lips as a stain. It’s one of those effortless colours that can work for day or night.

More swatches!

Here’s Banned Red & Impassioned.

Impassion is a very finely milled muted rosy pink blush with excellent pigmentation Even though it shows up very faint on my tanned complexion I noticed it doesn’t look as ashy as it looks in the pan. It appears more of a soft rose pink which would work great with almost any makeup look. I’d categorise this as a neutral.

If you are on the paler side and struggle to find an everyday ‘nude’ that doesn’t look too yellow on the skin, Impassioned is for you!

Here’s a closer look.

Now onto an eye look I created with the two eyeshadows. I used Cressida all over the lid with a dab of Tarvos (wet) patted onto the centre of the lid.

Lips are a mix of tinted lip balm topped with NARS gloss Easy Lover (a sheer blue toned fuchsia) and for cheeks I used NARS Impassioned topped with Desire.

Bottom Line

Quality wise the products did not disappoint with the exception of Cressida which I felt could have been better pigmented. Tarvos on the other hand was my must have recommendation from this collection. I see myself pairing this with neutral beige eyes as well for a pop of colour.

Price List (Singapore)

Collection now available at Tangs Orchard.

Makeup

NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint – Review

February 26, 2016February 26, 2016by Bubbly Michelle12 Comments

February has been a rather foundation heavy period. I’ve been rotating 4 new additions and the latest Velvet Matte Skin Tint by NARS is one. So far my experience with NARS foundations haven’t been the best. They don’t agree with my skin type (dry combination) & never quite sit on me as ‘natural’ as i’d like.

I was pretty keen on trying the new NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint in the hopes of changing my opinion about their bases and without giving too much away I can say, it’s my most reached for foundation this past month.

Packaging

The VMST packaging is pretty much similar to the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser just more elongated. The dispenser is as below and quite handy for travel with a secure no-spill cap. I like that it’s a plastic tube and can be thrown around freely without any danger of breaking so i’ll probably travel with this too.

The only downside I see is that it’s highly prone to collecting fingerprints, and the stains don’t go away!

According to the press tools I received, the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint is said to deliver soft matte perfection with protection. It’s an oil-free formula with a natural finish, oil control & skin care properties.

In addition it also contains a Velvet Illusion Complex Technology that helps achieve a soft focus effect & Transparent Blurring Powders instantly blur out pores, imperfections and even tone without masking the complexion or making it flat.

The spherical shaped transparent blurring powders compress like a cushion delivering a velvety feel and superior comfort while application for a sheer to medium coverage thats comfortable and last all day.

Formula, Coverage & Finish

I find the texture of this almost whipped and spreads easily (with fingers, brush or Beauty Blender) for a coverage of a good medium. I can’t say it’s very buildable though as adding more layers makes it just sit on top of the skin with the danger of creasing and sliding around. Overall the effect is a very skin like finish that looks soft and touchable with redness and minor imperfections corrected & blurred.

Skin types prone to flakiness can rest assured this doesn’t emphasise them much, also any enlarged pores look visibly blurred. I really like how it looks on the skin. It’s the perfect balance of radiance & matte.

Longevity

This doesn’t do too well on my oily t-zone and tends to breakdown & separate within 4-5 hours if i’m outdoors running errands etc. The drier areas (cheeks & jaw line) on the other hand looked radiant and velvety all day, which is an indication this should work great on normal to dry skin without any need of powdering or touchups as the day goes by.

To extend wear I usually prime my face with Clé de Peau primer and powder lightly with the NARS Soft Velvet Loose Powder (shade, Beach). I find this the best mix and other powders I normally use (Gucci pressed powder or Givenchy Prisme Libre) can look a bit heavy when paired with the VMST and settle into fine lines making them more obvious.

Colour range

NARS foundations overall lean quite yellow. Which is why I find this a great match for my golden olive skin tone. And on Asian skin that’s naturally yellower, these should work brilliantly.

Here’re a few foundations I rounded up for some comparison swatches, I hope you find them useful!

Swatches,

Notice the new Velvet Matte Skin Tint shades run slightly lighter than the Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser? The difference isn’t so major that you’ll have to go up a colour though and your regular PRTM shade should be workable if you plan on purchasing this sight unseen.

Shade Range

Singapore will be carrying 9 of the 12 shades released.

Terre Neuve (Light 0) – Lightest with neutral pink undertones

Finland (Light 1) – Lightest with neutral yellow undertones (around NC15)

Alaska (Light 2) – Light with neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones

Groenland (Light 3) -Light medium with neutral pink/peachy undertone (around NC 30)

St. Moritz (Medium 1) – Medium with a natural yellow undertone (around NC 35)

Cuzco (Medium 1.5) – Medium with neutral pink/peachy undertone

Annapurna (Medium 2) – Medium with neutral peachy undertone

Cuba (Medium 3) – Medium with neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones

Malaga (Medium/Dark 1) – Medium dark with warm caramel undertones

P.S- For swatches of the complete range do drop by Karens blog, here.

Bottom line

Who is this for?

Normal to dry skin types.
Anyone looking for sheer to medium coverage without the cakey look.
Or an everyday foundation that’s very easy to wear.
Too lazy to wear sunscreen AND foundation? Well you have enough SPF here to get away with wearing just this (though I don’t recommend skipping).

Avoid if,

You have very oily skin
Severe pigmentation and looking for heavier coverage. This isn’t buildable.
Prefer a very matte finish as it’s not quite matte as you’d expect.

Ingredient List –

Methyl Trimethicone, Alcohol, Water, Adipic Acid/Neopentyl Glycol Crosspolymer, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Lauryl Peg-9 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl dimethicone, Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Salicylate, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Isododecane, Dimethicone/Peg-10/15 Crosspolymer, Calcium Carbonate, Fragrance, Sodium Chloride, Triethoxycarprylylsilane, Aluminium Hydroxide, Trimethylsiloxysilylcarbamoyl Pullulan, Hydroxyapatite, Tochopheryl Acetate, Rosa Multiflora Fruit Extract, Ascorbryl Tetraisopalmitate, Citral, Geraniol, Limonene, Linalool, [+/- Titanium Dioxide (Cl77891), Iron Oxide (CL77491), Iron Oxide (Cl77492), Iron Oxides (Cl77499)]

Pricing and Availability

S$70 for 1.7 oz, 50 ml.

Retailing at Tangs Orchard & Robinsons since 25th Feb 2016.

*PR Sample sent for review

Makeup

Tom Ford Cream Colour For Eyes | Review, Photos & Swatches

February 21, 2016February 21, 2016by Bubbly Michelle12 Comments

Here to discuss the new Tom Ford Cream Colours for Spring 2016 today and it just so happens these finally landed on our shores.

Talk about perfect timing! My post is just in time for a bit of weekend shopping!

Packaging wise, I find very few makeup brands entice me like Tom Ford does. I love the rich mahogany screw on cap with a regal TF boldly plastered on, and the glass jar itself weighs like a S$68 product should. Overall I’ve never had any problems with these dying out and look as fresh as the day I purchased them, a testament to sound packaging.

Formula & Application

Tom Ford cream shadows come in a whipped, smooth mousse-y consistency. I love how lightweight they feel even though it’s a highly, highly pigment product. A little truly goes a long way with these.

If you are new to TF cream shadows, you’ll find the formula does take a bit of getting used to and the trick is to layer them on bit by bit for good opacity.

For more on application you can refer this earlier post, click here.

Of the 8 shades released, I have 5 to share with you today (two from previous releases which are repromotes).

Midnight Violet – A warm deep plum

Blue Siren – A medium sea foam blue

Opale – A pale shimmering champagne ivory

Platinum – A light/medium taupe

Spice – A warm medium golden brown

Sphinx – A golden peach with pink duochrome

Burnished Copper – A medium khaki green

Caviar – Charcoal black

The opacity of a single layer (blended out) can vary from sheer to medium with the lighter shades such as Opale & Blue Siren significantly sheerer.

I also found Opale particularly sheer and applies as a translucent wash of pearly shimmer rather than the pale champagne it looks in the jar. Of course these build up beautifully and Opale can be layered on to look like glistening champagne ivory if needed, but takes extra effort and careful building up in comparison to the others.

Overall my favourites are Platinum, Spice and Midnight Violet. Though incredibly neutral in nature, these look stunning on the eyes and far from boring! For those of you on the hunt for something more unique, i’d suggest Sphinx. A rather interesting option. Although I passed on this shade due to it’s intense warm tones, it should look lovely on rosier skin types with blue or light green eyes.

On to an eye look I created with 2 of the new shades I received.

Opale as an inner corner highlight, Platinum for the lower lash line & Blue Siren on the lid.

Some new findings!

Apparently these don’t survive that great worn outdoors in 85°F weather (pretty much 365 days a year in Sri Lanka) and the wear time is significantly cut down to around 5 hours wear (before it starts to crease) as opposed to my usual 10+ hours. Crazy heat paired with oily lids aren’t the best combo in case you were wondering.

However, If your day to day activities don’t include potential ‘sun bathing’ you can expect these wear without any creasing for up to 8-9 hours and even longer if layered with any powders on top!

I find them to be THE BEST cream colour product in the market in terms of longevity.

Other Info

The new cream shadows come in a noticeably smaller jar in comparison to the limited edition releases that we’ve seen before. However, looking at actual product the difference is just 1.2g/ 0.04 oz , which is not much at all. And given that these don’t empty in a hurry, I’m sure that 1.2g won’t be missed!

Bottom Line

Personally I find these a great alternative to powder shadows with much less hassle to apply. I just throw them on and am out the door in less than 10 mins tops!

Pricing and Availability

All cream shadows are now available at the Tom Ford Beauty counter at Tangs retailing at S$68 a pop.

Makeup

NARS Hot Sand Collection | Review, Photos & Swatches

February 11, 2016February 11, 2016by Bubbly Michelle21 Comments

Only a few makeup collections excite me these days and one of them is NARS, particularly the Hot Sand collection that hit the Tangs counter earlier this year!

I received the multiple and the Illuminator as press samples but also purchased the duo for todays review since that’s what I was most excited about!

So for those of you who didn’t know, the Illuminator is actually an existing product. The whole collection was in fact designed around it to highlight lips, cheeks and eyes.

What I love about this particular highlight was that the colour is so unique. I actually struggled to find anything even remotely close and I believe that’s what truly sucked me in.

The base is a peachy champagne, something that would work great on most skin tones since it’s not quite as yellow as majority of highlighters today. I also feel it’ll work well on even the lightest complexions, those who shy away from warm highlighters.

Hot Sand Multiple

The multiple in my opinion was the most subtle of three formulations. It’s for someone who wears light makeup and requires only a subtle highlight. I noticed the base colour looked more peach in comparison to the illuminator though which blends in even more with the skin since it sheers out a fair bit.

Overall I found the best method of application was to go directly on to the cheekbones with the stick without picking it up with a brush or fingers. Plus the texture felt almost crumbly in comparison to other multiples that made it near impossible to apply with fingers anyway.

Hot Sand Illuminator

This one’s for either mixing in with foundation for a more dewy effect or even as a subtle highlight just patted on over foundation. I actually enjoy mixing in illuminators with foundations and I find it’s got just the right amount of glow without an overly sparkly finish.

Here’re some comparison swatches. The closest match I could find was the Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal, slightly warmer and less liquidy in comparison.

Hot Sand Laguna Blush/Bronzer duo.

This comes with the Hot Sand highlighter and their popular Laguna Bronzer (there’s also a Hot Sand highlighter and Orgasm blush duo too if you prefer that version better).

A perfect companion to take along on your summer holidays.

Here’s a closer look.

I found the powder version more intense in comparison to the multiple & Illuminator but just right for everyday use. It’s my favourite of the three.

As you can see the peachiness is more pronounced here and doesn’t make my already sallow skin look any more yellow. I love the finely milled texture and it applies evenly without emphasising texture on the skin too much.

For comparison, i’ve pulled out three NARS highlighters I had on hand.

The lack of warm undertones is clearer since Tribulation & Albatross have an obvious golden shimmer. The shimmer in Hot Sand is an ethereal silvery beige.

One more set of comparisons but this time with a few other popular highlighters from Becca & Laura Mercier.

The closest match I had was this LE Chanel highlighter which I used tonnes back in the day. It was my go to and the only highlighter I own that looks used!

Needless to say I adore the new NARS Hot Sand just as much since it’s so close to my old favourite!

Bottom Line

If you are looking for a new and exciting product to pack for summer travels this year I believe the Hot Sand collection is well worth a look. Specially the duo which i’m already in love with! It’s a great everyday shade with just the right amount of shimmer that’ll look natural and elegant worn.

Pricing & Availability

Available now, retailing exclusively at Tangs.

NARS Multiple – S$60

NARS Illuminator – S$45

NARS Hot Sand Duo – S$65

Skincare

Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Micellar Cleanser – Review

February 6, 2016February 11, 2016by Bubbly Michelle5 Comments

Micellar cleansers essentially are a lightweight, water like cleanser that can be used for cleansing the face on the go. No rinsing is required and that’s the beauty of these. MUA’s have been using them for years as a quick way of removing makeup without irritating the face but now they’ve entered mainstream skincare for quick and easy cleansing.

Origins came out with their own version of the micellar cleanser this year and if you’re already familiar or use the Mega-Mushroom line, it’s of the same family.

As described in the press release, this new product was created through necessity. Specifically for city dwellers who constantly battle smog, car emissions and other environmental aggressors that have a negative impact on ones skin.

Since regular washing can disrupt the skins natural protective barrier, this micellar cleanser becomes the perfect solution to lift away and gunk and debris without causing any irritation or redness.

The packaging is a no fuss, plastic bottle with a flip cap where the product dispenses via a nozzle. It’s sturdy and travels without any leakage. I also love that the nozzle makes it easier to decant into a smaller bottle if you are planning on taking this in your carry on since it’s ideal as a quick skin refresher before you land.

The Origins Mega-Mushroom Micellar Cleanser is a clear liquid with a green, spa like scent. It’s the same fragrance through all the products in this line which I believe anyone sensitive to strong scents may not particularly enjoy. I myself on the other hand have grown to love the scent of products heavy with plant extracts and find it rather refreshing and relaxing at the same time.

Application

For everyday use I find this an effective first cleanse. A soaked cotton pad takes off most of the makeup, after which I go in with a balm or an oil cleanser to thoroughly cleanse the face before my night time skincare. As stated at the back of the bottle, the cleanser is suitable for face and neck, avoiding the eye area as it stings.

Overall I do enjoy the product. It’s a quick and effective way to clean your face regularly throughout the day. I also love that it’s a no rinse formula that lends itself to delivering skincare benefits apart from merely cleansing.

The Origins Mega-Mushroom Micellar Cleanser,

Does not contain soap, oil or alcohol.
packed with skincare ingredients such as, Reishi, Chaga, Ginger & Turmeric to promote skin resilience.
Also includes Rice Bran extract to neutralise the effects of hard water which has a high mineral content.
And Yeast Berry ferment to combat the effects of pollution with it’s natural anti-oxidant properties.

Ingredient List

Other Info

Retail price S$52 for 200ml. Available at all Origins counters islandwide.

*Press sample sent for review

Makeup

Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color – Photos, Swatches & Review

January 30, 2016February 2, 2016by Bubbly Michelle11 Comments

This spring Tom Ford surprised everyone with a new and EXCITING debut, Patent Finish Lip Color. Yeah, count me tired of that annoying matte liquid lipstick trend that’s taking over the world. My poor dry lips will never get on board that.

But seriously, how perfectly bold are these stunning shades of reds to berries hitting Tom Ford counters right now. Gimme more!

Since it’s customary to discuss packaging before product formulation over here, let’s start with that.

These hybrid gloss/lip stains come in a click pen version complete with a plush sponge tip applicator. As much as I like the idea of a sponge tip over traditional wand type packaging for liquid lip products, I found the clicking mechanism a bit annoying. It took over 20 clicks to get the product moving along (think Stila gloss pens…. loathe) and THEN, needed several clicks to get product out for every application. To be honest I was worried it just won’t dispense anymore and I had a bad batch, but I was wrong! That’s just the way they are it seems.

Anyways clicker fail aside, I love the overall look of the product and applicator. The sponge tip allows very good control for perfectly sharp edges. LOVE it!

Formula

The product is essentially a gloss on steroids. No joke possibly the most pigmented glossy formula I’ve ever come across.

They feel like a thick gel texture as they glide on, with each stroke delivering intense colour. I also liked that there weren’t any noticeable strokes and didn’t settle into lines which made the finish so professional. I truly do love that applicator, it’s magic.

As with all Tom Ford lip products there’s a scent to these. Something like a vanilla scent that quickly fades away leaving you with just smooth, juicy colour. The product also didn’t feel sticky on the lips and super comfortable to wear (you can barely feel them on).

As far as longevity goes, these do stick around for a couple of hours and stain. Although it’s worth noting I detected slight migration and strongly recommend a lip liner with these to stay put (I think the perfect match would be an invisible lip liner like the one’s by Kiko or Lipstick Queen).

Overall the formula was faultless as you’d expect and was a clear winner for me.

On to swatches! I have No Vacancy and Stolen Cherry. Two gorgeous reds (old habits do die hard! 😉 right?)

In comparison to a few other liquid lipsticks and glosses in my stash, the Tom Ford Patent Finish Lip Color is less opaque than the Armani Lip Maestro. Mac Retro Matte is obviously matte and fully opaque. Estée Lauder Pure Color Envy Liquid Lipsticks are more opaque and a semi matte finish and the Tom Ford Ultra Shine Lip Gloss more translucent & less pigmented.

On to lip swatches of Stolen Cherry and No Vacancy.

Stolen Cherry is a deeper red with a neutral tone with No Vacancy a brighter, more of an orangey red.

For easy shopping, here’s a complete set of swatches, all thanks to a little Tom Ford fairy 😉 (swatches taken indoors in artificial lighting)

Final Verdict

Apart from the dispensing mechanism which clearly wasn’t working for me, I do love the product. I feel the end result was lovely and worth trying. But of course as all glossy finishes it’s high maintenance, goes without saying, and does get on your teeth & around the face (perils of long hair) if you aren’t careful.

For more swatches & a review, do drop by lovely Ree’s blog. Click here!

Collection Info & Pricing

The Patent Finish Lip Colors are set to retail at SGD 72. (New & permanent)

Launch date- End February at the Tangs Tom Ford Beauty counter.

Lifestyle

Irresistible Me Hair Extensions – Review

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016by Bubbly Michelle4 Comments

What’s in your party ‘glam arsenal’? Does it include hair extensions? Mine didn’t. I guess I never really saw the need for extensions when I can grow it longer free of charge!

Late last year though I was contacted by the PR person Blair from Irresistible Me hair extensions and was asked if i’d like to try some in exchange for a review. Till then, it had never crossed my mind using extensions and I figured why not do a blog post and enlighten all of you who are new to extensions just like me! So I followed the procedure for selecting the extensions (there’s a video so you can get an idea of the colours available which is SUPER helpful) and they sent them over!

Picking your perfect set of extensions

You can select from a range of colours and various lengths and weights. The heavier the hair extension, the thicker it will look, just as real hair does (which btw they are, in fact real hair). I went for a sensible length, around 2-3 inches longer than my normal hair. But then I got a trim in time for the holidays and my hair was much shorter than I expected. So I gave these a go!

What a hair extension essentially is, is a strip of hair that can be attached to your own hair via a clip. It doesn’t damage your hair in any way and stays secure throughout wear. They don’t come off even if you tug.

Seen above are various sizes of extensions. The larger ones go through the widest part of your scalp. Let’s say you sectioned off a portion ear to ear, that’s where you’d attach them. Similarly the single clip version is a good size to add a little bulk just above the ear, so the volume isn’t just concentrated at the back.

In essence every set of hair extensions come with several pieces as above. I believe I got around 8 in my Irresistible Me set, which was more than enough for an extremely voluminous look.

Method of application

The clip is snapped on as closest to the scalp (the root of the hair) as possible and is virtually undetectable (there are plenty of Youtube videos in case you want a tutorial on how to attach these).

As a demonstration, here’s my before and after. I didn’t use all the extensions in my set. Just one 3 clip extension close to the nape of my neck, the largest 4 clip from ear to ear and just two 2 clip sections above each ear. If you want the back of the head fuller, you can always add one more 3 clip set closer to the crown. Just remember to keep these around 2 inches away from any partings so you don’t see the clip when your hair moves.

Yup! The results are pretty amazing. You need to try them to see and feel the difference, and I do enjoy the extra confidence my longer, fuller hair gives me 🙂 It’s like makeup basically!

Pros

Extensions are a quick way to uplift your regular hair style for a more glam look.

Maintenance is easy. They can be washed, combed and styled like normal hair.

If you have flat hair, adding extensions will instantly make your hair look fuller. It’s not just for length.

Cons

Sensitive scalps may notice itchiness once the extensions are off. I figured it was the clip and the weight of the extensions tugging at my natural hair that caused it.

These particular extensions would only suit someone who prefers a layered look. If you’re looking for a blunt cut style or want the thickness of the entire length of hair to be equal, these aren’t for you. They do gradually thin towards the ends.

Bottom Line

Overall I’d say i’m pretty pleased with these. I get to experiment with longer hair without having to wait till my hair grows out! And since I do miss my long hair (only drawback is my longer length always looks so flat!) these are the perfect solution. Length with bulk.

Price & Availability

The prices vary depending on the length and thickness of the extensions.

You can purchase them here!

Skincare

Tom Ford Purifying Cleansing Oil Review

January 20, 2016January 20, 2016by Bubbly Michelle7 Comments

As a good foundation is to a makeup routine, cleanser in my opinion is it’s skincare counterpart, and today I’m here for a much requested post on this new Tom Ford cleanser hitting the counters later this month.

Of course no one NEEDS a $100 cleanser, but for those of you who are interested, read on.

The new Purifying Cleansing Oil comes in a frosted glass pump bottle. It truly encapsulates the essence of Tom Ford Beauty, iconic, sexy & unapologetically luxurious.

As all things Tom Ford, this oil is created with some of the finest ingredients in skincare right now.

Nourishing oils such as Jasmine Flower oil, Evening Primrose oil, Buriti oil, Tamanu oil paired with botanical extracts, Panax Ginseng Root extract & Thistle fruit extract come together to purify & cleanse the skin. The mixture of these makes a clear, velvety smooth oil that surprisingly doesn’t smell ‘spa like’. To me it smells biscuity and not one bit artificial, which I really REALLY like! If you hate the overly healthy smell of plant extracts, you won’t have that problem here.

To cleanse off a full face of makeup I’d recommend 2-3 pumps applied directly onto a dry face (it’s important that you do not wet the skin in advance).

Work in the oil in smooth motions till the makeup breaks down and starts to come off (just about a minute or so). Then add water to emulsify till the mixture looks milky and rinse clean. There will be no oily residue.

Overall I found the formula very gentle and never experienced any irritation over the month of use. I can safely recommend it even to those of you with sensitive eyes.

The bottom line

I’d recommend this to all skin types and ages. Even safe to use around the eye area for removal of waterproof mascara. It’s gentle and won’t sting.

If your budget permits, definitely something i’d highly recommend trying. Of course I can’t say it does a better job than my less fancy oil cleansers, though I understand the price reflects the ingredients used as well as the luxurious packaging and appreciate it for what it is.

It’s a good cleanser that get’s the job done while making my skincare routine that much more enjoyable! I’ll be repurchasing.

Pricing & Availability

Retails at SGD110 for a 200ml bottle (should last around 2-3 months depending on frequency & quantity of use). Find this at Tangs Plaza soon!