Category Archives: Swatches

Giorgio Armani Spring 2012: Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer Lipstick in 600 Review, Photos, Swatches

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Wearing Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer in 600

Every year when spring comes around every magazine says we gotta go lighter with our makeup. Blah blah blah. But yanno, some days I just can’t not wear a smokey eye or a meticulously applied bold lip.

I never really jumped on the sheer lipstick train because hey, I’m a full coverage lipstick kinda gal. But I think Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheers ($38) might be luring me to step into the dark side (or
should I say, light side?).


Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer in 600


Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer in 600 – Swatch

Rouge d’Armani Sheer in 600 is more opaque than other sheer lipsticks I’ve tried. The formula is perfect: smooth and creamy — just how I like my peanut butter ;) — semi-glossy and almost gel-like in consistency. It is not greasy nor heavy on the lips, but gives my lips the right amount of moisture that they look beautifully plump.

At $38, it is definitely a luxurious purchase, but I think the Giorgio Armani lip products (Rouge d’Armani and Gloss d’Armani are my holy grail) are the best from the high end department. They are totally worth it and I wouldn’t hesitate picking up some more.


Giorgio Armani Rouge d’Armani Sheer in 600 – Lip Swatch


Also wearing on eyes: Maybelline Color Tattoo in Tough as Taupe, MAC Satin Taupe; on cheeks: Chanel Rose Temptation Blush

How do you wear your lipstick? Are you all over the sheer lipstick balm trend?

YSL Summer Collection 2012: Mascara Volume Effets Faux Cils, Golden Gloss, La Laque Couture Reviews, Photos, Swatches

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Mascara Volume Effets Faux Cils Waterproof in Nº 4 Majorelle Blue and La Laque Couture in Nº 4 Corail Colisée

From the bronzes of the Terre Saharienne and Pure Chromatics, we move on to the bright pops of colour from this collection.  I LOVE COLOUR. /fangirl moment


Mascara Volume Effets Faux Cils Waterproof in Nº 4 Majorelle Blue

I dedicate Mascara Volume Effets Faux Cils Waterproof in Nº 4 Majorelle Blue ($36) to 18-year-old Tracy of Beauty Reflections, who wore blue mascara all the time. :)  This is for you, Tracy!  The waterproof formula and brush keep my lashes separated and curled all day long, without smudging or flaking.  The pop of bright blue is just so. much. fun.  I’m a fan!


Golden Glosses in Nº 51 Golden Shell (bottom), Nº 54 Golden Sand (top)
(yes, that’s my cat in the background) 


Golden Glosses in Nº 51 Golden Shell (top), Nº 54 Golden Sand (bottom)

The Golden Glosses ($34) from this collection range from shimmery bronze to pale beige.  They have the same fragrance as the Rouge Volupte line — artificial mango? — which I am not really a big fan of.  But I do like the formula itself; they are light, non-goopy and non-sticky. The coloured base is semi-sheer, so that makes them excellent lipstick toppers, but at the same time, they work well on their own. I like that they are packaged with a brush applicator.  I always find lip brushes feel more luxurious than the usual doe foot applicators.

Nº 51 Golden Shell is a rosy bronze with a serious amount of pink and gold sparkles.  Nº 54 Golden Sand is pale shimmery beige.


La Laque Couture in Nº 4 Corail Colisée

I’m all about coral this spring, and the new La Laque Couture in Nº 4 Corail Colisée ($27) is perfect.  I’m going to keep this review short and sweet: this has the best brush and formula. Ever. Two coats using the wide brush give me streak-free nails with high shine.  You need it.  The rest of the La Laque Couture line are coming out in June.


Wearing Nº 4 Majorelle Blue Mascara, La Laque Couture Nº 4 Corail Colisée, Golden Gloss Nº 54 Golden Sand

I don’t think my modelling career is going to take off any time soon… :)  Any products catch your eye?

YSL Summer Collection 2012: Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed and Pure Chromatics in Nº 8 Reviews, Photos, Swatches

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Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed and Pure Chromatics in Nº 9

When I laid my eyes on these two beauties from YSL’s summer collection (product information and photos are here), I knew I had to review them first! Read on to see what I think about Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed and Pure Chromatics in Nº 9.


Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed — indirect natural light


Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed — under direct sunlight

Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed ($60) is described as a “satiny light, rosy apricot”, and that is how it translates on my skin. It consists of rose, brown and apricot powders embossed in a python print in a beautiful brown compact. The finish is not shimmery, but instead the skin looks lit up and alive. This is a light bronzer that will wear beautifully on fair to medium skin, especially for very fair skin who have problems with bronzers looking dirty on their skin. I love the big surface area for the apricot shade, which is such a universally flattering blush shade.


Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed — separate / swirled together

My only annoyance with this bronzer: as soon as I apply it on my face, I could smell the product on my brush! The product has a makeup-y fragrance, but it quickly dissipates in less than a minute. I wish it wasn’t scented at all.

The shades of YSL Nº 2 Sunkissed remind me of my (still) holy grail bronzer from last summer, Dior Aurora, so I wanted to post comparison swatches of the two. It turns out, they are not similar at all. Sunkissed is lighter and pinker, but they do have that same beautiful finish.


Terre Saharienne in Nº 2 Sunkissed (finger swatch, brush swatch) vs. Dior Aurora


Pure Chromatics in Nº 8 — indirect natural light



Pure Chromatics in Nº 8 — under direct sunlight

JLo in “Waiting For Tonight.” That is what I think of when I see this palette. Pure Chromatics in Nº 8 ($74) is a shimmery palette of champagne, medium beige, coppery brown and olive green. This palette is unapologetically shimmery. I’ve never seen so much shimmer packed into one eyeshadow quad before. The medium to dark shades have a more visible shimmer, while the champagne shade highlights my brow bone perfectly.

I found a few issues with this palette. First, the lack of variety with eyeshadow textures turned me off. It is very hard to wear on its own. It’s just a lot of shimmer, shimmer, SHIMMER! The beige or olive shade would make beautiful matte/satin eyeshadows, and would make this a more wearable palette. Next, the eyeshadows are very soft to the point that they ended up falling down to my cheeks. It’s nice, but these problems and the non-unique colours make this easily dupe-able , so I don’t think it’s a must-have.

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