Shopping for make-up

There's a lot of make-up out there, and a lot of places to buy it from. Here's a breakdown of the best places to shop.

DRUGSTORE OR CHEMIST

This is the best place to stock up on basic beauty supplies, such as cotton balls, nail-polish remover, make-up sponges, and cotton swabs. These stores are really convenient and filled with bargains. The make-up here is usually less expensive than other stores, and often there are discounts on items. I love trying out lipgloss shades and buying crazy nail polish shades here. The only downside to such shopping is that you can't test all the products before you buy them, so you might end up disappointed with the shade or texture.

Examples: Mannings, Watsons, SASA, Bonjour

DEPARTMENT STORE

Most of the high-end brands are sold at counters in department stores. This kind of make-up can get pretty expensive, but what you get in return is knowledge from salespeople who are trained to put on make-up. These people can give you lots of tips, ideas, and sometimes free samples. These brand are usually clustered together on a floor, so you can look around for a variety. A plus point is that you get to try a product before you buy it.

Examples: Harvey Nichols, Faces, SEIBU

BEAUTY SUPERSTORES

These one-stop shops are amazing! You always find something new in here, and there's always something different that you want to try. They have such a wide range of beauty products, from a totally classic fragrance to crazy false eyelashes. The staff can usually answer basic questions, and don't push you into buying anything.

Examples: SASA, Bonjour

ART-SUPPLY STORE

A tip is to use the paintbrushes sold at these stores as make-up brushes. You can get a good variety of shapes. They are a lot cheaper than the brushes at department or beauty stores and work just as well. Make-up brushes at normal beauty counters are ridiculously expensive. You can also buy empty make-up palettes to mix your own shades, or to store leftovers of your favorite products.

WEB SITES

As they say, "the grass is always greener on the other side". When in Hong Kong, you'd still like to see products from other companies that aren't available here. This also applies to different shades. Each brand caters to specific shades for each country depending on the mass population. If you're on the darker side, it's harder to find the perfect foundation shade in Hong Kong as compared to the States. Once you know the products you like, it's very convenient. Browsing websites is also a good way of checking out new colors, products and looks.

Examples: Sephora, AMAZON, eBay

Nivea Visage Q10 Eye-Cream

Today's product was received from an anonymous guest! I'd like to thank the person, whoever it is, for sending it across. This is the beginning of something new! =) 

So this is up for review today: 

 Nivea Visage | Q10 plus Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream

HK $139.9 | 15 ml

Available at local drugstores 

What's new about this eye-cream? 

So every eye-cream claims to have some 'new ingredient' that will definitely help your dark circles/wrinkles this time. For this, its the Q10 factor. According to the label:

"Q10 is a powerful Co-enzyme found naturally in the skin and with age, its level decreases. As a result skin is more prone to damage by external influences, one of the main causes of premature skin-aging"

 

What I think:

I have been shopping for eye-creams since I was young. I have horrible dark eye circles, and have gotten a consultation on them numerous times. Have also tried many under-eye creams and gels, and calcium enhancers, and aloe vera based products,  and what not.. I also maintain a healthier lifestyle now! But they just don't seem to disappear! So I've come to a conclusion - it's heredity. You can't fight it. With that being said though, maybe they won't disappear 100%, but an effort can be made to reduce them.. so just keep looking!

I've tried this product for 2 days now, and believe it or not, I do see a slight difference! What's different about this eye-cream from others, is that upon application, there is a very slight burning sensation, it tingles, so it let's me believe that the ingredients are working! I've never had that feeling with other eye-creams before, so I'm definitely going to continue using this for a few more weeks to see if there is any noticeable impact. A really good purchase I would say! 

Just a note though - don't rub it into your eyes as it will burn. Apply it carefully under your eyes. 

The whole set:

  

Beautiful royal packaging! 

Night Cream | Eye cream | Day Cream 

Also, guess what I found? Britain's new princess - Kate Middleton - more popularly known as Mrs. Prince William also uses these products. She does not endorse them, but actually uses them. Now that's refreshing! 

Enjoy!

Friday's Fragrance

This week's perfume selection is Flora by Gucci. Love, would be an understatement!

Flora | Gucci

Top notes: citrus, peony, and the heart is a gorgeous blend of rose and osmanthus
Base notes: pink pepper, sandalwood and patchouli

This is a light hearted and young spirited floral fragrance for women. It is a sheer, very pale and clean fragrance. Other than the peony, nothing stands out, that also, the peony lasts for a short while (in a good way). It's floral but not too floral (the rose and osmanthus are a subtle scent). It's not too fruity. It's sweet but not too sweet. Just the right blend of notes! If you are not a fan of sandalwood or pathcouli, doesn't matter, the base is a fairly bland woody musk. It's suitable for all ages!

Available in Eau de Parfum and Eau de Toilette.

This was a gift and I instantly loved it! I am very particular with perfumes - If I don't love it - I won't use it. Luckily, this was a really good pick by a friend - ahem, thanks Shivu! Need to restock! 

Check out my other work for COVERmagazine here:
http://www.covermagazine.hk/blogs

Wednesday Tips & Tricks

So Fragrance Fridays I share with you some of my favorite perfumes, and from now on, every Wednesday, I'll share with you some tips to a fresh and vibrant look! Just in time to let you look your best for Ladies Night! =) 


5 tips that are tried and tested!

1. "For a gorgeous look, apply Trio eye shadows. The dark eyeshadow along your lash line, medium shade on the crease & a light shade up to the brow bone."

What I think: You cant' really wear this for day wear. For day wear, if you'd like to use eyeshadow, stick to a neutral tone and use only one shade on your eyelid. This tip works well for an evening look!



Love these shades! | L'oréal Quad Pro | Quad Yeux Noirs 331

2. "To keep the eye make-up simple, just use Kohl Pencil with a transparent lip gloss & instantly look like a star"

What I think: Works like a charm! For more effect, use a lipgloss with a hint of color! Apply kohl to the lower lash line, and for added effect to the upper lashline. 



3. "Spread your foundation make-up in a downward stroke to keep the hair on your face from sticking up. Also apply it around ears & down the neck."

What I think: True! Use fingertips to blend. No need to go around the ears, but just under the ear lobe. And apply foundation under your chin so it gives a smooth finish instead of an abrupt stop at your face. No need to go on the neck.

4. "Use waterproof/water resistant mascara & eyeliners to get the best look for the monsoon."

What I think: Waterproof makeup is an investment! Not only for monsoon, but for all weathers! Would recommend to use a Lancôme mascara! Those things work magic to your lashes!



Lancôme Mascara | Experiment with different brushes! =)

5. "For fabulous long striking lashes, apply mascara twice. Start with brushing them down and then artistically brushing them upwards."

What I think: Tried and it works! Brushing your lashes down from the top, and then pushing them upwards gives and extra oomph to the look. Think about it: you're coating your lashes from the top and the bottom. There will be a difference! 

View other posts for COVERmagazine here. Enjoy!

In-flight schedule

My guest entry for Fashionography:

Hello readers! First a very big thank you to Fashionography for inviting me to do an entry. The three elements - beauty, styling and charisma, can work a magic combo. Blend unique traits, a fabulous wardrobe, and a fresh face; success is bound to be yours! Now Fashionography leaves no excuse to miss exciting trend updates, and I'm here to add a few secrets on the beauty front. Enjoy!

Travel Essentials 

You can fit all you want in your make up kit, and stuff it into your luggage - not a problem. But when you want to make your purse as light as possible, choosing what make-up to put in it can be a dilemma. Here are some products that you should keep with you on-board! 

• Moisturizer
• Lip balm 
• Lipstick and/or lip & cheek stain
• Kohl
• Mini Perfume
• Comb

And if it's a long haul flight, these extra items. Simply because you have lots of time to spare. ;)

• Nail Polish
• Nail Polish remover pads 

Now for some specific reviews on what's good to carry, keeping in mind the 100ml rule:

 The Body Shop | Moringa Milk Body Lotion

60 ml (The sample edition) | Leaves a fresh scent and a hydrating sensation

 Unfortunately, not available in all Body Shops. The travel size is available at The Body Shop outlet in Tung Chung. In addition to the scent, the best feature is that it's a spray. No messy hands, and no messy leaking containers. Can refill too! 

 The Body Shop | Lip & Cheek Stain

8 ml | Rosy effect for eyes and lips 

A product that can be used as a blush and as lipstick. It gives a good rosy hint of color, yet does not feel sticky and uncomfortable. Just dab a few times, and smudge with fingertips. It gives a flushed look, and perfect for a 30 second touch up before landing. 

 Nail Polish Remover Pads

Available at Sasa, these pads are perfect for inflight. Keep a tissue handy to wipe away any excess oil remains. And make sure to take out and seperate a few pieces for cleanup before you start applying nailpolish, as 2 or 3 are often stuck together. Since there are hours before the flight lands, you can take all the time needed to keep yourself busy and give yourself a perfect manicure on board. =)

MAC | Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15

A handy item that does a beautiful combination of lipbalm and lipstick. A simple and creamy product - thank god for no shimmer! 

That's all for product recommendations! The rest of the items, you can carry your standard ones. Once again, thanks Fashionography for letting me share my ideas here! Oh, and have a safe trip! ;)

Clé de Peau Beauté

I'm back in Hong Kong, so will be updating my posts more regularly now!

Today's items are some moisturizing lotions from Clé de Peau Beauté.

A little background on the company:
Clé de Peau Beauté was launched in 1982. It's a high quality skincare and makeup line. It's a Japanese manufacturer of luxury cosmetics, makeup skincare and fragrance. Until recently, I never knew this was of Japanese origination, always assumed it to be from France! Anyhow, the name "Clé de Peau" means "the key to beautiful skin" and the current face of the brand is Amanda Seyfried. I've never tried any of their products, and just received some samples from COVERmagazine to review. Thanks COVERmagazine! 

View my post for COVERmagazine here.





Clé de Peau Beauté | Basic Care Collection

This is the Basic Care Collection that was launched in 2011. It was hailed as a breakthrough in skincare research. It incorporated one of the brand's latest science discoveries "Neuro Skin Theory" - promising to give your skin that inner glow and beautiful radiance.

The products in the new skincare range are: eye and make-up remover, cleansing foam and protective emulsion. All products contain an "Illuminating Complex" made up of silk and pearl extracts that calm stressed skin so you get a more even comlexion. The products are lightly fragranced, with the Laelia flower in the formula which is also said to recover and rejuvenate the skin.


How much?

• Eye and Lip Makeup Remover – HK$370/125ml
• Cleansing Cream – HK$520/130ml
• Refreshing/Gentle Gentle Cleansing Foam – HK$480/110ml each
• Refreshing/Gentle Balancing Lotion – HK$950/170ml each
• Refreshing/Gentle Protective Emulsion – HK$,1000/125ml each
• Refreshing/Gentle Nourishing Emulsion – HK$1,200/125ml each
• La Crème – HK$4,600/30ml

I received samples of the following products: The information on the products is taken directly from the website of Clé de Peau Beauté.

Refreshing/Gentle Protective Emulsion – HK$,1000/125ml each


This would not be a buy for me! I need a daily moisturizer, and used the Protective Emulsion for a couple of days so that I could review it. Over a few days, I realized that I didn't see any difference in my skin. As my skin is more on the dry side, this moisturizer felt very light for me. I like my cream to be lightly scented, and even though this claims to contain light fragrance, I could not smell anything. Moreover, I felt that it stung my eyes for a few minutes. Instead of this, I'd rather use a normal SPF daily moisturizer from one of the drugstore brands such as Ponds, Olay, Nivea, Garnier or L'Oréal. I'd be more satisfied and save myself some money too! This is quite an expensive buy!



Refreshing/Gentle Nourishing Emulsion – HK$1,200/125ml each

Again, not a buy for me! I tried this for a few days, and woke up with my skin feeling soft, supple and refreshed. However, the reason behind this was more likely the fact that I made it a routine to remove make-up completely, wash my face, and apply moisturizer before going to bed. Again, I would have liked for this to be of a stronger scent. Although this was much more refreshing to my skin than the protective emulsion, I still would not spend that much on a night cream. 

Clinique - Almost Lipstick

Sorry for the late post! I'm doing a bit of traveling so updating when I can! On today's menu is a Clinique product. 

Clinique | Almost Lipstick | Tender Honey

So this is a new line for Clinique's upcoming Spring collection. It is a product that falls between a lipbalm and a lipstick. This is a very natural shade, and would provide a visible color to someone of very fair skin tone. On others, it will just work as a clear lipbalm. Rating it as a lipbalm, I would say it's a not quite for me. As someone who needs lipbalm quite often, I would use this product up in a day! Unfortunatley, the lasting power of this product is not that long. I needed to re-apply this almost every half an hour, and still I was not satisfied with the moisture. I require more intense moisture, such as that provided by Vaseline. This just wasn't enough. Moreover, Clinique's unique feature is that their products are fragrance-free. I personally prefer slightly scented products as it makes me feel refreshed, so this was a put off.

What I do like about this product is that the case is very sleek and chic. It's convenient to carry and to apply. Also, no mess involved! Overall, I would rate this product slightly below an average buy.

2012 MAC Shop MAC Cook Collection

MAC's new spring collection is the Shop MAC, Cook MAC Collection. The collection was released in early Feb in the states, and will be released internationally in March. Here are some sneak previews!


This is their promo for the new collection. A very retro look. Love the barbie-ish effect.

Their new collection will feature new shades of everything from eyeshadow to nail polish. I expect the new eyepencil colors and lipbalm colors to be great! Can't wait to try them out!

Their new lipbalms are called Tendertone lipbalms. Can't wait to try out all the new shades!

What I've read so far about their collection, is that it features a lot of products that are sheer. In other words, there is no real color to the product, but it adds gloss or glitter. I've also read that their new colors for eyepencils are smooth, and 'to-die-for' to be exact. Once again, can't wait to try them out! I shall post updates soon!

Upcoming Spring Collection 2012

Most of the brands are busy launching their new spring collections. With Valentine's coming up, and the season about to change to spring, most feature fresh garden elements, and some focus on bringing new vibrant colors to the table. Check out some of the upcoming collections below!


Bobbi Brown's focus for the upcoming season is on a precious metal - Rose Gold. This is the promo for Bobbi Brown's new Rose Gold make-up collection for Spring 2012. Love the valentine feel in this. Can't wait to try out the blush palette in particular the rose gold shade(photo below). Other items from their upcoming collection includes new shades of lipstick and lipgloss.

Shimmer Brick Compact (USD 39)

Rose Gold (left), Wild Rose (right)

This is Lancome's new eye make-up collection. It features new eyeshadow shades, as well as 10 new shades in the gel eyeliner. They have added new blue shades that I haven't seen anywhere around. Can't wait to try those as well!



Friday's Fragrance

Let's shake things up a little! For the fragrance of the week, I pick this men's perfume from Marks and Spencer.

Marks and Spencer Autograph

Eau de toilette for men

Their autograph scent for men is an aphrodisiac. It's the right balance between subtle and strong, it's musky and just plain sexy. The other variations in the Autograph line (for men especially) are really good as well. I'd say men's perfumes and colognes in general have a more sensual effect on the ladies, than vice versa.

Also, its quite difficult to find a men's perfume that you really don't like. With ladies perfumes you can categorize between, hate - like - love, but with men's perfumes it's more of a decision between like - love. For this, it's a love!

Guest Blogger

Just wrote for Fashionography as a guest blogger. Keep up the good work Amanda!

FANCL Massage & Lift Cream

Thanks COVERmagazine!

See my review here:

http://www.covermagazine.hk/blogs/prerna-agarwal/fancl-massage-and-lift-cream

FANCL's Philosophy:

Established on the unique philosophy of MUTENKA, FANCL's approach is preservative-free skincare. FANCL MUTENKA products contain no potentially harmful preservatives or other additives, only potent beauty agents that actively work to enhance skin's natural beauty. It advocates an approach to beauty that is pure, fresh and safe.

Skin rejuvenation is most active at night between 10pm to 2am. FANCL's limited edition beauty selection is a collection of night skin care products that help multiply the skin's rejuvenation power, and repair of skin damage caused by the day's pollution and UV rays.

FANCL Precious Beauty Selection

This collection takes care of skin damage. With skin rejuvenation working actively through the night, you will awaken to refreshed and renewed skin. The collection consists of 4 products - the Beauty Concentrate, limited edition Massage & Lift Cream, Overnight Esthe Pack, and the Moist & Vital Mask.



Massage & Lift Cream
50g, Lifts skin for a tight and firm face line