Top 10 beauty products of 2012

Most of these products are new discoveries in 2012. Or they are products that are not replaceable.

[face] Foundation
Guerlain Parure Extreme Luminous Extreme Wear Foundation

I really love this foundation. It blended really well, cover my acnes (active + acne scars) and it lasted a long time. However, since I have an oily skin this does not stay matte throughout the day, but this still perform better than any other foundation that I have tried.

I feel like my skin is becoming more sensitive nowadays. A lot of foundation leaves me acne the next day after I wore a foundation for a day. This Guerlain foundation keeps my skin clear the next day :)

[face] Bronzer
Guerlain Terracotta Bronzing Powder
This bronzer really leave a HEALTHY glow on your face. Most bronzer looks like I put some dirt on my face.

[face] Blush
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush (my color: Achiote)
This is a perfect matte pinky peach blush. Since my face is oily I don't need extra shimmer like the NARS orgasm blush. This blush is actually stays on throughout the day too!

[eyes] Eyebrow
Chanel Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil (my color: Brun Cendre)
This has made my eye brow shaping so much easier. I use to use an eyeshadow to fill in my brow, but it is more convenient to have color + brush in one. Since it is a crayon, it does gives you the waxy feeling that put your brows in place. The downside is I do have to sharpen this pencil. I know there are retractable pencil such as Dior, but the retractable pencil finish really quick!

[eyes] Eyeliner
Giorgio Armani 'Eyes to Kill Acqua' Waterproof Eyeliner
I am serious, everyone needs to try this! This is the best thing that has ever happen to me! This pencil is VERY black. It is long lasting.. It is very soft. I normally line my eyes and smudge it with bobbi brown gel-eyeliner brush - I can easily create the perfect cat-eye with this technique.

[eyes] Mascara Base
Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base
I have been so loyal to this product - I have use it for years and gone through so many tubes. I cant wear any mascara without this base. This is the only thing that can keeps my eyelashes curled.

[eyes] Mascara
Yves Saint Laurent 'Volume Effet Faux Cils' Waterproof Mascara
This is the only volumizing mascara that does not clump and/or weigh down my eyelashes. Love.

[lips] Lipstick
Tom Ford Private Blend Lipstick
If you think you have found the best lipstick. Think AGAIN. I have tried so many different lipsticks brands and formula, Tom Ford lipsticks are so moisturizing, EXCELLENT staying power, and somehow the bold colors (red, purple, fushia) never bleeds on my lips even without lipliner.

[tools] Brush
MAC 129 Powder/Blush Brush
There is only 1 face brush that I use everyday. It is the MAC 129. I use it to put setting powder, bronzer, and blush. Less is more ;)

[fragrance]
Chanel Gardenia
I am starting to love Chanel perfumes. I really love a lot of their scents. I just got the 'beige' scent and I am thinking of buying 'jersey' next year. But this gardenia is really addictive. I can spray as much as I  want and it won't be too overpowering. GARDÉNIA is an olfactive ode to the camellia, Mademoiselle Chanel's favorite flower. A vanilla base rises to meet a heart of sweet fruit and creamy gardenia petals, accented with coconut. The packaging is really elegant with a self-closing magnetic cap.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my top 10 products. I would love to know what are your top 10 products of 2012. Leave them down below.

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July Picks

Hello there! This is going to be my make up picks (does not necessarily be my favorite products, just some products that I have currently been using) at the moment ...

... let's start with the base ...

I am currently LOVING this combination!

I usually apply primer on my T zone (forehead, nose, and chin). I mix the BB cream with my foundation then apply it all over my face with my hands.

The primer give a pearly/dewy finish NOT oily and yet holds my make up throughout the day. The picture below shows how the primer consist of very fine silver iridescence. 

Why do I have 2 of the same foundations?! At the beginning I bought shade #4, but it is too dark, so I bought the shade #3, still too dark (I think shade #3 is the perfect color for me, but I like to look PALE, even though I have very medium skin tone) so I decide to mix the foundation with the BRTC BB cream which is even lighter.

In addition, I really like mixing the BB cream because it has a really thick consistency that gives more coverage to my acne scarring.

The Primer, BRTC BB cream, Foundation Shade #3, and #4

I really love these foundations because, to me, it is really light - I don't even feel like I am wearing foundation - and it gives a good coverage. It stays on throughout the day (maybe with the help of the primer too). I start wearing my make up from 7am to about 6pm. I should say that the foundation is not water resistance and TRANSFERABLE! I accidentally stain my white shirt! But overall I am very happy with these babies especially on the hot summer days. Will repurchase. Will recommend to people with OILY skin.

... moving on ...

I am sure I mentioned YSL touch eclat before! I LOVE this thing! It is the best under eye HIGHLIGHTER (not concealer). It really brighten (not cover) the under eye area. Will repurchase (in fact, I already have a backup). Will recommend to people that have light dark circle.

I dont really use the YSL stick concealer unless I have a major spot that need to be cover, but usually with an extra layer of BB cream + foundation combo I can pretty much conceal all the acne scarring. This is just for an emergency :P

I use YSL compact powder to set the foundation. It is an okay product. No complain. Still in search for a holy grail compact powder. I have use chanel, makeup forever, burberry, mac, some drugstore brands, and still in hunt for a better product. 

I love using Dior Bronzer and skip blush on the summer time. I pick this bronzer in shade 004 Spicy. It has a little bit red undertone that will be perfect for blush/bronzer.

I always love my Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base.. Every time I am putting mascara on, I have to have this base! So good! curled, lengthen, and makes my lashes stronger. 

I just bought the Giorgio Armani Mascara during Nordstrom anniversary sale (7/13/2012) as it is part of this set and I wanted to try the 'eyes to kill' line. Mascara is okay. It lengthen but does not do really good job on volumizing. 

On the other hand, Chanel Inimitable Mascara has been my staple mascara for years! This mascara do really good job in lengthening, separating, and pretty good at volumizing. I think the best mascara that I have tried are this chanel mascara and YSL Faux Cils Mascara (best for volumizing). 

Dont waste your money on Dior Heated Eyelash Curler !! Traditional eyelash curler will work better (shu uemura is my pick!)

Chanel Crayon Sourcils Sculpting Eyebrow Pencil is really ideal for traveling. It is very convenient as it is double-ended with build-in spoolie.

Everyone please try Giorgio Armani Eyeliner at least once in your life. Its like the softest eyeliner yet very black and bold I have ever tried. The MAC is just a back up as I dont bring sharpener around with me.

Some tools that I used daily!

Make-up in my purse on the go

Lip products that I am currently using.

I hope you guys enjoy this! 

I know it is kind of long. Don't hesitate to comment below if you have any further questions about any of the products listed. I am not expert, everything is just by my own experience :D

Guerlain Face Products First Impression

OMG! I cannot believe I am posting my full of acne face!! 

Anyways.. here are the demos of the products...

Primer

I think this is the best primer I have tried so far. I have not try a lot of different kind of primer because I feel like it adds an extra steps to my make-up routine. I have tried MAC, Hourglass, Smashbox so far. I hated the smashbox one, I feel it really thick - clogging my pores and does not really do anything. I think the MAC and Hourglass one is very similar.  They work, but this Guerlain one is good. It feels really light and slightly brighten my complextion as it comes out as a pink pearly gel.

Foundation

I am surprise how liquidy the foundation is because normally a full coverage foundation is very thick and gel like foundation. The foundation dries really quick though so you have to work really fast. I do not know how I feel about this foundation though. It has a pretty good staying power as compared to other foundations I have tried (May be the primer helps!). As you can see from the pictures even with 2 layers it does not really cover my acne - or may be my acnes are very stubborn :(. 

I like it but I do not know if I love it.

Powder

I think I have tried so many better powder that this. My favourite is Chanel Double Perfection. In addition I am surprise on how small and light this compact is - leaving the impression that it does not contain that many products. (hahaha Kiasu)

I definitely love the smell of ALL of the products - it feels really luxurious. So, if you are allergic to fragrance, please avoid these!

Please keep in mind that we all have different skin types. I hope this helps you. :D
Let me know your thoughts!

my first Guerlain Make-up haul :)

** scream ** I am so excited to finally get this on the mail today!! 

I heard good things about guerlain products, but their prices is really "good" too.

I have oily skin, and I am currently breaking out :(

What I am looking in foundation:

- Since I currently have a lot of acne scars and some active acne, I need something that will covers ALL of them.

- Something that is long lasting and does not transferred; whenever I blot the excess oil on my skin, I usually ended up with no foundation. 

- Somehow foundations ALWAYS oxidized on my skin, making my skin looks darker and dull. Hopefully the pearly effect will brighten my skin

Parure Extreme || Luminous Extreme Wear Foundation

Water Resistant - Non Transferable - SPF 25 PA++ 

Radiance that lasts? This is the miracle achieved by PARURE. Its ability to keep the dazzling natural radiance of its colour and matt finish for up to eight hours no matter what happens! Beneath its radiant film, the complexion is matt and natural, imperfections and pores are minimised and the colour remains true. The skin is ready to face all the ups and downs of the day with confidence.

Meteorites Perles || Light Diffusing Perfecting Primer

All the “light” expertise of Météorites in a light-diffusing base with magical correcting and perfecting pearls. Suspended in a cool gel with an unrivalled water content to revitalise the skin, the pearls transform on contact with the skin into an illuminating base that gives the complexion a natural matt look and evens out imperfections for instant radiance without shine. One shade of delicate dew-drop pearls created by gold, pink, blue and green sparkling micro particles that gently illuminate the face and conceal imperfections, for a complexion that looks fresh, matt and even. A divine alchemy that is at once make-up and skincare that imparts a radiant and healthy complexion

Meteorites Compact || Pressed Powder

Guerlain, the pioneer and leader of powders, develops a pressed powder in perfect osmosis with the skin. This fine, ultra-light and imperceptible correcting powder delivers radiance in its purest form thanks to light itself. The secret of this powder case: a constellation of miniscule multi-coloured radiant pearly particles with yellow, orange, green, red, violet or white reflections to recreate ideal radiance on the complexion. Nestled in an elegant powder case, this compact powder slips into the palm of your hand, the latest “it bag” or your makeup pouch… It goes everywhere you do to showoff a radiant complexion in all circumstances. In a round pebble, decorated with the legendary pink rosette and adorned with an integrated mirror as well as a lovely and incomparably soft puff, these new Météorites will be instantly embraced to become the ally of a perfect complexion.

Don't all of them sounds REALLY good? Let see!

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