CHANEL Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base – get the glow of a star!

Tags

chanel, Illuminating fluid base, Le Blanc, makeup, review

Do you remember that in my previous post I told you I was going to write about a “Star” next? Here you have it! The CHANEL Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base, the product that will give your skin the glow of a star!

CHANEL Le Blanc de Chanel Sheer Illuminating Base is an ingenious multi-tasking, oil-free fluid meant to prime your skin preparing it for a flawless makeup application. The result you will immediately see will be a subtle contour in the usual contouring areas of the face and a subtle radiance ( NO glitter there though! ), which will make your face look fresh and awake.

On the Chanel website they say that “Using Chanel’s latest technological innovations, the legendary Le Blanc De Chanel is more than a complexion enhancer. The divine texture glides on wonderfully to conceal all imperfections and even out the complexion. Imperfections are instantly diminished, giving you the instant glow.” Can you sense that glow in the picture below? The Le Blanc transfers the same on your face! It really evens out skin tone, and prepares it for the next step in your makeup routine.

 

I’ve been using it for about two weeks, and I’m pleased with the result.

Since I used it mainly as a primer, I wish it did more with the red tone in my skin. I like primers that appear more pale and take some of the redness out of my face. But to achieve that I am forced to use another product, which is an extra step I am not really keen on.

But it really did a good job at toning down the discoloration and really kept my foundation in place. It also prevented my foundation from settling into areas of my face that are a little drier. That is why I started to mix it with my foundation for an instant boost of radiance, and to make my foundation last longer without touching ups throughout the day.

You may also use it as a regular highlighter and apply it in the specific areas you need some “glow”!

It comes packaged in a heavy, matte glass, black and white bottle provided with a wide mouth and a screw-on lid. Very luxurious and very Chanel-like! I also comes with a little white spatula to help you take the product out of its container. It is recommended to shake the product well before application!

The fragrance is the one from Chanel‘s skincare products, if you are familiar with those. It is a powdery-rose scent that personally doesn’t bother me anymore but it might be an issue for anyone who prefers unscented products or anyone allergic to scents. So be careful!

Also be careful with how much product you apply on your face because it is easy to overdone it and you will be left with a white cast on your face! I need very little product to achieve the effect I want!

And I have the feeling that the 30 ml of product will last me forever!

This will conclude my Chanel exclusive week!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

CHANEL Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth Effect Makeup SPF 15, in a glorious #10 Beige

Tags

chanel, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, long-lasting, Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth Effect Makeup SPF 15, review, smooth, velvet

I’ve been lusting after the Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth Effect Makeup SPF 15 since they released it a few months ago. And since the wait for it to arrive at my local Sephora counters was getting absolutely ridiculous, I took advantage of my recent work trip to Milan and did a “bit” of a damage in La Rinascente.

I do not remember if I mentioned this in my last post but my Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder ( link review ) was also bought in Milan. Same as the “star” of my next post!

The Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth Effect Makeup SPF 15 is described as a lightweight, oil-free fluid foundation which “provides you with a gorgeous, long-lasting matte-velvet finish for complexion perfection”. Who doesn’t want that, right?! The whole technology behind this foundation is the “soft-focused pigments meant to smooth and perfect the skin for a flawless look that lasts all day”. It is a formula agreed by normal to oily skin type complexions.

It has a velvety smooth texture that gives the most subtle radiance and natural look to the skin. It covers well without getting in those lines. Although it has a super lightweight formula it provides a buildable coverage from a medium to a really good coverage on those dark spots and redness areas.

It has the perfect skin-like feel to it! It definitely doesn’t have that powdery even cakey finish the regular Perfection Lumière has at times and leaves a soft and smooth, velvet-like texture to your face when it has set.

In the picture above you can see the Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet ( bottom ) swatched next to the my beloved Chanel Vitalumière Aqua ( top ), since everybody sees similarities between them. As far as I am concerned the similarities stop at the shape of the bottle and the label on the front, which says CHANEL on it…

Odd enough, I was matched to the glorious #10 Beige shade in Perfection Lumière Velvet, when in Vitalumière Aqua I am #30(!?) ( read a complete review here ). So I trully recommend to try on more than one shade before you buy it. And a visit to a Chanel counter is a must! The formula of the new Perfection Lumière Velvet is sheerer and more lightweight in colour compared to Chanel Vitalumière Aqua. The new Perfection Lumière Velvet goes on smoother onto the skin and it also is more fluid in texture, and it dries to a softer and a bit more matte finish than the Vitalumière Aqua. The Perfection Lumière Velvet adheres well to the skin but still lets it breathe.

Have you tried it yet? What do you thing about it?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

INTERESTING FACT:

These days I’ve been experimenting and combined the two foundations, Perfection Lumière Velvet and the Vitalumière Aqua. The result was a very natural fresh-looking skin but really long lasting thanks to the formula of the Perfection Lumière Velvet. you should try it too and let me know what you think…

 

 

Gucci to launch Makeup line in September this year!

Tags

beauty, Charlotte Casiraghi, Frida Giannini, Gucci, makeup, Marcus Piggott, Mert Alas, news, Pat McGrath

Hi, my lovelies! I am back with another great news and this time it is targeted towards all the Gucci lovers out there!

Last week the company came out and and confirmed all the rumours were going on at the end of last year. Yes, we will have another makeup brand to lust after! Gucci committed itself to produce together with the colossal P&G Prestige company ( the one behind one of the bestsellers Gucci products: Gucci Guilty and Gucci Prèmiere ) an amazing makeup line as well as brushes ( which I’m the most excited about ) and skin prep and prime products.

Everything will be supervised by Pat McGrath – the creative design director of P&G’s beauty department who is also “responsible” for the last makeup looks at Gucci’s ready-to-wear shows.

Pat McGrath and Gucci’s Creative Director Frida Giannini decided to to have Charlotte Casiraghi, the daughter of Princess Caroline of Monaco and a great ambassador and muse of the brand, as the face of the upcoming cosmetic campaigns shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott.

Excited much?! I sure can’t wait for September to come!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

The photographic material used in this post belongs to Gucci.

 

CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour in #01 – First impressions

Tags

chanel, face powder, healthy glow, Les Beiges 2014, multi-colour

– my Instagram

The new Chanel Les Beiges 2014 Collection arrived at my Sephora counters at the beginning of May.

It consists of an All-In-One Healthy Glow Fluid available in six shades ( from #10 to #60 ) and two “harmonies” of the Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powders: #01 and #02. I got my powder in the palest shade, #01.

As you can see in the photos, the new Les Beiges Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder is a striped powder that includes a highlighter, the actual Les Beiges Powder and a blush, all-in-one. Formulated with a complex of rose and cotton extracts, Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder becomes one with the skin to soothe it and protect it against environmental damage. It also contains UVA and UVB filters with a SPF of 15/PA++.

The packaging is the same sleek, squared, black and ivory case, with the double C’s embossed on the lid that we all know ( and love! ) from the original Les Beiges powders, Chanel launched last year.

In the picture below you can see from left to right:  first swatch – all the colours of the new Chanel Les Beiges Powder blended together, the second swatch is the highlighter, then the original Les Beiges powder and the last one is the blush, all swatched separately.

– outdoors, direct sunlight

So, the new Healthy Glow Multi-Colour Powder in #01 is meant to be a finishing powder for pale skins such as mine and the darker one, #02 would work excellent for me, as a bronzer.

They are both limited edition and an amazing item to have in your collection!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

INTERESTING FACT/TIP/WAYS I USE IT:

– it’s a really versatile powder palette and you can use all the colours swirled together, which will give your skin a beautiful glow or use the colours separately as what they are meant to be: highlighter, powder and blush. You can also use the top half or the bottom half mixed together to create new looks.

– I like the blush effect I get when I swirl the powder and the blush together; I get a new shade of blush, practically!

– it’s one of those palettes you can use the content as an eye shadow, as well.

– the highlighting shade has a subtle shimmer, the medium and deep shades are buttery soft and easily blendable, easy to use for an effortless look.

– photo taken indoors

 

Divergent + Vibrant Eyeliner

Tags

dior, Dior IT-eyeliner, divergent eyeliner, Summer 2015 Resort

Check out Trace’s interesting take on Dior’s Divergent eyeliner trend!

Trace in the Place

I am very excited for today’s post because I am finally getting to play with some crisp color on my eyes! Typically, I keep my make up pretty neutral and use brown palettes for my eyes with a touch of black eyeliner for drama. I have been looking for a switch up in routine, like my last post on the smokey eye, only this time, I’m playing with sharp lines of color.

I’ve been enamored with two trends that I’ve seen popping up on instagram and on fellow bloggers’ pages (Annie’s Beauty did a great piece on the trend seen in Dior shows). One is called the divergent liner, and it’s a dramatic yet incredibly easy look. Essentially, both the upper and lower lash lines are filled in with liner, but they extend outwardly without touching each other, leaving a small space between the two lines. The other trend…

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Zoeva – 105 Luxe Highlight and 221 Luxe Soft Crease brushes

Tags

blending brushes, eye makeup blending brushes, Hakuhodo, MAC 217 blending brush, makeup, review, Zoeva, Zoeva 105 Luxe Highlight, Zoeva 221 Luxe Soft Crease

I finally bit the bullet and purchased two Zoeva brushes; mainly because I am a brush fanatic, although I do not have the ultimate skill to use them like a pro. I’m trying… I promise!

Then, everyone on the beauty internet community ( …and their mothers ) seem to have at least one Zoeva brush, and some even came out with with “atrocious” statements like: “The Zoeva blending brush is better than MAC’s 217!” *insert choir of voices in awe*. I know, I know!… Mixed opinions, gotta respect each and every one…

So I kinda HAD to have one of those amazing brushes! So I went on the Zoeva website and oredered… not one, but two of their best sellers. You know, to test them and see if they are as good as everyone ( …and their mothers, of course! ) rave about.

And with all the ramble above, I even forgot to tell you what I bought…

I initially wanted to buy the Rose Gold Luxury Set, but it was out of stock. So, my second best choice was the 105 Luxe Highlight described as a luxurious highlighter brush with a natural-synthetic hair blend, free of dye ( +points from me there ). It is a soft and silky, yet sturdy brush, which comes with a flame-shaped head to instantly create light-reflecting results, with a minimal effort. Translation: for lazy, non professionals like myself to apply highlighters with only two swipes. Be careful with how much highlighter you pack on your brush! It will all go on your face! Not brush’s fault though! Remember! A little goes a long way!

Then it was THE brush! MAC’s rival! The one and only 221 Luxe Soft Crease. It is described as a superior blending brush with a curved head made of the finest natural-synthetic hair mix and, again, free of dye. This tool blends your eyeshadow to pefection, to create ombre effects for your eyes.

zoeva-shop.de is an Europe based online shop so the shipping was fast, but beside that the service was also impeccable. Beautifully packaged items, each in its own pouch, sleek black wrapping paper… 

All in all, I am very pleased with my purchase. I really can see the hype around the brand! A pretty new addition to my brush collection.

– some of my favourite blending brushes at the moment: the Zoeva 221… aaand part of the avant-garde of my samurai army – my Hakuhodo ( review here ) brushes

Do you have any Zoeva brushes? Do you like them?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Ambre Rhassoul Clay Face Mask review

Tags

Ambre, Ambre Botanicals, Atlas mountains, Morocco, natural ingredients, raw ingredients, review, Rhassoul Clay, skin care

The Ambre Rhassoul Clay Face Mask is a face mask which contains Rhassoul (or Ghassoul) clay which comes from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco. It is a highly esteemed and popular SPA treatment known around the world for its rejuvenating, cleansing and nourishing properties. Rhassoul is extremely high in minerals such as Silica, Magnesium, and Calcium, which are known to help tone the skin and improve its resilience. With a high absorption ratio, this clay is a superior detoxifier and efficiently draws toxins, absorbs excess oils and impurities from the skin. I used this mask for three treatments. Suitable for all types of skin, including sensitive, for vegetarians and vegans.

To apply it they advise you to add water until the clay turns into a thin paste. What I used instead of normal water was rose infused water because my skin is very sensitive. Then I applied it on my face with a brush and wait until the mask dried ( 10 – 15 minutes ). I rinse everything off with warm water then I applied the Luxurious Oils Blend Vitamins & Fatty Acids Rich Face Serum, previously reviewed here.

– oh, look! there’s a little troll with a mask on her face! classssy!

This mask really smooths the skin and absorbs all the impurities, and if you have any spots at their incipient stages, this will bring them to the surface immediately and allow a faster heal time. It also brightened up my dull face. This has successfully replaced my favourite REN clay face mask.

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

INTERESTING FACT: Disambiguation. The complete name of this brand is Ambre Botanicals but if you find it only as Ambre it is ok because it is the same. It is just that Ambre alone was already a registered name so they had to call it Ambre Botanicals. You can read more on this independently owned raw skin and body care brand on my previous posts here and here.

Dior to release a new foundation – Diorskin Star

Tags

dior, Diorskin Star Foundation, new release, news, September

The makeup for the Dior Cruise 2015 Collection was entirely the concept of Peter Philips – the new creative and image director for Dior beauty. It is a natural and light makeup. Not heavy at all, with the main focus on black. The black eyeliner, in a modern reinterpretation of the reverse cat-eyeliner from the picture above ( see post here ), and the black mascara were the ones to really make the look stand out. Completed with a barely nude face and a healthy looking, natural hair the look became sophisticated and elegant.

The luminous, nude complexion was achieved thanks to a new product – the new Diorskin Star Foundation, available in stores starting September 2014. It was Peter Philips himself who announced it, in the backstage of the Dior Cruise 2015 fashion show, in New York. It is a foundation meant to cover any imperfections, but at the same time it has a radiance and a healthy looking finish which comes from within.

I personally love a natural dewey looking face makeup so I can’t wait for this release! Plus, it is Dior! You can never go wrong with Dior!

Will you try it too?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Credits: the photographic material used in this post is courtesy of Christian Dior.

New eyeliner trend proposed by Dior for the Summer: the Divergent Liner

Tags

dior, Divergent line, eye look, It-Line Eye-Liner, new, new release

The divergent liner consists of a classic cat-eye on top with a half, unconnected line extending from the lower lash line. The blank space between the two lines gives this style more of a futuristic accent than the retro ’70 feel the classic feline flick is associated with. The under-eye line or the modern, reinterpreted version of the reverse cat-eye line effect is clean, drawn precisely and not smoked out to avoid the just-rolled-out-of-bed effect some people weren’t so fond of.

To have an harmonious dialogue with Raf Simons’ unique aesthetic sense from the last Cruise 2015 Fashion Show, Peter Philips – the new creative and image director for Dior beauty used brand’s newest makeup products, the forthcoming Dior It-Line Eye-Liner in It-Black, to be released in June, carefully displaying the liquid formula straight across the upper lash line and running a parallel band along the bottom lashes, dragging it out just past the outer corners of the eyes to exaggerate their size.

What do you think about this new makeup proposal for the upcoming Summer? Will you try it?

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

Credits: the photographic material used in this post is courtesy of Christian Dior.

Ambre skincare products – get the best of nature at home!

Tags

Ambre, mint, natural ingredients, no chemicals, raw sugar, rosemary, saffron, skincare, thyme

I have to admit that I have been a bit of a skincare fanatic these days. As I do my research for my posts, I daily stumble across more and more products, which appeal to me more that they used to.

The Ambre products are more on the natural ( 100% raw plant source ) side of the skincare items, and I was so intrigued to try them that I ordered almost the entire range. I already have a blog post fully dedicated to the brand, with a review for an amazing face oil here and a post on how I use them to pamper myself, here. So I won’t insist with all the details.

I will only add the fact that this London based mini factory uses only raw, pure, natural ingredients to create skin care products that will be your favourites, in your skincare routine.

And here are my body products…

The Ambre Costa del Azahar Warming and Moisturizing Soap. The story behind this soap begins in the orange orchards from Costa del Ahazar, in Spain. To bring to your bathroom the warm and vibrant notes of the region, saffron petals have been mixed with orange zest, they added cloves and as a finish touch, to invigorate the product they mixed in essential oils of ginger and orange. It is the most dense soap I have ever used. It goes on the skin more as a cream… No! A body butter! Yes, the best description would be: a body butter in a shape of a soap. It doesn’t lather as much, but I came to like this particularity on natural cleaning products with no sulfates.

The Ambre Raw Sugar and Garden Plants Herbal Garden Body Scrub. This body scrub made of botanical ingredients has been created to take extra care of your sensitive skin. This ground-breaking formula contains raw sugar and a refreshing mélange of eucalyptus, basil and sage, in an emollient base of apricot kernels and saffron oil, which will efficiently hydrate your skin during the exfoliation process. The granulation of the raw sugar is so fine and it will give you the most gentle and careful exfoliation you have ever experienced.

The body scrub and the soap as well have a herbaly scent with the high notes of the dominating herbs and oils used in the mixture.

The last product I have here is Ambre Rosemary, Thyme and Mint Invigorating Herbal Bath Oil. This is a bath oil which with a mixture of refreshing, pure natural oils promises you to bring the SPA to your own bathroom. It has important therapeutical properties, given by rosemary, mint and thyme essential oils. They will help relieve stress and fatigue and relax your body muscles as well. Plus, the saffron oil and the macadamia oil nourish your skin, leaving it supple and perfectly hydrated.

All Ambre products are suitable for all skin types, sensitive skin included.

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

 

 

 

 

INTERESTING FACT:

– all Ambre products DO NOT contain water, so NO CHEMICALS. The product you use is in its purest form.