First Urban Decay Shadow Box

I covert Urban Decay's "Alice In Wonderland" box of eye shadows but I was too late. China's Sephora never meant to carry it and Ebayers simply capitalise on it being 'Limited' and made it too pricey.

When I returned back to Singapore, I needed to make up for the loss and bought a Deluxe Shadow Box at Sephora, Ion Orchard. It costs $63. Definitely on the steep end but when I swiped on the colours, I was sold!

Very pigmented, very smooth application. In fact, sorry to offend M.A.C. lovers but Urban Decay's shadows beat M.A.C's offerings hands down. No debate about it. From this day forth, I will be a religious follower of UD's shadows. I am waiting for it's "Naked Palette" to hit our shores. It's taking too long though.

Organic Goodness

Jurlique is an Australian skincare brand that has a cult-like following in the beauty industry.
For some reason, I am inclined towards rose scented products in recent times. Does it mean that I am getting on in years as ‘Rose’ is often a scent favoured by the more mature segment of the female population?
I got myself two products from the brand recently and they cost $60 SGD for the hand cream (125 ml) and $35.10 SGD for the Rosewater Freshener Spray (100ml). Previously I have been using their Lavender Hand Cream but after 1 tube, I find the scent a little too overpowering and common (everything's Lavender scented these days...).

One thing I truly like about Jurlique's products: They are Organic in nature. I broke out in mild rashes a couple of days back and wanted to visit the doctor but after 2 applications of the cream, the rash disappeared. Organic creams are definitely good for those with sensitive skin as they do not contain chemicals that may cause the skin to act up.

The downside is that organic products turn bad quickly, so use generously or frequently. How do you know? Take a sniff test. 'Expired' organic products no longer retain their original scents and may smell rancid.

The Whitening Trio

I have finally switched back to my Lancôme Whitening products after using a mixture of Biotherm and Estee Lauder’s stuff.
In fact, I have not been using whitening products for a couple of months already.
To debunk all beauty myths, whitening products do not bleach the skin. If you are dark skinned by nature, please do NOT expect yourself to turn into Snow White with religious application.
No, it doesn’t work that way.
What they do is to lighten pigmentation, reduce age and sun spots and even out the skin tone.
So here I am, back to Lancôme’s trio.

Toner, serum and moisturizer.

My verdict:
Overall Comment: Nice texture. Great scent. Non greasy. Smooth application.
Product efficacy: Satisfactory! It makes my skin look brighter and clearer after just 2 days!
Price: 72 SGD for toner, 145 SGD for serum and 125 SGD for moisturizer.
(Although L’Oreal is the parent company of Lancôme, I feel that for the Whitening series, Lancôme’s stuff far surpasses that of L’Oreal’s)

Note:
I feel that it’s not advisable to be product loyal in the case of skincare regime. I know how it is like for us ladies to want to stick to the tried and tested products that work for our skin.
But notice how all brands continue to re-package and churn out new generations of their series of products? For instance, this Lancôme Whitening system is already into its 3rd generation, if I am not wrong.
Why?
Our skin becomes resistant to a certain product with prolonged usage. To prevent that from happening (and consumers realizing the stuff doesn’t work on them), beauty companies have to modify their formulas ever so often.

My suggestion? If you like a certain product, try ‘resting’ your skin after 2 bottles. Switch to another range to treat other skin concerns (e.g. fine lines etc) before returning back to your fave product.

Marc Jacobs Autumn Splash

This year, Marc Jacobs introduced the Autumn Splash trio that “captures the essence of fall” - Violet, Ivy, and Amber (the same concept was applied to the summer trio - Cotton, Rain, and Grass).

Oh well, fall is definitely sometime away, but with the erratic climatic changes, who knows?

I reviewed the Summer Trio last year and bought both ‘Rain’ and ‘Grass’. I like both very much although, since they are splashes, the fragrance do not last that long. They are supposed to be applied liberally onto the body to refresh oneself.

It was with much anticipation that I headed down to Tangs to sample the Autumn series. And with a bottle that carries my name (IVY), I am already half sold.

In contrast to rather mediocre and characterless summer trio, Violet, Ivy, and Amber are full-bodied and memorable.

The splashes:
Violet - bergamot, peony, orchid, labdanum, orris, cashmere accord, violet, cedar, vanilla, musk, gingerbread. Violet starts out with anything but violet - a predominantly gourmand, cashmere-like floral on a soft woody base. A fascinating take on violet as it’s often combined with either rose or cedarwood.

Ivy - nutmeg, cardamom, mandarin, candy cane accord, orris, suede, tonka bean, vetiver, sandalwood. It’s a rather sharp, citrusy-green scent that drifts toward the masculine side of things. It reminds me of Calvin Klein’s Eternity for Men.
It’s the most lasting of the 3 splashes. But for the price, I would rather buy CK’s product. Oh well…

Amber - crystallised ginger, star anise, amber, lily, cassia bark, cashmere wood, benzoin. In no way does this Amber evoke anything autumn-like. Not in my world, anyway.

Let’s just say, Marc Jacobs does not have his Midas touch everytime.
The summer trio is way better than this autumn series.

Product Information

Price: $110
Quantity: 300 ml
Exclusive to Tangs Departmental Store

Illuminating Wands

The key to glowing dewy skin is 8 hours of undisturbed sleep, 2 litres of water/day and of course, good genes.
However, not many urbanites can adhere to this set of rules and often we are plagued by dull skin, a lack luster mien and dark shadows under our eyes.
Cheat a little. Yes, we all do. Use an illuminator. (Dang! Why does this sound like an advertorial??!!! I am not even getting paid.)

Anyway, back to the point of needing a little help in the radiance department. There is a product called a ‘highlighter’ in the beauty industry. It is used for:
a. Taking away signs of fatigue thereby giving a radiant well rested glow to our faces.
b. Banishing dark shadows from our eyes.
c. Concealing minor imperfections.
d. Lightening acne scars.
e. Contouring our features—cheeks and nose.

Take it as a multi-purpose all-in-one makeup product.
You can even use it on its own. (Which is, by the way, an excellent suggestion in my opinion). This will achieve the ‘no-makeup effect’ that is a very popular runway look. Good for just perking up your complexion, evening out its tone and looking so prettily natural.
So go minimalistic on your good skin days.
Or use over liquid foundation/ under two way cake for that extra touch.

My two favourites are:
1. The cult status YSL Touche Eclat in Shade No. 2. ($52 SGD)
2. L’Oreal Touche Magique in Natural Beige (ard $21 SGD)
Honestly, the main difference is in their price. YSL costs around 2.5 times more than its L’Oreal counterpart!!!

YSL dispenses the product with a click (think of a click pen) whereas L’Oreal’s offering comes in a turn dial. My user experience is that apart from the significant price difference, YSL’s highlighter requires less effort to blend into the skin. Other than that, I think you can only tell the difference if you leave both of them on for more than 6 hours. The effect of YSL’s radiance product lasts! In fact, it just gets better.
It’s these subtleties that differentiate the affordable and the more pricey stuff.
N.B. Both their textures are too light to cover the angry zits or stubborn marks. To tackle those flaws, you will have to use a cream concealer.

Eye-conic Creams

I honestly feel that Clinique products are fuss-free and comparatively effective.
Anyway, their eye creams are pretty good too and suitable for ladies whose ages range from 20-50. Beyond that, I reckon that there are products from other brands that will provide a more intensive treatment for the mature woman.

I am using these creams and so far, they do the job just fine to take sleep deprivation off my peepers.

This one is for the night because of its ‘heavier’ and richer formula. Good for young lines. Not for embedded stubborn lines. That type—please treat it with botox and other surgical procedures.

Product Name: Repairwear Intensive Eye Cream
Description: Potent moisturizing cream focuses skin’s energies on repair. Targets the appearance of eye-area lines and wrinkles. Protects with skin-defending ingredients. Strengthens vulnerable skin. For a brighter, vibrant, refreshed look. Patent pending. For all skin types.
Quantity: 15ml bottle. (lasts 5 months with 1 application a day)
Price: Around $70 plus SGD? I forgot.

I use this in the day. No need for guessing too hard why. SPF darlings! Not many creams offer SPF in their eye creams. And the eye area may be too delicate for any ol’ facial sunscreen.

Product Name: Derma White™ Eye Moisture SPF 15
Description: Eye-area moisture cream instantly brightens the look of dark undereye shadows and discolourations. Over time, helps brighten the appearance of dark spots. Helps maintain skin’s cellular integrity with Clinique’s patent-pending IPF technology.* Non-irritating SPF protection. Ophthalmologist tested.
*U.S. and International Patents Pending.
Quantity: 15 ml tube
Price: $54 SGD (latest price)

Pouches We Carry

I am sure most girls will carry a pouch in their totes that stores their essential knickknacks. What’s in your pouch?

Here is what’s in mine.

I put this pouch into my bigger bags on days I am out and about for long hours.

Outside:

Inside:

Everything at a glance:

Now, let’s split them into groups:

1) The Essentials

i) Plasters/ Bandages (just in case I hurt myself)
ii) Flat Red Earth mirror (small, light and ultra slim)
iii) Panadol Extra (Yes, in case I forget my caffeine shots/ emergency headache)
iv) Interdental Toothpicks (these can be used to floss teeth because they have special ends)
Caution: Those wooden ones provided by eateries can cause damage to gums and don’t clean well.
v) Hand creams: 1 from The Face Shop, the other silver bottle (a recycled eye cream bottle) stores my QV lotion to treat dry/ itchy skin.
vi) Breath Spray (anti-bacterial solution that freshens breath and keeps oral cavity clean)—I prefer this to mints

Need some cutesy plasters to cheer myself up when I am hurt, right? =P

2) Personal Grooming Tools and Niffy Well Being Items

i) Eyedrops Vial (for dry tired eyes)
ii) L’occitane Magnolia Solid Perfume
iii) Atomizer (stores my fruity Escada “Island Kiss” perfume)
iv) Small Sun Play SPF 130 (for touch-ups when under hot sun)
v) Comb (in case my hair turns too messy—usually I only comb my hair twice a day)
vi) Little Ziploc Bag (contains 1 ponytail band, 2 bobby pins and 1 hairclip)

For keeping hair out of my face so I can get down to business

Love this solid perfume--dab a little on pulse points and I smell like freshly picked Magnolias. Actually, the scent of this one resembles Issey Miyake L'Eau D'Issey Eau de Parfum.

3) Lips and Face

i) Stila Lip Glaze in Apricot
ii) Estee Lauder Pure Pops in Watermelon
iii) Raspberry Flavoured Lip Balm (with SPF 18)
iv) Muji Facial Blotters (don’t usually use this, but it’s a gift)
v) YSL Compact Foundation
For emergency “need to look good” occasions.

One of my fave lip balms (available at Topshop)--SPF for the lips is important too!

Being Photogenic

My Favourite Compact Foundation:

Lancôme PHOTÔGENIC Lumessence Compact
Light-Mastering & Smoothing Compact Foundation
Continuous Moist Sensation—SPF 15/ PA++

Product Description:
Lancôme’s original PHOTONIQUE NETWORK masters the light:
It controls the outer light to produce corrected pure radiance from within and reflects and diffuses it for a long lasting luminous perfection
Its silky-smooth micro-fine powdery texture fits the skin to instantly cover pores & imperfections.
Hour after hour, Lancôme’s original AQUA-CATCH COMPLEX boosts and locks internal moist sensation of skin’s upper layer, lasting for 12 hours.
Your skin feels moisturized from within, with beautiful radiance.
Shades and texture designed for Asian skins. Won't cake. Won't settle into lines. Won't clog pores. Ideal for all skin types.Oil-Free. Fragrance-free. Non-Comedogenic. Dermatologist-tested.

My verdict:
A low maintenance makeup essential. For the gal who does not want to spend too much time powdering her face, this foundation doesn’t need you to reapply throughout the day. It gives a nice flawless complexion and is naturally sheer without the ‘your face will crack if I hit it’ effect.
It comes with additional SPF 15 protection (something that I like) and makes my face dewy yet matte looking. It’s extremely convenient and it takes only a couple of minutes to swipe it onto my face.

Downside:
Better to be worn on good skin days. It gives light medium to sheer coverage.
Expensive: $60 for the refill and empty compact case is sold separately at around $20 ++. The new compact case is silver/ white in colour. Mine’s from the previous generation. I think Lancôme may be changing the packaging soon, from the pictures from its website. Oh well…

Extension Wing for the BLOCK (Reader's Choice)

To all sunscreen/ sunblock fanatics out there, here's a lil bit more on this topic:

Jenn's Choice:

Xinyi's Choice:

My choice for the face:

Good value for money multi-purpose option:

Attention:

Dear readers, feel free to add your choices (to be featured on this post) by either TAGGING on the Shoutbox on the right hand side or in the Comments Section of this entry.

Best Kid on the BLOCK

I am re-launching my weekly Beauty Column. Guess I am the die-hard beauty products junkie and cannot resist the temptation to pen some personal reviews.

I am into skincare products. Unfortunately, this is the only aspect of the beauty industry I am well versed in. I use all the items I review and as for cosmetics, I am no expert nor am a frequent user, so I really am in no position to assert my authority on them.

Highly Recommended Item:
Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30

Comes in various SPFs versions (it’s SPF 30 & 55 for our local market)
Price: $15.50-$17.90 SGD

Product Description:

Feels Clean and Weightless
Fast absorbing, leaves skin soft and smooth
Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB
Help block out skin cancer—American Cancer Society
#1 Dermatologist Recommended Suncare

Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30 is a breakthrough in sun protection. It protects with Parsol® 1789 – advanced broad spectrum UVA/UVB protection – and combines it with Dry Touch technology to provide an ultra-light, non-shiny finish. This lightweight sunblock absorbs quickly and has a light, fresh scent. The non-oily formula is enriched with Vitamins A, C and E, and is PABA-free.

· Waterproof, sweatproof, rubproof
· Non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores)
· 88mL tube

My Verdict:
In our hot and humid tropical climate, it is a common gripe among the womenfolk that sunblock makes our skin too oily looking. That’s because the application of sunblock is the last step of our skincare regime, and after layering on so many products (think serum, moisturizer and then sunblock), our faces will ooze a sheen that’s not of the dewy kind we desire.

This sunblock is surprisingly matte, and this is the first product I have come across in the market that does everything I want. Mattes the skin, gives good protection against the sun rays and is value for money. When you apply all over your body, it’s totally unsustainable to buy a high end product.

I used to buy this:

But at around $70 SGD a pop, I am bleeding cash at a rapid pace.

Neutrogena® Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 30/ 55 is best multi-purpose sunblock on the market right now. I am definitely swearing by it.

What price vanity?

Want double eye lids the non-surgical way? Well, the Japanese have this rather ‘innovative’ albeit painful looking gadget that may well do the trick.

Just clip it on the upper lid flesh for 5 minutes a day and you are on your way to creating a pretty fold to frame your eyes.

Honestly, this couldn’t be more sadomasochistic! Looks like a tool from Empress Cixi’s torture chamber. Eee…ouch!
Then again, I am sure the self bashing prone average Japanese will find this pretty mild and report a low 1 on the pain threshold scale.

Retails at around $40 SGD. And the equally crazy Taiwanese are promoting this on their media networks.

Luckily I do not need this. But if I had single lids, I would choose an hour’s of suture upper blepharoplasty surgery and 2 weeks of post surgical recuperation over this scary clip.

What price vanity? What is wrong with having single lid eyes? Heard there is a similar clipper for the nose--to achieve a higher and slimmer nose. I think going for rhinoplasty is a better bet.

Making a Big Splash!

Apart from whimsical threads, Marc Jacobs dabbles in a bit of perfume making and voila!
His latest offering to date (apart from Blush Intense) is his line of 3 eau de toilette collectively named Splash!

They include:
1. Cotton
2. Rain
3. Grass

And this series is inspired by good ol’ Mother Nature herself.

I finally got the opportunity to sample them at Tangs Departmental store. I was rather skeptical before the trial. I mean, how can you capture the grassy smell in the air when it’s going to rain? I love that smell, but I seriously doubt you can bottle that scent.

My verdict:
I love Rain and Grass!!!

Rain reminds me of the comforting smell of a cool rainy morning. It’s a clean, quiet and calming scent. It conjures up the image of snuggling under the covers on a cold dark day and listening to the pitter pattering of raindrops falling on my window pane.

Grass smells crisp and green. Refreshing, light and instead of giving off a pre-rain scent, it captures the natural fragrance of freshly cut grass. I dig it totally!

Cotton, on the other hand, is nothing unique. I feel that it’s a rip off from Donna Karen’s Cashmere Mist. So there.

Anyway, this edition is LIMITED. It is a ‘while stocks last’ concept because obviously, the genius designer will want to collaborate with other noses to come up with another line next year. It is selling well enough to leave Luxasia (the distributor) with only a few bottles of Grass left.

This time, instead of deliberating over whether to part with my moolah or not, I took the plunge and got both Rain and Grass. Yes, that’s because I really feel these 2 scents are worth the money.

Name: Marc Jacobs Splash collection
Size: 300 ml (huge bottle)/ 10 oz
Price: $110 SGD each
Place to Buy: Tangs Departmental Store (Vivocity and Orchard)

Company’s Description:

Rain, concocted by IFF's Laurent LeGuernec...opens with top notes of wet cut grass, wild strawberry, clementine zest and dewy cypress. Its heart is of tropical passion flower, sunshine flower and white orchid, and its drydown is of beech amber, tree moss, teak wood and musk.

Grass, with a juice by Annie Buzantian...[has] top notes are of freshly snapped snow peas and lush green accords; its heart is of wildflowers and white muguet, and its drydown is of soft woods and dewy musks.

Cotton, by Carlos Vinals....[has] fresh linen breezes and liquid oxygen mixed with white peach, citrus mandarin, orange and bergamot; its heart comprises the proprietary Marc T Signature Accord, cotton flower, lavandin and lily of the valley, and its drydown is of cotton musk, smooth white suede, rich sandalwood and blond woods.

Daily Trivia:
Smell before rain:
From Petrichor, otherwise known as 2-decanone.
A chemical that is released by trees into the atmosphere each year. Scientists believe some of these chemicals may be absorbed into rocks, and then released whenever there is a sudden jump in humidity (such as occurs just before rain).

Smell after rain:
The smell after rain is actually the smell of bacteria – actinomycetes – which grow in long, skinny filaments like spaghetti. They grow world-wide in damp soil. When the soil dries out, they die. But before they die, they make little eggs called “spores”.
These spores are really tough and can survive dry conditions for years. When the raindrops hit the ground, they make a mist of water and dirt, and humans breathe in the spores (and smell them).

Ok, some bacteria smell nice. \(>_<)/

Best Mascara..Ever

Clinique has great skincare products. But M.A.C. is simply famous for their make-up series.

But this offering from Clinique is too good to be missed.

Clinique Lash Power Mascara
In Black Onyx 01

I received a small tube as part of a gift with purchase promotion and am hooked on it forevermore.

I had my fair share of clump inducing goop, panda eyes smudges and spider legs lashes incidents to know the worth of a truly good hardworking tube of mascara.

Alright, so, how does it differentiate itself from the rest?

Coming from the most critical beauty reviewer (ME):

Texture: Goes on smoothly, doesn’t clump nor flake even after 3 coats (why the hell you want to go beyond that???!!!)
Formula: Lightweight, doesn’t cause eyelashes to droop
Colour: Intense black
Staying power: All day, no smudges
Extension Effect: Excellent (no need for those whitish fibre primer crap)
Best characteristic: Washes out with warm water, COMPLETELY.
Curling Effect: Average
Volumising Effect: Average
Overall Effect: Natural (since there are no clumps), yet dramatic (fake lashes length)
Price: $35 SGD

When it washes out with warm water, you can do the final rinsing in the shower after removing your make-up. That means, 100% no mascara residue on your lashes. That’s good news for your lashes.

I would like to take this opportunity to say (rather emphatically) that I really dislike L'Oreal’s mascaras. The latest Volume Shocking Double Mascara that apparently boosts of a comb like wand SUCKS big time. (Advertisement fronted by Aishwarya Rai)
So what if you have a great comb when the product to be applied clumps, dries too fast for multiple coats and causes women to look like they are the demonic incarnations of tarantulas???
Awful.

Why do we need to apply the whitish primer if a mascara formula can be manufactured to contain all the good stuff found in a primer? An all-in-one product is the way to go. As a matter-of-fact, the whitish primer makes part of your lashes appear white underneath the black mascara. Unless of course, you coat them thoroughly. What a waste of time. Weighs your lashes down too.

Just a case of Trompe L'oeil?

Sally Hansen’s Lip Inflation

In ancient China, ladies with small cherry lips (樱桃小嘴) defined the standards of beauty. How I wish I existed in that era since I am ‘blessed’ with dainty little kissers.
Unfortunately, it’s fast forward several centuries to the 21st century and the most coveted lips are full, bee stung puckers. Think Angelina Jolie and you get the idea. Yes.

So, beauty giants have come up with lip plumping formulas to pump up the volume of our smackers. The original lip plumper called “Lip Venom” from the brand Du Wop was created in 1999 on the set of the hit NBC show “Felicity” to give actresses flushed juicy lips.

Believe me, I don’t think it’s really a great idea to dab suspicious concoctions of cayenne pepper, crushed mustard seeds and possibly chilies on our mouths. The silly things women do to look good. The scary ingredients found in some products.

Blame it on my curiosity. I just needed to know how fat this product can boost my thin lips.

Product Description:

Name: Sally Hansen Lip Inflation (Clear)—comes in tinted colours too
Ingredients: Ginger, Cinnamon and Vitamin A & E
Works by: Using peppermint to stimulate lips and increase blood circulation.
Price: $18.90 SGD for a 0.2 oz tube
Available at: Watsons, Guardian and other departmental stores carrying Sally Hansen products.

My personal opinion:
The peppermint in the formula was so powerful I think it lasted an hour and a half. That was till I ate something and ingested the gloss in the process. It isn’t palatable.
The tingly and refreshing feeling it gave was rather good. Every time I sucked in my breath, I get a whiff of ‘Listerine-like’ freshness.
The gloss is good. It does make the lips look slightly fuller. Ever so slightly. (Because, to be fair, all glossy products create a reflective shiny appearance that will make something appear bigger).
Since I can only verify the results with a pair of vernier callipers, (which I do not have), I would have to conclude that the change is actually imperceptible.

Overall Verdict:
Use it as a gloss. It doubles up as a lip moisturiser. Please don’t expect to get Angelina’s lips. She was born with thick lips, but rumour has it that she augmented them using collagen lip fillers. Nice tingly feeling—good for hot summer days. Value for money. Other similar products cost more and basically give you the same effect.

Will NOT make you look like this:

Lola fish in Shark Tale

FYI: Trompe L'oeil is an art technique used to create optical illusions involving false depth. It literally means "to fool the eye" in French. And yes, I think my small sweet puckers look rather fine on my face, so no collagen fillers for moi! \(^-^)/

Stealing Beauty...

Ok, I confess. I am a sucker for certain things. So, the latest beauty item I am going to blog about in this Friday column would be related to someone I have a soft spot for.

I don’t use lipsticks.
Nope. Perhaps I am not past the gloss stage yet. Lipsticks are meant for settled, established women and glosses for girls (and girls at heart).
And usually, lip balm is all I want to put, to moisturize my puckers.

BUT…..

Last week, I wanted to buy a lipstick.
Why? Because of Michele Reis. The most beautiful celebrity in Hong Kong. (This is my personal opinion).

L’Oreal has come up with a Limited Edition collection called “Color Riche Star Secrets”. (Seriously, the term ‘Limited Edition’ is a business strategy. Crap…)

This unique collection of “Color Riche Star Secrets” was created and signed by each of the L’Oreal Paris Actress Ambassadresses on her favorite Color Riche lipstick to represent her true personality.

The eight beauties who are the faces behind each lip color from this range are:

The ageless Andie MacDowell, Latin temptress Penelope Cruz, oriental beauty Gong Li and the exquisite Aishwarya Rai along with Milla Jovovich, Michelle Yeoh, Laetitia Casta and Michele Reis. They make up L'Oreal Paris international cast of Beauty Ambassadors who have a beauty secret in common. They each have a shade of lipstick that they never leave home without. Therefore, their respective lipstick features their signature on the cover.

The range made its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival.

What L’Oreal says:
The Star Secrets range was made with the purest and finest colour pigments to ensure even coverage and for added star appeal, lips maintain a refined shine throughout the day without feathering and fading.

The Star Secrets range contains a unique combination of Omega 3 and Vitamin E which prevents lips from drying out as well as rebuilding its barrier function.

The eight shades in the Star Secrets range include:

510 Flamingo Paradise - Milla Jovovich

511 Red Classic - Penelope Cruz

512 Mandarin Garnet - Andie MacDowell
513 Deep Rose - Gong Li

514 Coral Magic - Michelle Yeoh
515 Pink Suede - Laetitia Casta

516 Secret Garden - Michelle Reis

517 Tafetta Caresse - Aishwarya Rai

L'Oreal Paris' new Colour Riche Star Secrets is priced at SGD $17.90 or RM32 (West Malaysia) and RM35.20 (East Malaysia).

My personal review:
The lipstick texture is good! Smooth, silky and moisturizing. The color is soft and needs to be layered on to build up intensity in hue. If you don’t eat anything all day, it will not budge, so I guess that’s what it means when they states that it doesn’t feather nor fade. Otherwise, prepare to reapply after meals. Actually, I like the colour Michelle Yeoh is wearing too. But, since 1 lipstick is enough for now.

Thanks to dear Den, I was given the object of my desire:

Obviously, I fell for the marketing ploy. Can I be more stupid? But the lipstick is a value-for-money buy, not to mention the beautiful face of Michele Reis always comes to my mind when I put it on. And it never fails to put a smile unto my lips.

Photos and Profile of my kind of eye candy:

Name: Michele Monique Reis

Chinese: 李嘉欣 (Lee Ka Yan)

Birthdate: June 20, 1970 (Saturday)

Birthplace: Macau Current

Residency: Hong Kong

Religion: Catholic

Zodiac Sign: Gemini

Height: 5"7.5' (173cm)

Weight: 52kg

Favorite Food: ice-cream; chocolate; crab

Famous for winning: Miss Hong Kong Beauty Pageant 1988