Review: Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation

Apologies for being away for so long! I've got some exciting news, but I'm keeping my cards close to my chest right now. All will be revealed very soon!

I ordered Bourjois's Healthy Mix Foundation about a month ago from ASOS, as the last time I used proper foundation was about 5 years ago, and I felt like moving away from BB cream (Yes, I've been a devotee of BB cream and tinted moisturiser for that long). I wasn't looking for something that would give super-thick coverage, so after doing my research online, and seeing that this range was going for cheapies online, I decided to give this a shot. 

The Claim:

Bourjois Healthy Mix claims to give 70% more radiance and flawless complexion for up to 16 hours! How awesome is that?

The glide-on formula contains elements of apricot, melon, apple and ginger, which claim to provide radiance, hydration, anti-oxidants and energy. All very impressive! I couldn't wait to try it out. 

The Test:

I used this for about one and a half weeks, over a primer. My intention was to find out if the foundation would last for a whopping 16 hours, all the while fulfilling the radiant-complexion-in-a-tube claim.

 

What I loved:

The foundation smells gorgeous. Fruity and sweet, I had to take a good whiff of it before applying it to my face. Sadly, it doesn't really last once the foundation is applied, but it really does have a good consistency, and glides on smoothly. It isn't too thick, which is nice, because foundation has a nasty habit of settling into fine lines and flaws on skin. 

I got this in Shade 52 Vanilla, which is just nice for my slightly tanned complexion. I felt that it gave good coverage, and evened out the discolouration from the veins (and things). As you can see from the picture above, using Bourjois Healthy Mix virtually erased the blue veins that are clearly visible on my bare skin. Furthermore, I think the fruit essence does some good for the skin, because I noticed a visible brightening and radiant effect on my skin after use. Sadly, this did not persist after I removed the foundation, but my skin did become a little smoother over the course of the week.

What I didn't:

It didn't last for 16 hours. :( 

I found that on average, the foundation would wipe off easily, especially when I used oil blotters or facial tissue. I didn't use any face powder to set the foundation, because I find it too "made up". Furthermore, I was a bit miffed that it claimed to stay for 16 hours, because the radiant effect did wear off after a couple of hours.

Overall, I would recommend this product, because using it does give a radiant complexion, if only for a couple of hours. Coverage is good, and isn't too heavy. Maybe it would be better suited for girls with normal to dry skin, as it doesn't seem to have so much staying power for people with combination to oily skin like me.

 

Review: Korres Lip Butters

I got these Korres Lip butters a while ago off ASOS. These retail for an arm and a leg (ok, well, S$20 or so) in Singapore, so I jumped at the chance to get these when they went on sale! I got them in Wild Rose and Quince (both of which sounded really nice ^~^). 

The Claim: 

"Korres is an organic brand that has developed an effective range of natural skin and bodycare. The brand seeks inspiration from their natural environment, sourcing their essential fruit oils and herbal infusions locally. Their extensive knowledge and experimentation with textures paved the way for their extensive skin and bodycare collection.

Korres Lip Butters are buttery lip balms with a shiny tinted finish, and contain a combination of shea butter and rice wax for deep hydration and softness."

All of that goodness sounded great, and Korres products have been getting glowing reviews in the press, so I decided to take the plunge.

Wild Rose is a deep cherry pink, a mid-red, if you will, that adds a pop of colour for cherry-stained lips, while Quince is a lighter, berry-toned pink.

 

Ingredients list

 Sturdy cardboard boxes that are printed on both sides (sadly, can't read Greek!)

No-frills, colourful packaging

 The lip butters are packed in plastic pots with a pronounced lip around the edge, which look like this - unique, huh?

 

Hygienic plastic lids that pop over the pots

 

Wild Rose is on the left, Quince is on the right (both taken in natural light)

What I loved:

This is a lovely product. Vibrant colour, good brand ethos, and pared-down, sturdy packaging. Wild Rose applied smoothly, and the formula was moisturising enough to leave the part of my hand that I swatched silky smooth for the rest of the day. The scent was lovely - made me want to sniff the pots all day!

Lip butters don't have the staying power that lipsticks or lipstains may have, so the creaminess and the glossiness provided by these were a nice touch. Plus, it also felt nice knowing that I was using something that was created with care. 

Not being a fan of dark, matte lips, these worked nicely because the colours were sheer, but just tinted enough to give a hint of colour. Wild Rose looks a bit scary and vampish in the pot, but once applied it lightens up to a nice sheer red, while Quince stays closer to the colour of the lid, achieving a nice pink-y, coral-y shade.

What I didn't:

While Wild Rose applied smooth, Quince was full of odd, gritty things that made the formula look a bit choppy (if you look in the second to last photo, you'll see the consistency of the product in the pot). It didn't really affect the swatch, but I did experience a bit of uneven-ess in the formula when I applied Quince to my lips. 

As nice as the packaging is, I can't help but point out that sticking your lip product in a pot makes for messy work - application can be a little cumbersome, because you've either got to get your fingers dirty, or rummage about for a lip brush. Coupled with their lack of staying power, it basically means that these lip butters aren't as portable / convenient as their makers might like you to think. :(

Another small sort-of quibble - Quince turned out to be more coral than berry in my swatch, and I can't imagine why! Though I personally do like corals more than berry, so it was a blessing in disguise!

All in all, these are definitely worth a try. Although if you're (like me) a bit picky over the look and feel of your products, it might be worth dropping by the bricks and mortar shop first to have a play around with the goods before deciding.

Korres is located in Singapore at #B2-34, ION Orchard,  2 Orchard Turn, Singapore 238801. You can like their Facebook page here! For the month of February, Korres is offering a 20% discount off your total bill when you purchase any 2 items. See here:

Hope that everyone's having a good week! Have you ever tried Korres products before? What did you think?

Haul + Review: Paul & Joe Fall 2011 Collection - "Manhattan" + Swatches

I'd like to share a couple of eyeshadows that have been on heavy rotation for me of late. They're from the Paul & Joe Fall 2011 Limited Edition Manhattan Collection, and are named and inspired by none other than the Big Apple - New York City.


Featuring an undeniably chic chequered design, each eyeshadow pot consists of two complementary colours, and are fashionably named (in the below image from left): Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State, and 42nd Street. The only gripe that I had in relation to the packaging of the shadows was that they can get a little bit fiddly to use, when trying to pick up colour, thanks to the criss-cross design. This can be easily rectified though, with a sponge eyeshadow applicator or eyeshadow brush. If the colours do end up mixing, a quick blow will get rid of any loose bits of eyeshadow - hey presto!
I love the sleek packaging of the shadows, and the pretty prints that, as always, are prints from Paul & Joe's catwalk collection. Paul & Joe eyeshadows offer a soft wash of colour, which is really pretty and subtle, so when I saw the colour combinations for the Manhattan collection, I had to get them. It took a while of collecting and watching out for bargains, but I managed it in the end ^~^



The eyeshadows can be popped out (see below), by sticking a paper clip or similar pointy item into the hole on the back of the pot, and are interchangeable with any other Paul & Joe Face & Eye Color CS shadow. I call them eyeshadows, though they are technically okay to use on the face as well. (I'm guessing cheeks). That said, the lighter shades would do beautifully as a highlighting powder for cheeks and nose bridges - even decollete, if you so choose!


Brooklyn Bridge

Named after one of the oldest suspension bridges in America, Brooklyn Bridge is a really pretty combination of two pinks - a golden, dusty rose, and shimmery baby pink, that are really adorable together. I really love the darker shade just at the outer corners of my eye for giving depth, and the lighter shade for highlighting. Both colours carry a little shimmer, which give a sheer wash of colour to the whole eyelid when used together. I like to think the two shades can help create a dreamy look, like watching a sunset from the Brooklyn Bridge!


Swatch: Under natural light


Empire State

This duo consists of a sheeny, shiny light gold colour twinned with a dark, matte navy blue/black shade. I like how the colours are subtle enough to wear to work, but can be built up to add a bit of sparkle after office hours. The dark shade is good for use as an eyeliner, though you'll probably need a good liner brush that will pick up a good bit of shadow. As you can see in the swatch below, the darker shade can end up looking a bit patchy, as I swatched without using primer, and had to pat on the colour a good four times to get that swatch. Like the Empire State Building, these colours are reminiscent of the roaring '20s and Art Deco, and can be used to recreate the graphic, dramatic eye make-up of ladies during that period, like so:




Swatch: Under natural light


42nd Street

This was tough to capture on-camera. The shades are a light pink - not as light as the pink in Brooklyn Bridge (above), with pink glitter, and a twilight blue shade with blue glitter. The shadow is named after 42nd Street in downtown New York, right near the famous Times Square. I like how vibrant and buildable the two colours are, and when combined, create a shimmery eye that is just lovely. The sparkliness of the colours meant that the shadows didn't photograph very well, but they are definitely worth a look.


Swatch: Under natural light



As the colours are limited edition, this collection will soon be retired (if this hasn't already happened) , to give way to the Holiday 2011 and Spring 2012 collections. These are easy-to-use colours that will see you through the seasons, so if you come across them, it would be a shame to pass them up. Empire State can still be purchased here for £8.95. Since each pot retailed initially at £15 each, it's quite the bargain!

Models Own Beetlejuice Nail Polish

I've been after a good nail polish for some time, especially these days, because my hands and nails are currently a sight for sore eyes - they sure could use some TLC!

These beauties caught my eye the other day when I was browsing through ASOS. These Models Own Beetlejuice polishes are pearlescent, jewel-toned nail polishes that draw inspiration from shiny, sheeny beetle wings.

Each shade consists of four individual colours, which are then mixed into one multi-tonal, shimmering colour, resulting in a multi-faceted nail colour that is constantly changing. How cool is that?

Rather unimaginatively, the polishes are called (from left) Golden Green, Pinky Brown, Purple Blue, Aqua Violet and Emerald Black. Here's how Models Own describe their colours:

Aqua Violet, a true sky shimmer; Pinky Brown, a warm rusty pink; Golden Green, a fresh energetic acid; Purple Blue, a vibrant punch of fuchsia indigo; and Emerald Black, a bold blackened midnight peacock.

The Beetlejuice nail polishes are new for November 2011, and can be bought here. Models Own are running a really good deal at the moment, where you can buy all 5 polishes, plus a 3 in 1 Base Coat / Top Coat / Gloss for £20. Usually, each bottle goes for £5, so it's a £10 (or so) saving. If you're a nail polish fan, I reckon it might be a set that's worth investing in just for the colours. I'd really like to give Aqua Violet a try!
Has anyone used Models Own nail polish before?