A Beauty Connoisseur

daily review . self-captured images . unbiased reviews . not sponsored . cost factor disregarded

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Modern Renaissance Eye Shadow Palette

Shades included:

Tempera: velvety beige with an ultra-matte finish.

Golden Ochre: earthy yellow with an ultra-matte finish.

Vermeer: iridescent shell with a metallic finish.

Buon Fresco: antique lavender with an ultra-matte finish:

Antique Bronze: metallic sable with a satin finish.

Love Letter: raspberry with an ultra-matte finish.

Cyprus Umber: dark coffee with an ultra-matte finish.

Raw Sienna: neutral amber with an ultra-matte finish.

Burnt Orange: deep orange with an ultra-matte finish.

Primavera: shimmery gold with an ultra-matte finish.

Red Ochre: sienna with an ultra-matte finish.

Venetian Red: crimson with an ultra-matte finish.

Warm Taupe: earthy gray with an ultra-matte finish.

Realgar: brick with an ultra-matte finish.

It feels like butter and melts like cream.

 I’m extremely impressed by how natural and glowy this looks on the eyes, doesn't emphasize texture. It's super pigmented, yet easily blendable. It lasts all day and does not crease at all. This palette will complement any skin tone or hair colour because it has almost shade you need to create a good day-night look.

The only setback is probably the shimmer shades. This is of course just a personal preference. For me, if I’m gonna pay RM200/USD45 for a palette, it better be full-fledged but sadly Modern Renaissance didn’t have that ‘wow’ lip topper shade (that met my expectations) to complement the beautiful shades on this palette. That isn’t a deal breaker for me, I would still recommend getting this palette but do expect to reach for another palette if you as fussy as I am.

I believe that I’m one of the few weird ones who dislike the material of this packaging. It collects dust and can get dirty pretty easily (especially with the fallout from most ABH formulas). So I would recommend keeping the box and store it inside!

Rating: 7/10 Would I repurchase: Maybe USD45 / RM200

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Anastasia Beverly Hills Sultry Eyeshadow Palette

Shades included:

Fresh (Matte ivory pink)

Pearl (Metallic pearl white with a soft-pink undertone)

Steampunk (Metallic topaz bronze)

Rose Quartz (Metallic soft peach with a pink shift)

Ember (Metallic bronzed khaki)

Bloom (Matte coral pink)

Birch (Matte mid-tone yellow taupe)

Cinder (Metallic cool-tone beige taupe with gold flecks)

Twig (Matte mid-tone taupe)

Teak (Metallic golden brown)

Dystopian (Matte dark ash brown)

Cyborg (Metallic silver with a violet undertone)

Slate (Matte slate grey)

Noir (Matte deep black)

Honestly, the only thing that drew me to this palette was the design of the packaging. If it was solely based on first impression looking at images online, I happen to be one of the masses who weren’t quite convinced by the colour scheme. But I knew for sure that ABH palettes are usually well-curated and as someone who has every single one of their previous palettes, I decided to give it a go and here’s what I think.

Great pigmentation, the shades may look ‘muddy’ based on visual perception, but there’s something about them cool-neutral tones which worked beautifully together. This is one palette which you have to TRY it to GET it. It was a breath of fresh air for me, after seeing heaps of nudes-warm palettes launched by nearly every single makeup brand, I liked that ABH took the lead to steer us forward. If I had to compare the Sultry palette to its predecessors, you can expect less kickback on the matte shades and they are buttery smooth!

Rating: 7.5/10 Would I repurchase: Maybe USD 45 / RM200

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Natasha Denona Bloom Blush & Glow Palette

What it is:  The hydrating, velvety cream blush is designed to give your skin a healthy flush of colour. Glow Cream Base is a hydrating, luminous cream highlight with real crushed mineral pearls to give your skin the ultimate glow. Duo Glow is a multipurpose, duo-chrome highlighting powder with real, crushed, mineral duo-chrome pearls to give your skin a supernatural, shade-shifting glow. Extreme Glow is a multidimensional, sparkling, creamy powder highlight with a soft-focus, HD finish and a velvety-smooth texture.

There was a point in time where face palettes were an absolute waste of money but I can assure you that if 2018 was the year for eyeshadow palettes, 2019 is gonna be all about the complexion based products. I think this Bloom palette has taken the industry by storm with ND introducing cream blushes in that very RED shade. 

Everything about this palette is so well thought out, from the packaging to the shades to the formulas. The two cream products (glow cream base & cream blush) are protected by a plastic window, so you don’t have to worry about them getting mixed up with the fallout from the powder products. Talk about attention to detail and user-experience!

In terms of the formula, it is extremely pigmented, and I love that we’re given an option to choose between cream and powder. I think it’s a major plus point that the highlighters are well-matched to the blush that will users to get creative! I would highly recommend this palette to anyone from any skin tone because this will compliment most skin tones and leave you with a natural glow and flushed skin. 

A beautiful universal palette.

Ratings: 10/10 (first 10/10 ladies) Would I repurchase: Yes, and stocking up now. USD55

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Tom Ford Beauty Bronzing Powder

What it is: An oil-free bronzing powder with a silky, lightweight texture for perfect, natural-looking radiance. Just brush lightly on cheekbones to define and emphasize your bone structure, or dust all over the face to create the ultimate warm and seductive glow.

I’m sold.  

Well, of course, the packaging is bougee AF. If you’re looking for quality buys, then this is probably one of it. 

This bronzer makes me feel good about myself. The texture is almost like cream because the powder clings to itself the moment it hits your skin. It provides buildable coverage that allows one to slowly build up from its semi-opaque colour coverage - if desired. Blends like a dream and I’d say that it is a plus point that it doesn’t come off fully matte that leaves a wonderful sun-kissed glow finish.

Amazing quality and worth it to me. Would definitely recommend getting this if you don’t wanna jump straight into Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer or the Tom Ford Ultimate Bronzer.

Rating: 8/10 Would I repurchase: Yes  USD68 / RM287

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Colourpop Sweet Talk Palette

What it is: Colour Pop Sweet Talk 12-Pan Makeup Palette is a new palette that contains nine eyeshadows, two Pressed Glitters, and one Pressed Pigment.

I have mixed feelings about this palette. 

Just like everyone else who first saw the images of the palette before it was released, based on the colour story - it looked perfect. Something wearable for all skin tones takes us back to Springtime though we don’t have them here in Malaysia. It hit all the right notes with the gorgeous packaging and the right ratio of mattes-shimmers-glitters. Colourpop decided to introduce a few shades with the new ‘Pressed Glitter’ formula and I’m not crazy about it. The shimmers had buildable pigmentation with a smooth, emollient texture - lightly creamy but thin and more powder-like as soon as it hit my skin.

Perhaps I am used to A+ quality when it comes to their eyeshadow palettes, and B+ feels almost unacceptable. I am happy with the matte shades which worked wonderfully as a transition shade but I find myself reaching for lip toppers from other palettes. This palette should not be anyone’s first Colourpop eyeshadow palette because frankly speaking, 80% of their eyeshadow palettes are 9/10.

Rating: 7/10 (the matte shades and packaging saved the day) Would I repurchase: No USD18

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Flower Beauty Shimmer & Strobe Highlighting Palette

What it is: It starts with a breakthrough strobing formula, which is unique due to its high water content. Then, the creamy formula is triple-pressed, removing any excess water. This gives the powders a unique velvety, lightweight, and silky texture. #ChampagneShimmer

This is a high-quality palette at an affordable price and the packaging is beautiful! I could only get my hands on this when I was in Melbourne, and they don’t ship out of the US/CANADA. I remember walking into a local Chemist Warehouse store and found Flower Beauty parked in a corner - that was probably the highlight of my short trip to a pharmacy lol. I love how smooth and it’s easily buildable from a soft natural glow to the level of intensity as you’d want to take it. This is not powdery or cakey, and I wouldn’t call this a creamy formula either. It is sitting somewhere in between! It actually reminds me a little of the Colourpop Supershock highlighter formula minus the bouncy feeling!

Freaking incredible. Definitely one of the best glow from within highlighters that look like actual skin I have ever used. Thank you, Drew Barrymore, for creating something that feels high-end but yet so affordable. You need this in your life.

Rating: 8/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD14

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Tarte Aspyn Ovard Eye & Cheek Palette

Let me just put it out there, I’m not the biggest fan of  Tarte’s eyeshadow palettes because they’re usually either a hit or miss and I’m all about consistency - why fix something if it isn’t broken? The thing about brands is that they should feel the need to continue upgrading and finetuning their formulas - the only way forward is innovation and improvement, right? But sadly Tarte’s repertoire is the usual same old same old - there’s no point investing so much on marketing and packaging without improving the quality (and consistency) of your products! I do think they are reaching a cutting point as now they are starting to alienate fans with the constant rehash of shades or just purely ripping off colour schemes from other brands.

I bought this palette last year and this is by far Tarte’s best packaging to date. I love the rose gold metallic box decorated with gorgeous pink roses and this felt like it was worth the money because there’s some aspect of creativity or thought process in the production of this collab. Many of the shades in this palette look a lot like ones featured in the Tarte Clay Play Face Shaping Palette and Tarte Clay Play Face Shaping Palette Volume II. Some shades worked really well for me but there were two shades that felt really dry and slightly underwhelming to work with. I don’t think I’ve purchased any other palettes from Tarte since this Aspyn Ovard collab.

This is one palette not worth spending your money on. 

Rating: 6.5/10 Would I repurchase: No. Will definitely keep the palette for display tho lol. USD 39

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Natasha Denona Camel Palette

From bottom: Arrosto, Dune, Safari, Copper Stone, Zand.

Arrosto: Dark brown with yellow undertones and a matte finish Dune: Sheer golden peach with a metallic finish Safari: Medium dusty ochre with a matte finish Copper Stone: Rich copper with golden reflects and a metallic finish Zand: Medium warm ochre with a matte finish

First, this is not a mini palette, but a full size five pan. So far I’ve only purchased the Sunset and Sunrise palette, and I love them both so very much. The quality of Natasha Denona's palettes are top-notch and that is why I was convinced to pick this up. I wanted a wearable five pan palette that is ideal for travelling and ideally something to provide an excellent base to any pop of colour I’d thrown on when the right occasion arises. I love how smooth and buttery this applies with no nasty ingredients! 

So the tipping point which led me to my decision to invest in a five pan palette (I am a minimum nine pan palette kinda girl) was Wayne Goss! So thank you, Wayne, for your recommendation. I live for days like this when I discover a staple product that will be part of my collection for a long time. I’d probably recommend the Sunset palette if this is your first ND palette - not so much about the price, but more on the variety of colours you get and you get to try out different formulas! I am certain that now the price point of this palette at USD48 will be a minor issue to some as the new Sunset palette with 15 shades is priced at USD65.

Good staple nude palette.

Rating: 7.5/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD48

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KKW Nude Crème Lipstick

SHADE: Nude 5: Mid-tone rosy nude. Formulated to deliver a full-coverage and luxuriously creamy wear. The lipstick blends beautifully with different shades of lipliner and gloss. Ingredients include a blend of lip quenching oils, extracts and high-performance pigments that work together to achieve an incredibly hydrating and smooth application with the perfect satin finish. 

The lipsticks glided on seamlessly, and living up to their name, felt incredibly creamy and buttery on the lips with great colour deposit. It can feel a little oily especially for people who are used to matte lipsticks, but they apply beautifully which makes shaping the lips really easy. I wouldn’t purchase the full collection because they may end up appearing just as different shades of nudes, so I’d recommend buying a classic nude and a slightly deeper shade.

Rating: 7/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD18

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Stila Lingerie Soufflé Skin Perfecting Primer

What it is: An opulently-whipped, yet refreshingly lightweight, multi-function primer. New generation light-refracting pearls add a natural-looking glow with a blurring, skin-perfecting effect. Innovative gellifying ingredients and emulsifiers allow for a smooth application, without the tackiness. It's a skin-loving formula with natural botanicals and over 70% water for a refreshing feel, all day.

I was first drawn to the luxurious design of this primer and thought that it would look great as a display on my desk. It’s made with 70% coconut water so it’s super hydrating. I was uncertain about the actual effectiveness and mixed reviews online, I decided to take a risk and I’m so glad I did! So this product is supposed to be a primer (it is actually good enough to use it without another layer of moisturizer) and the souffle texture can be tricky to work with if you’re looking to build coverage. If you are looking for something with coverage this is not it. There is a learning curve, but the results are pretty and natural. 

I honestly enjoyed the lightweight souffle texture and you should look at this as a primer which helps blur imperfections without clogging my pores. It may look ‘thick’ formula but it isn’t - it feels ‘airy’.

Rating: 7/10 Would I repurchase: Maybe. I’d say that this is not going to be my ride-or-die primer but it does make me feel wonderful things whenever I look at it or use it. USD38 / RM160

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Dior Backstage Contour Palette

What it is: A buildable face contour palette that sculpts and highlights to define the face. Two beige and bronze highlighting powdersTwo ultra-fine matte sculpting powders.

The Dior Backstage collection is by far my favourite collection that has been released. This is a great palette to travel with, beautiful packaging and lightweight at the same time. I have a light-medium skin tone, so I guess for my case any contour palette would work for me - so my critique on this one is solely based on the quality of the four contour shades and how well it blends. I love that the colours are so natural; not too cool tone, not too warm. This contour quad makes perfect sense if you’re into natural contouring. As shown in the photo above, I didn’t really reach for the lightest shade in this palette (top left) but it does get the job done when it comes to highlighting your browbone. 

It’s worth every penny, I’ll be using this as long as they sell it.

Rating: 7.5/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD45 / RM188

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Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

What it is: Applying it is like adding a digital filter to a photograph – it instantly ‘lifts’ your complexion, erasing imperfections and imparting glowing radiance. Combining these filter-like perfecting properties with the blurring benefits of your favourite primer and the mega-watt glow of a highlighter, this luscious liquid imparts a dewy, soft-focus finish, illuminating skin in an instant. 

I would most likely use this on my wedding day. This shouldn't be confused with a foundation because it isn't. I love how it leaves me in a wonderful state of confusion (in the best way possible) - is it a foundation or a complexion enhancer? Is it an illuminating primer balm or a dewy finish, low-key highlighter? The most straight forward way to use this is probably to apply your foundation/concealer as usual, then apply a few dots on the highpoints of your face and tapping gently to reveal a "post-facial glow". Personally, I would use this underneath foundation and you will be blown away by how the ‘glow’ compliments any foundation. I’m just amused by how this product allows me to showcase my complexion's 'quirks', enhancing real skin (not disguised) with translucent, radiance-boosting pigments. In terms of finish, there’s absolutely no greasy feel, but there is a dewiness that feels almost as though the skin has been glossed. 

The Hollywood Flawless Filter is in a class of its own. 

Rating: 9/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD44

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Pixi Hydrating Milky Mist w Hyaluronic Acid & Black Oat

What it is: A deeply hydrating mist that provides an invisible layer of skin-soothers, making it the ultimate remedy for dry skin. A blend of black oat, provitamin A, and linoleic acid makes this rejuvenator the perfect first layer of moisture before serums or makeup.

This is my second bottle. Judging from the amount of stuff I go through in my collection, finishing a product and repurchasing them within a span of a year says a lot! I might seem like a total mist junkie but honestly I’m quite peculiar as to how each mist is used - for this case, I use this before makeup or as the first/last step of my night skincare routine. The spray nossle is 10/10. The mist comes off super ‘micro-fine-tiny’ that the droplets kinda vanishes into your skin!

Great for dry skin. The hyaluronic acid provides an instant surge of hydration to plump skin. I love that it is priced at such an affordable price tag too!

Rating: 8.5/10 (Gotta deduct points because it contains alcohol) Would I repurchase: Yes USD15 / RM67

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Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire - Deliciously Shiny Lip Colour

What it is: La Petite Robe Noire Deliciously Shiny Lip Colour’s innovative texture reveals lips’ natural radiance while leaving them supple and smooth. Its lightweight formula delivers buildable coverage, thanks to its thin film: one layer to offer a glimpse of the sensual texture of the lips, and additional layers that create a dense and sophisticated finish. 

It was love at first sight. Guerlain produces some of the most gorgeous packagings and this one is no exception. Don’t be deceived by the ‘glass-like’ casing, its not as heavy as it looks because it’s not glass. That’s a plus point for frequent travellers or if you’re a clumsy person dropping caps all the time! I would probably describe this as a tinted lip balm, but better. Very moisturizing on dry lips and since Guerlain is a well-renowned perfume house, this shine-boosting resin coat lips contains fragrance. In my point of view, I used to categorize expensive lipsticks as a waste of money. However, the shift in trends favouring lip tints or coloured lip balms has definitely changed my entire perception - it is worth it if you use them!

Ratings: 7.5/10 Would I repurchase: Maybe because personally, I like trying new formulas for lip products! USD32 / RM134

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Charlotte Tilbury Bar Of Gold Highlighting Palette

This luxurious palette contains the best-selling original gold shade, a rose gold highlight for a soft goddess-blush tone on your skin and a gold bullion shade for deeply seductive bronzing, perfect on a sun-kissed complexion.

This palette can be used on your eyes to your cheeks, your décolletage, or even pressed onto the lips. This highlighter palette is supposed to create a lit-from-within glow with a light-reflecting high-tech ‘wet’ powder to define and sculpts the appearance of the cheeks as it transforms. I find it rather strange that I don’t find myself reaching for this - so on a first impression basis, this isn’t the sort of highlighter that will make your heart skip a beat. 

So I decided to give it another go and watch a CT tutorial. You can actually get a more a blinding mirror-like highlight if you apply it wet. The shades almost have a bit of a translucency to them that allows for the skin underneath to show through to compliment any complexion. The shades in this palette will work well for any skin tone (light-medium-dark) and it doesn’t emphasize texture on the skin and has no glitter.

Her Hollywood Flawless Filter is the real winner in my books. 

Rating: 7/10 Would I repurchase: Maybe  USD58

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Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist

What is it:  The Farsali Rose Gold Skin Mist is a lightweight oil that absorbs quickly into the skin and is designed to help hydrate, nourish, and give your skin a natural glow. It is full of anti-aging benefits that help keep the skin looking youthful and radiant all day long with real 24k Gold Flakes.

It claims to be as a multi-tasking wonder for the complexion that can be used on bare skin or over makeup for a smooth, luminous finish. I was obviously drawn to the design with an eye-catching slender glass bottle which made it almost impossible to resist. I got curious, as to why Kathleen Lights, Allana Davidson and GinsMakeup were so emotionally invested in this.

So I had to visit a local Sephora store, TWICE and only bought it after the second visit. It left me happy summer vibes; minus the heat. What stood out to me was the citrusy scent which was refreshing, lightweight and I was drawn to the fact that this contains rosehip oil  that nourishes the skin and reduces the signs of ageing. The citrus scent is due to the Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil ingredient. I would recommend using this as a primer to grip makeup in place or spritz over finished makeup to get rid of excess powder.

I think this would make a great gift too.

Rating: 8/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD39 / RM179

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Charlotte Tilbury Icon Palette

What it is: Charlotte Tilbury The Icon 12-Pan Eye Palette is a limited edition palette featuring nine shimmer shades and three more satin-matte shades. The formula can be used wet or dry, though using them wet achieves a “silk-veil effect,”

Create your own combinations or stick to the 'Day', 'Date', 'Diva' and 'Disco' trios by layering the three shades from each column ( matte, satin and metallic).

I read mixed reviews on Temptalia but I stand by my positive experience with this palette. Some shades may be tricky to work with, but I’d say that 9 out of the 12 shades were a solid 9/10 for me. 

 I’ve always wanted to try the Charlotte Tilbury Quads but I’d prefer to have the flexibility to create multiple looks instead of a pre-set quad (4) shades. The CT Icon Palette spoke to me on so many levels but I was slightly sceptical at first because there weren’t any matte shades in this palette. In my books, a palette is meant to be inspiring, flexible and it should meet the minimum requirement to complete an eye look.

I was mindblown. The quality of Charlotte Tilbury’s eyeshadow formula is out of this world. It is incomparable. It slides effortlessly on the lids and the highly pigmented formula will make you question yourself this: What took me so long? Have I been living under a rock? The darker shades in this palette had good pigmentation applied dry and had a more low-level pearl sheen, while wet application yielded opaque coverage with a soft, metallic sheen. The texture was smooth, creamy, and blendable on my skin. 

Rating: 8/10 Would I repurchase: Yes USD65