Monthly Archives: June 2012

Illamasqua Nail Varnish Rare

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My first ever Illamasqua nail polish, and of course I have to choose the most breathtaking shade – Rare! This is the most neon nail polish shade I’ve ever seen. And I was worried that the application would be a painful one but noooo. With just two and probably a third coat, you get an opaque and amazingly perfect finish. Of course it’s not the best formula ever, but for a color like this, it’s close to perfect!

Rare is a bright neon yellow with a satin semi-matte finish. You can leave it at that if you desire, or you can add a topcoat for the shiny finish. The formula is slightly thick, and you have to be careful when you apply or else you’ll get too much product on your brush!

I don’t think Illamasqua is available in Hong Kong, but you can order from their website here, and they offer international shipping.

 

Dior Summer Mix Nail Polishes – 198 Lagoon, 118 Acapulco, 158 Calypso and 178 Cosmo

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I was on a trip in Seoul when I found these Dior Summer Mix nail polishes in the Lotte Department Store (the biggest department store in Seoul). I just had to get them, since I have no idea when and if they will be available in Hong Kong, plus after tax refund, it’s a lot cheaper than getting them in Hong Kong.

Unlike the usual Dior cremes, these 4 polishes are glossy jellies, and Dior chose to call them sorbets. I was a bit worried that these  won’t perform as well as the other signature Dior creme ones, but there was no need for doubts. These perform just as well, if not better. : )

So I’m really excited to show you this picture heavy post!

198 Lagoon is a pretty blue with a bit of teal. With just two coats, you get a perfect opaque finish.

I have a lot of blue polishes in my own collection, but I decided to include some recent releases such as the Thakoon for NARS’ Koliary (reviewed here), Deborah Lippmann’s On the Beach (reviewed here). The other two for comparisons include OPI’s Suzi says Feng Shui, and Butter London’s Blagger.

NARS’ Koliary and DL’s On the Beach are definitely on the much lighter side, so if you own any of these two, and are wondering whether to try Dior’s Lagoon, I would say it’s safe to add Lagoon to your collection if you fancy the color. OPI’s Suzi says Feng Shui looks the most similar to Dior’s Lagoon, Suzi says Feng Shui is just a bit dustier in color. And Butter London’s Blagger is a cobalt blue.

118 Acapulco is lemon yellow, and being the lightest color in the collection (and also yellow), I wasn’t surprised when I needed three coats for opacity. But for a yellow polish, this performs really well. There was no streakiness, and the third coat is just to hide the nail lines.

I only own three yellows in my polish collection, and they’re Thakoon for NARS’ Amchoor (reviewed here) and Deborah Lippmann’s It Girl from the Run the World Girls Collection.

They look very close to each other. (DL’s It Girl has a matte finish, hence the lack of glossiness in the swatch). NARS’ Amchoor is a bit more sunshine-y, making it darker and richer compared to Dior’s Acapulco. DL’s It Girl is pretty identical with Acapulco, so it may be a better choice if you’d the choice to a modern touch in your yellow polish. You can always add back the glossiness with a topcoat. However, I think Dior’s formula is better in texture, and a full-sized brush from Dior makes it easier for application as DL’s It Girl is a mini-size. You will also have to purchase 4 other mini polishes as It Girl only comes in a set of 5 neon polishes (which are actually very pretty. : P)

158 Calypso is a warm-toned red, described by Dior as a pomegranate red. This is probably my favorite out of the four. Two coats are enough for an opaque finish.

Once again, I have included recent releases in my comparison swatches, such as Chanel’s Holiday (Summer 2012), Laura Mercier’s Sizzle (Tres Chic Collection, reviewed here) and Dior’s Lucky (reviewed here). Also included is Essie’s Too Too Hot.

Chanel’s Holiday is the most orange-y of the five. Laura Mercier’s Sizzle is a warm hot coral red, very similar to Essie’s Too Too Hot. Dior’s Lucky is more pink. And from the swatches above, Dior’s Calypso actually has a slight hint of pink, but definitely more of a red.

Lastly, 178 Cosmo is a hot watermelon pink. Two coats give a decent finish, if you’re going for the true jelly finish, a third coat would be needed to hide the nail lines.

From my collection I found YSL’s Rose Renaissance (new formula, package and color), Dior’s Plaza (reviewed here), Deborah Lippmann’s Party Girl (Run the World Girls Collection), and Deborah Lippmann’s Girls Just Want to have Fun.

YSL’s Rose Renaissance is a darkened version of Dior’s Plaza, and it goes gradually lighter towards Deborah Lippmann’s Party Girl from right to left. DL’s Party Girl is bright enough to be called a neon. (It has a matte finish just like It Girl from the same collection.) DL’s Girl Just Want to Have Fun is definitely leaning towards orange in the swatch wheel.

And here are all the swatches…

As mentioned before, I got these from Seoul, and I still have no information as to whether and when these would be released in Hong Kong. Hopefully they will soon… If you’re looking for these in the States, they should be available already. I really love these polishes, their quality is amazing, and the colors are beautiful.

Chanel Summer 2012 Soleil Tan de Chanel Collection Nail Vernis 607 Delight

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Chanel’s Delight nail polish from the Summer 2012 Soleil Tan de Chanel collection reminds me a lot of Chanel’s Gold Fingers (read about it here), Quartz (which I do not own) and Graphite. I’ve always wanted to purchase Quartz, but I’ve refrained from that thought, thinking that this new Delight polish would probably be a better one.

I suppose without swatching Quartz and Delight side by side I won’t be able to do a direct comparison, but after have Delight on my nails, I think I prefer Quartz for its more toned-down color. Delight is more of a golden metallic bronze, and Quartz would be a metallic sandy beige.

For the formula though, Delight is definitely a great one. WIth just one coat, it’s opaque enough, a second coat is just to help with a longer wear. Its finish is very similar to Chanel’s Graphite and Gold Fingers even from just looking at the bottle, that’s why Delight reminds me so much of these polishes before even swatching them.

Out of the three polishes, Delight definitely wins in the formula department.  Graphite is a bit too thick, and Gold Fingers a bit too thin. Despite the thickness in Graphite’s formula though, Delight still does a better opacity with the first coat. They all have similar metallic shimmery finish, but Graphite has chunkier glitters.

I highly recommend Delight, if you’re looking for a metallic bronze. Not only is the color very nice, it’s also a very high quality polish. Quartz would be a nice color to look into if you’re not so sure about Delight, however Quartz was from last fall so there’s a high chance you won’t be able to purchase this. Luckily for us in Hong Kong, it’s still available for purchase in many counters and boutiques. So if you live in Hong Kong, do go check them both out!

Chanel Summer 2012 Soleil Tan de Chanel Collection – Eyeshadow Duo 37 Sable-Emouvant

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Another product that I anticipated so much from Chanel’s Summer 2012 Soleil Tan de Chanel Collection, this Duo Eyeshadow in 37 Sable-Emouvant is the best-selling product from the collection, at least in Hong Kong. I was lucky enough to manage to get two of them, I’m pretty sure they’re all sold out everywhere in Hong Kong.

The neutral shades are one of the reasons why I wanted this eyeshadow duo so badly, I love shades that I can use everyday which matches everything, just something you can never go wrong with. And as a fan of the duo’s formula, how can I resist?

This duo consists of a chocolate brown and a natural sandy beige. Both shades have fine shimmers in it, which make them extra pretty. The texture is absolutely divine, they’re buttery soft and smooth, also very pigmented and no fallouts. They didn’t crease on me even without a primer, at least not until after 12 hours of wear. The brown can also be used as an eyeliner (especially if you use it wet).

I did a light swatch but as you can see the color payoff is really nice, the brown will be even more intense with a heavier application.

I cannot stress how much I love this product, it’s simply amazing. It will suit anyone and I’m sure it will be loved, no wonder they’re sold out so quickly! If you do find one still available for purchase, you should definitely consider getting it as it’s really a must-have.

Soleil Tan de Chanel Summer 2012 Luminous Bronzing Powder 917 Sable Rose

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I was never a big fan of bronzers, I own one or two, but I don’t find myself reaching for them often. But I recently tried the Guerlain by Emilio Pucci Blush Bronzer (review coming soon!), and I love it. I love how I can use it as a blush and of course also as a bronzer. This Soleil Tan de Chanel Luminous Bronzing Powder in Sable Rose from the Summer 2012 Collection is absolutely beautiful, and just like the Blush Bronzer, works as a blush and also a bronzer.

Beautiful packaging right? Instead of the silver logo, for the bronzers Chanel made it gold.

Just like the Guerlain’s Blush Bronzer, it consists of several colors instead of just one single color. In Chanel’s Sable Rose, you get 7 stripes of colors.

The second and fifth shade from the top looks pretty identical to me, but it doesn’t really matter because it’s so versatile and the quality is great. You can use the top half for a bronzing effect, and the bottom half for a blushing effect. Or, of course, you can do a single swipe of all the colors for a rosy-brown color.

The powder is very finely-milled and soft, it feels like a very moisturizing formula which I love so much. I have been using it every other day alternating with Guerlain’s Blush Bronzer.

The other bronzer Sable Beige that Chanel has in the collection is definitely lighter shade, I doubt it can be used as a blush as well, but I’m interested in giving it another look next time I see it. I definitely wouldn’t mind a light bronzer since my other bronzers are all on the darker side.

Dior Croisette Collection Summer 2012 Diorshow Waterproof Eyeliner – 258 Turquoise

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I knew I wanted the St. Tropez nail polish (read about it here) from Dior’s Summer 2012 Croisette Collection, and it’s the one product from the collection that I was most anticipated about. But the must-have product is definitely this Diorshow Waterproof liner in 258 Turquoise, which looks like a matching color with St. Tropez.

258 Turquoise is indeed a turquoise, light teal blue with beautiful silver micro glitters. The silver glitters definitely add a nice touch to this, making this a unique piece. (The swatch below wasn’t able to capture the beauty of those glitter, but you can see how intense the color is.)

It’s even long-wearing which is a huge plus for me. The day I first saw this at the counter I swatched on the back of my hand. Then I tried using the cleansing water from Dior twice to take off all the swatches, and it stayed put. Then I washed my hands with soap twice. It stayed put. It had a soft washed-off look, but the color intensity is still there. I am very impressed with this, at the same time worried that I’ll have a hard time taking it off. But once I got home, I used a proper eye makeup remover, and it’s taken off easily without any stain. (phew…)

I never purchase backups, there was one or two times that I regret not doing it, but this time I am definitely purchasing a backup. I will be so sad to see mine used up, and not able to repurchase. So if you like what you see, do get it before it’s all sold out!

Dior Croisette Collection Summer 2012: Nail Vernis 231 Bikini

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Also from Dior’s Summer 2012 Croisette Collection, Nail Vernis 231 Bikini looks more like a summery shade than St. Tropez (read about it here). It’s gorgeous, but I do think you can easily find dupes for this. Read on for some comparison photos!

Bikini is a soft peachy coral, a typical yet subdued summery shade. I can’t decide if I like this softer color better than something like Chanel’s Holiday (Summer 2012) for the summer… It really depends, but the summer is long, so I’ll have plenty of chances to wear both colors. And no one says you can only wear these shades during summer! : )

Once again I really love the formula of this Dior polish (Surprise… surprise…) I really have been impressed with all the Dior polishes that I’ve tried so far, so I don’t have anything new to say or praise about the formula and brush and basically everything about this polish. With simply two coats you get a perfect finish, and with a good topcoat (I use Seche Vite) I don’t think you will experience any chipping for a week unless you use your nails a lot. (I usually change my nail color twice a week, so I didn’t have this one for a week to test it out.)

From my own nail polish collection, I find a few polishes that can be compared with Dior’s Bikini.

Butter London’s Trout Pout is a salmon pink, only with a slight orange in it. Laura Mercier’s Cabana (read about it here) is the closest to Dior’s Bikini, with just a bit more pink. From the bottle, Dior’s Indie Orange (read about it here) looks almost exactly the same as Bikini with micro golden shimmers and glitters. But it looks lighter than Bikini when swatched.

Choosing from the first three (I don’t think I can include Indie Orange because of the shimmer), I think I’ll go for Dior’s Bikini. Butter London’s Trout Pout is too pink for my taste, Laura Mercier’s Cabana has a jelly texture and I very much prefer Dior’s creme. Dior’s Indie orange is very nice, if I want something a bit more fancy, I’ll definitely choose it over Bikini.

You can find this at Dior counters all over Hong Kong at 195 HKD apiece. It’s limited edition so act fast!

Dior Croisette Collection Summer 2012: Nail Vernis 401 St. Tropez

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Voila! I’ve been waiting for this nail polish ever since I saw pictures of this St. Tropez nail polish online several months ago. It was an extremely exclusive and limited release, and I don’t think it was released at all in Hong Kong. But I’m so glad Dior decided to bring this back for the Summer 2012 Croisette Collection! So after patiently waiting… the beautiful Croisette Collection is here, and just in time for my birthday!

I bought the Aurora eye palette, the waterproof liner, one of the eye glosses and also the other nail polish Bikini from the collection. It’s quite a lot of stuff but I see them as a huge birthday present to myself. That’s okay right? : P

Simply put, St. Tropez is the Tiffany Blue (maybe just slightly slight darker), just imagine it with white ribbons…

I love Dior polishes. I love the texture, finish, and also the brush. I have nothing to complain about this polish just like the other Dior polishes that I’ve tried. With two coats, you get the perfect opaque creme finish. I didn’t have to clean up at all after application, but if you’re new to the Dior brush, then you’d probably need a bit of practice for a perfect no-mess application. I get at least a few days perfect wear with this, and some minor tip wear afterwards. I didn’t have it on long enough to see when it starts chipping, but I think I will last a week long with a good topcoat.

What I have from my own nail polish collection that can be used as a comparison is China Glaze’s Aquadelic (read about it here). Just putting them side by side you already see a huge difference. But here are swatches of the polishes on a nail wheel:

The difference is not as big on the nail wheel, but Aquadelic is definitely a teal, where as St. Tropez an aqua blue (or simply Tiffany Blue).

I am also loving the other polish (Bikini) from the collection, but I do think St. Tropez is better since it’s not the typical kind of summery shades, and it’s more unique than Bikini!

You can get St. Tropez at Dior counters all over Hong Kong at 195 HKD a piece.