Fables in Fashion

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while now, you’ll know that Lancome’s Hypnose formula is my favourite mascara ever. Whilst it does have a tendency to dry up faster than I’d like, I can’t deny the amazing results it gives my lashes So when Lancome released a “Doll Lashes” version, I knew I had to give it a shot.

My general impression is that as a standalone mascara, this is great. As you can see from the photos below, two coats gives you thick lush looking lashes. The end result is very similar to that of the traditional Hypnose formula, the main difference I’ve found is the fact that it did take two coats to achieve this. Whereas traditionally, I’d only need one thick coat to get the same effect.

So if you’re someone who has always loved the Hypnose formula, but thought it was just a bit overkill, this would be perfect. But if you loved Hypnose just the way it is, stick to the original formula.

Comparison aside, I noticed no real difference between the original and this formula. Besides the shape of the brush (which does make it easier to coat lower lashes and small lashes in the inner corner), lasting power is the same. Lasted all day, no smudging nor flaking throughout the day. It’s no surprise Hypnose is my most loved mascara

A little while ago a dear reader of mine requested a comparison review between e.l.f’s Studio Powder Brush and Lancome’s Precision Cheek – Brush #7. I decided to throw in Sigma’s Flat Top Synthetic Brush into the mix as well, for good measure

And what I’ve discovered is that despite looking similar, each three brushes have a very different use.

Lancome’s Precision Cheek – Brush #7 ($47.50US) which I mentioned was one of my favourite brushes and is actually best for (surprise surprise) applying powder over liquid / cream foundation. It is great at picking up a light to medium amount of powder, and distributing it lightly and evenly across your face. It doesn’t do a good job at applying liquid or cream foundation. With liquid it would literally absorb most of the product and leave streaks across my face, and with cream it would just be streaks-ville

e.l.f’s Studio Powder Brush ($3US), could potentially do the same, but I felt that it was actually better at apply powder foundation. The reason is because I found this brush to be quite a bit denser than Lancome, and so it worked similar to a kabuki brush, good at buffing in products.

I personally don’t buff in powder over liquid foundation because I find it shifts the liquid foundation. But I do buff in powder foundation as there is nothing beneath it to budge.

Lastly, Sigma’s Flat Top Synthetic Brush ($16US) is best for applying liquid to cream foundation / blush and buffing in powder foundation. It wasn’t great at dusting powder over liquid foundation because it would pick up way too much product and instead of distributing it evenly over my face, would plonk it right where I placed my brush.

So overall, I found that Lancome was really best for a dusting of face powder over a cream / liquid foundation. e.l.f for powder foundation and Sigma for liquid and cream products! Hope that helps

Pros:

• Functions as both a light cleanser & toner
• Easy to use pump
• Does help remove makeup
• Leaves skin feeling fresh and clean

Cons:

• n/a

Price: $240HK

Rating:

Where: Lane Crawford

_{Look Sefie! I’m reviewing a used product!!! *end in joke*}

Whilst in Hong Kong I ran out of my usual toner and so during lunch headed down to Lane Crawford to find myself a new one (did I mention how I loved being able to just walk into a departmental store and feel like I was getting value for money!?)

Anyways, I came across this product, thought I’d give it a go and have officially fallen in love! I know it is suppose to be a cleanser, but it feels like a toner to me because you’re suppose to leave it on the skin, so I’ve tagged it as a light cleanser because it doesn’t actually do a great job at say removing makeup.

How I use this is I make sure to first take a makeup remover to my face, then cleanse it with a foam cleanser, THEN I apply 3 pumps of this to a cotton pad and apply to my face. It does a fantastic job at removing every little last trace of makeup my remover and cleanser missed And it leaves my skin feeling prepped for serum!

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to find an exact match of this in Australia, I THINK Lancome’s Galateis Douceur Gentle Cleansing Fluid may be the same thing only under a different name? The packaging looks exactly the same, but having never purchased this from Australia I can’t say for sure Either way if you get a chance to try this, highly recommend it! It’s a staple in my skin care routine now

Going to make this a quick post / rave about a particular brush I’ve been really loving lately. To be honest out of my “tin” of brushes I use, there are and will always be a selection of them which I consider my HG brushes, and this is one of them.

The brush is by Lancome, and is called the Precision Cheeh brush, which unfortunately is not available at Australian Lancome counters, I purchased this a while back overseas. This brush is perfect for dusting a light layer of translucent powder over my foundation. I love that it is a fluffy flat top brush, it picks up and distributes the powder equally and finely.

I wouldn’t recommend it for mineral powders as I’d rather a denser brush to help buff the powder in, but for a light touch up or coat, this is perfect! Highly recommend I have to stop myself from buying backups of products I love! I just don’t have the space

I’ve never owned a Lancome eye shadow palette before, I’ve always admired them from afar but for some never got around to purchasing one for myself. So when I saw this staring back at me online I knew I had to have it. I’m a bit of a sucker for limited edition pieces, mostly because they usually come in beautiful packaging, another weakness of mine. This is Lancome’s 5 Color Design Palette in Violet Sweetheart, it is a limited Doll Lashes edition.

The palette comes with as the name suggests, five main colours. An all over base colour, lid colour, crease colour, highlighter and a liner. So everything you need for a complete eye look.

These are good quality shadows that apply easily and smooth on the lids, but I wouldn’t consider them highly pigmented shadows. The thing about pigmented shadows is it isn’t always a good thing. The reason is high pigmentation can also mean fall out, especially if you aren’t very confident with your shadow application. This is why a lot of high end brands usually are able to give a good balance between pigmented without the fall out. It does mean you need a few swipes to get the pan-level opacity on the lids.

The only shade I wasn’t keen on was the middle shade, known as the crease. I appreciate that Lancome obviously being experts in their field made their crease shade matte. It’s not a rule I always follow, but generally if you are trying to contour your features, using a matte shade will be more convincing. Unfortunately I could hardly get any colour of the middle shade :/ I really did try digging hard for swatching sake, but even then I couldn’t get a decent swatch.

Apologises for my craptastic photo I’ve been moving my “studio” around to make it easier for me to shoot on the fly, and this photo was taken during the in between phase.

Overall, it’s a really nice palette, I’m happy to own it but I don’t think I’d recommend it to my friends. This set me back $48US from Neiman Marcus, and for that amount you’d want all shadows to work equally well, but it is a cute package and I know some collectors would love to own this for it’s limited edition status, so to each their own.

Wow, July is already over? We’re inching closer and closer to the end of the year! There are going to be some changes to the blog next month, just for one month! All shall be announced tomorrow But for today, let’s get on to the empties, and I’ve been through a lot this month!

Clinqiue Super Rescue Antioxidant Night Moisturiser
This is my 3rd tube of this now? I used to hate the smell for this, but have really gotten used to it~ I can’t say I notice huge changes in my skin, which is both good and not as good. I’m quite happy with my skin as it is and am just looking for product to maintain and maybe make it better? I love that it’s a tube!

Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream
This was okay, not the best out there, but Clinique keeps throwing these into their GWP and so I have another 2-3 to work my way through. It’s good enough for me to want to finish using it up, but not good enough for me to buy with my own money.

Palmer’s Daily Facial Lotion
You can read my review on this here~

Shiseido Pureness Foaming Cleanser
A huge favourite of mine, you can read my review on this here! Loves it, where’s my next bottle!?

Eyeko Graffiti Eyeliner in Black
Grrr, I wanted to love this, but I found it wasn’t as pigmented as true liquid liners and it dried up way too fast for me You can read my review here.

Revlon CustomEyes Mascara
Meh, didn’t like this, gave so-so results and dried up too fast, pass! Read my review here.

Lancome Hypnose Drama
LOVE this, my favourite HG mascara, but oh so expensive I’ll be sure to pick many of these up next time I pass through duty free <3 :) Read my review here~

I think we all know how amazing some of the Illamasqua makeup campaigns are, ever since I first saw their Valentine promotional images I knew I wanted to try it one day. I think I managed to get close, but the job wasn’t quite as refined and neat as the pros. Still, each attempt is another step towards becoming a better artist

I painted and cut the nails myself, and completely painted over my rose (same one used in my Alone tutorial). These were not every day friendly nails mind you, I’m pretty sure I accidently poked / scratched / stabbed myself more than I’d like to admit!

The irony that despite this look being inspired by Illamasqua, I haven’t used a single Illamasqua product, I know the irony only just hit me after filming. Unfortunately Illamasqua can prove pricy so I don’t own that many, but their products are truly amazing

Either way, hope you enjoy the look!

MAC Pro Longwear SPF 10 Foundation – NC20
Prestige Eyeliner – White
MAC Full Coverage Foundation – White
e.l.f High Definition Powder
NYX Eyeshadow – Brown
NYX Eyeshadow – Red Bean Pie
MAC Fluidline – Blacktrack
Savvy by DB Luxury Liner – Shimmering Slate
Lancome Hypnose Mascara – Black *
Stila Kajal Eye Liner – Topaz
Canmake Highlighter – 01
DUO Eyelash Glue
Innoxa Sheer Blush – Rose *
Savvy by DB Lipliner – Poppy
Revlon Colorburst Lipstick – True Red
Dior Addict Plastic Gloss – 854

Products marked with a * were sent for consideration