EOTD: Coffret D'or TD Eyes 04 Grey Tones

Thanks for the various EOTD photo tips from everyone who commented yesterday! I was pondering over the issue of EOTD photos and hit on the idea of taking the photo from the side, at an angle. I also stood near a window (I had no meeting this morning, so I could take some time to grab a photo with my camera phone, haha). I think it produces a better EOTD photo, even though the eyeshadow colours are still not showing up very well, it is an improvement over yesterday. As a result, I'm happy to show you another EOTD, as requested, using Coffret Dor's Winter 08 TD Eyes 04 Grey Tones eyeshadow palette and Star Dazzling Liner DB03 from my mini Coffret Dor haul. Please ignore my crazy eyebrow, dark circles and scary line under the eye (haha I tried to photo edit it but it didn't work well). I applied it mostly like the Coffret D'or tutorial in this link, without the irridescent pearl colour, D. (A note: I wear glasses and work in a very conservative environment, so I tend to keep my eye makeup simple. I also don't line my bottom lash with eyeliner because I find that accentuates the dark circles.) Fuz asked about blue Star Dazzling Liner DB03 liquid eyeliner, so here's a photo of it, alone, before the eyeshadow application. The eye liner goes on smoothly but requires heavier application, it's probably better to put this liner after all eyeshadow application, because it flaked off as I was blending my eyeshadow. It also keeps flaking off as the day goes by. Irritating! I'm quite keen to buy more Coffret D'or if the colours and texture of the new Spring 09 SA Eyes are as good as TD range. This palette I have is very smooth indeed. I'm also looking forward to the new Shine Drape Rouge lipsticks. I've been using my Full Styling Rouge Glow everyday this week! What I think I really need is a heated eyelash curler but I've not seen any around here, maybe I'm not looking at the right places. I hate that my lashes are not curling up properly. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Coffret Dor Lipstick PK 228

This review is on the lipstick I bought over the weekend from Coffret Dor. I didn't notice which range it's from, so I searched the internet and found it's called the Full Styling Rouge Glow. It is retailing for $46SG in Singapore and is available from all Kanebo Counters (Kanebo is available in OG, Takashimaya, BHG and Metro). It's been a long time since I used lipstick, because I don't like the dryness, especially those long-lasting formulas. Then, even the moisturising ones used to stick to my lips in a way I didn't like. Most lipstick colours are also too pigmented, which I also didn't like. But this lipstick has none of those problems. When I swatched it at the counter it felt sheer, glossy and moisturising. So purchased it and it didn't disappoint. I used my lipbrush to apply this and it feels like a gloss. It seems to visually plump my lips up too. The colour is a natural but not completely bland or nude. It imparts a slight pinkish glow. This is what it looks like on my lips. I don't feel comfortable posting my face on the internet, so this is as far as it goes for me posting parts of myself haha, which hopefully no one can identify. The colour on the lipstick below. I didn't capture the colour accurately, it is less bright and red than seen here. The colour on my lips is closer to the real-life shade, but keep in mind, it applies more sheer on the lips. I'm not sure how pigmented my lips are compared to other people, but if I don't apply anything, I do look very pale and abit like bloodless/sick! Haha. So, you can get a good idea of how sheer the lipstick can be. Overall, this is one lipstick I like, I would consider getting more if there are other colours that attract me. Meanwhile, I'm watching Witch Yoo Hee on tv now and it's sucked me in! I need to get the DVD disc set! Haha. They're eating Ja Jang Myeon now on the show and it's making me hungreeee. I love Ja Jang Myeon (both the Korean and the Chinese versions). © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Mini Coffret Dor Haul

Happy Valentines Day! I did some shopping today and one of the places I went to was the Kanebo counter to look at the Coffret Dor line. After Fuz listed Coffret Dor as one of her favourites, I decided to give the makeup line another try. So far, I've only got their Christmas 08 Party Coffret palette and I wasn't too happy with the eyeshadow texture. Today's shopping experience was good! I found the colours very attractive and bought the Winter 08 eyeshadow palette (really smooth, like Fuz said, very different from the party palette) and some items recommended by the SA which I might not have purchased otherwise. There was a gift-with-purchase promo of a set of skincare and a bag, but I didn't want the skincare so I was given some makeup instead. Such an accomodating SA! I think I saw the Spring 09 collection, but maybe not. I'm not sure. Th SA told me these are new colours but I don't think so. There'll be a special makeup promotion in March, when a Japanese MA will be in Singapore, so I think maybe that's when the Spring collection will launch here? I heard the Shiseido Macquillage Spring 09 collection will also arrive in Singapore only later in Feb or early March. Anyway, I might review the items one-by-one later. For now, I'll show you what I got. The Winter 08 eyeshadow palette in purple-grey, blue liquid eyeliner (it is dark blue when drawn on the skin) and a lipstick (very sheer and moisturising, not at all like those thick lipsticks that I'm afraid of). The gifts: Quite a useable bag, a makeup pouch, Testimo (eyeshadow, lipstick), Coffret Dor (mini/tester size powder) and Kate (nail polish). Oh and I was at the Kinokuniya magazine section and spotted a shelf full of Japanese magazines related to Korean TV and Korean male actors! Incredible! I never realised!!! © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Kose Eye Fantasist, Kanebo Lunasol and Coffret Dor Report

I have no photos of my eyes for this report, because I realised the camera phone isn't able to pick up the colours at all, even if I wore heavy eye colours! (And I don't have time to take nice photos in the morning with my DSLR ... rushing to work) ... And also ... I'd prefer to avoid showing my face or any parts of it ... But I wanted to make some personal comparisons and evaluations about the eyeshadows from Kose (Eye Fantasist) and Kanebo (Lunasol and Coffret Dor Party Palette) that I bought the other day. I've included some swatches on my arm for sample. I'm beginning to think maybe I've bought colours which might be too light for my skin tone but for my eyes, I feel colours that are too dark darken them even more ... Hard to find a balance ... (Also, my skin tone is not as yellow and dark as it seems in the photos here. I can't seem to adjust them to get the acurate colour ... but the yellow light helps to bring out the eyeshadow colours a little more.) On to the reports ...

Kose Eye Fantasist (Moonstone/BE353) For both times I used the eyeshadow palettes, I used Kose Eye Fantasist (SG$30plus) liquid eyeshadow (shown above) as a base (I was inspired by Bittenbefore!). The Kose SA recommended me Moonstone/BE353. She told me my eyes are too dark and need something to brighten them. I really found it helped to brighten my eyelids and give them a "lift" as the colour is neutral but bright enough and there is very subtle shimmer that lasts through the day. I found that with this as a base, eyeshadow colours were more "visible" on my lids, compared to other times when I did not use any base, even if I did use concealer to hide my dark circles on my eyelids. So it was a good thing to have bought Eye Fantasist as a base ! I'm so in love with it, I have decided I need to go back and buy 2 more colours I was eyeing. Maybe next month, as I've busted my personal "beauty" budget already. Kanebo Coffret Dor (Sweet Dressy - Limited Party Palette Christmas 2008) Next, I will talk about Coffret Dor Sweet Dressy Palette. (Eyeshadow on the right, lip glosses on the left). It costs SG$50plus. After alot of indecision, I bought Coffret Dor's party set because I really liked the case and I liked the idea of having lip colours together with the palette. I chose the Sweet Dressy purplish-pink palette in the end, because I thought it might be useful to try more "colourful" and sweet colours instead of my usual muted/natural eyeshadow preferences. I used the eyeshadow on Tuesday and I found the colours helped give me a light and fresh feeling. I might have piled on too much eyeshadow though, because I found my eyes very irritated by the eyeshadow powder. It floated into my eyes through the day and I had watery eyes the entire day. As for the lip colours, they are very sheer and moisturising. However, even though I'm a lipgloss user (I dislike the feel of lipsticks), I still find the Coffret Dor lip glosses are too light and lack staying power. I do like the colours but I think they might be a bit too "young" (bright+shimmery) and light for me. I also think I should have gone with the Noble Dressy combination instead as I originally intended. But overall, it's a good option to have, perhaps for use on weekends, casual Fridays or on days when I need some cheering up. Lunasol Winter 2008 Limited Party Coffret - Eyeshadow Palette In comparison to Coffret Dor, I truly *LOVE* Lunasol, which is the 4-colour palette eye shadow from Lunasol's Limited winter release Party Coffret 2008. Firstly, when I used the Lunasol eyeshadow palette today, I found the colours more suitable for me. I love the subtleness of the colours, which make me look fresh yet, not overly madeup. The eyeshadow is very fine and goes on smoothly, not powdery at all, even though it is a powder eyeshadow. I had an intention to look for better eyeshadow that doesn't hurt my sensitive eyes, but I never realised something like Lunasol is possible. I might have been just buying too much cheap eyeshadow. I confess right now, that I am completely sold on the quality of Lunasol. This quality was not so evident when I tested the shadow on the back of my hands, but is completely evident when I apply the shadow to my eyelids.

The party coffret is selling for SG$90plus for the whole set of eyeshadow palette, liquid eyeliner, blusher, nail polish all contained inside a gold purse (There's a picture of it in an older post below). Overall, I find it very worth while, because an eyeshadow palette from Lunasol is already SG$70plus.

Conclusion Overall, I found my favourite combination in Eye Fantasist as a base and Lunasol eyeshadow for colours. While I like the freshness of Coffret Dor's colours in the party palette I bought, I might not be buying anymore Coffret Dor. I think I will keep my money to buy Lunasol in future. I will talk about the hairsprays I bought in another post. I do have some reports on them! :D

Shopping And More Shopping!

I went shopping yesterday determined to buy some Japanese cosmetics but though I spent more than 2 hours walking about trying the colours, I ended up not getting any. I did have a thought I might still go back and try out Lunasol and Coffret Dor again, just to satisfy my yearnings. I don't understand why I am so hesitant. (But there's a later development from today ... which you can find out if you read on ...)

Anyway first, about yesterday though. I found a good concealer and powder surprisingly, from Mac! Why do I say surprisingly? I say that because I always thought Mac is not suitable for me, because it seemed so American-focussed and I thought their colours will be more for Western skintones than Asian. But I was totally wrong. I went to the Mac counter after checking out Japanese cosmetic counters and Bobbi Brown, so I was thinking, I will try my luck with Mac. Interestingly, I spent only 2 minutes talking to the counter girl about concealer and powder, and in my heart had already decided I will buy those colours she recommended. Even before she let me try them on my face! So, when she said, "Let's try on your face," I had full confidence it will be a match and truly, they were good matches, plus the concealer is both moisturising and conceals well. I used both this morning, the powder over my Legere BB cream and felt my face looked very smooth, finished yet natural (I apply with a brush). I'm now a huge Mac fan and convert. I believe I will keep buying these base products in future as they are both good and not that pricey for the quality and great finish they produce. And will probably explore their colours too in future. In addition, I cut my hair and bought some hair products in the effort to try give my hair some volume. I can't help my hairloss. It runs in the family on my mom's side, we all lose hair early, but I could try to do the best with what I have. I bought velcro rollers to roll my hair after I showder in the morning, to create some volume. I am trying to avoid heating products like hair dryers to hopefully keep whatever hair I have left, in a healthy condition. My hair dries very fast anyway, due to the lack of it. LOL! I also bought hair spray that I saw on Bittenbefore's blog - Air Arrange! And more stuff... here's a photo of all the things I bought yesterday! I overspent, truly! (How could I have spent so much on so little???) I have to say, the clay(?) shampoo is really good! It doesn't foam very much but cleans off everything without stripping the hair dry. It says alot that I've found this a good shampoo, because I have really oily scalp but limp and dry hair that's really a terror to manage (bad hair days everyday). This shampoo doesn't have sodium lauryl sulfate. Maybe that's the key. Anyway today, I was so stressed at work, so right after I completed all my work at the end of the work day, I ran out of the office and drove straight to Takashimaya. Then, I immediately bought the Kose and Kanebo items I fought against buying yesterday ... And though I feel I've spent waaaaaaay too much, I feel so contented now ...