Sephora VIB Sale 15% Off March 29 through April 6

The online code is CHICVIB. Enjoy shopping!

VIBs are Beauty Insiders who spend at least $350 at Sephora stores, Sephora.com or Sephora inside JC Penny in one calendar year. 

 

Review: Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup

One month of anxious waiting finally ended, especially as I'm racing with the incoming summer in Houston. Finally, Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid Makeup ($35 for 1oz) was crossed out from my to-test list last week when I managed to grab some samples from Nordstrom.

Based on the description from the company and blog/vblog reviews (mostly of UK bloggers), I expected it to set like a second skin, stay put, coverage minor discoloration and blemish and have matte finish. It sounded like a great foundation for hot and humid weather. My biggest concern was the coverage since I have thin skin face (no pun intended) and facial veins lightly visible around my chins, which usually requires a medium coverage foundation.

I tried two yellow-based shades, 1WN2 and 2WN1. In the bottle, the latter is noticeably deeper. When blended out, they immediately darken and look almost identical.

Estee Lauder Invisible Fluid has more pigmentation than a standard moisturizer but still lies on the sheer side. It reminds me of Chanel Vita Aqua Lumiere, but it has more consistency and more creamy texture.

Two prominent pros of Invisible Fluid are long-wearing and weightless. I don't feel like having foundation on my skin at all. For a sheer foundation and even medium coverage foundation, it performs incredibly well. I have a good 10-hour wear without a primer and with settling powder. Also, Invisible Fluid dries matte, suitable for my combination skin with a good moisturizer underneath.

The downside for me, as you may guess, is the sheer coverage. This might not bother you if you prefer no-foundation foundations. Invisible Fluid reduces the redness around my nose and the dullness on my chin. It doesn't even out my skin enough.

Invisible Fluid glides on smoothly and has very fine texture. However, it doesn't smooth out my skin like my favorites Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk, Chanel Mat Lumiere or Dior Skin Nude. This isn't due to the sheerness of Invisivle Fluid. After three layers plus, my skin still looks more or less like my bare skin in terms of texture.

Bottom line. It would be my favorite if it offered more coverage, but that's just me. If you don't bother with the sheerness and yet still love a long-wearing foundation, Invisible Fluid is for you. 

My Beauty Revolution - Back to Basics

Many makeup beginners start from natural to more dramatic looks. I've found myself wandering from the opposition direction. The more I wear makeup, the more I appreciate clean fresh outfits for my face. You've probably realized my taupe craze, my huge haul of neutrals or seamless highlighters on this blog. I also love a pop of color on my lips or cheeks or inner corners of the eyes. It brings modern twists to the classic chic of neutrals.

Hence comes my latest inspiration...

When it comes to flawless complexion, subtle eye makeup yet phenomenal transformation, no one does it better than Koreans, IMO. Recently, I've been obsessed with celebrity makeup artist Jung Seam Mool makeup style. Below is one of my favorites. Her youtube channel provides great makeup tips for almost all types of facial structures, especially different eye shapes although it does feel a bit repetitive after a while.

Groupon Deal: $15 for TheBalm Cosmetics Palettes

What You Get

• For $15, you get theBalm Cosmetics’ Balmbini Vol. 2 palette (a $28 value). The palette includes the following:
  • Four shadows/liners
  • Highlighter
  • Lip/cheek cream
  • Nude lip gloss
• For $17, you get the Nude ’Tude 12-color eyeshadow palette in Feeling Nice (a $36 value).
• For $19, you get theBalm Cosmetics’ shadyLady 9-pan palette with nine eyeshadows and eyeliners (a $39.50 value). Choose from the following options:
  • Vol. 1 Cheetah palette
  • Vol. 2 Zebra palette
  • Vol. 3 Giraffe palette
• Click here to view an image of each option
• An additional $4 shipping fee will be charged at checkout.

I came across the deal a couple of days ago but didn't manage to post it. Still one day left when I print-screened this offer. More details here.

TheBalm Mary-Lou Manizer is one of my favorite highlighters. I haven't owned any of their eyeshadows but have tested them out numerous times in stores, buttery texture, opaque colors and long-wearing.

Enjoy shopping! 

Free Full-size Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer with any Giorgio Armani Skincare

Code: GASKIN.

I checked and they still had Fluid Sheer in 3 Golden Bronze, 10 Golden Beige and 11 Amber.

Enjoy shopping!

Review: Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Trio in 20 Good Earth & 30 Capuccino

Boots No. 7 Stay Perfect Eyeshadow Trio in Good Earth and Cappuccino ($7.99 at my local Target) are my first experience with the brand. I didn't what to expect especially with the longevity of the shadows. Too often I found drugstore eye makeup fades as soon as I finish my full face. There were testers on the rack (really a one notch up for Target) but I was wearing another brand and didn't want to remove it for these eyeshadows. Fortunately, they are really nice, quality-wise and color-wise.  

Stay Perfect Eyeshadow line consists of a quite wide range of color, from neutral to purple, blue, green, peach, pink. All colors are soft and elegant but I was feeling overwhelmed with trendy colors and ended with all neutrals. Good Earth and Cappuccino share almost identical color theme, taupe and soft brown, only slightly different in finish and the depth of color. Cappuccinno is a bit warmer, lighter and more shimmery than Good Earth.

Both are quite pigmented although not at the best of No. 7. The only shade that sticks out is the highlighter. It's sheer, chalky and doesn't stay put, in both trios.

Good Earth and Cappuccino last at least 10 hours on my lids with a standard eyeprimer. They stayed fresh until I removed them, which I think was a huge plus give how soft the colors were and they weren't super opaque. I didn't detect any fall out even with the highlighters. Silky smooth. Blendable.

My complain goes with the packaging. The double-ended sponge-tipped applicators are useless. It doesn't pickup enough color and the C-shaped handle feels odd to my fingers. I also wish the wells for the bottom 2 shades were bigger. They are too narrow for a regular shader brush. Also, the case isn't sturdy; the plastic cover moves around and can fall out if you over-press it.

Bottom line. Great every eyeshadows. They're even better with the price. So easy to use and the result is polish and chic. They're sleek and light for travel but you might want to guard it carefully since the case is kind of flimsy.