Sleek Palette Swatches and Review. Acid, Snapshot, Ultra matte V1, Ultra matte V2, Sunset, Bad Girl, Storm, Au Naturel, Oh So Special, Sparkles.

Sleek palette has always been one of my favorites, I always keep at least one sleek palette in my kit when I'm freelancing. I've had 3 sleek palettes before and now I bought 7 more. Surprisingly, the Matte colours are frankly not as amazing as the shimmery or iridescent colours. Which I don't blame them because it is not easy to make a very pigmented matte eyeshadow. But as I said, most of them are pretty amazing. Especially for it's price! It retails for $9.99 euro each, around $100HKD each.  

Good thing about them is that now they have names for each eyeshadow, which in the older version they didn't have that. They've changed the packaging a little as well. When you open up the palette, the mirror doesn't fall 180 degree downwards anymore, it can actually stand up on it's own when you put it on a table! This is really important because the mirror is basically pointless if it can't stand up on its own. 

This is how I store them, I've bought this container at Japanese home in case you wanna know :)

Snapshot

Wasn't expecting much from this palette at the beginning, but it didn't disappoint me at all. These colours are perfect for spring and it's really shimmery and pigmented, even the matte ones are pretty good.
con: the blue colour on top left "summer breeze". I love blue, hoping it will show up a bit more bright on the skin, but it's still a good colour on a paler skin colour :)

 Acid

This palette still has the old packaging. 

Look at those neon colours! SHOW STOPPERS!! They appear more powdery than the others which is normal, because that's how all the neon colours are.
cons: That White, second to the top left.. I was like whattt???.... It's not even showing up!!! bad bad bad!

Au Naturel 

The colours looks pretty similar with Naked 2 palette from urban decay, definitely a good dupe. pretty amazing quality let me tell you.  

The Top row really disappoints me, only maybe 2 of the colours are visible, I don't see myself using the colours on top except for the one on top right and maybe the white and the visible light brown.
The bottom row, however, AMAZED ME! There's no reason why I wouldn't love it. It has solid matte colours and some gorgeous Shimmery ones that I don't hate at all!
I can see many people would love to use this palette. It's perfect all year round, you can create smoky looks and very neutral looks with this palette. I love every single colour in the bottom row!    

 Ultra Mattes V2 Darks 

These matte colours are better than the ones on other palette. I was quite scared that they would not show up. But they are pretty pigmented, all of them, even the white one. Which makes me wonder why don't they make the same white on other palettes as well. Because this one is simply so much better that the other white or beige tone colours I've swatched  on other palettes!
These colours reminded me of princess Jasmine from the Disney movie Aladdin. The colours are bright but dimmed at the same time. I think these colours works really well on olive and brown skin tones.
But I can see myself using them in autumn/ winter for photoshoots.  

Sparkles 

Suprisingly, I think this is one of my favorite palette from sleek (that i own). They are sparkly so nothing will go wrong with it! The reason that I love it so much is that some colours are matte with a very light touch of sparkles on top. Some are iridescent and some are in-your-face shimmery! Amazing combination of colours. The colours in this palette goes well with the Ultra matte V1 Darks palette... it will add just a little spark to the look. Again, I think these colours will especially go well with olive and darker skin tones. look at that orangy red on the 3rd to the left on top row....delicious! 

 Ultra Matte V2 Brights 

Very unexpected colours for a matte palette. These colours are definitely not wearable for every day looks, not for me. But these are definately fun colours to wear for special occasions....i don't know a circus clown show maybe? Just kidding. These colours are wonderful to work with when doing creative and colourful make ups. 

Oh So Special

My Favorite palette! Everything is very pigmented except for the useless vanilla colour. I hated it so much I have to do a close up shot on it.
but everything else is beautiful, so wearable and the pinks are just amazing, perfect for pink lovers and valentines day. Even the browns are so pretty, it will work amazing as an eyebrow powder. and yes, I use eyeshadows on my eyebrows, even on my clients, all my friends does and even my teachers. so YES! you can use it on your brows! just not the shimmery ones. "Gift Basket" is an amazing lid colour. I would wear that everyday if i could! and "celebrate" is like beauty marked from MAC, but except this colour works better than MAC's "beauty marked"! :D for a much cheaper prince as well! with the money for a single eyeshadow from mac you can get an entire palette from sleek!!! OHH MAHH GAAAD GO GET THIS NOW!! 

Why can't they just make the vanilla colour they have in the "Ultra Matte V1" Palette? It's not the exact same shade but at least that colour showed up and this.... doesn't work at all. 

what? what's wrong? nothing's showing up! 

you can't even see it... it's right there, can you even tell? 

Storm 

Look at that! This is also one of my favorite palette from sleek. I've had this palette for quite sometime. I've been using it so much that i can say that it works like wonder. I adore this palette. These colours works on almost everyone. nothing much to say about it... see it for yourself. This is a must have in my opinion.

This palette is in the older packaging...and when i swatched them.. i found out that it is more creamier and pigmented than the newer palettes. I Don't know what have they done to the newer palettes, I just like the way it shows up and blends for the older palettes. Maybe I've used them for a long time that's why I feel comfortable using them. But my first impression to the newer ones is that it's not as pigmented as these older ones i've got. 

Bad Girl

look at that amount of pigment. All the colours are at least visible to the eyes i mean... some colours on the newer palettes doesn't even show up on skin. These colours are perfect to create smoky looks :) Love this. The pigmentation on this palette is definitely stronger than the newer ones.. even the matte colors are very creamy and blends wonderfully. 

Sunset

I love reds. I've instantly fallen in love with this palette when I got this like a year ago, because of the reds :) out of all 3 palettes I had, before buying all these new ones, I didn't really get to use this very often. Simply because these shades are not easy to use on everyday look. But I absolutely adore every single shade in this palette. 

Although the lighter matte colours doesn't really show up on skin and it's not as pigmented as i've imagined, I still think that sleek palettes are very versatile. love the design of the palette, the big mirror... I need to carry around at least 1 sleek eye shadow palette every time i go out. No matter for work or just going out. It's in my emergency kit. a single palette, most of them, could help me create multiple looks and change from a day look to an evening look. love it. A black eyeliner, mascara and sleek palette, I can't go anywhere without them! 

Do check them out, they are definitely worth the money! What else can you ask for! $100HKD for 12 amazing colours... I mean... they are just amazing.... go check them out!

NOTD: Essie Not Just A Pretty Face

So last Saturday I went by a nail polish boutique recommended by my good friend Vanessa (you may know her from the other posts on this blog), I was hoping to pick up the widely loved mademoiselle by Essie, but found this little baby instead.

Not just a pretty face is a beautiful strawberry milk color with no shimmer. I picked this up because it looked more pigmented on the swatches the boutique provided than mademoiselle. The color is incredibly gorgeous and really springy, but the only complaint I have with the nail polish is that it's too runny and not pigmented enough. One coat will only give you a very pale pale pale base coat like effect, but it's difficult to apply because of the runnyness of the polish. Polish from the handle of the brush will rush towards the brush to ruin your coat before you have time to react. I wonder if all Essie polishes are like this.

Rimmel Apocalips review

Yeah, so I know I'm late on the bandwagon to review the rimmel apocalips, which everyone and their mother had already tried. 

Since their debut, I asked my friends in the UK to help me get some, I got them in 400 Nude Apocalips and Big Bang.

I know I'm lazy and used the same picture as the haul post, please ignore the concealer.
Left: Nude Eclipse
Middle: Big Bang

I apologize for falshing you all with my horrible acne scar by not wearing makeup before the lip swatches....I'm too lazy -____-

Big Bang

Nude Eclipse

Nude Eclipse is a pink beige nude color with no Shimmer. Looks HORRID on me in real life, the photo made it look 100 times better. It looks really unnatural in real life. Big Bang, on the other hand, is a gorgeous blue red that brightens up my complexion. I would describe the product as an opaque gloss or a gloss/lipstick hybrid, or i guess it could be called a lip lacquer. What ever it is, it gives opaque color (your lips will not show through no matter how light the color of the product is) with a very nice shine to them (though not really as shiny as a real gloss is, but close enough).

Top: Nude Eclipse
Bottom: Big Bang

The packaging is very futuristic and space-ish, with a unique doefoot applicator. As seen in the photo, it is hollow in the middle, quite similar to the applicators of the YSL glosses (without the water drop shape). The hollow allowed the applicator to pick up enough product for a single application. The applicator is slanted enough for precise application (although you do have to be quite steady handed).

One thing I really dislike about the apocalips is their taste and smell. They taste and smell like AWFUL plastic. The two colors have the same scent but for some reason I can tolerate it with Big Bang but I just cannot bear it on Nude Eclipse. I don't think I've seen other bloggers comment on their scent, but I am incredible aware of it.

Do not purchase if you hate weird scents in lip products.

UK haul!!!!

The best perks of having friends who study overseas is that you have access to stuff that you can't get in HK.
Today my UK 'order' came (meaning I met up with a friend who came back home) and I am sooooooooo excited to try out these products


This is what I got from boots and sleek makeup:

 2 Effaclar Duo (simple because it's so much more expensive in HK, and with the 3 for 2 offer, they cost like 100HKD each)
La Roche Posay Toleraine Dermo-Cleanser
Rimmel Apocalips in Nude eclipse and Big Bang
Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in 2 Light
Sleek Contour Kit in Light
Sleek Pout Polish in Bare Minimum

From left to right: Rimmel Apocalips in 600 Nude Eclipse and 400 Big Bang, Collection Lasting Perfection concealer in 2 Light

Left: Pout Polish in Bare Minimum
Right: Contour Kit in Light

Contour Kit in Light (highlighter color is more peachy in real life)

OMG the packaging is so dainty!!

Let me know if you want detail reviews on any of the products (except for Effaclar Duo, which I already reviewed here)

Spring 2013 Romantic Rainbow makeup look

Spring 2013 trends are all about Romance, most ads this season feature a very princessy look with the model being blond with a porcelain complexion sporting princessy wavy hair, wearing very soft and sweet make up...  So I was inspired to create this look, with an Asian twist to it. A look that every single girl with different hair colour and skin tone could look gorgeous in!

1. Apply this muted Blue colour on the outer crease, top and bottom
2. Pad on a white eyeshadow and blend it upwards, this works as a base for the green colour
3. Open your eyes, look straight into the mirror and apply this pink shade to your inner crease

4. Apply this green (simliar to mac's lucky green) on the center of the lids, top and bottom
5. Apply this yellow right between the green and the pink colour to make it look more smooth

6. apply this orange colour right at the tear dut area
7. use fingers to pad on this gold colour on top of that

8. use a brow gel with a mascara wand to apply on brow hairs, this is to make the brows appear lighter
9. use the remaining brow gel to fill in the brows with an angled brush
10. use a brown eyeliner, line your eyes with a wing at the end.

11. apply this pink colour on the highlight areas of the cheek bones
12. apply a touch of this bright orange colour on the highest point of the cheek bones
13. apply false eyelashes
14. apply a light pinkish tone lip stick

There you go! Although I've used many colours to create this look but since the colours are very soft, I think this is definitely a wearable day-make up look. For fun-fairs ( with a ballon), weddings, brunch, special events, etc.


Hope you enjoy :) <3 

Vanessa.

Bourjois Healthy Mix

Left to right: Healthy Mix serum in 52 vanilla, Healthy Mix in 53 Light beige, Healthy Mix concealers in 53 Dark Radiance and 52 Medium Radiance

Before the last summer, I rarely use liquid foundation, just BB creams and powder foundations. Then I saw reviews upon reviews about this amazing foundation. I decided to give it a whirl. The Healthy Mix foundation promises to give a perfectly glowing complexion and toned skin for up to 16 hours, I personally have not had the thing sitting on my skin for that long, but I can say it lasts pretty well throughout the day. Bourjois describes it to be of perfect coverage in a semi matte finish, it is oil-free and "maintains essential skin hydration". From my point of view, it has more of  a light to medium coverage (more lenient to the medium). But it is indeed semi-matte, it looks very similar to real skin. Please do note that you will be able to see tiny shimmer in the foundation under strong sunlight (only one here or there, not easily detectable unless you are really looking for it). The shade 53 is perfect in mid-summer when i catch a tan, but now it is slightly too dark for me.

The foundation comes in a light plastic packaging with a vacuum pump that I really like (no wasting the product).

The Healthy Mix serum is lighter than the original in both the formula and coverage. It is described to be a gel foundation providing 16 hours of radiance boosting, even, revived complexion with a semi-matte finish. Interestingly the coverage indicated on this bottle is rated by three squares, with only one opaque square, I assume that it indicates the foundation to be of light coverage. It also claims to be an "instant blending gel, flawless complexion, undetectable coverage".  I think that it does give a very undetectable coverage, it blends in nicely with my skin and mimics skin texture nicely. The shade 52 is a perfect match for my cheeks but when used all over the face, it looks too neutral-pink (my cheeks are more neutral and my t-zone is slightly darker and more yellow) to match my neck, but still works in the winter when i'm more pale and generally more neutral in undertone. This foundation gives a more dewy finish than the original healthy mix, but unlike the original, it does not contain any shimmer. I find the texture of this foundation very similar to an oil free moisturizer, like the Shiseido Mattifying oil free moisturizer. The foundation comes in a plastic bottle with a regular pump.

The concealers are very creamy and longlasting and of medium-full coverage. As with the foundations, 53 is more yellow and 52 is more neutral. 53 is an exact match to my t-zone areas, whereas 52 is just a tad too light even for my cheeks at this time of the year (spring, awkward transition between winter pale and summer tan). They are marketed as a radiant and anti-fatigue correcting concealer with an oil-free and moisturizing formula. It seems they would like it to be a under-eye concealer, but personally I find it more fitting to conceal the rest of the face with this concealer than under the eyes. I have quite dry under eye areas (then later in the day they will be oily as hell, such a troublesome combination) and I do not find this concealer moisturizing at all. On days when my skin is drier, the concealer exacerbated the problem under the eyes. With this concealer, you have to be a bit careful, too thick a layer will make it look cakey, especially around the eyes. The concealer contains shimmer particles that are bigger than those found in the original healthy mix foundation, but contains fewer particles, so again, it's not really detectable unless you are looking for it. The shimmer does not make your face look shimmery. The concealer is packaged in a very sanitary squeeze tube with a slanted end (similar to packaging of the lancome juicy tubes). You only need very little of the product to cover a large area, the amount sampled on my hand in the photo below and slightly more will be sufficient to covering all my acne scarring on my face (which are small clusters on the hollows of both my cheeks, the apple of my right cheek, a small corner of my chin and any active acne and or scars on my forehead).

Please do note that the concealers are not a 100% shade match with their corresponding foundation shades.

They all claim to have various fruit extracts to help with radiance, hydration, anti-oxidant...etc and have strong fruity scents. The scents are not noticeable beyond initial application. But stay away from these if you are sensitive to fragrance or do not like fragrant face products. In my opinion, I think the scent is quite pleasant.

Top row: concentrated  Bottom row: spread out
Left to right: Healthy Mix Serum in 52, Healthy Mix in 53, Healthy Mix concealer in 53, Healthy Mix concealer in 52