Top 3 cream blusher

How do you like to colour in your cheeks every morning?  I get very excited about what cheek product to wear every day.  If you haven't caught up with my Top 3 Powder Blusher, you don't know what you have missed!

Today, I want to share with you my Top 3 cream blusher.  I'm slowly growing my love towards cream cheek products.  Reason being I'm not entirely sure if they are my favourite blushers type.  I find blusher should be in powder form.  The logic is a bit similar to my trust is on liquid foundation, rather than on powder form.  Blusher should be powder, be it loose or on the pan.  

But for today, let's forget about my weird rationale on cream blusher; I still have my top 3 that I have enjoyed using and still am loving them.

Revlon PhotoReady Cream Blush won my heart in the drugstore cream blusher category.  I think it is a dupe for Diorblush Cheek Cream.  A fraction of the price of the luxury Diorblush, Revlon offers a long-lasting bright pink colour to your cheeks.  It is quite a creamy texture but within it you can feel that it hydrates your skin, especially good for those dry-skinned girl, like myself.  I normally use my fingertips to blend into my skin which can be done so easily but sometimes when I can spend a bit more time on my makeup, Real Techniques Stippling brush is my best companion when it comes to applying cream blusher.

When it comes to cream blusher, I think Jouer definitely delivers.  Jouer doesn't have fancy packaging but instead, they are functional, honest and gives the best quality and performance.  Inside this little brown square comes a slightly darker shade of coral cream blush.  It is actually a Cheek & Lip Tint but I've only been using it as a cheek tint rather than for my lips as I found it a little unhygienic and would try anything to avoid blemishes to cause at all cost.  Anyway, back to this little box of tint, it tints your skin but allows you to have enough to blend it away in your cheeks to perfection.  Unlike other liquid tint by other brands, this is very easy to blend because of its creamy texture.  It is also because it is a tint, it stays put extremely outstandingly.  

I fell into the Chanel's trap again so when I bought this Le Blush Creme De Chanel Cream Blush (in the shade of Inspiration), I wasn't expecting anything at all.  It was purely to satisfy my desire to own one Chanel cream blush when it was first launched a few months ago, and dreaming of transforming into a Chanel kinda gal once I have this put on my cheeks.

Perhaps the philosophy is that when you least expect something to happen, it would surprise you.  This Chanel cream blush surprised me in a really pleasant way.  It gave one of the most natural pinky finish to my cheeks, and the creamy texture is so easy to blend and works especially well with fingers rather than with a brush. It also manages to stay put for a rather reasonable amount of time.  Thank you, Chanel for fulfilling my dream to own you and to actually enjoy using your cream blush.

Do you feel the same way as me, blushers are meant to be in powder form?  What's your favourite cream blush?

Early Christmas Present from London!

Christmas has come a little early for me in Hong Kong!  Thank you to my friends Mr and Mrs Liu in London.  I have completely forgotten about keeping the parcel I received in the post tonight until Christmas day to unwrap them.

As soon as I saw this little square shape box being wrapped with Space NK tissue paper, I lost my sensibility and ripped off the paper instinctly.  I saw this very cute bauble by this works.

This is This Works' Beauty Shimmer Ball.  The beauty ball is a multi-coloured tinned ball which you can use as a decorative bauble on your christmas tree or in fact, hang it up anywhere in the house to just add that little extra beauty touch to any beauty junkies leading up to the christmas period.

Inside this beauty ball, comes the shimmer balm which you can dab on lips, cheekbones, eyes or décolleté for a subtle shimmer.

I cannot wait to start using it!

I have never used anything by This Works but have heard so many brilliant things about this brand.

Thank you my friend for knowing me so well.

Perhaps this has given you an idea of a Christmas present that you want to buy for one of your friends?

Merry Christmas everyone!

Top 3 powder blushers

I am a total blusher junkie - I love blusher more than any other beauty products in the beauty world.  I don't know about you but when I apply blusher on my cheeks everyday, I feel that it adds to the finishing touch to any makeup look.  I love how they make my look complete, I love how wide a colour range cheek products have; more importantly, I love collecting every single blusher by every single makeup brand.  I'm working on it.

I have just way to many blushers, so to do a blogpost to feature every single one of them isn't a sensible one. I also don't want to bore you to death!  So, I decided to do two posts to feature my top 3 powder blushers and another of my favourite 3 cream blushers.

First up, Chantecaille Coral Reef Palette.  Chanetecaille products are insanely expensive, it's a fact.  But more to the point their products really are amazing.  When it comes to knowing how to create or bring out the best of the features from any woman's face, they know exactly how to do it.

Next up, one of my latest addition to my already overflowing blushers’ collection is by Charlotte Tilbury.  For those who live outside of the UK or are unfamiliar with Charlotte, she is one of the top makeup artists in the UK.  Charlotte is renowned for her rock chic and feline cat-flick eyeliner look.  I had the pleasure to meet with her back in early September 2013 when she first launched her makeup range in Selfridges.

I picked up her very special Cheek to Chic blusher and I have the colour Love is the drug (Yeah rock and roll never dies!!!!)  You can basically use this blusher in 3-way – swirl the outer circle for a more natural look, or if you are looking for a more cheeky finish to your total makeup look, you can rely on the inner circle to pop the apple of your cheeks.  You can also combine the two (swirl & pop) to intensify your look for special occasions or in the evenings.

Finally, a cheek product which I have been longing for absolutely ages which is currently not available in the UK.  Rumour has it though it will land itself in the British High Street from across the pond in Spring 2014.  Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush by Physicians Formula, I picked up in Paris a few months ago.  I went absolutely mental when I saw a whole counter of Physicians Formula before my very eye. 

First of all I love the pop of pink packaging, it is so sweet, so girly!  The cheek palette itself is full of heart shapes embossed on the surface.  It truly has made me a very happy girl whenever I apply this blusher on my cheeks, ‘wink’ and ‘smile’!  Inside this compact cheek product, it has a second compartment where it has a very cute little pink brush.  It isn’t the best brush in the world but it is enough to brush on if you are on the go or when you are travelling.

The colour pay off is quite subtle, and not as bright pink as it looks on the pan.  However it is so it gives such a natural blush finish to your face.  I loved it!

Have you used any of these cheek products before?  What’s your favourite powder blushers?

Stay, don't stray!

I'm not an eye primer wearer, I rely on the power of my dry skin which seems to grasp my makeup pretty well; apart from the occasion panda eyes which caused by some rubbish mascara. 

Until recently I found this Stay, Don't stray primer by benefit sitting at the back of my beauty drawers. I gave it a go and was blown away by it!

This primer comes in a light beige colour, and is creamy in texture. It is multi-purpose as it can be used as an eye shadow primers which you put all over eyelids or as a stay-put primer for concealer, which I haven't tried using it as. 

It doesn't feel greasy or anything and blends very well. It sets opaque although it doesn't offer any colour tone which is quite handy for the next steps of eye makeup.

Here's a few experimental picture to attempt to illustrate (non-scientifically) how my eye makeup differed when I had the primer on or not.  Please note as they were taken on different days... and I tried to take them in an as similar way as possible.

When makeup was first put on at 11am: 

With Primer On

Without Primer on

This was after 5+hours:

With Primer On

Without Primer On

As you might be able to see, my makeup with the primers on seem to look much more intense than the one without.  I did notice a difference personally.  Despite I don't have a big problem for the staying power of my makeup in the past, I did feel that this primer helped in making my makeup staying in place a little better.

Are you an eye primer wearer?  What have you used in the past?  Would you recommend the same one or you have an alternative one that you prefer?

My office beauty essentials

I cannot believe I got myself a job (part time, luckily) just a month after I was back in Hong Kong. It feels surreal working here, it's definitely not for the faint hearted. Working in Hong Kong is very tough, the intensity of the workload makes me feel unbreathable.... But I do feel at least I'm doing something albeit a crappy paid job.

Anyway, I still managed to fill my work drawers with a few beauty essentials which I want to share with you.

My hands get very dry, especially after I wash my hands. I'm currently using up Rose hand cream by L'occitane. I like anything rose scented, it's not too sweet but it's a fresh floral scent that wakes me up. L'occitane handcreams never fail to disappoint, it's moisturising enough but not leaving your hands greasy at all.

As I needed a new, and slightly larger size hand cream I went to Sasa and picked this Hand Veil hand cream for hand and nails by Metholatum. I didn't know what to expect but the reason why I chose this was because I needed a hand cream that is functional and performs. I wanted something no fuss!  It surprised me in a very good way! Not only does it moisturise my hands it also hydrates my nails and cuticles as they tend to go dry and rough quite easily. The moisturising power lasts very long, too. I'm very pleased with it!

Whilst my hands get dry, my lips get chapped! I have just way too many lip balms lying around everywhere. I am using this beer flavoured lip balm by Manufacktura from Prague. It's in a squeezy tube which is very handy when it comes to applying onto the lips. It does carry a flavour but I'm not too convinced it's beer... It doesn't 'taste' alcoholic though. It's a light textured lip balm and it hydrates my lips well. 

I also keep a NYX lipgloss in my drawer at work, too. Sometimes I just can't be bothered to look for my lipsticks inside my makeup pouch from my handbag, coz I'm just way too busy at work I simply don't have time to trawl through my handbag!

What's your beauty essentials at work?

What I have loved this month? November edit

I continue to love what I loved using last month, but I asked myself; what else have I enjoyed using this month? 

I pulled out my drawer in which I keep all my empties inside just in case if I wanted to write about them. Instantly I saw my much much loved Beauty Elixir by Caudalie which I have raved about it man thousands a times. This is probably the 3rd bottle I have finished and I still love it so much. 

I'm a loyal nail polish wearer and I change colours so regularly so it shouldn't be a surprise to myself that I've finished one. Loreal Colour Riche Nails (in shade 828 Flashing Lilac) is a great nail polish range and this pastel lilac colour is by far my favourite amongst my nail collection. Not only is the colour exactly the right shade which flatters my skin tone and it pops, the application and the formula is also amazingly user friendly. It's especially great for a on-the-go application when you need to be out of the door or need to be in bed by 30mins, it never fails to shine and makes my nails look top notch!

A new discovery this month and has surprised me big time has to be benefit Stay Don't Stray eyeshadow base.  In terms of my makeup, I'm lucky as they don't normally smudge all over my face or nor does it melt away by lunch time.  However, earlier this month I found my Primping With The Star  lying at the back of my lip products drawer.  So I picked this eye primer to give it a try.  I was wowed by it the first time I used it.  These days I tend to put on my makeup in the morning and wear them for a good 8+ hours.  I realised that the difference when I put this eye primer my eye makeup stay put so much better than when I don't.  As I said although my makeup doesn't normally move by the end of a busy day, this eye primer helped my makeup to stay in place even better!  I can imagine for girls who have oilier skin/ oily eye lids would benefit from using this primer - try it if you haven't!

Relocating to Hong Kong also means that my skin is also adapting to a new environment.  I found my  skin a little allergic to the polluted air and I desperately wanted to keep to a strict skin routine of having a deep cleanse once a week to make sure that any impurities are drawn out regularly to avoid pores clogging up.  I looked around and wanted to try some Japanese brands but failed to do so yet.  Whilst I panicked I remembered I used up a couple of samples by Aesop and was very pleased with the result.  So I picked up the Camomile Concentrate Ant-Blemish Masque.

I had a consultation back in the shop in London.  I was first interested in trying the Parsley Seed Cleansing Mask but was advised this might be too strong for sensitive skin as parsley seed can be quite potent ingredient for delicate skin.  Camomile is a much gentler ingredient for sensitive skin.   The Camomile Concentrate Anti-Blemish Masque also contains ingredients such as Tea Tree Leaf and Evening Primrose, both of which have healing effects.  I found that it does what it says on the tin which is minimise breakouts and blemishes, what's more is that it helps to clear my skin in a really gentle way.  There is no feeling of stinging at all when put this all over my face.  It is a bit like a clay mask.  When put all over my skin it looks rather clear, as it dries up the masque turned opaque so you would be able to tell it's about time to wash this off.  If you are in the market to try out a new deep cleansing mask, I would recommend you to give this a try.  It is a little expensive (HK$380/ £33) so I would suggest you ask for a sample before you commit to a full size version.

What have you loved this month?

Christmas Shopping Guide 2013: High End Beauty Picks

Welcome to beautyorbread first ever Christmas Shopping Guide 2013 - High End Beauty Episode.  These are all my personal favourites for this year's Christmas Collection by luxury brands.  Of course I cannot buy everything that is available there otherwise, poor Mr. H and I would end up sleeping rough by xmas.  I hope you will like a few things that I managed to splurge on and are inspired when you do your christmas shopping this year!  Have you started doing it yet?

First up..... Dior! When it comes to luxury and extravagant packaging, Dior knows how to do it and does it better than anyone else in my very humble opinion. This year, Dior has launched 3 products in its Christmas Collection: Highlighter, Nail Polish (also a gorgeous manicure caviar set) and Lipsticks.

I picked the Diorific Vernis Nail Varnish  in Winter (20 in UK, or HK$215) It comes in 4 shades, each colour has some shimmery glittery bits in it to make it extra festive!  The gold and glass bottle make it to die for.  I chose this beige/ nude colour as I think you can wear it all year round and not restricted to the party or winter seasons.  I'm sure you can make someone very happy by buying one of these!

Who doesn't like handbags? Especially for girls, your wife, girlfriend (s), sisters; any girls would love to receive a lovely handbag as a Xmas present!

Nars x Guy Bourdin Holiday Collection Limited Edition One Night Stand Cheek Palette could be your next hottest and yet most difficult beauty item to obtain.  

As soon as I knew this was available, I popped to a Nars counter in Hong Kong but was told this wasn't available in Asia Pacific Regions!  It is available in the UK however it seems to be completely out of stock.  

However, you can still get this from Sephora (US$65 or £45).  For any beauty addicts, I think this wouldn't go wrong if you were to give her this.  

Nars is famous for its quality makeup products and it range, it has many star products and this palette, contains 6 shades - which include the most famous Bronzer (Laguna) and a cheek colour (Orgasm).  

It also comes in very generous amount for each shade, with £45 or US$65; I think it is a great bargain, and you would definitely make one very happy girl!

Anteprima latest launch - Lucchetto (F/W 2013/14) could be your next best xmas option! (You can read a more in depth review here)

You can wear this handbag 3-way which suits any occasions that you need: on the shoulder, across the body and as a tote bag.  The size is also perfect for those who carry a little more than just a lipstick when going out.  I used this on a recent trip to Taipei and have found it more than enough to keep all the essentials that I need.  

The handbag is also very agile, too - it's stretchable - you can fit as little or as much as you want to.  It definitely adds glamorous touch to a causal outfit or complement elegantly if you want to dress up a little bit!

I hope that you liked my Christmas ideas - what are you still waiting for?  Time to go shopping!