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Review: Colourpop Makeup Haul + Orange Summer Makeup Look
Monday 28 May 2018 at May 28, 2018
Since a new season is right around the corner, I've been experimenting with new makeup looks to prep myself for my upcoming summer holiday. This summer, I decided to go all out with the colour orange after being obsessed with the Vely Vely single eyeshadow in the shade Sunset G, which is a gorgeous orange with gold glitter. Digging the whole orange makeup look, I decided to pop by Colourpop, because I know that with their wide range of eyeshadow shades, I will definitely be able to find what I want.



I ended up getting more than I should to entitle myself for the free shipping, so in today's post, I will be sharing with you a review of what I got, as well as my Orange Summer makeup look I have created using the products from Colourpop! 


Starting with the eyeshadows, I've picked myself the 1. No Biggie Eyeshadow Palette. This eyeshadow palette comes in a rather flimsy-looking plastic packaging, but for the price, I'd say it's decent since it also comes with a mirror, and it's very lightweight and slim which is great for travelling with. This eyeshadow palette isn't "orange-themed", but I decided to get it anyway because I thought the shades are very versatile as they will be suitable for any occasions. 



There are a total of 2 matte shades, a light coral pink shade and a dark burnt sienna shade. One champagne pink shimmer shade, as well as a warm gold glitter. I have yet to use this palette on my eyes, but I'm definitely digging how glittery the gold is and I can definitely mix it with my orange eyeshadows to create a glitter-bomb sunset look. I must say though that there were quite a number of fall outs from the glitter eyeshadow, so make sure to tap the excess off if you're using a brush.


Moving on, it's not a Colourpop haul if you don't get their super shock eyeshadows, so in this haul, I've got two of them! The first one is called 2. Flipper which is a soft tangerine with metallic sliver glitter. I thought this is a good metallic twist to my warm Sunset G eyeshadow, and surprisingly it's a very wearable shade because of how soft it looks on top of my lids. I think this is the perfect shade to highlight your aegyo-sal, or just spam all over your lids for that iridescent glow. 



The second super shock eyeshadow is 3. Twitterpated which is pretty much a pink version of Flipper. It also has hints of oranges in it which makes it the perfect peachy metallic shade. This eyeshadow really reminds me of mermaids and thus, the sea, and thus, summer.



These super shock eyeshadows are soft and fluffy to touch, so I definitely recommend using your fingers instead of a brush to prevent fall outs.

My final eyeshadow in this haul is 4. Bratty which is a stunning matte, bright, orange pressed powder eyeshadow. I got this eyeshadow together with the case so I can carry it with me in my makeup pouch and again, for $1, I think the case is decent, though, kinda flimsy looking. This eyeshadow is super pigmented and smooth and I think it is exactly what I was looking for.



After seeing countless of Youtubers rave about Colourpop's 5. No Filter Concealer, I finally decided to get my hands on not one, but two of them! I deliberately got both in Light 18, which is probably 3 shades lighter than my skin tone, because I wanted something that will significantly brighten up my under eye area as that's the spot where I apply concealer the most. I am extremely satisfied with this shade because it doesn't look unnatural, and the formula of this concealer is so creamy and smooth that it blends out so evenly without creasing throughout the day. It also has a high coverage which is good news to those who are seeking a concealer to cover up any spots or scars.



You also can't call it a Colourpop haul if you don't get their lip products, so my final two products in this haul are lip products! The moment I got onto Colourpop's website, I noticed that they have launched this new type of lipstick called the Lux Lipstick, and they come in this adorable, trendy-looking rose gold packaging with stars on it! Unable to resist them, I decided to try out their 6. Lux Lipstick in the shade Reverie. I wanted something I'd wear loads during this summer, but at the same time something that's not too out of my comfort zone.

Most of the shades in the Lux Lipstick collection are either very nude or brownish, or they're in crazy colours like blue, purple and green. I decided to go with Reverie because it's more towards the natural, pinky side, but it also has hints of orange in it, which you guys should know is my main colour theme for this summer.  This lipstick glides on smoothly, and as you can see from the swatch, it's very pigmented and has a creamy matte finish. It also contains a blend of natural ingredients to provide ample hydration to your lips, as well as protect them from environmental factors. I think this lip colour is still a little too loud for everyday use, therefore I only use a light layer and it's more than sufficient to brighten up my complexion and add a pop of colour to my lips. 


The very last lip product is Colourpop's 7. Ultra Satin Lip in the shade Felix. Staying true to my orange obsession, I just had to pick at least one bright orange lippie. The warmth in the shade orange makes it really easy to match my wam skintone, but because I'm a medium, I can't wear pale, or light coloured lipstick. The shade Felix caught my attention as I think it's one that will go well with my medium skin tone. The Colourpop Ultra Satin Lip is very pigmented, as all of the products from Colourpop, creamy, and I love that it's not completely matte as I have dry lips and matte lipsticks tend to highlight the cracks in my lips. 


So those are the products in my humble Colourpop haul, using majority of the products mentioned, I have created an Orange Summer Makeup look suitable for any summer parties, events, dates, basically any occasion happening this summer!





If you're interested to watch how I did this makeup look and watch the products in action, make sure to subscribe to my Youtube channel to watch the vlog tutorial when it's up!

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A Beginner's Guide: K-Beauty Skincare Routine (Oily Skin)
Friday 25 May 2018 at May 25, 2018
Want to achieve your favourite Korean celebrities' glass skin? Well, with the right K-beauty skincare products, you can too! Even after years of trending, K-beauty is still going strong, so for those who wants to finally jump onto the K-beauty bandwagon, I'm going to share with you the top 5 essential products you'll need, to form and complete your very own K-beauty skincare routine. Unfortunately, I have oily skin and will be recommending these products based on my own experience, so these products mentioned today will be more suitable if you have oily or combination skin! #teamoily


Every skincare routine should begin with a cleanser because every skincare routine should begin with a clean face. Listed as one of my top Korean skincare products for oily skin, I have to recommend the 1. Cosrx Low PH Good Morning Gel Cleanser. Despite being a non-foamy, gel cleanser, this cleanser makes my skin feels squeaky clean, without stripping away all of my skin's natural moisture. This cleanser has the ability to lower your skin's PH level as high PH levels in our skin are found to cause it to be dry and sensitive which may cause even more skin problems such as breakouts, skin irritations, as well as patchy skin. I love that this cleanser does not has an artificial fragrance, and doesn't leave my skin feeling tight or uncomfortable after cleansing.

After cleansing, we'll need to tone our skin. Toners not only help re-balance the PH levels in our skin to prep it for the other skincare products, but they also help remove any stubborn dirt that are left behind after cleansing. At this age of time, multi-functional products are everywhere, so it's not surprising to find toners with more than just one function. One of my favourite K-beauty toners is the 2. Mandelic Acid 5% Skin Prep Water from By Wishtrend. I have previously done a full review on this toner, as well as mention it in my latest skincare routine video! I love that this toner also works as an everyday gentle exfoliator, so I never have to worry about the build up of unwanted dead skin cells. It feels light and refreshing, and it even has brightening, anti-aging, and hydrating properties! Other than using this right after cleansing, I also love to use this after a workout, or any time of the day where my skin feels like a needs to quick freshen up. If you're looking for a toner with a thicker consistency, you might be interested to try out the Supply Preparation Facial Toner from Klairs. This toner definitely provides more hydration, but it doesn't seem to have the ability to exfoliate.

Next up, moisturize. I'm skipping serums and essence because I myself don't even use them in my day time skincare routine. Since I'm always rushing to leave the house in the morning, I just prefer not to pile up a bunch of skincare products in the morning. If you're new to applying skincare, it's also best to keep it as simple as possible otherwise it'll just turn into a chore! For my moisturizer recommendation, I'm going to recommend the current one I'm using which is the 3. Vitamin 75 Maximizing Cream from By Wishtrend. This daily moisturizer contains 75% of vitamin tree water which is a hydrating and nourishing ingredient, and it also contains natural vitamin E which is best known for fighting against aging of the skin. It has a smooth, thick gel consistency that blends out smoothly into my skin without causing my skin to feel uncomfortable, oily, or sticky. I believe not only #teamoily will love this, but also #teamdry because of how hydrating and soft it makes my skin feels. It also has a mild fresh citrusy fragrance which is definitely a plus in my books.

I'm sure we all know how annoying it is to get a spot at the wrong place, at the wrong time. But it's not the end of the world... If you have a spot treatment product on hand! Using a spot treatment will not only quicken the recovery process, but it will also make it disappear even before you know it. Also listed as one of my top Korean skincare products for oily skin or breakouts, my spot treatment recommendation is the amazing, 4. Cosrx Acne Pimple Master Patch. These patches stays on all night, and even during showers so you won't be caught in awkward situations where you'll wake up the next morning with your dirty patch on your pillow! Yucks. They come in yellow which... Is not really the best skin colour, but they're definitely better looking than any spots. The best thing about these patches is how much they speed up the recovery process of my pimples! I find that it works best on spots where you can see the gunk underneath and it's ready to be "popped" because this patch will just absorb all the gunk out, leaving your spot cleaner and therefore ready to start healing. Depending on how "ripe" your spot is, some of my spots can be gone in just a matter of one night of using these patches so they're no doubt a must-have for me!

Even though I like keeping my day time skincare routine as basic and as simple as possible, I can never leave the house without sunscreen. UV rays is one of the top main causes of aging, as well as other skin problems like skin discolouration (brown spots, freckles, etc), so I always make sure to have sufficient sun protection on before I leave my house. My sunscreen recommendation is none other than the highly raved 5. Cosrx Aloe Soothing Sun Cream with SPF 50. Even though this sun cream is recommended for people with dry skin, I love how light it feels on my skin and it also gives off a cooling effect due to the aloe vera extract. If you have sensitive or irritated skin due to breakouts or sun exposure, the aloe vera extract will also help calm and soothe the irritation! The lightweight formula makes it perfect to apply under makeup without adding a white cast.

If you're keen to try out the products, I have extra good news for you! To celebrate and commemorate cruelty-free brand week, Wishtrend has launched special promotional prices for the brands and products I have mentioned above, and yes, that also means that all the brands I've mentioned above, By Wishtrend, Cosrx, and Klairs, are all cruelty-free! How amazing is that? Enjoy up to 40% off and get 5% additional discount using the discount code "WISH0505" upon check out! This promotion will only last from now till the 31st of May 2018, so don't miss out on these deals, click here to view the ongoing promotions!

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Gifts for Her: Affordable Skincare and Body care!
Monday 21 May 2018 at May 21, 2018
Birthdays, Mother's Day, Valentine's Day, Christmas Day, Anniversaries,... Too many occasions, too little gift ideas? Well, even as a girl, I too struggle at times to think of what gifts to get for all the women in my life, especially when I've been gifting them gifts for years. Over the years, if there's anything I've learnt about gifting gifts to women, it's that you can hardly go wrong with skincare and body care products, especially if they're from a reputable brand, of course. Nobody wants to put anything dubious on their skin. So today, I'm back with another gift guide which will include a total of 5 affordable, gift-worthy (and coincidentally insta-worthy for those insta-babes) skincare and body care products that will sure meet the standards of your receiver!



Did you know that our hands is one of the first places on our body that'll show signs of aging? Well, now you do. And if there's a common fear in all women, it's probably the fear of showing signs of aging. We moisturize our face and neck every day and night, so why not do the same for our overworked hands? First up on the list, I've got the 1. Lavender Hand Cream from L'Occitane (US$21).



I don't think any girl, or anyone really, likes greasy fingerprints all over their phone. Thus, this hand cream is sure to steal the hearts of all with its non-greasy and lightweight formula. Enriched with shea butter, this hand cream will bound to leave their hands feeling smooth and well-nourished.  Lavender is so effective for relieving stress and anxiety that some people actually carry around sachets of lavender to give it a little whiff when they're feeling overwhelmed. Since this hand cream is Lavender scented, it works just as well as a sachet of lavender. If you don't know yet, Lavender is one of my favourite scents when it comes to relaxing scents, and I can assure you that this hand cream smells incredible and non-artificial.


I love how huge this cream is compared to regular hand creams because it looks extra special, plus it's in this cool aluminium tube which gives off an industrial vibe.

We've got well-moisturised hands now, but how about the largest organ on our body? I used to be so lazy when it comes to moisturising my body, but after I finding a body lotion I love, I started using one religiously every night, and it honestly makes such a huge difference! The key to developing the habit is to find a body lotion that smells and feels incredible, so here, I have 2. L'Occitane's Aromachologie Relaxing Body Cream (US$38).



Although this body cream has a non-greasy formula, I personally prefer to use it at night because of its rich texture and 100% natural soothing scent (*no artificial fragrance used!). Made with a blend of essential oils along with sweet almond oil, this body cream is sure to help your girl relax with its comforting yet captivating scent. My favourite part about applying body lotions at night is waking up to ultra smooth and soft skin! This body cream also comes in this hefty glass tub which will look bomb in any flat-lays vanity.

If your receiver is already someone who's into moisturising their body, why not let her try out something new! You guys know I love my bath and shower oils, so it's only right that I introduce you once again to the goodness and wonders of a shower oil! Even though it's not very commonly used here in Singapore, there are actually a huge range and selection of shower oils available in the market. Being one of L'Occitane's most loved products... I feel like the 3. L'Occitane's Almond Shower Oil (US$18) is a safe bet.



This shower oil not only cleanses your body like a regular body wash, but it also hydrates and nourishes your skin with the almond oil. If you're new to shower oils, don't let the word "oil" fool you! Shower oils will not leave your skin oily at all after you've rinsed it off, but the thin layer of oil left on your skin, will keep it feeling extra soft, silky, and smooth for the entire day. Another reason why I love shower oils is that it never fails to make the bathing experience so luxurious and therapeutic. The subtle calming nutty fragrance makes it suitable for day and night use. Also, how cute is the packaging of this shower oil!


Enough love for the body, now let's go back to the face. No woman enjoys seeing her skin sag and turn wrinkly. Therefore, a firming skincare product is definitely a must-have in every woman's vanity. Glamglow has been making headlines ever since it entered the beauty scene, and it has been proven multiple times that their products are definitely worth the hype! So for my first skincare recommendation, I suggest treating your lady to an at-home-facial with the 4. Glamglow Gravitymud Firming Treatment (US$48)!



The Glamglow Gravitymud Firming Treatment is a hassle-free peel off mud mask, most suitable for all the busy #girlbosses (or #justanybusygirls haha) out there. Simply apply a generous amount with the mask brush provided and wait 20 minutes for it to dry before peeling it off. This mask is made to instantly leave your skin looking firmer and more lifted! The mask is originally white, but once it has dried, it will transform into a cool silver chrome shade - the perfect time to snap a shot for Instagram. If you're gifting this to someone older like your mum... Well, my mum is pretty old-school, so I think the colour-changing technology will really give her a fun and new experience!

My very last skincare recommendation is for those who don't even have 20 minutes to spare for a face mask, but still wants to pamper herself with a short, but effective mask session. Here I have the 5. Origin's Out Of Trouble 10 Minute Mask (US$25), and yes, like the name says, you'll only need 10 minutes for this mask to work its wonders.



In Chinese, "acne" are called "青春痘" (qing chun dou), direct translating to "youthful spots", because technically you only get acne when you're young. But acne is not to be confused with pimples! Pimples can still haunt you even when you're done with puberty. That said, even my mum have pimples occasionally and like I said, she's kinda old-school... So she actually uses baking soda to deal with them which I actually think might be too harsh. For all younger, oily girls out there like myself, pimples are a frequent uninvited visitor, but thankfully with this mask, it promises to effectively get rid of all the nasty oils, whiteheads and blackheads within 10 minutes to keep pimples out of sight. If putting it on her entire face is too much, she can also have the option of using it as a spot treatment!


And that's it! Those are my 5 skincare and body care gift recommendations for all the wonderful women in our lives. You can get everything on this list from Cosme-de.com, and while you're there, don't forget to input my discount code "thatxxrin15" for an additional 15% off all your purchases on Cosme-de.com!

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Review: Korean Skincare - iUNIK
Wednesday 16 May 2018 at May 16, 2018
I'm back with a long overdue review of a Korean skincare brand, iUNIK, who contacted me months ago and asked if I would like to pick out 3 products to try out. Pronounced as "i-unique", this non-mainstream Korean brand focuses on minimalistic skincare, which is why the packaging of their products are all very simple, and clean looking. A good news for those who are lazy when it comes to skincare, the term minimalistic skincare also means simplifying your skincare routine, so you don't have to use a ton of skincare products to see improvements in your skin.



Like I said, this review is very long overdue, so I have actually been diligently using these products for the past month. It wasn't compulsory for me to do this review, but since I have been loving them so much over the month, I thought I'd share them with you guys!



Beginning with the first product, I decided to pick the iUNIK Tea Tree Relief Toner, mainly because I have oily skin and this toner is most recommended for people with oily and sensitive skin. This gentle toner has a blend of both Tea Tree and Centella Asiatica which are two very popular ingredients known to be best for treating acne prone skin due to its natural ability to heal wounds, reduce redness, and skin irritations. Other than improving your acne condition, this toner also claims to have other benefits such as whitening, moisturizing, and wrinkle care.


This toner has a light and watery texture which is my favourite type as compared to thicker toners. I love a toner that can instantly make my skin feel freshened up and that's exactly what this toner does as it contains tea tree which provides a slight minty feeling. It has a really mild calming scent as it contains chamomile oil, which makes it not only soothing to apply on, but also soothing to smell!



Moving on, I chose the iUNIK Black Snail Restore Serum because I am turning 26 this year so I've started to actively incorporate anti-aging products into my skincare routine. Black Snail is known for its ability to fade dark spots, heal acne scars, and restore the elasticity of your skin, making it one of the most popular ingredient found in Korean's beauty products. Apart from black snail extract, this serum also contains black beans, black sesame, black rice, kelp and eggplant to boost its anti-aging functions.




If you've used a skincare product that contains black snail, then you'll know that black snail has a natural gooey texture. Therefore, this serum is slightly gooey, but surprisingly it still feels light on my skin. As this product comes with a dropper, I simply use 2 drops every night for my entire face. Prior to using this product, I do have a couple of stubborn acne scars on my jawline, however after this products every single night for 2 weeks, I've started to see my spots fading away which is a very exciting sign for me! Although I can't guarantee that the scars are fading a 100% due to this product, I haven't seen my skin reacting badly to it, and also since it is an anti-aging product, I have continued using and loving this for the rest of the month.



The final product is my favourite out of the 3 and it is the iUNIK Beta Glucan Daily Moisture Cream.
The reason why I chose this moisturiser in the first place was because its main ingredient is Beta Glucan, which is an ingredient I've never heard of or try before, so I when I saw it on the website, I just spontaneously thought this would be a great opportunity to try out a new ingredient for my skin.


Instead of a cream like texture, it's actually more of a thick gel texture which I love because it blends so smoothly onto my skin and even though I have oily skin, it doesn't make my skin feel oily or sticky in any way. I love that it comes in a tube packaging because it makes it more hygienic and convenient to use since you dont need to stick your finger or a spatula in it to get the product out. I think the packaging also makes it really easy to travel with as well which is why Ive been bringing it along with me to the gym so I can ensure that my skin is well-moisturised after I've washed my face.


So what is Beta Glucan? Well, Beta Glucan is an ingredient which is apparently 20% more hydrating that Hyaluronic acid, a popular ingredient commonly found in beauty products due to its hydrating properties. Perhaps it's because of this, I noticed that I only need a pea-sized amount of product every time I use it and it's definitely enough to keep my face moisturised for the entire day. Other than its moisturising function, this cream also has anti-aging, whitening, and calming functions which makes it also suitable for people with sensitive skin.


Overall, I think the products from iUNIK really made me open my eyes, once again, to non-mainstream Korean brands. I love how gentle their products are and how they emphasis on the development of the product itself rather than spending costs on complicated and fanciful packaging, which is why all their products are extremely affordable! If you're planning to get more than 1 product, make sure to check out their skin care sets which are basically bundles at a discounted price!


The Battle of High-End Liquid Foundations Part II (Gucci, Chanel, YSL and more) + swatches!
Thursday 10 May 2018 at May 10, 2018
Liquid foundations are slowly becoming one of my weaknesses. Please tell me I'm not the only one... But there's just something so satisfying about applying them on and watching your skin transform as you blend it out!


That said, I couldn't help but to picked out a handful of high-end liquid foundations from Cosme-de.com to try out! From the previous round of high-end liquid foundation battle, I compared a total of 5 high-end liquid foundation from brands like Tom Ford, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, etc and a number of you have sent in your feedback telling me that it was helpful and informative. Therefore, I  thought I'd do a part 2 today with the new foundations I got from Cosme-de.com.


I've always struggled with breakouts, but for the past 3 to 4 months, my skin has been its best. So instead of wanting something with a fuller coverage, I've been loving the healthier, natural glowy look. Hence, today I've picked out a total of 5 high-end liquid foundations that all claims to provide a radiant, glowy finish.

1. YSL Awakening Foundation SPF22 / PA++ US$48


The first foundation we'll be looking at is the YSL Awakening Foundation. This is YSL's bestselling liquid foundation that aims to counter skin fatigue with its main ingredient, Ruscus Extract. Apart from having anti-inflammatory properties, Ruscus extract is also known to leave your skin feeling refreshed and energized. With that, the YSL Awakening Foundation promises to cancel away skin dullness to improve your skins' luminosity and brightness. This foundation also contains Vitamin E to protect your skin from free radicals, as well as SPF to protect against UV rays. It is said to be able to provide a flawless, weightless, radiant looking finish for up to 8 hours of wear.

Packaging


This foundation has the standard YSL packaging. It comes in a glass cylinder shaped bottle with a gold cap and a gold pump. Overall, there isn't anything too fanciful about the packaging, but I really like the gold accents as it made it look elegant and classy on my dressing table.

Shade, Coverage, and Finish


I decided to get this foundation in the shade BD25 Warm Beige which is a light to medium shade with a bit of yellow undertones in it. I find that this shade really compliments my skin tone even though it's probably 1 shade lighter. I personally prefer going for slightly lighter foundation shades because I find that those that matches exactly, tends to oxidize and darken during the day. Picking a lighter foundation also helps brighten up my complexion, making it look more awake and radiant. Since I have yellow skin, I don't really like foundations with too much yellow undertones, but I find that the yellow hues in this foundation is very subtle, especially after blending it out.


I prefer using a brush to apply this foundation rather than my beauty blender, as the damp sponge will absorb most of the product due to its slightly watery texture. Using a brush, or my fingers, allows more product to stay on my skin and therefore providing a higher coverage. In general, I'd say that this foundation has a medium to high coverage. The finish of this foundation reminds me of the Bourjois Healthy Mix foundation which is a drugstore foundation I used, 3-4 years ago. It has a slight radiant finish which mimics the appearance of healthy, moist looking skin. I love the finish of this foundation and I think it will be perfect to bring on summer holidays.

Overall rating

Overall, I give this foundation a 4.5/5 because the shade is a good match to my skin tone, and the finish is exactly what I'm looking for - that natural, healthy looking finish!

2. Gucci Lustrous Glow Foundation SPF25  US$54


Next up, we've got a foundation from Gucci. Sticking to glowy finishes, I decided to pick Gucci's Lustrous Glow Foundation. This foundation aims to provide a radiant finish, accompanied with a soft glow by making use of luminous oil, powders and polymers. Its lightweight texture is specially designed for smoother application and coverage that is buildable according to your needs.

Retailing at US$54, this is the most expensive foundation in the list!

Packaging



This foundation has hands down the best packaging out of all the foundations we'll be talking about today. Appearance wise, this foundation has the most exquisite looking packaging. The highlight is the cap which has the classic Gucci pattern textured onto it. On the top, there's also the Gucci logo embossed in gold. My favourite part about the packaging is, weird enough, the gold and black pump. I think the gold and black combination really amplifies the classy, vintage style of the foundation. Being the most expensive foundation in the list, I'm just glad that the packaging reflects the heavy price tag of this foundation.

Shade, Coverage, and Finish


I decided to pick shade Light 030 which is positively the lightest shade among the 5 foundations I am featuring today, as you will be able to tell from the swatches available below. Despite it being so light in comparison to my arm (in the swatch photo), my face is lighter than the rest of my body, so thankfully it still blends in well with my skin tone.


Instead of the healthy, moist type of glow I was looking for, I find that this foundation gives off a more luxurious type of glow. It instantly brightens up my skin, most likely due to the luminous powder this foundation is infused with. The coverage is a good medium to high which is great for people with redness, discolouration, and acne spots like myself. 

Overall rating

All in all, I'd give this foundation a 4/5. Even though this foundation is on the pricier side, I think the finish looks very elegant and flawless, and it will be great for special occasions such as an important date, a wedding, or events. I didn't give it a 5/5 because it isn't what I was looking for - a healthy glow - and since the bottle is glass, it is very heavy which makes it a little troublesome to travel with.

 3. Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation SPF 15 / PA+ US$50


Anyone who knows makeup will know Bobbi Brown, and despite being a makeup junkie, I've never owned anything from Bobbi Brown! Therefore, for this blog post, I decided to pick the Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation. Having oily skin, I love that this foundation is water-based and hence oil-free. The water-based formula also contributes to a fresh, natural, and hydrated glowy finish. The coverage of this foundation is buildable from light to medium due to its weightless formula. This foundation also comes with SPF 15/PA+ which is the lowest out of all the foundations that include SPF.

Packaging

Like all the other makeup products from Bobbi Brown, this foundation comes in a straight forward looking packaging with a black cap and pump. If you're into the whole minimalistic aesthetics, this foundation will sit well on your dressing table.

Shade, Coverage, and Finish


For this foundation, I have chosen the shade 3 Beige which might be a 100% match to my skin tone. That said, I don't really like it as it's quite yellowish and doesn't really help brighten up my complexion.

Since this foundation is water-based, it has a really watery texture which I'm not that fond of as it feels rather diluted. Using it with a beauty blender also means that the sponge pretty much absorbs at least 50% of the product, leaving only 50% on my skin. Therefore, I highlight recommend using a brush instead since the water in the beauty blender will only dilute it further. If you love foundations that are extremely lightweight and extremely natural looking, you will love this one. The coverage is a light to medium, but I assume with the lightweight texture, it can be built up to a high coverage. As it's watery, it does have a hydrating, moist finish.

Overall rating

Overall, I give this foundation a 2/5 as I'm not fond of the watery formula as well as the shade I've chosen.

4. Kevyn Aucoin The Etherealist Skin Illuminating Foundation US$51


I've never heard of the brand Kevyn Aucoin, but the sound of this foundation intrigued me to try it out. This foundation claims to provide a natural yet luminous glowy finish, by incorporating the use of ultra-fine pearl pigments that will brighten up the skin and minimize dullness and shadow. This foundation is also great for people with dry skin as it contains hyaluronic acid that boosts hydration. This is the only foundation in the list that doesn't come with SPF.

Packaging


If I were to rank the foundations in terms of packaging, this would probably come in 2nd place. This foundation is probably the lightest one of all because it's the only one that comes in a plastic bottle. The packaging reminds me of the Tom Ford Traceless Foundation because of the plastic bottle, as well as the hidden pump. Although the pump is "hidden", I'd prefer it if this foundation was to come with a cap to prevent it from spilling out. The highlight of the packaging is definitely the black to plum gradient effect.

Shade, Coverage, and Finish


Out of the 16 shades available, I decided to go with shade EF05 Light which is actually a good match to my skin tone even though I'm definitely a medium. Similar to the YSL foundation, this shade also has a very subtle yellow undertones that blends in very naturally.


The finish of this foundation is actually a very natural soft matte which is rather unfortunate since I was looking for something non-matte. But I would say that this foundation reminds me of the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation which is actually one of my go-to when it comes to matte foundation. It also has a medium to high coverage which is great because then you won't need a lot of product to even out your skin tone.

Overall rating

I give this foundation a 4/5 because it's very comparable to one of my favourite liquid foundations, the Fenty Beauty one. The shade is also a great match to my skintone and I love how light and slim the packaging is so it's super convenient to pop it into my makeup pouch.

 5. Chanel Healthy Glow Foundation SPF25 / US$47 PA++ color: N30


The last foundation in today's list is one that obviously fits the theme, and it is Chanel's Healthy Glow Foundation. This foundation is said to be able to help your skin appear healthier by reflecting the freshness and radiance of healthy, natural glowy skin. To coincide with the natural skin-liked finish, this foundation has a light texture and sheer finish, to enable your skin to breathe freely from underneath while protecting it from UV rays with SPF25.

Packaging


Again, as part of the brand, Chanel's makeup and skincare products all comes with similar and simple packaging. Even though it looks small, it contains 30ml of product which is the same as all the others mentioned in this list. It is also quite heavy because of the frosted glass bottle. Personally, I'm not a huge fan of the packaging because there were a couple of times where I tried to close the cap but ended up pumping the foundation inside the cap which was a huge waste of product. On top of the cap, there's also the Chanel logo embossed in beige.

Shade, Coverage, and Finish


For this foundation, I have chosen the shade N30 which is most likely 1-2 shades lighter than my skin tone. It is also the only foundation that doesn't have the yellow tones in it. Instead, this shade has more of a pink undertone which is great for brightening and cancelling out any yellow tones in my skin.


As you can see from the photo above, this foundation has a thicker consistency and thus holds its shape better once its pumped out. It does feels heavier and seems to stick better onto my skin. That said, I prefer using a damp beauty blender with this foundation as it makes the blending process a lot easier.

Overall rating

I give this foundation a 3.5/5 as it does have a good medium to high coverage, and I find that it also adheres well to my skin so my skin looks smooth even after a long day out. However, it didn't seem to give me that healthy dewy glow I was looking for, and the shade is a little too pinkish for my liking, which is why I deducted 1.5 points out.



(L-R: Gucci, Chanel, Bobbi Brown, YSL, Kevyn Aucoin)

And that wraps up part 2 of The Battle of High-End Liquid Foundations! I know high-end foundations are very pricey, and while I do love drugstore foundations especially when it comes to everyday use, for special occasions, I like to pamper myself with a high-end foundation as I find that there really is a difference in quality. If you're hoping to try out a high-end foundation for yourself, I highly recommend you to check them out on Cosme-de.com because of their competitive prices. I've done tons of price comparisons and Cosme-de.com always have the best deals.

On top of their discounted prices, make sure to utilize my discount code "thatxxrin15" upon checking out to get an additional 15% off all your purchases! Happy shopping!