Makeup Brushes -Bobbi Brown - Full Coverage Face Brush
Chocoholic2486 3/22/2013 9:12:00 PM
If I could describe the feel of the brush on my face, I would say it feels like the Beauty Blender. This is, by far, Bobbi Brown's softest brush. I use this to apply liquid foundation on my face (although it was meant for the correcting powders Bobbi Brown came up with). This brush applies liquid foundation on flawlessly. It does not form any streaks. I think this is probably due to the shape of the brush. It does not have any defined edges. It is really like the Beauty Blender, only better. If I had to choose between the Beauty Blender and this brush, I will pick this brush, all things considered. The bristles do not shed and it is easy to clean the brush. I bought this for SGD58 here in Singapore - that is pretty expensive. However, for something as good as this and which will probably last for a long time, I say it is worth the purchase.
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Mascara -Lancome - Hypnose Star 
Chocoholic2486 3/19/2013 9:17:00 AM
I bought this for SGD50. Having tried it a couple of times now, I conclude that while it performs what it is supposed to do, I will not repurchase it. SGD50 is a lot of money to pay for a mascara and I don't think I will spend that kind of money on something that I can get for cheaper. Anyway, before using this mascara, I prime my eyelashes. Applying the mascara over the eyelash primer enables the eyelashes to look longer and very curled. It also adds volume depending on how many coats you use and whether or not you brush the mascara wand from the roots upwards. The colour of this mascara is a very dark black. It gives the eyes intensity. If you are not satisfied with the amount of volume you get after applying the mascara, you can always use a black kohl pencil/black liquid liner and apply it across the base of your eyelashes. This helps to fill in the small gaps between the eyelashes, making it look darker and fuller. If you feel that your mascara application is getting clumpy, just wipe the excess product off the wand on some tissue paper. When the wand is clean, the mascara will apply very well. If you want your eyelashes (especially those closer to the nose which are quite short) to appear longer, turn the wand vertically and coat the eyelashes upwards. The thing is, you don't need THIS particular mascara to do the job for you. Maybelline's 'Lashionista' or Bobbi Brown's 'Extreme Party Mascara' achieve the same effect and are much cheaper. Not everything depends on the mascara you use; how you apply it makes a world of a difference.
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Mascara -Shiseido - Nourishing Mascara Base
Chocoholic2486 2/24/2013 3:43:00 AM
On its official website, Shiseido states that this product "create[s] unprecedented impact by dramatically intensifying mascara finish." It "enhances the volume, length and curl of every lash". Why is it called a "nourishing" mascara base then? Anyway, I bought this for SGD40 here, in Singapore. It is an expensive product but it does what it claims - it creates volume, increases length and curls lashes. There is a noticeable difference in how my eyelashes look like after I have applied this base and mascara. It is a base so it is a prep step. I have read reviews where people say that you can wear it alone, without any mascara. Unless you want to step out of the house with white residue on your eyelashes, this is not a good idea. When you are using this base, make sure that all your lashes are fully coated with the product. Once you have done so, you can either wait for the base to dry or apply your mascara when it is still wet. Applying mascara when the base has already dried will mean that it will be slightly difficult to apply the mascara. Mascara glides very well when the base is still wet. How your eyelashes look at the end of it all also depends on how good and effective your mascara is. It complements a mascara; it does not substitute it. Overall, this is a good product which I will consider repurchasing.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Cleansers -DHC - Deep Cleansing Oil
Chocoholic2486 2/23/2013 6:36:00 AM
I have used at least 7-8 bottles of this by now. I like this cleansing oil a lot because I think that it clears makeup off my face very well. I pump out 2-3 pumps of the oil on my DRY palm and then rub my palms together. The rubbing of the palms generates some warmth. With both my palms, I rub the oil all over my face. I make it a point to use some pressure when I am rubbing the oil over my face. I incorporate a facial massage whenever I am using this cleansing oil to clean makeup/dirt off my face. I always follow up by using a cleanser to clean whatever is left on my face. At the end of it all, my face feels clean and soft. I recently purchased another 3 bottles of this oil because there was a discount going on. One bottle containing 200 ml of cleansing oil costs SGD42 here in Singapore. The cleansing oil is not cheap but I have repurchased it several times. This is the only cleansing oil which I have used that has prevented the formation of clogged pores. Before using this product, I always used to get clogged pores. This has significantly reduced the number of clogged pores I have. Overall, this has worked very well for me.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Fragrances -Chanel - Chance Eau Tendre
Chocoholic2486 2/4/2013 8:02:00 AM
This is such a lovely fragrance. It retails for SGD150 here in Singapore so it can be very painful to purchase since it is so expensive! I use this for work and people do ask what I am wearing because it is so nice. The fragrance lasts for a long time and makes me smell and feel fresh. My boyfriend recently bought me the limited edition deodorant from Chanel which goes so well with this. Despite the fact that this is so expensive, I will repurchase it. It is definitely something that I would like to have as a constant in my large (and often, unused) collection of fragrances.
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Stick -Bobbi Brown - Foundation Stick
Chocoholic2486 2/3/2013 8:28:00 AM
I have purchased 3 foundation sticks so far and therefore, have had considerable experience using it. In Singapore, this retails for about $70+ and it is, like in many other countries, quite expensive. I use it when I want to look polished and at my best. I think it may be quite heavy for everyday use and I subscribe to the notion that skin should breathe for as long as one can allow it to breathe. I used to apply this using a makeup sponge but found that the sponge absorbed far too much product. I use the Bobbi Brown foundation brush now. The application is smooth. I apply this bit by bit to ensure that my face does not look overdone.One method is to use the foundation stick to dot my forehead, cheek, nose and chin first and then to spread it out using the foundation brush. The other method is to lift the product from the foundation stick and then apply it on the face. The first method gives you full coverage while the second method gives you medium-full coverage (depending on the layers you apply). I set the foundation with Bobbi Brown's loose powder and the makeup can last for 5-6 hours. Overall, this is a good product. The packaging is good too - you can carry the foundation stick anywhere and not be worried about spillage. I only wish that it was not so expensive.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
BB Cream -Bobbi Brown - BB Cream SPF 35 PA+++
Chocoholic2486 1/30/2013 9:33:00 AM
I was a little disappointed initially when I learnt that Bobbi Brown Singapore did not carry the Medium-Dark shade. They only had 4 shades, with the darkest being Medium. I bought the Medium shade anyway because I thought that it would be an okay match if I applied a darker shade of powder of it. Anyway, they have since brought in the Medium-Dark shade. I can only hope that makeup companies (especially in Southeast Asia) realise that people not only have different skin types but vary in colour too. Anyway, this product retails for SGD59, which is not cheap. I find that it looks best when my face is moisturized. Otherwise, it will leave dry and flaky-like patches which does not look pretty at all. I squeeze a pea-size amount at the back of my hand and dot it around my face and neck with my finger. I apply it with my fingers in a circular motion. When I am done, I rub my palms and place them on the various parts of my face. I find that the warmth of my palms "melts" the BB cream on my face. The application looks better that way. The BB cream has not clogged my pores. It appears to have a calming effect on pimples. No redness is obvious. Also, I think that this may assist in treating dark spots left by pimples too. Expect no miracles, though. It takes a while for the spots to fade. The BB cream provides medium coverage and I have not experienced a problem with it "disappearing" after a few hours. I work from 8 am till 9 pm and do not return home with an oily face. Overall, this is a good product which I will consider repurchasing.
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Makeup Brushes -MAC - 227 Large Fluff Brush
Chocoholic2486 11/3/2012 11:48:00 PM
I bought this brush for about $60. I actually wanted to get a concealer. The makeup artist used the MAC 227 to apply concealer on my blemishes and to cover my under eye dark circles. I liked how the MAC 227 felt on my face but more importantly, I liked the fact that it applied concealer on my face well. Applying concealer on blemishes using the MAC 227 is like applying concealer using fingertips, only more gentle, hygienic and flawless. Like the other reviews state, the MAC 227 is wonderful for blending, applying eyeshadow and contouring. The brush, although very expensive, has several functions. The bristles are densely packed and do not shed. Overall, I will say that this was worth the money.
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Makeup Brushes -Sigma - F82 Round Top Synthetic Kabuki
Chocoholic2486 10/26/2012 3:28:00 AM
I purchased a set of brushes and the F82 was one of them. I use this with liquid foundation. I have no complaints about this brush. It applies foundation on the face well and it does not shed. The grip of the bristles to the brush funnel is quite strong. The effect is comparable to what you get with a MAC 187 stippling brush except that MAC brushes are very costly. The MAC 187, for instance, is about $80. The F82 is capable of giving you an effect that is similar to the Shiseido foundation brush which retails for $40 in Singapore. I read reviews which said that it was difficult to wash foundation off the F82 and that it took very long to dry the brushes. Perhaps, the foundation one uses and how pigmented it is determines how long and how difficult it is to wash the brush. II wash the F82 with a little facial soap (the Bobbi Brown lathering soap) and the foundation comes off quite quickly. I spend no more than a few minutes to swirl the bristles in a drop of facial soap and wash it under running water. It does not take days to dry the bristle. Here, in sunny Singapore, it takes about half a day for the brush to be fully dry. I bought the brushes for about $63. That works out to approximately $13 for each brush. Individual brushes without any discount cost $19 here. They have to be bought online because I do not know of any store that sells them here. For the price you pay for this, the F82 is worth the purchase.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No
Liquid -Bobbi Brown - Skin Foundation SPF 15
Chocoholic2486 10/26/2012 2:25:00 AM
I have this in shades 4.5 (Warm Natural) and 5 (Honey). I use shade 4.5 with the Golden Orange loose powder and shade 5 with the Warm Natural loose powder. I have been using this foundation for almost three years now. Although I have used many other types of foundation during that period, I find myself returning to this. I apply it using either the Bobbi Brown foundation brush or the Sigma F82 kabuki brush. Occasionally, I use the Beauty Blender and the Sheseido foundation brush with it. It is medium coverage so when I have blemishes, they do show up without the use of concealer. As far as the texture is concerned, it is neither runny nor thick. It spreads out on the face, whether I am using a brush or sponge, quite well. I do find that it disappears from my face after a few hours so I would not call it long lasting. The bottle comes with a pump so I can control the amount of foundation I want with little wastage. This foundation is not cheap. It retails in Singapore for about $70. However, it does last for a relatively long period. Of course, this depends on how much one uses in the first place. As a gauge, I use one pump every weekday. It has been a year since I bought the bottles. I'm left with a quarter of shade 5 and three-quarters of shade 4.5. This foundation is not perfection but it has been my best match so far.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful. Was this review helpful to you? Yes No