Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Escape To Panarea Eau De Toilette & Discover Vulcano Eau De Toilette

Escape to Panarea and Discover Vulcano are the newest additions to the Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue fragrance family. Enticing and penetrating, these romantic scents were inspired by the rugged yet hospitable volcanic landscape stretching from Panarea to Vulcano.


Escape to Panarea


Name: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Escape to Panarea Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 283 for 50 ml
Made in: UK

Escape to Panarea is a fruity yet heady grown up scent, where the air of sophistication is balanced by an underlying sweetness.


Distinctive Calabrian Bergamot and Pear are topped off with charming nuances of Jasmine and Orange Blossom over a dreamy background of Ambergris, Patchouli, Tonka Beans and Musk. Taking a whiff of this fragrance will immediately stir one into planning for a big night out.


It has a sultry aspect to it which makes it perfect for the evening but it is also equipped with some sharpness so it does not feel overly cloying. The scent lingers on the skin for hours on end.


I believe that now is not the most apt timing for this for this comparison (at least this stands true in the Northern Hemisphere. It should be fine everywhere else, ha!) because the flacon is practically summer in a bottle with the delicate champagne accent and crystalline exterior.

The full ingredient list for Light Blue Escape to Panarea:
Alcohol Denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Coumarin, Citronellol, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Geraniol, Cinnamal, Farnesol, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2).

Discover Vulcano


Name: Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue Discover Vulcano Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 256 for 75 ml
Made in: UK

The woody-chypreolfactive Discover Vulcano has intense swirls of Italian Lemon and Ginger mingling with aromatic Cypress and Lavender and finally topped with earthy Haitian Vetiver, Cedar Wood and Ambrox.


There is something distinctly masculine about it (which sets it apart from women's fragrances). I have skirted the fence and worn a few men's fragrances in the past... with Discover Vulcano, I doubt that I can get away with it, not without garnering double takes!


It is sexy, intriguing and a scent that I want my significant other to wear. Times like this, I wish that I had a brother to give his take. Nonetheless, I am convinced that it is a scent that most males would appreciate.


From an aesthetic point of view, the packaging would have seemed much higher quality as a whole if the entire cap had been metal. Escape to Panarea has a plastic cap too, but somehow it does not look out of place.

The full ingredient list for Light Blue Discover Vulcano:
Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Geraniol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citral, Eugenol, Citronellol, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2).

Escape to Panarea and Discover Vulcano are available at leading department stores and perfumeries, from RM 206.

Disclosure: Press samples.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Etude House Princess Happy Ending Review: Fairy Glitter Shadow, Rose Cheek Blusher, Apple Red Lips, Jasmine Nail Kit

The Princess Happy Ending collection literally blew my socks off. How could it not, when it whisks the whimsy of Disney and the creativity of Etude House in one breath?



Princess Happy Ending Fairy Glitter Shadow



Name: Etude House 에뛰드하우스 Princess Happy Ending Fairy Glitter Shadow 프린세스 해피엔딩 페어리 글리터 섀도우 #1 Pink Glass Heels 핑크유리구두
Price: ₩ 8,000 for 4.5 g
Made in: Korea

#1 Pink Glass Heels 핑크유리구두 is a vibrant muted fuchsia. The pigmentation is great and it almost looks metallic when I apply it. To its credit, it is easily blended out for a more subtle look.


If it was toned down slightly (aka less glittery), I would be all over it. That said, the neutral shades are calling my name because the formulation is to die for. And if I may say so myself, the product brings L'Oréal's Infallible Eyeshadows to mind. Would anyone who has tried them both kindly make a comparison?


Princess Happy Ending Rose Cheek Blusher



Name: Etude House 에뛰드하우스 Princess Happy Ending Rose Cheek Blusher 프린세스 해피엔딩 로즈 치크 블러셔
Price: ₩ 9,000 for 4.8 g
Made in: Korea

#1 Pink Shine Rose 핑크빛 로즈 gives a natural, impossible to overdo, cute pink iridescent flush. It is maddeningly sheer, just like its predecessor, the Lock'n Summer Cushion Blusher.


Given the fancy box, I thought that the Etude House team would also place an emphasis on the packaging for the product itself. The wholly plastic ensemble lowered the heft and also made the compact feel cheap (sorry, not sorry). If a mirror was added, the situation could have been salvaged slightly. Slightly being the key word here.


Princess Happy Ending Apple Red Lips



Name: Etude House 에뛰드하우스 Princess Happy Ending Apple Red Lips 프린세스 해피엔딩 애플레드 립스
Price: ₩ 9,000 for 3.5 g
Made in: Korea

Despite what your eyes are telling you, Apple Red Lips is a rosy red, much like a Pacific Rose apple (below) instead of the pictured Red Delicious (above). So sorry for this, my camera refuses to work with reds!


It feels light, moisturising and gives the lips a juicy shine. It does all these without compromising on colour payoff because the pigment shows up very well. If you are on my wavelength lipstick wise then please do ensure that you give it a look. I will most definitely pick up more of this and perhaps Purple Rose Lips as well?


Princess Happy Ending Jasmine Nail Kit



Name: Etude House 에뛰드하우스 Princess Happy Ending Jasmine Nail Kit 프린세스 해피엔딩 쟈스민 네일키트
Price: ₩ 6,500 for 1 box (8 ml ×2)
Made in: Korea

The Jasmine Nail Kit is equipped with a gorgeous dark teal polish (#1 Antique Mint 앤틱민트) and a glittery bronze polish (#2 Magic Lamp 매직램프).


Their quality is consistent with Etude House's regular nail polish lineup, in which one is able to achieve maximum opacity with three coats. They are accompanied by a nail sticker sheet featuring charming configurations of golden lamps and swirls.


Like? You can buy them from the newly launched etudehouse.com!

(Source: Promotional images are from etude.co.kr/)

Disclosure: Pink Bird samples.

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Philosophy The Microdelivery Peel

Want to have skin smoother than a baby's bottom? Look no further!

(Source: philosophy.kr/)

Name: Philosophy 필로소피 The Microdelivery Peel 더 마이크로 딜리버리 필 인
Price: RM 260 for
Vitamin C/Peptide Crystals 60 g
Lactic/Salicylic Acid Activating Gel 60 ml
Made in: USA

The Microdelivery Peel is a two-step, in-home revolutionary peel that delivers Peptides and Vitamin C to the skin as it is being rapidly exfoliated. It is ideal for all skin types.


Step
Massage the crystals on clean, dry skin in circular motions for a minute.


The full ingredient list for The Microdelivery Peel Step :
PEG-6, Sodium Bicarbonate, Oleth-20, Glyceryl Stearate SE, Silica, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Tocopheryl Acetate, Retinyl Palmitate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Tribehenin, Sorbitan Isostearate, Palmitoyl Oligopeptide, Beta-Carotene, Isopropylparaben, Isobutylparaben, Butylparaben, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

Step
Apply the gel on top of the crystals and massage for two to three minutes. Rinse thoroughly.


The full ingredient list for The Microdelivery Peel Step :
Aqua/Water/Eau, Lactic Acid, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linoleamidopropyl PG-Dimonium Chloride Phosphate, Salicylic Acid, Polyquaternium-10, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben.

I have only used it once, so I can only vouch for one claim. But the immediate and remarkable results (from the horse's mouth hahaha) convinced me that I had to spread the word quickly.

☑ Smooth and resurface rough textures
☐ Minimise the look of fine lines
☐ Brighten and even skin tone

Note that Step contains Lactic Acid, an Alpha Hydroxy Acid that will increase your skin's sensitivity to the sun and particularly the possibility of sunburn. Apply sunscreen and limit sun exposure while using this product and for a week afterwards.

Like? You can get a box of your own at Sephora stores nationwide for RM 260!