MAC's Gentle vs. Chanel's Rose Temptation

Make-up Art Cosmetics

     I attended a MAC Cosmetic seminar last week (or was it 2 weeks ago?) that was pretty fun. There were two guest speakers/artists there named Stephan and Genvive. Originally, Genvive chose me to be her model for the seminar but then the esthetics teacher had to complain that "it was unfair if the artists chose their own models". Really now?! She suggested that it was fairer to put every attendee's name into a bag and randomly select volunteer models. I thought that was fair until I noticed that she put all of her students' names from her class into a separate bag, and the rest of ours (hair, makeup, and everyone else) in another bag. Which means that no matter what, somebody from her esthetics class will get to be a volunteer model for the day. Am I bitter? Hell yes!! If anything, its the makeup people that should get the "special treatment" to get the personal opportunity to learn from the MAC spokepeople, not the esthetics people. They do facials and massages, not makeup. GAAAHH Just rethinking about this makes me so angry. I had fun though and learned a lot of pretty interesting stuff in 2 hours.

     Did you know that MAC was originally founded in Toronto?! Yayy for something cool that's Canadian LOL! But of course, as most cool Canadian companies go, they were bought out by Estée Lauder. So much for cool Canadian T^T.... I know there are a lot of people who feel that MAC is not "cool" because it’s not high-end enough. Are you kidding me? Just because they went from providing products to only industry professionals to providing products to the everyday consumer does not mean they lost any credibility. MAC is one of the most biggest - if not THE biggest - cosmetics providers in all of the fashion industry. That's HUGE. The quality of their products are good and are fairly priced. Well... usually ;) $7 eyeshadow from the drugstore sounds much better than spending $17 on an eyeshadow from MAC but the quality of the product (finely milled powders, pigmentation etc) does not compare. If you're looking to invest in a good product then MAC is the way to go.

     Here's my take on companies: if they specialize in something then most likely its the good sh*t and all their secondary comings are either pretty decent or trash. For example, Chanel is first and foremost a French fashion house. That's what the specialize in - haute couture and ready-to-wear items. Their next services are handbags, perfumery, cosmetics etc. So how does Chanel fair in comparison with MAC who specializes in makeup? Well lets do a mini comparison shall we? I'm going to compare the Chanel Joues Contraste powder blush in Rose Temptation to the MAC Mineralized blush in Gentle, as well as give you a mini review on both blushes (I'm on a roll today eh? HAHA)

     Chanel's Rose Temptation is a Fall 2010 LE blush. For $47CAD you get 4grams(0.14oz) of product which is on the steeper side in terms of pricing goes. It has a light pigmentation but is more powdery than it is pressed. I think this is the result of this particular Fall 2010 blush collection being "baked" and as a result is not as finely milled (apparently Chanel JC blushes in EU are baked; this is a first for the NA line). This means that a light hand is important here because even though it has a light pigmentation, the product gives off so much excess powder that you end up over-applying the colour. "Mistakes" could finish 4grams of product pretty darn quickly and that would be such a waste of $47.

     Rose Temptation is a darker and duskier pink with hints of brown. On NC20-25 skin, it will give a naturally flushed appearance. NC30+ could still wear this colour, depending on the application pressure and brush used but the brown in this blush will definitely appear more pronounced. It looks shimmery in the pan but once applied, its almost matte. I dislike the brush that comes with this blush so I love to use my MAC109 instead. This wasn't a must-by for me but I got it because I love vintage rose colours :)

     MAC's Gentle cost me $26.50CAD for about 3.5grams(0.11oz) of product. Although this mineralized blush is also supposedly baked, it is not as powdery. This means that it will probably last longer than Rose Temptation even though it has less product. Another bonus? It's cheaper by $20! That's my kind of deal haha!

     It is generously pigmented as compared to Rose Temptation, but with the right brush and application technique this blush can be extremely buildable and pretty! The colour reminds me of raspberry ice cream/mauvey-pink but with a hint of gold. It is pinker than Rose Temptation. It's not overly shimmery so my oily gals can still use this product! I like to apply this colour with my MAC130 brush (love this for blushes lately!).

Fantasy Makeup

     Boy am I behind on blogging. I have a written list of stuff I'm supposed to post up and I'm behind by 6 T^T... I have all the pictures taken and everything but I've been swarmed with so many things lately that I haven't found the time to blog about current (or should I say "past" now) events. Tonight's post is a little backwards. What I mean by this is that today's post is actually based on today's events which I wanted to share even though I have 5 other blogposts I'm technically supposed to put up before this one. I guess I'm cheating a little on my blog >:D

     All I did today was makeup, makeup, MAKEUP! My legs feel so sore from standing all day at the Richard Robinson photoshoot I was doing today (future post with pictures coming soon!). I honestly have to applaud all the models who had to stand out in the -18C weather and model some not-very-winter-appropriate fashions. I stood outside on set for about 10 mintues and had to jet because IT WAS FREEZING out there!!! I preferred to return to the makeup/hair room, which although was hectic as hell, was warm. I've been up since 5:30am because the makeup part of the photoshoot started at 8am this morning. I finally got to go home and rest my feet after a long 11hr makeup-centered long day. Needless to say: I am BOOKED!!

     I finished off the second half of the day doing some fantasy-inspired makeup. I love makeup and all, and while fantasy makeup is fun because you get to be creative and play with fun colours... It does wear you out a bit because it takes longer than your typical every-day makeup application. Here are some of the looks from tonight, as well as a demo by the ever-so-lovely Kim :)

My kid sister might kill me for posting pictures of her on here... But here's the fantasy-look I did on her: DEAD FLOUNDER ;)

Stylish Jsinn :)

     I just wanted to share my super duper handsome little cousin JSINN. He came over for a sleep-over the other day with some other kids and we made lasagna and played games. Out of nowhere, he's like "I want to get a mohawk". I was floored! HAHA! "Don't you mean a fauxhawk?" He looks at me and fusses with his hair: "I want my hair like THIS. I want my hair to come up like this. It happens to me sometimes when I wake up in the morning". BAHAHAHHA! He's adorable really. So I went on to explain to him the difference between a mohawk and a fauxhawk; of course he really meant the latter. My aunt wasn't too thrilled because Jsinn's only 6 and apparently a fauxhawk is too street-like... That evening we cut his hair anyways but a shorter version of a fauxhawk as to meet her halfway et voila~~~

Styled by Yours Truly ;)

Missha BB Cream vs. MAC Select SPF 15 Foundation

   Food food food... That’s all I’ve been blogging about so far. So here’s my first blog post on makeup! I’ve been meaning to write some product reviews but it just takes so much longer than doing food posts LOL! I actually already wrote a blog post about this exact topic but it got deleted and auto-saved blank by accident! So here’s to round two of writing the exact same blog post! 

How... Nostalgic...

   The first item on the list is the Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream. Let’s talk background: BB Cream stands for Blemish Balm Cream and was popularized by Korean Celebrities. There isn’t a wide range of shades for this product which is such a bummer because it’s becoming such a popular product on the Western side of the world too. These are the following shades offered:

No. 13 Milky Beige = NC10-15

No. 21 Light Beige = NC15-20

No. 23 Natural Beige = NC25-30

No. 31 Golden Beige = NC35-40

  

   Although I’m an NC35, I bought shade No.23 and I personally think it looks fine. It blends magically into my skin and trust me when I say a little will go a LONG way!! As with most BB Creams, the colour is a little grayish-whitish-ashy... Not because I’m not matching myself to the “right shade” but because of the high SPF in the product. Missha BB Cream has an amazing SPF42. Most Western foundations only offer SPF 15. The consistency of this product is obviously creamy but it has a very buildable coverage. This means that yes, girls with good skin can still use this product as long as it’s applied with a light hand. Even if you “accidently” pack on mounds of the stuff on your face, it won’t cake or crease. But do trust me when I say that this product will give you a major white cast if you apply too much (Hello Casper’s Cousin!). Less is more, ladies. And like I said, a little will go a long way and will provide you great coverage.

   The packaging is very travel-friendly and convenient. It comes in a tube with a pump and secure nozzle lid. I have never experienced any product leak/explosion in my bag. I really like foundations that come with a pump because it’s so much more hygienic and bag-friendly. A “fair” price range for this product would be $15-20CAD for a 50ml tube (taxes and s/h already included!) This product promises to “lighten skin tone by healing visible wrinkles and blemishes with excellent skin-cover ability, and prevent skin aging through effective whitening and anti-wrinkle properties”. I’ve been using my Missha BB Cream for over a year now and while I can’t say much for its ability to heal blemishes or wrinkles, I will say that this product has not broken out my super sensitive oily acne-prone skin. I’ve worn this product for over 12 hrs (busy busy days! Bad, I know..) and only required some light blotting. There is some decent sebum control power in this product, but I wouldn’t skip out on primer and/or blotting sheets ;)

   I like to apply this product using my Sigma Sigmax HD Flat-top Brush (F80). I absolutely love the Sigmax Trio Brushes; I will write a full review soon. The bristles are super soft and dense which allows you to evenly spread the product all over your face while blending/buffing it into your skin for a natural finish. Even with the typical BB Cream ash-effect, I find that No.23 suits well with my NC35 in that it covers my acne scars and looks natural. If anything, it BRIGHTENS my complexion – no ash-effect here. When you first dispense this product, it looks so gray and unnatural. But if you apply it with the right brush, and remember to blend blend blend... Then you will honestly fall in love with BB Creams! Here’s half my hand with No.23 blended in. You can’t really see a difference IMO... But I’ll let you decide that for yourself. 

Any guessers as to which side is natural vs. BB Creamed?

   I previously owned a MAC Select Foundation but I’ve since then returned it. Fortunately, both of my younger sisters bought the MAC Select (one’s an NC30 and the other an NC40) so I was able to steal it from their rooms to swatch for this post MUAHAHAHAHA >:D This is a liquid foundation that comes in about 18 shades (NC20-50, NW15-47) and comes with SPF 15. MAC Select is a water-based foundation which means that it won’t clog your pores or irritate even sensitive skin (still test-swatch it just in case!) What this also means is that the coverage, while it is still buildable, is light-medium. I don’t suggest applying this type of foundation with a sponge as it will soak up all the product (spongebob!!!) and you’ll end up dispensing more than you really need. Denser brushes such as the Sigmax HD Brushes or MAC190 are recommended. Stay clear of using the ever-so-popular duo fibre brushes (ex. MAC187) with this product because it will leave streaks on your face. When applied correctly, this foundation will leave you with a very natural matte finish. The staying power of this foundation is decent (6hours or so). There isn’t any sebum control in this product so my oily girls will definitely have to remember them blotting sheets and use a good primer!

   The package is not travel-friendly at all. It comes in a glass bottle which can shatter in your bag. This retails for $32CAD + tax for 30ml. It’s not very hygienic because of its simplistic screw on cap. You’ll end up having to dip/pour/spill way too much product which is such a waste. Not to mention how this will increase the speed of your foundation oxidizing in the bottle! You can purchase a separate foundation pump at any MAC store for $7CAD (highly recommended). It has a twist open-close mechanism and a nozzle cap to further prevent leakage.

   Overall, the MAC Select is not a horrible product so go ahead and purchase it.... If you have good skin ;) And if you can pick up a sample or full-sized Missha BB Cream then I highly recommend you do so! Don’t be too intimidated to try new things, ladies. Just remember to apply with the right brush + use a light hand + little bit of product + blend blend BLEND!

ABA Haul etc...

I had to wake up early today to run to the grocery store and buy stuff to make my sisters' lunches (learn to make your own food for once!!). I managed to pick myself up some yummy fruity berry yogurt parfait with oatmeal. This is pure goodness I swear! I'm not particularly huge on diary products but this I will eat! It needs more oatmeal though IMO.

I had about half of a tomato leftover from making my sisters' sandwiches so I made myself one for lunch. This baby was pretty jammed packed lol I basically shoved everything I had leftover in it: bolonga + turkey breast + lettuce + lots of tomatoes and ketchup/mustard/mayo/hot sauce. Yupp, I like to put Sriracha Hot Sauce in my sandwich. Hell, I put it into almost everything I can eat actually LOL yay for Vietnamese hot sauce :D I don't think this was a healthy lunch... But it was damn close enough I say! Hahaha

Now onto the ABA Haul. Yesterday I went to the ABA Hair Show (convention) in Montreal. Picked up some pretty good sh*t for cheap prices. I was looking for some good deals on makeup but seeing as it was a HAIR show, there were only a few booths that sold makeup products.

Gorgeous pressed powder I picked up for contouring. I LOVE to contour! I refuse to do my makeup without contouring my face. It gives it that "beautiful bone structure look". Kim Kardashian's face is always contoured; so gorgeous!

Only managed to favour two eyeshadows. They are very fine with buildable colour. I bought them on the basis that they compliment eachother very well and they will suit all skin colours. What's cute about these pots is that underneath the e/s is a compartment for a mini brush and it even has a mirror! Not that big of a fan for sponge applicators though.

There were a ton of good deals on makeup brushes. The quality was decent; not too spectacular so I didn't pick up anything except for 2 brushes. They were selling a brushroll + 15 brushes for a mere $25. I think this is a good deal for those starting out in makeup and can't afford to purchase other brands like MAC. I picked up a super soft powder brush for my aunt and this cute retractable brush for myself:

The bristles are relatively soft. This is a travel kabuki/powder brush. I love retractable brushes right now because they are much more sanitary to travel with rather than carrying brushes in a typical case (excess eyeshadow mixed with cream liner mixed with foundation = gross!) If you only open it part way, it's perfect for contouring because of its oblong shape (as opposed to the full bloom bristles of a kabuki powder brush when its opened all the way).

Last of the makeup is this gorgeous lipstick I bought. It's the perfect rosey red colour that is quite pigmented. I was looking for a true red lipstick but this was the reddest colour they had at the show. I haven't tried it yet so I can't say much about moisture.

Picked up 2 of these 1" curling irons from Hot tools. They were only $40 each.

I picked up 3 of these babies (only $80 each!) One as a backup to the one I have currently, one for my godmom, and one for my aunt. I've been using this hairdryer for 10years and it has NEVER failed me. My aunt uses these at her salon too. These are a much better investment than those cheap Conair & Babyliss dryers that most people use. Uckk Gross. I don't even want to talk about Conair.

This is my BABY!!!! I was SO HAPPY that FHI had a booth at the hair show. I have their Special Edition Runway 1" straightening iron that I received as a gift years ago and I love love LOVE it!

The hairdryer retails for $145 USD + taxes by itself but they were selling it for $115 CAD (no tax). I picked up this beautiful package that came with both the dryer AND 1" straightening iron for only $140 CAD (no tax!) And my lovely mom was able to get them to throw in this full sized bottle of FHI Hot Sauce (heat protectant for hair) for free. Yay for bargaining asian moms! LOL!!

The cheapest deals I found there has got to be the $0.75 combs, $2.50 false lashes, Moroccanoil (HG!!!) and the Sebastian Reshaper Hairspray.

There's just too many more items to list here. Let's just say that this trip was a good one haha! Next stop: IMATS Toronto 2011!!! Must start saving up ASAP! :)

Blogging Fail... Sort Of

   So here's a tip from blogging 101: if you're going to blog, REMEMBER TO ACTUALLY DO IT! I told myself I'd get around to posting stuff up but I always found myself to be "too tired" or "too busy" when in fact... I'm just plain lazy LOL! I think this is going to take some getting used to. But to my own defense, I was out for almost a week due to the stomach flu & then coming down with a fever :( Being sick sucks... Thanks oh great Canadian weather!

Between my last post and now, I had a lovely dinner that filled me up for a good 2-3 days! I'm not going to lie, this definitely didn't help my dietary plans whatsoever haha! But it was well worth it.

Red & Green Dragon rolls! Watching Nicky make these was amazing... Her hands are so fast!

Spicy Crab Roll. Wasn't that spicy though IMO but still good :)

Some shrimp tempura used for the sushi. I much prefer this type of tempura batter rather than that overly crispy sh*t they usually use at most sushi places. Honestly, I don't know why they want to get all cheap on the food when it comes to tempura. The typical batter is just too much at times and over powers the shrimp/sweet potato/calamari or whatever tempura you usually get. I know, crispy roll lovers are going to argue but whatever. I'm not that big of a fan on crispy rolls anyways :D

Oyster tempura hand-rolls smothered with some home-made spicy mayo = Delish!

This was my epic fail at cutting the Unagi sushi roll >"<}}! I wanted to cut it perfectly since Nicky was totally upstaging all the rest of us ladies in the kitchen (green with envy!!) so I cut it nice and sloooooooooooooooowww..... Big mistake. You need a sharp knife and quick hand for this or the pieces will crumble like mine's did :(

Surf clam and salmon sashimi. I don't know why a lot of people are too scared to try surf clam. It is so good! Especially in hotpot. Although if you leave it in too long it will get unbelievably chewy!

OYSTER SHOOTERS!! Calling all oyster lovers: this is seriously BOOM! Those who are weak in the stomach should stay far far faaaaaaaaaaaar away from this though (raw oysters).

Moules au fromage!! I love mussels :)

Homemade wasabi. This was waaaaay better than the store bought sh*t for sure.

Fried fried... as if we needed any more rice dishes lol

And some good ol' store bought seaweed salad. Any recipes for making your own seaweed salad???

OMG these are to die for! I've never tried this before until Nicky made them. Why is it not on the menu at the sushi restaurants around here, I'll never know. I don't remember what the name of the sauce we used to drizzle on there was called unfortunately... But it was very light so you can definitely skim out on the soy-sauce if anyone's trying to cut down on sodium. Now this is a real cucumber roll haha literally... If anyone is on a low-carb diet, then these are perfect. The cucumber provides the perfect cool and refreshing combination in conjunction with all the other deep-fried tempura dishes we had that night. YUMM!

Side note: If anyone has problems going #2..... And hates prune juice... yuck! Sesame seeds will help you go ;)

Dessert: Doraemon Cake! (Happy Birthday Justin!!!)

And that was the most filling meal ever LOL! I didn't get any food comas from this but I swear I still felt full for a good 2 days or so. Definitely could taste the oyster shooter when I burped the next day HAHAHAHAHA... Gross :S