Review: The Body SHop Chocomania Shower Cream

I love chocolate, so much so that i can eat it almost everyday if my waistline ever stops expanding. : )

Sometimes the mere thought of it makes me happy, and of course not forgetting the monthly craving for it (you girls know why. ; ) ).

 Much as i can't live without it (yes! Chocolate addict here), to bathe in it or rather something that smells totally like it is a different matter all together.

I happen to come across Chocomania Shower Cream as part of a GWP from The Body Shop, it is something that i am keen to try as it deviates from the usual floral, fruity or musky churn ups that one usually see from The Body Shop. Receiving as part of the GWP naturally spiced up the purchase i made then.

                                                    The sinful Chocomania indulgence.

The Chocomania Shower Cream by The Body Shop has to be the weirdest thing in my stash. Packaged in the typical Body Shop shower bottle, it is nothing out of the normal really, however the creamy glistering brown molten liquid that the bottle house looks like its good enough to drink (No, i am NOT that crazy yet).

The rich chocolate brown seems like a good nail color (which i wonder if it will ever work on the nails).

When i lifted up the cap in the bath room, i was caught by surprise by the strong chocolate scent, a tad too strong i would say. Was hesitant to pour it on the bath lily as i don't want to wake up in the middle of the night bitten by ants drawn to the confectionary scent.

Of course, curiosity caught up with me and yes i bathe in it. True enough, my mother who was in the kitchen could catch the scent of the the shower cream and asked what i am doing in the bathroom (???).

Personally, i find it more moisturising than the usual shower gels from The Body Shop, while the scent is strong straight from the bottle, it subsided relatively fast when i am out of the bathroom. It rinses fairly easily too which i like.

Interestingly, i found 2 ants on my arms the next morning when i woke up...... 

Would probably buy it if i were on a No-chocolate diet......

List of ingredients.

Available at S$14.90 for 250ml at all The Body Shop stores (Limited Edition).

Haul and Review: Spoilts from Guerlain and Paul and Joe

This can be considered my first makeup haul of the year and i am proud of myself for being able to resist the temptations for that long, plus i am very happy with my purchases as well.

My most recent haul- Mainly Paul and Joe items and 1 Guerlain.

Paul and Joe makeup items- 3 eyeshadows and 1 blusher. 

 Paul and Joe- Toner and Cleansing Milk.

As we all know, Paul and Joe has pulled out of Singapore since end March, it's a shame that beauty brands are moving out due to the lack of critical mass (demand) to support their presence (we saw IPSA moving out previously and now Paul and Joe, one can't help but ponder who's next?)

So, i took this chance to try out more of their skincare products that i am new to (reviews coming but not so soon), i will be quite sad if i were to like them enough to want to repurchase them afterwards.

 Paul and Joe Nail care oil.

 List of Ingredients.

 The bottle of Nail care oil- in signature Paul and Joe nail polish bottle.

The Nail care oil is packaged in the signature P&J nail polish bottle with the orange flower motiff, it has a pleasant scent and the texture of the oil is actually thicker than what i am used to using (OPI's Avoplex nail and cuticle replenishing oil), furthermore it felt a little sticky to me.

I will go back to it and see if it will grow on me as time passes by, though i doubt so.

 Paul and Joe Face Color- Blusher.

 List of ingredients.

 The pretty packaging that caught my eyes.

 2 tone blusher in 18.

 Left to right: More berry rose pink and light pink.

 Paul and Joe Face Color #18.

This would be my 2nd P&J face color, i would say the coloring of this blusher is actually a little out of my safe zone, it leans more in the favour of fair and cool toned beauties (see the swatches below) but i am giving it a shot as it seems to be quite usable if i use it with care (i am thinking of using it with MAC's 187 Duo fibre brush which seems to work when i am using more pigmented blushers). The texure of the blusher is soft and pigmentation is not a problem, it does not contain any shimmer. I like a variety and this is a nice addition to my collection if i may say so.

 Paul and Joe Eyeshadow singles.

I have walked pass P&J's counter countless times, yet i never felt drawn to their eye colors (i wonder why myself too.... perhaps its too sweet and cute, i felt out of place?). This could very well be one of the those last chances that i can lay my hands on them and i am so glad i did this time round. I was pleasantly surprised by their buttery soft formula and that it glides on the skin beautifully.

Pigmentation is very decent, not the most intense i have encountered but nice overall, though #03 gold is a little less pigmented compared to the other 2. I think this is the revamped range of eyeshadows, if i recall correctly the previous eyeshadows are larger in the pan.

I have picked "safe" colors (those that are tried and tested to work on me) and i am glad i did as i can am already reaching out for them everyday for almost a week).

Each eye color contains 1.1g/ 0.03 oz of product which is slightly lesser than MAC's (1.3g). In terms of pricing, P&J's is S$25.00 while MAC's is S$28.00 ( ? ). P&J's is a wee more expensive that MAC's probably by only a few cents.

In this instance, i am really sad to see P&J pulling out of Singapore.

 Light pink beige with subtle pearlescent shine.

 Paul and Joe Eyeshadow single in #11.

 Pearlescent gold without the glitter chunks.

 Paul and Joe Eyeshadow single in #03.

 Warm toned medium brown with a hint of shimmer.

 Paul and Joe Eyeshadow single in #17.

 Swatches L-R: Paul and Joe face color in #18, self select eye color in #03, #11 and #17.

 A closer look at the Eyeshadow singles or eye colors.

 Guerlain Ecrin 4 couleurs Eyeshadow palette.

Guerlain..... Guerlain...... I can't help but to be drawn to you everytime.

This time, i behaved myself and only gotten myself 1 eyeshadow palette from Guerlain, yes! Its from the Holiday Collection last year.

Sleek and luxurious packaging, gorgeous colors.... nothing less is to be expected from this high-end makeup brand.

It is no surprise that i am very much captivated by this palette, first of all the packaging...... it is a improved packaging if you asked me. The large pan surface meant that one can sweep her brush over each color more easily.

While the colors are not terribly unique (except perhaps the aqua turquoise above the navy blue), there are dupes available for the other colors elsewhere. But what sealed the deal for me is the PIGMENTATION!

They are INTENSE!!! Totally love the color payoff.

 #10, Les Ombres De Nuit (Limited Edition from Guerlain's 2011 Holiday Collection).

 The sleek packaging.

 Contains a total of 7.2g/0.25 oz of product.

 A closer look at the palette.

 Swatches L-R: A Shimmery Grayish Silver, a Light Aqua Turquoise, a Rich Blue (reminds me of OPI's You yoga-ta get this blue but less intense), a matte black (the only matte color in the palette).

All in all, a great haul for this year!



Haul: The object of my Desire....Guerlain Parure de Nuit Pressed Powder and Blush

How can i possibly forget this beauty..... waiting to join the others in my beloved stash?

Review: Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow Palette Garden Edition in 441 Garden Pastels

This is the Spring collection that has been generating quite a buzz in the cyber beauty world long before it was even launched early Jan this year. Part of the buzz was contributed by the extent on how the rose mottifs in the eyeshadow palette were handcrafted and there are even pictures of the crafting processes posted online and of course, the striking colours in the collection as well as the perfumed nail polishes, not fogetting to mention the exquisite rose knob on the limited edition makeup clutches.

To be frank, i am seldom drawn to Dior's collection as i do feel that they are more suitable for beauties with cool colour skin tone and the fair ones. I am not surprised by the shade of the limited edition blusher that was launched in the spring collection- bright pastel pink, even though it was fused with the technology that upon application the blusher will appear just like how you are blushing naturally. I figure the technology would be similar to Dior Addict Lip Glow SPF 10 which i did a review of it previously.

Despite the technology used, the blusher did not work on me, i looked ashy so i figure there isn't anything for me in this collection looking at the swatches widely available online and testing on the various products in person.

The colours from the garden clutches looked a little similar to the ones released last year which i have both and looked like they can be duped, the nail polishes which i would love to love doesn't work on me (but they look gorgeous on my fair friend which is simply not fair : ( ), the limited edition blusher in the beautiful casing was calling out my name but the ashy colour on my cheeks made me unwilling to part with my dollars and the pretty Garden Roses Palette refuse to love me when i tried them on.....

Until when i swatched the Garden Pastels Eyeshadow palette....

I was deeply intrigued by the way-out-of-my- comfort zone colouring ( i am a neutral lover mainly), but the greens... the 2 greens are nothing that i have seen... i was sold on the spot.. almost.

I was about to walk away from it until by BBF (fellow skincare and cosmetic addict) dragged me back and told me that it will work on me, just that i have to be lighthanded with it and not to be ambitious to use all 5 colours in a look. What can i say, i feel that she knows me better than i know myself... after much contemplating, i hauled it, tucked safely in my bag cushioned in between stuffs.

 Dior's 5 Colour Eyeshadow Palette Garden Edition.

 441 Garden Pastels.

 The Classic Dior compact.

 441 Garden Pastels.

  A Closer look.

441 Garden Pastels without the plastic lid.

More of it.

 Swatches under normal light, photo taken near the window at noon.

Swatches: Top left to right, centre then bottom left to right.

Photo of swatches taken indoor.

In terms of packaging, this limited edition eyeshadow palette was packaged in the classic Dior compact, and the standard 5 colour eyeshadow palette placement which isn't any different from its normal eyeshadow palette thus lacking the WOW factor that i would have expected from a limited edition (same case as Chanel's), a subtle difference like motiffs or even colouring would have made one drawn more towards it (yeah, i am referring to me).

I do not detect any hint of fragrance from the eyeshadows..so far so good. What's the use of perfuming eyeshadows anyway right?

Next, the eyeshadows are nicely pigmented (which is supposed to be so at this price point) and one can easily layer on to build up intensity but they are such lovely light spring colours i wouldn't try to wear them heavily layered on. A touch of subtly would be a nice touch, i personally think. The swatches above are taken with just 1 brush of colour.

In terms of texture, it is a absolute delight in swatching and application, it glides on buttery smooth. The colours however are nicely shimmery and with a little frost to them, having said that i would wear them lighthanded (as my BBF suggested) and with other matte colours or just 2 or 3 colours each time.

As for the colour combination of the palette, they are totally different from anything that i have owned or seen and nothing can represent spring better than them. The light yellow grassy green at the top left corner wow me as it is so vibrant and alive in real life swatch, the white at the top right corner is versatile and nicely pigmented which would not be difficult to use, the light pastel pink in the middle has a very very subtle hint of lavender to me, it is not terribly unique but a nice colour to work on (especially on fair beauties, i just use it nevertheless). The buttery yellow at the bottom left turns out to be a little like very pale gold on me when i use it with a lighthand so i figure its good as a highlighter for eyes and lastly the cool blue toned green with a hint of silver shimmer at bottom right is a unique colour that turned out quite well for me as well.

All in all, i love it. With the exception of the horrid pricing.... Its only USD59.00. Why such high markup? 

Priced at S$94.99 for 4.8g or 0.15oz, available at all Dior Counters. It is a limited edition..... as so get it before its gone.



Haul: The object of my Desire......

Yes,yes... this is the object of my DESIRE ever since i first laid my eyes on it.

The NARS Hanamichi Eyeshadow Palette, and yes it is a Limited Edition.

Please forgive me for not having the heart to swatch it yet. Do give me more time to look at it longingly every day, whispher sweetnothings to it softly and until then i will swatch it. 

 The Hanamichi Eyeshadow palette by NARS.

 The Eyeshadow palette is the size of my whole palm.

 The mini kabuki-like brush attached to the set.

 The signature rubber compact.

 A hefty 12.0g or 0.42oz worth of Eyeshadow.

 Behold the beauty.

 Can't get enough of it.

 Not enough.

Yes, never enough.

Grab yours if this stirs your heart like it mine and of course, if you can.