SAMPLE SUNDAY | Chanel Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base SPF 40 x Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Body & Hand Wash

Chanel Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base SPF 40 |
Remember that Chanel beauty event I attended back in June? (Yeah, the same one where I failed miserably and took one measly photo for the blog.) The gift bag I received included a mini sample of the Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base in 10 Rosée, which Chanel claims can immediately correct imperfections and improve radiance for up to 8 hours with light-reflecting pearl extracts derived from Akoya pearls. Oooooh. The shade Rosée has a pink tint that brightens dull skin, and has a lightweight, watery consistency that dries down surprisingly fast - I had to work quickly with a stippling brush to buff it evenly over my face - and leaves a semi-matte finish that isn't tacky or heavy. It isn't a particularly hydrating base though, as I noticed it had dried out my foundation in several areas, especially around my nose and chin, as the day went on. The shade is very light on me, which I guess in turn did brighten my complexion, but I didn't find it too noticeable after foundation was applied over top. While I do enjoy the initial finish and the SPF 40, my nose did not agree with the intensely floral scent and I observed no striking improvement in radiance and longevity to justify $55 USD for the full size.

Jo Malone Nectarine Blossom & Honey Body & Hand Wash |
Ever since I hauled my Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, I've been keeping an eye out for covetable body washes from other brands. I remember receiving this Body & Hand Wash sample last fall when I repurchased my second bottle of the Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne. Out of all the perfumes I own, Jo Malone fragrances have the best longevity hands down. This Body & Hand Wash has a lightweight gel consistency that works up a gentle lather and isn't particularly drying nor moisturizing. Just like the cologne, the smell of this is seriously long-lasting and lingers on the skin for hours. When I first poured this into my hands, the scent was so potent that it felt like I was emptying out the perfume bottle instead. If you're already a fan of the Nectarine Blossom & Honey cologne and want to enhance its longevity and intensity, this would be a great addition to your routine. For me personally, the scent was just way too overpowering and I actually felt a tad nauseous after constantly getting a whiff of it as the day went on. Next time I'll ask to try a sample from a different range, but for now it's a pass and I'll be sticking to my trusty Aesop.

HAUL x REVIEW | Aesop Skin Care and Body Care

So I've totally dropped the ball here - my last entry was posted almost a month ago. Sorry guys, so not cool! Life and work has been hectic recently but I'm finally back at it and so excited to share a juicy haul from one of my beauty obsessions, Aesop! My adoration for the brand is made pretty clear in a previous Sample Sunday post, but I'll say it again - everything about Aesop is #goals.

I hadn't planned on doing a haul so soon after lifting my shopping ban, but I recently received an email invitation from Aesop regarding a ten percent discount promotion they were having in selected boutiques around Hong Kong. To my knowledge, Aesop only offers this discount once (or maybe twice) a year, so you know your girl had to do some damage. Although Aesop is on the pricier side, I'm all for splurging on good, effective (and cruelty-free!) skin care. Good skin = great makeup, folks. Not to mention, all Aesop products smell absolutely incredible. I am sure to overuse words like 'amazing' and 'incredible' in the rest of this post to describe the wonder that is the scent of Aesop products, so please just bear with me.

Fabulous Face Cleanser | 200ml for $345 HKD
If you follow my blog, you'll know that my long-time HG facial cleanser is the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser - I recommend it to anyone who wants a gentle yet effective cleanser that will take the day off and leave your face clean and soft. After staying loyal to Fresh for a few years, I was ready to switch things up and try something new. One small sample packet of this Fabulous Face Cleanser sold it for me (which is why it boggles my mind when companies are stingy with samples - like hellooo!) and I knew I needed the full size. This is a gentle, mild-foaming gel cleanser that is great for sensitive skin, and the smell is an incredible mix of rosemary and other botanical ingredients. I actually look forward to waking up and washing my face with this in the morning as I find it super refreshing and calming to the senses. Unlike the Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, this does not excel in washing off heavy makeup, but it isn't really an issue for me since I always double cleanse with a cleansing oil first. The larger 200ml bottle does come with a pump, but I learned the hard way that you can't just stick the pump in from the get-go - it will overflow and ruin your bathroom floor and your day. Rookie mistake!

Sage & Zinc Facial Hydrating Cream SPF 15 | 40ml for $275 HKD 
I was mostly intrigued by the name of this face cream, and when I saw it came in a tube there was no going back. I am a sucker for cool packaging! Yes, I know I previously went on a mini-rant about SPF 15 being too low for my daily sun protection, but for bare-faced days when I'm just lounging around the house or popping downstairs for a quick grocery run with Riley, this face cream with SPF combo is perfect. Apparently it took Aesop ten years to research, develop and perfect this formulation. An entire decade, and they couldn't bring the SPF up to 30? Just kidding (kinda). This has a lightweight consistency that leaves a healthy sheen on the face (without being oily) and of course, the scent is an amazing musky, lavender-esque concoction that has me excited every time I slap it on my face.

Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream | 60ml for $365 HKD
I have been repurchasing this face cream for a couple years now, and I am still obsessed - it's the only cream I use both morning and night. Aesop describes this as "a lightweight, citrus oil-infused moisturizing cream for normal and combination skin" and I find it provides the perfect amount of hydration for my combination skin that isn't too heavy or oily. The scent is wonderful - duh, citrus oil! - with a combination of mandarin, lemon and tangerine rind, and my face seems to drink this stuff up. Not much else to say except love, love, love!

Cepheus Set | $587 HKD
This was a completely spontaneous and unplanned purchase but I just couldn't help myself. Aesop offers six Celestial gift kits that pay homage to six of the eighty-eight modern constellations (such a cool concept!), and this particular Cepheus gift set contains the Geranium Leaf Body Care Trio that includes a body cleanser, balm and scrub. Aesop describes this set as "three aromatic Geranium Leaf Body Care staples offering gentle, thorough cleansing, invigorating exfoliation, and generous hydration and nourishment."

I've always been curious about this range - the green packaging is just so inviting - and kindly asked the sales associate to try the three products on my hand. Look where that got us. First up is the Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser. Sure, I tried to convince myself I didn't need an expensive body wash (since I would be rinsing it off seconds later) but I just couldn't get over the scent. Oh my goodness, the entire range smells like you're getting a massage in an outdoor spa (think mandarins, lemons, citrus oil with a dash of herbal deliciousness) and this cleanser leaves my skin feeling really clean, soft and refreshed. The Geranium Leaf Body Scrub has a gritty, sandy texture that manages to buff away and soften the skin without feeling scratchy or harsh, and you can really feel the botanical oils working together with the granules to both polish and hydrate. The Geranium Leaf Body Balm is slightly thicker in consistency than the usual creams I use, and is that much more nourishing without feeling sticky or greasy. To me, this acts like the top coat over freshly painted nails - it helps lock in all the moisture and keeps my skin soft and velvety and smelling like a freakin' spa. If only they came out with a Geranium Leaf perfume...

And a quick shout out to the packaging because I am still in awe of how beautiful the entire presentation is - from the reflective gold specks on the outside (that actually replicate the constellation of Cepheus!) to the quote by Vincent Von Gogh printed on the inside of the sleek tin box, "I know nothing with any certainties, but the sight of the stars makes me dream." Aesop, please stay the wondrous, poetic, creative brand that you are.

That's a wrap, I hope you guys enjoyed this haul and review! 

My Aesop collection is actually quite extensive - I have a bunch of other products that I absolutely love and one that my skin did not agree with - and I think it'd be helpful to do a review on all Aesop products I've tried and own. Keep an eye out for that soon. Until next time, happy hauling!

REVIEW | Canmake UV Silky Fit Foundation SPF30 PA++

It's been more than three months - three! - since I've been under a self-imposed makeup shopping ban, and I've kept my word - zero shopping! No, there's no need to applaud - fine, I'm amazing. After some rather excessive beauty hauling in Europe and Boston earlier in the year, I decided to take a spending break and focus on products I already owned and loved. To celebrate my incredible self-control and willpower (tsk tsk), I rewarded myself with a new beauty buy - the Canmake UV Silky Fit Foundation SPF30 PA++.

Canmake UV Silky Fit Foundation SPF30 PA++ 

$120 HKD at Sasa (around $15 USD)

2 Shades

It was love at first swatch with this Canmake powder foundation - my boyfriend had insisted we pop inside Sasa to get some hair gel (why, oh why would he tempt me?!) and before I knew what hit me, I was paying for this baby at the checkout counter. While I am certainly not the type of person to buy products on a whim - you best believe I do my research before committing to anything - this swatched so beautifully on the back of my hand, and I was already a big fan of the brand. Canmake is a popular Japanese drugstore brand that carries an extensive range of high-quality products at affordable prices (we like the sound of that!), and their Shading Powder in 01 Danish Brown, a lovely, cool-toned bronzer, is one of my favorites for achieving that natural shadow and contour. Hello, cheekbones! The Canmake website claims this powder foundation is resistant to sweat and sebum, gives a "smooth, baby-soft finish" to the face, and has a skin-friendly formulation with no alcohol, mineral oil or perfume. Since I'm always on the lookout for bases with SPF, this seemed like a good buy at an affordable price point. Cha-ching!

The powder foundation comes in a pearlescent, blue compact case with a mirror and sponge (super travel-friendly!), with small slots at the bottom of the case for ventilation purposes for when the sponge is still wet. How thoughtful is that?! The foundation is fragrance-free, and the shade range is, again, incredibly limited with just two shades, including 01 Light Ochre for "pale skin and those who like a brightening effect", and 02 Ochre for normal complexions. I went with the darker shade, which was still too light for my complexion. Oh well, gotta work with what you got! The instructions say that you can use this foundation with the sponge either dry or wet, and specifically not to throw out the plastic film on top of the foundation. Maybe to keep the foundation from drying out? Who knows. I knew I should've kept going to Japanese classes!

I quickly found out (the hard way) that application is so important with this foundation - how you apply this and the tools you choose will make or break your face. Trying this on with the sponge both dry and wet turned into a cakey, patchy mess - like packing on cement - and even my beloved Sephora Classic Mini Multitasker Brush #45.5 was a no-go. Welcome to Cake Town! I finally took out my fluffy e.l.f Powder Brush and made the point of pushing the foundation into the skin instead of buffing. Success! The foundation is buildable to a medium coverage, but be warned that it can look cakey fast. I used a concealer brush to tap this under my eyes as concealer, which did a surprisingly okay job at hiding my dark circles.

This looks pretty good once you get the application right, but it's also super obvious that you're wearing foundation. My boyfriend, who is usually completely oblivious to my makeup, noticed as well and made sure to let me know. Thanks dude. But fear not - this is one of those foundations that looks better as the day goes on, once you let your natural oils mix with the base. It certainly did hold up in the heat as it claimed, and I wasn't nearly as shiny as I usually get in this humidity. However, the foundation faded rather unevenly throughout the day, leaving patches on my forehead and around my cheeks. Not a good look.

Swatched | Blended out

If I could go back in time - wouldn't that be swell? - I would not buy this again. No, nope, nah, never. This just isn't the most flattering base, the application can be tricky and was a lot more work than I anticipated. If you have very oily skin, and you want something that offers sun protection and helps you stay relatively matte, then sure, you could give this a try. If you have dry, normal, even combination skin, don't even think about it! 'Cos this will be a nightmare. Overall, I would say just save your money and try your luck elsewhere!

Thankfully, this hasn't gone to complete waste - I now use this as a midday foundation topper! I dust this on in the afternoon when I need that extra coverage and to top up my SPF - it's recommended that we reapply our SPF every few hours, but of course we ain't gonna mess up our highlight and contour... so this is the perfect solution!

Hope you enjoyed this review! I'm really proud of myself for sticking it out for three months, and am officially lifting my shopping ban - let the beauty hauling commence!