Burberry Lip Velvet in Pink Apricot Review

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                  Burberry Lip Velvet in Pink Apricot

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                   Burberry Lip Velvet Pink Apricot Swatch

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                   Burberry Lip Mist in Nude Peach

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                   L-R: Nude Peach and Pink Apricot

 

When it comes to nude lipsticks, I find my home in Burberry.

To me, Burberry is the grandmaster of nude and effortlessly natural makeup.

I have been looking and squandering money for quite a while in my desperate search for a nude lipstick that would suit my yellow skin tone. I made a long visit to Tom Ford province, however, I couldn’t find a nude lipstick at all that made me look natural. They were all too pale for me and made me look fake. I had to say no, despite all the eve reviews of his lipstick’s formula.

My other recent purchase was YSL. Now, let me tell you that at this point, I was gnashing my teeth in sheer frustration: I want a nude lipstick!

So I bought the YSL one. The formula is creamy and again there have been fireworks of compliments regarding this formula. Yes, it is indeed moisturizing. But as for the nude’s color on me? Well, it was too pale by far and it made me look overdone and that I was about to attend a Halloween party. When I do use it, I have to layer a NARS nude gloss (this one was too pale again) that somehow mellowed the tone for some reason.

Finally, puffing with exhaustion, I rested at Burberry republic and have never left since.

The Burberry Lip Velvet in Pink Apricot is the best nude matte lipstick I’ve used. The formula is very moisturizing and sits comfortably on my lips. There’s no threat of it stinging and drying (it happened with Giorgio Armani where for every minute the lipstick was on my lips I felt my lips dry up and start flaking. I was literally running to get home to completely wipe all traces of it and rescue my lips with Lucas Pawpaw).

I actually find the Lip Velvet’s formula to be more moisturizing than the Burberry Lip Mist.

I absolutely love this new lipstick! It’s something I can wear everyday. It’s chic and effortless.

It’s deeper and richer in color than the Burberry Lip Mist in Nude Peach. 

I believe every stylish girl out there who wants to look effortlessly beautiful should have both the matte Pink Apricot and the slightly glossier Nude Peach.

Anne Semonin - The Daily Musts Coffret Review

I first heard about Anne Semonin from Amanda Harlech, of Chanel fame, who adores her products. Anne Semonin is a 25 year old French brand whose main philosophy is creating a personal “prescription” that suits your particular skin by combining different products. For example, you can put a few of drops this and that essential oil and trace element with a particular mask so that this cocktail will meet exactly what your skin needs. 

Their products are used in some luxury spas around the world, but you can order them online at Liberty London (www.liberty.co.uk). I ordered the Anne Semonin Daily Musts Coffret for GBP 41.00.

The Daily Musts are four different masks in 10g packs. There are twelve packets in total, three packs for each type of mask. These masks are meant to be used alternately everyday. I, however, don’t have the patience to use a mask everyday and don’t think I need to use one everyday. I like to go easy on my skin when it comes to products.

Here are my thoughts on the masks. 

Exfoliating Mask

This mask is formulated with seaweed, kaolin and rosemary, sage, yarrow and white nettle extracts. It does not feel as rough on the skin as other cheaper exfoliants. It’s got a very rich and creamy texture. After rinsing, my face feels refreshed and clean. It is not as strong on the skin, which also leaves me feeling like it does not exfoliate as well as stronger products. My skin does feel smooth after I rinse, but my skin has felt smoother when I used other brands. However, I still really like this exfoliating mask because it is not harsh on the skin, it’s creamy and I believe it exfoliates just enough without completely stripping my skin of moisture. What I also like about this exfoliant is that you can use it either as a mask or simply as a normal facial scrub.

Gel Mask

This mask contains selenium, calcium, magnesium, iodine and phosphorus, as well as essential oils (lavender, cypress, ylang ylang and palmarosa). This is meant to “revitalize and boost the skin’s radiance.” What I like about this mask is that it feels really cool on the skin when you put it on. It’s got a thick texture for a gel. It’s a luxurious juice for the skin. My face feels very soft afterwards.  Its a very good way to relax your skin and give it a luxurious pampering. I sometimes mix this with the Cream Mask or the Mineral Mask.

Cream Mask

This is my favorite mask among the four. It contains seaweed and kaolin and claims to guard against visible signs of skin aging. Now I can’t attest to that claim, but as for nourishing and soothing the skin, I think it does that very well. The texture is rich and creamy, and has a luxurious feel on the skin. My skin feels soft, refreshed and pampered afterwards. 
Mineral Mask

This mask is formulated with sea cabbage, horsetail and essential oils (rosemary, pine leaves, lemon and hop). It is meant to “detoxify, tighten the pores and rebalance the skin.” It does a brilliant job on those three, methinks. It feels like I just got a treatment afterwards. But man does this mask stink! The stench is so incredible that whenever I apply this on its own on my face, I feel like gagging and can’t wait till I have to wash it off. The only way for the smell to be manageable is to mix it either with the Gel Mask or the Cream Mask. Otherwise, you’ll end up breathing through the mouth and counting the second till you can wash it off.
Because the texture of the masks are so rich and creamy, it takes a while to wash it off unless you use a cellulose sponge. What I like to do is to use wet cotton to wipe it off first before rinsing my entire face. It works easier that way. I also I have to apply a moisturizer right after because, for some reason, they do leave my skin dry.
The masks perform no miracles on my skin, but they are the perfect way to spoil your skin without going for a facial. They leave your skin smooth, soft and refreshed.
Yes, I would buy the Anne Semonin Daily Musts Coffret again.

Joëlle Ciocco Sensitive Cleansing Milk Review

Natalie Portman uses this product apparently, but, celebrity beauty habits aside, so do a host of beauty editors. Joëlle Ciocco’s facials is one of the most expensive in Paris. Even editors find her too pricey. Now since getting a regular facial with Joelle seems impractical, we have to turn to the next best thing - the Sensitive Cleansing Milk or Lait Onctueux Capital in French.

Is it the best though?  It is said that this is a good makeup remover. Was it?

I had a hard time looking for reviews for this product, although I’ve read a lot about this and that editor using this cleansing milk. Naturally, I had to try it. 

I ordered it from www.colette.fr for EUR 49.33 + EUR 19.00 shipping = EUR 68.33.

Now on to my thoughts!

It smells really good. It reminds me of a light rosy smell. And it clings to my skin even after I’ve washed. I love how luxurious and smooth my skin feels as I wash off the cleanser and after I’ve toweled my face. My skin feels soft and moisturized even though I’ve just washed it. It definitely doesn’t dry my skin. It leaves it with a nice level of moisture, which I like. It is a luxurious cleansing milk!

As for the makeup remover aspect, it does ok. I have to wash my face a second time with it to completely remove any traces of makeup. Eyeliners don’t get removed that well, though.

The one thing that scared me about the product is that it has mineral oil, which causes breakouts in a lot of people. But I was not to be deterred. I used it twice every night - the first wash was to remove the makeup, and the second wash was to thoroughly cleanse my face.

I got breakouts after the second night. I get the occasional one or two pimple on certain times of the month, so this kind of scared me.

But I didn’t let it deter me.

My skin was just adjusting to it, I consoled myself.

After week one - skin still adjusting, I’m afraid. I had more breakouts everyday.

After week two, I had to draw the line. I was pushing myself too much. The breakouts did not subside and now I’m still trying to get rid of some slight scars. I shouldn’t have pushed it, I know. But I really did want to give the Joëlle Ciocco Sensitive Cleansing Milk a good shot, I wanted it to work for my skin.

I stopped using after two weeks. But a few weeks ago, I decided to give it yet another shot. Maybe my skin regimen the first time I used it was causing the breakouts and that it wasn’t entirely Joëlle Ciocco’s fault.

I’ve got another skin regimen now and have decided to replace Cetaphil with the cleansing milk.

It works better on my skin now. I first use a makeup remover followed by the cleansing milk. I think the sensitive cleansing milk just makes a more thorough removal of my makeup. But instead of washing my face a second time with it, I use another cleanser to complete the whole process. I am afraid to just use the sensitive cleansing milk on its own without pairing it with another cleanser, I guess because I’m wary about the mineral oil.

The good thing is I haven’t had breakouts anymore.

Conclusion: Yes, it is luxurious and moisturizing. Feels good on the skin. Smells fabulous, too. As a makeup remover, there are cheaper alternatives that can do the same thing. But in terms of improving my skin in any sort of way, I don’t think it has done anything incredible. Apart from being moisturizing, I don’t know if it has any other super powers, such as preventing breakouts (which I don’t think it does). Would I purchase it again? If I can’t find a better alternative, I will, simply because it feels moisturizing after the wash.

The Luxe Obsession

I love luxury products! We can’t love the price, but we can be lured into what the brand and product represents, including that air of sophistication associated with using a luxury brand. While price may be a deterrent though, purchasing an expensive product can also be an investment and in the end you can save yourself a lot of money. Now I’m willing to spend for something I believe in, for products I like and products that I think work. But does luxury always equal quality? And do new products necessarily mean they’re better?

I don’t believe in buying every new product release there is. Why should I? We should handpick only the best, those worth our money, even if we can afford to squander money whenever we want. I don’t believe in using a ton of products on my face either. I am very particular with what I use because I want to protect my skin.

I want to get past the illusion and the hype over the brand and really gauge whether a product works for me. I am not ashamed to admit that I am not immune to buzz and do find myself making that guilty purchase. But what I am obsessed with now is looking past celebrity endorsements and trying the products beauty editors, socialites and other high profile people are actually using. I don’t believe the reviews that I read in beauty magazines. They are just PR. Beauty magazines for me are useful only as a way to learn the new products that have come out, but in terms of real reviews, they do not offer anything valuable.

This blog is about my Luxe Obsessions and thoughts on a score of other matters.