Shanghai Suzy AW16 Lipsticks

I was sent a collection of Shanghai Suzy Lipsticks to review and was so pleased to receive them!

I first came across Shanghai Suzy's lipsticks at IMATS Sydney 2014. I was meandering around the stalls during the last few hours of the last day of the show and I came across them. I can't remember what colours they were but I loved them. They were a hot red and a very dark purple.

About Shanghai Suzy

The cool things about these lipsticks are:

• Each is a limited edition item as the colours are released every season and available for that season only (generally this is true but you can hunt down older ones from stockists or online)
• As they are seasonally themed, they are on trend with fashion styles of the moment
• their super affordable - A$14.95
• they are not tested on animals and are vegan-friendly (they contain no animal-derived ingredients)
• You can get them online at http://www.shanghaisuzy.com/
• They have this cool pop out packaging that is reminiscent of Chanel's lipsticks
• They are made in Australia - so they must be good!
• They come in a variety of formulae, mostly matte with some shimmers and metallics thrown in.
• They do not come with a box so less packaging and good for the Mother Earth

What I liked about them

I received 6 of the 7 lipsticks (from the AW16 "Romance and Strawberry Kisses" Collection. Each one has an Autumnal tone and are mostly wearable neutrals, which is very easy to pair with just about any style of makeup.

They have a candy scent. It's described as grape bubblegum. Let's just say, it smells o.k. to me. Not particularly good nor bad. I don't go around constantly sniffing my lipstick (who would do that? So weird) so that's one of my least concerns.  

It tasted like nothing to me. Which is a big two thumbs up. I hate lipsticks that taste like "old ladies' perfume mixed with talcum" (a very popular big drugstore brand is guilty of this but shall not be named).

The lipstick labels' state that each is a "whipped matte". On the lips, they applied creamy, did not tug, did not bleed, and had a matte finish. They felt comfortable on the lips and generally one to two coats were enough.

If you're not eating or drinking much during the day (which can happen if you are an obsessive worker like me or like to sleep in your makeup, also like me), they generally last about 5-6 hours without needing a touch up.

If you are eating, say something like a hot roast meal, then they won't last much longer than before the meal and after meal. Only a stain can last through that!

They did not leave a stain and were fairly easy to remove with normal makeup cleanser.

What I received

The ones with the * are my faves

Miss Carla BABY HONEY* is a gorgeous taupe-tinted, pastel honey nude, suited best to those with olive undertones in their skin. 

Miss Eliza ORCHID* is a striking purple berry hue that reminds us of Singapore orchids. The perfect pop of colour this Winter.

Miss Jacqui PINK LACE is the perfect 'everyday' pink. With dusty warm pink and nude tones, this one is ultra-flattering - and the matte finish and natural hue combo gives the impression of fuller lips.

Miss Leah BABY COCOA* is a re-run of our most popular lippie colour ever, but now crafted in our new Whipped Matte Formula! The ultimate cult lipstick colour, Miss Leah is a pink-based nude that complements all skin tones.

Miss Steph BABY LAVENDER* is sweet and feminine in pastel but with a quirky lavender undertone; the finish is baby pink meets lilac.

Miss Trish ROSE TERRACOTTA is a stunning burnt terracotta orange with pinky rose undertones.


Swatches (and watches and matches...)

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Final Thoughts: For the price point, I think these are extremely high quality lipsticks. In Australia, the price of a drugstore lipstick (say for example Revlon) can be as high as A$30 depending on where you shop. The colour range, though limited, still yields many go-to colours. They are all very wearable. The idea of coming out with limited edition colours appeal to makeup collectors like me. 

In short, ME LIKEY!

 Let me know if you have any further questions.

Thank you, See you Soon!

With much Love

TeaCupofMakeup

Chanel Le Blanc Primer

Chanel has a new primer called "Le Blanc Light Creator Brightening Makeup Base". Le Blanc in French translates as "The White". So you can more or less guess what it's properties are. 

There is an older format of this primer from Chanel in a glass bottle. However, with the new packaging which matches Chanel's famous Vitalumiere Foundations, this new packaging is a dream for travellers and makeup artists. 

It comes in 4 shades. Lys (illuminating); Rosée (Pink - good for dull skins), Mimosa (Yellow - balance out redness), Orchidée (Lilac - corrects the yellowness in your skin). The availability of the different shades is great as you can skip that extra steps of colour correcting with a solid performing primer.

The composition of this primer is as follows (from Chanel's Website):

The active enlightening ceramic transforms the energy of invisible surrounding light into visible light. Reflecting and actively generating light, it evens out imperfections and dark spots to reveal immaculate radiance and a unified complexion. 

Specially developed for CHANEL, the 2-Year pearl extract is derived from Akoya pearls that are carefully matured for an optimal 2-year period. The extract from these rare pearls effectively prevents protein oxidation on the skin surface for a brighter complexion with light-reflecting translucency. It also contains a high concentration of glycine, a main component of the skin's natural moisturizing factor. Luminous, the skin reveals pearl-like radiance with a moisturizing sensation. 

Liquorice extract acts in perfect synergy with the 2-Year pearl extract to correct yellow tones and brighten the skin.

It retails in the USA for USD55 (without taxes). In Australia, I think I paid $67 (with tax) for it. You can get it from all Chanel counters.

What's great about it

I definitely see a brightness to my skin when I apply this as my primer. The ingredients of pearl extract, glycine and Liquorice extract also, for me (I have combination/oily skin) as a good moisturizing/serum. 

It is a liquidy primer, not creamy or gooey in texture. So be a bit cautious when you pour it out. Also remember to give the container a good shake.

It's quite opaque. And I mean that in a good way. It covers some minor imperfections. 

It sets really quickly too, to a semi-matte finish. It does not feel like it has silicon in it at all and is not tacky to touch. I would recommend that you work quickly to blend it into to the skin with a stippling brush. I use Chanel's Blending Foundation Brush No. 7 (my only Chanel brush at the moment) or you can use any longer haired stippling brush. One of my favourite and most affordable one is from E.L.F..

It also has SPF 30 (marked SPF 40 Broad Spectrum overseas) Sun Protection. In Australia, you will notice that a sticker has been stuck on both the box and the product itself saying "SPF 30". The regulations in Australia around the classification of sunscreen is more stringent as Australia has the highest skin cancer sufferers, so sunscreens are considered borderline medication.

It definitely brightened my skin and smoothed out my pores to some extent. I needed about a pea sized amount (and even that was a bit too much so I blended it down to my neck). 

It prolonged the wear of my Chanel foundations to about 10 hours. Usually for me, the Chanel foundations (Vitalumiere and Velvet Matte) on their own last 6-7 hours with touch-ups required after 3 hours. 

What's not great about it

This will not completely assist with hiding enlarged pores, but the brightening effect does blur them out a bit and does not make them look larger.

This is NOT the primer for you if you have oily skin. You would most likely need to use a primer power on top or another oil control primer under it to control oil. 

There is a distinctive scent. Not quite like sunscreen but it definitely has a light perfume scent so if you don't like scented products, you might not like this. The scent does go away after application though, or rather I didn't notice it anymore.

Up Close - You can see that sticker there, which you won't have in other countries

On the skin - just a drop. My hands are darker than my face as I do a fair bit of outdoor activities

Here you can see the colour correcting and brightening properties clearly. That lighter shade in the middle of my hand is from about half a pea sized drop. It's fairly opaque and obscured some of the imperfections on my hand. 

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Final Thoughts: I like it, however I must leave a disclaimer. I love anything Chanel.  Let me know if you have any further questions.

Merci beaucoup mes amis. À bientôt 

With Love

TeaCupofMakeup

Stem Organics Skin Care

The Stem Organics Travel Pack + the Perfect Complexion Masque

Stem Organics is a relatively new Australian skincare and aromatherapy company. I was so delighted to have the opportunity to review some of their products for you.

This is a cruelty free company which is so important to me as an animal lover and it uses all natural products, some of which are native to Australia.

There are three signature ingredients that feature in Stem Organics products. These are Australian Kakadu Plum, which has a lot of Vitamin C in in (good for anti-aging - you're never to young to start!) , antioxidant rich anti-inflammatory Pomegranate and Aloe. Usually, when you look at the list of ingredients at the back of a skincare product the first listed ingredient (which is the main ingredient) of the skincare product is Aqua (water), Stem Organics uses Aloe instead which makes their products even more beneficial.

The list of ingredients include (from their website):

• Free radical, age fighting antioxidants
• Natural anti-inflammatory and skin super nutrients
• Certified organic and natural ingredients
• Premium quality and organic essential oils
• Vital essential fatty acids with omegas
• Nourishing cold pressed and organic nut, seed and fruit oils
• Powerful anti-ageing ingredients
• Essential Vitamins and Minerals

I tested out the Travel Companion for Normal/Oily Skin Types and the Perfecting Complexion Masque.

Travel Companion, which retails for A$89.90 contains:

2 x Gentle Cleansing Milk (50ml)
1 x Antioxidant Toning Infusion (50ml)
1 x Smooth Skin Exfoliant (50ml)
1 x Balancing Face Fluid (50ml)


The retail price for the Perfecting Complexion Masque is A$40

You can purchase Stem Organics Products directly from their website. They often have sales so do sign up to be notified! Here is the link https://stemorganics.com/

The Balancing Face Fluid contains Jojoba, Aloe, white Camomile and Echinacea. I was really surprised by how quickly this absorbed into my skin. I have combination to very oily skin depending on the Season, and this did help keep my skin matte or more dewey rather than oily looking.

After trying this for about two weeks, I did notice that I was getting less pimples on my skin. My face also had a translucency that was very pleasing to me. The scent is hard to describe but on learning what the active ingredients are, I think it smells a bit like camomile tea. Very Soothing.

Balancing Face Fluid

Balancing Face Fluid

You can see that it has a very light texture to it.

Smooth Skin Exfoliant

I really enjoyed this exfoliant. Instead of your usual micro beads or ground up nut shells, this one used Bamboo as the abrasive agent. It includes Organic Jojoba to nourish and moisturise the skin 

It also includes a very interesting blend of Pomegranate, Australian Kakadu Plum all of which are rich in Vitamin C and antioxidants. Plus Organic Aloe which helps sooth and heal the skin.

This really made my skin feel very soft, smooth and almost silky. I enjoyed this tremendously. 

It smells exquisite. Like a luscious juicy pomegranate. 

Smooth Skin Exfoliant

You can see how fine the particles of bamboo are. It exfoliates your skin so gently, yet effectively. 

Gentle Cleansing Milk

O.K. i must admit, I was a bit skeptical about this one. I generally prefer stronger cleansers or cleansing oils (my fave is from Shu Uemura). So the "Milk" aspect of the name made me a bit hesitant. However, this does not have a milky consistency as it is a hybrid mixed with gel.  

The way I like to use it when removing makeup is to put some on a cotton pad, then remove most of my makeup that way, including mascara, lipstick and any other waterproof makeup. Then I was my face at the sink using this cleanser. Sometimes, I use it with a Clarisonic or a muslin cloth.

I've then tested it using Bioderma's Sensio Bio Micellar water and the cotton pad comes away fairly clean which to me, means this product is very effective in cleaning your face.

It has a nice consistency. Fairly gentle fresh scent.

It contains the following ingredients:

• Organic Jojoba 
• Soothing Organic Aloe 
• Calming Organic Chamomile provides anti-inflammatory properties
• Organic Echinacea 
• Polyphenol rich Pomegranate 
• Antioxidant Vitamin C Kakadu Plum, naturally grown in the Australian outback.

Perfect Complexion Masque

The Perfect Complexion Masque is my FAVOURITE product that I tested. It is so effective. I love masques in general. They can be so therapeutic both for the skin and for the soul.

It has Vitamin C, Kaolin & Colloidal Oatmeal. It has an exfoliating and soothing effect from the oatmeal and the Kaolin which is a clay that helps draw out all of the impurities.

It also includes Allantoin which is an ingredient derived from the Comfrey plant (a herb), a great anti- inflammatory, anti-irritant, regenerating and protecting the skin.

Perfect Complexion Masque

It comes in powder form and you mix it with water to form a paste. The way I like to apply it is to mix it with a bit a of filtered water in a small bowl to a pancake batter consistency and then apply it with a flat brush (an old foundation brush would work well).

I then leave it on till it drys, while I do something else (be careful though, some flakes may fall off, so don't wear your prettiest clothes!), I then take a muslin cloth and wet that with warm water and slowly and gently remove it.

You'll look and feel like a new woman. 

Antioxidant Toning Infusion

This is such cool toner. I love how they have packaged it with a spray pump. 

It contains organic olive leaf, green tea (known to contain a lot of anti-oxidants) & vitamin B5. It also has pomegranate essence and Kakadu Plum for that extra Vitamin C boost. 

I use this as the last step of my cleansing routine and also after applying the Perfect Complexion Masque. It is so refreshing on the skin to just spritz on a few pumps and wipe away the day's gunk with cotton pad.

I think I will keep this in the fridge when the warmer months come, as I can see it being a very lifting toner after a warm day because of the refreshing scent. 

Again, as with most skin care, I tested its efficacy using Bioderma's Sensiobio Micellar water as my comparison. This toner is almost as effective in removing the last traces of dirt but when I used Bioderma after, the cotton pad did show some slight remaining traces of makeup. Nonetheless, I do like this product because of its properties and I think I will use it more like Caudalie's Beauty Elixir.

Antioxidant Toning Infusion

Pump, Spritz, Refresh!

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Final Thoughts: If you are into Organic SkinCare, I would recommend trying out Stem Organics, especially the Perfect Complexion Masque and AntiOxidant Toning Infusion. Those were the stand out products for me. Let me know what catches your interest or if you have any further questions.

Yours Truly and with Lots of Love, 

TeaCupofMakeup

MAC X Chris Chang Limited Edition Collection

Mac X Chris Chang

This was one of my most highly anticipated releases from MAC this year. When I saw the promo shots for this collection, I just went "WOW".

This is a really special collection coming from a collaboration between MAC and Chris Chang, the China based designer behind the brand Poesia. It's interesting that MAC has chosen to collaborate with a China based designer, probably to tap into the huge Chinese market which loves luxury.

The design, choice of names and colours of the designs reflect a Chinese background. They are themed around Chinese Opera and iconic Chinese imagery, portrayed in the Poensia fashion style of which Chris Chang is the designerThis is a most delightful and thoughtful collection. 

The full collection includes: 5 lipsticks; 4 eyeshadow singles; 3 cream bases; an eyeliner and the finishing pressed powder.

The Full Collection

Of this collection, I chose:

"Blue Pipa" - Slight electric blue eyeshadow

"Electric Mandarin" - Deeper Coral shade almost a true mandarin orange eyeshadow

"DDDevilish" - Matte bright pink lipstick

"Plum Princess" - Matte grey purple lipstick, I'm really into my purples and this is so unique

Cream Color Base in "Peony Pavilion" - A deep pink

Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Pressed Powder in Transparent/White

What I liked

I LOVE the packaging. I think makeup has become very much about the packaging just as it is about the quality. The designs are superb and even the boxes have the printed designs in them. They are so unique which makes this collection such a collectible.

I really liked the names Chris Chang chose. Like "Blue Pipa", pipa is a chinese instrument, kinda like a cross between a guitar and a banjo/cello. It is such an elegant instrument.

The color selection was nice and reflects the fashion these days. It is more of a Summer toned color palette, but honestly, I would still try to incorporate this into my all year round makeup palette.

Of the lipsticks, I chose the grey plum (Plum Princess) and the pink (DDDevilish - how funny, triple d!). There was a gold one and a greenish one which I was tempted to get, but these were USD$20. The lipsticks are in the matte finish. Not drying, not dragging, very opaque especially for DDDevilish. Plum Princess did then to drag just a tiny bit but was overall comfortable on the lips.

The cream color base "Peony Pavilion' is just gorgeous. It is a dupable color, but hey, it's got that amazing packaging. It performs just as well as your better performing cream bases from MAC.

I love the pigmentation of the eyeshadows and blue eyeshadows are coming back into trend. So that's why I chose "Blue Pipa".  "Electric Mandarin" is nice as a wash of color. These were USD$17 each. Of the 3 eyeshadows available, I felt these were the least dupable colors.

What I didn't like 

The eyeshadows were a tad bit dryer than my other MAC eyeshadows, particularly Electric Mandarin. They are still easy enough to work with though.

Unfortunately, the Prep/Prime Finishing Powder did nothing for me. It didn't blur out anything and wasn't particularly mattifying as well. I also felt that it left a white cast which went away when my natural oils came through. As a finishing powder it did nothing to prolong the wear of my makeup, unlike my favorite Japanese one from the brand Chacott (which I really must show you one day).

BUT, and here's a bit BUT, when you take out that compact, it's a real conversation starter. It's just too pretty to pass. I felt in that sense alone, the USD$29.50 was o.k. but just.

Photos and Swatches  

Plum Princess

Plum Princess on the lips - two coats

DDDevilish

DDDevilish - two coats

Cream Color Base - Peony Pavilion

Blue Pipa eyeshadow single

Electric Mandarin eyeshadow single

Swatches (Top to Bottom): Blue Pipa; Electric Mandarin and Peony Pavilion

Tah Dah! The glorious Pre/Prime Finishing Powder's packaging

Note the cute chinese couple in the front

The Prep/Prime Finishing Powder - Just white, yawn…

Here are the swatches of all the colors on white card.  -------------------------- Final Thoughts: Truly a unique and enchanting collection for me. Being of Chinese origin, I was just so drawn into the packaging, names and colors. What do you think? Will you pick up the Gold Lipstick I didn't? Which I might just go back and get :P Yours Truly and with Lots of Love,  TeaCupofMakeup