Nourishing Nuxe

I've been loyal to my Maybelline Baby Lips in Relieving Menthol for the past couple of years, but if there's one lip balm that's tempted me to stray, it's NUXE Rêve de Miel. (The other two, BY TERRY Baume de Rose and Christian Dior Crème de Rose are simply out of the question price-wise.) Despite losing count of the number of rave reviews I'd read, I managed to resist satiating my curiosity about it ... until I saw it at a French pharmacy while in Paris. I was set to only stock up on Bioderma and get my hands on some über-hyped La Roche-Posay Serozinc, but I suddenly recalled my repressed interest in it, and grabbed one to take home.

Ingredients: Cera Alba/Beeswax, Olus Oil/Vegetable Oil, Lecithin, Behenoxy Dimethicone, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter) Extract, Mel/Honey, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Dimethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Oil, Caprylic/ Capric Triglyceride, Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil, Glycine Soja (Soybean) Oil, Rosa Moschata Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Peel Oil, Candelilla Cera/Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Allantoin, Alendula Officinalis Flower Extract, BHT, Citric Acid, Citral, Limonene, Linalool [N0802/C].

NUXE Rêve de Miel Ultra-Nourishing Lip Balm wasn't what I was expecting at all. I'd read that it was 'matte' finish, so I'd prepared myself for that, but what I didn't prepare myself for was pretty much everything else. For one, it's thick but it's not sticky. It's more like a paste consistency. It smells like food, kind of a cross between honey and apricot jam. You need only the most minuscule amount, spread thinly across the lips, otherwise you've put on too much. The jar is 15g and would last an eternity.

Once applied, it feels a bit heavy and slightly mask-like on the lips, at least in the sense that I can detect some kind of balm sitting on top of my lips like a protective coating. It doesn't give that immediate, gratifying sensation of cooling, soothing hydration that my Maybelline Baby Lips in Relieving Menthol does — but maybe I'm just partial to menthol/mintiness in my lip balms. It's closer in texture to something like Burt's Bees Lemon Butter Cuticle Cream (but without the greasiness) than a plush, ultra smooth, cushiony lip balm like the Korres Lip Butters. When I press my lips together to try to blend or work in the product, there's a lot of friction. It's not a balm that glides on and feels slippery or glossy in any way.

That's not to say it's a bad lip balm. It's just not what I'm used to. I think it would make an excellent lip primer (especially for slightly drying matte lipsticks) because the finish is non-shiny and it leaves the lips soft and well-prepped. Otherwise, I'd be inclined to use it as an overnight lip treatment, or an effective salve for particularly harsh weather conditions. On a more superficial note, I find the packaging really appealing, especially the weighty glass jar. Though NUXE Rêve de Miel hasn't become my new favourite lip balm, it's well worth checking out for those still holding out.

Stand Still, Look Pretty

I've never owned anything Chanel until recently, when I picked up the Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder SPF 15 / PA++ in N°20. I was never going to fork out $80 for it in Australia, but it was considerably cheaper at Changi Airport so I caved. I'll readily admit that I was gradually sucked in by Gisele's fresh, slightly sunkissed, naturally perfect skin in the ads, numerous glowing reviews I'd read, and the packaging. Oh yes, the packaging. I had visions of nonchalantly whipping out the gorgeous compact from my bag in a swanky restaurant bathroom and touching up my makeup. If I can't afford a Chanel bag, at least I can afford their powder.

Les Beiges had me intrigued very early on. I first saw it used by Lisa Eldridge in a video she did on Chanel's YouTube channel. She essentially used it with a kabuki brush to buff the powder onto clean skin for a sheer base. She also demonstrated a different purpose in a separate video where she uses it on top of her liquid foundation for a more all-over bronzed look and also a bit of contouring.

From what I gather, Les Beiges is intended to be more of a sheer bronzing powder that can be used all over the face for a subtle bronzed glow. For that reason, it's probably a good idea to buy a shade up from your natural skin tone. I decided that it would be more use to me as a traditional powder (i.e. to mattify any shine, set my makeup, provide a tad more coverage on top of foundation, or be buffed into the skin on exceptionally good skin days), so I went for the shade that matched my skin, rather than a darker colour.

It comes with a half moon brush made of natural hairs that's quite soft. It's convenient for travel or if you're on the go, but otherwise it's too thin and flat to be all that useful. There's a circular lid for the powder which doubles as a compartment for the brush. It's a bit annoying to have to put aside the brush and lid each time just to access the powder, but it's a necessary evil to make Les Beiges completely purse-friendly. I've been relying on my Too Faced Powder Pouf brush to apply the powder, though I'm sure any kind of larger powder/kabuki brush would do the trick.

l-r: Laura Mercier Real Sand, Bourjois 52, Chanel Les Beiges N°20

Compared to a couple of other powders I have, Laura Mercier Mineral Powder in Real Sand is creamier and denser with a satin sheen. It's also more pigmented and slightly pink-toned. Bourjois Healthy Balance Unifying Powder in 52 Vanille is much softer and smoother in texture and more of a pale beige compared to the orange-leaning Les Beiges. For whatever reason, the surface of my Chanel has sealed except for a small circle in the centre. The same thing happens to a lot of my other powders, e.g. Benefit Hoola and most of my NARS blushes, and it's super annoying (not to mention unsightly).

The main thing I noticed about Les Beiges is that it's very sheer, borderline translucent. The swatch shows what I built up with 3-4 layers and it still almost disappears into the skin. The powder itself is scented with some kind of generic-but-pleasant, indistinguishable smell — it's a bit sweet, somewhat fruity. To be perfectly honest, I didn't see Les Beiges doing anything particularly amazing for my skin. I glanced at the ingredients list and nothing looked exactly revolutionary. After all, talc and nylon-12 are still the first two ingredients. When I applied it in the morning over my liquid foundation, my T-zone still experienced shine about 2-3 hours later. Sure, my skin looks a little more polished and 'soft focus' immediately after using it, but it's not an effect that lasts, and it's not an effect unique to Les Beiges. One thing I can say is that because of how sheer the powder is, you definitely won't experience any cakiness. 

Maybe I would've been more enthused if I bought N°30 and used it as a light all-over bronzer, but overall, I'm well aware that the main reason I purchased it was because of the packaging. I wasn't expecting any miracles from Les Beiges, so I'm neither disappointed nor pleasantly surprised. Its primary function to me is to sit there looking pretty, which it does very well. Its secondary function as a powder proved far more ordinary.

Pencilling in Kiko

When I was in Milan, I made sure I popped into a KIKO store to discover more about a brand I've been hearing a lot about lately but haven't been exposed to before. I don't know much about KIKO except that it's an Italian brand available in Europe that offers affordable cosmetics with a diverse colour and product range. When I stepped into the shop, the sheer choice and variety on display was a little daunting, but I gradually worked my way through each section and had a full blown swatchathon on my hand/arm until there was barely any space left. In the end, I bought three things: an Infinity High Pigmented Eyeshadow in 213 (a solid but unremarkable warm chocolate brown matte shade), a Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadow in 06 and a Glamorous Eye Pencil in 401.

l-r: KIKO 06, Maybelline Bad to the Bronze, L'Oréal Bronzed Taupe

One thing I was very keen to check out in person were the Long Lasting Stick Eyeshadows that Amelia from Liana Beauty featured in her July Favourites video. Seeing them in action basically had me sold there and then, but once I had swatched the two shades she demonstrated on her lid side by side, I found that 06 was much better in texture and pigmentation than 04, the dark brown shade (which was surprisingly quite patchy and overly glittery). These stick eyeshadows are merely an evolution in the already time/effort-saving innovation of cream eyeshadow. Forget brushes and fallout and blending. You need only remove the cap, twist the base up a little bit, and draw the colour on. I blend the edges softly with my pinky, but pretty much that's it. It's brilliant for mornings when I can't be bothered with much else, i.e. most. The colour is very similar to Maybelline Color Tattoo in Bad to the Bronze, but perhaps a tinge more olive gold on the lid compared with Bad to the Bronze which is lighter and more of a frosty brown. I don't find the wear time as impressive as the Maybelline Color Tattoos as by the end of the day I experience a little fading around the edges, but overall it still holds up for at least 8-9 hours.

l-r: KIKO 401, Rimmel Bronze, Australis Bombastic Bronze

I kind of wish they made an eyeshadow stick in the colour of the Glamorous Eye Pencil in 401 that I bought. The moment I swatched it, I knew I had to get it, not least because it was only €4.20 (or $6). The pencil isn't the most emollient, 'glide-on' smooth that I've ever encountered, but it comes close enough. It's gorgeously pigmented with a rich metallic lustre, but thankfully the colour isn't just a carbon copy of the other bronze pencils I have. It's noticeably lighter and more copper (orange) than the darker browns of Rimmel Scandaleyes Waterproof Kohl Kajal eyeliner in Bronze or Australis 10 Hour Waterproof Eye Pencil in Bombastic Bronze. I've been enjoying using this on my lower lash line without worrying about whether the colour might be too dark for the daytime. It still provides definition but in a way that's not at all harsh or obvious. No more softening and toning down my eyeliner if I've accidentally put too much or drawn too thick of a line. The Glamorous Eye Pencil just works effortlessly.

Overall, I'm pleased with what I picked out, though from my experience in the store, KIKO products are a bit hit and miss when it comes to quality and performance (for one, some shades of the cheaper powder/baked eyeshadows were seriously underwhelming, and I wasn't too thrilled with their blush selection). Also, after a certain point, a few items start to get quite pricey for a relatively inexpensive brand (a bronzer was €14.90 or $22, an eyeshadow palette €16.90 or $25 — Essence this ain't). It's really a matter of trying out everything for yourself and selecting what seems promising. I'm not sure if KIKO has any plans to open stores beyond Europe, but I had fun venturing into one for the first time and getting a small taste of the brand.

Back to Reality

I'm home and invariably suffering from some kind of post-holiday depression (not to be confused with my regular neuroticism and negative affect). Europe went by mostly without incident, except for some relatively minor inconveniences like the metal handle of my luggage deciding to snap on the second day of my trip. I trekked to the top of many a cathedral, soaked up the finest Renaissance artwork on the planet, experienced memorable food highs and plunging lows (O'Conway's at Gare du Nord — just don't do it), and visited just about every Boots and Superdrug I encountered. It goes without saying French pharmacies were also super exciting, though I realised I could order most of what I wanted online for the same price with free delivery.

(There's also meant to be the Caudalie Vinosource Hydration Set in there, but I forgot to include it.)

Surprisingly, I felt I was fairly tame in the purchases department. For one, I bought only three pieces of clothing. I didn't buy that much makeup, though I was tempted by the new Charlotte Tilbury counter at Selfridges. I also saw and felt the SUQQU Cheek Brush on my wishlist in person, but was quite underwhelmed at how small and floppy it seemed. A part of me laments not picking up a few more things at Changi Airport en route to Milan, as the prices were by far the most affordable I would encounter. I had a good look at the Sephora on Champs-Élysées but everything was hideously expensive and barely cheaper than Australia.

I made a point to visit the Diptyque store on Boulevard Saint-Germain like it was a worthy tourist experience in and of itself. I forced myself to pick a perfume because I knew I'd be there for the next 3 hours if I didn't. In the end, I settled for Ofresia but I don't know if I'm in love with it. I also picked up the Roses candle though it's somewhat ludicrous I bothered to lug it around and carry it all the way back home when it's not that much cheaper in Paris compared to Mecca Cosmetica (which, by the way, is nearly identical to Space.NK).

Compared to my New York haul, I think I was generally more selective this time around and stuck to a list I'd jotted down beforehand. There also was a much greater emphasis on skin care. In fact, the thing I was most ecstatic about was unintentionally stumbling upon the Pixi store off Carnaby Street in London's Soho and being able to buy a bottle of their elusive Glow Tonic. Win.

And now, a picture dump...