Review: MAC Lipstick in Chili

This is another review of MAC Lipstick. I admit, I am a MAC junkies, I couldn't help it.

Whenever I found a 'cool' unique shade of MAC Lipstick or even the lip pencil, it is so hard to find a similar/same shade from other brand.  One of those lipsticks are MAC Chili.

Chili on  lips and MAC Uninterrupted eyeshadow softly around the eyes

MAC description: 

Brownish orange-red (Matte)[Matte]

Price: £15.50 (Is it me or MAC lipstick has been increasing in price? - I thought taken over by big company Estee Lauder should make it more affordable... heh...) 

Personal Experience:

Colour:

I really like how MAC describes this shade and the name of the lipstick totally matches. For some reason I can imagine chillies being roast giving that 'burnt' colour.

This is a good mix orange, red and brown.

The brown in the shade definitely muted down this shade and totally matches my style. Until now I haven't found anything similar or anything close to this. On the tube you definitely see that it is an obvious orange lipstick but very muted and still enough red to give a vampy look. For me this is a new take on muted red lips or a brownish red. 

I can definitely pair this with soft smokey eyes or if I'm bold enough a darker neutral/earthy tones smokey eyes. 

This is definitely a colour to look for those who want a tone down red orange. Very flattering on warm skintone. But in my book, your undertone should not be the only thing that decide what lipstick your wear. Match lipstick to your hair, clothes or your accessories, nails etc... no rule in makeup. I believe as long as you have something warm eg. cool tone girl with a blonde or warm brunette hair or green or brown eyes definitely can rock this.

Texture and Finish:

Matte finish but not crayon like, not flat matte. There is a very slight creaminess to it but still have that dry matte effect. It is not one of those revolutionary formula light as air but it is what it is a classic MAC matte lipstick formula.

How it wears all day: 

This is definitely smooth to apply and absolutely pigmented like ALL of MAC matte lipstick. There is no feathering and no drying.

It last all day and fade into softer colour. Give you that extra 'effortless' look... like "yeah, I wear red lipstick everyday." if you know what I mean. 

Easy to remove and no stain. It is what a classic lipstick should be. 

So overall rating: 4.9/5.0

FOTD - Reddish brown lips with coppery eyes

This was a look I wore a few weeks ago, nothing too special to be honest.
Just a reddish brown lips and coppery eyes.
Full makeup list down below. Since this is quite recent I actually can list down exactly what I used.

this is after I got home... could not help that my makeup faded a bit, I actually touched up my lipstick a bit.

FACE:
Prime my face with Charlotte Tilbury Wonder Glow - focus on cheeks, under eyes, forehead, chin and bridge of the nose.
L.A. Girl Cosmetics PRO Conceal HD Concealer Green Corrector - to colour correct redness  ie. blemishes/acne and redness on my scars, and corners of the nose.
MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation in NC 42 on whole face.
MAC Studio Sculpt Concealer in:-
NC  35 - blemishes/acne
NW 30 - undereye grayness (pink undertone)
NC  30 - undereye (on top on NW 30) and also high points for highlight - cheekbones, centre of forehead, bridge of the nose and chin.
(I know this is ludicrous number of concealers, but I have them so why not use them)
MAC Prep+Prime Transparent Finishing Powder to set all the base makeup

CHEEKS:
Contour with MAC Cream Colour Base in Mid Tone Sepia  and MAC Sculpting Powder Pro in Shadowy - under the cheekbones, side of forehead and side on bridge of the nose.
I also dust some Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder in No. 30 to blend and give warmness on my skin as shadowy is more of a gray brown (perfect for contour).
Since NARS Multiple in South Beach a bit too pigmented to be used as my usual highlight, I mix with Aesop Parsley Seed Anti-oxidant Serum to dilute it. Apply on the cheekbones and top it off with MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle.

EYES:
Prime with Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.
MAC Paint Pot in Quite Natural from lashline blend toward crease.
The copper on my eyelid is actually a cheek product from The Bodyshop old collection 'Autumn Leaves' in Chestnut. On me it's really a toned down copper but there is that hint of vermillion *like a red orange* in it which I think would show up more on fairer skin. To me it's too much to be worn on cheeks as I am not really a blush person.
MAC Cork on crease.
MAC Mineralized Eyeshadow Duo in Play on Plums , the burgundy on crease and the peachy gold as highlight softly on the brow bone and on inner corner, on top of Topshop Crayon in Whisper.
MAC Brun on lashline.
MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash mascara
On brows I use MAC Brun and NARS Brow Gel in Kinshasa

LIPS:
I still feel even on eyes it was too much that I would only paired with a more muted colour on lips. Not too dark or bright but I don't want to do nude natural, so MAC Lipstick in Paramount comes to mind, but I thought I want to use something different and go for Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Birkin Brown, which is similar to MAC Paramount, but less red.
I filled in first with MAC Lip Pencil in Mahogany and follow by the lipstick.


DONE!

Review: Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner

So today I am going to do a review on Clarins Gentle Exfoliator Brightening Toner.
If you're familiar with beauty community in the UK, this product is quite a sensation, as again highly recommended by skincare expert blogger Caroline Hirons.

Clarins claims: 

A fresh, fluid exfoliating lotion that brightens, smooths and softens skin. Regular exfoliation helps to strenghten the skin's resistance to wrinkles and maintain the balance between preventing a build-up of dead cells and encouraging cell renewal. 

Price: £25.00 for 125 ml

Ingredient:

Tamarind fruit acids: eliminates impurities and dead skin cells, boosts cellular renewal.White Nettle extract : tightens pores. 

That is literally what is written on website. You can check out here and here 

So this is known to contain both AHA and BHA; glycolic acid, tartaric acid and salicylic acid.

Personal experience: 

I use this during acid toner stage which usually right after cleansing.
It is an amber-tinge thin liquid/water-like. Smell nice, typical skincare smell.

This felt a bit 'off' on my skin, like this slippery feel I don't know how to describe...

It actually reminds me of how I felt using most drugstore pimple gel. This  may be due to either these two things or both concurrently; the salicylic acid or the alcohol.

Now being acne prone, I am familiar with salicylic acid way before it become the BHA toner craze like nowadays. I usually don't do well with salicylic acid acne products, hence why I use benzoyl peroxide for my acne and usually prefer glycolic for my exfoliation.

Fast forward to 3 years ago, I have used things like Origins Super Spot Remover and Effaclar Duo AI which contain salicylic acid and Ren Clarimatte contain salicin (willow bark) which salicylic acid derived from, which makes me think maybe certain salicylic acid is okay . That is how I end up trying this after learning how salicylic acid penetrates deeper for pores clearing, but I don't think this salicylic acid works for me. 

There is also an issue with the alcohol content in this, but as Caroline Hirons says it is counteract well by the glycerin. Well I personally don't felt like I was stripped dry by it. 

Hmmm can't really put a finger on this.

I do felt like I need to use more, as it dried so fast on cotton pad. I used REN Clarimatte daily before, compare to that, this felt slightly drier. Even the cotton pad used dried weirdly.

Actually, I was hoping this to be as strong as Pixi Glow Tonic, to be used a few times a week as the brand Clarins suggests, but it's milder than I expect.

Clarins 'How to apply':

Apply once or twice a week to a thoroughly clean face and neck with a cotton pad soaked in lotion. Avoid the eye contour area. Wait one minute before completing with your regular skin care routine.  

This is still good even for everyday use but I prefers REN Clarimatte Clarifying Toner. 

Overall rating: 3.5/5

(Still good but I would not repurchase)

Those felt Pixi Glow too harsh can try this Clarins toner. 

Those who couldn't agree with Clarins toner like I did could try Ren Clarimatte.

Note: I wore this twice everyday, day and evening. Towards the end I practically 'soaked' my cotton pad because I want to finish this faster to 'throw' it out (it's quite expensive). But I have never felt my skin becomes too dry or overexfoliated, and I do wear sunscreen everyday as usual, and thankfully there is no reaction. 

I am just saying don't be scared by it, but definitely don'follow my method. Lol.