BURBERRY Sheer Summer Glow

Burberry describes this as an effortless all-in-one highlighting compact. The Limited Edition face product was released with the "Iconic Nudes", Burberry's 2012 summer collection. I knew I just had to get my paws hands on it as soon as I saw it on blogs and the Burberry website.

I kind of figured that if I couldn't use it on my face, I'll just use it on my eyes when I blend out eyeshadows or highlight my blush or as a finishing powder, whichever the case may be. 

A summer glow that lasts all year round? Right... That's easy to achieve in a country like mine. However, for those of you who are from countries with a colder climate, I would suggest checking this powder out (if it's still on stock).

"Effortless" a word you will hear from Burberry's videos on YouTube again and again.  If you browse through their website, you will find that most of the shades are in the neutral family. I am under the impression that their makeup line is targeted towards a more natural but polished look, that well, just looks - effortless yet pretty!

Love the luxe packaging! Very Burberry indeed!

The compact is heavy gunmetal with the Burberry checkered pattern. Like all Burberry products, it has a magnetic closure. It also comes with this light Beige velvet pouch. (Blushes come in a darker velvet pouch.)

Embossed Burberry checkered print. :3 

(SOOOO PURRDDDEEYYYYYY!!!!)

1 - Bronze with gold and mahogany undertones

2 - Light beige

3 - Peachy champage pink

4 - Neutral cream with golden undertones

Swatched on NC25-30 skin. I would like to caution those with deeper skin tones that this might not show up on your skin and might just work like a finishing powder.

The number 3 shade was the hardest to swatch as it worked more as a highlights that blended perfectly on my skin.

• Glowing-natural finish that looks like skin, only healthier. True to its name, it imparts a radiant and wonderful glow as if you've just been kissed by the sun on a wonderful summer day. 

• Goes on very sheer and subtle. One must use the right kind of brush and build up the product. I suggest using a dense powder or blush brush. I have two blushes from Burberry and their pigmentation is not as sheer as this is. I suppose this was meant to be used as a complexion enhancer rather than an actual face colour.

• As previously stated, it goes on very sheer and it is almost impossible to over apply this product. If any fault at all, it would be that it might not show up on darker skin tones. 

• Product does not come with an applicator which I don't mind because I rarely use applicators that come with products.

• Powder is finely milled. Not chalky, and goes on smoothly. The texture is silky, soft and is almost buttery to the touch. Contains very fine shimmers that gives the luminous glow. The shimmers are however barely visible when applied. No chunks or glitter or anything like that. The shimmers in this palette are also not scratchy nor gritty.

• Multi-tasking product. I use this an an eyeshadow, highlighter, blush and all over face bronzer. I suppose this can also be used as a finishing powder if you can't really get the colours to show up on your skin. I really don't think this can be used as a contour powder due to the shimmers on the palette.

• Burberry products have a scent to them which I am not so fond of as it reminds me of grandmas and old stuff, but I don't hate it either.

• Definitely, not cheap but I don't regret purchasing this as it's a wonderful multi-tasking product. It also comes with a lot of product and I don't think I'll ever hit pan on this. 

All colours blended together.  Natural Lighting.

This is actually more visible in real life than it is on this picture. Somehow, the camera somehow managed to wash out the golden-bronze glow.

Close up. 

As you can see from the picture above, the powder has a sheen to it. It is however will not make you look like a walking disco ball. The shimmers as previously stated are very subtle and are not as visible, unless of course you try to look for them one by one.

Picture taken indoors, with flash.

The finish is satin like and almost disappears and looks like skin that's more luminous. 

Lunasol Fall 2011 Modeling Cheeks EX02 (Soft Coral)

I am now joining the Lunasol bandwagon with the ladies whose blogs I follow and adore. I recently picked up 2 Lunasol products. :D YAYYYY!!!! I will do a separate post on each with my initial impressions and thoughts on the products.  

Lunasol Fall 2011 Modeling Cheeks EX02

Soft Coral

Swatches.

Swatched on MAC NC30 skin.

Swatch of all the colors blended together.

NOTE: All pictures were taken under artificial lighting. 

EX02 is a peach-coral shade depending on how you apply or layer the colors of the blush. It has shimmers that are barely noticeable. If any, the shimmers just give a very lovely and healthy glow when applied! The pigmentation is rather sheer but buildable. The finish is very natural and pretty. It will make you look like you are blooming. 

It feels so nice to the touch - almost creamy and soft - its powder has been finely milled along with the shimmers (fear not, the shimmers won't scratch nor bother you).  

The blush case/compact and the blush are sold separately. You may opt not to buy the compact and just get the blush. I however, seriously need a compact for this. The Lunasol counter I visited ran out of stocks so I just bought the blush without the pan. I have an excuse to go back to their counter now.. :P

So much for not buying any blushers till I hit a pan. LOL! xD

Paul & Joe Sahara Collection Finishing Powder - 002 Healthy Medium Beige

Please bear with me as I post more Paul & Joe reviews. This is probably because, I cannot get my mind off their Limited 2011 Summer collection. :P

So let's proceed with a review of another limited item -

This is the Limited Edition Sahara Collection Finishing Powder that was released last year. I know I should have picked it up earlier but I wasn't entirely sure if I liked it because I am not a fan of paper packaging.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION:

In addition, crystalline cellulose and spherical powder adheres to sebum, helping maintain a dry and silky smooth skin that doesn’t look greasy.

Adheres to the skin. Stays on even after perspiring. 

The powder adheres to skin and stays on even after hot and humid conditions, because we combined oil-coated clear plate powder with amorphous powder. 

Keeps skin dry with a soft, fluffy touch. 

The powder spreads smoothly with a soft, fluffy texture. That’s because it contains a larger quantity of soft and comfortable amorphous powder, and a combination of easy-to-slide clear plate powder and spherical powder. It can be used comfortably during humid seasons and keep your skin soft and dry.

Sublime radiant glow and translucent finish whenever you want.

The powder contains a blended champagne gold frost “SECRET’D’or” that adds a warm glow and gives a sublime glow which will last for all day long. - SOURCE

The packaging is really pretty! If only it wasn't made of paper. :(

002 DESERT SAND Healthy medium beige

I picked up 002 because I think 001 suit individuals with NC 25 or lighter skin tones.

Pretty isn't it?

I love this puff! It's soft and fluffy and applies the powder quite smoothly. <3

This powder is best applied with this cotton puff, however one can also use a powder brush. :)

Comes with this sticker which you can keep if you want to prevent the powder from spilling.

Actually, the small holes control the amount of product that is dispensed. 

Can you see how finely milled the powder is? :3

Swatch on NC 30 skin.

Blended. 

Notice how my camera gets all weird and makes me darker and lighter in pictures? LOL! x) I guess it's the lighting or something like that. 

PROS:

- The powder is finely milled.

- The puff is useful! Finally an applicator that can be used with the product. :)

- Gives a radiant, semi-matte, somewhat dewy look.

- Helps makeup last longer.

- Did not break me out.

- Is not cakey. 

- Light weight.

- Helps keep my oiliness at bay.

CONS:

- May be a bit expensive to some people.

- May be hard to acquire.

- Is not talc and paraben free.

NEUTRAL:

- While I love Paul & Joe packaging, I am not a fan of paper packaging because I just think plastic, glass and other materials are more sturdy & don't deteriorate as much. 

- There is a scent to this product. I quite remember it having a scent to it but I do not remember what it smells like at the moment. (Note: I am currently sick.)

OVERALL:

I love this product! This is my favorite finishing powder as of the moment because I like the finish that it gives. It is also very lightweight and I don't feel as if I have piled tons of makeup on my skin when I use this. :3

I probably won't stop saying positive things about it because I really like it. 

Do you also use a finishing powder?