Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N in 01 Dragee

Face primers are one of those things that are often overlooked by most (because they probably don't need it... lucky sods). As my skin is so fickle, with an oily t-zone and dry cheeks and a tendency to get flaky at certain bits, I need something that will help even out all these problems. You know, since I put in some effort every morning to make myself look decent, I'd might as well have my face full of slap last longer too.

I have heard many good things about the Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N but I didn't get it until recently because it used to be bottled without a pump. As they have revamped most of their foundation packaging since late 2010, I thought now is probably a good time to give this product a go.

A pump makes everything easier, yo! No mess and fuss about pouring out too little or too much. Not quite sure why it took Paul & Joe this long to figure it out. Anyway, the shade I picked up is in 01 Dragee (pronounced "dra-zhay") and it's a pale beige-pink tint with a light sheen (no shimmer).

When applied and blended in, the light tint almost completely disappears but it still offers some slight coverage to even out my skin tone and redness. It also creates a smooth canvas for foundation and powder.

The consistency is a little watery and light and feels oh-so-nice on skin. I like that it is slightly moisturising and yet does not feel tacky. Although it contains silicones, it does not have that typical slippery, silicone-y feel (if you know what I mean) unlike most other face primers. It has a semi-matte, satin finish.

I have used this primer with liquid, cream and powder foundations, and it most certainly helps extend the wear of foundations. It also does not make me feel like the usual oil-slick, which is a good thing as I was initially a little wary that moisturising primers would be too heavy on my skin.

Like most Paul & Joe Beaute products, this primer has a light orange blossom scent, which I really like. It's one of the reasons why I love their products so much! If you're sensitive to scents, you may not like the primer but the scent dissipates quite quickly and is not intrusive. The packaging is pretty, as usual. That embossed chrysanthemum blossom always puts a smile on my face :-)

Pros:

• Lightweight consistency.

• Smooth texture.

• Slightly moisturising.

• Not tacky.

• Shade matches my skin tone.

• Helps foundation and powders last longer.

• Does not make me oily.

• Pretty packaging with pump bottle.

Cons:

• Expensive.

• Shades are limited and more suited for fair to medium skin tones.

• Contains silicones, so not suitable for those who are sensitive.

Overall, this is another Paul & Joe hit for me and I would recommend asking for samples if you'd like to try it out. The Moisturizing Foundation Primer N comes in three colour selections from 01 (fair pink-beige), 02 (medium yellow-gold), and 03 (translucent). They have SPF15 sun protection except for 03, which does not contain SPF.

Paul & Joe Moisturizing Foundation Primer N is available at Paul & Joe counters and Sephora nationwide. It costs RM126 for each 30ml bottle.

Ingredient List:

(01, 02) Water, butylene glycol, glycerin, dipropylene glycol, ethylhexyl methoxycinnamate, triethylhexanoin, nylon-12, cyclomethicone, neopentyl glycol dicaprate, apricot kernel oil, orange flower water, tocopherol, sodium hyaluronate, jojoba seed oil, lilium candidum bulb extract, BHT, triethanolamine, acrylates copolymer, carbomer, xanthan gum, stearic acid, sorbitan sesquioleate, cetearyl alcohol, talc, triceteareth-4 phosphate, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, dipentaerythrityl hexahydroxystearate/hexastearate/hexarosinate, behenyl alcohol, sucrose polystearate, polysorbate 80, polysorbate 85, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulfate, lecithin, hydrated silica, hydrogenated polyisobutene, hydrogenated lecithin, methylparaben, fragrance  (+/-) mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, aluminum hydroxide.

Paul & Joe Nail Enamel in 014 ~ A Fun Jelly Pink

A few weeks ago, I went to Paul & Joe and noticed they had a nail polish set on offer. The set includes a base coat, a nail care oil and a nail polish.

The Nail Enamel in 014 is quite an eye-catching glossy, bright pink shade with light coral undertones and may be a permanent shade so you probably can purchase it individually (but I'm not sure about its availability locally). It has some fuschia micro-shimmer loosely distributed but my camera didn't really pick up the shimmer. It is a jelly finish so you'll be expecting a sheer formula and 3 to 4 coats to be opaque.

* indirect sunlight *

I am wearing my usual 2 coats (without top coat in photos) and the nail line is still slightly visible. It should be more evened out after 3 to 4 coats but I couldn't be bothered applying as many layers because this nail polish takes absolutely forever to dry. Honestly, it has one of the longest dry-times out of all the nail polishes I have tried.

* indoor natural daylight *

It also feels strangely sticky, even after waiting more than 20 minutes for the 2nd coat to dry. As this is my first experience with jelly polishes, I'm not sure it the stickiness is normal. But I didn't really like the icky sensation.

Although I don't enjoy the formula and the unbearably long dry-time, no. 014 is still a really pretty and fun colour to wear. It instantly brightens up my skin tone and gets quite a bit of notice since it's such a cheery shade. It did start showing some minimal tip wear after two days but that's probably because I didn't add a top coat.

In a nutshell, unless the Paul & Joe Nail Enamel in 014 is a shade you must have, I would probably give it a miss. The set is quite value for money though and costs RM100 for all three items (base coat, nail care oil and nail polish), and these items usually retail above RM52 each. I believe the set is still available but in very limited quantities.

Have you tried any Paul & Joe nail polishes and do you have no. 014? I'd love to hear your experience with it and whether you faced the same issues I did :-)

Oh, Paul & Joe, You Make My Heart Sing New York, New York

Paul & Joe Fall 2011 makeup collection called Manhattan took inspiration from the glamorous New York City and launched a gorgeous range that was released in two parts. This collection recently reached our local shores and I have been anticipating its arrival for more than a month. There is a special set on offer with selected items from both parts of the series, so of course I had to get it.

I won't go into too much detail on the entire collection and you can refer to their website instead. This has to be one of the nicest Fall makeup releases in a while and I absolutely adore everything, which is quite rare because I tend to only like one or two items (or none at all) in most seasonal releases.

Face & Eye Color CS in Empire State (074) comprises of shimmery yellow-gold and dark grey strips that can be used alone or together. The combination is really pretty!

The Pencil Eye Liner WP is a shade called Upper East Side (001) and it's a steely charcoal with gold glitter. It is meant to be smudge-resistant and waterproof.

I am so happy the Nail Enamel that came with the set is the one I had intended to purchase as well. The City Never Sleeps (018) is a gorgeous, bold purple with flecks of gold and navy shimmer. I'd like to think that the colour was inspired by the inky night sky, illuminated by dazzling lights of New York City.

Paul & Joe introduces the newly formulated Lipstick M in this series and the colour NYC (002) is a brilliant jelly fuschia pink with bits of shimmer strewn through. It looks scary and bright but actually applies very sheerly and the finish is a pretty subdued pink that is slightly glossy and glittery. It is surprisingly easy to wear.

Influenced by the art deco designs of the city, the Color Palette in Chelsea (002) with shades for eyes and cheeks is a lovely combination of feminine yet daring colours. The brushes included are actually usable and quite good quality although I find the cheek brush rather small.

Overall, this promotional set does not disappoint and is very limited so I'd recommend that you hurry to your nearest Paul & Joe if you're interested. The set retails at RM360 and it comes with full-sized items.

Note:
I will try doing swatches and individual reviews soon!

At the time of writing, the SA has not received the full product pricing yet and the list below is based on her estimates. I will continue updating the price list as and when I receive more information.

Product Pricing (Updated 20th Nov 2011):
• Color Palette - RM154
• Face & Eye Color CS - RM117
• Pencil Eye Liner WP - RM60 ++ (price to be confirmed)
• Lipstick M - RM87
• Nail Enamel - RM52

Paul & Joe Body Salt Scrub for a Blissful Bath and Shower Time

I am a huge fan of Paul & Joe and have to admit that it's mostly because of their girly, vintage packaging. Good thing their products have generally worked out quite well on me because it would be silly to keep buying stuff from them just because they look nice. In a fairly recent haul, I returned home with the Paul & Joe body scrub, which was released in the Blue Horizon Summer 2011 collection.

The body scrub feels very luxurious and when I tested at the counter, I was completely sold by how smoothly the granules melted into a gorgeous creamy texture. It consists of salt and sugar granules to buff your skin and the shea butter helps soften and moisturise. It does not feel terribly coarse like how some salt scrubs can get. As I suffer from mild body eczema, my skin is quite sensitive and cannot tolerate anything that is too rough. The Paul & Joe scrub strikes a nice balance between grit and substance, and it feels quite comfortable on my skin.

Due to the palm oil and shea butter, the scrub may feel slick to some however it does not get very greasy and washes off quite easily. I find that it leaves my skin soft to touch and makes me feel nicely moisturised. After toweling off, I would normally apply the Paul & Joe Body Milk and this combination is absolutely heavenly. Ahhh, bliss...

Like most of their products, the body scrub has Paul & Joe's signature orange blossom scent, which I really adore. Sadly, the fragrance only lasts as long as the shower and although my skin is lightly perfumed when I step out of the bathroom, it fades after a short while.

The BeautyCabby Tip "Glob a small amount of the body scrub (you can use any scrub) onto a dampened foot file and gently scrub your feet, concentrating on areas where calluses have formed (usually on the heel). Make sure the file can be used wet or dry."

The Paul & Joe Body Salt Scrub is available at Paul & Joe counters in Parkson Subang Parade, Parkson Pavilion and Sephora. I believe it is a limited edition item and may not be widely available. Each 230g tub retails at RM116 and comes with its own spatula. It may be expensive for a body scrub but I think it's worth it because it polishes my sensitive skin well and I have not suffered any adverse skin reactions or eczema flare-ups using this.

Ingredients:

Mallow Extract, Edelweiss Extract, Olive Oil, Orange Flower Water, Palm Oil, Shea Butter, Orange Oil, Balm Mint Leaf Extract

Monthly Highlights ~ September

I have decided to expand the monthly Fave Five posts, not only to include products I have liked in the last month, but things that didn't work out, selective purchases and everything else in between. I suppose it will be a lot more fun to put together and to some extent, helps me document my likes and dislikes. I hope you'll enjoy this post!

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LOVE

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Foundation (review link)

I can't believe how well this foundation is working out for me. It blends very smoothly, offers medium coverage, does not appear cakey and controls oil quite well.

Vichy NormaDerm Anti-Imperfection Concentrate

I purchased this pimple cream a month ago when I was suffering from some really bad breakouts. It is the most effective pimple treatment I have ever used. I have been applying this every evening as a spot-treatment and it certainly helps keep my skin a little bit clearer. Unlike many other anti-pimple products, it does not dry out my skin.

Paul & Joe Body Milk

I love the scent of Paul & Joe products, the light floral fragrance of orange blossoms with a tinge of honey is absolutely lovely. This body lotion is emollient without feeling too heavy and it sinks into my skin fairly quickly. It does not leave a greasy residue and my skin feels quite soft after applying.

FINISHED

Forever and Ever Dior Eau de Toilette

This is the third bottle I have finished and that itself is a testament to how much I love this scent. It smells like creamy roses and reminds me of the English countryside in spring. The scent is long-lasting and is very suitable for day use because it is sweet and feminine without being too intrusive. I will always get a new bottle when I run out because I love it that much :-)

UNFAVOURED

Prestige Total Intensity Eyeliner

This eyeliner creases, transfers and makes my lids feel a little heavy and tired. I don't even apply that much of it. It's a real shame though because I really like the colour as it's a beautiful metallic grey that looks really nice on brown eyes.

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So, tell me... What have you been loving or loathing lately?

Bananas for Bronzers ~ A Recent Collection

I have never purchased a bronzer in all my life... that is, until I started watching a few many YouTube videos on how to contour one's face. By the way, I think I'm addicted to YouTube of late and have discovered quite a number of really fab "beauty gurus".

You see, I have stuffed chipmunk cheeks. The kind of cheeks that are fat and round and wide. I didn't get around to looking at bronzers or contouring powders before because my cheeks used to really ruddy and splotchy, and I was afraid bronzers would emphasise the redness. However, my face redness has somewhat lessened after using Clarisonic Mia and several skincare products that seemed to help even out my skin tone. This makes me so happy because I can finally use cheek and face colours without looking like a clown.

The Body Shop Honey Powder Bronzer in #001 Light Matte

I got this after reading SkinDeco's review and I really liked the fact that it's a very subtle bronzer and it's matte. As a first timer with bronzing, it's probably safer to start out with something subtle and not too pigmented. This bronzer looks very natural in person and quite honestly, hardly shows up so I find myself dipping my brush in a few more times. I have used it as a face powder and it warms my complexion slightly without looking too obvious.

Bloom Aloha Bronzer

The Bloom bronzer may look rather dark in the pan but when applied with a light hand, it shades my face in a rather subtle manner. I use it as a blush or a contouring powder, to shade the shadowy areas beneath my cheekbones and on my jawline. It is mostly matte and not too orange or muddy but I'd need to be quite careful to not use too much because it can appear a little dark on my skin. I switch between a MAC 209 and a MAC 187 brush to blend.

Essence Bronzing Compact Powder Matt in Love to be Matt

That's right, it's spelt without the "e". I got this from Watson's for only RM13.90 and it is probably the most budget-friendly bronzer available in our local market. I am quite pleased with this product although it is rather powdery and requires a bit of blending to smoothen it out. I use it as a contouring powder and it performs quite well. I don't think it's very lasting though but for the price, I cannot complain.

Essence Bronzing Compact Powder Shimmer in Bronzing Queen

I got this together with Matt. As it has subtle shimmers in it, I only use it as a blush and not so much a contouring powder or bronzer. The colour is really nice and creates a light, healthy flush against my skin tone. The shimmer is not noticeable and adds enough shine without making me look oily. Like Matt, the texture is powdery however it seems to stay on longer than it's matte counterpart.

Paul & Joe Blue Horizon Bronzer in Siren

This is limited edition and may be hard to find these days. The girlie and pretty packaging is typical of Paul & Joe. It is a really nice and versatile product. When swirled together, it creates a subtle allover glow applied lightly and the peachy-pink shade works beautifully as a blush too. The white decorative overspray on the etched fish comes off after a couple of uses.

Etude House Aloha V-Line Slim Maker in #02

Don't you just love the name "slim maker"? I really need something that can tone my fat face down and am hoping that this product will work as claimed. I have not used it yet as I just got it yesterday. I like that it's a two-in-one product (good for travel) with a contouring shade (Cherry Wood) and highlighter (Sun Pink) packaged together in a slim, pretty compact. I tested at the counter and the texture is smooth and soft.

theBalm Bahama Mama Bronzer

This is the darkest bronzer shade I now own but I have not used it yet because I just bought this yesterday. I did test it over the counter and it appears as a matte, bark brown when swatched heavily. When used with a fluffy blender brush, it adds some depth to my face, making it look a bit more defined but I need to use very little otherwise it will be too dark on my skin tone. The texture is very silky and smooth, really lovely stuff.

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I now use bronzers to add a bit of warmth and to shade parts of my face. A couple of them can be used as blush to achieve that healthy flush of colour that looks a bit more natural than bright pink blushes. Admittedly, I'm not that accomplished at applying them yet and am still experimenting with different brushes and techniques.

So, I'm really interested to know... What are your favourite bronzing or contouring products and why do you like them?

Paul & Joe Protective Fluid Foundation S

You know, I do try to be a disciplined and savvy shopper. I really do. But more often than not, I am faced with a situation where I just cannot help myself. This was what happened when I spotted a new foundation by Paul & Joe during my holiday in Hong Kong a couple of months back.

I must confess, what really sold me was the packaging. Not only does the foundation come in Paul & Joe's gorgeous frosted glass bottle with its embossed chrysanthemum motif, they have finally released a foundation that comes with a pump.

* A pump, yo! *

Okay, it may not be relevant to some but pouring out foundation straight from a bottle reminds me of the eighties, when big hair and bigger shoulder pads were in. Did I mention the eighties? My age must be showing. A pump does make things a whole lot easier and less messy.

review : paul & joe protective dual powder foundation

I have had a really stressful week and am so glad that it's over. It was so stressful that a huge and really painful zit appeared on my forehead :-( Good thing we have makeup to help conceal some imperfections.

Anyhoo, I am still completely bonkers over Paul & Joe. I was previously mostly looking at their skincare, which have been working out quite well so far. Lately, I have been eyeing some of their cosmetics too. The SA had included a tester size Protective Dual Powder Foundation UV SPF20 PA++ with my previous purchases and after using it a couple of times, I decided to get the full sized version.

The powder foundation comes in a sweet pearlescent compact. It looks a little orange in the photo due to the lighting but is actually white.

I got the it in the shade #30. The SA tried recommending me #20 but it was a little too pink for my liking.

a tale of two primers

Paul & Joe is making me go bananas! After coming home with a bunch of items last Friday, I went back to the counter on Sunday. I need to have every, single stonkin' P&J product there is!!! I have huge regrets of passing them by for so many years. They had such pretty limited edition items before and I actually missed out on them. The only consolation for now is knowing that their Spring 2010 collection will be arriving soon.

After a rather terrible experience with the Clarins eyeshadow base, I decided I needed to get a proper eyeshadow primer and remembered seeing one on the P&J website. That was the main reason for stopping by their counter on Sunday but of course, I ended up coming home with a little bit more.

I wasn't sure if I really needed a face primer as well and since they had one with UV protection, it's probably like killing two birds with one stone. You will hear me say this a lot but I freakin' love their packaging!

On the same Sunday evening, I was meeting a girlfriend for dinner and decided to do an experiment to see how both the primers will work out. The eyeshadows pretty much stayed intact after 4 hours, which was quite impressive because they usually would have creased rather badly by then. Also, my face would normally be lit up like a giant disco ball from the 70s and I believe the face primer helped control the oil secretion to some extent. My t-zone was still oily but not as much.

The next day, I used the same primers and the same eyeshadow palette to see how well they will hold up after a full day's work. I still had to blot my face some time mid-day (I normally use about 3 or 4 blotting papers) but the powder foundation from the morning did not slide and budge as much. Although the eyeshadows did not crease, the colour intensity were definitely faded. The before and after photos were taken 8 hours apart.

I suppose I am quite satisfied with the results from these two primers. Not only did they enable makeup to go on more smoothly, the face primer offered sun protection up to SPF 40 PA++. Ideally, I would prefer something that can help mattify my skin more because my t-zone gets rather greasy even after a couple of hours.

I will be reviewing more of P&J in the coming months because I can definitely see myself going back again and again and again... :-)

shopping : paul & joe

Paul & Joe has been one of those brands that I passed by many times but hardly ever looked. It's not that I don't love the girly packaging, in fact I am a huge fan of shabby chic and Paul & Joe products always look so sweet and a little bit vintage. It was the sales assistant at a local mall that sort of repelled me. Actually, I was rather afraid of her.

On Friday, I decided to stop by the P&J counter to have a look-see because there were a number of customers hovering around and I thought I'd be safe from the SA since she was busy with others. She was demonstrating the wonders of a peel-off mask on a customer's hand and I was curious. She noticed me looking and quickly grabbed my hand and started applying the same mask on me whilst extolling the virtues of P&J skincare. I am such a sucker and so easily convinced that I returned home with this lot of goodies.

I cannot get over how pretty P&J packaging is. And I feel rather silly for staying away for more than two years just because I found the SA scary. They have several fabulous skincare too and I am definitely going back for more soon.

Here's what I came home with :

• Light Cleansing Milk - a new favourite!
• Refreshing Skin Toner
• Body Protection Cream SPF30 PA++
• Moisture Lip Treatment
• Face Color Powder in 3 different shades - discounted because they were leftovers of a previous collection
• Blotting Paper and Mirrored Case - along with 3 refills

Again, so pretty... happy sigh...

I am now head over heels in love with Paul & Joe. I am already planning to buy more skincare and some makeup too. I cannot wait for the Spring 2010 and Disney's Alice in Wonderland collections to arrive and I think the SA told me they will be available locally after Chinese New Year.

I know many of you beauty mavens have used P&J before, so what are your favourites?