Brand Review: Aube Couture

Aube Couture is a brand from Sofina/Kao. It’s a re-branding from Aube. It’s supposed to be higher in quality, easier to be used as well.

I’m not sure about the market range….the price is definitely in the department stores range, but it’s sold at the drugstores? Much like Coffret d’Or or Esprique Precious?

Aube Couture

Anyway, even though the previous Aube didn’t get exactly brilliant reviews out there, I eagerly ordered the eyeshadow palette and blushes due to the glowing reviews on Lotus Palace. The colors look really pretty too. Here are my Aube Couture items:

Aube Couture

Designing Eyes 504 Pink.
Designing Cheek 401 Pink and 404 Rose.

Unfortunately, all of the items are hugely disappointing for me

Aube Couture Designing Eyes

Yes, the palette is styled so that it’s easy to be used, even for beginners. The shape of the pans resembles the area of the eye where you should put the color.

Lotus Palace said that the eyeshadows is sheer but easily buildable. Not for me It’s sheer yes. Very much so. Sheerer than Coffret d’Or Shiny Accent Eyes. So much that I can use the (supposedly) liner color as my lid color, and the result is only a soft definition to my eyes.

The trouble is: the texture is quite chalky So I can’t really build it up. 2 layers, and it shows up chalky/cakey on my lids

This palette retails for JPY3885. That’s about USD40! I personally think it’s much too pricey for such a sheer palette. Majolica Majorca can do it better at half the price.

Worse, are the blushes.

Aube Couture Designing Cheek

These are totally sheer! I barely get a soft flush on my cheeks after several layers, and please bear in mind that I’m quite fair. Same chalky texture, so building up is a pain.

I dare say that it’s sheerer than Benefit Dandelion! And much chalkier

The blush pan retails at JPY2200. That’s close to USD24. If you want the compact, you’ll need to buy it at JPY1000. Really, I’d rather splurge at MAC, NARS, Cargo, or Shu Uemura and Stila. Much much better quality than this Aube Couture Designing Cheek.

All in all, I really tried to love these products as the colors look really pretty in the pan; but all my experiments has not yield a satisfactory results.

I’m sorry, Sofina; but I think I won’t pay attention anymore to this brand.

If you’re looking for high quality Japanese palettes, I think you’re better of with Esprique Precious Dress On Shiny Eyes. Now that’s a quality that on par with the best from Western high end brand makeups! Coffret d’Or and Majolica Majorca are also nice options Or maybe Lunasol?

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Review: Ciel Minerals

Ciel Minerals

Ciel Minerals is a mineral makeup brand from US/Indonesia. As far as I know, the owner is Indonesian, and she resides in US. I think the brand first gain popularity here in FashioneseDaily?

Unlike most MMU brand, Ciel offers very small color selection for its foundation product. However, for each shade, you can decided whether you’ll have the Light, Medium, or Full coverage. Ciel claim they’re the only brand who offer this, but I think some other MMU brand like Meow or Silk Naturals have the same option.

Here are the reviews of Ciel products that I’ve tried.

Foundation.
Like all MMU that I’ve tried, color match is the biggest issue. There aren’t any tinted MMU that’s fair enough for me. Ciel’s Fair color is 1-2 shades too dark for me, and the yellow color exacarbate the issue. The end result is much too dull for my complexion

As for the quality, it’s quite okay. It’s doesn’t look like it’s finely milled, but I only use a little and it’s not cakey, provided that I use a primer. Otherwise it’s *very* cakey. Like all MMU, it can’t glide well on sunscreen-sticky skin. The best primer (after sunscreen) for me is MUFE HD Loose Powder. Since it’s pure silica, it gives very dry and smooth finish, so buffing MMU on top of it is very easy.

I’ve said in my review of MUFE HD LP that it oxidizes on me. But combining it with other powder (including MMU), it provides very smooth, oil controlling base without oxidation. The same goes for Ciel foundation. Alone, it oxidizes. Using their Mineral Veil before and after Ciel foundation fails to prevent oxidation. With MUFE HD LP, it’s smooth sailing.

For my skin condition, I like their Medium coverage foundation, it evens out my red post acne marks. The Full coverage is also nice, but it’s more powdery, more prone to cakeyness. Presumably because of the higher concentration of Titanium Dioxide/Zinc Oxide?

Mineral Veil.
My favorite of Ciel. It’s pale pink in the jar, but brushed on, it’s transparent. It sucks up oil and looks gives glow to my face. Not super shimmery, disco ball glow, but more refined, glow-from-within type.

Just like the foundation, it will oxidize if I use it without primer. Works well on top of MUFE HD LP though.

BTW, tons of reviews in the MakeupAlley states that Pure Luxe Powder Eraser is a godsend for oily skin. I personally think Ciel Mineral Veil works just as well, if not better, in sucking up excessive oil.

Blush.
I have their Pink Rose blush. It’s a pinky-rose color with nude undertone, pretty and natural. Pigmentation is sheer-medium, blendability is not a problem. However, I find that the staying power is kinda poor. For loose powder blush, I much prefer my old Laura Mercier Face Tint compared to this. More pigmentation, much longer staying power.

All in all, Ciel is worth a try. Go get a sample kit if you want, they’re quite generous with that; the price is very reasonable too.

*This review will be cross posted in www.makeupalley.com under username Crescent_Shadow.

Brand Review: Paula’s Choice

Paula's Choice Products

Brand Background.
Paula’s Choice is a US-based cosmetic company, owned by Paula Begoun the Cosmetic Cop.

Philosophical Claim.
Paula’s Choice (PC) products are made based on advanced, proven, extensive research. Using only ingredients beneficial to the skin, PC products are fragrance-free, colorant-free, making it very suitable for sensitive skin.

PC doesn’t do animal testing.

My General Review.
PC is one of my favorite skincare brand Why? What is it that I’m looking for in a skincare product?

First of all, I prefer fragrance-free products. It’s best this way, since I have sensitive skin. It’s a bonus too that PC products are free from colorant.

Second, it has to contain advanced ingredients. Like those of Clinique and Estee Lauder products. I need products that are loaded with antioxidants, and other skin soothing ingredients. I need cell-communicating ingredients to help skin function like a healthy skin should. Furthermore, I need my products to be packaged properly. One that will protects the beneficial ingredients inside. Clinique and EL are advanced, yes, but they rely heavily on jar packaging. Pretty, but it will render the antioxidants inside useless.

Third, I need products to fit my skincare routine. Antioxidant serum? Check. BHA exfoliator? Of course. Antioxidant-loaded moisturizer? Super rich hydrating mask as a night cream for my very dry/dry skin? Light sunscreen for at-home use? Benzoyl peroxide product to handle my occasional zits? You name it.

Last, but not least: you can get all those features at  a fraction of cost of high end products like Clinique or EL.

So, what PC products are you using right now?
Almost every step of my skincare routine is done with PC. At the moment, I use:

• Toner (Skin Recovery Toner or Final Touch Toner for normal/dry skin).
• BHA (1% Lotion or 1% Gel, love them both).
• Antioxidant Serum (Skin Recovery Super Antioxidant Concentrate).
• Extra Strength Blemish Fighting Solution.
• Moisturizer (Skin Recovery Moisturizer or Hydrating Treatment Cream).
• Skin Recovery Hydrating Treatment Mask as my night cream.
• Light sunscreen (Essential Moisturizing Sunscreen SPF15 or Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF15 or Pure Mineral Sunscreen SPF15).

Do you see results from continual use of PC products?
Yes, and in an almost unexpected department.

I don’t see my skin getting softer, it’s already soft. I still get occasional blemishes. What I really love is with PC products, my skin doesn’t oxidize as much as before.

Previously, I’m an oxidation bitch. Makeup turns orange very quickly. Oil production may contribute to that (I had very oily skin), but it seems that irritants in my previous skincare products plays a very big role in oxidation.

I know I have sensitive skin only when I have start to switch my products to gentler ones. My old skincare contains all sort of irritants like fragrance, alcohol, peppermint oil, orange oil, lavender oil, etc. I have fairly good skin, other than the oxidation problem. Ever since I follow Paula’s advice to remove all irritants from my skincare products, oxidation now is not really a problem.

And I feel that my skin looks and feels healthier too.

Why do you follow Paula’s advice? What makes you believe in her?
I read her advice on handling acne, and I see that her advice is exactly the reason my acne cleared up. I didn’t know about her at all in my acne days, but I got rid of my blemishes with exfoliator (Clinique Total Turnaround, contains BHA), and disinfectant (I used topical erythromycin antibiotics, I didn’t use BP at that time).

So I thought, maybe her other advices may work for me.

You use PC as your one and only skincare brand?
No. I complement PC with other products from Clinique, EL, and Fancl/HABA.

I use cleansing oil to remove my makeup. I also complement PC antioxidant serum with other serum such as EL Advanced Night Repair or HABA White Lady. I often use moisturizer from Clinique and EL too.

Do you think PC products are perfect in every respect?
Sadly, no. If you notice, I didn’t use their cleanser. It’s because all PC cleansers are formulated with mild soap ingredients. My skin seems to be sensitive to that. I prefer soapless cleanser, like Clinique Liquid Facial Soap Extra Mild.

I generally don’t use their sunscreen as my main daily sunscreen, because I prefer something with greater UVA/UVB protection. I love lighter PC sunscreens as my weekend, stay-at-home sunscreen because of their light, refreshing consistency, but judging (amateurly) from the active ingredients, the UVA protection seems lower compared to some European sunscreen might offer. For my workdays sunscreen, I prefer to use Boots No7 SPF25 sunscreen.

PC lately offers sunscreen with greater protection, such as their SPF30 and SPF55 spray sunscreen, but somehow I don’t like their consistency for daily use.

And as you might have known, PC doesn’t have brick-and-mortar stores. You need to order it online, or via fax/telephone. I prefer to go down to a real store and buy my needs.

I see Paula also wrote a book, reviewing major cosmetic brands. You think she can keep it neutral if she publish her own book, while creating her own cosmetic line?
I read about this comment a lot. Many don’t like the fact that she reviews other brands while marketing her own cosmetic line. How neutral can she be then?

My comment about that is simple: you ladies, who think this way, really read her book?

She never recommends her product as the one and only. There’s a “Paula’s Pick” rating system in her reviews, and any product from any brand can get this rating as long as she think the ingredients of that product is better than others. Tons of product receive Paula’s Pick rating.

I, personally, can sense her excitement towards some brands that she consider extraordinary. FYI, she highly praise Clinique and Estee Lauder. She loves Bobbi Brown, Laura Mercier, MAC, Stila, and other makeup brands that she considers very good.

It’s not that you have to agree with each of Paula’s reviews. I personally disagree with some of her opinion on some makeup products, but I love that she openly raves about other brands.

Bottomline:
Despite a few shortcomings, PC still remains as one of my favorite skincare brand, and I will always highly recommends their products that I use and love.