review

REVIEW: MAC x James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

/ Fiona Seah / 5 Comments

Hello everyone!

While many of us (still) struggle to find our ultimate goal in life, Detroit-born James Kaliardos realised his calling to be a makeup artist when doing his mother’s makeup at just age seven. His interest for makeup sparked after constantly watching his mother doll up her lids with eye shadow and despite his tender age, he was able to translate his love for colours and drawing into the beauty looks he saw on Vogue. This passion followed him through his formative years – where he helped his female friends look aesthetically rad for school proms – before it progressed to theatrical makeup.

Now a master makeup artist among other trades, he creates trends backstage across all international fashion weeks and had worked on the most famous faces in the world including Hillary Clinton, Madonna (especially Madonna – you know her Ray of Light-era boho-tech look? Yeah, that’s the work of James Kaliardos!), Julianne Moore, Barbra Streisand, Nicole Kidman, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus and Victoria Beckham (source). On top of that, he is a publishing mogul, having co-founded one of today’s most exclusive and expensive magazines Visionaire which ranges in the hundreds of dollars with very limited circulation, and an actor with his own troupe, the Innocent Theatre Company. Holy moly, how the heck does he do it?! I can’t even keep up with one job 😨

That’s not all! Adding to his already-impressive portfolio of achievements, Kaliardos recently collaborated with M.A.C on a new makeup range as part of the 50-piece Make-Up Art Cosmetics collection with two other notable makeup maestros Diane Kendal and Kabuki (which I passed on). But he commands a larger chunk of this launch with 22 pieces. However, as my money was saved for other upcoming releases, I only spent on a single lipstick (out of 4) from this sub-collection.

M.A.C X James Kaliardos lipstick packaging

M.A.C X James Kaliardos lipstick packaging

Every item in this collaboration is decked out in limited-edition packaging with the name and autograph of the makeup artist printed below the M.A.C logo in gold foil on both the black box and container, so the lipstick is no exception. The lipstick tube has a matte surface that feels smooth to the touch. All of the four lipsticks in the James Kaliardos collection are shades that he frequently uses to create red carpet looks and for photo shoots.

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper (US$17)

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper (US$17)

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Lipstick in Jasper

Described as a deep reddish brown with Satin finish, Jasper is in fact based on the brown from Paramount with deep wine pigment mixed into it. In appearance, it is a drop-dead gorgeous burgundy with cool undertones.

It runs smoothly on the lips with no tug and leaves a comfortable and hydrating texture topped with a healthy sheen. It is mostly opaque with a buildable intensity – swipe once for a just bitten look and two more coats for full coverage. It has a slightly patchy consistency so some parts of the lips would seem darker than the rest, but it’s not really visible from far and you can fix it momentarily by pursing your lips.

This lasts relatively long on me (I don’t really take note of the duration because I pig out a lot and lipsticks generally don’t remain in their original state after coming contact with anything) and fades to a natural-looking stain. Jasper is a shade that goes well with every skin tone!

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Jasper swatch comparison - Diva is brighter and warmer whereas Hearts Aflamed is more muted and warmer

M.A.C X James Kaliardos Jasper swatch comparison – Diva is brighter and warmer whereas Hearts Aflamed is more muted and warmer

What do you think of this lipstick? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below or take a quick poll! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

M·A·C James Kaliardos was launched in january and is still available on MACCosmetics.com (collection page taken down, so lipsticks only here or view the full list of items here on the australian site). do check with your local M.A.C outlets on its availability.

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REVIEW: MAC x Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment

Hey everyone!

Since drifting away from the pop culture scene (is it normal to gain a preference for oldies music as you age?), I’ve lost count the number of times I have gone, “Who is that?” whenever M.A.C announced a new collaboration with a pop artiste. Having not tuned into any local contemporary hit radio stations for the past decade, needless to say, I had the same reaction when I got wind of their partnership with a Canadian singer-songwriter who calls herself Kiesza. But hey, if not for this collaboration, I wouldn’t have known about this talented yet underrated lady (look her up on YouTube and treat your ears to some upbeat H&M-worthy music if you must), so it’s all good 👍

Joining the ranks of other celebrities such as Halsey, Tinashe and Brooke Candy, all of whom I honestly didn’t know existed until they teamed up with M.A.C, Kiesza presents her first makeup collection with the well-loved cosmetics brand – a four-piece capsule collection comprising a Matte Lipstick, Vamplify Lipgloss, Liquidlast Liner and Big Brow Pencil – and they (except the eyeliner) are brown-hued. Hence, even without finding out who Kiesza is, this collection, or rather the lipstick, already has my name written on it.

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (regular packaging again..)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (regular packaging again..)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (US$17)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved (US$17)

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved

Named after Kiesza’s latest single off her sophomore album, Dearly Beloved – the sole lipstick in this collection – reflects the understated look that she had been experimenting while trying to move away from her usual red lip colour.

Described as a warm soft brown with Matte finish, it appears to have ashy undertones when applied. Far from the usual drying Matte formula of M.A.C lipsticks, the payoff of this shade feels almost like a Satin as it goes on smooth with a creamy consistency and even has a slight sheen to it. Mostly opaque, it is moderately pigmented with a buildable intensity but emphasises every fine line (very noticeable on the upper lip) and dry bit of the lips. Having said that, it does leave my lips feeling moisturised and comfortable the entire time I had it on, so I guess it’s a fair trade-off!

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved swatch comparison - Cold Hard Cash is the closest dupe but has warmer undertones

M·A·C Kiesza Lipstick in Dearly Beloved swatch comparison – Cold Hard Cash is the closest dupe but has warmer undertones

What are your thoughts of this? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll 😉

Thanks for reading! 🙂

M·A·C × Kiesza is now available on MACCosmetics.com. This collection is not available in Singapore.

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REVIEW: Foreo ESPADA Acne-Clearing Blue Light Pen

/ Fiona Seah / 1 Comment

Hello everyone!

Temperatures are soaring globally and this spells trouble for those with acne-prone skin. Heat and humidity intensify oil production in our skin which in turn gives rise to (more frequent) breakouts. Hence, while blessed souls with amazing complexion just need to slap on some toner to prevent summer zits from sprouting, the not-so-lucky ones like us would have to take significantly more precautions to stop new ones from popping up on our already-blemished face. What is your beauty regime for the hot weather like?

Apart from the usual acne cleansers and medicated cream we sufferers are all too familiar with, the trend these days seems to be toward using at-home LED devices to treat pesky pimples. LED light therapy for acne is not certainly not new as it has been used by dermatologists for years. But receiving the therapy in a clinic could set you back a few hundred dollars per session, or thousands to complete the entire treatment (and it doesn’t guarantee that you’ll never get another pimple again). Handheld light therapy devices, on the other hand, are typically more affordable in the long run (a one-time payment of less than S$400) and are a more practical option because they can be used any time you want to avert an acne crisis.

Personally, I own a blue light device – a Foreo ESPADA Acne-Clearing Blue Light Pen gifted by my boyfriend for my birthday last year. It is quite a new product (less than a year in the market?) and was retailing for S$209 on Sephora. Now that the price online has been reduced by 30%, some of you may be tempted to give it a go but discouraged by the lack of reviews. Well, lucky you, you’ve come to the right place 😁 Read on to find out how I feel about the device!

Foreo ESPADA Packaging

Foreo ESPADA Packaging

Foreo ESPADA Packaging

Foreo ESPADA Packaging

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As a quick introduction (with most information obtained from here and here), the ESPADA (‘sword’ in Spanish, but Foreo is a Swedish brand) is a slim handheld acne-fighting device which combines Blue Light Pulse Technology and T-Sonic™ pulsations. Operating it is easy as it has only one on/off button on the front. Once switched on, it activates a red laser-like beam for more precise targeting of blemish. This is extremely useful as without this function, it would be quite difficult to tell beneath the flat surface of the head if you’ve accurately aimed the blue light at your desired spot.

On/Off button

On/Off button

Targeted light precision

Targeted light precision

See the red laser-like beam on my forehead?

See the red laser-like beam on my forehead?

Next, rest the device on the targeted area and it will let out 415 nm of blue light (LED) which penetrates deep below skin’s surface to kill acne-causing bacteria at the source, while the T-Sonic pulsations help the light diffuse into pores for maximum efficacy. This treatment is only initiated on contact with the skin to ensure safety for skin and eyes and conserve battery. The whole process does not involve any pain or discomfort with the only rumbling sensation you experience coming from the pulsations. Repeat the process twice for mild acne, or three to four times for moderate acne. I’m a kiasu (overly cautious) person so I tend to zap every zit, regardless of their severity, minimally three times.

Be prepared for tired hands..

Be prepared for tired hands..

The ESPADA has a built-in timer that enables the device to vibrate every 30 seconds with longer pulses to indicate the end of each acne-treating routine. It is also USB-chargeable and one charge can provide up to 240 treatments. Mine, in most cases, needs to be charged once every week if used daily (about 30 treatments each day) and it takes about 3-4 hours to be fully charged. The red light at the foot of the device starts flashing once it reaches a critically low battery level and the treatment stops abruptly the moment the device deems itself to have insufficient power to complete the routine. But sometimes, there would still be a teeny weeny bit of power left to keep it running for a couple more seconds, so if you’re thrifty like me, just keep hitting the button until it can’t be switched on anymore  😁

Blue light technology in action!

Blue light technology in action!

Designed with hygiene as a priority, the head of the device is coated in a special bacteria-resistant silicone that prohibits the spread of acne-causing bacteria. The waterproof body is quick-drying, easy to clean and nonporous to prevent bacteria buildup. This device is said to be most effective on clean skin so I usually use it after cleansing my face and would only wipe the head with a damp cloth (or rinse under running tap every other week) thereafter. It is very portable and comes with a grey pouch for easy storage.

Comes with a grey pouch that is big enough to fit the device and the complimentary USB cable

Comes with a grey pouch that is big enough to fit the device and the complimentary USB cable

Now, moving on to the efficacy of this product, the ESPADA clears up pesky pimples to a satisfactory extent but unfortunately, does not work on severe cases of acne like my big cystic ones which did not only go away, their size remained unchanged and were still as painful as ever. This device is only effective against occasional or smaller pimples – such as those with poppable heads – as it is able to dry them up faster and reduce the inflammation. Moreover, contrary to what it also promises, it does not (at least for me) prevent further pimples from forming.

Price-wise, I thought the ESPADA is pretty affordable (although I received mine as a gift) especially with the discount at Sephora now. It is a lot cheaper than another similar product by Tria (not available in Singapore) due to the fact that this does not require additional or changeable cartridges which will collectively cost more than the device itself in the long run. There are a handful of other products in the Singapore market that use similar technology (such as SKIN INC’s Optimizer Voyage Tri-Light and Clariancy’s Tanda Clear) but cost at least a hundred dollars more.

In conclusion, is Foreo ESPADA a worthy buy? If you’re a student dealing with teen acne, then for the love of your wallet, yes. Otherwise, this still makes a decent combat tool against the little bumps on your face.

Thanks for reading!

Disclaimer: modelled pictures were taken 1.5 months ago when I had massive breakout of cystic acne. pictures posted in the recent reviews show my visibly clearer skin after seeking professional help from a skin clinic. I will share that wonderful experience soon on this space.
keep your eyes peeled! 😉
The Foreo ESPADA Acne-Clearing Blue Light Pen is available in three colours (cobalt blue, magenta & pink) on foreo.com and at Sephora Singapore for S$206.

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