[Review] YSL baby doll kiss & blush in #4 Orange Fougueux and #8 Pink Hedonista

Hi everyone! Today I would like to review YSL baby doll kiss & blush! I really like how YSL comes up with their product names 🙂

Brand: Yves Saint Lauren (YSL)
Product: Baby doll kiss & blush
Shade: #4 Orange Fougueux and #8 Pink Hedonista
Type: Lipstick, Lip tint, Cream blush, Cheek tint
Price: US$40 (I got it at SGD45 duty free)
Website: YSL website

 THE PACKAGING

Comes in a clear square-cut container where you can see the shade clearly. And signature YSL gold tube handle. Simple and sweet! Light and won’t hurt to squeeze a few in your pouch XD

  
The applicator is like felt material with a pointed tip and a round pop in the centre. Overall it picks up the product very well, not too much or little at one go. 

The pointed tip is good for dabbing a few spots on the cheek before blending; and the round pop is great for spreading colour onto your lips. Truly made to work for both lips and cheek huh?! Clever people at YSL!

The bottle opening is made to be as small as possible but sometimes I still worry about air going in and out whether it will dry up the product *paranoid*

THE PRODUCT

On YSL Website:

Kiss your cheeks. Blush your lips. Play with color and mix and match your lips and cheeks. Yves Saint Laurent introduces the latest innovation in the edgy Baby Doll attitude. This 2 in 1 ultra blendable air whipped mousse beautifully highlights your lips and cheeks with a sensual soft matte finish. Available in 12 signature YSL shades.

What’s inside:

• – Hyaluronic Acid Spheres
• – Moisturizing action emollients
• – Softening action
• – Pomegranate extract
• – Antioxidant action
• – Candellila Resin
• – Protection
• – Mineral Pigments
• – Bright sheer color

THE SHADES AND TEXTURE

Edit    

Sorry the lighting is on yellow side. The  pigmentation is really high and colour difference is so clear with flash. 

#4 is a really bright orange coral while #8 is a sheer baby rose pink. Both are just my type of shades 🙂

The texture is really light – truly like air whipped mousse indeed and I love it! Nothing like it elsewhere. 

Blended look below! This shows how it might look on cheeks when you blend it out. 

  

You achieve also this finish when you dab product on lips or cheeks for natural look. Colour depth is certainly adjustable if you layer on concealer on lips or sheer foundation on cheeks. 

You need to dab rather quickly on cheeks to blend it out nicely before product settles. I use bb cushion or concealer to blend out the sides to avoid any harsh lines 🙂

Next, on mua lips!

  

It would work awesome to apply on cheeks too for a matching look, but I was lazy XD

 #4 suits me well as a my-lips-but-better product isn’t it?  #8 really brightens up my face, as with how coral / orange lippies work on me.  What I love is its consistent soft matte texture and gorgeous colour… 

The staying power is ok on lips, and longer on cheeks. I haven’t found a lipstick that truly stays anyway LOL. Because of its matteness, it could feel abit dry on lips and accentuate some fine lines. I also notice it leaves a tint of colour on lips even after product fades – which is a good thing although the tint tends to cling to the dry parts of lips…

MY VERDICT

Pros:

• Love the soft matte texture on both lips and cheeks
• Buildable colour from sheer to highly pigmented
• Wide variety of gorgeous shades (#4 and #8 suit me well but I’d love to get the whole range!)
• Truly dual function where it works well for both lips and cheeks – travel friendly!
• Staying power on cheeks are good! Colour can also be adjusted if you layer on sheer foundation. 

Cons:

• Pricey at US$40 if not duty-free. But product probably will last a long long while. 
• Abit drying on lips and may accentuate lip lines
• Staying power on lips not that long although it leaves a tint on dry parts of the lips which looks fine from far (not so much from near)

Overall 

I carry #8 in my daily pouch now and works great as quick touch up to both lips and cheeks when I need it! I keep #4 at home for us during weekends when I want bright lips 🙂 it’s also a great dual product perfect for travel. 

I tend to always get a natural sheer colour and a bright coral / orange shade for lippies but I’m really tempted to get other shades of this range like #5 as recommended by beautifymeeh YouTuber. The only thing stopping me is the cost and the chance to try something new from a zillion brands out there.  Till I figure what to do, I’m certainly happy with my purchase  and probably won’t ever need to repurchase since quite a lot of product in there XD

I’m just infatuated with YSL, you know?

Brazil Haul and Travel 2015

I was in Brazil for 2 full weeks for work and hauled a couple beauty items from duty-free airport shopping, and of course grabbed some must-get Brazil goodies! 

1. YSL baby doll kiss & blush 

  
Got this in #4 Orange Fougueux and #8 Pink Hedonista. Been wanting this for the looooongest time since its launch! Finally…I succumbed and even got 2! First impression, I love its soft matte texture and dual functionality of a blush and lippie. Just what I need for travel ^_^

2. Laneige two tone lip bar

  
Uh huh…yet another lip product. I got #2 Red Blossom and #3 Pink Salmon. I don’t even apply much lipstick actually, but I can’t stop buying! What’s wrong with me LOL XD 

These have two tones in 1 lipstick – and so far the only product in the market like that! I’m just very intrigued by this idea, saw some good reviews, tested #2 Red Blossom and #3 Pink Salmon and it flattered my skin tone.. so into my pouch it goes!

3. Havaianas flip flops

  
THE must-get if you come to Brazil. 
They are so much cheaper in Brazil and probably nicer designs too. Two for about USD35 including accessories add-ons!  Pretty sure you can’t get that price outside Brazil. I love how you can add accessories or bling bling to these flip flops. See the diamond heart and pink turtle? ❤ 

 

4. Kopenhagen chocolates

  
This is the Godiva of Brazil and I must say I love what I’ve tried from this chocolate cafe/shop. Bought 3 types of their 70% chocolate – should be dark chocolate in 3 different flavors but I can’t read Portuguese so not exactly sure LOL. 
I’m still in Brazil and going home in 2 days! Gotta take a 25 hour flight – oh my gawd…. Probably won’t travel here for personal trip cuz it’s simply too far! But Latin Americans are sooooooo friendly I really enjoyed their hospitality ❤

As a bonus, sharing some travel pics!

Iguazu falls weekend getaway. This is a world heritage site and won the 7 new wonders of nature! Seriously..just breathtaking. 

Argentina side~ nope this is not from a postcard and there are so many rainbows! 

  

Brazil side. Also worth visiting!

 

And my next favorite is the street art gallery at Vila Madelena. Love this place and the art is so diverse! 

   

  
I had fun taking selfies lol. I wonder if I’ll ever come brazil again cuz it’s so far but definitely a unique and friendly city! 🙂 

[Review] My Beloved Hakuhodo Face Brushes in K002/B002 and G512/B512

If you like makeup brushes, you must know Hakuhodo.  I only started going crazy over makeup about a year ago and before that, I could never understand why people use makeup brushes.  I mean, I would settle for products that already include small brushes as part of the packaging, or I’d be just fine with Q-tips and what not.  That’s before I got into the world of eyeshadow palettes, K-beauty craze, youtube tutorials where everyone use brushes… so… now I own a bunch myself too LOL XD

I chanced upon the Hakuhodo store in Shibuya Hikarie when living in Japan.

Just look at variety!  VERY wallet-dangerous place to go.

I own brushes from other raved brands like MAC too, but I think Hakuhodo is my favourite for brushes.  Maybe I am just Japan-crazy haha.

A LITTLE HISTORY

“The Hakuhodo head office is located about 20 kilometers east of the city of Hiroshima. Hakuhodo was founded in 1974 in the town of Kumano and for around 200 years Kumano has had a long history in the production of brushes. At our main factory in Hiroshima we manufacture approximately 500,000 brushes a month. Our efficient production process which is based on the traditional techniques of truly skilled craftsmen continues to support this. We do not rely on machine manufacturing. In order to maintain the high quality of production, all our brushes are hand-crafted. We have obtained a patent for a method of arranging a brush head which enables us to achieve mass production of quality brushes. This ongoing production policy has enabled us to achieve the honour of receiving the first Prime Minister’s prize of Monodzukuri Japan Grand Award.”

Craftsmen.  All brushes hand-crafted.  No machine manufacturing.  

In today’s world???  WOW. さすが日本。(meaning Japan is amazing)

Let me move on to the brushes! I would like to share the #002 and #512 lovelies~

In its brand-new unopened state.  A cute little Hakuhodo booklet on how to use and maintain the brushes but in Japanese only~

After you snip off the outer plastic casing, there is another plastic cover for the brush!  This one with an opening at the top, so you can continue to use it when travelling.

First…. let me review the ultra-luxurious K002 / B002!

Brand:    Hakuhodo
Product:  K002 / B002 Powder Brush Round and Flat
Hair:     Blue-squirrel (the softest possible on earth)
Price:    JPY 7,344 (~USD 70 at time of posting)
Type:     Makeup brush
Origin:   Made in Japan
Website:  Hakuhodo website on K002

“Suitable for dry, sensitive skin. Bristles made from blue squirrel have little spring but are ultra soft, coverage will be natural and sheer. Less durable, so use the surface of the bristles gently with the handle held flat. Although it works well for lucent powder, it is not suitable for liquid or oil based products.”

Use application	Finishing, Powder, Highlighter
Hair	Blue squirrel
Handle	Wood black (I got the limited Gold one!)
Ferrule	Nickel-plated brass
Size	Brush length:190mm　Hair length:50mm　Hair thickness:14.5mm

Some countries call this brush K002, some call it B002… so I shall just refer to this as #002 for simplicity 🙂

Gorgeous gorgeous thick gold handle.  Super classy and beautiful.

Brush length 190mm.  It’s light and perfect for travelling.

Hair length 50mm.  On the long side.  Dome-shaped best for that sheer natural finish.

Hair thickness 14.5mm.  The denseness is JUST RIGHT – not too dense where you pack on too much because this is meant for a thin layer of natural-finish loose lucent powder, and not too thin where you can’t pick up enough powder.  Seriously, JUST RIGHT.

The top is tapered to reach the natural contours of your face like the nose area or under the eyes.  Even though the brush area looks large, the tapering makes it possible to reach all intricate parts of your face – perfectly.

The girl at the Hakuhodo counter told me this is made from blue-squirrel hair and is the softest possible hair used for makeup brushes.  I was like…o_0 “blue squirrel?” What animal is that? haha.

This is it.  Omigosh so cute!!!!

I wish I could tell you how ULTRA-SOFT it felt on the face.  It is seriously the softest-ever material I ever ever felt in the world!  A luxury, really.

Trying to “show” the softness.  I hope you can feel it.  It is really an indulgence on the face.

Of course, before I give it 5000 points (out of 100), there are 2 down-sides.

1.  The cost.  USD 70-80 is not cheap for a makeup brush – it belongs to the high-end class.  But if you apply loose powder daily, you NEED to try this brush.  The hair used, the shape, the amount of product-pickup, the sheer natural finish it gives, the overall product quality.  I seriously can sense how much thought and care the Japanese put into hand-crafting this product.

2.  Another is that this is natural hair and the sales girl told me to wash it only once a year??  Crazy.  As I have acne prone skin, I try to keep my brushes clean and wash them at least once weekly.  But water is not good friends with blue-squirrel hair (apparently) and she said the hair quality may change if I wet it alot (what a threat!).  Well, so far I didn’t notice any change at all, but I will continue to take special care.

Next up………. the G512 / B512 Highlighter Blush L Angled.

Brand:    Hakuhodo
Product:  G512 / B512 Highlighter Brush L Angled
Hair:     Blue-squirrel + Goat
Price:    JPY 5,400 (~USD 50 at time of posting)
Type:     Makeup brush
Origin:   Made in Japan
Website:  Hakuhodo website on G512

“This highlighter brush is carefully designed to apply makeup around the eye. When you use this brush, use light strokes as if you are removing excess product . This enables you to achieve a natural but glamorous finish.  You can also use it as a blush or shading brush.”  

Use application	Highlighter, Blush, Shading,  Contouring
Hair	Blue squirrel & Goat
Handle	Wood black  (I got the Gold version!)
Ferrule	Nickel-plated brass
Size	Brush length:164mm　Hair length:34mm　Hair thickness:10.2mm

The brush length is 164mm.  Shorter than #002.  Very agile and good control on all your face-shaping, face-highlighting needs.

Hair length 34mm.  Shorter than #002 again as it is made to place product more specifically where you want it.  It is really a multi-tasker to me – for blush, highlight and shading / contouring.

Hair thickness 10.2mm.  It is much more denser than #002 (which is really fluffy soft like dreamy cotton balls), but the density helps you pick up product abit more easily to place them exactly where you want it.

Hair is made from blue squirrel AND goat so it is slightly firmer for its very purpose for cheeks and face contouring.  But because there IS blue-squirrel hair in it, it is still as luxurious to touch it on your face and feels really soft too.  Definitely the softest-yet-firm-enough cheek brush I have tried (compared to for example MAC #168 large angled contour brush).

Because it is mixed with cheaper goat hair, the price is not that unreachable ~USD50 (although still considered pretty high-end).

MY VERDICT

 Pros

• Unbelievably superb quality – from hair to handle to ferrule.
• Hair type, hair shape, hair length, density, softness level perfectly meets the purpose of the brush type. K002 fully blue-squirrel for extreme softness to achieve that all-natural sheer finish.  G512 with mixed blue-squirrel and goat for better firmness for specific face contouring.
• Made in Japan. I like.
• Travel friendly.  Length below 190mm.  Some MAC brushes are too long to fit into any pouch.

Cons

• Cost.  Not cheap.  (but I will urge you to still get it! haha)
• Maintenance.  Must dry with brush straight up, hair on-top and the shape must be in original state when drying.  Cannot lay brush horizontal in its ‘wet’ state as that will flatten one side and change the shape. Apparently, should avoid washing too often so that the ‘hair’ last longer.  Gosh, a thousand rules.
• Hair type suitable for powders only.  For liquid / creamy products, stick to synthetic-hair brushes.

Overall

I really count myself lucky to have chanced upon this Hakuhodo store in Shibuya.  As a new makeup junkie, I thought I was crazy to splurge on high-end brushes, but I can’t be happier with my purchase now that I have tried and tested them.  It is really awesome, muuuuuuch better than any face makeup brush I have tried so far (MAC, Innisfree, etc).

So, have I learnt why people need makeup brushes?  Yes.  Yes I definitely understand why now.