It wasn't too long ago that Burberry launched its beauty line, and although I can't speak for the quality of their products, if we're going by packaging, the brand has definitely won me over. And it's 2010, who cares about quality when there's packaging to ooh and aah over? I know girls who go nuts over the cute Dior duo-use makeup charms (is it a necklace? a keychain? a lip gloss? an eyeshadow? an intergalactic robot sent to save us from Voldemort?), and those same girls will no doubt go gaga for this Burberry lip charm. At $790 from the Burberry counter in Faces in Harbour City, it's also a pretty good Christmas gift, as the Nude Beige hue will match any skin tone.

For a more straightforward approach, there's also regular lipsticks embossed with classic Burberry plaid, which makes so much more sense than stamping the tip of the lippie. This way, you can appreciate the pattern right up until you stub out your long-lasting lipwear.

Goodbye panda eyes! After messing around with smudgy pencil eyeliner for years, I've finally made the switch to gel. Never really liked liquid, I found it hard to manipulate and always ended up blinking and ending up with double-lines on the lid. Two lines good, four lines baaaad.

My gel eyeliner of choice is the one that every gal and her momma swear by: Bobbi Brown's long-wear gel eyeliner. And now I realize how stupid I was to ever muck about with pencil.

To apply the liner, I use MAC's 212 flat definer brush, but I want to pick up an angled one and I hear from my new beauty guru Jeannie that 266 is the one to choose (girlfriend had, like, 50-100 brushes in her kit so I believe her). And for anyone who's as beauty-retarded as I am, Youtube is the place to go. Search any look or product and there will undoubtedly be a video teaching you how to best manipulate it. Michelle Phan is probably the favourite, but I'll share others on another day.

So I normally don’t feature the same brand in two weeks but this is just too good to pass up so think of it as a Big MAC instead of the usual burger if you will. MAC has partnered with Disney to create a Venomous Villains collection and I have been eagerly waiting for more news so that I can properly write something on it as I am a big fan of the villains. Yes the princesses are all very nice and what not if you’re a kid but there’s something delightfully evil about Cruella who is just a misunderstood fashionista or Malificent who says hell in a Disney cartoon or the Evil Queen who quite frankly just wanted to stay pretty. (Can’t say much about the fourth villain Dr. Facilier since I haven’t seen Princess and the frog but interesting choice to choose a man villain for the collection.)

Imagine my delight when I saw that the press kit contained interviews with the characters. Because I got such a kick out of them, I’m going to take the time to transcribe the two interviews that are particularly snarky just for your reading pleasure. Check it out after the cut. And oh, the colour palettes of the collections are darn pretty too. My favourite is Maleficent’s collection as I’m a sucker for anything blue, green or purple and also because she’s my favourite villain. The other villain collections are nice but seems more for the every day girl although the Evil Queen's wicked pink lipstick is bound to provide a pop of colour to anyone's face.



Interview with the Evil Queen
Let's face it. Your apple idea was flawed as there was an antidote (true love's kiss). If you could do it over again, how would you eliminate Snow White?
I should have turned HER into that ugly old witch. Prince Charming finds her repulsive. I am the fairest, and she dies of a broken heart. What could be more perfect?

You were known as a great beauty. Do any modeling in your youth?
Not much. I always found the mirror to be my worst critic.

What does your hair look like under that regal hood?
As black as night, as long as a winter's wind and far more stunning than a bob with a bow.

Age?
I suggest you ask another question. after all, I am not know as the Good Queen.

Beauty staple?
Sinister- my signature shade- over full lips and a loyal mirror.

Known for?
Catch me on a bad day and I can be a real witch.

Mood disorder?
Narcissism.

Interview with Maleficent
Do you ever feel like you overreacted to not getting invited to that party at the palace?
Me? Overreact? The mistress of all evil? NEVER!

You have a very bold fashion sense and your signature outfit is clearly couture. Any fashion advice?
What makes you feel powerful is always a good choice. Plus, black is so slimming.

Who does your magnificent eyebrows?
My eyebrows are naturally malefic and magnificent.

Age?
Evil never gets old.

Favourite meal?
Revenge truly is a dish best served cold.

Beauty staple?
General gloom and intense cold, it keeps the skin looking tight and fresh.

Can't stand?
To be left out.

Loves?
Ravens and revenge.

Hobbies?
Casting spells and party crashing.

MAC Venomous Villains Collection is available on Oct 4 as a pre-launch at Queensway Plaza Admiralty and on Oct 7 at all MAC locations. Prices range from HK$90 to HK$245

I’m a die hard fan of liquid foundation. There’s something about the ease of applying liquid foundation that makes me a fan. So it was with skepticism that I tried MAC’s latest Mineralize Foundation SPF 15. To my surprise, the foundation went on really smoothly and I suspect it’s due to the gel based system that provides creaminess to the texture. I guess there is a reason why this foundation was used backstage during the Spring/Summer 2010 fashion shows of; BCBG, Carolina Herrera and Baby Phat. The Mineralize Foundation SPF 15 boasts of lasting up to 8 hours (tho that is yet to be confirmed) and has a high water content. The foundation retails for HK$310 and is available at MAC counters.

I realized that I forgot to include lippies in the last batch. My choice of lip colour is pretty much dictated by which bag I'm carrying. You'd think I'd remember that so-and-so lip stain is kept in such-and-such bag, but I never do, so it's sort of a grab bag situation when I dash-and-apply on the way out the door. But you're not so interested in the taupes and the peaches and the nudes that I carry around everywhere. Or rather I'm not interested in rummaging through all my bags and ruining my daily routine when I realize I've left all my lipstick on the window sill. So here's the more adventurous side of my makeup bag, mostly courtesy of PR gifts and random warehouse sales.


From left:

1. Okay, super sad story. Since taking this photo, I lost the Estee Lauder lip gloss, it has disappeared into God knows which bag.

2. Maybelline Water Shine 3D in Peachy Summer. A light and really juicy lippy with just a bare amount of colour. It doesn't look like you're wearing lipstick, more like you just ate a really moist and tasty grapefruit and haven't licked your lips.

3. MAC Mattene lipstick in Midnight Media. This is a scary matte black that will really show if you haven't been keeping up with your chapstick application. I use this at home to scare my dog into thinking my evil twin has arrived to take her to someplace doggies don't like. I haven't had the guts to take it out on the town yet, but maybe that's because I never go out. It's a hot goth look though.

4. Estee Lauder lipstick in Orchid Dream. Super-duper divine colour -- sort of follows the '80s acid theme but with a more mature and womanly touch. When I decide I want hot pink lips, this is what I pick up.

5. MAC Lustre in Naked to the Core. It's a nude lippie with a centre that's shimmery pink. I don't like anything shimmery on my lips. But this was in one of my bags and so it got used and my hot lips melted it so the shimmery part and the nude part are all mixed up and I like it a bit better now.



Wow, I just reread this and it's kind of boring. I apologize if you got this far.

One of the perks of being a beauty journo was that I was given a load of products to try. More often than not, I find that the products are best given away as it’s not suitable for my skin tone or is something that I wouldn’t use. Not the case with 3LAB’s Super "H" Serum. I discovered to my delight that it was definitely a keeper when I was sent the product for my trial. 3LAB recently launched in Joyce Beauty and is the brainchild of David and Erica Chung. The company was formed in 2003 as a response to the multitude of ineffective products by mass manufacturers that have flooded the market. And in recent years, a wealth of celebrities have flocked to the brand including Ashley Greene, Christina Applegate, Christina Hendricks, Daniel Dae Kim, Donatella Versace, Helen Mirren, Jennifer Lopez, Kate Hudson, Katie Holmes, Kristin Chenoweth, Leonardo DiCaprio, Neil Patrick Harris, Patrick Dempsey and Tom Cruise. (Amusingly enough, the celebrity list also has who bought what at which store location, a handy star stalker guide anyone?)

So, we’ve got two sets of the Super "H" Serum Travel Set to give away each valued at almost HK$3,500. You’ll get the full size bottle of Super "H" Serum - retail price HK$2,700 and the following deluxe travel sizes: WW eye cream tube - 3ml (HK$400), Hydrating Day SPF 20 - 8g ($97.00), Perfect cleansing Gel - 2 oz. ($123.50) and Perfect Neck Cream - 6ml tube ($112.50)

The requirements are simple: just send an email to giveaway@hkfashiongeek.com with the subject "3LAB giveaway" and you will be eligible, no strings attached (well, okay, they might mail you some special offers in the future). RT the giveaway on twitter (make sure to @hkfashiongeek or @cko01 so we know!), or tag yourself in the 3LAB Super "H" serum photo uploaded on our Facebook fan page to get EXTRA entries. The winner will be chosen at random with a number generator and contacted via email on October 4.

And come on, if Neil Patrick Harris uses it. It’s bound to be legen….wait for it.. dary!

*Unfortunately, this giveaway is only open to HK residents as you will need to go to Joyce Beauty to pick up the goodies. Choose from the locations below:


G/F New World Tower 852 2869 5816
G106 Gateway Arcade, Harbour City 852 2367 0860
G39 Festival Walk 852 2265 7176
G13B Lee Gardens Two 852 2504 2938
Lane Crawford ifc mall 852 3572 0364
Lane Crawford Pacific Place 852 3798 0172
Lane Crawford Times Square 852 3798 0171

So it seems to be the summer of odd fragrances. Hot on the heels of the sushi scent we featured, which generated a healthy discussion on Twitter about how the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach and a more interesting tweet from a certain someone that I shall not name who talks about rubbing sushi over his body for the same effect, comes the Slave Leia fragrance. The scent contains notes of white peach, lily, bergamot, heliotrope, jasmine and musk. And of course, the bottle features a chain that is reminiscent of the ones that Carrie Fisher wore when she was imprisoned by Jabba the Hutt. Being a Geek that hasn’t seen Star Wars (let the lynching being… long story short, I was traumatized by Darth Vader as a kid), the only image I have in my mind is the scene in Friends when Phoebe takes two buns and puts it atop her head. And yes Jww, this time there’s a guy’s version called Eau Lando in case you are interested. Get it here.

Natural light is the greatest thing God ever did for bloggers. I was trying to be less wordy with my posts; no one has the time to read long blog entries. I sort of always knew that, but my natural inclination to blabber on endlessly usually takes over. Blogging is a selfish interest anyway. So this was meant to be "more pictures, less words"... but I failed.

We get a lot of our beauty products from PRs. I'm pretty much a makeup dork, so something like half of my makeup bag is gifted from PRs or family and friends. Actually, I stopped wearing makeup sometime after I started my new (now not-so-new) job. It's probably a sign of the slow, sure downhill stroll into not giving a crap. But after I was snapped in Ming Pao Daily with eye bags down to my knees, I think I need to start again. Let's see what's inside.



It's both sad and gross that I can't really wear mascara; my face is so oily that by the end of the day it's stuck all over my eyes. When I have the sense to powder up and prevent that, I use this Japanese one with a picture of an anime girl on it. You can get it at Sasa. It was introduced to me by this guy I met from the Hong Kong Economic Times who used to date a beauty editor who got the recommendation from the makeup artist that does Fiona Sit's face. We were on a cruise to Japan and he bought me two tubes. Random acts of kindness from almost-strangers is always nice. The Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick bronzer in Copper Diamond is a Christmas present from my mom. I never tan my face so it's useful to have.


Eyeliner is my best friend. Eyeliner is the best friend of every single-eyelid-ed gal who doesn't have Korean parents to buy her surgery. I've used the famous pencils -- MAC, Chanel -- and always end up looking like a fatigued panda, so now I just use $20 twisty eyeliner from Bonjour. The brand is Chameleon and it stays pretty put unless you rub your eyes a lot. Which I have a tendency to do. You can also see the Dior palette I travel with (four brownish eyeshadows, two lippies -- one glittery, one red); my cheapo Maybelline blush; and my Body Shop All In One Face Base 05 creamy cover-up that is the only thing I've found that doesn't really clog the pores too much.


This MAC Fascinating Ruby: 6 Smokey Eyes eyeshadow palette is awesome. It has everything you need for day or night. Most palettes usually contain one or two colours that are never ever touched, but this one doesn't.


Estee Lauder just sent a gangload of stuff to my office, including this eyeshadow. I can't wait till the next time I have an excuse to dress like a trashy hooker with a grunged out 5am eye. And I of course mean that in the best possible way.

Next week, we talk lippy.

It’s Friday and I’m lazy. So am just going to show you Guerlain’s latest make up collection via the power of images. After all, a picture’s worth a thousand words right? So here are several thousands worth.

I just discovered the fragrance equivalent of the Kimmidolls we featured over a year ago. A new perfume line called Les Poupees by S.Cute is creating fragrances inspired by dolls from various countries. First on the list are these Japanese dolls named “Love Kyoto.” When Japan is mentioned as inspiration for scents, I immediately think of cherry blossoms. Surprisingly this was not used as one of the ingredients in the scents. Love Kyoto comprises of two dolls, Koyuki, the blue one, and Hiroko, the pink one. I wonder what other countries will make their list ?



Koyuri
Top note: Bergamot , Green apple , Plum , Lemon , Blackcurrant
Heart note: Rose , Lily of the valley , Jasmine , Nutmeg
Base note: Sandalwood , Musk , Amber , Cedarwood


Hiroko
Top note: Green apple , Orange
Heart note: Rose , Jasmine , Cyclamen
Base note: Musk , Cedarwood , Sandalwood

Selling Price
$260 / 50ml

Available at select Colourmix Cosmetics
Silvercord , Tsim Sha Tsui （2314 7887）
Imperial Court Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui （2733 3008）
Sai Yeung Choi St, Mongkok （2781 0221）
Argyle Centre, Mongkok （2395 5330）
Grand Century Place, Mongkok （2628 9188）
Causeway Place （2203 4233）

New waxing boutique Strip has been generous enough to offer free Brazilian waxes to five of our lucky readers ready to take the plunge and test out the first Asia-based internationally acclaimed hair-stripping parlour. Did we mention they provide squeeze toys in case you need to hold someone's hand? The pig is purportedly the most popular support friend, but I'm partial to the koala bear.

The requirements are simple: just send an email to giveaway@hkfashiongeek.com with the subject "Strip giveaway" and you will be eligible, no strings attached (well, okay, they might mail you some special offers in the future). RT the giveaway on twitter (make sure to @hkfashiongeek or @cko01 so we know!), or post this link on your facebook (mention in your email) to get an EXTRA entry. The winner will be chosen at random with a number generator and contacted via email on August 10.

Every girl's nightmare, every man's dream -- The Brazilian wax. Ever since Edison Chen so indiscreetly allowed his female companions' bushy privates to make the internet rounds, I feel like this has been a hot topic in Hong Kong: what are your personal grooming habits, down there, and what is the norm?

At Strip, the Singapore-owned international chain of waxing parlours, the norm is either a small landing strip or a neat little triangle. And they're hoping to get the trend started in Hong Kong with their Lyndhurst Terrace boutique, featuring cheeky advertising, proprietary products and colourful design (which includes, among other things, Jackson Pollack-lite kind of art, splattered with wax instead of paint).

Media trials were conducted earlier this week, and as a wax-schizophrenic who's visited more than her fair share of waxing experts in Hong Kong, I can pretty categorically say that Strip is the most pleasant "beginner's wax" you can get. The wax smells nice (if a little fondue-like, with its chocolate and berry scent); the choice of pseudo-house music over spa sounds is helpfully distracting; and the therapists are professional, firm-handed, knowledgeable and helpful -- they tell you exactly what clothing to remove, where to lie down and what's going to happen so you're not suddenly surprised when they let it rip. There is, however, no such thing as a truly pain-free wax, but their methods make it as easy as possible to endure.

The shop officially opens today, and word on the street is that those who have been to their other global outposts (27 branches across the globe, with more opening, including in NYC this month) are clamouring for appointments and thanking the Lord for Strip's aggressive expansion policy. If that isn't convincing, then maybe our giveaway will persuade you... Call (852) 2845 0838 for info or bookings or email info@strip.com.hk

When I first heard that Shu Uemura is opening an eye gallery, gruesome images immediately filled my mind. Would it be some sort of crazy laboratory where there will be floating eyes in jars of formaldehyde? An underground cellar much like ones in movies where serial killers store their 'souvenirs'? Turns out what is being touted as the world’s first eye gallery is little more than a cosmetic area with a different name. Cue sigh of relief. So what exactly is this eye gallery I hear you ask? It’s a space that is dedicated to showcasing different ways to make up your eye with a strong focus on the Tokyo lash bar products that create art pieces out of your eyes. The gallery will feature six areas:

1. Tokyo lash factory for DIY rhinestone eyelashes
2. Eye brow atelier for brow grooming services
3. Eye make-up theatre showcasing the eye shadow palettes on offer
4. Beauty table for skin analysis and make-up services provided by beauty professionals in front of the mirror.
5. A brush wall showcases professional quality tools
6. A star table and LED screens showcasing the latest products and trends

Opens tomorrow at FACES Harbour City in TST

Another fragrance roundup of the latest scents to be launched in the Hong Kong market.


The Big Pony Fragrance Collection from Ralph Lauren
With the aim of motivating the men to “get in the game,” this collection of four attempts to tailor to everyone from the sporty to seductive to adventurous to the stylish. Is it me or does anyone else think that these could totally be the Spice Girls of perfumes?
#1 Sporty boasts of lime and grapefruit.
#2 Seductive comprises of dark chocolate and musk
#3 Adventurous contains mint and ginger root
#4 Stylish is citrusy with mandarin and kyarawood

$360/75ml
$480/125ml
Available at:
Lane Crawford Canton Road
Lane Crawford Times Square
Sogo


L Loewe
L Loewe offers an opening note of bergamot, tangerine and fressia, a middle note of peach, peony and violet with a base of musk and sandalwood.
$380/ 30ml
$490/ 50ml

Available at:
LCX, Ocean Centre, TST
Sogo, Causeway Bay
Lane Crawford, Times Square, Causeway Bay
Lane Crawford, Pacific Place, Admiralty
Harvey Nichols, The Landmark, Central


LANVIN Éclat d’Arpège Limited Edition
Not quite a new perfume per say but rather a repackaging of the bottle where the bottle is dressed with violet and fuchsia ribbons: a wink at the couture world of Alber Elbaz.
Top note comprises of lilac green and Sicilian lemon leaves, middle note of wisteria flowers, green tea leaves, peach flowers, red peony and China Osmanthus and a bottom note of white cedarwood of Libanon, precious amber and sweet musks.

$368 / 30 ml
Available at:
Land Crawford, Timesquare, CWB
Land Crawford, TST
Land Crawford, IFC, Central
Land Crawford, Pacific Place, Admiralty
SOGO, Causeway Bay
L2, Seibu, Langham Place, Mong Kok
LCX, Ocean Terminal, TST
Wing On Department, 345 Nathan Road
APITA, Cityplaza 2, Taikoo Shing



Jean Paul Gaultier Ma Dame
I’m having a rather juvenile moment with this one. Very inclined to just keep saying Ma DAMN! The three key notes are rose, musk and cedar which isn’t quite my cup of tea but bottle sure DAMN is pretty. (Ok I’ll stop now.)
$550/ 50ml
$710/ 75ml
Available at
New Town Plaza, Phase I Shop 421A –
Lane Crawford (Times Square, Canton Road)
Sogo (Causeway Bay)
Hong Kong Seibu (Pacific Place)
Harvey Nichols (The Landmark)

Being a copywriter is normally a rather dull job. You write what your client or boss wants and any creativity you put into the words are likely to be taken out for fear of misinterpretation by the general public. However, there are times when some companies embrace creativity and OPI is definitely one of them. It’s one of the few brands that I actually read the names of the nail polish colours and not describe them as that blue-green, pale green-blue, dark purple, light brown. (I have an affinity for blue, green, purple, grey and brown hues of nail polish. I let a bright neon pink one slip in and ShoeGeek nearly had a heart attack.) So it’s with much anticipation that I check out OPI’s new Switzerland collection that will be launched next month. Check out some of the highlights after the cut. I think my favourite names have to be Yodel Me on My Cell and Colour So Hot it Berns. What are your favourite tones?


From left: Yodel Me On My Cell, Lucerne-tainly Look Marvelous and The Color to Watch


From left: William Tell Me About OPI, Colour So Hot it Berns, and Skin Teal We Drop

YSL just launched their summer 2010 look yesterday and the inspiration behind this season’s collection is destiny. So what is the palette that comes to mind when you hear the word destiny? Mine’s certainly not the romantic pastel palette that the brains behind this collection seem to have. But then again, everyone’s idea of destiny is different. Behold the new items from YSL’s summer collection:



For the eyes
New Ombres 5 Lumieres N° 17 – Présage
A palette of five radiant shades for unforgettable eyes.
Price﹕$430

For the lips
New Limited edition Golden Gloss
Ultimate transparency and shine with three new, natural, brush-on shades imbued with 24K gold powder and pearl-like iridescence
N° 33 - Magnolia
Price﹕$185

Available at all YSL counters

I’ve always thought that beauty gadgets have got to be one of the easiest products to sell from electric eyelash curlers to blackhead removers to portable steamers for instant facials. Tell us ladies that this gadget will do something and we are likely to believe it. Of course, when it doesn’t work, it’s more likely that it’s due to us not being diligent enough to use it on a regular basis than the failure of the product. (Although sometimes I do have my doubts.) Anyway, I just discovered this latest gadget from Oregon Scientific; the Platinum Beauty Roller.

Originating from Japan, the Platinum Beauty Roller is a facial massage tool that allows users to give their faces a lift any time. The press release claims that this roller combines nourishing minerals with unique massage functions to rejuvenate and tighten the inner layers of the skin and smoothen the outer layers. I’m not quite sure where the nourishing minerals come from, maybe from the skincare you use along with the roller? Anyway, the key factor of this roller is apparently the special rhythmic piano-touch massage that mimics fingers lightly playing on keyboards that will enlarge your capillaries to push out the excess water and other harmful minerals. If you do try it out, let me know what you think.

Platinum Beauty Roller features:
• Instant face lift for slims facial contours
• Restore skin firmness and elasticity
• Reduce fine lines and wrinkles
• Usable with water soluble beauty essence and after make-up
• No electricity is required; portable to carry around
• Suggested price: HK $1,680

Shu Uemura has just released their latest summer colours and this season, this funky beauty brand goes back to the classic for inspiration. Chief make-up artist Yuki Asano draws upon the key accessories of ancient pharaohs of Egypt to the glamour of Hollywood screen goddesses to create a delightful palette of intoxicating colours worthy of sapphires, emeralds, rubies and diamonds. Says Yuki, “In creating this make-up look, I imagined a woman who knows how to play and dress up in gems. She is sophisticated and classy but with a whimsical streak.” Available starting May 31, the collection features a limited edition flawless glow powder compact to glitter eye shadows, cream eye shadow and lip colour. Check out the selection after the cut.


A fusion of sweet shades, these lip glosses retail at HK$170

The pressed eye shadow comes in five colours from the green shown above to pink, orange, blue and purple.



New to the collection are these press eye shadow glitters. Retails at HK$150



The cream eye shadow retails at HK$180

Limited edition Flawless glow powder (HK$360)