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.

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.

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

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

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)

There’s nothing us Geeks like more than the festive season. Whether the party is for celebrating the Winter solstice, Christmas, Hanukah, New Year’s or just a gathering of close friends, make sure your makeup is impeccable. We talk to Bobbi Brown about how to achieve that perfect holiday look.


Hong Kong Fashion Geek: As the holiday season approaches, what eye and lip colours would you recommend for parties?
Bobbi Brown: Got a party to go to? There is nothing like chrome inspired metallic shades to brighten up the eyes. Contrast it by playing it cool with soft plum lip shades.

HKFG: Smokey eyes tend to lead to a messy appearance if not applied properly. How can we avoid it?
BB: The best way to avoid a mess while smoking up your eyes is to apply your concealer afterwards. This way if some shadow falls under your eyes you don't have to start all over again.

HKFG: What cheek and lip colours go well with smokey eyes?
BB: A neutral looking cheek with a soft port-inspired shade of lipstick or gloss would bring perfect harmony to a chrome smoky eye.

HKFG: What products should be in our makeup cases when going out?
BB: Besides blotting papers (for excess shine on the t-zone area) and lip color, Q-Tips are always convenient to clean up a smudge or an uneven lip liner.

HKFG: How should one touch up their makeup while at an event?
BB: How about a "touch-up-free" evening? Use a long-wear cream eye shadow underneath your smoky eyes and paired it all up with long-wearing gel liner and mascara!

I love the colour green. I had always thought that blue was my favourite colour until ShoeGeek pointed out that all my accessories, clothing and what not tend to be green. Turns out, I’m not the only one. Chanel just launched their Christmas makeup collection last week and it has a decidedly green focus. The inspiration comes from a little golden cage owned by Mademoiselle Chanel which is set with turquoise stones encasing two tiny birds with emerald eyes and bodies of pearls who seem to be endlessly gabbing to each other.

Peter Philips, Global Creative Makeup Director of Chanel Makeup channels this inspiration into a duo of green powders and an exotic bird four-colour palette for the eyes, a glossy gold and pale pinks representing the cage for the lips and a halo of gold for the complexion as well as a pearly pink reminiscent of the bird’s body. Available at Chanel.

There’s such a plethora of eye makeup out there that it can be a bit daunting as to what you put on first and how to create that perfect smoky eye. (There’s a reason why Tyra makes all the models to be on ANTM learn how to properly apply makeup. Smoky eyes are just sooo sexy.) I stopped by Lane Crawford’s cosmetic concierge to get some tips the other day. For regular walk ins or basic Lane Crawford card members, they provide a free consultation as to how to make up your eyes and for higher tier members a range of services such as makeovers and image styling, trends of the season, personalised skincare advice amongst others. The best thing about the cosmetic concierge is that they don’t hard sell you into buying products.

Another nice thing about this service is that you can bring in your own makeup and the consultant will teach you how to use products you already own. My beauty consultant Kirsty was very pleasant and knowledgeable as well as patient about offering tips on how to apply eye shadow base, three shades of eye shadows, eyeliner, liquid eye liner, mascara base, mascara and brow highlighters. Some tips learnt:

1. Liquid eyeliner is applied below the lashes
2. When applying eyeliner, use one hand to gently lift your eyelid and slowly put on the eyeliner in little strokes rather than one long stroke in order to avoid wrinkles
3. If you don’t want to purchase an eye shadow base, you can try using liquid foundation but make sure it doesn’t have moisturising properties as that tends to lead to greasiness
4. Base mascara tends to be white or nearly white (a little bit transparent). The purpose of a base layer is to enhance the colour of your mascara.
5. Get an adjustable mirror. If you are applying eye makeup with a regular mirror, you inadvertently wrinkle your forehead giving you unseemly lines later on.

Lane Crawford Cosmetic Concierges are available at IFC, Times Square and Pacific Place stores. Request an appointment online at www.lanecrawford.com or email cosmeticconcierge@lanecrawford.com

Check out these delectable goodies for the fashionista's lips. Shaped like a handbag or cupcakes, they promise to be lip-smackingly good. Best of all, they are all under HK$40. Perfect for stocking stuffers, bridal shower gifts etc. I came across these babies at Times Square's CitySuper.

As always, the images for Geek Spy are taken covertly so please forgive the quality!

By popular demand, Beauty and the Beast is back and this time we are bringing you the following beauty tips:

Eye Cream Application
When putting on eye cream, use the fourth finger rather than the index finger as it allows for a more delicate touch.


Pimple Redness
Next time you have a red pimple, add a few drops of anti-redness eye drops and the redness will fade right away.

Instant Facelift
Pulling your hair back in a ponytail is a guaranteed way to instantly smooth lines and wrinkles. When the scalp is stretched back, it pulls the face back creating tighter and younger-looking, skin.

Nude Lips
Dab on some liquid foundation/concealer with your lipstick for extra-creamy nude lips.
Images: Getty, YesStyle