This is the most – for lack of a better word – bland lip balm I have ever come across. And it is also one of the best.

If you’re looking for something frou-frou that smells of mangoes or cherries or strawberries, something that imparts high shine, or even something that tastes of chocolate or vanilla, don’t look this way, because this lip balm ain’t it. In fact, come to think of it, rubbing this on feels no different from rubbing candle wax on your lips.

What this is, is a no-fuss lip balm, with the most delightful packaging!

I was approached by Organic Island a few months ago to test drive their Shell Lip Balm, and I said yes just from looking at looks of the product. Yes, I was swayed by how pretty it looked. Now what this Australian company does, is scour around for real recycled or damaged seashells, to be used as the containers for their all-natural lip balms. But, the seashells first go through a special blasting process (using sand and water) to clean them, and get the outer shells all nice and glossy. A silver wire cleverly entwined around the shell then holds both sides together.

Inside, you get a tiny mirror that is glued on one side, and your puddle of wax on the other. Depending on the size of your shell, the amount of balm ranges from 3-14g.

The balm itself is made of a natural mixture of coconut oil, mango-seed butter, macadamia oil, jojoba oil, rosehip oil, lanolin and beeswax. There’s no smell or colour as you apply (which you have to do with your finger).

It will remind you of plain ol’ candle wax, but it feels surprisingly light on the lips, and really, you don’t need much. Just a layer works nicely for me in the morning, and perhaps one more later in the evening. This thing moisturises lips really, really well. So well, that this is what’s been keeping my lips from getting all dried and chapped this Ramadhan. It also seems to hold colour nicely too, no issues with my reds sliding off.

All in all, this is a very rustic and charming little thing. And the fact that no two shells are alike makes it even more special. And this not only looks good, it works! Just don’t ask me what to do with the shells it’s finished. Melt my other lip balms to pour in perhaps?

To get your very own Shell Lip Balm, visit www.organicisland.com.au. Of course, do bear in mind that the shells will vary in pattern and size, and that not all shells would be completely sealed due to the varying shapes. The Shell Lip Balm is US$14.50 (before postage) each.

That Tom Ford is a perfectionist is obvious. Maybe this is why everything he touches turn to gold. I mean, look at A Single Man – his first directorial debut – the clothes were beautiful, the cinematography was impeccable; the entire movie was super stylish.

It seems that there’s nothing that this (very handsome) designer can’t do – this was the guy who put Gucci back on the fashion map (and no, it had nothing to do with advertising Louis Pedersens’ pubes stripped to a “G”), and made Daniel Craig look hot in his suits in Quantum of Solace. Tom Ford gave us the fabulous Whitney sunnies (the ones that Angelina Jolie loves), and created the perfect Oriental perfume in Tobacco Vanille.

And now, he has given us the ultimate lipstick. Private Blend Lip Color was launched in the US in June, and I got lucky because a friend was in New York City at that time. Of course, Tom Ford is all about luxury, nothing he does is cheap. So my lip colour cost me USD45.

Painful, I know. But you know what – I love this so much I’m looking at buying a second colour!

It really is that good.

Before I continue, please let me address an issue – I’ve had readers write suggesting that I start swatching the make-up that I talk about. The thing is, I’m not just horrible at that, but more importantly, I don’t believe that swatching a lip colour on my hands truly reflects the colour of the lipstick – simply because my hand and my lips aren’t the same colour. And we all have different coloured lips to begin with, some are darker than others, some are pink, some even a maroon. Ultimately, the red I wear will not end up looking the same on your lips. In fact, I have a friend who tried on Lover, and it became a dark pink on her! All because of her more pigmented lips.  

Anyway, back to this fabulous lipstick.

My shade is called Cherry Lush. And here’s the perfect example of what I’m talking about. If you read reviews on this colour, plenty of girls out there describe it as a true opaque red. And yes, it looks it in the picture too. But you know what, on my (rather pink) lips, the colour fades with to a bright pink. So it isn’t too much of a cherry on me.

No matter, because my goodness, everything about this lipstick is just right. For starters, it smells faintly of vanilla. And the packaging is beautiful, all white with gold trim in an elegant square tube. It has the perfect weight too – not too heavy and not too light, it feels luxurious! You know how sometimes you get a product that looks all luxurious and weighty, but is disappointingly light? Nothing of that here – because Tom Ford said so.

Then there’s the formula, very pigmented, and creamy – although it doesn’t glide on as well as I would have imagined. In fact, I always end up having to be a little careful during application because I don’t want to break the bullet – this is one bloody expensive lipstick, you know?

Once you have it on, it feels nice and light. The texture gives off a slightly satin finish that isn’t shimmery. It just glistens nicely. And after a couple of hours, there is minimal bleeding, and my lips are still well moisturised, and the colour is well preserved. When it does fade, it does it evenly to a more matte finish.

This is a lipstick for grown-ups. The red makes for very full and luscious wear – heck, this lipstick was made for this blog!

So thank you, Tom Ford. Here’s to more fabulous colours!

Tools:

• Eyes: Estée Lauder More Than Mascara in Black.
• Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Blush in Desert Rose.

I just love Tokyo Lash Bar from Shu Uemura – where else can you find feathers and diamantes rolled up in one fabulous set of falsies? The 2010 Tokyo Lash Bar collection was launched a couple of weeks ago, and to my delight, the lashes up for offer were as wacky and bizarre, and glamorous, and fabulous as ever before. 

Not that you’d see me in them – I love to watch, not wear – though I will admit to having a few rather sparkly ones in store …

Anyway, this year’s collection is entitled Neo-Tokyo Odyssey, and was inspired by life in a futuristic metropolis. So you get an array of hi-tech, ultra-modern lashes on display. And of course, you get to gawk at the lash creations of Shu Uemura’s Black Book Artists. This year’s group include Chufan, Deric Lim, Deq Sha, Emma Mustafa, Najeeb, Surya Zainul and my two favourites, Stevensunny and Taisu.

The collection is divided into two groups, “We Are Stars” – where the wearable lashes are, and “Galaxy Goddess”, which features the more outrageous designs.

The girls were dressed by Joe Chia, the 2^nd Runner-Up of the Malaysia Young Designer Competition 2009.

Have a look.

Emma Mustafa

Stevensunny

Surya Zainul

Deric Lim

Najeeb

Chufan

Taisu

The notes of a fragrance are like the instruments in an orchestra, they all play their part. Here’s how they come together to create the score:

Top or head notes

The first smell when you apply a fragrance. Top notes contain ingredients that evaporate quicky: delicate florals, bergamot and other light citruses and herbs such as coriander and basil.

Mid or heart notes

The smell that kicks in a few minutes after the top notes. It usually contains rich florals – even in a fragrance that isn’t considered part of the floral family – because these compounds tend to be less volatile. The heart notes are important because they weave all the notes together to define the personality of the fragrance as a whole.

Base or bottom notes

The longest lasting ingredients that stabilise the fragrance and extend its staying power. They contain thick, heavy oils, such as those derived from plants (including vanilla, oakmoss, sandalwood and patchouli), or those that are synthesized to smell like animal-based ingredients (including musk, civet and ambergris)

Dry-down

The notes that stand out and linger after the fragrance ha dried on your skin. The dry-down scent varies from person to person, since it mixes w your skin’s natural scent.

*Extracted from a very old (forgotten) issue of Allure

It’s August already? So soon?

Let’s revisit my favourite beauty reads this month, shall we?

Pretty Beautiful’s Xin presents a ferocious sponge nail art look. Seriously, how does the girl do it?

Syen of SoLoverly goes to Daiso and takes on its blotters.

Nikki from Ask Me Whats cleverly shows us how to apply foundation on mature skin.

More Daiso wonders! This time it’s a puff detergent, thanks to Jen of Lipgloss Eater! 

Skin Deco’s Connie works I Nuovi’s illuminating make-up base.   

I didn’t get to go, but Paris B did! Check out her post on M.A.C’s latest tips and trends.