Bourjois French Manicure Kit in 93 Rose Naturel

I've always liked nail polish, French nails in particular, but have had sloppy results each time with my clumsy fingers. When I saw Bourjois' Manicure Kit, I thought this was the equivalent of French Nail Painting for Dummies. My kit came all the way from Boots in Oxford, and I must say it is quite a nifty set. (Thank you S, for this.)

Three bottles of polish are housed in one compact box. The instructions are clear, simple, and illustrations très chic!

It lists three easy steps beginning with the star polish, 93 French Rose Naturel, a light pink, featuring a special slanted brush for fool-proof application on the nail tips.

The diagrams are simple but very useful. 

The trio from left to right: French Manicure polish in 93 Rose Naturel for the nail tips, So Laque Ultra Shine in 28 Rose Lounge (trivia: Kate Middleton used this shade on her wedding day) as an all-over nail color, and Fixant Brilliant gloss fixer/topcoat. 

The back of them.

Above is what's special about the set. It was easy to create French nails with the help of the specially-cut brush of 93 Rose Naturel. I found slowly layering tiny amounts of polish made application more even and precise. For Rose Naturel, I was able to create tolerable results by applying a light coat on one half of the nail and turning it over to apply on the other half, then proceeded to repeat the process with another light coat. Then, I smoothed over Rose Lounge, and finished off with Fixant Brilliant. I simply followed all the instructions in the box and everything worked out.

The finished look one day after. The tips look white in the picture, but they are actually bright light pink. I would much like to try the other nail tip shade in 91 Blanc Glamour, which is a true French white. Overall, I am very satisfied with the Bourjois French Manicure Kit. All the polishes served their function, and they are very easy to use and apply. I would recommend this set to nail polish maestros and novices alike.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation in 52 Vanilla

If there is one thing makeup manufacturers know all over the world, it is that formulating a foundation which is loved by crowds and crowds of people is almost unheard of. Scouring the annals of beauty reviews online, Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation appears to be that product which has won the hearts of many jaded foundation junkies who have tried everything from the most wallet-friendly makeup to purse-breaking ones.

This foundation comes in a lightweight plastic bottle. Unlike most foundation containers which make use of thin straw tubes, the mechanism works in such a way that the product is pumped up by a plastic plate all the way from the bottom to the dispenser on top. There is no product wastage with this kind of design, which, to be frank, is an ingenious idea worth emulating by other brands.

The dispenser pushes down easily and releases the perfect amount of foundation for my entire face in one full pump. The nozzle doesn't get clogged and is mess-free.

I got this in the second lightest shade 52 Vanilla, which is a perfect match for NC20. The foundation is yellow-based and works well for my Asian skin tone. The liquid is smooth in texture and has a refreshing fruity kind of smell.

Healthy Mix foundation spreads out evenly and provides medium coverage. It was able to cover the redness caused by rosacea on my cheeks. As to the claim of "up to 16-hours of glowing complexion and toned skin," I found some part of it to be true. I can't vouch for the 16 hours efficacy; I had it on for 13 hours and I'd say for the first 9 hours my skin looked even and radiant compared to not wearing this product. My face looked more toned indeed because the foundation was able to cover imperfections naturally while delivering a natural finish with a slight glow. I wouldn't say that this foundation keeps oil at bay, because even after setting it with NARS Loose Powder in Flesh, I had to blot by midday. Its moisturizing properties makes it an ideal foundation for those with normal and dry skin, but it would nevertheless work out for oily-skinned gals as long as it's set with a good powder. 

Product ingredients.

 Bourjois = made in France.

The French side of it. Overall, considering everything from the price to the quality, the pros greatly overweigh the cons, which makes the high success rate of this foundation hardly surprising. (Many thanks to S for this foundation.)

Bourjois Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation in 81 Soft Ivory

There is something delicious about mousse foundations. It reminds my sweet tooth of cakes and pastries. I couldn't resist to see whether Bourjois' Mineral Matte Mousse Foundation fits my dessert bill.

It comes in a tiny glass jar with a screw-cap cover. I like that it packs a punch albeit the small size. It fits right in my palm which also makes it very convenient for travel. Here it is in all its moussy goodness:

The mousse has a softy, fluffy texture that, because of its novelty compared to liquids and powders, is enjoyable to put on. A little dab can cover a whole cheek area. The finish is matte and soft, with medium coverage. The mousse is on the left, blended out on the right. While it might look darker and yellower on my hand, it blends well into my face (NC20). It also suits my oily skin and does not make it greasier like other liquid foundations. The light texture also agrees with the fussy skin on my face. I didn't experience any redness or pimples after using this. I can attribute this to its simple formula (a very short ingredient list that even my dermatologist approved of).

When I purchased it in Hong Kong two years ago, their promo included a free brush.

The brush is especially made for this mousse foundation. Together they make a great pair. The bristles are soft and firm and aids in blending the foundation seamlessly. The foundation can also be applied with fingers with good results, but I find using this brush gives a more flawless finish because it buffs the foundation onto the skin more.

Overall this is one of the best foundations I have tried for my oily, reactive skin. For a French drugstore brand, I am quite impressed that it can hold its own against many other expensive lines. I will continue to look out for more products from Bourjois.

 Ingredient list:

Bourjois Little Round Pot Blushes in 16 Rose Coup de Foudre & 03 Brun Cuivre

Little Round Pot Blush is probably the most recognized product in Bourjois' lineup. This is no wonder as the product has been around for over a century. No other packaging says "Paris, France" like these pot blushes.

16 Rose Coup de Foudre translates as Pink Lightning. This interesting blush was gifted by an old friend (thanks E). 03 Brun Cuivre, or Copper Brown is something I brought home from Hong Kong two years ago.

These blushes exhibit a soft, powdery texture because they are baked. The color of the packaging is matched to the product shade, which is a convenient and practical touch. 

The cute round mirror, while of not much use, is of good quality and add to the overall chic elegance of the packaging. The blush also comes with a scratchy crescent-shaped brush and an instruction sheet. The brush did not serve its purpose as it is oddly shaped and the poor quality of the bristles applied color too heavily. The hair is also very rough on the skin. I have disposed of them since they are no good. 

Rose Coup de Foudre is actually more peach than pink. This shade imitates the cheeks' natural flush and is extremely flattering on most skin tones. There is a glimmer of sheen on the skin when applied which makes the product more three-dimensional. I like this shade and find it one of the best peach-pink blushes in the market. 
I was attracted to Brun Cuivre during a nude-obsession phase. This shade is not overly brown. It has a slight orange mixed in which is what makes it more forgiving in my observation. It tones down the redness on cheeks while giving it a subtle color that is not flat, thanks to the slight shimmers. It can work its magic into creating a polished, sophisticated look. 

This range of blushes from Bourjois are deserving of their long-standing fame. They offer beautiful shades in a wide range of colors. The price is reasonable also, and for the quality it offers, is well worth having in one's collection. There are twelve shades in all. 

I have also reviews 33 Lilas d' Or in Makeupalley. 

Bourjois Ombre Stretch Eye Shadow in 13 Black Glitter

Bourjois is one of my favorite brands in the world. It also happens to be over one hundred years old. The fact that it is under Chanel's umbrella is a huge plus too. Much focus has been put on Bourjois' blushes in those little round cases. However, for a change, I shall be reviewing one of their eyeshadows. 

Those familiar with the brand would know that Bourjois also does eyeshadows in the round pots. The Ombre Stretch series belongs to another range of its eyeshadows. I really like the design of this packaging. You can see that the case has speckles of glitter on it because the shade is called Black Glitter. This is a thoughtful touch that makes a lot of difference.

The shadow is pressed into a thin rectangular shape accompanied by a similarly long eyeshadow brush with a clear handle. The brush is actually quite soft and tapered well. 

Here is a swatch using the brush in 2~3 swipes. This shadow can be messy (see the fall outs on top and most evidently in the bottom?), but with careful application, I think Black Glitter is a worthy shade. This works great for smoky eye looks because the shimmer is not all over the shadow. The black retains its matte finish, even if there are tiny specks of glitter on it. I like that the shimmers do not overpower the matte quality of the shadow at the same time also helping it not to be so flat.

The mirror is a nice touch too. My only complaint is that the case is hard to open. The push mechanism in the center is not that well-made. I guess one can forgo these little packaging glitches for a brand that delivers quality products at such reasonable prices.