Review: Anna Sui Lip Rouge Pen 500 Brick Red

I purchased the Anna Sui Lip Rouge Pen in 500 Brick Red (£25) primarily because I love the packaging. The pen is a hybrid of a lipstick and a lip gloss - vibrant shades without the stickiness associated with gloss. The finish is a velvet semi matte vibrant colour. The pen has a twist up mechanism and is applied with a brush applicator. The rouge contains collagen to plump the lips and botanical oils hydrate and protect them. The colour can be applied as a flattering lip tint or built up for a bold wash of vibrant colour.

I chose the colour Brick Red. I found the shade was way to dark and unflattering on me if I applied several layers but looked flattering as a tint using just one layer of product.  The product lasted several hours and through a meal, fading in a flattering way. It is easy to apply with the brush and the pen itself is very stylish! 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

Anna Sui Makeup Coffret Set III

Anna Sui Cosmetics  released two makeup coffrets as part of their holiday collection. I purchased Coffret Set III £30 as I liked the butterflies design on the vanity case. The aesthetic for this collection is selecting candies at a sweet store so the colour palette is bright, vivid and glittery. 

The pop vanity case is metal, with s metallic butterfly design.  It measures L207mm x W87 x H139mm. The lid has “Anna Sui” embossed it and the closure is a flip lock. I can fit quite a lot in the case and will keep my most recent purchases in it.

The mini makeup palette measures L85mm x W104mm. The lid of the palette has a  psychedelic butterfly on it. The colour story behind this year’s collection is picking candies from a candy store. The palette has a plastic removable overlay that resembles colourful candies.  The makeup is also candy like with brightly coloured glittery shades.  The blush is a peachy tone and the eyeshadows are glittery metallic gunmetal grey and black. The blush is lovely, adds just a hint of colour to the cheeks and isn’t patchy. The eyeshadows need a glitter eye primer or there is glitter fallout very quickly - you can see glitter on my glasses in the first picture. I prefer the eyeshadows once the glitter has fallen or been buffed out. The black can be used as part of a smokey eye look and the grey looks nice on its own or with the black. It is a shame that the pans are not removable/ magnetised  as I would have liked to put them in my other palettes. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own 

Review: Anna Sui Cosmetics Limited Edition Eye & Lip Colours

Anna Sui Cosmetics recently launched their Limited Edition Eye and Lip Colours. All the colours are presented in mini gold trinket style compacts with embossed butterflies on the lids. The colour of the butterfly relates to the colour of  the lip/eye colour.  All the colours are vibrant autumnal hues and cost £12 (1g) each. I purchased the lip colour in silk red,  eye colours in rusty brown and velvet green.

The silk red limited edition lip colour is a vibrant lip gloss with the distinctive Anna Sui tea rose scent. They are supposed to keep lips hydrated and have a high pigmented shine. I did find the colour to be highly pigmented and gave my lips  a mirror like high shine finish without feeling overly sticky or gloopy. The lipstick can be applied with either a brush  or fingers. I preferred using a brush as I found it to be rather messy and unhygienic to keep putting my fingers in the gloss. The container does loook like a piece of jewellery or a trinket but in real life it felt rather light weight and plasticky. It is still an unusual and beautiful item, it was just a bit surprising as Anna Sui’s compacts etc normally feel weighty and substantial, the compact could also have done with s mirror - I like to re apply my lip product when I am out but there isn’t a mirror in the lid as one would expect there to be.  I do feel the lip glosses (it is also available in orange) are good value with cute packaging and are great colours for autumn/winter, they just lack a mirror. 

The limited edition eye colours are packaged in the same mini gold trinket compacts as the lip glosses. Again the colours are vibrant colours with an autumnal/winter feel. They gave a slurry formula which create a velvety, multi dimensional finish. The eyeshadows can be applied with either the fingers or with a brush. I did enjoy applying and wearing these eyeshadows. They were easy to apply with either a brush or fingers. There was little fall out and they did not look patchy on the lid. I did feel that the rusty brown colour was golden rather than brown. The colours looked great worn by themselves for a monochromatic look or blended together. Again the only disappointment was the lack of a mirror and the light, plasticness of the compact. The overall effect of the compact is beautiful- the detail to the butterfly etc is lovely and eye catching but the overall concept is spoiled by these minor points. I would purchase other colours in the collection especially the teddy brown one as I feel it would pair well with the colours I already own. 

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. 

Beak & Claws: Anna Sui Limited Edition Lipstick in Red Tint

As part of their summer collection Anna Sui Cosmetics released 8 LE lipsticks (£27.50) which are lip tints rather than traditional lipsticks. Each lipstick reacts with the water content of the wearer’s lips thus creating a uniquely flattering shade. The lipsticks are also packed full of hydrating ingredients to keep the lips moisturised and soft.

         

I chose T404 red tint. It proved to create the perfect red for me. My teeth looked whiter and my skin less sallow. The lipstick was comfortable to wear and it did hydrate and moisturise my lips. The packaging is immediately identifiable as Anna Sui. The white container is both gothic yet summery! 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.

Anna Sui Mini Brightening Powder & Powder Case

About this time last year Anna Sui Cosmetics brought out a sea shell embossed brightening face powder (2.5g and RRP £20) and a peacock powder case (£13). I didn't buy them as I was busy working through my stack of powders and although the powder case is pretty I only have so much room on my vanity! Recently they have brought out mini sizes,  the sea shell embossed mini brightening powder  is £10 for 9g and mini powder case is £8. The powder case comes with a puff and any mini Anna Sui pressed powder will fit in it.  I love the design of the case but wonder why they didn't go with an under the sea theme to match the beautiful seashell embossed powder.  They did a LE compact a few years ago (magical aquarium palette ).   As the items are mini they are great for on the go touch ups or to take on holiday.i

 

The brightening face powder is a finely milled weightless translucent powder designed to set foundation, use to touch up during the day, combat and remove excess oils, shine, and leave the skin looking fresh and bright with a glowing and radiant finish.  The powder does have a very faint tea rose fragrance, but it so disappears. The powder did reduce shine and set my foundation. I also used it without foundation and it did combat the excess oil, helped fill in the fine lines and left my skin looking velvety.   I only used one layer of foundation so I could show how the powder help conceal redness around the nose.I like the powder and think it's great that  Anna Sui has brought out minis.

I purchased the items from beautyBay.com. The items arrived in a timely manner and were well packaged.

I purchased these items myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own.

Beak & Claws: Anna Sui Orchid Nail Polish

As the imagery and name of my blog is centred around a sparklingly magpie I decided decided to name my lipstick and nail polish series "Beak and Claws". Beak relates to the lipstick portion, claws to the polish. I purchased this Anna Sui nail polish in Orchid (no 202) as an add on to my Amazon UK order - £4.01 (8ml). The RRP is £11.  

Orchid nail polish is a very summery pastel purple shade.   The nail polish contains olive oil, raspberry fruit extract and grape fruit extract in order to maintain and hydrate nails and keep them looking healthy.  The polish is supposed to be be streak free with a high shone finish. The polish dries in thick layers and claims to have a quick drying, streak free formula which, due to the flexibility and thickness of the polish isn't supposed to chip or crack and instead last for a long time.  The polish has a high shine finish. 

  I found that I needed 3 coats of polish to make the polish completely opaque as it had a tendency to look streaky, despite claims that the brush is designed to prevent streakiness.   It dried really quickly, I didn't need to use any quick drying drops and it definitely has a high shine finish. In my pictures I have not applied a top coat and my nails look very glossy. I like the shape and length of the brush. The brush fits nicely over the nail and the wand is long enough that I am not concerned that it will touch my other nails when I am using it. 

The bottle is very elegant, vintagesque and fits in well with the overall Anna Sui aesthetic. . Shaped like a crown, the wand is black and comfortable to hold. The glass base makes it easy to see the colour of the varnish. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. I always use the same base coat Nail HQ All in One to ensure a fair comparison of longevity etc of the polish I am reviewing. 

 Available here.        

Beak & Claws: Anna Sui Cosmetics Matte Liquid Lip Color

As the imagery and name of my blog is centred around a sparklingly magpie I decided decided to name my lipstick and nail polish series "Beak and Claws". Beak relates to the lipstick portion, claws to the polish.

Anna Sui has just released her summer lipstick range, a Matte Liquid Lip Color available in 7 shades, £23 for 6.6ml. The shades are very vibrant and wearable.  The lipstick names/ colours are: Dusky Pink; Dark Pink; Fushia Pink; Lilao; Gothic Purple; Anna Red and Moroccan Orange. The bottle is very Anna Sui in design.  The cap is black, it looks like black lacquer but is, in fact, plastic, and  has a victoriana, gothic, vintage feel to it.  The lipstick applicator is a tear drop doe foot wand.  The lipsticks are supposed to "glide on smoothly over the lips, drenching them in long lasting, full pigment colour".

I purchased the shade Dusky Pink (No. 200). The bottle is very easy to hold as the shape fits nicely into my hand.  The shape of the applicator makes it easy to outline the lips with the pointed end then fill in with the flat side of the doe foot wand.  The smell is a very light tea rose aroma, the traditional scent associated with Anna Sui products, but it is not over powering and soon fades away.  The colour is exactly the same in the bottle as when it is applied on the lips. The lipstick does not crack or fade and it lasted a good 8 hours before it needed to be reapplied.  I only needed one coat to get full opacity and it made my teeth look whiter.  It felt comfortable to wear, not tight and drying as some liquid lipsticks feel on the lips.

I purchased the he item myself from BeautyBay and the thoughts expressed in my blog are my own.



Available: 

BeautyBay.com

Anna Sui Loose Powder Case

This Anna Sui loose powder case is £13 from both Beauty Bay and Amazon UK.  The loose powder case and accompanying powder puff come in the very recognisable Anna Sui cardboard box, which is so pretty it is a shame to throw it away! The case itself is free standing and sturdy, even though it looks fragile, dainty and elegant. The case measures 10cm(H)x10cm(at its widest point). The case stands upon sturdy cabriole legs and looks like it is made of black lacquer, but it is made of a thick black plastic,.  The case has gold edging and is designed to resemble Anna Sui's conceptualisation of a fairy's house.  The outside of the case has raised flower embellishments which are instantly recognisable as part of Anna Sui's overall aesthetic.   The lid has a domed lid so can fit not only loose powder but also be used to store, for example, keys, spare change or favourite pieces of jewellery. It fits with the overall Anna Sui aesthetic of romanticism with a slightly gothic, victoriana, vintage feel to it. 

The powder puff feels and looks very lux and soft - I will feel very glamourous powdering my face it.


The only downsides to the case is that there is no separate compartment for the powder puff  so it has powder on it all the time as it is sat on top of the powder rather than you being in control of how much it picks up. The lid lid lifts off completely, it isn't hinged so it cannot be used for travel as it isn't really secure enough for that.

It is a beautiful, elegant, and decorative item that would be a great addition to any dressing table or vanity area! It is a well made, timeless piece that looks so much more expensive than £13.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own.
Available:
Amazon UK, BeautyBay 

Beaks & Claws: Anna Sui Shiny Coral Cattleya lipstick (301)

Anna Sui Shiny Coral Cattleya lipstick is £23 and is available from both Amazon UK and BeautyBay.com.  Anna Sui have recently revamped their lipstick line. Stars are out whilst roses and butterflies are in.  I think that whilst the lipstick cases are not necessarily travel friendly - I would be gutted if the butterfly got broken off the top of the case or flowers got scratched whilst in transit but they look incredibly elegant and almost like a piece of art to be displayed on a vanity or dressing table.  

The new lipsticks are available in full and sheer pigment.  The sheer range is available in sheer and glitter shades.  My Coral Cattleya lipstick is glittery and can feel a bit gritty when first applied.  I have worn this alone and pared with another new lipstick - the Paul and Joe 106,  Rue Cermieux. This combination gives my lips more pigment , makes them glossy, glittery and look a lot fuller.  The lipstick has a slight tea rose scent but this fades away quite quickly.

Available from Amazon UK and BeautyBay.com

Anna Sui Kaleidoscope Gift Box, Holiday 2017

The Anna Sui Cosmetics Kaleidoscope Gift Tin is part of their Christmas/ Holiday 2017 Collection.  Measuring 162mm x 162mm x 123mm it is a quite roomy tin, great for jewellery, cosmetics or samples that otherwise get lost!  It costs £8 plus p&p. 

This gift box/tin is a great statement piece.   Inspired by the intricate and ever changing kaleidoscopic designs of the kaleidoscope,  The tin has a very eye catching design and would look great on any vanity or dressing table. 

I purchased this item myself from ASOS.
Available from:
ASOS
BeautyBay
Beautylish

Anna Sui Beauty, Mirror N, Christmas 2017.

                                  

I purchased my Anna Sui Beauty Mirror N from the Anna Sui 2017 Holiday Collection through ASOS for £17 including p&p.  It is currently out of stock at ASOS, but is still available at Amazon UK and Beautylish (an American site which ships to the UK. free P&P over a certain spend).  Just as with the beauty box, this mirror has a gothic, vintage feel to it.  The mirror is made out of plastic, the pattern is a bird mosaic and the traditional Anna Sui rose.  The colour of the mosaic inspired by mother of pearl.  The embellishments are reflective, so the mosaic changes colour according to the light its in etc.  

                                                           

The mirror measures 125mm(L) x 90mm(W) x 15 mm(H) and can be opened and used so the mosaic is either set to front or behind the mirror.  the back of the mirror is embossed with Anna Sui, then there is the mirror, the other side of the mosaic part has a rose embossed on it.  It is a beautiful mirror, almost too pretty to use! The only small issue I have with this piece is the lack of a protective pouch.  The Anna Sui hand mirror I reviewed in a previous blog post had a little velveteen pouch.  A similar protective pouch for this  mirror would have made it perfect!

 I purchased this item myself.                                   

Available from:

Amazon

Beautylish

Anna Sui Beauty Box A, Christmas 2017

The Anna Sui Beauty Box A is part of the Anna Sui Holiday 2017 collection.  It is available on ASOS, Beauty Bay, Beautylish and Amazon UK.  I purchased mine from ASOS for £25 including delivery.  The box is a work of art, beautifully made with an intricate dresser design it looks just like a mini vanity or dresser and has a gothic, victoriana, vintage  vibe.  

Made out of a thick black plastic, the makeup/ jewellery box has an engraved floral design on the lid, Anna Sui embossed on the back and the dresser design on the front.  The box is quite deep and the mirror is excellent, quite large and usable rather than just a piece of a plastic there for decoration.  The dresser has a curvy shape and cabriole legs.  It measures 125mm(L) x 200mm(W)x 140mm(H).  I will use this as a jewellery rather than a makeup box because most of my makeup is either Anna Sui or Paul and Joe Beaute so I already have it out on display.

                  

Available from:

ASOS

Beautylish

The Beak Knows: Anna Sui Fantasia Eau de Toilette 30ml

  


Fantasia Eau de Toilette (£33 for 30ml, £45 for 50ml, £55 for 75ml) is the much anticipated new fragrance by Anna Sui. Coveted as much for the intricate bottle design, a unicorn standing upon a bottle which looks almost like an acorn with little flowers engraved on it, as much as the fragrance itself, it is a floral, fruity gourmand yet woodsy fragrance. The unicorn and bottle accents are gold tone and the Anna Sui logo is embossed on the neck of the bottle.   The top notes are pink pomelo and pink pepper.  The heart are floral - violet, orange flower, pastel orchid and raspberry praline and the base notes are golden cypress and Himalayan cedar wood.  At first the fragrance is very sweet and raspberry, but as it settles the base notes become more apparent, leaving a lovely lingering, fresh and unique pine, woodsy smell.  It is not a traditional cutesy candy gourmand scent as the woodsy, pine notes contrast with the floral, raspberry chocolatey notes it is a grown up feminine fragrance with enough depth to be a great winter perfume.


  

I bought this for the Instagramable bottle as much as the actual fragrance but I have found myself reaching quite often for it.   

I purchased this item myself.
Available from Amazon UK

Anna Sui Hand Mirror

I bought this mirror from ASOS for £15 as I wanted a travel size hand mirror.  This one by Anna Sui measures 18 x 0.7 x 10cm and comes in a little embossed pouch.  It has an embossed rose on the back of the mirror and has a black patent finish.  The handle is quite short and stubby. I have small hands and find it easy to grip, someone with larger hands may not. As the mirror is flat it is easy to pack and is protected by the case. The mirror itself is decent at magnifying. There are matching items available.

Available from:
ASOS
Amazon UK

Anna Sui Magical Aquarium Makeup Palette & Face Gloss Limited Edition: Review

The Anna Sui limited edition Magical Aquarium Palette launched today on Asos and it is gorgeous.  It is a white palette decorated with monochromatic seahorses and jelly fish in a sea life motif. It has a great little compact mirror, printed inner compartment and a very secure lid.  It is compact so will fit easily in your handbag to carry around your essential makeup or jewellery.  It would also look great on a dressing table as it is so eye catching and unusual.

 

Anna Sui Limited Edition Sparkling Lip and Face Colour,  in blue and pink (also available in orange and purple) is £9. I loved the smell of this, it smells fruity and summery.  I didn't, however, like the texture - it was very greasy with no colour payoff.  I swiped the pink swirl several times and could only get a few specks of glitter to show up on my hand so I was very disappointed as I love multi use products like this one. 

I purchased these items myself from Asos and the views expressed in this blog post are my own.