Givenchy Teint Couture Metal Cushion - Mini Review and Comparisons

When Sephora was having a VIB/VIB Rouge member sale, I decided to take the plunge and purchase the Givenchy Teint Couture Portable Fluid Foundation (official label-I will just refer to it as their metal cushion). I've liked Givenchy foundations in the past and when I tried the testers for this one in the store; the product did feel very light and moisturizing while giving a really nice finish. 

Sleek compact

Includes a puff that sits right on the metal plate

Push down on the plate and the foundation comes up

 So this item isn't my first metal cushion. The first one I tried was by the Korean brand VDL. It stood out in the sea of cushions because of the metal plate which felt more hygienic than the foam cushion and it does give a pleasant cooling effect when you apply the product. The second version that I tried was by another Korean brand SU:M37 which I purchased mainly because the casing was really pretty.

VDL x Kakao Friends case

SU:M37 x Bahk Seon Ghi

Right: SU:M37 Air Rising Glow Cover, Left: VDL Beauty Metal Cushion

Now how does the Givenchy compare to these metal cushions? Structurally the compacts are pretty much the same even though the Givenchy one is made in France while the other 2 are made in Korea. A relevant note on cushion compacts (metal or foam): the inner cushion part are usually meant to pop out and be replaced after a certain period of time. Korean cushions often come with a filled case and an additional refill. The Givenchy even with the high price tag - does not come with a refill and none are available for sale. However, the cushion does pop out and does fit in the other metal cushion casings and vice versa. 

Inner metal cushion part separated from the case (you just have to push on the center bottom)

Givenchy metal cushion in the SU:M37 case

As much as I liked the finish and feel of the Givenchy cushion foundation I ended up returning it because none of the 6 shade offerings seem to work for me. I picked up 4 Fresh Beige which ended up being quite pink once I applied it to my face. No. 3 Fresh Sand seemed to be a bit more yellow/neutral but too light and 5 Fresh Honey was definitely too deep. For comparison, here is the Givenchy swatched against the Korean cushions which are also limited in how well they match my skintone but I work with it.  Once I had done these swatches; I didn't realize before now deep the Givenchy shade appeared to be especially against the other shades - Sephora does seem to have tricky lighting....

Indoor; natural lighting

Indoor; direct window lighting

Overall, I was disappointed that the shades for the Givenchy Teint Couture Cushion didn't work for me (although wallet was happy) even though the formula seem really nice. It did give a lovely blurring effect and natural finish. The Korean cushions may not have as appealing formula and texture (the foundations are a bit thicker and do have a dewier finish) but for half the price and twice as much product - they are pretty good. I hope that Givenchy will eventually expand their shade offerings and provide the opportunity to purchase just refills then this product will definitely have the appeal for me to throw my money at it once again.

Givenchy Le Prisme Quartet Swatches + FOTD

It was a sunny day in New York and I finally got a chance to take swatch pics for the Givenchy Le Prisme Quartets. I swatched them as they appear in the pan with no primer.

L->R: Pastel Model, Khaki Egerie, Siena Silhouette, Blue Collection, Midnight Look

Closer Look:

L->R: Pastel Model, Khaki Egerie, Siena Silhouette


L->R: Blue Collection and Midnight Look

All the shadows applied super smooth and blended easily. My favorites are Blue Collection and Midnight Look-I love the lower right color in both. My least loved was Pastel Model-the colors were the sheerest (it was also super similar to the Clarins Quartet in Celestial which I already own).

Here was my fotd using Blue Collection:

Close-up:

(excuse the messy brows)

Other products used:
Span Green Primer
Guerlain Lingerie de Peau Foundation in Beige Moyen
Guerlain Precious Light Rejuvenating Illuminator in 02
Too Face Shadow Insurance
Tiffa Mascara Base
YSL Singulier Mascara
Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Confidence
Givenchy Le Prisme Blush in Blooming
Topshop Bronzer in Radiance

Givenchy Fall 2010-Le Prisme Quartet

I have a soft spot for Givenchy cosmetics. I don't know what it is, but I do heart many of their products especially their eye shadows. For Fall 2010, they released a new eye shadow palette called Le Prisme Quartet in six shades. Here are pics for five out of the six. Sorry these are just product shots, swatches to come shortly. I haven't played with all the shades but so far, they've performed very well =D

Blue Collection





Midnight Look
Sometimes I think the pics are accurate and other times it seems a bit too navy.
This palette is suppose to be violet themed.

Siena Silhouette



Pastel Model



Khaki Egerie

Givenchy Holiday 2009

I think that Givenchy has some of the best packaging around and for the holiday 2009 collection, it definitely did not disappoint in terms of presentation.

The Le Prisme Perles eyeshadow quad (Precious pearls) comes in an adorable drawstring satin pouch. There are applicators included in the pouch and the quad itself comes in a satin box with a removable lid (another jewelry-ish container).

The quad has 4 shimmery shades in white, pale yellow, pale pink and grey. When I got this palette, it reminded me a lot of the Prisme Again! eyeshadow quad in Precious Shimmer but the Prisme Perles has a better pigmentation to it and the colors are a bit different.

Swatches!
Top: Prisme Perles (Precious Pearls)
Bottom: Precious shimmer (I don't usually have that much of a problem with pigmentation with this quad, but it was being difficult).

Overall, definitely not a must have item but more of a lovely gift to have or receive. The packaging is lovely and the quad is decent but not very unique color wise.

I was more satisfied with the other items in this collection that I ordered. There is a new Parad'Eyes Fluid Eye liner in Tender pearl (a pretty metallic pink), a Rouge Interdit Shine lipstick in Pearl Shine (a sheer pearl shimmer) and a Gloss Interdit in Tender Pearl (a shimmery pale pink). The packaging did not have a pretty etching like the Le Poetiques but the lipstick case is infused with silver glitter. The tender pink gloss is a very pretty shimmery pink. I didn't think I would like the Pearl Shine lipstick since this isn't much color but it does give a nice pearl shimmer to your lips that noticeable but not too frosty. I've been wanting a nice pink eyeliner and this fits the bill. With a thin line, it doesn't scream pink but give a nice bit of shimmery pop to your eyes.

L to R: Tender Pink gloss, Pearl Shine lipstick, Tender Pink eyeliner

All items are available on Sephora.com.

Givenchy Poetique Blue and Poetique Brown palettes + Liner

I finally swatched the Givenchy Poetique Blue and Poetique Brown palettes! Sorry very pic heavy post-I wanted to show the color and shimmer for all the shadows. I love both palettes. Although I will admit that many of the lighter colored shadows are very similar to each other. The shadows last really well all day (Note: I always wear UDPP) and the combinations are endless.

Here are swatches for the Poetique blue palette (For actual pic of palette, please see earlier post). I swatched left to right in each row. Rows are from top to bottom.

All nine shadows

Close up, first five

Close up, last four

So after I fell in love with the Poetique Blue palette, I ordered the Poetique Brown palette. I was afraid it may be too warm of a palette but I was really happy and I think the Poetique Brown is neither too warm or too cool.

Without and with flash

All nine shades


Close up, first five

Close up, last four

The other item I purchased from this collection was the Parad'Eyes Eyeliner in Poetique Lavender. Here is a swatch of it (on the left) next to Lunasol Geminate Liner in 04. In terms of color, I think that the Givenchy liner is more blue while the Lunasol liner has a bit more violet to it. When dried, I also think the Poetique Lavender has a slighter brighter sheen to it. (Will update with a package pic soon). I was afraid that the brush would be too thin but I had no problems with it and I love the color. It also had very good staying power and no flaking.

Hope you enjoyed the pics!

Dior and Givenchy Fall 2009

Woah, I've been seriously slacking on the postings. The weather has been fairly summery and nice so I've been taking advantage of it as well as just being in lazy summer mode. Of course just as it starts to really feel like summer - the shelves are being stocked with fall items-wtf?

One fall palette that is my current favorite is the Givenchy Prismissime Eyeshadow palette in Poetique Blue. Sigh why do I heart blue/purple shadows so much?and why am I such a sucker for packaging?

Lovely floral design on the outside:

Sadly the plastic case is prone to smudge-y prints. The inside mirror also has a flower motif in one of the corners.

Pretty, shimmery shadows-went on very smooth and with decent pigmentation. I was afraid they would all look the same but they were distinguishable from one another (swatches tk).

EOTD (after a long day in warmish weather)
Sorry it looks like all my previous EOTDs but I swear it's with the
Poetique Blue palette:

I really liked this palette and I am tempted to order the brown version as well. mwahaha. I also picked up the phenomen'eye mascara in lavender grey(not pictured)-if I squint I think I might see the lavender part but it's pretty much just grey. It's subtler than black mascara so I don't know if it does much for me. I also need to refresh my memory on how to use the spikey ball applicator so I can see if it can give me more oomph.

Today, I went to Bloomies after work and I saw the new fall items from Nars and Dior. To my surprise and to my wallet's chagrin, I ended up liking a few items from Nars (to be revealed in next post).

Another surprise was that the Dior Jazz Club collection didn't wow me. There were pretty purple plummy colors but eh, I wasn't feeling it. I only picked up a purple eyeliner since it had a similar brush applicator to one of my fave Japanese eyeliners.

Here's a swatch pic for the new lipsticks (top row and 2nd row swatch on left, Night butterfly quint(2nd row; except the middle blk color), plum diorliner (3rd row left) and lip glosses (3rd row):

Close up of the glosses
(The left 2 are the creme de rouge and the right 2 are the ultra gloss addict):

The pigmentation on the quint didn't grab me and the color was just ok. I just don't think the palette would suite me (my eye would look bruised). Bloomies also had the jazz club eyeshadow palette in smoky jazz (black, grey, taupe kind of colors). Nordstrom has a purplish version (jazz club) as part of their anniversary collection.