The Body Shop Brush With Fashion Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

A collaboration with London College of Fashion, The Body Shop Brush With Fashion Spring/Summer 2011 collection features packaging designed by first-year BA (Hons) Fashion Illustration student, Katarina Voloder.

In line with the brush/paint aspect of the concept, the press kit came appropriately in a cute tin.

Some of the items from this collection include:

• Eye Palette in 01 Boho Beauty (S$39.90), a palette of complementary warm neutrals: 01 New Nude, 02 Vintage Apricot, 03 Boho Brown and o4 Haute Chocolate. The palette also includes a mini eye pencil, Eye Definer in 02 Rich Brown, as well as a mini eyeshadow brush.

I haven’t swatched this set but it looks predominantly matte, with a shimmery cream beige to offset the flat shades. The liner is a versatile brown that will work well with these  colours and many others. I have a penchant for this particular synthetic brush – I have two full-sized ones and use them for concealing work because of their shape and texture! ;)

• Eye Palette in 02 À La Mode (S$39.90), a palette of frosty shades lifted by a matte black: 01 Minimalist White, 02 Prêt-A-Pink, o3 Futuristic Silver and 04 Little Black Dress. This palette is accompanied by Eye Definer in 01 Black and the same mini eyeshadow brush as above.

This palette contains colours that can create both simple and intense eye looks. The frosty white will need buffing if it is to be used as an all-over shade but it will make a nice brow highlighter, as well as dramatic mod eyes. The metallic silver is a great shade to work with and I especially like it to create a smokey eye, together with the matte black. The sakura pink is surprisingly quite wearable and I can see it flattering many Asian eyes.

The eye colours in both palettes are made in Thailand, the eyeliners are made in the UK and the brushes are made in China. I wasn’t surprised about the shadows’ country of origin – the dense, almost-wet, nature of the shimmery shades in À La Mode is something that I’ve seen in eyeshadows made in Thailand (for instance, the Gino McCray shadows that I own).

• Illuminating Face Base in 01 Apricot Glow (S$29.90), an emollient silicone-based face illuminator that was created to warm up the complexion and add radiance.

It is by no means a substitution for foundation; rather, it is meant to be used before other face makeup. Its moisturising feel and smoothness are thanks to its Community Fair Trade marula oil content, while the subtle glow is a result of its light-diffusing pigments. I actually like this to warm and liven up a pale visage. Its velvety – yet not sticky or slidy – texture makes a nice base for foundation. This product is made in the UK.

• Tailored Cheek Tint in 01 Hot Pink (S$19.90), a colourless gel that turns raspberry pink upon hitting the skin.

I was quite surprised to see it come out as a transparent gel. Within seconds, it transforms into a sweet pink tint (more raspberry than hot pink, really – I’d say the name is a misnomer). I like the soft and flattering shade but you will have to work very quickly with it because it sets rather fast. It will also stain the finger tips, so if you’re leery of this, a disposable sponge might be a better application tool. This product is made in Thailand.

On a whim, I tried this on the lips – it works without any adverse effect and delivers a pretty tint. 

• Hi-Shine Lip Treatment in 01 Pink Cream and 11 Juicy Peach (S$18.90 each), two passion fruit-scented lip tints.

These super-shiny glosses are sheerly tinted. The trio of oils they contain – marula, lanolin and avocado – moisturises and conditions the lips, while imparting a wet-look shine. The scent is quite delicious and reminded me immediately of the bath and body range in the same passion fruit scent. These glosses are made in the UK.

I applied Pink Cream over the cheek tint on my lips and liked the glossy pink effect. ;)

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Besides these items, Brush With Fashion also includes a mascara, a concealer (the brand’s popular Lightening Touch) and cosmetic accessories. This wearable collection will launch on 15 February 2011 at all The Body Shop stores island-wide.

And if you have The Body Shop’s Love Your Body card, you can purchase the eyeshadow palettes at S$29.90, S$10 off their original price of S$39.90. :)