About Florasis

Florasis makes colour cosmetics in an East Asian design tradition, with carved and engraved casings that are as much of the product as the makeup inside them.

The packaging is part of the point

Engraved lipstick bullets, palettes with relief carving, powders in decorated cases — the physical object is designed to be kept and looked at, which is unusual in a category where most casings are disposable. Behind that sit the ordinary makeup categories: lipsticks and lip care, eyeshadow palettes, liners, brow pencils and mascara, foundations, loose powders, primers, highlighters and blushes, plus a small skincare line. Formulas lean on botanical extracts, which is where the name comes from.

Matching a shade without seeing it

Buying base makeup online is the hardest thing in this category, because a screen shows you a colour that no two devices agree on. Work from your undertone rather than from the swatch photograph: look at the veins on your inner wrist and whether silver or gold jewellery suits you better. Compare the shade against a brand you already own rather than against the model's face. Where a shade range is broad, the middle of it is rarely the safe choice — most people are lighter or deeper than they assume, and a shade slightly too light shows less than one too dark.

Patch testing and what to do with a reaction

Test anything new on the inner forearm for a couple of days before putting it near your eyes or lips, and note that a long list of plant extracts raises the chance of a contact reaction rather than lowering it. Lip products are swallowed in small amounts over the day, so it is worth reading the ingredients if you have known sensitivities. If something stings, itches or leaves redness, take it off and stop using it — the discomfort is not the product working.

How long makeup should stay in the drawer

The number in the little open-jar symbol is months after opening, not shelf life from manufacture, and it is the one to go by. Mascara is the strictest at around three months because the wand carries bacteria back into a damp tube; powders last longest; anything that smells different or has changed texture goes out regardless of the date. Wash brushes and sponges properly, never share eye or lip products, and keep everything away from a sunny windowsill.