20% off in Covent Garden this Thursday 2 December 2010

For those who are still getting on with your christmas shopping, pop over to Covent Garden where there is 20% off a number of shops and restaurants!

Click here for more details and to download your voucher!

L'egere Water Drop Shiny Pearl BB Cream

Another BB cream that I bought when I was in Taipei. The sales lady demonstrated the product and when she tapped the product on my hand, you can literally see the water droplets. Seems like a good one especially in winter.

 

(Images/Info from L'egere website)

 

 

This is an oil free formula with added moisturising properties to lock in the moisture in the skin. It doesn’t have SPF coverage though.

 

 

As shown in the website:

 

It provides the skin with a pearl like natural gloss. The fine pearl particles refract light, providing your face with more 3D facial feature.

 

Contains the following ingredients

• Trehalos – water locking, water maintenance and saturation. Allow the skin to always maintain a watery condition.
• Vitamin E – anti-oxidant
• Vitamin C – restrains the formation of pigments to obtain whitening purpose.
• Sea collagen – recovers skin elasticity and tightnes.
• Aloe – soothe uncomfortable feelings of the skin.
• Iron oxide – natural mineral powder to provide natural colouring 

 

This also comes in an easy to squeeze bottle and the texture is of watery liquid. It provides a light to medium coverage and blends well into the skin. When applying, if you use a bit of a tapping motion, you can see the water droplets appearing and forming a protective layer on the skin to provide moisture.

 

I really like this one for its moisturising properties and my skin stays supple. The pearl particles really helped to emit a glow from beneath the skin look which is an understated dewy look. Really makes it look like you have really dewy and fantastic looking skin.

 

It provides a medium coverage for me and is a good all in one product for me.

 

As it doesn’t contain any SPF, I only use this during autumn or winter where the UV index is on a constant 1 – 2.

 

 

Luv ~ Love the dewy and glow from beneath the skin finish, locks in the moisture and keeps skin supple, all in one primer, moisturiser and foundation 

Don’t luv ~ Doesn't have SPF but I don't mind.

Facial reinvented?

Sometimes I get really surprised at the advancement in technology. Saw this at Britain's Next Top Model Live. What is it??

L'EGERE SPF34 UV Whitening Blemish Balm Cream

Ever since BB cream pop into the market and became available to the mass market, it has become a popular favourite! Especially for people who are short on time or who loves to wear minimal makeup like me!

I like the fact that it combines a number of things into one, most notably a moisturizer, primer, foundation and sun screen protection.

  

On a recent trip to Taipei, I came back with quite a number of them as they are definitely cheaper over there. I bought a few from L’egere including this one.

(Images/Info from L'egere website)

Based on their website, it is touted to have the following properties:

• Arbutin which deeply penetrates into the bottom of the skin and stabilize free radicals and restrains the activity of the Tyrosinase enzyme. Effectively reducing skin pigments and whiten spots. I take it that this is the whitening bit.
• Gingko which resists free radicals, resists inflammatory and stabilizes the skin.
• Sodium Hyaluronate and Ceramide for moisturizing, anti wrinkling and regulates oil.
• Polymeric powder which reduces oil secretion and absorbs oil.
• Astaxanthin to prevent skin aging and increases the redness and glossiness of the skin.
• Aloe to sooth any uncomfortable skin feelings.
• It contains Titanium Oxide as the sunscreen ingredient. A check on the ingredients dictionary on Cosmeticscop.com, this is considered to be a non-irritant to skin and provides coverage for both UVA and UVB.

It is meant to perform as a day cream, protection cream, liquid foundation and decorative cream. Hide pores, pocks dark eye bags and other defects. It is also touted to be waterproof, and sweat-proof.

Having used another BB cream, I was looking forward to this one as it comes with SPF34. On lazy days, I can just use this one bottle instead of having to apply layer upon layer of moisturiser, primer, foundation and sunscreen.

The bottle is user friendly and it contents is easily squeezed out. The colour comes out a bit dark and once you have let it set on your face, it will acclimatised to a natural finish. It provides a light to light medium coverage. The texture itself is between medium to think density but applies quite easily.

It is quite easy to apply and my skin had no irritant feeling to it.

In terms of whether it is waterproof or sweat-proof, I did not test it out so can’t tell. It didn’t work for me when it comes to controlling oil especially from the T zone area. If I don’t dust some loose powder as a final finishing touch, my T zone actually became quite shiny after an hour or two and this is not even summer time. I also had to do touch ups throughout the day which I didn’t need to do with my previous BB cream.

 Luv ~ All in one primer, foundation and sunscreen. Creates a natural finish and has SPF34.

Don’t luv ~ Doesn't control oil sebum as touted.

 

Paul and Joe eye colour (#9 Ombre A Poppieres)

I went to the Paul and Joe counter looking for a replacement for an eye crayon that I bought there previously that I really like but it seems that they no longer sell that and the lady recommended me something else.

So I ended up getting the eye colour in ‘Ombre A Poppieres’. This is a pink based eye colour that is meant to be quite close to the previous one that I owned. I kept this for the longest time really before I finally opened it to start using.

The eye colour has a very fine pigment interspersed with a medium shimmer.

I wished I started using this earlier as I really love it. I use it as a base and the colour matches my skin really well to give a very natural matte finish and the shimmer is not too sparkly that it makes it unsuitable for day wear. I find that it gives my eye area a bright and refreshed look and definitely make you eyes stand out but in a natural way.

It has superb lasting power and even after the whole day, the colour has not faded and is still staying strong on my eye lids.

Luv ~ Great colour for a day look, makes the eye lid area bright and sparkly, lasts the whole day.

Don’t luv ~ Nothing.

Frizz Ease Overnight Serum by John Frieda

In my quest to look for a good serum, I had to make an emergency purchase when I forgot to bring my hair serum on an away trip. Left with limited time and choice, I picked up the Frizz Ease overnight serum by John Frieda.

 (Images/Info from John Frieda website)

How It Works

• This revolutionary bedtime solution is designed to transform all types of dry, damaged and frizzy hair into visibly healthier condition whilst you sleep
• Cocoons each strand of hair to make it dazzle with health after just one nights sleep
• Deeply nourishes hair so you wake up to dramatically improved hair texture with a silky, soft feel
• Infused with 3 ground breaking technologies to repair hair from the inside out to deliver stunning results


How To Use

APPLY TO DRY HAIR BEFORE BEDTIME. Dispense a 10p size coin amount of crème serum into palms, distribute evenly concentrating on dry, damaged ends and leave on overnight. Use more or less depending on hair length and thickness. For best results, use 2-3 times per month.



I find this product totally useless for me. It does emit a nice fragrance but in terms of transforming dry, damaged and frizzy hair, I did not see any difference in my hair. In fact it made it even worse the next morning. my hair was twice the volume!!

To only use this 2 – 3 times a month as per the instruction, I doubt it really does my hair anything. In fact, the Oil  essence by Sexy Girl and Pantene lightweight hair mist does a much better job of making my hair soft and smooth.

Luv ~ Nothing

Don’t Luv ~ It made my hair worse!

Victoria Secret Model, Go Liu Wen!

I happen to be browsing and was looking at the photos for the Victoria Secret Show 2010 and one angel caught my eye. It was an angel of Asian Chinese descent. I couldn’t believe it.

This Angel is knows as Liu Wen and I did some research (ie. Wikipedia)!

Liu Wen was born in Yongzhou, China and started catching the eye of the international fashion industry in 2007. She was only 19 at that time. She got onto the Victoria Secret Fashion Show in 2009.

It’s so great seeing an Asian making it!

Aqualight Lightweight Nourishing Mist by Pantene

I have long hair that can be dry and frizzy. I am always on the lookout for serums or hair mist that can help to tame it. While browsing Boots, I came across this which have good reviews on the website.

 (Images/Info from Pantene website)

This is advertised as:



“New Aqua Light Lightweight Nourishing Mist is designed to instantly nourish your hair with zero weight. Its clever dual phase formulation has an instant nourishing phase at the top and light detangling ingredients at the bottom. So just shake and spray the fine, delicate and lightweight mist on areas of hair that need nourishment. Use on damp or dry hair... no need to rinse!”

First impressions, I really like that this can be used on both damp and dry hair. It is really difficult to find similar products which can be used on dry hair. This product allows me to used it in the mornings or in between washes.

After finishing a bottle, I really like it and have to say I use it abundantly. It emits a very nice cool floral fragrance and it really helps to nourish and keep my hair smooth. This can even be used as a hair fragrance. This is a very good daily hair mist and it is definitely lightweight. It doesn’t weigh down your hair or make it feel greasy with product overload. Another plus is that it gives my hair an incredibly rich and lustrous shine.

Luv ~ Lightweight, love the fragrance. Works very well to smooth the hair ends. Can be used on both damp and dry hair.

Don’t luv ~ Wish it was a bigger bottle.

Hang Ten Jeans (endorsed by Coco Lee)

When I was in Taipei, I stopped by Hang Ten and found myself leaving with 3 pairs of jeans!

One thing I like about the sales people in Taiwan is that they are very friendly and helpful. Even when my limited Mandarin friend went shopping by herself, she still managed to buy stuff.

(Images from HangTen website)

I’ve always associated Hang Ten as a youthful vibrant brand that is akin to GAP or Baleno. Being a mass market brand, it is a place to look for basics and staples of simple cuts. Hence, if you’re looking for jeans that contained little secrets here and there, I wouldn’t expect any of the mass market brand to include that given the prices.

I was pleasantly surprised when I tried on a pair when I was at the Taipei store. There has been some clever tailoring involved because instantly, you have a perkier bum and slimming effect. As the shop was closing soon, my friend and I found a few other designs that we like and tried and bought in a jiff!

Months since and throwing out my old jeans, I have started to wear the ones from Hang Ten. Even with the different designs (one was a dark blue jeans colour and plain and another had glitter on bits and pieces), they all still give you perkier bums. No joke as I definitely would not even be in the running for best bum of the year! All those tiny designs here and there that I thought was just fashion actually have a purpose to help to accentuate your lower half!

Seriously, I am really impressed. It comes as no surprise that Coco Lee is the ambassador because she is renowned for her body and curves and seriously, these jeans can take you towards that path! Check out those photos!

I’ve tried on those from Uniqlo (not from Japan, as apparently the cuts are different), GAP, DKNY etc…and price and style and function-wise, I am most impressed by Hang Ten so far.

A lady can never have too many jeans, especially if they are the right ones. The next time that you are scouting for a new pair, why not pop into a Hang Ten store.

Lip gloss keychain from Burberry Beauty

I love charms and most friends can attest to my love for Swarovski charms. I quite like the Burberry beauty collection which is more about natural looking makeup to complete your look.

Check out their lip gloss keychain. It is a keychain with three check engraved cube charms with the last one opening to reveal a nude beige lip gloss. Fashion accessory + practicality combined into one. I heart!

Sleep the weight away

I came across this article on the web which caused me to pause and ponder. I can't remember where I read it but this is what it states:

"Women who sleep for five or fewer hours a night are 32 percent more likely to gain weight and 15 percent more likely to become obese than women who sleep for seven or more hours. That’s the finding from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland where researchers studied 68,183 women over a period of 16 years.

Why? It is believed that lack of sleep may slow metabolism or decrease the calories burned by spontaneous activities such as fidgeting. What better reason could there be to dive under that duvet this winter?"

I sometime barely get that 5 hours of sleep and although I know of the whole beauty hour sleeping time and how it affects our skin, it now affects our weight too! I say the more reason to sleep more...ZZzzzzzzz

24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil #Bourbon by Urban Decay

(Images/Info from Urban Decay website)

The lady at Sephora used this when applying the smoky eye on me and she and the eye pencil did such a good job that I just had to get it.

Advertised as:

"The best Eye Pencil ever, ever, ever! Never before has a pencil this creamy and brilliant been waterproof, too. Velvety-soft, this never-before-seen formula stays soft and creamy for blending (about 30 seconds), then dries down to a long-lasting finish that WILL NOT budge. Line eyes with a hint of color or go for the full artistic, multi-hued effect with the wide selection of lush tropical hues, deep metallics and unusually vibrant neutrals. Incredible with Urban Decay Eyeshadows!

Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil. "

The eyeliner gives a sort of creamy texture with a solid finish. The creaminess coming from the moisturing ingrredients. I didn't realised that it was waterproof until after I bought it. The colour that I bought is Bourbon which carries a teeny bit of gold sparkle in it.

This glides on really smoothly and is easy to use. It blends quite well and can be fixed quite easily for minor mistakes. It gives you that 30 seconds to blend and correct any mistakes. After the whole day, the colour does fade away. Maybe using an eyeshadow primer might help to minimise that. 

The eyeliner comes out in a medium to thick size, so if you’re trying to obtain a tiny line, this might not really work.


Luv ~ Glides on easily and blends well.

Don’t luv ~ Doesn't last the whole day.

Eye Crayon #2 Bouton De Nacre by Paul and Joe

  

(Images/Info from beautybay.com)

I really like this eye crayon from Paul and Joe and there are only two locations in London that has their counters as far as I know. I think that this eye crayon has been discontinued but it can still be bought online.

This eye crayon is advertised as:

This eye crayon glides on smoothly and gives eyes a soft-focus finish. Formulated from a base of lustrous macadamia nut oil then embedded into a lattice wax, Paul & Joe developed a creamy, glossy Eye Crayon with a velvety smooth texture. It spreads softly and gently over the eye lid and since the formula uses microscopic, sphere shaped powder particles, there's no gritty texture or discomfort.

I find it really easy to use and the #2 Bouton De Nacre complements my skintone really well. It is actually leaning towards a pink shade but when you put it on, it sort of disappears and blends into the eyelid to give that soft focus finish. Glides on smoothly with just a hint of sparkle more like a hightlight.

If you just use it in the middle part of the eyelid, it really brightens up the eyes. It looks really natural and lasts the whole day. I used it nearly everyday and after months, I have yet to finish it.

Luv ~ It has a rich velvety texture as advertised that glides on smoothly and lasts the whole day.
Don’t luv ~ It is discontinued.


Waterproof your eyelashes

This was something that just strike me the other day when I was putting on mascara. Although most mascaras do come out with their waterproof sister version. Sometimes I like to get the non waterproof version as it means that less effort and pressure is needed when it comes to removing time.

Sometimes one mascara doesn't achieve everything that you want and I just end up using different mascaras to get the effect I want.

So when I used a non waterproof mascara and still want my eyelashes to be waterproof, I will use a waterproof mascara as my final coat and Voila! Your eyelashes will be waterproof. I find that it works for me really well.

Does anyone else do this?

Volum' Express® Waterproof Mascara by Maybelline

 (Images/Info from Maybelline website)

For an Asian,  I am blessed with longer lashes than the norm (although not as long as falsies!) and I tend to look for volumising mascaras more than lengthening ones.

Seeing this in the drugstore,  I decided to give this a try as I've had good ones from Maybelline in the past.


This is what was advertised:

• This waterproof mascara delivers up to 3X the volume instantly for a dramatic lash look.
• Patented Anti-Clump Brush and volume-building express formula quickly thicken lashes without clumps or globs.
• Contact lens safe and hypoallergenic
• Waterproof; Also available in washable and curved brush

Directions:

Apply mascara from your outer lash to inner lash, sweeping brush slowly from root to tip. Do not let dry between coats.  

This mascara is available in 2 colours, black and brown. I bought the black version.
 
My initial take when I first used this. 

It has a fat brush with a thicker middle section and large bristles. It was quite easy to put on and doesn’t clump at all. Their patented anti-clump brush works!After using it numerous times, I never had a problem with clumping.

The effect is a really natural finish though, almost as if you have no mascara on. The volume is not on the extreme end, what it gives is a stronger definition on the lashes. I guess this is where their anti-clumping brush shines, because the amount of mascara that comes out is not thick, less chance of clumping.

A good option for days when you want to have minimal makeup or for those who want to look a la naturale!

I also discovered that if you continue to coat your lashes a few more times before the initial coat dries out, you do build up more volume.

Luv ~ A good option for those who prefer minimal/natural makeup. Easy to apply and the result is very natural looking lashes.

Don’t luv ~ For those who are looking for more volumising mascara, this is not the one.

Facial Treatment Cleanser by SKII

(Images/Info from SK-II website)

I got this when I was in Taipei as part of a promotion, it came as a free gift. Free gifts such as a full size cleanser from SKII is hard to come by and it was without hesitation that I bought it.

Having heard a lot about SKII especially their Pitera ingredient in the Facial Treatment Essence,  I wondered how the cleanser from the range would be.

According to the website :

Purifying Cream Cleanser. Cleanses. Purifies. Leaves the skin hydrated. A luxurious lathering cream containing moisturisers, soothing Wild Rose Extract and Pitera. Leaves skin feeling comfortably conditioned and smooth.


Usage:

Wet face then use water to foam cleanser into a generous lather. Softly massage onto face and neck. Rinse with water.

Squeezing the cleanser onto the palm, it has a medium density texture and with just enough foam to rub on smoothly onto the face. The fragrance is really light and you could hardly smell it. After washing it off, my skin felt really tight like it has been scrubbed clean, this might make it too strong a cleanser for people who have dry skin. Otherwise, could try using a lesser amount but that will reduce the effectiveness of the cleanser.

Using it to wash off makeup especially waterproof ones is not as good. There are still traces of makeup left, this is where using a make up cleanser beforehand will help.

This feels like a standard cleanser and it doesn’t beat the plethora of low to high range options available in the market.

Luv ~ Standard cleanser with minimal fragrance. Just using a small amount is sufficient. 

Don’t luv ~ Can be too drying. Might be better suited for oily skin or in the summer.

Post Delay

Apologies for the lack of post, can't access Blogger in China. Have to wait until I am out of the country.

Taipei 大豐收!!

大豐收!!!

Taipei is a shopping wonderland! This is what I have bought today, can't wait to start using and reviews will come soon.

Are you using the right colour correcting primer/make up base?

Was recently watching an episode on a Taiwan beauty program and the topic was on selecting the right colour primer.

Primers have only become popular in the past couple of years and the beauty industry has responded with more selections and variety. However, do you get confused when you see all the colours that are available? Green, blue, pink, purple, I sometimes get confused.

The lovely makeup artist Kevin posted up a board on his blog that he used in the show that splits out what colour you should use for the different types of problems that we might have.

Skintone                Primer colour

Fair to very fair ~ transparent or skin colour

Yellowish/dull ~ transparent + purple

Dark ~ skin colour

Unevenness ~ skin colour + purple

Redness/pimple scars ~ skin colour + green

Freckles ~ skin colour + transparent + blue

Dark and freckles ~ skin colour + blue

Or use this colour wheel, just pick the colour on the opposite side of the wheel to correct the colour you have.

Pantene Clinicare 时光修護系列

(Images/Info from Pantene Clinicare)

This series was a collaboration between Wella and Pantene. It is specially targeted at those who have dry hair and split ends. From what I know, once you have split ends, the hair shaft will not rebond back. You can only cut the split ends away and work at preventing future split ends.

Please click to expand

Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser by Neutrogena

I was in search of a new cleanser when I came across this mousse cleanser. Mousse based products is a recent invention in the past few years. Air is whipped through the content which results in it coming out as a mousse.

Benefits of mousse based skin products is that the product comes out in a light and airy foam which is touted to be more stable. The atoms/particles are much tinier which means that the benefits/purpose is more readily absorbed/function on the skin.

A mousse based cleanser is meant to leave the skin feeling not taut and dry, but moisturized, soft and smooth.

(Images/Info from Neutrogena)

Hydro Boost is a new range from Neutrogena and was developed to restore inner skin dryness. Neutrogena's new Hydro Boost series contains hyaluronic acid to help skin hold more water and olive oil to prevent moisture loss

Please click to expand

BodyLight Whitening Hydrating UV lotion by Garnier

This product came out in the market over a year ago and I bought it during its launch!

As I was going to be in tropical country where the UV rays are something to be concerned about, this seems to be the right product to use.

(Images/Info from www.garnier.com)

It comes in a 250ml bottle with a measuring tape attach which has skin tones in different shades for you to compare after using it for 4 weeks.

It promises to lighten and illuminate the skin complexion while giveing long lasting moisturizing efficiency. Its non-greasy milky lotion penetrates immediately, leaves skin soft, smooth and supple.

Please click to expand

Powdery finish

All ready to attend a big day out, a party or even just daily life and spend all the time and effort putting on make up and looking great! Somehow, do you sometimes find that putting on that final dusting of powder on your face or all those subsequent touch ups of powder makes your face end up looking very powdery thick/cakey?

I swapped from using sponges to using brushes but you can sometimes end up with the thick swat of powder that the brush initially picks up and it lands and stays on the part of the face where the brush first hits.

Rather than doing what the professionals do where they do a quick flick of the brush in the air to get rid of excess powder as I think that is a lot of wastage, I recently discovered a neat little trick with minimal wastage.

I bought myself a puff box that has a mesh in it separating the puff from the powder in the box. What I do is to pour some of the loose powder into the puff box. When you shake the box, the mesh will distribute some of it onto the puff. Taking out the puff and placing it so that the powder is at the top, I then use a brush to pick up the powder from the puff.

This process takes less than a minute and what it does is that the powder that gets picked up on the brush is much less and much more even.

Oil Essence by Sexy Girl

Ever since my hair went through perming, the hair structure has definitely weakened and I need to start using more intense products to get it back to being smooth and silky.

With winter being here in the harsh London weather, I definitely had to do something. I came upon this product and decided to give it a try.

(Images/Info from http://www.sexy-girl.jp)

According to the website, it contains 12 kinds of botanical oils which includes grapeseed oil, hazelnut oil and 5 essences for beautiful hair, the 3-in-1 (Repair, Moisture and Protect) hair product leaves your hair smooth and moisturized. It sounds almost too edible!


The fact that it is a leave in night treatment works even better. Hair being repaired while sleeping!

The essence is definitely oil and after rubbing it between my palm to heat it up a bit, I started applying it to my hair. It does have a nice floral fragrance that isn’t strong at all, very mild. As expected with oil essence, it leaves a nice shine and my hair has a rich texture look to it as it tames any frizzies.

I used this whenever my hair is going to be exposed to any harsh elements as the oil essence forms a coat/film around your hair to protect it. This is quite a good and inexpensive, I would definitely keep using it.

The pump allows you to control how much you use, I usually only need about 3-4 drops.

Luv ~ mild floral fragrance, hair feels silkier and smoother with a rich texture finish. Inexpensive as a bottle lasts quite a while.


Don’t Luv ~ Nothing

Essence Water by Asience

I’ve never been a fan of leave in treatments or sprays as they all tend to have an element of styling products which makes your hair a bit stiff and when you touch your hair, you can feel the product in your hair.

(Images/Info from http://www.kao.com/sg/asience)

For some reason which I can’t remember now, I bought this. Maybe it was due to the positive results I get from their shampoos and conditioners. To my surprise, this treatment spray does not produce any of my concerns. Instead, my hair still feels soft smooth and silky.

The website advertises it as a light leave-on formula that instantly tames and softens frizziness and flyaways, making hair more manageable.

Asience got the balance of the leave-on formula just right as I don't feel any residue of the product feel in my hair at all. My hair still feels soft to the touch and smooth. 

This has become a fixed product in my regime. I always use it to spray on my hair before I head out. I find that because the mist leaves my hair slightly damp, my curls become more pronounced and curls better.

I end up with a sweet floral scent emitting from my hair and a boost of protection before leaving the house.

I find that this works better than the milk wax I tried for curls or even straight hair.

Luv ~ Nice scent, helps me style and retain the curls in my hair, tames frizzies.

Don’t Luv ~ Nothing

Hair Cologne by Sexy Girl

One of my pet peeves is when you have washed your hair and then go out to get stuck in some restaurant/bar or place and your hair reeks of the cigarette/food smell right after.

I don’t know why no one thought of this sooner. Trust the Japanese to think of coming up with this! Hair cologne for the hair, that is something that is right up my alley.

When I was in RanKing RanQueen on my Tokyo trip, this was definitely in the top10!

(Images/Info from http://www.sexy-girl.jp)

I selected the cologne that smells of peaches.

According to the description on the bottle, it contains Vitamin E and Q10 and other caring ingredients. It moisturizes and nurtures hair, leaving it smooth and shiny. The treatment components protect your hair from harm and the fruity scent prevents your hair from odour and cigarette smoke.

You are meant to shake the bottle first and the spray onto your hair with a distance of 10-15 inches.

I really like this hair cologne. It definitely helps to get rid of any sweat/cigarette/food smell. I sprayed it on immediately when I get home. I can also feel the effects of the vitamin E and Q10 and other ingredients as it does leave my hair looking better. Good that this is not just a hair cologne but has some good stuff for the hair too.

The smell lasts the whole day as well. Sexy Girl has 3 different fragrances with one being a limited edition (Paradise Fruity, Innocent Floral and Shiny Peach).


Luv ~ Rids of smells and long lasting fragrance

Don’t Luv ~ Nothing

Milk wax by Sexy Girl

After having short hair (think right at the ears) for a few years, I have now grown it long. Long enough that the last time I went for a haircut, the hair stylist suggested giving it some curls rather than just long and straight.


Decided to give it a go, after all if it doesn’t look good, I guess the scissors will make its appearance sooner than expected. Have to say that the whole experience is another post altogether.

(Image/Info from http://www.sexy-girl.jp)

Anyhow, since my hair has curls now, I decided to give this milk wax by Sexy Girl a go. I have used other products from them before and got positive results. This milk wax is meant to create natural curly hair without any stiffness.

The milk wax comes in 55g tub. I guess that is enough for a month’s use on average. The wax is white and has a sticky texture. I have never used hair wax before so am not sure what to expected. It does emit a nice floral fragrance as expected from this brand.

After rubbing to heat it up between my palms, I applied it to where the curls are and twirl my hair for the curls to be more pronounced. My hair still feels a little stiff but not rock hard stiff where your hair doesn’t move at all or get spoiled in windy conditions. When you touch the hair, you can feel that some hair products has been used.

It doesn’t seem to really generate natural curls on its own, I’m not sure if you are meant to use a hair dyer with this. I probably wouldn’t get this again as it’s not giving me what I was seeking or it could be that I am not applying it correctly. It suggested to use it on semi-dry hair for best results but I haven’t done that.


Luv ~ Floral fragrance


Don’t Luv ~ leaves a slightly stiff and sticky residue, doesn’t quite create the natural curls as advertised.

Valentine's Day Collection by Swarovski

(Images/Info from http://www.swarovski.com)

I fell in love with Swarovski when I went to Innsbruck, Austria for a holiday and visited the museum. The museum has the largest retail store I have ever seen. Swarovski is known for the sparkle coming from their crystals that no other manufacturer is able to replicate.

With Valentine's Day arriving, they have created a collection just for this occasion. My favourite is the heart charm.

While browsing their website, I saw this other charm that I fell in love with as well. It's so cute!

Swarovski lovers and those who just want to get something nice for themselves or loved ones, please have a look at their Valentine's Day Collection.

Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex by Estee Lauder

(Images/Info from http://www.esteelauder.com/)

This is not the latest advanced night repair product that launched in the market last year but an older sibling. I bought this when shopping at Bicester Village. As this has now been replaced by the new version, you can get stock where available for this cheaper.

According to the website, it claims to be:

"Based on solid, scientific findings and over 2 decades of proven success, this is the one formula your skin shouldn't live without. Helps visibly repair the appearance of past damage and protect your skin's future. Heightens your skin's natural repair response—critical for its well-being. Soothes daily irritation and builds a rich reserve of anti-oxidants and lipids to help replenish skin's natural protectants."

The serum itself has a thick consistency and a slight sticky texture. When applying on the skin, it absorbs quite easily and does not emit any overwhelming fragrance. I find after using it that my skin appears more radiant and it does minimise problems wherever you have (dark eyes due to late nights, pimples due to stress) overnight. I used it in replacement of a daytime moisturiser as London weather can be quite cruel. It allows my makeup to slide on easily.

Overall, I am quite impressed with the product and now that it is cheaper, it is worth getting. I know that the new Advanced Night Repair has even more anti-oxidants loaded into with the addition of 3 new ingredients. As I get positive results with this one, I definitely think the new version will be even better. I have since used up this bottle and bought the new version. Review will come up soon.

Luv ~ Easy to use dispenser, minimal fragrance, asborbs easily, soothes minor daily irritations quickly

Don't Luv ~ $$$

Tweezerman

I've always heard/seen rave reviews about the tweezers from Tweezerman. However, I wondered how great or different can it be from other tweezers. The price isn't cheap either and that put me off buying it.

I chanced upon it again when I was in a Sephora store in the US and decided to give it a try.

(Images/Info from www.tweezerman.com)

I bought a nice pink one. This was advertised as

The perfectly aligned, hand-filed tips are slanted to grab every hair, every time with the smoothest, true precision. In classic stainless steel or stainless steel with enamel color finishes.

The end which is where it picks up the stray hairs is quite sharp and made of stainless steel. The stainless steel end has a cover to protect it when not in use. Holding the tweezer, I find that it is easy to grip in the hands and doesn't require a lot of effort.

 

The tweezer end that touches the skin can feel a little coarse/rough but I was simply amazed at how precise and easy it was to pick up any stray hair. Its precision is its drawpoint. I couldn't believe it!

Now I know what a good tweezer is, I love my tweezerman.

 

Some tips from Tweezerman,

 

To ease tweezing, take a hot shower or use a warm washcloth to open pores. Tweeze in the direction of hair growth to avoid breakage. To close pores post tweezing, use cold water or astringent and try our After Tweeze™ Soothing Cream — it helps counteract redness and irritation while moisturizing and soothing tender brow areas.

 
 
Luv ~ Amazing precision, easy grip and comes with free sharpening guarantee.
 
Don't Luv ~ Nothing

Leg Slim Half Sole Slippers

First read about it in Pace Wu’s “All about a girl” book.

After a bit of surfing, this was what I found on the web.


"You just slip this on while you are walking, standing or doing household chores. It exercises the leg muscles and helps to break down excess fats of the leg. Burns more calories while walking/standing and just use them 3x a day for 15 minutes and you will see results."

Found it in RanKing RanQueen Shibuya and it had the No. 1 ranking. Couldn’t wait to try them when I got home from my holiday.

It was easy to slip on and the bottom of the slippers wasn’t one of those with slippery soles. Very comfortable to wear and I could feel my calves being stretched as I wore them and walk around the house. Not sure if it helps to lose weight but I am sure that more energy is required as you are walking around on an uneven surface with them on. I like the fact that my calves are stretched.

Modern Friction by Origins

I haven't use an exfoliating scrub in years, I rely on my Paula's Choice BHA which provides a daily gentle exfoliation.

I received this product as a christmas present from a dear friend of mine and know that this is a bestseller for Origins and have won quite a few reader awards.

On the Origins website, this is described as more of a buffing paste than a scrub. It had the following description:

Skin-refining Rice Starch, cushioned in cream, rapidly removes sluggish cells, uneven patches and signs of skin damage and discolourations. Lemon Oil kick starts the process of illumination. Vitamin C mops up skin-menacing free radicals. All while Aloe keeps skin calm and comfy. There's no ouch, extra steps or other complications. No redness or flaking follows. The before-and-afters are amazing. Signs of lines and size of pores appear to shrink. Skin looks perfectly polished, smooth and luminous. And the perk-me-up aromas of Bergamot and Peppermint help you look on the bright side.

My first impression when I open the jar was the creaminess of the scrub and the rice starch being really fine. This was good as a scrub need to have really tiny particles so that it isn't too harsh on the skin.

After using it, I think it is a good product. The creaminess was really like a paste and allows you to massage the rice starch beads into the skin without hurting it. I find my skin looking a lot smoother and luminous.

Yummy stuff for the skin.

Luv ~ Very creamy so that it can be massaged into the skin gently causing less harm to the skin. The rice starch was really tiny beads giving a gentle exfoliation and lemon oil helps to brighten the skin up.

Don't Luv ~ No

Olay Quench Body Lotion Active Hydration with Green Tea & Vitamin Complex

(Images/info from www.olay.com)

I bought this when I was in the US. I love green tea and when I saw that this has it, I decided to give it a try.

According to the Olay website:

Quench, with Green Tea and Vitamin Complex, is advanced body care. This quickly absorbing, non-greasy formula can actually prevent dryness while leaving skin with a sheer, fresh feel.

First, Quench provides an immediate burst of moisture that continues for 24 hours. Then, drawn deep into the skin's surface, it repairs and nourishes the moisture barrier, strengthening skin's resilience against everyday drying conditions.

The result? Fast-absorbing moisturization that breaks the cycle of dry skin, for quenched beautiful skin everyday.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. I just love the smell of green tea and it isn't overly strong or powerful. I can't take lotions that have a powerful fragrance.

The lotion had a good texture, not too thick that it takes forever for it to be absorbed but not too thin that you are not getting the hydrating benefits. I like that it is not greasy and the lotion absorbs easily. After using about half the bottle, I noticed that my skin has become a lot more hydrated compared to the previous body lotion that I used. This body lotion strikes the right balance in giving the hydration versus greasiness. I think that this is more suitable for those with normal skin. Those with dry skin might not find this hydrating enough.

Something else that I noticed was the slight shimmer that the lotion imparts on your skin. It is quite subtle and gives a very sheer luminent glow. Nice!

Luv ~ green tea fragrance (not overpowering), good hydration and moisture, the sheer shimmer, and non-greasy.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing