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.