Diamonds n Duds Discoveries Along The Way

20% off in Covent Garden this Thursday 2 December 2010

2010-11-30T15:14:00.001Z

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

2010-11-26T02:38:00.001Z

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?

2010-11-25T22:32:00.000Z

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

2010-11-23T02:26:00.002Z

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)

2010-11-20T01:43:00.002Z

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

2010-11-16T23:45:00.004Z

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!

2010-11-12T23:36:00.000Z

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

2010-11-12T23:21:00.009Z

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)

2010-11-12T14:17:00.001Z

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

2010-11-11T13:36:00.000Z

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

2010-11-08T12:55:00.002Z

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

2010-11-05T16:16:00.000Z

(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

2010-11-01T23:36:00.000Z

(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

2010-10-28T23:23:00.003+01:00

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

2010-10-24T11:04:00.001+01:00

(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

2010-10-21T22:41:00.003+01:00

(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

2010-04-10T11:46:00.001+01:00

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!!

2010-04-03T18:01:00.001+01:00

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?

2010-03-26T06:21:00.013Z

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

2010-03-22T08:52:00.002Z

(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

I bought the Pantene one wash treatment that is meant for permed hair (purple range). According to Pantene Clinicare, the one wash treatment contains three main ingredients:

Vitamin E
Ingredients that imitates the function of stimulating hair regeneration
Positive ions that is charges into the system

One Wash Treatment repairs the surface of damaged hair, creates a barrier to help with the regeneration process. Restores moisture and shine. Packaging designed to protect the contents to give your hair the best hair reparation possible.

Usage:

Place contents onto the palms of your hand

Start with the hair ends and massage the treatment in.

Massage the treatment in for 5 minutes (you can also use a hot towel wrap to increase the absorption)

The one wash treatment comes in a twist tube package which makes it really easy to open. I used the entire tube on my hair as it is rather long and left it for about 10 minutes. The current state of my hair has become really dry due to the harsh cold wind and weather. What I noticed after using this, hair became a lot shiner and glossy. Hair is way smoother especially the ends, I can really feel the difference especially when I slide the rubber band on and off my hair when tying and untying it.

I still prefer the Opal Hair Oil Treatment but this 15g size is very convenient for carrying around when travelling. Compared to other hair treatments available, this will be my alternative choice.

Luv ~ Easy twist off tube design, convenient 15g sizes, hair is smoother and silkier (especially the ends).

Don’t luv ~ Not available in all countries.

Hydro Boost Mousse Cleanser by Neutrogena

2010-03-16T11:56:00.009Z

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

The cleanser comes in a simple and clean looking 150ml blue bottle. No spillage even though it travels in my luggage to a lot of places.

I tend to give the bottle a few shakes before using the pump to release the cleanser. The cleanser comes out really light and airy. You don’t need a lot to be able to cover the whole face. I tend to massage it for at least a minute to allow the cleanser to do its work before washing it off. Do have to watch out that you don't rub any foam along your nose air passage as it does block the air flow!

The smell is not strong (reminds me of the ocean breeze) but can be a tad overpowering for those who are sensitive. My skin feels clean and smooth and the mousse cleanser seems to have done its job

Luv ~ Love the mousse concept, good size bottle, does a good job of cleansing but skin does not feel dry.

Don't Luv ~ Careful not to get any foam blocking your nose air passage while cleansing

BodyLight Whitening Hydrating UV lotion by Garnier

2010-03-10T14:32:00.001Z

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

How it works?

Pure lemon essence - contains AHA known to have exfoliating properties to illuminate skin.
Mulberry extract to help regulate the melanin production.

Opened the bottle and pour some of the lotion to use, it gives out a citrusy scent which is quite zesty if that is your thing. The texture is quite light, like body milk which suits me just fine as I don’t like the skin feeling greasy after applying.

After using up half the bottle, I won’t say that my skin tone has lightened significantly. However, skin tone has become more even and luminous. It also provides sufficient moisture for normal skin.

For whitening purpose, as long as you are not expecting a miracle (I would be quite suspicious of any body product that significantly whitens your skin as the ingredients used might not be too safe!), this can be something to consider.

Luv ~ Non greasy, skin becomes more even-tone and luminous. Inexpensive

Don't Luv ~ Scent might not agree with everyone

Powdery finish

2010-03-03T02:22:00.000Z

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

2010-02-24T13:00:00.002Z

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

2010-02-18T13:12:00.027Z

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

2010-02-12T00:50:00.005Z

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

2010-02-07T12:34:00.002Z

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

2010-02-03T22:41:00.002Z

(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

2010-02-02T11:11:00.002Z

(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

2010-01-29T01:10:00.002Z

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

2010-01-23T17:36:00.000Z

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

2010-01-17T00:32:00.001Z

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

2010-01-13T19:00:00.001Z

(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

London Fashion Weekend - Feb 2010

2010-01-07T03:05:00.000Z

I missed out on the London Fashion Weekend in September 2009 but new dates have been announced and tickets are now on sale for Feb 2010!

(Images/Info from London Fashion Weekend website)

Location is Somerset House.
Click here for more info and tickets.

Are you using the right hair dryer?

2009-12-18T13:48:00.000Z

For those who have frizzy hair (including me), trying to tame it especially in humid weather can be really frustrating.

You get your hair blow dried at the hair salon and it always comes out smooth and fantastic looking, but try to replicate that at home and it doesn’t somehow quite work.

I later found out that the hair dryer that you use is very important to achieve straight hair. To blow-dry your hair straight, especially those with frizzy hair, you need to use a hairdryer that is at least 1875 watts and above. Anything less than that and your hair will not give you that look. So those provided in hotels are a no-no!

The other feature to look out for in a hair dryer is its weight. Please try and test out the hair dryers to see if you will be comfortable holding it in one hand for 10 – 15 minutes. The last thing you want is your hand tiring out before you finish the job.

There are some good ones out there, mine is from Vidal Sassoon and works like a charm.

Don’t forget to use a heat protecting serum and a good brush too!

Hair Magic Sheet by Dariya 便利神奇发贴

2009-12-07T10:35:00.001Z

I first saw this last year on 女人我最大 and thought that this nifty little tool is ingenious.

It basically works for like headband when you need to pull you hair away from your face whether it is for washing your face or applying makeup. The best bit is that it doesn’t leave any marks on your hair that clips and headbands does.

When I saw it in a cosmetics store, I bought it without hesitation as it is quite cheap. Does it work? A resounding yes! It grips onto the hair and you can pull it away from you face in the direction that you want it. Even taking it out after an hour, I find that it doesn’t leave any marks on the hair. Depending on your hair volume/hairstyle, you’ll need to tailor how many pieces you will need to use.

The other day, I couldn’t find my elastic band to tie my hair and decided to try sticking these sheets like a circle to see if it can keep it in place. To my surprise, it works as well. As I only needed it to ensure that my hair doesn’t fall to my face as I was trying to wash my face, it did the trick.

The one that I bought is from Dariya and it comes in a variety of colours (pink, blue, black…).

Please make sure you get the right one (shown in pictures above) as there are others out there which my friends have bought and they are not as effective.

Luv ~ Variety of cute colours, simple and small enough to carry around and for travelling, hair remains mark free.

Don’t Luv ~ Nothing

Brightening eye drops

2009-12-03T10:40:00.008Z

Been sleeping late and working hard lately and decided that having some eye drops would be handy.
Browsed through the eye drops section in Boots and noticed something that I didn’t see before. They now have Brightening and Whitening eye drops available.

I am a little sceptical about this as I think as long as you use eye drops that are soothing, that should minimise and soothe the redness in the eyes.

I have heard about these eye drop products in Japan before but have not had a chance to get those from Japan.

Was a little surprised to see that similar versions are now available in the UK and can be easily bought in Boots. Decided to give this a try.

The package says

“Our eyes can be left feeling sore, tired and uncomfortable by the drying environments in which we live and work. These soothing and protecting eye drops work by creating a cushion of moisture to keep your eyes cool and comfortable.”

· Brightening and soothing, Boots Brightening Eye Drops

· Restores eyes' natural bright sparkle

· Contains soothing witch hazel plant

The drops felt a little different to the other normal eye drops that I have used before. It definitely soothes my tired eyes and strangely enough, my eyes do have a clearer sparkle that other eye drops does not give. I guess that is where the brightening bit comes in. It definitely goes with the Chinese saying of having eyes that are 黑白分明。

As the eyes are the windows to our soul, it definitely helps to keep them in tip top shape. If you’re out looking for some eye drops, why not give this a try. Having bright white sparkling eyes definitely ups the beauty factor!

Luv ~ Extra benefits of clearer and brighter eyes

Don't Luv ~ Wish they come in disposable single dosage.

Foot Petals specials

2009-11-24T22:23:00.001Z

For those shoes fashionistas, I previously blog about fabulous shoe accessories from Foot Petals.

They currently have a special where you get 25% discount and free shipping valid until the end of the month.
Check out the advert below. Happy shopping!

Boxing Day Shopping

2009-11-23T21:50:00.000Z

For those who are gearing up for some Boxing Day shopping. A little early christmas pressie to bring along!

Black Tie Violets Holiday 2009 Collection by Clinique

2009-11-18T15:37:00.003Z

(Images/info from www.clinique.co.uk)

The Black Tie Violets Holiday 2009 Collection is now available in all Clinique stores.
A collection of soft shimmering shades from plums to lilacs.
Purples and violets has been the rage for the past year and seem to still be continuing strong.

This collection has the following in various hues of violet

Brush-On Cream Liner
Powder Brush
Lipsticks & lipliner
Mascara

The ones that caught my eyes from this collection are the

Shimmering Stripes Powder Blusher

This limited edition compact features four complementary shades of pearly, luminous blush in rich, plum shades. Pressed together in a beautiful striped pattern, these sheer powders deliver a soft, radiant allover glow. The silvery jewel-like packaging makes this the perfect party accessory.

Colour Surge Eyeshadow Quad

A gorgeous grouping of four coordinating shimmery eye shadows creates looks ranging from subtle and soft to sexy and sophisticated. These intense shades build quickly and blend easily offering effortless sheen and luminosity. Perfect for festive glamour. The sleek, modern, mirrored silvery compact adds glimmer to any party.

The brush-on cream liner in from this collection seems to be a hot favourite and is already sold out. It is a creamy liner that fast drying, non smudging and waterproof. Comes with a mini-eyeliner brush.

BB Cream Miniature set by Skin79

2009-11-16T15:38:00.002Z

I have heard rave reviews with this particular brand of BB cream. BB cream are the new rage at the moment which has been picking up momentum. The advancement made in the field of BB cream has been amazing and a lot now incorporates several products into 1 (moisturiser, sunscreen, foundation...).

I was browsing the internet when I came upon this. Cosme-de and YesStyle are selling a miniature version set of some of Skin79 BB creams. This is worth trying to see which one you like before buying a full size product.

A bit of details on the miniature BB creams (obtained from Cosme-de website).

VIP Gold Collection

3 effects functional BB balm. Abundant nutrition of Gold and Caviar extract cares skin intensively to make shiny, healthy skin.

Super+ BB Balm Triple Functions

It is 3 effects functional BB balm. By Adenosine and Arbutin ingredients which are effective in whitening, wrinkles improvement cultivate more bright and elastic skin. Intercept ultraviolet rays UV A and B at the same time and protect your skin exposed from the sun more thoroughly. OSMOPUR ingredient of new concept which are mixed sunflower, rice bran, ivy extracts protect skin from various harmful conditions. Phyto Complex ingredient which is good for skin moisturizing and soothing makes your skin always moist and healthy.

Diamond Collection Pearl Luminous BB Balm

It is a trendy pearl BB cream which has a light, moist use feeling and quite brilliant pearl to make a bright revitalizing skin. The built-in brush enhances adhesion, making the skin more clean and glowing through thin and even application

The Oriental Gold BB Cream SPF 25 PA++

Provides with excellent serum control. Recommended for Combination to Dry skin. Better moisturizer function, anti-wrinkle, whitening. Triple function - Whitening, Wrinkle improvement and UV Protection (Sun block) SPF 25 PA++. Excellent coverage that events out skin tone naturally.

The only difference between the pink and black set is the pink set has the oriental gold BB cream and the black set has the Diamond Prestige BB Cream.

The Skin79 website is now selling 8 products from their new Diamond Collection and throwing in a BB cream miniature set for 69,000 won. That is about USD77.

Looking forward to trying this when the winter season is over.

Supermoisture Makeup by Clinique

2009-11-15T23:33:00.003Z

Having normal to combination skin, using a foundation that is meant for dry skin is probably the last choice that I will make in terms of a foundation purchase.

However, since moving to London, the cold and dry winter definitely takes it toll on the skin and I noticed myself starting to get signs of skin flaking and dryness. Sign to switch foundation. Chanced upon a cosmetic factory outlet and they had the supermoisture makeup on sale. That was how I ended up buying this to combat the dry winter.

The supermoisture makeup foundation is advertised as

"Ultra-creamy yet refreshingly lightweight formula goes beyond flaw-fixing, acting as skin's undercover moisture agent for a dewy look. Disguises unevenness with sheer-to-moderate coverage. Instantly puts drier skins at ease. Skin looks soft and radiant all day."

(www.clinique.co.uk)

What I noticed when I started using this is that only a small amount is required for the entire face and neck area, I find myself using about the size of a pea. It is very creamy and slides easily on the skin for an easy application. It blends smoothly and sets to give quite a natural and dewy glow. I find that it contains really tiny shimmers/pearls that you can only see under certain lighting but which is very subtle. That is how it is able to give the skin a radiant glow with the creaminess of the foundation giving a dewy look.

It doesn't feel thick on the skin at all even after a full day at the office. Only minor touch ups with powder is required on the T zone during the day while I didn't even need to do that in much severe winter weather in other European countries.

The foundation definitely provided a shield against the harsh winter and my skin remain supple and moisturised. I also did not get any break outs from using this and did not detect any fragrance.

Quite value for money considering that I only finished half a bottle for the entire winter season.

Luv ~ Frangrance free, very moisturising and depicts a radiant glow. No break outs. One bottle lasts a long time.

Don't Luv ~ No SPF, will not use this for the summer for normal to oily combination skin type.

Asience Shine Therapy Range by Kao

2009-11-15T22:53:00.006Z

(www.kao.com)

Moving on from my previous post on the haircare products by Asience. A new range was added in November 2008 which is ‘Shine Therapy’.

According to their website

“Shine Therapy, is formulated specially to reverse the internal damages caused by harsh chemicals used in rebonding, colouring and perming. Combining its higher concentration of repairing essence Pearl & Soybean in its trademark Asian Beauty Essence and its patented penetrative technology, the holes of lost proteins are instantly filled up. The result? Hair becomes stronger, smoother with a healthy shine.”

The Shine Therapy range contains

· +50%* more Pearl and Soybean essence (Repair)

· Korean Ginseng and Camellia Oil essence (Moisturize)

· Eucalyptus (Protect) * Compared to Deep Nourish Range

Basically what this means to me is that this is even better for those with really damaged hair or hair that have gone through chemical treatments like colouring, straightening and perming among others.

I definitely fall into this category, coupled with my hair being dry by nature. I decided to try this new range.

After my first wash, I immediately felt a difference with my hair. It was a lot smoother, shinier and silkier. Running fingers through my hair was like touching silk. My hair runs easily through my fingers and I couldn’t believe the shine. I can't rave enough about Shine Therapy and this new range completely change the results that I get from using a shampoo/conditioner for my hair.

I am addicted to this new range. It is definitely more superior to the other ranges and other brands available if you have chemically damaged hair.

I have to mention the fragrance as well. It exudes a floral scent and seems to be well liked as I have receive some positive comments.

LUV ~ Geat value. Hair is really shiny and well moisturised.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing

Facelift!

2009-09-26T10:11:00.003+01:00

Diamond n Dud has just gotten a new facelift! This is just the beginning, more posts and more reviews.

Please let me know what you think of the new facelift.

Vital Solutions BB Cream by Coreana

2009-09-23T11:07:00.013+01:00

When the first generation of BB cream first became a hit in the market, I have to admit that I wasn’t too interested in trying it. I noticed in the vids on you tube that the BB cream came out looking a little whitish and not as natural looking as I was hoping.

Many months later, I got a tube of BB cream from Coreana as a gift and after sitting in my shelf for ages, I finally decided to give it a go.

Finding out what I could about this BB cream, this was what I could find:

It has natural extract that keeps skin dewy & refreshed in summer.
Double function (whitening & UV block) helps express natural look even in summer.
All in one type BB cream is easy to use for customers.

Was told by my kind gift-giver that only a little is required. Sticking to that rule, I applied a sheer amount in replacement of my foundation. I have to say that I was quite pleasantly surprised.

The liquid spreads easily and only requires a short amount of time for it to set in. My skin looks a lot smoother and has a healthy glow to it. It helped to reduce shine in my T zone area throughout the day and only required 1 – 2 touch-ups.

After work, I looked at my skin again and it has successfully lasted the whole day. Very natural looking and even at the end of the day, I don’t feel like I have something caked on my skin.

This is good for those who don’t want like to have makeup on or those time scarce moments when you don’t have time to put on any makeup.

Something else that I noticed with the BB cream is that there is an indicator on the side of the tube so that you know how much you have left. Nice little touch!

For more information, click here

Luv ~ Natural looking, breathable and light, lasts the whole day and only minimal amount is required.

Don't Luv ~ Wish it came with SPF protection

PS. I find that this is not moisturising enough for the harsh winter in London.

Face shading

2009-04-20T13:48:00.002+01:00

I went for a photo shoot with some friends as a fun day out and there was a make up artist there to help us out. She actually did some face contouring for some of us and I have to say that she was good.

That sparked my interest to know more about the whole face contouring/face shading.

Being Asian, it’s nice to make your nose sharper sometimes when the occasion calls for it. Face shading is all about using a darker tone to shade and a lighter tone to highlight.
This website is quite comprehensive and explains the basics. It recommends using liquid although I am more inclined to use powder like what the Sephora lady told me.

It also explains some of the more advanced techniques that you can use to such as to camouflage a double chin, deepen cheekbone structure, widen a jaw line, narrow a broad nose among others.

I’ve tried some contouring powders that will be reviewed soon. I think I need to practice practice practice.I still have my eye on the Make Up Forever Sculpting Kit, which has been getting good reviews. That is going on my wish list!

Any tips from makeup savvy beauties out there?

My Lists

2008-10-03T01:28:00.001+01:00

Diamonds Top 10 List

1. Paula Begoun
2. AHA & BHA by Paula Choice
3. Real Lasting Eyeliner by K-Palette
4. Opal Hair Oil Treatment

Duds Top 10 List

1. Palmer's Cocoa Butter Body Smoothing Leg Gloss
2. The Body Shop Plastic Foot File

My Wish List

1. MakeUp Forever Sculpting Kit

Little bumps on the back of the arms

2008-07-11T13:46:00.005+01:00

Do you have these tiny little bumps along your upper arms? No matter how much you exfoliate, it doesn’t want to go away and just looks unsightly. Is that the end of wearing sleeveless?

What are these tiny little bumps? That was the question burning in my head for a while. I finally managed to find out what it is.

“Keratosis Pilaris (KP) is a common skin disorder, typified by “chicken skin” bumps on upper arms, thighs, torso, buttocks and occasionally the cheeks. Excess skin forms around individual hair follicles, creating the characteristic minute, rough, grater-like bumps. Keratosis Pilaris affects almost 50% of the world’s population and is particularly likely to affect anyone prone to eczema, asthma or hay fever”. (http://www.keratosis-pilaris.com/)

“Keratosis pilaris tends to be more severe during the winter months but no one is sure why that is the case and it definitely isn't consistent for everyone. Basically, the bumpy rough spots are clogged pores that sometimes get red and irritated but rarely itch. Regrettably there is no available cure or universally effective treatment, though it is generally well accepted that unclogging pores and reducing inflammation can improve matters greatly (Source: eMedicine Journal, July 2, 2001, Volume 2, Number 7).”

It seems that pure exfoliation alone doesn’t help (as I’ve tried) and that it NEVER goes away! Once you get it, you have to be prepared to treat it constantly. Sigh!

Based on the website and others, they recommend using a product which have AHA in it. So, I turned to my favourite AHA product. It definitely helped. The bumps are less obvious and don’t look inflamed. Even though the AHA helped to improve the appearance of it, it was still pretty obvious close up.

Frustration again! Until I read an article by Paula Begoun where she mentioned about this. What she said made sense, “Lactic acid (a very effective form of alpha hydroxy acid) can help exfoliate skin cells, but lactic acid isn't effective for dissolving lipids, so it can't penetrate into the pore and exfoliate the lining of the pore that is a major cause of the problem.”

She recommended using a product which salicylic acid in it that has a low enough pH for exfoliation to be effective. I followed her recommendation and YES!

Using both the AHA and BHA product alternatively, those bumps have reduced so much that it can hardly be seen. However, you need to keep doing this regularly or the condition just comes back (can’t be lazy here!).

This was what I tried and experimented with and now works for me.

So, if you have Keratosis Pilaris as well, why not give this a go?

Shower Gels by The Body Shop

2008-06-08T14:17:00.006+01:00

Recently, I started trying a few of the shower gels from The Body Shop. In small pocket sizes, handy to bring it when you're traveling or going to the gym.

Strong wave of the Brazil nut smell. The lather is sufficient and is much creamier and a lot more moisturising that the others.

I am not a huge fan of this. But if you like the smell of mango, this can be a good option.

The smell of cocoa butter is quite soothing but it isn't as creamy as the Brazil nut version.

The strawberry smell is really powerful.

Overall, I think that there are better shower gels out there. It felt more like I was washing myself with the perfume rather than the actual cleansing agents.

Luv ~ If you like strong fruity smells from your shower gel.

Don't Luv ~ Doesn't feel that it cleans well.

Full spectrum Wipes SPF15 by Dermalogica

2008-05-25T14:00:00.002+01:00

I was in a beauty salon when I noticed this. Dermalogica has come up with sunscreen wipes.

Further information on their website says that a pack (contains 15) have individual towelettes and can cover hard to reach areas without worrying about spills or mess.

It contains sunscreen ingredients that protects against UVA, UVB and infra-red rays. However, the website doesn't detail what sunscreen ingredient is used. I'm not sure if SPF15 is sufficient enough either in the summer. Winter would be sufficient when the UV alert is low.

Dermalogica has also included anti-oxidant properties from botanical extracts. There is grape seed, green tea, vitamin A, C and E. To calm and soothe the skin, there is balm mint and coneflower.

It contains no artificial fragrance or colour.

I think that the wipes are good to carry around for those occasions where you need to touch up or reapply or just plain forgotten to put on sunscreen. I probably wouldn't substitute it with my regular tub of sunscreen.

Hot & Cold shower

2008-05-25T13:38:00.005+01:00

Do you feel sluggish or need to give your body circulation a boost?

I've been reading on water therapy and there has been many research and books on this.

Just before you head out of the shower, switch for 2 minutes or so to the hottest water you can stand (please make sure that it's a comfortable tolerance), which draws the blood to the surface, and then switch to the coldest water you can stand for 30 seconds to a minute, which will force the blood back into the internal organs. This is supposed to be done for at least three cycles(hot and cold) before ending the shower with cold water.

This helps to boost your body circulation, especially if you don't do regular exercise. Every little bit helps to minimise orange peel looking skin and dullness, I say.

Note that Woman on their menstrual cycle and pregnant women should skip this treatment. And anyone should stop the treatment if you become dizzy or start shivering uncontrollably.

Getting the most from your mask

2008-05-18T11:25:00.001+01:00

I was reading a recent interview by Da S in a magazine where she talked about her beauty regimen and gave some beauty related tips.

One of the things that she said was that she uses a mask everyday and you need to do it to get maximum benefits.

I've heard before that you shouldn't use a mask everyday as you need to let your skin's natural renewal system to accommodate.

However, I decided to give it a try and started doing this with my Neutrogena Fine Fairness mask. I wasn't getting as a good a result as I was hoping when I used it the first time.

To my surprise, my skin gets better and better with each day of us. I think it really help as well as the last few days was really windy and cold and the masks prevented my skin from peeling.

I think it's fine to use a mask everyday when weather conditions are really harsh and is creating havoc on your skin. That is when you need something more potent to restore your skin's condition.

Or else, I would use masks which have lesser percentage of ingredients (i.e. a mild mask) for other times when you still want to use a mask everyday. Kose sells masks that are meant for everyday use.

For me, I'm happy to use my whitening mask every 2 days in a row and rest for the next 2 days. It works for me and my skin condition really improves tremendously.

Fine Fairness Mask by Neutrogena

2008-05-18T10:56:00.002+01:00

Winter is one of the best time to super charge your whitening regimen and I started using my whitening mask. Having heard good reviews on this product, I bought quite a number of this when it went on sale.

According to Neutrogena,

"This is an intensive facial treatment mask that effectively lightens your overall complexion and improves your skin’s fairness, clarity and translucency.

Shaped to fit your face, each mask contains a deep penetrating whitening essence with Vitamin C, Vitamin B3, and liquorice root extracts, that immediately brightens your skin, leaving it radiant and healthy.

You’ll experience visible results after just four masks in two weeks."

This first time I used this, it was really hydrating but I couldn't see much whitening effect. Later, I discovered that I need to leave it on for longer than the recommended 20 minutes. I leave it one for about 30-35 minutes and when I remove the mask after, my face was a lot clearer and the pore on my face seems to have almost disappeared. That shows how hydrating this mask is.

I love this mask.

Luv ~ Very hydrating, really minimises the pores, skin was really clearer and translucent after using.

Don't Luv ~ Very expensive in Sydney.

Asience by Kao

2008-05-10T17:09:00.006+01:00

Asience - the hair products with Zhang Zi Yi previously in the commercials and now Jun Ji Hyun. The name came from the joining of 2 words - Asia + Essence.

This range of shampoo, conditioner and hair treatments are specifically targeted at Asian hair. As shown on their website, asian hair is rounder, thicker and coarser than caucasian hair so we need shampoos and conditioners that can penetrate deeper into the hair shafts to moisturise and nourish.

The product line has been developed with the intention of enhancing female Asian beauty by revitalizing hair fibers from the core, enabling the hair to become suppler showing fewer signs of disturbance after a hairstyle is removed, even if the hair has been braided. It boasts to be the first to have MEA Hair Technology which replenishes and restore hair to its smooth and lustrous condition, like virgin hair.

The logo for this brand has been developed with a meaning.

Symbol of a flower surrounded by ivy

The red flower of the symbol in the center of the product package is on the verge of blooming. Ivy, growing in its random fashion around the flower, symbolizes vitality. The five petals of the flower indicate the five elements of oriental bioscience – wood, fire, earth, metal and water.

It uses an array of natural ingredients to improve hair texture and treat potential hair problems.

Soy protein and pearl protein for revitalizing
Rice extract and Korean ginseng extract for moisturizing
Eucalyptus extract for protection

- Supply lost protein to damaged hair
- Retain moisture and prevent dryness
- Provide a sheen to the hair

I started using the Deep Nourish shampoo, conditioner and hair treatment which is for dry, damaged hair. After using for a few weeks, I noticed that my hair texture has improved a lot! Less frizzy and more manageable, this is a huge feat as I have dry, flyaway and frizzy hair. =(

The hair treatment is amazing! My hair came out really smooth, extremely soft and light. It continued to remain that way even after going through a blow dry and hair straightener. I couldn't stop myself from running my fingers through my hair the whole day.

It has a nice fragrance too, not over powering. I am loving the products.

Luv ~ Affordable price. My hair became incredibly smooth, light and soft.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing.

Real Lasting Eyeliner by K-Palette

2008-05-02T11:46:00.003+01:00

I bought this when I was in Japan some months ago. With my limited Japanese, I couldn't really understand anything other than by looking at pictures when I was browsing the cosmetics shops. What I ended up doing was to look at items that they have tagged with #1 selling item or #2 or #3 and buy those.

Anyway, this was labeled as #1 selling item so I bought it. It was really cheap too at about 1000 yen. I started using it and I was just amazed at the result.

It is a liquid eyeliner in black with a slim tip. I never liked using liquid eyeliner as I was only starting to use eyeliner then and being a beginner, less clumsy with pencil ones. Amazingly, this was really easy to use and I think any beginner would love this due to the ease of control. The eyeliner goes on really smoothly and you can apply it really thin like a pencil eyeliner would give and yet apply a really thick line too. It lasts the whole day and didn't smudge.

I was so happy and an affordable eyeliner that does a great job, you'll love it. This just earn itself a place in my Diamonds Top 10 list.

Apparently, it is really popular in Japan and is K-Palette's best selling item. You can check out their website here.

Luv ~ Affordable price. Really easy to use and control. Doesn't smudge and creates a really beautiful line (whether thick or thin).

Don't Luv ~ Nothing.

Trick for attractive eyes

2008-05-01T11:32:00.000+01:00

I saw this on Sasa and it shows certain tricks especially for Asian eyes on how to make them stand out.

For those who've always had problems with how to apply eyeliner, this is a good basic step by step guide. It took me lots of practice to apply my eyeliner correctly too.

Step 4 is really useful as Asian eyes tend to slant upwards if you end the stroke upwards. It's better to have the stroke ending a little downwards.

White eyeliner across the lower eye line and inner corners is a MUST! I always do that to make my eyes look bigger and brighter.

I personally find gel and liquid eyeliner a lot easier. However, there are times when a normal eyeliner works better on certain looks that you're trying to get.

One of the best eyeliners that I've used was bought when I was in Japan and it was not an expensive brand either. The review will be posted soon.

Another trick that I learnt was to only line 70% of your upper eye leaving both ends not lined. It can also make your eyes appear rounder and bigger.

If anyone else has more trick, do let me know. =)

Sunsense Aftersun Cooling Spray

2008-04-26T15:29:00.003+01:00

We all need to be diligent about sunscreen but what about the times when you inevitably forgot to apply sunscreen or happen to get sunburn?

Aloe Vera Gel is something that I always use if I see my skin going red or after getting a little too much sun. Lately, I came across this cooling spray and decided to try it.

What attracted me to it was the added Vitamin C and grape seed extract. The grape seed extract is well known for being an anti-oxidant and Vitamin C for whitening. The spray bottle also means that there's no need for rubbing , which can irritate your sunburn and cause pain.

It has a little nozzle click which prevents its contents from spilling accidentally which makes it safe to carry in your bag as well.

I totally love the smell and this product after using it. There are times when I forgot to put on sunscreen and this helps to soothe my red and hot skin and I find that I don't tan or my skin doesn't darken as much when I use this every time I return home from outdoors.

I sometimes use it even just for the moisturising effect and smell. You can leave this in the refrigerator which will enhance the cooling effect even more.

At a bargain price of AUD$7.99, this is definitely a steal.

Luv ~ Bargain price. Has antioxidant properties to maintain youthful and anti-aging skin. Great smell. Really soothes the skin.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing.

Feminine hygiene

2008-04-16T13:49:00.005+01:00

1. Wash your hair? Yes

2. Shower everyday? Yes

3. Are you really clean? hhmm..

I was watching a show recently and they posed this question. Are we really clean?

Do we really ensure that we clean every part of our body? Little places that we sometimes miss are:

1. Behing the ears

2. Belly button

3. Soles of our feet

4. V - area

Haha..yes the V area. Do you sometimes feel uncomfortable, itchiness, discomfort down there?

The v area actually has a different pH level to the rest of our body and a normal body cleanser isn't enough and could actually disrupt the delicate balance. Our body is meant to be around pH 6.1 -7 while the V area is pH 3.5 - 4.5.

Things that we can do:

"Many women are unaware that rayon and rayon-cotton blends are widely used in the manufacture of tampons. Rayon is commonly chlorine-bleached, and is a highly absorbent fibre. Dioxin, a toxic carcinogen, is a by-product of all chlorine bleaching methods and is also found throughout the environment in varying levels as a by-product of pesticide spraying and pollution from incinerators. Dioxin has been found to collect in the fatty tissues of animals, including humans and should, therefore, be a real concern for women. Published scientific reports have shown that evidence is growing that even low levels of dioxins may be linked to cancer, endometriosis, low sperm counts and immune system suppression. Considering a woman may use as many as 11,000 tampons in her lifetime, she may be subjecting herself to additional dioxin exposure." (credit)

1. Try to use cotton panty liners and tampons. These are chemical and perfume free which is much better.

2. Use feminine products specifically for the V area.

I found after doing this that it definitely help me with discomfort and itchiness that I've previously experienced. Maintaining is definitely a better option that waiting for something to happen, I say!

Products that are useful are:

Lactacyd Daily Feminine Wash

(There are also other brands such as Eve and Vagisil).

When you need to relieve itching, works like a charm.

This is such an important area as our babies come into this world from there and we need to make sure that we do not neglect that area.

Suffering from the flakes?

2008-04-15T10:36:00.005+01:00

Everyone hates the dreaded flakes. Especially for us ladies who loves our black clothes and those flakes just loves standing out on black! Grr....

Do you know what I'm referring to? Yes, it's the dreaded dandruff!

Is this your expression when all you wanted to do was to touch your hair and you look in horror as this happens (pic above)? I've been through it and totally understand. I started getting the flakes when I moved to Sydney a few years ago and it definitely has to be the change in weather and with Australia being a lot drier. I felt like I've tried everything but nothing seems to be working and days turned to months and months turned to years!

Finally, enough is enough and some drastic action is required.

No. 1 - Time to do a bit more research (i.e. internet).

According to Wiki, dandruff is caused by excessive shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp. It has nothing to do with not having clean hair etc...

For people with dandruff, skin cells may mature and be shed in 2 - 7 days, as opposed to around a month in people without dandruff. The result is that dead skin cells are shed in large, oily clumps, which appear as white or grayish patches on the scalp, skin, and clothes.

No. 2 - Doctor, where are you?

Went to the GP to check once and for all what is the problem as I was getting yellow, scaly scab flakes and bleeding. Realised that I have Eczema of the scalp. This is getting worse than just plain old dandruff, my scalp was getting so dry from the anti-dandruff shampoo (Head & Shoulders) that I've been using that I've now developed Eczema.

No. 3 - Shopping time.

After a few tips and advice from the internet, I discovered several faux pas that I've been doing and went to buy what was advised. Sorry ladies, but Head & Shoulders just did not work for me.

Now, I put my plan into action and in 2 short months, I now no longer have dandruff and have been free of that for months and I have stopped using an anti-dandruff shampoo for many months now and it hasn't returned.

My tips from what I've learned:

1. Leave the anti-dandruff shampoo on your scalp for at least 1-5 minutes before rinsing for it to be effective. I've always just lather up, massage my scalp and rinse off immediately (this process was possibly 2 mins tops!). No wonder it didn't work as I didn't leave the shampoo long enough on my scalp for it to work.

Change your shampooing routine, lather up the shampoo and massage it into your scalp. Then, leave it and clean the rest of your body ( this should take at least 5 minutes which should give the shampoo plenty of time for it to work!). Come back to rinsing off the shampoo after that and then comes the conditioner. It increases your shower time and what do you do while waiting for the conditioner to do its magic too? Find something I guess, I know I had to.

The 2 shampoos that I found to be super effective were:

Nizoral® A-D Shampoo

Kiehl's herbal shampoo and scalp treatment for dandruff

Start using the shampoo regularly and every 2 weeks, slowly reduce and replace with your normal shampoo. There will come a time when you find that you no longer need it as you no longer have it anymore.

2. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise.

Your hair and scalp will be uber dry when using anti-dandruff shampoos so remember to use hair conditioner and hair treatments for both the hair and the scalp. Even after there is no more dandruff, keep your scalp in check by using a scalp treatment weekly.

Doesn't have to be $$$, I use

Missha Provice Scalp Care Treatment

Dandruff can be an embarrassing issue for many and I hope that this helps.

Showtime by Kylie

2008-03-27T07:48:00.004Z

Stars and celebrities being used to advertise and market perfume seems to be the norm nowadays. There is a new one called "Showtime" by Kylie Minogue. I really like the design of it. The perfume is a sparkling fruity fragrance which features notes of cranberries, strawberries, freesia, licorice, musk and vanilla. Sounds really delicious, doesn't it?

There is currently a promotion, click here to get your free sample from David Jones or Myer.

Ultima II Lightcaptor-C Concentrate

2008-03-25T07:09:00.002Z

Eyes are one of the first signs of ageing and wear & tear. The sun, constant rubbing of the eyes all contribute to wrinkles and dryness.

The Lightcaptor-C concentrate promises to

- Helps to minimise dryness, wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes and lips.

- Provides effective skin smoothing without without irritation.

The sales lady also mention that it has Vitamin C in it to lighten and brighten the eye area as well as massaging it to rid of toxins.

I've used it for a while now and I like the roller ball as it doesn't pull at the eyes. It also gives a good massage. My eye area definitely looks a lot brighter now. As I don't really have much wrinkles or fine lines, not sure how effective in that area. I bought it mainly for the puffiness that I get when I wake up in the morning and for the lightening effect.

Luv ~ Love the massage that the roller ball gives. I can still use it once it's empty by applying other eye cream next time and using this to massage it in. My eye area definitely was a lot brighter.

Don't Luv ~ Can be $$$.

Tone and Trim Your Legs While Walking

2008-03-09T01:09:00.004Z

I recently got myself a pair of this and I absolutely love it. Best pair of thongs a.k.a flip flops that I have ever used.

It definitely costs me a lot of $$$ but worth every penny. What makes it worth its weight in gold? It is said to give your legs a work out with every step you take. So, you are burning more calories while wearing this as well as giving some of the small muscles in your legs a bit of a workout.

Its uniquely built multi-density midsole activates muscles midstep to help tone your thighs, your calves and your glutes. In fact, Fit Flops are biomechanically engineered to absorb shock, lessen joint strain, and recreate the gait of barefoot walking - but with a powerful new built-in micro-wobbleboard workout-enhancing effect.

There is a video here which explains how the sole works. It is basically split into three sections. The end is a cushion heel area which absorbs 36% more shock. Mid section uses micro-wobble board technology which slows the eversion rate and requires more energy to walk. The toe section is firmer which promotes faster toe push off to maintain the same walking rate.

This has been one of the most comfortable thongs I've walked in. I can walk in it all day and it really absorbs the shock of hard surfaces so that my feet doesn't feel really sore and tired. The tiredness comes from my calves and bum which means that I am using those muscles!

I will gladly wear this 24/7 if I can, not to mention that the thicker sole adds a few more Cm's to my height. Now I just need to wait till there are other styles that are more suitable for work and formal situations.

Check out their website for more details.

Luv ~ Can walk in it all day and my heels don't feel the brunt of the shock of walking on hard surfaces. Ultra comfortable, increases my height. Works our your legs and bums.

Don't Luv ~ Limited styles and colours.

Pearly whites?

2008-02-29T06:10:00.007Z

I've heard of skin makeup, but have you seen makeup for your teeth?

Found them in a shop in Sydney and they all have different properties. You can have it looking natural, extremely white and invisible.

The brush is similar to those nail polishes and it even has a small round mirror on the bottle so that you can see it when you apply. It is meant to be applied to your front teeth where it is the most visible for all to see.

Extremely useful for those who teeth are a little yellow and would like to brighten it up before a night out/interview.

Skin good enough to eat?

2008-02-01T10:04:00.001Z

Ella Bache is having a promotion known as "Skin good enough to eat"!

If you have a facial treatment with them in February, you'll can enter into their competition to win a year's worth of facial treatments.

Wow! As part of the promotion, they are celebrating healthy skin with a endeavour which you can see if you go to Circular Quay.

I went on an afternoon stroll during lunch and met "Ella". Amazing...we were speculating on why none of the birds came around considering that Ella is made of peaches.

As you can see by those cones on the side that no one is allowed to be too close to Ella or touch the peaches. However, we were hidden by Ella from where we were looking from the security guard and we quickly made a quick touch. Those peaches have been waxed or their skin has been chemically treated.

No chances of this peaches rotting under the sun or getting eaten by the birds anytime soon.

Check out here for more details on the promotion and on Ella.

Swatch Seasons Collection 2007

2008-01-19T08:47:00.000Z

Wow! Has anyone seen the Seasons Collection 2007 that was specially created for Christmas by Swatch?

I just love them. Can't wait to get one.

Enjoy.

When the internet is not a friend

2007-12-06T04:15:00.000Z

I know I haven't been posting lately. Unfortunately, I was tied up with tons of work to do since July/August. Took a well deserved break in November but I was having problems with my phone which means no internet the first two weeks.

Got that fixed and it was now my modem which wasn't working. It is still getting replaced which means that I still can't post frequently. My posts are piling up.
I will hopefully be back soon.

=)

Hair Stylez

2007-09-14T16:09:00.000+01:00

Doesn't Michelle Yeoh look FABulous at the Venice Film Festival? Even at the age of 45, she has kept herself well. I especially love the way her tresses fall on the side of her shoulders in the pic.

This is a good look for a prom or glam occasion. Elegant & refined.

Rusk Sensories Line - Pure

2007-09-10T02:45:00.000+01:00

I had my hair coloured recently and decided to try out the Sensories range by Rusk. The Sensories range contains a unique chemistry known as CFT (Compressed Formula Technology). Compressed during the formulation, Rusk Sensories™ expand with a little water and gentle manipulation, transforming their physical appearance while releasing their provocative botanical/ozonic aromas for an irresistible sensory experience. With Compressed Formula Technology, you use 30% - 50% less product to get double the performance!

I used Pure from the Sensories line as that was for coloured hair. This is meant to awaken the senses and acts as an energy booster for depressed hair. It helps to keep hair colour bold, rich and vibrant and is loaded with UVA/UVB sunscreens and antioxidants.

To maximise the benefits, I used it together with the conditioner. After a few weeks of using this, I find that it didn't really do much for my hair. Not only was the conditioner not silky and emollient enough, it didn't give my hair the incredible shine it promised. I also noticed that there was a lot more product buildup in my hair as the cleanser didn't do a good job of cleaning thoroughly.

I'm switching even though I haven't finished the bottles.

Luv ~ Nothing.

Don't Luv ~ shampoo doesn't clean thoroughly, conditioner isn't conditioning enough.

Eye Designer by Pupa

2007-09-05T13:15:00.001+01:00

Pupa has always come up with interesting designs to market their products. This is another product that is unique, application wise for an eyeshadow.

This works such that you get 2 colour shades on your eyelids in one stroke. According to their website, the shape of the anatomical latex applicator has been especially designed to follow the eye's various contours.The kit includes an applicator glide system to release a constant and appropriate quantity of the product. The guides let you regulate pressure on the sponge so that the product does not come out all at once.

I tried out the tester and the handle is made of some sort of latex and you just glide it across the colour from one end to the other. The applicator picks up the colour and it is define quite well. You then slide/stamp it across your eyelids. It does leave the 2 shades on your eyelids. You can then use your fingers to soften and blend the colours.

This is useful for those who wants something quick or can't be bothered too much with makeup, I guess. However, I think I love the whole make up process too much and would rather spend time playing with my colours.

Luv ~ Simple, ease of use for someone new to makeup, quick.
Don't Luv ~ Restricts being able to blend with your own palette of colours.

Exfoliators & Anti-oxidants

2007-09-05T13:05:00.000+01:00

Recently, I have been getting a lot of comments from colleagues, friends, even from a beauty waxer about my skin. I have already been in the working field for more than 4 years but a lot of people still mistake me for being a graduate or even a university student.

After pondering over this, I realised what 3 skin ingredients / products that I should give credit to.

I've mentioned about Paula Begoun at an earlier post and I use some of her products. This is definitely one product that in terms of price and what it does, is the best that I've found in the market.

This is a BHA product, also known as salicylic acid. This is a gentle exfoliant that exfoliates both the surface of the skin and also inside the pore. I use to have quite visible pores and blackheads with an oily T-zone. Ever since I started using this, my pores have more or less disappeared and I hardly get pimples anymore other than the occasional ones when I get stressed at work. This is best for skin prone to blemishes and blackheads.

Using this is much better than using a scrub as it is much gentler on the skin and it is able to penetrate the pores to work on any dirt on the inside. I use it daily and don't use a facial scrub anymore. This is also at a pH level of 3.2 which is optimal for effective exfoliation. A lot of BHA products in the market has either too little of the BHA or are not at the optimum pH level. A whole bottle lasts me a year and is definitely value for money.

I've recommended this to friends and after 3-4 months, their skin has cleared up considerably. Both my female and male friends have since receive compliments and it was their turn to rave about this product. This BHA comes at a strength level of 1% or 2% and comes in either gel or liquid form depending on your preference.

This is one product that I cannot be without and will always use. Do not expect a miracle straightaway as it takes at least 3-4 months for any visible results. Initially, it helps to clear your skin and you continue to use this to maintain your skin. Exfoliation can only reach a certain level before it stays that way. Don't think that it's no longer working, it's still working to maintain it.

I was really busy during a period and stopped using it for a few weeks and I saw a difference in my skin after. I resumed using it and the glow has returned.

The other product that I use is the AHA lotion from her as well. This contains 8% glycolic acid that works to exfoliate the outer surface of the skin to reveal beautifully smooth and healthy skin. I used this to help remove minor spots and freckles and keep my skin smooth.

You can use both products on your body wherever there are break outs as well.

Both AHAs and BHA affect the top layers of skin, and they help to improve the appearance of sun-damaged, dry, and/or thickened skin. Removing this dead layer can improve skin texture and color, unclog pores, and allow moisturizers to be better absorbed by the skin.

What is the difference between AHA & BHA?

The primary difference between AHAs and BHA is that AHAs are water-soluble, while BHA is lipid-(oil) soluble. This unique property of BHA allows it to penetrate the oil in the pores and exfoliate accumulated skin cells inside the oil gland that can clog pores. BHA is best used where blackheads and blemishes are the issue, and AHAs are best for sun-damaged, thickened, dry skin where breakouts are not a problem.

To understand more about these exfoliants, check out this article, "Understanding Exfoliants" here.

Ever since I started using the AHA and BHA, my make up slides on smoothly and I don't even use make up sometimes and just dab on sunscreen before leaving for work.

Lastly, I use moisturisers that are loaded with Antioxidants. Antioxidants are ingredients such as vitamins A, C, and E; superoxide dismutase; flavonoids; beta carotene; glutathione; selenium; and zinc. It helps to keep your skin looking youthful and delay the ageing process.

I think that it is a combination of this 3 which allows my skin to stay youthful and glow even on bare skin. Of course, there are other steps such as cleansers and masks which helps but there are many in the market which are good at all price level while the first 2 products are not easy to find a good one and which most people overlook.

In or around Australia, you can buy the AHA & BHA here.

In or around Singapore, you can buy here:

Paula's Choice Singapore

Telephone: +65 9068 3333

Email: paulas@starhub.net.sg

For other countries, please go to here.

Oil Bath by Nivea

2007-09-02T12:34:00.000+01:00

Nivea was one of the pioneers when their oil bath bodywash hit the beauty market. Nowadays, other brands such as Dove has join in. When the oil bath first came out, I bought one to try it as it was winter and the timing seems to be right.

A check on the website describes this as suitable for even dry skin, offers a superior caring experience. The 55% caring oils and gentle foam replenish and care for your skin, leaving it feeling beautifully soft and pampered.

I have to say after using it that this definitely contains oil. Not only does it clean but it adds moisture at the same time from the oils. So what happens is that you come out of the shower having your skin feel all silky and smooth.

In a sense, this is good for winter as that is when skin tends to dry out more. It is also for those of us who do not put body lotion on a regular basis. I probably wouldn't place the liquid straight onto my loofah as I found that my loofah lost its toughness due to the oil seeping in. Hence, no more exfoliation benefits from my loofah. It is best to rub the bodywash onto your skin first before using the loofah.

Luv ~ Smooth silky skin. Moisturiser and body wash in one.

Don't Luv ~ Might make your shower floor & loofah a little slippery.

Foot Petals

2007-08-10T15:41:00.001+01:00

Do you love your shoes? Can't stop wearing those heels even though it makes your feet scream sometimes? I am definitely one of them. One can never have too many shoes, I say! However, I've experienced discomfort, blisters, slipping on the street when the grips of my shoes have worn out and loads of others.

I have tried a lot of shoe products under the sun from heel protectors to rubber soles which absorb the sweat from your feet while wearing them. I came across Foot Petals a few months ago and began my long and hard journey trekking them in shoes shops in Sydney. A lot of the shops no longer stock them and even the few that I manage to find only have a limited range. I eventually resorted to buying them online. These wonderful tools are geniuses!

They are the most comfortable and the best that I have found so far.

The Killer Kushionz are insoles for your shoes and I just love love love them. Due to their design, you can even use them on open-toed shoes or even half covered shoes without a worry of them being seen. As it comes in a variety of colours, no worries about finding one to blend with your colourful range. I find that I tend to use black a lot. They absorb sweat well and do not worn out easily. That was the problem that I had with the Scholl insoles. They tend to wear out really fast due to the excessive walking that I do and just becomes black and really yucky after a few wears! No such problems with the Killer Kushionz.

The Strappy Strips are amazing for those new shoes or anywhere which is giving you a blister where using the heel protector isn't going to work as those heel protectors are too big. Because they are thin strips, you can even stick them on the shoe straps without a problem.

My absolute favourite from them at the moment? The Sole Stopperz. it helps protect your outer soles, prevent you from slipping on wet or slick surfaces, it also gives your shoe grip and doesn't wore out that outer sole. So many of my shoes now still retain their fabulous outer soles & designs becaues of the Sole Stopperz.

Overall, I am happy and can't wait to give their other products a try. With all their products, the material that they use is just fantastic and makes it really comfortable. Don't you just love their cute names too!

Luv ~ Comfortable, great designs, innovative creations for all your shoe woes.
Don't Luv ~ Nothing really.

Eyelash Curler by Shu Uemura

2007-08-08T12:21:00.000+01:00

I've always heard about the Eyelash Curler from Shu Uemura. Some people swear that it's the best thing they've ever used. I've always been a little skeptical considering that they were selling for quite an exy price.

I finally decided to buy it when I was on a Cathay Pacific flight and it was selling on board for USD15.

All excited, I checked out the website. Its design and features allows for ultimate precision that delivers the perfect curl. With an upgraded silicone pad in a new "mushroom" shade provides improved safety yet still delivers an optimum curl. The patented hinge with precise engineering applies the write amount of pressure on the eyelashes.

I seriously wasn't sure about this and was more convinced with actual reviews and experiences from people. Anyway, having got it, I finally tried it.

Wow! I am convinced. One of the best that I've used so far. In just one to two curls, my lashes are perfectly curled and shaped like a fan. I hardly need to apply any pressure at all which is better for your lashes. This curler doesn't require you to heat it up a little for about 5 seconds before hand with a hair dryer either!

Although in my excitement, I went a bit overboard and all of a sudden, the lashes were straight up like it was shooting for the stars. This is one curler that requires minimum effort for maximum results. Finally something that works for Asian eyes.

The price is worth it. It is always better to be able to buy it at a cheaper price. Cheapest I have seen was at the duty free shop at Kansai airport in Osaka selling for 900 yen.

Luv ~ Minimum effort, great looking lashes

Don't Luv ~ Nothing really.

Rimmel London Magnif'Eyes Mascara

2007-08-08T11:56:00.000+01:00

Rimmel London showcased their new Magnif'Eyes Mascara recently. It promises 70% more vertical lashes and a unique lash-sculpting formula that that boosts volume and length.

Now I discovered recently that I need to look for a mascara that adds volume to my lashes instead of just length. Heard quite good things about this mascara and I bought one to try.

It definitely adds length to my lashes, however this mascara gives minimal volume at best. I was a little disappointed, I think I need to go for a volume boosting mascara. This is still a good one though as it gave me natural looking lashes as it defines each lash individually and there was no clumps. I wore it for a few hours and there was no rub offs on my lower lids.

Luvs ~ Natural looking lashes, no rub offs on lower lids.
Don't Luv ~ Minimal volume on lashes.

Bijoux Terner

2007-08-07T11:13:00.000+01:00

Need to satisfy that shopping ache without breaking a hole in your pocket?

Have you tried Bijoux Terner?? This is one of my favourite stores and I'm excited that they just opened a new store.

Bijoux Terner is a specialist company that supplies affordable fashion accessories to the top travel retail operators in the world and many others. Their products are available in more than 370 locations around the world, including airports, on cruise ships and in domestic retail areas. You can usually only find them around airports and cruises though especially around the Asia region. This company has made a name for itself over the years by designing and supplying watches, jewellery, handbags and other items which are all priced at $20 at retail.

Everything from Watches, Sunglasses, Costume Jewellery, Silk Ties, Handbags, Home Accessories to scarves, shawls and small leather goods. You'll be hard pressed not to find something that will tickle your fancy.

AND the BEST thing is, they just opened a retail shop at METcentre in Wynyard station.

This is unheard of~. They are changing their strategy of only focusing on holiday travel areas.

Go check it out now on their first week of opening and you can nick yourself a handy 10% discount voucher.

Location:

MET Centre

Cnr George & Margaret Street

Sydney NSW 2000

Creative designer of a different kind

2007-07-13T16:39:00.000+01:00

When I was a little girl, I've always dreamed of perhaps being a fashion designer! Hey, who doesn't love clothes? Later, I realised that I am not talented that way and was quite happy to study fashion marketing instead. As it turns out, I never did venture that way!

However, I found another area that those who are interested can ponder upon. A perfume designer. That is so interesting. You basically go from the concept and the fragrance and come up with the design of the bottle for the target market. It's still related to beauty but is from a different angle. When I think about it, the aesthetics of the bottle definitely plays a part in whether I do purchase the perfume.

Another name for this is cosmetic packaging. I came across this when I read an article about a female designer named Valerie Bernard. She started by specialising in graphic arts and packaging design. Moving on thereafter to Kobayashi Kose and created their trademark , cosmetics packaging and shopping bags. Ooh~ no wonder I love some of the shopping bags that I get from certain brands. They apparently have specialised people who create the designs.

She also created the design for the Espoir perfume from Korea. Now my guy friend loves this and is looking for new replenishment which we can't seem to find in Sydney. This is definitely an interesting area (potential career path) for those who are interested.

Kinsuikan Ryokan 锦水馆

2007-07-04T12:56:00.000+01:00

I was in Japan recently for a holiday. Boy, was I excited!

We arrived at Kansai airport around 8pm and took the train to our first destination, Kyoto. According to the agent, accommodation in Kyoto is cheaper so we headed there. The train journey was 90 minutes and considering that we were quite Jap-illiterate, taking the subway seems risky and we ended up searching for our Ryokan hotel by foot.

Aahh~ the fresh cool air, the pebbled streets…it was wonderful.

A young and polite gentleman greeted us at the reception. Did I say that he was really soft spoken? Welcome to the world of Japan, polite and excellent customer service and society as a whole in general. Makes you wonder how the same society also breeds a strong pornographic industry.

Considering the warnings I’ve got about how small the rooms here can be due to lack of space, I have to say that my room was just spacious. We had a separate room which houses the washing basin and toilet.

Then there was the main room itself with more than adequate wardrobe space. A small area for dining and a TV and still enough room for our tatami beds. On the other end, slide away the sliding doors and you are greeted with another area which has a refrigerator as well as a full length mirror.

The tatami beds were just wonderful. Soft and fluffy, I felt like I was sleeping on clouds. We added another quilt on the floor and it was pure bliss. The pillow was made of some sort of sand so it was hard. Just the way I like it, you can mould it to fit your head and it gives support to your neck.

We got the room that we had to use this shared bath (same sex only of course!) with the rest of the guests. Must say I was a little nervous the first time I went as you had to be stark naked. There was a hot spa and showers all over the side of the area. After walking for hours on end everyday, the hot spa was really a welcoming end to the day. I loved the shared bath after that and looked forward to it everyday.

I definitely loved my stay at the Kinsuikan Ryokan. For less than AUD50 per night per person, it's definitely a good deal! Did I mention that you can get a host of information as well as buying bus tickets and souvenirs at the reception too?

Location:

Kinsuikan Ryokan

zip 604-8074 531,Asakuracho,

Sanjo sagaru,Tminokoji,Nakagyou-ku,Kyoto

TEL: (075) 255 3930

Importance of removing eye makeup

2007-07-04T11:51:00.000+01:00

Do you have dark eye circles?

They might not be dark eye circles after all.

Some dermatologists have mentioned that when they look at their patient’s skin under a magnifying glass, quite a number of them actually have make up crusted into the lines around the eyes.

So that means that those dark circles you see could potentially be dirt and grime and make up instead. Removing eye make up is more important than ever! Especially if you regularly wear foundation, eye-shadows etc…

The skin around our eyes are thinner than the rest of the face, so it is definitely not recommended to be using an eye make up remover and be pulling and tugging away at our eye area.

For those who wear minimal makeup, a gentle water soluble cleanser would suffice.

For the rest of us who uses make up on a regular basis, such a routine isn’t going to be enough.
My suggestion is to first wash your face with a cleanser. I’ve recently discovered the virtues of using oil-based cleansers when I have makeup on. Using a facial cleanser means that you are gently massaging all over the face will prevent tugging and pulling at the eyes and skin.

After using the cleanser, the last traces of makeup can be removed with a gentle makeup remover or eye makeup remover and a soft cotton pad (minimising pulling and tugging as much as possible). This double cleansing will help to prevent having traces of make up crusted in those lines around the eyes.

Hmm..maybe I should start using the eye mask I bought earlier which you are meant to massage around the eyes when you’re in the shower.

This brings me to a separate tip, how you clean your face with water after using a cleanser is really important as well. I noticed people who really scrape and tug at their skin when washing off with water. That is bad as when you age, your skin will not be as elastic and all that action will only exacerbate those age lines.

L'oreal Bare Naturale Powdered Mineral Foundation SPF19

2007-07-03T15:18:00.001+01:00

L'oreal has decided to jump on the bandwagon around the whole mineral makeup hype and created their own version of a mineral make up foundation. I was quite curious when I saw it being promoted and decided to test it out.

I went on to the L'oreal website to get a bit more information and this was what I found. It promises flawless, skin perfecting coverage using a brush and contains vitamins and minerals as well. It also comes with SPF19 which is important in any foundation. Further research reveals that the active sunscreen ingredient being used is titanium dioxide and zinc oxide. It still uses talc which is what a lot of mineral makeup brands are claiming that shouldn't be used and their products don't contain them. However, talc has been researched to be potentially less irritating actually.

I decided to try out the testers at the display stand. It comes in a compact size with the brush included. There is a potential for some wastage when you tap the brush to get rid of excess powder but I guess you just need to be careful. I quite like the whole package and size as it is small and can be slip into any bag for touch ups. I tested 2 shades "Light Ivory" and "Nude Beige". They both blended really well and the trick is that a little goes a long way. You really have to start with just a little and build up from there or the end effect will not be natural. It does comes with instructions so it's not that hard to apply.

In certain lighting, it does look really natural while standing under a yellow light seems to make it look too pasty in the shop. Maybe I might have put on too much or it wasn't the exact right shade. I think with practice, you will get the desired effect. My skin felt really soft and it did cover minor imperfections as well and with minimal shine.

This is probably ideal for someone with normal skin bordering on a little oily. Applying on dry skin will most likely highlight the dry areas and the same goes for oily skin too. I think it is most ideal for those who have quite a good complexion and do not want to wear foundation and just want a light coverage.

I do wonder if sheer application will give you enough sunscreen coverage though. It retails at AUD32 at Priceline. I am quite impressed with this as well as the brush that comes with it. Might consider getting this after using up my current foundation.

Cod Liver Oil

2007-06-27T05:30:00.000+01:00

For some of us, we might still remember the Cod Liver Oil advertisement from the Fisherman's Friend brand and the classic logo of the fish being held on a man's back.

I can still remember a bottle always sitting on the shelf in the kitchen and my parents placing some onto a spoon for us kids to take daily. It stopped after a while when I was still very young. Then my little brother was born and he had to partake in that daily activity from a toddler all the way till he was in high school.

I recently came across an article about Cod Liver Oil and its virtues. According to this report on Weston Price, this marvelous golden oil contains large amounts of elongated omega-3 fatty acids, preformed vitamin A and the sunlight vitamin D, essential nutrients that are hard to obtain in sufficient amounts in the modern diet. It greatly improves heart function to prevent heart disease and to treat it even in advanced stages, after a heart attack and after heart surgery.

The elongated omega-3 fats found in cod liver oil have been shown to improve brain function, memory, stress response, immune response, allergies, asthma, learning and behavioral disorders, including bipolar syndrome and manic-depression.

Cod liver oil is most famous for contributing to bone health, preventing and reversing rickets in children and osteomalacia in adults. I've always suspected that my brother's tall height must have been due to the cod liver oil! I should have taken since I was young too. My brother is now the tallest in the family.

Physical appearance wise, topically applied cod liver oil contributes to faster wound healing and improvement in skin quality and cod liver oil taken orally helps maintain soft skin and minimize wrinkles.

I have to say that when I noticed my gums were sort of thinning a little a few years ago, I started taking cod liver oil and in a span of 2 weeks, my gums were much healthier.

Word of warning though, please ensure that the cod liver oil you buy does not contain synthetic vitamins A & D as that can be toxic. Have a look here for the recommended brands.

My childhood Fisherman's Friends brand is not here. :(

Summer Collection 2007 by Charles & Keith

2007-06-16T05:30:00.003+01:00

One can never have too many shoes I say!

I just checked out the new summer collection by Charles & Keith and they are fabulous. I totally love peep-toes, kitten heels and wedges.

Charles & Keith started in Singapore with shoes and has since expanded to include bags. They have also started expanding internationally. At prices that do not break the bank and yet still incorporating a wonderful variety and fabulous designs collection after collection. It beats some of the shoe stores here in Australia.

These are some of the ones that caught my eye.

An Oriental Twist

Peep Toes

Now, to the bags.

And these are my absolute favourites from their new collection.

Not sure where to find a Charles & Keith store? Their website has all their location details. They also have an online shop.

Cheerios...I'm off to get me some shoes and bag!

4 Way Folding Buffer by Missha

2007-06-14T12:54:00.000+01:00

I came across this when I was browsing a Missha store at the QVB in Sydney. It's a 4 way buffer that can be fold in half. Half the size and can be slip easily into any bag or pocket and carry around everywhere. I couldn't resist and just had to get one.

It's really easy to use as well as each part is labelled from 1 - 4 so that you know which one to use first. It also tells you what each one does. Step 1 - shape nails, Step 2 - smooth nails, Step 3 - buff nails and Step 4 - polish nails. They are all in different colours too.

That's how small it becomes when you fold it in half. Really handy especially for those times when my nails gets chipped or snagged! Now I can fix it on the spot instead of having to wait till I get home.

At a price of AUD4.90, it's a bargain! If you can't get to a Missha shop, you can buy it online at their website.

Luvs ~ Affordable, compact and easy to carry around.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing.

O'slee Rosehip Deep Cleansing Oil

2007-06-10T09:33:00.001+01:00

I've been hearing a lot about oil based cleansers, and that it is especially good for removing make up. I have to admit that I have been a little hesitant about them because I don't know if putting oil on your face to clean it is my cup of tea considering that we tend to want to remove excess oil from our face in the first place. I came across this Deep Cleansing Oil from O'slee recently and decided to give it a go.

This is part of the Rosehip Series from O'slee. This Deep Cleansing Oil is meant to remove make-up, purify pores and prevent blackheads. It also contains rosehip extract that has the following benefits:

1. Repair skin, restore the healthy skin structure

2. Stimulate the skin self-rejuvenation and skin becoming smooth and glow

3. Activate the production of collagen, leaving skin firm and reducing wrinkles

4. Moisturize the deeper layer of skin and reducing pore size

5. Restrain the damage of free-radicals to skin, delaying anti-aging process

6. Lightened pigmentation, with whitening effect

Not sure if it can really do all that but Rosehip is definitely an anti-oxidant that benefits the skin, especially for females.

I haven't had a chance to use it till recently when I had to put on really heavy make up. It was full on heavy make-up so that it will stand out on stage for shows and included fake eye lashes too. If I use my regular eye make-up remover, I will definitely have to use a lot of rubbing to remove it all which I didn't really want to do to my skin. Checked out the instructions on the bottle and here we go. You are meant to have clean and really dry hands, pump 2-3 drops and start massaging onto your face to remove the make up.

When I started massaging the cleansing oil onto my face, I was amazed at how easily the make-up comes off. There was hardly any rubbing or friction on my eyes as well to remove the make up from there. After that, I just had to use warm water to rinse my face.

Inspecting my face after the cleansing, my face was oil-free, clean and really smooth. I could also feel that all the dirt and grime was washed off and there was a tiny tight feeling which means clean skin. I couldn't believe it, I kept touching my face and it was clean clean clean. I couldn't help but washing my face with my normal cleanser again but that is just me being an oil-phobic.

I am definitely converted to oil cleansers to remove make up. This was also a bargain as I bought it for USD7 from Sasa. You can also check out the range from O'slee at their website.

Luvs ~ Affordable, reduces friction from cleaning makeup from skin. Really removes all traces of even the heaviest make up.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing.

Blistex Lip Infusion SPF12

2007-06-03T11:57:00.000+01:00

I've been shopping around for a lip balm/ lip moisturiser for quite a while now. I find that the ones that I've used seems to only form a layer on top of my lips and doesn't actually penetrate to keeps my lips fully moisturised. So my lips remains dry and chapped and the lip balm only soothes it temporarily.

I came across this one and decided to give it a try. It has SPF12 which is important as we need to protect our lips from the sun rays too. Examining the ingredients, this uses Lanolin which is an effective moisturising agent. It also contains Octinoxate and Octisalate which protects against UVB rays.

The package advertises that Blistex Lip Infusion bathes your lips in moisture. The unique liquid formula absorbs quickly with no waxy feel. It also contains a deep penetrating moisturiser to help your lips look and feel great.

It comes as a small stick/tube with a roller ball to apply on the lips. The roller ball offers a cooling sensation on the lips and allows you to apply the lip moisturiser easily onto the lips without too much tugging. The liquid covers my lips easily and there is a tiny bit of shine which looks good and isn't distracting at all. I also feel that my lips are really moisturised and helps to eliminate dry chapped lips. I had to constantly re-apply throughout the day as it slips off when you drink/eat which is normal as lipsticks are the same as well. You need to constantly remember to re-apply but by the end of the day, from slightly dry and chapped lips, they became soft and full, like they have absorb all the water/moisturiser and gave my lips a little bit of a plump look.

I am definitely sticking to this one.

Luvs ~ It has SPF12 to protect the lips. The roller ball so that it glides smoothly across the lips (so less tugging and pressure on the lips). Penetrates to truly moisturise the lips.
Don't Luv ~ It slips off when you drink/eat, have to constantly re-apply.

Lip Venom by DuWop

2007-05-25T04:55:00.000+01:00

Want to achieve a shiny, naturally rosy pout? I saw this on a TV show where the hosts tried it out and it really works! It was like having the cosmetic effect without the surgery. Save time, no side effects, save on $$$ and best of all, no needles.

What give this effect? It is Lip Venom by DuWop.

What Is Lip Venom? According to their website, it is a spicy, tingly gloss that enhances lips' natural color and shape with a blend of essential oils including cinnamon, ginger, and wintergreen, in a jojoba oil base that causes blood to rush to the surface of the lips, flushing and swelling them slightly. Its purpose is to flush and plump up the lips and it is the tingly sensation felt on the lips upon applying that causes that.

They have now created a second version, The Lip Venom 2nd Sin. This still gives all the fullness but without the sting.

If you’re uncertain about which one to get or just in doubt, they also have the “Mini Venom Trio” for you to try out. These consist of 3 mini purse sized tubes of the original Lip Venom and Venom Flash. So you get one Lip Venom and two Venom flash. The Venom Flash is spiked one with gold (warm effect) and one with silver (cool effect). Once applied, this Venom Flash reflects the light on your lips which means even fuller, flashier lips!

This is definitely going on my wish list! Can’t wait to get some…kissable lips, here I come!!

Opal 澳宝

2007-05-21T13:10:00.000+01:00

I got this as a gift. It's a hair treatment that only needs 1 minute to do its magic!

This contains NaPCA (which is apparently a natural emollient for the hair), Vitamin B5, Aloe vera and Keratin protein. It is an oil treatment for the hair that doesn't need to be activated with heat and will do its magic just via normal application. It is advertised to leave hair light and better manageability.

After using it, I was amazed at the results. I have dry and frizzy hair that likes to add more volume due to its frizziness (not to mention that I already have thick hair). When I used this, I didn't even have to blow dry, my hair just came out really smooth and straight Au la natural~. Not to mention shiny as my hair was definitely a lot smoother and less frizzy and dry!

This is one of the best and simplest hair treatment I've ever used. Just shampoo as usual and apply this as you would your conditioner. I tend to leave it longer for around 3 minutes rather than 1 minute and then rinse off.

Not to mention that the price is right up my alley. I was in Hong Kong recently and bought this at Mannings. A set of 4 tubes was HKD30.

Luvs ~ Vey affordable, leaves hair smooth, shiny and silky. Non-complicated and very easy and quick application.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing really.

Neutrogena UltraSheer Dry-Touch Sunblock

2007-05-18T12:37:00.000+01:00

If there is one thing that we must never never ever exclude from our beauty regime, it would have to be applying sunscreen.

I'm really not the most diligent person in this area. One of the reasons, well actually the main reason being that I don't like how it feels greasy on the skin. All is well applying on the face (nothing a dash of powder couldn't help!) but when it comes to the body area, *sticky* *sticky*, I can't really take it, and I'm not going to apply powder to my entire body after applying sunscreen either.

So, I have been searching high and low and all types of sunscreen (gels, lotions, sprays) and have yet to find one that I am happy to stick with.

When Neutrogena came out with this Dry-Touch sunblock, my eyes lit up like stars and I had to try this. Unfortunately, couldn't find this in Sydney, had to resort to buying online.

This sunblock contains 2% avonbenzone which is a good ingredient providing UVA protection and 3% oxybenzone which provides good UVB protection. This formula is said to be enriched with anti-oxidant vitamins A, C and E. It is waterproof, sweatproof and resists rub-off. It is also non-comedogenic and PABA free. Satisfied that this sunblock will provide me with the protection needed, I commence using it.

True to its word, it really feels clean and weightless and ends up with a powdery finish. Voila! I have just found THE body sunscreen for me. I am amazed, application upon application and none of the greasy feel on your skin after that, it always ends up dry and powdery on my skin. In essence, it leaves a matt (non-shiny) finish, which is another gripe I have about most sunscreen products.

One thing though is that it seems to have a heavier sunscreen smell. So for those who prefer a sunscreen that doesn't really leave as much scent, you might want to go with something else. For me, I am happy with the scent and am happy that I now have a body sunscreen to use.

Luvs ~ Dry and matt finish and still has an SPF of 30. Good dose of anti-oxidants.

Don't Luv ~ Tad heavy sunscreen scent.

Time saving routine

2007-05-12T15:06:00.000+01:00

In Taiwan, there is a saying that gets mentioned consistently in the beauty world "没有丑女人，只有懒女人". This is true as anyone can look good and presentable with a bit of time and lots of effort. However, in our current lifestyles where most of us work, we don't really have a lot of time, not to mention $$$. Give anyone $$$ and we will all be able to splurge and make ourselves look good like the celebrities!

I like to look good and love the whole pampering process, but don't have a lot of time (not to mention the occasional laziness). Having to take care of every part of yourself from top to toe requires a lot of effort. Most people only focus on perhaps their hands or face or hair and other parts gets neglected. :(

Therefore, we cannot be neglecting any part of ourselves (this includes our hearts and minds too!) from the beauty process. Along the way while I woefully keep discovering more neglected parts, I try to combine as many beauty processes together to save time. Here are a few of my tips for a time saving routine while your skin still gets the benefits that it needs.

Shower

You can include a lot of steps during your daily showers that only increases your shower time by a few minutes but when done every day saves you a lot more time and $$$ in the long run. So, below is my routine.

Take a shower as usual.
If you're washing you hair, once you have the conditioner in your hair, you can start to wash your body while waiting for the conditioner to do its magic!

Loofah Towel/ Exfoliating Gloves

Use a loofah/exfoliating gloves/exfoliating cloth and pour your body wash on it and lather and scrub your entire body. There is no need to scrub too vigorously as this is done on a regular basis so it is meant to be a mild exfoliation. This saves you from having to exfoliate once a week with a body scrub. You can do this everyday or once every other day and you will find that your skin is smoother and looks better as well as the problem areas such as your knees and elbows will be smooth and not dry and crackly. Make sure that you focus more on the elbows and knees as well as any other parts which is darker or thicker. I alternate between the gloves and the cloth as the cloth allows me to scrub my back too which can be forgotten.

Foot File

Once you finish showering, wipe the soles of your feet either with your towel or the bathmat so that it is dry, pick up your foot file such as those from Scholl and proceed to scrub the soles of your feet. As you skin has already soften during your shower, exfoliating with the foot file is easier in getting rid of dry skin. This saves you from setting a time to do a pedicure in the salon or having to do a whole pedicure routine separately. If you do this everyday, you don't even have to spend too much time or strength in the exfoliating as the soles of your feet will not get a chance to accumulate dead hard skin over a long period of time. After completing the exfoliation, you just need to pop back into the shower to wash off the dead skin from your feet and clean your foot file.

Clay Mask

If the day happens to be the day that you use a mask, ensure that you shower with warm water and the last thing that you do is wash your face in the shower. Saves time and water. After drying yourself, you can then put on the mask for your face.
Why do you put on a mask at this time? The heat from the warm water would have open up your pores and allow your mask to work better. This saves you from having to set up a whole different time to use your masks and steps such as placing a warm cloth on your face for 10 minutes to open up your pores as that would have been achieved during your shower.
I always start with a clay mask to draw out the impurities from my skin first. I find that my clay masks works much better this way rather than when I just use it at a separate time from my shower as I'm too lazy to use a warm cloth and placed it over my face and wait for 10 minutes for my pores to open up. Because of that, I end up not having my pores open for the clay mask.

Body Lotion
You will still be in the bathroom after applying your clay mask and while waiting for it to dry, you can start moisturising your body. This saves you time as you are doing 2 things at the same time. Your body is also able to absorb your moisturiser more readily after a shower than any other time.

Vitamin C Mask/ Essence Mask
After washing off the clay mask, I will then proceed to use a moisturising mask if my skin is dry or whitening masks or any sort of masks which is meant to be infuse goodness back into your skin. You want to do this as your clay mask have already drawn out the impurities so your skin is now clean and able to absorb more goodness. If you use the clay mask one day and the other type of goodness mask another day, the effect is not as good as on the other day when you just cleanse and apply say your whitening mask, there is still dirt and impurities in your skin that is in the way or partially blocking. Using both type of mask consecutively one after another will also save you from having to set aside time on another day of the week just to apply your mask.
After this mask is done, I will then finish off with toner or moisturiser or any other essence that you use.
If it happens that you washed you hair as well, I will now take off the towel that was wrapping my hair all this while and proceed to blow dry. Your towel would have absorb a lot of the excess water so that you hair will be semi dry by now. Less time spend needing to blow dry etc...
Finally, the last thing is washing your hands and proceed to moisturise them.

This is how I save time while still ensuring that I maximise the benefits on a regular basis. It might seem like a long list of steps but on a regular day, there is only Steps 1, 3, 4 & 6.

Other occasions where you can also save time.

Gym/Spa

If your gym happens to have a steam room, pop in there after your workout. Of course shampoo your hair first and apply hair treatment and then proceed happily to the steam room for about 15 minutes. The heat and moisture from the steam room works similarly to those steam machines that is used in the salon when you go for a hair treatment. By doing this, you save $$$ and time by not having to go to a salon to get it done. This is not recommended in a sauna as a sauna is dry and will potentially have an adverse effect instead.

If you happen to go to a hot spa or hot bath, come out from it after 10 minutes or so and put on your clay mask and go back in. The heat would have open up the pores and your mask is able to work even better. You might get some stares from people but is something you can hopefully live with. You might even find that they will start following you as well. TeeHee.

Moisturising

A lot of times you need to wait a while for your moisturiser to absorb before you can do anything. Or worse still, if you don't even realise that your moisturiser hasn't fully absorb and you start doing stuff and the moisturiser just gets rub off instead of being absorbed by your skin. One way of speeding this up is to always place the moisturiser on your palms first. Rub your palms together in a fast motion quickly about 30-40 times so that the moisturiser is heated up. You can then massage onto your skin. I heard about this and tried it and find that it really does work. My skin isn't as sticky and dries up quickly and I know my money spent on the moisturisers is right where it should be. You also get a pretty good workout for your biceps by doing this.

Hopefully, this helps you and do share if you have any time saving tips too.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Smoothing and Perfecting Leg Gloss Lotion

2007-05-08T10:24:00.000+01:00

When this first came out, I was happy to give it a try. This is a tinted moisturiser that adds gloss and masks imperfections. So if you have tiny scars or you want to minimise shaving, this will help to still make your legs look good. It also contains pure cocoa butter and Vitamin E, why not impart a little goodness for your legs while making it beautiful is always good I say!

It claims to be a fast drying formula and eliminates the need for pantyhose and stockings. Now that is seriously awesome as I am not a huge fan of pantyhose and stockings!

I finally bought it when it was on sale. Tried it out and I didn't like it. I didn't really like the smell as it emits some sort of chemical smell rather than the cocoa butter or a nice fragrance. The tint in the moisturiser also sticks to the palm of your hands so washing it off afterwards is rather difficult. The colour doesn't really go on smoothly on my legs and it took rather long to dry.

I feel like this is more like one of those tanning lotions rather than a body moisturiser enhanced with a bit of tint. This didn't work for me. It definitely goes into my Dud List.

Luvs ~ Nothing. :(

Don't Luv ~ It streaks, leaves colour on the palms, heavy chemical scent.

Suffering from aches and pains?

2007-05-06T15:24:00.001+01:00

According to this article in the Sydney Morning Herald, there are a number of exercises that we can do to help minimise or prevent ailments such as headaches, backpain and for healthy gums?

These are some of what you can do to help.

Aerobics for healthy gums

A study of 12,000 people, published in the Journal of Periodontology, reveals that regular gym-goers who participate in a range of classes, such as aerobics, are 40 per cent less likely to develop periodontitis, a gum disease that can result in loss of teeth and lead to an increased risk of heart disease and diabetes. Exercise reduces inflammation throughout the body and so boosts oral health.

Tai Chi for stress

Dr Chenchen Wang, of Tufts University's New England Medical Centre in Boston, analysed almost 50 clinical studies on tai chi. The results revealed that the almost meditative state of calmness it produces reduced anxiety and stress, and also lowered blood pressure. Two years ago, Dr Michael Irwin, a clinical psychobiologist at the University of California, showed that tai chi boosts the immune system, helping to raise protection against common viruses by 50 per cent.

Walking to ease depression

Researchers at Duke University in the US found three brisk 30-minute walks each week had greater effects on reducing depression than drugs from the same family as Prozac. Six months after 156 subjects had completed the 16-week study, only 8 per cent saw their depression return. A separate study at the University of Texas showed that a half-hour walk gave an instant lift for the moderately depressed, providing the same sort of mental pick-me-up they might normally get from cigarettes, coffee or binge-eating, said the study, published in the journal Medicine and Science in Sport and Exercise.

Swimming for PMS

According to a recent survey by Leisure Connection health clubs in Britain, most women find the hormonal flux of their menstrual cycle causes them to skip or compromise workouts. Sam Howells, sports scientist for the group, says it needn't be so.
"The menstrual cycle is inextricably linked to mental and physical performance," Howells says. "All women who exercise should listen to their bodies." During the follicular stage (days one to 13 of the cycle) oestrogen levels are low so the body finds it easier to perform high-tempo exercise, she says. In the luteal phase (days 14-28), when menstruation begins, try lower-intensity workouts, such as longer swims, to lessen symptoms of PMS.

Pilates for Back Pain

Many physiotherapists recommend pilates for its ability to increase flexibility and core stability. Back pain is often caused when your body is pulled out of alignment; pilates helps to pull it back by strengthening the core muscles around your lower back and stomach.

Yoga for Headaches

Tomas Brofeldt, a doctor of emergency medicine at the University of California's Davis Medical Centre, believes headaches can be treated using yoga.
He says 75 per cent of all headaches arise from muscle tension in the back of the neck caused by problems in posture. In people who have rounded shoulders, a strong curve in the upper back and a tendency to hold the head forward, the "headache muscles" are held in a chronically foreshortened state.
Anyone who suffers frequently from headaches should practise regular yoga to "retrain the upper back to extend, the chest to open, the shoulders to roll back and down, and the head to rest on the midline", he says.

Running to ease joint and muscle pain

New research shows that regular running protects vulnerable joints from damage and pain. A team from Stanford University found that adults who run consistently can expect to have 25 per cent less musculoskeletal pain and less arthritis than non-runners when they get older.
"The key word is consistency," says Sammy Margo, a sports physiotherapist for the Britain's Chartered Society of Physiotherapy. "If you run consistently, your joints, tendons, ligaments, discs and muscles get used to the habitual pounding. The body accommodates the demands so running doesn't necessarily lead to pain."

Pilates, swimming and aerobics...I'm on my way!

The Body Shop Moisture Booties

2007-05-06T13:36:00.000+01:00

To keep feet smooth and supple, it's always good to moisturise your feet and slip on some socks overnight. The results are amazing! I have tried the usual socks and find that my feet really does become a lot softer and moisturised. I came across this moisture booties in The Body Shop and thought that this might help to greatly increase the effects of the whole overnight "moisturising the feet and cover with socks" routine.

After using this for a while, I find that if you're not careful, the socks can slip off your feet during the night. It does help to keep your feet supple but I don't seem to find any difference between using this and just regular thick socks. As this is made of cotton, I suspect that a lot of the moisturiser is being absorbed by the cotton fabric rather than by your skin.
I'll just revert back to my usual socks, at least it doesn't slip off during the night.

Luvs ~ Nothing. :(

Don't Luv ~ Slips off easily, doesn't really super moisturise as promised.

Body Shop plastic foot file

2007-05-06T13:05:00.000+01:00

Wearing heels can wreak havoc on your feet and if you don't take care of them, soon there will be buildup of dry skin and cracked heels that just looks unsightly.

One way of of keeping your feet smooth and supple is to use a foot file. I was in The Body Shop and came across this. It looks different from the normal foot files that you see in the market and I decided to try it out.

According to the instructions, one side (pink) is for rough areas and the other side (grey) is to gently exfoliate. I used this after my shower after allowing the skin on my feet to soften in the shower and then rub it at the bottom of both my feet for a minute or two. I used the pink side first and then move onto the grey side.

After using this for a week or two, I don't find that it works. It doesn't seem to exfoliate as effectively. I'll give this a pass. This goes into my Dud list.

Luvs ~ Nothing. :(

Don't Luv ~ Doesn't work for me.

Losing hair?

2007-05-05T15:09:00.000+01:00

Are you suffering from hair loss? or do you want to delay the process of hair loss?

Here's one way of helping. According to some studies and research, while some hair loss problems are hereditary, there are many things that can be done to slow down the process. Plus, not all hair loss is hereditary, in which case it can be prevented a lot of the time.

What you should do is to massage your scalp on a regular basis to stimulate your hair growth. Especially for men as men tend to have short hair and most do not even brush nor comb their hair. Women tend to have longer hair and use brushes which will stimulate the scalp as well as promote and distribute oils all along the hair strands. So for those with dry hair, you should brush your hair to distribute the oils throughout your hair. However, please do not go overboard.

For men, brushes are usually not the best thing as hair is too short, a massage is most ideal! Ever wondered why you get a scalp massage when you get your hair wash at salons? There is a reason why!

Therefore, massage away.

Cosmed Caviar Repair Serum

2007-05-05T14:44:00.000+01:00

This is a product from Cosmed International, France. I saw this in Sasa and was intrigued that it uses caviar as an ingredient. Now, I know that caviar is a delicacy in the gourmet world but in skincare?

I decided to give this a go. One box has two 5ml bottles in it.
According to Cosmed, this is some of what the caviar serum promises...

1. To fade out brown spots, marks, blemishes and imperfections.
2. To whiten and even dull and yellowish skin tones.
3. To reduce pores, firm and lift slackened skin tissues.

I tried it and find that my skin seem to instantly brighten up after using it. So it does seem to whiten and even dull and yellowish skin tones. I'm not sure about reducing pores and the whole firming bit. Each bottle doesn't last long as it's only 5ml.

Based on the instructions given, you need to use this for 3 weeks consistently for any visible results. My bottles did not last me that long but from what I can see from the amounts that I used, it does brighten your skin.

Luvs ~ Brightens the skin on application with a glow look.

Don't Luv ~ Only comes in such a small size.

Hyams Beach

2007-05-05T11:59:00.000+01:00

Interested in experiencing something unique?

I read recently that Hyams Beach, which is on the South Coast of NSW, Australia is in the Guinness Book of Records as having the whitest sand in the world.

That got me all excited and raring to go and check it out, to experience something that is unique in the world.

I went with 7 friends and we got this place at Huskisson which is really close to Hyams Beach and the house is just fantastic! For AUD305 for a night and split between 8 people, that is less than AUD40 per person.

So for those of you who might be interested in going to Jervis Bay, you can check out this place, it can fit 9 people comfortably! I found it on this website.

By the way, Hyams Beach was just truly wonderful!

Overnight Anti-Acne Gel Patches

2007-05-04T15:15:00.000+01:00

This was placed in the same range as the 3M Acne Dressing in the shops that I tried earlier and did a review about.
Looking at the ingredients in this product, it uses salicylic acid.

This is actually cheaper than the 3M one and has more pieces (48 to be exact)!
It comes in the grey wrapper shown above and the anti-acne patch is the brown spots. One side is the brown wrapper and the other side is where you're supposed to placed on the pimple. It is gel form.

This dries up the pimple really quickly and seems to work too. However, I find the it is really hard to tell when the pimple has dried up as it isn't transparent like the 3M one so you have to keep taking it off to check the status which probably isn't really good. The other thing is that because it is in gel form, it slides really easily.
After using this one, it tends to leave a mark on your skin as in you can see that there was a pimple there whereas the 3M doesn't seem to have that problem. That probably means that the 3M one is gentler on the skin.

Luvs ~ There's more pieces and cheaper.

Don't luv ~ Leaves a mark, can't tell when it's time to remove and change to a new one. Slips easily.

3M Nexcare Acne Dressing

2007-05-02T13:34:00.000+01:00

I came across this when I was in HK and decided to give it a try!
I was a little sceptical as to how it works and it didn't have salicylic acid nor benzoyl peroxide in it that are proven ingredients that helps with pimples and acne.

According to the 3M website, it contains hydrocolloid acid which helps to absorb the secretion and in the healing of acne.

As I had a few pimples that are growing and which I couldn't squeeze on my face, I decided to give this 3M acne dressing a go.

Did the whole usual routine of cleansing and then opened the box. I pulled out this pack which is actually a sterile pack to keep the acne dressing clean. This comes in two boxes of 18 pieces and 36 pieces and consists of circles of different sizes depending on the size of your pimple.

Flip it over and those are the acne dressings in different sizes. Took out different sizes that fit my pimples and that's it. Not only is it suppose to clear up my pimples but is meant to prevent contamination from like dust, dirt etc...

Went to bed after that and allowed the acne dressing to do its magic. The next morning when I woke up, the secretion from my pimples have been absorbed by the acne dressing as you could see that the acne dressing has turned white. I even had a pimple which was an "under your skin" type which I thought I'll try as well and it has swelled down tremendously. The small pimples only took a night and I just used it for the bigger ones for another day or two and the pimples were cleared up. It didn't really leave a mark either as my skin healed up within a day.

I was surprised but glad that it worked!

I bought the 18 pieces initially at HKD25 while the 36 pieces was around HKD43 I believe, the cheapest price that I was able to find was at Bonjour Beauty shops in HK. I found it again when I was back in Sydney but it was more expensive (18 pieces = AUD17, 36 pieces = AUD22). For those whom are overseas, you can try getting it from Sasa online who is selling it at USD4.10.

Luvs ~ It isn't obvious once it's been applied after a while, doesn't leave any marks, works almost overnight.

Don't Luv ~ Pre-determined sizes. Sometimes you might want more small ones but there is only so many of the small and large ones. But this is no biggie!

Neutrogena Advanced Solutions At Home MicroDermabrasion System

2007-04-28T14:43:00.000+01:00

This is an in-home MicroDermabrasion kit from Neutrogena.

As everyone knows, going for a MicroDermabrasion at a salon can be $$$.

Microdermabrasion is used to remove sun-damaged skin and to remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin. It also helps to combat sun damaged skin.

As I have a few light sun spots and minor scars, hey, this is what I need!

After conducting some research, Neutrogena is one of the better ones to use.

From the Neutrogena website, this is what it says:

The kit contains 2.5 oz. jar cream, system applicator, 2 sponge heads and 2 AA batteries.

The Jar cream which is the Advanced Solutions™ Micro-Oxide Crystallized Cream contains the same Aluminum-Oxide crystals used by dermatologists to promote surface cell renewal, revealing fresher, smoother skin.

The Advanced Solutions™ Soft Foam Sponge Head distributes the Micro-Oxide Crystallized Cream to gently and evenly retexturize skin for the perfect degree of skin resurfacing.

The Advanced Solutions™ System Applicator has two speeds, allowing you to control the intensity of your treatment for maximum results without discomfort.

The review from Paula Begoun indicates that this is definitely an option to consider and was one of the better reviews from her of similar brands who sells this product. Unfortunately, this isn't sold in Australia and I'll have to either buy online or overseas.

For those who have used it, do tell me your experience. In the meantime, this is staying on my wishlist and I'll definitely tell about my experience once I get my hands on it.

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2007-04-28T12:56:00.000+01:00

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An extension of my original idea..

2007-04-27T04:50:00.000+01:00

When I started this blog, it was just to chat about beauty related stuff.
However, I find that there are just way more fabulous and also not as fabulous stuff in this world to just constrict it to beauty.
Therefore, I decided that anything that is a diamond or dud find that might interest other people as well will be posted here.
Hopefully, you will have as much fun reading about my discoveries along the way as I am.