i am lucky to have you

Jean is Back with Full Blast!

2012-01-20T13:47:00.004+08:00

Hey peeps! I am finally back. Please ignore the extremely suicidal post about me feeling like a total moron when I first started out my work in Singapore. Now , I am a proud architect in a huge architectural firm in Singapore and most of all, I get higher pay and better prestige here as compared to the previous lousy firm. During my hiatus and absence from the blogosphere, I received countless e-mails telling me to hang on and be strong in the competitive society. I wasn't able to reply the e-mails because I was extremely busy with work.Now that I have finally found the balance in work and life, I will reply the e-mails slowly.

I came to know that I wasn't stupid, I was being condescended based on my nationality by a boss who was also a Malaysian. It's very stressful to think that Malaysians usually metamorphosised into arrogant Singaporeans/Permanent Residents after they have stayed long enough in that island. I personally find that Singaporeans are very polite, well-educated and humble in personality ( Unlike some cheap Malaysians-turned-Singaporeans with low pay and shitty jobs ).

And babes, I am proud to say that I can finally own luxury brands like Chanel ,LV and Prada with just 1/2 month salary. Hooray to that !( Take that, my Malaysian doctor friends who told me I couldn't make it in Singapore because I am an architect!). Pay is great here in my new company ( which is the architectural firm that completed ION Orchard, St Regis and the latest shopping mall would be JCube in Jurong East). Plus, my working time is lesser compared my previous firm. Praise the Lord for that! I can have more shopping time and beauty sleep.

Needless to say, I shopped until I almost fell in the train. Great life, I reckon! I've just signed as a member of Guerlain, Chanel, YSL, SK-II,Clarins, Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Kanebo, Christian Dior, Lancome, Sephora and Kiehl's. Currently, Burberry membership is still invalid in Singapore, so I couldn't sign up despite the amount of products I've just bought from Burberry counters. Givenchy and La Mer are next !Why did I shop like mad? The answer is simple. My firm is in Orchard. Tangs Plaza, Scotts Square, ION Orchard, Paragon, Takashimaya, Ngee Ann City and Shaw Tower are in very close proximity. Life is really good here.

The best feeling is ... I am able to repay my mum and family for their kindness and endless support.I can never be able to send that much money home if I were to work in Malaysia. Good news come in a row; my brother is now under full sponsorship by Malaysia's Ministry of Science, Technology and Power to fund his Master/PhD research,my little sister scored excellent grades in her examinations every time and Mummy has been awarded as Outstanding Teacher/Headmistress of the Year. My darling boyfriend is scoring excellent CAP for his Master research in NUS, and gained praises from his Professors and Fujitsu directors from Japan.I am overjoyed by their achievements. I am hoping that my whole family will migrate to Singapore to stay with me.

I am still in the process of sorting out my photos for beauty reviews. I will start with Lancome and Chanel first , I guess. I just gotten myself a set of SK-II products, so I need to try them out first before publishing the reviews to public.

Although I am based in Singapore, I will still travel to JB to hunt for more beauty products. So, yes, I can now try and review products from two countries! Yes, I admit that it's very greedy and indulgent of me, but I like it.

Hey, Happy Chinese New Year, hotties. Don't stop pampering yourself, it's not the end of the world yet.

Fatigued Inside Out

2011-08-16T09:44:00.008+08:00

First of all, do accept my bow and salute to the surviving architects out there.

I am under my first employment and you guess it right, I am now in Singapore, the island where intelligent people rise to the top( unlike Malaysia , the idiots rule and run the God-damned country). And don't get me wrong, I like my company. Every architectural firm is generally the same in terms of working hours ,workload and the degree of pressure in Singapore.

The problem is just me.I am a weak Malaysian.

*sigh*

I fainted after only a few days of working. It's not because of the workload. It's the pressure and expectation that horrifes me.

The boss is a stern person( and extremely intelligent one). I actually admire him but I guess I am his great disappointment and liability because my inability to cope and give my utmost performance to the tasks given. I was called the idiot and the stupid on many occasions which killed my working days. I was reminded constantly that Malaysia is incomparable to Singapore because of the island's highly competitive society and not to mention that architecture is an extremely tough profession.

I understand the reason many female architects put a halt to their nightmarish career. I don't want to quit. It is not that I am lazy. I am just toooooooooo tired to start my day.I did my reading and homework the night before until almost dawn. But nobody knows and appreciates my silent effort because everyone is EXPECTED to do this. That is when I realise that this island is unforgiving to the slow and stupid ones. One is expected to be intelligent and critical enough in everything he/she does.

That is also when I know that I am nothing close to smart. You can call me a bright student but I am nowhere close to being smart and intelligent. That is when I have my full respect to the boss and my fellow colleagues for being able to withstand the excruciating pain of the profession.

TheBf waits for me everyday since day one to return home. I've never left the firm early. Again, one is expected to work overtime to finish the drawings and study them before submissions to any party.

*sigh*

I used to think that Chanel and Prada would be the ultimatum if not a sound bank savings. Now, not anymore. From a usually tough person, I am now a little girl lost in the jungle in her quest of taking the road not taken. Remember 'The Road Not Taken' by Robert Frost? Don't listen to him if you're doing it just for fun or in the name of curiosity. Chances of you liking the path not taken is really slim. I don't even want a Chanel now. I want nothing.

I like architecture. But I choked myself in swallowing the insults.

*sigh*

What am I saying? The boss was right. I am stupid, hopeless and difficult to be trained. My malfunctioned brain ... my stupidity.... my inefficiency.

I appreciate his effort in teaching me things one by one and unlike usual days, he did not yell at me yesterday for almost blowing out a project. What he did actually reminded me of my dad teaching me things that took me ages to master before he was gone. So, I was moved emotionally. My dad, an extremely intelligent man too, used to teach me a lot of things that other things that other kids did not have the chance to discover during my primary schooling years.

How to debate( because he's a law graduate from the U.K), how to memorise difficult formula and chemical equations, how to paint a good painting, how to operate complicated machines, how to write to impress and how to take care of my face... I think I've lost all these abilities now.

I am a loser now.

*sigh*

If I knew that studying in NUS would make me half as good as The Boss, I'd do anything to fund myself back in 2006. Gah, I shouldn't have rejected NUS' offer back then. To think that I actually help saving mummy's money by studying in UTM makes me sadder. This is what I get for trying to help the family. The father is useless for leaving us for someone else. Poor mum. I hope that I am not going to be her next disappointment. NUS graduates are so much better than us UTM graduates. Don't ever,ever deny that. I've seen with my own eyes.

UTM used to be excellent but that was decades ago. Now UTM is toppled by other universities of the region. Needless to say, its ranking is rippled and honey, it is already engulfed by NUS.

Or maybe the problem is just me, really. I am the ultimately stupid and weak one.

Mummy wanted me to accept my phD offer from my former university. No, any degree from Malaysia is useless, be it the bachelor , master or doctorate degree.Do not attempt to defend Malaysian universities in front of me or you'll see me slashing your mouth. I know the truth the hard way. Malaysian education system is failure and The Boss kept on telling me that I am the product of such education system. This, I strongly agree.

But I am not even smart to begin with. So how ?

Be the tough architect or a doctorate scholar ? How ?

While I typing this, my mind is congested with designs. Design, when will I master the art and science of it?

Sometimes I pray this to God; either make me a complete retard or make me super intelligent to the state that Mensa Club members worship me.That way, I won't even fall to this miserable state.

My boy told me that I looked miserable and deranged every time I reached home. The one-hour journey to work, the sleep deficiency, the fatigue, the pressure, the poor cognitive ability and the workload all leads to my current state of desolation.

Is there any motivational seminar for architects-to-be?

I need to attend one. I still want to try out the profession. And I hope I have a dad to lend me his shoulders to weep on. Only a dad would know what to do next.

Randomness 29

2011-06-21T13:54:00.006+08:00

Hi women.

My absense from blogosphere probably gave you the conclusion that I was :
a) assassinated by a hater.
b) going for a long honeymoon with TheBf.
c) dead of boredom.
d) short of items to blog about.

...which I can safely assure that the truth is none of the above. Yes, my job now is to cling 24/7 to TheBf. Ha has not renounce nor surrender to my crazy obsession of being an overzealous good girlfriend to him. My hiatus is always due to the slow internet connection that challenges my patience, my laziness and my refusal to kiss the LCD screen when I am supposed to rest and relax before resuming my architectural work.

Another reason ?Read below.

Dead Laptop

That's what you'll get from an over-abused device that simply cannot be revived by any technician. When I first got the bluescreen, I was dumbfounded and almost hit my head on the wall. Who won't, when a mass amount of raw and edited photos are stored in the laptop with no backup? I know, the tiny voice in you must have scoffed at my stupidity and carelessness for allowing my precious photos to be engulfed and made vanished. *sigh*

The poor laptop had been sent for repair in Kampar. TheBf told me to prepare for the worst as Kampar computer intellects are almost non-existent despite them receiving tertiary education. His claim was sadly quite true. They might have dealt with computers with softwares that are a little more complicated than er... Adobe Photoshop? Retrieving my 3ds, skp, mdc and dwg files is a mission impossible. The last thing I wanted to hear is ' Hard disk corrupted' ,which was exactly the last thing I heard from the technician before I bid farewell to him ( A farewell that will last forever, never will I step into your shop again,bye).

Nevertheless, I was grateful that the lappie only gone wonky just after I was done with my architecture degree. Suspected to be stricken with countless viruses and worms, I probably need a new computer once I start working.

Working?

I am tired of people asking me when will I start working and my future. And those who asked were aunties, relatives who never got in touch with me for gazillion years and TheBf's next-of-kins. It's really funny when these people looked down on my job as an architect. These people literary worshiped civil engineers whom in their eyes, are the smart ones. I'd rather save me a liter of my saliva from explaining to a bunch of aunties whose intellect only extended to the latest TVB drama series. They all called me a snob but duh, who's being the snobs here? They would give me a thousand and one stories of their relatives graduating from whatever non-prestigious universities and they were doing fine with their meager pay of RM2 k in KL. Sorry, RM 2 k you say ? I can't even enjoy my life with such low pay! Oh gosh. I can't even sustain my beauty interest even if the pay is raised to RM 2.5k.

Whatever it is, I am now penniless as I am now giving myself a long vacation after dreading my years in the varsity.

I'll see if I have any backup of my review photos. I have more than 200 drafts that I have to post up pronto.

Review - Revlon Beyond Natural 2-Way Foundation SPF 12

2011-05-29T15:57:00.004+08:00

Ingredients List( please click at image to enlarge):

Product Description:

My Experience:

Two-way foundation? It gives me the impression that this foundation is going to be very thick and make me a geisha.

I was wrong and thank God for that.Don't be fooled by the phrase ' two-way foundation'. For this case, Revlon is excluded from the epitome that two-way foundation gives you a mask-like effect. The powder is lightweight and effortlessly gives my face a very natural look. It's as though I had a great skin to begin with when underneath the thin layer of the foundation, I had with me a few pimples and scars under camouflage.

The pan comes with a soft sponge that I like; it doesn't pick up excessive powder and it doesn't get dirty easily. You know, there are some sponges that absorb moisture/ liquid from your liquid foundation/ BB cream that you have painstakingly applied earlier. Later your sponge will look dirty with all sorts of beige and brownish shades from your liquid foundation. Now, that is a nuisance , right?

Stupid me, I forgot to take the swatch photo for this foundation. But if you really need to know, the shade is very close to Chanel White Essential Light Reflecting Whitening Compact Foundation SPF 25/ PA +++. And I got to know that the shade is almost identical to that of Shu Uemura's Face Architect Glow Enhancing Powder Foundation in #774.( A foundation that I have yet to review)

The texture, the oil-control, the shade and the staying power is almost the same for the three mentioned foundations. My only complain would be the slightly yellowish shade of the foundation. Although 'Buff' is the palest shade available, there are times when I couldn't carry off the shade because of the yellow base. This happens when my skin gets fairer from the lack of outdoor activities. I am very impressed with the concealing power as I can skip my concealer when I use this foundation. Extra pats will be given to blemish-prone areas like chin and forehead for a more flawless finish. And the makeup stays for the day! I'd just blot off the extra shine with a piece of thin tissue when my face has decided to be replace my frying pan with the excessive oil.

My Revlon foundation is the one I carry out with me for the quick touch-up. I don't usually use it at home as I still have my Chanel foundation. You know, I have this silly thought that if one day my bag is snatched by a thief, I wouldn't have to deal with extreme damage. It's not the bag that I'd cry over, it's my makeup products that I carry with me in the handbag. I had this experience once and I ain't going to repeat the same mistake.

Overall, this is thee foundation that I really like from drugstore. I couldn't find any other foundation that matches Revlon in terms of price and effectiveness.

My Verdict:

Review- DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid Kit

2011-05-27T20:17:00.006+08:00

Price : RM 70 per set

Where to get:
www.skygreen2u.com

My Experience:

Initially, it was the round pouch that I wanted.Then my love for DHC products sprouted along the way.

Tadah! The beautiful silver pouch reveals three skincare products !

The kit consists of these mini-sized products:

1) DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid lotion
2) DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid Milky Essence
3) DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid Cream

The lotion is indeed a toner. This product should be the first to use. I don't soak thee lotion with cotton pads but would always prefer to pour the lotion straight onto my face before gently patting it. The texture is just like water, it's not like Hada Labo that has a slight sticky texture.I like the lotion but I think there's nothing special about the lotion/ toner. A toner is just to prep skin to better absorb the next product you're putting on your skin. But I won't suggest you to skip toner as some toners help in increasing skin moisture level. If you really want a toner that works excellently in hydration, may I suggest you to try O'slee Rosehip BeautySolution Advanced Beauty Formula III.

The full size costs about RM 85 for 30 ml. Pretty expensive but if I am lemming for it, there's nothing I can do but to import the essence from Japan. The essence is not readily available in Malaysia and I got even shocked to see the price in Singapore. After trying the essence,I was hooked. I wanted the full size.... :(

I don't care if the product isn't featured in any magazine ( that is what gullible girls do most of the time), the product works for me. Despite the price, I think the essence is really worth the try. I regretted not buying the full size when I had the chance to. Now I have to pre-order the product and God knows when the parcel will arrive.

I really hope that Watsons brings this series in.

Oh..I think I am going to get this cream in full size. I have yet to finish the whole jar because I reserved some of the cream for emergency use. I have the whole kit inside my handbag every day just in case I have to stay overnight at somewhere else but home. I have the habit of tagging every single cream I have with you if someone tells me to stay overnight at their place in advance. Now I keep everything to minimal by taking only the sample kits to minimise luggage overload.

This cream was once featured in Ladies' First and it made the show audience in awe with the instant result. The texture is quite wet and I need only sparingly to cover my whole face. I usually use the cream at night time as the cream tends to make my face look oily when I used it at day time. I know it is supposed to make one's skin look dewy but hey, this is Malaysia you're talking about, not Japan. It's freaking hot and humid here, so it is very difficult to carry off the dewy look without looking like a giant fried meatball.

These are what I thought after trying the sample kit:

Skin Clarity :

Not that obvious but I see improvement in the overall skin texture. It is no longer super oily nor dry. I would say that my skin looks fresher now. Normally when someone sees me, I would be told that my skin looks somewhat stressed and in shock. Now that I am on holiday and starting to take care of my skin in full course, I think my skin is generally okay and clear.

Whitening Effect:

The whitening effect is quite good. I don't like the kind of white that the Koreans are projecting. Too white and ghastly. Instead, I adore the milky skin of Japanese girls. Their kind of white looks demure and very feminine. After observing a lot of photos of the Koreans and the Japanese, I find that the Japanese have more dewy and rosy tone to their skin. Their skin looks shiny ( not oil slick) and glossy like boiled egg white. I think DHC 's whitening products tend to create such whitening effect rather than a dead white complexion. I am totally sold to that marketing principle. So, if you're expecting to a lighter skin by many shades, DHC is not for you as the products are designed to give users a healthier fair complexion.

Freckles:

Not much luck with the kit and I can understand that because treating freckles require a long period, so I am not complaining.

Allergy and Acne Test:

I am safe from both disasters. My skin doesn't yell in itchiness and certainly doesn't pop pimples after using the products. Happy! I think people with sensitive skin can try the kit as they do not have to waste more money on products that might not work for them. The kit is just ideal for people who are afraid to flare up their skin condition. Fret not, my super sensitive skin did not react badly to the products, so I guess it's safe for minor sensitive skin.

Overall:

Oh, I love DHC Platinum Silver Nanocolloid! You should see the packaging of the full size.Whoa... so pretty and elegant. The bottles and jars come in blue and silver colours. Interesting combination, I'd say. Also, if you're into the Japanese type of whitening, you can give the kit a try before venturing into the full size. I wouldn't recommend you to jump straight to the full size as the cost can be really hefty especially to students. Right now, I am very satisfied with the sample kit and am planning to get the full size of the essence and cream.

My Verdict:

Review - L'egere Whitening Solution

2011-05-27T19:50:00.004+08:00

Price : RM 45 ( 30 ml x 2)

Where to get :
www.skygreen2u.com

Product Description:

My Experience:

I saw this serum featured in Ladies' First show when I was browsing through Youtube this January. My initial thought was " How on Earth do people squeeze out the serum with that tiny nozzle ?"

Trust me, I did not have any lemming for this serum but I kept on seeing this serum appearing at the front page of one of my favourite online beauty shops, Skygreen2u. At that moment, I had extra cash so I ordered the serum. I was thrilled when I received the serum. No, I should call them 'serums' because inside the box, there were two bottles of serums! I got two bottles for a price of only RM 45 ! This is by far the cheapest whitening serum that I 've ever bought. Seriously. On top of that , the whitening serum was recommended by a lot of Taiwanese beauty guru including Niu Er.

So, this is how the bottle looks like. You have to believe me this; the serum looks expensive and leegant. I am still keeping the bottle to keep my handmade moisturising serum ( I simmered snow fungus for a few hours to extract the juice, it's a good replacement for super hyaluronic acid).

How to use this ? Remove the white cap and squeeze the cone-shaped nozzle to extract out the serum. The nozzle is made of flexible rubber, so it is really very easy to get the serum out from the bottle. The rationale behind such design is so that users can determine how much serum to be used without wasting a single drop. I personally think that it is quite a hassle to use the serum out of such bottle design. I still prefer a glass dropper over thingamajigs like this.

The main ingredients are arbutin and gold flakes. The serum is really similar to that of 24K Gold Serum / ampoule. You can see tiny gold specks floating on clear serum solution. All you need to do is to massage until the gold flakes melt into skin. The clear solution isn't like other serums. Other serums might be more diluted and have thinner texture but for this serum, the clear solution appears to be somewhat like a gel with gluey consistency.It tends to leave sticky feeling upon application.

From the description, one would anticipate to see a fairer and a more luminous new complexion. I too, had the vision of myself looking more radiant and glowing in health. I tested the product and was pleased with the result.I wouldn't say that my skin extremely flawless but I get to see clearer skin as though I look 18. I miss my clear skin when I was 16! *sob sob*

Below, I summarise my findings:

Skin clarity, radiance and luminosity:

Dramatically improved. I see major improvement at the second bottle. I can go out without makeup and dip my face into swimming pool without worrying that my red face would flare up.

Acne marks/ scars:

The serum doesn't really lighten existing scars and acne marks, but it helps at expediting healing of wounds. You know, sometimes our hands tend to be super itchy by picking pimples. As a result, skin is hurt and wounded from such action. I use the serum to soothe wounds. By applying the serum to wound, scars are unlikely to form because skin is protected from environmental harshness. The clear gel of the serum acts like aloe vera gel in protecting the wounds.

Whitening effect:

I didn't notice a more lightened skin until I took a group photo. Hmm... They said my face was glowing and very white. I am not sure of that. TheBf said I always look white, so I am not sure which to believe. But..... I need a new foundation as my current one seems to look darker on me nowadays. So, what say you ? I think the serum does a good job then.

Anti-aging:

Believe it or not, I apply the serum around my eye areas. Fine lines sprouted like mad as though I am in my mid-30s. Man, this is crazy. I patted the serum onto my upper and lower eyelids. The serum instantly cools my eyes and I am proud to say that the fine lines are non-existent now.

Conclusion:

My second bottle is running low. Normally, I would figure out new alternative as addition to my growing collection of serums, but my mind and heart kept on wanting L'egere. First , I like the BB cream. And now, I am totally in love with the whitening serum. Oh gosh, I need to order more L'egere stuff now. So, my conclusion ? This product is wo

My Verdict:

Review - Pure Beauty Super Brightening Day Lotion SPF 15 and Night Cream

2011-05-27T18:40:00.007+08:00

No, these are not the latest game in town. They are my Pure Beauty moisturisers! I had these two for quite a long time and I didn't get the chance to write a review about these creams partly because I was too busy for my final year and yes , you guessed it right, I procrastinated.

One thing that never fails to catch a woman's attention is the packaging. I fell hard for the packaging so I got these two moisturisers at one go. Pure Beauty Super Brightening skincare series has been around in Singapore for quite a while before the brand finally brought in the series to Malaysia. Geez... Why must Singapore be ahead of Malayisa in everything including beauty stuff? We have crazy shoppers who spend more than most Singaporeans so it is time for economists and investors to revise their marketing and business strategies.

I got my products in Singapore because I loved the packaging and my curiosity asked me to get them.

Review 1 : Pure Beauty SuperBrightening Night Cream

Ingredients List :

Product Description:

My Experience:

After a major success with the shape of the jar from the Pomegranate series, Pure Beauty repeated their success with this new skincare line. The smooth globe-like jar is a winner in every beauty shelf. I believe it is one strong reason why I brought this cream home. I expected the cream to be very good judging from the intense advertising campaigns that I saw in most Watsons outlets.

About the texture, it's kind of funny that the night cream is very thin and diluted compared to the day cream. And I always thought that night cream should have thicker and richer texture in order to minimise moisture loss when skin is rejuvenating at night.

The night cream doesn't work for me. yes, I do get brightened skin the next day but for some reason, my skin feels dry and dehydrated despite slathering quite a thick layer of this night cream all over my face and neck. I tried to like the cream because I think the pomegranate series is quite a steal for me. Unfortunately, self-comforting doesn't always work with products that don't suit my skin type. I don't get breakouts or weird bumps after using this cream but damn, after using the cream for quite some time, my skin appears to have more broken capillaries. This is really strange as I usually get this kind of reaction only when I am using string whitening solutions.

After testing for two months, I am confirmed that the cream does not suit me.

My Verdict:

Review 2:
Pure Beauty Super Brightening Day Lotion SPF 15

Ingredients List:

Product Description:

My Experience:

Like any other cream of Pure Beauty, the day cream projects the same jar design. If you're not buying because of the content, you are probably just like me; collecting cute-looking jars.

I did not expect the cream to be very thick. It is almost as thick as body lotion and to my dismay, the cream does not absorbed into skin easily. I had to do whatever a sane person would do to make sure I am not a giant sticky monster; rubbing, massaging , patting and use sparingly. They didn't work. The texture the one thing that irks me off.

I sweat like nobody's business when have the cream on my face. It's so thick that my makeup doesn't stay put. To avoid more makeup mishaps, I reduced the portion and warmed the cream with palm first in hope of getting my face moisturised and have my makeup stays longer. I was so wrong.

I got small pimples from using the day cream and ladies, you are seeing an angry user. The cream might not be the one for me. I now use the cream as my neck cream due to its rich texture. it doesn't really brighten up my skin but I can always treat it as my normal moisturiser.

My Verdict:

Overall Verdict:

Beauty World , Here I Come

2011-05-26T13:29:00.002+08:00

Pardon me for the long hiatus. It was unintended. Nevertheless, I had to desert this blog of mine in order to complete what I had started 5 years ago; my Bachelor Degree of Architecture. "Five years for a bachelor degree , you've got to be kidding me" is the most common sentence that I've been hearing all these years whilst doing architecture course. Along the tumultuous years battling with sleeping deficiency, stress and heartbreaks, my passion has somehow derailed from the original track. I am trained to be a sensible architect, yet the years in architecture made me go ding dong and my mind is always at the random. I do not think about how buildings should be sustained,how to minimise negative spaces and how to add appeal to ugly buildings. But my mind keeps on focusing on dressing sense, fashion, beauty, skincare and makeup. These are the things that I do not fancy before entering my varsity.

Now, I have gone bewildered with my new-found freedom. I can do my painting all day and no one is going to tell me that my work isn't up to the standard. 'Standard' is an icky word. I loathe what the society conforms and sorry, I have no standard for my work. I just do what I like. This happens to my thesis. I do what I like in the end. The lecturers wanted something else, I hate their ideas. I didn't get an A for my thesis but I cared not now that I am an architecture graduate. Mum doesn't like this course from the start so she was feeling relieved that her phone doesn't ring with me at the end of the line sobbing and complaining about the hardships.

Oh, I even showed her some of the works in Reform unit and she too, agreed that some C works deserved better grades and vice versa. My hometown friends and architecture seniors of other universities laughed at the this thesis that got an A in Reform unit but shows every detail of work that belongs to C-grade student. " What shit is this? This is a second-year product. How can this get to the top?", they said.Do you smell favouritism?

Whatever.

The industry is full of favouritism.

Right now, I am all clean from architecture. I want to rest. And I want peace from all the sorority fights. Oh yeah, did I mention that some girl friends love to compare from head to toe?I try to avoid this particular person who gets grumpy at the boyfriend all the time and yells when she likes to. She gets easily annoyed and gets jealous very often but never wanted to admit it. The funniest thing is she was once my favourite person. *sigh*

I hate negative changes.

Thank God, I have a great boyfriend who is damn funny, crazy and enjoys my companion as much as I do. I am looking forward to working in Singapore while Matt continues with Master degree in NUS.Yay!

Review - Eucerin White Solution Whitening Night Treatment

2011-05-07T01:02:00.011+08:00

Product Description from the box:

Product Ingredients:

Direction of use:

My Experience:

Eucerin is probably one of the safest products for me to use. Every product from Eucerin gives me great result as soon as 1 week of usage. I think acne sufferers who cannot sustain their expensive acne medications and skincare can try this skincare brand. It is not a top-notch skincare brand but hey, it works for most people. I highly recommend Eucerin for sensitive skin type. Not only the products help to reduce skin redness, they also control occurrence of acne.
I know a lot of acne sufferers are having difficulties in finding suitable products that can both control acne and do not cause skin allergies. I am a huge fan of Eucerin night cream despite owning a multitude creams of various brands. The price is reasonable and it is effective.

This big jar of night cream could last you for months, so this is what I call value for money.

Don't be scared to see the cream. It looks thick but it's not. It melts the moment the cream touches skin. I like how lightweight the cream actually is. I thought the cream was somewhat like Olay's cream but thank God, it's not! The more I pat, the more matte my skin turns out. But I don't really pat my face upon the application of the cream because no one is going to see my shiny face at bedtime.

These are my staples.

The cream comes in a thick texture but don't worry, the cream is easy to spread and does not leave weird white cast on face.

You see that my skin still manage to look matte despite piling a huge dollop of the night cream on my skin. TheBf agrees that his skin is less oily and looks so much brighter after using the night cream. For your information, my boyfriend is a fan of Eucerin. I can see why. His face looks radiant and trouble-free after using the whole range from Eucerin.

I met this lovely cream for the first time through this mutual friend; the value pack,which was by the way, truly a value for money. It cost on;y RM 95.88 per pack with 3 items. If you're lucky, you would be able to get a pack with 4 items, which are really rare. I was told that only three to four packs with the four items are sold in selected Guardians pharmacies.If you happen to see one, do grab it a.s.a.p. because you might not see it the next day you want it. I am still searching for the 4-item value pack.

There are three items in the value pack I bought; cleanser, serum and night cream. I love the three products ( the review of the serum is coming soon).

This the summary after finishing one whole jar of Eucerin night cream:

Skin clarity:

Mine improved tremendously. I like how illuminated my skin looks the next morning.

Whitening effect:

Use this cream consistently and you will get lighter skin tone by 1 -2 shades in a month or so. I see result as soon as 2 weeks. Note that the purpose of using this cream is not to make your face ghastly white, but to even out skin tone that is often reddish and covered with broken blood capillaries from the skin sensitivity and post-acne scarring.

Oiliness:

The cream is anything but oily. I would say that the cream really moist. It doesn't look like some emulsified cream so I assume that the cream is more hydrophyllic. And, goodnews to those with extreme oily skin. I noticed a more matte and even skin tone the next day after applying the cream at night. So, the cream actually reduces oil production at day time when it is used at night time.

Plus points:

The cream is so lightweight that you can even use it for day skincare but I wouldn't do so as I have other day creams to use. This cream is one of my favourites. I have been comign back for this cream despite having other high-end night creams because it doesn't irritate my skin and most of all, it helps clearing away broken capillaries.

Yup, this cream helps to control broken capillaries from getting worse. I rely on this cream to make my skin as clear as it can. I am happy that despite the minimal BB cream coverage that I use now, my skin doesn't look like a giant atlas.

My Verdict:

Review - Lanopearl Re-Birth Placenta Extract Concentrated Skin Serum and Lanopearl Placentherapy Deep Cleansing & Moisturising Bar

2011-05-04T17:19:00.014+08:00

A month ago ( or so), I was contacted by Tracy via my blog chat to give a try to the products from Lanopearl. I was puzzled when she mentioned that the products are constituted of sheep placenta. I always had this misconception that using placenta is equivalent to animal cruelty,in which I was proven wrong. I contacted Tracy again via e-mail after doing my research on the process of sheep placenta extraction. It wasn't cruel and scary at all. In fact, beef and poultry industries are far more cruel that extracting seep placenta.

This is the first time that I was exposed to products made of sheep placenta and from Australia. I wasn't aware that the brand Lanopearl and Re-Birth even existed! Stupid me! The brand Lanopearl was established in Australia. Tracy was really kind to send me full size products to try; an anti-aging serum and a moisturising soap. Both of the products are made of sheep placenta extract. I was amazed by the results. Lanopearl is brand to go when it comes to anti-aging and restoring skin texture. Under Lanopearl, there are several skincare lines such as Re-Birth and Bio-Peak .If you are interested, you can contact Tracy here :tlau6@yahoo.com for more details.The products are not available in Malaysia yet, so you can definitely ask Tracy for help if you need the products.

These were what I received from Tracy :

Quoted from its official website;

"Lanopearl Skin Care is inspired by the diverse beauty elements from nature. We carefully selected pure and unique botanical extracts originating from different parts of the world and enriched with vitamin where enhances and store skin complexion. Lanopearl is recognized in anti-aging solution. The outcomes are sophisticate, light, and delicately fragranced creams with age freezing capabilities. In case your skin in time defying; Lanopearl Skin Care will bring your skin to its origin pureness and pristine".

The first product that I tried from Re-Birth was the placenta extract serum.

Review 1 - Lanopearl Re-Birth Placenta Extract Concentrated Skin Serum

I really love this serum. I was really disappointed when the serum is nowhere to be found in Malaysia because it's really an excellent serum for fine lines, crows feet and uneven skin tone. The retail price for the serum is AUD$42. Hmm... Quite a pricey serum but it is worth every penny.

Here are some details of the serum( quoted from http://www.lanopearl.com.au):

Smaller molecule than the skin pore, fast absorb in one minute
• Reduces wrinkle in 2 weeks and reduces dark spot on the face
• Most popular product, a lot of good comment from customers

Description

A skin serum containing concentrated natural & pure placenta extract derived from sheep. Placenta extract is a rich source of bioactive nutrients to provide intense hydration, firming of skin while diminishing age spots and pigmentation.

Normal to Dry	Whitening
Not for Sensitive Skin	Normal to Dry
Oily & Combi	Normal to Dry
Acne Skin

Ingredients / Active Ingredients

Ingredients: Cyclomethicones, Sheep Placental Extract, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Alpha Tocopheryl Acetate

The serum bottle was nicely secured in a shiny box that I refused to throw away because it makes a nice box for my pens. Ooops. I told you that I love recycling( but only applies to pretty stuff).

Product description and direction of use from the box:

I was delighted that product descriptions and ingredients were imprinted on the product itself because I didn't want to keep all the boxes with me.

The bottle was quite heavy as it is made of amber glass. For one bottle, it could last you for many months because you only very minimal amount on your entire face.

It looks beautiful on my beauty shelf , you know.

The serum comes with a slim dropper.

Don't worry if the product is illegally produced. Lanopearl is accredited and certified to be Halal.

Read this, the descriptions are quoted from http://www.rebirthskincare.com/:

Rebirth Australian No 1 Placenta Expert

Established in 1993, Rebiirth skin care is the original placenta expert in Australia. Rebirth laboratory pioneers the sheep placenta cream with unique formulations. Fortified by pure placenta, Rebirth skin care minimizes early signs of age spots, scar and discolorations, ensuring natural beauty of the skin. The perfect proportion of placenta between in water and oil base creates a rich, smooth yet non-greasy and highly absorbent cream. Vitamin E, a natural antioxidant, plays a vital role in stimulating new cell production. For anyone who wants to maintain young-looking, soft and radiant skin, Rebirth skin care is second to none.

Rebirth is dedicated to develop the most effective anti aging skin treatment at affordable price. We offer 100 % money back guarantee to anyone not satisfied with Rebirth products. In our commitment as the placenta expert, if you are completely satisfied with our products, then so are we!

About Placenta

Sheep Placental Extract is a rich source of "Bioactive nutrients" including essential amino acids, placental protein, Hyaluronic acid (HA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), nucleic acids, Epidermal Growth Factors (EGF's), Senescent Cell Activating Factors (SCAF's) and antioxidants.
• Amino acids are building blocks of proteins and are needed for most bodily functions.
• SOD is a potent antioxidant enzyme that acts as a free radical scavenger, protecting cells from oxidative harm caused by free radicals. Diminished oxidative harm results in less aging, manifested in less fine lines and wrinkles.
• There is a reduction of age spots and pigmentation due to decreased production of melanin by SOD.
• HA promotes rapid healing and diminishes scars.
• EGF's trigger new cell generation and renewal.
• SCAF's activate the renewal of aged cells, thereby resulting in rejuvenated cells that are youthful, healthy and hydrated.

• Stimulates skin cell renewal thereby reinvigorating old cells and generating new healthy cells. The result is an increasingly youthful appearance.
• Provides intense hydration to skin, returning firmness and suppleness while reducing fine lines and wrinkles.

The Benefits of Placenta:
• Reduces pigmentation and diminishes appearance of age spots, blemishes and discolouration.
• Promotes a smooth, translucent skin complexion.
• Increases skin elasticity thereby reducing saggy appearances.
• Encourages rapid healing and reduces scars.
• Returns vigour to dry, aged skin with young and radiant looking skin.
• Helps balance skin's natural sebum production and reduce open pores.
• Aids in regulating the menstrual cycle, ease menstrual pain and alleviate menopausal symptoms.
• Improve energy and vitality.

The serum is oil-like and all you need is a few drops for the entire face and neck. As neck is the one of the many body parts that show significant signs of aging, I urge beauty junkies out there to always remember to apply anti-aging products on neck. Please no more neglecting your neck because crinkly neck with some flaps aren't sexy. In fact, taut face with wrinkled neck is really a horrid sight.

In my case, I massage this serum onto my neck before patting the remaining serum onto my face. As I am still young, I only use the serum sparingly.The result that I got was great. I love how fine lines are substantially reduced. I am sure this serum would work well on women who are serious about getting bounces on their skin back!

As far as I can remember, placenta is the one that feeds foetus in a mother's womb. So, placenta is in fact full of nutrients that support life. Chinese women actually consume sheep placentas as their ultimate elixir of youth. I am not one of those women who would to the extent consume weird stuff in order to sustain their youth.

The serum is a good investment if Botox isn't your option.I will continue to use this serum until I get a better alternative. Oh, Lanopearl, Please launch your products here in Malaysia or Singapore.

My Verdict:

Review 2- Lanopearl Placentherapy Deep Cleansing & Moisturising Bar

The soap comes in an elegant gold box that secures the soap. It's another way to increase its aesthetic value as well as to protect the fragile form of the bar. Selling at the price of AUD$ 11.20 per bar, I think the soap is quite pricey for students. But it is definitely worth it for working ladies who wish to maintain the youthfulness of their skin through cleansing.

Here are the details that I got from the website:

Placenta soap helps to refresh, remove dead skin cells and renew the skin. Placenta extract has anti-aging property as well as helps to restore moisture balance, thus preventing the formation of wrinkles. This beauty bar is very nourishing for the skin. Leave the skin velvety soft and radiant.

Description
Placenta with vitamin E soap helps to refresh, remove dead skin cells and renew the skin. Placenta extract has anti-aging property as well as helps to restore moisture balance, thus preventing the formation of wrinkles. This beauty bar is very nourishing for the skin, leaving the skin feel velvety soft and radiant.

Ingredients / Active Ingredients
Sodium Palmate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Purified Water, Hydrolyzed Placenta Extract, Fragrance, Glycerin, Sudium Chloride, Titanium Dioxide, Tetra Sodium EDTA and Colour Pigments FD&C Red No.#33 and Blue No.#1

Directions
Lather up the soap with warm water and massage on face or body. Rinse well.

Contrary to belief, placenta -based products are not as disgusting. For Lanopearl, the sheep placenta extract comes from Australian sheep. There are no mad Cow Disease reported in Australia,so the products are safe for use.Sheep placenta is a natural and non-synthetic fluid that helps in decelerating skin aging, restoring skin youth ,healing scars and old skin cells and many more.

Mek..... Lanopearl is one of the best when it comes to sheep placenta. I have searched for other brand names that use similar core ingredient in the products,and it seems like this Lanopearl is the leading brand.

Product description at the box:

So this is how the bar looks like :

The pink soap has a nice traditional soap scent that reminds me of the soaps that I used to use when I was little.

Until now, I still have a full bar because I only need to use very small amount of the lather to cleanse my face. This soap isn't my main facial cleanser. I would use my own cleanser before using this soap to moisturise my face. This soap is excellent to lazy women. Why ? Because they can jump straight to bed after cleansing their face knowing that their skin is properly moisturised and taken care of by the placenta extract!

I suggest users to keep the bar inside a plastic container in order to keep the soap from humidity and water. Because the soap is fortified with lots of skin-loving ingredients, it is best to avoid the soap from dissolving into water.Keep it dry always. This goes to other handmade and organic soaps. I don't keep this on soap dish because I reckon that the strainer would strain away all the dissolved goodies that are supposed to be absorbed into my skin instead of the toilet floor trap.

My skin looks instantly brightened and clear immediately after rinsing my face. The soap works really good on my oily skin. It is actually formulated for matured and sensitive skin but I think my oily skin can tolerate with the soap. I am currently incorporating the soap into my skincare regimen. I just hope that by the time my soap finishes, Lanopearl is readily available for purchase here in Malaysia.

All in all, this soap does a wonderful job in retaining skin moisture and cleansing. My mum would love this soap as she always complains about her anti-aging cleansers that dry out her skin.

My Verdict:

Overall:

Overall ,this is a great skincare venture. I've never tried anything specifically made of sheep placenta and certainly have not tried anything purely made from Australia.I like weird stuff, so these products definitely fit into the list. And I would recommend the products to aging/matured skin. Those with acne-prone, inflammed and allergic skin , please use the products sparingly as they can be too rich.

Overall Verdict:

Review - Eucerin White Solution Gentle Cleansing Foam

2011-04-27T17:51:00.008+08:00

Price : RM 28.90 ( 150 g)

Full Ingredients List and Direction of Use:

My Experience:

I know a lot have been asking me this; What is my ultimate cleanser?

My answer is always Eucerin White Solution. I have been using this cleanser for the past three years. Along the three years, I have been experimenting with a lot of cleansers available online, pharmacies and high-end skincare counters but none of them could cleanse as well as Eucerin. Well, there are a few but this is the brand that I can maintain in long term. The price is reasonable and affordable.

Sensitive skin is really different from other types of skin. My skin is susceptible to temperature changes and certain kind of product ingredients. Allergents, I call them (because my skin is allergic to them).

I started to come across Eucerin when I thought that the world came crashing onto my head. My skin was red and sensitive. Most of the mild cleansers that I used either gave me stupid bad breakouts because they couldn't cleanse well enough or they made my skin more sensitised than ever before. I heard that Eucerin was great for sensitive skin, so I gave my shot to the brand. And I started with the cleanser first.

The cleanser comes out in a thick paste which you can lather up into a very creamy froth. I love the way it cleanses my skin and I have converted TheBf and his whole family into crazy worshippers of this product.

On lazy days, I would just use this cleanser alone as my makeup remover when I had just BB cream on my face. It's not a good practice because double cleansing is always the way to go. Like I mentioned earlier, I would only do it on lazy days.

It makes my skin so soft, touchable, extremely clean and fair. The clean feel is not the taut and tight feeling that some crazy clarifying cleansers claimed. Your skin should feel very moisturised ,clear and looks translucent. I also compared this cleanser to my high end favourite cleanser which is Kanebo Blanchir Cleansing Soap. They are both quite similar to each other in terms of the texture and the post-cleansing action. However, Eucerin is what I can maintain right now. I am still a poor student,so I'd choose Eucerin over Kanebo. Even if I have income, I'd still choose Eucerin. Why? Hmm... Why do you need to pay more for something that works just the same as the one you find in drugstore ? I'd go for quality and price. Definitely.

Overall, this cleanser is a great product for those which acne, sensitive skin and to those who want to maintain the lightness of their skin tone. This is my FAVOURITE cleanser,y'all !It 's good to be curious and inquisitive at times or else I wouldn't find this gem in a million years!

My Verdict:

Review - Majiami Whitening Lotion

2011-04-24T23:46:00.006+08:00

Price : RM 49.90 ( 100 ml)

Where to get:
Watsons pharmacies

Product Description:

The combination of Melano-Blocker, P4 Complex, Arbutin and Passionflower Extract protects skin from melanin production.The lotion also eliminates dark spots,helps to even out skin tone and gives glow and radiance to skin.

Ingredients List:

My Experience:

Ooops. It's Majiami again. I got this when I first spotted it in Watsons last year. Like other greatest procrastinators in the world, I postponed the writing of this review until now. Bruno Mars must have read through the minds of the globe's laziest person ( like yours truly, teehee ), hence the song 'The Lazy Song ' was written.

Okay, Majiami. This , I think, it's a Taiwanese brand that has been in Malaysia for about a year.

The nozzle that I don't like. I always pour out more than I need because the opening is just too big.

It's really quite good in moisturising. And it doesn't give you that sticky feeling.

It absorbs pretty fast into skin. The texture and hydration factor resembles that of Hada Labo Whitening Milk but this lotion that I am reviewing is heavily packed with fragrance. It smells of a strong jasmine scent, which I hate. I hate anything that smells like jasmine since I was a kid but jasmines are great as skincare ingredients.

My comment for the product:

After so many years breezing through all the experimentation of skincare products, I got allergy and itchiness from this particular lotion. It was really unfortunate that I developed some kind of weird itchiness from using this lotion. Otherwise, I would love to repurchase because it does give me that dewy,good skin glow.I threw away the box immediately after I opened it,so that explains why there's no ingredients list in this post.

I wasn't usually that carefree in buying skincare products but this time, I made a major mistake by buying because of the ambassador, Bea. ( I love Bea for her effortless beauty!) I think there's something inside the lotion that my skin cannot tolerate.I think it's the truckload of fragrance that I was allergic to. I was grateful that I did not develop bumps or skin redness. I just felt itchy all the time and couldn't wait to wash off my face. Now I used this lotion on my body, so it doesn't go to a waste.

Here's the summary:

Allergy test:
I am allergic to this lotion.

Lightening effect:
Quite good ( if I can stand the itchiness,which I couldn't)

Moisturising effect:
Very good. In fact, this is comparable to my Estee Lauder cream.

Oil control:
Quite good. A properly quenched skin does not secrete much oil.

Spot/Freckles control:
No luck. But it is understandable as the spot corrector did not seem to work,so being a lotion with lesser concentration of melano-blocker, it is really quite impossible to lighten dark spots.

Repurchase:
No. Definitely no.

Overall, Majiami and I are not meant to be together. Ah... No fate. The star product which is the spot corrector did not work on me too. So, no more Majiami for me.

My Verdict:

Review - Shiseido Aqualabel Bright White EX

2011-04-21T20:28:00.002+08:00

Price : RM RM 79.90 ( 30 ml)

Where to get:
Watsons pharmacies.

My Experience:

Ah... This serum sits on my beauty shelf for the longest time before I finally drag myself to review.

This serum is one of the best selling items next to Aqualabel's Aqua Enhancer.

I did not get the whole range of course as I have so many products to use. TheBf used to be so pissed off at me squatting at Watsons to try each and every product of Aqualabel. Now, you don't really see me doing that simply because I do not have lemming for the products anymore.

To get serum out, simply press the dispenser in order to pump out the serum. It's really user-friendly and convenient. One disadvantage of such bottle design is that you cannot get the most out of your product. Your remaining serum will cling stubbornly on the wall of the bottle and the next thing you know, the whole thing is chucked into the trash bin. It's a waste, really.

Apart of brightening sallow skin, the serum hydrates and moisturises. I am not seeing the brightening effect but I definitely experience a more moisturised skin.

My comment for the product:

Scent :
Faint and acceptable.

Brightening and whitening effect:
Not very good. In fact, I don't really see changes in terms of skin clarity and brightness even after using this product diligently for a few months. I still prefer the Enhancer for brightening effect.

Allergy test:
Don't worry, this product is safe on allergy -prone skin. Because of the strict quality control and minimum fragrance content in the product, very few cases that users complain about skin irritation after using Shiseido products.

Spot Lightening:
Hmm.... No luck on this too. I guess the serum just doesn't really work for me. There are a lot of users raving about this serum ( which prompted me to try it in the first place) but I don't see anything so mighty and special about this particular serum.

Hydration:
This serum isn't meant to hydrate ,it is meant for brightening. There is another line which is the on in red. That is the hydrating line. However, I am getting plumper skin with this serum. It almost like I've just used a mask or hyaluronic acid serum.

Overall, this product is just so so for me. For a drugstore product, the serum is quite expensive. But darn it, it didn't work well for me(which also explains why I am lazy to review this product). Repurchasing is impossible (unless they fix the brightening formulation).

My Verdict:

TNS Skin Lab Antipodes Nature Skincare Review

2011-04-20T16:29:00.007+08:00

You know , there's a reason why the site name is 'i am lucky to have you'. I am not a lucky person since young; I've never won lucky draws my entire life, I am always placed with the wrong people ( except my current gang now) and I cannot get away with any mischief that I've done!.Somehow I consider myself lucky because I always get things for free and the things are usually amazing.

One very fine but busy day, I checked my Gmail and received an e-mail from Ozwin Enterprise. The PR representative, Amanda ( a very polite and kind person) sent me an invitation to try their products from TNS Skin Lab. I was given the opportunity to be one of the first to try their Antipode skincare range. I am honoured, really! I always walk pass TNS Skin Lab store at Aeon Tebrau City, Johor and now I get to try their products for free! * throws confetti*

Under the wings of TNS Skin Lab , there are other famous ranges like Elemental Herbalogy, Nature's Lab, Dr. Hauschka , Trilogy, Living Nature and Organic Selections. There are more but I only listed out the famous ones. Antipodes Nature is the latest one. I think the range is still new in Malaysia because it was newly launched.

I received the products safe and sound. I was very excited about the new products.

A little about Antipodes Nature:

After a skin analysis, the dermatologists suggested that I try Resurrect Facial Toner and Hosanna Intense Hydrating Serum.

TNS Skin Lab is a green activist and being environmental is what they do the best.Product made are of highest quality botanical ingredients with minimal hurt to our dear Mother Earth. Furthermore, these botanical-based skincare products are clinically tested to be effective and mild to skin. Natural products are proven to perform excellently on skin.

Oh, if you are not keen on going shopping in malls, you can log on to their Facebook profile to view the latest promotion and event : tns Skin l@b Facebook

Or, you can surf their website : tns Skin l@b website You can purchase the products via online too. Just see what you like in the website and click 'Add to Cart'. It's very convenient and I believe many of us love to browse their products at the comfort of our own homes.

They also have their own blog ! Just remember to check it out here: http://tnsskinlab.tumblr.com/

Yay, these are the babes. I love the bottle design !!!

Contents are protected from extreme heat and sunlight in order to preserve the natural goodness of the botanical ingredients. The greenish amber glass bottle reminds me pharmaceutical bottles that I used to see in Biology lab when I was in high school. Please, please recycle the bottles. Use it to store your other beauty products once you have finished the product.

Review 1- Antipodes Resurrect Facial Toner

This is quoted from TNS Skin Lab's source :

If you have normal to oily skin, this is the toner for you. A beautifully refreshing, certified organic toner that harnesses the positive energy of sweet sage. This active, clarifying toner helps reduce the appearance of any visual and open pores you may suffer from, and helps cool and lower your skins temperature.

DAILY RITUAL: Apply at sunrise, high noon and sunset by spraying across your face and neck.
Elements of Beauty: Sweet sage helps reduce appearance of open pores. Great for normal and oily skin.

Do you know that TNS Skin Lab is on of the first skincare brands to receive the Halal certification? Because it is organic and no animal is harmed in the manufacturing of the products, the brand receives a multitude of recognition around the world in their green effort.

I love the choice of words they use in describing the products. Very poetic and different from other brands. Any related to literature interests me .

The product ingredients. No preservative is used. However, the shelf life is not as short as you think. It i advisable to use up the product within 6 months once opened.

It is a heavy bottle and it sits prettily on my beauty desk.

The toner comes in a spray form. I usually spray twice at my face before proceeding with my other skincare products. It's really user-friendly because the one spray of the toner covers my entire face without dripping. I love it!

My comment for the product:

I mentioned to Amanda that I want something that addresses my open pores problem. Moreover, I have an oily skin to tend to. So , the product suggested is this Resurrect Facial Toner.

Here are my findings:

Pore size:

I have visible pores at the sides of my nose. I think it's probably I sweat a lot and I always use powder on my face. I tried this toner alone and stopped my SK-II and other products in order to experiment with Antipodes products and I found out that the toner significantly reduced the appearance of my pore size. Significantly!

I wasn't convinced when I saw the toner because it is more common to combat open pore problem with anti-comedo creams and pore-minimising lotions.It's simpler to spritz something on your face. I am a fan now! Really! It's really good.

Oil Control:

This toner is very good for oily and very oily skin. It doesn't dry out skin like other clarifying toner. Because this is a spray-on toner and not the type that requires wiping, it reduces wastage. You only use your required amount, not to soak your cotton pads.However, I've tried this toner for a weekly anti-acne treatment by wetting a tissue mask with this toner before prepping my face for 20 minutes.

Fragrance:

It smells very botanical and if you have tried salon facial, this is the kind of smell that reminds me of salon. It doesn't have artificial fragrance so some might need to acquire with the smell. Overall, I find it satisfactory.

Allergy test:

It doesn't irritate skin at all. It is very common to feel a slight tingling sensation when using clarifying toner but this one is comfortable on skin. Redness on skin is minimised especially around nose and cheek area.

Plus point:

This toner helps alleviate high skin temperature. I have this problem whenever I subject myself to excessive sun exposure. I see my facial veins becoming more visible and face becomes tomato red. I have a small spritz bottle containing this toner, so I give my face a mist when I see my face turning red. It cools skin and after 3 weeks of using this toner, veins are less visible on my face. I'm serious. When this happens, I tone down the usage of my BB cream to reveal more of my own skin.

My Verdict :

Review 2 - Antipodes Hosanna Intense Hydrating Serum

The second product that I received was Hosanna Intense Hydrating Serum.

Here are some details of the serum:

Hosanna Intense Hydrating Serum
Scented with French rose and soft, spicy cardamon this is a product thats hard to ignore. A water based product to deliver intensive antioxidants such as mamaku black fern, which targets cell renewal, and intensive water hydration, which is perfect for unbalanced skins prone to oiliness and breakouts. This product is also fantastic for skins that are exposed to environmental aggressors on a daily basis. Scientifically shown to stimulate synthesis of collagen production in human skin cells by up to 72%.

Elements of Beauty: Black fern targets cell renewal * Vinanza Grape® is antioxidant packed * skin plumping action.

This 30-ml skin serum is said to increase collagen production by 72%. When I see the word' collagen', I assume that the serum comes with anti-aging properties. And when I re-read the brochure ,yes, I was right. The serum does help with slowing down skin cells aging process.

I've mentioned many times how the absence of product description at product bottles irks me because I need to keep the boxes just in case I want to re-confirm the application method. I am relieved that even in such mimiature size, the serum comes with product description.

Hahaha.. Does this remind you of iodine bottle when testing the presence of starch (photosynthesis test) ?

The product description.

The product ingredients.

My comments for the product:

The second product addresses my fine lines. I have lines around eye area and the most bugging one is my marionette lines. I am not sure if it is a good thing because I laugh a lot, therefore a pair of deep marionette lines appear. It was quite difficult to pick products for me because I have oily skin, prone to acne yet is seeing signs of aging.

Anti-aging and anti-acne :

Very, very good. I see major changes in my skin. Fine lines are almost diminished at cheek areas. I have fine lines when I smile. It's unsightly. It's hideous. Creams, lotions and emulsions, ask me, I've tried them all. I might have abused my hydrating products but my skin still shows creases that shouldn't be there because I am still young.

I consider myself at the pinnacle of my youth. After 25, I assume that my skin starts to degenerate and age. I can feel the impact now. My sleeping pattern is inconsistent and alwaus inadequate. So, let me tell you how I use this to combat acne, oily skin and aging skin simultaneously.

If you know that you'll be staying up late for the night, apply the serum.Massage at parts where fine lines are likely to surface. In my case, I massage and press points of my cheeks, eye area and sides of my lips. Then, re-apply the serum. This time, I pat on my face as a moisturiser. Do not be afraid to see a layer of wet skincare product on your skin. Your face needs the hydration! I've been doing this for a few weeks and I am surprised that this time, I do not break out in pimples. I would normally have small bumps when I am rushing for my drawing submission. The stress, the late nights, the oily supper and the exhaustion contributed to acne. Not to mention, aging skin.

I re-apply whenever I can at night. If I am very busy that night, I would apply a layer of anti-aging moisturiser after the serum. It works for me =)

Allergy test:
The serum helps in relieving allergy and irritation, it isn't the cause of it =) It's really good on inflamed skin.

Plus point:
The serums works like magic for tired skin. It plumps up skin, making fine lines less visible. I bet this serum works even better when I finally sleep at normal sleeping pattern. I still have submissions to go.

Oh, before I forget, this serum is great for brightening too. When skin is properly hydrated, it will look bright and healthy. And without makeup, skin is still going to look glowing with health.

My Verdict :

Overall, this is a great skincare range to invest if you're serious about taking care of your skin. I am a beauty junkie, so I try whatever that intrigues me. This range is definitely my first botanical skincare range and I am loving it. You have to try it.

Overall Rating:

Review - Utena Hadairo Milk

2011-04-20T16:24:00.000+08:00

Where to get :

Watsons pharmacies or by online; www.skygreen2u.com

Full Ingredients List:

Product Description:

Quoted from the packaging:

This is a milky lotion which in beige colour. This milky lotion is most suitable for those who want to smooth out uneven skin tone or acne scars. it can be used as a makeup base or as a light makeup foundation, yet it moisturises your skin all day long. This product also helps to cover pores,blemishes and black spots naturally. Contains Mulberry to help moisturise your skin. UV Protection SPF 25 PA +. No fragrance.

My Experience:

I wanted to purchase the product online last year but feared that I would get something funny as the descriptions in the website was all in Chinese and Japanese. So, I released my lemming until I saw this stuff in Watsons.

"So, it was a base ? ", I thought. Without much hesitation,I took this home and tried.

Utena is famous for its whitening products. Hadairo series is for those who wanted natural look without the geisha factor. Back at that time, I had limited owning of bases, so this product was quite a special one for me because of the bottle design.

It comes in a frosted glass bottle which is really heavy,so you have to be very careful when handling the bottle.

Ah, the beak.I hate such huge opening because I can never estimate how much to pour out. Notice that I use the word 'pour' instead of 'dispense' , 'pump' or 'squeeze'. It's quite an old-fashioned way to keep liquid product inside a bottle these days especially for makeup products because they are not user-friendly.

If you think that the base is anything near to BB cream, then you're very wrong. The texture is very diluted. The base comes in a watery-like liquid that can be quite a nuisance if you are in a hurry.

The base dries up into a powdery form of foundation. I am not sure about the coverage. It seems like the base is really just a base without sheer or no coverage at all. I cannot blame the product as it already stated that the product is a makeup base with moisturising ingredients, not a concealing lotion whatsoever.

Here are my thoughts:

Coverage:
Sheer or no coverage

Pore,blemishes and black spot concealing effect:
Almost no effect. However, the powdery matte finish gives an illusion that you have a smooth milky face. The milky lotion sinks into skin and hardly gives any impact. So, you really need a concealer and a foundation to cover up blemishes. This base , I think, provides just a barrier between your skin and your foundation so that your foundation shade does not oxidise. In that case, this base does a good job.

Shade:
Fair. It would look greyish on skin tone that is darker than NC 25 and beyond.

Acnegenic? Comedogenic?Allergenic?:
None of the above, meaning that it does not cause acne, does not cause comedos and does not cause allergies.

Texture:
Very thin but manageable if you have quick hands. Do make sure that you apply all over your face as fast as you can or else you would risk having streaks on your makeup. This base is very blendable but the problem is that this product vaporises very quickly.

Is it a good base?:
It isn't the best in the industry but it's quite okay for me. I wouldn't really reach for it when I need to be quick because this base can be quite messy.

The packaging:
Not user-friendly. Fix it, baby.

My Verdict:

Review - Mederma Skincare for Scars

2011-04-20T01:57:00.000+08:00

Product Descriptions and Ingredients List:

My Experience:

I bought the full size tube straight away. I knew that one small tube of scar cream wouldn't suffice for old scars. I was using this on old pimple scars. Not those red or discoloured spots, but those with slight dents on skin. Believe it or not, I have them,which sucks because when light reflects on my face, it doesn't show smooth surface. I hate it and before I resort to laser ( the last option), I'd give this cream a try. I am sure a lot of you wanted to know how this scar cream fares.

I think I've been using this for a year. I got this last year during my internship in Simgapore. It cost me RM 70+ for a full size. You can get a smaller tube for about RM 35 but I doubt that you can see result within a short period.

And I still have this much...

Because all I need is very little ( maybe just a pea size), my scar cream could survive one year and still living. I am still using this despite having so many scar creams( that do not work, damn it!).

Texture-wise, it is a translucent,almost jelly-like gel. One thing that irks me off is that the dried gel peels off when I rubbed my face with other products. Yes, I used the scar gel underneath my makeup and imagine my horror when I saw my perfectly made-up face peeled off under my nose! It peeled off into somewhat like what you would see on exfoliating gel like Curel. Therefore,I pronounce this product anti-makeup and very makeup-unfriendly. This goes to anything with pigments and shades like tinted moisturiser, BB cream and powder.

At last, I had to use to scar gel only at night. I know that the direction tells users to use the gel day and night but I simply cannot use this gel with my BB cream.

You really have to be patient with this product if your scars are old. When I say old, it means that the injuries done were a few years back. I get to see improvements on fresh scars,meaning that the scars are still red and just healed. My fresh scars consisted of pimple scars, mosquito bites and scratches. They healed within one week with the consistent use of Mederma scar gel.

I like the fact that this gel can be used all over face and it does not irritate sensitive skin. For face full of pimples, I suggest you to apply very sparingly over the scars. Do not apply onto pimples and expect no scar would appear after the pimples subside. Don't get this wrong , the product doesn't aggravate acne condition. It's just a waste of product to apply on pimples when you know that the pimples would eventually burst and resulted in scars. This applies to inflamed skin. Apply when skin is in process of healing.

What is the result of my experiment?

I won the battle! But not entirely. I still have dents on my face but very, very light and minor ( that you can ignore). Overall, I am really pleased with the result. You request for the 'before' and 'after' photos? I wanted to put them but find the comparison very insignificant and negligible. Like I mentioned earlier, my scars are unnoticeable so the 'before' and 'after' photos look almost the same unless you see me in real person. My best friend used Mederma on her chicken pox scars which are raised and dented scars. The result on her was remarkable and it was almost like she has never had chicken pox before. I saw her face from 'nothing' to 'many things' and now back to 'nothing'! Amazing, right?

For BCG scars, you need to use the gel for a few years to actually see minor improvement. I thank God that my BCG scar is not hideous. For this scar gel, it actually works faster on dented scars ( ice picks, pockmarks, cuts and surgical scars) than on raised scars ( keloid scars ). And patience is the key to success. I have not tried Hiduroid but I heard it works well too.( Let's hope that I do not have to try)

It was a pity that this scar gel doesn't blend well with makeup or else I would have faster result by using the gel day and night. I'd give it a 4-star. If the formulation is improved into a makeup-friendly one, I 'll another star to the rating.

My Verdict:

Review - Garnier LightExtra Whitening Repairing Milk Lotion

2011-04-18T20:06:00.000+08:00

Price: RM 23.90 ( 250ml)

Where to get: All leading supermarkets, Watsons and Guardian pharmacies

Product Description:

Sun exposure and pollutions make skin dull and dry. New Garnier LightExtra Whitening Repairing Milk Lotion,enriched with 2x Pure Lemon Essence. Clinically proven to lighten dark spots and illuminate skin tone. Fortified with Moisture repairing nutrients to strengthen skin's protective barrier against moisture loss.Fast-absorbing and non-sticky texture, so skin feels soft, supple and intensely moisturised all day long. This formulation contains UVA/UVB filters. Dermatologically tested.

Full Ingredients List:

My Experience:

So, this is the latest version of Garnier's body lotion? I should have posted this review. I have gotten this lotion the first day Garnier launched this body lotion. Eager and excited, I purchased one full size bottle to try. I have tried the previous version and I didn't like it because it's sticky and oily on my skin.

I was expecting this new, improved formulation to be less oily and fast-absorbing. The word' repairing' was attractive to me because apart from my facial skin, I also want my body skin to be repaired and rejuvenated. A girl must not neglect the rest of her body parts! You can hide your facial flaws and blemishes with makeup but my doubt is high when it comes to concealing body blemishes. The surface area is just to large for you to cover! So babes, please start taking care of your body skin.Mini skirts don't look sexy on dry, scaly legs.

Back from digressing, this lotion promises to illuminate and make your skin fairer with its extra pure lemon essence. By the way, the smell of the lotion is way too overpowering. I cannot stand the lemon smell that almost resembles my dishwasher ( which also has lemon smell).

The texture is a dissappoinment.Not only it is sticky, it is stickier and oilier than the previous version! Plus, I do not see my skin getting any fairer. My loyalty is still with Nivea*hearts* Some girls adore this lotion but count me out. Although it recommended that the lotion is to be used for day time, I use this lotion at night because my skin tends to be drier at night. And when I apply this lotion all over my body, I make sure that I wear long sleeves and long pants because I cannot sleep with stickiness all over me. It's annoying. The hydration isn't as good as I expected. In fact. the lotion easily washes off when I clean my hands, so I need to reapply my hand lotion after washing my hands. It means the lotion didn't absorb into my skin.

Overall, the lotion is not what I would recommend for those with normal body skin. It is good for those with extra dry skin.Or else, you'll find yourself sticky like glue.

My Verdict:

Magicboo Hysteria

2011-03-26T18:08:00.004+08:00

Everyone knows how crazy I am with Magicboo products. I love the quality, the efficacy and the price. Because I am a member, I get more discounts when I shop at Magicboo stores. I noticed Magicboo also distributed their products to Yokoso Shijuku beauty stores too. I get my supplies of beauty products at both places.It depends on which shopping mall I shop at that moment.

If you are new to Magicboo products, below are the products that you should get first:

Whitening Smoothing Cream

It is priced at RM 25.00 per tube.

The Product Description:

The cream is supposed to be face cream but I find that the texture too wet for my face, so I use the cream on my hands and legs. When I first used the cream, I was amazed at how smooth my skin has become. I couldn't stop touching my skin and there isn't any sticky feeling to my skin after application. TheBf mentioned that I smelled like a giant waffle whenever I applied this smoothing cream on my body.With that remark, I told myself that I would use this cream until the day Magicboo stops producing it. It's my favourite body cream now. It removes flaky skin and restores dull complexion.

If you're a fan of whitening product, pick this. It's good in lightening minor scars and it makes skin very touchable. Plus, it is very affordable and economical. You don't need much for your entire body.

3003 C Hydrating & Whitening Peel-Off Powder Mask

You get these two products ( the powder mask and the gel mask) at only RM25.00. This is really a bargain. I am restocking this !

Product Description:

3003 C is a skincare range that Magicboo offers. I love this range and I am waiting for Magicboo sales so that I can get the entire range of 3003 C.

I like how economical the pack is. I usually use the products with these methods:
1) Firstly, apply powder mask on face. Peel off and rinse off your face from the excess mask.
2) Apply the gel mask and leave it to dry for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse off the mask.
3) Tone and moisturise your face.

I find that the pack works wonderfully on tired and dehydrated face. Normally, I'd use these masks when I had late nights in order to keep my skin moist and fresh. Makeup stays longer and looks better after using these masks. You can also prep your face with them prior to your dinner makeup. The effect is even better if you use ampoule after the masks.

Whitening Mask

The tube costs RM 25. This is my absolute favourite mask.

Product Description:

I don't know how many times I've been telling people to try this mask. I use this mask on alternate days in order to keep my skin glowing. It does not hydrate skin but it helps to brighten skin instantly. Also, I use this mask after extracting blackheads in order to reduce redness and I find pimples looking less visible after using this mask too. I am not kidding. This is my Holy Grail mask and don't say that I never reveal my secret. This is the best mask I've ever used. Other than this, Utena White Mask is a good replacement. Still, I find myself reaching this more than Utena.

Oh, I am sick of people asking me where is Magicboo. Please...By all means, do Google about this website to find the nearest Magicboo outlets near you.

http://www.magicboobeauty.com/

Oh, the post is not endorsed by Magicboo( although I wished to)

Review - Naruko Narcissus Total Defense BB Cream Essence

2011-03-26T18:05:00.007+08:00

Price: RM 38.00 ( 30 ml)

Where to get :

www.jkfashionshop.com

Full Ingredients List ( Please click at image to enlarge):

My Experience:

I should have reviewed the product a long time ago. I already have my favourite BB cream and currently I am using my Missha M Perfect Cover as my daily BB cream ( This is my second favourite after Dr Jart Silver Label BB cream).

Naruko being a new skincare line also joins the BB cream bandwagon. The BB cream trend is still ongoing and I doubt that it is going slow down. Many BB cream companies have re-formulated their older version of BB creams in order to achieve more popularity from the Western countries. It's still an Asian thing, you know.

I found out about this BB cream through jkfashionshop.com. I always purchase my Niu Er products from that website because of the competitive price that the website offers and the service is pretty fast too.

On the body of the tube, there is a short description of the product.

It's a like-it-or-not design. Being minimalistic in product concept, I can understand why the product design,packaging and descriptions come in a very simplistic way.

The BB cream is packed in a user-friendly tube as it is easy to squeeze and the narrow nozzle helps to control the amount of product you want to use. I like how the thoughtful the packaging design is.The moment I unscrew the tube, all I can sniff is a strong lavender smell (which I dislike).

The shade of the BB cream is very light. It suits my skin tone very well.

As you can see from the photo, the BB cream provides no coverage whatsoever. I don't even understand why is it called a BB cream as it does not do whatever a basic BB cream should. I am deeply disappointed and know get a grasp on why the price is soooo.... cheap. Not that I want to penalise, but the truth shows. The price of the BB cream depicts its quality. *sigh* What a sad truth.

And I know why the coverage is terrible. The texture is very diluted and thin. Therefore, the more you spread, the more the BB cream disappears into your skin. It makes me wonder why I applied this BB cream in the first place. In the end, I have to reach for my Missha BB cream to correct and do whatever this BB cream couldn't deliver.

The BB cream doesn't clog pores and it is not acnegenic. Unfortunately, it does not give me even skin tone and does not correct dull complexion because the BB cream melts into my skin the minute I applied it on my face. I can't even call the coverage as sheer because there wasn't any to begin with!

The advertisement is not telling the truth. I don't see how the BB cream manages to give me the flawless skin look. It simply gives me the oily face look.

I noticed that the product name is BB cream essence instead of BB cream. Perhaps this is the reason why the BB cream acts so much like a lotion/ cream than a BB cream. It doesn't even work half as good as a tinted moisturiser.

Like other Naruko boxes, you can fold it and create another box in order to store the BB cream while travelling. I threw the box away because I never knew that I could fold the box. Oh Lord.

Overall, I would say no to this BB cream. It fails to do whatever it claims and I highly recommend this stuff to be placed into a trash bin.

My Verdict:

Review - SK-II Facial Treatment Essence

2011-03-26T18:02:00.009+08:00

Price :

75 ml - RM 199.00
150 ml - RM 359.00
215 ml - RM499.00
250 ml - RM527.00

Product Description:

My Experience:

Pitera... A word that we cannot associate with our lives but we all know this word.

I am sure all of us grew accustomed with this advertisement whereby an old woman with wrinkly face possessed a pair of youthful fair skin when she kneads something like sticky rice in a sake brewery. Ah... That is the signature advertisement of SK-II that they have re-used and re-shot hundred of times.Now the images stuck in my brain.

They have succeeded in telling us women that by using SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, we too. would be able achieve that superbly clear, bouncy and flawless skin that they called it an SK-II skin.

Cate Blanchett thanked SK-II for her now flawless and glowing complexion.

QiQi has been endorsing the famous product for many years. Because she has great skin until now, people assumed that SK-II FTE will do the same to theirs. Like everyone, I had this assumption embedded in my mind. Like everyone, I have not experienced the very clear complexion that even makeup cannot create. Therefore,I have the longing for this product until I got it one day 5 years ago.

However, it didn't have any effect on me. I was persistent in using the product in order to see the SK-II effect but my skin got worse the more I used FTE. That was 5 years ago. Thus, I was very repellent to SK-II until recently I started using the miracle water again.

But this time, instead of getting the essence in full size, I bought them in sample sizes( which is equivalent to the full size).

I've been using it for a few months and I still have plenty of it.

A long list of product description is stuck at the bottle for the 30 ml sample bottle. I like it when I can refer to the bottle instead of having need to keep the box. I have tonnes of boxes to keep because most bottles do not come with product descriptions!

My comment for the product:

Initially, I was quite disappointed with the result again. I didn't see any for the first week I used. That time, my sleeping pattern was normal which was at midnight everyday. The result was visible and apparent when I was using FTE during my pre-submission period , which means I was sleeping very late at that time ( about 6a.m. every day). The miracle water helps to control formation of broken capillaries and it restores skin moisture very effectively.

I see my skin getting better and better with less oil and whiteheads on my face. Normally, I get all sorts of skin problem when I stay up late. So, I guess FTE only work when sleep is deficient. My skin remains moist and fresh eventhough I only sleep for 2 hours daily. TheBf told me that he saw very dramatic result when I used SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. He said that I should continue using this product even with the last pennies I have. Hmm...

Now I only use the essence at night because I am using my Kanebo Blanchir Superior Clear Conditioner for day care. Oh yes, I find that whitening serums work better when I use them after patting my face with FTE. I am happy to see lesser broken capillaries. Broken capillaries is my biggest skin issue now. Pimple is a thing of past. Now I just want to ensure that I can maintain the youthfulness of my skin.

Contrary to belief, Facial Treatment Essence is not much of a miracle to me. On days when I am adopting a normal sleeping pattern, I don't see much of a difference on my skin. Plus, I think this product doesn't really work on acne skin. It 's just an additional skincare product to those who want more hydration and moisture to skin. Now I understand why it didn't work for me 5 years ago. I shouldn't be using it on my very young skin.

The pungent smell is a turn-off, of course. Urgh. I have to hold my breath everytime I use this essence. By the way, this is like a conditioning toner/ lotion rather than a serum/essence.

From the website, this is the method that user adopts in order to achieve the SK-II skin ( clear and translucent)

However, I have my own way to use the miracle water because I find that soaking the essence with cotton pads really wasteful. The cotton pads would absorb most of the product instead of my skin.One bottle would last a looooong time unless you use it the way that the website suggests.

I use this much at day time.

I'll use double the amount I used at day time for night regimen. I pat the essence on my face until every single drop is well absorbed.

Aside of checking the latest promotion and product release, I also do skin analysis from time to time. I used to only need FTE and Facial Treatment Repair C Serum. Now, I need to use the Whitening Source range because of my constant exposure to sun(site visits!!!!)

Below is the skin analysis that I just did ( 5 minutes ago):

But....I won't be able to buy them because they are all so expensive. Plus, I don't think I need these whitening stuff because I am currently really pleased with my skincare products.

Overall, I think SK-II Facial Treatment Essence is a good product IF you are 25 and above. Mature skin needs more moisture and nutrition. *sigh* It means I'm getting older.

My Verdict:

Review - Johnson and Johnson's Fresh and Smooth Face Powder

2011-03-26T18:00:00.002+08:00

Where to get:
At all leading supermarkets , Watsons and Guardian pharmacies

Product Description:

Made of pure,micro-fine talc, this oil-absorbing, long-lasting powder formula controls the shine on your face to keep you fresh-looking throughout the day.Plus, it protects your skin to keep it beautifully smooth.it comes in a white shade to give you an even matte finish. Gentle enough for everyday use.

My Experience:

I ran out of everyday mattifying powder to use and there was no Sasa outlet at the place where I was shopping that day. In the end, I got myself this powder. I think when I got this powder, Watsons was having its sale so I got it with 15% deduction. My goodness, the original price was already low enough. With the discount, I was more than feeling please with my new finding.

When I first saw the white pan, I exhaled a huge sigh because anything white would me look lifeless and dead. Thank God that the sigh exhaled was a sigh of relief after I tested the powder for the first time. I patted the powder on my face after applying my usual BB cream ( I am now using Missha M Perfect Cover in Shade 21) to cover shine and set the BB cream in place.

It comes with a thin powder puff that I dislike. It's almost too thin to be called a puff. I replaced this puff with my own sponge. I find sponge better and more useful than puffs. I got my rubber sponge from Elianto which I find very economical and great to use. Trust me, you don't have to use expensive stuff for everyday makeup. This powder is what I use daily and it gives me a matte and clean look. Also, I use this powder to blot instead of using blotting paper because I find that this powder helps my makeup stays longer without melting and streaking.

The best part is its white shade does not affect and interfere with shade of liquid foundation that I used earlier . It simply mattifies and sets the makeup without causing my face to look like a geisha.It doesn't give me the pale look or powdery white face that I hate the most. I'm sure any skin shade is able to blend with this powder.

There was once that I accidentally bought Young White ,which is another version of this powder. The only difference is the presence of SPF. Young White contains SPF 18 while the one I am reviewing now has none. I prefer the powder without SPF because I can use it for day and night. Plus, I always apply sunblock with SPF 50 prior to my BB cream so absence of SPF in my powder does not have significant effect.

The golden question: Does the daily use of this powder cause acne?

Yes, if you do not double cleanse and no, if you practise complete skincare steps. By that, I mean using makeup remover/ cleansing milk everyday. This is a key step to a better step so please start practising now. From the first day I've started, I have never experienced breakout from using this powder. I like how it makes my skin less oily and smoother in photos. Also, it's great to your wallet. This is the next best powder after Kiss Me Heroine Smoothing Powder. This, I swear! I've been repurchasing this powder for more than 10 times. Plus, I keep the casing as my mirror. You can of course buy the refill pact instead of starting new each time. Seriously, Johnsons and Johnsons should endorse me as I am a great fan!

My Verdict:

My Cheap Makeup Stuff

2011-03-26T17:57:00.003+08:00

Mum always tells me not to slather, slap and apply everything I can lay on my hands on my face.

" You have only one face. Now take care of it!", she said. By this , she meant that I shouldn't use very cheap products on my face. Yeah right, as if she's going to pay for my expensive skincare products. I've mentioned before that I am up to anything that delivers result. Regardless of the price and brand, I'd still be able to bear with certain turn-offs such the scent and oiliness if I see positive on my skin.

Let's face it. We are all fans of Daiso whether you want to admit or keep quiet about it. The standardised price system, the quality and the packaging are all the pulling factor to the success of Daiso. I do use a few products from Daiso daily and I like them.

These are the common products that I purchase from Daiso.

The Nose Highlighter

Hey, this stuff actually works for me. My nose bridge pops out instantly after re-touching the sides of my nose with the dark brown contouring powder. However, the highlighter is a disappointment as it does not have enough shimmer or light-reflecting particles for the extra glow and highlight. Still, this is a good buy if you want to save. You can also take it everywhere with you by keeping it in your handbag. I'm sure the nose shadow would come in handy especially if you have a sudden photoshoot.

The Eyebrow Coat

I think Jenny would love the packaging( because it's a cute pink!)

For those with furry, unruly eyebrows, try this clear eyebrow coat to tame your little caterpillars. While mine aren't any of the mentioned above, I do have the problem of having the hair stays on place. I have the habit of trimming my eyebrows ,so sometimes when the hair growth is imbalance, parts of hair might outgrow others which cause various lengths of eyebrow hair. It grosses me out and there is no way that I am going to trim them again or else my eyebrows would turn out too fine.

The clear coat does not interfere with eyebrow pencil filling, so fret not. It dries out pretty quick and you are ready for eyebrow powdering by the time your hand reaches your eyebrow kit.

The Clear Mascara

I first saw my Malay friends using the mascara when they were preparing themselves for a quick presentation. The girls took out their respective magic wands gleefully before pulling the comb against every strand of their eyelashes. I watched them silently. And I was amazed at how curly and long their eyelashes transformed after using the mascara.

Imagine when they told me that the brand was Daiso. One of them excitedly told me about it with her mouth gasping and closing in alternating pattern.

" Oh, Daiso". My only answer.

I got my own clear mascara too. It didn't curl my eyelashes the way I expected but I definitely see longer lashes effect. The mascara comb is soaked in a clear gel solution. The gel acts as translucent fiber that helps elongating eyelashes. I use this mascara when I have the time or when I want to fake the natural beauty look.

Nail Polish Quick -Drying Spray

Thebf told me that they look like dildos. Ooops. Dildos are uncommon in Malaysia, so you can imagine TheBf's excitement when he saw me bagging these pink rods back from Daiso. I gave him the big -___-||| and shunned him off with ," Hey dude, these are for my nails, not my *toot* ". Men.... ! Urgh!

There are two packaging designs for the nail spray. I've been using this first one before restocking the second one with different design.

Jenny adored this one. I love this too! It's unfortunate that we cannot reuse the bottle because it's a spray. *sigh* I'd say yes to recycle for product this pretty.

Aim the nozzle at least 10 cm from your nails and watch the nail polish layer dries up. The problem with this spray is that it only dries up the surface of the nail polish. The nail polish does not dry up entirely,so do not be happy just yet after spraying and be rough to your nails. The aim of using this spray is to speed up drying time for nail polish.

I finished these nail arts within 15 minutes and went for a dinner after that. Normally, I need more than 1 hour to do my nails because I have to wait for each layer to dry before doing the next layer. I'd recommend this nail spray to those who love nail arts and are always in the run. I am of course of them.

Eyelash curler

This is additional. Most of us do not use such cheap eyelash curler anymore but this is what I use when time is running short. My eyelashes are really straight so this eyelash curler is great for that gravity-defying curl. I use my heated eyelash curler when my time allows me to. Too bad, time is what I always wish to have more.

Unlike most stupid eyelash curler that I used before, this one gives me curls that almost mimic that of Shu Uemura's famous eyelash curl. I always want Shu Uemura's 24K Limited Edition Eyelash Curler but money is what I 'm short of, so this Daiso curler comfortably substitutes the expensive curler that I yearn.

Whoever tells you that you need all expensive and branded products for that perfect makeup? I have a friend telling me that she doesn't like to use cheap stuff ( and she only expensive makeup stuff) when she saw me using my cheap makeup stuff. Erm, how do I say this delicately? I understand that her makeup skill is somewhat amateur and childish, so yeah, probably she needs something expensive to balance up her terrible makeup skill. I don't mind being called cheapskate but don't expect me to recommend products to you because duh, didn't your words just imply that you're high and mighty?

And girls out there, do not try to spend and splurge so much on unnecessary branded products that probably don't work for you just because someone condemned your taste and choice of products. They're probably stupid and .... stupid( and jealous of you). You know what works for you the best.

For the time being, I stay true to some drugstore and Daiso products that work wonderfully for me. To the girls who try to hurt my feeling by telling me that I am cheap, I feel sorry for you because you have an IQ level of an amoeba (yes, you're that stupid!) and you feel inferior because you're someone nondescript beside me ( someone you called cheapskate). And cheers to those who stay true to themselves and do not carry multiple beauty magazines with them wherever they go ( and do whatever the magazines recommended). People with attitude always survive.Hah! Take that , you magazine worshipper.

Review - Beautyeasy @Nature Neroli-Elemi Brightening Tightening Night Repair

2011-03-26T17:53:00.007+08:00

Price: RM 48.00 ( 30ml)

Where to get:

www.jkfashionshop.com

Ingredients List:

Sorry ,I threw away the box! This is the best I can get.

Product Description( quoted from jkfashionshop.com):

My Experience:

This is one of the latest serums I 've tried and like. I have this serum for quite a while and was surprised that I have not reviewed this yet. Now that I have the time (and energy), I think it would be fair that I give justice to this neglected serum.

The serum comes under the brand name @Nature. However, under @Nature itself, there are numerous other branches like Lavender Detox-White and this, Neroli-Elemi. As quoted from Wkikipedia, neroli is a plant oil produced from the blossom of the bitter orange tree (Citrus aurantium var. amara or Bigaradia). Elemi is a fragrant resin obtain from trees of the family Burseraceae and used as incense. So, the combination of these two natural oils give you an aromatherapy whenever the product with these two ingredients is used.

The beautiful greenish amber glass bottle does remind of Aesop and pharmaceutical bottle. The heavy bottle gives the serum an exquisite feel when in fact, the price is really reasonable and affordable. At least they know what is aesthetic value. I'd keep the bottle as a portable spritz when I'm done with the serum.

What intrigues me the most is the cover design. The purpose of having this cover is to protect and prevent accidental dispensing. This usually happens when products are tagged along whilst travelling. It's really thoughtful of the designer to consider these into the bottle design. Sorry, I am rambling about design stuff again.

The serum comes out pretty diluted so minimal pressure should be exer

Do not be despaired to see how oily the texture is. It is meant to be look and feel like oil. Plus, the serum does not clog pores or cause pimples. Sensitive skin type can definitely try this product. I only use this serum at night as suggested. Because skin repairs its damages at night, there is no reason why I should waste a single drop of this serum for day skin regimen. I like how it brightens my skin. Trust me, fair skin does experience having dullness like a grey veil atop of my skin. This is especially true when I have been feeding myself with sufficient vitamin called SLEEP. Not only does this serum help in controlling minor pigmentation, the serum also helps in bringing luminosity to complexion. I am a satisfied user of this product, really. Lets hope that Niu Er doesn't stop producing this serum and replace it with new brand with jolly name.I hope not.

Overall, this is a great buy for a skincare beginner or if you are a natural skincare advocate. I am for anything good for my skin. *winks*

My Verdict:

Review - Garnier Light Oil Control Whitening Cream

2011-03-26T17:50:00.010+08:00

Where to get:

At all leading supermarkets, Watsons and Guardian pharmacies.

Ingredients List :

My Experience:

This is one of the latest products by Garnier Light. We all know how popular Garnier is with its measuring colour codes which tells you the shade of your skin tone. The smaller the numerical value is, the fairer you are.

This new cream is very different from its original day cream .The day cream carries a texture of a ....well, cream whilst this oil-controlling cream has a consistency of a cream cheese.

The result was pretty amazing. I get an instantly mattified skin after application and face does look fairer than usual. But the fairness is temporary. It will usually disappear after washing your face. Because of the lemon essence in the cream, face looks so much brighter after using this cream consistently for a few months. Please do not expect miracle to happen. Yes, the product claims to erase pimple marks and offers a more clarified complexion but this my dear, does not happen overnight. You need to be patient.

The cream comes out very thick and it is almost quite difficult to spread on face. I like to use this cream ONLY after my shower and apply nothing else on my face next. My warning to you is that this cream does not work and blend perfectly with makeup. If you apply base/ foundation/ BB cream after this cream, chances of you getting weird streaks are very high. The streaks are more obvious if powder is patted on top of the foundation layer. I got so many nasty remarks from the makeup mishap that I finally gave up incorporating this cream with my usual skincare and makeup routines.

I only use this cream alone.

My comments for the product:

Well, well, let's see how this cream fares. It does not clog pores, that is for sure. It has light concealing power. Good. It gives skin velvety matte skin. I like it too. And, it does lighten minor skin discolouration and acne marks. The oil control is really good. By this, I have a bad news to deliver. Those with normal to dry skin types must try not to use this product before your makeup because it's going to create an uneven, cakey canvas. Ouch. Even my oily skin couldn't take it. Geez... Talk about being over-zealous in zapping oil blotches. One way to reduce its oil control is mix it with equal amount of hydrating cream. I have the feeling that this cream has the exact texture as Hazeline Snow ( if any of you can remember that product).

Overall, I like the cream but this is definitely my enemy when I want to put on my makeup.

I have almost the complete range of Garnier Light but I seldom use all of them together because I still have plenty of products waiting to be used. This is a very low budget skincare for whitening and brightening. I bet this range gets good response from students. My doubt is high on this range in being a working woman's choice of skincare products. When money isn't a concern anymore,I guess people wouldn't search high and low for a good drugstore brand.

I trust Garnier because originated from the same company as L'Oreal. And L'Oreal is closely associated with Lancome. So, in the end, most of the skincare brands we know are linked to each other. Price is the only distinguish.

My Verdict:

Review - e.l.f. Studio Kabuki Face Brush

2011-03-26T17:46:00.013+08:00

Price: USD 3.00

Where to get:
Hubby Enny : http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1077916&hl=skincare

Product Description :

This is quoted from the e.l.f. website :

My Experience:

I think this brush only cost me USD 3. Man, that's a bargain! Plus, I got it through e.l.f. spree so I got an additional 55 % discount.

I like the combination of black and white. The gradient of both colours is simply beautiful. It's almost like a skunk in a form of brush ( What am I saying?)

Precisely, how many of us would consider having cheap brush in our makeup bags ? I am a person who goes for value rather than chasing blindly for branded products. I heard about e.l.f. for quite some time and like many women out there ( often very stuck up), I'd raise my eyebrow on the word 'cheap makeup' because it usually sucks and do more harm than good.

My curiosity was fulfilled when the brush arrived and now, I can't get enough of it. This kabuki brush serves me well whenever I set my BB cream with loose powder or finishing powder without scratching my face. It's like having a 'pom pom' on face !

I don't use this for bronzer as the density of the bristles might affect the quality of the bronzing. I have fair skin s any brown streak look weird and funny on me. I use blusher brush for bronzing and sculpturing my cheek bones.

Ooops... Sorry for the dirty brush. I just dusted my face with loose powder with this kabuki face brush. It picks up decent amount of loose powder so that I do not have to tap off excess powder. This can greatly reduce wastage because by tapping less, you will be able to reduce flyaway powder. If you're using expensive powders like La Mer and SK-II, I am sure you would want to prolong their lives by saving every miligram of the powder.

The bristles are still so soft and workable after a few washes. Overall, I am very satisfied with this kabuki brush. The handle is long enough for grip and short enough to tug inside a makeup pouch. If it was a retractable brush, that would be so much better because I tend to take this brush out for travelling. It's as good as Ecotools brush. I am sure those who are beauty budget would consider having this brush instead of saving until the end of the month for that ever-expensive Bobbi Brown brush.

My Verdict:

Review - e.l.f. Studio 11-Piece Brush Set

2011-03-26T17:43:00.035+08:00

I am late bloomer in makeup although I do put on light makeup everyday. It wasn't until early this year that I started to invest in full makeup set. To be frank, I did not have proper makeup brushes until I signed up for a makeup course. They listed M.A.C., Shu Uemura, Sonia Kashuk, Bobbi Brown and Kesalan Patharan brushes as the must-buy items. I'm very sure that I won't be able to complete the collection now. Because I am a freaking poor student! Penniless ! And burdened by the so-called serious stuff. Nevertheless , my priority ( and pride ) is remains unchanged. Beauty !

I got myself a makeup brush set with a black brush storing pouch from an e.l.f. spree on late November and I got them early this year. It was a frustrating long wait because heck, I hate waiting. This pre-order spree is different and I am willing to wait because of the 55 % discount. The normal retail price for this kit is USD 30.00 so the 55 % deduction means a lot to me.This brush set topped my To-buy list and yes, I can now proudly strike away this item from my wish list. Santa Claus didn't do his work last Christmas so it was up to me to grant my own wishes.

The beauty thread from where I purchased :Hubby Enny : http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1077916&hl=skincare

Trust me, she's one of the most reliable sellers around if it involves pre-ordering because she replied all the PMs and updated the whereabouts of the parcels. So, I'd give her a 5-stars for her service.

When I unzipped the bag, I was very satisfied that the brushes were all perfect with no defects detected. My biggest disappointment was the absence of Eyeshadow 'C' brush. I think they have mistakenly put TWO concealer brushes inside my pouch. I now have two concealer brushes. But it was no deal. I still use one of them as my eyeshadow brush.

This is quoted from e.l.f. official website :

Some brushes were packed inside some cheap plastic bags. I threw them all away because they looked so ugly especially the worn-out ones.

Fluffier brushes got more privilege; they are packed inside clear, thicker plastic brush guards to protect and condition the brushes.

Inside this kit, there are:

Sleek, Water-Resistant Case
Eyeshadow "C" Brush
Complexion Brush
Small Angled Brush
Small Smudge Brush
Fan Brush
Powder Brush
Angled Foundation Brush
Concealer Brush
Small Precision Brush
Blush Brush
Contouring Brush

Small Angled Brush

You know if you have tried Maybelline's Studio Gel Eyeliner brush, you would agree with me why this is one wins hands down. My hands are naturally shaky, so I need brush that promises precision effortlessly. Although this brush is a multi-tasker, I don't see myself using the same brush for lips and eyebrow. This is my favourite when it comes to eyelining. The brush bristles are gentle enough to not poking my eye rims while steadily gives me a continuous neat line.

After washing the brush, I noticed that the bristles aren't that straight anymore. It might be the way I dried the brush ( a wrong way). So, babes, invest in Brush Guard.

Concealer Brush

I've mentioned earlier that I received two of these brushes instead of having one concealer brus hand one eyeshadow 'C' brush. Fortunately, the brush works great for my eyes. Initially, I wanted to cut a certain length of the brush to create a denser feel. But I chickened out, fearing that my action would destroy a fine brush.

As a concealer brush, I have to shake my head and say, " It's not good enough". Maybe it was my amateur skill. Or maybe I got too used to using my finger to conceal and blend my concealer. I find fingers are the best tools of all. Just make sure that you do not press your finger too long at the same spot because the transferred heat would melt the concealer, thus affects the coverage power of the concealer.

I find myself reaching this brush more and more for eyeshadow blending. It works so well that I wondered if my missing eyeshadow 'C' brush is anything as good as this brush.

Small Smudge Brush

I did try this brush for eyelining but it wasn't as good as Small Angled brush. This, I prefer to use it on my eyebrow for a more natural look. I'd smudge my eyebrow that I just drew with an eyebrow pencil for a softer look or else I'd look as if I am angry or wicked.

Small Precision Brush

This brush is great for eye makeup. Like the name suggests, it gives precision when you paint your eyes. No stray colours to be found.

The nature of brush bristles allow it to be a multitasking brush. You can either turn it into an eyeshadow brush or an eyeliner brush. It's up to your preference. I'd reach this brush when I want to look neat, natural but with many layers of eyeshadow shades on my eyelids.

Contour Brush

Ah... This is probably my favourite brush from this kit. I use this brush to contour my my nose bridge and give definition to my eye area. I used the brush to highlight my nose bridge and the best product to be used is Shiseido Maquillage Face Creator. It always works for me.

I know Chinese aren't always blessed with prominent facial features, so highlighting and contouring is a must-have skill. The brush is so soft that it does not cause streaks on my foundation when I do my highlighting and contouring.

Angled Foundation Brush

Hmm... I don't like this brush that much when applying my liquid foundation. I prefer to use sponges to let the layer adhere to my skin better. I always see Michelle Phan and many other YouTube beauty gurus apply their liquid foundation with angled brushes. I think Bobbi Brown is still my favourite brush. I left it at home so no review for you =p

Anyway, this brush can be used as contouring brush as the steep angle is able to create a hollow cheek effect ( geez... why would anyone want to look like that ? ) .

I find the bristles absorbed too much of my liquid foundation that I have to use more product than usual. With such wastage, I am sure that my liquid foundation wouldn't last a year before getting a new one. One technique to prevent such wastage from recurring is to lightly dip the brush into water before applying your liquid foundation . Be careful not to dunk the brush into water. You wouldn't want to wet your face or thin out the liquid foundation with that.

Powder Brush

This brush, my dear, is great for contouring. But I only use this brush when I want to have a very chiseled face. That, will only happen when I have water retention on my face , which usually happen one week before my monthly period. So sad, isn't it ?

The brush is pretty thick and dense, hence making it ideal for a serious contouring. Because the bristles are compact, the brush picks up a lot of pigments which could cause face to be over-contoured. Such scenario happens quite frequently on me when I am in a hurry or when the lighting in my room is too dim.

After a few washes, the brush begins to lose its original shape and condition. *sigh* I need to take more effort to tend to my brushes.

Blush Brush

This blush brush is as good as The Body Shop Blush Brush. It gives a soft subtle nice blusher colour on my face. You need a soft blusher brush in order to achieve not only a nice flush on skin but also to create the glowing complexion. I sometimes feel like telling some girls to tone down on their blushers because their face look like they're really burning on fire! Maybe they used the wrong shades of blushers or maybe they used the wrong makeup tool.

The bristles are dense yet really soft. I don't get problem with dropping hair after washing the brush. So, this is a plus point to the brush. I hate it when people tell me that my eyelashes fell out when it was the hair of the brush that I used that came off.

Fan Brush

I don't use this for cheeks. It doesn't pick up pigments as much as blusher brush, therefore I only this brush to dust away fallouts and flyaways.

The bristles fan out quite evenly. If there is any gap, it would be quite difficult to dust away fallouts and the last thing you want to do is to blend the fallouts with your foundation. That spells yuck and I bet you need to start your makeup all over again after that. This fan brush is not a must-have brush but it definitely serves its function very well especially on someone as clumsy as me.

Complexion Brush

From the descriptions and reviews that I found in e.l.f. website, this is probably one of the best brush tools to be purchased.

I think this is the latest brush that they have aside of the Kabuki Face Brush. ( I have that one too! ) I like and simply adore how ergonomic the design is. My fingers grip the brush comfortably. Sometimes there are brushes that give you the awkwardness, you just don't know how to begin your makeup with that brush.

The bristles are very soft, dense and workable. I use this to dust loose powder or set my face with a finishing powder. It doesn't give you the ugly streaks , so don't worry about that. Also, the size of the brush is medium.If you need a quick dusting over your face, then this brush is definitely not the best choice. I prefer this size as big brush is equivalent to wastage. I tap a lot with big brush, and God knows how much miligrams have I wasted.

Overall, I am very pleased with this purchase. I am waiting for another e.l.f. spree as the Studio line can be very irresistible. The lower price yet high quality products tempted me to collect more and more. Some people disagree with me buying medium-range cosmetic products because they always think that high-end products are the best. Do you know that some worst allergies in skincare history are caused by the so-called expensive, high-end skincare lines?

I use what's best for me, not buy what other beauty bloggers and magazines recommend because in the end, I am the one who knows my skin the best= )

My Verdict:

Review - Anosa Pure and Naturals Natural Organic Whitening Lotion

2011-03-26T17:35:00.012+08:00

Price: RM 39.00 ( 150ml)

Where to get :
www.jkfashionshop.com

Product Description:

Have you been dreaming of beautiful, soft, radiant, fair and flawless complexion? Shills organic whitening lotion uses 7 botanical extracts to help you realize your dreams. Its deep hydrating power gently penetrates into deep skin to deliver whitening, repair, refining and brightening effects giving you a lighter skin tone and pigmentation. Be amazed of its organic power and experience moisturized radiance and fairness today.

Directions: Apply a moderate amount on the face and neck day and night after cleaning. Massage gently until fully absorbed.

My Experience:

I understand that Anosa might not get as much exposure and coverage from the mass media. It is always SHILLS that overshadows this puny little brand. Although I'm not a fan of Anosa, I still get one product or two to try. For me, Anosa is only good in hydrating. I saw this lotion in jkfashionshop.com website and decided to get it because the price is very reasonable. Not that I was running out of lotions, I got it for the sake of trying.

The lotion is the third step from Anosa's whitening range.

Like many advertisements, the 'Before' and 'After' photos are heavily edited in order to convince buyers.

The packaging of the product is a bit cheapo. Some said it's pretty but my taste just disapproves such design. It kind off reminds me of SHILLS. But of course, SHILLS gains more popularity than Anosa. I can understand if Anosa copies or imitates some of the product designs.

The texture of the lotion is more or less like Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Milk Lotion but Anosa has a thicker texture. I prefer thinner texture for a lotion because nowadays, I pat lotions on my face instead of massaging the product in circular motion. I find patting way more economical and time-saving.I might need forever if I were to massage moisturisers/ lotions that are very light and thin.

See? It's very hydrating! If you sleep in an air-conditioned room, this lotion is perfect for you. Unfortunately, I am not staying in an A/C room,so I find the texture pretty sticky for my oily skin.

As you can see, the stickiness disappears and I am very satisfied with the rate of absorption. Absorbed too fast, my skin would be flaky in a couple of hours. Absorbed too slow, my face might look sticky and oily throughout the day.

My comment for the product:

It might not be a crowd favourite because firstly, the brand is unknown to many ( especially beauty virgins). Secondly, I suspect that the formulation of the lotion targets at only certain skin types. My oily skin does not really agree with the product. Whitening effect is unnoticeable, so I reckon that this product is not good in skin lightening. In fact, I can't even see any brightening effect on my face. Usually, whitening products that fail in lightening skin tone might succeed in skin brightening. Oh well, I got the wrong product this time. The hydration factor might be the only factor I repurchase this lotion but I doubt that I would get anything from Anosa ( not this soon ).

My Verdict:

Review - Naruko Job's Tears Whitening and Cooling Night Gelly

2011-03-26T17:31:00.016+08:00

Where to get:
www.jkfashionshop.com

Ingredients List( click at the image to enlarge):

Product Description:

A whitening and cooling gelly that soothes skin with hydration and repairs damages from UV rays exposure.

My Experience:

Naruko is a new skincare line by Niu Er, a famous beauty guru from Taiwan. Aside of Beautyeasy, Biobeauty and @Nature, this latest line promises the best result that the nature could deliver. Like a lot of girls, I was curious and intrigued by the tagline, ' Nature' and 'Best result'.

I love the minimalistic design of the clear violet jar. I can't read the Chinese calligraphy imprinted on the jar though.

When I looked at the box, I was thinking " How creative but a waste of material". And I threw the box away. Recently I found something via the World Wide Web and almost fainted for my stupidity and ignorance.

It is designed in order for users to fold and let you keep for years.

A spatula is provided. The spatula is designed as such to ease scooping . Some spatulas are too flat to dig out anything, so such spatula design is ideal to scoop out gel-like products.

When I first opened the jar.

Lately.

When you see such translucent gel, bear in mind that the gel is probably very wet and might not be suitable on acne-prone skin. Try it at the back of your palm to test .If your skin shows no sign that the gel is settling quickly into your skin, it is probably that the product won't be absorbed effectively into your skin.

The gelly is crystal-clear and moist. It feels really wet on skin but absorbs pretty fast into skin. I know we Asians apply a lot of things on our face before bedtime so any additional step would deem a chore to most of us. I assure you that extra moisture on dry / matured skin would pay you off later in life. I used to think that my oily skin could go off without much hydrating cream/gel. Now, my skin cries for help. It's thirsty!

I apply this sleeping mask at the final step of my night time skincare regimen. Most brands promise that by adhering to this skincare habit, your earlier skincare products will penetrate deeper and better into skin. I am not sure of this statement. But you know, I don't care much about claims and promises. I just love to try. I am glad that I tried this product. It's as good as Laneige Waterbank.

My comments for the product:

It feels quite heavy on me when I just applied the product on skin.After a few pats, the gel sank nicely into my skin.I end this regimen with a loooong slumber. Claimed to have very good soothing quality because of the lavender extract used as the main ingredient, strangely I do not think so.I don't find myself in tranquility after using this. For me , a scent is just a scent unless I am using the real aromatherapy. (sadly, I never like aromatherapy as a choice to relax).

I do see a brighter complexion the next morning, but its whitening quality is disappointing. Not that I care , but I see people using this product as a way to lighten their skintones. Nah, this is for brightening,babes. Also, I don't recommend this product to those with acne-prone skin as the texture can be too watery. Excessive moisture/hydration to a face full of zits spells danger. You might see more volcanoes waiting to erupt the next day.

My Verdict:

Review - Relian Mascara ( Plump Effect Mascara)

2011-03-24T19:42:00.014+08:00

Price: RM 25.00

Where to get :

girl_fashion : http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=672179&hl=fake+eyelashes

Product Description:

My Experience:

Initially, I wanted to purchase this mascara instead but it was out of stock.

*sigh*

So, I bought this mascara with thickening and lengthening ingredients. It is claimed that this mascara is able to create the fake eyelashes effect by making eyelashes as thick and long as possible. I know a lot of girls here prefer to use mascara than spending time in front of the mirror fixing fake eyelashes near to lash line. Well, I am not good in fake eyelashes. Plus, I hate to take them out too. It's a no-brainer rule to not pulling your eyelids when taking out fake eyelashes but sometimes I can't help it.

So, I prefer mascara to save myself from the agony.

There's a debate between Flamingo and Relian mascara. Both of them claim that they can elongate eyelashes as much as 300 % of the original length of eyelashes. I tried to get Flamingo but too afraid to get a fake one. I saw a lot here in JB. * stomps feet* Why ? Why do the PRC's Chinese love to produce counterfeits of everything? Oh gosh.

The packaging is not as pretty as the original Relian mascara( the one in glossy pink). But I am okay with it since I am not going to keep the box. There's no ingredients list listed and I couldn't get it from the Internet, so I apologise for that.

The difference between this version and the pink packaging is this version comes as 2-in-1 tube as compared to the pink packaging with two tubes of mascara ( one is a lengthening fiber mascara while the other one is to thicken lashes) . The one that I review contains both lengthening fiber and volumiser in a tube in order to save time.

The mascara wand looks pretty elegant .Unlike the usual mascara wands from drugstores and counters, the diameter of the mascara is really huge.It's as big as a marker pen.I'd mistaken it if I misplace this mascara on my drawing table.

The comb however is quite disappointing as it is quite difficult to reach my lower lash with such design. Relian has another version of mascara addressing this problem. I think the mascara is called 3D mascara with a special hook design on the comb in order to reach for the shortest and unreachable lower lash. I've yet to try that one.

And the result ?

Okay,I'll let you guess which eye had the mascara on.

It's obviously the right eye. My right eye looked bigger than the left.

I did not curl my lashes with eyelash curler. The lengthening effect is really good . I guess the people are right. I don't know if the old version of Relian mascara is better in terms of lengthening and volumising but I am eager to own one.

Before ...

After....

The mascara is ideal if you are in a rush and you don't have time for eyeliner. Just a feel swipe and you're ready to go. I like the mascara for natural effect. Contrary to what many reviews had claimed, I don't see the dramatic effect after using the mascara. How come other users get the fake eyelashes effect ?

Then I realised that it was my fault. I did not curl my lashes before I apply the mascara and I only applied once. After reading so many blogs raving about the mascara, I finally know the right way to use this mascara. Just as the mascara is about to dry, apply a few more layers and be amazed.This works better than Dejavu Fiberwig and other Fasio mascaras.

The good thing about the mascara is it does not clump as much as other mascaras I've used.

Okay, the mascara does live up to my expectations ; it does lengthen and volumise as much as I hoped for. It is wonderful in curling. I have finally found a mascara that curls without the help of eyelash curler. The best thing and I even consider this as the wow factor .... it does not transfer to the lower lid ; the main reason why we have panda eyes after a few hours. I experience this all the time with Maybelline mascaras ( but I still like them though).

This is a photo of me with my bare eyelashes.

After using the mascara, you can see how high and curly the eyelashes are.

If this is the fake eyelashes look, I kind of agree with that because fake eyelashes are curly and curvy. I have straight eyelashes that point downwards and I hate them in such condition.

Then my itchy hands added a few more strokes and layers to the eyelashes and tadah, the eyelashes look so much thicker. I even applied to the lower lashes and you can see that they are so much longer than before.

I know a lot of us girls are afraid to use waterproof mascara because it is a hassle to remove them entirely. Fret not. With only lukewarm water, every trace of mascara will be removed. I am serious. It's a chemical reaction and I don't wish to know the elaborate rocket science behind this mystery.All I know is I am a happy user.

My comments for the product:

If you're a lazy woman, a person who is always on the run, a person with bad makeup skill, a person who adores the dolly eye look, a person who loves beauty budgeting, a person who prefers simple makeup technique and a person who has sparse eyelashes, I recommend you this mascara. I do not have sparse eyelashes. In fact, I think mine are quite full and long. My only whining about my lashes is that they are too straight. I want them to be curly but I hate to use eyelash curler. I want to minimise damage to my eyelashes because they don't grow at accelerating rate.

All in all, I would be the first to repurchase because at such irresistible price, you cannot get any mascara better than this.

My Verdict:

Review - L'egere White Multi BB cream and L'egere Aqua and Shiny Pearl BB Powder

2011-03-24T18:05:00.005+08:00

Have you ever heard of L'egere BB cream?If you haven't and you're a beauty junkie, then you must have lived in a cave for all these years!L'egere shot to fame after the brand was introduced by Kevin the Taiwanese beauty guru / makeup artist in Taiwan beauty show, Ladies First. In the show, Kevin showed the best way and methods to use L'egere BB cream because the BB cream is different from other BB creams in the business.

Back then, I was shocked to see the dark shade when Kevin first squirted the BB cream on a dark-skinned Asian model. He mentioned that the BB cream suited most skin tones especially fair skin. I was at disbelief. I did not buy his claim until recently. Since my skepticism was still strong, I chose to buy trial set. I purchased the set from skygreen2u.com ( one of my favourite online shops, it sells the cutest Japanese products ever). This L'egere set comprises of the mini size BB cream and loose powder. I was curious about the loose powder as well, so the set was definitely my star buy.

The products come with a clear plastic kit.

I don't know who's this Taiwanese model but I know that this fine lady appeared countless times on Taiwanese beauty shows. She's the latest spokesperson for L'egere.

The BB cream comes in a small tube of 10g. I am not sure myself if it would survive the next month if I use it everyday.

The product description and ingredients list.

I got this from the Internet:

Benefits:

ALL IN ONE FUNCTIONS - sun protect + makeup base + skin cover + foundations for 24hrs WHITENING & SKIN CARE FORMULA

- Acts effectively on irritated skin, concealing dermal blemish and helps skin rejuvenation with innovative active ingredient

- Blocking the penetration of UV rays and other harmful factors

- This silicon-based formula defines a natural, long lasting complexion with gentle calming effects of natural, plant derived soothing particles not only on oily and sensitive skin, but also on irritated skin following peel care

Good For: - Skin that needs protection, irritated skin by peeling and laser procedures, sensitive and troubled skin

Applications:
- After following the daily skin routine, apply generously on face & sensitive area
- For skin protection and natural looking coverage
- Lightly pat a small amount of product over entire face in the final stage of basic skin toning

Ingredients:
contains 500mg of Arbutin, Cyclomethicone, Jojoba oil, Polyglceyl-4 Isoterate, Cetyl PEG/PPG-10/1Dimethicone, Bees Wax, Tocopheryl acetate, Propyl Parabem,Sorbita sesquioleate, Petrolatum, Titanium oxides, Cyslopentasiloxane, Iron Oxides / Dimethicone, Glycerin, Butylene Glycol, Magnesium Sulfate, Methyl Paraben, Sodium Hysluronate, Marine Collagen, Rose Water, Centella Asiaticac

Weight: 50g

Origin: Korea

This is the actual size. I think I am getting this soon. I am seriously in love with this BB cream.

There are only basic descriptions about the BB cream, nothing extensive.

I love the narrow nozzle as it controls the flow of the BB cream to prevent wastage.Unlike BB creams that I am using now (SHILLS), I can stretch this BB cream as long as I can because I need very little for satisfied coverage.

The shade is indeed really dark when just squeezed from the tube.I was very disappointed at first too. I was like, "Oh man! So dark, how am I going to apply this stuff on my face?".

Nevertheless, I still tried the BB cream.I followed exactly as what Kevin taught in the beauty shows. The BB cream still appears dark when spread on skin.The magic surfaced when I started to massage the BB cream onto my skin.

The more I massage, the lighter the BB cream turns. I know what you're thinking, just like TheBf. You think that I was just spreading the BB cream on my skin and there's nothing special about it ?

I tried the BB cream on TheBf too and amazingly, this BB cream suits both of our skin tones. Perfectly, that is! There isn't any dark patch on my skin nor light patch on his.

See ? This one-colour-fits-it-all shade definitely lives up to its name. So how I do find the BB cream in conclusion?

My comments for the product:

Functions: This BB cream is fabulous on its own. Either I puff on loose powder or not, the BB cream looks as though I have nothing on my face. It has
Shade:
Coverage:

The BB cream is not noticeable on my skin but people can definitely tell that I have something on my face. I have the BB cream on my face when I had small marks. TheBf hardly noticed it. Yay! For more coverage, pat on the BB cream on the area that needs extra coverage. Don't rub the BB cream on.

Advantages:

The shade is neither too beige nor yellow. Therefore, this makes the BB cream such a hit among female users across the globe. You know, sometimes people avoid BB creams because the shade is greyish. It makes face zombie-like and you can tell that's the face of dead people because yuck, your complexion is grey! If you want immaculate makeup, just dust some powder on your face and you're ready for the world. And the BB cream does not make skin ghastly white on photos.

Oil Control:

This BB cream, my dear, is an absolute BB cream for oily skin type. I won't say that the BB cream would give a 100% matte look. Dewy is the perfect world to describe the sheen on my face. But don't get me wrong, it's not an oil slick. I would say that it is a glow, a glow that radiates from a healthy complexion. Now, doesn't that sound better and more appealing?

Whitening:

I use whitening serums before using my sunblock and BB cream. I guess the main function of BB cream is to seal the goodness of the skincare products that I have applied prior to the application of BB cream. Before this, my BB cream melts when heat from the sun is unbearable. Now, everything that I have applied stays intact and yes, I see whitening effect as a result. At least my effort don't go down the drain because sweating your BB cream off means purging out all the skincare stuff too!

Lasting Power:

The BB cream lasts the whole day. Because it mattifies skin, the BB cream does not disappear that quickly To strengthen its lasting power, you can dust on a light veil of loose powder to set the BB cream.

Conclusion: This is my second favourite after Dr Jart Silver Label Rejuvenating BB cream.

Next, L'egere Aqua and Shiny Pearl BB Powder.

Good, there's a description at the bottom of the jar, so I do not have to keep the cardboard description in the kit. Sometimes it's a nuisance that we have to keep the box in order to re-read the descriptions.

Click at the image for a larger view.

It comes with a soft powder puff. I don't recommend to use the given powder puff because it picks up too much of a powder, thus creating thicker powder layer. It is best to use a powder brush to lightly cover face with powder. If you do prefer powder puff, make sure that the puff isn't too dense or hard.

I patted the powder at the back of my hand.It looks pretty seamless to me. Note that I did not alter the lighting of the photo.

*photo was taken at night under fluorescent lighting.

I applied the BB cream on my face , followed by the loose powder. Please don't mind my eye bags. I haven't been getting sufficient sleep these days( and the untouched eyebrows, urgh). The coverage of both products are buildable; from medium to full coverage. This BB cream is amazing. It covers pimple marks well without looking oily and fake. It does give me the fake perfect skin look. Oh my God, I really love this BB cream. Also, I like it because it has good SPF. I don't have slather thick layer of sunblock to prevent harmful rays from penetrating my skin. The loose powder works equally as good.

My verdict to both products:

Ceutical and Phytoderm Ampoules, Beauty Host Facial Masks Galore !

2011-03-23T00:17:00.020+08:00

My first venture on Phytoderm started when I spotted a thread in Lowyat.net with bold claims, telling that you would get smoother and fairer skin with continuous use of ampoules and masks. I used to scoff at the idea of using such products. That was a couple of years ago when I scoffed. Now I have to slap myself when I went back to the same seller again.

Her moniker was Sharon1604 and her thread is this : http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/785534

You have to try her service before judging.It's really fast and excellent. It wasn't my first time dealing with her. Everything went on easy breezy and the next thing I knew, my parcel reached me.

Sharon1604 also has a blogshop that sells salon grade products like masks, ampoules and all sorts of beauty stuff. Masks available are of various brands like Beauty Host, Chuncaini, Joreins and Ceutical. Never heard of them ? Then, you are outdated ! And you have to try them ! I am now using Beauty Host masks as a part of my rejuvenation plan. My skin has gone from oily to dehydrated nowadays so I have to think of a way to let my skin slurp extra moisture apart from consuming 8 glasses of water daily.

Oh ! The website is called Vanity Talks : http://vanitytalks.blogspot.com/. If you are a social-networking addict, Sharon1604 is reachable via Facebook here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Vanity-Talks/150376158341207

You can check out her website if dealing at thread is not your thing.And if you seek professional service ( facial and treatment), you can also visit her shop at :No. 3-1 SS21/37 Damansara Utama, 47400 Selangor, Malaysia

The shop is operational at below schedule

Mon - Sat:	1:00 pm	-	8:00 pm
Sun:	1:00 pm	-	6:00 pm

I bought only a few products from her but this generous lady gave me numerous gifts and freebies! Well, reviews are following next.

Ceutical Ampoules

I remembered that I did not order Ceutical ampoules and when I opened the box....

I was shocked to see these beautiful vials of ampoules waiting to be discovered! Sharon1604 sent me different types of ampoules from Ceutical to try. I am eager and very enthusiastic to be the guinea pig.

These are among the Ceutical ampoules I got.Others included in the box are Fairness ampoule, blackhead ampoule, whitening ampoule,blackhead ampoule and normalizing ampoule.

My euphoria did not end just yet. I saw a gigantic vial lying next to my ampoule boxes.

This is the first time I encounter such huge vial and yes, you're right. The ampoule is specially formulated for body.

Ladies, introducing Ceutical Body Whitening System Vitamin C Ampoule. One vial contains 10 ml of ampoule liquid.

Sharon1604 also sent me skincare products from Ceutical to try. Ceutical might not be known to many because there isn't much publicity about this brand. It is salon brand that you might not be able to get in drugstores.

This is quoted from the website :

We all know that when the word 'salon' pops out, it also indirectly spells expensive. Here, the wallet-thinning factor isn't available, all you get from Ceutical is quality products and long-lasting result. I see it myself.

Ceutical Scar Potion

This is one serum that I use the most because I get small pimples when I stay up late. I am an architecture student, so I sleep very late at night and do work until the dawn breaks. I use this scar potion to reduce redness and appearance of scars after breakout. But I don't get serious breakout nowadays. I am the kind of person who would hide inside a room when I spot 3 pimples on my face. ( Vainpot =) I know!)

Don't underestimate this 3ml serum. All you need is a drop to cover your face. Don't overuse the potion, it's a waste to do so. Just apply sufficiently at affected areas and get ready to sleep .

Quote from the thread:

Formulated to use together with Ceutical Scar Serum for faster & proven results!! Experience & reveal your new, scar-less look to the world. Say goodbye to heavy thick foundation. You deserve that!

Ingredients: Aqua, C 12-15 Pareth 12, Xanthan Gum, Polyacrylate 13, Butylene glycol, Zea Mays (corn) Kernel Extract, Polyisobutene, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Fragrance (cucumber), allantoin, Propylene Glycol, Diazolidinyl Urea, Polysorbate 20, Tremella Fuciformis Sporocarp Extract, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Methylisothiazoline

Ceutical Nano Pimple Toner

I addressed my skin issues with Sharon1604 and she threw me this too. If you are very concerned about pimples, sensitive skin, itchiness and whiteheads, I recommend this toner. I am currently using this toner as a part of my anti-acne combat. This is a critical time for pimples to pop put as my pre-graduation night is just around the corner. So, I need to keep my face clear.

I swear by this toner. It zapped my potential pimples from sprouting on my face. The minty cool sensation is a plus point on a boiling hot day ( the time when pimples feel itchiest the most)

Quote from the thread:

The toner is a spray-on toner. Two squirts and you're all done.It's not necessary to apply layers of products after the toner as it is good enough to reduce pimples.

Oh yes, I forgot to introduce the product. It's Ceutical Nano Pimple Toner.

Ceutical Nano Pimple Cream

If you are very serious about getting your skin clear and pimple-free, try this. It is certified to be safe to use and it works wonderfully. Dermedex users can switch to this product. It smells and look almost identical to Dermedex but you need very little to make bumps sink. This 5 ml jar lasts me a long period as I only dab the cream onto pimple to make it vanish the next day.

Quote from the thread:

The small jar is very,very potent.

The texture is definitely smoother and creamier than that of Dermedex and Caroline. I think I will write a separate review for this cream soon.

Ceutical Milky Cleanser

Another quality product from Ceutical is its milky cleanser.

Ingredients: Purified water, stearic acid, cetyl alcohol, cellulose, Sodium Lauryl Ether sulphate, Cocobetaine, Polysorbate-20, hydrolyzed sunflower oil, Cathon CG

For easy dispensing, bottle design with pump dispenser is the best but the problem with such design is you cannot get the most out of your product.

I put the cleanser to test

I am not really sure if the cleanser is able to remove waterproof cosmetics ,so I tested it with my waterproof eyeliner.

My conclusion from the test: The cleanser is able to remove minor waterproof cosmetics. For stubborn ones, you need to massage harder and longer. I see the cleanser as a makeup remover whenever I see the word 'milk'. By that, it means that you apply and massage the cleanser on your face before adding water to form emulsified mixture. The final step is of course rinsing it off before cleansing your face again with water-soluble cleanser.

I also received another box of ampoules. This box, however, is different from the one I've mentioned earlier. It's in a form of vial with rubber cap. Also from the brand Ceutical, the ampoules are of higher grade.

Look at the vibrant and vivid colours. They do remind me of the ion experiments during my high school years.

I was given a total of eight different ampoules to try. Thanks ,honey!

The list:

1. Anti-irritation

2. Botox

3. Acne

Function:
Based on a natural acne complex which regulated and balances oily skin, purifies the pores, helps regulates sebum production, soothes irritated and blemished skin. Targets acne prone skin. Soothes skin and prevent outbreak.

4. Pure Gold

5. Caviar

6. Vitamin C

7. Collagen Whitening

Function:
Combined 2 in 1 collagen and whitening serum that provide superb firming and whitening of the skin.

8. Scar

Phew! So many of them. I think I need quite a while before I can finally review them.

Below are the ampoules that I bought:

Phytoderm Whitening ampoules

These are great for pre-makeup. They help to keep my makeup intact.

Usually, I would transfer the ampoule liquid to a small bottle with dropper to prolong its shelf life. For an opened ampoule, it is advisable to empty it in 24 hours time or else it would oxidise.

Phytoderm Vita-C Ampoules

Phytoderm Vita-C ampoules

I 've reviewed the ampoules before here : Phytoderm France Ampoules

My face has gone from pale to dull. I am so grateful that Sharon1604 also sells masks. I've never purchased masks from her, this was my first.

Beauty Host Masks!

I got 20 pieces of masks because a promotion was ongoing. It would be so stupid of me to get away without the masks !

I purchased two types of masks : Bird's Nest Whitening and Beautifying Facial Mask and Glossy Ganoderma & Edible Bird's Nest Face-Beautifying Mask.

The name sounds funny. I've tried the mask, it's great ! My face actually looks so much fairer and smoother after each use. I apply the mask when I stay up late. It makes so much of a difference.

The mask has fragrance , so be sure that you are not allergic to fragrance by testing the mask on neck.

The descriptions ( I don't really bother to read because some words did not make sense)

Between the two masks, I actually reach the former the most. It works better for me. Separate reviews will be posted.

I need to thank Sharon1604 for her generosity and her patience to answer my queries. I am wondering how she managed to do her business online and offline. It must have been really hectic for me. I know it's not easy. I am a lazy person so I cannot do such business =p

Full reports will be released soon, I promise!

My YOKO and RDL Stuff

2011-03-22T00:34:00.002+08:00

I received my YOKO products all in good condition. The parcel was quite heavy and the staff in the college office even asked if I bought a kitten because the postman complained to her that the parcel was heavy. Thank God, it was written ' Health product' at the parcel description or else I would have to explain what the hell is Yoko bath salt to her.

The staff office told me that they had to reserve a place at the parcel shelf for me because I always have parcels arriving every next few days.That is so embarrassing!

About Yoko bath salt, I bought products from Yoko back in 2010 out of curiosity. I had even written reviews on the products ( you can read them under 'Yoko' category).

There is one thing that potential users need to know about RDL Papaya soap; you might stumble upon counterfeit RDL soaps eventhough you are certain about the authenticity seal and packaging. Last month, I accidentally bought imitation RDL soaps although I have been using the soaps for years. Never have I thought that I would see the day of me getting cheated ! This sole reason made me resorted to online purchasing.

One tip: Genuine RDL soap melts very fast when in contact with water and the soap is very soft. You can almost squish the soap with your fist.

I got my supply of YOKO bath salts and RDL soaps from Yati6546 (http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1197314&hl=yoko). You can also purchase from narcolepsy21 (http://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=1008966&hl=yoko),but the price is slightly higher than that of Yati6546. Both are responsible and trustworthy sellers, so you can rest assure that your products are genuine.

The seller packed my products into an old shoe box, which I think was brilliant because I can reuse the box for something. I have ran out of shelves and racks for my stash.

This soap is selling at RM 6.00 at local Malay and Indian beauty stores ,whereas via online, I can get it at RM 4.90 per bar. If you want to get the lowest price, try searching it in Petaling Street. The RDL products are genuine and the price is very competitive. Plus, the sellers might give you freebies if you're good at bargaining.

The fake RDL soaps I got had no wordings on the plastic. Please note this if you are serious about using RDL soaps.

This is another version of RDL Papaya soap. The only difference is that this version is fortified with milk, hence the milky and emulsified colour of the soap.

It smells better than the original papaya soap.

As usual, check the authenticity seal( although it might not a guarantee that your soap is genuine).*sigh* Why must these people cheat .....???? I don't get it. It's not that the soaps worth a few thousands, so just spare us consumers from the hazards of using fake products.

Hmm... I don't use soap on my face. I only use it on my body.

These are my restocks. My favourite YOKO bath salt would be the one with milk but no stock was available when I ordered.

The brief description of the product.

The texture is really fine and I simply love the cleaner and smoother feel on my body after each scrub.Note that skin only turns brighter, not whiter. Bath salts can NEVER whiten your skintone, so do not rub your skin until it peels in hope of revealing a fairer skintone because it doesn't work that way.

The bath salt is only meant for exfoliation purpose so that the next step( moisturising) will be more effective.

This is my first buy for YOKO body butter cream.

At a quick glance, the packaging looks slightly like The Body Shop's famous body butter.

Click at the image if you want a closeup to the image.

The heavy tub of cream is sealed with a foil to prevent spillage.

The problem is the foil is too stubborn to be removed. Even poking a hole is difficult. I had to cut the foil out with a knife. After the foil was removed, I realised that there was another layer of plastic foil to ensure that the cream doesn't turn rancid. Hmm... No wonder I had to use all my might to reveal the content. But I am glad that YOKO took such measure to preserve the freshness of the cream.

Introducing RDL Tawas soap. I don't know what the hell is Tawas. So, I Googled the word.The truth must unveil! From my research, Tawas is actually an anti-perspirant and tawas often comes in form of powder. Scientifically,the name is alum. If you used to be a science student and you don't know what is alum,I really have to give you a hard knock on your head for not studying hard enough.

Tawas is particularly popular in the Phillipines to eliminate body odour caused by perspiration. People use it as a natural deodorant for underarms.

Believe it or not,I have started to use this soap on my face to remove makeup and it works fine ( I know, this is a deodorant but my face ain't smelly,y'all!).However, I do not use this soap everyday for fear that my skin would get dry and flaked. A soap is still a soap. If your skin is very sensitive, I suggest you not to use soap on your face at all because your skin might react badly with the surfectant.

The cuboid soap looks really pretty when I took out the plastic. It's almost crystal-clear. I'll show the photo after I've used this soap for a couple of weeks.The soap starts to get more translucent. Woo... I am amazed.

You know, my YOKO salt is running out very fast because I am using it almost everyday. I think I have to get my restock pretty soon. Pfft... The reviews for the soaps will come soon. I am testing the Tawas soap first. I'll tell when I get my new YOKO stuff , okay? Muacks.

What Good is Life when You Feel Like Dying ?

2011-03-21T02:08:00.004+08:00

I am moody all the time nowadays.

It's the thesis year and everybody roars at the end of the semester, trying extremely hard to complete report and design thesis. TheBf tried so hard to please me because of my pendulum-like mood swing.

*sigh*

The sadness is unbearable. I wish to purge out the negativity inside me. My only solace is my home, near to my mum,brother and sister. Whatever I have here, I'll leave them all behind.

Thesis is not difficult. It's not something I like and wish to do. Thus, it makes my life a living hell. I am burning as though I am in hell. I feel like I'm on fire but with the absence of passion.

Passion?

Where have you gone?

It's time for me to pick up my painting brush and make some arts.

Faux Eyelash Frenzy

2011-03-20T01:56:00.001+08:00

Wee!!!!!

My first Koji eyelash glue .Wait. I think I have the clear one too but I have misplaced it, so no photo.

* shrugs*

It's weird that such product is a hit in every beauty store I went.

And why the sudden purchase in eyelash glue ?

I got myself boxes of eyelashes,yay! I am not usually a fan of fake eyelashes because you know, they look fake on us Asians. However, after reading tonnes of Japanese-based beauty magazines, I guess it is time that I join the pack.

I got my eyelashes from this seller : www.littlemissq.com

This is the screenshot of the website. Here, you are able to browse through your favourite lashes.Plus, the language used is English! It's rare to see English website that sells kawaii stuff nowadays(unless you are willing to pay more). I like to buy from this online shop as the price is reasonable and the seller is willing to communicate.

The service was superb and the seller took the time and effort to communicate with me via text messages because there were some amendments to the order I made. Within 2 days, I got my parcel!

My eyelashes!

I bought 4 boxes and another 7 pairs of faux eyelashes and got one box for free.

I didn't get anything funny or extravagant because I know that I won't be using fake eyelashes that often.

These were my purchases:

Natural Cross 4

This is the screenshot from the website.

It turned out that my eyelashes were exactly as displayed on the website! I'm glad with that because there's always sellers who give you cheap-looking items instead of the one displayed online.

See how curly the eyelashes are? This is perfect for my super linear eyelashes. I have no problem with the length of my eyelashes, it's the degree of curl that bothers me.

I am surprised that the eyelashes look natural on my Chinese eyes. I thought the super curl would look foreign and alien on me but it doesn't. I definitely recommend this eyelashes to all.

Natural Smokey P3

The screenshot of P3.

I like how shiny and glossy the eyelashes look. This , my dear, is ideal for night events. Because it's very full and curly, any eyes would look bigger and more lively. Of course, you need to stick it properly on your eyelids or else the eyelashes would make your eyes droopy.

Me likey! I haven't put this on test yet. I will when I get my contact lens soon.

The bones/spines of the eyelashes are quite soft so you have to be extra careful when storing them. I prefer fake eyelashes to have soft spines instead of the really hard ones because it's more comfortable wearing soft-boned lashes. Hard spines poke the hell out of my eyes.

P23( This one is a partial lash)

I'd keep the box for sure. So cute.

The weaving does remind me of a very sexy pair of lingerie. Again, lashes with criss-cross weaving always look natural because if you look discreetly at your real eyelashes, you will see the same pattern. Our eyelashes do not grow all the way upwards, instead they grow in criss-crossing way.

I think I'll try this eyelashes on my Pre-Graduation Night which is approaching by the end of this month. I haven't get my dress!

728 ( I think the one I got is a long version)

This eyelashes is the most acceptable among all. The lashes look very natural ( according to TheBf) and one thing for sure, it looks pretty on real person and in photos.

*sob sob* It's alright... I can always play with other lashes.

Here, you'll notice how soft the spine is. The lashes feel very comfortable on my eyes and the best part is, onlookers do not give you the stare. You know, the stare that hints you that you've overdo your eyelashes? You don't want to get the attention for the wrong reason.

041 ( This box, I got it free of charge because they have the But-4-boxes-free-1-box promotion.)

Hmm... This is my least favourite but mainly because I have not tried it.

I don't know why, but it seems like Johorean babes love to wear such eyelashes. Me no likey.

Lashes that I got in pairs...

I got them out of curiosity. These are lashes that give the natural full eyelashes look. I am not ready for eyelashes that can almost sweep all the dust and dirt away from my eye areas.

Dolly Curl 728 B

Dolly Curl PX-8

This was the one that I ordered initially but it was out of stock.

Dolly Curl Lower Lash

The seller replaced the previous order with this one. Hmm... very pretty too. I have never tried putting on fake lower lash. But I bet it would turn out pretty because Indians have thick upper and lower eyelashes. Envy!

I am not a professional in sticking eyelashes. I usually piled up mascara to look dolly. Maybe this time I'd do something different to my usual boring makeup style. I blame this to Dolly Wink as I am addicted to the cute dolly look now.