The Glossifieds

Jade facial roller by Yuroll.

2008-06-05T15:26:00.007+08:00

Image from cultbeauty.co.uk

My Chinese female ancestors had many secrets for smooth unlined skin -- dark, bitter herbal concoctions, pearl face cream, filial piety and jade adornments are just a few of them. Real jade supposedly absorbs skin oils if worn next to the body and becomes darker and glossier with time. Given how young and not-so-young women these days prefer to match jewellery to their outfits instead of wearing the same few pieces 24-7, this jade facial roller by Yuroll (yu is jade in Mandarin, pronounced 'euh' not 'yoo') is a nifty way to incorporate a tradition into their beauty routine. I imagine you'd get the same effect rubbing your Po-po's heirloom jade bracelet all over your face, but since the Yuroll is actually a beauty aid, it comes with a promise to do a bunch of things to your lymphatic system, blood flow, facial muscles and wrinkles.

The jade facial roller is available at the newly opened British online boutique Cult Beauty for thirty hefty, solid pounds.

Guerlain Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune

2008-05-22T16:17:00.003+08:00

The tropical weather in Malaysia drives me to seek scents with crisp green or juicy citrus notes to counteract the mind-numbing, soul-crushing humidity. I love grapefruits, both to eat and to wear, which made this bottle difficult to resist when I chanced upon it in an airport duty free shop. Guerlain's Aqua Allegoria Pamplelune EDT contains all the bright, sunny juiciness of a ripe grapefruit without the bitter tang that divides the population into grapefruit fans and, well, chumps (Just kidding!). It is easily the happiest perfume in my collection, and the memory of the scent alone is enough to bring a smile to my face.

The best part about Pamplelune is that it is part of the less expensive Aqua Allegoria line -- I paid about RM160 duty free for my 75ml/2.4 fl oz bottle, which is priced at US$52 on Sephora. Pamplelune is easily found at airport duty free shops as well as Guerlain counters in department stores.

Top notes: Acidulous grapefruit
Middle notes: Flowers from Provence, grapefruit
Base notes: Delicious grapefruit, patchouli, vanilla

Kat Von D at Sephora.

2008-05-18T12:39:00.006+08:00

I am obsessed with two TLC shows currently airing on Discovery Travel and Living in Malaysia -- Miami Ink and its West Coast spin-off L.A. Ink (see pic above for cast). The show revolves around the young tattoo artist Kat Von D (white swimsuit, centre), first spotted on Miami Ink before she was fired, and her talented, quirky colleagues at High Voltage Tattoo in Hollywood California. My own fascination with tattoo art aside, I adore the alterna-chick look the women cast members rock and the absence of magazine-ready blonde glossiness (see The Hills) on the show.

You can imagine how thrilled I was when I learnt that Kat Von D was collaborating with Sephora on a makeup collection, which is now for sale online. I don't know the extent of Kat Von D's contribution (celebrity lines, y'know?), but the finished product has a romantic goth-glam feel to it so it feels like a collection the creator would wear herself. The plastic casing is stencilled with silver roses and comes in a specially silk-screened paper box.

The Kat Von D makeup collection isn't large -- there are two shadow palettes named after her favourite composer, creamy red lipsticks, liquid liner (of course) and an eye brush set. I'm personally lemming:

True Romance Eyeshadow palette in Beethoven (the other's named Ludwig. God, I'd buy both just to keep them together)

Painted Love lipstick in Hellbent because it's described as 'blood red'. Which I think is the perfect lipstick to wear when I'm carving my lover's initials into my skin while listening to My Chemical Romance.

It goes without saying that both images are from Sephora.

Prices for the Kat Von D makeup collection range from US$16 for an eyeliner and US$48 for the eye brush set, so it isn't exactly inexpensive. Still, this is one thoughtful eponymous celebrity makeup collection that may very well be worth every penny.

Lipstick as an economic indicator.

2008-05-08T13:38:00.003+08:00

When the economy tanks, women appear to buy more lipsticks as they scrimp on traditional big-ticket items, a theory posited by Leonard Lauder, chairman of the Estee Lauder companies. From the New York Times:

After the terrorist attacks of 2001 deflated the economy, Mr. Lauder noticed that his company was selling more lipstick than usual. He hypothesized that lipstick purchases are a way to gauge the economy. When it’s shaky, he said, sales increase as women boost their mood with inexpensive lipstick purchases instead of $500 slingbacks.
Beauty brands remain true believers in the theory, even though in the last few years the lipstick market has fallen on hard times as its glistening cousin, lip gloss, has had robust sales.
With the specter of another recession, brands like Clinique and DuWop Cosmetics are preparing for a big year in lip color, for two reasons.
First, they would like to see a return to lipstick, which usually costs slightly more than gloss. Second, the companies believe that in down times women will continue to splurge on lip lacquer even as they make do with last season’s dress.

In the light of a global rise in food and gas costs, are you making or do you plan to make any changes to your beauty consumption habits? Please share in comments!

A Bold Choice, I'm Told

2008-05-03T17:28:00.001+08:00

It's a chain reaction. I woke up 10 minutes later than usual so I miss all my 73x's City Loop and that in turn I miss my 73x's Blackburn/Belgrave/Lilydale and that in turn makes me miss my 80x's to Doncaster.

The reason for being late? I couldn't make up my mind what eyeshadow to use. I ended up being very pleased with my choice. I chose pink from my Diorissime palette and the deeper green from my RMK palette. I highlighted with the light pink from the Diorissime palette.

The flash makes the pink look slightly purple-ish but it's really a very deep and cool pink.

Mineral Confusion

2008-05-03T17:27:00.001+08:00

As mentioned, I got my delivery of Everyday Minerals a few days ago.

I've been faithfully testing each sample and I've gotten more confused each day. I picked Olive Fair, Fair and Ivory as my foundation samples.

The first test was Fair on Tuesday. It worked out alright, I think. I used only the tiniest bit to even out the redness. I wish I could say my skin is so fair that it's translucent; which was why the redness was more prominent. Somehow the redness have come about from my diet of lots of beef and vegies. Not to mention fruits and lots of coffee. I wish it was rosy cheeks that I have but it's just patches of red that's underneath the skin. So, the primary reason for a foundation for me is to even out the redness while still letting my original skin shine through.

The second day, yesterday, I went on Olive Fair. The colour seemed to work as well.

And, today, I went on Ivory. And, yes, the colour seemed to work too!

You know all these articles in the media telling you that there's one perfect foundation colour for every woman? Well, I'm all confused now. How can 3 different colours work on me? Not, one, not two, but THREE!

All 3 of these colours are not as yellow-based as Fairly Light from i.d. Minerals so they're a wee bit closer to my skin tone. And, with everyone telling me you only need to tap a couple of taps to cover the whole face, well, I think I'm using a lot more than that! Either I'm doing this wrong or my mineral foundation brush is having a fine feast eating up my precious powder!

Because the tiny little sifter jars come with tiny little sifter lids (naturally!), I took a tip from Tine to use a saucer dish. Disinfected it well with hot water, washed it with a mild cleanser and left it out to dry. Tap a couple of taps into the dish, swirl my brush around until it's picked up the powder, buff everything into my skin. Repeat for the other side of the face. One more time for forehead and a final brush over.

I only do a couple of taps for the blush for both cheeks and that's plenty enough.

So, am I doing anything wrong on the amount that's going on my skin, on picking out the colour, on application? See, that's why I need Shryh in Melbourne!

Surprise! Surprise!

2008-05-03T17:26:00.000+08:00

I came home yesterday, wanted to sit on the heater to defrost my butt. Literally. But, what stopped me was this on the dining table!

It was small enough to be shoved into our mailbox

So nicely-packaged. Not!

Packed in 5 of the cutest sifter jars ever

My choices

My pathetic attempt of swatching the foundation

The blush and the concealer

This morning, I test drove one of the foundations. I chose 'Fair'. Because of the miniscule amount of foundation I use, it's really hard to gauge if it was the perfect colour for me. All I can see is, my-skin-but-better, which was a good thing, I think? It evened out my skintone, covered up the redness and closed up the pores. The colour was not too dark nor too light.

Too soon to tell if it's the perfect one.

I'll try 'Olive Fair' tomorrow.

Benefit Her Glossiness Lipgloss: Who Does Your Work?

2008-05-03T17:25:00.000+08:00

Thanks to so many times of trial-and-error, I've finally figured out that the best lip colour to suit my skintone as well as my lips would be something that's berry-ish. I've yet to find my perfect red, pinks make me look ill, but something that's berry-ish or even plum-ish is very flattering.

A very simple gloss which does as it promises and nothing more. Very glossy, slightly sticky and with a hint of berry scent.

The stickiness does not bother me because I love it for the colour. There's not a hint of shimmer or glitter in it which makes it suitable to wear in almost all circumstances. I love to pair this with a nude eye. The pop of colour on the lips is all that's needed for a 9-5 day at work.

However, I do find that it stings a little on the lips upon application. I'm not sure if the stinging comes from the plumping effect but I most definitely do not find my lips plumped up.

Benefit glosses are, well, glosses. Nothing more, nothing less. Would I re-purchase? Probably not. But, the consistency and the texture is good. BUt the one thing I'd noticed is that the colour does not last long. The gloss and shine effects are still rather prominent after 3-4 hours but the colour is all but gone. I'd say not as pigmented as I thought it would be.

There are always new and more exciting glosses out there so it's always fun to try and experiment new ones.

The Process of Elimination

2008-05-03T17:23:00.000+08:00

This online shopping thing is just way too easy and way too convenient. The only drawback is the lack of instant gratification. Well, and also the burning of way too much plastic.

Thankfully for me, each purchase is just less than 10 dollars.

My latest purchase, having jumped onto the mineral foundation bandwagon is another Sample Kit from Signature Minerals. I picked:

Foundation: 3.0 Light Foundation
Concealer: Soft Sunshine Color Corrector
Blushes: Buff Apricot - Matte Blush, Palest Pink - Matte Blush, Seashell - Matte Blush
Mineral Veil: Translucent Veil

Now I've just to wait for them to arrive.

The wonderful thing about mineral foundation is that it really does make my skin look flawless and at the same time minimizing the pores. Someone mentioned once that you only need a little bit and anything more, the pores are actually exaggerated instead of minimized. I've yet to get to that point (and have no wish to) but I love it that it is so easy to use.

On a downside, I have been getting a fair bit of spots. I'm not sure if it's due to the bare i.d. or if it's due to the Bloom mineral foundation brush or the fact that it's TTOTM. It could even be the fact that I'd been forgetful and let my procrastinating side resurface: Forgetting to change my bedsheets. It's been 1 1/2 weeks and I always sleep with my quilt covering up to my nose, at least. So, it could be anything and I don't want to be hasty to blame it on mineral foundation.

I'm trying to eliminate the cause for it. It's not a fun task but well, it's got to be done.

PSA: Kiehl's on Chapel St

2008-04-27T16:11:00.005+08:00

On Friday 18th April 2008, Khiel's first boutique in the state of Victoria opened up at South Yarra. With barely any fanfare or advertisements, I only happened to notice it when I was on my way for groceries one day.

So, on a gloomy Sunday afternoon, being completely sick of walking in the CBD, we took a quick walk around Chapel St. It was a typical Kiehl's standalone store. Clean, simple and nondescript lines. Bare decoration with jars and jars of the products on display on the shelves.

I've read a lot about Kiehl's products for sensitive skin and their all natural products so I was eager to test some out. To be honest, I wasn't too keen on wrecking my skin with the testing of new products so in the end, I settled on a very pretty gloss in Golden Berry. More a coloured balm than a gloss, it gives the my-lips-but-better effect. It's also non-sticky which is a huge plus for girls with long tresses. No more having pesky bits of hair sticking to your lips as you battle the chilly Melbourne winter winds.

Because it's so new, I was given a couple of samples together with my purchase. I was about to sign the credit card slip (yes, I'm spoilt that way. I swipe the plastic even if it's just a $10 bill because I don't like carrying cash with me) when I was asked what my skin type was. Combination at certain times, definitely sensitive, most of the time dry to normal. She then passed me 2 of the cutest sample containers I'd ever seen.

Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

Abyssine Cream

Kiehl's can be found at 450 Chapel Street, South Yarra and at Mecca Cosmetica Australia-wide.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair

2008-04-27T16:11:00.003+08:00

To be fair, if you've not hit 25 or if you've not shown any early signs of aging, you can skip this post completely. Or, if you've hit the big 3-'oh', and you've still not got any lines to show on your face, make your exit gracefully while I try my darndest not to kill you.

I made my way to Myer one day to test it out. Well, where I could collect points for my Myer One card too. The sales assistant demonstrated the use of this product to me and when I agreed to make the purchase for a small bottle, she showered me with samples. Moisturizers, eye cream, serums and tossed in a free brow makeover.

The product itself is definitely very rich. Instructions stating that one should use about 3 to 4 drops for the entire face morning and evening but I found that way too rich for me. After a couple of days, I found that I was starting to get tiny little bumps on my face. The bumps could have only come from a product that was too rich. And, I was only using this at night!

I lowered the dosage to 2 tiny drops for the entire face and slathered on my usual Olay evening cream on.

To be honest, ever since I came back, I'd been so wary of lines and new lines that I've been drinking so much water and moisturizing like a maniac the moment I step out of the shower.

One of the easiest ways for me to develop new lines is to have a restless night. Just one night of lack of rest, my skin would be more than happy to shout that out to the rest of the world.

Having started to use this, I've realized that I don't get the tired-skin-look anymore. I might be running on only 6 hours of sleep but my skin is as its usual. Nothing a touch of foundation and highlighter wouldn't help. But, the main secret behind it is this humble little serum.

But, the most amazing thing was this. I happened to see a blackhead at my jaw. It's one of those really rare ones which hardly ever appear but it did. I couldn't leave it alone because I usually get a pretty flawless jawline. So off I went to squeeze and literally made it into a red, angry glaring Mount Etna. Yes, I managed to squeeze what I needed to squeeze out. But the end result was most definitely not worth it. What I did was I focused on that particular area a bit more when I was massaging this serum into my skin.

The next morning: More than 50% less angry.

2 days later: It's completely flattened and not even the slightest red.

I'm converted that way.

It's not cheap. The 30ml (1 o.z.) goes for AUD$100 but with only a couple of drops a night, I foresee I might be able to use this for a long, long time. In fact, when my Olay serum runs out for day use, I might just continue to use this for the day as well. To see if I'd reap any extra benefits from it.

The Estee Lauder Advanced Night repair can be found in almost every major departmental store in the world. I'm told it's much cheaper at duty free stores, so if you've got a friend who leads a jet-setter lifestyle, time to get him or her to do you a favour and try this out for yourself.

As Promised

2008-04-27T16:08:00.001+08:00

As I mentioned in the previous post, here's a snap shot of the green-eyed monster with unmascara-ed lashes. Had to dash for the train and decided I hadn't the time to blot, apply, blot, comb.

This is after an entire day of wear and rushing full on from 830am till I realized it's way past time to go home at 515pm.

Cargo Plant Love Botanical lipstick

2008-04-24T06:17:00.002+08:00

Image from sephora.com

Stila may have set the standard for recyclable packaging, but Cargo just kicked it up a notch with its Plant Love Botanical lipstick. The lipstick tubes are made out of corn (produced in great abundance due to heavy government subsidies that it is described as "the welfare queen of crops" by a farmer in Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma) and the outer carton will yield a bouquet of flowers when planted in soil as it is embedded with real flower seeds! Many of the colours are supposedly developed with celebrities, which I'm sceptical about since celebrities do very little even when they headline fragrances, but the line-up does include two of the coolest TV actresses ever, Mariksa Hargitay and Sarah Chalke.

Cargo cosmetics are available for purchase at Sephora in the U.S., Rescu Beauty Bar and selected David Jones stores in Australia.

Nvey Eco Cosmetics

2008-04-23T21:15:00.002+08:00

Image from sephora.com

Nvey Eco (pronounced Na-Vey) hails from Australia and is one of the first commercial organic makeup brands to hit the U.S. Environmentally-conscious but time-pressed professional women will be relieved to know that the Nvey Eco products are packaged like regular toxic makeup and includes items like organic mascara and eyeshadow, which means they are just as easy to use on the go. Put away the mortar and pestle, ladies! The ingredients that are causing much worry like parabens, sodium laurel sulphate, talc and synthetic preservatives are absent from the line, which also abstains from animal testing and using ingredients from genetically-modified crops. The price of a clean conscience ranges from US$24 for the organic lip lustre to US$61 for a 5-pan eyeshadow palette.

Nvey makeup can be purchased from their website as well as Sephora and Holistic Beauty.

Green-Eyed Monster

2008-04-23T19:23:00.001+08:00

I'm in the green eyeshadow phase now.

There. I've said it. I love all sorts of greens and with my Bourjois as well as RMK, I'm not easily satisfied.

With Bloom's flagship store opened, I've been making a lot of trips to the store. Blame it on the distance, or lack of. Blame it on the wonderful makeup artist (ask for Alice, she's the sweetest and warmest person ever!) and blame it on the very pretty, very fun and very affordable products.

And, when I saw what she did with her eyes, I immediately went, "I want that look!"

It's a very dramatic look that's not suitable for everyday use but I loved the way she played with the colours and how she built the effect up.

In the end, I bought a couple of items from her, came home and re-created the look.

Shadow liner in electric blue

Eyeshadow in Moss

My way.

I used the shadow liner in Electric Blue to line my eyes. Yes, it's the return of the dreaded electric blue eyeshadow! Trust me on this, it works! Then, I smudged the eyeshadow in Moss (which looks suspiciously like one of the colours I have on RMK, but upon closer inspection, they are completely different!) on the outer corner of the eyes. I blended the colours so that there's a thin line of aqua with a pop of green at the outer eye. Then, I took one of my least-used eyeshadows: Gold by The Face Shop which I got for RM10 or 15. I smudged that along the lash line to blend it with the rest of the liner and slightly into the green. I finish that off with my Dior Ready-to-beige as a highlighter on the brow bone. Brow pencil and mascara to follow as usual.

Pictures will have to come tomorrow because I'm completely swamped with work with the announcement of the new State and Federal budgets, fundings and the new organization structure.

NB: Shryh, how proud are you of me? I'm using eyeshadows from all different brands!

Jojoba of all trades.

2008-04-22T02:56:00.000+08:00

You're looking at my new eye makeup remover and oil cleanser. Unlike other plant-derived oils, jojoba (pronounced ho-HOH-ba) oil is actually polyunsaturated liquid wax obtained from the seed of the jojoba shrub. As jojoba oil is chemically similar to human sebum, it is a popular ingredient in skin care products and is a non-comedogenic alternative to facial moisturizers.

Jojoba has been used Native Americans for hundreds of years to treat cuts and burns and as hair restoraratives. And so can the yuppies and the trust-fund hippies, thanks to the proliferation of organic health and beauty stores throughout cities. I bought this 4oz. bottle at Trader Joe's for USD6.00, but it's just as easily purchased online.

Five uses for your humble, politically-correct (vegan, cruelty free, economical) bottle of jojoba oil.

1. As pre-cleanser. Wet your hands and face before applying 4-5 drops of jojoba oil to your face. Massage the oil into your face for a couple of minutes and remove the oil with a warm , wet washcloth or by rinsing with water. Follow with a gentle cleanser of choice.

2. As eye makeup remover. Saturate a cotton pad with several drops of jojoba oil. Press the cotton pad against your eyes and gently swipe downwards towards the end of your lashes. It should remove everything, including waterproof mascara. As an added plus, the oil acts as a lash conditioner.

3. As facial moisturizer. Gently massage 2-3 drops into your damp face after cleansing. Jojoba oil will sit on your skin for a while as it takes some time to absorb. You may combine a jojoba oil with regular moisturizer or with drop of tea-tree oil. Although jojoba oil is non-comedogenic and mimics human sebum, results will vary. Follow up your jojoba oil moisturizer with a zit cream if you're worried, and just stop using it if it seems to exacerbate the situation. There is no such thing as a panacea for your skin woes.

4. As hair conditioner and detangler. Dab a little onto the ends of freshly shampooed hair before blowdrying and styling. You can also apply jojoba oil to your hair (ends or scalp, depending on your hair type) before proceeding to shampoo and condition as usual.

5. As body moisturizer. Massage jojoba oil into your legs and elbows, or combine a couple of drops with your favourite body lotion. A word of caution if you're planning to try it as a shaving oil -- the residue will accumulate and gunk up your razor.

To learn more about jojoba oil, click here.

Earth Day 2008.

2008-04-22T00:24:00.000+08:00

The Blue Marble, taken by the Apollo 17 crew

Happy Earth Day, my lovelies! Isn't she a beauty at 4.5 billion years old? We humans have walked the earth for only 200,000 years, and look at the damage we've done. As a beauty junkie, I've generated more than my fair share of waste and I'm sure manufacturing plants of my favourite products have pumped tonnes of toxic chemicals into the environment. I have been thinking hard about reducing my beauty carbon footprint and easing into "organic" skincare. Although researchers have assured us that our regular beauty products will hardly harm us even with long term use, I would prefer to purchase from a company that actively tries to minimize its impact on the environment. This would rule out many Procter and Gamble products as many of their factories are located in China. Procter and Gamble products are highly affordable and effective, however, so while it would be impractical to abandon them at once, we could phase out certain products and make a gradual transition to sustainable beauty practices in the long run.

For the rest of the week, I will be blogging about products and practices for that beauty junkies with a budding environmental conscience can incorporate into their daily routine. If you are already doing so, please feel free to share your experience with us by sending us an e-mail to theglossifieds [at] gmail [dot] com. We'd love to hear from you!

Update: Guerlain LE Eyeshadow Palette Fleur de Feu

2008-04-19T18:41:00.002+08:00

A few days ago, I managed to snag what I thought would be the last Fleur de Feu palette on this side of the earth.

That was until I stepped into Myer at Chadstone today. A quick chat and I went away knowing that 2 more women in this city would walk away with the same palette.

So, just 2 more. Run, dash, fly to Myer today to grab one for yourself. To ensure you're not disappointed, you can call up ahead and have it set aside for you before you make a trip over.

The number for the Guerlain counter: 9567 6266

Happy shopping!

NB: Don't bother with David Jones in Chaddy's. It's not even on the display anymore.

L'Oreal Happyderm Skin Exhilarating Cleansing Mousse

2008-04-19T18:11:00.003+08:00

Image from chemistdirect.com

Happy? Really? Happy?

To be fair, when I read Tine's review, I went to the extent of penning it down in my diary as a reminder to pick up a bottle of L'Oreal Happyderm Skin Exhilarating Cleansing Mousse.

And so I did the next time I hopped into Priceline. I got the formula for Dry and Sensitive skin. I loved the novelty of a cleansing mousse and when I saw the soft-serve ice cream-like foam on Tine's palm, I just knew I had to get it.

I agree with Tine that this probably does not contain a lot of cleansing agent.

See, my skin's simple this way. The moment it doesn't like something, it has absolutely no qualms in flaring up in the worst possible ways. Thankfully it's not angry red acne spotted all over. It's merely angry red patches.

I approached it rather tentatively. First time round, I used it to cleanse my face in the morning. Logic tells me my skin isn't really that grimy in the early hours of the morning so a gentle cleanser would be fine. My usual Dermalogica gives me very smooth and clear skin after cleansing. Unfortunately, L'Oreal Happyderm doesn't live up to its name. At least not by my skin's books. It went red in patches.

It was the first time I had to wear foundation to work in a long time.

No, I was most certainly not happy.

Thankfully for me, my skin calmed down in an hour or two. By the time it was lunch, it was back to normal. Bits of scars from good ol' acne days no longer held up a neon sign screaming for attention.

I continued using the cleanser off and on to give it more opportunities to try and live up to its name. Sad to say, my skin just would not accept it. No wonder Jen says my skin's a huge snob. It wouldn't even like Cetaphil on certain occasions!

Despite all that, I absolutely love the smell. There's a certain sense of light-heartedness in both the scent and texture of the cleanser that you can't help but look forward to using it. I smell a little hint of green tea and I would think the lab rats of L'Oreal decided to toss in a happy scent and name the cleanser after it.

I pleaded with Tine to relieve me of the guilt of binning this and she's very kindly obliged. If and when we meet up, this will go to an appreciative skin. Otherwise, straight into the bin it goes!

L'Oreal Happyderm Skin Exhilarating Cleansing Mousse can be purchased online for AUD$14.95 from Chemist Direct and Pharmacy Online.

NB: Because the L'Oreal Paris Canada website -- the only one in English with information about the Happyderm line -- is such a shit one built in flash, none of the links on the Happyderm product work. I couldn't even find which region the cleanser is located in. I could only find the moisturizer! Maybe my Google-fu just needs polishing up. (Shryh notes: g33kchic's Google-fu is perfect and she's right about the L'Oreal website being a Pain In The Ass.)

Pretty Beauty Stash

2008-04-19T18:10:00.001+08:00

A quick pitstop at Doncaster Westfield a few days ago and my heart skipped a beat.

Gift with purchase! My favourite kind of shopping!

Take a guess!

What could it be?!

I think I should stop tantalizing Tine. For an entire day of yesterday and today, we'd been exchanging texts and emails and she's probably going to make me pay dearly for teasing her when we do meet up for coffee one day.

Well, not long ago, Shryh blogged on Glossifieds not long ago on a limited edition Guerlain palette. I tried my darndest to locate it in Wellington airport but to no avail. But, heyho, here we go!

Up close and personal

Without flash

It's probably the last one in Melbourne because I got Myer and David Jones in the city to call up Chaddy's and a few other places. But, I never thought of Westfield.

Good on me!

NARS Orgasm lip gloss and nail polish gift set.

2008-04-18T08:03:00.003+08:00

Image from sephora.com

Not content with giving us the blusher, lipgloss and the multiple, NARS has taken their most infamous hue to another level -- the nail polish. NARS nail polish in Orgasm is only available in a limited edition set on Sephora for the time-being, but given that this glowy peachy-pink is an easier colour to love than Zulu, which is currently being hunted by the most hard core of hard core polish fanatics since its disappearance, Orgasm will hopefully enter NARS's small but cultish permanent nail polish collection.

Cure for acne found?

2008-04-17T04:58:00.000+08:00

Well, that's the headline, but the media is sensationalist like that. Scientists, however, seem to have made a significant breakthrough in acne treatment research. The drug, SMT D002 is currently in pill form but plans are underway to make it a topical cream:

Researchers believe it could become as effective a treatment as retinoic acid - a form of vitamin A - which is currently used to treat moderate to severe cases.
However, Roaccutane, the most widely used formulation of retinoic acid, has been linked to suicides among acne sufferers.
SMT D002 produced no significant side-effects when volunteers took it in pill form. Around three in every 10 patients taking retinoic acid do not respond to the drug, leaving many sufferers without an effective treatment.

While I often moan about my skin, I'm incredibly grateful that I don't suffer from chronic cystic acne, although I did come very close about three years ago. Strangers literally stopped me in the streets to recommend the services of their facialists and doctors. This is one development I'm going to be keeping an eye on.

My Beautiful Mommy

2008-04-16T01:21:00.000+08:00

A plastic surgeon in Florida has penned a children's book to help explain the effects of plastic surgery to young 'uns:

"My Beautiful Mommy" is aimed at kids ages four to seven and features a plastic surgeon named Dr. Michael (a musclebound superhero type) and a girl whose mother gets a tummy tuck, a nose job and breast implants. Before her surgery the mom explains that she is getting a smaller tummy: "You see, as I got older, my body stretched and I couldn't fit into my clothes anymore. Dr. Michael is going to help fix that and make me feel better." Mom comes home looking like a slightly bruised Barbie doll with demure bandages on her nose and around her waist.
The text doesn't mention the breast augmentation, but the illustrations intentionally show Mom's breasts to be fuller and higher. "I tried to skirt that issue in the text itself," says Salzhauer. "The tummy lends itself to an easy explanation to the children: extra skin and can't fit into your clothes. The breasts might be a stretch for a six-year-old."

The book doesn't explain exactly why the mother is redoing her nose post-pregnancy. Nonetheless, Mom reassures her little girl that the new nose won't just look "different, my dear—prettier!"

I love how the surgeon has made himself to be some chiselled Greek god in the book.

I won't judge women who resort to plastic surgery -- it's a personal choice, albeit one that requires a certain amount of risk and quite a lot of money. But I do wonder about the message mothers who frequently undergo plastic surgery send to their daughters. It is one thing to have the odd nip and tuck when you're middle-aged and saggy, quite another when you're swapping implants every five years. You could end up with a daughter who wants a boob job for her thirteenth birthday.

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Shampoo

2008-04-14T16:15:00.005+08:00

Image from neutrogena.com

I have thick, "combination" hair -- greasy at the roots and dry at the ends, and anything less than industrial strength moisturizing shampoo laden with sulphates leaves my hair in a knotty mess. Unfortunately, such shampoos weigh down my hair, especially the roots, at the end of the day. While I plan to brainwash (yep, I went there) my hair into accepting sulphate-free shampoo eventually, my current short term solution is Neutrogena's Anti-Residue shampoo, which I use a couple of times a week. While I cannot say for sure that this removes most of the dulling residue left by my regular shampoo and conditioner as claimed by the manufacturer, my hair feels lighter and less greasy after using it. Of all hair products I've used, I love the clean, slightly medicinal scent of this shampoo the most.

Neutrogena Anti-Residue shampoo can be found at all drugstores in the US, but they seem to be discontinued in Malaysia. I remembering buying some at Guardian's two years ago, but have never seen them since. Boo!

Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream

2008-04-10T19:51:00.001+08:00

If there's one thing I always aim to do, it's to moisturize my hands each time after I wash them.

I drink a lot of water. Hence, a lot of toilet trips. And, I'm very particular about washing my hands with soap each time after I visit the loo. Other than the hand wash I have at home, all other hand washes that I encounter do more than clean. They dry the hands up so badly that my hands would itch and flake.

I've noticed it all the more so in the cold weather where we crank the heaters up and think nothing of washing our hands in hot water.

At my desk at work, I've a tube of Nivea CoQ10 Anti-Ageing thingamajig. It works well and it's economic looking at the way I moisturize my hands like a maniac.

However, in my bag, I wanted something more luxurious. Something prettier. Something that would make me go "Ahhh..." after I use it. Something I won't use throughout the day but only when I'm out and aboutI fell in love with Jurlique's Lavender hand cream on a shopping trip to Myer Doncaster after work one day.

I picked up the tester, squeezed a tiny bit onto my palms and slowly massaged the product into my hands. It was thick and gooey initially but soon after that, every bit of the product was absorbed into the skin leaving my hands very smooth, very soft and smelling faintly of lavender.

On that particular day, I had on Hermes Kelly Caleche on my wrists and I was extremely pleased that the hand cream did not clash with one of my most favourite scents.

Encased in a metal-like and stiff tube, the Jurlique lavender hand cream felt solid in my hands. It's a no-fuss, no-frills packaging with hardly any motifs nor decoration on the tube with a plastic deep purple cap. One of the problems I always have with such products is the way you could use up every single drop of product there is. The very friendly sales staff then rooted around in the drawers and picked out the funniest looking contraption!

She then picked up the tester tube, laid it flat between 2 wooden pieces with grooves, clamped it down tight and started twisting the handle. She was effectively squeezing every single bit of the product from the bottom of the tube and forcing it all the way to the opening! And, I was told that I could bring my tube in anytime and they would be more than happy to help me flatten the tube to get all my products out!

I was tickled silly by the idea and was intrigued at the same time.

The Jurlique Lavender Hand Cream comes in 2 sizes: 125ml and 40ml and can be found in most drugstores, standalone stores as well as shopping malls.

Kim Kardashian's many make-up tips.

2008-04-10T08:14:00.009+08:00

So Kim Kardashian's famous for... knowing famous people and hanging out with famous people. Whether or not you approve of her Jessica Rabbit style of dressing, you have to admit that she is quite easy on the eye even if you were to judge her from the neck up only. She has the smokey eye look down to a T and a list of her personal make-up tips can be found on her official website. Miss Kardashian is clearly no low-maintenance gal as her routine involves primer, two shades of foundation mixed together, two concealers and two powders. But in the video on the same page, she looks remarkably fresh-faced and young when she talks about toning down her make-up on her reality show as the season progresses. When you have youth and beauty on your side, less is really more.

Dior 'Golden Dior' Necklace.

2008-04-10T01:35:00.004+08:00

Image from nordstrom.com

The pendant on this 'Golden Dior' necklace opens up to reveal "the 24-karat splendor of a creamy golden highlighter for eyes, lips, cheeks." While I am completely open to a product I can "dot anywhere for the perfect sun-kissed glow," I would never in a million years be caught dead wearing this piece of ugly around my neck, "dazzling champagne crystals" be damned. The 'Golden Dior' necklace is something I expect to see in a Barbie doll kit for little girls -- I can't imagine a grown woman wearing this with her cocktail dress to a party, so why is it a necklace in the first place?

Also, Dior copywriters, stones cut en cabochon do not have facets, so please correct the description of the "luxurious amber pendant" accordingly. You're making me twitch.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.

2008-04-09T08:23:00.004+08:00

Frances McDormand, Amy Adams and Shirley Henderson in the movie version.

Before heading to a party, the dowdy governess Miss Pettigrew gets a makeover from actress Delysia LaFosse's beauty parlour-owning friend, Edythe Dubarry:

Miss Pettigrew stared. She caught the back of a chair for support. She felt faint. Another woman stood there. A woman of fashion: poised, sophisticated, finished, fastidiously elegant. A woman of no age. Obviously not young. Obviously not old. Who would care about age? No one. Not in a woman of that charming exterior. The rich, black velvet of the gown was of so deep and lustrous a sheen it glowed like colour. An artist had created it. It had the wicked, brilliant cut that made its wearer look both daring and chaste. It intrigued the beholder. He had to discover which. Its severe lines made her look taller. The ear-rings made her look just a little, well, experienced. No other word. The necklace gave her elegance. She, Miss Pettigrew, elegant.

The delicate flush! Was it natural? Who could tell? That loosely curling hair! No ends, no wisps, no lank drooping. Was it her own? She didn't recognize it. Those eyes, so much more blue than memory recalled! Those artfully shaded brows and lashes! That mouth, with its faint, provocative redness! Was it coloured? Only by kissing it would a man find a satisfactory answer.

She smiled. The woman smiled back, assured, composed. Where was the meek carriage, the deprecating smile, the timid shyness, the dowdy figure, the ugly hair, the sallow complexion? Gone. Gone under the magic of 'Du Barry's' expert owner and manager.

Miss Pettigrew, rapt, thrilled, transported, gazed at herself as her dreams had painted her. A lump came into her throat. Her eyes became misty.

'Guinevere,' screamed Miss Dubarry in a panic. 'For God's sake, control yourself.'

'Guinevere,' gasped Miss LaFosse. 'Control, I implore you. Your make-up. Remember your duty to your make-up.'

-- Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day, Persephone Books, P. 98 - 99

Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Skinny Jeans

2008-04-08T18:11:00.001+08:00

It's been quite a long while since I got this eyeshadow. On days that I'm pressed for time, (e.g. rushing to catch the 725 to Richmond to make it for the 739 Blackburn only to find out bloody Connex has cancelled my 739 and I'd missed my 734 Lilydale. !*(&(#*^(*!&(!*&!!!^@^%@&^%) this is truly a God-send!

Image from benefitcosmetics.com

The colour is most definitely office-friendly. Names of colours on Benefit products aren't usually self-explanatory. I mean, who in the world would understand what sort of colour Skinny Jeans is? Except for yours truly because coincidentally, my first pair of skinny jeans was in dark grey. So, it's close enough. This is shimmery pewter or very dark grey with a tiny hint of green at certain angles. Most definitely office-friendly and I love that the finish is almost the smoky eye but not quite there yet.

The pot is most certainly generous and I have no idea how in the world I'd be able to finish using up every single bit of this eyeshadow. Even if I were to use it everyday, there's really no way one could use up the entire pot before it dries up.

Texture wise, it's very creamy as its name suggests and very, very soft. It is most definitely blendable and almost idiot-proof.

I guess that's where the pros of this product ends. I hate its claim that it's creaseless. It's most definitely not. I prep my lids with the world-reknown Urban Decay Primer Potion and at the end of a 12-hour wear, there's a little hint of creasing. So, one fine day, I decided to test it for its creaseless claim. No primer, nothing to prep the lids. It creased within a couple of hours. To be fair, I do have fairly oily lids but I dislike the claim and aimed to prove it wrong if it's not performing up to its claims.

It's a very easy product to use. I usually use a stiff brush (an eyeliner brush is a good bet) and load it up with the product. I draw a thick line near to the lashline and flicking it out a little as one would do for an eyeliner. Using my finger, I'd blend the colour up towards the crease. With that, I get the liner as well as a shadow effect in one. Then, I'd load up the colour a bit more for the outer corner of the eye and blend it in. Finally, a little lighter colour as a highlight for the brow. My staple for highlighting is Dior Mono shadow in Ready-to-beige. It's a great champagne-y-gold colour that's very subtle.

If I have a little bit more time, I usually go over the colour with a powder shadow in a similar shade. I pick Rock from the Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Nudes palette. The finish is a bit more dramatic compared to using only the cream eyeshadow on its own.

If creasing is not an issue with you then, this is a great everyday office-friendly colour. If you have oily lids, then it's a good idea to find a primer for your lids and then load the product on. Having said all that, it's a pretty good value for money because of the huge pot you get. And, it's a great colour to use that is timeless and suits almost all skin tones.

PSA: Bloom's First Flagship Store

2008-04-08T17:52:00.003+08:00

First one ever, it's a 5 minute crawl from home.

Bloom's very pretty and very down-to-earth and I think it's Australia's version of Benefit.

From now till 5th May 2008, pick up a voucher and get 10% off all Bloom products at the flagship store.

Address:
574A Chapel St
South Yarra
Victoria, Australia

Phone: 03 9827 2977

Edit: I picked up the voucher from Angelucci's on Chapel St when I was there for dinner last night. I'm sure you could try and mention that to get your 10% off. Most sales staff are very easy-going and would be more than happy that you're making a purchase. Happy buying!

Moisture is the essence of wetness, and wetness is the essence of beauty

2008-04-07T21:09:00.005+08:00

g33kchic and I believe in the power of water. We each consume about two litres of water a day, excluding coffee and soda, and we've both witnessed the salubrious effects of our H2O habit on our health. There are many people who are sceptical about this, and indeed, two doctors have published an article in the American Journal of Nephrology debunking the need to drink 8 glasses of water a day. Every health benefit a rise in water intake is supposed to incur, like lessening headaches or flushing out toxins, is "clinically insignificant".

I do not dispute the results of the study, and without carrying out a scientific trial of my own, I cannot. In fact, I agree with the doctors that the eight-glasses-a-day stipulation is rather baseless, and it is kind of silly to parrot the need for so much water without knowing why. In my personal experience, however, when I drink less than two litres of water a day (roughly eight mugs) regardless of thirst -- the benchmark for drinking water according to experts -- I wake up with a sore throat and parched lips the next morning. After all these years of making a concerted effort to drink more water, I'll share with you a couple of things I've learnt about water consumption:

1. Water is good for your skin BUT it won't cure acne. Zits are caused by bacteria that are immune to anything except nuclear weaponry (mine, at least). Water plumps out skin cells and fine lines. That's it. Look, at least you didn't pay $200 for an ounce, okay?

2. Drinking lots of water may prevent you from catching that nasty cold spreading through the office like wildfire. I only have anecdotal evidence for this, I'm afraid. But I've never caught a cold from my co-workers, and neither have most of my fellow water drinkers.

3. Drinking lots of water will dilute the colour and smell of your pee. I have been that person at the doctor's who takes your jar of pee to be tested. I will judge you if you hand me a jar of foul-smelling neon yellow liquid. If you're going to be vain, be vain about your pee, too.

4. Tap water is just as good as mineral water and much less expensive. I am partial to certain mineral water brands, but I've yet to find a glass of boiled or filtered tap water that tastes offensive. Tap is easier on the environment and your wallet. All waters are fat-free, sugar-free, carb-free and possess zero calories, in case you didn't know. It's such a flexible beverage it can be used across ALL DIETS.

So, forget the myths and the mythbusters. Find out for yourself what your optimum water intake is -- drink two litres or eight glasses a day for two weeks and see if you feel any different from when you drink a glass as needed. For the readers, does drinking more water have any tangible effects on your health and beauty?

Johnson's Silky Skin 24hour Moisture Shower & Shave

2008-04-07T18:06:00.004+08:00

If I could do all my shopping online, I would. And, I really mean the proper window shopping kind where I can feel the texture of the eyeshadows, sniff the many complicated notes that make up a beautiful perfume all without having to actually having to leave my home, I'd be the happiest person on earth.

I like the ability of multi-tasking and I love the power of being able to do so much from one location. And, being a huge sucker for novelty products, when I saw this shower cream, I immediately snapped it up.

I'll readily admit too that the pink bottle caught my eye first and foremost. I was in the market for a new shower gel. With winter just peeking its head into our lives, I wanted something creamier to combat the dry and flaky skin that heaters would bring forth.

When I picked the bottle up, it was a double bonus for me to see that it serves as a shaving cream as well! When I saw that, I thought it was definitely worth a buy.

Shower creme is definitely the correct term for it. It was much, much thicker than your regular shower gel. It doesn't lather as well as conventional shower gels but it doesn't bother me. It is very lightly-scented and it'll most definitely not clash with your SOTD.

In the past, I've been shaving with Gilette's shaving cream for women and I always end up getting nicks and cuts. Especially at the leg where there's a sharp joint from the shin to the calves. I was getting sick of stepping out of the shower and see a trail of blood snake down my shin. The sight of blood scares the shit out of me and well, the sight of my own blood, I almost always want to shriek in horror.

I gave this shower creme a try when it comes to shaving and to my utter surprise, it really does provide for a very smooth shave! Definitely no trailing blood. In fact, there wasn't even a droplet of blood!

I cannot find a single fault with this product. It is a wee bit more expensive than the Palmolive range but if it is capable of multi-tasking, I'd be willing to pay for the convenience. It's easily found in all supermarkets and drugstores and most definitely more affordable than your Body Shop shower gel.

Little Miss Supermodel.

2008-04-05T04:19:00.005+08:00

A Barbie girl in a Barbie world.

I received my first facial cleanser when I was eleven years old, plucked my eyebrows and waxed my legs for the first time when I was eighteen. My first facial came a year later, and I was a working adult when I got my first professional manicure. In contrast, Philadelphia magazine reports that girls as young as 10 are getting bikini waxes and microdermabrasion treatments. While the article focuses on a small sub-set of girls, I am deeply disturbed by the complicity of the aestheticians and mothers. In the article, several salon owners now have mothers sign waiver forms before their daughters are waxed, but I maintain that they should stand their ground and refuse service to these insane women.

The image above is from the 2001 HBO documentary Living Dolls: The Making of a Child Beauty Queen, which follows young Swan Brooner (pic) and her mother as they hit the children beauty pageant circuit in the American south. You can view this in nine parts on Youtube by clicking on this link.

Logo much? Coach lip gloss.

2008-04-03T07:39:00.011+08:00

I don't think logoed items should be automatically scorned or dismissed. Louis Vuitton is an iconic brand because of their monogram canvas bags which have spawned countless imitators. I object primarily to ugly logos and the lazy use of logos as it imparts a false sense of value to products -- a tea cosy embroidered with Chanel's interlocking c's isn't going to make a pot of Lipton taste like Mariage Freres. By succumbing to such cheap and blatant branding practices, consumers encourage manufacturers to be complacent and unimaginative.

There's branding, and there's lazy branding. These Coach lip glosses smack of the latter -- the logo is all over the tube like a bad rash. The packaging signals to me that Coach couldn't be bothered to come up with a distinctive product, and like the Coach perfume, the glosses seem as though they were manufactured to steal the few remaining dollars from the purses of their most blinkered customers. "Our customers aren't Hermes customers," you can hear them arguing in the boardroom. "They don't expect top quality, and since they're not paying Hermes prices, we're not going to give them top quality either. Oh, just whip up some gunk, stuff 'em in these containers we bought in China and stamp our logo on it to make them look Coach-y."

The Coach lip glosses come in three shades -- Gardenia, Hibiscus and Heather -- and retails for US$22 on its website. I recommend that you purchase a Guerlain Kiss Kiss gloss, Chanel Glossimer or YSL Golden Gloss for real lip gloss snob factor, if that's what you're after. Even if it's a dumb reason to buy a gloss.

Let's edumacate ourselves! : Neanderthals

2008-04-03T01:53:00.009+08:00

Bobbi Brown's got nuthin' on these earthy neutrals.

According to European archaeologist Francesco d'Errico, Neanderthals, hominids who inhabited the earth before modern humans took over, may have worn make-up:

. . . Neanderthals, who most likely had pale skin, used these dark pigments to mark their own as well as animal skins. And, since body art is a form of communication, this implies that the Neanderthals could speak, d'Errico says.

[. . .] The pigments were not just smeared onto the body like camouflage, d'Errico says, but fashioned into drawing tools.

Looks like they invented pencil liners too.

The moment of truth

2008-04-02T04:59:00.004+08:00

"Gawd, your pores are huge from here!"

I apply a layer of Dolce Vita to my lips before blending a minty lip balm on top. With a flourish, I cap the tube and whirl around to face him. "I'm done. Let's go eat. Go go go go GO!"

"You look great," he blurts.

"I DO look better with makeup don't I? Admit it!"

"No, what I mean is that you're good with makeup," he retorts without skipping a beat. I'm very impressed. And sceptical.

"Nice save. You can tell the truth, you know. I think I look better with makeup too."

Most men who say they prefer women without makeup are lying (only women are critical of "porn star" makeup) or have no idea that their "naturally beautiful" partners have at least blush, lipstick, concealer AND mascara on.

Time to 'fess up!

2008-04-01T19:24:00.002+08:00

Instead of reaching for my regular exfoliant today, I wanted something stronger. I reached for my Benefit sample and to my dismay, there was nothing left in the tub!

Muttering to myself that Jen's gonna flip at the puddles of water I was tracking all over the bathroom, I sneaked his The Body Shop facial scrub back into the bathtub.

I squeezed a tiny dollop out, massaged it into a lather and gently spread it all over my face.

The first thing which hit me was the scent. It was rather citrusy and very male. Well, it is the men's range from TBS! I'm usually very gentle and very quick with rough exfoliants. After a couple of circular massages, I quickly rinsed it off. The results: Squeaky clean face. Equate that to a completely unimpressed geek. I'm pretty certain an entire layer of my skin was stripped off by this scrub!

Lesson learnt: No more sneaking skincare from the hubby.

No matter how much I yearn for a tougher scrub every now and then, I don't think I'll ever be going back to this scrub. I'd prefer to stick to my Dermalogica Microfoliant.

So, time to 'fess up.

Have you ever sneaked skincare from your other half before? Would you do it again? What'd you sneak? Does he/she know? Spill the beans!

So you want to be a beauty anarchist...

2008-04-01T03:26:00.005+08:00

I don't believe our female ancestors had no beauty or health issues, but the environment today is far harsher on women. We live in polluted cities, we consume more processed foods when pressed for time, and we have higher stress levels because the co-worker blasts 90's hits from her computer to the entire office and nobody has the balls to stand up to her. Women have always been pressured to conform to certain beauty ideals, but the digital age and our increased spending power mean we are constantly bombarded with superfluous information. The same material and worn out cliches are repeated in magazines from month to month, year to year, only parcelled in a such a breathless manner to make us think that old is new and new must be bought immediately before it becomes old. Greek is the new ethnic is the new mod is the new navy is the new black. One year it's Botox, the next it's camel fat, but because it will give us skin of a newborn baby, it will cost a year's salary and a kidney.

Eventually, some of us revolt.

"[BLEEP] this shit!" they shout. "No more marketing doublespeak and false promises! I'm taking myself off the grid to a place where nobody will find me! I will bathe in fresh goat's milk every day and cleanse my face with extra virgin olive oil! I will use aspirin masks for breakouts and coconut oil as hair conditioner!"

"But," they say somewhat sheepishly, after the applause has died down, "what are we going to do about makeup? We do look better with a hint of blush on the apples of our cheeks and reddened lips."

I would fire up my laptop, launch Firefox and direct them to this article, and in particular this recipe for a lip stain:

Beetroot and glycerine cheek and lip tint

45g raw beetroot, grated

3 tablespoons vegetable glycerine

Put the beetroot and glycerine a heat-proof ceramic bowl over a pan of boiling water for 15 minutes. Cool, then strain into a sealable container. Shake before use, then apply a dab to your cheeks and lips.

I'd probably have to warn them against drinking the lavender deodorant though.

Eyelining for babies.

2008-03-31T08:42:00.007+08:00

There isn't a single kohl pencil or gel liner in my entire makeup collection, and there hasn't been for years. My Cover Girl Line Exact dried out a couple of weeks ago, but even when it was still oozing ink, I hardly used it. I keep promising myself to get either a Bobbi Brown Long-Wear gel eyeliner or a Mac Fluidline, and I think this is the year that it may happen. But a little bit of liner goes a long way -- when applied correctly, it makes one's eyes look more awake and defined. Lacking proper liner, I use a liner brush and dark shadow to wedge in short strokes a thin line as close as possible to my lashes.

The effect is very subtle, but it's there. Behold, my lineless left eye (and forgive my scraggly brows, a trim is overdue):

A touch of neutral shimmer eyeshadow from my Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Nudes palette, and a teensy bit of black shadow liner from my Mac Smoke Signals palette, I'm ready to go stuff my face with the best Mexican food in town:

The entire lining process took about ten minutes which may seem like quite a lot, but I didn't want to clean up mistakes (more time wasted, increased blood pressure). Besides, I'd saved enough time by only applying one eyeshadow wash. I wet my eyeliner brush, dipped it in black eyeshadow, blotted it on a piece of tissue to minimize fallout, and drew a line in short strokes from the outer corner towards my tear duct. So, lining isn't all that difficult, and nobody has any reason to skip the liner with this technique. As for me, it's time to graduate to big girl liners.

As Simple As ABC

2008-03-30T18:03:00.001+08:00

I was squirting a generous amount of toner from my regular Dermalogica one when it gave out one last little puff weakly.

The usual choice would be to just make a purchase online on Strawberrynet. A couple of clicks and I'd have the bottle shipped out to me pronto. But, with Jen and I both working, chances are, I'd get carded by Mr. Postie. Then, I'd have to get Jen to pick it up from the post office.

Too much of a hassle in my mind.

So I did what any slacker beauty junkie would do!

I stepped into Priceline and grabbed a bottle from the Simple range. Simple Soothing Toner. I've always used their facial wipes to remove makeup and have had no reactions whatsoever to their products. I love it that their products are fragrance- and colour- free. Not to mention, it's alcohol-free as well!

Image from www.simpleskincare.co.nz

In my books, a toner is a toner. It's meant as a mediating product between the cleanser and the serum/moisturizer. Something to prep the skin, or rather, warn the skin of the heavy duty moisturizer it's about to receive. So, really, in my books, I don't think I need something expensive. I've tried multiple toners before. I've pinched my mom's Dior Whitening and hydrating toner. It made my skin very soft but as with most Dior products, it's heavily-scented. I've been using my Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner for years and well, it's a toner. How wrong can you get?

Which was why I'm pretty happy with my 8 bucks toner from Simple. It's a Simple so I don't think one can go very wrong with using their products.

Trawling through beauty forums and blogs, I've noticed it's very rare that a beauty junkie actually claims a reaction towards Simple products.

I'm still spending quite a fair bit on serums and moisturizers because these really do make a difference. Having been on the Simple toner for about 3 weeks now, I don't see my skin going any worse than when I was on the Dermalogica, so it's safe to say that it's a pretty good toner.

For something that's claimed to be fragrance-free, I find the smell quite unpleasant. However, thankfully, being a toner, you hardly notice it after you slap on the serum, the moisturizer and the sunscreen. And, by the time I walk out of the house, Kelly Caleche is wafting up, tingling my nose very prettily.

Being in the cold and dry climate, I find that I need to use quite a fair bit to ensure my skin is still pretty moist before I massage my serum over. It doesn't have to be that way but I find that my skin is softer and smoother if it's still moist before the serum goes on. Just a hint of moisture and not dripping wet.

Simple products can be found in almost any drugstore (Priceline, Terry White, Guardian, Watsons) and departmental stores. As its name suggest, it's simple, it's affordable but most of all, it does what it promises-nothing more, nothing less.

NB: Make no mistake about it. I don't believe toners are meant to remove the last traces of your cleanser or makeup. Water should remove the last traces of your cleanser and makeup should be removed thoroughly and properly with a good makeup remover.

Can you do without makeup?

2008-03-29T07:05:00.002+08:00

March 27 was National No Make-Up Day in the United Kingdom (and also Stylish Sister of Shryh's birthday. Send her belated birthday presents of designer bags and the next It accessory!). Now, humans sleep a third of their life away; I will spend another third prowling the aisles of drugstores, swatching lipgloss shades on the back of my hands, stalking limited edition makeup and scrutinizing FOTDs posted to one of the thirty-nine beauty forums I belong to. Yet I don't wear that much makeup. I schlump around at home with a bare and shiny face, but I absolutely cannot leave the house without pencilled-in eyebrows, mascara-ed lashes and a smidgen of gloss at the very least. Do you think you can go without makeup... on a work day?

Almonds in the bath.

2008-03-29T01:23:00.005+08:00

I believe in keeping two sets of bath products -- one consisting of your typical drugstore brands like Pantene, Johnson & Johnson, Olay, and another set purchased at boutiques that promise to transport you to Provence or Somerset with a single whiff of their body milk. The latter is bound to be significantly pricier, but a rough day at the office is better washed away with soap delicately fragranced with moonflowers fertilized with the laughter of babies and harvested by silver-winged fairies than say, an antibacterial invigorating body wash. Fairy labour is expensive, but you get what you pay for, you know what I'm saying?

No fairies were harmed in the making of these bath products.

My premium bath product of choice these days is L'Occitane's renowned almond shower oil. Don't let the words "shower oil" put you off -- the oil lathers beautifully when water is added, whether or not you use a shower puff. It also moisturizes better than a foaming body wash and prevents tight, itchy post-shower skin. I've been able to get away without using a body lotion after using the almond shower oil, though of course I wouldn't recommend this if you live in a harsh, dry climate. I also purchased a cheap ginger almond oatmeal exfoliant bar from Trader Joe's to supplement the shower oil; at US$22 for a 250ml bottle, the shower oil would ruin me financially if I used it everyday. I like my ginger almond oatmeal exfoliant bar, but its exfoliating properties are laughable. Only a sprinkling of oatmeal went into the bar and fifty odd pieces of oatmeal in a hefty slab does not a satisfying scrub make.

And yes, I am fond of the faintly floral, milky sweet scent of almonds. I love almond flavoured foods like marzipan, nougat, baklava and almond milk tea, but NOT the almond cookies that get passed around during Chinese New Year like an unwanted nephew. They taste nothing like almonds and everything like sawdust, which is what every other Chinese New Year cookie tastes like. I swear the cookie-baking aunties use the same recipe but attempt to fool us by shaping the dough differently. Cookie-baking aunties, I am ON TO YOU.

Guerlain LE Eyeshadow Palette Fleur de Feu

2008-03-27T05:43:00.003+08:00

Heart... fluttering... Cannot... breathe...
Image from eluxury.com

Hooooly smokes, but Guerlain's Fleur de Feu (Fire Flower, I think) limited edition eyeshadow palette is making me go weak in the knees. Designed by Herve van der Straeten, the man who brought Guerlain into the 21st century with his product designs, the palette takes inspiration from a South African flower that "mocks the surrounding land ravaged by fire [...] the ideal metaphor for casting off winter's gloom." Oooookay. But apart from the melodramatic copy, what's not to like about the pink and grey shadows encased in a black gold (swoon!) compact? Nothing, I tell you, NOTHING.

Macho, macho man: Man Glaze nail polish

2008-03-26T03:34:00.005+08:00

Mr. g33kchic once showed up at a lunch date I'd scheduled with him and g33kchic boldly sporting black nail polish. This was in Mid Valley, mind you, one of the most crowded and bafflingly popular malls in Kuala Lumpur. I was duly impressed, and even more convinced that g33kchic had chosen the right mate for herself. When I came across Man Glaze nail polish, I was reminded immediately of his chutzpah and confidence (as well as his infinite well of patience as he followed g33kchic and I from one cosmetic counter to another on more than one occasion!). The polish is a matte finish formula and only comes in two shades -- Harum Scarum (black) and Jailhouse Rock (grey). I like brushed steel and the idea of matte polish, but I'm not sure if I want my nails to look resemble mini non-stick frying pans. As for the packaging, it's clear that it isn't the Essie crowd they're after. Man Glaze is like, so hard core since they sell for US$6.66 per bottle. Rock on, dudes! Whoooooooooooooo! *makes devil horns*

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream

2008-03-24T05:47:00.004+08:00

Image from neutrogena.com

When our housekeeper went home for a month-long vacation in January, my mother and I divided the housework among ourselves. Other women deal with this situation by covering their furniture with plastic or making their family members wear slippers inside the home, but for Mother of Shryh, it was business as usual. Business as usual meant the house gets dusted, vacuumed and mopped every morning without exception. I came away from the experience with a greater respect for my mother's housekeeping and a calloused right hand. I knew my hands were going to suffer, and I tried to keep rough skin at bay by moisturizing them several times a day with an old staple -- a L'Occitane Shea Butter hand cream. It was no match for work-roughened hands (although it made them smell great) so I decided to just let my hands heal in time.

It is March, however, and the callouses have outstayed their welcome. In desperation, I picked up a tube of Aquaphor ointment at Target, hazily remembering an online discussion of its wonderful dry-skin banishing properties, and squeezed a dollop onto my palms the second I got into the car. I massaged it into my skin and my dry cuticles, only to realize in seconds what a mistake that was -- the ointment coated my hand with a greasy petroleum-jelly film. As it wasn't a moisturizer, it sat on my skin like an oil slick and refused to be absorbed.

I'm having much better luck with the Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream, which was purchased only two days ago. The initial application caused a brief panic when I noticed that the thick cream was nearly the same consistency as the Aquaphor. The cream was not immediately absorbed into my skin and left a thin whitish film all over my hands. To my great relief, the whitish cast soon disappeared and the difference it made was felt immediately. For the first time in months my hands felt smooth and touchable. The cream softened the dry, flaky skin on my right palm and I felt like I was wearing silk gloves, a sensation which persisted even after I washed my hands. I have tried several hand creams before and while they were excellent moisturizers, Neutrogena's Norwegian Formula Hand Cream is the first to make me believe that my hands are actually being protected.

At less than US$5.00, Neutrogena Norwegian Formula Hand Cream is an affordable yet effective hand cream that I cannot recommend highly enough. If you have dry, chapped skin, look no further and get a tube at your nearest drugstore like Walgreens, Guardian's or Watson's.

MAC Cosmetics Heatherette Collection

2008-03-21T01:17:00.006+08:00

Trust a former Club Kid to know makeup. While Heatherette's alley-punk aesthetics never once appealed to me, I must say that their makeup collection for MAC is wonderfully balanced: the coral, pink and nude lips colours are wearable but unsubtle while the eyeshadow trios succeed in being bold and unassuming at the same time. It strikes me as a rather suggestive collection, a collision between the makeup bags of a sixties sex kitten and an eighties disco diva.

I love the paint-by-numbers graphic. Whee! Photo from mac.com

The collection comes in limited edition (but of course) hot pink cases with a holographic foil decal of the Heatherette logo. Items of note include the Dual Edge Eye Pencil which has a glitter pencil and a regular kohl on either end in unboring combinations (I like Black Funk/Pop Blue, a black and turquoise glitter), and the nail polish in $$$$$, a shiny, bling-y metallic silver foil. The collection also contains the usual suspects of limited edition lipsticks, lipglasses and eyeshadows, and the loveliest shade I've seen so far is the lipstick in Lollipop Loving, described as a "clean mid-tone coral with subtle green gold iridescence". Specktra members have a Heatherette swatch thread going, so you can go ahead and check it out for yourself.

Over all, I think this is a stronger collection than Alexander McQueen for MAC, the narrow scope of which left me cold. Then again, McQueen as a designer blows Traver Rains and Richie Rich out of the water, though the comparison is quite unfair. The better the clothes, the suckier the makeup collection? Maybe Behaz Sarafpour, Peter Som and Thakoon Panichgul were wise to limit themselves to a single lipstick.

Rescue Beauty nail polish in Stormy.

2008-03-20T10:14:00.005+08:00

I am not a pink girly-girl for the most part and revelled in last season's deep nail colours, especially black and navy. Warmer weather demands lighter shades, however, so I'll use grey polishes ike this creamy cement shade from Rescue Beauty as I make the transition into summer:

Conversely, g33kchic is using a wonderful metallic steel grey from Kit Cosmetics to transition into fall in Melbourne. This just goes to show how versatile this shade is, unlike black. :) Rescue Beauty polishes are Toulene, Formaldehyde and DBP-free, three cancer-causing chemicals that are found in many nail polishes. They are available for purchase online for US$18 each.

Lancome Pout-a-Porter Colour Fever Shine lipstick in Pixel Pink.

2008-03-14T07:14:00.009+08:00

I like to think before I make a purchase. I think and I think and I think, then I return to the store to contemplate the product in person, decide against it and go home to think some more. My resolve eventually collapses under the weight of my lofty thoughts which impels my body to go forth and buy the damn thing already. This often means whatever I coveted would be sold out. So, I've never been fond of shopping really. It's way too cerebral to be therapeutic or enjoyable for me.

Sometimes, just sometimes, I learn my lesson. So when I found myself in a Lancome boutique and the limited edition Colour Fever Shine lipstick in Pixel Pink was available, I suppressed my natural instincts and bought one immediately. It was the fourth and final lipstick from Lancome's Pout-a-Porter series -- a collaboration between makeup artist Gucci Westman and several fashion designers she worked with. I didn't really care for the chalky pink Proenza Pink, but I was really sore about missing P.S. Kiss, which is frankly more to my taste than Pixel Pink. As for the first PaP lipstick, Behnaz Red, lipstick wasn't even on my makeup radar then.

So, the cardboard box is different...

But enough with the regrets! What about Pixel Pink? Briefly speaking, Pixel Pink was sighted on the runways during Thakoon's Spring 2008 show, and the sheer raspberry shade is intended to complement warm, sun-kissed skin. (See video for Thakoon's inspiration for his collection) The lipstick strikes me more as a mid blue-toned pink which was closer to my MAC Electro-Lush lipglass than anything berry-hued in my stash.

Look, I've eaten many raspberries...

... and this is NOT a raspberry colour.

Like other Color Fever Shine lipsticks, Pixel Pink goes on like a gloss lipstick -- slick, shiny and weightless. As my lips are pretty pigmented to begin with, Pixel Pink wasn't the most dramatic colour to grace them. It took on a darker, slightly bruised magenta hue on my lips, though it's likely that the colour isn't being shown off to its best advantage since I lack a tan. Unlike Thakoon's inspiration, I'm a girl who quit her day job to hibernate in a cave.

I wouldn't fret too much about not being able to get a tube, especially if you already own a pink, "your lips but better" lipstick. If you want to collect it, it's still available on the Lancome USA website but you'd better hurry if you don't want to fork out a hundred bucks for it three months later on eBay.

Cover Girl LineExact liquid liner

2008-03-12T00:57:00.008+08:00

I think Amy Winehouse has done more for the eyeliner than anyone else in the twenty-first century:

How I choose to remember her. Sigh.

I've frequently wondered about the brand and type of eyeliner this talented young chanteuse uses to create her iconic look. I believe it's created using liquid or gel liner, but definitely not kohl, but given how she's such a mess right now, I wouldn't be surprised if they were drawn on with a permanent marker. I don't see how she can get up every morning (or evening...) and draw those exaggerated but symmetrical wings on with a steady hand.

There is only one Amy Winehouse, however, so while I love and applaud her for standing out in a sea of bottle blond mermaid artistes, there are ways of wearing cat's eye-liner there are just as dramatic but less Bride of Frankenstein-y such as Pat McGrath's version for Louis Vuitton's Fall 2007 collection. The look was created with a liquid liner McGrath had developed for Cover Girl called LineExact, which actually resembles a felt-tip pen:

Sharpie, or eyeliner?

Maybe both.

As one would expect of a pen liner, the LineExact is simple to use - the ink is evenly distributed (remember to shake it first) which makes drawing a continuous line easier than usual, and the fine tip allows you to control the thickness of the line with greater precision. Mistakes are easily erased with a dampened Q-tip as the liner is not waterproof. If you like to blend and smudge your eyeliner, LineExact is not the liner for you as the smudgeproof formula dries within seconds of application.

My complaint is that the liner "feathers" a little upon application, although I have been unable to determine whether that is due to the formula or the texture of my eyelids. A single tube doesn't last for long either - I purchased mine last December and used it very sparingly, but when I tried it on the back of my hand this morning, it had dried out. Otherwise, this is an ideal product for a liquid liner novice to practise winging out her eyeliner and a safe, non-irritating option for drawing whiskers or zebra stripes on faces.

Cover Girl LineExact Liquid Liner comes in four shades - very black, smoke, brown and brown black - and retails for about US$6.50 in drug stores.

Chanel Sublimage Essential Regenerating Eye Cream

2008-03-11T00:33:00.005+08:00

I knew I needed to start being more religious about eye cream when I realized that all the runway models and most of the American Idol contenders were younger than I. In the dawn of my twenties, I dressed my eye area with Clinique's All About Eyes, an unobtrusive gel-cream which I never replaced after the wee tub was scraped clean. Years of wearing shimmery/glittery shadows and scowling at people (not necessarily at the same time) have taken a toll, and my eyelids have begun to crinkle ever so slightly. Only a few weeks ago, after sharing a light-hearted moment with Mother of Shryh, said mother leaned in and peered into my face.

"Daughter of mine, you are getting old," she pronounced with great solemnity, tracing in the air the lines around my eyes with her fingers as I tried to bat them away.

"I know," I replied petulantly. "Which is why I am using the Chanel Sublimage Essential Regenerating Eye Cream."

I bought the Chanel Sublimage eye cream because of the excitement this little jar generated among beauty junkies and I wanted to see if it deserved the encomium. I would never buy the mother product -- the face cream -- as it would have been too heavy and rich for my exasperating combination and acne-prone skin, but I figured I need all the lushness of a Sublimage product for my eyes. I've used it for about five months now and am thrilled to see the bottom of my jar.

The Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream isn't cheap -- it retails for about USD$175, and I bought mine for what seemed like a song (okay, USD$140) at an airport duty free shop. For that price, you get a satisfyingly hefty glass jar with a metallic dark khaki top which instantly adds a touch of glamour to your bathroom counter. It comes with a little scoop to minimize contamination -- I've lost mine, but I wash my hands thoroughly before dipping my fingers into the jar. The texture of the eye cream is rich but non-greasy. I'm very prone to getting milia beads on my undereye area and I'm pleased to report that it was never a problem with this eye cream. The cream is easily absorbed, leaving the eye area soft and hydrated, and the comforting, slightly vanilla-y scent completes the experience.

But at that price, one would expect the Chanel Sublimage Eye Cream to wildly outperform other lesser-pedigreed eye creams, right? Unfortunately, no. This eye cream professes to target wrinkles, fine lines, the loss of firmness and moisture depletion of the skin. It certainly moisturized my eye area and plumped out several fine lines, but that was the most I got out of it. I'm not displeased or dissatisfied with this cream in the slightest -- when my ship comes home, I'll be happy to have a jar permanently on my marble counter next to the solid gold faucets. Until then, there is a slew of cost-conscious eye creams for me to explore which will do the job and hopefully, keep Mother of Shryh away.

Beauty Panic!

2008-02-01T17:42:00.001+08:00

When one of your staples is so low in a pan, it's almost time to bring out the new one. But, I'd be most unhappy to toss out a box knowing there's still so much product left behind.

Do what a geekchic does!

Take out your trusty toolbox. Root around for a testpen. Sanitize it the best you can: Wash it with anti-bacterial soap. Rinse it clean. Repeat. Drizzle hot boiling water all over the metal tip. Fling it dry. Gently pry one corner loose. With one corner out loose in the middle, slowly and gently tap or knock the sides of the box. Loosening one piece breaks the "foundation" of the cake and the rest of the pieces would come loose very easily from the vibration created.

There's something highly satisfying from using up every single bit of the product before opening up a new box.

Benefit Thrrrob

2008-02-01T05:56:00.001+08:00

Having gotten our Victorian Licenses burning in our wallets, we made our way to the city yesterday for a good roam around.

The Benefit counter at Myer was having a field day! They've got a huge promotion to launch the very pretty, very shimmery face powder thrrrob!

Shaped exactly like its predecessors Dandelion, Georgia, Hoola and Dallas, thrrrob is meant to simulate the natural flush one gets when her heart races. And, like all its other predecessors, it comes with a square little brush with the exact same soft bristles.

I picked up the box and held it side-by-side with my staple Dandelion and Dandelion simply looks peachier compared with thrrrob. Dandelion is a simple ballerina pink with no shimmer but on the other hand, this new member to the family has the faintest bit of shimmer that's hardly noticeable when brushed onto my hand.

Taking into account that neither Dandelion nor Georgia shows up at all on my hand, it is not really saying much. As usual, I had on my regular Dandelion and was rather reluctant to slap on more colour. However, when I swiped the powder with my finger, it's a very sheer dusky pink that would most definitely look gorgeous on the Asian skintone. To be fair, the picture below does do thrrrob justice. This is probably as close to the real thing as it gets.

If it is as sheer as I'd seen it, I would see it no problem at all for cool-toned and fair (moi!) girls. You've just got to be a bit careful and light-handed with it. Even with Dandelion, on certain pale days, I could go overboard and end up to be too red.

Currently retailing for AUD$49, it's priced exactly the same as the other face powders from Benefit. Taking a step back, with the AUD being almost neck-to-neck with the USD, it's rather ridiculous to be paying almost double for a product here. thrrrob retails for only USD$28, so if you've got your own cosmetics mule doing the runs for you, get this in the US (and let me in too to share in with your mule!).

There's also a promotion running in Myer currently. Purchase thrrrob and any other item, you'll get a free gloss from the Her Glossiness range retailing for $32.00 each. Or, purchase any Benefit item, and get a tiny free Benetint sample.

Myer stores carrying Benefit Australia wide:
Bourke St, Melbourne
Chadstone, Melbourne
Highpoint, Melbourne
Queen St, Brisbane
Bondi Junction, Sydney
George St, Sydney
Castle Hill, Sydney
Chatswood, Sydney
Hay St, Perth
Rundle Mall, Adelaide
Pacific Fair, Gold Coast
Chermside, Brisbane

Two Faced Galaxy Glam Eye Shadows.

2008-01-31T18:32:00.000+08:00

Now, I'm a complete dunderhead when it comes to science, which is even more appalling after I tell you that I was in the Science Stream in high school. But I adore space documentaries and science-fiction movies (Mars Attack counts! Shut UP!), and wild horses cannot drag me away from a planetarium, especially the dome theatre shows. When I was in Washington D.C. last November with only an afternoon for touristy activities, I visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum first, cramming in two shows (one dome, one 3D) before running off to an Edward Hopper exhibit at the National Gallery. Two of my best memories include starry skies, frosty temperatures and great company. I love the feeling of wonder as I gaze up into the skies and fantasize about interplanetary travel, and the feeling of despair that we know so little still even after making great progress in space exploration. I have a greater sense of my place in the universe, which is to say, staggeringly insignificant. Stargazing is a remarkably effective ego check!

So naturally, I'm *ahem* over the moon over Two Faced cosmetics's Galaxy Glam Eye Shadow because it looks like this:

Out of this world. Picture from sephora.com

Is it really eye shadow, or did someone snag a part of the galaxy with her butterfly net and set it in a silver case? Where MAC's Flashtronic mineralize shadows gleamed in the pans like planet surfaces, the Two Faced Galaxy Glam shadows make me feel like an astronaut orbiting the earth in a shuttle. The Galaxy Glam Shadows come in four shades:

Deep Space - black with cobalt blue
Moonbeam - black with laser light green
Shooting Star - black with galactic gold
Supernova (shown) - black with peach and pink

Priced at US$19.50 each, the eye shadows are available online at sephora.com and various Kit Cosmetics outlets in Australia.

Free miracles with $500 serum. Right.

2008-01-18T23:14:00.000+08:00

You know how in certain action flicks the hero, after single-handedly dispatching armies of bad guys with his pinkie finger, makes his way into the inner sanctum of a temple, turns the wheel in the right combination, causing a cube to come floating out on a bed of dry-ice clouds and golden rays before it clicks and slides open to the sounds of a soprano-only heavenly chorus to reveal some holy grail-ish artefact that will save humankind from a Certain Fate? Judging from the picture, Amore Pacific's US$500 Time Response Skin Renewal Serum is one of those:

In paradisum deducant te Angeli...

At that price, I expect miracles to happen on my face, wine into water and all that jazz because this serum is meant to be used in conjunction with the Time Response Skin Renewal Creme (US$400) and Time Response Eye Creme (US$250). Yow. Makes my Chanel Sublimage stuff look like serfs.

Your Australian Correspondent Updating

2008-01-15T12:09:00.000+08:00

After the interview was over, with plenty of time left on my Metlink 2-hour ticket, I decided to roam the streets of Melbourne. Not that there's much I hadn't seen in the CBD, but I was a woman with a mission!

First stop, Belinda at GPO Bourke St. Reputed to stock Balenciaga bags but my hopes were horrendously dashed when I saw they stock merely MiuMiu and Marc Jacobs. The very friendly sales assistant directed me to Miss Louise right next to Chanel on Collins St to try my luck.

Next stop, Myer and David Jones for Laura Mercier and Chi Chi, particularly Eye Magic as detailed.

Chi Chi, to be honest, is a very fun and simple brand of cosmetics fully Australian-owned. Now, Eye Magic, is, honestly, not very impressive.

It's packaged in a rectangular paper box with clear instructions on how the strips should be applied. On a plus side, there's a huge variety of colours to suit both the warm and cool toned girls. The one I picked up was, believe it or not, for smoky eyes! In the very regular brown, black and grey shades, the smoky eye effect was achieved.

It's in fact very affordable, priced at AUD$14.95 for 7 pairs of strips.

I'm very doubtful of its effectiveness because I believe everyone has eyes that are shaped differently. I have almond-shaped, longish eyes, the Cow has irregular-sized eyes and Shryh has round eyes. So, how in the world can a strip manufactured to be mass marketed fit every shape there is in the world?

Having said all that, I'm curious to try it out.

Keep your eyes peeled for the review!

Innovation or gimmick? Chi Chi Eye Magic

2008-01-13T00:08:00.000+08:00

Press and swipe. These eyeshadow strips by Australia-based Chi Chi Cosmetics are all it takes to achieve "flawless" results. The Chi Chi Eye Magic comes in 18 different colour combinations inspired by the Australian landscape and can be found in Myer department stores and leading pharmacies across the country. "Professional eye makeup in a single stroke"? I admire the the founders' efforts to demystify the eye makeup process, but I have some doubts about the universality of their tricolour rainbow strips. Will it work on a single-lidded Asian gal? The wrinkly, saggy skin of an aging femme fatale who can barely draw a straight line with her lipstick? Will it look as fake and tacky as temporary tattoos? Only time, and our Australian correspondent, will tell. ;)

Beauty for 2007

2008-01-09T19:37:00.000+08:00

Shryh has done an excellent job in introducing what this post ought to be. There's no way I could top it, so, without further ado, the geek's version for this.

7. Falsies, False Lashes, Lashies with the upcoming wedding and an obstinate streak in not wanting to end up like a kabuki, I decided to do my own makeup. So, practising to latch on false eyelashes were one of the main hurdles I had to overcome. I've gained HUGE satisfaction from this process and am amazed that one does not need expensive lashes to gain the wide-eyed look. One just need lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots and lots ... of patience.

6. Smoky Eye is one trend that doesn't seem to be ebbing away anytime soon. The latest spring collection from Chanel brings forth a very seductive smoky eye in blues and navy. I am definitely not the most adventurous when it comes to makeup. I know what works for me (Dior eyebrow pencil, concealer/highlighter pen, pressed powder to set, Dandelion, mascara and gloss) and I rarely stray from this. But, the temptation and mystery of a smoky eye proved too strong for me to resist. I finally caved in one day and started to practise. I'm starting to get more comfortable with it and have even stepped outside of the comfort zone to play with brown, purples and blue smoky eyes.

5. Mix-n-match someone once very kindly complimented on my makeup collection that it's a nice size because I have something from every colour and it's just perfect to play around with. But, being the rigid and anal person that I am sometimes, I've found it very hard to move away from mixing colours from one palette with another colour from another palette. This year, I've set aside all reservations and decided that once and for all, I need to be more adventurous. My Dior mono shadow in Ready-to-beige has been used very often in most of my smoky eye adventures as a brow highlight. At the same time, I use Smoking Black from the same range mixed with greens from my RMK trio to create a green smoky eye.

4. Perfumes & scents are something Shryh and I are always discussing. It's a year where I've amassed a pretty decent collection of fragrances. Something for every occassion there is.
For evenings: Gucci Envy Me, Stella by Stella McCartney
For daily staples to handle stupid managers and insane technical requests: Dior Addict 2, Ralph Lauren Romance
For my big day: Vera Wang Truly Pink
For insanely hot tropical days: Hermes Un Jardin Sur Le Nil, Forever & Every by Dior
For weekends and sleepless nights: Gapscent Dream
For cold, dreary, rainy days: Lacoste Touch of Pink
For flirty, girly days: Benefit Maybe Baby
Of course, a quick browse through this list tells everyone that I'm a floral fragrance kinda girl. So, my very first scent from Hermes is also my very first scent out of the floral, fruity-floral category kind of fragrance. And, ever since then, I've fallen head over heels in love with the works of the very talented Jean-Claude Ellena, perfumer for Sur Le Nil, Sur Le Mediterranee, Shryh's Eau de Merveilles and the highly-coveted Kelly Caleche. 2007 brought forth also many, many lessons in top notes, middle notes and base notes for both Shryh and myself. More for me since I've much more to catch up on. It's amazing how Shryh and I detect different notes on the same scent on the same skin. We've learnt to describe scents, we've associated images with scents and we've come a long way in distinguishing the different elements in each of the top, heart and base notes of each scent.

3. Mascara was another phase that we went through. We went through weeks of stringent testing of the many different mascaras in the market. And, believe me, when we say stringent, we really mean stringent. The mascaras were subjected to different types of environment and the results were duly noted. A clear winner for this was the much-acclaimed Maybelline Great Lash. The iconic pink and green tube is reputed to be sold once every 2 seconds worldwide. How's that for a chart topper? As for yours truly, I discovered the marvels of 2000 Calorie by Max Factor (waterproof, of course. We wouldn't expect anything less) about 5 years ago as an independent working adult in Melbourne. I promptly fell into its spell of no flaking, no smudging even under the creamiest under eye concealer. Sold! It still remains a great staple in my makeup bag.

2. Bronzer might be too harsh a term on this limited edition palette from Bobbi Brown. We all know her shimmer bricks are one of her best-selling makeup products and thus, this birthday present from Shryh in Sandstone has worked wonders on my newly Australian-tanned skin. Of course, being Asian and being completely fearful of wrinkles and lines, I slap on sunscreen very faithfully each day. But, being DownUnder in summer has most definitely given me a tan. It's not that noticeable but it's most definitely there. Dandelion works to give me a pretty flush still, but it's a tad too pink. A light dusting of Sandstone warms the cheeks up to give the slightly-sunkissed healthy look. So, my first bronzer ever.

1. Partner in crime - Shryh, we've most definitely NOT bought too much makeup. In fact, if anything, I don't think we've bought enough. Thank you for the very interesting lessons. Thank you for always reminding me of my Specktra log in and password and thank you for ogling with me on Specktra. I have yet to find anyone who's as passionate about this but hey, I'm glad this wonderful technology called the blogosphere has brought us together in this! To more makeup, more perfumes and many, many, many more chocolate and coffees.

Shu Uemura: 1928 - 2007

2008-01-09T13:53:00.000+08:00

Shu Uemura, the inimitable Japanese cosmetics pioneer and Hollywood makeup legend, passed away on 29 December aged 79. Click on the links below for more news:

TIME: Uemura, makeup pioneer, dies
Reuters: Japanese make-up guru Shu Uemura dies at 79
Bloomberg: Shu Uemura, Japanese makeup artist, dies of pneumonia at 79

2007 in Beauty.

2008-01-07T20:25:00.000+08:00

I'm quite indifferent to year-end festivities as I don't celebrate Christmas (spent hunched over a laptop while my family cavorted in the hotel pool) and the New Year as a holiday baffles me. None of the places I've worked in were big on office parties, and while I like champagne and fireworks, I dislike sweaty, drunken crowds of revellers.

But the new year never fails to bring on a bout of introspection, and g33kchic's coverage of 2007's best beauty products reminded me that I had a great year in beauty. Screw raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, these were a few of my favourite things in 2007:

7 for 2007

7. Benefit Cosmetics Benetint Pocket Pal - I received this as a gift from the chic geek herself, but did not really use it until 2007 was on its last legs. I'd resigned from my job and was hiding in L.'s apartment in California, trying to figure out The Next Step. It seemed ridiculous for a recluse to put on a full face of makeup, but I didn't want to be a complete slob so I pared my normal routine down to the barest minimum: all I used were eyebrow pencil, mascara, concealer and lipbalm. In a fit of inspiration, I dabbed some Benetint onto my cheeks and voila! the perfect 'bare' face. Benetint imparts a natural 'just-came-in-from-the-cold' rosiness to the complexion, and the sheer, practically transparent formula makes this liquid blush nearly impossible to botch. It did give me a bit of a scare as the product appeared to irritate my skin immediately after application, but the red patches disappeared after a while and it's yet to happen to me in Malaysia.

6. Blinc Kiss Me mascara - I am now utterly ADDICTED to this mascara's ease of removal. Eye makeup remover has always irritated my eyes, especially when I'm trying to clean about six coats of waterproof mascara off my lashes, but such battles are a thing of the past with the Kiss Me mascara in my cosmetics arsenal. I still need a second mascara for occasions that demand thick, sooty lashes, but I think I've found the perfect mascara for every day use.

5. MAC rediscovery - Having sampled a few MAC classics like the clear lipglass, Spice lip liner and Studiofix compact foundation, I dismissed MAC cosmetics and moved on. The consistency of MAC products leave something to be desired and there are better products out there: Dior shadows are more finely milled, more densely pigmented; Nars lipglosses aren't as sticky etc. This year, I've discovered very, very belatedly that their limited edition makeup collections are unrivalled. The Barbie Loves MAC collection first caught my eye, but I didn't make my first purchase until Flashtronic. Then the floodgates opened. My Smoking Eyes quad from the Smoke Signals and Electroplush lipglass from Flashtronic are now among my favourite items to use.

4. Vincent Longo eyeshadow trio in Easy Rider - The first eyeshadow palette I've used to the very end. The cool, velvety neutrals went well with my skintone and I wore this nearly every day to work.

3. Winged-out eyeliner aka the Cat Eye - I'm still an eyeliner novice, but I spent many hours this year learning how to 'wing out' my eyeliner to approximate the look favoured by silver screen sirens in the 60s. Instead of liquid liner or kohl, I used dark eye shadow and the eyeliner brush from the dual-ended applicator that came with my Bobbi Brown palette for a softer look. This took me quite some time and I was invariably late to work on the mornings I decided to wear eyeliner in this fashion on weekdays. Oopsy.

2. Hermes Eau des Merveilles EDT - Pepper, oranges and salt. The scent I put on in the mornings to empower myself before meeting fussy, tiresomely garrulous clients. The scent I can count on to stand out and assert itself in a room without being chokingly overbearing. The scent with which people began to associate me and the scent that garnered me the most compliments!

1. My partner in crime - The only person whom I know will pull a pair of women's stockings over her head to rob a beauty emporium with me. Right, g33kchic?? We probably (only probably!) bought more makeup than we needed, but I'll be damned if we did not have a fantastic time discovering new products, gawking at the hauls on Specktra and running wild among the makeup counters in department stores with a patient Mr. g33kchic in tow. May you get your bottle of Kelly Caleche this year!

Beauty Products of 2007 according to ACA

2007-12-28T15:45:00.000+08:00

Time: 6:48pm
A Current Affair is rolling out the beauty products for 2007 and yours truly would be updating live from the scene: her lounge/living room.

Stay tuned!

Time: 6:53pm

LipGloss: Napoleon Perdis $22.00
Eyeliner: Maybelline NY Line Stylist $15.25
Hair Straightener: VS Sasson Total Freedom Straightener $119.25
Styler/Spray: Tresemme no frizz iron style & hold spray: $7.25
Cleanser: Clinique Take the Day off Makeup Remover $45
Fake Tan: L'Oreal Paris NutriSummer $14.95
Anti-aging: EA Prevage $250.00

Review: Biore UV Perfect Face Milk SPF50+ PA+++

2007-11-13T16:16:00.000+08:00

A good sunscreen that's kind on the pocket, offers high sun protection factor as well as does not break the skin out is always a good item for anyone. It doesn't make sense to me when women (and men too, for that matter!) spend hundreds, even thousands (think La Mer) on products to prevent anti-aging and step out into the beach with a sunscreen of spf15. It also baffles me endlessly that Asian women continue to spend hundreds and thousands each year on whitening products in a feeble attempt to erase blemishes and sunspots but do nothing to prevent sunspots from happening in the first place.

A very simple answer lies in your very humble bottle of sunscreen. Ever since my battle with acne began at a tender age of 18, I've always been very aware of taking good care of my skin. If a routine works for you, stick with it. Thus explains my loyalty to Dermalogica products for the past 10 years.

I've only been made aware of sunscreen when I stepped into the Australian summer. My first sunscreen is Dermalogica's Ultra Sensitive Faceblock (SPF 25). I loved that it was so creamy and that it was slightly tinted to help even out my skin tone. I'm still using that sunscreen occasionally but with only SPF25, I'm always on the hunt for something better and of a higher protection factor. I'd previously tried out Kanebo's Freshel line but was hugely disappointed with the white residue.

Which is why I did not hold much hopes up for this particular sunscreen when I bought it on a whim.

However, much to my surprise, this little bottle delivered what it promised! The colour, texture and scent is almost identical to that of Kanebo's: Milky-white, liquid and the typical sunscreen scent. The only slight difference is that the scent in this is quite strong that it pierces the nose. However, moments after application, the scent would have all but disappeared.

As with most liquid-base sunscreen, together with the liquid is a tiny little metal marble which is used to mix components up before application. Thus, the instructions would advise for users to give the bottle a quick shake before dispensing the products.

What I absolutely love about this sunscreen is that there is simply no white residue! And, given that it's of such high spf, I thought I'd end up with emphasized dark eye circles, marked difference between face and neck and the usual works. I've made it a point even to apply sunscreen when I'm at home and I do tend to reapply by middle of the day. Even with re-application, there is no white residue.

Other plus points to this sunscreen is that it doesn't break my face out. Although having said that, I do notice that my fingers tend to be a little bit oily after application, so I wouldn't call this an oil-free sunscreen. For those with sensitive skin, proceed with caution. I'm just thankful that my skin doesn't react to it.

One last plus point would the price, of course. It costs less than RM20 for a 30ml bottle when I got this at Guardian. It was on sale so, it makes sense to stock up on this if this would be a staple in my skincare cabinet.

So, yes, definitely a re-purchase and yes, can't wait to finish using up Kanebo's sunscreen to stock up more on this.

Fun fact: Years ago, when I was about 12 or 13, Biore was one of the first few cleansers and facial exfoliators I tried out.

Sephora Blockbuster Palette

2007-10-31T01:43:00.000+08:00

According to the Sephora website, this triple-tiered palette for eyes, face and lips contain 64 shadows, 32 lip colours, 7 cheek colours, 1 shimmer powder, 4 double-ended shadow applicators and 2 lip brushes.

Image from www.sephora.com

Is this THE perfect holiday gift for the beauty junkie? This one says no. Sephora's Blockbuster Palette presents a breathtaking sight, but I would be pretty upset if I found this in my Christmas stocking. I would not be able to justify ANY makeup purchases for the rest of the year (or... MY LIFE!), nor would I use every shade in the palette, which is quite wasteful. Finally, a makeup collection or traincase should be lovingly, carefully assembled over time after much research, discussion and agonizing so it contains the best brands and products for the owner!

In any case, the Blockbuster Palette could be a good gift for someone who does not own a scrap of makeup and does not particularly care but should, because, oh honey, we're not getting any younger, are we?

At US$48 a palette, it's quite a steal. Available in stores and online at Sephora.com.

Review: Blinc Kiss Me mascara in black

2007-10-26T02:28:00.000+08:00

Blinc Kiss Me mascara professes to form tiny 'tubes' around the lashes instead of coating them with a layer of paint like conventional, oil-based mascaras, 'tubes' that slide off with a little bit of warm water and pressure. I purchased the mascara from a beauty boutique here in San Jose last Sunday and promptly put it to the test.

The Kiss Me mascara comes in a maroon tin container, which is a bit of a novelty, but like all novelties, rather unnecessary. While I do not see the point of keeping the tin container, I cannot bear to toss it out like a common cardboard box.

Although the Kiss Me mascara originated from Japan, the land of kook and innovation, the slogan on the tube--"STOP painting your lashes... TUBE them!"--is most American. No real surprises there, since Blinc is a privately-owned company based in Delaware.

This mascara's unique formulation promises no flakes, smudges or clumps, and while my own experience has proven this to be quite true, I haven't exactly run a marathon, dived for pearls or cried over the fate of unborn children to REALLY test it. Although the website claims that the Kiss Me mascara will add volume and length to my lashes, the sales assistant was more more honest, or experienced. The mascara really just adds length, he said. Volume may just be achieved with a ten-coat application or if I prepped my lashes with the Kiss Me lash primer. True to his words, this mascara did a good job in defining, darkening and extending my lashes but did nothing to add volume even after 3 coats.

But now, for the fun part! The Kiss Me mascara is a CINCH to remove. After dissolving the rest of my makeup with my trusty Shu Uemura beauty cleansing oil, I step into the shower and let the warm droplets hit my face. I then place my index fingers at the base of my lashes and gently push the tubes off, removing every little bit of mascara within seconds. It really cannot get easier than that! This is what the 'tubes' will look like. They're more like string, aren't they?

Maybe it looks a little gross to you, but I'm still fascinated by the process despite wearing and removing the mascara for nearly a week. I wish makeup removal was this easy and painless all the time.

Blinc Kiss Me mascara retails for US$25 and comes in five shades - black, dark brown, medium brown, dark blue, dark purple and dark green. It is available for purchase online on blincinc.com and Amazon.

Travelling and the Beauty Junkie.

2007-10-25T01:13:00.000+08:00

I recently made a 15 hour trans-Pacific journey to the United States by plane, and as you all know, long-haul flights to this part of the world can be hellish for a beauty junkie. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations stipulate that anything remotely liquid or gel-like, such as lip gloss and moisturizer, may not carried on board in containers exceeding 3 oz or 90ml, and all of these have to be placed in a single quart-sized ziploc bag. I chafed against these rules when they were first announced, but I have come to appreciate them as my carry-on bag has since become significantly lighter. I used to pack full-sized toiletries and a whole makeup bag into my carry-on in addition to two paperbacks, an ipod, cellphone, water bottle, pashmina, travel wallet, purse, pencil case, several notebooks... no wonder I regularly ended a journey with a sore back!

While makeup essentials such as blush and lipstick that prevent one from looking like death warmed over after a long flight are no longer an issue, cleansing and moisturizing treatments are. Fortunately, travel-sized items and miniature gift-with-purchase (GWP) novelties abound, and they are especially easy to obtain in Asian air transportation hubs in Singapore, Hong Kong, Taipei, Seoul and Japan. While I've yet to experience the last two, cosmetics-shopping in Hong Kong and Taipei is great fun as the shops carry brands like Jurlique, Shu Uemura and La Prairie. I never mind layovers in these airports as I'm able to pick up a couple of hard-to-get items at much lower prices. This time round in Taipei, I purchased my favourite Shiseido Anessa SPF50 sunscreen and the Chanel Sublimage eye cream that was US$40 cheaper than those sold in department stores. Unfortunately, due to the no-liquids rule, my purchases were sealed in a plastic bag with a warning not to open it until I had reached my final destination in the U.S. I also spotted (but sigh, passed up) an adorable pink-themed Shu Uemura set containing a beauty oil cleanser and rose-scented depsea water spritz in travel-friendly sizes as well as 2 full-sized eye shadows in pink and black. While they would have been perfect, I was determined to use what I had packed into my ziploc baggie, which included:

Single-use, sample-sized sachets of Aesop's Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque, Oil-Free Facial Hydrating Serum and Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Eye Serum. Yes, I used a mask instead of a facial cleanser in an airport bathroom (to great effect, might I add) because I procrastinated and forgot to stock up on Cetaphil and facial cleansing wipes before my trip.
Skinceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
SK II Signs Eye Mask
Travel-sized L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream
Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil
Chanel Inimitable mascara in black
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint in red
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in #2
Travel-sized apple mint toothpaste
Tiger Balm

Now, even if TSA decides that travel-sized toiletries were too huge a risk and bans them completely, we could possibly live with it as long as we could keep ourselves hydrated during the flight by drinking several litres of water, right? Unfortunately, what applies to your facial cleanser applies to your water bottle as well - no bigger than 3 oz and placed in a quart-sized ziploc bag. Granted, the air hostess will come around periodically with her tray of drinks, but this is hardly an effective way to keep our skin cells plump and hydrated during an hours-long flight. Also, come ON - 90ml of water? A mug or glass of water usually contains around 250ml! What I do to get around this limitation is to actually bring an empty 500ml or 1 litre bottle on board, and get it filled as soon as I can once I'm on the plane. Now that I've written this down, I'm afraid I have doomed empty water bottles to a senseless banning.

Well, until then, happy travelling, beauty junkies!

First Attempt for Dark Nails

2007-10-17T18:03:00.000+08:00

This Fall/Winter season calls for short, dark nails in multiple hues of reds, wines and rich greys as seen from Chanel.

Speaking of Chanel, they do the most deliciously-dark matte black polish. Retailing for a whopping RM70 per bottle, this unemployed had to find another solution. Fast!

That's where your local Watsons came to save the day. Silkygirl does a black that's called Jet Black that is rather similar to the one from Chanel that I'd been coveting. Look, I'm a novice with dark nails. There's absolutely no reason why I should be spending so much on a nail polish. A good base and top coat, yes, but not yet, for nail polishes.

And, stealing Shryh's idea of displaying both the results of the nails as well as the bottle, here's my very first attempt.

It's a lot of work waiting for each layer to dry before another one is painted on. What with trying not to go over the edge and paint the skin, trying to leave the cuticles unpainted, it's a major pain in the ass! With dark polish, I've been told to stick to short nails for a chic look. Any longer, you'd be going for the vampish, Halloween look.

I still love the effects, though. The hard work paid off and I'd love to have a navy blue and a shimmery plum colour next.

New Goodies From Benefit

2007-10-11T15:26:00.000+08:00

Browsing beauty websites is one of my favourite hobbies. It's like window shopping. All from the comforts of my room. And, Benefit cosmetics always has one of the most fun stuff. Quirky names, pretty packaging, they all seem to beckon at me from across the oceans.

One of the first few stuff which I came across was a set of brushes. Or, I should say one of the first few things which caught my eye since brushes are always interesting. This set contains 4 brushes, from its description: the powder brush, fluff brush, hard angle brush, and the talent brush.

I would think the fluff brush would be your regular large eyeshadow brush. The hard angle brush (last brush on the right depicted below) can be used for filling in the eyebrows and finally, the much-talked about talent brush (2nd last brush from right below) is multi-use. I imagine it would be suitable for a cream eyeshadow and even for undereye concealer! I wouldn't dream of using this to correct spots because it's just too wide for precision.

This set goes for USD$44.00.

Justine Case, a twist to the popular phrase just-in-case is a set made up of miniatures of Benetint, eyecon, california Kissin' and Some Kind-a Gorgeous in a pan. I would think this would be a good chance for those who have been dying to want to try some of these products. Benetint has received its fair share of good (and lousy!) reviews but you'd never know if it'll work on you until you've tried. eyecon is their eye cream which is touted to reduce dark circles but having tried an entire tub, I can safely say that it does not work. Well, that's the thing with dark circles. You cannot simply eliminate them with products. Trust me on this. California kissin' is a blue-tinted lipgloss which is supposed to make teeth look whiter. Well, it is true that a red lipstick with a hint of blue would make lips whiter but I still could not justify spending so much on a lip gloss. According to some complaints in forums, Some Kind-a Gorgeous is too expensive to be used solely as a foundation. You'd see the bottom of the pan in no time. Well, like I'd said, you wouldn't know until you've tried it.

This cute little palette retails for USD$30.00

Grabbing all the favourites from their range of products, Best of Benefit: Iconic Classics consists of Dr.Feelgood - a balm and/or primer for the face, Benetint and Badgal Lash mascara. These products are all packed up in a pretty little paper box and ready to be given away (or kept for yourself). Other than Dr.Feelgood, I can't say for how good the rest of the products are. I am actually rather disappointed with Dr.Feelgood. It made me break out at the oddest places! The little spots would pop out at the little crevices at the sides of my nose. Between the nose and the cheek. Just one or two. I've completely given that up. But, having said that, I've still not learnt my lesson and would, every now and then give it a go, just in case, I've gotten over the reaction.

This pink package retails for a whopping USD$58.00

Finally, a little gift set they've dubbed Best of Benefit: Beauty Bag Essentials consists of Dallas the bronzer, Badgal Lash mascara as well as eye bright, a pink pencil to be used to brighten up the eye area.

This retails for USD$46.00.

I've always loved stuff from Benefit, but somehow, I was just not inclined to buy anything this time round. Maybe the phase for Benefit has finally passed.

Note that this is not in any way sponsored by Benefit. I just think that their products are cute and are worth sharing. I shall not be held responsible for any spending sprees going out of control.

Being Frugal

2007-10-11T15:25:00.000+08:00

As a Dior Club member, I was given a tiny little gift on my birthday. And, when I say tiny, I really do mean tiny.

As I stared at the tiny little tube in my hands, I thought wryly to myself, "Is Dior being funny or sarcastic about giving me an anti-ageing eye cream as I get a year older?"

Yep, on one hand I was glad that I got another 2ml of the Capture R60/80 eye cream. On the other, I couldn't help but think of how apt or how "thoughtful" they were being.

Well, 2ml of eye cream is really not a lot but considering how little we use each time, I think 2ml was more than sufficient. Until I got tired of squeezing every tiny drop out. My fingers would hurt and I would struggle to balance between squeezing the tube and popping a finger to 'receive' the cream out from the tube. As much as I loved the hygiene that's presented with a squeeze-tube, I hate that it's so hard to not to waste expensive products like that.

So, I rooted around for a small clean travel-sized container I seem to have a lot of. I found one and proceeded to chop my tube of eye cream into 3 pieces. The tip, the middle part and the flat bit at the end. When I purchased the full-sized Dior eye cream, I was given a spoon as well. For the same hygienic purpose, I would presume. Using that spoon, I scooped every bit out from the 3 bits of the tube. It was highly-satisfying to see that not a single drop of product was wasted.

I repeated the same thing this evening with my trusty Olay Total Effects serum. However, this time, it was much, much harder. This is where your other half came in handy! Once again, I rooted around for yet another clean travel-sized container. And, I saw that it was the last travel-sized container I have. Thankfully, nothing is running out yet. Armed with his trusty Swiss army knife, he chopped the Olay bottle into half and once again, I scooped everything out.

With the eye cream, I think there was enough of product to last me for a good couple of months! Imagine how much product there is left in the tube had I just tossed it away! With the serum, it was good for another extra week at most, but, it's still a lot of product left behind!

For a change, I wish manufacturers would come up with bottles and tubes that would allow us to use up every single drop. It's not just that I'm a miser (yes, I can be when it comes to beauty products) but it's also, I think, the responsible thing to do.

Now, if only there was a way for me to open up my Olay Total Effects moisturizer!

Dior Warehouse Sale

2007-10-11T15:09:00.000+08:00

One word: Meh.

Held at the basement carpark (B1) of Menara Milenium, Jen and I caught glimpse of it the moment we entered the parking lot in search of a spot. It was tiny. And dingy. Sort of.

I was thankful that I came prepared. I knew events like these would not allow for handbags to be brought in so I stuffed cash, IDs, credit cards and my mobile phone into my pockets and walked in. I was right.

The guard eyed us warily in search of a handbag. There was a cashier on one end of the room and then tables were fashioned into a long 'L' shape following the length and width of the room. Products on sale were mostly the regular stuff. If you're after a limited edition palette you missed out, sorry to say you'd have your hopes completely dashed.

The first few tables were Dior body products which I skipped entirely. Then it was the Dior whitening range but I was not interested. Their Prestige range was on sale as well but I'd never be able to afford it so I moved on. Lip products were really cheap.

All lip products (glosses and lipsticks) were going for RM40 each or RM70 for 2. There was only one green and one pink shade of gloss from the Diorshow gloss range. There was a green Dior Kiss gloss but I was not interested. They had some of the older Dior Addict (not Dior Addict 2) range which was not too bad. Dior Rouge was there as well. This, I can vouch that it's very cheap. Your regular Dior Kiss gloss would be RM68, Dior Rouge would be above RM80 and Dior Addict would be close to RM80.

For eye makeup, the older single shadows were on sale for RM30 each. They had quintets from previous seasons as well. One of my favourites- Stylish Move (970) was on sale for RM70. There were a few other quintets but I cannot remember the names nor colour code. Grabbing a quintet would save you by more than 100 bucks because each one currently retails for RM178.

Moving along would be face products: blush and foundation (liquid and powder). They had the regular rectangular pan blush which I was not really interested. Dandelion has served me fine and it shall continue to do so until I decide it's too young for me. Diorshow blush is one of the cutest things I've ever seen and I've really liked it from afar for a long time. Retailing for RM132, it goes for only RM60 at the sale. Unfortunately, there was only ONE colour on sale and the colour would turn my cheeks bright orange.

Diorskin Flash was going cheap as well at RM60 a pen. I can't remember the current retail price.

I do like Dior foundations because they are completely lightweight. But there were not enough of colour selections and I wouldn't dream of buying foundation in that kind of lighting, no matter how cheap it is. One good thing about this event was that there were no sales assistants hovering over you. No one was trying to push products. They would give suggestions or help when asked but other times, they just stand around and wait for you to make the first move. At the foundation counter, one of the girls tried to sell her foundation on me. She picked around for what she thinks is the correct colour (I would think it is the correct colour too) and tried it on my hand. I politely declined citing of my complete sloth-like attitude when it comes to foundations.

Curiosity got the better of her, "So, do you use anything? Compact powder? Loose powder? Compact foundation?"

Errr.... nothing. Only sunscreen, actually.

She took a careful glance at my skin and conceded to keeping away the testers,"Oh. Yeah, you're right. Lucky you, then. You've got good skin."

I replied my thanks with a beaming smile. I mean, who wouldn't be pleased at hearing that?

THIS is the kind of attitude that Malaysian sales assistants need to learn! To know when to back off and to know when to try and prod a sale along! Last lot of makeup products were brushes. A complete brush set goes for RM280 with a casing but I've already got a pretty good brush set so I gave that a pass. They've also got the concealer brush going for RM40. I can vouch for the brush set that it's a good investment. I've played with them at the regular counters and I love how soft they were. And, they are not usually for sale. I've seen that it's on sale at either Jusco or Metro at MidValley but that's about it. So, if brushes are what you need, I would say, go for it.

Following tables were filled with fragrances. The usual Dior Addict 2, Dior Addict Shine, Dior Addict 2 Peonies were there. Then, their older Poison and Pure Poison sets were available as well. Jen was rather taken in by the Dior Homme fragrance. When I first gave him a sample, he exclaimed loudly,"UNCLE SCENT!" However, having tried that a couple of times more, he found that he quite liked it. It was going for RM90 for a 30ml bottle. I gave him a Baldeserrini last Christmas and it's not even half-used, so I suggested he should give this a miss. He was a bit upset that he didn't manage to get anything but, really, at the rate he uses fragrances, I should be getting him 10ml bottles next!

By the time we were about to leave, the crowd had started to come in. Office workers who had finished work by 5-ish started to stream in and I was right: Events like these are vicious! I was still at the lipstick table with Jen when these 2 women with their backpacks pushed their way in. I was in a relatively good mood or I would've elbowed them. Jen left to make way for me as I continued browsing.

Quite a number of men were there as well. One of them wanted a Diorisime but was told that they don't have it. Like I'd said, it was pretty small and products on sale were from their regular range. I could see only the Dior Addict 2 Peonies to be from the limited edition range. Another man was walking up and down all the while describing each product to his other half, I would presume. It was kinda hilarious. So, Boss, don't be afraid of going there without HY, yeah?

I guess my only peeve were the LABELS. Dear Lord, the labels! Sales assistants had merely torn off lids of cardboard boxes and scrawled names of products and prices, then propping them up. Imagine seeing luxury makeup products being labelled with a cardboard box! My instant reaction, "Aiyoh!!!" It's like wearing a vintage Chanel gown and pairing that with RM3 flip-flops from pasar malam.

It was an eye-opening experience, I would say. Because they had quite little products, the crowd was thin, which was something that I like. If other warehouse sales were this simple and straightforward, I think I would attend more.

Review: Kanebo Freshel White C

2007-09-26T13:54:00.001+08:00

In the recent trip to the very fabulous beach resort, I was very well-armed with enough of sunscreen to protect a small nation. I was left with not many choices given the tight budget of an unemployed. One of the many that I bought was this. I'm still rather undecided about this but at least it didn't break me out into a million spots. So, that's one good thing! The other one I contemplated upon and something that was highly-regarded by quite a number of bloggers: The L'oreal sunscreen with Mexoryl. Reviews that it could clog pores was the only reason why I returned the box to the shelf.

Colour: White. Milky-white, I must say. I thought the white would disappear upon application but unfortunately, it left me with a pasty-white face. The kind where it emphasizes my dark circles and makes my face much, much whiter than my neck.

Scent: It's the typical sunscreen scent. Not unpleasant but it disappeared after a while and it's completely unoffensive.

Waterproof/Long lasting: While at Pangkor Laut, the one thing I did maniacally was to re-apply sunscreen throughout the day. I didn't do much proper swimming but I definitely re-applied after every couple of hours or so while in the outdoors.

Texture: This is what I liked about this sunscreen. It's liquid and it goes on easily.

Usability: The Australian Cancer Council has a very cute catchphrase to educate the public on the importance of protecting themselves against the sun. Slip-Slop-Slap - slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, slap on a hat. It's really that easy when it comes to sunscreen. Slop. Give the bottle a quick shake and then I dot 3 dots on my fingers on one hand, dab them on the other 3 fingers and spread all over my face. If I want to use makeup, it'll be a little bit of mineral foundation over and so on.

Packaging: A small bottle which can fit easily into any handbag.

Price: RM35.90 for 28ml. I suppose it's not that expensive and this is easily found in Guardian and Watson's.

Overall: It's a pretty good and basic sunscreen because it did what it's supposed to do. What irked me was the white residue that's left on my face upon application. Although it's almost every Asian girl to yearn to be fair and white, I yearn to be fair naturally. Not by some white pasty residue that's left behind by some sunscreen. Having said that. I might repurchase seeing how affordable it is. I'll have to live with the pasty white by compensating with makeup and some colours. Being unemployed, it's highly important to find something that not only works and good for you. The price has got to be right too. Seeing I would arrive smack in the hot, sultry Australian summer, there's a chance I might just go nuts and stock up on this for when I get there. I'm the kind who wears sunscreen in the dead of winter, so, there's no chance that this will ever go to waste.

I'd say give this a go because hey, for RM35.90, really, you've got nothing to lose.

MAC nail lacquer: Whirlwind

2007-09-16T23:37:00.000+08:00

With flash:

Without flash:

Whirlwind is one of the two shades of nail lacquer from MAC's Blue Storm collection. The website describes Whirlwind as "metallic royal blue with green, blue and purple pearl" in a frost finish. This could very well be true, but that's one confusing description if anything. Looking at my nails, all I can see is dark metallic blue-green. I love the colour, which goes incredibly well with my skin tone, and in the off chance that the prayer whispered into the internet abyss will be heard by Roland Mouret, I would love a Galaxy dress in this hue.

MAC nail lacquer: Wildfire

2007-08-31T11:58:00.000+08:00

I have been very, very bad this month and I will be bad for the rest of the year until the Alexander McQueen for MAC collection at the very least. After I failed to find a blouse I liked enough to purchase during my lunch break, I consoled myself with a bottle of MAC nail lacquer in wildfire (black with red pearl) from the Smoke Signals collection. It looked so pretty in the bottle I bought it without even testing it, which almost turned out to be a tragedy. The first layer went on sheer, and I nearly cried with disappointment because I was promised a cream formulation. But a second coat transformed my nails and gave them a gorgeous black-purply sheen that was surprisingly more purple than black.

With flash, which shows off the colour and finish better.

Without flash.

Apologies for the bad pictures - they were taken in a hurry. Also, as these were taken on the third day of application, there is slight tip wear. Funny how one doesn't notice how much we use our fingers until one gets a manicure or applies a new coat of polish.

Wedding beauty.

2007-08-31T10:32:00.000+08:00

Long story short - our lovely g33kchic got married to her sweetheart of 7 years on 25 August 2007. I went over to her house early in the morning to watch her get her makeup done. Many brides from our hometown go the whole hog on their special day - renting 3, 4 outfits for the day and hiring makeup artists to transform them into unrecognizable glamourpusses. Consequently, they look amazing in studio photos, but pictures taken by their guests inevitably reveal the caked on foundation that is 3 shades too light for their complexions.

g33kchic's attitude, which I share, is that the bride should look like herself on her wedding day, but look her absolute best. She thus opted for a neutral palette of shimmery nudes and browns carefully selected to include her favourites and 'holy grails' from her makeup collection.

All that a bride needs - I'm referring to the coffee, of course. ;)

Makeup checklist - brides usually tuck blotters, gloss into a small pouch the bridesmaid carries. Our g33kchic brought this bag, which was the size of a small football!

Eyeshadow - Dior 5 shadow palette in Frosted Earth(limited edition)

Bride's holy grail blush - Benefit's dandelion

Nail lacquer - Chanel's Pink Satin. I thought this would be prettier than a picture of the bottle itself.

Other items used - Laura Mercier primer, false eyelashes, Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Nudes shadow palette, which was used for contouring!

By the time she donned her veil and gown before leaving for the church, she was truly a vision in white.

Review on Bobbi Brown’s Stonewashed Nudes Palette

2007-08-15T22:07:00.000+08:00

As stated previously, I absolutely need to get used to wearing nudes and browns with the slightest hint of shimmer for a corporate boardroom look. Women I see walking along Collins St in Melbourne all sport nudes and browns while in their corporate suits. I suppose it's about time I get used to seeing natural colours on my eyes. Thus, the reason this palette was acquired. Of course, having seen how Shryh manages her Vincent Longo so prettily, I tried to convince myself I could wear nudes and browns well too. I was not disappointed.

Colours: 7 colours in the palette.
Navajo is a matte beige wash which is similar to the best-selling shadow from Bobbi Brown, Bone. This colour, when applied onto my lids hardly showed but it is good enough as an all-over base colour. As a highlighter, it's very disappointing. When highlighting the brow bone, I had to root around in my train case for another colour.
Mica is a shimmer wash eye shadow. It is pale brown in colour. Looking at it now, I think this can be used as a blending colour from crease upwards for the smokey effect.
Ash is a shimmer wash as well and this is lighter than the previous colour and I can see myself using this for the inner eyes.
Hot Stone is a matte brown which is similar to my Averine eyeshadow. I've used this successfully from lash line to crease, giving the eyes instant depth with only a hint of colour. Definitely office-friendly.
Stonewash is shimmer wash I used together with Hot Stone today. I used it as a blending colour and to add a bit of shimmer to the entire eye.
Rock is my favourite colour of the entire palette. It's a shimmer wash in grey. For me, this is the easiest way to get the smokey-ish eye effect with one swatch of colour.
Espresso is another matte colour in the palette. It's often used as an eyeliner and I like it just the way it is. My next experiment will bring me to using this not only as an eyeliner but also to use it to smudge the outer eyes.

Texture: All the colours are very sheer making it extremely easy to build upon for a more intense look. I love it that the eyeshadows come in both matte and shimmer allowing us to create almost unlimited different looks. Of course, one needs the skill for; of which I'm sorely lacking in.

Smell: None whatsoever. I like it that way. Somehow it fits the Bobbi Brown image of fuss-free and simplistic makeup.

Waterproof/Long lasting: Unfortunately I've yet to be able to test this feature out properly. With Urban Decay Potion Primer, I doubt any shadow would dare to even crease.

Usability: This palette comes with a double-ended brush. On one end is the soft bristles for the eyeshadows. On the other end is the stiffer one for eyeliner. I love both the brushes and I think Bobbi Brown's done a fabulous job with this eyeliner brush. The previous one I got from them - Ultra fine eye liner brush is quite rubbishy. The bristles are uneven in length making it so difficult to apply the gel eyeliner. The bristles for the eyeshadow is thick and is of the correct size to apply just the right amount of colour to the eye. It took me a while to get used to the shape of the brush for proper application and to know how to angle the brush to the different parts of the eye. But, overall, I would certainly say this is a very usable palette that will bring you from day to night very easily. Slip this into your bag as you head out for the day. For an evening out, simply pick some colours to build upon your existing shadows for a smokey eye effect for a night out. It's also very easy to use and I cannot see how anyone can make a mistake with application. In other words, it's extremely idiot-proof, even for someone like me who shies away from nudes and browns.

Packaging: This comes in a grey brushed metal casing. It feels cool to touch and has a heavy feel to it. I was certainly surprised by this packaging. Most Bobbi Brown products come in a black plastic case. Since this is a limited edition product, I thought it was fitting.

Price: RM190.00 for this palette. Steep? VERY. But, considering how usable it is, and how this would actually be an investment, I would say, it's money well-spent.

Overall: Just get it if you can. You'll have no regrets. It'll garner you the is-she-wearing-eyeshadow-or-is-she-not 2nd looks. Easy to use, great effects and most definitely worth the investment.

Diorissime

2007-08-07T12:45:00.000+08:00

"Why're you stuffing your house keys there? Leave it in the glove compartment, it's safer."
Err... no, you need to send this car for servicing tomorrow and I need to bring it down to your house anyway.

"Put it in the glove compartment, will you?"
No! Drive-lah!

"PUT IT IN!"
Hmm...

Heh. Heh. Heh.

A prettily-wrapped box in gold with Dior embossed all over greeted me.

Heh. Heh. Heh.

A few days ago, he insisted on getting me something for the wedding. I lusted after the new limited edition palette. While Jen was at Parkson of 1 Utama, he told me the colour shade that I was after was no longer in stock.

I was crushed but he promised me we'd get it from the Dior counter in Ipoh. I suppose I had to live with it.

Little did I know, he visited Jusco of 1 Utama to get it for me.

In exchange for the pretty palette, he got a pair of cuff links which I sneakily bought from Mid Valley the day I met Shryh for lunch. I managed to evade and deny vehemently over the past few days until he threatened he would purchase a new pair for the wedding.

I would say how lucky we, girls are. I mean, how pretty can cuff links get in comparison with this?!

Colour scheme this:

Bobbi Brown Stonewashed Nudes Palette

2007-08-06T22:52:00.000+08:00

I try not to buy into the hype of each season's makeup 'must-haves', and when I first caught sight of Bobbi Brown's Stonewashed Nudes eyeshadow palette about a month ago, I wasn't as enamoured with the palette as many other beauty bloggers. But as the end is nigh for my beloved Vincent Longo eyeshadow trio in Easy Rider, and it was the first time in years I've actually finished a pot of eyeshadow. The imminent demise of my pot of Easy Rider helped me to realize that I overwhelmingly prefer a nude-brown eyeshadow combination to wear to work on a daily basis. I considered getting a second pot of Easy Rider, but that would mean delayed gratification as Vincent Longo makeup is not available in Malaysia. Bobbi Brown's Stonewashed Nudes eyeshadow palette, on the other hand, was easily available (albeit for a limited period only), highly coveted and fantastically office-friendly.

Still, it takes a longer time for seasonal collections to hit our shores (O' Flashtronic, wherefore art thou?) and after days of skulking around the standalone Bobbi Brown cosmetics boutique in Mid Valley, my vigilance with rewarded when the palette finally went on display today. A failed shopping trip over the weekend had left me with more cash in the purse than usual, so I bought the palette, encased in taupe brushed metal, instead.

L-R: Navajo, Mica, Ash, Hot Stone, Stonewash, Rock, Espresso

I now have a reason to look forward to the second day of work this week. For now.

Frugal beauty.

2007-07-12T22:37:00.000+08:00

Behold, the stubbiness!

And that, boys and girls, is the Shu Uemura eyebrow pencil that I have been using and will continue to use until it disappears, hopefully after I've received my next paycheck.

Genie In A Bottle, or the Urban Decay Primer Potion

2007-07-09T22:33:00.000+08:00

I first became aware of Urban Decay cosmetics in my late teens, and I was utterly blown away by the company who dared to name a nail colour 'gangrene'. The brand's twisted, unprissy aesthetics struck a chord with my inner smudgy-eyelinered, torn-fishnet-stockinged alterna-chick. Indeed, Urban Decay was founded in 1996 by a woman who worked for Cisco Systems who was sick of the sea of pink nail polish in the market at the time.

My first over-the-counter makeover was by an Urban Decay sales assistant during the sultry summer of 2000 when I interned at a television news station in Taipei. I left the mall with sparkly blue eyeshadow (Urban Decay does not do 'matte'. For the most part.), sparkly bubblegum pink lips and a small bag containing a tube of the same sparkly bubblegum pink gloss which I promptly gave away to a friend when I returned to college that fall. After a brief flirtation with the Midnight Cowboy eyeshadow - what was a dorky Government major going to do with super-glittery beige eyeshadow? - I sadly concluded that I simply wasn't hardcore or even interesting enough for Urban Decay.

Fast forward to 2007, where I've a bit 'put away' for a rainy day, a tiny disposable income from my day job as a PR drone, and most importantly, a willing if not slightly diffident State-side contact who made Sephora runs on my behalf if I batted my eyelashes hard enough. I was also clocking time on makeupalley.com, where while browsing the most highly-rated items on the website, I noticed that the Urban Decay Primer Potion was getting resoundingly positive reviews. Primer Potion fans raved about how eyeshadows stayed fresh from dawn 'til dusk, and I figured that legions of experienced makeup aficionados could not be wrong. I informed g33kchic of the news, and she quickly tapped a travelling co-worker to get her a tube. g33kchic was an instant convert, and I waited for an opportunity to get my own tube.

Now, as the proud owner of a tube, I can tell you in my own words that this stuff works. In true Urban Decay style, the primer comes in a purple tube with a silver cap whose sleek curves would not be out of place on the dresser of a certain 60's television genie. Given the eye makeup of the era, the primer potion might have made Jeannie's toilette a little easier. The primer potion comes with a sponge applicator with which I dab little dots of primer onto my eyelid before smoothing them all over with my ring finger. The 'potion' is a nude formulation that goes on sheer and subtly smooths and evens out the skin around the eye area, creating a base for your eye makeup with a death grip on your shadows. This eye primer pretty much solved the problem I had with migrating eyeshadow, which left me looking like a panda and very much worse for the wear at the end of the work day. In fact, I even use a little bit along my lower lashline, where I like to apply a smidgen of black shadow as liner.

My one and only gripe, and it seems so petty to quibble when this is just magic in a tube (hah, see that?), is that I am unable to gauge how much is left or even how much is in there to begin with. When I pull the wand out of the tube in the morning, I am sometimes unconvinced that the sponge applicator picked up any product at all. Perhaps this is one cosmetic product in which I shall have to have some blind faith.

Beauty Questionnaire

2007-06-06T19:53:00.000+08:00

The chic geek tagged me for this, and since my personal blog has been dormant for aeons, I thought I'd post my answers here anyway since it's relevant to this blog!

What Five beauty products could you not live without?
Eyebrow pencil
Mineral foundation - My skin would revolt if I used anything else
Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer #2
C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in nude
A pair of good tweezers

What’s the worst beauty mistake you’ve made?
Sporting too-thin eyebrows for nearly a year. I didn't mess up, in fact, my friends thought I did a good job in maintaining them and I was called on to deal with a couple of brow emergencies that year. Still, looking at old photos, my brows were way too skinny.

What’s your skincare regime consist of?
Cetaphil or Shu Uemura beauty cleaning oil followed by either Skinceuticals Serum 15 and Hydrating B5 gel (day) or Skinceuticals C E Ferulic and Phyto + (night). I haven't been using sunblock for quite some time, but if I do, it would be Skinceuticals UV Defense SPF 30 or La Roche Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50. My current eye treatment is SK II's eye treatment film, which I rate "meh."

Favourite Beauty treat?
Manicures and pedicures for the sheer luxury of having someone else do the dirty work. ;)

What’s your favourite beauty store?
C.O. Bigelow in the West Village for its high-end eclecticism.

Favourite Budget brand?
Hmm, I consider Bourjois mid-range, not budget, but others have listed it here and so shall I.

Favourite Premium brands?
Nars, Chanel, Shu Uemura

And what about Skin Care: Favourite Premium and Budget brands?
Premium: SK II, La Mer; budget: Olay, hands down.

And Hair Care?
Pantene, Sunsilk Long and Strong, Neutrogena clarifying shampoo, Redken All Soft and Japanese camellia oil.

What’s your ’every girl must own one’ item?
Tweezers. Neat brows make ALL the difference.

And finally, best beauty tip?
Drink lots and lots of water.

Hit-and-miss

2007-04-12T13:06:00.000+08:00

In our pursuit for the most perfect mascara (does it even exist?!), both Shryh and I have come across many that have failed us. So much so that it takes no more than 1 use before we decide life is too short crummy mascaras.

I'm listing out, in no particular order, mascaras that have been a complete miss in my life.

1. Mavala Waterproof Mascara in Black

This tube of mascara was bought in Sasa a couple of months back when my stash of HG of mascara was running low. I was so desperate, I was willing to try everything. Though I love the brush, I most absolutely have to say that the waterproof formula is rubbish!

The brush was long and it fits the shape of my eye most perfectly. With the rest of the stubby brushes, I generally have to angle the brush to catch the tiny hairs at the corners of my eyes.

Not with this one. It was long and curved at just the right angle to catch hold of all the tiny hairs with just one sweep.

As for its waterproof formula, getting panda eyes within 3 hours of application is honestly not my idea of waterproof. Having said that, the mascara does not clump at all. It coats each lash pretty evenly but because its failure in keeping my under eyes smudge-free, into the bin it went; save for the brush, of course!

Removing was a cinch, obviously, since most of the mascara had done the migration to my under-eyes.

2. L'oreal Panoramic Curl (Waterproof)

Now, what we have here is really a very queer tube. I don't know what to make of it. The thing is, it is waterproof. But only to a certain extent. It definitely curls, it definitely opens my eyes in a way not many mascaras are able to. I'm just unhappy by the fact that it's not completely waterproof.

And that it was a complete bitch to remove!

Clump factor was there after a few uses so that's another thumbs-down for this.

Into the bin it went, naturally.

So, there we go. I think that marks the end of Mascara Mania on my bit.

Inspired by Shryh: Beauty At Work

2007-03-26T20:53:00.000+08:00

Here's what I cart around on a day-to-day basis. Well, on most days, that is.

* Nivea body Whitening Milk but I mainly use this as a hand cream rather than a body lotion. Staying in the tropics has completely freed me from listing body lotion in my shopping list.

* Sunplay Sunscreen in SPF 50+ but unfortunately it's been ages since I'd used this. Maybe, I should to get back that creamy, silky white hands. Quite a lot of trouble. Meh.

* A decant of Ralph Lauren Romance simply because I was wearing Romance today.

* Nars sheer lipstick in Dolce Vita. The Holy Grail of I'm-late-and-what-lipstick-shall-I-wear-today because it works on every single outfit.

* A sample of Dior Diorskin X3 Control Matifying Compact SPF20 because the SA at Dior insisted I tried it. I quite like it and might consider purchasing this when my Shu Uemura runs out. I'd be happier with a pressed powder, honestly. This is good for touching up on those days that I need to head out straight for dinner and drinks after work.

* Dior Mono Colour eyeshadow in Smoking Black because I thought I might need touching up. Silly me! Dior shadows almost never need touching up! I was too busy hunting for a long-nose plier throughout the day, besides. Imagine a rocker chick wannabe running around the office and lab area,"Does anyone have a long nose I can borrow?" No, don't start with nasal jokes. I've had enough! And, this little eyeshadow goes in only because this was also what I was wearing.

* ZA eyebrow pencil in dark brown. This is also good for touching up but my Dior brow pencil in Blonde pretty much lasts through the day and hardly needs any touching up.

* C.O. Bigelow Mentha Lip Shine in Pink. From now on, this will always be a staple in my bag because it just goes well with anything and everything. Because it works as a lip balm, lip tint, lip gloss. Because it is tastes so damn good. Because it is like my lip colour but better. Because women who've used it rave on and on about it and for once, I'm glad that I am with the majority!

Smokey Eye: The Lazy Way

2007-03-26T20:46:00.001+08:00

Tools:
2 eyes, or 1 if you're inclined that way
Clean fingers
Eyeliner
Small eyeshadow brush
Dark grey or black eyeshadow
Light-coloured eyeshadow in shimmery beige, gold or white
Black mascara

Method:
Prime and prep the entire eye area as you normally would. I usually dust on a thin layer of powder foundation and a thin layer of white eyeshadow. Powder foundation from Shu Uemura and eyeshadow from Muji.

The black eyeshadow I chose today was Dior Mono Colour in Smoking Black. I simply apply a layer from lash to crease; increasing the intensity depending on the occasion. It's hardly noticable with my eyes open because of my inherited Chinese swollen lids. Using the small eyeshadow brush, clean up the area of any loose shadows and to make a clean line of the shadow. This will make blending much, much easier.

I used Dior Mono Colour in Ready-to-Beige as a highlighter. First, it was the brow area. Then, I used the highlighter to highlight the inner corners of my eyes and blending it into the black shadow. It creates a shimmery darker grey which contrasts nicely with the black.

Finally, using the liner, do a thin line along the base of the lashes. I went over the line with another thin dusting of the black eyeshadow to blend the line into the shadow.

A couple of coats of mascara to further open up the eyes and I'm all set.

It makes my eyes look more deep-set and adds a quirky twist to the normal sheer pales that I don on.

Today

2007-03-23T11:25:00.000+08:00

Perhaps this title might not be that apt. I'm a creature of habit. Upon tumbling out of bed every morning at the clang of my alarm clock, I'd first check how my downloads are going. I'd then be truly awake to think of ideas to overcome the blasted throttled speeds of my download, but that's a story for another blog at another time.

I gulp down a small bottle of water to further wake me up. Then, it's a splash of cold water on my face to wake me up completely.

My cleansing, moisturizing and painting my face includes:

Cleanser:
Dermalogica Ultra-Calming Cleanser
Toner:
Dermalogica Multi-Active Toner
Eye Gel:
Olay Total Effects Eye Gel
Serum:
Olay Total Effects Serum
Moisturizer:
Olay Total Effects Moisturizer SPF15
Sunscreen:
Dermalogica Ultra-Sensitive Faceblock SPF25

The list above is generally the SAME on all days. With skincare, I stick to what works for me and refuse to change nor budge. As for makeup, now, that's a totally different story!

Eyes:
Eyeshadows:
Borjuis Multi Shimmer Loose Eye Shadow in Rose 03
Corners smudged with dark brown shadow from Averine
Eyebrows:
Dior Powder Eyebrow Pencil in Blonde
Eyelashes:
Curled with Shu Uemura curlers
Max Factor 2000 Calorie
Concealer:
Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1

Cheeks:
Benefit Dandelion

Lips:
Nars Dolce Vita
Bigelow Mentha Lip Tint in Pink

Fragrance:
Dior Addict 2

Max Factor 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara

2007-03-22T23:20:00.000+08:00

Shryh says: I'm not sure what I love more, beauty products or learning about beauty products. Before I make a purchase, I like to research the chosen item to DEATH, which really just entails reading the beauty sections of various magazines to see what is generating buzz and being adored by editors and makeup artists. I find this especially true of my mascara purchases because mascaras can be tricky to buy - I can blend shadows, foundations, blush on the back of my hand, but I'll be damned before I bring the common mascara tester within a whisker of my mucous membranes. I hear that's how you get mad cow disease.

The Max Factor 2000 Calorie mascara is one such mascara that gets a LOT of press, and I have been meaning to try it since I picked up my first copy of Teen magazine in 1994. But I didn't get to wear makeup until I was in college, and when I did, it was so infrequent that I never ventured beyond Maybelline Great Lash and Lancome Definicils. My opportunity came only recently, years after I'd left Smith, when g33kchic heroically relinquished her LAST TUBE of 2000 Calorie Curved Brush Mascara in Rich Black which, like the Great Lash, IS NOT AVAILABLE IN MALAYSIA, just so I could sample her Holy Grail mascara.

The 2000 Calorie mascara lives up to its name. The first coat alone caused my lashes to gain like, ohmigahd, 10 pounds, even after I'd blotted the brush on a piece of tissue. What it lacked in lengthening it made up for in fatten- I mean, volumizing, and after a couple of coats, there was hardly any need for eyeliner. I like to apply 2 to 3 coats for a sooty, slightly clumpy look when I'm feeling particularly dramatic. Of all the mascaras I've tried in recent years, this is one that smudged less easily, a major plus in my books.

However, I continue my quest for my Holy Grail mascara. The 2000 Calorie fails me on two accounts: one, it uncurls my curled lashes; two, the curved brush is a little unwieldy for someone as clumsy as I. Every time I use this mascara, the brush inevitably collides with my undereye area. I currently favour smaller brushes, but perhaps if I did more soldering in my job like g33kchic instead of writing propaganda, I might be able to manipulate the brush with greater dexterity.

Image source: maxfactor.com

Le Geeque says: It's a simple straightforward one for me. Being a regular on Handbag.com gives me lots of opportunities to have a peek into a wider world of makeup. So much more compared to the miserly range we have here in Malaysia.

2000 Calorie became my HOLY GRAIL of mascara when I found that it not only gave me so much more OOMPH to my lashes. Like Shryh, its one redeeming factor for me would be that it does not smudge. At all. It's completely tear-proof. There have been many unfortunate moments when work and people around let me down driving me to succumb to tears.

But, never this mascara. No matter how bad the world is, this small little tube stays true to its nature. Despite the creamiest undereye concealer I subject it to, it remains steadfast to my lashes and completely transfer-free.

Like Shryh, too, I'm very conscientious about the application of mascara. I blot like a mad woman, apply, blot and brush my lashes through to get rid of excess to minimize smudges. The only time when this smudges, I know it's time to toss the tube out. About its 3 month limit.

Although I'm always on the constant hunt for a better mascara, I'm really thankful that no matter how the rest of the mascaras fail me, I know, deep in my makeup bag, 2000 Calorie is always faithfully awaiting my return.

Lashes are like hair. It's different from one person to another. A mascara which works on Shryh might not work on me and vice versa. Which is why, I get completely different results compared to Shryh. For my lashes, this mascara holds the curl pretty well and it lengthens pretty well as well.

Another major plus point for this mascara is that it comes off rather easily on a makeup remover towelette. A simple dab onto the eye area, the mascara is removed. To ensure the makeup is removed properly, I use an eye makeup remover to completely remove all traces though this is hardly necessary.

Long live 2000 Calorie!

Beauty at work.

2007-03-22T22:59:00.000+08:00

Top row (L-R): Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion, Clarins hand cream, Hermes Eau des Merveilles travel spray, L'Occitane holiday gift set (containing mini hand cream, shea butter and soap, regular-sized lipbalm), Mac lip lustre in Supernova (Secret Santa gift. "This is very you!" I'm a pink, sparkly person all right), Shu Uemura lipgloss in a shimmery brown.
Bottom row (L-R): C.O. Bigelow Mentha lip shine in nude and red, VERY OLD Nars sheer lipstick in Dolce Vita, Chanel Rouge Allure in Temptation.

This is a combination of what is on my desk and what I carry in my shoulder bag. It's all about keeping my ageing skin hydrated in the Arctic environment of my office.

Dior Blackout

2007-03-17T18:25:00.000+08:00

An outing with Shryh is not only educational, it's hugely fun! Filled with coffees, delicious healthy lunches, latest office scandals, latest news on puppies and wedding and most importantly, makeup testing!

At KLCC today, there was a huge space set aside for the launching of the latest black, black, black, black SUPER BLACK Dior mascara. Now, for those who know, my past experiences with Dior mascaras, particularly the hugely-raved upon Diorshow have left me completely wary of their products.

Don't get me wrong. I love their glosses. I love their eyeshadows. I think their perfumes are excellent but I simply cannot say the same about their mascaras. This is another mascara I would thumb my nose at and go,"Water proof, my arse!"

We decided to check out the Dior launching while the crowd hasn't yet turn KLCC a madhouse.

We were immediately greeted by a throng of sales folks all clad in black and waving scent strips of Miss Dior Cherie. I was quite stunned that they are pushing this pretty old scent. Making a beeline to the mascara display, Shryh promptly unscrewed the tube and we both went,

"Fat brush! Interesting!"

First criteria for any mascara to go onto our lashes would be waterproof. The salesgirl insisted that it was smudgeproof and it would absolutely NOT budge unless we rub our eyes.

Shryh was more polite because I rolled my eyes in my head thinking,"I don't buhlerdee rub my eyes because I wear contact lenses." Besides that I could not help but retaliate,

"Oh, trust us, smudgeproof would still smudge on us. We've tried enough of mascaras!"

Nevertheless, I allowed her to comb my lashes through a few times. The results were nothing short of astonishing.

True to its name, the mascara was jet black. However, I really wished she was more conscientious about applying the mascara like we would normally. Blot the wand, apply, blot and another comb through.

It most definitely did give the volumnizing effect. However, I absolutely hated the clumped effects. Maybe the spiky-lash look is in. But I'm not one who follows after trends blindly. I just need one which lengthens, volumnizes and thickens.

Blackout does all of the above. And more.

So, 30 minutes after the application of Blackout, I started to get the tiniest hints of smudges. Another 30 minutes, I was officially a spokesperson for Panda Org.

Not only did I have to remove every single trace of the smudge, my undereye concealer had to be removed as well.

By the time I had gotten home, I peered like a maniac into the mirror and found not only more smudges (which proves one more thing: this damn thing smudges even without undereye concealer, so, Shryh, this is not just our concealer at fault. This is a whole tube of crapola!), I found tiny black FLAKES!

Smudges is one thing. But, FLAKES?! Flakes is a whole new different thing altogether! Flakes is most definitely a no-no.

So, this little tube of crapola not only smudges, it flakes! And, it costs about 5 times more than a tube of Maybelline Great Lash. You do the math, you do the logic and you tell us.

I think what irked Shryh and I more is not so much that this tube is such a piece of crap. It's more of how the salesfolks decided to push this out to us. Her insistence that it's smudgeproof on everyone was indeed laughable.

And, she ought to have taken our word for it when we said we'd tested enough of mascaras to show our skeptism at the word of "smudgeproof". That's simply the reason why Dior of Parkson lost a customer to Dior of Isetan. At least the girl at Isetan was polite, friendly and most definitely honest.

Conclusion: This newly-launched tube costs RM90-ish and is most definitely not worth your money. I'm a huge Dior fan but I'm also a very practical girl. Give this a miss and your life would be a whole lot better. Unless, of course, you've got a position with Panda Org!

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof) : Test 3

2007-03-06T20:21:00.000+08:00

The most crucial and critical of all tests. Did Great Lash shiver and tremble with great trepidation as I picked it up from my dresser this morning? It simply has to pass this test in order for it to replace Max Factor Calorie 2000 as my Holy Grail of mascaras. The look I chose on today would be the look I choose on most days. Simple, under-stated, natural, completely free of foundation.

Test Conditions:
Undereye area concealed with my Holy Grail of concealers. The Laura Mercier Secret Concealer in 1. The area is further set with powder foundation. I'm told powder would prevent smudges. Lashes are crimped lightly once with the Shu Uemura curler.

Application:
This third day of using Great Lash, I am noticing a pattern. The tip of the brush is always overloaded with mascara. That would be where I'd dab onto the piece of tissue today. There was not much "excess" on the bristles itself so I left them alone. I applied about 3 coats of mascara onto each set of lashes. I still love that it coats each lash relatively well and they are still clump-free! Perhaps, it's due to the fact that the bristles are so widely set-apart.

Verdict:
Much to my dismay, by 10am, merely 3 hours of application of Great Lash, I see slight hints of smudges on my undereye. As the day progresses, I maniacally checked my undereyes. Smudges grew more and more. By lunch time, I decided to dab on another thin layer of powder to hide the smudges. These lasted me all the way until it was time to go home. By the time I got home, although the smudges are relatively-few, I'm still rather disappointed. Especially having seen completely smudge-free undereyes for the past few days! Especially having seen completely smudge-free undereyes from Calorie 2000.

It would be totally unfair to blame it on Great Lash. I would have absolutely no choice but to say that my Holy Grail of concealer would be at fault too. Its known for its high-pigmentation, high-emollient factor. However, if Calorie 2000 was able to withstand it, I absolutely could not be blamed for putting such high hopes on Great Lash!

Having said that, I would still recommend this mascara to first-timers out there. It's quite a brilliant basic mascara for lengthening, for coating each lash evenly, yes, even for its smudge-free factor. If you're out for a mascara to carry you through in a normal day, this would be the mascara for you. Good news, no?

Well, here comes the bomb of bad news. It's not available in Malaysia. If you can get someone to get it for you from the US or Australia or maybe even Singapore or Thailand carries it, then you might be able to test this out for yourself.

For now, I'd say it's still a relatively good mascara. Definitely affordable, definitely works if you don't have oily skin and most definitely understandable why it is a Holy Grail with so many around the world. Personally, I would still keep a tube of this as a backup: Realizing my 3-month expiry on my HG mascara is due with no backup tubes, Great Lash would be something I'd whip out to tie me over until I purchase a replacement Calorie 2000.

On a last note, having the same mascara will not produce identical results on every single individual. Other factors to prevent raccoon eyes would be oiliness of lids and undereye areas and condition of lashes since everyone has different type of lashes.

This has been the utmost fun "experiment" I'd done in a long time! I might even carry it a bit further and test it by setting my undereye with Bare Escentuals mineral foundation tomorrow.

Again, watch this space!

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof) : Test 2

2007-03-06T10:07:00.001+08:00

After the great success I had with Great Lash in the previous test, I absolutely had to subject it to more stringent tests. After sharing my success with Shryh, to my dismay (and hers!), she had absolutely no success at all with Great Lash. Like me, she subjected the tube of 'wonder' to many different types of test conditions and in every single condition, the verdict is a flat thumbs-down, big, fat, NO. So, here's what I found out today.

Test Conditions:
A thin layer of liquid foundation for an even complexion. Light dabbing of powder foundation on the undereye to set the foundation. The rest of the face is left as-is to give it a dewy, natural look. Lashes are crimped lightly with Shu Uemura's eyelash curler. I note that this thin layer of liquid foundation and a light dabbing of powder is good enough to hide my dark circles in the event a concealer is unavailable.

Application:
As with previous test, as soon as the brush is unscrewed from the tube, it's dabbed lightly onto a clean piece of tissue to remove excess. Zig-zag manner from base to tip of lashes to coat each lash. I go over each eye at least three times to ensure I achieve the desired length. Damn these Asian stubby lashes! Oh well, at least I can take pride that they are slightly curly. Finally, a lash comb is used to comb through the lashes to further remove excess.

Verdict:
I applied this early in the day. About 730am. By the time I got home and prepared to shower, it was 630pm. It was a good 11 hours of absolutely smudge-free undereyes! I could not believe it as well but hey, the verdict's the verdict! Talk about stringent test conditions! 11 hours of going through a tough day at work, of yawnings and of yawnings until tears form.

Of course, being the vainpot that I am, I checked my eyes throughout the day. Thankfully, my phone has a mirror on its front panel.

So, Great Lash (waterproof) has passed with flying colours 2 out of the 3 tests I have in mind. The biggest hurdle this little tube has to go through would be tomorrow. I'll be subjecting it to going hand-in-hand with my holy grail of undereye concealer. A concealer that's so emollient that it hydrates as well as it covers.

Watch how it goes!

Maybelline Great Lash (Waterproof): Test 1

2007-03-06T10:05:00.000+08:00

This is touted as the Holy Grail of all mascaras for makeup artists around the world. Superstars swear by this humble tube of wonder. It's been around the block far longer than I have in this world. And, when Priceline had a sale on Maybelline products, I simply had to have it. One point that's noteworthy, despite its great raves and reviews from superstars and beauty magazines, it's not sold in Malaysia. Makes you truly wonder how great this is, honestly. Not only that, MakeupAlley reviewers don't seem to be giving this as many thumbs-up as I thought this mascara would get.

Test Conditions:
Undereye area is dabbed lightly with powder foundation to hide undereye circles.
Lashes crimped once with the Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

Application:
Once unscrewed from the tube, I dab the brush on a clean piece of tissue to remove the excess. As usual, I go zig-zag from base to the tip of my lashes. The bristles are rather sparse but I've got no problems with that since I do have relatively sparse lashes. As usual, I brush through my lashes with a lash comb upon completing with the application. Excess mascara has to be removed to ensure as little smudges as possible.

Verdict:
The mascara holds the curl rather well. I do see a bit of lengthening of my lashes. However, if you're after something that will thicken your lashes, you're in for a disappointment. It does coat the lashes relatively evenly with minimal to no clumping at all. This will not give you a dramatic change of looks. But, if you're after a simple, natural everyday look, this will be the mascara for you. There's no va-va-voom factor here at all. Just your regular girl-next-door look.

Most of you know that I have a hate-hate relationship with Maybelline mascaras. Waterproof, my arse would be my tagline most of the time. Surprisingly, this did not smudge at all. And, for that, I am astounded. I'm amazed. I'm left with my mouth gaping wide open in astonishment. I'm dumbfounded.

I've to retract my "waterproof, my arse" sweeping statement for Maybelline mascaras then. I might say,

"Waterproof my arse! (Other than Great Lash)".

Mascara trivia: Maybelline

2007-03-05T21:51:00.000+08:00

Maybelline's Great Lash mascara is probably one of the most, if not THE most iconic product in the cosmetics landscape. Not only is it the most popular mascara in the United States, the company estimates that one tube is sold every 1.6 seconds. The ubiquitous green and pink tube has found its way into the makeup bags and hearts of many women since its debut in 1971 although opinion is divided about its efficacy and status. I'm personally neutral/positive, but by keeping a tube in my bag, I feel as though I own more than just a mascara.

Mascara is Maybelline's flagship product not just because of phenomenal sales figures, but because the company was founded by T.L. William in 1915 to sell the mascara he had concocted for his sister Mabel two years before. A chemist by training, William is credited as the creator of modern mascara, and his lash darkening formula was a blend of coal dust and Vaseline (petroleum jelly). In fact, the company's name is a combination of William's sister's name, Mabel, and Vaseline. How's that for a big brother? The first Maybelline mascara did not come in a tube but was a cake formula packaged in a compact that was meant to be applied with a comb. The advertising slogan "Maybe she's born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline" did not appear until 1991, and in 1996, cosmetics giant L'Oreal acquired the company.

Just for kicks, here's a vintage Maybelline ad from possibly the 60's, judging from the mascara wand, which did not appear until 1958.

For comparison's sake, here's a more recent ad:

Which advertisement appeals to you more? :)

Shu Uemura Mascara Length and Waterproof

2007-03-04T23:03:00.000+08:00

My relationship with mascara has been a rocky one of late. Mascaras that have seen people through weepy breakups or Olympic swim meets are no match for my stubborn lashes, who should know by dint of their stubby sparseness that dammit, they NEED the lengthening, volumizing effects of mascara. All it takes, it seems, is a blink and a tear to transfer mascara from my lashes to my undereye area.

I bought my first tube of the syntactically dubious Shu Uemura Mascara Length and Waterproof after my sister assured me that it had stayed put during a prolonged crying jag. Being a huge SU fan didn't hurt either, and SU, fortunately, did not disappoint. The Mascara Length and Waterproof applicator ends with a brush that isn't much wider than the wand, which makes it easier to control during application for someone like me with small, Chinese eyes. I use the tip of the small brush to get my outer lashes and, when I'm feeling charitable, the eleven hairs that grow on my lower lash line. The mascara coats every lash evenly with little to no clumping or flaking, and lives up to its name by visibly lengthening my lashes. I've also used the Mascara Length and Waterproof to great dramatic effect by applying 3 - 4 coats, attaining as a result sticky, tolerably sooty lashes.

My only grouse is that I'm still left with tiny smudges at the end of the day right where my outer lashes touch my undereye area when I blink or close my eyes. Therefore, I hesitate to award it full points though given my recent mascara run-ins, I'm just grateful for something that doesn't leave me looking like an American football player.

Shu Uemura Mascara Length and Waterproof is available at your nearest Shu Uemura boutique (One Utama, Mid Valley Megamall) or department-store counter (KLCC).

Mascara Mania!

2007-02-27T18:58:00.000+08:00

For the next few posts, Shryh and I would be sharing on the whats and hows of lashes! Between us, we've been through enough of mascaras to be relatively fair judges on what's going to open up your peepers even more without having to pay the price for panda eyes.

We're introducing ...

Mascara Mania Week

We'll be covering everything from the very humble drugstore brands of mascara to the highest of the high end mascaras. You'd be astounded at what we've discovered!

So, watch this space, don't turn that dial and keep those comments coming!

Fairification Process

2006-09-26T21:03:00.000+08:00

As the fascination for whitening goes on, Shryh and I came up with a proper term for this process. Just as the Westerners have a tanning process, we have a fairification process in which the body undergoes treatments for that much-coveted for fairness.

Upon penning this post, I realized I looked healthy because of the tan on my face. However, because of my Asian heritage, my skin has yellow undertones giving it an uneven unkempt look. Then, it struck me why almost Asians are spending millions each year to get fair just as how our counterparts in America and Europe are spending millions to get that healthy tan.

So, I started slathering my arms each morning with whitening milk from the Nivea Body range. Because I simply don't believe in whitening products, I didn't really take note of it. I couple the whitening milk with a SPF50 sunscreen for my arms each morning before I head out.

This whitening milk claims to:

reduce discolouration and blemishes for a more even skin tone
lighten current skin tone for fairer skin
protect the skin and prevent future skin darkening (frankly, without SPF protection, how this is achieved, it is really questionable)

One fine morning, I peered closely into my arms and found that they had indeed gotten fairer upon application of the whitening milk! I was absolutely stupefied by my observation that I had to sit down to calm myself down. Of course being the scientist-wannabe, I replicated the "experiment" a few more times under the identical conditions.

Each time, I found that my skin really had become fairer almost immediately upon application of the milk. Watch the milk sink in and watch how your skin tone changes. However, after an hour or so, the skin tone returns to normal i.e. its original condition.

After a few weeks or so, I noticed that I really had become fairer. Face and arms in general.

I would attribute it to:
1. A more diligent routine in exfoliating my skin (with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant everyday as opposed to whenever I felt like it in the past)
2. The use of a sunscreen on my arms
3. The lack of sun in Penang over the past few weeks.

In conclusion? Whitening products still don't work as they claim to. At least, it's not a permanent solution. It would clarify and even out the skin tone, it would give the impression that it's whitened but in reality, sunscreen is really your best bet in getting fair. Having said that, it's still a pretty good body lotion to have. It's non-greasy and it's easily absorbed into the skin. A good bottle to keep with you at work but don't expect any miracles!

Review on Dior Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss in 631 (A Blush of Wine)

2006-09-25T21:17:00.000+08:00

Nothing fails to cheer me up more than a new tube of lipgloss. Especially since I'd been consistently finishing tubes after tubes of glosses and yet good enough in not replenishing them. So, a new tube of gloss is just perfect. A colour that's good for everyday wear and yet glamourously subtle enough for evenings when heavy eye makeup is applied.

Colour: Don't you just love this name? A Blush of Wine. I would associate wine to be deep red, even maroon, to a certain extent. A Blush of Wine. A whisper of red. That describes the colour of this perfectly. There's a hint of gold to it which warms the colour up perfectly and yet not too warm for my skin tone.

Gloss: This is from the Ultra-Gloss range. Although the name depicts it to be highly glossy, it is not so. The glossiness is subtle enough for everyday wear and yet the hint of gloss is unmistakably there to give the illusion of fuller lips.

Shimmer/Glitter: No glitter whatsoever.

Smell/Taste: Upon unscrewing the wand from the tube, a slight smell of old-school lipstick wafted to my nostrils. Having applied the gloss to my lips, the scent all but disappeared. No taste whatsoever could be detected.

Texture: Smooth and non-sticky at all.

Moisturizing Effect: This gloss comes with SPF 8 protection but I don't see how it can be moisturizing. In fact, after half a day, I see my lips flaking. It's either the colour or the skin off my lips. I had to wipe everything off clean before re-applying.

Long-lasting: This is one of the strongest point of this gloss. It lasted from way when I slicked it on at 730 in the morning till I wiped it off clean after lunch. No re-application is needed in the morning until I noticed the flaking at about 4pm. I re-applied after lunch.

Packaging: A clear square cylindrical tube with the wand encased in the cap in dark blue that's synonymous with the Dior packaging, completed with the gold top. The brand Dior is embossed onto one side of the clear tube.

Price: RM69.00 for 6ml. Not a bad value for a high-end gloss. For something that's long-lasting, it's certainly a good deal!

Others: None.

Overall: This is an excellent product not only because I absolutely adore the colour. It's perfect for daywear where you can slick it on as you go. Because the colour is rather sheer, there's no fear of looking like an idiot when going out of the lipline. I'm more of a run-and-slick gloss-on-the-go kind of girl. My worst fear is that my lip colour is way out of line and I look like a bozo on her way for a circus act. In fact, someone saw it on me today and loved it so much and asked for my help to make the purchase. I was all too happy to collect more points on my Dior card.

My rating for this? A whopping 4.80/5.0! I doubt I'd ever ranked a product this highly before. I love that this is tasteless, almost odourless and for its lasting power. Not to mention it is completely unsticky with a just the right amount of gloss.

This fascination for whiteness

2006-09-03T13:27:00.000+08:00

Ever since this post, I'd been wondering if I'd tanned enough to buy a whole new range of makeup. Unfortunately for me, I hadn't tanned enough to warrant such a purchase, tempting as it might all seem. However, I admit that I have taken to slathering on sunblock on my arms. Not sure it's making any difference and not sure if I really want to be bothered anymore.

So, as I peered into the mirror this morning, I noticed that I actually looked ... lo and behold! Healthy! My dark circles are not so prominent anymore (even without my magical concealer) and with a dash of Dandelion, I looked like I'd spent some time in the sun for games and sports! And, even better news is that my M.A.C. blusher in Pinch O' Peach is perfect on my skintone now!

That's it. No more trying to remove batteries from the sun. No more silly worries about how I look when I'd tanned. I look healthy and that's a far cry from the white princess I'd been.

Having said that, neither am I going to be a sun worshipper. I'd avoid the sun if I can because I detest the heat and the sweat. I'd still slap on sunblock because sunspots are the bane of my life. And so are pre-mature wrinkles. But, hey, if I need to go out into the sun, I need to go out into the sun.

Thankfully, I have a choice if I want to be fair or tanned. Oh, a little tip for those of you who crave and yearn to be fairer than what you actually are. Past experience tells me that coloured hair of light brown will make the skin look fairer than it actually is. The lighter brown/blonder you go, the lighter the skin looks.

Makeup videos

2006-08-03T09:06:00.000+08:00

Touted to be a celebrity makeup artist with clientele from the rich and famous (Kate Moss), Elke Von Freudenberg has a series of videos found here.

Likes:
* I've never known how to apply primer until now.
* I like applying foundation with a brush, gives a picture-perfect-photoshopped effect. But I like her tip in using a piece of tissue paper to pick up any oils left behind by the foundation to make the foundation last longer.
* Brushing powder over blusher on cases when the blush is OD-ed.
* Concealer around the edges of the nose.
* How to apply bronzer with the 2-finger tip.
* Picking up blusher by dabbing the brush onto the cake instead of swirling.
* How to get the correct size of brush for blusher.

Dislikes:
* Her comment on never applying blusher on the cheeks below the nose. She's obviously never made any Asian faces up. Most Asians have low cheek bones and flat noses. Yours truly is a classic example. I have to apply the blush onto the apples of my cheeks (which are below my nose) but I swoop up as I do it. Applying it any higher makes me look like I'm a 5-year-old raiding mom's makeup stash.

So, moral of the story: Take makeup tips with many pinches of salt.

Value for money

2006-07-26T21:58:00.000+08:00

Now, in one of my posts, I'd mentioned how flat my tube of Juicy Tube had become. I was getting increasingly frustrated by the trickle of gloss which comes out no matter how hard I squeeze on the tube. So, out of that frustration, an idea slowly bubbled in my head as I was stuck in traffic one day.

First, dig out any old lip gloss tubs. Alternatively, make a quick stop at your local Guardian or Watsons. Make a beeline for the travel toiletries section. They have some plastic tubs the size of the 20c coins. Those will do perfectly! Together with the tubs, should be a plastic spade meant just for scooping creams or lotions. (Oherwise, cotton buds will do as well)

Next, grab hold of your kitchen scissors.

The sterilization process is simple enough. Wash the tubs and scissors with soap and water. If you're anal like me, dip your tools into some Dettol to sterilize them. Then, pour some hot boiling water over for further sterilization and also to wash the Dettol away.

Dry both the tubs and scissors with clean towels. Now, the fun begins!

Cut your tube into half across. Then, using the scoop, scoop everything you can into the tub. Easy enough? You'll end up with a very satisfying sight.

You wouldn't know how much gloss there is actually still stuck in the tube until you've completely removed everything.

Check it out, there's so much of gloss still left in the tube! And to think I almost wanted to toss it out!

Not forgetting that Juicy Tubes are very sticky by nature, you'd want to pop a retractable lipbrush into your makeup case as well.

There, that's easily 20 bucks worth of gloss in that tub.

Now, what shall I get next to replace this when this completely runs out?

Wet Wipes, of all kinds!

2006-07-25T09:48:00.000+08:00

I'm one of the clumsiest being around. Definitely not to mention the most absent-minded one too. Especially when I'm deep in thoughts on the latest design issue. So, as usual, I had my mug of piping hot coffee in front of me as I entertained emails from the Monday of US of A.

One particular issue was especially pressing, was especially disturbing so I grit my teeth to set my mind to some serious Calculus for the day. I swirled my chair around to reach for my stack of notes, paper and calculator and in my fashionable swing, I swung my arm around as well resulting in a less fashionable deafening *BAM*!.

My aluminium mug still containing 2/3 of my coffee had been completely spilt onto the floor and coffee splashed all over my chair, drawers, including my light grey pants for the day. I was horrified, to say the least but maintained composure enough to turn around to see if anyone had witnessed my humongous boo-boo to start the day.

No one. Whew.

I tugged one of the drawers open and grabbed my tub of wet wipes. First of all? Dab my light grey pants! One after another, I dabbed my pants to soak up any coffee stains. Then, with my pants dampened from the wipes, dry the spots with tissue paper.

From your local Tesco supermarket, this is dirt cheap and is absolutely perfect for such accidents. For those who are observant enough, you'd notice there are 2 kinds of Tesco-own brand available.

1. The brand that's manufactured in UK for the UK market. These products generally would be reject or almost-expiring if they've found their way into your neighbourhood Tesco.
2. The brand that's manufactured in Malaysia for the Malaysian market.

Needless to say (1) is of a superior quality compared to (2). You pay a heftier price as well. From wet wipes to handwash to shampoo and conditioner to even instant soups, these are the 2 ranges.

In the case of wet wipes, a lower quality one does a job just as well, so there's not much of a point in purchasing a more expensive tub. As long as it's damp, soft and cleanses, I reckon it's good enough for me.

So, for all you scatter-brains out there, keep a tub in your room, in your living room, in the car, at work, and just about anywhere! I initially bought a tub to save me the hassle of walking to wash my hands after I pinch someone else's junk food.

Looks like this humble little tub can save me more than just the 3-minute walk!

Pearl Drops Whitening Toothpaste

2006-07-21T15:56:00.000+08:00

Ever since my braces came off when I was fifteen, I have been fairly meticulous about caring for my teeth though I admit to falling off the flossing wagon every so often. This is largely motivated by a desire to avoid my dentist's tools of horror; I didn't lose any teeth when I was fitted for braces, I don't have any fillings, my wisdom teeth lie dormant, and this is how I like it. In fact, I get a little paranoid about my oral health sometimes, cornering my mother at the most inopportune moments to have her examine my teeth for signs of decay. Not too long ago, I woke up in a panic from a dream where my molars had rotted away, leaving nothing but cobwebby nerve endings peppered with black spots that resembled dragonfruit seeds. I carried that nightmare with me for weeks after.

When I started my first job, I realized how essential coffee breaks were to a worker. I was already a moderate coffee drinker, but I now upped my daily dose because I was often cold, bored and sleepy at work. My supervisor H. was a darling newly-minted PhD in her late thirties and a fellow coffee junkie. She had just returned to Taiwan after spending twelve years in London, bringing back with her a British accent and what appeared to be very British teeth that seemed out of place in her Chinese Snow White face. A front tooth was blackened; dead to the world, H. explained, after someone had accidentally hit her in the mouth with a "brolly".

One day, after a trip to the dentist, H. had a question for me. "You know, you have really white teeth for a coffee drinker. How do you do it?"

"I-I- do?" I squeaked. My teeth were healthy, but they were more yellowed ivory than white.

"Yes. You know, my teeth used to be as white as yours. Then I embarked on my PhD studies and began to drink several cups of coffee a day."

I looked at the mouth from which those words were originating. I caught another glimpse of her teeth. Alarm bells went off in my head. That very evening, on my way home from work, I ransacked a Watson's store in search of a whitening toothpaste and obsessively monitored the colour of my teeth for months.

As far as tooth-whiteners are concerned, Malaysian consumers don't have much to choose from although every other tube of toothpaste claims that it has "whitening" properties. I've used whitening toothpastes from Colgate and Darlie, but I seem to have the greatest success with Australia's Pearl Drops Whitening toothpaste.

After using it for about a month, the stains on my teeth were noticeably (but not dramatically) lightened. Some whitening toothpastes don't foam well and have a harsh, abrasive feel to them, but Pearl Drops froths and cleanses like regular toothpaste. Like all whitening products, do not expect a miracle. The fluorescent chops celebrities sport in magazines are veneers or the handiwork of expensive designer dentists in New York and Malibu who use potent bleaching gels and even X-rays to whiten teeth. Pearls Drops retails for around AUD$4.00 in its native Australia, but at RM16.90 in Malaysia, it's still pricier than what we are used to paying for toothpaste here.

Pearl Drops is available in pharmacies and supermarkets in most Malaysian cities. If I can find mine in the Jusco supermarket here in Ipoh, you'll be able to get some wherever you're living.

Holy Grail of Goodies 2 (Moisturizers)

2006-07-19T19:49:00.000+08:00

This little bottle of wonder needs no further introduction. From its humble beginnings known as Oil of Ulan, P&G did a complete overhaul on its range of products and Olay Total Effects is one of the earlier products from this new range.

I've been on this moisturizer for the past 1 1/2 years and each bottle lasts for about 2 months. Each time there's a sale at Watson's or Guardian slashing the price by close to 50%, I stock up. At any one time, I have a stash of 2 or 3 bottles as backup.

Besides a very pleasant scent and with a bonus of SPF15, it keeps my skin well-hydrated and plump. Its 7 claims? I find to be completely true.

Now, here's a product which actually delivers what it promises. And, I quote:

Diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Smoothes skin texture - visibly and to the touch
Evens skin tone for younger-looking, more balanced color.
Improves surface dullness, giving skin a radiant, healthy glow.
Minimizes the appearance of pores.
Visibly reduces the appearance of blotches and age spots.
Soothes dry skin, hydrating with Olay moisture.

Despite the promise of SPF 15, I slather on a separate sunblock of SPF 25. Now, this does not make SPF 40, obviously. (If only it does!) It's non-oily and the texture feels lovely as it's smoothed onto my clean skin; having been prepped beforehand with toner and serum.

I chose a serum from the same range. To be frank, I don't notice a difference with my skin when I went on this serum. It was only when I had completely run out and could not be bothered to buy a replacement bottle, I noticed a duller texture and gaping pores on my skin.

This serum when smoothed onto the skin, makes the skin soft and velvety. To save precious suitcase real-estate when travelling, this doubles as an eyecream too.

Be a bit careful there, though. It is a serum, after all. It is packed with all sorts of powerful stuff for the rest of the face and the area around the eye is the thinnest and most susceptible to spots. So, overuse of this around the eye area can cause oil seeds and those can be a pain to remove!

For something richer for the evenings, I use a night cream from the Regenerist range.

At first glance, the deep lavender cream can be a bit daunting. The scent, unlike its Total Effects counterpart, is a tad overpowering and needs some getting used to.

As usual, I pat the cream in after prepping the skin with toner (sans the serum this time since this is such a rich cream).

The skin feels soft and supple. Lines are minimized as well. (Note that lines cannot be completely diminished. A good moisturizer plumps the skin up, thus minimizing the effects of lines)

Holy Grail of Goodies 1 (Makeup)

2006-07-18T19:50:00.000+08:00

All of us hold something close to our hearts. It could be that hot water bottle that never fails to ease a horrifying cramp. It could be that stuffed animal we hide deep under our covers which never fails to comfort us. It could be that one phrase in the Bible which never fails to lift our spirits. It could also be that one person who's never failed us.

I'd been blessed to have all of the above so I thought I should list some products which I hope never get discontinued. Ever. These products which never fail to transform me, giving the illusion of a better complexion, less lines, no undereye circles, you know the drill.

Foundation
Contrary to popular belief, I don't wear foundation on a daily basis. For one thing, I'm too lazy. Well, actually, that is the only reason. Because of the hazy sessions we get here on this side of our wonderful nation, I just might start slapping some on to protect my skin. Old-fashioned foundations are known to clog pores, create zits, oily and many other skin problems. However, the new line of foundations these days are very blendable, very light, oil-free and non-comedogenic.

I chose L'oreal's True Match for this category. It provides a very sheer and light coverage and is perfect for both day and night wear. To be fair, it evens out skintone more than it covers.

Mascara
Max Factor's Calorie 2000. Non-smudge, non-transfer and lasts a good 8 hour. My only requirement for a mascara is that it lengthens and stays waterproof. A quick clamp on my lashes with my curler ensures the curl lasts for days so I only need my lashes to be lengthened a tad and remain smudge-free.

It's also a cinch to remove with facial wipes!

Undereye Concealer
No prizes for guessing which one of this goes to! I've tried YSL's Touché Eclat and despite its raves, I found it to be truly disappointing. It serves as a highlighter (perfect for the dark-ish area at the sides of the nose) more than a concealer.

Laura Mercier's Secret Concealer wins handsdown in this category. It's creamy, it's highly-pigmented so you only need a small dab and it doesn't dry the eye area. A little dab of this brightens the entire face up and makes me look fresh and well-rested despite having pulled an all-nighter.

Blush
Need you ask anymore? It's got to be Benefit's Dandelion! I can be half-asleep and while putting my makeup on and yet, I won't look like a little girl caught playing dress-up! It's a sheer pink blush which can be layered on and suits most cool skintones. Warmer skintones would find Georgia more flattering.

Two categories which are almost impossible to choose would be on lipglosses (oh, the irony!) and fragrances. Simply because there are just too many glosses in the market and most of them are gorgeous and unique in their own way. So, for a slight twist, with glosses, here's something that's an absolute waste of money and completely a rubbish!

Take note! This is all BAD! This rubbish of a lipgloss has no lasting power whatsoever, is expensive and runs out within months of everyday usage. No doubt its unique clicketty-click pen is fun, pretty and cool, it's just not worth the money. And, not to mention, the last few mls is stuck within the pen and despite my desperate attempts at clicking it further, no colour appears on the brush. Pfftt! I've never bothered returning to the Stila counter. Ever.

On the other hand, with fragrances, it's a very personal thing. On most days, most floral fragrances would soothe me and uplift me. On other days, the very same fragrances would be absolutely revolting. This definitely has something to do with hormones because the levels of hormones produced in a female's body is different at different times of the months. And, needless to say, the hormones influence the very sensitive sense of smell.

So, on those days when all fragrances seem to make me want to hurl, I stick to the very light, very pretty one from Christian Dior.