Why, hello, there~ It's my first post of 2012.

Another year of blogging (irregularly) ahead. Another year to get through. Gosh, I am such a ball of sunshine, aren't I? LOL. Excuse my cynicism. I am just not your "Happy New Year" kind of gal. I know people get pretty excited about new years and make resolutions and stuff. But I feel no different today than I did yesterday, eventhough I essentially leapt through time and the earth has just completed it cycle around the sun. Resolutions made today are just as importnt as resolutions made at any time of the year. Honestly, don't get what's so amazing about a new year. Only that I am so happy that 2011 is over. Horrible year. cannot even think of many fond memories made and tons of crap generally happened so I dunno to what extrent 2012 will suck or NOT-suck. We'll just have to see, shall we? But it has not started well.

I thought I would do a post of the stuff that I actually liked from the previous year. I know I never actually done this before but I've watched afew "Best of 2011" videos and really got me thinking about the stuff I enjoyed that year. Just wanted to list them down. This will be a mix of products I've used and also some random stuff.

Let's jump (in no particular order):

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 movie


OMG. Another reason why 2011 sucked. 'Cos it officially marked the end of my childhood. Not only is my favourite series of ALL TIME officially over with no more movies (or anything) to look forward to, but it perfectly coincided with me turning 21. Which is just a kick in the butt out of the bubble of my youth and into adulthood. Besides that horrifying fact, I enjoyed the movie IMMENSELY. I know people were whining about the movie and nit-picking everything. It's not perfect but it's pretty hard to meet everyone's soaring standard of perfection for such a beloved book. So I think they did a great job. I was on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed the entire movie. I only wished that they made Snape's part alot more comprehensive, but otherwise it's great and a good memory of 2012.

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver


(I have to consciously stop myself from beginning every paragraph with OMG) This is hands down my FAVE book of 2011. And trust me, I read TONS that year. TONS TONS TONS. I have always been a bookworm (just not that vocal about it). BUT THIS BOOK IS ... AMAZING. Gosh, I don't think I can recommend it enough. It's about a world where Love is considered a disease and they have found a cure for it. At a certain age, every one has to undergo a procedure where they will be cured of Love and the story follows a girl who at first was scared of love and then realized the flaws of the world around her. It's so fantastically written. So many phrases struck chords in my heart and I love the quotes that start each chapter. The world that she created seemed so believable and convincing. Most of all, this book made me TEAR UP in PUBLIC (when I made the mistake of reading it on the train). I'm not the most emotional person, I can definitely control it. But this one totally caught me off-guard at how beautiful she worded the events. YOU GUYS NEED TO READ THIS ONE. I'm looking forward to the sequel which will be out this year, if I'm not wrong. YAY~

3. Goodreads

This is a website I found while browsing and looking for some new books to read. It's a site for book lovers where you make an account and you can review books and read other people's recommendations. You can also contact the authors themselves as lots of authors have their own accounts on the site. Basically a social networking site for nerds like me. I made an account on a whim and have been LOVING it so much. It may come as a surprise for those who don't know me or have seen my room (which is FILLED with books, every since I was young). Everyone kept asking me what is up with my reading kick recently. But it's not a recent phenomenon. I have been reading, just that I haven't been blogging about it or buying much 'cos I usually read from ebooks online. It's only after getting into this website that I started reviewing the books I read, which I found SUCH JOY in. I know no one actually reads my reviews, but it's just nice for myself to reflect on the stories that I read more deeply and actually pen down my thoughts on them. So I can just look back on all the stuff I read.

OH, but one of the highlights of this year was when one of my fave authors, Daisy Goodwin, tweeted my review on her book and even contacted me saying that she's glad I enjoyed it. =)

3. Youtube

I never really got into youtube until 2011. And holy shit. I don't even watch TV anymore. I've subscribed to SO MANY channels and I always have something new to watch. I mostly subscribe to beauty channels and booktubers. So I always know about the latest books and new products regarding skincare and makeup. Also, it's a great community where you can comment and chat. I think I might die without youtube. It got through so much crap last year.

4. Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

One of the best finds of 2011 for me. 201 was a horrible year for me, skin-wise. I had to go to the doctor for it several times and now have to deal with acne and sensitivity issues. But this moisturiser is literally HOLY GRAIL status for me. It's so so light and sinks into my skin in seconds while keeping it soft and hydrated. Plus it smells HEAVENLY. It's the only one that I bothered repurchasing. It claims to help fight acne, but I think it was my oral medication that helped clear up my skin. What I do know is that it doesn't break me out (which is GREAT 'cos so many other products do) and I don't get any rashes from it or allergies, which I often get. I really don't think I will change, eventhough I know that the ingredients aren't exactly the best and that it's parent company is L'oreal.

5. Michelle Nail Polishes


I found this shop that suddenly started selling nail polishes in 2011 and am extremely impressed with their line. You can find them at cineleisure and I'm sure almost every girl in Singapore knows about this. They sells dirt cheap polishes with an impressive array of colours that they constantly change up. At only 2 bucks a bottle, I have accumulated quite a collection of their polishes this year (I LOVE nail polishes). They are guilt-free purchases with great value for me considering the amount of product you get. Plus they go on smoothly (much better than face shop polishes) and opaque after two coats, which is GREAT!

6. Seche Vite Fast-dry Topcoat


I cannot go on without mentioning this topcoat. I only started using topcoat in 2011 and am amazed at the difference it made to my nails. Not only does it leave my self-done manicures looking glossy and totally professional, it DRIES INSTANTLY. So it essentially cut down my nail polish application process. Also, my nails go completely UNCHIPPED for WEEKS. So I can literally keep my polish on the entire week before it starts showing signs of wearing (usually at the tips). Perfect for busy weeks where I can't be bothered with doing my nails every other day.

7. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in 'Celeb City'




THE BEST NAIL POLISH OF THE YEAR. Probably EVER. I might wear this for months and months. I always fall in love with many different polish shades but I get tired of them really quickly and usually change it up after a few days. But I've been obsessed with trying to find a foil polish for AGES and was looking into getting OPI's Designer De-better before I laid eyes on this one. And it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. I have been wearing this polish for a month now and I'm still in love with it. Words cannot explain how happy I get when I gaze at my nails when I have this on. They go with anything and they literally look like a layer of crushed diamonds and white gold on my nails. They don't have that grey cast that most silver polishes have and are attention-grabbing while still being chic. The wear is AMAZING, very opaque and shiny after 2 coats and last FOR-EVAH with a topcoat on 'cos it's such a thin formula.

This is ME in nail polish bottle.

8. Lanvin 'Marry Me!' Eau De Parfum
This gave my signature scent of Davidoff Cool Water a run for its money. I've been really into scents in the year 2011 and finally invested in another perfume after using my Davidoff for YEARS. I really fell in love with this scent. I just felt like a needed a PROPER perfume that is girly but still me ('cos I tend to go for manlier scents). THIS SMELLS SOOO GOOD. It smells really floral with a hit of jasmine and dries down to a subtle fruitier smell. It's very young and I always feel so pretty when I spray this on. It's so light and sweet.

Top Notes: The composition is based on luminous tonic mixed of bitter Tunisian orange and sensual essences of Sambac jasmine. This surprising combination is wrapped in sweet zest of peach and sophisticated jasmine tea aromas.

Heart Notes: A sensual heart is painted with jasmine enhanced with magnolia blossom and romantic, non-chalant rose petals.

Base Notes: Union of white flowers and fruit zest melts in juiciness and warmth of powerful hot amber and musky trail.

9. Bourjois Mascaras


I have discovered this in the year 2011 and I dun think I will be using any other brand after discovering this one. Their mascaras are AMAZING. AMAZING. I have really pathetic lashes and I usually use brown Covergirl mascaras 'cos I was more into "natural" looks when I was younger but in 2011, I've been wanting really dramatic black and thick lashes. But it's really hard to achieve that with my sorry lashes. Most formulas make my lashes brittle and flake. Their line of mascaras are as good as high-end ones and are great for contact lens wearers with sensitive eyes. I especially love their Volume Glamour Ultra Care mascara which instantly thickens my lashes. THEY ARE AMAZING. Better than anything I have tried from Maybelline, L'oreal, etc.

10. L'oreal Super Liner Liquid Eyeliner


BEST EYELINER I HAVE EVER USED. Period. It even made me stop using my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel liner (which was my love for years). So I KID YOU NOT. Easy to use, lasts ALL DAY. It one of my fave finds of 2011.

11. Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment


I know I've talked about this 2309480394802394 times. It's just so freakin' good. On to my third tube of it already and I use it every night without fail. Heaven sent for my INCREDIBLY dry lips. (It's like the freakin' desert without this stuff)

12. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


One of the best series I have come upon in 2011. So awesome that it is being made into a movie that will be out this year, if I am not wrong. But GOSH, SO action-packed and just fan-freakin'-tastic. It's about a dystopian world that is divided into different districts and each one has to send a boy and a girl to compete in the Hunger Games each other where they have to kill each other for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol. Sounds like Battle Royale, but it's really so much more than gruesome deaths. I don't really like a lot of series, besides harry potter, but this one is FAB.

Also, I AM SO IN LOVE WITH PEETA.

13. Sarah Dessen's books


ALL HER BOOKS in general. I have read a TON of her books in 2011. And they are all so so so good. They are perfect light reads for when I just wanna pass time but they pack a punch 'cos I always end up so emotionally invested in the characters. There is a perfect blend of romance, teen issues and general life lessons in her stories that really leaves me in thought long after the book ends. I've accumulated quite a collection of her books in just one year so I highly recommend picking it up.

14. Mc Cafe


HAHA! Okay, I cannot not include this 'cos it literally brings me comfort even on my lousiest days. I LOVE my coffee and teas. But as much I love Starbucks coffee and Coffee Bean's teas (LOL, what irony), they are certainly luxury items for me. And I consume so much coffee I would just be broke if I continued to buy from them. So, I have been loving McCafe's coffees and teas instead which are half the price of Starbucks and equal in quality and taste (sometimes better). You get such a generous amount for 4 bucks or less and you have a wide selection. My favourite is the 'Himalayan Tea Latte' which is just cinnamon-y goodness in a cup and their 'Caramel Macchiato'. IT IS SERIOUSLY GOOD. I doubt I will ever be willing to splurge so much on starbucks anymore to be honest.

15. La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water Mist


This just sounds like water in an aerosol bottle and sounds pretty stupid for me to spend 10 bucks on it. But I bought it one day when I needed some immediate relief (this was when my skin was going through a very rough patch) and was surprised at what a difference it made. It INSTANTLY calmed my redness and blotchiness that I get often and soothes my skin so that it's more well-behaved. I've since then tried the Vichy one and the Avene one but THIS IS THE BEST. The others just felt and worked like regular water. This one is really a life saver especially when I'm outside and my skin starts feeling irritated.

16. Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles
I never really bothered with this until 2011 when I went through a scent-frenzy. I was just obsessed with smells. I think 'cos smelling something nice really puts me in a better mood and I've been in a foul mood throughout most of 2011. The scents help me stay happy. I love entering my room and getting a whiff of my favourite room scent. I also cleaned up my room SIGNIFICANTLY in 2011. I got into a bit of a cleaning kick and arranged my stuff and started putting up actual SHELVES for my books. Anyway, I realize that I should make my home nicer since I always come back to it after a long day. So I've been obsessed with home scents. My fave is the scented candle my sis got me when she was in australia - Ginger Spice and Cinnamon. OMG. HEAVENLY.

17. Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution


BEST MAKEUP REMOVER EVER. Nothing beats this stuff. Gets rid of all my makeup so gently and doesn't irritate my skin like all the other ones did. I cannot stress how incredibly sensitive my skin is. I get red from just BLOTTING my face. So this is a BLESSING 'cos it literally feels like water. It's a cleansing water and it's amazing. I'm so glad I found out about this.

18. Gossip Girl TV series

OBVIOUSLY. This is self-explanatory. My obsession with this show continuous as long as this show keeps running. But in 2011 in particular, it was practically my reason for living and the only thing I look forward to in the week. Dunno what I'd do without this.

19. New Girl TV series


I HAVE FOUND MY NEW FRIENDS. And by Friends I mean the Sitcom. I LOVE THIS SHOW and it's absolute genius. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I love all the characters. It just seriously reminds me of Friends. I love it so much! And Schmidt is the best. He just cracks me up all the time.

20. Clinique Airbrush Concealer

I have never really been so into concealers until 2011 'cos of my skin issues. I usually just wear powder and it will already cover all my problems. But with my acne (which I now have scars), I will not leave the house without popping at least some concealer, even on bare face. This one is THE BEST for me 'cos I can't deal with the tougher, more cakey ones. I found out about this through Lisa Eldridge's videos. This one's liquid but gives great coverage if you apply in thin layers. Plus it merges completely into my skin and covers up all my blemishes and spots. And I can use it all over my face, under my eyes to cover dark circles and on my scars and blemishes so that I can cheat everyone into thinking that I have okay-skin. LOL!


Well, there you go. A couple of great finds for me in 2011 which I will continue to use this year as well. I know I should be reminiscing about actual moments in my life but these are much better.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: best of 2011

Empties~!

Okay, it seems really befitting that at the end of 2011, I pumped my final pump of my fave moisturiser 'Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care'. GOSH, that was a mouthful. Thankfully, I bought a back-up of it a few months ago so I do not have to go without it. And this just proves how much I love this stuff.

Honestly, I never really bothered with moisturisers 'cos I thought with my super oily skin I can't afford to slather more stuff on my face. But mid this year, my skin took a turn for the worse and I developed adult acne. In my desperation to get rid of it, I bought the entire Vichy Normaderm line. ALL OF IT. And I did see some great results at first, before finding out some things that did not work well with my skin and some that did. The TWO things from the line that I highly recommend and have REPURCHASED (trust me, this is BIG 'cos I hardly EVER repurchase anything. I always try out new stuff 'cos I get bored of it) are the 'Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care' and the 'Vichy Normaderm Imperfection Prone Skin Lotion' (no alcohol). The former is a light moisturiser and the latter is a toner.

One thing to keep in mind is that the toner is different from the one usually advertised, which is the 3-in-1 Unclogging Purifying Toner. That one has alcohol and salicylic acid to help fight breakouts. I prefer the one with NO ALCOHOL, as it is more gentle on my skin, seeing as I use toner everyday, twice a day. Also, 'cos I have ridiculously sensitive skin, this was a much better option.



The moisturiser is really up there in my Holy Grail status. It's absolutely amazing. This is advertised to be suitable for sensitive skins and it has definitely not broken me out, in fact, I would go so far to say that it helped with my skin significantly. Not so much in the frequency of breakouts, but in the general texture of my skin. The best part about this moisturiser is how incredibly light it is. It feels like NOTHING on my skin but STILL hydrating it. My skin just feels so much more comfortable after I've put it on. OH BEAR IN MIND THOUGH: I have Dry/combination/acne-prone/sensitive skin. So, in general, my skin appreciates the moisture.

It's main active ingredients that it claims to help fight acne (while moisturising) are...

30.14% Lipo-HydroxyAcid (LHA): A patented molecule derived from L’Oréalresearch, LHA acts on the surfaceby gently exfoliating the skin to eliminate imperfections.

0.5% Salicylic acid: A benchmark molecule in dermatology, this powerful exfoliantloosens the cells accumulated in the sebum duct, unclogging the obstructed pores.

0.175% Glycolic acid: Small in size, glycolic acid penetrates deeper into the skin to target the pores, causing exfoliation and stimulating cellular renewal.

Silica: Selected for its ability to absorb sebum.
And a new generation of structuring gelling agents (sodium polyacrylateand derivatives) with 2% increase in glycerin to provide comfort and 24-hour intense hydration to the skin.

This product is definitely not 'natural' and is chock-full of silica. And i can feel this 'cos once I've slathered this on my skin, it sinks into it and is absorbed while leaving it EXTREMELY smooth to touch. THIS is the silica at work. It's not that my skin amazingly became that smooth, but it helps reduce pores and sebum, while creating a better texture of the skin after application. WHICH MEANS, it is perfect under makeup. PERFECT. You don't even need extra primers 'cos this works similar to one. The con would be the pro as well. 'Cos it is packed with silica, it might clog pores for those with extremely acne prone skin. But generally, it leaves your skin feeling really soft and matte. It is very mattifying, a PLUS in my book as many other moisturisers leave me greasy within minutes.

The other ingredients also help with acne. Mostly in the sense that it helps reduce redness and inflammation. This was what I noticed most about this product. It won't GET RID of your acne but it will help it in it's healing process and prevent it with the anti-bacterial properties of salicylic acid and prevent too much dead skin cells from clogging your pores with glycolic acid.

OH!! And THIS STUFF SMELLS DIVINE~!!! Both the toner and the moisturiser have a clean floral scent that I WISH could be turned into a perfume 'cos I would totally wear it. I am so in love with the smell. It is not over-powering for me. But it is definitely more scented than some of the previous skincare I've used, so HEADS UP to those who are sensitive to perfumes. Overall, this is the PERFECT moisturiser for those with oilier skins (but still need the hydration) and for the hot tropical climate where I live in.


The TONER is really really gentle. I can use it in abundance without having my skin feel tight and uncomfortable. It helps remove any excess dirt or cleanser left on my face and preps it for the moisturiser afterwards. Although I know that toners are not essential steps in a skincare regime, and that they are essentially ways for beuaty companies to suck more money out of you, I do believe that this product was beneficial to my skin. It claims to reduce pores, reduce redness and fight acne. I think it does help fight acne but not in its ingredients but in the fact that with this extra step, my skin will be THOROUGHLY clean. That prevents the likelihood of pore-cloggings, reducing the breakouts. Also, this contains some salicylic acid (but not such a significant amount so I dunno if it really helps). I am just thankful for it's fresh scent and gentle formula (no alcohol) thus it doesn't strip my skin of its moisture but instead helps replenish some of it (as it contains water and glycerin).

I think this stuff is GREAT! It truly cleanses and cleans. My pores are not drastically reduced but the texture or skin has generally improved through the usage of both this products.

Do I recommend them? YES DEFINITELY. Vichy is a reputable european brand with reasonable prices. The moisturiser costs SGD$39 for a 50ml bottle (with a handy pump) and the toner costs SGD$32 for a 200ml bottle. Abit of a splurge at first but the moisturise lasts SUPER LONG, about 8 months (with daily usage, mostly once a day. You only need half a pump for the whole face). The toner runs out more quickly, about 3 months? Depending how much I use it.

Will I repurchase? YES. I already have. LOL! BUT I probably won't repurchase the toner again simply 'cos I think it is too pricey for how long it lasts. Plus, it's not exactly irreplaceable. Also, I'm trying to switch to more natural, organic products that are more environmentally friendly. Gradually. So, I'm probably gonna be switching to Witch Hazel Toner. Also, Vichy's owned by L'oreal (so you may find some good dupes there) and they test on animals and are not exactly well-known for using the 'purest/best' ingredients.

STILL, it will be difficult to find a replacement for my Tri-Active Hydrating Care Moisturiser 'cos it is just THAT amazing.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: acne, moisturiser, skincare, toner, vichy normaderm

Hello, everyone!

I know that I have been gone a pretty long time. Well, not massively long but I haven't been blogging as much. And I could say that it's 'cos of Christmas and blah-blah but to be honest, I've just been feeling a tad bit lousy lately. I think this happens every year around this time, when I know that an entire year is over and I have another year to get through. Obviously, I am not the most optimistic of persons. Also, 'cos I'm kinda broke, I haven't been buying tons of new things eventhough there are really loads of cool Christmas gift sets and sales. Especially now since it's boxing day.

BUT I did wanna get some stuff for the new year. So, my main purchase was a bag that I LOVE soo soo much! It's my first ever structured tote bag (like those that you hang on your forearm, at the nooks of your elbows). I usually go for large bags that can carry 20397432809748937 things 'cos I just think it's more practical and I also go for bagpacks in general. I guess, I am not very grown-up, but this is my first 'woman' bag and I loveee it. It's so me. In the sense that it is unique and not completely girly. 'Cos my sense of style is more geared towards the men's section. I tend to wear guys clothing more often than not and have them really loose. At first it was to hide my body, but now I just find them comfy. So I stuck to them. I fell in love with the tribal printing and the fabric/canvas (I love fabric bags and leather). It's my large purchase of the month and my splurge.

Then after that I went out quite a few times with Keetha to just chill and check things out at town. I didn't get much but my stellar buy for this season would have to be my Burt's Bees Simply Shimmer Lipshimmer set. I was debating over this one and the one with the tinted lipbalm. But I decided to get this one 'cos it has more colour anyway. Plus, I already have my tinted lipbalm with the Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose. =) These things are awesome! I am so in love with them. However, I must say that they are not moisturising enough for my pathetically dry lips. I do sometimes have to apply a layer of my Dr Lipp Nipple Cream for Lips balm (which is essentially pure lanolin) before applying this on top. But on days when my lips are not too bad, these balm are sufficient to be used the whole day.


The BEST part about these balms are their colour pay off. I just HATE tinted lip balms that essentially is just your lip colour. Might as well make do with an ultra moisturising clear one. The Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers are definitely pigmented stuff. Especially the darker coloured ones, they can practically be a lip color in itself and worn completely alone. My fave is 'Fig', which is a DEEP maroon colour. OMG, it looks amazing. And the other two that i got are pretty cool. 'Peony' is a slightly pinker, deeper shade of my own lip colour with flecks of gold shimmer. So, it's perfect for a subtle, yet put-together lip look. I also got 'Champagne' which is an iridescent silver and pink shimmer. A great alternative to lipgloss, which can be very messy and gloppy. This just gives your lips a sheen of shimmer, while moisturising it.

This STUFF IS GREAT! But my only complaint is the excessively minty sensation it gives upon applying it to your lips. It tingles... for HOURS. LOL! What I meant was, the sensation lasts a long time, probably about half an hour. So, it's not good when you have ulcers 'cos that will STING LIKE A MOTHER-. But I know that it's quite nice after awhile, when you get used to it. It definitely tingles more than Carmex and Mint Chapstick.

This stuff wears well and does not leave my lips feeling more dry than before I put them on and I really appreciate that seeing as I constantly get sores and cuts of my lips due to the dryness. I am not a huge fan of the Burt's Bees Tinted lip balms but I am of their lip shimmers 'cos of the impressive pigmentation they have.

They are pretty pricey though. They are sold at Sephora for SGD$15 per tube. So I'm extremely grateful that I got the set.

Okay, I was gonna talk more about what I got but this might be a super long post. So I'm just gonna talk about something that I am completely OBSESSED about this past month of December and I can't BELIEVE I never found this before. I'm a lotion-body-butter-girl. I always put it on after a shower or before I go to bed or anytime I feel my skin is starting to turn scaly from dryness. But I always found it a chore last time. Now, I realized that when the stuff smells good, I will be much more motivated to slather it on. Right now, I am so IMPRESSED by Vaseline Total Moisture Body Lotion. SOOOO impressed. It boasts 24-hour nourishment and moisture, and I gotta say that it delivers. But most importantly, it SMELLS DIVINE. D-I-V-I-N-E~!!!


Oh my lordy, I am so obsessed by the smells that I probably would go out and collect all the scents but currently, I am in love with 'Cocoa Glow', which smells like CHOCOLATE. I swear. Well, to be fair, it smells like chocolate when you slather it on and then it dries down to a sweeter, vanilla caramel sort of smell. Which to me, is still awesome. I don't recommend putting this on when you have a headache though. The sweet smell will seriously make it about 60 times worse. But on cold rainy days or just before bed, I LOVE smelling sweet and almost candy-like. The scent lingers for about 2 hours (if you're not sweating and stuff) so it is not a potent as Bodyshop Body Butters. That stuff is potent, man. I can smell myself hours later and still get whiffs of the body butter. But keep in mind that this is a lotion and it is a FRACTION of the costs of bodyshop's body butters.

It retails for SGD$5.90 for a 250ml bottle. That's a substantial amount that has lasted me more than a month. And I usually apply it about twice a day all over my body. My skin has never felt sooooo smooth. This seriously does the job that any body butter would do but without the greasy feeling. It is absorbed into my skin INSTANTLY and keep it soft and silky the whole day. I never feel the tightness that I used to feel especially on my legs. GOSH, I am so impressed with Vaseline lotions right now. I'm probably gonna buy their hand lotion as well. Though I doubt it would smell as good as this one. Their Aloe Fresh lotion and the Oats one smells EQUALLY AMAZING.

I know I am getting overly excited over lotions but they really smell so great and I usually have bad luck with Drugstore lotions *cough*Neutrogena/Jergens*cough*. They just smell really synthetic and tend to sit on top of my skin. Which is why I have been splurging on more expensive ones. NOW I DON'T HAVE TO ANYMORE. And still enjoy my Lotion Time. =D

xoxo,
H.

Labels: burt's bees, lip shimmers, lotion, vaseline total moisture

Some good food facts for food I found on the net!!

For Breakouts

"You need to think of your skin as your intestines turned inside out, so you want to heal your stomach to treat your face," says Esther. "Foods that are rich in zinc, like oysters, are great for preventing breakouts, and foods high in probiotics, such as Greek yogurt, will heal your gut. Dark fruits and vegetables such as raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, and kale are also wonderful at providing antioxidants, which will help your skin to repair itself."


For Dry Skin

"A major way to combat dry skin is by introducing more oil into your diet," says Esther. "Two to three teaspoons of fish oil a day is fantastic, and you should see a change in your skin within two weeks. Absorbing this via liquid form is much better than a supplement.” You can also eat more foods that contain good fats, such as avocados.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: food tips, skincare

I've always felt like foundation is horrible for my skin. That it would break me out and clog my pores. And I've always thought that BB Creams are better for your skin. 'Cos they are essentially tinted moisturizers. Plus they always have all these extra ingredients to help with brightening and whitening and all that. It's also supposed to be hydrating. I'm really upset 'cos BB Creams just look horrible on me. Simply 'cos I am just not WHITE enough, they tend to leave me with a white cast, more so than my mineral sunscreen. And that stuff has TONS of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that leaves 'white' casts. Most of all, that stuff makes me into a greasy oily mess.

I'm quite sad 'cos I had to stick to the "pore-clogging" foundations rather than Good-for-your-skin BB Creams. But I've always found that foundations don't usually break me out (I use the clinique one) and that it doesn't turn me into a greaseball. Turns out, BB Creams are just as bad as foundations. I researched quite a bit on this and I even found this video, which I wanna share with you guys.

Kathy Spears is a certified professional Aesthetician and she gives us the low-down on these hyped-up BB creams.

You'll be surprised how much junk is in there.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: bb creams, busted, skincare

Good day to all~!

I hope everyone's having a good holiday. I know I am rather miserable at the moment. Simply 'cos my skin had a horrible allergic reaction to some stupid cream. I stupidly used something with Benzoyl Peroxide and my skin FREAKED OUT. So I am still in recovery, stuck at home when I really wanna be enjoying all the lovely Christmas lights in town. THIS also means that I won't be able to try much of the new LUSH products that I had on list. Simply because I have to WAIT for this rash thing on my face to go away before I start messing with it, with other skincare products.

Right now to calm my skin down, I am using
- Ducray Keracnyl foaming gel (my HG cleanser)
- The topical cream my doctor gave me
- La Roche-Posay Mist (since I'm not using a moisturizer, this helps hydrate my skin a little, but most importantly, help calm it down. Brings down the redness.)


To make myself feel a teeny bit better, and to also fill my time at home with something slightly more productive than watching youtube videos 24-7. I decided I wanna try my hand at the whole Monthly Favourites thing. Probably a hits and misses, where I will mention a couple of products that I am absolutely loving for the entire month of November and some not-so-much. I will probably do a review on some of the stuff mentioned in future. Or maybe I won't even like it anymore in the future. WHO KNOWS?! I pretty fickle when it comes to these things. LOL

1) L' Oreal Superliner Liquid Eyeliner


THIS stuff is THE BOMB DOT COM. I am absolutely obsessed with it and have been wearing it every day ever since I purchased it in late October. For a long time I have used nothing but gel liners. And I still do love them, they are still the most long-wearing formulation, in my opinion. But I just find it a hassle to use a brush (which I have to wash regularly or else the residue will crust)and it's harder to make thinner lines with the gel. Once I used up my gel liner, I picked this liquid one up. And I dunno what possessed me to do it 'cos I have TWO felt tip liquid liners at home. And I'm usually not a huge fan of it. BUT THIS TURNED ME INTO A BELIEVER.

What I love most about it is the applicator, which is not the annoying felt tip one. It's sort of a sponge-brush? It's quite bizarre, but extremely effective when it comes to application. It glides on my eyes so smoothly without tugging and dispenses the perfect amount of product, such that I don't even have to go over the line again. The formula is VERY OPAQUE and VERY BLACK. I love it. It's much blacker than my Maybelline Unstoppable felt tip liner & my NYX Skinny Marker liner. While it is glossy when first applied, it dries to a muted black. Seriously, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! I'm a huge eyeliner fan. So I really love this one for it's convenient application, great formula and pigmentation. Also, the price is not so bad either. I believe it is $17.90.

2) Topshop Creme Blush in Pinch


I really love the formulation of Topshop creme blushes. They are not super dewy like most so they don't make my super oily skin even oilier. These blushes go on like a cream but set like powder. So once blended, it doesn't budge and last practically all day. The packaging is super adorable as well. I am such a sucker for these things. I have been using this blush ALL MONTH LONG. Don't be scared by the super hot pink colour. You just need a teeny bit and blend like a CRAZY PERSON. But the result is amazing. Well, for me at least. It really gives my cheeks a healthy flush. It's not too light, so it looks like a realistic blush as it ends up matching my lips. Plus it is not a dewy finish, which is something I dun really like on my cheeks. Highly recommend Topshop blushes. (though the colour selections are jank.)

3) Yankee Candle Reed Diffuser in Mistletoe


HO HO HO~~ I have this in my room for two months to get me into the Christmas season. I am just obsessed with smells lately. I want my room to smell amazing everytime I enter it or when I'm reading a book. Reed diffusers are much better than scented candles as they don't require a flame and the reeds wick the fragrance all over the room. So you can just leave it there, looking all gorgeous on your table top and let it do it's job. I LOVE THIS SCENT TO DEATH. It smells like I'm walking through a fresh pine forest with mistletoe bushes everywhere. It's so fresh but still quite heavy. This is my favourite scent in the Christmas collection (though I also like Christmas Cookie). Too bad I'm out of it already. The reed solution is heavily scented but also has lots of alcohol in it to help it travel the room better and be sucked up by the reeds better. Unfortunately for ME, this meant that it evaporates faster too.

Bugger.

4) Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment


I said it once and I'll say it again. BEST LIP TREATMENT EVVVEEERRRR~~!! And I have majorly dry lips. They go super wrinkly and chappy if I go without balm for too long. And no matter how 'moisturizing' a lipstick/gloss is, I can never wear it without balm first, 'cos then the lipcolor will just emphasize all the ugly wrinkles and dead skin. It is a PAIN. And I think I have tried a pretty HUGE amount of lip balms. I go through them, like people go through kleenex 'cos I constantly have to reapply (my lips are just super absorbent). Normal lip balms just don't cut it for me at night 'cos they are simply not moisturizing enough to last my lips the entire night. Often I wake up with lips as dry as the Sahara dessert, not pretty. I bought this quite some time ago 'cos I had a couple of cold sores all over my lips thanks to ANOTHER allergic reaction to a lipbalm (Smith's Rosebud Salve, SADLY) and I needed something desperately to numb the pain and inject some moisture in it. This has lots of antiseptic and active ingredients to help with extreme cases such as those and now... I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IT. I finished TWO tubes of it already (one per month) and I just repurchased one last week.

This lip treatment is for hardcore people like me. LOL! We can't just have vaseline, beeswax and shea butter to help with our pathetically dry lips. We need some major medical shit. I love the way it tingles and numbs my lips a little when I first put it on and it plumps up all the gross wrinkles on my lips and moisturizes it even when I wake up in the morning. I love the slip it has on my lips, especially when I rub it together. Only problem is, I only use this at home as it leaves a white cast on your lips. But doesn't matter to me. I really don't think any Lip Treatment can measure up to this one and it's not ridiculously expensive. Easily available at watsons and guardian for $6.90. This is my SAVIOR.

ONE MISS for me this month would have to be...

Rene Furterer Fioravanti Shine-enhancing Detangling spray



Okay, I REALLY WANTED to love this. After all, this stuff is NOT cheap. I got a travel sized bottle of it to use as a detangler on days when I don't feel like washing my hair. But most importantly, I bought this for the shine-enhancing properties. The Allure Beauty site says:

KEY INGREDIENTS:
A complex of plant extracts, including myrrh, aloe, ginger, and cinnamon (smooths the hair cuticles and boosts shine); acerola cherry vinegar (adds shine); silicone complex (detangles)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The superlightweight spray-on conditioner has a milky white color; it smells clean, citrusy, and sophisticated—like a perfume.

WHAT A JOKE. This stuff smells RANK. Like herbal chinese medicine shop. Now, I won't have any problems with that if it did the stuff that it claims to do. It is a very lightweight conditioner (so much so that it doesn't really condition, not significantly) and DEFINITELY no added shine. I'm not expected a shimmering HALO of lustrous locks here. I have realistic expectations. But my hair is as dull as it was before I sprayed this nasty smelling stuff on it. Quite a disappointment for me. =( But I'm gonna keep trying (also 'cos it is bloody expensive) and find a way to work with it. Such that the smell doesn't over power me. Maybe I can dry it with damp hair... Or before blow-drying.

Shall try, but so far it is an epic MISS this month.

Alrighty, those are just a couple of things I've been literally obsessed about. And I probably will continue to obsess about them for a while 'cos I don't switch up my routine very often.

Do try some of them out, they may surprise you! =)

xoxo,
H.

Labels: favourites, hits, misses

Today I went out to town to check out the new LUSH store. I had a list of things to buy but sadly, the entire shop was practically wiped out as most of their famous products are completely out of stock, thanks to the success of their opening. Cult products like 'Angels on Bare Skin' Cleanser and their fresh face masks are all GONE!! But after inquiring the staff, the items are being shipped as I type this out. So they should be in stock in a few more days. BE PATIENT PEOPLE.

The prices are pretty okay! I expected them to be alot more pricey but that does not mean that they are drugstore prices by any means. Still, I shall wait in ANTICIPATION for my Cupcake Mask and Dark Angel cleanser.

BUT I DO HAVE SOMETHING COOL TO TALK ABOUT.

I found something awesome and I am dying to share it with you guys.

As you know, Singapore is really slow when it comes to launching products that are imported from overseas. Most of the time 'new products' here are practically last season's products over there in the US. But HEY, better late than never. So, when I saw the new display and saw these GORGEOUS lipsticks on the shelf, I literally flipped 'cos I have been so curious about them.


They are Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks.


I first heard of these from the various makeup gurus on youtube and it received mostly rave reviews with many saying that the pigmentation of these lipsticks are amazing, but still without that super drying effect that most pigmented lipsticks have. Also, the finish is not as GLOSSY as the Maybelline WaterShine lipsticks that we have over here. These have more of a satin finish, which I absolutely love as it has the appearance of a really expensive lipstick on your lips.


The line is very cleverly formulated as the colours are generally divided into FOUR categories and are displayed according to their categories. They are REDS, PINKS, BROWNS and MAUVES (This is my FAVE category). Then they are arranged such that they go from the lightest shade to the darkest, which makes picking out a colour for yourself very convenient. I love this idea 'cos most drugstore lipsticks just kinda release a line with random, popular colours. The Maybelline Color Sensational tries to cater to each skin tone and the different wants of the buyers with a GREAT selection of colours.


ALSO, I have so say that I really love the packaging. It reminds me of the Bourjois lipsticks, but the insides are much nicer and very sleek with the whole thing being a metal tube. I like that it's chunky too so I can easily find it when I'm searching for it in my gigantic bag. This is personal preference I know many people who prefer slim and sleek packagings, but I prefer these types.


NOW, moving on to the colours available and the wear of the products. I tried them out and I am very impressed by the feel of this lipstick. It is definitely not drying, like the Revlon Matte lipsticks. They hold in some sort of moisture such that it does not emphasize every single ugly crease on your lips. BUT it does not plump it up or is as moisturizing as the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks. It is somewhere in between. What I love about this lipstick is the colour. It glides on evenly, without any patches and one swipe is all I need for opaque, gorgeous colour on my lips. Once on lips, the lipstick "SETS". I dunno how to say this, it's pretty strange but what I mean is that it doesn't slip around much. It doesn't slide around alot and leave lighter patches when I rub my lips together. This is probably due to the WAXY TEXTURE that it has. It's quite unique and feels very comfortable on my lips. ALSO, the colour shows TRUE to the tube. Meaning that it is so pigmented that my own lip colour does not affect the lipstick colour at all, and what you see in the tube will transfer exactly on your lips.


The colour range is SOOO NICE!! I think it has everything for every skin tone. And for every occasion, from neutral everyday lips to sexy glamorous reds to dark vampy colours. And there is a combination of frost and 'matte' (meaning no shimmer) shades.


Let me share some of my faves~


1) Born With It




This is a gorgeous nude colour with a slight wash of pink. It is not like the usual baby pinks. It just leaves your lips with a tint of pink. Really great on fair skinned girls who just want a neutral or nude lip but without looking dead. This injects a nice hint of subtle colour while still keeping the "nude" effect. I really liked this one.


2) Yummy Plummy


This shade totally jumped at me when I first saw the display. It is a mid-tone mauve shade that is blue-based and has lots of purplish, lavender undertones. It's one of the most unique shades in the collection in my opinion. As you can see from the swatch I found, it does look plummy. But when I put it on my lips, it tints my lips a dark purplish shade that is really lovely. I think it goes with TONS of looks and is a fun alternative to a nude lip. It is more of a cool-toned shade, so it does wash out your face a little, so be sure to put on some blush when you wear this one.


3) Cinnamon Stick


This shade is from the Browns category and it's absolutely lovely! Especially on warmer skin tones. It is a brown-based red, almost like a warm maroon. It doesn't look gothic but instead really warms up your face and looks very sophisticated in my opinion. Also, if you are the type who wears tones on brown eyeshadows or neutral eyes, I think this is a fabulous shade to bring out the warmth of the browns and also, it can be worn without blush 'cos it doesn't wash out your face. Really lovely!


4) Red Revival



AMAZING red shade that seeks to make a total statement. Ohmygoodness! It's definitely not for the faint hearted. This is a very neutral red. Not too orange-y, not too dark, not too anything. It is a true red that reminds me alot of Revlon's Matte 'Really Red' shade (which I absolutely adore). Only thing is that this is not as drying or matte, so it is less severe and more glamorous. I think this is the red that can match MANY skin tones, both warm and cool. Every girl needs a red lipstick and this one is really beautiful.


5) Plum Perfect

*the very last colour from the left

MY FAVOURITE SHADE of the entire line. This shade is a deep deep plum that is not too reddish. It is not too maroon and not too purple. It is a very true plum shade and I think can be flattering on anyone. But I personally loved how it looked on me. It makes a statement without making me look overly Vamp-y or gothic. Hmmm, kind of like a glam rocker/goth? It's definitely not a depressing colour though. I know 'cos this shade doesn't wash me out and I find it very wearable indeed. GOSHH IT IS SOOOO PRETTY~!! I think it's 'cos this shade in particular doesn't make the wearer look 'old' as it does not have brown undertones to it. Love it.


OKAY, so you can find these babies in any Watsons or Guardian. They are selling for S$17.90. I highly recommend them. I personally like them better than the Revlon SuperLustrous and I think the wear (quite long-wearing) and pigmentation is really high quality stuff.

Go check them out. I know you want to. ;)

xoxo,
H.


credits: click on pictures to link you to original blogposts.

Labels: color sensational lip color, lipstick, maybelline, review

Why, hello, there~ It's my first post of 2012.

Another year of blogging (irregularly) ahead. Another year to get through. Gosh, I am such a ball of sunshine, aren't I? LOL. Excuse my cynicism. I am just not your "Happy New Year" kind of gal. I know people get pretty excited about new years and make resolutions and stuff. But I feel no different today than I did yesterday, eventhough I essentially leapt through time and the earth has just completed it cycle around the sun. Resolutions made today are just as importnt as resolutions made at any time of the year. Honestly, don't get what's so amazing about a new year. Only that I am so happy that 2011 is over. Horrible year. cannot even think of many fond memories made and tons of crap generally happened so I dunno to what extrent 2012 will suck or NOT-suck. We'll just have to see, shall we? But it has not started well.

I thought I would do a post of the stuff that I actually liked from the previous year. I know I never actually done this before but I've watched afew "Best of 2011" videos and really got me thinking about the stuff I enjoyed that year. Just wanted to list them down. This will be a mix of products I've used and also some random stuff.

Let's jump (in no particular order):

1. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows 2 movie


OMG. Another reason why 2011 sucked. 'Cos it officially marked the end of my childhood. Not only is my favourite series of ALL TIME officially over with no more movies (or anything) to look forward to, but it perfectly coincided with me turning 21. Which is just a kick in the butt out of the bubble of my youth and into adulthood. Besides that horrifying fact, I enjoyed the movie IMMENSELY. I know people were whining about the movie and nit-picking everything. It's not perfect but it's pretty hard to meet everyone's soaring standard of perfection for such a beloved book. So I think they did a great job. I was on the edge of my seat and I really enjoyed the entire movie. I only wished that they made Snape's part alot more comprehensive, but otherwise it's great and a good memory of 2012.

2. Delirium by Lauren Oliver


(I have to consciously stop myself from beginning every paragraph with OMG) This is hands down my FAVE book of 2011. And trust me, I read TONS that year. TONS TONS TONS. I have always been a bookworm (just not that vocal about it). BUT THIS BOOK IS ... AMAZING. Gosh, I don't think I can recommend it enough. It's about a world where Love is considered a disease and they have found a cure for it. At a certain age, every one has to undergo a procedure where they will be cured of Love and the story follows a girl who at first was scared of love and then realized the flaws of the world around her. It's so fantastically written. So many phrases struck chords in my heart and I love the quotes that start each chapter. The world that she created seemed so believable and convincing. Most of all, this book made me TEAR UP in PUBLIC (when I made the mistake of reading it on the train). I'm not the most emotional person, I can definitely control it. But this one totally caught me off-guard at how beautiful she worded the events. YOU GUYS NEED TO READ THIS ONE. I'm looking forward to the sequel which will be out this year, if I'm not wrong. YAY~

3. Goodreads

This is a website I found while browsing and looking for some new books to read. It's a site for book lovers where you make an account and you can review books and read other people's recommendations. You can also contact the authors themselves as lots of authors have their own accounts on the site. Basically a social networking site for nerds like me. I made an account on a whim and have been LOVING it so much. It may come as a surprise for those who don't know me or have seen my room (which is FILLED with books, every since I was young). Everyone kept asking me what is up with my reading kick recently. But it's not a recent phenomenon. I have been reading, just that I haven't been blogging about it or buying much 'cos I usually read from ebooks online. It's only after getting into this website that I started reviewing the books I read, which I found SUCH JOY in. I know no one actually reads my reviews, but it's just nice for myself to reflect on the stories that I read more deeply and actually pen down my thoughts on them. So I can just look back on all the stuff I read.

OH, but one of the highlights of this year was when one of my fave authors, Daisy Goodwin, tweeted my review on her book and even contacted me saying that she's glad I enjoyed it. =)

3. Youtube

I never really got into youtube until 2011. And holy shit. I don't even watch TV anymore. I've subscribed to SO MANY channels and I always have something new to watch. I mostly subscribe to beauty channels and booktubers. So I always know about the latest books and new products regarding skincare and makeup. Also, it's a great community where you can comment and chat. I think I might die without youtube. It got through so much crap last year.

4. Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care

One of the best finds of 2011 for me. 201 was a horrible year for me, skin-wise. I had to go to the doctor for it several times and now have to deal with acne and sensitivity issues. But this moisturiser is literally HOLY GRAIL status for me. It's so so light and sinks into my skin in seconds while keeping it soft and hydrated. Plus it smells HEAVENLY. It's the only one that I bothered repurchasing. It claims to help fight acne, but I think it was my oral medication that helped clear up my skin. What I do know is that it doesn't break me out (which is GREAT 'cos so many other products do) and I don't get any rashes from it or allergies, which I often get. I really don't think I will change, eventhough I know that the ingredients aren't exactly the best and that it's parent company is L'oreal.

5. Michelle Nail Polishes


I found this shop that suddenly started selling nail polishes in 2011 and am extremely impressed with their line. You can find them at cineleisure and I'm sure almost every girl in Singapore knows about this. They sells dirt cheap polishes with an impressive array of colours that they constantly change up. At only 2 bucks a bottle, I have accumulated quite a collection of their polishes this year (I LOVE nail polishes). They are guilt-free purchases with great value for me considering the amount of product you get. Plus they go on smoothly (much better than face shop polishes) and opaque after two coats, which is GREAT!

6. Seche Vite Fast-dry Topcoat


I cannot go on without mentioning this topcoat. I only started using topcoat in 2011 and am amazed at the difference it made to my nails. Not only does it leave my self-done manicures looking glossy and totally professional, it DRIES INSTANTLY. So it essentially cut down my nail polish application process. Also, my nails go completely UNCHIPPED for WEEKS. So I can literally keep my polish on the entire week before it starts showing signs of wearing (usually at the tips). Perfect for busy weeks where I can't be bothered with doing my nails every other day.

7. Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear Nail Polish in 'Celeb City'




THE BEST NAIL POLISH OF THE YEAR. Probably EVER. I might wear this for months and months. I always fall in love with many different polish shades but I get tired of them really quickly and usually change it up after a few days. But I've been obsessed with trying to find a foil polish for AGES and was looking into getting OPI's Designer De-better before I laid eyes on this one. And it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT. I have been wearing this polish for a month now and I'm still in love with it. Words cannot explain how happy I get when I gaze at my nails when I have this on. They go with anything and they literally look like a layer of crushed diamonds and white gold on my nails. They don't have that grey cast that most silver polishes have and are attention-grabbing while still being chic. The wear is AMAZING, very opaque and shiny after 2 coats and last FOR-EVAH with a topcoat on 'cos it's such a thin formula.

This is ME in nail polish bottle.

8. Lanvin 'Marry Me!' Eau De Parfum
This gave my signature scent of Davidoff Cool Water a run for its money. I've been really into scents in the year 2011 and finally invested in another perfume after using my Davidoff for YEARS. I really fell in love with this scent. I just felt like a needed a PROPER perfume that is girly but still me ('cos I tend to go for manlier scents). THIS SMELLS SOOO GOOD. It smells really floral with a hit of jasmine and dries down to a subtle fruitier smell. It's very young and I always feel so pretty when I spray this on. It's so light and sweet.

Top Notes: The composition is based on luminous tonic mixed of bitter Tunisian orange and sensual essences of Sambac jasmine. This surprising combination is wrapped in sweet zest of peach and sophisticated jasmine tea aromas.

Heart Notes: A sensual heart is painted with jasmine enhanced with magnolia blossom and romantic, non-chalant rose petals.

Base Notes: Union of white flowers and fruit zest melts in juiciness and warmth of powerful hot amber and musky trail.

9. Bourjois Mascaras


I have discovered this in the year 2011 and I dun think I will be using any other brand after discovering this one. Their mascaras are AMAZING. AMAZING. I have really pathetic lashes and I usually use brown Covergirl mascaras 'cos I was more into "natural" looks when I was younger but in 2011, I've been wanting really dramatic black and thick lashes. But it's really hard to achieve that with my sorry lashes. Most formulas make my lashes brittle and flake. Their line of mascaras are as good as high-end ones and are great for contact lens wearers with sensitive eyes. I especially love their Volume Glamour Ultra Care mascara which instantly thickens my lashes. THEY ARE AMAZING. Better than anything I have tried from Maybelline, L'oreal, etc.

10. L'oreal Super Liner Liquid Eyeliner


BEST EYELINER I HAVE EVER USED. Period. It even made me stop using my Maybelline Eye Studio Gel liner (which was my love for years). So I KID YOU NOT. Easy to use, lasts ALL DAY. It one of my fave finds of 2011.

11. Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment


I know I've talked about this 2309480394802394 times. It's just so freakin' good. On to my third tube of it already and I use it every night without fail. Heaven sent for my INCREDIBLY dry lips. (It's like the freakin' desert without this stuff)

12. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins


One of the best series I have come upon in 2011. So awesome that it is being made into a movie that will be out this year, if I am not wrong. But GOSH, SO action-packed and just fan-freakin'-tastic. It's about a dystopian world that is divided into different districts and each one has to send a boy and a girl to compete in the Hunger Games each other where they have to kill each other for the viewing pleasure of the Capitol. Sounds like Battle Royale, but it's really so much more than gruesome deaths. I don't really like a lot of series, besides harry potter, but this one is FAB.

Also, I AM SO IN LOVE WITH PEETA.

13. Sarah Dessen's books


ALL HER BOOKS in general. I have read a TON of her books in 2011. And they are all so so so good. They are perfect light reads for when I just wanna pass time but they pack a punch 'cos I always end up so emotionally invested in the characters. There is a perfect blend of romance, teen issues and general life lessons in her stories that really leaves me in thought long after the book ends. I've accumulated quite a collection of her books in just one year so I highly recommend picking it up.

14. Mc Cafe


HAHA! Okay, I cannot not include this 'cos it literally brings me comfort even on my lousiest days. I LOVE my coffee and teas. But as much I love Starbucks coffee and Coffee Bean's teas (LOL, what irony), they are certainly luxury items for me. And I consume so much coffee I would just be broke if I continued to buy from them. So, I have been loving McCafe's coffees and teas instead which are half the price of Starbucks and equal in quality and taste (sometimes better). You get such a generous amount for 4 bucks or less and you have a wide selection. My favourite is the 'Himalayan Tea Latte' which is just cinnamon-y goodness in a cup and their 'Caramel Macchiato'. IT IS SERIOUSLY GOOD. I doubt I will ever be willing to splurge so much on starbucks anymore to be honest.

15. La Roche Posay Thermal Spring Water Mist


This just sounds like water in an aerosol bottle and sounds pretty stupid for me to spend 10 bucks on it. But I bought it one day when I needed some immediate relief (this was when my skin was going through a very rough patch) and was surprised at what a difference it made. It INSTANTLY calmed my redness and blotchiness that I get often and soothes my skin so that it's more well-behaved. I've since then tried the Vichy one and the Avene one but THIS IS THE BEST. The others just felt and worked like regular water. This one is really a life saver especially when I'm outside and my skin starts feeling irritated.

16. Reed Diffusers and Scented Candles
I never really bothered with this until 2011 when I went through a scent-frenzy. I was just obsessed with smells. I think 'cos smelling something nice really puts me in a better mood and I've been in a foul mood throughout most of 2011. The scents help me stay happy. I love entering my room and getting a whiff of my favourite room scent. I also cleaned up my room SIGNIFICANTLY in 2011. I got into a bit of a cleaning kick and arranged my stuff and started putting up actual SHELVES for my books. Anyway, I realize that I should make my home nicer since I always come back to it after a long day. So I've been obsessed with home scents. My fave is the scented candle my sis got me when she was in australia - Ginger Spice and Cinnamon. OMG. HEAVENLY.

17. Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Solution


BEST MAKEUP REMOVER EVER. Nothing beats this stuff. Gets rid of all my makeup so gently and doesn't irritate my skin like all the other ones did. I cannot stress how incredibly sensitive my skin is. I get red from just BLOTTING my face. So this is a BLESSING 'cos it literally feels like water. It's a cleansing water and it's amazing. I'm so glad I found out about this.

18. Gossip Girl TV series

OBVIOUSLY. This is self-explanatory. My obsession with this show continuous as long as this show keeps running. But in 2011 in particular, it was practically my reason for living and the only thing I look forward to in the week. Dunno what I'd do without this.

19. New Girl TV series


I HAVE FOUND MY NEW FRIENDS. And by Friends I mean the Sitcom. I LOVE THIS SHOW and it's absolute genius. I have never laughed so hard in my life. I love all the characters. It just seriously reminds me of Friends. I love it so much! And Schmidt is the best. He just cracks me up all the time.

20. Clinique Airbrush Concealer

I have never really been so into concealers until 2011 'cos of my skin issues. I usually just wear powder and it will already cover all my problems. But with my acne (which I now have scars), I will not leave the house without popping at least some concealer, even on bare face. This one is THE BEST for me 'cos I can't deal with the tougher, more cakey ones. I found out about this through Lisa Eldridge's videos. This one's liquid but gives great coverage if you apply in thin layers. Plus it merges completely into my skin and covers up all my blemishes and spots. And I can use it all over my face, under my eyes to cover dark circles and on my scars and blemishes so that I can cheat everyone into thinking that I have okay-skin. LOL!


Well, there you go. A couple of great finds for me in 2011 which I will continue to use this year as well. I know I should be reminiscing about actual moments in my life but these are much better.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: best of 2011

Empties~!

Okay, it seems really befitting that at the end of 2011, I pumped my final pump of my fave moisturiser 'Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care'. GOSH, that was a mouthful. Thankfully, I bought a back-up of it a few months ago so I do not have to go without it. And this just proves how much I love this stuff.

Honestly, I never really bothered with moisturisers 'cos I thought with my super oily skin I can't afford to slather more stuff on my face. But mid this year, my skin took a turn for the worse and I developed adult acne. In my desperation to get rid of it, I bought the entire Vichy Normaderm line. ALL OF IT. And I did see some great results at first, before finding out some things that did not work well with my skin and some that did. The TWO things from the line that I highly recommend and have REPURCHASED (trust me, this is BIG 'cos I hardly EVER repurchase anything. I always try out new stuff 'cos I get bored of it) are the 'Vichy Normaderm Tri-Activ Anti-Imperfection Hydrating Care' and the 'Vichy Normaderm Imperfection Prone Skin Lotion' (no alcohol). The former is a light moisturiser and the latter is a toner.

One thing to keep in mind is that the toner is different from the one usually advertised, which is the 3-in-1 Unclogging Purifying Toner. That one has alcohol and salicylic acid to help fight breakouts. I prefer the one with NO ALCOHOL, as it is more gentle on my skin, seeing as I use toner everyday, twice a day. Also, 'cos I have ridiculously sensitive skin, this was a much better option.



The moisturiser is really up there in my Holy Grail status. It's absolutely amazing. This is advertised to be suitable for sensitive skins and it has definitely not broken me out, in fact, I would go so far to say that it helped with my skin significantly. Not so much in the frequency of breakouts, but in the general texture of my skin. The best part about this moisturiser is how incredibly light it is. It feels like NOTHING on my skin but STILL hydrating it. My skin just feels so much more comfortable after I've put it on. OH BEAR IN MIND THOUGH: I have Dry/combination/acne-prone/sensitive skin. So, in general, my skin appreciates the moisture.

It's main active ingredients that it claims to help fight acne (while moisturising) are...

30.14% Lipo-HydroxyAcid (LHA): A patented molecule derived from L’Oréalresearch, LHA acts on the surfaceby gently exfoliating the skin to eliminate imperfections.

0.5% Salicylic acid: A benchmark molecule in dermatology, this powerful exfoliantloosens the cells accumulated in the sebum duct, unclogging the obstructed pores.

0.175% Glycolic acid: Small in size, glycolic acid penetrates deeper into the skin to target the pores, causing exfoliation and stimulating cellular renewal.

Silica: Selected for its ability to absorb sebum.
And a new generation of structuring gelling agents (sodium polyacrylateand derivatives) with 2% increase in glycerin to provide comfort and 24-hour intense hydration to the skin.

This product is definitely not 'natural' and is chock-full of silica. And i can feel this 'cos once I've slathered this on my skin, it sinks into it and is absorbed while leaving it EXTREMELY smooth to touch. THIS is the silica at work. It's not that my skin amazingly became that smooth, but it helps reduce pores and sebum, while creating a better texture of the skin after application. WHICH MEANS, it is perfect under makeup. PERFECT. You don't even need extra primers 'cos this works similar to one. The con would be the pro as well. 'Cos it is packed with silica, it might clog pores for those with extremely acne prone skin. But generally, it leaves your skin feeling really soft and matte. It is very mattifying, a PLUS in my book as many other moisturisers leave me greasy within minutes.

The other ingredients also help with acne. Mostly in the sense that it helps reduce redness and inflammation. This was what I noticed most about this product. It won't GET RID of your acne but it will help it in it's healing process and prevent it with the anti-bacterial properties of salicylic acid and prevent too much dead skin cells from clogging your pores with glycolic acid.

OH!! And THIS STUFF SMELLS DIVINE~!!! Both the toner and the moisturiser have a clean floral scent that I WISH could be turned into a perfume 'cos I would totally wear it. I am so in love with the smell. It is not over-powering for me. But it is definitely more scented than some of the previous skincare I've used, so HEADS UP to those who are sensitive to perfumes. Overall, this is the PERFECT moisturiser for those with oilier skins (but still need the hydration) and for the hot tropical climate where I live in.


The TONER is really really gentle. I can use it in abundance without having my skin feel tight and uncomfortable. It helps remove any excess dirt or cleanser left on my face and preps it for the moisturiser afterwards. Although I know that toners are not essential steps in a skincare regime, and that they are essentially ways for beuaty companies to suck more money out of you, I do believe that this product was beneficial to my skin. It claims to reduce pores, reduce redness and fight acne. I think it does help fight acne but not in its ingredients but in the fact that with this extra step, my skin will be THOROUGHLY clean. That prevents the likelihood of pore-cloggings, reducing the breakouts. Also, this contains some salicylic acid (but not such a significant amount so I dunno if it really helps). I am just thankful for it's fresh scent and gentle formula (no alcohol) thus it doesn't strip my skin of its moisture but instead helps replenish some of it (as it contains water and glycerin).

I think this stuff is GREAT! It truly cleanses and cleans. My pores are not drastically reduced but the texture or skin has generally improved through the usage of both this products.

Do I recommend them? YES DEFINITELY. Vichy is a reputable european brand with reasonable prices. The moisturiser costs SGD$39 for a 50ml bottle (with a handy pump) and the toner costs SGD$32 for a 200ml bottle. Abit of a splurge at first but the moisturise lasts SUPER LONG, about 8 months (with daily usage, mostly once a day. You only need half a pump for the whole face). The toner runs out more quickly, about 3 months? Depending how much I use it.

Will I repurchase? YES. I already have. LOL! BUT I probably won't repurchase the toner again simply 'cos I think it is too pricey for how long it lasts. Plus, it's not exactly irreplaceable. Also, I'm trying to switch to more natural, organic products that are more environmentally friendly. Gradually. So, I'm probably gonna be switching to Witch Hazel Toner. Also, Vichy's owned by L'oreal (so you may find some good dupes there) and they test on animals and are not exactly well-known for using the 'purest/best' ingredients.

STILL, it will be difficult to find a replacement for my Tri-Active Hydrating Care Moisturiser 'cos it is just THAT amazing.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: acne, moisturiser, skincare, toner, vichy normaderm

Hello, everyone!

I know that I have been gone a pretty long time. Well, not massively long but I haven't been blogging as much. And I could say that it's 'cos of Christmas and blah-blah but to be honest, I've just been feeling a tad bit lousy lately. I think this happens every year around this time, when I know that an entire year is over and I have another year to get through. Obviously, I am not the most optimistic of persons. Also, 'cos I'm kinda broke, I haven't been buying tons of new things eventhough there are really loads of cool Christmas gift sets and sales. Especially now since it's boxing day.

BUT I did wanna get some stuff for the new year. So, my main purchase was a bag that I LOVE soo soo much! It's my first ever structured tote bag (like those that you hang on your forearm, at the nooks of your elbows). I usually go for large bags that can carry 20397432809748937 things 'cos I just think it's more practical and I also go for bagpacks in general. I guess, I am not very grown-up, but this is my first 'woman' bag and I loveee it. It's so me. In the sense that it is unique and not completely girly. 'Cos my sense of style is more geared towards the men's section. I tend to wear guys clothing more often than not and have them really loose. At first it was to hide my body, but now I just find them comfy. So I stuck to them. I fell in love with the tribal printing and the fabric/canvas (I love fabric bags and leather). It's my large purchase of the month and my splurge.

Then after that I went out quite a few times with Keetha to just chill and check things out at town. I didn't get much but my stellar buy for this season would have to be my Burt's Bees Simply Shimmer Lipshimmer set. I was debating over this one and the one with the tinted lipbalm. But I decided to get this one 'cos it has more colour anyway. Plus, I already have my tinted lipbalm with the Korres Lip Butter in Wild Rose. =) These things are awesome! I am so in love with them. However, I must say that they are not moisturising enough for my pathetically dry lips. I do sometimes have to apply a layer of my Dr Lipp Nipple Cream for Lips balm (which is essentially pure lanolin) before applying this on top. But on days when my lips are not too bad, these balm are sufficient to be used the whole day.


The BEST part about these balms are their colour pay off. I just HATE tinted lip balms that essentially is just your lip colour. Might as well make do with an ultra moisturising clear one. The Burt's Bees Lip Shimmers are definitely pigmented stuff. Especially the darker coloured ones, they can practically be a lip color in itself and worn completely alone. My fave is 'Fig', which is a DEEP maroon colour. OMG, it looks amazing. And the other two that i got are pretty cool. 'Peony' is a slightly pinker, deeper shade of my own lip colour with flecks of gold shimmer. So, it's perfect for a subtle, yet put-together lip look. I also got 'Champagne' which is an iridescent silver and pink shimmer. A great alternative to lipgloss, which can be very messy and gloppy. This just gives your lips a sheen of shimmer, while moisturising it.

This STUFF IS GREAT! But my only complaint is the excessively minty sensation it gives upon applying it to your lips. It tingles... for HOURS. LOL! What I meant was, the sensation lasts a long time, probably about half an hour. So, it's not good when you have ulcers 'cos that will STING LIKE A MOTHER-. But I know that it's quite nice after awhile, when you get used to it. It definitely tingles more than Carmex and Mint Chapstick.

This stuff wears well and does not leave my lips feeling more dry than before I put them on and I really appreciate that seeing as I constantly get sores and cuts of my lips due to the dryness. I am not a huge fan of the Burt's Bees Tinted lip balms but I am of their lip shimmers 'cos of the impressive pigmentation they have.

They are pretty pricey though. They are sold at Sephora for SGD$15 per tube. So I'm extremely grateful that I got the set.

Okay, I was gonna talk more about what I got but this might be a super long post. So I'm just gonna talk about something that I am completely OBSESSED about this past month of December and I can't BELIEVE I never found this before. I'm a lotion-body-butter-girl. I always put it on after a shower or before I go to bed or anytime I feel my skin is starting to turn scaly from dryness. But I always found it a chore last time. Now, I realized that when the stuff smells good, I will be much more motivated to slather it on. Right now, I am so IMPRESSED by Vaseline Total Moisture Body Lotion. SOOOO impressed. It boasts 24-hour nourishment and moisture, and I gotta say that it delivers. But most importantly, it SMELLS DIVINE. D-I-V-I-N-E~!!!


Oh my lordy, I am so obsessed by the smells that I probably would go out and collect all the scents but currently, I am in love with 'Cocoa Glow', which smells like CHOCOLATE. I swear. Well, to be fair, it smells like chocolate when you slather it on and then it dries down to a sweeter, vanilla caramel sort of smell. Which to me, is still awesome. I don't recommend putting this on when you have a headache though. The sweet smell will seriously make it about 60 times worse. But on cold rainy days or just before bed, I LOVE smelling sweet and almost candy-like. The scent lingers for about 2 hours (if you're not sweating and stuff) so it is not a potent as Bodyshop Body Butters. That stuff is potent, man. I can smell myself hours later and still get whiffs of the body butter. But keep in mind that this is a lotion and it is a FRACTION of the costs of bodyshop's body butters.

It retails for SGD$5.90 for a 250ml bottle. That's a substantial amount that has lasted me more than a month. And I usually apply it about twice a day all over my body. My skin has never felt sooooo smooth. This seriously does the job that any body butter would do but without the greasy feeling. It is absorbed into my skin INSTANTLY and keep it soft and silky the whole day. I never feel the tightness that I used to feel especially on my legs. GOSH, I am so impressed with Vaseline lotions right now. I'm probably gonna buy their hand lotion as well. Though I doubt it would smell as good as this one. Their Aloe Fresh lotion and the Oats one smells EQUALLY AMAZING.

I know I am getting overly excited over lotions but they really smell so great and I usually have bad luck with Drugstore lotions *cough*Neutrogena/Jergens*cough*. They just smell really synthetic and tend to sit on top of my skin. Which is why I have been splurging on more expensive ones. NOW I DON'T HAVE TO ANYMORE. And still enjoy my Lotion Time. =D

xoxo,
H.

Labels: burt's bees, lip shimmers, lotion, vaseline total moisture

Some good food facts for food I found on the net!!

For Breakouts

"You need to think of your skin as your intestines turned inside out, so you want to heal your stomach to treat your face," says Esther. "Foods that are rich in zinc, like oysters, are great for preventing breakouts, and foods high in probiotics, such as Greek yogurt, will heal your gut. Dark fruits and vegetables such as raspberries, blueberries, broccoli, and kale are also wonderful at providing antioxidants, which will help your skin to repair itself."


For Dry Skin

"A major way to combat dry skin is by introducing more oil into your diet," says Esther. "Two to three teaspoons of fish oil a day is fantastic, and you should see a change in your skin within two weeks. Absorbing this via liquid form is much better than a supplement.” You can also eat more foods that contain good fats, such as avocados.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: food tips, skincare

I've always felt like foundation is horrible for my skin. That it would break me out and clog my pores. And I've always thought that BB Creams are better for your skin. 'Cos they are essentially tinted moisturizers. Plus they always have all these extra ingredients to help with brightening and whitening and all that. It's also supposed to be hydrating. I'm really upset 'cos BB Creams just look horrible on me. Simply 'cos I am just not WHITE enough, they tend to leave me with a white cast, more so than my mineral sunscreen. And that stuff has TONS of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that leaves 'white' casts. Most of all, that stuff makes me into a greasy oily mess.

I'm quite sad 'cos I had to stick to the "pore-clogging" foundations rather than Good-for-your-skin BB Creams. But I've always found that foundations don't usually break me out (I use the clinique one) and that it doesn't turn me into a greaseball. Turns out, BB Creams are just as bad as foundations. I researched quite a bit on this and I even found this video, which I wanna share with you guys.

Kathy Spears is a certified professional Aesthetician and she gives us the low-down on these hyped-up BB creams.

You'll be surprised how much junk is in there.

xoxo,
H.

Labels: bb creams, busted, skincare

Good day to all~!

I hope everyone's having a good holiday. I know I am rather miserable at the moment. Simply 'cos my skin had a horrible allergic reaction to some stupid cream. I stupidly used something with Benzoyl Peroxide and my skin FREAKED OUT. So I am still in recovery, stuck at home when I really wanna be enjoying all the lovely Christmas lights in town. THIS also means that I won't be able to try much of the new LUSH products that I had on list. Simply because I have to WAIT for this rash thing on my face to go away before I start messing with it, with other skincare products.

Right now to calm my skin down, I am using
- Ducray Keracnyl foaming gel (my HG cleanser)
- The topical cream my doctor gave me
- La Roche-Posay Mist (since I'm not using a moisturizer, this helps hydrate my skin a little, but most importantly, help calm it down. Brings down the redness.)


To make myself feel a teeny bit better, and to also fill my time at home with something slightly more productive than watching youtube videos 24-7. I decided I wanna try my hand at the whole Monthly Favourites thing. Probably a hits and misses, where I will mention a couple of products that I am absolutely loving for the entire month of November and some not-so-much. I will probably do a review on some of the stuff mentioned in future. Or maybe I won't even like it anymore in the future. WHO KNOWS?! I pretty fickle when it comes to these things. LOL

1) L' Oreal Superliner Liquid Eyeliner


THIS stuff is THE BOMB DOT COM. I am absolutely obsessed with it and have been wearing it every day ever since I purchased it in late October. For a long time I have used nothing but gel liners. And I still do love them, they are still the most long-wearing formulation, in my opinion. But I just find it a hassle to use a brush (which I have to wash regularly or else the residue will crust)and it's harder to make thinner lines with the gel. Once I used up my gel liner, I picked this liquid one up. And I dunno what possessed me to do it 'cos I have TWO felt tip liquid liners at home. And I'm usually not a huge fan of it. BUT THIS TURNED ME INTO A BELIEVER.

What I love most about it is the applicator, which is not the annoying felt tip one. It's sort of a sponge-brush? It's quite bizarre, but extremely effective when it comes to application. It glides on my eyes so smoothly without tugging and dispenses the perfect amount of product, such that I don't even have to go over the line again. The formula is VERY OPAQUE and VERY BLACK. I love it. It's much blacker than my Maybelline Unstoppable felt tip liner & my NYX Skinny Marker liner. While it is glossy when first applied, it dries to a muted black. Seriously, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL MY LIFE?! I'm a huge eyeliner fan. So I really love this one for it's convenient application, great formula and pigmentation. Also, the price is not so bad either. I believe it is $17.90.

2) Topshop Creme Blush in Pinch


I really love the formulation of Topshop creme blushes. They are not super dewy like most so they don't make my super oily skin even oilier. These blushes go on like a cream but set like powder. So once blended, it doesn't budge and last practically all day. The packaging is super adorable as well. I am such a sucker for these things. I have been using this blush ALL MONTH LONG. Don't be scared by the super hot pink colour. You just need a teeny bit and blend like a CRAZY PERSON. But the result is amazing. Well, for me at least. It really gives my cheeks a healthy flush. It's not too light, so it looks like a realistic blush as it ends up matching my lips. Plus it is not a dewy finish, which is something I dun really like on my cheeks. Highly recommend Topshop blushes. (though the colour selections are jank.)

3) Yankee Candle Reed Diffuser in Mistletoe


HO HO HO~~ I have this in my room for two months to get me into the Christmas season. I am just obsessed with smells lately. I want my room to smell amazing everytime I enter it or when I'm reading a book. Reed diffusers are much better than scented candles as they don't require a flame and the reeds wick the fragrance all over the room. So you can just leave it there, looking all gorgeous on your table top and let it do it's job. I LOVE THIS SCENT TO DEATH. It smells like I'm walking through a fresh pine forest with mistletoe bushes everywhere. It's so fresh but still quite heavy. This is my favourite scent in the Christmas collection (though I also like Christmas Cookie). Too bad I'm out of it already. The reed solution is heavily scented but also has lots of alcohol in it to help it travel the room better and be sucked up by the reeds better. Unfortunately for ME, this meant that it evaporates faster too.

Bugger.

4) Blistex Medicated Lip Ointment


I said it once and I'll say it again. BEST LIP TREATMENT EVVVEEERRRR~~!! And I have majorly dry lips. They go super wrinkly and chappy if I go without balm for too long. And no matter how 'moisturizing' a lipstick/gloss is, I can never wear it without balm first, 'cos then the lipcolor will just emphasize all the ugly wrinkles and dead skin. It is a PAIN. And I think I have tried a pretty HUGE amount of lip balms. I go through them, like people go through kleenex 'cos I constantly have to reapply (my lips are just super absorbent). Normal lip balms just don't cut it for me at night 'cos they are simply not moisturizing enough to last my lips the entire night. Often I wake up with lips as dry as the Sahara dessert, not pretty. I bought this quite some time ago 'cos I had a couple of cold sores all over my lips thanks to ANOTHER allergic reaction to a lipbalm (Smith's Rosebud Salve, SADLY) and I needed something desperately to numb the pain and inject some moisture in it. This has lots of antiseptic and active ingredients to help with extreme cases such as those and now... I CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT IT. I finished TWO tubes of it already (one per month) and I just repurchased one last week.

This lip treatment is for hardcore people like me. LOL! We can't just have vaseline, beeswax and shea butter to help with our pathetically dry lips. We need some major medical shit. I love the way it tingles and numbs my lips a little when I first put it on and it plumps up all the gross wrinkles on my lips and moisturizes it even when I wake up in the morning. I love the slip it has on my lips, especially when I rub it together. Only problem is, I only use this at home as it leaves a white cast on your lips. But doesn't matter to me. I really don't think any Lip Treatment can measure up to this one and it's not ridiculously expensive. Easily available at watsons and guardian for $6.90. This is my SAVIOR.

ONE MISS for me this month would have to be...

Rene Furterer Fioravanti Shine-enhancing Detangling spray



Okay, I REALLY WANTED to love this. After all, this stuff is NOT cheap. I got a travel sized bottle of it to use as a detangler on days when I don't feel like washing my hair. But most importantly, I bought this for the shine-enhancing properties. The Allure Beauty site says:

KEY INGREDIENTS:
A complex of plant extracts, including myrrh, aloe, ginger, and cinnamon (smooths the hair cuticles and boosts shine); acerola cherry vinegar (adds shine); silicone complex (detangles)

HOW IT FEELS/SMELLS/LOOKS:
The superlightweight spray-on conditioner has a milky white color; it smells clean, citrusy, and sophisticated—like a perfume.

WHAT A JOKE. This stuff smells RANK. Like herbal chinese medicine shop. Now, I won't have any problems with that if it did the stuff that it claims to do. It is a very lightweight conditioner (so much so that it doesn't really condition, not significantly) and DEFINITELY no added shine. I'm not expected a shimmering HALO of lustrous locks here. I have realistic expectations. But my hair is as dull as it was before I sprayed this nasty smelling stuff on it. Quite a disappointment for me. =( But I'm gonna keep trying (also 'cos it is bloody expensive) and find a way to work with it. Such that the smell doesn't over power me. Maybe I can dry it with damp hair... Or before blow-drying.

Shall try, but so far it is an epic MISS this month.

Alrighty, those are just a couple of things I've been literally obsessed about. And I probably will continue to obsess about them for a while 'cos I don't switch up my routine very often.

Do try some of them out, they may surprise you! =)

xoxo,
H.

Labels: favourites, hits, misses

Today I went out to town to check out the new LUSH store. I had a list of things to buy but sadly, the entire shop was practically wiped out as most of their famous products are completely out of stock, thanks to the success of their opening. Cult products like 'Angels on Bare Skin' Cleanser and their fresh face masks are all GONE!! But after inquiring the staff, the items are being shipped as I type this out. So they should be in stock in a few more days. BE PATIENT PEOPLE.

The prices are pretty okay! I expected them to be alot more pricey but that does not mean that they are drugstore prices by any means. Still, I shall wait in ANTICIPATION for my Cupcake Mask and Dark Angel cleanser.

BUT I DO HAVE SOMETHING COOL TO TALK ABOUT.

I found something awesome and I am dying to share it with you guys.

As you know, Singapore is really slow when it comes to launching products that are imported from overseas. Most of the time 'new products' here are practically last season's products over there in the US. But HEY, better late than never. So, when I saw the new display and saw these GORGEOUS lipsticks on the shelf, I literally flipped 'cos I have been so curious about them.


They are Maybelline Color Sensational Lipsticks.


I first heard of these from the various makeup gurus on youtube and it received mostly rave reviews with many saying that the pigmentation of these lipsticks are amazing, but still without that super drying effect that most pigmented lipsticks have. Also, the finish is not as GLOSSY as the Maybelline WaterShine lipsticks that we have over here. These have more of a satin finish, which I absolutely love as it has the appearance of a really expensive lipstick on your lips.


The line is very cleverly formulated as the colours are generally divided into FOUR categories and are displayed according to their categories. They are REDS, PINKS, BROWNS and MAUVES (This is my FAVE category). Then they are arranged such that they go from the lightest shade to the darkest, which makes picking out a colour for yourself very convenient. I love this idea 'cos most drugstore lipsticks just kinda release a line with random, popular colours. The Maybelline Color Sensational tries to cater to each skin tone and the different wants of the buyers with a GREAT selection of colours.


ALSO, I have so say that I really love the packaging. It reminds me of the Bourjois lipsticks, but the insides are much nicer and very sleek with the whole thing being a metal tube. I like that it's chunky too so I can easily find it when I'm searching for it in my gigantic bag. This is personal preference I know many people who prefer slim and sleek packagings, but I prefer these types.


NOW, moving on to the colours available and the wear of the products. I tried them out and I am very impressed by the feel of this lipstick. It is definitely not drying, like the Revlon Matte lipsticks. They hold in some sort of moisture such that it does not emphasize every single ugly crease on your lips. BUT it does not plump it up or is as moisturizing as the Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipsticks. It is somewhere in between. What I love about this lipstick is the colour. It glides on evenly, without any patches and one swipe is all I need for opaque, gorgeous colour on my lips. Once on lips, the lipstick "SETS". I dunno how to say this, it's pretty strange but what I mean is that it doesn't slip around much. It doesn't slide around alot and leave lighter patches when I rub my lips together. This is probably due to the WAXY TEXTURE that it has. It's quite unique and feels very comfortable on my lips. ALSO, the colour shows TRUE to the tube. Meaning that it is so pigmented that my own lip colour does not affect the lipstick colour at all, and what you see in the tube will transfer exactly on your lips.


The colour range is SOOO NICE!! I think it has everything for every skin tone. And for every occasion, from neutral everyday lips to sexy glamorous reds to dark vampy colours. And there is a combination of frost and 'matte' (meaning no shimmer) shades.


Let me share some of my faves~


1) Born With It




This is a gorgeous nude colour with a slight wash of pink. It is not like the usual baby pinks. It just leaves your lips with a tint of pink. Really great on fair skinned girls who just want a neutral or nude lip but without looking dead. This injects a nice hint of subtle colour while still keeping the "nude" effect. I really liked this one.


2) Yummy Plummy


This shade totally jumped at me when I first saw the display. It is a mid-tone mauve shade that is blue-based and has lots of purplish, lavender undertones. It's one of the most unique shades in the collection in my opinion. As you can see from the swatch I found, it does look plummy. But when I put it on my lips, it tints my lips a dark purplish shade that is really lovely. I think it goes with TONS of looks and is a fun alternative to a nude lip. It is more of a cool-toned shade, so it does wash out your face a little, so be sure to put on some blush when you wear this one.


3) Cinnamon Stick


This shade is from the Browns category and it's absolutely lovely! Especially on warmer skin tones. It is a brown-based red, almost like a warm maroon. It doesn't look gothic but instead really warms up your face and looks very sophisticated in my opinion. Also, if you are the type who wears tones on brown eyeshadows or neutral eyes, I think this is a fabulous shade to bring out the warmth of the browns and also, it can be worn without blush 'cos it doesn't wash out your face. Really lovely!


4) Red Revival



AMAZING red shade that seeks to make a total statement. Ohmygoodness! It's definitely not for the faint hearted. This is a very neutral red. Not too orange-y, not too dark, not too anything. It is a true red that reminds me alot of Revlon's Matte 'Really Red' shade (which I absolutely adore). Only thing is that this is not as drying or matte, so it is less severe and more glamorous. I think this is the red that can match MANY skin tones, both warm and cool. Every girl needs a red lipstick and this one is really beautiful.


5) Plum Perfect

*the very last colour from the left

MY FAVOURITE SHADE of the entire line. This shade is a deep deep plum that is not too reddish. It is not too maroon and not too purple. It is a very true plum shade and I think can be flattering on anyone. But I personally loved how it looked on me. It makes a statement without making me look overly Vamp-y or gothic. Hmmm, kind of like a glam rocker/goth? It's definitely not a depressing colour though. I know 'cos this shade doesn't wash me out and I find it very wearable indeed. GOSHH IT IS SOOOO PRETTY~!! I think it's 'cos this shade in particular doesn't make the wearer look 'old' as it does not have brown undertones to it. Love it.


OKAY, so you can find these babies in any Watsons or Guardian. They are selling for S$17.90. I highly recommend them. I personally like them better than the Revlon SuperLustrous and I think the wear (quite long-wearing) and pigmentation is really high quality stuff.

Go check them out. I know you want to. ;)

xoxo,
H.


credits: click on pictures to link you to original blogposts.

Labels: color sensational lip color, lipstick, maybelline, review