ℒ a c y ℛ o s e

Etude House Face Blur Primer

2015-05-31T17:48:00.001+10:00

This lightweight cream provides multi-blurring effects for instantly refined and smooth skin. Skin’s texture is smoothed, pores minimized and complexion brightened.

• Covers pores and bumps to make skin appear flawless
• Softening filter effect to give smoother and even skin layer
• Whitening effect that makes the skin appear brighter
• Unlike most primers that are made up of silicone gel, Face Blur is made of an 'Airy Skin Powder' to give a lightweight and comfortable wear for longer

When I first picked this product up, I already had doubts that it wouldn't be able to make my face look 100% flawless like that airbrushed effect. After wearing the Face Blur primer with a full face of makeup, I could confirm that I was right. Although this product had some bluffs, there was still certainly some good things to mention about it.

Starting with the pros, when applied to the skin, it goes on smoothly and stays moist for a couple of minutes before your skin soaks up most of the moisture. Compared to a few of the silicone based primers I've tried, Face Blur was definitely the most hydrating and didn't have a chalky texture at all. Those primers usually rubbed off like dead skin on me, causing me to be more cautious about touching my face whenever I wore it. But not with this product! This allows me to double up and apply more of the primer if I wanted to without worrying that the under layer would rub off.

But does it give me that flawless finish? Unfortunately, I didn't notice any difference at all. Besides the fact that it made my skin appear more moist and radiant. So I guess the whitening effect does work. As a matter of fact, I feel that the light reflecting off my skin enhanced the lines on it instead. Not only did it enhance those lines on my face but it also made my dried patches more protruding! Therefore mattifying primers are the better option here, even though they also have some downsides for me.

In the end, I still haven't found the perfect pore minimizing primer/product out there yet. This product does feel really comfortable to wear though and it does smell really nice. But honestly I wouldn't repurchase this if I was to ever use it up.

What pore minimizing products have you tried that actually worked for you? I'd like to know.

DIY Almond & Rice Face Scrub

2015-05-10T18:06:00.001+10:00

While helping out my aunt in the kitchen last night, we ended up with some left overs from making an almond paste dessert. Rather than throwing it all away, we kept it for a facial or body scrub to be used later! Why waste something that is still good?

If you didn't know, almonds contain two essential fatty acids which helps create supple, brighter and healthier skin. They are also packed full of antioxidants and vitamin E. This means it can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, diminish dark circles and also combats acne.

Additionally, rice also has amazing benefits for the skin which are quite similar to what almonds can do. It can make your skin feel silky smooth, tightens pores, and leaves your skin with a healthy glow.

What you'll need:

• 1/2 cup almonds
• 2tbs rice
• water (optional)

For this particular recipe, we used the Asian type of almonds (south and north kind) but you can use the more common version of the nut if you want. Any rice would do as well!

All you have to do is grind all the ingredients in a blender until it becomes powdery and smooth. To get it to that really fine texture, we had to strain all the liquids out with a cloth. But you may add a bit of water if you wanted to use it as a moist paste for a face mask instead.

This scrub should take no more than five minutes to make but the dessert would take a little longer. Personally, I'd prefer ingesting it, not only because it is super yummy but it is also really good for your body - inside and outside! Nevertheless, this face scrub also makes a really nice treat for my skin, if I wanted it to feel silky smooth and brighter with immediate results!

Body Shop Seaweed Exfoliator & Pore Perfector

2015-05-07T16:49:00.000+10:00

Usually, I don't repurchase products unless they work and fall under the right budget for me (obviously). But today I'll be sharing with you a range of products that I am quite satisfied with and have purchased more than once! That is none other than The Body Shop's Seaweed range!

What makes seaweed so good - not only for us to eat but for our skin as well? Well, seaweed is rich in vitamins and minerals, making it an effective agent for improving skin elasticity and healing damaged skin cells. It can also detoxify, cleanse and moisturize the skin. It also makes a wonderful natural cure for combating acne since it is anti-inflammatory, reduces the size and swelling of pimples, exfoliates and unblocks pores.

As a teenager, I rarely ever had a pimple or two - I was pretty fortunate then. Up until recently as a young adult though, my skin started to change. It was oilier than before and I started to break out a little more than usual. To this day, I still have no idea what the cause to this change was. But I'm glad I've found a few solutions to combat my oiliness and acne!

Pore-Cleansing Facial Exfoliator - A soap-free facial scrub that effectively deep cleanses blocked pores and exfoliates to remove dead skin cells. It contains wild harvested seaweed and jojoba to eradicate excess oils, impurities and daily grime.

It says that it is "soap-free" but the texture feels like a light face wash. Most exfoliators I found were a little too harsh or irritating to my skin. Not this product though! I found it pretty mild and it was also non-drying. I love how this product makes my skin feel so soft and supple right afterwards! No more flaky skin in sight! It also balances and controls the oils on my face really well throughout the day. So I don't have to reach for the oil-blotting sheets anymore!

As you can see from the photo above, there's a lot of small grainy bits. The texture isn't as rough as a salt scrub but I'd say it is gentle enough to exfoliate all the dead skin away without irritating and making my face go red.

If you're worried about it having a salty, seaweed smell - you shouldn't be. If you've tried products from The Body Shop before, then you should be familiar that all their products smell heavenly (except for the tea tree oil products in my opinion). I found that all the products in the seaweed range have an unrecognizable perfume scent to them though.

Seaweed Pore Perfector - A lightweight gel treatment containing seaweed and anti-microbial black willow extract and konjac root. It is specially formulated to target specific problem areas, such as enlarged or blocked pores, excess oiliness and occasional blemishes. Helps improve the appearance of large pores over time, with continued regime use.

This is the first thing I reach out for in my first-aid kit when combating breakouts! It miraculously shrinks my pimples overnight to half its size - even those huge hideous ones! The product is instantly mattifying and also controls the oil levels on my skin throughout the day. I don't use this on a daily basis but I can imagine how flawless my skin would feel if I did. Since I use this product once in awhile, the small bottle would last me for a lengthy amount of time, which makes it worth the $22 I paid for.

It also comes in a bottle with a pump that dispenses a tiny pea sized amount, which is enough to cover one side of your cheek I'd say. You won't have to worry about wasting any product because at the bottom of the bottle, there's a contraption that gets pushed up to the top slowly as you dispense more product through the pump. Don't you just love smart packaging?

TLDR; I've also used the Day Cream and Toner from this range, and I can clarify that this skincare range is perfect for those with oily and acne-prone skin because it is quite mild, it controls oil/mattifying, non-drying, and shrinks pimples. Overall it works for me and I feel that it is the most effective product out there on the market. The price for the Day Cream is a bit too much for a tiny amount though, while the rest of the products are priced reasonably in my opinion.

Skinfood Lemon Brightening: Morning Cleanser

2015-04-28T23:37:00.001+10:00

The Skin Food Lemon Brightening: Morning Cleanser is a lemon-infused facial cleanser, best used in the morning to remove overnight impurities and build up from your skin. It has a light and airy foam formula which makes it easier to lather, leaving your skin fresh and squeaky clean! It also works as a makeup remover.

This cleanser is enriched with lemons, which is known for its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects - making this an excellent cleanser for sensitive, oily and acne prone skin.

I bought this cleanser as a temporary backup because I was running low on face wash. If I remember correctly, this cost me about $20AUD or more - a bit pricey considering that it's not really available locally. But it's Skinfood, a brand which I trusted so I didn't mind paying a little more.

The first thing I noticed when I used this product was the scent! It reminded me of dish washing detergent because of that pungent citrus smell. It almost felt like I was washing my face with detergent to be honest! Especially after washing my hands with soap to rid of the grime and oil from washing the dishes after an oily meal - this cleanser leaves me with the same squeaky clean feeling! I think it has also been helping my skin from breaking out because I rarely had any after using this product.

Although it stripped away most of the oils on my face, it didn't leave it feeling too dry afterwards. Which was a plus for me! It did leave my skin feeling oil-free for an hour or two at most, but sadly after that I'm back to feeling greasy all over.

Used as an alternative for makeup remover - I haven't tried it with my eye makeup yet, (because hell no I don't want to burn my eyes out) I still wouldn't recommend it for that purpose. It doesn't effectively remove dead skin I noticed, so I doubt that it would be strong enough to lift your foundation and concealer either.

Also I'd like to point out that this product leaks a lot. I'm not the only one as well! I'd have to store the opening upright, otherwise the cleanser would pool up on the table, covering the lid with a sticky mess. If I were to leave the opening facing down, gravity would push all the liquid out as I pop the lid open.

Overall, I would not repurchase this product because it is too pricey and not always available in my country. Not to mention the leaking problem. Another downside is that it doesn't remove dead skin and buildup as it states. Maybe if they had added granules into the product for exfoliation, I would've reconsidered my opinion on this product. Other than that, it cleanses my face well on days when I'm not wearing makeup and it doesn't leave my skin feeling irritated.

DIY Strawberry & Oatmeal Face Mask

2015-04-20T20:25:00.000+10:00

Strawberries are delicious, juicy and have a wonderful, sweet aroma. Not only do they taste great, but they also make excellent skincare products because they are packed with antioxidants! Meaning it's the perfect solution for keeping blemishes and oily skin at bay! Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about those with drier skin types. Add some oatmeal and you'll have a skincare product that would be suitable for all skin types!

Skin benefits of strawberries:

• Cleanses impurities away and tightens pores
• Anti-aging
• Combats acne and oiliness
• UV protection
• Brightening
• Repairs cells and boosts collagen
• Eliminates dark circles and puffiness

Skin benefits of oatmeal:

• Prevents dryness
• Balances oiliness
• Cleaner pores
• Heals and soothes irritation

What you'll need (makes 60g):

• 3 strawberries
• 2tbs oatmeal
• 2tbs milk

Wash the strawberries and slice the stems off before adding all the ingredients into the blender. Lightly blend the mixture until it forms a smooth, moist paste like in the images above.

Once you've done that, you are now ready to prep for a facial! Sit back and unwind as you apply this mask on your face. Give yourself 5-10 minutes before rinsing it off with water. Pat dry and apply moisturizer.

Don't let the oatmeal harden for too long, otherwise you'll have a hard time washing it off!

This face mask also doubles up as a mild cleanser or scrub because it contains salicylic acid and the seeds work as exfoliants as well.

I've been using this mask for more than three days and I can happily say that the results are almost instantaneous! I had a few irritating blemishes which popped up the other day. But after using this mask on the first day, I noticed the bumps had gone drastically smaller. Also, I had the biggest eye bags on the same day from staying up late and gaming. I noticed that the swelling went down by a lot as well. Sadly, my dark circles still remained intact though, but I'm sure with continuous use, maybe the dark circles would fade eventually.

Overall, I highly recommend trying this face mask out! It's home made and you'll know it won't have harmful chemicals added into it. It made my skin feel less oily while also hydrated and soft at the same time... and it made the whole room smell sooo yummy!

Mama's Buoi Bar & Restaurant

2015-04-18T18:58:00.000+10:00

Mama's Buoi is a bar and restaurant that serves fresh, authentic, home-cooked Vietnamese food. My family went to Mama's Buoi for dinner last night to celebrate my sister's 26th Birthday. I love Vietnamese food so I had really high expectations from this place.

When we arrived and sat down at our table, the first thing I noticed was how cramped the surroundings were. Most Vietnamese restaurants I've been to had tight spaces too, so I was used to that. It reflects that snug feeling you get when eating at home with your family.

I always pay extra attention to the aesthetics when eating at a restaurant. One thing I had to give props to was their menu design which they presented as a photo album. Another thing was the use of chopsticks in fun bright colours and nice oriental plates. Although the vintage looking tables and chairs fitted the theme they were going for, functionality was a huge miss. By the end of the night, my lower back and legs were cramping from the lack of leg space underneath the table.

bánh phồng tôm (deep fried sweet potato, with corn fritters and prawns)

I think that's what the first dish was called since I had no idea what the meat was. The dipping sauce that went with it was nice but the meat itself tasted a little bland for my liking.

bánh cuốn (rice noodles stuffed with pork, mushroom & fried shallot)

A family favourite - but not as nice as the ones that my boyfriend brings over to my place. It was different with the pork floss and the hint of lime which I loved! Definitely adding lime juice to my banh cuon in the future. Probably my favourite from last night's dinner.

I'm not usually the type to complain, but I noticed that our food was taking a really long time to be served! Since our family had to sit at two separate tables (the adults and the kiddies), I noticed that the adult's table was receiving more dishes than our table. After we made a complaint, about five or so dishes came out one after the other! It made me wonder if they were trying to cheat us just because we were kids! So by the time the adults were eating their desserts, we were just getting started on the remaining dishes.

bánh bột chay (vegetarian steamed dumplings with tofu)

stir fried mushroom & snow peas with onion & bean sprouts

There was a meat ball skewer dish that came to our table a little cold and burnt. Unfortunately for me, I had the piece that was super burnt. Really disappointed.

chè chuối (banana & sago)

I was hoping that dessert would put me in a better mood after the incompetent service we just had. I'd have to say it sort of did. The sago was creamy and delicious - not too sweet which I liked.

vietnamese chocolate tart & gelato

While the chocolate tart looked quite appealing, I wouldn't recommend trying this at all! I only had half a teaspoon but it felt like I ate a mouthful of gooey, rich chocolate. It was way too sweet. The gelato on the other hand was my favourite! I greedily had it all to myself.

coconut & lime panna cotta (infused with ginger syrup)

The panna cotta wasn't too sweet. It wasn't that memorable either.

xôi nếp than (black sticky rice with yoghurt)

The black sticky rice however, was a little disappointing. The yoghurt was way too sour for me.

Overall, I'm not too keen on coming back to Mama's Buoi. Maybe the other outlets would have better service - namely the one in Surry Hills. The food was decent but I guess it all depends on different taste buds. I'd give them props for presentation and aesthetics though!

- Mama's Buoi -

77 Willoughby Road

Crows Nest NSW 2065

After dinner we dropped by at my aunt's place for cake. This year my sister celebrates her 26th with this chiffon cake from Kraving K. They make really pretty looking cakes and I might follow on the tradition this year and order their cakes for my birthday as well! (Since my younger sister also celebrated her 18th with a cake from Kraving K)

- Kraving K -

Website | Instagram

Revlon Parfumerie Scented Nail Polish

2014-04-16T00:38:00.000+10:00

I have heard about Revlon's scented nail polishes for awhile now and have always wanted to try it out, but never had the chance to find it in stores. I guess I just didn't look hard enough, or it might've been a limited time product, or has not been released in Australia yet? Well I'm not sure. But this time, I did manage to nab myself two nail polishes after seeing a friend's purchases on my instagram feed. Lucky for me, Priceline had a buy two for $20 deal during the time and it was $15.95 for each item! (ﾉ´ヮ´)ﾉ*:･ﾟ✧

Rather than shopping for a particular scent, I was picking out colours which seemed wearable on a daily basis. There are over 24 scents and colours to choose from and they are each assorted into three categories; Fruits & Florals, Sweets & Spices, and Fresh scents. I noticed that the choice of scents are quite unique (not like vanilla or cinnamon for example) but they had Lime Basil, Fresh Linen and Italian Leather. Yes you heard me, leather.

For the first shade, I picked African Tea Rose - A vibrant fuchsia with subtle flecks of glitter that has a strong, yet sweet floral scent mixed with a slight hint of roses. It has a very familiar scent of wax strips which I used to love inhaling after waxing my legs.

In the photo above, I wore one coat of nail polish. It came out a little streaky, but not so bad for a first coat I would say. When dried, it had a slightly matte finish to it. Personally, I didn't like it as I would prefer wearing a top coat over it for a glossier finish.

For the second shade, I picked Bordeaux - An opaque burgundy red which smells like wine. I'm not too fond of the smell of red wine, but Bordeaux has a pleasantly sweet aroma to it which makes it bearable to my nose.

In the photo above, I wore two coats because it came out pretty streaky. It looked better with two anyways, seeing how glossy it turned out.

As for how well it held up, I'd highly recommend a good top coat to make it last for more than a week. The top coat shouldn't be a problem with masking the scent, but unfortunately the smell did start to fade after the third day though. I ran a test on how long the Parfumerie nail polishes can last without a top coat on. After a week, with two coats it held up pretty well. There was some noticeable chipping on the edges, but compared to my nails with one coat of the nail polish, it had pretty much faded away.

Lime Crime Velvetine Matte Lipstain

2014-04-03T21:27:00.000+11:00

It's about time I updated my blog! I admit that I took these photos over two months ago and they were just sitting on my desktop collecting dust bunnies... I'm such a hardworking blogger. But seriously Chloe, don't you have enough hot pink and red lipsticks to last you forever? The answer is no, because these lipstains have a sexy matte finish (which none of my lipsticks give me!) and it's definitely okay to own a gazillion shades of pinks and reds that fit your skintone of course! Might I also add, I bought these mainly because I've been dying to get my hands on some of Lime Crime's products for years?

My dream finally came true, when a little birdy told me that there was a store in Sydney selling LC lipsticks. Non-US residents would know how hefty shipping costs are so I avoided shopping online. But when I found out that Princess Polly sold LC products, I immediately lunged at the opportunity to check the store out! I happily walked out with two Velvetines in Pink Velvet and Suede Berry. It was $24 when I bought it, but on the Princess Polly website it was $28... about $4-$8 more expensive than the original retail price.

When first applied, the lipstain applies thinner than lipgloss... if that makes any sense since lipglosses are usually gloopy and thick. After a awhile, it dries to a matte finish and when I say awhile I mean a few minutes. Like 5-10 minutes, tops? Otherwise, it will smudge easily when rubbed on purpose. Until it's done drying, I guarantee you will have sexy matte lips ;) and this lipstain does not fade and will stay put even when you rub it gently. And it smells sooo good, like cupcakes. I wouldn't say it's waterproof, but you can make sure it lasts longer by being mindful of how you eat and drink. But knowing me, the lipstain wouldn't even last after a meal.

Despite how dry it looks, over 8 hours my lips did not feel chapped or dehydrated. That's pretty amazing knowing how some matte lipsticks that I've tried had my lips feeling dry and chapped.

I honestly dislike the brush applicator it comes with though. It's so fat and fuzzy that it makes applying a perfect bold lip so difficult! Another thing I should point out is the amount of product the brush picks up. Personally I prefer using a proper lip brush to lightly line the shape of my lips, then fill it in and go over it with more product. Now see for yourselves my horrible application with the Velvetine brush applicator:

Suede Berry & Pink Velvet

I am wearing Suede Berry which I applied with my lip brush because I just can't stand the applicator it came with. I personally like Suede Berry more cause I love my morange lips (though it appeared a little pink in the selfies). I would definitely repurchase this product if I ever run out and perhaps add more colours to my collection. I am eyeing that Cashmere and Wicked.

Super Mario Themed Birthday Party

2014-03-27T19:21:00.000+11:00

It was my little sister's 17th birthday three weeks ago, and being the nice sister I am we helped her throw a themed birthday party. It was a lot of effort putting everything together and I couldn't have done it without my older sister's help too!

We had about a weeks notice beforehand to begin the prepping so I was feeling frantic to make it a memorable birthday party for her. We wanted to keep everything a surprise from the birthday girl until the day before her party - which made it a havoc putting everything together in such a small amount of time. I swear the sight of scissors and double-sided tape still makes me cringe right now. But it was well worth the effort, seeing how the party guests squealed "How cute are the decorations!" as they arrived on the day. Now prepare for a photo heavy post!

Did you notice that the backdrop has x17 lives and the total score is the birthday girl's D.O.B?

Toad's Power-Up! house a.k.a the snack and drink buffet station.

Mini sausage rolls and mini burger sliders. We also made quiches and other bite-sized foods.

The foil Star balloons fitted in pretty well and we made power-up mushrooms out of cake pops. It was our first attempt making cake pops and must I say it was really tricky! But we managed just fine.

Mario moustache cups; doubled up as name labels for the cups. Perfect.

Oh yes, I also redesigned the drink labels for each drink. Everything had to be Mario themed!

Toadritos (doritos) and fireballs (cheeseballs).

Coin boxes and chocolate coins. Found the box template from here if anyone wants it.

Candy jars. Ice flower power (marshmallows), Yoshi eggs (jellybeans), Lakitu's clouds (strawberry clouds), Peach's rings.

Star sugar cookies! One of them is missing an eye because I was curious to touch the icing... and I couldn't find the icing pen afterwards to replace the missing eye shh tell no one.

To make the party even more Super Mario themed, they played Mario Kart and other board games like Taboo.

The birthday girl and her mushroom cake! Can't believe how fast my sister has grown up. She'll be graduating from highschool at the end of this year. Time really flies :(

The mushroom cake is from Gelato Messina. It was the first cake that came to mind and I thought it would suit this themed party really well. It's actually a chocolate icecream cake with peanut cookies and popping candy. Despite the small size, this icecream cake can actually feed more than 15 servings. The chocolate was really rich but I still had the leftovers anyways, cause it was so yum!

It was really fun... and maybe a little stressful planning this birthday party. I actually wouldn't mind going through all that trouble planning a party again, but it really saps the energy out of me. I suppose my blog has been lacking attention after the party for that very reason.

... and special guest Lola bunny wanted to say 'hello' to everybody! ♥

Current Nails Update & Clothing Haul

2014-02-27T11:30:00.000+11:00

A soft, shimmery nude topped with flecks of silver glitter.

"Set In Stones" Essie & "Naked Ambition" Sally Hansen

Kind of difficult to see the glitter and shimmer in the photos, I need some tips on how to photograph those small details ~ Does anyone have any?

Over the last week, I bought some new tops and a pair of shorts while shopping with my momma and sisters. It's a lot easier shopping with them compared to when I'm out with my boyfriend, I'm sure the majority of girls with boyfriends can relate to this. You can't take their opinions seriously, they'll judge the clothes you pick out and they'll pull out clothes for you to try on that doesn't even fit your figure or taste, etcetc. At least I can still rely on him to pick out the best shades for me. Sorry babe, you're just better qualified with other things. Still love you for trying though!

From Dotti: bling covered sweater and a peter pan collared shirt.

From Paper Scissors: pair of mint coloured shorts.

I'm also quite sick with a cold which I picked up yesterday, probably from my sisters or boyfriend since they're sick as well. It's funny how I'm always the last one in the household to get the germies because I'm the one who has the weakest immune system. Oh well, I'm not complaining ~ I can have an excuse to sleep more throughout the day at least!

High Tea At The Tea Room, QVB

2014-02-23T17:56:00.000+11:00

My sisters and I have been planning on taking my mummy out to high tea for quite some time now, and we managed to get a booking at The Tea Room yesterday for brunch. It was also my first time having high tea and it turned out exactly like what I had expected; very posh.

I'd say it was a nice experience and I would definitely return for more tea despite how hefty the price was per person. I just wished I had a bigger appetite to fit all those scrumptious looking cakes and pastries. Need to train my tummy up to eat more creamy and sugary foods!

Served on authentic British three tiered silver stands with Royal Albert china, you get a set selection of sweet cakes, savory pastries, finger sandwiches, scones and a wide selection of tea or coffee.

Honestly, I'm not sure how people can eat so much sweet and creamy foods in one sitting. I can only have two or three at most before feeling sick in the stomach. The cakes and pastries were still nice, regardless. I'm a little disappointed at the macarons though, you can tell the filling is inconsistent as one of them was too thick and the other one had the right amount. I'll admit that I had to scrape some of the cream off to balance it out.

Sadly I didn't get to try the fruit tart and that chocolate cake. But I heard the tart wasn't very sweet unlike the other things which were way too sweet.

Just to balance out the sweetness, you get some savory food too. The sandwiches taste so much nicer than the sandwiches I make at home! I think its the bread that makes the difference. I also really liked the pastry with the creamy sauce in it, I'm not sure what's in the sauce... but I wanted seconds for that rather than filling my tummy up with cakes.

More savory pastries and a scone, served with your choice of butter and jam.

What would high tea be without the tea? It was a hard decision to pick out what tea I wanted from such a wide variety on the menu. In the end, I settled for a cup of Red Roses; A blend of the finest China tea with rose petals – flowery and mild. I couldn't taste the roses, but it did have a sweet fragrant to it.

It felt so grand sipping tea inside this unique heritage setting, with chandeliers over our heads, draped walls, and the china and silverware on our table. Makes me wish I could have tea everyday like this! (Now hiring my very own butler!)

- The Tea Room -

Level 3 North End QVB

455 George St

2000 NSW

Izakaya Mazuya & PHD

2014-02-17T23:58:00.000+11:00

Ever since I got back into blogging, I noticed I've been spamming food related posts rather than reviews on makeup and skincare. I swear I am working on reviews - testing products and whatnot... But I've been aiming to add more personal posts so my readers can see what I've been up to and get to know me better I suppose.

I also made it a goal this year to be more outgoing and to eat out more. It's about time I caged away the anxiety monster so I can live my life like a normal 22 year old girl! So far I've been doing pretty well, and soon I hope I can feel well enough to start traveling again because there are places I still dream about visiting.

Teriyaki Chicken Bento

So today I had a lunch date with my momma and sister in the city. We ate at a Japanese restaurant which served mainly bentos and other dishes. For roughly $18, you get a large platter of food which was bigger than the size of my head. In addition to the main dish I chose, on the side I got a gyoza, half a springroll, a salmon avocado sushi, agedashi tofu, 3 pieces of salmon sashimi, nikujaga potatoes, and some soba noodles which I think changes weekly.

Chirashi (Scattered Sushi) Bento

With my tiny appetite, I was afraid I wouldn't be able to finish half of the serving but I was surprised I ate almost everything. I guess I was really hungry!

After we finished eating lunch, we went to take care of some business with momma before heading down to Westfield shopping centre. My sister told me about a boutique called Princess Polly which sold Lime Crime lip products. I was quite eager to visit this shop and I'm excited to announce that today I walked out of that boutique with my first ever Lime Crime product! I've been wanting to get my hands on LC makeup for years, but I was put off from buying it online. All the more reasons to hate living in Australia. I'll be sure to review more about this product in another post next time.

- Izakaya Masuya -

Grand Floor 12-14 O'Connell St

NSW 2000

Special Combo Pho ~ Extra meat please!

I haven't had a good bowl of pho in ages so I've been craving for some! Later on that night my family and I went all the way to Marrickville for dinner. Halfway through slurping down my noodles, I found a tiny beetle floating in my bowl of soup... Sometimes I just hate my microvision abilities for spoiling my appetite - I've found tiny caterpillars and spiders from eating at other places before. But I continued eating my yummy pho anyways. Can't waste a good bowl of pho right?!

- PHD Vietnamese Restaurant -

308 Illawarra Rd Marrickville

NSW 2204

Valentines Day Dinner @ Mizuya

2014-02-15T00:23:00.000+11:00

Rather than spending this lovey dovey evening out with my significant other this year (who was overseas in Hong Kong), I had dinner in the city with my family. I usually don't make a big deal out of Valentine's Day, but it was quite amusing making fun of other couples on this day.

Lotus Root Chips & Karage Chicken

These lotus chips were my favouite! So crunchy. We had to get seconds.

Marbled Beef... I think?

Beef Tataki

This tataki dish was alright, not as spectacular as the other places that I have tried.

Agedashi Tofu & Soft Shell Crab Salad

Two family favourites that we always seem to order whenever we have Japanese cuisine.

Grilled Ox Tongue

Soft Shell Crab Sushi Roll

- Mizuya Japanese Restaurant & Karaoke -

Basement 614 George Street

NSW 2000

Etude House Beauty Toy Hand Cream

2014-02-13T17:09:00.000+11:00

Etude House's "Don't Worry" collection is a highly hydrating hand cream that keeps your hands healthy and moist all day. Contains shea butter and six kinds of herbs which are safe and mild on the skin - centella, aloe, lavender, lemon verbena, marshmallow root, and chamomile.

Each packaging comes with four unique scents and heartfelt messages: All Is Well, I'm On Your Side, You Did It, and You Are The Best! Not only does it have a cute facial expression and a tiny body, it also has feet and wears shoes which are removable!

Awhile ago, I was out shopping with my sister and helping her find a gift for her friend's birthday. We happened to walk past these cuties sitting in front of a shop's window - I mean, how can you not miss those cute faces staring at you with those tiny little feet protruding out of its body? We just knew we had to get them despite knowing what kind of product they were! I also thought the little messages on the bottle were very sweet, and made a perfect gift for a friend.

I wasn't planning to get one for myself because I still had a few hand creams to finish off. Also, I didn't want to be a sucker for the cute packaging. Fortunately, I did get one for FREE! Yes, it was a buy two get one free deal so my sister ended up getting the gift for her friend and one for herself. Which landed me a free item in the end!

Oh look at that saucy fine butt crack ;)

We ran into a few problems with the shop assistant though... because of her terrible Chinglish. I don't think we're going to shop at that store (Blush Cosmetics just to throw their name out) ever again. I find it very dodgy that they didn't include the pricing information for consumers to see (I do recall that this was illegal for businesses), and the way they try to sell more products to you is very unseemly.

Overall, the hand cream has a very nice scent - I could not stop smelling my hands after applying some! However, it does take a few minutes for it to absorb into your skin, but it's not a very oily hand cream. After it is absorbed, it leaves my hands feeling a little softer but sadly it does not help much with the drier parts of my hands like around my nail cuticles.

It would also be nice if I could carry this out in my handbag. It's a little bulky and the main reason was because of the shoes. They're pretty flimsy and falls off easily, so I leave this hand cream on my work desk to use. So if you were looking for a hand cream for really dry hands or to travel with, this wouldn't be the product for you.

Dae Jang Kum Korean BBQ

2014-02-06T22:08:00.000+11:00

We felt like Korean BBQ for dinner so that's what we ended up having tonight. I'm always craving for them ox tongues, mmmm.

Eel & Rice, Cheese Sticks

This is the first time I've seen cheese sticks being served at a Korean restaurant, and I must say they were pretty good! I'm a little disappointed that the cheese didn't melt in my mouth though. But definitely worth coming back for more!

Whenever I dine at a Korean restaurant, I am always looking forward to the mashed potato and pickled seaweed side dishes. I really like the way Koreans make their mashed potatoes... I'm not so keen on the kimchi, I only care about the potatoes because potatoes. It was quite odd seeing penne pasta being served as part of the banchan though. It's not a very Asian ingredient.

Glorious platter of raw meat for BBQ'ing... mmm so fatty that pork belly.

There was soo much meat to eat, we ordered two plates of meat and a plate of ox tongue.

Beef Rib Soup (Gal Bi Tang)

A new favourite of mine! The broth is so tasty and so is slurping up the glass noodles. I wished I had more space in my belly to eat this all for myself!

- Dae Jang Kum Korean BBQ Restaurant -

35 Goulburn Street

NSW 2000

Honey Lemon with Seaweed Jelly from Happy Lemon

Current Nails Update

2014-02-04T21:48:00.000+11:00

I'm wearing: Rimmel 60 Seconds in 415 Instyle Coral + Australis Nail Glitter Top Coat in Eureka.

This shade of coral topped with flecks of gold glitter is a favorite combo of mine. I also threw in more gold on my accent nail to spice things up a little.

On my ring finger, I am wearing: O.P.I in Golden Eye from the Skyfall collection.

Happy Chinese New Year! 2014

2014-01-31T01:35:00.000+11:00

恭祝健康、幸运，新年快乐

Good health, good luck, and much happiness throughout the year

It's been a really long time since I've felt this festive over Chinese New Year or celebrated it the proper way. While getting into the festivities, it sure brought back a lot of fond memories of my childhood spent at my grandparents place. We would clean the house thoroughly, receive red envelopes, then pray to the Gods for good luck, and eat a lot of yummy food afterwards.

One of the snacks I remember munching on the most during CNY were "Siu Hao Jo's" which means Laughing Sesame Balls. We decided to deep-fry our own and give them away as gifts to our family and friends, along with some almond cookies.

It was also really nice getting to celebrate with my mummy this year, because I hardly spend CNY with my parents since they live overseas. But still wishing my daddy was here ;(

I hope everyone is spending the new year with positive vibes and surrounded by family and loved ones!

GEO Beauty Brown Circle Lens

2014-01-28T00:55:00.002+11:00

Colour: brown

Diameter: 14.2mm

Water content: 38%

Base Curve: 8.6mm

Disposal: 1 year

I purchased these circle lenses awhile ago from Honey Color and totally forgot about them until recently when I started blogging again. Now I get to open them up and review them! The GEO Beauty lenses also come in blue and gray and are $19.90 from Honey Color.

Colour: The circle lens itself appears coppery brown but when worn on my eyes, I can barely see any colour at all. Personally I didn't mind this shade even though it is quite close to my natural eye colour. But at the same time I'm disappointed that the colour I'm expecting to see did not show up at all.

Design: You'd have to look closely at my eyes to notice the prints on the circle lens. I like natural looking designs which means the subtle look of these lenses definitely won my heart over. They also look realistic to me and not so animated.

Enlargement: My iris is noticeably larger and you can easily tell I'm wearing circle lenses from a distance. I'd give that a 10/10 for sure.

Comfort: I'm not sure if my eyes are being dryer than usual lately, but these lenses dried my eyes out like crazy. I found myself blinking more than usual just to keep my eyes from drying out or going blurry. As a result of that, I remember I was having some trouble reading things up close because my vision was blurred from being so dry. But they're not so bad for the first 2 or 3 hours.

Overall, this circle lens would've made it to my favorites list if it was a lighter shade on my eyes. Actually I like the way it looks on me, but I wouldn't repurchase it because it made my eyes so uncomfortable after awhile.

Shopping At Daiso

2014-01-25T22:16:00.000+11:00

Right now I'm waaay too tired to write up a review post but I promised myself I will blog today. Sorry for such a random post, but I'm just posting anything for the sake of reviving my dead blog. So I guess a quick post about my day will have to suffice!

Since Chinese New Year is drawing nearer, my family has gone mad cleaning the entire house. Which means we'll be needing a shopping trip to Daiso for new storage containers, organizers and other useful things. This was my first time stepping foot into a Daiso store, and I must say those cheapy dollar stores don't even compare.

Everything in-store costs $2.80 only! It was so hard trying not to grab every item I saw on the shelves because of all the cute packaging. I only bought 3 items for myself, while my sisters went on a rampage... picking up useful junk I swear.

We weren't even halfway through the store yet and the shopping basket was this full already! If I remember correctly, we filled up two baskets worth of goodies.

Why does everything have to be so cute? Why can't I live in Japan? I swear my house will be filled with kawaii things if I lived in Japan...!

I mean, look at the detail they put into the packaging... flowers for the sauce bottles, plastic spoons, paper/wet towels... and that onigiri plastic with the cute bear on it... what is this. I don't even.

Then I saw this shampoo hat on display. Really? A SHAMPOO HAT? What does that even do... Oh my gosh I am so done with unusual Japanese innovations.

Out of the gazillion amount of items that we bought today, here's what I got for myself: 2 trays to sort my makeup in and a small trash can for my work desk. My sisters also decided to throw in a small cushion for Lola bunny to sit on and a cute ceramic plant pot for my cactus.

Reasons why I stopped blogging

2014-01-24T18:18:00.000+11:00

Why hello there, I've come back from the dead... Well this feels really awkward after not blogging for four months - where do I even begin?!

For starters, I've been doing well. I'm still living and breathing. Also I'd like to say hello to my new readers! I'm so stoked that these lovely people still follow me even though I've been inactive for months... ;A; Thank you ~

Well if you're interested, I composed a list of reasons to why I haven't been blogging. And I'm sure these are really common excuses for everyone as well... :P

• Lack of motivation - Being motivated is mainly what drives me to start blogging. But lately I've been feeling unmotivated to do anything. I'm the type of person who starts a project, then gives up halfway through.

• Procrastinating like a boss - Today I'll plan out what I want to blog about, tomorrow I'll wake up with a tonne of excuses. Usually it's because: I just want to spend the day gaming, the camera wasn't charged, I lost my SD card, I don't feel like writing, my hair looks ugly, I feel like a zombie, the weather is bad, why didn't I take photos earlier?, and the list just goes on and on.

• It takes a lot of time and effort - I'm not joking, it really does! Being the most illiterate person I am, I could spend hours typing up a small text post. When it comes to taking photos, I'd have to take a gazillion pictures from every angle possible, then I'll have to edit them. Bad excuse, I know.

• Constantly worrying about image - My biggest concern is being judged. When I started out blogging, I never intended to become popular. But after awhile, I get the impression that there's a high expectation for bloggers to appear perfect. I'm human and I have flaws just like everyone else and I know I'm not photogenic. I just want to blog for myself, because I like collecting makeup and having fun with it. Please don't expect me to be something I'm not. I just love lazing around looking all zombie-like while playing games, I'm sorry but that's the person I am.

• Feeling disconnected from the blogging community - There was a moment where blogger and web hosting was being a bitch to me. Then there was news that Google was closing down GFC and Google reader or something. All that made me lose interest in blogging quite quickly.

Despite all that has happened, I do miss reading other blogs, talking to some of you and having the excuse to buy more makeup to review. So I guess I could say I'm back! Hopefully I will start blogging on a weekly basis again like the good old times. But yeah, if I ever disappear again, now you'll understand why I probably left!

Toko Restaurant & Bar

2013-09-12T22:26:00.000+10:00

I took my mummy out for lunch today, along with my sisters. We wanted to treat mum with some contemporary Japanese cuisine because we don't see her very often (my parents live and work overseas). So we took her to Toko at Surry Hills today.

Toko's selection of dishes is quite different to the usual Japanese restaurants. I think you would say it's fusion. (This is why I don't blog about food so I'll let the photos do the talking!)

salmon tartare, wasabi miso, lotus root crisps

This dish will always be my favourite because I love lotus root chips and caviar. The salmon does not disappoint either!

sashimi platter

The additional ice in the bowl isn't for display purposes only, I enjoy having my sashimi served chilled - it just feels fresher that way.

crispy soft-shell crab, wasabi mayonnaise

No words can express how good this dish was, the wasabi flavor in the mayonaise wasn't that potent either.

duck breast, sansho pepper, pickled nashi pear

The duck was succulent, and you can't go wrong with pickled nashi pears.

spicy fried tofu, avocado salsa, barley miso

The extra ingredients added to the agedashi tofu was definitely different. I think it adds a nice touch of flavor but I still prefer the traditional recipe.

prawn tempura sushi

The sushi was so nice! I'm happy we added this to our order in the end. At first we didn't want sushi because... well sushi is sushi and it will never change. But wait a second, THIS sushi is rolled with crispy rice. I'd like to know how they made it so crispy!

I have no complaints with the food we ordered today. It was a really nice dining experience. I wouldn't mind eating at Toko again and hopefully will try out the rest of their menu!

- Toko Restaurant & Bar -

490 Crown Street

Surry Hills

NSW 2010

Sedona Lace 120 Pro Palette Warm Edition

2013-08-13T17:59:00.000+10:00

Price: $28.95 from Sedona Lace

The Warm Edition eyeshadow palette from Sedona Lace includes silky warm shades to neutral mattes and shimmers. With the 120 Pro Palette, it contains almost every shade imaginable to create any neutral look you desire; from a soft daytime look to a more sultry evening look.

Sedona Lace created this palette with different types of skin tones in mind to give every individual the ability to use their eyeshadows to the fullest. It's a great palette for beginners to start with and useful for makeup artists to have because of the wide range of colours.

I bought this palette along with the 28 Blush Palette which I reviewed earlier so I've had a lot of time to play around with it. Both cases are similar in size but the eyeshadow palette is thicker in height due to the double compartment.

The pan size is smaller than a M.A.C eyeshadow making it petite and cute like a button. It is also compared to M.A.C quite often, and said to be better quality. I wouldn't completely agree that SL is better than M.A.C since the quality is not quite there yet - SL looks chalkier while M.A.C looks silkier and refined. But I do agree that SL has slightly more pigmentation.

If you think about the pricing though, a M.A.C eyeshadow in Australia is roughly the same price as this palette. I'm paying the same amount but I'm getting 120 different shades and finishes in one palette. That is a pretty good deal if you don't care about brands.

The design of the palette comes with two separate compartments, which one side is removable while the other is built into the case. The removable part can be stacked on top or slotted into the other end. A red ribbon is attached on the edge for easy removal. I'm a bit disappointed that the ribbon is stuck on with sticky tape rather than glued down and the ends are beginning to fray. I might create a loop to prevent the fraying and glue it down after this review though.

A highlight of this palette is that it has some pretty good quality shimmery shades. They have a soft texture, blends well and are quite pigmented. Some of the lighter matte shades are chalky and don't blend into the skin very well. Also, a few of them barely show up on my skin too. Most of the lighter shades appear quite similar - I would've hoped to swap those with more variety of browns... like more taupes, grays and cooler browns.

Overall it's a great palette to have if you love neutrals. I use this palette every now and then, but it can get a little overwhelming with all the choices you have if you were rushing to get your makeup done in under ten minutes. I would stick to the Naked or Lorac palettes etc. in those types of situations!

Also a tip I wanted to share which I found pretty useful was to mark your favorite/go to shades with nail polish on the palette. It just makes spotting those shades a lot easier and quicker to do your makeup.

Mangosteen Peeling Gel

2013-08-07T15:33:00.002+10:00

A peeling gel is simply a skin exfoliator without the harsh, gritty particles. It is commonly used by Asians and there are hundreds of brands available. But the most common products which you may be familiar with are Cure's Natural Aqua Gel and Laneige's Yogurt Peeling Gel. The Mangosteen product I'm reviewing is very similar to Cure's one.

How does it work? Well, according to the diagram on the bottle (I don't read Japanese so I'm guessing here xD), the gel will collect dead skin on the surface of the skin and unclog pores as you massage. Since the product is in a gel form, it is able to suspend itself on the skin and provide the active ingredients time to work their magic.

I did a little digging on the main ingredient and here's what I found. Mangosteen can soothe inflammation, reduce scaly skin and itchiness, slows aging process, and combat acne.

I never believed in peeling gels because it's hard to believe that the gunk you're rolling off your skin might be dead skin or is it really just a chemical reaction? I mean it could be possible that rubbing the gel together can form dead-skin-looking particles and transferring heat from your fingertips can aid in the reaction process.

No matter how many times you apply a fresh blob of peeling gel, there is an endless supply of dead skin forming between your fingertips and face. Like is it even possible to shed that much skin?

But being the curious person I am, I put the peeling gel to the test! Are you a fake? Or the real deal?

I performed my mini experiment in a glass vial with a spoon. I smeared the gel around, trying to break it up.

After some time, I noticed that the thinner solution had separated from the gel and coated the surface of the vial. The rest of the gel I had gathered in the center. I'm guessing the solid ingredients had no place to go, or should I say 'absorbed into the skin' and be rolled up again as dead skin?

I ran the same test with the spoon and heated glass vial.Waiting until the temperature wasn't too hot, I smeared the gel with the spoon and it simply melted from the warmth. Only remains I found was a liquid solution.

In conclusion, peeling gels are the real deal. How does it really work? I guess I'll never understand the science behind that.

Now I'll do a quick experiment on the palm of my hand. It looks like runny jelly with micro-beads in it and has a pleasantly sweet smell. One pump of the product is enough to cover an entire face, but I like to do two to really get the product in. Because of the amount of liquid there is in the gel, it gives great coverage and is easy to massage with.

Almost immediately, dead skin will form on the surface of the skin. If you're worried about greasiness, this product will not leave the skin oily as the gel feels fluid like water. This makes it quick to wash off. On the downside, this product does not give me that squeaky clean feeling like a facial wash does.

After using the peeling gel, my skin was noticeably smoother. But rough patches of skin remained. I guess peeling gels are great for dusting the surface of the skin AND perfect for daily use because of how mild it feels on the skin. While the more abrasive exfoliators do a better job at ridding old dead skin that have built up. But with continuous use, I can say from experience that my skin was free from rough, patchy old skin. Also, it doesn't seem to have any healing effects on acne but from all that scrubbing and pore unclogging, the peeling gel aids in preventing breakouts.

If you asked me to choose specifically between an exfoliator and a peeling gel, I would say the exfoliator. Maybe because I'm lazy and wouldn't be bothered scrubbing dead skin off my face everyday. But still, the peeling gel is a pretty cool (and gross!) product to try out.

Makeup Ideas On A Budget

2013-06-18T16:50:00.000+10:00

While I was out grabbing lunch with the boyfriend today, a show on the TV caught my attention. Since we were waiting for our food, I was watching the TV host talk about using home ingredients as cheaper alternatives for makeup products.

At first I thought, that's a great idea to save money since most of these ingredients cost no more than $5. But then I realized how absurd it would be to walk out of the house with cornstarch and green tea on your face! Regardless, I'd like to share some of these ingredients used as makeup, since you know for sure they won't be made out of harsh chemicals and they are cheap and easy to find anywhere!

I'm sure there are more home ingredients out there that you can use as makeup. Be sure to comment below to list the ones you've heard of and even tried. Or maybe you would actually give some of these ingredients a try!

Benefit World Famous Neutrals Eyeshadow

2013-06-06T18:58:00.002+10:00

Create a soft & flattering eye look with EASIEST Nudes Ever

Graduate to gorgeous! World famous neutrals are the easiest, sexiest and most glamorous eyeshadows ever. Benefit's award-winning creaseless creams and powder shadows are in the world's most wearable shades that are totally eye-mazing.

The Easiest Nudes Ever eyeshadow palette includes two creaseless cream shadows, four long-wear powder shadows, a mirror and a Tips & Tricks booklet attached.

Made of recyclable cardboard which has a strong magnetic closure. Unlike the retro designs that Benefit features, this one has a beautiful design inspired by gypsies.

Opening the Tips & Tricks booklet will reveal the mirror. The booklet can be easily removed anytime by cutting it off, that's if you find it annoying and in the way. The booklet shows you how to do two very basic looks you can create.

The two looks are a Daytime look and a Playtime look, and the eyeshadows you need are sectioned from the top and the bottom for each look. But of course, you can always mix it up and make your own eye look.

Everything is made really well with quality, as you can see the cream shadows are contained in glass vials. Pigmentation is great, since this is an eyeshadow palette with lighter shades for daytime wear, you can clearly see the colours when applied. In terms of wearability, they do last for hours. The creaseless cream shadows live up to their name as they have never creased on me. When wiped with a regular baby wipe, it was difficult to remove unless you use proper makeup remover. They apply smoothly even with a brush and dries quickly once settled onto your skin. There are hardly any fall outs either from the powders.

I really loved the cream eyeshadows, I'm wondering if Benefit sells them individually because they are just so shimmery and pretty!