Skin Deco

Skin Deco Has Moved!

2013-01-24T14:30:00.000+08:00

Skin Deco has officially moved! The website's the same, http://skindeco.net but now on a completely new platform!

Skin Deco Is Moving!

2012-12-27T09:32:00.001+08:00

Skindeco.net will be moving to a whole new site but the name remains. The posts you see here will not be transferred to the new site but they're still available for browsing on this site (http://skindeco.blogspot.com). Adjustments on this site and setting up on the new site are still being made. Your patience is much appreciated and I look forward to seeing you at the new site when it's officially launched!

Hello Stranger

2012-10-06T23:42:00.000+08:00

Hi. It's been a while. This time a lot longer than ever before. 4 months, to be exact. Why didn't I give any notice? To be honest, I didn't think I'd be gone this long.

Well, it wasn't as if I had fallen off the face of the earth. For those of you who follow me on Twitter and Instagram (@smellyocheese), you'd more or less know what I've been up to.

This isn't exactly a comeback post nor am I saying goodbye. I know I want to continue blogging and I apologize on the disappearing act but I really can't say when I'll truly be back.

After the longest time I decided to open my blog today and that was when I came across one of my "About Me" posts. Many things have changed and yet some remained the same.

Here are 15 facts about me now to keep you up to speed...

1 -- Meet M (Yes, the letter "M"). She lives with me and is lovable in so many ways. I have a feeling that she likes me too.

2 -- I gave up on all my other pets so M gets all the attention.

3 -- We live together in an apartment. Finally, I can come back to a home and not a mere room.

4 -- I've decided to not live in clutter anymore.

5 -- I'm starting to discover new realms of shopping from furnishing my apartment.

6 -- For the first time, I painted walls from start to finish all by myself.

7 -- I've acquired a new financial commitment.

8 -- Thank goodness for the new job that helps to pay for it.

9 -- While I'm no longer clueless of my current position, I'm not still not sure which direction I want to head towards.

10 -- But if there's one thing I'm sure about, is making things right again with my family. I have been distant for far too long.

11 -- Back in June, I joined my first run and finished the 10km category within 75 minutes after 4 months of training.

12 -- By adopting healthier eating habits and exercising, I've lost 15kg in 6 months. I'm no longer trying to lose more weight.
13 -- Unfortunately, losing my cheeks made me look "sickly" so I'm now trying to figure out how to counter that. Suggestions?
14 -- I haven't fallen out of love with makeup and cosmetics but I've been using mainly staples.

15 -- I'm in love.

What's In a Beauty Box?

2012-06-01T08:30:00.000+08:00

To quote Forrest Gump, "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get"

Let's be honest -- surprises are fun! The anticipation and excitement of not knowing what to expect. Then, there's hope of something good and worry of the undesirables...

So, if I am to open up a mystery box of beauty goodies, here are 5 things that I'd be thrilled to find.

Read on!

#1: Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate
When someone compliments my skin and asks what I use, I tell them I use the Kiehl's MRC. Second to my cleanser, it's the only skin care product that I use diligently. On days when I'm just too tired to be bother, I'd just wash my face and slap on 3 drops of this oil. While I can't be certain that this is my secret to good skin, it must be doing something right to keep my skin worry-free!

#2: Hada Labo Tamagohada Cleanser
Used the first tube until it split open and already halfway through my 2nd tube. This cleanser is a must for me on makeup days. I am certain that this cleanser is the reason why the facial therapist couldn't find much gunk to squeeze out of my face.

#3: Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat
This is the only top coat that can give me the confidence to paint my nails just 30 minutes before bed. It dries almost immediately and I no longer have to live with smears and hair patterns on my freshly painted nails.

#4: Shu Uemura Hard 9 Formula Eyebrow Pencil
I may own almost a thousand eyeshadows but I'll only ever need ONE eyebrow pencil.

#5: Origins Mega-Mushroom Skin Relief Face Mask
Just because my skin is mostly clear doesn't mean that it doesn't rebel against me. At times of flared-up itchy and flaky eczema, this is my go-to mask to calm everything down.

Check out what my blogging ladies would like to find in their beauty boxes!

Beautyholics Anonymous

Rinnah’s Consumer Reviews

Soloverly

Unconventional Geek

Getting Fit: Part 1 -- Finding Motivation to Eat Healthy

2012-05-15T23:11:00.001+08:00

Finding the motivation to lose weight is a piece of cake. You know, the moment when you've gorged down a large piece of cake packed with cream and icing...
Then, the pang of guilt hits and your self-esteem goes down the drain because you can't believe how little self-control you have.

Once and for all, you want to change your diet and start exercising. Or some other similar experiences. You get the picture.

Now, the toughest part is actually staying motivated to continuously eat well and exercise. Here's how I do it with the food!

Before we go any further, we'll need to realign the mindset. Here are a few things that you need to understand and digest before attempting to do anything because if you don't, you'll forever be "struggling":

You will not lose weight overnight.

Changing into this new lifestyle should be gradual and so should your weight-loss. There is no short cut.

Unless you're willing to be very disciplined, don't set a model or athlete's body as your benchmark.

Don't be fooled by the 101 types of diet food, supplements, beverages and pills. Forget about slimming creams, stockings, shoes and corsets as well.

The "secret" to losing weight is basically having healthy eating habits and regular exercise. When done properly, the results will show. More importantly, this is a lifestyle change and not just something you do for a certain period of time.

I find it highly unusual when people ask me if I'm going to stop eating healthy and exercising since I've already lost weight. Well, that's how you reverse all the hard work and go back to point A. Even though I've adjusted to my new lifestyle, I admit that falling into old habits can be easy if I do not keep up with the discipline.

Here are a few ways how I keep myself motivated to maintain my new lifestyle.

Motivation to Eat Healthy

Snack Consciously

I'm big on munching and I used to have a tendency to munch anything in sight. It wasn't because I was hungry... mostly out of boredom. The first thing I did to counter this habit was to drink water. So, whenever I felt like munching, I'd drink a good half a bottle of water and then decide again if I felt like a munch.

I'd also allocate snack time in the afternoon so that I'll have something to look forward to. Preparing my snack beforehand helps to prevent me from reaching out for the random biscuits and junk food we have around the office. I have a tub of pitted prunes and a packet of dried figs in the fridge for "emergency cases" but I would usually have a piece of guava or a banana (sometimes I nuke it in the micro turn it into dessert!) with a cup of tea. I also have a jar of homemade trail mix which consists of soy beans, chickpeas and lotus seeds (lower calorie options compared to nuts).

At home, I have frozen fruits (blueberries, mango & banana) to pop into my mouth whenever I pass by the fridge and feel the need to eat something. It will also help a lot if you keep your workstation or kitchen free from unhealthy snacks such as candy, cookies, chips and the like.

Make Healthier Choices

Eating out is one of my biggest challenges because "healthy" options usually come in the form of sandwiches or salads (usually overpriced) while unhealthy foods are aplenty.

On weekdays, when I have to eat out I'll simply have to keep in mind to cut back on the rice or noodles and avoid fried or oily dishes. With healthy options being so limited, I've taken to cooking my own food. At least 3 times a week, I would bring my own lunch to work. I cook up a variety dishes but basically I'd have a balance of protein (from eggs and meat), carbs (millet, quinoa, buckwheat pasta or sweet potato) and veggies. So, while my colleagues eat a McChicken, I'll be eating out of my lunch box.

Not to boast but I take pride in my healthy cooking because I put in the effort to make it taste good. I've posted a few pictures of dishes that I'd make and if you follow me on Instagram (@smellyocheese), I frequently post up what I eat. Ingredients I incorporate to make my dishes flavorful include garlic, onion, bell peppers, cayenne pepper, chili and dried herbs. I recently discovered this ingredient called "Nutritional Yeast", which can be found in the organic section of major supermarkets, that adds a nutty/cheesy flavor to my stir-fry, eggs and pasta sauces. It's a good source for vitamin B12 too!

Eating healthy should be done regularly and not just an occasional thing. A lot of people make the mistake of strictly "dieting" for a few days or a week before they fall back into unhealthy eating habits. And then they wonder why they haven't lost any weight! Eating healthily on a regular basis means that I can pig out on the unhealthy food over the weekend without fretting.

Be Picky & Eat Only Good Food

Before I started to eat healthier, I had the habit of "tasting" everything I see. Yet, even if I know the cake or biscuit doesn't taste all that great, I'd still eat it for the sake of wanting to chew or munch on something. This is not a habit that's easy to curb but besides turning to my healthy snacks for temporary relief, I've learned to be pickier with my food.

Very simply, I'm conditioning myself whereby if something doesn't taste good, I'm not gonna bother to eat it. Not only is it a waste of stomach space but it's also the added calories that I don't even realize I've consumed. All I know is that my pants were getting tighter. So, if I'm gonna use up my calorie quota for a cheesecake, it better a friggin awesome cheesecake!
---------------
By changing the way you approach food and learning how to appreciate good food, you'll find yourself eating a lot less junk and the weight will eventually go down.

In Part 2, I'll be talking about how to find motivation to exercise regularly!

Update: New Glasses + Recent Haul + Random Photos

2012-05-07T23:45:00.002+08:00

After almost two weeks of not blogging, I've finally gathered the mood to sit myself down in front of the computer and write. Not surprisingly, I'm missing several photos of the products that I want to review and lacking inspiration for posts with the existing photos that I have. How typical...

Still, I wanted to have a post up just to kinda reconnect.
Here's something about this and that.
How cute are those beach kitties I met in Perhentian Island?

Last week I went for a picnic at this place called Sungai Congkak. It was like an escape from the busy town without going too far. We're thinking of going there for a camping trip.

A scene like this makes me wanna wear purple eyeshadow. I did a tutorial way back in 2009, inspired by purple skies. This photo was taken while I was heading to Perhentian Island. I'm very eager to go out to sea again!

These days I've been doing a lot less shopping for cosmetics since, well, I have enough makeup to last me several lifetimes. Nonetheless, sometimes I just itch to get something new. From SaSa, I picked up theBalm Meet Matte Eyeshadow Palette and theBalm Frat Boy Blush which entitled me an RM5 rebate and a free single eyeshadow. Also, after much contemplation, I got the Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #21 (Teal).

Lookie! I got new glasses! Although in my photos, I'm usually wearing contacts but in real life, I mostly wear glasses. For comfort purposes plus my eyes become sensitive if I consistently wear contacts.

Even if I may seem a tad quiet on the blog, I do check in on Twitter frequently. I've also jumped on the Instagram(@smellyocheese) bandwagon! Feel free to follow me if you wish.

What's been new with you lately? :)
Let's chat!

Review: Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation

2012-04-24T23:22:00.000+08:00

When it comes to makeup, Japanese brands are generally not my cup of tea. I make a face at the sight of shimmery eyeshadow palettes and pastel blushes. So, for Shiseido to grow on me was unexpected. It started with the lip products and then with the mascara that eventually became one of the best mascaras I've ever used.

Now, they've tied another loop around me with the Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation.

Read on for my review.

Shiseido Perfect Refining Foundation is essentially a liquid foundation housed in a sleek, compact, and lightweight bottle with a nozzle. Sure, it doesn't look as fancy as prestigious glass bottles which most luxury brands have but I can't deny that it's practical. It's small enough to carry around in my makeup pouch, I won't risk breaking the bottle and the nozzle niftily dispenses a controllable amount of product. Triple win!

The formula is not too runny nor too thick -- just the ideal texture for blending effortlessly. The shade that I have is O60 Natural Deep Ochre which is quite olive and a tinge darker than my non-tanned skin but when I'm tanned, the color suits me very well.

When applied, the Perfect Refining Foundation practically looks like second skin but heaps better. It has a medium coverage that sufficiently evens out the skin tone and covers up any marks or blotchiness. The semi-matte finish feels comfortable to wear and doesn't make my skin appear overly caked up or too oily throughout the day.

It has pretty decent lasting power as well, though not the best. Overall, it is a reliable foundation that gets the job done. Plus it has SPF 15 which I personally isn't too fussed about.

I've realized that Shiseido isn't one of those brands that gives me the "wow" factor. They simply perform very well and gain my appreciation in time by being go-to products I can count on. That, I believe, is the key ingredient to a healthy relationship with Shiseido.

Shiseido Perfect Refining retails for RM130 for 30ml. Comes in 14 shades, according to the website.

Earth Day Special Double Tutorial

2012-04-22T23:34:00.000+08:00

Happy Earth Day!

In conjunction with Earth Day, I have for you a wearable green eyeshadow tutorial. Though I wore it for daytime, it's also appropriate for a night event when paired with a stronger lip color.

There's another tutorial after the jump, featuring a fresh weekend look with a bit of teal sneaked in.

Enjoy!

On the top lid I had a gradient of yellow to green to dark green -- Shu Uemura M Yellow 350, MAC Wondergrass and Urban Decay Libertine. On the bottom lash line I had shades of blue -- MAC Electro Sky, MAC Sea & Sky and Urban Decay Sabbath.

After prepping the lid with an eyeshadow primer (UDPP), apply a medium green (Wondergrass) onto 3/4th of the lid. Then, smoke out the outer corner with a deep green (Libertine). Blend the colors together with a blending brush and apply a medium brown to blend out the crease. Add yellow (M Yellow 350) to the inner corner and blend it into the green.

On the bottom lash line, layer a medium blue (Electro Sky) and darken in between the roots of the lashes with a dark blue (Sabbath). Brighten up the inner portion of the bottom lash line with a frosty blue (Sea & Sky). Thinly line the upper lash line with a black gel eyeliner and apply a beige highlight eyeshadow under the brows.

Complete the look by applying several coats of mascara and filling in the eyebrows.

BONUS TUTORIAL!

This look uses colors that are a little less boring than weekday browns but it's still very light. It's easy to wear for a casual day out when you simply don't want to have piles of makeup on.

Apply a burnt coral shade (MAC Cut to Fit) up to the crease. Just below the crease, pat on a brighter shade (MAC Straw Harvest) just below the crease to make the lid stand out. Blend out the crease area with a sheer coral shade (MAC Tete-a-Tint). On the lower lash line, I've smudged on a dark teal eye pencil (Stage Teal Theater).

Getting Fit: Salad-free Diet

2012-04-08T23:43:00.000+08:00

Mashed quinoa and pumpkin + beef steak cubes + broccoli

Whenever a person wants to lose weight (in the cases of most ladies, it’s all the time), they’ll build their meals around salads. Before they know it, they become sick of munching on lettuce all day long and eventually lose control in the presence of “proper” food.

Don’t get me wrong, I love vegetables and I highly advocate the consumption of veggies daily. At the same time, I believe in feeling satisfied with your “diet” food and not just eating for the sake of wanting to lose weight (but if you love salad, by all means go for it!). Still, it annoys the hell out of me when people think that I lose weight by eating a whole load of salad and depriving myself of “proper” food.

Continue reading if you want to know what’s on my menu instead of salad.

Diet plays a very important role in losing weight. The key is not simply eating less but replacing unhealthy eating habits with healthy ones. A few rules to adopting a healthier diet include:

Not skipping meals
Never starving
Eating nutritiously
Reducing processed food

Note: On my menu, you will not find meal replacer shakes, weight loss cereal or granola bars and diet pill/supplement/tea. I prefer having real food, thank you very much.

High On Protein

Ideally, protein should make up 40% of our daily food intake, which is a lot higher than what typical Malaysian meals would have. Because I exercise regularly, I need protein to help build and repair my muscles. Also, protein keeps me fuller for longer and reduces hunger pangs.

My protein sources are mainly from chicken, beef, fish, eggs and soy. I try to include protein at every meal.

Easy On the Carbs

Another 40% of our daily food intake should consist of carbohydrates, which we tend to have too much of. Carbs are not limited to just starchy grains but also fruits, vegetables and sugar. Carbs are necessary to provide energy and maintain healthy bowel movements. However, if the extra sugars in carbs are not burned off, they will be stored in the body as fat. In many situations, sugar/carbs is the main cause of weight gain and not fat itself.

Complex carbohydrates or whole grains contain higher fiber and nutrients than simple carbohydrates such as sugar and white rice/bread. Because they are slower to digest, they also fill me up and keep me full without having to eat large amounts.

To fill my carbohydrate quota, I opt for alternative grains such as millet, quinoa, buckwheat and rye. I also go for starchy vegetables and legumes such as sweet potatoes, chickpeas and beans. I’ve cut down on wheat flour products (pasta, bread, cookies, cake, etc.) and limit my white rice intake to a maximum of one meal a day.

Filling Up On Vegetables

Lettuce is not at the top of my list when I want veggies (except Romaine lettuce, which I love). Reason being, lettuce tend to be bland, doesn’t have much “body” to bite and hardly fills me up. Plus, the most commonly used iceberg lettuce has very little nutritional content. I mostly have Romaine lettuce as a side dish or mid-day snack.

Veggies that I do prefer and eat regularly include broccoli, celery, carrots, mushroom, bell peppers, green beans, spinach, tomatoes and okra (ladies fingers).

Fat is Healthy

Many people who are “on a diet” tend to be terrified of fat. Healthy fats such as omega-3 fatty acids from oily fish (eg. Salmon) are good for you and they don’t make you fat.

I mostly cook with olive oil and sesame oil. Nuts and avocado are also good sources for fat.

Low Salt Flavors

Too much salt, despite being calorie-free, causes water retention and bloating. In other words, it can cause weight-gain and make you look puffy. Healthy food tends to put people off because having low salt content results them to taste bland.

For adding flavor to my cooking, I use onion, garlic, sesame oil, cayenne pepper, chili, parsley and other herbs & spices. I also love adding unsalted seaweed in soup to make it more flavorful.

That’s a lot of stuff to digest (pun very much intended) in one post! I’ll leave you with a few pictures of the lunches are usually cook and bring to work. I regularly post up what I eat on Twitter and also Tumblr so feel free to follow me to perhaps get some inspirations on what to eat – besides salad!

Beef cutlets + spicy fried millet wrapped in egg + broccoli + yellow bell peppers
Spicy stir-fried tomato and chicken breast + okra + millet +stir-fried mushrooms
Meatballs in tomato-based sauce + spinach + quinoa noodles
Fried millet with beef + okra + hard-boiled egg + seaweed vegetable soup
Stir-fried buckwheat pasta with chicken, bell peppers, zucchini and mushrooms

Disclaimer: This post is based on my personal experiences, what I've read up online and also advice from my trainer, Jeremy. By the way, Jeremy is currently on a month-long holiday but if you'd like to direct questions to him, he'll answer them when he gets back. Meanwhile, if you have any questions for me, I'd gladly respond :)

Review: Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils

2012-04-07T20:59:00.001+08:00

Cream eyeshadows are not everyone's cup of tea -- They require a certain skill to blend, they're less forgiving of mistakes and they run a high risk of creasing.
Yet, I'm a fan of them. Good ones of course. Why?

They act as a base to make eyeshadows more vibrant
When blended properly, it creates a smooth gradation with just one product
Good ones stay put the entire day

Read on for my thoughts on the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils.

I've been eyeing these pencils for awhile but I was a little hesitant to buy them individually. So, when the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil Stash came out for Christmas, I caved and bought them. In the set there were 5 shades, 4 of which are available in full sizes:

Delinquent: A rich and vibrant purple with splashes of shimmer. It's a very beautiful color and a great base for powder eyeshadows. I used this in my 2012 V-day look.

Rehab: A slightly frosty finish medium-deep neutral brown. I was looking for a neutral cream shadow that I can use all over for my daily work makeup and Rehab was supposed to be it. Compared to my very frequently-used Paul & Joe Eye Gloss, Rehab appears a bit flat on the lids without much dimension. It's not a bad color and I use it often but I just wanted a whole lot more from it.

Juju: A lighter version of Rehab. The color is very similar to my skin color when applied. Again, it lacked dimension. I sometimes use it in the crease to blend out Rehab. As I know, Juju is not available in full size.

Sin: A frosty pinkish champagne. When swatched, Sin seems to make a good highlight shade but it sheers out a lot when blended. Out of all the colors, Sin had the least even coverage when blended.

Clash: A bright metallic teal with shimmer. Another reason why I bought this set was because I wanted to find a replacement for my beloved Rollickin' MAC Paint Pot (C'mon, it's been 4 years! Repromote!). I was counting on Clash to fill that gap but it doesn't come close at all. It's just a very different color. In terms of finish and opacity, Clash is similar to Delinquent and also makes a great base.

In terms of color quality of the 24/7 Shadow Pencils, some colors are more pigmented and opaque than others. Generally, they apply very smoothly but you'll need to act quick to blend them because they dry fast. As a result, they're not the easiest type of cream eyeshadows to blend. Being in pencil form, you get precision application but there's typically less product than cream eyeshadows in pots. To compensate, pencil form is harder to dry out despite the hassle of having to sharpen it.

Urban Decay claims the product to be smudgeproof and waterproof, which I completely agree, but they're not crease-proof. While it did stay put the entire day, I got some creasing which can't be blended out. That didn't look too pretty, of course. Still, the pencils have above average staying power compared to most cream eyeshadows I've used.

Overall, the Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencils are decent but they're not great. In other words, I wouldn't buy them individually.

The Stash was undeniably good value because I got 5 x 2.5g pencils for RM126 when a full-sized one of 2.8g is retailing at RM70-something. I doubt they still carry the Stash in Malaysia's Sephora, though. Yes, my bad for being late to inform!

If you're in the US, you can check the Stash out from the Urban Decay website. They're on sale now for only $12 (marked down from $34) making the Stash an even better deal!

Three Looks: Picking Inspirations

2012-04-07T00:57:00.000+08:00

Please ignore the hair. I'm going through an awkward growing out stage.

While my quick work makeup routine is nearly perfected, every now and then I like spending a bit more time in front of the mirror to prep myself for work. With the very few fancy weekend outings and tutorials lately, most of my makeup sadly becomes neglected.

Recently, however, I was feeling rather inspired and translated those inspirations into my makeup. They're not very special looks but I hope you enjoy the inspirations that come with it.

Read on to find out what inspired these three work looks!

Inspiration: Paris B of MyWomenStuff

I was catching up on some [blog] reading when I stumbled upon Paris B's post on how to apply work-friendly makeup. Paris and I have different tastes when it comes to eye makeup but I always enjoy seeing how eyeshadow is applied to eye shapes different than my own. When I saw her look, I was keen to try it out on myself instead.

What I did was kept the lids rather bare with Urban Decay 24/7 Shadow Pencil in Juju on the main lid and Sin as highlight beneath the brow arch. To smoke out the outer corner I applied Urban Decay's Cobra (from the Black Palette) and tightlined with Urban Decay 14/7 Eye Pencil in Zero. I emphasized the liner on the outer V, connecting to the lower lash line, as what Paris did. On the cheeks I tested out Pearlescent Pink by Wet n Wild and wore a go-to lipstick, Clarins Joli Rouge in #726 Heather Pink.

Inspiration: The Beach

I had just gotten back from a diving trip to Pulau Perhentian the night before and have been moaning that I want to move to the island. Besides the new tan, I wanted to bring a little bit more of the beach with me to the office. I opted for a classic summer look which is golden lids with teal on the lower lashline.

I used Urban Decay's Toasted, Half-baked and Buck (from the Naked Palette) on the lids and the Teal color from Smashbox's Hot Date Eyeshadow Palette. I also added a winged out line. If you're wondering why my eyes are looking a bit off it's because I forgot to apply mascara before taking pictures and was already late for work. I used a glowy bronzy shade on my cheeks (MAC MSF in Sunny by Nature) and a nude gloss (Dior Addict Ultra-gloss Reflect in #127)

Inspiration: The purple stripes on my shirt

Now I can understand why an average woman can just own one eyeshadow palette and be perfectly contented. Because there's no need for colors other than browns! As much as I hate to admit it, brown or neutral makeup is what I would usually wear to work. I can apply it fast and it goes with whatever I'm wearing. One day, I just got very sick of browns and applied my makeup to match my shirt. I had purple stripes on my shirt so I did a plum/cranberry -ish look.

I used Benefit Cream Shadow in Stiletto as a base and MAC Heritage Rouge pigment over the base. After that, I darkened the outer corners with MAC eyeshadow in Spiced Chocolate, blended everything out and applied a black gel eyeliner. I can't remember what I had on my cheeks and the lips were bare.

Your Say:

Do you stick to a safe classic look for work or would you experiment with different colors and styles?

Review: Clarins Whitening Velvet Emulsion

2012-04-04T21:31:00.000+08:00

In my 4 years of blogging, this is probably the 4th version of the Clarins White Plus HP Sea Lily Enriched range that I've encountered. Every year, Clarins looks into improving the formula of their whitening range and finally, I'm sold.

To say that I was blown away would be an overstatement but the subtle benefits of the Clarins Whitening Velvet Emulsion are hard to ignore.

You see, whitening has always passed my radar because I'm one of those who is not keen being fair or have any problems with pigmentation. Most whitening products would go straight to mom and sadly, most don't live up to their claims.

Clarins Whitening Velvet Emulsion is a daytime moisturizer with whitening benefits. Quite straightforward, right? To be honest, I placed no expectations on this moisturizer in terms of whitening. It wasn't like I was trying to be fairer anyway.

What actually drew me in to start using this product was the texture -- light and velvety. Because I apply foundation daily, I prefer daytime moisturizers that are very lightweight in texture, absorbs readily and doesn't make my foundation budge. In my daytime regime, moisturizer is not a priority (sunscreen is) simply because I don't like my skin to feel heavy underneath all the makeup. However, the Velvet Emulsion is so light that it doesn't feel like I'm adding an additional layer to my skin. Even when I use it in between the Ettusais essence and sunscreen, my skin would just feel soft, supple and ready for foundation. One pump is enough to sufficiently cover my entire face.

While the texture alone was enough to make me a frequent user of the Clarins Velvet Emulsion, the whitening benefit, believe it or not, actually kicked in! Although the effect wasn't drastic, I started to notice that my complexion was becoming more even. Friends have also commented that I looked fairer! Fine, in my books that wouldn't exactly be a compliment (tan lover!) but I couldn't disagree.

There's also an SPF20 version of the Velvet Emulsion which I find has a slightly thicker and more opaque texture. Lyn of Beauty Cabby has reviewed it on her site and it seems like the SPF20 feels quite different from the non-SPF one. If you're keen to know how this fairs on an oilier complexion, do check out the review on Belle Demoiselle.

At RM190 a bottle, the Clarins Velvet Emulsion doesn't come cheap but for its size (75ml), it's reasonable when compared with other department store brands.

*The product featured in this post was provided by Clarins Malaysia for consideration and review on Skin Deco

Getting Fit: Finding Time to Exercise

2012-03-26T01:33:00.000+08:00

"I have no time to exercise" is probably one of the most commonly-heard reasons to not exercise.

Yes, we're all very busy be it with work, family, school, etc. And there are times that we're just so mentally-drained and all we wanna do is relax or do things that don't require much exertion of energy.

Here are some of my personal tips on how you can find time for exercise.

#1: Appreciate Exercise

You can Google up all sorts of articles telling you about the benefits of exercise which is why I'm not going to echo them but I will tell you what I've personally experienced:

Better body shape eg. more definition in my arms, smaller and less jiggly thighs, narrower hips, tummy doesn't bulge out, etc.
Increased strength and stamina -- I can lift heavier objects with less effort, I can run faster and further and I can climb a hill without needing to stop many times for rest
Stress relief, better energy and deeper sleep -- Exercise releases happiness-inducing endorphins to relief stress and I find that I'd have better energy throughout the day if I exercised in the morning. I also sleep better at night.
Positivity -- When life's getting me down and negativity creeps in, I find the sense of accomplishment from my exercise when I can so better in a tough routine or hit a new personal record when I run.

#2: Enjoy Exercise

To many people, exercise can be a dreadful chore. For a person that doesn't play sport, exercise was something that I only came to like with time. I started enjoying it from witnessing how it has helped improved myself physically and emotionally. Of course, finding joy in exercise can simply be doing the activity (dancing, badminton, etc.) with a friend. If you don't like to jog, don't just force yourself to do it halfheartedly. It's either find an activity that you like or learn to like the activity. I used to loathe jogging/running but I've actually grown to like it.

#4: Exercise Effectively

My initial idea of exercise was jogging, swimming or going for aerobic classes. The problem is that the first two exercises take up a lot of time to burn any significant amount of calories and classes are usually an hour-long (or annoyingly crowded).

I'm very glad that I've gotten to know about High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) which basically involves doing a series of short high intensity bursts of exercises. In other words, I get a lot more done ie. more calories burned in a much shorter amount of time. Also...

"You burn fat faster, increase your HGH levels (the hormone that burns fat while keeping muscle), and produce EPOC (an effect where your body continues to burn calories for hours after your workout). Basically, you can speed through a workout and continue to keep your metabolism up for 24 hours after you work out!" - C25

I go for my Circuit25 sessions on average twice a week. About 2-3 times a week I'll extract the moves that I've learned and allocate 30 minutes to do warm-up, HIIT, strength training and stretching. Being able to do an effective exercise in 30 minutes means I have less room for excuses. 30-minutes is an episode of "How I Met Your Mother", 4 YouTube videos, pressing the snooze button 3 times less...

#3: Make Exercise a Habit

It's difficult to transition from doing little to no exercise to exercising regularly. In my case, I was somewhat forced to exercise because I was very determined to lose weight and I signed up for a gym membership. To be frank, that ignited the regular activity. But once I'd gotten the hang of exercise, it started to feel weird if I did not exercise. I would feel lethargic and grumpy even.

Getting into the habit of exercise is very unlikely to happen overnight so, take it one step at a time. Nonetheless, you have to understand that seeing results from exercise will not happen overnight either. Just stick with it and keep progressing -- you'll experience the benefits of exercise soon enough.

Here's a good read on how you can [overcome the barriers to exercise].

If you have any questions for Jeremy regarding fitness or diet, please don't hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.

Review: SilkyGirl Hi-Definition Waterproof Mascara

2012-03-25T17:36:00.000+08:00

SilkyGirl is one of those brands that I wouldn't spend more than 5 minutes looking at. It's not because I'm a brand snob but the mere sight of the tacky packaging is sometimes enough to put me off. Still, I'll have to admit that Silkygirl has its gems. One in particular that got me totally excited were the Moisture Max Lipglosses.

Having read Eli's (So Loverly) rave over the SilkyGirl Hi-Definition Waterproof Mascara, I was game to try. While I wouldn't pay over a hundred Ringgit for a Diorshow mascara, I have no problem paying less than RM20 for a mascara that supposedly gives a similar effect.

Let's just say I was impressed. Read on.

I appreciate that even though this mascara has such an affordable price, the folks at Silkygirl actually bothered to give us a non-generic brush. The stubby silicone bristles allow me to get the brush very close to my lash line to build up the volume and the bulb-like portion is great for coating the corner lashes as well as the bottom lashes.

Ask me if this compares to Diorshow, I'll say no because from my experience, Diorshow (original one) gives quite a good amount of volume that the SilkyGirl Hi-Definition mascara lacks. However, SilkyGirl does give me some reasonable lengthening, the bristles separated my lashes well and it keeps a curl up. All-in-all, it's a reliable day-to-day mascara. But that's just because I crave dramatic volume when it comes to mascaras.

This mascara did fail in terms of being waterproof. I've learned my lesson to not wear this mascara when I know I'll be working out later in the day because my sweat is gonna get it off. On the plus side, this mascara is a lot easier to remove compared to some of my other waterproof mascaras.

SilkyGirl Hi-Definition Waterproof Mascara retails for RM18.90. I got mine at 20% discount for only RM15.

Tutorial: Peek-a-Rainbow

2012-03-19T00:20:00.000+08:00

Hey peeps!
I finally uploaded the video tutorial (about time!) of the Rainbow Liner look. It's not an exact duplicate of the first attempt but the way it was created is the same.

Details on the look and tutorial after the jump!

If you watch the video, you will realize that this look actually isn't complicated. In fact, only one brush was used. The main challenge involved is budgeting enough space to place all of the colors and also blending in all the colors from one to another. You can definitely expect to be using more than 7 colors!

Items Used:
I Nuovi Pencil Liner in White
Manli 80-color Eyeshadow Palette
Maybelline Hypersharp Liner
MAC Glitter in Reflects Antique Gold

Getting Fit: 6 Diet & Fitness Myths

2012-03-12T23:46:00.000+08:00

Hands up if you’ve heard of the following myths before:

As a female, I shouldn't do strength training as it will make me look bigger and muscular.
Doing 100 sit-ups a day will trim my belly.
Dieting is enough to make me lose weight. I don't need to exercise.
As long as I exercise, I don't have to worry about what I eat.
I'm genetically big, diet and exercise won't work on me.
I'm naturally thin already. I don't need to exercise or watch what I eat.

Have you ever heard of those myths before?
Have you ever wondered if there was any truth in those myths?

Check out what trainer, Jeremy Bird, has to say about those myths.

The truth about weight loss is simple – good eating habits and proper exercise. Yet, many of us are inclined to buy into all sorts of unbelievable myths in hope that they would work on us since it apparently worked on others. I’ve come across a whole lot from drinking lime juice to self-heating slimming cream to vibrating waist belts. You don’t need me to tell you that they don’t work, do you?

To start off with, I’ve narrowed down to 6 Diet & Fitness Myths that we commonly hear. Let’s see how true those myths really are…

Myth #1: As a female, I shouldn't do strength training as it will make me look bigger and muscular.

Stength training is a very important part of a woman’s workout regime. Although cardio burns more calories than strength training during the workout itself, strength training burns more calories after the workout, for the next 24 hours. This is called the afterburn. Also muscle burns more calories than fat therefore speeding up the metabolism. -- Jeremy

Many of my female friends would not even think of doing any strength training in fear that they’d develop manly arms. Despite their warnings, I did strength training anyway. I’m not hesitant to do boy push-ups and tricep-dips. Did I get manly arms? Nope. Rather, my arms are now more toned, defined and less jiggly when I wave!

Myth #2: Doing 100 sit-ups a day will trim my belly.

Cardio exercises and a healthy diet burn fat around your stomach, not sit ups. Sit ups tone your abdominal muscles, even if they’re under a layer of fat. -- Jeremy

I’ve definitely been into the whole sit-ups thing. Not until I started properly exercising did I realize that there are so many types of exercises for the core rather than just do the classic sit-up.

Myth #3: Dieting is enough to make me lose weight. I don't need to exercise.

A weight loss diet can help to lose some weight but it needs to go hand in hand with exercise to maximise results. And diet alone will not get you fit. -- Jeremy

Yes, dieting alone can help you lose weight but chances are, you’re going to feel like crap. I know I did then I tried that a few years back. I was low on energy, stamina and strength. I had to be very restrictive with my food. Worst of all, it took quite a long time for drastic results to show.

Myth #4: As long as I exercise, I don't have to worry about what I eat.

Exercise will help your fitness levels but diet is a huge factor when it comes to body composition. You can be fit but not the weight or body shape you‘re aiming for. -- Jeremy

When I started getting fit, my aim was to lose weight but I seriously thought that if I just exercised more, I wouldn’t have to change much of my diet. When I eventually knew better and developed healthier eating habits along with exercise, the results were faster and more drastic.

Myth #5: I'm genetically big, diet and exercise won't work on me.

Any body type can benefit from diet and exercise. Changing your weight is mathematics; weight loss requires consuming less calories than you burn, regardless of body type. -- Jeremy

It’s great to accept who you are but if your weight or shape or fitness ability is upsetting you, then perhaps you should do something about it. Do it the right way and progress at your own pace. If you keep at it diligently enough, you’ll watch yourself transform.

Myth #6: I'm naturally thin already. I don't need to exercise or watch what I eat.

We all need to follow a balanced diet and take moderate exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle. Thin doesn’t make you fit or healthy. And the only way to make those muscles toned is to exercise. -- Jeremy

Naturally thin folks are the envy of those who aren’t. Unfortunately, naturally thin doesn’t translate to being fit. So, even if you’re not looking to lose weight, there are many many ways you can still benefit from exercise and eating a balanced diet.

Have you ever heard of those myths before?

Are there any other myths that you need to have cleared up?

If you have any questions for Jeremy regarding fitness or diet, please don't hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.

Any Plans for the Weekend?

2012-03-10T01:50:00.000+08:00

Finally, it's the weekend! Work's gonna take up some extra time next week so I'm making the best out of my weekend. I already have a few things lined-up for the next few days.

How are you spending your weekend?

Scoring yourself samples of Kiehl's new Clearly Corrective range, perhaps? Read on for details!

1. Pick Up Samples

In the month of March, drop by a Kiehl's counter or outlet to sample the products from their new whitening range, Clearly Corrective. Once you've tested out the samples, leave your feedback on the Kiehl's Facebook page and you may be in the running to win a full-sized Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution worth RM200. They're giving out 1 bottle a week!

2. Well-deserved Pampering

I'm scheduled for a facial on Saturday morning while spending some quality time with my cousin. Since I had a pretty good experience the last time I was there, I'll be returning to SanPuri Beauty.

3. Get Active

I usually don't have the luxury to spend more than an hour to workout on weekdays. To compensate, I'd spend a weekend morning in the gym. Mostly because on weekends, the gym isn't crowded. On top of that, I'll be going for a hike, which I haven't been in months.

4. Hug the Cat

The one activity that I look forward to most is cuddling with my cat. I don't live with her (condo restrictions)so being able to hug her will be the highlight of my weekend.

"Connie, you look tired..."

2012-03-05T22:54:00.000+08:00

After 9 hours of uninterrupted sleep, this is as "well-rested" as I can manage. I'm aware that I "look tired". If I hear someone say that to me one more time I'm gonna go berserk!
For the gazillion-th time, I feel fine! I'm not tired! T_T It's not like I haven't been doing something about those puffiness and dark circles.

I'll show you the treatments that I've tried recently after the jump.

In the recent few months I've tried:

Melvita Naturalift Youthful Skin Complex for Eyes and Lips
Garnier Brightening Eye Roll-On
Clinique All About Eyes

Melvita's a brand new all-organic cosmetics line in our shores and I was impressed with their huge array of products. I was given the Naturalift Youthful Skin Complex for Eyes and Lips (RM163/15ml) to try and um, if it worked I wouldn't be writing such a post. To be fair, it wasn't meant to treat dark circles and puffiness. Regardless, I didn't experience any reduction in lines. My eye area did feel a bit more moisturized and the the texture of the eye cream wasn't greasy. I didn't use the product on my lips because the formula contains beeswax and my lips aren't very fond of that.

The Garnier Roll-On (RM24.90/15ml) is a pretty popular product and it supposedly contains caffeine which is claimed to be a very good ingredient for dark circles. Perhaps the caffeine dosage in this roller isn't very potent because it did nothing for me either. The roller feels good to massage the eye area and it helps slightly with the puffiness but the effect doesn't last long. Out of the roller ball is a clear lightweight serum that sits well under makeup. I'm actually wondering right now if I could use coffee bags on my eyes...

Clinique All About Eyes (RM130/15ml) was once a very popular eye product in the market. I tried it once a long time ago when dark circles weren't my concern. Now trying it again, I'm left wondering why this product doesn't work on me. Why do I have to fall into the lower percentile where a popular product doesn't work on me? Compared to the the other two eye treatments, this one has a creamier texture but it isn't heavy. I got some hydration out of it. Better than nothing, I suppose. *groans*

Fun Fact: Did you know that eye treatment products are typically 15ml and have a shelf life of 6 months once opened? In order to prevent eye infections, eye products should not be used after 6 months and 15ml is plentiful for 6 months.

Despite the fact that these eye treatments did squat for my eyes, I'm not saying that they will not work on others. Out of all skincare products, I'm quite convinced that eye care is the most subjective one of all. Once again, I'm already on to trying another eye treatment. I'm yet to decide if it works on me.

Contrary to obviousness, I don't have full (or even partial) makeup on wherever I go. For instance, I wouldn't be wearing makeup when I'm visiting a relative in the hospital or working out in the gym or going on a 4WD adventure. While I'm a huge supporter of makeup (hence the blog!), I don't wanna be someone who shouldn't be allowed into daylight without makeup on. I'm not looking for "naturally beautiful", mind you. I'd happily settle for "plain" as long as it's not "tired".

Do you have any suggestions for me (products aside) on how to battle them dark circles and puffiness? Or perhaps just a witty comeback for the next person that tells me I "look tired".

Getting Fit: Diet Planning

2012-03-01T01:31:00.001+08:00

That’s a somewhat typical Malaysian diet. That's a total of 3600 calories.

It took me awhile to realize that to lose weight, what I need to do is not go on a diet.
I need to change the way I eat.
Dieting is short term and so are the results. Changing your eating habits goes a much longer way.

Check out how you can start making changes to your diet.

The first thing you need to understand is that eating to lose weight actually involves eating and NEVER starving. That’s one of the most common methods used. Be it skipping meals or wearing corsets to avoid overeating.

The following are just some of the simple changes you can start making to kick start a healthier diet:

Reduce sugar, salt and refined carbohydrates
Choose healthier cooking alternatives eg. Baked vs fried
Consume more fruits and vegetables
Minimize unhealthy snacking
Eat consciously, slowly and stop when full
Avoid eating late at night

"One of the biggest mistakes people make is to eat late at night. This will store as fat in the body overnight and is actually an effective way of gaining weight." -- Jeremy, C25

Those were the changes that I started making early on this weight loss journey. While my weight reduced, my progress wasn’t as drastic as I had hoped. That’s when I decided to take my diet change to the next level.

Now, let’s move on to how you can plan your new diet to see better results on your weight loss:

How Much to Eat

Food contains calories which gives you energy to conduct your daily activities. If you consume more calories than you burn, you will put on weight. If you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight. Have a go at this calculator to determine how much calories you should consume to achieve your desired weight. The amount is dependent on the weight loss duration, your current weight, height and activity.

Ideally, you should not go below 1200 calories a day and that’s where I keep my daily intake at.

"Write down what you consume in a day, both food and drink, snacks and all. Even that cup of milo you had in the middle of the afternoon." -- Jeremy, C25

Counting calories can be tedious. Although I’m not obsessed with calorie-counting, I monitor what I eat so that I can estimate how much I’m actually eating in a day as well as determine which kind of food is contributing most to the calories I’ve consumed.
I use an app called My Fitness Pal for this purpose. It has a huge database of foods (including local foods) and you can sync it to the website.

What to Eat

Sometimes we can’t tell from the amount and how full we feel. For instance, one would think that a handful of cashew nuts is a little snack but the calories are equivalent to a bowl of rice or 6 apples. For a small packet of McDonald’s fries I can have a filling meal of pasta with beef and vegetables.

Eating to lose weight does NOT mean NOT eating. Never let yourself go hungry. There are endless types of food out there and it’s up to your creativity how you want to have them.

This is generally what I look out for when choosing my food:

High in fiber and nutrients: eg. Leafy greens, onion, bell peppers
Low in fat, sugar and sodium (if I can help it): Cut down on mayonnaise, cream, soft drinks
High in protein: eg. Beef, fish, eggs
Unrefined carbohydrates: eg. Brown rice, quinoa, millet, buckwheat
Minimal amount of wheat, corn and dairy: Cut down on cookies/biscuits, wheat bread/noodles, cheese

This is an example of my daily meal at 1200 calories:

When it’s within my control, I make my own breakfast, lunch and sometimes dinner. When I’m out with friends or family, I eat like I’m not “on a diet”. I’ll still have my beer and eat cheesecake yet I know I’ll be fine because on normal days, I eat healthy and exercise.

When to Eat

"Spread your daily intake into 5 small meals per day. Eating 2 or 3 meals per day will only starve your body for 5 or 6 hours and it’ll store fat to cope." -- Jeremy, C25

Many “dieters” don’t eat enough. Once again, NEVER starve yourself!
People look at my food thinking that I’m not eating enough and that I’m letting myself go hungry, which couldn’t be further than the truth.
The key is to eat frequently in smaller portions as well as eating quality food so that you feel fuller and more satisfied throughout the day.

If you have any questions for Jeremy regarding fitness or diet, please don't hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.

Triple Reviews: Washable Mascaras

2012-02-28T01:19:00.001+08:00

A, B or C?

Time and time again, you've heard me moaning about non-waterproof Western mascaras and how most of them don't work on my lashes (except ONE). It did make me wonder; how about Asian non-waterproof mascara? Would they work?

I was in for a surprise.

While the weather and my constant sweating calls for waterproof mascaras, on many occasions, I'd rather use washable ones because they're a lot easier to remove and certainly more gentle on the lashes. Sadly, the only one that I truly loved was the Make Up For Ever Smoky Lash which is far too much to pay for a mascara! And yet, I'm on my third tube... *sighs*

In our washable mascara line-up we have 2 Asian formulas against 1 Western formula. Let's see who's the winner in my books.

L'Oreal Curl Impact Collagene

First week of using: Meh
Second week of using: Hmmm
Third week of using: Not bad
Fourth week of using: Pretty good
Fifth week of using : Uh...
Now: CLUMP CITY!

The tube's not even dried up and the formula is already clumping like crazy! The brush is pretty cute with its curves. I was really starting to like this mascara and then it clumped so horribly after a month. Nonetheless, out of the lot, it held the curl best. But I can't see properly with goop on my lashes!

If I'm not wrong, this mascara is RM59.90 which is EXPENSIVE for a drugstore product. Seriously? 60 bucks for this?

Maybelline The Magnum Superfilm

Maybeline has been a trusty brand for decent mascaras. Superfilm is the non-waterproof version of The Magnum (Fantastic mascara but I can't use it. Please read review). While it's nowhere near as good as the waterproof version, I like the fact that the formula is dark to make the lashes appear thicker.

The major downside about this mascara is that it doesn't hold up a curl for more than 3 minutes. I mostly use this over false lashes since it's washable.

Priced at RM35.90

Benefit Bad Gal Mascara

Many many years ago, I thought Bad Gal was a pretty awesome mascara but back then I had only ever used 3 mascaras in my entire life. Fast forward a few years, I've Bad Gal another go and concluded that I wasn't too far off.

Despite being Western and non-waterproof, this mascara is actually good. Of course, not Smoky Lash good but good enough to have me tote it around in my bag. The formula is dark, the huge brush adds a good amount of volume and it fairly lengthens. It doesn't have the holding power to make my lashes look perky but it doesn't weigh them down too much so the result is naturally curled lashes.

Why does it have to be a hundred bucks? ~~The last last last time I checked,~~ Benefit Bad Gal was ~~RM95~~ RM75. I'm not sure of the price now but regardless, RM95 RM75 is reasonable for a high end brand but it's still for a mascara.

Moral of the story: Be content with affordable and reliable waterproof mascaras. It's gonna be very difficult to find a cheaper substitute for the Smoky Lash.

Getting Fit: Fitness Planning

2012-02-20T23:38:00.001+08:00

The fact is, exercise alone may not help you lose a significant amount of weight yet it plays a very important role in helping to increase your metabolism, burn off excess calories as well as tone up flabby areas and improve your shape.

Occasional exercise such as climbing a hill once in a few months isn’t going to do much to up your fitness level. In order to get fit and stay fit, exercise should be a consistent part of your lifestyle.

But how do you go from zero exercise to exercising regularly?
Read on...

"Start walking; even if it’s walking to the local shops, parking your car further away from the office, LRT station or the mall. Take the stairs not the elevator if you can. Sometimes, being less sedentary simply means changing how you usually move every day." -- Jeremy, C25

We tend to complain about parking further away from the mall entrance or having to wait long for the lift. Whenever I have to walk more or climb the stairs, as long as I’m not pressed for time, I don’t dread it. Rather, I see it as more calories being burned and it became natural to me. You can’t expect to lose weight just by doing this but it’s an active start nonetheless.

"If you already walk in the park, start power walking, it’ll burn more calories than normal walking. For joggers, if you get tired and need to walk, then power walk, don’t slow down completely. Power walking keeps your heart rate up at the level of a slow jog, so remember, keep moving!" -- Jeremy, C25

When I told myself that I wanted to lose weight, the next thing I did was walk for exercise. I was horrible at running so I walked. Power-walking can definitely get your heart rate up and make you sweat but it’ll take about 20 minutes of fast, wide steps with a few uphill slopes to heat up. Compared to strolling, power-walking will burn almost twice the amount of calories [check out how much calories you can burn by walking].

These days, I run and if I need to slow down, I jog. While I’m still not very good at running, the more I run each week, the more improvements I see in my endurance and speed.

"If you are a member of a gym, take advantage of the numerous free aerobic classes they have. The high intensity will help burn more calories than trying to motivate yourself on the gym floor." -- Jeremy, C25

My official “new beginning” started when I took up a gym membership after a 1-week free trial. That was when I started fitting exercise into my daily routine. Besides the convenience of location and facilities, I was mostly attracted to the group exercise classes. I was keen to try every class once. If I’m not doing a class, I’d be on the treadmill or fumbling with the weight machines. I’d go to the gym in the morning, in the evening and spend hours there on weekends. I was really into it!

Problem was, I didn’t quite know what I was doing. The popular classes were always packed (at least 30 pax). I could barely keep up with the moves and the instructors couldn’t provide much guidance. Going in the evenings was the worst because you’d have to wait your turn to use the machines. To beat the crowd, I learned how to utilize the freestyle training area using things like the BOSU, medicine ball, step-board and dumbbells.

"If you want to take it to the next level, try an outdoor group exercise programme like circuit training. Many people who don’t like to be stuck inside a gym, can’t motivate themselves or aren’t sure if their exercise routine is right for them prefer to do this. And you’ll be exercising with like-minded people in an outdoor environment." -- Jeremy, C25

A Circuit25 session at KLCC Park

My Current Exercise Plan

Three mornings a week I’d spend about 20 to 30 minutes in the gym doing freestyle exercises.
Once a week I’ll do a low intensity class such as Pilates.
I’m challenging myself to run 5km a week so I’d fit that in whenever I can.
Two evenings a week I’d do circuit training (Circuit25) with Jeremy and work my butt off! I’m usually totally burned out after C25 so I’d sleep in the next morning to recover.

Exercise shouldn’t be a chore. It should be incorporated as part of a daily routine so that it becomes a habit. Doing something a fun activity like dancing or playing a sport will certainly help to make exercising more enjoyable.

In my case, I find interval training and resistance training fun. Partly it’s because I don’t get lost in the moves but mostly it’s because I find pleasure in monitoring progress so that I would know if I was improving. On top of that, I am more aware of the areas that I want to work on.

It took me some time to realize that it’s not how long you spend working out. Rather, it’s how effective the workout is and how efficient you are at doing it.

If you have any questions for Jeremy regarding fitness or diet, please don't hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.

Look: Peek-a-Rainbow

2012-02-11T23:38:00.000+08:00

I love colors! <3

You should've known that by now. Sadly, being a "working professional" I tend to go for neutrals, occasionally sneaking in the dark green or dark purple.

However, on Fridays, I'd opt for brighter colors. Usually I'd go for my purple liner but this time, I went Rainbow! This stunning idea was from Ronnie of Bows & Curtseys.

A few more shots after the jump!

I wanted the colors to be super bright so I whipped out my MANLY 80-Color Palette which I haven't used in the longest time. While there are 7 colors in a rainbow, I think I used at least 10 to get the colors nicely blended into on another. I skipped the glitter. I figured I'm already pushing it with wearing rainbow eyes to the office.

It wasn't too difficult to do and I like it a lot! Let me know if you'd like a tutorial for this.

Check out the rainbow I spotted while I was at the KL Bird Park. It was gone after 10 minutes of the shot.

Getting Fit: Goal Setting

2012-02-09T00:10:00.001+08:00

“Enhance your commitment by developing a health plan that is focused on an ultimate goal. What is the number of pounds or inches you want to lose? What size clothing do you want to wear? What percentage of body fat do you want to have? Do you want to get rid of any aches and pains? These are the types of goals that you should aim for.” - C25

Now that we've gotten a bit of momentum going on, let's set a goal, shall we?
In my opinion, goal setting for weight loss is crucial to keep you focused. I've tried many times to just "go with the flow" and make some adjustments to my lifestyle in hope to hit my desired weight. It didn't really happen. I was nowhere near my ideal weight.

Read on to learn how you can set SMARTER goals for your weight loss.

Specific

Most people, time after time, will say that their goal is “to lose weight” and chances are it doesn’t happen. Be specific when you set your goal to lose weight. Things you ought to lay out: Why do you want to lose weight? How many kilograms do you want to lose? When do you want to lose that weight? What do you have to do to achieve that?

Measurable

To measure your progress, keep a record of a measurement be it your weight, fat percentage, inches of areas you’re trying to trim, etc. Figures may drive you a little nuts at times so don’t be too hard on yourself if the numbers don’t quite satisfy. Take into account the more subjective progress such as fitting into a pair of tight jeans, losing the double chin, increased stamina or even positive remarks from your peers (they’ll notice eventually). Nonetheless, having some sort of figure to monitor will help you know if you’re on track so that you can make adjustments if you’re not.

Attainable and Realistic

A goal should neither be overambitious nor too modest. I’ve known people who have either given up on trying to change their body weight or underestimate what they could achieve and simply set very low goals for themselves. At the same time, there are people who set goals that are too far-fetched in proportion to the effort that they are willing to put in. For instance, if you don’t intend on exercising and watching your diet, is it realistic to lose 10kg in 2 months? Even with average effort, that would be unlikely to achieve healthily.

An attainable and realistic goal should push you enough that you feel stretched yet practical for you to manage and accomplish. The timeframe that you allocate for your goal to be achieved should also be attainable and realistic.

Timely

Procrastination is a talent that many of us are born with where we put off what needs to be done and rush when the due date approaches. Unfortunately, you can’t “cram” weight loss. Yeah, you can push yourself a bit harder towards the due date but you can’t condense burning 10,000 calories in 10 weeks to 1 week or eating 1000 calories less a day to starving for 40 days.

“To help keep track of your progress, make mini goals that can be measured in a week or a month. Creating these smaller, short-term goals help you stay focused and driven to achieve your long-term goal.” - C25

Set a timeframe and spread out your main goal into weekly goals. Taking many small steps will seem far more achievable than taking a giant leap to reach that finish line. The goal that you set today may not be the ultimate. As you progress, you may make amendments to your goal to make it more SMART or discover your potential and set a more challenging goal.

Here’s My Current Goal:

On top of my overall goal, I have more short term planning on what kind of workout I do and what I eat. I also throw myself mini challenges to give my progress a boost such as “No cookies” or “Run 5 km every week”.

Evaluate

To monitor my progress, I weigh myself every 10 days to 14 weeks and compare my current result with my previous ones. It's advisable to use the same weighing scale, wear similar clothing and weigh at a similar time of the day to get more consistent results. For me, I'd use the weighing scale at the gym, always in my workout attire (sans socks and shoes) and weigh myself in the morning before working out and having a meal or much water. As you monitor your progress, evaluate if you're happy with the results and if not, think about what you can do differently.

“Keep track of these achievements and be proud. Have weekly or monthly exercise plans, and keep in mind that like anything else in life, you should be prepared for unexpected and unavoidable roadblocks. Don’t be discouraged, just push on!” - C25

Reward

"Remember to celebrate your progress, and reward yourself with something other than food, like new shoes, a haircut or a night out with friends." - C25

When I achieve my goal, I'm going on a little shopping spree for new clothes! My old ones are gonna be too loose by then ;)

Your task for this week is to set a SMARTER goal for yourself!
Feel free to share them with us to get you motivated or if you would like Jeremy's input on your goal.

If you have any questions for Jeremy regarding fitness or diet, please don't hesitate to ask them in the comment section below.

V-Day Tutorial: "A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri

2012-02-08T07:50:00.000+08:00

"That wasn't the look Christina wore in the video!"

Mmhmm, it's not. This Purple + Chocolate look was inspired by Christina Perri's "A Thousand Years", which was also the soundtrack for Breaking Dawn.

I'm pretty sure it's the love song of 2011. After all, it was the most requested song!

Who's in the mood for love?

More on the inspiration, up-close pictures and listing of products used...

A few things inspired me but mostly it was the itch to use purple. For some very odd reason, I wanted to do a purple look. And then I thought about Alice Cullen (From the Breaking Dawn movie though I didn't watch it. Read the book) and how she'd wear a look like this. Colorful like her personality but still dark and sultry. The initial idea was to pair the dark chocolate and purple eyes with a red lip but it didn't really go so I went for stained red lips instead, which balanced out the look better, I think.

Items Used:

Eyes:-

Urban Decay Primer Potion

Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow Pencil in Delinquent

Ben Nye Lumiere Eyeshadow in Amethyst

MAC Eyeshadow in Give Me Liberty of London (very sheer pink)

I Nuovi D27 Eyeshadow in Techno

MAC Eyeshadow in Spiced Chocolate

Scott Barnes Illumineye Eyeshadow in Night (soft black)

MAC Eyeshadow in Tete-a-Tint (soft peach to blend)

MAC Eyeshadow in Ricepaper (highlight)

MAC Pigment in Gold Dusk (highlight under brow)

Maybelline Hypersharp Liquid Eyeliner Pen

I Nuovi Pencil Eyeliner in Noir (tightline)

Red Cherry Faux Lashes in #523

Maybelline Cat Eyes Mascara

Maybelline Extreme Stiletto Mascara

Shu Uemura Hard 9 Eyebrow Pencil in Seal Brown

Face:-

Shu Uemura Nobara Stick Foundation

Origins Brighter by Nature Powder in 05

Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder

Lips:-

Chanel Rouge Coco in #26 Venise

Nails Polish Noob: Matte Red Nails

2012-02-03T22:40:00.000+08:00

Looks pretty cool right?

I'm usually a fan of glossy nails since they're so shiny that they bounce off the imperfections... And then I saw these hot pink matte nails and was like, "COOOOL!!"
Lyn of Beauty Cabby told me about Essence having a Matte Top Coat and while I had an intention to buy, I wasn't really looking until I stumbled upon an Essence counter in Mid Valley.

Conclusion, I bought the Essence Matte Top Coat. Review after the jump!

You would use the Matte Top Coat as if you're using a regular top coat. Simply apply one layer after applying your regular nail polish. It'll turn your glossy polish into a matte finish. Keep in mind that the color will dull and if you use this top coat over shimmery or metallic polishes, they're gonna dull too.

I feel matte works better with solid colors. It's a bit more tricky to get an even coat and you'll have to get it right with one layer. If you add another layer, your nails may look somewhat unattractively "textured". If you miss a spot, you'll get a glossy streak. It dries pretty quickly and doesn't chip too easily.

The matte effect is not bad at all but it last probably 3 days max because our fingers come into contact with oil a lot (moisturizers, hand cream, nose oil, Nasi Lemak, etc.). The matte will wear off and the nails will start to look a bit more shiny.

The top coat is a cloudy white color but mine's now a pale pink ever since I used it over red polish (Anna Sui in #405). If you're into matte nails, definitely check this out and even if you're not sure if you like matte nails, it's not gonna hurt much to try.

The Essence Matte Top Coat is only RM8.90!
I haven't seen Essence anywhere else besides Mid Valley (An island store called Coci something in Centre Court, 1st or 2nd floor. Sorry, I was too preoccupied with the matte polish at that time). But I believe some of the bigger Watsons should carry them too? I haven't seen any though.