Skin Deco

Update: Rounding Up July '10 + New Toys + Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Bar 2010

2010-07-30T18:34:00.005+08:00

I'm finally done with my assignments! I'd be jumping for joy if it wasn't for my final exams coming up in about 2 weeks. Oh crap.

On a lighter note, July has left me with many things to be happy about. Check out my new toys! Yes, I'm aware that they're not makeup. So, after 3 1/2 years, I got myself a new phone -- Nokia XpressMusic 5530. To the right is my Garmin which is quite the life-savior considering the fact that my sense of direction is almost non-existent. Last but not least, I have me an HP Mini Netbook. It has been increasing my productivity, somewhat. I can now harvest corn and feed my pigs wherever there's wifi! Yeah... kinda got hooked on Facebook's Frontierville.

Read on to see what some of my blogging friends have been up to in July and you so need to check out the Shu Uemura Tokyo Lash Bar 2010 lashes!

Great reads from July '10:

ParisB of MyWomenStuff explains why she doesn't talk about BB creams
Lipglosseater, Jenn, has to be the cutest masking alien ever!
Expensive nail polishes do have some benefits, says Nikki (Askmewhats)
You don't need steady hands to get sunset on your nails! Prettybeautiful shows us how
Good creams need not be expensive -- Eli (So Loverly)
Yani of RedLusciousLips shares her waxing experience at the Benefit Brow Bar

The Shu Uemura Neo-Tokyo Odyssey Lash Collection looks stunning on those adorable monkeys, don't they? I really wouldn't have mind having one of them! The monkey, I mean. As for the lashes, I'm still not too sure if they'll translate well on humans, as gorgeous as they are. Unless, of course, you're going for the Lady Gaga look. In that case, my favorite would be the disco ball looking Neo-Reflector (bottom right). Neo-Sparkle (bottom left) is probably the most wearable one out of the bunch but it's not the most unique. Cosmic Chain (top left) looks great on the monkey but check out Sazzy Falak's pic below and tell me they don't look strange.

Sazzy Falak was emcee for the night's event and see what I mean about the lashes not translating well on humans? Still, she is a beautiful girl, even more so in real life. One of the night's entertainment was a violinist that can model or a model that can play the violin really well.

Familiar? Quite obviously, this "Metal Mohawk" look was inspired by Avatar! Though, the artist, Surya, said that it was inspired by "Star Trek" and "Poison Ivy".

Besides the dramatic lashes, the show also featured a new collection of more natural/wearable lashes. The crazy futuristic outfits were designed by Joe Chia, 2nd Runner-up of the Malaysia Young Designer Competition 2009.

Artists with their models... See that model with the poofy hair and her tongue sticking out in the group pic? It took me a while to realize that it was Denise Keller (MTV Asia VJ), which explained why she kept making funny faces and couldn't keep still most of the time. Lol.

I got to take home a pair of lashes and I went for the natural ones. Shocker!

Review: Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA/BHA Cleanser

2010-07-28T19:26:00.003+08:00

Tamago = Egg
Hada = Skin

Having skin as smooth as the white of a hard boiled egg is a dream. Hada Labo 'Tamagohada' AHA/BHA Cleanser is a daily exfoliating cleanser -- just the thought of it made my skin shrivel from dryness. That was my primary concern.

How wrong I was to assume.
This cleanser proved its awesomeness during my busiest weeks.

Read on for the full review...

The cleanser smells lightly of BHA (salicylic acid). Go smell an aspirin and you'll get the idea. As the name indicates, this cleanser contains both AHA (alpha hydroxy acid) and BHA that act as chemical exfoliants. Don't jump out of your skin at the sight of the word "chemical". Chemical exfoliants are usually more gentle on the skin and exfoliates more evenly compared to physical exfoliants (eg. granules/grainy stuff) that can be coarse and painful.

As with all foamy cleanser, a pea size is more than enough. Long gone the days of dotting cleanser and lathering on thick. Ugh, now I can imagine why I had such clogged-up dry skin as a teenager.

Lather up the cleanser between wet palms and you'll get a decent amount of foam. The bubbles dissipates quickly but it's not a problem for me since I'm used to non-foamy cleansers. I concentrate on areas where I have more congestion such as my nose, forehead and chin. After rinsing, my skin feelt as smooth as an egg. Well, not exactly but it did feel pretty smooth! Immediately my skin looked brighter and my pores, smaller. While my skin felt drier than when I used Cetaphil or lotion cleansers, it didn't make my skin feel uncomfortably tight nor did it cause any flakiness. Over time, my skin tone did look better and the texture of my skin looked finer.

You're probably wondering by now, what makes this cleanser so awesome?

For the past two months, I've been completely swamped with work and school to the point that I barely had any energy left at the end of the day to spend 10 minutes on my usual skin care routine when all I want is to get in bed. For two months, there were no scrubbing or masking and some days, I couldn't even make it to the moisturizer. I'm not proud to say that for the duration, I even left out my sunscreen in the daytime. The only product that I did use every night was this cleanser.

My skin survived the two months despite the stress, insufficient sleep and little care. Almost no pimples, whiteheads were in control, no rash, no roughness and only minor dullness. I'm thinking that the exfoliation is so efficient that it allows my skin to function on its own. Not only did it decongested my skin, it prevented dead skin cell build-up, allowing my natural oils to come through. If it wasn't for this cleanser, heaven only knows what my skin would look like right now.

First we had the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion. Now, we have another winner from Hada Labo!

Note: Use a sunscreen if you're using this cleanser in the day and avoid using products that have high content of alcohol, glycolic acid or any other ingredient that are prone to irritating the skin.

Retails at Guardian pharmacy for RM17.90/50g and RM31.90/130g

* The product featured in this post was provided by Vibes Communications for review on Skin Deco

Review: Shu Uemura Brow Atelier + Hard 9 Brow Pencil

2010-07-21T08:51:00.007+08:00

I can't say enough how important eyebrows are in making or breaking your overall look. Having groomed brows is a lot more than keeping them clean and drawing them in. If the shape of your brows does not suit your features, it can be a total disaster. Then, you'd have to grow your brows out again which is an awfully awkward stage.

Some things are best left to the expert and I had the privllege of getting my brows shaped by Shu Uemura's Brow Artist, Lisa Yap, who is also an internationally accredited artist. She is supposedly gifted in eyebrow grooming.

Read on for my experience and a review of the one-of-a-kind Hard 9 Brow Pencil. Also in this post is a tutorial to show how I use this peculiar-looking pencil.

We were asked to grow out our brows for a month prior to the brow grooming at the Shu Uemura Brow Atelier in Mid Valley. Let's just say I wore a cap and my bangs down a lot for the entire month.

You can tell that my brows don't grow very thick but the hairs would stick out everywhere as they get longer. Since I already had a basic shape, Lisa trimmed and plucked the hairs to make my brows look more even and defined. I liked that she didn't go too thin so that I wouldn't look 20 years older when my brows are unfilled. Although Lisa doesn't use a razor for shaping, don't worry too much about the plucking. The plucking was virtually painless as she's very skilled and gentle with the tweezers.

After cleaning up my brows, she filled them in with the Shu Uemura Hard 9 Brow Pencil in 02 Seal Brown.

When it's brand new, the Hard 9 pencil looks like any old pencil but it has a harder core that allows Shu Uemura to use a very special technique to carve the pencil to resemble the shape of the 'naginata' Japanese sword. You can try this at home if you have the Hard 9 pencil (I wouldn't recommend doing this with regular pencils because the wood and core are different and you may hurt yourself) but there's a very high likelihood that you'd break a few tips before getting it right. Thankfully, Shu Uemura sharpens the pencil free of charge for as long you need your pencil sharpened.

Try drawing the pencil on the back of your hand and you'll get little to no color but draw on your brows and you'll get just enough color that wouldn't look unnatural. While it's not waterproof, I experience only minimal smudging with this pencil.

It's hard to explain how awesome this pencil unless you actually try it for yourself. As you maneuver the pencil, using different sides of for different sections of your brows, you'll know how easy this pencil is to use. It is now a staple for me.

I used to think that paying so much for a mere eyebrow pencil is not justifiable but I've only had to sharpen it after two months of using it despite the fact that I draw my brows almost everyday.

My brow routine is slightly different when I use this pencil:

Define the natural shape with short strokes following the direction of hair growth
Gradually extend the strokes to form the 'tail'. The slope of your 'tail' should be parallel with the slope of your eye
Shape the arch to make it look more rounded if you prefer
Comb the hairs in place and also remove excess color with a spoolie

Related Topic: "Eyebrows Are Sisters, Not Twins" -- eyebrow shaping guide

The only thing that I'm probably not too contented with is the color. 02 Seal Brown is the bestselling color, especially for Asians. Personally, I prefer my eyebrows to be lighter and perhaps, more brown than grey. I may consider getting the Hard 9 *bursts out laughing because of a corrupted mind* in 03 Brown when I'm done with Seal Brown, which could be years from now...

A little trick that I use to lighten my filled eyebrows is going over them with face powder. Simply take an eyebrow brush, dip it into some face powder and go over your brows with it. This lightens the color without lifting any chunks of it off compared to using a cotton bud.

You can get your brows trimmed at any Shue Uemura counters or outlets for RM30. Lisa's rate is RM50. The Hard 9 Brow Pencil retails for RM65.

Review: Revlon ColorBurst Lipstick

2010-07-15T19:12:00.003+08:00

I can't remember the last time a drugstore lipstick garnered this much hype!

Perhaps it's the Dior-esque pattern or the NARS matte feel or the Chanel way of branding on the lipstick. So packaging wise, the new Revlon ColorBrust Lipstick hits it out of the ballpark albeit a tad unoriginal.

You won't be needing my review to tell you that these lipsticks are a must-have since everyone's raving about them!
Read on anyway for my thoughts...

For those of us in Malaysia, we get only 8 out of 20 shades. Pretty upsetting, right? Nevertheless, we do have some of the more popular colors so it's forgivable. Out of the lot, two colors that stood out for me was 070 Soft Nude and 035 Blush.

070 Soft Nude: It's certainly great to see another nude drugstore lipstick since Rimmel's Nude Delight. Soft Nude is a warm milky peachy-pink color that looks awesome paired with heavier eye makeup in green, blue or purple. The color's pigmented but not very solid so you can gradually build up the color. The more layers you apply, the more nude your lips would look. It'll make a great option for nude newbies that are not too keen on going "hardcore" just yet.

035 Blush: This would be THE MyLipsButBetter color. It's a neutral rosy pink with a hint of mauve. A great choice if you're looking for something that you can wear daily and pair with any sort of makeup at all. It adds enough color to take away the paleness. I find Blush to give a better color pay-off in a swipe than soft Nude does.

If I were to be blindfolded and have someone applying this lipstick on me, I'd think that they were applying lip balm. That's how the texture felt. The lipstick feels slightly waxy and doesn't glide on smoothly though it applies color evenly. Granted, it does feel more comfortable and moisturizing compared to wearing regular lipstick.

I'm thinking that this lipstick applies a thin layer that molds to the creases of the lips while regular lipstick applies thickly and sort of sits on top of the skin. The upside is that this lipstick doesn't bleed easily but the downside would be the accentuated lines flaky bits. Since I don't have very smooth skin lips to begin with, I find the need to apply lipgloss over this lipstick.

Blush seems to be a color that works on everyone, except me. Probably because I don't have a typical lip color so a universal MLBB shade would still look kinda "off" on me. Well, it's not to say that the color didn't work because I actually do like it a lot and I'd wear it out often if it wasn't for the fact that I get stares. People would cock their heads to the side wondering what looked different about me. Blush is just a little too pink on me.

Soft Nude, on the other hand, looks spectacular when paired with smoky eyes. I love how the color matches closely to my skin color without washing me out. The texture could be better but hey, the color's still gorgeous.

Retails for RM39 at major healthcare stores. Available in 8 shades: Mauve, Plum, Fuchsia, Sienna, Blush, Soft Nude, Peach, and True Red.

Click on the links below to check out reviews by some of my blogging buddies:

Shen reviews Blush, Fuchsia and True Red
Nikki reviews Peach, Soft Rose, Plum and Carnation
ParisB reviews Mauve, True Red and Blush
Yani reviews Fuchsia
The Recessionista reviews Raspberry and Soft Rose

Review: Rene Furterer Myrrhea Anti-frizz Range

2010-07-14T01:46:00.007+08:00

While I was well-exposed to high end cosmetics and can understand justifications for spending nine hundred bucks on a tub of cream, I truly could not comprehend the need for high end hair care when many people with great looking hair have happily used drugstore brands all their lives.

So, when I was first introduced to Rene Furterer, I had a swaku* moment; "Whoahhh... RM120 for CONDITIONER!".

Well, now that I've been briefed and actually tried the Myrrhea Anti-frizz Range for myself, Rene Furterer probably is worth its high price tag.

*Very unexposed person

First let me just list down the differences I felt between using a cheap hair care system and an expensive one:

Less product build up. Hair doesn't feel heavy or look greasy
No need for a lot of product to get the job done
Less hair fallout
Effect lasts longer
No more flaky scalp

The Rene Furterer Myrrhea Anti-frizz range works by nourishing, moisturizing and protecting (from external aggressions) hair with avocado oil. The myrrh coats and tames the hair as well as neutralizes static electricity by creating a film around the hair (lacquered effect). Ingredients used in Rene Furterer are mostly natural and plant based.

All products have a musky scent that is supposedly inspired by Arabian fragrances. I'm fine with it but it's not the kind of scent that would make your significant other want to nuzzle in your hair unlike when you use say, Herbal Essences.

Myrrhea Anti-frizz Silkening Shampoo (RM85/150ml)

A rather peculiar shampoo, this is. It doesn't lather up with thick foam so you won't be able to do the whole sexy foamy hair under the waterfall thing and start blowing bubbles. Nevertheless, it cleans well and it's easy to rinse off. The after-wash feeling was a tad unusual because I was expecting the super slippery feel that I'd get with most shampoos but instead I got squeaky clean and not exactly silky.

Myrrhea Anti-frizz Silkening Mask (RM120/250ml)

Compared to the shampoo and serum, the conditioner comes in an uber huge tube. The consistency is creamy with a solid color. I'm not sure how to explain the differences but if you take a look at a drugstore brand conditioner you'll notice that it'll have this translucency in the color kinda how cheap body lotion would look like. Anyway, you won't need for the whole head but then again, I have short hair. The recommended way of using this conditioner is to apply onto towel-dried hair (or no dripping water will do), massage the scalp and work your way down to the tips, comb through, and leave on for about 5 minutes before rinsing. The conditioner moisturizes and tames my hair well that I'd still get the defrizzing effect even if I don't follow with the serum. It also works with regular shampoo.

Myrrhea Anti-frizz Silkening Fluid (RM140/125ml)

This would act as a styling product so you massage the serum into your hair before styling it and the myrrh coating will shape the hair and keep frizz at bay. It doesn't add greasiness to the hair or make it look wet. Your hair won't get lumped up or feel heavy either.

Before and After: The Rene Furterer consultant applied the Silkening Fluid and flat-ironed my hair so the shine's probably partly contributed by the straightening

However, after using the whole system for a few days, I did see quite spectacular results. In the pic, I only used the Silkening Fluid and brushed my hair after washing and conditioning with the Silkening Shampoo and Silkening Mask. Totally in love with the shine! The bits of hair sticking is inevitable because I have very layered hair but my hair usually looks twenty times frizzier after washing.

Another benefit that I gained from this range is that it gave my hair body. There'll be volume and curves in all the right places as opposed to just flattening my hair like most de-frizzing hair care would. However, if you do not have as much hair as I do (I have A LOT of hair), your hair may be weighed down with frequent use, which ParisB experienced. Nevertheless, using the range only occasionally will still garner you results.

Available from Rene Furterer Institute in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Isetan KLCC and Hair Culture Mandarin Oriental Hotel Kuala Lumpur.

*Products featured in this post were provided by Alliance Cosmetics for consideration on Skin Deco

Review: I Nuovi Illumina Skin Illuminating Pre-Makeup Base

2010-07-08T20:08:00.007+08:00

Glowing bronze skin is very much in trend for the Summer. One of the products that I've been using to achieve that effect is the I Nuovi Illumina Skin Illuminating Pre-Makeup Base.
It's a makeup base and liquid illuminizer in one! Oh, you figured that out already? Hehe.

Read on for the review...

I Nuovi Illumina comes in 3 shades -- Divine, Aura and Heaven.
The shade that I'll be reviewing is Divine.

Swatches courtesy of I Nuovi

Divine: Golden bronze suitable for medium to darker skin tones
Aura: Nude glow suitable for light to medium skin tones
Heaven: Pink glow suitable for lighter skin tones as cheek highlight

The shimmery liquid bronzer is contained in an opaque squeeze bottle with a narrow nozzle that offers sufficient control when dispensing the product. A pretty practical packaging albeit a tad boring. I use Illumina after sunscreen, before foundation.

Divine doesn't really darken my complexion rather it warms up my skin immediately. The golden shimmers are quite sparse and apparent thus, wearing Illumina on its own may not be such a good idea. While it's hardly noticeable, the base appears patchy when there's no foundation applied over it.

After layering foundation or at the very least, powder, over Illumina, what you'll get is natural-looking glowing smooth skin that is highlighted in all the right places. Check out the cheekbones! If you're worried about looking like a disco ball, don't. The shimmers are not apparent under foundation. As a makeup base, it's quite alright in terms of making foundation go on easier, preventing it from oxidizing and helping it last. However, the formula offers no oil-control so I'd advise those with oily skin to use this merely as a highlighter under foundation and use a separate makeup base. This should be a treat for drier complexions as the formula contains hydrating hyaluronic acid.

Retails for RM88/30ml at all I Nuovi counters. Also available on INuovi.com for USD$39. Some SaSa outlets may carry this product.

Summer Tutorials: Taman Negara

2010-07-07T23:05:00.008+08:00

Are they talking about Fall already? But I'm not done with Summer! In fact, I'm just getting started!
Summer's my favorite season that I love celebrating it every year with my clothes, makeup, tan and trips to the beach.
This is the first Summer '10 Tutorial inspired by Malaysia's National Park, Taman Negara.

Video tutorial, pictures and product listing after the jump!

I'm working (more like planning to work) on my stamina to prepare me for Taman Negara some day. The Boy has been there when he was fresh out of school and according to him, it was one of the best experiences that he has had.

This summer look incorporates several shades of green with accents of brown and bold lashes to depict the forest. The rest of the face and lips are kept nude to neutralize the look.

Items Used:

Face:
I Nuovi Illumina Makeup Base in Divine
Graftobian HD Creme Foundation in Enchantress
Ben Nye Banana Visage Powder

Cheeks:
Milani Glimmerstripes in Terra Glimmer

Lips:
Revlon Color Burst Lipstick in Soft Nude
Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in Kirk

Eyes:
Elf Mineral Eyeshadow Primer
Ben Nye Lumiere Creme Wheel (green and yellow)
Barry M Dazzle Dust in #14 Khaki
Barry M Dazzle Dust in #97 Dark Chocolate
I Nuovi D27 Eyeshadow in Bamboo
I Nuovi D27 Eyeshadow in Techno
MAC Eyeshadow in Ricepaper
Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in White
Urban Decay Ink for Eyes in Zero (black)
Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Bourbon (brown)
I Nuovi Brow Cake in Oak
I Nuovi Pro Lash EX 11

Spring Green by Sweet Contemplation Accessories

2010-07-05T23:01:00.004+08:00

Jewelry is not really for me. I get bored with accessories as quickly as my cat gets bored with expensive toys.

So, when a dear friend of mine, Tine from Sweet Contemplation Accessories, asked me to pick one of her beautiful handmade pieces to review, I honestly wasn't quite sure what to go for. After going through with her all of my qualms about wearing jewelry, we finally decided on a piece that would suit me best -- A cuff-bracelet in my favorite color that has no dangling parts, suitable for dressy occasions yet casual enough to match my usual jeans and t-shirt "style".

It was as if the bracelet was made for me. Read on...

"This stunning cuff bracelet reflects the loveliest shades of green with black metal stars, Czech glass beads and Swarovski crystals laced in between. Worn during the day or night, it is set to wow. " -- Sweet Contemplation Accessories

I didn't know what to expect because I hadn't seen any pictures prior to opening the box. When I saw Spring Green for the first time, not only was I relieved (that it was girly dangly), I was beaming. It was so much more beautiful than I had imagined it to be. My love for teal and stars is very well reflected in this dazzling bracelet without looking too loud or tacky. It's certainly one-of-a-kind too because if I had ever come across a similar-looking bracelet, I'd notice!

Unlike most bracelets with beads that are chain-linked together and falls apart every two seconds in my possession, the beads are held together by a coil of Memory Wire. This is as hardy as a bracelet can get which makes it even more perfect for me. I can bet my left pinky that I'll never lose a single bead with this design. It's so easy to put on too. No need for propping the bracelet on a surface to hook the chain and then have it drop and then it breaks... I just coil the bracelet around my wrist and I'm good to go. It'll stay put for as long as I don't take it off.

The design totally works with my more laid-back style. At least my guyfriends don't ask in laughter why I'm wearing a bracelet (I got HELL for wearing a headband). Nevertheless, it's attractive enough to grab the attention of ladies with radars for shiny things.

Get yourself a Spring Green cuff bracelet [here]. The cuff bracelets come in two other colors -- Atomic Tangerine and Psychedelic Purple.

Sweet Contemplation Accessories is an Australia-based website offering unique handcrafted jewelry. There's a 25% off storewide sale going on until 31 July 2010! Just enter MIDYEAR2010 in the Voucher section of the shopping cart.

Thanks, Tine!

Fragrance Review: With Love... Hilary Duff + Forever by Mariah Carey + Britney Spears Circus Fantasy

2010-07-02T23:12:00.005+08:00

Spring (long gone) and summer fragrances are all about fresh floral and fruity scents. Grace shares her experience with some celebrity fragrances:

With Love... Hilary Duff
Forever by Mariah Carey
Britney Spears Circus Fantasy

Question:
Would you be driven to buy a perfume by your favorite celebrity? Alternately, would you NOT buy a perfume despite liking the scent simply because it's by a celeb that you DON'T like?

Read on to find out which one's Grace's favorite and which one ended up smelling like sweat!

With Love… Hilary Duff
(Eau de Parfum Spray)

Scent: a musky sweet vanilla

Price: USD$55.00/3.3 fl. oz.

Packaging: The glass bottle is nice and classy but the cap is plastic and makes the whole product look and feel cheap.

My thoughts: Initially I loved this perfume. I love the whole musky vanilla scent. The downfall to this product is not its wear time but its scent after a few hours. The perfume lasts a good 9-10 hours but after the first 2-3 hours the scent changes to an unbearable smell. It ends up smelling like sweat which isn’t exactly pleasant.

I wear this perfume if I’m going out for a few hours at night or to the beach. This scent seems really suitable for the beach because of its warm musky scent. I guess this perfume can be used during the day too but be sure that you’re not out longer than 3-4 hours because the longer you’re out the more this perfume will start to stink.

Connie's Note: The compatibility of a scent has got a lot to do with our body's chemistry (talking fancy here but you know what I mean). A perfume may smell really good on the scent card but it may not necessarily smell good on us. This should also explain why a perfume may smell great on one person but not another even if they're wearing the same perfume. So, the best way to test out a perfume before purchasing it is to have it sprayed onto your skin and let the scent develop for a few hours.

Forever by Mariah Carey
(Eau de Parfum Spray)

Scent: clean blend of florals

Price: USD$65.00/3.3 fl. oz.

Packaging: The bottle is really pretty but when you pull off the cap there’s this slight squeaking sound that usually comes from cheap plastic rubbing against each other. Even with the cap poorly made the bottle looks really great on my vanity.

My thoughts: It’s like a classic perfume. It’s one that you can wear to work and to special occasions. Personally, I would prefer to use this perfume for special occasions just because this may be a little too much for an everyday use. It lasts 7-8 hours. The scent is rather strong so one to two sprays should be good enough to keep you smelling good. More than two sprays can be overwhelming.

Britney Spears Circus Fantasy
(Eau de Parfum Spray)

Scent: blend of florals, soft vanilla and caramel scent

Price: USD$57.50/3.3 fl. oz.

Packaging: The bottle is cute. The cap is easy to take off and put back on.

My thoughts: I have to say I was really impressed by this perfume. I have been using this almost every day since I got it. I’ve gotten numerous compliments from both guys and girls. The smell lasts a good 8-9 hours. I use one spray because it lasts very long time and is quite strong. I defiantly will repurchase this once I’m done with it. Of course that wouldn’t be soon because a little goes a long way and it looks like I’ve used 5% of the bottle and I’ve been using it for about 2 months now.

Connie's Note: OMG. I love this perfume. It totally worked on me. I was worried that it was gonna be too sweet but it ended up smelling slightly spicy on my skin, which I really liked. Unfortunately, I almost never wear perfume and the only one that I do wear is hardly used. The packaging is even cuter in real life too. It's USD$24.50/30ml on Strawberrynet.com now. Ah.... the temptation! Wait, did I just click "Add to cart"? Ok, I think I just bought. Yeah, I did.

* The products featured in this post were provided by Coburn Communication for consideration on Skin Deco

Review: Beautymaker Skin Repair Wakening Gel

2010-07-01T13:24:00.000+08:00

When I decided to buy the Beautymaker Skin Repair Wakening Gel, I really didn't know what to expect from. Fuzkittie had it on her HG skin care list and so I kinda had to have it. Not a very good reason to buy something, is it?

Read on for the review

Up until now, I'm not quite sure what this product is supposed to do. I guess it's a light moisturizing gel to boost hydration. I've tried using it several ways; as a day time moisturizer, as a sealant after my night regime, and as a mask. It works fine any way I use it.

The gel feels so lightweight that it almost melts on the skin. It didn't feel sticky. In the morning, my skin felt soft, it looked somewhat luminous and the gel hydrated enough to not let my skin dry out.

That's it really. I really wished I had more things to say! Let's see... the packaging is a heavy glass jar which is quite posh for a relatively affordable product. Not too appropriate to travel with, of course.

I'd say that oilier skins will appreciate this product more. I do like this product but it simply doesn't fit into my regime since I almost always require a heavier moisturizer. The texture is pleasant enough for me to continue using it for the sake of it but it's not a product that I'll repurchase because it doesn't really do anything fantastic for my skin besides cooling it down a little.

I don't really see any remarkable differences when I do use it and when I don't use it, my skin doesn't seem to look any worse.

Ingredients:
Purified Water, Ethyl Alcohol, Cabbage Rose (Rosa Centifolia) Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Pineapple Extract, Gamma-Polyglutamic Acid, Glycine, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol & Yeast Extract, Codium Tomentosum Extract & Propylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Methylisothiazolinone, Serine, Hydrolyzed ulva Lactuca Extract, Aqua & Chondrus Crispus, Fragrance, Squalane.

I purchased this product by pre-order via TheFaceSecrets.Com for roughly RM53. I've seen this product at BoBoDave as well for USD$14.33

SilkyGirl Giveaway Winners

2010-06-27T00:50:00.003+08:00

Congratulations to the following participants!

Jean S (Malaysia)
Snow Falling (Malaysia)
aNn (Malaysia)
Daisy Deariesx (Malaysia)

Lara (Spain)
Mint (Australia)

You've won yourself a SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lipgloss!
Please e-mail your mailing and contact details to skindeco.net@gmail.com by June 30th, 2010 to claim your prize.

-----------------------------------

I've been pulled away from blogging due to work and I hope to be back by the end of this month. I don't think I'll be accepting any more jobs until I am done with my school work. Clearly, I have trouble juggling both! I can't promise that the post will be as frequent as before but I'll try.

Thanks for sticking around!

I just wanna shout out to the June babies that are dear to me; Tine, Grace, Jenn and my mommy. I've been so caught up with everything that I haven't been able to make your special day as special as it should be. I'll make it up to you! I just want you all to know that I didn't forget *hugs*

Taking a Break

2010-06-15T16:55:00.002+08:00

It's hard to describe what I'm feeling right now and the only word that comes to my mind is "lethargic".

It could be this paper that I have to write or the blankness that I'm experiencing overall from school, I don't know. I can't bring myself to do anything that feels like work because when I do, I shut down completely. Blogging just started to feel this way and it's not a great feeling to have when I'm supposed to be doing something I love. Thus, I'm not going to force myself to write a new post or edit pictures or videos because if I do, I'll be dreading it and increasing my frustration.

Just let me get through the rest of this week. If I can spring up after I've done and submitted my paper, I'll put up a new post.

Thanks so much for sticking with me :)

Giveaway: Perricone Starter Kit, Including the Advanced Face Firming Activator

2010-06-10T15:28:00.006+08:00

Exclusive to US and Canada, here comes another Perricone MD giveaway and this time, it's better than ever!

You will stand a chance to win a Perricone Starter Kit worth $283, which includes four full-sized products:

Nutritive Cleanser ($38)
Advanced Face Firming Activator ($120)
Vitamin C Ester Eye Serum ($50)
Ceramic Skin Smoother ($75)

You may also want to get in on the Perricone Sale to shop for deluxe samples through their Sampling Program.

Get an exclusive discount with a special Perricone MD Promo Code for Cold Plasma, Advanced Face Firming Activator and Face Finishing Moisturizer respectively.

Read on to learn how you can enter this giveaway...

NOTE: This giveaway is for US and Canada residents ONLY
Entries from other countries will be disqualified. If you are not located in the US/Canada but have a US/Canada mailing address, please state in your comment

To qualify for this giveaway, complete the following tasks by July 10th, 2010:

1. Be a subscriber/follower of Skin Deco
2. Read and comply to the contest rules
3. Fill in your details into the Contest Machine below
4. Complete the following sentence in the comment box below: "I want to win the Perricone Starter Kit because..."

*Only entries that have fulfilled all the above tasks will be eligible

Review: Lancome UV Expert BB Base

2010-06-10T04:02:00.005+08:00

Lancome UV Expert GN-Shield High Potency Active Protection BB Base SPF50 PA+++ High UVA PPD is an obscenely long name for a product! Here forth, we shall just call it the Lancome UV Expert BB Base.

BB cream is the Asian IT thing and it has become this revolutionary product that even Western brands are now emulating. Despite not being an avid BB cream user, this is exciting news to me because Asian BB creams have always been discriminating against atypically darker Asian skin tones, like mine. I feel very strongly about the lack of color options available!

Now that we have Wikipedia to define BB cream, I'm not going to. Read here (don't worry, it's not lengthy)

I've long given up on BB creams because they are almost always too fair for my skin and occasionally, oddly grey. If I do manage to get a close enough color match, the coverage would be too light or formula too drying. You'd think that having over a hundred types of BB creams to choose from, I'd find one that suits me.

Perhaps a Western BB cream could be the one!

I first read about the Lancome UV Expert BB Base on ParisB's blog (MyWomenStuff). Click here to read how this product fares on her fair skin.

A basic tube with a basic nozzle. Nothing much to the packaging. The BB Base comes out quite fluid and the color, ecru (greyish-pale yellow). When blended, the base leaves a slightly grey cast and quite a lot of glow.

While I was initially apprehensive about putting something grey on my already dull and ashy skin, it didn't turn out too bad at all. After giving the base a couple of minutes to settle, the effect is actually quite nice. You can clearly see that the base has helped to even out discoloration, reduce redness, conceal minor spots and make my skin look a whole lot smoother. It comes with a high broad spectrum sun protection of SPF50 PA+++, which classifies this BB Base as a tinted sunscreen rather than a foundation substitute in my books.

Worn alone, the BB Base does not offer enough coverage for my preference and it can look quite oily, even on my dry skin. To add coverage and blot of the excess shine, I'd apply a layer of powder foundation (Shown in pic: MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC35) over the BB Base. What I love about this base is that it grabs powder extremely well, never allowing that cakey powdery look. Since my foundation lasts the whole day with this base, I don't need to touch up but I do find myself having to blot with a tissue. If you have oily skin, you may want to be light-handed with the BB Base.

So, the Lancome UV Expert BB Base is not quite like the classic BB cream but it is a fairly decent product on its own.

Retails at Lancome counters and outlets for RM165/30ml. This product is Asia exclusive. I guess it's not that Western after all.

Perhaps I'll have better luck with MAC or Estee Lauder? (Source: Makeup For Life)

Google "MAC BB Cream" and you'll get this. LOL

But it's true. MAC has released their version of the BB Cream, which they call Prep + Prime Beauty Balm UVA/UVB SPF35 PA++ (USD$30). It's only available in travel retail and duty free locations.

Also only available in travel retail and duty free, Estee Lauder has released CyberWhite EX Extra Intensive BB Creme Multi-Action Formula SPF 35.

Giveaway: SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lip Gloss -- CLOSED

2010-06-07T20:03:00.008+08:00

It's only appropriate that I give away products that I love, right?
If only I can do that with all of my favorite products!

I have with me 4+2 SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lip Gloss up for grabs!

There will be 6 winners:

4 from Malaysia
2 from everywhere else

Respond to this question in the comment section below:

"Out of the 8 features of the SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lip Gloss stated in the review post, which ONE is most appealing to you?"

Read on for the nitty gritty (PLEASE READ GIVEAWAY RULES!)

Giveaway Rules:

Must be a follower/subscriber of Skin Deco
Please state your country in your comment entry
Only entries that include an answer to the given question will be accepted. The feature selected MUST be from the review post ie. must contain the exact words. Eg. "The most appealing feature to me is that it has no distinct scent" or "I love that the lipgloss has a classy and compact packaging" etc.
Please choose ONE feature only
Winners will be announced on Skin Deco. Please e-mail me within the given time frame to claim your prize or I will have to pick another winner
Giveaway ends 13th of June 2010, 11:59pm GMT +08:00

Update: US Haul + Upcoming Tutorial

2010-06-07T19:13:00.003+08:00

*laughs nervously*
My box came?

Yeah...

Read on for details.

This haul is probably not very interesting to most of you. I understand that not many Asians/Malaysians are into tanning but it's sort of my current obsession.

What I bought this time:

Lime'n da Coconut Tan Defining Formula (for outdoor and indoor tanning -- just in time for my Cherating trip this weekend!)
Banana Boat Summer Color Self-tanning Lotion
Bain de Soleil Mega Tan Sunscreen Lotion with Self-tanner
Ben Nye Bronzing Body Tint
Graftobian Hi-def Glamour Creme Foundation in Enchantress
Graftobian HD Creme Corrector in Soft Orange
Ben Nye Creme Shadow in Medium Brown (for contouring)
OCC Lip Tar in Conquest
Italian Badger Round Crease Brush from Crown Brushes
Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Lash
Stila #9 Brush
Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Gel Cream Eyeliner Trio for Green Eyes
Maybelline Mineral Power Natural Perfecting Concealer in Sand
ecoTools Bamboo Bronzer Brush
Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish Blush in #8 PDA
Urban Decay Pocket Rocket Lipgloss in Max
St. Ives Timeless Skin Daily Microdermabrasion Scrub
Ben Nye Banana Visage Luxury Powder
Wisdom of the Elders by Peter Knudtson and David Suzuki (book -- not shown)

Grace truly spoils me. She included HEAPS of goodies in my box. Love you lots!! *hugs*

I also did a little swap with the lovely B of Clumps of Mascara and she got me two mascaras that she thought I should try -- Cover Girl Lash Blast Volume and Almay Intense i-Color. Btw, she's having a giveaway on her blog that has just turned 3!

I apologize for the lack of tutorials. My weird class schedule and no-blogging weekends prohibited me from wearing much makeup what more film tutorials. I did manage to get one done and it's for the Summer Tutorials series. This look was inspired by Malaysia's National Park, Taman Negara. I'm in the process of editing the video. Bear with me!

Review: SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lip Gloss

2010-06-05T13:04:00.000+08:00

In a previous post, I asked you to guess what lipgloss I was wearing and got some interesting answers. However, two of you managed to guess correctly. It's the new SilkyGirl Moisture Max Lip Gloss! Aishah Noordin and Vina, please e-mail me to claim your prize!*

Another shocker from SilkyGirl! Come on, does that classy tube look anything like SilkyGirl to you? It almost doesn't look drugstore! No tacky pictures or writings or weird screwy designs. The best part about this lipgloss is on the inside.

Read on for the full review, swatches and color descriptions!

*Please e-mail me by 06/06/10 or the prize will be offered to someone else

Smooth, non-sticky texture
Sticky lipglosses put me off completely. SilkyGirl says Moisture Max contains Jelly Base and that's actually how the gloss feels on the lips; like a lightweight layer of jelly. The staying power is comparable to any other lipgloss.

Fine, non-gritty shimmer
I usually hate drugstore glitter lipglosses because the glitter will be chunky, low quality glitter that collects into the line. The glitter in this gloss, however, is finely milled and the density varies from color to color. You won't be able to feel grittiness from the glitter.

Oh-so-shiny
While the gloss doesn't give a mirror-like shine, it's still pretty shiny and you can tell that the shine is from the gloss and not so much from excessive glitter, which is what most cheap lipglosses have to appear shiny.

Classy and compact packaging
I'm not going to be redundant. You can obviously tell that the packaging is not typical for a drugstore lipgloss. It's slightly smaller than a standard lipgloss, though. Comes with a doe-foot applicator.

No distinct scent
Most of us would still have to put up with the horrid orange/cherry/cough medicine scent of drugstore lipglosses despite how good of a lipgloss they are. I'm very happy to announce that Moisture Max smells like nothing! I'm serious, it has no scent at all!

Locally and easily available
In Malaysia, SilkyGirl is everywhere. You can easily get a hold of Moisture Max at any major healthcare stores in Malaysia as well as the SilkyGirl outlets. SilkyGirl is also available in selected healthcare stores in Singapore and Brunei.

Inexpensive
RM15.90 and often on sale. I got mine for RM12.90

Available in 8 shades
Decent array of shades but they're all quite sheer so some colors can look somewhat similar

01 Amber: Milky coral with gold glitter

The color is slightly more pigmented so it can qualify as a nude-ish gloss. This is a great color for Summer and should go with any kind of makeup. I especially like wearing this gloss with green eyeshadow and peach cheeks.

03 Nude: Sheer cool brown with silver glitter

It's like a clear gloss but better. It'll give the lips a tiny hint of color and loads of shine. This will make a great gloss to top over lipsticks.

Other colors available in the range:

02 Fuchsia: Mid-tone pink with fine gold and silver glitter
04 Cranberry: Brownish pink with dense and fine bronze and silver glitter
05 Raspberry: Bright cool pink with sparse pink and gold glitter
06 Rose: Bright warm pink with dense and chunkier gold glitter
07 Hazelnut: Bronze with dense and fine bronze and gold glitter
08 Wine: Cool mauve with blue and gold glitter

Brushes I Frequently Use + How I Wash My Brushes

2010-06-04T03:30:00.006+08:00

It took me years (and many many brushes) to discover some of my favorites and I think I can finally share with you some brushes that I use almost every time I put makeup on.

Many of the other brushes that I own, I still like, but I can probably live without them. I guess the fact is, you really don't need that many brushes. Doesn't stop me from searching for more favorites though!

I've also put together a long overdue tutorial on how I wash my brushes.

Jump!

Face (left to right):

Etude House Duo Fiber Cheek Brush
(RM39.90 -- up to 40% off during sale)

Who needs to fork out over a hundred Ringgit for a MAC 188 or 187 when you have this awesome brush? It's firm, dense enough and doesn't shed or bleed excessively. The size is in between a 188 and a 187 so it'll work great to stipple on liquid foundation, apply powder, blush, bronzer and everything else a duo fiber stippling brush can do. I mainly use this brush for blush and glow powders (eg. MAC Mineralize Skin Finish, Benefit Sugarbomb).

MAC 109 Small Contour Brush
(RM125? I don't know. Someone please help!)

I hate this brush for CONSTANTLY shedding. Come on, it's been a year! Stop shedding already! And it's not the softest brush in the world or my table. If I can chuck this appalling brush out, I would but it would mean giving up on a perfectly shaped and sized brush. You can apply practically any type of foundation with this brush. Liquid, cream, loose powder, pressed powder, mousse, cream-to-powder -- you name it. If you can ignore the mustache left behind by the brush, you'll get a streak-free finish. It's also great for contouring and buffing. *sighs* Damn this brush. Review here.

La Mei La Kabuki Brush
(RM39.90 -- bought from Blink on the first floor of Sungei Wang Plaza at 50% off but I don't think it's available anymore)

One of my most unexpected and yet best purchases ever. This is a synthetic kabuki brush and there's nothing I don't like about it except for the fact that I can't buy it anymore. Not that I need to because it's still in pristine condition but it also means that you can't, which is not good. It's soft, dense, doesn't shed, doesn't bleed and I love the handle. It's much easier to grip than regular kabuki brushes. I use this for loose powder, pressed powder and powder foundation (light coverage) as well as glow powder. Also awesome for buffing out over-applied blush.

Eyes (top to bottom):

Italian Badger Round Contour Brush
(I got this in the travel set. The long handled (~USD$3) one can be purchased from Coastal Scents or Crown Brushes)

One of the first brushes I've ever owned and still a favorite to this day. This is great for applying dark color into the outer corner and crease. It's soft and dense, doesn't shed and doesn't bleed.

Deluxe Eyeshadow Brush
(~USD$3. Can be purchased from Coastal Scents or Crown Brushes)

I use this strictly for applying highlight on the brow bone. This dense and slightly tapered brush blends as it applies the highlight color. I bought this because it was supposedly a dupe for MAC 227 brush but when I compared both brushes, I actually like this one better because it's a lot softer and I like that it's tapered. Review here.

Stila #30 Brush
(Bought this during the Stila close out sale. No longer available in Malaysia. USD$32 from StilaCosmetics.com)

If I had discovered this brush earlier I wouldn't have to buy so many other eyeshadow brushes. The flat side is a medium sized eyeshadow brush that packs on color very well onto the lid and because the tip is slightly tapered, I can use this to apply color into the crease. The other side is a slim fluffy crease blending brush to blend eyeshadow on the outer corner and also the crease. It's a great fit for my Asian eyes. I'd probably go insane if I ever lose this brush. It's the perfect eyeshadow brush for me and I can create a complete look with eyeshadow using this brush and this brush alone. Review here.

Small Round Contour Brush
(USD$1.71. Can be purchased from Crown Brushes)

I love applying eyeshadow along my lower lash line because it really makes my eyes pop. This firm brush gets the job done. The size is perfect but it's quite scratchy. Still, a brush that I use very often. Review here.

elf Studio Small Smudge Brush
(USD$3 from elf)

Gel eyeliner brushes need not be expensive because they fray in no time. After years of making do with "on-pack" brushes, I finally found an inexpensive brush that I like for gel eyeliners. It's small and tapered so I can either apply my liner thinly or thickly. It also doesn't fray as easily as other brushes that I've used.

Bobbi Brown Eye Definer Brush

For my eyebrows I use both pencil and eyebrow powder frequently. If I'm using a pencil, this brush will be used to blend so that my brows won't look harsh. When using powder, I'll create the shape as well as fill in and blend with this brush. It's stiff without being hard and it has a pointed tip to help shape my brows precisely.

Brushes need to be washed frequently. The makeup build-up on the brushes attracts bacteria growth and may cause irritation to the skin when you use it. Also, the existing color of product on the brush may compromise the actual color that you're applying. For instance, you apply yellow eyeshadow with an uncleaned brush that previously applied blue eyeshadow and you'll get green. Well maintained brushes will have a longer life span too.

There are many types of washing agents that you can use to wash brushes but after experimenting with several types, I find that I prefer using a facial bar soap because it lets me control the amount of soap that I use and a soap lasts a lot longer.

Synthetic Brushes

I wet the brush then swipe it over the bar soap, lather, rinse and squeeze out the excess water.

Natural Hair Brushes

I pretty much do the same thing as with synthetic brushes except I lather more to really get the soap between the bristles and if I remember to, I will apply hair conditioner prior to rinsing.

Eyeshadow Brushes

Same thing, really. I'd draw on the soap until it doesn't produce any colored suds.

Sponges

I massage in and soak my sponges with a tiny bit of dish washing detergent and some shampoo for about 15 to 20 minutes. After that, I lather the sponges up then rinse and squeeze dry.

Eyeliner Brushes

To remove the eyeliner residue, I squirt some cleansing oil onto a paper towel then draw on it until there's no more eyeliner on the brush. Then, I double cleanse with soap to remove any traces of oil. If you don't do this, the oil may affect the performance of your eyeliner.

I lay all of brushes on plain paper (printed on one side) to allow them to bleed (for some) and dry.

Review: SilkyGirl Double Intense Waterproof Mascara

2010-06-03T22:19:00.004+08:00

You’ll notice the funky packaging of this mascara within seconds but it’ll take you at least a minute to process that it’s by SilkyGirl. Uh-huh. SilkyGirl. It’s no doubt that SilkyGirl is a popular brand in Malaysia and Singapore but you can’t deny the flimsy and childish packaging that SilkyGirl products often sport that's enough to put one off their products completely.

Quite the contrary, everything about the SilkyGirl Double Intense Waterproof Mascara had lured me in -- packaging, brush, claims and price . It’s been awhile since I last laid eyes on SilkyGirl so I popped a tube into my basket.

Read on for the review...

The packaging and the wand get two thumbs –up from me. I need not say much about the packaging. It’s sturdy, doesn’t look cheap and certainly more attractive than most drugstore mascaras (though we all know that Majolica Majorca is unbeatable when it comes to kick-ass packaging for drugstore makeup).

More interesting than the packaging is the silica gel brush which is a favorite of short Asian lashes. The side with shorter bristles is for adding volume and coating every single lash while the longer bristles are meant to separate and lengthen as well as curl. The formula claims to contain collagen and protein nutrients to condition and strengthen lashes.

Double Intense is not my go-to mascara but it doesn't get banished to my "unused" drawer either. It's actually a pretty decent mascara so if you don't have absurd expectations like I do, I think you may like it.

To start coating every lash, the side with short bristles is used first. It coats every single lash including hard-to-reach lashes and bottom lashes. Adding volume, not so much. I'd say it lengthens better. Unlike most lengthening mascaras, Double Intense does not contain fibers. Instead, it gradually lengthens the lashes with "tubes" making your lashes look naturally lengthened and not furry. I especially hate it when the fibers fall all over my face and get into my eyes thus, this is a much better option for me. This mascara fairly holds up a curl.

While the tube says waterproof, it's not very much so as it flakes when exposed to water and excessive sweat. Nevertheless, it's relatively smudge-proof and easy to remove so that's good enough for me.

To sum it up, Double Intense could've been packaged in a Lancome tube and you wouldn't have imagined that it was SilkyGirl.

Retails for RM21.90 (if I'm not mistaken). I got mine for RM19 after discount. Available at major healthcare stores (Watsons, Guardian, etc.) and SilkyGirl outlets (there's one in Mid Valley). SilkyGirl is also available in Singapore and Brunei at selected healthcare stores.

Mini Review + Giveaway: Madara Sun Flower Tinting Fluid + 30% Discount Coupon

2010-06-01T23:43:00.005+08:00

Madara’s Moon Flower Tinting Fluid is my favorite tinted moisturizer thus far. To shrug off the nagging feeling that Sun Flower might be better suited for my skin tone, I tested it and found that it was a tad different from Moon Flower. Not bad different, depending on how you look at it.

Read on for the differences. There’s a giveaway and discount coupon offer after the jump!

The color match is near perfect to my current skin tone, which is more tanned than usual. I don’t think it’ll necessarily darken slightly lighter skin tones. It’s just that the golden/yellow undertones are distinct in Sun Flower while Moon Flower is pink-toned.

Sun Flower dries to a semi-matte finish, giving me less glow compared to the more hydrating Moon Flower. Regardless, it does not dry out my skin while feeling ultra lightweight. These are major plus points for oilier skin types and those who can do without the heavy feeling of foundation.

To my despair, the coverage that Sun Flower gives is also lighter but still sufficient to make my skin look naturally better. Instead of wearing it as a tinted moisturizer, I use it as a makeup base and it works well as one. The powder foundation that I apply over it grabs on better and I get the coverage that I want without piling on the product.

Available for RM128/50ml from Body Bar outlets located at Sunway Pyramid, Tropicana City Mall, and Pavilion as well as their online store.

Good News!!

Since the exchange rate has gone down for Euros, Body Bar has lowered the prices of all Madara products that they carry except for the Tinting Fluids.

Better News!!

Print this coupon out to redeem a 10ml Madara Tinting Fluid in the color of your choice. On top of that, this voucher is valid for an exclusive 30% discount on all normal-priced Madara products at Body Bar! Join the Body Bar Facebook group for updates on promotions and new products.

Click on picture for full size

I also love the Madara Deep Comfort Toner (gonna get me a back-up with this coupon!) and the Madara Regenerating Night Cream.

Update: Rounding Up May '10

2010-06-01T19:02:00.006+08:00

Back to back, all of my weekends in May were eventful. Before I go on to tell you about them, let’s take a look at some good reads from May:

"They give out facial masks to passers-by!", says Xin from Pretty Beautiful
I agree, Jenn (Lipglosseater). Crabtree and Evelyn's Rosewater Hand Therapy is pretty darn amazing
I didn't think Cetaphil could get any better but it did. Eli of So Loverly has been having great hair days
ParisB of MyWomenStuff showed me a teal liquid eyeshadow and it may become the first Estee Lauder product that I've ever purchased for myself
The Red Lip is a timeless classic and Yani of RedLusciousLips turned it into a masterpiece

Week 1

Okay, I worked so it’s not exactly eventful but I get paid :D

Week 2

Ah… weddings. What’s not to like? An excuse to look better than usual, awesome food in large quantities, wedding favors, free-flow wine, a chance to shout as loud as possible, spending quality time with friends and of course, admiring the gorgeous bride that is PrettyB. Congrats, babe! Make babies soon, k?

Week 2 – New York

It was the week of Makeup Show NYC! The insane bargains were not to be missed and you’d think that being halfway across the world from New York I wouldn’t be a part of this spectacular event. You'd be wrong. Grace, representing Skin Deco, got in on the action and hauled back enough stuff to fill up a store. My portion of the haul is sitting in a post office this very moment. I can't wait to get my hands on my package tomorrow!!! Grace even got to hang out with some other beauty bloggers at the show *waves hello*. I hope I'll get to see you ladies one day!

Week 3

In my teenage years, I was quite active as I’d go for jungle trekking every week. After 8 years of slacking, I took on Broga Hill and almost died. The trail wasn’t difficult at all. Heck, there were people who went up in jeans and sandals carrying a handbag -- maybe they got lost trying to find the mall. But because I haven’t been exercising, I had little to no stamina. Ugh. I was completely drained of color when I finally reached the first peak. I was very close to passing out. Was the view worth the climb? Eh, it could be better without the hundreds of people on the hill. The entire hill was so congested that to get down, we had to queue as if waiting in line for an amusement park ride.

Week 4

The last week of May was a long one for us in Malaysia and based on calculations, there was going to be a full moon. Off we went to a kelong near Pulau Ketam to fish and basically chill. Eventually the full moon got blocked by the heavy clouds but there was a beautiful sunrise the next morning. Apparently fishing when there’s a full moon isn’t recommended for beginners so my fishing only yielded 3 tiny fishies. Thank goodness we brought chicken wings for the barbecue.

Review: MAC Select Cover-Up

2010-05-30T08:45:00.000+08:00

As much as we try to perfect our skin with religious skin care routines, ultimately, there'll still be something that needs to be covered up. I'm not bothered with a blemish or two but my biggest areas of concern that need extra concealing are my dark eye circles and the discoloration around my mouth.

Said to be "virtually invisible", I was counting on the MAC Select Cover-Up to deliver. Don't you just hate it when your package gets lost in mail and arrives 3 months late?

Read on for the review...

My color is NC35 which is quite beige compared to the MAC foundations that can lean slightly to orange. The rather fluid liquid concealer comes in a handily-sized tube with a nozzle that dispenses a controlled amount of product.

The concealer blends easily and dries to a semi-matte finish so I can wear this without applying powder to set and it still wouldn't crease. I can even apply this over powder foundation and not experience caking. However, the quick-drying formula also means that I have to work quickly with this concealer or I'd have trouble blending once it dries.

If you need a heavy duty concealer, the Select Cover-Up is not for you. Using a foundation to conceal would get you this coverage. It's good enough to even out discolorations but don't expect it to "erase" anything. Personally, I'd use a dark eye circle corrector prior to using the Select Cover-Up to even out the color.

One major downside of this concealer is the fact that it can be drying. If at any point your skin is leaning on the dry side or is not completely smooth, this concealer will accentuate any bumps, flakiness and lines that you may have. In other words, if you have very dry or uneven-textured skin, you may wanna give this concealer a miss.

This is one of the few concealers that I feel comfortable wearing without foundation as it blends incredibly. I use this concealer whenever my skin isn't awfully dry because of the unique texture. However, I don't like it enough to repurchase. It'll probably take me awhile to get through this tube anyway.

The MAC Select Cover-Up delivers but not efficiently.

Retails at RM65/10ml (I think) at all MAC outlets and counters or USD$16.50 at MACCosmetics.com

Away for the Weekend

2010-05-27T11:42:00.003+08:00

It's going to be a full moon tonight and I'm going fishing! I couldn't manage to schedule any posts for the rest of this week but next week I'll be back with a bang.

Have a great long weekend everyone and Happy Wesak Day :)

Circle Contact Lenses: GEO + Dueba + Barbie Eye

2010-05-26T01:43:00.004+08:00

When was the last time you've seen an FOTD of me without colored contacts?

I started wearing colored contact lenses over a year ago and I've never looked b(l)ack ever since. It has come to a point where, according to friends, I wouldn't look "myself" without colored contacts.

While I may seem addicted to contacts, on "normal" days I do wear spectacles. Some may say that I wanna "look more Caucasian" and not embrace my Asian features but I simply feel that colored contacts enhance my makeup and make my eyes look more "alive". Check out the pics and judge for yourself...

My favorite contacts to wear are Circle Contact Lenses. Read on for my views on different types of circle lenses that I've worn.

This would be me without colored contacts. Ahh... such a long time ago

GEO

GEO 3 Tone Grey CM901

These lenses are my staple. They look natural enough on me that most people wouldn't think that I'm wearing lenses. The grey has hints of brown and blue so the color blends very well. They don't offer much enlarging effect, which I prefer, and they go with any type of make-up that I wear.

Tutorial for this look here

GEO Nudy Grey CH625

While they don't look as natural as the previous ones, these lenses are my second favorite to wear. Again, they go with practically any type of makeup. The color can look light blue under bright daylight. The enlarging effect makes my eyes look bigger but not scary. They're also slightly more comfortable.

Tutorial for this look here

GEO Ash Wing

These contacts have a relatively thick black outer rim to frame the pupils so that they appear larger and more prominent. The supposed grey looks quite blue but the color in general isn't prominently visible in real life. I don't wear these often but they're the most comfortable pair of lenses that I own so I usually reserve them for traveling.

Tutorial for this look here

GEO 3 Tone Green CM903

Yeah, I'm not really rocking them, am I? I've probably only worn these lenses five times max. The don't match well with my makeup most of the time. The green is quite fake, making my eyes look witch-like. I'm still looking for a pair of green lenses that would suit me.

Dueba

Dueba MX-21 Brown

The color shown on the chart is so misleading. With hardly any brown, these lenses look almost black. They do enlarge the appearance of the pupils but to a size that I'm not always comfortable with.

Tutorial for this look here

Barbie Eye

Barbie Eye Super Nudy Pink

Pink! How cute, right? I couldn't resist owning a pair of pink lenses even if just for novelty purposes. Surprisingly, the color turned out to be quite wearable. Depending on the lighting, they can sometimes look hazel or lilac. These lenses are insanely huge though. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to fit them into my eye! Also, they can make my eyes look unfocused and subsequently, crazy. From far, they look fine. Just don't stare into my eyes up close.

Some other GEO contact lenses that I've tried: Nudy Golden Blue, Angel Grey, Angel Brown

Lately, I've been purchasing my lenses from Miss Lens. Her prices are quite reasonable but more importantly, she's reliable.

You Sure You Wanna See My Stash?

2010-05-25T12:39:00.002+08:00

It's not completely obscene but it's not exactly modest either.

Please don't think that I'm showing off, flaunting or bragging about my "collection" because that's not my intention at all. It's just that many of you have requested that I do a post on my stash and how I organize my makeup. I figured now would be the best time to show because I've just moved into bigger room, have my own table, new drawers and within 2 weeks my table will be in an utter mess. Basically, now or never.

If you insist that I'm showing off then you can simply not proceed reading. Otherwise, feast your eyes, ladies ;)

On this tray rack, I have all my skin care stuff. I segmented the trays with boxes and a basket. I got the tray rack from Carrefour for RM17 I think.

At the back of the top tray would be all my body stuff; moisturizers, mosquito repellent, stretch mark cream, firming cream, self-tanners, baby oil, underarm whitener, aloe vera gel. The box on the left holds sample tubes of products that I'm testing out and on the right are my sunscreens, masks, treatment creams and eye creams.

On the bottom tray there's a pink container (from Ikea) of lip balms at the back, boxes containing contact lenses, a pack of facial wipes and a tin of Badger Balm. In the basket is where I keep the rest of my skin care products like serums, toners, moisturizers and some of my masks and scrubs.

I bought this 4-tier drawer that has a covered compartment and slots at the top for RM21 from Carrefour.

The left slot holds my eyeshadow primers then moving to the left are my eyebrow stuff. I didn't really know what to put in the covered compartment so I just have some of my loose powder eyeshadows in there; Barry M, Ben Nye, Everyday Minerals.

In the drawers, I store my single eyeshadows. First drawer contains MAC, second has NYX, I Nuovi and Stila in the third and miscellaneous brands in the fourth. Previously, I categorized by color but that method took up too many segments and I don't exactly color coordinate.

I'll go into detail of the picture on the left in the next set of pictures. There's another box underneath the white container at the back and the gold box holds my cotton pads.

In the box underneath I have all of my mineral pigment samples in bags and jars. Then, in the white container you'll find cream eyeshadows, gel liners and MAC pigments in segments. I got the white container from Ikea for RM19.90 (should be).

I store my lipglosses, lipsticks and frequently used mascaras and pencil/liquid eyeliners in this huge segmented acrylic container. I can't tell you where it's from because it used to be a store display unit for a very famous cosmetic brand :p For liners and mascaras that I seldom use, I keep them in the drawer that you may be able to spot behind my mirror in the first picture. That's also where I keep my miscellaneous tools like tweezers, sponges, scissors, nail clippers, mixing medium, etc.

I have two brush holders containing my brushes. The black one from Etude House (gift from Xin!) holds mainly eye brushes and the Stila one holds cheek and face brushes.

Let's see what's under my table...
An A4 sized 4-tier cabinet. Picture on the right shows the "before" of my blush drawer. Cabinet purchased from Tesco for.... RM25?

I reorganized everything and added these slotted corrugated plastic dividers that I bought from Daiso.

First drawer contains eyeshadow/blush/makeup palettes, a few random single eyeshadows and some loose powder blushers. Second is my blush and bronzer drawer, which I believe is self-explanatory. My foundations and powders are stored in the third drawer. Finally, I have my makeup base, tinted moisturizers, liquid illuminizers and concealers in the last drawer.

I didn't take pictures of my nail polishes, hair stuff, sheet masks and my box of faux lashes. They're not that interesting, I believe.

I'm not very creative with my organization ideas so if you have any suggestions or great ideas to share, please do! I tried the cutlery tray thing, didn't work :(