My Beauty Channel

Beauty Tips: How to apply mascara like a pro

2011-05-14T01:42:00.000-07:00

I've not done any quick beauty tips for a long time and this time I want to provide some tips to enhance the eye lashes, one of our beauty accessory :) If you want to draw attention to your eyes, the key is to create full and flirty lashes other than applying eyeshadow alone. I'm a big fan of the American Reality Television Series Keeping Up with the Kardashians and Kim Kardashian's beautiful and lengthy lashes never fails to amaze me.

Here are some tricks to apply mascara to accentuate your lashes for that flirty and alluring eyes...

(a) The trick to amazing lashes is to use the blackest mascara you have. If your eyelashes are thin, use a volumizing mascara. For short lashes, use a lengthening mascara. I highly recommend Maybelline's Pulse Perfection Mascara for the lengthening effect.

(b) The eyelash curler is an essential beauty tool. Curl lashes with one firm squeeze.

(c) Then dip mascara wand into the tube just ONCE for both upper and lower lashes. Dipping too much mascara onto the wand will cause the mascara in the tube to dry quickly.

(d) To apply the mascara on the upper lashes, place the brush at the lash base and sweep upward to the tips of the lashes, working from the outer corner inward. Remember to add more at the outer corners for that sexy dramatic look.

(e) To pile mascara on lower lashes, sweep lashes from side to side with the tip of the brush, holding the wand vertically.

(f) Use as few strokes as possible to minimize clumping!

To make your lashes stand out more, line your upper waterline with a black liner to give an illusion of even fuller lashes and keep the rest of your make-up light with a faint of lip gloss and blush.

However, if you wish to achieve a face-brightening look, skip the lower lashes altogether.

Do not be shy to use false eyelashes for that extra glamorous effect.

Good luck and have a smashing weekend :)

Bellazzia Pomegranate Body Butter Review

2011-05-11T10:29:00.000-07:00

This is my current favorite body butter and I love it more than my The Body Shop's Cocoa Butter Body Butter . I got this as a souvenir from my brother's sweetheart when she went to Australia to visit some friends sometime last year. Thanks again Poh Leen :) I have too many body lotions and creams sitting on my vanity desk and I have only started using this recently. You can purchase this from Target or any drugstores.

What I like about it...
- it is as sweet as my brother's girlfriend, lol! The pomegranate scent is very pleasant to my liking
- very moisturizing as it contains 20% shea butter, and for this reason, it is excellent for those with severe dry skin. My skin is starving for extra moisture lately because of the extreme hot weather and I have been spending too long hours in the air-conditioned room.
- it leaves my skin soft and smooth without greasy feeling unlike other body butters.
- keeps skin hydrated and supple all day
- reasonably priced and the packaging guarantees no wastage

What I don't like about it...
- it contains mineral oil, an ingredient that will clog pores. However, I haven't caught any body acne yet :) If you have body acne, avoid this body butter.
- it takes some time to sink into my skin thoroughly.

Size: 350mL
Price: AUD12.99 / RM42.00

The Ingredients: -

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★

Would I buy again: Yes.

Clarins White Plus Intensive Whitening Smoothing Serum Review

2011-05-09T05:51:00.000-07:00

I was introduced to this serum last year when I wanted to try other products other than my regular Dermalogica to lighten marks caused by hormonal acne. Therefore, I bought this serum with high hopes to transform my skin to crystal clear before I give birth.

This is what the product says...
It is an advanced skin care for a flawless complexion and skin that glows with a youthful radiance, it ensures reinforced control of pigmentation, minimizes dark spots and prevents their reappearance, firms facial features, smooths away fine lines, illuminates the complexion and restores the skin's transparent rosy glow. It is enriched with extracts of Sea Lily and Alchemilla for optimal protection against dark spots.

This what I have to say about this product... :)

Happy with it because...
- it does what it says! It did minimize my acne marks remarkably. My skin glows with lesser red marks and spots, even my gynae asked me what I have been using on my face when I went for my baby scan :) In my opinion, this serum is better than Clarins White Plus All Spots Whitening Corrector which I have also tried and reviewed here.
- it controls pigmentation. I was warned by my beautician that my skin may show signs of pigmentation due to pregnancy. Hence, I quickly invest in a product that controls pigmentation and again, this serum works! I did not have any pigmentation or dark spots during pregnancy other than marks left by acne.
- it is non-greasy, application is smooth and the serum absorbs quickly into the skin.
- most important of all, it is allergy tested and non-comedogenic. I'm wary when selecting products for my face and I always make sure it will NOT trigger acne or clog my pores.
- it brightens my skin effectively, I wore less make up when I was using this serum.

Not too happy with it because...
- I don't think it works to smooth away fine lines as stated. Then again, perhaps I didn't use this serum religiously. I have stopped using after I gave birth and this explains why I didn't list this product in my beauty profile. I will be using this serum again because I noticed pigmentation are forming under my eyes.
- it is pretty expensive but I always believe that if you want a good value for something, you need to pay for it.
- I despise the packaging! I can't open the neck of the bottle to shake out any remaining serum.

Size: 30ml / 1.06 Oz.
Price: RM260.00 / USD87.00 (approx)

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings: -
Price: ★★
Product: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★

Would I buy again: Yes, this is one product I highly recommend although it is pricey.

Averine Satin Smooth Foundation Review

2011-05-07T05:12:00.000-07:00

This is another product I have been using over the years faithfully. Prior to this foundation, I used The Body Shop oil free foundation but it caused my skin to break out horribly. I gave the Averine Satin Smooth Foundation a try since Averine products claim to be 100% safe and Skin Caring unlike many other brands. I'm impressed with this moisture-rich gel foundation, then again it has its pros and cons just like any other products. So, here are my thoughts about it...

Note: I only have 3 color swatches. I mix 2 colors, the Ivory Beige & Pink while my mom uses Fair :)

Good ...
- suitable for all skin types, even sensitive and acne-prone skin
- yes, it does care for the skin. It is not only a foundation but it also nourishes, hydrates and protects my skin. I have no doubts and am being honest!
- it is non-comedogenic, therefore it will not clog pores. I don't get pimples or acne from this foundation even if I had it on for more than 12 hours
- the texture is light, ultra-smooth and very easy to blend
- it evens out my complexion and gives my skin a sheer NATURAL finish
- smells pleasant
- it is long wearing and I never had to touch up. I just set it with loose powder and I'm ready to go.

Bad ...
- it cannot conceal severe acne marks or redness because it only gives a light to medium coverage
- leaves my skin a little oily and shiny after 3 hours, but I don't really mind because it didn't make my skin to break out. I always have facial blotters handy to absorb those shines away :)
- I dislike the packaging. I prefer tube packaging as I can cut it open and use up to the last drop!

Size: 35ml
Price: RM158.00 / USD44 (approx)
Made in Italy

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★

Would I buy again: Yeah.

Coastal Scents 88 warm palette review with ALL 88 swatches!

2011-05-02T22:40:00.000-07:00

It has been so long I have not done any cosmetic or make up reviews and I know I must review this eyeshadow palette tonight. I bought this early last year together with some brushes and gel liners. You can check out the post on my Coastal Scents Haul here if you are interested. Initially I wanted to get the 88 Ultra Shimmer Palette after watching make up tutorials from AllThatGlitters21, Elle Fowler. She came up with gorgeous eye make up tutorials using the Shimmer Palette, but considering I already have the 120 Palette, I chose this warm palette instead. On the whole, I like this palette and the reason I selected this over the rest was because the silvery blue, peach and rich plum colors caught my attention as well as the many shades of brown. Below are my views of this palette and I swatched ALL the colors in this palette for the sake of this review. Do enjoy this review and I hope the swatches are helpful to those considering to purchase this palette.

Here is the palette. Please read on for the complete review and scroll down for ALL 88 color swatches!

Love it...
- there are huge selection of brown colors to play with. If you love browns, this is the perfect palette for you
- it also has nice matte browns that can be used to fill in the brows. I always misplace my eyebrow pencil and this comes in so handy when I have no time to search for that tiny eyebrow pencil on my messy vanity desk
- there are 42 matte shades (I like matte shades) and 42 shimmer / pearl colors
- it has plenty of highlight shades to choose from matte whites to cream to soft light pinks which I truly love
- the colors are quite pigmented. For some, I do not have to keep layering or apply any base
- it has 2 black, one matte and the other shimmery. Not forgetting, the silver blue and camo green colors are truly unique and beautiful
- this palette is great for everyday neutral looks, school, work and glamorous smokey looks
- it is only USD24.95 for 88 eyeshadow colors, USD0.28 for one eyeshadow color!

Hate it...
- it contains Mineral Oil. I dislike mineral oil on my face because it clogs pores. I don't mind a little on my eyes but I would avoid mineral oil entirely on my face or neck
- some colors are chalky and there will be fallouts. So, be gentle when you dip your brush on it and always use a tissue to cover your cheeks and catch those fallouts.
- TOO many highlight, brown and similar colors. If you are a beginner and you wish to play with more colors, this is not the palette to invest on. There should be more warm blue, green, gold or bronze shades in my opinion
- got to be careful with the cover of the case because it can be broken easily.

Dimensions: -
Pot diameter is 1.6cm
The matte black case is 23.2cm x 16.6cm x 1.3cm (when closed)

Content weight: 61g / 2.15oz
Price:: USD24.95

Here are the ingredients: -

Talc, Mica, Mineral Oil, Kaolin, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Isopropyl Palmitate, Lanolin, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, BHT. May Contain : Mica and Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue, Manganese Violet, Ferric Ammonium Ferrocyanide, Chrome Oxide Greens, Chrome Hydroxide Green, FD&C Red No.40 Al Lake, FD&C Yellow No.5 Al Lake, FD&C Blue No.1 Al Lake

Overall ratings: -
Price: ★★★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★

Would I buy again: No, because it can last very long and I do not use it everyday. However, I will consider purchasing other Coastal Scents palette.

Here are the swatches...

Thanks for dropping by and have a wonderful day.

Averine Cover Spot Concealer Review

2011-05-02T07:54:00.000-07:00

Last year, I tested and did a review on The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer when I wasn't able purchase the Averine Cover Spot Concealer which I have been using all the while. The Body Shop concealer did a great job concealing my skin's imperfections and those irritating acne marks. Not long after, the Averine Cover Spot is back in stock and I got tempted to purchase this again because it is not only a concealer but it also contains healing ingredients to treat acne at the same time, just like The Body Shop tea tree concealer. Below is my review on this concealer I have been using faithfully over the years.

Like it...
- it contains Salicylic Acid to treat acne and Tocopheryl Acetate (Vitamin E) to nourish skin and lighten existing blemishes. In short, it is good for acne prone skin and acne marks
- conceals imperfections and at the same time it did what it claims to purify, hydrate and repair skin
- the texture is smooth, creamy and easy to blend
- it is non-comedogenic, it will not clog pores or cause acne!
- gives a good medium coverage, hence your complexion will look more natural
- evens out skin tone effortlessly

Dislike it...
- it doesn't dry up existing pimples as quickly as The Body Shop tea tree concealer
- not suitable to be used on the eye area
- doesn't provide 100% coverage. If your skin is particularly red and congested, this concealer fails to conceal flawlessly

Net wt. 4g
Price: RM68 / USD20 (approx)
Made in Italy

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Yes, this concealer has its drawbacks but it is suitable for me.

Clarins White Plus All Spots Whitening Corrector Review

2011-04-30T10:22:00.000-07:00

The sales lady at Clarins introduced this spot corrector to me together with other Clarins whitening range last year. I bought their Whitening Serum which I'll certainly review about soon, but I refused this one because it is very pricey for a 7mL size and I do not wish to spend that much of money on different brands other than my regular Dermalogica. This product claims to reduce dark spots and soothe small spots. The sales lady told me that this is excellent for fresh acne marks. As I have mentioned before, I have some post acne marks and they are my priority concern, but those marks on my face are old, not fresh ones. As such, I refused to get this but my mom was so sweet to buy this for me and she insisted that I give it a try. My mom loves Clarins whitening range, particularly their whitening mask. I gave this whitening corrector a try and here are my thoughts about it...

The PROS...
- it is highly concentrated and a little goes a long way
- yes, it does lighten new dark spots
- it contains Salicylic Acid and Meadowsweet extract to soothe and purifies small spots which I love
- application is smooth and easy with the roll-on applicator
- it sinks into the skin very fast
- will not cause or aggravate acne

The CONS...
- this liquid will drip on other areas of my face if I do not rub into my skin quickly
- it takes some time to see results. It took me 2 weeks to see the lightening effect. Not recommended for those who are impatient, but hey you can't find a product that will work overnight
- expensive for such a tiny size

Size: 7mL / 0.23 Fl. Oz.
Price: RM185.00 / USD58 (approx)

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings: -
Price: ★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★

Would I buy again: Maybe. Overall, I'm satisfied with the results and I do recommend it.

DIY Egg Mask Facial

2011-04-28T22:30:00.000-07:00

I want to share a home remedy recipe to treat acne and acne scars. If you browse at my beauty profile, I actually have combination skin. My t-zone is very oily and blackheads prone while my cheek area is dry. I used to have acne prone skin but my skin condition has improved over the years with the right products I have been using religiously and also with the help of h2o. Yes, water is crucial, not only it benefits your health but your skin as well! Then again, those acne and blackheads attacked me again while I was pregnant. At initial period of my pregnancy, my skin was congested with acne on my forehead, cheeks and even the chin area. I was so upset that I complaint so much. After which, my mom's friend suggested that I try egg mask facial. I was pretty skeptical initially because I do not believe using kitchen remedies on my skin but I decided to give it a try anyway because I could not stand looking into the mirror seeing those ugly red marks and fierce acne. And the results derived were surprisingly awesome! Some angry and bumpy acne reduced in size and red marks were lighten.

You will need the followings ...
a) 1 egg
b) 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice
c) clean bowls
d) an egg white separator (optional)
e) a fan brush (optional). You can use your fingers. I find using a fan brush easier and faster.

Preparation ...

Step 1:
Crack the egg open and carefully separate the egg whites from the yolk in the first bowl. I use an egg white separator. With a clean fork, beat the egg whites hard until it is foamy. Then take a tablespoon of the egg white and put it into the second bowl. We are going to use this one tablespoon of egg white as a mask and yes, it is enough for one application.

Step 2:
Squeeze 2 teaspoons of fresh lemon juice into the egg white and mix thoroughly. Make sure you clean your face before applying the mask. Using your fingers or a fan brush, apply the mixture onto your skin all over concentrating on the t-zone and chin BUT remember to avoid the eye area! Give it time to treat your skin. Egg whites give the skin a temporary face lift, whitening effect, constrict pores size and reduces acne size. The lemon juice will lighten acne scars. I usually wait for 10-15 minutes for the mask to dry. Now, rinse off and pat your skin dry. Your skin should feel firm, refreshed and smooth.

Step 3:
Prick the egg yolk and apply an even amount on your face. The egg yolk is moisturizing and soothing. Wait for it to dry and rinse off. This step is optional. If you wish to skip this step, follow up with your regular toner and moisturizer after Step 2.

I like to start fresh each time. Therefore, I normally leave the remaining egg whites and yolk in the kitchen for my mom to cook. However, you can keep it refrigerated for 3 days. I recommend using this mask 2 times a week for best results for those with oily acne skin. If you have dry acne prone skin, use this once a week. Try this mask and see the results. It is not only effective but it is easy to prepare and very inexpensive.

Tip: You need to use this mask religiously for remarkable results. Please note that no remedies work overnight and results vary according to individual's skin condition.

Good luck.

Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster Review

2011-04-25T08:40:00.000-07:00

Hey all, I want to do another face product review before I review other body, eye, hair or make up product.
This is a product I swear my skin can't live without to soothe big bumpy acne and redness after facial or acne extraction. However, this booster receives unfavorable ratings if you browse MakeupAlley.com. I have no idea why some said that this is an oil when it is actually oil-free. This serum has a very smooth texture and it makes my skin glows. My complexion receives numerous compliments ever since I started using this serum with Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream. I have been using this serum for years and I love it more than the Skin Hydrating Booster. Here is my complete review of this product...

The Good...
- it is oil-free and it didn't cause any acne flare ups on my skin
- provides added moisture with no greasy feeling and it certainly makes my skin glows like never before
- great for acne scars. I rubbed this serum on old acne marks religiously and it fades out those marks / scars notably. I also apply this serum after acne extraction and it reduces irritation, redness and sensitivity instantly and promotes rapid healing. In short, this is ultra-soothing for my skin
- it contains soothing ingredients like Honey and Red Raspberry Extract which I love
- best of all, it contains zero artificial fragrance or color
- I like the packaging where I can open the tip of the bottle, hence no wastage
- one bottle can last up to 2 months

The Bad...
- it is quite pricey as expected
- it is not moisturizing enough on its own. I mix it with Skin Smoothing Cream for best results
- I would not say that it is recommended for all skin conditions. My skin loves this but if you want to be sure if this is suitable for your skin, consult your skin therapist. Do not test any samples on your skin just because you got it for free. Who doesn't love free stuffs but I would never put any products on my face without studying the ingredients first. Study the ingredients to see if there are any that your skin can't tolerate or if the product contains ingredients that will cause or worsen acne. My advice is always to consult a skin therapist before investing on any products

Size: 30mL / 1 FL OZ
Price: RM219.00 / USD67 (approx)

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings: -
Price: ★★
Product: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Yes.

Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream Review

2011-04-12T09:38:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite face moisturizer! I've been using it for more than 5 years and my skin absolutely love this cream. I always believe that women should begin using anti-aging products at the age of 26. This cream is highly recommended because it is for drier or prematurely-aging skin. If you are looking for a moisturizer that is not overly rich, will not clog pores and at the same time work to delay wrinkles, this is it. When I was first introduced to this product at Leonard Drake, I was skeptical because I have combination oily acne prone skin and I was worried that this product will clog my pores and worsen my acne. However, my beauty therapist insisted that I give this product a try and she even guaranteed that my skin condition will improve if I use this cream and yes, I felt an awesome difference. Read on for my complete review on this product...

The Good ...
- a medium weight cream that maintains skin's moisture balance, hence it is not overly rich and leaves no greasy or heavy feeling
- it moisturizes, soothes, hydrates and smooths skin all day long, great for dry skin
- contains antioxidant Grape Seed extract plus the essential Vitamin A, C and E
- also suitable for combination oily skin as it doesn't clog pores or encourage acne
- has no artificial fragrance or colour
- one tube of 100mL can last for about 2 months. I apply on my neck as well.

The Bad ...
- it is quite pricey. Let's face it, Dermalogica products aren't low-priced, but most of them are good
- not suitable for severe acne skin condition or oily skin

Size: 100mL / 3.4FL OZ
Price: RM266.00

Here are the ingredients: -

Overall ratings: -
Price: ★★★
Product: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★

Would I buy again: Always. This is such a wonderful product.

The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter Review

2011-04-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

When I was pregnant, I fell in love with body moisturizers particularly when stretchmarks were showing as my pregnancy bump grew bigger and also when my skin turned quite dry. I went for The Body Shop Cocoa Butter Body Butter when my regular Johnsons Baby Lotion isn't rich enough for my skin at that time. This body butter is very rich, thus I used 3 jars of it during pregnancy. I'm using the 4th jar now and I want to share my thoughts about it ...

Love it ...
- this body butter is amazingly rich and moisturizing, hence it's perfect for those with very dry or flaky skin, and especially during winter months
- smells like chocolate which I love. It smells so yummy till I feel like licking it, lol!
- the texture is very creamy and smooth
- it will not clog pores or cause body acne
- absorbs into the skin quickly and keeps skin hydrated all day
- helps to reduce the appearance of stretchmarks. I use this with Bio Oil and I'm impressed :)
- the packaging is great. I prefer jars because it minimizes wastage instead of tube or bottle packagings

Hate it ...
- it is greasy once applied but like I said, it sinks into the skin pretty fast. The trick is to apply this body butter right after shower when skin is still damp. I hate using this when the weather is hot as it still leaves my skin feeling greasy, sticky and worse if I sweat!
- it will not prevent stretchmarks. I still get some minor stretchmarks although I layered this body butter on my belly every night when I was pregnant
- not very economical unless I use it twice per week. If I were to use it daily, it can only last for about 2 weeks

Size: 200ml / 6.9 OZ (196g)
Price: RM59.00 / USD19.53 (approx)

Here are the list of ingredients: -

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★
Product: ★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Maybe.

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser Review

2011-03-26T08:33:00.000-07:00

Hi beauties. It has been a long time I have not done any product reviews. Today I want to do a review on my current favorite facial cleanser. If you look at my beauty profile, you will see that I'm a huge Dermalogica fan. I never wanted to switch my facial cleanser but I was given a 20ml sample tube of Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser for combination and oily skin 4 months ago and I fell in love with it instantly. I'm on my second tube of this cleanser and here is the review to support my love for this cleanser.

Pros...
- to me it is inexpensive. It is only RM92.00 (approximately USD23)
- great for oily and combination skin. It removes all traces of make-up and leaves my skin perfectly clean, refreshed, matte and comfortable
- it rinses off very easily unlike my previous Dermalogica cleanser
- great as a gentle exfoliator as well because it contains tamarind and purifying micro-pearls to aid dead skin cells elimination
- absorbs excess oil, hence acne breakouts are much lesser now particularly those on the forehead and cheeks
- economical, one tube of 125ml can last up to 2 months because only a pea-sized amount is required.

Cons...
- the fragrance is quite strong
- not suitable for the eye area

Here are the ingredients: -
Aqua, glycerin, stearic acid, myristic acid, potassium hydroxide, glycol distearate, lauric acid, sodium lauroyl sarcosinate, tipalaureth sulfate, aluminium starch octenylsuccinate, glyceryl behenate, ozokerite, parfum, dimethicone, mannitol, propylene glycol, cellulose, tetrasodium EDTA, alpha-glucan oligosaccharide, polymnia sonchifolia root juice, sodium salicylate, tartaric acid, maltodextrin, tamarindus indica extract, acrylates/ammonium methacrylate copolymer, triethyl citrate, gossypium herbaceum (cotton) seed extract, hydroxypropyl methycellulose, gypsophila paniculata root extract, lactobacillus, potassium sorbate, methylchloroisothiazolinone, methylisothiazolinone, sorbic acid, bht, benzyl salicylate, butylphenyl methylpropional, limonene, linalool, CI 77891 / titanium dioxide, CI 77007 / ultramarines.

Overall ratings...
Price: ★★★★
Product: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Yes, yes and yes!

What are my changes during and after pregnancy?

2011-03-09T07:19:00.000-08:00

Hi all. I'm back from my pregnancy break and I'm so excited to blog again. Yup, I gave birth to a baby boy last November via Cesarean Section and I have to admit that recovery was not so good but whenever I look at my baby I feel that the pain is all worthy. Just like many mothers out there, pre and post natal certainly changed my body and I want to share about the changes on me from head to toe!

My Pregnancy Bump! Buhahaha!

Lets begin with my hair. I felt extremely good with my hair when I was pregnant because of almost no hair fall. Yes, no hair loss! Whenever I washed my hair, there was less than 10 strands of hair falling out. It was such a bliss that my hair grew longer, thicker and healthier, just the way I want it to be. The nightmare begins on the 2nd month post natal until now. My hair is falling out like crazy! If you google, most sources will tell you that it is normal to lose 50-100 hairs per day but let me tell you that it is NOT normal to lose that much hair. If you lose 20-30 hairs, that IS normal. A lot of hair will come out when I run my fingers through my hair or brush it. I lost more than 80 strands of hair during each wash! Yes, I picked them up from the plug hole and counted the amount each time. It's so heart breaking to notice that my hair is also thinning (not balding yet) around the temple area :( I asked around and everyone is telling me that this is absolutely normal because of hormonal changes and readjustment. During pregnancy, expectant moms stop shedding hair, so after pregnancy those extra hair will fall out. My friend's wife had the same problem too (she gave birth 3 months earlier than me) and she told me she has tons of baby hair growing back, so I should not stress about it and it will eventually stop within 6 months. My hairdresser told me that there is nothing I can do except to wait for my hair to resume its thickness again when it 's ready but I disagree. Hence, I'm taking my vitamins, some traditional chinese medicine and try to maintain a healthy diet. A friend advised that I should avoid fast food, soya and soda drinks at the moment until the shedding stops. I'm also using an anti hair loss vitalizing shampoo from EKS. I will do a review about this shampoo after 1 month.

Next is my complexion. During pregnancy, there were angry acnes occassionally and I used a lot of aloe vera to nourish my skin. The good news is my acne cleared up at the end of my pregnancy and during confinement. Now, I only get tiny pimples on my forehead and chin, thanks to those crazy hormones again but they will go away after 2 days. My complexion is much clearer with lesser black or whiteheads.

My breast grew one cup larger after pregnancy :) So, I have nothing to complain. I put on 20kgs during pregnancy. My pre-pregnancy weight was 52kg and I have successfully shed 14kgs after 3.5 months. So, another 6kgs to go. I will gambateh, lol! Nonetheless, I do not wish to lose weight so quickly because it is not healthy. It is very important to nourish the body after giving birth. Failure to do so, not only it is bad for the health but we will also age very fast. I also went to get my teeth checked as well and load up on calcium.

Hips and thighs have widen for sure but it will shrink back after 6 months post partum according to my mom. Well, I choose to believe her... hehehe!

Hmm... what about my cesarean scar? Many women said their scar is only 4-5 inches long. I measured mine and it is about 6 inches because my baby is quite big. My scar is like a thin line, still a little red and the scarring has not gone down yet but it looks OK to me. I'm recovering rather slow but it is no longer painful. I have a little tummy but it had shrink down a lot. Some of my relatives who don't know about my pregnancy can't even tell I have given birth. Oops I almost forgot about my stretchmarks! I applied a lot of cocoa butter from Body Shop during pregnancy but I still get stretchmarks at the sides below my pregnancy belly. I've been applying Bio Oil after I gave birth and they are 80% less visible :)

I think that's about it. I will be posting more regularly, so check back for updates.
My best regards to all :)

Hai Sun Fong Breast Enlargement Pump Review

2010-07-15T06:38:00.000-07:00

Hey all. I am back real quick this time. As promise, I will be updating much more regularly since I have the time and energy. Today, I will be doing a review on a breast enlargement pump :o I have been wanting to write a review on this some time ago and finally I am doing it now =)

One and half years ago, I bumped into a seller on a forum who is selling this beauty device. It is actually called "Hai Sun Fong" Beauty Server. In order to encourage sales, she even posted censored pictures of her breast, before and after using this pump and the pictures tempted many gals like me to purchase because she went from an A cup to C! Her marketing skills were so convincing. Well, I am not going to mention who she is or post a link to her pictures because those pictures were already taken off.

Most gals are never satisfied with what they have and this is normal. For myself, I would never opt for surgery. Hence, I went ahead and got a unit inclusive of shipping for RM188 (approximately USD55) with 1 year warranty. Sounds like a good deal right?

From the pictures, the device comes with 2 sucking cups. The big one is suppose to cup the breast and the small one is meant to cup the nipples >.< It also comes with a charger, a CD and a mini leaflet for instructions. I was so excited when the vacuum pump arrived. Deh… :P

I used this breast pump once a day for an hour as instructed by the seller together with the Lelan Vital breast serum which claims to speed up the results and Lelan Vital breast firming cream to diffuse redness after that. So, you got to leave it on to do the boob sucking (lol!) for 30 minutes on each breast. On the second day, the device went dead! >.< Great… I am not sure if the manufacturer sucks or the device hated my boobs. Lol! Since it comes with a 1 year warranty, I contacted the seller, returned the damaged unit and she exchanged a new one.

Ok, here are my reviews about this breast enlargement pump!

Love it ...
- I noticed fuller and firmer breast within a week. I kept measuring my boobs for size increment. Haha!

Hate it…
- The pump is very noisy! You will hear a brrrrrx100 sound during the entire 1 hour boob sucking session. It is very irritating and embarrassing especially if there are people at home.
- You will suffer for the first week. Why? Because after each session, your breast will have lots of bruises and red marks like giant love bites! But it will go away in days.
- And yes, it is painful while you pump and after. The seller claimed that it is not painful at all. How can that be?!

And the conclusion after using it for 1.5 months is…

IT DOESN’T WORK! My boobs’ size went back to its original! I was so disappointed and contacted a few friends who also bought and tested this beauty device. Their results were same as mine. It simply doesn’t work. If you stop pumping after 3 days, it will shrink back to its original shape and size. So, it won’t give you permanent result. T.T In addition, using this type of breast enhancement pump may cause broken blood vessels. Not worth the risk...

The seller’s pictures were very deceiving. Why? Because the pictures of her enlarged boobs are taken right after she pumped her boobs and not after she has stopped using the pump for some time because I could see those obvious FRESH red bruises. And I saw modeled pictures of her recently selling other stuffs and her breast size are small, unlike what she has shown in her pictures right after she has pumped her breast.

So, my advice is DON’T waste your money unless you want to get an extra thing to collect dust in your room =(

Coastal Scents Haul

2010-03-18T01:28:00.000-07:00

Hey everybody. I did an online shopping lately and yup, my first coastal scents haul! It arrived yesterday in less than a week but of course, I chose Fedex instead of the standard USPS First Class Mail. I am so excited to try out their products after reading so many positive reviews. I got quite a number of stuffs so that I can I save on shipping. It is not obviously practical to buy just a few products and pay a great sum for shipping. The shipping is kinda costly but I would rather buy from overseas than to buy from some of the local sellers here. I have bad experience dealing with online sellers from my country, Malaysia that I have yet to share with you guys. Most (not some) of them do not know what is customer service, they have no idea what business is and hence, zero business ethics. I must post an article on the attributes of these online sellers. I am really sick and ashamed on how Malaysians do business online.

Back to my CS haul, I got 13 brushes, 1 of the 88 eye shadow palette, 10 5g packaging jars and 2 gel liners =) Most of their products are really afforable compared to MAC but I strongly disagree that their products quality are as good as MAC. Then again, you always get what you paid for. So, no complaints! Here is my haul ;)

Brushes (from left to right): Italian Badger Pencil Brush, Pink Semi Firm Pointed Crease, Pink Oval Synthetic Concealer Brush, Chisel Fluff Large Shadow Brush, Black Sable Shadow, Tapered Crease Eye Brush, Sable Contour Brush, Chisel Fluff/Point Crease Duet, Sable Blending Brush, Chisel Angle Fluff Shadow Brush, White Angled Liner, Black Taklon Angle Liner and Pink Kabuki Brush.

The famous 88 warm palette. I love warm neutral colors! =)

Gel liners (Peach Bellini & Exotic) and 5g packaging jars

Coastal Scents also threw in a freebie for me along with my order. It is a lip gloss. Not too fond of it anyway.

I will definitely do reviews once I have tested these out. If you love makeup but on a budget, you must check out coastalscents.com for excellent deals.

Have a great day people! xoxo...

Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask Review

2010-03-13T00:16:00.000-08:00

Hello my gorgeous readers! Today I am going to do a review on the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask which is one of my favorite masks of all time for pimples, acne and oily skin. I purchased this mask from a seller online and have been using it for months and here are my thoughts about it: -

Pros…
- very inexpensive. It is only RM16 (approximately USD4+)
- it is excellent for oily and acne prone skin. I used this mask almost daily (no problem for me because my skin type is oily) even on my acne-free skin days just to draw out impurities from my pores and to refresh my skin after I suffocate it with make up all day long. My poor skin… hehe…
- great for acne. Tip: I dabbed this mask on my acne overnight as a spot treatment and those acne reduces in size the next morning. No, it will not make acne disappear overnight of course but it does shrink and facilitate quick healing.
- skin will feel extremely refreshed, firm and rejuvenated
- the mask has a minty smell. You may like or hate it. For me, I love it because it is so refreshing to my skin
- no animal testing and contains no animal ingredients

Cons…
- it is a bit drying. Well, it is supposed to dry out pimples. If you have dry skin, then obviously this is not recommended. If you have dry skin but with some acne, then perhaps you can just dab on the acne alone and not on your entire face.
- it is slow in treating blackheads and enlarged pores

Here are the ingredients: -
Water (Aqua), Kaolin, Bentonite, Glycerin, Zinc Oxide, Propylene Glycol, Sulfur, Chromium Oxide Greens (CI #77288), Fragrance (Parfum), Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben.

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★★★
Product: ★★★★
Quality: ★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Always! My skin will be not happy without this mask.

Chocolate for Skin and Health

2010-03-05T00:43:00.000-08:00

Hey all. Today I am going to share the benefits of chocolate for your skin. Ok, I know it may sound frightening and fattening for some of you but lets just read on and you will know what I mean ;)

Chocolate is not only an elixir for love but this comfort food is also great for your skin and health. Studies have shown that chocolates particularly plain dark ones contain a surprising number of ingredients beneficial to your health provided you consume in moderation. Too much of anything is bad. Ok, lets just put aside the fear and guilt of those high sugar and calories that will make us fat and explore benefits you can reap when you indulge in your favorite chocolate.

Benefit No.1 : It delays premature ageing
Do you know that cocoa contains antioxidants nearly twice in red wine and up to 3 times that in green tea? Yes and chocolate is a cocoa based product that can protect against free radicals that cause cancer, ageing, atherosclerosis and neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's because cocoa beans are rich in flavanols, part of a family of antioxidant flavonoids. So, if you want to get more of that antioxidant benefits, choose dark chocolates because dark chocolates have higher cocoa content and 8 times more antioxidants than strawberries!

Benefit No. 2 : It is full of goodness
Chocolates, when taken in moderation provide essential elements that are beneficial to our health such as Vitamin A, B1, C, D and E as well as iron, potassium and calcium. It also improves heart, joint problems and pre-menstrual tension thanks to the natural ultra rich source of magnesium in cocoa powder.

Benefit No. 3 : It makes your day!
Last but not least, chocolates make us happy. Eating chocolates can improve our moody state because cocoa contains phenylethylamine and serotonin which trigger the release of endorphins or better known as feel-good chemicals in the brain to "lift" to your mental state. Hence, it is understandable why some of us love to grab a bar when we are feeling awful.

Then again, despite the above benefits, chocolates may cause acne breakout for some us. Yes, it does for me too. If chocolates give you acne, try to limit your intake of this yummy and comfort food.
For chocolate lovers, please bear in mind that although chocolates are delicious and nutrient rich, it is also high in sugar and calories, thus do not gobble it down too much! Always aim for a healthy and balanced diet. Remember that when it comes to any good things or anything you fancy, self-control is very important. When you limit your intake of chocolate, you will notice that pleasure in every bite is even sweeter.

Have a sweet day and I will post again pretty soon. Check out my next post on the review for breast enlargement pump =)

*Kisses & Hugs*

Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer Review

2010-02-18T08:01:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I hope for those who celebrated Valentine's Day had a wonderful romance night and for those celebrating the Lunar New Year, may your pocket be bulky with ang paos ;)

Today, I am doing a product review and I will be reviewing on the Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer! I have not done reviews for some time due to my busy schedules but I promise there will be more reviews coming.

2 weeks ago, I ran out of my Averine Cover Spot Concealer and I was dying to get a concealer to cover the flaws on my skin. I do have slight post acne marks and I need to conceal the side of my nose. I went to several Leonard Drake outlets but most of them ran out of Averine cosmetics because I heard that Averine is changing their product's packaging. Since I was desperate for a concealer, I went to Body Shop and got this Tea Tree Concealer for RM35 (around USD9) and here are my thoughts of it:

Pros..
- it provides EXCELLENT coverage! It is even better than my Averine Cover Spot.
- it didn't clog my pores. Ok, I am very selective when it comes to choosing any foundation and concealer because I have acne prone skin and I do not want any products that will clog my pores or cause my face to breakout.
- it evens out my skin tone perfectly
- I am using to treat and dry up existing pimples. Yes, it speeds healing because of its key ingredient tea tree oil with natural purifying antibacterial properties.
- I have very fair pink skin and I am using Shade no. 2 and it is perfect for my skin tone.
- it is also non-drying, thanks to the organic beeswax as a protective barrier that helps to seal in moisture.

Cons...
- None!!! ;)

Overall ratings ...
Price: ★★★★
Product: ★★★★★
Quality: ★★★★★
Packaging: ★★★★★

Would I buy again: Definitely! I don't think I will switch back to my Averine Cover Spot. I am already so in love with this concealer.

Make Up Tutorial - Easy Valentine's Day Glitter Eyes

2010-02-13T04:08:00.000-08:00

Hey all. Tomorrow is Valentine's Day and I am extremely excited! Just want to share my Valentine's eye make up look. Instead of the traditional pink or red, I decided to use orange and some glitter =) Well, it depends on invidual preferences and personality of course. So, here are the products and I use and I will detail how to create this look step by step.

First, I primed my lids with an eye primer as a base to prevent my shadows from fading. You can use a primer like Urban Decay Primer Potion or Two Faced Shadow Insurance. I am just using e.l.f Mineral Eyeshadow Primer and this is an awesome primer though it is only USD3! ;)

The sweet orange color I used is from the Cover Girl Tropical Fusion Quad! I love this quad! Using my MAC 217 brush, I applied the orange color all over my lids and into the crease as well as my lower lash line. I used the sonia kashuk angled eye brush for the lower lash line. Remember to blend the edges so that there are no harsh lines. I am still practicing on the blending. Practice makes perfect, right? ;)

Next, I took a clear lip gloss from Rimmel and coated it lightly over the orange shadow on my lid, crease and lower lash line. This serves as a sticky base for the glitters to adhere to. Make sure you do not apply too much of the lip gloss because it will crease very quickly.

Now comes the fun part - the glitter! =) I used a concealer brush to DAB (not sweep) the glitters more onto my lid and crease and a little on the lower lash line over the orange shadow. Remember to dab the glitter on gently and make sure you use cosmetic grade glitter. I am using NYX Glitter Mania in Apple.

On my browbone, I used a matte cream color since we already have so much glitter on the lids :) This is from Averine Skin Caring Eyeshadow Duo in ED06 Coffee Break.

Then, I lined my upper lash line with Majolica Majorca Liquid Eyeliner Pen in Black and winged out the liner for a more dramatic look and applied Cyber Colors Eye Definer Pencil in Deep Black 01 on my lower waterline. I finished the look with false lashes and a coat of Loreal Telescopic Mascara.

I hope you guys like this and stay tune for more tutorials.
Happy Valentine's Day and be safe.

=)

Your skin's greatest enemies!

2010-02-06T00:33:00.000-08:00

Hey everyone. I feel so bad for not posting on this channel lately, thanks to my busy schedules, the Chinese New Year that is around the corner (I am a Malaysian Chinese by the way) and I have been sick :(

Ok, so today I am going to identify our skin's biggest enemies and some bad habits we often take for granted that ruin the our skin. Early last month, I posted on 6 easy ways to achieve beautiful skin naturally and I noticed that in order to have beautiful skin, we MUST also brush off those bad habits / lifestyle that contribute to bad skin that I will be emphasizing below because without amazing skin, no matter what good make up you put on, you will never achieve your desired results.

Bad Habit No. 1 : Smoking

A smoker's skin looks older than a nonsmoker's and there is no denial on this. Every cigarette smoked releases 1,000 billion free radicals, which run riot with the supportive collagen and elastin network, ultimately causing skin to sag, wrinkles to form faster and dull skin tone. When you smoke, your blood vessels are choked, thanks to nicotine thus reducing the amount of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood that is being carried to the superficial layers of the skin. For those who suffers acne and post acne scars and if you are a smoker, it is time for you to consider quitting if you want acne to lessen and scars to heal faster. So, if you want brighter and healthier skin, throw away those cigarettes and you will notice how much nicer your skin looks, very soon!

Bad Habit No. 2: Skipping sunscreen
When I posted a topic on Do We Need Sunscreen, I received feedbacks such as "duh, of course!" Yeah, of course we need sunscreen, but how many of us actually use sunblocks?! I have seen so many people omitting sunscreen in their skincare. I am not referring to women only, but men as well. The sun is very harmful and causes up to 80% of age-associated skin problems such as deep wrinkles, fine lines, sagging skin, sallow tone and liver spots! Generally, it has been said that the lighter your skintone, the more prone your skin to sun-related aging. Then again, always remember that even black skin needs protection from the sun. So, start applying sunscreen please regardless of your skin type or skin tone.

Bad Habit No. 3: Going to bed without removing make up
We need to care of our skin as like how we care for our safety when we dance the night away. Many of us will feel exhausted and sleepy after a night out and simply go to bed without removing our make up. Well, it is ok not to brush your teeth when you are too tired (SOMETIMES only, not all the time of course!) but NEVER skip facial cleansing unless you want ugly wrinkles fast and easy. Always double cleanse your skin before going to bed. As a short cut, keep cleansing wipes in your purse, you can easily wipe those make up off on your way home or place a pack of cleansing wipes on side table beside your bed - it is always better than not cleansing at all.

Bad Habit No. 4: Stress stress and stress
Stress equals weak skin. Put aside daily stress for some moment and take time to unwind. Relaxation helps to strenghten skin barrier function, making skin less vulnerable to acne and fine lines. So, learn to relax.

Bad Habit No. 5: Dieting
We all want to look slim but do you know what dieting can cause breakouts? YES! Dieting weakens the skin fibre thus trigerring unwelcomed breakouts. If you must go on a diet, do seek a nutritionist for professional consultation.

Bad Habit No. 6: Scrubbing too much
I emphasized the importance to exfoliate on my on 6 easy ways to achieve beautiful skin naturally but remember, it is best to scrub or exfoliate once a week for normal skin and twice a week for oily skin. Never over scrub to prevent stripping away your skin's natural oils.

Bad Habit No. 7: Not enough sleep
This is my worst ever habit. I do not have enough zzz, because I always sleep late watching youtube, reading blogs and playing with my make up. Lol! Lack of sleep not only produces dark eye circles (thank God I don't have them yet!), but releases stress hormones which will jam oxygen flow and nutrients to the skin. So, try to sleep early (look who is talking! lol) and get at leastt 7 hours of beauty sleep each night.

May we all have Beautiful Skin for the coming Beautiful Valentine's Night and Always =)

Privacy Policy

2010-01-28T08:25:00.000-08:00

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Do we need sunscreen?

2010-01-20T07:25:00.000-08:00

The answer is YES!

Hi all. I am going to post on the importance of sunscreen, something which I find many of us neglect despite dermatologists continuously extolling the virtues of it. In my country Malaysia, protecting the skin from the damaging sun is something we delightfully ignore although we are exposed to the year-round sunshine. Unless you want to age faster or you love the sun too much, then I have nothing to comment =)
The ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB rays can cause numbers of health problems as follow because both rays can pierce through the earth atmosphere.
- Premature aging and fast wrinkling
- Skin conditions such as ugly skin tags, discoloration
- Cataract
- Sunburn
- and the worst, skin cancer!

The UVA is most damaging because UVA rays account for up to 95% of the ultraviolet rays we are exposed to and it easily penetrates into our skin more greater than UVB rays. When you get sunburn, the culprit would be the UVB rays but the strength of the sunburn depends on hours of the day. You will most likely get greater sunburns during late morning and early afternoon. Hence, I always suggest to minimize sun exposure after 12 noon until 4pm as mentioned in my post on how to get beautiful skin naturally. Then again, the morning sunlight is extremely good for your overall health and you get free Vitamin D!

Therefore, when it comes to sun damage, remember that PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE! To do that, always have your sunscreen lotion with sufficient SPF handy. SPF means sun protection factor and it refers to the strength of the sunscreen to prevent sunburn. And of course, the higher the number, the better it is to protect from UVB rays. Let me give you an example - if your sunscreen is marked SPF10, and if you are a person who would normally burn after 15 minutes, your SPF10 suncreen will protect you for 150 minutes and you will only be at risk to get sunburn after 150 minutes. In other words, SPF10 protects against sunburn 10 times longer. There are available sunscreens that protects against UVA rays too but there is no standard measurement of UVA absorption at the moment.

Sunscreen is EXTREMELY vital! Not only it helps to prevent sunburns, it also limits your skin exposure to the sun, thus reduces the amount of damage caused by the fireball rays. I am using Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster in SPF30 and it has never failed me =)

However, you must also note that sunscreen alone cannot provide 100% protection against the damaging UV rays. To be on the safe side, here are a list of what you can do to further protect yourself from the sun.

1) Wear clothes made from tightly-woven fabrics.

2) Do carry an umbrella when you go outdoor or wear a hat. Better still, put on your stylish sunglasses with UV protection.

3) Try to avoid direct sunlight after 12 noon until 4pm.

4) Get a broad-specturm sunsreen that is water resistant

5) Reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours if you are always out in the sun. Apply more frequently if you generally sweat a lot.

6) Never forget your sunscreen if you are going to the beach and reapply if you have been swimming.

Your skin is the largest organ, so protect it!

=)

L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Review

2010-01-15T08:10:00.000-08:00

Hi all. This time, I am going to do a review on the L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Duo and Quad that I got just a month ago. Just like the 120 palette, I got these from a forum but this purchase is a major disappointment to me. I bought these shadows from a malaysian forum, lowyat.net. The shadows are pretty cheap because the seller was doing a year end sale. Well, most products from that forum are pretty inexpensive and mostly all below market price. Yeah, everyone there is manipulating the market price, both sellers and buyers. For those who intend to set up your business thread in that forum, be prepared for the high competition of a "damaged market".

I never thought to purchase this brand but the perfect plum color from the duo attracted me.. lol! I am a big fan of plum, taupe and burgundy colors. So, here are my thoughts of these eyeshadows: -

Love it ...

- very inexpensive. I got the eyeshadow duo for RM5 (approximately USD1.47) and the eyeshadow quad for RM8 (approximately USD3.30), not inclusive of postage of course, but it is still very inexpensive.
- it is pretty convenient for me. For instance, the eyeshadow quad has enough colors for me to do a quick taupe smokey eyes without having to find another shadow with similiar colors.
- surprisingly, it didn't smudge even after couple of hours.

Hate it ...

- it is not very pigmented. The above swatches are with a base (NYX jumbo eye pencil in Cottage Cheese). Without the base, the colors will not even show up! Even with a base, I have to apply 3 to 5 layers to make the color pop. I am very much disappointed with the pigmentation.
- The texture of these shadows are not that smooth.
- The applicator is horrible! The double sided applicator has a sharp piece sticking out that would scratch the eyes. So, it is best to use a make up brush to apply the shadows, one that will also pack on the colors easily since it is so not pigmented.

It is not a very desirable product because of the pigmentation, unless you buy the brighter colors instead of neutral colors. Anyways, I shouldn't be complaining so much for such a low price. I guessed it would work great if used with a good and creamy base like NYX jumbo eye pencil or the Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow. Otherwise, using the shadows wet can also enhance the color.

Overall ratings ...

Price: ★★★★★
Product: ★★
Quality: ★★
Packaging: ★★★

Would I buy again: No, unless another color attracted my attention, but I would NEVER ever buy from the same dishonest and unethical seller again. I will let you know why pretty soon.

How to stop or prevent split ends

2010-01-12T06:24:00.000-08:00

What causes split ends?

Over-styling with hot tools and chemically treating your hair all the time will cause your hair to weaken, resulting in easy breakage of the hair. Also, lack of protein intake will cause hair to become very fine, leading to dry and brittle hair, split ends and worse, hair loss! Unless you are truly diligent in caring for your hair, nasty split ends will creep up on you in no time, thanks to ravages of sun and also air-conditioning.

There is no cure for split ends, but there are ways to prevent it.

Go for a trim every 2 months to keep your ends in good condition.
Do weekly hair treatments to keep your hair well-moisturized and to repair those extremely dry ends.
Use a shampoo and conditioner rich in moisturizing properties to lock-in the moisture lost from the harsh weather.
You should only shampoo your hair every alternate day, otherwise your hair will loose all its moisture.
Go without hair drying or any other hair appliances for a week and see the difference in your hair.
Towel dry your hair with patting motions instead of rubbing vigorously at your hair. This is a major culprit in breaking your hair!
Use a wide tooth comb to comb through your hair or a brush with wooden bristles as they are kinder to your hair.
Don't brush your hair too much, and always use brushes and combs with smooth, wide-set teeth. Avoid nylon bristles and never brush or comb wet hair! If you have knots, use a wide toothed comb or your fingers to gently de-tangle from the ends up, one section at a time.
Elastic bands and barrettes can cause breakage, so if you are tying your hair up in a ponytail, use a scrunchie. And if wearing barrettes, take care not to catch strands in the metal clip - ouch!
Leave in conditioners with light hold or pomade applied to the end can temporarily seal the splits. However, a trim will rid you of split ends instantly and it is a must if you want to keep them under control.

Tip: Rinsing your hair with lemon juice helps unblock the follicles and allows moisture to reach the hair shaft. Apply once after shampooing and conditioning and pat your hair dry.

Have a good hair day :)

120 color palette review

2010-01-09T00:08:00.000-08:00

Hi all. My camera has been giving me problems, thus I was not able to update my blog for 2 days, but today, it is finally fixed! Yay! This will be my first cosmetic review and I want to review on the 120 palette.

I came across the 120 eye shadow palette several months ago through a forum and I paid RM70 (approximately USD21) for it. The price is inclusive of shipping. You can buy this palette from eBay (just google 120 palette) or you can buy directly from Beauties Factory. The size of each eyeshadow is like a dime size. I didn't swatch all the colors but I swatch a few from each side of the palette, so you get the idea =) The swatches are all without a base, so, it is quite pigmented as you can see.

I have been so excited to try this palette and these are my thoughts of the product: -

Love it ...

- it is a great bargain for make up addicts on a budget
- huge selection of colors to play with, it is great if you are just starting off with make up
- has 2 blacks, highlight colors, neutral, bright and vibrant shades
- offers both shimmery and matte colors, but majority are shimmery
- great pigmentation
- occupies less storage space
- good for traveling use, but make sure you don't check in because the eyeshadows are fragile and easily broken

Hate it ...

- not all colors are that pigmented, especially the purple and pink
- it made my eyes itchy and watery sometimes
- too powdery, they create fallout on cheeks during application and you need to pack on the colors again
- fades easily as it is not any high end brand, so you need a good eye base or primer for the shadows to last longer
- many repeat and similar colors, especially the purple, green, blue, yellow and orange
- it is easily broken! I have been very careful with my palette but the cover is broken after using it a couple of times. I love the variety of colors it provides but the packaging is so cheap =(
- the eyeshadows are very fragile and super soft. Hence, you need to be gentle when dipping your brush into it
- I don't really like the highlight colors on the palette

Overall ratings ...

Price: ★★★★

Product: ★★
Quality: ★★
Packaging: ★★

Would I buy again: Hehe, I guess not because it seems very long lasting!