[Lipglosseater]

MAC Too Fabulous Collection Review + Swatches

2010-03-14T00:00:00.001+08:00

This is an anniversary from last year's Grand Duos. I'm really pleased to report that this year's blushes are not as glittery as last years! :D

Mineralize Blush (Duo) (US$23 / RM95) (Left is the lighter shade, Middle is the darker shade and right is both shades swirled together):

Two Virtues - Light blue pink & light violet.
Rhapsody in Two - Light pale pink & pale peach. This shade reminds me alot of the Moon River mineralize blush released last year.
Chic Couple - Light yellow brown & dark peach.

Bi-Tone - Rose pink & copper bronze
Buddy Up - Dirty rose & neutral yellow pink
Sun & Moon - Neutral brown & pink brown

Cremesheen Glass (US$18 / RM80):

Fashion Scoop - Clear pink. This shade is sold out already! :O
Partial to Pink - Light creamy yellow pink with light gold pearl. This repromote looks a little more pinker than the one released previously. Still pretty if you ask me! :D
Boy Bait - Light neutral beige with pearl. This is one of my absolute favourites!! See my swatches of this baby here.
Richer, Lusher - Peach coral
Just Superb - Dirty neutral pink. Me really really wants this one!!!
Deelight - Mid-tone neutral
Over Indulgence - Neutral brown
Loud & Lovely - Blue pink
Double Dare - Coral red. Me wants this one tooo!!

I've said this before, and i'll say this again - RM80 for a measly 2.4ml product is really a huge rip off!! This is launched barely a week and i had to scrape the sides of the tester tubes to get out some colour already. But then again, suckers like me will fall for their charm... Oh Just Superb and Double Dare, how i wants thee both...

Lip Pencils (US$13 / RM55):

Boldly Bare -Dirty red brown
Mouth Off - Deep peach coral
Trimmed in Pink - Bright blue pink
Chestnut - Intense brown
Naked Liner - Light neutral
In Synch - Bright yellow pink

That's all from me!! Didcha see anything you like from this collection? Got anything?? Do share with me!! :D

Sigh, it's back to housekeeping for me... i hope your weekend is more enjoyable than mine!! lol!! Take care and i'll be back really soon!! :D

MAC Spring Colour Forecast Collection Review + Swatches

2010-03-13T14:00:00.003+08:00

First of all, i'm sooooooooooooooooooo sorry for neglecting this blog lately! I've been really busy with our new place! From rushing here and there to meet up with the electricians / lawyer / previous owner / plumbers / painters / renovators to purchasing furniture / fixtures / lights / electrical goods / kitchen supplies / little knick knacks / etc etc etc, and not to mention the about 40 boxes of stuff we carted back from India that just needs to be cleared out! *faints* We're about halfway there... just need to hang on and finish everything up - hopefully soon!! :D

This is how our place looks like fresh from the previous owner:

Let there be light(s)! :D

After a fresh coat of paint:

And finally, the furniture:

The husband's study:

A bit too BLUE for me, but oh well, the bear gets to pick his "cave" color...

... and i get to pick our bedroom color!! XD

No prizes for gussing which color i picked! Hahaha!! The look on the husband's face when he saw this was PRICELESS!! He says it gives him a headache!! Hahaha!! XD

But really, it's not THAT bad right?? *bats lashes* Hahaha!! :P

Ok enough sidetracking!! Let's go right into the main topic! :D

This huge collection comes in four parts - Pink, Coral, Amber and Plum, so there's definitely something for everyone! :D I personally feel that this collection was a little blah though, but then again that could be caused by my disappointment of not having a cartoon anniversary like the previous years! :(

Lets start with the star of the collection - the Blush Ombres (US$25 / RM105 each)!! :D

Azalea Blossom -Light cool pink. There's definitely a hint of lavender in it as well! :)
Ripe Peach - Light coral. My personal favourite!! It gives such a healthy glow to your face! :
Springshine - Neutral suntan. Methinks that with a light hand, this might work for even light skintones to give a healthy sunkissed look! :D
Vintage Grape - Mid-tone violet pink. This reminds me of a darker On A Mission beauty powder blush, which i love!! :D

All 4 blush ombres have medium pigmentation, but they can definitely be built up to your desired intensity! :D

Crushed Metal Pigments (US$32.50 / RM135):

Both Stacked 1 and Stacked 2 have amazing pigmentation, and although lumpy, they go on pretty smoothly! They're really frosty too (definitely not office safe! :D)!! I personally HATED the stacked jars though... they don't look very sturdy at all (in fact, one of the tester jar has a giant CRACK on it already!) and i can just imagine the jars unscrewing themselves out of their previous holders and making a huge mess in your makeup bag!! Haha!! :P

Eyeshadow x 4s (Quads) (US$36 / RM135):

Mink Pink (Veluxe) - Neutral soft pink. It's really there in my swatch, you gotta just squint really hard to see it! lol!! That says alot about the pigmentation for this one...
Bruised Plun (Veluxe Pearl) - Frosted mid-tone dirty mauve. This color's beautiful, both pigmentation and texture wise! :D
Black Tulip (Frost) - Frosted dark grape. This color's not terribly unique, and the texture could be better!
Jungle Moon (Matte) - Blackened deep eggplant. What a cute name for an eyeshadow!! lol!! :P

Manila Paper (Veluxe Pearl) - Pale frosted white gold
Flip (Frost) - Bronze gold.
Aztec Brick (Veluxe Pearl) - Frosted true copper.
Creole Beauty (Frost) - Frosted dark golden brown.

This palette is BEAUTIFUL!!! All 4 colors compliment each other perfectly, and they have the most amazing pigmentation and texture. Now be still my heart... youdontneedthis, youdontneedthis, youdontneedthis!! XD

Eyeshadows (US$14.50 / RM58):

Rosy Outlook (Satin) - Frosted baby pink. This has quite decent pigmentation despite it being a Satin finish! :D
Da Bling (Veluxe Pearl) - Pink with gold pearl. This one's permenant, so no hurries in getting it! :D
Lala (Frost) - Mid-tone pink. I kinda like this color, though i question how often do i actually want to use it!! :D
Very violet (Frost) - Dark violet. This one goes on a little chalky (just a little), and i kind of expect the color to be darker! :D

Nanogold (Lustre) - Sheer yellow beige with pink pearl. As you can see, the pink pearl in this one is quite obvious! And this is probably one of the nicest Lustres you can find texturewise (the other one being Tempting!)! :D
Straw Harvest (Veluxe Pearl) - Frosty light yellow orange. This color reminds me alot of the Evening Aura eyeshadow from the Neo Sci-fi collection! :D
Perky (Satin) - Light salmon pink. What a sweet color!! It has beautiful pigmentation too for a Satin! :D
Hot Hot Hot (Satin) - Mid-tone coral. This color is hot hot hot indeed! lol!! :D

Lipsticks (US$14 / RM63):

Phlox (Glaze) - Sheer light pink. This one is really, really sheer!
Bubblegum (Glaze) - Light lavender pink.
Laugh A Lot (Lustre) - Mauve pink.
Pink Burst (Frost) - Clean bright pink with pearl.

Colour Me Coral (Frost) - Frosted light coral. This looks so beautiful in the tube, but unfortunately my lips didn't like this one... it just enhances every imperfection there is!! :(
Victorian (Frost) - Frosted light golden pink.
Fresh Salmon (Lustre) - Sheer bright pink orange.
Rose Maiden (Frost) - Frosted bright berry.

Beigeland (Frost) - Frosted light pink beige.
Bronzilla (Frost) - Frosted mid-tone yellow brown

Radiccio (Lustre) - Sheer mid-tone blue mauve
Hang-up (Cremesheen) - Deep berry.

Lipglasses (US$14 / RM63):

Cultureclash (Frost) - Clear baby pink with pearl
Hush, Hush Rose (Frost) - Mid-tone blue pink with pearl
Electric Fuchsia (Frost) - Bright violet with blue pearl

Ember Glow (Cream) - Creamy light apricot
Kumquat (Frost) - Frosty tangerine
Cha Cha (Frost) - Mid-tone pink with gold pearl

Almondine (Frost) - Pale gold with pearl. This one looks more white than gold to me!! :D
Gold Dust (Frost) - Mid-tone copper with pearl

Lavender Wind (Frost) - Lavender with pearl
Purple Rage (Frost) - Dark berry with pearl

Phewww, i'm finally done!! :D I'm sorry that i do not have swatches for the nail lacquers as the testers were not available, but there're a ton of swatches out there already so be sure to check them out! :D There'll be an event for this collection in Penang starting this coming Monday (15/3), so be sure to drop by if you wanna get some stuff! :D

Andddd, Too Fabulous is out already as well, and i have swatches so stay tuned!! :D In the meanwhile, do lemme know what didcha / you wanna get from this collection?? :D

Product Review: The Face Shop Su Hyang Snow Replenishing Mask Sheet

2010-02-22T00:00:00.004+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM12.90 (approx. US$3.58)
Website: http://www.thefaceshopen.com/
Weight: 22ml / 0.74 Fl. Oz.
Made in: Korea
Likes: Really softens skin, moisturizes and brightens well!
Gripes: Expensive, the fragrance is REALLY strong!! :P
Repurchase: No
Jenn's Rating: ! 4 Stars! Good product - but won't be repurchasing because of the overpowering scent!! :S

Ingredients:

Got gold somemore, don't play-play k!! XD

Product Description

Oriental therapy sheet mask helps moisturize and optimize resilience of dry, dull skin.

The Double Water Capture System of Hyaluronic Acid and Betaine from sugar beet floods the skin with moisture while forming a protective barrier for ultra hydration. Song-i mushroom and Ginseng extracts, nano Gold and White Birch sap in the formulation immediately replenishes the skin with nutrients for a complexion that looks radiantly revitalized.

Illuminate your skin for a radiant, flawless complexion with traditional Korean herbal therapy all seasons throughout the year.

Directions:

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:
This mask is dripping wet, so be careful not to spill any essence when you take it out of the pack! This doesn't leave a sticky feel after using! :) The scent of this one is SUPER STRONG!! And the scent lingers on your skin... :P

Packaging:

This mask is individually packed into their respective foil packs and is sold by the piece.

Like the White Tree one, this mask comes in two pieces:

This is how it looks like on my face:

Time Test:
15-20 minutes is all you need! :)

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM12.90 each and is available at all The Face Shop outlets. For girls in the US, you can get this at Walgreens at US$2.99 each (or get two at US$5!).

Usage:
Since this brightens really well, its perfect to use before an event to make your skin glow! ;)

My $0.02:

I'm back from my CNY "break"!! I sure had the most wonderful time pigging out and meeting up with relatives and friends!! :D :D

Ok back to the review! lol!! I'm always game for brightening masks, so when i saw this mask going for almost 50% off, i HAD to get it! lol!! :D

The moment i put this on, my nose was greeted by an overpowering scent of flowers and powder!! lol!! Seriously, it's been an hour since i took it off my face, and i STILL can smell it on my skin!! UGH!!

That aside, i have to say that this is a pretty good sheet mask!! The thing i love most about it is that it made my skin felt SUPER SOFT after using!! I can't stop touching my face!! haha!! :D Also, it brightens up my skin and moisturizes well too!! :D

Here's how i look after using this:

So in a nutshell, this is a good product, but i wish they didn't put SO MUCH fragrance in there! I won't repurchase because of this!

Photo credit: Product photo from Thefaceshopen.com.

MAC All Ages, All Races, All Sexes Collection Swatches + Reviews

2010-02-13T00:00:00.002+08:00

Before i begin, i would just like to THANK ALL OF YOU from the bottom of my heart for your understanding and concern!! The mil has been discharged from the hospital (and up and about at home already nagging at everyone - it's a good sign, really! lol!! Don't tell her that i said that though! XD), and given a clean bill of health, so it's really great!! Just in time for CNY too!! :D I'm sure your well wishes and prayers must have helped!! *hugs*

Onto the main topic! I manage to go swatch this collection which has finally arrived on our shores after one grand month! *yawns* And i'm MAJORLY PISSED that they did not bring in the Beauty Powder Blushes, which are the two items that i've been dying to check out!! MAJOR SIN!!! ARGH!!!

I've had high hopes for the new brow pencils and the brow marker, but sadly, the are a disappointment. Will elaborate more later! And i did not swatch the items available in the permenant line (brow sets, eye brows and blot powders) due to time constraint so i apologize for that!

Ok enough rambling for now. Lets go onto the swatches! :D

Lipsticks (US$14 / RM63):

Equality (Lustre) - Creamy pale yellow beige. This reminds me of a sheerer, more wearable version of the Fleshpot lippie... still thinking if i should go back for this one...
Myself (Lustre) - Light dirty mauve with travelling pearl. This goes on sheer and its not terribly unique, but i have a strange feeling that this will be the first color to sell out! :P
5N (Lustre) - Plummy sheer brown. This lippie would look lovely on darker skin tones. This is a repromote from the N-Collection.

Sadly, we did not get Empowered so i don't have the swatch for this color! Sorry! :(

Lipglasses (US$14 / RM63):

Naked Frost - Sheer taupe with silver pearl. I wanted to get this color initially, but was reminded of why i didn't get it the first time around when it came out with the Chill collection - it's a little too frosty!
Glamour For All - Sheer pale baby pink with pearl. Not another terribly unique color, but it's really pretty!! :D
Spirit & Soul - Frosted dark cool brown. This one is quite pigmented, and methinks that it would look great both by its own or layered over a similar lippie!
Liqueur - Frosted mid tone pink brown. What a hot color!!

Eyeshadows (US$14.50 / RM58):

All Races (Matte) - Cool light mauve taupe. This is quite a unique color, but is really sheer!
Banshee (Lustre) - Dirty taupe with frost and sparkle diamond cluster. This has gotta be one of the nicer Lustres MAC has released so far! It doesn't go on terribly chunky or glittery... its quite smooth in fact! :D
Cross Cultural (Matte) - Dark dirty yellow brown. Not a very unique color, but the texture is nice!! :D
Showstopper (Matte) - Deep blackened brown. Like Cross Cultural, it's not very unique, but the matte texture is a dream to apply! :D

Impeccable Brow Pencils (US$15 / RM62) & Penultimate Brow Marker (US$16.50 / RM65):

Blonde - Pale yellow brown.
Dirty Blonde - Cool light brown.
Taupe - Mid tone dirty taupe
Black - Blackened dark neutral brown.
Universal - Universal (lol!)

As you can see from the swatches above, these pencils go on patchy!! :( And as "universal" as they want to market the Universal Penultimate Brow Marker, methinks that its abit too light for asian skintones! :(

Pigments (US$19.50 / RM82):

Universal Mix - Sparkly white gold. This doesn't go on very opaque, so its best to layer it over another eyeshadow! :)
Rich Life - Dark cool brown with silver. This goes on beautifully, and methinks that the silver sparkles give it a nice twist to the otherwise boring brown!! :D

ps: i know alot of people have been complaining about the new packaging for pigments containing less product at the same price so i won't mention it anymore, but i'll just have to say that i HATED the new packaging!! It looks / feels cheap IMHO! :P

That's all for now!! Didcha get anything from this collection? :D

It's Chinese new year's eve, and i'm ready to stuff my face silly with all that good food already!! I've been meaning to do CNY FOTD, but i've been sick (gross runny nose ewwww) so that'll have to wait!! How time flies... this is my second year giving out red packets already!! :P And no, i'm not having babies anytime soon, so please don't ask unless you want me to whack you with an empty Kuih Kapit milo tin! lol!! :D

To all my dear Chinese readers, i wish you a wonderful and prosperous Chinese New Year!! Travel safe and have fun k!! To those of you who're not celebrating, do have a great weekend too yeah! :D

Emergency Leave...

2010-02-08T08:56:00.002+08:00

Hi everyone! I'm so sorry, but there won't be posts for these few days (hopefully shorter). My mother in law is admitted into the hospital for Dengue Fever, so i'll be shuffling between home, work and the hospital these few days!

Hope she gets well soon!!

FOTD: Take Me Away! :D

2010-02-05T00:00:00.000+08:00

This very natural FOTD is inspired by my recent trip!! This is how i look in my travel pictures:

Very very natural right?? Hahaha!! :P

Here's what i used:

The Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stain, Maybelline Line n' Design Brow Pencil in Dark Brown, MAC Powerpoint in Stubborn Brown and Pond's Magic Powder

Well, i don't really like to lug around lots of makeup during my travels (more like paranoid that they'll go missing / get smashed / etcetcallthebadthingsthatcanhappen), so i always bring things that are "replacable" as well as long lasting!! :D The four items above are my travel essentials... can't live without them especially the Pond's Magic Powder which keeps my face matte the whole day! :D

When i'm in the mood for color, i sometimes bring along a few of the wonderful Silkygirl Funky Eyelights Pencil. I also make sure that i have lip balm with me all the time! :D

Do you have any travel makeup tips to share? :D

Oh before i end, here's two of my favouritest pictures from my recent Langkawi trip:

I had a wonderful break there! Wish i didn't have to come back!!! :(

Alright, it's only one week away from Chinese New Year! Have you done your Spring Cleaning / got your CNY goodies yet? :D I know i'm feasting on the amazing Kuih Kapit (Love Letters) and mandarin oranges already!! :P :P

Enjoy your weekend everyone! :D

Product Review: Nivea Intensive Body Milk

2010-02-03T00:00:00.002+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM6.70 (approx. US$1.80)
Website: Nivea.com.my
Weight: 75ml
Made in: Thailand
Likes: Absorbs quickly with no sticky feel, cheap, easily available
Gripes: Contains denatured alcohol, could be more moisturizing
Repurchase: No
Jenn's Rating: 3 Stars!! Not too bad, but won't repurchase because of the alcohol in it!

Ingredients:

Product Description:

For skin that looks and feels great all day long. Skin compatibility dermatologically proven.

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:

This lotion is quite runny, so it spreads unto your skin quite well! This gives a cooling sensation once applied (hint: alcohol), and the lotion sinks in really quickly which is nice. This smells like the other lotions from this range... powdery and soft - it's quite comforting actually! haha!! :D

Packaging:

I bought the smallest bottle which is the 75ml one with a flip top cap! There's another bigger one which contains 400ml and it comes with a pump.

The dispensing hole:

Time Test:
This lotion sinks in quickly, but i find that i have to reapply after a few hours!

Price & Availability:
This lotion is priced at RM6.70 which i think is pretty affordable! The 400ml pump version is priced at RM23.60. This lotion should be available at most Guardian / Watsons outlets and your local supermarket! :)

Usage:
Since this absorbs quickly, it's perfect to use in the mornings when you're in a hurry! :D

My $0.02:

I was in the mood to try something new when i came across this product in Watsons!! The "Intensive" word probably sold me instantly (until i forgot to check the ingredient list!!) because my legs were all dry and itchy at that time (Rosken running low... lol!! :P).

The moment i put this lotion on, i realised i made a mistake in buying this product! This gives a cooling sensation on the skin which usually means it contains alcohol! Probably because of that, this lotion sinks in really quickly, making this ideal to use when you're in a hurry and but need some body lotion before putting on your clothes! lol!! :D

Despite it being labeled "Intensive" and for dry to very dry skin, i find that this didn't help my scaly dry legs much. Sure, it did curb the itchiness, but my legs were still dry and scaly after i finished the bottle! On other parts of my body (like my arms) which are not dry, this performs nicely to soften skin and keep it moisturized!

So to summarize, while i love how affordable this lotion is, i won't be repurchasing because 1. it contains alcohol (which is a no-no for my skin) and 2. i wished it was more moisturizing! I much prefer the Extra Whitening one!

Credits: Product photo from Nivea.com

Product Review: The Face Shop Imperial Herbs - Spirit Mask Sheet Apricot Kernel and Licorice (A Mask Sheet to Comfort Skin)

2010-02-01T00:00:00.004+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM9.90 (approx. US$2.68)
Website: http://www.thefaceshopen.com/
Weight: 20ml / 0.67 Fl. Oz.
Made in: Korea
Likes: Skin feels comfortable after using, brightens skin!
Gripes: Expensive, stung my face a little! :(
Repurchase: Maybe!
Jenn's Rating: ! 4 Stars! Me likey! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

This mild, essence-type, all natural cotton mask sheet is concentrated with Licorice and Apricot Kernel extracts to soothe the soul and comfort skin.

What is herbal therapy? Used to help regulate a person's energy, blood circulation, ying, yang, and spirit, our solution is drawn from on an ancient imperial prescription of five medicinal herbs that include twinleaf and asparagus root extracts, to revitalize and hydrate skin.

Benefits of Apricot Kernel:

Strengthens the lungs

Helps illuminate skin

Benefits of Licorice:

Harmonizes herbal formulation

Balances and clarifies skin

Directions:

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:
This mask is quite wet, so you're really getting your money's worth for this! lol!! For some reason this stung my face a little after the 10 minute mark. This does leave a sticky feel after, but it disappears quickly This have a really mild perfumy scent!

Packaging:

This mask is individually packed into their respective foil packs and is sold by the piece.

This fits my face quite well, except for the mouth part, which is a little big:

Time Test:
15-20 minutes is all you need! :)

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM9.90 each and is available at all The Face Shop outlets. For girls in the US, you can get this at Walgreens at 2 for US$5.

Usage:
Since this is quite moisturizing, it's great to use weekly to boost moisture for your skin! :D

My $0.02:

This is the last mask left to review in this range!! Wheee!! :D

Like the other masks in this range, this did not fail to deliver! Although its stated that this comforts skin, i find that this brightens my face a little too (which is really nice!!)! :D

Here's how i look after using this:

All in all i think this is quite a good mask (although it did stung my face a little), but i'll only repurchase if its on sale as it's kinda expensive!! hehehe!! :D

Read my reviews on the other masks in this range:
The Face Shop Imperial Herbs - Flow Mask Sheet Prepared Rehmannia Root & Angelicae Gigantis Radix (A Mask Sheet to Revitalize Skin)
The Face Shop Imperial Herbs - Qi (Energy) Mask Sheet Red Ginseng & Cnidium Officinale (A Mask Sheet to Improve Elasticity)
The Face Shop Imperial Herbs - Yang Mask Sheet Tawny Mulberry Mushroom & Sika Deer Antlers (A Mask Sheet for Healthier Skin)
The Face Shop Imperial Herbs - Ying Mask Sheet Dioscoreae Rhizoma & Japanese Cornel (A Mask Sheet to Hydrate Skin)

Photo credit: Product photo from Thefaceshopen.com.

Saturdays are for Sharing!! :D

2010-01-30T10:33:00.000+08:00

Good things are even better when shared right? Hehehe!! Do hop by these favourite posts of mine by the other lovely girls in the Beauty Blogsphere! :D

Beetrice of Beetrice's Reviews showcases her Christmas gifts!!
Connie of Skin Deco wrote a really informative 101 on Eye Primers!
Nikki of Askmewhats shows us whats in her traincase!! :D
Paris of Mywomenstuff swatches her absolutely beautiful Dior palettes for us! :D
Plue of Beauty Up My Life makes me wanna get me some contacts too!!
Syen of So Loverly (aka Blush Princess) reveals the number of blushes she owns!! Jaw dropping!! :O
Xin of Pretty Beautiful makes us all jealous - she gets to fly an aircraft!!!
Yani of Red Luscious Lips gives a fact that would probably freak my husband out even more! XD

And oh... Saturdays are for Swimsuit Shopping too!! I'm having a minor panic attack now cuz i havent manage to go look for one yet (and my flight is less than 24 hours away...)! Worse come to worse i'll just have to wear my old "crunchy" one!!! Pray with me that it doesn't crumble apart when i put it on!! HAhahaha!!! XD

Have a great weekend ahead people!! :D

No FOTD today...

2010-01-29T00:00:00.001+08:00

... because the one i intended to post up (but forgot to take pictures of until the end of the day) got smudged pretty badly, so i thought i'd do a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) instead! :D

I've been receiving quite a few emails asking these questions, and though i don't mind answering them personally to you lovely readers who took the time to write me wonderful emails, i thought i'll put some of them here so those of you who had or have the same questions will now know the answers to them! lol! So here it goes! :D

1. Are you a full time blogger / Tai tai?
Oh how i wish i am! Unfortunately money don't grow on trees or in threes for me, so i need a job to feed ~~my makeup addiction~~ myself!

2. What nationality are you? You don't look Indian! (lol!)
I'm Malaysian Chinese, but a true born Penangite - i live to eat and not the other way around! lol! I relocated to India for about a year, but back to my little island for good.

3. Can you review product X?
If it's something you saw me posting in my haul posts, then yes, i'll most probably do a review on it (please shoot me a comment / email if i didn't post it and you want a review on it! Don't be shy! :D)! But if it's something i don't own, please understand that i may not review it because:

1. It's impossible both practically and financially for myself to buy something just to try them out
2. Not everything is available where i live
3. Um, i'll actually need to be at least curious about the product before i feel the urge to buy it? Ok stop throwing rotten eggs at me now, just being honest here! XD

4. What do you recommend buying in India / Bangalore?
Max Factor, Bourjois and LUSH if you're from Malaysia... since these brands are not available here. And Lays potato chips at only 20 rupees each (RM1.60 / US0.45)!!! I miss them already!! :D

5. Is MAC cheaper in India?
No! For example, eyeshadows cost 820 rupees (approx. RM67), lipglosses cost 870 rupees (approx. RM71) and lipsticks cost 920 rupees (approx. RM75).

6. What products do you recommend for acne / acne-prone skin / how to stop pimples?
I get a surprising amount of emails on this question! And to be very frank, i really don't know the answer to this as i'm not acne prone, so i'm really sorry! My suggestion is to visit a dermatologist - he or she will be able to provide you with a solution!

As for the occasional pimple here and there, i love dabbing the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask on it overnight, or covering it with the Nexcare Acne Patch! :)

7. Can you review more drugstore items?
I always try to include both drugstore and departmental store brands in my reviews, so stay tuned! :)

8. How can you afford all that makeup??
Well i can't!!! lol!! Seriously, its something i work hard for. Some people spend on expensive gadgets, some people splurge on cars. My "thing" just happen to be makeup! At the end of the day i'll just have to make sure that it's not something i have to starve myself to get you know?

Argh i know i'm just rambling on here, but there's really no graceful way to answer this! :(

9. Can you show us your makeup collection??
Maybe i will someday!! ;)

and finally, the most asked question ever:

10. What lipglass is that in your avatar? :D
It's the 2N lipglass from the N-Collection 2 years ago (coming to 3 already... sigh!!!)! If you wanna get your paws on this baby, get it NOW with the Warm and Cozy collection. Just cross your fingers that it doesn't smell as bad as mine!!

That's all for now!! I'm soooo looking forward to the long weekend when i'll be off to Langkawi (so i apologize for not being able to reply to your comments / emails promptly, pleaase bear with me k!!)!

What do you have in store for the weekend?

Product Review: LUSH Porridge Soap

2010-01-27T00:00:00.001+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: US$5.95 for 3.5oz. (approx. RM21.42) or Rs. 310 for 100g in India (approx. RM25.31)
Website: Lushusa.com
Weight: 100g
Made in: USA
Likes: Softens skin quite nicely, does help lighten darkened skin gradually!
Gripes: Expensive, the oat bits in there are REALLY ROUGH, melts easily, messy to use, not available locally.
Repurchase: No
Jenn's Rating: 2 Stars! The horribly rough oat bits totally ruined it for me...

Ingredients:
Water (Aqua), Propylene Glycol, Rapeseed Oil, Sunflower Oil, Coconut Oil (Cocos nucifera), Pinhead Oatmeal (Avena sativa), Fresh Organic Orange Juice (Citrus Aurantium dulcis), Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Hydroxide, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Perfume, Labdanum Resinoid (Cistus labdaniferus), Sweet Orange Oil (Citrus sinensis), Sodium Chloride, Limonene.

Product Description:

When you're in a rush on those early mornings you may consider eating breakfast in the shower. At we LUSH prefer feeding our skin in the shower and saving the real food for afterward. We put real oats and fresh organic orange juice in this deliciously nutritious soap, making it a cleansing and exfoliating multi-tasker. Oats soften and slough away dead skin while orange juice and sweet orange oil gently cleanse the skin.

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:

This soap feels more "solid" compared to the two other LUSH ones i've reviewed, but its the worst of the lot when it comes to disappearing in the shower - it melts super quickly!! This foams up nicely once in rubbed with water! The oat bits are horribly rough, and they scratch at my skin so badly that i can even use it as a, yes, you guessed it right, pumice stone!! *slaps forehead* Check out my red palm in the pic!! :(

The oat bits do come off as you rub it against your skin, so it can be messy when using this!

I don't really know how to describe the smell - it's kinda like oats + something sweet, and its quite strong!

Packaging:

This soap comes in a block wrapped in LUSH paper! Mine is a little melted having endured the transit from India to Singapore then back to Penang! lol!! :D

Price & Availability:
This soap is priced at US$5.95 (approx. RM21.42), and should be available at most LUSH stores and their website! It's also available in India for Rs. 310 per 100 grams! :D Sadly, it's not available locally for us Malaysian girls, but Ryan from SgDrugstore at Lowyat.net organizes LUSH sprees sometimes so do take advantage of that if you need to get something! :D

My $0.02:

After reading Connie's rave review on this soap, i caved in and bought my 1st ever LUSH bar. I have never considered buying anything from there because 1. I never use soaps and 2. the LUSH store gives me a headache everytime i step in there, from both the overpowering scent as well as the overbearing staff! :P

And i'm almost heartbroken to report that i didn't like this one! T_T

The oat bits in there were super rough, and they scratch at my skin so badly, leaving it red and sore! I've resorted to rubbing it over my scrubby gloves (which is quite damaged by it now!! lol!!) then only soaping my body with it! It works nicely as a pumice stone for the elbows, knees and heels though!! :P

I also didn't like how the oat bits do fall out, creating a mess in the shower! And they kinda look like cockroach poop... :P

The smell of this one is kinda overpowering too!!

Ok enough product bashing for now! As much as i didn't like this because of the reasons above, i'll have to say that it does soften the skin nicely after use!! It also lightens skin darkening like on the knees and underarms gradually!!

I'm of the opinion that this is actually quite a good product, but the rough oat bits totally ruined it for me. Now, if they would remove or change that, i think i actually might change my mind about this product!! Until then, it's a no repurchase for me!! :(

Credits: Product photo from Lushusa.com.

Product Review: The Face Shop Fresh Fruit Pomegranate Mask Sheet

2010-01-25T00:00:00.004+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM9.90 (approx. US$2.68)
Website: http://www.thefaceshopen.com/
Weight: 20ml / 0.67 Fl. Oz.
Made in: Korea
Likes: Face really feels firmer after this, moisturizes ok, no sticky feel after using.
Gripes: Essence dries up really quickly!
Repurchase: Yes
Jenn's Rating: 4 Stars! Me likey!! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

Pomegrantes for fine, supple skin.

The Benefits of Pomegranates: Known for their skincare benefits, especially for women, Pomegranates promote elasticity for firmer skin.

Made from all natural pulp for the gentle delivery of Pomegranate extract, this refreshing juice-like mask sheet improves elasticity for more refined skin.

Directions:

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:
This mask is not as wet as the other masks in this range, and i find that this dries up quite abit even before the 10 minute mark! By the 13th minute it's REALLY dry already!! lol!! This doesn't leave a sticky feel behind which is nice. This smells a little like a childhood liquid antibiotic i used to take (lol!), but thankfully its quite mild! :D

Packaging:

This mask is individually packed into their respective foil packs and is sold by the piece. Like the other masks in this range, the mouth part is ridiculously huge:

Time Test:
15-20 minutes! But this one kinda dries up before that...

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM9.90 each and is available at all The Face Shop outlets. It's also available on Walgreens.com at $5 for two pieces :)

My $0.02:

I'm a huge fan of pomegranates (though its a little hard to find here!), so naturally i knew that i HAD to try this one out (haha, i know i got this on sale, but i would've gotten this anyways at retail because of this!)! :D

True to its claim, this mask does some pretty decent firming action!! :D After using it, my face feels really resilient yet comfortable!! There is a little brightening effect going on too! :D

This is how i look after using this mask:

The only gripe i have about this mask is that it dries up too quickly!! But since it works so nicely, i think i can overlook that flaw!! :D

Psssst: Remember i said in my Lancome Neuroshield review that this is the sunblock to go for if you need long protection? I must have forgotten to post this two weeks back, but i'm ELATED to annouce that L'Oreal has finally reformulated their sunblock to last 12 hours as well:

Hurrah for Loreal (and my bank account!! Hehehe!!)!! :D

Read my reviews on the other masks in this range:

The Face Shop Fresh Fruit Aloe Mask Sheet
The Face Shop Fresh Fruit Grape Mask Sheet
The Face Shop Fresh Fruit Lemon Mask Sheet

Photo credit: Product photo from Thefaceshopen.com.

FOTD: A Super Quick Love Lace Look! :D

2010-01-22T00:00:00.002+08:00

This is a super quick look i did a few days ago. I had dinner plans, but was DYING to use my new Love Lace shadows, so out came this look!! :D

Stuff i used:

Face:
Pond's Magic Powder

Cheeks:
NARS Gilda

Brows:
Maybelline Line n' Design Brow Pencil in Dark Brown

Eyes:

MAC Suave Intentions es (inner crease)
MAC Love Lace es (outer crease & contour)
MAC Artistic License Technakohl (upper lashline)
MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Stubborn Brown (tightline)
Loreal Ultra-Volume Collagene Mascara

Using Love Lace reassured me that getting it was the right decision!! lol!! It's just so buttery smooth, and the color is gorgeous (it pairs perfectly with Suave Intentions too!!)! :D I did not use any lip products because i'm gonna eat soon anyways (what a lousy lipglosseater i am!! wakakaka!!)! :D

It's Friday once again already! Any plans for the weekend? :D

Product Review: Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil Enriched

2010-01-20T00:00:00.003+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM99
Website: Shuuemura.com.my
Weight: 150ml
Made in: Japan
Likes: Rinses clean, skin feels soft after! :D
Gripes: Doesn't remove glitters thoroughly, expensive, contains mineral oil!
Repurchase: No!
Jenn's Rating: 2.5 Stars! It's just ok for me... would be great if it removed glitters well too!!

Ingredients:

Product Description:

A rich texture.

With a warm, enveloping aroma.

For an enriching cleansing experience. Contains bitter orange peel, tomato and red pepper extracts known to enhance cutaneous microcirculation. For dry skin conditions.

Actual Product Pic:

This is a SAMPLE.

Texture & Scent:

This cleansing oil feels just a little thicker than the usual cleansing oils. It emulsifies once it comes into contact with water as usual, and it rinses clean. I love how soft this made my skin felt! I was a little disappointed that this one smells more spicy than citrusy... i thought it would smell something like my MAC Cleanse Off Oil since this one has Bitter Orange in it too!

Packaging:

The one i got is a sample. The real thing comes in a pump bottle! :D

Price & Availability:
This cleansing oil is priced at RM99 (approx US$27.50). There's a 450ml version as well going for RM260. This should be available at most Shu Uemura counters! :)

My $0.02:

Ahhh, i finally got to try out the much raved and ohsopopular Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil! :D

I know most people who've used this one either love it or hate it! Personally i don't really hate it, but i wished it did live up to its claim for me! :(

While this did remove most of the makeup from my face nicely (and left my skin really soft after), it did not remove glitters well. Also i find that i have to use a little more product and massage my face longer to get all the makeup off!

Ok, here're some pics for you to see:

This is my makeup plastered face (FOTD here):

Makeup removed from left side using this:

A closer look:

There're still quite a bit of glitters left behind!! :(

Since the only other Cleansing Oil i have is the MAC Cleanse Off Oil, i'll do a side by side comparison just in case anybody is interested:

It's obvious which one i preferred more!! lol!! :D After sampling several cleansing oils, the MAC one still reigns supreme for me in terms of product efficiency and scent (lol!!)! I won't repurchase this because of this reason, and also because i sometimes break out from products containing mineral oil, so i'd skip just to be on the safe side!

Have you tried this cleansing oil before? How didcha find it? :D

Credits: Product photos from Shuuemura.com.my.

MAC Love Lace Collection Review + Swatches! :D

2010-01-19T00:00:00.003+08:00

This is kinda like a repromote of last year's Chill Collection, with cool colors for winter! :D I'm kinda disappointed that they did not repromote the Snowscene snowscene (which i thought i could skip... sigh!!!) this round.

Eyeshadows (RM58 / US$14.50):

Pincurl (Frost) - Dusty White. This one's kinda chalk and doesn't behave like a frost at all!! This is repromoted from last year's Brunette Blonde Redhead collection.
Hypnotizing (Frost) - Frosted grey mauve. A full sized one from the Sorceress palette from the last Holiday collection. It's beautiful, and i'm still thinking if i should go back for this one!! :D
Suave Intentions (Veluxe Pearl) - Light frosted silver blue. Super pretty with the perfect buttery texture.
Love Lace (Veluxe Pearl) - Frosted mid-tone greyish blue. I'm kinda on the fence about this color because i *think* i have something similar in my collection, but the texture's beautiful!! :D

Lipglasses and Lipsticks (RM63 / US$14):

Icescape - Sheer pale pink with pink pearl. This is repromoted from last year's Chill Collection
Utterly Discrete - Sheer frosted cool icy mauve. This one looks more brown than mauve to me!! haha!! :D

Pretty Please (Lustre) - Pale pink pearl. This color's a bit sheer! This one's permenant! :)
Intricate (Frost) - Frosted cool icy taupe. This is such a unique color!! :D

Eye Kohl / Kohl Power Eye Pencils (RM65 / US$14.50) / Eye Brows (RM60 / US$15):

Facinating Eye Kohl - Intense matte white. This one's permenant. This has been on my wishlist for AGES!! :D
Raven Kohl Power - Intense red with black pearl. This one appears more plummy brown than red on me!! :D
Sense of Style Kohl Power - Blackened deep marine blue. I've had SO HIGH HOPES for this one, but it looks just blah in real life! *sobs*
Feline Kohl Power - Rich black. Me wants this one!!! Now somebody kick me for not getting this!!
Stud Eye Brows - Deep rich blackened brown. This one's permenant! :)

Nail Lacquer (RM42 / US$12):

Light Affair (Cream) - Creamy pale grey taupe. This goes on a little streaky!

So what did i get from this collection? :D

Haha, typical of me i know... i'm just a sucker for blues. Now somebody convince me that i don't need Feline or Hypnotizing please!! XD

Product Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Mask

2010-01-18T00:00:00.002+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM39.90 (approx. US$11.08)
Website: http://Hadalabo.com.my
Weight: 20ml
Made in: China
Likes: Moisturizes quite well, makes skin soft and bouncy!
Gripes: Expensive, contains alcohol
Repurchase: Maybe!
Jenn's Rating: ! 4.5 Stars! Me really likey! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

Contains advanced skin hydrating ingredient - Super Hyaluronic Acid, with twice the moisture retention capacity of Hyaluronic Acid (1gm of Hyaluronic Acid is able to hold up 6 litres of water). Replaces essential moisture to visibly improve skin texture and prevent dryness so skin stays soft, hydrated and supple.

Imerses skin with exteme moisture. Skin is instantly soothed, revitalized and more resilient.
Drenches skin with nourishing moisture to instantly replenish dehydrated skin, leaving it velvety soft, supple and dewy moist.
Skin pH balanced. Low irritation.
Free of fragrances, mineral oil and colorant.

Directions:

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:
This mask dripping wet, so you get your money's worth with this one! lol! :D After removing the mask, do pat your face gently to aid absorption of the essence. At this point it'll be tacky and sticky. Do pat until the lotion is fully absorbed, you'll then experience the "bounciness"!! :D This being fragrance free do not have a scent, but i can actually smell the alcohol in it!! :S

Packaging:

This mask comes in a box of 4! Each mask is invidivually packed in their respective foil packs:

This mask fits my face quite well! :D

Time Test:
10 - 15 minutes, but you need another 5 minutes after that to pat the lotion in! :)

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM39.9o (approx. US$11.08) for a box of 4 masks. It's currently only available at Guardian.

Usage:
This is perfect for a weekly (or bi-weekly) moisture boost, since it's quite moisturizing! :D

My $0.02:

After hearing so many raves about the lotion from this range (which is still can't buy cuz i gotta finish up my current bottle first!!), i gave in and got the mask!! :D

And i'm really happy to report that this DOES live up to its claims of giving "toing toing" skin!! hahaha!! XD

After using this mask, my skin feels really moisturized and comfortable. And after patting the lotion in, you'll get to experience the "bouciness" this gives... it's REALLY ADDICTIVE!! lol!! XD

This is how i look after using this:

I know, i'm so zit-ty. Darn stress and PMS! T_T

This mask doesn't really give a glow to the skin, but it moisturizes like crazy. It's perfect to add to your skin care regime as a weekly or biweekly treat!!

The only gripe i have about this product is that it contains alcoho (cries: WHY?!!!!!!). While i did not experience any adverse effects yet, i'm not sure if i'm willing to risk it (alcohol almost always breaks me out after awhile). So i'll put the repurchase for this product at MAYBE. Hada Labo, if you're reading this, please remove the alcohol and i'll be your most loyal customer ever!! lol!! XD

Photo credit: Product photo from http://Hadalabo.com.my.

MAC Warm & Cozy Collection Review + Swatches! :D

2010-01-16T09:53:00.005+08:00

I know!! I'm so behind on these updates!! lol!! Have been really busy so by the time i hit the store, most items are gone already! T_T

I was really excited about this one because i'm into neutrals lately, and i realise that i don't own many neutral colours! But when i did checked them out in person, i was sorely disappointed! :(

Eyeshadows (RM58 / US$14.50):

Chamomile (Satin) - Creamy pale yellow. This one's not creamy at all!! It's quite chalky, and i had to swatch like, 8 times to get it to show up in the pic above!!
Modelette (Satin) - Mid-tone warm camel. This is actually really beautiful both color and texture wise, and i'm bummed that it's sold out!! T_T
Mulled Cider (Satin) - Dark warm brown. This one's a little better than Chamomile in terms of texture, but still chalky!!
Embark (Matte) - Intense reddish brown. This is permenant, so no hurries to get this one! :D

Shadesticks (RM68 / US$16.50):

Cuddle - Frosted light golden yellow. This one goes on lumpy!! :S
Nurture - Frosted pale neutral peach beige. This one's a little better than Cuddle, but it's still a little lumpy!! haha :P
Warm & Cozy - Frosted burnt amber with red and gold pearl. This has beautiful texture!! :D
Relaxed - Frosted dark chocolate brown. This one has the best texture among the 4! :)

Lipsticks and Lipglasses (RM63 / US$14):

Warm Me Up (Amplified) - Creamy mid-tone neutral pink. This one's really pigmented and smooth!! :D
Siss (Satin) - Muted golden beige. This one goes on smoothly as well! I LOVE the color!! :D This one's permenant! :)
Spiced Tea (Glaze) - Warm bronzed brown. This being a glaze requires a few swipes before you can get a opaque colour, but the color's pretty! :D

2N - Creamy neutral yellow pink. This one's a little pinker than the original 2N!!
Feeling Dreamy - Pale neutral pink with pink pearl. This color's not terribly unique, but it's pretty!! :D
Light that Fire -Mid-tone burnt coral with pearl. This one's GORGEOUS!!!
3N - Neutral brown with gold and pink pearl. This one would look lovely on WOCs! :)

Nail Lacquers (RM42 / US$12):

One coat each

Blissed Out (Cream) - Creamy light nude. This one's hardly noticable!!
Dim the Lights (Cream) - Creamy warm dark chocolate. This one goes on streaky!!

Mineralize Skinfinishes (RM115 / US$27):

By Candlelight - Golden pink. Smooth and buttery - this has gotta be my favourite MSF ever!! I had to literally peel myself away from it lest i give in and bring it home!! lol!! :D
Comfort - Golden bronze. This looks a little orange, but i think it'll look lovely on darker skintones!! :D

That's all for this collection!! Stay tuned for the Love Lace collection! ;)

I know!!!

2010-01-10T18:23:00.003+08:00

It's like i fell off the face of the planet right?? lol!! I'm shoooooo sorry!! I got carted off to the capital for 4 days at very very last minute (albeit a super fun) for the new year! There we sampled very good food... and i came back a very round and satisfied girl!! hehehe!! :D

What we ate in that 4 days (warning: pic heavy! And don't see when you're hungry:D):

Wahahaha!! Are you hungry now?? :D As a result of all those food, i have the Belt of Orion on my forehead now:

Shooo painful!!! T_T

We also manage to do a little shopping (just a little i promise!! haha!!)! Won't bore you with the household stuff we got from Ikea and Daiso, but i the only beauty stuff i got from KL are:

The Marks & Spencer Rose body cream and the Kiehl's scrub (was set on buying after reading Bee's review on it, but was completely SOLD when the SA tried it on my hand!!)

I also did a little clothes shopping:

Haha, i think you can probably tell that i have an OCD problem... XD

Andddddd, the best thing i got from Daiso:

It's called an Accessory Thing Box:

Huh??? Whats the fusss you wonder. lol! Well, i'm super happy to annouced that they fit MAC shadow pots nicely:

Ok, you can boo me now, but can you blame me for being anal about stuff fitting almost perfectly in their boxes? lol!! XD

Alright, that's all for now!! Transmission will return to normal soon once Jenn comes back to Planet Earth (hopefully in a few days' time)! lol!! XD

And oh, before i forget, I did something to my hair!! :D

This is before:

Double chin!!!!!!!! Argh i'm so round now!!! T_T

And this is now:

Ignore Alnilam, argh so ugly!! :P

The top is supposed to be a little puffier than this but its flat now because i didn't wash my hair... =X

I'm still getting used to the color... its abit lighter than what i'd like:

It's slightly lighter than this IRL! T_T

What sayeth you? Nice or not?? :P

Oklah, that's really all for now! Haha!! Have a wonderful week ahead!! (i'm dreading monday already... T_T)

Product Review: Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream (Fragrance Free)

2010-01-05T00:00:00.000+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM12.50 / US$4.49
Website: http://Neutrogena.com
Weight: 56g / 2 Oz.
Made in: Korea
Likes: Cheap, sinks in quickly
Gripes: Doesn't work AT ALL!! :S
Repurchase: No!
Jenn's Rating: ! 2 Stars! It doesn't work! :(

Ingredients:

Product Description

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula® Hand Cream provides prompt relief for even seriously dry, chapped hands. It's so concentrated that a small amount instantly leaves dry hands noticeably softer and smoother.

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:

This hand cream feels a little "silicony" hence its a little harder to spread. I like how it sinks in quickly so you can resume using your hands shortly after! haha!! :D This one is fragrance-free so it doesn't have a scent to it! :)

Packaging:

This hand cream comes in a squeeze tube with a screw off cap, which is great for travelling. I also like how small the dispensing hole is so you can control the amount of product that comes through it:

The box it came in:

Price & Availability:
This hand cream is priced at RM12.90 / US$4.49 and is available at most Watsons / Guardian outlets. It's available on Drugstore.com too! :)

Usage:
I use this at night before i go to bed, as well as once or twice during the day when my hands feel dry.

My $0.02:

I was running low on the TBS Almond Hand Cream, so i thought i'd give this one a try since 1. it's soooo cheap, and 2. there're lots of good review on this one. Thinking that i have snagged a drugstore gem, i put this to the test when i was in India where the horribly dry air and even drying dish drops gave me this:

Dry, cracked and peeling skin!! So painful!! T_T

So how did this performed after using it religiously for weeks (and several times a day)? I'm heartbroken to report that it did ZILCH for my hands!! The moment i stopped using this and tried squeezing out every last morsel from the very empty TBS Almond Hand Cream tube, my hands healed within a week!!!

That extreme case apart, i tried it again when i was back home where it's not so dry anymore, but still i see no visible effects - my skin still feels dry and the sides of my nails peeling!! T_T

So it's official... this doesn't work for me, and now i'm just using it for the sake of finishing it! I will not repurchase this one after i'm done with this tube! :(

Credit: Product photo from Drugstore.com

FOTD: Sugarsweet! :D

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

This look is inspired by white sugar (don't ask! haha!). And whenever i think of sweetness, i think of little girls in pink (sorry, boys!! XD)! :D So here it is! :D

Stuff i used:

Face:
Pond's Magic Powder

Cheeks:
NARS Angelika

Brows:
Maybelline Line n' Design Brow Pencil in Dark Brown
MAC Brow Set in Beguille

Eyes:

MAC Solar White es (highlight)
MAC Unbasic White es (inner crease)
MAC Playful es (outer crease)
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in 01 Black (upper and lower outer lashlines)
MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Stubborn Brown (tightline)
Loreal Ultra-Volume Collagene Mascara

Lips:

I super *heart* this combo!!! :D

MAC Melrose Mood lippie
MAC Gold Rebel lipglass

It's New Year's Day today, so i wish all of you a wonderful and fruitful year ahead! I think most of you would get to enjoy the long weekend! What do you have in store then? :D

It's time...

2009-12-31T00:00:00.002+08:00

... to review how many NYRs have i achieved this year! *gulps*

Looking back, this year was not as eventful as last year, but i'm grateful for all the blessings i have received nevertheless. It's definitely great to be back home for good!! :D

Ok, enough blahblahs for now. Read my resolutions for 2009 here.

Legend: Green means achieved, Yellow means partially achieved, and Red means Uh oh...

1. Finish using all these lotions:

Well i did finish all of them... with the exception of the TBS Pink Grapefruit and TFS ones, because i couldn't for the life of me find where they are (my shipment from India are still in their boxes while we wait for our new place to be ready!), i pray that they're not lost!! T_T

2. To be more selective of what i buy (especially when it comes to MAC... i have this nasty habit of buying things just because it's LE!!)!

Yes!! :D Nowadays i will think hard and fast about something before purchasing!! :D Of course i did fail every now and then (damn you MAC... you sure know how to break your fans' defences down!!), but most of the time i guess i'm alright!! :P

3. To excercise more often and tone up!! I'm getting really flabby!! Yikes!!

I'm gonna put this as yellow because i do get lazy sometimes!! But there was progress compared to last year!! haha!! XD

4. If everything goes as planned, to find a job once we get back! :)

Yes! :)

5. To develop my own dressing style! I need a new wardrobe (notes to self: you are no longer 18...)!

Still work in progress. On the bright side, i bought my very first leggings this year!! Now i just have to find the bravery to wear it out! hahaha!! XD

6. To spend significantly less on makeup than this year!! I hope not to exceed that X amount that i've set for myself!

Oh dear. What happened?!! I was doing really well for the first half of the year, and things just went downhill after Style Warriors and Double Dazzle! :S

7. To learn how to apply eyeshadow properly!! I just can't apply eyeshadow nicely past my creaseline to save my life!!

Well i think i've improved a little compared to last year, but still by no means an expert yet!! Still have alot alot to learn!! T_T

8. To stop ABUSING my EYEBROWS! They look like crap now... somebody confiscate my tweezers already!!

Haha... yes!! They have been largely "untouched" for most part of the year! Yay! :D

9. To care less about what people think. I can't please everybody!

I think i've finally learnt how to let go of this. It does feel nice being more confident of yourself!

Well well, 4 outta 9! An improvement from last year ya!! hahaha!! XD Let's see how i fare next year!! :D

My resolutions for 2010:

1. Lose 7 kilos and fit into my old jeans again (actually not that old... those jeans were bought just a year ago!!!). I know alot of you will go "hey you're not even fat" but I'm serious - i can't even pull those damn jeans up past my midthighs! If i were to tell you my actual weight now you'll be shocked so please spare me the embarassment and don't ask! hahaha!! XD Don't know how or why did i gained 6 kilos in India!!! :S

2. To learn how to manage my anger better. I would think that i'm a pretty patient person but morons (these are found abundantly in the office) get to me and make me so violent that all i want to do is to dig out their brains and leave them out in the sun to dry up (since they don't need theirs anyway).

*ahem* I'll just have to learn how to deal with them without dying of HBP first.

3. Save X amount of money by the end of the year! :D

4. Spend not more than X amount of money on makeup!! With loan commitments and a bare house to furnish i have a really really really x10 limited budget for this next year, so i can't afford to go crazy again!! Wish me luck!! Now chant with me, Idontneedthis... Idontneedthis... Idontneedthis!!! XD

5. To finish building my makeup storage!! This has been put off for the longest time ever so i hope i'll finish doing this by the end of next year!! lol!! :D

And lastly, this is not really a resolution, but i want to furnish my house nicely!! hahaha!! XD

What NYR do you have yourself? Or don't you believe in NYRs yourself? Do share with me!! :D

Product Review: RMK Cleansing Oil

2009-12-30T00:00:00.000+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM110 (approx. US$29.73)
Website: Rmkrmk.com
Weight: 175ml
Made in: Japan
Likes: Rinses clean with no oily feel after that! :)
Gripes: Doesn't remove makeup thoroughly, stings my eyes, not very moisturizing!
Repurchase: No!
Jenn's Rating: 2.5 Stars! Me no likey! :(

Ingredients:
NA

Product Description:

From the RMK website:

マスカラも毛穴の汚れも一度で落とす
クレンジングオイル

肌に必要なうるおいはキープしながら、マスカラや毛穴の角栓までするりと落とす高い洗浄力をもつクレンジングオイル。
キャロットやオリーブ、ぶどうの種から抽出した天然オイルに、植物性のメイクオフオイルを配合してあるので、みずみずしいすべすべの洗いあがりに。洗い流しもスピーディーで、ぬるつきやつっぱり感もありません。テクスチャーもローションのようにさらさら。
爽やかなミントとダマスクローズの香りです。

ps: Once again don't ask me what the above means, i don't know either!! hahaha!! XD Any Japanese whiz care to translate the above for us? :D

Actual Product Pic:

This is a SAMPLE.

Texture & Scent:

This cleansing oil is quite fluid, so it spreads really well. Like all cleansing oils, it emulsifies once it comes in contact with water. It rinses clean with no oily feel after! This has a rather strong minty scent which i don't like! :(

Packaging:

The one i got is a sample. The real thing comes in a pump bottle! :D

Price & Availability:
This cleansing oil is priced at RM110 (approx US$29.73), which is think is alright for RMK standards. This should be available at all RMK counters! :)

My $0.02:

I was so excited to get a sample of this one because i've been reading such wonderful things about it! Thanks to that wonderful someone who give it to me ya!! :D

Unfortunately, it did not live up to its hype for me personally! :( The first thing that stuck me was the smell! Ewwww mint! lol! I'm not sure if it's the "minty-ness" thats causing this, but this stung my eyes quite badly and made them water! After washing my face, this didn't make my face feel tight or taut, but i thought it would be nice if it softened my face like how the MAC Cleanse Off Oil did! And finally, although it did manage to remove majority of the makeup off my face, it did not remove the glitters left behind! :(

Ok enough talking, here're pictures for everybody! :D

This is my makeup plastered face (FOTD here):

Makeup removed from left side using this:

Looks very clean right? But actually, this cleansing oil did not remove the glitters from my face:

Since the only other Cleansing Oil i have is the MAC Cleanse Off Oil, i thought it'll be helpful to do a comparison since they're about the same price! :D

Let's start with the price! Both are about the same! Although the RMK one may seem a bit more expensive, but if you compare them ml to ml they're the same lah! :D

RMK: RM110 / 175ml = RM0.63
MAC: RM95 / 150ml = RM0.63!

Next up, the texture. The MAC one is slightly thicker than the RMK one, which i personally prefer! Both rinses clean as well! :)

Thirdly, lets talk about the scent. As mentioned above, the RMK one smells minty! The MAC has this citrusy scent (probably from the bitter orange oil in it). Needless to say which one i preferred! lol! :P

And finally, let's look at the product efficiency! While the RMK one removes makeup from my face pretty ok-ly (lol!!) minus the glitters, the MAC one manage to remove EVERYTHING from my face beautifully! I also love how soft the MAC one made my face felt! :D

A side by side comparison:

I think it is obvious that the MAC one is still the winner for me! :D But please do not stop yourselves from trying this out because of my review - i've read many many raves about this one! It's just that i personally do not like it! Do give it a try and see! :D

ps: my husband thought that the tester i got looked like a urine sample! Thankfully he made that comment AFTER i used this... because i agree with him!! *sweats* hahaha! :P

Credits: Product photos from Rmkrmk.com.

Product Review: Cellnique Vital Cellular Repair Serum

2009-12-29T00:00:00.001+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM199 / US$59
Website: http://Cellnique.com
Weight: 30ml / 1 Fl. Oz.
Made in: USA
Likes: Nice scent, skin did appear smoother, gives my face a glow, did healed the broken capilaries on my face a little!
Gripes: Would be nice if a cap is included
Repurchase: Maybe
Jenn's Rating: ! 4 Stars! Me likey! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

Vital Cellular Repair Serum contains active ingredients to repair and restore damaged cells and accelerate the wound healing process. This repairing function is enhanced with non-medicated natural bio-active ingredients, namely ceramides, milk protein and live yeast cell derivatives, to reduce skin sensitivity and delay photo-aging.

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:

This serum feels a little more solid than the usual serums, but it still spreads on smoothly. It sinks in almost immediately after application! This one smells like yummy oranges!! :D

Packaging:

This serum comes in a glass bottle with a pump. Although there is a twist lock mechanism for the pump, i wished that a cap was included to protect the opening of the pump from dust! :D

The pump:

The box it came in:

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM199 / US$59 each, and is available to buy from their authorized dealers as well as on their website itself (with free worldwide shipping! :D).

Usage:
I use this twice a day on my face and neck.

My $0.02:

This is the other product i received for review from Cellnique! :D

Initially i was really confused as to why they sent me a product meant for post surgery scarring and sensitive skin when i do not have those concerns! They then clarified that actually this can also be used to aid absorption of whatever skin care products we're using.

While still having my doubts, i used this product, bearing in mind that they did mentioned on the website that this product works for broken capilaries too. I've had those on my cheeks since forever, so i'm actually quite thrilled to see some improvement after using this product for about a month or so! :D

The results weren't very significant, but there is an improvement so i'm grateful for that considering they have been around for almost forever! lol! :D

Besides healing my broken capilaries, this one did made my skin feel smoother... and a little glowier (is there such a word?? lol!!). I thought the effect kinda tapered off after 2 weeks or so, but when i stopped using this for a few days, i thought my skin didn't look as smooth! Right after i slapped this on, i woke up the next day with glowy skin again! lol!! So this DOES work, just try not to get used to the glow you see on your face! haha!! ;)

The only gripe i have for this product? I wish they did include a cap of some sort for the pump! It gets a bit dusty over here... lol!! XD

All in all methinks that this is a great product to add to your regime if you have sensitive skin! Personally i might repurchase this when i run out, but i currently have something else in mind to try out already, so this might have to wait! haha!! :D

Credit: Product photo from http://Cellnique.com.

Product Review: Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque

2009-12-28T00:00:00.000+08:00

At a Glance:
Price: RM159 / US$55
Website: http://Cellnique.com
Weight: 50g / 1.7 Fl. Oz.
Made in: USA
Likes: Quite moisturizing, cleanses skin quite well, really brightens skin after use!
Gripes: A little expensive, it comes in a jar.
Repurchase: Yes
Jenn's Rating: ! 4.5 Stars! Me really likey! :D

Ingredients:

Product Description

This unparalleled clay masque is formulated with bio-captured fresh fruit enzymes and acid complexes. Advanced Bio Renewal Masque effectively exfoliates dead skin cells, optimizing cellular renewal performance and deep pore cleansing, thus revealing a softer, fresher, and healthier skin.

Actual Product Pic:

Texture & Scent:

This mask isn't as solid as the usual "clay" masks, so it spreads on smoothly. It has little scrubby bits in it which you can scrub for face with after you're done masking. This mask doesn't really dry completely even after the 10 minute mark:

Scent wise, when i first took this out of the box, the husband and i both thought this smelt like durians!! haha!! =X It's when i actually used it on my face that i realised that this actually smelt more like pineapples than durian!! :D

Packaging:

This mask comes in a rather heavy glass jar with a screw top lid, which i don't really like because it's not hygenic! It also comes with a plastic cap for the inner container to keep it clean:

Time Test:
10 minutes is all you need :)

Price & Availability:
This mask is priced at RM159 / US$55 each, and is available to buy from their authorized dealers as well as on their website itself (with free worldwide shipping! :D).

Usage:
This is perfect for a weekly deep cleansing treat! :D

My $0.02:

The kind folks at Cellnique sent me this product (along with something else which you dear readers will find out tomorrow! ;D) to review, so thank you so much! :D

Like i mentioned above, when i first took this product out from the box, i thought this smelt like durians, which is cool for me (uber durian lover here), but i thought that some people might be put off by it. It was only when i tried it on that i realised that this actually smell more like pineapples than durians, so no worries for those who hates the king of fruits! :D

I like how this product spreads onto my face smoothly unlike some clay masks that can be quite hard to smooth on (especially after awhile when it starts drying up in the tube). I also love how it softens my face (quite surprising considering its kinda like a clay mask which is known to give the dry feeling sometimes) after use!! :D

And oh, look how glowy my face looked after using this:

This also did cleared the clog pores on my face somewhat, though not all of them at the first use (the Aspirin Mask is still the best for this):

The only gripes i have about this mask? At RM159 it is a bit expensive than what i'd like, but then again only a little amount is required for every use, so it's not that bad. Also, i didn't like how it came in a jar because its not very hygenic!

All in all, methinks that this is a great deep cleansing mask to add to your regime! Personally i would repurchase this, but as with all product junkies, i wanna try out other products first!! :D

Read what the other girls have to say about this mask:
Paris
Xin

Credit: Product photo from http://Cellnique.com.

FOTD: Festive Scarlet! :D

2009-12-25T00:00:00.007+08:00

It's Christmas Day!! Before i start i would like to wish everybody a very blessed Christmas!! May your day (and the year ahead) be filled with love, joy and all things wonderful!! :D

When i think of Christmas, probably the first color that comes to mind is RED! :D I was actually seriously thinking of going out and getting a RED eyeshadow just for this look... but i decided against it because i don't think i'll have any use for it after this!! (lol!!) :D It was then that i remembered my beloved MAC Kiss Manish lipstick, and i thought its PERFECT for the occasion!! :D

And oh husband got this santa hat from a company dinner, so i thought i'd be silly with it! haha!! :D

The rash on my eyelid developed into a GIANT ZIT!!! ARGH!! T_T

Stuff i used:

Face:
MAC Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder

Cheeks:
NARS Torrid Blush

Brows:
Maybelline Line n' Design Brow Pencil
MAC Brow Set in Beguille

Eyes:

MAC Femme Fi es (highlight)
MAC Cosmic es (inner crease)
MAC One-off es (outer crease & contour)
Maybelline Lasting Drama Gel Liner in 02 Brown (upper lashline)
MAC Powerpoint Eye Pencil in Stubborn Brown (tightline)
Silkygirl Funky Eyelights Pencil in 01 Olive Green (lower outer lashline)
Loreal Ultra-Volume Collagene Mascara

Lips:

MAC Prep + Prime Lip
MAC Kiss Manish Lippie
MAC Love Alert Dazzleglass

So how will you spend today and the weekend? Needless to say i will be (and have been) stuffing my face silly!! Who cares about calories... Ok i do, but i think there's time to lose all those weight just in time for Chinese New Year!! hehehe!! ;)

Have a wonderful Christmas everybody!! :D