Miss P

Pumpkin patch

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 02:52:00 +0000

Challenge: Use up 1 28-oz can of pumpkin.

Results:

1) Pumpkin oatmeal muffins. Replaced quick oats with instant apple cinnamon oatmeal lying in the cupboard, replaced half AP flour with whole wheat, mixed raisins and cranberries.

2) Pumpkin scones.

3) Pumpkin carob muffins. I've been using them ever since I made chocolate chip cookies with carob chips and nobody could tell the difference. They're healthy and cheaper than semisweet chips!

4) Ok, I am a pumpkin fanatic but even I can get a little pumpkin'd out. The bf and I didn't really feel like cooking after a late lunch on Oscar night. He made grilled cheese dill sandwiches and instead of the traditional tomato soup pairing, I made tomato pumpkin soup with parsley, chili, and soy milk. It turned out really well, except when the bf tried pureeing the soup and the lid came loose.

5) Classic pumpkin soup. Back to the basics.

After all that, I still had pumpkin left. Ended up tossing the rest. I needed a pumpkin break.

Saturday night, we went to Society in Yaletown after seeing the 45-minute wait at Chambar. It seems to be a popular place for a girls' night out as there were several tables of girls dressed to hit the clubs.

FOTD
Face
Coastal Scents HD foundation ST-004

NYX concealer stick in green (redness) and yellow (under eyes)
Shiseido Inoui the Enhancer concealer

MAC blush in Angel

Nars face illuminator in Orgasm (cheekbones)

Evian face spray

Eyes
Prestige browliner in Earth Brown

MAC paint in Untitled

Light pink (browbone) and shimmery purple-brown shade (outer half of eye) from Coastal Scents 28 Neutral palette

Anna Sui eye color in 209 (shimmery lilac on outer half and crease)

Bobbi Brown espresso eye shadow (upper tightline)

Coastal Scents Black gel liner (lower waterline)

Bobbi Brown Mica eye shadow (lower lashline)

Korean falsies from Hong Kong

Majolica Majorca mascara (bottom lashes)

Lips

Maybelline Wet Shine lipstick in Mauvelous

Lace bodysuit: Silence + Noise; Tank, rosary necklace: F21; Black pencil skirt (not shown), Prada.

We went for the mussels with garlic, shallots and Chardonnay with a side of garlic bread and fries. There wasn't much broth, but I liked the sundried tomatoes. We agreed that Chambar's mussels are still #1 though.

I was all excited to have dessert, but decided to pass. Our server was so sweet and said "ok, but I'm still going to bring you something". He came back shortly with cotton candy!

The table of girls next to us ordered the junk food platter, but we were quite intimidated by the size. The music is a little loud and the tables are a little close, but the service is great and the place is bumpin'. I left a little tipsy and very happy to a friend's house for more drinks...

Last week, I went to Daiso to look for a ceramic pot to make Korean stews in, but left with some new nails. I never tried artificial nails, but I haven't had gel nails for years and wanted to make them look pretty since they've been peeling a lot lately despite numerous coats of OPI Nail Envy and Sally Hansen 4-in-1 Complete Treatment. For $2/box, who could resist?

It took me forever to file the shape just right. I think next time I won't be such a perfectionist. I marveled at how long they were (and how my natural nails will never get that long), then realized it was a pain to do simple tasks. The bf said, "watch them all pop off during yoga".

The next morning, I woke up and decided to cut and file them to a more practical length. I thought I needed one of those professional electric drills, but they're soft enough to cut with a regular nail clipper. I feel like such a lady when my nails are pretty.

Spring is around the corner

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:47:00 +0000

The past two days have been cloudy after a beautiful day where Team Canada won gold in men's hockey on the last day of the Olympics, breaking the record for most gold medals and in a host country! I'm so proud.

FOTD
Face
Coastal Scents HD foundation ST-004

NYX concealer stick in yellow (under eyes)
Shiseido Inoui the Enhancer concealer

MAC blush in Spring Peach

Nars face illuminator in Orgasm (cheekbones)

Coty Airspun loose face powder in luminous translucent

Eyes
Prestige browliner in Earth Brown

UDPP

Mix of two coral shades from Coastal Scents 88 palette (outer eye)

Estee Lauder pure color eyeshadow duo in Moondust (gold on inner eye)

MAC e/s in Wisp (middle up to brow)

MAC e/s in Rice Paper (browbone)

MAC technakohl liner in Graphblack (upper)

Cover Girl soft radiants liner in Soft Cocoa (bottom)

Majolica Majorca mascara

Korean half falsies

Lips

Clinique different lipstick in Peachy

MAC tendertone in Purring

Silk slip, scarf:F21, cardigan:Talula Babaton, Boots:Minnetonka, Bag:Chanel. Rings:gifts from relatives.

This is the only thing that makes rainy days tolerable. Everyone should have a pair of rain boots, especially if you live in Vancouver. I have convinced several gfs that their Tory Burch flats and Uggs are no match for walking in the rain after they see me take those puddles head-on.

Review: Kose Softymo Collagen Cleansing Wash + Mandom Cleansing Express Moist (blue bottle)

(L) Kose is famous for their cleansing washes. This one claims to remove makeup and clean your face without having to double wash. A large pea-size amount foams up nicely and makes your face squeaky-clean without feeling tight or dry. It cost me about $5 and comes with an extra 30g. I have since ditched my DHC Cleansing Oil + Spectro Jel routine. This bottle is going to last me a long time, so it's a great value. Thumbs up!

(R) The Cleansing Express comes in two formulas: blue (hyaluronic acid) and pink (collagen). I bought the blue bottle because it seems more popular. It claims to remove your eye and face makeup in one step without rinsing. I admit I'm sometimes too tired after a late night to drag myself to the bathroom, so I use a makeup pad and a few squirts to wipe everything off. The solution is water-based. My complaint is that it doesn't seem to take off my mascara that well. I prefer the "oily" eye makeup removers such as Lancome Bi-Facil or Neutrogena oil-free eye makeup remover. However, I don't put on any of my night creams after using this and it doesn't make me break out or dry out so I'd say it cleanses pretty well. Would I buy again? Probably not. I think the cleansing wipes would be more efficient.

A new winter coat

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 05:40:00 +0000

There's nothing like adding on some extra "layers" during the winter.

I've been going to Chambar often for drinks lately. The beer and cocktail lists are unique and the Veracruz is a must-try. I was never a fan of Caesars until I tried the Veracruz. Chipotle infused tequila, applewood smoked tomato juice...the creation is pure genius.
My love for Belgian beers started with the Kriek (right) a few years ago at this very place.

Finally went to H-Mart to pick up ingredients for soon dubu (spicy seafood and tofu stew) and ddukbokki (rice cakes in gochujang). Have been drinking matcha lattes all week since then. Tried the pumpkin and black bean rice cakes. Steamed, it's slightly sweetened and very filling!

Bf and I went to Lonsdale Quay Market one sunny day and had our first-ever beaver tail. We had the Killaloe, which is sugar and lemon on the fried dough. http://www.beavertailsinc.com/ At first, I was disgusted to see the large, flat dough soaking in the hot oil and swore I would not eat it. However, I tried some and the sweet and tangy contrast was quite appetizing. At least I'll never have to wonder what it tastes like when I see it at PNE. We then had a bowl of tomato clam chowder at another vendor because it reminded us of the Pike Place Chowder in Seattle.

We originally went to Seattle on an empty stomach to go to Paseo. Unfortunately, they were going to be closed for most of January. We arrived in downtown Seattle around 3pm and decided to eat at Pike Place Chowder as a former Hong Kong colleague had told me about it before. They were having their afternoon tea menu, where everything is smaller and cheaper. Perfect for sampling! We had the crab cake and crab sandwiches and a bowl of their famous clam chowder. We ended up ordering another bowl of seafood bisque! Lunch wasn't a bust after all.

Qoola is my favorite froyo joint in Vancouver, but I had to go to Pinkberry. I got the pumpkin spice/tangerine swirl. Yummy, but I think I'm biased towards Qoola!

Had a late dinner (10:30pm) at Red Lobster. Haven't been to one since LA 2004. I LOVE their cheese biscuits. I didn't want to share...and I stuffed them into the takeout box. I've tried a copycat recipe using Bisquick which turns out similarly.

Recently I read and am loving the book "The Okinawa Diet Plan". The recipes are so simple, healthy and tasty! I found it informative and a good read. I wanted to buy the book at Chapters but couldn't find it. (I ended up buying "Why Men Love Bitches". )

This salmon miso soup is creamy partly due to milk, and includes two of my favorites - kabocha pumpkin and sweet potatoes, which are a major health food for Okinawans.

I've been making lots of miso soup with various vegetables. Tip: NEVER boil miso! Dissolve it after heated soup has been taken off the heat.

I LOVE muffins but hate that most are laden with sugar and fat. This is another recipe from "The Okinawa Diet Plan", sweet potato orange muffins. It's soft, moist and not overly sweet. It includes fresh OJ, almond butter and whole wheat flour.

After taking home some leftover skordalia (garlic sauce) and tzatziki from Stepho's, I decided to make whole wheat pitas. It took a painstaking 3 hours for 6 pitas (I halved the recipe).

With all that kabocha, I made sweet n' spicy roasted kabocha in the oven and bf made Vietnamese butter beef. It was so tender!

My favorite Korean snack that I first ate outside Dongdaemun night market. Rice cakes, fish cakes, cabbage, onions and gochujang. Hard boiled eggs and pork are sometimes added.

Happy eating!

Little loves

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:49:00 +0000

When I was in the States, I decided to look for L'oreal's Colour Riche lipstick in Tawny as I had heard it supposedly looked like MAC's discontinued 3N lipstick. No luck. All I found was Timeless Tawny.

My dbf surprised me with it after my disappointment at losing my new MAC Angel lipstick. He found out it was on clearance because it was going to be discontinued, but that it was quite popular. I bought another one as backup and since then, it's my everyday lipstick. I don't even use liner or gloss. It goes on so creamy and it's the perfect neutral nude/pink. Love it!

I've been looking for a good Audrey Hepburn picture and I was reminded of a nail color I wanted to try for awhile, For Audrey by China Glaze. I was going to wait until February to wear it as opposed to the traditional pink theme everywhere, but I couldn't wait. It's a perfect match.

Everyone and their mother has been raving about My Beauty Diary masks. I first heard about it while I was in HK but I couldn't find them at the usual beauty stores. I found them on sale here for Cdn $2.99/2 sheets so I picked up two boxes: pearl powder and aloe.

Pearl powder mask

Main Ingredients
Vitamin B & Seaweed Extract

-Nourishes & Stimulates Skin Cells
Amino Acids & Pearl Powder

-Penetrates the interior layer of skin to create a Soft, Fair & Radiant look
Functions

-Softens your Skin

-Whitens and Brightens skin

-Nourishes and moisturizes skin

Aloe mask

Main Ingredients
Aloe Vera

-Keeps skin feeling Moisturize
Wild Rose Plant Essence

-Improves Dry and Rough skin
Amino Acid

-Nourishes and moisturizes skin
Hyaluronic Acid

-Highly effective in retaining moisture in your skin
Functions

-Minimizes and Closes Pores

-Restores Skin Structure

-Improves Dry condition of Skin

-Moisturizes & Nourishes Skin

Overall, I'm very impressed with the list of ingredients. Too bad it's pricier than what you would pay for other sheet masks in Asia. I like how the sheet comes with a plastic layer to peel from because regular sheet masks are sometimes harder to open up when they're wet. However, the fit is not as good as the UGBang masks I got in Korea (which were a lot more expensive). I will definitely try other kinds after I've used up the collagen masks I got in HK!

Quick no-brainer, no-fuss meals at home: Mapo tofu & Chicken Laksa

Went to the newly relaunched Glowbal for their half off lunch promo. It was a sunny but cold day and we sat on the heated, busy patio. I loved that the bread came with pink Hawaiian sea salt.

Ahi tuna satays, braised short ribs papardella, prime rib burger. Awesome deal!

Hubbub

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 23:20:00 +0000

Last week I attempted to make baked bbq pork buns - the shiny, slightly sweet, caramelized brown crust ones. I always order these at dim sum, and love the mexico/pineapple bun variations.

The flat, wide ones were made by me. Dbf made the round ones and boasted that his looked better. However, mine were the ones with evenly distributed filling and packed with it!

I brushed an egg wash before baking and simple syrup wash at the end.

Too bad the other half of the bbq pork got eaten up or I would've made another batch the next day. They were soft, satisfying and not filled with fat chunks like what you get sometimes at restaurants.

Went to Hub, a lounge restaurant in Yaletown on Friday night. I did soft grey eyes and a berry lip.

FOTD
Face
Coastal Scents HD foundation ST-004

NYX concealer stick in yellow (under eyes)
Shiseido Inoui the Enhancer concealer
Coastal Scents Essence blush (sample that came with one of my orders)
MAC select sheer loose powder NC20
Eyes
Prestige browliner in Earth Brown

MAC paint in silver

Flat soft grey e/s from Coastal Scents 88 palette (lid and along lower lashline)
Bobbi Brown e/s in Rock (outer eye)

MAC e/s in Gesso (browbone)

Wet n' Wild kohl eyeliner in White (lower waterline)

MAC technakohl liner in Graphblack (upper eyeline)
Benefit Eyebright (smudged inner and outer corners)
Ardell false lashes #110
Lips
Chanel lipstick in Samoa

Shirt, liquid leggings:F21, Blazer:Talula Babaton, Shoes:Chloe, Accessories:F21, Belt:from one of my Urban Behavior dresses.

Chef P

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 07 Jan 2010 22:09:00 +0000

Lately I've been trying to experiment with some new recipes, especially after my last trip to Asia.

Baked Portuguese chicken on rice, cha chan teng style:

It tasted just like what you would get at a Chinese cafe (except healthier). I can't wait to try making baked pork chop on rice next time.

I depotted some MAC eye shadows my mom gave me into a palette and went to pick a lipstick for the Back2Mac recycling program. I chose Angel, a light pink frost. It's supposedly Kim Kardashian's favorite MAC lipstick. I applied mine over chapstick, but layered over lipliner and a gloss on top would make the color pop even more! It would go great with a neutral or smoky eye, which is what I do most of the time. Viva Glam V is still my absolute favorite lipstick of all time though.

Switch it up

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:12:00 +0000

Happy 2010! I know I haven't updated in forever and I had half a mind to delete everything and start from scratch. A little revamp will suffice for now.

On NYE, I dyed my own hair for the first time using Kao Liese bubble hair color in Milk Tea Brown. My hair was pretty much virgin, having had some highlights on the bottom layer of my hair in 2007.

The color is subtle and did not noticeably dry my hair out. Of course I did a deep conditioning mask after the next wash just to be safe! I read the color should become more pronounced after a few washings, so I'll see whether it's worth using again. I've been told by previous hairstylists that my hair doesn't absorb color well. :(

604/778 life

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:57:00 +0000

I've been back in Van for over a month now...and I can't believe time has flown by so fast. I am SO HAPPY to be back and I'm glad that this isn't just a vacation cuz I'd be miserable if I had to go back to HK! What have I been up to?? Too much since I didn't have the time to do any updates till now...I'm out all the time, party throughout the week and do a bunch of reckless shit LOL....damn, it has been a crazy month and everyone around me knows it! I'm loving the lifestyle and things like going for bbt or texting on the crackberry, going to house parties/gatherings, chilling at Artiggiano with a friend, driving, eating pho/tw/etc. I have way more fun partying here than in HK and the music is way better! Ok so it sounds bad, but after being so "tame" in HK, I need to rebel a little and get it out of my system. Plus I'm home alone for the month so I gotta do all the crazy stuff before I have to start coming home at night. Anyway, I've met lots of cool people and I've fulfilled #4 on my list of NY resolutions rofl......=) I no longer have a digicam at my disposal so I won't be doing any more makeup looks for awhile. I'm just busy enjoying my life for now, and although it's freaking cold here, I love the ups and downs Van life brings. Going to a wine/cheese/game night tonight with hun and elementary school friends... Can't wait till summer!!!

Gong hay fat choy!!! REVIEW Dr Jart & BRTC Gold Caviar BB Cream

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 06:34:00 +0000

So I've been MIA for awhile...spending my days recovering from late nights partying...yeah you could say I'm not being productive but I don't really care right now. Live in the moment and have fun!!! Well I got sick (serves me right I guess) and had to attend family functions over the four-day Chinese New Year holiday.

I've been trying to sort out things to keep or toss while I've been sick at home the past few days. I wanna keep everything though!! And I got a fucking ton of shoes, which distracts me because I just start trying them on and walking around instead of packing. I gotta kick my ass into high gear and get my shit together otherwise I'm gonna have to postpone leaving haha.. which will be kinda stupid since I got into a tiff with the people at Asia miles and went into a funk where I just wanted to self-medicate with alcohol every day. Exaggerated? I think not!

Even though I'm not one for New Year resolutions, I have a few at the back of my mind that I would like to achieve/fulfill:

1) Get a better cam to take pictures and learn how to use it properly (I'm a horrible photographer)
2) Find a job that I enjoy and makes me happy, not just go back into accounting/finance for money. Life is NOT all about money... although I have expensive taste. :(
3) Improve my makeup skills and learn more about it. I mentioned before my mom was a makeup artist (she was professionally trained and everything) and she has carts and carts full of makeup that I should experiment with when I'm back in Vancouver. She saw the eye look I did in my last post (not from this blog LOL) and started telling me about color charts and that I should take lessons, etc. Even though she acts like a teenager, she nags like a mother!
4) Find true love? Or have a good time playing around =P ahaha...
5) Be more careful with spending (doing really well so far!)

REVIEW: DR JART & BRTC GOLD CAVIAR BB CREAMS
I previously gave an overview on BB creams in December, and here is the review FINALLY. I haven't opened the BRTC Whitening & Wrinkle Repair (middle) so I'm only going to review the other two.
DR JART BLACK LABEL (For dry skin)
I remember the first time I tried it, I put on WAY too much and my skin had this grey tinge to it. If I could give any advice, it's to use a GOOD moisturizer and use SPARINGLY. I think this stuff is gonna last me a long time cuz I don't wear it every day... but I really love it!! It's not too dark and does help give that flawless look! But I get so paranoid about washing it off cuz I've heard of people breaking out with some BB creams. I use DHC Cleansing Oil followed by Spectro Gel cleanser. Even if I get home from clubbing at 7 or 8 am, I still drag my ass to the washroom to clean it off...whereas I cheat if I'm wearing mineral foundation and just sleep in my makeup sometimes. (I KNOW, it's the ULTIMATE SKIN SIN!) My friend M swears her skin has improved, but I don't notice much of a difference cuz I didn't have any major problems to begin with and I don't wear it every day. I definitely would buy this again!

Active ingredients: It didn't say on the box, but it's some good shit for real.

BRTC GOLD CAVIAR
I didn't like this one that much. It's darker than Dr Jart and is pinkish which doesn't seem that natural to me. My friend bought it for her mom and both her mom and my stepmom both like it, but for me, it didn't go on as smoothly and the color just puts me off even though I guess you can't really tell after it sinks in anyway. Maybe it's something suitable for more mature women since it has anti-aging caviar??

Active ingredients: (from the back of the box) Arbutin, Adenosine, Titanium Dioxide, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Caviar extract 1.5%, White Gold Substance 0.01%, Human Oligo Peptide-1, Acetyl Hexapeptide-8, Hyaluronic Acid, Allantoin, Green tea Extract

See what I mean about blurriness??

CHANEL, ANYONE?
If you or anyone you know is interested, I have some 100% authentic Chanels I'm willing to part with and will ship internationally. Leave a comment and I'll post pictures, prices, etc. Payment will be settled through Paypal.

-Dark navy patent east west with silver chain (used twice)
-Bordeaux caviar GST with silver chain (brand new)
-Distressed leather modern chain (before they changed to the plasticky leather) - used a few times
-Large black cerf (executive) tote with mademoiselle lock - gently used
-Khaki (bronze) baby cabas (brand new)

EOTD

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 10:36:00 +0000

I slept two hours after being the drunkest I've ever been in years...so I decided to play around with makeup since I didn't have the alertness to do anything else. I only did one eye 'cause I was too lazy... This first pic is using my cell so it's not that clear - actually they all are blurry 'cause I didn't wanna ask my bro for his cam... he hates it when I use it for these silly things. =P I don't have face makeup on hence the blotchy skin. Ugh.

Eyes
MK Signature eyeliner in steely (brow)
NYX Jumbo pencil in black bean (base)
NYX single eyeshadow in rust (outer half)
NYX single eyeshadow in root beer (inner half)
Rimmel extreme definition two tone eye definer in fashion icon
Bobbi Brown shimmer shadow in rock
Unknown Japanese falsies that are freakin' crazy long and I doubt I would wear out except on Halloween lol..

Lips
NYX round lipstick in Circe (not shown in all the pics)Lately, I've been so anxious about going back to Vancouver. Sigh... I feel ready to go back but still scared shitless... I appreciate all the support my friends have been giving me though. I hope this year turns out to be a good one. Wonder what the future holds in store.

I pretty much blast the heater in my room all day now, so my skin and lips are drying and flaking like crazy!!! One thing I'm looking forward to in Vancouver is my shipment of Coastal Scents palettes!! My mom opened and examined them...but she doesn't seem convinced about the possibilities and combos haha.. but then again she is a complete makeup junkie and former makeup artist so I never really bought makeup before moving to HK 'cause I just stole hers all the time. :) I can't wait to do some looks with those palettes and prove to her that I don't have to just use MAC, Dior or Maquillage (her favorites).

We had a family portrait around the end of December because my grandpa is getting really old and is on a feeding tube, so he probably doesn't have much time left. They got a professional photographer to go to their house in North Point and we had a bunch of relatives from out of town. Look how SHORT I am! I'm about 5'6.5"...and I look like a freakin' midget!!! I like my patent ruby red Lanvins, but they kinda gave me blisters 'cause I walked from CWB to Admiralty after shopping that day. :(

Happy new year sexxxies! NYX HAUL!

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:50:00 +0000

I can't believe it's another year already. I was eating McD's new mala chicken nuggets downstairs 2 days ago and they had the Chinese horoscopes on the tray liner... I'm a pig *oink* and it says this year will be calm, stable and relatively free of uncertainties. I sure hope so cuz I'm expecting some major changes in my life - I'm on waitlist for moving back to Vancouver, BC at the end of the month, I gotta look for a new job and life is gonna be so different than what I've grown accustomed to for the past 3.5 years I've been in HK.

Pre-drinking outside 7-11 in LKF - GHETTO!!!

I look mean here... with my bro

Pi lounge. Dress by Vince (so comfy, but super thin)The view from the 28th floor

Following my tradition of losing jewelry in the new year, I lost one of my FAVE pair of hoop earrings last weekend. I had a good friend tell me that losing something means it prevents something worse from happening. I guess all the arm-around-the-shoulder, hugging, taking care of drunk friends, etc knocked one out somehow.

I was gonna do a FOTD for my look last weekend, but I took those pics when I got home buzzed, so my eye makeup is creased and I can barely keep my eyes open LOL. I therefore have decided to skip that one hahaha!

NYX HAUL
This morning I was woken up by the sound of the doorbell ringing and I thought, 'could it be?? is it my NYX haul?!' YEAH!!!

Nicely packaged

Including the free lipgloss

NYX CONCEALER IN A JAR

The NYX concealer (USD5) is on the left next to my Shiseido Inoui the Enhancer (~USD45) for color comparison. The NYX is more pink/apricot-based vs the Inoui which is more yellow-based. I wear NC20 in MAC's Select Cover Up. I heard great things about NYX concealers, plus I lost my MAC in a taxi so I want a cheap concealer to keep in my bag without worrying much if I lose it again.
The NYX went on smoother than the Inoui, but I'll have to do an official test for coverage and long-wearing capability.

NYX (left) & Inoui (right)

NYX CONCEALER STICKS
I wanted to try these to see how they compared to the concealer in a jar. The green counteracts redness (capillaries, acne, scars) and the yellow counteracts dark circles. I tested them both on my face and the yellow is great!!! I think I could skip using the lighter Inoui shade (which is kinda dry on my undereye area) and just use this to brighten my eyes. This would probably be the same logic behind Benefit's Lemon-Aid (which I have never tried, but at this price I'll use NYX for now!).
I will use the green under my regular concealer and see if it covers up my scars (which have been there for years :( ). My skin is thin and pretty light so redness shows up on my face easily. I used to use Physician Formula's green concealer but the formula was so thick and dried up fast, so I pretty much stopped using it cuz it did not go on smoothly.. maybe I got a dud. Plus the stupid cap broke after not much use, so that probably contributed to the product drying up.
These formulas go on smoooth like butta!!

NYX concealer sticks in yellow (top) & green (bottom)

SwatchesWith flash

NYX SINGLE EYESHADOWS - RUST & ROOT BEER
I originally wanted to get the rust in the eyeshadow trio but it sold out when I finally decided to buy it. Ugh, that's what I get for being a cheapass and hoping there would be a Christmas/New Year promotion hahaha. As always, they restocked a few days after I ordered. Isn't that how it always goes? Anyway, I read that sometimes the colors in the eyeshadow singles differ from the ones in the trios even though they have the same name, so it's all gravy baby.

Rust (left) & root beer (right)

Rust is a beautiful, slightly shimmery reddish color. Root beer is greyish-brown and pretty neutral, so I'll have to play around with this before I see how I feel about it. These are both one of NYX's most popular colors.

Without flash (left) & with flash (right)

NYX ROUND LIPSTICKS
I don't usually wear much lipstick cuz my lips are always dry and flaky, but I decided to try a few instead of going crazy and buying a bunch, then end up using my old stuff. I have a habit of wanting to buy tons of lip products and never finish using any of them!
They go on super smooth and creamy. It's easy to go past your lipline so I would definitely try to use a lipliner with them. I was such a tool and somehow mixed up the caps after I took them off...I'm amazed how girls can do NYX lipstick hauls with like 10+ colors and not get mixed up.

Left to right: Fig, Circe, Pumpkin Pie, Perfect

Clockwise from top left: Fig, Circe, Pumpkin Pie, Perfect

I know my lips are peeling, but I was too excited to try these on! I put them on with a light hand, and they look much brighter in real life. Circe and Pumpkin pie is similar, but Pumpkin Pie is similar to my MAC Uncorked lipstick. I HATE my huge lips lol.

NYX JUMBO EYE PENCILS

OMG, by now I shouldn't be surprised, but as all of NYX's other products, they go on smoooth!!! I doubled up on the Milk pencil cuz it seems like a good base which I'll use more, especially when I tend to do neutral looks more often than crazy ones - plus, it would probably make brighter colors more vivid.

Left to right: milk, yogurt, dark brown, slate, black bean

NYX MEGASHINE LIP GLOSS
I reluctantly broke my lip gloss ban for this in smokey look. It tastes like candy, but not in that nasty, artificial, unwanted Halloween candy way. Yum... Ok NO MORE LIP GLOSS for real!
I need to stay away from Sephora... :(

Christmas with the girls & false eyelashes clip tutorial

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 15:08:00 +0000

Hope everyone had a great Christmas! I went out for dinner at Munch in TST with A and G, then checked out G's new pad where we had a German riesling paired with crackers spread with chili crab dip, spring onion dip, camembert cheese and salmon pate. AND blueberry cheesecake... all while watching Borat and this year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. It was fun and filling. :P

I didn't have time to do much makeup because I was in a mad rush.

Blurry phone pic cuz we started rushing for the elevator

Eiffel tower for A!

I want more presents! Gimme gimme moreSee? I was nice...not at all NAUGHTY

FOTD
Face
Cover FX Mineral FX SPF 15 foundation
Shiseido Inoui the Enhancer concealer
Baby Pink cheeks jelly in furaku pink (I think that's what the color is - it's in Japanese)
Cover Girl cheekers blush in illuminous blush
Coty Airspun loose face powder in luminous translucent

Eyes
Prestige browliner in Earth Brown
Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in Navajo
Rimmel extreme definition two tone eye definer in fashion icon (I only used the black side)
L'oreal le kohl eyeliner in platinum
Majolica Majorca curl, curl, curl toward the sky eyelash primer
Estee Lauder Illusionist mascara
Darkness falsies

Lips
Calvin Klein lipstick in berrywood
MAC tendertone in pucker

False eyelash clip tutorial
I used to put on my falsies with my hands and use the end of a tweezer to push them into place, but since I've been more aware of beauty knick knacks lately, I decided to pick one up.

Tuke-matuge clip

Directions:
1) Squeeze eyelash glue into the cracks (the shiny part is the glue I didn't peel off from the previous use)

2) Center the falsies in the cracks and wait for the glue to become tacky (30 sec - 1 min)3) Clip the falsies close to the base -
4) Place as close to your lashline as possible and hold about 10 seconds.
Pros

Easy to control the amount of glue (just fill the cracks)
Adjusts the falsies closer to your lashline, and good when the falsies have lost some of their shape
Less messy when readjusting (glue doesn't go everywhere)

Cons

May still need minor readjustment
Have to peel off the glue from the cracks and clip (well, I do it every time)
Costs HKD26 lol

Bottom line
It's definitely more foolproof for falsie newbies and those cursed with shaky hands, plus I hated how glue went everywhere when I readjusted the falsies too much when I used to do it freehand. Thumbs up!

Merry Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:13:00 +0000

Hope you have a Merry Christmas with lots of good food and drink! The past week I've been sick so I watched a ton of Christmas movies - and I'll try to watch a few more before the year is out. Here's a list of new and old classics I've seen this year:

1) It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - the ultimate classic and a must-see
2) Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Edmund Gwenn is the most convincing Santa ever
3) Christmas in Connecticut (1945) - sweet and hilarious, this is going on my list of favorite movies
4) The Shop Around the Corner (1940) - the original of "You've Got Mail"; this is the only one where I would prefer the remake, but still worth watching
5) The Bishop's Wife (1947) - the original of "The Preacher's Wife", it was nothing super exciting
6) Babes in Toyland (1934) - cute and with lovely songs, but I want to watch the remakes as the plots are different for each one
7) National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - I kinda fell asleep watching this one
8) How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - short animated TV classic, I want to see the year 2000 remake
9) Frosty the Snowman (1969) - another animated classic which is good for kids
10) Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970) - It's narrated by Fred Astaire, whom I love, but I didn't like this movie...I wouldn't choose to watch this again on my own
11) Elf (2003) - I surprisingly liked this one!
12) Barbie in a Christmas Carol (2008) - I ♥ Barbie! And unlike their other movies, they don't sing in this one! (I must be the only one that finds those songs annoying and distracting from the plot)
13) A Garfield Christmas Special (1987) - I love the cast's voices in this funny animated show
14) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - My all-time favorite Christmas movie, and I love the soundtrack.
15) A Christmas Story (1983) - Another must-see for the holidays, Ralphie is a cutie!
16) This Christmas (2007) - Not bad and good if you like Chris Brown

Before the year is out, I will watch:
1) Bad Santa (2003)
2) The Ref (1994)
3) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)
4) The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
5) Trapped in Paradise (1994)

Other Christmas movies I've seen in the past that I can remember off the top of my head:
1) Home Alone (1990)
2) The Santa Clause (1994)
3) Scrooge (1951)
4) Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)
5) Barbie in the Nutcracker (2001)
6) Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer (1964)

So if you don't have anywhere to go, these movies should keep you busy! I'm sure there's more which I can't remember at the moment. All I need is some hot dark chocolate...too bad I just finished my Thomas Haas Dark Chocolate mix last week.

Chicken soup for the skin

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 06:27:00 +0000

Everyone knows that having good skin is the base for everything that you put on top of it. This backdrop is more important than wearing any high-end makeup products. Most of it is obviously due to our genetic disposition, but there are certain things which really make a huge difference, most of which you've heard reiterated many times over from many different sources:

1) Sleep - What I've learned is not merely the hours of sleep, but the timing. My mom has drilled it into my head that our body detoxes from 11 pm - 1 am, and that's why you should be sleeping during that time to maximize the beauty benefits. (She studies the human body, skincare, beauty, etc.) I used to brush it off as my mom nagging me, but I've found that even if I sleep for six hours or less, if I sleep early, I wake up with clearer, softer skin with a glow. Plus my under-eye circles are definitely less severe.2) Keeping your head elevated - I think many people overlook the importance of a good pillow. When you sleep on a mushy pillow without enough support, it's much easier for your face to retain water and you will be more likely to wake up with puffy eyelids or a bloated face, neither of which makes you feel like looking in the mirror first thing in the morning. Get a semi-solid pillow (or several) that will keep your head up! Quick fix: I sometimes stack one or two thick towels under my pillow, but make sure you're getting enough support for your neck.

3) Drinking water - Enough said, I don't need to say much about it. When I had my clearest skin, I was drinking about 11-14 glasses of water a day (not because I like water, but it was the only way to stay warm :( ). However, I wouldn't say it makes as big of a difference as 1) and 2).

4) Moisturize - I had pretty bad acne during high school and still get a few pimples here and there now. Back then, I always thought I shouldn't use heavy moisturizers to clog up my pores and make things worse. However, my favorite moisturizer became Clinique's Dramatically Different Lotion. It soon became my HG at the time because my skin would clear up when I used it alone and healed my most flaky, stubborn spots. I can totally see why it was so popular. I've come to realize that I actually have more dry skin than combo (which I had previously thought), and that as long as I keep my skin thoroughly moisturized, it really helps keep pimples at bay. I haven't used Clinique for many years not because I don't like it, but because I'm a product slut - however, Eucerin's Aquaphor is great for eczema and pesky flakes and is popular among celebrities and makeup artists alike.

5) The Pill - I know it's always better to be natural and avoid eating medicines of any sort, but sometimes, you can follow every other beauty tip to a T and still have bad skin. It can be very discouraging, and there were days I wouldn't want to go out because of a bad breakout. Instead of going for Accutane, I tried Diane-35 - and WOW, honestly if I could say there was only one thing that has never failed to clear up my skin despite working 100-hour workweeks and being stressed out of my tree at school, this is it. I have recommended it to many of my gf's and I keep a stash of these for when things start to get out of control - effects show up after the first month and last for several months even after I stop. Talk to your physician before taking any form of medication.

Prices: Cdn $2x / pack from pharmacies (such as Shopper's Drug Mart or Save on Foods), HKD 100 / pack (I get mine from a pharmacy near HMV in Tsim Sha Tsui), ~HKD 50 from pharmacies in Thailand (I stock up whenever someone goes to Thailand - the Thai version is shown above)

Don't forget (I get lazy sometimes)...

BB Cream Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:18:00 +0000

Before I went to Korea in early November, I stumbled upon BB creams in my research of stuff to buy. Apparently I'm late on joining the craze for these Blemish Balm creams which claim to do more than just cover imperfections compared to regular foundations or tinted moisturizers - extra ingredients are included to fight acne, whiten, tighten, provide sunscreen, diminish wrinkles... and the list goes on. However, they're mostly for fair or light skin tones as most brands only come in one shade. From what I've read online and discussion with other ladies, the most famous brands are:

1) BRTC - This is the brand that sparked the BB cream phenomenon when Korean celebrities started using it. Surprisingly, I couldn't find this line at drugstores while I was in Korea, although they do have an English website: http://www.skinami.co.kr/en_site/brtc_main_perline.aspHowever, I LOVE hunting down products in drugstores and I struck the jackpot when I was in Singapore! Watson's and Guardian (the sign looks EXACTLY like the Mannings sign in Hong Kong) each carried different BRTC products and had accompanying brochures.

Most popular products: Perfect recover, Perfect protect, Whitening & wrinkle repair

Prices:
SGD 49 for Whitening & wrinkle repair, Jasmine water (new), Glossy, Glossy shining
SGD 55 for Gold caviar
SGD 59 for Protect multiplex balm (new - contains almost everything you could want in a BB cream)

2) Dr. Jart - This is more popular than BRTC probably partly to its greater availability as they sell it at Watson's in Korea. Lo and behold, I found this in a shop 2 days after returning to Hong Kong from Korea! I don't remember the name of the shop, but it was at Tsuen Wan's Citywalk shopping centre. So any HKers, you can check it out and the price was about the same as in Korea - yippee! You can also check out: http://www.lunabeauty.comMost popular products: Repairing blemish base SPF35 whitening (silver label) - oily/combo skin, Detox healing blemish base SPF25 whitening & anti-wrinkle (black label) - dry skin

Prices:
KRW 29,400
HKD 236 (it was on sale when I saw it at Citywalk)

3) Hanskin - This is widely available as there were Hanskin stores pretty much everywhere in Korea (there are two in Myeong Dong alone). I think it was selling at Watson's as well.
Most popular products: Super magic SPF30 (premium)

Prices: I think there were two sizes, 30/50ml. I don't remember the exact prices, but at Watson's, you got a free gift from the same line for around the same price as if you bought it at the store. IIRC, it was around KRW32,000...

4) Skinfood - This brand is widely available at standalone stores in HK, Korea and Singapore. I've read pretty good reviews on this brand, and the price is reasonable if you want to try BB creams before splurging on other brands. Compared to other BB creams which have one universal shade, they come in 2 shades.
Most popular products: Gingko, Aloe Sun SPF20, Mushroom

Prices: Around KRW12,900 (Mushroom was a few thousand Won more than Gingko/Aloe). I didn't check the price of these in HK.

I will do a more in-depth review of Dr Jart black label and BRTC gold caviar BB creams later. (I haven't opened the Whitening & wrinkle repair or Protect multiplex balm yet.) Hope this info was helpful!

Singapore in T-2

noreply@blogger.com (Miss P) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:09:00 +0000

So this is my first blog entry ever! It's funny, I envisioned having verbal diarrhea up in this joint, but I can't seem to think of anything witty to say at the moment. Things will get better once I get the hang of this, I'm sure. Anyway, my room is a mess and there are other things I should be doing but here I am trying to tweak this blank canvas. I'm going to Singapore in 2 days so I'm really looking forward to that! Last family vacation for... who knows how long? I'll be posting pics and possibly vids when I get back. I definitely want COFFEE since I haven't had caffeine in almost 1.5-2 months, which is weird because I am still having sleeping problems! And roti prata, come to mama... *drool*

If anyone has any suggestions on what to eat, see or do, please drop me a line!