Are you getting your dad anything for CNY/ Valentine’s this year?

Valentine’s Day/ Chinese New Year is just a few days away! :D Now, I'm sure most of you would have already gotten a gift for your significant other, but what the OTHER man in your life? I'm talking about dead old dad...you could always be nice and get dad a Valentine’s Day gift too, right? :D (or Chinese New Year gift in lieu of an angpow maybe?)

Well, if you've been contemplating it and are still racking your brains, maybe these sets from Lancome could give you a nudge in the right direction.

Lancome Men UV Expert Neuroshield – RM160 (valued at RM274) and comes with Renergy 3D Yeux (5ml), Renergy 3D Firming Cream (5ml), Energiser Total Anti-Fatigue Concentrate (5ml)

If your dad is like mine and is practically married to his golf set (or other outdoor sports), this would make a good choice since it has a high anti-UV SPF50/PA+++ protection for effective UVA and UVB filtration. My dad’s still looking pretty good for his age despite his religious weekly golf sessions under the hot sun, which I attribute to his disciplined use of a really strong sunscreen! (and *ahem* a growing vanity of wanting to try new products! He actually comes and tries to raid my product stash! LOL!)

Lancome Renergy 3D Yeux – RM190 (valued at RM304) and comes with Renergy 3D Yeux (5ml), Renergy 3D Firming Cream (5ml) and Energizer Total Anti-Fatigue Concentrate (5ml)

For those in their 30s and 40s (I’m thinking this would be ideal for those men worried that they’re starting to look a little too ‘distinguished’ for their liking, or just feeling a little run-down) the Renergy 3D is designed to firm skin and help erase wrinkles…and is likened to having 25,000 micro-lifts on the skin surface.

At under RM200 each, they’re pretty good gifts without having to burn the bank. Personally I’ve given my parents a red packet each since I started working, but over the past few years it’s grown to include some products and other items as well so I might just pick up one for dad. (I’ll probably regret starting this when they start asking for cars and houses, but so far so good! >.<)

So, are you getting your dad anything for the festive season this year? :)

These Are a Few Of My Favou-“RED” Things…

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens,
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,
Brown paper packages tied up with strings,
These are a few of my favourite things…
* The Sound Of Music

It’s the start of the week once more – how was the weekend for all of you? Mine was rather mixed as I’m nursing a bit of an upset tummy (no doubt brought on by all the dinners and lunches), but I did manage to clear out most of my closet too and now I’ve got two garbage-bag-sized bags of things to donate to charity, plus one whole bag that’s just going in the bin. Yay for cleaning and Operation Declutter!

Wondering about the title and lyrics above? Well, since Mondays are typically blue, I thought I’d brighten it up a bit and share with you some of my favou-‘red’ things – nothing like a splash of red to ring in Chinese New Year and Valentine’s Day eh?

(L-R: NYX Diamond Sparkle Lipgloss in Paprika Sparkle, Sportsgirl Lipgloss in ‘Talk of the Town’, NYX Girls Gloss in Frosted Plum and Stage Wondergloss in Persephone)

I think by now it’s pretty obvious I’m a serious lipgloss fan, and there’s nothing like a nice red gloss to kick off Chinese New Year. Where previously I’d have shied away from traffic-stopping red, this year…ah to heck with it, I’m going to stick my ruby-red lips out and enjoy it! I’m not beyond having red lipstick too, but you can hop over to Paris’ website for her signature red lips look! :D

(L-R: Stage Nail Colour in Glamorous, Revlon Nail Enamel in Red Hot Tamale and The Face Shop Nail Pleasure in #31)

Seems like this year I’ve suddenly gone onto a red spree. Nothing spells glamour like red nails (although a word of caution that short nails work best – long red nails just looks tacky!). I haven’t quite decided which shade I’ll go for just yet though…but that Red Hot Tamale is pretty eye-catching, no?

(Oriental pouch from Clarins and Envirosax in Mikado)

Doing the environment a favour just makes these two a couple of my favou-‘red’-est things (no such word, but you get what I mean!). I got the pouch during their launch of their Nude Inspiration collection – it even comes with a mirror built into the top flap, and as for the Envirosax – well, I just happened to fall in love with the pattern when I saw it. No missing me in a crowd, that one!

(Japanese blossoms flat wallet from Japan, red leather wallet from Bangkok)

More pouches and wallets – the flat wallet from Japan was the cutest thing I’d ever seen, and I still use it to hold my receipts and cards when I travel. The red leather wallet I happened to pick up during my December trip to Bangkok and seeing as how I’ll be doing a fair amount of commuting between Malaysia and Singapore over the next 6 months, this’ll come in handy!

(Oroton Alpine Small Gather Hobo bag)

Usually I’m not one to carry a bag in such a strong shade, but after being influenced by Tine and Geek (plus at the time Oroton was having a 50% sale) I ended up with a beet red Oroton, and have never looked back since. The quality and design are amazing, and it fills out so nicely that I can store heaps in it without looking like a bag lady.

What would CNY be without the traditional red packets?? :D For those that qualify, angpows help to defray the ermm…seasonal shopping during this period! (I still qualify, so bring it on!) Speaking of which, did you notice that angpow packets are always packed in stacks of eight?

(Clockwise from top left: Rosalind, Isabella and Cherry Lady – all from Sweet Contemplation Accessories)

If you’re not quite the type to go for red gloss, nail polish or bags and wallets, jewellery would probably be a more subtle option. I love drop earrings, and have a gorgeous pair of red vintage drop earrings that are going to make an appearance this CNY (haven’t worn them in a couple of years since I had an unfortunate run in with a brat that literally tried to rip my earring out…and nearly succeeded! Took a while for that one to heal up and re-pierce…*eeps*) but if you want something similar, head on over to Sweet Contemplation Accessories from 5 to 28 February 2010 to enjoy a 10% discount and free worldwide shipping with the voucher code VDAYCNY2010.

LOL…well, this isn’t really related, but I happened to get a SMS from Clinique asking me to collect this from their counter – fortune cookies! :D Since they came in a nice red box, I thought I’d throw it in for good measure.

Looking back, the lyrics from ‘My Favourite Things’ above could probably be rewritten to the following:

Lipstick and lipgloss with some crimson polish,
Envirosax and pouches so trees won’t all vanish,
Gorgeous red wallet, bag, angpows and bling(s),
These are a few of my favou-‘red’ things…


What’s your favou-‘red’ thing? :D

Maybelline Volum’Express Magnum Mascara…

Ooo…it’s finally Friday!! :D How are all your plans for the weekend eh? For me, ermm…it’s probably going to be a whole weekend of eating since I’ve got lunch AND dinner appointments every day starting from tonight! (someone’s going to have to crowbar me into my cheongsam come CNY… :S)

Anyway, that aside I thought I’d (finally!) share my thoughts on the latest Maybelline mascara, the Volum’Express Magnum Waterproof Mascara. I’d been meaning to write about it for some time, but never managed to get decent photos of the mascara since I usually use it at night (and my night shot-taking skills are horrible)

Description:
Dramatic, magnified last effect of 10 times the volume, the Volum’Express Magnum Waterproof Mascara is Maybelline New York’s ultimate secret weapon. With the ingenious secret ingredient of the Collagen Formula as well as the new patented oversized Magnum Brush, this waterproof mascara breaks the volume barrier for killer lashes. The Collagen Formula plumps up and volumises the lashes by 10 times giving that luscious thick look. The Magnum Brush seeks out even the smallest last to ensure fine wax dispersion, with a generous and fast charge, ensuring ultra thick lashes with absolutely no clumping.

The Verdict:
I must say the brush is pretty unique with shorter bristles on the inner curve of the wand but longer bristles on the outer curve, which is supposed to make for easier application and building up volume. When I first used this, I could not get it to apply smoothly and it clumped something AWFUL. However, since then I’ve found that as with most mascaras, there’s a knack to applying it.

It surprised me to discover that the Magnum mascara actually applies better when it’s just the tiniest bit dried (thanks to a tip from a couple of fellow bloggers) so what I actually do now is take out the wand and wave it around a couple of times before applying it to my lashes, which I think makes a big difference to the results.

As for Maybelline’s claim of volumisation by 10 times, I can’t actually vouch for that since it didn’t particularly make my lashes go ‘boom’ (the picture above is just two coats), but it did do a pretty good job providing some ‘oomph’ to my lashes (and even lengthened them a tiny bit).

However, on its waterproof claim this mascara is awesome! I accidentally took a swipe at my eyes a minute or so after application and the stuff didn’t budge until I was ready to take it off. As Paris mentioned, cleansing oil does not work well to take this mascara off – you’re better off using a simple eye makeup remover which I can vouch for. Using the makeup remover from Stage got it off without any fuss. :)

Overall I’d say this is a pretty good mascara particularly on its waterproof-ness, and once you get the hang of applying it you should have a breeze with it.


Maybelline New York Volum’Express Magnum Waterproof mascara retails at RM35.90 and is available at major supermarkets and personal care stores.


Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $$

RMK Glosses = Love…

Hey hey, it’s Wednesday! (gee that rhymes…LOL!)

I got these two glosses from RMK from a friend last year during my birthday, and while RMK hasn’t particularly been a brand that I’ve paid much attention to I’m loving these two – the RMK Gloss Crayon and RMK Gloss Lips (the Gloss Lips is in a tester tube version so it looks different from the actual product)

RMK Gloss Lips:
Get sensual color with this lip gloss that goes on easily and leaves your lips looking beautiful. With a wide range of colors to choose from, it's easy to find the right RMK Lip Gloss for you. Comes in 20 colours.

RMK Gloss Crayon:
A brand new paradigm in lip coloring, with a playful crayon design that hides a sophisticated level of functionality. With one bold stroke, color just seems to leap off the crayon and melt into your lips, but RMK Gloss Crayon is equally adept at drawing natural-looking lines. Comes with a specially-designed sharpener. Comes in 6 colours

My RMK Gloss Crayon is in Coral Pink, which is a nice nude-y shade with great colour payoff (albeit a little more coral than I’m usually used to), while the Gloss Lips is in Shiny Rose Pink and this is where it gets a little amusing – in the tube, the gloss looks rose-y…when squeezed out it looks darker than in the tube…but when applied it becomes a shimmery gloss with just a hint of colour. Then again, RMK’s lip glosses have been known to be pretty sheer so I guess this shouldn’t come as a surprise. That aside though, they actually look pretty good layered on together! :D

On the left are my bare lips (eeps!), in the middle is just one coat of Gloss Crayon, and on the right topped off with the Gloss Lips. I dunno about you, but I like the result! :D They last pretty long too, so there's not much to not like about this combination.

RMK Gloss Crayon and RMK Gloss Lips retail at RM75 and RM78 respectively and are available at all RMK counters.

End January on a nice note with reads from the girls…

Seems like January has just flown by, hasn’t it? I just realized with a start that I actually only have 11 working days for the whole of February too, so I’m gonna enjoy myself to the max! :D

For those of you fortunate enough to be on holiday tomorrow (either working in the FT area or having replacements for Thaipusam yesterday!) you might want to kick back and have a gander at some of the interesting things our little blogging circle has been up to in January. Heck, even if you’re working, it’ll definitely brighten up your Monday!

Would you stick your neck out for StriVectin’s Neck Cream? – Redlusciouslips (I would!)

Proven:inuovi pro-lash stands up to almost anything…even to high altitude! – Prettybeautiful (the lashes last simply AGES!)

Great step by step way to groom your eyebrows – Skindeco (mine are all over the place, I'm going to have to try this!)

Sometimes old favourites really are the best, especially if it’s St Ives Apricot Scrub – Soloverly (new packaging, but still just as effective!)

Want to take a peek in a makeup artist’s train case? – Askmewhats (I want to raid her case!)

Taking a closer look at MAC’s Love Lace Collection – Lipglosseater (loving the swatches!)

Sharing the love for LUSH Sultana of Soap – Pinkyplue (absolutely yummy!)

Heard of steam cream from Soap n Sorbet? – Mywomenstuff (got me so piqued I’ve ordered mine!)


As for me, I managed to pick up a bottle of Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion from Guardian at a bargain RM34.88 (usual price RM40.70) since it was on a special promotion. Seeing as how popular it is, I took a chance and headed to the tiny Guardian at Atria Damansara Jaya on Saturday hoping they would have it as three other outlets I’d been to had been sold out…and yay – they had 4 bottles in stock! Can’t wait to dig into it… :D

Value for Money: Fragrance Gift Ideas for Valentine’s Day 2010…

Well, it’s just about a couple of short weeks until Valentine’s Day arrives (and yes, Chinese New Year too!). Since florists have said that even ordering flowers a few days prior to 14th February will count as Valentine’s order and hence be charged the increased rate, here's a pretty nifty promo that'll let the guys (or even girls) kill two birds with one stone! :D

Ralph Lauren is upping the romance factor on its Ralph Lauren Romance fragrance with a limited edition heart shape silver necklace. What’s more, Ralph Lauren (the brand, not the person – although that would be a sight to see!) will wrap the bottle in a bouquet of roses and deliver it to her doorstep.

Perfume, jewellery AND flowers – damn, I’d say that’s pretty good by any standards, and it won’t cost the poor boys an arm and a leg either.

For those that want an alternative to the original RL Romance, there’s also Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours – available in a 75ml EDP spray.

Ralph Lauren Romance:
50ml EDP spray – RM230
100ml EDP spray – RM290
Ralph Lauren Romance Always Yours (75ml EDP spray) – RM269

Of course, I haven’t forgotten the men (on in this case, the inner boy!) – the ladies got jewellery and flowers, so what about a miniature motorcycle collectible for the men?

Armani Code Black


Ralph Lauren Black


Ralph Lauren Blue

The miniature motorcycle collectible is free with every purchase of an Armani or Polo Ralph Lauren men’s fragrance. Prices of fragrances start from RM175 upwards.


* All the promotional fragrances above will be available in February, so keep an eye out for them. :)

Clinique Juiced Up Colour – Spring 2010…

Clinique’s latest Spring 2010 collection – Juiced Up Colour is looking pretty yummy to me at the moment! :D Late last year I tried out the Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour which I loved for giving me lip-smacking ermm…lips! I dunno about you, but that had me just waiting for the rest of the Spring collection which I knew was going to be fruit-inspired.

And what a collection of fruit – damn the textured palettes! They look so pretty it’s going to be a real challenge bringing myself to desecrate the surface…*howls*…but all for the sake of beauty, eh?

One of the centerpieces of this collection is the limited edition Fresh Picked Allover Colour which has a lovely berry pattern pressed into the three soft shimmer shades. It’s absolutely gorgeous in real life and looks good enough to eat. :p (you'll see why in a bit!)

The other centerpiece is none other than the limited edition Fresh Picked Eye Shadow – seen here in Fresh Picked Berry. The other shade, Fresh Picked Pear has green-pale gold shades (which you can see below).

Clinique has also added a new Lash Power Volumising Mascara to its mascara portfolio in Black Onyx (seen in the main product picture above). As for me, I’m currently trying out the Fresh Picked Allover Colour in Mixed Berries and Fresh Picked Eye Shadow in Fresh Picked Pear from the Juiced Up Collection – will be back soon with my thoughts on the individual products once I’m through testing them, but for now I’d say they definitely warrant a closer look if you pass a Clinique counter. :)

Have you seen these yet, or tried them out? Let me know what you think, and have a brilliant weekend!


Clinique Juiced Up Colour – Spring 2010:
Fresh Picked Allover Colour (Limited Edition) – RM115
Fresh Picked Eye Shadow (Limited Edition) – RM75
Vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour – RM66
Lash Power Volumising Mascara – RM75


Clinique’s Juiced Up Colour – Spring 2010 Collection will be available from February 2010 at all Clinique counters nationwide.