Gloves in a Bottle (+ sampling!)…

I was recently sent Gloves in a Bottle to review, and after a couple of weeks' use, I have to say the results have been quite satisfying. I also have some samples to give out, so do continue reading. :)

Description:
Gloves In a Bottle is a shielding lotion that rapidly absorbs into, and bonds with, the outer layer of skin creating a protective layer while retaining the natural moisture from within. This invisible glove helps reduce natural oil and moisture loss allowing skin to heal itself, a good remedy for dry skin.

The product does not wash off but comes off naturally with exfoliated skin cells, and each application lasts for up to four hours. Gloves In a Bottle is greaseless, non-sticky, fragrance-free, hypoallergenic, completely safe and non-toxic.

The Verdict:
For a lotion, this is actually quite liquid-like (as you can see from the picture above). Upon application, it was rapidly absorbed into my skin – I like this aspect as I’m not usually the kind of person that can sit there and wait for lotions/ creams to sink in.

Similarly to Tine, who applied this on other dry areas, I tried this on my right ankle in particular (I’ve scar tissue there from a previous accident, and the skin there tends to dry out despite my best efforts, leading to a lot of itching and scratching – it’s a vicious cycle), so this would be the ultimate test. For a whole week, I applied it to the area every morning before leaving for work.

Day One – nothing great. Apart from somewhat reduced itching, there was no real difference.

Day Two – itching was completely gone, and the irritated skin was slowly starting to subside.

Day Four – the flaky skin started rubbing off in the shower, and skin tone is starting to slowly even out (previously it was patchy because of the flaky skin and irritation)

Day Six – apart from the scar itself (which sadly this product can’t do anything about), the irritation is gone, and slowly (but surely!), the skin tone’s finally going back to normal. Skin texture is also getting better.

After the week was up, there’s been some marked improvement in the area, which I’m quite pleasantly surprised with. I’m also applying it to my elbows and arms, which are now nicely hydrated. It may be pertinent to note that although the product is called Gloves In a Bottle, the description implies that it is for dry skin and its conditions overall, and can therefore be used on any area with dry skin (but apply wisely of course!) It also has a very faint, negligible scent, which I also like as it doesn’t clash if I wear perfume.

The only drawback is that it’s not available in Malaysia, and has to be ordered off their website.


Rating: 4.5 / 5

** I have some samples of Gloves in a Bottle to give away on a first come first served basis, so drop me an email with your details to communicationz[at]gmail[dot]com if you want to try it out. Each sample contains up to four applications.

Note: This is only open to readers within Peninsula Malaysia only, owing to the nature of the sample. :) To my international readers, hopefully I’ll be able to work something out for you guys soon k?

I *heart* my new shoes…

Last Saturday I happened by Sunway Pyramid, and was completely blown away by the new wing…can’t even remember the last time I was there (probably late 2006?), but while I was there I passed by a VISS outlet with a 50% sale…

What can I say…I’m weak when it comes to shoes…I ended up getting three pairs of shoes, but to be fair, the prices were REALLY good…

This was about RM25 after 50% discount…and I’m wearing them today to work – me like! :)

Better take a seat before I tell you how much these were…RM11.97 EACH! (This is cheaper than shoes in BANGKOK k?) Since they were so cheap, I picked up two pairs in monochrome colours...if it’s not quite clear, the texture’s actually in horizontal quilted stitching, which extends to the interior as well. Very comfortable…


VISS can be found at LG1.87 at Sunway Pyramid 2 (the new wing).

The Daily Grind…

It’s been a while since I’ve ventured into Bangsar Village…seems like each time I go there, the shops have all changed! This time around, it was the restaurant on the lower ground level (I think it used to be some Vietnamese place before)…which is now The Daily Grind.

This place claims to be a specialist in making its own burgers. At first look, the place retains a lot of old western charm with a lot of red bricks and timber…definitely very cosy, where you can opt to dine inside the restaurant, or outside on the patio.

They even make their own tomato and chilli sauce – although the tomato sauce tastes more like spaghetti sauce to me…very full bodied, and a perfect complement to the dishes on the menu. Their sauces don’t contain any additives or preservatives, so don’t complain if the sauces are served cold to your table…you wouldn’t want them room temperature and have food poisoning, right?

Their Vanilla milkshake with homemade ice cream (RM14) is what my friend deemed “Happy Food”. It’s super rich, and you can really taste the cream in it – NOT recommended if you’re on a diet!!

I had a Monin & Soda, which is flavoured syrups in soda water. The Blood Orange variant (RM12) was certainly intriguing…I’d liken the taste to a mix between grapefruit and tangerine, with a tart undertone. Very refreshing...

Soup of the day, which happened to be corn (RM8.00). No Campbell’s soup stock to be found here, but note that the soup does tend to be rather watery. I prefer my cream soup to have a bit of bite, so this was a little disappointing.

Spiced Potato Wedges with homemade Nacho Sauce (RM11). My friend was raving about this one before we even reached the restaurant, and his tastebuds are usually spot on so you can imagine…usually there are usually one or two pieces left on the plate, but this time the plate was TOTALLY CLEANED OUT (including the sauce!)...this is a MUST HAVE on the menu…*heaven*

Now on to the main course – you’d have to be a bit mad to have something other than burgers seeing as it’s their specialty, and there’s everything from chicken and beef to salmon (no pork though, such a pity) with alternatives for vegans. Their meat is freshly ground on the premises, which is supposed to make the meat very tender and succulent. We tried one burger from the chicken and beef selections, and were quite pleasantly surprised.

Chicken Double Cheese Burger (RM27). Two thick slices of cheddar cheese, one under & one on top of a juicy grilled chicken patty served with ketchup, mustard and pickles. This was alright, although I’d rather have eaten just the chicken patty on its own. The giant onion slices however were a turnoff since I like my raw onions FINELY sliced (too thick and the smell goes up your nose), but if you like giant slices of pickles and raw onions, by all means this is a pretty good burger on the whole.

Down on the Farm Burger (RM32). A barbecue basted & smoky grilled beef patty stacked with crisp onion rings & corn cake. The patty was HUGE…the onion rings were EXCELLENT (similar to TGIF’s), and the entire combination was a gastronomical adventure. If I had to change only one thing, it would be the corn cake…it’s nice enough alone, but after eating the beef patty and onion rings, it’s rather tasteless in comparison. Maybe they should consider serving it as a side dish on its own instead of with the burgers.

Otherwise, I was really impressed by the food – when you order, the server notifies you that their burgers are always cooked to medium doneness unless specified. I was a bit apprehensive at first seeing as it’s really hard to get the doneness done just right and the meat ends up over- or undercooked (usually the latter). Since the server was quite persuasive citing the golden rule – “If it’s undercooked I can always cook it more, I just can’t uncook it if it’s overcooked”, I acquiesced and sat back to see the results.

Now take note – this is a sight to behold…medium doneness, cooked to perfection. The outside is nicely seared to lock in the juices, while the centre is JUST cooked with a hint of pinkness. Suffice to say, the server gets ‘two thumbs up’ for knowing his stuff…and I went home feeling like a stuffed (but extremely happy) turkey.

The house specialties are supposed to be the Foie Gras Burger (RM55) that comes with a diced foie gras-filled beef patty with onion cranberry jam and balsamic palm sugar glaze, and the Stinky Blue Burger (RM40) with blue cheese sauce, toasted walnuts and sweet sour apple compote. I haven’t tried these yet, but Shortcake says they’re good and she hasn't steered me wrong yet. :)

Portions are definitely more than generous for your average person, so if you’re planning to order appetizers and dessert, you might want to think about sharing the entrée. Their music selection (for those of you who deem this an important feature) is also superb for easy listening. I think I’m in love with that place…


The Daily Grind
LG8, Lower Ground Floor,
Bangsar Village, 1 Jalan Telawi,
1, Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-2287 6708


Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$

Warehouse Sales Saturday…

Saturday was really a day for warehouse sales…I managed to check out both the L’Oreal Warehouse Sale (Luxury Division) as well as the Metrojaya Warehouse Sale I blogged about previously.

First Stop - L’Oreal’s Warehouse Sale as it started at 10.00am (or so it said on the flyer). At first glance, traffic was quite smooth, so I thought it would be a breeze to get in……

……oh how WRONG I was!!

Mind you, this photo was taken at 10.15am! There were already HORDES of people lining up outside to get into the sale – you’d think that their lives depended on it…

Just to give you an idea of how long the queue was, it stretched from Bon Ton (near the Coronade Hotel corner) all the way down to the Lower Lobby entrance of Parkroyal. From there, there’s another 100m or so to clear INSIDE the lower lobby before you actually get into the room.

I finally managed to get INTO the building at 12.20pm – YES, TWO HOURS just to clear the queue to get IN, and another 20 minutes from there to get into the actual sale room.

But I must say that this year’s warehouse sale was just sorely disappointing. Although the organization was a lot better than previous years’ sales, they didn’t have much variety this time around. Also, the scene inside the room was just bedlam – a lot of vultures and hogs (the kind that hoard everything and claim it as their own)...

The two ladies in the picture below were especially rude – the boxes contained items that had been left by other people (ie. to be sorted by the staff and put back on the tables to be sold), which means you can sort through it yourself to see if there’s anything in there you want that’s already been sold out at the tables. The lady just dumped her big plastic bag on top of it (nearly on top of someone else’s fingers) and whined “WO DE!!” (translated: MINE!) and glared at everyone that dared to go near it.

Next thing you know, they’re setting up their own CAMP in the MIDDLE of the ballroom haggling about who gets what…eh, I know you want to work out the best bargains for yourself, but you don’t need to be quite so selfish OR socially inept to hog a huge area AND the products too. There were a lot of others also sorting through their items (myself included), but at least take the side of the room where you’re not blocking traffic, and PUT BACK THE ITEMS as you go along instead of building your own Tower of Pisa in the middle of a crowded room!

After all that drama – nearly 2 and a half hours waiting, and a mere half hour in the room, I walked out with only ONE item…*pengsan*...

Lancome’s Hydra Zen Gel Essence 30ml @ RM100 – which wasn’t even THAT much cheaper than outside.

Metrojaya’s Warehouse sale in Shah Alam was a LOT better, albeit a lot harder to find. But hey, I’m a happy chickie if there are decent bargains. The only inconvenient thing about this sale is that everything has to be paid in its own section – ie. you pay for cosmetics upon exiting that particular section before making your way to another section. However, judging by the traffic flow and payment waiting time (mine took less than 5 mins each to pay) in there, I’d say the system was working quite efficiently as in totality there were at least four cashiers per section, with another 5 or so at the main exit as well.

I managed to pick up quite a few items here:

A rather pretty-looking Polo purse – RM23.97 after discounts…I’d seen this at the Midvalley outlet several times, but couldn’t bring myself to buy it then as it was quite pricey for a ‘unbranded’ item (yes, cheapo me)… :)

Also picked up a rather nice green eyeshadow from this brand Bloop cosmetics (the shadow I bought is not actually available until next month at Metrojaya outlets) – a set of the pie pan plus case is going for RM20. If bought separately, pie pans are RM18 each (RM30 for two) and the singles case is RM5 each.

There were a few other items as well, but the two above are the only ones of interest… :) Everything is on sale from clothes and makeup to fragrances, shoes and crockery…Sunday (today) is the last day, so if you want to check it out you’d better get a move on!


Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Crabtree & Evelyn – Mother’s Day promotion…

Since Mother’s Day is just around the corner, Crabtree & Evelyn has come up with a special promotion that will run from 21 April – 18 May at all of their outlets in Malaysia.

L-R: Rosewater, Lavender, Summer Hill & Nantucket Briar

The four Hatboxes you see above are going at RM165 (NP: RM275), and you’ll also get a Teatime Treat set (I’d estimate this to cost about RM50 based on the contents) consisting of cookies, tea and honey if your purchase exceeds RM250.

Their Midvalley outlet is also celebrating its shop birthday, so with the RM250 purchase, you get an ADDITIONAL Summer Hill Weekender set (worth RM80), but only until 31 May.


As for me, I’ve already done my shopping…I picked up the Lavender Hatbox… :)

It’s definitely very presentable as a gift, and you can always use the box for something else afterwards!

Inside the Lavender Hatbox, you get the following items:

• A pack of Soap Leaves (for travelling)
• Hand Therapy Shea Butter Hand Cream
• Body Lotion
• Bath & Shower Gel
• Body Powder
• Triple Milled Soap

I also bought an additional item (which won’t be mentioned here as it’s a gift for someone!) and picked up the Teatime Treat pack as well…

I love Crabtree & Evelyn’s freebies – they’re always so pampering!

The best part about this Teatime Treat is the cookies…White Chocolate Raspberry cookies. Now if that doesn’t sound indulgent, I don’t know what will!

The portions are quite generous …for a ‘treat size’, there were eight full size cookies in the tin. My colleagues ‘helped’ me out with them, and the response was quite unanimous…

Cookie GOOOODD… :D (can you see the white chocolate chunks??)

PS: If you’re planning to take up the Midvalley birthday promotion, this is to inform you that they’ve run out of the Summer Hill Weekender set, and have had to replace it with sets from either the Aloe Vera or La Source range. Not to worry, as both sets are equally as good.

I’m partial to the La Source set, which came with a Weekender pouch, Hand Therapy Cream, Body Wash and a small towel – not too thrilled about the towel, but you win some, you lose some. I’m happy overall…spent RM267, but came back with products worth RM525….now THAT’s a bargain.


Have a good weekend, y’all!

Beautilicious…really?

While in Midvalley today, I came across a promotional booth set up for the new Malaysian cosmetic brand Beautilicious. The display did catch my eye (which I unfortunately did not manage to get a picture of), but the other thing that caught my eye was this:

The makeup promoters were just hanging around the booth, applying makeup on THEMSELVES. This would probably explain the absolutely disgusting state of all the testers (at 11am in the morning no less!!), and I really feel your pain, Paris! Granted, Beautilicious probably appeals more to the younger crowd. BUT, having teenyboppers manning your booth and using all the products instead of reaching out to potential customers is a big NO for any brand.

I was actually quite interested in stopping to look at the products, but as a customer, would have been totally put off by the disinterested looks. Since I was quite determined to see the product lineup, I stopped, but otherwise I would have just steered clear of the entire area. This is a shame because their set up was quite nice and very chic.

This brings me to my gripe session. I’ve got a peeve issue with bad customer service, and this is seriously one of those.

Firstly, the girls are just standing there toying with the booklets they’re supposed to be giving out. I had to physically STOP and STARE at the display before she deigned to give me one of those booklets. And more of that disinterested expression.

Next, when I asked her about the promotions happening, she only parroted two of the promotions (probably because she was staring at the two signs put up around the booth), which are the same as the ones below:

It wasn’t until I came back to the office and checked the website that I realized she had left two of the better ones out (below)…why? Because they’re trying to save money on giving out freebies? Saving it for themselves? Can’t remember? Who knows?

As for products, I tried out the Beautilicious Pie Pan Refills (RM15.90)…or at least, those that weren’t already covered with makeup dust or the promoters weren’t standing in front of (yes, they were blocking half the display applying the eyeshadow on themselves…eww) and tried them on the back of my hand. After seeing those promoters, the eyeshadows are not going anywhere near my face!

The texture of the shimmery ones weren’t too bad, with a good pigment hue as well. The flat colour shadows were a tad gritty, which is quite surprising as I’d have expected it to be the other way around.

But for the rest of the makeup kits? NO WAY was I going to try those. They were just haphazardly tossed on the counter, spilling out powder. The glosses in the kits looked like someone had taken a toothpick and scuffed the whole thing up. The promoter actually had the gall to suggest that I try the eyeliner, and said that I should apply it on my eye to see the ‘full effect’ (when I’d seen one at least two of the other promoters already use it!) and got huffy when I declined. There was also a guy standing there (I think it might have been their supervisor) with the same ‘duh’ expression. What is wrong with these people??

In the end, I was quite tempted to buy one of the Pie Pan Refills, but JUST because I liked the colour (Seafoam Suds)…but after that experience, I didn’t feel particularly inclined to contributing to their commissions in any way. Perhaps when I find a Beautilicious counter that has a decent promoter…whenever that may be.

Revlon Renewist™ Lipcolor…

Description:
Guaranteed to give you a lip changing experience, the breakthrough, patent-pending ProCollagen® Moisture Core instantly boosts moisture by 80% while reducing the appearance of fine lines and gently enhancing lip fullness over time. Lips will look and feel renewed - incredibly moist, beautifully smooth and gently full.

Revlon Renewist™ Lipcolor is available in 24 rich, revitalizing shades with SPF 15. Specially-formulated conditioning ingredients improve moisturization & soothe chapped dry lips. Seal in moisture in the winter, block out sun in the summer, and add vibrant color all year round.

The Verdict:
On first look, it looks quite space edgy with the see-through tube. As the colour I got was #10 – Naturally Revealing, it looked rather like a nudey beige shade but turned out to be a sheer pinkish colour. It’s also got a very light raspberry-ish scent, which you can (sort of) taste after application.

I liked the smooth application and it may be my imagination, but the collagen moisture core did seem to make my lips a little fuller. I’m usually against all these ‘plumping’ gimmicks – either they don’t really work at all, or you end up looking bee-stung. With a plumping product, the ‘plumping’ factor is usually due to toxins of some sort – these toxins won’t kill you unless you’re allergic to it, but it irritates your skin and causes it to swell, hence the ‘plumped up’ factor – not my idea of beauty.

However, with this lipstick there’s no such issue…I think it’s an optical illusion, but hey, I’d rather the optical illusion than swollen lips. It’s also got SPF15, which is really good – I don’t want my lips to be looking like some prune when I hit 50 (which is still very very far away…*cough cough*).

The downside of this is that it requires a fair bit of reapplying throughout the day (a full day for me required touch ups after lunch and just before leaving the office for dinner), but fair enough as it’s not meant to be a long last lipstick. The collagen core looks rather muddled with color after a while, so if you're the kind of person that likes her lipstick to be pristine, this is not the product for you. The price also makes it affordable, so on the whole it’s a pretty decent buy. And if you run out of things to do, you can play with the case itself – you have to get used to aligning up the ‘Revlon’ logo to shut the tube properly!


Revlon Renewist™ Lipcolour retails for approximately RM37.90, and is available from all Revlon counters.


Rating: 4 / 5
Value: $$

Fashion Fast Forward mid-season preview…

F3 – which includes brands like Miss Selfridge, Top Shop and Dorothy Perkins will be holding their members’ Mid-Season Preview at the Midvalley outlets this coming Wednesday from 11.00am – 10.00pm. All members get a 10% discount on new arrivals, plus an additional 10% discount on sale items.

One member card admits two people – I’ll definitely be going for this, so anyone want to come with? :)

You can check out the F3 website for additional details.

Most Unimpressive Customer Service…

Further to my previous post on Clinique’s Attracted to Colour Makeup Workshop, I was MOST UNIMPRESSED by the promoter at the Jusco Midvalley counter! Extremely unprofessional, not product savvy and not helpful at all! *grrrrrr…*

When I went to the counter this afternoon, the promoter started out by asking me what I wanted to do – “You want do foundation lesson or eye, or makeup?” (as you can see, her English left a lot to be desired) and actually WALKED OFF to see to another potential customer! Like hello? There’s another promoter just sitting there, and you have to walk off? With not as much as a ‘Excuse me’ or ‘Sorry’? *fume* After figuring out that she meant “Do you want a lesson in applying foundation, eye makeup or makeup overall”, I decided to try the eye makeup portion.

Then she started with this extremely long barrage of questions (CP = Clinique Promoter):

CP: What colour?
Me: Ermm…maybe something natural…beige/ brown maybe? (you have to remember, this is in the middle of the afternoon!)
CP: Ok ok…(goes off to take several items and comes back)…so you want recreate or step by step?
Me: Huh?
CP: (exaggeratedly) You want recreate look one eye, or step by step you follow me?
Me: Step by step is fine.

To tell the truth, I was really getting rather pissed off by this time. She then proceeded to gunk up one eye, telling me repeatedly to ‘shut both eyes’. Hello? If I’ve got both eyes shut, what freakin ‘lesson’ is this? I’m supposed to just re-create the look by looking at your work is it? Not to mention that she was quite LESS THAN gentle with the application.

The scary part came when she wanted to apply mascara on me – I had to tell her specifically not to use the same mascara brush (which looked extremely scary with rather a lot of gunk), and insisted that she take out another sample tester, or not apply mascara on me at all, to which she rather sullenly took out a new brush. (You’d think things like this would have been drummed into the promoter’s head before they started work!)

Anyway, long and short of it, this was the result:

I look like a blinking war casualty! The eyeliner was uneven (particularly on the lower lash line), the darker shade (which is not entirely visible in this picture) made me look like I had bruises, droopy eyes (which I don't actually have!) and don’t even get me started on the spider eyelashes.

The only upside? The two free treats – a travel sized Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips, plus a travel size of Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony (according to her, they only had one shade available)

If it wasn’t for these two items, I think I would have just kicked up a huge fuss at the counter. To everyone else that wants to check this deal out, go ahead, but please don’t go to the Jusco Midvalley counter…nuff’ said.


PS: Remember the glosswear promotion I mentioned? The Clinique promoter didn’t even know about the promotion when I asked her about it! She had to go and check with her colleague and flip through some book before telling me “Yes got, just start today only” (like duh, I already knew that!)

Anyway, I had a chance to try out the gloss, and personally I’m not too fond of it. Waaayy too sticky for my liking, but for those that like sticky (the stickier the gloss, the longer it lasts), it’s retailing for RM63.00.

Clinique's Attracted to Colour Makeup Workshop…

Thanks to Rinnah’s post (and because I cannot resist freebies!), I decided to make an appointment to try out Clinique’s Attracted to Colour Makeup Workshop. Since it’s close to my office, I’ll be heading for the Clinique counter at Midvalley Jusco today to try it out.

Each new look consultation comes with two free treats – a travel sized Take the Day Off Makeup Remover for Lids, Lashes & Lips, plus a travel size of Fresh Bloom Allover Colour in Peony or Almond Blossom. More updates later! :)

This deal only runs until 27 April at Clinique counters nationwide, so if you want to check it out, make it fast! More details are available here.

Additionally, Clinique is running a glosswear promotion from today (21 April) to 4 May – you get a free travel size Long Last Glosswear for Lips SPF 25 with any Clinique Long Last Glosswear purchase. Not a bad deal eh?

I’ve been a bad bad girl…

After having drinks with a client at Gardens on Friday, I chanced upon the Makeup Store outlet – oh dear…just couldn’t resist going in to check out the products, and promptly ended up coming out quite a bit poorer…

I love their packaging, don’t you?


I didn’t get a whole lot of stuff, even though sorely tempted to…just two items (this time!)


The Sport Foundation caught my eye when I tried it, seeing as it’s quite compact and fuss free. It comes complete with the brush already inside for application.


Sport Foundation

The other envelope contained an eyeshadow – but this one was free (upon signing up for the Makeup Store’s card) so I don’t feel so bad…or at least that’s what I’m telling myself!

So far I’m liking the texture of this eyeshadow (in a shimmery aqua shade – I’ll get to a real review later)

Additionally, I was also given a sample of the ice crème time to try although I’d already tried it in the store.

The one thing I really liked about the experience? The customer service. Granted, I was the only one in the store, but the girl (Natalie if I’m not mistaken) was patient in answering all my (rather incessant) questions while trying out the foundations (including skin matching and comparisons between the different types) AND completely remove it afterwards as well – usually they just apply it, and afterwards they just leave it with a “I’ve already applied it, if you want to you can take it off yourself” attitude. This is what I call real customer service… :) Keep your customers happy, and repeat business is all the easier to get, right?

So there you have it…my new vices for this weekend. I’ve already tried out the Sport Foundation for an outing, and so far it’s holding up pretty well. Hope your weekend’s going just as swell!

Loving my new sandals!

Just got back from a night out with friends, and I lurrrrvvee my new sandals…they held up pretty well, none of the blisters and pinching as you'd normally experience with new footwear...

I think the ‘vintage’ look floored me when I saw it – there’s just something about denim and cork that looks and feels very ‘60s’…or maybe it’s just me. Either way, the design’s quite eye-catching as well.

They’re from the current lineup at Vincci (I think I got them from the Jusco Maluri outlet about a month back)…and cost less than RM50 (if you have a HSBC credit card, you get an additional 10% off). The cutting for this one is a bit narrow though, so you may have to go up one size if you have broad feet like mine.

St.Ives® Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub...

Description:
St.Ives® Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub is specially created to keep skin visibly healthy all year long. 100% natural exfoliants and Salicylic Acid remove dirt, oil, and dead skin cells to fight blemishes and blackheads, revealing clearer looking skin. The hypo-allergenic formula also claims to remove unnecessary oil that could cause future blackheads/ blemishes.

Directions:
Moisten face, apply with wet fingertips and massage gently. Rinse well and pat dry.

The Verdict:
I’ve been using this product for quite a long time now (when I think about it, it’s been almost a decade…when I first tried it, a 6oz tube could go as low as RM12.00+ on sale!). The packaging used to be white with a blue flip-cap cover, but a recent revamp streamlined the design of the packaging for the St Ives line.

I prefer this version to their normal Apricot Scrub as the texture’s slightly less coarse (Tip: you can actually use the normal Apricot Scrub as a fantastic leg/ foot scrub!). One point to note is that using this scrub once a day is plenty – any more, and you’ll be scrubbing your face raw. That said, although the grains look coarse, it won’t dry or scratch your skin with daily usage. The smell’s quite fresh and mildly pleasant, although as far as its blemish control claim goes it’s not very accurate.

This is a prime case of overhyped marketing…it’s a good product on its own for smoothing out skin texture overall, but to say that it controls/ fights blemishes is a bit of a reach (it hasn’t done anything to prevent FUTURE blemishes from appearing…*shrugs*). I don’t like the way the marketing and claims are misleading, as a matter of principle.

All things considered, you can go for this is you want smooth skin but not if you already have blemishes or blackheads – this product won’t help. St Ives should really think about the claims they make on their products.

St Ives Blemish & Blackhead Control Apricot Scrub retails for approximately RM18.00 in a 6oz tube. Available from any major retail outlet.


Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $$

This just in…

Received a package in the mail last night when I got back home…

I’ve been sent Gloves In A Bottle shielding lotion for a review. The contents consisted of a 240ml bottle, an information brochure as well as some sample sachets, so if this is good I’ll definitely be passing them on to you guys.

As I could not wait to start using it, I already applied it on a particularly dry patch of skin on my ankle before I went to bed last night…so far nothing untoward to report as yet (although today I haven’t been scratching at it yet, and it’s almost 5pm), and really, a day is a bit too soon to tell so stay tuned for a complete review! :)

L’Oreal Warehouse Stock Clearance…

Not that I’m turning this into a ‘Promotions only’ blog (sorry!) but this was just too good not to share…this only comes around about twice a year!

(click for larger image)

L’Oreal doesn’t have these sales very often but when they do, literally everything gets snapped up immediately. I’m just surprised that it’s not at their usual Uptown headquarters – the crowds of shoving people must’ve gotten a bit too much (especially during working hours!). And thanks to Shortcake for the heads up! :)

*starts thinking of what to get…*

Metrojaya Warehouse Sale…

Metrojaya is having its warehouse sale in Shah Alam from the 24th to the 27th of April. Items going on sale include apparel, cosmetics, fragrances, handbags, footwear, toys and home essentials. Please see the flyer below for more details. See you there!

Crabtree & Evelyn Naturals In-Shower Moisturiser: Olive, Avocado & Basil

I was just SO disappointed with this one...

Description:
Supplies moisture for soft supple skin all day. Does not contain parabens, mineral oil, sodium lauryl sulphate, propylene glycol or synthetic dyes.

Directions:
After cleansing, spread evenly from neck to toes. Rinse lightly and pat dry.

The Verdict:
Despite being a firm Crabtree & Evelyn fan, I can’t find anything to like about this product. First thing is when you open it up, it smells rather herby and a bit like a crayon (you know, that paraffin-oil-like smell…is there a word for it?). I’d expect this smell from old lipsticks and creams, but a brand new product?

Another thing is that it’s rather thick and slippery to apply properly in the shower. When your hands are dry, it’s not a problem, but it’s meant to be applied AFTER your shower. The last thing I want to be doing in the shower is slipping and cracking my neck, or needing experience in yoga to be able to twist and contort to apply the stuff evenly. Being so thick, it’s also almost impossible to squeeze out the stuff from the tube with just one hand, which makes for a seriously messy experience and a gunked-up tube afterwards (not to mention the amount of cream you waste spread all over the tube instead of yourself!).

When I thought it couldn’t get any worse, I found that I had to use quite a lot of it for just one application – after just four uses, literally one third of the tube is gone. It would be fine if it cost less, but at RM80 for just 12+ uses (based on the current usage rate), that’s just WRONG.

Safe to say, I won’t be getting this ever again. Crabtree & Evelyn usually have some really nice products, but this isn’t one of them. It was just really disappointing…and a very expensive disappointment at that!


The Naturals In-Shower Moisturiser retails at RM80 for a 200ml tube and can be gotten from any Crabtree & Evelyn outlet.


Rating: 0.5 / 5
Value: 0 (and this is the first time I’ve ever put a ZERO for a product, so you can imagine...)

Brushes brushes…

Makeup brushes…there are so many out there, so many brands…which one to choose?!? I must admit, I’ve tried almost everything from professional makeup artist brushes to the generic ones you can find at any pharmacy or beauty store (ie. Guardian or Sasa!), but a girl’s gotta draw the line (geddit? *LOL*) somewhere.

One of my recent ‘covets’ would be Bobbi Brown’s 'Pink Raspberry' Mini Brush Set – it comes with four of Bobbi’s most popular mini brushes – Blush, Eyeshadow, Eyeliner and Lip (with a protective cap) – in a soft zip-around case with pink raspberry interior. This is from her Pink Raspberry collection, which hit Malaysia recently.

I dunno about you, but somehow forking out RM210 (YES, I did ask about the price and NO, I did not mistakenly move a decimal point!) for a set of four mini brushes and a (albeit cute) carry case is something that I just can’t stomach. I’m pretty pragmatic sometimes when it comes to things like brushes. True, you have to get brushes of a certain quality and to an extent, you do get what you pay for…but RM200+ just because it’s ‘Bobbi’?

On the other hand, there are great brushes to be discovered in the lower range cosmetic brands and outlets. Take the travel set I’ve been using for the past couple of years:

Revlon Beauty Shapers ™ Mini Essentials. This was a special set given to me during the Superlustrous restage in 2005, and it’s still going strong after almost three years! The set comes in a handy black roll containing an Eyelash Curler, Tweezer, Lip Brush (with cap), Eyeshadow Brush and Face Brush – made with natural hair.

Admittedly, the more expensive brushes last longer, and are softer on your skin (particularly for eyeshadow and face brushes), but the cheaper versions can't be discounted as well. Just like shampoo - you can buy an expensive bottle of shampoo to use at home, but at the salon, they're using generic stuff on your hair! Can you tell the difference? (now be honest...how many times have you come out of the 'washed-your-hair-with-generic-shampoo' salon just totally in love with your hair? My point exactly.) But that said, don't simply go and buy a RM2.90 brush just because its cheap - the bristles will be falling out before you can say "substandard".

In the end, you don’t always need fancy and pretty to get the job done (although as women, it definitely helps in making a decision!). I’ve found fantastic brushes in Sasa for under RM15, and have tried a RM80+ M.A.C. lipbrush only to find that they were almost the same apart from the bruise on the purse. Right now I've got a Sasa lipbrush in my bag for daily touch ups, and a Clinique one in my makeup kit - both working just fabulously.

I'd like to know if anyone has an opinion to share on this...so leave me a comment, people! :)

Promo: The Body Shop Guarana Lip Butter

Contributing to a good cause doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice your beauty purchases…The Body Shop and MTV recently launched their “Move Your Lips” campaign with a new Limited Edition Guarana MTV Lip Butter.

Description:
A rich intensive moisturizer for the lips with stimulating guarana extract. Melts onto the lips to prevent dryness and to leave them feeling lusciously soft and smooth. Preservative free.

Key ingredients in the lip butter include…

• Guarana extract – Paulinia cupana seed extract, also known as guarana extract which restricts capillaries and reduces dark circles
• Shea butter – Moisturises and helps soften the skin
• Organic beeswax – Moisturises and helps to condition the hands and dry skin around nail beds. Acts as a barrier that helps to seal in moisture, and helps to keep product texture consistent, when used over time

All proceeds from every Guarana MTV Lip Butter sold will go directly to the MTV Staying Alive Foundation, which supports young people and youth groups worldwide to challenge stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/ AIDS as well as create awareness, educate and host prevention campaigns.


A 0.3 fl oz pot of Guarana MTV Lip Butter retails at RM26.00 and can be found at Body Shop outlets nationwide. Similar promotions are being run globally as well, so check out their website for more details.

Bonne Bell Makeup!

During my online trawling, I came across the new collections from Bonne Bell. Most of you would have heard about this brand from US / Australia, as they have quite eye-catching ads in a lot of teen magazines. Sadly, we don’t get Bonne Bell here, but these were just too cute not to share here. Each set comes in a portable cosmetic bag – I want…*sigh*

Top left: Pretty Pinks
VitaGloss20® Sponge-On - Strawberry Spritzer
Eye Style™ Shadow Box - Girlie Pinks
VitaGloss2O Moisture Stick - Watermelon Wellness

Top right: Natural Neutrals
Lip Lites® - Cappuccino
Eye Style™ Shadow Box - Café Classics
Lip Lites Glossy Tints – Vanilla

Bottom left: Fresh Pinks
Lip Lites® - Cream Pop
Eye Style™ Shadow Box - Big City Pinks
Lip Lites Glossy Tints - Watermelon Sorbet

Bottom right: Glamorous Neutrals
VitaGloss20® Sponge-On - Watermelon Kiwi Slice
Eye Style™ Shadow Box - Hip Hop Charcoals
VitaGloss20® Moisture Stick - Simply Strawberry

These sets retail for about USD$8 - 10 in the US, and AUD$12 - 15 if you're in Australia.

Bonne Bell is available in the United Kingdom (Claire’s Accessories) and Australia (K-Mart, Priceline, Target and Big W). For other international locations, please check the website.

Ozmosis April Promotions…

Ozmosis is a pretty nifty Health & Day Spa in Bangsar Baru that offers a huge range of spa and beauty treatments to suit your needs. If you want to check them out, now’s a good time as they’re running some bargain promotions for the month of April (valid from 1st – 30th April 2008).

Ozmosis is situated at:
Level 1, 14-16 Jalan Telawi 2,
Bangsar Baru,
59100 Kuala Lumpur

Beauty in the Eyes of the Blogger...

Read today’s New Straits Times yet? Heehee…NST Tech & U ran a feature on Beauty in the Eyes of the Blogger, featuring Beetrice’s Reviews and My Women Stuff… :)

I won’t post up the print version of the article here, but if you want to see a screenshot of the online version, click on the image below.

(click for larger version)

If that wasn’t mind-boggling enough, I got pimped by Paris Beaverbanks as well! (aww…you didn’t need to do that…I’m honoured, really). To Chandra who did the article, you are simply fabulous my dear – thanks so much for this!

And for those of you making your way here because of the article, a happy hello and hope you enjoy your time here. Have a fantastic Monday!

Battle of the Masks…

Gone are the days of masks that came in a tube where you had to apply it yourself and wash / peel off afterwards – today the trend is to just open a packet and place the mask sheet on your face…no fuss, no muss. But are they really good? There have been a lot of these masks flying around the market lately, not to mention quite a few in-house brands (like Watsons)…so in the interest of facial exploration, I decided to try out a few (in no particular order)…

1. The Face Shop Essential Mask Sheet – Ceramide

Description:
A ceramide mask sheet for greater skin hydration and elasticity. Ceramide is any of a group of amides formed by linking a fatty acid to sphingosine. It constitutes over 50% of the hydrating factors found in the surface layers of skin, and is responsible for hydrating and nourishing skin so that it stay soft and smooth, together with the following ingredients:

• Algae extract
• Lecithin
• Ceramide
• Glycerin
• Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) extract

Comes in a 22ml pack. The concentrations of Ceramide in this gentle mask sheet are effectively absorbed into skin for greater hydration and elasticity.

Directions:
Wash face and apply toner. Remove mask sheet from package and unfold.
Carefully fit mask over face.
Remove mask sheet after 15-20mins, and gently pat any remaining formula into skin.
For best results, use 2-3 times a week. NOT for reuse.

Initial Verdict:
First thing I noticed was the fact that the sheet mask was literally DRIPPING when I removed it from the pack…not good for the ‘no mess’ factor! Also, I’m not exactly sure what Ceramide is supposed to do for your skin immediately after the mask application, but I sure didn’t see much difference, apart from the cooling effect. Patting the remaining formula into my skin actually left me with a mild breakout the next day with a bit of redness particularly around the cheek and forehead area – not a good idea if you’re looking to use this right before a big night out.

Rating: 2 / 5


2. Biocillin Plus ™ Collagen Soft Powder Mask (40g)

Description:
Collagen Soft Powder Mask is a frequent fresh facial mask and the latest beauty treatment to solve and care for skin problems. The mask is based on aroma essential oils and natural ingredients with organic materials such as multi-vitamins, collagen and natural moisturizing factors. Used regularly, it can provide remarkable results.

Directions:
After cleansing, dry face thoroughly.
Mix the soft mask powder with 50-70ml of distilled water and mix until sticky.
Apply on face, eye zone, neck and any other parts of the body.
After 15-25mins, remove the mask (peel off) and rinse thoroughly.

Initial Verdict:
I didn’t quite like the fact that I had to mix it up into a paste myself, although masks in their powder form can be kept for longer periods of time (the ingredients are only activated when you add water). The mixing direction on the pack is also a bit misleading – it says to add about 50-70ml of water, but in reality only about 40ml+ is needed (if you add up to 70ml, it’s way too watery to stay on your face!). The good part is that you can apply to other parts of your body – like your back and neck – with good results. I’m a bit undecided on this one, but would probably use it again if I had the time.

Rating: 3.5 / 5


3. Laitialies™ Green Grape Hydro Lifting Mask

Description:
Collagen Essence Sheet Mask is based on aroma essential oils and natural ingredients with organic materials such as multi-vitamins, collagen and natural moisturizing factors that can be directly and easily absorbed by the skin. A unique formulation that contains natural collagen and highly purified natural materials, it improves absorption nutrient and moisture to the skin. Repeated use can promote accelerated skin metabolism, quick recovery of tired skin, anti-aging, lightening of colour spots and skin whitening. For best results, use twice a week.

Directions:
After cleansing, dry face thoroughly.
Remove the mask from the pack and apply to face.
Wait 20-30 minutes, remove the mask and follow with daily moisturizing routine.

Initial Verdict:
The smell of this one caught me first – very fresh, with a mild grape scent while its applied…perfect for zoning out with some relaxing music in the background. I hardly needed moisturizing afterwards either, as my face didn’t feel tight or irritated as with the Ceramide mask. I know this one doesn’t have any cucumber extract in it, but nevertheless, you’re as cool as a cucumber afterwards…*bliss*

Rating: 4 / 5


4. Dr Q Orange / Charcoal Mask

Description:
This glycerin-based mask provides an infusion of active ingredients directly into the skin, giving a boost where needed. (contains orange extract for the orange mask, and bamboo charcoal for the charcoal mask). Approximately 35g per packet.

Directions:
Rinse, clean and dry face thoroughly
Remove the two piece mask and remove the inner plastic liner
Apply one section at a time, smooth firmly over skin. Leave about 30 mins
Remove mask gently, and rinse with cool water (should not be left on for more than an hour)
For best results, use 2-3 times a week.

Initial Verdict:
Frankly, both of these masks are nothing spectacular to shout about. Apart from the ‘no fuss’ factor of the glycerin base, nothing really stands out to differentiate these from the rest of the masks on the market. It’s a good entry-level mask for those just starting, but for those that have high expectations, this is not the mask for you. The charcoal version of the mask is slightly more effective than the Vitamin C one, seeing as it did pull out impurities from my skin (didn’t look as oily the next morning).

Rating: 2.5 / 5


5. PUREDERM Refining / Firming Korean Herb Mask

Description:
PUREDERM Refining Korean Herb Mask (‘Jung-an’) contains Korean natural herbal extracts from honeysuckle flower, licorice, Colx Lacryma-Jobi seed, Phaseolus Lunatus Seed and Hoelen that have soothing and calming effects. This silky mask does not only clarify the skin by controlling sebum & oil, but also enhance blood circulation for a smooth, refined and healthy glow skin.

Directions:
Apply mask to cleansed skin, and leave for 15-20minutes before slowly peeling off.

Initial Verdict:
When I see the word ‘herb’, I usually assume that it’s going to smell a bit ‘herby’ when I use it, and thank you, but I don’t fancy smelling like someone’s boiled ‘wong lou kat’ (a strong smelling Chinese concoction). This one was pleasantly surprising as it did not only NOT smell like herbs, but quite pleasant as well…I’d liken it to something slightly floral with a hint of citrus. The mask is also thinner than the others I’ve tried, but adheres to the skin seamlessly for full skin-mask contact. I tried putting on a damp face towel on top of the mask, and oh man, you really have to try it – the sensation is simply amazing as it cools your skin as well as enhances the smell slightly. And maybe it’s my imagination, but I swear my jawline looked a little more refined afterwards. :D

Rating:
3 / 5 (for the Firming mask)
3.5 / 5 (for the Refining mask)


6. Watsons Facial Mask with Aloe Extract, Rose Water or Cucumber

Description:
Cucumber – This specially formulated mask contains cucumber extract and natural collagen nutrients to tighten your skin and improve skin elasticity, leaving your skin firmer and more supple. (Firming & Moisturising)
Aloe Vera – Contains aloe vera extract and Vitamin C to naturally whiten and moisturize your skin, leaving it fairer and more radiant. (Whitening & Moisturising)
Rose Water – Contains rose water extract and natural collagen nutrients to refresh and moisturize your skin, leaving it revitalized and supple. (Revitalising & Moisturising)

Initial Verdict:
In terms of usage, these masks are similar. However, the real difference comes in the after effects of the mask. The cucumber and aloe vera masks felt very cool on my skin (Hint: if you want an icy blast, apply it and sit in an air conditioned room!) which also helped to tighten up my skin and shrink the pores slightly. The rosewater one had a rather overpowering rose scent which put me off a bit since I don’t particularly like the ‘rose syrup’ smell, but otherwise left me with a nice rosy glow afterwards.

Rating: 4 / 5 (overall)


OVERALL VERDICT:
Out of the 6 or so different brands above, my favourites would have to be:

• Laitialies™ Green Grape Hydro Lifting Mask
• PUREDERM Refining Korean Herb Mask
• Watsons Facial Mask with Aloe Extract

The rest, to be honest did not have much of an effect on my skin, regardless of their claims. However, to be fair, what doesn’t suit my skin (combination with oily T-zone) may work for someone else, so they could work in your favour.


The Face Shop Essential Mask Sheet – Ceramide is available from any The Face Shop outlet.
Biocillin Plus ™ Collagen Soft Powder Mask and Laitialies™ Green Grape Hydro Lifting Mask can be obtained in packs of 10 from Magicboo outlets nationwide.
Dr Q Orange / Charcoal Mask and PUREDERM Refining / Firming Korean Herb Mask are available from major pharmacy outlets nationwide.
Watsons Facial Masks are available exclusively from Watsons outlets nationwide.


Hope that helps some of you out! :D

Omitsu Koshi @ Damansara Jaya…

For those of you looking for some decent Japanese food this weekend, head on over to Damansara Jaya to this little establishment called Omitsu Koshi.

This is one eatery where looks can be deceiving. From the outside, it may seem as if the place is rather suspect, but once you get inside, it’s really quite decent…warning though, it can get quite cramped in there, especially at full capacity since the walkways are quite narrow.

We started off with some appetizers first…where else can you get these kind of prices?

Edamame – RM6 (picture not accurate representation of portion as we dug in before remembering to take a photo!)

Sashimi Take – RM35 (blue fin, butter fish, nor salmon, octopus, jelly fish, shell hen clam and sweet prawn…personally I don’t like the clams and prawns, so we usually request for it to be replaced with octopus…mmm…tako!) Their raw seafood is delivered a couple of times a week, which can be seen in the succulence and taste of the slices. Some places freeze their raw fish to make it last longer, but after a couple of days, the fish starts to lose its texture and goes limp when you pick it up, not to mention it’ll have a really strong fishy smell…not good.

For my main course, I had the Sushi Bento set @ RM26, and requested for the sushi (raw fish with rice) to be substituted for sashimi (only raw fish) instead. The staff here are quite accommodating with special requests, which is really good. The set comes with what you see in the picture (tempura, grilled fish, tofu and sashimi), rice, chawan mushi, miso soup and fruit (typically watermelon or honeydew). The portions are quite generous, I could have just the set alone and still be stuffed afterwards!

Their chawan mushi (steamed egg custard) is one of the better ones I’ve come across (if you want to order it separately, I believe it’s about RM5). The steamed egg is smooth and delicately seasoned…I usually eat chawan mushi on its own (without adding any soy sauce) in order to get the full flavor, and this one is just right. Note: If you see me having to add soy sauce to my chawan mushi, that’s a really bad sign… :D

Miso soup is a staple of any Japanese meal, and the soup served here in particular is quite hearty – they put in quite large pieces of seaweed (which I love!). The only thing you have to beware of with this is that sometimes the chef gets a bit overzealous with the miso paste and doesn’t completely dissolve it, so you get a grainy aftertaste.

All in all for Japanese, this place has a decent price and quality to match. With raw foodstuff, any place that’s selling cheap stuff should be avoided like the plague. As my dad likes to say – “You pay peanuts, you get monkeys.” Want to eat that RM1.00 heaped plate of salmon sashimi? I’d advise you to have your doctor on standby before you do…raw food has to come at a certain premium due to the preparation and transportation costs, but as far as this restaurant goes, they’ve managed to keep their margin to a manageable level without compromising on the quality. Have a go and check it out… :)


Omitsu Koshi
No 17 & 19, Jalan SS 22/23
Damansara Jaya
47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Tel: 03-7722 2779


Rating: 4 / 5
Value: $$$

My Makeup/ Skincare Don’ts…

Tine tagged me on this post a couple of weeks ago, and I haven’t quite gotten around to doing it (my bad!) until now. Personally, I must have been the ‘trial and error’ queen of my time…you see, my mum never wore much makeup, and is more of a “beauty’s on the INSIDE” advocate, so you can imagine I didn’t get much input from that side growing up! :D

That said, that just means there’s more interesting stuff to share here, so here it goes…

My Five Must-NOT Have Items
1. Coconut oil in my hair – yes, I know it’s supposed to work wonders, but the smell just makes me nauseous. Plus the fact that you smell like an Indian afterward (this is NOT in any way intended to be racist…many Indians use coconut oil in their hair on a daily basis…how do you think they can grow manes that long??)

2. Dove Shampoo – my hair just feels lank and weighed down after using it, and it just smells too ‘body lotion’-ey for my taste, if you know what I mean. For some reason, I’ve never liked any of Dove’s products…maybe it’s just a body chemistry thing.

3. Nail Polish – I realized that I’ve amassed a huge collection of nail polishes over the years…but when it comes to how many times I’ve actually USED them, it’s just so not worth it (plus I’m not the kind of girl that can sit still waiting for the polish to dry!). You can imagine how bad it is when one time I decided to wear this particular colour that I hadn’t opened since the day I bought it, only to find the polish had separated and dried up. I think I’ll stick to the shades at the manicurists from now on.

4. Correction base – those little tubes/ pots of green base meant to disguise redness just don’t work for me! I don’t know if it’s the way I’m using it, or my skin can’t take it (probably the latter, since it also reacts badly when applied by the professionals!). Thank God I don’t have much need for it nowadays…*touch wood*

5. Pastel matte shadows – it ends up looking like clown makeup. I prefer shades with a hint of shimmer or iridescence. Of course that shouldn’t go to the other end and have nothing but glitter in it! As for the pastel shades, it just doesn’t work with my skintone.

My Five Biggest Makeup/ Skincare Crimes
1. Picking at zits and blackheads – this is such a bad thing to do. I’m thankful that I haven’t ended up with permanent scarring, considering the amount of poking and squeezing I’ve done! My face is always red for ages afterwards, and now I’m on a search for the perfect pore-shrinking serum…*sigh*

2. Neglecting the skin on my legs / feet – I’m pretty good when it comes to applying lotion on my hands and arms upwards, but heinously bad at taking care of the skin on my legs and feet. Sad to say, the only time I religiously rub in cream is when the skin starts cracking, and that only lasts until the area’s healed. My poor poor feet…

3. Overcleansing – this is a BIG BIG BIG NO NO!! I used to clean my face until it was so tight, smiling was a problem. Left me with flaky patches of skin at one time too, all in the name of NOT wanting a shiny nose…see how naïve I was back then?? *ARRGGHH*

4. Subconsciously frowning – my dad does this ALL THE TIME, and he’s now got a permanent cleft in between his eyes. ARRGGHH!! STOP IT STOP IT!!

5. Picking at the skin around my nails – it’s a nervous subconscious reflex. Very bad, especially after a manicure and all, but in stressful situations, you’ll need to standby with a pack of plasters as I’ll literally pick at the bits of skin around my fingernails until it bleeds…not a pretty sight. If you see me do it, please smack my fingers!

So there you have it, my hall of beauty shame...hoo boy… :D

Reviewed: Revlon Limited Edition Collection Mix & Mingle Lip Palette…

After a long wait, some good luck and a moment of pure ecstasy, I’ve finally reviewed the Revlon Mix & Mingle Lip Palette in Chatty Cherry. The palette has a swirl of cherry (duh!) red, muted peach and frosty pink.

Description:
A creamy multi-tonal lip gloss that virtually melts upon application. Each palette contains a blend of three colorful shades, which can either be used individually, layered or blended together to create your own one-of-a-kind shade. Available in 6 delectable palettes.

Directions:
Grab a lip brush (or just use your fingertip!) and go crazy…your limit is your mixing imagination.

The Verdict:
The first thing I noticed about this is that it doesn’t come with a lip brush which was a bit disappointing, but not a big issue (a fingertip is a good alternative). I started out with a light mixture of the red and pink (above), which ended up looking like a shiny pale welt on my skin. In case you were wondering, the back of my hand actually makes an ideal mixing palette. :) After adding more red and peach, I ended up with the result you see below…me likey!

I think the safest thing is to start with a small blend of each colour, then gradually add on until you reach your desired shade. Each colour worn separately is a nice hue in its own right, and if you mix all three colours evenly, you end up with a glossy raspberry-ish shade (it’s even got a hint of a berry-ish taste and fragrance as well!).

Personally, I’d prefer it to be a tad bit stickier (the stickier the gloss, the longer it’ll last – don’t expect it to last through dinner) but regardless, it’s a really nice option if you’re looking for a delicate wash of colour on your lips (above - sorry for the blurry photo, taken DIY). Perfect as a gift (visually very enticing), and I’d probably buy this in other shades as well (if only they were available here!)

Bottom line? I like this product…it’s a shame it’s not available in Malaysia, but I believe they have it in Australia (right Tine?) If you guys want to get your hands on this, drop me a comment or mail, and if enough people respond we should be able to work something out. :D


Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$

Lish Earrings…

Lish, for those of you that haven’t heard the name yet, is a homegrown jewelry brand…uhuh, it’s done by a Malaysian, and has something that’s right for everyone – from everyday wear to fancy events. The collection is really enough to satisfy any jewelry connoisseur. Have a look at her April catalogue, and you’ll see what I mean:

Soiree – dressing up for that afternoon tea soiree…pink hat charm with luscious crystals dangling on sterling silver chains. Longest drop measures: 9.5cm [RM109]

Jade Express – in a glance, she catches your attention. Cluster of aventurine and Swarovski crystals crowd over an aventurine drop. Longest drop measures: 4.5cm [RM99]

Jadling – don’t be jaded, show him what you’re made of. Aventurine with dangling drops of multi-coloured briolette agate & carnelian. Longest drop measures: 9.75cm [RM89]

Jaydene – she was straight to point with her wants and needs. Shades of round carnelian beads in classic drops. Longest drop measures: 5.5cm [RM69]


“The Grecian” Collection
This collection features the bright blue coloured stone, turquoise, which is as unadulterated as the landscape of the Greek islands. Matched with spots of Swarovski crystals, these pieces are all must--haves.

Santorini – small circular archipelago of volcanic islands in southern Aegean Sea. Turquoise briolette with matching and opal coloured Swarovski crystals. Longest drop measures: 3.5cm [RM109]

Airlea – Greek for ‘ethereal’. Smooth briolette turquoise is gallantly held at end of sterling silver chains dripping with rose and matching turquoise Swarovski crystals. Longest drop measures: 6.5cm [RM109]

Drops of Riviera – the Greek Riviera, that is! Heaven on a beach. Turquoise briolette with Swarovski crystal clusters on sterling silver chain. Longest drop measures: 6.75cm [RM109]

Delphis – Greek for the beautiful mammal, dolphin. Smooth turquoise square dripping sterling silver dolphin charm and Czech glass dagger beads dangling on sterling silver chains. Longest drop measures: 9cm [RM119]

Mykonos – cosmopolitan and exciting, yet picturesque. Turquoise briolette drop teams with blue glass faceted drop hang by Swarovski crystals from filigree floral charm. Longest drop measures: 9cm [RM119]


My personal favourites would have to be the ‘Drops of Riviera’, ‘Santorini’ and ‘Delphis’…and if any of you wanna get me a nice present, don’t hesitate! *winks*


Lish is available at:
Beatrice Looi @ Bangsar Village II
Intoxi-Kate @ Bangsar Shopping Centre

Natio Moisturising Shampoo…

While I was at Sasa recently to pick up some items for a colleague, I saw this brand and decided to give it a try. Natio is an Australian brand that has been around for the past 75 years, and prides itself on creating plant based beauty care ranges specifically designed for contemporary lifestyles.

The product I tried was the Moisturising Shampoo, made for dry and damaged hair (I’d run out of shampoo, and my hair was looking a bit lackluster to say the least!).

Description:
A blend of botanical extracts to purify hair and scalp while providing deep nourishment and natural moisture balance. Softens and helps to repair damaged and frizzy hair. Recommended for hair overexposed to sun and wind or harsh chemical treatments. Mild enough for frequent washing.

Directions:
Simple enough – just use it as you would any liquid shampoo. Preferably followed with Natio Botanical Conditioner, but it's not really necessary.

Key Ingredients:

• Chamomile to soften and tone.
• Nettle to nourish, tone and eliminate dandruff.
• Yarrow as a mild astringent.
• Rosemary to promote lustre.
• Sage to purify and clean.
• Birch to strengthen.

First off, this shampoo is part of their aromatherapy range, so you get a really lovely scent in your hair during and after washing it – couple that with a warm shower, and you’ve turned your bathroom into a mini aromatherapy session. The shampoo also doesn’t lather up massively, which may give the impression that it’s not doing its job, but in reality your hair will be at optimal level afterwards, so resist the urge to re-wash your hair until it’s squeaky clean.

What I particularly like is the fact that you don’t have to use a lot of it to get the job done – for my waist-length hair, I only needed slightly more than a tablespoon’s worth. This is probably best since it costs RM26 per 250ml bottle (by comparison, I can get a 500ml bottle of Sunsilk for less than RM20!). The Botanical Conditioner would be good to use together, but isn’t really necessary as this product gets the job done on its own.

Additionally, Sasa’s having a promotion where if you spend over RM68.00 on Natio products, you get a Shine Limited Edition Clutch bag and some products free in a set.

The gift set’s quite presentable, can be given as a gift if you want…

They give three products with the clutch bag – a 20ml tube of Antioxidant Face Moisturiser, a 15ml tube of Cherry Ultra Shiny Fruit Gloss and a 4g (standard size) tube of Moisturising Lip Balm.

Out of the three free products, to me only the lip balm is pretty good – the fruit gloss scent is a bit overpowering (even if the gloss has a lovely texture), and I didn’t quite like the smell or consistency of the Antioxidant Face Moisturiser, so it’s not going anywhere near my face. The pink clutch is not bad though – quite passable for a gift premium. I believe this promotion is while stocks last, so if you want one you’d better hurry.

Natio Moisturising Shampoo retails at RM26.00 for a 250ml bottle and is available from all Sasa outlets.

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $

Forever 21 Launch @ Sunway Pyramid...

What's with Crocs??

I can’t stand it…it’s everywhere, but Crocs have got to be the FUGLIEST shoes ever…I mean, Hush Puppies are comfy too!! Imagine paying through your nose for injection-mould slippers?? Not to mention there have been instances where kids have been injured on escalators because those soft slippers got stuck in the machinery.

I pity the poor child wearing this…


Rubber ballet slippers, anyone? Normally I love wearing ballet slippers, but this is just…NOT RIGHT…


Even Mickey wants to jump on the rubber bandwagon


And just when you thought it couldn’t get any WORSE…here come the Jibbitz...

For goodness sakes, once you stick those darned things on every single hole, they’ll probably cost you the same amount as ANOTHER pair of Crocs…

In terms of marketing, I cannot deny they’ve gotten the market going for their products, but otherwise the products are just…sold on the idea of hype. Tine has spoken before on the fallacies of seeing a perfectly presentable worker in the office in his work uniform / suit…

………

………

…and then right at his feet are a pair of super-bright yellow Crocs. Can you say ‘Big Bird Alert’?? *shakes head*


What’s the big deal with Crocs? Can someone please explain it to me?

Revlon Goodies!

My latest samplers arrived recently – more things to try! The latest batch I got was from Revlon…

I got a Age Defying 2-Way Foundation in Sand Beige, Renewist Lipcolour in Naturally Revealing, Superlustrous Shiny Sheers in Plumdrop…

…

…

…

…and look what I got my hands on!!! (sorry, just super duper excited here!!)

The Revlon Limited Edition Collection Mix & Mingle Lip Palette in Chatty Cherry!! I wrote about it previously, but as it wasn’t going to be brought into Malaysia, I never thought I’d get a chance to try it out…but now I can… :)

Can’t wait can’t wait…I must say, the Superlustrous Shiny Sheers is looking real nice (especially since its gotten some good reviews), so I've got some high expectations for it. I'll also be passing some items on to Paris for her review as well, so stay tuned!

By the way, I just heard that Revlon’s signed on Elle ‘The Body’ McPherson as their new spokesmodel…I guess that’s going to make ‘The Body’…‘The Face’ as well…hmmm…I'm still a personal fan of Halle Berry's ads, but not quite sure how that's coming along now that she's preggers. Any thoughts?

My DNP sale purchases…

Further to this last minute announcement on the DNP sale yesterday, I thought I’d give you all a preview of the items I bought…for some odd reason, I bought the only two monochromatic items in the room (everything else was a bit too colourful for my taste!)

First up is a white skirt with a black foliage motif…I never thought this kind of cut (ending exactly at the knee) would flatter me, but the design is surprisingly kind. I paid a bargain RM20 for this – considering that it’s linen. (I think the normal price was RM129)

Next was a black pleated skirt (I told you it was monochromatic!) with a white floral motif and silver sparkles throughout. And please don’t ask me what’s with all the floral designs…it just looked nice on the rack, and nice on me, k? :D This one I had to pay a bit more – RM40 – but well worth it. Not sure what the original price was since they snipped the tags, but I’m not too fussed as Dorothy Perkins and Top Shop usually cost upwards of RM100 for nicer items.

RM60 for the two skirts…what’s not to like? :D I didn’t get anything else since most of the tops there you’d have to try on to see the fit (and obviously there were no changing rooms there), so oh well…some other time. Can’t wait to wear my new skirts! *grins*

Bobbi Brown Book to 10-Step Beauty…

During the Bobbi Brown promotions at Midvalley recently, I came across this book that was being given out – Bobbi Brown has come up with a step-by-step beauty book to guide first time users (or not-so-savvy users) through the basic steps for makeup – 10 in total.

Flipping through the book, I felt that it was good that they addressed it systematically, but felt that maybe a couple of the steps were a bit too much. Come on…it’s a ‘BASIC’ face…of course, Bobbi does say that in a pinch, concealer, blush and lipgloss will suffice for a instant pulled-together look.

It goes from actual PRE-makeup (ie. your skincare regime), concealer, foundation and powder…to blush, lipstick / lipgloss, lip liner, eyebrows, eyeshadow, eyeliner and mascara….*phew*

The finished product…now if only all of us could look THAT polished in under 10 minutes…

To top it off, there’s a foundation formula finder guide at the back of the book to compare the different types of foundation and help you select which one would work best on your skin, and for different occasions (there’s no point in caking on full foundation when just a sheer layer will do).

It’s about time someone came up with a guide like this (and it’s free!). Kudos on the book, Bobbi!

You can pick up your copy at any Bobbi Brown counter nationwide.

ONE DAY ONLY DNP Sale...

Just a quick note – found out that DNP (the company that sells Dorothy Perkins, Miss Selfridge and Top Shop) is having a ‘staff sale’ at Cititel Midvalley TODAY ONLY. Items are going from RM1.00, and includes clothes, bags and accessories.

I just stopped there after lunch and picked up two monochrome skirts – will post them up later, but both came at a bargain RM60.00 total (one was RM20, the other RM40), not to mention the RM20 one was LINEN.

Head to the Matahari Room on Level 5 of Cititel Midvalley KL to have a look. Hope that brightened your day! :)

Origins Peace of Mind® On-the-spot relief...

Origins’ Peace of Mind® On-the-spot relief is one of the products I regularly use for headaches or lethargy in the office (good for the days you’re pulling all-nighters to get work done!). I was first introduced to it in Singapore when my cousin got one for Christmas, and have been a firm follower ever since.

Description:
When the world closes in on you and your head feels a size too small, apply just two dabs of Origins mind-clearing formula on the back of your neck, temples and earlobes. You'll feel a tingling sensation as pressure, tension and tightness begin to melt away.

Directions:
Place three small dabs on fingertips. Take a deep breath to experience Peace of Mind®'s stress relieving aromas. Massage into the back of neck, earlobes, and temples (closer to the hairline than to eyes.)

Verdict:
I love the peppermint smell! Each time I use it, I can literally feel my shoulders ungluing themselves from my ears. There’s something to be said about the power of aromatherapy, as it usually takes a rather (painful!) firm massage to ease out the tension knot in my shoulders. However, the minty smell applied to your temples also means that it’s quite close to your eyes. This may cause a mild tearing for those more sensitive to strong smells. But then again, that’s a good excuse to just lean back and close your eyes for a while to let the Peace of Mind do its work.

Origins’ Peace of Mind® On-the-spot relief retails at RM44.00 for a 15 ml bottle, which should last you about 4-6 months (longer if you don’t use it everyday)

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$