Beetrice's Reviews...

Getting Maudrey nails with help from China Glaze and OPI…

2012-01-16T12:23:00.000+08:00

Of late, thanks to the group of lovely (and completely bonkers) ladies I hang out with, I’ve been painting my nails more often…and accumulating a rather modest collection of nail polishes along the way.

I reckon my parents would protest that collecting 30 polishes in 2.5 months is bordering on madness, but you ladies understand me right? Right?? :P

The two that have my manicure covered this week are China Glaze for Audrey and OPI I Juggle Men. I had originally meant to just pick up the China Glaze for Audrey for a friend, but after seeing the shade in person, I ended up getting one too. As for the OPI, well, let’s just say having a whole counter of OPI testers to play with is just as dangerous. LOL!

This is two coats of China Glaze for Audrey – it was during application of this that I realised I won’t be buying many China Glaze polishes, because I detest using the brush. It’s skinny, difficult to control and goes all over the place!

It’s unfortunate, because I’m in love with the Tiffany blue-esque hue of this polish. The creamy finish and quick drying time of the polish isn’t anything to sneeze at either.

I could have left it at that, but on a whim decided to layer OPI I Juggle Men over it, which is an iridescent shimmer. The effect turned out to be very subtle, but pretty nonetheless.

It was a b*tch trying to get the shimmer to show up in photos, and this was probably the best attempt – the two nails on the left are two coats of China Glaze only, while the two on the right are two coats of China Glaze with THREE layers of OPI I Juggle Men on top. (Note: I enlisted the help of the bf to help take these shots, hence the difference in the pictures!)

You can see that OPI I Juggle Men is really very sheer and only works best layered on top of another shade. I’ve tried it with a few colours, and it seems to work well with strong red, blue and green hues (the purple didn’t look too different, but maybe I just have to try a different shade).

But there you have it – the shimmer is very subtle, but pops in real life under sunlight. And while writing this, I just realised I have SEVEN coats of polish on my nails…base coat + 2 coats of China Glaze + 3 coats of OPI + Seche Vite!

The amazing part? I finished all seven coats in less than an hour (including drying time!), and haven’t gotten any chips or smudges on them yet after 3 days. YAY!!

By the way, if you’re still wondering what Maudrey means, it’s Modern Audrey (Hepburn). *winks*

So, what do you all think? Can I carry off the colour, and is it a colour you’d pick for yourself? :)

Not quite sugar and spice, but everything nice with Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose (plus sampling)…

2012-01-13T08:30:00.000+08:00

Lancôme, Lancôme. It’s a brand I’ve known since my childhood days since mum has been loyal user for as long as I can remember. I couldn’t remember much about their skincare apart from Blanc Expert and Primordiale since those were the words I always heard when accompanying her. Now it’s a different story of course, but I digress…

Lancôme fragrances – now that, I remember. My first encounter with the original Lancôme Trésor was some years ago when I was just hitting my teens – mum never wore perfume back then, and used to give me the miniatures that came with her purchases. The Lancôme Trésor miniature I ended up with looked exactly like the full sized one above, and I remember it being one of the first fragrances I came across. Mature scent or not, I still loved it to bits.

Fast forward almost 20 years later, I’m trying out Lancôme’s fragrances once again with Trésor Midnight Rose. There’s also some info at the end on how you can score a sample of the fragrance as well.

Yes, it’s purple, and I shall try to refrain from becoming a giddy schoolgirl over my favourite colour. :D

For those who are familiar with fragrance notes, Trésor Midnight Rose has top notes of raspberry and blackcurrant; heart notes of jasmine, peony, blackcurrant bud absolute and intense pink pepper; and base notes of Virginia cedar essence, vanilla and musk.

Personally, I can’t make head or tail of notes, and can only identify a few of them but I’ll try my best!

When first spritzed on, the fragrance has an unmistakable fruity freshness to it and I can just make out the berries. On me however, the berry and rose notes in Midnight Rose give way almost immediately to the cedar and vanilla notes, leaving a faint but lingering fruity and vanilla scent that makes me crave ice cream (which I’ve since given in to twice!)

Think berries with vanilla cream, you’ll get the idea. *wink*

The bottle itself is lovely – Trésor Midnight Rose comes in a pink-to-purple gradiated bottle with a purple satin rose on the neck, similar to the black one seen on Trésor In Love.

For the Trésor Midnight Rose campaign, Lancôme picked Emma Watson as their frontline, and it’s easy to see why – the fragrance is young, flirty and yet elegant all at the same time…much like Emma post-Harry Potter. She looks amazing in the fragrance ad below – okay, so I may be just a little more swayed considering the whole clip has shades of purple running through it, but the backdrop for the movie is gorgeous (especially the shots in the bookshop *love*)

Despite my natural gravitation towards bight, citrusy scents, Trésor Midnight Rose has grown on me, although I would opt to wear it in the evenings rather than during the day. Now if I could only get a chance to wear it in Paris... :P

Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose Sampling:

From now until 31 January 2012, readers in Malaysia can redeem a free sample of Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose by registering on the Lancôme Facebook page. A SMS will be sent to you after registering, which can then be flashed at Lancome counter nationwide to redeem your sample.

Alternatively, you can drop by the Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose roadshow at Midvalley Megamall (Lower Ground Centre Court) from 9-15 January to try the fragrance for yourself.

Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose is now available at RM205 for a 50ml bottle and RM265 for the 75ml bottle.

Get a Whiff of Something Fresh with Garnier Aqua Defense Bright 2-in-1 Hydrating Bright Essence…

2012-01-11T10:39:00.000+08:00

Remember the Garnier Aqua Defense Non Stop Intensive Moisturising Essence that smells like apples?

Well, Garnier has introduced the next product in its Aqua Defense range – *deep breath* the Aqua Defense Bright 2-in-1 Hydrating Bright Essence *whew* As usual, it’s a super long name so I’ll shorten it to Aqua Defence Bright Essence for the rest of this post.

Description:

Garnier has invented its first 2-in-1 Hydrating Bright Essence with one million water molecules. With a fresh, fruity fragrance, the ultra-lightweight texture instantly penetrates and fills skin with intensive hydration. With the power of natural ingredients, Pure Lemon Essence, Vitamin CG and Scutellaria extract, Aqua Defense Bright Essence gives you crystal clear skin that illuminates from within. Dermatologically tested.

The Verdict:

When I first saw this out in Singapore some months back, I had a whiff of the half-full tester – and immediately gagged. It smelt terrible! It wasn’t until I came across it again while wandering in a newly-opened Watsons store that I saw the brand new tester and decided to give it another try.

To my surprise, it actually smelt pretty nice and reminded me of tangy apples, which led me to the conclusion that the previous one had been dipped into by one too many people with not-too-clean hands…*ugh* I had just finished my umpteenth tub of Clinique Moisture Surge and was game to try something new, so a bottle of this followed me back home.

One thing to note about the Aqua Defense Bright Essence is that it is iridescent – which you can see if you look closely at the picture above. Don’t worry though, you won’t end up looking like Edward from Twilight. :D The Aqua Defense Bright Essence is akin to a gel, similar to that of the Moisturising Essence, and melts into skin on contact.

Despite its claim of deep hydration, I found that I prefer using it only during the day as my makeup goes on smoothly afterwards. Unfortunately, despite turning on the aircond for just a couple of hours at night and using the fan afterwards, using just the Aqua Defense Bright Essence somehow isn’t quite enough. It could be the lemon in the formulation, I’m not sure.

Personally, as a daytime moisturiser I do like the Aqua Defense Bright Essence. I wouldn’t expect it to perform miracles in the area of hydration, but it absorbs quickly, doesn’t feel sticky and gives my skin just that little added boost.

Here’s the ingredient list for those who are interested:

Alas, those who are allergic to dimethicone (sorry Kahani!), this product is probably a no-go.

Garnier Aqua Defense Bright 2-in-1 Hydrating Bright Essence retails at SG$17.90 for a 50ml bottle and is available at all major pharmacies and personal care stores in Singapore. Not available in Malaysia at the present time.

Rating: 3.5 / 5

Value: $$

Happy New Year, and I’m back! :D

2012-01-03T11:31:00.000+08:00

How was everyone’s Christmas and New Year celebrations? My time back in Malaysia over the past week has been nothing short of E.P.I.C. – plenty to see, plenty to do and plenty to eat!

There are still close to a thousand photos to sort through and edit over the 10 days I was back in Malaysia but 2012 definitely got off to a great start, especially with a get together with the usual culprits on New Year’s Day.

It’s the second time we’ve met up on New Year’s Day, but this time with a little more pampering on the menu by popping over to Khareyana Spa for massages! :D (by the way, the foot scrub massage I had was SO good, I fell asleep!)

L-R: Paris, Xin, Juan, Yani, Syen, Dom, Lyn, Plue, Connie, Rinnah…and yours truly, who was behind the camera. Doesn’t everyone look blissed out? *grins*

In previous years, some of us used to exchange Christmas presents whenever we had the chance to meet up, but now that we could do it all together as a group the pile has gotten pretty shocking. Eleven mad beauty bloggers multiplied by individual presents from each individual end up creating…well, see for yourself:

For some reason, the wrapping (or lack of, although I really couldn't tell whose was 'badly wrapped' to begin with since they all looked great) was the hilarious discussion point for this session since we all had our own ways of presenting our gifts but heck, when it comes down to it we don’t really mind right? :D Will be interesting to see what happens next year...*hmmm*

Thanks for a lovely 2011 evurl ladies, and here’s to a fantabulous 2012 ahead!! *hugz*

PS: I’ll be doing a more reflective post on 2011 and my resolutions once I’ve gotten myself back to the swing of things…and *ugh* work (what’s that?). Stay tuned!

Merry Christmas in advance!!

2011-12-23T10:00:00.000+08:00

It’s that time of year again – time for catching up with family and friends, as well as when…err…food, drink and merriment are plentiful! :D

As for me, I’ll be headed back home today to spend time with my loved ones (particularly my 91-year old granny!) and just take a break in general – one whole week off! *does a happy jig*

So with that, I leave you with a festive photo taken with Nikki of Askmewhats and some of the other #evurl girls when we caught up recently!

In no particular order, we have Nikki, Xin, ParisB, Syen and Connie. Can you guess who is who? *winks*

Merry Christmas to all, stay safe, and I'll see you after the holidays!

xx beetrice

It’s finally here - Bellabox December 2011…

2011-12-21T10:00:00.000+08:00

After waiting (im)patiently and reading the tweets and posts from other people who had gotten their Bellabox earlier in the month, mine finally arrived, waiting for me when I got back to work earlier this week.

I’m most impressed by this month’s box – they definitely outdid themselves!

The contents included samples of Sothys [W]™+ Brightening Fluid and Mask, a SG$50 Sothys Gift Certificate, a vial of Faust’s Potion, a mini OPI nail polish (Not Like the Movies), a set of Eylure falsies…and a full size Savoir Faire lipstick! There was also a small pack of strawberry jellybeans in lieu of Christmas.

Well done Bellabox! This was a lovely touch going into the festive season, and I’m definitely a very happy customer so far. :D

Getting Glittery Nails for Christmas with OPI The Muppets…

2011-12-14T10:25:00.000+08:00

While doing some Christmas shopping near my place yesterday evening with Rinnah, we came across the huge OPI display (with testers!) at the local mall, and went a little nuts with The Muppets glitter polishes. The result?

Err…looks like glitter monsters threw up on my nails!

My favourites would have to be the four above (L-R) Gone Gonzo (blue glitter), Fresh Frog of Bel Air (green glitter), Divine Swine (purple glitter), Gettin’ Miss Piggy With It (red glitter). I wanted to try the multicoloured glitter one, but unfortunately the tester was all dried out.

What you see is OPI The Muppets on my nails…about 5 coats worth! :P The only ones that showed up almost immediately were those that were layered over a coloured base (namely on my thumb and little finger) but I reckon it would make for a pretty interesting (not to mention festive) look for Christmas, don’t you? :D

Wicked in Singapore!!

2011-12-09T10:30:00.000+08:00

When we heard that Wicked was coming to Singapore, we simply had to go. Rinnah had offered to buy the tickets first, and not knowing exactly when they were opening, I agreed. As it turned out, she was kiasu enough to buy tickets for the day after it opened on 7 Dec. Go Rinnah!

Wicked tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy dropped in, two other girls meet in the Land of Oz. One, born with emerald green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. (taken from the website)

We got Category D tickets which were up in the Grand Circle, but as we mutually agreed afterwards – next time we're paying a bit more and getting the seats closer to the stage! :P

This is the view of the stage from our seat – actually...even after watching the show, I’m still not sure why they had a dragon mounted up there…

But as for Wicked? To put it simply – I LOVED IT!!

It was hilarious how they managed to blend in all the different storylines and characters from the original Wizard of Oz, and yet show a completely different interpretation of the story. :D Epic moments had us giggling like mad in the theatre, especially the “toss toss” and “me too” – want to know what I’m talking about? Go watch and you'll see… :D

Oh, and did you know Bert Newton was among the cast as well? I remember watching his show in Perth during my student days...he carries a tune well enough, but there's was definitely more talking than actual singing for him.

When I first came across Wicked, it was the song ‘Defying Gravity’ that did it for me – it's not an easy melody with a lot of jumps, but beautiful when done well. And Jemma Rix as Elphaba? Awesome. I had goosebumps when she sang!

What's a show without a programme? :D After watching Wicked, I think I’m going to have to go and watch it another time before it ends…and this time with better seats!

Have a happy weekend ladies! :D

Wicked the Musical is playing at the Grand Theatre at Marina Bay Sands from now until 26 February 2012. Shows are on daily except Mondays, and tickets range from SGD$55 – SGD$250. More details and tickets can be found here.

Putting a purple twist on a French manicure…

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000+08:00

Say hello to my purple reverse French manicure! :P

If you’ve been following me for a while, you’d realise that I’m crazy for purple hues. Violet, magenta, amethyst, aubergine, lilac, lavender, fuschia, plum…shucks, name me any purple shade and I’ve probably got something in that colour!

So one evening when I was messing about with some polish shades in my room, I decided to try layering different hues of purple on my nails and after trying a number of combinations this was the final result!

The two polishes I used – Chanel Le Vernis in #210 Lilac Sky and Face of Australia Molten Metallics Nail Enamel in Amethyst.

I realised though that these two polishes are really on the “Save & Splurge” ends of the price spectrum, but in terms of performance I have to admit liking the Face of Australia one more in terms of manageability and colour payoff.

If you were wondering about the shaky lines, it’s because I drew the tips in freehand – obviously I need a lot more practice! :P

Hmm…now what other colour combinations can I try? I’ve already tried peach with chocolate tips, sparkly tips on clear nails and glitter on coloured nails…any other ideas besides resorting to actual nail art (since I have absolutely no drawing skills whatsoever)? :D

Chanel Le Vernis retails at RM70 and is available at Chanel counters nationwide. Face of Australia Molten Metallics is a limited edition range and retails at AUD$4.95 each (not available in Malaysia or Singapore though).

It’s beginning to feel/look a lot like Christmas…

2011-12-05T10:00:00.000+08:00

Christmas decorations at Changi Budget Terminal

Only 20 days more to Christmas! :D Are you already humming carols, or trying to find your Christmas groove? As for me, the Christmas season really hit home after seeing all the decorations going up – never fails to cheer me up (although trying to get presents for the people on my rapidly-expanding list is an ongoing challenge!)

Since we’re already nicely into December, I thought I’d share with you some of my favourite Christmas buys this year:

1. L’Occitane

L’Occitane comes up with some limited edition festive variants every year – this year it’s the Delice des Fleurs and Delice des Fruits, as well as some very pretty sets which range from RM85 – RM735.

One of my favourite ranges is the Verbena range, so this Verbena Collection (RM110) is just up my alley – housed in a cute green pouch with 75ml sizes of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel and body lotion, this would be perfect for travelling.

2. Benefit Cosmetics

Ah, the Holidaze sets… :D I refuse to buy Benefit at the counters in Malaysia and Singapore simply because they’re way overpriced compared to the US. And with free international shipping for orders over US$115, I usually pool orders with the ladies to get my Benefit fix.

This is Ticket to Glossytown (US$24) – a collection of 6 mini ultra shine glosses in so frisk me (gilded berry), nudie-tude (goldspun twist), spiked punch (juicy coral), life on the A list (bubblegum pink), foxy lady (diamond rose) and kiss you (clear fuchsia). I love breaking these up to use as additional stocking stuffers. :D

3. Crabtree & Evelyn

Who went for the recent Christmas Preview a couple of weeks back? I did a fair bit of damage there, but as luck would have it…after making my initial purchase, I found a stack of vouchers I had gotten previously that were expiring on 31 December, and ended up making a second round of purchases to use them up! (Note to self: Keep better track of vouchers!)

Suffice to say, my room now looks like a Crabtree & Evelyn storeroom and everyone is getting something Crabtree from me this year…LOL…but here’s one of my favourites!

The La Source Christmas Gift Set (RM178) – contains full-sized shower gel, body lotion, hand therapy and scrubby gloves, all housed in a super cute toiletry pouch. The centre portion is also detachable, which would be pretty handy for small cosmetics.

‘Sea’? Just grab and go! :D (LOL just punning the colour!)

And with that, I leave you with a little tingle in your mouth…mint chocolate M&Ms! :D

The pieces inside are also white, red and green…how cute is that? *winks* So what have you lovely ladies bought for Christmas so far eh? Share!!

PS: If you’re wondering why I haven’t written about makeup collection purchases, it’s simply because I’ve bought some individual items for friends that read this - which will need to remain under wraps! :D

Mystifying my lips with Givenchy Rouge Interdit…

2011-12-02T09:51:00.000+08:00

Earlier this year I had been hunting around Singapore for Givenchy’s limited edition Le Prisme Blooming Fuschias blush as a gift for a friend. The SA I came across was very bubbly without being excessively hard sell, so when I was about to pay for my purchase, she told me I could get a GWP if I topped up my purchase with one additional item. Since I was looking for a lipstick at the time (although really, I need another lipstick like an alcoholic needs a Long Island Iced Tea), I decided to swatch some of the lipsticks at the counter, and the Givenchy Rouge Interdit just jumped out at me.

The packaging on this is absolutely lovely…a simple black case with a ribbon attached to the lipstick base, which slides out like in the photo above. My only gripe is that the black case is a fingerprint magnet, but I’ll forgive that for the rest of the gorgeous design.

Although I typically gravitate more towards rose- and plum-ish shades, I ended up picking #07 – Mystic Pink. It looked red in the tube as well as on my hand, but contains tiny pink flecks which make it look pink under sunlight or in photos.

Rouge Interdit is pretty lightweight and is quite pigmented – you can see the effect of one coat on my lips in the picture below:

See the difference in the photo (taken outdoors under natural light) and the swatch (taken indoors under artificial sunlight)? Texture-wise, the Rouge Interdit range has two types – Satin or Shine. Mystic Pink comes under the Satin range, and applies like a dream. Staying power is also decent enough, requiring only one reapplication after lunch.

Since moving to Singapore, I’ve realised that I’ve actually cut back on buying a lot of lip products, but the ones that I’ve bought have been rather pricey – and this one is no exception. I can’t remember the exact price of this lipstick, but I do recall that it was just under SGD$40. Paired with a lipgloss, this lipstick packs a whole different look, but I’ll show you that some other time. :D

Givenchy Rouge Interdit lipsticks are available at all Givenchy counters nationwide and come in over 20 shades. I can’t remember the exact price, but it’s definitely below SGD$40.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Value: $$

Treading those fine lines with Hada Labo Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion…

2011-11-30T10:30:00.000+08:00

Earlier this year, Hada Labo introduced their new Lifting + Firming range, which comes with Retinol, Collagen and their signature ingredient, Syper Hyaluronic Acid (SHA) to, well, lift and firm your skin. I was given the Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion to take for a whirl, and thought I’d share my initial thoughts about it.

Description:

Hada Labo Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion instantly replenishes moisture to hydrate skin from within. Significantly smoothes fine lines and wrinkles, leaving skin soft, supple and revitalised. Regular use improves elasticity, radiance and a more youthful appearance. Skin pH balanced, free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colourant.

The Verdict:

Having been used to Hada Labo’s Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion, I was surprised that the texture of the Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion was a lot thicker by comparison, and had a yellowish-milky look to it as you can see from the picture. Sensitive noses will be happy to know that there are no added fragrances in the formulation and there’s a barely discernible smell (unless you stick your nose right into the neck of the bottle and inhale deeply…)

The amount you see in the picture above is the amount I use twice a day – application is similar to that of the Hydrating Lotion, which is to pat it in until completely absorbed.

Results? Well, after a couple of weeks using this twice daily before moisturiser, I can’t really see THAT big a difference during the day, although my skin does feel a little more plumped up and softer in the morning, especially the area in between my eyebrows. Then again, since I recently turned thirty, maybe I should be looking towards preventive measures for wrinkles and sagging? LOL…who knows…maybe I’m just being kiasu (translated: don’t want to lose).

I’m quite happy to continue using this just so see what the long-term effects are, and safe to say, this 170ml bottle is going to last me a loooonng time. :D

Ingredients:

Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerine, PEG-20 Sorbitan Isostearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Methylparaben, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Retinyl Palmitate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate, Zea Mays (Corn Oil) Thioctic Acid, Beta-Carotene

The full range of Hada Labo’s Retinol Lifting + Firming range has 5 products in total – a lotion, cream, essence, milk and mask.

Hada Labo Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion is priced at SGD$25.90 for a 170ml bottle. The whole range is priced between SGD$25.90 to SGD$34.90 and is available exclusively at Watsons stores nationwide.

Rating: 4 / 5

Value: $$

Back from Bintan with a tan start to the week…

2011-11-28T10:00:00.000+08:00

If you hadn’t already guessed it from the title, I just got back from Bintan! But before you start getting jealous, let me just clarify that I was there for work and not holiday ya… :D

That said, it doesn’t mean I couldn’t have fun while being subjected to full-day training after a super-early start (we had to wake up at 6.30am just to catch a ferry leh…)

Hehe…meet Bailey! :D I got him during my trip to Melbourne earlier this year, and since then he’s been my faithful travel companion on trips. Gee...I just turned 30 and I’m bringing a stuffed toy along on my travels…eeps!

Everyone had to adhere to the theme for the training throughout the trip, which was COLOURFUL – we had to wear a minimum of 5 colours or risk being made to wear the “boards of shame”…knowing me and my relatively sedate wardrobe, I really had to dig really deep to find enough colours to wear! :S

Colour blocking at its worst – the things we have to do for work! *grimaces* It only got worse as the days went on...we were definitely visible from a LONG way off!

We stayed at the Bintan Lagoon Resort – a far cry from Club Med Bintan which I’d gone to last year, but I have to take my (figuratively colourful) hat off to the staff, they did an absolutely fantastic job of setting up dinner at our villa below…

Unfortunately, it decided to POUR BUCKETS about 20 minutes after this photo was taken – resulting in a helter-skelter dash indoors and ending up with dishes of food covering every available surface in the villa!

Other than that, the weather was awesome during the 3 days we were there. It was so hot, I got a tan from spending an hour plus in the pool despite staying in the shade AND using sunscreen.

My absolutest, favouritest bit of Bintan Lagoon – the gorgeous pool!!

On a side note though, here’s a little shoutout for the ladies over at Belle Demoiselle on their Biore makeup remover giveaway – if you’d like to try the eye and lip makeup remover, Biore will send you a travel-size sample for free! Just hop over to their website for details on how to go about it. :D

Hope you ladies had a great weekend, and a good week ahead!

PS: To those in Malaysia, enjoy the public holiday today you lucky fellows…

November’s Bellabox is here!

2011-11-24T10:00:00.000+08:00

Last month, I wrote about unboxing the first Bellabox in Singapore – well, a month has already flown by (where the heck did it go?) and November’s box is already here! So, for those who are curious…here are the contents:

A tube of Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics (OCC) Lip Tar in Memento, Duchess Marden Damascena Anti-Wrinkle Serum (1.8ml sample in a organza pouch), Korres Guava Body Butter (9ml sachet), Skin Factory Eye Dream Honey Patch (1 pack), and Davines Melu Mellow Anti-Breakage Lustrous Shampoo and Conditioner (75ml each).

The highlight would have to be the OCC Lip Tar for sure – I’m not thrilled about the Korres Guava Body Butter sample as it looks quite sad compared to the rest of the items, but I’d say it’s a case of so far so good! :D

Is there anything in particular you like or don’t like about this month’s Bellabox, and what do you think of their offerings so far?

Solving the “Where’s my darn Apple cable?” woes…

2011-11-23T10:37:00.000+08:00

This isn’t a beauty-related post, but since I use my iPhone to take sneak pics of products I suppose it can be counted – way to go with remote connections! :D

Having fallen into the Apple fan category in the past year with an inherited iPhone 3GS (iPhone 4S? Nah, not yet…) and more recently the iPad2, one of the main issues I have is with battery life. While the iPad2 performs admirably, lasting almost a week on a single charge and regular usage, the iPhone 3GS alas, leaves much to be desired – I need to charge it almost twice a day (usually in the office), especially if I’m using 3G.

With only one iPhone cable, it meant I had to carry it with me wherever I went. Big mistake - it got snagged and tangled up in my bag, and on the occasions I forget to put it in my bag, my phone dies and I can't transfer any photos!

Getting numerous cables wasn’t an option previously, considering they cost a freaking SG$8 for the generic ones, and even more if bought from the Apple store. Not to mention that working in an office of iPhone users means cables get ‘borrowed’ quite frequently – expensive investment hey!

And here’s where this lovely gem from Daiso comes in…

Did you know Daiso has created their own cables for the iPhone/ iPad/ iPod? :D And at a paltry SG$2 (RM5), it’s cheap enough to buy multiples to leave at home, in the car, at the office, etc etc…and even if it goes missing (which happened to my last one!), I don’t feel so bad.

Oh, and did I mention I love Daiso? Best place for cheap finds… :D

An Affair in Red Square with OPI…

2011-11-22T13:04:00.001+08:00

It all started with the My Women Stuff Readers Choice Awards. Usually when I go for nail colours, I’m more adventurous with colours on my toes rather than my fingers, but since I was already going to be around ladies in red, I reckon that was the best time to break out this lovely shade from OPI and jump into the red nails wagon.

Say hello to OPI An Affair In red Square (NL R53) – it’s a lovely bright red that goes well with most skin tones, and applies like a dream.

Most nail polishes last pretty well on my nails as long as I have a base and topcoat on (here I was using Sally Hansen’s Double Duty) – and this was taken a week after I first applied it!

There was hardly any wear and tear on it, which only started to show after almost 2 weeks. OPI polishes are well-known for their staying power, and this one is no different. :)

I picked this up at the duty free section in Melbourne Airport on my way back to Singapore – they were having a promotion of 3 bottles for AUD$20, a bargain considering they usually cost about SGD$15-20 or RM30+.

I have to admit I did have a little more spring in my step with this polish on. Am I going to carry on wearing bright polish? With the influences of the group of girls I hang out with (Lyn and Xin, I’m looking at you!) and a horrible enabler (none other than Rinnah), you bet I am! :D

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Value: $$

My Women Stuff Readers' Choice Awards 2011 - EPIC! :D

2011-10-31T11:47:00.000+08:00

WARNING: Pic-heavy post!

Right, now that’s sorted – I’d gone back to KL (yes, yet again!) over the weekend for the inaugural My Women Stuff Readers’ Choice Awards on 29th October 2011…and boy, the only word I have for it is…EPIC!

When Paris had said she was thinking of organising this shindig a few months back, we were all massively excited. And now that it’s actually over, we can’t wait for the next round! But more about that later…

The morning got off to a great start with the committee arriving bright and early to help with the set up – although admittedly, we had to be bribed (just a little bit!) with cupcakes and coffee…we don’t play play when there’s Just Heavenly cupcakes served up! :D

Set up didn’t take quite as long as we had expected (yay for awesome pre-planning!), so we had some time to sit down for a bit and chitchat.

In fact, we had enough time to dig out our stuff to swap! LOL…since our group is now rather international, every time we meet there’s something to pass over!

The mastermind and queen Paris – now this is multitasking, people…talking on the phone, signing the board at the same time AND managing to look effortless while doing it!

There were also forms given out for attendees to guess the winners – and I promise, no one bribed me for the answers! :P We had scores from 3 up to 16 out of a total of 25…interesting…

After food and plenty of squeals of “OMG, so YOU’RE **insert blogger/ online/ website name**” throughout the room, everyone was ushered into the room for the winners’ announcement. By the way, I think the statement on the glass was most apt – “Quietly brilliant is doing great things in a humble way with the belief that the best things are experienced, not explained” I'm sure we all had a great experience there, right? :D

And for those of you who are curious as to who the winners are, the list is up on My Women Stuff here.

Once the winners had been announced, the top 4 scorers from the ‘guess the winners’ game were hauled up – and the winner (who actually got the most answers right) AND correctly answered the pop quiz question about My Women Stuff was…Hsu Jen! She walked away with a prize from Estee Lauder…lucky girl!

There was also a bonus prize for anyone who had an item from the winner’s list with them that day – it was no surprise that Lyn@BeautyCabby won…just check out her beauty bag! :D

And then…it was on to the Lucky Draw with Paris and our lovely emcee Juan@toughcookee. There were some epic moments during the drawing for sure, but what happened next was most unexpected…

I picked up the Dior skincare and fragrance hamper worth RM750! Guess it was really lucky No.8 for me that day, since I was later told that was THE grand prize of the draw…*still in shock*

There were also 3 contenders up for Best Dressed – Erin, Dom and Lee...I love how their poses were so alike in this shot! :D The prize of a Clinique fragrance ended up going to Erin (I like to think it was for the rocking boots she wore)

Just Heavenly also sponsored a cake in the form of their Choc and Cheese cake, which was absolutely delicious…there was barely any left once we were done with it!

With the youngest (and cutest!) attendee of the awards…Jebat! :D He’s none other than the son of our emcee Juan, and just check out that happening hairstyle!

And yay, we remembered to take a group pic! L-R: PinkElle, moi, Dom, Paris, Connie, Rinnah, Xin and Lyn. Although…we’re missing Juan, Yani and Plue who had to leave earlier.

Oh, and if you were wondering what was in my Dior prize… :D

(by the way #evurl girls, if you’re reading this…some of this love is gonna come your way soon!)

And last but most definitely not least, the goodie bags! We knew they were going to be epic, but this was just…*jaw drops*

In no particular order, there were items in the bag sponsored by Pantene, Garnier, L'Oreal, Olay, Himalaya, Hada Labo, Revlon, Vichy, Kiehl's, Estee Lauder, Yuan Soap, Maybelline and Esmeria Organics.

Also included in the bag were vouchers from Apronbay, Lace Petals *ahem* and Poise Wellness.

My absolute highlight of the goodie bag? This gorgeous necklace sponsored by Tine of Sweet Contemplation Accessories. I may be biased since she’s family, but heck, she deserves it! :D

There were three options for the necklace as seen *ahem* modelled by Rinnah, myself and Dom. We loves our SCA necklaces, yes we do! :D

And as the saying goes, that’s it for now folks! My Women Stuff Readers’ Choice Awards 2011 may have ended, but hey, there’s no reason why we can’t start looking forward to another one next year right? (although Paris might need a bit more convincing…you know what to do!)

Want to read what some of the other bloggers said about the My Women Stuff Readers’ Choice Awards 2011? :)

Paris (My Women Stuff of course!)

Juan (My Views My Reviews)

Lyn (Beauty Cabby)

Xin (Pretty Beautiful)

You can also read (and feel!) the excitement as the event unfurled on Saturday via Twitter with the #mwsawards hashtag.

Who's up for Violent Lips?

2011-10-28T11:15:00.003+08:00

What a week…I spent Mon and Tues out on MC thanks to a fever, Wed was a public holiday in Singapore…and in the blink of an eye it’s already Friday, and I’m a few hours from hopping on a plane back to KL to attend the My Women Stuff Awards tomorrow! :D

Since it’s Friday, I thought I’d share something a bit more light-hearted that I spotted in Watsons earlier this week…

Can you guess what they are from just the name?

If you guessed some sort of lip plumper (like I did – think ‘getting punched in the mouth’ pouty lips? maybe? LOL…) you’d be wrong!

Violent Lips is actually a range of temporary lip tattoos that are supposed to create a statement. The creator is just 14 years old – Isabella Haddad. (Gee, and to think I was only starting to discover makeup for myself at fourteen…eeps!)

L-R: Pink Giraffe, Pink Polka, Pink Cheetah, Red Zebra and Pink Hello

L-R: Pink Glitteratti, Gold Glitteratti, Silver Glitteratti, Red Fishnet, Leopard, Zebra and Pink XOXO

These are the options available in Singapore for now, but believe me, these are quite tame compared to their full range available online!

Can’t imagine what it would look like on you? LOL…well, neither could my 'model' (who chose to remain nameless…)

There’s even a step by step video to show you how to apply Violent Lips – from what I saw, it’s actually similar to the temporary tattoos I used to like applying as a kid, where you ‘sponge’ them on to your hands and legs with water and clean off with baby oil. :D

Each pack contains 3 applications and can supposedly last up to 8 hours, but at SG$19.90 per pack, I reckon they came out just in time to ride on the Halloween novelty factor. Would you give it a go just for fun? I just might...

On that, have an awesome weekend ahead and Happy Halloween in advance! :D

New: amethystory products (plus sampling)…

2011-10-23T11:32:00.000+08:00

Anyone who knows me even remotely well will know I’m bonkers for the colour purple – lilac, aubergine, you name it, I probably have something in that hue…so when amethystory hit Singapore, I just had to give them a try. All in the name of being adventurous, right? (Plus these looked pretty nice on my bathroom shelf too…hehehe...)

There’s also an opportunity for you to try the amethystory Mineral Aqua Gel out for yourselves at the end of this post, so scroll on down…

The three products that I tried out was the Mineral Aqua Gel (their star product), Mineral Bubble Face Wash and Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer. I’ve been using all three together for the past few weeks, so it only seems fitting that I review all of them at one go – warning that this is going to be a long post! :)

1. amethystory Mineral Aqua Gel

The amethystory Mineral Aqua Gel basically sloughs off dead skin – if you’re familiar with Ginvera Marvel Gel, this is somewhat similar…no surprise since the amethystory brand comes from the Ginvera people as well.

Description:

The amethystory Mineral Aqua Gel formula is specially blended with Amethyst, Hyaluronic Acid and Bio Energy Fluid to help enhance the removal of dead, dry and rough skin while promoting skin rejuvenation, instantly leaving skin hydrated, clear, new and fair. After removing the dead skin layers, your skin is left in the optimum condition to completely absorb subsequent skincare nutrients.

How you use this is to start out with a dry face and hands – pump a sufficient amount onto your palm (for me, two pumps is more than sufficient to cover my face and neck) and massage it onto your face in circular motions until you see little beads of dead skin (like that in the pic above) start to form, then rinse off with water.

The Aqua Gel is great for use on your face or body – and I’m loving it for the latter. They do say you can use it daily, but I’ve found that using it twice a week works best…otherwise you won’t see much of an effect anyway.

2. amethystory Mineral Bubble Face Wash

Look a little familiar? LOL…when I saw the Mineral Bubble Face Wash I couldn’t help but think about a certain marshmallow face wash from another brand (you know the one I mean!).

Description:

The amethystory Mineral Bubble Facial Wash is a soft and creamy foam enriched with moisture factors and mineral nutrients to gently cleanse and remove impurities, dirt and oil from pores. After washing, it provides long lasting moisture to the skin. Regular use of the Mineral Bubble Face Wash will polish away old skin resulting in smoother, supple skin.

Similarities in packaging aside, I actually like the smell of this face wash – not too strong, just a gentle fragrance that makes washing my face quite pleasant and doesn’t leave a tight feeling behind (not to mention the foam makes it quite fun!) I find that even one full pump dispenses quite a lot, so I generally try for half to two-thirds of a pump per use.

Both the Mineral Bubble Face Wash and Mineral Aqua Gel above contain Amethyst, Hyaluronic Acid and Bio Energy Fluid – the Amethyst is said to help improve skin complexion and skin tone and the Hyaluronic Acid provides intense hydration, while the Bio Energy Fluid helps balance oil secretion and provide mineral and trace mineral elements to nourish skin.

3. amethystory Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer

Last but not least is the Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer, which I would say is similar to a toner – I’ve been applying this after cleansing my face, and it smells similar to the face wash, which is pretty nice.

Description:

The Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer formula is blended with Amethyst, Tranexamic Acid and Hyaluronic Acid to boost hydration and whitening of skin, and enhance the penetration of skincare products for full absorption. Regular use of Mineral Aqua Whitening Enhancer will provide skin with minerals for better skin rejuvenation and at the same time lighten complexion evenly for a fairer, more radiant and youthful glow.

I must say I do like the way the Whitening Enhancer has been packaged – the bottle comes with a secure screw top and a small opening on top so I won’t be accidentally tipping out too much of the liquid at one go. As far as usage goes, I usually tip out about 5-6 drops of this to pat onto my face which is absorbed quite quickly.

The Tranexamic Acid in the Whitening Enhancer is supposed to fight dark spots and help even out complexion, as well as contains an anti-inflammatory to help enhance the whitening effect, but after just a couple of weeks I wasn’t expecting to see anything drastic. The Whitening Enhancer is a decent enough toner, but that’s about it.

Overall, I’d say I really liked the Mineral Aqua Gel and the Mineral Bubble Face Wash, but would pass on the Whitening Enhancer. I can see why the Aqua Gel is their star product, considering it does a pretty awesome job at removing dead skin. :)

Sampling:If you’d like to try the amethystory Mineral Aqua Gel for yourself, please visit the amethystory Facebook page here to redeem a sample.

Sample Subscription Boxes - Unboxing the BellaBox…

2011-10-19T12:24:00.000+08:00

Sample subscription boxes – there has been plenty written about these kind of programs in the US and the UK which sends people a selection of items to try based on their preferences and type for a monthly subscription fee. This has since spread to Australia (Tine has written about her experience with Beauty Box), and more recently, it has reached Singapore in the form of BellaBox.

BellaBox delivers the latest deluxe beauty products to your door, brand new and exclusive for you at SG$15 a month. We handpick and deliver 5 of the most luxurious beauty products to hit the market. Discover new products you will love, and make new purchases with confidence.

Back in August, I signed up for the Singapore version of BellaBox ahead of its official launch, and a couple of weeks after the website officially launched in October for orders and making my payment, this pink box arrived for me.

Inside was a glossy beige and brown striped box – I must say I really did like how they packaged the box along with the little touches that made it a joy to open.

Once I opened the box, there was a welcome introductory note on the top, along with a list of the box’s contents and full size pricing at the back. The contents of the box were also wrapped up in tissue paper with a small sticker.

And ta-daahh! Here are the contents of the first BellaBox – 50ml bottles of Aveda Rosemary Mint Shampoo and Conditioner each, miniature vial of Oscar de la Renta Esprit d’Oscar, 30ml OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers, and the brown twisty thingies in the picture are actually hair-ties called Twistbands.

For the monthly subscription fee of SG$15 I reckon they could have done a bit better with the first BellaBox, but all things considered it wasn’t too shabby, and included useful products. Will be sticking with them a while longer to see what else they come up with before forming my opinion about the sample subscription box hype.

Some of the brands BellaBox is working with include Aveda, Davines, OPI, Twistbands, Oscar de la Renta, Korres, OCC, Pangea Organics and Pearly Wipes.

Has anyone else signed up with BellaBox or similar sample subscription box programs, and what do you think of them?

Give your boobies some TLC and ahem eye candy…

2011-10-11T09:52:00.000+08:00

Yeaps, you read that right! :D

Just when I thought Breast Cancer Awareness month didn’t have anything new, yesterday evening this popped into my inbox which I thought was just too awesome not to share.

Image from Mashable

It’s an awesome, light-hearted app that Rethink Breast Cancer has created for Breast Cancer Awareness month – it’s called “Your Man Reminder”, which basically has hot guys reminding you to do your self-examinations.

Oh, and in this case the TLC means ‘Touch. Look. Check’:

Touch – feel for any differences and understand how your breasts should feel like
Look – check yourself out for any differences in size, shape and surface texture (ie. dimpling)
Check – when in doubt, always get it checked out by a healthcare professional

Cool right? Actually, the coolest (and hottest) part is below. The video they’ve done on this is just jaw dropping for all the right (and *hawt* wrong reasons)…just have a look and decide for yourself! :D

Warning: A bit NSFW with the topless hawt guys – watch in office at your own risk!

Now how’s that for reminding you to feel up your boobies? :D

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011 – Feel Your Boobies!

2011-10-10T12:21:00.000+08:00

Breasts, boobies, fun bags, bazookas, puppies, papayas…whatever you (or the men you know) may like to call them, they’re beautiful in any size and shape. They’re fun, comforting and nourishing at different phases of our lives, but situated so close to other vital organs such as our lungs and heart, breast cancer is a serious issue indeed.

As a guide, you should do monthly breast self-examinations if you’re 20 years old and above, with an additional annual clinical breast examination by a healthcare professional and mammogram once you hit 40 years of age.

All this information was on the back of one of the items I picked up this year, which is this pink ribbon pin from the Breast Cancer Foundation in Singapore telling people to "Treasure the Breast Things in Life".

It’s a two-toned silver pin with a crystal in the centre, which is being given out with a SG$5 donation to the Foundation.

And remember, doing regular self-examinations on your boobies is important!

PS: In previous years, I had run features every October on breast cancer awareness-related beauty news, but this year there doesn’t seem to be anything particularly striking or new so it’s going to be an “as and when” update.

Gunk Begone! – Skin Food Egg White Pack…

2011-10-05T14:05:00.000+08:00

Advance Warning: Gross pics ahead!

Still with me? Great! :D I’ve always had a problem getting gunk out of my pores, and my fascination with pore packs still holds strong after so many years. First it was the Biore pore packs, then the black pore packs (which looked great, but didn’t do much more other than show up the gunk better!), and then…I was introduced to the Skin Food Egg White Pack by none other than the daughter of the fellow who brought Skin Food into Malaysia. (here’s looking at you, K!)

Description:

The Skin Food Egg White Pack (Peel-Off Pack for Nose, Forehead & Jaw) eliminates blackheads effectively for a flawless complexion. Contains egg white to help control sebum and refine pores.

The pack contains 10 strips, 5 for the nose (left) and 5 for the forehead and jaw (right). Technically, it should be chin and not jaw, but oh well…

The Verdict:

First off, it’s nice that they’ve created specific strips for the forehead and jaw (chin) area – I have to admit, I’d actually cut up the Biore pore packs before just to paste them onto my forehead and chin areas (you’re not supposed to, but *shhh*!) But with dedicated packs, I can get my nose, forehead and chin area gunk free in one sitting without having to resort to scissors.

Using them is pretty much per standard instructions – make sure your face is clean and makeup free, then wet the nose/forehead/jaw area with water before pasting on the strip and waiting for it to dry. The instructions on the sheet say 10-15 minutes, however you’ll know when it’s time – the strip hardens into a crispy layer on your skin!

Peeling it off is the most fun – you start at the edges and work your way towards the centre (in the case of the nose pack, that would be the tip of your nose). Sometimes if you actually do that while looking in the mirror, you can see the blackheads being pulled out by the strip. It’s pretty cool, but not advisable if you’re easily grossed out. :D After that, you just rinse the residue off your skin.

Nose strip – you can see the biggest blackheads are on the tip of my nose (eww!). The pore strip also takes off hair, so don’t be surprised to see fine hairs stuck to the strip when you take it off!

Forehead strip – even more remarkable, this pulls out EVERYTHING. Blackheads, fine hairs, stray eyebrow hairs…I’m always amazed by the amount of gunk that comes out with this one.

Chin-wise, I don’t really have much to show you since my jaw area isn’t congested to begin with, so I usually just plaster the remaining patch wherever my pores are feeling particularly congested. My skin always feels super smooth afterwards – the egg white at work I reckon. :D

Just one minor gripe though – the egg white formula tends to smell a little bit weird when it gets wet, not unlike raw egg. It soon dissipates though, so unless you’re particularly sensitive it shouldn’t bother you.

Price-wise, this is substantially more expensive than the Biore pore packs but I feel it’s more effective at removing blackheads since I only need to use it once every couple of weeks.

I am so obsessed with this, I don’t think I’ll be using any other brand for some time to come! Xin is also just as taken with the Egg White Pack, you can read her take on it here.

The Skin Food Egg White Pack (Peel-Off Pack for Nose, Forehead & Jaw) is available from all Skin Food outlets nationwide, and retail at RM24.90 for a pack of 10 strips.

Rating: 5 / 5

Value: $$$

Finally!!

2011-10-03T14:21:00.000+08:00

A plan almost FOUR years in the planning…

Spanning people from Malaysia and Philippines, but meeting in Singapore (talk about being *ahem* international)…

Multiple email threads that subsequently got hijacked to talk about beauty because we’re mad like that…

……

Okay, it wasn’t as epic as the ABBW 2011 we’ve been hearing so much about from the Aussie bloggers, but we like to think it was just as much fun…we finally met up with Nikki @ Askmewhats! :D

Camwhoring at its most epic – squeezing 6 girls into the same pic. Hah! :P (and we didn’t even need a wide-angle lens after dinner…teeheehee…)

It was awesome! Plenty of food, ~~horrifyingly~~ loud peals of laughter – it’s a good thing we got a private room, otherwise……

Despite the taunts and jibes, Nikki and Xin did NOT do their much talked about dance (darn, ladies...how come we let them off so easy??)…although Xin became a rather amused ‘tiang’ (Malay for ‘pole’) for us…*ahem*

The whole group with our ‘official’ photographer, Mr Askmewhats…

What else can I say? We had a total blast over the weekend…I think we love Nikki even more after this, if that’s even possible (Mr AMW, you’ve got competition! :P)

And the next meet up will NOT take another 4 years! :D

NOTD: Glitter tips for the weekend…

2011-09-30T12:28:00.000+08:00

I’m not typically a nails sort of gal, but after seeing the amazing creations ladies like Nikki and Xin come up with week after week, and having a bit of spare time yesterday evening – you know what they say about itchy fingers… :P

This is what you end up with! Of course, there were a few ‘trial and error’ sessions prior to settling for this, since I had originally thought the base colour was too light. But after trying out the glitter tips with other hues I had on hand, this combination grew on me.

These are the products I ended up using – Missha WH02, OPI ‘Suzi Sells Sushi By The Seashore’ (what a name!) and Sally Hansen Double Duty. Given my skills (or lack thereof!) in all things nails and polish related, the less products and fuss, all the better! :D

I started off with a coat of the Sally Hansen Double Duty, which functions both as a base and top coat. Since coming across this some years back, I’ve never looked at any other base or top coat the same way again, because this stuff is the BOMB! Keeps my nails from staining (unless the polish is SERIOUSLY harsh), and looks awesome on its own. No surprise that I’ve got two bottles with me in Singapore, and one more back in KL eh?

This was followed by two coats of OPI’s ‘Suzi Sells Sushi By The Seashore’, which I can only imagine is meant to mimic a salmon-ish shade? OPI has some of the oddest names I’ve come across for their shades, but in my own description, it’s a lovely rosy-peachy-pink (okay, my naming skills aren’t that fab either!) that works great with my skin tone.

Once the two coats of OPI polish dried a bit, it was time for Missha WH02 to shine. I have no idea why they have to label their polishes only by code name, which seems a shame, since this is a gorgeous silvery glitter polish. I prefer finer glitter compared to the chunky ones you typically see, so this suited me to a ‘T’.

Two coats of this just on the tips of my nails (and I didn’t even have to be exact – yay for klutzy people like me!), left to dry for a minute, one more coat of Double Duty to seal in the layers, and I was done! The rest of the evening was spent trying not to muck up my nails (as I inevitably end up doing more often than not!)

Here’s a closer look at my nails – and yay, they’re still intact!

Oh, and it’s already Friday! Yay! Time to kick back and enjoy the weekend…I’ll definitely be having fun, since some bloggie ladies will be making their way into Singapore for the weekend, plus a special bloggie guest all the way from the Philippines will be arriving on Sunday – can you guess who? :D

(Hint: She’s probably the reason I need to make sure my nails don’t look all grotty and unkempt before I see her!)

Figured it out yet? If not…you’ll just have to wait and see! Enjoy the weekend ladies!

Could This Be The One? Clarins UV Plus HP SPF40 Sunscreen…

2011-09-22T11:37:00.000+08:00

Oh dearie me…I just realised that while I’ve been using the Clarins UV Plus HP SPF40 sunscreen for the longest time now, I still haven’t shared about it! I’d actually started using this early this year, but with all the changes and flurry of activity, it slipped my mind.

There are two versions of the sunscreen – transparent and pink-tinted. I had initially thought the transparent one would be better as opposed to trying to work with a pink-tinted formula, but surprisingly the pink-tinted version leaves my skin looking positively radiant! :D

Clarins UV Plus HP isn’t a new product per se (having launched back in 2005), but rather a new formulation with added benefits. The product touts a breakthrough “Triple Protection” against UV rays, pollution and oxidation.

The secret ingredient? This fruit.

Yup, you’re looking at a melon – a cantaloupe, to be precise. These cantaloupes from Provence contain an enzyme that fights oxidation and neutralises free radicals.

I like that the bottle they designed is also fuss-free with a screw top to make it travel-friendly. No worries about flip-tops that can come off in your luggage! Also, the narrow nozzle makes it easy to control the amount I squeeze out. There is a very light scent to it, but this doesn’t bother me.

Now, all of this sounds great on paper (or in this case, the screen), but does it really work?

I would say so – I’ve been using this after my moisturiser for almost 6 months now (shows just how far 30ml can go!), and even on blisteringly hot days I don’t feel the ‘burn’ I would usually get after running around outdoors. And despite the sunscreen using titanium dioxide as a blocker, I didn’t get that typical whitish cast (although I can’t say the same for the transparent version of the sunscreen since I haven’t tried that).

The biggest plus for me personally? The lightweight, oil-free texture. With my super oily/ combination skin, it’s usually a challenge to keep makeup from sliding off but this sunscreen worked well with my makeup, AND I didn’t look like an oil slick at the end of the day. Woots!

This could well be my HG sunscreen… :D

You can read what some of the other blogging ladies had to say about it here:

Xin

Connie

Paris

Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen High Protection SPF40 sunscreen is available at from all Clarins counters and Skin Spas nationwide and come in two versions – transparent and pink-tinted, retailing at RM158 for a 30ml bottle.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Value: $$

It’s Mine!! Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette…

2011-09-21T09:32:00.000+08:00

This can be considered my one major splurge for September… :D

After hankering for the Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette for the longest time, I finally decided to get it – only to find out that it had been sold out at Sephora in Singapore (boo!). But thankfully, the lovely Von (half of Belle Demoiselle) came to the rescue and offered to pick one up for me from the Sephora in KLCC.

When we finally met for the first time last Saturday, she had my palette with her (see, who says shopping doesn’t bring people together? Heehee…) and let’s just say I foresee many noisy meet ups coming up! :D

Ta-daaahh!! The package was a lot bigger and heftier than I had expected from photos, but it doesn’t bother me…all the more to enjoy, I say!

I love, love, LOVE the design of the box! I do wish it the smooth metal wasn’t so much of a fingerprint magnet and the edges weren't so sharp, but I’ll overlook that since the velvet box, base and logo on the palette are all in my favourite colour purple.

Price-wise, I also lucked out since the palette was being sold for RM180 in Malaysia, and SG$80 in Singapore so buying it in Malaysia was definitely cheaper! :D

Oh, and if I thought the colours had looked lovely in Paris’ review, I was sadly mistaken – they’re even more gorgeous in real life! *melts* Can’t wait to get stuck into them good and proper…swatches coming up! :D

PS: Haven’t been able to stop staring at the shades since I got the palette…God help me, I may just turn into Gollum and start calling it “myy preeeesshhuuusss”! :O

Of Nails Princess Designer Nail Art Pens and Group Deals…

2011-09-20T14:23:00.000+08:00

Hello hello! How was everyone’s weekend? Mine was pretty good despite a plane delay (yet again!) heading back to KL, but there were a lot of things to keep me occupied for sure. For one, meet my first Groupon product purchase – a box of 8 Nails Princess Designer Nail Art Pens for RM68 instead of RM138. This is not to say I haven’t purchased any group deals before, but this is the first product I’ve purchased with a group deal – the rest were all F&B or excursion deals.

I got the London Kit, which came with white, black, pastel pink, yellow, purple, green, red and blue pens.

For the price, I actually got a pretty good deal since the kit also comes with a booklet of nail art suggestions and instructions (I can’t read the instructions since they’re in Korean, but the pictures are easy enough to decipher). Wonder which one I should try out first…any suggestions?

Now, it seems fitting that Paris wrote a post today about group deal sites, because I had quite a time trying to get these nail art pens.

It all started with the Groupon instructions, which said to email the details and voucher to this person in order to redeem the nail art pens. On the website, it said the products would be delivered within 7 working days from confirmation.

On 22 August, I sent off my order and got a prompt confirmation from the person Alice, which I was quite pleased with. However, what ensued afterwards was almost 2 weeks of radio silence. Not a single word of where my order was, or whether it had been sent.

After waiting past the 7 working days which had been detailed out, I emailed her again to check on the status, and got this reply the next day:

“Good Day! Due of long holiday at Malaysia, our shipment have a bit delay it, don't worry the shipment will reach Malaysia next week.

We will distribute the item to you without any charges within Five weeks from Date 25th August 2011. If you haven’t receive it after 30th September 2011 please contact me.

Sorry for the inconvenience caused.”

This left me a little flabbergasted. She had initially only asked me for my mailing address, and nothing about lack of stock. Furthermore, she only replied me after I chased her for an update. As it turns out, my nail art pens finally arrived last Saturday (17 Sept), almost a month after I’d sent my order.

What’s more, I found out that Xin had also bought the same deal and sent off her order on the same day, but she still hasn’t gotten hers. Is anyone else in the same boat I wonder…?

Friday Smiles – A 5-yr old Makeup Guru (?) and more…

2011-09-16T13:23:00.000+08:00

Happy Friday ladies! :D For those of you in Malaysia, you’re undoubtedly already into the weekend thanks to today’s public holiday, eh?

I thought I’d share some happy things from this past week – not all beauty related, but fun nonetheless.

First up is a video on YouTube of a 5-year old makeup ‘guru’ (in the pic above). Her name’s Madison, and I reckon she’s definitely watched her mum do one too many makeup tutorials (try to count how many times she says "I really love this.."!). But props, this girl has access to Sigma brushes! :O I couldn’t embed the video since it’s not allowed, but the YouTube link is here: http://youtu.be/4NIpIr1X9Kc

Oh, and how many of you celebrated the Mid-Autumn Festival this year? Lanterns are of course a must, but give me the old-style paper or cellophane ones any day over the plastic music-playing, light-flashing, bubble-blowing (yes! I saw a Hello Kitty one that blew bubbles out its mouth).

My whole office here got into it as well, with a bunch of us crazy fellows traipsing with our lanterns all the way from Raffles to Clarke Quay, taking heaps of photos along the way (and getting plenty of amused stares too). But hey, how many can say their office is as much fun? :D

And last but definitely not least, this arrived at my office this morning for me…

How not to end the week on a fuzzy note? The flowers were from the Boy to mark a milestone, and definitely made my day (oh heck, my weekend too!) especially since work had been rather trying the past couple of days.

I’m hoping they’ll last and/or dry out nicely since I’m headed back to KL in a bit and won’t be able to bring them with me. Will also get a chance to meet up with some of my blogging ladies tomorrow for breakfast as well, so my weekend is set!

I hope all of you have just as awesome a weekend! *hugz*

Jumping on the D-I-Y nail wrap wagon – First Kiss New York Nail Dress…

2011-09-13T09:30:00.000+08:00

After seeing all the buzz around Sally Hansen nail wraps recently, I was most intrigued and decided to try them for myself. Unfortunately, I had problems finding them initially and ended up picking this pack from Sasa just to try them out since they looked quite similar.

This is the First Kiss New York Nail Dress in leopard print. Oddly enough, I haven’t been able to find much of this company online, and attempts to access the online site at www.kissusa.com also failed, which left me with some doubts as to the useability of the product.

Even more curious, the instructions at the back are in Korean (I think), and says the product is made in Korea, although the main company is from New York. See what I mean by confusing?

The contents were straightforward enough though – a pack of 28 strips, together with a nail buffer / emery board combo in the pack. Instructions were obviously difficult given the language barrier, but I just tried my luck following the pictures at the back.

I basically just applied a base coat (Sally Hansen’s Double Duty – love the stuff!) and waited for it to dry a bit before applying the nail wrap. After using the pink (buffer) side to make sure the wrap adhered properly to the nail, the excess was then filed off using the black (emery) side.

The whole process was relatively painless, except for my thumbs and forefingers which I’m guessing aren’t the best shape to take these wraps. As a result, you can see my third to pinky fingers above look great, while the forefinger, not so great. >.<

As for how long they’ll last, I have no idea – I guess I’ll have to wait a bit and see how they fare (if I can resist the urge to rip them off thanks to the uneven application on my thumbs and forefingers!) Price wise, they’re retailing at RM33.90 per pack for 28 pieces, which makes them a bit cheaper than the Sally Hansen wraps.

I will probably be able to give you a better idea once I’ve tested out the Sally Hansen wraps (which I will get to after this set of wraps comes off!) and let you know which one I prefer. However, for those who want fuss-free nails, no drying time and sturdier wraps to work with (since I hear the Sally Hansen ones tear easily if you're not careful), you may want to ‘practise’ with this one before moving on to the more expensive ones.

First Kiss New York Nail Dress Stick-On Wraps retail at RM33.90 per pack and is available at Sasa outlets in a number of patterns.

Rating: 2.5 / 5

Value: $

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque – Enter the Dragon…

2011-09-12T11:11:00.000+08:00

Another Monday beckons eh, ladies? I realise I’m probably the last person to write about the Chanel Rouge Allure Laque, but since I need a boost after the weekend here it is!

Description:

Discover the pure indulgence of liquid lip lacquer, a colour innovation that could only come from Chanel. Intensely rich colour and shine last for hours -- and the temptingly creamy formula conditions as it hydrates lips. All this, with full coverage in eight stunning shades.

The shade I got was a gorgeous blood red called Dragon (#75), which had caught my eye after seeing it on Yani (she and Paris are huge fans of red lips, and it’s a pretty hard pull to resist!). And since I had some Robinsons vouchers to use up in Singapore, why not?

I love how understated Chanel products are, and the Rouge Allure Laque is no different – coming in a black glossy tube with the gold Chanel logo on the top, it’s also got a nice heft to it too. The Dragon shade itself though, is LOVE. Just one swipe of this is enough to make my lips pop, although I found I had to seriously exfoliate my lips before wearing this to avoid my lipstick bleeding at the edges.

Texture-wise, I don’t have any complaints either – creamy without being too thick, and lasted me a whole day at work without any touch ups. Even after it got wiped off, my lips still had a red stain to it which looked pretty good when topped off with a light gloss.

At the risk of taking a close up of my lips which would have looked like two slices of red tuna, I decided to show you the full face instead (pardon the eye bags!), and it’s not difficult to see why I’m so in love with this shade. :D

You can read Yani’s take on the Rouge Allure Laque here, or see Paris’ take on the Mandarin shade here.

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque retails at RM110 or SG$49 for a 6ml tube, and is available in 8 shades at all Chanel counters nationwide.

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$

Getting lashed at Apronbay…

2011-09-07T18:32:00.001+08:00

I’m just going to come out and say it – I have the most pathetically straight eyelashes ever! Without a curler and mascara, they may as well be aesthetically non-existent. All part and parcel of my lovely combination of genes, but since these are the same genes that gave me prominent double eyelids I can’t really complain too much right? :D

In Singapore, semi-permanent lash extensions are quite common among the ladies, but I didn’t want to look quite so extreme, plus I’d seen instances of lash extensions done so wrong they remind me of Snuffleopagus from Sesame Street! (seriously, when in doubt err on the side of caution)

Enter Apronbay – a pretty beauty boutique with an Air Travel concept that specialises in brow and waxing services. Now I don’t have enough hair on my arms and legs to justify going for waxing, nor have I plucked up the courage to go for a bikini wax just yet.

When I was introduced to Apronbay last year, I noticed that they had lash perming services on the menu, which intrigued me. After checking with the boutique owner Ashley that the perming solution was safe and that I wasn’t allergic to it, I gave in to the call of the lash perm…and have never looked back!

One of the rooms at Apronbay – they’re all just as pretty with different themes, but this is the one I like the most…it’s like escaping to a seaside holiday, even if just visually.

The whole process is very simple – I just had to lie there 45 minutes with my eyes closed while Ashley did her magic. First, the eye area is cleansed before glue is applied to fix small flexible rods to the base of your lashes. This is the rod your lashes will be wrapped around to hold its shape while the perming solution takes effect.

Next, the perming solution is applied. After applying the protective film, there’s a 10 minute wait for the solution to work. A setting solution is used next, which is also left on for 10 minutes. Once done, the rods are gently taken off and the solution is cleaned from the eye area. A comb is used to separate and ‘spread’ the lashes, not unlike what a hairdresser would do to your hair after a perm (except this involves a lot less hair and Ashley’s a lot gentler!)

Once the eye area is cleaned thoroughly and lashes combed into place, you’re good to go! Results typically last about 6 weeks, although personally mine can last 8-10 weeks with no problems.

I love the results, and you can clearly see the big difference! I haven’t been able to catch a photo that shows off the effect of my permed lashes on my daily look, but it’s quite pretty in person if I do say so myself…*ahem* :P

Will I go back? You bet I will! I’m already on to my 3rd lash perm over the course of the last year, which is pretty good. For those considering doing last perming, here are a couple of tips you may find useful:

Don’t wear eye makeup to your lash perming – it’s most unnecessary, wearing eye makeup means the more makeup remover the beautician will have to use, and it will just add time to your appointment.
Try to use a lash serum before and after your lash perming – this will help condition your lashes so they’re more receptive to the perming solution, as well as keep them pliable afterwards.
Don’t use mascara for the first 24 hours after your lash perm – this is to give your perm some time to set without being weighed down.
Get your lashes done at Apronbay!

Okay, so that last one was just my two cents worth – but I’ve been massively happy with the service and results from Apronbay, so needless to say I’ll keep going back. :D The lash perm costs RM65, which is pretty okay for two months of perky, perfectly curled lashes don’t you think? *bats eyelids*

Apronbay

6-1, 1st Floor,

Jalan Telawi 4,

Bangsar Baru,

59100 Kuala Lumpur,

MALAYSIA

Tel: +603 2287 8081

** Closed on Mondays

You can also check out their website and Facebook page for information, or follow them on Twitter for updates.

Rating: 4.5 / 5

Value: $$$

A diet book for kids? Now this is seriously too much…

2011-09-06T09:51:00.000+08:00

Was browsing through my usual feeds a while back and came across this – apparently, now they’ve come up with a diet book targeted at…wait for it...6 – 12 year olds. *winces*

The book, titled “Maggie Goes on a Diet” is written and self-published by Hawaii-based author Paul Kramer, and just check out the blurb:

Maggie has so much potential that has been hiding under her extra weight. This inspiring story about a 14 year old who goes on a diet and is transformed from being overweight and insecure to a normal sized teen who becomes the school soccer star. Through time, exercise and hard work, Maggie becomes more and more confident and develops a positive self image.

Err…seriously? Is there really a need to start kids obsessing with their weight at such a young age? You’d think that with the increasing numbers of younger and younger kids developing eating disorders and body issues, they’d come up with more encouraging reading materials. Ever heard of encouragement and building self-esteem, Aloha Publishers?

I don’t have any kids, but if I did I wouldn’t let them anywhere near this book. Fail!

The Body Shop Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer – Makes Scents…

2011-09-05T16:16:00.003+08:00

Haha…apologies for the pun – I thought I’d grab your attention a bit since I’ve been gone for quite a while. Too many things have been happening, unfortunately. In early July, I found out I’d have to move apartments again (it was the second time in less than 6 months!), so most of the month was spent hunting for rooms, viewing the places, *shudder* packing up (a Herculean feat in itself!)…and moving yet again.

Of course, through all that I did find a few gems here and there. Admittedly, I haven’t been buying a lot in the past month – a conscious effort, since anything I bought would have added to the already humongous pile of boxes I had to pack!

One of the little gems I stumbled upon was The Body Shop Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer though…if you like the scents of their body washes, this will be a treat to use because they smell exactly like their soapy counterparts! :)

There are a total of 6 variants available overseas – Coconut, Satsuma, Mango, Pink Grapefruit, Lemon and Strawberry. I also spotted an Aloe Vera version in the Singapore store, although I haven’t seen it online. Sadly, this isn’t available in Malaysia at the present time, so if you want it you'll have to make your way across the Causeway (or bribe me to bring it back for you!).

No surprise here that I picked the pink grapefruit variant for myself – it smells EXACTLY like the pink grapefruit range in The Body Shop...yummy!

As far as hand sanitizers go, this gel is slightly less gloopier than most but melts pretty quickly once it comes into contact with your skin. This is great since I don’t like having that ‘wet’ feeling on my hands after using it, plus it doesn’t leave any sticky residue. The only problem I have is that I can’t stop sniffing my hands for a good 5 minutes afterwards thanks to the delicious scent! *oops*

Ingredients:
Alcohol Denat. (Solvent/Diluent), Water (Solvent/Diluent), Betaine (Hair Conditioning Agent), Glycerin (Humectant), Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer (Stabiliser/Viscosity Modifier), PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil (Emulsifier), Aminomethyl Propanol (pH Adjuster), Fragrance (Fragrance), Limonene (Fragrance Ingredient), Linalool (Fragrance Ingredient), Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract (Skin-Conditioning Agent), Hexyl Cinnamal (Fragrance Ingredient), Disodium EDTA (Chelating Agent), Citral (Fragrance Ingredient), Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract (Natural Additive).

You can get more information on the other variants here. I’m not sure why they listed it under their bath products, but oh well…

The Body Shop Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer retails in a 2.0 fl oz bottle for SGD$6.90 (or you can purchase 2 at SGD$10.90) and is available at all The Body Shop outlets in Singapore.

Rating: 5 / 5
Value: 4.5 / 5

PS: If you’re interested, I’ve actually moved into a room with my own attached bathroom...which means I have the space all to myself instead of sharing it with other people! *does a happy jig* I foresee more bath products in my future…

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss…

2011-06-27T19:31:00.002+08:00

I’d been a fan of Revlon’s Superlustrous Lipglosses for the longest time ever since I was introduced to them back in 2005 (Tip: Layering the gloss over the Superlustrous Lipstick made for an awesome look!) so when the Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss came out, it only made sense that I’d pick one up to try, right? :D

Description:
A pop of weightless color with vivid, mirror-like shine which will outshine everything but you, Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss has a micro-crystal formula for 5X the shine of patent leather and a plush applicator shaped to curves of your lips for smooth, even application of color. Contains Revlon ColorBurst’s Elasticolor™ technology for rich color with a weightless feel, along with moisturizers and anti-oxidants such as sweet almond oil and vitamin E to condition and improve lip texture.

The shade I picked up after trying a few of the testers was Rose Pearl, which is a shiny rosy shade…right up my alley, actually!

On my lips, the gloss is lightweight and not sticky, which is great. It does come off as slightly darker than on my hand, but that’s to be expected since my lips already have a bit of pigment to them. There’s also a waft of vanilla scent when I first apply this to my lips, but the smell doesn’t last long and doesn’t bother me too much.

As far as lastingness goes, I’m usually pretty good about not eating off too much of my lipcolour anyway, so this only needed a quick touchup after lunch. Otherwise, this held up pretty well through numerous glasses of water…not too shabby, methinks!

I do have one bone to pick with it, albeit from a packaging perspective. Revlon stuck the barcode and information label right across the body AND the cap, which made opening the tube a real pain. I finally took a blade to slice it right across instead of wrestle with twisting the cap off. Ah well…you can’t win them all…

Actually, all things considered I’d still stick to my Superlustrous Lipgloss, but this Colorburst Lipgloss would be a good choice for the times I want something more pigmented without reaching for a lipstick.

You can read what Nikki and Paris had to say about them as well! :)

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss retails at RM36 each and are available in 8 shades from all Revlon counters.

Rating: 4 / 5
Value: $$

Keeping those dangly earrings in check – part 2!

2011-06-23T11:12:00.000+08:00

Since coming to Singapore, my dangling earring collection has expanded by leaps and bounds – thanks to tweaks in my dressing style as well as erm, more compelling reasons to dress up when I’m here, my collection here has grown to rival the one I have back in KL! :D

However, storing them here brought up the usual storage problems I’d faced back in KL. Where in KL I’d used a simple DIY method to hang them up, but this time staying in a rented room, I couldn’t very well hang tape and stuff on the walls that would take off the paint. (yes, the challenges of renting a room…sigh…)

Well, yesterday while out with the Boy, we were strolling in Muji when I came across the perfect storage solution!

Made of clear plastic, it has enough slots to hold 18 pairs of earrings. What’s more, the side slide out mechanism makes it easy to store and remove earrings. Why did it take me so long to discover this??

Suffice to say, I immediately snapped one up since they weren’t too expensive at SG$23. Better still, Muji is currently having ‘Back to School’ sales where purchase of 2 items and above entitles you to 15% off your purchase.

Happy Danglies! :D

PS: Apologies for the sporadic updates ladies, it’s been a rather whirlwind couple of months with a LOT happening…I’ve actually missed blogging, but am hoping it’s just a matter of time before things settle down and I’m able to get back into the groove. Missing all of you heaps!

Canmake Pink Grapefruit EDT has me all juiced up!

2011-05-09T12:34:00.000+08:00

It’s no secret that one of my favourite scents is anything citrus – something that brings Kahani and me together…the hunt for the juicy scent in products. :D So when I saw this with Rinnah last week, I knew I had to try it…*sniff sniff*

Canmake Pink Grapefruit in an eau de toilette form…at SG$36.90 for 30ml, it’s not the cheapest EDT around, but not too pricey either.

The bottle is absolutely gorgeous with a yellow to pink ombre in a glass bottle – it’s got a nice heft to it and comes across looking more expensive than it really is. The cap itself is pink plastic though, which is the only minor letdown in the whole design.

As for the scent? It smells EXACTLY like pink grapefruit, and in a majorly awesome way. Fresh, zingy, zesty and just gave that “mmmm” feeling.

The only thing that disappointed me was that the scent doesn’t last too long. It starts out fine for the first couple of hours, but by lunchtime there was barely anything left. Then again, a male friend who has been typically oblivious to all previous scents actually picked up on it and commented, “you smell good enough to eat”.

I dunno about the rest of you, but that’s good enough for me! :D I may have to think about decanting a small vial to carry around with me though, since the fragrance doesn’t last long. Would I buy it again? Probably yes, until I find a similar scent that has longer lasting power.

Canmake Pink Grapefruit EDT retails at SG$36.90 for 30ml and is available at most Canmake counters. I picked mine up during a John Little roadshow promotion at 15% off.

Rating: 3.5 / 5
Value: $$

Quick & Easy: Sparkly-tipped nails…

2011-05-05T11:02:00.000+08:00

While I’m a huge fan of nail art and always ogle over my blogging babes’ nails (Nikki and Xin, I’m looking at you two!) I can be a total klutz when it comes to doing my own nails. Pale shimmery colours I can manage, but anything beyond that and I leave it to the professionals lest I make a total mess of it… :p

But I think I’ve found an easy solution to perk up my nails somewhat without requiring multiple repairs and using half a bottle of nail polish remover to fix mistakes! :D

I started off with clear nail polish (actually, in this case I used Sally Hansen’s Double Duty base and top coat to save hassle), and coated the tips with a shimmery white nail polish (in this pic, I used a polish I just bought from Missha).

The result? French-tip looking nails with some sparkle at the tips – they’re conservative enough for work, but more fun than the conventional French tips. Better yet, I didn’t really need to be too precise about the line either which was a lifesaver…just ‘within the lines’ sufficed!

One base coat, two layers of white shimmer on the tips, let dry and finish with a top coat. Took me less than 15 minutes! :D

And really, if a klutz like me can do it, I guarantee you anyone can!

Back from Macau and HK…

2011-05-04T11:33:00.000+08:00

I survived!

LOL…yes, I’m back in one piece, and survived a 3-day (long weekend) SG-Macau-HK-Macau-SG hop journey despite falling sick on the first night thanks to the drizzling rain and cold weather, accommodation glitches in Hong Kong and ah, I’ll save the long stories for another time.

For now, just a couple of photos to mark the occasion…

As for shopping, I didn’t actually manage to buy that much other than big bags of cookies which were promptly distributed to colleagues and such. I did however pick up a couple of beauty items which I had my eye on, which you’ll hear more about in days to come.

I’d been dying to get my hands on a crackle polish for a while now, and when I spotted it in the Missha shop in HK I had to get a bottle – tried it out on my nails when I got back and it seems to be working fine, so a full test run is in order! :D

On a side note, those of you who follow me on Twitter would have seen me gawping about this piece of jewellery from the Swarovski store…

It’s very pretty isn’t it? The set of three rings can be worn together or individually, but it was the dangling crystal that got my eye – reminded me of Rebecca Romjin who has her engagement diamond dangling off her finger as well.

The price tag is making me gag though…it costs a whopping SGD$255! *choke*...at that price, I’d rather channel my funds towards getting an iPad2…which I just might… ;)

How was your long weekend?

A little piece of bliss at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake…

2011-04-19T12:44:00.000+08:00

Was feeling a spate of wanderlust over the past few days thinking about travel, hence this random post about the hotel I had stayed in while in Hanoi on work last year – the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake.

This place is seriously amazing from the first view – the hotel’s situated ON the waters of the West Lake and is ensconced in a quiet corner just a few minutes from the city centre. I liked that the whole place has a hint of a colonial feel to it…hardly surprising since it’s Hanoi, after all.

The rooms are among the most spacious in Hanoi – I was told each room has a minimum space of 43m2 which is pretty big! My room was situated just off the main building along one of the branches. And there’s no worry about luggage either – they have little buggies that can ferry guests from one place to the other.

I fell in love with my room at first sight – wouldn’t you? :D Oh, and just behind the windows is access to my own private balcony…*bliss*

The bathroom was a separate experience by itself, and boasts two sinks (perfect for couples or mirror hogs!) as well as a standalone shower stall and…wait for it…

…awesome tub! Sadly I didn’t get to enjoy it as much as I would have liked since I was running around for work, but I still managed to sneak in a good soak on the last night…almost fell asleep in the tub, come to think of it… ;)

For those looking to have a real bath experience, the InterContinental even has a bath menu. Basically what happens is you call the reception at least 3 hours ahead and make your selection from the menu above – the staff will come in and set up the bath for you. This is a separate cost of course, but from what I remember it was quite affordable and worth the price (it was less than RM100 if I remember correctly, although prices are listed in USD)

I love that they’re not stingy with the bath amenities, which come sealed in neat plastic and foil packets for hygiene, as well as stored in a nice leather-like box.

Can you imagine waking up to these views every morning? The left side of my balcony overlooked the lake (the building with the red roof is the hotel’s night bar) while the right side faces the main hotel building and pool. The entire place has a very spacious and tranquil feel to it…and can be quite amusing when you see one of the locals paddling by in a small sampan (boat/ raft) going about their daily lives!

The piece de resistance is in the bed, which to me can be compared to Westin’s heavenly bed…this is also the first time I’ve ever come across a PILLOW menu – there are so many options to choose from! :D (I picked #1 and #5 since they’re complementary for the duration of your stay)

And what could be more apt than leaving you with a pic of the bed…InterContinental, never fear – we shall meet again someday! :D

Oh, and just to add on – the food at the F&B outlets is fantastic. Buffet breakfast is included in the cost of the room, and there’s something for everyone from Western dishes to Vietnamese pho. Plus, the staff here are infinitely friendly and very accommodating, which made my stay all the more enjoyable despite having to run around like a headless chicken trying to set up for a client’s event.

Rooms at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake start from USD$139 (approx. RM420) per night, which is a bit pricey but on par with most 5-star hotels in KL anyway. There are good online promotions every now and then, so if you can get a good deal on the room it’s definitely worth your while. :)

Rating: 5 / 5
Value: $$

Back from a gastronomic time back home…

2011-04-11T16:54:00.003+08:00

It’s another Monday…and I'm back in Singapore.

I was back home in KL for the better part of last week working from the KL office, and I realised just how easily I assimilated back into the local lifestyle without much thought at all. And oh, the food…thanks to all the lunch and dinner appointments, I was certainly well fed if the montages below are anything to go by…

Part One

Part Two

How many dishes can you distinguish? Hehe…keeping in mind that this is still not the entire lot of food consumed, just the more notable ones…it was quite a fair bit!

And on a side note, am testing out this new mascara – can anyone guess which new mascara is giving me this result?

Am quite happy with the lash buildup, it's non-clumpy and the curl factor is pretty good! :D Full review coming up soon! (now if I could only get the photos to show up properly...)

Getting into a summer groove…

2011-04-04T11:46:00.001+08:00

Good golly, is it April already? Geez, I can barely believe the first quarter of 2011 has just zipped by…but as always, there are good things to look forward to...*must..remain..optimistic..*

About a month or so back, some of you following me on Twitter would have seen me raving about a new Fitflop design that would only come out in April…and now that it’s finally out, I can go grab myself a pair! :D

Meet the Frou – retails at SG$169.90 a pair and comes in 4 colours (black isn’t shown)…the price tag’s rather steep, but after all the super ‘functional’ (read: rather boring) designs out previously, the Pietra was a hint of loveliness to come…and this is just gorgeous!

Okay, I don’t care what anyone else says, I want this one in Fuschine – someone made a reference to the ‘flower’ on top resembling a body part, but hey, I happen to like it! :D What do you all think?

Of course, if you’re not that enamoured by the Frou as I am and wanted something closer to the Pietra I got previously, then Luna may be more appropriate for you. It’s a slight variation on design, but still very pretty with two ‘moonstones’ in three shades and retails at a more affordable SG$129.90.

Both designs are available as of April 2011, so if you’d like to check them out as well as the other Spring and Summer designs that have been coming out since January this year, go have a look and let me know what you think! :)

Getting a new cut…

2011-03-25T15:46:00.000+08:00

The last time I was back in KL, it struck me that I hadn’t had my hair cut for the better part of a year…and it was starting to get frizzy with split ends… -_-

See the lifeless flat hair? *shudder*

I literally just sat in the chair and told my stylist to do what she wanted to my hair as long as it wasn’t too layered and I didn’t end up with flat hair. Next thing I knew, I had dozed off and woke up to this…

Err…yeah, it's the foil again! :p

I had my reservations with the bright red dye she was mixing up, but held my tongue…after all, I’ve been going to her for almost a decade, and she’s never done me wrong yet! (now this is called trust!!)

Long story short, this was taken just after I got home – it’s pretty bright in sunlight, but indoors it’s quite muted. Oh, and did I mention she gave me a blunt bob cut and chopped off my layers?

From the side – the base colour is a reddish purple with burgundy red highlights. Not too bad I reckon?

I was told they’ll get a bit brighter as time goes along since the colour will fade off a bit, but let’s see how that goes. There’s actually a package at Sense Studio at Uptown now which packages a cut, colour, highlights and treatment, depending on the length of your hair. Mine cost about RM5** in total which I didn’t think was too bad, considering Joanne’s work lasts me easily 3 months or more. :D

Want to see the previous cuts Joanne gave me? See here and here.

Have a happy weekend peeps! I’m headed off to the airport to catch my flight home…can’t wait!

Fun Finds at Six Accessories @ Vivocity…

2011-03-18T11:26:00.000+08:00

Happy Friday peeps!

While browsing at Vivocity on Wednesday afternoon (I’m on leave every Wednesday this month just to clear the remainder of my 2010 leave...yes, please don't hate me...) I came across this little store on the second floor simply called ‘Six Accessories’. They sell an entire range of jewellery not unlike other chains like Diva, but somehow I’ve found that the pieces here are pretty wearable and yet not ‘cookie cutter’.

But more importantly, they’re also quite affordable! :D

I picked up three pieces at (you guessed it) SG$6 each – so everything you see above cost me just SG$18.

I wore the green piece in the centre…whaddya think? :D Don't mind the sleep-deprived look though!

It’s nice that the pieces are quite vibrant and strong-toned, compared to the usual neutral/ pastel hues I see so often. Sometimes a lady just wants to be seen for all the right reasons, y’all! :D

Six Accessories
1 Harbourfront Walk, Vivocity
#02-107 Singapore 098585
Tel: +65 6376 9541

Clinique gets Pretty in Pinks for Spring 2011…

2011-03-04T10:22:00.000+08:00

Is it me, or are Clinique’s collections getting prettier by the year? Last year, they had the Juiced Up collection for Spring 2010…and this year, Clinique has tied up with Milly designer Michelle Smith to create Pretty in Pinks for Spring 2011, which include a Pretty in Prints Compact, a lip gloss and a pretty darned gorgeous pouch.

The compact design itself showcases a very pretty 'Milly' print, and comes enclosed in a pouch that Paris aptly likened to being very “Pucci-esque”. I definitely don't have anything Pucci, so I suppose this is as close as I'm going to get! :p I like that the compact has a nice heft to it though, along with a nice big mirror inside.

As you can see, the shades in the compact don’t particularly stand out, but are nice and wearable, which is fine by me. I can carry off certain shades of pink without looking like a China doll, and these just happen to suit me despite the blush being a tad warm-toned. At the bottom of the pic is the Long Last Glosswear SPF 15 comes in Milly Pink, which is described as a warm-toned melon shade. A rather light hue, but it’s a nice complement to the collection of browns and pinks. I actually feel quite girly when I use this! :D *blushes delicately*

The Clinique Limited-Edition Pretty in Prints Compact retails at RM180, while the Limited Edition Long Last Glosswear SPF15 retails at RM63. Both are currently available at Clinique counters nationwide.

Spotted: L’Oreal HiP Studio Secrets™ Professional Duos…

2011-03-03T10:45:00.000+08:00

I can’t believe the L’Oreal HiP Studio Secrets™ Professional Duos have been in Singapore for quite some time already but I’m only seeing the displays now. Had been on the lookout for these since reading about them end of last year, but the outlets near my place haven’t been big enough to warrant one of these standees.

There are a total of 8 combinations available in Singapore, and I must say they brought in a pretty good selection of colours, although as far as I can tell most are from the Bright Shadows range of colour combinations.

The L’Oreal HiP Studio Secrets™ Professional Duos retail at US$7.99 overseas, but in Singapore they’re going at SG$18.90 each. However, I was told they have Buy One Get One Free (BOGOF) promotions for these every now and then, which make them a lot more value for money. I spotted this at the Watsons outlet in Suntec City if I remember correctly.

I’ve heard some good things about these duos, so will probably pick up a couple the next time I see the BOGOF promotion. :D

Has anyone else tried these out yet, and if you have, what did you think of it? Share your thoughts!

Getting my hands on the Dior Minaudière Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss Palette…

2011-03-02T10:10:00.000+08:00

Okay, hands up…how many of you were chomping at the bit to get your hands on the Dior Minaudière Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss Palette above after reading Paris’ post on it? *sheepishly raises hand*

Well as they say, where there’s a will there’s a way…and after hunting high and low online, I came across a site that still had them! It was none other than KrisShop – Singapore Airlines’ duty free shopping site, which I think is going to be a new favourite. They actually allow you to order items online to be collected on your flight, or to be shipped to you. :D

Better yet, shipping was surprisingly affordable…shipping is SG$15 for nett purchases below SG$188 within Singapore (single address), and free for nett purchases above SG$188.

After gleefully poking some friends online (not to mention goading some to get it too!), I placed my order on a Friday evening. The site says shipping would take 7-10 working days, but the very next Monday I got my order waiting on my table. Now that’s efficiency for you!

The items came nicely wrapped in a big KrisShop envelope complete with ribbon. As I’ve said before, presentation is everything! :D

Before you say it, yes I bought an extra Minaudière for a friend (plus another item not shown here) to get the free shipping – and they even threw in some angpow packets and a nice silk pouch in for free since it was just after the CNY period.

So lovingly wrapped in CD printed paper…it’s like Christmas all over again!

Taa-daaahhh!! It’s exactly the same as the one that was brought in to Malaysia and Singapore back in November, and mine was in #002 Ors Roses/ Pink Golds.

The eyeshadows look every bit as lovely in real life as in the pictures I’ve seen, and the heft definitely makes it feel very luxurious. I’ve actually (surprise surprise!) already dug into it, but forgot to take a pic of the finished look so you’ll have to wait a bit for those. :/

I haven’t touched the lipglosses yet though – there’s just something about the sparkliness that makes me just sigh and admire it…does anyone else do that? :p

The best part? The Dior Minaudière was retailing at US$80 in the US, or approximately RM226 in Malaysia…on KrisShop, it was going for SG$83. After adding GST and taxes, it came up to just under SG$89 (approximately RM218). Score!! :D

The Dior Minaudière Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss Palette is from the Limited Edition Holiday 2010 Collection – I purchased mine online at KrisShop, which retails for SG$83.

A Sunday on Sentosa…

2011-03-01T11:43:00.002+08:00

Gosh, is it the first of March already? This actually marks the anniversary of the day I stepped into the Singapore office to work…seems like a lifetime ago, and yet as if the time has just flown by, y’know?

I actually spent a good part of Sunday wandering around Sentosa before going for a show, and actually walked all the way from the Beach train stop to Resorts World snapping pics. A bit late to be doing the ‘touristy’ thing, considering I’ve been into Sentosa a few times already but there’s always new things to see, no? :D

The series of little pools along Merlion Walk – the mosaic tiling along this entire stretch reminded me of the Gaudi-designed Parc Guell in Barcelona…just thinking about it makes me want to go back there again!

Greenery on Sentosa is lush and abundant, that’s for sure – there are plenty of flowers, and they seem to be perpetually in bloom. I took this in the gardens near the Imbiah Lookout area.

What I love about Sentosa is the seemingly seamless blend between nature and urban structures…of course, having things like these candy trees (outside Candylicious!) doesn’t hurt, right? If only it were real… :D

Gimme that candy already!! *chomp*

This was the reason I went in to Sentosa…to watch Voyage de la Vie! :D It’s probably no surprise that I’m a big kid at heart, and circuses are no exception. To the darling that treated me to the show with awesome tickets, thank you!! *hugz* We were only 5 rows from the stage, which was incredible.

I couldn’t get any pics of the show since they kept really tight lids on any video or photo taking, but above is the cast – the one I really wanted to see live was Victor Kee (he’s the ‘ringmaster’ at the back in red) as I’d seen him in a Cirque du Soleil production previously and was quite impressed with his…ball skills? LOL…

Admittedly, one of my concerns was wondering how they were going to merge the international circus theatre acts together with some local cast members and a local lead singer, but in the end I was pretty much blown away by the entire performance.

Won’t say more, but if you get the chance and circus theatre is your thing, go catch Voyage de la Vie…you won’t be disappointed. :D

Coming up tomorrow: Remember those limited edition Dior Minaudieres? I may have missed out on getting them at the counters, but never underestimate online shopping! :D

inuovi Warehouse Relocation Sale…

2011-02-24T14:03:00.001+08:00

For those of you in Singapore, this should have you sitting up in your seats – inuovi is relocating its warehouse, and will be selling off its stocks at discounts of 70-90%, with a gift for purchases above SGD$50. Sounds pretty good to me!

(click on the image for larger size)

The only caveat here is that it’s only on weekdays, so it may be difficult for some to get there (including yours truly!). Anyone want to do proxy shopping for me? LOL…the sale starts tomorrow, so better start planning your timetables! :D

Wood Would – brings back childhood memories…

2011-02-23T10:23:00.000+08:00

If you’ve ever gone into the Cathay complex in Singapore, you may have come across this little store called Wood Would on the third floor that looks like a typical kitschy shop at first glance. I just happened to be led in one day thanks to Erin who was compelled to have a look inside, and I’ll be the first to admit looks can be deceiving in this case!

When you first enter the store, the first thing that strikes you is that the shop is like a tribute to your childhood – there are masses of toys as well as old Enid Blyton hardcover books on display. Wood Would sells a whole range of toys, knickknacks and a selection of wedding or baby-themed albums and journals for personalisation.

The real jewels though, are in the selection of stationery available – not your standard notebooks, journals and stickers, but a gorgeous selection of postcards that come disguised as books. They also have a wide range of thematic stickers and labels available, and knowing my penchant for pretty stationery, how was I supposed to resist buying something? (Ironic, isn’t it? Erin dragged me in wanting to look at stuff, but I ended up buying something instead…)

My pick was this book of French general labels and stickers, which cost me SGD$20. Now, before you gasp and think the price was insane, this book contains 200 labels and stickers, and I get the quality I paid for – good quality smooth paper that won’t bleed or rip easily…and some seriously drool-worthy designs.

This is just a random sampler of a few pages in the book…now I dare you to tell me they don’t look awesome. Just a look at the detail on the borders of the stickers/ labels says it all. I would have loved these as a child (although probably wouldn’t have appreciated it as much as now, having to buy them with my own money!), but then again, we’re all little kids at heart right?

So far, I’ve only been able to bring myself to use a page of stickers…but with a number of birthdays and special occasions coming up, I’m sure I’ll have plenty of opportunity to use them up… ;)

Wood Would
#03-03 The Cathay,
2 Handy Road,
Singapore
Tel: +65 6836 2434

Much ado about Muar… :D

2011-02-21T11:59:00.000+08:00

Hey ladies! How was your weekend? I’m back at work but still feeling the effects of my weekend roadtrip up to Muar for a family reunion and to celebrate my maternal grandma’s birthday. To say it was gastronomic ecstasy all the way up and back would still be an understatement… :D

This is the absolutely-must-visit street in Muar – Jalan Haji Abu, which also known as Muar’s Hunger Street…all the food you’d ever want to try in Muar is either along this street or just nearby.

Still a bit early for durian, but who cares if you know where to go and who to buy from? :D

Dinner was spent nomming my way down Hunger Street…wantan mee (loved the homemade springy noodles), pork satay (melted in my mouth), otak-otak (possibly the best I’ve tried) and o chien/ oysters (wins hands down for the best I’ve tried…ever!). And this is just PART of the food we tried in Muar... :O

The rest of the world gets Coffeebean, but Muar’s a little different…they get Elephant Bean! I’d be pretty curious as to how they came up with the name though, if you get what I mean… :p

I stayed at Muar Trader’s Hotel, which was decent enough in terms of amenities, but a word of warning for those heading there – don’t expect the same kind of facilities or standards as another Trader’s Hotel! Probably ok by small town standards la…

The view from the window at night was gorgeous though…it’s situated right next to the Muar River, which explains the bridge lights on the left side…

How was everyone else’s weekend? :D

Of post-CNY thoughts…

2011-02-18T11:38:00.001+08:00

Well well…CNY has finally come and gone – how did you all fare this year? :D As for me, the festivities started off for me the weekend before CNY and continued right through into the Rabbit year! Since it’s a Friday anyway, I thought I’d just share some random thoughts and memorable moments from the past 15 (well, technically 21 for me!) days…

Every year, my dad loves to make us dress in traditional Chinese garb and take a family photo, which he then uses as his CNY greeting to family and friends. This year, since I’d already worn the same outfit twice, I got a new cheongsam (yes, it’s purple… :p) to wear for the photo. The dress itself was a bargain – cost me S$49 from the Native Country outlet in Novena.

I love this shot – a cousin caught this as we were trying to do a family ‘camho’ shot…mind you, dad was trying to take the photo with his iPhone! LOL…

The result wasn’t too bad right? Hehe…still needs a bit of honing though to get the photo balanced!

I’m very thankful that I still have grandparents alive, especially my paternal grandma. She seems to get tinier every year, and at a grand age of 91, you’d better believe she can still whup your a**at mah-jong! In this case, she’s got iPhone skills…how many 91-yr olds do you know that can negotiate Fruit Ninja? :D My granny rocks yo!

First day of CNY with granny and my (finally NO LONGER unemployed) brother. Before you ask, yes it’s the same cheongsam – and I finally had a chance to put my Marena supportwear to the test. I’ll go into Marena in a separate post, but in a nutshell I was pretty pleased with the results (and getting compliments from the rest of the family didn’t hurt any either…)

Rinnah and myself purposely invited ourselves over to Xin’s house during CNY to collect angpow since she promised us ‘cute cute bunny packet’…*giggles*

Come to think of it, I actually managed to meet up with quite a few of the girls over CNY – besides our pre-CNY ‘lohei’ lunch, I also managed to haul Connie over from KLCC to Pavilion to have dinner with Tine and myself (and squeeze in some shopping as well!)

Oh, and as far as new items for CNY go, I’m in love with this particular new acquisition…

*squeal of happiness*…I’d been hankering for a new camera for the longest time – it had been a close fight between the Canon S95 and the Panasonic Lumix LX5, but after trying out Tine’s camera (she had picked up the same model some time earlier) the Lumix won!

Caught some fireworks that were going off behind my aunt’s house in Seremban with the new camera – I'd only bought the camera the day before and hadn’t had the chance to learn how to use it yet, so simply used the presets…still, I think they didn’t turn out too badly.

This is my favourite gift over the CNY period – a Sportscraft Jeanie Minibag in my favourite colour…absolutely LOVE it!! :D Thank you thank you girl…you know who you are! *wink*

Oh, and on a side note I got some further happy news over CNY...the renovations at my Ara Hills apartment have finally been completed, and furniture’s been moved in! :)

This is a sneak peek at the living/dining area, but you get the idea…the brown box at the back is the TV which still needs to be mounted, but otherwise I’m most happy with the result. Now if only I could figure out where the heck I’m going to be based in the next year so I can finally move in… >.<

Chap Goh Mei passed without much fuss yesterday. And before you ask, no I didn’t throw any oranges into the river/ pond/ stream/ waterway…because everyone I mentioned it to in Singapore told me it was illegal (ie. considered littering!) Besides, I have a long-standing joke with some friends that what you throw in will indicate how desperate you are…

First year, throw orange…
Second year no result, throw grapefruit…
Third year no result, throw pomelo…
Fourth year no result, throw honeydew…
…and if fifth year STILL no result, heck, throw watermelon! :D

And that’s all she wrote, folks! How was your CNY? :D Collected/ handed out lots of angpows? Stuffed yourself silly on CNY goodies? Come on, share your stories!

Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry – who you calling chubby?

2011-02-15T11:49:00.000+08:00

During my younger days, I was definitely known as the ‘chubby kid’…well, I’m still definitely no waif now, but hey, the word ‘chubby’ used to be synonymous with ‘cute’ (ie. the baby’s so cute and chubby!) or was it just me? LOL…

So when Clinique came out with their Chubby Stick, the first thing I had to wonder was whether it would hold true to the ‘cute n chubby’ description…well let’s see, shall we?

Description:
Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is a pleasantly plump and playful nourishing lip balm that’s packed with ‘do-gooders’ to keep lips luscious and irresistibly soft. When applied, the Chubby Stick provides a sheer hint of colour that glides on effortlessly, leaving behind a natural blush of colour and sheen. Infused with Shea Butter, Mango Seed Butter and Jojoba Seed Oil, the Chubby Stick delivers a surge of moisture in a sleek stick leaving lips soft, supple and soothed.

The Verdict:
At first glance, the Chubby Stick looks like an oversized crayon with a silver cap and ‘twisty’ base. The shade I was sent was Super Strawberry, which comes across as a deep pink shade – once swatched however, what you end up with is a sheer reddish pink with a hint of shine. I layered it on twice in the picture above, hence you see a darker hue compared to when applied on my lips.

This is what one layer of Super Strawberry looks like on me after letting it settle for 10 minutes or so – the colour actually fades a bit into a sweet MLBB (my lips but better) rosy sheen which I think I’m falling in love with. The formula of the balm itself feels lovely on my lips, and I like that it’s not sticky and yet moisturising enough without feeling oily.

Moisture-wise, I can’t find anything bad to say about it…at all. Really! Between this and the Lip Smoothie, I still prefer the Lip Smoothie (which I now have three shades of!) because it gives me a nice glossy pout, but on the moisture factor both products stack up on the same level. That said, I wouldn’t mind trying out the Grapefruit and Berry Burst variants of the Chubby Stick either! :D

I can tell you though, that one Chubby Stick will really last you quite some time - I’ve been using this almost daily for over 3 weeks with multiple applications, and have only JUST started twisting the base to push up the balm (by the way, the balm can be twisted both up and down, so no worries if you’ve accidentally twisted too much!). There’s a good inch of balm in the tube, so this will definitely keep me going for a good 6 months at least. At RM50 per tube, it’s quite affordable too for the value you get out of it.

So, is the Chubby Stick really ‘cute n chubby’? Well, yes and more…it packs a punch in the ‘moisturised pout’ department and heck, I’m not beyond being called ‘cute’ when I wear it! *Marilyn Monroe pout mode on*

Clinique’s Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm is currently available at Clinique counters nationwide and online at RM50 (SRP), and is available in eight shades.

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$$

Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Collection…

2011-02-14T11:51:00.001+08:00

I’m back! And on Valentine’s Day no less…the year 2011 didn’t get off to a very good start for me, and most of January was unfortunately spent trying to wrestle my life back into some semblance of order. Anyway, all that’s been more or less settled now, and as of Chinese New Year, I’m most determined that the Year of the Rabbit’s gonna bring good luck! :D

Anyhow, that brings me back to this little snippet of news from the little red dot down south – anyone recognise the monkey? LOL…

Of course, it’s the logo for Paul Frank – and they’ve tied up with Lip Smacker® to come up with a Paul Frank Lip Smacker® range of flavours and designs. Have I mentioned how much I enjoy Lip Smacker®’s collaborations? First they came up with the whole range of soft-drink flavoured balms (my lips just went tingly with the likes of Coca Cola, Fanta and Sprite!) and now these most adorable lip products! :D

First up is the Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Balm (SG$4.90 each) which comes in 4 flavours – Julius’, Strawberry Banana, Clancy’s Cotton Candy and Mika’s Sweet Cream (the last one sounds wrong, doesn’t it?)

If you’re more of a pot kind of gal, Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Gloss Pot (SG$7.90 each) is probably more up your alley with 3 flavours – Clancy’s Cotton Candy, Chachi’s Fried Ice Cream and Julius’ Strawberry Banana.

Two types of liquid glosses are also available, the first of which is Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Liquid Gloss (SG$5.90) that’s available in 4 flavours – Julius’, Strawberry Banana, Clancy’s Cotton Candy, Chachi’s Fried Ice Cream and Worry Bear’s Honey Sweet. Good for those who want a slick, sweet pout!

If you prefer the liquidy gloss feel, go for the Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Flip Juicees (SG$6.90) which come in 2 flavours – Julius’ Coconut Cream and Sheree’s Sweet Sugar Berry. I’ve been told the coconut one is rather strong, so unless you REALLY like coconut, I’d have my reservations about this one.

I did find this one adorable though – anyone want a Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Key Chain Set (SG$9.90 each)? I’d seriously just buy this to get the Paul Frank keychain…and give the lip balms away! :D There’s an option of either a Paul Frank or Bunny Girl keychain set, which comes with two lip balms each.

There’s only two variants from the US range that we haven’t got, which are the Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Trios Balms (above) and the Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Biggy Balms (not pictured) which are stamped with Paul Frank characters.

At any rate, the prices for the range in Singapore are surprisingly competitive, and perhaps in some cases even slightly cheaper than the US prices so this particular collection bears a closer look. There’s nothing over SG$9.90 so at the very least, your pocket can heave a sigh of relief – and it’s Paul Frank after all… :)

As for me, I decided to pick out a couple of the potted lip glosses to try out – Julius’ Strawberry Banana on the left just because the combination sounded delish to me, and Chachi’s Fried Ice Cream because, well, how can you resist a Chihuahua in a sombrero…and aren’t you the least bit curious what fried ice cream lipgloss tastes like? LOL…

The Paul Frank Lip Smacker® collection is currently available at selected Watsons and Guardian outlets throughout Singapore (they will usually be housed in a standee similar to the first picture in this post).

Book on the future Queen of England – gosh they’re fast…

2010-12-27T14:21:00.001+08:00

When browsing at the bookshop a couple of weeks back not long after the announcement of the royal engagement between Prince William and Kate Middleton, I saw this title on the shelves:

Heck, they were really fast, weren’t they – already coming out with a “The makings of a princess” book barely a month after the announcement, also remembering that it would have taken a while longer to reach Singapore and it’s already on the shelves here!

There’s only one part of the book that I thought was seriously in bad taste and showed a lack of judgement – the photo section. Most of the photos were nicely done, but these two were just a blatant attempt to sell books…

I cannot imagine how they allowed these pictures of her through to publication. It’s one thing to be portrayed in a bikini or swimsuit, but in a state of undress and in lingerie (particularly the top one with another guy) is just fodder for controversy.

Maybe I’m being a prude, but I find these incredibly distasteful. What’s your take?

Winners for 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – Day 3 to 12…

2010-12-27T10:23:00.002+08:00

First off, a belated Merry Christmas to all! I know there are 10 random winners waiting for the I Nuovi Lip Polishes, so without further delay here they are! :D *drumroll*...:

Day 3 – Sabrina of xsabrina.ab[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Lotus

Day 4 – Shin Thian of sweetheart0222[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Honey

Day 5 – Kim Fah of kimfah[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Lotus

Day 6 – Angel Chen of angel1988my[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Lotus

Day 7 – Dreamer of quinieleong[at]yahoo[dot]com who requested Clove

Day 8 – Phaik Kin of popolau[at]hotmail[dot]com who requested Vanilla

Day 9 – Ee Laine of homeypau[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Cinnamon

Day 10 – Milktea of ccw_storage[at]yahoo[dot]com who requested Hibiscus

Day 11 – Electronicfly of electronic.fly[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Tulip

Day 12 – Isabel Lee of deariesx[at]hotmail[dot]com who requested Tulip

Congratulations ladies, I’ll be dropping you each a mail shortly for your details. You have 48 hours to respond, failing which I will select another winner.

Here’s to a great year ahead! :D

LAST DAY! 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-24T09:13:00.000+08:00

Gosh, time flies...and we're down to the last day of the I Nuovi giveaway! Quite apt too, seeing that it's Christmas Eve isn't it? Just in time to go kick back with friends and family...so have a Merry Christmas folks! :D

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and today’s question is:

Q. What will you be doing this Christmas?
(Go on, share your plans! :D I'll be having dinner tonight with family and close friends...best way to start Christmas!)

Pick your favourite shade from the ones above! If you’d like to check it out beforehand, they can be found (along with the rest of I Nuovi’s range) at selected SASA, Parkson, Jusco and Metrojaya outlets.

As usual, the entry details are below:

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Become a I Nuovi Professional Facebook fan.
2. Pick the Lip Polish shade that you like from the 12 available above.
3. Leave me a comment on the day’s blog post – you’ll need to include (a)your Facebook ID, (b)your email address, (c)the lip polish shade you’d like to receive and, (d) the answer to the day’s question.

Example: Hi, my FB ID is Beetrice, I’d like the Wolfberry shade and today’s answer is Rudolph! My email address is beetricesreviews[at]gmail[dot]com.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. This giveaway is only open to readers with a Malaysian mailing address. Sorry international readers, you’ll get a chance next time, kay?
2. One entry/comment per person please. However, you’re entitled to one entry per day for the 12 days if you’re not the winner. Be nice and let everyone have a fair chance, okay?
3. Keep it clean and spam-free. Comments with SEO terms, advertising links, derogatory terms and such will be deleted and disqualified.
4. Anyone can enter regardless of whether you’ve won anything here previously.
5. Please make sure the email in your comment is valid, otherwise I won’t be able to contact you even if you win. Incomplete entries will also be disqualified.
6. Winners will be notified via email. If I do not get a response within two days, I will select another winner. Prizes will be sent out by I Nuovi directly.

CLOSING DATE(S):
Closing dates for this giveaway is at 11.59pm on the given day, Malaysian time (GMT +8.00), after which all comments will be tabulated. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Day 11: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-23T10:24:00.000+08:00

Ahhh...it feels good to be home! I flew back from Singapore just last night, and will be here for the rest of the year! Bring on the festive season!! :D

Day 11 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and today’s question is:

Q. What's the nicest Christmas present you've ever gotten?
(Since we're only two days from Christmas, let's keep the festive spirit going! :D)

Day 10: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-22T08:55:00.000+08:00

Just three more days to go to win yourself a I Nuovi Lip Polish! :D

Day 10 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and today’s question is:

Q. Name the Charles Dickens book that contains the characters Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim.
(Hint: It's definitely Christmas related! :D)

Day 9: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-21T09:18:00.000+08:00

Gosh...it's only just over 3 days left to Christmas morning! Just curious, have all of you finished your shopping yet? (err...I definitely haven't - going to be pulling some rather late nights the next couple of days for sure! -_-) But despite everything, this season is still one of my favourites...I wonder why... :p

Day 9 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and today’s question is:

Q. What will you be doing when the clock strikes midnight on Christmas day?
(I'm on a roll with these weird questions eh? LOL...don't ask me why - probably because I need to feed off all your Christmas spirit!)

Day 8: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-20T10:12:00.001+08:00

Oh. My. God. The weekend has been a complete flurry of activity, and I got back into the office today to find out everyone wants something done today/ now/ yesterday/ last week. Arrrghhh!!! It's gonna be a loooooooong few days for sure. -_-

But regardless, the giveaway still has to go on right? I'll be announcing the winners for the past few days later today, but here's today's post! :)

Day 8 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and today’s question is:

Q. What is your favourite Christmas food/ drink?
(No right or wrong answer, it's another one of those "because I feel like it" questions...heehee...mine is homemade pork roast - I only get that particular one just once a year and it's awesome!)

Day 7: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-19T09:41:00.000+08:00

How's everyone doing so far? Hope you've all been having a good time with the giveaway! I did a massive load of damage along Orchard yesterday - for those following me on Twitter, you'd have seen some of the pictures and err...status updates? Haha...anyway, the shopping continues today, so if you're still trying to score one of the Lip Polishes just scroll on down - there's another 5 more up for grabs! :)

Day 7 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and just because I'm feeling pretty happy today…today’s question is:

Q. What's the ONE thing you want this Christmas?
(No right or wrong answer, it's another one of those "because I feel like it" questions...heehee...)

Day 6: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-18T08:47:00.000+08:00

Happy Saturday ladies! :D It's gonna be a shopping day for me today around Orchard with heaps of things to pick up - basically trying to squeeze ALL my Christmas shopping into one weekend. Hoping I'll see some new things while I'm out and about too, so you'll know when I do! :D Now the thing is...how to stay within budget for all the things I need to get? If you have any ideas please feel free to share! *eeeps*

Day 6 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and just because I'm feeling pretty happy today…today’s question is:

Q. Where is Santa's workshop?
(Hint: It's definitely not the South Pole... :D)

Day 5: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-17T08:58:00.000+08:00

Gosh, time is flying by super fast – and just like that, we’re almost halfway through the giveaway…who’s got plans for the weekend? ;) I know I have – trying to work my way through my Christmas shopping list. I’m hoping it’s all going to be light stuff since obviously I don’t drive in Singapore, otherwise I may just collapse under the stuff I have to carry! *eeeps*

Day 5 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi, and just because I'm feeling pretty happy today…today’s question is:

Q. What's your favourite Christmas song?
(There's no right or wrong answer to this, I just thought it would be fun to share - mine is 'All I Want For Christmas is You'!)

Day 4: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-16T05:18:00.000+08:00

Yay!! We’re over Hump Day (Wednesday) already, and tomorrow’s Friday – can’t wait, since I’ll be hopefully getting some of my Christmas shopping done. :D

Day 4 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi…today’s question is:

Q. I saw mommy kissing (*****), underneath the mistletoe last night...
(Hint: Two words, jolly fellow in a red suit!)

Winners for 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – Day 1 & 2…

2010-12-15T11:54:00.001+08:00

Hi ladies! Just to let you know that I’ll be announcing the names of the winners in batches of 2 days so that it’s easier to track.

And now, for the winners from Day 1 and 2, selected at random from the qualified entries *drumroll*...:

Day 1 – Isabel Ryaant of sangria[at]gmail[dot]com who requested Tulip

Day 2 – Lisa Sam of lisa_sam78[at]yahoo[dot]com who requested Wolfberry

Congratulations ladies, I’ll be dropping you both a mail shortly for your details. You have 48 hours to respond, failing which I will select another winner.

To everyone else, there’s still another 10 chances to score yourself a I Nuovi lip polish, so good luck to all! :D

Day 3: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-15T09:04:00.000+08:00

How’s everyone going so far on Day 3 eh? Today’s question should take a little more thinking to get the answer! :D……

So, on to Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi…today’s question is:

Q. Name one of Santa’s reindeer OTHER than Rudolph.
(basically, you can name any reindeer except the red-nosed fellow)

MAC & Marcel Wanders…

2010-12-14T16:54:00.000+08:00

This December, MAC has collaborated with Dutch industrial designer Marcel Wanders to create a lovely MAC & Marcel Wanders design-centric collection. Seriously, nevermind the product itself, just look at the structural designs! :D

Items in the MAC & Marcel Wanders collection include False Black Lashes, Lipstick (Martha, Gesina, Catharina and Digna), Lip Gloss (Mary, Beatrix, Aleydis and Gertruyd), Sheer Mystery Powder (Light Medium and Medium Plus), Air of Style Concentrate (solid perfume), Brush Clutch and Brush.

The Limited Edition MAC & Marcel Wanders Air of Style Concentrate has to be my favourite out of the lot – the faceted metal compact-style pendant is just drool-worthy, even without the perfume! :D I dunno about you but that has me chomping at the bit, despite me not being much of a MAC fan (honestly, I only have a couple of their eyeshadows, a couple of mini-lipglasses which were given to me, and I JUST picked up my first MAC lipstick ever!)

They’re available this month onwards at MAC stores, although no idea on the pricing yet though. I wouldn’t mind having that Air of Style Concentrate to hang on my Christmas tree though…any takers? :p

Day 2: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

2010-12-14T09:33:00.000+08:00

On the eleventh day leading up to Christmas, I Nuovi gave to me……*hums*……

So, on to Day 2 of the 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi…today’s question is:

Q. Deck the halls with boughs of ******?
(come on, you guys know this! :D)

12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – 12 Lip Polishes to give away!

2010-12-13T11:00:00.002+08:00

On the twelfth day leading up to Christmas, I Nuovi gave to me……*hums*……

Hehe…something a bit more fun for a Monday morning, no? Well, since it’s the Christmas season and it IS all about giving, I will be giving away 12 I Nuovi lip polishes – one for each day leading up to Christmas Eve! :)

The Lip Polish combines lipstick and gloss into one, which will have your lips nice and luscious for those festive smooches (shh...I won't tell!).

Every day from now until Christmas Eve, I’ll be asking an easy Christmas-related question , and a daily winner will be selected from the entries.

Example:
Q. What is the name of the famous red-nosed reindeer pulling Santa’s sleigh?
A. Rudolph

See? Easy peasy!

Also, the other reason this giveaway is 12 days is because there are 12 shades of the I Nuovi lip polish to pick from (and yes, winners can pick the shade of their choice). If you’d like to check it out beforehand, they can be found (along with the rest of I Nuovi’s range) at selected SASA, Parkson, Jusco and Metrojaya outlets.

And the first question for today to kick off the giveaway:

Q. On the first day of Christmas, what did my true love give to me?
(Hint: It's a bird in a fruit tree.)

So, got your Christmas groove on yet? Read on for the entry details…

HOW TO ENTER:
1. Become a I Nuovi Professional Facebook fan.
2. Pick the Lip Polish shade that you like from the 12 available above.
3. Leave me a comment on the day’s blog post – you’ll need to include (a)your Facebook ID, (b)your email address, (c)the lip polish shade you’d like to receive and, (d) the answer to the day’s question.

Example: Hi, my FB ID is Beetrice, I’d like the Wolfberry shade and today’s answer is Rudolph! My email address is beetricesreviews[at]gmail[dot]com.

TERMS & CONDITIONS:
1. This giveaway is only open to readers with a Malaysian mailing address. Sorry international readers, you’ll get a chance next time, kay?
2. One entry/comment per person please. However, you’re entitled to one entry per day for the 12 days if you’re not the winner. Be nice and let everyone have a fair chance, okay?
3. Keep it clean and spam-free. Comments with SEO terms, advertising links, derogatory terms and such will be deleted and disqualified.
4. Anyone can enter regardless of whether you’ve won anything here previously.
5. Please make sure the email in your comment is valid, otherwise I won’t be able to contact you even if you win. Incomplete entries will also be disqualified.
6. Winners will be notified via email. If I do not get a response within two days, I will select another winner. Prizes will be sent out by I Nuovi directly.

CLOSING DATE(S):
Closing dates for this giveaway is at 11.59pm on the given day, Malaysian time (GMT +8.00), after which all comments will be tabulated. Winners will be announced shortly thereafter.

Of course, even if you’re not participating (although you’re most nicely encouraged to!) do feel free to spread the word. Let’s spread the happiness around this festive season, shall we? Thanks a lot, and good luck to all!

Jumping on the brushy bandwagon…

2010-12-09T12:02:00.000+08:00

Happened to come across something I haven’t seen in Malaysia yet, but still looking oddly familiar…

Notice the bristles? Yup, it’s Garnier’s new Pure Active Exfo-Brusher Wash – another addition to facial washes with accompanying brushes like the L’Oreal Perfect Clean I’d spotted last month.

I have to admit, this one piqued my interest more than the Perfect Clean as I already had an individual scrublet from Daiso...these are more…tentacle-y? Haha…

Instead of a detachable brush or scrubby, the bristles are actually built into the design of the bottle (err…not unlike those shoe polish cans with the yellow plastic brush on top…ok, mustn’t think of it like that)

Been using it for about a week now and am having mixed feelings about it, but not enough to make up my mind about it just yet. Full review of this will be coming up once I’ve really gotten my paws into it, but if anyone’s tried it out so far, do share your thoughts! :D

Spotted – Nivea Angel Star…

2010-12-07T11:21:00.000+08:00

Oh dear, Nivea’s done it again…spotted this out a couple of days back…

Nivea Angel Star comes in raspberry with pink shimmer and SPF 10. And how cute is the pattern on the packaging?

It’s currently retailing at SGD4.10 in Singapore personal care stores. Anyone tried it yet? :)

Something for laughs – Tampon Stun Gun, anyone?

2010-12-06T10:49:00.001+08:00

Just because…
(a) it’s a manic Monday
(b) we could all do with a good laugh
(c) men can now fear tampons the other three weeks of the month
(d) all of the above!

Now, before you think I’ve gone completely off my rocker, it’s true! Some nutty people over at Inventor Spot have come up with a new item for personal security. Forget the pepper spray, why not get one of these stun guns that come creatively disguised as a tampon…?? :O

So innocently pink right? Well, this is called ‘The Pink Stinger’ – and I dunno about you, but the inventors’ description of it is hilarious!

…the stun gun's gentle glide zapplicator easily fits in the palm of your hand for incredible comfort and protection and ready for honorable discharge at a moment’s notice. In addition, its fresh floral scent helps eliminate the smell of fear, not just cover it up. Strictly for use in accordance with country or state laws. Need not be female or menstruating to use effectively. Tampon stun gun to be used for security purposes only or in self-defence. It is not intended nor recommended for vaginal insertion…

Awesomely hilarious, no? The full details on the 'Pink Stinger' can be gotten here. Too bad we can’t get these locally though, but still…hope that brightened up your Monday! :D

L’Occitane Christmas 2010 Sets…

2010-12-03T09:56:00.002+08:00

Warning: Picture-heavy post! Also, some of these pictures may make you want to blow your entire Christmas shopping budget at L’Occitane – you’ve been warned! :)

The L’Occitane Christmas sets are here! And true to their track record, they never fail to disappoint with their gorgeous packaging and displays. I mean, how can you resist when the whole shop looks so inviting?

These are just some of the promotion sets they have available – there are a total of 16 lovely sets that have been put together this year, so go on, have a gander below! :D

Almond Body Collection (RM280)

Shower Oil 250ml
Milk Veil 250ml
Delicious Paste 50ml
Milk Concentrate 50ml
Gift Box

Aromachologie Travel (RM139)

Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml
Pure Shea Butter 8ml
Revitalising Shower Gel 75ml
Relaxing Body Lotion 75ml
Repairing Shampoo 75ml
Shea Milk Soap 50g
Clutch

Relaxing Aromachologie (RM159)

Bath & Shower Gel 500ml
Pillow Mist 100ml

Body Travel Collection (RM110)

Peony Shower Cream 75ml
Peony Body Lotion 75ml
Cherry Blossom Bath & Shower Gel 75ml
Cherry Blossom Shimmering Body Lotion 75ml
Clutch

Calanques & Soothing (RM110) *Not available at Isetan counters

Calanques Shower Gel 75ml
Calanques Body Lotion 75ml
Soothing Shampoo 75ml
Soothing Conditioner 75ml
Drawstring Pouch

Fleur Cherie (RM248)

Eau de Toilette 100ml
Bath & Shower Gel 250ml
Body Lotion 75ml
Holiday Box

Immortelle Kit (RM170) *Not available at Isetan counters

Essential Face Water 100ml
Brightening Cleansing Foam 50ml
Precious Cream 15ml
Eye Balm 5ml
Pouch

L’Occitane Stars (RM129)

Pure Shea Butter 8ml
Shea Verbena Soap 100g
Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml
Shea Butter Foot Cream 30ml
Shea Ultra-Rich Lip Balm 5ml
Drawstring Pouch

Mini Hand Cream Trio (RM110)

Rose 4 Reines Hand Cream 30ml
Shea Butter Hand Cream 30ml
Rose Des Neiges Hand Cream 30ml
Gift Box

Peony Fragrance (RM250)

Eau de Toilette 75ml
Beauty Milk 250ml
Shower Cream 75ml
Peony Gift Box

Petite Fleur Cherie (RM130) *Not available at Isetan counters

Hand Cream 30ml
Lip Balm 15ml
Bath & Shower Gel 75ml
Body Lotion 75ml
Pouch

Petite Rose (RM110) *Not available at Isetan counters

Rose Des Neiges Soap 100g
Rose Des Neiges Hand Cream 30ml
Rose 4 Reines Heart Solid Perfume 10ml
Rose 4 Reines Body Milk 75ml
Pouch

Shea Butter Hand & Foot (RM175)

Hand Cream 150ml
Foot Cream 150ml
Holiday Sachet

Shower Celebration (RM110)

4 x Shower Gels 75ml (assortment)
Gift Box

Sparkling Verbena (RM180)

Verbena Shower Gel 250ml
Verbena Shower Gel Refill 500ml

Winter Rose (RM299)

Shower Cream 250ml
Sugar Scrub 250ml
Body Cream 200ml
Gift Box

Anything catch your eye so far? For me, this might be the time to pick up Sparkling Verbena since I’ve been in love with the scent for the longest time. Guess I’ll have to work extra hard on my bonus this year to make up for the extra purchases then… :p

Oh, and it’s officially 3 weeks to Christmas – if you haven’t gotten around to shopping yet, better do so and quick! (and if you haven’t, thank GOD at least someone else hasn’t yet…I haven’t had time to pick up ANYTHING! :S )

Help someone enjoy the gift of sight with a L'Occitane 2011 Organiser…

2010-12-02T13:22:00.000+08:00

If you wake up every day and get to see the clear sunshine (or rain, or snow, or sleet depending on where you are), you’re luckier than the 314 million people worldwide, or 64,000 Malaysians who can’t. The sad thing is, many of those afflicted don’t go blind overnight, but whose vision is slowly stripped away over time. Similarly, these are the same people who cannot afford to undergo expensive surgeries to fix these problems and are left to accept their fate.

This is why the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) was set up in 1951 – to help the visually impaired and provide them with the tools and skills needed to contribute to society as well as promote awareness. However, being a NGO, the MAB relies on donations and the goodwill of the public and private companies to keep going, which is where L’Occitane came in with their fundraising campaign that was started end-2009.

Last year, L’Occitane managed to successfully raise RM25,000 for the MAB through sales of a special 2010 Organiser, which was used to purchase a Braille embosser and audio activator to ease access of the visually impaired to knowledge such as text or audio books.

This year, their goal is to surpass that amount with the sales of a Limited Edition 2011 Organiser which will be used to upgrade the computer and screen reader software facilities in the MAB library. The diary has many added touches as well as information on the MAB which you may find useful.

The diary comes with lined interiors for daily planning…

…as well as a tabbed month view for people like me who like to look at their entire month at a glance!

A brief write-up on L’Occitane’s Charity Foundation as well as the MAB can be found on the inside front cover of the book.

What’s more, the back of every tab has more details on the various areas of the MAB as well as what you can do to help – whether it’s helping them to convert a textbook to audio, donating materials such as CD-RWs, or simply volunteering your time to help out where necessary.

At only RM15 per organiser, this is a good option for a gift or as a stocking stuffer. The Limited Edition 2011 Organiser is now available at all L’Occitane boutiques nationwide from 1 – 31 December 2010. I’ve got mine and am planning to pick up a few more…what about you?

PS: Did you know that L’Occitane is the first and only brand to incorporate Braille on most of their packaging, and have been doing so since 1997? Check it out the next time you’re at a L’Occitane outlet!

PPS: Just checked out the L’Occitane Christmas 2010 Sets as well and they're gorgeous – more on that soon! :)

inuovi Professional Year End Sale…

2010-12-02T10:44:00.000+08:00

For inuovi fans, this is good news! :) Time to stock up on false lashes to create a fancy look for a Christmas party perhaps? Anyone going?

Shins Kings & Queens Promotion…

2010-12-01T10:51:00.000+08:00

To commemorate the Kings & Queens Chinese Princess Jasmine shower gel winning the AKU Cosmopolitan 2010 award, Shins is having a promo of RM88 for any three (3) Kings & Queens shower gels from now until 2 January 2011. (RRP: RM35 per bottle)

Haven't personally tried out the Kings & Queens shower gels yet, but some of them do smell quite nice - there are 10 variants in the whole range, so you would be likely to find one that suits you. :)

On a rollercoaster week and fantabulous friends…

2010-11-18T15:28:00.000+08:00

Hey ladies! If you’re wondering where I disappeared to the past week or so, I’ve simply been trying to catch up on everything. Work has been absolutely packed end to end – and the rest of November looks set to be a real busy time... :s

But work aside, I also took some time out to celebrate my birthday over the past week – another year closer to the 3-0, but heck, it’s a good time to step back and reflect on the year gone by (before we get to the actual New Year resolutions).

For some odd reason, all my birthday confections were cupcakes this year...the top one was made by my mum (from scratch of course, my moomia luvs me), while the ones at the bottom were given by colleagues.

Sadly, I couldn’t spend my birthday at home (and spent it at work instead...), but the weekends before and after made up for it. I had some friends over for dinner the first week, and the next weekend was spent with these lovely ladies...

See some familiar faces? :) It was a good few hours of unrestrained chatter and awesome company. I may have gotten to know you all through your beauty blogs, but since then we’ve come so much further than being just ‘blogger pals’. You ladies are just awesome! *hugz*

Of course, that’s not to discount the fact that we’re all completely mad hatters over makeup as well...hehe...these sessions just beg for products to be raved or lambasted and passed around the table.

Yet another reason (as if I needed more reasons!) to love these ladies – I got well and truly spoilt by them. I'd love them even without all this, but who doesn't like opening presents? :p Mind you, this is just PART of the birthday pack...am still wondering where the heck I’m going to find space for them in my tiny space in Singapore but I don’t care, they’re coming back with me!

I love all the items I got this year, but among them there’s one particular one I’m loving to bits – these one-of-a-kind Swarovski crystal earrings from none other than Tine. My jaw simply dropped when I saw them...the picture doesn’t do it justice as it was taken with my iPhone, but the colours are phenomenal, and they just look...*dreamy sigh*...it’s got my colleagues asking where to get them, but for now they’re mine aitelyu! MINE!

And erm...*cough cough*...I decided to pick out a couple of “birthday presents” for myself as well...

The Christmas sets have arrived at the Changi Duty Free and I was looking to pick up a new bottle of my signature Dior Addict II fragrance so this was a no-brainer. For the price of the bottle, I got a Dior pouch as well as a perfumed shimmer body lotion. Score!

The second present shall remain a little bit of a mystery for now...it’s my first actual purchase from Givenchy, and I’m simply giddy over it. All I’ll say is that the colour is absolutely FABULOUS and I’m bracing myself to ‘de-virginise’ it...LOL!

Not a bad birthday at all I reckon...what’s more, since I couldn’t celebrate my birthday proper, a friend brought me out for a surprise yesterday since it was a public holiday. Guess where we went?

Those who’ve known me will know I’m a total CSI Las Vegas fan, so this was the perfect birthday surprise. The Singapore Science Centre is a pretty great place to check out for kids and adults alike!

Now, back to our regular programming schedule...I’ll do my best not to drop off the radar any more, promise! :D

Clinique Christmas 2010 Sets…

2010-11-09T11:41:00.000+08:00

45 days to Christmas and counting – who’s counting along with me? :p I happened to be back in KL last weekend and will be back again in a few days, and safe to say I’ve been wandering around all the shopping centres. Some of the Christmas sets coming out are simply GORGEOUS, and I couldn't help but share some of my favourite picks from Clinique with you.

Kisses From The Heart (RM175)

Clinique Happy Heart Perfume (50ml)
Clinique Happy Heart Body Cream (75ml)
2 Long Last Glosswear SPF15 Mini with Key Chain in Air Kiss and Clearly Pink (1ml each)
Orange Keychain with Clinique “C” Charm

Lips Craving (price unavailable) – 4 lipsticks in a pink pouch

Pretty Day Into Night Looks (RM195)

All About Eyes (15ml)
Double-Ended Different Lipstick in A Different Grape/ Long Last Glosswear SPF15 in Bamboo Pink
Cheek & Eye Compact featuring 2 shades of Blushing Blush Powder Blush and 4 shades of Colour Surge Eye Shadow (LE)
Cream Shaper for Eyes in Starry Plum
Lash Power Volumizing Mascara in Black
How-to Instruction Booklet
Pink Cosmetics Bag

Lovely, aren’t they? No surprise on my choices since I’m a self-confessed sucker for pretty packaging, plus the Clinique lippies are really quite nice. Of course, there are plenty of other sets available for the picking, some of which are listed below.

Clockwise from top left: Happy and Smooth (RM120) – Clinique Happy perfume spray and body cream; Keep Him Happy (RM200) – Clinique Happy for Men cologne spray and aftershave balm; Repairwear Laser Focus on Lines and Wrinkles (RM280) – Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & Photo Damage Corrector, Youth Surge Night and Youth Surge SPF 15; Great Skin Home and Away (RM370) – Clinique’s trademark 3-step skin care system in full and travel sizes.

All of the sets you see (and more) will be available at Clinique counters nationwide from end November onwards. Anything catch your eye yet? ;)

Spotted – L’Oreal Perfect Clean in Watsons Singapore…

2010-11-08T13:01:00.001+08:00

When L’Oreal first came out with the Go 360° Clean in the US some time back, I was intrigued by the cute pop-out scrublet simply because it was a nice novelty. Truth be told, I actually preferred the clean lines of the bottles above to the variant that came out in the UK and Australia below:

The range is called by a different name – Perfect Clean – but it’s not difficult to see the similarities between the two ranges. After all, the colour similarities and scrublet are pretty dead giveaways. As usual, products like these tend to take ages to trickle down to this part of the world, but last week while browsing at Watsons, I spotted these in a little display…

L’Oreal has brought in three variants of the Perfect Clean into Singapore. The blue foaming gel wash isn’t available, but instead there’s another white variant that’s supposed to combat pimples instead. They’re retailing at SG$14.90 each, which is rather pricey for a drugstore facial wash or scrub, but if the online hype is to be believed they’re pretty good.

Anyone have any thoughts on this or tried it already? Am wondering whether I should go try it out or not, especially since I’d be interested to see how the scrublet fares against a little Daiso purchase I made a while back… :D

Time to share – favourite beauty reads for October…

2010-11-02T12:09:00.002+08:00

Gee, did you realise that there’s only 53 days left to Christmas?

Dang…the months seem to just fly by in a flash, but I’ve always got dirt from my beauty blogging pals to keep me company – and here are some of my favourites from October!

Yani keeps pores at bay with Benefit’s The Pore-fessional, and looks good doing it too! – RedLusciousLips

Xin tries out the Skinfood Egg White Pack peel-off mask with gory ‘after’ pictures, but I want to try it! – Prettybeautiful

Kahani made some excellent points on why they’re pulling out of Nuffnang, definitely good reading for all – Soloverly

Jenn sports an awesome look from her NARS makeover in Bangkok! – Lipglosseater

Connie checks out Apronbay for budget-friendly AND lovely services on waxing – Skindeco

Nikki got to check out Nami Island in Korea, and the place looks postcard-perfect! – Askmewhats

Paris did a little song and dance about Cellnique’s Body Plush Emulsion Wash which had me in stitches and humming along! – My Women Stuff

If you’ve been following the Malay Mail the past couple of weeks, you may have come across this picture…

Can you spot me? LOL…a group of us had a major pampering session at the Hair Atelier thanks to Pantene, which ended up being turned into an editorial. So far, it’s come out in the Malay Mail (click here to read the online version) as well as a Chinese website, Xuan.com.my (online version here). I must say, I really wanted to post up something on the event but was waiting for the photos since *cough* I was more busy being pampered than paying attention to taking photos! :p

The good news is, the lovely Jone from P&G has sent over a nice set of photos, so expect to hear more about this soon! :)

November’s set to be a most busy one for me with a LOT of work, but I’m determined to work in some good fun as well – who’s gonna join me? (well, maybe not for the work but definitely the fun part!) :D

BCA Month Updates #4

2010-10-27T15:32:00.000+08:00

Funny how the month has flown by so fast – it’s already the end of October! This will likely be the last round of BCA updates since there's only a few days left, which will cover off Origins, Bobbi Brown and Sephora.

Origins has done a special pink bottle and box for their Peace of Mind on-the-spot Relief (RM53). This should be quite familiar, since they’ve been doing this for a few years now. The Peace of Mind is still a best seller, and what some of my friends (and family!) like to call ‘expensive hong yao’ or ‘the better smelling Western medicated oil’. LOL!

On the other hand, Bobbi Brown also created an exclusive Bobbi Brown Pink Shimmer Brick Compact (RM150) which contains 5 bars of iridescent colour. These babies were hand made in Italy and come in a specially designed compact case with pink text instead of the trademark white. In Malaysia, these are only available at the Bobbi Brown outlets at Isetan KLCC, Lot 10 and Gardens Midvalley while stocks last.

Last but certainly not least, Sephora came up with an entire BCA collection which changes from year to year. Seriously, they never fail to impress me with their products, but if only they would allow international online shopping and bring in more variety in this part of the world! Sigh…

All items here are from the Sephora BCA Collection: Pink Eyelash Curler (US$16), Compact Mirror (US$18), Pop-up Brush (US$8) Makeup Palette To Go – BCA Edition (US$15)

There’s a whole lot more available on the site, but these were some of the more interesting ones. And there we have it folks – the end of the BCA Month Updates! :D Hope you had as much fun as I had looking at the products!

Sweet Contemplation Accessories Friends and Family Sale…

2010-10-26T14:15:00.000+08:00

Just a quick post since I’m absolutely bogged at work today – Sweet Contemplation Accessories is having a Family & Friends sale from 25-31 October 2010 with 20% off all orders with the promo code INTHEFAMILY10. No minimum amount necessary, and international shipping is free for orders over AUD$100.

Worth checking out, especially since Tine’s got some nice new stuff up on the site – but please don’t buy up the whole site before I’ve had a chance to! :D

Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets…

2010-10-24T13:11:00.001+08:00

When it comes to taking off your makeup at the end of the day, who admits to feeling rather lazy at times? I’ll admit (rather sheepishly) that I’m not the most diligent at taking off all my makeup at the end of the day, although I’ve solved that by taking a shower as soon as I get home so I’m forced to remove my makeup.

For this purpose, the less fuss required the better, so when I was given a box of Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets to try out, I was more than happy to give it a go. Coincidentally, I was also given a few of the travel packs by someone else which I decided to pass on to other friends to try as well. If you’d like a sample to try for yourself, keep on reading!

Description:
Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets thoroughly removes all traces of makeup including waterproof mascara without irritating or drying your skin. It also minimises the need for repeated wiping on eyelashes, eye are and face. The cleansing oil does not remain on skin so there is no greasy or sticky feeling after use. Contains a moisturising agent that leaves skin soft and smooth, not tight. Sheets are made from 100% natural fibres and formula is alcohol-free, ideal for all skin types.

The Verdict:
For those who love convenience, the Biore Cleansing Sheets (as they shall be referred to for the duration of this post) are great – the 48 sheet pack comes in a sturdy plastic box with a snap-top that can be manipulated with one hand. Even though I’m not one to typically like pink, the purplish-pink hue of the box appeals to my *cough* feminine side. :D

When you first open the box, the sheets come in a foil packet with a resealable cover not unlike travel wet wipes packs, which you peel off before putting the top back on. Although the sheets have an oil cleanser, there is significant water content in the pack which can dry up if left in the open for long periods of time. To make sure the lid is closed after removing the cleansing sheet, simply press the top until you hear a firm ‘click’.

Now, for the challenge – the Biore Cleansing Sheets are more than adequate at removing the usual foundation, powder and blush, so I decided to put them up against some makeup items that are known for their stubbornness to remove…liquid waterproof eyeliner, shimmer lipstick (I hate it when glitter gets stuck on my lips), smudge-proof long-wearing eyeliner, glitter eyeliner and shimmer cream eyeshadow.

First swipe – the lower halves of the lipstick, long-wearing eyeliner and glitter eyeliner are almost gone, while the liquid eyeliner is faded but still there. The shimmer cream eyeshadow surprisingly held its ground and showed little change.

For the second swipe, I let the Cleansing Sheet sit on top of the test strips for a couple of seconds before wiping it off. The lipstick is completely gone, while there are still faint shadows of the rest…as well as some glitter and shimmer left in its aftermath. Now this is the part that I was hoping the Cleansing Sheets would fix, since I hate having fine glitter stuck to my face after the makeup’s gone.

By the third swipe, all the test strips were gone – along with the glitter, which can be clearly seen on the Cleansing Sheet. The tightly woven cotton of the Cleansing Sheets must’ve had some effect, since normally when using cotton pads I find at least some glitter left behind.

I liked the mild floral scent of the Cleansing Sheets as well as the non-greasy after feel. All I needed was a quick splash of water and that was it. I can get 90% of a full face of makeup off in under 2 minutes, which is a great time-saver and the main reason why I’ll keep this around for a while. Score!

Now, if you want to try the Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets as well as the Biore Makeup Remover for Eye & Lip, you can get a trial set of both by clicking on the image below:

** Please note these sample sets are subject to availability and are for those with a Singapore mailing address only.

One of the lovely ladies I passed the travel pack to was Connie, who compared them to the Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes. You can read her take on it by clicking on the link – I think she’s partial to the Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets as well. :)

Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets are available from most personal care stores and retail in a travel pack of 10 sheets (RM6.90/SG$2.95) or a large box of 48 sheets (RM32.90/ SG$16.20). Refills of 48 sheets are also available for the large box (RM25.90/ SG$11.50).

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$$

Go support the Pet Epicure this weekend!

2010-10-22T12:33:00.000+08:00

Not a beauty related post, but a worthy one for sure. Pet Epicure, a private pet rescue and adoption center (also a pet boutique and cat hotel) will be running an adoption drive this coming weekend. There will be heaps of cats up for adoption, each with their own personalities just waiting for a new home to call their own.

And just to make it easier, all the cats that are ready for their new homes have been given the all-clear by a vet, are potty-trained and most importantly, neutered!

Date: 23rd and 24th October, 2010 (Saturday & Sunday)
Time: 10am to 4pm
Venue: 16, Jalan Bandar 2, Taman Melawati 53100 Kuala Lumpur (click here for map)
** For further details, you can also contact Alicia (the Pet Epicure owner) at 012-331 3318.

So, if you’re free this weekend and have some space in your heart and home for a feline companion, do head on down to Pet Epicure yeah? :) Happy weekend, folks!

Benefit Christmas Collection 2010…

2010-10-21T12:16:00.000+08:00

While going through my emails yesterday I came across the new Benefit 2010 Holiday/ Christmas Collection, so I thought I’d share it with you all…some of them are really pretty! :D

Beauty Wonderland (US$49) – contains some kind-a gorgeous foundation faker, sugarbomb blush and BADgal mascara.

Some Beauty to Love (£29.50) – contains CORALista blush, eye bright instant eye brightener, BADgal lash mascara and “that gal” brightening face primer.

The Fab Lane (US$49) – contains hoola bronzing powder, BADgal lash mascara and “that gal” face brightening primer.

Beauty Be-Bop (US$60) – contains some kind-a gorgeous lite the foundation faker (best suited to fair complexions), high beam luminescent complexion enhancer and ultra shines in back to the fuschia lip shine.

Her Name was Glowla (US$36) – contains CORALista blush, high beam luminescent complexion enhancer, moon beam iridescent complexion enhancer, 5-shade eyeshadow palette, BADgal lash mascara, life on the A list lip gloss and a fluff shadow/ hard angle brush.

Shimmer Shimmer Shake (£27) – contains 3 shimmer powders (only 2 shown above) of mint julep (golden turquoise), miss moon (white gold) and ruby-doo (plum pizzazz)

All You Need is Gloss (US$26) – contains 3 double-ended wands in 6 shades: I’m with the band (golden pink shimmer), almost famous (copper penny), life on the A list (bubble gum pink), who are you wearing (passion fruit pink), back to the fuchsia (sparkling fuchsia), 24k (sexy gold); World’s Best Mascara (US$29) – contains BADgal lash mascara and BADgal plum mascara.

Powder Time Lover (£25) – contains CORALista, dallas and dandelion face powders in a box together with a brush.

Did anyone notice that the Powder Time Lover looks suspiciously familiar? It actually reminds me of the Benefit Powder Pop which I picked up at the Benefit warehouse sale early last year! The only difference between Powder Pop and Powder Time Lover is that they’ve replaced Hoola with CORALista which I reckon is a much nicer and popular shade. :D

No idea yet as to whether these beauties will be making their way to Malaysia or Singapore, but they’re already available online. As always, international shipping on the Benefit website is free for orders over US$115 so if you make a bulk order with some friends, it’s definitely more worth it since locally the prices are rather expensive. You can check out Benefit's entire holiday collection here.

Did anything catch your eye? :D

BCA Month Updates #3

2010-10-20T08:51:00.001+08:00

With just a couple of weeks to the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I thought I’d share with you Singapore’s 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness campaign which is currently running – I thought they did an awesome job, even if the actual images themselves were debatable. Be warned though that the following images may be sensitive to some.

Singapore’s 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness involved a series of postcards that were freely distributed throughout the little island. While that in itself isn’t particularly unique, the images and the approach to the postcards definitely were. There were 3 postcards in total, all of which are shown below:

I can imagine some of you would be quite taken by these, while others may recoil in horror. Nevertheless, safe to say they did catch your attention, right? It puts the issue (quite literally) in your face.

There are also special boxes set up throughout Singapore to collect donations for Breast cancer Awareness, as well as a special pink that has been designed.

If I remember correctly, the pins are available with a donation of SGD$5. If you’d like to see more of the Singapore 2010 Breast Cancer Awareness campaign, they are on Facebook here.

This would definitely have been banned in quite a few countries (including Malaysia) but I’m curious as to what all you ladies think about it – does this work, or flop?

** Edit: Apparently, someone at Photobucket thinks this is actually offensive and deleted one of my photos - I've since re-uploaded it, but if it disappears it's because someone at Photobucket is too narrow-minded!

Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick – a definite splurge…

2010-10-19T11:45:00.000+08:00

Some time back, Paris wrote about the Guerlain Rouge G lipsticks which had me chomping at the bit to get my hands on one but the US$41 (RM149) price tag also had me gagging – who could pay that much for a lipstick??

Sure, it was very pretty and looked absolutely gorgeous, but the price was a big turnoff for me. Then as luck would have it, StrawberryNET had to offer me a one-time special 25% discount on any purchase, and it turns out the Guerlain G Rouge was slightly cheaper at US$39.50 on the site. Coupled with a returning customer discount, it ended up costing about US$28 (about RM100). I'll consider it my makeup splurge for the year… :p

Description:
Rouge G de Guerlain Jewel Lipstick Compact was designed by Lorenz Bäumer, one of the most talented jewellers from the Place Vendôme in Paris. The horizontal design with feminine curves houses a secret – a mirror automatically appears when the compact is opened. The lipstick has a pure elegant, contemporary design, and closes magnetically. This exceptional object boasts a comprehensive, premium formula containing a star ingredient – ruby powder, which acts as an optical whitener to bring out the colour and shine of the shades. The blend of natural active ingredients (Tiger Grass, wild mango butter, Gugul resin, used in Ayurvedic medicine) complete the formula to plump up, smooth and bring moisture and softness to your lips. Available in 25 shades.

The Verdict:
I’ll admit, the first thing that caught my eye about this wasn’t so much the lipstick colour, but rather the case itself…metallic and sleek, and which woman wouldn’t want a mirror built in for easy application? (not that I really needed it, but this is about want and not need, remember?) The entire case itself is pretty heavy, which just adds to the luxury feel…although it may not be my first choice if I’m going out with a tiny purse or clutch since it’ll take up quite a bit of space and weight.

The shade I got was #4 (Gentiane), which is a lovely rose-pink tone that goes on really smoothly. I really can’t find much to say about this lipstick, other than the fact it makes me feel absolutely pampered when I wear it. Lasting power is also pretty good, requiring only one touch-up after food.

In fact, I can get away looking “naturally made up” with just a dusting of The Balm Down Boy blush and the Guerlain G Rouge lipstick, which is my de facto go-to on the mornings I’m rushing for work.

Of course, that said…now how am I going to top this purchase next round eh? ;)

Guerlain G Rouge lipstick is available in 25 shades at Guerlain counters for approximately US$41 or US$39.50 on StrawberryNET.

Rating: 4.5 / 5
Value: $$$ (makes me feel like a diva, it can’t get much better than that!)

International Suit Up Day was LEGEN…wait for it…DARY! :D

2010-10-18T18:45:00.002+08:00

International Suit Up Day was last Wednesday on the 13th of October…how many of you suited up? LOL…I meant to post this up last week but it got stuck in my drafts so here it is!

Being so hot and humid in this part of the world, it only makes sense that I went with a sleeveless top (picked it up from Zara during my last trip to London), accessorised with the ‘A Savoy Affair’ necklace from Sweet Contemplation Accessories. With black slacks and minus the blazer, I actually quite like this look. :D

While I’m on the topic of International Suit Up Day, I thought I’d share the eye makeup I did for that day as well…

Although I’m allowed quite a few liberties with the dress code at work, I do prefer more neutral colours since they’re easier to apply on the go and match pretty much everything. I used a L’Oreal Eye palette as well as the Stila Mara Simba duo for this, but any similar colours would do just as well.

And to top it all off, I wasn’t the only person to suit up – my ENTIRE office did! :D So here’s a picture just for kicks…

So, did you suit up, and if you did…share your stories! :D

Beetrice's Reviews...

Getting Maudrey nails with help from China Glaze and OPI…

Not quite sugar and spice, but everything nice with Lancôme Trésor Midnight Rose (plus sampling)…

Get a Whiff of Something Fresh with Garnier Aqua Defense Bright 2-in-1 Hydrating Bright Essence…

Happy New Year, and I’m back! :D

Merry Christmas in advance!!

It’s finally here - Bellabox December 2011…

Getting Glittery Nails for Christmas with OPI The Muppets…

Wicked in Singapore!!

Putting a purple twist on a French manicure…

It’s beginning to feel/look a lot like Christmas…

Mystifying my lips with Givenchy Rouge Interdit…

Treading those fine lines with Hada Labo Retinol Lifting + Firming Lotion…

Back from Bintan with a tan start to the week…

November’s Bellabox is here!

Solving the “Where’s my darn Apple cable?” woes…

An Affair in Red Square with OPI…

My Women Stuff Readers' Choice Awards 2011 - EPIC! :D

Who's up for Violent Lips?

New: amethystory products (plus sampling)…

Sample Subscription Boxes - Unboxing the BellaBox…

Give your boobies some TLC and *ahem* eye candy…

Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2011 – Feel Your Boobies!

Gunk Begone! – Skin Food Egg White Pack…

Finally!!

NOTD: Glitter tips for the weekend…

Could This Be The One? Clarins UV Plus HP SPF40 Sunscreen…

It’s Mine!! Urban Decay 15th Anniversary Palette…

Of Nails Princess Designer Nail Art Pens and Group Deals…

Friday Smiles – A 5-yr old Makeup Guru (?) and more…

Jumping on the D-I-Y nail wrap wagon – First Kiss New York Nail Dress…

Chanel Rouge Allure Laque – Enter the Dragon…

Getting lashed at Apronbay…

A diet book for kids? Now this is seriously too much…

The Body Shop Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer – Makes Scents…

Revlon Colorburst Lipgloss…

Keeping those dangly earrings in check – part 2!

Canmake Pink Grapefruit EDT has me all juiced up!

Quick & Easy: Sparkly-tipped nails…

Back from Macau and HK…

A little piece of bliss at the InterContinental Hanoi Westlake…

Back from a gastronomic time back home…

Getting into a summer groove…

Getting a new cut…

Fun Finds at Six Accessories @ Vivocity…

Clinique gets Pretty in Pinks for Spring 2011…

Spotted: L’Oreal HiP Studio Secrets™ Professional Duos…

Getting my hands on the Dior Minaudière Eyeshadow and Lip Gloss Palette…

A Sunday on Sentosa…

inuovi Warehouse Relocation Sale…

Wood Would – brings back childhood memories…

Much ado about Muar… :D

Of post-CNY thoughts…

Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry – who you calling chubby?

Paul Frank Lip Smacker® Collection…

Book on the future Queen of England – gosh they’re fast…

Winners for 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – Day 3 to 12…

LAST DAY! 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 11: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 10: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 9: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 8: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 7: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 6: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 5: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Day 4: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

Winners for 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – Day 1 & 2…

Day 3: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

MAC & Marcel Wanders…

Day 2: 12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi Giveaway…

12 Days of Christmas with I Nuovi – 12 Lip Polishes to give away!

Jumping on the brushy bandwagon…

Spotted – Nivea Angel Star…

Something for laughs – Tampon Stun Gun, anyone?

L’Occitane Christmas 2010 Sets…

Help someone enjoy the gift of sight with a L'Occitane 2011 Organiser…

inuovi Professional Year End Sale…

Shins Kings & Queens Promotion…

On a rollercoaster week and fantabulous friends…

Clinique Christmas 2010 Sets…

Give your boobies some TLC and ahem eye candy…