Review: Fancl T-zone Clear Essence & My Hair Oil Concoction

I'm always looking for ways to smoothen and clarify my skin. I still have huge pores on my nose left over from when my skin was oily in my younger days. Even though my skin is drier now, the pores are still big and during pms, becomes oilier and looks very rough. I recently found that Fancl's T-zone Clear Essence is the solution. It's not as drying as the other brands of oil control gels, is mild enough not to irritate my skin and can minimise the pores. Nothing can close up the pores except a visit to the dermatologist for some special treatments I guess, so this is as good as it gets from a product. My Hair Oil Concoction is composed of a imprecise mix of half Camellia and half Jojoba carrier oil with drops of Basil, Lavender, Rosemary and Grapefruit essential oil I recently purchased from Yours Essentially. I dropped a little into my palm then picked it up with my finger tips and rubbed it into my scalp, then rubbed the rest onto my hair for "conditioning" purposes. I leave it on overnight and then wash my hair in the morning. So far I've done it twice, and I find it clears up my scalp (it feels less conjested and oily) and my hair is less frizzy. Not a bad result for an "experiment". I'm tempted to try DHC's Head Oil though. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Whipped Soaps from Anderson Soap Company

My order of Whipped Soaps from an Etsy Shop recommended by Yumeko, Anderson Soap Company, arrived on Wednesday. Now that I see these soaps piled up, I think to myself, "Awww I'm nuts!" Pinky shared shipping with me and 4 of these are hers. I'm the nutcase who got 7! But in self-defense, I'm giving a few to my mom, she likes "smelly" bath things too. I've already used 2 of mine: Cotton Candy (sweeeet! I love it!) and Blavberry (very sweet too but with a berry "flavour"). You can tell I love it sweet. I want to open them all up and use a different one every shower, but I shall try to contain myself. They don't lather up much, even though I use a nylon net, but I expect this is a good thing because looking at the ingredients, it doesn't contain any SLS. It's also not drying. The smell and pretty colours are what I like best. I want to get more of these "smellies". From other places on etsy ... Etsy is so tempting ... In the past I used to get sucked in by the crafty stuff, now it's the beauty stuff, triggered by Yumeko! Just doing a simple search on "Whipped Soap" gave me a whole lot of awsome fluffy goodness! Check out this almost-good-to-eat Chocolate Raspberry Cream Roll scented Whipped Cream Soap. So clever! Even the name sounds delish. It looks so fluffy ... hmmm ... tempting. I want to show you my new tiny point-and-shoot I got at a road show last week. It's not the fanciest or the newest but it's cheap, light and dark chocolate in colour (love the colour!). Yum yum. It's so light, I didn't know how to use it at first. My hands were too "hard" from using the heavy dslr and too messed up with using the camera phone. But fortunately I remembered after a while and got the hang of it back. It'll be useful for when I go out and want a small and light camera in the handbag. Times are bad, and Polar just noted I've been buying so much. She did say it's my money to spend how I want but she wondered if I had any money left. Keke, thanks for your concern friend. :D I do have money left keke. I'm lucky in that way and I shall not delve into that too much. I've always been buying alot of stuff, just that lately I started this blog and there's a place to show what I buy. And it makes me and others notice I really buy alot! So, with my recent surge of guilt and the bad times all over the place, I shall exercise some restraint and hopefully be more thrifty next month. Haha. You can all keep an eye on me. ^__^;; © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Sukin Facial Skincare Set

I purchased this 4-piece Sukin Facial Skincare Set and the Night Cream at the end of January and I have been using it faithfully every day and night. In the morning, I use the Foaming Facial Cleanser, Hydrating Mist Toner and Facial Moisturiser, before I continue with my other items like eye creams, sunblock and makeup. In the evenings, I clean off my makeup, double cleanse with the Foaming Facial Cleanser, then use the Hydrating Mist Toner and Moisture Restoring Night Cream. About once a week, I use the scrub. Foaming Facial Cleanser Viva Woman and My Women Stuff both provided very good and extensive reviews of the Facial Cleanser and everything they said, I found to be true. So I shall link you to their posts (Viva Woman and My Women Stuff ) and just say just a few words about the other items. Just a note that this cleanser does not contain SLS, and it seems to leave a "film" on the skin but to me, it cleanses well without drying. Hydrating Mist Toner Ingredients: I normally spritz this on and then apply my moisturiser before the water droplets dry up. I find this helps the moisturiser absorb better. Facial Moisturiser Here's the ingredients for the Facial Moisturiser: I found it to be a non-oily and soothing moisturiser. I love the essential oils scent, but I don't like the pump. It pumps out too much moisturiser and I find it hard to control. In the beginning, I also did not like the feel of the moisturiser. It didn't absorb quickly. There is a sense of a film of moisturiser laying on top my skin. But I've gotten past this by now, especially since I started using the spritz trick I mentioned above. This moisturiser soothes away dryness and redness, but it doesn't brighten or clarify the skin. To have that, I'll need to look for something else. Moisture Restoring Night Cream Its ingredients: This is a cream and is thicker than the Facial Moisturiser, but it is equally non-oily and soothing (plus everything else I said about the Facial Moisturiser). Similarly, no brightening, clarifying or whitening action in this one. It has more ingredients than the Facial Moisturiser and since I sleep in the aircon, I find it useful to have a thicker cream to use at night. However, if you have oily skin and find you don't need a night cream, I think it's ok to skip buying this. Facial Scrub I didn't take a picture of the ingredients of the scrub, but it and other details of products can be found in the Sukin website. The scrub is just a normal scrub that exfoliates via gentle abrasion. The grains in the scrub are small and not harsh. I find it only helps in exfoliating dead skin but not clearing up the pores. Overview Sukin is an Australian company that prides itself in using Organic and natural ingredients. On their website, they provide a detailed explanation about why they do not use what they call "potentially irritating and harsh chemicals". This was the best selling point for me, because I was (and still am) suffering from over-reactive, sensitive and allergy-prone skin. Even when I was suffering from mild contact dermatitis, I could continue using these products without any pain or irritation, unlike other washes or creams. In fact, besides Yuskin A, I believe this set of products aided in my skin's faster recovery from the allergic reaction. It cost me $36SG for the 4-piece set and $19.95SG for the night cream. I found it in Watsons Ginza Plaza, but not every Watsons carries Sukin. I heard it's available in the Ngee Ann City Watsons and I saw it at Bugis Junction Watsons. When I first purchased the 4-piece set, I thought it was a trial set, but I was wrong. 125ml bottles is the standard size for the skincare. $36SG for the 4-piece set was probably a promo price. The price of individual bottles is around $14SG. Overall, if you have sensitive skin and need an affordable, gentle, all-natural skincare set, I'd say Sukin gives good quality and value for money. That said, because it is gentle and all-natural, it does not provide any of the benefits that other facial products could promise: it does not whiten, brighten or clarify the skin. I feel it's good that this skincare helps to protect and keep my skin calm. I'm happy to continue using this skincare set and will adopt this as my permanent skincare, while seraching for other products /methods to obtain smoother, clearer and fairer skin. Finally, a word of caution: If you have a history of reacting badly to essential oils, I think you should give this set a miss. As you can see from the ingredients lists, the products are loaded with essential oils. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Re-review: Shea Butter Vs Yuskin A

I think it's pertinent to make a short post to take a closer second look at my too-brief review of Yuskin A vs Shea Butter in yesterday's post. I think I wasn't fair to Shea Butter, and Jamilla was saying she was surprised that the Shea Butter didn't work for me. Actually, me too! I was surprised. (By the way, keep the comments coming everyone! I love them and they help me consider things I didn't think to discuss.) The reason why I used shea butter first was that it normally works on my eczema to alleviate the dryness and peeling. But this time, it didn't work, and I think there are several possibilities:

1. I was using the pure unprocessed organic shea butter, and I think it probably doesn't contain those extra ingredients that come with cosmetic formulations that might have contributed to healing
2. While the shea butter soothed the cracked skin, it didn't heal. Something like cortisone will clear the ezcema up quickly but a moisturiser will just alleviate?
3. But I think the main issue is that I'm still suffering from the Face Shop paper mask trauma so, it was not really the eczema I was addressing

There must be something inside Yuskin-A that is medicinal, that helps to heal my skin the way cortisone will clear up a bad case of ezcema. The main thing is that my skin has not recovered from the Face Shop paper mask trauma, in addition to all the stress, that is causing my skin near my mouth and other sensitive areas like the thin skin around the apples of the cheek to have peeling and bumpiness in a scary fashion. I did a google search based on the suspicion that I have a contact dermatitis allergic reaction and found a picture that reflects what my skin looks like. Yes, I don't want to post my photo! Keke. So, ok, just imagine this but in a less horrific form. I think mine is a milder version, with the bumps and peeling skin: So in conclusion, I'm not saying Shea Butter is useless. It is a good moisturiser and has well-known benefits above and beyond moisturisation that have served me well and I will continue to use it for those purposes. But in the case of my skin acting up as a result of stress and contact dermatitis from the Face Shop paper mask trauma Yuskin-A provided the better solution. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Fancl Sleep Support

Oh no, I'm beginning to suspect my skin reacts to stress (ugh workload!), stress (scary work people!) and more stress (PMS! PMS! PMS!) Anyway, remember this? Sleep Support, not the very cute doll ... Haha gotcha! Ok, I just bought another packet of Fancl Sleep Support this week. When I bought my first packet back in January, I promised to report on its efficacy. I'm sorry I didn't do the report earlier! I know some of you were waiting to hear how it went. I simply lost track what with all the skincare and makeup I've been hauling! It's unforgivable, I know! But I hope I am forgiven as I will talk about it today. A recap of the ingredients: Rice Oil, Valerian Extract, Hop Extract, GABA (4-aminobutanic acid), Gelatin, Glycerin, Beeswax, Niacin Amide, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Folic Acid According to the SA, the active herbal ingredients will be GABA, Valerian and Hop which work together to help induce relaxation and (hopefully) sleep. There are numerous articles which make a better explanation of these ingredients, so I'll not go further into them. The reason I bought a 2nd packet is that it did work for me, to some extent. I can't be certain if it's a pyschological-placebo effect, since I didn't do good and proper monitoring and taking records. It's more an impressionistic sense that I rested better because I woke up less in the middle of the night and entered into deeper sleep, when I was taking Fancl Sleep Support. When the first packet was used up and I stopped taking it, my sleeping problems returned - being restless, unable to fall asleep or unable to enter deep sleep, waking up in the middle of the night or early morning, etc. Understandably, the situation was made worse by my corresponding increase in coffee intake, to boost my flagging energy during the day (vicious coffee circle). And all those late-night reading and k-drama! Gah. Not enough time in a day. Anyway, I hate not having dreams when I don't enter into deep sleep. Dreams are really important to me. Mine are very vivid and I often wake up feeling better when I have dreams (not nightmares ok?) LOL. So, I made an effort lately to get better sleep again. Right now, I have cut on coffee, taking a latte only in the morning and no more. And re-starting Sleep Support. It's not like a sleeping pill that will knock you out after you take it. I've taken sleeping pills before. Some can be quite fast-acting but there is usually some wicked "hang-over" effect in the morning. So, it's good that Sleep Support is not as strong like prescription sleeping pills. I think basically what herbal remedies like this do, is something akin to TCM in that it balances out the body and helps it heal itself. One packet of Sleep Support contains 150 pills and you take 3-5 each night. So, say you take 5 a night, it will last you through a month. I'd say it's not bad for $33SG. By the way, of you are a Fancl member, you can collect points when you buy things and use your points to offset new purchases. It's not bad! A better system than the old one where you collected stamps. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Shea Butter, Yuskin-A & DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

I updated yesterday's post with some information about the Shiseido Maquillage colours that I bought. Hope it helps. I was actually personally tempted by 11 (3D Face) and also the RD364 (3D Eyes), but if I'm buying Lunasol's anniversary set, then I think I should pass on those. GR366 (3D Eyes), the green palette, was very beautiful. I like how the colours swatched on my skin but personally I am afraid of too bright and too colourful, so I didn't get it. I think it will suit younger girls or ladies who are working in creative environments that allow more colour. My skin is acting up again in some parts of my face and I thought it might be over-reaction and over-sensitivity that is PMS-related (edit: and the Face Shop mask trauma). So I tried using the organic shea butter I recently bought but it didn't do much good. Instead, using Yuskin-A provided the solution. My cracked, peeling skin was soothed and moisturised at the same time. It looks like it's healing well too. By the way, I got a case of scaredy-cat and stopped using Yuskin-A on my lash line ... Last night I used the sample bottle of DHC Deep Cleansing Oil that was packaged with the Feb 09 issue of Maquia. I'm very impressed with it. It's a sticky sort of oil, not runny, and I went ahead to use it on my eyes. It removed my mascara, liquid+gel liner and everything else with just bit of oil and some gentle rubbing, in just one-time use. It didn't seep into my eyes and when rinsed off with warm water, it didn't leave any oily residue. I think it emulsified or something. I still used my foaming cleanser to double cleanse after I washed off the oil. Compared to Mandom Cleansing Express Moist, this DHC Deep Cleansing oil is very efficient. I needed 2 large 4" cotton wool pads, 2 small cotton wool pads and cotton buds to clean my face when I'm using Mandom Cleansing Express Moist and many, many steps. So I'm going to stop using Mandom Cleansing Express Moist and change to cleansing oil. I've already got a bottle of Fancl's cleansing oil, but I'll try to get hold of DHC if I could. It performs just as good a job. I obtained a list of the ingredients from the DHC English website (which delivers to the US): olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, caprylic/capric triglyceride, sorbeth-30 tetraoleate, tocopherol, phenoxyethanol, propylparaben, stearyl glycyrrhetinate, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil. According to the website, this oil is water-soluble. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Today's Haul

Thanks for all the great comforting words, comments and tips yesterday! So ironic that after yesterday's "guilt" post, I went to collect my Shiseido member gift today and suckered myself into buying this bunch of stuff from the Shiseido and Dior Spring Collections! These colours and palettes have been reviewed many times elsewhere already, so I'll not spend too much time talking about them. (Also to hide from my guilt!) I think I'll just not buy any other makeup until it's March. Watch me strike out most of the want list from yesterday's post and hold on to my $ for another ... 5 days till end of Feb. :p Hopefully, in March I'll not be hauling much at all ... (unless I'm doing it with vouchers ... then it's not cash ... because I still want some P&J stuff ... ack). I promise reviews tomorrow on skincare. I'm watching Episode 3 of Boys Before Flowers on KBS World and it's really quite funny. Oh! It's another F4 thing that has been made into drama serials many times before but in Korean this time... Now, I'm so hooked! Gotta make sure I tune in every night! Edit: Colours look abit off on another computer that I'm at now. 3D eyes and lipstick are colours worn by Juri Ueno in the Promo pics, if you'd like to look at the official photos. Shiseido Maquillage: 44 (3D Face), & VI 367 (3D Eyes), PK316 (Lipstick) Dior Actress Pink 464 Dior Gloss Reflect 657 © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Recession Beauty Guilt

I just read a piece of news about Beauty and Recession that says,

"Despite the threat of job losses and the country's deepest economic recession, seven in 10 Singaporeans will continue to spend on beauty products and services, a small industry survey showed. One in every two polled said they spent at least S$50 a month on beauty products and a third said they would be cutting back on other lifestyle choices, not beauty, according to a survey by the organiser of the BeautyAsia 2009 exhibition."

Two things struck me after reading this article.

1. I know it says people will continue to spend but the benchmark used was "at least S$50 a month". What kind of benchmark is that? Is S$50 really enough to spend on beauty products? Or have I been spending too much?
2. I suddenly feel extremely guilty that I'm spending so much on beauty products and very suddenly feel a bit fearful and pressured to spend less!

I was actually thinking of getting some of the following soon (23/02: edited to strike out those I can do without and those I just bought):

• P&J Disney collection - Skunk & Bambi Blush (so cute!! I have some Isetan vouchers ... so I was thinking I might as well get these P&J stuff from Isetan...)
• Lunasol's Anniversary LE Set (would look first, because I was disappointed with the Spring eye palettes, but it's likely I'll get it)
• P&J primer
• Maquillage Spring 09 Eye Creator 3D and Face Creator 3D (gonna look at the colours before deciding)
• More Coffret Dor's Shine Drape Rouge Lipstick (they look so good!)
• Dior Addict High Shine
• Dior Addict Ultra-Gloss Reflect (I saw some of the new Dior colours and I'm interested in going back to get some)
• Another Lunasol Liner (I'm beginning to like this liner alot more than any others I have)
• More Just 1 Jill Stuart Eye Palettes
• Another 1 or 2 Jill Stuart Blush (thinking of getting from gooddealer and also asking somone to get some for me when she's in Taipei)
• A Rootote (to put my coffee flask, bento and book ... I hate sticking these things into my hand bags).
• A Coach bag - (I've been wanting one for just throwing around, you know casual use? But I have a tonne of bags already, so I don't know)

I was also thinking of taking a trip to Tokyo mid-year and then Korea later in autumn. And yesterday, I spent alot on groceries, without actually calculating/restricting myself or my son's choices. Everything he said he wanted, I said yes, as long as it wasn't unhealthy. I didn't compare prices or consider buying cheaper versions of whatever it was that I was buying. But now, thinking back, I feel a bit bad. Our government is making dire warnings all over the media and in parliament ... about the economy shrinking, about more job cuts, etc. So, right now, I think maybe I ought to STOP BUYING?!!?? Is anyone else feeling abit guilty about the current economic climate and fearful enough to cut back on beauty products and luxuries even if things seem to be ok for your personal/family income? © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Natural Beauty Experiments

Last night, since my skin was feeling agitated, I thought I'd use something else instead of my facial wash to cleanse my face. I did the Oil Cleansing Method (OCM) with my Jojoba carrier oil and found my skin wasn't oily at all, despite using only oil and no soap. I didn't have any makeup on. It soothed my skin, leaving it moist and soft. However, I didn't feel it removed anything from my pores (as the method claims to do) but maybe it's because my pores weren't feeling clogged to begin with. This morning, nothing bad happened to my skin, but due to PMS, I feel my skin is a bit rough compared to non-PMS days. So, I can't tell if OCM did anything much positive for me. It's unlikely I'll do it again because I found using hot water and a towel inconveniently drippy and hotly uncomfortable. I badly want to go shopping, very badly, but I'm also feeling lazy and want to just veg out at home. Still, I need to move my butt to go get groceries. Ugh. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

What I'm Using Right Now Tag from Cathy

Thought this would be fun to do. I read it from Blushhh Baby by Cathy. For some items which may be unfamiliar, I added links to websites, which contain some pictures and/or explanations. *Hair:* Shampoo & Conditioner: Alternating between Success Shampoo & Deitanseki Shampoo, Camellia Oil Styling products: Air Arrange, Keep & Reset, Lucido Smash Fixer *Face/Eyes:* Makeup: Foundation: Legere White Multi BB Cream or Legere Water Drop BB Cream Concealer: Bobby Brown eye brightener (I kind of gave up on layering alot of concealer) Mascara: Majo Majo Curl Curl Curl Toward the Sky & Fiberwig Eyeliner: I switch about, nothing specific everyday, still looking for the ideal ... I'm leaning toward getting more Lunasol liquid liner Powder (to set foundation): Mac Studio Fix Powder with a brush Highligher: NIL Primer: NIL - thinking of getting P&J recommended by Fuz (or should BB Cream come under this category?) Skincare: Cleanser: Sukin Foaming Facial Cleanser Toner: Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner Moisturizer: Sukin Facial Moisturizer and Night Cream Eye Make up Remover: Mandom Cleansing Express Moist Eye Cream: Biotherm White Detox Yeux & Lunasol Ultimation Eye Cream Mask: A whole bunch of stuff ... too long to list © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Mask Sheet Irritation Brings Much Confusion

Today I used The Face Shop Fresh Fruit Acerola Mask Sheet. After that, my skin became blotchy, irritated and bumpy! Very weird, because I have always used other Face Shop mask sheets without problems. It didn't go away and in fact got worse, until I gave in and washed my face later in the day. It should be noted I didn't put on anything else different after the mask sheet and I was at home, without any makeup. By the time I discovered the irritations, I have already thrown the packaging away and was left wondering what went wrong. Fortunately, a google search led me to Walgreens' website that lists the ingredients: Water , Polyglutamic Acid/Methyl Propanediol/Water , Sodium Hyaluronate , Algae Extract , Betaine , PEG-32 , Glycerin , PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer , Butylene Glycol , SD Alcohol 40 , PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil/PPG-26-Buteth-26 , Fragrance , Hydrogenated Lecithin , Acerola Fruit Extract/Butylene Glycol/Water - Malpighia Glabra , Grapefruit Fruit Extract - Citrus Paradisi What's the difference between this mask sheet and the others I've used before? I tried to make a comparison with Cereal Black Bean Mask Sheet that I've used without much problem: Water, Polyglutamic Acid/Methyl Propandiol/Water, Sodium Hyaluronate, Algae Extract, Metaine, PEG-32, Glycerin, PEG/PPG-17/6 Copolymer, Biosaccharide Gum-1, Butylene Glycol, SD Alcohol 40, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor oil/PPG-26-Buteth-26, Fragrance, Hydrogenated Lecithin, Glycine Soya (Soybean) Seed Glycol/Water, Glyceryl Methacrylate/Propylene Glycol, Cirtrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Fruit Extract. Huh! It doesn't look very different!! What gives? What's up with my skin? Gah! Additionally, looking at the ingredients list closely made me realise The Face Shop is excellent at product differentiation and marketing, but there really isn't all that much difference between products nor are the products very natural at all. The irritation I got from the mask sheet was similar to the reaction I got from Kose Ultimation Lotion. I didn't have the ingredients list for Kose Ultimation Lotion, and google didn't surface any either, so I don't know what is it in the lotion that caused the problem. If only I could have some way of finding out. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Beauty Style Meme: 25 Random Things

I took this meme that has been going around and reworked it to focus on beauty stuff. Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you in terms of beauty and fashion. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged.

1. I realise belatedly that cool tones like pinks, greys & purples work better on me (and brighten/freshen me up, make me radiant). Neutral browns, plums and oranges - no good for me.
2. I try to plan but mostly I buy on a whim and randomly based on what I happen to see and what I happen to like at that particular point in time. I can't think properly when it comes to shopping.
3. Think I'm bordering on OCD because I feel like a disaster if I can't shower in the mornings, wash my hands before eating and if I can't wash up/freshen up after a meal or after going out. Taking a flight then not being able to take a complete shower from head to toe when I land and having to go about doing stuff all day really puts me on edge.
4. Moisturise, moisturise, moisturise. Abit OCD about this too.
5. Don't like the heat or the sun, but I get cold easily, though cold is easily dealt with by layering on clothes.
6. So, I have alot of cardigans for the freezing aircons even though I live in the tropics.
7. My dressing is conservative. Less is more.
8. Same for makeup. I've been an old soul since my teens.
9. My beauty aim is to look natural, polished and youthful, and like I've made the effort to take care of myself, no matter what my age.
10. Sunscreen is very important, but I sometimes forget! Though, I never purposely sun tan.
11. I think it's only part of social politeness to look presentable in public.
12. Smelling nice is part of social etiquette too.
13. I prefer wearing dresses and pants.
14. Having good skin and good hair is more than half the battle won.
15. My hair is thinning even though I'm not yet old ... due to illness and heriditary factors ... Recently things have improved abit with some things I've been doing. I'm fighting the battle and hanging in there and won't give up trying to look presentable!
16. Matte and heavily pigmented eyeshadows or makeup don't work for me. They weigh my eyes down and accentuate my dark circles.
17. I feel I look better with the sheer and slightly shimmery makeup from Asian brands.
18. I haven't liked lipstick for a long time and prefer lipgloss, but recently I found some new improved lipsticks that are moist and smooth. I love them and they make me change my mind about lipsticks.
19. Comfort and style take precedence over fashion when it comes to shoes and clothes.
20. I don't mind paying for quality. Quality and the feel of a good quality product (from bags to skincare), is important to me, but I still tend to hoard when I find a good buy.
21. Strangely, "natural" and "organic" stuff work better for my skin, ie keep it from being oversensitive and "protects" it.
22. I'd really prefer and wish, if I could, to use chemical stuff that can deal with my skin issues though.
23. So, as an alternative, I'm considering going to a doctor for treatments to smoothen the skin further, reduce pores and remove freckles (not yet a big problem since I'm big on sunscreens but I'd remove if I could). I aim to identify a good skin doctor to consult this year.
24. My wardrobe is mostly blues, browns, black. I have only 3 items that are a concession to colour - 3 pink items for Chinese New Year hahaha.
25. Must be careful with costume jewellery, as most cause itching and swelling for me, even supposedly nickel-free ones and steel posts etc. Platinum, pure silver, 18 carat white and yellow gold are the safest.

Tagging everyone who reads this! Haha, taking the easy way out instead of writing down all the names. :D Hope you do it! Leave a comment to let me know when you've done it? I'd love to know your random beauty-related stuff.

© Copyright. All rights reserved.

Planned Experiments with Organic Ingredients and Essential Oils

I normally obtain good results with natural skincare (I should do a review of the set of Sukin skin care which I have been using), including those that contain essential oils. This fact, together with my interest in trying out products from Yours Essentially, led me to purchase a few items recently. The well-padded and well-packed parcel from this Singapore-based webshop arrived today, a few days after I placed my order. In the package, was included 2 small sample packs from the seller and the following items I bought:

• Unprocessed organic Shea Butter
• Basil Essential Oil
• Lavender Essential Oil
• Rosemary Essential Oil
• Grapefruit Essential Oil
• Camellia Oil
• Jojoba Oil

For me to mix and to contain my own experimental blends:

• 5ml Amber Glass Bottle
• Disposable Pipette with markings (3ml)
• 50g Plastic Screwtop Jar

I read some good reviews about this webshop's products and also some good results from using oils and unprocessed shea butter at Viva Woman, so I was very excited to try these items. Besides what I read at Viva Woman, there are various benefits attributed to the items I purchased. I compiled a short version of what each item is supposed to, either taken from Yours Essentially (which contains more details) or other online sites. Based on my main concerns, the list is focussed on relaxation/calming, healing and hair/scalp care benefits.

• Unprocessed organic Shea Butter - Rich in Vitamins A, E, and F, Promotes skin renewal, increases the circulation, accelerates wound healing. Itchy skin, skin rashes, Eczema, and Dermatitis. Soothing nature, anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating effects
• Basil Essential Oil - stimulates and promotes hair growth. Relieves headaches, stress related allergies, and painful menstruation.
• Lavender Essential Oil - healing properties, calms and relaxes, prevents scarring and balances the skin, effective for headaches, migraines and insomnia.
• Rosemary Essential Oil - stimulating the hair-bulbs to renewed activity and preventing premature baldness.
• Grapefruit Essential Oil - Antidepressant, antiseptic, antitoxic, astringent, bactericidal, diuretic, restorative, stimulant (lymphatic, digestive), and tonic. Benefits people with hair-loss.
• Camellia Oil - Skin restructuring and moisturising properties. antioxidant, anti-aging Reported to diminish fine lines and pitted acne scarring, lighten freckles and reduces the appearance of pores. (Also, thanks to Yumeko's blogging about this product for use on hair, I'm keen to try this, so I bought the organic version when tsubaki oil was out of stock at Nisshio Pharmacy.)
• Jojoba Oil - has healing properties for damaged and breaking hair. Great hair oil, scalp cleanser. Reduce sebum production, protects the skin from harmful bacteria. Moisturises dry or flaky skin. Clears and minimizes pores while clearing skin of blemishes. Aids in the healing of psoriasis and eczema.

Some experiments that I intend to carry out:

• Body (Face?) Moisturiser - I intend to mix into Lavender, Basil and Camellia into the Shea Butter for calming effect and skin-healing purposes. I love shea butter formulations, as they always help alleviate my dry skin and allergies. Lavender too is a favourite HG essential oil. If this works, I won't need to spend money on commercial shea butter creams or lavender-infused creams anymore! But this shea butter is very stiff, I am not sure whether I should go about whipping it ... buy a cheap mixer just for this?
• Hair massage oil - I'm going to mix Basil, Lavender, Rosemary, Grapefruit, Camellia and Jojoba carrier oil. From my general internet reading, I found that massaging in essential oils can also help re-balance the scalp, increase hair growth/reduce hair fall, and also condition the hair shaft. There are various hair oil blend recipes that can be found online, most include Lavender and Rosemary essential oils with Jojoba as a carrier oil.
• Tension, headache, migraine and insomnia calming massage oil - I'll mix lavender, grapefruit and basil into the Jojoba carrier oil. I also have some other essential oils at home that I can mix in, including bergamot and chamomile, which are not available at Yours Essentially. If this works, I can stop buying the pre-blended stuff from various places like The Body Shop and Origins.

I'll do reviews later when I've carried out my experiments. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Hottie News (Beauty Related)

OMG, Hyun Bin aka My Favourite Korean Hottie is going to be the new face for Laneige Homme! But, but, why is his face so wrinkled and his eye bags so bad? I'm attending some SAP training thing, and the trainer is boring, I can't help thinking how fun it could be if it were Fuz doing the training instead, talking about makeup ... LOL. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

EOTD: Coffret D'or TD Eyes 04 Grey Tones

Thanks for the various EOTD photo tips from everyone who commented yesterday! I was pondering over the issue of EOTD photos and hit on the idea of taking the photo from the side, at an angle. I also stood near a window (I had no meeting this morning, so I could take some time to grab a photo with my camera phone, haha). I think it produces a better EOTD photo, even though the eyeshadow colours are still not showing up very well, it is an improvement over yesterday. As a result, I'm happy to show you another EOTD, as requested, using Coffret Dor's Winter 08 TD Eyes 04 Grey Tones eyeshadow palette and Star Dazzling Liner DB03 from my mini Coffret Dor haul. Please ignore my crazy eyebrow, dark circles and scary line under the eye (haha I tried to photo edit it but it didn't work well). I applied it mostly like the Coffret D'or tutorial in this link, without the irridescent pearl colour, D. (A note: I wear glasses and work in a very conservative environment, so I tend to keep my eye makeup simple. I also don't line my bottom lash with eyeliner because I find that accentuates the dark circles.) Fuz asked about blue Star Dazzling Liner DB03 liquid eyeliner, so here's a photo of it, alone, before the eyeshadow application. The eye liner goes on smoothly but requires heavier application, it's probably better to put this liner after all eyeshadow application, because it flaked off as I was blending my eyeshadow. It also keeps flaking off as the day goes by. Irritating! I'm quite keen to buy more Coffret D'or if the colours and texture of the new Spring 09 SA Eyes are as good as TD range. This palette I have is very smooth indeed. I'm also looking forward to the new Shine Drape Rouge lipsticks. I've been using my Full Styling Rouge Glow everyday this week! What I think I really need is a heated eyelash curler but I've not seen any around here, maybe I'm not looking at the right places. I hate that my lashes are not curling up properly. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

EOTD: Jill Stuart Seductive Eyes 06 Romantic Goddess

Synaesthesia asked about Yuskin-A's functions, but I had already thrown away the box which contained all the information in English. So I did a search online and found the Yuskin company website. There's a section on the history of Yuskin creams and another one that describes the different functions of Yuskin-A, including ingredients list. Additionally, I forgot to add in the previous post, Nisshio has the Yuskin S cream too, which is formulated for sensitive skins and contains the added ingredient of Perilla Extract. I think I'll be buying the S version next time. Hope this helps! On hindsight, does it seem scary to put this cream on the eyelash line, especially when it says "medicated" on the label? I don't know why I didn't feel wary and just went ahead to experiment! In fact, I'm not sure how or why something is labelled "medicated" in Japan. I have no idea seriously, I hope someone can help to clarify this matter. I used my Jill Stuart today, unable to contain my eagerness. I love how the colours show up on my skin! It's unlike makeup like Bobbi Brown's, which doesn't show up well on my skin at all, or looks muddy when I apply too much ... To satisfy reader curiosities, I'm posting a photo of ONE SINGLE EYE. I must admit to photo-editing (badly) the scary dry line under my eye. I couldn't let that go out into the world wide web! It seems to be worse when I apply concealor so I have no choice truly and had to edit that. And please forgive the messy brows. I need to go to a eyebrow trimming service soon. I also have bad dark circles, which no amount of concealor/corrector can eradicate. I found it very hard to capture the colours ... it took abit of colour adjustment that I'm still not happy with at all because it still doesn't show the colours properly! Until I learn a better way to capture the colours, this will be the only EOTD that I'm doing! Meanwhile, you'll just have to trust me when I say I'm happy with the colours on an eyeshadow palette. So, this EOTD was done using Jill Stuart Seductive Eyes 06 Romantic Goddess and the Non-no tutorial (Look #1) that Haru of Rouge Deluxe had previously posted. Following the tutorial, I applied some eyeshadow on the bottom lash line too but it's not obvious in the photo here at all. I also used the 08 Romantic Poppy blush but didn't take a photo. I need to get more Jill Stuart! The texture is a bit powdery on the Seductive Eyes palette but I don't mind it at all, since I love how it shows up well on my skin. I also think I get better results using the sponge applicators, so I'm going to give up on brushes for now. While the camera phone doesn't pick up the colours very well and I need some tips on how to take good EOTD photos, the truth is I am always in a big rush in the mornings getting everyone and everything ready and out of the house. Taking a photo is the last thing on my mind right after I'm done getting ready for work. And I don't usually have any interest in putting on makeup at other times to tell the truth. Weekends, I just do the sunblock, powder (maybe some tinted moisturiser) and mascara, because all I'm doing are motherly duties. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Jill Stuart Mini Haul

Today I got my eager hands on the much-awaited items I asked Polar to help me buy from Taipei - Jill Stuart makeup! Last week, at the very last minute, Polar told me she's going to Taipei, late in the afternoon the day before she went on her trip. I shamelessly "pleaded" with her to buy me something and she obliged, even though she was afraid she'd buy the wrong thing, being a person who doesn't use any makeup at all. So thanks to Polar, here's my very first Jill Stuart! Thanks so much, Polar!! I love the colours and packaging so much. She managed to get me the latest Seductive Eyes palette and the Romantic Poppy blush, No.2 and 3 in the prioritised list I passed to her. I limited myself to asking her to get only 2 items. Now, I'm very keen to go get the Illuminance eyes, which was no.1 on my list but I think is sold out at the place that Polar went to. Perhaps I will buy online, after I try these in the next few days. And then ask Pinky to get more later next month ... *shopping-madness wink to Pinky* On Sunday, I also managed to buy a tube of Yuskin-A from the Nisshio pharmacy. I was also looking for Tsubaki oil. They were sold out of Tsubaki oil, but Yuskin-A cream was available. I think it's called Yuskin-A in Japan and Yu-be cream in the US (correct me if I'm wrong). This small tube costs $9.80SG and it's also available in large tub form, which costs more, but I can't remember how much. I have been using it on my lash line like Fuz does, hoping it will make my lashes thicker. The very good thing is that it doesn't sting at all. I also used it on some small rashes that popped up, and they were soothed very quickly. A little goes a long way but I might just get the tub for my son's ezcema and rashes the next time I'm at Nisshio Pharmacy. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Coffret Dor Lipstick PK 228

This review is on the lipstick I bought over the weekend from Coffret Dor. I didn't notice which range it's from, so I searched the internet and found it's called the Full Styling Rouge Glow. It is retailing for $46SG in Singapore and is available from all Kanebo Counters (Kanebo is available in OG, Takashimaya, BHG and Metro). It's been a long time since I used lipstick, because I don't like the dryness, especially those long-lasting formulas. Then, even the moisturising ones used to stick to my lips in a way I didn't like. Most lipstick colours are also too pigmented, which I also didn't like. But this lipstick has none of those problems. When I swatched it at the counter it felt sheer, glossy and moisturising. So purchased it and it didn't disappoint. I used my lipbrush to apply this and it feels like a gloss. It seems to visually plump my lips up too. The colour is a natural but not completely bland or nude. It imparts a slight pinkish glow. This is what it looks like on my lips. I don't feel comfortable posting my face on the internet, so this is as far as it goes for me posting parts of myself haha, which hopefully no one can identify. The colour on the lipstick below. I didn't capture the colour accurately, it is less bright and red than seen here. The colour on my lips is closer to the real-life shade, but keep in mind, it applies more sheer on the lips. I'm not sure how pigmented my lips are compared to other people, but if I don't apply anything, I do look very pale and abit like bloodless/sick! Haha. So, you can get a good idea of how sheer the lipstick can be. Overall, this is one lipstick I like, I would consider getting more if there are other colours that attract me. Meanwhile, I'm watching Witch Yoo Hee on tv now and it's sucked me in! I need to get the DVD disc set! Haha. They're eating Ja Jang Myeon now on the show and it's making me hungreeee. I love Ja Jang Myeon (both the Korean and the Chinese versions). © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Reducing Coffee Intake

I'm a regular coffee drinker and have a full Espresso machine at home. (That's my coffee cup from Daiso up there.) But lately, I've been feeling the negative effects of drinking too much coffee. Besides the early morning dose I bring from home in my Tiger coffee flask, lately I also drank coffee in the afternoons, after lunch and more. Just a couple of days ago, I found myself extremely exhausted right after drinking a very strong coffee I bought. I knew I was in trouble. Coffee is known for some negative side effects, including dehydration and also causing restlessness, due to the caffeine. I wasn't able to sleep well and I suspected it might have to do with the vicious coffee cycle. I suspected I was also affected by adrenal fatique (something that I read about, I have some thyroid issues). All these must not be good for my beautification efforts. I know very well that if I am exhausted, I will not look fresh and youthful at all, no matter how much makeup or skincare I use! So, I decided I need to cut down on coffee. I can't abstain completely. I've tried before and failed. It is a psychological dependence on the drink. I shall have to stick to one small cup a day and nothing more. I hope this will work! © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Mini Coffret Dor Haul

Happy Valentines Day! I did some shopping today and one of the places I went to was the Kanebo counter to look at the Coffret Dor line. After Fuz listed Coffret Dor as one of her favourites, I decided to give the makeup line another try. So far, I've only got their Christmas 08 Party Coffret palette and I wasn't too happy with the eyeshadow texture. Today's shopping experience was good! I found the colours very attractive and bought the Winter 08 eyeshadow palette (really smooth, like Fuz said, very different from the party palette) and some items recommended by the SA which I might not have purchased otherwise. There was a gift-with-purchase promo of a set of skincare and a bag, but I didn't want the skincare so I was given some makeup instead. Such an accomodating SA! I think I saw the Spring 09 collection, but maybe not. I'm not sure. Th SA told me these are new colours but I don't think so. There'll be a special makeup promotion in March, when a Japanese MA will be in Singapore, so I think maybe that's when the Spring collection will launch here? I heard the Shiseido Macquillage Spring 09 collection will also arrive in Singapore only later in Feb or early March. Anyway, I might review the items one-by-one later. For now, I'll show you what I got. The Winter 08 eyeshadow palette in purple-grey, blue liquid eyeliner (it is dark blue when drawn on the skin) and a lipstick (very sheer and moisturising, not at all like those thick lipsticks that I'm afraid of). The gifts: Quite a useable bag, a makeup pouch, Testimo (eyeshadow, lipstick), Coffret Dor (mini/tester size powder) and Kate (nail polish). Oh and I was at the Kinokuniya magazine section and spotted a shelf full of Japanese magazines related to Korean TV and Korean male actors! Incredible! I never realised!!! © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss

I realise belatedly that eyeshadow and blush in neutral brown-tones, oranges and plums don't really do me any favours. I look very washed out, tired and sallow. (Ugh, I have a couple of brown eyeshadow palettes!) However, I still like brownish/nude lip colours, so this Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Rose Sugar is a favourite colour of mine. This is how it looks on my lips. Now the colour is about the only thing I like about this lip gloss. I'm basically a gloss person because I don't like the feel of lipstick, and this lip gloss is so dry and sticky that it feels almost lipstick-like. While this gives it more lasting power, it also tends to dry out my lips and there were occasions when the gloss made my lips peel. I also don't like the brush applicator that comes in this gloss. I generally prefer brush applicators to sponge ones, but the Bobbi Brown brush applicator is badly designed. The brush splayed open right from the start, from a brand new bottle, and I had to cut off the bits sticking out so that it could go back into the tube neatly. I noticed some of the brushes at the Bobbi Brown counter were also in this condition. The gloss also comes in a very small tube, only 4.2ml. There's a slight fragrance but it's quite bearable. However, I doubt I will buy another tube of this gloss. I prefer gloss that is more liquid and moisturising, and I also don't mind if the gloss doesn't last long, since I remove then reapply after eating or drinking anyway. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Beautification FAQ

1. hi! i was wondering, what whitening lotion do you use for your body? I'm using Nivea Whitening Milk and also Roserity White Rose Brightening Body Care. They are not working fast enough, so once I hit Japan next week, I'm going to stock up on bottles of body whitening lotions from Fancl and their whitening pills.
2. hi where online to buy Legere BB Cream from and any parabens in it? Where can I buy Legere BB Cream in Singapore? I wonder if the water drop one has obvious pearls? n do you still like them both equally or which one do you like better now? thanks. =) I bought all my Legere BB Creams in Singapore at John Little Stardust, located at #03-11 Plaza Singapura. I hear there's a branch at Raffles City but I've not gone there. Legere Water Drop BB doesn't have obvious pearls, but from my experience, I find it is waterbased whereas the standard Legere BB is probably oil based. I don't have the ingredients lists anymore as I've thrown out the box. So sorry!!! Over time, I find I prefer the lighter feel and radiant glow imparted by Legere Water Drop BB. Legere Original BB Cream is now too dark for me though, the Water Drop is still ok if I apply a light layer! Strange huh?
3. Where did you get Lioele? Got it at John Little Stardust. :D
4. S'pore has a Shills store? Where can I find Shills in Singapore? How much is Shills in Singapore? Shills can be found at John Little Stardust. LOL. I'm a regular there. Plaza Singapura is really near my house. ;D Shills prices are really jacked up in Singapore, so try to buy it in Taipei instead. I heard it's in all the drugstores and really cheap. It is also available online via the Singapore distributor: Beauty Bistro. The prices are Singapore prices.
5. Any idea where in Taipei Jill Stuart is found? I'm headed there next month =) There's a Jill Stuart Taiwan website: http://jillstuart-beauty.com.tw/. The store locations are listed here http://jillstuart-beauty.com.tw/#/Shop/. For those who can't read Chinese, there are 2 prominent places in Taipei where you can buy JS: SOGO and Shin Kong Mitsukoshi. They are 2 big department stores in Taipei, easily found as they are located near train stations. Actually though I've been to Taipei often, I didn't personally buy Jill Stuart myself when I was there, but here's how you can get to SOGO and Mitsukoshi. Taipei SOGO is located at 45 Zhong Xiao East Road (Zhong Xiao Xi Lu), Section 4. Tel: 02-8771-3677. If you are going there by train, get off at the Zhong Xiao Fu Xing Station. Otherwise, use the cab. I find it easier to get around Taipei in taxis haha. Taipei Shin Kong Mitsukoshi is located at 12, Song Gao (Sung Kao) Road. Tel: 02-2723-6765. Personally I always confuse one Mistukoshi with the other as there are 2 big Mistukoshi stores in Taipei, so I won't give you the directions. Do ask your hotel concierge. ^_^
6. I'd love to know if Paul and Joe is cheaper in Singapore or Japan so I know where to buy em! Based on the price of the primer, P&J is about a bit cheaper in Singapore, compared to Japan. The listed price for the Moisturising Foundation Primer on the Japan website is 3,675 yen, at the current exchange rate (Apr 2009), that is about $55.50sg. The same primer is sold at the P&J counter in Singapore for $53sg. Depending on the exchange rate and sales (eg. if you could get discounts or rebates in Singapore), it could be more then a few dollars cheaper to buy P&J in Singapore.
7. Singapore has a Sephora? How are the prices in Singapore's Sephora? I'm personally too lazy to compare all the prices, but I read that prices in Singapore are more expensive. Generally, I think it's reasonable if it's slightly more expensive, since if I have to include shipping or a plane ticket when I buy something from overseas. However if the mark up is too much higher, like double or triple the original price, I'd really feel cheated. I think Sephora prices in Singapore are only slightly marked up. I can't be sure though.
8. Isn't that handbag a fake Vanessa Bruno? They look the same! Either way it is really cool. I didn't know it's a look-a-like! LOL. I actually did not know Vanessa Bruno has fakes like fake LV or Gucci. But my bag is not a fake anything. It's a real Charles and Keith. It's a cheap local brand, so I guess they must have copied the look. I don't mind buying cheap things but I don't like buying fakes. :p
9. Did you find that your The Face Shop brushes bleed when you wash them? Yes they did, but only the black ones. After a few washes, no more bleeding though. Maybe it depends on which batch of brush you bought?
10. Do you know where I can find Skinfood shampoos online? Skinfood Singapore has a website and they ship overseas. BUT, Skinfood prices in Singapore are really jacked up. I've been told it's much cheaper in Malaysia and ofcourse, much much cheaper in Korea.
11. Where is Lunasol found in Singapore? There is a Lunasol counter at Takashimaya. From what I know, it's the only one in Singapore.
12. What oils do you use? I'm interested in relaxing + de-stressing oils. Got any recommendations? Here's a post on this. :D
13. How do you use Daiso mask pills? A post on this. :D
14. Where can I find Yuskin A in Singapore? Yuskin A can be found at Nisshio Pharmacy in B1 Ngee Ann City, below Takashimaya and near to Cold Storage. I tried looking for it at Nisshio Pharmacy in Isetan Scotts basement, but it doesn't seem to be available there.
15. More to come ...

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Review: The Face Shop Stick Eyeshadow

I shall review these Stick Eyeshadow from The Face Shop today. They are available in 4 colours: White, Pink, Purple and Blue. I bought the purple and white to try, and found them very creamy and easy to use. But though they apply on easily, they also fade quite fast. That's the bad part. I didn't notice it at first, but the eyeshadow has glitter and the glitter pieces are very large. The huge glitter pieces are very noticeable once the eyeshadow colours fade. They are not very attractive at all when that happens. So, instead of using them all over the eyes as eyeshadow, I decided to use these only as highlighters instead. They work quite well in that way. Here's a photo of the colours straight from the stick. And blended. The colours are more intense in real life, the camera phone tends to wash out the colours. I don't like taking out my dslr for these quick photos. Maybe I should look into buying a small point-and-shoot soon. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Help Needed: Skincare Branding and Packaging Survey

Since this is a beauty blog, I thought I would help a friend post an online survey on Skincare: Branding and Packaging. Here's her message:

"My darling gorgeous make-up and skincare gurus located in Asia: Could you please respond to this survey for one of my courses? Skincare: Branding and Packaging Survey Responses ASAP would be fantastic, and thank you for your response in advance! Could I ask request you to help distribute this survey around for more responses? The market focus is limited to Asia, so I really do apologise for leaving my numerous Western make-up and skincare lovelies out."

Thank you! © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Shills Whitening Mud Mask

Shills Whitening Mud Mask (RRP: $28.90SG) claims to be able to whiten the skin and clean pores. The only size available at the shop was the large 200ml bottle, so I bought that. I applied a very thin layer on my face and washed it off quickly after it started to dry on my skin. I found it did do a deep clean up of the pores and left the skin smooth, but whitening effects were not observable. It works like any clay or mud-based mask and helps to tighten the pores a little. Other than that, I didn't find anything incredible about this mask. It is a little drying, so I don't advise leaving it on for too long. The price wasn't so expensive, and since it did work, I didn't mind having bought this large bottle, but I'll wait and see if I'll ever need to buy a second bottle. At the rate I'm using it, I may not even finish it by the time it expires. keke. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

So Distracted

So sorry! I have been so distracted and have not been up to blogging at all! Work is piling up with end of the financial year approaching. It makes me moody and tired, so every night I get home and just want to slouch in front of the tv. I just finished my Snow Queen marathon. It's a sad show. The story focus is on the lead actor's life and love story. Fine by me! I enjoy watching Hyun Bin and he captured my heart all over again. He's so cute (scruffy in this show), so good at acting the kind guy role with love shining through his soft eyes. Ahhhh. I made a screen cap of his cute dimple. That's fan-girl madness for you. By the way, just a bit of trivia: At one point, he was so popular in Korea that he was a spokesman for many products, including Beauty Credit and Somang. Our local Beauty Credit store, constantly plays the Beauty Credit commercials with Hyun Bin. I haven't bought any new skincare or makeup but got some dresses on sale. Since I have been uploading stuff on Poupee Girl to get ribbons to buy the Valentines-special cute lolita items, I took photos of one of the dresses. The other dress is in the wash. Very cheap, only SG$110 for both! I also bought some new discs. This one was on offer at $18SG. So cheap, isn't it? For a dvd set of 20 episodes, original Korean dialogue and English subtitles, I thought it was a good buy. But get this: Couple of days later, I went over to another shop looking for something else and saw this same k-drama selling for $15SG! Mad cheap sales! Promise to be a good beauty blogger and write a review on products tomorrow. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Shills Magic Bubble Peeling

Blair asked for the ingredients list for Shills Foam Esthe Pack, so I've updated the review post ("Review: Shills Foam Esthe Pack") with the ingredients list. Hope this helps! I'm having K-drama fever now, watching this. The lead actor, Hyun Bin, is my favourite Korean actor by far: He has the cutest smile with dimples and he's really good at crying. I'm so distracted by K-drama that I didn't go to Tangs for the card-member preview sale but headed home right away, so that I could continue watching the show. Today's review: Shills Magic Bubble Peeling (RRP $23.90SG). There's a typo in the package! It's spelt "peeing" haha! This is about the only item in my Shills Haul that has details on the bottle instead of only on the box. The ingredients: This is what it claims to do:

"Fine ingredients penetrate deep into skin layers, to give you a whiten, moisturized, fresh and shiny new experience!

Adopting a unique enzyme-ceramic component technology, these moisture rich bubbles gently massages the skin to remove old surface dead skin. It gives you moisture rich & clean pores removing sebum clogs and preventing large pores. It reduces spots, pigmentation and improves the absorption of other skin nourishments. Suitable for sensitive skin. Removes rough dead skin to give you immediate smooth skin. Taking care of your skin has never been so easy. Allow your skin to restore its original luster and shine."

This product doesn't whiten as much as Shills Foam Esthe Pack, and it STINKS! It has a strong perfume smell. The foam is also so huge and stiff that when I rub it on my face, I feel it's too hard to control, and some foam inevitably got onto my eyes. Although I don't like the smell and texture, it does exfoliate and unclog my pores. When I rub the foam, it feels like the foam is dissolving the dead skin and I can feel flakes of what I think is dead skin rubbing off. My skin is smooth and clean after usage. It is also stated that it's suitable for sensitive skin. That said, I have dry skin with slightly oily nose and chin. So I can't tell if it will work well on oily skin. I probably will not buy this again due to the awful perfume smell and difficulty I have controlling the huge foam. I agree with Pinky's comment that over-exfoliation and AHA can trigger another allergy/sensitive skin reaction. So, I'm using only one product at a time, once a week for exfoliation and deep cleansing purpose. Hopefully this will minimise potential damage or reactions. For those who asked, Shills is a Made-in-Taiwan brand and can be purchased in Singapore at John Little Stardust and also online at Beauty Bistro. I heard they are also available at Sasa stores but I've not personally gone to Sasa to check. Shills products were reviewed in the popular Taiwanese Queen beauty talk show, hence it become quite popular in Singapore. Apparently is extremely cheap in Taiwan, and available in almost any drugstore there. © Copyright. All rights reserved.

Review: Shills Foam Esthe Pack

I'm very tempted and want to buy Jill Stuart's spring eyeshadow palette and blush from some online shops, since I won't be heading to Taipei or Tokyo anytime soon. It's not a cheap brand but I've sort of lost interest in Lunasol's spring palettes having read reviews that they aren't that great. I'm also losing interest in the other items from Chanel and Dior. So, if I don't buy them, I could get Jill Stuart. Should I or should I not? I am looking at Bobodave.com Well, on to today's review, which is on Shills Foam Esthe Pack, (RRP SG$24.90). It is the first item from the left in the picture. This is what the product promises to do:

"Oxygen whitening SPA bubble bath. Create an elastic white and soft skin in just 3 minutes! Mediterranean islands Olive extracts is a natural anti-aging ingredient that provides the skin with elasticity and moisture. Arbutin repels yellow skin tones and melanins giving you a clean, white and watery skin! Added with herbal Wood Grass essence and Hamamelis extract, it purfies the pores and removes dead skin. Its unique yeast formula can also soften and moisturize the skin. Just like a facial SPA with plenty of creamy bubblies giving you freshness throughout the day! "

I found the product does whiten my skin. I've used it twice and it whitens my skin so much that my face is slightly paler than my neck! It also exfoliates and unclogs the pores. I have no idea what it is that makes the whitening so effective. I certainly hope it's not some bleach! But it does have AHA and arbutin listed in the ingredients. Here's the ingredients list: That said, it doesn't have a strong smell, doesn't feel harsh, and doesn't strip the skin but leaves it soft and smooth. It hasn't irritated my skin. It doesn't really bubble up much though. I find that I have quite good luck with products that don't have to be left on the face for long. So I can use these, as long as they are not too drying, without much problems, unlike creams or lotions. The thing I dislike about Shills products is that the bottles don't contain much information. All the info is left on the box, so I find myself having to keep the boxes, as I tend to be forgetful. But I don't like clutter and find having to keep the boxes annoying. I hope Shills will improve it's packaging in the future. © Copyright. All rights reserved.