skinfood bb creams

It's Christmas afternoon and I'm writing this post at my friend's place, tethering on my Samsung Galaxy Note, because she doesn't know her wireless password -.-

I believe many people would have already known what BB creams are. They started out in Korea a few years  ago and have been popular since then. BB creams were one of my first few make up products. 

skinfood aloe sun bb cream

This is the first bb cream I had bought, and one of my favourites. Skinfood has one of the most popular bb cream in the market at that time. It started with 3 bb creams: aloe vera, gingko & mushroom. I read some reviews online before puchasing the aloe vera one as it has better oil control than the other two. I love the smell of this bb cream. The coverage is medium light, and buildable; it does not look cakey. It comes in 2 shades; 01 having a pink underbase, and 02 having a yellow underbase. I usually mix the two together to neutralise. It also has SPF 20 PA+

skinfood peach sake pore bb cream

I had asked my friend to get this for me from korea before it is released in Singapore. The only thing I like about this bb cream is the scent. The coverage and oil control were not something that I liked. It doesn't keep my face matte for even a few hours. Like all Skinfood bb cream, it comes in 2 shades. Also, it is more expensive than the normal range bb cream. Not something that I will repurchase.

skinfood agave catcus sun bb cream

I rank this bb cream in one of my top favourites. Even though the oil control is not as fantastic as the aloe sun bb cream, it can keep my face matte longer than the peach sake pore bb cream. The coverage is higher and it also has a higher sunblock coverage at SPF 36 PA+++. The scent is quite pleasant. Overall, I am rather pleased with this product.

On a side note, I have "abandoned" my bb creams because currently I am more into liquid foundations now. 

lush is love

Lush uses "fresh, organic fruit and vegetables, the finest essential oils and safe synthetics" to make their products. Adapted from their website: "We invent our own products and fragrances; we make them fresh by hand using little or no preservative or packaging, using only vegetarian ingredients and tell you when they were made." 

I was introduced to this brand by my best friend. She got a tub of angels on bare skin for me from Australia.

"Angelic, medieval cleansing wash with rose and lavender. Angels on Bare Skin is the Lush version of an expensive medieval skincare recipe. Rare, precious essential oils were first brought to Europe by the crusaders who encountered Arabian medicine. The church immediately banned them because their ability to alter states of mind was considered the devil’s work! But the final result was Cosmetics 1, Church 0. Rose oil and lavender oil were discovered to do wonderful things for the skin, too. Almost a thousand years later, you’d be hard pressed to find a better all round cleanser and exfoliator than Angels." 

Initially, I could not accept it because of the strong lavender scent; I do not like lavender. After a few use, it became less "pungent" and I could use it without feeling grossed out. The texture is very different from the normal cleanser that comes in a tube or bottle form. It is like a paste, more towards a scrub-like texture, but not so rough. The lavender flowers act as an exfoliator which gently remove make up and dead skin. The essential oils (lavender, rose, camomile & tagetes) help to retain moisture in the skin. My skin feels smooth and clean after usage and I'm beginning to love the scent. I find that it is nourishing enough that I do not have to apply toner and moisturiser after washing (ok, I was lazy too). 

My friend also introduced love lettuce mask. I managed to get it from the new store yesterday and I love it!

"An effective, exfoliating face mask which gives normal to oily skin a softened, smoothed and radiant glow. Polishing almond shell is balanced by the softening qualities of almond oil and seaweed gel. With soothing lavender essential oil and the cleansing, tightening action of Fullers’ Earth, you’ll feel fresh in no time. Apply to clean skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave for five to ten minutes, and then rinse with warm water while massaging gently. Keep chilled."

It is very easy to use, like a normal scrub mask. The scent is more acceptable than angels on bare skin even though this product also contains lavender oil. It gives a very thorough exfoliation, and leaves my skin clear and soft. However, I find that the scrub particles (ground almonds I think) a bit too rough. Also, it has a very short lifespan and has to finish within a month. Overall, I am still satisfied with the product.

impulsiveness kills

Went shopping at orchard alone, and guess how much I spent?

Lush is finally here in Singpore! (:

The killer

The freebies from what I bought on the previous photo. From here you can roughly know how much I'd spend T_T

urban decay naked2

I NEED TO GET THIS!!!

IT'S SOOOOO PRETTY!

diorskin forever flawless perfection fusion wear makeup

I'm so going to rave about this product! It is currently my TOP favourite liquid foundation.

Diorskin Forever Teint Haute Perfection Tenue Fusionnelle is my first Dior foundation. I got it from the Taoyuan airport on impulse because it was much cheaper than the retail price at Dior counters here. Okay, I bought most of my stuff on impulse, so that's not a strange thing. And I was so attracted by the floral fragrant when I tested on my hand! I wanted to keep it until I finish my 1001 'opened' foundation, but my itchy hands could not resist opening it.

I was so pleased it! I love everything about this foundation and I could not find a bad thing about it. It gave my face a healthy glow and the oil control is awesome; my face stayed matte for the whole day! The coverage is medium and build-able, yet it doesn't look cakey. My skin looked so natural and perfect after applying it, just like what its name promised - flawless perfection! It could cover most of my pimple scars and made my pores look almost invisible. And I could not help smelling my face for the whole day (hehe!). It has SPF 25 PA +++, which is good enough for indoor.

It is a product that I MUST recommend if you are willing to spend on a higher price range foundation.

all about lips

I'm in a good mood today, so I shall blog! Let's talk about lips in this post.

Not everyone is born with thick, sexy lips like Angelina Jolie or Jessica Alba. Even if you are lucky to be born with thick lips, you wouldn't look sexy if your lips are dry and chapped. To me, healthy lips = sexy lips. Therefore, taking good care and moisturising your lips is very important if you want to have healthy lips. Below are some simple steps:

1) Drink more water - Drinking sufficient water keeps your body hydrated. One should not only drink water when you feel thirsty. Feeling thirsty is a sign when your body is already dehydrated; hence your lips will also become dry and chapped easily.

2) Do not lick your lips - Licking your lips will make your lips drier. Quoting from Medicine Online, our saliva contains enzymes that will digest the skin, which will cause inflammation. Also, the evaporation of the saliva takes moisture out of the skin. 

3) Exfoliating - You can mix some brown sugar and virgin olive oil together to get a lip scrub. Or if you are lazy enough, just use your toothbrush to brush lightly on your lips, in circular motions, while brushing your teeth.

4) Moisturising - Use a lip balm. There are many lip balms available in the market, ranging from cheap drugstore brands to the higher priced premium brands. My favourite lip balm at the moment is Burt's Bees Tinted Lip Balm which is available at Sephora for $15.  It comes with 6 shades but only 4 are available here. I've gotten the Rose and Tiger Lily. I like it because it is not sticky or oily, yet keeps my lips moisturised under the dry office air-con. The colours are natural, and gives my lips a subtle and healthy glow.

In Rose & Tiger Lily

I hope this post helps you to learn more about how to take care of your lips. 

And remember, licking lips is sexy, but it is also harmful to your lips!

samsung galaxy note!

Hello people! I want to hao lian my new buy! It's a SAMSUNG GALAXY NOTE! And I love it!

I wanted it so badly that I signed up a new line just to get it at a lower price. Hehe! The screen is super HUGE and is very slim! The main reason I'm buying this is because I can doodle on it! You know like taking Neoprints and decorating on it? I know I sound very stupid but I don't care! I just love my GN!

The mega huge HD screen allows me to watch videos or stalk people on Facebook at a better quality. HAHAHA. No longer have to squint my eyes on the tiny screen on my BB.

I will still be using my BB as I love its keypad a lot and I can type super fast on it. Also, checking email is an easier task on BB. I still love you one hor, BB.

It comes with a small and slim box.
And it gave me a surprise because I didn't expect the phone to be almost the size of the box!

I'm back to Samsung again. I had 3 Samsung phones before my BB.
Loyal Samsung fan eh? ;)

My BB and GN side by side. BB looks so cute here!
They look like a couple. BB the lady, and GN the man.

shu uemura UV Under Base Mousse & Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation

the pretty LE bottle <3

Yes! shu uemura UV Under Base Mousse is my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE make up base! It was recommended by a friend and I totally fell in love with it after the first try! I wear it almost everyday. It feel super light, and gives the skin a airbrush look. I prefer to apply it with a sponge, but you can also choose to apply with fingers. The mousse melts and turns into liquid that fits to the skin perfectly.

Also, it's oil control is really good and it can keep my always oily T-zone oil-free for at least half a day! It comes with 2 shades, pink & beige. It also has SPF and it smells rather pleasant. It is priced at $78 at shu uemura's counter.

it has SPF 30 PA +++!

The shu uemura Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation isn't one product that I really like. It is suitable to wear for casual meals or school if you do not want to put on heavy make up. The coverage is very sheer and is not able to hide any imperfection. Neither does it has SPF nor oil control function; my face turns oily after 2 to 3 hours. 

The only thing I like is the mousse texture which makes it looks fun to play with and easier to blend. Retails at $78 too. Not a product that I would repurchase as I prefer my foundation to have medium to heavy coverage.

fancl deluxe tense up & white advance drink EX

I've always faced problems with my complexion. I experience frequent breakouts, and also dry skin in the morning. Recently, I started to take Fancl's Deluxe Tense Up (orange), and it worked miracles for me!

I saw that Fancl was having a promotion for the Deluxe Tense Up, and decided to give it a try. The friendly staff at Fancl did a skin check for me. She said I had dehydrated skin, which leads to my skin secreting more sebum, causing the breakouts. A few days after taking the drink, I woke up with glowing skin. I can really feel my complexion improving and at the end of the day, my face still do not feel oily! The blackheads are easier to remove too!

Quote from Fancl's website:

" Glow with radiant, supple skin from head to toe. Deluxe TenseUp firms, moisturizes and protects skin, the MUTENKA formulation targets sagging, dryness, wrinkles and roughness from within - all with a deliciously refreshing citrus taste. "

The Deluxe Tense Up is actually the same as the Tense Up EX (pink). The Deluxe Tense Up is the Hong Kong's packaging, where Tense Up EX is the original Singapore's packaging. They are having a promo for Deluxe Tense Up, priced at $43 only; whereas the Tense Up EX is selling at $61.50. Since they have the same function and taste, I will of course get the one at $43 lah!

Also, I've purchased the White Advance Drink EX a few days ago, which claims to help to lighten pigmentations. I have severe pimple scar problem, and I feel that I've turned quite dark recently.

Quote from Fancl's website:

" Whitening beauty supplement, White Advance Drink EX is the intensive care for all women who wish to maintain fair and radiant skin while preventing UV damage. Great for those who are constantly staying outdoors.

This citrus flavored drink contains Vitamin C to target on existing pigmentation, Artichoke Extract to block UV damage and prevent melanin production at the earliest stages. Glycosyl Hesperidin is also added to boost absorption of ingredients for ultimate effectiveness. "

The White Advance Drink EX is not as tasty as the Deluxe Tense Up; tasted like cough medicine. It is priced at $61.50. I still have not seen the effect of this drink yet as I've only taken 2 bottles only. Will update again a few weeks later. (:

Update on 21/11/11:

The whitening drink doesn't seem to have any effect on me. I'm still dark and scar-y. omg sad.

recent buys from shu uemura

shu uemura has became one of my favourite make up brands! I especially like the packaging; very clean and pleasing. I do not need to say too much on the quality as it is one of the best cosmetics you can find in the market that is suitable for Asian skin.

Last Sunday, I was at Takashimaya with my girlies. Our original intention was to accompany one of the girls to buy her Bobbi Brown concealer. I suggested going to the at the shu uemura counter to take a look. I don't know what got into us, and we got very attracted to the counter. Bear bought a cleansing oil and a liquid foundation; I ended up buying a liquid foundation Face Architect Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation and a compact foundation Face Architect Glow Enhancing Powder Foundation. (YES I WAS CRAZY!) We spent about $300+ in total, and we were eligible for the membership, some freebies (mini sunblock, mini lipgloss, mini cleansing oil & make up pouch) and a lucky draw. We won the 'best' item, which is the mini mousse foundation (ok, actually we cheated :p )!

my buys!

I still have not started using them. Will do a review after I did!

Have only tried the free High Protection Sun Protector Face Cream SPF 50 PA+++. AND I LOVE IT! Its texture is somewhat like the Shiseido Anessa Sunscreen that I've mentioned in my previous post. Very light and no powder smell/feel! Also, it has a higher SPF than the Shiseido's. This is a product that I will purchase.

lip gloss. very glossy and shimmery!

shu uemura membership card; so pretty!

shiseido sunblock

It is very important to apply sunblock during the day to prevent the harmful UV rays from damaging your skin. Even if you stay indoor most of the day, it is also advisable to apply sunscreen as florescent light also contains UV rays. One should start using sunscreen from young to prevent spots from occurring at the later stage of your life.

I've tried several sunblocks before I found my holy grail sunblock. I'm totally loving the Anessa Milky Sunscreen (Town Use) SPF32 PA+++ by Shiseido! It is very light and non-sticky. Most sunscreen have a powdery smell and texture. They also give my face a shiny appearance which makes it look oily. BUT! Anessa Milky Sunscreen doesn't! It feels like a moisturiser and it does not leave my face looking oily. I apply it as a makeup base before my foundation. Though it is very creamy (unlike some sunscreen which like liquid), it spreads easily and feels very comfortable. It is available at most Shiseido counters. The price is quite reasonable for a good quality sunscreen (SGD30+ maybe?), but I couldn't remember the exact price. This is HIGHLY recommended by me!

I seldom use Anessa Milky Sunscreen on my body as I think that the price is a bit too high to use on such a large area. I will use Shiseido Aqualabel Perfect Protect Milk UV SPF50+ PA+++ instead. It has a higher SPF than Anessa's. It also has the powder smell and texture, which I don't bother since it is used on my body instead of my face. This is available in Watsons and the price is about $24 if I didn't remember wrongly.

my first vanity product: nail polish

Friends who know me well, will know that I have quite a large collection of nail polishes.

I've started playing with nail polishes since I was 11 (I know I'm very hiao since young). That time I was still a very poor Primary 5 student, so I'd only enough money to buy from those cheapo neighbourhood beauty stores like Sinma or the shop below my tuition agency at Kovan where I used to attend my tuition at.

Then, Korean beauty stores like The Face Shop and Missha came to Singapore. I was super happy 'cos they sell nail polishes at very low prices (like $2 or $2.50, I can't really remember)! So, I started buying, and buying, and buying! I had almost collected all the shades I could find in The Face Shop.

Later, I discovered Skinfood, another beauty store from Korea. They carry nail polishes too, but at a slightly higher price ($4.50). I love their colours more than The Face Shop's, as they have more nude colours and shimmers!

my babies! <3

You can see that almost half of my collection is from Skinfood! My favourite shade is the white pearly shimmer. I often use it for french manicure (refer to picture below).

I have a few bottles from Sally Hansen. I do not really like Sally Hansen as I find them take a longer time to dry. But, I like their Hard As Nails and Maximum Growth Nourishing Nail Colour and I use them as a base coat.

My recent craze is OPI. I'm starting to build up on my OPI collection and the most crazy buy was 10 bottles at a go from *Scape flea market :p I find it really good and lasting as those from The Face Shop or Skinfood can only stay on my fingernails for at most one week, while OPI can stay for two weeks!

Below are some nails that I've done.

Don't they look like fake nails? :p

White pearly shimmer from Skinfood on tip

Strawberry!

Watermelon! Hehe~!

Even though I like to do my own nails, I will also have my manicure done in salons. They always comment that my nail beds are very long. Maybe it is in the genes; my bro got even longer and prettier nail beds (jealous much)!

I did this at Milly's and I love this colour A LOT! But I couldn't find it anywhere else. I think it from OPI and i forgot to ask the name ):

The bottom one is mine

First time I'm doing Gellish. It was kinda scary 'cos the person will file the nails to make it rough. And the nail polish hardens very quickly under UV light. I was wondering if I will get cancer from this while she was doing the manicure for me! But the results was satisfactory and my nails are super GLITTERY! I LIKE!

I might venture into higher range of nail polish, like Chanel, in the future. Stay tuned!

Hello people!

I'm starting this vanity blog, which I don't know why I have this thought all of a sudden.

Friends have been telling me to start a bubble tea blog, to review different bubble tea shops and flavours. But I thought that I will not update the blog so frequently because I will usually buy from Gongcha or Koi la. Hahaha!

And since I've always been so vain and always buying beauty products, I shall share with you all my past and recent purchases! 

I hope you all can recommend me some good products that you've used, or find some products from this blog which may be useful to you (: