Monthly Archives: May 2011

Review: Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum (HG)

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I am a fan of gimmicky products thanks to their brilliant marketing strategies and roller ball eye massagers have been the ‘in’ thing over the last couple of years!! I was first introduced to this concept when Garnier launched their anti-puff eye roller some years back, but did not think of purchasing it as I did not like the idea of spending close to £10 for  a drugstore product. However, during one of Clinique’s Bonus Time events I picked up a leaflet from Fenwick which introduced me to their newest product – Clinique’s All About Eyes Serum! Being a fan of their Bonus Time gift sets, I popped in store and checked the product out and before I knew it, *kaching* went the till register. +__+
What Clinique says: 
Instantly cools, brightens. Combats puffiness, dark circles. Refreshing mini massage hydrates too. Layerable with other eye treatments. 

I may be biased as this is my first eye roll-on serum but this product does wonders for me! I have insomnia when I’m due in to work the next day as I am often paranoid I’ll oversleep :s so I normally wake up with puffy eyes that take FOREVER to open, which is why I always snooze my alarm clock (sorry darling housemates!)
I keep this in the fridge because I was going with the masses =p Well, placing the eye serum in the fridge apparently soothes your eyes even more! My eyes definitely feel less puffy upon application but believe me, this product WAKES ME UP, as in really opens my eyes. 
Normal work day scenario: S stumbles out of bed after snoozing her alarm numerous times. She then blindly makes her way to the kitchen to boil water (I always have half boiled eggs for breakfast) before going to the loo to brush teeth / wash face. Once done, she pops to the fridge and whips out this stick and swipes it under her eyes (twice) and over the eyelid (twice), CRINGES at how COLD that metal ball is and after patting the serum onto the eyes (with my ring fingers)… is finally awake. 
Oh yes, I am THAT terrible. I often operate on auto-pilot mode until I ‘roll’ this over my eyes. Le sigh. How am I supposed to live without you? 
I follow up with Clinique’s All About Eyes cream and Garnier’s tinted eye roller after! 
As mentioned earlier, this product can be layered with other eye treatments and does not make my lids feel heavy / sticky so that’s a massive plus! Also, I really like how my eyes feel refreshed the very second the roller hits them! 
Here’s a pic of the saviour that never fails to wake me up completely when I’m due in at 6.30am: 

In all, this costs twice the price of the Garnier eye roller (at a slightly hefty £20) but this works amazingly well and I’ve had this since December 2010 but I still have a little less than half a bottle left even though I use this twice a day! This either means I’m extremely stingy with the usage OR this product is bottomless! =p 
I do not have very puffy eyes so I cannot comment on whether this effectively de-puffs eyes but this is such a gentle product! I have sometimes carelessly wiped some product into my eyes (told you I was on auto-pilot) but thankfully my eyes did not sting! I love this for my eyes and I will repurchase again and again when it runs out! =)
Rating: 5/5

Project 365: DAY 38 (Car in my Drive)

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This beauty belongs to a very good friend of mine who has come to town for a couple of days! She’s staying over at another friend’s place where parking is unavailable so this cute car landed i my drive!
I had so much fun having lunch with her (Caprese paninis at Rutherford Bar) and we then CLIMBED HILLS just to get to her OTHER friend’s house to move the car over to mine! We then walked down to town (a good 20 minute walk) for some girly time (Carla had to get a dress for a relative’s wedding) while I had to get some blueberries. I am insanely addicted to Mark and Spencer’s BLUEBERRIES!! I normally get the Spring Blue variety from Morocco because they are extremely fragrant and sweet! The Spanish Star variety isn’t as nice! 
In all, a lovely day and I am dreading the meeting with my dissertation supervisor tomorrow gah. =(

Bottoms Up and Mini Reviews! May 2011

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It’s that time of the month again where I will gather the stuff that I’ve used up and provide you, my lovely readers with a little review of the products!
Hair care wise, I’ve used up a bottle of Shampoo and a tube of conditioner:

Charles Worthington Brilliant Shine Shampoo:


I bought this when Boots was doing a 3 for £10 offer (got the Brilliant shine conditioner and the Full Volume conditioner as well as this one) on a whim as I ran out of my now discontinued The Body Shop’s Nettle shampoo and had to get a replacement! How did I make my choice? This bottle was the last one on the shelves so I assumed it must be popular with the masses lol!

So did I like it? YES! Some shampoos hate me. In fact, most drugstore brands e.g. Pantene gives me dandruff and gives me head pimples (you know those bumps you get on your head?) which really annoys me as it does hurt! I was pleasantly surprised with this shampoo as it did not leave me with a greasy scalp but it does a great job detangling my hair which is incredibly rare for a shampoo!

Shine wise, I do not think it made my hair any shinier but my hair feels so much softer and more manageable since I started using this! The area I live in has really hard water and it does mess with my hair but this has been great for me *touches wood*!

I have since gotten myself a second bottle where it currently resides at the boyfriend’s crib in Camden hehe!

Rating: 4/5

Naked Shine Hydrating Conditioner


This conditioner has been the best surprise (hair wise) I’ve had for over 5 years!!! This tube costs £4.07 on the high street and Boots constantly does the BOGOF offer on Naked products and I got this on their BOGOF offer together with their Balancing Shampoo (which I will review later) Bargain!! I only paid £2 for this conditioner!

I tried this as soon as my Wellazid conditioner  ran out as I had only one bottle of L’occitane conditioner left and I didn’t want to use it all up =( I was more than surprised as I did not expect my hair to love this product so much!

This product is as good as both the Wellazid AND my conditioner where the latter costs like £12.50 for a 250ml bottle! This works out to be so much cheaper and works just as well, if not better! The boyfriend stocked this up for me during one of the Groupon offers where you pay £8 for a £20 Naked voucher so yay for that too! =) =) L’occitane Do give this a go if you have Naked in your country as I have to say this product is so very good and it does not weigh your hair down at all!

Psst, Boots is currently doing a 3 for 2 offer on hair care ;)

Rating: 5/5 (love, love love!!!)

Moving on to skin care:

Juju Aquamoist Foam Cleanser:


As you all know, I have to get up at the most unearthly hours (5am Monday-Wednesday for the uninitiated) and the bleary-eyed me just cannot be bothered to work my facial cleaner up into a ‘rich lather’ before applying it over my face. Thank goodness for Foaming cleansers like this one!! It’s lasted me a surprisingly long time – I used this once a day for about 6 months before I used every single drop up, which is fabulous! I haven’t used many foam cleansers but I was really surprise at how the pump managed to get every single drop out of the bottle!

I bought this from Adam Beauty somewhere in November as I thought I’d give foam cleansers a go and I am so glad I did because this is a very nice product which does not dry my skin but makes it soft and comfortable! It’s fragrance-free too which is an added plus!

Rating: 5/5

SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion:


I’ve finally used this up after over 8 months (yes it does go a very, very, very long way)! I have been using SK-II products for about 2 years before a friend’s mother indicated it isn’t very suitable for teenagers as it strips your skin’s layers, thus making your skin thin! I suppose their products act as a chemical peel? I am not sure how far this is true but I’ve heard from people who have used SK-II’s products and stopped using them only to realise their skin’s gotten addicted to it! I have to say this is somewhat true as my skin started breaking out the moment I stopped using the full SK-II range.

Anyway, I personally feel Clinique’s Clarifying Lotions work as well as this clear lotion as the SK-II clear lotion acts as an exfoliator of some sort where it removes dead skin cells from the surface of the skin. Clinique’s Clarifying Lotions act as exfoliators as well! Just some food for thought.

Rating: 3/5

SK-II Facial Treatment Essence:


If you look closely enough, you will notice I have not used this product up yet =p I just thought it would be nice to review both the lotion and the essence together so here it is!

SK-II’s essence is the most popular product in the SK-II range as it claims to have the miraculous Pitera in it which regenerates skin cells and makes you glow from within. Hmmm…. I have to admit this is a rather good product… For shrinking pimples! I usually pour 3-4 drops of essence onto a HALVED cotton pad (because I’m cheap) and once I’ve patted the essence all over my face, I will always place the cotton pad onto any blemishes and you definitely notice a difference the next day! I quite like this product but I will be taking my friend’s mum’s advice seriously (as she is a doctor) and I feel I am too young for chemical peels, even though it’s not very abrasive… or is it?

Mum’s been using SK-II for quite some time now and I’ve noticed her skin IS a lot brighter and she does look younger (love you Mum!) but she herself isn’t sure if it’s due to all the facials she’s been doing or it merely is SK-II doing its job.

Rating: 4/5 (I really like it but am worried about the ‘peeling’ effect)

Finally, body lotions / creams! I’ve used up quite a few bottles / tubes of lotions/creams this month as my skin hasn’t been behaving itself =( My skin’s been really dry and scaly so I’ve been taking extra care by slapping on moisturizers every day! I sometimes skip this step as I am quite lazy and I do not really like the aftermath of applying creams – THE STICKINESS. 
Garnier Body Intensive 7 Days Replenishing Lotion with Nutritive Mango Oil (Dry Skin):

This normally retails at £2.99 for a 250ml bottle but I got this on offer (3 for 2) at Boots (I told you it’s my favourite place in the world… almost) when Garnier first launched their Intensive 7 days range. 
The scent is delicious. I am totally addicted to this scent and it does linger for quite a while, which makes me happy! This lotion does not leave that dreaded STICKY effect on my skin and the boyfriend and I think this has actually cured my KP, which is a miracle as I usually need Cetaphil’s (also photographed above) to get rid of them. 
Rating: 4.5/5
Cetaphil Moisturizing Cream: 

I’ve used this product for years! I first got my hands on the from my dermatologist back in SJMC (I think it’s now called Sime Darby Health Care or something?) and it is perfect for rough patches on my skin / KP / even as a body cream! As I think it’s quite expensive, I try not to use too much of this and will only use it on the affected areas on my body =) 
It’s a really, really good product if you have extremely sensitive skin! Again, this does not leave a sticky feeling after application!
Rating: 5/5 
Clinique Deep Comfort Body Butter:


Did I mention how much I love Clinique’s Bonus Time events in the UK? They are extremely generous with their gifts (size-wise) and I got this during last year’s Bonus Time event at Fenwick! It costs £21 for 200ml (yikes) and I was very lucky to receive a 100ml tube (worth £10) for free! I really like this product as it’s extremely soothing and I know I’m repeating myself but I detest lotions that leave you with that sticky sensation! This Body Butter ticks all the right boxes for me and I was actually devastated when I finally used it up. No fear though, I am going to cut the tube up and scoop every single bit out (which is what I normally do for all of my stuff as I hate binning them knowing I can still get a bit of use out of them!) but yes, this feels luxurious on my skin! 
Rating: 3/5 (two points off due to the wallet-unfriendly price) =p 
E45 Cream:

This is boring stuff for those who adore fragranced lotions / creams. This, together with the sticky but effective Astral have been my saviour over the winter where my skin has chapped, flaked and scaled itself to perfection. I have used many tubs of this as it is relatively affordable and value for money as I only purchase them when they are on offer. =p This absorbs into the skin surprisingly quick for such a thick cream, thought I’d mention that because I was amazed at how quickly it absorbed when I first used it! This is a staple in my bedroom as I always have a small tub on hand just in case my skin starts getting scaly because this cures my dry skin woes overnight!
Rating: 5/5 (because I cannot live without it!)



Project 365: DAY 37 (Sashimi, Anyone!)

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Okay I admit, I cheated again. =p This was taken on Saturday while we were at Hi Sushi (Izakaya) in Covent Garden. A few friends and I (there were 6 of us) went for a Japanese buffet after our 2-hour long badminton session (there goes the exercise) where they served rather fresh salmon sashimi (eat all you can!) 
Mum, if you read this, please do not freak out. I didn’t eat too much Salmon sashimi =p The above photo was just one of the three massive plates of sushi we had!  
Personally, I did not really enjoy the experience even though I am absolutely addicted to Japanese cuisine. Maybe I’m getting too old for buffets :s

Project 365: DAY 34, 35, 36 (A Long Weekend!)

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The day after FK left, the bf and I felt so sad that we simply had to take a stroll in a park. We hopped onto the Overground and arrived at Hampstead Heath where we spent over an hour just walking around before the weather got a little too cold for us :p
This greeted me during a gruelling research session: SPECIALTY MUSCAT GRAPES that were so yummy (and not too expensive at £2.99 – the same price as regular grapes in M&S) that I nearly devoured them all! I had strawberries with the whipped cream on top of the latte the bf got for me to keep me going! =)
I was walking home from the train station today when this ladybug said hello. =) How did your weekend go? 

Project 365: DAY 32, 33 (Bye FK!)

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I had breakfast at Patisserie Valerie with FK on his very last day in Canterbury… =( I told him I’d buy him breakfast as he was going to buy me dinner at The Tavern (a posh pub) in town before we head down to London for the night. 
The poor boy only ordered butter on toast with a glass of apple juice while I chose the more fattening option of a Strawberry Gateau and Cappuccino! Was pleasantly surprised the cafe does a 10% student discount!  
We then headed towards Whitstable (again) to purchase some freshly picked strawberries for FK to bring home! 
I took this ninja shot of FK while he was checking in! The poor boy was stuck on the plane for over 2 hours before the plane finally took off due to the heavy rain but I’m glad he’s home safe and sound! =) Thankfully he hasn’t been tempting me with photos of delicious food from home yet…. 

Project 365: DAY 31 (Royal Oak)

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I have exciting news! Those lovely BLEAN STRAWBERRIES ARE OUT GAACCKKKK *hyperventilates while munching on a crunchy strawberry*
FK and I headed (in the heat) to Blean today just to get those freshly picked strawberries and raspberries! More photos tomorrow because I will be going back for more! 
These exclamation marks do not do justice to my emotions. At all. =p I’m so very happy they are finally here! 

Review: Garnier 2 in 1 Tinted Eye Roll-on (Fair)

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I believe dark circles are part and parcel of every University student’s life. I do not have massive sacks under my eyes *thank you, Mum and Dad* but I do have dark circles and the occasional pouch (not sack!) 
I started caring for my eyes a little too late in life, actually. Well, I did start using eye cream when I was 14? (can’t really remember) but the eye cream I was using gave me oil seeds so I got really paranoid about using eye creams and refused to use them until now… when I have crow’s feet =(
Anyway! I bought this for £5 with a Superdrug voucher (original price’s £9.99) and decided to give it a go as it is tinted (good for lazy people like me who never ever use concealer under my eyes) and it’s hydrating as well! (according to the words on the box, at least)
Here’s what Garnier says about the product:
‘Garnier creates Caffeine Anti-dark Circles. It is our 1st roll-on massage which combines a caring formula with natural ingredients and a long lasting tinted concealer as effective as make-up. The formula, along with the massaging ball offers a complete solution to tired eyes and dark circles and bags.’
The product also claims to reduce the look of fatigue and the coverage is immediate, long lasting and texture is concentrated in mineral pigments. 
I really like the cool effect the massaging ball gives when I roll it under my eyes! This is very similar (in feel) to my Clinique All About Eyes Serum, which is roll-on too. 
Texture wise, it has a cream-to-powder finish where it rolls on wet (and a little watery) but once patted into the skin it finishes slightly matte. Here’s a swatch of the product against my hand:
That was just one swipe! Impressive, isn’t it? The pigmentation is quite good for such a runny product! I’ve worn this to work (twice) and as I do 6-hour shifts right next to 4 ovens I am rather impressed the product did not melt / run and I still looked quite fresh after my shifts! 
I suppose this will last me quite a long time as I only need so little product per application and I do not use it everyday. This product is highly recommended for those, like me who do not use an under-eye concealer but would like to hide those dark circles / sacks! =) 
Rating: 4/5 

Project 365: DAY 29 (Flower)

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I’m a bit obsessed with flowers these days. I keep walking around going ‘Ooh pretty!’ ‘Ooh colourful!’ and I suspect the iPhone’s battery’s draining out ever so quickly due to me constantly whipping it out just to take a photo or two… of flowers. I even find wild flowers SO PRETTY (will show you what I mean in tomorrow’s Project 365 when I walk up to Uni)  
Here’s a multi-coloured flower. I do not think it’s a rose and I can’t seem to find a name for it anywhere online! Was doing an evening walk around the area and went up close to take a shot hehehe! The boyfriend claims I will one day be charged for trespassing lol!