Category Archives: HG

Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation 011 review

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I don’t know where to start with this foundation! The boyfriend got this this in December last year when we were in Penang. It was, he claims, an early, and the only Christmas gift I’ll be getting from him. I, on the other hand called it an “everyday gift,” much to his dismay. ;)

The Diorskin Nude foundation has been reformulated, and boy am I glad I waited for this to appear on the shelves before taking the plunge!

Dior Diorskin Nude Foundation 011

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Trigger-Happy Thursdays: Seeing Double!

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Hello lovelies! It’s nearly December now which means my monthly empties post would be put up soon-ish! This month, I have found a few products to be nearing their end as I come so close to using them up. Also, being monthly favourites (or daily staples), a few shopping trips were done where I repurchased some of these favourites.

I thought I’d quickly share them with you today in place of my usual Trigger-Happy Thursdays post where I put up random photos that may not interest some of you. ;) However, I do post photos on a daily basis via my Instagram account here so feel free to check them out and follow me if you like! =D

Kicking off today’s post is a gift from my fellow #soulmate Steph who needs no introduction. Lovely Stephanie sent me a parcel filled with goodies when I was still in the UK and this was one of the many items she sent!

 

Cellnique’s Soothing and Hydrating Lotion which I reviewed earlier here. Close to 4 months later I used up every single drop of this and I liked it so much that I bugged Mum to get me another! =D This costs RM79 so it doesn’t do too much damage to the wallet. I’m actually tempted to try Melvita’s Floral Waters but I liked this so much that I just had to repurchase it. ;)

 

 

Shiseido’s Perfect UV Protector is a product I swear by. I am currently in the process of using up my third bottle and moving on to the fourth. Having used this since early this year (February/March), this is the best sunscreen I have used up to now and I have been through many sunscreens from various brands as my skin cannot live without it. I will not go on and rave about this product as I can go on and on all day. If you haven’t tried this, please give it a go!

 

 

Ah, an old favourite: L’occitane’s Lavender Vinegar. I am coming to the end of my second last bottle and I am incredibly nervous about using the final bottle up! This product has been discontinued and I will be sad to see this leave my table for good. :’( This works on the odd breakout but did not do anything for the severe breakout my skin went through. Still, it smells lovely – if you like the scent of lavender, that is. =D

The only mascara that doesn’t harm / irritate my eyes to date: Shiseido’s Perfect Mascara Defining Volume. I still have quite a bit left in my old tube but thought I should purchase a spare ‘just in case.’ This stuff rocks my boat: minimal next to no smudges at all, holds the curl and lasts all day. Only gripe? It can be a bit of a pain to remove. Without this lovely mascara I doubt I can ever bring myself to even curl my lashes, what more apply mascara.

Another staple! My all-time favourite hand sanitiser. Ever. I’m typing this and wondering why I do I sound like a bimbo. Anyway, I think it’s due to the fact that these are products I love so much and I can’t stop gushing about them like a child so bear with me, lovelies! The L’occitane Lavender Hand Purifying Gel smells heavenly and is non-drying. Most hand sanitisers I’ve used smell so strongly of alcohol and my hands feel taut and dry after use but this one doesn’t. Mum and I were once stuck in a place that smelt of smoke and she asked for a squirt of this for her to ‘breathe properly.’ Haha! I’m doing my best to squeeze the very last bits out before I move on to my spanking new tube. Before you think this costs loads and would not last very long, allow me to point out that I have used this close to a year with near daily use. I also share this with friends and family before we tuck into meals so it has gone a very long way for me.

 

These are the products I have repurchased this month and it’s quite an achievement for the fickle me who likes trying out new items! Have you repurchased anything this month? ;)

 

Giving myself a Healthy Back with the Earth DNA Pack by Healthy Back Bag!

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Other than makeup, I have a serious obsession with bags. Handbags, messengers, satchels, clutches… You name it, I want it.

It takes very little to enable me. You want to tempt me into purchasing something? Sing praises! Give me a good reason to buy it (preferably health-related) and I am sold.

A bag that’s appealing to my discerning eye and cares for your back? Here you go, ladies – the Healthy Back Bag by Ameribag! The one presented here is the Healthy Back Bag from their Earth range, aptly named Earth DNA Pack in the colour Spruce:

The Healthy Back Bags in the Earth DNA range and are made out of recycled PET bottles. They come in 3 sizes: Small, Medium and Large. I have this in Small which has a 7 litre capacity and weighs 420g by itself.

In case you are interested in the dimensions, here you go:

35cm x 23cm x 12.5cm

I have to say this is one of the smaller bags I’ve owned. I am a fan of big, box-like bags as the paranoid me likes being prepared. For everything. I carry all sorts (mostly rubbish) in my bag so it is refreshing to own something in this size. Declutter, Sukie! =D

A little more on the Healthy Back Bag company: the bags are developed to address the problems that can be caused by a one strap bag and the aim is to create bags that look fantastic, comfortable for everyone to wear and finally, distributes weight evenly down the spine and not away from the body.

Hence, the unique teardrop shape of the bag helps distribute the weight we carry evenly along the length of our backs rather than pulling from one point of our shoulder.

It also helps that all Healthy Back Bags are water-resistant! Yes, even those made out of fabrics are treated to be water-resistant. This is very important for me because it rains all the time in wet, wet England.

Yes, peeps. Even in Summer. All through the year. They don’t refer to England as the land of the grey skies for nothing. ;)

 

Another view because I think it’s quite pretty, in a rugged sense. =D

 

I do a lot of walking about and this takes a toll on my knees and back. Having to walk up a rather steep slope to the University makes it more difficult if I were to carry a shoulder bag or a messenger as I can really feel the weight on my shoulders.

Here’s what I usually carry in my bag during a normal ‘school day’:

1. Water Bottle (1 litre)

2. Purse

3. Umbrella

4. Lunch of the day

 

Doesn’t look like much but when you are trudging up a steep hill in the mornings and walking through campus hurts my shoulders if I’m pop everything into a Cath Kidston Day Bag or even my Timbuk2 Messenger bag. Using the Timbuk2 irritates me mildly as the messenger keeps slapping my thigh with every step I take. Don’t get me wrong, I do love my handbags and messengers but the Earth DNA Pack is great when I’ll be doing a lot of ‘strenuous’ walking. You have to visit Kent to fully understand what the term ‘rolling hills’ mean.

 

To the bag! The strap is gel-padded to ensure better grip and comfort! They do not feel squishy (although I hoped they were because I have fidgety fingers) and work really well as I barely feel anything on my shoulders when I wear the bag!

 

 

The Healthy Back Bag is a subsidiary of Ameribag and this is why we have the Ameribag logo at the bottom of the shoulder strap:

 

Did I mention the strap can be clipped to either bottom corner of the bag? =D

 

Here’s a view from the back:

 

Padded back panel and spot the hidden back pocket!

I especially love the hidden back pocket as this is where I hide my purse:

 

This back pocket is really convenient as I can just swing the bag to the front and gain acess to the hidden pocket without needing to dig through the contents of my bag or even putting my bag on the counter (as many of us do when making payment)!

The front compartment contains a mesh coin purse, two pen slots and a key hook. Built-in compartments are my cup of tea as this turns messy, disorganised me into a freakishly organised lady.

 

 

Photo isn’t great, but I promise you this is an awesome bag. ;)

 

Here’s what the main compartment looks like:

 

Personally, I like that the mouth opens wide enough for me to gain access to the contents. I’m confident enough with this because I know my purse is hidden in the back pocket and no one other than myself can get to it so that’s reassuring! There’s another pocket inside the main compartment and this is slightly padded and fits my mobile phone in comfortably. I would not place my phone in there though as I will have trouble hearing it when I’m out and about.

 

 

This bag just about fits my Bobble bottle, an umbrella and a Tupperware container filled with nuts because I like to snack on them and it keeps the chocolate cravings at bay. Alright who am I kidding. Nothing ever keeps those cravings at bay. ;)

 

By the way, I found an awesome self-proclaimed lippie compartment in the Earth DNA Pack:

 

Nestled right at the tip of the bag! This fits even the bulky Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks comfortably with room to spare. ;)

Ever since I received this bag it has been a staple daily bag for university! I also paired this bag with a dress and I wore this look to my housemate’s graduation! I was torn between using this and a girly handbag but this won me over as I was carrying my camera and wanted a free hand to take photos! It was also very wet that day and the Earth DNA Pack kept my camera high and dry. =) The size of bag was the sole reason why it went well with the dress, another friend commented as this bag just fits snugly on my back and doesn’t look overly rugged even though the shade gives out a rather military feel. Am I alone in this or do you share the same sentiments?

I usually wear this bag across my body as it’s what I’m most comfortable with…. Like this:

 

Haha! I’m not much of a model, you can tell just by looking at that awkward back and pose of mine. I’m wearing a gaudy-looking dye dress I bought from a Kelantanese bazaar for about RM20 / £4. This is what I wear at home, folks. ;) If you were one of the inquisitive ones who clicked on the photo and saw my mobile phone peeking out, this is not how I store my phone. Prior to taking this photo, I was engaged in deep conversation with my maid of honour but I had to quickly abandon her for a while to take this shot so the phone was hastily chucked into the outer compartment. =)

I have worn the bag on my shoulders too and I am really impressed with how the bag never fell off my shoulders! This brought me back to my schooling days where the ‘cool’ guys and girls always wore their school bags on one shoulder… I’m one of those geeky ones who always had to wear both the straps as the straps somehow slip off my shoulder should I attempt to be cool.

+___+

I guess the gel pads really helped then! I can now be one of the cool girls! =D

 

I have someone to thank for my newfound addiction to ‘gadgety’ bags like this one : Steph. She first introduced me to the wonderful world of Timbuk2 bags as she herself owns one! I remember ooh-ing and aah-ing over her lovely messenger during our first meet up in Midvalley and I have not been able to get it out of my mind since! I purchased a Timbuk2 backpack for the boyfriend as a birthday present and even the fussy lad is impressed with its really cool and well-designed compartments. ;)

The Healthy Back Bag’s Earth DNA Pack brings the well thought out design with healthy backs in mind! I also feel the Earth DNA range trumps the original Healthy Back Bag designs as the latter does not come with a hidden back pocket which is such a shame! I have to admit that the original Healthy Back Bag looks classy and can be worn on any occasion but the Earth DNA takes on a more casual look.

As we all know, good things do not come cheap. The Earth DNA Pack in Small costs £44 but I was lucky enough to bag an offer so the bag worked out cheaper. ;)

I am on a bag ban now because I have more than enough bags for me to pass on to my future 10 children (how the boyfriend puts it) and this bag has surpassed my high expectations even though I approached the size with a dash of apprehension and slight biasedness as larger sized bags are my kinda thing.

If I can, this bag gets a 11/10 rating. My back is happy. My knees are happy. I am happy.

If you are school / university going and you lug textbooks, I recommend the Medium-sized bag for you as it fits books and other items better than this. This is more of a casual outing-sized bag so it’s just enough to fit the bare necessities.

Perfect bag for pretty much everything and with this, I give the Healthy Back Bag Earth DNA Pack the elusive Holy Grail status!

Have you ever owned a bag that made you this happy? Practicality and comfort won me over in this one! =)

Have a great Saturday, everyone and just a plug…

 

JOIN MY GIVEAWAY ALREADY IF YOU HAVEN’T DONE SO!

 

Review: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua in B10 Beige Pastel

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I can’t believe I’m only reviewing this after yonks! This actually is the first ever foundation I purchased (way back before CNY 2011 at Heathrow airport just before I boarded the KL-bound plane) 
If my memory serves me correctly, I bought this after watching a Lisa Eldridge video where she highly recommended Chanel’s (then) newly launched foundation which acts like ‘second skin’, in her words. Being the make up newbie that I was (still am now), I sauntered over to the Chanel make up booth and asked if I can be matched to a shade! =D 
Nearly a year and many many uses later, I finally got down to reviewing this incredible product! =D
The product is housed in a nifty rectangular bottle which is very travel friendly as it does not take up a lot of space in your bag! Also, you need to shake the bottle up as this is a water-based foundation and you will end up with runny gunk should you not shake the bottle properly!

Let’s get on to the swatches, shall we? I was matched to the lightest shade available – B10 Beige Pastel even though the SA did mention it was still slightly dark for me. Well, I couldn’t see much of a difference when I looked in the mirror so I just went on and purchased it anyway. =D

One thing to note for you ladies with pink undertones: The yellow undertones of this foundation is quite prominent! I was astonished at how yellow the foundation looked when the SA squeezed it out of the spout but for some reason the yellowness of this foundation works for my skin. 

As this is a water-based foundation, you need to work fast with this as it dries pretty quick! I only noticed this when I was taking swatch photos for this post. :s I left the above swatch on my arm for about 5 minutes as I was fumbling to get better lighting for the photo and it took me ages to blend this out!

The main thing I adore about this foundation is that it doesn’t sit on your skin! I just use my fingers to spread the foundation over my nose / chin area and it just disappears into my skin as though I haven’t applied any foundation! This does not dry to a matte / dewy finish but just leaves you looking so natural and fresh! The SA mentioned you do not need to use a finishing powder with this product but I still do as I wouldn’t risk having my foundation melting off and leaving me with unsightly streaks on my face!

Coverage is about sheer-medium for this product and although it can be buildable, I advise against you layering this foundation on your skin as firstly, this is a pricey product ( £30-ish ) and secondly, there’s always concealer!

This is my favourite foundation as I am no fan of looking ‘plastered’ so I do not mind having a few small blemishes peeking out! Redness is my main enemy so if a product manages to combat it, I’m happy! =D

I’m afraid I do not have a photo of myself wearing this foundation as I am having trouble looking for a well-lit corner in my home for me to show you lovely people how the foundation looks on my skin but I will update this post (and the Dior powder foundation one) once I get the photos taken! For now, here’s how the foundation looks, blended on my arm:

I hope Chanel will never, ever discontinue this product as I know this is one product I cannot live without! =D

Yes, my dears… Yet another HG product for me!

Do you have any good foundations to recommend? I currently only use Bourjois and Chanel but would love to try other brands! =) Do let me know if you have a HG foundation you can’t live without! 

Review: Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder Make Up in 020 Beige Praline

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I know I’ve been terrible at reviewing my favourite products and giving them credit where it’s due but one of my main resolutions this year is not to be tardy and blog more often! =D  
This joined my make up collection sometime in August last year as I was on the look out for a light powder foundation to replace my Clinique Stay-Matte Sheer Pressed Powder. This caught my eye at the Dior counter at Fenwick’s so I decided to give it a go. =) 
There are three layers to the powder, which makes it a multi-tasking product. I purchased mine in the shade 020 Beige Praline which can be a little dark for me should I only use the Unify bit (the one right at the bottom) as recommended in the information sheet provided by Dior:
I find the above information sheet helpful as I would have just swirled the brush into all three layers and apply it onto my face without thinking. #ignorant
The SA helped me apply this to my bare face according to the above instructions but the Unifier was a little too dark and dull for my NC15 skin. I was a little disappointed as Beige Praline was the lightest shade available! The SA then suggested we swirl the brush over all three layers and the result? Even, brightened complexion! 
For those of you who are fair-skinned and find the Unifier shade a little dark for you, I suggest you sweep the brush through all layers and try it out before walking away because the upper layers work well seems to lighten the shade quite a bit! =) 
Now, onto the upper layers. I love the illuminating first layer as it just gives you a nice sheen without being glittery / overly shimmery. I love to just sweep this onto my cheekbones and even down my nose bridge to somehow camouflage that big fat and flat nose of mine. ;)  
Dior refers to the second layer as the sculpting one but as yours truly is seemingly hopeless at sculpting her face, she uses it as a blush and although a little on a sheer side, it’s enough to give you that glow to your cheeks! 
Even though the packaging is rather bulky, I lug this around as I never need under eye concealer / blush in my bag when I have this baby with me! 
 I use this everyday, be it by itself, or as a setting powder (I use a large fluffy brush to gently sweep across the layers and buff it onto my face) and I’ve barely made a dent in it. This is surely saying something in terms of the pigmentation of this product! 
Now, how does this fare on one’s skin? I always use the brush provided, which means the coverage is sheer-light, enough to mask the redness in my face so I’m happy with the coverage provided. I suppose you can use a sponge for heavier coverage as this product does not cake on my skin (yay) but one thing to note though…. I do not think this helps keep my slightly oily T-zone at bay!
The fact that this product does not have any oil-controling qualities doesn’t bug me as I do not have very oily skin. For those of you who have oily skin, I suggest blotting your skin before reapplying the powder. 
I have swatches of the powders, as seen below. Note that the swatches were done with my fingers and only one swipe was needed to get the powders to show on my arm. Says quite a bit about the pigmentation of this product, doesn’t it? ;)
Some of you may be worried looking at the peachy-ness of the final swatch where I swirled all the colours together but don’t worry! You will not end up with a pink-based face as long as you use a light hand. =) 
I declare this my Holy Grail powder foundation as I have yet to see a better multi-tasking product than this one! =D 
Do you use powder foundations? 
p/s: I have adjusted the size of my photos and I was wondering if you lovely readers prefer photos of this size or that of my older posts? Please let me know! Thank you my dears!

My 2011.

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Hello everyone! I suppose most of you must be getting ready to usher in the New Year somewhere nice while yours truly is pretty much stuck at home with my family (lovely, lovely family) where Grandma, Mum and Dad are already fast asleep and the only ones awake are my brother and I! Pathetic, no? 
I have to say, 2011 hasn’t been an obstacle-free year for me. Things were lovely at the first half of the year with me being really happy with my course, to begin with. Also, I made such lovely blogger friends along the way, with Hanny, Lily, Stephanie, and even Paris B who all are to blame for my make-up addiction. =D I’m only joking, my dears I am just so happy to have found lovely blogger friends in you! 
Drama started in September when the boyfriend had issues with his student visa. The sporadic blog posts phase began as time seemed to fly past ever so quickly then. Fast forward to November with Dad coming to attend my graduation, my graduation then more drama ensued which ended up in me coming back to Malaysia for a couple of months…. Maybe for good. Nothing is written in ink at the moment and I don’t even know what lies in front of me. =( 
Upon coming home, my Popo (maternal grandmother) came to stay and within a week of coming down to Kuala Lumpur she got herself admitted into intensive care where yep, you guessed it. EVEN MORE DRAMA emerged. 
T___T
Well, she’s finally discharged now and she’s sleeping downstairs at the moment. I panic sometimes and run downstairs to check if she’s still breathing. Paranoid me. Le sigh. 
But hey, new year, new start! So I am going to put all those troubles behind me and carry on with the fun stuff….. Make up! =D
Being extremely new to the beauty blogging world, I have yet to amass a huge stash of make up but I have found some gems in my small but ever growing pile! =) 
I will only go into the products that I’ve used so much this year, just so I don’t bore you lovely people to death as this post has been such a wordy one! =D
1. Most used blush – MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish from the Semi Precious range in Rose Quartz!
This was my first purchase from MAC and I have been using this so much that it’s become my to-go blush as it just gives that lovely pink sheen to my cheeks and I never need to worry about streaky cheeks when using this product! 
2. Best ever foundation (also my most expensive) – Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation in B10
I owe a lovely reader – Diana a review of this product (sorry, darling!) and yes I need to get down to reviewing this quick! This light-medium coverage foundation is the one I reach out for when my skin needs that dewy look! It does not conceal blemishes but it covers my redness and the end result? I get a ‘no make up’ look! =) I also love how my little bottle seems bottomless as I do reach out for this quite a bit. ;)
3. Favourite Loose Powder alternative / Highlighting Powder: Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Rose 01
I caved into getting this product thanks to Paris B and this is definitely an item worth saving up for! I don’t know what lies in those magic pearls but when dusted on my face, I look prettier. Hahaha! That was an incredibly lame attempt at summing up how I feel about this product but it just is amazing. Try this if you haven’t already tried it!
4. Favourite Eyeshadow Brand: Inglot Eyeshadows
Sigh. I have Hanny to blame for this! I bought my first eyeshadow quad from Westfield Shopping Centre in White City and incredibly, the boyfriend has been experimenting with the quad, creating lovely looks for yours truly every time we head out for dinner! Yes, my boyfriend is my personal make up artist and he criticizes eyeshadows to no end! He once helped my housemate do her eye make up and he complained ‘These eyeshadows are nothing like your Inglot ones. They aren’t pigmented at all.’ (He was using a Rimmel quad at that time) HAHA!! During my meet up with Hanny, I erm, took another plunge and bought an eyeshadow trio (easier to lug around)! 
5. Favourite Concealer – By Terry’s Touche Veloutee Highlighting Concealer
Such a brilliant invention for people with eye sacks like me! It’s such a shame this isn’t available in Malaysia. Read about it here!
6. Favourite Cream / Mousse Eyeshadow – Chanel’s Illusion d’Ombre
I’ve used my one and only Illusion d’Ombre (in Illusoire) so much since I purchased it and I barely made a dent in the little tub! Need I say anymore? =D I’m saving up for more shades!! =) 
7. Favourite Sunscreen – Kose Medicated Sekkisei SPF50+ PA+++
A random addition into my favourite make up products but I added this in as this has saved my skin from getting burnt all through summer and now home in Malaysia! Some sunscreens break me out or cause discomfort but this is a rather affordable one that doesn’t harm my skin! 
8. Favourite Highlighter – Lancome’s Eclat Miracle
This incredibly liquid and easy-to-use highlighter is such a life saver! I just mix 2-3 dots of Eclat Miracle with my foundation of the day and it makes my complexion look so much better! Review to come in due time ;)  
9. Favourite Powder Foundation – Dior Diorskin Nude Natural Glow Sculpting Powder Make up in 020 Beige Praline
I use this as a setting powder or a light foundation on lazy days. =) I also keep it in my handbag as the huge mirror does come in handy for touch ups! 

So these are my favourite products of the year! Let’s see if they remain on top of my list next year! =D 
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE!!! =) 


Review: Mario Badescu Enzyme Cleansing Gel

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I don’t know why it took me so long to review one of my most favourite cleansers! I was introduced to Mario Badescu’s skin care products two years ago by a friend who swears by their Enzyme Cleansing Gel which then prompted me to purchase one as I was running out of my usual random drugstore cleanser at the time.
Cleansers are the one thing I’m not fussed with as I believe cleansers are only used to remove sunscreen / make up and daily grime so I don’t invest in them. I usually just pop into Boots and buy what’s on offer, usually a Neutrogena one (terribly drying, them ones) or Clinique as I love to take advantage of their lovely GWPs. =p 
I have to admit this is one of the strangest cleansers I’ve used. It’s green (obviously) and does have a certain shimmer to it and the best bit? It does not lather at all. 
Touted as their best selling cleanser, the Enzyme Cleansing Gel supposedly removes make up and does not dry the skin even though it consists of natural AHAs from the Papaya and Grapefruit extracts. 
Even though it claims to be able to remove make up, I still use my Kose Speedy Cleansing Oil as I don’t want to go to bed with a dirty face and wake up with zits all over! =p So I still double cleanse but this cleanser really does brighten the skin and leaves your skin so soft and smooth! I actually don’t mind the fact that the product does not lather up at all but those of you who are used to having foaming cleansers might find using this strange at first.
The fact that it’s quite an affordable cleanser with minimal packaging (yay!) is an added plus! This costs £10.95 and lasts me over 3 months with everyday use so it’s not too bad really. =) 
I haven’t experienced a softening cleanser before so this really is a gem to me and I will continue to repurchase again and again, which means this definitely is my Holy Grail cleanser =D 

Review: Biotherm Source Therapie 7 Perfection Catalyzing Serum

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My Mum always stresses on how important serums are and how they really ‘penetrate into your skin’. I used to hate using serums because in humid Malaysia it means:
One extra layer of gunk on your face = Added greasiness (on top of everything else)
However, coming to a cold, dry country has made me realize the importance of using serums! 
As I hate oil-based serums, I was on the lookout for a serum that wouldn’t leave my skin greasy and a ex-housemate introduced this to me.
The ‘Biotherm Biologists’ claim to have immersed 7 ionized minerals in an ultra-sensorial velvety-gel to catalyze skin perfection: cellular renewal increases, hydration flows within the skin’s surface layers, and skin is visibly revitalized.
Sounds impressive, doesn’t it? The serum comes in two sizes, 30ml and 50ml bottles and the one I have here is the 50ml one which lasts about 4 months (if the bf doesn’t nick it). I love how light this serum is! One pump is all you need for your face and it’s slightly runny:
Prior to using this, I had a few dry patches on my cheeks which I couldn’t seem to get rid of but this serum took all the dryness away within a week! I’ve been repurchasing this over the last two years now and this is definitely saying something seeing I love trying new products and I always have this ‘out with the old, in with the new’ theory. =p 
This definitely works for me as my skin has never reacted to this product! I wouldn’t say it’s a miracle product where the effects are immediate but with constant use this not only keeps your skin nicely hydrated but gives you a glowing complexion too!
Other than Biotherm’s  Aquasource Skin Perfection Moisturizer and Skin.Ergetic Serum (review to come soon), I have very high praise for some of their other skin care products such as their Aquasource Gel, Face Scrub and even Cleansers because my skin has never been better when using them! 
This is a HG product for me and I will keep repurchasing them in bulk (during Christmas sales when their gift sets come with generously sized freebies)!!
Do you have a favourite serum you can’t live without? ;)

Review: L’occitane Lavender Vinegar banishes unsightly zits!

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If you do not suffer from hormonal outbreaks / spots please look away. But if you are like any other person who has to live with the pain (and ugliness) of having the unsightly red, sometimes yellow zit please read on! 
My spots are hormonal. They are triggered by the bloody period. Yes I hate having period because I get the worst cramps anyone can imagine and the flow is usually extremely heavy that I have to resort to using extremely heavy duty Laurier pads that my dear Aunt BSiew calls ‘baby diapers’ because it is just so thick!
Okay I think I’ve digressed enough. My close friends will notice the outbreak and go ‘it’s that time of that month’ or ‘oh you’ve got the curse’ +__+ Sometimes the marks left by the old zits will cling on to my face for months at an end! *sobs*
I still am on the search for the God of all Pimple healers where the pimple heals itself overnight but this has been a staple in my skin care kit for years! Since 2000 to be exact, when L’occitane first arrived on Malaysian shores =)
At that time, I could still remember how I was drawn to that lovely lavender scent and when swiped on my hand it gave out such a cooling effect (thank you Alcohol Denat) that it was love at first touch! Little did I know this thing stings like a bitch on raw, just-squeezed pimples +__+
Here’s the ingredient list. The rather short list is a nice change, isn’t it? 
The top of the bottle! The suggested way of using this product is to apply directly onto the blemishes with a cotton swab. Me? I just use my clean finger because I think using cotton swabs waste quite a lot of product. 
L’occitane says:
Rich in naturally purifying, antiseptic and astringent lavender essential oil, this concentrated formula reduces small blemishes for healthier looking skin.

 Note that the description actually mentions ‘small blemishes’! You must be wondering ‘oh dear, what about my fully-blown massive zits?’ Not to worry though as they do work with blemishes of a larger size though my skin isn’t acne-prone so I cannot tell if this will help if you have acne-prone skin! 
My verdict:
I have been using this for years and years and due to its antiseptic qualities I have a very strong feeling I have this to thank for my size-controlled blemishes! My pimples do not usually spread all over the face even though I quite like squeezing them and I do not usually squeeze them properly. I use the term properly loosely as many people will make sure they squeeze all the ‘bad blood’ out until a runny watery-like fluid comes out of the zit to ensure the ‘root’ of the pimple has been squeezed out. Apparently you will get more pimples all over the area should you decide not to squeeze all the blood out, which is something I do all the time lol! 
On whether it shrinks the blemishes, this is no miracle product but it does heal blemishes well! It usually takes about 2-3 days for the zit to dry up but I am not fussed about having a spot or two, or even three on my face as it’s not permanent =p 
Something I find useful about this is that it goes well under or over sunblock / make up! I have Clinique’s Blemish Solution Gel which does not go well with my sunblock as the sticky texture of the Blemish Gel makes the blemish stick out like a sore thumb =( I will review that soon as I think that is a rather good Pimple Banisher too! 
I hope L’occitane never ever discontinues this because I love this product so very much! 
Rating: 5/5 (HG)

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

2 Replies
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