31.8.09

This week shopping


Boots again, when I was thinking of what to write today, just felt so bored. Well, put it this way, I do not have to extra money to shop either at Harrods or Selfridges. The only choices are either Boots or Superdrugs.

I used to be a Superdrugs fan as the prices were cheaper. But nowadays, the prices are quite similar and I much prefer Boots as the stores are much cleaner and also because of its advantage card which can collect points for cash back.


Still using No7 voucher, so got the pair of sponge for 50p as the original price is £5.50.

As I didn't sleep well these few days, so need extra eye gel, dont know whether this is good or not, but at least it is only £1.49, can have a go. I have tried yesterday, didn't spot any difference, but at least the smell, textures, etc are okay for me.

Special offer for Botanics. Free face wipes when you buy any facial skincare product. So got this organic toner for my bf as it is quite important to put toner on before applying lotions. I was thinking of getting him mens products, but as it is jus toner, think it will be okay to use womens. Also the smell is very nice too.. (someone making excuse to buy stuff here @.@)

30.8.09

My DIY Make Up Palette 2

When I was browsing in Muji this afternoon, found out a cheap PP pill case, only 85p, so thought I can have another go to make my own palette. (as the white case is £3.xx, I found it rather expensive, although I prefer the white ABS more now @.@)

Anyway, the reason that I want to make my own palette is that I am not an eyeshadow freak/lover, as I much prefer using Kohl or other eyeliner pencil, since they are easy to control, like kids using colour pencil @.@ The palettes available are more eyeshadow base or even jus cheek, eye & lip palette. The only problems is that I just want a pressed power/foundation to reconceal my areas and the eyeliner that has fade out during the time. Also, I just need some eyeshadow or eyeliner to reline my eyes. So that's why I did the one below and the one in previous post.

Well, I put a blush in this one... as I think even though this doesn't look as grand as the other, but this fits perfectly well into my suit pocket or ladies handbag for special occasion.



Close Look:
LHS->RHS:
DiorSkin Extreme Fit Moist Compact Foundation SPF25
The Body Shop Blush (Rose) -> I only have 1 main blush, as I don't need blush at all, only during those day in the month...
No. 7 Eyeshadow palette (Graphite)

The Dior and No7 are in their original pan, but for the Body Shop one, I have to 'borrow' a pan from my other eyeshadow palette that I bought in Bonjour (HK), as I don't have any empty pans and the one I found online are all circles.... Therefore, anyone knows what company sells square pans?

My DIY Make UP Palette



See post 推介!! $88 自組彩妝寶盒 @ http://www.theztyle.com/bbs/viewthread.php?tid=3049&highlight=%E7%84%A1%E5%8D%B0), I thought this is a good idea.

Can't find the case in that post in London Muji, so have to stick to the one without mirror.. But can always stick another one though....

So here's the end product which took me a few hour as this is my 1st time @.@:
Close Look:

Top


LHS: DiorSkin Extreme Fit Moist Compact Foundation SPF25
RHS: The Body Shop Eye Colour Fusion Shade: Fusion Brown
the Gold & white e/s, I forgot what they are, bought from Sasa few years ago, the packing all wear out.. @.@

Bottom
LHS: Sponge
RHS: 17 Lip Gloss Bonjour Monsieur

Don't know whether anyone can guess where the blue palette from.. they are acutally the original packing of my Dior foundation sample, I used 2 sample and just cut the base out to fit into this Muji card case.

Also, remove the original metal pan that hold the foundation and repress the foundation as i need the metal pan for another palette. As the pan is glued on, so use nail polish remover to dissolve the glue and use rubbing alcohol to clean it before you press anything into it.

p.s. i need to find a few mini lip brush, but seems quite difficult @.@

24.8.09

Avon Planet Spa Japanese Sake & Rice Luminous Face Treatment

This is my new found out from Avon, as my new birthday pancel arrived.

I love the smell and the texture of this product. I use this right after shower to enrich my face. Personally, I dont think it luminous face as much as i expected, but for £ 2.50 for 50ml, it is good enough to use it and not dump it.

Avon PLANET SPA Mediterranean Olive Oil Firming Neck & Chest Serum



I use this with my japanese sake face treatment together after shower. This suppose to reduce lines on neck and to firm the skin of the neck, which I specailly need. I havent use it long enough to find the changes, but I will have a close eye on that. XD

20.8.09

This week shopping + Nail Polish x2

Boots is giving out £5 No7/ Ruby & Millie voucher when you spend £5 in store, so I have collected 5 vouchers to buy the stuff above. These only cost me around £9 (HKD$110) as around £2 each.


This is the nail polish I bought, Betty Blue 1 10


With the Victoria's Secret Nail Polish (Skinny Dip) I bought last X'm as


1layer of Betty Blues + 1 layer of Skinny Dip = very nice XD

Avon Care Rich Moisture Glycerine Hand Cream



Maybe some people think I am an Avon fan, but actually I wasn't. I only pick up using stuff from Avon this year and I am suprise that some of its products are quite good in value.

This is one of my favourite handcream, as I used a lot of handcream everyday as water is hard here and dries up my skin easily. I even lazy enough to use it on my face when I have no lotion with me...@.@

17.8.09

Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual

I think lots of people already have heard about this book and I still found this book useful after I have browse most of the book available in bookstore. There are lots of information for beginner or domestic user.

Particularly, I found the 10step guide extremely good as sometiems, it is kinda difficult to tell others how to begin when I only into eye and face makeup, but not everything as a whole.

16.8.09

Extra Virgin Olive Oil

I didnt know the power of extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) until 3years ago when i began to use DHC Cleaning oil to remove my makeup. I was thinking of writing a review about this myself, but yesterday, I saw a blogger, Jojoba, wrote stuff on this, so I asked her to lend me her work and she kindly agreed.

So this is the review on EVOO by Jojoba @ http://mymakeupreviews.blogspot.com/
and this is the page that I found this review: http://mymakeupreviews.blogspot.com/2009/08/skin-carethoughts-extra-virgin-olive.html

[As Extra Virgin Olive Oil is the highest grade of olive oil because it's made from the first pressing of the olives and has the least amount of oleic acid. The lower the acid, the more full flavoured and aromatic the oil is.

In order for an oil to be labeled extra virgin, it must contain less than 1% acidity. Virgin Olive Oil, which is the next category, can have a maximum of 2% acidity. Pure Olive Oil is often produced from inferior oils that have been blended then chemically rectified and deodorized.

I would say that you could use either Extra Virgin or Virgin Olive Oil for skin and hair. Personally, I won't be bothered with Pure Olive Oil, either as a food item or skin/hair care product.

Therefore, when purchasing fine quality olive oil, beware of bargain prices. Purchase olive oil from a reliable source that has a good turnover. Be sure the vendor is properly storing the oils. At home, olive oil should always be stored in dim glass decanters or bottles, never tins, which will impart an undesirable metallic flavour. Keep olive oil unrefrigerated in a cool dark place shielded from direct light. The full flavour of extra virgin olive oil diminishes as it ages, and it should be used within one year of production.

My favourite EVOO is from The Tuscan but countries like Spain also produces very good olive oil. Unless it's used for cooking, I really don't think there is any difference in performance. Therefore, if you don't intend to cook with it, get whatever suits your budget.

Now, allow me to share my EVOO beauty experiences with you...



1. Eye/Face Makeup Remover:

This is properly the best known function of EVOO other than cooking. My first experience with it on my eyes wasn't a happy one because I got cloudy eyes. That irritated my eyes big time and I had quit using it. However, as time went by, it seemed to lose that cloudy effect on my eyes for some unexplained reason and I returned to use it regularly.

However, I prefer using it to remove face than eye makeup. I normally leave my eye makeup to coconut oil deal with and EVOO does the cleaning work on the rest of the face. You would probably ask, "Why don't you just use coconut oil to remove all makeup?" Well, I did try that but it wasn't successful. Coconut oil isn't as runny on my skin and it seems to sink into my skin instead doing its removing makeup job. It also takes a lot more time and more coconut oil to remove face makeup compared to EVOO. Therefore, I use coconut oil to remove eye makeup (as it's more gentle) but EVOO to remove face makeup. It's a lot more efficient this way.

If I am on the move, I'd only bring EVOO for convenience's sake.

I do use an additional facial cleanser after using EVOO as oil alone doesn't help my face squeaky clean. (I am one who believes in double cleansing.) I know many may argue that double cleansing isn't suitable for dry skin (like me) but it's been working for me for many donkey years and I've never had any problems with this method so I am sticking to it.

2. Oil Removes Oil:

As my son has dry and sensitive skin, I always try to stick to natural and simple products at home. And I have taught my son well to use EVOO to prewash paint off his body then follow with Eucerin Sensitive Skin pH5 Washlotion for body and face. There is always a bottle of EVOO by the sink in the bathroom so he can reach for it easily. My son knows the routine and teaches his cousin or friends who come to play with him. :)


3. Moisturizer:

This is a light moisturizer compared to other stuff I use despite its oil form. I use EVOO on my entire body when it is dry. However, I only do this immediately after a shower and toweled dry. The oil is absorbed into the skin quicker this way and my skin feels supple without the greasy feel afterwards. If I just rub it on my dry legs and arms without a shower, the oil seems to stay on the skin instead of sinking into it. Therefore, I prefer using other commercial moisturizers for daytime, if there is a need. EVOO is treated as an "essential oil" for me, a remedy for the night. :)


4. Softens Earwax:

How disgusting!!! I know the title sounds really unappealing but it's the truth! I learned this the hard way too. This happened when my son was 3 and just started swimming lessons. One night, he woke up at midnight crying about his left ear being very painful. My husband and I had to rush him to an ENT friend's house at 1am to see if anything was wrong with his ear! (The medically trained dad checked his ear but couldn't find the problem. The dad was worried an insect might have flown inside so he woke up his good friend as he didn't want to bring his son to a 24-hour clinic. *_*)

As a result, it was because my son had too much earwax built-up. The constant swimming had made some loose and tiny blocks wobbled inside his ear. (OK, please don't gross out...) Therefore, our ENT friend gave us some clear liquid to soften those blocks. (I believe it was some gasoline based liquid but I can't recall the name now.) Then he gave a tiny bottle of olive oil to me. He explained this was the best thing for preventing earwax building up and also the best agent to clean ears with. He said just use a cotton swab to dip into the oil and lightly sweep around inner ears with the oily swab every few days and the ears will not have buildup anymore. He told me that's one of the secret weapons all the ENTs have. (I guess my gastroenterologist husband wasn't trained to clean ears so he never remembered to tell me about it! But he sheepishly whispered to me that this oil is used often in the hospitals. Darn it!)

From then on, I have been using EVOO for this purpose and I dare to say all our ears are quite clean. :) My dad said that he finally could hear better after all these years. OMG! I wonder how much earwax he had in his ears before the EVOO came along. (Shuddered...)


5. Deep Hair Conditioner:

I don't do this often other than when I am on a trip as I normally dislike hotel shampoo and conditioner (especially when they give you those 2-in-1 products.) I will use some olive oil on my hair like the way you'd do with any prewash conditioner. I will massage the oil on my dry, dirty hair for a while before stepping into the shower for a good, deep wash. Be ware of washing the oil off carefully or else you can end up with lumpy unruly hair that may lead you back to the bathroom for another wash! If dealt properly, you will end up with baby soft hair that's so shiny. I know I normally use Coconut Milk Hair Soak to deep condition my hair, but this is the drastic measure for a dire circumstance when I am on the move...] *

*All the paragraphs above belongs to Jojoba @ http://mymakeupreviews.blogspot.com/

p.s. I will write a review on EVOO when I have time, as I am kinda busy atm...

14.8.09

Everyday Mineral 2

Thymeless Concealer Kit

Colours are:

Dawn, Morning, Clear and Fresh.



I actually found morning too yellow, however, as what Bobbi Brown said about asian skin fits yellow based concealer, so it may acutually work






Also, the 3 free eyeshadow sample. They look quite alike to me, all in purple base tone, so maybe i will use them as eyeliners instead as I dont do much eyeshadow, only arrays of eye pencils @.@


Colours are:

Rare Silk, Wild Flowers and Diary







Everyday Mineral - finally arrived...



Finally, after 1x days of waiting, my everyday mineral comestics arrived today from the hand of a postman who seems to me in a rush or something..@.@

Don't know whether other people know or not, since I didn't see this on the forums that I look at. But there are 3 free eye shadow samples when your order is above USD$21, so I get the following:
  • 1 Angled Blush Brush - USD$8
  • 1 Thymeless Concealer Kit - USD$10
  • 1 Puff Jar - USD$4
  • and of coz, the free sample makeup kit, which was the only thing i was going to buy in the 1st place @.@

So let'z begin:

Sample Makeup Kit


Base: Buff - Ivory (Semi Matte)
Cool - Fair (Original Glo)
Golden - Winged Butter (Semi Matte)

Blush: Champagne

Corrector: Lavander


Bobbi Brown的5大選購粉底必勝法

1.粉底可分為很多種類,不同的膚質應選用不同的粉底,例如:
A.Tinted Face Balm - 中度遮瑕,有助提供補濕功效,為妝容帶來水潤效果。
B.Stick Foundation – 適合所有膚質(油性肌膚除外),提供中至高度的遮瑕效果,拍照時使用最佳。
C.Liquid Foundation – 適合乾性至極乾性皮膚,提供補濕及發揮中度至高度遮瑕的效果。
D.Oil-Free Liquid Foundation – 適合油性皮膚全年使用和混合性皮膚於夏季使用,有效吸走多餘油脂。
E.Oil-Free Powder Compact – 適合油性皮膚,提供中至高度遮瑕效果,粉盒包裝方便攜帶, 最適合用來補妝時使用。
F.Mineral Powders – 建議適合極乾燥皮膚使用,選擇色調時要特別小心,因為油性皮膚或會 改變粉底顏色,使妝容變得乾燥或出現結塊問題。
G.Tinted Moisturizer – 適合中性至中性偏乾皮膚,提供輕柔帶光澤感的妝效,提供非常自然的妝感,最適合在打扮休閒的週末時使用。


2.無論你擁有的是白皙或古銅膚色,都應該選擇黃色調的粉底,因為例如粉紅色調的粉底會使你臉色看來像戴了面具一樣不自然,同時,要記住,塗粉底的目的不是要改變膚色,而是要均勻膚色。


3.選擇粉底時,可直接塗在顴骨和腮骨之間的部位,正確適合你膚色的顏色應該是會跟皮膚完全融合而且看不出來的。


4.測試粉底時應該盡量在天然光線下作測試,千萬不要在手臂或手背上作測試,因為一般臉部和其他身體部位的膚色是不一樣的。


5.經過夏季或日曬後皮膚顏色會變深,這時候你需要常備一款顏色較深的粉底,方便你隨時調配出適合你目前膚色的妝容。

Quoted from: http://hk.lifestyle.yahoo.com/beauty/beauty_tips/article.html?id=art_49888d37

13.8.09

Za Deep Hydrating Gel



Last winter, I went to Biotherm for a skin test. As most people know, winter in UK is very dry due to the weather and the heating system. But as a result of the skin test, my skin of the face was 97% hydrated.


I guess this is probably due to the early skin care that I have used. I use this hydrating gel when I was 13 when I 1st moved to England. This tiny jar of gel has lasted me for a year and my skin was perfectly fine and hydrated. Therefore, I recommend to people who has dry/dehydrated skin. (even though it maybe quite weak for people who has used other 'stronger/powerful' products.)


This can be use as a face mask as well as face cream. So I guess at least it is useful during travelling, i.e. on plane?!

Za True White Emulsion

I have used this 2 years ago. Even though I have not used this for ages, it worth to mentsion for who just start to use whitening skincare products and with a limited budget.

As the whole Za True White line contains vitamin E, this is similar to the whitening powder, but just in a lotion form. (Note that, the Za True White Lotion is more like a toner to me and this is more a white lotion form)

This can be used after you wash your face or can use for day time.

Maybe someone will ask why vitamin E is a key ingredient to whitening products. This is because any lotion contains vitamin E has around SPF 3. So this is a sunscreen protect product in a weak form. As 1st thing for whitening, you need to protect your skin from the UV that the sun gives out as it will darken your skin.

Za True White Vitamin Powder


There are lots of stuff that I would like write a review on. So maybe start with my current favourite. Za is one of the company that I love since age 13. I have heard that Za is a sister branch of Shiseido that provide a 'cheaper' alternative for women. Even though their products are made in Taiwan, but I still like them as they are effective and valued.
So, what is this powder?

It is a compress / powder version of a whitening lotion and use after your daily routine skincare products.

Personally I prefer to use it before I put my makeup on. As it whitens/ lighten my skin and it gives my skin a smoother touch.

It contains Vitamin C and E which are the key essentials for skin, so even though I didn't find my skin colour change dramatically, but anyone who is interested can give it a go and it only costs me HKD$108 @ Sasa.

P.s. maybe worth to act as a base before putting concealer/ foundation on, I suppose.

5 hair tips from James Brown


    Got a free James Brown hair mask from Marie Claire this month, so these are the tips attached in the package. Apparently, James Brown is Kate Moss's favourite, so will look forward to try out. Also, his products are exclusive in Boots.
  1. Nourish
    Smother hair mask all over dry, brittle or lacklustre hair for an instant perk up. For fine hair, use a walnut sized amount on the lengths and ends and leave for 10 minutes. For coarse or thick hair, the mask should cover the whole head. Wrap in a towel and leave for 30minutes. Finish with a good rinse.


  2. Shine
    For mega-watt shine, groom hair with a paddle brush before bedtime to massage the scalp, then sleep on a silk pillowcase to prevent the cuitcles becoming ruffled


  3. Manage
    For unruly hair, leave in a tiny amount of conditioner instead of rising - this will make it less frizzy and more manageable.


  4. Lift
    For dull and flat hair, wash twice, rinse well and towel dry before applying conditioner. This will help the hair strands to absorb the conditioner instead of just coating the surface.


  5. Polish
    For polished, smooth hair push conditioner into the hair shafts by twisting small sections tightly from root to tip. Repeat until the whole head is covered, then rinse.

3.8.09

Useful sites

Just thought it will be a good idea to post useful links and forum that i go to.

Forum:
http://www.beautyexchange.com.hk/

http://forum.powerapple.com/modules.php?name=forum&file=viewforum&forum=181

http://www.theztyle.com/bbs

Sites:

http://www.xanga.com/ricebunny


TBC

p.s. it is always good to go to the offical site of particular brand that you interest, as they will always have plently information on their products and new trend of the time. As I do not want to advertise any brand, so I wont put a list of the brand that I go.

1st post

Finally.. I finally have time to post stuff..

I have 3 blogs, xanga for my personal issue, yahoo for my travel, but still haven't got time to write it@.@ and here will be the place for my comestics and other beauty news.

I was planning to write in chinese... but then, my chinese writing skill is so low and my typing skill is so bad.. so i think i should keep here in english.

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