Current essential in my hangbag

I told this photo last week, but totally forgot to update ¬_¬

I tend to have less items in my bag as I hate carrying a heavy bag, but as I have only been in Singapore for a month or so, I already have skin allergy attack twice, I have to bring more, in case the condition goes worst.

Must have:

• Compact foundation (Cezenne, which I bought super cheaply in HK for ~£9/S$18)
• Mascara (17 Waterproof sample)
• Hand cream (Ren Vetiver)
• Lip balm (Body Shop) or Lip Gloss (Smashbox)
• Contact lens eye drop (Rohto 3, personally I love the rohto series as the minty, cooling sensation waken my eyes but it's like a marmite, you either like it or you don't)
• Travalo perfume bottle w/ Elizaberth Arden Green Tea EDT (I have this for few years, after reading this on Charlotte's blog (lipglossiping.com)

And just for my current skin condition, face mist from Clinque is included to refresh my skin quickly. That's about it for now, will update my bag as I finish these.

So what do you put in your bag daily?

K.

Daily Routine - Make Up

It has been a while since I first began to put make-up on everyday. From learning how to draw a good eye-line to conceal any faults on the skin, I have read a lot and believed to use different products.

But really, less is more and now I have learnt to use as minimal as I can. These are the ones that currently I am using. Some to me are just okay, hoping to finish off, some, on the other hand, are my favourites currently.

Foundation (not always)

Concealer

Mineral Powder (or loose powder) / Foundation compact

Bronzer (ideally matte)

Kohl eyeliner/ Cream eyeliner

Brow pencil/ powder

Pink/ Champagne Eye Shadow

Mascara

Lip Gloss/ Coloured Lip Balm

My current favourite is the Maybelline Dream concealer, which I wish to buy another one, but don't think I have seen it anywhere in shop, does anyone know?

Clarins Lip Gloss and Burt's Bee Lip Balm, both are good which hopefully I will write about them later on.

And that it was so shocking that it was so difficult to find a matte (or at least not very shimmering) bronzer, unless you go for more branded ones like Nars or MAC, the one that I got from Korres in Raffle City was super cheap. S$10 for a 11g compact, that's even more than the Bourjoris Bronzer that I am intending to buy from ASOS!

Kanebo Sale and Franc Franc Closing Down Sale

After moving back to HK for 2 years and now in Singapore for 2 weeks, the first thing that I need to get used to quickly is that there wouldn't be my usual shopping places.

Yes, in Asia, they have the equivalent of Boots and Superdrug, and that the local equivalent, Guardian and Watsons' are partially owe by the same companies, as far as I believe; and that we have Sasa, which sells both Western and Japanese as well as Korean cosmetics, but the offer here in Asia wasn't as generous as the time when I was back in England... 

Nonetheless.

Enough of price comparison.

I heard that there is a Kanebo sale, stocking Kate, Lunasol &, Impress (I.C), and also RMK as well as Kao products (strangely), at UE Square yesterday and today. So, as an excuse to explore around the local area before obtaining a permanent job, I went there today. 

I was not a huge fan of Lunasol Eyeshadow palette, but I think they're not expensive at S$35 per palette and single shadow at S$22. I only bought a brow pencil refill at S$12, and it's actually my first Lunasol product, quite looking forward.

 Kate eyeshadow palettes are around S$10-12 while mascara set at S$12. Foundation compact at S$12 and case at S$7.

Essential travel size are S$3 for 2 and a free hair mask sample to take home.

Then I went to Franc Franc, one of my favourite furniture shop, and it is sad to see it leaving Singapore, just right at the time I come in. 

Most of their goods are gone at JCube, Jurong East, only say, around 1/5 of the store left. I bought a hand made soap at S$3.5, Ume favoured (really!) toothpaste at $1 and a room fragrance for $12. They have a small piles of plates and glasses, some candles and bottles of bath salt left, so if interest, go there soon!

Franc Franc

2 Jurong East Central 1 JCube #02-27

Singapore 609731

Coming Back

I have vacant this space for awhile and I have picked up my interest.

Hence, please look forward to my new post!

Strange discovery

As some of you may already have noticed that it's the month when all the magazines are doing free gifts. But what I found out is that for this month's Cosmo, the copies from the whs inside railway station are attached with 2 free clinique samples instead of 1, and that the copies in the local whs, sains, as well as superdrug are coming with only 1 sample.  Really strange and does anyone know why?

Belated Favourites of 2011

Although it is slightly late, I still have to entry this blog entry, as seems a year didn't complete perfectly without the list of my favourites of the year. And therefore, here they are:

Cleanser
As I made my own herbal infused olive oil to remove my makeup, there is no specific cleanser that I really have to mention, well, other than Origins Modern Fiction, I think.

Toner
To me, toner is just a basic form of moisturising water, so as long as they are not concentrated with alcohol, cheap toner will do for me, as I have used high end toner as well as those flower hydrolat, there is not much significant difference for me....

Skincare

Clockwise from the front:

• The Body Shop Lip Butter - i love them so much that i have purchased the whole collection. It's smoothing and i love the buttery texture.
• DHC Lash Tonic - since i realised that my lashes were falling off, i grabbed this quickly and started using it since. There was a noticable growth, but somehow it could irriate my eyes sometimes. 
• Za True White Sunscreen - as most of the sunscreen can irriate my skin, this is one of the rare one that won't and that it is not expensive
• Gariner Eye Roll - love the rolling ball and it's my 2nd one already, though i have already decided to get something else once this is done.
• Olay Total Effect Touch of Foundation - this is my quick touch up if I am just going to the veg market or around the corner to local shops, as seems nowadays, i cant leave the house without any foundation and this is one of the best way for a quick touch up.
• L'oreal Youth Code Serum - it has been a great hit on the net last year and that I have enjoyed the effect of the serum, which the only fatal fault is that i felt that my skin could be burn very easily after using this serum, so if your skin can be tanned as easily as mine does, then remember to put on extra layer of sunscreen after you use this serum at night.

Perfume

Clockwise from the front:

• L'occitane Cherie Solid Perfume - i have a newly found obsession of solid perfume, for which i have already collected 4 extra and for that this is my favourite as i love the smell of orange blossom.
• L'eau Par Kenzo por homme EDT - i love most of the perfume by Kenzo and that the person who gave this perfume to me is sort of part of the reason that i love it. However, the main reason that i like this as i love the scent that japanese combined. i love the citrus smell of yuzu, as well as the use of rosewood. 
• L'occitane The Vert Green Tea Solid Perfume - i used to use Elizabeth Arden's Green Tea EDT, but this scent of green tea is better than that and that i love stronger scent perfume.
• The Body Shop Moroccan Rose EDT - i think every woman should have a bottle of rose based perfume and that for this one, it is not strongly scent, which is the exception for me as i normally like strong perfume. This soft fragrant of rose is suitable for young girls or people like me, who much perfer a unisex or men's perfume.
• The Body Shop Dreams Unlimited EDP - i love the combination of cedarwood and white flower, which are the key essential scent. i love the musky scent, and that i love the shape of the bottle. 
• L'occitane Calanques EDT - this is similar to Dreams Unlimited, but this is more mediterranen style, a more subtle and soft smell, which remind me of the mediterranen sea.

Base/ Foundation

Clockwise from the front:

• Cargo OneBase Concealer + Foundation In One 01 - this is my most frequent use concealer, and that i sometimes use it as a foundation when i was travelling. it is light weighted and that it is not too pink toned.
• e.l.f. Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20 Procelain - i love this tinted moisturiser as the colour fitted my skin well, and it is yellow based rather than pink based. also this is really cheap, its only £3.50 for 25ml!
• Bourjois 10 hour sleep effect foundation - as titled, it is so light-weighted that i have been complimented when i was wearing this foundation, most people, even ladies thought it was my bare skin! so impressed by it to the fact that i have purchased a second bottle already!!
• Za Skin Beauty 2 Way Foundation - this is my favourite compact, though it's slightly darker to my taste, as in hk, they did not have the lightest shade, which is shade 20. Nonetheless, i love the formula that it's alright to have a slightly darker face.
• e.l.f. Mineral Booster, Sheer - i love this powder very much, as with Bourjois 10 hours sleep effect foundation, they were so light weighted to the fact that people thought i was wearing no foundation, while they actually covered my faults. also this powder gives a subtle, soft matt finish. 

T.B.C.

Happy New Year

First of all, sorry about my missing, i was barely in my house for this festival season, out almost every single day. My schedule was so packed that I didn't even switched on my pc for more than a day.

Nonetheless, Happy New Year to you all and wish you a very happy 2012!

Kyanvi.

p.s. though it is a stormy start, I really hope that we would have a nice time.

p.s.s. googled the photo, it is from http://www.pickledpolitics.com

What's in my bag?

Funny enough, I never talk about what's in my bag at all. It was due to the fact that I don't even use a bag, but since as I have more gadgets and stuff to bring, I no longer can fit my stuff in my jean pocket.

Anyway, here are the two main pouch/bags that I have normally apart from my leather envelop bag for my galaxy tab.

The smaller case is a freebie from a Japanese Make up magazine last year and the one on the right is the new bag in bag that I bought from Muji 2 weeks ago. As I love tweed/ wool materials, I fall in love with it in first sight. Also, it is useful when I need to drop my bag for museum/ event/ sample sales as I can simply pull this bag out from the larger bag that I carry.

As always, typical Asian design, zip on top by the handle and there are 7 compartments, so that I can put my stuff in an organised manner.

And for content, these are the items that I must have: (L-R)

• Patrick Cox card holder - this is my current new love as I found this in TKMax for only £7! As these days, with shops tend to have their own reward cards, it is getting hard for me to fit everything in my wallet
• Ipod and Patrick Cox case - not my most favourite mp3, but as before I have my galaxy tab, I want to use wifi access, (even though I have actually pay for 3G services), so I just bought this so that I can do some browsing and some easy games.
• Soap & Glory Hand Food - it's not a bad hand cream for smell, but it's not that moisturising either. 
• Parker Ball Pen - if I am out for a long period or going to a museum, then I will normally bring my journal as well.
• Jordan's cereal bar - Honey & Almond, taste not bad
• Tissue Paper
• Versace Wallet - I love men's wallet, though I have 2 women wallets from Coach and VW, I still much prefer men's one as I normally shove it in my jean back pocket
• Wrigley's Extra Mints - from HK, I can't remember why I have it there, but useful anyway...
• My inhaler and extra tube of lip balm
• Sony headphones for Ipod

And for my makeup bag, which I have no idea why it remained portrait as I have tried so many time to rotate it, but not working @@:

• Superdrug Contact Lens Eye Drop - with the same ingredients, it was the same as the one by Boots, but it's cheaper, so that's the reason I switch.
• No 7 Shimmering Lip & Eye Sunscreen SPF 30 - useful for a quick touch up with sunscreen, especially around the eye area and my cheekbone as well as nose.
• Sleek Pout Polish - I love this, as it is not dry and quite moisturising as well as it has SPF15. Sometimes, I am really need it, I actually use this as a cream blush.
• Molton Brown Lip Stick - I think lots of people didn't know about their cosmetics, okay, for the same price, as I remember correctly, it's RRP£13.50, people will rather get a MAC instead, but I love this as it's creamy and not drying.
• Nivea Milk & Honey Lip Balm - not a bad one, and I love the smell of milk & honey
• Gosh Velvet Touch Eye Liner - my favourite eye liner, soft and easy to slide on, also not expensive, a must have, if I have to say.
• The Body Shop Love Etc Solid Perfume - I love collecting solid perfume as they can be kept for longer period, and that I don't need to specially go to shops to find miniatures and that I think it's more piratical
• Models Own  Retractable Brush - for my Za compact as I am totally no good with sponges when I am outside in those cramp toilet. Not expensive, though man made hair, but soft, yet maintain the shape perfectly well
• Za Skin Beauty Face Powder - the powder form of BB cream  + pressed powder. Seriously, I love both the 2 way Skin Beauty Foundation as well as their Whitening series.
• The Body Shop Divide & Multiply Mascara - fitted all my requirement: waterproof, volumising and that I love the pointy wand, which hopefully I will do a review later on.
• Alcohol wipe for first aid and plasters at the far corner.

So what do you think??

Kyanvi

Bourjois Free Gift in Superdrug

For Christmas, to me, I felt that it was always a war between Superdrugs and Boots. Normally, Boots won the competition, at least for my money, but this year, without the present of my husband nor my parents, it was hard for me to purchase £50 worth of items in one go as I am not too keen to carry boxes of pads and bottles of shampoos, etc. Also, somehow, for these 2 years, I have found that Superdrug is actually cheaper in price and that with the their 10%/25% off survey voucher thing as well as the introduction of beauty card, I have found myself more in Superdrug than before.

This time, even though Boots is also doing 3 for 2 on Bourjois, but with a free gift for every 3 item purchase, this is a much better offer and that Superdrug is doing 10 points for £1, if I am correct, then, it is better than Boots, which is only 4 points for every £1.

Inside the gift bag, there are the following:

• mini nail polish 3ml
• mini eyeshadow powder 1g
• mini lip gloss 1.7ml 
• mini eye liner 0.46g 
• elastic mascara, 6.5ml, which i believe it's slightly smaller than the usual one, which i think it is 9ml

I can't remember how much they used to charge for those mini versions, but I definitely would say it is a bargain, as I quite like the bag that came with, though its only made of nylon, but it is not flimsy and that it is actually not bad quality.

Oh.. and what I have purchased?

Even though I have not finish my current bottle, but since I have been compliment that my skin looked flawless and that they could not believe I have put lots of foundation and make up on, I am in love with their 10hour sleep effect foundation as it is so light weight and that for the lightest shade, 71, it fits my skin tone nicely.

And for the other two eyeshadow, they are my 3rd and 4th ones as they are heavily pigmented and that they are really nice to use, as I love the colours that they offer.

So what do you think?

Vi.

p.s. Currently, in Superdrug, they are also doing GWP with Collection 2000, L'oreal, Accessorizes, NYC, Barry M, so if you are looking at those brands at the moment, it may be a better ideal to check it out, as for me, I love gift with purchase!

p.s.s. the free advert leaflet/ magazine thing, published by Superdrug, Dare, there's a coupon for a free pack of Fisherman's Friend Blackcurrant lozenges (25g) too!

Sigma Free Shipping Tomorrow 9-5 CST

Just received an email from Sigma, there will be a free worldwide standard shipping tomorrow from 9am - 5pm CST, which will be 6 hours behind our time in UK, which is GMT. Therefore, for readers in UK, it will be 3pm - 11pm tomorrow for us.

Therefore, check it out if you are interested. Click here

Vi.

p.s. that's remind me that I have not done my review on the brushes yet @ = @ //.. I am so tired today, sigh, have been fighting with 5 bulb of garlic for more than an hour and my fingers smells  arrrrr

Latest in beauty perfume box arrived

As I have mentioned 4 days ago, the perfume samples from latest in beauty arrived at my doorstep this afternoon. Well, I have only 5, instead of 6, but then as it claimed that the content may be varied, so I am not making a fuss here, as my main interest was the L'Occitane perfume and the Laughter from SpaceNK, since somehow I began to start to gather perfume from there. lolz

It was also great that inside the box, there's a catelog from L'Occitane, in which there's a coupon for a free gift set when you spend £25 or more in store. This is what I actually waiting for as I somehow got a similar voucher last year and I was hoping to get the same this year too!

You Fragrance Discovery Box by Latest in Beauty

Saw the information about this box on Make Up Savvy, and just thought it's a good idea to share this info. I agreed with some other people online, about the hit and miss, as individual may not like all the perfume samples inside, but for me, it is alright, as I love all the perfume from L'Occitane and that I have two perfume from SpaceNK and they were lovely.

Also, consider the price, the SpaceNK Laugther 15ml mini spray is charged at £15RRP, though I know they normally sell them at £5 during either X'mas or Summer Sale, but nonetheless, as the box itself is only £4.95 p&p included, I still think it's not a bad buy, as if not, you can always pass the samples to your friends as X'mas present. ;-P

Here is the link: click here.
Vi

Glamour nails inc free nail polishes again

As titled lol

Best of Versace for H&M Collection

Have anyone checked out the coming up Versace for H&M collection?? I loved Versace, but just that the items this time are not really my cup of tea and consider i have to pop out to central London just for that... i think i am too lazy... sigh...

also, its kind of unlucky that every single crossover, they were either not my cup of tea or just that i want to check out some of the item but they were all gone by the time i have chance to visit the regent st store... like last time with Lanvin... which i wanted to buy something... for Garcon, i simply didnt like the items as Garcon is good for hte cuting and design, with mass production, i dont think the style was there...

anyway...

off to do other things first

kyanvi.

T k max shopping - Marshall Curtis shower gel

As christmas its coming soon and all the store offers flooding in,so I went tocheck out my storagebox and see what I need to get this time. Funny enough I have lots of body lotion and scrub, but not shower gel, for £ 2 this is an good catch as this smells much better than the normal shower products for this price and its 80% organic, looking forward to use this tonight

Sleek makeup at Westfield stratford city

Sorry for being m.i.a.these few months. But once other interest took over the importance, then as one only have 24hours, then some has loss while some gain

anyway, just went to the brand new Westfield stratford city as it just opened this month and sleek makeup has an temporary counter on the first level

as always there are lovely makeup artist to match your foundation with your skin tone and they dredging special offers. If you have your shade matched the if you purchase a foundation then a pressedpowder is for free ifnot, they are lovely£10.99 for two together, i believed.

Also 3for 2 on blushes and lip products while 3 i divine eyeshaodw palette for only have£15.

Most importantly, they are doing a pout paint competition that you can mix your ownshade and enter the competition. My entry piece is the bottom right and i love their ipad app, as all you need to enter is to fill the for on the app and take a photo with you and the lip colour that you have mixed. The only downfall is that they have set the ipad stand quite low, so it was rather difficult to take the photo. Also, as a present, you will get a free mini size pout paint for free!

But after i have tried the pout paint, i much prefer their pout polish as i found the pout paint bit strong though i have only starting my interest in matt lipsticks.

Anyway, when i was first in the lovely sleek staff gave me a mini pout polish for free which i am so ad and pleased as i have four of them qt home and one has been my staple in my make up bag as i usedthem as lipgloss, lip balm, and blush as well!

So if you live in London or close by, the do pop by as they are only there till the 2nd Oct!

Kyanvi

ps sorry for my typo if there is any as i am using my galaxy tab and not my normal keyboard.

Space NK 'not so private' private sale

I think lots of people should have aware of Space NK private sale as I recevied the email from N.dulge. Today is only for people that have their N.dulge card, but from tomorrow till Saturday, it will be open to everyone. Even I went very early today, 10mins after the sale began, there was already a queue outside and it took me 10mins to get it. I was not intending to buy lots of stuff, but still managed to spend £83, though from my estimatation, I have save around £80, as most of the item are 50% off.

From the look of it, they have plently of stocks, so if you are nearby, then it worth the hazzle to pop in and check it out.
From my memory, shu uemura gold curler is £15, mini one is £10. Mono eyeshadows, lipsticks, blush balms, eyeliner are all £10-15.

By Terry stuff are £15 -20, can't remember what exactly they are, as I am not familiar with their stuff, though I remembered that they have foundation for £15, but only in a very dark tone (no 8, if I remembered correctly)

Space NK own branded bath and body stuff from £10, and their perfume gift set from £15 - £35 for full 50ml size. Travel set for around £15 and same as the candles. Men stuff from £2 and there was not much choices.

There were few hair products and travel set, but I didn't really looked at it.

Lot of skincare set half priced, but even half priced, some of them were still £90, which I didn't look carefully as no way I am paying this price. Anyway, jurlique mini travel set are £15 and there were 3 types.

Nude is also 50% off, got cleansing milk, lotion, lip balm etc from £10.

There were few other perfume choices and lip balms, from £5 - 35.

And for Laura Mercier, I think the main thing to buy is the tinted moisturizer travel set, as down to £20, while RRP is £42. The only down point is that they only have the 2nd lightest colour, nude.

So here we go, I felt that compare with the private sale that I saw in other places, this is totally not a crazy sale, but it is not bad in general if you live near to london. I said this as consider some SA/BA gives samples generously, then it may be cheaper to purchase at counter, or during one of the Space NK events.

x kyanvi x

Palmer's Olive Butter Formula Body Lotion

Just borrow a picture of the Palmer's Olive Butter Formula body lotion on google, as I have a sample and it's bit no point for me to take a photo of the sample.

My association with Palmer's was the smell of coconut, as there were a few fellow schoolmate used their body lotion everyday when I was at boarding house. As I was not a great fan of coconut, I like the smell, but I found that the smell of Palmer's product was bit excessive. So I was not a fan of Palmer's.

But since I got a sample of this, may as well give it a go. The smell of olive oil can be a tricky one. As you know, some of the extra virgin olive oil that I have used before can have a slightly 'grassy' smell if I think, the olives are rather raw. But for this, the smell of olive was not bad. It was not strong, just a hint of it, which I like.

For the texture-wise, it is not very thick, just like normal body lotion and it absorbs quickly, which is good. For sustainbility, it really hard to say as I have no encounter a body lotion that can keep my hand moist all the time as I think I wash my hands too frequently with soap.

Anyway, it claims on the pack that it will take care of your skin in 3 ways:

1. unique lipid structure moisturises instantly
2. loaded with antioxidants to keep skin youthful
3. emulsifies on contact for superior skin smoothing

From all these, I can say I quite agree as it does moisturise and smooth my skin. But for antioxidant? it really depends on whether they have really add olive oil in there, which I am no chemist, so I can't say for sure.

So what you think? You like olives?

x kyanvi x

UNE fund raising lip balm

Not sure has anyone got their £3 off voucher from their green beauty bible before, but if you have it, then pop to your nearest unease pointer before it explores in mid June (as i forgot the exact day)


On the voucher it said you can't use on pencils as they are only £5.49, but as when they gave out the voucher, this fund raising lip balm has not been out in the market, so it didn't mention in the T&Cs. Although it took the lovely SA a while to try to deduct the £3, it is no harm to give it a go to use the voucher.
Also, if you don't have the voucher, do support and purchase this lip balm as every lip balm sold, une will donate £1 to NGO PLAN International's schooling of girls project called ‘Because I am a girl’, for girls in Cameroon.


And of coz, the lip balm is 100% natural ingrdients as same as the rest of the range. it has organic Shea butter, organic Jojoba oil, beeswax and candellila wax. It is also preservative-free and delicately perfumed with100% natural tomato leaf fragrance.


So check it out when you walked across a UNE counter.


x kyanvi x


p.s. why the sun is also taking a break on a Sunday? I was planning to get a chair out to the balcony to sun bathe!

Magazine freebies month

I call this moth, June, as magazine freebies moth as almost every single female magazines are giving out free stuff.

Red magazine is giving out free Jemma  Kidd lipgloss which is very good in quality as i got that last year.

Glamour which is coming out in the 9th is giving out free Benefit cosmetics.

Bazaar is giving out free leighton denny  nail polish.

And instyle is giving out free £5 The body shop gift voucher, which is my 4th tbs gift voucher as this is my birthday month and received 3 from their love your body club
so which magazine(s) will you get?
Kyanvi