Tag Archives: shopping

Lancome Teint Miracle – Weightless Foundation

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Liquid foundations have been my best friends to maintain a presentable look when I go out. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t use one ever since I became conscious of my huge pores (that’s around 11 years ago!).


I was using a Japanese brand before but I wanted to try something that feels lighter, something that’s more like a second skin. During my usual trip to Sephora, I decided to grab Lancome Teint Miracle. 


What caught my attention was the front of the box that said “Natural Light Creator, Bare Skin Perfection”. If you’ve read my other beauty stuff blogs then I’ll guess you’d know that packaging and labels play an important role in my purchasing decision. It just makes sense to judge a product by what information and effort a brand puts on its labels. 

 

Lancome Teint Miracle: Natural Light Creator, Bare Skin Perfection


Lancome Teint Miracle is oil-free, non-comedogenic and also has SPF 16, might seem low if you’re exposed outdoors several times in a day but I normally apply a moisturizer with higher SPF before my foundation so this is fine. A Sephora beauty advisor assisted me to try the product on my neck and helped me picked the right shade.


The problem with some of the foundations that I’ve used before is the heavy feeling during midday. But this foundation was weightless! It doesn’t feel like  the usual makeup foundation. It feels thin and light on the skin yet it gives good coverage over my pores and some dark spots.

 

I find the packaging great and easy to use. The pump only needs light effort to use and has very good control on dispensing sufficient amount of the product. I love that it’s in a transparent glass where I can easily see how much is left. The name ‘TEINT MIRACLE’ and the flower logo icon are embossed in silver color which make it look even more impressive and simply pretty in the vanity cabinet.


Lancome Teint Miracle in glass bottle



Lancome Teint Miracle with silver box


I’ve been using it for 3 weeks now and I just love the effect on my skin. I even skip my Benefit Porefessional sometimes when I’m rushing and my pores don’t appear huge anymore. I also noticed that when I get back home from work, my face still looks presentable — even tone, no redness, no huge pores visible, even with just one-time retouching with face powder throughout the day.  


Liquid foundation designed for Asian skins

How to apply with fingers: Shake well before use. Pump a small pea size of the product, either to your hand or palm, whichever suits you but I normally pump to my hand. Dab dots on several areas of your face: nose, cheeks forehead, chin, temples, around the borders of your face. Using your third and fourth fingers, gently spread from your nose area then going outwards to your cheeks, chin and forehead. Let it set for a few minutes before you apply other creams or powders on top of it. Give it maybe 3 to 5 minutes. 


Of course, this is my own technique. Some might choose to apply using other ways like maybe using a foundation brush or the entire palm instead of fingers. Feel free to use the technique you feel most comfortable with.


What Lancome Teint Miracle box says:

Natural Light Creator

Bate Skin Perfection

Fresh Foundation Veil – SPF 16


Light is not only reflected on the surface: it is also re-emitted from within the skin. Lancome Science decrypts this genuine natural light, giving each complexion its distinctive color, its sparkle of life.


Innovation – Perfection through light:

AURA-INSIDE technology works to recreate and boost the skin’s natural ‘light’. Immediately, the complexion brightens: flawless, fresher looking day after day.


Natural weightlessness: 10 times less powdery fillers, high concentration of water, enriched with a softening rose extract. Skin is smoother and unified, hydrated for 18h. Flaws visibly vanish, your complexion is sublimely bare. 12h wear.


Oil Free – Non-comedogenic

Shades and texture designed for Asian skin

Tested on Asian skin under dermatological control

Suitable for all skin types, even sensitive


Price: RM135 per 30ml

Where to buy: Lancome counters in department stores, Sephora      



  


 

 


  


L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream

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Recently, I’ve been very much concerned with the uneven skin tone on my face. I used to be so focused on treating my pore problems that I seemed to overlook that aging is catching up with my skin, too. 


I decided to try L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream, quite by chance. I was buying a gift set for a friend’s birthday and I was convinced by the skin consultant to give this a try. 




It’s another pretty product to add to my vanity cabinet. I like to try cosmetics that also pay enough attention to good and beautiful packaging. After all, these products are supposed to be for beauty, right? Of course, the brand and product features and benefits are the key points but great packaging simply makes it more appealing and trustworthy. 




L’Occitane’s Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream claims to smoothe, even and lighten the skin. 


What the packaging says:

Immortelle is a flower with exceptional longevity: it never fades, even when picked. Its organic essential oil is rich in active molecules with unique anti-aging results. Bellis perennis, the daisy flower, offers a brightening extract that contributes to regulate melanin production. The Brightening Moisture Cream offers triple action benefits to correct wrinkles, make the complexion more even-toned and brighter. 


The cream jar is sealed when you remove the cap to ensure that it doesn’t oxidize fast before opening. And since this is a nature-based product, it has  short life upon opening at 6 months. Nothing bad about it as skincare products are completely consumed within 3-4 months at average. 


I also liked that L’Occitane has a product insert provided inside the box. It’s good to know more about the product that I’m using on my face in more detail aside from the packaging print. 


The texture of this cream is very good. Not oily, not too creamy, easy to spread and quickly absorbed by the skin. One of my concerns with a lot of anti-aging creams is that it can sometimes be too creamy or thick for my skin. But this L’Occitane cream is just right. The scent is beautiful with floral extracts which is just nice to sleep in when used in the evening. I used to have skin reactions from creams with floral scent, especially rose, but this one didn’t do my skin harm (thank goodness!). 


I’ve been using this cream every night for a week now and I can say that I wake up to smooth and glowing skin every morning. This cream is supposed to be for day and night use but I’m currently alternating it with another product that I have yet to finish.


I love the fresh and light formula of L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Moisture Cream, and I love the appearance of my skin every morning. I’ve only been using it once a day and I believe I’ll see even better results once I use it twice a day! 



Where to buy: L’Occitane boutiques 

Price: RM240 for 50ml








 








Fashion Nail Sticker for Beautiful Nails

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I’ve been using nail polish and a lot of different types, styles and brands but I have to admit that I haven’t tried using nail stickers before. I got the idea to finally try it because of a dear friend who wittingly asked me, “Why don’t you just use nail stickers?” when I was telling her about the long wait for nail polish to dry, especially on hand nails. I found out later on, though, that she herself hasn’t tried nail stickers!


So I decided to finally try the thing. I found a lovely, posh set from Sasa. They have several brands and styles available but I was looking for a pinkish or purplish color. I picked First Kiss Nail Dress in Marabou which has a mix of colors and faux colored stones.


The box says FASHION THAT STICKS, LASTS UP TO 10 DAYS, which caught my interest. Keeping manicure in place and chip-free has always been a challenge for me. Being a working mother makes it even more challenging as I need to keep washing stuff and my son. Pedicure is not so challenging; it just stays nice and chip-free for more than a week. In fact, I only re-do my pedicure every 2 weeks. Whereas my manicure needs changing every week. BUTTER LONDON does a very good job for my manicure but if I wanted something more posh with artistic designs, I’d be lazy to do it with manual application by myself, unless it’s something like this nail sticker. 


First Kiss Nail Dress in Marabou

Unfortunately, the back of the box isn’t much help on giving more info and exact procedure on how to properly apply it on your nails. The pictures are quite self-explanatory but I was looking for more tips and if there are any other things to remember when applying it, like: is there a drying time, do you need to apply something first before putting the sticker on, etc. 

Back of First Kiss Nail Dress box

The box contains 28 pieces of the nail sticker in different shapes and sizes to fit the toes and nails, and a nail file. 



Since the instructions were not quite clear, I applied my own techniques for application. 

STEP 1:  I wiped my nails clean with nail polish remover.

STEP 2: Carefully choose the right size and shape for each nail.

STEP 3: Using a pair of scissors, I cut each sticker for the shape of the base of my nails. Don’t worry about the edge of your nails yet, adjust the shape of the base first

STEP 4:  Stick the nail sticker, starting slowly on the base first, where your cuticles are. Then press slowly from the middle going to the sides. This is to prevent crumpling. Don’t press the entire sticker at once. 

STEP 5: Using a nail cutter, cut the excess sticker from the tip. I find it best to cut the sticker and my nails a bit to ensure that I’ve perfected the size. 


It wasn’t very easy to do, especially for a first-timer. It took me a while to finish my hands and toes, at least an hour. The cutting and shaping takes some time, unless your nails are perfectly shaped based on the sticker shape. But it was worth the effort. Look at the result! I seriously loved it!

My nails with First Kiss Nail Dress






The ultimate question: does it really last up to 10 days?


For toes, yes, it does last. I am now wearing it for the 7th day and the stickers on my toes still look like they were freshly-applied. I am sure it will stay for several days more or even another week. It will also be very easy to retouch since you don’t need drying time. You just simply take out the sticker, clean your nails with nail polish remover, let it dry then apply a new sticker. 


For hands, it did last and stay chip-free this entire week. But I do take extra care such as wearing plastic gloves when washing dishes, washing clothes even while bathing. After 4 days, though, you’ll notice some fading on the tips as with normal nail polish but there was no chipping at all since these are stickers. And I loved it for that. 


Will I wear nail stickers again? YES! This is absolutely perfect especially if you’re attending a special occasion soon like maybe a wedding, big party, etc. In my case, I need lovely nails when I am about to host events for my job. So, yeah, I love this First Kiss Nail Dress. Not necessarily every  10 days but maybe once a month for those very important events. 


Where to buy: Sasa outlets

Price: RM26 for 28 pieces


Reduce Pores Instantly with Benefit POREfessional!

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Pores, pores, pores all over my nose, chin and cheeks have always haunted me. I used to have a lot of pimples when I was younger. Pimples on my nose, cheeks, chin and other spots on the face. Did you ever have those irritating pimples on the edge of your nose that really make you look funny? Or just under your nostrils and it’s so painful every time you wipe your nose? And the worst thing is you’re having running nose then you have one pimple right on your nostril? Agh, I hated those days. I don’t squeeze or pop them myself but I still developed big pores over time. 


Although I am using skincare products that address pore concerns, I still require an instant solution that will hide or, at least, reduce the appearance of my pores. Foundation does great magic but it’s just not enough especially for the size of the pores on my nose (gasp!). Thank goodness for skincare science and we now have access to quick-fix stuff. 


I’ve always been intrigued by Benefit’s line of products but so far, I haven’t really bought or tried any item. The product names are very clever and witty while the packaging design is just catchy. Have you seen Hello Flawless, Confessions of a Concealaholic, Benetint, Posietint, Some Kind-a Gorgeous, Stay Don’t Stray, Ooh La Lift or That Gal? The names don’t immediately tell you what it is but makes you curious enough to read on, don’t they? 


I haven’t tried Benefit products before but, well, there’s always a first time. The POREfessional has always caught my attention and when I finally finished my other pore quick-fix, I decided to give this a try. 


Benefit POREfessional


The caption on the box tab caught me: QUICKLY minimize the appearance of PORES

The POREfessional PRO balm to minimize the appearance of pores




I liked that the tube has a seal which makes the product less prone to oxidation before you actually use it. 



It’s also a thoughtful idea from Benefit to place a product insert with this item. It shows techniques on how to use it, even outlines the areas for retouching over makeup. PORES…now you see ’em, now you don’t!



I only need a little amount on each pore-prone area on my face. I apply it on my nose, cheeks, chin and forehead before my foundation. It does wonders to make my skin look even, less oily and, of course, almost pore-free. 



The texture is very smooth and silky, very lightweight and works well as a makeup primer. It makes my foundation glide even more smoothly and stay longer throughout the day. I tend to have some oily spots around my face but with the POREfessional, my foundation doesn’t clump at all. 


I’ve been using it for 5 days now and I’m lovin’ it! I made the right decision to switch from the other brand which happens to be a bit more expensive. 


Price: RM115 for 22ml


Where to buy: Sephora, Metrojaya Mid Valley, Robinsons The Gardens, selected Parkson stores, Benefit boutique and counters


What the box says:Apply this silky, lightweight formula to minimize the appearance of pores and fine lines for smoother-than-smooth skin. To use under makeup:Apply to moisturized skin to help makeup stay put. Focus on problem areas and blend with fingertips.To use over makeup:Pat on lightly over makeup and blend.





Looking for Despicable Me Minions stuff?

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Wow, the minions from Despicable Me have become so popular this year. When I first saw the movie last year, I immediately fell in love with those cute, little yellow beings who talk in an incomprehensible language.  They’re just so adorable with those big, weird eyes, unlimited expressions and amazing loyalty to Gru. I actually haven’t seen Despicable Me 2 while writing this post. 

Anyway, the purpose for this quick write-up is just to provide some info on where else to get Despicable Me novelty items for those who are seriously looking for it. 

These arethe first set of minions I found several months ago before the outbreak of Minion Fever. Found them at Speedy Video:

Minions from Speedy Video at RM59.90 per piece


I also came across these novelty items at Isetan which should be available in Parkson as well, I assume:

Despicable Me 2 novelty items at Isetan


Build-a-Minion Action Figure from Isetan at RM134.90 per piece
Price of build-a-minion


Mini Figurine – Minion at RM22.90 from Isetan

Another variant of mini figurine

Price of minion mini figurine


Minion – Stuart with Fart Dart Launcher at RM134.90


Price of Stuart with Fart Dart Launcher


Minion Goggles from Isetan



I hope these info bits can help those people who are looking for minion items. 

Ba-ba-ba-ba-ba-nana!







A Few of my Favorite Things

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My Favorite Things by Maria – The Sound of Music


Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens


Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens


Brown paper packages tied up with strings


These are a few of my favorite things



Cream colored ponies and crisp apple streudels


Doorbells and sleigh bells and schnitzel with noodles

Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings

These are a few of my favorite things


Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things


When the dog bites

When the bee stings

When I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things

And then I don’t feel so bad

(lyrics source: stlyrics.com)







I just celebrated my 33rd birthday a few weeks ago. At times, I still find it hard to believe how far I’ve gone from my life just almost 5 years before. And in celebration of a good and blessed life, I am enumerating the things in my life that I’m thankful for…plus a few of my favorite (material) things. 



1) My husband

Wedding in Boracay


Don’t get me wrong, I truly believe that there’s no perfect marriage. It is no fairy tale where the princess marries the prince and they live happily ever after, the end. The truth is, marriage only starts after the wedding and this is where ‘work’ begins. There will be tough times, there will be tougher times. But after everything I’ve gone through, from letting go of everything I have back in my home country, to being in a foreign land with nothing but my clothes (and a few beauty products), no job, no friends…my husband has kept his promise that I will never be hungry. 

My husband has been true and loyal after all these years, after all the pregnancy weight and post-pregnancy kilos I’ve never lost. There are times of disappointments but he’s been ever loving and supportive of my decisions. Some wives are tied down with their partners’ manipulation and control while I am blessed to make my own choices and be respected for it. When I arrived in Malaysia more than 4 years back, I had nothing. But now, I am pursuing my aspirations and having a wonderful life. My husband has been strong through it all, and has been my most loyal friend. 

2) My son
The breadth and source of my very strength for the past 3 years and for the years to come. Motherhood completely changed my life, the way I look at things, my habits, my choices ad my personality. Before my son came into my life, I was a hot-tempered biatch at work and I can easily raise my voice, bang the table and scold people. Now, I’ve learned how to be patient and more. My priorities and choices revolve around him. I work even harder than before, making tougher decisions and more. But most of all, I aim to be the best person, achieve the highest I can and prepare the best possible future, all for him. 





3) My In-Laws
It’s not easy to find couples who can confidently say that they are thankful for their in-laws. In my case, I am very blessed to have in-laws who are very concerned, understanding, supportive and loving. All through these years, they’ve been on my side, always lending a helping hand. If it weren’t for them, I wouldn’t know how my husband and I could have gone through all the tough times when we first arrived. And now, they are the ones taking care of my son while I work, which is totally priceless. I cannot imagine how our lives would be without my in-laws being there for Aden. 

My brother-in-law and sister-in-law have also been there for us. I still recall my pregnancy days and they helped us with things like baby items, food and other things that we might need. Whether small or big stuff, they’ve been generous and always thoughtful. In this time and life, I know that it’s not everyday for anyone to get blessed with a family like this. 

4) My parents, sisters and brother, and my relatives back home
Life is never easy but we need to find ways to be happy, find simple joys in everyday life. At a young age, I’ve known what it’s like to have a not-so-easy life, and so I learned to work hard, make better decisions to reach my goals. There were a lot of hard times but these hard times made me a tougher person. I learn how to appreciate good times and other blessings even more because I knew what it’s like to be on the other side. 

5) True friends
Good laughs, tears, sweat, tough professors, mean bosses, crushes, shopping…some things are just best shared and appreciated with true friends. Although some of us are very far apart, we still manage to share some laughs, heartaches and all. 

6) Tough Bosses who make you learn important things
I’ve been so blessed to have bosses who manage to bring out the best in me, whether intentionally done or not. I know that we all looooove to complain about our bosses but truth is, they make us tougher and do better than our normal, easy-going selves. People tend to find a comfort zone and without those tough (and sometimes heartless) people in our lives, we wouldn’t be challenged and life will just be boring. 

7) Photographers, Graphic Designers
Working with professional photographers and very creative graphic designers had been, and still is, a great joy in my career. I actually graduated as an interior designer (huwhat?) so creatives, colors and stuff grab my interest. But there’s something about photography and combining graphic design elements into an artwork that really gives me a sense of fulfillment.  

And here are some of my favorite material stuff…not to be mistaken as of equal importance as the above but, nevertheless, these stuff still give a smile on my face:

8) iPhone 5
This is just the best mobile gadget for me. I love the camera, love the speed, love the interface and all. For the past years, I’ve tried different brands, different types…but this, by far, outruns them all. Not everyone will agree but as a personal choice, iPhone 5 works best for me. 

iPhone5: One of my Precious-es


9) MacBook Pro
I guess I just have the ‘need for speed’. I hate working on computers that hang on minor applications, especially when you’re shifting from 1 design program to another. I’m not a full-time designer but I occasionally enjoy photo editing and some small artworks every now and then. The Mac’s interface is just superb with its multi-touch trackpad. Swipe and shift programs easily with your fingers. Quick. Easy. Genius. 
A few years back when I started working for an international lingerie brand and I saw a Mac for the first time, I was awestruck. Well, I thought, will I ever be able to afford that? Will I even understand how to use one? And, thank God, I was. It was worth every RM. 

MacBook Pro: Speed and creativity at my fingertips


10) Kate Spade Red Tote Bag
I’m not really the type who splurges on designer bags, not that I can even afford to. But I saw this bag and it called my name (!). The leather is wonderful, the color is delicious and the design is simple yet classy. At first, I thought that red will be very hard to match with clothes but it just works fine with any color. With the mix-and-match trend in fashion now, sporting a red bag with an attire can make a statement. 


Kate Spade Red Leather Bag with Gold Accents



11) Clairol Herbal Essences Coconut Milk
Yes, yes, like most of the other ladies out there, I am hoping that one shampoo or conditioner can solve all my hair problems. Though it doesn’t magically turn my hair into that soft-flowing, captivating bundle of strands like in TV commercials, this Clairol Herbal Essence Coconut Milk keeps my hair more moisturized than other conditioners that I’ve tried. The lasting scent is a definite plus and it’s very affordable if not cheap for most. The shampoo is just as nice because it doesn’t dry my hair out like others. I even explored  more expensive brands, salon brands, professional brands but I still go back to Herbal Essences. 

Clairol Herbal Essences Coconut Milk Conditioner


12) Canon EOS100D
I finally got my hands on my very first DSLR! I’ve actually been dreaming of owning one for several years. It’s not cheap and for the past few years, I wasn’t confident enough to invest on one because I rarely have time to just take pictures as I’m so busy with work. It wouldn’t be worth it to buy one and just keep it, right? But the time has come for me to pursue my other passion in life while still maintaining my career in marketing. Thank God for all the blessings. I now have some good regular time for my son and myself. 

The Canon EOS 100D was just recently released and in good timing for my decision to buy a DSLR. It is the lightest and smallest DSLR ever launched (for now) and it fits comfortably on a beginner’s hand. And it’s just amazingly light. I’ve been taking photos since I bought it, of course, excitedly, and the results are just so different and a lot better than my normal point-and-shoot digital camera. I can now take photos of Aden even if he moves a lot and take photos for my blogs more beautifully. 

My first DSLR: Canon EOS 100D



13) Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer
I had a post about this great product at http://bit.ly/19BZkY6 This pore minimizer gave me visible results and the longer I use it, the more my skin becomes smoother, the smaller my pores become. I just love how my skin’s texture has improved within the past months. I’ll be finishing it soon so gotta buy another one!




14) Biore Pore Strips
Being obsessed with my huge pores, I constantly explore products to reduce their size or at least, keep it free from blackheads and whiteheads. But this is just almost impossible for me so I’ve been regularly cleaning my pores with pore strips. I do this every Saturday and I’m quite addicted to seeing those tiny, icky stuff all stuck to the strip! I’ve tried different brands at different prices. But Biore pore strips at only RM10.80 for 10 strips have been the most effective. Other strips don’t have cuttings on some corners that should adapt to the curves of our nose and cheeks which make it a bit inefficient. Biore has cutting on several corners, making it follow the contour of the nose, especially the fold between the nose and cheeks. 



15) Crabtree & Evelyn Iris Triple Milled Soap
Normally, I don’t really use bar soaps but when my sister-in-law gave me an Iris bath set, the scent of the triple milled soap was simply bewitching! So I got another set from Crabtree; there’s no 1-piece for sale so I had to get the 3-piece set… But it’s reasonable at only RM65 per set. 

Crabtree & Evelyn Iris Triple Miled Soap set of 3


16) Guerlain Idylle Duet EDP – Rose Patchouli
This is my special occasion fragrance. The floral scent is very classy and smells even lovelier as time wears on. When it comes to fragrance, I go for floral scents, not fruity and not the sporty scent. (Surprisingly, when it comes to skincare products, I have to avoid those with rose and other very floral scents as I tend to get some skin reaction to it.)
I love the sexy bottle, showing very feminine and glamorous curves. I prefer bottles that are transparent where you can see the contents so this makes Guerlain Idylle’s bottle even more attractive to me. Small thing but I don’t like those opaque bottles wherein I need to guess if it’s about to finish or not. And after all, one of the factors that makes a perfume attractive is the packaging. Save, of course, for Chanel No. 5 which has a simple bottle but still remains to be one of the most (if not THE most) popular fragrances in the world. 

Guerlain Idylle Duet – Rose Patchouli



17) The Body Shop – White Musk EDT & Moroccan Rose EDT
On normal days, I like to wear these Body Shop EDTs. The famous White Musk has a light, wonderful and simply soothing scent. It has combined notes of jasmine, rose, musk, lily and I guess some other more beautiful floral scents (I am no fragrance expert, haha). At a price of RM59 for 30ml, this EDT is worth to have as a daily part of my body care routine.

I also love the Body Shop’s Moroccan Rose. By now you can tell that I’m quite addicted to rose fragrance (!). This EDT has a romantic, feminine, light and fresh scent. And being named Moroccan, it adds some mystery and uniqueness to it. Very nice for daily wear and special occasions, too.

The Body Shop Moroccan Rose EDT & White Musk EDT


18) Dorothy Perkins Black Belt
For some time, I’ve been looking for a simple but nice black belt. If not expensive, designer type, I can only see very posh and accessorized belt which I don’t really go for. I needed something simple, good enough for corporate wear so it cannot be too stylized with all those shining stones all over it. One fine evening in Mid Valley, I came across this simple, nice belt from Dorothy Perkins and I loved it! If I remember it right, I got this belt for only RM39. Very reasonable price for a belt like this. 



19) Monthly Issue of Female & Women’s Weekly Magazines
Every month, I must always have a copy of these 2 magazines. I love the beauty and fashion articles, photos and updates. Presentation is very good, writing style is funky and smart. Female always contains the latest in beauty and fashion while Women’s Weekly has very interesting reads about family and life. 



20) Solvil El Titus Purple Watch
I just got this watch last February as a Valentine’s Day present from my hubby. I really love the purple color, the lovely glimmer of stones and the size against my wrist. I like that it has that chronograph style but the extra 3 sets of counters for date, seconds and 24-hour are not too big as the usual chronograph-style watches.

Solvil El Titus Purple Strap Watch


And lastly, my days will not be complete without a few minutes session with my son’s baby feet! I know I’m only left with a short time to enjoy these before they turn into non-baby feet and before he gets old enough not to allow me to play with them…



I have more blessings to be thankful for and a few more favorite things. Sometimes, people, including me, tend to focus on the bad things that happen or those things that cause disappointments. But in life, I should learn how to count my blessings instead, those small things that make me smile or make my life wonderful, even for just a few minutes or seconds in a day. Hope you find your favorite things as well, no matter how big or small they are. 






My Top Choice for Toner: Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer

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I’ve always been so addicted to try pore minimizing products. If you’ve read my other blogs, you’ll know that I’m a pore thing junkee. I have every right to be one because my pores are really HUGE. And my daily morning routine before going to work involves layers of products to conceal my pores. Yes, it’s that bad.





Not a lot of people might be familiar with Perricone MD. Just to share a bit about this brand, Perricone MD is from US which is actually the name of the amazing doctor who develops and formulates the products. Dr. Nicholas Perricone is a well-respected dermatologist and nutritionist who strongly advocates “beauty from the inside out”. He is so passionate about what he does and has written several books about healthy lifestyle and how it affects our skin conditions. Dr. Perricone promotes a healthy diet, supplements and topical anti-aging products to combat or slow down the aging process versus Botox. Some of the books he wrote are Forever Young, the Wrinkle Cure, Weight-Loss Diet, The Perricone Promise, The Acne Prescription and The Clear Skin Prescription. I believe some of his books are available in MPH, Borders and Popular. 


I personally find Perricone MD a very interesting and sincere brand. If you noticed, not a lot of brands out there will say that their skincare products are not enough to give you that healthy, radiant skin or fight the early signs of aging. But this brand has always been advocating a 3-tier program to ensure youthful skin: anti-inflammatory diet, anti-inflammatory supplements and topical anti-inflammatory products.

Perricone MD has this interesting product that was immediately ‘tattooed’ on my mind the moment I saw it: Intensive Pore Minimizer. It functions as a toner so you basically apply after cleansing your face.  Being a Perricone product, it is free from parabens, sulfates, synthetic fragrances or phthalates. But it does contain superb nutrients such as Alpha Lipoic Acid and DMAE (dimethylaminoethanol). Alpha Lipoic Acid reduces the appearance of lines, wrinkles and enlarged pores. DMAE helps to firm and lift the appearance of skin.



On the box: A multi-functional treatment that tightens the appearance of pores for healthy, more youthful-looking skin.

Application: Shake well before use. Dr. Perricone recommends first cleansing the skin with a non-oil stripping cleanser then following with Intensive Pore Minimizer. Dab a cotton pad liberally and smooth over face. Allow a few moments to dry then follow with a Perricone MD treatment and a moisturizer.

I just love shaking the bottle. After a few shakes, you will see foam of bubbles forming on top of the toner.

See…

BEFORE SHAKING
AFTER SHAKING


The scent is very lovely. It’s somewhat like fresh powder smell and feels so great on the face. Very refreshing and no stinging feel at all. I’ve tried a lot of toners made for oily skin and most of them tend to have high alcohol content so you actually get that stinging feel.

So I’ve tried the Intensive Pore Minimizer for the past 3 weeks and I’ve noticed significant improvement in the appearance of my pores. And take note, I don’t have time to use it during the day every weekday so I was using it only once a day during weekdays and 2x a day during weekends.

Here, notice the improvement pointed at by the red lines. I’m particularly observing those ugly holes on my nose that don’t seem to be pores anymore because of their shape. See how they’ve diminished!

Week 2 of using Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer


Week 3 of using Perricone MD Intensive Pore Minimizer
(pls ignore the change in skin tone, I think this is lighting inconsistency)


The results within 3 weeks were amazing. The pores on my cheeks were also diminishing. I’ve tried a lot of toners before and nothing compares to what Perricone MD has done for my huge pores. Although not on the mass-price side, selling at RM225/ 118ml, it is worth the investment if you are seriously looking for a seriously-working product. Perricone MD products are available in Isetan KLCC, Isetan The Gardens, Isetan 1U, Parkson KLCC, Parkson Pavilion, Metrojaya Mid Valley and Sephora.

But take note that 1 product alone will not solve everything. There must be a proper skincare routine, you need other complementary products such as cleanser, serum and moisturizer. The improvement in my pores is definitely attributed to this Perricone MD product but I was also using a pore minimizing serum (from another brand), pore minimizing moisturizer (also from another brand), and I do weekly cleansing of my pores using nose strips.

I’ve heard that Perricone MD Intensive Pore Treatment is also out so I might be checking it out soon within the coming weeks.



Watch out, huge pores! I’ll have more weapons to fight you!


















Laneige Sun Block Triple SPF Product Review

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So here’s my review on the 2nd Laneige item I bought and used – Sun Block Triple SPF 40 PA++, 70ml at RM90. 

Let’s start with the packaging and presentation. The box is very interesting as it added embossed graphic and metallic print aside from the normal printing. A shape that somewhat looks like snowflake is embossed in front and side. I just don’t understand the snowflake-looking shape’s connection with sun block. The product’s packaging itself is in plastic tube with a twist cap. A bit inconvenient when in a hurry, specially for us working women who have to quickly finish our skincare and makeup every morning, in addition to preparing our child for school. It would have been better if it comes in a flip top or in a one-pull cap. 


The product claims to have 3 functions: blocking UV rays, relieving photo-aging and correcting skin tone. And according to the beauty consultant, it also serves as a make-up base. Main ingredients include cyclopentasiloxane, titanium dioxide, ethlyhexyl methoxycinnamate, butylene glycol, zinc oxide and ethyl dimethicone, contains parabens. 



I’ve started using it for a few days, together with my daily morning skincare and makeup routine. After my pore minimizing moisturizer, I apply the sun block then my RMK liquid foundation. The sun block smells nice. However, although the ingredients surely serve a good function in blocking the sun, I am quite disappointed with the texture and blending properties. It’s a bit thick and leaves an obvious white film, probably because of the titanium dioxide. Also difficult to spread and blend even on top of a moisturizer. Considering that it’s supposed to have color-correcting properties, I don’t think that making my face whiter than my neck would be the right effect. Lucky I have a good liquid foundation so I get my correct tone again after applying on top of the sun block. I hope Laneige will improve on this, or better yet, launch a CC cream that will be better than this item. The product is not bad as the 3 main claims are very great functions, just need to improve texture and blending properties and maybe a more convenient bottle. 

Well, I will still continue to use it and see how effective it will be against protecting my skin from the sun and correcting my skin tone. Over the year, I’ve developed tiny spots on my right cheek due to sun exposure while driving. And now that I am working further from my home than before, I will be even exposed longer to UV rays on the road. If it shows good results on my spots and skin tone then I probably would try to live with the unsatisfactory texture and blending. 




Finally…a non-sticky serum for my hair! Oh my, Ouidad Shine Glaze Serum!

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I’ve always been so irritated with my dry, frizzy, unruly hair. Even with hair rebounding treatment, my hair easily goes back to its terrible condition. I actually have to iron my hair every day before going to work. Quite troublesome and also bad for the hair. That’s why it’s even drier than before and very dull.

I have tried a few products to make my hair shiny but I’ve always had trouble with the stickiness. I am always hurrying in the morning to go to work and avoid the bad traffic jam so I have to be quick with my hair. Of course, I’d rather spend those precious minutes with fixing and doing my face and eye make-up.

Anyway, in my never-ending quest and curiosity to explore new beauty products (hair products for my dull hair included), I went to Sephora in Suria KLCC to browse around. And to my delight, I came across this brand that I haven’t heard of before, OUIDAD, and it has a wide range of interesting hair treatment products. I was caught by the Shine Glaze Serum which is supposed to make hair smoother and more luminous. It can be used for curly hair and straight hair.


Excited and eager to see if it will work or not, I immediately used it the following day after my usual hair straightening schedule via iron. As instructed, just rub 2-3 drops in between your palm then apply to damp or dried hair. Comb through. Since my hair needs more-than-normal glazing, I applied another 2 drops of Shine Glaze then combed through and…voila! Finally, a non-sticky serum that actually made my hair looked healthy and shiny! The glaze lasted the whole day without making my hair sticky at all. Now that’s what a serum should be…




More product information:
Name: Ouidad Shine Glaze Serum
Price: RM58 for 75ml

Product Description:
Shine Glaze Serum is a unique finishing product that smoothes and polishes the hair to a glass-like shine. It reflects light to add luminosity and smoothes to control and eliminate frizz.

How to use:
Rub 2 to 3 drops in palms and apply to damp or dried hair. Comb through. It’s a great finishing product as a quick fix for fly-aways—just a drop at the end of your styling routine!

The end result:
Hair has a glass-like, healthy shine. Frizz and static disappear into thin air.