Review : Watsons Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Tape

I must admit that I’m blessed with pretty blemish free skin but my worst beauty woe are blackheads. I have tons on my nose, I’m not too sure if its because I don’t “take care” of my face or its just genetic – because my mom & siblings have the same problems. According to my dad, he remembers seeing my mom steam her face and sit in front of the magnifying mirror to tweeze out those black/white heads.

According to Wikipedia : A blackhead (medically known as an open comedo, plural comedones) is a yellow or blackish bump or plug on the skin. A blackhead is a type of acne vulgaris. Contrary to the common belief that it is caused by poor hygiene, blackheads are caused by excess oils that have accumulated in the sebaceous gland's duct. The substance found in these bumps mostly consists of keratin and modified sebum (an oily secretion of the sebaceous gland), which darkens as it oxidizes.


As I’m lazy, I don’t do the tweezing thing. Neither do I use those metal sticks with the metal loop. (1) coz its painful (2) and its tedious. I have tried a number of things to get rid of the blackheads – masks, pore strips, etc. I have even bought expensive (more than RM100) serums and creams to get rid of the blackheads. The serum works to reduce em (more on this on another post) but nothing can beat the squeaky clean feeling after getting the blackheads all off. And I don’t' quite fancy those peel off masks as they take a while to dry and a bit tedious and messy.

So I stick to pore strips. My current favourite brand of pore pack/strips/tape is Watsons Deep Cleansing Nose Pore Tape. It’s a made in Korea product and the best part is, each box of 10 strips are only RM9.90 and sometimes even cheaper during sales! Look out for a pink and purple box, as below:

The Face Shop Brightening Rice Water Cleansing Foam (Migamsu)

I got a free sample of TFS Migamsu Brightening Rice Water Cleansing Foam



Like
- not tight
- feel clean
- smell fresh
- lathers nicely
- not drying

Concept
A moisturizing and brightening cleansing line with rice water and Moringa oil. Moringa oil known as ‘purifying tree’ in India has very strong detoxifying quality. People used to put grinded Moringa plant in the polluted river water to detoxify.
Description
Contains rice water(10%) Fit Protein orchid extract Vitamin B5 complex. Its creamy and cushiony texture eases handling and moisturizing ingredients leave skin feeling hydrated after cleansing by minimizing moisture loss.

RP: RM40 (I think)

Brush Guard Variety Pack

I’m sure you’ve heard from The Brush Guard. They are a pack of mesh tubes to keep your brushes in to prevent fraying or “kembang” bristles. I decided to try it out and got myself the variety pack from Ryan @ sgdrugstore on LYN.

The Variety pack consists of SIX (6) different brush guards:

• 1 x Shadow/Liner (1/4” extra small)
• 2 x Blush (3.8” small)
• 2 x Foundation (5/8” medium)
• 1 x Powder/kabuki (1” large)

As I don’t have many brushes, I split the pack with my sister who has more brushes. I took the extra small, medium and large brush guards. My little ELF Kabuki fits nicely into the large one. One tip about the brush guards is that you can use them to dry your brushes upright, bristles down so that your brushes retain their shape as they dry. This tip was from Michelle Phan in one of her videos.

I guess the question is, should you get it? My answer is YES. Especially if you have lots of expensive brushes, you would want to keep them in the best condition to make it last longer. I use cheap brushes (because I mostly use my fingers) and I find these brush guards very useful to keep the shape of the bristles/hairs when my brushes are in my makeup bag.

Where to get it:

• www.thebrushguard.com ($5.50 + Shipping frm US)
• Ryan @ sgDrugstore’s USA Cosmetics Spree (RM20 + waiting time + local shipping)

What are your tips to keeping your brushes in good condition?

Green to a Tea at Enak KL with Alive Skincare and Zuii Cosmetics

 

Green To a Tea is an event organized by the people at Green Sentral to showcase green products in a tea-time setting. This round of Green To a Tea is done at Enak KL in Starhill and showcases ALIVE Organic Products and Zuii Cosmetics.

ALIVE is more than just organic products. It’s founder believes that the way to genuinely benefit from organic products is to live an organic lifestyle. So they have products from mineral cosmetics, skincare, hair dye, aromatheraphy oil blends, shampoos and laundry detergent. Yeap, safe, eco-friendly laundry detergent.

Jurlique Aromatherapy Workshop

Last 3rd July, Jurlique organized an Aromatherapy Workshop to teach people about how to use and blend essential oils to benefit your mood and body.

We got three amber glass vials each and a big bottle of Almond Oil Carrier and a couple of essential oils. Oils should be all kept in a dark glass container so that its properties won’t be affected by sunlight.

Stress Relief
Mix 15 ml Almond Carrier Oil, 3 drops of Lemon Essential Oil, 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil & 1 drop of Geranium Essential Oil.
How to use : Place two drops on your palm, rub your hands together and rub on temples/neck if you’re heaving a headache or press/rub it on your tummy.

Muscles Aches & Pain
Mix 15 ml Almond Carrier Oil, 2 drops of Rosemary Essential Oil, 2 drops of Lavender Essential Oil & 2 drops of Peppermint Essential Oil.
How to use : Apply on your body or use as massage oil.
Cold and Flu
Mix 15 ml Almond Carrier Oil, 3 drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil, 2 drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil & 1 drop of Lavender Essential Oil.
How to use : Place a few drops on your fingers and rub it along the sides of your nose.

We had some refreshments then we had a sampling of their facial products. All of which were very soothing and smelled awesome. Then we got to see some of their products. This Herbal Recovery range is one of their newest.
Oh we also had a discount voucher for on that day for their products so I picked up a big (100ml) bottle of Rosewater Balancing Mist. Hope to write a full post on it soon.
We all went home with a goodie bag of a voucher of RM50 off any facial and some sample size products of the Rose Body Care Lotion, Rose Shower Gel, Balancing Cleansing Lotion, Daily Exfoliating Cream, & Herbal Recovery Gel sachet.
 
Isnt the box just cute? Almost like an egg carton. Well I thought it was a great and informative workshop. Quite cheap too (RM30 i think). Thanks Jurlique!
Jurlique Outlets
Mid Valley Megamall – 0329383282
The Curve – 0377280163
Shoplex Mont’ Kiara – 0320931163
Pavilion KL – 0321421418
Isetan KLCC – 0321711063
Queensbay Mall - 046406162

Freebie : Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

Clinique is launching their Moisture Surge (tm) Extended Thirst Relief and so they’re offering samples. Just give your name, handphone num, IC & email and they’ll send a M-Coupon to you phone

http://www.clinique-malaysia.com/moisturesurge/

Have you tried this? Thoughts?

DIY Aspirin Mask

I first stumbled upon this (So Loverly ) beauty blog that talked abt this mask. At first I was sceptical about this mask because I have sensitive skin so most products cant work for me. But after reading her blog, I find myself quite immersed in it because we share some skin traits ( acne prone skin etc ).

The turning point for me to try out this mask was when I read, in one of her acne related articles, that this mask was better than the Clinique Turnaround 15 Minute Facial Masque.

So back to the aspirin mask, according to So Loverly, she used aloe vera gel, 3 tablets of Aspirin and her own facial cleanser. Because I have sensitive skin and I wanted to try it out, I only used 1 tablet of Aspirin, half teaspoon of honey and a tiny dollop of my Clinique liquid facial soap (RM78/200ml). I did a little digging abt this aspirin mask and I found on Skin Deco that she got her Aspirin from Guardian for RM1.60. However I got mine from Watson for RM1.90. The brand to get is Dispirin, it comes in a sheet containing 12 tablets. I used Capilano Pure & Natural Honey bought from Tesco for abt RM8 for the whole bottle.

1. Dissolve one tablet in palm with 1 teaspoon of water. ( I used my finger to 'stir' the water so that the tablet dissolves fully without any solid residue). You'll feel its grainy in texture
2.  Mix the concoction with 1/2 teaspoon ( i used 1/2 tsp so that I use less of my facial cleanser) honey & 1 tiny dollop of my facial cleanser.
3.  Apply evenly on the face ( I also applied on the neck ), and wait abt 10-15mins.
4. Wet fingers and gently scrub face( in a circular motion ), concentrating on blackhead areas ( nose,chin ) and I usually scrub VERY lightly on areas with blemishes. I usually scrub areas with blemishes the last because I dont want to scrub all over because this will transport the bacteria frm those blemishes all over my face ( and will cause breakouts all over).
5. Wash off excess and pat dry with clean soft face towel. Finish with your usual moisturizer.

After I was done, I must say, she was right. My face feels almost similar ( if not the same ) as if I were to use my Clinique 15mins Turnaround Masque. And there is no shimmer (yippeeee)! And no rubbing off the product! No messy floors! I am quite satisfied with the results but Im still putting it on a 4-week trial(because sometimes my sensitive skin doesnt react until sometime later). Once a wk, for a month and Ill monitor the changes ( if any) and what not.

Anyhoo, girls you should try this out! :) Cheap and effective. How awesome is that! :)

**Guest Post from G**

Review : Daiso Cream Blush

Yes, yet another Daiso product. What can I say? Im pretty adventurous in trying out new and cheap makeup because I don't agree with the stigma that cheap is not good. And this is one example.

This is a cream blush that is packaged in cute flowerish shape. The actual blush itself is in a plastic rounded pot with a dome see-through screwtop cover. The blush is not a mousse or soft creamy type as many would expect. Its actually solid and retains its dome shape, something like a soap bar where it won't loose its shape when you touch it.

Its small size and product makes it very conviniently portable. The colour is also surprisingly quite nice. Its a pinkish, almost coral kind of shade (as you can see from the swatch above). With just one swipe, the colour would stick on your cheeks. Its really easy to use by just rubbing/swiping it over your cheeks in a circular motion. Then you may want to smoothen it out more by using your fingers or your brush.

All in all, this is one of the products that I liked from Daiso. If I'm not mistaken, it comes in 2-3 colours. Because the packaging is see through, I think it shouldn't be a problem to choose your preferred shade.

Rating : 4/5

Shop/Store : Daiso outlets (Curve, Mutiara Damansara & IOI Mall, Puchong)

Price : RM 5

Splurge : Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup SPF10

After the Missha Liquid Foundation, I was determined to find the perfect liquid foundation shade for my skin. The problem with my skin is that I have uneven skin tone. My chin area is darker than other areas of my face, i have pimple scars and fresh ones ( ie, red and ugly ). So one fine day after class, my sister dragged me to KLCC's Estee Lauder counter. She wanted to get their Blockbuster set which required a min of RM250 spent on products, to purchase the set for RM220.

The beauty advisor was a nice lady who was very helpful. I wanted something with heavy coverage because I was so obssessed with addressing my uneven skintone, so she recommended this particular foundation. She applied it and was explaining abt what to do to achieve flawlessness.

Tip 1: Exfoliate regularly ( IMPORTANT STEP ) to ensure the skin is not clogged with dead skin cells etc.

Tip 2: Always moisturize first before foundation so that the foundation adheres better.

Tip 3: DONT forget to apply on the neck also!

Tip 4: MUST use loose powder after foundation to set the foundation and avoiding it from melting.

I must say that this foundation made my skin looked so flawless! No doubt it is abit heavy, I would use this for party/clubbing nights where I require a heavy coverage with all the dancing and sweating. Cant risk pictures on facebook with my makeup melting = patchy skin ( makeup FAUX PAS! ). Haha.

However, I went to a house party one night and from the pictures, my face & neck looked white (flash lighting) as opposed to my body. I was HORRIFIED to see those pictures. I looked SO pasty! So I tested my foundation in natural lighting, and it was abit too light for my skin color :(:(

NOTE: The beauty advisor tested out this foundation at the counter under yellow lighting and it looks so fantabulous.

Tips I think are important:

1. Try the foundation, walk out of the mall and check it out under natural lighting. Even though you may think you look stupid ( especially if its the wrong shade)

I totally regretted not checking it in natural lighting after she applied it on me ( boo hoo). I was blinded by the flawlessness(under yellow lighting) that I immediately bought it on the spot. ( impulsive i know ).

I should have taken a shade or two darker than what she recommended under the yellow lighting. It was a pricy mistake as Im now left with a foundation that I cant use.

2. I would recommend you go to a beauty counter where they use white lighting ( ie. Jusco One Utama ) so that it would be easier. BUt still go out and check it in natural lighting. Cause if the foundation looks good under natural lighting, it would look good under yellow lighting too.  There is no need to feel shy to tell the beauty advisor that you want to walk around with it first. After all you are making a purchase for something that should complement your skin ( no matter what the price is ).

3. Also, it is best if you apply the foundation (tester) on your own. And use your own loose powder to set the foundation. This is because, you want to recreate a flawless look on your own, at home where there arent any beauty advisor to help you. So you would know how to work with the product you want to buy, with your own skill. Or you can watch the beauty advisor apply foundation on your face and perhaps opt to use your own loose powder.

Pros:

1. Gave me a FLAWLESS face.
2. Coverage was true to the description, it lasted almost 8 hours without melting although my skin was oily and so i needed to blot the shine after 4 hours.
3. I am in LOVE with it
4. I thought the price was worth it.

Cons:

1. I thought the screw top bottle was kinda unhygenic because I have to pour out the foundation everytime I needed it, exposing it to the air thus inviting bacteria/germs, also possibly drying it out faster.
2. Because the coverage was heavy, the foundation was thick and velvety, making me use alot for my skin and face = finish faster.
3. Apart from my mistake, the coverage for this foundation is AWESOME. I would love to repurchase this product ( and get the right shade of course haha ).

Retails at RM125/30ml at Estee Lauder counters.

Review of MiLab Goodnite Mask

Last month, I wrote about how you can get samples for Milab Goodnight Mask [link]. Milab sent me a few samples to test out and review in my blog.

According to the brochure:

(Front) MiLab Goodnite Mask. Sleeping Beauty comes alive! Now with fruity essence that revitalize your skin overnight. For all skin types
(Inside left) Start Every Morning with Rejuvenated Skin! MiLab Good Nite Mask replenishes skin moisture and nutrients continuously for 10 hours while you sleep, giving your a moist and healthy skin everyday.
A convenient and translucent no-mess, leave-on gel mask to be applied just before bedtime. Infuses skin with an intensive supply of moisture and nutrient during sleep. Moisture and nutrient is absorbed quickly and conveniently, giving you the pleasure of soft, supple skin in the morning.
How to use : Apply liberally over entire cleansed face. Massage for 10 seconds and leave on overnight. Wash your face the next morning and feel the visible difference to the skin

There are four different types of Goodnite Mask available:

Grape (Age Defense)
Contain extracts from grape seeds, which offer powerful anti-oxidant properties to fight against free radicals. It also promotes the production of collagen. A vital defense against the sign of aging

Strawberry (Brightening)
Strawberry contains the highest concentration of Vitamin C, an anti-oxidant and helps promote production of collagen protein. It can purify pores and epidermis, softening skin and removing dullness, yellowness of skin, giving you a healthy brightening glow. Also contains yogurt that replenish the skin with vitamins B1,  2, B6, B12, protein, calcium and yeast, nourishes and repairs skin, giving it elasticity

Pineapple (Soothing)
Its main application is reducing inflammation and swelling. Especially formulated for acne prone and oily skin, it works primarily by preventing the formulation of compounds that lead to inflammation

Papaya (Pore Refining)

It contains a natural enzyme extracted from papaya fruit, which is a non-irritating, anti-aging agent that softens and digests dead skin cells while encouraging new ones to develop. It reduces pore size, improve overall skin texture and reveal a softer more vibrant looking skin


They gave me two samples – the Strawberry and the Papaya one. As you can see in the pic above, they give the samples in cute little pots that are labeled. The Strawberry one has a few dots in it that dissolve when you rub it on your face. Its like little scrubs for ur face. The Papaya one is a smooth orangy gel that really smells like papaya, i almost feel like tasting it.

Apply both on your clean face. The samples given is enough for one or maybe two applications. When you apply it, you will feel that it is very gentle. I didn’t not get any negative reaction from it. The next morning, my skin really feels moisturized even though I sleep in an aircon room.

Rating : 4/5
Price : The MiLab Good Night Mask retails for RM 38.90 for a 50g jar.
Store/Shop : I saw this at Caring Pharmacy with 10% discount

Review : Cyleina Organic Soap - Honey Oatmeal

I bought this soap some time ago [posted here] from Aster in LYN. Because its quite a big bar, i cut the soap in 1 inch cubes to use.

The first thing I liked about this soap is that it smells really pleasant but not too overpowering. In fact, it smells just like honeydew. As you can see from the pic, its a white bar with bits of real oatmeal in it which give a kinda scrubbing effect. It also lathers a lot - creating a lot of bubbles/foam that makes it easy to wash your face.

After washing, it feels really clean, but not too tight that you'll feel so uncomfortable. I gave some to the guy and his face seems less oily after using it. In conclusion, I really like this soap and because its so big, its a really good buy.

Oh yes, you can also use this soap for your whole body.

Soap Ingredients: saponified olive oil, coconut oil, vegetable shortening, and beeswax, ground oatmeal, honey, sweet orange essential oil, clary sage essential oil.

Honey is rich in nutrients, enzyme and antioxidant which eliminate free radicals. It is an excellent moisturizing agent and natural cleanser due to its anti-microbial property.

Oatmeal's grainy little flakes perform mini-miracles when applied to skin. It whisks away dead cells, irritation, and redness, leaving a soft, moist glow behind There are four reasons why your skin adores oatmeal

Dryness fighting: Oats contain polysaccharides, which become gelatinous in water and leave a fine protective film on the skin, preventing dull, flaky dryness.

Moisturizing: Oats are full of healthy, lubricating fats.

Defense building: The proteins in oatmeal help maintain the skin's natural barrier function, which is what ensures that the world outside the skin stays out, and what's inside the skin stays in.

Pore cleansing: Oats are filled with natural cleansers (called saponins) that gently remove dirt and oil from the pores.

Enjoy the beauty rewards of these superb ingredients with this soap. Infused with all the benefits of honey and oatmeal plus Milk proteins are also added to restore the smoothness of the skin!

Retails : RM20

My Collection of Makeup

I'll be the first to admit, I'm a hoarder. I don't like to throw things out. I like to collect. Also, I cant resist a good deal (wait, every girl can't resist a good deal right?). But now, I am stopping myself from buying makeup. Why? Because I have tons and tons that I buy and I never even touch. I guess I could sell some of them in forums but I feel 'sayang' (reluctant).

And this is why :

Yes, that's how much I have i total. Most of it is bought, some of it are freebies. Its grouped by categories:
(from top left)
Cheek/Face (a) - this includes blusher, face powder, foundation
Freebies & Samples - I like to collect samples because I can try out products and also its easy for travelling
Skincare (b) - These are SOME of the creams and cleanser I have. There's summore somewhere but this pic was more for makeup
(bottom left)
Lips (c) - Lips glosses, balms, lipstick
Eyes (d) - Liner, mascara, creams
Palettes (e) - Mostly eyeshadow palettes. there are some blushes tho


I didnt really jot down the full details of all the items - like the colour and all that) so I'll just write what I remember


(A) Cheek & Face Stuff

• (top left) Stila Cheek/Lips Colour Converter - omg this product is one of my fav
• (pink tube) BB Cream sample
• Stila shimmer
• Dior Foundation - I got this and a free makeover from Dior 2 weeks ago
  
• Daiso Concealer - this one seems a bit too fair for me, but I've only tried it once
• (square 2 colour box) Clinique Blush - Freebie when I bought the 3 step product
• (rectangle box) ELF Powder blush - nice but it shatters easily 
  
• (round and pink) Daiso Cream Blush - Oh I really like this one. the colour suits me and its so easy to apply
• (round and silver) Elianto Powder blush - This comes with a powder puff attached. I don't quite like the cover tho, opens up easily
• (round with mirror on right) The Body Shop Pressed Face Powder #04 - This color really matches my shade. Im on my 2nd one already
• (bottom left) The Body Shop Blush - this is a pink that is a bit too light for me
• Anna Sui Foundation - This was a freebie from a magazine
• Stila Lip and Cheek tint in Pomegranate Crush
• Skin Food Aloe Vera BB Cream

 (B) Skincare

• The Body Shop Aloe Vera Day Cream
• The Body Shop Aloe Vera Night Cream
• Clarins HydraQuench Smoothing Gel - freebies
  
• Clarins Shaping Facial Lift x 2 (small and bigger size) - freebies
• Clarins Pure and Radient Mask - freebies
• (bottom) Sothy's Cleaner - won this one from Miu
• First Lady Cleanser - Freebie
• Estee Lauder Cleansing Milk
• The Body Shop Total Energy Lotion (i think)

(C) Lips

 

•  (from top round and red) Daiso Rouge
• Clarins Lipsticks - freebie
• (from left) ELF Lucious Liquid Lipstick - Review 
• Estee Lauder Lipstick
• Estee Lauder Lipgloss
• Victoria Secret Lipgloss - This lipgloss is rather odd. Its clear with Gold sparkles. Got it as a freebie
• Clinique Lip Gloss
• Bonne Bell Lipstick - I dont like this one.
• Lip Cream
• Nivea Lip Balm - I think this is Cherry
• (bottom left) Maybelline Lipstick - sample frm magazine. I really like this colour. suits me
• Stila Lip Glaze in Banana
• Stila Lip Glaze in Dark Cherry
• Stila Lip Gloss
• The Body Shop Lip Gloss
• The Body Shop Satsuma Lip Butter

(D) Eyes

• (top) Some Eyeliner - not sure what brand
• Estee Lauder Eyeliner
• Maybelline Eyeliner
• Clinique Eye cream
  
• (left) Daiso Brown Mascara
• The Body Shop Mascara
• Estee Lauder Mascara - Im currently using this one till it finishes before i start on the rest. lol
  
• ELF Black Eyeliner
• Daiso Black Eyeliner
• Stila Mascara
• Kajal - Given by my friend. Very nice black eyeliner, but smudges easily
  
• Falsies - Given by my sister
  
• (bottom) Garnier Eye cream

(E) Palettes

• Eyeshadow Palette - The ones on the right and left are eye shadows, the middle ones are Blushes/Highlighter
• Daiso Eye Palette in Brown
• Daiso 6 Shade Eyeshadow Palette in Green - Review
• ELF Eyeshadow Quad - It shatters easily, I lost 2 colours
• Estee Lauder Blush - This one is barely used. Mayb I should sell it
• Stila Get The Look Palette - 3 are eyeshadows, 1 is a blush
• Stila Eyeshadow Quad - I like the packaging and of course the colours
• Estee Lauder Eyeshadow Duo - My mom gave me this, yes I know its similar to the stila one

So I'm currently imposing a self-ban on buying makeup. Hehe! I wonder what's in your makeup box?

Cyleina Organic Soaps

I bought some organic soaps last week. This brand is called Cyleina Organic soaps and if I'm not mistaken, its from Philippines. Here's a description i found about:

Cyleina sets the standard of ORGANIC soaps in local manufacturing and distribution.Cyleina only uses the finest and most natural ingredients that we could possibly find in the creation of these healthy soaps and we make sure that the quality is always the best for your skin! This explans why your skin just feels amazing after each use.Cyleina assures you that you always feel that way because CYLEINA IS SKIN CONFIDENCE!

Even though Cyleina organic soaps are created using the finest ingredients, we still suggest that you check for the ingredients indicated that my trigger allergic reactions.Cyleina soaps can help you improve your skin condition, however good diet and proper hygiene still tops the list for achieving a perfect glowing skin. Genes play a major role in determining your skin condition, so thank your parents for it! What we offer in Cyleina are healthy soaps that aim to meet your skin's needs and give you blissful bathing experiences, we never offer false promises. Enjoy Bathing!

Anyway, I bought the following soaps from Aster in Lowyat Forum [link to her thread]. She is offering free samples for every full size soap bought

• Full size 125gm Honey Oatmeal soap (RM20)
• Full size 45gm Black Pearl (RM18) **
  
• Free sample Tomato **
  
• Free sample Kojic

** bought for my sister. will try to get her to write a review. I will also be writing a review on it after I've used it for some time.

Get MiLab Good Night Mask Free Sample

I was blog hopping around and came across this blogpost : http://101-compiled-beauty.blogspot.com/2009/08/milab-good-nite-mask.html about MiLab Good Night Mask. So I’ll just copy the info from her

MiLab Good Night Mask is a sleeping mask – which i presume means that you use it while u sleep.

Benefits of a sleeping mask

• "Some cosmetic ingredients are light sensitive and can be destroyed by sunlight if used during the day."
• "It maximises the benefits of your beauty sleep, boosting hydration level and moisture retention as well as renewing and improving your skin overnight"
• It is convenient to use because you do not need to wait for it to dry like other masks before washing it off. Simply apply it all over your face before going to bed and rinse with water the next day.
• Suits hectic ladies especially OL's who do not have time to treat and pamper their skin .
• Not heavy like night creams and are usually made from water base.

Instead of only offering hydration, they came out with four fruit formulations: grape, papaya, pineapple and strawberry to further assist in repairing and rejuvenating your skin after a good night sleep.
GRAPE

• "For reducing the signs of ageing, grape seed extract, a powerful anti-oxidant helps fight against free radicals and promotes the production of collagen."

PAPAYA

• "For pore-refining, papaya contains a natural enzyme that softens and digests dead skin cells, while encouraging new ones to develop. It helps reduce pore size and improve overall skin texture to reveal a softer and more vibrant skin."

PINEAPPLE

• "For break out prone or oily skin, pineapple soothes the skin by reducing inflammation and swelling."

STRAWBERRY

• "Rich in Vitamin C, strawberry brightens the skin as it can be quickly absorbed into the basal layer of skin to help fade away melanin, improve dark or sallow sin colouring, supply moisture and leave skin youthful-looking and supple."

Lynn, the blogger behind 101 Compiled Beauty, was kind enough to share info that you can get a free product sample by calling 03-78802932 or emailing biovita.events@gmail.com. Just choose the specific Milab Good Nite Mask free sample you would like and they will forward the sample to you.

The MiLab Good Night Mask retails for RM 38.90 for a 50g jar.

I just sent them an email and they instantly replied me, so I’m waiting for my mask now. Yay! Thanks so much to Lynn of 101 Compiles Beauty for the information.

Daiso : Black Charcoal Mask

Yet another Daiso product. I cant read the name on this one, so i'll just call it the Black Charcoal Mask for now. On the tube u can see the words 'masque' and 'Natural Pack'.

This is a mask that can be used for the whole face (there was a sticker on it with a picture of a girl's face that's all black) but I use it only for my nose area to get out the white and blackheads.

This is the result


As you can see, its quite effective in extracting all the blackheads and whiteheads from my nose (urgh! so many). Though of course it can't get all of it out.

I would suggest steaming your face first - tho most of the time I don't because I'm lazy. Also dont forget to put toner afterwards to close up the pores that are open.

What I like
Works, tho not 100 percent
Cheap
Smells pleasant

What I don't like
Have to wait for a bit before it dries fully

Splurge : Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay In Place Makeup SPF10

** The post below was contributed by G **

After the Missha Liquid Foundation, I was determined to find the perfect liquid foundation shade for my skin. The problem with my skin is that I have uneven skin tone. My chin area is darker than other areas of my face, i have pimple scars and fresh ones ( ie, red and ugly ). So one fine day after class, my sister dragged me to KLCC's Estee Lauder counter. She wanted to get their Blockbuster set which required a min of RM250 spent on products, to purchase the set for RM220.

The beauty advisor was a nice lady who was very helpful. I wanted something with heavy coverage because I was so obssessed with addressing my uneven skintone, so she recommended this particular foundation. She applied it and was explaining abt what to do to achieve flawlessness.

Tip 1: Exfoliate regularly ( IMPORTANT STEP ) to ensure the skin is not clogged with dead skin cells etc.

Tip 2: Always moisturize first before foundation so that the foundation adheres better.

Tip 3: DONT forget to apply on the neck also!

Tip 4: MUST use loose powder after foundation to set the foundation and avoiding it from melting.

I must say that this foundation made my skin looked so flawless! No doubt it is abit heavy, I would use this for party/clubbing nights where I require a heavy coverage with all the dancing and sweating. Cant risk pictures on facebook with my makeup melting = patchy skin ( makeup FAUX PAS! ). Haha.

However, I went to a house party one night and from the pictures, my face & neck looked white (flash lighting) as opposed to my body. I was HORRIFIED to see those pictures. I looked SO pasty! So I tested my foundation in natural lighting, and it was a bit too light for my skin color :(:(

NOTE: The beauty advisor tested out this foundation at the counter under yellow lighting and it looks so fantabulous.

Tips I think are important:

1. Try the foundation, walk out of the mall and check it out under natural lighting. Even though you may think you look stupid ( especially if its the wrong shade)
   
   I totally regretted not checking it in natural lighting after she applied it on me ( boo hoo). I was blinded by the flawlessness(under yellow lighting) that I immediately bought it on the spot. ( impulsive i know ).
   
   I should have taken a shade or two darker than what she recommended under the yellow lighting. It was a pricy mistake as Im now left with a foundation that I cant use.
   
   
   
2. I would recommend you go to a beauty counter where they use white lighting ( ie. Jusco One Utama ) so that it would be easier. BUt still go out and check it in natural lighting. Cause if the foundation looks good under natural lighting, it would look good under yellow lighting too.
   
   There is no need to feel shy to tell the beauty advisor that you want to walk around with it first. After all you are making a purchase for something that should complement your skin ( no matter what the price is ).
   
   
   
3. Also, it is best if you apply the foundation (tester) on your own. And use your own loose powder to set the foundation. This is because, you want to recreate a flawless look on your own, at home where there arent any beauty advisor to help you. So you would know how to work with the product you want to buy, with your own skill. Or you can watch the beauty advisor apply foundation on your face and perhaps opt to use your own loose powder.
   

Pros:

1. Gave me a FLAWLESS face.
2. Coverage was true to the description, it lasted almost 8 hours without melting although my skin was oily and so i needed to blot the shine after 4 hours.
3. I am in LOVE with it
4. I thought the price was worth it.

Cons:

1. I thought the screw top bottle was kinda unhygenic because I have to pour out the foundation every time I needed it, exposing it to the air thus inviting bacteria/germs, also possibly drying it out faster.
2. Because the coverage was heavy, the foundation was thick and velvety, making me use alot for my skin and face = finish faster.
3. Apart from my mistake, the coverage for this foundation is AWESOME. I would love to repurchase this product ( and get the right shade of course haha ).

Retails at RM125/30ml at Estee Lauder counters.

Tools : Epistick/ Epicare for Facial Hair Removal

I used to go for threading in Bangsar to thread my eyebrowns. I made a mistake once of threading my upper lip hair as well and since then, I’ve grown really self concious about it growing thicker and darker.
For eyebrows, we can pluck it using tweezers but upper lip hair is much more difficult – and not to mention painful (for me at least). But I recently bought this tool/device/whatever you want to call it that is totally effective!

Introducing the Epistick (or epicare as some call it). Its basically a tight spring with two rubber handles. Hold the epistick on either end. Bend it. Put it against the face (where ever you want to pluck hair) and roll it between your fingers and thumbs in an outward motion. The spring pulls the hair in a quick swift motion. Its really very effective. It stings a little but the hair is all gone.

This youtube video shows what it is and how to use it but it’s in japanese (i think?). Watch this english youtube vid in case you want to know more

Oh, and did I mention that its a mere RM4 bucks?? I bought it from a pei2 in Lowyat.Net forum HERE. Highly Recommended!