Vanity Trove Is Coming To Malaysia!

I'm sure that by now, many of you beauty junkies have heard the news already --- Vanity Trove is coming to Malaysia! I had been interested in beauty boxes ever since they first launched Vanity Trove in Singapore, as evident from my first post about them here.

I think most of us Malaysians that have heard about it previously might have been deterred against signing up because the vouchers and products given may only be available in Singapore, or even because of the fluctuating SGD vs MYR exchange rates. I know that's what had stopped me previously! But even then, I had always kept noted of the "Vanity Trove Unveiled" sections to check out what awesome stuff our neighbours were getting, and being ever so slightly jealous.

Now, with a the monthly subscription fee of RM60/- (inclusive of packing, shipping &
handling fees) or choose the 3, 6, 12 months subscription options, we get the beauty box ("trove") shipped directly to us from their Malaysian office!

Perhaps I'm getting ahead of myself, and I should explain what this whole "beauty box" concept is about in the first place. :) Inspired by the concept of fukuburuko, the mystery grab bag style of presenting products from the fashion hub of Japan, VanityTrove sends a "mystery box" filled with the newest and latest beauty / skincare products for consumers to try. What's better than receiving presents in the mail? Presents with an element of surprise, of course!

As a wannabe beauty "enthusiast" (ahem!), I've had to shell out quite a bit on my own for the products. Whenever someone raved about certain products, I would spend lots of $$ on it, only to find out that it's crap. If I had a chance to sample it, it would've saved me a lot of money. Plus, with so many up and coming brands, it's difficult to keep my finger on the pulse. It's so much easier having experts engaged by VanityTrove to curate the very best and newest stuff for us ladies to try.

Let me leave the experts to tell you how to get started :

 

Yup, if you don't think that you could use the products, you can always order a trove for your loved ones. I wonder if my husband will ever read my blog and "get the hint", *koff koff*. The first Vanity Trove box is open for subscription from now til January 14, 2013. Subscribing early will ensure that you get your February trove by end of January. Isn't that awesome?

Personally for me, I've experienced a Vanity Trove collaboration with Watsons, and that was just a free trove I got. Even though it was free, it was SO WORTH IT, I WISH THEY WOULD HAVE MORE COLLABORATIONS! 

I can't wait to get my hands on the 1st Malaysian Vanity Trove. I'm sure the first trove is going to be amazing!

P.S : By the way, you can try and win a trove from their Facebook page. You can also find out more from their website (click here to signup) or follow them on Twitter.

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Lipstick Sundays : Benefit Lip Shine in Kiss You

This is my second episode in the Benefit Lip Shine series, based on the "Ticket to Glossytown" boxset that my sis-in-law gave to me. Decided to try a different shade for a change (I'm still in love with the "So Frisk Me" shade that I reviewed previously), and one that I always thought was a bit unwearable. It's a rich purple shade called "Kiss You".

This is how the "Kiss You" shade looks like. Looks a bit scary right? Honestly, I've never tried a purple lipgloss / lipstick before. I always thought that it's more suitable for people with darker skintones. However, it looks very natural if you apply just a single coat. If you really want something that reflects the shade in the bottle, you really have to pile on the lipgloss. I've mentioned before that this lipgloss is not the really sticky type, but if you pile it on, it's definitely going to get gooey.

I didn't post a picture of the applicator last time, so here it is! By the way, the lipgloss smells really sweet. It's not really my thing, but I guess it's better than the chemical-ly smell that some others have. At least Benefit went the extra mile, hehe. The brush is really soft and silky, and since it's a gloss, don't have to worry about it not really being 100% accurate in "coloring in the lines". :P

The above picture is how it looks like with just one swipe. Very natural right, although more towards a darker shade than a pink-tone lipgloss would be. I can actually live with just this much (no wonder my lipglosses last forever). It as a great amount of shine, and there's a healthy color to the lips. Lips also feel moisturised and protected with the lipgloss on. But since I want to show how dark the color can get, I added on an extra coat...

And this picture above is how it looks like with TWO coats. Ok, maybe you think that there's not much difference, and it's still a pretty far cry from the color in the bottle.  Two coats really last a long time (without any touch-up required), I think my lipgloss only disappeared when I had lunch.

Here's a close-up of my lips... love the shine and glitter! You can definitely see a more purplish tone here, but don't worry, not going to be as scary as what it looks like in the bottle. Definitely very wearable, though I think it's more suitable for night-time. I actually wore this to church today, hehe. :P

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Watsons Birds Nest Whitening & Firming Facial Cream

Got this sample of Watsons Birds Nest Whitening & Firming Facial Cream in my Vanity Trove x Watsons set. I took it along with me when I was in Thailand, and even though the packet was already opened, I carefully carted it back with me in Malaysia cos I quite like it! This small 2g packet is able to last me at least 3 uses... though when I used it yesterday, I don't know why I liked it so much when I first used it....

The Bird's Nest whitening and firming facial cream contains bird's nest extracts such as Bird's Nest Acid, Water Soluble Protein, Amino Acid, Multi-vitamins & Minerals as well as Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), to help stimulate skin cell reproduction and regeneration. It also contains Snow Lotus Essence and Hexapeptide to enhance skin elasticity, helping to refresh dull and tired looking skin. Other deep nourishing ingredients such as Jojoba Seed Oil, Avocado Oil, Shea Butter Oil and Vitamin E which can help enhance the whitening and firming effects for healthier and more radiant looking skin after use. 

This potent skincare formula helps to nourish, firm, rejuvenate and illuminate your skin for a brighter and more radiant complexion. 

This is a sample of how the facial cream looks like. It is very, very thick and creamy. I think you really only need to use a little bit for your face and neck because I accidentally used too much and it feels VERY VERY heavy on my face. It doesn't get absorbed super quickly, so it feels a bit uncomfortable and oily. On the upside, this face cream smells amazing! It has a really subtle floral scent that is soothing and comforting.

With a heavy face cream, you generally expect the results to be more moisturising than normal. However, when I woke up the next day, things were just normal... nothing extra special. Then again, this is supposed to be a toning and whitening face cream, which I don't expect results can be seen within 3 uses. Probably will not make this a repurchase, but I really do like the scent!

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Chloé Eau De Parfum

Now this is a perfume that I've had for **quite some time** already! And because it's an EDP, I find that it's very, very hard to finish. You only need two little spritzes and it lasts the whole day! The Chloé perfume was something that I bought to reward myself at the end of my UK||Europe trip with Ben. During that time, I rarely bought perfume, because I always win perfumes. LOL! Ok, that's not supposed to sound braggish, I promise. Anyway, I asked Ben's opinion on which perfume would smell the nicest... cos I trust his taste la. He says that he has to buy tonnes for his mom, and his mom's taste is even better, hahahaa. So if he can buy stuff for his mom, guarantee good wan lah.

To be honest, this is not THE first perfume he recommended to me. It was "Flower Bomb" from Viktor & Rolf, if I remember correctly. (Incidentally, "Spice Bomb" is what I bought my husband for Christmas this year.) Chloé was perhaps, the 3rd choice that Ben gave to me, but I fell in love with the scent! To me, it's very feminine, romantic and somehow... comforting. It was only after using it for multiple times that I figured out why I kept thinking of it as "comforting"...! It's because the scent smells like HONEY to me! The good kind of honey, and not the crap kind of honey that I seem to keep getting in other products that I use (will be reviewing them soon... promise!).

With the cute bottle and ribbon, it totally suits the girly-ness of the perfume. Yes, it was my go-to perfume whenever I was dating the boyfriend (now husband!).

I was actually disappointed when I found the real notes for this perfume. There's actually no 'honey' present, hehehe. Check it out as below:
Top notes: Peony, Freesia, Lychee
Middle notes: Rose, Lily Of The Valley, Magnolia
Base notes : Amber, Virginia Cedar
[Source :Fragrantica.com]

I love the intense floral scent of this perfume. Some say that it's fruity and tropical as well (because of the lychee), but I don't really feel so. Maybe because I'm so used to Sugar Lychee, which is totally way more fruity than this scent. Although very girly at first scent, it warms to a very elegant base. I just adore this perfume! I would say that it's a repurchase, but at the rate that I'm going, I'll probably still be using the same bottle til the day I die! Seriously cannot and don't know how to finish. I'm not like my husband who drowns himself with perfume each day before he goes to work. If you think I'm exaggerating, let me inform you that when I iron his work shirts, I can actually smell puffs of his perfume coming up with the steam!! This is after washing and sunning! Omg! When I told that to him, he just said, "Good". Geez, perfume should accentuate, not knock you over with a sledgehammer.

The only complaint that I have is that the metal part of the bottle oxidizes to a very ugly rusty look. You can see from the picture above. Probably have to buy something special just to clean it?

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Mini Purchases

Before I start blogging about the stuff I haul-ed during my Bangkok trips... not to mention random other pharmacy-runs that I have been doing... here's some small purchases I made not-so-recently. I don't know why I didn't post it up earlier. Maybe because.. er... I wasn't even blogging? :P Hehehe...

Ok-lah, maybe I didn't blog about it because it's only 3 beastly items.

1) Cellnique Intensive Hydrating Complex - I've frequently commented about how this saved my dry skin, so I actually purposely dropped by the facial center just to buy a full-size bottle. It's more than RM100 if I remember correctly... hideously expensive, but it works. Since I reviewed it before, I won't do another review for it, but just an additional comment - I find that it leaves a slightly sticky sensation on the skin that some people might find annoying / uncomfortable. It doesn't last for very long, but it's definitely noticable. I suggest to wear this before you sleep, I don't find it suitable as a moisturiser for the skin before make-up (due to aforementioned stickiness). Then again, maybe I'm packing it on my skin? I remember when the consultant put it on my hand to demonstrate last time, it sank into my skin pretty fast. Either that or times have changed and so has the formula... :(


2) Lucido-L Non-Sticky Hair Wax - ok, so I bought this because I was getting really annoyed with my fringe and my natural hair parting. I thought that I would force it into the side-swooping type of style that I like / admire so much, but after a while I forgot about using it. This post will be a nice little reminder to myself to USE IT after buying it for about RM20!

3) Sephora Nano Eye pencil - yet another eyeliner to add to my collection. So far, I'm pretty disappointed in it, cos a pretty famous Singaporean blogger said that it's her go-to liner. Hmmm... I've tried better. Will review it, along with all my other eyeliners!

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Sephora Lemon Meringue Body Butter

So I bought the Sephora Lemon Meringue Body Butter back when they gave me an RM75 voucher and I had absolutely no idea what to spend it on (giving that there were very limited options available. This was ONE of the items that I purchased, and I often wonder... if I could go back in time, should I have gotten a TooFaced lipstick instead?

The 200ml body butter comes in a hardy plastic tub filled with pale yellow, creamy body butter. Please do NOT breathe too deeply, I have no idea what "lemon meringue" is supposed to smell like, but I definitely did not imagine it to smell like this. It smells neither citrusy nor sweet like a dessert. Really, the words to describe the scent escape me. I find it really noxious and I was weeping when I thought about how I would have to finish the entire tub. Thankfully, after you've applied it on your skin, you the scent doesn't really linger. Unless you stick your nose directly on your arm and breathe in deeply. I am doing that now, trying to wait for inspiration to hit me over the head to tell you what it smells like. I suppose it reminds me of some kind of cleaning agent.... but with less freshness. Hahaha!

You also have to VIGOROUSLY rub the body butter continuously on your skin to let it sink in. You do feel very "oily" after a session, and it doesn't go away til maybe 2 hours later. My husband made the mistake of touching me right after I had body-butter-ed myself and he said the feeling of all the oil made him sick. "Women! Dunno how they can stand all these oily feeling on their skin!" he said in disgust.

On the upside, it is quite moisturising, if moisturising means that feeling of silky smoothness because of all that oil on your skin. Nah, I kid. When I wake up in the morning (I use this as my night-time body moisturiser, as there are less people to comment on the strange scent on my skin), my skin feels nice and soft and moisturised. :) And I know it's not the oil cos nary a trace can be found. Whether it was thorougly wiped off on my bedsheets, or it sank into my epidermis, who knows? The final result after 8 hours is good. :P

Needless to say, this is not a repuchase for me. In fact, I want to stay far, far away from the Sephora in-house brand.

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Colgate Total (12 Hour Protection) Toothpaste

Actually, I have a few toothpaste reviews lined up, and for quite some time, I was reluctant to post about it because of a video that my husband showed me. It is about the dangers of fluoride, which I'm sure you're aware, is something that is definitely present in most toothpastes. In fact, I think some brands boast about having MORE fluoride in their toothpaste? And how dentists recommend that the fluoride is good for your teeth? Heck, there's even movements to have "water fluoridation" in the US...

That's where all the Youtube videos come in, and you can learn about how fluoride is derived anyways. After watching a few of these, my husband doesn't want to use "normal" toothpaste anymore. Sure, we don't go around eating our toothpaste, and some toothpastes have warnings that if you ingest it, you are supposed to call the poison control center (not sure if it's due to the fluoride or other crap). My husband almost wanted to chuck out all my toothpastes, cos all of them contain sodium fluoride. In case you're wondering if it's possible for toothpaste to NOT contain sodium fluoride, my husband's fave toothpaste from Himalaya is one. ((Note : I don't get any $$ whatsoever promoting them, but if you're a toothpaste swallower, perhaps you would want to eat something that won't make you dumber...))

So, did I chuck my toothpastes in the end? Well, no. Cos :
1. I don't eat my toothpaste
2. Perhaps in the future I would, but I'm still finding out more about this topic. Am no expert for sure
3. I am stingy and I have a stockpile of toothpastes I would like to finish first.

One of them is the free Colgate Total (12 Hour Protection) toothpaste that I got from the Guardian pharmacy magazine in Singapore. Later, I found out that I have another small tube that I had purposely purchased for travelling purposes. So this isn't a new product, I suppose! This toothpaste boasts superior protection (for up to 12 hours), all the while smoothening and polishing your teeth. Other benefits include : fighting cavities, gum problems, plaque, tartar and sensitivity. It also freshens breath, whitens teeth and strengthens enamel.

Generally, I'm quite cautious about using "whitening" toothpaste because I heard it kinda bleaches / chips away the tooth's natural protection and that's how you get even more sensitive teeth. No matter for me anyway, I rarely notice that my teeth are whiter. The only way my teeth looks whiter is if I myself get tanner, hehehe. Personally, I also didn't feel that this toothpaste helped with my teeth sensitivity nor with particular 12 hour long fresh breath. Maybe I'm just a dirty fella...

Based on the 3 questions asked in the paper above - if you have tooth sensitivity, stickiness in the teeth at the end of the day or gum problems, Colgate says the problem is caused by bacteria build-up. Hence, the reason why you need 12-hr long protection --- so that the bacteria build-up cannot occur.

One thing I noticed right-away with the toothpaste. It is very sticky and thick! This is because it's not a toothPASTE but a toothGEL. It apparently makes a difference. If you're the sort, like me, who just rinses her mouth and then gets down to brushing her teeth, it will be a pain. Because the gel is not "lubricated" enough, it will be very hard to foam up. You can definitely feel the stickiness and chunks of toothpaste stuck here and there. And bless you if you drop the toothpaste on the sink. Simple flushing with water will not get it unstuck. You would have to scrape at the sink to flush away the sticky substance. So annoying!

After putting the toothpaste on my toothbrush, I have to vigorously wet it so that it won't be so STICKY going in to my mouth. After brushing for a bit, I have to wet the toothpaste AGAIN. Usually, this repeats 3x before it feels "normal" to me. Honestly, I've not had this problem with my previous toothpastes.

The spearmint flavor from the toothpaste is refreshing, but then again, which toothpaste doesn't leave you feeling refreshed? Overall, I'm not impressed by the tooth brushing experience, nor with the after effects of using this toothpaste. Not a repurchase for me... and since I'm only using it on my vacays, even if the toothpaste gets stuck to the sink, it becomes the hotel cleaner's problem, and not mine. Hahaha! Merry Xmas! Hahahhahahaa..

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Monday Masks : SexyLook Intensive Moisturising Black Cotton Mask

Hey all! Merry Christmas! Hope you're all in the holiday mood. For me, I'm definitely in the holiday spirit as I've been on holiday the past few days (yes, I've turned over a hardworking leaf, and I'm schedulling posts even when I'm away now!). It hasn't been very relaxing though because I've been muthatrucking tramping up and down the streets of Bangkok. I thought I would've lost massive amount of weight by the time I come back to KL, but it seems like I've gained even more, wtf? My ideal weight goal is looking damn damn far off... *pissed off Leech*

On a good note, I've had time to review even more stuff and despite my own restraining order, I've got even more haul posts to publish! My husband said that the shelves are actually warped from carrying the weight of so many beauty products. *guilty* At first, I was a very hardworking reviewer in Thailand, trying out new make-up, new creams... but then I had an awful break-out, which I've never gotten before for so long. It's like taunting me... I'm on holiday and I can't have nice pics of myself! Really brings my mood down. Never mind, it's Christmas! Gotta cheer myself out though I am now fat and have bad skin. Seriously fat, ok! I've never weighed this much IN MY LIFE.

Well, now for the review. This was from my Penang trip early this month --- I don't know why, when I'm on holiday, my skin gets really dry. I don't know if it's because of the trip there (car air-conditioning? Aeroplane environment?) or what... but I will get my dry-skin syndrome. Since I'm already saddled with extra weight and pimples, I didn't get dry skin this round. :-) Small consolation, I just grab it. Anyway, since I was having dry skin, I decided to use my SexyLook Intensive Moisturising Black Cotton Mask. It was free with the Vanity Trove x Watsons box I got. :)

I first read about this mask on Xiaxue's blog, and if I'm not mistaken, one single sheet is quite expensive already. Like RM8-RM10? I am glad that I got it for free! Hehehe...

What is "Black Cotton", I hear you asking. Well, it's apparently cotton fibers with activated carbon fibers meshed together. Carbon is used because it helps to absorb dirt, excessive sebum, and refine pores. The mask says that it will help rehydrate and repair skin, leaving you with a natural, glowing complexion. The mask is also rich in vitamins, anti-oxidants, ocean nurtured black pearl --- all which will help to moisturise your skin, leaving you with pearl-like radiance. Interesting.. using pearl to give you a pearl-like appearance. Why not diamonds so that I can sparkle like a diamond too? Don't need to answer rhetorical questions, btw. ;)

Well, one thing is for sure.. the mask is of REALLY good quality, putting to shame all the cheapo masks that I've been using so far. It's thin, soft & silky,  able to absorb and retain a lot of essence, and stretchable! Except for the gaping large eye holes (maybe i didn't position the mask *that* well), I think it's a pretty good fit. However, I definitely did not look as sexy as the girl on the mask packaging. I look more like I'm ready to rob someone's house.

She's climbin in your windows
She's snatchin your people up

However, the mask was really a nice fit, it smelled pleasant enough (but can't remember of WHAT, just that it smelled really nice!) and it felt oh-so-soft against my skin. I fell asleep while I was wearing it! I don't know how long I slept off for, but I woke up with a jolt when I heard my sister coming in to the hotel room (they had gone for swimming... I had gone for a "pampering nap"!). I didn't want her to walk in and shriek, seeing me with my mask on! :) No matter how long I had been asleep (definitely longer than the recommended time to have the mask on!), the mask was still super wet and cold against my skin. :S

When I washed everything off, my skin did indeed feel very moisturised and silky-smooth as well. There was not even a bit of grimy black stuff on my face, so rest assured that the mask was not just merely dyed black in color! Hahaha...

Not sure whether I would repurchase because it's really above-average drugstore prices. Maybe if they have promotions / boxsets? Anyway, I'm starting to be more keen on "spread masks" already. :)

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Asience Inner Rich Shampoo & Conditioner

Got the Asience Inner Rich Shampoo and conditioner from a magazine, and took it along with me on my holiday to Penang. Yes, managed to get two shampoo reviews out of a 2-night trip, hardworking, ain't I?

I've always been curious about Asience and their selling point that the shampoo is made for Asian hair. I always wondered, why our hair extra-special ah? Need Asience's help? They didn't mention this in the product packaging (as you see above - though they provided a treasure-trove of other information), but I think I remember reading before that Asian hair tends to be more coarse and thick. Maybe need some extra-special formula to penetrate deep within. Haha.

The sample provided 15 ml sachets of the Inner Rich Shampoo and the Inner Rich Conditioner. The Inner Rich range is suitable for normal to dry, frizzy, damaged hair and hair that is prone to breakage. Seems like suitable for all kinds of hair. 15 ml is really a lot, enough for two usages, but I didn't bother to keep it. Reason? Well, I. .. I ... REALLY REALLY HATE THE SMELL OF THIS SHAMPOO!! I don't know why they can't make it smell better... it smells like olden days salon, very chemically and medicinal and ... I don't know why, but it reminds me of creams that my mom would use. When I came out of the shower, I was actually embarassed about how my hair smelled. I have not encountered this type of feeling before. Asience describes the scent as "floral and fruity". I ptuiiiii to that statement!

If you can get over the smell, I would say that the creamy texture of this shampoo and how well it lathers up are good plus points. That and how moisturised and soft my hair feels after shampoo-ing it. I don't know about long term benefits of reducing hair breakage, after all I had only one use. I feel that if a company knows that their product already smells bad, and their selling point is how well it works, then they should give larger samples for longer term use. Something like a 100ml bottle? I'm so stingy that I would've used the remainder even if it smelled bad, but I stayed in two different hotels for the two nights I was in Penang, so there's no way I would carefully cart over half-opened sachets...

Asience says that the Inner Rich shampoo contains rich natural ingredients that penetrate deeply into hair fibres to repair and enliven dry and damaged hair. The natural ingredients and the benefits? They had kindly listed it out for me as well:
Pearl Protein : Repairs hair by penetrating deep into the core to repair protein loss from colouring and styling.
Shell Ginger Extract : Softens hair and leaves it light and easily managed. Hair is supple from root to tip
Aloe Extract : Protects hair from the damaging effects of sunlight and dryness
Camellia Oil & Ginseng Extract : Natural moisturisers that are easily absorbed into hair and restores its luster from within.

Definitely not a repurchase for me... I can't get over the bad smell! Although I must say, the ingredients do sound very exotic!

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Friday Cheapies : Dove Go Fresh Rebalance Shower Gel

I forgot that I had a label called "Friday Cheapies"! I think I have not found any really really really good deals for a cheap price, hence I had stopped the label. Decided to revive it because it helps me look out for good deals. I read my last "Friday Cheapies" and I was nodding and agreeing with myself that it was such a good buy. Hence, hope you think that this one is a good buy too. ^^ For about RM6, you can get yourself a bottle of Dove Go Fresh shower gel from your friendly neighbourhood pharmacist!

This is one of the smaller bottles that they have - only 200ml, but suitable for those people who want to just try it out, or those who are always on the go! I bring it along with me to the gym, and I find it the perfect, handy size to bring around.

By now, I think I've tried everything that is on offer from the Dove Go Fresh range, and I was most hesitant to buy this one. Why? Because of the odd "Plum & Sakura" scent. I'm not sure how sakura smells like, but plums smell.... sour? However, it turned out to be my fave scent from the whole Dove Go Fresh range exactly because of its uniqueness! It is a sweet fruity scent, but not overwhelmingly or sickeningly so. It also leaves my skin gently smelling of the sweet succulent plum & sakura scent, even after the shower is over.

The shower gel also contains 1/4 hydrating lotion, to help moisturise the body. I do find that my skin does feel nicely hydrated enough. Sometimes, I even forget to put on moisturiser before I go to sleep because my skin already feels so smooth and nice. Or maybe that is just the culmination of all the hardwork I've already put in through the years, hahaha. Humblebrag.

The shower gel comes in this creamy, pale lavender color that is soooooo cute. I've not seen such color before for shower gel, haha. It lathers up pretty well, but is not the luxurious, thick type of bubbles... just .. good enough. :) Some have said it does lather to such thick foam - not sure if they are using a squeegee and I'm not. Or I'm just doing it wrong. :)

I'm not sure why it's called "rebalance"... whether it's to do with the scent, or with the 1/4 hydrating lotion. I did not notice the hydrating lotion when I was using the nectarine Go Fresh one last time. Either way, it is a suitable shower gel for me to use at the gym. I get out from the gym shower smelling oh-so-sweet and fresh and CLEAN. A definite aye for a repurchase and a definite recommendation from me to you for this round's Friday Cheapies. :)

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Burt's Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash

I started using my Burt's Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash after I managed to finish the immense 750ml of Body Shop's Sweet Lemon Shower Gel. Not bad, it lasted me for a little over 3 months! In contrast, the Burt's Bees is now down to its last 80ml, and it's been about a month or so of using it. :S Well, to be fair it is half the size of the Body Shop one - only 350ml. But is twice the price, going for more than RM60 (cannot care to remember the exact price). :P

I really like Burt's Bees packaging. With the "hand-drawn" flower, it looks very vintage and charming. The bottle is sturdy, but still "squeezable", so you're able to pump out your shower gel. It has a simple flip-top cover, for easy to reach goodness. As the label says, it's 99.2% natural, so if you care about that sort of thing, I suppose you will go crazy for Burt's Bees. I was drawn to it because I really like pep-me-up types of shower gel for the morning before work, and a whiff of this shower gel instantly makes me feel more awake! That, and the tingly sensation you get all over your body after using it makes you feel like you are raring to go.

((Of course, sometimes it gets TOO tingly. It's already uber cold in the morning and despite having hot showers, this shower gel makes me feel really cold as well! Super intense peppermint thing that they have going on...))

Another product that lists all the benefits you gain from using it on the label! If you can't read what it says, let me quote it for you: "Brace yourself for a fresh burst. Essential peppermint oil and rosemary extract combine with natural cleansers made from coconut and sunflower oils to cleanse, deodorize and refresh skin. Moisturizing glycerine softens while an aromatic botanical blend invigorates for the perfect pick-me-up." 

I have to agree that it is really invigorating! The shower gel also feels quite thick, so you don't really have to use a lot of it to get a good lather going. My husband disagrees though, and feels that it is very watery. I think he's been wasting my shower gel! Grrr...

See that golden amber liquid on my palm? That's about how much I use for each shower. :) It reminds me of maple syrup, so delicious looking! Oh, and though I do enjoy the scent, I find that if I use TOO much shower gel, it tends to smell more herbal and medicinal, which is NOT very nice. This is even more apparent if you are the type who likes to switch off your shower while you are lathering up. If you're the type (like me) who still has the shower running, and the hot steam mixes with the scent of peppermint... it's bliss! Really like a spa aromatherapy session! 

Enjoy the scent as much as you can in the shower, I don't really notice it once I am out. However, it has already done its job of making me all perked up for work. If this was cheaper, I would definitely repurchase it. Otherwise... sigh... once in a blue moon indulgence it is...

Found out that I had researched for the benefits of rosemary for the skin before for my Pores Be Pure entry, so Imma replicate it here: rosermary oil helps to tone and firm sagging skin! However, think I'm too young to see anything sagging, so I can't tell you if this shower gel helps. Peppermint oil is also good for the skin - aside from the cooling effect that you get AND the mental clarity and focus from the scent, it also contains antibacterial properties and help maintain skin's pH level. :)

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Give Joy

Christmas time is the best time to shop for friend's birthday presents as well. There are sooooo many gift sets and they usually give free wrapping services as well. Like Body Shop. Got something for a friend here that I want to try out myself! Their new range "Atlas Mountain Rose". They also have the "Valley Peach" which I heard is darn nice. Of course, cheapskate me will be waiting for the sales before getting myself a bottle or two. ^^

I also wanna buy myself the same thing, hahaha...

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Formula 10.0.6 Down To The Pore Blackhead Banishing Pore Strips

So at the same time that I bought my Formula 10.0.6 Pores Be Pure mask, I also bought myself a packet of Formula 10.0.6's Down To The Pore Blackhead Banishing Pore Strips. Needless to say, I am very, very concerned about blackheads. I remember that Ben peeked into my shopping basket and he was going, "No no no, that's not the one Abby recommended. She recommended the Pores Be Pure mask! Not the pore strips! For the whole face wan!!"  And I was saying, yeah, I already bought that. AND I want this as well. He shrugged, but had this whole "if it doesn't work, don't blame me. She only reviewed the mask..." vibe going on...

As usual, very eye-catching packaging , even though the design is so simple. I love how they write out the benefits of each ingredient that goes into the pore strip. It makes my work so much easier. A packet contains 6 individual pore strips, each injected with the goodness of tea tree and  kaolin. You needn't me to do the Google-ing for you - the benefits are right there on the box. Kaolin absorbs impurities, dirt and oil that plague pores, while antioxidant tea tree detoxifies. Together, this leaves your nose visibly soothed and smoothed.

 

Each individually wrapped pore strip looks similar to the box, but with slightly different shade of purple for the font! Upon opening the packet, you can get a whiff of something that smells really medicinal! It's not a turn off, but it's not exactly soothing. It reminds me a bit of the minyak cap kapak that people apply when they have headaches. The shape of the pore strip is also slightly different from Biore's / Healpharm's standard shape. The sides are more rounded, so it doesn't really extend out onto your cheeks like other pore strips do. 

Andddddd... this is how it looks on my face. You see, how "rounded" the sides are? Basically, I would say that it is a pretty okay fit, and it was easy to peel off from the plastic sheet. Seriously, nothing beats the horrid-ness of Healpharm's one, and nothing matches the ease of use from Biore. Hahaha.

And this part here, is where I got it wrong. At first, I was sorely disappointed because after every session with the pore strip, I would analyse the pore strip after and discover that zilch to a very small amount got removed with each strip. I thought that it was really substandard, and not worth the price (it is quite expensive, but I forgot the actual $$. Definitely more expensive than Biore's one, and that is like RM13 for a box). After re-reading the instructions, it's more like a preventive exercise than a cure. By removing the dirt inside pores, blackheads won't be able to form, and thus, there's no blackhead to rip out with your pore strip.

Maybe I'm mistaken (again) and you actually tried this before and removed hundreds of dem little buggers? Or maybe it's a dual thing, just that I keep my nose soooo clean of blackheads (lol) that nothing comes out? I really doubt that cos I used a Biore pore strip recently and there was a few removed... This is like at most, ONE blackhead coming out on the pore strip...

If it's really just for a preventive exercise, then I think it's too expensive to give my nose a mask every week. If it's really to remove blackheads like the Biore pore strips, then this does a very bad job, so stick to Biore instead. Or the Pores Be Pure mask from Formula 10.0.6. ;) Definitely not a repurchase for me.

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Monday Masks : My Beauty Diary Chocolate Truffle Sheet Mask

The My Beauty Diary Chocolate Truffle Sheet Mask was part of the Sweet Tea-Time Set that I bought a long time back. Yes, it is really a long time back! I had trouble searching for the original post! Well, it was such a cute set that I just couldn't bear to use it, and if you see my earlier posts, I was all about using my cheapie masks first. Cannot bear to use the special one! Hahahaha. The original set comes with the Chocolate Truffle mask and Earl Grey Tea with Macaron mask. Now *that* sounds super exotic. I don't think I would be able to find anything if I Google "how will putting macarons on my face benefit my skin".

Very sweet packaging, but nothing special really. Too girly girly for me. As the packet says - the Chocolate Truffle sheet mask is for moisturizing & softening the face. 20 minutes of indulgence - set. :) 

This is a really horrible picture of me (hair like beggar by the roadside), but I was truly enjoying myself. Hahaha. The chocolate truffle mask smells SOOOOOOOOO nice. Really yummy! I was afraid it would smell like cheapo chocolate that makes me sick, but no! This smells like a really decadent choco dessert in a 5-star hotel. The sheet mask is also really thin, but strong. Really has a lot of essence soaked in. The fit is not super good (I just used a SUPER GOOD FIT mask recently that makes me think that all those that I have said are good previously are just BS), but good enough to cover what's necessary-lah.

The after-effects? Face really does feel more moisturised and baby soft. Don't know what magic they put into it, but obviously the "chocolate truffle" is just the scent. I have no idea what magic ingredients they put in. Just know that it works! ^^

I'm really a My Beauty Diary fan, and in fact, I have just repurchased a whole box more of their masks. Must take good care of the skin, yo. :)

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Lipstick Sundays : Jelly Pong Pong Supermodel Stain in Nymphette

Haven't been doing a lot of Lipstick Sundays posts because my husband always catches me in the middle of camwhoring. Awkward. :) I also don't like to take that many photos of myself because I have to prep so much before hand... make sure I'm not wearing crap clothes. Make sure my hair looks presentable. Make sure the background doesn't have a pile of dirty laundry behind. Hahaha! Should learn how to be more narcissistic. =)

As mentioned, this blog keeps me motivated to still take care of my appearance, so I think it's a good thing? Also to use up all the make-up that I keep buying! One of it is my Jelly Pong Pong Supermodel Stain that I bought from a Hishop sale. From almost a year back! They are having another Xmas sale now, so if you want to get the Supermodel Stain, you can check it out on that website. It is going for RM49 (usual price RM80) and comes in 3 colors : No Breakfast (a pinkish / peach shade), Cupcake Pout (dark red, more towards magenta) and Nymphette (bright reddish orange). The one that I bought is a hot cherry shade called "Nymphette".

So what was it about this "Supermodel Stain" that attracted me to it? Like Benefit's Benetint, this is also a product that does double duty as a lip & cheek tint. I'm always curious about things like that! It makes you feel like you are getting a damn good deal. However, unlike Benetint's liquid-y cheek & lip tint, this one is a sticky-ish  balm-like texture. They call it a "Highly Pigmented lip and cheek pomade". Just referred to good ol' Google, and a pomade is a "ointment". Hahaha, learn something new everyday.

Yes, as you can tell from the first two pictures, it is SUPER SMALL IN SIZE. It only weighs 2.2g and can easily be hidden in the palm of your hand! Imagine yourself as a waif-like model in skinny jeans, you can easily slip this into the back pocket of your pants. You could do your touch-ups on the plane and look super fresh and vivacious when you land. Honestly, when *I* slip it into my jeans pocket, it doesn't even look like I have anything in my pockets because it's so small! I'm just afraid taht one day I would forget to take it out and it ends up in the wash. *HORROR*

The packaging  is quite nice --- it comes in a hardy little aluminium tin. I don't really care for the graphic design, but it flips open and has a mirror inside the compact. It's so teeny weeny already, so unexpected that there's a mirror inside! But that's the Supermodel Stain for ya... supermodels need to look in the mirror when they are touching up, right?

So how do you use it? Ignore the non-glam-ness of the above picture. I was in a hurry to snap photos before le husband comes out and asks me to stop camwhoring. Sadly, in the few shots that I took, the above was the most proper one. *weeps* I thought I was photogenic! I was wondering if I should even post it, but I suppose it would give you a better estimation of how I actually look BEFORE the Stain comes on. :(

Gently tap the surface of the Supermodel Stain until you transfer some color onto your finger. Quickly tap across your cheeks and lips and blend until satisfactory. I couldn't take some good pics at this point cos quite ridiculous to keep tapping and blending and recording at the same time. Similar to my experience with ChaChaTint from Benefit, but because this is a pomade-texture (and not a liquid texture), it doesn't require you to be super fast when blending. For ChaChaTint, if you don't blend it fast enough, the first few spots that you transfer the color to will be more obvious than the other areas after blending.

For Supermodel Stain, no such worry, but because it's a stickier type of texture, you need to blend MORE. I don't quite fancy constantly rubbing across my skin, and if you believe that bubbles are too harsh for your skin (read previous post for context), better don't use this! A lot of rubbing and blending required!

Although the color looks quite bright in the compact case, it all depends on how much color you transfer back to your own face. You can go gentle and light, and the above is already with one "coat" of Supermodel Stain applied. The cherry color isn't that obvious, in fact it looks very natural and  fresh already. Some might even think that there is not much blush / lippie in this pic... until they see how pale and colorless I am in the above photo! 

Same with Benetint .. if there's not enough color... just keep applying more and more til you get the shade you want!

See how stained my finger is already? I decided I wanted more vibrant lips and wound out with this  more orange-like tone. I think a light swipe is more suitable, more reddish / pinkish. Too much and you get this reddish / orange-ish shade! As with Benetint, I feel like more color ends up on my fingers than on my face. Also same note of advise .... if you are the type who piles on a lot of foundation / BB cream, best not to use this product! Stick to powder blushers! I think it would be super difficult to blend if you apply on top of foundation, and I think you would have to put clown-like levels of blusher if you apply it UNDER foundation. However, don't take my word for it, I haven't actually tried it. I rarely wear foundation (unless for formal events) and I usually go out with just moisturiser or with Benefit's That Gal. Super lazy, I know!

As you can see from above pictures, the Supermodel Stain is also not very moisturising (or maybe I just have ULTRA dry lips), so you might like to use some lipbalm on top of it (or before you apply it! up to you!).

You might think this is super expensive for a 2.2g product, but I have a feeling that this is going to last me for freaking-ever. You really don't need to press damn hard on the pomade to get the color, just gently tap and swipe only. I would say, I only needed to tap maybe 3 times to put on my blusher, and 2 times for my lips. Oh, and a plus point for this : it really smells very nice! Like sweeeeeeeeet cherries. Very very enticing. It doesn't last forever though, just when applying, I don't really take note of it for the rest of the day.

However, not a repurchase for me because I really don't like using my fingers and rubbing so vigorously on my face to apply blusher... still, it was an interesting experiment...

FYI, I bought this at Hishop, so far, the only place that I go to for my Jelly Pong Pong stuff! :)

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Biore Marshmallow Whip Cleansing Foam

So I bought in to the hype of the Biore Marshmallow Whip and I bought some when I was in Singapore. In fact, I currently have TWO Biore Marshmallow Whip cleansing foam because I was such a greedy bitch - stocked up when I was in Singapore, and the second time I went back, I forgot to bring any facial cleansers. I decided to buy a new one in Sg, and I selected this again because of the hype. I thought it was definitely gonna be good, so might as well buy again lah. I have one for normal skin and one for dry skin (extra moisturising). Currently, I am using the extra moisturising one, which comes in a light yellow bottle, as opposed to the usual pink color bottle.

  Okie, so what is this big HYPE over Biore Marshmallow Whip cleansing foam? Well, apparently they said it is less HARSH on your skin compared to other normal facial cleansers, because it is cleaning with foam, as opposed to usual cleansers. One blogger even said that you can "throw away all the regular facial cleansers" after using this revolutionary one. You see lah, whether that feller will still advertise for regular cream / liquid cleansers la, trololol. On her ad, you can also see that her "one pump" releases a HUGE amount of foam. This is how much I got with ONE pump : 

 

It is seriously HALF the size of the amount that she shows on her blog! I have to use two pumps for one washing. So, one bottle which gives 150 pumps ends up with me only have 75 uses instead of 150 uses. Which, if you wash your face twice a day like a normal person, will only last you a little over a month! True enough, I finished the bottle in about 1.5 months. Maybe use a little longer cos sometimes I bathe in the gym and I have a separate bottle for that. Or sometimes neurotic and wash the face more than twice a day. Anyway, it adds up. 

  

Yeah, this is more like the amount that I used! And looks more like the amount that the blogger shows in her posts! 

So back to the story about why it is better to wash with foam, and how bubbles are LESS harsh on your skin. Apparently, even if you lather up your normal cream / liquid face wash, apparently the bubbles are STILL not as fine as the ones from Biore because ... I donno la. Maybe because of the pump and other Japanese technology. They put their bubbles under a microscope to show you and all. And the "ultimate" test on the "marshmallow whip"? Can you turn your hand upside down and make sure that the foam doesn't slide down your arm? 

 

With the small amount on my hand, it doesn't slide down la... but with two pumps, it started sliding down anyway, so #fail, please. Lol! By the way, sorry for the foggy pictures, I won't waste my products by pouring them out for picture purposes. Hence, I am actually taking pictures in the shower, hahaha. And yes, it's very steamy pics indeed wtf. 

Anyway, to really change your life-style and not touch your face so much, I think it's not just about not using normal cleansers anymore and only changing to foam cleansers. Even when using foam cleansers, you have to be careful about the way you rub your face. No point to use foam cleansers and still vigorously scrub your palms across your face! Apparently you have to follow some gentle tap-and-brush kinda technique. Please! Takes 10 minutes to wash your face, especially since I don't find this cleanser especially "strong". I'm sure if you lather up your regular cleanser and do gentle tap-and-cleanse technique, it will still work. Be careful of the "rough bubbles" though! Hahhaa!! 

And how long can you avoid touching your skin anyway? When you apply moisturisers? Eye cream? Toner? Popping pimples? Rubbing your nose? Pinching blackheads? I think even if you use a cotton pad and brush lightly for toner, it's definitely gonna be harsher than bubbles right? So I call bullshit on this please. You can make yourself feel better about how gentle you are being, but if your genes are farking you up, then it's just too bad already, honestly. 

Maybe you think I'm being extremely mean about this product. Well, it's not that I hate it that much, but I really think that it's misleading to say that by using this product, it is more gentle / helpful on your skin. I think it's paying a lot of money for a lot less! Seriously, I can get products at half the price for double the amount, and I won't see that my face got extra bruising from rough bubbles and what not. 

On the upside, the cleansing foam can help clear up my made-up face, and leaves it feeling clean, soft and moisturised. It doesn't have any notable smell, so I suppose it is good for those with sensitive skin and noses. But for the price... really a no-no for me. Too expensive (like RM17 if not mistaken) [Edited to add : Just reread my original haul post and found out it is actually SGD13.90 FML] and only lasts for 1.5 months! Madness! And towards the end, I need about 10 pumps to get a normal size amount out. It's not like 150 consistent amount of foam dispensed. Is there some fine print that I missed out on? Or did I get a really defective bottle?

Yeah, it's fun to use lah. For the first two times. After that, you will feel ripped off. I think Biore realised this is not a really good product, hence had to pay extra for advertising. And they know Malaysians are generally stingy, so no wonder they don't sell it here. Hahaha! Good on ya. I don't want to buy anymore also.

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Neutrogena Deep Clean Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub

Another review courtesy of samples that I took with me to Penang! Here's a sneak preview of what I took along with me, so be prepared to see these reviews coming up! And if you're wondering about MORE shampoo samples --- of course I need to shampoo my hair everyday when I'm in Penang! There's so much walking around to do there, sure to sweat... and when you sweat, just rinsing with water doesn't cut it for me. :)

Today I will be reviewing the face wash that I took with me on the trip -  Neutrogena's Deep Clean Revitalizing Pink Grapefruit Foaming Scrub. I got this free sample from my FREE Vanity Trove x Watsons collaboration in Singapore. It's the perfect size for travelling!

If you know me, you know my love for citrus-y things, and this scrub doesn't fail in that sense. It really smells very nice and fruity - what great aromatherapy! It also lathers up well, and has cute little exfoliating beads. The whole facial scrub looks very yummy too, the lightest baby pink gel (almost clear), with darker pink exfoliating beads. Good enough to eat! (But don't... lol!)

So, you must be thinking that this is a definite repurchase for me? Sadly, no... cos I somehow don't get a squeaky clean feeling after washing my face. I have to wash my face TWICE in order to feel really clean. If you think I'm stingy with the facial scrub ... check out how much I poured out on my hand. That is *really* how much I use in one wash. That feeling of "uncleanliness" is like some film of oil on my face. I really hate it when face scrubs leave me feeling like this.

Pity, cos I really like the scent of this scrub. Can we reach a compromise, Neutrogena? :)

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Pureology Anti-Frizz Shampoo

What does a humongous, sinfully delicious-looking char kueh teow have anything to do with my beauty blog? Well, this were samples that I managed to use while I was on holiday in Penang! Yes, as I've mentioned countless times before, the best time to use samples are when you are on travelling! Not only do you save luggage space, it actually minimises spillages (cos I've heard of bottles not being closed tightly / popping open but I've never heard of sample packets tearing open)! So, now you know what to do with all the magazine samples / mall samples that you get. ;)

This time, I will be reviewing the Pureology Pure Volume shampoo & conditioner. To be honest, I've not seen this being sold in pharmacies, I think you can only get it from websites. From what I have found online, it costs RM78 for a 300ml bottle! I have no idea where I got this sample from.. probably a magazine or my sister..

The shampoo is a very thick cream-like liquid.... and it was just AWESOME on my hair! You feel really luxurious shampoo-ing with it because of the rich lather. Hair feels squeaky clean and smells amazing afterwards... for days even! I can't describe the scent... something really floral, I suppose. Although the scent stays for days, I don't mean to say that it is overpowering-ly so. I don't know what kinda technology goes into this shampoo because it can leave my hair smelling so nice for so long! I really look like an idiot, sniffing my hair every time that I can because it's just so irresistable!

I have to admit, though, that I am not so sure whether it's really ANTI-FRIZZ, because I didn't see any difference in my hair. Then again, this was totally just a one-off use... maybe you would have to use this long term to see any visible results.

All in all, an interesting shampoo indeed. I really like the scent and the squeaky clean scalp feeling that I get. The price and the difficulty in getting the shampoo is a deterent though. Maybe one day when it's easily available, I would grab a bottle to try. ;)

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