The Body Shop Peach Shower Gel

If there's one place I would go to where I would be guaranteed nice smells for the shower, it would definitely be The Body Shop. However, it's not really friendly on the pocket, which is why I stock up like mad whenever they have their sales. With 20% - 50% slashed off, it becomes VERY VERY worth it. :) I've started using a new shower gel (I know right? Most of my reviews are starting to become shower gel reviews!), and this time it's The Body Shop's Peach Shower Gel.

This soap-free clear, light-amber shower gel contains peach extract which is what gives this shower gel such an AWESOME scent. Seriously, my shower routine is always to pour a bit of product onto my palm, and then I put my nose near the liquid and .... TAKE A DEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP BREATH! It smells soooooo good. It's never overwhelming and overpowering. It is just PERFECT. It smells so natural, like I could drink it all up. It's sweet and fruity and just delicious. :)

A bottle which contains 250ml of body gel is going for about RM35 usually. If you're lucky, you can get it on up to 50% discount when they have the sales. I would say that it does its job of cleaning you up, but it's not super moisturising. No special moisturisation formula and what not. Still, really nice to use in the shower and I am enjoying my shower time! 

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Berli Pops Honey Orange Smoothie 3-In-1 Facial Foam

Here's another random purchase from Thailand last year... I ran out of face cleanser while I was re-honeymooning in Bangkok and was really, really annoyed with myself. Me and my "travelling with samples only" mantra! Because of that, I ran out of face cleanser on the last day I was there, and there's no way that I can NOT wash my face. Or wash it with soap. I insist to use proper face cleansers, so I had to go and buy a new one. But since I was (am, actually) really cheap, I didn't want to buy something too expensive. After scouring the drugstore, I wound up buying this really random facial cleanser called "Berli Pops". Why? Cos I thought it's the cheapest item available there.

To be honest, I'm a real FAILED SHOPPER when I'm in Bangkok because I couldn't understand the signs. I would think that something costs 150 Baht, and later only find out that it was 150ml, nothing to do with the price at all. -__- I saw a lot of 3-X-1 signs (like this facial foam below!) and I would think it means buy 3 and free 1, but in the end, it's promoting that it is a 3-in-1 facial foam. WTF. I kept the receipts for my purchases, but it's been quite some time, so even the print has faded...

This is how the facial foam looks like, and on Amazon, it actually costs USD$6.50 or thereabouts. I believe it's cheaper if you buy in Thailand. If I'm not mistaken, it's a made in Thailand product, so it should be cheaper in the home country? It was displayed on the bottom-most shelf in the shop too, and they didn't have all variants available. I chose the facial foam for combination skin because I like the "Honey Orange" variant. They also have:
i. apple berry smoothie for oily skin
ii. banana cherry smoothie for dry skin
iii. melon cucumber smoothie for a weekly scrub

Hmm.. they don't have anything special for normal skin? Anyway, the honey orange smoothie for combination skin has been quite kind to my skin.

The facial foam is thick and rather firm when squeezed out from the tube. It only looks so erm... soft in my hand because my palm was not 100% dry. Recommend that you moisten and rub up the foam between your hands before applying directly to the face. It leaves skin feeling clean, but not squeakily-I-stripped-off-all-the-natural-oils-from-your-skin kinda clean. The best part about this facial foam is probably that it smells really nice and unique. How would you think a honey orange smoothie would smell like? It actually smells like barley drink + some Sunkist. Hahaha. It is actually quite yummy! (In fact, now I feel like drinking barley mixed with Sunkist, haha!)

My only complaint is that it is not "strong" enough to remove make-up from my skin. I know, I know, should always remove make-up separately with a proper make-up remover. However, it leaves a LOT of traces behind, which my other cleansers never do. It just makes me feel like this facial foam is not as tough on dirt as other cleansers. It is especially difficult to remove my Maybelline Masterliner, which is probably a good testimony for that eyeliner. -__-"

Surprisingly... my husband has been stealing my facial foam and he says that he LOVES this facial foam. And asked me random questions like:
"What is this Berli Pops? How come so cute one?" -___-"
"How you know about such a good thing one? Really just simply buy one ah?" -____-"
"Why you never buy one for me also? How come good things you keep to yourself only?"

How to explain to him the behavior of a hoarder? Anyway, I guess it's gonna be a repurchase for me, if simply to appease this strange man. FYI, he also uses my shampoo, which explains why it's since finished, much earlier than I anticipated. When I saw my shampoo dwindling so fast, I was horrified. He finally admitted to using it as well and saying he loves it soooooo much. So much so that he bought another bottle which we are BOTH using. I'm only annoyed because he only uses shampoo and not conditioner, so when he finished off my shampoo, I had 50% conditioner left... argh!

That was quite off-topic, but anyway the conclusion is this is one of the nicest, random purchases that I've gotten from an unheard-of brand. =) And I'm also happy to have a "second reviewer" in the form of my secret drugstorelover husband. 

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Monday Masks : SexyLook Hello Kitty Rose Brightening Mask

I'm too old to be squealing over Hello Kitty, but some of my readers might be really interested in this kitty cat.. So here's my review of the SexyLook Hello Kitty Rose Brightening Mask! I got it in Singapore for about RM7++. Pretty expensive for a face mask (in my books), but if it works, why not, right?

The packaging is really pink and flowery... I don't know if you go for that kinda thing. Maybe it's supposed to look very cute and feminine, but to me it's kinda gaudy and reminds me of an old grandmother (don't ask me why!). Anyway, the SexyLook Hello Kitty Rose Brightening Mask provides intense hydration to help restore skin tone and refine skin texture. After using the brightening mask, you will have healthy and glowing skin. Wow, sounds promising!

The sheet mask itself is very thin, and there is a lot of essence inside the packet. This helps the sheet to adhere closely to the skin. It also ensures that there is enough essence, even for your neck and other body parts that you choose to massage the liquid in to.  Fit-wise, it is not the best I've ever had because there are clear gaps between my nose and my cheek. I think the mask is just not WIDE enough.

The smell of the mask is also not very enticing. It is pretty erm... harsh smelling. I would think that it would smell like ROSES since this is called a Rose Brightening Mask, right? Nothing floral at all! A bit disappointing, but at least it didn't give me a headache, like the Sasatinnie masks.

Interesting enough, rose oil (this is one of the ingredients) has a lot of health and dermalogical benefits for users. Other than being used in aromatherapy (it smells good, is an anti-depressant and aphrodisiac all-in-one!), rose oil is also anti-bacterial and helps regulate and balance hormone production. It is touted as one of the best oils which can give you shining, fresh and youthful skin.

After using this mask, my skin did feel more moisturised and some how more "brightened" and skin tone was also more evened out. Was satisfied with the outcome, but it was not so startling that it would show up in before / after images (hence no photo!). I do find it pricey though, especially since when other brightening masks I've used before gives me the same effect.

Probably not a repurchase, but if you're a Hello Kitty fan, this would probably be right up your alley.

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Lipstick Sundays : Mentholatum Lipice Lip Moisturizer in Kissy Pink

I discovered that I had already blogged about the Mentholatum Lipice Lip Moisturizer back when I FIRST bought it, but there were no swatches. Anyway, it was a good revisit down memory lane (reading the old entry), and how my thoughts had changed since I first bought it! Will include old photos here as well in case you don't want to check the old entry. ;)

About 2 years back, Lipice launched their Watercolor Lip Moisturizer series, which (to me) was a more vibrant lipbalm (in fact, more like a very moisturizing lipstick!) than their existing lip balm / lip tints. Even the packaging was more towards lipstick than towards those clear lip tints that Lipice is more known for. I got "Kissy Pink" (Watercolor #3) in the range because it seemed more unique compared to the other colors. I have lots of pink lippies anyway, this one looked more orange!

 

 

As you can see from the above packaging, it looks like the tube is going to be really geometric / angular. Instead, the real tube is actually just a boring, normal tube shape. The interesting shape in the packaging is all plastic packaging! -___-" 

 

The 4 colors in the range are: 

#1 : Vintage Pink
#2 : Fantasy Pink
#3 : Kissy Pink
#4 : Sexy Pink

Quoted from my previous entry: "IMHO, Sexy Pink is a dark blue pink that does look a little bit old school to me. I think it would suit mature ladies better (this would be me? hehehe. No, I mean older than me! Like 35 and above... but I doubt those ladies would wear Lip Ice). Vintage Pink is a very "standard pink" color... nothing special about it. It's a classic go-to shade, so if you have absolutely NO pink lipsticks at all, you should probably choose this. 

Kissy Pink is a very vibrant coral color, and I doubt my boyfriend would think that this color equates to kissiness. ;) I chose it because it's an odd color, and cheap lipsticks are good for odd colors that you don't wear too often. Classic shades deserve something more expensive (my own personal rule of thumb). Fantasy Pink was my second choice, but it is more to a red shade than a pink shade."

 

 After using the lip moisturizer for quite some time.... I would say that I was actually pretty wrong about saying that there is not much difference between the "before" and "after". Either that, or something changed the more I use it! Now, I feel that the color is SUPER VIBRANT with just one application. It kinda scares me. You know what? I think that it's because my lip moisturizer / lipstick is more "melted" now, so more comes off with a single application? The color in the tube looks nuclear orange, but the effect on the lips is a more vibrant coral. It's quite obvious, but not some crazy, bright orange color.

I quite like it! I think that it's pretty moisturising & gives a pretty nice color coverage at the same time. When I bought it, it was RM11.90. Heard the price has now gone up to RM14.90. I'm quite interested to try another one now...

 

As always, ending with a picture of the close-up. 

 

 

The secret to the lasting moistness in the lippie? Super Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramide , and further enriched with Maxilip and Vitamin E to help reduce fine lines and keeping lips supple. For me, really no complaints about the moisturisation qualities. I should probably not keep lip balms and lip tints around for so long though... but it's finishing! FYI, I have no idea why I've used the lip moisturizer til such a shape (check out the ultra pointy tip in my pic above!)... I still think it melted somewhat in my handbag.... 

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Premier Moisture Cream Complex by Dead Sea Premier

I got a free sample of the Premier Moisture Cream Complex from Dead Sea Premier while I was randomly walking around in a shopping mall in Singapore. I've not seen this brand before in Malaysia (it is made in Israel), but you can buy it from here. I only got a 5ml tube, but it seems to last me a really long time! Granted, I only take it along with me on holidays, though recently I try to use it every night (as a night moisturiser) because I love it that much!

I think this 5ml tube could even last me for about 10-14 days, so a full size moisture cream complex at 60ml could probably stretch for half a year. It costs USD$190 though, so not very drugstore beauty now, is it? ;)

The cream is thick, white, and easily absorbed into the skin. You only need to use a little bit at a time, hence the ability to stretch out a 5ml sample over 2 weeks. I even use it on my neck! It feels a bit oily at first, but only for a short while. As I said, it gets absorbed easily... and when you wake up, your skin feels really nice and soft! Another item that I would attribute to my good-skin-days of recent.

This complex has the special facility of moisturizing the skin while simultaneously controlling excess oil. It contains natural UVA and UVB, SPF 17. Oh, wasted, I keep using it at night, so the SPF 17 goes to waste. The reason I use it as my night moisturiser instead of a day moisturiser is because of the aforementioned "oiliness" I get at the beginning. I don't like to wait too long before applying my makeup (coz I'm always rushing to get to work... -__-). The thought of applying my makeup on slightly oily face is... blehk. 

Wondering why minerals from the Dead Sea is used in beauty products? There's actually a lot of beauty products on the market that boast about using minerals from the Dead Sea in order to achieve fresh & young looking skin. Dead ingredients in the water from the Dead Sea is considered as a miracle of nature and the best natural therapeutic resource. "Black Mud" found at the bottom of the Dead Sea has the highest concentration of minerals on earth. Among the 21 essential minerals found in the Dead Sea, 12 minerals are unique and can only be found in the Dead Sea. These minerals help to achieve youthful skin as well as heal your skin. The minerals mentioned are a combination of sulfur, magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium and various proteins.

Do take note that they have the moisture cream complex for normal to dry skin and normal to oily skin, so if you do make a purchase, make sure you get the correct one for your skin type! :)

ETA: Personally find that after using this consecutively, the "moisturised" feeling that I got initially is turning into an "oily" kind of feeling. My skin is not OILY per se, just that it feels like there's a film of oil resting on it, and I find it rather disturbing. Moisturised DOES NOT equate to oiliness! Perhaps this cream is wayyyyy too rich for me! 

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Friday Cheapies : Boots Essentials Lip Salve in Spearmint

Whoa, another Boots post - 2 days in a row! :D Well, I've been keeping this item around for a bit, so I decided to blog about it cos it fits in with the Friday Cheapies theme. :) This item was also bought by my husband, but was actually for his own use! Don't know why, he felt like he had chapped lips in Thailand, so he picked up the Boots Essentials Lip Salve in Spearmint.

Actually, just browsing that store for 5-10 minutes will make you "just pick up" something along the way. He asked me to get some because they were quite cheap --- about RM5 - RM8 for a 5g tube? But I was not keen because I have sooooo many lip balms / lip tints already. I couldn't loan him mine because they all have color. :P :P

Since he doesn't have chapped lips anymore, nor find a use for this item... he passed it on to me. I usually use this when I'm working from home and I'm keeping things simple.. no make-up, not much skin care, but I still wanna take care of my dry lips.

Personally, I have to use quite a bit of it (spam it on! spam it on!) to get this really nice, moisturised feeling on my lips. The bad bit is that it doesn't last long (for me). Even without eating, it just seems to disappear really easily! But one VERY GOOD bit is that because this is in SPEARMINT, it always feels like you've just brushed your teeth. Hahaa! You will have very fresh breath indeed when you use this.

Before :

And after --- can see a bit more shine, right?

Not sure if this should be a repurchase because it lacks long-lastingness, however, when it is on, it definitely does its job to protect against dry and chapped lips. Also, really like the spearmint scent! And because there's no color --- unisex! Can continue sharing lip salve with my husband, hahaha.

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Boots Amazon Forest Mango & Babassu Body Wash

Following up with my body scrub post yesterday, here's a post on the actual BODY WASH that I am using at the moment. :) In fact, this is something that has been hiding in my stash for quite a while... the Boots Amazon Forest Mango & Babassu Body Wash! Sorry, this was a gift to me from my (then) boyfriend (now husband!) when he went for a trip to Thailand. He asked me what I wanted and was surprised that I only wanted stuff from Boots. After visiting Boots for himself, he keeps saying that it is awesome and why don't we have Boots in Malaysia?

Anyway, I was so happy that he got me this body wash because it means that our "taste" is the same.. this is something that I would buy for myself! I generally LOVE fruity scents, and mango is one of my fave fruits. How wonderful it would be to lather myself up with this body wash! This body wash contains softening mango butter and babassu oil to help skin feel fresh and supple. For a 200ml tube, it's not lasting me very long... it is also another body wash that has about 20% or so left after less than a month... :(

I suppose you must be wondering - what is mango butter? Mango butter is high in unsaponifiable fats and antioxidants and is used in skincare and even hair care for its moisturising properties. It is not supposed to smell like mangoes since it is extracted from the kernel (the seed!) and not from the flesh of the fruit. If you've used stuff with cocoa butter --- well, this is similar to it, just slightly firmer. :) Mango butter has good emolliency and lends protection against the sun. It is said to prevent drying of the skin and formation of wrinkles. Mango butter also reduces degeneration of skin cells and restores elasticity.

Of course, for this Boots body wash, this  *does* smell like mangoes. It is not fragrant as fresh mangoes that I get from the market, but it is quite a good scent. Not fake, very natural.

As for babassu oil, I've mentioned in a previous post that it is the secret to ultra moisturisation. To quote myself, babassu oil is similar to coconut oil in properties, but I'm starting to think that this is a much better alternative as most people think that coconut oil smells too strong for them.

This all sounds good on paper, but I have to say that I don't feel super moisturised using this as a body wash. I think I get better results with other products on the market, like the Cussons Softly Softly body wash I blogged about earlier, or Dove / Nivea washes. I mean, it's better than most regular stuff, but after being pampered with ultra moisturisation, this just falls short. Also, the mango scent perfumes the shower stall wonderfully during bath times, but it doesn't last long on the skin. I am disappointed. :(

Probably not a repurchase for me for this item, but I definitely still have a lot of love for Boots products and would check out other items they have to offer. :)

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Sephora Body Scrub in Cranberry Lychee

I've been using a lot of new stuff recently, hehe. After my last shower gel finished, I thought of using this Sephora Body Scrub in Cranberry Lychee as my daily shower gel, but it is kinda impossible unless I have a goal of scrubbing my skin off. It is definitely too harsh to be used daily, but perfect for a weekly scrub or whenever I feel especially grimey.

I actually got this when Sephora was giving away their RM75 vouchers if you bought above RM XXX within a certain time period. I complained about it previously, even mentioned that I was practically forced to buy this body scrub, and that the packaging even leaked into my Sephora paper bag. I scrutinised the packaging to see where the leak came out from, but can't seem to find it. I think the flip top just came loose when I was carrying the bag... it's not exactly comforting to know, but at least it's not leaking all over my bathroom now... Anyway, my point of reiterating this story is that I don't remember how much it costs! I would estimate it to be between RM30 - RM40 for a 150ml tube.
 

The body scrub doesn't smell anything like cranberries or lychees. More like strawberries, but no complaints. It is still an ok smell, though I was really expecting something more exotic. From the picture above, you can't really tell, but the granules in the body scrub are a mix of fine grains to really big rocks (haha! You see the size of those white dots? It's like rock salt kinda size, y'know?). I find that kinda unique actually... instead of a uniform size, with different sizes you get a more thorough scrubbing.

Yes, it can get quite harsh. And ... you really need quite a lot of it in one use. See that amount on my palm? Multiply it by two for your entire body. It's not that it "melts" very fast in the shower, it just doesn't spread easily, so I kinda need to use a LOT of it. Although I only use it AT MOST twice a week, there's only about 20% left after less than a month.... :( This is really NOT economical!

After washing everything off, skin does feel a bit tender, but nice and soft. REALLY squeaky clean and you're left with that strange-strawberry scent lingering. The scent lasts for quite a bit too. :)

Not a repurchase for me because I think it's kinda pricey for the amount that I'm using, I'm iffy on the packaging and generally got a bad vibe from Sephora's in-house products. I would rather get something else from Body Shop...~

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The Personalized Trove

Remember when I blogged about personalized beauty boxes from Vanity Trove? Surprise, surprise, I've already gotten my hands on a personalized trove!! It didn't even take a week for my trove to arrive... I got it today after placing an order on Sunday! Fast service or what? I nearly choked on my lunch when Kangaroo Express GDEX (sorry, I made a mistake! Vanity Trove only deals with Ta-Q-Bin and GDEX now) called me to ask me whether I was able to collect my parcel. What luck, I happen to be working from home today, so I was able to get it immediately.

As usual, they use their sturdy, drawer-style box to house the products, and there's shredded paper padding as well as some soft paper to cover the products (to add to the mystery). 

Although no longer a "beautiful surprise" (coz I know what I picked out from the items recommended for me...), it was still exciting to get a parcel and to actually see, touch, SMELL the lovely items that I know would be waiting for me. Interested to see what tickles my fancy? Well, I'm excited to show you too, haha. In fact, half of my items were from Vanity Trove's "Obsessive Beauty" box that was launched in June 2013, the other half were items that I had read about and were interested to try. All in all, definitely a very "ME" box as I am already itching to use everything here. Never felt that way about other boxes cos there was always a "hmm.. this looks interesting, but I don't think I would use it so soon" kinda feeling.

Upon opening it, I felt a bit sad coz the arrangement of the products were all haphazard. Well, I suppose since this is a personalized trove, it couldn't be 100% designed to be put in such a way that it will fit perfectly with each other. But it doesn't matter, coz everything was in good condition and no spillage in any way. It also looks emptier than usual coz there's no product card (again, I don't think they will print out a personalized one, plus it's not really needed coz if you SELECTED the item, it means you know enough about it already?) or vouchers. Small matter. Let's get down to business... ~

1. Decleor Hydra Floral "Floral Nectar" Moisturising Cream (15ml) - RM98 for 50ml 

Ideal for dry and normal skin types, apply it to a cleansed face and neck every morning for lasting hydration. The rich and creamy texture will leave skin feeling soft and supple. Contains 85% natural ingredients and is parabens and mineral oil free. Just took a sniff of it and it smells really nice! I wanna start using it already! (A bit tired of my Hada Labo, hahaha.. been using it for nearly a year!). 

2. Cocolab Aromatic Body Oil (5ml) - RM99 for 100ml

Body oil is used not only as a luxurious, pampering item, but to heal and nourish skin as well. Cocolab's Aromatic Body Oil. It contains premium grade no-heat virgin coconut oil for instant absorption and an invigorating fruity blend of pure essential oils. It is an all-in-one moisturiser, massage oil and skin repair treatment. Also contains potent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties! Just took a sniff of this and it smells heavenly! A very nice citrusy scent that is right up my alley! Ok, I've also never used body oils before, it sounds very luxurious indeed... haha. Looking forward to trying this out already! 

3. Bifesta Eye Makeup Remover (Travel size 30ml) - RM26.90 for 145ml 

What can I say, it's an eye makeup remover... and my Maybelline  make-up remover is finishing. I've read reviews about Bifesta that says that it's a good make-up remover, so if it's good, I'm definitely getting a bottle! It is so affordable too, totally drug store love. ;)

4. Pure South Goat Milk Body Lotion (Travel Sized 50ml) - RM59 for 255ml

This is ONE of the products with goat's milk that I selected... I really like products with goats milk, but hard to find one that is truly good. I've used some lotions in the past with fresh goats milk that is absolutely moisturising, makes-your-skin-baby-soft kinda goodness. And I've used some cheap crap that caused me to break out in rashes. This one from Pure South is an organic product from Australia that also contains rose blossom & rosella to stimulate a natural, healthy metabolism for optimal skin cell renewal. This looks very promising... again, very hyped up to try this out ASAP.

5. Elie Saab Le Parfum EDP (1ml) - RM329 for 50ml

I said that I like perfume samples, right? Hehehe.. so how could I resist from selecting one from the few items that was recommended to me? There were also Issey Miyake (Pleats Please), JPG (Classique) and Narciso Rodriguez (For Her) samples. I wanted to try this because it sounds like a fragrance that I would like - citrusy and floral at the same time. Only have 1ml, so very precious, did not even "test spray" myself yet. Hahahha... but already feel like wearing it for the coming weekend. And knowing me, a "test sample" perfume also can last me a really long time, what more an EDP... ^_^

6. Tilley Goat Milk Soap (Full size) - RM12

And this is the last item that I selected, and also the final "goat milk" product that I got. Ha! I told you I really like this "secret ingredient" right? Tilley sourced the purest Australian goat milk to make these soap bars, and are supposed to be wonderfully creamy in texture, gentle on skin and also very, very, very moisturising! Also contains organic shea butter, organic jojoba oil and organic cocoa butter for more moisturising properties... *love*

* * * * * * *

All in all, a very satisfying trove for me. I think I can start using every single item IMMEDIATELY... *greedy* This is just a totally different feeling from getting the beauty box last time. Of course, the element of surprise is gone, but somehow I feel more satisfied? Cos these are things that I really wanted to try, haha. I don't know how to explain further. Also, the total cost (if you want to be so calculative) is around 70 (this is with maths calculation which is not fair, cos just coz a 100ml bottle cost X amount, doesn't mean 10ml bottle would cost 100 / X x 10). Also doesn't include packaging + delivery to you... so it is really, really worth it. I have a feeling that I would be giving sterling reviews for every single item in my box! Hehehe...

I am wondering now whether Vanity Trove would continue having an option for "mystery boxes" and also another option to select personalised troves? I think that would be awesome. And for personalized troves, you can select more than 1 box a month. You can give yourself fortnightly treats if you want to, hahaha.

Ok, let me finish up all my samples and review 'em before I go crazy beauty-boxing.

As always, you can check out Vanity Trove for more information! *kisses*

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Monday Masks : Sasatinnie Aloe & Olive Deep Moist Silky Mask

Seriously wonder why I continue to use Sasatinnie masks when I'm really NOT having a good time at all. -__- I guess I keep thinking, "Maybe the next one will be better", and also, I hate wasting a mask, so might as well just use it! And at the moment, I'm trying to use up the whole set that I got and get it over with so I can go back to indulging in the high quality masks. One mask costs RM4.90 ORIGINAL price. I think I mentioned I got in on 50% off? Anyway, without further ado, here's my take on the Aloe & Olive Deep Moisturising Silky Mask. :)

This mask is suitable to be used by all skin types, especially for dull, dehydrated and tired skin that wants enhance moisturisation and nourishment. I don't really have much complaints about my skin nowadays, but who doesn't want to sparkle up their complexion? And I suppose staring at a computer all the time at work would make my skin dull and tired looking right? Sasatinnie claims to help you combat these complaints with magical organic aloe vera and olive extracts, plus further enhances things with hyaluronic acid. WebMD.com says : "There is also a lot of interest in using hyaluronic acid to prevent the effects of aging. In fact, hyaluronic acid has been promoted as a "fountain of youth." However, there is no evidence to support the claim that taking it by mouth or applying it to the skin can prevent changes associated with aging." Most of the time though, beauty companies use hyaluronic acid for its moisturising properties, so take the anti-aging bit with some salt. ;)

Aloe extracts will calm and soothe skin, while olive provides intensive moisture and improves skin radiance. The mask will provide you up to 24 hours of complete moisturisation. I don't know why I'm so batty to have mis-read it as ONE WEEK worth of complete moisturisation, so I was totally bummed when I still have to depend on my normal face moisturisers. :P

I would say that for a one-off use, yes, my skin felt SLIGHTLY better and more moisturised after the 20 minutes were up, but there was that HORRIBLE scent which I mentioned about in the last Sasatinnie mask I used still present here. It really makes me wonder if they just use the same thing and package it differently. -___- It smells like something from an industrial factory, very metallic smelling and sniffing it too long gives me a headache. So it was NOT an enjoyable nor relaxing experience for me at all.

Fit of the mask still has some ways to go... too many "tight gaps" here and there. Probably the only mask where I am 100% going to rinse off all the residue instead of massaging it deeper into my skin. I do NOT want a trace of that smelly liquid left on my visage! Grrr!

I guess you know it's not going to be a repurchase for me! And guess what? I still have one more mask left in my drawer from Sasatinnie.... *fainted* Since when did a weekly indulgence make one so apprehensive?

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Lipstick Sundays : Nivea Fruity Shine in Pink Grapefruit

Wow, can't believe I haven't blogged about one of my fave lip tints ever - the Nivea Fruity Shine in Pink Grapefruit! Well, actually I've blogged about the Cherry Fruity Shine a year back. Interesting to review my last post and find out that I only have half of the stick left (compared to what was photographed, not based on original size)! I actually carry both Fruity Shines with me in my handbag, and both colors are so usable that it doesn't matter what I'm wearing - when my lips feel dry, either one is suitable to be used!

You can see how "loved" it is by how much of the letters on the packaging have been scraped off... probably thanks to being carried around in my handbag, with keys and coins and what not.... 

Like the Cherry Fruity Shine, this also has a fruity scent that is absolutely delicious smelling. Not a sharp citrus, but a sweet fruity type of smell. Not super fake, so scent-wise, I like it more than the Cherry already. It is a very moisturising type of lip tint that gives great color and shine as well, thanks to all the micro glitter.

The color is a very sweet pink, and for a 4.8g tube, it is really value for money. Mainly because I feel that I don't have to "touch up" my lip tint very often when I wear this. After taking photographs for this blog, I ate some cereal before going to church. I noticed that it didn't leave a lipstick mark on my cup, so I thought that I had already "ate" my lippie. WITHOUT topping up my lipstick, I went to church, blabla.. then when I ate lunch and wiped my mouth after lunch... was so surprised to see so much lipstick coming out onto the tissue! I don't know what to say man... maybe I was just super careful during my cereal breakfast? Anyway, I was impressed. :) And if you're wondering why I didn't top up my lipstick after eating... well, I didn't feel that my lips were dry. I'm really a lazy person... by the time I feel that my lips are dry enough to warrant a top up, it's usually in really horrid condition! -___-"

Close up!

 

I mentioned in my last blog entry that there is ONE more  flavor in the Fruity Shine range, and it's Pomegranate, in a reddish-brown type of color. So tempted to get it!! But you can see that I have still a lot of Pink Grapefruit left, and Cherry still hasn't finished after a year! I suppose I should really SPAM on my liptint next time! Anyway, I rarely see the Pomegranate one being sold in drugstores in Malaysia... 

One tube costs about RM5-RM6? Super worth it in my books! Nice scent, nice color, nice moisturising effect... what more can you ask for?

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Vanity Trove Is Getting Personal!

Remember when I reviewed all the lovely beauty boxes from Vanity Trove? Well, I really did enjoy getting the surprise every month at my doorstep, and I believe that one of the main things (in fact, probably the only thing?) that I had a complain about was that I occasionally got products that was not suitable for me. Like, in my first trove, I got a shampoo set for colored hair, when my hair is totally not colored (will probably change this at the end of the year. There are reasons why I can't dye my hair now). I believe it's not only me who encounters issues like this, but others have mentioned it too. Vanity Trove always strives to improve themselves, so they really took the comments and have taken steps to get us PERSONALIZED troves every month. First thought? Wow. Second? How?

Well, first of all you have to ensure that your account with Vanity Trove has the beauty profile properly filled in. In this beauty profile, they ask you 14 very simple questions about yourself. It won't even take a minute to do it. ;) Or maybe I just know myself too well, haha. Seriously, you don't have to mull over things for too long. :P

After answering the questions, you will be lead to a page with a list of products recommended for you. You get to choose what you would like to try out! This totally eliminate the "unwanted" trial samples from getting sent to you. Remember, this is a PERSONALIZED trove. I can think of so many gals who would totally love this. So many people say they hate perfume samples, but I love them! With personalized troves, those who hate them will just choose something else - more haircare or skincare samples, perhaps? While those who love them (like me!) would probably click for more! For me, I know I would fill up my trove with more makeup and perfume samples! And really weird things that I've always wanted to try but am not sure how to use...

After choosing your personalized beauty trove, you will be sent the box within a week. Awesome or what? I've never had problems with the delivery service used by VT, so rest assured that the package will arrive at your place in good condition.

If the product that you want to try out is not in the list of recommended products for your selection, VT has a way for you to "unlock" new products as well. Add the product to your wishlist (on VT), like the brand & the product as well. You will be able to pick these samples from your recommended list when they are released. :) 



Lastly, things are also getting more interactive and VT subscribers are encouraged to write reviews about their beauty box experiences and about the products delivered in each trove. This helps VT to help US ensure we continue having good experiences with the brand.

To find out more, hop on over to Vanity Trove and start your new experience with personalised beauty boxes. :)

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Benefit Haul!

So I mentioned in a previous entry that I bought some stuff from Benefit, and I finally managed to collect the package! Think there's some confusion with the concierge at the condo where I'm staying cos apparently it arrived at end June, but they only gave me the package on the 9th of July! I was just about to call up Benefit and complain because they used to have very prompt delivery service - last time, it arrived way before the expected delivery date.

Anyway, this is what I got this round! Can't believe my last purchase was 2 years back... well, that's good. Means I don't overspend that much! In fact, I didn't do a lot of haul posts this year simply because I'm just using up stuff from my stockpile. ^^ Not been over-purchasing. What a good girl. :)

The packaging definitely not as nice s before. Box was super squashed and no "airpak" bag like last time. Luckily, none of my products were damaged in any way. :) At least this time they included a mini brochure / pamphlet, as well as 2 free samples. Actually, anyone can get free samples, when you checkout, you are given a choice of 2 out of 4 samples to get free. It changes occasionally, right now they are giving out samples for Fine-One-One, Fakeup Light, Fakeup Medium and Stay Flawless. I'm absolutely sure that they used to give out samples of Hoola blusher instead of Fine-One-One, coz I would've chosen Fine-One-One for sure! It's on my next "to buy" list now. =__="

Without further ado, this is what I bought:

I will do a more thorough review when I've used the products, but general description for the items (top L-R, bottom L-R):

1) Hello Flawless - Custom powder cover-up for face, in new packaging! Get that flawless finish with this silky, buildable powder that lets you customize your look just the way you want it. For a sheer, natural finish, sweep on with brush. For spot cover-up, apply with sponge. 7g only,  perfect size to bring around with you.

2) Some Kind Of Gorgeous - "Fake It, Don't Cake It" with Benefit's shortcut to gorgeous. The cream-to-powder formula means silky, even perfection for your complexion. So translucent, it's THE finish for fair complexion tones, an instant "beauty boost" any time of day!

Yes, I bought ANOTHER "foundation" because I couldn't decide between Hello Flawless and this one. I like the idea of "light coverage" because I seriously don't think I need heavy duty coverage, plus really heavy foundations that I've used before makes things worse. I'm still on the lookout for something to replace my beloved Everyday Minerals... This one is 9.5g and cheaper than Hello Flawless by USD$4. =D

3) Fake Up (free sample) - It's a hydrating concealer with lasting hydrating to diffuse fine lines and conceal dark circles. Seems to be specific for use under eyes... It's only a 0.06g sample. I doubt I would actually use it because I don't bother to use my Erase Paste either... *sacre bleu!*

4) Away We Glow set - You can only get this from the "LAST CHANCE" section of their website coz I think they're not going to make it anymore? I got it because there's a lot of their "best sellers" in this box and I love the idea of just carting this set around when I'm travelling. This set consists of :

• CORALista a “rio” pleasure face powder with brush, 3.0 g (Yay! Another blusher from Benefit that I wanna try!)
• high beam cool, luminescent complexion enhancer, 2.5 mL (Yay! I wanna try this!)
• sun beam warm, golden bronze complexion highlighter, 2.5 mL (Yay! I wanna try this!)
• BADgal lash mascara, 4.0 g  (Yay! I wanna try this!)
• ultra shines life on the A list lip shine, 5.0 mL (Boo, bought wrongly!)
• fluff shadow/hard angle brush
• shimmering 5-color eyeshadow palette (Yay! More eyeshadows! There's Passion Pearl, Peachy Sheen, Terracotta Satin, Steamy Copper and Deep Bronze. Very nice, earthy colors, suitable for even work, not really "glitzy" stuff.)

5) Thrrrob - Get the "turned-on" flush you've been looking for with this heart-throbbing pink powder. Brush across cheekbones, forehead and chin and let the excitement begin! One of my "to buy" blushers from Benefit! *squee* Will become my go-to blusher if it's really good because I am starting to think that Dandelion is just not doing it for me (maybe I'm not that fair to pull it off) and I want something more obvious. Now to get my hands on Bella Bamba, Sugarbomb and Hervana... *greedy*

6) Stay Flawless (free sample) - 15-hour primer for FOUNDATION. I suppose can be used together with the Hello Flawless! :D

Here's how it looks like on the inside...

Cannot wait to use! Just that I'm still a bit iffy about wearing foundation to work BECAUSE I PARK SO FAR AWAY FROM THE OFFICE! I'm not kidding when I say that my boss has asked me before WHY AM I SWEATING PROFUSELY when I arrive. It's because it's like freaking "journey to the west" from the carpark to my cubicle. I always buy foundations because I wanna complete my "OL Look" (wtf), but if it's going to mean that I have streaks of brown liquid going down the sides of my face, I rather not?

If this fails, my only other choices are to go to work super early so I can get parking nearer to the office (me, and those who know me, laugh at the idea) OR I pay for basement parking (super reluctant ok, it's going to be 3x the cost of parking outside). Haihhhh.... 

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Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Bath & Shower Gel and Body Lotion

Previously mentioned that I couldn't believe that I haven't reviewed the Crabtree & Evelyn Wisteria Bath & Shower Gel yet, so here I am to do it justice. :) I really do bring along my Wisteria bath & shower gel + moisturiser set on ALMOST every holiday that I go to... and during my last staycation, the shower gel finally bade me farewell. I've used it so often that the scent of Wisteria will always remind me of holidays...

In the bottle, the bath & shower gel is the prettiest, pale lavender color.  However, when it's poured out, the light purple color cannot really be seen. It just looks like pale, see-through liquid.

You don't need to use a lot --- just that small amount on my palm is enough to have you smelling like the wisteria flower for AGES. The entire shower will be filled with the scent, enough to make you feel giddy. Initial thoughts about this scent is that it is a really "old lady floral" type of smell. The kind of smell that your mother and grandmother will like. However, it really grew on me (not because I'm getting older too.... -___-) and I started appreciating the overt floral scent as well. Maybe (as I've mentioned) it's because I keep associating this floral scent to being on holiday! It really makes you feel very girly and feminine!

There's no super squeaky clean feeling after using this, nor a very moisturised feeling. I believe his bath & shower gel is purely for perfume "layering", so if you love this scent - go all the way! Get the moisturiser and perfume from Crabtree & Evelyn as well! For me, I can say that with just the shower gel & moisturiser, it's enough to last you at least a few hours!

I haven't finished using the Body Lotion, have about 40% left. It is a lovely moisturiser - only need to use a bit (just a dollop per limb) and you get this nicely moisturised feeling, with no oily residue. It sinks in fast to the skin and only leaves you with the lingering floral scent.

Quite a nice travel set all-in-all, and my only complaint would probably be the packaging. It's a screw top bottle and you directly pour out the contents. It's very hard to control how much comes out (especially with the shower gel!). The size really is perfect for travelling though! Might consider this for a repurchase because I've grown to like the smell so much, but I do have other unused things from Crabtree & Evelyn that I would like to finish first.

Sorry my dears, I don't remember how much this set costs, or even how I got it! I think it was a gift, so I am not sure how much it would cost outside.. ^^

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Monday Masks : Daily Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Collagen Mask

Used this to pamper myself on my mini-staycation during the weekend. Decided not to bring along my cheapo mask, but this Daily Fresh Strawberry Yogurt Collagen Mask that I got from SOPS in Publika. I bought it erm... when the shop first opened. My husband saw all these masks on display and knowing that I like 'em, he encouraged me to buy it... even though "with promotion" it ended up being RM7+++. I forgot the exact price but I was feeling very wtf-ish about purchasing it especially since my personal cap is at RM5 per mask. I know, stingy, but this is DRUGSTORE beauty after all.

Ok, I guess I can live with RM7+++ per mask. They also have an argan oil hair care product there that is super good... almost RM90, and I'm STILL contemplating over whether I should get it or not. I have other haircare products to use!

Anyway, this Strawberry Yogurt Collagen Mask is suitable for all skin types, is a sheet-mask type (with no backing, so it was very hard to unfold - nearly tore the thing!) with 25ml of essence goodness inside. More than enough for you to rub all over your neck and wherever else you feel suitable! I also think the packaging is pretty cute, don't you think so?

This mask is supposed to help you get soft and moist skin. The yogurt yeast helps to remove keratin smoothly, while strawberry extracts helps to provide soft and smooth skin. After cleansing your face as usual, just leave this on for 10-20 minutes to allow skin to soak in all the goodness.

The fit of the mask is quite good! It is very WIDE but short, so there was more than enough to wrap around my face. The "hard to fit parts" was just that it didn't cover all of my forehead and the flap for the nose is just not long enough. Other than that, because it is very WIDE, there is no "tightness" and gaps.

I found a few online recipes for YEAST masks, and it seems that yeast is pretty efficient at healing the skin, especially from acne. There were also lots of online recipes for yogurt masks and it's the lactic acid in yogurt that helps smooth and exfoliate skin. Make sure to use a thick kind with active cultures for the ultimate beauty benefits. Yes, this Daily Fresh mask really smells like strawberry yogurt. Should I just buy the yogurt next time and get double benefit of good skin and eating it after I've done applying it topically to my skin? ^^

I've also mentioned before in previous entries that strawberry oil / extract is frequently used in beauty products to moisturise the skin. High in vitamin A&C and anti-oxidants, strawberry oil also contains anti-bacterial properties that makes it beneficial for taming irritated skin.

After the 20+ minutes were up, I definitely felt that my skin was softer and more moisturised! Definitely good quality stuff... in fact, 2 days after using it, my skin still feels nice and soft! Oh, and the essence in this Daily Fresh mask is a bit sticky / slimy to touch. Some masks feel like it's just soaked with water... this is definitely not as "diluted".  Really enjoyed my first trial run with Daily Fresh. I have two more masks from them, and if the standard keeps up, a repurchase is in the future!

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Lipstick Sundays : Mary Kay Creme Lipstick in Natural

Whee~! I just came back from a lovely anniversary celebration with my husband, and it was erm... 75% sponsored from the hotel where we held our wedding! They gave us vouchers for an overnight stay as well as dinner at one of their restaurants. We probably wouldn't have to spend a single sen, but we really indulged ourselves at the restaurant, so that we had to pay the difference. -__-" At first, my husband felt silly about "staying over" at the place where we had our wedding (it's a mere 30-40km away from where we stay ... it's really not going out of town at all!), but I insisted. First of all, never say no to freebies. Secondly, it was going to expire soon and it's not like we had out-of-town friends asking for free accomodation.

Plus, even going for a staycation in the city makes you feel like you've really been on a holiday. I really enjoyed myself and it was fun just catching up on some zzz's and pampering my skin and trying out new products at the hotel, hehe. Yes, tried more samples so that I can blog about it here! =) And which girl doesn't like to dress up a little for a fine dining experience?

Since I didn't want to lug my whole make-up case for a 1 night stay away (my husband was already mocking me for bringing my HUGE VS carry-all - though I had my last laugh --- he really underpacked!), I decided to make full use of my Mary Kay samples. For dinner at The Club, I decided to go a little heavier on the eye make-up and a little lighter on the lips. I was a little dismayed when I saw that the sample the Mary Kay consultant had given me was called "Natural". As per my last entry on nude lippies, I really hate how "dead" they make me look. The beige-like color in the casing wasn't making me any happier.

If I was stingy, this small pot would probably last me two uses. Since I don't want to carry a half-opened lippie sample around, I spammed the entire thing onto my lips. It looks even more of a light beige in real life... and it smells like toffee! Very sweet and inviting, but not too artificial and sickening. I quite liked the smell! Another reason I was spamming all the lippy on was because I was afraid that if I used too little... it would look just awful. In the yellow lighting in the hotel room, after I was done, it looked like I hadn't done anything to my lips at all, just that it looks not-as-dry. And believe me, I had super dry lips at the hotel. After dinner that night, I was using a lip scrub, and after 45 minutes of scrubbing, I still couldn't get rid of all the dead skin wtf.

Anyway, I was pleased that it at least covered up the dryness though it looked more like a creamy, matte type of lipstick. Holy heck, I was pleasantly surprised with the results under white light!

I just love how the "natural" look is done with this Mary Kay lipstick! It really does look natural, but glossy and somewhat healthy. There's no shine in the lippy, so I guess just have to use a lot to make it look nicer. I'm sure if from a tube, one simple swipe wouldn't do the trick. It kinda looks beige, and also like the lightest pink ever. Yet, still suits my skin tone and doesn't make me look like I've lost blood flow to my lips. Love it! Once again, the Mary Kay consultant really aced it when choosing a color for me. :)

Close-ups of the lippy: 

Had to do some light PS cos really up-close, can see a bit of dry lips. Still adore how creamy this lipstick is and feels very comfortable. I can't really judge how long-lasting it is because I had to sit through a 90 minute meal which consisted of almost non-stop eating... by the time I got back to the hotel, it was obvious that I've donated my lipstick to the dining ware and to my own stomach. I'm sure if I was just sitting quietly at the office, it would've lasted a few hours, surely?

Mary Kay says that :
"This long-wearing, stay-true formula glides on easily with a lightweight, creamy texture for rich color impact that lasts. Plus, it won’t feather or bleed.

• Vitamin E and a vitamin C derivative help defend against wrinkle-causing free radicals.
• Provides instant moisture.
• Suitable for sensitive skin.
• Clinically tested for skin irritancy and allergy.
• Fragrance-free."

If you're interested, you can purchase a tube online for USD$15. That should be around RM50. For myself, I am really keen to check out other colors or maybe even buy this color. I think I will check out Mary Kay soon since it's so near my office any way. There's quite a few products from them that I like!

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