Dial Ultra Hydrating Body Wash in Cherry Seed Oil & Mint

I said that I would repurchase the Dial Ultra Hydrating Body Wash, and I did! Again, I got it when I was in Singapore a while back, and I'm about halfway finished with the bottle already. Haven't been dumping it down the drain, but in fact, hubby and I had already used a fair bit during our stay in Singapore. Found it in our body care stash after all my soaps had gone down the drain, and when I saw this, I immediately thought, "Hey, I remember really liking it in Singapore! I should totally get reunited with it and write a proper review!" -___-

 

Actually, it wasn't really love at first sight when I first started using it in Singapore. The cherry smell was not as natural as I hoped for, but on the bright side, it's not THAT fake smelling. In fact, I like it much more than the grape seed oil Dial wash that I used previously. The bright red shower gel also looks very inviting and I do feel that I get an invigorating and moisturising shower with this shower gel.

As previously mentioned, the little beads you see inside are what contains the cherry seed oil. Pop it for extra moisturising effect. Although it isn't difficult to pop, I find that it doesn't naturally just burst upon contact, and I do find myself pressing the dang beads against my skin hard to ensure I *really* get my ultra hydration. =p Still, I find myself really liking Dial and probably going to repurchase from this range again because I really do enjoy my fruity shower times.

Cherry seed oil is actually extracted by coldpressing the cherry pits, and the oil has actually no semblance of smell to the actual fruit. This will explain why the shower gel doesn't smell like natural cherries and still has the "fake" type of cherry smell attached to it. To me, the "fake" smell is really not that bad, lol. Cherry seed oil has moisturising and antioxidant qualities to it, and can be easily incorporated into beauty products. I seem ot be using a lot of antioxidant beauty products recently! Just like the famed pomegranates, cherry seed oil also promotes collagen production in the skin and helps skin heal faster. Yay for antioxidants!

Mint was probably added in for the "peppy" factor to make this shower gel more invigorating. Honestly, after using Burts Bees Fresh Peppermint & Rosemary Body Wash, anything else that claims to contain mint pales in comparison. I really don't detect any astringent effect when using this shower gel, but because of the color and the fresh, clean, moisturised, fruity effect I get from using the shower gel, I do feel perked up enough for work.

Shower time truly became more enjoyable for me with this, haha. At least there's no more me worrying about my soaps going down the drain. -___- And unlike cheaper shower gels, this does NOT give me a bad skin reaction! Very phobic of those people who would be aghast that I would spend double or triple what they would pay for a shower gel, but they don't know I'll break out in rashes and scratch all night if I use something that's not suitable for my skin.

Not sure of the price, but reckon the 473ml bottle is being sold for about RM20 thereabouts.

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Pure Beauty Pomegranate Antioxidant Toner

Just after I posted about how good the Pure Beauty 2-In-1 Foam Cleanser is, I seem to be kicking myself in the nuts because I now have TWO major pimples on my face. -____- One on my forehead and one on my cheek. -___- I am hoping it's just something hormonal and not because of my new favorite cleanser (and toner) and I'm still religiously using Pure Beauty (well... at least til the tube finishes!). The accompaniment to my 2-In-1 Foam Cleanser would, of course, be the Pure Beauty Pomegranate Antioxidant Toner.

As previously mentioned, I won the Pure Beauty giftset, but apparently it's super affordable at only RM30 for an RM170ml bottle. Yes, that's the full size bottle you see in my hand right there. =) As with the 2-In-1 Foam Cleanser, I find that the packaging is really nice and striking. Love the red color that they use.

What was strange for me was that this toner is really not like any other toner that I've used before I seem to be encountering stranger and stranger toners, lol. First was my Cellnique Soothing & Hydrating Lotion and now I have this! The top looks like it's going to be a spray type of toner, but in fact it is a PUMP-style toner. And instead of something more liquid, it's got a stickier consistency. It's more water than gel, but it's .... not really water also. Hahaha. The texture is pretty viscose, IMHO.

 

Still, it is a dream to put on because it absorbs quickly and leaves the skin feeling moisturised, albeit, a little sticky. Again, it's so moisturising that I usually do without any other moisturiser after that because .... I don't feel like I need it! Why should I when my face already feels so moisturised? I am really puzzled how come toner doesn't feel like toner nowadays, hahaha. Like the cleanser, this smells a bit fruity and also a bit like red wine. No issues with the scent at all, I'm starting to find it rather pleasant. 

The toner is more to enhance and amplify the antioxidant effects of pomegranates on your skin. As mentioned in my previous post, pomegranates are mainly used in skincare and beauty products for their anti-aging properties, like reducing the signs of fatigue from your skin, purifying skin and encouraging the production of collagen. 

It's hard for me to even think about a repurchase because now I have three bottles of toner rolling around in my dresser. -___- I use this as a night time moisturiser because the slightly sticky feeling that it leaves behind on my skin makes it unsuitable for me to put make-up on. It's not horribly sticky til I feel disturbed, but still, I prefer using my Hada Labo for a daytime moisturiser. Trying to finish my Neutrogena & Cellnique toners in the day time instead!

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Something For Nothing

Who doesn't like freebies? I've been coupon-ing more often than usual because I wanna write more reviews and I still haven't decided which beauty box to subscribe to. Also, I have a nice stash of samples / deluxe samples that I haven't gone through, and instead of spending $$ to ensure it doesn't run out, I might as well stick to coupon-ing at the moment. May was a pretty good coupon-ing month for me because other than the Lanvin promotion with Cleo that I got, I also got a coupon for Starbucks Via that I gave to my friend. And when I went shopping in 1U during the weekend, I managed to pick up two more freebies :

With every RM20 purchase of drinks from Juice Works, you can claim a CK One Summer travel spray. You just show your Juice Works receipt at selected CK counters nationwide : 

Venue: Parkson Pavilion, Parkson KLCC, 

Parkson Sunway Pyramid, Parkson One Utama, 

AEON Mid Valley, AEON One Utama, Metrojaya Mid Valley

As you can see,  I didn't get the CK One Summer travel spray, but the CK Free for Men travel spray instead. -__- They said that they ran out of CK One Summer, and instead of letting me go empty handed, they decided to give me a MALE perfume sample since my husband was in tow. Ok lah, better than nothing. My hubby doesn't use samples anyway, so most probably will give this to my bro or I'll use it myself if it doesn't smell toooooo manly. =p 

Felt a bit disappointed only coz I got to try the CK One Summer spray at the counter and it's quite nice! The crisp, light scent is totally what I go for. 

I got the Origins GinZeng energy boosting moisturiser as well thanks to Cleo magazine. Forgot which counters are valid for redemption - I think any Origins counter will do. So many bloggers have been raving about this product so I was quite determined to redeem this sample. Have to fill in some customer survey thing (ditto for the CK travel spray), give the Cleo coupon and then got this 5ml sample. I think it's gonna be good for 2-3 uses only, lol. The beauty advisor was not very descriptive about how it's gonna help me, just said that it's a moisturiser suited for day or night use and it will help me feel energized. 

They also have a workshop this coming Saturday, which costs RM50 to attend (fully redeemable for all Origins products). Workshop will be held at 1U Origins counter, so if you're into that, you can go and ask them whether there are still seats available. I'm not confident that I'll be buying anything, some more RM50 can't offset much I suppose. 

There were more coupons in my handbag, but my husband was sick of me going around gathering samples, so that was that. It was also a long shopping day, got a lot of stuff for ourselves. Sadly, those were not redeemable with coupons.. hahaha...

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Monday Masks : Simply Beauty Spanish Rosemary Clear White Silky Mask

What a pretty looking mask from the "A Kiss From Flora" range from Simply Beauty. They have a lot of floral extract facial masks under the "A Kiss From Flora" range, and the Spanish Rosemary clear white silky mask is the second one that I've tried. The first one is the Greece Carnation one that I've reviewed previously. I like how they had to find the plants from far-flung countries, lol. Like, normal English Rosemary won't do... it has to be Spanish Rosemary!

The mask contains 24ml of essence, and is used for brightening, oil balancing and pore minimising.  "Rosemary extract is supposed to offer toning, astringency, increased blood circulation, as well as anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and anti-microbial features. It inhibits oxidative cell damage, and it can be added to our products to increase the shelf life. Finally, there is some suggestion rosemary extract might be anti-aging by offering a decrease in the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles." [ Source : Point Of Interest]

 

The sheet is very thin and soaks up a lot of the essence. It  adheres strongly to the skin and is a pretty good fit, although there are a bit of gaps here and there. I decided to use the rosemary brightening / whitening mask because I had been out in the sun a lot that day, so I thought this could counteract the damages of the day. 

On the upside - I didn't have any sun damage and it helped calm my skin down. Very soothing and relaxing. However, I didn't see any PORE MINIMISING, but I guess it's a long shot with this mask. The stinging feeling I felt with the Greece Carnation was also prevalent here, so I guess this is the end of my experiments with Simply Beauty products. I do NOT like the sensation of my skin burning! If you're interested to try out the A Kiss From Flora series, I believe you can get a mask from Watsons for about RM6 (thereabouts). Good luck!

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Lipstick Sundays : Lip Ice Sheer Color Strawberry

Whee! I'm finally finishing ANOTHER lippie, hahhaa. I have a friend who uses one lipstick a year (and she's very loyal to that shade the whole year round). For me, I hardly finish anything cos I keep skipping from one color to another. This item has been in my bag for ages, never got around to reviewing it because at one point, a lot of bloggers were all about Lip Ice. Let the hype die down a bit before I post my own review. ^^

I bought this lip balm for its "color changing" properties. Straight out from the tube, it looks like it's just a simple no-color lip balm. However, when it hits your lips, it turns to a pinkish color. Advertising shows that it becomes a "sheer pink color" but I find it pretty BRIGHT and JUICY. This is why I don't use it that often - cos I find it too youthful for me. However, I still go to it because I find it super moisturising! Seriously, it makes my lips feel super soft and kissable - no wonder that Lip Ice says it is the #1 lip balm in Malaysia.

This is how much lipbalm I have left --- yes, it is FULLY extended already, hehe. *proud of myself for being consistent*
 

You can see how my bare lips look like in the previous post - this is how it looks like with just Lip Ice on. Yup, it looks plain color, but it really gives my lips a juicy bright pink shine.  I have super dry lips, so up close you can see it's still pretty dry lah, but at least it gives a shiny appearance that can cheat people from afar. Besides, I believe that the more I use this product, the more it helps to moisturise my lips. Maybe, it won't be so dry with continued use... *hopeful*

Aside from using it on its own, I also like to use it on top of less-moisturising products. For example, today I used the Jelly Pong Pong Supermodel Stain in Nymphette. It usually gives a  light stain, but it's not moisturising at ALL. This is a picture of my lips with just the Nymphette on my lips. You can see that it doesn't look moisturised or shiny at all :

And this is how it looks like with just a layer of Lip Ice on top. Super makes a difference, right?!

Online shows it costs RM14.90, but I believe you can get it cheaper from Watsons / Guardian cos I ALWAYSSSSSS see discounts for Lip Ice in the pharmacy. I'm really tempted to get another Lip Ice after I finish this one, but maybe not a color-changing one because I find the results rather unstable. Like, you can see how dark it looks like on my lips right? But the image below is what packaging says my lips will look like. Not a match at all, lol.

Oh, there's also a fake-y strawberry scent to the lip balm, I didn't like it at all initially. However, kinda used to it now. Either that, or it's fading away. The gentle beeswax formulation gives long lasting hydration and is suitable even for sensitive lips. It's also thanks to shea butter, macadamia nut oil, jojoba oil, ternifolia nut oil, and aloe vera oil extract that lips stay moisturized, smooth & healthy. Finally, vitamin E helps to soothe and protect lips from the harmful environment. All in all, I find it a really good product, just that the sheer color-changing version is not suitable for me. It's definitely interesting though, and I think that the color-changing differs from person to person (does it change based on body heat? Lol! Kinda reminds me of mood-lipsticks). Maybe it would look really good on you? :)

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Pure Beauty Pomegranate Antioxidant 2-In-1 Foam Cleanser

So I got this boxset almost a year ago, and I'm finally using the contents! Of course, I've been using the Pure Beauty Pomegranate Antioxidant 2-In-1 Foam Cleanser  for some weeks now, cos I don't believe in washing my face with something 2 times and then writing a review about it. ^^ Honestly, I want to say that I had many, many weeks of GOOD skin condition, and I really believe it's because I started using the Pure Beauty foam cleanser & toner (to be reviewed later) at the same time. Not to say that my previous Cellnique skin wash was bad, but I think my skin constantly needs a swap of cleansers, etc purely because I believe that it actually builds an immune system against a good cleanser. -___- Maybe this is all psychological, but it's what I believe anyway!

So this is the 2-In-1 foam cleanser, 100ml. Got mine free (but this is no paid review, it's a contest winning!), but a 125ml tube costs RM21.90 at Watsons.

I quite like the sleek design of the tube. The shiny red cap definitely adds a touch of glamour to the overall "clean" look of the packaging. Also to remind us that it contains POMEGRANATE extracts? It's a bit annoying though because I have to twist open the cap to squeeze out the contents. No biggie lah, but not as convenient as a direct pump or flip top, of course. Luckily, the cap can be removed with a single twist, not as bad as those really screwed on tops that you have to keep turning and turning and turning...

Anyway, it looks good in my bathroom, hehe. 

This is how the cleanser looks like - simple, white, thick cream based cleanser. Can get a good lather, though not very thick - it is very bubbly in the end! Skin feels really nice, soft, DEEP CLEANSED and refreshed after using it! To me, the scent is quite typical of cleansers --- but if I breathe in deeply, I think I can smell something like WINE. :O Red wine, to be exact! I've grown to like it though, so, again, no biggie.

Though there are no exfoliating beads or anything, it still gives me a really "clean" feeling with no weird residue at the end. Some reviewers claim that it made their skin feel "tighter" (in a bad way) after using it, but I didn't encounter such things...

Anyway, after weeks of good skin.... I finally got a pimple! (Talking like it's such a wonderful, eventful thing), so I decided that this was THE perfect time to use the "second" part of this 2-in-1 foam cleanser. So, the first part of this foam cleanser is obviously, as a foam cleanser. The second part is... as a mask! Instead of wetting your face and cleansing your face like normal, what you do is apply the foam cleanser DIRECTLY onto a dry visage. Leave it on for about 5 minutes before rinsing off as normal.

Personally, I don't like to use it this way because I need to squeeze out 3 times as much cleanser. It feels so wasteful!

After 5 minutes, when you use warm water to wash away the mask, it will feel like you are washing your skin as normal. :) Of course, it will be much bubblier since there's more foam cleanser! =D It feels good, but I don't think it's super effective as a mask. My pimple seems to have ripened more under the ministrations of this mask, which my husband says it's a good thing because he's itching to pop it. -___- My skin did feel EXTRA soft and moisturised after that though! Really loving my skin condition these days - minus the new friend on my forehead... -___-

Wondering how pomegranate extracts are beneficial to your skin? Pomegranates are rated as one of the fruits with the most amount of antioxidants. It is also anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-aging, so it's starting to be incorporated into a lot of other skincare products, including Murad. It's also been proven to show that it helps the production of collagen, which we all know is vital in maintaining a YOUTHFUL appearance. It also provides protection from the sun while reducing the signs of sun damage, such as wrinkles and hyperpigmentation.

Pomegranate extracts bring benefits to BOTH dry skin and also oily skin, so I think it's safe to say that this product will be suitable for all skin types!

As for repurchasing.... I'm actually leaning towards a yes! I think it works, it smells nice (to me) and it looks nice too. So unexpected for a "drugstore" grown brand, huh? Personally, RM21.90 is a bit expensive (I think I can get cheaper face washes!), but there's always promotions for Pure Beauty in Watsons, so I reckon I could get a discount!

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Friday Cheapies : Comedone Extractor

To be honest, I've bought this stuff before, but I've never ever *really* found out how to use it. My college buddy said that you just have to put your face over some hot water to "steam open" your pores, and then you go to town with the comedone extractor. When I tried that method, it was just too painful to be true. Surely *that* is not how you use it?

Then I found out, yep, scraping your nose with that sharp little hoop really *is* how you use it. This is the most disgustingly fascinating video I've ever seen on Youtube:

Seriously, though it looks creepy, you end up watching it all the way to the end. ^^ So, after watching that, I just HAD to buy my own comedone extractor. Well, I thought it would be perfect for hard-to-reach places that my pore strips just can't seem to extract. Mainly, the sides of my nose! I could actually see little black dots, but no matter what, just can't seem to reach it!

You can see the "strawberry-ish" texture at the side.... Ugh! Although no actual BLACK spots, I find it disturbing enough. Countless of pore strips and face washes and masks later, I decided to use the comedone extractor on my nose. Sorry, no video like the fascinating one above, especially with my one hand holding a mirror and the other, the extractor ... even snapping a photo of an oil seed coming out would be an imposibility for me. :) 

On the left is the comedone extractor, on the right, a handheld mirror with a magnifying effect. The hoop (upper) end is what I use to prod at the problem area til it yields some results. The other end is supposedly a "gentle" way to "focus" on the problem area and gently keep prodding til SOMETHING pops up.

To be honest, I'm not really sure, I only use the hooped end! Can't find a proper explanation online also (it's quite similar to what I wrote above), so it remains rather unused.

I tried to find a black piece of paper to further enable me to take proper contrast between what was extracted out... but all I had on hand was an angpow packet. =p Hence, the red background. All the white bits you see are what was extracted out. I'm especially proud of the large oil seed on the far left.... Have not been getting something so juicy with pore strips in a long while. All hail the comedone extractor! You can get a cheapie one from your local drugstore for something like RM8. Pretty worth it as you can use it for a good long time, at least ... until it rusts. Otherwise, I don't see why there should even be an expiry date on this thing!

Pro tip! Try to use a softener on the areas you want to attack with the comedone extractor. I've been using the Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel for some time now, so it may be why I don't feel it's so difficult to extract black/white heads compared to when I was younger. The bad part (for me) is that though I'm able to extract the sides of my nose pretty effectively, I am not able to do a thorough job on other areas (which is why I still depend on masks, pore strips, etc etc) because I have a sensitive nose + sinus problem. If I pinch away too adamantly, I will inevitably start sneezing! If you have the same problem, you might want to give this a pass too. When I still went for facials, the facial consultant ALWAYS asks whether I have a sinus problem. They don't want to get sneezed on too! :P

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A Mother's Day Celebration

Filler post! I celebrated Mother's Day at a company event - mothers, mothers-to-be and singles are all invited, hahaha. I just went because I heard that there were doorgifts, FOOD and prizes to be won. Sorry, mothers with a pack of kids, kiasu me is invading the event!

In the end, yes, won some prizes! The door gift is the strawberry in the upper right corner. I was happy with the "prizes" which were a bag organizer (I really need it!) and The Face Shop samples. Hahaha, BEAUTY products, of course I approve! :) :) :)

In case you're wondering what the strawberry is ... it's actually a recyclable bag, but foldable into such a cute shape. I left it in my handbag and totally forgot about it until I went for the Markets event in Jaya One. I'm usually not so hipster and happening to go for such events, but I happened to be in Jaya 33, and a friend was selling cakes there as well, so, might as well pop by after my appointment to look-see. Hubby and I ended up buying a lot of things and it was a struggle carrying all the little boxes until I remembered my little strawberry. Voila!

And this is what we carted back from Markets... =)

Eat all the cake!! Hahahha, there's stuff from Yay Sammich, Jaslyn Cakes and Sift KL. Oh, I didn't open up the juicy lemon tart (bottom right) when taking the photo, but it was the yummiest  thing ever. I feel like buying another one. Hubby recommends the beef brisket from Yay Sammich. Personally, I enjoyed eating every single thing! We thought we could save some for church the next day, but by dinner time we were eating the last of our cakes. Sigh!

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Yuan Mung Bean & Job's Tears Soap

 

It's been... one week since I said goodbye... and about one week before that that I first said hello! =___=" Welcome to my review of Yuan's Mung Bean & Job's Tears soap. A 220ml hearty bar that cost me about RM22 (there was some discount, upon checking online, it costs RM24.90), and that fled down the drain in one week! ONE WEEK! It's probably the fastest soap to finish, ever. -___- Found out online that it's because it's an organic soap, and it really does melt easily. 

I have to say, the saleswoman did warn me that if I wanted this to last a long time (she said it lasted her TWO months), I should chop the soap up into smaller pieces, and just use it as a facial cleanser sort of soap. However, the idea of using soap on my face is just... odd. I asked her if it's ok as a body soap. She said no issue, and it should last me a long time if I chop the soap up and use it bit by bit. Me --- I like the feeling of a thick bar in my hand, so I decided I would NOT chop it up, but I would just be really careful with keeping the soap in a dry (er) area of the bathroom. 

Let me forewarn you that if even a few droplets of water land in the soapdish, it starts off the melting chain event that will guaran-damn-tee you a pool of sloppy, soupy, soapy water at the end of the day. -____-" 

On the other hand, it is a really good piece of soap though. I love the scent (a very comforting, homey, traditional type of smell), I love how it made my skin feel squeaky clean without it being too "tight" and I love the oh-so-slight but lovely exfoliating effect on my skin. In fact, that's why I bought the soap, because it looked like it could give a good scrub while cleaning. =)

The soap is suitable for use on all skin types, and mung bean & Job's tears are supposedly good for deep cleansing and brightening & evening out skin tone. Of course, in 7 days, I doubt I could see much difference in my skin tone. -____- But I did feel deeply cleansed. And I think I smelled really nice and fresh! Did I mention how much I love the scent? I feel like I should have kept the plastic wrapper for the soap to scent up my drawers. There's also cinnamon essential oil to help improve blood circulation for radiant skin!

Mung bean aka green beans are said to be good for acne-prone skin because it has some detoxifying properties. A short search on the Internet turned out a few home-made remedies for mung bean powder & Yakult masks! It sounds really interesting, maybe I'll try it myself one day, but I'm not particularly keen on putting Yakult on my face. =p Neither do I really have acne-prone skin.. but if you're interested, you could check this site out.

I've always wondered what Job's tears are. Since I read the Bible, I always thought it's linked to the Book of Job, and his trials. I imagined he would be crying? Was this really something so Biblically-inclined? Turns out it is just a tall, grain-bearing tropical plant that is used for cereal, for tea, for ornamental purposes.... and it's also known as Chinese Barley. And yes, it was named because of the grain's tear-shaped beads and linkage to Job's sufferings. Of course, in different parts of the world, it's also known as David's tears, Saint Mary's tears, Christ tears... or just plain tear drops.

And how did they come to be so frequently used in beauty products (especially Korean beauty products!)? Sadly, most of the posts that I come across usually talk about it good for lowering cholesterol and blood sugar levels, nothing about beauty. What it seems like is that when it is used in beauty products, it is mainly for whitening purposes. Can't cite any scientific studies for it though!

All in all, a pretty nice soap, but not something I would buy again because I simply can't get it to last long! I'm not a millionaire, so I don't think it's worth spending RM20+ a week on soap! If you like the idea of chopping up soap and using bits and pieces of it to last a long time, I guess you could give this a go. For me --- lazy! And as I've said, I love the feeling of a bar of soap in my hand...

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War on Blackheads!! With Daiso Pore Care Pack

Hello! I'm always on the lookout on how to get rid of blackheads, and what more - it'll be awesome if there were cheaper alternatives out there. When I was at Daiso, I found out that they have pore strips! At RM5 for a pack of 4 strips, it is actually not that much cheaper than Biore pore strips. Then again, I've always been buying the more expensive "limited edition" scents from Biore which could be double the price of a Daiso pore pack.

 

I was initally encouraged by the natural charcoal because charcoal has been known to help absorb toxins on the skin. Plus, check out the image on the packaging.... from some black spotty thing to something totally clean and poreless!!

Here's a close-up of my nose before putting on the pore pack. You might think that this is super clean looking, but I only use pore strips once a week, sometimes less than that because I forget. >_<

 

 Pictures not photoshopped, but in case you feel that it's the flash, check out the picture below. 

 Looks a bit oily, but generally not many blackheads (disappointingly). Still, you never know what you may be able to yank out!

The pore strip was quite tough to tear off from the plastic sheet, so that was a pain in the bum. Truly, my benchmark will always be Biore... there's like no effort required to peel off the pore strip! And when sticking it onto my face... gosh. Really bad fit! It's also very thick and unwieldy, so it's doesn't follow the contours of your face easily. Hence, see the disaster that it looks like below:

I think the fit plays an important role - if the pore strip can't adhere properly to my skin, there could be some area that can't make contact with the pore strip! And in that case... what if it SO happens that spot is the one with one giant blackhead just waiting to be yanked out? *paranoid* Another peeved off moment - the smell!! This pore strip smells terrible. Super herbal in a bad way. Think of some horrible chinese herbal medicine drink.... this is what it smells like. And it has to be SOOOOOO near the nose, like a purposeful torture. -__-

After the pore strip had dried off, it was easy to pull off (maybe cos it's not sticking so closely to my skin anyway), and you can see the results below. SOME small whiteheads got yanked out, but no fat, juicy pieces. So thin and mini. Sigh....  Oh well, at least with a black color pore strip, the whiteheads look more apparent in pictures. =P That's the one and only pro about this, I guess.

The aftermath.... not a big difference compared to earlier pictures, but at least this was gentle enough that it didn't leave my nose horribly red.

What I'm really looking forward to is a product / pore strip / whatever that can really help reduce the redness around the edges of my nose. Like below. I've found something recently that I'm trying out. I find that this area is more problematic than the center of my nose, that is generally smooth and shiny already. :)

In conclusion? Definitely not a repurchase for me. I cannot even imagine how I'm going to use the remaining 3 pieces of pore strips... that's how much I abhor the scent!

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Monday Masks : Sasatinnie Anti-oxidant Regenerating Face Mask

Grabbed a bunch of these Sasatinnie masks when I was in Sasa when they were having big sales. Four masks for about RM10!! Super cheap please. Even though I had not tried it before, I just grabbed the requisite 4 masks. The first one that I tried was the Sasatinnie Anti-oxidant Regenerating face mask.

The packaging is nothing to shout about, but pretty straight to the point, haha. As you can see, the mask contains clove extract, loquat leaf extract, pearl protein extract, hylauronic acid, collagen and honey suckle flower extract. When I saw "clove extract" I was thinking that this would be a pretty funky smelling mask, but in the end there's really not much of a smell to this thing. Just smells normal, face cleanser kinda smell. There's no plastic sheet for the face mask, the sheet mask is just folded together and soaked in the essence, so it was pretty hard to unfold.  Still, in the end, the mask ended up to be a pretty good fit.

Sasatinnie states that the clove extract and pearl protein extract has excellent antioxidant properties, while promoting cell activation and lightening pigmentation spots. Loquat leaf and honeysuckle flower extract have anti-aging properties as well as healing and astringent properties. As for hyluronic acid and collagen - those are typically used for moisturisation and firming. It really does sound promising, doesn't it?

Sadly, no discernable effect after using the mask, but then again, it really didn't promise me anything. It didn't even feel relatively softer or more moisturised than before the mask. Really hoping the rests of my Sasatinnie masks do a better job, otherwise I might as well just soak a piece of tissue in water and put it on my face for 10 minutes.

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Lipstick Sundays : L'oreal Glam Shine 6 Hours in Strawberry Mix

First off --- Happy Mother's Day!!

Bought this new lipgloss when I was in Singapore last year because I thought that there was a buy-one-free-one deal. Which turned out to be ... not quite right. I've used Glam Shine from L'oreal before, in fact it was the first lipgloss I ever managed to finish. I chose the "Strawberry Mix" shade this time because it was one of the darker reds available, but in fact, it's not super red anyway. I'm looking for a really good, brilliant, red lipgloss, so if you have a good suggestion, do tell me!

The formula has not changed much from the previous Glam Shine that I've used - it's still REALLY sticky and very glossy and shiny on the lips. The only difference that I can tell is that the Strawberry Mix shade comes scented with a sweet, fruity smell. It's pretty strong and synthetic, but I'm ok with it so I don't mind it too much. If you hate scents of any kind, do take a sniff test first before you commit!

 

As before, the applicator is like a doe-foot applicator, but slightly more heart-shaped and ... er... furry. It's not excellent for precision, but it really does help transfer a LOT of the gloss onto my lips. As you can see from the above picture, the gloss is filled with lots of glittery / shimmery bits, so this really helps give the brilliance and shine to your lips. Great for me and my dry lips --- it makes my lips look so plumped up instead! 

And with the stickiness in the lipgloss... yeah, I think it would really last 6 hours! Not that I have actual proof, cos usually halfway through I'd have eaten lunch and subsequently, my lipgloss. =) Some people actually reviewed this lipgloss as NON sticky. Are you kidding me? This is one of THE stickiest lipglosses I've ever come across. Maybe there are worse ones on the market and I've been incredibly lucky?? Anyway, my hair is always in a ponytail nowadays, so the chances of having flyaway hair stuck to my lips are low.

In conclusion, love the shine, the JUICINESS, but wish the color was more pigmented. To me, it looks way more "red" in the tube, but when it's applied to me, it just looks like a darker pink. Brilliance and shine is a must though, and again, this is becoming one of my go-to lipglosses for sheer wearability. 

Me without any lipstick on. You can see that my lips are dry, pale and erm... raw.

 

Picture with lipgloss on... very shiny right? And definitely brings more color to my face. Look so un-made up in the first picture.

 

Another picture with Strawberry Mix on on a different day. Same amount of shine and brilliance, but with a lighter touch, so it doesn't look so red. 

 

Close-up.

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Cellnique Soothing & Hydrating Lotion

A follow-up to my Seaweed Cleansing Gel review - this is the Cellnique Soothing & Hydrating Lotion with Ginger Root extract! I like to use facial cleansers, toners and moisturisers of the same brand to see if it really does improve my skin, compared to if I mix brands. After a while, it became an issue of being very anal to have everything all lined up accordingly. Generally, my facial cleansers finish first, which explains why my seaweed cleansing gel is long gone, but I have about 75% of my soothing & hydrating lotion left over. T_T

As mentioned before, I bought both the seaweed cleansing gel and the soothing & hydrating lotion together in a set. Retail price is RM79 for a 200ml bottle. The soothing & hydrating lotion is a unique complex lotion containing 14 types of plant extracts to calm sensitive-prone skin. It helps refresh tired skin and replensih skin moisture. The lotion is suitable for all skin types. FYI, it *is* a toner even though it doesn't mention "toner" in its name. Based on just the name alone, you would think it's a moisturiser right? In fact, the facial consultant at Lissage De Beaute told me the effects of this toner is more like a moisturiser, hence I agreed to buy the set. I generally don't think that toners are of much use... However, if you search on the Cellnique official website, it is definitely labelled under "Toner" and not "Moisturiser".

As you can see from the above, it comes in a similar bottle to the seaweed cleansing gel, but with a spray top instead of a flip top. I quite like it this way, it is so refreshing to spray it on your face! If you go overboard, you can just lightly tap your fingers against your face to help pat in the essence. The lotion also smells extremely refreshing, what with the ginger root extract. It really helps to awaken the senses! And yes, though it's called "lotion", it's got the consistency of water, so it will definitely spritz out properly on your face.

Unlike other toners, it doesn't have the "stinging" feeling on your face, which some brands claim is the product tightening up your pores. Er, no, that's just high alcohol content and is really not suitable for sensitive skin. Instead, the Cellnique toner just helps prevent skin dryness, soothes and calms skin and evens skin tone. No burning feeling! After using this, I usually do not bother to put any extra moisturisers because my skin already feels moisturised. If you prefer something heavier, you might not like this it is a really, really light moisturiser. If you have really dry skin, you might want to go heavy duty. Else you will find yourself constantly spraying your face. Hehe!

The main active ingredients are:

	Plant Extracts Includes Witch hazel, Arnica, Calendula, Lemon, Ginger, Burdock, Rosemary, Ivy, Pine, Safflower, Watercress, Matricaria, White nettle and Capucine. All known to heal and prevent dry skin, treat skin conditions such as acne and eczema, and slow the aging process.
	Ginger Root Extract The use of ginger on the skin can increase skin’s radiance and decrease inflammation that may contribute to acne and psoriasis. Ginger is an antioxidant, not only does it fights skin-damaging free radicals, but also promotes smoothness and evenness in skin tone.
	Witch Hazel Extract  A plant extract with toning and astringent properties. It also helps promote healing, reduce inflammation and has anti irritant properties.

[ Source : Cellnique ]

Overall, quite happy with my purchase, but takes a long time to finish! Cannot even *think* about repurchasing because this is the 2nd bottle of unfinished "toner" in my dresser.... and I just opened another bottle because I am now using another facial cleanser (I told you my seaweed cleansing gel is long gone..!). In fact, I might be reviewing yet another toner soon...!!

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Friday Cheapies : Banana Boat Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion SPF 50

Aloha! I just discovered a folder full of unreviewed goodies dating back to my ... honeymoon last year! It was such a nostalgic walk down the park... er... even if it was just a little over 6 months ago. *shy* I found an item that I ~totally~ was blown over with, and promised that I would blog about it cos it was so awesome... but then I totally forgot about it! Although I only got 2 uses out of it, it is a "definitely works" thing for me, and I'm thinking of buying a full-size tube of Banana Boat's Ultra Protect Sunscreen Lotion. Going at about RM26 for a 90ml bottle, I think it's worth it.

A lot of people might think that sunscreen is not necessary, but :
- I was on my honeymoon and I was going to a lot of places out in the sun. I did NOT want to burn!
- Once I tan, it takes a long time before my skintone evens out again. I'm not one of those people who burn, skin peels off, and then back to normal
- Sunscreen protects from skin burning as well as blocking UVB / UVA rays. This one from Banana Boat blocks from UVB rays, which is the kind that causes sunburns, melanoma, and basal cell skin cancers. The UVA protection comes from their AvoTriplex technology which I will elaborate on below. UVA rays (both short and long) cause the long-term effects of premature wrinkling and aging of the skin.

I got this sample sachet from the Vanity Trove x Watsons beauty box in Singapore. Yes, I really do use samples, and yes, I will finish them all sooner or later! *determined*

As you can see from the above, it is :
a) Sun tested & sun proven (this is their registered trademark, but I can't find any further information on it. How did they test it? How long in the sun??)
b) Enriched with vitamins C & E (which are powerful antioxidants, helps prevent skin aging)
c) Sheer, lightweight
d) Very water resistant
e) Has AvoTriplex technlogy to protect from UVA rays - AvoTriplex™ is Banana Boat's patented new technology that maintains broad UVA coverage over time – the skin-damaging rays that can cause wrinkles. This triple-packed technology features:

UVA Absorber: Powerful Avobenzone
Stabilizer: Prevents the Avobenzone from breaking down under the sun
Enhancer: “Synchronizes” energy for more efficient protection

 I was REALLY pleased with the results of using Banana Boat's sunscreen during my holiday. Firstly - I totally love how it is REALLY sheer and lightweight. I could use it on my face, and it didn't feel like I literally had a SHIELD on my face. Everything was still very breathable, and at the end of the day, it didn't cause clogged pores or horrible breakouts. Wonderful, since I'm on holiday and I would love to camho more. =p

Although I was no where near the beach, it was awesome that it was water resistant as well because -- I was sweating a lot! With some sunscreens, sometimes you just feel like your sweat + sunscreen gets melted off together when you sweat. In fact, you might see your sweat is not like water droplets, but looks milky cos it's mixed with all the sunscreen, hahaha! Ok, don't imagine too much, please.

Lastly, there's no horrible smell associated with this sunscreen. Really a case of "leave it on, forget about it". At the end of the day, I managed to stay my usual skin color and I didn't burn or get tanned. Super A++++ ok! Love this sunscreen!

In case you're wondering if you should get a SPF 100 or even SPF 130 (yes, there are brands that go way beyond!), here is what SPF means : SPF means "sun protection factor", and the mathematical formula = time to burn * SPF multiplier. If you use an SPF 30 sunscreen, and you usually take 10 minutes in the sun to burn, it means if you use the SPF 30 sunscreen, you will take 10 * 30 = 300 minutes to burn instead. 300 minutes = 5 hours, pretty decent protection. Of course, if you stay in the sun longer than that, you will have to reapply. Also, there are cases where some people do not apply ENOUGH sunscreen in the first place to get the real SPF 30 multiplier. Don't be so stingy! =) If you use a droplet and expect it to cover your arms, legs and face ... well, don't blame the product if you get burned in the end.

With an SPF 50 product, you would take 500 minutes to burn, which is around 8 hours and 20 minutes? That's pretty decent coverage, especially if you only head out at 10am -- you won't need to reapply til 6pm++. By then, the sun is probably not that hot anyway. Hence, a lot of people are saying that SPF 100 and above is getting ridiculous. Companies are in fact advised to cap it at SPF 50!

Well, that's all from my today, hope you would consider Banana Boat for your sunscreen instead of splurging on crazier products. I once had an Avene sunscreen. A titchy tube that was REALLY heavy on my skin and seemed to finish after two uses! It worked, but it is super expensive! About RM80 for a 50ml tube. *fainted* It's a tinted sunscreen, but I don't even need tinted sunscreen with Banana Boat because it is super sheer, it's totally not visible on my skin. It won't leave any white streaks on your face! Sometimes cheaper products do the trick too! 

Some random "in the sun" pictures from my honeymoon. =)

 This actually doesn't show anything, lol, but I'm definitely in the sun! I was in the zoo! 

 I guess you can tell where I was this day!

Okaylah, totally no need sunscreen by the 3rd day as I was busy chilling in shopping malls and then drinking beer by the riverside. I miss alcohol!

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Vera Wang Princess Perfume

One of the very first gifts that my boyfriend-now-husband gave to me - a Vera Wang Princess perfume set! I've reviewed the perfume samples for Vera Wang Rock Princess previously (and hated it), can't believe I didn't post about the original! Unlike Rock Princess, I really, really love Princess more!

A lot of girls fall in love with this perfume because of the unique perfume bottle. Doesn't it look so pretty? I don't think there's any other perfume that comes in a heart shape bottle! And the cap... so regal! Actually, there is a ring between the cap and the perfume... I tried to wear it as an actual accesory, but it is way too big for my finger. :P I don't know if it's actually something that you can wear as a real ring though. =p  And the pale lilac shade is so pretty and romantic. Really, if you want to talk about prettiest bottles, this one is really one of a kind! Since we were dating that time when they first launched this perfume, I would always wear this scent on the dates, and it really made me feel so girly and "princessy". :)

Admittedly, the scent is not really "me". I like crisp, clear scents, more towards the fruity range. Although this perfume does contain fruity notes, it smells more floral and sweet - more suited for evening events than a day perfume. It is also pretty long lasting - enough for a 6-8 hour event?

The notes:
Top notes: water lily, apple, freshly-sweet mandarin and apricot.
Middle notes: guava, Tiare flower, tuberose, dark chocolate.
Base notes : vanilla, amber and wood.
[Source : Fragrantica.com]

Overall, a very nice perfume indeed, and for boyfriends looking for a scent for their girlfriend --- I would recommend this! Not only does it smell nice, it would really look good on her dressing table. =P  For myself, really feel sad that I've used more than half of it already. My boyfriend buys so many perfumes for me, it's hard to choose "the" one to wear everytime we go out, but this one is definitely the one that I head to the most frequently.

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