Montagne Jeunesse Green Tea Peel-Off Mask

Sheet masks, cream based masks, and peel-off masks! So many different types of mask to use and each having their own pros and cons! I don't think I've reviewed a peel-off mask before, so personally, what I like about peel off masks:
- usually less messy than cream based masks and sheet masks because once you get them on your face, it hardens quickly! The other two masks might still drip or be gooey and uncomfortable
- easier to wash off compared to cream based masks
- personally, I like the peeling off sensation and I imagine it might be a little bit "exfoliating" in a way. :P

I used this mask when I was at Tanjung Rhu Resort (Langkawi) with my boyfriend. It was a pretty refreshing mask to use

The green tea peel-off mask contains natural minerals, uplifting green tea, healing ginger root and lemon. It's more of a detoxifying mask, so I cannot really comment on the moisturising / softness after the mask, because there was none. Hahahhaa. I don't feel particularly detoxified either, but it was a soothing mask to have on because it smells relaxing! Then again, maybe it was because I was on holiday...

Mask costs about RM5.90, but I bought it in a pack of 4 last time, so it was cheaper. Not particularly a fan of Montagne Jeunesse anymore (prefer sheet masks at the end of the day), so this was fun but not a repurchase... :)

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The New Kit You've ALL Been Waiting For

So cute! This was Benefit's April's Fool joke for 2012. I was quite excited when I got the mailer because I'm always looking forward to new kits from Benefit! And I was actually a bit taken in by their April's Fool joke because I thought "Sickly Eye" and "Pink Eye" was like a name of their new eyeshadow range! I mean, people always say, "That's sick" in an appreciative way right? LOL! It was only when I read the descriptions that I knew that something was not quite right. I know, I know, I'm a bit slow on the uptake.

Anyway, it's quite cute and I appreciate that Benefit actually came up with something like this! So sharing it here in case you're not on their mailing list. :)

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Fresh Goodies From Thailand

My friend Pauline came back from a trip to Thailand and came bearing gifts! The gal that got me started on drugstore stuff, buying me more stuff. :) I feel so loved, really.

Aside from the Free & Free Damage Aid that I've used before and raved about here, the other two items (a Sunsilk hair treatment and an Imperial Leather bodywash - so old school!!) are items she says can't be found in Malaysia yet.

I am excited to try all these stuff out! :)

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Red, Red, Lips

So I did something out of the ordinary (for myself), and decided to get a SUPER DARK RED lipstick when I got my NYX haul. I reckoned that even if it turned out badly, it would still be ok. Cos it's only about RM10! I'm going to buy more stuff from NYX in the future, so if you want me to help you buy, pls inform me! (A shout out to peeps in Malaysia only. :p) In fact, I bought a lot of weird colored lipsticks, just because they are cheap and not something I would spend 4 times the money on for something from Maybelline / L'oreal / Revlon. (Note : supposedly drugstore brands as well!)

This seriously looks so intimidating, doesn't it? It's "Snow White". "Lips red as blood, skin fair as snow, hair dark as ebony." Hehe.

The color is omg super pigmented, I was so scared when I put it on. I played cheat in the end --- I didn't dare to go all the way SUPER RED LIPS, but I only put a bit (lightly) on my bottom lip and then kind of pressed my lips together to distribute the color. Lol! It still came out more dark than what I usually put... but I kind of like it! Maybe next time I will go all the way...

Haha, sorry for the bad pictures, but I was actually rushing to meet my pastor! Can't keep her waiting because I was busy camwhoring, right?

Anyway, pros of wearing super dark red lipstick :
+ makes your teeth look super white
+ nice contrast, really dramatic statement --- ah, looks good la! It's a classic!

Cons (at least for this lipstick):
+ better make sure your lips aren't dry or chapped, else it REALLY shows. That's when you'll start missing your lip gloss!

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Jelly Pong Pong Soap Popsicle (Watermelon)

Well, here I am, just randomly eating a popsicle in the comforts of my own room. Or am I?

This too-cute-for-words soap is from Jelly Pong Pong that I bought from my haul way back during Christmas! Finally decided to use it since I've since finished all my Lush ones. FYI, I have to use soap + shower gel at the same time, because I *usually* buy really huge bottles of shower gels, and when I keep using the same shower gel, I will get rash-y. Therefore, I usually use 2 days of shower gel and alternate with soap. Actually, it's not necessary to use soap, just some other brand of shower gel other than the main one that I'm using to break the monotony. And it cannot be from my "banned" brands that will definitely make me rash-y, like Palmolive and Follow Me.

Original price of the soap is RM55 per piece, and I got this one for RM20. The packaging is really cute, and sometimes I wonder if it's even to be used, or do people just buy it for bathroom decor? It's got a real wooden ice-cream stick! With a ribbon attached to it! Can you really bear to get it all wet and mushy like a soap?

Personally, the watermelon scent is toooooo subtle for me, but it gets a pretty good lather going. The wooden stick is pretty handy for getting a good grip on the soap, but I suppose the main reason someone would buy this is to camwhore with it. RM20 is way too expensive for this soap which doesn't even contain all those yummy, nutritious, good-for-your-skin stuff like Lush's soaps. Plus, it finishes darn quickly. I think ... about a month? For RM20, you could get those giant 1 liter shower gels that last for almost half a year! :( Also, watermelon scent is something different, but nothing to shout about, really.

Trying to think of something more positive to say about this soap other than the cute factor. Er... it didn't make me rashy? Erm... it did leave me with a squeaky clean feeling? But I suppose these are things that people do expect from a soap in the first place!

Definitely not a repurchase for me. Would rather spend more to get a good chunk of Lush soap instead.

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Spa Sample Series (9) : Anubis Anti-Age Intensive Serum

One of the last samples from the spa exhibition that my friend passed to me that is of good quality. The rest are Le Masque Hazelia stuff, FML. This one is the Anubis Anti-Age Intensive Serum with Caviar and Pearl Powder. Sounds luxurious? Damn right you are. Not that I know how much it costs since I can't find any such information online. My friend did tell me something like a jar going for more than RM600 thereabouts. So keep that in mind.

Personally, as it's an anti-aging serum, obviously a 3ml sample is not going to help me decide whether it works. However, as a cream, I feel that it pales in comparison to the Lilyth Anti-Aging Absorption Cream that I reviewed earlier. This one doesn't seem to absorb as fast, and tends to leave a heavier feeling on my skin, though nothing toooooo bad / oily.

I also don't like the texture of this cream, as it's kinda LIQUIDY. When I opened the sample packet, the thing just started dripping out! I was so surprised as I was expecting something more cream-like! I don't like my face creams being so ... watery. I think that's why I don't like my Hada Labo Whitening Milk either. Creams should act like creams! *nonsensical indignance* (Ok, I just re-read carefully that it says SERUM and not CREAM, so I suppose it's just me being careless and having wrong expectations. So in short, I just prefer using creams and not serums!)

Meanwhile, is caviar and pearl powder really beneficial to your skin? Or are they just dumping in luxurious sounding stuff to mark-up the price? According to some websites, caviar is rich in :
a) Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids - fatty acids help prevent cellular inflammation, the leading cause of saggy skin
b) Vitamin A - corrects damaged skin tissue
c) Vitamin E - moisturising. Both Vitamin A&E also contain anti-oxidative properties!
d) potassium and selenium - improves skin elasticity
All of these are vital for completing your anti-aging skincare regiment! However, how good they are at being absorped via the dermis remains to be seen!

As for pearl powder, I think it's pretty popular in China. In China, they ground the lower-grade pearls into pearl powders for consumers to mix with water and use as a mask! That sounds crazy luxurious! Basically, pearls contain nutrients that are believed to be the basic building blocks of collagen and protein. They are also believed to be able to detoxify your skin. This part is a bit iffy on HOW it does it, but apparently it's not just widely believed by the Chinese, but by the Egyptians and Mayans as well! Hmm!

Anyway, I honestly didn't feel the "luxury" when putting this on, heh. Maybe when I'm really desperate for anti-aging products, I would turn to Anubis? I'll probably try La Mer first though! :P

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Nivea Angel Star Body Soft Souffle

A really interesting product that I got when I was in Singapore - The Nivea Angel Star Body Soft Souffle!

I was a bit iffy about buying this because Nivea products are kinda common and although they are good, they are kinda "meh" for me. Boring, milky smell, yeah, it's moisturising but I like something more fun. I haven't seen the Angel Star Body Souffle in Malaysia, so I was intrigued. It smells a bit too sickly sweet and feminine for me, but what really got me interested was the texture. Guess what the "Souffle" looks like?

Sealed for protection (and freshness?)...

Ta-daa!! It looks like tao foo fah and FEELS like tau foo fah too! For those that do not know what that is, I'm quite at a lost as to describe the texture, because it's definitely not like a souffle! I would probably describe it as porridge that has been left out to congeal a little? So it's solid, and yet watery at the same time? Hahhaha...

It feels SO weird to use it, as I would "pat" the surface and watch it wobble all around before rubbing it onto my skin. After some time, I had "broken" the surface and could scoop up minute pieces of it to be used. It is quickly absorbed into the skin, and does not leave any sticky feeling. Quite moisturising too, supposed to last for 24 hours! I would probably think the only big cons for this product is the smell (not enticing enough for me) and that I don't think it's very hygienic to keep "patting" the "souffle" and rubbing it on my skin. At least with tubs of cream, you scoop some cream out. But you can't really "scoop" this out... unless it's been broken into many pieces already.

This Angel Star Body Soft Souffle that I got is in "Raspberry Hot Crush Scent". I'm not sure if it comes in any other kind of scents. It doesn't smell very fruity to me - more like a sweet floral scent. Also, not sure about the cost as I paid in SGD... I think it would be around RM15 or less?

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