Things I Take On Travels

Check out what I took along with me on my trip to Singapore! It was the perfect holiday for me & hubby - totally indulging in good food and shopping. ;) Although, I personally think that the shopping was better for him than for me. I didn't buy any new outfits for myself, and even my drugstore hauls are lesser than before. Anyway, I was determined to come back with a lot of samples finished so that I could have lots of stuff to post about. Check out what I took along with me for my holiday :

ALL the stuff to clean my face! Samples from Palmers, Kiehl's acne / blemish sample, pore strip, Shiseido White Lucent brightening cleansing complex and Hada Labo face wash. I brought along so much face wash because the last time I went to Thailand, I didn't bring enough, and I hated having to buy a full size wash for no reason. Anyway, I've reviewed the Shiseido White Lucent range before here -and, with this second round of using --- I really like it even more! I feel like buying the whole full-size range now. I find it super effective and yet gentle on the skin. My face felt so soft and moisturised the entire trip. (Now I have really finished the sample!)

I've also reviewed the Hada Labo face wash here, and also finally finished the sample. Thoughts have not changed about this face wash.. maybe because I'm still overwhelmed and impressed by the Shiseido White Lucent. :)

So scared that not enough face wash that I took the smallest full size face wash products that I have along with me... my vanilla souffle face scrub and strawberry yogurt amino acid cleanser from My Beauty Diary. In the end, did not use at all! Waste luggage space only. -_-"

My go-to, must pack Wisteria bath & shower gel & body lotion from Crabtree & Evelyn. I'm surprised that I've not reviewed them thus far! This must be the umpteenth trip that they've followed me along on!

I also took along a sample Palmers Olive Butter Concentrated Cream just in case the body lotion finished... but it didn't. Ended up taking along a lot of un-used products this trip! Tsk tsk... so much for "bringing along samples means you don't have to carry as much products"!

Took this along just in case the shower gel also finishes, hahaha. I have reviewed it before here. This time, I used the full packet in the shower cos too lazy to keep half-opened samples already. Didn't really experience great aromatherapy session in the shower.

ALL the shampoo samples! Only used two, one of which is the Sunsilk that I've reviewed before. I have like tonnes of samples of this shampoo! I think it's because it's the one thing MOST people want for their hair (smooth & manageable, compared to more specific problems like dry hair / oily hair, etc), so they gave out lots of this when they first launched the product.

The other is the Heads & Shoulders which I will review soon!

Mad amount of BB cream that I took along. Basically, I think I took all BB cream samples that I have. From Elite Paris, L'oreal, ZA, Ginvera, Skin79 and Bio Essence. In the end, I only managed to use 2 - the Skin79 and the ZA one. Even then, I had to throw away the ZA which had about 30% left cos I really don't want to drag it back with me to Malaysia. I thought of doing a comparison on which BB cream is better, but since I only used two, should I wait til I finish using all the samples? But afraid that I forget how it felt for each cream and I won't be able to judge accurately which is the best, hahaha. Dilemmas of a beauty blogger. :P

But I really have to say, this "stint" with BB cream really makes me love BB cream more! I used to be a pure 100% mineral foundation gal only. In fact, I was thinking of making a huge bulk purchase from Everyday Minerals again.

All the face moisturisers, eye cream, etc. The only ones I used were the White Lucent softener (which as I mentioned above - am starting to love more and more!) and the Pure Beauty Black Pearl youth restore essence and eye cream (at night). Really good products, and can't wait to review them for you too!

And took along two face masks as well! In the end, I was only hardworking enough to use the My Melody one. I really don't like using sheet mask in the hotel because the airconditioning is so cold, the mask is freezing on my face! It doesn't feel comfortable and nice. Ya, I can switch off the air conditioning, but then my husband will complain! Sigh...

Anyway, that's all for my realllly long grandma story on what I brought along on this trip and some of the things I have in the pipeline to be reviewed. Oh yeah, and all the haul posts as well, of course! :)

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Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDP

The Estee Lauder Sensuous Nude EDP was a Christmas present from my then boyfriend (now husband)... who bought it so that he could purchase the Estee Lauder x Michael Kors blockbuster set at a cheaper price. :) I was so pampered that year! :) However, my hubby being my hubby... he didn't really bother to smell how the perfume is like. He just agreed with the SA and didn't check whether it is something that I would usually wear. I think he was just highly embarassed to be mooching around the beauty counter, so he just wanted to select everything and run off!

Now, when I wear this perfume, my husband sometimes ask me what is the perfume I'm wearing. -___- So insincere.

Worse still is when he says it smells funny. It definitely is a perfume that takes some getting used to!

The perfume bottle is a bit awkward to hold in one hand. It is pretty big and cumbersome. I actually have to use two hands when I spray it on myself, because I'm afraid that I might drop it on the floor. I do like the bottle cover though, it is heavy and looks classy. And the perfume name itself.... hmmm... what a weird name for a perfume! It sounds a bit ham sap (perverted), and at the same time - nonsensical. As I think of the meaning of "sensuous" as "aesthetically pleasing to the senses", I hate to think of someone who would be nude, but not be sensuous. Maybe I'm just overthinking this. 

To me, the perfume smells a bit herbal, and it's only when it reaches the base notes that I feel more comfortable in it. THEN it feels a bit more sensual, a bit more sexy. However, it seems like a very generic base note, so it's nothing special. The top notes are like... ugh! Memorable in a bad way! Some are saying that it smells like coconut. No way! I don't detect that at all?!?! It's definitely not a tropical-like fragrance to me. It feels like a fragrance more suitable for an older woman. By that, I mean someone in her 50s. 

Top notes: Sicilian bergamot, mandarin, black and pink pepper.
Middle notes: Jasmine, lily of the valley, coconut water, honey drops, musk
Base notes : Sandalwood, vanilla, amber, heliotrope and woody notes

Currently I wear it to work or for dinner appointments. By the time I reach my destination, that "spicy" top note has usually toned down a fair bit. I promise you, you can scare people with the top notes of this perfume... 

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Monday Masks : Little Twin Stars x Sophie Monk Pomegranate Pearl Deep Whitening Mask (2 Step Whitening Mask)

Something I bought in Singapore due to the "cute factor" in the packaging - Little Twin Stars x Sophie Monk Pomegranate Pearl Deep Whitening Mask. I remember that the price after conversion is nearly RM10. RM10 for a mask?! I flipped, but consoled myself with the fact that it is a two-step mask. After the normal sheet mask application, there is some additional whitening essence thingamajig to apply. Did I mention that I am "against" whitening masks? And yet I seem to keep using it? I distinctly remember that I had no choice - I really wanted to try the Little Twin Stars mask, but this was the only one available at that time.

The Little Twin Stars mask was a pretty good fit --- it could extend to the sides of my face, but I guess it was a bit of a tight fit cos there's air pockets between my nose and near my cheeks. Actually, I kinda blame that on the fact that I tried to smile for the picture, haha. I always try to smile in the photo but it always comes out glum as anything. Take note, I'm actually happy! The mask is very thin, but strong. It contains the essence well and without any wastage (dripping).

 

After the mask, I was actually shocked  to see that my face is actually VISIBLY brighter. It was shocking! I really felt like I had bleached my face. Unlike other whitening masks that feel stinging against my face, I did not encounter the same with Little Twin Stars, which was a really pleasant surprise! I wish that I had a better before / after picture for comparison, but I stupidly took the before pics under yellow lighting. Of course I look "whiter" in comparison. -_-" My skintone was more evened out, and face felt smooth, soft and pampered.

Then on to the 2nd step! I squeezed out what was in the upper portion of the mask sachet, and it looks like this :

Basically, just apply it like a night cream and that's it! It's not a mask, need not wash it off. Wake up the next day feeling baby soft skin on the face. A real treat for my face! But at such an "amazing" price, I don't know if I could bear to buy another one. Then again, it really works...

I think I've mentioned before on how pearls are said to be beneficial for our skin, but how about pomegranates? Pomegranates are known throughout history for being a "miracle" fruit and plays an important part in Greek mythology as well. The fruit is filled with antioxidants and people have found that applying pomegranate oil really helps in healing your skin faster. How this helps in deep whitening, I am not sure! All the instructions and descriptions were in Japanese, so I was unable to decipher it for you all..

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Lipstick Sundays : L'oreal Shine Delicieux Lipstick in Sweet 905

Wow, I'm on a L'oreal roll, aren't I? This time, it's the L'oreal Shine Delicieux Lipstick in "Sweet 905". My sister randomly gave me this lipstick cos she got it from some event. That time, she doesn't use any make-up at all! Not even lipstick --- she prefers her Body Shop lipbalms. She has since changed (she uses lipstick), but she still doesn't use eye make-up. The only time I saw her with full face make-up is for her wedding, I think. :) Maybe that's why my sister has good skin, cos she doesn't pile junk on it like I do. :(

The lipstick is a pink shade with some purple tones as well. When applying it, there is a strong smell of candy, which to me is quite a turn-off. It doesn't have a lot of glitter, but it leaves a smooth, shiny finish which hides my dry lips well. This means, I don't have to spam a lot of lipbalm before applying it, thank God.

The tube itself has a very smooth texture, and is slightly rounded.... it was very hard to get a picture of it lying on all the cute stuff I was piling into the background. It kept rolling out of focus! So blame the shape of the tube, not me. :P To me, the packaging is not as classy as the last two L'oreal lipsticks that I had reviewed. But it suits it, cos I think the Shine Delicieux range is supposed to be more fun and youthful.

This is how it looks like on me, super close-up:

You can see that it is quite shiny, and the purple is not apparent. It's more towards pinkish. However, I feel that in real life, I seem to note the purple more. The shine is also less sparkly and more muted, so it's suitable for work. Personally, I find it looks good in photos, but not so much in real life. That's why I don't pick up this lipstick most of the time. :( Sorry, sis.

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Reminder of Things I Want To Try (From Caring Pharmacy)

The other day, I was trying to do a documentary for my husband about a day in my life. So I was carrying my camera around the whole day. In case you're wondering about the weirdness of this task, it was mainly because I wanted to show him how busy I am even though I have to work from home. Of course, the documentary wound up pretty lame because I can't spend my time photographing myself at the laptop when I'm supposed to be working. :S Anyway, because of this exercise, I wound up having a camera around me when we went to Caring Pharmacy later in the day. I definitely felt like a tourist. :P

Then.. I did something that I've always wanted to do. Take snapshots of things that I really want to buy, but can't because I'm already using something else. XD This way, I can keep track of my "To Buy" list, and with actual prices. The peeps at Caring Pharmacy didn't notice me, or maybe don't care. Anyway, let me share with you what I am currently hankering for... :

 

I've heard so much about Clinelle, but I've never tried it before! I just found a small sample sachet that I'm going to try out soon. This also seems to be a brand that's very popular with beauty boxes! A lot of beauty boxes give almost full-size products from this brand. Grr... why hasn't one landed my way!

I just love this range of shampoos from Clairol! Actually, I think I've already used one of each kind, and everytime I end up being really sad that although it smells soooooo good, it doesn't really do what it claims to do. I am currently particularly interested in the Smooth Lovin' one which  has a citrus-y scent!

 Oh yes, Wuta Kamille... shortly after snapping this photo, I did buy some... from Guardian! You might remember it from haul photos earlier. I am pleased to report that my friend also bought something from this brand before and she says that it works wonders! I think she got the hand cream.

Finally, I'm so obsessed with wanting to try MooGoo, ever since Caring first started selling the products! When I tried the sample, the texture of the cream is thick, but it sinks into the skin FAST! So impressive. What's not as impressive is the price! Since it seems to specifically cater for sensitive skin, it also doesn't make sense for me to shell out extra for specialised treatment that I don't need.

But I still want it.

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NYC Ballet Petites OPI Boxset

Finally reviewing the OPI Boxset that I got for myself in my last Singapore haul in August last year! I distinctly remember it was in August cos that's where I went for my honeymoon. :P And yes, I know... a lot of people are going to say, "Singapore? For your honeymoon?!" Well, me and the husband were super busy during that period, and we could only afford the be away from work for a short while. Since we were only there for a short while, we ensured we stayed at the nicest hotel we could afford - at least lived in the lap of luxury for that moment in time. :) Singapore is great for shopping, and we are familiar with the places... so it was a pretty fun holiday!

Anyway, I digressed! The OPI Boxset that I got was NYC Ballet Petites, and the boxset contains 4 mini OPI nailpolishes weighing in at 3.75ml. It cost me SGD$35.30 from Robinsons. :) The four colors and their respective description as follow :

 

My Pointe Exactly : See? This gorgeous sheer gray has been right all along!
Don't Touch My Tutu! : Hands off this wispy white - it's all mine!
Care to Danse? : This lilac is up-to-the-minuet in fashion.
Piroutte My Whistle : Drink up! This silver sparkle is just what you need.

The above picture was taken under natural sunlight! From L-R : My Pointe Exactly, Don't Touch My Tutu, Care to Danse?, Piroutte My Whistle. Although the first 3 colors look pretty different in the bottle, it goes on REALLY sheer. Til you can barely see a difference unless you pile on the coats, and then only would you be able to appreciate the subtle differences. I bought the set mainly for how "clean" and "polished" it looks on my nails, I thought it would be really great for work. However, I do love adding on the "Piroutte My Whistle" as a top coat, and that actually makes it more party-like and less office-lady. Still, it's a VERY subtle sparkle as well (you'll see), so it still looks pretty ok for work. In fact, the lack of IN-YOUR-FACE bling-ness kinda upsets me. =p

My personal favorite color from the lot is Care to Danse?, which is the sheer lilac shade. It looks so feminine without going overboard, and with the sparkle on top, it looks very girly. I like! It's my #1 go to in this boxset. The lilac doesn't really show up purple on my fingernails, but seems to enhance the natural pink/peach undertones. As you can ALSO see from the picture below, the glitter flakes aren't distributed evenly on each nail. That's because not much actually comes up on the applicator each time, and I can't be arsed to give my nail, like 10 coats in order for it to be fully blinged up. Instead, it's just like, randomly scattered bling. =( I really hated it at first, but after a while, I'm just meh about it. The photo below is with two coats of Care to Danse? and two coats of Piroutte My Whistle. Erm... it's going to be the same for the other colors! :)

My second favorite would be My Pointe Exactly, the sheer gray color. Although it looks unnatural on its own, it looks very cool and classy with the Piroutte My Whistle on top. A different kind of sparkly look! However, I would agree that sheer gray nails on it's own is a bit weird. Then again, I'm never without the sparkle. :P Sorry for the pictures below, I didn't use flash for this color! :(

At first, I couldn't give two hoots about Don't Touch My Tutu, the wispy white shade. To me, it looks like liquid paper, and I HATE the Sally Hansen white nail polish that I have! However, just wearing it on it's own is so natural looking, please. It looks like I have no nail polish on in the following picture, just awesome, natural, healthy nails! All buffed up!

 

Here's another picture of it with no flash. still looks very natural, right? 

With sparkle, it doesn't look either feminine or classy like the others. It just looks.... like that. Hahaha. I think I would wear Don't Touch My Tutu just on it's own. It also turns a bit yellowish after you have had it on for nearly a week. 

 

In conclusion : I find every color wearable in its own way, though my fave is still  Care to Danse? I don't like the sparkle shade given with this boxset, I wish it was something more blinged, but I guess it wouldn't be as natural and fitting in with the theme of this box then. I was hoping for something more like Servin' Up Sparkle, actually! 

As usual, OPI brushes make it a breeze to apply, and everything dries up pretty quickly. I didn't time it, but pretty sure around 60 seconds is all it takes. The bad part? Because this formula is so sheer, and each coat is so thin, each application will probably last you 1 week MAX. It will already start chipping at the tips much earlier, but because it's so sheer, not many people will notice. Lazy people like me try to get away with only applying polish once a week. :P

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Bottled Hotel Memories

Hiya peeps! Do you all like to take back all those shower gels / shampoos (and if they are higher end hotels - body lotion) from hotels? Or do you just use them up when you are there? Do you pack away the things so the hotel staff are FORCED to restock it for you? Some hotels are so proud of the quality of shower gels that they provide that they list it out in the description of the hotel, as if whether you got Molton Brown or Armani would tip the scale in their favour.

I like to collect it, just to appease the kiasu-ness in me. I keep telling myself that I would use it whenever I go to a not-so-nice hotel that does NOT provide nice stuff. The travel-size stuff is certainly convenient. However, I'm so **blessed** that I generally keep staying in nice hotels, so my collection continues to grow. :X Even when I don't stay in nice hotels, I bring along all the samples that I've accumulated over the years, and I'm more than amply supplied!

Here are some nice stuff I accumulated over my stay at Hotel Maya during my SIL's wedding. She had a very nice day room for us to get our make-up done. Even my MIL was encouraging me to sweep everything I could into my bag. *evil cackle* Anyway, it's the first time I see a hotel giving away after-sun lotion and slices of (what seems like) hand-made soap. So nice! Definitely different from the standard Molton Brown stuff that others give. :)

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