Auld Lang Syne ~

Hello dearies. It's really here.

2009 is all but gone, and 2010 is, but a breath away. For the first time in a while now, I shall actually be observing the passing of the year with mixed feelings. While I am definitely looking forward towards 2010 with great expectations of things to come, 2009 is a year will I definitely miss.

It's been a year of many ups, along with a few downs. Among the wonderful ups include getting hitched to the hubs, and a glorious Greek honeymoon. *winks*

And of course, 2009 is the year that fellow makeup junkies got upped to friends. You girls have been a wonderful blessing. =P

This year has also taught me a lot of patience, compromise and perseverance. It hasn't been easy, but it's a lesson I'm grateful for learning.

And to kickstart 2010, here are three simple resolutions I hope I can stick to. Simple's always good.

1. Take better care of myself. And I don't mean losing weight. Just eating healthier.

2. Capture and treasure beautiful moments. And I plan to do that with the lovely present the hubs got me for my birthday (+ Christmas) which I promised to share with you ladies. I've been wanting one for two years. Definitely an up.

(My new toy - the Canon 500D. Awesomeness! =D )

3. Cherish my loved ones. Whatever their age or haircolour.


Or number of legs too.

(Isn't she gorgeous? My uncle's girl, not mine. Unfortunately.)

So, what's your aim for 2010? Happy New Year ya'll!

*hugs*

Primp & Prattle: What do your Boys think of Makeup?

Lordy, I am still recovering from the Christmas festivities and New Year's Eve is right around the corner. Has anyone made any New Year resolutions for 2010 yet?

Two girl friends and I were at the Bobbi Brown counter on Boxing Day when one of them asked, "Eli, what does Mr A. think of your makeup habits?"

I grinned. "Not much."

My boy can only be described as a Spartan in his habits. He has only one bottle of body wash on his bathroom shelf which serves as facial cleanser and shampoo, has no styling products and only shaves every couple of days without any shaving cream or what not. His stock response is "It works. Why bother?"

So while he thinks that I am lovely and rational person in every way, my makeup habits make him think that I am a vain bimbo. Whenever I murmur about a lovely blush, I get shot down with, "I think you look better without blush." (But to be fair though, he'll try to find me a better deal online afterwards)

My friend laughed when I told her that and agreed. Her boyfriend refers to her makeup as "colouring pencils".

We have resorted to using the bare minimum and go for the bare fresh-faced look instead. Which gets a response of, "You look great. So much better without those layers of colour."

*cough* Thanks, honey. I am an au naturale chick.

My father teases me madly whenever I get dolled up. My guy pals swing between not caring or feeling pleased that I make an effort to look nice whenever we meet up.

Instead of a review this week, I decided to give you girls a topic to chew on. What do your boys (husbands, boyfriends or guy pals) think of your beauty junkie ways? I know that Jenn's husband got her a fridge for her cosmetics (if my boy ever does that, I'll have to check him into the psych ward) and Syen mentioned getting a lovely Christmas pressie from her husband but not all of us have such supportive men.

So spill your guts! Everything stays here at So Loverly. ;)

Cellnique Skin Action Sebum Gel Vs B'Liv Off With Those Heads by Cellnique

Some time back, Tine quelled the fears of many when she solved the mystery of the disappearing Cellnique Pro Sebum Gel - it was being rebranded to B'Liv Off With Those Heads. So I was a little curious to find out that the Cellnique line was still around - but available only in salons - and that it had renamed its Pro Sebum gel once again to Skin Action Sebum gel. I was already on my second bottle of B'Liv and relatively happy when I was contacted by Cellnique and sent a bottle of this to try. So is there any difference between the two?

Similarities
- Both the clear gels promise to eliminate white and blackheads without squeezing.

- Both are by Cellnique

- Both have Peppermint Oil that results in a tingly cooling sensation when applied
(while I enjoy the sensation I'm not a fan of it as I believe it's unnecessarily irritating my skin).

- Both have the ingredients Witch Hazel, Aloe and Tea Tree Oil.

Differences
- Cellnique's Skin Action Sebum Gel has Hyaluronic Acid and Dryopteris filix-mas extract (say what? It looks like a fern on their site and promises to "soothe skin irritation, helps to improve skin texture, and control and prevent future breakouts").

- Price point - Cellnique is about RM159 for 30ml while B'Liv is RM139 for 30ml. B'Liv also has more discounts as it's sold in Watsons and Guardian and comes in a 50ml jar for RM189.

Comparison
It is insanely hard to be accurate and precise about the differences but in my opinion, and based on my use of both products B'Liv first and then Cellnique I'd have to say that Cellnique's offering is more effective than the B'Liv range.

First, when I switched to Cellnique within days blackheads and whiteheads started surfacing to be swept away revealing much clearer skin.

Then I suffered a bad breakout due to Eucerine's wretched product. I've gone through something similar while using B'Liv and I'm pretty sure my skin cleared and healed slightly faster with Cellnique. I'm also amazed at the lack of scarring and my skin is looking more even toned already.

The presence of Hyaluronic Acid in Cellnique's formulation also implies it's better for more mature skins as the acid is reported to have great hydrating properties.

I haven't noticed a decrease in oiliness since switching though. More's the pity.

Conclusion
Personally I may switch to Cellnique permanently once I've used up the rest of my B'liv serum as the slightly more expensive gel seems to work better for me. But if you have sensitive skin, B'Liv may just be a gentler offering that works just as well. The main drawback is how hard Cellnique is to find. I do know of a salon in Amcorp that sells it as does its website (USD55 is pricey though compared to local prices). If Cellnique doesn't get more expensive I'll very likely stick to it.

Note
I received a 30ml bottle of Cellnique's Skin Action Sebum Gel free to test. I tested it for just over a month only trying out a new product two weeks into the test. When I broke out, I stopped using the new product and went back to my regular routine with Cellnique as my only addition. I waited till my skin was clear and happy again to write this review.

Monday's Beauty Confessions

Hello ladies! How was your Christmas? With New Year's just up ahead, I really can't quite wait for the Spring collections to hit. So to kick things off, I'll just name a few collections that you might see me running home with once I see them on the counters. Spring 2010 is really pushing a few right buttons for me, what with everyone going big on blushers. Can't wait!


Christian Dior - With their Boudoir Look collection, the star product for me must surely be the blush. Isn't it just gorgeous? Reminds me of lacy lingerie, which was probably the whole idea? I've been eyeing Dior blushers for a long while now. And this is just too exquisite to pass up. Their eyeshadow palettes are looking good too.

Benefit - This is hardly Spring, as it's already available online (and since I've already made an order for one), but seeing as I'll only be getting my paws on it next year... guess I'll lump Sugarbomb in with the other Spring goodies. It's said to have 4 flattering shades of peach, soft plum, shimmering pink and rose powders. Sounds pretty!

Bobbi Brown - Yes, I know I've been naughty with Bobbi this Christmas (what with getting Maui and Pewter, but I really can't ignore a collection called Cabana Corals. More so when they've got a shimmerbrick called Nectar. I must check it out!

Guerlain - The Cherry Blossom blush must surely be on the hit list of (almost) every makeup junkie out there. While I'm not actually sure whether I'll be able to afford yet another gorgeous blush item, I think you can count on me to be there at the counter to drooling over it.

Shu Uemura - One collection, finally, that I'm going ga-ga over something besides their blushers. It's already out on their site, but I'm hoping it'll make its way to Malaysian counters in time for their Spring release. I'm talking about the Rouge Unlimited Supreme Shine. I've seen it online, read reviews and now I am wanting it very badly. Can anyone please tell me if and when they'll be here?

So, what are you eyeing for Spring?

(Photo courtesy of Temptalia.)

We Wish You...

A Merry & Blessed Christmas, everyone!

Our dearest loverly readers, as 2009 draws slowly to an end, we would like to thank each and every one of you for supporting us throughout this year. It's been a long and wonderful journey, and we just wouldn't have been able to do it without you.

As we celebrate Christmas, here's wishing each and everyone of you love, peace and joy.

Blessed Christmas one and all!

Love,
Kahani, Syen & Eli.

PS: We're also taking a short break to spend time with our loved ones, but we'll be back next week!

All I Want for Christmas is...

Me being me, I usually ask for something wildly practical or bookish for Christmas. My Christmas (or was it birthday?) wish list once included a good steam iron and "The Years of Extermination: Nazi Germany and the Jews, 1939-1945" by Saul Friedlander.

Gee, and I wonder why no one took me seriously.

This year, I have decided to come up with a frivolous wish list for once. The items aren't unattainable but they are out of my budget for now and I really do need to stop accumulating stuff.

Want to know what is on on my list?

1. First on my list is the Clarisonic skin care system. I have heard so much about this and have been hankering after one for ages. It costs about the same as the Braun epilator I recently purchased (a great investment, btw) but I can't justify getting a Clarisonic when I already have two God-given hands to wash my face.

2. I have been eyeing this beauty ever since I spotted it in David Jones a few weeks ago. Shimmer bricks are a dime a dozen but not in this beautiful plum shade by Bobbi Brown. I have swatched this a gazillion times in Myers over the past week and I am in love.

What is preventing me from getting it? The mad AUD 130 price tag. Eeeeks. The mark up is over 100% compared to Malaysian prices and I simply do not have that kind of moolah. My conscience won't allow me to wheedle the boy into getting it for me either. If only they would make this a permanent shimmer brick like Nectar...

3. My best friend once said, "I like my perfume to smell 'woman', not 'girl'." I am not big on perfume (my staple is Kenzo's Flower) but I do like my perfume to smell like 'woman'. Estee Lauder's Pure White Linen falls into this category for me and after my first whiff of it a year ago, it has been on my mind ever since.

Oddly enough, I dislike the classic White Linen fragrance. Pure White Linen Pink Coral, on the other hand, didn't leave any impression on me.

4. Does it count when the item you are lusting after hasn't been released yet? If you don't recognise this blush, it is from Guerlain's Spring Collection for 2010 and will only be released in February next year. The theme of the collection are cherry blossoms.

After studying in Canberra, the sister city of Nara, for 4 years, my sentimental heart yearns after this blush. My university grounds are covered with flowering plum and cherry blossom trees in spring and the lovely pattern on the blush palette reminds me of the beautiful sight.

There should be a number 5 but I can't think of anything I am coveting badly for Christmas.

What is on your wish list?

Monday's Beauty Bits

Heads up! Maybelline has a whole new range of lip balms and tinted lipbalms. Here's the kicker, in terms of packaging they resemble Lip Smackers and the cranberry flavoured one I tried out is a dead ringer in colour and scent for Bonne Bell's Lip Smacker in Raspberry. RM9.90 spotted in Watsons.

Speaking of lip balms (which are evidently a bit of an obsession for me), Silk Naturals has a WHOLE new range of lipbalms in seven flavours! The Clear Black Label lippie in Peppermint is wonderful, so I've nabbed myself two tubes of the new balms in Candy Cane and Souther Praline (which I understand smells of pralines and brown sugar, yum!) Other flavours that caught my eye (but I didn't give in and buy) were Bad Girl (Green Apple) and Chocolate Orange.

So you know by now that Watsons is having a BOGOF on Revlon nailpolishes and one of their lipsticks. If you don't want to grab two, Tesco's is selling the exact same goods at half price.

House of Etude is on a storewide sale, bless their socks. I scored two lovely lip stains (which I can't wait to review) at 20% off. They even have a few items here and there at 50% off.

Stage's Burlesque Ball Wonderkiss Lipcrème

Ho Ho Ho everyone! Christmas is really just round the corner now isn't it? Next week! And my Christmas shopping isn't even done! *Eek*

But nevermind my shopping (I'll be running around the malls as you're reading this today *tee hee*), today I want to introduce you to two Stage Cosmetics lipsticks that I've been given to try out.

Enter Stage's Burlesque Ball Wonderkiss Lipcrème, from their holiday collection.

If you've been following our blog, you'll know that Kahani and I love lip products from Stage. From their formulas, to finishes, it's one thing they've definitely gotten down pat.


And these Wonderkiss cream lipsticks are no different. I received two shades - Swoon (left) and Amuse (right). And they come in such Christmassy red tubes too! Pretty!

Stage says: Wonderkiss Lipcrème is the ultimate lip indulgence when it comes to color, intensity and luxurious care. Wonderkiss is formulated with a unique gel formulation combined with a spherical powder pigment which provides the most intense pure color coverage. Contains hydrating Apple Seed Oil so lips are soft, smooth and pampered. Vitamin E helps defy age and prevent the appearance of fine lines.


Swoon is a cream-finish pink nude which goes on a wee bit lighter than my actual lip colour. On my lips they appear a light pink.


Amuse, on the other hand, is a slightly metallic brown-bronze shade. I didn't expect it to turn out quite so bright on my lips though! (Note: Both lipsticks were paired with Bobbi Brown's Illuminating Bronzer in Maui *glee*)


Both go on super creamy and feel really comfortable on my lips. As with their Wonderlust cousins, I really have no complaints about these two.

You can also have a look at Paris and Connie's take on the cream lippies.

So if you like what you're seeing better run to Stage while the holiday collections are still out. You can pick these up for RM50 each.

Have a great weekend girls! =D

Revlon Nailpolish in Amber Ablaze

If you're wondering why I'm suddenly obsessed with Revlon's nailpolishes blame the BOGOF. Also I'm rushing the reviews out because I want you, dear reader, to be able to score the good shades during the promotion. See how nice I am? =P

Amber Ablaze is an older possibly discontinued shade manufactured early '08 so it may be sold out in the more popular retail outlets. As you can see, I picked this one up at Tesco's (the label is on because I learnt a valuable lesson. Don't pick off labels with freshly painted fingernails. Really. Don't.)

The picture absolutely does not do this shade justice! It is a warm dark red with swirls of gold shimmer in it. Shaking the bottle and watching the gold dust swirl around is almost as fun as a lava lamp! On my fingers it is slightly less fun, but still good!

Normally I don't wear reds on my fingers as I find the shade distracting to me, my colleagues and the people I interview. But somehow although this is a bold, festive colour, it is somehow muted and not in-your-face. Would love to pair this with a gold knit dress I bought in Europe - only in our weather I'd melt into an unpleasant greasy puddle on the ground.

This would also be a really great colour on toes. Not quite as happy happy as the brighter ones but cheery nonetheless. If you prefer deeper shades of red, but find that they can look somewhat gory, this colour's for you. It manages to NOT resemble blood at all. Yay Revlon!

A bottle retails at RM19 and Watsons is currently running a BOGOF offer on Revlon Nailpolishes till Jan 3.

Sunscreen Series: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30+

This is a review of the Neturogena Ultra Sheer Hydrating sunscreen lotion, not the much hyped Dry Touch sunscreen lotion. I will probably get around to trying the latter after New Year so hang on for that!

Ladies, let me introduce you to my new HG day moisturiser. Neutrogena has always churned out pretty decent drugstore sunscreens but none of them really worked for me until this came along. Maybe its the helioplex or the overall formula which is doing the trick, but I am hoping that they release this in Malaysia very, very soon.

In case you are wondering, helioplex is the term used for this new UVA/UVB skin protection, err, thing (I can't think of another word). Oxybenzone is combined with avobenzone (both sunscreens) to provide broad spectrum protection as the combo helps to stabilise avobenzone in sunscreen products. Avobenzone provides great UVA protection but it degenerates quickly under sunlight. Talk about a Catch-22.

When I bought this lotion, it was with a high dose of scepticism as I wasn't entirely convinced by the efficiency helioplex claim. After holidaying at Central Coast a few weeks ago though, I am convinced that this stuff works and deserves the SPF 75 (or is it 100?) rating it is given in the US. I went bushwalking that holiday and was sweating so much, you could see white streaks of zinc oxide running down my legs. Despite judicious reapplications of sunscreen all over my body, I returned to the hotel with tanned skin and a freakishly pale face and neck.

Guess what I was using on my face? I didn't reapply sunscreen to my face at all that day, by the way. I had to use a less stronger sunscreen the following week to let my skintone even out all over.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this lotion is hydrating enough for my skin. I usually find that the higher the SPF rating, the less hydrating the product and I have to layer with another moisturiser afterwards.

No breakouts either, woo-hoo!

The active ingredients in this sunscreen lotion are:
1. Oxybenzone: Short wave UVA protection
2. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long Wave UVA protection
3. Homosalate: UVB protection
4. Octyl Salicylate: UVB protection
5. Octocrylene: UVB proctection

The only downside to this lovely gem is the inefficient packaging. The lotion is near impossible to squeeze out of the tube and when it seemed to have finished, i.e. I couldn't squeeze out another drop of lotion, I chopped it open to find a good third left in the bottle. Argh!

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Sunscreen Lotion retails at AUD 13 (I think) for 30 ml. It may seem a little pricer compared to other drugstore sunscreens but I think it is worth the price for Australian summers. I will definitely be stocking up on this one come sales time.

Bitterly disappointed: Eucerin White Solution Oil-Control Day Fluid SPF30

This product is living proof why beauty bloggers shouldn't review skincare after only two or even three days. Because what was clogged pores after three days turned into the dreaded cystic acne a week and half after I STOPPED using it. Argh! >_< style="font-weight: bold;"
What they promise:
Attributes:

* For combination to oily skin
* Non-comedogenic
* With High UVA and UVB protection (SPF 30)
* Excellent make-up base
* Fragrance free

Benefits:
* Continuously supports dull & damaged skin to enhance skin regeneration from inside with
* Micro ACTIVE Complex WHITE Particles.
* Regulates skin oiliness for a mattified tone.
* Broadband UV Filters shield skin from UVA & UVB against the formation of new damages, dark spots and skin darkening.


Review
Don't the promises sound good? Although this product contains dimethicone, I thought I'd be safe as the ingredient is really far down the list. No dice.

The first time I used it I screwed up and tried out a new powder on the second day. When my pores clogged up I gave my skin a break, let it clear up entirely and gave this moisturiser a second go. After three days of use, my skin was REALLY clogged up with tiny whiteheads appearing. During this period I used nothing else that wasn't already part of my regular skincare routine.

I immediately stopped using it on my face and only used it on my neck. But it was too late. Despite masking daily and using exfoliating scrubs, my skin began to break out. On the plus side, I do believe the masks and scrubs drew the clogs to the surface and so the pimples didn't get to fester and grow into volcanoes.

Unfortunately, one on my chin made it that far - but again with Nexcare Acne Patches, Himalaya Herbals Neem Mask and Soap & Glory Scrub Your Nose In It, the cystic pimple only lasted all of two days before dying. Huzzah! Ding dong the evil bump is dead! (the things I wish I had as a pimply teen. *sighs* )

My face is finally on the path to recovery.

Conclusion
The only reason I risked trying this was because of Guardian's RM15 off coupon reducing its price to about RM52. Fie on you evil coupon for leading me astray! I'll continue to used this on my neck (with caution) - it seems ok so far, but for the price I'll stick with Clean & Clear Clear Fairness after this bottle's finished thank you very much.

Now I wonder if I'm brave enough to try Eucerin's Sun Mattifying Face Fluid it has NO dimethicone whatsoever and is currently on sale for about RM45. They insist it's completely safe for users with acne, and let's face it I DO need a sunscreen. To risk or not to risk?

Monday's Beauty Confession

I've kinda run out of steam on Beauty Bits for today, so instead, I'm going to make a confession. Of the makeupholic kind. I'm really hoping Santa's being really busy wrapping pressies and the sorts, because (I think) I've not been terribly good. =P


It would seem that we're already right smack of the holiday seasons, what with so many sales and holiday collections out in full swing. While I've managed to dodge MAC and some of the big brands (ie. Estee, Dior etc) this time round (bought nothing from them from their hols collection), I wasn't so lucky with Neutrogena, The Body Shop and Bobbi Brown.

So read on to find out what I've hauled. Some are LE, and some aren't. They're generally just stuff I've gotten for meself to merry up my holiday season.

Bobbi Brown

1. Illuminating bronzer in Maui: It's suppose to be a bronzer, but to me it's one gorgeous huge pan of coral blush. Happiness. Not LE, but it's something I've been lemming since it came out, so I'm just glad to have got it.
2. Chrome Eyeshadow in Pewter: Gorgeous colour and butter texture. Can we say uh-may-zing?

The Body Shop

1. Nutmeg & Vanilla Body Lotion: Vaniiiiillaaa...
2. Nutmeg & Vanilla Body Scrub: Vaniiiillaaa... (Enough said).
3. Peach Body Wash: Re-stocked for the hubby. And for me.
4. Large Pin Brush: Not photographed but also something I've been meaning to get for a while. Yay!

Neutrogena

1. Healthy Skin Blends Sheer Highlighting Blush in Fresh and Healthy: I've been lemming after these for years, and I finally managed to get them through a friend who was returning from the US. In the end, he gave them to me as a gift. Thank youuu Marc-o!!! =D

I thought I had been awfully good this holiday season. Well, apparently not.

What have you hauled?

Unusual beauty: Sosuku foot pads

Looking at these pads for the ball of your foot, their virtue as a beauty product is not automatically apparent. Unless, like me, you adore high heels and have developed hardened callouses on the soles of your feet. Well with time these little cushions not only prevent the callouses from forming, they even give you back soft feet with prolonged use.


How they work
These simple foam pads have a soft felt-like cotton side which cushions your feet and a side with non-slip little flowers on the underside so your feet don't slip around in your shoes the way they do with stockings.

Unlike Scholl's party feet, these cushions are attached to your foot with invisible rubber bands (not tight) that slip over your biggest and littlest toes. These prevents friction between your foot and the padding. In fact the padding protects your foot from most of the friction.

As these are made of material and not silicone they are also cooler and more comfy throughout the day, absorbing sweat and preventing odour. You can also pop them into a little net laundry bag and toss when in the washing machine to clean.

Conclusion
I can't live without these things now. Guardian also sells their own version but I find the sosuku brand lasts longer, stays more cushiony and often even costs less. I bought these from Watsons (on offer?) For RM6.71 and Guardian sells theirs for over RM8!

Review: Garnier Aqua Defence Intensive Moisturising Essence (Gel)

When Garnier first came out with this moisturiser in the Aqua Defence range several months back, it became quite the rage with many comparing it to the ~H20+'s holy grail of a moisturiser - Face Oasis.

Many hailed it as a great dupe and naturally, I wanted to try.

So try I did. But after a few uses, I found that it did not really meet my expectations as being the dupe for Face Oasis, which I've grown to love immensely, and so this little tub of moisturiser ended up sitting in a corner by its lonesome self.

Until perchance several weeks back I noticed it again, and decided to give it another go. And this time, I was pleasantly surprised.

Every now and then I turn into a slacker, and wind up being too lazy to bother slathering on moisturiser at the end of the day. Even though I sleep in an air-conditioned room. Bad, I know.

And so it was after a stretch of a few such days, when I started feeling the consequence of my neglect, that I picked this tub up and thought, "Heck, why not?". I wasn't expecting a miracle, but when I woke up the next morning, I could instantly tell the difference.

My skin felt smooth, supple and happy. It felt well-hydrated. I was very pleased.

"This thing works after all!" I thought.

This double take stemmed from the fact that prior, Kahani and I had actually arrived at a conclusion that it didn't really work for either of us. For her, it was possibly because of the dimethicone ingredient. For me, it was probably because I had initially set the expectations too high up.

But no matter, I stand corrected. Garnier's Aqua Defence gel moisturiser does a pretty decent job. And this green, translucent gel smells great to boot.


Enriched with anti-oxidants, Fruit Waters and Vitamin E, it claims to build an invisible barrier on your skin which instantly replenishes moisture and repels external aggressions and free radicals.

And to help your skin recover from daily stress and external aggression, this range features 3 Active Natural Ingredients known for their protective properties: Grape water containing sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium and zinc to help protect skin from damage caused by free radicals; apple water for its anti-oxidant properties; and Vitamin E to effectively smooth and protect skin from cellular damage.

While Kahani has been worried about the dimethicone breaking her out, I've had no such problem. It's been working fine, and I've also not noticed it causing me to grease up anymore than usual.

So while it hasn't knocked Face Oasis off my Holy Grail pedestal, I'd say it's a pretty darn good dupe. Especially since it only costs RM19.90 for a 50ml tub, when Face Oasis costs about 8 times more at RM159 for the same amount of gel.

Can't complain about having a cheaper alternative, can I?

Video: Korean Ad for Nivea Lip Care

It's interesting how dependent Korean advertising is on getting a famous actor, singer or band to endorse their group. There are lots of cosmetics commercials I have seen with famous actresses or singers (Jun Ji Hyun of "My Sassy Girl" comes to mind) but this is the first time I have seen a commercial with a lengthy song and dance.

For Nivea, mind you. I am impressed at how they managed to feature the entire Nivea Lip range in it (Sorry, Kahani, but your fave grapefruit flavour didn't get any airtime).

Warning: the song is rather cheesy/ catchy and you might end up having it on loop in your head for hours afterwards.

Christmassy nails: Revlon Nailpolish in Copperglaze Platinum

While I adore the idea of gold nails, the execution never quite works for me. Most gold nailpolishes either blend into my skintone or clash ferociously. This copper shade though which, to be honest, matches the bottle colour of Dove Hair Fall therapy to a 'T' - is perfect.

It's shiny and metallic enough to be festive, compliments my skintone so it looks elegant and remarkably natural and it even does the "nude" effect - make my fingers look longer.

So if you're thinking of taking advantage of Watsons' BOGOF offer on Revlon nailpolishes, give this shade a try. At RM18 for 2 you'd be nuts not to!

Monday's Beauty Bits

Spotted at Sasa: This set by theBalm with trial sizes of their more popular products including Hot Mama blush, Staniac and a lipgloss in a cute bag for RM88. It retails for RM20 in the US so the markup isn't too bad. I gotta admit I'm kinda tempted!

For full coverage and an airbrushed finish I've taken to buffing mineral foundation over my set liquid foundation. I set with powder first and then buff (otherwise it can look cakey) and I'm really taken with the results! Plus mineral foundation (that isn't too sparkly) doesn't white out in flash photgraphy.

Speaking of mineral foundation, I have a confession. I still can't find a sunscreen for my face that doesn't eventually break me out. It could take a week, it could take two but they all break me out eventually. Boo. So I use mineral foundation as an extra sun-protection step. And my foundation has SPF and my ZA 2Way that I touch up with throughout the day has SPF.... enough? What do you think?

Did you know you can technically use your non-professional strength face masks daily? Obviously if once a week makes you red and tingly then that's not a good idea. But if you have a basic clay mask or if your skin is dry and you have a hydrating mask you love, there's no reason not to give your skin a daily 15 mins of TLC.

What's Your Pick: Shaping Those Brows

Hello ladies.

Aren't you glad it's finally Friday? I know I am. Been slightly unwell, what with the flu bug going around now.

Anyhoo. Of late I've been noticing eyebrows, possibly because mine could jolly well use some cleaning up, and everybody knows what well-groomed eyebrows can do for a face. Eyebrows frame your eyes, and can certainly do wonders to your overall look.

Which has led me to wondering: What method do you girls use to clean up your eyebrows?

Over the last couple of years, I've plucked, threaded, and shaved my eyebrows (not all at once of course), but I still haven't picked a method which I prefer above the rest. Very often, I just go for what's most convenient, or what I feel like doing. Unlike some of my friends, who swear by threading, for example.

For the uninitiated, I've summarised the various techniques of cleaning them brows that I've tried before. Read on!

Plucking

Uhh.. use tweezer and pluck away! Well, actually, don't pluck away. I actually like this method as it allows me to pluck at my own time and I get to shape my brows exactly how I want them to be - very natural.

In fact, I cleaned up my own eyebrows for my wedding via plucking, and was very happy with the results. Granted, I am blessed with eyebrows which already have a distinct shape, so all I have to do it clean them up. If you're not sure as to how to shape your brows, you can always seek professional help first, then just use plucking to do cleaning up.

The most important advice when tweezing is not to overdo it! Step back every now and then to see the bigger picture. While almost everyone thinks Tweezerman when they think tweezers, my Manicare pair of tweezers has been serving me just fine.

Lifespan: About three weeks to a month before I need to get plucking again.

Threading

An ancient method of hair removal which originated in Persia and the Middle East. Using a cotton thread, it's twisted into a V-shape, and then rolled over untidy hairlines, moustaches, eyebrows etc., plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing where you only pull out a single hair at a time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.

It does hurt quite a bit, but not unbearably so. Threading the tache seems to hurt more than threading your eyebrows though. The area around my eyebrows and upper lip always end up being red and irritated for about an hour or so after a session. In KL, areas like Bangsar and Brickfields abound in outlets which provide threading services for a small fee (RM5~RM8).

Lifespan: Easily three weeks to a month.

Shaving

A friend of mine once told me, "Shave your eyebrows, don't pluck! Or you'll get your eye area wrinkled up in no time." While I don't know how much of what she says to believe in, it does seem to make some sense. The eye area is very sensitive, and all the pulling and plucking must have some effect?

Anyhow, I've only gone for shaving once or twice - once done at the Shu Uemura counter and the other time after a facial at Clarins. Using a small shaver, my eyebrow is shaped, stray hairs shaved away, and the overgrown ones trimmed. It's the most painless, but you'll need to re-shape it a little more often. You can always check at the makeup counters if they offer this service. Charges range from RM15 and up, if I'm not mistaken.

Lifespan: Two to three weeks.

So how do you like to groom your brows?

LE and Rare Clean & Clear blotters - Pink Grapefruit and Powdered

It's not just glam lipsticks and MAC collections that are rare and limited edition! On this blog, blotters get their day in the limelight! (Can you tell how much I love the things?)

When I went on my mad shopping spree in Singapore I couldn't resist hauling these two facial blotters not available in Malaysia. Now, I really wish the powdered ones were!

Pink Grapefruit

These really don't disappoint. The box is pink, the sheets of blotting films are pink, and the scent is tangy, refreshing grapefruit. In the midsts of a hectic, hot day I have to admit I get a kick from the scent.

I'm semi-sensitive to fragranced products and was worried it would break me out but thank heavens that isn't the case. They work just as well as the classic C&C blue blotters.

But I won't be repurchasing. If the blotters were 50 sen more pricey I may buy it for fun. But considering how much pricier it is, (about RM12 compared to about RM8) it really isn't worth paying the price for a change of colour and scent.

Powdered
Now these are worth paying extra for! Combining the oil sucking powers of the C&C blotters with a translucent, colourless mattifying powder is a match made in heaven.

And it works! I find my face stays oil free about as long as it does when I blot and powder my face normally.

I don't use these daily because they are rather pricey (about RM15) and are not readily available. But I want these on hand for tiny-bag events. When clubbing or in evening wear these cut down in the need to bring a compact and a pack of blotters. Plus you can use these one handed (although I'm not sure when exactly you'll need to use them one handed).

Conclusion
So C&C Malaysia, please bring these powdered blotters in to Malaysia and make them regular rather than LE.

Until then does anyone have a great powdered blotter to recommend?

Sunscreen Series: Clarins SPF 30 Sun Wrinkle Control Eye Contour Care

Summer is in full swing and because I am anal about sun protection (if you haven't noticed by now), I was about to leave a cafe with friends when I yelped out, "Hang on a sec! I need to reapply my sunscreen."

Mr A is already used to my antics (he used to query my habits until I told him that I wanted to be a MILF in 15 years) so he waited patiently while I yanked out bottles of sunscreen from my bag. Our friends' eyes widened as if I was performing a magic trick for them.

"You carry all of that with you? Everyday?!"

"Yup," I answered cheerfully. "Body sunscreen, face and eye."

"Eye?!"

I really do feel that there should be greater awareness about eye sunscreens, as ridiculous as it sounds. Everyone I have spoken to seems to think that face sunscreens can be used around the eye area as well but if you look for the fine print, all face sunscreens say avoid contact with eyes or avoid eye area. I have tried applying face sunscreen around my eye area (carefully avoiding the eyes) and ended up wanting to claw my eyeball out, rinse it in saline solution and pop it back into my eye.

Moisturisers with SPF are a dime a dozen but eye creams? Pffft. The only ones I can think of are from Nivea (the Q10 eye cream comes with SPF4) and I think Dermalogica has one with SPF 15. We keep being told to take especial care of our eye area but no one seems to be developing great sun protection for it.

Thank goodness for Clarins. It took me a while to find a proper eye sunscreen (I heard that Shiseido had one but I can't find it on their website) but I am glad I did.

The active ingredient in this sunscreen is titanium dioxide, which protects against UVB and short wave UVA. Not exactly ideal as it doesn't protect against long wave UVA rays but it will do for now.

Like all sunscreens, this product has a whitish cast to it. It is quite fluid, making it easy to spread around the eye area. You need some patience to pat it in until the white cast goes away but an extra minute or so is all that is needed. One drawback is that it does make my mascara smudge a little so I have to set it with some powder through the day.

I am happy report that this sunscreen does not bother my eyes except for one occasion when I went bushwalking and was sweating madly. I am not sure if it was the sweat mingled with my facial sunscreen or if it was the eye sunscreen which made my eyes sting. The sting went off after using eye drops.

The Clarins Sun Eye Contour Protection cream comes in a tube of 20ml. It may not seem like much but I have been using the same tube since March and as of yet, there are no sign of it running out. I am afraid I don't know how much this costs in Australia or Malaysia as I picked it up from a duty free airport in Vietnam for USD 26.

Favourite Things: St Ives Swiss Vanilla Moisturising Body Wash

Vanilla.

The scent that conjures up mental images of sessions of pamper-ness and comfort. It never fails to make me feel all warm, fuzzy and cozy inside. It just does.

I know, some of you just hate it. But for me, it's aaall good. So you can imagine my absolute delight when I found this bottle of St Ives Swiss Vanilla Moisturising Body Wash in Priceline during my Oz trip earlier this year.

This little gem just had my name written all over it. Mine.

Having only carted one precious bottle home, this is one body wash I use uber-sparingly. The hubby goes nowhere near it, lest he gets overly chummy with it, like he did with peachy here. No way, José.

This one I reserve for days when I really, really, REALLY need to be pampered, and it does just that. The body wash feels rich and provides some comfort for my dry skin. It feels like silk going on.

As for the scent, need I say more? It smells good enough to eat. And it soothes my frazzled nerves at the end of a long day.

Eli has mentioned before that she gets bacne from this. Thankfully though, I haven't encountered the same problem. But for those of you who are prone to bacne, you might want to keep an eye out for that.

Priced at about AU$6-ish for a 400ml bottle (or was it AU$8-ish?), it's not cheap, but still affordable. Of course, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat, should I come across it my travels.

Or better yet, if only St Ives would bring in their Vanilla range to Malaysia! That would make me one very happy girl. =)

*crossing my fingers and toes*