I dream of cotton candy ~

This particular offering from Olay had been lounging around on the shelves at our local drugstores for months before I finally decided that I had to have it. A certain home-spa post from ParisB most certainly played a role in tipping the scales over.

Dressed in a pink tube and covered in swirls, this huge bottle of Olay Body Wash Plus creme ribbons with almond oil totally made me think of cotton candies.

I'm not saying it smells of cotton candies. Just reminds me of one.

In the shower, this bodywash is absolutely delightful. A cream-base bodywash, it's very rich and emollient, but with words like "with almond oil", I think you'd rather expect it. And precisely because of this, I find this bodywash to be a shaving cream par excellence.

It does lather up, but not very much. After a bath I get this feeling of being both clean and moisturised. My skin feels very comfortable, almost like I've just slathered a thin layer of moisturiser on. It's that good. Which is just awesome for girls with dry skin like me.

Add also to the fact that I can detect faint gourmand scents while I'm showering makes it a very, VERY delicious bodywash.


If I did have a complaint about this product, it would definitely be the packaging. Without a doubt, this product's packaging is not shower friendly at all! Even if the dispenser is really cute being ribbon-shaped and all. First off, it stands on its cap, which means you have to close the damn thing every time after you squeeze some creme out.


One hand holding the huge bottle, and one hand cupping the creme does not leave me with another free hand to close the cap. Last time I checked, I only had two hands. So I end up using my elbow.

Also the cap has a tendency to not shut very properly, and I am very fussy with details like this. Especially so when the whole bottle sits on the cap. I really would not appreciate product spilling out all over the place.

For about RM17 for this massive 532ml bottle, I think it's an affordable piece of luxury to have in the shower.

Apart from the silly packaging, it's all gooood. Have you tried it?

Review: Natio Eye Contour Wrinkle Cream / Treatment Gel

I find reviewing eye creams quite hard. Unless they're awful or miracles in a tube, most of the time what I hope for is that they moisturise enough and do nothing unwanted. Well with these two, I'm willing to make one additional claim. I believe regular and daily use of the wrinkle cream at night and the treatment gel in the morning has slightly reduced eye bags and undereye circles.

I bought them during a great Sasa deal and after Eli's enthusiastic review of the treatment gel and have used them for over two months day and night. The treatment gel is wonderful to use in the morning as its light, refreshing and really wakens up the eye area. I find it also reduces eye bags which is awesome. It is quite light though, so you may want to layer the Wrinkle Cream over if your eyes are very dry. For the full review, check out Eli's post.

Wrinkle Cream
Does this help with wrinkles? I honestly don't know but I certainly hope it works as a preventative measure! Natio is an Australian brand that promises natural ingredients and this eye cream containes chamomile, cornflower, aloe, almond, apricot, jojoba and wheatgerm. Quite a list huh?

Although it claims to be from the Aromatherapy line, it doesn't smell scented - just very slightly sweet.

It's not heavy, but is a very light refreshing cream. I find it moisturising enough, but if you prefer very rich eye creams perhaps this isn't the best for you. Regular use has seen my dark undereye circles grow less prominent - despite less sleep! No promises though, they're not gone, I just think my eye area looks happier. =)

I also find my eye bags have been reduced. It also doesn't do anything bad, no milia, no bad reactions and no dry skin.

Conclusion
At RM44 per huge tube of 35ml (most eye creams are at most 15 ml), it's definitely worth it. One tube will last forever and I find it comparable to most expensive light eye creams.

Review: Cellnique Intensive Hydrating Oasis Gel

When So Loverly was contacted by Cellnique a few months ago to trial some of their products for free, this moisturising gel was originally sent to Kahani. She ended up passing it to me along with some other Cellnique products to trial.

"I hope it works better for you," Kahani sighed. The stuff gave her breakouts.

I had my doubts. Gel-type moisturisers and my skin aren't the best of friends as they usually lack the moisture my skin craves so much (H2O+ Face Oasis, come this way honey!). So I crossed my fingers, gritted my teeth and decided to try it for a month.

At first, I was pretty impressed. The Cellinique Intensive Hydrating Oasis Gel really did deliver. I didn't break out and no bumps appeared on my face. It was great for both day and night time use, especially when used to seal in serums. The gel is easily spreadable and absorbs into the skin quite quickly. Three pumps are enough for my face and neck.

Then I moved to Sabah.

You have to keep in mind that Sabah has always been a little drier than Peninsular Malaysia and this year, the weather has been hotter and drier than usual (goodness knows how we are going to celebrate Harvest Festival at the end of May). Not only have I turned a shade darker, but my skin has been screaming for water.

Let's just say that this gel isn't the pleasant oasis of water which my skin is looking for in this weather. I had to up the moisture levels by using it together with Hada Labo's Moisturising Lotion. I keep this for day time use as it does work as a nice makeup base.

Priced at RM 129 (RM 139 if you are based in East Malaysia), I will give this a miss. I am pretty sure that this will work great for others with normal to combination skin however so if you stay in West Malaysia and are looking for a light moisturiser that packs a punch, you can give this go.

Review: Maybelline Color Sensational Moisture Extreme Lip Color in Raspberry and Summer Sunset

Maybelline hit a winner with this range, no doubt about it. So Loverly was lucky enough to be contacted by their PR firm to test out four colours. Syen picked out Pink Bloom, Eli Buff and I got Summer Sunset which I'd coveted all along. Whee!

Papaya Milk proved to be an odd colour though, looking orangish in the tube and FUSCHIA on me (mysterious aye?). Now here comes the embarrassing bit, I've misplaced it. I know I slipped it into one handbag or another and now for the life of me I can't find it.

Raspberry was such an interesting pink I bought it for myself - Guardian has an offer on the lippies so they're currently selling for RM19.80, who could resist?

Formula
Make no mistake about it, these lippies are crazy pigmented. One swipe gives you full on, weightless colour. Despite the word moisture in the name though, the formula isn't very cushioney. Meaning, unless you apply it over a thick lip balm, it won't go on evenly and will show all your liplines and dry skin. So a base of lipbalm is necessary!

Raspberry
Raspberry is a bright warm pink (brighter than this night time pic does it justice) that reminds me of Benefit's Posietint. The warmth in it stops it from turning fuschia and makes it quite flattering for Chinese skintones. So although it's quite a bright shade I find it doesn't look harsh or plastic on - when paired with the right blush.

Summer Sunset
This classy, warm and deep red belongs to a much pricier lippie! It applies more smoothly than Raspberry, lasts longer, doesn't bleed or feather, is just glossy enough and is incredibly pigmented. It also manages to be that shade of classic red that isn't bloody, orange or clownish. Love it and can't wait to wear it for a glamorous night out.

Conclusion
With a huge range of shades this line is a great release by Maybelline. Has anyone else tried shades that aren't part of the four given out by Maybelline for review? I'm keen to check out other shades. ;) They normally retail for RM24.90 which is a great price, but I believe Guardian is still selling them at discount.

Monday's Beauty Roundup: April, 2010

Helloooo lovelies!

It's yet another Monday, which I hope is the start of a great week ahead for everyone. How was your weekend? Mine was quite eventful with travel planning, catching up with some friends and celebrating a dear aunt's birthday.

Anyway, here's what some of my blogging sistas have been kept busy with in April!

• ParisB from My Women Stuff has me going ga-ga over the Les Floralies Earths Organics Salt Scrub. But the price has got me gawking too. Sigh.
  
  
• Nikki from Askmewhats goes for a lovely makeover at Bobbi Brown! With a step-by-step guide too, if you want to look at pretty as she does.
  
  
• Want a little introduction to Seoul, Korea? Xin from Pretty Beautiful shares her take on the makeup shopping and tromping around DongDaeMun.
  
  
• Love it or hate it? Connie of Skindeco can't quite decide how she feels for the LUSH Buffy Body Butter. Maybe it's a love-hate relationship?
  
  
• Jenn the Lipglosseater sorely tempts the traveler in me with amazing photos of her recent trip to Bangkok. The food, the SHOPPING! You're gonna want to see the photos. Really.

And now, just a little something to share with you girls after the jump.


My current bag-staple. A medium size brown Dotti tote I picked up in Oz early last year. Got it at such a bargain at a DFO - AU$10! I just love the braid detailing. Only slight prob is that it gets heated up super (duper) quick. Weird.


AND I finally put that bag organiser (a gift from Kahani) to good use! Thanks dearie! While it doesn't look big at all, this bag can surprisingly store A LOT. It's my work and weekend bag, so everything goes into it: purse, mobile phone, makeup bags, lipstick pouch, lipbalm stash, pens, notepad and voice recorder (tools of the trade), migraine and sinus pills, keys, moisturisers, card holder, hairclips, tissue paper, and a rolled up pashmina too!

Seriously loving how neat my bag is now. Awesome!

Let's Talk Oral...

Hygiene, that is. *winks*

I had an appointment with my dentist just recently (ok, fine, some months back), and after a round of scaling, my dentist told me my teeth looked clean, but my problem was I had heaps of tartar all around my interdental spaces (basically the space between my teeth), which has caused the gap to widen.

Which got me thinking.

I brush my teeth plenty often (two or three times a day), and gargle with mouthwash every now and then. And once in a while, I use to floss as well. But that, apparently, wasn't quite enough to keep my teeth clean and healthy.

So what else should I be doing?

My dentist recommended interdental brushes and told me to brush between my teeth where the brush could go through (see picture) to keep my teeth tartar free. So these days, I do: 1) interdental brushing, 2) brush my teeth, and 3) gargle with mouthwash (sometimes). And 4) brush my tongue too. So much cleaning for so small an area, don't you think?


And we are told we should be making regular visits to our dentists about twice a year.

Which leads me to wonder... what are your oral cleaning habits? How many steps do you have in keeping your oral hygiene? And when was the last time you paid a visit to the doctor with the drill? =P

I know this isn't exactly beauty related, but everyone wants beautiful teeth, no?

(Note: Kindly consult your dentist for more information on whether you need to be using interdental brushes.)

Awesome Budget Find: Silky Girl Quick Clean Nail Polish Remover in Extra Strength

Right you know you're starting to have memory problems when you THINK you've written a post.. only it's blank. Sorry girls!

I actually thought to try this out thanks to a series of Tweets between Beetrice and ParisB. Sally Hansen's Extra Strength was ridiculously useless, so when I saw this cost under RM10 (can't remember exact price 'cos it was discounted), I thought "what the hell" and gave it a try.

Girls this stuff is DA BOM. One cotton pad takes off five fingers worth of nailpolish and topcoats, painlessly. It's amazing. You just press for a bit and swipe it off. I used to think the whole "press and hold" thing was a myth since it never worked with cruddy Sally Hansen. But with this stuff, no rubbing, no angst... SWOOP clean nails!

Because it takes so little time to get off, dryness and brittleness is definitely not a problem. So if you're looking for cheap and good remover... give this a shot.

Review: Almay TLC Pressed Powder

Excuse the blurry picture. I forgot to bring the camera with me to Sabah and as it will be a few months before I go back to KL, my camera phone will have to do for now.

I always think of Almay as a drugstore version of Bobbi Brown. A little bit boring but chock full of great, fool-proof staples. Big siter is a huge fan of their i-colour eyeshadows -- "Saves me the bother of mixing, matching and thinking," she says -- and we both agree that their foundation range isn't too bad.

Which brings me to their TLC foundation range. Now, in Almay's books, TLC stands for Truly Lasting Colour as the foundation supposed to be able to last for up to 16 hours. Big claim, but I decided to put their pressed powder to the test.

I picked this up in Medium as it had a neutral undertone which matched my skin fairly well. One drawback about this powder are the limited number of shades: Light, Light/medium and Medium. Anyone darker than NC 35 should give this a miss.

After trying this out for the past few months, I have to say that I really like this powder. Coverage isn't very heavy but it works well in evening out my skin tone. It blends in beautifully and best of all, the oil control is superb. I am oil-free after 6 hours without any touch ups. It's a different story when I use sunscreen under my makeup though.

The main drawback to this product is the bulky packaging. It's round and fairly big so I can't slip it inside a tiny tote. Furthermore, the sponge compartment under the powder is pretty tiny so any sponge thicker than 3 sheets of paper isn't going to fit in there unless you strap a rubber strap around the case to keep it closed.

And no, you don't want to use the original sponge which came with the powder. It gives very cakey coverage. Use a brush or a very good sponge instead.

Alas, we can't get this in Malaysia but you can buy it from Australia for AUD 29.95.

Review: Freeman Refining Facial Cleanser (Pear)

The other day, as I was squeezing out the last bits of my fifth (or was it sixth) tube of my fave Himalaya Herbals cleanser, I found myself making a mental note to have that tube replaced.

Promptly I went prowling in Guardian, but I came home not with another tube of Himalaya Herbals, but with this instead: Freeman's Refining Facial Cleanser in Pear.

As much as I love my Himalaya Herbals, I think I was just itching to try out something new. While it was the bright green tube which caught my attention, it was definitely the words "oil-controlling salicylic acid" on it which cinched the deal.

Of course, the fact that it really does smell deliciously like pear (and apples too), only made me like it more.

Bringing it home, I've put it to work immediately. This gel-cleanser works quite lovely, but I'll warrant you'll need something to remove your makeup first. Used in my usual 2-step cleansing routine where I give my face a scrub first, this cleanser has no problems in cleaning up whatever residue's left on my face.

BUT.

Just a few little points to take note. On their oil-control claim (and the implied anti-acne properties), I seriously doubt it's helping me in that department. The product does not state the percentage of its salicylic acid content, which as Kahani pointed out, would usually mean that the salicylic content is so minimal that it's not worth printing. I'm inclined to agree.

Freeman products are made in the US, but they don't appear to be very popular here (I may be wrong, but so far I haven't heard anyone rave about their products),or on MUA either. There's also something about that little red "contains natural ingredient" stamp, which I find a little potentially misleading.

Kinda like trying to appear as a "natural" product, but 2nd on its list of ingredients is sodium laureth sulphate, and a whole load of parabens near the bottom of the list. Uhhh... riiight.


Back to the product itself, however, as a general cleanser, it does a decent job. My skin feels clean and comfortable after a wash. None of that just-had-a-facelift sensation for this one, thankfully.

These days, I seem to reach for it in the mornings, as the pear + apple combo just adds a little fruity zing (and smile) to my morning routine.

At only RM18.90 for a huge 150ml tube, it's definitely in the affordable zone. For me, it's an okay product, works fine, and I really do like it, but there's nothing wow about it. Save the pear scent, which makes me fruity-happy.

I don't think I'll be replenishing, but hey, I'll enjoy my pear while it lasts.

Has anyone tried it? Thoughts?

Monday's Beauty Bits: Advanced Date Tips

Hey ladies, I recently came across this online article and I was horrified that "be clean" was even necessary. Come on. We're all so much more evolved than that. Unless you're dating a Cavemen I honestly doubt basic cleanliness will "impress".

But let's grant them the benefit of the doubt, let's pretend that the basics are truly necessary. But now you've mastered bathing and walking upright, let's move on to the more advanced techniques. Should you use this on a first date? Well, only if you're very sure you definitely want to impress the man.

Perfume your hair

The key to using perfume on a date (or frankly in general) is to keep it as close to yourself as possible instead of say, a 30 ft radius of overpowering scent. Just a whiff of something delicious everytime he gets close enough to you, or when you flick your hair. It's pavlovian, after awhile he'll associate being near you with delectable scents. If you do this right, he'll get amorous around lavender, cucumber, green apples, cookies, take your pick! =P

I find the best way to manage this is to perfume your hair and not yourself (yourself can use a perfumed body lotion). Hair retains scent longer, and yet, because there is no body heat it won't project the scent quite as far either. So try spritzing the ends of your hair with your favourite perfume, or do what I do when I have a hot date. Bring out that gorgeous perfumed shampoo - mine's Philosophy's Amazing Grace.

Dress strategically

There is no hard and fast rule as to how you should dress on a date. Who's to say where you're going? It could be a ball it could be paintball. And tips like "wear heels" or "stick to skirts" drive me mad. What if you can't wear heels or have weird knees? Janet Jackson's never been seen in a short skirt, Audrey Hepburn wore flats or low heels. Think about it.

Figure out what about you IS seductive and work that angle. Got a lovely neck? Scoop necklines an upswept hair will make him think of nuzzling you. He looks glazed? Not paying attention? Chances are he's thinking about it. If you have gorgeous skin, make it glow, if you have great curves, WORK them and walk up stairs ahead of him. Peek back, he'll be cross-eyed. If you're petite, well go ahead, make him want to protect you and be your knight. Are you insanely tall? Well babe you're a model. Walk it with confidence.

Some more ideas is to wear something that looks touchable, obvious zippers in interesting places gives them something to think about, and finally, short OR plunging, not BOTH. You're his date not his ho! (umm unless you like that idea, am not judging here!)

Keep the lips kissable

Whether you kiss on the first date or not, here's the fact. While glossy, sparkly megawatt lips are distracting, guys honestly hate kissing them. Unless he has an odd fetish - always possible. It takes all kinds.

You know I'm maaad about lipstains and here's where they really come to the fore. They make your lips look pretty but with a natural finish. You won't be touching them up all through the date, and most men find minty lipbalm slicked over scrummy.

Have great conversation

Now this one's dubious. Not all men appreciate wit, or conversation for that matter. If that makes you happy, then great for you! But if not, and you find that first dates especially tend to be awkward with no one talking or one person monopolising there are some conversation tricks you can use.

1. Generalise then personalise
Choose a topic like movies (I'd say books, but sadly the reading populace is declining). Analyse what you like about movies, elements, and check if he feels likewise or not. This actually helps you get to know each other without it turning into a list-fest. It works for just about everything.

2. Undivided interest
Few things are more delightful than someone who is actively interested in what you have to say, smiling at all the right points and enjoying your chatter. As a journalist, I find that people LOVE to be interviewed - once they're convinced you're not out to get them and humiliate them all over the front paper. It's the attention. Of course only use this if you like the guy. If he's dull as a mudmuppet then you'll probably not want to put yourself through this. It's torture.

Oh and be interested in what YOU are saying. If you're not, who will?

3. Passions and interests
Don't be afraid to bring them up as the date goes on. You don't need someone to share your love for nailpolish or teapots, but most people like knowing you like something. I find people with no interests at all disturbing. Be amused by your interest, see it for what it is - something fun to be enjoyed and communicate it. Don't be the crazy teapot cat girl.

After this point you're on your own because chances are the conversation's either died or hotted up to automatic-pilot mode. Don't forget the real goal of a date is to get to know the other person and let him get to know you.

Warning

Some of these techniques have worked a wee bitty too well for me in the past. Should this be the case for you, then you may need to read this article.

Good luck ladies. What are your advanced dating tips?

My Favourite Things: LUSH Mask of Magniminty

I was never one who really believed in jinxes. I mean, yeah, I know sometimes I say things like, "I hope I don't jinx myself." But I never really believed I would.

And then I really did.

Speaking to a relative (lovely teenage girl with pimply issues) the other day , I was sharing with her about how finding the right skincare product is the secret of having a gorgeous glowy skin.

And how having since met the right products for MY skin, it's been behaving so well, and I've been having a blast.

"I hope I don't jinx myself," said I. And boy I sure did.

Perhaps it was also a new product I tried which my skin clearly wasn't on friendly terms with, but shortly after that conversation, my skin erupted. It started with a huge zit on my nose, and just as that one died, another one started on my chin.

And just as that one was dying, I could feel another popping up along my jawline.

Thank heavens I have a new friend in LUSH's Mask of Magnaminty.

I knew it was time to start masking, but instead of go-to Himalaya Herbals Neem Face Pack (which I recommended to the relative, and she later reported back saying it has helped her skin a lot), I decided to give Ms Magnaminty a shot. Just this week alone, I've used it twice. And am very happy with the results.

Perhaps it's also the insane heat this past week or so, but my face has just been very, veeery unhappy. Besides the huge zits, my skin has little little rash-like bumps, and is dry and flaky. But still oily. It wants to be both Saudi and Sahara. Because it's greedy like that.

Application and product description

Applying with my fingers straight from the pot (I know it's not the most hygienic, but the alternative is too troublesome), I spread it out on my face, slapping on a little more for the problem areas.

Let it set for about 20 minutes, then apply a bit of water to the now-dry face mask, and use it as a scrub. Finally wash it off thoroughly.

First off, the smell. Let me warn you - it stinks! Well, in the tub anyway. Thank heavens (as Kahani assured me), it doesn't smell quite so bad on. No idea why, but it's a good thing. Apart from the mint, there are a heap of other scents, which is just beyond me to describe. But yea, it stinks.

Texture wise, it applies just okay. It doesn't spread at thickly or as easily as the Neem but that's not really much of an issue. You'll just need to do a few more finger dips and go over your face another round or so until you're satisfied with the coverage.


(A greenish paste with grains in it, it doesn't look much better than it smells.)

As it has little grains of what I believe must be ground Aduki Beans in it, you might wanna do the applying at your sink, or risk sowing ground Aduki Beans on your dressing table. But once on, it's fine as long as you don't touch your face. I usually spend my "setting time" reading in bed. And I love the cooling sensation it gives my skin while its on.

It washes off very easily, much easier than the Neem too. And the results? Calmer and happier skin. With ingredients like bentonite gel, kaolin and honey, I'm happy to note the mask dried up my existing pimple, and pretty much killed the up and coming one. The rash-like bumps calmed down a little and my skin is generally improved.

Price

Kahani and I bought a big tub from Hong Kong and split it. And I really can't remember how much it cost, but I remember it was a rather pricey purchase.

I'm really happy to note that in the UK (where I'll be heading quite soon), it's rather affordable at £4.25 for 125g, and £7.50 for 315g. Now I'm wondering if I should get a back-up tub.

Conclusion

I really do love this stuff. It kills the zits and works great in keeping my skin calm and happy. And if reasonably priced, won't burn a big hole in the pocket. Not bad at all, right?

I think I'll go mask now.

Utter disappointment: Dove goFresh roll-on deodorant in grapefruit and lemongrass

I picked this up in Hong Kong hoping it would smell like the shower gel version of this scent - which is delish. Can't believe I haven't reviewed that yet, must get around to it. And it proved to be not just a disappointment, but a disastrous one.

I'm reviewing this now because I spotted it on the shelves at Guardian for about RM12, and in my honest opinion. Please save your cash.

Because EVEN if you don't mind that it smells sweet and powdery and not remotely grapefruity, and EVEN if you don't mind that it dries white and streaky. You WILL mind that the darned thing leaks like crazy and when you open it after a week of ignoring it, it will splatter all over you, your mirror, your feet and your floor. Oh and your makeup too. Depending where you're situated when you pop that cap.

Now there a chance I picked up a defective one, so if you're feeling adventurous give it a go. I for one won't ever try this thing again.

I am trying the spray on one now though *sheepish look*. Because the shower gel is that good.

Spotted: Ecotool Lookalikes

When I first spotted these last week, I thought I was seeing things.

"Since when," I mumbled to myself, "did Ecotools come to town?"

Then I realised that "FenLing" was stamped all over the packaging and handles. They may look like Ecotools brushes and are packaged like Ecotools but these are not Ecotools.

Or so they claim.

I didn't buy them but if you feel like checking out these Ecotools lookalikes, the 5 piece brush set is selling for RM29.90 and the handled kabuki sells for RM16.90. I have only seen these at the Jusco pharmacy in Midvalley though so don't bother searching Guardian, Watsons or Sasa for them.

And if you do get them, don't forget to report back to us at So Loverly. ;)

Review: My Beauty Diary Apple Polyphenol Mask

Heck if I know what "polyphenol" means but I finally gave the My Beauty Diary masks a go and I gotta say that I am really impressed.

If you have not heard of the My Beauty Diary (MBD) masks (seriously, what rock have you been hiding under?), they are an immensely popular sheet mask brand from Taiwan. I am not sure how many types there are -- I think the number comes up to over 20 -- but they do have some interesting sorts such as natto and sake.

Anyway, I picked up a box of 10 in Apple at a mini Guardian warehouse sale for RM39.90 (normal retail price being RM49.90) some weeks ago. Black Pearl was sold out and I wasn't in the mood for Mixed Berries or Cherry Blossom extracts. Plus, the Apple MBD mask claimed to be the best for tackling that bane of my life: open pores.

I am not the type who goes gaga over face masks, especially sheet masks, but this really has done me in. I have never used a face mask which brightens and moisturises this well before. My older sister also made an off-hand comment that my pores seemed to be smaller of late. This coming from my sister... Well, it has to be the truth.

Another thing I like about this mask is that it isn't sticky or strongly scented at all. Most sheet masks leave this awful sticky residue on the skin which I end up washing off lest it dries into a weird film on my face. MBD seems to sink quite quickly into my skin without any residue, leaving me free to seal in the essence with some moisturiser.

The shape of the mask is quite big so I imagine that it should be able to fit most facial shapes without much problems. I found it a bit large but it wasn't anything some folding couldn't handle.

Would I repurchase? Ooh, yes. But in different variaties, I think. I am quite keen to try out Black Pearl, Natto, Sake and Rice.

Does anyone have any other recommendations?

Review: Maybelline Magnum Volum' Express Waterproof Mascara

So I'm a little late with this one, but hey you know it's thoroughly tested! The quick verdict is, it's not worth shelling out extra cash for (as opposed to the RM20 Maybelline Volume Express Hypercurl), but it's not bad either. For the long version, read on!

Brush
I rather like the flat dense brush. It allows all the feathery lash potential of round fat brushes, while not blinding you completely. Nice one, Maybelline!

Formula
Like most Maybelline mascaras, initial results are bleh because the formula is too watery. But there comes a point, usually about a week or two in with daily use where the formula become purrrfect, just before it gets too thick and starts clumping (it's there now after only 6 weeks!).

At its best this formula gives voume, and length. Slightly, but not much, more than hypercurl in my opinion:

It comes off fairly easily with dual-phase eye makeup remover. But it won't come off well with cleansing oils which brings me to the one point it excells Hypercurl in.

It doesn't smudge. AT ALL. Not on my oily skin, not after running around in the rain and mud during a corporate retreat (but not with my company! Being a journalist really can be odd sometimes). If you're after a bulletproof mascara that doesn't take dismemberment to remove *cough Fasio cough* then this baby is GOLD.

Conclusion
I'll save my RM10 and stick to Hypercurl. RM31.90 may not break the bank, but it only lasts a month and a half, and it just doesn't inspire me to loyalty. I know you girls have used it, what do you think?

PS. I got this mascara as a pressie from a friend, I'm so loyal to Hypercurl I couldn't bring myself to buy it! There may come a day when I have the perfect product for everything and then have nothing left to blog about!

And We're TWO!!!

Hello lovelies!

Over here at So Loverly, we're all really abuzz with the fact that we turned TWO over the weekend!!! *wooot!*

It's almost scary how time just seems to whiz by, and before you know it... well, we're here! That said, it's been a fun-filled two years (for us at least), and we certainly look forward to many more years to spend with you, our loverly readers.

We know we've said before, but we're saying it again (and we really do mean it straight from the heart): We really wouldn't be here without you. Thank you. =)

For all our fellow blogging sistas, thank you for making feel we're not alone in our makeup mania.

And as an anniversary request, we would really really appreciate it if you could drop a line to let us know what you like or dislike about our blog. After all, everything's about constant improvement, no? Tell us what you like about us, so we can keep it going, and also what you may not like about us (but gently, please? *squeak*) so we can hopefully work on it and be even better.

Thank you lovelies, and here's to a better year ahead! *clanks lipgloss*

Love,
Syen, Kahani & Eli.

Feedback Wanted: Highlights or Curls?

Hello girlies,

It's Friiiiday!!! *Phew* Seems like it took forever to get here.

Anyway, here's a little something to share with you girls, and then I'd like you to share your opinion with me. Of late, people have been coming up to me with comments like, "Oh. Your hairs really long now."

Of course, these people haven't met Kahani.

But nevermind. My hair is kinda long now. By my standards anyway. The longest bits are at about bra-strap level, so it's about mid-back. And I've been thinking of getting something done about my hair. I'm just a wee bit bored with it already.

Read on to see what I've done with my hair in the last few years.

Highlights


I've highlighted my hair about twice so far, usually with a bright copper shade. I rather liked it. But this time, was considering perhaps dyeing my whole head. I'm not thaat adventurous, so maybe a medium-dark shade of brown?

Curls/ Permed

(I have much better pictures which show off my much-beloved curls, but alas I can't find them now! Will upload when I find them.)

I've also permed my hair twice I believe. And I really really loved my curly hair. Not as much in the first few weeks when the curls are fresh, because they can be a leeeettle bit too much. But after a month or so, they soften into soft, gorgeous curls that I just love.

Generally, I prefer to stick with long hair because I have a really baby face, and short hair makes me look even younger. I've had short-cropped hair in my secondary school days, and it's not really something I plan to go back to.

So in conclusion. What do you girls think? Highlights, dye-job, or curls? Or a double combo? Or all three?

Feedback please!

Shoutout: If you don't brag about yerself, no one will!

Yes it's been out for awhile, yes I've been slow to the game on this one. It's one of those things you keep telling yourself to do, but keep forgetting!

A big thanks to AllWomenStalk for featuring us in their roundup of 7 Great Beauty Blogs. It's a first for So Loverly, and we absolutely appreciate the honour! Being in the same list as Makeup Divas, Beauty Blogging Junkie and Spoiled Pretty is super flattering. Whee!

*high fives Syen & Eli*

DIY: Clear Pink Nailpolish

There's a shade of clear pink nail polish - you know, the blue-based kind that almost looks like a french manicure but not quite. Like healthy glossy nails.... but not quite. And without swatching on every single shade around they really are hard to find!

So when I came across a tip online (which for the life of me I cannot find now, so sorry lovely DIY person whoever you are), to mix a pink polish with a clear nail polish, I filed it away in my "must try someday" database. Well I was cleaning out my nailpolish stash when I came across this failed top coat by Revlon and a cheapie RM5 hot pink nail polish by Elianto I bought for a Eurotrash party that never happened.

Thinking, "Well, what do I have to lose," I mixed a tiny amount of pink in with the top coat, gave it a hard shake and.... magic.

It's the PERFECT shade of clear nail polish. I may even buy a nicer top coat / clear nail polish to mix the pink in with because all the defects in the Revlon top coat are still present. It takes forever to dry (but not as long as when it's over several layers of another polish) and even when dry to touch can be soft enough to gain hatchmarks when I'm asleep. A topcoat of Sally Hansen Dries Instantly definitely helps though!

This is with two coats of polish, it's a hard colour to photograph and looks much pinker in real life. But you can still see the whites of the nails - and they look whiter! Being natural-ish it takes chips well, but being almost entirely top coats, it lasts forever. Whee!

So instead of chucking that lurid pink shade you never wear and that top coat that turned out meh, give this a go!

Spotted: Guardian Grapefruit Shampoo & Conditioner

Guess what's shown up at last? The delicious smelling grapefruit shampoo and condi by Mannings (HK ) / Guardian (MYS)! It smells the same and at RM15.88 costs pretty much the same as well.

Now I know I didn't recommend the shampoo very highly as its' too heavy for my hair, but bear in mind I have pretty damned greasy hair and most girls who prefer gentler shampoos may love it.

I picked up the conditioner today by the way hoping it will impart its scent (unlike the shampoo which washes away, boo!) when used after Happy Hippy or Clairol Herbal Essences So Shiny with Grapefruit gifted to me by the lovely Beetrice. Only she knows where to get it in Singapore - apparently it's a China exclusive! I'm road testing it and so far, so good!

Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturising Lotion

Mum knows my routine. The first place I head for (after my grandmother's place) whenever I get back from Australia is a pharmacy. I'll hop in, browse around and walk out with a bottle of Cetaphil and shampoo.

This time, she raised an eyebrow when I walked out of Guardian.

"What happened to your bottle of Cetaphil?"

I looked down at the Hada Labo bottle in my hand. "%(@%#@! I forgot!"

At the top of my beauty-products-to-buy-in-Malaysia list was a bottle of Hada Labo Moisturising Lotion. I was sold the minute I read ParisB's review. It sounded perfect for my oily dry skin. My fingers were itching to try it out so when I finally got my hands on a bottle, Cetaphil flew out of my mind.

Verdict? My skin loves this stuff. I am sold on the whole super hyaluronic acid hype now. The lotion isn't moisturising enough on its own -- I usually have to seal it in with another moisturiser -- but combined with the other products in my arsenal, it really does help with my oily-dry skin. Ever since I have started using this morning and night, my skin produces less oil and I don't have to use oil blotters on a good day. In fact, my pimples have subsided since I have started using this.

The pat-pat-pat application is a bit of drag, especially on days when I am in a hurry as I end up pulling a slap fest instead. My father stopped in his tracks to ask if I was doing penance for Lent when he saw me slapping my face vigorously.

You only need to use one or two drops at a time to cover your face. A drop more makes your face quite slippery and takes ages for the lotion to soak in.

Priced at RM40.90 for 170 ml, I think it's a pretty good deal. I have used about 14ml for the past 3 weeks (I apply it on my neck as well) so I am guessing that a bottle of Hada Labo Moisturising Lotion would last for about 10 months. Double that if you only use this for your face.

Would I buy again? Oooh, yes. This goes in my personal Holy Grail list. Let's just hope that Hada Labo sticks around in Malaysia until I need a second bottle.

Of brushes and combs ~

Every girl knows the importance to having the right hair brush or comb in her arsenal of hair-styling tools.

What kind of brush you use, or what kind of comb you'd need would need, would depend entirely on the type of hair you have, and of course, what you're going to use the brush for.

I once had a guy friend ask me, "What's the difference between a comb and a brush?"

A simple answer would be that while a comb can do a great job of parting the hairline, or detangling the hair, it could hardly do the styling-duties of a brush.

There are also great benefits to brushing. It helps blood circulation on your scalp, and apart from getting rid of the day's dust from your hair, brushing also spreads out the hair sebum from the roots of the hair to the tips, which can help produce a healthy sheen. Sounds good, eh?

My hair, thankfully, is rather low maintenance so there aren't many styling tools in my arsenal. Just two brushes and a wide-tooth comb! Check them out after the jump!

The Body Shop Cushion Pin Large Hairbrush (~RM35)


This one really looks like a cushion with pins all stuck onto it, hence its name. TBS says this brush is best used for brushing and styling mid to long hair and especially good for penetrating thick hair. It's also my favourite hairbrush as it's soft enough to not scratch my scalp, and I feel like I've just given my hair a nice polish every time I'm done brushing.

Foxy Wooden Quill Brush (~RM35)


Picked this one up in Greece because I couldn't resist the name. It's alright, but the quills are a little hard, so I have to be careful when brushing. A previous favourite of mine was a Miine wooden quill hairbrush I picked up from Watson's (in Phuket) for only 70 baht (RM7)! That one was a real joy to use. When I'm back in Thailand, will surely go a-looking for it.

Wide-tooth comb (can't remember price)


I've had this comb for a really reeeally long time. And I simply love it. I use it to part my hair and to comb out tangles. When I travel, sometimes this is all I bring with me as it's all I need to get my hair right again.

And just in case you were wondering, my hair routine is uber simple. Washing and conditioning, towel wrap to dry it a little bit, part hair with wide-tooth comb and air dry. Once it's dry, just apply a teeny weeny bit of Frederic Fekkai's glossing cream, a good brush and I'm done! Shiny, shiny hair. *winks* No styling, no hot irons.

Now spill it. What's in your arsenal?

Monday's Beauty Bits

Remember syen's scrubby thing from Daiso? Well guess what? Squirt a lil cleanser on it and it scrubs off the tenacious Himalayan Herbals Neem Mask nicely. Rinse off most of the mask first andgo to it!

Speaking of masks, you don't really need to invest in a seperate exfoliating mask. Just dampen your face and spread a thin layer of your regular facial scrub - preferably containing salicylic acid - leave it on for a minute then gently scrub for 30 seconds before rinsing. Of course, if it burns, don't leave it on!

Of late I've been too lazy to use a pencil, liquid or cream liner. Instead, using a tiny and dense brush, I pat a dark eyeshadow directly onto just-applied MAC Paint Pot. It's not as long lasting as a liquid liner but it isn't bad! Stands up to oil really well and if it smudges, it's easy to clean up.


The handcream in my bag at present is the trial sized version of Clean & Clear Clear Fairness. It's non greasy, smells lemony and has spf15. Not bad huh? You can still pick up the tiny sizes for about RM3 so it's also wonderfully cheap. I'm curious, do you tote a cream around? What is it?

Great Time Saver: St Ives Exfoliating Apricot Moisturising Body Wash

I am not a morning person.

Anyone who knows me, knows that. Which brings me to a slight problem.

I love my morning showers, but I always seem to be in a rush. If I can sleep in for just an extra five minutes, I will. But I like to shower in the morning before I head out too. And sometimes, a little scrub while I'm in the bath wouldn't hurt either.

So what's a girl to do when she needs a morning-perk-me-up-showercumscrub-but-dang-I've-only-got-five-minutes? Well, meet my answer: St Ives Exfoliating Apricot Body Wash.

A body wash that contains apricot extracts and jojoba beads, it cleanses and provides a lovely mild and gentle exfoliation at the same time. If you have sensitive skin and find that body scrubs are just too harsh for your delicate skin, this might be a good option to check out too.

My skin always feels great after a rendezvous in the shower with this. It is moisturising enough that my skin feels comfortable, without any hint of dryness.

Of course, it also doesn't hurt at all that this body wash also has a delightful fruity scent which helps me wake up just a little bit more. Until I have caffeine in my system, I never fully awake.

For about RM16 for a 400ml bottle, I think it's very reasonably priced.

This body wash reminds of two-in-one coffee. So I get my morning shower, with a nice little scrub, and I still make it out of the shower in five minutes. Not bad, eh?

Of course, no one's stopping you if you want to take more than five minutes with it.

Crazy awesome tinted lip balm: Lanolips in Apples

Calling this crazy pigmented lippy a tinted lip balm is doing it an injustice. It's more like a very moisturising lip gloss. Very moisturising!

Containing lanolin (yes it's from sheep and so isn't vegan friendly), it's thick, smooth, and glossy.It can be sheered out to give lips a natural tint, or packed on with a lip brush for evening glamour.

It won't last as long as a red lipstick of course but it's a joy to reapply. Oh and it even has SPF15. Aweesooomeee...

In case you're wondering, it's scentless and tasteless so it doesn't smell sheepy. =P

My one issue with this gloss is that it doesn't even TRY to have an applicator. I've always preferred glosses with either a brush or doe foot applicator but this one doesn't even have a slanted or rounded tip. It'a a tube's tip. Period. For sheer application I have to use my finger, and for a brilliant, true red, I use a lip brush.

It's a pressie from Eli and costs AUD$13.90 - pricey but it really is quite lovely. I'm angling to get a pretty pink shade now.

(PS: sorry ladies I wanted to upload a swatch but wretched internet not cooperating! Will do it when I can!)