Review: Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat & Vichy Normaderm Refining Pore Essence

Pro Mat on Left and Refining Essence on Right

I am nursing a couple of injuries from an accident with a door so this week's post is going to be short and sweet. Let's take a look at two products I have been trying out for the past two months: Vichy Normaderm Pro Mat Non-Stop Matte Effect Hydrating Care and Vichy Normaderm Refine Total Pore Resurfacing Essence.

Isn't that a mouthful? Vichy needs to think of shorter names for their products.

Pre-review: Mannings UV Cut Powder SPF50

Really soon after I posted trialling Bare Minerals SPF30, I found THIS jar in Mannings (Guardian here in Hong Kong) going for only HKD79. As I had a HKD50 voucher for Mannings on me, I thought... what the hey. I've been using this for a week now and again, while this isn't a full review I thought I'd post my thoughts here for anyone else who, like me, is desperate for a powder SPF.

Monday's Beauty Bit: INGLOT is in Malaysia!

Hey lovelies,

I might be a little late with the news, but better late than never, I say! But a little birdy told me last week that INGLOT is now in Malaysia!

And frankly, that is fantastic news for makeup lovers in the country. Sephora's here and now INGLOT too. You know what they say... when it rains, it POURS.

Is Muji's line of cosmetics the poor girl's Shu Uemura?

Because the packaging is pretty darned similar! I can't compare colours and textures as the only Shu Uemura item I own is a mono eyeshadow (which is pretty darned awesome) but basedon looks alone, Muji's line and Shu's bear a striking resemblence. The prices though are nothing near alike, this lovely eyeshadow quad is only HKD68. It doesn't have the gorgeous creaminess and pay off that Shu's eyeshadows have, but hey... it's HKD68.

Coping with the Mid-year Heat.

When I was a kid, I once attended a dinner where a foreign guest asked if Malaysia had four seasons like Europe. Everyone at the table were shaking their heads and about to say, “No” when one of the local Obs-gyn doctors beat them to the punch.

“Yes, we do. We have hot and hotter, and wet and wetter.”

I hate the Hotter part of the year. For the most part, I am a sunshine loving girl. If I were a cat, I would be one of those who do nothing but bask in sunshine all day. I dislike cold, air-conditioned rooms and start shivering whenever the temperature drops below 24C. But for three months out of twelve, I find myself reaching for the air-conditioner remote.

Another reason why I hate the heat is because I start getting acne all over my body. My face, my back, along my hairline... My colleagues and I were bemoaning the fact that none of us will ever be able to wear backless dresses again. My back looks like something the plague hit and I keep discovering monstrous zits on my face.

Here’s a list of things I am doing/using to survive through the next few months.

Getting in that Sun Protection Factor

Make no mistake. Hong Kong is HOT. Every bit as hot as Malaysia, plus a whole lot more walking and absolutely no car to drive around in.

After years of relying on my foundation and SPF15 moisturiser for SPF factor the freckles on my face have told me I need to get way more serious unless I want to look like a leathery old crone in a decade or so. Here are my two top weapons on my arsenal at present. Make no mistake, this isn't a review... that will come after a month of diligent, daily use. This is just a first-impressions post.

What kind of a girl are you?

Hello lovelies,

It's a Friiiday. Woohoo!

And today I thought we'd just do a little Friday sharing. What kind of a girl are you?


Makeup-wise, of course.

Yay or Nay: Too Many Products are Bad for Your Skin

I came across this article in the Sydney Morning Herald yesterday and wondered what you readers think of it.

The article, titled "The Ugly Side of Beauty Writer", writes that 20 Ozzie beauty editors had their skin examined by a German skincare trainer and found that all of them had "bad skin".

"[Sue] Dann says beauty editors' complexions are, almost to a fault, reddish, sensitised, irritated and 'confused'. 'Their skin has had enough'.... Dann believes the problem is caused by the use of strong, inappropriate products."

Of course, there's a bit in the article promoting the skincare brand Dann works for but what I am more interested in is the suggestion that too many products and too much switching around ruins one's skin. A sort of skin version of the "Too many cooks spoil the broth" saying.

I know my mother would definitely agree as she had a massive breakout after switching to a new skincare brand. She's always lecturing me for trying new brands but if the current one doesn't work...

I am rambling so let's get back to the point: Lots of product, so little time. Do you agree that using too many products is bad for your skin?

Into organic makeup and/or hate silicones? WATCH THIS

Yaya for Lisa Eldridge!

Monday's Beauty Bit: Sephora KLCC is open!

Hello lovelies,

Apologies for the late entry today... *grumbles at crappy Internet*. But I do have one little itty-bitty good news to share: Sephora KLCC is FINALLY open!


I had a whirlwind of a run-through yesterday. Was in a rush, and didn't have a camera on me unfortunately, so I don't have photos to share. Sorry about that.

But I must say, it looked good. There's more after the jump!

More on the Pink Guava + A Nivea Roundup!

Hello lovelies,

I told you I'd give you a proper-er review of the Nivea Fruity Shine in Pink Guava, and here it is.

Over the last two years or so, I've been slowly but surely amassing Nivea's Fruity Shine lipbalms. The ones I've managed to get my hands on, at least. Which is to say, not really many.


And the latest Nivea baby to join the little bandwagon is Pink Guava.

Random Video: Even more reasons to love Ikea...

Following my Ikea-heavy apartment decor post, this seems ever so slightly relevant. Plus it'll make you laugh.



Or not. I'll bet the Swedes in this vid are cursing their Japanese posting now!

Welcome to the new apartment

I've finally moved into my new flat and I still feel like a little girl playing house, or "masak-masak". =P

It was partially furnished so I got to indulge some of my whims and fancies without spending too much. Like this white-green colour scheme I've always had a crush on.

Lipbalm addicts of the world rejoice!

Okay. Maybe not the world. Just those here in Malaysia.


Because we have some new and pretty darn fab lipbalms in the house! By lipbalm giants Mentholatum and Nivea, no less.

Summer 2011: Soleil Tan de Chanel in Bronze Corail

It's Harvest Festival this week in Sabah and Sarawak. Kotobian tadau do tagazo do kaamatan, tanak negeri Sabah!)

I think there is an unwritten Law of Shopping which runs thus: "When you have nothing to buy and have no plans to buy anything, you WILL end up buying something -- something expensive."

Take two weeks ago for example. I dropped by the Chanel counter to pick up a lip pencil for my mother. It was just supposed to be a quick dash in and out as I had the item on hold for the longest time. I was chatting to the MUA, Adeline, when my eye fell on the Summer 2011 makeup collection. She followed my gaze.

"Pretty, right?" she commented. "We just launched it yesterday. Customers have been calling non-stop for weeks to see it has arrived. Some came in minutes when they heard it was here. Think we'll be sold out soon. Want to try?"

I sat, she demonstrated and I was conquered. I have a sneaking weakness for coral blushes and this particular shade made my cheeks look so pretty and glowy, I fell head over heels in love. The coral blush made my skin look like they were glowing from within.

"How many palettes do you have left?" I asked.

Adeline smiled. "Just two."