OPI Natural Nail Base Coat - Worth it?

I was lucky enough to find this at discount haven Bonjour but even so, I think I'd seriously consider paying full price for this - well at least the US retail price of $8.50, not the evil marked up Asian prices. However I think OPI is phasing this out as it's going online for US$2! So grab it soon if you want it after this evw.

I'm not a base coat expert though, I've mostly only used The Face Shop's (not bad) and Revlon's Muticare Base and Top Coat (terrible!!). I must say though that neither have performed like this one.

Like a good base coat should, it protects the nails from staining and from nailpolish drying your nails out. It dries in next to no time too which is awesome.

It strengthens and provides a really great surface for painting nailpolish on. Really great.Nail polishes that have in the past required two coats due to streakiness now only require one.

But where it's really awesome is how long it gets the manis to last. About 10 days and the tips are still good (unless you cut it with a kitchen knife while cooking... true story). However I find that as my nail grows out, the part near the cuticle will start to peel away and by about day 9 start to flake. So usually the mani's removed by then - still, 7 days with dishwashing and cooking ain't bad.

I currently use Revlon's Quick Dry Top Coat which IS pretty good and affordable too so look into giving that one a try. ;)

Cheapie Sinma Spin Pins (Magic Scroos?) vs Goody Spin Pins

Well ladies, I'm back from Malaysia and I found them! Thanks to everyone who told me where they spotted them. I'm darned sure they'rein Hong Kong but for the life of me I've never spotted them. I picked up a few pairs of the plain ones for RM2.50 and...

A pair of the sparkly ones for RM6.50. They're a wee bit tacky but I was curious and they don't look bad in the hair at all. The pearl topped ones though were indeed way way tacky (you're so right Plue!).

Now for the question at the crux of all this... how does it compare with THE Goody Spin Pin?

Bulletproof sunblock: Shiseido Very High SPF50+ Waterproof Sunblock

If you're going to spend all day on the beach or hiking - and you're like me and hate reapplying sunblock this is the friend you want on your side. NOTHING gets through it. So far the times I've used it I didn't even break a tan let alone get burnt and I've used it to:

1. Run around all day on the beach and snorkle in the sea on a team-building sort of obstacle course
2. Go see dolphins and whales on a boat under the scorching sun in the middle of the ocean for about 5 hours
3. Go on a hike under the blazing sun  where I had to mop sweat up constantly. 

My only problems with it is that if I use it on my face I break out and that it's really quite expensive at RM150 (I think) for a 100ml bottle. Bear in mind though that I break out if I use ANYTHING but powder sunblock (which will never stand up to the above activities) and that on days like that, breakouts are better than permanent sun damage. It's a tough call though. *sighs*

I received this from Shiseido a really long time ago to test out but since I can't use it daily it's taken me awhile to review it. Chances are though I'll repurchase this - especially since I've seen it going at a discount in Bonjour, Hong Kong. ;)

Mixed feelings about Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On Mascara

I honestly can't make up my mind about this mascara, while there are many things I dislike about it, the things I DO like about it are pretty damned great.

For example, I hate that it purports to give spiky anime lashes. But I love that the lashes it does give me are so defined I can skip eyeliner and even eyeshadow on days I want to look more natural (*cough*aminatearinghurry*cough*).

Not obvious in the shot but it makes a difference!

Mission: Shopping in the United States. Help required.

Hello lovelies,

Oooh... I'm so excited! As I'm typing this post out, I can already count the days before I pack and fly off to the US of A!


A trip to makeup mecca of the world (in my humble opinion). Finally! (Can you tell I'm excited?)

Anyhoo, I know loads of you ladies reading our blog are from the US, or have been there, and here's where I need some help.

An update on the Gel Manicure. And a few thoughts.

So a while back I had a gel manicure done. Oh... just about a month back.

And guess what? They're still on. And not a chip. And still as glossy as ever. Amazing.

As far as not-chipping is concerned, my gel manicures have held up their end of the bargain alright.

But would I get it done again? No. Never. Read on to find out why.

(Bewarned. Gross photos after the jump.)

Review: Bioderma Sensibio H2O

 

Lisa Eldridge can sell me damned near anything. Especially when she makes a video all about using it. I've been curious to try Bioderma's Sensibio H2O makeup remover ever since watching it so when I:

1. Decided I needed an oil-free makeup remover for morning smudge cleanups
2. Spotted a cute teeny tiny bottle of it (It's about 50ml I think)
3. For only HKD38
4. I pounced!

So how did it work out?

My Favourite Things: Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Gentle Exfoliating Facial Scrub

My goodness. What a name.


But what a scrub. Really.

Small miracles - Goody Spin Pins

Hong Kong's weather this time of year is scorching. Sure Malaysia's hot too, but there I have a car, here I take public transport and I WALK. Having my hair down is out of the question. So I'm eternally glad I picked up these little darlings on my trip to Shanghai. 

By the way, WHY are these things available in Shanghai and not Hong Kong? WHY??

Because they are beyond fabulous. Each one does the work of "20 bobby pins" and hold up my hair without damaging the strands or being remotely uncomfortable - unless I screw the bun to tight that is. 

They also let me do this...

Quick Peek: Dior Addict in Taffetas

For all your sheer-shimmery-balmy-lipstick needs.

Not a beauty post: My (possibly) perfect winter trench coat

A little off topic but I'm too thrilled to write about anything else tonight, so bear with me.

So those of you who follow this blog know I'm vain.Those who follow Frocking Around, know I also have a need for things to be pretty and fashionable. And now here's another few facts, I'm a geek and I LOVE organisational gadgets. So a cute trenchcoat that's a gorgeous shade of periwinkle blue that ha say... 18 pockets which can stow my kindle, a water bottle and just about all the contents of my handbag definitely has MY attention. 

Check out what the Scottevest Women's Trench can do:

And it can hold all this without looking bulky!

Only in Your Dreams: Things You (Literally) Dreamt of

My beauty sleep has been interrupted by fitful dreams lately: Of dead relatives turning up for coffee and gossip, having to sit for STPM exams and panicking because I have never done Form Six before, having to throw chairs at grey spooks who want to harvest my hair for wigs...

No wonder I wake up feeling even more tired than before.

Last night I dreamt that I went into a M.A.C store to check out their Semi-Precious Collection. It was sold out but they had a brand new collection inspired by -- get this -- exotic birds like the birds of paradise and Amazonian parrots. The eyeshadow and blush palettes were embossed prettily with colourful birds -- one which sticks out in my mind was a tri-coloured highlighter with a cockatoo pattern. Gorgeous.

I forgot what I ended up buying but it was a blush and a 217 eyeshadow brush which I have been lemming for the longest time.

In the words of our junior high essays: I woke up to find that it was just a dream and cursed bitterly.

Now, have any of you experienced dreams like mine where your lemmings come true and fantastic makeup collections are brought before your eyes? Do share and don't make me feel like the only weird one!

A hair-pampering session with Himalaya Herbals...

Was what I had two weekends ago.


The nice people at Himalaya Herbals had decided to treat some of us bloggers to a hair-pampering session (to introduce us to their range of hair-care products), and so I'll be telling you about the little treat I had.

Uhh... it's a bit of a picture heavy post, this one.