Temporarily Discontinued: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer

To go all Malaysian on you readers: Why lah, must they discontinue a great product just when I have discovered it? Sial betul, right when my skin finally looks like it is going to settle down, be happy and finally concentrate on getting rid of those acne scars, Clinique turns around and bites me on the – okay, I will stop ranting now.

Anyway, I am deeply distressed by the news that Clinique is planning to discontinue their Turnaround Concentrate from their product line up this coming fall. I was suffering from awful breakouts in June and was in the doldrums of despair.

“I think,” my mother said calmly one day, “you need a new serum and moisturiser. Whatever you are using seems to be absolute crap.”

I laughed and agreed. I always had Clinique Turnaround Concentrate on my list after reading a review by Belledemoiselle so I hopped out and bought it. Salicylic acid has always been one of my favourite zit-busting products and it was a while since I bought an exfoliating serum.

Fanda Pharmacy - Possibly the best drugstore in Hong Kong

It was while looking for some way of buying dry shampoo in Hong Kong that I came across elusive mentions of Fanda Pharmacy on expat forums. A pharmacy where you could buy not only Batiste dry shampoo, but shampoo of all kinds, makeup, and skincare brands you couldn't find anywhere else. Posts also promised a great pharmacy with well-trained staff who could speak both English and Mandarin.

If you're as familiar with drugstore shopping in Hong Kong as I am by now? You'll think it's valhalla. 

I found out there were (likely) two outlets. One, right near my office in Central and the other in Tsim Tsa Tsui. 

Read on for my mini-haul:

US Haul Part II: Macy's

The second part of my US haul, from Macy's.


Tiny, compared to the Sephora haul.

Transitioning to fall with theBalm's Cabana Boy (it's not just for summer)

My love for theBalm's blush offerings is officially a mindless devotion. The brain basically goes "Blush? theBalm? Buy!" Why? Because they're affordable, generously sized and oh-so-gorgeous. We at So Loverly adore Down Boy, and Syen and I have gone to lengths to get our hands on the new Frat Boy (which hasn't made its appearance in Asia yet). The only one we struggle a little with is the overly goldy Hot Mama but it's a fun highlighter and I've been eyeing Cabana Boy for just ages.

Initially I was wary because it looks dark which can look muddy on my skintone however, it turns out to be this gorgeous glowy berry blush that makes you look like you've just walked in from the cold and your cheeks are just naturally lovely and rosy.

Which really makes this more a Fall / Winter blush than a summer blush (despite the name), don't you think? However darker skinned girls may find in Cabana Boy their equivalent of my summer fave, Down Boy.

And I am Back!

Syen and Kahani were kind enough to let me off blogging duty for a month, seeing how work, constant travelling and a persistent cough were driving me up the wall with little energy to spare. After the long Eid holiday and a much anticipated break with my boyfriend (am waiting for the day when I can show the finger to all those well-meaning “friends” who predicted doom and said long distance relationships don’t last), I am almost back to my usual self and am ready to report for regular blogging duty.

I am still catching up on the beauty scene so don’t expect anything from me on new trends and news ( Beaut.ie does a great job of it so go look there). I do have stuff to report from the Quest for Clear Skin Battle Front though. In brief:

US Haul Part I: Sephora ~

Hello lovelies,

I am back! Didja miss me? Shameless, I know. But ah well... *winks*

And now that I am back from gallivanting across the United States, I bring you photos of what I've hauled back. I bought quite a bit of stuff, so I think I'll have to spread it out over several posts. Beginning from what I picked up from Sephora(s).


Hope you don't mind me bragging about my hauls. After all, what's a haul if not to share and show off a little, right? *tee hee*

Here goes...

Sleek Pout Paint in Pin Up vs OCC Lip Tar in NSFW

So, it's the question everyone wants to know, how does Pout Paint measure up to OCC Lip Tars?

Actually to be honest I have no idea how OCC is going to keep justifying their hefty GBP9 price tag when Sleek Pout Paints are selling the same quantity at half the price.

In a nutshell, Pout Paints are thicker and dryer than Lip Tars, making them harder to spread and so harder to mix and work with. So Lip Tars are slightly better formulated.

Lip Tars are also minty which I prefer to Sleek's redoxen flavoured tubes. However, not everyone likes mint and some girls find it irritating.

Finally, Pout Paints outlast lip tars. I slicked on Pin Up for housework, lunch, grocery shopping and although it came off on everything, its colour just appeared undiminished.

Read on for swatches and a face shot

Playing with Sleek Makeup's Pout Paints

We were lucky enough to receive several tubes of Sleek Makeup's Pout Paints to play with from the lovely people in London who promote this brand. And play is right, it's genuinely fun mixing and swatching these paint-like tubes.

This is more of a "first take" than a full review as swatching and removing these on my lips would leave them sore. Even on my arm I had to use a cleansing oil to get these off, so my guess is they wear a really really long time.

We were sent two colours, Pin Up (Red) and Peachy Keen (orange) and two mixers Peek-a-bloo (blue) and Cloud 9 (white). Interestingly the release said that the blue shade was to add depth and warmth. Read on for swatches!

Best pocket Tissues - Tempo Petit 4-Ply Handkerchiefs

Yes I really am reviewing tissue paper - but hey, I had to suffer through packet after inferior packet because no one reviews tissue paper. Well now I intend to benefit the world with my hard-earned wisdom. 

If you want tissues that will mop sweaty brows without disintegrating and leaving embarassing nasty white pills all over your face these are it. They really hold together and as they're 4-ply they're so nice and thick I generally only need one sheet after I huff and puff my way up Lan Kwai Fong on the way to work (No, I don't work in a bar!). 

And because they're "petit" packs they're perfect for handbags. These also come in Jasmine, apple cinnamon and menthol - all of them actually smell really good! But I opted for boring neutral as my face tends to break out when in direct contact with fragranced products. 

If you're in sweltering hot Hong Kong, you need these. Trust me. 

Loving Bourjois Bio detox organic silicone-free foundation & concealer!

Is it the perfect foundation? Hell no.

No silicone-free foundy can compete with the perfect airbrushed smooth goodness of the evil silicone (dimethicone, cyclomethicone, methicone...etc). But at GBP10 its' way WAY cheaper than Laura Mercier's Oil Free Foundation, it works well enough with a little effort and it does not break me out. Huzzah!


Now on to the review, I warn you this will be a long one: