So Loverly: A beauty blog about all things pretty that make you loverly!

Happy Chinese New Year!!!

2012-01-20T02:29:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies! With the Chinese (or Lunar) New Year just around the corner, it's been busybusybusy all the way for me. And so soon after Christmas too. (In case you're wondering about the picture, it's the year of the dragon this time round!) So here's wishing all of you who are celebrating, a very Happy Chinese New Year! Hope this year will be a great year for you, and may it bring you

New Year, New Changes

2012-01-18T01:38:00.000+08:00

We So Loverly girls can never stay put for long. Since the blog started, Kahani has moved from Europe to Kuala Lumpur and now to Hong Kong. Syen has been our rock in KL but look at the places she has travelled to! Greece, Hong Kong, United States... Me? I started blogging from Australia before leaving to tramp around Borneo. And now its time to announce another move. As of February, I will be

Endless chocolate

2012-01-13T08:00:00.000+08:00

So Syen's told you that she's reconverted me back to cream shadows (although, with a few fallacies. I. do. NOT. squawk! Or say oh my 'gawd' *glares at Syen). Why "reconverted"? I used to love Benefit's Cream Shadow Liner D'Liners you see.. but they dry up. Not cool when they'r so pricey to start with. But now drugstores have started coming up with decent cream shadows, it seemed like a good

Favourite Things: Make Up For Ever Aqua Creams. They rock.

2012-01-06T01:01:00.000+08:00

If you're one who's into cream shadows, chances are, you'd definitely heard of Make Up For Ever (MUFE)'s Aqua Creams. Their reputation within the beauty blogging world is, frankly, quite legendary. And so when I decided to head the way of the cream shadows, of course I had to try these. But it wasn't until I made a trip to the US that I finally got my hands on them. Why? Because they're

Things I Did Over Christmas Week

2012-01-04T07:00:00.000+08:00

Happy New Year, All! It's a brand new year and I am sure that some of you have made a heap of New Year Resolutions. Me? I didn't bother this year round. Just had too many things to do last week which included... 1. I finally visited Sephora. I know, I totally fail as a beauty blogger. Sephora has been open for yonks but I never got around to visiting it until last week. In my defense, I am

My 2011 Beauty Favourites!

2011-12-30T01:33:00.000+08:00

Goodness!!! It's the LAST Friday of 2011. New Year is almost upon us, and I cannot wait for what's in store in the coming year. (LOTS on my plate, believe me. Oh goody!) But before we bid au revoir to 2011, I would like to share with you my favourite things from 2011. From high end to budget, Chanel to Sleek MakeUP, here are some of my favourite stuff of the year. 1. MAC Cham-Pale Paint

News Flash: Limited Edition 125 ml Clinique Moisture Surge at KLIA

2011-12-28T14:07:00.001+08:00

If you are a Moisture Surge fan and happen to be travelling through the Kuala Lumpur International Airport, please stop at the Clinique counter. Clinique has released a Big Mama sized version of Moisture Surge, priced at RM 292 for 125ml. Considering that the 50ml pot retails for RM160 and the 75ml for RM216, this is a pretty sweet deal. Oh, and while you are at it, please pick up a tub

Merry Berry - Loving GOSH Soft'N Shine Lip Balm

2011-12-21T10:44:00.001+08:00

Since cold(ish) weather hit and grey skies I've been craving rich plummy berry colours. When I spotted this shade at the Gosh counter with Syen my eyes lit up. When I swatched the formula and checked the reasonable price tag (HKD75) I was SOLD. The shade is Perfect Plum (34) and it is indeed perfect. Sheer, glossy and so moisturising I don't need to use a lip balm under it at all. Which is why

Breaking News: New palettes from theBalm now in Malaysia!

2011-12-16T00:13:00.001+08:00

Guess what lovelies? theBalm's Nude'Tude and Meet Matt(e) are now available in Malaysia! Looks like my constant prowling about the malls does have its benefits after all. *grin* Read on to find out more. I spotted these at Sasa Selective, 1 Utama, and the news gets better. They're currently on 15% discount. Which makes both these palettes cost a little under RM100 each. They're about RM98 a

Review: Clarins UV Plus HP Day Screen SPF 40

2011-12-14T07:00:00.000+08:00

Freaking fantastic HG stuff. I would leave my review at that but seeing how a "proper" review is supposed to be at least 3 paragraphs long, I will expand on it. What is there not to like about Clarins UV Plus? It is lightweight, easily absorbed, dries to a slight powder finish, doesn't give me pimples and travels really well. I have used this all over Borneo -- river cruises, trekking,

Unpacking November's Glamabox

2011-12-12T11:00:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong now too has this nifty service where you subscribe for about USD$10 a month (HKD88 here) and get a box of beauty products, samples and full-sized, to try. Glamabox though is an independent company and not affiliated with Glambox in the US, UK and Oz. Brands they're working with include Sleek (whee!), Benefit, Sasa and Clinique. The service is still fairly new but I

EOTD: Going brown with the Naked palette

2011-12-09T00:00:00.000+08:00

No. I do not yet own Naked 2. I wish. But all this hype about Naked 2 has, of course, turned my attention to the original Naked palette which I do own. And this was the eye I decided to go with for yet another recent wedding. This look was really simple, but I was really happy with it. What I used: 1. Make Up For Ever Aqua Cream in #15 (described as a "taupe brown shimmer") as base all

Have yourselves a Berry Christmas... with Sleek MakeUP

2011-12-08T01:00:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies, Lookie what came in with the mail last week? Sleek MakeUP's The Berry Collection. As it's a Limited Edition collection for Christmas, I thought I should let you girls in on this ASAP. Here goes. The collection comprises a blush (Fenberry), a lipstick (Cranberry) and a kohl pencil (Mossberry). It's berry merry alright. Fenberry blush: It's a cool berry shade

OPI in Meep-Meep-Meep

2011-12-04T21:25:00.001+08:00

Part of the muppet collection, Meep-Meep-Meep is a gorgeous sparkly deep pinky red. Two coats to opaque. I always wondered if OPI was worth the price tag but this shade and another gorgeous metallic shade (Designer de-better) have convince me that it may be. At least the sparkly shades. They dry fast and last a full week on my fingers with a base coat and top coat. I picked it up with

Naked. Again.

2011-12-02T01:30:00.001+08:00

Bet the headlines caught your attention, didn't it? Don't worry, it's nothing scandalous. But just in case you didn't already know, Urban Decay has new palette out. And guess what's it called? Naked2. And it looks beautiful. (Note: All photos in this post are courtesy of Lipglossiping, which you should totally check out because she's got heaps more gorgeous photos of Naked2, including

Book & Beauty Connection: Max Factor and "Ballet Shoes" by Noel Streatfeild

2011-11-30T07:00:00.000+08:00

Hands up if you grew up reading books about ballet and aspiring ballerinas. If you did, chances are, you have come across the "Shoes" series by Noel Streatfeild at one point of time or another. Published in 1936, "Ballet Shoes" is a very old book. However, it has never gone out of print and I always find myself buying second hand copies to give away to little girls or friends who don't

Beauty Blender sponge - a lifesaver for non-silicone foundation users

2011-11-28T14:18:00.001+08:00

Sorry ladies, I know I haven't been posting much lately,but it's been an exceptionally busy time. If I'm not travelling, I'm hosting someone. Right now actually Syen's staying with me. Whee! It's all been fun but has left me little time or energy for posting.Still I was so thrilled about this wee pink egg that I had to share!Reading reviews online I was never quite convinced that the Beauty

FOTD: A muted glam look for wedding dinners ~

2011-11-25T01:25:00.000+08:00

'Tis the season to be married. Or so it seems. From September up till the end of the year, I've had no less than 10 wedding invites. And boy is it fun dressing up. And this, dear lovelies, seems to be pretty much the look I've been donning for wedding dinners. With slight variations at each wedding, of course. This was the face I wore to a friend's wedding this past Saturday, and I opted

Beauty To-do Lists: Do you have one?

2011-11-23T07:00:00.000+08:00

Apparently its a Virgo thing: Whenever I can't sleep, I pull out a notebook and start making lists. Things to do, books to read, recipes to try, lists of lemmings... You get the idea. Call me obsessive-compulsive but I find list-making quite soothing whenever I feel overwhelmed by work and other things. Whether I actually get around to ticking all the things off the list is another story

Review: A palette that's Oh So Special!

2011-11-18T00:19:00.000+08:00

It seems to me that everytime I feel the need to review something with a bit of colour in it, Sleek MakeUP eyeshadow palettes are the first thing that cross my mind. And for pretty good reason too. Of the many wonderful things Sleek MakeUP has to offer, the thing that really gets to me are their palettes. And today, we'll be looking at their Oh So Special palette. As with the other

Unexpected delight: L'Erbolario 3 Rosa profuma roll-on gel

2011-11-14T08:00:00.000+08:00

I don't like Rose scents (except in fresh roses) as a rule. But I love this one... Perhaps it's the mix of pink pepper in the fragrance and the fresh green notes they wove in - that make it smell like you're in a rose garden on a frosty bright day. It's a very ladylike fragrance, but but in anyway old lady. It isn't heady or powdery. It's sweet, fresh, with a rose note and a peppery bite.

Book & Beauty Connection: NARS 'Kudoki Kabuki' Lip Set and "Thousand Cranes" by Yasunari Kawabata

2011-11-09T23:00:00.000+08:00

Beauty isn't my first love; books are. Every once in a while, I'll come across a product that reminds me of a book I have read; or a passage which has interesting imagery connected to beauty -- perfumes and lipsticks to powder compacts. I don't know why it took me so long to think of this but why not combine the two? I get to write about something beauty-related while letting you have a peek

Quick Post: Great deals on theBalm!

2011-11-08T02:25:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies! Surprised? Hehe... Ah well. It's not really my time to post, but I bumped into a great deal today and great deals must be shared, scheduled or not. To our Malaysian readers, if you've been one to have been lemming after theBalm products, you definitely want to find out what's after the jump! Sasa Selective at 1 Utama is currently having a promotion on theBalm products (as

Review: Kiehl's Oil-Free Ultra Facial Cleanser

2011-11-07T08:00:00.000+08:00

Poor Kiehl's. They kindly sent me their Oil-Free Ultra Facial Cleanser and Gel Cream to review over a month ago, but thanks to travel I haven't been able to really give them a try. Since my face tends to break out and go into a state of flux during travel it didn't seem fair to trial their products until everything had calmed down. Well I've been using the cleanser almost daily for nearly

US Haul Part IV: And finally the brushes!

2011-11-04T08:00:00.001+08:00

Hello lovelies, I guess the title says it all. This is pretty much the final installment of my US hauls. *grin* As I've mentioned before, I did pick up quite a few brushes there, so they truly deserved a post on their own. Here goes! 1. Real Techniques Core Collection + blush brush. Only available in Ulta. 2. Sonia Kashuk blusher brush, synthetic flat-top multipurpose brush + Bamboo Chic flat

Do You Use Sunscreen while Driving?I

2011-11-02T07:00:00.001+08:00

I am no puteri lilin (translation: wax princess; a Malay term referring to someone who is delicate and fears the sun) and get quite miserable on gloomy days. However, I really do hate driving under the hot sun. You know the feeling: you are waiting for the light to turn green, the sun is beating through the windows and you can feel the skin on your arms burning like crazy.Argh, it drives me

US Haul Part III: Drugstores + Factory Outlet cosmetics

2011-10-28T02:08:00.007+08:00

Hello lovelies!It is truly good to be back. Deepest apologies, things have been kinda rough over the last few weeks (personal issues and all) here, but they're starting to look better now over at our So Loverly HQ in Kuala Lumpur.For all you dearies who have been so kind and patient with us, we thank you for your support from the bottom of our hearts. You're what keeps this blog going.Anyhoo.

HG Stuff: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

2011-10-26T15:39:00.001+08:00

In coffeespeak (R-L): Short, Grande, Venti I suspect that I am turning into a Clinique convert. I still maintain that their paint-stripping toners and the Dramatically Different Moisturising lotions are the stuff of nightmares; but their Turnaround Concentrate and Moisture Surge moisturiser stand at the top of My Favorite Skincare Products List 2011. Kahani has reviewed Moisture Surge before

Announcement: Change of Schedule

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000+08:00

You probably have noticed that So Loverly’s posts have slowed down lately. As much as we love the glamorous beauty blogger lifestyle, real life has caught up and dumped a whole load of crap on us. Work, travel, family, love, stress, death – you name it, one of us has it. Personally, I haven’t worn makeup for two weeks; the only things on my face right now are my glasses. After some discussion,

Revlon Colourburst Lipstick in Raspberry

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000+08:00

Raspberry is easily the most popular shade in the Colourstay lipstick range here in Sabah. I fell in love with it when it was first released months ago but it was completely sold out at the Watsons’ outlet I was at. And the next outlet. And the next. Aaaand the next. It took me 2 weeks to finally track down a tube at the tiny Watsons’ outlet near my place. The sales boy remembered seeing a

Review: Clinique All About Eyes Eye Cream

2011-10-04T08:00:00.000+08:00

Hong Kong's dryer climate and probably my advancing years have convinced me that I need a better eye cream than the super light Natio cream I was using. Thing is I am really nervous about new eye creams. They're often pricey and do nothing, or too heavy and cause breakouts and give me milia. So when I spotted this gel-creme trial size (7ml) for HKD65, I thought, what the hey and gave it a

Part 1: In the Land of the Free

2011-10-03T01:13:00.008+08:00

Hello lovelies,Apologies that I haven't posted all of last week. Something urgent cropped up which needed immediate attending to. Anyhoo, to make up for it, I'll be sharing quite a few shots I took whilst I was on vacay in the United States.Starting with New York!(Note: Really photo-heavy post!) Enjoy! Me and the hubs in Times Square. Ahem. I got me my first Coach bag! *woot* Shot taken from

Temporarily Discontinued: Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Visible Skin Renewer

2011-09-28T08:00:00.000+08:00

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

Fanda Pharmacy - Possibly the best drugstore in Hong Kong

2011-09-26T07:00:00.000+08:00

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.

US Haul Part II: Macy's

2011-09-23T08:00:00.002+08:00

The second part of my US haul, from Macy's.Tiny, compared to the Sephora haul. For the uninitiated, Macy's is a mid-range departmental store, and became quite a fave of mine (compared with the more high-end malls).What I picked up.1. Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair (100ml for USD125) - couldn't resist this because it was so much cheaper than in KL. After conversion, this bottle cost me about

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

2011-09-22T07:00:00.000+08:00

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

And I am Back!

2011-09-21T08:00:00.000+08:00

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

US Haul Part I: Sephora ~

2011-09-20T08:00:00.000+08:00

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

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

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000+08:00

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

Playing with Sleek Makeup's Pout Paints

2011-09-11T22:34:00.003+08:00

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

Best pocket Tissues - Tempo Petit 4-Ply Handkerchiefs

2011-09-07T21:58:00.002+08:00

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

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

2011-09-05T20:32:00.001+08:00

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

OPI Natural Nail Base Coat - Worth it?

2011-08-31T21:11:00.000+08:00

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

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

2011-08-28T22:31:00.001+08:00

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

Bulletproof sunblock: Shiseido Very High SPF50+ Waterproof Sunblock

2011-08-22T11:49:00.001+08:00

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: Run around all day on the beach and snorkle in the sea on a team-building sort of obstacle course Go see dolphins and

Mixed feelings about Majolica Majorca Lash Enamel Glamour Volume On Mascara

2011-08-16T08:15:00.022+08:00

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*).

Mission: Shopping in the United States. Help required.

2011-08-15T02:00:00.000+08:00

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. I'll be flying in to New York,

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

2011-08-12T08:00:00.001+08:00

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.) This is why. In the

Review: Bioderma Sensibio H2O

2011-08-11T07:59:00.023+08:00

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: Decided I needed an oil-free makeup remover for morning smudge cleanups Spotted a cute teeny tiny bottle of it (It's about 50ml I think) For only HKD38 I pounced! So how did it work out?

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

2011-08-09T08:00:00.000+08:00

My goodness. What a name. But what a scrub. Really. I mean, it only took all of several weeks to get from a let's-give-it-a-try-product, to one of my favourite things. So what's so great about it? Read on to find out. To begin with, it smells like cocoa butter, which I absolutely love. Yum! If you don't like cocoa butter, though, this might not be for you. And then the product. Which is

Small miracles - Goody Spin Pins

2011-08-08T21:35:00.001+08:00

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

Quick Peek: Dior Addict in Taffetas

2011-08-05T01:00:00.000+08:00

For all your sheer-shimmery-balmy-lipstick needs. It's such a pretty shade of (cool) pink.And just in case you were wondering what the tube looked like...And oh. This little magic tube makes you RM90 poorer, though.

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

2011-08-03T23:27:00.002+08:00

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

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

2011-08-03T16:03:00.000+08:00

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

A hair-pampering session with Himalaya Herbals...

2011-08-02T01:00:00.001+08:00

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.Upon arrival, I was settled in nicely, and the first thing they did was to give me a hair and

Malaysia to HK Beauty Shopping List

2011-07-31T20:47:00.004+08:00

I've been mentally putting together a wishlist of items to stock up on when I return to Malaysia. These are either items that are unobtainable in Hong Kong or cheaper in Malaysia (however slight the difference). Some of these I've been harping on but this list is as much for me to purge my mind of this list as it is for reader-reference. As I have a friend willing to help me cart 20kg back to HK,

Review: Mandom Cleansing Express Sebum Cleansing Lotion

2011-07-27T14:49:00.001+08:00

Mandom Cleansing Lotion is one of those Micellar type cleansers. You know, some kind of special water which promises to remove your makeup, cleanse your face and leave it moisturised after use. It sounds like a godsend for the truly busy and the truly lazy. I have been dying to try it out for quite a while. See, I belong in the former category of The Truly Busy and anything which promises to

Old Faithfuls: Products that have stood the test of time

2011-07-26T00:30:00.003+08:00

Hey lovelies,While we beauty bloggers always love to check out new products and see what else we can get our manicured nails on, sometimes, I believe it's good to take a step back and look at the good old products that have served us well over the years.You know, good friends that have never left our bathroom cabinets or bedside tables.And this is my list of the Top Five non-makeup product items

Review: MAC Gem of Roses Lipstick (Semi Precious Collection)

2011-07-22T00:30:00.000+08:00

I hope this review doesn't come too late for you girls who are considering this lipstick. Because Gem of Roses really is quite pretty. Apologies, but I'm not sure why the colour isn't turning out exactly like in the tube. It's just a slightly darker shade of pink in person. Some have described it as a medium-dark pink with yellow undertones, and I rather agree with that description. It's a lovely

Revlon Nail Polishes in Orange Pop, Sheer Rose & Temptress

2011-07-20T22:49:00.002+08:00

Orange Pop, Sheer Rose & Temptress Nail polishes are quite the indulgence of mine. So when I saw these going for HKD25 each, I found them hard to resist! For the price, two hits out and one miss isn't too bad I suppose. Orange Pop Gorgeous summery colour with fun slightly holographic shimmer. It has enough red to be a grown up shade yet playful. It even smells like orange pop when dry.

Quick Peek: MAC Pearl Mineralize Skinfinish (Semi Precious Collection)

2011-07-19T10:00:00.000+08:00

Hello ladies, MAC's Semi Precious Collection is in town now, and here's a quick peek at an MSF I picked up.A close-up of the MSF. Swatches (l-r): The inner circle of white, plum and bronze/ the outer ring of a beige champagne base/ both swirled together. Pretty! Have you picked up anything from this collection? PS: I also picked up a Gem of Roses lipstick, which I'll show you another day.

Notes on beauty shopping in HK

2011-07-17T22:45:00.003+08:00

HK is a place where you can find most things, sometimes. Erratic stocking, monopoly-run pharmacies and budget cosmetic stores make beauty shopping here a constant treasure hunt rather than a once-a-month stockup. You can score fantastic bargains but sometimes at the price of incredible frustration. For the most part though I make do and will likely only be stocking up on Himalaya Herbals Neem

Loving: Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Cremes!

2011-07-15T00:08:00.009+08:00

Of late, I've been loving eyeshadows. I've been diligently wearing my eyeshadows every morning now, and I've discovered another love. Cream eyeshadows.I mean, what better friend for good eyeshadows than a good eyeshadow base, right?I first got hooked on Estee Lauder's Double Wear Stay-in-Place Shadow Creme sometime last year, and since then I've picked up a few more, with Mochachino and Pink

Review: Annick Goutal Mandragore Pourpre

2011-07-13T07:00:00.012+08:00

The first time I heard about Mandragore, I was thrilled. From all descriptions, it sounded like a green perfume with a twist and who can resist a perfume inspired by fairy tales, folklore and Harry Potter? Plus, that packaging! Isn’t the men’s square bottle absolute <3? When I finally got to sample it, I was sorely disappointed. Here was the green but without the oomph I wanted. It was back

EOS medicated tangerine - disappointing cult lip balm

2011-07-12T07:32:00.002+08:00

After hearing so much about these organic balms. Stars love them, they're adorable and they're among the best lip balms you'll ever use. Well... not so much. Lip balms in Hong Kong are surprisingly limited in selection these days, I can't find the C for Carrots line for example. I spotted this in Bonjour (discount makeup store) for HKD33 and picked it up - why this flavour? They didn't have

List of Lusts: Fall Collections 2011. And then some.

2011-07-08T01:00:00.000+08:00

Summer has only just really kicked in in the Northern Hemisphere, and here we are, talking about Fall Collections. *gulp*Anyway... here goes.1. MAC Semi-Precious CollectionThe MSFs above, and the mineral eyeshadows are looking gooood. I haven't been quite this crazy over a MAC collection for a while. 2. Bobbi Brown Tortoiseshell ColletionThis palette looks gorgeous, but someone please tell me I

Buying Bourjois in Hong Kong

2011-07-07T11:59:00.000+08:00

In a word, don't. Products here are double what they cost in the UK. I understand some mark-up is necessary but double is unacceptable. For example, Bourjois' Bio Detox Liquid Foundation retails here for about HKD240 and in the UK for GBP10 (HKD124). Unless products are on sale for at least 50% off, and even then you're paying full retail, it really isn't worth your money. Buy instead

Review: Poppy King for No. 7 in #2 Power

2011-07-06T14:00:00.001+08:00

No. 7 next to Lipstick Queen's SaintMy apologies to those saw this post without a writeup earlier today. Was stuck in a meeting and couldn't paste the review til afternoon.My best friend acceded to my selfish demands and brought back the No. 7 Poppy King Lipstick in Power and the lipgloss in Allure from UK last month. Let's take a peek at the Power lippie today.No. 7 is surprisingly small,

Gel Manicure NOTD + Review

2011-07-05T01:18:00.004+08:00

I walked into Apron Bay the other day, planning to have my eyebrows threaded. Little did I expect I would also be getting a nail manicure. But since I had time to kill, oh well, I did. Apron Bay was having a promotion for gel manicures (RM78, instead of their usual RM90) and so I opted to give it a try.The saloon uses Gelish nail polish, and I picked a pretty milky pink shade. It is quite a

Monday's beauty essay: Silicone-Free Base Makeup

2011-07-04T09:18:00.001+08:00

Thanks to trials with primers that were basically all silicone, I managed to nail down the fact that cosmetics or skincare products that have too much of the stuff tend to break me out. My theory is that while silicones absorb oil, at a certain point my crazy oily skin saturates them and then all hell breaks loose as they sit around, holding the oil trapped against my skin. This blows,

The Sleek Storm palette is Divine. Truly.

2011-07-01T02:00:00.002+08:00

It seems that we've been a little short on colour on this blog of late. But that'll be fixed today.With the Sleek Storm i-Divine Palette. And I truly, truly think it IS divine. Oh yes, indeed.(Pic heavy post!)I finally got my hands on some Sleek products back in April, including this gorgeous palette. And after playing with it for a while now, I'm finally ready to review it.Sleek has developed a

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

2011-06-29T07:00:00.004+08:00

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

Pre-review: Mannings UV Cut Powder SPF50

2011-06-28T08:00:00.000+08:00

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. Formulation

Monday's Beauty Bit: INGLOT is in Malaysia!

2011-06-27T01:00:00.001+08:00

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.I haven't managed to personally run to the INGLOT store (the only one I know of at the

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

2011-06-22T21:15:00.000+08:00

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

Coping with the Mid-year Heat.

2011-06-22T12:00:00.001+08:00

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

Getting in that Sun Protection Factor

2011-06-19T22:13:00.000+08:00

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

What kind of a girl are you?

2011-06-17T01:00:00.001+08:00

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. When slapping on your daily makeup, are you: a) a nude girl - Makeup? What makeup? b) a natural girl - A little blush, a little lipbalm, and I'm out of the door! c) a classic girl - Let's keep the look simple but classy. (And honestly, I love Anne

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

2011-06-15T09:11:00.000+08:00

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

Into organic makeup and/or hate silicones? WATCH THIS

2011-06-14T15:54:00.002+08:00

Yaya for Lisa Eldridge!

Monday's Beauty Bit: Sephora KLCC is open!

2011-06-13T14:15:00.005+08:00

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!Now with two

More on the Pink Guava + A Nivea Roundup!

2011-06-10T01:00:00.002+08:00

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.It's the latest to have hit our

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

2011-06-07T12:09:00.000+08:00

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

2011-06-05T22:20:00.000+08:00

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. Ikea's cheapest sofa bed only comes in one colour, dark grey. So I chose these floral cushions to add a touch of warmth,

Lipbalm addicts of the world rejoice!

2011-06-03T02:00:00.001+08:00

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.Since coming across this post in My Women Stuff, and this post in Belle Demoiselle, I've been pretty much on a lipbalm hunt. They looked absolutely delightful in the reviews, and Pink Guava particularly called out to me as it

Summer 2011: Soleil Tan de Chanel in Bronze Corail

2011-06-01T07:00:00.002+08:00

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

Hello from Hong Kong!

2011-05-29T23:31:00.003+08:00

This is more of a sneak preview. I'm not REALLY back yet (still too busy moving around)... just saying "Hi" and that I miss my beauty gal pals. =) See that? That's the street I'm going to live in, by day (everyday) it's a street market. Unique huh? I'm not fully moved in yet. Internet only arrives next Saturday and I don't willingly live anywhere without internet! So I'm moving in very

The Helmer + My Makeup Organisation ~

2011-05-27T02:21:00.004+08:00

So last week I told you I was considering a few options for extra makeup storage space. I'd been considering the Ikea Helmer, and after checking it out firsthand, I decided I liked it enough to bring it home.And so now, my dressing table has a little partner-in-crime. I do love my makeup corner. To be honest, the Helmer is a lot smaller than I thought it would be. But don't be fooled, it can

Your Say: A Good Base Coat for Nail Polish

2011-05-25T11:02:00.000+08:00

(Am blogging on the go from Tawau, Sabah so bear with the bleary BB pics) Don't you hate it whenever your brand new manicure chips? It took me a while to figure it out but the reason why my manicures have been chipping and peeling so easily is due to the Face Shop base coat I have been using. There are lots of reasons to love the TFS base coat: It's cheap, provides a smooth surface for nail

Monday's Lust List: Five things I want this summer. Mostly blush.

2011-05-23T02:00:00.000+08:00

Ah summer.One of my favourite lines of summer ever, are from Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird."Summer was our best season: it was sleeping on the back screened porch in cots, or trying to sleep in the tree-house; summer was everything good to eat; it was a thousand colours in a parched landscape; but most of all, summer was Dill."Isn't that line just beautiful?Inspired by Tine's List of Lusts

A current favourite: Estee Lauder Signature lipstick in Dune Rose

2011-05-20T08:00:00.000+08:00

Hey dearies,The weather in Kuala Lumpur has just been going nuts over the last week or so. One minute it's blazing hot, and the next it's a thunderstorm. Which has kinda resulted in me being a little under the weather. One minute I was fine, and the next I was feeling feverish and blegh.Anyhoo, here's giving you a look at one of my favourite lipsticks at the moment - Estee Lauder Signature

Review: Biore Cleansing Oil

2011-05-18T07:00:00.005+08:00

I forgot to pack my eye-makeup remover during a work trip some time back. My colleague had forgot hers as well so we rushed into the nearest pharmacy once our meeting was over. As the brands I usually use were out of stock, I found myself looking at a purple bottle of Biore cleansing oil. Sure, I have read good reviews about it but cleansing oils and I are a bad mix. The few I have tried

Storage options now that my makeup collection has exploded. Kinda.

2011-05-16T08:00:00.000+08:00

Because now I can't fit all of it into my dresser anymore. Well... it's definitely expanded.Which is both good and bad news. *winks*Lately I've been rather obsessed with checking out my options of extra storage space. To start things of, my dresser looks somewhat similar to this one here. It's got a big mirror with three lovely deep drawers, which are filled. Eek!However, I will be moving homes

Weekend Sneak Peek: Soleil Tan de Chanel in Bronze Corail

2011-05-14T19:27:00.000+08:00

Bought this the day after the Summer Collection 2011 launched in Sabah. I bought the second last powder in Bronze Corail, meaning that there's only one left at Suria Sabah. Rush if you want this ladies!

Repurposing old buys:The brush for heavy cream undereye concealers

2011-05-12T01:01:00.002+08:00

It all started with a post on Not Martha referencing The Muse's review of Sephora's Professionnel Platinum Concealer Airbrush. I looked closer at the brush and thought "Hey that looks like my barely used Everyday Minerals Kabuki Eye Brush!". Which in turn made me think "Why not?" I gave it a try with Bobbi Brown's concealer and it was... magic. A side note on concealers: Now I don't find that

Review: Neutrogena Oil-free Eye Makeup Remover

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000+08:00

I can't believe that I have never reviewed this before. Ladies, meet my favourite eye makeup remover. I stocked up on what? 3 bottles of this when I was in Australia last year and am down to the last 1/5 in my very last bottle. Sigh. I can feel withdrawal symptoms coming on. Neutrogena's eye makeup remover is often described as the drugstore dupe of Lancome's Bi Facil makeup remover. It's a

Unexpected find: SilkyGirl's Double Intense Waterproof Mascara

2011-05-10T11:46:00.000+08:00

Just when I'd decided that Maybelline's Volum' Express Hypercurl Mascara was my go-to budget everyday mascara along comes SilkyGirl with this little beauty. At a crazy affordable price it's a very decent mascara with a more than decent wand. Formula The formula apes the "tube" mascaras so it won't smudge or run and it is waterproof but it may flake in heat and water. It can however be a little

And we are THREE!

2011-05-09T08:00:00.000+08:00

Hello lovelies!!! Believe it or not, we turned THREE last month. Yes last month. But because we've been a little busy over here at the So Loverly central we actually forgot our birthday. Apparently that's possible. And so, we decided that we'll celebrate it today instead. *tee hee*Anyway, a short note from us to you. Thanks for having been there for us all these years. We can't actually believe

Yes, I'm loving yet another Peach blush. By Korres.

2011-05-06T02:00:00.001+08:00

I reeeally have a thing for all things peachy, don't I?Name it peach, and I'm a sucker for it already. And the one I'm loving now is the Korres Zea Mays Powder Blush in Peach #18.Although, if you ask me, it seems a tad more pinky-coral than peach. Not that it's a problem. I love corals too. [Put next to Benefit Coralista (right), Coralista appears more peach, while Korres Peach (left) looks

Can You See That? Why I Culled my Lipstick Collection

2011-05-04T07:00:00.000+08:00

Remember how I showed you my lipstick collection a few weeks ago? Well, the original count was actually more than 12 -- somewhere around 24, I think. But, it was clear that some of them had to go. Squint at the picture. Can you see what I saw? Guess not. Click on the jump to get a better picture. Can you see it now? That's mold, ladies. Mold growing on a rarely used Maybelline lipstick. My