What is a foundation that isn't a foundation? Dr. Perricone No Foundation Foundation

They thoughtfully provided
a lock cap thingamy for travel as well

Quite some time back, my sister dragged me to the Dr. Perricone counter. "You have to try their No Foundation Foundation."

"Their whaaa?"

A makeup artist friend had recommended it, she said, and her skin looked lovely and glowy after using it.

I tried it on and didn't see much difference until I glanced in a mirror an hour later.

WOW.

My skin did look great and glowy. There wasn't any oil at all, my skin was well-hydrated and best of all, it looked touchable. My skin hasn't been that way since I was 10 and I thought I would never see it again until I tried THIS.

HG Stuff: Clinique Moisture Surge Extended Thirst Relief

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 but the stuff is so good for my oily-dry skin, I think it deserves a second review of its own.

I wasn't madly in love with Moisture Surge when I first got it. It was nice to use, sunk in quickly and did everything a moisturiser was supposed to do. The only difference between this and Garnier's Aqua Defense Essence Moisturiser was that Moisture Surge didn't break me out. Then, I happened to meet a Clinique SA from a different counter.

"Oily-dry skin?" she asked. "Try using double the amount you usually use. In fact, massage it in until your skin can't absorb anymore."

I blinked. Ookay.

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.

DIY Beauty: Artichoke Tea Face Mask

I wasn't planning to put up another DIY post this week but I have to rave about this mask created by yours truly.

See, I am having my period and am feeling absolutely miserable due a mixture of hormones and the blues (I am returning to Malaysia to work next week so Mr. A. and I are going to be separated for quite a while). On top of that, I spent most of last week having late nights drinking and talking with ex-university mates. I fully expected my skin to be shot to hell this week. It was already showing signs of a nightmare: dry patches, pimples, clogged pores and, worse yet, the beginnings of cystic acne.

But my skin has never looked better (except for a few scars, that is).

Thank goodness for artichoke tea.

After examining my face and sighing for the 100th time last Friday, I pottered into the kitchen to see what I had on hand.

Yoghurt? Ooh, great. I always had great results with yoghurt. What next? Honey! Honey isn't bad too. I like honey. Bee pollen? I have been experimenting with it off and on but it doesn't seem to do much. Green tea? Hmm... Wait, that's too drying so forget it.

Then my eyes lit on a packet of artichoke tea.

A couple of months ago, my parents sent me several boxes of Vietnamese artichoke tea (picture of brand on left. It comes from the Dalat region) with a note that the tea was great for strengthening the liver and the gall bladder. I ended up keeping it for the days when I had indigestion, constipation or felt sluggish. A cup of artichoke tea usually put me back on track after a few hours.

It was easy. All I did was to tear open the packet, shake out the loose tea into a bowl and pour about a tablespoon or two of hot water into the bowl. While the tea was brewing, I went to wash my face.

Once I was done, I added a teaspoon of yoghurt into the bowl and mixed it all up. The mixture was a bit runny though so I shook some bee pollen into the mix to thicken it (omit the bee pollen if you don't have it. Some corn flour would work too, I think). Then I applied it on my face, concentrating on the areas with congested pores and existing scars. As the mixture was still a bit drippy, I layered some tissue paper on top just to keep everything on.

I washed my face 15 minutes later and was surprised. My skin looked brighter and the red areas seemed calmer. I have never had such obvious results from a DIY mask before.

After 4 days of daily use, my skin looks great. The dreaded cystic acne has disappeared, my dry patches are gone and my scars have healed rapidly. I don't even have to use a moisturiser afterwards unless it's night time.

There are only a few drawbacks to this mask though. First, it's rather messy and looks like shit (no other way to describe it. Mr. A told me to go sit in a corner until I washed it off). Second, artichoke tea isn't easy to come by. Third, it takes quite a while to wash off if you add bee pollen to this. I use up quite a bit of toner and cotton wiping the yellow residue off.

Give this a shot if you can get your hands on some artichoke tea. The results are well worth the mess and the trouble.

Now, excuse me while I take another look in mirror.

Sunscreen Series: Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Face Sunscreen Lotion with SPF 30+

This is a review of the Neturogena Ultra Sheer Hydrating sunscreen lotion, not the much hyped Dry Touch sunscreen lotion. I will probably get around to trying the latter after New Year so hang on for that!

Ladies, let me introduce you to my new HG day moisturiser. Neutrogena has always churned out pretty decent drugstore sunscreens but none of them really worked for me until this came along. Maybe its the helioplex or the overall formula which is doing the trick, but I am hoping that they release this in Malaysia very, very soon.

In case you are wondering, helioplex is the term used for this new UVA/UVB skin protection, err, thing (I can't think of another word). Oxybenzone is combined with avobenzone (both sunscreens) to provide broad spectrum protection as the combo helps to stabilise avobenzone in sunscreen products. Avobenzone provides great UVA protection but it degenerates quickly under sunlight. Talk about a Catch-22.

When I bought this lotion, it was with a high dose of scepticism as I wasn't entirely convinced by the efficiency helioplex claim. After holidaying at Central Coast a few weeks ago though, I am convinced that this stuff works and deserves the SPF 75 (or is it 100?) rating it is given in the US. I went bushwalking that holiday and was sweating so much, you could see white streaks of zinc oxide running down my legs. Despite judicious reapplications of sunscreen all over my body, I returned to the hotel with tanned skin and a freakishly pale face and neck.

Guess what I was using on my face? I didn't reapply sunscreen to my face at all that day, by the way. I had to use a less stronger sunscreen the following week to let my skintone even out all over.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that this lotion is hydrating enough for my skin. I usually find that the higher the SPF rating, the less hydrating the product and I have to layer with another moisturiser afterwards.

No breakouts either, woo-hoo!

The active ingredients in this sunscreen lotion are:
1. Oxybenzone: Short wave UVA protection
2. Butyl Methoxydibenzoylmethane/ Avobenzone: Long Wave UVA protection
3. Homosalate: UVB protection
4. Octyl Salicylate: UVB protection
5. Octocrylene: UVB proctection

The only downside to this lovely gem is the inefficient packaging. The lotion is near impossible to squeeze out of the tube and when it seemed to have finished, i.e. I couldn't squeeze out another drop of lotion, I chopped it open to find a good third left in the bottle. Argh!

The Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Daily Sunscreen Lotion retails at AUD 13 (I think) for 30 ml. It may seem a little pricer compared to other drugstore sunscreens but I think it is worth the price for Australian summers. I will definitely be stocking up on this one come sales time.

Review: Nivea Oxygen Power Reviving Night Cream

"You have to try this, Eli," my sister told me. "It's my HG cream."

I know I often poke fun at my older sister's beauty blunders but if she says that something works (or doesn't work), it is worth taking her advice seriously. It took me a while to get around to using this but now that I have, my faith in my older sister has been restored.

*dodges flying object thrown at head*

I am a pretty big Nivea fan but brand loyalty doesn't prevent me from noting that "Oxygen Power" sounds like a silly name for Nivea's oxygen-based range. Both day and night creams in the Oxygen Power range claims to contain 15% oxygen which helps with cell regeneration.

Big sis and I are guessing that there is some truth to the oxygen claim as we both get happy glowy skin when we wake up in the morning. It doesn't matter if we were up all night trying to meet a deadline or returned home at some ungodly hour after a night of drinking and clubbing. I remember waking up with an awful hangover and although my skin wasn't exactly glowing, I still looked pretty decent. Before this, I would have looked like death warmed over.

The night cream is really light, spreads well and absorbs quite quickly into the skin. I used this through winter and was pleasantly surprised at how moisturising it was as I was worried that it would be too light for my skin. It didn't cause any pimples either.

My major grouse about this product is that because the cream is so light, I have a tendency to overpump and end up with a lot more cream than needed. Also, the metal pressurised container doesn't let you know how much is left in the can until the last day.

If any of you are wondering, I have not tried the day version of this cream and probably won't as I prefer using a daytime moisturiser with SPF. Has anyone tried it?

The Nivea Oxygen Power Reviving Night Cream retails at AUD15.99 for 50ml. However, Priceline is offering this for AUD 3.99 until 26th October. While I am jumping for joy at the low, low price, I am worrying that Nivea is planning to discontinue the Oxygen Power.

Looks like I had better stock up for my nights on the town.

Not a Looker but a Winner: Mitchum Antiperspirant Deodorant

Mitchum is no-looker as it looks more like a man's deodorant than a woman's. As far as I know, it doesn't even have a scent. However, judge not a book by its cover, ladies. This happens to be my HG antiperspirant.

My ideal antiperspirant has to be able to: (1) keep my pits from smelling, (2) keep the pit marks at bay, and (3) not stain my clothes. I hate it whenever the latter happens and destroys a perfectly lovely shirt.

After searching high and low for years, a pharmacist handed me a bottle of Mitchum with a wink and a smile. "Try it," she said. So I did and fell in love.

Goodbye unslightly pit marks and annoying stains! I just swipe this on in the morning and I am good to go til night, even after a run. Don't bank on the Mitchum claim that it is effective up to 2 days though, I have only managed to make it last for a day (yes, I really tested it out).

Best of all, how much does this cost? AUD 3.45, ladies. Cheaper than all the pretty looking and scented crap on the shelves. Just go past the lookers and head for the one means business.

Review: Maybelline Full N' Soft Mascara

You know those products which have a spot on your shelf for so long, you cease to realise it’s there and just automatically reach out for it? Bingo. That’s Maybelline’s Full N’ Soft Mascara for me. It has been a staple in my makeup bag ever since I hit Australia and I love it.

Let’s get the formalities out of the way before I do my gaga thing.

This stuff comes in two colours – Brownish Black and Very Black – and two formulas, waterproof and non-waterproof. The normal retail price is AUD 16.95 but I can usually get it on sale from Kmart for less than AUD 12. If it hasn’t sold out by then, that is. It sells out amazingly fast come sales period.

If you look this up on MUA, the jury is split over the waterproof and non-waterproof versions. Some like one more than the other, some claim that there isn’t a difference, others hate both. Me? I have only used the waterproof version and I lurve it.

True to its name, Full N’ Soft really does leave my lashes looking incredibly full and soft to the touch. Amazing as most waterproof formulas feel a little heavy and stiff on me. All I need is just one coat and tada! Beautifully defined lashes without looking overdone. Another two coats gives me fluttery eyelashes worthy of Bambi without the fuss of falsies.

When you first open this, the formula is pretty watery and liable to clump but happily, the texture improves after a week to reveal pretty, clump-free lashes.

Another wonderful thing I have discovered about this mascara is that it gives me the exact same results as DiorShow Iconic. I applied a coat to each eye and marched over to a friend’s room to ask if he could see the difference and my very befuddled male friend said no. Exact same length, volume (well, Full N’ Soft delivered a wee bit better there) and heck, they even smudged the same way at the same time! (Will get to that soon)

The only cons I can think of with this product is that it can smudge after a month or two’s usage but I guess that’s fine if you are particular about trashing your mascara every 2 months as recommended. The second con is that we can’t get this in Malaysia! *sighs* Can we petition Maybelline Malaysia to bring this in?

DIY Beauty: My Guilt Free Chocolate Fix

Kahani refuses to post the cockroach facial video I sent her so I am forced to settle for something a little more mundane. *sigh*

We all like chocolate, yes? Milk, white, dark… I am partial to dark chocolate myself. A bit of chocolate keeps me happy and since cocoa contains anti-oxidants, it alleviates the guilt a leeetle bit. However, eating too much of it does make my tummy feel a little sick and unhealthy. So when I found a DIY recipe for a chocolate face mask, I jumped for joy. A guilt free chocolate fix!

And there is something terribly indulgent in the idea of slathering chocolate all over one's self.

I have been using this mask for the past few months. It works a treat during summer, leaving my skin is dewy all day, but not so well during winter as the dry and cold air is zapping moisture out of me. This is definitely a HG summer mask for me.

I decided to post this recipe in the form of a collage. It makes uploading so much easier and you can just copy the image to your desktop for easy reference. Here goes:

You can substitute the milk with yogurt instead. It's easier to mix with the cocoa powder and the lactic acid in the yogurt leaves my skin feeling softer compared to using milk.

Tip: One of the things I do while using a DIY mask is to cover my face with cling wrap. After I poke eye and breathing holes in it first, of course. Dying for the cause of beauty is not the way I want to go.

Using cling wrap means that the mask doesn't dry up, it sinks in better and I can shower with a face mask on. I get added oomph as the heat from the hot water and the cling wrap creates a sauna like effect which means I step out of the shower with baby soft skin. And I don't have to wait out the full 15 minutes before washing the mask off.

Do not let your neighbours, family members or significant other see you wearing cling wrap though. My sister once screamed the place down and told me to sleep with garlic and a crucifix in case Chucky came to claim me for a bride.

When I Fall In Love...

And I think I so have. With two products, that is. =P

I feel a little bad about not being able to do the tag (due to the circumstance I was in when I saw it... screaming editor and approaching deadline does not bode well for photo-taking), so I'm going to make it up by sharing with you dear loverly readers a picture of me totally bare faced.

Which is pretty equivalent to having to take a pic of me on the spot, right?

So read on if you wanna know which two products have reached HG status for me. And oh, if (and only if) you wanna see me sans makeup. *tee hee*

So here you go. The two products I can not live without now:

~H20+ Face Oasis Hydrating Treatment

You can click here for Kahani's review of it. I really love this stuff. And while I'm not going to do another full blown review, I'd just like to add my two cent's worth on this product. I only use it during the night, and it works like a charm. Like Kahani, I wake up to perfectly moisturised and happy skin, so my makeup applies so much better without the flaky skin. It also seems to have calmed my skin down a lot, and I'm just glad my skin loves this stuff.

b.liv (by celniq) Pro Sebum Gel

Again, not a complete review, but this has been my day gel which I apply before I even slap on sunscreen. Just one pump is more than sufficient for my entire face. It says on the bottle that it's a "Superstar gel that eliminates white and blackheads incredibly", and that you're suppose to apply to your T-zone. I apply mine to my entire face though. Seems to work well enough.

I don't know about its sebum controlling powers, my face still needs a blot up once or twice depending on how hot the day is and how long I'm at work for. I'm not really plagued by blackheads either, although I do know I have some whiteheads.

Anyways, after using both these products together in my daily skincare routine for close to two months now, I am really, REALLY happy and impressed with the results. And boy, am I glad I found this a few months before my wedding. My skin can sure use all the help it can get.

So, take a look at the piccies and you tell me if you see a difference. =P

Then: This photo was taken in January, before I started with these two products in my daily routine. I had spot pimples, and my chin was a particular problem area which had a tendency to flare up easily. Especially at that time of the month.

Now: This photo was taken a few days back, right before I hit the sack, hence the baggy T and all. Sans makeup girls (and of course, the flash helped a lot). The only thing I had on was eye gel, Face Oasis and Papaw ointment on my lips. I can never do without lipbalm. =P 

After about two months, you can see it's still not a perfect canvas. You can still see the scars from previous massive pimples but overall I think my skin's improved heaps (save the growing eyebags). My skin feels supple and plumped, and the texture has improved greatly too. I don't even bother with concealer for work these days. Just my ZA two-way and foundation's done. =)

And the BEST part is, during Aunty Annie's visit didn't last month, it didn't even cause a single breakout. Nada. Zilch. (Oh dear, I am so hoping I'm not jinxing myself with this statement!) How cool is that?

So, I hope this has more than re-payed the tag. =P

Have a good weekend darlings!