Laneige Perfect Renew Dual Touch Eyes Cream

I hate fine lines. It exposes my age and creases my eye make up.

I wish there was some means to BANISH them to planet Pluto.

So I’ve been on a hunt for good eye creams. For… a very long time.

One of my favourite eye cream of all time, is Laneige’s perfect renew dual touch eyes cream. What a mouth full of words.

This eye cream prides on a total 24 hour care, with 2 mini tubs of eye cream - one for the day and the other for the night. It comes with a spatula for you to scoop the cream out with ease. Its function include anti-wrinkle care and UV protection.

Day cream…

I’m not so much of a fan of the day cream as I am of the night cream. The day cream is slightly thick and requires to be ‘warmed’ up before a smooth application. Being always pressed for time, this is not something I look forward to as I need to spend a little longer for the cream to set on the lower lid before I’m able to apply my concealer.

However, I am appreciative that it has an SPF component to it, so I don’t have to slather sun screen on the eye area which might leave bumpy residue over time.

Night cream…

Alright, I’m a huge fan of this cream, as it delivers what it promises. The lower lids appear fuller and the wrinkles are not as visible as it was before. The dark circles are also lightened, and my eyes feel refreshed.

It amazes me how well it works on days where I have had only 6 hours worth of sleep. I go to sleep with reddish lower lids and wake up with refreshed lids.

Price…

The eye cream is slightly pricey (unfortunately I can’t remember how much, but I do remember going… “wow” in my head), but it’s worth the price, as it works.

Rating… 4.5 / 5

Bare Escentuals Mineral Makeup

Just recently, during a mini chit-chat over food, my colleagues commented that my complexion is pretty good. It sure made my day! Besides religiously using sun screen and keeping my skin moisturised every single day, here is my secret to great looking skin…

Bare Minerals.

I’m a huge fan of Bare Minerals. I did my first review of its basic kit here. After 8 months of using their foundation, I’m still in love with their products. In particular, I’m totally in awe of their mineral veil. I can use my liquid or moose foundation instead of my regular Bare Excentuals when the occasion calls for it, but I cannot go without mineral veil.

I am almost through with the mineral veil and in a bid to reward myself after three weeks of hard work in the office, I headed to Sephora for some retail therapy…

I originally wanted to get myself just a tub of mineral veil and the foundation. After all I am still on my save money campaign.

However…. one tub of mineral veil retails for $58 and a tub of foundation retails for $48.

HORRORS!!!!

And a new set of  the basic kit retails for $115.

-______________-

Hmmm, so I got myself a basic kit instead.

The basic kit has undergone a revamp. So this is the updated kit.

You get 2 foundation colours, 1 mineral veil - love love, 1 concealer brush, 1 kabuki brush for applying warmth.Oh you also get a sample pack of prime time.

What you don’t get in this updated kit is the skin rev-er upper and the full coverage kabuki brush. Instead you get the much raved about bisque and a handy kabuki brush instead. Honestly, I do think that this updated kit is way much better. I didn’t see much difference with or without the skin rev-er upper. And, the handy kabuki brush is definitely something I welcome.

Here is the Skin rev-upper. I haven’t been using this for a couple of weeks now, but my skin still looks a-okay.

So you get a much better package. =)

Don’t believe, check this out. On the right is the full coverage brush and on the left is the handy kabuki brush.

Bare Minerals also carries eye shadow colours, perhaps one day, I’ll cross over to get myself their eye shadow starter kit. But for now, I’m happy with my NARS and M.A.C.

You can get your Bare Minerals product at all Sephora outlets. Bare Minerals also now carries the Matte collection. But I prefer the originals as it is much easier to pull off and blend.

Remember, less is more!

BS: Monsooner Me, Dear Santa.

I only can afford to indulge in a luxurious pedicure and manicure once every year before the Chinese New year. Partially because I can’t justify paying $100 to get my nails pampered more than I can justify paying a similar amount on facial. After all, I can jolly well paint the nails myself.

So with the years, my taste in nail colour has gone from subtle to outrageous.

I got my nails painted bright orange-red. All I need is blonde hair, a swimsuit and I can hit the beach.

These are currently, my favourite colours from OPI.

Girlify me.

From left: Ladies & Magenta-Me, Feelin’ Hot-Hot-Hot.

A tinge of Alice in Wonderland.

From left: Yoga-Ta Get This Blue, Absolutely Alice, Disco Ball Sparkle (only available in Japan)

Festive Chinese

From left: Dear Santa (I heart this colour so much!), The Thrill of Brazil, Monsooner or Later (The colour I have on my nails at the moment).

Happy Chinese New Year!

Christmas Buys

Christmas is my favourite time of the year.

I’ve bought all my cards, have thought about what I’m going to give to my friends this year, and am in the process of planning parties.

Christmas is also a fantastic time for self-indulgent, as all merchants flood you with their Christmas specials.

I simply heart Shu Uemura and their Tsumori Chisato collection. Love the cute kitty.

I was also pretty tempted to stock up on some body shop gems. I have this thing about buying their hand wash. And their Christmas limited edition hand wash seems so divine.  They even have it in almond!

And I really love their body butter. Although I have to say I use it quite differently from most people. I pamper my feet with them. My favourite is grape fruit.

And let’s check out one of my favourite have-it-all store, Muji…

The recycled kimono collection makes good presents for friends.

Moving along to fashion bites, Miss Self Fridge stocks up on some awesome clothes. Where fierce and girly chic mix.

But this Christmas what I really want to stock up on….

Are these…

From Nars:

Their blush in Orgasm, concealer brush, and small domed eye or eye contour brush.

On the lighter note, I was rather tickled that Nars actually came up with this gift set.

From Jill Stuart:

I hope that the perfume smells as nice as it looks. And the blusher simply oozes cuteness.

BS: Foot Scrub

One of the best joys in life, is to have your aching feet scrubbed, polish, and pampered.

Six months of regular scrub sessions using Body Shop’s pumice foot scrub has left my feet happy!

Slather the foot scrub mix onto wet feet. Using the grey side of the foot file, gently scrub at the patches of dead skin on the sole of the feet. Thereafter, use the pink side of the foot file and target at the smaller patch of dead skin, this is to allow a smoother finishing at the sole of your feet.

This is probably one of the most economical foot care that I found, that really works.

Another product from Body Shop that works well with the foot file is the Lemongrass foot polishing.

Do remember that the product works well only on moist or wet feet.

Review: Narciso Rodriguez for her.

Over the past year, I’ve accumulated a lot of perfume samples, and I shall take the time to review them one by one.

For starters, I shall start with Narciso Rodriguez for her.

Narciso Rodriguez for her smells as sharp and clean as it (the bottle) looks. There is simply no hint of overpowering powdery flora fragrance, but bears a crisp note of it instead. The scent sort of reminds me of a power corporate who is enjoying a sumptuous weekend lunch in a top class hotel, decked out in her classy black and white.

However, because it is so classy and clean, the scent may appear a little generic. It also bears minimal excitement and fun. It’s more appropriate for wear on your I’m-in-a-fuss-free-mood-days. On the light side, it is for these reasons that I’m liken to use the perfume as my room scent and spritz it in my diary.

If you want to get a perfume that is subtle, simple and no-frills attach. Give this perfume a go ahead.

BS: CK blusher

After many years of hiatus, Calvin Klein cosmetics was re-released in Singapore sometime last year. Debuted at the Changi Airport transit duty free beauty bar at T2, not sure if other outlets do carry the brand ever since.

I bought CK’s blush in 101 shiver, 102 spare, and 109 fiery.

101 shiver is of a peach tone, and gives a natural glow to the face. You will need to apply more as it is a little light.

102 spare is of a pink base. Similarly, it is a little light, so you will need more blush. There is no drastic difference between 101 and 102. And I would recommend both of them as daily blusher ( for that natural glow on the face). Just add a pop of colour on the apples of the cheek - I use Nars blush in Deep Throat.

109 fiery is more intense. A little goes a long way. However, the blush tends to wear off really fast and the difference becomes apparent (unlike 101 and 102 because they are lighter), so touch ups are necessary. I would recommend using a make-up primer before applying the blush. I use Bare Escentuals make-up primer.

Also, I really like the modern packaging. It is definitely an improved design from the initial metal cases. The CK blush also comes packed with a mini brush, which is useful when you are in a rush, but does not do a good job in applying the blush evenly, so I use a travel brush instead.

CK stand up bar at Naunce-Watson at Departure / Transit Mall Central, Changi Airport Terminal 2. Telephone 6546 8254.

BS: Neck Creams

It is often said that neck care is one of the most neglected part in our beauty regime. And, one of the tale-tell sign of a woman’s age, is the condition of the neck.

Neck creams are expensive, because our neck’s skin is thicker; thus our neck needs richer ingredients. And for young working adults, we don’t want to invest in rich neck creams too early, because that’ll mean we need ultra rich creams when we’re 50.

For now, I have been using richer face creams instead. Do you have instances where you purchased a face cream, only to have your skin suffering from a break out? Or, the product clogs your skin, simply because it is too thick? I have. And I find it a waste to throw them away, so I apply them on my neck instead. And have found that whatever my facial skin can’t take, my neck is happy to slurp them up. And it stays moisturised.

Over a period of about two months of using a whitening face cream for my neck, it seems that my neck has gone fairer too!

So when you’re thinking of throwing away that can of rich facial cream, perhaps you can offer it to your neck instead. =)

BS: RMK Concealer

After using Bobbi Brown’s concealer for two years, I decided to try RMK’s concealer. After all, RMK is one of the top selling cosmetic houses in Japan - and all Japanese women takes their make-up regime very seriously.

The RMK’s concealer comes in a mirrored compact case and is packed with two brushes. The concealer comes in two different shades - which is useful in covering uneven skin tone. It also comes with a compact finishing powder, which helps to set the concealer, making it last longer. Overall, it is portable and creates minimal mess.

I mainly use the concealer for covering up dark under eyes, and I feel that it does a fine job at it. I don’t do touch up at all throughout the day and the concealer remains intact after a long day at work.

The coverage is light, thus you need to dab on a little more concealer to ensure proper coverage; but this allows you to moderate your use of the concealer. Upon application, the concealer is not drying, thus there is no caking, and the illusion of fine lines forming around the eyes lessens.

If there are two things that I wished the concealer would deliver would be that 1) there is an additional cover for the concealer brush to keep the brush palette clean, and 2) there is an SPF component which would be awesome! Otherwise, the RMK’s concealer is great for busy ladies who likes fuss free make up.

Hush Puppies Ballet Flats

I love heels. But, my work requires me to run around far too much, and so I seek comfort in wearing flats.

I’ve learned that leather shoes go a long way, and well soled flats go an even longer way. You can imagine my delight, when I scored a pair of trendy Hush Puppies ballet flats during a recent Expo sale for less than $20.

The best part is, this is the first pair of flats that I can wear for 12 hours straight, and my legs don’t ache at all! It is a miracle! No cuts and no bunions, just plain good ol’ comfort.

Me and my happy feet.

If you’re pondering, I’m sitting at the hair salon. It has been 3 years since I last did something funky to my hair - I got my hair permed and I cut bangs - I love it!