Review: Regen 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask - Pore Care

Hello beautifuls!

I thought I'd share my two cents worth on how I found the Regen: 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask that quite a number of people have found to be effective.

As much as I love how elegant a V-shaped face is, I never really bothered to search for masks that produce such a result. When a friend of mine recommended I try this out, I contemplated between the 'pore care' or 'moisturizing' mask but ended up purchasing 'pore care'.

Regen 2 Step Synergy Effect Mask (5 in a pack) - USD26.70 from Honestskin

The instructions are all in Korean (and for people like me who only understand half of korean dramas) I had to google the instructions. That wasn't a problem as you can easily find them online!

The mask comes in 2 stages:

1st Step - Apply the mask to the top of your forehead, ending above your lips. It is said to contain calendula flower extract which controls excess sebum production, shrinking pores to deliver tighter, more refined skin. The mineral rich alpine water also maintains the moisture in the skin!

2nd Step - Apply the mask across your face from ear to ear whilst using the side 'loops' to hook across your ears. There are extracts called halophyte, which help in reducing bloating and water retention. The pressure apparently lifts out excess water that bulks your face, resulting in a more defined V-shape.

Exhibit A. I have no idea how this picture became much more blurrier but I assure you no photoshop effects were used! (My boyfriend commented saying I could pull off as someone who had just undergone surgery -_-)

So you leave it on for 20 mins and once done, remove and massage the remaining contents into your skin.

This bare face was taken the next day (excuse the morning i-need-more-sleep face). My skin definitely feels much smoother and more evenly moisturized. My pores feel tighter but not to the point where my skin is dry. How much more can I praise this product? It delivers, it even leaves the skin feeling rejuvenated and bouncy!

However I didn't notice my chin becoming way more 'defined' or V-shaped. And even if it did, the result isn't life-changing, but negligible. It's not a big deal to me though. Perhaps with constant use, it would leave better results.

Would I repurchase this? Yes. I'm keen on trying out the different types of masks and will do so once I'm done with these! :) The price might be a tad steep but I believe taking care of your skin is extremely important, especially for women in their 20's.

Stay beautiful, x. 

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

LUSH Haul!

LUSH. I'm completely in love with Lush. The overwhelmingly sickly, sweet scent that hits you when you enter the shop, the friendly assistants who help you with everything and anything.

I have always been a big fan of lush's soap bars. Although the only con about them are that they are bars, they do permeate throughout the room the whole night and leaves a slight hint of that magnificent scent you used in the bathroom.

From left to right: Dream Cream Hand & Body Lotion, Aquatic Toothy Tabs, Catastrophe Cosmetic Face Mash,  Breath of Fresh Air Toner Water, Bath Bomb in Think Pink

Dream Cream Hand and Body Lotion, 240g - £11.50  

I'd rate this... 2.5/5

This was sadly, a disappointing product for me. I'm a huge believer in body lotions, and I use them religiously. However this body lotion left my body sticky and uncomfortable. I usually look out for lotions that get absorbed into the skin quickly, while leaving the skin smooth. This didn't do any good for my fidgety body (I need to move about a lot) and decided to swap this for another product the next day. 

Breath of Fresh Air Face Toner, 100g - £3.95

I'd rate this... 4/5

Apparently the most refreshing of all our toner waters, this toner is packed with mineral-rich carrageenan seaweed extract and rose absolute to tone and balance the skin. Described as 'This is perfect to use as a spritz in the summer to cool down, or any time of year when you want to feel refreshed', the rose absolute will help to reduce redness whilst patchouli oil is cooling and astringent on the skin.

I got this product after watching Jennim from clothesencounters mention about how she'd been in need of a new toner and bought this. I love how it comes in a little spray bottle, which makes it easy to bring around when I'm going to London and back. It works very much like the Avene spray bottle, which refreshes the skin and leaves it clean and radiant. 

Catastrophe Cosmetic Fresh Face Mask ,75g - £6.25 

I'd rate this... 4.5/5

If you haven't tried Lush's face mask, (and if there's anything to take away from this post), it is to get yourself a face mask. I have tried almost every single Lush face mask there is that is suitable for my skin and I LOVE it. Catastrophe Cosmetic calms, cleanses and moisturizes the skin, leaving it supple and smooth. Because Lush's face masks are made with the freshest ingredients, they only last for a maximum of 2 weeks. However, this mask can be used once every two days without dehydrating the skin -yay!- 

Aquatic Toothy Tabs, 12g - £2.50

I'd rate this... 2/5

Described as a solid alternative to toothpaste, toothy tabs is said to be filled with essential oils and spices for fresh breath and a sparkling smile. I have never used solid toothpaste before, so this was something new to me. Sadly, I didn't like this at all. The taste was odd and strangely bitter, the 'toothpaste' was difficult to spread throughout my mouth and it left a dull, flat aftertaste. My breath didn't feel any fresher and I was left disappointed with an odd smelling breath. Bummer.


Bath Bomb in Think Pink (Pictured above) - £2.50  

I'd rate this... 4.5/5

Ever since I realised my temp house had a bathtub, I went crazy buying bath bombs from Lush. I have tried a few of theirs and I've also come to love Think Pink. It has a sweet vanilla and tonka fragrance that fills the bathroom and at the end of it all, you'd be left with rice paper confetti hearts that slowly melt away as you sink your troubles away. It also has a hint of lavender that balances and relieves the mind.

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So I hope you guys liked this post. Do leave a comment on what you love at Lush best or what you felt was a disappointment for you. I'd love to hear from you guys:)

Stay beautiful, x. 

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

May Favourites 2014

Hello June:)

I'm still adjusting to the fact that HALF A YEAR HAS PASSED (say whuuuuut?) Although I did enjoy the first half of the year tremendously I still find it incredulous that I'm going to turn 22 in just a few months time (okay let us not complain how old/young I am)

Anyway, today I will be sharing with the items that I've fallen in love with during the month of May. I've been using some of these for quite a while now and I feel the need to let you all know how great these products are.

Starting from top left: Chanel Le Blush Creme De Chanel in Affinite (65), No 7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum, YSL Touche Éclat in #2, Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF 50+, MaxFactor Whipped Creme Foundation in Beige, Roses De Chloé Eau de Toilette 

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Chanel Le Blush Creme De Chanel in Affinite (65) - £24.08 from Nordstrom

I've been an ardent fan of cream blushes for the past few years. Although I do use my NARS Orgasm blush from time to time, a cream blush gives a more even blend to my skin especially when I don't have any foundation on, which is pretty often.

I've been switching between Topshop's cream blush and my newest 3CE buy (read my previous review here) but when I was at the Chanel counter window browsing, I swatched their cream blush and was amazed by how pigmented and rich the colour was. I don't believe in splurging on expensive beauty products unless they are worth the hype and money, and after much contemplation (and a 20% off) got it.

The colour leaves your cheeks a gorgeous flushed colour and lasts a whole day for me. I have used this about 3-4 times the past month and I can say I am glad I bought this product.

No 7 Protect & Perfect Advanced Serum - £23.95 from Boots

I have never put much effort into my nightcare routine. But as of late I have had an epiphany (or rather an outbreak of dry skin) that maybe this might be the time to replenish what has been lost. Afterall, many say that our skins start to form wrinkles at the age of 25! Boots was having a 3 for 2 sale earlier this month together with a £5 off voucher I had for No 7 facial products.

I was looking for a serum and tried this on the back of my hand with pleasantly surprising results. My skin instantly felt smoother and left a light hint of fragrance, nothing too overpowering. This might be a little steep for a small tube but I hope this does last long for me as I can tell I will be using this for quite a while.

YSL Touche Éclat in #2 - £25.00 from YSL

How much do I love this? So much that I have recently bought yet another tube (yay!)

The YSL Touche Éclat is exactly what every woman needs on a daily basis. It doesn't budge, it doesn't leave weird streaks all over the face and it blends beautifully into the skin, leaving it glowing and radiant. I used to be on the hunt for a good highlighter and initially tried powder ones, but they kept wearing off throughout the day especially in a humid weather like Singapore. Application is simple. All you have to do is press the button at the end of the product and apply it whereever you wish. Blend with your fingers and you're done! 

Shiseido Perfect UV Protector SPF 50+, 50ml - Only available in Asia

I have been using the same sunscreen for about a year now, and I have no intention of changing any time soon. I was in Hong Kong last year and I was running out of my previous sunscreen when I purchased this. 

Where do I begin? Normally after washing my face I apply my morning moisturizer (which leaves my face rather oily) and in order to rectify it, I use the Shisedo UV Protector. This thing works like MAGIC. It sucks up the leftover oil and leaves your face with a glowy smooth finish. I thereafter apply my foundation and yes, it glides on perfectly.

The sad thing about this is that it can only be found in Asia and I'm currently on the other side of the world and running extremely low on this product :'(

Maxfactor Whipped Creme Foundation in Beige (55) - £9.99 from Boots

If you love the texture of some mousse foundations but hate the way they can cake and flake on drier areas, whipped creme is set to save your look. The whipped, non-oily formula glides over skin, to create a flawless, demi-matte finish. 

Can I say how taken aback I am by the lasting power of this baby? It has lasted a good 12 hours for me (with a finishing powder) and stays perfect. All day. For the price you pay for, I'd say this is one of the best drugstore foundations I have purchased to date.

Roses De Chloé Eau de Toilette, 75ml - £53.95 from FragranceDirect

Ah, where do I start with this? Floral, playful, alluring. The Roses de Chloe is a delightful scent composed around roses, with hints of lychee and a very faint musk. If you aren't into the Chloe EdP (Which I am not), I'd highly recommend this. It's a light, youthful scent that stays on for about 4-5 hours before having to reapply. 

Stay beautiful, x. 

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Product Review: 3 Concept Eyes Powdery Lip & Cheek in One Piece

I was stoked when my 3CE order arrived a few days back ^-^ I've been hearing so much about 3CE and  when I found out yesstyle was selling their products there was no turning back.

3CE Powdery Lip & Cheek in Pink One Piece - £12.51

Can be found on Yesstyle 

From the looks of it, the product itself looked a little heavy on the skin. Small in packaging, the shade is that of a neon mixed floral pink and it is to provide a 'youthful, glow finish'. 

I was pleasantly surprised by the texture of the powder. It wasn't cakey, more like a regular the texture and consistency you find in a Topshop blusher. The colour was gorgeous, complementing a plethora of skin tones.

Although not very well taken, you can tell the difference in my lips with and without the product. It adds vibrancy and has a very girly finish, which I love. (Pardon me for the lazy outfit + no foundation face) However if you don't fancy pink lips, I wouldn't suggest going for this. It doesn't show up as well on the cheeks on camera, but it definitely made a difference in real life.

One thing to note is to apply some sort of transparent balm before applying it on your lips as it does tend to crack slightly. Either that or you can apply a lip gloss over it, which I intend to do.

I hoped this review helped some of you and feel free to leave comments on which cheek + lip product you love!

Stay beautiful, x.

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Product Review: Laniege Water Bank Eye Gel

Eyes. We only have one pair, yet many of us don't take the extra time and effort to properly nourish them with serums or gels. 

However if you are on the hunt for an eye gel, the Laneige Water Bank Eye Gel is a product I'd recommend to anyone!

Laniege Water Bank Eye Gel, 25ml - $49

The Waterbank Eye Gel is part of the Water Bank series on Laneige, promising to retain moisture for the dry eye area for 24 hours for supple, revitalized eyes.

As promised, the Water Bank Eye Gel when applied leaves a cooling and non-sticky finish. It also helps relieve puffiness, which I had whilst studying for my exams. This eye gel was my saviour when it came to retaining moisture and bringing life back to my eyes. 

The gel contains calendula extracts that have been used to heal skin infections and relieve irritation for supple relief of sensitive eye area. -It also contains ginkgo leaf extracts that promote blood circulation and prevent damage caused by free radicals in cells to reduce dark circles and to revitalize the eye area.

It's an day/night moisturiser however I'd recommend only using it at night as your lids might become oily if you apply them in the morning below your eye makeup.

Putting on moisturiser is easy. But putting on moisturisers around the eyes are different. I normally use my ring finger and lightly pat the upper and lower corner of my eyes instead of smearing it all over (That's what I do with my face heh)

Eye products are one of the most costly products to purchase, probably because the skin around the eye sags easily and with added tugging and pulling, wrinkles become more pronounced at an earlier stage. If you only want to splurge on one product, splurge on a eye cream. Face moisturisers can come at an affordable price with highly beneficial results but eye creams rarely come cheap.

So thanks for reading my two cents worth on my product review, do feel free to comment on what other eye products you have fallen in love with as I'd love to hear them!

Stay beautiful. x.

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Product Review: Laneige Original Essence White Plus Renew

I'm not much of a caretaker for my skin. There are days when I don't wash my face with a face wash in the morning, and nights when I head to bed without completing the 123456 steps to good skin. We all know it's bad but hey, we're human, we get tired (more of lazy actually) but I do make the effort to have a proper morning + night routine least one every two days. 

However, even though I don't religiously follow the same skincare routine nightly, I do have a trusty lil thing with me that I use without fail.

Laniege Original Essence White Plus Renew, 40ml - $54.90

Purchased from Sunnanz

I was on the hunt for a moisturiser that could brighten my face and most importantly not leave a sticky residue. I've heard a lot of good reviews on Laniege and have their sleeping pack (which I have to say is AWESOME). I decided to purchase the Original Essence White Plus Renew. It's a moisturiser for both day and night and is suitable for all skin types. 

This product promises to result in beautifully radiant skin, via 6 functions; Luster, Moisture, Brightness, Evens Skin Tone, Slows Melanin Rate and Reduces Dullness

It is on the high end and doesn't come cheap but I promise you a little goes a LONG way. The applicator is a squeezy tube which makes for a very hygenic product. I normally squeeze about 1 full drop and I'm able to apply it to my entire face:)

This product leaves my face supple, moisturised and ready for bed. It has a very faint fragrance which is easy on the nose. The best part about this is that it doesn't leave my face the least bit sticky. I cannot emphasize how much I dislike sticky moisturisers -ugh-

I've also noticed within 2 weeks of using this that it did indeed whiten my complexion (Not in the omg why your face so pale?! way) but in a very subtle manner which evens out my skin tone. 

Will I be repurchasing this? Definitely. It's retails for slightly cheaper if you purchase it online. I've been meaning to buy more of this line in the future but this is doing a pretty good job on it's own. :)

Stay beautiful. x.

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Product Review: Lancôme Gloss In Love in 302

Since the holidays have come around, I've decided to put more effort into updating this space more often. I've been indulging in a plethora of makeup lately Afterall, the 2nd best therapy (after chocolates) is retail therapy... Yes?

Gloss in Love in 302 - £18.00

I was browsing through Boots one afternoon in search of a lipgloss and I wandered to the Lancôme section. I'm a sucker for pink lipsticks/lipglosses. Call me safe but I've never broadened my horizons by trying out orange or jarring red lipsticks cos I personally feel they don't complement me as much as pinks do.

Gloss in Love combines color with 6 hours of moisture in an easy click-to-open package. Their new Expert Applicator hugs lips, resulting in a smooth and line-free vinyl lip look. 

The wand follows the curve of your lips so it makes it incredibly easy to apply whenever, whereever. As many of you know, I love my food and sometimes reapplying lipsticks can be a hassle for me especially without a mirror.

The gloss isn't as opaque as I had hoped it to be, but it does leave a very sleek, natural finish. It gives your lips the pop it needs and moisturizes your lips at the same time too. That's always a plus!

On days when I feel like I really cannot be bothered to go through the whole process of being a girl, the gloss does its job. Not too outstanding nor dull, it does sort of pull the 'no makeup at all' look together in some way. It stays on for about 4-5 hours till I feel the need to reapply it again. It also doesn't 'wear out' with time, as some people may find that a problem with other lip products.

Gloss in Love now comes in 18 shades -yay!- ranging from snow white to hot red. If I could I'd probably buy a few more but for now, this will do:)

Stay beautiful. x

I was not paid nor sponsored for this product review. The review was written entirely in my opinion.

Product Review: 99p Foot Masks - Say Whut???

The driest (and ugliest) part of my body could possibly be my feet.

Ugh. Feet. I used to think I had pretty alright looking feet till I started binge running/muay thai-ing and this resulted in what one would call 'Ballerina feet'. I'm definitely not going to post a picture of my feet as I think I'd lose every single person who still has the interest to read my blog, but I'll try to describe it as grotesquely as I can.

I have dry, crackly feet. My heels have gotten dry from no care and I've obtained a few calluses which thankfully, don't hurt. However they do look extremely unsightly. I can pretty much say I'm safe from anyone who has a foot fetish -yay!-

Deep Moisturizing Foot Pack - 99p

I was browsing at a local beauty store around the city centre a few weeks ago when I came across these foot packs. They didn't look very eye-catching at first, but when I realised they were 99p I figured why not get them. (As you may have noticed, I buy a lot of things just because)

The instructions say to put the socks on your feet for about 20mins or so and thereafter remove them. I was about to go for a bath so I popped them on one day.

After about 10 mins or so, I started getting tingling sensations on my feet. I felt like little elves were in there working their magic! It felt surprisingly refreshing (I used the tea tree + peppermint one) and cooling.

I washed them off after about 25 mins and found that my feet were a tad smoother. Nothing fantastic, actually. But for 99p who can complain? They did make my feet feel really good, but I wouldn't say this is a product I'd buy again.

I'm still on the hunt for good foot masks, so if you guys happen to know of any good ones, do recommend by leaving a comment! I'd love to hear about them:)

Product Review: Garnier Skin Naturals Moisture Match Wake Me Up Revitalising Hydrating Gel

I have since run out of my daily morning moisturizer and, not wanting to spend a bomb on another tub, decided to give Garnier's Moisture Match a go.

Garnier Skin Naturals Moisture Match Wake Me Up Revitalising Hydrating Gel 50ml - £5.99

There are five moisturisers to choose from:

Goodbye Dry (for dry to very dry skin)

Start Afresh (for normal to dry skin)

Shine Be Gone (for combination to oily skin)

Wake Me Up (for dull skin)

Protect & Glow (for Normal skin) 

I would normally opt for 'Protect & Glow' (I have pretty normal skin) but since my skin has been looking a tad dull lately, I picked up 'Wake Me Up' instead. One thing I adore about this moisturizer is that it gets absorbed into the skin beautifully. It leaves no sticky nor oily residue and doesn't require any other form of primer or sunblock to prevent your face from producing unnecessary oil. 

This refreshing jelly texture enriched with Citrus extract and Hibiscus flower to stimulate the senses and boost the complexion. The refreshing light jelly texture contains water encapsulated gel particles which burst upon contact with the skin. Immediately upon application skin feels revitalised, silky and wide awake. Inspired by the best-selling moisturisers in Asia, Wake me up gives an immediate fresh effect and all day skin comfort.

It also doesn't clog my pores and upon wearing makes my skin feel sooooo, sooo smooth... It feels like I could touch my cheeks all day:) Does this thing work wonders! I'm pretty glad I bought this on a whim and actually did get a bang for my buck. The scent smells delightful too. Not sickly sweet and since it contains hibiscus flower extracts, your face does sort of smell like a garden. 

I would also believe this works well in humid countries such as SG, even though the weather over here is getting a little warmer, this moisturizer seems to suit both humid and cold weather.

It's retailing at Boots in the UK but I'm pretty sure you'll be able to find it in Singapore's Watsons too.

:)

Product Review: Carried Away Body Lotion by Bath & Body Works

Hi guys!

I'm back with yet another post. However this post pertains to a beauty product I've recently purchased so if you're not keen on beauty products, scroll down for my food reviews.

My cousin's girlfriend travels to USA frequently as her work requires her to do so. I managed to ask her to grab a few items for me & one of them was a brand I've once tried and have since been wanting to lay my hands on again.

Bath & Body Works is a US brand that sells a variety of bath, body, spa and home products. I remember my aunt bringing home a bottle of Cherry Blossom about 3 years ago. One whiff and I was transported to Japan. The floral, cherry blossom scent made me feel as though I was walking through a field of blooming cherry blossoms. In all honesty, I think this is how the colour pink would smell like!

Carried Away makes me want to sit in a bed full of soft pillows, delve into a good book with a hot cup of jasmine tea and fairy lights lit up with the voice of Norah Jones serenading me to bliss. It contains several notes like lush raspberries, white jasmine and whipped vanilla.

Pros: If you love floral, vanilla scents you'd LOVE this. I've been using it daily & it never fails to fill my room with hints of vanilla and scented flowers. It's not overpowering, not at all sticky & gets absorbed into the skin easily. I use this every night after my bath and it moisturizes my skin and makes it so daaaaamn smooth. The texture is somewhat thick but doesn't leave a sticky residue, which is a plus point. In it contains shea butter, fast absorbing jojoba oil and protective vitamin E, which hydrates skin with moisture that lasts all day.

Cons: I can't think of any cons at the moment, but I would think this would only be suitable for people who do not have sensitive skin as the scent might be a tad overpowering for sensitive skin types. I wouldn't recommend this for when you travel to colder countries as it isn't strong enough to hydrate the skin.

My verdict?: B&B has definitely gotten themselves a new customer. Although you are unable to find them in Singapore without being ripped off, you are able to purchase them from sprees from online stores like drugstore.com

Autumn Nail Spa

Hi guys!

I'm back once again, sorry for the lack of updates as I've been a lil busy getting life in order.

Anywho I promised I'd do a post on my nails, where I got it done and by whom. I'm glad to say I've found an extremely good nail parlor that takes into account making sure you're comfortable and that the designs done on your nails suit your taste! Introducing... Autumn Nail Spa @ Far East Plaza.

Autumn Nail Spa is located at the top level of FEP, pretty close to the infamous chicken rice stall. A small shop which caters to 7-10 customers at one time, the lady boss is a China lady who ensures all her staff are well taken care of (You will notice that during your time there). 

I was never a fan of gel extensions. In fact, I've always thought it would be a hinderance to daily activities like washing your hair, writing, even typing (like right now)... However it's something you'd get used to after some time.

The first design I did were turquoise floral nails. I showed Ana (The name of my manicurist- She's FANTASTIC) the design I wanted and she did an exact replica! Very very pleased with my nails, I decided to head back to her once my extensions grew out, which took about 3 weeks. This design cost me around $40 excluding the gel polish. And no, it never chipped!

If you take real good care of your gel extensions, Ana said they'd last you arnd 3 months. Do note that you'd need to spend a good amount of time there though! I spent about 4 hours doing the extension + design and I nearly died.

The second design I did cost me a heftier price tag- $55. The design was a tad more intricate which required her to use a paintbrush to painstakingly recreate the splatter patterns. 

The best part is the staff will not force you to purchase packages unless they feel it's more worth it for you. They're friendly and extremely careful in ensuring the best job is done so I can vouch for that!

So if you'd ever need a place to go for a manicure, more so with intricate designs, head on over to Autumn Nail Spa to look for Ana. A petite short-haired girl, she's extremely patient and friendly:) 

However it can get pretty crowded and waiting time could range from half an hour to 2 hours so it's best you book an appointment beforehand!

PS: This post was in no way endorsed by Autumn Nail Spa, it is my personal opinion and I felt the need to share it with you guys.

Autumn Nail Spa

14 Scotts Road, #05-28

Far East Plaza, Singapore 220213

Tel: 6836 7989