REVIEW: CoverGirl Natureluxe Gloss Balm in Hibiscus

Hey! So I made a trip to the drug store yesterday and picked up some stuff.  I wanted to get a lip colour I could wear every day and it would be natural on my face.  After a million swatches I decided this would be my purchase.

Pros:

- Very moisturising like a lip balm should be, yet has very good colour pay off (maybe even a little more than what I needed!) 

- Love the finish. Shine without shimmer.

- I like that the cap is big like a lip stick cap, not like a chapstick because often those tiny caps cut at the lip balm and make a mess which I hate!

- Many colours to choose from and complements different skin tones.

Cons: 

- $$$$$$$! This thin tube was $8. I think it's too expensive because the colour is actually midway between sheet and full coverage.

-You have to beware of which colour you pick because some colours are SHEER! and some have sparkles (if you like them that's fine but I don't prefer them)

Bare Lips

With Hibiscus

*The colour is more like a magenta in real life. I took this photo in sunlight and even tweaked it but it's still not how I want it to show.  No worries, just check it out at the drug store :)

Overall I rate this 8/10! Pretty great but the biggest downside is that it's expensive.

Hair Diary No. 1 - How I make my hair grow FAST

Hey everyone.  This is gonna be a post which I've been waiting to write for a while.  So in my first Hair Diary I talked about how I cut my hair and all that stuff and basically, I want to grow my hair back long again.  Because so much of it was cut, just that makes my scalp and hair so much less strained and it makes it grow faster.  

Also, I will NOT be colouring my hair until it has grown very long, because colouring your hair will damage your scalp and make your hair grow slower!

Other than that, I am such an impatient person so I decided I should start putting more nutrients in my body to help my hair grow.

I take B-Complex, Vitamin C, Omega 3-6-9, and occasionally Zinc and a tablespoon of Flax Seed Oil.

I am not a nutritionist but I did do lots of research and found that your B Vitamins such as B-12 and Biotin will help hair grow faster.  Omega Fish oils is also nutrients for your brain and so why not your scalp? I've also read that it helps people who have thin hair (me!!) to grow hair back.  So far I have not really noticed my thin hair problem fixing itself but I've only started taking vitamins about a month ago.  Vitamin C is basic, everyone should be taking it.  Zinc and Flaxseed oil are to help myself because I am just particularly deprived of nutrients. Haha. 

I can personally say that it HAS helped my hair grow because I have been taking weekly pictures to track my hair growth for the past month and I can literally tell a difference in length every week.  My estimation is that my health practices has made my hair grow about an inch every 6 weeks, when normally hair grows 1cm every month.

In addition, I ALWAYS massage my scalp when I'm in the shower.  It feels great and it helps distribute the oils on your scalp and it stimulates it.

This is the B complex that I take.  It says you should take two capsules a day but I only take one because if I take two I get more than 200% the daily intake for most of the vitamins in the complex so I'm only going to pee all the extra out.  This is actually quite expensive so it's up to you whether you want it or not.  This bottle of 60 capsules costed around $22. (I bought it at my local organic food store)  I don't know how much the Omega 369 was but I think it`s definitely cheaper.

Best of luck for your hair aspirations!  I will post up the photos soon, maybe if I get some response? :)

Eyecandy: Versace Spring/Summer 2012 Collection

Here are my favourite pieces in the collection:

This dress right here^ IS MY ABSOLUTE FAVOURITE! Just look at the amount of gold detail on this dress.  This gold completely compliments the pale green-blue of the dress. 

I feel like this collection was very much inspired by the Pirates of the Caribbean movie, with Gemma Ward as one of the main mermaids (alluding to her supermodel status as well, haha!)

The yellow lighting used on the runway is just beautiful.  This stage is one of my favourites ever.  It made this whole show so surreal and gorgeous and totally makes me want to be a mermaid.  The natural makeup, innocent pink blush, and naturally flowing  hair on the models was perfect for the showy dresses. I swear, after I watched this movie I honestly wanted to be the mermaid who fell in love with the priest.

<3

Healthy Indulgence - Dark Chocolate

One day, I went on a Walmart trip with my mom and we saw these huge chocolate bars with different varieties which sold for $4, which is an amazing deal if you think about it.

We got milk chocolate with hazelnut and Dark chocolate 54%.

I love the dark chocolate because it tastes not too sweet yet sweet enough to satisfy a chocolate-lover.  Dark chocolate is also loved for its health benefits.

It contains flavonoids which are pigments found in plants which have antioxidants.  Antioxidants help rid the body of free radicals.  A small amount eaten daily can even help reduce heart disease (Lowers blood pressure and cholesterol levels)

That is, please don't start eating dark chocolate like crazy because at the end of the day, it is chocolate and everything should be taken in moderation.

I read that 70% should be eaten but I'm happy with my 54%, hahaha.

Source: http://longevity.about.com/od/lifelongnutrition/p/chocolate.htm

REVIEW: Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

Hey Everyone! Time for another review. I had the hardest time trying to decide how I should write this, whether I should have included eye makeup removal stuff from the K-Palette review here. But here is my review on the Olay Cleansing Brush.

As you can see, it's a dupe for the Clarisonic.  I had a huge concern about my skin after I started using the Missha BB Cream. (Click for my review on that) This BB was very long lasting but its problem was that it doesn't come off easily.  I would clean my face with my hands and afterward I would still feel greasiness on my face, which wasn't right.  So I started to consider the Clarisonic Mia, but even this mini version is around $100, way above my budget.  The other option is this Olay Brush, but the very fact that it's only $30 made me doubtful whether it will be useless and a waste of my money.

It turned out to not be a waste of my money, and I use it every time I take off foundation!  

The brush is very very soft and will not damage your face.  It also has two settings.  The top button controls on/off, while the bottom button switches between the Higher and Lower settings. If you have a fragile or sensitive face, you should use the lower setting.  But I always use the higher setting in order to get rid of my make up properly.

 The package comes with an exfoliating gel, which isn't a big deal, but it's better than nothing :)

 

I use the olay brush with this cleansing lotion.  I recommend using cleansing milk or cleansers with similar consistencies because gel does not spread well and give you a good, rich, lather.

After using this you will see that your brush has turned brown.  No biggie, I just use a little soap and clean the brush and all the grime comes off like a dream.

After this cleanser, I use Cetaphil (with my hands) and sometimes an exfoliating cleanser before or after it.  So usually 3 times to do the trick.

There's still grime on your face which you can help remove with your toner and a cotton pad.  ^That particular time I was in a hurry and rushed so there's more brown on it.  Usually there is less; actually don't expect to have much grime on your cotton pad after cleaning with this brush!

Overall, I like this product, and I would buy (the replacement brush heads).

The thing which sucks about this is that you HAVE to buy the brush heads from them, and it's 2 for around $9, which is quite pricey.  What I also don't like is that it uses AA batteries. Come on, doesn't everything these days use a charger and lithium-ion battery?

TIPS: 

1. DO NOT USE THIS ON/NEAR YOUR EYE. you will destroy the skin there

2. If you are wearing eyeshadow with some sort of shimmer or glittery bits, try to take it off separately before washing your face, because the cleansing brush will transfer the glitter all around your face and then it'll be a pain to get rid of them.

One of my favourite songs: Coldplay - Fix You

<3 

Vintage Clothes I Love - Part 1

Hey everyone! 

These clothes all belong to my mom, actually.  It's amazing what you can find, so definitely check out your mom's closet too! She's had these clothes for many years now, and some of the blouses are almost 20 years old!  I love them very much because you can't find these styles any more and the quality is honestly much better than clothes I find these days.

This is a peachy, semi see through blouse with flared sleeves and a flowery-like collar.  It's quite big on me and long so I like to wear it with a belt or tuck it under jeans.

This is one of my favourite items. It's a white blouse that my mom had for at least two decades, and it fits amazingly on me. It's just a tad big and the sleeve holes are too wide but that's the fun thing about vintage clothes; they aren't tailored for your body but they definitely tell a story.  I was looking at my childhood photos and my mom was wearing the black version of this blouse! 

So this is the black version, and it's the same as the white.  What I love about these two blouses is that they are lined so when you wear it you won't look awkward with a layering tank under.

This next item is a sweater which was amongst the stack of old clothes my mom keeps in the linen closet.  I took it out one day and fell in love. It's so comfy and oversized and it's great :) The sleeves are a bit short on me though, but again, I don't mind.

This is another item my mom hasn't worn in a long time, and I recently wore it to a wedding reception, over a simple shift dress from Forever21 I had, which I didn't like but I loved the round neckline. 

I love this skirt very much and it reminds me of Coco Chanel! :$

The last item is a sea green/blue tank with a simple silhouette. It's so very feminine.

The detail on this is just amazing, and it's lined with a silky material.

So that's it for Part 1! Stay tuned for part 2, which is the accessories edition :)

Bye!

REVIEW: K-Palette 24 Hour Tattoo Real Lasting Liquid Eyeliner

Hey!

This is going to be my review of the all-popular K-Palette Eyeliner :)

First of all, let me say that this is my HOLY GRAIL EYELINER.

I have oily/combo skin, and sadly, that includes oily eyelids. Oily Eyelids are a real bummer, let me tell you.  Before I tried this product, I used to use pencil and gel, and there was no way to stop it from smudging to the crease and bottom lid.  It was embarrassing and annoying, but I wanted to wear eyeliner!

So I read reviews online and watched videos on this product and the Dolly Wink eye liner, which both had very positive reviews.  However, I decided to get this one, only cause it promised very good staying power.

The price was $15, when I bought it through my friend who visited Hong Kong in the summer.  You can get it around that price on eBay, but in Asian malls, they are ridiculously overpriced, like $25 or something.

To me who likes to pay sub-$10 for makeup products (except skincare and foundation), the KPalette was sort of steep.  But when I used it and got AMAZING results, I don't regret it at all!

What I Love:

It dries quickly and the tip was not difficult to draw sharp lines.  It stays on literally all day with hardly any smudges (the only imperfection is caused by me rubbing my eyes during the day).  By the end of the day my eyelids would be very oily but the eyeliner stays put!  

Taking off this product won me over.  In the shower or with a little water, I just use my ring finger to gently wipe away the eyeliner, and up to 80% of it is gone!  Even when you wash it off with water, the smudging is tiny and manageable compared to gel or pencil, trust me. 

Before taking it off:

After washing with water; as you can see, there is some residue but hardly any smudging!!

Then I go in with my q-tip to clean off the remaining eyeliner.

All clean!

What I do not like:

The price- I am very willing to pay it but still ..........

The line is not super black and you need to go over it for pigmentation, but it really isn't a problem.

It's hard to find this product in North America.

It's liquid so it's going to dry out. When that happens I'll cry..

-M

Healthy, Quick and Easy Snack - Seasoned Tomato Slices

Happy Friday!

So these tomato slices are one of my favourite snacks and they're virtually guilt-free.

The funny thing is, before my mom showed me this way of eating them, I have always disliked tomatoes because they were sour.  After though, I got addicted!

Directions:

Rinse your tomato.  Slice, dice, or cut into chunks, however you like it.  Then, drizzle olive oil onto the slices. Then sprinkle sea salt and a little pepper.  (I recommend putting on the olive oil first just because it will help the salt and pepper stick better.)

Enjoy!

These three ingredients add flavour to the tomato and the salt brings out the sweetness. :)

Review: Missha Perfect Cover BB Cream No. 23

Hey :)

This is my first BB Cream and currently my only one haha.  Ok Basics about my skin:

Oily/Combo with some scars, light-medium skin tone, very acne-prone, and I have some fine lines ( weep weep)

I bought this BB cream on eBay and I completely recommend everyone to get their BBs there because Asian malls sell them so overpriced.  It's totally safe and MUCH cheaper but the only drawback is that shipping takes forever!  Also just make sure you buy off sellers who have gotten many and good reviews.

I didn't know if I'll like it or not so I bought a small size, 20ml for about $7

My Thoughts:

It will break you out because this BB will block pores.

However I love the finish; it is very good and coverage is Sheer to Medium-High, depending on how much you apply.  I don't even use a lot, just a tiny dollop will cover my whole face, and a bit more for extra coverage of blemishes.  

This BB has SPF 30 or something like that, so your skin WILL look lighter and so if you don't want a white cast in flash photos don't use this!  This is also because this is a BB, so it's supposed to adapt to one's skintone and it doesn't have a whole range of shades a foundation will have.  It makes me a little paler than my bare skin but in a good, polished way (if that makes sense :P) 

Blendability is good but it is best blended on your face with a foundation brush.  I do NOT recommend anyone to blend their foundation with their fingers because you are going to get wrinkles from all the rubbing, no matter how lightly you do it.

If you have acne or are worried about blocked pores, you can either get this product or not.  I'm saying it this way because as long you clean your face thoroughly, you won't suffer from breakouts.  But here's the problem, it's not easy to clean this off!  When I first used this I cleansed with my cleansing milk and Cetaphil but I knew my face was still not clean.  Then about a month ago I bought the Olay sonic cleansing brush (Clarisonic Dupe- I will review this for another day!) and I've been using it to clean my makeup off and the Missha comes off MUCH better!  However, I still need to clean my face off around 3-4 times with first a makeup remover cleansing milk, then a harsher cleanser with exfoliator beads, then Cetaphil! 

A vue d'oeil, I rate this 6/10 and I wouldn't buy again because I like switching products and because I don't like how it's so hard to clean it off and don't want it to cause me to break out.

Bye bye:0

Hair Diary No. 0 (Intro)

Hello :)
So this post is the first of a series I'm hoping to post up, of me attempting to grow my hair back. I'll be putting up pics to track my progress!

  In January 2011 I cut it to the Tao Okamoto style, which I loved, then it grew out and I cut it again in March 2011.   Then it grew out AGAIN and I cut it finally to an even shorter pixie style in June/July 2011.  Since then I've been trying to grow it back into a nice medium length bob and then back to my long hair before!

The Pains of Growing out Short Hair

If you've had short SHORT hair, you would know what I am going through.  Carey Mulligan had to go through the same thing too; it is the dreaded Mullet phase.

Basically what this is is that when you have a short haircut, your sides are shorter than the back, exposing your ears.  So when your hair is growing out, the back lengthens while the sides are still short which makes a mullet appearance.  What people have to do is keep trimming the back while letting the sides and front grow so eventually they will become even once more.  

Currently my sides are almost at the tip of my earlobe which I am grateful for,  but it still needs to grow faster!!!

In the next post I will post a picture of my current progress and vitamins and all that good stuff which makes my hair grow faster (hopefully)

Bye bye!

My First Post

Hey readers :)

This is my first post.........lol generic, I know.

But hopefully I'll be posting up reviews, pics, beauty related stuff, fashion, things I like, or anything else random in the future.

Bye for now!