New widget

This is non-beauty related, but something which I hope to appeal to all.

There’s a new widget offered by WordPress and it’s known as SocialVibe. I remember posting something about the whaling industry on my other blog and I really feel strongly about the issue because I was at the Whale museum in Western Australia and went through the process of how people whaled in the past. To say the least, it was gruesome and horrifying. And this is why I have chosen to help Whaleman foundation.

It doesn’t cost you anything. All the money donated will be coming from PowerBar (my chosen sponsor). I have worked with the people from PowerBar before (or rather, the people behind the company who brought PowerBar to Singapore) and I can see that they’re a bunch of passionate people.

Help us save the whales. Thank you!

If you also have a SocialVibe widget on your page, leave me a comment with your site and I’ll go support your cause too! It always feels good to be able to help.

 

Work-related questions

As some of you may know, I just got transferred back to the marketing department effective July and I need to get onboard really quick so as not to affect our daily operations. This is what I need to know: which magazines do you (local/asian readers) usually read for beauty-related news? Leave me a comment! It would definitely be most useful for me!

 

How to use a fibre optic brush?

This is a genuine question from me. I recently ordered 2 fibre optic brushes from EverydayMinerals (they were on 50% discount!), but upon receiving, I realised that the brush was longer than my kabuki brush. I do not know how to use it! I tried using the swirl, buff and tap method, but the brush head was way too long for that.

Any tips?

 

Review: Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher

Item Reviewed: Estee Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher

Price/pack size: -

Available at: All Estee Lauder counters

Ingredients:

Description:

This fast-acting serum delivers our most dramatic skin resurfacing benefits—more efficiently than ever before.

With Idealist, your skin looks and feels like your ideal skin:

Virtually poreless.

• Pores appear 1/3 smaller—instantly.
• See a 69% reduction in the look of pores in just 4 weeks.

Unbelievably soft and smooth.

• Repairs the look of uneven skin texture,

flakiness and roughness.

• Smooth it on and instantly enjoy that soft, seamless, silky feeling you love.

Incredibly clear and even-toned.

• See more clarity and luminosity.
• Gives skin an overall more even tone.

Review: The very kind beauty consultant gave me a sample of Idealist when I purchased my ANR whitening serum. I only started to use it recently and have mixed thoughts about it.

The good: it was pretty liquid, spreading easily on my skin and dries fairly quickly to a matte, powdery finish. My skin didn’t turn oily as fast as it normally would by mid-day.

The bad: it accentuated flaky bits around my mouth and nose. I also didn’t see the supposed skincare effects (pores looking smaller instantly). If its only benefit was to mattify my skin, I don’t think I’ll be shelling out moolah for this sole purpose.

Sadly, the sample was too small to see any long-term effects – would probably give it another go if I had a sample large enough for 2-3 weeks.

Rating: 3/5

Would I buy again: Maybe

 

3M Nexcare Microfibre cloths

Just a quick one… I was at Watsons the other day and I saw something new! 3M Nexcare has just launched their range of microfiber face & body sponges. I have been wanting to try micro-fibre cloths for a long time now, since I read about them on Vogue forum a couple of years back. However, there isn’t a brand that manufactures such cloths for face, only for other purposes such as kitchen and cars. *sounds a little scary to use such cloths for your face, isn’t it?*

The main selling points of micro-fibre cloths are
• Removes dirt (makeup, oil & grime) cleanly without being harsh to skin
• Gently exfoliates dead skin to unveil smoother & fairer skin
• Absorbs incredibly to produce a luxurious lather yet dries quickly

These 3M cloths and sponges retail for S$6.95 at Watsons. There are also different products for different parts of your body: face glove & face cloth – removes makeup effectively, dual-sided shower towel & dual-sided shower puff – exfoliates and renews skin.

 

Review poll!

I can only update on a limited basis for the time being, until September or so. Which of the following reviews would you like to see first?

 

SCREAMMMMM

Oh dear… I am so behind times, having been caught up in the 张芸京 craze of mine, and work as well. Today, I was at Kimoko’s blog and I realised that Etude House is in Singapore already! Oh yay!!

The following products look good… *poor wallet*
Calming Mild Setting Toner
Black Head Off Oil EX AD
Aqua Drop Sun Guard SPF33/PA++
White Aqua Sun Guard SPF50+/PA++

I *must* make a trip down REALLY soon!

 

Review: Estee Lauder Take it Away Cleansing Milk

Item Reviewed: Estee Lauder Take it Away Cleansing Milk

Price/pack size: -

Available at: All Estee Lauder counters

Ingredients:

Description: Quickly and gently removes all makeup, even long-wear or waterproof formulas.

Unique water-based creme-gel refreshes you with a crisp herbal citrus scent.

Rinses away easily and leaves skin feeling soft and smooth with no greasy afterfeel or oily residue.

Review: A friend in the beauty line once told me that cleansing milks actually cleanses better than cleansing oils. So having been disappointed by many brands of cleansing oils before, I decided to heed her advice and try cleansing milk.

I bought Estee Lauder’s Take it Away cleansing milk when I was at the counter months ago. Initially I found it to be quite alright since I was only wearing mineral makeup then. But having switched to MAC foundation in recent months, I find that the cleansing milk is inadequate for me. I have to cleanse twice using the milk then finish up with my usual foaming cleanser (ie, I am triple cleansing). However, if I were to use Simple cleansing wipes, I only need to use the wipe then cleanser. I also have to use copious amounts for a one-time usage – almost up to 5 pumps.

During rinsing, I often feel that the skin around my eyes is burning and a little prickly – signs of sensitivity to the cleanser. And my skin would experience redness as well. I think I’ll still carry on my search for a cleansing milk, or just stick to my Simple wipes.

Rating: 2/5

Would I buy again: No

 

Review: My Beauty Diary Lavender mask

Item Reviewed: My Beauty Diary Lavender mask

Price/pack size: S$1.50

Available at: MadAboutSprees
Please contact me via email (madaboutsprees@gmail.com) if you’re an international reader interested to buy.

Ingredients: (main ingredients) Lavender essential oil, plant extracts of St John Wort’s, calendula & amica – all to help improve sensitive skin

Description: Stress-releasing, sensitivity-calming, moisturizing. For use on normal & sensitive skin.

Review: I like to use this mask when my skin is feeling particularly blotchy and sensitive, especially when the mask has been in the fridge. The lavender scent is very relaxing (I love lavender!). The essence absorbs into the skin easily and moisturizes the skin.

The main purpose of the lavender mask would be to moisturize and relax the user’s senses. And while it doesn’t have other properties like brightening, or oil control, it is a good basic mask which you can use daily without any problems.

Rating: 5/5

Would I buy again: Yes

 

Review: Velcro hairclips

Item Reviewed: Velcro hairclips

Price/pack size: S$2.50/pack of 2

Available at: MadAboutSprees

Ingredients:

Description:
To hold up hair during makeup application or use as a hairband without the unsightly marks they leave on your hair.

Review: Taiwanese and Japanese are really a step ahead in the beauty industry. Trust them to think of such ‘gadgets’! This looks weird when used, but it works to keep hair away from face!

If you often fret about the mark hairbands and hairclips leave on your fringe, this is the product you should buy. It is one half of a velcro (the rough side, not the furry side) but it holds your hair up easily – look at the model on the top right corner. I often use this in the office to hold up my fringe (it’s in the awkward stage of growing out, so it’s neither here nor there, irritating!) but I have to use the black one. I used the blue one a couple of times, and everyone, EVERY SINGLE ONE, who walked by my cubicle was wondering what was the funny patch on my hair. Some even thought it was an ice pack!

It is also good if you find the ends of hairbands very painful, as in the ends are pressing into the back of your ears. I always suffer from that! So I also like to use it at home. It’s so light, sometimes, I even forget that I have it on my hair! There was once I used it at night and went to bed like that. Despite my tossing and turning at night, it still clung on tight and was still there when I woke up in the morning! How amazing is that???

Rating: 5/5

Would I buy again: Yes