New Specs!

After a number of years, I finally got my new specs.  There was a promotion at MOG and I landed myself a pair of trendy specs for the price of RM299.  I would say that the price is pretty decent, given all my previous ones tend to be more than RM300.  Honestly, I do seriously wonder if the price of specs are to be so expensive, because majority are made out of plastics, no matter how long lasting they could be.  But then again, I don't have a choice but continue to wear specs and contact lens given my eyesight is pretty bad.  Oh well, maybe there will be a day where I would save enough for LASIK eh?  =D

I love my new specs!

Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer

I've always been trying to get a good pencil eye liner that wouldn't run and make me look like a panda everytime I use it, however it is quite tough.  

Nonetheless, during one of my escapades, or my shopping trip, I was simply caught by this eyeliner by Rimmel.  The name is called Rimmel Exaggerate Waterproof Eye Definer.

"Exaggerate" in capital letters!

Here's what I like about it:

It's creamy in texture.  Reminds me of crayon, although it's not as hard as crayons.  It does glide easily on my eye and it's really black!  I like that cause I don't have to keep lining my eyes just to make sure it's dark.  However, because it's creamy, if I do line my eyes a few times, it makes me feel like there's a chunk of things on my eye lid.  I try to minimise the number of lining by using a eye liner brush.  It works to ensure that the color is deposited nicely and evenly.  

The left side is only one layer whereas the right side is 2 layers.  If you look to build it up, this is quite a good black eyeliner.

However, much to my chagrine, it often makes me look like a panda. Sigh, once again, the smudges are much stronger than I wish it to be.  I don't doubt that it's the eyeliner's fault, as much as it is my own oily lids' issue here.  Because it is really black (I love the black!) it literally made my eyes look bad with all its smudging.  I look like a sick person most of the time.

I'm trying to use it all up by making sure I put layers of eye base/ powder, yada yada... but looking at it, it might take a smite longer than I intend to.

Oh well, no re-purchase for me on this, and not recommended to those who has oily eye lids like me too! 

Elisha Coy Nudy BB Cream

I got this sample from a colleague who started distributing a number of packets of it to all the female colleagues. I've seen this brand around but never did pay much attention it.  Well, since it's free, one ought to give it a try eh? hehe..

I have to say that this is one of the loveliest BB cream I've ever used.

One of the best thing about it is the texture.  It is not too runny or too thick.  I find that its texture is just at the right level, making it easy to apply onto my skin.  In terms of coverage, it is just right.  I won't say it can cover everything (I doubt anything can do that unless you make sure you put concealer), but it does cover the blemishes and redness.  It also even up the skin well.  I think the best part is, once applied, it gives the skin a natural glow and you don't look as though you've piled a lot of things onto your skin.  I like!

In terms of oil control, I think it works fairly well.  It can last for around 6 hours and only the T-zone looks slightly oiler (that's partly due to my oily T-zone).  I do dust a bit of powder once I've applied it for oil control purpose ya.

It is definitely one of the item that I frequently reach out to.  Like I said, this is a sample that I got and I have no idea where I can get my hands on it.  If I could, I will definitely make a dash and go buy one.  Right now, in order not to finish it too soon, I actually alternate it with some other BB creams.  Well, desperate moments requires some desperate action from my end... hehe

Stage Photo Pro Creme Camouflage

For some strange reasons I only tend to venture to Stage when they are having promotion. And best part is, most of the time I do end up visiting them is when they are having sale but I don't know about it!  

During one of those ventures, I ended up purchasing Stage's Photo Pro Creme Camouflage.  To be honest, I had no intention of getting a concealer because I rarely used them.  However, the MUA was so good in promoting the item to me and showing me how to use it and I ended up buying it.  Then again, it didn't burn a hole in my pocket because they were selling it at RM18 at that time.  Score!

 Love the sleek looking packaging!

 I got 04 Buff for my skin

I quite like this concealer.  It's my first cream concealer and I have to say that it works well.  

In terms of coverage, it does well to cover some of my acne scars as well as some redness here and there. I like to use this for my dark circles though.  It doesn't cake around my eyes and once applied, it makes me look fresher.  This is good because I do tend to look tired with the dark circles around my eyes.

Another thing that I like this is because of its creamy texture, allowing me the ease to blend it.  It's not too thick either so it's easily worked onto my skin.

One note to using a concealer.  Please make sure you blend it well so that it doesn't look patchy on your skin.  There are times where I only dust some light powder over my face after the concealer and it makes my make up looks simple and nature.  

Fruit of the Earth Block Up SPF 50

There seems to be a spurt of different range of sunblock in the market in the recent months.  First it was Ocean Potion and then it was the Fruit of the Earth range (from hereon will be referred to FOTE).  I saw a small bottle of it at one of the hypermarket, Carrefour and thought I'd grab one to give it a try, since I was running low on the Ocean Potion Anti-Aging Sunblock SPF 50 Ultra Light.  The one I got my hands on is the FOTE Block Up! Full Spectrum SPF 50 with Aloe Vera.

Their website describes this item as follows:

Experience the cutting edge of suncare with the added UVA/UVB protection of avobezone! The Best Sun Protection Available Today.

Features:

• Protects against UVA1, UVA2, and UVB rays
• Anti-oxidants A, C & E combat free radicals
• Prevents premature aging
• Designed to use all year-round
• water and sweat resistant

The one I got is a 30ml, so it's very travel friendly.  I am a sucker for travelling goodies and this one is a good size.

So how does it fare as a sunblock?  

Being one with SPF 50, it does work to ensure that I don't get burn, especially my hands, with the crazy erratic weather here in Malaysia.

Smell

I wouldn't say it smells cloying, but I'd say it's definitely void of any good smell.  The only word to describe it is that it smells like chemical.  Since this is an item for the body, I'm not to worried about the smell.  I guess it can be a turn off to some.

Texture

It is slightly creamy, but not as thick as the Ocean Potion.  I'd say one thing is good though, it's not sticky.  Once applied, you don't feel as though there is a film on your skin.  That works well for me since I dislike the sticky feeling. I guess as it is slightly lighter in terms of texture, it doesn't take too long to apply the sunblock.  Well, this is in comparison to the Ocean Potion item I got. With this item, you know you are applying sunblock and not lotion due to the texture.

Packaging,

It comes in the form tube.  It works for me because I don't have to keep tilting the bottle to pour it out.  I guess partly it's due to the size as well.  

For its price point, if I am not wrong, the big bottle is costing about RM22.90-RM24.90.  Quite an okay price I'd say, for a bottle of 88ml.

Will I get it?  Well, that's a tricky question because I am a little turn off by the smell.  It's an item that I would contemplate a little more before proceeding to repurchase I guess.

Swisspers Cleansing Eye Make-Up Remover Pads

This was really an unexpected purchase.  I was just walking around whilst waiting to board my bus back from Singapore, when I saw Guardian.  Well, me being me, I cannot resist walking into it! Hehe...

One of the things that really caught my eye is the Swisspers Cleansing Eye Make-Up Remover Pads.  I couldn't resist purchasing it because it was only SGD2 per item.  I ended up grabbing 3 packs of it.  Mind you, I've been using cleansing sheet for the face but not for eye make-up because, it's just not something that I use (and partly I don't do a whole lot of eye make-up).  However, this purchase really did change my habit of removing eye make-up (and my habit of putting on eye make-up, of course, partly it's thanks to Benefit's Creaseless EyeShadow - but that's for another post).

Per Pack contains 30 pieces of eye make-up remover and it suffices for one month's use, if you make up your eye daily.  The size of the pad is rather decent, fitting the size of my palm (I do have quite a small palm) and both sizes can be used for each eye (save a whole lot of cotton along the way!).

I guess the most important thing is, how does it fare?

It works rather decently.  I tend to place it on my eye lids for about 5 to 10 seconds before I wipe off the make up, and that works better because I don't have to keep rubbing my eye lids with it.  This minimises the need to tug your eye lids and therefore, less wrinkles in the long run.

However, the downside of it is that it's not as soft as a cotton.  It can be quite harsh if rubbed on the eye lids too many times (no more than 3 times please).  I tend to use this for lighter eye make-up.  That means I don't use it if I am using mascara because I do find that I need to wipe numerous times to remove mascaras.  This means its a no-no because it is quite painful if rubbed too many times.

Do I like using it?  I do, because I am just lazy like that.  Just pull one out from the package and wipe and I am done =p

Will I re-buy?  I am already contemplating of asking my friend who is coming up from SG to get me a few packs to stock up.  Does that answer you?

Downside of it is that it is not available here.  So it can be quite tricky to buy if one runs out of it.  I've not tried any brands that's available here.  Any recommendation?

Price: SGD2 per pack.

Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturising Cream

I usually tend to avoid cream products as I have oily combination skin and creams tend to break me out.  However, due to some strange reason, my skin was getting rather dry and it was a painful experience because I was breaking out due to the dryness!  Saying I was at loss was an understatement.  I'm still trying to figure out the cause of the break out but I was more active in trying to look for a product that would help me overcome the dryness.  I'm pretty sure that once the dryness give way to being moistured, the breakouts will cease.

On the other side, I do know that Vitamin E is good for the skin to help the skin.  I've read here that some of the other benefits of Vitamin E are these:

• vitamin e products help reduce the appearance of stretch marks
• vitamin e can help prevent the appearance of age spots
• it helps maintain the skin’s oil balance during the cleansing process
• it reduces transepidermal water loss from skin and strengthens the skin’s barrier function

Based on this, it would seem that Vitamin E does function well when applied onto the skin.

I noticed this Organic Aid product for eons, but because of my aversion to cream products, I never did get my hands on it.  That is, until recently (so you could imagine the desperation that I have to resort to creams due to the dryness and tightness of my skin).  I am thankful that they do produce two sizes, so that I can grab the smaller one to try.

Here's the description:
New vitamin E moisturizing cream with amino acids is a  gentle and effective skin-care product that contains vitamin E to promote and maintain a healthy, radiant complexion. And amino acids to help restore nutrients to rough skin. Our special formula also includes natural emollients for added softness, plus moisture replenishing humectants to protect against the sun and wind. One application of Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream will soothe and refresh dry, rough skin and leave it creamy-smooth and naturally beautiful.

And here's the ingredients:
Deionized Water, Glycol Monostearate, Propylene Glycol Monostearate, Diglycol Stearate, Triethanolamine, Hydrolized Amino Acids, Vitamin E (1000 I.U. d-Alpha Tocopheryl) and Fragrance.

I did a check online and found that their main website does not contain anymore skin care, rather, only their hair care and hand care sets.  I guess they are phasing out?  Not very sure though.

It's stated on the bottle that it's non-sticky and non-greasy, which to me, is quite rare given that it is a cream product.  We all do know that there is some level of greasiness and stickiness when it comes to a cream product.

 However, to my surprise, Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturising Cream really is as it claims.  The initial feel of this product is that it feels thick and a little hard to apply.  It seems to be absorb to the skin right immediately, unlike other creams and lotions which you would need to massage them to get your skin absorb it.  There seemed to be a layer of film during the initial few seconds (or minutes?) but right after that there isn't any stickiness or greasiness, as said earlier.  I am rather impressed by it.

After a couple of weeks of consistent application day and night (seriously, I had to use it during the day cause my skin was that bad), I find my skin is getting better.  I look more refreshing and was regaining the fair and unblemished look.  Alright, there are still a bit of scarring on my skin that has yet to fade off from the breakout, but it's good to say the least that I don't have crazy breakouts anymore, except those that tend to pop up during that time of the month.  My skin also feels smoother and softer.  I quite like touching my skin nowadays... haha.. crazy I know.

I find that my skin is not as oily as last time too, which is good because I don't have to keep wiping my face to get rid of the oil.  Looks like the Vitamin E is working eh?  I am truly happy with this Organic Aid Vit E Moisturising Cream.

I will definitely re-purchase this item once I'm done with it.  For RM14.88 (or less during promotion), it is worth the purchase.