What's NEW at Sephora? │有得睇冇得買的window shopping

講明係window shopping, 姐係得個睇字(同恨字), 點解??
因為香港已經冇左Sephora, 而呢d brands 0係香港係冇得買的(以我0既認知冇專門店, 如果有, 先講聲唔好意思, 同埋麻煩你話聲俾我知, 感激不盡!!)。

明知道冇得賣, 所以我都好耐冇睇過Sephora 個website, 不過我以前真係個個星期都要去鋪頭巡鋪先至安樂架, 哈哈。其實Sephora 都有好多國際牌子香港係有得賣0既, 不過我今次想講0既呢堆wishlist 都係一些香港冇0既, 冇得擁有, 都可以欣賞一下0既~ XDD

Too Faced - Boudoir Eyes Soft & Sexy Eye Shadow Collection 

 


呢個其實唔新架喇, 我已經見過真身, 其實我之前係想買架, 但係要搬屋真係要節制小小, 所以冇帶佢番屋企。Too Faced 一系列neutrals 顏色0既眼影不嬲都有評價, 佢可能唔係最最最出色, 但係以佢0既價錢, 唔算貴, 值得用的。


Stila - Stay All Day Prime & Anti Shine Balm 




我一見到呢個產品, 就令我諗起之前聽過 emilynoel83 (link to her youtube channel) 介紹過0既一個Mally 0既產品, 感覺完全一樣! 可惜我真係唔知邊度可以買到Mally, 所以見到Stila 而家出呢個product, 真係幾興奮! 佢係一個控油產品, 可以作妝前打底、定妝, 同埋補妝時吸油用的。香港咁熱咁潮濕, 控油真係太重要, 尤其是我呢D 混合性易出油人士!


Urban Decay - Revolution Lipstick 




又點可以唔講Urban Decay, 佢0既 eye shadow primer potion 出晒名, 仲有NAKED palettes! 如果講到顯色度、持久度, 佢地真係好多products 都好到家! 呢個新0既唇膏, 又係creamy 同埋出色的代表!

唔知你地有冇online shopping 的習慣呢? 會唔會上網買化妝品、護膚品呢? 如果有一日Sephora 可以ship 黎香港就好了~

Innisfree 初體驗 + 中文初嘗試

我未用過中文打blog 的, 但係入鄉隨俗, 突然想試一試, 咁就試下啦~
番咗嚟香港之後, 有機會可以接觸下一些亞洲品牌, 當然如果你有留意, 都會知道韓風又番黎喇!!! 真係唔講得笑, 0個日0係旺角街頭見到Etude House 同埋Innisfree 0既專門店, 真係好心動!! 於是我就去到訪一下Innisfree 喇~

其實我之所以想去Innisfree, 係因為我想睇下佢個火山泥面膜。 我而家正在努力清貨, 所以我都唔可以太瘋狂, 咩都買番去試, 咁啱我又真係差不多用完我個泥膜, 而且又見都好幾個人推介呢個產品, 所以我先至買呢個番黎用架!

Innisfree Super volcanic pore clay mask
(around $120 HKD)

佢有兩個版本的, 但係因為我自己皮膚好容易生暗瘡, 亦都比較容易出油, 所以一買就決定買個Super 版本, 怕普通版不夠力 (你知香港空氣質素幾差架啦, 真係出一出街都覺得自己塊臉唔要得咁)。 0係舖頭入面仲試了幾個東西上手, oh no! 我心動了....... 此後, 我當然忍唔住去了幾次 Innisfree, 買了幾個東東番黎啦~ 其實我真係冇失控, 非常理性, 真係諗清楚, 行了幾次都仲想買先至買架。(下刪一百字的籍口喇......-.-)

其他入手東西: 
Innisfree Real Skin CC Cream SPF30 PA++ (40ml) ($180 HKD)
Innisfree Green tea mineral mist (50ml) (alcohol-free) ($40 HKD)
Innisfree Eco Beauty Tool Premium 100% cotton pads ($20 HKD)


我不嬲唔中意BB cream, 所以本來而家出0既CC cream 我都冇咩興趣試, 不過0個日0係Innisfree 度試了佢地個CC cream 上手, 咦, 又真係唔同野0黎架喎~ 而且好似試在手上沒有點樣泛白 (我最怕BB cream 的其中一個原因就係多數都太過白喇), 於是就想買來玩下, 當防曬用都好似幾好咁。剛好我帶出街噴瞼的水也已經用完, 我之前是用緊Caudalie 的, 但真係幾貴, 而且我好似上癮佢隻味咁(好refreshing!), 實在用得太快, Innisfree 呢個唔太貴, 而且我睇中佢係無酒精, 用得安心又唔使咁肉赤啦~ 最後就係cotton pad, 我一直的最愛就係Shiseido, 但係我番黎之後就仲未去Shiseido 睇下有冇得賣, 而且亦都係比較貴, 所以我就想尋找一下有冇alternatives. 呢個cotton pad 我覺得都似Shiseido 那個的, 所以就要買番黎試下喇!

贈品: 
Innisfree Soybean energy essence 
Innisfree The Green Tea seed serum wet tissues 
Innisfree Olive real cleansing tissue 

最後最後, 我最開心0既一件事係, 佢地送緊呢個soybean essence! 因為其實我最想最想買0既係佢! 之前見到大佬B 都讚佢夠濃, 我自己0係舖頭入面試了後都好心動! 而家可以再試真D 了!! (p.s. 結果係我番屋企試了後仍然好想入手!!!)

我好相信, 我會再買Innisfree 0既野, 等我試真D 以上東西再同大家分享啦~

On its last legs

(Left to Right)
Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Cream SPF 50
Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Fundamental Serum
Sofina beaute UV milk SPF 30
Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam 

Counting down on my move out date, I really have been trying hard to clear up my stash. As much as I want to keep everything for "empties" posts, sometimes in circumstances like this you just want to throw stuffs away (or let's say you just NEED to). I thought it would be a good idea to show you some of the products I have been trying to use up so that when they reached the end of their lifespans, I can gladly just put them into the garbage bin. ;) 

Shiseido Ultra Sun Protection Cream SPF 50 - I like Shiseido sun care products a lot and this formula despite the fact that it's a cream, it is absolutely non-greasy. Bonus part is it is water-resistant so whenever I am going to the beach, I am confident that I am guarded by sun protection. Also, the main reason I would always recommend Shiseido sun care is the ingredients - zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. Not every single sun care product from Shiseido has both of these two ingredients, but they either have one or both (at least from this line, they have more products available in Asia and I need to do more research on those). Mineral/physical sunscreen always earns five stars in my book and I am sure other fellow beauty addicts will agree with me. Long story short, they are much better in terms of mechanism compared to chemical sunscreens. Also better for sensitive skins. So without a doubt, I would recommend this product, whether you fancy the lotion formula or the cream. 

Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Fundamental Serum - Naruko is a Taiwanese brand and I first learned about this brand from fuzkittie (fellow youtuber but she doesn't make videos anymore). I have tried a few products from this brand and I quite like them. Nothing so far has blew me away but I will definitely look into this range when I am back to Hong Kong. As for this serum, it claims to be a serum that helps other products to absorb better, so kinda like a booster serum. I found it non-greasy, fast-absorbing and hydrating. I don't know if it really does anything about boosting other skincare. I like it but I am unsure if I would re-purchase right away. Maybe I will try other serums from Naruko (I indeed have tried some others and I honestly found them to be very similar). 

Sofina beaute UV milk SPF 30 - I don't think I need to say much about this product. My favourite sunscreen for the face, all-time favourite! I have a back-up so after I am done with this tiny little bit left, I will gladly open the new one in my stash. I think I will definitely re-purchase but I have used this sunscreen religiously for years and I kinda want to try other ranges just to experiment a bit. We will see how that goes. 

Shiseido The Skincare Extra Gentle Cleansing Foam - Not sure starting from when, I declared war to cleansing foams. I think they are stripping and whenever I use them to wash my face, my face feels dry and tight. So I told myself I won't bother with cleansing foams anymore and ventured into the world of cleansing milk and cleansing lotion. So when I got this Shiseido cleansing foam, I pretty much assumed I won't like it. Tried it the first time, and I felt the stripping and tight feeling was not as bad as I thought it would be (it's still there). Then I use it more, and after a few days, I kinda like how my face feel after washing and I don't feel the tight sensation anymore. Rather, I feel refreshed. I also noticed that my skin has improved after using this cleanser and I start to realized with my combination/oily skin, cleansing milk/lotion might have just been too gentle for me and did not help with balancing the oil-moisture level. I also absolutely love pairing this cleansing foam with my clarisonic mia. So for the upcoming Summer months, I am definitely sticking with cleansing foams. I still do not think I will all of a sudden go all out and try cleansing foams from all brands. I will still stick with the gentle ones and this Shiseido one is something that I can see myself re-purchasing and re-purchasing. 

Confession of a mascara junkie

Indeed, this is still part of my decluttering series, only this is for my mascara obsession. I will have to admit that when it comes to mascara, I am guilty for not tossing them away as frequently as I should. But I do sanitize my mascara once in a while to keep them fresh(-er). But since I have come to the realization that, if I don't use them up or at least toss them away after a few months of usage, I will never get to try new mascara (well, not entirely true because I always keep buying new mascaras). I guess the point is, I really shouldn't have a million mascaras around and not using them while they are at their full capacities. So in my effort to declutter my mascara stash, here I present the empties...... 

Before I begin, here are a few points to keep in mind: 

• I almost always use waterproof mascara because they hold my curls better 
• I look for volumizing rather than lengthening 
• Black all the way, or blackest black 
• I usually do not like synthetic, plastic kind of brush 
• I use the Shu Uemura eyelash curler before applying mascara 

• L'Oreal voluminous waterproof 
  - This is a rather popular one on the youtube/blogger world and I admit I agree to a certain degree. I enjoyed it a lot more while it got dryer. This is one that I would keep in mind for replenishment.  

• Make up for ever aqua smoky lash 
  - SO MANY people RAVED about this mascara, naming it their holy grail. I just could not make myself love it. I don't know if it has anything to do with the fact that it is waterproof formula and most people referred to the original formula. But as I mentioned, I use waterproof formula all the way. This mascara just makes my lashes so clumpy and I usually do not mind a bit of clumpy-ness. However, I found this mascara really made my lashes so unnatural. Plus, it made my lashes straight. To me, this is a "miss". :S  

• Heroine make volume & curl mascara
  - An Asian drugstore popular mascara and this is not my first tube. I love this mascara and it is one of my all-time favourites. Only downside is it is hard to remove. I also found this does not transfer even in humid weather. So this is a trustworthy one.
  
   

• Maybelline full 'n soft waterproof  
  - Too natural for my taste. Did not give enough impact to my lashes in my opinion but I guess it is supposed to be like that? 

• Diorshow maximizer lash plumping serum 
  - Sometimes when I fancy, I do use a lash primer because it will help those not-so-great mascara to perform better, as well as conditioning my poor lashes. I do like this one. I can't say if I like this more than my Shiseido one but I think this serum is more separating than the Shiseido mascara base. However, the Shiseido mascara base holds curls better, at least for my lashes and at least for the old formula. I have yet to test out the new nourishing mascara base from them. 

• Estee Lauder sumptuous bold volume lifting mascara 
  - This was a rather surprising find. I got this sample from my friend randomly and I honestly did not expect much because I have never heard any reviews about Estee's mascaras. But OMG, I absolutely love it!!! By far my favourite in the non-waterproof mascara world. The main reason I chose waterproof is for curl-holding properties. But this mascara separates, volumnize and hold curls perfectly! I really want to purchase the full size! 

• Lancome hypnose waterproof 
  - Who doesn't know about Lancome's mascaras really? And this one? I adore. On top of my favourite mascara list. I am really curious to try out other of their mascaras. 

• Tarte lights camera splashes waterproof 
  - I did enjoy it while I had it. But towards the later stage of its service period, I just don't find it to be amazing anymore. It could have been me just holding onto it for too long. Anyhow, it's a good mascara in my book but I probably would not repurchase. 

Decluttering 105, the last verdict

Here comes to my last day of the mini-decluttering series. I hope you have had enjoyed some of these mini-reviews and I challenge myself to continue to buy less, and use up more. ;) 

La roche posay ceralip - I did not care for it when I first got it, but earlier this Winter, I have been using this religiously as my bed time lip treatment and I enjoyed it a lot. Now, I do have many many many lip balms so I am glad to say goodbye to one of them. But I highly recommend this as a bed time treatment and I might repurchase if I ever feel like replenishing my lip treatment stash.

L'Occitane dessert rose hand cream - this was a limited edition shea butter hand cream and I do like this shea butter hand cream range. This particular scent is divine as well, not the typical rose scent from L'Occitane, bur rather a little bit more sweet.

Clarins eye revive beauty flash - a decent eye cream in my opinion. I found it do work quite well for de-puffing. I might repurchase in the future. I just don't know if I like this better than the Origins Ginzing eye cream for day time.

Befine eye treatment - I like the Befine cleanser, but this eye treatment? I couldn't care less. I hate the pump because it always pumps out too much. And I just didn't find it special by any means. I was happy that I could get rid of it.

Boscia green tea blotting sheets - I like these although I don't think they are worth the price tag. You can find similar things in the Asian market for much cheaper price (without the green tea scent or the benefits it clams to have). I personally do not believe that blotting sheets can give you any anti-oxidant results, but I cannot deny this is a luxurious blotting sheet that I am always tempting to repurchase.

Therapeutic clay mint mask - this is a mask prescribed to me by my dermatologist and I do like it. I found it to help my blemishes heal faster. I couldn't repurchase this product here in Canada but I will continue to use up my purifying clay masks in my stash and possibly trying to find a similar one to this.

Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream lip protectant - I love this because it works! My lips are chronically dry and chapped and I found this lip balm to work wonders. Also, it has SPF in it so that's a bonus. Will repurchase in the future. 

Dorissiderm A. spot - basically another spot treatment I have tried. This brand is not available here in Canada but it's being sold in either Watson's or Manning's (sorry I couldn't remember exactly) in Hong Kong. I think it's okay, nothing special or spectacular.

Caudalie hand and nail cream - I don't know if it like this or not..? I am not a huge fan of the scent, but I can't say I won't repurchase for sure. I think it's okay but nothing that blows my mind away.

Decluttering 104

So here comes to day 4 in my decluttering series, looks like I will need 5 days to wrap up my mini-series here. lol It feels good to purge out all my thoughts on these empties, plus, to finally being able to toss them away! 

Sofina SPF24 PA+++ - not much to say except this is my all-time favourite sunscreen. I believed the SPF24 has been discontinued and replaced with the SPF30 now. But in short, this milky lotion is light-weight, moisturizing and so easy to blend. Love it! =)

Lancome blanc expert ultimate whitening hydrating cream - I didn't use this cream continuously that I found any brightening results, it is rather moisturizing and I can only use it at night time. I found it leaves a slight greasy film on my face after I use it so that why I didn't care to use it in the day time. I don't think this is amazing and probably will not repurchase for now.

Korres wild rose vitamin C advanced brightening sleeping facial - I was not planning to get this cream but while I was at Sephora browsing the Korres section, the Korres trainer was there apparently and she demonstrated this cream on my hand. I was amazed because I saw immediate brightening result when she used a cotton pad on top of the cream and applied onto my hand for like 1 minute. Although this is quite an expensive cream ($62.50 CAD), I just could not resist getting it. Plus, it smells amazing!!!! It is very hard for me to use up a moisturizer: a.) I am not very loyal b.) I have too many moisturizers c.) I always try new things. For these reasons, I often do not stick with one particular moisturizer. But I managed to use up this relatively quick because I could not resist not using it. Originally I was planning to use it 1 to 3 times a week as per recommended by the trainer, but in the end I found myself reaching for this daily. I already repurchased this but I have yet to open it because I want to use up all my other creams first. And since there is vitamin C in it, I do not want to open the glass jar and risking the product not at its optimum stage. All in all, I love this moisturizer and it doesn't make me greasy. =)

Embryolisse lait creme concentrate - another moisturizer that I adore! I already repurchased and using my 2nd tube right now. Wonderful moisturizer that is easy to blend, non-irritating, basic, hydrating and perfect for underneath makeup. This has become my Winter essential. =) And omg, it is so affordable! My mum helped me to repurchase when she was in Paris and I could not believe who affordable this is there! (also for Bioderma!) I got this from a retailer in Hong Kong and it was about $23 CAD, and I believe my mum got this in France for 9 euro..!! Not that I travel to France routinely, so I probably will have to pay a higher price to get this cream, but it is well-worth it. <3

Bioderma sebium AI - this is a treatment that helps to eliminate spots. I actually quite enjoyed it but I wasn't sure if it was this product that helped to control my blemishes. So right now I haven't repurchased yet, but if I find myself needing a product like this in my life again, I will for sure consider getting this.

Dream Skin whitening serum - I don't have much to say about this, did not care for it and was simply trying to use this up.

Shiseido benefiance hand revitalizer - I got this as a gift while purchasing things in Hong Kong Shiseido counter. I don't think this product is available in North America but Shiseido does sell a similar hand cream here in Canada. (I think it is probably the same, but just marketed slightly differently) A very moisturizing hand cream that I find slightly greasy, takes longer to absorb. But it is great of bed time. Not my choice for day time.

Origins super spot remover - I believe this is already my 2nd bottle of it. Salicylic acid 1.5% treatment. I do like it but after using 2 bottles of it consecutively, I was in the mood to try something new, thus the Clinique spot treatment. By all means, I tried to stick with salicylic acid treatment rather than benzoic peroxide, just because I think it works better for my skin type.

Decluttering 103

Please excuse my rather unoriginal titles...... 

Korres guava shower gel - I got this from Winners with discounted price, I am glad that I get to try out the Korres shower product, but I did not find the scent to be absolutely appealing. But I did noticed that while using this shower gel, my skin feels very comfortable and hydrated after my shower. I think the "natural" ingredients or the no "harsh chemicals" must have done some work there. If they have a rose scent, I might repurchase.

Fekkai apple cider clarifying shampoo - a rather expensive clarifying shampoo. I never used to use a clarifying shampoo but somehow youtube gurus talked me into "I need a clarifying shampoo" mode. Although it is quite expensive ($28 CAD if not mistaken), it did last me a long time (I say a year) because I only use this maximum once a week. I love the scent, very refreshing. It is a bit drying and I supposed that is because it is clarifying. I think I might repurchase, but right now I went ahead and tried something new (i.e. Bumble and bumble Sunday shampoo).

Senka hydrating toner - Senka is a drugstore brand made by Shiseido and this product is available in the Asia market. I found the texture similar to the Shisedo softeners (which I love) but this one is non-fragranced, so it might be even better for rather sensitive skin. Also, needless to say, much cheaper than the Shiseido softener (I believed this one was about $10 CAD). I think this is a wonderful gel-like toner for Winter months.

Biotherm biocils eye make-up removal care - this one claims to condition your lashes and removes waterproof make-up. I did not expect the condition lashes part to be true when I bought it, but I actually was impressed by the result. I did find when I was using this, I lost less lashes while removing my eye makeup. I would love to repurchase this if I could ignore the price tag... and one thing I did not like is the packaging. I did not like the cap because it leaks a little bit. I much prefer the neutrogena packaging with the round cap.

Barielle intensive hand treatment cream - one of the Hong Kong makeup artists raved about this cream all the time, and while I found this ultra moisturizing, I did find it a bit greasy as well. I also did not care about the scent, which in a hand cream, is rather important to me. I don't mind if it is non-scented (like the Kiehl's one I like) but this Barielle one is kinda in between. It is not heavily scented, but the slight scent in it does not appeal to me. I think I would rather repurchase the Kiehl's one.

Bioderma sensibio mask - a hydrating, soothing mask. While I enjoyed the Bioderma sensibio water, I don't think this mask did much to my skin. It was just something I tried to use up.

Kiehl's white brightening botanical hydrating mask - this mask is rather old and I just have to toss it away. The reason why it has been in my stash forever is because I couldn't use it much... every time I put this on my face, it gave my painful sensation and often I just have to wash it off in 5 minutes. I kept trying to like it because some times when I can endure the sensation, I did find it give my skin a brightening boost. Anyhow, I think it is safe to say that I need to farewell this skincare from my stash. I don't believe a product has to stint your skin in order to give you good result.

Decluttering 102

Some more things that I used up =P 

Lierac body scrub - it an okay scrub. I am not a huge fan of the scent. The scrub itself, like a lot of french pharmacy brands, is much more fine that other scrubs I have used. It is more like a true exfoliant I supposed. I got this from Winners, so this is not something that I can get on a regular basis. But I am partial about repurchasing this anyways.

Opalen - my acne treatment, 0.1% adapalene gel. It is essentially the same as Differin, just a different brand name. I used this or Differin in the night time to treat my acne. I do not know why I ever stopped using adapalene as my acne treatment of choice, but I will always have one on hand from now on. This is not something you can get over the counter (not in North America at least), it has been prescribed to me by my dermatologist.

Bioderma hydrabio moisturising concentrate - bought this on a rim while it was on sale. I have tried the toner form the hydrabio line so I am confident in this line that it will not irritate my skin. Turns out, I love this hydrating serum! Absorbs quickly and my skin feels moist and supple after using it. Definitely on my repurchase list for the future.

H2O+ night oasis oxygenating energizer serum - another hydrating serum, but one that I don't really fancy. I do not like the scent and do not think it did much to my skin.

Dior hydra life skin energeizer pro-youth hydrating serum - I used my optimum (shoppers drug mart reward program) points on this product and I do like how it feels when I use it. I don't think it is like absolutely amazing but it is definitely luxurious. I am just not sure if it is worth the price tag? Probably will not repurchase anytime soon.

Skinfood nail polish - just too old, I have to toss it away.

Avene spring water spray - I kept this in my purse for refreshing in the mid day. I think it's okay, not like now other people rave about it. And now that I love the Caudalie beauty elixir so much (but probably triple the price...-.-), I don't think I will repurcahse this anytime soon, plus, I can't bring this Avene spray on the plane with me because of its packaging.

Bonaza enzyme mask - I love this mask! If you are from Asia, you might have heard of this brand. It is a gel mask that clarifies, moistruizes and brightens your skin. The only down side is you have to apply it for 40 minutes so I only use this when I know I have time for a night time pamper. It is wonderful for an emergency treatment as well (when your skin is not in a good shape and you need something that will boost your skin in one night so you look 10 times better when you wake up). I will repurchase when I am back to Hong Kong next time.

Shiseido pureness gentle cleansing sheets - oil-free, alcohol-free, this product is truly gentle. I do not prefer cleansing sheets over my cleansing oil, but out of the few cleansing sheets I have tried, this one is the best in terms of how it made your skin feels.

Skindinavia makeup finishing spray (original) - it really keeps my makeup last longer so I now keep a bottle of this thing in my makeup stash at all times. Because Skindinavia is not readily available here in Canada, I purchased the Urban Decay one for now, and they are from the same maker as far as I know. I do not notice any difference between how the two performed either.

Decluttering 101

In the past few months, I have accumulated LOADS of empty packaging and I simply did not have the time or energy to write up posts. It is good in a way that I am using up things, but I just can't stand those piles of empties in my living room anymore. And since some of them have been quite a while ago, I just don't feel like writing things about them if I don't have any specific thoughts on them. So here are the majority of my empties, but not all. =P

CeraVe hydrating cleanser - it's a very gentle cleanser that I used in the morning. Non-irritating and indeed very moisturizing. Great for sensitive skin. Won't be repurchasing in the near future but it's an ultra gentle one that should keep in mind. 

Clinique take the day off cleansing milk - I used this to take off my make-up. I do quite like it, and other things I have tried from the take the day off line. I feel like I still like my cleansing oil a little bit more, but it's a good one when I want to change up my routine a bit. 

Ren hydra-calm cleansing milk - first Ren product I tried and I bought this on a rim. I used this up rather quickly and it is a very hydrating cleanser. Made my skin feel very comfortable as well. A very nice one for Winter time. 

Sofina essence cleanser - one of my all-time favourites. I adore the scent! And it makes the cleansing experience more luxurious. Not going to repurchase for now before I use up other things, but I love this cleanser. 

Fancl mild cleansing oil - again, one of my all-time favourites. I always have one on hand. 

Bioderma sensibio H2O - who doesn't know about Bioderma really? I love my cleansing oil so I never bother to try Bioderma, but I purchased one for traveling and just love it. And nowadays when I am lazy, I love using Bioderma to give my skin a quick cleanse when I got home. It doesn't replace my cleansing oil by any means because Bioderma does not remove waterproof eye make-up for me. But I now keep a bottle of Bioderma in my bathroom, for the purpose I just mentioned, and also for days I am wearing minimal make-up, as well as cleaning up any residual eye make-up using a cotton swab. It's also wonderful for touching up makeup! =) 

Philosophy purity made simple - first I heard a lot of people raving about this cleanser, then many controversial comments regarding the ingredients being not so "simple" and irritating. =S I have yet to dig into the truth, but the fact is, it is a good cleanser to use, especially when combine with my clarisonic. I did not notice any irritation while using this cleanser, but I might have to do more research before I decide to purchase a 2nd bottle of it. 

Neutrogena naturals fresh cleansing + make-up remover - the smell is quite fresh, and it is not a bad cleanser by any means, but I did not fall in love with it... so in the end I used this up as a brush cleanser. 

Neutrogena oil-free eye make-up remover - I love this stuff! By far my drugstore favourite eye make-up remover. I go through eye make-up remover quite quickly because I do use waterproof makeup on a daily basis. So I really do not have the intention to try out the famous Lancome Ba-facil when the drugstore one just works as well. 

A lost post...

Found this lost post that I created last year, thought I should still make it public. ;) 

OPI "Hopelessly in love" is one of my very first nail polishes. Wearing pink on nails can never fail in my book. It is classic and elegant. Still, there are so many different shades of pink and which one is the perfect match to you is the question. I haven't reached for this polish for a very long time, I don't even know why. Maybe I just have too many polishes to go through and I am always looking for a new shade to try. I can't say this is a perfect pink for me, not just yet, but probably close... guess the search for a perfect pink will just have to continue on..~ xoxo

Best of 2012

Happy New Year everyone! Wishing us all a fruitful year ahead~ =) 

December was quite a crazy one for me I have to say. As you all know, first my laptop was dead...... one of the saddest news of the year probably... Now although I have it back, it doesn't feel the same anymore... it is still not completely fixed and further repair will be required. Anyhow, putting that aside, let's start the new year with a more positive note! 

I have been seeing lots of "Best of 2012 Tags" going on Youtube, so I thought it might be interesting to do one for myself, in memories of 2012. :) 


BEAUTY:
1. Face product: 
- Clinique airbrush concealer/highlighter (02 medium)
- Bourjois healthy mix serum foundation (53 beige) 
- MAC mineralized skin finish (medium plus) 

2. Cheek product: 
- Benefit box powder blush in Hervana 
- Tarte amazonian clay blush in Tipsy 

3. Eye product: 
- Maybelline colour tattoo in Bad to the bronze 
- Estée Lauder Sumptuous bold volume lifting mascara 
- Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on pencil in Bourbon 
- Prestige automatic eyeliner in Espresso

4. Lip Product: 
- Elizabeth Arden 8-hour cream lip protectant
- Buxom lip glosses/creams 

5. Skincare Product: 
- Korres wild rose vitamin C sleeping facial
- Differin (acne treatment) 
- Neugrogena oil-free eye makeup remover

6. Nail Polish: 
- Butter London Hardwear top coat 
- Nicole by OPI drying drops 

7. Hair product: 
- ID care heat silk lotion 
- Shiseido moist hair pack shampoo and conditioner 

8. Body product/Perfume: 
- Elie Saab perfume 
- Tommy Girl deodorant

FASHION
9. Clothing piece: 
- American Eagle coral pants 
- White t-shirt from Winners 

A coincident that I am wearing the pants, the t-shirt, as well as the watch together on a Summer day. (and I have a picture taken lol!)  

10. Accessory: 
- Tommy Hilfiger watch 
- Forever21 studs 
- H&M scarf 

That scarf, even better, I got it on sale for $7! 

11. Pair of shoes: 
- BCBG sandals 
- Bamboo black boots 

RANDOM
12. Favorite TV Show/Movie 
- Gossip Girl (don't judge me lol, as much as the show has gone downhill and how much I hated season 5, I just can't get over my obsession of Chair. Chuck and Blair will forever pull my heart strings. And after 6 years, this show ended in December 2012, in its 6th season. Definitely worth a honourable mention. The producers are right, Gossip Girl is not just a drama, it is like a magazine, with latest trends, fashions and music.) 

13. Favorite book
- Don't go to the cosmetics counter without me (9th ed.) by Paula Begoun (to be very honest, I haven't done too much readings in 2012, but this is definitely one of my favourite books. After debating for the longest time, I caved and bought it, and I do not regret. It truly is like a "beauty bible", but at the same time, I don't just believe in everything she said or advocates. Especially I skipped the entire "Paula's choice review" section. I don't need her to tell me how amazing her products are... they might be great, but I would rather listen to other people singing their praises.) 

14. Food 
- Avocado (with all the healthy fatty acids, I totally fell in love with avocados in 2012! I can even eat it alone, with a little bit of Japanese soy sauce. Mixing it with quinoa made the complete protein complete-er. Recent favourite? Mixing it with my salad greens and buttermilk ranch, awww, perfection!) 

15. Beverage
- Homemade Starbucks caramel iced coffee, with half & half creams ;) 

16. Favorite song 
- "We are young" by Fun (featuring Janelle Monae) 


(Yes.. to be completely honest again, it is because of Chuck and Blair. -.- I really don't follow music trends myself and Gossip Girl probably has educated me the most about music for the past years. Listening to the songs completely brought me back to the scenes of Chuck and Blair. So I have to include this song, when season 5 ended, and Blair told Chuck she is all in this time. :) ) 

Out of order......

Sigh...... 

I don't even know where to begin, but I guess things do happen, especially with technology. So here I announced the most upsetting news... My laptop died on me suddenly.

Yes, with no signs or symptoms, just suddenly with no reasons. Don't let me start counting how inconvenient it is right now that I don't have my "data" and a functional laptop....

My "little" inner shopaholic is kinda thinking I might need to get a new laptop (MAC maybe this time?). But, the rational side of me know it is not the time yet! So please, please someone fix my laptop for me ;(

Angora cardi

I apologize for my shaky hands and the blurry pictures, but all you need to see is the gorgeous colour of this new addition to my wardrobe. The sparkly rhinestone buttons are perfect decorations to add to this soft and comfy cardigan from EXPRESS (I have never owned anything from EXPRESS before). And I lied in the title, this cardigan does not contain any angora hair, instead, 5% cashmere to give it some extra warmth. Through time, I discovered that my favourite clothing material is probably rayon (hence the 40% rayon in this cardigan). I gravitate towards rayon because it gives the garments a very soft and comfortable touch. Yes, I am weird that I read labels because I can't really wear wool. My skin is quite sensitive to wool and it will give me rashes (not to mention the itchiness). One complain I have with rayon is that you have to wash the garment in cold water or else the "softness" will be destroyed and most of the time the garment will shrink (I learned it the hard way......). So nowadays I just wash all my clothes in cold water.

Interestingly enough, another new addition to my essie collection is "angora cardi". I bought this completely based on Hannah's (Hannah's channel ) recommendation. The formula is great and I LOVE the colour so much! It is just perfect for Fall/Winter!! My friends aren't too crazy about this colour but I don't care, haha. =P

My minimal face for Fall

NARS blush in Deep Throat
L'Oreal Voluminous waterproof mascara in black
Maquillage by Shiseido eyebrow pencil (102, GY921)
Canmake eyebrow pencil (02)
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Plus
MAC Studio Finish Concealer SPF 35 in NW-25
Prestige waterproof automatic eyeliner in 02 Expresso
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on eye pencil in Bourbon
Shu Uemura eyelash curler
Kiss Me Heroine Make volume & curl mascara 

I am a foundation girl all-season. I just need the coverage foundation gives me and I can't part with it. But recently I have been finding myself reaching for a slightly different routine than my typical liquid foundation face routine. Now, if there is one thing you should know about me, it is given any day throughout the year I am in a rush. That's just reality that I have to press the snooze button several times before I drag myself out of my cozy bed. Getting ready and turning myself into a relatively-presentable state with shortest amount of time is my daily goal.

To achieve that, I have rekindled my love for MAC studio finish concealer. It is a thick, high-coverage concealer and I use my fingers to warm up the product and apply to my skin directly. After covering my blemishes, acne scars, and any other imperfections, I turn right to MAC MSF natural to set the concealer. MSF natural doesn't give a lot of coverage but I like how it never looks cakey on my skin. To boost the coverage a little bit, I usually reach for my elf flat-top powder brush to apply the powder. And this is pretty much my face makeup. If I have an extra 30 seconds to spare, then I will apply a tiny bit of NARS deep throat blush onto my cheeks to give my face some life.


Face is done, now my eyes. Eyebrows have become a must in my book nowadays. My brows are a little bit sparse especially towards the arch, filling them in just frame my face so much better. Eyebrow pencil is the quick and easy way to go. Some people complain about not being natural when using an eyebrow pencil, I think doing it in small, light strokes is the key. My favourite eyebrow pencil at the moment is the Maquillage eyebrow pencil. Maquillage is a line from Shiseido but I am pretty sure it's not available in North America. I bought mine from Hong Kong but when this runs out, I will have to look for alternatives here. It's quite special because one end is a pencil, and the other end is a powder. The powder can be used more for the "head" of your brows to give a softer look and the pencil can fill the rest. Not only do I like this convenient design, the colour match is quite perfect for me. I used to use the Canmake eyebrow pencil, which is a dark brown colour. But through time I find it is a little bit too "reddish undertone" for my brows. I still use it sometimes because I am trying to savour my Maquillage pencil and trying to use this up. The Maquillage pencil is more of an ashy brown colour. But if you ask me, I will definitely choose the Maquillage eyebrow pencil over the Canmake one.

For eyeliner, I prefer brown eyeliners more than black. I think it is just softer and more suitable on a daily basis. I used to never wear eyeliner because I just think it's too much and doesn't fit my hooded eyes. However, recently it has grown on me. I still don't like doing a thick line all across the lid, but what I do is to tight line towards the end of my eyes and to do a half-line on my lids. This just gives my eyes more definition, and at the same time, still natural enough. The two trustworthy eyeliner pencils that do not smudge on me are Prestige waterproof automatic eyeliner in Expresso and Urban Decay 24/7 glide-on eye pencil in Bourbon. Two different price points yet I love equally. Bourbon has a little shimmer in it so when I fancy some glitters on my eyes, I will choose Bourbon. (And when I say shimmer/glitters, it is really really really subtle.)

Lastly, curl my eyelashes with my holy-grail Shu Uemura eyelash curler and splash on some volumizing mascara. Yes, two options again, namely L'Oreal voluminous waterproof mascara in black and Kiss Me Heroine Make volume & curl mascara. I don't just stick with one thing all the time. I like some varieties. I really am not one of those people that will get into a rut with makeup. So this means, I am not sure how long this "routine" will last, haha. But that's the fun of experimenting with makeup.


p.s. I took these pictures on a very nice Fall day, definitely a day to remember......  

Something that you don't have to own, plus a little update

It has been exactly a month since I last updated and it is just the perfect timing to check in about my 1am-challenge progress..~ I was pretty good at making a "check" mark on my schedule when I went to bed before 1am, for the first half of the month. Although I failed to keep track on papers, I did manage to mentally remind myself to go to bed before the 1am "deadline". Sometimes, I failed by a few minutes. Some nights, I knew it was just meant to be a "fall-back-to-old-habit" kind of nights. Overall, I think I did meet my target 50% of the time. Still LOTS of rooms for improvement definitely and I can feel that I am starting to feel more lax about my 1am deadline. Time to pick it up and be a little bit more rigid! (Oh and did I mention about the daylight saving? The clock has turned back for an hour so that should have done some good to me too! Cause I feel sleepy earlier ;))

Ok, now that is being addressed, we shall talk about something else. Today, I wrote my final exam for one of my courses, and this marks the last exam in my undergrad life (hopefully). It's not like it is the first time and I really don't have any special feelings about it. But thought I should still make a note of it. Besides, what is better than enjoying a post-exam free Starbucks caramel brulee latte? ;) And the fact that no Starbucks staffs can spell my name? Haha, I appreciate their creativity.

My name has just gotten shorter, lol 

I always like to do a "little" shopping after some hard work has been done. I didn't get a chance to go shop today after my exam, so I thought I will pull out a dress that I tried on earlier. Surprise, surprise, I was at Winners again. The iPhone camera is totally not doing a justice here. In real life, the dress is a gorgeous chiffon type of material and a hot pink (rather than a red showing up here) fabric. It's so soft and so comfortable. And did I mention it's from BCBG? I am always drawn to BCBG but I can't afford the price tag. This dress retails for about $80 CAD at Winners and considering it is BCBG, this is not bad at all (and who knows the original price...)! I knew I wasn't going to get it before I walked into the dressing room. I just can't resist trying it on. At least I can have a picture of it. The price tag is a problem, but more of a problem is I don't really know when & where will I wear this. I have to occasions for this dress sadly.

That's all for my rambles today. I am excited about the holidays season coming!
But I know the upcoming months will be a very stressful period for me... well, well, well.

p.s. one more month till our 6th anniversary. 

Challenge me, today is the day...

Today's talk is a little bit different from the usual beauty rambles.

But, hey, this is life. 

Life is not just about beauty products (obviously). 

An old picture of Popo, wearing her boyish hoodie and not willing to get up....-.- 

Today marks the start of my "1am-challenge". 


I had an "intense" argument with the boy a few days ago about healthy living habits (why we started this talk and the details can be omitted. lol), and clearly, I have not been doing well on the "sleeping pattern" spectrum. I have long had this problem with not being able to go to bed early and wake up early in the morning, even during holidays when I am supposed to be less busy and more flexible with my time. In short, I have bad, irregular sleeping patterns that are NOT good to my well-being......

Root cause? Probably poor time management and lack of self-discipline. (I'm feeling exposed....-.-) I want to make changes and that's why I am here to set my very first goal: trying to go to bed before 1am each night. I am going to track for a month that how often can I achieve this goal and report back. I know this is a small, little step, but I would rather be more realistic and start small.

Well, I don't think there is much needed to be said. Wish me luck and let's see how it goes. ;)



P.S. I made this "challenge" public and now there is NO TURNING BACK!!!!!!!! 

Yet another beauty wishlist

What do you do when you are itching to shop? 

Make a wishlist and call it a day. 

1.) Dior Shimmer Powder in Amber Diamond 

Applying a highlighter is not part of my regular day-to-day routine but isn't this shimmer powder gorgeous even just to look at? I have heard numerous people raving about this highlighter and I have been wanting it forever! Not to mention this is totally a multi-task product because it doubles up as eyeshadows. I know Physician's Formula makes similar products called "shimmer strips" but I don't think my desire of wanting this powder will ever rest until the day I got it.

2.) L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil 

I have chronic dry skin due to eczema so a moisturizing, gentle shower product is a must-have, especially during the colder seasons. As Winter is approaching, this L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil sounds appealing to me. I believe I first heard about this product from Hannah (her youtube channel), and although I don't think I am a huge fan for almond scent, I am intrigued. I smelled it once in the store and there isn't an over-powering almond scent at all.

There is only one problem. 

I have been holding back because I just have way too many shower gels sitting in my cabinet....... -___- Two in use, eight still waiting at my beauty stash, hoping I will pick them up next..... I blame Bath & Body Works' semi-annual sale for this...... How on earth will I be able to to finish all of them before Winter hits? I don't think it's possible, but I will at least try my very best to use them up. I really don't think those B&B shower gels are moisturizing enough for my skin's need. Not to mention, I get super sick of those scents very quickly... (I must have lost my mind when I picked those up, clearly my brain was shut off. Sales are dangerous!)

So let's see when I will pick this L'Occitane baby up.

3.) pai camellia & rose gentle hydrating cleanser 

Not going to deny I have never heard about the brand pai before my fellow Canadian blogger/youtuber Sandra (her youtube channel) talks about this cleanser in one of her latest videos. She said she bought this upon A Model Recommends' (her youtube channel ) recommendation, and as a 3rd party here myself, it is simply impossible pass on this. As far as I heard, it is a creamy cleanser without any preservatives. And of course anything rose-related attracts me. pai is not available in stores here in Canada so I will have to order it online if I really decide to take the plunge.

Let the empties continue...

OK,
so let's just jump right in without further ado, we have lots of talk about!

(Left to Right)
My beauty diary peach soda eye & lip makeup remover (dual-phase)
MAC Fix+ skin refresher / finishing mist
Fancl mild cleansing oil (special edition bottle)

• My beauty diary peach soda makeup remover - I remove my eye makeup separately from my face makeup and I have come to the realization that dual-phase removers work the best. This is no exception. I like it a lot, doesn't leave a greasy film on my eyes yet effective! There isn't any special scent to it despite the name. It is pretty to look at though because the bottom layer is a pink liquid. =) I also like the scroll cap packaging, easy and do not have to worry about leaking. Good for traveling! 
• MAC Fix plus - a very popular product in the beauty community. It's an OK product to me, it works in terms of making your makeup looks more dewy and less powdery. Staying power? I am not 100% sold. I also am not too crazy about the mist, the packaging doesn't produce a mist that is fine enough. As opposed to what the salesperson said, I didn't think MAC Fix plus helps to fight humidity. I was using it during my stay in HK, where heat and humidity are all there is left in Summer months. Still, I think this is not a bad product and I might consider repurchasing for Winter. 
• Fancl cleansing oil - Holy Grail status in my book! My first cleansing oil and I always have this on hand no matter how many cleansing oils I try. 

(Left to Right)
Laneige water sleeping pack plus
Chanel Precision UV essentiel daily protection SPF 45/PA+++
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri anti-chip top coat
NUXE intensive firming cream
Origins super spot remover
Dior Miss Dior Cherie L'eau Eau de Toilette 

• Laneige water sleep pack plus - an overnight mask that gives moisture to your skin when you are sleeping. To be honest, I have used a few jars of it before even though I can't say I am crazy about it. However, I discovered it is quite good to use during long haul flights. May repurchase but I kind of want to try something else for the moment. 
• Chanel prevision UV essentiel daily protection fluid - big NO NO for me. Yes, you would think everything from Chanel must be good but I struggled to use this up. I hate sunscreen being thick and greasy and this is exactly how I feel about this. I used this up by applying it to my neck area. I do not recommend this at all. =(
• Sally Hansen insta-dri top coat - a great, affordable top coat and I did enjoy it a lot. Like the mega-shine top coat, it is no exception that towards the end of the bottle, the product gets too thick and goopy to use. Still trying to find my favourite top coat but I will certainly keep this in mind. 
• NUXE intensive firming cream - I love the smell of this cream! It came from a sample set and it claims to have bamboo, amazonian plants and kigelia africana in the product. Can't speak for the firming ability but I would repurchase just for the scent. However, I am unable to find this line in stores so I wonder if it's like a limited edition thing? 
• Origins super spot remover - I need to have at least one acne treatment on hand at all time and this serves the purpose. I actually already repurchased and am using the 2nd bottle of it. I find it hard to say if any of these acne clearing products really works, but my philosophy is to "keep holding on". This spot remover doesn't make my skin peels with 1.5% salicylic acid in it, and it works well underneath makeup which is critical to me. 
• Dior Miss Dior cherie L'eau EDT - I am trying to use up some of my perfume samples and this is first in line. I do not own the original Miss Dior cherie perfume so I am not sure how they compare. Scent is very personal and hard to describe but all in all, I am not intrigued to buy the full size. 

(Left to Right)
Prestige my blackest lashes mascara
Fairy Drops mascara
Lancome cils booster mascara base
NARS pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base 

Finally some makeup bits! 

• Prestige my blackest lashes mascara - heard a few people raving about this mascara, claiming it to be similar to the Makeup Forever Smoky Lash. First of all, my Asian lashes are extremely hard to hold curls so waterproof mascara is almost always a must. My blackest lashes mascara does not come in a waterproof formula but I was still intrigued to try this out. Well, my lashes went straight almost immediately after I applied this mascara... so needless to say, I won't repurchase this. 
• Fairy Drops mascara - a Japanese brand mascara and I often prefer Japanese brands when it comes to mascara. Maybe because our lash types are more similar. It has a very interesting wand with 3 "balls" on it and it was amazing at keeping my curls. I already bought a 2nd tube of this (with different packaging and slightly different wand) because I am a sucker for mascaras. Also, I found that with this mascara, it is best to wait for a period of time before it reaches its best performance stage (in other words, it might be too wet when you first start to use it). 
• Lancome cils booster mascara base - this was a gift from my friend, before I knew anything about makeup (I still don't know a lot of things of course). It was basically sitting in my drawers for years before I finally open it. Despite the fact that this is a "star" product, I can't say I love it. Again it made my lashes straight.... I don't know if they have changed the formula over the years (probably have) so I might try the new formula some day. 
• NARS pro-prime smudge proof eyeshadow base - got this sample size from Sephora in a mini NARS set. After finishing this little sample up, I ran to Sephora and bought the full size. It serves its purpose well and I think it performs even slightly better than my Two Faced Shadow Insurance in humid weather. The only downside is the packaging... it gets dirty so easily and I would prefer it in a tube like the Two Faced one or the newly packaged Urban Decay primer potion. 

Woooo, so this wraps up my super long and overdue empties post. I hope I can keep this spirit going and let's also hope that I won't accumulate that many to blog at a time again....-.-

Too many empties, too little time

Over the past few months, I have accumulated some "used-up" empties, in attempt to clear my beauty stash. Doing this kind of posts will definitely keep me motivated and on track. However, I just haven't been able to find a time to blog about them... In fact, I had an entire bag of empties that I wanted to write about. But before I had a chance, I have to throw them away. Anyways, let bygone be bygone. I really should just blog whenever I have a relatively small pile of products to talk about... That being said, please be ready for a "relatively long" empties post......   OK, I have decided to do two separate posts, this is just getting ridiculously long... lol 

(Left to Right)
Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack
Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser
NUXE BODY Fondant Body Scrub
OPI Expert Touch Lacquer Remover (Fast-acting/moisturizing)
Bath & Body Works Carried Away Shower Gel
Bath & Body Works White Tea and Ginger Shower Gel

• Laneige Pore Clear Wash Off Pack - a nice clarifying mud mask. May re-purchase. 
• Cliniderm Gentle Cleanser - I have used up multiple of this cleanser. One of my favourites! Very gentle and non-stripping. No parabens, dyes, perfumes, lanolin, formaldehyde and proteins. Not sure if it's available outside of Canada though. It's made by the same company as Neostrata. 
• NUXE body scrub - not a fan of this, don't like the smell, left lots of residues in my bath tub whenever I use it. 
• OPI nail polish remover - I want to give a shout-out to myself!!!!! That is 480mL (16 fl oz.) of nail polish remover!!!!! I can't believe I was able to use it all up!!!! Besides that, this is a very good nail polish remover, does the job quick and I found it relatively non-stripping than other removers. Will purchase if I can find it at Winners again at discounted price. 
• B&B Carried Away shower gel - like the scent at first, but as with all other B&B products, I get super sick of the scent quickly. 
• B&B White Tea and Ginger shower gel - OK, this is an exception. I ADORE this scent. It is nothing over-powering comparing to all B&B scents I have tried. Doesn't smell like ginger to me, but rather a very clean and fresh scent. I love this scent and I have back-ups of it. 

(Left to Right)
Neogence C+ Whitening Serum
Curel Intensive Moisture Cream
Sofina beaute SPF50+ PA+++
IPSA Foundation (shade 102)
Caudalie Beauty Elixir
Sofina White Protect SPF50+ PA+++ (discontinued)

• Neogence whitening serum - Taiwanese brand. Unsure about effectiveness, at least I don't see any dramatic changes. Probably won't re-purchase but I think I still have a back-up at Hong Kong. 
• Curel Intensive Moisture Cream - Absolutely LOVE this cream!!! So moisturizing, non-irritating, yet non-greasy!!! I can feel my skin absorbing the moisture. Definitely will repurchase after I finished all my stocks and when I visit Hong Kong again. Not available here in Canada. 
• Sofina SPF - My all-time-favourite SPF. Nothing much to say except I love it and will continue to re-purchase. I think I should dedicate an entire post to it. 
• IPSA foundation - another shout-out to myself that I managed to finish a base product!!!! I use base product everyday but I'm not sure why it always takes forever to use something up. Maybe because I am always interested in trying other base products. Nontheless, IPSA is a very nice brand for making foundations. But this shade is slightly lighter than my complexion, not a perfect match. 
• Caudalie Beauty Elixir - used this up fairly quickly. I purchase this in August for my flight to HK and this stuff is just addicting! I love how it smells and how it feels. So refreshing! I can't speak for any skincare benefits yet with this travel size, but I will keep in mind re-purchasing this some day. 
• Sofina white protect SPF - I used this on my body during the Summer months. Again, a great sun protection from Sofina, but this particular line has been discontinued.