Print this voucher out and take it to your nearest Lancome counter for a free lash evaluation and a sample of your favourite Lancome mascara.
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Promotional News
Archive for April, 2008
Another mass review of my current eyeshadow collection.
Benefit’s Big Beautiful Eyes Kit
Description: This little kit with big results is all you need to define, contour and enhance your eyes. We’ve included everything you need to go pro with the perfect eye shades and tools to create that coveted contour look that everyone loves.
- Voted most valuable product by Redbook magazine in 2006
- Includes illustrated, step by step makeup lesson
- Includes: boi-ing (medium), alabaster pink base shadow, cocoa shimmer contour shadow, rich chocolate brown liner shadow and 2 brushes for easy application
This kit is ingenious and perfect for people like me. With step by step detailed instructions on contouring and creating the perfect eye look, it’s my HG eye product. Containing my favourite concealer boi-ing and nude and neutral shadow colours, this is truly a product which I can utilize on a daily basis as the colours are perfect for both work and play.
On top of having the cutest packaging, as with all other Benefit products, I really do love the shadows as it is easily blendable, long lasting and smooth upon application. One thing is I have to be careful on not applying too much of the alabaster pink shadow as combined with the cocoa shimmer shadow which also seems to have hints of pink, my eyes can look a bit too pinkish for my taste.
Bloom Eyeshadows – Pistachio, Lagoon and Night Sky
Description: Rich, long lasting, smooth as silk textures in shimmer and matte formulas. Fashionable, effortless to blend and beautiful to wear.
I love my Bloom eyeshadows! They’re so easily blendable and feels good to put on. Its really smooth as silk and the colours are all just so pretty and flattering. The packaging is also cute and handy, small enough to bring around on travels. It also comes with a mirror. Staying power is also good.
Pistachio is a nice lemony green colour with a bit of a shimmer in it. It is pale and subtle and perfect for any occasion. Night Sky is a dark frosty greyish blue colour with silverish pigments. Its like having a storm painted on your eyelids. The color is perfect for smoky looks or for a bolder made-up look. Lagoon is a pretty shimmery blue like the colour of the ocean. It looks really nice on the eye, not too bright but not too light either and always reminds me of the beautiful seashores.
Overall, Bloom’s eyeshadow collection has got pretty nice colours and is great to wear for all occassions.
MAC Frost Eye Shadow
Description: Highly pigmented powder shadow. Applies evenly, blends well.
This is my sister’s eyeshadow set – a set she purchased quite some time ago. The colours are so so pretty and I think that they’re wondrously gorgeous.
MAC’s Swish Frost is a pinkish shade with subtle hints of purple shimmer, a very unique eye shadow shade indeed. It puts a lovely sheen on the eyes when applied and you can gradually build on the colour as you please. A really feminine colour.
MAC’s Creme de Violet Frost eye shadow is a purplish shade. It is supposed to be in the same Frost family as Swish but from the swatches, you can observe that it is more matte and velvetish. It doesn’t have any glimmer or shimmer and is overall just another dry eyeshadow. I find this shadow hard to wear and match with anything, so it’s not exactly a favourite of mine. Plus, purple just does not look good on me.
Missha The Style Creamy Eyes WH01 & The Style Eye Shadow GL201
Creamy Eyes WH01 Description:
- It contains silicon oil, providing a creamy and soft texture.
- It expresses luxurious and natural eye makeup.
The Style Eye Shadow GL202 Description:
- Cute mini size and various colour
- With smooth touch, it delivers fantastic colours to eyes
- You can make eye shadow kit as you desire with eye shadow case
- Various colours, consist of gorgeous, trendy and shiny pearl colours
Missha, a Korean brand is gaining traction both in Korea and elsewhere. If you watch Korean dramas and look through the credits at the end, many of them use Missha as their makeup brand. I was first introduced to it on my recent trip back to Malaysia. I had a makeover session there and was impressed by some of their collections.
The Creamy Eyes is basically an eye shadow base but can also be used on its own to brighten up your eyes. I was told by the makeup artist that it can also be used as a highlighter to highlight and brighten certain points of your face like the brow bones, chin and your cupid’s bow for a sexier pout. I love the creamy texture and feel of this one on my lids. It really does make eye shadows stay on longer and brightens up your whole face as well as the eye area if you wear it on its own.
The goldish eye shadow has a pearly texture with gold shimmer pigments in it. It’s very powdery and matte but the colour looks good on for a neutral look.
Rimmel Mousse Eyeshadow in Get Fresh 006
Another one of my sister’s shadows which was actually a gift from a friend. I haven’t actually tried this on but my sister says that she doesn’t like it at all. The colour is way too bright and the texture is quite sticky and messy to apply. Get Fresh has really bright pinkish pigments and would definitely not suit skin tones like ours. There is also excessive shimmer on this one. Obviously, not a very likeable shadow pot for us.Description: Cool, refreshing mousse eye shadow infused with 25% purified water. Instant and continuous cooling sensation. Easily blendable. Lasts for 8 hours.
Stila Jezebel
Description:
- An ultimate eye shadow that easily glides on
- Long lasting colour and colour stays true all day
- Never crease or fade away
- Give makeup effects from classic neutrals to the hippest
- Available with trend setting colours in mattes and shimmers
- Use wet or dry
Jezebel’s an absolutely gorgeous colour. Its brownish, almost copper-ish with lots of gold and rose coloured shimmers. You can wear it both wet or dry. I’ve never tried it wet, but dry, it’s really gorgeous and perfect to complement my always neutral make-up look. I love eye shades that are barely there and looks neutral. It’s also beautiful for a sun-kissed look and easily matches most colours. It feels good when applied and has a powderish but butterish consistency. Bottomline, I absolutely love this absolutely long lasting colour.
The Body Shop Shimmer Waves 01 Bronze
Description: A pretty palette of five iridescent tones of shimmering bronze and pink shades presented in parallel waves that can be used separately on the eyes or to highlight specific areas, or blended together to create a stunning and natural looking glow on the face and cheeks.
My all-in-one kit. I’ve used this as eyeshadows, as an all-over glow as well as a blush on the cheeks. The colours are all just gorgeous. Don’t think the swatches I did does it any justice, but let me tell you that it’s gorgeous and perfect for a naturally sun-kissed look. The makeup artist put this on me during one of my makeover sessions and I instantly fell in love with the effects.
On the eye, you have all the shades needed in the one palette to create a perfectly natural and contoured eye makeup look. On the cheeks, swish your blush brush through all the colours for a perfectly golden sun-kissed goddess cheeks and swipe it all over your face for an all-over natural glow.
Though it costs AUD35.95, believe me it is worth it.
Benefit Valley of the Stars Kit
Description: This lustrous little kit contains two of our top highlighters, a high shine gloss that’s totally posh, and shimmering eye shadows that glisten and gleam like brilliant jewels. It’s bling bling in a box.
I love this kit. Got it as a gift for my engagement last Feb from my cousin, and have loved it and made full use of it ever since. The packaging is undoubtedly cute, and you’d probably already noticed that I rave on all of Benefit’s packagings. Can’t help it, they’re really just THAT adorable and cute-sy.
The eyeshadow palette on the kit is absolutely gorgeous and can be worn for any occasion. The white colour is perfect as a highlighter at the corners of your eyes and on your brow bone. You’ll instantly see a brightened up effect and your eyes would just radiate with health, even if you have not slept a wink the night before. Okay, that might be exaggerating it a tad, but with proper concealer application, your eyes will really look bright and healthy. Seriously.
The gold eyeshadow complements the white very well and is very natural looking when applied. Its shimmery enough but not overdone.
Both eyeshadows feel velvetish when applied and easily blends with other colours and makeup.
Silk Naturals Climax Blush (clone of NARS Orgasm blush)
“This Silk Naturals best seller is a clone of NARS Orgasm blush, with just a slight hint of plum. This is a light to medium pink shade with hints of peach, plum – and just the slightest hint of gold shimmer. The shimmer is very subtle – just enough to keep it from looking too matte.
It’s the perfect shade for light to medium toned women – no matter what your undertones – it just works! It’s natural and pretty, with a nice pop of colour without being over the top.”
$6.25 will get you a full size 10 g jar which will last you for quite some time. My sis shared this purchase with a friend and it is nowhere near finishing. Alternatively, you could get a sample 5g size first for trial purposes at $1.25 each.
Most people would probably buy this out of curiosity since it is a clone of NARS Orgasm, which is a huge best seller and a highly recommended product. Once you’ve used it, I’d probably say that it is that good. I can’t compare it to NARS since I’ve never had the privilege to use it but this is definitely one of the better blushes I’ve tried. The colour with a slight orangey hue is great, something different from my usual rose coloured blushes.
It is a definite pretty colour and looks good on both mine and my sis’s skin tones which is more olive-ish/honey-ish/yellow-ish. You can gradually build on the colour as it starts out sheer and all you gotta do is layer more of it for a more obvious glow.
Overall, a gorgeous addition to your makeup bags!
Silk Naturals Date Bait Perfection Powder
“Date Bait is a bronze tinted Perfecting Powder that’s a little bit bronze, a little pink and 100% gorgeous. Each customer uses this differently. It can be used to hold makeup in place, a highlighter, a blush or even just to give your skin a little perk-me-up. It controls oil without drying your skin out and your skin will achieve a more smoother and radiant look.”Ingredients: Mica, Silk Powder, Silica Microspheres
A 30g jar will cost you $9.95 but you can bet that it will last you for a while. It’s perfect for all the above functions and when you wear it as an all over glow, it really just sets your makeup and makes your face just radiate and glow flawlessly. It will just liven up your face and even if you have pale skin, the colour has enough pink pigments to work well on you. It also seems to cover all skin imperfections effortlessly.
About 3 months ago, my sister started experimenting with mineral makeup after reading numerous articles on its benefits for the skin and its natural finished look. Once she was hooked, she started me and so many others on it too. So we’re all now on a mineral makeup frenzy!
Silk Naturals was the brand she started with and has been happy with it ever since. I’ve since leeched it off her a couple of times and I honestly think they’re great too! It’s one of the top mineral makeup brands out there and has since created tons of top selling famous brand name clones like NARS, MAC, Bobbi Brown, Benefit and many more.
Silk Naturals Perfect Harmony Foundation
According to my sister, mixing is easy. She mixes both Warm Gold and Buttery Gold along with the Foundation Powder to get her specific shade to her liking. I never did any of the mixing myself before since I can’t be bothered, hence why I use Signature Minerals instead which comes pre-mixed in a jar (much, much easier I tell you). But for those who like a little activity with their makeup then Silk Naturals is a fantastic choice. It’s also a perfect solution for all you mademoiselles who’ve always had trouble finding just THAT right shade for you and have resorted to combining a few different colours for the right match. Well, this is the solution.
Silk Naturals Foundation in Buttery Gold
Each full price Perfect Harmony Foundation Kit costs about $11.95 but you can always try with samples first which will only cost you $3.95. Refills will cost you only $5.50. The sample will get you:
- 1 teaspoon of white foundation
- 1/2 teaspoon of each of their base colours – ebony, warm gold and buttery gold
- an empty 10 gram jar for mixing
- 1 measuring scoop so you can repeat your recipe
- a 5g sample of their Perfecting Powder – that helps to set the foundation so it lasts all day and smooths out things like fine lines and large pores
- a full instruction sheet – complete with recipes to get you started
Ebony is for neutral tones (my sis found this to be too light on her), warm gold for women with warm undertones or tans easily and buttery gold for those with strong yellow undertones and the plain white powder is to lighten the colours according to your needs.
The sample alone lasts a long time. So once you buy the actual kit, which is approximately about 30g it will last forever. Definite value for money there! The Perfect Harmony Foundation is fast becoming one of the “holy grail” mineral makeup products for many beauty enthusiasts out there. It is a huge seller, and I must admit that having been a user a couple of times, I can understand why as it is really good.
The feeling of the Perfect Harmony foundation on your face is absolutely amazing. Unlike other makeups which make you feel heavy or clogged, this one’s light and in fact, feels rather “naked”. It’s as if you’re not putting anything on at all. There is no itchiness and it certainly did not cause either of us breakouts. The best part about it is also that it is long lasting. Put it on in the morning and the makeup just lasts all day with no necessary needs to touch up at all. Mineral Makeup is definitely the way to go!
Silk Naturals Foundation in Warm Gold
Silk Naturals Foundation in Buttery Gold
“Buttery Gold Foundation works best for women with strong yellow undertones – it does have some warm beige notes but it is very yellow.”
“Warm Gold is the foundation for you if you have warm golden undertones. It’s made for Olive Skin, Native Americans, Hispanic and even British or Irish women who tan easily. It will also work for African American skin tones up to about the shade of Halle Berry.”
“Perfect Harmony Foundation covers just about anything you want to hide and, gives you flawless looking skin that looks like you were just born perfect. It doesn’t cake, or look chalky, won’t clog pores, is great for dry or mature skin – but will control oil and works beautifully with acne prone skin too. Perfect Harmony is a simple blend of natural, gentle ingredients – so it’s also great for sensitive skin.”
The making however is a little different. Basically once you order your kit, Silk Naturals will send you a pack of the tone that you’ve chosen and the white foundation powder as above as well as a mixing jar and a scoop with instructions on how to mix your perfect shade. All you gotta do is mix and blend till you get the perfect shade that is to your liking. A shade paler or a shade tanner, you decide. Ain’t that great?
Ingredients: Mica, Titanium Dioxide, Magnesium Stearate, Zinc Oxide, Silk Powder, Silica and natural mineral pigments
A mass review on my lip colours collection! I love having many many different lip colours. Convenient and I never run out of choice for a colour. Hoping to get more when my budget permits! :-> Appearing in order from right to left:
Benefit Nice Knickers
Description: “Benefit’s silky finish lipsticks packaged in one of a kind custom lipstick case with Benefit’s signature “loop”. It’s the ultimate status symbol that’s so fabulously sexy, you’ll want one in every shade. What is formulated to do: This innovative formula slides on silky smooth for the softest, sexiest lips ever. Sheer coverage with buildable colour – wear as little or as much as you like. Lipstick glides on effortlessly with the slant tip for flawless, even coverage.”
I love my Benefit lipstick. Firstly, the packaging is just so cute. I love the black tube. Secondly, it’s very glossy and moisturizing. I only wear this on certain days as I treasure it too much. The colour is quite pink…like a real dark glossy pink, which looks nice on me when I have neutral eye makeup. It would really overdo it if I were to put on heavy makeup elsewhere. Overall, I’m quite satisfied although it must be said that it’s not exactly the best lipstick I’ve ever had. I probably am very biased towards the cute tube.
Jemma Cosmetics Naked Minerals
Description: “This creamy highly reflective lip colour glides on like a dream. With a built in brush applicator, the light reflective pigment has a 3D effect on lips leaving them looking fuller, lovelier and very luscious.”
I got this as a free gift when I purchased New Woman Magazine about a month or so ago. Haven’t used it much, but it really isn’t good at all. In fact, bottom line, I would have to say it sucked big time. It’s very sheer and has a horrible horrible fruity smell gone wrong which ended up smelling very very plasticky instead. I’ve only applied it on twice or thrice, but that’s enough for me to know that this isn’t one for me. I guess what more can I expect from a free gift, right?
L’oreal Glam Shine in Hot Lilac
Description: “A moisturizing lipstick that produces a high sheen gloss finish. L’oreal Paris Glam Shine Cream contains moisturizing agents that melt on contact with the lips providing all-day hydration. Also features a unique patented high dispersal refractive oil to ensure uniform pigment distribution. Available in 20 shades.”
I got this many many months ago, sometime last year as a free gift as well. The colour isn’t too good for me, and the added sparkly effect that it has does not help the situation either. I don’t feel that it’s moisturizing enough for me. On top of that, the colour as per the swatch at initial application looks slightly pinkish, but it’ll turn seriously mauve-purplish-like after a couple of hours. And mauve/purple lips is plainly just not me. Needless to say, this is my least favourite lip colour.
Missha The Style Lip Gloss
Description:
- Applied softly without irritation, using wide and convenient tip
- Keeps lips soft and firm with Vitamin E and botanical oil
- Contains emollient, makes dry skin moist and shiny
- Moisture lip gloss without stickiness
Alas! I’ve found my favourite lip gloss. This one’s moist, shiny without being too shiny, glossy enough and the colour’s just screaming girlish and feminine pink. It has a very natural pinkish tint and looks perfect on its own for a neutral look or go over lipstick for a more moist and glossy lip colour. It blends well with most of my lip colours and I absolutely love this one to the max! I don’t regret purchasing this one at all. Plus it’s cheap at only RM21.
Stila Morgan Lipstick
Description: “Stila lip colour has a new chic look. Available in three formulas: creme, shimmer and sheer, Stila Lip Color glides on smoothly and stays put. They are packaged in a durable, aluminum tube designed to stand up to the harshest conditions. So there’s no need to handle with care – just a toss in the bag and go!”
I got this as a free gift with my Strawberrynet purchase a couple of weeks ago. I’ve always loved Stila lipsticks so imagine my sheer bliss when I received this gift. The colour is quite dark, almost brownish when applied. However, it is moisturizing and looks good when I apply it with neutral makeup on the rest of my face. It is also long lasting which is great!
My Sis’s Lippie Collection
The swatches for the above in exactly the above order:
Description for Silk Naturals Foreplay: “It’s a sheer pinkish peach with just a hint of gold and bronze.”
Description for Silk Naturals Pout: “It’s a shimmery pink gloss that’s grown up and innocent at the same time. It’s pink with rose undertones – on the neutral to cool side of the spectrum. It’s just a pretty wash of shimmery pink.”
At the moment, my sister is a real and true fan to Silk Naturals. Since she started using it, she has been raving about these products to absolutely everyone she knows! :-> I must say, though, it is good. No wonder she raves about them.
Both their lipglosses have got a lip balm-ish texture and is thus very moisturizing and long lasting. They have both got gold glitter which adds shine when applied to your lips. I love Foreplay as the colour is just so natural with a slightly peachy hue whilst Pout has a more pinkish hue.
Kate by Kanebo also has got goldish glitters in it and is very sheer on application. It’s perfect for a very natural day look as it really just tints the natural colour of your lips. However, the tint is very hydrating and long lasting as well.
I made a mistake when labelling the picture. It’s actually Shiseido Integrate and not Integra. This one’s really fancy. I love the applicator. You can basically twist the cap to release the colour and even de-release it if you’ve accidentally released too much colour. It’s really unique. The colour’s sheer as well but has reddish glitter in it and is very nice to wear. It is moisturizing and also long lasting.
So there you have it. Brief reviews of each of our lippie collections!
Okay, admittedly I never did use or try on this nail polish so the feedback’s not my own opinion, but a friend’s. To be precisely technical, my sis’s friend. I gave it to her since I’m no nail buff, and the feedback’s good so far. It is apparently much easier to apply compared to some nail polishes out there since it’s highly liquefied. There is also less obvious uneven lines caused by brush strokes.
Anyway, there’s the look:
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Hands, Promotional News
If you’re like me, a non-committal exercise buff who wishes she had more time to work out though can’t afford to allocate the time nor the funds for gym memberships, then at-home workouts are the way to go. I’ve been working out at home for years as a fitness maintenance regime, sometimes regularly, sometimes not so regularly. :-> I feel that its good enough for me to do this at home and remain fit and healthy. It beats not doing anything at all, right?
I thought I’d start reviewing my workout videos as well to give anyone whose interested a peek at the ones I’ve used before.
For a start, these are reviews on Leslie Sansone’s workout DVDs. I started working out at home with Leslie Sansone and now I use her DVDs mainly for days when I’m not up for a fast workout or on days when I’m a bit unwell but could still use a light workout.
Leslie Sansone 5 Mile Walk
This is the latest Leslie Sansone DVD in my collection and I love this as it is more advanced than the others. You can pick and choose the segments you want to do or you can even do all 5 miles at once. I’ve selected just two or three miles on a tired day and when I’m more up to it, I have tried doing all 5 miles at once, and feel absolutely great at the end.
There are 5 walking segments:
- walk with weights (15 minutes)
- walk with belt (15 minutes)
- walk with bands (12 minutes)
- 9 minute walk
- 13 and a 1/2 minute walk
Compared to the other Leslie walking workouts, this one is more upbeat and goes on an advanced walking level almost straightaway whilst the others start off and builds gradually. However, I love the brisk change and could easily and successfully complete it.
Leslie Sansone Walk and Jog and Walk and Kick
Walk and Jog:
Leslie Sansone’s Walk & Jog video is great if you want to step up to a slightly more challenging level of workout. The walking workout is interspersed with 2 minute intervals of jogging which increases your heart rate and overall adds to the effectiveness of your workout. I usually have so much fun on this DVD and the intensity on this workout is great as well, no matter what your fitness level is. I kid you not when I say you’ll hardly notice how time just flies by when you’re doing this workout. 30 minutes on this one is a breeze.
Leslie Sansone’s Walk & Jog video is great if you want to step up to a slightly more challenging level of workout. The walking workout is interspersed with 2 minute intervals of jogging which increases your heart rate and overall adds to the effectiveness of your workout. I usually have so much fun on this DVD and the intensity on this workout is great as well, no matter what your fitness level is. I kid you not when I say you’ll hardly notice how time just flies by when you’re doing this workout. 30 minutes on this one is a breeze.
Walk and Kick:
Another fun interval video by Leslie Sansone. This one’s walking interspersed with 2 minute intervals of kicking which includes a variety of punches and kicks. It’s no Billy Blanks, but it’s great for people wanting a lighter but effective workout. It runs for about 30 minutes and I really enjoy this video as the moves makes the whole workout fun and tolerable.
Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds 1 and 2 Mile Walk
This was my very first home workout video and I’ve long since donated this DVD to my mum. It’s the perfect beginner workout video as it really does gradually build your stamina and put you in the right pace towards greater fitness levels. The basic moves as exemplified in all her other videos are kicking, walking, side steps, knee lifts and kick-backs.
The 1 Mile Walk runs for 20 minutes (perfect for a quickie workout) whilst the 2 Mile Walk runs for 30 minutes. Both workouts builds up the intensity gradually and puts in usage of weights about halfway through. However, this is optional and I feel that the workout is as effective even without the weights. Overall, this is perfect for a quick cardio workout and is definitely great if you’re only just starting to think about exercising and getting fit.
A clip featuring the 1 Mile Walk:
Leslie Sansone Walk Away the Pounds Super Fat Burning 3 Mile Walk
I must admit that this is one of my favourite workouts. It runs for long enough at 45 minutes and is great for an all over cardio workout. The intensity level is perfect and even on a tiring day, I could still easily squeeze in a 45 minute workout at this level. It is easy to follow with those basic Leslie Sansone’s steps typical in all her videos. Only difference is that the brisk pace lasts longer thus essentially meaning that you’re getting a better workout.
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Health/Fitness, Reviews
Description: “Rich in nourishing Shea Butter and skin softening Sweet Almond Oil, Bloom’s soothing Scented Hand Creams melt into skin leaving hands feeling super soft without a greasy after-feel. Suitable for all skin types, these deliciously Scented Hand Creams are perfect for staving off any case of dry scaly hands.”
I got this on sale a few weeks ago at Myer for AUD14.95. Otherwise, I think each cream retails at about AUD15. Anyhow, it’s worth every cent! I just love the thick and creamy texture of the cream and it really moisturizes my dry hands well. The cream is fast absorbing and sinks right into the skin, making my hands feel absolutely smooth and silky, without feeling at all greasy.
And the smell! Gosh, the scent’s just so good that it smells good enough to eat! I’m currently using the Vanilla Bean one and its heavenly, I tell you. After a few weeks of using this, I can attest that my hands looks and feels amazing. I daresay that the skin texture has improved a bit as well. Bottom line, as obvious by my raves on this product, I absolutely love it!
