What To Buy From Iherb

Sometimes online shopping is fun, and sometimes the mere thought of going through the entire (vast) selection of products is just so tiring. Iherb is a site that I've been obsessed with lately and it strikes me as one of those sites that lie in the tiring realm of online shopping so I thought I'd give you a hand. I want to talk about Iherb because I'm really very impressed by the selection, quality, pricing and speed of shipping (international shipping is USD$4!!!) - I really think that they're a great business and deserve to be shared with the world and I'm not being paid or anything.

So, first things first. Head to www.iherb.com. This is what you see.

Admittedly, the site looks somewhat shady, what with the comic sans iHerb.com logo. But have no fear, they're really reliable!

1) Start surfing - iherb's like an online supermarket + pharmacy. I've really only scoured the Bath & Beauty section, but there's plenty of food and supplements to be found.

2) Add things to cart or wishlist.

3) Check Specials to see what's on sale for the week and Trials for super good deals like 50c lipbalms. There used to be Freebies where the lipbalms come free but it seems that they've been incorporated into Trials.

3) Checkout and choose shipping! I usually choose Singpost shipping (yay Singapore!) because it's incredibly affordable at USD$4, and allows me to purchase up to 14 pounds of items. I've never gone above USD$50 for any of my... 8 previous orders (yupp! iherb addict!) so I'm not entirely sure what the tax systems are or if there are even any. It seems as though the price you see at checkout is your final cost. Also! Singpost shippings says that it takes 4-8 days to arrive but in my experience I usually get my items in 5 days which is incredibly quick considering it's literally flying across the world from North America to Singapore! I've even had my parcel delivered on a Sunday before too though I think that was a one off event. Amazing amazing service.

4) Iherb stores your credit card information, so you can click reorder or just check out a next order without re-entering credit card information again which makes it uber convenient (and potentially dangerous for impulse buyers like me).

5) Sit tight for your very well packaged parcel! All liquids are taped and ziplock bagged, glass is wrapped in meters of wrapping paper, and there's usually a weird free gift like measuring tape or stationary.

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So now that the how to's out of the way, let's move on to what I've actually bought and what's good (and not) to purchase. Not all of what I've bought is in the picture, just the bits and pieces I had within arm's length so that I don't come off as a crazy person who buys too many things.

The beauty products available on Iherb have reviews that make them sound like products God himself made and beamed to earth and that makes me kind of want everything (ha, sucker) but it would do lots of good to take the miraculous reviews with a pinch of salt.

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THE AWESOME

Organic Extra Virgin Oil is super yummy, can be a cooking oil replacement, used as butter and apparently helps to increase metabolism rates and improve memory. Can also be used as a makeup remover (comodogenic though, so not advisable), hair conditioner, body moisturizer... the list goes on. It's also really expensive in Singapore and incredibly hard to find so I really appreciate finding it at such a reasonable price on Iherb.

Bragg Organic Apple Cider Vinegar is an acquired taste. I have come to be able to just mix just this and water and drink it as a juice of sorts. It's supposed to help with heart burn or indigestion, also can be consumed in the morning to cleanse the body. I've read of people using Apple Cider Vinegar in DIY toners, even as shampoo! Make sure you get the Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother (make sure the vinegar is cloudy) as the Mother is supposed to be the beneficial part! This can be found in Singapore supermarkets quite easily, but a bottle is easily around the SGD$10 mark.

There was a point in time I figured that my acneface was due to a poorly functioning liver. As that period of time was before my intensive thesis year, I decided to try some supplements that targeted my liver and the Now Foods Liver Detoxifier & Regenerator had the most positive reviews. I liked it enough to purchase a 2nd larger bottle, and I did feel like some of my acne cleared up, as well as increased energy levels. I wouldn't go as far to call it a miracle in a bottle, but a healthy functioning liver ensures a clean body! Milk thistle supplements like these cost a bomb in Singapore, upwards of SGD$80 for a bottle of the same size for reference.

The God of all clay masks the Queen Helen Mint Julep Masque is my ultimate favourite clay mask in terms of effectiveness vs cost. I've repurchased this time and again, and considering that Watsons sells it for SGD$10, I'm really happy to be able to purchase it for only half of that price! I love the minty smell, and also am fascinated by all the oil spots pulled out by this mask after. I'm gross that way.

Alba Botanical Papaya Enzyme Facial Mask is a very gentle, slightly tingly face mask that requires only 5 mins (say the instructions) on the face to let the papaya enzymes do their gentle exfoliating work, and then washed off to reveal brighter smoother skin. It's not a traditional clay or cream mask, rather it's an interestingly green gel that gives off the most wonderful pineapple scent. I like to leave it on longer than 5 mins, and even when left on for half an hour I saw no adverse effects. Though I can't say I saw smoother or brighter skin, I did find that it was extremely easy to extract any whiteheads/bumps after using this mask and my skin was indeed softer. Some might say that the enzyme works the same way as an AHA, but I don't find glycolic acids make extractions easier.

If you're not into face oils yet, the Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil is a good place to start. It is mainly argan oil, and is chock full of other beneficial fruit extracts. It's not too heavy an oil, and absorbs quickly leaving smooth, soft skin. I use this under makeup in the day time with no problems. A plus is that it smells of citrus heaven!

Ever heard of the wonders of Vitamin C when applied topically? If you haven't, Vitamin C brightens the skin substantially and increases collagen production in the skin. If you aren't using a vitamin C product, you should probably give it a go. However, be careful because Vitamin C breaks down very quickly when in contact with water (quickly: a week or so) and turns yellow (has oxidized). Imagine paying big bucks for a Vitamin C serum that goes bad in a week or has no control over the preservatives in the serum? Also there are close to no cheap vitamin C solutions on the market. Now Foods Vitamin C Crystals Powder allows you to DIY your own Vitamin C Serum for cents. It's literally the Vitamin C Crystals, a humectant (glycerin, hyaluronic acid) and water. And you can control the intensity of Vitamin C in it. This bottle will last you forever and ever.

Another DIY serum can be made with Doctor's Best Best MSM Powder. Apparently it does wonders for ice pick scars. I didn't want to buy a MSM cream because it would contain all kinds of fillers so I opted for the pure way. Pinch of MSM powder, drizzle water, apply to face. My one serious ice pick scar hasn't filled out, but given that it's 3 years old I didn't expect it to. What I've seen is that it's gotten shallower. I've seen even more improvement using the Hadacrie, so I have high hopes! Apparently ingesting MSM also helps with energy issues as well as softer skin - this is extremely bitter and I could not find a way to mask the bitterness so I've stopped taking it orally.

Bee Naturals Queen Bee Facial Polish is a powder that can be mixed with any face wash to form a scrub. The idea is simply genius because I have no favourite scrubs and I can just shake (the packaging is like a seasoning powder, neat) this powder into my favourite face wash for a good scrub. It smells like lavender, has a texture like baking soda so I assume that it's a micro-exfoliant. I was wowed the first time I used this, it was so gentle on my skin I assumed it wasn't doing much, then I washed it off and looked into the mirror. BAM my skin was so much brighter and even toned, I haven't seen my face so clear in eons. Highly recommend this.

I've been wanting to try the Real Techniques brush collection for a really long time. I'd been eying the collections on iherb because they're the cheapest I could find anywhere, even in London they're more expensive. So when the iherb had a 20% off all Real Techniques brushes (yes you heard me right, 20% off the cheapest retail price), I jumped at the opportunity to purchase the Real Techniques Expert Face Brush. All. Expectations. Met. Regret. Not. Buying. More. 

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THE DECENT

Source Naturals Skin Eternal Serum is a very recent buy of mine and is supposed to be anti-aging. Yupp, I've hit the 2-5 and anti-aging starts now. It apparently contains the same ingredients as a certain Dr Perricone Wrinkle Product but at a fraction of the cost. It's feels extremely nourishing and seems to plump out my one deep laugh line, but does leave my face with a shiny layer so I prefer it for night use only.

I purchased the Aura Cacia Organic Tamanu Oil when I read about Tamanu Oil as the one magical oil that will cure all my skin problems. It's supposed to help fade pigmentation and dry out acne yet moisturize the face at the same time (how that works I'll never know). What I do know is that it's a very thick GREEN GREEN GREEN oil that tints my face green. Helloooooo Wicked Witch of the West. It also stings my eyes if it accidentally seeps in. It did moisturize my face but took all night to sink into the skin and is simply impossible to use in the day if I was heading out. Also did not see much improvement in the pigmentation and acne but who knows, it might work for someone else!

Aura Cacia Harmanizing Grapeseed Oil is an oil higher in linoleic acid than oleic acid. An oil with high linoleic acid is good for acne prone skin because skin deficient in linoleic acid cause sebum to stick to the skin and hence result in clogged pores. It is also an astringent oil (yup, huh what? was my reaction as well) it might possibly dry out skin as well. I like the light texture of grapeseed oil but since I haven't done much testing the jury is still not out on this. Good oil and affordable enough to play around though. 

Heritage Products Castor Oil is also another affordable oil to play around it. Used in oil-cleansing (to mix with carrier oil for a deeper cleanse) and with a multitude of other uses such as eyelash conditioner.

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THE OKAY

Morningstar Minerals Derma Boost Rejuvenating Spray Mist has rave reviews but I never actually saw the benefits. It sure is refreshing though and strangely enough, when sprayed on aching/tense muscles from sitting too long at the computer, alleviated the tenseness.

Nubian Heritage African Black Soap Bar is supposed to be great for acneface. I don't find that this cleanses particularly well and I feel like I end up with a filmy layer on my skin after using this bar soap on my hands. What I do like however is the super intense orange (?) smell that this soap seems to be infused with. For a few months my entire bathroom was scented when I left the soap exposed. Even if you don't use this as a soap, it's great as a room scent!

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THE NUH UHS

Don't buy the Life Flo Health Retinol A 1% Advanced Revitalization Cream unless you've used retinols before. I've been dealing with extreme skin sensitivity the past month or so and though I don't physically get any reactions when I use this product, I think it damaged my skin barrier/thinned my skin such that my skin reacts to anything and everything. By react I mean a great red rash that evolves to dry flaking rash and that was not a pretty sight.

Derma E Refining Vitamin A and Glycolic Toner is highly highly scented. So much it made me stare at my cotton pad for a while before deciding to use this on my face. Not the best toner I've ever used, the glycolic acid in this didn't seem to have any effect. Then I read Paula Begoun's review on it that said that it's potentially irritating and harmful to the skin and that the glycolic acid content was too low and at the wrong PH to work so I. Binned. It. and moved on with my life.

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WANTS

I'm still on a perfect oil hunt so the exotic oils like the Sibu Beauty Sea Buckthorn Oil and Acure Organics Marula Oil have really caught my eye. On the other end of the spectrum, I'm also tempted to try the Mayumi Squalene which is supposed to mimic sebum on the skin so that the skin doesn't overproduce sebum. The Badger Company Damascus Rose with Lavender and Chamomile Antioxidant Face Oil just sounds and looks so luxurious. It is supposed to be a dupe for the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate but I already have the Kiehl's so I'm holding off for now.

In the exfoliation department, the Alpha Hydrox AHA Souffle seems to be a favourite of many of the skincareaddiction thread redditors. The Earth Science Active Age Defence A/B Hydroxy Acid Night Rejuvenator also seems like an intriguing product that combines both AHAs and BHAs for the complete exfoliation experience.

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Ahhhhh so many wants so little cash and only one sensitive face. I hope I've managed to sieve out some of the more exciting products in the beauty department as most of the posts I've read online seem to concentrate on food stuffs.

If you are intrigued by any of the products I've posted about and are a first time customer at iherb, feel free to use my referral code JMH090 which gives you USD$5 off your first order, or USD$10 if your order is USD$40 or more. I have no idea what it does for me (probably earns me cents I guess?) but it's definitely savings for you!

Have fun shopping and I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

Weekly Favourites #17

Hello weekend! My apologies for the lack of posts this week - I have contact dermatitis. On my face. It's the strangest thing ever because I haven't changed my face routine but have large red patches on my face ): So I haven't really had the ability to test out much because all I've been doing is slathering my face in a hydrocortisone cream.

Anyway, weird mix of favourites this week! I purchased this jewellery case/holder in bangkok. It's what can usually be found in jewellery boxes but I've just bought this to slot into my drawers. Not the most ideal for larger rings but it's visual delight in my drawer! Also it's much easier to find my rings now compared to having them all in a bowl or dish and I can also keep track on how many (too many) rings I have! I also like that half of it has no ring slots so I can dump my larger items.

The HadaCrie N810 is something I begged my boyfriend to pick up for me when he had a stopover in Japan on the way back. I've only had it a few days and boy am I addicted. It's a tool that uses sonic vibrations to help cleanse and moisturize the skin. It adds about 20 minutes to my nightly skincare routine but so worth it for blackheads/sebaceous filaments that pop out ever so easily, smaller pores and super duper moisturized (by my standards) skin. I don't have SKII skin but my skin has definitely picked up since getting this tool.

I had a super pared down routine in bangkok and I decided to bring the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair as a do-it-all. I don't exactly remember why I fell out of using it (probably because I moved on to form a relationship with my oils) but it's definitely regained my love. It's a no fuss serum-moisturizer-in-one that does wonders. Also, no greasy feeling and waiting for it to absorb which is a refreshing change.

The Beauty Blender is my go to for foundation application now. It's magic. I don't know how it does it, but the finish it delivers is so refined and unachievable with a brush. Same with blending in concealer. It's also so much easier to wash after each use as compared to a brush and hence way more hygienic.

So that's my little bag of favourites this week (and the last actually). Hopefully my contact dermatitis goes away before monday because I have to go to work (yay//nay working adult!) and I can do some face shots for the upcoming reviews! Wish me luck and have a good weekend!

Diorshow Extase Mascara Review

While having some quality mother-daughter bonding time in the +66, I asked my mom what mascara she used. Some background about my mom - she doesn't wear eyeliner so a quality mascara is extremely important to her. Then I remembered that she had passed me this sample of the Dior Extase Mascara to let me try because she had bought loads to hoard.

Yes, this is the only mascara my mom has settled on to use pretty much for the rest of her life and has no intention of switching loyalties. Such fantastic attitude!

The mini tube is pretty much the exact same packaging and brush (sans the dior monogram print all over the tube) as the full sized and I actually prefer small sizes because let's face it - 3 months to completely use up a mascara is pretty much mission impossible.

The brush is a large bristley type brush, just the type I like. I don't like the plastic wands (like the covergirl lashblast) because I always seem to poke my eyes with them (and it hurts) but not with the bristle type wands. If you look closely, the wand is knobbly, like beads on a bar. I'm no professional so I have no idea what the different types/shapes of wands do.

What I really appreciate about this wand is that it has teeny tiny bristles on the very tip of the wand that allow me to coat my inner eye lashes using the wand vertically. This is very useful especially if you're like me and are not able to flip the wand around and still handle it well. Also useful for very short bottom lashes.

Curled lashes | One coat | Two coats | Thee coats

On to the only thing that matters. Performance. This mascara is not waterproof, but it's very definitely smudgeproof on me. Take that oily eye area! This lasts and lasts without migrating or flaking, even better than the waterproof and insanely hard to remove japanese mascaras I've tried. And it comes off easily with a water based remover or warm water. Consider me extremely impressed.

It delivers on both length and volume, though as you can see it tends to get rather clumpy by the time I've hit the third layer. Two layers is the bomb diggity. As I have decently long but uneven and sparse lashes, I really appreciate how the Dior Extase Mascara really amps up the volume, especially on the my outer lashes.

This is also one of those formulas that are not overly wet and get all over the place because you've blinked before the formula has dried. It also goes on the lashes in a very lash-like manner. By that I mean that unlike some formulas where it coats the lash and each lash comes out looking like a stick, the Dior Extase manages to coat the lash evenly so that it tapers and still looks like lashes.

One more point that I'm pretty sure bugs only me. You know how some formulas dry on the lashes like they've been on the lash for the entire day? I don't quite know how to describe this well, but I call them old looking lashes - it's almost like the formula turned powdery and just slightly ashy or grey. I absolutely hate those. Not with the Dior Extase Mascara! This formula stays black and fresh all day long. That alone gives me heart eyes.

The only downer about this mascara is that even though I've curled my lashes, upon application of this mascara it almost straightens out my curl. I consider this very strange because the formulation is not heavy or wet at all. Just a mystery I'll never solve I guess!

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Pros:

• Not waterproof but extremely smudgeproof even on oily lids
• Lasts all day
• Looks freshly applied and black all day long
• Comes off easily with water-based makeup remover/warm water
• Big on volume and length
• Formula keeps lashes still looking like lashes (tapers out towards tip of lash)
• Has bristles on tip of brush for easier application on inner lashes/bottom lashes

Cons:

• Straightens out my curl
• Not waterproof (not for wet eyes/sad days/sad movies)
• Does clump ever so slightly (and on the third coat)

Conclusion: A all the way! 

Brought VS Actually Used

I'm back from Bangkok and well shopped out. Nope, no beauty haulin' but I thought it would be interesting to let you know what I had on my face in crazy 35 degree celsius weather. I was sorely tempted to go barefaced (since no one knows me any way and it was incredibly hot and humid) but my pride stopped me. I also thought that I had managed to pack rather lightly but who knew, I managed to use even less than I had packed. So here you go - 35 degree proof makeup. 

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What I Actually Used:

Bourjois Happy Light Base Serum Matite - I don't own any other primers and I couldn't bring my Urban Decay Sprays because I went on a budget airline and did not purchase check in luggage. This really surprised me and did indeed keep my face matte for a good 7 hours. My mom (yes, this was a mother daughter trip, sweet right?) was blotting away and I there I was with not a hint of shine. Whoop! Don't fancy the scent though. 

Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream SPF 32 PA+++ - I had forgotten just how much I love this. I stole my mom's La Roche Posay SPF50 Sunscreen, but in any case, the built in SPF 32 PA+++ is still brilliant. This BB cream's liquidy consistency is so light on the skin it's almost like a serum in my opinion. I just don't feel it at all, which is brilliant for weather where you don't want anything on your skin. 

Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer - I brought this because it's on the ends of its life and I wanted to finish it up(sad face). I'm scarface galore and this amped up the BB Cream coverage very well indeed. Definitely a repurchase somewhere in the future.

Maybelline Dream Matte Powder - I've been using this powder for years now. In fact, this is my 2nd compact and I've hit pan already. And just in case you think I alternate this with other powders, I actually don't. That's just how long it lasts. Finely milled and virtually undetectable on the face, I also attribute my 7 hour shine free face to this powder.

Too Faced Papa Don't Peach Blush - One of the longest lasting blushes and pigmented blushes I own. This peachy blush with a gold sheen is something that would suit pretty much everybody and hangs around all day. It really lifts and slims my face (oddly) and it's my default blush when I don't know what to wear.

The Face Shop Eyebrow Designing Kit - Perfect ashy colour for dark hair. I see no need to switch out.

Star Lash Gel Eyeliner - Testing this eyeliner and I'm happy to say that it's passed the test. Just be sure to apply on dry eyelids (best if powdered) because oil does cause it to transfer. It applies marvellously on the waterline/tightline and lasts all day. When I remove my makeup with an oil cleanser in the night and massage my eyes, the area turns black - that's how I know it's still there in my tightline. Amazing stuff!


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Excess That Was Brought:

The Balm Time Balm Foundation - Brought this because I thought I might want something that keeps me matte and yet still have coverage. Turns out the concealer did the job and I had no reason to use this.

Natural Collection Blush in Pink Cloud - A peachy shade is just more attractive than pink in hot weather? Also did not want a completely matte face.

Sleek Face Form in Light (highlight & contour shade) - Highlight and contour slipping around my face? No. thank. you. not. taking. that. risk.

MAC Eyeshadow in Naked Lunch - Too. hot. to. want. more. makeup. on. my. face.

MUA Undressed Eyeshadow Palette (2 shades) - Ditto.


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A minimal routine is really the most attractive in such hot and humid weather. I would not want to be worried about having my makeup slipping and sliding when I could be doing "more important" things (like shopping hoho). I think the extras would've come in useful if I had to go to a fine dining restaurant (chances were low considering I only packed slippers) or if I had gone with friends and we wanted to head out to bars/clubs. No lip products because... it's Bangkok and I'm eating pretty much all the time! Also, one more tip - the more products you can apply with a sponge/fingers, the more hygienic (you can wash your sponges/hands faster than a brush) it is!

It is a relief to be back to raining and somewhat cool Singapore - that's how hot bangkok was! What do you guys usually pack on trips? Let me know - I have another trip planned for a few months down the road so that would be really helpful!

Sponge & Dash

So here I bring you my latest base addiction. In between all the sun and storms we've been getting (all in the span of 24hrs), the humidity is just too damn high. A dewy base in high humidity is tough to maintain, and I try to steer clear of matte bases because I have a flat face, so here's the slap & dash routine that I've been favouring that falls somewhere in between. Oh yes, tool addiction - beautyblender (which I didn't photograph).

Both the Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream and the Topshop BB Cream offerings have spf and pretty darn good coverage that evens out most things. The Hada Labo BB Cream has a dewier finish, while the Topshop BB cream has more of a matte satin, but mixed together, the finish is both lightweight and incredibly skin-like as they offset each other in terms of finish. I find that the trick to getting the skin-like finish is to apply with fingers, quick and easy, no brushes involved. There's none of that sweaty looking dewiness, just a soft... if I might say... glow. 

Smear on some of the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer on your undereye darkness and press it in with the dry beauty blender and you'll find that it does indeed live up to its creaseless claims. Again, I find this concealer works best with the dry sponge because the sponge presses the concealer into the fine lines to create an even coating over any dark circles. Please, no wet sponges near this concealer because water is repelled from it and you'll just end up wiping off your base. Tried and tested. The shade I have is Light-medium which is a very good peachy shade, similar to the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach.

L-R: Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks 04, Topshop BB Cream 3.0, Hada Labo BB Whitening Cream 02, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer Light-Medium

For some beauty and cuteness in your life (and as a welcome to spring in other parts of the world?), you need the Canmake Glow Fleur Cheeks. A brilliant palette that unlike most of the blush range of Canmake which are incredibly glittery has the softest sheen ever that brings the right amount of flush to the cheeks. I have the shade 04 which is a good balance of peach and pink that would suit most skin tones. The brush that comes with it isn't retarded and useless either. Bonus!

Top everything off with a little slice of heaven which is the Guerlain Meteorites to diffuse any shine and pores for simply perfect looking skin. For some reason though, the effect of the Guerlain Meteorites is hardly discernible to me, but when the SA in sephora tried it on me I was amazed. Any tips on how application?

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So there you have it, I can complete my face in just about 5 mins now and be out the door. Great for me because I'm always late. Just call me whirlwind val. 

Olfactory Oomph

I like to start and end my days with pleasant smells - an energetic scent in the day time for to wake me up, and a relaxing scent at night to ease into bed. I'm not one of those people who are content with an all fragrance free routine (apologies for those with skin sensitive to fragrance) and fragrances just make the entire skin routine more interesting and experiential.

I like to start my day with the Mad Hippie Antioxidant Facial Oil. This luxurious oil's first ingredient is Argan oil, and is a medium consistency oil that applies very smoothly on the skin. It does take a short moment to absorb and leaves the skin very soft and smooth. My absolute favourite bit about this oil is that it smells like oranges! And not in the tangy, sour way, but the best word to describe it would be deep. It's a deep, sweet orange scent that has just enough zest in it to be energetic and mood lifting. Definitely a great start to the day!

In the nights, I like to top off my skincare with the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate. Let me just put it out there that I do not like the smell of lavender and the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate's main scent lavender. I find that there's just enough scent of "others" to layer the lavender to make it pleasing to the nose. It does take some getting used to, but once you get used to the smell, it is an extremely calming experience to rub the oil into the palms and take a deep breath of it before pressing your palms to the face. To top the experience off, this oil is not the least bit oily feeling (feels like a dry oil) and you get to wake up to softer skin in the morning.

I'll be honest here, I don't use the Sukin Moisture Night Restoring Cream on my face. I use it on my body and as a hand cream because the scent is divine. If there was a perfume of this I would definitely buy it. I bought it expecting it to have the nutty scent of rosehip oil, but I was greeted by this amazing complex scent. It's definitely citrus, but it almost has a vanilla to it. I have absolutely no idea what it is that I'm smelling, just that it smells like it belongs in a high-end spa. The texture is also beautiful - a whipped cream that soaks right into the skin with no greasy leftovers.

Now I can sleep like a baby cocooned in scents. What are the products that add an olfactory oomph to your routine? Let me know!

Top 5 Concealers + 1 dud

L-R: Benefit Fake Up in Medium, MUFE Full Cover Concealer in 7, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in Custard, MAC ProLongwear in NC30, Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer in Medium (I think), Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light-Medium

Hello! I have made an impromptu trip to Bangkok, so the next few posts will be scheduled posts! Since I'm someone who has plenty to conceal, and with that, plenty of concealer, I thought a round up was in order. I apologize in advance for the majority of them being high end concealers, but I do find that with concealers you get what you pay for. So since coverage is one of my top concerns, the drugstore does not really cater to that - hence the high end concealers. I might be slightly biased towards liquid type concealers due to overall ease of use and blendability.

Best All-rounder - Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (SGD$42)
The Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer is a concealer I tend to keep for special occasions, or for adding coverage on top of already done makeup before heading out the door. This has a thicker creamy and slightly sticky consistency. It provides instant photoshopping to any dark marks on the face, even if applied on after powder, which is probably one of the highest praises I can give. Also does not disappear on an oily face (unless of course you're one that touches your face).

Best for spots/dark marks - MUFE Full Cover Concealer (SGD$52)
What can I say, the MUFE Full Cover Concealer is high coverage indeed. It's all there in the name! The consistency of this concealer is definitely on the thick, creamy side and it goes on darker than it looks on the tube. Be warned, this sets to a budge-proof finish very quickly so quick blending will be your friend. I'm pretty certain that this is water-resistant, or if not, sweat resistant.

Best for large areas - MAC ProLongwear Concealer (SGD$30)
There were points in time I was literally using the MAC ProLongwear Concealer as foundation. The texture of this is very liquidy and thin, yet it still has extremely high coverage and blends well into the skin. 2 layers gives full coverage. I think the thin texture of the concealer has something to do with this concealer looking very natural (for such a high coverage product) on the skin. I've read some reviews that the MAC Prolongwear Concealer was extremely drying on the undereye area, but I've had no such problems myself.

Best for undereye - Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer (SGD$39)
The Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Conconcealer is the concealer that not only has high pigmentation to colour correct my dark circles (of course, please choose the correct undertone), but also is a concealer that creases very very minimally. It's texture is really very much a sticky cream and it doesn't completely set so it has a sheeny reflective finish. I find that this texture helps it to adhere very well to the uneven surface and into the fine lines on the undereye area so that it doesn't crease or migrate, and keep the area well hydrated.

Best drugstore - Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer
The Collection Lasting Perfection Concealer is amongst the cheapest drugstore concealers I've tried and yet boasts the highest coverage of all the drugstore concealers. It actually reminds me of the NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer in texture, however the coverage is definitely not as good. It also doesn't layer great - probably 2 layers max before it starts to look cakey. However, for the price paid, it definitely is the best.

Big Fat Dud - Benefit Fake Up
I dislike Benefit Fake Up so much I saw it as my duty to put it into this post so that you are warned. The concept itself is great, a twist up balm type concealer with a pigment centre core to give hydration and coverage at the same time. I really wanted to like this as the attraction of the ease of use was really great. The finish of Benefit Fake up is the same as the Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in that it never ever sets and has that reflective sheen, which ultimately makes it a mess. Application is a mess because the 2 parts (balm and pigment) never quite mix together evenly. Then because it doesn't set, it migrates in seconds. I've tried to use this on dark spots, undereyes, pretty much every part of the face, and each time it just seems to pool in areas of the face. The hydration part will work you think, but a big fat nope. The balm/oils in this product just sat as a disgusting layer of oiliness on my face. How about pigmentation you ask? Actually quite decent, but it migrates away from your spot anyway, so I would say - final answer, zero. Please don't waste your money on this product.

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Hope everyone's having a good weekend! And if you have any good concealer recommendations for me, I'm all ears!

Oops! I (popped a pimple) Did It Again

All through my adolescent, pubescent years, I've been told that I would some day grow out of my acne. Let me tell you, those bitches be lying. At least for the very unlucky few of us, that is. Though I seldom get a throbbing pus filled pimple nowadays, I have been trained by years and years of re-occurring acneface and itchy fingers. I have the recovery method pretty much perfected.

First step upon discovery of pimple, especially if it has no head. Not tea tree oil (I find that just dries out the area like crazy and makes my pimple look like a scab with a pimple underneath, not a pleasant sight), not benzoyl peroxide, but simply to slap a clay mask on it. My favourites are the Queen Helene Mint Julep Mask and the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. Leave this on for as long as you can and it will bring the pimple to a head. If you're lucky, the pimple will just disappear on its on.

When the pimple pops very satisfyingly, cleanse/disinfect area and put some salicylic acid on. My go-tos are the Paula's Choice 2% BHA Liquid and the Stridex Maximum Strength Pads. Important -  Don't put anything on after the salicylic acid for about 20-30min because the salicylic acid requires the correct PH to work and you don't want to change that by applying anything else. The salicylic acid is supposed to eat up the oil inside the pore and cleanse the inside of the pore.

This step is optional, but it speeds the healing process up by days. Nexcare acne patches are my superstar. Put a Nexcare patch on top of the pimple and it acts like a vacuum and absorbs all the nastynasty out. It's a little yellow translucent sticker, and when it's sucked out all the junk, the centre of it turns an opaque white colour. Strangely satisfying to see. Pimple will be clean and flat and proceed to turn into a scab in the day.

To speed up the healing process, either a healing oil like Tamanu Oil or simple Aloe Vera Gel (better if fresh from the leaf if you're lucky enough to possess a plant) applied twice daily.

Avada Kedavra Pimple. There you have it, pimple vanquishing in a single night, and ready to face the weekend. 

Mineral Oil - A Wonder Product?

Mineral Oil is a highly controversial product in the makeup industry. There are many horror stories on how it's derived from petroleum/crude oil and in other words the absolute shit for skin. The other camp believes that mineral oil does no harm to the skin, and any moisturizing product that does not contain mineral oil is inferior to one that does.

The lovely skincare god Caroline Hirons is in the first camp - read here. I am a reddit/skincareaddiction addict and the lovely people over there highly advocate mineral oil. I of course, urge you to do your own research before popping anything on your face.

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To briefly breakdown mineral oil:

1) it is an inert oil and rates 0 on the comedogenic scale. This means that mineral oil should not clog your pores or cause acne. Of course, there will be people who react badly to it despite such ratings, so as always recommended - patch test.

2) It is an occlusive oil. Occlusive oils are meant to form a protective layer over the skin, hence it is very different from other oils such as jojoba/grapeseed/passionfruit/argan etc. which are high in fatty acids that are absorbed by the skin. So yes, in this sense, the lack of fatty acids render mineral oil an oil with NO BENEFITS. It does however, act as a sealing layer. So if used over other "beneficial oils", it helps the skin to retain all da good stuff.

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Having stalked the skincareaddiction posts for a long while, it seems that the best usage of mineral oil is for the removal of makeup and oil-cleansing. These 2 concepts are highly popular in the Asian market - the base of Shu Uemura's cleansing oil is in fact, yes you got it - mineral oil! Of course, the price difference in a bottle of baby oil ($3-4) compared to that of a Shu Uemura Oil ($55 for 150ml) is phenomenal. If you don't mind having to wash the mineral oil off with a foaming wash, then pure mineral oil is actually a fantastic and cheap alternative to taking off makeup.

What prompted me to write this post though, was that I recently added mineral oil as the last step to my routine and I saw phenomenal improvement after just one night. I'm no stranger to face oils either, I've tried the Clarins Blue Lotus Face Oil, Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Mad Hippie Antioxidant Oil (argan oil base), Tamanu Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil and none of them came close to repairing my very damaged scaly forehead skin.

I've also tried many of the traditional moisturizers for sensitive skins such as Cerave PM Lotion, Cerave in a tub, QV Cream, Physiogel. Gel based moisturizers like the Laneige Sleeping Mask, Hada Labo Perfect Gel. Nothing could make a dent to my dehydrated forehead.

That's how I landed at my fuck it routine of using a sheet mask and sealing with a moisturizer/one of the "beneficial oils". It was improving slightly, then when I decided to add on mineral oil as the final step (after using it as a cleanser and realizing that my skin doesn't react adversely to it), BAM! Instant improvement. I've been using this routine for a week now, and everyday, I wake up to a less scaly forehead and I am pretty much worshipping baby oil right now.

So ladies, friends, don't discard baby oil immediately for being cheap and useless. It could pretty much be the best thing that happens to you. and pretty damn cheap too. 

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P.S. If you are sensitive to fragrance, try to look for baby oil without fragrance. Also, some baby oils/mineral oils contain tocopherol (vit e) which some people don't react to. Check the ingredients!

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer

The Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer, best used with fingers or a dense sponge, gives great coverage and is true to its creaseless title. You can tell this is going to be a rave, can't you?

First off, packaging. Sturdily made, likin' the bamboo cap though it is a gimmick. But, no fingerprints so me likey. The tube packaging is the most sanitary way of packing, but is not the best for a product of this thick consistency. In other words, you/I gotta squeeze like a mofo just to get a tiny amount of product out of the thin nozzle.

L-R: MAC Studio Fix Fluid NC30, Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light Medium, Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener in Light to Medium Peach

I purchased the shade Light Medium after much deliberation with the intention of using it on my crazy dark circles. It definitely has peach undertones that does bring to mind the Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach (I lost my Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach so I can't compare for sure), so here's a shot that compares it with the Tinted Eye Brightener instead.

It is an extremely thick, almost creamy, quite sticky consistency (sounds like food doesn't it). It doesn't dry to a powdery finish like the Tinted Eye Brightener, but is more similar to the creamy finish of the Corrector. As you can see, it's rather oily and doesn't quite set. This is where I will tell you to press the Creaseless Concealer into your skin with a very dense sponge or your fingers. This way, the concealer gets into all the nooks and crannies (or fine lines) and fills them out. The stickiness of this concealer is what I guess allows it to last all day without creasing!

Try not to press it in with a wet sponge because the oil in the concealer causes the concealer not to work well with the sponge and not only will the concealer not blend out, you'll probably just take away any other foundation or makeup you have around your eyes.

It sits nicely over flakies (tried and tested I had the most terrible rash on my eyes that gave me flaky skin on the undereye) and doesn't emphasize them which was a nice surprise. My dry undereyes during that period of time also very much thanked the nourishing and hydrating formula of this concealer.

Probably better to set with powder to avoid transfer should you take to touching your eyes, but I find that setting isn't necessary.

Coverage isn't entirely full, though I must say that the Creaseless Concealer does manage to layer quite well. And if I might say so, it is still one of the highest coverage concealers I've used (comparable to MAC Prolongwear, MUFE Full Cover for me), and I'm a high coverage concealer freak. I'm not someone who goes for the entire highlighted V under the eyes (because honestly, just correcting my dark circles is a feat in itself, let alone going for a highlighted look) and I find this concealer does a good job at correcting the darkness with the peachy tone and because of it's rather reflective finish, subtly brighten the area.

Wear time is good, I could get through a workday with no touchups and minor fading. Should it crease on you, because face it, everything creases if you have fine lines, then just press away the crease and it'll look good as new!

So there you have it, my complete face (pardon the fat face, I have had some weight gain due to a number of reasons) and you can see that I still do have some slight shadows under my eyes, but keep in mind that my dark circles are really horrendous and this is one of the best concealers I've used for the darkness.

Oh, and an extra note - probably not the best concealer to use for raised zits, just because you don't want your zits to shine (like a diamond) and attract attention. But if you set with powder, then I don't see a problem.

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Cons:

• Consistency a bad match for tube packaging
• Oily/Creamy texture that never completely sets
• Doesn't work well with damp sponge
• Probably not the best concealer for bumpy zits

Pros:

• Good peachy colour to cancel out darkness under the eyes
• Sticky texture that allows it to settle invisibly in fine lines and not gather there and crease
• Long wearing 
• Has a reflective finish due to the oily texture that brightens the undereyes
• Medium - almost full coverage, one of the highest coverage concealers I've used
• Doesn't emphasize flakies but instead presses down on them
• Extremely hydrating

Conclusion: This is definitely an A product in my books. My favourite attribute with this concealer is that it is indeed creaseless, something that no other concealer I have ever tried could do - not even with powder. Wish it were higher coverage and slightly more brightening, but this is as close as it gets!

Weekly Favourites #16

My skin is extremely tiresome. I feel like ever since I visited my derm for my acne about a year ago (mixed results with that), the skin on my forehead has never quite been the same. By that I mean that I have scaly looking skin on my previously smooth forehead. No matter how much hydration and moisture/oil I've fed it, the skin has never been able to repair itself. So I've just about had it up to here and decided to ditch all products except to cleanse, exfoliate, mask and seal to see how it all goes.

The Dr. Morita Repair Essence Ultra Slim Facial Mask is the top dog of my routine right now. I've been using this daily at night and boy do I maximise my usage of each mask. Not exactly advisable to those of you with normal skin, but I actually leave this mask on until it's dried out and sticking to my skin. My skin loves it and drinks it all up. When I remove it, the skin of my previously scaly forehead is perfectly smooth, my face is brighter and more even toned. This is really one of those masks where results are visible. Though I can't say that the results are permanent, I do feel that prolonged usage would aid in making those results a permanent fixture. Oh and p.s. for those who have a squirmy stomache, this mask is not for you because it's based on snail essence.

Alpha H Liquid Gold is another instant results type of product. About an hour after the first time I used it, both my boyfriend and my dad commented my skin looked better. Though granted, my boyfriend could only see me through skype (which may or may not make it more impressive because of the poor resolution). I looked in the mirror and saw that my pores were gone. I find results best when used alone (as per the instructions) and don't be tempted to use it everyday because there really is diminishing returns. I use it more as a pick me up nowadays. Impressive, impressive. 

The konjac sponge is not an everyday fixture in my routine, but I have really been enjoying using it during my nightly cleanse/morning splash for an added bit of exfoliation. I love the spongey soft texture on my face, and don't be fooled by it's texture - it really gives an oomph in the exfoliation department. I also find my skin more moisturized after using this when I wash.

I recently picked up the Star Lash Gel Eyeliner in the pursuit of finding the perfect eyeliner. The packaging is not fancy, but if this eyeliner was just ever so slightly creamier, it would be my HG. But close enough, it's extremely black, extremely waterproof, extremely long lasting even in the waterline/tightline and barely smudges on me with my crazy oily lids. I only wish it tugged less going on like the Rimmel Scandaleyes (this one is sooooo creamy but also smudges like kerayzee on me). Also very pocket friendly at SGD14.90. Quite a winner!

Have a great weekend everyone! Do share with me if we have the same favourites or let me know your recommendations! 

CELEBRATORY HAUL!

Hello folks!!!! I would like to say that I am officially back! I have had my thesis presentation and fingers crossed I will be able to have my commencement in july! Since all went well, I wanted to come back with a celebratory haul :D

Ok this is not so much a celebratory haul as much as a collective stress haul. Y'know, stress shopping is the worst (or best). Anyway, I went a little base crazy as you can see but I'm so happy about it! As you can see, I have all my bases covered. heh heh.

Mini review time - do people like mini reviews?

Laneige BB Cushion in Brown Beige - I snapped this up as it seemed it would be a good match for my nc30-35 skin. It's still slightly too light, but it's been a refreshing change using the BB cushion as it has spf50 built in. The strange thing about this base is that though the coverage is not high, it seems to reflect light in such a way that imperfections disappear. I noticed that my imperfections reappeared when I powdered, it was the strangest thing. Also, very very very strong scent that does not dissipate.

Guerlain Meteorites in Teint Beige 02 - When the SA tried this on me in Sephora I literally got a shock. My face looked perfectly poreless and smooth and I fell for this hook, line and sinker. I can't seem to recreate that effect at home though. It's baffling. Any hints?

Canmake Glow Fleur Cheek in 04 - Perfect peachy blush with a glow, not glitter like most of the other Canmake blushes. Only niggling detail is that it's so beautiful I can't bear to swirl my brush in it and spoil the flower pattern.

Elf Baked Blush in Peachy Cheeky - Looks very pretty in the pan, absolutely love the thin packaging though it can be tough to open. Not quite pigmented enough for my liking though.

Tarte Amazonian Clay 12 Hour Full Coverage Foundation in Light-Medium Honey - This foundation has a peachy undertone which is not the exact undertone for me but close enough. Gives a really nice finish that leans more matte and very good coverage. I like to mix this in with a creamier foundation.

Koh Gen Do Aqua Foundation in 143 - My newest foundation purchase! Also, most expensive foundation I've ever owned. Haven't really played around much with this, so far, my only impression is that it's a very watery foundation that clings nicely to the skin. Leans more tinted moisturizer finish than foundation finish.

Bare Minerals Original Foundation in Fairly Light and Medium Beige - Was wrongly matched in sephora, so I purchased a smaller size in the correct shade. Haven't really worn this out much as my powder cravings come and go really quick. So far, the powder seems to give a reflective sheen almost like sunscreen.

Tarte Maracuja Creaseless Concealer in Light Medium - My most favourite purchase of the lot! This shade has peach undertones like the Bobbi Brown Peach Corrector and really cancels out my dark circles! Press this in with a dry sponge and it doesn't emphasize any flakiness, also is true to its name and does not crease on me! Perfection!

Clio Lipnicure in 7 Tension Red - I bought this to play with because I'm not the type that wears any lipstick/gloss at all. Partially because I hate lipstick fading. Anyway, aside from the absolutely terrible powder scent this has (and trust me it lingers and you won't want to taste powder in your mouth), the staying power blows.my.mind. Even with a cleansing oil it was tough to remove. I also had a swatch of this on my hand and it lasted something like 5 days. This is some powerful shit.

Essie Nail Polishes in Borrowed & Blue and Absolutely Shore -  I adore these colours. The blue goes on perfectly and is a 2 coater. The green is almost like a very muted lime and mint green mixed together. In some light it looks grey even and I LOVE IT. The only problem is this tends to go on streaky and is something like a 3 or even 4 coater. The best way to apply is to alternate it with layers of seche vite.


Let me know if you enjoyed my mini reviews and have a good tuesday! I definitely missed writing and it feels good to be back. xx