Sunday 19 September 2010

Intimately Yours

I still remember years ago when the first his and hers duo from the Beckham empire came out. Though they might not be everyone's favourites, there's really something quite compelling about David and Victoria when they work together and I'm constantly in awe. The fifth and latest duo, Intimately Yours follows on from its successful predecessors, and whilst I'm yet to try the fragrance, the latest advertisement is another envious display of the sizzling, power-couple.



Some notes:

For him- ‘an elegant and sexy Oriental Citrus Aromatic’ which includes hints of frozen lemon, sage, lavender and blood mandarin
For her- ‘radiant, warm and captivating’ scent with essences of fressia, orange blossom, sandalwood and frangipani.

At the end of the day, a fragrance is a most personal choice, but even if you could resist the scent, can you resist the ad? Effortless.

Shu uemura red: juvenus line-reducing eye essence

I went for an eyebrow shaping service at Shu Uemura the other weekend and during my time there, the technician talked me into buying a new eye essence. I have been on the look out for an eye cream/essence, so it wasn't a complete impulse buy^^

Although I'm not yet in the market for anti-aging/wrinkle products (at least I hope I'm not), my eyes have been suffering from my late nights in the office - dark circles, puffiness and damage from wearing endless hours of make-up.


What the product says:
* Reduces fine lines, puffiness and dark circles, rejuenating the skin around the eyes
* Contains caffeine to boost cutaneous microcirculation and micro pearl to brighten the complexion.



The sales assistant gave me some samples from the red juvenus range to try too~ always welcome


Results: The creamy texture is non-oily and absorbs easily into the skin. Once applied, the skin feels a little tingly, which I like as it indicates the blood is being circulated. Eyes feel rejuvenated although any darkness diminishing/ de-puffing is not immediately noticeable. Probably not my highest recommendation of an eye cream so far, based on its price and effects but still useable nonetheless. Great for: an eye-protectant. Not for: immediate de-puffing, eye lifting.

Price: $380
At all Shu Uemura Boutiques and Counters

Saturday 18 September 2010

a day in my life ~ time to relax

enjoying a relaxing mask with lavender and bergamot for a good nights sleep~hopefully will alleviate the pain from my feet for a little bit :)

Saturday 4 September 2010

A great drop minus the pricetag - Innisfree Wine Essential Mask

Last year when I went to Korea, I was overwhelmed by the number of beauty stores dominating the streets of Myong Dong. With my interest in beauty products still in its budding stages, I selected a handful of products to try first, taking care I wasn't going overboard. One of the treasures I managed to pick up was the Innisfree Wine Essential Mask.

What the product says:
* Rich in polythenol- the antioxidant in grape seeds and red grape skin- to revitalise the skin
* Contains rose essence to calm the skin



The thin mask sheet is saturated in essence, with an invigorating wine fragrance that's not too strong.


I'm not generally a fan of mask sheets, since the majority of them are too big for my face and never cover the most important areas. This mask is still big, though it fits quite snug. I tend to leave masks on from between 15-20 minutes. For this one, I left it on for 20. Instead of washing off the excess essence that is left on your face, massage it into your face.

Results: Skin feels tighter and instantly hydrated. After a nights sleep, my skin still feels soft and moisturised. (My cheeks are constantly dry and they are the best determinant of whether a product works for me or not.)

Verdict: There are an endless number of wine and grape beauty products out there and this is one of the successful outcomes. The mask is inexpensive yet works effortlessly to hydrate and revitalise. It's best for use during winter, when the effects are greatest but dry skin types can use it all year round. The only downside is that I haven't seen this mask outside of Korea (even distributors of Innisfree fail to stock this product), so remember to have it on your checklist next time you or a friend goes there. Great for: dry skin types and your travel kit. Not for: anyone looking for something beyond hydration

Price: 1,500 Won (approximately $10. Ridiculously inexpensive!!!) / 10,000 Won for a pack of 10.

MAC Superslick liquid eye liner

I'd wanted to check out the new Chanel nail polishes for the Rouge Allure collection, but then somehow found myself walking into MAC. They seem to have an endless rollout of "new"or "limited edition" collections these days, so I usually just pay attention when something catches my fancy. This time it did, in the form of their Fabulous Felines collection, released in three lines:

1) Palace Pedigreed - regal blue, plushed grey and polished silver

2) Burmese Beauty - rich olives and teak

3) Leopard Luxe - cream and golds


There's 52 items altogether which is quite overwhelming, and along with the "Dare to wear" collection of bright eyeshadows and lipglass, it took me a while to focus! I finally found myself drawn to the eye liners; somehow I'm always on the lookout for coloured liners but never find good quality ones. After testing of all the colours and lots of um-ing and ah-ing, I set on buying two: Treat me nice and Pure Show


Sleek and simple packaging



The felt tip is similar to my staple Clinique Eye Defining Liquid Liner that a girlfriend recommended to me a few years back, though even finer and with more colours to choose from.


The colours that come out are quite stunning and intense. I was quickly impressed by the olive green, but the shop assistant was very keen to get me to try the gold. It was dazzling!


The liquid is quite thin, so it glides along with ease. Whether you want thin lines or build up for a dramatic, thick effect the applicator gives you the control to do so.

It takes a few seconds to dry, so be careful not to move your eyes. I've worn the green liner out a few times so far, and it's stay on for the whole day, without any fade in colour. Despite its longetivity, it's easy to remove and comes off in metallic blobs (I use Lancome Bifacil).

Verdict:
I love playing around with colours, so I really couldn't resist getting those few colours/tones "i didn't have". The intense colours from this MAC range are great for nocturnals like me, but you can also use them during the day, playing down the look by using more natural and lighter shadows. They are a nice little addition to your make up box and handy enough to carry around in your clutch for a little touch up. Great for: those wanting to create intense party looks with ease. Not for: those who can't choose >.<"

Price: $160
At all MAC boutiques and counters