Out Alone : Chapter 1 - Facial

Facial : Small Talk -
Remember that time I bought Aqualabel's  moisturising milky mousse facial form and whitening emulsion at the pre-launch in June and they were giving away away free facial voucher with every $30 spent. So I made appointment for 23/5/10 afternoon slot as I was off from work at 1pm < worked on Sat afternoon :(  >

It was at the Shiseldo office at Orchard Building just opposite Cineleisure. Not my 1st time there as I have went there a couple of times before for their Shiseldo sales.

Reached there at 2pm sharp and a very pretty lady asked me to change into their white towel robe in the room for facial. When you enter the tiny room there is this mirror with a basin. At the side is the full range of the Aqual Label 's products, the Whitening range (in blue packaging) and the Moisturing range (in red packaging).

The lady came in after that but she said I wore the robe wrongly! Yes I wore it around my neck covering my shoulders, I should be wearing it around my bust ( I was quite embarrased, how could I forgotten how to wear this? I went for facials before! but was very long that I didn't already) instead! I was like "sorry!" and she said it's okay :) and I turned around quickly and wore it down in a jiffy.

Actual Process - The Whitening Facial using Aqual Label's Whitening Range
This is my rough understanding of the process, from what I asked during the facial. Cos normally the person don't explain every single step she's doing on your face.

1. Makeup oil removal on face including eyes and lips : She commented I have clogged pores at the cheeks near my nose. Reminded me to use makeup removal oil when I have foundation and sun block on!

An oil-based makeup remover to remove all types of makeup effortlessly.

- Contains sebum-plug removing ingredient that deeply cleanses and unclogs pores.

- Exfoliates dead skin cells and excess melanin for better clarity but doesn't strip skin of moisture.

2. Cleansing

.A gentle yet powerful cleanser that doesn't strip skin of moisture.

- Contains White Clay Powder to remove impurities without imposing undue burden on skin + Skin-friendly Granules that releases Hyaluronic Acid into skin when massaged onto face.

3. Steaming : I think to open up the pores?

4. Exfoliating whitening cream  from ZA, to rub away my dead skins cells.

5. White up Lotion aka Softener : She emphasized this is not Toner ( for minimising pores). This is to help remove excess dead skin cells and allow better absorption of the products in the next step.

A softener that infuses skin with moisture and brightens skin from within by removing dead skin cells and excess melanin.

6. Emulsion + Oil : Emulsion is like moisturiser, she combined the product with some oil and massaged my face, neck and shoulder! It was "Kimochi.........". Very relaxing!

An extremely lightweight moisturiser that prevents the development of spots and dullness and keeps skin thoroughly moisturised.

7. Hot Towel : She used a hot towel to cover my face and neck, it was a bit tad too hot, but she did ask me whether it was too hot or not.

8. Whitening Face Mask : So she used the sheet mask and covered my face, and left me alone for maybe 10 mins?

An intensive whitening care mask to undo the damages caused by UV rays.

- Prevents formation of excess melanin and replenishes skin with sufficient amounts of moisture.

- Mask features S-shaped cuts to lift cheeks and keep them firm

9. Whitening Enhancer :

 *STAR PERFORMER*A powerful "infusion" skincare step that powerfully forces moisture and essential ingredients into the deep layers of your skin so that they can be perfectly absorbed.

10. White Liquid Foundation : She asked me if I wanted to try their foundation, and of course I said ok! I didn't know they had foundation in the range too! She applied pink ochre 10 on me.

Its lightweight texture glides on smoothly to give a lasting finish. Also contains Moist Aqua Keeping Base to keep skin moisturised all day long. It has SPF25 PA+ and comes in 5 shades.

*All pictures and description are from their Aqua label Sg  Face Book page.

Yep so that's all. The liquid foundation was very light and quite moisturing in my opinion. Could consider buying if you are looking for a liquid foundation! I'm not sure about the coverage as I don't have any serious problems with my skin right now. But I supposed it is a light coverage foundation.

Did you Know?

I asked her if the moisturing milky mousse foam I bought from her was safe for use around eyes, the facial lady said yes. And she said if I don't use water to lather up the cleanser, I can use the creamy cleanser to remove my eye makeup. So it doubles up as a make up removal! But if it's that kind of hard to remove water proof eye mascara/eyeliner then it is still necessary to use removal oil.

Side story: The pretty lady is a Indo-chinese Shieldo assistant trainer. They don't offer facials normally at their office, it's only for this promotion! =) Thank you Shieldo!


P.s. Next up will be Out Alone: Chapter 2 - Shopping!

Michelle Phanatic!

                                  

From http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/consumer/from-home-video-to-vogue-magazine-07232010

I cannot remember the exactly when did I know about Michelle Phan. It should be around 2006 during my poly days? But it was before her Lady Gaga video definitely. It was when she blogged in Xanga as ricebunny. From her blog I knew she was a gamer, an art student too. I can really say I grew up (in makeup knowledge) from watching her videos!

It was random chance that I came across her videos in youtube, and I absolutely adore all the tutorials she created. And it is amazing over the years the quality of her videos improved a lot (not that it was anywhere bad at all, but it has rise to very professional standards in my opinion). If you still don't know who I am talking about, click and watch the video and the link above.

There was a period of time she really updated her videos frequently (just before she got really really famous now) and I would go online everyday to check out if there was any new updates. But now that she's got twitter,facebook, I can just see from them to know if there's any.

I admit looks after one of the factors that attracted me to her videos. Her voice is amazing too as a "narrator", it is not childish squeaky or rough, it's soothing. And she really knows how to choose her music for her videos. Because of her, many of us "phanatics" learnt about Late Night Alumni's wonderful music.

She gives interesting information and tips, like from last time using a card or brush to shield your eyelids during mascara application, how to clean your brushes, and introduce interesting products like BrushGuard .

I'm so happy I knew her before she got this famous (saved me time from having to see her videos from the start), and also very happy for her that she has become successful! It's really wonderful to see people turning their passion into something that can be at the same time the main income of their life, into success.

And not to mention she has her own line of products now. I bought her IQQU acne serum and 1st generation sunblock for quite a long time. Will do a review for it next time!

P.s. I declare myself to be a Phanatic! =P

The 2 Kinds of Clothes Retailer Online

As the title indicates, I want to talk about the online shops selling clothes. I am not defaming any particular sites, just want to share my experiences!

Some online sites (many in fact in the past) sell clothes using pictures from their suppliers. The models can be Taiwanese, Korean, Japanese. A lot of times, pictures are in viewable size, but not exactly big and super clear. And of course the clothes look fantastic on them all the time as the models are always kawaii/sexy/pretty/sweet. And I believe many of you gals also can't help browsing the website(s) over and over again deciding what to buy. And maybe from only 1 piece that you want, you end up deciding to buy more than that, especially when they say buy how many pieces got what discount blah blah blah! (okies I'm just talking about myself >.< ). Some pictures may not be even clear, you just have to use your imagination and hope that it will turn out as pretty as the way it looks in the picture!

 But as with online shopping, you cannot touch cannot feel for yourself the clothes material and quality can only see and read from the picture and description. I do not buy online clothes that often as some do but I do have my share of experience receiving goods that are just disappointments! Here's an example:

I thought this looks casual and cute!

Shall not say which website this was taken from, it's a picture from the supplier that all online blogshops are using if they are selling this piece.

But when I receieved it I was like.......

I mean, the colour is totally off, yes I mean the colours are the same, but the tone the hue the feel is totally OFF! It feels like it's just some cheap piece from I bought from the local Pasar Malam ( Night Market) and it cost me 20 over bucks okay. It's not dirt cheap.

So what to do? Just have to accept it. I'm not those kind of people who will ask for refunds unless the goods are totally not what I've ordered. Anyway I doubt the online retailer would refund or let me exchange. So what if I exchanged, the rest of the good may not be true to the pictures too.

Whereas, the 2nd kind of clothes retailer uses their local models and own photographer. This kind of pictures that you see on their sites are definitely much more true to the goods. Very successful examples would be Bonitochico and Lylarose as I bought from them before and the goods are definitely true to the picture.

Online shopping does have its kick. but when the goods arrive sometimes you just have to embrace yourself for the moment of truth. This is where shopping physically in a real retail shop beats online shopping.

Yeap so that's what I want to share, and oh if anyone is interested in the above piece of tee-shirt do email me or leave a comment! Brand new! =X

*Update: I'm willing to let go at $5 only. Lol. Price still negotiable! If not I will treat it as back up pyjamas!

Update on the Reebonz 99% off Sales

Reebonz posted apologies on Facebook today in regards to the "failed" 99% sales.

They are going to randomly give away the items in the sales to members who have RSVPed for the event.
Dear Fairy God Mother, please grant my wish to be one of the lucky ones who will get a bag? I'll be a good child. =D

Lylarose is back to Biz! vv (^.^) vv

Yippie! Would like to share with you all the email I received just now from LylaRose which has been closed for quite a long time:

 They have shifted from livejournal to another domain. Snapshot of the new website:

Am going to be ready at home on Thursday to visit their site since I got nothing important to do during this week's leave!

Other than Bonitochico, Lylarose used to be one of the blogshops I would visit everytime I'm online!  

♥ ~ はるみ ~

99% (turned) off + 1% (site) damaged

Opened up my email this morning and was excited to see this in my mailbox.

Reebonz is a website that sells branded goods at a lower retail price. And they have this crazy 99% off sales.

But at 4pm sharp I had problems loading the website, which is really expected as I was super sure there would be hundreds or maybe thousands of people like me sitting by the pc waiting to pounce on whatever goods available. I mean who wouldn't? If it's a 1k item, it would only cost 10 bucks. Without the 9.90 SGD

shipping fees. Only after almost an hour I was able to log in n view only the 1st page of the event. And I added one blue kate spade bag to the shopping bag, and upon checking out, it says I have no item. I don't feel like elaborating how many times I refreshed the page and waited for it to load. Seeing the comments on Twitter and Facebook many many people was facing the same problem. My cousin Jellytelly_ri-chan was also very frustrated.

 

So about 2 hours later the Reebonz team decided to down the site for maintenance.

So much for anticipating the traffic beforehand.

There's no free lunch in this world, and there's no free handbag either.

Haha. Back to reality!!!

女人我最大 20100701 超簡單 手笨也能學會

Was watching 女人我最大(Queen) a Taiwanese beauty show broadcasted on July 1st 2010, on youtube. The hairband that is shown in the Japanese magazines was featured in the show! Now then I know inside there is actually a wire so you can just twist at the top of your head to make it like a ribbon or rabbit ears!

Part 2 of the episode:

I'm talking about the hairbands worn on the 2 models from the left and the centre. Picture is from the centre model Tsuriki 's blog =) She has a blogshop named Japanese Street Fashion (the icon link is on the left side of my blog) and I've ordered the clothes she's wearing in her spree 2! Waiting for updates from the blog.

Kawaii desu ne!

So does it means this kind of hairband is available in Taiwan too??? Darling Yiting is going to Taiwan soon can help me buy??? LoLx.

Part 4 of the episode:


And I wan the "Nubra" for the hair also!!! Available in Taiwan!!! >.<

Wished I had the $$$ to go Taiwan again......

LG Vanilla Ice-cream phone + Meji Choco Ichigo Hp Strap

Playing around with Canon 550D.

I had frosty vanilla ice cream and marble chocolate for dinner. Just like my hp the LG Ice-cream phone in Vanilla and my Meji choco strawberry hp strap just that I didn't ate any strawberry for dinner. Hahahahah.

Fun Make-over gathering

Had a fun day spent at a colleague's house with 5 other beloved colleagues doing make-over for everyone. We brought Arnold's chicken meal to her house for lunch, and after it was lesson time!!! I helped 2 pretties did their eyemake up. The sharing session was on because a lot of the girls said they didn't know how to put fake falsies on. But I didn't bring my camera there so I can only come back to camwhore myself. I guess could check out the photos at either Nora's or Yiting's beauty blog! =)

This were some of the items I used on my face today.

Clockwise from top left: Guerlains' travel pact meteorite loose powder, Dolly Wink Falsies Eyecase (I used it to contain the No.1 Dolly Sweet upper fakelash and no.5 Real Nude bottom lash), YSL Touche Eclate Radiant Touch (for highlight), Lavashuca Eye Shadow palette BR-2, Dolly Wink Eyelash glue, IQQU sunscreen (Favourite!), Bobbi Brown Concealor, Bobbi Brown Corrector.

I forgot to take photo of my fav Jill Stuart mix blush compact in 03 coral glow!

Please bear with my narcissism (vanity).. Couldn't resist snapping some photos before I wash them off! I normally don't wear makeup to work even though I am so interested in them as I am toooo lazy to wake up 5 mins earlier to draw my face. I only "transform" myself when I'm not working! Here goes!:

Bread-face =(

Feeling vain after I came back I curled my straight fine hair myself for the 1st time using the cheap Watson's curling iron bought at the recent sales.

Messy I know. >.<

Wearing the Dolly Wink's Lower Falsies in No. 5 Real Nude. It looks super natural!

My eyebrows are drawn with the dark brown eyeshadow from the Lavshuca palette.

Hair half tied-up look.

But I don't know why my Dolly Wink no.1 lashes look so droopy on my eyes, not curled up at all. Yiting wore them and it looks so curled! She said maybe it's the way I stick my lashes on so it looks flat. But that the the Bobbi Brown makeup artist sticked for me also droopy! Don't know is because the way I cut the lashes myself? I must try again when I've the time!!!

Dolly-Wink Inspired Nails

So other than Dolly Wink Falsies, Candy Doll, Tsubasa san has come up with the Dolly Wink Nail Collection!

It has 2 themes in the Dolly Wink website, Pastel Dolly and Vivid Dolly.

Here are some of the nail colours available:

And I was inspired by this:

Of course I don't have Dolly Wink's newly launched nail colours, but I thought of the Barbie Pink like nail colour I bought from The Face Shop at the recent GSS and decided to paint my nails like this:

Both the pink and black are using TheFaceShop nail colours. They are cheap (I think retails at $2.90) and easy to work with. I 've used Sally Hansan Diamond Shine as base and top coat.

It was a rushed-thru job though, so not very good. =X