Archives for October 2009

Random Ramblings: Smashbox in KL, Diamond Botan Brush, Guerlain Christmas 2009 and more!

Paris B 30 Comments

Time for our weekly installment of random ramblings!

Strange search query of the week

The strange search query of the week was this “converting line for used sanitary napkin” where they came on my post about using cloth pads. I don’t know – was that search what I think it was?! :O

Smashbox Cosmetics in Malaysia – finally!

smashbox_KL

Remember when I said that Smashbox Cosmetics was coming into Malaysia? Well chicas, they’re IN! Head on down to Parkson Pavilion Kuala Lumpur where you can check out the Smashbox Cosmetics counter in all its glory.

Star products I know of are the Photo Finish primer, Halo perfecting powder (with cheese grater 😀 ) and O Glow cream blush and lip tint – none of which I’ve tried 😛 There is a full range of products and this special trial set available for purchase with a really cute little blush/powder . Also, this weekend there are extra vouchers for cosmetics purchases so its a good time to buy! 😀

Selberan Diamond Shu Uemura Botan Brush – gawk at it!

shu_botan

The Finals of the Shu Uemura Asean Makeup Competition was held at the Pavilion Kuala Lumpur during the week where we saw cutie-pie Uchide-san International Director for Shu Uemura work his makeup magic on 2 models within 5 minutes. Fascinating makeup aside, the grand prize for the winner captivated me – a specially made Selberan diamond encrusted Shu Uemura Botan brush! Gawk at it! Go on… I did! 😀 (Prize was won by Adeline Yeoh of Singapore) And while I was gawking, I also gawked at Guerlain’s offering for Christmas 2009!

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Follow Me Oil Control Range of Products and Photo Contest

Paris B 5 Comments

Note: New Posts below this one 🙂

If you’re in the market for something to control your oily skin, and have a small budget to consider, you might have come across the Follow Me range of products in the pharmacies or supermarkets. I grew up with Follow Me but had never used it – I’d always thought it came in from Japan. In fact I’ve learnt that its formulated in Japan but made in Malaysia, hence the reasonable pricing. Fascinating what you learn from the internet 😛

Here’s a brief overview of the products in the Follow Me Oil Control + Whitening range as based on my experience after 1 week of use. This range is suitable for all skin type, but is especially targeted for those with oily skin or those who lead active lifestyles and need oil control skincare

followme

Follow Me Oil Control + Whitening Anti-Shine Cleanser

It’s a face wash! What can I say? 😛 Ok, it lathers up well and cleans my skin well, leaving it feeling a little too squeaky clean for comfort. There is a slight cooling feel and a distant scent of tea tree oil. However since its meant to control oil, it means that it works a little harder in that regard to make sure your skin is properly clean. Not sure about the whitening as I did not use it long enough.
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Hada Labo : Perfect x Simple (and Affordable) Japanese Skincare in Malaysia

Paris B 66 Comments

hadalabo

I don’t know about you, but I had not heard of Hada Labo prior to its launch here in Malaysia. There said it 🙂 Have you heard of this line of Japanese drugstore skincare before this?

Apparently, the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion is a major hit in Japan, selling one every 4 seconds since its launch there – I’ll let you know if its a visible  brand there 😉 Well, curious cats, we’ll soon be able to spot Hada Labo at Guardian Pharmacies starting November 2009! They will probably get more visible over time, but they’ll start out in Guardian for now.

Hada Labo is an affordable Japanese skincare brand under the Rohto-Mentholatum umbrella. Packaging is minimalist Japanese style with LOTS of Japanese words on it. Don’t know about you, but I like it! 😀 Under all that Japanese Kanji and Katakana is an organized clutter that appeals to me.

hadalabo2

The brand has 3 main lines for 3 distinct skincare concerns:-

  • Hada Labo Aha/BHA (green packaging) – inspired by a smooth egg! There are 2 cleansers under this range
  • Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening(dark blue packaging) – self-explanatory whitening skincare line with extract of bearberry plant.
  • Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing (white packaging) – to hydrate and nourish skin for smooth radiant crystal clear skin.

The star product is of course the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Lotion with Super Hyaluronic Acid for which their tagline is “1 drop to lock up an ocean” and for which a cute technique of application is advised as will be demonstrated below.
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Review: Cellnique Paramedical Advanced Bio Renewal Mask and Intensive Hydrating Silk Masque

Paris B 30 Comments

cellnique mask

There are 2 masks from Cellnique that will be reviewed here – one is a clay mask  and the other is a sheet mask – take your pick which type you prefer! 🙂 Well not literally take your pick, but the two masks are quite different and can actually be used consecutively or separately. I received these recently and decided to try them together and learnt something new in process- moisture masks work better when used after clay masks! I’ll elaborate further below 🙂

Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Masque (Clay Mask)

When I saw that the Cellnique mask was a clay mask, I thought it would be like the Kiehl’s Rare Earth mask. Clay masks are well known not to be great for those with drier skins but one day, realizing I’d misplaced my Kiehl’s mask (is there a gremlin in the house?!) I reached instead for the Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Mask that was sent to me.

The mask is a clay mask but smells delicious – like pineapple or tropical fruit puree. Just don’t mistake this for your salad dressing! When I saw that the mask contains fruit enzymes, I went “Ah! No wonder it smells of tropical fruit!” Its a yummy sort of smell 🙂

cellnique-mask2

I spread a thin layer on my face, as I do all clay masks and the blue clay mask is quite a sight – don’t go round scaring anyone with this – or maybe do scare people with this for Halloween! 🙂

There is a slight tingling feel on the skin which isn’t unpleasant. The clay mask will dry and harden a little so wait until it all dries then wipe off with a wet washcloth or rinse off with warm water. I found my skin feeling super smooth – must be all that fruit enzymes and AHA at work.

I must say that although this is a clay mask, it did not leave my skin feeling very dry after washing off, though you should follow up with a hydrating moisturizer.

The Advanced Bio Renewal Mask is targeted at clearing dull skin and open and enlarged pores. I can see how this mask can help. Just after 1 use, my skin felt better already. However, I won’t recommend using this more than 1 time a week and not if you are allergic to fruit extracts as I know some people are.

A 50g tub of Cellnique Advanced Bio Renewal Mask retails at RM159 (US$55 online) and can be purchased online (free shipping worldwide) or at Cellnique salons and authorized counters (list). I rather liked this one and since you don’t use too much each time 1 tub can last a long time.

Pros: Leaves skin feeling smooth, Not drying

Cons: May not be suitable for anyone allergic to Fruit Extracts or AHA


Ingredient List: Purified Water (Aqua purificata), Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Disodium Cocamphodiacetate, Pineapple Enzyme (Bromelain), Papaya Enzyme (Papain), Polyethylene Micro Beads, Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid, Citric Acid, Tartaric Acid, Tomato Extract, Lemon (Citrus medica limonum) Oil, Grape Seed (Vitis vinifera) Extract, Bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus), Amino Acid, Saponaria (Saponaria offcinalis) Extract, Propylene Glycol, Chamomile (Anthemis nobilis), Aloe Vera (Aloe barbadensis) Gel, Linden (Tilia cordata), Titanium Dioxide, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, DMDM Hydantoin, Tropical Fruit Fragrance.

Cellnique Intensive Hydrating Masque (Sheet Mask)

Sheet masks are a wonderful invention. Never has masking at home been made so easy as with the invention of the pre-soaked sheet mask! 🙂 The Cellnique Intensive Hydrating Silk Masque comes sealed in individual silver packs in a box of 5.
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