Archives for April 2014

Tried it: Didn’t like it – Products that I simply do not like

April 30, 2014 Paris B 26 Comments

While it always seems like happy-happy-joy-joy on blogs where we rave about the latest discoveries and new products, out there in the sidelines and out of the limelight lie a fringe of discards. Products that don’t perform as they say they do, products that for one reason or another doesn’t agree with our skin and products that we just don’t quite like at all. It happens. Not everything is or can be a new favourite.

Here are some products that I’d been trying and testing off and on over a few months trying to decide if I like them or I don’t. If I like something, I usually form the impression quite quickly. When I don’t, I like to take a longer time to see if it grows on me, just to be fair.

These didn’t, although with one or two of them, I don’t dislike them enough to bin them immediately but will finish them up. So, in the middle of all my raves for skincare I like, here are the ones that didn’t make the cut one way or another.

Your Say: Do you wear or change your makeup according to the seasons?

April 29, 2014 Paris B 53 Comments

I used to be a little more on the ball about the different trend and collection releases that come out every season but this year has been a little up in the air for me. Too many things are happening in real life for me to even bother keeping up with something as ephemeral as makeup trends so I haven’t been paying a lot of attention.

However, one thing did strike me as prevalent. When the joy and holiday rush of the December holiday season was over, with its sparkly rendition of makeup, the market was flooded with Spring choices of light colours; pastels for eyes, soft pinks come to the fore for cheeks and lips and pretty, delicate prints and packaging take centre stage.

Now that we’re pushing into Summer in most parts of the world, bronzers make their annual appearance together with a deliberate shift to coral and orange shades for lips and cheeks and bolder eye colours – blue is in if you believe Dior. Blue always appears in Spring (baby blues) and Summer (bright blues) but less so in the cooler seasonal collections.

It made me wonder if you, as a user, do find that the changing seasons define your makeup colour choices? Or do you feel the need to thanks to the marketing and ad campaigns?

For a little clarity I pick the REN Clarifying Toning Lotion (aka Clarimatte Clarifying Toner)

April 28, 2014 Paris B 32 Comments

If you were to hearken back to the early days of my blog, you may realise that over the years and in time, I sometimes contradict myself and my skincare routines. Ah such is evolution, I say 😀 So in the early days, I used to not be much of a fan of using toners because to my inexpert eye, they were an extra step that had me seeing no results.

I got back into using toners a couple of years back but I was using mostly hydrating toners that I patted on and then I rediscovered the use of cotton pads. See my evolution? Last year, I got into using 2 toners. I know! Here I am, moving from not using any toner at all to 7 years later, using 2 haha!

I’ll talk about it another time, but essentially, I use an exfoliating toner and then I follow up with a hydrating toner. It’s not an original thought on my part. Full credit goes to Ms. Caroline Hirons for this one 🙂

As does my purchase of the REN Clarifying Toning Lotion which I’ve learned is now called Clarimatte Clarifying Toner. Gosh, I do wish brands would stick to one name and not change it at will. What’s Clarimatte anyway? Grr…

But anyway, this product is essentially an exfoliating toner. You use it with a cotton pad and wipe it over your face and what it does is clarify your skin, help remove dead skin cells to encourage skin cell turnover and give you clearer, more even toned skin. It is basically, all we ever imagined a toner to do and it’s alcohol free to boot!

New! Marc Jacobs Beauty leaves its mark at Sephora Malaysia stores – A quick overview

April 25, 2014 Paris B 48 Comments

I first came across the Marc Jacobs Beauty line when the online community was buzzing about it some time last year. The first images that came out, I admit, didn’t grab me. There was a buzz of reviews when the line was new and then it sort of all quietened down, with preference falling back to the established, tried and true brands.

Knowing that most exciting new brands take forever and a day to reach our shores, I wasn’t paying a lot of attention until the local buzz started that Marc Jacobs Beauty was landing on our shores at Sephora stores. Now, how on earth?! We’re actually WITH IT! 😀

Marc Jacobs Style Eye-Con No. 3 RM137

As of last week, Marc Jacobs Beauty is now available at all Sephora stores nationwide. Marc Jacobs, if you didn’t already know is mostly known for his fashion and at one time was the designer over at Louis Vuitton. He was responsible for some of the more interesting and edgy designs to have come out of the luxury design house.

I used to be keen on the Marc Jacobs brand bag (being the bagaholic that I am) but they were all so heavy! He uses a lot of hardware in his designs and that spells weight. The Marc by Marc Jacobs line is more wearable and less weighty. So being quite familiar with his more flamboyant fashion designs, I was a little surprised at how sleek the MJ Beauty line was.

Here are some pictures of some of the products available, and some preliminary thoughts of a couple I’ve quickly tested in store.