Archives for July 2015

10 minute radiance with the Caudalie Glycolic Peel Mask (and no your face won’t fall off)

July 31, 2015 Paris B 14 Comments

I was browsing Sephora one day (as you do) and felt the need to purchase something. Despite how it might look, I don’t buy a lot of stuff from Sephora. For some reason, I get terribly disoriented and confused when I enter a Sephora store, and I usually walk out without a bag. But I ended up by the Caudalie shelf and my eye fell on a range of masks. I think they’re new? At least I’ve seen them being touted around.

There are 4 different masks for 4 different concerns, and I decided to pick one up. RM115 a tube. It was a little pricey but not terribly so.

The one I picked was the Caudalie Glycolic Peel Mask which promises radiance in 10 minutes. Ah, instant claims! The sceptic in me just had to see if it was true 😀

What Caudalie tells us this will do is to renew skin texture, tighten pores, lighten dark spots, reduce oil, provide an immediate burst of radiance to the skin… without irritating the skin! Is there anything this mask can’t do?! But the main reason I got it was because it said it was a Glycolic Peel Mask and I like the whole glycolic acid thing.

Paris Picks! 4 Favourite Fabulous Red Lipsticks

July 29, 2015 Paris B 38 Comments

Some of you may remember that I have a thing for red lipstick. Or bold lipstick at any rate. It’s sort of my trademark. But I went through a phase not very long ago, when I’d only wear safe lip colours. Near-nude, neutral, rose tinted lip colours that were polished… but safe. It kind of coincided with a phase of my life where I just wanted to be, well, neutral and safe.

But a week ago, I decided I’d revert to my roots. I cut my lipstick wearing teeth on red lipstick and I’ll be back! (I also have a drawer full of red lipsticks that need some loving!) So I’ve been back wearing red lipstick for a week now, and I love it!

You might hear people say that it takes confidence to wear a red or bright lip and it’s true in a sense. It stands out, it makes you stand out and sometimes, because it does, you stand up a little taller and perhaps, feel a little better about yourself.

And while I’m at it, here are 4 of my favourite reds that I’ve been wearing most often in recent times. I’m going to tell you that yes, they are from high end brands. But I have a reason for picking these. For the most part, I find a good red lipstick needs a high quality texture, strong pigment and good hydration. Red lipsticks can be drying, and something that won’t travel and yet won’t leave your lips looking like a prune is important. For me, I find that these are more easily found in a higher end product than in the pharmacy/drugstore.

Also, with the accompanying glamorous packaging, it makes me feel a helluva good slicking these on – instant mood booster! 😀

Don’t be Envious, You too can be Dominant and a Rebellious Rose with Estee Lauder Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipsticks

July 27, 2015 Paris B 18 Comments

Some time last year (2014) I showed you a new lipstick from Estee Lauder called Pure Color Envy Shine and I said how much I liked it. Estee Lauder lipsticks and I go way back… back to the days of Tea Rose – because it was in every GWP I ever received! haha! If you too remember using that, please holler!

But even as I was raving about Pure Color Envy Shine, our friends in the other half of the world looked at me in a little puzzlement. They didn’t get any shine lipstick, what they got was Pure Color Envy. I read that it was a beautifully creamy formula with lovely bright colours. Naturally I wanted what I couldn’t have. Don’t we all?

However, early this year, Estee Lauder finally brought in the Pure Colour Envy Sculpting lipsticks and I finally understood why these come highly raved. They are fabulous lipsticks, if you like creamy, pigmented, opaque lipsticks that come in lovely packaging. I have 3 shades and I wouldn’t say that any of them have any shine or gloss to them, but they aren’t matte either.

They are… adult lipsticks. I know, that sounds weird, but this isn’t a lipstick you’d buy if you were younger, I feel because you’d still be put off by the more mature vibe that Estee Lauder and the texture of these lipsticks give off. I know, I’ve been there. When I was younger, I’d go “Estee Lauder? That’s for aunties!” Now that I’m an aunty, I buy Estee Lauder – don’t judge me LOL 😀

But before I finished up the tube of Rebellious Rose that you see in the foreground of the picture above, I thought I’d better tell you why I like these 🙂

That affordable Bio-essence Hydra Tri-action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask with the oversized cult status

July 24, 2015 Paris B 42 Comments

Here’s a funny thing. Bio-Essence is a brand from Singapore available locally in most pharmacies and has been available for years and years. I’d actually watched the brand launch from Day 1 (almost) and truth be told, knowing their origins, I was never very sold on their products or claims so I’ve never tried their products.

Yet, when I saw that this very same product was being sold at almost TRIPLE its price online in the UK, and been given cult status by “gurus” no less, I had to see what the fuss was about! Tsk. The power of suggestion eh?

This, which to give it its full title, is the very wordy Bio-essence Hydra Tri-Action Aqua Droplet Sleeping Beauty Mask *takes deep breath* and the cult status product in question. This is sold at £29 online here which at today’s exchange rate is about RM172. It retails at local pharmacies at RM70 (£11) or so and it could even be much less when it goes on sale, which is often. I purchased this at about RM55 (£9) or thereabouts!

I basically stood in the aisle at Watson’s pharmacy giggling dementedly to myself when I saw the price. I think the sales person left me alone because I looked off my rocker LOL! 😀 This must be what people must feel like when they go to Europe/France and see how cheap French pharmacy skincare is, and how much more expensive they are in other parts of the world or online.

But the big question isn’t about the price, it’s about whether I feel this deserves its raves as a cult product.

Archives for July 2015

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