Kate by Kanebo – Dual Carat Eyeshadow

Paris B Leave a Comment

This is not a review per se. I wrote about this new eyeshadow by Kate on my old blog a while ago. I mentioned I was keen to try this from the new Kate collection (at the time)

Well, to my surprise, its here! Earlier than expected.

I saw it in Watsons yesterday retailing for RM45. Although Watsons is having 15% off on Kate cosmetics at the moment, this is not included as its a red tag item. I think its because its new. Sasa also has it at about RM42.75 or something.

Anyway, I took the opportunity to test it, and yes, I like it! Its shimmery, so those who don’t like shimmer would have to steer clear. There are 2 complementing colours, one light, one darker.

I swiped most, but only liked BR-1 (brown shades) and GD-1 (gold shades). I’m into neutrals lately so that might explain my current preferance. I did swipe the Green duo as well, as I like green eyeshadows. However, I did not like this one, as both the greens looked muddy for some reason.

Would I buy it? Yes, maybe later but not now. RM45 for 2 colours is just too much for me, especially for a brand found at pharmacies/drugstores. Yet if I’m truly tempted, who knows!

Bra Straps that show

Paris B 4 Comments

This is a fashion faux pas that really irks me.

I see a girl dressed up nicely – fitting jeans, nice shoes, racer-back or singlet t-shirt or spaghetti strap top, and then, BAM! her bra straps are showing. Don’t they realise just how awful it looks? Not even a pretty lacey bra-strap will make that outfit look good, much less an obviously old one. It tells me that although you took the trouble to dress up on the outside, you did not bother to use the right garments on the inside. All it takes is to use a strapless bra or bandeau bra, and voila! no straps!

Some try to get around this problem, by using transparent bra-straps. Unfortunately, a transparent bra strap is made of plastic and transparent does not mean invisible. You can still see the strap, albeit, its now plastic and in my view, a little too tacky for my tastes. This is especially so, if they are wearing it with a spaghetti strap dress or top or tube dress. Do you realise how awful that looks with a tube top/dress?! Again, strapless bras are the order of the day.

Expense is not an excuse. These days, under garments aren’t as expensive as they were. There are cheaper options, so if you don’t wear clothes that need strapless bras that often, just get a cheaper option. Or get a multi-function bra, one that can be worn with or without straps. At least you’ll never be caught out in a fashion faux pas!

Pure Vitamin E Oil for your face

Paris B 84 Comments

Pure Vitamin E Oil as a moisturiser is a recent re-discovery for me, as well as being a recommendation from a friend. I used to use it many years back to heal acne scars but along the way, it got forgotten.

I have been using it for slightly more than a week now, and the results have been amazing! I only use it at night because its terribly sticky, and the box recommends it be left on overnight. The oil is thick and clear and its hard to spread on the skin, and be careful of your hair, if you have long hair. It sticks. The box has suggested to warm it up and apply on moisturised skin, but I haven’t gotten round to trying that.

The next morning, my skin feels soft and moisturised. by then, most of the oil has been absorbed into the skin. I usually lay a towel on my pillow so the oil doesn’t stain it. The immediate result I noticed was the lightening of the lines around my mouth, what is known as “laugh lines”. I had quite prominent laugh lines, but after about a week, they are now barely noticable. The slightly deeper lines will take longer, but any fine lines I have seem to have evened themselves out a bit.

Vitamin E is supposed to make a good natural anti-oxidant for the skin, and its good for lightening scars, acne marks and fine lines. I have some old pitted acne scars which I am hoping this Vitamin E oil will help even out with time.

I don’t intend to use it everyday all over my face (its too sticky), but only twice a week. I’m not sure if this oil will be too much for those will oily skin so if you have oily skin or combination skin, you might want to be more careful when trying it in case it causes more pimples.

For application purposes, I go for the highest IU (International Unit) I can find, which is Colonial Dames Vitamin E Oil.

The highest they have is 35,000 IU. The stickiness and viscousity gets less the lower the IU. I like this one as it comes in a pump bottle which makes it easy to dispense and to control. This is 100% Alpha (Vitamin E) and there is no smell. This retails for RM59.90 at Guardian and some other pharmacies (but not Watsons). You only use a little so it will last a while.

The other brand I’ve tried before this is Organic Aid.

This one comes in a glass bottle without a dispenser. The highest IU I’ve seen is 28,000 IU and the Vitamin E is derived from wheatgerm. I used it a long time ago which I started but I opted not to go back to this brand as I did not like the open mouth of the bottle. The oil residue will collect around the mouth and it goes rancid so it smells bad even if the rest of the oil is still good. This one is cheaper at about RM39.90.

I have also seen Vitamin E oil by Fruit of the Earth and The Body Shop. I’ve never tried them so I will not comment on them.

Opinion seems to be divided if Vitamin E has any benefits for topical application, but while it works for me, I’ll keep on using it.

UPDATE: Try not to use it to often as it could possibly clog pores if you have oily skin. I use it only once a week but nightly on scars.

[rating:4/5]

technorati tags: Vitamin_E, Vitamin_E_oil, face, skincare

Shiseido Summer 2007 collection

Paris B 4 Comments

I was browsing around Makeupbag.net and saw she had previewed Shiseido’s collection for Summer 2007. I’m not usually taken in by Shiseido’s Summer collection as in the past, they tended towards browns or purples – colours that don’t grab me nor look good on me.

This time however, I think I WANT THESE!!

 

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The collection is going to be in a pretty fuschia pink case (love!) and the eyeshadow quad actually looks like colours I could use. The other compact is Shiseido’s colour enhancer which in the previous years were like bronzers. This one looks like it may be more like a highlighter. I haven’t tried Shiseido’s lipgloss and the colour looks a bit too purple/fuschia for me.

But look at how it looks on the model!

 

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You know where I’ll be when this launches in Malaysia! At least I hope they bring it in. Last year, they didn’t bring in the Summer collection – weird. Edit: Last year they did not bring in the Winter collection. Summer came in just fine. 🙂

This collection like all other Shiseido Summer collections are Limited Edition. Compact eyeshadow quad usually retails for RM135 and the enhancer for about RM125. I may be mistaken so don’t quote me.

The fun and previews happen on Instagram @parisbmws