My Monthly Beauty/Random Favourites - Feb 2015

This month is short and some how passing REAL fast! I have been lazy and keeping my makeup quite simple so not a lot of favourites .... There are more random bits and bobs..

1. Creative Colouring For Grown-Ups by Michael O' Mara - I've always love colouring since young and when I saw a U-Tuber got it and was talking about it in a video... that was it and I when on a mission to find it in bookstores here in Singapore...Got it at Kinokuniya and it is my favourite past time this month. I already finish like almost half of the book...yes I'm not kidding, love it and I even got a second book on stand by already. If you're interested and wondering where you could get it I'll leave a link to something similar here.

2. Beauty Cottage Gorgeous Shadow Palette - Love this palette this month .... check out my full review link here!

3. Burberry Lip Cover Soft Satin Lipstick ( #23 English Rose)- Love the formula and I'm going back to loving nudes lately but is my go to when I do not know what to put on. I have done a full review and I will link it here. 

4. Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush: Exposed - Another go to when I want something simple and fuss free and it just goes with everything and anything in terms of different looks. I have done a full review too which you could check it out here.

5. Charm Bracelet made in Korea  - It is a bracelet that look like the Pandora's but the price is way way better...I got it at a stall like a temporary marketplace downstairs my house which yearly a month before chinese new year...Its like only SGD $21...not the best quality but I seriously wouldn't want to spend thousands of dollars in Pandora. In Asia most of us prefer buy the real gold accessories if we have to spend tons of money and it is certainly worth because we can still resell it.

Left to right: Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-hour Blush: Exposed, Burberry Lip Cover Soft Satin Lipstick ( #23 English Rose), Beauty Cottage Gorgeous Shadow Palette Swatches: Calypso, Medea, Demeter, Aphrodite, Pandora, Helen, Artemis, Hera, Athena

Not a lot of favourites this month... and I am keeping it simple recently. What about you? What have you been loving?

Happy Wednesday!!

XOXO Diana

Disclosure:

This post contains an affiliate link.

Read my full disclosure statement here.

My Beauty Empties (#04 Feb 2015)

Hi everyone,

I'm posting my beauty empties of February 2015 early... and today is the eve of chinese new year which I guess most of the chinese will be having their reunion dinner.. I'm not in tune of having any dinner, not everybody has a loving family I guess.. 

Anyway the best is still for me to start my empties now...

1. Thann Rice Extract Body Milk( 30ml Sample)  contains 8 % of the highest quality rice bran oil, which is rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin E s and the unique y-Oryzanol, y-Oryzanol applied on the epidermis can prevent the UV rays from entering the underlying tissue. It silken your skin while it moisturizes and absorbed instantly. This naturally nourishing non-greasy formula is non-comedogenic (won't clog pores). Paraben Free with no artificial color or fragrance. Nice lemongrass scent and not to mention they adsorb quickly and don't feel greasy too.

- I like it but there are still many more body mositurizer I prefer better.

2.  Starbucks Coffee Chai Full-leaf Black Tea (15sachets) I love tea and coffee as well but for Chai tea I prefer strong scented and this is one of my favourites. The ingredients are Black tea, Ginger Root, Cinnamon, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Star Anise, Cloves. Bought together by he master Blenders at Tazo Tea.

- Yes already repurchase a few times since.

3. Loreal Paris: Excellence Fashion Sparkling Visable Color with Hi-Shine Complex in P66 Intense Spicy Red (Hair dye ) is a great diy Hair dye among so many I had try before. The premium color performance with the powerful Hi-Shine complex infused in Excellence Fashion. Color is vibrant and long-lasting, and hair shines spectacularly. Hi-Intensity Pigments gives long-lasting, rich and intense color, while its triple-Care Formula protects, strengthens & nourishes hair while coloring.

- Yes will repurchase and already have another box on standby, if I'm dyeing my hair myself, except in different colour as I'm always liking different hair colour depending on my mood.

4.  Methode SWISS: Thermal Oxygen Soothing Cleansing Water (400 ml/ 13.6 fl oz.) is okay I guess and I already done a full review before.. if you are interested in my review you could check out my link here.

- Nope I prefer others.

5.  Eucerin pH5 Shower Oil  (400 ml/ 13.6 fl oz) Love it! Done a full review previously and you could check it out here.

- Yes already bought a new bottle.

6. Loreal Paris Everstrong Sulfate-Free Hair & Scalp System: Thickening Tonic( 5.1 fl oz. / 150ml)  For hair that needs extra strength and volume, discover hair care that’s so gentle, yet so strong. The EverStrong Sulfate-Free Fortify System™ contains L’Oréal’s patented Amino Acid Complex, which helps weak, thinning hair to look thicker while caring for the scalp. EverStrong Thickening Tonic helps the scalp feel energized and deeply penetrates the hair fiber to help promote stronger hair that looks thicker and denser.  Sulfate-Free No Silicones Natural Botanicals 100% Vegan.

- Nope..don't think it works for my hair .

7. Chanel: Le Blanc De Chanel Base Lumiere Multi-use Illuminating Base(Sample)  Love how it looks with my Chanel's foundation but doesn't keep my face matte from my t-zone.. It is a love hate thingy with this... I believe it will work well on drier skin... Love the finish a lot but just don't last on my skin type.

- Not sure and still undecided.

8. Essence: All About Matt! Oil Control Make-Up Base(20 ml/ 0.67 fl oz) A great drugstore matte base. Have done a full review on this too, if you want to check out my post do click here.

- Yes I already repurchase.

9. Coastal Scents Big Stippling Brush (comes in a set) I like how it works BUT! It just not worth even if it is cheap because this brush shreds like no tommorrow...there are better quality brushes out there.

- A definite NO!

10. Real Techniques Expert Face Brush The Expert Face Brush is ultra firm and broad for application and blending of cream or liquid foundation: Ultra plush taklon bristles, Look pixel perfect even in harsh light. I love how it works and it is soft and blends well... but with all that hype I'm not sure whether I got a bad one of the batch, it shreds easily too.... I have other brushes from them which doesn't  do that.. maybe I just a bad one??!!

- Not sure whether to repurchase yet a not.

Link to: My Beauty Empties (#03 Jan 2015 Part 2) 

I'm still trying to finish as many products as I could this few months even samples, just don't like wasting products unless I really hate it that much to throw them away I'll try to use up most of them. This month not much is used up, will be trying harder.

Hope you will find my mini reviews helpful and enjoy them too!!

XOXO Diana

Happy Chinese New Year!! I will be back next Wednesday after the holiday here!

Disclosure:

This post contains an affiliate link.

Read my full disclosure statement here.

Christian Dior: Miss Dior Eau De Parfum

Hi everyone,

Happy early Valentine's Day! Have anybody bought or received any presents yet? I had always think that Perfume is an excellent choice for presents at anytime of the year, and today we shall talk about one from Christian Dior. My hubby has bought me the perfect gift at a very nice time, the Miss Dior Eau De Parfum.

I have owned & tested quite a number of different scents from different brands but this is the first time I'm trying Christian Dior's fragrance. Most Eau De Toilette don't last on me and maybe is due to the extremely humid, hot weather in Singapore?!? I find that the quality is not there due to the mass market productions if I compare it to 10 years ago where Eau De Toilette actually last on me, and that is why I prefer Eau De Parfum.

Expensive yes but it is better then buying something that the scent disappear almost less then half an hour.

Christian Dior: Miss Dior Eau De Perfum fragrance is created for an “elegant and spirited young woman in love”. It glides from the sharp charm of a fresh, fruity, citrus prelude into blossoming floral notes, then on to the noble elegance of patchouli, before finally concluding with musk. 

Top Note: Essence of Italian Mandarin

Heart Note: Jasmine

Base Note: Essence of Indonesia Patchouli

It is interesting to note that by today’s standards Miss Dior smells “old-fashioned”(in a very good way), even though it is created for young women. An unique fragrance and I love it.

So what do you think? What type of fragrance do you like?

Have a great Valentine's day!

XOXO Diana

Disclosure:

This post contains an affiliate link.

Read my full disclosure statement here.

Clarisonic: Luxe Cashmere Facial Brush Head

I have been wanting to talk about  Clarisonic Luxe Cashmere Cleanse Facial Brush Head for ages(many many months ago) and I'm really not sure why did I took so long to tell you guys, so today it the day let me start.

One of the biggest points of contention with the Clarisonic is that it can be too rough for the face’s delicate skin.But during my latest haunt inside a Sephora store, I found that the folks of Clarisonic have come out with a new  Clarisonic Luxe Cashmere Cleanse Facial Brush Head .

These brushes characteristically have tapered, ultra-long filaments.

The result is that the brushes feel super duper soft. And yet, they still retain the ability to cleanse “6x better than hands alone.”

For the blissfully unaware, the Clarisonic Cleansing system uses sonic technology of more than 300 movements per second to deeply cleanse for smoother and more radiant skin.

Another advantage of using the Clarisonic is that it preps the skin to better absorb skincare products.

I use the Clarisonic Pro, you could get the cheaper  Clarisonic Mia 2 Sonic Skin Cleansing System, Lavender if you find it too expensive getting the Pro. At that time when I got it the Pro, Mia 2 wasn't even available yet in Singapore.

I began using it years ago and can't remember when already. Time sure is flying…

To this day, I still think my Clarisonic Pro was worth every single penny.

 I’d been using what was, at the time, the softest brush Clarisonic had to offer: the Clarisonic Replacement Brush Head (Delicate)

Five months of use and the bristles on the Delicate brush finally began to stiffen and feel too rough on my skin. So I replaced it with the Clarisonic Luxe Cashmere Cleanse Facial Brush Head.

The Cashmere Cleanse Facial Brush Head has a dual layer design, to gently massage the skin and generate “fluid forces” to cleanse and increase the skin’s hydration levels. It’s really best for mature and extremely dry skin types. Or for people who are crazy about using only the “gentlest” skincare products.

Using this brush feels wonderfully soft on the skin. But amazingly, it’s still incredibly effective at picking up makeup and dirt. I can literally see all the makeup and grime on the brush after using it.

This brush is more slightly expensive than the regular brushes.

But I would bet that this one is actually soft enough to use every day. And that’s something I will not say for the other regular Clarisonic facial brushes out there. I'm using it everyday during night time and it is gentle enough for me.

Also, do not fail to follow up your Clarisonic cleansing sessions with a special treatment! Like a Vitamin C Serum or a Retinol.

For now, I must be going as tonight happens to be my special date night with my Clarisonic 

Q’ for the Clarisonic users out there:What type of brush heads do you use?

Disclosure:

This post contains an affiliate link.

Read my full disclosure statement here.

Essence: Lash Princess Volume Mascara

As you guys should know by now that most asians don't have the greatest eyelashes. I find my lashes short and lack of volume. Finding mascara is a real challenge, not to mention that most mascara that works for me are more to the high-end ones and they're extremely expensive here(example the Lancome range cost minimum SGD $50 which is ridiculous). I'm so excited that I found another drugstore mascara that works!

I was waiting so long to try the new Essence's mascara and finally they reach Singapore's shore. I can't remember exactly how much I paid for it(I know it is cheap), but it came with their eyeliner pen too. Now lets talk about the mascara first.

Essence: Lash Princess Volume Mascara: As you can see the mascara has a pretty packaging and its wand is pretty different from what I'm used to see. It promises 'glamorous volume' and 'perfect separation' describing its wand as 'innovative cobra-head'. The cobra-head wand covers each individual lash to create dramatic volume and a gorgeous, sweeping look. for intensive fluttering lashes.

It gives volume and I noticed a huge difference from one eye with mascara to the other without any.

It thickens the lashes and gives some separation which makes them appear fuller. So it performs as it promises. The formula is a bit wet and it takes some time to dry which is not convenient if you're in a hurry but once it dries it won't go anywhere.  

After all it's a really good mascara and I'm so sure it will be affordable as every product by Essence. Give it a try and tell me what you think ;)

Essence Eyeliner Pen: is with original japanese ink ensures an absolutely accurate line, that is what they claim. It looks very identical to a maker pen, also the tip looks similar. The cap fits properly and does not come off easily, so one can easily carry it around. The tip is a felt tip it is long and medium thin, it is not very super fine but not too thick as well. It is only available in one shade black.
Pros of Essence Extra Long Lasting Eyeliner Pen:
• Felt tip applicator, gives good control in application
• Good pigmentation,Has a semi matte finish
• Dries very quickly

• Stays for long
• Does not smudge or flake
• Decently priced

Cons of Essence Extra Long Lasting Eyeliner Pen:
• Not at all waterproof

• Not the darkest shade of black in single swipe
• The tip is not superfine
• Sometimes it has to be kept inverted, but that happens with all liner pens

Its a decent product but not my favourite among eyeliners.

Thanks for reading & support,

XOXO Diana

*Both items are purchased by me.

Beauty buffet: Scentio Avocado Brightening Sherbet Body Scrub

Have u ever heard about Beauty Buffet? This one is Thailand’s beauty product. When you go to Thailand, be sure to check out their local beauty brand which have a good quality then find Beauty Buffet. The concept is like kitchen, they called their product as a buffet. Their slogan is “The Most Delicious Beauty Shop In Town”, sounds very interesting for me. Also their mascot is a chef, this is him.

Beauty buffet: Scentio Avocado Brightening Sherbet Body Scrub (350ml/ 11.83 fl. oz) Is natural salt rich in natural grain of walnut shell and roll, helps shed skin cell degeneration caused by rough, dull skin. It is also enriched with extracts of avocado which helps brighten and nourish the skin to the touch, Vitamin E to add moisture to the skin, giving it a healthy glow. For the amount you are getting it is definitely worth trying and getting it. I love the scent, did I mention that some how I find that I could skip using my shower gel/foam afterwards because it feels soapy enough making me feel quite clean and fresh.

If you're like me that prefers scrubby body scrubs I am sure you would love this! I am pretty keen to try out their yogurt masks soon.. What do you think? 

Well for my internationals readers out there who would love to try and not going Thailand so soon, check out my Affiliate link: Scentio Avocado Brightening Sherbet Scrub to get some yourself. If you feel uncomfortable using this link, you can always search it else where by yourself.

XOXO Diana

Disclosure:

This post contains an affiliate link.
Read my full disclosure statement here.