Valen’s Vanity Square

I am not obsessed with whitening products, but I do use Kose’s Sekkisei Herbal Esthetic massage cream mask once a week.

A unique massage cream mask that hydrates and whitens the skin, increasing the skin’s translucency in just two minutes.

Contains oriental herbal extracts.

Suppresses melanin production to prevent sunspots.

To apply, you use the spatula provided to scoop out about 2 grape-size amount of the cream (more if you like to). Then gently massage it onto your cleansed and dried face for about 1 minute. Avoid eye area, lips and hairline (but I find it rather difficult not to get the cream onto the hairline). Leave the cream on for another minute before you remove it.

To remove, first use the spatula to scrape away the bulk of the cream from your face, then wipe off the remaining cream with tissue paper. You will see that it is not easy to totally remove the mask from your face, so now you need to rinse with water to make sure there is no residue left on your face.

That’s why I usually use it after I clean my face AND just before a shower, coz I find that this is the most convenient way to use it. I can actually save the tissue papers and straigt away go under the shower to wash off the cream.

I love the scent of oriental herbs of the cream. Every time I use it, I feel like I’m receiving a luxurious treatment. And every time after I use it, I can immediately see a brighter face in the mirror. It’s different from the ‘cleaness’ of post-cleansing.

If you are out in the sun for the whole day, you definitely need some skincare product that could replenish your skin’s hydration and revive its translucency. I read once in a magazine, saying that women who use this product can regain lighter skin tone more quickly even if they got tanned after a beach holiday. Well, I can’t prove that coz I’ve never got a chance to get tanned!

;) Why not try it yourself?

Image source: www.neobeauty.com

If you spend a holiday in Europe, what would you bring home as souvenirs for family and friends?

Genuine leather goods? Designer clothes and handbags? Watches from Switzerland?

If you do have the budget for all these luxury, do go ahead. But if you don’t, what would you buy?

For me, I’m not a rich man’s wife, so when I travel abroad, I usually brought back with me key chains, fridge magnets, T-shirts, lipstick box, coin purse and food stuffs to ‘distribute’ to family members and colleagues. 

Well, these things may look cheap, but they’re not if you are spending pounds and Euros. 

My mom just came back from her Europe trip, besides chocolates from Belgium, cheese from Holland, she also bought other stuffs, including key chains. I think the key chains are really cool and even ‘glamourous’.

Diamond-studded Eiffel Tower key chain. Just kidding! Those of course are not diamonds, but they do dazzle like diamonds. Costs 8-9 Euros (that’s 40 over ringgit). .

‘Gem’-studded Holland clog key chains. The crystal ball really turns the cheap clogs into golden and silver clogs that all girls dream to wear, haha. Costs about 5 Euros (~RM25) each.

So, don’t think key chains are cheap souvenirs! Be happy if you get one like the above.

Olay has come out with their all new Total Effects 7-in-1 Anti-aging Cream with SPF 15. Well, I’m not keen to try it yet, as I still have a half-full bottle of Olay Total Effects+ Gentle Formula with UV protection, which is a fragrance-free formulation.

• Powered with 7 vitamins and minerals: vitamin C, zinc, titanium, magnesium and Vitaniacin, Olay’s unique complex of Vitamin E, Vitamin B3 and Pro-vitamin B5
• Helps reduce the 7 signs of aging for visibly younger looking skin

— Visibly reduces lines and wrinkles
— Smoothes skin texture
— Evens skin tone for more balanced color
— Transforms skin dullness to a radiant healthy-looking glow
— Minimizes the appearance of pores
— Diminishes the appearance of blotches and age spots
— Intensively hydrates dry skin

The reason why I tried Olay Total Effects is because of my mom and my sister. My mom is already 60 years old. To me, she looks like she was 50. No, she is not totally free from pigmentation or fine lines. But take a close look at her face - she has no wrinkles! She has been using Olay Total Effects for at least 2 years. I reckoned her skin would be much better if she had practiced a complete skincare regime earlier in life. She is one of those that only washes and moisturizes her face. But still, you won’t guess that she is a 60 years old aunty.

As for my sister, she is 30 years old, but still experienced skin breakouts so often, most likely due to her late working hours. She tried the Tea Tree Oil products from Body Shop, from cleanser to toner, moisturizing gel and blemish gel, but all to no avail. The problem persisted until one day she decided to replace the toner with Neutrogena’s alcohol-free toner and moisturizer with Olay Total Effects. Voila! Her problems resolved not long after she started her new skincare regime. The acne marks also healed quite well. Now, she has a healthier complexion.

I was amazed by the effect, so I got one for myself. But then, what works for some may not work for or received well by others.

I didn’t use it for long, thus haven’t observed any changes. The cream is quite thick and it takes quite some effort to slather the cream evenly over the face. Although it does give a nice, fair glow immediately upon applying, I don’t like the ‘heaviness’ of the moisturizer on my face. This stops me from using it every day. In fact, I almost forgot about its presence on my dressing table until I saw the advertisement of the latest Total Effects.

I don’t know if other users of this product have felt the same way. I don’t think I will ever finish this bottle. Should I give it to my mom?

Image source: www.olay.com

This morning I gave the make-up sponges from my compact foundations a good wash. Experts say beauty tools such as sponges and brushes should be washed at least once every 2 weeks to avoid germs growing on them.

Jeez, I can’t remember when was the last time I clean them. So, probably today IS the right time!

I usually wash them with liquid hand soap. Then after rinsing the sponges thoroughly, I remove the water first by pressing the sponge with my hands, then with facial tissue papers to absorb excess water. Then I will just let it air dry, under the fan if possible.

Besides cleaning my make-up tools, I think I should also do a spring cleaning for my cosmetics. I read an article in a Chinese women magazine last night, it’s about how long cosmetics and skincare products are good for use once they are opened. Check this list:

• Liquid foundation, concealer, cleanser, day/night cream - 6-8 months
• Mascara - 3-6 months
• Pressed powder, loose powder, shimmer powder, eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, toner - 8-12 months
• Eye and lip pencils - 12-18 months

Oh dear, looks like I’ve got to trash quite a number of the stuffs from my dressing table. But am I going to do it?! Dilemma….

How about you? Are you still using cosmetics and skincare products that are already ‘expired’?

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Using expired cosmetics can also lead to skin cancer as well. Some of the minor effect of using expired makeup products could be skin rashes. Some of the high quality brand line makeup products are available online that can help in hiding age spots.

What is your mood today? What colors should you wear? Why not let Lancome’s Destiny Cube (RM180) set your mood and guide your color code for today.

The unique cubic design of this palette was inspired by the 18th century Chinese boxes. Inside this multi-faceted contraption there are two eye shadows on one side and a lipstick and gloss on the other.

Available in two, limited-edition color palettes:
- Charisma (light pink lip products with brown and violet shadows)
- Deep Fascination (red and burgundy lip products with light green and pale pink shadows).

Will you be a mysterious lady? Are you in the mood to flirt? Should you feel like a star? Let the Destiny Cube reveal your destiny today. Play the game by throwing it like a pair of dice on the table, and let the signs or words on the cube help you choose the harmonious color combination.

It’s a cool make-up palette AND toy, don’t you think? You can have fun while adorning your face with colors that reflect your mood- and attitude-of-the-day.

Errr, guys, if you see your girlfriend wearing the color of jealousy today, you’d better watch your behavior…

Image source: www.lancome-usa.com

I have started using my trial-size SK-II Facial Treatment Essence last Wednesday. Yes, I did have a ‘before’ photo taken, but I ain’t gonna show it now. You just have to wait to see the ugly, large pores later, later.

And while I was looking at the photo taken, I got horrified a bit. I noticed that the skin around my eyes is actually one to two tones darker! Are those dark circles?! But they don’t appear ‘blackish’, just more ‘yellowish’ than the rest of my face. Oh no, I don’t want to end up wearing a pair of dull yellow shades!!

Well, I can only blame myself for this, coz I have not really taken good care of my eye area. Normal skincare products are not meant for, and usually not advised to use around, the thinner and more delicate eye area. So that area is sort of being neglected.

Not that I don’t have eye cream. In fact I have had it for several months but not ‘disciplined’ enough to use it every day, hehe. Looks like I have to start treating my eye area as lovingly as I am to other parts of my face.

I have to use my eye cream every day from now onwards. I am using Nivea Aqua Sensation Anti-Shadow Eye Cream.

I’m not sure if it is able to help treat my problems. It is meant to target undereye shadows and puffiness. It contains: 

- Cucumber extract to refresh and moisturize the skin
- Ginseng to fight against the action of free radicals and signs of tiredness
- Magnesium to help invigorate the complexion

I suppose by the time I check on the results of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, I can also observe whether there any changes to my eye area with this product. I hope to see that there will be only ONE skin tone on my face by then!

Image source: http://www.nivea.com