Valen’s Vanity Square

Finally I got my hands on some Estee Lauder products. I bought only two items from them, but I’ve got some trial size products free as well. Cool!

Let’s see what are the new Estee Lauder stuffs I’ve got on my dressing table now.

I bought:

• Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher (30 ml, RM190) - have read good reviews about this fast-acting, pore-reducing serum; use it AM and PM before moisturizer.
• Resilience Lift Extreme Ultra Firming Lotion, SPF15 (50 ml, RM285) - the reviews on this product are fairly good as well. Use as day moisturizer.

Free stuffs (for purchase above RM450):

• Perfectly Clean Splash Away Foaming Cleanser (30 ml)
• Perfectly Clean Fresh Balancing Lotion (30 ml)
• Hydra Complete Multi-level Moisture Creme (7 ml) - mainly for dry skin; I can use it if staying in air-conditioned room for long hours.
• Advanced Night Repair Protective Recovery Complex (15 ml) - will try to use this 2-3 times a week first to see if it’s over nourishing for my skin.
• Advanced Night Repair Eye Recovery Complex (5 ml) - same, will keep it at 2-3 times weekly and see how it goes
• Pure Color Crystal lipstick (color: Berry Truffle)
• Pure Color gloss (color: Rosebud) - I have this on my lips now. So moisturizing-ly sweet. Love it!
• Projectionist High Definition Volume Mascara (2.8 ml) - I have a feeling I will love this too.
• A make-up pouch - for me to put in all the free stuffs!

The size of these items really make them good for traveling purpose.

I think I can only review these products after I’ve tried them out for at least a couple of weeks. Remember to check back at this site!

If you are a DIY person who likes to whip up your own facial masks from natural ingredients, here are some ideas that you may like to try. I got these ‘recipes’ from a beauty magazine; the ingredients are really simple and easily available.

Just a note: if you have sensitive skin, do seek advice or permission from your skin specialist before you try this!

For smoother skin

- 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon of honey, 1 tablespoon of mashed papaya, 1 capsule of vitamin E oil
- Mix all ingredients well. Apply evenly on face for 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

For firmer skin

- 1 egg white, 1 tablespoon skimmed milk powder, 1/2 teaspoon honey
- Mix all ingredients well. Apply evenly on face, wait till dry, rinse off.

For firmer, fresher and smoother skin and to reduce wrinkles

- 1 tablespoon fresh milk, 4-5 drops olive oil, an appropriate amount of flour
- Mix all ingredients well. Apply evenly on face. Rinse off when dry.

I have not tried making my own masks before. Probably I will try my ‘first’ DIY mask with the third recipe one of these days.

I went to Guardian pharmacy today and picked up their Christmas catalogue for this year. I found some of their best buys and promotional offers really attractive. Oh, by the way I’m talking about skincare products and cosmetics here, hehe. Healthcare supplements are also on sales but they are not in my shopping list. ;P

Let’s see what good stuffs they have for this Christmas.

Free stuffs

Get this chic shopping bag free with purchase of RM60 and above worth of L’Oreal products in a single receipt (not inclusive of Men Expert range).

Buy any 2 Maybelline products (except best buys and offer price items) in one single receipt and get a free sweet mini cosmetic pouch.

Best buys and promotional packs

Affordable cosmetics from Markwins - for yourself or as a Christmas gift to your sisters or girlfriends. You can get one full set of cosmetics at only RM39.88! One on them even comes with a case.

• 10% off on Neutrogena products
• Buy a box of masks and get a cleanser free, or buy a cleanser and get one mask free
• Free 1 toiletries bag with purchase RM40 and above from Neutrogena in a single receipt

The original price of Cellnique Pro Sebum Gel is RM139, and Algae Cleansing Gel RM69. So, there’s a saving of RM35 with this combo pack.

But what I’m really tempted to try are these.

I’ve not tried products from Bio-essence before. May be I will get myself one of these combo packs, which can save me up to almost RM40 compared to buying the products separately. Yeah, need some firming up on the face at this age of mine…

There are more good buys and offers on skincare items in the catalogue, which I am not able to show all of them here. So try to grab their catalogue when you drop by at Guardian next time. Also, certain items are only available at selected stores, and the free stuffs are only available while stocks last.

Looks like I should do some shopping at Guardian. May be I should check out the outlet in MidValley when I go to KL in mid December.

It’s results time!

After one month using SKI-II Treatment Essence, let’s see if it has made any difference to my skin.

First of all, don’t be frightened by the photos, yah? Haha!

(Top: before; bottom: after)

Well, personally I don’t find any significant difference before and after use.

1. Nope, my skin tone is not lightened up as seen in the photos; it’s just the flash light from the camera.
2. The pores don’t look smaller.
3. Certain acne marks are lightened (see circled area), but which marks won’t fade after one month?
4. But I do notice that marks, resulted from the extraction process during last week’s facial, healed faster than before.

Looks like I don’t get the miracle like what some people are getting from SK-II. Well, I will continue to use it since there is still half a bottle left. May be I can have another check point in December?

My sister bought for me a traditional body scrub from Bali. It’s called Sumber Ayu, literally means ‘Source of Beauty’. Well, ‘Secret of Beauty’ sounds better I think.

I hardly use a body scrub myself. The one I ‘keep’ in the bathroom is a cucumber and luffa body scrub from Watsons. But I don’t think it is qualified to be a body scrub at all, because it contains too little scrub beads! It’s just like using a body shower cream that has been contaminated with just that little bit of sand. :<

This body scrub made in Indonesia is so, so much better than the Watsons’ scrub.

• Traditional body scrub containing flower extracts and with whitening effect
• Enriched with collagen
• Contains vitamins C and E, moisturizer, and Alpha-hydroxy acid
• To use: Rub gently all over the body, then rinse off with water.

I’ve just started using yesterday. That IS what I call a scrub. I felt as if every single dead cells on my body were being scrubbed away and washed off during the shower. The skin didn’t feel dry later; instead it became quite soft and supple.

I like its very ‘traditional’ floral scent. It lingers on the body after the shower, mild and pleasant.

I don’t know whether it will really whiten my skin over time. But that’s not my intention anyway.

How nice if I had a bathtub at home. Then I could do my own home spa. First the body scrub, rinse off, then followed by a relaxing soak in a bathtub full of rose petals….

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The traditional body scrub Sumber Ayu is not available on any drug store but it can be purchased online if you want to give it a try. The tramadol online can be purchased from google approved pharmacy as well. The levitra is an erectile dysfunction medication that should be taken with doctor’s consultation.

Bags…

Bags again….

More bags…..

Even MORE bags!

(Photos taken from Brand magazine)

I’m obsessed with bags more than with shoes or clothes. Whenever I read women and fashion magazines, these will be the pages I spend most of the time reading. Not that I can afford any of them, but I use them as ‘reference’, so that I can buy bags with design alike but are 100 times cheaper!

I like bags with simple, square-ish design, with many pockets or compartments for practical reasons.

First of all, I can put the three most important items into the bag – my wallet, PDA phone and Nikon Coolpix 5900 digital camera.

After that, what follow will be – apartment keys, a packet of tissue paper, facial oil blotting paper, a Za compact foundation, a small bottle of Olay White Radiance moisturizer, one or two lip glosses, a compact mirror, and a pen.

The above are the minimal things I have to carry with me everywhere I go. ;P

If the bag is even bigger, I may also put in a blusher, a note pad, or even a pocket-size book. Sometimes a bottle of mineral water, too.

The second reason why I like simple designs is because they can match with almost any semi-formal or casual outfits, which I mostly wear nowadays.

I find designs like these few bags from Coach are very suitable for the above reasons. Very suitable for me, hehe.

Photos source: www.coach.com

They are priced between USD650 to USD1,000.

So, no way, I don’t think I’ll ever buy any of these. Even if hubby got so damn rich one day and were willing to buy one for me, I would rather him give me the same amount of money. Then I could spend the cash in whatever ways I like.

Christmas is just another month away. Many people already have their Christmas celebration parties, dinners or gatherings all planned out. All the girls in town will slip into their hottest party dress and high heels, and put on some glittery glamour makeup, ready to dance their night away!

But girls, how could you look ‘complete’ without that matching piece of dazzling jewelry, whether it’s a pair of Diamond Stud Earrings or a blue gemstone pendant hanging above your cleavage?

Now you remember, right? Okay, this means more shopping to do now.

But instead of driving from stores to stores on a jewelry quest, why not this time shop at the comfort of your own home with online shopping? Try MyJewelryBox.com, an Online Jewelry Store from where you can source for rings, pendants, earrings, bracelets and necklaces.

This online store is quite easy to navigate. If you have the time and money, I bet you will spend all your time and money here, haha! Because there are so many fabulous jewelry pieces showcased here, all shouting out to you ‘buy me’! And trust me, the designs are really stunning. 

Here, you can shop by the type of jewelry you want, the material (ie, diamond, gemstone, pearls, silver, etc) you like, or the price you can afford. Many jewelry items here are sold at lower prices compared to retail value; you may even save up to over 50% for certain items!

One advantage offered by MyJewelryBox is that they have a return policy. If you are not satisfied with what you purchased, you can return any order, (except custom orders) for refund or exchange it with another item. As long as you do it within 30 days from day of shipment.

Besides selling jewelry, MyJewelryBox also makes it a point to educate their buyers. You can learn about gemstones, diamonds, gold and silver, as well as how to care for them, by reading articles posted in their web site.

Festive seasons and party aside, this is actually a good place to shop for Jewelry Gift for girlfriends and wives, hehe. Guys, you may get some gift ideas that suits your budget here.

Hey, what do you think of this new look?

Actually I’ve gotten this template some time ago, but I kept having problems aligning the sidebar. The sidebar was pushed all the way down and I thought it had something to do with the width of the columns.

Only later I realized that the culprit was a tiny little stat counter widget I put at the bottom of the sidebar. Because I’ve tried with a few other templates, all seemed to have the same problem.

Once I removed the stat counter widget, everything fell into place nicely.

But again, this is not the ‘perfect’ template in my mind, hehe. Well, when I could finally earn a decent income from blogging, then I will consider paying for a customized one. But till then, this will be the one.

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The cost of cosmetic surgery has risen in the last decade as more and more people are willing to go for permanent makeup for the beautification of their selves and for their self-grooming. Nowadays, there are several remedies for hair removal, you can go for hair transplant or you can have placed synthetic hairs that look natural as well. The acne treatment is quite easy now as many online websites and blogs share quite effective tips, by following which one can reduce acne problems.

If you are wondering what dermabrasion is about, read this:

“Dermabrasion is a cosmetic medical procedure in which the surface of the epidermis of the skin is removed by abrasion (sanding). It is used to remove sun-damaged skin and to remove or lessen scars and dark spots on the skin. The procedure is very painful and usually requires a general anesthetic or twilight anesthesia, in which the patient is still partly conscious. Afterward, the skin is very red and raw-looking, and it takes several months for the skin to regrow and heal.” – Wikipedia

As scary as it may sound, I believe many Hollywood superstars are using it to rejuvenate their look. Well, they can afford it (and are willing to go through the pain, ouch).

But for you and I, may be we should be contented with Origins’ Modern Friction, which they claim to be the nature’s gentle dermabrasion.
 

 

• Age-erasing exfoliation without irritation
• Skin-refining rice starch rapidly removes sluggish cells, uneven patches, signs of skin damage and discolorations
• Aloe to keep skin calm and comfortable
• Signs of fine lines and size of pores appear to shrink in size
• Skin looks perfectly polished, smooth and luminous
• No redness or flaking follows

I totally agree with the last 3 points!

I started using this product end of last year because my skin was really dull-looking with an uneven skin tone. The first few times I used it, the before and after difference was amazing, just as described above. And I love the aroma of Bergamot! It is very uplifting, makes you happy while exfoliating away dead skin cells from your face, haha!

For normal skin, it is suggested to massage the paste over dry, clean skin; then add a splash of water to work into a gentle lather before rinsing it off. But for people with sensitive skin, it is advised to massage the paste over damp instead of dry skin. I’ve tried both ways. Since mine is not a sensitive skin, I stick to the first way coz it actually shows a more significant difference.

Previously I used this product up to two times a week, now I only use it once a week, more as a ‘maintenance’ regime for my skin.

And to make this regime complete, I will follow with Origins’ Drink Up 10-minute mask for skin hydration.

• Thirst-quenching Algae extracts deliver an extra helping of hydration
• Emollient-rich apricot kernel oil acts like “a fountain of youth”
• Spread a generous layer over clean face, avoiding eye area. Wait 10 minutes and then rinse off. Use once a week, more often if skin is dry.

I’m quite satisfied with this hydration mask, except that I think its sweet fruity aroma is just too much for me. Feel like am putting on mashed fruit pastes on my face, haha!

Image source: www.origins.com