Valen’s Vanity Square

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

I suppose every one has their fair share of acne ordeal at certain points in their life. I had mine in my adult years. But thankfully, the problems were resolved and I’m now very happy with my ‘bump’-free face.

In general, pimples, whiteheads and blackheads are all considered as acne. They are the results of blocked pores. When pores are blocked, oil under the skin cannot be drained out, and you will get blemishes like whiteheads and blackheads. If you prick or touch your acne-prone skin, you may cause the skin to tear and bacteria to invade, thus leading to inflammatory acne, normally what we call as pimples or zits.

Different people say different things about acne. Some say that acne is caused by overactive hormone production, while some may tell you it’s due to too much of spicy food or stress. There are also people who believe that the root of acne problem comes from within the body. Therefore, the best acne treatment will be to eliminate the impurities from inside the body. Acne skin care gels are one of the common forms of treatment.

There are different types of acne skin care gel available in the market. If you want to use one, try to look for one that is tested and made from natural sources known to aid acne healing. Whatever acne skin care treatment you are using, if the acne problem doesn’t improve, and is causing you inconvenience or affecting your self-confidence, then it’s time to give a skin expert a visit.

When it comes to fragrance, it can take me ages to finish a bottle, let alone two bottles.

I am currently using Estee Lauder’s Pleasure Intense and DKNY’s Be Delicious Eau de Parfum Sprays.

Pleasure Intense has been occupying my dressing table for more than 3 years, while I bought Be Delicious more than a year ago.

I like both fragrances and I use them to create different moods.

Pleasure Intense is floral scented, more intense than its first version Pleasure. I associate it with the womanly side of me; it makes me feel totally feminine, soft and gentle. You know, it’s like lying down on a bed of freshly cut flowers in the woods. A real pleasure. I usually use it when go dating with hubby in the evening, hehe. As its name says, the perfume is quite intense, thus a light spray will do.

When I want to feel modern, chic and vibrant, I will spray on the juicy Be Delicious. Inside the sleek metal, apple-shaped glass bottle is a concoction of scents extracted from apple and a beautiful mixture of flowers and woods. I use it when I go out in the day time. It lifts up my spirit and I instantly feel refreshed. However, its scent is quite subtle and doesn’t seem to last very long, so it won’t be too overpowering even if you give yourself a generous spray.

Actually, two bottles of fragrance may be too little for a woman to fully express herself, don’t you think so?
It would be nice if I can add just another one into my insignificant collection of fragrance.

I’m quite interested in the new fragrance Covet from Sarah Jessica Parker.

I don’t know how the fragrance smells like; the description I read about sounds like this:

“…Impulsive, indulgent, and irresistible….ultra feminine fragrance….. a seductive blend of chocolate, magnolia, and amber musks.”

Well, if it’s coming from SJP, how can it not be sexy, charming and alluring?

Besides available as parfum de spray, Covet also comes in the form of solid perfume compact (so cute!). I’ve never used a solid perfume, but I think it would do a lot of convenience for travelling purpose.

Now, I need to find out if Covet is already available in the local department stores. All I know is that you can get it from amazon.com.

Image source: www.amazon.com

This is going to be a very short post. I would just like to recommend to those who are keen to learn more about skin care to check out a Yahoo! Health blog called Skin Type Solutions, authored by skin expert Dr Leslie Baumann.

In her blog, Dr Baumann covers various areas of skin care and beauty – from your face, to your eyelashes, lips, hands and feet, nails, cellulite, skin care tips during pregnancy, latest advances in cosmetic procedures, and much, much more.

If you want to be skin care savvy, to be able to discern between the facts and myths about skin care, then this is a blog that shouldn’t be missed.

And, no, I’m not being paid to write this. Sharing is beautiful, okay?