Valen’s Vanity Square

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?

I love watching Jeniffer Love Hewitt in Ghost Whisperer - her smoky eye makeup, long eyelashes, beautiful dresses, and of course, her voluptuously gorgeous body. Who would not?

But I wondered what she has done to herself, errr, more specifically to her breasts. She is very different from the girl in Tuxedo with Jackie Chan. Is it the effect of push-up bras? Or some breast-lifting cream? Whatever it is, they sure look natural. Yep, ‘natural’ seems to be the keyword.

Nowadays women who wish for bigger breasts don’t have to rely on breast gain surgeries anymore for breast enhancement. There are other more natural methods to do this, like taking natural supplements derived from specific herbs for women that are traditionally used to increase breast size. Compared with breast enhancing surgeries, taking natural supplements is relatively safer and inexpensive. There is zero risk of physical scar associated with this natural breast enlargement method. More importantly, women don’t have to go through excruciating pain after the surgery and throughout the recovery period.

Of course, if you are one woman who is perfectly confident with her body - regardless of the breast size – then there is no need to even consider about breast enlargement. Like yours faithfully.

Christmas is less than 2 months away. I’m thinking of getting some skincare products as my Christmas gift… from hubby, hehe.

Lately my main skin concern is enlarged pores. My SK-II experiment has been ongoing for 2 weeks. So far, I don’t see any major difference on the pores yet.

Whether the miracle water works or not by Christmas, I will try something new that targets on minimizing the pores.

I have one particular product in mind – Estee Lauder’s Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher.

More highly refined, virtually poreless skin. More clarity, smoothness and luminosity

Pores look smaller
Idealist’s revolutionary Pore Diminishing Technology makes enlarged pores look virtually invisible by treating their appearance from the inside out.

• Immediately, it begins to dissolve away pore-clogging debris.

• Dead skin cells are continuously cleared away.

• A super-potent anti-oxidant—NDGA—also helps shrink the look of enlarged pores by helping reduce the build-up of excess oil deep within pores.

Skin looks smoother
Idealist banishes flakiness and roughness and helps your skin naturally speed fresher skin cells to its surface. Gives skin an overall more even tone.

• With 3 times more Glucosamine (a sugar-derived, non-acid refinisher) than our previous formula, it loosens the bonds that bind dead, dulling and flaky cells to your skin’s surface.

• A proven blend helps fade the look of dark spots and discolorations over time.

Their studies showed that:
- Pores appear 1/3 smaller instantly after application.
- Look of pores reduces by 69% in just 4 weeks.

Sounds convincing? Well, I think I need to try it before I’m really convinced, hehe.

Image source and product information: www.esteelauder.com

Since I’m now a fulltime housewife, I hardly go out of the house except during weekends and when travelling with hubby.

At home, I use Garnier Light Whiten & Protect Moisturizing lotion with SPF15 most of the days. When I need to leave the house, I will use something with a higher SPF.

Currently I’m using Olay’s White Radiance Intensive Whitening Lotion with SPF24, which is suitable for combination to oily skin.

This lotion works in 3 ways:

Corrects – Olay Whitening Complex with higher concentration of Vitamin B3 that effectively targets dark spots and visibly lightens skin.

Protects – SPF24 that blocks harmful UVA/UVB rays and helps avoid skin from becoming dull and dark again.

Enhances – Skin-nourishing vitamins to help enhance skin’s natural radiance from within, and keep you fairer for longer.

While Olay Total Effects is now gone from my dressing table (already given to my mom), I have two bottles of Olay White Radiance – one to keep at home, one for travelling.

I like this lotion because it can be easily and smoothly applied across the face. It does not give the feeling of ‘heaviness’ on the face (unlike Olay Total Effects). It is also not oily because it’s a non-greasy, light-weight formula.

I also find the 30-ml bottle very handy. I always keep one in my handbag when I go out, so that I can reapply when necessary.

Last Saturday I accompanied my sister to shop for a pair of white high heels at MidValley. We went into MetroJaya but came out empty handed.

As I passed by the cosmetic counters, I was surprised to see a Benefit counter there. Before this I thought there was only one Benefit counter in KLCC. I didn’t stop to look at anything, but something caught my eyes and kept me wondering all the way home.

I thought I saw a pencil case. You know, those rectangular shaped pencil cases made from metal that we used when we were in primary school? But this pencil case has a very beautiful lady printed on its cover.

Of course that ‘pencil case’ is NOT a pencil case. I did some searching and realized that it is a body balm called Body So Fine.

This flirtatiously scented balm is pure body seduction. Slip some on to arms, legs, decollete, anywhere you want luminescent luxury. The silky velvet finish is slightly naughty and totally irresistible…it’s all you will want to wear! The fragrance of white blossoms is like an aphrodisiac!

I think one of the factors that make Benefit cosmetics so fun to own and to use is the way they name and describe their products. Even before you start to use it, reading the name and the description of the products already made you feel good, cheerful, naughty, happy, sexy, alluring… every thing a woman should be.

I myself am using Dr. Feelgood and Benetint. I love them!

Dr. Feelgood
If there is a body balm, certainly there is balm for the face too. I use it after moisturizer and, sometimes, before foundation. It provides some extent of oil control and gives a smooth, velvety finish to my face. I especially love its smell - so pleasant. The smell reminds me of something way deep down in my memory, but I just couldn’t figure what that ‘something’ is.

This invisible refiner, blended with Vitamin C helps to smooth away the appearance of fine lines while leaving skin feeling and looking more silky, flawless and matte to the touch. It’s a colorless, weightless miracle worker.

Benetint
I think this is a fun product to use! By just drawing three stripes of the rose-colored tint across the apple of my cheeks, and blending the color with my fingertips, I immediately get a very natural, healthy, rosy glow on my face. Super easy! And I like its rose-syrup kind of fragrance too. Although it can also be used on the lips, I prefer to use it on the face only.

The sexiest flush you can get from a bottle. Innocent yet provocative, our rose tinted cheek stain is see through color that endures it all… even in the thralls of passion.

There are so many other Benefit products that I would like to try, but their prices are too high, I can’t afford to buy more than two items per year, hehe. But I can still have a wish list, right? 

 The next Benefit product that I would like to have is the 10 Palette, which contains a duo powder blusher, a light eye shadow, a medium eye shadow and two shades of silky finish lipsticks. Good for traveling purpose. However, this is a limited edition item. It may no longer available by the time I save up enough money for it.

This powder duo bronzes & highlights in one sexy sweep to give you sleek, sculpted cheekbones. We’ve chosen two seductive shades for lips & complimentary shades for your eyes. We like to call it “sexy to the max.” Limited edition.

Well, I don’t think I have to worry too much. I believe Benefit will come out with something similar or even better in the future. But I hope some day they will consider lowering the prices of their cosmetics in order to Benefit more women, so that all of us can look and feel good.

Image source: www.benefitcosmetics.com; product description from packing and web site.

Online shopping has become so popular now. Even my sister has started to develop an ‘interest’ to shop for clothes, accessories and skincare products through the internet. According to her, the prices were lower when bought online compared with buying the same items from actual shops or department stores.

One of the online shops that I’ve come across recently is the Hair & Beauty Bargain Bazaar. The company started out 4 years ago as a wholesale supplier of professional hair, beauty and nail products to salon. Now, not only the company imports and distributes high-quality products in Australia, it also manufactures its own range of hair and beauty accessories.

The company’s online store sells a wide variety of products over the internet. You can even source all the supply you need to set up your beauty and hair salon or nail shop.

If you are running a hair salon, you can bulk purchase things like hairstyling products, hair pins and clips, hair extensions, hair colors, and even shampoo basins and styling chairs from them.

Need beauty beds, facial vaporizer, day spa products or false eyelashes for your beauty store? Looking for manicure and pedicure sets, nail polish display rack, and nail art paint and glitter to start your home-based nail service? Then may be you would like to take a look at their catalogue or browse their online store to find what you need.

Of course, even if you are not making bulk purchase for business purposes, you can just order the number of items you need for personal use.

Having said so much, the only problem now is: they only deliver products within Australia. That’s a pity, because most of the brands they carried are not found in Malaysia, and I like to try things that are not available in Malaysia.

Oh well, guess I will shop in the real world for the time being then.