Valen’s Vanity Square

2008 is going to step in just a matter of 3 days. Have you set any resolution in terms of beauty and health for the coming year?

I have not set any particular resolution myself. But after reading this article from Dr Mao on weight loss, I think it might do my health some good if I can follow them. If one of your resolutions is to lose weight, then read his article here. The tips Dr Mao offers in this article are not something new, but they do remind us that one can shed off some extra pounds by practicing very simple steps in our daily life.

But how practical are these tips to me? Let’s see…

Drink more water to help reduce fluid retention, flush out toxins from the body, and suppress appetite.
I can do this! I just have to make sure that I drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.

Eat a serving of soup (must be home-made and low-salt, and not canned soup!) daily will help you lose more weight than those who don’t, even you all are taking in the same amount of calorie.
I like soup, but I don’t think I have the time to cook soup every day!

Eat the last meal of your day by 7pm to keep weight off
Jeez, I will probably get hungry at 9pm, and end up having some snack, like milk and biscuits, before going to bed, haha! I guess I will just make sure that my dining table is clear before 9pm. That will do, hehe.

Eat small but frequent meals, preferably 5 little meals throughout the day
Hmmm, don’t think I can do that. I don’t like the idea of having to munch throughout the day…. I’m a ‘busy’ person you know, I’m constantly working on my laptop.

Eat a balanced diet, especially eat more greens
Am already practicing this, but not always possible, especially when dining out.

Walk of the weight - best if can walk 30 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes in the evening
Hahaha! This is probably the most difficult task for me. Well, I’m not in a desire need to lose weight, but I do know that it’s not healthy when my butt sticks to the chair and my eyes glued to the laptop for the whole day. What I can do is:

• Daytime - practice my basic Rumba dancing steps between work (blogging mainly, haha!)
• Nighttime - do some stretching exercise before going to bed

So, how many of these weight loss tips will you be able to practice?

***********************************************************************************************************

Before using didrex, it is very much necessary to read about side effect of this medicine as there had been some reports of some problems by people who used it. The mayo clinic diet is a weight loss program that is considered to be very effective as many positive responses have been heard by people who have tried diet methods through them.

My sister and I are embarking on a small online business project targeting female consumers, hehe.

Well, I can’t say it’s a business yet. It’s still at its very early stage of preparation. We are sourcing and comparing different suppliers. We have to go through lots of the nitty-gritty stuffs like calculating costs and comparing shipping fees.

Whew~ There’s surely a lot to do!

Since we may not have many things to offer at the beginning, we may just ‘rent’ a unit from one of the e-malls.

Later, when our inventory expands, then we will consider setting up our very own online shop using one of the ecommerce software available.

Using the appropriate shopping cart software is very important to make online shopping a pleasant experience for the customers. In addition, it also eases the life of merchants like us, who have no web site designing and programming skills, and are busy with other work or personal commitments at the same time.

A good shopping cart software provides features such as easy set up, web-based store administration, free technical support, easy inventory control tools, efficient integrated payment system, etc. It’s worth investing in such tools to run the business more smoothly.

Hopefully all these efforts will make our shop a very welcoming and consumer friendly place for online shopping in the future. For now, more calculation to do!

And don’t worry, I will surely announce it here when the business is up and running!

Thanks to the experimental and adventurous nature of mine, my dressing table is forever so crowded with bottles and cans of skincare stuffs. And it is getting worse!

Many of them are almost or over 1-year old now, which also means - my dear skincare products, time’s up for you babe. You’ve got to go into the bin!

Nevertheless, it’s always difficult to part with your beloved things, right? Especially when you know the price of the stuffs. Yeah, all your (and mine) hard earned money went to those bottles of potion which we believed to be able to revive our youth… haha!

So what can I do if I don’t have the heart to throw them away? Well, I think of ways to ‘recycle’ them - stuffs that are considered expired or I found not suitable for my use after I bought them.

1. A moisturizer that is too rich or oily for my skin? I give it to my mom.

2. Or I use it on the neck instead, or on other areas that tend to be dry, such as elbows, heels, knees, etc.

3. Similarly, if a moisturizer, cream or hydrating essence that is way over its shelf-life once opened (i.e. >1 year), instead of putting it on my face, I use it as a moisturizer for my hands and legs.

4. ‘Expired’ facial wash can be used as hand wash.

5. ‘Expired’ body lotion can be used to wipe off stains or dirts on my synthetic leather handbags. Haha!

That’s how I recycle my old skincare products. How do you recycle yours?

It’s a bad habit of mine that I can’t stop trying new skincare products, before I even finished what I have on my dressing table, hehe. But it’s just a small pack of NUTOX Oxyfusion Starter Kit that I’m talking about here.

NUTOX Oxyfusion range of products is inspired by a treatment concept called Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, which is claimed to help “promote healing, reduce swelling and improve the blood supply to help reverse aging and brighten your skin”.

The starter kit comes with:

NUTOX Oxyfusion Wrinkle Away Cleanser (10 ml)

• Contains Nuroxygen that helps to promote oxygen supply to improve skin vitality & enhance skin resilience
• Helps improve skin regeneration and reduce the visible signs of aging
• Cleanses, whitens and helps protect skin against the formation of fine lines
• Ideal for normal skin

I have finished up this small tube of cleanser and I like it! It doesn’t leave my skin dry and tight after washing. Instead, I feel there is a light shield of moisture that makes my skin smooth to the touch.

NUTOX Advanced Serum Concentrate (3 ml)

• Contains Nuroxygen
• Contains Nubenone, the ingredient used to instantly fill up gaps in between lines to diminish signs of aging
• Blended with Plant Organics & NanoBeta-White to enhance skin transparency & whiten dull complexion
• Suitable for all skin types

I think I almost finish this very tiny bottle of serum, can’t tell much yet about the effect though. This serum is easily absorbed by the skin and doesn’t cause my face to be oily or trigger any other skin problems. I would like to get the full-size bottle and give it a real try, but not now. I still have my very new Estee Lauder stuffs to try.

NUTOX Moisture Emulsion SPF 25 PA++ (15 ml)

• A moisturizing + whitening formulation
• Restores skin’s optimum moisture balance, reduces signs of ageing, whitens and moisturizes to revive skin’s natural smoothness
• Ultra light and easily absorbed
• Suitable for oily to combination skin; for day use

If you are one of those (including myself) that likes tinted moisturizer, then you are not likely to use this. Because it is not tinted, it doesn’t provide that immediate ‘whitening’ effect that instantly brightens up your complexion. Somehow I felt that it is not providing enough moisture for my combination skin. So, I still prefer my Garnier Light or Olay White Radiance moisturizers.

NUTOX Supernatural Night Repair (5 ml)

• Contains Nuroxygen
• Blended with Nubenone and NanoBeta-White to further enhance skin transparency and whiten dull complexion
• Suitable for all skin types

Although this night moisturizer is in cream form, it does not cause greasiness on the face as what creams normally do. The skin becomes supple and exudes a very nice glow after application.

I now can’t decide whether I should get this or Olay White Radiance Night Cream to be my night moisturizer when I’m done with my Garnier Pure Shine Control moisturizer. How eh?

While I ponder over this tough question, may you all have a very Merry Christmas!

Besides Valentine’s Day, Christmas’ eve and Christmas day are also very romantic times to pop THE question. Furthermore, it’s easy for you guys to remember in case you tend to forget all sorts of anniversary dates, hehe.

If you indeed are looking for the right ring to propose to your girlfriend, why not choose from a nice collection of diamond engagement rings from James Allen?

Check out their multi-features web site that comes in a clean and simple design (to me, it reflects purity, just like a diamond), you will find that they offer a variety of fine jewelry made from diamonds, colored stones, pearls, gold, and sterling silver.

If those designs are not ‘perfect’ enough for you, you can design your own rings to suit your (or your girlfriend’s) personal style and taste.

This ring design is so unique.. and dazzling!

But the web site is not only about selling jewelry. Useful diamond fashion news and jewelry articles are available and updated often. And guess what? You can also download free screensavers that shows photos of diamonds! I bet all girls who love diamond jewelry would love this feature.

So, good luck to all the guys who will be asking the question very soon! If everything goes well, you may also want to start browsing the fabulous wedding rings from James Allen, hehe. Hey, why not join their contest and win yourself a dream honeymoon too?

Wow, it seemed like trillion years since I last posted here!

Sorry for the huge post gap coz I was back at my hometown. Internet access was limited and I myself was so caught up in shopping, haha!

During that trip, my sister showed me a website that I’m sure fans of branded bags will love. And it’s mainly targeted to Malaysian fans!

If you are looking for the latest season or limited edition bags that are not available in local retails, you can spot them right here at this website, PrettyDeal.com. You order, they import for you.

Brands carried are Coach, Juicy Couture, Chloe, Prada, Dior, Fendi, and DKNY. Currently, there is a sale going on for Coach bags, with discounts ranging from 10% to 55%!

I myself like this Coach Chelsea Signature Wristlet (discounted priced is RM320, with free shipping) since I’m looking for a new wallet.

However, guess I have to dismiss the idea of getting one coz I have overspent recently! But if you like designs from Coach (or the other brands), and happen to have received a big, fat bonus this year, hehe, then you shouldn’t miss the opportunity!

Image source: PrettyDeal.com

The season of Christmas is definitely a season of spending! Even if you don’t have a special person to give a Christmas gift to, you may well find yourself participating in the shopping rush, all simply because it’s too hard to resist the temptations of Christmas promotions and offers!

For those who are expecting a year end bonus, spending dollars on Christmas shopping is not too big a deal for them. Gals are anxiously waiting to get their hands on their favorite designer handbags or shoes, while guys are all ready to charm their girlfriend with the most dazzling gifts.

Guys, why not charm your girlfriend with Diamond & Platinum festive collections this year?

Give her the shiniest star from the night sky…

From left: RM1,238, RM1,188, RM638

Let her know that she is truly elegant…

From left: RM688, RM688, RM688, RM268

However, not all of us receive a bonus. I’m not working; I don’t even get a salary.

So, how are we going to find the money to shop this Christmas? Write more paid posts? I don’t mind doing that, hehe. Or try your luck with online casino? Haha! That’s not for me. I never have luck in gambling or even casual betting!

Well, a better way is to list out the number of gifts you need to buy, allocate a budget, and spend within your means. That way, you don’t have to worry about burning a hole in your pocket bigger than you could ever repair!

For more jewelry gift ideas, check out DiamondnPlatinum.com.

It’s getting closer to Christmas! And if you are still wondering what great beauty gifts to get for your family, friends or yourself, hey, pick up a copy or two of women’s magazine from the newsstands, you’ll see tons of ads and features of gift ideas to help you decide.

Let’s take a look at a few (out of more than 100!) of the wonderful cosmetic promotions available this season, which are featured in December’s issue of the Chinese magazine CitaBella.

Don’t want to spend more than RM100?

The Body Shop Tropical Shower Time Treat (RM55)

The Body Shop Pompously Strawberry Set (RM75)

Bobbi Brown Tube Tints Set (RM95)

L’Occitane Discovery Set (RM99)

Clarins Lip Allure (RM110)

Don’t mind paying more than RM100, but not too much!

Left: M.A.C. Royal Assets: 3 Pink Lips (RM115)
Right: M.A.C. Royal Assets: 6 Warm Eyes (RM158)

Clinique Makeup Set (RM160)

L’Occitane Roses Collection (RM169)

Estee Lauder Pure Color Lipstick Collection (RM195)

(All prices are as quoted in the magazine)

Very interesting deals, right? I personally like to get my hands on the Clinique makeup set, but I didn’t see it being displayed in Parkson @Gurney Plaza during my shopping trip last week.

Anyway, if you want to check out more about the special promotions, just get a copy of CitaBella quick!

I must confess that I bought something else besides Estee Lauder’s products during my beauty shopping spree last week.

It’s Clinique’s Superbalanced Makeup foundation. I already had this in mind for quite some time. It is priced at RM100, but I only paid RM60 because I had a RM40 voucher to use. Otherwise I would not have bought it, hehe.

• The great equalizer for combination skin.
• Provides moisture and absorbs oil where needed.
• Minimizes appearance of fine lines.
• Helps protect skin from environmental damage.
• Contains anti-irritants and antioxidants.
• Water resistant. Non-acnegenic and oil-free.
• Ophthalmologist tested.
• Can be worn in the immediate eye area.

I have used it a couple of times already and I really like it. It’s easy to apply over the whole face because the fluid doesn’t dry up easily. It provides a good coverage for skin that doesn’t have too much of blemishes and marks, creating an even and natural look to the face.

May be it’s just me, it seems that my face also exudes a healthier glow after putting on the foundation, hehe.

This is the best fluid foundation I’ve used so far. After the foundation, I just have to lightly puff on some loose powder, curl up my eyelashes with a mascara, slide on a lip gloss for a juicy lip, and I’m all ready to go!