Valen’s Vanity Square

If you are looking for a cosmetic brand that carries a full range of products AND is kind to your purse, you might want to give Elianto a try.

So far I’ve tried three of their make-up products, a set of brushes and a bottle of brush cleanser.

Lip gloss
I bought a lip gloss from their kiosk last year. Can’t remember how much it cost, but it’s definitely under RM20. Honestly, I don’t like it. Not because of the color or quality of the lip gloss, but more of the faulty pen-like design of the lip gloss. The mechanism is designed such that you have to turn a knob at one end of the pen to push the gloss out at the other end where the brush is. But no matter how much I turned, the amount that came out was always that small. At the end I got so frustrated with the turning that I decided not to use it anymore.

More recently, I visited their kiosk again and made a purchase. This time I’m quite happy with what I bought.

DuoWear Pressed Powder SPF15 (RM35 including case; refill RM25)

I like its microfined powder that gives a sheer but silky soft coverage. I use it directly after a moisturizer. It’s good for touching up too. It is enriched with vitamin E for anti-oxidant and anti-aging effect.

The next face powder I would like to try: Baked Face Powder

• Unique baked face powder compressed into pan.
• Ultra-fine powder to glide-on for smooth and natural look.
• Apply on with brusher and gently blend it across face for the best result.

One Touch Blusher in Berry Mauve (RM15)

I love this! I just have to gently pad a few times on my cheeks to achieve that natural rosy glow. I know Christian Dior (probably some other brands as well) has something similar, but it costs over RM100!

The next blusher I would like to try: Baked Blusher (Marble)

• Unique baked blusher with two colour shade with same base tone, compressed in into the pan, with strong compression and colour effect.
• Silky soft finish and shimmering. Once glide-on, the colour blend smoothly and naturally.

9-piece Make-up Brusher set (RM55) and brush cleanser (RM18)

• 1 Face brush, 3 eye shadow brushes in different sizes, 1 small angled brush (for the eyebrow), 1 eyes hadow sponge, 1 mascara brush, 1 small lip brush, 1 eyebrow brush.

Deep down in my heart, the ultimate make-up brush set to get is of course from Bobbi Brown! But it’s way too expensive for me at the moment. Elianto’s brushes have bristles that are quite soft, too. At least they are better than the cheap brushes bought from the drugstores (those bristles made my face itchy).

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I haven’t tried Elianto’s eye colors and lipstick yet. Guess they’ll have to wait for the next round.

I went for a good exercise session in the botanical garden this morning, got myself really sweat up and my blood pumping fast. It was a nice feeling, to feel refreshed after about one and a half hour of walking through the trees and ferns, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the sounds of nature (although physically I’m very exhausted now).

More importantly, calories were burnt! ;P I really need to exercise more to get rid of the extra bit around my waist and hip, but I don’t get to do this fun brisk-walk-in-the-garden thing regularly. You know, life is always bogged down by work and stuffs.

It would be nice if I can do some fun and interesting exercise at home (I work from home) without having to leave the house. Occasionally I would have this whimsical idea of getting a mini exercise trampoline. Then I could jump during breaks between works or while watching my favorite TV programs. Hey, jumping also burn calories, you know.

However, for a physically lazy person like me, a trampoline may not help much either, haha! Actually, apart from exercising, selecting the right foods can actually help in weight loss, too.

Recently I read an article suggesting the following fruits will help if you are in an endeavor of losing weight.

Tomato
Rich in fiber and makes you feel satiated; helps to relieve constipation and improve metabolism; contains different types of vitamins and minerals

Banana
One or two banana a day helps to remove toxins from the body, thereby helping to slim down your waist. One banana (around 100g) contains only 87 calories, compared to a bowl of rice (150g) with 220 calories!

Kiwi fruit
Rich in vitamin C; helps prevent constipation and is good for the skin.

Apple
A good source of dietary fiber; helps aid digestion and regulate bowel movements, promotes weight loss. It is also rich in potassium, which prevents fluid retention, particularly of the legs.

Whether these fruits really help in weight loss, I don’t know. But there’s no harm of adding more fruits into your diet, right?

If you are planning for a holiday in Las Vegas this summer (probably an influence of the show Las Vegas?), what would be in the wheeled suitcase of yours as you check into one of the finest Las Vegas hotels?

Some suggestions here:

• A bathing suit, perhaps a bikini, for some relaxing moments by the pool (and for some attraction, too, hehe).

Animal prints never go out of style. Zebra print bikini from Michael Kors.

Too shy for a bikini? Go floral for a chic jet-set look for the beach or poolside.

• A pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sunshine.

• Very important – sunscreen lotion! Put it one before you leave your room, and reapply frequently if you are doing outdoor activities.

Clinique UV-Response Face and UV-Response Body, SPF50, broad-spectrum UVA/UVB sun protection. Provides antioxidant protection from the sun, helps prevent long-term signs of aging. Water-resistant and oil-free.

• You bet you will walk a lot in Las Vegas because there are so many hot spots to cover - from one casino to another, from Night Club A to Night Club Z – you would want to walk in a pair of comfortable, walking shoes.

• As for apparels, comfortable wear like t-shirts, shorts and sport shoes will do in summer.

• But if you are planning to dine in a 5-star restaurant or to watch a gala show, then remember to bring along one or two evening dresses and matching heels and purse.

Lastly, don’t forget to bring along a camera to take snapshots of a happy you basking under the sunlight of the Sin City. Have a happy summer holiday!

Are you a fan of the Project Runway TV reality show, admiring the contestants’ talent and skill in designing and creating garments out of the weirdest materials?

Have you ever dreamed of yourself becoming a famous fashion designer like Donna Karan or Marc Jacobs, and have your creation being worn by celebrities on the red carpet?

Well, if the above is your dream, why not pursue a career in the fashion world by first getting yourself enrolled in a fashion design course.

When it comes to inventing fashion styles and trends, there is no better place to study this in New York fashion schools. After all, New York is one of the fashion capitols of the world.

Talk about fashion schools New York has quite a number of them. But you would of course want to find out which are the accredited ones. Check it out on Fashion-School-Finder.com, a fashion-related resourceful website that provides a list of fashion design, merchandising and marketing schools.

You can also read up educational articles on the website to get an insight of the fashion industry, such as the career options, fashion trends, background of some of the famous fashion designers, etc.

If you truly think fashion designing is your destiny, then you should no longer put your dream on hold! Hop on to the website and find a find a fashion school in New York that suits you the best. Who knows one day there may be a whole new line of clothes named after you!

That’s what Marion Caunter shrieked when she noticed her ugly heels as she was trying on a pair of open-back heels in a TV commercial.

I was shocked too when I accidentally touched my heels several weeks ago and went “Eeeeeeks~ Cracked heels!”.

Well, I didn’t really have cracked heels, but was certainly on my way there if I didn’t do something about it. My heels were dry with flaky skin, and thus rough to the touch. It’s not a nice feeling, but somehow I would still unconsciously touch my heels as I watch TV, trying to peel off some of the skin as though by doing that would give me back my smooth heels. That of course didn’t help at all.

So, what can be done to treat dry heels and prevent them from developing painful fissures (and deteriorating into unsightly heel)? Below are some tips.

• Soak feet in lukewarm water and use a pumice stone to scrub off dead skin. This helps reduce the thickness of the hard skin.
• Avoid wearing open backed shoes or thin soled shoes.
• Apply a moisturizing cream twice daily to the affected heels. If possible, wear socks to protect feet from dryness.

I followed tips no.1 and no.3 for about 5 days, today my heels are no longer dry and rough!

One suggestion: instead of the conventional oval-shaped pumice stone, try a ceramic stone pedicure file.

Dual sided pedicure file from QVS

• For pedicures and regular maintenance of feet to gently and effectively remove callouses and hardened skin
• Use the coarse side to rub away the dead skin, and the finer side to finish off so your feet are left feeling silky-smooth
• Soak feet for 2-3 minutes in warm soapy water prior to using the file, or while showering or in the bath

I find this pedicure file really easy to use, and have made heel scrubbing my shower routine, haha!

You can get this item from Watson stores.