Valen’s Vanity Square

Just a quick post to let you know that I have put up a new weight loss report at my weight loss blog. Quickly hop over and sign up to get a copy FREE! The report is called “Top 10 Weight Loss Myths”. If losing weight is your new goal in a new year, then better get some facts right before you set out for your weight loss journey.

Come to think of it, I should also give out a free report about health and beauty here right at this blog. What do you think? Yeah, may be I will do that soon. So watch out for my updates, yah?

Today is the last day of 2008. Whether you have a new year resolution of 101 things to accomplish, or just want to lose 5 kg of weight and look good throughout the year, I wish you all a happy and fruitful 2009, and may all your dreams fulfilled!

“One little, two little, three little Indians…”

Oops, wrong one. Should be “One little, two little, three little pimples, four little, five little, six little pimples… and more, more pimples!!”

*sigh*

Hate to see myself in the mirror. My acne problem has still not resolved since I last mentioned about it here. They came, disappeared, and came again!

I know I should apply my Body Shop Tea Tree Oil for blemish, but it is back in my parents in law’s place while I’m now staying with my mom. I don’t have any acne clearing product with me at the moment, all I can do is to keep my face clean all the time, blot away the oil if it gets excessive, avoid make-up, and refrain my hands from touching my face!

Today’s facial was a good one, coz the beautician who did my massage - on face, neck, shoulder - applied really heavy pressure on her strokes, which is what I like.

Anyway, just a note about the Passion membership of Dermalogica. Apparently from May 2008 onwards the points accumulated from purchasing their products or services will no longer be used for redemption. Instead, for the amount spent every half year will be rewarded with a 5% rebate voucher. For example, if you spend RM500 from June to December, you will receive a RM25 worth of voucher to be used on services only.

The 5% discount on every product purchase remains the same.

Most women today work and travel the road to financial security on their own. With financial independence, women are able to take care of themselves, and sometimes of their family members too.

Insurance is part of financial planning. Women must make sure they are adequately protected by at least a life insurance, which actually helps to save for retirement or fund your children’s education or other long-term goals.

In case you die, you’ll leave with a peace of mind knowing that the cash provided to your family from the insurance will help pay for funeral costs and expenses at the time of death, as well as mortgage and ongoing household expenses.

How much coverage you need depends on your lifestyle and several other factors. Consult your insurance advisor to work out a figure for you. Then get more than one life insurance quote for comparison.

Also, don’t forget to ask if a critical illness policy can be included into the life insurance. With critical illness policy coverage, a lump sum of money would be paid in the event of either diagnosis of one of the specific critical illnesses or death. That will help lift off some monetary burden due to long-term medical treatment expenses.

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?

This morning I gave the make-up sponges from my compact foundations a good wash. Experts say beauty tools such as sponges and brushes should be washed at least once every 2 weeks to avoid germs growing on them.

Jeez, I can’t remember when was the last time I clean them. So, probably today IS the right time!

I usually wash them with liquid hand soap. Then after rinsing the sponges thoroughly, I remove the water first by pressing the sponge with my hands, then with facial tissue papers to absorb excess water. Then I will just let it air dry, under the fan if possible.

Besides cleaning my make-up tools, I think I should also do a spring cleaning for my cosmetics. I read an article in a Chinese women magazine last night, it’s about how long cosmetics and skincare products are good for use once they are opened. Check this list:

• Liquid foundation, concealer, cleanser, day/night cream - 6-8 months
• Mascara - 3-6 months
• Pressed powder, loose powder, shimmer powder, eye shadow, lipstick, lip gloss, toner - 8-12 months
• Eye and lip pencils - 12-18 months

Oh dear, looks like I’ve got to trash quite a number of the stuffs from my dressing table. But am I going to do it?! Dilemma….

How about you? Are you still using cosmetics and skincare products that are already ‘expired’?

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Using expired cosmetics can also lead to skin cancer as well. Some of the minor effect of using expired makeup products could be skin rashes. Some of the high quality brand line makeup products are available online that can help in hiding age spots.

This post is a recap of ”The Ten Commandments in skin care” in my previous beauty blog Valen’s Beauty Parlour.

It takes time and effort to maintain great skin and complexion. Quote from Helena Rubenstein - “There is no ugly women, only lazy ones”. So if you want to look good, you need to adhere to some basic daily skincare routine - diligently.

My personal skincare regime consists of 10 steps:

I stick to most of the rules I set for myself, except for the last two, which I obviously need to work on.

What are your daily skincare routine?

Welcome to my new born more-than-just-a-beauty blog!

For those of you who followed me from my previous beauty blog - Valen’s Beauty Parlour, which is relatively ‘young’ (too young to ‘die’ in fact), thanks for visiting. Please come back again and again, hehe.

Here, I will continue to share my experience and review on skincare and beauty products. But wait, there’s more to it! I will write beyond these topics, to share all things that are beautiful or will make a woman beautiful and happy :).

To tell the truth, I’m using this place to indulge in my own vanity, haha! I definitely won’t be able to own ALL the vanity items that I desire (let it be a skincare product, leather handbag or even sleek laptops), but at least I can have fun while writing about it!

If you are a reader who just happened to ‘pass by’, thanks for visiting and also please keep visiting, okay? If you wish to read what I have written in the antecedent of this blog, you can go to Valen’s Beauty Parlour. Anyway, I will also rewrite those posts in brief and publish them here for the benefit of my new readers.

It’s a new beginning, and I’m all ready to be beautiful!