Rant.

I came across this photograph of this woman. I wish I remembered or saved the link which I found it. But I was compelled to save it. Something about her no doubt, is very beautiful. So natural at embracing her years, it shows in her face against her unique colored eyes and tanned skin. The headscarf stands out and everything looks vibrant.

This is a reminder to myself first and foremost that we do not need to go to drastic measures to look beautiful. Keep your routine simple, natural and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Some people don't even have the time, wealth and luxury to aspire perfection the way society views body image. Take advantage of what you already have and make it work.

That is all. Feel free to leave an opinion and please respect each others. :)

xx 

Victoria's Secret Beauty Review

Review #1

Hi everyone!

This is a continuation from my VS beauty haul a couple of days back. Straight to the review!

Left to Right:
Body Butters- Pure seduction, Amber romance, Love spell.
Price: $12 USD

Product description as on the VS website ** :  www.victoriassecret.com


**"Restorative formula is enriched with deeply conditioning shea and jojoba butters, plus antioxidant vitamin E. Massage on for long-lasting, intensive moisture, focusing on dry, rough areas. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation"
 

Pure seduction: **"A flirty, floral fragrance. Entice in Pure Seduction, a passionate romance of succulent red plum and sweet freesia."

Smells like berries with a strong floral note. It is very sweet and kind of reminds me of Love spell with that peach undertone when it fades throughout the day. This is a very popular choice and I can see why many like this one. It's very a very sweet and pretty scent.

Amber romance: **"A seductive, warm fragrance. Ignite an Amber Romance, a sensual embrace of sultry amber and crème anglaise."

This is so amazing! I absolutely love warm sweet smells. It is surprisingly not too heavy even though notes of vanilla and amber are put together. It's very comforting and I would definitely be picking out this one in the colder months. This may be my favorite out of the three.

Love spell: **"A flirty, floral fragrance. Hypnotize in Love Spell, a vibrant, irresistible blend of lush cherry blossom and juicy peach."

This is a very fun scent to wear. It is unbelievably fruity and the first time you smell this it is a very powerful scent. They definitely got the peach right and the floral undertone is subtle. It is also very refreshing. Love spell is a little too strong for my liking though. I've tried their spray and it's exactly like it but more stronger. Whenever I spritz it I have to keep my mouth closed cos when I don't I can taste in my mouth. A little of this goes a long way!

Overall verdict:

I love these so much. I find that I can put this on my skin straight after a shower and it instantly sinks in without feeling greasy.The product glides on you don't need much to cover a large area.

Skin feels soft and well hydrated. And as a bonus, skin is well fragranced. VS body butters  stay on throughout the day and the scent lingers quiet nicely. This is a big thumps up for me!

Definitely recommend!

Review #2

TOP Left to Right:

Secret charm hand & body cream, Sunset flower hydrating body lotion, Coconut passion body lotion.

BOTTOM Left to Right:
VS Body Butter, Secret charm, Sunset flower, Coconut passion.

Product description as on the VS website ** : www.victoriassecret.com

Secret charm: **"An irresistible, fresh fragrance. "Enchant in Secret Charm, a bright bouquet of fresh honeysuckle captivated by soft jasmine. Experience the luxury of fragrant hydration. Intensive formula is fortified with replenishing avocado and sweet almond oils, plus hydrating honey. Massage on for rich, 24-hour moisture, focusing on dry, rough areas. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy " -$12 USD

This would be perfect for those who love fresh, light and clean scents. The jasmine in this is very delicate and there is a hint of sweetness from the honeysuckle. I have nothing to complain about this one. It is also not too strong as the others and will fade throughout the time you wear it.

Sunset flower: **"Sunshine and glamour. The perfect escape. Play the flirt in Sunset Flower, a sparkling blend of muguet and white amber from the limited-edition VS Fantasies Spring Collection. Fast-absorbing body lotion is enriched with nourishing aloe, oat and grapeseed extracts" -$14 USD

I LOVE this one! It is so hydrating when you want a quick rub down with lotion. As you can see in the bottom picture it is abit thicker then the formula of the last lotion. This is a new range that VS came out with recently and re-vamped the packaging! It comes with a handy pump with a lock feature aswell. This smells gorgeous, I can even smell a hint of watermelon in this pretty bouquet of flowers. Personally for me, I would love to own the entire sunset flower range!

Coconut passion:  **"A seductive, warm fragrance. Seduce with Coconut Passion, a rendezvous of rich vanilla and warm coconut. Experience the luxury of fragrant hydration. Fast-absorbing formula contains nourishing aloe, oat and grapeseed extracts, plus antioxidant vitamins E and C. Massage on for silky, replenishing moisture. Skin feels soft, smooth and touchable: the ultimate sexy sensation." -$12 USD

Classic coconut scent and sweetened with vanilla. Long wearing lotion and hydrating for everyday wear. I recommend using their body butters for dryer skin though. The coconut scent is wonderful and I can find myself wearing this on a nice sunny day!

Yay! That's a few reviews done! That's it for now. Hope you found these reviews helpful. Feel free to comment or ask questions :)

xx

Victoria's Secret Beauty Haul '13

Oh my goodness! It's been like, two years since I have updated anything. Pardon me for my absence. I thought this was something worth sharing because the moment this box arrived at my door, I didn't hesitate to tear it apart! ^_^

Living in Australia means purchasing VS items are quiet hard. The only readily available place (from what I know) is their walk in store in Sydney's domestic airport. It's also not everyday you would casually walk in like any other shop, an opportunity is if you're picking up somebody or planning to fly out.. not very convenient.

I ended up purchasing online. The one big let down of doing so is you can't physically be there to smell or have a feel of the product. I ended up doing a bit of research of the scents I picked out, crossing my fingers I'd be happy with them. Online, luckily there was a sale! I fished in a good deal for 5 beauty items for $35 USD! yay!!!

Shipping and handling costs are approx over $27 AUD to Australia. This parcel took around 2 weeks to arrive for standard shipping. Express shipping is also offered for an additional cost.


Website:
http://www.victoriassecret.com

Parcel arrived in a cardboard box. Each item is secured with bubble wrap and 

in a zip-lock bag! *thumbs up*

 

Top L-R: Sunset Flower body lotion, Secret Charm hand & body cream, 

Coconut Passion body lotion

Bottom L-R: Amber Romance body butter, Pure Seduction body butter.

Bonus FREEBIE!! Yay I love freebies. This a Secret reward card. It's value is unknown but the minimum amount on this card is $10 and can get as high as $500. Valid from 1st of April 2013! Only way to find out is if you purchase something and enter your code and pin at checkout. Or you can also go into a store and check it's balance. Thank you VS!

This is the end of the Haul :) Overall I am very happy with their customer service, items arrived securely and shipping was no longer than the two week mark for international orders. Just a note, I will have a further review on each product soon so watch this space! :D
xx

Hada Labo DANRYOKU HADA co-enzyme Q10 facelift cream

Hello fellow readers! This is another Hada Labo product to be reviewed, and I can now say it has been more than a months trial. If your looking for something light and non-greasy for a night cream, not particularly to fight wrinkles but merely to prevent future ones, I think this is a wonderful jar of goodness.

This hada labo creation was something I could not find many reviews on. I simply added this to my cart with my fingers crossed hoping I will not regret it :)


Packaging:

This small silver bundle of joy is housed in a small jar. A little goes a long way in my opinion. You don't need to drown your face in cream you know! Unfortunately if you are picky about hygiene, that is dipping your fingers in.. maybe invest in a small spatula to scoop out the product. Besides, who would dip dirty fingers in and rub that on your face? Clean fingers please!

Ingredients:
I could not find the exact ingredients unfortunately :( tried searching everywhere and I couldn't understand the Japanese on the packaging either. Main ingredient it's promoting is co-enzyme Q10. Sounds fancy I know but this is what absorbs deep into our skin to slow down the aging process and helps keep skin elastic and firm. It also contains vitamin A and soybean lipids to help retain moisture. This cream is also alcohol free and smell's like oranges mmm!

How to apply:
Apply as desired after cleanser and toner. Texture is light, translucent, non-greasy and absorbs quickly. The color is a pale yellow. Apply on face AND neck.

My verdict:
I like this cream. If i had to rate it it would score a 8/10. My skin get's oily at night and this has been very nice in warmer weather. The best thing about it is, yes I do not regret buying it and I just love the smooth texture. It's so silky when you apply it on a clean dry face. The smell is very energizing also! Different to the floral scented stuff. My cousin used this on her dry skin, she tends to get red and flaky in some areas and this worked really well for her that she ended up purchasing it. Maybe I can get her to do a mini review for skin types out there similar to hers :)

My only con is, not suitable for day time. This cream has also been trialled under my BB cream but I prefer to use something much lighter because I got really oily during the day. I was hoping this cream could replace both day and night, but I think I'll just stick to night.

The result is what you expect when you add much needed moisture when you sleep. Skin feels hydrated, plump and smooth. Especially the area around your eyes and nose. It has not failed me every time I use it, esp after you use something so much you tend to lose the results you see the first week. This hasn't so I really like it!!

Hada Labo hyaluronic acid moisturizing lotion review (light)

Read on for bouncy skin!!

Today's product review is Hada Labo 's best-selling hyaluronic acid moisturizing lotion! or in western countries, this would be considered a toner, both are the same and is used after you have cleansed your face.

This is the one with the tag '1 bottle sold every 4 seconds' wow! or 'one drop locks up an ocean' .. ok the second one is a VERY bold claim.

I was very curious about this product. I have never used an entire skincare line from the asian market, other than using BB creams religiously. I have read very good reviews on this lotion which led me to discovering Hada Labo's cleansers, serums and moisturizers. I might as well trial them all together to experience any real benefit.

This is called a lotion which western brands would call this a toner. It's the same thing to supplement the second stage after cleansing.

It's packed with hyaluronic acid and super hyaluronic acid. This stuff is amazing in keeping your skin soft and hydrated! Pat pat pat!! Directions of use will be explained below (quiet fun!!).

Packaging:

Simple frosted bottle with the usual Hada Labo packaging in only japanese writing. Flip top lid and a hole to let the product out. You have to be careful not to spill it because there isn't anything else to prevent accidents if this tips over :(

Ingredients: (original lotion)
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PPG-10 Methyl Glucose Ether, Disodium Succinate, Methlyparaben, Sodium Hyaluronate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Succinic Acid, Sodium Acetylated Hyaluronate.

How to apply:
Usually with a toner you would use a cotton pad to soak up the product, which you will then swipe all over your face. You are left with that feeling like something is evaporating off your face, and your skin feels so squeaky clean!

But nooo not this one! This is a clear liquid that feels somewhat thick but very slippery. In the commercials for this lotion, you see a woman happily patting/light slapping her face and you somehow see her skin stick to her palms. I've never seen skin look so bouncy haha! and it DOES just THAT.. You apply 2-3 drops and spread it all over your palms quickly, and yes quickly pat this around your face because this dries pretty fast. You press your entire hand, changing on different parts of your face and keep this patting motion till the product feels sticky. After a minute or so (30 secs for me since I bought the light version) the stickyness has disappeared and voila you are done! No cotton pad needed. :)

This product requires a bit more attention than regular toners. If you are willing to sacrifice a few minutes for this every morning and evening, I think it's well worth it. I think I enjoy this new technique, patting the face is also a light massage, and also helps improve circulation.

My verdict:
I bought the light version because my skin tends to get oily during the day. I have used this for a good few weeks twice a day and It has really helped with the moisture levels and oil control throughout the whole day. I am less oily now and my skin feels sooooooooo soft after this. You can't even feel the lotion was there. It magically absorbs leaving no residue or tightness. I've skipped using a moisturiser a few time's because I didn't think I needed it, plus it's winter right now so that must be saying a lot. So, one drop locks up an ocean? Hmm not quiet, but I can see where they are going with this.. and I agree!!

Hada Labo Tamagohada AHA+BHA cleanser

This is one review I have been excited to write about. It's this amazing line from HadaLabo (Japanese brand) which I am currently incorporating into my skincare routine. First off is their Tamagohada cleanser. I first mentioned this in my winter haul 11 post with some facts I've discovered about this line. It's very famous in Japan and it is also deemed popular in other asian markets like Singapore and Malaysia.

Just a note: My skin is different to yours so my opinion is based on my own experiences. I have normal/combination skin and don't have many problems with acne. My skin is not sensitive and has been pretty resilient to testing different products.

Packaging
Very simple egg shaped bottle with a foaming pump. I like it's simplicity, makes me feel clean just by looking at it haha. I love anything that foams, just makes cleansing one step easier. Also has a stopper for those accidental travel moments :)

Ingredients
Water, Butylene Glycol, Potassium Myristoyl Glutamate, PEG-20M, Lauramidopropyl Betaine, Stearic Acid, Lauraide DEA, Glycolic Acid, Lauric Acid, Betaine, Glycol distearate, POtassium Hyrroxide, Methylparaben, Salicylic Acid, Betaine/ Sodium PCA/ Sorbitol/ Serine/ Glycine/ Gutamic Acid/ Alanine/ Lysine/ Arginine/ Threonine/ Proline/ Methylpar

Instructions on label "-Use twice daily. Squeeze sufficient amount onto your palm. Lather with water and massage onto face, using gentle circular motions. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water"

• Cleanser gently exfoliates the surface layer of skin using Alpha hydroxy and Beta hydroxy acids.
• Mild enough to be used twice a day
• Foam is dense and creamy
• Removes oil and impurities that clog pores effectively
• Refines and polishes skins texture to promote clarity and radiance.
• Must wear an spf while using this cleanser!
• No fragrance or color *yay!*

My verdict?
Love, love. love and LOVE! I now have a favorite everyday cleanser. I usually swap between my Nutrimetics hydrafinity gel cleanser or my Olay regenerist cream cleanser but this one really proves results after every wash. No skin tightness, dryness or residue left with this one. It foams up so nicely and smoothly and my skin looks really fresh and clean after every wash. I would however, use a makeup remover if you have makeup on beforehand because this foam is really gentle. I can especially feel the results around my nose where it feels rough and bumpy :( it feels baby smooth now hooray!!

A keeper for me, and will definitely stock up.

xx

L'egere purifying facial peeling gel

After snooping around for fun skincare items I finally came across this new concept called 'face peeling gels' or 'peeling masks'. They work just like regular exfoliators that contain small granules and beads, but this time it is without. That's why they are peels which usally have mild acids to slough off the dead skin.

Packaging: L'egere purifying facial peeling gel comes in a purple bottle with a nozzle pump that squeezes out the right amount of product. Also comes with a stopper which would be handy whilst travelling so nothing leaks. The product reads-
 
" Konjac Jelly+AHA+Hyaluronic acid help lighten the skin and helps deep cleanse the pores of dirt, perspiration, greasy skin"
 
The rest of the bottle is in japanese so it's better to visit the official website for more information.
 
Product claims from the L'egere website- 

"*Added with natural citrus, AHA acid and papain, the gel film shall directly congeal on the applied area and soften old cuticles. By penetrating deep, and absorb filth and oils, the pores are completely cleaned. Just by gently rubbing the treated area, acmes and old · cuticle layers would fall off as shredded fragments. *Without taut skin after washing, and the skin maintains its watery tenderness and elasticity. The *gentle and non- irritating ingredient is suitable for sensitive skin. *Gentle and mild. Can be also used on sensitive skin. *Easily enjoy a Saloon like level AHA skin radiance at home."
 
Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Dicocodimonium Chloride, Steartrimonium Bromide, Dipropylene Glycol, Citric Acid, Malic Acid, Papain, Dextrin, Sodium Hyaluronate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Cirtus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Methylparaben
 
Uses: You use this in replacement of your weekly exfoliator (if sufficient enough for you) and can be used on face, elbows, knees and ankles as diagram on back of box shows.
It has the coolest texture! It is a clear gel that you apply all over the area and you massage it for 2-3mins. It will start to soften dead skin cells and before you know it it congeals over the area and you start to collect eraser like shavings. Wash off and rinse with water------>
 
My verdict? This is a very gentle exfoliator. I actually like the feel of this and it does work to take of the dead skin effectively. I still won't get rid of my other exfoliants because with this one, it does take time and I often feel I need to re-apply the gel and work over the area again (just incase, maybe I'm paranoid like that lol). It does leave your skin very smooth and soft and moisturizer seems to absorb much easier. I haven't used this product long enough to see any brightening effects but I definitely notice a glow after using this product. I think I'm starting to like this idea very much and might try other brands!
xx