Crime Against Humanity

I've given you pictures of the suspects and the crime scene. Now I'm telling you about the incident that lends it's nature to the title of this post.

It all started on a lovely morning at Fowey on that fateful day. Hubby & I had been enjoying our walk around the area, our eyes alertly spying for interesting things to see (and eat). Old buildings, fudge shop, numerous eateries and craft shops - including one weird one that sold jewelleries & trinkets made in Indonesia. Weird, I thought they're supposed to sell local crafts, as in made in Cornwall, not Indo!

Originally we wanted to eat fish & chips. Got distracted, bought the scrumptious-looking Cornish pasties instead. I bought a normal-sized vegetable pasty. Hubby bought the biggest meat pasty available. It was HUGE, much bigger than the giant size that are normally sold as "extra large". I tried persuading him to downsize his order as he was supposed to be on diet. He didn't budge. Well, he's definitely Mr Greedy where food is concerned!

So. Food bought, we made our way to the waterside, hoping to find a seat where we can eat our pasties. The seats were full, so we decided to start munching on our food while strolling near the water. The view was absolutely stunning.

Hubby was happily enjoying his Jumbo pasty when suddenly, lo & behold, three docile-looking seaguls started attacking him. One swooped down from above, one from the front and one from the back. They were all aiming for one thing: the Jumbo pasty!! The attack was so sudden, so organized and so vicious, hubby couldn't defend himself.

Imagine the scene: the half-eaten pasty fell to the ground, hubby almost fell to the sea below, I screamed in shock as the seagul who attacked from behind came very close to my head, people nearby shocked by the commotions. Next, still in a daze, hubby was determined not to let the seaguls win, so he kicked the pasty to the corner, hoping the seaguls won't be able to pick his (now fallen) prized pasty. It went down to the sea instead, afterwhich the culprits merrily consumed their loot.

It was a really good home-video material, pity no one had their video on us at that time.

A man (possibly a local?) approached us and said, "I hope you're okay. This kind of thing makes me really angry. Not long ago I saw someone feeding the seaguls even though there are signs saying you're not supposed to do it. It makes the seaguls vicious." We nodded our heads in unison, feeling somewhat consoled that we weren't the only victims. Hubby was quite upset with the lost of his Jumbo pasty, so we went back to the fudge shop and bought a big bag of fudge.

Moral of the story: let this be a warning to you - in Cornwall, if you feel like eating takeaway fish & chips/cornish pasty/ice cream/whatever, please guard your food carefully. Especially if you're around the beach area. In case similar thing happens to you. Also, as a common courtesy to your fellow human beings, please do NOT feed the seaguls. It gets them into the vicious habit of snatching food from humans instead of eating what nature provides. We don't want "the crime against humanity" to spread further, do we?!

Post script: I did say to hubby, "Perhaps you weren't meant to eat that huge pasty anyway as you're on diet?" To which he replied, "Hm." As far as I know, he's still fighting a war against seaguls.

* the last picture was taken in Looe, not Fowey. I thought the picture fits in perfectly with the story. :)

Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Kit

A few months ago I decided to buy Dr. Hauschka Daily Face Care Kit for Oily Skin when my face seemed to be more oily than fried aubergine saturated in oil, it was as if an oil rig had decided to move in!!! I think it was the after-effect of having adult chicken pox.

Originally I only wanted to get the Rejuvenating Mask but didn't want to splurge on the full size without trying it first - in case my skin reacted to it. I was also interested to have a little try of everything, thus buying the this "deep cleansing kit" seemed to be the perfect solution. In no order of importance, here's what I think about them.

Cleansing Cream - I really wanted this to work as I like the pressing and rolling movements that are supposed to be used with it. Sadly my skin became congested everytime I used it.

Clarifying Toner - Although it contains alcohol, it didn't irritate my skin like other "alcoholic" toner do (Clinique, I'm talking about you!). It's this toner that helped to tone down the oiliness without drying my skin.

Normalizing Day Oil - I still can't make up my mind about it. Firstly, I'm not so keen on the smell. Secondly, I've read about cocoa butter being acnegenic, so I'm a bit suspicious of products that has it in the ingredients list. I've used it a few times with mixed result: first few times my skin seemed to have no problem with it, on other occasions my skin developed some acnes after using the oil. IMO it's probably better suited for people who don't have acne-prone skin like me.

Facial Steam Bath - As the name suggests, it's to be mixed with water for facial steaming. I love the gorgeous scent. Apart from that, I'm not sure whether it actually did anything for my skin.

Rejuvenating Mask - I like the fact that I can put this mask on before sleep to wake up with a smoother/plumper skin. It hasn't really had any effect on my flat red marks/scarring like it claimed to be, so I only use it for treat when my combination skin feels in need of an extra moisturising boost. I really love the scent.

Cleansing Clay Mask - once it's mixed with water (plus a sprinkle of Facial Steam Bath), it has smoother consistency to other clay masks I've used. I love the herby smell. I found it troublesome to follow the instruction to keep my face "damp at all times" in the 10 minutes of using it. Not surprising, really, since I'm a girl who likes slap-it-and-leave-it approach when it comes to face masks.

Verdict: I would probably re-purchase the Clarifying Toner, Rejuvenating Mask, and Cleansing Clay Mask again. Especially if they're priced better. :)

Make Up For Ever Goodies

These Make Up For Ever goodies are my latest haul (or "loot" in hubby-speak).

They are:

- Super Lip Gloss (no.21)

- Diamond Powder

- Smoky Lash: Extra Black Mascara

- Aqua Eyes waterproof eyeliner pencils: in 0L-Black and 10L-Copper

- Aqua Lip waterproof lipliner pencil in 02C-Rosewood

I've never used MUFE before, so I'm keeping them for occasions when "mood booster" is needed. So far I've only used the mascara and the black eyeliner a few times. The rest are still unopened, in happily-being-starred-at stage. *Starring at them some more ^.^

I'll post my reviews of the mascara and eyeliner after I've used them a bit longer. And yes, they are already included in my Post & Shame Challenge pictures. If you don't believe me, check it yourself on my previous posts about my many eyeliners and being a mascara addict on-the-mend.

CSI England: The Crime Scene

You have seen pictures of the suspects, it's time to reveal more about the crime committed not long ago in Fowey, Cornwall, United Kingdom. As a surviving eyewitness I'm going to help you see the events in pictures, from the victim's point-of-view, not long before he fell victim to one of the most outrageous crime in history (read: his-story). This is where the story begins.

We're getting closer to the crime scene now.Below the crime scene:

Next time I'll tell you the crime itself. Watch the space.

Fowey, Cornwall

I'm fond of nook and crannies, so I especially love the first two photos. If I remember it correctly, that particular building has it's own ghost story. For that matter, everything in Fowey seemed to have a ghost story or two attached to it. I'm not fond of scary things, so I didn't make an effort to remember them. I love my sleep, I don't like nightmares!

More photos and a funny story to come. Please bear with me, I'm still trying to figure out how to use the new netbook hubby bought me - so we don't have to fight over computer time. We only have one broadband dongle though, so I can still see some fighting going on in the next few days, especially seeing most of my stuffs are still in his laptop. So yeah, please let me know if the post comes out wonky or anything like that. Thanks! :D

Mixed Heritage, Mineral Foundations, and Turning Orange

As you know it's not easy to find a perfect foundation. Especially if you have light Chinese colouring that's more pinky than yellow, thanks to a mixed-blood heritage way up in the ancestry line. To avoid repeating myself, read here if you're curious about how I turned out this way.

I found my most favourite mineral foundation (read here) when living overseas. I ran out of it, so I've been on the mission to find a decent replacement. I wanted to find something that's available locally (read: UK) so that I don't need to spend a bomb on postage cost.

After some research I ordered Lily Lolo Mineral Foundation. I bought 4 sample sizes (0.75gr each) of Blondie, In the Buff, Candy Cane, and Warm Peach. I also bought the Finishing Powder in Flawless Matte - out of curiosity and in case I need it to tone down the colour.

I've been experimenting with them for a month. So here's what I think, with the description taken from the website in italic.

1. Blondie: "A light neutral shade with balanced undertones for paler skins." This seemed to be the closest one to my skintone. Good enough but not to the point of being HG.

2. In the Buff: "A light-medium neutral shade with balanced undertones." It's supposed to be the darker version of Blondie. It's way too dark for my skin. When mixed with the Finishing Powder it's obvious that it has different tone to Blondie, slightly pinker. IMO it might suit me if I've acquired plenty of holiday tan, which is very unlikely to happen, as I'm scared of getting skin cancer from too much sun exposure.

3. Candy Cane: "A light pinkish shade with cool undertones for paler skins." To fussy me it's a tiny winy bit too pinky. The difference of the colour on my neck and my face is a little obvious, so it's not too bad for when I'm wearing turtleneck shirts.

4. Warm Peach: "A light peachy shade with warm undertones for paler skins." You know when you're wearing a foundation shade that make you look orangey? This is it. Doesn't make me look like I'm having badly-applied-tan orange, but still a little orange. For not wanting to waste it, I'm considering using it for eyelid primer. Having said that, everyone's skin is different, the shade might work perfectly for your skintone.

I guess having Oriental blood doesn't mean I have warm undertones, like what some sales assistants insisted on. I've turned orange thanks to past experience with said SAs from Shiseido, Revlon, and Dior counters. If my memory serves me right, the most orangey award goes to Diorskin medium beige. I shocked myself, I shocked hubby, and I shocked everyone else that day. Since then I refused to try anything that said "medium beige" or anything that's not "light" when foundation is concerned. Enough said.

Back to topic. Lily Lolo foundation gives light/medium coverage, so it's not for people with lots of blemishes. I have to apply many extra layers (using concealer brush) on the areas of my face that has brownish chicken pox marks from 6 months ago.

I've read reviews from people who said the foundation makes their face looked "flat". It's true. I have to use blusher (on my forehead, cheeks, and chin) when I'm using this foundation, otherwise my face looked one dimensional. Perhaps because it doesn't contain enough shimmering agent like bismuth oxychloride (which can cause itchiness on some people). I'm not an expert, but if I'm guessing putting more Mica could make it more shimmery, thus eradicating the flat-face effect.

Verdict: personally I like Blondie for everyday use. For special occasions I would stick to using non-powder foundation.

Ingredients: Mica, Zinc Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Ultramarine Blue.

Ready Money...

Guess the connection between this:

And these:

Left: Suspect A


Right: Suspect B

Post and Shame Challenge

It's official now. Read the original story here.

Rules:

1. Choose 2 types of products that you already have very much in excess. Be honest! :)

2. Take a picture of them, show everyone what you already have.

3. You are not allowed to buy anything from those two categories, not even from "it's-cheaper-than-chocolates-I-can't-afford-not-to-buy-it-now" sales, until you have finished at least 4 products from each category.

Why? Because 4+4=8 which is the perfect number for me. Hehehe...

Exceptions: products received as gifts and swaps are allowed. I'm not uncle Scrooge! :)

Therefore I declare that starting from today I'm not allowed to buy mascaras and eyeliners until I've finished using 4 mascaras and 4 eyeliners in total.

Edit: for you loopholes finders, I'm not counting the 2 mascaras I already binned after I took my photo! Hehehe... righteous me...

My Many Eyeliners

Above: 15 eyeliners on the go

Below: 5 black eyeliners

After showing you my many mascaras on the go, I decided to start my own Post & Shame Campaign. It's to encourage me to use up things I have first before buying new ones. You see, I felt quite embarrassed when I lined up those mascaras and eyeliners for everyone to see. I'm not going to be ambitious, I'll start with these 2 types of eye products before moving on to my other "weakness" next. Please join me in this campaign if you're interested.

Edit: I've posted the logo and rules here.

Confession of An Addict: on the Mend

I've been wanting to tell you this for ages. Now that I'm feeling brave, the picture (taken last night) should make the story clearer.

On the left are the new/un-opened mascaras: Rimmel Max Lash, BeneFit Get Bent, Barry M Intense Black Mascara, and Make Up For Ever (MUFE) Smoky Lash.

On the right are the ones I'm using: Rimmel Volume Extend, Rimmel Volume Flash, Rimmel 100% Waterproof, Clinique High Definition Lashes (thanks, Jayne!), and YSL Effet Faux Cils.

I opened and used the MUFE this morning (which by the way is really good) - total mascaras being used = 6. Afterwards I felt guilty for having so many on the go, so I binned the Volume Flash (time to go) and 100% Waterproof (didn't like it anyway).

What say you, am I being excessive in having that many on the go? To put it in perspective, I've had more on the go in the past... (I'm not telling you how many)... so I really am on the mend... I think... At least I'm using them and not leaving them to rot in the cupboard. Thinking about it, tomorrow I might open another one, for "research purposes"...

I Want Sally Lunn's Buns!

The cold and windy weather makes me want to eat Sally Lunn's Buns. They're sold at Sally Lunn's (where else?!) in Bath, Somerset. Apparently the place is the oldest house in Bath. I've been there twice, I like mine toasted with rum butter. Yum...

Click here for the history of "the original Bath Bun".

What do you feel like eating right now?

Heavenly Body Scrub

I think I've just found one of the most amazing body scrubs I've ever used.

I have to confess that I didn't fall in love with it on the first whiff. My very first thought was, "Oh no, not another coconut smelling product!" It's not the coconut's fault, really. It reminded me of being on a crowded bus in an unnamed country at the height of summer (38-40C). My nose found the mix of everyone's coconut scented sun lotions and heavy perspiration offensive enough to cause dizziness... shudders... Don't get me wrong, I do like coconut smell and I love cooking with coconut oil, I'm not sure why this particularly bad experience came to my mind...

Anyway, back to the original topic. I should stop trying to judge a product by smelling it alone. Like I said, it's actually a superb product. As it turned out, in the shower it smelled more like an Asian sesame seeds dessert-soup, or like sesame ice cream pictured on the left. Just thinking about the smell makes my mouth waters... yum... :D

The scrub bits are just right: not to gentle and not too rough. I also love the texture of the liquid part of the product.

My skin felt super smooth when I came out from the shower. I'm not sure whether it's the scrubby bits or the moisturising agent (or both) that produces the effect. I do wonder if it contains sesame oil/shea butter/sunflower oil/glycerin/a bit of everything.

Why don't I have the ingredients list? Because this product is still in the development process. I'm testing a little sample of this "Heavenly Body Scrub" (that's what it says on the tester bottle) courtesy of Laura from Evolve. There, the cat is out of the bag. :)

I jumped at the chance to test the body scrub when I read the invitation on their newsletter. Mainly because I've read on their webpage that Evolve products are developed by people who were previously involved with product developments at Nude and Elemis! Most of you know that I'm a huge Elemis fan and I love Nude Cleansing Oil, so I had high hopes for Evolve. Hehehe... Suffice to say this body scrub satisfied my high expectation.

Verdict: my "potential HG body scrub" radar is blinking furiously, I can't wait for it to be on sale! I'm shamelessly in love with this product.

I haven't tried other products from Evolve yet, so I can't tell you more about them. As usual, I'm not being paid to write this post, it's purely out of interest. :D

Cosline Green Tea Mask

I've just finished Cosline Green Tea Mask (wash off type) I bought from SaSa on my last trip to Singapore. That was last April, how time flies!

From what I can read from the package, this "Green Tea Natural Powder Pack" is made in Korea. Apart from that and the ingredients list, I can't read anything else on the package. All thanks to my very dodgy Chinese reading skill (couldn't be bothered to learn properly when I was a child - to my regret) and my non-existent knowledge of Korean language. Means I can't tell you what it's supposed to do.

Goggling it didn't help either. I tried typing in the address of the korean website, it didn't want to give me access. So you have to make do with what I can tell you.

- the mask has cooling effect on my skin, even when I mixed the powder with warm water: I like.

- it has yummy green tea scent: I like.

- my skin feels tighter and smoother after application: I like.

- my skin gets a bit red (well, it was more like pinky than red) afterwards, but no stingy/uncomfortable feeling: so I use it in the evenings.

- the sachet lasts a long time, very economical (not including flight tickets to S'pore): I like.

- powder mask can be messy: I sometimes like, I sometimes don't.

Verdict: I can't really make up my mind, as it caused temporary pinkness on my skin. I'm also a little suspicious that sometimes it caused a little "purging". So I'm going to try the other 2 masks I bought from the same range before letting you know whether I like them.

P.S. Sorry if the tone of the post come across as un-friendly, I'm quite tired after travelling for 9 hours straight today. I'm going to have a nice hot shower and try out a NEW scrub that's not even on sale yet. You have to wait for another post to find out more. :D

Ingredients: Starch, Wheat, Allantoin, Disodium EDTA, Kaolin, Diatomite, Methyl Paraben, Green Tea, Non-Fat Dry Milk, Alginic Acid, D.P.G.

What I Want and What I Get

This post is dedicated to the curious amongst you, who asked about the things I bought after I successfully completed the No Buy Challenge.

Here is what I originally wanted (and need, and still want, because I need the baby kabuki): Eco-Tools 5 piece Brush Set. From their website I read that Tesco and Superdrugs are supposed to stock them, I didn't realize that I had to launch a massive woman-hunt before finding anything at all. I couldn't find any on Superdrugs on any shops I've been to and I'm not keen to buy from online shop.

Result: I bought Eco-Tools 6 piece Brush Set instead. My verdict so far? They're really good synthetic brushes. Very soft hair, easy to manoeuvre, making my makeup products work better and quicker. Yup, the saying is true, your makeup is only as good as your brushes. The best thing? I only paid thirteen pounds and a bit, very good bargain, eh?! :D

I'll post more detailed reviews of the brushes once I've used them longer. From the result so far I intend to buy more as they're really good quality brushes. So yeah, a happy Music for now, having new toys to play with. Hehehe...

*** Edit: On another matter, is it me, or is it Blogger, I've been having lots of problems with posting things and also posting comments in the past week. Earlier on this post went missing, turned out the date was changed, not by me! Stupid program. :(

Guest Reviewer: Beauty Bee and Her Many Brushes

Remember my Brush Dilemma? After I did the post, my lovely Australian friend Beauty Bee told me all about her Sigma Brushes.

Here is what she said:

"I have used my Sigma brushes for over a month now so I have had time to give them a really good workout. I will never buy MAC again after using these. They are packaged up in beautiful bags and would make a lovely gift for someone especially with Christmas on the horizon. The service from Sigma brushes is excellent and they include in each package a card telling you how to clean and care for your brushes. The card also has each brush and different ways you can use them.

- The powder brush (150) is fluffy and soft, and is a delight on the skin. This is my all time favourite powder bush.

- The large angled contour brush (168) made of goat hair is every bit as good as my MAC equivalent only much cheaper.

- The concealer brush (194) is the best concealer brush I have. I can’t compare with MAC as I don’t have a MAC one. I won’t bother buying any other brand as this one is brilliant and all I will ever want.

- Angled medium shader brush (275), I don’t really use this brush so I can’t compare. It is the same good quality as the other Sigma brushes and I am sure you won’t be disappointed.

- The angled brush (266) is different to the MAC one (it is a little smaller) but I do like this brush and works well for the brows. I find being smaller allows me to get a more natural look.

- The large shader (252) I have been using this to apply my mineral powder foundation as a concealer and the results are good. I don’t have a MAC equivalent but I am more than pleased with this brush especially for the price.

- The pencil brush (219) isn’t as pointed as the MAC one and is a little fuller (more bullet shaped) I can still use it under the lower lash line and will do precise crease work.

- Tapered blending brush (224) I have a MAC one and this one is a fraction shorter in the bristles. It doesn’t have a slight point like the MAC one but I LOVE this brush better than the MAC.

- Eye shading brush (239) isn’t made of white goat hair. It is a little wider as than the MAC equivalent, it is very dense and packs the colour on as good as the MAC 239. It is more of a combination of the MAC 239 and 242 and a very very good brush.

- Duo fibre (187) I don’t have a MAC one as they are too expensive (as much as a whole set of Sigma brushes for one brush) I love it and I have seen many tutorials on You Tube and they like it better than the MAC one.

- The foundation brush (190) is a dense brush made of synthetic fibres. I really like this brush for applying cream foundations. I also like it for concealing large areas. It seems to have the right amount of flex in the bristles to give a really good application.

- Duo fibre blush brush (188) this brush is a miniature for the 187 and is every bit as good. I use this brush for blush and also for stippling my skin with a mist after applying my powder foundation to give an airbrushed finish.

- The SS209 is a fine tip synthetic brush, which is ideal for line the eye or lips. I have used it for both and it does an excellent job of both applications.

Sigma has been giving away SS217 travel size brushes as gifts with purchases. This brush is identical to my MAC 217 and every bit as good. I have asked when or if they are going to be doing it in a full length handle and they have told me that it is on the way.

Classic Brush Roll – I love the quality of this brush roll. It is very well made with plenty of pockets for all of your brushes. It holds a full set of brushes and even has extra pockets for other brushes you may like to add. It also has a flap that comes down over the brushes to protect the bristles when it is rolled up. The quality of the material that it is made from is soft and wipes down easily enough for quick and easy cleaning.

Overall: I am really impressed with these brushes and personally wouldn’t buy MAC again. They are very good quality and you aren’t paying for the name just good quality brushes. If you do decide to purchase these I am sure you will be pleased that you have a good set of makeup brushes and money still in your pocket. They are also about to release their own makeup range so it will be worth a look at their website."

Music says: I told you she has many brushes! :) Sigma's makeup range is already available online now. I haven't had the privilege of trying these brushes so I can't verify Beauty Bee's opinions. As far as I'm aware of she hasn't received any remuneration nor is she connected in anyway to Sigma.

Around The World in Body Washes

Often other things in life gets in the way of blogging, thus my recent absence. I thank God for small mercies and the little things in life that bring smiles to my face. Amongst those: basking in the morning sunshine, enjoying fresh (and cold) autumn weather, watching cute cows in the field, finishing a good book, munching chocolate wafers while reading the said book, wearing my favourite parfume even when I'm just staying at home, and having a lovely shower gel to wash the cares away at the end of the day. :)

I especially value my "Me Time" in the showers. It's like a no-caffeine coffee boost to me, I can't function without it. That's why I'm quite fussy with shower products. Firstly, they have to smell good. Secondly, I like them to be gentle and not drying my skin, even when I take long showers. Thirdly, I like them to foam well. Most importantly, they shouldn't irritate my sensitive skin.

Amongst the best I've found so far:
1. Sanctuary Spa 12-hour Moisturising Shower Cream from UK -read my review here.
2. Refreshing Body Wash from Living Nature, a New Zealand brand I found when living in Auckland some years ago.
3. Pure Innosense Chamomile and Feijoa Shower Gel - another NZ brand I found when living in Australia.

Since then I haven't really found anything else I like. Until recently.

Yesterday I finished a 225ml bottle of A'kin Sandalwood Body Wash, received courtesy of A'kin, an Australian company. The blurb on the bottle: "A'kin body washes use the finest essential oils known for their aromatherapy benefits, combined with the purest non-drying cleansers which are sulfate & paraben free, to leave your skin thoroughly cleansed & silky soft... Also ideal as a bubble bath, in the spa, washing delicates or at the hand basin. Pure & gentle for babies, children, the elderly, and those with sensitive or fragile skin."

It foams well, doesn't dry nor irritate my skin. The light sandalwood scent reminds me of my trips to Bali. I haven't tried it as a bubble bath and I don't have spa, so I can't verify the claim. I did try it to wash my delicates - cleansed them well, leaving them smelling freshly "sandalwood-ed". :)

If you're a regular reader you'd know that I'm always on the prowl for multi-purpose products that work well as I travel quite a bit. This product fits the description. The fact that it's a "natural" product makes me feel even more virtuous.

Verdict: a gentle body wash that has earned it's place in my "shower hall of fame".

So there you go, my around the world in body washes: from UK to New Zealand to Australia, I've done them all! Hehehe... How about you my dear reader, what's your favourite shower products?

Ingredients: Aqua (purified Australian water), cocamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (from coconut), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (from palm), disodium cocoamphodiacetate (from coconut), sodium lauryl sulfoacetate (from palm), lauryl glucoside (from coconut, palm & glucose), glyceryl laurate (botanical source), glycerin (botanical source), sorbitol (from GMO free maize), sodium gluconate (from GMO free corn), sodium citrate (botanical source), citric acid (botanical source), fusanus spicatus wood (West Australian sandalwood) oil, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, cananga odorata (ylang ylang) flower oil, pogostemon cablin oil, syzygium aromaticum (clove) flower oil, farnesol (from sandalwood oil).

Plymouth, England

Some photos from my trip to Plymouth, England.

I love the overall effect here. The waffle-like building on the background is a modern shopping centre, with an old cathedral ruins in the foreground. It would have been a perfect photograph if the cars and traffic lights weren't there.

A little corner of a secluded garden in the city. Hubby took this picture when I was coaxing a friendly cat out of the bush underneath the bridge. If you have an eagle eye you could see me somewhere between the "brainy" letters. :)

An old lighthouse on the foreshore. You can see a little island in the background. The locals said that 2 sisters owned the land and used to live there until they passed away and the ownership was transferred to National Trust (or something like that). Looking at the island reminded me of one of Agatha Christie's books: And Then There Was None - the perfect setting for murder mystery! I could also imagine Enid Blyton's The Famous Five roaming around the island: Julian, Dick, Anne, and George, with Timmy in tow. Oh, the wonder of childhood books...

Another corner of Plymouth' shore. I don't really know what that was. It was cold and the wind was quite strong, so I just sat on the bench doing people-watching. And island-watching, obviously.

Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes

I didn't want to carry any cleansing oil with me on my last trip, in case I spilled them in my suitcase. Instead I took Nivea Refreshing Facial Cleansing Wipes "for normal and combination skin". I used them as makeup removers, before doing another round of cleansing with GROWN cleanser.

I love the "blobby" texture of the wipes, it's like doing a gentle exfoliation while wiping the makeup off my face. It removes waterproof mascara easily and didn't sting my eyes. Scent wise, it has generic Nivea smell, if you get what I mean.

I've finished the pack and I intend to re-purchase it. Partly because it's handy for travelling, but most importantly because my skin didn't react to it, which is always a good sign whenever I'm using a new product.

Verdict: a good wipes, especially handy for travelling.

Ingredients: Aqua, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Isohexadecane, Isopropyl Palmitate, Methylpropanediol, Nelumbium Speciosum, Tocopheryl Acetate, Panthenol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Sodium Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Propylene Glycol, 1,2-Hexanediol, Phenoxyethanol, Methylparaben, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Citronellol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Benzyl Salicylate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Parfum.

It is OVER... and Other Updates

Yay, the 3 months Challenge is finally OVER on 1st November! :)

I'm quite proud with myself, passing the challenge without giving in to temptations. I didn't even need to utilize the "exception" clause, my Boots points are still intact. In the process I managed to finish up some skincare and body products. I was amazed looking at how much stuffs I've got in my stash even though I've given plenty of them away before I left Australia many months ago.

Most of my worldly possessions are still in the storage place since the move, including some new skincare and makeup products I stashed in a box. And yes, during the challenge I went to the storage twice and took some of them out to play with, which doesn't go against the principle of making use of things I already have. :)

And no, spending spree after the challenge wasn't what prevented me from blogging in the past few days. I've been feeling very tired and run down lately, having a minor cold after visiting Grandma in Cambridge. Thank you for everyone who sent their well wishes, Grandma is doing quite well considering her age. She was a little upset that she couldn't go on holiday because of the fall. You see, she tripped on her suitcase outside her apartment, right before she went on the holiday with her partially-sighted friends. Despite everything she was in very good spirit. She called her bruised face "my moustache" and had been busy making friends with 3 other ladies who are in the same ward. All the nurses and the tea lady seemed to know her by her first name even though she hasn't been in hospital for long. I'm not surprised, considering the fact that she's still very lucid and for a 91 year old she still behaves like a spring chicken - perhaps that's her secret of staying young.

So yeah, both Grandma and I are still alive and well, planning our next move in life. Hehehe...

P.S. Just to clarify that I did NOT have a spending spree after the end of the challenge. Well, not yet anyway. :D