Sanctum Body Soothe

I came across Sanctum Body Soothe during my stay at a Sydney hotel recently. It's a light lotion that's easily absorbed by my skin and smells strongly of lemon myrtle to my nose. When I checked out the description on the webpage it's supposed to have the natural aroma of vanilla. The ingredients list on the webpage also differ from the tube I have. I'm not sure why. Either the one I have is a version of body soothe that's made especially for hotel use, or they've changed the formulation. Based on the hotel version, I quite like the refreshing scent and the way my skin drinks up the lotion.

Verdict: made from "certified organic and natural ingredients" - I'm sold.

Ingredients: Aqua, Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita matricaria) Flower Extract, Canola Oil, Aloe barbadensis Leaf Juice, Cetyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate, Glycerin, Stearic Acid, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Bentonite, Honeysuckle (Lonicear caprifolium) Flower Extract, Macadamia integrifolia Seed Oil, Honeysuckle (Lanicera japonica) Flower Extract, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Leaf Oil, Lemon Myrtle (Backhousia citriodora) Oil, Xanthan Gum, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Leaf Extract, Orange (Citrus aurantium dulcis) Oil, limonene, citral.

ELF Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush

The key word here is ANGLED. You can tell that I'm intrigued when I saw the new ELF Studio Angled Eyeliner Brush pictures in my inbox.

The blurb on the webpage says, "This thin pointed brush creates even and accurate color application in one fluid movement. The perfect angled tip of the brush provides exact placement for concentrated color right up to the lash line."

Sounds promising, considering I like the "wonky" brush of Benefit Get Bent mascara.

What do you think?

Billy Goat Soap: Milk & Honey

Last year I had to change most of my skincare & bodycare products due to pregnancy. I was so sick I was stuck at home for 4 months. Hubby tried to get me some "non-perfumed" soaps. Unfortunately according to my super-sensitive nose they still stink badly. (Don't tell me about Simple soap bars, I retched whenever I smelled them!!!!) The only option was for me to go out with him during my better days (which was really rare!), to choose something that has "acceptable" smell to me. 

One of those that has smell that didn't make me sick was Billy Goat Soap Milk & Honey. The blurb on the webpage: "Made using the same recipe and care as our famous plain bar, our Milk & Honey bar also uses fresh honey from Queensland. This bar is made from fresh Australian goat's milk, Australian olive oil, sweet almond oil, castor oil, grapeseed oil and palm oil. It can be used all over the body, including the face."

The soap is softer than other bar soaps, it "melts" in water so I have to make sure I put it in a soap dish with good drainage. It lathers reasonably well and doesn't dry my skin. I never tried it on the face, just because I didn't want to risk irritating my already more sensitive facial skin. The bar ran out very quickly, so it isn't that economical. Also, after using it for sometime, I discovered that somehow it made the inner sides of my feet felt itchy and looked drier than the rest of me. The problem solved after I changed to other soap. Disappointing considering I quite like the smell and the idea of using a "natural" soap...

Verdict: I might buy it for other people, but staying away from it until after I've given birth.

Ingredients: saponified olive oil (olea europaea), fresh goat's milk, saponified sweet almond oil (prunus amygdalus dulscis), saponified palm oil (elaeis guinnesis), saponified castor oil (ricinus communis), saponified grapeseed oil (vitis vinifera), beeswax, fragrant oil, fresh honey and gold colouring (gold mica - less than 1%)

Kit Cosmetics Lip Sheen

"Minty shine for soft lips and fresh breath" - that's what it says on my tube of Kit Cosmetics Lip Sheen. I've been on the hunt for a lip balm as my lips have felt dry recently, thanks to full-blown A/C to ward off humidity and heat in Cairns. I also feel hot, hot, hot as a result of being pregnant.

I don't want to use any lip balm that contains rosemary, just being cautious because I've heard that rosemary isn't recommended during pregnancy. Which means all of my favourite lip balms (including Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm ) are out of the list. I went around shops for ages trying to find one I like with no avail. Most of the stuffs I saw had mineral oil, rosemary oil, or vit. A/retinol (a huge no-no for pregnant women) on them. It was so frustrating. Too many lip balms on sale, but NONE seem to be what I wanted.

Then, suddenly I remembered: I haven't looked inside my special box where I keep all my brand new/unused cosmetics. That's how I "found" this moisturising lip thing - I got it ages ago, before I left Perth back in 2009.... yup, it has been that long... I haven't even removed the seal from the tube, I've totally forgotten that I have it. Thankfully it's still good (it has the sign "24M" on the tube).

A quick check on the ingredients list reveal no mineral oil, no rosemary, no retinol. Happy me have been using it since. I'm pleased to say that I really love this lip sheen. It's moisturising, it feels slightly thick without being sticky (like Vaseline consistency, sans the mineral oil), it has refreshing minty taste, and it doesn't make me gag (yup, I still feel nauseous even though I'm waaaaaaay over the 1st pregnancy trimester).

Verdict: another best friend for fussy (read: pregnant) me.

I have to add that it feels a little strange talking about lip sheen after what I've been through recently (including surviving cyclone Yasi, but that's another post for another time). And yes, this post feels very trivial compared to the earthquake & tsunami in Japan (I have a friend who works there, thankfully he and his family are ok). However, life goes on. Let's just say I need a little distraction from all the seriousness of life... no offense, I can't risk being stressed out too much when I'm having a little life forming inside me. Like my best friends said, "sometimes you have to be selfish, for your sake".

Ingredients: polybutene, ethyl hexyl palmitate, tricontanyl pvp, beeswax, mentha piperita (peppermint oil), menthol, tocopheryl acetate (vitamin E), persea gratissima (vocado oil), simmondsia chinensis (jojoba oil), saccharin.

Welcome & Goodbye to Max

My nephew, Max, was born on 28 Feb 11. He passed away two days later because of health complications. I never saw him, as he was born overseas. Nevertheless, he has made a huge impact in my family's life.

I had tears of joy when he was born. I had tears of sorrow when he left this world. No one knows why my brother and his wife have to experience this. My parents are devastated, he was supposed to be their first grandchild.

Despite all the grievings, one thing we know: one day we'll all meet him again in heaven. A place where there's no tears, where happiness and joy last forever. Max is safe in God's hands now.

Perhaps the words from one of Matt Redman's songs sums up my thoughts perfectly.

Blessed Be Your name,

In the land that is plentiful,

Where Your streams of abundance flow,

Blessed be Your name.

Blessed Be Your name,

When I'm found in the desert place,

Though I walk through the wilderness,

Blessed Be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise,

When the darkness closes in, Lord,

Still I will say,

"Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Blessed be Your name!

Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Blessed be Your glorious name!"

Blessed be Your name,

When the sun's shining down on me,

When the world's 'all as it should be',

Blessed be Your name.

Blessed be Your name,

On the road marked with suffering,

Though there's pain in the offering,

Blessed be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out

I'll turn back to praise,

When the darkness closes in, Lord,

Still I will say,

"Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Blessed be Your name!

Blessed be the name of the Lord,

Blessed be Your glorious name!"

You give and take away,

You give and take away,

My heart will choose to say,

"Lord, blessed be Your name!"

So long, Max, till we meet again!

QV Face Purifying Mask

Ever since I got pregnant I had to do a total overhaul of everything I used, from skincare, haircare, to bodycare. Somehow the moment I hit "5 weeks" suddenly my sense of smell went 100X stronger than usual. Even slightly scented product smelled horrible, making me feel sick. Had to do a super quick shower and had to hold my breath everytime I washed my hair, otherwise I might puke in the shower due to the "super strong" smell. I couldn't (and still can't) wear my favourite perfumes since.

My combination skin went really oily, I had tiny bumps on my forehead and my chin, which was upsetting, as I don't normally get them. Plus pimples around my cheeck and nose. Must be due to those pregnancy hormones!!!! So I went on the hunt for a mask with kaolin in the ingredients list, hoping to draw all those impurities out of my skin. I was attracted to QV Face Purifying Mask mainly because it has kaolin and because it was supposed to be "fragrance free".

I'm glad I got it, the mask is one of the best I've ever used. It seems to settle my skin, doesn't cause more breakouts, and feels gentle enough on my sensitive skin. It doesn't give me the tight-skin/moisture-sucking feeling that normal mud mask gives, leaving my skin feeling smooth and comfortable after application. It's not totally fragrance free in my opinion, as I can smell a soft scent whenever I use it. But it's mild enough not to upset my pregnant nose. I was pleasantly surprised with it, especially considering it comes with a very affordable price tag.

Verdict: yes, yes, YES! for me. It has become one of my newest best friends. Definitely buying more when I run out of it.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), kaolin, pariffinum liquidum, butylene glycol, cyclomethicone, panthenol, carthamus tinctorius (safflower oil), magnesium aluminium silicate, glyceryl stearate, PEG-100 stearate, cetyl alcohol, tocopherol (vitamin E), xanthan gum, methyparaben, propylparaben, citric acid.

I'm Back... with a MUCH Bigger Tummy

Hello everyone!! *waving*

I've been away for sooooo long I can't really remember the feeling of blogging.... I hope someone is still around to read this.

I have been unwell in the past few months. Reason being: I'm PREGNANT! The early trimester was just terrible, the "all day" morning sickness hit me hard and fast, the nausea, the dizziness, etc. I couldn't do much, couldn't eat much, couldn't drink much, couldn't sleep much, couldn't get out of the house for 2 months. Everything smelled and tasted terrible. I know I should be happy but I was so upset as life seemed to pass by very slowly. A couple of times I cried when I thought I couldn't put up with the sufferings for much longer, the sickness totally cripled me. Example, it took me 3-4 hours just to get out of bed (yeah, and normally I'm the "up and go" type). And for someone who LOVES eating and cooking it hurts when I couldn't eat & cook because the smell just made me feel sick. Thankfully dear hubby helped out with daily chores. Our expenses shoot up through the roof as he has to get takeaways because most days I couldn't deal with cooking smell. Otherwise he had to be content eating baked beans on toasts.

I'm  much better now that I'm in my 5th month of pregnancy, 4 more months to go, yay! I still have bad days and good days, the nausea is still there. BUT I can eat now, which is a huge relief, as I LOVE my food! Most importantly, I can do most things again now, which makes me feel a bit more "human". Hurrah! I've managed to help out playing music at my local church a few times and I'm hoping I could start blogging more regularly again.

Please drop me a quick note if you're reading this, I need all the encouragements I can get! :) Thanks.