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!