Elemento Mineral Black Clay Soap

I need to send Rossana from Elemento Mineral a huge apology, I owe her two reviews for the products she sent me when I was pregnant (that was over 2 years ago now!!!). There were too many things happening in my life that made it impossible for me to blog for a looooong time.

 

The first product is a mini Black Clay Soap. The website says it "has high concentrations of rare minerals that help in cell renewal and improve skin tone. Its delicious fragrance is composed of essential oils of Lavender, Vetiver, Patchouli, Orange and Labdanum. Provides soothing sensation and is anti-stress."

I remember that I was in love with it the moment I opened the package & inhaled the beautiful scent. Totally gorgeous! Bear in mind that at that time I was pregnant, having 24/7 morning sickness & couldn't stand the scent of a lot of thing. When I say it was a beautiful scent, it was really beautiful, it made me feel as if I was in a posh spa retreat in an exotic country. At that time I couldn't find many soap/product scents that didn't make me throw up - I really didn't enjoy being pregnant, it was a dreadful experience!!! Don't even get me started on the labour & birth stories, I literally almost bled to death... but that's another story for another time... 

 

Back to the topic. I think the essential oils made it nose-friendly. The soap itself felt really soft, nicely foamed without drying my skin, lasted ages. It did work as a little soothing relief during what was one of the most trying times of my life.

 

Verdict: highly recommended. In fact, I'm googling for stockists as I'm typing this, I want to order some for myself. In need of a calorie-less stress relief at the moment....

 

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate (Palm Kernelate Sodium, Sodium Stearate, Glycerin, Sodium Hydroxide), Tetrassodium EDTA (Sodium Laureth Sulfate), Cocoamidopropyl Betaine, Citric Acid, Propylene Glycol, Titanium Dioxide, BHT, Sodium Astrocaryum Murumuruate, Black Clay (Montmorillonite, Kaolin, Mica), Lavandula Angustifolia Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulces Peel Oil, Oil Citrus Ladaniferus, Pogostermon Cablin Oil, Vetiveria Zizanoides Root Extract. 

 

Long Time No See!

Hello! I haven't been on the blogosphere for eons. Life had been throwing me curve balls by the bucket loads.

 

It's way past midnight where I am now, suddenly remembered that I had (still have?) a blog. Quick check on the long-neglected gmail finally brought me back here.

 

If anyone out there still remembers me, can you please give me a shout? You might just help to bring this blog back to life.

 

Teasers: I've relocated twice to other parts of Australia since my last post. And the troublesome baby-in-the-tummy has grown up to be a know-it-all 2 year old. Time flies faster than I can say "wrinkles"! :)

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. 

Natralia Nourish Naturals Shampoo & Conditioner

I like to use "natural" products, the kind that says "FREE FROM sulfates, parabens, artificial colours and fragrances..." But I only like them IF they work. Which can be a quite rare occassion in the hair department, as in general those "natural" products  aren't just as good as the ones with "bad chemicals"....

Meet my newest best friends: Natralia Nourish Naturals Shampoo and the matching Conditioner, both for "Normal Hair". I was lucky enough to win them from Inspired Wellbeing. I've been using them regularly (every 2-3 days) since I run out of my Charles Worthington supplies about 5 weeks ago. 

It was love at the first smell - the scent is soooo refreshingly yummy, I caught myself smelling my hair every now and then. Must be the Mandarin Orange extracts. I also love how they make my long hair smooth, shiny, bouncy and feels light as feathers. No frustrating tangles at "in between" moments (when I've shampooed my hair, before I apply conditioner), no weighing down rich conditioner that weigh the hair down.

I really like them, I've been asking hubby to try it. You know, so we can have a "family shampoo" - theoritically having only one bottle in the bathroom, no need to buy 2 different brands. No joy so far, blokey hubby said he's happy using his cheapo shampoo. I'm not kidding, his shampoo costs less than $4 for a huge bottle... though it's probably for the better, as he likes to use a liberal amount of shampoo. Very liberally, it's a shocking waste of products. Though not as shocking as the amount of skincare products and other "beautifying things" I've collected over the years.... hahaha...

Anyway. One drawback with using these: I have to wash my hair more often. Which isn't a problem, it's as expected. I mean, I've used A'kin and other "natural" shampoos and conditioners before, they seem to require more hair washing to keep the "benefits" and to keep my hair feeling clean.

Verdict: "naturally" in love (pun intended). LOVE, I said, in case you haven't heard me the first time I said that. Super duper highly recommended. Especially for those of YOU who loves natural products! I'll be buying more in the future.

Now, over to you, my dear readers. What's your "natural love" of the moment??

Shampoo Ingredients: Aqua (purified australian water), cocoamidopropyl hydroxysultaine (coconut), disodium cocoamphodiacetate (coconut), coco-glucoside (and) glyceryl oleate (coconut & glucose), sodium lauroyl sarcosinate (palm), lauryl glucoside, (coconut & palm), citric acid (citrus fruit), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (guar), sodium hydroxymethylglycinate (plant protein), hydrolyzed what protein (protein), keratin (and) hydrolyzed keratin (plant protein), silk amino acids (plant protein), saccharomyces/zinc ferment (minerals from natural origin), panthenol (provitamin B5), methoxy cinnamidopropyl hydroxy sultaine (cinnamon), vitis vinifera (grape) seed extract, citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) fruit extract, saccharomyces/copper ferment (minerals from natural origin), biotin (vitamin H), retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), linoleic acid (vitamin F), oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, tocopherol (vitamin E), limonene, geraniol, citral, linalool.

Conditioner Ingredients:  Aqua (purified australian water), behentrimonium methosulfate (rapeseed), cetearyl alcohol (botanical source),  citrus nobilis (mandarin orange) fruit extract, glycerin (botanical source), guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride (guar), cetearyl olivate (and) sorbitan olivate (olive), ethyl macadamiate (macadamia), hydrolyzed wheat protein (protein), methoxy cinnamidopropylhydroxy sultaine (cinnamon), saccharomyces/zinc ferment (minerals from natural origin), saccharomyces/copper ferment (minerals from natural origin), keratin (and) hydrolyzed keratin (plant protein), silk amino acids (plant protein), oenothera biennis (evening primrose) oil, retinyl palmitate (vitamin A), tocopherol (vitamin E), linoleic acid (vitamin F), biotin (vitamin H), vinis vinifera (grape) seed extract, panthenol (provitamin B5), citric acid (citrus fruit), phenoxyethanol (and) ethylhexylglycerin (derived from plant), limonene, linalool, geraniol, citral.

Book Fever

Today is all about books. Just because I'm still having fever on and off this week. This "Woman Flu" is worst than what I had before. Thank God for books!

Here are the ones I've finished in the past few weeks. Look away if you don't like reading...

"A Healthy Place to Die" by Peter King - It's one of his Gourmet Detective series. I love the mix of murders and culinary adventures. There are some real cooking hints in there, and the way he describes food made me salivate sometimes... Overall a fun book to relax with.

"The Shakespeare Curse" by J.L. Carrell - Honestly I don't really like it. It has some good ideas, but I found the settings too creepy. I prefer her first book "The Shakespeare Secret". Basically both her books are historical fictions based on speculations about Shakespeare's life and how his plays came to being, peppered with quotations and historical facts about (who else) Shakespeare. I've never read nor seen any Shakespeare's plays, so in a way her books are quite "educational" in nature. Her endings are terrible though, she takes the easy way out of the complicated premises she has dangled throughout the books... not satisfying enough for this bookworm (= moi).

"Mozarella Most Murderous" by Nancy Fairbanks - I haven't read her books for ages, so it was good to be reminded of her sense of humour. Good adventurous fun, she is spot on in her descriptions of different nationalities involved. I had lot of LOL moments while reading it. Love it. The recipes included are fantastic, too.

"The Edge of Apocalypse" by Tim LaHaye and Craig Parshall - For those of you who are fans of LaHaye's Left Behind series, don't expect this to be similar. It's different. In a good way, in my opinion. I found some parts in Left Behind books made me cringe at times. Not this book. To me the style is like a more sedate Grisham. Good, but not as engrossing as Ted Dekker's thrillers. What to do, I'm bias, I'm a huge fan of Ted Dekker. And not just because we grew up in the same country - Indonesia! :) And no, I've never met him. Not yet... hehehe... Btw, I've ordered a new Ted Dekker book from the library. Can't wait - his books always made me burn the midnight oil... (um, perhaps better not to have it before I get better...)

"Poirot Investigates" by Agatha Christie - I've read some of the short stories in this collection. Nevertheless, I still find Poirot irresistible. His grey cells are just amazing. I like reading Hasting's familiar blunders, too.

 

Yesterday I started reading Agatha Christie's play "Witness for the Prosecution", written as the original manuscript for the stage play, with instructions for stage direction, decor, and theatrical props. I found it a bit overwhelming at first, blame it on the fever. Once I started to get the hang of the manuscript, it's actually quite enjoyable.

 

So those are my recent book adventures. What have YOU read recently?

"Woman Flu", Anyone?

The famous "Man Flu" was over in 2 days, helped by endless amount of "Magnum P.I." on dvds. Until I hummed the theme song in my sleep...

Then "Woman Flu" attacked for 2 solid weeks. Sore throat, fever, body ache, swollen sinus, followed by itchy hives caused by allergic reaction to something - possibly the mosquito spray.

Thank God for online grocery shopping, internet connection (patchy service but useful regardless), heaps of books and newspapers. Kept me entertained while being stuck at home.

I'm supposed to trial something soon, hopefully it doesn't get lost in the post. I'll let you know what that is when I got it. Please don't nick my product, postwoman! :)

How Do You...

... deal with flu, especially if it's a "MAN'S FLU"???

The best answer will get my gratitude and a spot in my "Hall of Fame". :)

Charles Worthington Moisture-Seal Shampoo and Conditioner

Last week I finished my Charles Worthington Moisture-Seal Shampoo and the matching Moisture-Seal Conditioner. Sometimes I get bored easily, so using up two full-size bottles (250ml) brings a certain amount of satisfaction. I would have been able to do it sooner if I didn't use other brands in between. (As of today I own 4 big bottles of shampoos, 2 big + 2 small bottles of conditioners in my collection.) Yeah, can't help it, I like variety and having the options to treat my hair according to seasons and conditions. Especially after the last hair panic when I found some split-ends and the disaster caused by using dodgy product on hand... Eeeks, never again I'm left without any spare good quality conditioner!!!

Back to topic. For almost a decade I've been a fan of Charles Worthington products. It's the brand that I always come back to again and again in between dabbling with "organic" haircare. I've bought and used various shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, heat sprays, etc. from this UK brand. Mostly with great results.

It's hardly surprising to say that I love the Moisture-Seal Shampoo and Conditioner. They smell good and did what it said on the bottles, keeping my long hair nice and fluffy, conditioning without weighing it down. I especially love the practical flip-top bottles, though I think they're changing the packaging soon.

For those of you who are interested to try the range, their "Takeaways" or travel size products make fantastic introduction.

Verdict: what can I say, I'm a long-term fan! :)

Shampoo Ingredients: Aqua (water), Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Cocamide MIPA, Parfum (Fragrance), Polysorbate 20, Silicone Qaternium-16, Undeceth-11, Butyloctanol, Undeceth-5, Polyquaternium-10, Sodium Chloride, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Citric Acid, PEG-120 Methyl Glucose Dioleate, Hydrolyzed rice Protein, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Silicone Quaternium-8, Tetrasodium EDTA, Sodium Benzoate, Benzotriazolyl Dodecyl p-Cresol, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Hexylene Glycol, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool.

Conditioner Ingredients: Aqua (water), Behentrimonium Chloride, Cetearyl Alcohol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Dimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Sodium Benzoate, Isopropyl Alcohol, Citric acid, Tetrasodium EDTA, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Hydrolyzed Wheat Starch, Laureth-23, C12-15 Pareth-3, camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Benzotriazolyl Butylphenol Sulfonate, Buteth-3, Tributyl Citrate, Hydrolyzed Rice Protein, Hexyl Cinnamal, Butylphenyl Methylpropional, Linalool, Citronellol.

Benefit Eyecon Brightening Eye Cream

For the past 10 days I've been using Benefit Eyecon Brightening Eye Cream sample I received from my swap with GQ long, long time ago... So far I'm impressed with it. The supposed "fading action" really works, I can see the difference on the areas underneath my eyes - less shadow, perking up my appearance instantly. It doesn't "erase" the darkness completely, no super duper magical effect here, it works more like a "transparent" concealer, if it makes sense.

My skin absorbs the cream quickly, no crease settling under foundation, and no allergic reaction despite the long ingredients list. I had to squint when reading those tiny list! Well, they really worked to brighten my eyes noticeably. The cream isn't making the shadows go away, it gives light coverage that's good enough to be used on it's own when I'm in a hurry. Obviously vain me still use concealer when I have more time on my hands. Haha...

I'm not sure whether overtime the cream would improve my shadowy areas. For now I'm content enough finding something that makes noticeable difference, enough to make hubby said I looked "well rested" despite my lack of sleep. Hurrah, the eyecon really conned hubby! Thanks for the sample, GQ. :)

Verdict: the full size has made it to the top my "must buy" list.

Ingredients: water (aqua), ethylene/acrylic acid copolymer, butylene glycol, propylene glycol, dicaprylatedicaprate, squalane, glyceryl polymethacrylate, caprylic.capric tryglyceride, glycerin, steareth-21, linum usitatissum (linseed) seed extract, hexyldecanol, stearaliconium hectorite, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, steareth-2, stearic acid, glyceryl hydrosyctearate, sodium polyacrylate, methylparaben alcohol denat, chlorphenesin, dimethicone, propylene carbonate, tocopheryl acetate, althaea officinalis root extract, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) fruit extract, hesperidin, methyl chalcone, acrylates/C10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, steareth-20, tromethamine, butylparaben, ehtylparaben, propylene glycol, triticum vulgare (wheat) germ protein, chlorhexidinedigluconate, titanium dioxide (Cl77891), tetrasodium edta, propylparaben, avena sativa (oat) kernel protein, isobutylparaben, theobroma cacao (cocoa) extract, sodium hyaluronate, sangusorba officinalus root extract, xanthan gum, phenoxyethanol, pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, caprylic/capric/suconic triglyceride, dipeptide-2, potassium sorbate, eriobotrya japonica leaf extract, plankton extract, palmitoyl tetrapeptide-3.

Innoxa Line-Defying Eye Creme

I bought Innoxa Line-Defying Eye Creme when my favourite eye contour gel (Germaine de Capuccini = GdC) turned super runny. Which wasn't the gel's fault, really, as it had served me faithfully for about a year (12 months expiry date on the tube).

The blurb said, "Targets lines, wrinkles & dark circles around the delicate eye area. Specifically formulated to help reduce the appearance of lines, wrinkles and dark circles around the delicate eye area. Anti-Age for All Skin Types including Sensitive. 100% Fragrance Free. Ophthalmologically Tested. Dermatologically Tested."

I've been using the eye creme since my arrival in Cairns. I bought it specifically as I had dark circles for not having enough sleep.

Good things first: great texture, makes great base for under eye (as long as I leave it to dry first before applying concealer), doesn't irritate my eyes, not greasy.

Bad things: it doesn't help to diminish the panda eyes, it doesn't help preventing new lines appearing as I have deeper lines than when I was using GdC. Now that I've typed up the ingredients list I realize that it's scarily long, too. It must be one of those times when I forgot to look at the list closely before buying. Hey, I'm not perfect! Haha...

This affordable eye cream didn't work for me. Which leads me to the conclusion that I have to splurge to get decent quality eye cream. Brands that work like Elemis and GdC. Which aren't available in Cairns. Sigh.

Verdict: no good effect seen even after 6 months of using. I won't be re-purchasing.

Ingredients: Aqua (water), caprylic/capric triglyceride, C12-15 alkyl benzoate, isohexadecane, saccharide isomerate, sodium hyaluronate, dimethicone, cetyl alcohol, isostearyl isostearate, hydrogenated polyisobutene, petrolatum, glyceryl stearate, steareth-20, cyclopentasiloxane, dimethicone, crosspolymer, acetyl glutamyl hexapeptide-1, glyceryl stearate, PEG-75 stearate, ceteth-20, symmondsia chinensis (jojoba) seed oil, cera alba (beeswax), polyacrylamide, C13-14 isoparaffin, laureth-7, palmitoyl oligopeptide, glycerin, tribehenin, ceraminde 2, PEG-10, rapeseed sterol, xanthan gum, hydroxysuccinimide, chrysin, palmotoyl tetrapeptide-3 urea, saccharide hydrolysate, magnesium aspartate, glycine, alanine, creatine, retinyl palmitate/carrot polypeptides, ascorbic acid/citrus polypeptides, tocopherol/what polypeptides, disodium EDTA, silica, phenoxyethanol, caprylyl glycol, chlorphenesin, may contain: Cl 7789 (titanium dioxide), Cl 77491 (iron oxides).

Chouquette, Gateaux, Eclairs

Back in July I had a little trip to Brisbane. At that time I was missing French pastries, so much so that I dragged hubby and his brother to New Farm to visit an authentic French Patisserie called  Chouquette, which is actually the name of one of my favourites pastries (pictured above).

As I suspected, the long walk from the city was totally worth it. There were so many things to choose from, everything looked beautiful and yummy. The seatings inside and outside the cafe were full, so  we bought some to take away.

I bought this Gateaux with chocolate macaron on top (above picture) and a bag of Chouquette to share between us. The men bought some apple tarts. Everything was very delicious, very French, and comes in very generous portions. Three of us agree that they tasted very authentic, unlike some bogus macarons sold in Asia. My brother-in-law said the girls behind the counters were cute, too. LOL.

The next time I'm in Brisbane I would like to stay closer to the patisserie so I can have my daily indulgent there. You should, too, if you have the chance to go there. Highly recommended! :)

P.S. all the pictures here are taken from their webpage. I didn't bother taking pictures of the ones we bought as they looked very similar.

Garnier CleanSensitive 2 in 1 Waterproof Make-Up Remover

I'm pleased to announce that Garnier CleanSensitive 2 in 1 Waterproof Make-Up Remover has officially got rid of the bad taste left by the recent power-cuts. Not powerful enough to wipe Labour out of this world though. *wink*

Back to wiper remover. It has been ages since I find a makeup remover that makes me excited because it works well. This is one of those rare occassions. I bought this some months ago when I ran out of sweet almond oil (fantastic for removing waterproof eye makeup, by the way). Over the years I've emerged to be a bit more of a brand snob, but every now and then I find good stuffs in reliable/old-fashioned brands. Like Garnier. I used to love one of their day moisturiser until they discontinued it. Pity that, it was a good stuff.

I digress. Okay, waterproof remover. I really love this, I wonder why I didn't try it earlier. Unlike some dodgy products marketed with the word "sensitive", this product is kind to my skin, for real. It doesn't sting (no alcohol) - a big fat tick from me. It doesn't cause my face to puff up in allergic reaction.

Secondly, it removes my waterproof makeup easily. No tugging nor pulling involved. Which is very important, as I'm using more waterproofs makeup nowadays. Living in humid (and slightly backward - I'm still hating the 23 hour power cut!) Cairns means non-waterproof mascaras and liners smudged as soon as I finished putting them on.

Back to topic. This Garnier product also removes my "foundation of the moment" easily and quickly. This ability, I really, really like. Reason: the said foundation is from Revlon, who some said are renown for the super staying power - I'll write about the foundation next time, if there's no more power cut, God (or Labour or ?) willing...

What's with the "2 in 1" tag? It's both a blue liquid makeup remover oil and clear cleansing water (toner in layman's term?) in one. More big fat tick from me.

The only thing that's bugging me, and it's a pretty big bug, too, is the size of the hole on the flip-top. Everytime I used it I always spilled the liquid everwhere. Somehow I can't soak the cotton wools without having liquid spill on my arm, leg, or the floor. Can't blame this klutz, it's not as if I'm pouring the content to cotton wools. The spill happens even when the cotton wool is position tightly covering the hole. This, I don't love.

Verdict: Affordable waterproof make-up remover that works. I like it very, very much, it has been an important first step in my double-cleansing regime. The status will be upgraded to LOVE if the huge hole problem is fixed. :)

Ingredients: aqua/water, cyclopentasiloxane, isohexadecane, isopropyl palmitate, panthenol, rosa centifolia/rosa centifolia flower water, dipotassium phosphate, poloxamer 184, polyaminopropyl biguanide, potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, CL 61565/Green6. (F.I.L. B26656/1).

Another Power Cut

The title says it all. Now you know why I can't blog as regularly as I did.

I'm officially living in an un-civilized place. Even "developing countries" don't have this much power cut. Atrocious. Perhaps it's to "celebrate" Labour being in power again?! Now that they've won the election, looks like they have started cuttting services. So NOT supporting Labour. Blah.

Napoleon Perdis Protégé Lip Gloss

Firstly, picture of The Aromatherapy Bar Soap is now up.

Back to business. I received NP Protégé Lip Gloss limited edition for doing a survey. The packaging says: "This limited edition strawberry-flavoured lip gloss is the secret to lustrous lips 24/7. A built-in mirror ensures ease of application, while Bees Wax nourishes and protects your pout. Result: lips are left super-shiny."

I was intrigued when I first read about the mirror description on the box. I thought it would be like a Nina Ricci lipstick I had many years ago: mirror on the side of the lipstick cover, to make it easier to touch up. Imagine my disappointment when I saw the mirror is actually on the back of the applicator, making it impossible to see your reflection while applying it... What's the point then? A bit daft in my opinion, why can't they stick it on the side of the tube instead??

Enough with the mirror rants. The gloss actually tastes like strawberry smoothie, even the textures makes me think of smoothie. I love the light peachy-tone (I'm not sure whether you can tell from the picture). On its own it creates glossy nude lips. Worn on top of lipliner it creates a stronger but subtle effect.

Verdict: I like. :) Apart from the silly mirror - what were they thinking?! Really...

Ingredients: Polyisobutylene, 2-Ethylhexylp Almitate, Paraffin, Poly-isobutylene, White Mineral Oil, Gellants, Butylated Hydroxystearic Acid, Aloe Barbadensis, 2-Phenoxyethanol, Mineral Oil, Silica Dimethyl SSilylate, Butyrospernum Parkii Seed Oil, Synthetic Beeswax, Bisabolol, D & C Red No. 6 Iron Oxides, Yellow Iron Oxide, Titanium Dioxide, Perfume.