2010 Favorites

Here are my 10 fave products throughout 2010!

Nexcare Acne Patch

(review here)

I already have a few backups for this acne patch, that's how much I love it. It's an essential for me now period.

The Face Shop Post-Acne Nighttime Spot Eraser

(review here)

It really needs patient to use this product. It's not a miracle worker that could erase acne scar in just a few days, but after using this for months, I realize that most of my acne scars are less visible. Love it!

Cellnique Paramedical Advanced Bio Renewal Masque

(review here)

This exfoliator plus mask really makes my skin feel smoother, not to mention that it smells yummy as well!

Daiso Nose Pack

(review here)

My nose saviour! It's the best one I've tried to pull out dirty gunk out of my nose and it's super affordable as well!

Biore UV Perfect Face Milk SPF50+ PA+++

I love how it really keeps my face shine-free when I'm using this. And the fact that it has high SPF, I feel that my skin is protected!

Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets

An essential for traveling! This makeup wipes clean really well and come in very handy to bring with.

Shiseido Mascara Base

After hearing very good reviews for this mascara base, I decided to get one and I'm really glad! It really makes different to my lashes esp when I'm using non-waterproof mascara. It lifts my lashes all day long!

The Face Shop Nail Base Coat

This nail base coat dries fast and makes applying nail polish become so much smoother, definitely a fave for me!

Facial Wash Net

I've been using this wash net ever since I tried it for the first time and now I feel really weird when I don't use it. Thanks to Kay who had introduced this to me! See her very thorough post about this wash net here.

Daiso Sponge Detergent

before and after pics

My sponges just love this! Need I say more? :D

Hope everyone had a great year!

Merry Chirstmas 2010!

Just like usual, I spent my Christmas day by just visiting shopping mall to shop and eat but I do really enjoy the festive season! Hope everyone is having a good time!

source: http://computerpartsgames.wordpress.com/

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Swatch: Rock & Republic Contrived Pressed Blush - All Nighter

When I saw a lot of blogs featuring Rock & Republic blushes and saying how great and beautiful the blushes are, I'm really intrigued to have one. Though, knowing how hard it is to get R&R outside US, I didn't have much hope. But being a sweetheart that she is, May got one for me to try, and she picked a blush shade that she thought I don't have, and I really don't! All Nighter is a really gorgeous orange blush with a hint of golden sheen, it's a really beautiful shade and I love it to bits. Thank you love!

Here are some pics for the blush!

*pic heavy*

without flash                                                       with flash

without flash

with flash

Swatches on arm:

left: heavy-handed, right: light-handed

You can see how pigmented the blush is! I believe it's the most pigmented blush I've ever tried. The golden sheen is barely noticed on the without-flash pic, but on the with-flash pic, it has a hint of glow and it's really pretty! The staying power is really impressive, it stays all day long on me and I have oily skin! I can't rave this blush enough. Not to mention that the packaging is gorgeous. Clearly, it's my new fave blush :D

The rest of the goodies from May:

Thank you so much, May!!

What? I Cook??

First off, I'm so sorry for neglecting my blog for almost 2 weeks and I don't have any other excuse except my laziness (yes, I still can't get rid of it). I'll try to blog more but I can't promise it since I always surrender to my laziness (OK, I need to stop making excuse now).

Back to the title, I'm really surprised that I cook! Although it's not my first time to cook but I haven't cooked like for years if not counting in instant foods. My mum always cooks at home so I don't need to, yes, I'm really spoiled!

So, since some of you have suggested to post about what I ate during the absence of my parents, i decided to post what I cooked instead :).

Omelette with Tomato Ketchup

I know it doesn't look appealing and it's just a basic thing to cook, but I love omelette~

Stir-fry Vegetables with Fish Cake

It's my first time ever cooking vegetables and it turned out better than I thought! :D Still doesn't look appealing though...

Instant Fried Noodles with Meatballs

On my lazy day, I just cooked instant fried noodles and added a few meatballs that my mum made before her trip.

Sweet & Spicy Chicken Wings

Another one that I cooked for the very first time. I used this recipe, it didn't turn out as it's supposed to be but it still tasted pretty good! :)

Mashed Potato

It looks really plain but it's so easy to make yet very yummy, I love eating it just like this or I just baked it like below:

Baked Mashed Potato with Crab-sticks

Yummy!!

Pancakes

Recipe here. I love pancakes and the recipe for this pancake turned out really good! I'll be making more pancakes now :D

 Pancake with Chocolate Ice Cream

This is how I like to serve the pancake! Yummm~~

That's all for my cooking adventures (LOL!). Till next time!

A Piece of Me... in December 2010

A game hosted by Shirley of *We Love Toothfairy*

This month....

I like: holiday and shopping! I'm so going to shop till I drop! LOL, j/k.

I don't like: having to think about what I'm going to eat. Yes, I'm all alone at home and I don't really know how to cook and there's no food delivery service here. I really miss Jakarta now.

I want you to know: I'm kinda having writer's block now. Hopefully it will go away soon.

I've planned: to get rid of my laziness! I'm too lazy and everyone knows that, le sigh...

I want to say to someone special: I miss my besties! I really miss hanging out and gossiping talking silly things with you girls! Wish we're still in college :(

NOTD

Etude House Petit Darling Nail Polish - PK010 Pinkade

Another nail polish that I have from Etude House! See the other one here. The pink color is really gorgeous and I like wearing it all the time. Just like the PK003, for this nail polish I have to apply three coats to get a more even finish. I think it's because this nail polish is too runny. The staying powers is pretty good, I think most (if not all) of the Etude House's nail polishes have really good staying power. What's on your nails?

Finished Products in November 2010

Clinique Anti-Blemish Solutions Clarifying Lotion

I've finally finished this big bottle of toner (okay, it's not that big but to me it is big :p). I've reviewed this toner few months ago, you can read it here. Although it did work to clear my acne and kept it at bay but the alcohol scent is just strong for me, so I feel really glad that I've finished it. Since I still have a few toners to use, I don't think I'll repurchase this anytime soon.

The Face Shop Post-Acne Nighttime Spot Eraser

This spot eraser is a must for me now! I will feel that something's missing if I don't apply it even just for one night. As I've said on my review, it works effectively on new scars but not so much on old scars. But with continuous uses, the old scars do get lighten in a period of time. I've repurchased this of course!

Mentholatum Acnes Point Clear

I used this point clear on new blemishes/pimples. It did work but not very effective, it took more than a few days to reduce the redness and to shrunk the size. I'll keep looking for a better product, so no repurchase for this. 

I've just realized that all three products are acne-related! I guess that means I'm really desperate for my acne problems, haha!

Okay, till next time!

I Was Away for A Week

I guess you don't even notice it, Ha! Well, I didn't mention it anyway, hehe.  I've been back for a few days but too lazy to do a post :P. So I went to Singapore last week to do some stuffs and one of the reason is to watch this:

source: http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1

Surprisingly I actually quite like the movie since I didn't have too much expectation for it because the sixth installment of the movie (Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince) disappointed me, I actually fell asleep during the movie. So after finished watching this seventh installment, I was glad that I was still wide awake! The only thing that I don't like is they make the movie in two parts, and the part two isn't released until next July! I don't mind to watch the movie 5 hours straight, I just don't like to wait so long to watch the next part. Oh well, I can't do anything about it.

When I went shopping, I saw FaceQ masks in People's Park Complex (one of the shopping center in Singapore) and was really happy. But when I looked at them closely, I found the packaging was really weird, it's unlike the one that I got from Taiwan. So when I went home, I compared them, I assume that the one that I saw in People's Park Complex is the fake FaceQ masks. See the difference:

FaceQ masks that I saw in People's Park Complex

FaceQ masks that I got from Taiwan

Notice the difference? The fake masks look colorless. Even though they're pretty cheap (SGD 1.50/piece), but we never know what they have in the ingredients and what they'll do to our skin. No to fake masks!

This is what I do when I don't have internet connection or when I don't have any book to read. I love Sudoku! Although sometimes I got frustrated when I couldn't solve it but that never makes me stay away from playing Sudoku :D.

It's been a while since my last food porn post (is it?), so here's a little food porn for you all!

Pearl milk tea, one of my fave drink ever!

Waffle basket with ice cream~

More macarons for me! I'm addicted!

Meatballs at IKEA, so yummm~

Happy Thanksgiving!

Till next time!

Review: Daiso's & The Face Shop's White Nose Pack

I've been using these two nose packs for these past few months. And today, I'm going to do a comparison for both of these nose packs. Check below for the nose packs comparison!

 The Face Shop White Mud Nose Pack

Description:

Formulated with White Mud and Burdock extract, this peel-off nose pack cleans and clarifies pores.

Directions:

Spread over nose area and leave on for 10-15 minutes. When completely dry, slowly peel from the bottom up. Finish with a toner.

Cautions:

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Keep out of reach of children. Discontinue use if signs of irritation appear.

Ingredients:

Water, PVP SD Alcohol 40-B, Polyvinyl Alcohol, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Bulylene Glyvol, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Citrate, Methylparaben, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Illite/Water/Propylene Glycol/Arctium Majus Root Extract, Zinc PCA, Methylparaben/Bulylparaben/Ethylparaben/Propylparaben, Boilin Artemisia Princes Leaf Extract, Citric Acid, Fragrance, Allantoin

 Daiso Natural Nose Pack

Description:

Natural extracts remove oils and all dirt and deeply clean the pores, leaving your skin clearer with less visible pores.

How to Use:

After cleansing your face, evenly apply on the nose area and let it dry for 10-15 mins. If completely dried out, peel it off starting at the bottom, pulling toward the top. Do not use more than twice per week.

Caution:

If any irritation occur, stop using it and consult with a doctor. Keep out of reach of children. Use for nose areas only.

*click at your on risk*

(Yes, I have a disgusting nose)

My Thoughts:

I purposely display the nose strips picture so small because it looks really disgusting. But if you don't have a weak heart, you can click the picture to enlarge it. From the picture, you'll be able to see that Daiso's clearly is the winner. It pulled out more gunk than The Face Shop's, not just more but so much more.

First, I'll talk about their texture. The Face Shop's has a thicker texture while Daiso's is more runny so it spreads more easily than The Face Shop's. Even though The Face Shop's is thicker but it dried out faster than Daiso's. I think it's because of the runny texture of Daiso's, I applied more layers so it dried out slower. But that doesn't bother me.

As for the scent, they both have pretty similar scent but in my opinion The Face Shop's smells better than Daiso's.

For the price, again clearly that Daiso's is the winner. It costs me only SGD2 while The Face Shop's costs me SGD13. They both have the same amount of product which is 50g/1.76oz and both are made in Korea.

I think the only con from Daiso nose pack is it doesn't state any ingredients, but since I didn't experience any irritation from both of the nose packs, it's not a problem for me.

So the conclusion, Daiso's obviously beats The Face Shop's. Why spend more if you can get a more effective and much cheaper product?

Repurchase:

Daiso Natural Nose Pack: YES!!

The Face Shop White Mud Nose Pack: Never.

More reviews for Daiso Natural Nose Pack: Macnunu's review and Evie's review.

Disclaimer: The products were purchased by me. I am not affiliated with the companies I mentioned above. This is my honest opinion, product that works on me doesn't mean it works on you and vice versa.