Happy Holidays!

(source)

Hello!

Just wanted to wish every one where ever you are in the world, a Happy Holidays. I hope everyone is having a great day, and I want to take this time to say a big thank you to my followers. I never thought I would have 10 let alone 26! I know that still isn't a lot but I am very appreciative of it. Thank you again :D

Becky xx

Bellabox Singapore: December 2012 ~ The XMAS Edition

It's finally December!!!!

I was out grocery shopping and was pleasantly surprised when I returned home to see my Bellabox sitting on the table for me! If you guys didn't read my November Bellabox Review, then I'll catch you up. I was pretty disappointed with the box since it contained yet another shampoo and another hair oil and another mask. I felt as if Bellabox wasn't reading our personal profiles that we have filled out on the website. 

I didn't mention this in my November post, however they forgot to include the pink envelope with the vouchers in my box, I only received the information card. I contacted them since I had seen other bloggers had received SaSa vouchers. They kindly mailed me the vouchers out. However when I received it my SaSa voucher had already expired (It was issued on November 1st for a month use. They didn't mail the voucher out to me until the 6th of December, so the voucher was expired before they even mailed it out.....disappointing).

So after being severely underwhelmed with the last box, I am very happy with the December box!

Lets see what is inside the December box!

1. Bella Caviar Beauty Serum

Information:

"This beauty serum contains precious caviar extracts and marine collagen supports the DNA of the skin, plumping up lines and wrinkles, empowering skin with vital energy and intensive moisture. After use, it will give skin a satiny finish and luminous glow".

Price:

5ml / S$250 for a box of 7

First Impressions:

Has a light scent, thin in texture. This sounds so extravagant, I'm going to give it to my mum since I don't have any wrinkles.

Sample Size:

5mL for S$36

2. Organix Hair Care Range 

Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Penetrating Oil

Information:

"Organix, a haircare brand based in the USA, has a strong commitment to the integrity of its ingredients. Their hair care range includes ultra-rich shampoos, conditioners, cream and oils, and their bath and body range are infused with the most delightful scents."

Price:

100mL for S$15.90

First Impressions:

Nice size sample. Thicker than other hair oils but it seemed to sink in quickly. Smells nice like a hair salon/cologne. I actually like the scent of this more than the Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment. But you know...another hair oil. Also I'm pretty sure these products have been in a box in the past.

Sample Size:

50mL for S$7.95

3. b.liv Off With Those Heads - Blackheads Sebum Gel

Information:

"b.liv Off With Those Heads is a light cooling gel that removes white and blackheads painlessly in just 2 weeks. It keeps excessive oil secretion under control and reduces irritation. The results is soothed, hydrated skin with visible smaller pores."

Price:

30mL / S$69.95

45mL / S$94.95

First Impressions:

Thin texture, cooling, lightly smells like tea tree or witch hazel, not overpowering. I'm interested in trying anything to do with reducing pores and this is really quite expensive so I don't think I would purchase this, unless it literally works amazing.

Sample Size:

2 x 3mL = 6mL for S$14

4. Cyber Colour Auto Eyebrow Pencil

Information:

"Designed to fill in the eyebrows easily, the Cyber Colour Auto Eyebrow Pencil has an easy-twist pencil with a brow brush on the other end to tame the brows. With colours specially formulated for Asians, you can expect an eyebrow pencil that is highly pigmented and glides on smoothly."

Price:

0.2g for S$9.90

First Impressions:

I really like the packaging. I got the colour 06 Gray Brown and I think that it could be a good match for me because it's not too red. 

Sample Size:

Full Sized!

5. MeMeMe Lip and Cheek Tint in Cherub's Blush

Information:

"MeMeMe Lip and Cheek Tints are a great way to add a flush of colour to the lips and cheeks. Simply dab on the lips or along the cheekbones to instantly lift and brighten your complexion."

Price:

12mL for S$15.90

First Impressions:

LOVE IT! Smells strongly of rose, it's a deep berry red colour, perfect for Christmas! In the December preview Bellabox gave us a sneak peek of the makeup that we could receive in our box, either from Cyber Colour, Make Up For Ever or MeMeMe. I saw some people were really excited about MUFE, but I was really hoping for MeMeMe because I moved away from England when I was 11 so I didn't read blogs or watch Youtube and I didn't know about the MeMeMe brand. Since then I've heard some great things about the products whilst living in Singapore so I am excited that the brand has launched in Singapore and I can try out the products!

Sample Size:

Full Sized!

6. Bonus: Cellilux Deep Sea Secret Glacial Mineral Gel Mask

Information:

"The Cellilux Deep Sea Secret Glacial Mineral Gel Mask contains nutrients and rare glacial water to reverse damage to the skin and rebuild skin's elasticity. It detoxifies, hydrates and exfoliates the skin, the result is brighter and youthful looking skin."

Price:

60mL / S$78

7. Christmas Gift: Bellabox Eyeshadow Brush

Information:

"This eyeshadow brush made of horsehair is our Christmas gift to you. Use this eyeshadow brush to create beautiful makeup looks for your Christmas parties. Have a blast!"

Overall Box Value (without bonus gift and brush): S$83.75!

*Let me know if you've tried and liked (or disliked) any of these products in the comments below*

Thanks for stopping by!

Becky

Picked Ups: essence Cosmetics Warehouse Sale December 2012

If you follow essence cosmetics on Facebook then you would have seen that they were having a warehouse sale on the 7th & 8th of December, with some products discounted up to 40%.

Me and my mum went on the 7th, and here are the bargains I got!

(If you missed out of the previous sale, they are extending it again to THIS SATURDAY, 15th of December from 11am to 7pm @ 138 Joo Seng Road, #05-00 near the Tai Seng MRT station. *Cash and nets payments only*)

Swatches and reviews will be coming up later this month!

The first 50 got a free nail care bag (purple one) and if you spent over S$30 you got a free makeup bag (pink one)!

NAILS

 Whitening Toe Nail Polish S$3,  10 in the jungle: sea foam green creme S$2.50, 01 caribbean sea: metallic mermaid blue S$2.50

                                                                     

Nail Colour3 Duo Polish in 06 Ticket to the Show

Left side: ticket to the show : black with purple, red and gold glitter (so pretty!)

Right Side: front row or backstage? : gold/gunmetal glitter flakes

S$4

EYES

Circus Circus Liquid Eyeliner in My Sparkling Acrobat  

S$3

black with silver reflex

BLUSH

Cute as Hell Blush in Wawawawooo (hahaha the name is hilarious!)

S$3

Matte fuchsia pink (super pigmented)

Marble Mania Blush in Swirlpool

S$4.50

shimmery peachy rose 

(I never managed to get anything from the marble mania collection when it was in stores so I am happy I found this)

LIPS

 L-R:  Lipstick in 42 FAIRYTALE @ S$3, Stay with me longlasting lipgloss in 05 I Like Cotton Candy @ S$3, Circus Circus lip lacquer in 02 My Glammy Acrobat @ S$3 and XXXL Nudes lipgloss in 03 Nude Kiss @ S$ 3

 L-R: FAIRYTALE, I Like Cotton Candy, My Glammy Acrobat and Nude Kiss

 Colour&Shine Lipstick Pencil in 03 Trend Setter S$1 (S$1!!) and YOU ROCK! lipstain in 01 Let Me In Rose @ S$3

             Trend Setter                            Let Me In Rose

That all came to a total of S$38.50!

Lastly, I let my mum try out one of my essence quads and she really liked it so she kept it and brought me a new one at the sale, originally S$6.80, got it for S$4

08 wood you mind?

And the colour&go polishes in the old packaging were 5 for S$10 (originally S$2.80 each), my mum chose 4 and let me choose one, I picked WHERE'S THE PARTY? a beautiful purple, green, gray duochrome, been eyeing this one for a while!

So that's what I picked up from the warehouse sale, I've never been to one before so it was pretty exciting :)

Have you ever been to a warehouse sale before? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by,

Becky

XMAS DIY: Magazine Christmas Trees

I used to buy so many magazines each month that now I have a ridiculous amount of them just lying around. Here is a cute little DIY that you can do to transform your unused magazines into fun customised Christmas trees!

What you will need: 

• A magazine (preferably 150-200 + pages as I found it works better)
• Scissors
• Glue/Double Sided Tape
• Optional: Ruler (to help flatten the edges)
• Optional: Glitter

 Step 3: Repeat with every page

Step 4: Glue or tape the front cover to the back cover.



And there you have a cute Christmas tree decoration! Super easy!! You could also get more creative... maybe sprinkle some glitter on it.

In Daiso (the S$2 shop) they were selling these cute Christmas skewers in packs of two, so I decided to push one into the pages, and it looks super cute!

If you try this, link me it below in a comment, I'd love to check it out and see what creative things you can
come up with!

Thanks for stopping by!

Becky

Wet n Wild Comfort Zone Palette (Review and Swatches)

So I'm pretty sure that everybody who is interested in makeup has probably heard of this palette since it has been reviewed so many times (and has been around for a while!). I cannot tell you how long I have been desperately waiting for a blogshop in Singapore to bring it in, so when I found it I brought it straight away because I knew it would be sold out quickly!

The Comfort Zone 8 pan palette (8.5g) is available for S$16 at Shopping-district.net  (As I write this it is still instock!)

S$16 for 8 eyeshadows is definitely a bargain! They also sell some of the 3 pan palettes (*cough* Walking on Eggshells *cough*). Which I may have to get in the future!

This is a great palette for natural everyday looks  but can also transition into beautiful deep smokey eyes. It isn't all just boring greys and browns, the mix of colours are quite unusual but work so great together.

The shadows are really soft,  comparable to the texture of Urban Decay shadows.

          Browbone:  Light Vanilla (Frost)                                                Browbone: Pewter gray with                                    

                                                                                                       golden sheen (Frost)

          Eyelid: Copper toned rose (Frost)                                              Eyelid: Medium pea green with                             

                                                                                                                              golden sheen 

          Crease: Medium brown (Frost)                                                 Crease: Green toned brown with 

                                                                                                                          golden olive glitter (Matte) 

        Definer: Dark red toned brown with                                           Definer: Red toned brown with

                       copper glitter (Matte)                                                                  teal duochrome (Frost)

             

(Without primer!)

*Do you guys own this palette? If so, what's your favourite colour? Let me know!*

Thanks for stopping by,

Becky

Disclosure:

*All products were purchased with my own money. 

All opinions expressed are my own*

Bellabox Singapore: November 2012 ~ bliss (or a miss..?)

This month the bellabox hopes to bring everybody a little bit of bliss, which they define as looking and feeling beautiful. Lets see what's inside!

1. L'Oreal Professionnel Mythic Oil Nourishing Oil

Information

"The Mythic Oil Nourishing Oil is the star product of the L'Oreal Professionnel hair care range, offering a unique blend of precious argan oil and grape seed oil to nourish and tame hair. The end result is instantly shiny hair that is protected against frizz and environment aggressors."

Price

125mL for S$42

First Impressions

It smells similar to Elnett hairspray which if you have smelt, smells kind of like a grandma. However I have heard some good things about this oil from some Youtubers (for example Shellx85x). 

Sample Size

3mL for S$1.008

2. L'Oreal Professionnel Absolut Cellular Repair Shampoo

Information

"Enriched with Lactic Acid technology, the L'Oreal Professionnel Absolut Cellular Repair Shampoo gently eliminates residue while protecting the hair. Dry hair is moisturised and restored, giving it a revitalised shine."

Price

500mL for S$42

First Impressions

Honestly, I saw this was available before I received my box (because deliveries were late this month) and I was really hoping not to receive it. I've received shampoo from bellabox before and honestly, I'm not fussed on what shampoo I use, I will use whatever is in my shower. I'll use this up but I probably won't buy it. It just smells like salon shampoo, nothing special.

Sample Size

100mL for S$8.40

3. JF Skin Solutions Acne Relief Cleanser Bar

Information

"JF Skin Solutions Acne Soap is formulated with micro-grained active sulphur to help treat acne and other skin conditions such as blackheads, whiteheads, clogged pores and blemishes. It is convenient for use on the face or for the shoulders and back which are also acne-prone areas."

Price

100g for S$9.95

First Impressions

Very intriguing. I thought maybe it would smell weird (seeing as it contains sulphur) but it smells really nice. I'm going to try this tonight I think :D

Sample Size

20g for S$1.99

4. STORYDERM Silk Mask

Information

"E.G.F. or Epidermal Growth Factor is the rate at which skin cell regenerates. The E.G.F. Face mask aids in cell regeneration and is developed to deeply moisturise and condition the skin."

Price

S$19.90

5. Sasatinnie Saz Super Dolly Powerful Mascara

Information

"The Sasatinnie Saz Super Dolly Mascara Powerful Mascara is the first mascara formulated to create a perfect doll-eye look. It features an innovative non-clumping brush that coats each lash with a protective film enriched with nourishing amino acids."

Price

S$19.90

First Impression

I didn't know that Sasa had their own makeup brand, I'm excited to try this to see if it holds up to its claims.

And lastly in commemoration of Movember this month, bellabox included a cute pink moustache necklace! 

Overall Box Value: S$51.20 (without necklace)

I was very excited about the box this month however since there was a problem and a public holiday at the normal time of distribution, I received my box today (I normally receive it on the 11-12th of the month). By the time I got it I already knew what was in it and honestly I found this box kind of boring. 

I know that something I was really hoping to get was the full-size Bio Oil, because I have wanted to try that for so long now because it is supposedly great for stretch marks. However, I received a shampoo. I'm not trying to bash the company or concept because I do enjoy getting the boxes, but I'm not made of money being only 18 and I think trying new, exclusive, possibly unheard of products like Bio Oil or the acne cleanser bar are much better than trying a L'Oreal shampoo (which isn't a new, underrated product at all). I mean everybody uses shampoo but not everybody uses body oils or acne cleanser bars. 

Just like a lot of people were complaining that there has been a lot of skincare samples this year, I think getting a shampoo is kind of a let down for me.

I'm going to stay for the December box and maybe January. But if I still feel the same way I feel right now, I maybe unsubscribe by the February/March box.

Also there is a  beauty survey online that we can fill in and I picked that I have normal hair (the shampoo is for very damaged and dry hair) and I picked that I would prefer a never stray lipstick (and I received a mascara). I don't really think that they pay attention to the profiles we set up, which is a shame since it may leave people feeling unsatisfied with their box, like myself.

Anyway, that is my rant over! 

How did you find your bellabox? Let me know!

Thanks for stopping by

Becky

*Products were purchased with my own money. All opinions expressed are my own*

Nu Teen Blackheads Away Gel Review

The Nu Teen Blackheads Away Gel is a new way to remove blackheads without having to squeeze them, ultimately preventing scaring.

I've been using this product for a while now and have recently repurchased it so I thought it was about time I reviewed it. (I don't think I have ever repurchased a particular skincare item in my life!)



Claims:

It is the best way to clear oil and pimples and removes blackheads painlessly and thoroughly.


What is a blackhead and how can it be removed?

During puberty, sebum glands are more active and secrete excessive facial oils resulting in oily and shiny layer on the face, leading to skin problems such as enlarged pores, blackheads and acne.

With excessive oil secretion, pores become clogged, causing the blockage of sebum production, resulting in the formation of an oil granule on the surface of the skin. This is known as whitehead at the initial stage.

As dead skin cells and dirt particles get trapped in the clogged pores, this will affect the metabolism of the skin, resulting in enlarged pores and rough skin. The surface of skin remains oily while the inner layers are stripped of moisture.

Overtime, the whiteheads will be oxidised by oxygen to become blackheads. If the blackheads are not removed in time, they will be infected by environmental bacteria, resulting in skin inflammation and acne.

Therefore, to prevent blackheads and acne, oil granules that are planted deeply within the pores must be removed.


How to use?

Making sure both hands and face are completely dry, dot some of the product on forehead, cheeks, chin, nose and neck. Massage for a minute and rinse off with water.

Gentle enough for every day use.

It removes the top layer of the skin so over time blackheads are reduced. The key ingredients are

-- Essence of Thanakha tree bark: to reduce pimples, tighten pores and controls oil, leaves a cool tingling feeling

-- Triclosan: regulates sebum production, keeps skin shine-free

-- Salicylic Acid: slows down accumulation of dead skin and oil granules that clog pores, removes existing whiteheads and blackheads.

Packaging

Simple, easy to use.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

- I found a significant reduction in oil and appearance of pores after the first few uses.

- Is it weird for me to say that it is fun to use :)

- Doesn't dry out my face

- Leaves my face feeling refreshed

Cons:

- I finished the tube pretty quickly, it took just over a month to finish it all.

Price/ Size:

30mL for S$6.90

Availability:

I found mine at Giant

I love this product, you guys should definitely try this if you're in the market for a gentle spot remover :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Becky

*Products were purchased with my own money. 

 All opinions expressed are my own*