Sunday 26 October 2014

Charles & Keith 2014 New Arrivals - Sunday Shoe-Crush!

It's been awhile since I had a shoe crush. Wandering around my neighbourhood malls last week I popped by Charles & Keith for quick look see and this pair tugged at my heart strings a little =)

Pointed Slingback Mules in PU leather S$56.90
Of course the marble print is all the rage now. But faddishness (is that even a word?) aside, I think it's a print that's likely to stand the test of time?



All images from Charles & Keith

I like that the height is quite perfect. After tramping in heels through the gravel, sand & rock on the fortress island of Suomenliina last winter, my feet have never been quite the same and I haven't been able to deal with heels of the steep incline or towering variety ever since. This heel (8.5cm) is enough to give a girl a boost and comfortable enough to be standing around in. Also, these heels are light! Now...if only they'd go on sale for Xmas....... XP

Monday 20 October 2014

DrGL Restore Gel Mask - Budget-friendly Boutique Skin Solution Review

If you've followed me on my Instagram (@r_san82....oh you haven't? Why not! =P), you may have noticed when I purchased this little titbit during one of my many recent Luxola hauls. I think I bought this at least a month or 2 back so I thought I'd better post this before I forget again ^___^;;;

S$38/100ml, S$68/240ml on Luxola

At only S$38 for the 100ml, it's the cheapest in the Dr.GL range and a very popular item. Combine that with the titles of Cosmo Beauty Grand Prix 2013 Winner, Elle Beauty IT List 2013 and the frequent Luxola sales and you know you really have to try it out~

Description of the Restore Gel Mask:

Bring skin back to equilibrium with this restorative gel for all skin types. Packed with healing botanicals to help sooth skin, it makes a particularly good travel companion as skin tends to be stressed by changing environments, manifesting signs of irritation such as redness and dryness.

A proprietary blend of natural ingredients including Gardenia Florida Extract and Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract heals skin with its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial powers. It's blue hue extracted from Guaiazulene helps counteract redness while its all-natural fragrance exerts a calming influence. 

Info from DrGL

Comes in a nondescript dark moss green box and plastic pump bottle that I like in all its simplicity. The pump (and bottle) is sturdy and firm, making it quite easy to dispense the small amount that's needed. I do however worry about the potential wastage once it's finishing >___<

Here's a look at the instructions/details and ingredients:


I know the font is quite hard to make out, doesn't help that it's printed so close to each other >_<

Directions:
  • To use as a moisturiser, apply a thin layer in circular motions till gel is fully absorbed.
  • To use a mask, apply a thick layer onto skin and leave on for 10 - 20min. Remove remaining gel on face.
  • Good for sunburns, post-tanning and post-procedure treatments.
  • Best used when chilled. (I LOVE it chilled!)
  • To use as shaving gel, apply a thin layer before shaving.

Ingredients:

Water, Scutellaria Baicelensis Root Extract, Paeonia Suffruiticosa Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra (Licorice) Root Extract, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Carbomer, Coceth-7, PPG-1-PEG-9 Lauryl Glycol Ether, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Rutin, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract, Disodium EDTA, Centella, Asatica Extract, Gardenia Florida Fruit Extract, Beta-glucan, Guaiazulene, Arginine, Aloe Vera.

Made in Korea. 

Some extra info on a couple of the herbs/flower extracts that are more prominent in the makeup of the Restore Gel Mask:

Scutellaria Baicelensis - One of the 50 fundamentals in Chinese Herbology, this is a pretty purple flowering plant known also known as Skullcaps. Often used in traditional Chinese medicines to dispel 'heatiness', hepatitis, diarrhea and inflammation. Increasingly rare in current times due to its popularity and unfortunate overexploitation.

Paeonia Suffruiticosa - The iconic Chinese Peony, it's roots (called 牡丹皮) are also used commonly in traditional Chinese medicines to dispel 'heatiness', mildly invigorate the blood and 'cool' the blood amongst others.

Licorice - The root extract has shown various medical properties such as being antimicrobial, antiviral and hepatoprotective. In skincare however, it has also shown the ability to treat hyper pigmentation caused by skin inflammation.

Hope this extra info helps give a clearer idea of how the gel works! And just in case some of you were curious where this lovely blue colour came from:

Guaiazulene - The blue hue of the gel is derived from this hydrocarbon, which is an U.S FDA-approved cosmetic colour additive.

Albeit a tad disappointed that the colour isn't a natural occurrence, I still like the calming blue that it is =) And the smell is really soothing too! Makes me think of Chamomile tea mixed with other flower teas. Y'know...like 'ahhhh~~' (▰˘◡˘▰) 

My dad just pointed out that my random squiggle of blue gel-ly goodness looks like umm..well..sperm. 

*awkward silence* (//∇//)

I guess I could've kept quiet and hope that nobody notices but I JUST CAN'T. So yeah, sorry if it looks like a slightly suggestive squiggle of blue~  ~(˘▾˘~)

*ahem*

As recommended, I store it in the fridge and since I'm about halfway through my usual Laneige moisturiser, use this on and off...when I want to give my skin a treat or when it's feeling particularly stressed, dry or sensitive. A little goes a long way so the 100ml bottle will probably last pretty long.    Just so that you have an idea, for basic moisturising I use a little under 1/2 a pump for my whole face, abit lesser than the amount pictured in my lovely Daiso saucer. Oh and may I add that the chilled gel on my face is freakin' awesome in this sticky hot weather we've been having in Singapore recently!

It spreads well and absorbs to a slightly tacky finish after massaging in circular motions but this tackiness will disappear in under 5 min, leaving my skin feeling and looking soothed and really, well, comfortable! It also dries on the matte side so you don't need to worry about the shinies~ 

As a testament to its soothing capabilities, one time when my skin was going through a dry spell and one particular spot on my cheek was so dry that I suffered some abrasion. Nothing too drastic but a flaky red patch on the cheek is pretty hard to miss. I applied just a thin layer of the Restore Gel in the evening and by the next morning the redness was gone and there was only a very slight dry feeling left. Problem solved with a 2nd application that day and no sign of a reoccurence!

So would I repurchase the DrGL Restore Gel Mask? Of course! It's taken a conscious effort NOT to repurchase until my current bottle reaches at least the 30% level~

  • Easily available online and with frequent sale deals via Luxola, S$38/100ml and S$68/240ml.
  • Often sold out during and around sale period so keep a look out if you want to score a good deal!
  • The most affordable in a line of boutique skin solutions, easy on the pocket because a little goes a long way.
  • Applies and spreads well, awesome on a hot day when applied fresh from the fridge.
  • Requires a minute or so of massaging to fully absorb (if using as a moisturiser) and after a few minutes of very slight tackiness, dries to a matte finish leaving skin soothed and comfortable.
  • Keeps my combination/oily skin moisturised without any shine.
  • Quickly soothes irritated and dry skin without any discomfort even on my slight facial abrasion.
  • Has served my skin very well in recovering from shuttling between dry and humid climates.

Yep, that's all I have to say about this pretty awesome multi-purpose gel~  =) Do drop me a comment if I've left anything out! 

Saturday 4 October 2014

New In Town - Inglot Cosmetics & the Freedom System lipstick swatches!

A couple of days ago, Polish brand Inglot Cosmetics's first store in Singapore opened its doors in Wisma Atria B1! I don't get out much but like it was meant to be, I had to run some errands yesterday so I popped in for a look! Located along the same row as Lush, facing CottonOn Body, you can't miss it. Oh and also, 10% storewide till Sunday! =D


Once in, a friendly makeup artist (a pretty Malay girl rocking the Inglot blue lipstick, envious much!) came up, introduced the brand to me and escorted me over to the lipstick wall as I was hoping to get a nice pigmented nude (brown, not pink) lippie like my beloved Edward Bess Ultra Slick in Sundown. She was friendly, patient and not too attached to me if you know what I mean so I felt quite comfortable.

Look at all those lippie shades~

Lipstick prices range from S$22 - S$26

Unfortunately, the lipsticks didn't have what I wanted (the nudes were either too sheer for my lips or too frosty sigh) so we tried the Freedom System individual lip squares and found a very nice match in No. 25! =D Yay!! Since they were really cheap (only $12 each), I decided to put together a day to night palette~ Armed with a magnetic board, I set about picking my colours...

Sooooo many shades!!

Inglot also has face powders and concealers ranging from S$22 - 26 as well as a wide variety of shades in the eye and lip colour dept for your Freedom System palettes at S$12 apiece!

So anyway, I ended up with these 3 shades and after adding the Freedom System magnetic case (Starts at S$10 for a single, S$12 for double, S$13 for the trio case...etc) my total was S$44.10 after the 10% discount! CHEAP!!

My Custom Day to Night Freedom System Palette!

After all that excitement (cheap thrills or what lol), I was pretty hungry so I popped over to Domani Cafe at Takashimaya for some brunch (my first and only meal that day) before heading home ^_^ I don't care what people say, I like the food here. Can't remember what the item was named....Sunny something? But it's the only brunch item with the egg, bacon, smoked salmon (which I replaced with more bacon) on toasted muffins ^_^


Explored my purchase while waiting for the food to come:


Simply packaged individual colours and the sleek magnet casing

I really like the case. It's reusable, feels sturdy and the magnet is strong enough to keep that nice frosted lid in place yet not so strong that you need to struggle to open it. Swiveling from either end (as below) is the easiest way =)

Freedom System 3 case - S$13
From Top to Bottom - Lipstick Shade No 30, 25 and 11

The lip colours clip in firmly to the magnetized casing.

From Left - Lipstick Shade No. 30, 25 and 11.

No. 30 looks like it might be a natural sheer red but swatches a slightly coral red-pink. Really pretty!
No. 25 is a nice and pigmented brownish nude, close enough to my Edward Bess Sundown shade!
No. 11 is a lovely warm red that had impact but wasn't too in-your-face. Love!

From Left - Lipstick Shade No. 30, 25 and 11.

Inglot really has a sh!tload of colours for you to pick from so if standard palettes are not your thing, you should definitely try Inglot! The fact that it's so budget-friendly doesn't hurt either!

I lip-swatched No.30 last and left it on while I went in search of brunch. It stayed on through my shopping and then my drink but there was only a stain left after my meal so touchups are required after eating.

Why should you pop by Inglot?
  • Loads of colours for all your eyeshadow and lipstick needs, pigment powders, gel liners, don't forget their new (huge) range of breathable nail enamel!
  • All lip, eye and nail colours come in a variety of finishes; matte, normal, glossy, shimmery, sheer, you get the idea!
  • Definitely swatch, both on hands and lips, as pigmentation & finish differs quite abit from colour to colour. Inglot has disposable applicators at the displays so it's easy to do a quick lip swatch!
  • Budget friendly with lipsticks and face powders at S$22 - S$26, eyeshadow and lip colours for the Freedom System palettes at S$12 each and Freedom System cases sold separately starting at S$10.
  • 10% off storewide till 5 Oct 2014, my 3 lip colours + case only cost S$44.10!
  • Freedom System cases feel sturdy, come in 2 styles (magnet with frosted lid or regular closure with mirror) and different combinations depending on your choice of products.
  • No.30 stayed on for shopping and drink but required touchup after a meal. Does leave a stain though so you're not left with a totally naked lip.
  • Formulated with castor seed oil, shea butter, beeswax and apricot kernel oil, it's fairly decent in the moisturising department. No SPF though =(
  • My selection of colours were more of a gloss finish so didn't emphasise the lines on my lips and were not drying.
  • Only 1 outlet at the moment, kinda cramped, wish it was bigger~ Show 'em some support so they can open more branches!
I wanna hit pan soon just so that I can go back for more hahahaha hopeless shopaholic I know! Hope you guys enjoyed this quick review! Did you get anything on your visit? I'd love to know if I missed anything good! =D