What's In The Bag - Tokyo Time!

It's that time of the year again! Off for my annual pilgrimage to the Land of the Rising Sun, Makeup & Fashion~

I really wanted to put in an entry before I left so I thought I'd share the contents of my makeup bag and accessories. Yeah yeah I know, this has 'filler post' written all over it >_<

Accessories first, I don't wear as much hardware as I used to back in the day but it's still an important part of my wardrobe...and these are my picks for the trip!

Unfortunately I can only tell that the 2 studded bracelets and chainmail-ish necklace were from H&M, the rest were from all over the place like Far East Plaza, online stores and previous trips. Oh excluding that Pandora bracelet up in the corner (^_^;;)

Really dig my 'good for a bit-o-luck' token that I got from a little store in Kichijoji last year~

And in the makeup section, I made a tiny pile.

=D

For base makeup, I brought:

• ClearLast Pore Smooth Base UV (purchased from Japan last year, probably gonna finish the tube this time)
• Clinique Even Better Foundation
• Kate Powderless Liquid for Cover
• Dasoda MG Mega Liquid Concealer

For eye make:

• Sleek Makeup Blush by 3 (Ok this one's for the face obviously =P)
• Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express
• Maybelline Hypersharp Liner
• Too Cool for School 1 Day Tattoo Eyebrow

And lastly, lips:

• Edward Bess Ultra Slick Lipstick (in Sundown, it's my perfect perfect nudie lipstick)
• Ultrasun Ultralip SPF30 lipbalm (first time I've had the word 'ultra' thrice in 2 lines haha)
• Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Lip Tar Stain Gloss
• Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lip Gloss
• Revlon Colorburst Matt Balm
• Sleek Makeup Pout Polish SPF15

And that's the small part of my packing that I wanted to share today~ =)

Hope I'll come back with a more manageable haul this year, looking forward to share them with you guys when I get back! =D *poof!*

What's in The Bag - Luxola Party Goodie Bag

I know it's been awhile since I got this but I would still like to show the contents of the Luxola End of Prohibition Party door gift held a couple weeks ago ^.^

In a roomy bling-y silver pouch were~


#luxolasg!

Here's a clearer look at the respective items, I haven't tried them so I'll just attach a short description of the products according to their product write-ups~

In the skincare category, we have:

From top, then left to right then bottom:

• Harnn Oriental Herbs Hand Cream - Ultra rich, firming & highly protective hand cream with essential oils, Coenzyme Q10 and Hyaluronic Acid.
• Dr Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil - For use as a massage oil or body moisturizer, helps prevent stretch marks during pregnancy.
• 66°30 Extreme Cycle 6-in-1 Face Fluid - For men, an ultra moisturizer that calms shaving irritation, protects and repairs skin.
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold with Glycolic Acid - A non-alcoholic powerful skin resurfacing lotion that helps to jumpstart skin metabolism, reduce open pores and fight wrinkles, pigmentation and sun damage. (Winner of the Harper’s Bazaar Beauty Hot 100 2013)
• VMV Hypoallergenics Armada Face Cover 30 - A light cream type sun+light screen, skin lightening, full spectrum, indoor and outdoor protection. Non-Comedogenic and 100% fragrance, paraben, preservative, dye and phthalate-free. It's also Halal and Vegan.
• Mekhala Soothing Tamarind Facial Cleanser - Unique formula that includes organic tamarind and honey nourishes and brightens the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines. Also able to remove makeup without drying the skin. Free of artificial fragrances and preservatives, parabens and sulphates.

I'm most excited to try the Alpha-H Liquid Gold given it's many good reviews.

It's supposed to work very well on those pesky little clogs and zits that pop up every now and then too~ But I also read that it works best on skin that is at a neutral pH so.....given that I use a few products that contain salicylic acid, I'm not sure it'll work as miraculously on me...=\ But! We shall see (^_^)v

And in the makeup category, we have:

Clockwise from left to right:

• Color Show by Maybelline Lipstick in 107 Pink Paradise - True-to-color intense lip color that promises to stay on the lips even under hot and humid conditions.
• Sleek Makeup Pout Paint x 2 in shades 162 Milkshake and 154 Mauve Over -  Intense lip pigments designed for mixing but can also be used on its on for strong, long-lasting color.
• Sleek Makeup Pout Polish in shade The Afterparty - I think this is Pink Cadillac on the website though. Check the review HERE.
• Color Show by Maybelline Crayon Kohl Eyeline in Noble Purple - Full-on colour pigments for the eyes in a smooth kohl texture. Bold colour that doesn't budge.

Quite excited about the Sleek Makeup lip colors but I haven't gotten to them yet due to a recent spree of pink lip pigments....you'll probably see them quite soon. Watch this space! lol

Oh! I also got picked for the lucky draw and won this travel size Sun Ocean EDT from Paris-Bahamas!

So happy cos I never win stuff! Just don't have the lucky wishbone in me I guess?

Isn't the bottle cute? The cover's filled with real pink sand from the Bahamas! Concocted with exotic coconut, frangipani and vanilla, this is truly a beachside summer in a bottle~ When I smell it, the image of lounging under the sun at Sentosa (or a better beach) comes to mind!

I believe this is my first What's in The Bag sort of post? Even though it isn't really MY bag that I tout around but all the same, hope you enjoyed a peek! (^--^)///

Pucker Up - Sleek Makeup Pout Polish SPF15

I have....been lusting after a stronger lip colour recently....having nude shades all the time DOES get boring after a few years so I've been hoping to brighten up my look! Previously purchased 2 red shades from Revlon and H&M respectively but....after awhile I decided that they were the wrong shade of red for me =(

Luckily, I was a girlfriend's plus1 to The End of Prohibition party thrown by Luxola on Thursday and got a couple of choice Sleek Makeup lip colours in our goodie bags! One of which was the Sleek Makeup Pout Polish in shade 959 The Afterparty~ (Looks similar to Pink Cadillac on the website but I'm not sure.)



Retails at S$14 on Luxola

Having been quite a fan of Sleek Makeup since they came to our shores via Luxola and Carmine Avenue because of their product range and crazy affordable prices, I was like WHOO!!! when a couple of these babies came tumbling out of the pouch~ Will go through the contents of said pouch in the next post =D

Pout Polish is a range of highly pigmented lip polishes that give dramatic colour and a lasting stain whilst conditioning and protecting the lips with a combination of oils (Jojoba, Avocado, Sweet Almond, Wheat Germ and Shea Butter) and SPF15. I was quite intimidated by the colour in the pot initially but the swatches put my mind at ease.


From top down: 3 layers, 2 layers, 1 layer

The small slim pot is simple, stylish and really easy to carry around! You could probably hide it in your bra if you had no pouch or pockets =P It has a slight Play-Doh-ish smell to it but it's not unpleasant really and isn't noticeable unless you sniff at the pot. I didn't notice it at all during application.

I was able to wipe the swatches off with little effort and a tissue but it did stain my fingers as I'd left the polish on while I took photos.

 

Alrighty then, polish my pout! (Wax on, wax off comes to mind teehee XP)

I applied a little under 2 layers (hope you understand what that means) and got a very nice lightly glossy shade of rose pink!


Isn't it interesting how brighter lip colours always make one feel like pouting?

I like that the gloss is really smooth (almost balmy) and not too in-your-face, making it easy to wear with light day makeup. AND IT ISN'T STICKY! It also left my lips feeling smoother and more moisturized throughout the day. The colour is also easily buildable to a more dramatic shade for nights out on the town~

The gloss factor doesn't hold up as long as I'd like but the stain does a pretty good job which I'm glad of because I'm a total lipstick eater hahaaaa. Had a drink and was in and out of air-conditioning...got home about 4 hours later with zero touchups and there was still some pink left on my lips~ yay~

So in a nutshell, the Sleek Makeup Pout Polish is

• from one the best budget beauty brands in my opinion.
• comes in a stylish and convenient little flat pot.
• available in a range of colours (6 on Luxola) ranging from nudes to pinks, peaches and reds.
• has a slight Play Doh-ish smell that's only noticeable if you sniff the pot.
• buildable colour delivers dramatic pigment as promised, use as little or as much as you want!
• polish goes on dreamy smooth with no gooey stickiness and leaves lips feeling moisturized and smooth even after wearing off.
• gloss factor and colour intensity wears off with food and drink so touchups recommended every couple hours to maintain maximum effect; lip tint does hold up for about 4 hours though
• lip conditioning and protection with Sweet Almond, Avocado, Wheat Germ Oil etc + SPF15

So glad Luxola held this awesome party!

Would I purchase this? YES. Because I LOVE Sleek Makeup! ( ˘ ³˘)❤ Have a good weekend everyone!!

PureHeal's Galactomyces 90 Ampoule - Galacto-what?

Some months ago, I noticed the new range of Korean skincare at Sephora - PureHeal's. Of course this is no longer new NEW but I've had regular usage of the product for about 4 months now and my satisfaction level remains high (^_^)

PureHeal's products fall mainly into 4 lines:

• Galactomyces (Radiance) - Whitening Line
• Propolis (Moisture) - Moisturising and Anti-Bacterial Line (The Propolis 90 Ampoule is incredibly popular, it's always out of stock when I pop by!)
• Centella (Nutritive) - Anti-aging Line
• Caviar (Renewing) - Skin Renewal and Barrier Enhancing (dual-function)

Picked up the PureHeal's Galactomyces 90 Ampoule for the fairly ridiculous low price of S$28!

S$28 / 30ml

Contains 90% Galactomyces Ferment Filtrate which is basically yeast fermentation filtrate combined with honey infused with 10 different Korea-grown herbal ingredients. 30ml doesn't sound like much but I used it twice a day, about 1/2 to 3/4 of a full pump each time and it lasted me about 2 1/2 months!

Here's an idea of the size:

 Back-of-the-box info:

 

5 stars in the wrinkle improvement department!

Some background information here, I've been on the lookout for something to replace my collagen supplements so in the event I get pregnant, I'll have something on hand ready to take care of those pesky laugh lines! Luckily, I encountered PureHeal's just as I was beginning my search~

It's a clear ampoule that dispenses hygienically out of a clear glass dropper. As mentioned earlier, I use 1/2 to 3/4 of a full pump each time. I started out using a full pump each time but I found that it made my face a little over-moisturized aka shiny.

The ampoule spreads well and is absorbed quite nicely after about a minute or so of light patting.

It only leaves a barely noticeable tackiness that disappears after I apply my moisturizer.

So I stopped my collagen pills and started using this ampoule faithfully twice a day before my moisturizer. I noticed the effect very quickly over the next few days. Being a late sleeper by habit, the problem is without my collagen supplements, my laugh lines become really obvious especially when I just wake up. With the PureHeal's Galactomyces ampoule however, I wake up looking really fresh and dare I say, rejuvenated? =D It works well in hand with my Laneige emulsion and extremely well with the Laneige sleeping pack!

Here's the before and after comparison! The first shot was taken the morning after my first usage...both shots taken first thing in the morning after my skincare routine.

I swear the worst part of having a beauty blog is having to show my naked face so often (=___=);;

The whitening effect is very slight and I can't see that big a difference from an overall look but when I studied the shots close up, there were some slight differences.

I'm not sure if it's as noticeable to you but there were a couple of deeper wrinkles on my undereye area that have disappeared and the pores on my cheek look slightly finer too!

So in a nutshell, PureHeal's Galactomyces 90 Ampoule:

• comes in a nice glass bottle with an easy-to-control dropper dispenser.
• is an effective moisturizing ampoule at an extremely affordable price.
• has a very faint floral scent, only noticeable if you sniff at the bottle opening.
• intensive moisturizing effect doesn't leave skin feeling too oily or sticky.
• helps skin look rejuvenated and fresh on mornings after a late night or lack of sleep.
• is light enough for undereye application, helps with undereye wrinkles too!
• recommended patting motion for absorption takes a little longer than usual so impatient types might find that troublesome.

Would I buy this again? In a heartbeat! I'm actually almost 1/3 into my 2nd bottle actually and intend to pick up a couple more later this week~ I also bought the Centella 90 Ampoule some time ago but haven't seen much effect from that one yet =\