Strawberry Sponge Curlers!

So recently, me and my friend, Helen, saw these adorable strawberry sponge curlers on Dream High 2 and we thought we just had to have them! 

They come in a pack of 6 and I found mine on Bornprettystore for $4.08 with free shipping. The shipping was relatively fast considering it was sent from overseas. 

I learned to use them from the lovely Miss Chickachew. You can see her tutorial here :) Overall, the sponges worked alright. The quality of the sponges is not great but does its job. They are soft and easy to work with. It wasn't a perfect curl for me and both me and my friend had problems with it being caught in our hair. She has thick hair and I have thin hair. I wrapped rather thick strands of hair through them the first time I used it cause I only have 6, then went to sleep. In the morning when I went to take them out, the curls were pretty good and tight. By the afternoon, they started unraveling. The 2nd time I used thinner strands of hair and it got knotted in the strawberry. I had to pull and try very hard to get my hair out. I think with more experience and more rollers, my problem might be solved. This is a good way for me to do my hair overnight without any heating products though.

Of course I don't look as cute as Jiyeon, but I tried. The picture is a bit blurry cause I took it at home with my phone camera. Sorry!

Till next time :)

My Updated Skincare Routine - Mar. 2012

I haven't done one of these in a while so I wanted to add some products to my list. I'm still using the same face cleanser, toner and day lotion, which you can read about here. I've updated my night cream and added a serum. The Garnier gel cream is good for summer nights, but throughout the colder nights, I blast my heater. I've noticed my skin slowly becoming more dry and dull-looking and my combination skin was really losing its oil. To prevent it from becoming flaky and patchy, I switched to a heavier night cream.

I got a deluxe sample of Origins High Potency Night-A-Mins Mineral-Enriched Oil-Free Renewal Cream. They have a regular version of this cream which is thicker, however, I do still have oily skin so I chose the oil-free version. This cream has a very pleasant orange blossom scent. It contains vitamins C, E and H, minerals and salicylic acid, which helps with removing dead skin cells and prevents blemishes. The other plus is it contains no parabens, petroleum, mineral oil, or animal ingredients. Origins is known for its organic and natural ingredients. 

It is thick and applies a bit heavy. For the first few seconds, you're face will feel very oily. This might be uncomfortable for some of you, but it definitely goes away. Once the product is thoroughly absorbed into the skin, it feels lightweight and smooth. I've been using this for 2 weeks now and I noticed that my skin is very supple and soft in the morning. I will be getting the full-size product.

The other product that I have been raving about is the Origins Dr. Weil Mega-Bright Correcting Serum. I briefly talked about this product here. It is a serum, even though the texture goes on like the Miracle Transformer, its a bit running in my hand and when I first apply it with my finger. A little product goes a long way. I've been using this for a week now and I must say, I see my skin clearing!! Not only does it make an immediate smooth complexion, it also makes my skin super soft. It lightens my scar marks and blemishes upon absorbing. It serves as an amazing primer also. Some days, I use less of my day lotion because its been getting hotter in Orlando lately, but with this serum my skin has been completely fine. No dryness and less oil, letting my skin look matte without the use of any foundation or powder. I will definitely be getting the full-size product of this. It truly works well!

I used the serum as a base and added thin coat of Missha BB Cream in No.23, applied Maybelline Dream Bouncy in Hot Tamale and Etude House V-Line Powder to my cheeks and Revlon Lip Butter in Cherry Tart to my lips. My makeup was light and comfortable, but all my imperfections were still covered because they have naturally gotten lighter.

Till next time :)

Spring Cleaning Part #1 and SALE

Now that spring has officially started, I decided to do some closet cleaning! I started with my mother's closet back at home. She has soooooo many hidden goodies she collected recently. A lot of these she won't have time to use in the upcoming year so I took A LOT of stuff back with me.

 I have gifts from Shiseido, Lancome and Estee Lauder. As I sort through them, I will post some items on my blog for sale. Please let me know if you would like to purchase anything. This is my first time doing any sort of blog sale so please be kind! These are all new full size products and makeup bags, never used or only swatched to show you the color. So please leave a message in the comments and let me know if you're interested!! All prices are flexible! 

Here are two very lovely lipsticks. One is Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Replenishing Lipcolor in Luxe Mahogany and one is Clinique Different Lipstick in Tenderheart.

The Lancome color is a deep red and the Clinique is a sheer nude. They both go on very smooth and pigmented. These swatches were just from one time.

I believe they have new cases and looks a lot more modern now, however, the product and ingredients are still the same. Here's what Lancome and Clinique look like now. I will sell them for $15 and $10 :)

This is the Lancome Color Design Sensational Effects Eye Shadow Quad Smooth Hold palette. I don't think they make this exact palette anymore but the colors are still available in single shadows.

This is unused and unswatched. Normally they are $43 with applicators. I will sell this one for $20 without applicator. It is an older container, but the inside is brand new and the colors are still very pretty. I've used Lancome shadows before and they go on pigmented and silky. Very nice for a light touch to spring colors :)

On a side note: My 3rd JewelMint purchase came in!!

Till next time :)

Post-Acne Scars, Oh No!

Back in high school, I use to break out a lot on my face and on my back. If the people who know me now saw pictures from back then, I don't even know if they'd even recognize me. Before I really understood how important beauty is to a woman, I picked at my scabs, popped pimples, the whole ordeal. Now I totally regret it, but its too late. The scars are already there. Overtime, some of them have slowly faded. However, some of my darker ones are still haunting me. So I decided to try some spot treatment serums. These serums are a bit pricey so I asked for samples first. 

The first one I got a sample of was Origins Dr. Weil Mega-Bright Correcting Serum. It's very lightweight and applies very smooth onto my skin. Right after applying it, I noticed my skin tone looking more even. The texture looks dewy yet velvety. It absorbs very fast, even though it goes on feeling a bit thick. The key ingredient in this serum is Rosa Buxburghii, a flower found in Asia. The fruit from this rose contains vitamins A,C,E and fatty acids that help with discoloration of the skin. I've only used it for 2 days so I'm not sure how well the results will be, but I will update again if I buy the full-size product.

 It is a light-green tinted milky serum.  

The 2nd serum I got with a bonus gift from Shiseido. It is their White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum. I normally would not buy anything from this product line because I don't like using whitening products. I am naturally tan and prefer to be more on the dark side :P But this serum doesn't really whiten my skin, it just lightens my spots. It makes my overall skin tone look brighter and more silky. It is more lightweight than the Origins serum and goes on almost like creamy water. I really like how it absorbs after I use Shiseido Balancing Softener. It makes my skin feel super soft afterward my routine.

This serum is pearlescent and milky.

The last sample I got doesn't do much for my post-acne scars, but it seems to be helping my dark under-eye circles. It is the Origins GinZing eye cream. There is caffeine in this to make your eyes look more awake and alive. So far, its been pretty good. It goes on relatively light, even though the texture of the cream is pretty oily. I've only used it for 2 days so I will update in detail if I buy the full size.

Till next time :)

Beauty Secret #4: Oatmeal

I started getting bored with my smoothies recently so I decided to take a break and try something else for breakfast, oatmeal! I buy the 1-minute Quaker Oats to save time. It's bland but I add a bit of cinnamon sugar and honey to kick up the taste. There's actually a lot of good health benefits to this simple bowl of mush. 

Here's some quick facts about oatmeal:

1. Low calorie food: A cup is only 130 calories!  It also stays in your stomach longer, making you feel full longer. 

2. Lose weight through hunger control: You will have less hunger and cravings.The soluble fiber in oatmeal absorbs a considerable amount of water which significantly slows down your digestive process. This result is that you'll feel full longer, i.e. oatmeal can help you control your weight.

3. Lowers cholesterol and good for your heart: Contacts beta-glucan which reduces bad cholesterol and risk of heart disease. It also contains special antioxidants called avenanthramides that prevent free radicals from attacking good cholesterol. These ingredients also boost your immune system.

4. Provides high levels of fiber and protein: Oatmeal is so rich in fiber, eating it in the morning will also help stabilize your blood sugar throughout the day. This is good for people who have diabetes. Also for people who want to prevent mid-morning or afternoon energy crashes, have a small cup of cereal nearby.

5. It is gluten-free: If you are gluten intolerant, you can happily enjoy oatmeal, but oats could potentially contain gluten from nearby fields. Proceed with caution!

6. Helps acne: Use leftover, cooled down oatmeal and spread it over your acne. Let it sit for around 15 minutes and rinse off. This will help absorb oil and exfoliate dead skin cells. You can add honey or tea tree oil for added help.

7. Better skin in general: Besides acne, you can turn oatmeal into a scrub by mixing it with some baking soda and water. Spread and gently rub onto a moist face. (If you have sensitive or allergic skin types, try on a small patch of skin first) For a mask, mix 1/2 cup hot water with 1/3 cup oatmeal for two or three minutes, then add two tablespoons each plain yogurt and honey, plus one egg white. Spread thinly on the face, then relax for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Till next time :)