NEW Shiseido Paperlight Cream Eye Color (Info & Swatches)

Matte, translucent creme eye color, inspired by Japanese washi paper

Washi paper has a unique and exquisite translucence that comes from the layering of mulberry fibre.

New Shiseido Paperlight Cream Eye Color is smooth and delicate – light touch just like washi paper.

These cream eye color come with a translucent yet matte finish, like traditional Japanese washi paper.

Besides the matte yet translucent finish, they have a smooth texture that adheres well to the skin, and does not crease, thanks to the flexible network structure. They also have a long lasting effect which does not fade.

Comes in 8 shades, inspired by the natural Japanese landscape.

Nobara Pink PK201
Sweet and bright pink, cool undertone

Namiki Bright Green GR302
Vivid bright green

Yamabuki Yellow YE303
Bright yellow

Shobu Purple VI304
Purple iris

Hisui Green GR705
Bright soft green with a touch of blue

Asagi Blue BL706
Dewy and bold, soft blue

Sango Coral OR707
Warm soft coral

Usuzumi Beige Grey GY908
Natural beige gray

3 Reasons Why You Should Try an Organic Facial Treatment

Hi!

There are times when it is worthwhile to try something different, and in this case, a facial treatment that specialises in the use of only organic products combined with machinery to deliver the best results to rescue tired dull skin. And yesterday I got the chance to try out the Ultra Facial Treatment at Pure Tincture (located at 68 Tras St). Pure Tincture has been around for over 10 years, previously at Aldephi before moving over to its current location in the CBD area. The place is tucked in the midst of offices, bars and restaurants, and besides offering treatments they also stock a selection of specially sourced organic beauty products from around the world. But more on that later. Here are three reasons why I enjoyed my experience and you should try a facial at Pure Tincture.

1: The Treatment is fully customised according to your skin needs. I told Helen, who is the founder of Pure Tincture, that I am always looking to enhance the glow and hydration level of my complexion. She proceed to select a range of products from various brands that they carry and got started. Being a product junkie, I felt like I had the chance to test out several products throughout the course of this treatment, and some of them really stood out to me. Allow me to share a few with you:

– Soap & Paper Factory – I am thoroughly attracted to this brand! Helen used one of their massage oils on my neck and shoulders during the session, and I just want to smell like that all the time! The oil she used is the Sakura Blossom massage oil.

– PAI Skincare – Helen used the Pai Camellia and Rose Hydrating Cleanser on me to remove the light makeup I had on my face. It felt really soothing, and, yes, you guessed it, smelled awesome too.

– PAI intensive conditioning mask – this is a salon professional use only product which was used as a second mask. It is a balmy creamy face mask which seemed to soak my skin in all its nourishing goodness.

– OSEA white algae mask – The first mask used is a more of a glow enhancing deep cleansing step which detoxed my skin.

2: Helen’s knowledge and passion for organic beauty is really impressive and admirable. She shared with me how she sources for organic brands and incorporates them into her facials. I love the fact that she really believes in what she uses for her treatments and only uses products created by companies that are genuinely passionate about their ingredients and doing good instead of focusing just commercial benefits.

3: There is more to an Organic Facial Treatment than just organic products and massage techniques.
Throughout the 1.5 hour treatment, I experienced the best of both technology and the skillful work carried out by Helen. The steaming machine helped open my pores before she did extraction mainly around my nose, and the LED light therapy towards the end of the treatment helped to boost the glow and took care of the uneven tone in my skin. There was also an eye treatment included, which involved the use of a RF machine to lift and tone my eye area – and this is one treatment that Helen said is always highly requested by her clients.
I also enjoyed the facial massage that she did using the PAI intensive conditioning mask, I think that step along with the LED glow treatment made my skin look extra extra soft and brightened today. She also used essential oils at the start of treatment (by lightly pressing on the accu points of my face I think) which really help me to settle into the treatment for the next 2 hours or so. And in addition to all the facial treatments going on, she also added shoulder, head and neck massage. These details are certainly thoughtful and ensure that you are totally relaxed.

Just to recap the steps of the entire treatment which I went through – you might not get the same exact products combination, but here’s an idea of what to expect for an Signature Facial Treatment:

– Double cleanse

– Special skin peel or ampule (I had a fruit acid peel done)

– Extraction (Helen trimmed my brow stray hairs too)

– Cryotherapy or eyes treatment (this is awesome!)

– Face massage (yes yes yes!)

– 2 special customized mask (one after the peel and one after the face massage)

– LED light immersion

They also do provide a menu of their facial treatments, but I do recommend that you have a chat with Helen about your skin concerns and she will know what to do from there. She has another therapist working there too, and I am very thankful that I had the pleasure of spending the 120 minutes with her as we chatted about organic skincare, her work and even our health-care routines (yoga, running, clean-ish eating…).

Overall, I think this has been a really refreshing experience. I might not turn into a green beauty junkie or go all organic, but I do feel more aware of the benefits of using these products in my routine. I often get people asking me product/ treatment recommendations for sensitive skin, and I think you just might find the right treatments and products at Pure Tincture.

Find out more here Pure Tincture

I hope that my sharing has been helpful and thank you for reading!!

Pictures below, some products that caught my eyes and that were used during my treatment, and a post treatment pic.

Oct/Nov 2016: New Beauty Products [MUFE, Urban Decay, Clinique…]

Hi hi!! Get ready for a long rambly post ahead! I will be loosely dividing this post into a few ‘chapters’ – each with a cluster of products which I am currently playing with, and share with you my thoughts on them. There are so many new products lately, holiday collections, fall collections, is it that time of the year already??

Anyway, let’s start with new products from Urban Decay – palettes! Here, we have the Naked Illuminating Trio, I think this retails for about SG$60 and it contains 3 shades of sparkly highlighters and a dual ended brush.

I find the packaging excessive in this trio.. they could have done with the packaging of their Flush palettes – more compact, and prolly more product too. The powder is dome shaped (are they baked powders?) and all three swatched almost the same on my skintone.. and the colours or the sheeen did not show up very well in swatches. There are visible sparkly bits, especially in the middle shade, oasis. I didn’t have high hopes when I applied it onto my cheeks later on. But they perform better when applied onto the actual skin on my face, as you can see in the close up shots of my cheeks. I used a Morphe fluffy blending brush to apply the product instead of the brush that is included (which seems too synthetic to pick up this type of powder but maybe quite good for contouring/ sculpting instead).

As far as highlighters are concerned, these are not the best in terms of quality… the price point is okay.. but I think I would rather pay about the same for a good single highlighter from Becca or Hourglass. Or if you want to stay in the Urban Decay family, stick with their existing Afterglow Highlighters (only SG$39 each) – Sin is a dupe for Becca’s Moonstone/ Mary Louminizer.

Next chapter – I shall discuss the Urban Decay Ultimate Basics eyeshadow palette. It is amazing how they keep coming up with new releases of crowd favourites. I must say I prefer the Basics 1 rather than Basics 2 palette which seems a tad too cool toned for my liking. But the Basic palettes contain really good smooth matte eyeshadows which I enjoyed, and I even used them for my eyebrows for a long time (I think I have an old blog entry on using the BASIC palette for my brows). This palette retails for SG$83 and contains 12 mostly matte eyeshadows (actually only ONE shade has a pearl sheen to it – called Blow, the rest are all smooth & matte). Mimimal fallout, easy to apply, easy to blend. This is an outstanding matte eyeshadow palette. I personally can do with only the lower row of shades, the top row seem all too cool and too similar. My personal fave shade is BITTERSWEET, that orangey brown just jumps out at me in the whole palette, so I had to use it all over my eyes in this LOTD shown. I also did another look with only the top row colours, ending up with a very lightly defined look.

Packaging for this palette is also on point, I really like the solid feel of the palette and the huge mirror inside is a bonus.

Bottomline – I highly recommend this Urban Decay palette. If you have to get something from their new collections.. this is it.

All products used in this warm smokey look:

face – By Terry Colorless Hydra-Filler, NARS All Day Weightless Radiance Foundation (Light 4), set with NARS Translucent Loose Powder

concealer – NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

brows – ABH Brow Promade Dark Brown, filled in any gap with Shu Uemura brow powder duo (seal brown)

lashes – Huda Beauty Gisele #13

no eyeliner

eyeshadows as used and stated in the pic above

bronzer/ contour – NARS Olympia

blush – TARTE sensual blush

highlight – Urban Decay Illuminating Trio

lipstick – Urban Decay Vice Lipstick in 714 (mega matte finish)

All products used in this everyday ‘no makeup’ look:

face – MUFE Ultra HD Liquid foundation, set with NARS Translucent Loose powder

concealer – NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

brows – MUFE Brow palette (used the waxy base, followed by ABH brow promade in Dark Brown), filled in any gap with MUFE brow palette

lashes – NARS falsies from the Sarah Moon collection #09

lipstick – Urban Decay VICE Lipstick in Naked

eyeshadow – as stated in the picture below

no eyeliner

contour / bronzer – Cle de Peau bronzing powder duo 01, Kevyn Aucoin sculpting powder in Medium

blush – NARS Ukriane (LE)

highlighter – Urban Decay Illuminating Trio

One last Urban Decay offering I have here to share – the VICE palette – this retails for SGD$68 and contains 12 shades of Vice Lipsticks. I have never been a fan of lipstick palettes – I find the texture to be nothing like the original lipsticks in a tube.. For $68 you can buy almost 3 full sized VICE lipsticks, and you can pick the exact shades that you would actually wear. This palette contains a lot of fun colours, but who is going to wear the purple or green lipstick, even if they are going to be your lipstick topper…chances are those would not be used much at all.

One thing tho, I like the packaging, the extra cover is really neat and keeps everything sanitary. I would like to see a more colour themed VICE lipstick palette though.. for example, and all NAKED lippie palette, all RED palette.. instead of this varied offering.

I won’t be swatching this palette… it is a bit pointless as you can google for the swatches of the individual shades online.. I might give this palette away to someone who would love it more than me.

Next, let’s move to another brand, Clinique has released new additions to their POP LIP collection, with the POP LIQUID MATTE, and POP MATTE. I think these retail for under SGD$30, or early $30+.

The Pop Liquid Matte lipsticks have a rather large doe-foot applicator which I find a bit hard to get into the corners of my lips. I am curious to see how the more natural MLBB shades work in this collection, as the samples I received are both quite bold. The formula is quite creamy and comfortable to wear. They take a while to set before looking matte, and I personally prefer 02 Flame Pop as a true red. These don’t feel dry like most other Liquid Matte lippies, but they don’t have the smooth velvety feel of the Chanel Rouge Ink or NARS Velvet lip glides- the creamy matte formula is something quite nice, especially if you tend to have dry lips.

The Pop Matte lipsticks are more matte than the liquid ones… no dry down, they appear matte immediately. I like how the colours in the tube have a true colour payoff when applied on the lips. They are creamy and matte, again the formula is very nice, and easy to use. 05 Graffiti Pop is my top pick from these three, it has a very pretty raspberry red, flattering on most skintones. Bonus – the frosted bottle design is a winner.

Bottomline – if you like the Clinique Pop Lipsticks, you will like these too. I enjoyed the original Pop lipsticks when they launch, the formula is creamy and non-drying and the colours are all quite wearable. Again, I am curious to check out the MLBB shades in person.

Next, we have some new products from MUFE – I have several other products from MUFE, but I might feature them sometime later. Here we have the Artist Rouge lipsticks, in several finished, and a myriad of colours. I was sent a selection of colours, one of which is a wicked blue shade that I showed on my Instagram a while ago, but I have since gifted it away to someone who would rock it way better than I would ever do.

These retail for SGD$35 each, quite reasonable! The packaging is industrial chic, very weighted cap, and the lipstick bullet has a very sharp tip.. give you lots of precision when it comes to application.

I find these lipsticks to have a true colour payoff – what you see is what you get. There is no hint of white in the bright shades I have to share here, and the formula is quite comfortable and glides onto my lips effortlessly. I personally prefer the matte shades compared to the creme ones which I find a tad slippery, and streaky.

Bottomline – every brand is coming up with new lipsticks (and I haven’t even start on the MAC liptensity ones!) and I think it is easy to get lost in everything. For me, the reds in this range stand out, and my personal pick is the hot pink M202 – it looks almost neon without that white base, and still manages to look really opaque. I am impressed. It is what I think NARS Schiapp should be like, M401 is gorgeous and really classy. C304 is a true orange, and way better than MAC Morange – again, too white too stark. C304 is a super in your face true bright orange, almost blindingly bright.

I could probably wear the black a bit better, such as blotting and re applying, but it does take some work. It is a true black without any blue or green tinge. Great for Halloween eh?

Lastly, we have the MUFE pro sculpting brow palette – this is in shade 1, which is a tad light on me, so I only use it to fill in gaps in my brows after using my usual brow promade. I go through phases with my brow routine, and for the past couple of years, I usually only reach for the gels/ creams, and using a powder to fill in any gaps etc…I like the waxy base in this palette though. I just rub my spoolie brush into the wax, and brush it through my brow hairs before I use my brow gel/ cream/ powder. The wax sort of pressed my brow hairs down, and provides a base for the gel/ cream/ powder to hold on to. I am enjoying this little step… and it makes my brows look quite 3D ish (refer to the ‘natural LOTD’ in this entry for a close up of my brows).

This retails for SGD$76 (pricey!!) and comes in 2 shades (01 and 02). I think the darker one might suit me better though. If they sell the waxy thing alone, I would totally just buy that only! It is a fab base before I fill in my brows.

Almost at 2000 words already!! I hope you are still reading!! Do people still even read blogs these days? The stats on my blog seem ‘healthy’ on a daily basis, but everyone seems to be all about snapchatting, posting stories, posting pretty flatlays.. do people actually care about reading long entries like this? Even I am guilty and get caught up in this vicious cycle, new products arrived at my desk, post the obligatory IG pic, put everything away, unopened, unused…(opps!!! yes, I am guilty!). Event launches are organised around the whole Instagram aesthetics these days too, with lots of props and trinklets for participants to artfully arrange them. I stopped attending such events. But that’s another story altogether, and I guess you already know my views. Some people don’t like what I have to say on this, to each her/their own.

I guess there is still a point for my blog… if not where else can I ramble about stuff that I have actually opened and used? Even if they aren’t that new anymore, I would like to think someone out there might find it interesting to read and maybe try out something new. I personally find it therapeutic to write and blog, and have been for years and years…so even if the whole ‘influencer’ thing is dead for me, if people stop inviting me to events or stop sending me new stuff, I would still have my own content my own stories my own experience to share. That’s how it has always been for me, even before ‘influencer’ or ‘blogger’ became a thing.

Not sure if I would be able to post more before the end of Nov.. the month is shaping up to be pretty nightmarish and hectic so far.. and I am leaving early Dec for my year end holiday. Sometimes I am mentally composing rambly topics in my mind… I am tempted to post another skincare round-up, and also posting current faves entry/ stuff that I am using up lately…my current makeup routine is very simple.. I just have a long-lasting base, brows on… blush, and hardly any lippie. Very boring.. but sometimes I still like to slap on a full face of makeup.

Anyway, I hope this entry has been helpful as always, and do let me know if you have any questions.. or suggestions for new posts in the comments below!

Thank you so much for reading.

Skincare Update [Sept 2016]

Makeup Removers & Cleansers

Facial Masks

Daily Essentials

Skin Boosters

Kiehls Staples

Dior Day Time

Dior Staples

Sunscreen Stash

Hi hi, this is just an entry to list down what I am currently using and loving for the past few months (over 6 months, in fact). I don’t always feature skincare products on the blog, and I have a lot, a lot of skincare products waiting for me to try out. But longtime readers know I only update on skincare 2 or 3 times a year because I don’t tend to skip from one routine to another…I usually add in a couple of new products here and there until eventually the whole routine is updated and we have another entry like this to share.

It is only fair to give credit to the products which have served me well, and before I accumulate more empties that I throw away, I better start documenting them while they are still in my rotation.

Also, I have been getting questions on what is my skincare routine/how I maintain my skin, and I find that I don’t have a straightforward answer to that. If I were to tell them the 20 or 30 products that I am rotating, then where are they supposed to start? Besides who want to sit and listen to me ramble on and on about my skincare routine? What turned out to be a polite/ curious question about my skincare routine becomes a 1 hour long conversation is NOT what most people expect, right? Which brings me to the focus of this entry…I am going to list products according to what I think serves a purpose for my skin. You can pick and choose what you think you can try out.

I find it hard to review only a single product or a single brand– unless everything I am using happened to be from one brand (and I believe I have done this with great results from Lancôme, Shiseido and Clarins in the past) but in recent years, my skincare stash has become a lot more varied. I hope to share everything I am using with you in the most organic way possible–nobody is paying me to talk about their products here, and I am just sharing with you my own personal experience.

Of course, some of the products I mentioned here have been repeated several times in my previous skincare updates- they are staples and won’t be going anywhere soon.
I am also not mentioning a host of other products that I have previously featured in my other skincare feature entries (like the Sephora cleansers and anti-aging features)- those products are still lurking in my rotation, but I won’t be repeating them here. I have shared some of the anti-aging serums to my mother who can benefit from those products too. Everything mentioned here are really just things I can count on for the past few months.

About my skintype – I have normal to combination skin. My skin will break out in one or two spots if I try out a product that does not work on me. Hence, in my skincare routine, I must always have something that will HEAL and also RESET my skin back to original condition. I will also stop using that product immediately and fall back on my own routine. I am also 37 this year, so some form of anti-aging, skin cell regeneration & hydration is important to me.

1: Neurogena Oil to Foam Cleansers
These come in three types – normal, brightening, hydrating. I have already used uo the normal one, and I am almost done with the hydrating one. I love these cleansers because they are so easy to use. They break down your makeup when massage on dry skin, and start to emulsify and foam up when you add water to the massaging. I use this everyday in the evening to remove makeup, and sometimes I will double cleanser with a foaming cleanser. I highly recommend these effective and affordable cleansers.

2: Foaming Cleansers – IOPE IDEAL CLEANSING FOAM
This is not new to me, and I have mentioned it a few times. It is just a super foamy brightening cleansing foam that washes my face well.

3: Mask Treatments
I love a good mask on weekend mornings. To detox my skin, to boost skin firmness and also just to nourish my skin in general. Three masks that I am loving are
BIOTHERM WONDER MUD – this is soooo awesome, I am quickly running out of it. My brother loves it too for the no fuss and refreshing cleansing properties.
GLAMGLOW MUD FIRMING TREATMENT – this is a silver peel off mask. I find that this does plump up my skin, and gives it an overall brightened appearance.
FRESH VITAMIN NECTAR – this is like applying an apricot jam spread on your face. It smells sweet and fruity and I like this as a lightweight nourishing face mask treatment.

4: DIOR SKINCARE – my skin has been loving Dior skincare products for the most of this year. I am thankful that I get lots of Dior stuff to try out because they are definitely not cheap. If I have to recommend only one item you got to try, and if you are looking for a rich face cream, you must use the Dior Capture Totale multi perfection cream – this cream comes in 3 formulations : gel, universal, and cream (?) I got the universal, and this is the night cream I go for when I want to reset my skin, when I want to heal a particular spot or dry area. I use the cream in conjunction with the matching serum – the Totale Capture Intensive Skin Detoxifying Booster Serum & also the Total Capture Eye Zone Detoxifying Radiance Boosting Care. I apply a very generous layer of the serum, and I sealed it with the application of the cream afterwards. Which sounds slightly messy, but the next morning, my skin is restored and ready for the day. I think the Capture Totale range is my fave from Dior by far.

Still on Dior, I also enjoyed mixing the DiorSnow White Perfection brightening serum with the Bloom Perfect Brightening Perfect Skin Perfector (which is slightly tinted). This gives me a good base to apply my makeup though I wish the combo can be more hydrating.

— you would notice by now, I like to go for skin renewal products at night, and for day I like hydrating products —-

4: Kiehls Essentials
I have very good luck with Kiehls Skincare. They are reasonably priced and there is something to suit everyone. I love most of their face creams, and currently my basic face cream is their iconic Ultra Facial Cream. I am also trying out both of their facial treatments, the Micro-Peel concentrate & Clearly Corrective Dark Spot Solution – both are awesome at ensuring that my skintone is as even as possible. And both the facial oils are fail-proof for me. I always go back to the night concentrate – can’t remember how many if these I have gone through over the years – and it is also a staple oil that my sisters swear by – when I only want to use one product. I use the day oil on weekends at home, and literally just let my skin soak in oil for the day.

5: Other essentials that I rotate daily
I like to dab some Laneige Firming eye cream under my eyes for day time, and I use more at night. This is a rich cream without being too heavy. Definitely will repurchase when I am done with it.

Algenist Splash Absolute Hydration is a great moisturiser for day time. I alternate between this and Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream. I don’t usually use serums in the day time, so it is just a great basic face cream and sunscreen before I apply my makeup for the day. Also I love that it is in a pump bottle, so easy to use.

I also use the Sunday Riley Luna Oil once or twice a week. I have just a tiny bottle, but I can see the hype over this facial treatment oil. To me, it is like a richer version of the Kiehls midnight discovery oil and almost twice the price. I love it, but I won’t be purchasing the full size soon – have too many similar products for me to use up first.

6: SKIN INC SERUMS
These serum cocktails are a funny thing. They don’t feel like anything on the skin, but yet they are made up such powerful ingredients. I like that their composition is so pure, they don’t really interfere with any other creams I apply over. Again like previous serums I have mentioned, I apply them very liberally and soak my skin in them for a minute before I apply my face cream. I can’t remember what is the formula of my skininc cocktails but the beautiful thing is you are supposed to customise them based your own skin concerns.

7: SUN SCREENS
I have a whole host of sunscreens that my sister and I rotate.
For lightweight/ invisible ones that I use before makeup, I would go for the Chanel UV ESSENTIEL, CLARINS UV PLUS DAY SCREEN, KIEHLS Ultra Light Daily Defense.
For running days when I only use the sunscreen on its own, I would go for the KIEHLS Ultra Daily UV Defense mineral suncreen which is slightly tinted, and the DIORSNOW UV Shield protection which is quite a heavy duty one that adheres to my skin and doesn’t move at all.

Throughout the day, I also spritz my skin with various facial mists, especially if I am in an AC room for too long, or whenever I feel like refreshing my face. But I guess that another entry for another time.

So to sum up, regardless of your age, I think sun protection and hydration are most important. Have a few trusted skincare products that you can count on (or like me, maybe 10 of them ahahah) and know what works for your skin concerns.

I hope that my sharing has been useful, and thank you for reading!!

Experiencing Estetica’s Skinjexion Facial

Hi hi

In this entry, I will share with you a new facial treatment I got to try out a few weeks ago at Estetica. I tried their new Skinjexion Facial – a multi-step facial treatment targeting lines and signs of aging. The treatment is a high performance line reducer which is safe and yet affordable as compared to other more invasion methods.

By fusing three active substances, SKINJEXION is a skin therapy treatment representing a genuine substitute for medical-aesthetic injections. This efficacious treatment produces immediate results, working on three different levels to slow wrinkle formation in the skin, smooth wrinkles by relaxing and attenuating skin contraction, and fill wrinkles to reduce wrinkle depth through hydration and restoring the skin’s elasticity.

The three active substances to fight the wrinkles are:

Imudilin, SNAP-8, and High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid.

Imudilin plays a critical role in slowing down the process of skin tissue aging – it is supposed to stimulate the skin’s immune cells, which is essential for cell communication, a trait that decreases within the skin tissues as ageing occurs.

SNAP-8 smoothes wrinkles by relaxing and attenuating skin contraction – think of this as a botx effect, and SNAP-8 is ideal for anyone searching for a milder, safe yet effective anti-wrinkle treatment. It acts as a gentle and efficient alternative to Botulinum Toxin (botox), mimicking the effect of injections while targeting the same wrinkle formation mechanism.

High Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid fills in wrinkle through hydration and facilitates the formation of a structure at the skin’s surface to hold in water, preventing dehydration of the skin and reinforcing the skin barrier. This allows the restoration of the skin’s elastic properties, increases hydration levels, while plumping and smoothening the skin’s surface and texture.

The Process (and click on my pics which shows every step of the treatment)

Like every facial treatment, we started with cleansing of the face with a cleansing milk and lotion.
Next, is the SCRUB, which peeling cream that is applied to the lines (mainly around the sides of my mouth, frown lines between my brows and on my neck) A brush is used to literally scrub this cream into my lines a couple of times, and then over the whole face lightly. The scrub is then rinsed off, and the same lotion from step 1 is applied.
After the scrub, comes the serum application, using a syringe like applicator. The skinjector device is used to allow the serum to penetrate into my skin for ten minutes. The remaining half of the serum is then applied onto my face, and this time, a mcropick is used to ‘roll’ and ‘prick’ my skin to stimulate the surface and boost absorption of the serum. (You can see a close up of the mcropick in one of the pictures.) The prickly sensation from the mcropick rolling on your skin takes a short while to get used to, but it is not painful by any means.
After this intensive serum application, a richer cream is applied and massaged onto my face (by then I think I dozed off).
After the cream massage, is the masque step – this is a bright red paste which is mixed just before use. The masque is applied liberally over my face, and left on for 20 minutes. As you can see in the collage, the mask sets and lifts off easily during the removal.
After everything a ‘matte’ cream is applied to the lines area and lightly over the whole face. Then a ‘filler’ cream is applied to the lines, filling in any wrinkles to ensure a smooth and firm surface. This filler cream (shown in one of the close up pictures) is something you can use a base for special events, if you really want a instant wrinkle filler. The effect, I was told, last for about 5 hours.

All the skincare products that are used in this treatment are all formulated just for this Skinjexion facial and they are available individually for sale at the salon.

The entire treatment lasts for 75 minutes, and it is recommended to for a 4 session course, once a week. The cost of the treatment is S$350 and available at all Estetica outlets.

My thoughts:

The treatment is soothing and comfortable. I noticed smoother skin instantly post treatment, the lines around my mouth definitely diminished while I think those on my neck need more work (but anyway, I don’t think the lines around my neck are due to aging, they have been there since I was a kid – think of them as more of fat folds hahahaa).

Over the next couple of weeks, I must say I enjoyed a very smooth and even skin texture which was noted by people at work (no kidding, when more than two people ask me how I maintain my skin, I know something is showing – having a good facial, good skincare, clean makeup base all help to enhance the look of anyone’s skin).

I think that this treatment is beneficial for those in their late 30s to early 40s.. if you are starting to show signs of wrinkles/ lines.. and you want to treat them without doing anything too drastic.. this facial will definitely help – maybe one session might be enough to boost your skin, but a couple more will yield more obvious results for sure.

SKINJEXION TREATMENT

SKINJEXION Facial Treatment (90 minutes, $350) is available at all Estetica Beauty Studios islandwide. It is recommended the SKINJEXION sessions are done once a week for at least four consecutive weeks.

I hope that my sharing is useful, and do share with me what are your tried and tested anti-aging methods!

Thanks for reading!

GRWM: NARS Fall 2016 & NARS Brow Defining Cream Routine

Hi hi!!

This is a look which I did, that you have seen in the previous entry featuring the NARS Velvet Lip Glides (click here to read!). In this entry, I try to use as many of the products which I can from the new/ upcoming Fall Collection. I will try to insert more preview pictures if possible, there are several additions – new additions to the Audacious lipsticks, new colour pencils, new contour duos… lots of new stuff. I have shared the collection story and pictures in this entry here, so do have a read if you want to see everything else.

I am eyeing the two neutral tone dual intensity eyeshadows in this collection – Rigel and Antares – but for this entry, I just felt like giving my eyelids a light sweep of Shark Pool dual intensity eyeshadow from their Summer collection.. It is a very pretty pale irisdecent blue eyeshadow that didn’t scream the 80s on me (I hope so) but I think it brighten up my eyelids somewhat.

The highlight of this entry for me, is to feature the new brow cream and also the new contour duo.

I love the brow defining cream – it is creamy and easy to blend, reminding me of a cross between the ABH brow promade and the inglot brow creams. The colour that I am using, which is EL DJOUF – described on the website as a light brown, but I think this is a more medium brown, not too warm, and suits me quite well.

Next, I am excited for the Contour Duo in Talia – a cooler tone contour kit which is good for pale to light skintone. Olympia is the current one they have, it is more rosy, but if you want a more classic contour colour, you have to try out Talia.

Texture wise, the NARS contour kits have a drier texture, very fine – not a bad thing if you don’t want to go overboard with the contour. They are easy to apply and blend. Compare this to the powdery creamy textures of my Becca and Kat Von D shade and light powders, those go ‘pow wow’ intense on your skin that requires a bit of a panicky blending, but for these NARS ones, I find that they are more subtle, but no less intense and effective.

and the overall look:

One more time which I definitely want to pick from from this collection is the

Velvet Matte lip pencil in INFATUATED RED – described as Garnet on the site. I swatched it at the preview session, and it was love at first swipe.

Overall, my top picks from the NARS Fall 2016 collection:

Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Infatuated Red
Contour Blush – Talia
Dual Intensity Eyeshadow – Antares
Velvet Eyeliner – Espresso

I hope that my sharing has been helpful, and thank you for reading!

Review: MUFE Foundations (Ultra HD Stick, Concealer, Water Blend)

Hi hi!! This entry will be an overview of several MUF base products which I have been trying out for the past few weeks and more. All of them are currently available at MUFE pro store and also at Sephora Singapore. So now, let’s move on to my review:

Just to start off, the MUFE foundations come in a variety of shades and undertones to suit every skintone. I tend to go for the Y (Yellow) shades just to neutralise the redness in my skin, and if there is a neutral tone, I would also go for it too. So if I were to eyeball my foundation shade, I usually go for the yellow lightest or second lightest shade. The shade goes for the concealer.

I know there will be questions over how the MUFE Ultra HD stick compares with the Ultra HD Liquid foundation… I will address that further down this entry too.

Secondly, here’s the summary of all product descriptions and also the shade that I am using in each product. I have more than one shade, but the one I listed is the one I most often reach for.

Water Blend Foundation SGD72 – I use the shade Y215 Yellow Alabaster.

Give skin a fresh, dewy glow with this unrivaled formula that feels so lightweight, sheer and comfortable. The quick and easy application makes it ideal for both the face and the body, as this water-based waterproof foundation evens out the complexion to leave a natural-looking, satin finish. Created with 80% water, this long-lasting unique water-gel texture naturally hydrates and blends in evenly for a smooth, flawless look.

ULTRA HD Foundation Stick SGD72- I use the shade Y225 Marble.

ULTRA HD stick foundation feels like a second skin and still provides medium to full coverage while looking flawless and natural. Exclusive 4K Complex guarantees invisible, natural and comfortable makeup. The creamy texture blends in seamlessly to conceal imperfections. Perfect for touch-ups, the formula glides on and makes skin look even-toned and moisturized, with a soft satin finish. Great for all skin types, even dry skin.

ULTRA HD INVISIBLE COVER CONCEALER SGD50 – I use the shade Y21 Pearl. The R32 shade that I have is too dark for me, and I don’t need to correct any undereye discolouration, for me, undereye concealer means to brighten that area, hence I use only the Y shade.

ULTRA HD Concealer covers dark circles, unifies the eye contour and hides signs of fatigue, leaving a smooth luminous flawless finish. Exclusive 4K Complex guarantees invisible, natural and comfortable makeup. This easy-blend and long-wearing formula illuminates the eye area for a fresh look. Medium coverage. For all skin types.

Swatches of the products:

Application process:

For both foundations, I use my fingertips to apply – this is my preferred way of foundation application for a long time, and I find that I can work the product into my skin nicely without having to tug or over-buff my skin if I were to use a brush. Also, I find that I need to use less product when I use my fingertips. It is messy of course, but nothing that a tissue or wet wipe can’t deal with.

As you can see, the shade Y215 is quite pale, but it sheers out and blends into my skintone.. still looking a little pale, I could probably go a shade darker, but I find that Y215 works because after my bronzers/ contour, I would end up with a brighter centre of my face, and the rest of my skintone is just balanced out.

What impresses me about this formula is that it is very thin, watery and the coverage is sheer – but it is not invisible. You can see it covers my skin surface with an almost silky finish, and it is easily built up if you need more coverage.. but the coverage will never come up to a proper full coverage. The foundation sets almost immediately, and you have to work quickly.

I find this foundation to be very long lasting and adheres very well to the skin. It weighs like nothing, and looks fresh throughout the day, through sweaty workouts, and still stays on strong.

If I were to compare this to other ‘water’ foundations on the market, I would say this is better than the Shu Uemura Cosmetic Water foundation, which to me, felt like a tinted water, it didnt do much for me in terms of coverage and finish.

If I were to compare the MUFE Water Blend face and body foundation to the MAC face and body foundation – I would say the MAC one has more coverage, both are equally lightweight and stays on the skin very well throughout the day. The MUFE probably has more shades though, while the MAC one goes by N1, N2, C1, etc etc.

Overall, this is a great foundation that I would reach for long hot days – it looks great in photos and makes you look like you have great skin naturally. Probably the only downside is that if you have problems with skin texture, this is not the best foundation to give you that smooth flawless finish. But if you have great skin, you just want to give your skin a smooth even tone, this foundation will take it up a notch and makes your skin look even better.

On the other side of my face, I applied the MUFE Ultra HD stick foundation – and as you can see, this is the one shade darker than the previous Y215.. this is Y225.. which is exactly my skintone, with a warm undertone. This is easy to use, I usually just apply it straight from the tube, and use my fingers to even it out. It has more coverage than the Water Blend for sure, and it good if you have spots to cover. I find it easy to build up on areas where necessary, and it is creamy enough for you to blend and apply.

If I were to compare the ULTRA HD Liquid to the ULTRA HD stick, I must say that I still prefer the liquid foundation. It seems to last longer on me and I think that the stick foundation – while it is easy to use, seems a little more emollient, which is fine if you have normal to dry skin. But if you have normal/ combination/ oily skin, you might want to go for the ULTRA HD Liquid foundation.

Again this is another foundation which photographs beautifully, giving your skin a very smooth finish. I like this foundation, but if I have to choose, I would go for the liquid, and also the waterblend, both of which lasted longer on me throughout the day.

If you want a a review of my MUFE ULTRA HD liquid foundation, you can find it in this entry here – CLICK.

(note that eventually I sort of meshed the two sides of my face foundation together before I set my foundation…)

As for the ULTRA HD concealer, I really like how the product comes out, the opening is a rounded ‘glob’ which dispenses the right amount of product. I think that this is a great undereye brightener if you pick the right shade, on me, this doesn’t look dry nor cakey, though I have come across reviews that it looks cakey for people who have drier or more mature skin than me. The coverage is pretty intense for something for undereyes, but I don’t mind. It is quite long lasting, and it is only after the 7 or 8 hour mark that I would notice a bit of lifting and fading of the concealer. This I usually manage by just dabbing the area and reblending the patches. Usually by that time I would be going home soon and washing off my makeup anyway.

Would you be keen to read an overview of my rotation of undereye concealer/ bases? I realise I am rotating several that I have been loving, so I think that would be interesting to share.

Here’s an overall look – and what else I did to complete everything:

on the rest of the face,

I set with RCMA transparent loose powder

brows filled in with ABH Medium Brown, and also with Shu Uemura brow powder duo in Seal Brown

eyes done using Vise Art Theory palette in Minx, and lined with Kat Von D liquid liner in Trooper

for lips I am wearing Colourpop Satin Liquid lipstick in Echo Park

cheeks/ bronzer, I am using MUFE Sculpting Kit 02, followed by MUFE Pro Sculpting Duo 02 as a bronzing blush colour.

Hope you find this entry helpful, and thank you for reading! 🙂

Review & Swatches: NARS Velvet Lip Glide

I have a teaser post for you today, featuring the new NARS Velvet Lip Glide – these will only launch in SG around October, so this is a really early sneak peak. I have the chance to play and swatch the colours in this collection and also share with you my thoughts on how they perform.

Before we go on, here is the collection story:

This season, NARS takes lips to a whole new level with the new Velvet Lip Glide. The new lip color strikes the perfect balance between softness and strength, coverage and comfort in a full range of colors. Laced with NARS’ Oil Infusion Complex, this hybrid lip color combines the fluidity and effortlessness of a gloss with the coverage and comfort of a lipstick. Oil Infusion Complex allows for a smooth-glide effect, instantly delivering saturated color with sensorial comfort. The new doe foot applicator offers a plush application delivering effortlessly nourished lips and intense color. Named after the iconic venues and new attitude that emerged from the sexual revolution of the ‘70s, Velvet Lip Glide shade names capture the freedom of personal power and play.

Swatches on my hand:

and swatches on my lips:

My top picks?

Unlaced – this is the sexist pale lipstick that doesn’t look like death.. it is like a chic mannequin skin colour on me

Bound – that rosy blush nude shade never gets old

No 54 – this is a sexy red, love!

Deviant – deeper red, very flattering

My thoughts on these:

I have to say that this is a very interesting formula – at first swatch, I thought they were just pigmented lip gloss. I didn’t get the ‘velvet’ at all in this formula… and I thought ‘why don’t they make the lip covers from the summer collection permanent because those felt more liquidy less slippery’.. until I really had a chance to explore them and also to apply on my lips. It takes a while for the velvet lip glide to set on your lips.. and they set into this soft velvety finish – which you can see, the transition from the glossy look in the lip swatches into the velvety in the overall face shots. They all feel quite comfortable, and they apply very very smoothly. I won’t compare these nor put them in the same category as the endless supply of liquid lipsticks saturating the lipstick market at the moment. They might be a tad similar to the Giorgio Armani maestro lip colours. The pale neutral shades are beautiful in this formula, and the bolder shades are really chic and don’t slip and slide all over the place.

In terms of lasting power, I have to say they don’t last that long – not that they are really marketed as bulge proof or long lasting – and touching up and reapplication is necessary. But they are easy to wipe off, and easy to re apply. If you are prone to dry lips, and you want to try out something easy to wear.. you have to try these out.

Everything else on the face is also NARS.. but I forgot what I wore.. it has been weeks since the pictures were taken and processed.

Most likely the NARS Velvet Matte Skin Tint, Dual Intensity Eyeshadow in Pool Shark, Brow Gel (which I will review in another entry), and Gilda (or Lovejoy?) blush… and Laguna bronzer Hot sands highlighter. Lashes – Huda Beauty Lashes in -1 Gisele.

Notice how in these full face shots, the lip colors have set to a more of a almost soft matte finish, very very nice!!

I hope my review has been helpful and thanks for reading!

Pilates & Facial at Phillip Wain Singapore

Last week, I was very kindly hosted by Phillip Wain Singapore to experience a couple of their fitness and beauty services – a personalised one to one Pilates training and also a relatively new facial treatment.

After spending the afternoon the their sprawling location at Mandarin Hotel, I must say it is indeed a lovely experience – and clearly a hidden luxe spot located in the heart of Orchard Road that many of the women who were also during the afternoon I was there (don’t they have to work? )there know about. Think of it as a rather private club – you get your workouts done, after that enjoy the facilities there (which includes a very well designed shower area, steam rooms, spacious locker rooms/ changing area), have a freshly prepared healthy meal, juices and other beverages. Then after this chilling out session, you can opt for their comprehensive body or facial treatments.

Such services definitely don’t come cheap, and I hope that my sharing will show you that it is worth the investment to enjoy the facilities and treatments that are offered at Phillip Wain – plus you get to enjoy your very own trial sessions at a discounted price before you decide to commit to any of the packages they have. (ps, not to worry, I was assured that hard selling is not their style.)

Let’s start with the one to one Pilates session with my trainer for the afternoon, Louisa – she is encouraging, firm and pushes me (in the nicest way possible) to do my best. It was one of the best hours I have spent – I learnt about about my alignment when it comes to doing certain moves – which I feel greatly benefitted me when it comes to my own yoga practice. I found myself aching in places I wished I had paid more attention to when I am exercising. And I am happy that I pushed myself to stretch, lift and hold for as much as I did. I am certainly open to the idea of incorporating more Pilates into my own workouts in the near future. The personal attention and coaching certainly helped, especially when it comes to maintaining my form on the reformer machine, every micro adjustment made a difference to which parts of my body I am working on. It was amazing, and I truly enjoyed it.

(btw, are you all keen to read more about my workout routine and stuff? I am by no means any health nut or whatever, but I am pretty amazed at what I am willing to try these days, and maybe also just a update on my current weight/ workout situation, do let me know in the comments!)

After a shower, and a quick rest/catching up with my host Eugenia, it was time for my facial. I told the team at Phillip Wain to pick the any facial which I should try, with a focus on anti-aging and hydration. So I got to try out the 90-minute Aqua EX3 Face Spa – which is a lifting, hydrating and whitening treatment making use of snail mucin essence.

The treatment started with a thorough cleansing of my skin – and then the chemical and mechanical peeling using the Aqua EX3 machine, this part is very relaxing with the suction tubes gently this was massage onto my skin after cleansing and some much needed pore extraction (which is really optional but I was feeling adventurous and yolo, hence the redness around my nose post facial). I fell asleep during this part of the treatment, and that’s what my therapist told me.Next, is the mask, which is freshly mixed and looked like a durian paste in terms of texture and colour but smells much more pleasant and soothing concoction which left my skin really smooth and radiant for the next few days after.

(and a freshly facial-ed face – not the most ideal showcase, I am aware, but my skin gets really red easily from plucking and poking, but but but I hope you get the idea of how clear everywhere else looked.. and also, ignore the rather sleepy eyes)

And another pic, this is already evening time, after a almost 4 hours at the place, all freshened up and well worked out.

I hope that you enjoyed my sharing, and I think that the whole experience is definitely worth a try. You get access to the facilities when you sign up for their fitness package, or when you sign up for their personalised workout classes, and if you are wanting to start some form of workout in a more private and non-intimidating setting, I think you can’t go wrong with what Phillip Wain has to offer.

And if you want to experience what I have just shared, here’s a special price promo for you:

From now til 30 Sept 2016, quote ‘Sophia Ng’ to enjoy a 60 minutes Pilates personal training at SG$78 and/ora 90 minutes Aqua EX3 Face Spa at SG$78. This means a total of less than $200 for everything, and I highly recommend you to go for it – try it out, before you decide if the package is what you want. This promotion is only for new female customers aged 21 above, and T&Cs apply.

To book an appointment or enquire, please call 6250 0100. Or you can visit them at Mandarin Orchard Hotel (Mandarin Gallery), Level 7 via lift 6 & 7.

Link to Phillip Wain website – click here

Thank you for reading!

NEW Urban Decay Vice Lipsticks

Hi hi! Sharing with you my overall thoughts on the new Urban Decay Vice lipsticks which are just launched at Sephora this weekend. I had the chance to preview and play with these lipsticks for a while, and I shall share with you with are my faves.

Just a few quick facts before we move on:

SG$29 each – this is a darn good price point, and you can easily grab a few without feeling like you have spent a bomb… and with over 100 shades, you definitely will want to get more than a couple.

six finishes

COMFORT MATTE – creamy matte * this is my fave formula among all
CREAM – this is like the previous Revolution lipsticks, they are creamy and intense, slight sheen
Metallized – Imagine the CREAM LIPSTICKS, packed with glitter/ shimmer
SHEER – this is the old Sheer Revolution, depending on your colour choice, the nude ones are really see through, while the bolder shades still pack decent colour payoff
SHEER SHIMMER – this is the sheer sister of the Metallized finish
MEGA MATTE – this is like a liquid lipstick in a tube, but more comfortable to wear. I am impressed.

The lipsticks are formulated with their trademark PIGMENT INFUSION SYSTEM – which gives the lipsticks super creamy texture and rich colour payoff. They comfort and hydrate, and never leave your lips dry. They also contain extracts of Aloe Vera, Jojoba and Babassu oils to soften your lips.

Here’s a closer look at the packaging, which is sleek, not bulky at all, and shaped like a bullet – most of you would have seen the pic of me on my IG, wearing a whole load of these lipsticks in a bullet strap at Sephora.. hehe – I personally find them easy to pop into your small bags for touching up on the go.

My thoughts – as I have already mentioned – not all the six finishes are going to appeal to everyone. The sheer shimmer are almost like lipstick toppers – but I won’t def wear them on their own. Some of the metallized ones are like frosty lipsticks – not exactly attractive to me, as you will see in one of the shades below.

Your best bet would be to go for the CREAM, CREAMY MATTE, and/or even the MEGA MATTE – the latter, I find that they feel dry at first touch, but as you glide them over your lips over and over, somehow they seem to warm up a bit and melt into your lips, giving your lips a very smooth, matte look. I must say they are really beautiful.

The shades that I love love love out of this bunch, and from more that I have swatched and explored are

Rock Steady – C
714 – MM
Rush – C
LIAR – C
Hitchhike – CM

I love that they have kept some of the classic shades, like Naked, Menace, and brought back Mrs Mia Wallace as a permanent addition to the collection. Got to love some brand heritage here. 🙂

In terms of longevity, this really depends on the finish, the sheer ones will require more touching up throughout the day, but the CM, and MM formula will definitely stay on much longer. I also like how the Cream formula really glide on your lips and deliver full colour payoff in one swipe.