Travel Series| Beauty| Happy New Year!

Happy 2015 my dears!

I've been away for the past few weeks for the December holidays and I'm super excited to be back and blogging! This month I'll be doing a Travel series where I discuss things that helped me balance out my skin and keep me healthy and happy during the last 2 weeks :) 

Let's talk MASKS!!

This month I've been doing a lot of sitting on planes and travelling to various different climates. Because of that, its been giving my skin a hard time adjusting to the different humidities and air qualities of each country, while trying to balance out the dryness of airline air and the lack of hydration that inevitably happens when you fly on long-haul flights. 

For this reason, I packed 3 Tony Moly masks into my suitcase for my 3 destinations!

London ~ Shanghai:  Toly Moly Tea Tree Mask Skin Soothing

It was a 10 hour flight, so there was definitely going to be a lack of hydration while on the flight despite my pre-flight moisturising and I didn't want to make my skin dry out! I'm not one to put on the mask while on the flight, but as soon as I got home the first thing I used was the Tea Tree Mask for skin soothing. It does a great job replenishing the loss of hydration from the plane. More importantly, because Shanghai is extremely polluted in the winter time (AQI 200....), it was important to make sure that my skin was calm so that I would have the least reaction possible to the terrible air quality. This helps reduce the chances of breakouts due to the unhygenic air particles lodging in your skin, and also sort of prevents flaking.

Shanghai~Singapore: Toly Moly Rice Mask Clear Skin

This is only a 5 hour flight, but its also somewhat damaging because its a drastic change in climate. Also, the humidity tends to cause my skin to either breakout or just cause a lot of spots that don't seem to go away for awhile. I wanted to make sure that my skin was not only clear of all the polluted nonsense that may have found it's way into my face, I also wanted to make sure that I had cleaned it out of the disgusting plane air to ensure that my pores were as receiving as possible to the stuff in the mask. Before putting on this mask, I suggest to clean your face with warm water and a light face scrub to exfoliate and then use a toner to ensure there's nothing blocking the mask and your pores. This mask helped me maintain my skin to be as clear as possible while also calming my skin down and re-introducing hydration.

Singapore~Singapore: Toly Moly Lemon Mask Sheet Brightening

By this time, my skin has been through a lot over the past 2 weeks- various climates (London/Shanghai/Singapore), levels of dryness and weather. I got back to Shanghai on the 31st, so I was getting ready to go out for a New Year's Party and didn't have time to do a mask. I chose this one so that when I did it on the 1st of Jan before my flight back to the UK, I would be able to replenish the dryness, but also the healthy glow that is sometimes lost after a late night out, a flight and scrubbing the makeup off your face. This allowed me to look healthy and hydrated, and replenished the healthy glow in my skin for a no-makeup flight back to London the next day :)

Hope you're all having an amazing rest of your holiday, that your Christmasses were festive and that you had a brilliant new years! I'm very grateful for the (few) people that read what I share and thank you so much for caring about what I have to say, haha :)

Have a brilliant 2015!!

follow me on: twitter: kaylarhxx

instagram: kaylarhx 

Daring December :)

December is here and that means more fun wintery products to use! I've been trying out some lipsticks recently (and other products) to help transition into winter and I thought I'd share some of my handbag necessities ;)

For all your parched lip needs.... Mac tinted lip conditioner! Its an old favourite for good reason-- not only does it smell like vanilla, its also super hydrating and adds colour to your lips. It also has great size and its cute and small enough to fit into your handbag.

Soap & Glory Hand Food handcream! Moisturises, while not leaving your hands sticky or clammy. Long lasting scent and long lasting product.

Mac Viva Glam lipstick (matte)- gorgeous deep red shade, which is great for the winter days and transitioning into nights and keeping with the theme of the season. Also a good holiday colour. Very rich and adds a lot pigment to your lips while being long lasting. Plus, its easy to get off!

L'Oreal Illuminating Powder-- old favourite, but great use particularly in the winter. There's a built-in blush on the inside of the shiny powder, which gives your cheeks a wind-kissed blush while adding shine to brighten up the dull days. Also great use as a setting powder without adding too much shine to your face.

InnisFree Makeup 1 Minute Mask-- masks that help you put on your makeup despite your dry, wintery skin. Moisturises, tones and hydrates your skin and preps it for makeup. Great for winters, or drier days, where your face feels to flaky for makeup and you don't want to apply too much in fear that it will ruin your skin even further. There are 3 sheets in this pack, and mostly people put them on their forehead and cheeks to revive the moisture and the skin so the makeup can glide and sit slightly easier.

Bobbi Brown lipstick (unfortunately the bottom has rubbed off so I don't know which one this is!) Its a deep plum-y colour, which adds more richness than the previous Mac lipstick, which was more of a deep red as opposed to a darker purple. I love using it for going out, where it seems more easier to match-- I've yet to master the ability to make it work during the day, but I'm trying!

Etude House Collagen Eye Patch- One of the first places in your face where all the moisture gets sucked out is under the eyes. Its also where your eyebags are (obviously) the most prominent. This is a great product because it soothes the undereye area, relieves it from any discomfort and also helps with the revitalisation and moisturing of the skin underneath it (which, in the long run, will help with wrinkles). Protip: leave it in the fridge so when you take it out and apply it under your eyes, it feels cooling and helps reduce puffiness even more.

What are some of your favourites, let me know :)

Winter Rainy Day Essentials

The weather has taken a drastic turn from sunny to dreary and I'm still getting used to it. If you're like me and wants to spend the weekends indoors to escape the incessant rain and wind, here are some rainy day essentials that will help you pass the time while you lounge in your cute pajamas!

You will need: 

Twinings Fruit Selection Tea to sweeten up your day! 

They're all pink and purple and fruity which are not only my favourite colours and scents... but also my favourite teas :)

My favourite are the strawberry & mango and blackcurrant, ginseng & vanilla 

hot tea on a cold day = yum yum yum! 

A wintery nail colour to dazzle your day

Winter doesn't always have to be cold and dreary. If you have dark nail colours that match the mood outside, feel free to emulate the character of winter on your nails ;)

This is the Shu Uemura in shiny rouge and the Etude House transparent top coat.

Pamper essentials

Winter comes with wind... and with wind comes dry skin. Make yourself feel more hydrated and treat your skin to some masks that will restore the moisture and life into the darkest of winters (; Also... using the lemon mask brightening sheet is a great way to cheer yourself up in the irony (hehe).

Here I have Tony Moly Lemon Mask Brightening Sheet & Etude House White Pearl.

Books for Inspiration

Whether or not its a novel, your journal, or some magazines for when the weather's got you down and you want to feel inspired by these amazing women, reading will always give you inspiration for style, decorating or for your next goal. I tend to write down things to feel blessed for when the weather is icky and wet, which is a great way to remember to keep positive and to remember what your main goals are, big or small!

I have Glamour (November 2014) , Elle and Bazaar (both December 2014) this month. Both Hearst magazines are doing a feminism issue where they are celebrating inspirational women and their style, as well as beauty trends and other trends this season. There were also doing stories about Carey Mulligan, Emma Watson and Keira Knightley, who are all wonderful women and great role models. If you're feeling like the winter has you confused and unsure about what to do and if you should even attempt to look presentable when all you want to do is drink hot chocolate and sleep, they will definitely inspire you and encourage you to do something small/big with your life, or at least, get out of bed and start doing the things you want to!

What are some of your winter essentials? Let me know!
Let's all band together and encourage each other... because winter is coming
Happy rainy day :) 

Product Review: Étude House Collagen Eye Patch

Happy Saturday (or whatever time it is wherever you're at)! And also, Happy October (?!?!? already?!?!)

I suppose it comes as no surprise that I've been using a lot of Etude House recently.  I promise it won't always be about Asian beauty products, but since I just came back from Singapore I was trying a lot of Etude House because as far as I know, it hasn't opened up in London yet (unless someone kindly tells me otherwise). 

*Apologies for the lighting, I took these in a hotel room and so the lighting wasn't the best.. being on-the-go is not great for my pictures :(

As you can see from the pictures, you detach the semi-circle shaped part from the sheet and put it on your under-eye area.  The idea is that it should be used to prevent puffiness, dark under-eye circles, and the collagen is meant to keep your undereye area smooth, healthy and possibly prevent any fine lines.

Some people have encouraged the use of this during a long flight so that when you get off it, your eyes feel refreshed and comfortable and you don't look as tired. (I actually learnt about these through watching Michelle Phan's video).  But for me, I felt like doing it when I landed was a great reward and way to relax for me after surviving the 13 hour flight from Singapore to London ;)

It does what you'd imagine it to do-- which is refresh your eyes, add back the moisture that was lost during the light, and prevent your undereye area from looking too tired.  I wasn't expecting much else and it was my first time using this product, so I wasn't sure of what else it should be doing.  However, after doing my research, it turns out that they not only help repair the collagen in that region of your face, but it also has Vitamins A and E and green tea extracts to soothe and nourish skin.

I'd recommend this to people who get on planes a lot or travel quite a bit, as travelling can do a lot of damage to your skin and one of the first signs of fatigue can be seen under your eyes.  I haven't tried enough of these to say if its an amazing "must-buy" product, but it certainly is worth investing in if you feel like your undereye area is always on the verge of dryness or showing signs of fatigue and you want to refresh yourself.   They're also not particularly pricey (obviously cheaper in Asia) and so its not tremendously unaffordable.

Some ways you can  get them if you're in the UK:

http://www.yesstyle.co.uk/en/etude-house-collagen-eye-patch-5-pairs/info.html/pid.1022972903

http://www.amazon.com/Etude-House-Collagen-Eye-Patch/dp/B004HYBJWS

Let me know if you've tried it and loved this product as well, or if there are other dubs for this product that sell in Europe or the UK!

xx

Summer Skincare Fun: Sleeping Mask!

heya x

So as promised, here is a second blog post that I've been working on that has (surprise, surprise), to do with skincare.  I'm obsessed.  I spent the whole summer sampling new skincare products and trying out everything in the Etude House shop and I'm here to share my skincare adventures with everyone.

For those who aren't familiar, Etude House is a Korean skincare brand that does everything from makeup to night masks.  They are not only cheap & affordable, but also super cute and super pink.  Their packaging is quintessentially Korean and it looks so adorable and so full of colour and happiness that it never fails to amaze me how people who know about this store can exercise self-control while in it.  Despite having been aware of this shop before, I have just recently entered this pink haven (the tagline on the website says: Let your pink out), but now that I know it exists, I sincerely doubt I will ever be able to walk by it without my wallet bleeding.


Massage Sleeping Pack: http://www.etudehouse.com/index.php/skincare/massage-sleeping-pack/moonlight-in-spoon-b-s-c.html
This is a blending sleeping cream that you put on your face before you go to bed (please excuse the terrible picture placements, it was dark and I just had my phone with me).  It normally comes in a pack as can be seen in the link above, but because I wasn't too sure about it I experimented with one first (its the olive in this picture), just to see what its like.

The picture on the left is what it looks like in the packaging, which is not only super cute but also very inviting.  The stuff inside is meant to mimic olive and give hydration and softness and all that great stuff to the skin, so having it all green and nature-y in the packaging is a surefire way to ensure consumers like me fall into the clear-naturey skin trap :(

The picture on the right shows the product itself and basically what you do is open up the bottom of the spoon, where you mix the liquids together and then using the top part of the spoon as an applicator to your face.  Its a lot, so if your face doesn't seem to need that much product, you can apply it on your neck, or even use it during a fun sleepover and share some with your friends (remember to use a different applicator)! Regardless, I managed to put most of it on my face and was pleasantly surprised when, after a few minutes, the liquid/gel began to harden.  By the time I fell asleep, it was basically absorbed or sitting on my skin without getting everywhere.  I'd suggest to leave about 20-30 minutes to make sure it hardens.  

I'll admit that I had my reservations about this because I thought it would get all over my pillows and covers.  But in the morning after washing it off, not only did my face feel super hydrated but there wasn't anything on the pillowcases.  I also thought that my face would never be able to hold so much product but because the gel hardens, putting the whole packet on your face is actually quite do-able. I'll definitely go back to try this again, so if anyone knows where I can get these in the UK, I would appreciate it so much <3

Let me know what your favourite skincare products this summer were and if you've ever tried this before! xx Kayla

August Favourites: Makeup! (Part 2)

Part II of August Favourites is going to be about my fave foundation and eyeshadow!!

                                  Estée Lauder Long Lasting Makeup Foundation

I have recently been able to branch out of my no-foundation phase and have started using foundations, whether it be loose powder, BB Cream type things, or liquid foundations.  This is super useful because during some mornings I put on loose powder if I'm having a bad skin day, and I can pop this in my handbag and carry it around for touch-ups during the day.  The only somewhat negative thing I'd say about this is that despite the fact that I'm in love with the size, the sponge is really small ): It's a bit hard to get good coverage for all over my face, but since normally I just need to touch-up certain areas (normally my tzone), its good enough for most days.

Victoria's Secret Beauty Rush Too Too Pink

I'm going to do a swab of this eventually because I love the shimmer over the pink in this eyeshadow.  It's also super long-lasting, so that means you can wear it for most of the day without it leaking all over your eyes.  Also the eyeshadow says its "luminous" and it lives up to its name! Its shimmery and bright and pretty and has a really nice pink hue that matches with basically everything.  It can do basically anthing you want- if you just want eyeshadow for a day look, it looks cute and girly, but if you want to add shimmer and shine to another kind of look, you could lightly line your top lid with the shimmer and the pink will bring out your eyes and make 'em pop! (:

What are some of your favourites? Let me know <3

August Favourites: Makeup!

There were quite a lot of makeup favourites, which is why I had to wait to combine all my faves into this one post! But here they areee (super delayed and overdue, but here nonetheless)! I've separated them by product because there are quite a few faves, so the first batch to go is lipsticks!! 

Christian Dior Cassonade Ginger Rose 518 

(excuse my thigh :S)

It's well loved (as you can tell) and it comes in a super chic packaging with a cute hexagonal type stick.  Its also a great nude colour.  It has a slight pink-ish hue, which is useful especially for those working days where I want to add a little colour but not too popping, but at the same time maintaining that girly, summery, au naturel look.

The Body Shop Colour Crush 115

I love Body Shop products for almost anything (as you can possibly tell).  But I am also super in love with their line of lipsticks because they are not only incredibly pigmented, but they are moisturising and stay on for a long period of time (ie. for more or less 90% of your night out).  Body Shop's products are also organic and don't leave a lot of residue on your lips because they're easy to remove, so its a win-win situation because you get a gorgeous, deep red lip colour, and an easy removal after a night out. 

Mac Viva Glam Matte 747

Another well-loved and classic Mac colour.  I don't generally use lipsticks, but the ones that I do are often of the same hues and are staple colours.  I love classic pinks, reds and nudes because I feel like they can add so much to a look, but at the same time stand alone and be the centerpiece of a look.  This Mac one is particular is one of my faves because not only do I love mattes, but I also love the fact that this is a much darker and deeper red than the previous Body Shop one, so it adds so much more dimension to a smokey eye or night out look.

What are some of your faves! Let me know (:

PS: I might do a swatch of these at the end of the series-- stay tuned !!

Working Girl Series

Happy Monday Lovelies!

I promise I'm still working on my back to school series, but I'm also starting a concurrent series where I document the outfits and styles that I wear to my internship at TBWA, hopefully on a daily or every-other-day basis.  I'm not really going to be sharing my make-up styles much because I don't intend on wearing a lot of make up everyday, but maybe once in awhile if I choose to do something special, who knows!

I've recently started a PR stint with TPR in the advertising agency TBWA, which is a very renowned global advertising agency with a lot a vast clientele, such as Adidas and Apple.  It also has various branches, such as PR, events, advertising.... etc.  Like most advertising agencies, its got a huge marketing base and aims to be a part of a lot of important projects not only in Singapore, but globally as well. 

 Disclaimer though: I'm not going to be blogging about my experiences there! I'm just going to be sharing my style and stuff throughout the few weeks that I'll be in TPR.  I feel like some of the stuff might be confidential and its not very polite to blog about the people and the culture there because everyone's experience and what they gain from their internships are all different and I just don't feel like I want to give out any kind of false projection from my blog..ok RANT OVER!

SMART CASUAL! For your first day, you might want to be comfy but still maintain a sense of style.  I wouldn't recommend black and white on your first day because boring! Save those for when you really can't think of any more outfit combos.  Just in case you're gonna be doing something like running errands or in the rain you don't want to be wearing a nice dress that you could potentially ruin.  Be smart, also wear sensible shoes!  You can start dressing up when you've gotten a better feel of the place and the kind of tasks you'd be expected to do.

For bag, anything big is fine.  It should be able to hold a lot of things (in case you bring home tons of documents) and maybe a laptop.  I chose to bring one in case, but I'm provided with a desktop so I won't be doing that in the future. 

For fragrance..... something that gives you confidence (: Choose your favourite perfume (this is Giorgio Armani's Aqua di Gioa) that will give you the extra strength to do everything to your best ability (:

If  you're starting to intern or work somewhere, good luck!  (: 

Back to School Essentials: Makeup!

Since many of us are going back to school in the next few weeks (or have already started), I thought it would be super appropriate to start a Back to School Essentials Series!  It will focus on various aspects about "back to school",  like makeup, skincare, stationery......whether it be uni, junior school or high school, I hope you find this series super useful and gives you more ideas (and excitementt!!!) about going back to education and learning :):)


This post, it's all about makeup! When you're going back to school, makeup is not necessarily the #1 essential, but its nice to look forward to doing something in the morning.  I started wearing proper makeup to school when I was about 15, but I didn't really know what I was doing and I was just trying out different styles and kinds of products.  But now looking back, if I were a more experienced make-up guru, I would've gone for the basics-- pinks/nudes/cover ups.  Nothing too fancy and nothing too overdone-- after all, you are at school to learn and not show off your beauty skills! (And also, imagine the time you'd need to have for quick fix ups in between lessons!)

                                                             1. Mascara

With eyes, its always important to keep in mind that less is best.  Too much eye makeup may not be appropriate in some schools, but if you're looking for something that makes your eyes pop and give you some confidence, mascara and lashes is the way to go.  I've always found that a good mascara is a great investment because it has an amazing effect on your eyes and really makes your eyes stand out.  I've also chosen a waterproof mascara because you don't want your mascara melting all over the place as you're changing from class to class! Also, I've chosen Maybelline because if you're a student and on a budget, its a great place to start looking for basic mascaras that really make a difference.  Here, I've opted for:

VINYL eyelash curler

Maybelline The Falsies (waterproof) and Maybelline Colossal Volum

2. Blush

Blush is a cute way of adding colour and life into your tired, worn out complexion. If your school doesn't approve much makeup, a subtle pink shade will do the trick.  I've also shown a Illuminator from L'Oreal (with a built-in blush), which is another great way to brighten up your skin or give yourself that extra oomph factor (who says makeup needs to be for other people??) that makes you feel more confident and ready to face the multitude of tests and meetings that are waiting for you.  Here I've opted for:
                                L'Oreal Illuminating Powder in 02 Rose Radieux
                                        Bobbi Brown Blush in Nude Beach #28


                                                           3. Brushes!

With makeup, its important to have basic tools to help you apply your makeup properly and evenly all over your visage.  To keep it short and simple: here is a Body Shop Face & Body Brush and Mac 129SE blush brush.  They are versatile, not too expensive and a great long term investment.

4. Products for your Nooks & Crannies

Here, I've featured miscellaneous products (again, from Maybelline) that help perfect the nooks and crannies of one's face (;  The brow pencil and concealer fall into that category because they cover some of the most unco-operative portions of your face, ie. eyebrows and pores/spots/eyebags.  Now, here's a disclaimer: I do not have perfect eyebrows, but the brow pencil helps me pretend I do.  It comes with a brow brush, which helps me keep my ridiculous brow hairs in order (most of the time).  However, that isn't a negative review on the product; just a testament to how unruly my eyebrows can be.  This concealer is also great because although it says "Eraser Eye", it works basically everywhere else that you feel like you have blemishes.  I personally find that although its targeted for the eye area, it actually does a better job covering up spots (especially since my skin has been ridiculous in humid weather).  The only thing I'd caution about is that because the concealer comes in a sponge, sometimes it may be more hygenic to use your (CLEAN) fingers or a brush, because applying the sponge to the area that you want to cover up may cause bacteria to be stuck on the concealer (; and you definitely do not want that.......

 These products are also both from Maybelline and are, as a result, more affordable for students on a budget (:

Maybelline Brow Pencil (in blonde)

Maybelline Instant Anti-Age Concealer

FINALLY, YOU NEED A CUTE PURSE to store all your products and keep them away from dirt.  Here are some super cute options for girls on the go:

This classic and chic Forever 21 pouch

This sleek & simple design from Topshop

And for those of you who are willing to open your purse strings even further...... some more super sweet options compiled by The Zoe Report 

Of course, these are all just ideas.  Feel free to use your own makeup purses, or just random purses lying around! This is a great opportunity to use the purse you bought ages ago but never had a chance to use it.  There is no wrong answer when it comes to makeup bags!

What are some of YOUR essentials? Do let me know <3 Happy learning!

Beach Day Outfit!

Necessities for a Beach Day!

Summer is coming to a quick end and hopefully everyone is out there enjoying the last few weeks (or days) of sun filled fun.  Here's a quick rundown of what I'd bring if I was on the way to a fun filled day under the soleil.

1. Get a cute outfit-- something floral and flowy.  I always opt for bright colours when it comes to dresses.  Whether its just a beach/hot day hang out by the hotel bar or by the pool, you need something that you can either use as a cover up for a bikini or just a cute sun dress.  This dress was bought on holiday, but here are some other options that are similar to bright sundresses:

Plain sundresses as featured on Teen Vogue
Printed sundress from Next! -- Love how this one comes in two colours.  I'd personally go with the orange for a sunnier vibe
On a slightly more expensive note, this Lara dress is the perfect evening beach outfit, in case you were at a resort/cruise and they were having a formal night or something of the like.  The plunging neckline and low back add to the allure of the print.  Also, the length and diamond-like quality of the dress adds a whole lot of glamour to a flowy and fun skirt.
If you're opting for a shorter dress but still floral and formal, this Next option may be for you! Match it with a cute beaded bag, nude heels/sandals for a night out by the sea and you're good to go (:

2. Purse: Victoria's Secret -- you always need a small fun purse to bring out and carry some necessities for a day out.  This is the perfect purse to bring for a day out all the way till an event in the evening, and because its black, it matches with so many outfits! Another one of my faves for a bag is a beaded purse-- like this one on Etsy.

3. Fragrance: Daisy by Marc Jacobs. The bottle design already has a huge flower-- its basically asking to be used in the summer time! Other favourite scents are: Princess by Vera Wang (because it basically smells like a field of flowers) and Daisy Dream by Marc Jacobs. See a whole list of summer fragrances (by Glamour 2012) that I also 100% approve of ;) 

4. Makeup: L'Oreal Lumi Magique, Maybelline Sun Dream, Mac Viva Glam, Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15.  Aside from the importance of looking bronzed and fresh during your hang out, its also important to be safely protected from the sun! This lip conditioner is a great way for your lips to stay hydrated, while adding a bit of colour and solar protection.  (The lipstick is just if you're going for a darker lip during the evening)

One thing that I haven't featured here that's also SUPER important is SUNSCREEN.  You need to be protected wherever you are, or else run the risk of getting skin cancer. Here's a list from Allure about some of the best sunscreens.  This list was published in 2013, but I revisited it a few times this year and during the spring when I was getting ready for summer. My personal favourites are the Neutrogena Pure & Free Liquid SPF 50 and the Kiehls Activated Sun Protector SPF 50.  They're both liquid based and eventhough they're SPF 50 the consistency of both are not thick and creamy, and they have as little of a fragrance as possible.  The lightness of the cream is always useful for a hot day when you want as little as possible on your skin.  Plus SPF 50 is very helpful in the sun because you want to stay protected for as long as possible!

What are some of your favourites? (: 

Polka Dot Inspiration Outfit!

Haven't been posting recently because I've been in a bit of a mess and rather busy, so sorry!

Decided to go vintage on Sunday--- polka dots are seriously one of my favourite prints this season and are not only effortlessly chic, but also sooo easy to match with.

Unfortunately my dress was bought at a street boutique, so I'm unable to find the link for it.  But I have found some similar ones that I also love and that are absolutely cute:

This peplum polka dot dress from ASOS is adorable.  I love the peplum design and the white-on-black and black-on-white contrast, all in the same dress.  It seems a lot to handle, but because the polka dots are smaller and there's a more "structured" feel to the dress as opposed to this one, it makes the chic factor a lot more prominent and effortless.

Bag: Prada

Scent: Daisy by Marc Jacobs

Foundation: Clinique Long Lasting

Mac: Viva Glam

Some other prominent, stylish women who wore polka dot dresses:

Always! Her dress is from Bensoni's 2010 spring collection

The Duchess of Cambridge's dress is also selling at Topshop! Not sure about whether or not its still on sale since it sold out almost as soon as Kate Middleton was shown wearing it.

July (Beauty) Favourites!

Beauty
Maybelline Dream Sun Triple-Bronzing Powder
I actually got this awhile back, but this has been almost an "always-use" everytime I'm going out during the summer months. You don't have to use a lot to get a really sun-kissed look and there are 3 shades so you can either use them as individual shades or combined to get a more golden-brown shade. It's also great for contouring and highlighting since the lighter shades can double as both a bronzer and something else (; --- Cheating whoops... Definitely recommend for anything from a night out to a day out.





Jack Wills Gold Nailvarnish
This was also a Christmas gift from awhile back but I've only recently started using it during the summer. Because its gold and my skin tends to not be as tan as I want it to, its never really matched my skintone during summer. LUCKILY FOR MEEE this summer I've been slightly more tan so I've been able to use this pretty colour especially on my toenails to highlight the tan shades. I also really like the gold because its not a very commonly used colour for nails, yet it matches with a lot of outfits and doesn't stand out while still being an interesting colour. This has effectively changed a lot of my nail colour choices as after I was gifted this I've been on a hunt for odd colours.

Clinique Almost Makeup SPF 15
This is great. Not only is it not thick and allows your skin to breathe, but because its not actually a foundation, it isn't intended to make your skin colour change or act as a base for makeup and so you don't have to worry about blending or it melting off in the heat. It has minerals and elements in it that help keep your skin looking presentable but also that help protect your face from the UV rays, which is helpful if you're going to be out and about in the summer for longer periods of time. This is something I've had for long long time and recently digged up again, so the product formula may have changed or the packaging may look slightly different, but I would expect the effects to be the same.

What are some of your favourites? Do share!

Look forward to Fashion Favourites tomorrow!

July (Skincare) Favourites!

So one of the things that I'm thinking of doing is posting monthly favourites and when the time comes, seasonal favourites that have to do with beauty/fashion/lifestyle related things.  Since I've been travelling quite a bit this summer, I've been mentally making a list of the things that I enjoy using especially in Asian summers as they can be a tad more humid than the UK (where I am most of the year for uni).  I've been in between Hong Kong, Singapore and Shanghai these few months, and I went on a family holiday for a few days to Perth in Australia, where the weather was significantly different from the the rest of the places I've been.

That being saaiiidd, I've compiled a list of things that I am extremely excited to be using and that I'd like to share with erryone! I hope that the vast majority of everyone is as excited as I am yay

*Disclaimer: None of these things are gifts from these companies (as if)  but stuff that's been given to me/bought with my own money... in case anyone was wondering.

Skincare

As mentioned previously, this month I've been out and about in various parts of the world and experiencing a plethora of climates-- ranging from super humid to somewhat humid and to dehydratingly dry.  Since I've mostly been in humid areas these few weeks, I'm going to recommend some of my skincare faves for humid weather.  It should be noted that I have combination skin-- I'm generally at mercy to the climate I'm in-- and while I've been in Asia I've noticed that my pores have increased exponentially and there is more discolouration and breaking out involved.  These are a few of my top picks for keeping your skin somewhat presentable in muggy weather.

Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Liquid Nose Pack (40ml)

Innisfree is a Korean skincare brand specialising in using eco-friendly and natural products to help purify, cleanse and strengthen our skin.  It also has a really great range of makeup that's ethical and doesn't involve too many kinds of damaging chemicals.  Being Asian, using Asian skincare brands is actually pretty effective because I guess they cater to similar genetic/skin make-ups?  I'm not entirely sure why.... but I do know that the culture in Asia is a very skin-orientated one, especially in Korea and Japan, so using their skincare products is definitely a great way to make sure your skin is taken care of! Check out more Innisfree stuff here!

I bought this in Hong Kong and haven't used it for long (the directions say 1-2 times a week and I've used it about 3 times), but the effect that this has is life-changing.  The first time I used it I wasn't expecting anything to happen instantly, but the result this has had on my skin was quite intriguing.  Similar to a nose strip, but its a liquid that you spread over your nose and peel off like a mask.  I would recommend this to anyone who's had trouble with clearing sudden blackheads and need a quick fix before going out.

Skinfood Black Sugar Strawberry Mask Wash Off (100g) 

ANOTHER South Korean skincare brand! Skinfood (as the name implies) treats skincare as nourishment for your food (let's face it, skincare is also nourishment for our souls and well-beings).  I feel like one of the best things about Skinfood is that their products always feel light on my skin.  They also wash off really easily and leaves my skin feeling nourished and soft.  Skinfood seems to have more stores across the world as opposed to Innisfree, in places outside of Asia such as New Zealand and the Middle East. Get acquainted with Skinfood here (:

This was a gift from my friend and I cannot thank her enough for it! It not only smells great and leaves your skin brighter and smooth, but its also a great exfoliant and leaves your skin was a lighter and more cleansed feeling.  I've used it for the last 2+ weeks and I can honestly say everytime I've used it I've felt like there's been a huge difference to the texture and look of my skin.  Unlike other face masks, it comes in a tub and you apply it yourself-- there's not sheet and you don't have to sit still for 15 minutes.  I'd recommend this to anyone who is looking for a leave in face mask that doesn't require them to be a statue for an elongated period of time and maybe something you can use while you're getting ready for bed or a shower.  (Sorry I don't have the packaging for this one- as mentioned, I got this awhile back so I've thrown it away already).

Clean and Clear Dual Action Moisturiser (120ml)

Unlike the previous brands, I think most people are pretty well versed in Clean and Clear products.  Clean & Clear is probably the first skincare brand pre-teens used since its available almost everywhere.  Despite its underage clientele, I am still a really big fan of its products as I have sensitive skin and mostly react to products with too much non-natural scent.  Clean & Clear has always been great for me  as they work very well for my skin type because most of their products are not heavily scented and are very, well, clean and clear.

I enjoy using this product just in general when skin monsters pop up, regardless of the season or climate type.  Its also suitable for travelling as you can turn the top around to prevent it from being pumped all over the place while its in your suitcase.

So there you have it; my July skincare favourites.  What are your skincare favourites? Let me know and if there's anything anyone wants me to try out, give it a shout~ thanks~