xoxo, charlene

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

RAMBLINGS: Communications

This semester, I'm taking an elective called 'The Fundamentals of Communication'. I have read through 3 chapters and I'm certain that it wasn't by chance that I got this elective.

I don't get mad often but when I do, my fury takes the form of massive fireballs. Though they disintegrate within an hour or so, the damage and hurt that they can do is elephantine. Sometimes, I can contain the anger and sleep it off. But it isn't usually the case. I lash out hard and deep and when the words are said and can't be taken back, I realize that issues that made me hopping mad are really trifling matters.

There are some stuff which I find difficult to swallow but if it makes things sing in harmony and I can let them slide with a squirming butt and an annoying tug at my heart, I think I should. I hope it won't turn me into a bitter and resentful old hag though. :\
-

Anyway... Mmhmm... I decided to give the L word another shot. Heh heh. I know it's all very confusing. On and off, on again, then off off blah di dum. But it comes with a complicated history and because of that, I'm very wary.

But but anyway, I'm incredibly glad that he's so incredibly understanding and accommodating and unbelievably nice to me. There are so many instances when I ask him "Are you sure?!? Are you really sure about this?!?" and he will be like "YES! YOU ARE THE ONE!". And though it sounds so innocent (And dare I say a little n____?), it makes my heart really warm that someone, he, would want me.

Hmmm... Guess I let on my vulnerability. Oh wells. For now, I shall bask in the 'power' of the L word. HAHAHA!!!

COMPARISONS: theBalm's Down Boy and Za Cosmetics' Petal Pink

While I'm at it, let's take a look at how theBalm's Shadow/ Blush in Down Boy compare with Za Cosmetics' Petal Pink. (:

theBalm's Shadow/ Blush in Down Boy is a truer pink, as compared with Za Cosmetics' Petal Pink. At this moment, I prefer the latter. (:

COMPARISONS: Dupes for NARS' Blush in Orgasm

In my previous entry, I mentioned that Za Cosmetics' Cheeks Groovy in 01 Glowing Pink seems to be a dupe for the famous NARS' Blush in Orgasm. So how does the former measure up?

Let's take a look at the dupes for Orgasm that I own!

I think that Za Cosmetics' Cheeks Groovy in 01 Glowing Pink does resemble NARS' Blush in Orgasm, though the latter seems to contain more gold shimmers and is a lot more pigmented. I reckon that Za Cosmetics' Cheeks Groovy in 01 Glowing Pink will be perfect for those who tend to be heavy-handed and of course, want an Orgasm that is kinder to their pockets! (:

theBalm's Shadow/ Blush in Hot Mama is the darkest out of the lot and seems to resemble NARS' Blush in Deep Throat, with a lot more gold shimmers thrown in.

Hmm... What do you ladies think? (:

Last evening, Verlyn tweeted that Za Cosmetics' Cheeks Groovy landed in Watsons (You can view her swatch fest here!). So... I went to check them out right after school today because I heard that one of the shades is similar to NARS' Blush in Orgasm!

The most exciting thing is that apparently, NARS is under Shiseido, which Za Cosmetics is under and... These Cheeks Groovy blushers are made with the same technology that NARS' blushers are made with! But please take note that I'm not very certain about this because I can't remember where I got this from (Either Twitter or from someone's blog.). More information about the blushes can be found from Chantana's entry here.

01 Glowing Pink is a peachy pink (More towards pink.) shade that contains gold shimmers and resembles NARS' Blush in Orgasm. I think it's the prettiest out of the lot! (:

02 Strawberry Pink is a matte, ballerina pink with a silver sheen to it.

03 Pink Petal is a brighter and more cheery pink than the previous and is also matte. It resembles theBalm's Shadow/ Blush in Down Boy.

04 Apricot Pink is a matte, peachy pink (More towards peach.) shade.

05 June Bride is a yellow-based highlighter.

These blushers are available at Watsons and are each priced at $17.50.

HAUL: theBalm and Relvon!

It was by chance that I dropped by Sasa yesterday for a small visit and boy! Was I glad I did that (My pocket's a little upset though... :\ The blusher is retailing at $30.90. Sasa has a 10% discount now, I think.)!

I spotted theBalm's Shadow/ Blush in Frat Boy! I have been waiting ages for it to make its appearance in Singapore!!! Ever since the Muse featured this peachy pink blusher in this entry, I started stalking Sasa but eventually gave up because they didn't seem to be updating the brand. But lo and behold!!! The GORGEOUS blusher!!!

(By the way, theBalm's nail polishes are here too!)

Just like the other blushers (Click here to read my entry on the other 3 blushers!), Frat Boy comes in a vintage cardboard packaging. I like that it is flat, comes with a mirror and closes with a magnetic snap.

I have yet to swatch it because I still want to stare at it in all its peachy pink glory before I decide to make my territorial mark on it. But be assured! Swatches will be up before you know it! :DDD

And then, here comes the latest lip products that have been setting the beauty bloggers' world ablaze with undying love (Pardon the senseless expression. I'm running out of adjectives.)! Presenting to you... Revlon's Colorburst Lip Butters!

These darlings were spotted by Diana from AdoreBeauty (Click here to read her entry!). They can be found at Marina Square's John Little and each tube cost $15.90. ~~Pretty reasonable~~ (Drugstore.com is selling them at $7.49 each.). EDIT// Okay, it isn't. I don't know what I was thinking. All the excitement has gone into my head. Sheesh, Charlene!

This is all that were displayed when I went there just now. Do note that the 20% discount at John Little is not applicable to these lip butters as they are new arrivals. Bummer!

The 8 shades that are available in Singapore:

Macaroon
Sugar Plum
Strawberry Shortcake
Lollipop
Cherry Tart
Fig Jam
Peach Parfait
Brown Sugar

The missing shades:

Pink Truffle
Creamsicle
Rasberry Pie
Crème Brulée
Sweet Tart
Gumdrop
Red Velvet
Cotton Candy
Cupcake
Candy Apple
Tutti Frutti
Berry Smoothie

(Please let me know if I have left out any shades!)

And of course, I had to get my hands on some! Guess the shades!

I do hope more shades will be released soon, especially Pink Truffle, Red Velvet and Tutti Frutti! But oh wells. I'm just glad that some of them made it to our sunny little island! :DDD

LOOKBOOK: Runway Bandits' Norse Asymmetrical Hem Galaxy Skirt

THIS. IS. MY. PRETTIEST. SKIRT. EVER.

This completely gorgeous Norse Asymmetrical Hem Galaxy Skirt is the child of Runway Bandits. The skirt took ages to reach me but it is SO. COMPLETELY. WORTH. IT! Just look at how pretty it is... *gushes*

The chiffon skirt comes with a thick black elastic band, which is 14 inches across. It is short in the front and long at the back (29 inches.), making the skirt completely fairy-like! When you walk, the back of the skirt literally gets lifted ever-so-slightly so that there's a trail of fairy dust behind you wherever you go!

The skirt is accompanied with a pale green inner lining, which is completely soft and like pureed clouds! Ooooooooh!!!

(How many 'completely's have I mentioned already?!?)

A close-up shot!

For those who love D-I-Ys, check out this and that!

LOOKBOOK: Love, Bonito's Derby Knit Skirt

Love Bonito's Derby Knit Skirt is part of their Fall/Winter VIII collection. The skirt comes in Heather Grey, Ivory and Mustard and I had a tough time picking a colour.

But, as usual, by the time I had thought everything out as carefully as I could (And as much as such a frivolous decision entailed. Mind you, this collection was released in the midst of my examinations. Tsk, Charlene. I judge you!), only Mustard was left... Which was just as well, because I was deciding between Heather Grey and Mustard. Ivory would get dirtied far too easily.

Here's a close-up shot. The cable knit is made from a cotton-wool blend and it's very thick. But thankfully, it doesn't cover more than 3/4 of my legs or else our sunny little island is going to be incredibly unforgiving about it.

For ladies with wide hips, this is a little unflattering (As seen above. OH GLOOM.) because the skirt hugs the hips like a bear hugs his honey. I'm still going to keep it though, because 1. it's friggin' MUSTARD!!! 2. I really love the cable knit design!

Hiya (: Last night, there was a new addition to my blog's sidebar and it's the above star! I'm now a Certified Beauty Blogger for Naruko Singapore!

Here's my photo alongside other Naruko's Certified Beauty Bloggers (Do check out Yi Jing! She writes very detailed reviews and they are each accompanied with clear photos. (: )

And here's me again on the page of the Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel. Click here to read all my Naruko entries!

I'm incredibly excited about this. Thank you, Naruko, for the opportunity! And of course, thank YOU, my lovely readers, for reading my blog! :D

'There is no right or wrong decision, because at the time when you made the decision, you'd thought it was right.'
- Yuanshi

Got the above quote from Ariel's blog. I'm hoping that it will bring some sort of a comfort to my poor soul because I didn't think carefully before I answered one particular question yesterday. But sigh. 16 hours on and I'm still beating myself up over it. I feel like I have let down Starbucks, the incredibly nice lady at the 'parent' company (Because in a way, I'm representing her. *buries self in embarrassment*) and myself.

Note to self: Think before speaking. Have a still heart. Do not worry that you are boring the other person (The ONE thing that's always on my mind whenever I'm talking to anyone. Sigh).

But oh wells. It was a good experience. After all, that was my first time being interviewed by such a huge company.

Alrighty. *thumbs up and spastic smile* :DDD Have a nice day! It's FRIDAY! Wohoo!!! :DDD

REVIEW: Naruko's Apple Seed and Tranexamic Acid Soothing White Night Gelly

The Apple Seed and Tranexamic Acid Soothing White Night Gelly is under Naruko's Apple Seed Series. This series aims to eradicate dark spots as much as possible with precision. At the same time, it repairs the skin to prevent marks caused by ageing and also to erase existing ones.

The Apple Seed and Tranexamic Acid Soothing White Night Gelly is a whitening potion that promises to repair your skin while you sleep. Meant for all skin types, especially those with a dull complexion, get ready to bid dull and tired skin goodbye and say hello to a fairer and more translucent complexion (Snow White, anyone?!)!

The night gelly is a meeting of 3% Tranexamic Acid, Arbutin, Vitamin C Glucoside, Hyaluronic Acid and Poria. The first 3 ingredients prevent the formation of melanin, with 3% Tranexamic Acid being the highest brightening concentration. The last two ensure that our skin is plump with nutrients when we wake up from our slumber. Poria also helps to enhance the whitening effect. All these ingredients have been approved by the Taiwan Department of Health in repairing the skin and preventing the formation of melanin.

The Apple Seed and Tranexamic Acid Soothing White Night Gelly is contained in a 60ml tub. The night gelly comes with a spatula so that your hands do not come into direct contact with the rest of the night gelly. Do take note to wash your spatula before and after each application!

The night gelly comes in the form of a light, milky gel. It has a pleasant scent of Chinese herbs (Think along the lines of Bird's Nest, though it doesn't smell exactly like it. But it's something similar.). I keep most of my masks in the fridge but even when the night gelly wasn't refrigerated, it was cooling on the skin upon application.

I use just one scoop of the night gelly and it's enough to cover my entire face and neck. After applying it evenly on my face and neck, I warm my hands by rubbing them together and then, gently press them on my forehead, chin, sides of the nose, cheeks, neck and lastly, the eye areas. Niuer's steps to massaging your face can be viewed here. :D

The night gelly is the product which I am most excited about!!! Firstly, it feels so incredibly luxurious on the skin! Secondly, the scent is very relaxing, totally perfect for bed (Especially since I have a laundry list of things to worry about at the moment. :\)! Most importantly, I wake up to skin that's beautifully moisturized. The night gelly sinks into the skin quickly so your skin is totally at ease when you sleep!

As for the whitening effect, because I'm pretty fair, it's a little difficult to gauge with the naked eye. But I did notice that my skin look a lot fresher and 'cleaner'. This night gelly will be good for people with normal, dry and combination skin types. For those with an oily skin type, I would suggest avoiding the T-zone area during application as it may be a tad too heavy (Check out Naruko's Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer instead!).

And here's what you get from the box that the night gelly comes in! :D

Alrighty! I hope you're having a fabulous Chinese New Year! Remember to check out Naruko's new reward system here and get an additional 100 points just by submitting your details here.

TELLY: 步步惊心 (Startling by Each Step)

This has to be the most romantically depressing period drama ever. Oh gawd. I don't even want to think about it but all of a sudden, my entire world is filled with the gorgeous and incredibly manly 四阿哥 (Played by Nicky Wu). Anyway, this entry is pointless because I don't want to talk about the show at all. It is THAT depressing (But oh-so-romantic... *melts*).

This song is sang by the lead actress, 马尔泰·若曦, played by Cecilia Liu, who's very gorgeous (She and Nicky Wu should just get together in real life. *melts* Hahaha. My head's way up in the clouds.). The soundtrack's pretty good but this is my favourite song (I like the theme song too. But it makes me tear listening to it. Not that this doesn't... But oh wells.).

And it's time for me to hit the books. Tullah!

REVIEW: Naruko's Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer

The Tea Tree Oil Out Skincare Range is one of the ten series that Naruko has. This series targets oily and blemish-prone skin specifically. It controls your oil production without being too aggressive and so, ensures that your skin does not dry out.

Tea Tree Essential Oil forms the basis that this series is built upon. Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, a plant native to New South Wales, Australia. Tea tree oil has long been used to treat coughs and colds. The leaves of the plant are usually soaked to make a remedy for skin ailments.

The Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer is an oil-free, light-weight moisturizer. It promises to control your oil production without going overboard. And that means that oily skin will not turn into a Sahara desert. Instead, your skin achieves some sort of a Nirvana when a balance is struck between the oil and moisture levels in your skin and all your pores are unclogged and refined. This moisturizer can be used before makeup to ensure a complexion that is fresh and clean all day!

Zinc PCA, Tea Tree and Mint Essential Oils, Natural Wood Fiber and Micro-Crystalline Silicon Powder work together to control oil production. Lentil Seed is responsible for increasing your skin's metabolism and the presence of Collagen and Hyaluronic acid ensure that your skin is hydrated and as free as possible from the clutches of hyperpigmentation.

The Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer resides in a 120ml plastic, purple bottle. The bottle is sturdy. The cap unscrews to reveal a nozzle from which the moisturizer is poured out from. Again, there is no direct contact with the rest of the moisturizer when you are getting out the amount that you need. :D One thing though is that the radius of the nozzle is quite large so some of the moisturizer is left on it after dispensing. Do clean it off to prevent using any 'old moisturizer' on your next application!

The moisturizer takes the form of a slightly milky lotion. Just like the Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel, it has a very strong tea tree scent. There is an almost-immediate cooling effect upon application because of the Mint essential oil. Incredibly refreshing, I must say!

Naruko's website suggests pouring the moisturizer on to a cotton pad, wiping the entire face with it in circular motions and then, ending the application by patting the remaining moisturizer in. When I did that, however, I found that most of the moisturizer just remained 'locked' in my fluffy cotton pads. Naruko did suggest using their Facial White Illuminating Cotton Pads. But since I haven't got them, what I do is that I just pour some of the moisturizer on my hands, and pat it into my face.

The moisturizer sinks into my skin easily and quickly, leaving a beautiful matte finish. My nose remains matte for a good 3 hours before any shine starts to show up. It leaves my skin feeling smooth, refreshed and very, very matte! There is absolutely no residue of it left on the skin, so there is no yucky layer sitting on your skin and your skin certainly will not squirm with discomfort. The moisturizer is completely absorbed into your skin!

This moisturizer will be a godsend to people with oily skin, as this is specifically made for them. Those whose skin is suffering from a drought will need to look somewhere else. The moisturizer was too harsh for my dry cheeks, so I use this just on my oily T-zone area.

And like all other Naruko products, the box which the Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer comes in can be made into a container to hold your new Naruko products! :D Yay to environmentally-friendly brands!

As mentioned in the previous entry, Naruko has a brand new reward system running on their website. To celebrate the launch of this system, Naruko is giving away 100 points on their Facebook page and all you have to do is to click here and submit your details! (:

REVIEW: Naruko's Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel

During the first week of January, I received a package from Naruko Singapore and was incredibly excited about it! I first heard about the brand from Hazel and then, subsequently from Dor, who was raving about the Raw Job's Tears whitening series. So I certainly did not hesitate when I was given a chance to review a couple of Naruko's products! :D

Naruko was founded by Niuer, who is one of Taiwan's top beauty gurus and is affectionately known as 'Beauty King'. Niuer spares no expense in developing his line, investing his life in developing more than 400 products that are beneficial and healthy to our skin and most importantly, tested out by Niuer himself. Yes, he tests each and every product on his own skin! He believes that 'what is inside is way more important than the look of the bottle' and adheres to his motto, 'Always demand the best: create products with high effectiveness and strict quality control', strictly and diligently. Naruko has won numerous awards, including the 'Best New Brand 2010' in Taiwan and China.

And it was with this great confidence in Naruko that I tested out

Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel
Tea Tree Oil Out Balancing Moisturizer
Apple See & Tranexamic Acid

in the past 2 weeks (And counting!)! :D I will be reviewing these 3 products in the next few days so stay tuned!

The arrival of the Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel, part of the Tea Tree Oil Out Skincare Range, was timely as I was running out of my exfoliator. This peeling gel is specially formulated for people with oily, dull and uneven skin.

The peeling gel is an acne-fighting concoction of Tea Tree Extract, Essential Oils, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin E and Arbutin. Tea Tree Extract works hard and deep in your pores, cleansing and clearing away dead skin cells. Essential Oils, Vitamin E and of course, our favourite Hyaluronic Acid, ensure that whilst cleansing your skin of impurities, your skin is still kept hydrated and well-moisturized. Arbutin lightens your skin tone to reveal a complexion that's bright and clear.

The Tea Tree Oil Out Peeling Gel comes in a 120ml squeeze tube which makes dispensing of the peeling gel hygienic; the amount needed is squeezed out easily and there is absolutely no direct contact with the rest of the product. This is something that I'm very particular about. The packaging is perfect for the peeling gel because when the tube is placed upright, the peeling gel doesn't leak out... So thumbs up for the packaging! :D

The peeling gel comes out thick and transparent, with crushed tea tree leaves dotting it. It smells very strongly of tea tree... A pretty medicinal scent, which I like very much! Upon application of the peeling gel, there is an almost immediate cooling effect.

I use a pea-sized of the peeling gel after cleansing my face and a pea-sized amount of it is all that I need for my whole face. After applying it evenly to all areas of my face, I massage in outward circular motions for 20 seconds and then, rinse off the white eraser-like dust with water.

When using this peeling gel, I concentrate a lot on my nose, which is dotted with stubborn blackheads with a mission to thwart my goal of achieving a flawless and doll-like complexion. I have used this peeling gel 5 times now, and I have noticed that tip of my noise is clearing up quite a bit! :DDD

The peeling gel also leave my skin smooth after usage. :D Do take note that it is to be used only 2 to 3 times a week as it is quite a potent product. This is perfect for people with oily skin. However, for those plagued with dry skin, this will be too drying. My cheeks are usually dry and the peeling gel proved to be too strong for them after the first few applications. I use this mainly on my T-zone area and chin.

I keep most of the boxes that my products come in so that I can refer to the information printed on them and also, because I use them to house my knick-knacks! I have a perfume box of pen refills and a moisturizer box of bracelets! I was really thrilled to find out that Naruko boxes can actually be transformed into stationery organizers with just a few snips! TADAHHH! A new home for my colour pencils! :DDD

Before I leave, do head on over to Naruko Singapore's website as it has been revamped to include their reward point system! Every dollar spent on Naruko's products via the website will earn you a maximum of 1 reward point. These points can be used to redeem gifts and discounts!

To celebrate the new launch, Naruko Singapore is throwing in 100 reward points for members right now! All you have to do is submit your details here. (:

Alrighty. I hope your Saturday will end splendidly! See you real soon! :D

RAMBLINGS: To YouTube or Not?

Just filmed 3 videos for an upcoming post but I'm really jittery about uploading them. :\

My fringe looks horrendously sparse. But they are night skincare routine videos and no one looks fabulous before going to bed unless you are Marilyn Monroe... Right?!?
-

Speaking of Marilyn Monroe, I absolutely love Lisa Eldrige's take on Marilyn Monroe's makeup!

And here are 2 articles I found about Marilyn Monroe's skincare regime and makeup secrets: ONE TWO

UPDATES: Makeup, Hair and the Works!

School doesn't start for me until much later (It's probably because I woke up late and missed my first class. Hahaha. What 'probably' man?!? Heh. Heh.), so I spent my late morning watching Tiffany's videos and came across this:

And then, I remembered pearlicious did an entry on the Babyliss 30 Pro Ceramic Roller Set here, so that got me a little excited! I googled a little and came across Hell, Dollface!'s review and now I am even more excited!!!

I am THIS close (Like the gap between your index and middle fingers when you place them side-by side.) to getting them! I think they are going to be a lot more fun than tongs because you can fit them in minutes and all you have to do is wait!

Mmhmm... To get or... To get?!? Heh heh heh.

Next thing that I came across is Lime Crime's ChinaDoll makeup collection! Click here!

Look!!! How pretty!!! I haven't heard anything about Lime Crime before but I will definitely google it when I get back from school!

Alrighty! Got to jet! Have a nice Wednesday! :DDD

HOW-TO: Travalo's Mini Refillable Spray

I love my fragrances and I take my miniatures out with me. But often, they are made of glass and even though the glass is pretty thick, I'm always worried that I will break them. So when Mich showed me her nifty Travalo's Mini Refillable Spray, I told her to march me to the shop to get one.

Unlike other atomizers which require you to transfer your perfumes manually (With funnels.), all you have to do is to fit the base of the Travalo's Mini Refillable Spray to the straw of your perfume bottle (Remove the nozzle!) and get pumping!

This useful tube houses 50 sprays!

The nozzle is the upper piece of the perfume head (Just the silver part!).

Remove the nozzle!

Get pumping!

TADAHHH!!! Direct transfer of your perfume with no spills!

Note: I had pumped some of my perfume in the bottle before making the video.

The Travalo's Mini Refillable Spray is available at Sasa and Watsons outlets. Sasa is having a sale now, so it's going for around $15. In Watsons, it is retailing at around $22.

RAMBLINGS: C.C.

The other day, Dad asked me if I wanted a credit card (Something which I have been hinting for a really long time.). But I decided not to own one because, to quote my best friend, I spend money like I drink water (And I drink A LOT of water.). I was really proud of myself and all that but gawd, reading Michelle's entry has got me crumbling!

LOOK AT HOW CUTE THESE CARDS ARE. *squeals*