SPOTTED: Black Paint x Takashimaya

Yesterday evening, I was in town to get a gift for a friend and decided to pop by Black Paint's booth in Takashimaya. I reviewed 3 of the products back in June and you can read it here. I love how simple and fuss-free the skincare regimen was! And best of all, Black Paint products are natural and made from organic ingredients. They are also free from alcohols, paraffin, synthetic preservatives, fragrances, colourings, ultraviolet absorbers and anti-oxidants. What you apply onto your skin is so important!

The booth will be at Takashimaya's Basement 1, near the aromatherapy shelves, till July 24th (This Thursday!). Do drop by if you are around the area, and especially if you are looking for solutions to battle acne, blackheads, wrinkles and pigmentation. The booth is currently mended by 2 very friendly and cheery girls, who will be more than happy to do a demonstration of this back-to-basics Japanese skincare regimen.

The full Black Paint range consists of 5 products:

• Black Paint Soap
• Black Konjac Sponge
• Best Water
• Oil Water Rose
• Water Cream

They make up a quick 4-step skincare regimen, which is perfect for the busy people.

Here's a preview of the demonstration!

Step 1a: Black Paint Soap | Cleanser ($49.90 for 120g)
This pore-cleansing facial soap cleanses pores deeply by playing with our skin's pH. It is slightly alkaline to trigger our naturally acidic skin to release more acid to balance the pH. When this happens, the acid pushes the dirt out from our pores.

This soap just won another year of the highest ranking Monde Selection Award 'GRAND GOLD'. This will be its 6th consecutive year winning this prestigious title!

Step 1b: Black Konjac Sponge| Facial Sponge ($19.90 for 1 piece)
This 100% natural facial sponge enhances absorption ability, while removing excess oil and dead skin cells delicately.

I didn't review this but I have tried other Konjac sponges and they make really gentle exfoliation tools. Do remember to hang them to dry properly so that they last longer!

Step 2: Best Water | Toner ($59.90 for 100ml)
This pore-minimizing toner sinks into our skin deeply for instant hydration and preservation of moisture balance, compensating for the loss of water after cleansing. Overtime, it helps improve our skin texture and minimizes pores.

Step 3: Oil Water Rose | Lotion ($49.90 for 100ml)
This lotion has precious rose oil sitting atop rose water. It regenerates, protects, soothes, and softens our skin, keeping it soft and supple.

I only got to try this at the demonstration. It didn't feel heavy and sank into my skin after a while. Remember to shake the bottle thoroughly to mix the 2 layers before using it! After shaking, it should look milky... Just like the first bottle in the first photo.

Step 4: Water Cream | Moisturizer ($79.90 for 50ml)
This water-based moisturizing cream improves our skin's metabolism and promotes moisture retention. It builds a protective veil against environmental aggressors and anti-oxidants.

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Anyway, the whole purpose of me blogging at this unearthly hour, is to bring to your attention the really good promotions that Black Paint is having in collaboration with Takashimaya. Read on! :D

If you are getting the Black Paint Soap, do head on over to Black Paint's Facebook page to download an exclusive voucher. It entitles you to a Trial Pack of the 4-step skincare regimen at just $10 (U.P. $90)! It contains

• Black Paint Soaking Cup 1 piece at $3
• Black Sponge 1 small piece at $9.90
• Best Water 50ml at $34.90
• Facial Paper 1 pack of 10 pieces at $3
• Oil Water Rose 30ml at $19.90
• Water Cream Rose Lavender 10g at $19.90

Also, the full set of the Black Paint skincare regimen (Yes, they are all full-sized products!) is going at $129.90, instead of the usual $259! If you do the Math above, you will know that this promotion is really value for money.

I'm actually quite tempted to get it myself. I mean, I LOVE the Water Cream tons, the Best Water wakes me up in the middle of a hot and sticky day and I'm dying to try the Oil Water Rose (Hello, it's rose oil AND water!). HEH. But I have been spending quite a bit (Obsession with pink lips has gone full-blown.). But but I have until Wednesday to think it through carefully. But but BUT work has been insanely busy... I sure hope I am able to make another trip down. :\

Okay, I'm just rambling now. Haha. Before it goes into a stream of deliriousness, I really do encourage everyone to check out the booth and have a feel of the products. The $10 trial kit makes a great introduction and summary of the brand, so don't miss out on the offer! :D

For more information,
Website: www.blackpaint.sg
Facebook: www.facebook.com/blackpaintsg
Twitter: @blackpaintsg
Instagram: @blackpaintsg

REVIEW: La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo[+]

La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo[+] provides the most complete skincare to manage acne-prone skin. A reformulation of the holy grail first generation Effaclar Duo, this one works 24 hours to

• Reduce severe imperfections.
• Unclog blocked pores.
• Provide 24h hydration.
• Correct and prevent marks.

Just like the first generation, this one contains

• Niacinamide: The reference anti-inflammatory active ingredient for intensive soothing.
• Piroctone Olamine: To combat bacterial proliferation.
• LHA and Salicylic Acid: For their complementary keratolytic actions.
• Targeted Linoleic Acid: To regulate keratinocytes, plus target the follicle.

However, lying at the heart of its formula structure is a brand new addition called Procerad. A pluri-disciplinary genius active ingredient, it is a patented ceramide. It hinders the development of acne blemishes and pigmentation, even before they reach our skin's surface and establish themselves.

The Effaclar Duo[+] takes the form of a lightweight gel-cream, with a fresh and clean scent. I use this primarily at night, about 3 to 4 times a week. This is what I run to when the lack of sleep wrecks havoc on my face. The gel-cream sinks comfortably into the skin, mattifying it almost immediately. My skin's pretty sensitive, so it does sting a little upon application, but it goes away after a while.

I have been using this for close to a month now. Even though this sounds like a pretty aggressive acne-fighter, I like that I wake up to skin that is clear, yet well-hydrated. You know how some acne busters can be so completely over-drying and they kind of aggravate the situation... Well, this doesn't! My blackheads are still ever present (Pain. In. The. Arse.), but I do get less blemishes than usual, even though I haven't been sleeping a lot.

La Roche-Posay's Effaclar Duo[+] is available at Derma Center, major pharmacies like Watsons, Guardian and Unity, and selected hospital pharmacies, at $38.90 for 40ml.

WORLD CUP 2014: CONTEST + 5 weird superstitions of soccer players

The Contest

UPDATE: Hey everyone, apologies for the delay!
For Image No. 1, congrats Hock Guan for winning it! :D

Over the next 7 days, three images will be posted here on this blog. For each image, be the first to spot all of the bottles of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken hidden and stand to win

• A pack of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken
• $50 Takashimaya Voucher

To participate:

1. Drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com and tell me the image no. and the specific columns and rows where you think the bottles are! For example:

   Image No.: 2
   Bottles are at: A2 (Where A is the column and 2 is the row.), B3 etc.

2. There will only be one winner per image.
3. The first to spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken wins for that particular image.
4. If none of the participants spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken, the participant who spotted the most number of bottles wins.

Good luck! :D

Image 2 (Click on the image to enlarge it.) -

The FIFA World Cup is known to be one of the, if not the, biggest sporting events the world currently knows, bringing together some of the best soccer players from all over. But besides their prowess on the field, these iconic players have some pretty interesting or plain weird quirks behind them too. Here are some of them:

1. Luis Suarez
   Not all hat-tricks are celebrated in the soccer world, as Luis Suarez has come to prove. Seemingly living by the motto "If you can't beat 'em, bite 'em.", Suarez recently completed his hat-trick of bites with Ajax, Liverpool and just a few days ago, Uruguay. Nobody knows for sure the reason behind his weird fetish but what we do know is that the Uruguay star player has been banned for 9 matches, all football activity for four months and fined US$112,000. Way to go Suarez.
   
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
   The Portuguese team captain and Real Madrid forward is widely known as the world's best player, the world's most expensive player and the player with the ever-changing hairstyles. Well, there could be a good reason for that too. Ronaldo fans are probably familiar with his famously weird pre-game 'rituals', but for those who aren't too familiar, here are a few superstitions the world class player reportedly practices.
   • Ronaldo insists on sitting alone in the back row and he must be the last one to leave the bus.
   • The Portuguese player has to change his hairstyle in the locker room at halftime during every game.
   • In fact, he needs a new hairstyle before every game he plays.
   • He must touch the ball before leaving the dressing room.
   • In the Portugal national team, he is the only Portuguese who is allowed to start off with a long-sleeve jersey.
   • He always steps onto the pitch with his right foot first.

   Well, we don't know how true all of the above are, but we know you are going to be looking out for these signs from now on.

   
3. Cesc Fabregas
   In case you have never watched the "Beats by Dre" commercial, here's how Fabregas, star midfielder of the Spanish national team wishes himself good luck – by kissing a ring given to him by his girlfriend four times.
   
4. Kolo Toure
   Kolo Toure, a highly valued member of the Ivory Coast national team, always insists on being the last player from his team to walk onto the playing field. This pre-game ritual is so important to Toure that he reportedly once missed the start of the second half of a Champions League Game while waiting for a teammate to precede him.
   
5. Iker Casillas
   Goalkeeper of the Spanish national team, Iker Casillas is interestingly known to be one of soccer's most superstitious players. He has countless rituals that he modifies depending on the progress of the match, such as changing his jersey every time he concedes a goal or cutting the sleeves off his shirts, etc. His most consistent one would be touching the crossbar every time his team scores. And his most disgusting one? Wearing his socks inside-out during matches. But he has reportedly kicked that habit since 2009. Thank goodness.

The World Cup 2014 series is a collaboration between Charlene J. Lee and Brand's. Images are taken from Google.