Shiseido Warehouse

After waiting for 5 months, it's finally time for the Shiseido warehouse (Apr 18, 09). My lovely friend Brilli started lining up at around 6:30am, Amy and I joined her after getting breakfast at McDonald's. We actually waited for 2hrs and 45mins to get in, but it didn't feel like that long with all the chitchats.

I decided to focus on makeup this time (mainly NARS because it's much cheaper!!!) and set my budget to $100 (kind of a challenge for me). At last........I only spent $96.xx including tax with 8 NARS products~

I got a duo e/s in Bohemian Gold (metallic taupe/ iridescent copper) and a set of lip gloss + nail polish in Orgasm for my friends in HK. I really like both of them but I do have e/s that look similar to the Bohemian Gold. I got the set thinking whether I should keep it for myself or give it to my friend as a gift. Just as I decided to grab 1 more (about 10 mins later), they were all gone, the whole pile vanished. I should have known, after all it's the famous Orgasm color.

I did manage to get myself 5 NARS duo e/s and a blush.

1. Belly Dance (metallic jade/ deep aubergine)

2. Star Sailor (heather gold/ antique bronze)

3. Divine (shocking pink/ chocolate)

4. Stage Beauty (sheer copper / glistening gold)

5. Pandora (matte black / white shimmer)

6. Sertao (glistening tawny gold)

~*Swatches on paper towel

~*Swatches on skin

Took 2 pictures of each set with different white balance (Left : Daylight / Right : Auto).

~*Altogether

I was hoping to get a few more colors of Shiseido The Makeup hydro-powder e/s, JPG concealer and CDP foundation, but they didn't have those this time. As always, I regret for not getting more NARS. guess I will have to wait for the next Shiseido warehouse sale, looking forward to it~

Green Cream

I'm learning and trying to go green with my skin care and I've started making my own a few months ago. My 1st creation was a Vit. C whitening serum, followed by two different moisturizers. All three recipes are from a book named For Natural Skincare II written by Niuer (牛爾老師). Niuer is a skin care expert and he is very famous in Taiwan. A great book to have if you're into DIY skin care.

Olive Moisturizer~*

The olive moisturizer was my first attempt on cream-making and I'm very happy with the outcome. The finishing product is light green in color. It's not creamy at all, very light in texture and easy to absorb into skin. Since I've used EVOO (extra virgin olive oil), I thought it'd be heavier/oilier. But it turned out to be a perfect light hydrating moisturizer for summer.

Ingredients: Distilled water, EVOO, Glycerin, Creagel, Lavender essential oil, Preservative

Green Tea Antioxidant Cream~*

After the success of my 1st cream, I've decided to make a batch of green tea antioxidant cream. Ingredients are basically the same as the olive moisturizer with an addition of japanese green tea powder (Matcha). The texture is similar to the olive one, dark green in color and also easy to absorb. I didn't add any essential oil since It has a nice green tea scent. However, I think it's a bit heavier on my skin compare to the olive one. It actually took a longer time to emulsify too. I used a different brand of EVOO, I wonder would that be the cause or it's just the green tea.

Ingredients: Distilled water, EVOO, Glycerin, Green tea powder, Creagel, Preservative

I'll be making red wine hydrating gel mask next~

50 Ways to Help the Planet

Going green is not as hard as you think, here is a great site with 50 simple ways to help our lovely planet.

Love your planet, act now.

Lush Shampoo Bar - Squeaky Green

Don't you think it's overwhelming just by walking near a Lush store? (or is it just me?) I have walked into the store many times with a strong will to purchase, touching and sniffing products until my nose stops working or a headache kicks in (which usually takes only 15 to 20 mins). I just couldn't make up my mind in the store with hundreds of choices combined with the mighty "Lush" scent. So why I have a piece of Lush shampoo bar sitting on my polka dot cushion!? The truth is...............my lovely friend Clara got that for me as a little X'mas gift last year and thanks to her, I finally have a chance to try something from Lush.

So what do I think of the Squeaky Green (my 1st Lush product ever)??? I love it, absolutely love it! First of all, I love the idea of a solid shampoo. It's easy to use, lathers well and it's environmental-friendly without using a plastic bottle.

Second of all, Squeaky Green is vegan and SLS-free (used SCS instead). Packed with rosemary, tea tree and peppermint which are all wonderful for hair and scalp. I have long straight fine hair (not too oily, not too dry) and I have been using it every other day for about 3 months (I don't use the same shampoo everyday, usually have at least 2 to rotate). It gives my hair and scalp a clean feel and leaves my hair with a refreshing herbal scent.

However, it's a bit drying for my hair which is not a big problem with the help of a conditioner. It will go squidgy if stored improperly. I suggest a well-designed soap dish or put it back in the Lush tin when it's dried. The price is $7.95 for 55g which I think is reasonable considering It does last for ages. I have been using it for 3 months which is approximately 45 washes (every other day, remember?) and I still have more than half of it left. I'm 100% satisfied with this good quality shampoo bar.


Squeaky Green Ingredients:

Black = Safe Synthetic

Green = Natural and/or Organic

Sodium Coco-Sulfate, Perfume, Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Nettle (Urtica Dioica), Water (Aqua), Tea Tree Powder (Melaleuca Alternifolia), Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Rose Absolute (Rosa centifolia), Chamomile Blue Oil (Matricaria Chamomilla), Vanilla Absolute (Vanilla planifolia), Coumarin, *Geraniol, *Benzyl Benzoate, *Limonene, *Linalool, Hydroxycitronellol, Chlorophyllin.

*Naturally occurs in essential oils

Review: Rimmel Lycra Wear 10+ Minerals Nail Polish

I got the Rimmel Lycra Wear 10+ Minerals in 363 Milk Chocolate at Walmart the other day. I love this color!!! To me, It's an opaque beigey pink color. I know the name is milk chocolate but it's more like milk chocolate with too little chocolate syrup in it. This neutral shade is so sophisticated which I think is perfect for everyday.

I wear nail polish almost everyday and I usually put on base coat and top coat to ensure the durability. The Rimmel Lycra Wear 10+ Minerals formula actually claims to last up to 10 days even without base and top coats. As a smart and curious consumer, I got no choice but to test it.

The picture on the left shows my newly painted nails with 2 coats of the beautiful milk chocolate shade. It started wearing off after 4 days and I took the picture on the right on the 5th day, you can see the wear at the tips. I tried it again with base and top coats and it lasted for 7 days which is pretty good for a drugstore polish.

Although it's not that long lasting as it claimed, I still love it because of the gorgeous color. It's smooth and easy to apply. I'll definitely but it again.

Goodies~

My best friend Amy came to visit during the Easter holidays and she brought a whole bunch of goodies from my lovely friends in HK. Hugs and kisses to all you girls! Thank you so much!!!

• DIY Skincare book
• Integrate lip gloss in PK784
• Integrate lip pencil in PK291
• Integrate brow powder in BR631
• My Beauty Diary blotting paper
• Scotch tape holder shaped like a chocolate donut

Amy got all these for me when she was traveling in Taiwan. The donut tape holder is so cute!!! My Beauty Diary is famous for masks, didn't know that it has blotting paper too, will try it once I've finished the one I'm using. I have been waiting for the DIY skincare book anxiously. This is my 2nd book from Niuer (牛爾老師), he is so knowledgeable and I just love his recipes.

So sweet of you for getting me the magazines, you know how much I miss Mina, With and ViVi. Thank you so much for bringing me all the goodies!!!!

I forgot to ask Amy to get me 永和三美人sponges when she was in Taiwan. I know it more expensive in HK but I still asked Stef to get me a few in different sizes. Stef also got me FreshLook color contact lens in brown.

Last but not least, Korea beauty products plus tons of samples from Clara!!!

• Innisfree Wine Turnover Essence
• Skinfood Rice Mask
• Skinfood Salmon Darkcircle Powder
• Skinfood Nail Polishes
• Etude House pink hair velcro

Samples:

• Innisfree Olive Mask
• Mamonde Moisture Sheet Mask
• It's Skin Mangowhite Cleansing Foam
• Mamonde Collagen Recovery Cream
• Avene Soothing Hydrating Serum
• Skinfood Black Garlic Serum
• Innisfree Apple Liquid Foaming Cleanser
• Banila Primer
• Banila BB Cream
• Etude House BB Cream
• IASO White Peeling Gel
• IASO Moisture Rich Toner
• Laneige Power Essential Skin_EX
• Avene Rich Hydrating Cream
• My Beauty Diary Sake Yeast Mask

Thanks again for the goodies! Miss you all~

**Amy, 10 days are not enough for a toronto trip. I hope you could visit again in August for a longer time, we could go to NYC together.