Summer must-haves

Summer Beauty Must-Haves

The hot temperatures of summer and my sensitive pale pink skin are not exactly friends. I rely on these products to keep my skin exfoliated, cool, hydrated, and smooth.

Azure Window, Malta. June 2016.

Face

Fresh. Rose Hydrating Gel Cream. 

This hydrating gel cream is lightweight and seems to keep my skin hydrated for the balmier days of spring and summer. I usually layer this in between my serum and balancing oil for extra moisture. This gel also smells great and the pump bottle keeps everything clean and sanitary. I hate getting moisturisers in jars because keeping the jar and product hygienic takes a bit more effort. ie. constant washing of hands. 

Jurlique Advanced Eye Serum

Another lightweight stunner in my skincare routine. I recently started using this eye serum because I'm not a big fan of the ultra-creamy eye creams out there on the market. If its lightweight, moisturises well, smells good, and works - I'm a fan! Jurlique products are from natural sources and I go to their spa for facials every now and then to give my skin a good cleaning and brightening. Their products work well on my sensitive-prone skin. This eye cream keeps the area around my eyes looking bright and hydrated. 

Jurlique Skin Balancing face oil

Last year, I moved to the mountains and drier climates. I needed some extra-duty moisturisers and was recommended to try this balancing oil for extra moisture by the facialist at Jurlique spa. I've been pretty hooked on this since then. I use it almost daily and notice the difference when I skip this extra layer of moisture to my routine. A small amount of this oil seems to act as a humectant and keep my skin hydrated all day. I was never really a fan of face oils until I discovered this product. As we get older, the ability to create natural oils within our body seem to diminish so we need a little extra boost from our nutrition and skincare routine to keep our skin from drying up. This little balancing oil will be in my skincare arsenal for a while. 

Make up

Nars Multiple in Orgasm

The multiple sticks that Nars cosmetics has are brilliant. Its perfect for traveling as it can be used for cheeks, eyes, and lips. I like to use it as a blush and eyeshadow base. Orgasm is Nars #1 best-selling blush for many years now and it is a peachy-blush with some highlighters inflected in the formula. I've been into cream blushes for the past few years and the application of this with fingers makes it fool-proof easy and fast. I also use the Laguna illuminator cream as a bronzer and contour and will soon purchase the multiple stick in Copacabana as my highlighter when my current highlighter runs out. Creams and sticks are good for glowing summer skin and they are also lightweight enough to wear to the beach without looking like a clown. 

Body

Molton Brown Eucalyptus Body Wash

I'm obsessed with this body wash and have been for a while. I tend to take my daily showers at night before bedtime so I need to have relaxing scents in the shower. Eucalyptus is the scent that puts me in the sleepy time state of mind. I've tried other Eucalyptus body washes and shower gels but Molton Brown's version is the most potent Eucalyptus scent I've found. I stock up on this body wash whenever I can. 

Rituals Hammam Olive Secret shower paste

I exfoliate my skin 1-2 times a week in the shower to get rid of dead skin cells and the built up grime that accumulates especially if I'm traveling on the road and constantly out and about. This shower paste has tiny exfoliating particles that creates enough friction to exfoliate my skin thoroughly. I use this on a loofah for a bit of extra exfoliation. Rituals is available in Europe so I purchase this whenever I'm in the vicinity of a Rituals store and running low. This tube lasts me about 4-6 months though because I don't use it everyday like I do with my Molton Brown body wash. 

All opinions regarding these products are my own personal opinions alone. The pictures are taken from the companies websites which are linked to this blog. No companies or product endorsements here.

Coffee or Tea?

Fika time! Kanellbulle (Swedish cinnamon bun) with strong black coffee

Fresh Mint tea at cafe Dudok in Rotterdam

Which do you prefer: Coffee or Tea?

I choose both!

I have been a tea drinker since I was a young kid due to my Chinese heritage of going to Chinese restaurants and pairing the food with a dark blend of Chinese brewed tea. Usually its oolong tea. Its supposed to detoxify and help aid with oil and grease detoxification. I always pair Chinese food with  hot Chinese tea whether its Jasmine, Oolong, Chrysanthemum, Green tea, or White tea. It does seem like it helps with the grease. 

Lately, tea has been classified as a health drink loaded with antioxidants and anti-aging benefits.

Green Tea contains catechins which fight free radical damage. These means that if you've been out in the sun, you may be able to help reverse the effects of sun damage by drinking green tea. I would pair it with a high SPF, cool shades, and drinking green tea aprés sun. Green tea is loaded with antioxidants that is great for your skin and tons of health benefits too. I love a cold iced matcha on a hot summer day! I'm not really a fan of Starbucks but I do like this drink on a super hot day! 

Black Tea, Oolong Tea, White Tea are also high in antioxidants and provide a lot of health benefits that also translate to glowing skin! (Drink it all! :-) )

You can read more about Tea's benefits here

I am also an avid coffee drinker and started drinking coffee in my teens then stopped drinking it regularly for a number of years thinking it was bad for health then started drinking it regularly again a few years ago. The result: I lost weight really easily! (along with a slight lifestyle change and drinking more wine too ;-) )

Coffee has gotten a bad reputation but lately its being reversed by research done on coffee consumption. Researchers have found that coffee has lowered the risk for liver disease, liver cancer, heart disease, parkinson's disease, depression, type 2 diabetes, and contains loads of antioxidants to fight free radicals (Translation: premature aging!). Read more about the health benefits. 

Caffeine in skincare has been known to reduce the appearance of under-eye circles, cellulite, prevent inflammation. Read more about coffee's benefits. There are so many benefits to caffeine in consumption and in skincare so whether you're a coffee or tea drinker, incorporate it as part of your skincare routine as well as for overall health.

Can't live without products right now?

I moved back to a dry climate with four seasons this year and my skin wrecked havoc by being sensitive and dry. These two products save my life.

1) Dr Hauschka Revitalizing mask 
After putting this mask on for 20 minutes, my skin doesn't feel so parched. This is also a perfect mask for rehydrating my skin after a long haul flight. Somehow this mask balances out my sensitive skin.
Dr Hauschka products are really simply packaged but the products are overall excellent from the ones I've tried over the years. I'm currently using a gel serum from Dr Hauschka and it delivers just enough hydration to prepare my skin for moisturiser and sunscreen.

2) Jurlique Skin Balancing Oil

This oil kept winter skin and wind-burn sensitivity at bay for me all winter! I never leave my room without putting this oil on after my moisturiser because it leaves the right amount of hydration and creates a protective barrier on my skin against the drying weather elements. I never thought to ever put oil on my face because for most of my life, my skin errs on the side of oily patches. I'm a big fan of this skin balancing oil by Jurlique because it also smells really good and keeps my skin hydrated and glowing all day.

One of the best things about both these brands is that its natural-derived and packed with lots of hydrating essential oils. My sensitive skin loves this as the weather conditions keep changing for me, I'm constantly slathering on hydrating skincare products on my face and body.

New Year's beauty resolutions

Happy New Year! I spent almost three weeks traveling Western Europe for the holidays and have amazing memories, stories, pictures, and met up with old & new friends. Its winter and my skin surprisingly did fine - I slathered lotion all over my body at night before bed time and if its extra dry due to the heating in the room, I'd slather lotion again in the morning. I did the same thing with my face: after cleansing it was always serum, moisturizer, sunscreen, then tinted moisturizer & a bit of make up.

So now its 2014 and a brand new year. What are your beauty care resolutions this year?

My beauty care resolution is simple: take care of my body by nurturing it with care and love. Stay healthy as much as I can, moisturize from head-to-toe because dry skin causes wrinkles, apply sunscreen more diligently, drink A LOT of fluids, smile, laugh, enjoy life!

Prost! Skål! Salud!

New Year's in Amsterdam

Miracle Oil for removing scars

A friend who fell off her bike over the summer and she got really scratched up. She spent the week rubbing Bio-Oil on her face and massaging it into her scratches and scars. Slowly but surely the scabs shrunk and then fell off revealing glowing new skin underneath! My other friend witnessed this and went to go buy a big bottle of Bio-Oil. I started to see the difference in both my friends skin, so I've jumped on the Bio-Oil train. I have some scars from figure skating, insect bites, dance injuries, mysterious bruises/scratches, stretch marks, scars that won't go away... ok you get the picture. I needed some of that miracle oil.

According to their website:

The Bio‐Oil formulation is a combination of plant extracts and vitamins suspended in an oil base. It contains the breakthrough ingredient PurCellin Oil™, which changes the formulation’s overall consistency, making it light and non‐greasy, ensuring that the goodness contained in the vitamins and plant extracts is easily absorbed.
Bio‐Oil has undergone safety assessments in accordance with the Council on Cosmetic Products. The toxicological profile, chemical structure, level of inclusion and total level of daily exposure of each ingredient used has been assessed and deemed safe for use (including for use by pregnant women).
Bio‐Oil is a member of Beauty Without Cruelty International.

After reading some reviews online, I would definitely only recommend to use this product on body scars first because there have been some skin reactions such as clogged pores resulting in a pimple attack on the face. If you live in a dry climate and have dry skin, you may be able to use it on your face sometimes.

For other scar removal skincare check out this site I found here.





All opinions regarding these products are my own personal opinions alone. The pictures are taken from the companies websites which are linked to this blog. No companies or product endorsements here.

Nude Face Cleanser

Face cleansers are such a necessity and I'm not brand-loyal when it comes to my bathroom cabinet. I like to try different products but there are a few standouts in the facial cleanser department. I was recently using Nude skincare's Purify Cleansing Wash and absolutely loved how gentle but effective this cleanser is. It would clean off the day's grime and melt away make up. I could even open my eyes while applied it in circular motion all around my face. Reminds me a little of Fresh's Soy Face Cleanser.  The ingredient list on this product isn't super long and this product is paraben-free.

In regards to cruelty-free and animal testing, this company does NOT test on animals and attempts to use ingredients that are not tested on animals however, they don't have the cruelty-free stamp because I guess some of the ingredients they have used have at some point been tested in a lab but not anymore. *sigh*

I did find the following information on their website though:

NUDE never tests on animals. When selecting the ingredients to be used in our cosmetic products, NUDE requires raw material suppliers to provide safety information based on scientifically accepted alternative testing methods that meet international safety standards and regulations. NUDE products must meet both consumers' needs and consumer safety, while respecting animal life. NUDE continues to strongly support & favour alternative testing and is committed to following all animal testing laws and regulations in order to ensure our products' safety for the end consumer.

Each country has its own specific regulations that are regularly updated. NUDE’s parent company, LVMH, has always been actively involved in the search for alternative testing methods for many years and supports several industry research programs, including those conducted by the Johns Hopkins University Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, the European Chemical Industry Ecology and Toxicology Centre (ECETOC), the European Cosmetic, Toiletry and Perfumery Association (COLIPA) and the Personal Care Products Council (PCPC).

NUDE is against cruelty to animals. It is our goal to be as transparent and honest with our customers as possible. We believe the "cruelty free" certifications provide unclear explanations to consumers, as it implies that none of the ingredients incorporated into products have ever been tested on animals. This is a nearly impossible certification for any cosmetic company to make. We prefer to be able to stand 100% behind our claims.

NUDE does not test our cosmetic products on animals and we require our raw material suppliers to provide safety information based on scientifically accepted alternative testing methods. It is nearly impossible for any cosmetic company to certify that all new and existing ingredients incorporated into products have never been tested on animals as part of the safety research and certification process. NUDE selects high quality raw materials with well-established safety records and uses an extensive ingredient database. NUDE is committed to maintaining the highest standards of human safety while eliminating the need for testing on animals.

I think they are in the right direction though. They are actively not looking at ingredients that are routinely tested on animals but also state that they are not positively sure that the particularly ingredients they have used in their products have never been tested on animals in the past.

With that being said, I believe the EU has recently banned animal testing in labs and this is a UK based company. I think it is a step in the right direction to be conscious about the animal-cruelty that goes on in labs across the globe just for human consumption. Baby steps is still better than no steps at all to becoming a conscious beauty consumer. I love my bunnies too much. 

Feeling Fugly so I did my face and hair

Yea - I got bored. I'm really looking for a bright Teal eyeliner. I think Teal and Mint are the next "It" color.
I am using a green liner for the bottom for this look. I think this would look better with a bright teal liner. I am using quite a bit of volumizing products here but in the humidity of Singapore, my hair is still falling flat. (Missing the colder weather in NYC!) I also curled my hair to get the sexy "bed hair" look. I've gone back to using bronzer and a blush/bronzer for my cheeks because I am too pale these days (too hot to go outside) and working long hours in the dance studio. My favorite eye shadow by Laura Mercier's Luster Eye Color in Chocolate is an amazing color that is great for contour, smokey eyes, and even eyeliner (with a small brush). Unfortunately, this color has been discontinued (why!?!) so the only place to purchase it is Amazon.


 

Geisha beauty

Geisha women are perceived to be the ultimate in beauty, poise, and elegance in feudal Japan. When I was approached by the folks at Tatcha, they sent me samples of their star products. I've had a couple months to try out the products since they were samples and easy to travel with.
My favorite items include: Classic Rice Enzyme Powder, Deep Brightening Serum, and the Moisture Silk Cream

Classic Rice Enzyme Powder

This is one of their bestsellers and I can see why. The powder is mixed in with a bit of water in your palm and it becomes a silky creamy exfoliator!  Since moving to the tropics, my skin has gone haywire and became fairly sensitive to the environment. All the grime from walking around in a hot/humid (translation: ALWAYS sweating!) urban climate has made my skin look less than ideal. I have to keep up with a skincare regime of exfoliation 1-2 times a week so I don't get clogged pores. I tried this powder out and like how gentle and soft it feels against my sensitive skin. I'm always on the lookout for exfoliators that are super gentle on sensitive skin but also clears the skin of dead skin cells.

Deep Brightening Serum
I've always been a fan of serums. I think its because I like the texture of most serums. It just melts into the skin without feeling sticky or heavy like moisturizers and creams. This serum is no different. The lightweight texture and the fact that it does indeed brighten up my dull complexion (especially if I haven't gotten enough sleep!). This didn't irritate my sensitive skin so its good for all skin types. Whats different about this serum though is the fact that it does moisturize well for a serum. You could probably get away with using this serum without layering moisturizer on top of it if you have really oily skin or on a super hot/humid summer day.

According to the Tatcha website: Non-irritating. Non-sensitizing. Dermatologist tested. Formulated without mineral oil, synthetic fragrances, sulfate detergents, parabens, PEGs, PPGs, urea, DEA, TEA or phthalates.

Moisture Silk Cream
As mentioned above, I'm not a big fan of heavy creams/moisturizer. I was a little skeptical about trying this moisturizer out because of its name. When I opened the little container, I was surprised to find that its surprisingly light! I've been using it as my day moisturizer for the past couple months and noticed my fave becoming less splotchy from the environmental changes.  According to the Tatcha website, this product contains silk extract, ginseng root, green tea, red algae, and Japanese rice bran extracts. Silk extract acts as moisturizer and binding element so the skin is able to retain moisture. Ginseng root is an antioxidant that promotes elasticity and prevents premature aging. Green tea, red algae, and rice are soothing to the skin. No wonder my skin is repairing itself from all the environmental changes.





The only downside I have about this skincare is that its fairly expensive and I'm not sure if its available in Singapore!
If you're not ready to commit and want to try it out or traveling quite a bit, Tatcha has a sampler set for sale at $49. It contains quite a generous amount of product to last you at least 3-4 weeks.




Disclaimer: Products in this blog post were received by the skincare company Tatcha, however I did not receive any monetary compensation nor incentive to write a positive review of their products. All opinions and reviews are entirely my own and based on my own experiences with the products given to me. I only reviewed products that I was excited about and worked for me.

Exciting stuff...

I just changed the site address to http://beautifulfacesblog.blogspot.com because I'm expanding this blog to include some very fashion-forward, beauty junkies, and awesome writers to write posts here.

(p.s. If you'd like to be a volunteer blogger email me at alaine83 at gmail dot com and tell me about your beauty hoarding (hahaha), why you want to be a blogger, and if you have any experience professionally in the beauty/fashion world (optional) )

Me with my airbrush machine! Photo Credit: Di Zhang

Silky finish lipstick by Benefit

I recently purchased "Liar lips" from the silky finish lipstick line from Benefit and it feels like silk on the lips. When the weather gets cooler, lipsticks make a comeback and the glosses are kept at a minimum. Benefit has been revamping their make up and I like the new products that are coming out. In Singapore, Benefit is the "it" cosmetic line and the price is more than double for each product. I have no idea why that is the case. I use Dallas blush bronzer, Lemon Aid, Eyecon, Boi-ing industrial concealer, She laq, Honey snap out of it scrub, and their foundation brush in my personal make up kit and/or my professional kit. I can't wait to see what this company comes out with next.

Shu Uemura eyelash curler

The famed Shu Uemura eyelash curler is all that its cracked up to be. A few seconds of "pumping" your lashes with this magical curler is all you need. The lashes are curled even with those with super straight lashes like me. I highly recommend the investment in this curler. The way it curls does not cause an unnatural bend in the lashes either so it does not look forced up.

You can purchase it at the Shu Uemura store online at http://www.shuuemura-usa.com
This is a special lash curler b/c of its ergonomic design and it follows the natural curve of your eyes. I use this lash curler and then two coats of the too faced mascara. My short lashes look longer, fuller, and it stays put all day. To get a more dramatic effect, try curling your lashes then putting on a lash primer like the smashbox lash primer followed by a volumizing mascara. This will surely give you gorgeous lashes.