Side note, you would read over and over again how a skincare product has great absorption without leaving a tacky film on the skin. I apologise for repeating it so much but that really is one of my main criteria when it comes to me enjoying a skincare product. I hate the feeling of a heavy layer on my skin and especially with our humid climate, a lightweight skincare product is crucial for me to feel comfortable. 

Perricone MD Firming Eye Cream* 

Esqido X&O Unisyn lashes*

Despite my love for eyeshadow, I find myself skipping them quite often lately as I am just feeling pretty uninspired and am in the phase of simplifying my makeup routine. Thus, instead of reaching for my bolder palettes to jazz up the eyes, I simply put on some false lashes to take the look up another level. This is especially useful for occasions like attending a wedding after work where touching up is not the top of my list. This X&O Unisyn Lashes from Esquido Lashes are working really well for me. I got their Unisyn synthetic lashes (they are well known for their mink lashes but I am not really a fan of the idea of mink hairs) and despite it being synthetic, this lash is extremely comfortable to wear. I tend to not wear lashes as I hate the feeling of the band on my lids but this lash stakes almost no time to get used to. The cotton band is thin and flexible, so it moulds nicely to the shape of my asian eye well. The lashes are 8 - 13 mm long, and while that length is quite long for me personally, I don't find it too dramatic as the lashes are thin and nicely tapered. This style adds just the right touch of length and volume to my lashes to give added definition without going over the top. This is USD 22, which can be quite pricey for some, but I have to say, I've used this about 4 times now and the lash is still going strong. The craftsmanship is good as well, so I do think that this lash can be reused multiple times. 

September is going to be pretty hectic for me so please don't mind the lack of posts that I foresee will happen. My P6 students are going to be taking their PSLE and my goodness, why am I so nervous for them. That said, I hope your September has been fantastic so far! 

What were some of your favourites for August? 

Till then, 

**PR/ gifted items. I'm not compensated to talk about these items and only my honest opinions are expressed. 

Loreal True Match Concealer

I had such a tough time choosing a concealer but ultimately, I do think this is my favourite out of the huge bunch that I've tried. There were many close favourites like the Maybelline Fit Me and Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer but ultimately, the Loreal True Match Concealer just tops the cake. This concealer's formulation is very fluid and it feels extremely lightweight on the skin. It blends so well (and I simply just use my finger!) and I find that I can layer it to add more coverage if needed. This makes it great as a concealer for both natural and light makeup days to the glam nights. I throughly enjoy this concealer and another plus point is that is it so affordable since it can be found at the drugstore.

Maybelline Brow Fibre Mascara

As I've had my eyebrows embroidered recently, I rarely do find the need to fill them in. However, I do like to add a little more volume and depth sometimes and this Maybelline Brow Fibre Mascara works great for that. Many call this a dupe for the Benefit Gimme Brow which I can't attest to as I've not tried the latter, but this does contain mini fibres as well. A little swipe of this adds some colour and fluff, if you will, to the brow hairs and make them look full yet natural.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

Foundation hasn't been on my vanity much lately but one is always good to have. If I think about all the foundations I've tried, the YSL Fusion Ink foundation always crosses my mind as being a top notch favourite. Sadly, that is pricey and discontinued so I have to move to my second best, which is the Born This Way from Too Faced. This foundation gives me a medium coverage with a thin layer and can be built up to a medium full. This foundation dries a natural satin finish on my skin and despite its claims, I do think that with this, it is pretty obvious that I am wearing a foundation but in no way does it look cakey or heavy on the skin. Sometimes, to make it a little more sheer and dewy, I'll mix in a little facial oil to give it a little more slip and sheen. This foundation blends like a dream with both a brush and a beauty sponge and a good one to begin my collection with.

Morphe Brushes 25A Copper Spice Eyeshadow Palette

Something that was tough for me to decide on as well, but this Morphe palette really does satisfy my need and love for warm toned oranges and browns. With 25 shades, this palette alone can create tons of warm toned looks (which I always do) that range from natural to bold. The only thing missing for me is a matte bone shade but I can always substitute it with some face powder so I can definitely make this palette work for me. It also does not contain any purple shades, which saddens me a little as I try to add a little purple here and there some times as it is my favourite colour, but like the name suggests, it will satisfy any need for warm coppers and oranges.The shadows have great pigmentation and blendabilty, making them a joy to use. They have since repackaged this eyeshadow palette and it now comes in the typical black Morphe packaging. For the price and for the quality of these 25 eyeshadows, I would gladly repurchase again. However, if you're from Singapore like I am, do note that sadly, Morphe charges a bomb for international shipping so I usually get my orders from Beautybay as they do ship to Singapore for free with minimum spending and I do not find the price to be too big of a difference.

Amrezy Highlight   

I know this is limited edition and it's a little unfair to put it in this list but my goodness, this has been the only highlighter I've been using everyday since I received it about 2 months ago. All my other highlighters seem to fade in the background. I love how a applying a sheer layer can result in a natural glow and layering it gives a gorgeous and intense luminosity. This champagne looks so flattering on my skin as it isn't too warm and cool and I just love how there isn't any large chunks of glitter in it. The formulation is unique and enables me to use both brushes and damp sponges to work it onto the skin. So let's pretend it's going to be around should the unfortunate incident of a need to repurchase it arise.

             

Covergirl Supersizer Mascara

This mascara can do me no wrong. I love it and I'm pretty sure that if you read this blog quite a bit, you'd know as I've had numerous praises for this gorgeous tube of wonder. It holds my curl, lengthens the lashes and adds a good amount of volume and definition. It does not flake on me (which quite a few mascaras do on me) and I can laugh and squint my eyes all I want and there will still be no black smudges under the eye. The formulation isn't too wet or dry either, giving me enough time to coat and separate the lashes while drying in a decently short time.

Innisfree No Sebum Powder

I'm generally not too picky about my face powders as I mostly use them to set any base makeup, if any, or to mattify the skin after application of sunscreen. That being said, I particularly love a good powder that is finely milled. I find that this makes the skin look smoother and it does not look heavy. One of the best that I've found so far would be the Innisfree No Sebum Powder. I have gone through about 2 tubs of the original (in the green tub) and the one featured in the pictures is the blur version (which honestly, I don't find to be much of a difference). Regardless, this is an affordable powder that really works well in controlling shine throughout the day. I also like that it is translucent and doesn't alter the shade of my foundations or concealers. If all my powders were gone, this is probably the first I would repurchase. 

Labiotte Wine Lip Tint

This was a tough category to choose too, but I figured that I would go with something that I could use comfortably on a daily basis and that would be my Labiotte Wine Lip Tints. These are great for a simple throw-onto-the-lips and as they are pretty sheer. They can be built up for a more intense colour payoff as well, but generally I'm good with just one layer as it gives my lips enough colour. The lightweight formulation makes it extremely comfortable to wear as I barely feel like there's any product on my lips after it sets! My favourite shade is CR02 Riesling Coral and it is a lovely light coral shade that adds life back to the face. I did a review and a full swatch of some that I have in the post here for your reference too!

As my makeup routine has been tremendously simplified recently, I do think that these 10 items would definitely fulfil my needs on a daily basis. These truly are the ones I go to as well, when I'm in a time crunch or just out of any creativity.

What are some of your makeup must-haves? 

Till then,

I'm definitely not one to go to for advice on fitness but my sister loves to work out and she got me to purchase a protein powder recently. I have looked around, both online and in stores, and I realised that protein powders do cost quite a bit! After reading tons of reviews and research, we decided to get the Nitrotech Whey Gold from Muscletech. We got it during a promotion (which happens quite often), and the 1kg container only cost about SGD 40. That was a good deal and we quite like it so far. It isn't overly sweet and mixes easily without many clumps. I also realised that other well-known protein powders like the Optimum Nutrition Gold Standard Whey is also cheaper than most sites I've seen. If you're a regular protein shake drinker or know someone who is, I do think iHerb's protein powders are worth checking out. You might save some money!

Lastly, I'll just list some of my favourite items to get from this site.

Stridex Single Step Acne Control Maximum Pads - If you have acne or would like to give chemical exfoliant a shot, these facial sheets are one to try! I've mentioned my love for these here as it helped to clear up my acne on my cheeks significantly. P.s. I also love using this on my legs to help prevent any ingrown hair after using the epilate machine! It really helps to smooth out the skin.

My favourite brand of tea available on site would be Stash Tea and as mentioned before (here), their Camomile Nights Bedtime Blend is my absolute must have for stressful periods as sipping on it immediately calms me down and preps me for a good night sleep. A box of 20 costs about SGD 4.40 which I think is a pretty good deal.


iHerb does provide free shipping if you spend above SGD 55 (I think) which honestly, isn't hard to do for me personally. They also have shipper saver items that once added to cart, the shipping costs decrease! Generally for me, my shipments take about a week to get to my doorstep and that's pretty decent considering that it is free and there's tracking.

Overall, I do love this site and forsee myself using it to supplement my life for a long time to come. I hope that you would check it out if this site is new to you. There are so many things available and I do find the prices pretty competitive. Now, if you're a new customer and if you would like, you can use my code QFR109 to receive 5% off your cart (do note, I also would get 5% reward credits if you do use it and I really appreciate it!).

If you're an iHerb regular, what else do you like to get? Sometimes there are so many items available than I don't know what else to try! Please do share them with me as I always love to try new things out.

What else do you like to buy off iHerb? Do share as I would like to check them out!

Till then,

Ever since I’ve been started using Guavapass, I have been heading to various studios and gyms for a good sweat sesh. Usually done before work, I would bring some beauty bits to help me look more presentable before I meet my kids. 

While I do love a good eyeshadow look with different shades and intensities, bringing a palette and brushes in my pouch doesn’t seem too appealing to me. Thus, I’ve been loving the Maybelline Le Stylo Smoky* eyeshadow crayon. This is the shade 110 Mocha Coffee which is a matte brown that works well in adding definition to the eyes. I like to blend it up all the way into the crease as well before laying down another shade (mentioned below!) and this works well as a crease shade. This crayon is a twist up and it is easy to apply and blend on the lids. It also comes with a little brush at the end to aid in blending, but I find that my fingers work faster and better. For a quick fuss free look, this  crayon comes in extremely handy. 

A Colourpop Super Shock Shadow will always be in my gym makeup pouch as they instantly add life to the eyes and are easy to apply with the fingers. I usually would rotate the shades around but my favourite shade still has to be sequin (also mentioned in my current favourites here). This works well by itself or layered with other base shades. A gorgeous pinkish copper that looks great on the lids, making it look like I put in way more effort than I actually did. 

Loreal Colour Riche Shine Lipstick* in 905 Tearose Eternite is the perfect flush to the lips (full swatches here).  I quite enjoy the formulation of these lipsticks as they have a more balm-like texture to them and are sheerer than regular lipsticks, making them a breeze to just throw onto the lips in a hurry. This leaves a sheen on the lips too, making it look healthy and plump. I do wish that it was a tad more moisturising as I do get those pesky rolled up dried skin on the lips after a few hours of wear. Despite so, this is an easy throw on shade that does not require much precision or a specific makeup look (it looks great with no makeup too)!

Kiko Full Coverage Concealer has been super useful for me lately. My foundations seriously have been collecting dust lately as I really don’t wear them anymore. Thus, a good concealer is what I need and this works well under the eyes and on the skin to cover any spots and blemishes. It provides full coverage and while it may not be the most sanitary, I do like how convenient it is to apply as it is in a cake form so all I gotta do is dip my finger in and dab it onto my skin. Once warmed up, the concealer does blend easily and I have to say it was noticeably easier than some other cream concealers out there. This isn’t the most lasting concealer on the skin (and also because I don’t set it as I don’t bring a powder in my gym pouch), but touch ups are super easy to do too as this little compact comes with a mirror.

Urban Decay 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencils are still my favourite pencil liners to work with thus far. They glide on so smoothly onto the skin and the pigmentation is fantastic. I usually would bring one along with me and the shade that I am enjoying recently has been Hustle. This is a dark brown shade with a pearl finish and works well to line to eyes if I am wanting some more definition that day. Due to its smooth consistency, I do find that these pencils are easy to work with as they do not set immediately and any mistakes can be cleaned up in a blink of an eye with a Q-tip. This is crucial when I am working on my wing in the gym toilet as I'm typically the kind of person who needs to be up close and personal with my mirror. 

A good mascara is crucial as it ties the look together and draws the focus to the eyes (so that the bare skin with minimal concealer is not the first thing you would notice if you see me). I ran out of my travel size of this so I'm currently bringing along the full sized Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara. I did get my lashes lifted or permed recently so mascara curlers are not necessary at the moment and my goodness, I feel like I'm addicted. This saves so much time and my eyes look much perkier even without mascara. The Better Than Sex mascara does a lovely job of adding volume and slight length to my lashes and really opens up my eyes. I really like the effect of this as my lashes look really voluminous and fluffy, without being too clumpy imo.


So there we have it. 6 items that are easy to use and a joy to work with. I kept it simple and did not include my skincare (which is just some travel sized moisturiser I find lying around) and makeup removal (even though I have to give a special mention to Biore makeup wipes! These remove everything is a swipe and I am still amazed at how quick it is).

Honestly, this is a pretty drastic change in lifestyle for me as previously, I was not comfortable with so minimal makeup (and also, I never ever find myself in a fitness class back then). Piles of makeup was what I was used to. As of 2018, I slowly found myself moving away from multiple products and layering makeup onto my skin, and more to natural looks and multi-purpose items. I used to disregard eyeshadow pencils (alright, I'll admit it, I was pretty much an eyeshadow snob) and lip and cheek tints. Now, I feel like my perspective has changed dramatically when it comes to makeup and I am starting to appreciate a lot more items that I would never give a second look to in the past.


Side note, if you're wondering what Guavapass is, it's basically a membership where you can attend any fitness classes from the studios under them. This has completely changed the way I view working out and my goodness, it makes exercising much more fun and less painful. I never really thought I would say this, but I actually look forward to my classes. Who am I?

What are some beauty essentials in your post gym makeup bag? 

Till then,





**PR/Gifted items

Image credit to Amazon

E - Squared by Pam Grout

This book was my introduction to the law of attraction and quantum physics. These topics are incredibly intimidating but this book made it extremely simple to understand the main idea. I’ve never thought of things as particles before and how our thoughts have frequencies that organise these particles to what we experience. She organised her chapters into 9 experiments to test out the theories yourself and while I’ve read this book four times now, some experiments work while some don’t. Regardless, it’s a great read to understand the deeper works of our world and of our universe.

The Secret by Rhonda Byrne

This book is extremely popular and for good reason. It’s like the bible for the law of attraction in my opinion. It talks about the law itself, how it works and how we can make it work for ourselves. I’m constantly re-reading this as even though I truly want to believe entirely, there is still a sliver of skepticism subconsciously from my upbringing and I hope to fully eradicate it over the next few months or years. That being said, this book didn’t make sense to me at all when I read it a few years back. It all seemed a little woo woo. But now, after reading E^2 and the book I’m going to mention later, it all came together and I see the larger picture.

You Are The Placebo: Making Your Mind Matter by Joe Dispenza

Oh the power of the brain. It is something that I’ve been interested in for a few years now and I have to admit, it took me a good few months to complete this book as it is quite scientific as he goes into detail on the different aspects of the brain and why placebos actually have effects on our bodies and our lives. Many people are not aware of how influential the brain truly is (I know I sure wasn’t) and this book gives us a peek into this amazing reality in a very straight forward way.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Elizabeth Gilbert can do no wrong in my eyes. Her wit and sense of humour makes this book such an enjoyable read. Here, she talks about creative endeavours and how to get over that creative block that we all struggle with sometimes. I used to see this book everywhere and was averse to reading it as in my head, I’m not a creative person so the principles would not be very applicable to my life. However, that really was a misconception. We are all creative in our own ways and we have to use creativity to deal with situations in our everyday life. It is a enjoyable read for sure, especially if you’re searching for inspiration on how to deal with life.

Image credit to WLRN

Small Move Big Change by Caroline L. Arnold

So many resolutions of mine failed year after year. When I saw this book of the shelf, I was immediately drawn to the title. Caroline Arnold explains why our New Years resolutions often fail and a great way to get round it - microresolutions. Small baby steps over a period of time helps build a much stronger foundation than plunging in straight and running out of energy and determination in the long run. I've implemented her idea of microresolutions in my daily life and I have to say, it is allowing me to form better habits over time. Sure, I still do forget to do it here and there, but these manageable goals make it less intimidating and the inertia to start doing them is reduced. This a digestible read regarding habits and resolutions and one to definitely pick up.

I keep going back to these books over and over as once isn't enough for my brain to fully understand and absorb all of the information. These books are perfect if you're searching for something in the self enrichment section to help change your life for the better imo and I hope that if you do pick them up, they would improve your life as they did mine. Do let me know if you have read any of these before or are planning to pick these up!

Do you have any book recommendations? Please share them with me! 

Till then,

Estheclinic recently launched their new treatment, the Intensive Stretch Marks Treatment, meant to aid in the improvement of elasticity and firmness of the skin while promoting skin renewal and healing, thus reducing the appearance of stretch marks.

I am no stranger to Estheclinic and I have tried their Beat the Stress Treatment and Esthecryo Fat Freezing Treatment before. Located at Tras Street, it is convenient for me to drop by and I do like the warm yet professional feel to the aesthetic clinic. I decided to get my arms treated as the stretch marks on my bicep area are pretty prominent and I also wanted to see how firming a session of this treatment would be as the skin in this area puts the S in saggy. Before I began, I asked the therapist what I can expect from one session of this treatment and as expected, she did mention that roughly 4 to 5 sessions would be needed to show significant results. I mean, my stretch marks have been with me for a good half of my life so of course, a single session would not be able to significantly eradicate its presence. However, I did notice some improvements in skin firmness which I will talk about later. 

The entire treatment consists of 5 steps: 

The whole treatment took about 90 minutes and was extremely comfortable. While I did not see any difference in terms of the appearance of my stretch marks on my arms after the treatment wand now as I am typing this one week later, I did notice that my skin is feeling smoother and a tad more firm. Thus, I do see the potential. That being said, Estheclinic does recommend 6 to 15 sessions for optimal results and they do offer packaging of 6,10 and 15 sessions. A single session goes for S$380/450 depending on the area of treatment.

Stretch marks are pretty much a part of us and while exercising and building muscle can help to tone the area and reduce the appearance, a complete eradication of its appearance would require some professional aesthetic assistance. That decision is ultimately up to you, but if you were looking for something to treat it, Estheclinic's Intensive Stretch Marks Treatment can be a viable option and you can find out more on Estheclinic's main website here. 

Till then, 

This is probably the most expensive cream eyeshadow that I've own so far and before I actually tried it, I was this close to dismissing it as I thought how interesting and unique can a bougie cream eyeshadow be? I know, I was foolish and wrong. However, thank goodness that I decided to open one up to play with while waiting for my turn to play around with their ever so popular blush compacts. These Jelly Eye Colours from Jill Stuart have such an interesting texture to them and these are honestly, glitter galore. Now, before you dismiss it as something only the bold would wear, read on. With a heavy swatch, this can be extremely suitable for a heavy glam night out or even a trip to the disco (swatches here). But with a little tap onto the lids, I find that these just add an extra somethin' that takes the eyeshadow look to a whole new level. As I've been pretty natural and light with my eyeshadows these days, sometimes I like to add a hint of these onto my lids for a little sparkle. The effect these give aren't really like the colourpop super shock shadows which deposits quite a bit of pigment. I find these work best over eyeshadow as the base shade isn't very intense. The glitter particles while noticeable, aren't too over the top and have the ability to transform the entire look. I have the shade in 02 Nude Dazzle and I do think that this works so well in bringing more attention to the eyes and as a product that can take your makeup from day to night easily. These retail for SGD 30 on Sephora, which can be a little pricey but a little dab goes such a long way and I foresee this little tub to last me a very long time. 

Maybelline Master Fix Baking & Brightening Loose Powder

I love a good banana powder as I’m a sucker for anything that can counteract a dark undereye. I bought this in Perth (my Perth Makeup Haul here) and have been using this really frequently on days where my undereye concealer isn’t looking fantastic or isn’t providing me enough brightening. This powder is finely milled and I like how the shade is perfect for adding a little brightness under the eyes. The only annoying part is it’s packaging which honestly deters me from using it. It spills everywhere and the holes in the plastic sieve is just too big in my opinion. Regardless, I can overlook the packaging as I thoroughly enjoy the effect it gives with application.

Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter*

My love for liquid illuminators have been growing steadily and the search for a subtle, natural glow has been on for a while. Liquid highlighters work really well in adding some natural dimension to the skin without going over the top, and it is a much more natural option when you're not wearing foundation on a daily basis. As I tend to tip towards minimal or almost no makeup these days, this Ultra HD Soft Light Liquid Highlighter from MUFE works so lovely in just giving my skin a touch of sheen at the high points, making my skin look healthy and radiant in the most natural way. I have the shade 20 which is a pinkish champagne, really lovely to blend into the bare skin. This highlight has no glitter particles and does not emphasise the texture on the skin. In my opinion, these resemble the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder but in liquid form. It isn't too shimmery, but yet provides a glorious natural glow. Definitely something I would recommend if you want some radiance without the over the top shimmer or glitter.

Beuins Soothing Sleeping Pack*

As I mentioned quite a bit before, I do use sleeping pack every night to help combat my dehydrated skin. I've received some sleeping pack sachets from Beuin before and have been using them whenever I travel, I decided to get the full sized tub from Althea. This sleeping pack works really well in hydrating the skin. Despite it being a sleeping pack, it isn't too heavy and I don't feel much tackiness after application. I also don't get little bumps around my cheeks which I can tend to get when my facial moisturisers are too heavy. For its affordable price, I do think this sleeping pack is a worthwhile try.

Thann Tahitian Lagoon and Alps Mineral Water Face Mist*

I love a good facial mist after a workout and this one has been with me all the time for the past few weeks. After my boxing and yoga classes, I've pretty much sweat out and wiped off any skincare product on my face and I find that my skin feels slightly tight. This Tahitian Lagoon and Alps Mineral Water Face Mist comes in handy due to its compact size (60ml) and I find that it just soothes and rejuvenates my skin whenever I spray it. This face mist contains pure mineral water from the France Alps, Tahitian Lagoon water (which contains minerals such as magnesium and calcium that helps to instantly replenish moisture and hydrate the skin) and organic lavender flower water. It also contains nano shiso and green tea extracts to help protect the skin from environmental damage and revive dull skin due to its anti-oxidant properties. I can't really attest for the latter but I can say that this facial mist does hydrate my skin sufficiently with just a few sprays. I hate touching my face after a work out so a facial mist is the perfect way to add the needed hydration without the skin contact. So far, I'm a huge fan of this facial mist from Thann and it has been a staple in my gym bag.

Sabon Patchouli Lavender Vanilla Body Scrub*

A good body scrub does wonders for the skin and elevating me to a whole new level of calm. It’s a self care routine that I should be doing more. The Sabon Body Scrub in Patchouli Lavender Vanilla smells so good - a good mix of calm and rejuvenation. This scrub is enriched with Vitamin E, Almond, Jojoba & Borage oil and the minerals absorbed in the Dead Sea salt is said to penetrate the skin and get rid of impurities. I like that the scrub itself is extremely fine so it provides a gentle exfoliation without causing micro tears on the skin. Every time I use this, my skin feels soft and smooth after, without feeling tight or dry which some body scrubs can result in. If you're interested, you can check out their store at Ngee Ann City to smell and test it yourself!

Dry Brushing

I was casually looking around daiso one day when I came across this dry brush. Dry brushing has been pretty hyped up lately and for 2 bucks, I thought I’d see what the fuss is about. Dry brushing has been touted to help exfoliate the skin, boost blood circulation and reduce the appearance of cellulite. First use can feel a little rough and my skin was pretty sensitive to it. However, after a few uses, the sensation of the bristles against my skin feels like a gentle massage and I look forward to doing it every morning as a wake me up. I love that this brush comes with a handle, so less bending and reaching is required to reach certain areas. Following instructions online, I simply brush my skin in the direction towards my heart once a day. After doing this for close to a month now, I can safely say that my skin has been really soft since. I noticed that the little bumps around my knee have reduced as well. Cellulite is still popping, but I was sceptical to its ability to reduce its appearance in the first place anyway. So far, so good. A self care tool I’d recommend, especially since it was only 2 bucks.

Love these items to bits and I hope that you'd try some of these out if you can! I do have a bunch more of items to test out soon and will update if there are any good bits and bobs in my next favourites post.


What are your favourites lately?

Till then,




**PR/Gifted items.