Privacy Policy

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Do we need sunscreen?

The answer is YES!

Hi all. I am going to post on the importance of sunscreen, something which I find many of us neglect despite dermatologists continuously extolling the virtues of it. In my country Malaysia, protecting the skin from the damaging sun is something we delightfully ignore although we are exposed to the year-round sunshine. Unless you want to age faster or you love the sun too much, then I have nothing to comment =)
The ultraviolet rays, UVA and UVB rays can cause numbers of health problems as follow because both rays can pierce through the earth atmosphere.
- Premature aging and fast wrinkling
- Skin conditions such as ugly skin tags, discoloration  
- Cataract
- Sunburn
- and the worst, skin cancer!

The UVA is most damaging because UVA rays account for up to 95% of the ultraviolet rays we are exposed to and it easily penetrates into our skin more greater than UVB rays. When you get sunburn, the culprit would be the UVB rays but the strength of the sunburn depends on hours of the day. You will most likely get greater sunburns during late morning and early afternoon. Hence, I always suggest to minimize sun exposure after 12 noon until 4pm as mentioned in my post on how to get beautiful skin naturally. Then again, the morning sunlight is extremely good for your overall health and you get free Vitamin D!

Therefore, when it comes to sun damage, remember that PREVENTION IS ALWAYS BETTER THAN CURE! To do that, always have your sunscreen lotion with sufficient SPF handy. SPF means sun protection factor and it refers to the strength of the sunscreen to prevent sunburn. And of course, the higher the number, the better it is to protect from UVB rays. Let me give you an example - if your sunscreen is marked SPF10, and if you are a person who would normally burn after 15 minutes, your SPF10 suncreen will protect you for 150 minutes and you will only be at risk to get sunburn after 150 minutes. In other words, SPF10 protects against sunburn 10 times longer. There are available sunscreens that protects against UVA rays too but there is no standard measurement of UVA absorption at the moment.

Sunscreen is EXTREMELY vital! Not only it helps to prevent sunburns, it also limits your skin exposure to the sun, thus reduces the amount of damage caused by the fireball rays. I am using Dermalogica Solar Defense Booster in SPF30 and it has never failed me =)

However, you must also note that sunscreen alone cannot provide 100% protection against the damaging UV rays. To be on the safe side, here are a list of what you can do to further protect yourself from the sun.

1) Wear clothes made from tightly-woven fabrics. 

2) Do carry an umbrella when you go outdoor or wear a hat. Better still, put on your stylish sunglasses with UV protection.

3) Try to avoid direct sunlight after 12 noon until 4pm.

4) Get a broad-specturm sunsreen that is water resistant

5) Reapply your sunscreen every 2 hours if you are always out in the sun. Apply more frequently if you generally sweat a lot.

6) Never forget your sunscreen if you are going to the beach and reapply if you have been swimming.

Your skin is the largest organ, so protect it!

=)

L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Review

Hi all. This time, I am going to do a review on the L.A. Colors Eyeshadow Duo and Quad that I got just a month ago. Just like the 120 palette, I got these from a forum but this purchase is a major disappointment to me. I bought these shadows from a malaysian forum, lowyat.net. The shadows are pretty cheap because the seller was doing a year end sale. Well, most products from that forum are pretty inexpensive and mostly all below market price. Yeah, everyone there is manipulating the market price, both sellers and buyers. For those who intend to set up your business thread in that forum, be prepared for the high competition of a "damaged market".

I never thought to purchase this brand but the perfect plum color from the duo attracted me.. lol! I am a big fan of plum, taupe and burgundy colors. So, here are my thoughts of these eyeshadows: -

Love it ...

- very inexpensive. I got the eyeshadow duo for RM5 (approximately USD1.47) and the eyeshadow quad for RM8 (approximately USD3.30), not inclusive of postage of course, but it is still very inexpensive.
- it is pretty convenient for me. For instance, the eyeshadow quad has enough colors for me to do a quick taupe smokey eyes without having to find another shadow with similiar colors.
- surprisingly, it didn't smudge even after couple of hours.

Hate it ...

- it is not very pigmented. The above swatches are with a base (NYX jumbo eye pencil in Cottage Cheese). Without the base, the colors will not even show up! Even with a base, I have to apply 3 to 5 layers to make the color pop. I am very much disappointed with the pigmentation.
- The texture of these shadows are not that smooth.
- The applicator is horrible! The double sided applicator has a sharp piece sticking out that would scratch the eyes. So, it is best to use a make up brush to apply the shadows, one that will also pack on the colors easily since it is so not pigmented.

It is not a very desirable product because of the pigmentation, unless you buy the brighter colors instead of neutral colors. Anyways, I shouldn't be complaining so much for such a low price. I guessed it would work great if used with a good and creamy base like NYX jumbo eye pencil or the Revlon Illuminance Creme Shadow. Otherwise, using the shadows wet can also enhance the color.

Overall ratings ...

Price: ★★★★★
Product: ★★
Quality: ★★
Packaging: ★★★

Would I buy again: No, unless another color attracted my attention, but I would NEVER ever buy from the same dishonest and unethical seller again. I will let you know why pretty soon.
  

=)

How to stop or prevent split ends

What causes split ends? 

Over-styling with hot tools and chemically treating your hair all the time will cause your hair to weaken, resulting in easy breakage of the hair. Also, lack of protein intake will cause hair to become very fine, leading to dry and brittle hair, split ends and worse, hair loss! Unless you are truly diligent in caring for your hair, nasty split ends will creep up on you in no time, thanks to ravages of sun and also air-conditioning.

There is no cure for split ends, but there are ways to prevent it.

• Go for a trim every 2 months to keep your ends in good condition. 
• Do weekly hair treatments to keep your hair well-moisturized and to repair those extremely dry ends.
• Use a shampoo and conditioner rich in moisturizing properties to lock-in the moisture lost from the harsh weather.
• You should only shampoo your hair every alternate day, otherwise your hair will loose all its moisture.
• Go without hair drying or any other hair appliances for a week and see the difference in your hair. 
• Towel dry your hair with patting motions instead of rubbing vigorously at your hair. This is a major culprit in breaking your hair! 
• Use a wide tooth comb to comb through your hair or a brush with wooden bristles as they are kinder to your hair. 
• Don't brush your hair too much, and always use brushes and combs with smooth, wide-set teeth. Avoid nylon bristles and never brush or comb wet hair! If you have knots, use a wide toothed comb or your fingers to gently de-tangle from the ends up, one section at a time. 
• Elastic bands and barrettes can cause breakage, so if you are tying your hair up in a ponytail, use a scrunchie. And if wearing barrettes, take care not to catch strands in the metal clip - ouch! 
• Leave in conditioners with light hold or pomade applied to the end can temporarily seal the splits. However, a trim will rid you of split ends instantly and it is a must if you want to keep them under control.

Tip: Rinsing your hair with lemon juice helps unblock the follicles and allows moisture to reach the hair shaft. Apply once after shampooing and conditioning and pat your hair dry.

Have a good hair day  :)

120 color palette review

Hi all. My camera has been giving me problems, thus I was not able to update my blog for 2 days, but today, it is finally fixed! Yay! This will be my first cosmetic review and I want to review on the 120 palette.

I came across the 120 eye shadow palette several months ago through a forum and I paid RM70 (approximately USD21) for it. The price is inclusive of shipping. You can buy this palette from eBay (just google 120 palette) or you can buy directly from Beauties Factory. The size of each eyeshadow is like a dime size. I didn't swatch all the colors but I swatch a few from each side of the palette, so you get the idea =) The swatches are all without a base, so, it is quite pigmented as you can see.



I have been so excited to try this palette and these are my thoughts of the product: -

Love it ...

- it is a great bargain for make up addicts on a budget
- huge selection of colors to play with, it is great if you are just starting off with make up
- has 2 blacks, highlight colors, neutral, bright and vibrant shades
- offers both shimmery and matte colors, but majority are shimmery
- great pigmentation
- occupies less storage space
- good for traveling use, but make sure you don't check in because the eyeshadows are fragile and easily broken

Hate it ...

- not all colors are that pigmented, especially the purple and pink
- it made my eyes itchy and watery sometimes
- too powdery, they create fallout on cheeks during application and you need to pack on the colors again
- fades easily as it is not any high end brand, so you need a good eye base or primer for the shadows to last longer
- many repeat and similar colors, especially the purple, green, blue, yellow and orange
- it is easily broken! I have been very careful with my palette but the cover is broken after using it a couple of times. I love the variety of colors it provides but the packaging is so cheap =(
- the eyeshadows are very fragile and super soft. Hence, you need to be gentle when dipping your brush into it
- I don't really like the highlight colors on the palette

Overall ratings ...

Price: ★★★★

Product: ★★
Quality: ★★
Packaging: ★★

Would I buy again: Hehe, I guess not because it seems very long lasting!

=)

My Beauty Profile

I figured it'd be useful to post my Beauty Profile for reference. Last updated: May 9th 2011.

Age: 31
Skin type: Combination oily and used to be acne prone
Skin tone – Very fair with a mix of pink
Main problems: Blackheads with slight post acne marks
No-no ingredients: Mineral Oil, Shea Butter, Fragrance in face products and alcohol
Holy Grail ingredients: Salicylic Acid, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and C
I am a big fan of Dermalogica Products.

Face & Eye Care
Cleanser – Dermalogica Pre Cleanse, Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser
Eye & Lip Make Up Remover – Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make-Up Remover
Scrub – Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant & Skin Prepration Scrub
Mask – Aloe Vera Gel + Avene Eau Thermal, Dermalogica Skin Hydrating Masque
Toner – Dermalogica Ultracalming Mist
Boosters – Dermalogica Gentle Soothing Booster
Face Oil – Bioxil Face Oil No. 3 (to combat acne) and Bioxil No. 1 (to soothe sensitized skin)
Moisturizer – Dermalogica Skin Smoothing Cream (day & night)
Eye cream– Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Firm
Sunscreen – Dermalogica Super Sensitive Faceblock spf30
Lip care – Any sweet tasting lip balm

Make up
Foundation – Averine Satin Smooth Foundation
Concealer – Averine Cover Spot in Light & The Body Shop Tea Tree Concealer
Powder – Averine Mineral Loose Power in Ivory
Eyeshadow – Brown, green, purple, orange, taupe, plum (my favorite), black, silver, sky blue
Lip color – Pink, orange, peach, purple
Blush – Peach or pink
Mascara color – Black or Brown Black
Eyeliner color – Black
Eyebrow color – Averine / Avon Natural Brow Pencil in Dark Brown

Hair care
Hair type – Naturally straight with slight waves
Shampoo – EKS Comfort & Vitality
Conditioner - Loreal Hair Spa Smoothing Cream No. 2
Serum – Senscience moisturizing mist

I guess this is it. I may be doing reviews on each of the above listed products :)

How to get beautiful skin naturally

Hi everyone. Let's begin with the very basic skin care practice for that beautiful and healthy skin. To be honest, having beautiful skin is not that difficult. It can be really simple and you do not even have to spend big bucks on products or facials. Here I will list 6 basic and simple things you can do to achieve that beautiful skin naturally.

1) Cleansing
You have probably heard this a zillion times but I just can't stress it enough. Cleanse that face! it should be a regular beauty mantra (that means a chant for you unknowing souls) for you to cleanse your face every morning and night. During the day, your face is blasted with pollution, sweat, oil and food bits that settle in the pores of your skin getting ready to cause huge breakouts! That's why you should cleanse at night. In fact, double cleanse at night and NEVER go to bed with your make up on unless you want the aging lines to appear faster. When you sleep, you are likely to rub your face with your hands (instant dirt), you sweat and there may be grimy bits on your pillow and these all need to come off in the morning. I hope this explains why you should cleanse your fave first thing in the morning.

2) Exfoliate 
Exfoliation is something of a beauty buzz word, but if you are not sure what it is, here is the deal; exfoliation is when you scrub your skin so the dead cells on top fall off and make way for new ones. What's so great about it? Dead cells that don't slough away by themselves tend to gather in clumps, blocking pores and causing breakouts, uneven skin and a dull complexion. There are many facial scrubs available in the market. Just get one that suits your skin type. Otherwise, you can use a warm wet face towel to gently scrub your skin.

3) Exercise
Run, swim, box, cycle, skate, jump, skip, catch, throw, surf, ski, grapevine, dance, climb, walk... no matter which one you choose, exercise is the CHAMPION BEAUTY FRIEND. If you do some exercise you really like at least 3 times a week for at least 30 minutes each time, your skin and body will love you forever. Exercise will help you build muscle, burn fat, maintain a healthy heart by getting rid of all the fat on the inside, give you energy, help you sleep better, help you think clearer, help you live longer, clear toxins from your body and generally make you a happier, healthier person all round! See the benefits of exercise that I have listed other than making your skin beautiful? Phew! So, now, you have really got no excuse. Get up and get moving. Oh yes, remember to choose a form of exercise you enjoy, so that it won't seem like such a chore!

4) Sun Protection
Please protect your skin from prolong sun exposure. Use a sunblock cream (at least SPF15 if you are working indoor and SPF30 if you are constantly exposed to the damaging fireball). Sun damages the skin, causing skin cancer, pre-mature aging, freckles, pigmentations and acne breakouts. There are arguments on sun exposure actually heals acne which I do not agree. I have tried but it got my acne worsen. Then again, it may work for some people. However, 10-15 minutes of sunlight exposure several times a week is necessary for overall good health. I would suggest exposing yourself to sunlight before 12 noon and not after that because the sun after 12 noon is most damaging.

5) Water 
Water cleanses the body system by removing toxins that will eventually result in clear healthy complexion. Drink at least 8 glasses of water (250ml per glass) each day to keep your skin hydrated and well-moisturized. I drink at least 2.5 liters of water each day to keep those pimples away. If you dislike drinking water, you can substitute with your favorite juice.

6) Sleep 
We can get away with the odd late night or two, but beauty sleep isn't called that for nothing! A good night's rest can do wonders for your complexion. Your cells regenerate during sleep. If you are not catching enough zeds, your skin will know and will show! You will get pimples and bags under your eyes because your body will use nutrients to keep you awake, rather than sending health-giving vitamins and minerals to your skin. To get the most from slumber time, aim for a regular bedtime and wake up time. Avoid dozing through the day (unless you really need a major power nap) and get at least 6 to 8 hours sleep a night. Sweet dreams equals good skin!

:)