Expired Makeup

Don't you just hate it when your makeup products expire and you have only managed to use like 20 - 30% of it?

I don't wear makeup everyday. Because I am still a student, my daily routine is my moisturiser and BB cream.

I only apply makeup when I go out with friends to a fun night out, or when I go dating. So my makeup supplies usually lasts really long.

Last week, I just moved and when I was packing, decided to clean out my makeup collection as well. I threw out almost all of my eyeshadows and a few blusher shades that were more than 24 months old, typical shelf life of makeup products.

As reluctant I was to do so, it had to be done. I wouldn't want to risk damaging my skin with expired products!

So now, I had to slowly restock my makeup supplies. And this time around, I vow to keep a minimalist approach since I only really use a few shades of eyeshadows - brown, peach and maybe dark grey for smoky eyes. Perhaps one shade of teal for that extra hint of colour when I want.

Another must have is of course the black eyeliner and mascara!

And most probably I will only need one shade of blush - I love warmer undertones tones.

Then coloured lip gloss - one in neutral and one in a bolder shade of red.

Maybe a small tub of shimmer to add a hint of sparkle.

I don't really like foundations - liquid or compact, it makes my face look cakey. I prefer just BB cream and a touch of loose powder.

As I grow older, I find that I tend towards makeup looks that enhance my natural features than those that add colour to my face!

What's your must-have make up product?

Biore Pore Pack

I take care of my face a lot. I believe keeping my face clean is the key and basis of having youthful and beautiful looking skin. So, I make it a point to cleanse it with appropriate cleanser twice a day. Once in the morning and once in the evening. Then I follow it with my skincare regime.


As much as I try to get rid of oil and dirt build up on my face daily, some residue still remain stuck in the pores, especially on my nose where it is most oily. I use face scrub 2-3 times a week to help elevate these dirt buildup in pores but yet, it is not fully fool proof.

Thus blackheads still appear on my nose and they are not a pretty sight!

I find Biore pore pack to be really effective in removing these stubborn blackheads. Once a week, I apply these pore pack strips on my nose. It's so easy to use.

First, dampen the nose area then peel off the strip from the plastic sheet and attach it on the nose. Attaching first on the nose bridge and pushing it down firmly on both sides, making sure no air bubbles are trap. The strip is specially designed with small cuts at the right places so that it will fit the shape of your nose nicely. Wait for it to dry completely about 10-15minutes. It will feel very stiff on the nose. Then the best part - peel it off starting from the sides, both sides simultaneously gently and feel the dirt peeling away too.

Rinse the nose with water to wash off any "glue" residue and continue with usual skincare regime. The strip may be discarded.

But for me, I like examining the strip closely, looking at the blackheads, now appearing as little fine needles sticking up with great satisfaction, knowing that my pores are all cleared and cleaned. Biore pore pack really works and I love it. Now, it also comes in the shape of regular rectangular shaped strips so that you can apply it on the forehead or chin to get rid of clogged pores at these areas too. Brilliant!

Procrastination

-Procrastination is the thief of time-

I couldn't agree more with this saying. I know I have assignments to complete but every time I sit in front of my computer try to finish it, I end up surfing the internet reading random blogs, blog-hopping, Facebook, check e-mails, and well blogging *blush*

Then somedays, I will end up signing into my MSN account and chat the day away.

My bad habit of procrastinating kept delaying my work until it is the last minute, this is no good sighs. Internet is a big distraction but without internet, I couldn't dig necessary information to complete any task! Such a dilemma.

I know about controlling myself and setting priorities but the problem is, I have zero self-discipline. In order to be really productive, I have to stay away from the internet. Blocking irrelevant sites like Facebook, E-mails and Instant Messaging services will be effective in blocking me off these distractions during times when I should be really focusing on my work.

Anyone can teach me how to block myself from these sites for a fixed number of hours everyday??

Nutella

Amazing gooey-rich chocolate hazelnut spread that comes in a jar - Nutella!

Spread it on bread, pancakes, use as a dip with crackers, as icing on cupcakes or other pastries, Nutella is like one of the most awesome inventions ever.

My first encounter with Nutella was in a Ferrero Rocher...literally. I love eating my Ferrero Rocher layer by layer. First the chocolate coating with nuts, then the wafer shell and then the creamy rich chocolate shell holding the hazelnut in the middle.


It's creamy, it's nutty, it's sweet and I don't care it's fattening, it tastes like heaven :)

I never knew they sell just that chocolate shell in a complete jar - Nutella, until recently. Brilliant!

It's so addictive that sometimes I find myself digging into the jar with a spoon and just eating it as it is. I know....it's bad but I can;t help myself. It's THAT good.

Have you had your dose of Nutella today?

Yoga

I am always fascinated with Yoga.

When I first heard of Yoga, I could hardly believe that something so low impact can be a workout regime. I mean, all you do is hold weird poses and do some occasional body stretches. How can that make you sweat or even qualify as a fitness program?

After my first Yoga session, I realise how wrong I was!
Who knew that holding a pose for 20 breaths plus a few body bending stretches can make you sweat so much? And the body stretches only look easy. Actually they are extremely challenging to perform. Especially for someone with a body as inflexible as mine, it was bordering torturous.

As the weeks go by though, Yoga does get easier and I find myself with an improved posture, stamina and strength too. And the best of all, I find that practising Yoga helps relax my body with the stretches and breathing techniques that I think is almost meditative.

In addition to making my body work and sweat i.e. a good workout, I get a good night's sleep every time I go home from a session. Thus, waking up the next morning refreshed and energised.

I totally recommend Yoga 3 times weekly for good overall body health and stamina!

St. Ives Body Lotion

Do you have a favourite perfume which is your signature scent?

For me, I am more of a body lotion kind of girl than a perfume kind of girl. My all time favourite body lotion is that from St Ives. I love that St Ives incorporates the most natura ingredients in its products to give best benefits to our skin.

In addition to being an effective relief to dry skin, it also is a soothing lotion that helps maintain youthful and smooth skin. And the fragrance is fresh, lovely and long lasting. Somewhat less "intrusive" than perfumes but it certainly leaves behind a pleasant after-scent lingering on the skin for hours.

I've tried 2 different scent of St Ives body lotion so far:

1. Soothing Oatmeal and Shea Butter


2. Hydrating Vitamin E


3. Renewing Collagen Elastin Lotion

The first 2 are from St Ives' hydrating lotion series while the third one is from their renew and protect series. I love the sweet almost edible-like smell of the Oatmeal and Shea Butter fragrance with its rich but not sticky texture which smoothes onto skin effortlessly. The same texture of the Hydrating Vitamin E lotion also left me feeling pampered and refreshed. However, my all time favourite is the Renewing Collagen Elastin Lotion, which, in addition to being hydrating, also contains collagen which help preserve the youthful looking of skin. The fragrance is also soft and refreshing, leaving me feeling clean and youthful :)

I find my skin feeling smoother and no longer dry. I love applying St Ives body lotion daily after a shower, especially before going to bed and in the morning before leaving for work. An excellent alternative to perfume indeed!

Microsoft Vs. Mac

My laptop has just been infected with viruses......AGAIN! Even though I update my anti-virus program actively, it just never ends! People continue to come up with new viruses and we consumers just need to continue to pay and pay and pay. Both for new anti-virus updates and for loss of valuable data or even worse....the loss of a functioning operating system. Very frustrating!

Friends have told me there is a reason why Macs are slightly more expensive. Start-up with Macs takes under a minute and you can say goodbye to viruses. For life! I have never used a Mac before and I thought there is no point buying one for a slightly higher price if its operability is identical to a Microsoft machine. SO wrong was I!

My friend Natalie was kind enough to let me have a feel on her Macbook Pro the other day and answer a few of my questions about Macs. Startup really took less than a minute! To think that my laptop takes up to 5 minutes to startup, depending on how many files I have saved on my dekstop and how long my anti-virus program responds.

My main concern was always with using the Word program equivalent on Macs and its compatibility on conventional machines like mine, since Macs are still a "minority" as a whole. She ensured me that it is totally compatible and file transfers are almost effortless.

I am seriously considering getting myself a Macbook. In addition to looking sleeker, I can finally say goodbye to my "relationship" to viruses. I have my eyes on the 13" Macbook Pro for its unique bronze colour or the lightweight Macbook Air in Silver or even the classic Mac in show white. The glowing "Apple" icon on every Mac looks very modern and aesthetic too. Love it!

What about you, are you pro Microsoft or Mac?

The Big Bang Theory

I am totally hooked to the bunch of nerds on The Big Bang Theory! Oh, and Penny too!

Very typical to almost every fan of this hilarious TV show, my favourite is Dr. Sheldon Cooper. His annoying antics and lack of understanding of sarcasm is simply adorable! My favourite scenes are always those that feature Sheldon's comments on Penny's social life and his encounters with his only Kryptonite - his mother haha! When nothing else works, his mom is the only one he fears.

 (L-R: Sheldon, Leonard, Penny, Howard, Raj)

Penny is of course very cute as the pretty Blonde and only "normal" person in the group. Raj and his inability to speak to any females is also extremely funny! And how can I not mention Howard's "talent" with women and his being a "true natural" womaniser! Howard's relationship with his mother is oh so funny bordering pathetic too!

I applaud Leonard for being the sanest person of his group. His patience and loyalty (well at least he try to) to Sheldon's antics is just laudable. I thought he was so sweet to Penny.....I hope they will get back together soon.

I love this show so much I think it;s one of the best shows since the days of "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Friends". Can't get enough of the guys from The Big Bang Theory! Plus, the theme song from Barenaked Ladies is super awesome too!

Timeless Denim

My favourite fashion piece has got to be the versatile and timesless denim - Jeans! One of the very best inventions in the world.

Pair it with a t-shirt, kaftan, tube, turtle neck, button up shirt, bikini top....you name it, it works!
It comes in so many shades of blue - dark, light, faded, washed etc etc. Although it comes in other colours like brown, white an black, I always felt that the best looking jeans are those that are blue.

You can say that everyone looks good in denim or jeans. Nowadays, jeans has so many different types of cuts that no matter what size or shape you are, you can always find a perfect pair of jeans. The key is find a cut that best compliment your body. And no matter which cut you choose, make sure it shoes off your bootay!

As for myself, I have a pear-shaped body and the best cuts for me is the classic straight cut and the boot cut. And because I have a short torso, I prefer low cut ones where the jeans sit on my hips. The skinny jeans won't look good on me unless I tuck it inside a pair of boots. My personal choice are dark blue and washed colours.

I am always a big fan of the denim capri pants and mini skirt for a casual everyday look too.
So, what is your favourite jeans cut/colour?

Thin Lizzy 6 in 1 Professional Powder

Have you heard of Thin Lizzy's 6 in 1 Professional Powder?

Thin Lizzy is an amazing product which functions as eyeshadow, blusher, countour, bronzer, lip colour and body bronzer. Everything in a neat compact!

I first find it hard to believe how an ordinary looking dark brown compact powder can transform your face with just a few strokes. When I tried it out at the makeup counter, the salesgirl explained that Thin Lizzy is not just any ordinary compact powder, but it incorporates crushed mineralised pearls which blends into your natural skin tone, giving you an all natural healthy glow with every stroke.

After trying it on, I was hooked. I love its very subtle and neutral looking finish it gives my face. It functions as a peachy-earthy blusher colour and beautiful brownish eye colour, depending on how many strokes you apply, thus giving different colour intensity. For me, I love finishing my look with a few strokes along my jaw line to make my face to shape it into a more pointed chin. If I am wearing a tube top, I give my collarbones a few strokes of Thin Lizzy and voila...I get this beautiful bronzy glow right away!

I love, love love Thin Lizzy because it gives me a beautiful and professional looking finish using just one single product. I have always loved the neutral makeup finish and this is just perfect for me. I bought my first set of Thin Lizzy and it comes with a lip gloss, eyeliner pencil and the awesome professional brush. Check out the videos to see how easy it is to use Thin Lizzy!

Zumba!

I have been attending Zumba classes for the past few weeks and loving it!

Zumba is a Latin inspired dance-fitness concept founded in the mid 90s by dance choreographer Alberto Perez and its tagline says it all: Ditch the Workout, Join the Party!

The trainers and friendly instructors at my gym always start the class by telling the participants to relax and enjoy because its a fun party class and that you'll never realise its a workout til you're done. I couldn't agree more, the loud music, dance moves and enthusiasm during the class fells just like a dance party!

Unlike traditional aerobic classes incorporating standard and very repetitive movements, Zumba uses a variety of dance moves from the Salsa, Merengue, Reggae, Hip-hop, Bellydance, Folk dance....meaning lots of bootay shaking, twists, up-beat moves that you never get bored of Zumba!

The most important part of course is results and effectiveness. 3 weeks of Zumba classes twice a week, an hour each session, I already dropped a kg and feel that my stamina is getting better everyday. Instead of dreading to go for workout, I look forward to Zumba every week. I can't get enough of it!

Crocs

When the first generation of Crocs came into the market, I liked its cute shape and colours. However, you can't deny that Crocs are made for the casual look. It couldn't make the cut for that fun night out with friends either to the movies or the club. No matter how comfy they are!

 
Imagine my excitement when Crocs started making various different designs that actually look very pretty!

Lovely flats with ribbons and dual colours, polka dots and even mary janes. For those who are die-hard fans of the original Croc design, they also came up with a "toned-down" version with the same trademark holes in the front. Then there are also the classic beach sandal look.

Now Crocs, known for its comfort and lightweight material, can be pretty too!And oh.....who doesn't love the Croc accessories - Jibbitz? A Huge collection of little flowers, blings, cartoon characters and colourful designs to quickly make your Crocs all personalised and just pop!

Fiberwig Mascara

Your eyes are the windows to your soul. Whenever I do makeup, I like to accentuate my eyes with eyeliners and mascara and leave my lips and cheeks as neutral as possible.

I agree fake eyelashes are most effective to give you that sexy look but they are quite costly and not very comfortable to apply in my opinion. I like mascaras that elongate eyelashes and give extra volume. Most mascaras out there give you either one of those. If you want both you'll have to go for mascara with dual tip, one with the white fiber thingy for lashes elongation, and the black tip for volume and colour. Double the effort and time for double the effects (volume and length). Seems fair....eh?

That is until I discovered Fiberwig Mascara! The name says it all. It's a mascara that gives you the effect of a fibre-lash-wig look AKA fake eyelashes. All in one single sweep!

When applied, its fine fibre strands attaches on each lash and stretches out adding at least 20% of length. Apply a few more times it gives you the volume and shape of fake eyelashes. Best of all, it won't clump even after a few coats and it's waterproof!

Achieve the looks of fake eyelashes without the hassle of glueing and removing it. Hands down, my favourite mascara of all time!

Smooze! Fruit Ice

I love ice cream! But have you heard of fruit ice?

The other day I came across Smooze fruit ice. Instead of using milk as a base, Smooze uses coconut milk instead, giving it that authentic Asian flavour. It is made of 100% natural and fresh fruit juices with coconut milk, is gluten and dairy free. In addition, it is rich in Vitamin C, non-fat, cholesterol and preservative free. The goodness of ice cream without the guilt ;)

A box of Smooze contains 10 individual packs of 65ml fruit ice. Best of all, you can store it at room temperature and only freeze it when you need to eat it. How convenient!

Each individual pack of Smooze is cleverly designed and packed in this triangular manner so that you only need to shake, freeze, cut off one of its sides and squeeze it out to enjoy. No mess, no hassle. Simply brilliant.

Smooze comes in a variety of duo-flavor with coconut: pineapple, passion fruit, mango and pink guava. Or, if you like, it also come in simple plain coconut flavor. I tried and fell in love with the simply coconut-flavoured fruit ice. Its surprisingly smooth, creamy and full of flavour. Perfect as a dessert or snack anytime of day.

Can't wait to try out other flavours of Smooze!