Trying Out ‘Hourglass’ – A New Makeup Brand
Review
Hourglass Cosmetics is a make-up brand based in California that's specially formulated to contain anti-aging properties using only ingredients from the Earth's minerals and leaving out harmful elements such as parabens, phthalates and sulfates. You can find it at any Sephora store or Barneys New York.
The reason why I wanted to try out this brand is for its mineral primer. I've been wanting to try mineral make-up in a while so this makes the first (although, I wouldn't say mineral make-up is really their forte, compared to other brands that really focus on it). I'm also looking to see if there's a better face primer other than Laura Mercier's...
So here are the samples they sent me. I like their packaging - very clean-cut and solid, doesn't seem like it would break easily, which is excellent and definitely shows good quality. You'd be surprised by the weight of the lipstick alone! ...very solid.
The 'Veil' Mineral Primer (SGD76) contains SPF15 which is a plus (better protect the face from the sun's harmful rays to prevent wrinkles!) and is made from Earth-derived minerals such as Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide.
The texture of the primer is smooth and velvety. It helped to minimize the pores, fill in wrinkles and gave my face a luminous glow with a slightly lighter appearance. The difference between this mineral primer and Laura Mercier's face primer is that it definitely made my skin more 'radiant'.
Both primers leave a matte, silicone finish, and protects your skin from the make-up for a more longer lasting coverage.
They sent me a sample of their 'Veil' Fluid Make-Up Liquid foundation but I'm only sampling their 'Illusion' Tinted Moisturizer because it's probably something I'd use more frequently as it's less 'heavy'. I try not to use liquid foundation on a daily basis so to let the skin breathe. Like the mineral primer, the 'Illusion' Tinted Moisturizer also contains SPF15, but what makes it special is that it contains INSTALIFT®, which is a natural plant-based glycopeptide which lifts and tightens the skin within an hour of application.
The texture of the tinted moisturizer isn't as 'liquidy' as I expected it to be (unlike most tinted moisturizers I've tried), instead, it was slightly thick, even more than my favorite Revlon ColorStay foundation (which I use almost everyday) but yet still not as thick as Shiseido's Lifting Foundation (See other comparisons here).
I much prefer liquid foundations that aren't too thick so my make-up doesn't feel or look heavy. Although, I must say, as a Tinted Moisturizer, it provides enough coverage on the skin, leaving a natural, radiant finish when used with the 'Veil' Mineral Primer, so you can skip the liquid foundation when using this one yet still get good coverage. Here I'm using the 'Sand' shade which was closest to my skin color.
I love the compact case for the 'Illume' Creme-to-Powder Bronzer Duo (SGD58) for it's flexible, 360° swivel rotating mirror. This 3-in-1 bronzer, highligher and blush gives you a streak-free, lasting finish when applied correctly. I'm not a huge fan of a cream-based blusher as I find powder so much easier to apply with a brush, however, I do like this one because it gives you a more natural look that's long-lasting so there's no need for touch-ups every few hours. That's the beauty of cream-based make-up (same for eyeshadow).
I applied the darker, bronze shade under my cheekbones as shown in the example below to create a slimmer face, followed by a touch of the pink blusher on my cheekbones to give a natural, rosy look.
I always use a lipliner to define my lips and to make the lipstick last longer. It's definitely an essential in my handbag and my colors of preference are nudes and light pink.
The 'Trace' Lip Liner (SGD41) is retractable so you save the effort of sharpening a lip pencil, and it comes with a brush applicator on the other end for convenience. You can also buy the cartridge refills which is sold separately should you need to replace it - which is what I like about it - eco-friendlyness!
Here, I'm using 'Bare'. I noticed that it says 'Made in Korea' on the applicator (while the rest of the products I sampled were 'Made in USA') - which should mean it's good because I've heard many good things about Korean cosmetics, but I found the lip liner to be slightly difficult to apply and didn't go on smoothly because it was too dry, so it's probably a good idea to dab a bit of lip balm before applying the liner.
Unfortunately, the 'Femme Rouge' Velvet Creme Lipstick they sent me melted probably due to the weather conditions during shipping and handling so luckily, I had the brush applicator from the lip liner! Here I'm using 'Grace', which is a very light, natural shade for the lips and matches the lip liner very well.
Top it off with some mascara and loose powder and you're set! You can achieve this natural look, perfect for everyday in under 10 minutes. 
♡
Revlon’s ColorStay Foundation – REALLY Long Lasting!
I've found it! The PERFECT foundation for my skin color that has just the right texture, full-coverage and super long-lasting. And for only SGD29.90 (with a 20% discount when I bought it from Seiyu in Bugis/Singapore), it's a quality product made affordable.
Super long-lasting. Up to 16 hours! I wore this out on NYE and even after all the sweating, my face/make-up didn't look blotchy.
I've tried out different foundations from Bobbi Brown, Chanel and Shiseido and this one from Revlon proves to be the best out of the 4.
(I ran out of the Bobbi Brown foundation a while back so I didn't include it in this comparison.)
CHANEL's Vitalumière foundation is a little more 'liquidy' compared to Revlon's ColorStay. It's also slightly too dark for me. I've even tried this other foundation from Chanel which made me look 'dusty' and ashy. Well, Chanel's foundation just doesn't suit me.
Shiseido's Lifting Foundation is great for coverage but not ideal for everyday wear because it's a little too thick and creamy. However, I use it over the ColorStay foundation (applied only on the t-zone and the area just above my cheekbones) to highlight and for maximum coverage during night time.
I like that the Revlon's ColorStay foundation stays long-lasting (how many times have I mentioned this?) and makes my skin feel breathable. Perfect for everyday use and so affordable. I can't express how happy I am to have found THE ONE foundation 
If you're looking for a good and cheap liquid foundation, try this one out and tell me that I'm not the only one fanatical about it!
(This article is not intended for any advertising, sale or marketing purposes of the brand(s) mentioned.)
After 6 Sessions of Brazilian IPL…
I made it a point to keep track of the temperature settings when I go for my Brazilian IPL at FabulousTan (Read: My First Brazilian IPL Experience). I've heard so many horror stories about people getting burnt and permanently scarred from IPL. Luckily, my therapist, Glaiza, is experienced in what she does and knows how to set the right temperature so it doesn't hurt, burn or sting at all! The IPL machine that they use at FabulousTan can set different Hair Type and Skin Type - for people with light skin and light-colored hair, dark skin with dark hair or a combination of both.
The first couple of times I went in, my Skin Type was only set to III but I must've gotten darker because it was set to IV thereafter! The other settings were kept consistent, although Glaiza upped the intensity level to 6 during the last session to make sure all the fine little hairs are zapped too! Hair becomes finer after each session, and I'm not only satisfied with the results, I'm happy with the customer service. I've also just signed up for 6 sessions of underarm IPL. Each session doesn't take more than 40 minutes and as mentioned in my first post, there's also a shower facility there should you feel like you need to 'freshen up'.
Leave your questions and comments on this post if you have anything to ask about Brazilian or underarm IPL. I'd be happy to share my experiences 
Picking A New Pair Of Shoes For My Daily Workout…
Choices, choices. Well it's about time I got myself a new pair of workout shoes after using my Asics for a good 2 years now! That's waaay too long to be wearing the same shoes considering how much I use them. The problem is, I DID buy another pair of shoes to replace my comfortable Asics but the first one I got ended up being too tight, stiff and uncomfortable. So I switched back to my Asics.
REEBOK contacted me and wanted me to tryout one of their new range of TONE shoes - EASYTONE, RUNTONE and TRAINTONE - an offer I couldn't refuse. Check out the selection of shoes... I wished I had one of each! I really liked the design of the black TRAINTONE shoe, although it was not suitable for the type of training/workout I do.
I chose RUNTONE because even though I do weight training, I do a lot more cardio such as running and cycling and the TRAINTONE would have been to heavy for that. Watch this video to see the difference in stability and overall balance of the 3 shoes.
The RUNTONE looks significantly more stable than the other 2 which means you equally spread out the amount of pressure on your feet while running. The 'balance pods' on the sole of the shoe also helps to cushion the impact force while you benefit from increased muscle toning and strengthening (especially when running on sand). It also weighs much lighter than the TRAINTONE, which is more suitable if you do more weight training. EASYTONE is more of your everyday shoe that can be worn all day or if you do light activities such as speed-walking or jogging.
Check out Kelly Brook sporting her EASYTONE shoes and posing in front of her nude billboard ad! Lurve the curves!
I've used my new RUNTONE shoes for almost a month now and it's great! Recently switched back to my Asics and went for a run the other day and my legs were sore the day after. Probably no more cushioning on those shoes and about time I tossed it out!
Read: How to get the best out of your workouts
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COMING SOON: When it comes to sneaker style, no silhouette has stood the test of time longer than the mid-cut Reebok Freestyle. A true classic from the 1980s when Reebok brought women’s fitness to the fore, the Freestyle has become glitzed and glamourized just in time for the holidays in silver metallic. But, more importantly, this super cute sneaker keeps the butts and legs of fashion divas around the world looking fabulous with secret hidden EasyTone technology built right in!
These kicks are HOT! Not sure when it will be arriving in Singapore/Asia though. Would definitely love to get my hands on the black ones
My Top 3 Favorite Eating Spots In KL So Far…
Since I moved to KL, it's been a challenge to find healthy and/or organic restaurants to eat in town. I've been forced to cook for myself just so I can make sure that I'm eating healthy. It's so easy to overeat when you're dining out, and I'm always tempted to order dessert (even before my actual meal). Local food here (and in Asia generally) isn't just delicious, there's such a wide variety of choices and most are relatively cheap, especially if you're dining at a local spot. I love good food and there's no doubt that you can find that anywhere in Malaysia, but what's better than good food? Good, healthy food.
#1 The Yogitree
My friend to me to The Yogitree organic restaurant (The Gardens Mall, next to Isetan) the other day for lunch. Focusing on 'real food', they use only freshest, natural and largely organic ingredients so you get healthier and better tasting food that's good for you.
""Our food is fresh, natural, and incredibly tasty, whether a fresh salad or a hot mud cake! From hot sausages to a garden salad, any dish can be healthy if cooked correctly with the right ingredients."
Their duck salad was an absolute winner in my books. Sweet, juicy and absolutely delicious. I've also tried the 'Carbonara With Bacon, Mushroom, Egg and Smoked Salmon' (they prepared it the authentic Roman way, so no cream). I love cream pasta, except for their high caloric and fat value. This particular Carbonara pasta isn't as thick and creamy as how I usually like it. It's healthier of course, but I personally think it's a different taste altogether and still prefer the creamy way!
Dishes I would recommend:
1. Steak Sandwich with chilld Australian grain fed beef (RM27)
2. Duck and Pear Salad with organic Toasted Black Sesame (RM23)
3. Al Funghi with mushrooms and ceps in light cream sauce, dash of truffle oil (RM23)
I would also recommend trying out the juices (RM12 each). The two I've tried and liked are 'Peak Performer' and 'Wheatgrass Wonder'. If you like Cedele (Singapore), you'll like Yogitree. You can download the rest of the menu here.
#2 Alexis
I had a great dining experience during my first time at Alexis Bistro+Restaurant and have since been a frequent visitor to this chic spot that's conveniently located at my favorite mall in KL - The Gardens. I don't remember the names of the dishes I ordered before and they don't seem to have a menu on their website but I do remember having the duck confit and it was love at first bite. Sweet, succulent and juicy - just the way I like it.The salads are tasty too, and served with a good portion of greens. Worth checking out, or bringing your date to
#3 Delicious Restaurant
One of the reasons why I go to Delicious a lot is because you can easily find at 3 prime locations - Mid Valley, Bangsar Village & One Utama. Everything on the menu is good - from salads to pasta and desserts especially! Other restaurants I've been to and liked are The Apartment (KLCC) and La Bodega (Bangsar). You can find me at any one of these places if you're lucky! 
Forget Faux Lashes, Make Your Lashes Longer Naturally…
I was shopping at Robinsons (The Gardens Mall) for a new loose powder the other day because I left the one I had from Estee Lauder back in Singapore. So I got one from Shiseido (Maquillage collection) in Pink Rose. I love Shiseido, it's my favorite make-up brand and their skin care products are said to be the best and most suited for Asian skin.
Anyway, while I shopping for make-up at the Shiseido counter, I got 'distracted' by this salesgirl who came up to me and asked if I wanted to make my lashes longer naturally. I looked up and was just about ready to say no when I noticed that she had FULL, thick lashes on one eye and her natural lashes with no mascara on the other eye in contrast. I asked her immediately if she was wearing fake lashes and she shook her head and whipped out a mascara and Lash Volumising and Lash Extender from Mircoz. Beautiful lashes without the hassle of putting on a faux? I'm IN!
It didn't take much convincing when I saw how remarkably thick and long my lashes became after she did the demo on me so I bought the Lash Volumising (RM79) and Lash Extender (RM79) along with a heated lash curler after that. They recommended a mascara of the same brand but since they said I could also use any other mascara, I decided to save a little extra money. A girl can only have one too many mascaras...
So this was what I used...
Before applying the 3 combo (left) & after (right)
Natural, pretty lashes. No need to carry eyelash glue and worry about your faux lashes coming off anymore!
I layered my lashes using Maybelline's MAGNUM Volum'Express, L`OREAL's VOLUMINOUS and Estee Lauder's MAGNASCOPIC mascaras...
It's long lasting and doesn't come off easily so you'll need to use proper eye make-up remover to thoroughly remove the fiber lashes. Your natural lashes will feel so naked without it! I use Maybelline's Make-Up Remover for Eye & Lip, SIMPLE Cleansing Facial Wipes and Neutrogena's Fresh Foaming Cleanser to make sure my face is squeaky clean every night before I go to bed.
(This article is not intended for any advertising, sale or marketing purposes of the brand(s) mentioned.)
SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch – For Muscle Aches & Pains
Advertorial
Are you accident prone? Have you been getting muscle aches and pains from playing your favorite sport? Or do you sometimes get unexplainable bruises?
Like the time when I got major bruises from surfing at Wavehouse (Sentosa). Getting wiped out from the FlowBarrel caused a lot of bruises on my arms and legs. Surfing is indeed a hardcore sport.
Use SALONPAS!
SALONPAS is a pain relief patch to temporarily relief mild to moderate aches and pain of muscles and joints associated with arthritis, sprains, bruises and simple backache.
I often get bruises on my shin from kicking the punching bag during Muay Thai. My friends who do Mixed Martials Arts (MMA) and Muay Thai first recommended SALONPAS to me to help ease and heal the bruises faster. Takes lesser than a week to heal with SALONPAS! Tried & tested.
SALONPAS pain relief patch contains improved formula that penetrates quickly and targets the pain to relieve aches and sores.
It is skin color so it is not conspicuous. I’d rather have a patch on than showoff an unsightly bruise!
It is convenient and easy to apply. First, make sure your skin is clean and dry. Remove the patch from the backing film and apply directly to the skin. The slit on the plastic film side makes it easier to apply.
Peel off 1 side of the plastic, apply it on the affected area, and simply peel off the other side of the plastic)
- It is not recommended that you use more than a total of 4 patches a day.
- Use only 1 patch at a time per affected area.
- Use no more than 2 patches per day per affected area.
- Leave an individual patch in place for up to 8 hours.
- Do not use patches for more than 5 days in a row.
SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch sticks on firmly, yet is easy to peel off and has no greasy residue and leaves no mess.
The backing cloth stretches along the movement of the skin, contributes less tension and allows good fit even on joints. It feels so good to put it on after a nice massage. For bruises, I recommended applying the pain relief patch after icing your bruise. Applying an ice pack to your bruise before using the patch would help tremendously.
SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch contains methyl salicylate and l-menthol as active ingredients. It has a minty scent that is both soothing and refreshing.
The backing cloth stretches along the movement of the skin, contributes less tension and allows good fit even on joints.
SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch is thin, stretchable and flexible, it forms like skin. With great elasticity and snugness (7cm x 10cm).
You can get SALONPAS Pain Relief Patch at any major pharmacies, supermarkets, drug stores, convenience stores as well as neighborhood Chinese medical halls.
RECEIVE a sample pack of 5 Salonpas!
Simply write a comment on this page on how you would use Salonpas and how it would be useful you.
Good luck!
A Perfect Afternoon at The Apartment Restaurant, KLCC
I took a couple of friends who were visiting from Bangkok to KLCC last Sunday for a little sight-seeing. We had planned on going up to the towers at first but it was closed for public holiday unfortunately. So we ended up wandering around Suria KLCC mall and found our way to the outdoor park.
I must say, Malaysia takes pride on its greenery almost just as much as Singapore (minus all the strict 'fines'). It's really nice to see lush greenery in the heart of the city. You certainly won't find this in Bangkok or Jakarta.
A lot of people were hanging out at the park. To be fair, it was a Sunday. The scene pretty much reminded me of Lucky Plaza (Singapore) on a Sunday afternoon (most maids' day off), except there were mostly just Malaysians. I wonder if guys go there to pick up girls? Maybe for some eye candy? It was a nice place to have a picnic, nonetheless, just slightly more busy than at Singapore's Botanical Gardens. The only thing that would bother me is if there were mosquitoes. I've been getting more mosquito bites here than in Singapore 
Also heard from friends that dengue fever is quite common here.
Charles was eager to grab a pint of Guinness at Malones' as usual but I wanted a healthy, light snack so we ended up at The Apartment restaurant (which was right next to Malones) where they also serve food and drinks from Malones. It was indeed a win-win situation. He gets his beer, I get my healthy snack.
I really liked the restaurant's outdoor ambiance, there were even comfy chairs and sofa beds which would be perfect for a lazy afternoon of reading and sipping chamomile tea.
Charles had the 'Poached Egg & Bacon' (RM16.90) which was an open toasted ciabatta sandwich of beer bacon, poached eggs, watercress salad and mayonnaise. Looks and tastes delicious. The chips were really good too!
I had the 'Peking Duck Crepe Rolls' (RM11.90) which consists of french crepes wrapped around roasted duck with cucumbers, spring onions and plum chutney with an orange emulsion. Sweet and succulent. Just what I was looking for that afternoon.
* * * * *
Definitely making my 2nd trip there soon!
The Apartment @ Curve
Lot 72, 73 & 74, 152
Ground Floor, Western Courtyard
(next to TGI Fridays)
The Curve Shopping Centre
Mutiara Damansara
Phone: Tel: +603.77278330
The Apartment @ Suria KLCC
Lot 139, 1st Floor, Suria KLCC
(facing the lake)
Kuala Lumpur City Centre
50088 Kuala Lumpur
Phone: Tel: +603.21662257
Dinner @ Madam Kwan’s, Mid Valley Mega Mall
I had dinner at Madam Kwan's restaurant the other day with Charles and our two Filipino friends, Troy & Karen (who now live in Bangkok). Charles' mom, who visited us last month, had previously recommended the restaurant to us after she had lunch there for the first time. Judging from her personal take, we decided to check it out.
This is where you should go to to get your Peranakan/Malay food fix. (Have I mentioned that my grandmother is Peranakan?) The food there was absolutely divine! We were so hungry that we chowed down all the food before taking a photo of it first
We shared a few dishes such as char kway teow (which was a hot favorite), nasi lemak (2nd favorite), curry laksa, chicken and beef satay as well as bubo chacha. I really wanted my friends to try out the chendol but it was sold out! I didn't enjoy the bubo chacha as they didn't have the chewy tapioca bits (kind of like boba tea pearls, but colorful) in there. It was all yam and sweet potato, which I wasn't such a huge fan of.
The food is as authentic as it can get, coming from a nice restaurant that has several outlets all over KL (Mid Valley, Bangsar, Suria KLCC, Pavilion). Price is reasonable and I'd take visitors here again next time. I heard Little Penang Cafe is good too so I'm definitely going there next!
Like Cupcakes? You’ll Love ‘Delectable’ by Su
I had lunch with a new friend from KL the other day, Su-Yin, at Midvalley mall. She started up and runs 'Delectable', where you can find custom-made wedding cakes and cupcakes. I was never really a huge fan of cupcakes... until recently. Su brought me one of her outlets, at the Gardens Mall (near to Robinsons) where she housed all the pretty cupcakes and other yummies. It was hard to resist seeing all the beautiful cupcakes knowing it wasn't just pretty, it was edible! So, I took the plunge.
I LOVE the packaging! Su designed everything herself
3 cute little cupcakes for RM28
I tried the frog cupcake first because it had peanut butter and raspberry jam filling in it and I simply love that combo.
My intention was only to have a couple of bites and throwing the rest away, thinking "If I don't waste it, I'll waist it." But IT WAS SO DELICIOUS, I ended up eating the whole thing! I can see why people love cupcakes so much now... I'm saving the other two for tomorrow.
Su insisted that I tried her layered cake with prune after I told her how much I loved the one from Bengawan Solo. (Do they have that here in KL?)
Verdict: Charles & I devoured the layered cake last night while watching a movie. It was even his first time ever trying it. There are only 4 little pieces left in the fridge. It was that good.
I'll be coming back for more, Su!
* * * * *
If you have a sweet tooth, pop by 'Delectable' at The Gardens Mall or Pavilion Mall for some tea/coffee and cupcakes! I highly recommend it
Delectable by Su
Designer Cakes & More
S213 The Gardens Mall
Midvalley City, Lingkaran
Syed Putra, 59200 KL
012.508.1855
Delectable by Su
Treats
P6.03.00 Pavilion Mall
Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 KL
03.2144.5157
Be sure to check out her website, http://delectable.com.my/
Chasing the sun across the globe, starting from Singapore to California, Florida, and now Kuala Lumpur.
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