Happy Valentine's!

Hope everyone had a great day :) a little surprise from dh this morning.

Leisurely Saturday

One of the laziest Saturdays spent in a while...Visitng friends, hanging out, checking out new home stuff, shopping, tea, spontaneous dinner and ending with a great mahjon session :) Fab day!

Firstly a sneak peek of my new blushers fresh from KL - Dior Healthy Glow Rosy Awakening and Chanel Horizon de Chanel. Still using them alternately - loving both of them!! They are huge blushers -the Dior is 7.5 gm and the Chanel a whopping 15 gms (and also a whopping RM215!)

 OOTD

Top: Country Road
Shorts: French Connection
Belt: Country Road
Ring & Necklace: Diva
Sunglasses: Miu Miu
Bag: Miu Miu
Shoes: Miu Miu

After Tea (Onion Rings @ Jus Burgers) it was time for an early light dinner at Ha Lu - one of my fave restaurants. Its quite difficult trying to get a reservation - book at least 1 week ahead for a decent time. its Izakaya style- Japanese tapas :)
Highlights of the meal:

Teapot with cute handles!

Sashimi of the day - Kingfish, Salmon & Scallops - Very fresh with homemade wasabi, we ordered 2!

Ha Lu pickles

Kingfish Belly

Plum & Berry Panacotta, Green Tea Ice Cream and Japanese cotton soft cheesecake with balck sesame ice cream

We had a few other dishes as well all very yummy :) Hope you all had a good weekend - here's to Monday!

Naruko Skincare Part 2

I've been really liking the Naruko products I purchsed back in November - posted here and now that they have opened up a site in Australia, I've decided to try more.

As the site is new they were having a few promos but they did not interest me - I purchased enough to get free shipping ($50 min) but before the sample promo started, so I was very surprised when I opened the box to find some free samples :)

I purchased the Rose & Snow Fungus Night Gelly (I loved the Night Eye Gelly purchased previously), Rose & Snow Fungus Aqua Cubic Complex, Tea Tree Clay Cleanser and cotton pads.

Now, why would I purchase cotton pads? I've read some good reviews and when they arrived I was pleased to find they were larger than normal, thicker and had a textured exfoliating side and a smooth side. I tried a peice last night and because they were larger,  it was much easier and quicker to remove my makeup, oil and dirt (I used it with my Nuxe Cleansing Water). I can't read Chinese, but hte back of the box has a diagram showing how best to use the cotton pads (direction to clean etc) - they were A$3.90 (normally $4.90) for 60 peices (60x70mm). A little luxury I will use for facial cleansing (especially milk cleansers) but I won't use it to remove nail polish :)

The Rose & Snow Fungus Aqua Cubic Complex is a skin serum and the whole Rose line assists primarily with hydration. With the hot weather we are having, it works a treat - I use it alternate nights after my Night Gelly afterward. 

Their night gellies are similar to Clinique's Moisture Surge (which I use to be very devoted to, esp in winter) but costs so much less! A total bargain at $17.80 here. It comes with a spatula which you are suppose to use, but I'm very lazy and ensure I have clean hands when getting some product out.

I've only used the Tea Tree Oil Out Clay Cleanser once but found it very refreshing! I have unfortunately seem to have accumulated a number of cleansers I used in rotation and as this is a clay cleanser I only fit it twice a week - as a cleanser and once as a mask, Yes, this $11.90 clay cleanser doubles as a mask - and I'm going to try this out this weekend. DH has been using it though (he likes trying the new products in the bathroom) and really loves it. The scent is really a citrus tea tree and minty scent which is very uplifting.

I tried the Narcissus Defense Eye creme the last round and found it a very economical ($18.90 here byt I purchased it for $15 at SaSa) basic eye cream - easy to use, not to heavy and does its job hydrating the eye area. When the tube was used up (takes about two months) I went back to my Caudalie Premier Cru Eye Cream (at a whopping 45 quid from Feel Unique - same amount) as I really see results with the Caudalie. I've decided (for my bank balance) that I will use the Caudalie sparingly and as needed as it is marvellous at dark circles, bags etc but will try another Naruko eye cream for normal daily use. This time SC coincidentally went back to KL and got me a tube of the Marjoram and Lavender Eye cream. I haven't tried this one yet (still using the Caudalie) but I will soon. 

Now for the samples - I got a Raw Jobs Tears Sheet Masque (with instructions on how to use it!) and a night eye gelly and night face gelly from the Magnolia line. The two magnolia gellies smell gorgeous and there is a fair bit in for a sample so I will report back when they've been tested.

Hope you enjoyed reading about my Naruko haul - I will report back any adverse/fab effects/results! 

Disclaimer - I purchased all these products with my own funds and are not affiliated with Naruko - I just like their skincare range :)

Empty Bottles

I've read so many skincare/makeup recommendation, but wonder how many item are so HG that they are repurchased over and over again? I guess a true testament of how effective a product is by the empty bottles that get repurchased time and time again...I was going to throw all these into the recycl bin yesterday and it just hit me that these all my fave products that have been repurchased again and again. All these products were used up throughout January to yesterday - 5/2/12.

The Cleansers - I try out many cleansers but always end up repurchasing this Dr LeWinn one and Cetaphil. They are both so easy to use (Cetaphil for AM and Dr LeWinn in the PM) and so gentle yet effective. This Dr LeWinn one (which has been repurchased at lease 5x and I always have 2 backups in my bathroom) is especially effective for removing makeup (except eye makeup). Gentle, effective and brightens up the complexion (mine anyway!)

The Nuxe 3 Roses and Green Tea Cleansing Water is my favourite cleansing water to use. It is just as effective as Bioderma (which I love as well) but smells way better (Biorderma is unscented). The refreshing rose scent refreshes me after a long day at work and cleanses my skin perfectly getting rid of all the oils, dirt and makeup sitting on top of it. Caudalie is one my favourite brands and its Cleansing water works pretty well too, but I cannot stand the scent, so Nuxe it is! I normally purchase it via FeelUnique.

Moisturizers - Olay Total Effects and Caudalie Vinosource Sorbet Creme. I used the Olay for about 10 years now - the best basic day moisterizer for me and has never failed me. I've tried others but always end up going back to this one. No allergies or skin sensitivity and goes well with my Lancome sunscreen for the perfect base. The Caudalie sorbet creme is my fave cream to use when not going out (a stay at home day) or to use before applying makeup in the evening. Its light, smells so fresh and very affordable. Great for soothing slightly sun burnt skin (I don't like the sun, so I don't get sun burnt often).

Facial Treatments - Trilogy Rosehip Oil & AgeProof Nutrient Plus Firming Serum. I love Trilogy products - super gentle and you can actually feel it working. When I first started using these two products, my sensitive area above my upper lip and redness around my nose (broken capillaries) cleared up and even HB said my complexion was brighter and clearer. The rosehip oil is particular saviour (as you can see an empty 45ml bottle!) I use it mixed with body lotion, hand cream and direct on healing (not broken) skin. Speed up the healing process and soothes my eczema attacked areas.

Sunscreen - Lancome UV Expert GN Shield SPF 50 PA +++ 12H UV/High UVA PPD. What a mouthful!  I've been using this for 4 years now and the best sunscreen and makeup base. Its not available in Australia though, so I buy at least 4 tubes a year when I travel. Non-sticky, light liquid and absorbs in no time. The BB Base version however, I am not a fan - Stick to the original sunscreen!

Makeup - Chanel Les Tissages Tweed Effect Blush in Tweed Pink. The best shade for me :) It was hard getting the parts of the blush stuck to the sides, so I scraped it out and pounded them with the back of my MAC 129 until it was a fine powder - yes I love this blush that much!

Body - Caudalie Contouring Concentrate. The best cellulite and firming product I've ever used. It smells great and its absorb easily. All I do is massage it in problem areasfor about 5 mins sometime followed by a round with the Bodyshop Cellulite massager. I've got a few stretch marks (even though i';ve got no kids yet!) from rapid weight loss/gain during my 20s and after about 3 months of using this, they were diminished! I've tried the same regime (massaging technique learnt from Ruth Crilly of  A Model Recomends) with other oils/creams and they don't seem to work as effectively/quickly. Repurchased 4x already!

Its a rather long post - hope you find it useful :) I've just received some new skincare and beauty products so stay tuned!

Belated Birthday Post

This is rather late post as I celebrated my birthday milestone in December. I only got the pics my BIL took coz I didn't take any of my own pics (was a surprise birthday thrown by DH).

Unsuspectingly I was taken out by my bestie for a brunch (in this post) followed by giving her moral support through her dental appointment. Now, of course I didn't suspect anything as my actual birthday was two whole weeks away plus I actually followed her into the dental surgery and saw her getting treatment. After that we went home to pick up the boys and went I went in the house.... Surprise! 

My incredible Green-Tea Flavoured Shoe Cake - My dear SIL Judy made this cake from scratch and modeled it after one of shoes!

The big 3-0 Blowing out my candles!

With my sister and DH - they planned the whole thing!

With my SIL Judy (DH's sister) and their family

The bestie!

With Christine - Check out her blog here

Everyone sans BIL

Last shot of the incredible cake!

Chinese New Year Celebrations

Its been surprisingly busy this Chinese New Year, as we are in Perth and not KL when 99% of our families reside. Just a little peek into our celebrations this year :)

Dinner with some of the family

Waiting to feed the Lions!

Outfit for dinenr - Dress Review, Bag Miu Miu, Heels vincci

With my cute niece :)

And... traditionally we would wear all our new clothes during CNY - here is my new Gucci wallet!

Work Outfit

Just realized I haven't posted an OODT in a while - in fact I haven't posted anything in my Chictopia page in months! There's no time like the new year to start again is ther ;) This is one my favourite and simplest work outfits. Perfect for summer, a little black top, frill skirt and simple accessories.

The skirt is actually a tailored one, made by my tailor in KL and the tweed was purchased during a sale from Lincraft. I love browsing through fabric and knitting stores - the colours, finishes and textures make me very happy!

The bracelet is a special one made by my friend Lynde who has her own hand made and designed jewellery store here and cute tweedy shoes to match the skirt by Charles and Keith. Love the skinny mid heel. Plus of course my fave bow bag and sunnies by Miu Miu. Have a great weekend and happy CNY !