NEW BUY: Drugstore Haul

 My haul from Target

~AG~

My favorite place to browse through drugstore products in the United States is Target. It has a great selection of beauty products at reasonable prices. As I write this post, I miss Target beauty aisles even more. 

Maybelline Lash Sensational Waterproof Mascara 

US $6.99 (S$10)

-- It is the first patented fanning brush with 10 layers of bristles to create a full fan effect.

EOS Hand Lotion in Berry Blossom 

US$1.99 (SS$3)

-- The palm-sized packaging is cute. This hand lotion contains shea butter, aloe and oats to keep hands soft and smooth. It is fast absorbing and also non-greasy. 

Aquaphor Lip Repair 
US$3.97 (S$4)
-- This drugstore favorite relieves dry and chapped lips. It provides long-lasting moisture for the lips. Formulated with Shea Butter and Chamomile for well-moisturized lips.

Physician Formula Happy Booster Glow & Mood Boosting Blush 
US$10.63 (S$15.50)
-- This blush is infused with Happy Boost Blend containing Happy Skin and Euphoryl, natural plant extracts which have been shown to promote a feeling of happiness by mimicking the effect of Endorphins (feel-good hormone) and protecting the skin against environmental aggressors. 

Physician Formula Eye Booster 2-in-1 Lash Boosting Eyeliner + Serum 
US$9.63 (S$14)
-- This special product enhances the appearance of lashes while providing definition an eyeliner. Lash Boosting Complex targets the base of the lashes where it is most effective. The eyeliner claims to be water-resistant and smudge-resistant.  

Yes to Miracle Oil primRose Oil Mud Mask 
US$2.50 (S$3.70)
-- This mud mask contains primrose oil to soothe skin and calm redness. The mask leaves skin feeling cool and hydrated. 

Covergirl Full Lash Bloom Waterproof Mascara 
US$6.99 (S$10)
-- I am a big hand of Covergirl mascaras. This is mascara has petal-shaped brush and soft mousse formula to create full lashes that are not stiff nor brittle.

REVIEW: Kiehl's Lip Balm #1 - Pear

~AG~

This lip balm is one of Kiehl's best-selling products. At the Little Three store in Taiwan, this lip balm was retailing for US$9.5. This lip balm claims to protect and help relieve chapped/cracked lips. With Vitamin A and E, it helps keep lips healthy. Soothing ingredients such as Squalane, Lanolin and Sweet Almond Oil coat the lips and prevent further drying.

The Pear scent of this lip balm is very distinct. The scent is fruity and sweet, and does not seemed synthetic. The lip balm comes in a squeeze plastic packaging with a twist on and off cap. However, the tip of the product is not angled for easy application. You can use the tip to apply it directly on the lips, but I find that this application to be uneven. You are supposed to squeeze the balm and use your fingers to apply it. However, using your fingers to touch the tip of the product can get unhygienic.

This lip balm has a thick Vaseline-like consistency. It also has a glossy finish. For everyday use, I prefer to use lip balm that does not have a sticky feeling. This lip balm is too glossy/shiny for my liking. It does have sun protection with SPF of 4. But that SPF is not sufficient if you are out all day in the sun. Since it is so glossy/shiny, it does not lasts long. After an hour or so, I would have to re-apply the lip balm. Not a good lip balm to carry around when travelling, because of the frequent need to re-apply.

REVIEW: L'Occitane Citrus Verbena Cooling Deodrant

~AG~

Bought this aluminium-free deodorant before my recent trip to Italy. This deodorant has been part of my daily routine for over two weeks now. It is time for me to do a review on this product.
A very PRICY deodorant, for 50g of product, it cost me S$32. But I can only say GOOOOD things about this deodorant.

The reason I stress the importance of aluminium-free deodorant is due to the possibility of the link between using antiperspirant and the occurrence of breast cancer. I do emphasize that this cause-and-effect is not supported by substantial scientific evidence yet. But in my opinion, it is better to be safe than sorry. What is a few dollars to shell out on to leave you feeling more assured?  
For the past year or so, I have been gearing towards a more "natural" skincare routine. I try to find skincare products that are paraben-free and artificial fragrance-free.

The Citrus Verbena Stick Deodorant neutralizes odors without altering the natural perspiration process. Free of alcohol, aluminum and parabens, this formula is absorbed quickly by the skin, leaving behind the fresh and sparkling scent of verbena. Containing an organic Verbena extract from Corsica and lemon oil from Sicily, this deodorant also helps to soothe the skin and invigorate the senses.

Anyway, back to this stick deodorant. This deodorant keeps me feeling and smelling fresh all day. Even with my 10-hours day of being under the spotlight and plenty of walking, my underarms stayed fresh. I feel much more confident when wearing it. I do not have to worry about smelling unpleasant. 
Do note that it is NOT an antiperspirant, so my body is still able to sweat normally.
I feel safe using this deodorant everyday. It does not leave a white residue on dark coloured clothing. The deodorant is absorbed quickly into the skin. It comes in a plastic packaging with makes it super convenient to travel with. 

While in an L'Occitane store in Italy, I found that this same deodorant retails at only 17 Euro (S$25). It is so MUCH cheaper in Europe compared to Singapore. So, I bought another one to stock up. On the packaging, it recommended that you toss it after 12 months of opening it. I believe that the deodorant can lasts for more than year even with daily use. 

I will recommend this stick deodorant to anyone looking for a product to keep their underarms fresh and smelling pleasant all day. Yes, it is pricy but it worth the extra dollars!

AG & MG Beauty Award 2014

AG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2014

People always ask me what products are good. To tell you the truth, a product is subjective to many different factors. But after trying numerous beauty products, I can share a few advices on what is worth buying and what is not worth trying. In the year 2014, I discovered a few beauty products that have quickly became my favourites. Here are five products that have become holy grail (HG) products in my book.

Favourite Concealer: Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer in Ocher
The best concealer ever! It works well on dark circles as well as redness and zits. Great coverage and super smooth. Review Cle de Peau Beaute Concealer




Favourite Foundation: Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation in 52 Vanille
This foundation has a light to medium coverage. I LOVE that it blends in perfectly to my skin, and gives a nice natural glow. It gives a more dewy effect than matte. Review Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum


Favourite Eyeliner: Lancôme Artliner Precision Felt Tip Liquid Liner
Waterproof. Long-lasting. The felt tip is very precise, and relatively easy to use.



Favourite Makeup Remover: Bioderma Sebium H20
I truly cannot live without this product. It has changed the way I remove my sunscreen and makeup. This is the best beauty product ever! Everyone should have a bottle of Bioderma in their beauty arsenal. It can be used to clean makeup brushes too. Review Bioderma Sebium


Favourite Skincare Product: Lancôme Advanced Genefique Youth Activating Concentrate
A serum that keeps my skin soft and smooth. Even my boyfriend commented on the improvement of my skin texture. It is a must-have in my skincare regimen!
Short Review of Lancome Advanced Genefique

MG'S TOP 5 PRODUCT FINDS FOR 2014

Bringing you my favorite 2014's beauty finds!

Favorite Moisturizer: Lanegie Water Bank Gel Cream_EX
The perfect moisturizer for Oily/Combo/Acne-prone skin! Already went through tub and tub of this gel-cream and am still using it because I really really love love it!

Favorite Facial Oil: Tarte Pure Maracuja Oil

I loved using it when I was living in the U.S. Thought I won't be able to enjoy using it when I moved back to Singapore because of the hot and humid weather but I was wrong. Now every night, I have to pour this gem on my face to keep it feeling moisturized and comfortable. 


Favorite CC Cream: Hera CC(Complete Care) Cream
I think I have said enough of my love for this product. Definitely it will continued to be in my makeup pouch till at least December 31, 2015! ❤❤


Favorite Face Primer: Clarins Beauty Flash Balm
It is truly a beauty-must have! It helps your makeup lasts longer, brighten your skin and most importantly, it helps protect your skin from the makeup and dirt because it acts as an invisible mask.


Favorite Lipstick: 3 Concept Eyes Jumbo Lip Crayon in Popping P
What attracted me to it was the vibrant and unique purple-plumish color! The color is great. The pigmentation is great too. It's fairly moisturizing. Plus, according to Pantone, the Poppin P's purple shade is the Color of the Year 2014 (Radiant Orchid 18-3224)!

REVIEW: YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch

~AG~

This iconic YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch costs me USD $41. While browsing through the Macy's Beauty department, I decided to pick this up. It is expensive for such as small item but it is supposedly a miracle product. Previously, I have tried a similar product, the Dior Skin Flash. However, it was not a must-have item in my makeup collection. The reason I am trying this product is because sometimes I need a more brightening effect for my dark circles. The current concealer that I am using, Bobbi Brown concealer, provides coverage but does not illuminate the undereye area. Plus, its click pen/brush packaging makes it a convenient product to have for on-the-go.

A trick that the YSL sales assistant told me about click pen packaging. With a new click pen, it takes ages for the product to come out initially. However, instead of clicking the pen countless time and waiting patiently for the product to come out, she said a few gentle knock/tap to the side of the pen will allow the product to come out more quickly. When the YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch is being "resistant", I would tap the side of the pen a few times and soon the product will emerge.

This product provide little coverage for my severe dark circles. I only use it on days when I am in a hurry or when I don't feel like using much makeup. It is easy to use because you do not need a separate concealer brush to apply it.

Left under eye with YSL Touche Eclat. Right under without. It does brighten the eye area but does not fully conceal my severe dark circles.

One thing I learnt from using this product is that it is NOT a concealer. To get a brightening effect under the eye, first, conceal dark circles with a concealer and then layer it with Touche Éclat Radiant Touch, or vice versa. This create a soft and healthy effect.

You can also use YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch for highlighting your face. I tried doing this several times but I find that this shade does not work well. It is too light for highlighting the facial features.

In conclusion, YSL Touche Éclat Radiant Touch is a not must-have makeup item in my beauty book. It is not worth that money. I rather pay that amount for my favourite concealer, Cle de Peau Beaute concealer or Bobbi Brown Corrector & Concealer. Even though it is a highlighting product, it does not significantly help brighten my under eye areas. Also, I cannot use it to highlight my cheek bones or other areas, the shade is not illuminating enough. Overall, I would not re-purchase this product.

REVIEW: My Beauty Diary Sake Yeast Mask

~AG~

I am a big fan of My Beauty Diary sheet mask. Ever since I tried using it in the States, I have used quite a number of their sheet masks - Birds' Nest, Aloe Vera, Q10 Rejuvenating, Natto, Red Wine, Collagen, Black Pearl. My Beauty Diary sheet masks are of high quality and my ultra sensitive skin has not had any adverse reactions to them. The fit of the sheet mask also works well on my face. On this particular sheet mask packaging, it says it has moisturizing and whitening properties.
When I removed this sheet mask from its packaging, the scent of the sake yeast was pretty overpowering. Among the My Beauty Diary sheet masks, this is one of the least favourite in terms of scent. Even the Red Wine sheet mask's scent was not as overwhelming. The scent of alcohol in this Sake Yeast mask is not the most pleasant scent.

The direction says to leave the sheet mask for 20-30  minutes on my face. But I usually leave the mask on for at least an hour or until the mask is dried up. I do this because it is such a waste for me to throw away the mask that is still soaked with essence after 20 or 30 minutes of application.

My cheeks areas were dry and flaky before the mask application. After the mask, my skin feels tighter and brighter. Overall, my skin feels refreshed and well-moisturized. Apart from the overwhelming alcohol scent, I might reconsider purchasing this sheet mask. I bought a box of 10 variety My Beauty Diary mask for S$13-15 from Sasa Singapore. That means one mask costs about S$1.50.

Mild sake yeast is the by-product in winemaking. Yeast essence has anti-oxidizing function that whitens skin. It purifies pore, making skin soft, fresh and bright. Botanical collagen restores skin’s elasticity and repairing function. Gorse extracts hydrates for more translucent and radiant skin.

Patented moisturizing ingredient CosphingoTM maintains skin’s natural state of healthiness. It hydrates and locks moisture, restores skin’s softness and smoothness.