Lip Balm

This lip balm is hand made with goodies like olive oil from Italy, Shea butter, pure honey and vitamin E. The ingredients are completely natural with no preservatives nor fragrance added. To top it all off, it really works.

A light application is all you need to feel its magic. The balm literally melts and moisturizes your lips, for hours. The texture is not oily nor gluey and a slightly thicker layer can last through the night. Lips feel pampered.

A must have for the drier and cooler weather.

You can find Nymph HK here.

Lovely Experience

 

I have been neglecting my skincare routine badly and the condition of my skin really shows, oily and dry at the same time. Burning the midnight oil just adds to the already sallow and dull complexion. What's worse, the creams I am using seem to aggravate the condition.

I chanced upon the L'Occitane store some weeks back, lured by the flowery and feminine display in the window. There were a lot of people in the store. Normally I would have left, if not for a very broad grin from a young trainee. She was very polite and patiently introduced the products to me. She wasn't pushy at all (which was rare) and I got everything I needed, a whitening serum, an anti-aging serum, an eye cream and a face cream.

I remarked on how brisk business was on a weekday and she said it's because a limited-edition plum blossom line they were carrying was nearing the end of its promotion period. She showed me the gift set, a nice cloth bag with a travel size bath gel and body lotion. It looked like I had to spend a lot more to get the plush set, so I was all prepared to decline on the offer.

To my surprise, she returned with just a lip gloss. She said I only had to get one product in the line to get the gift. I glanced over to the perfumes and lotions which were much more expensive, but she brought only one lip gloss. It had a light fragrance and shimmer, I got two. *wink*

When I walked out with my shopping bag, the trainee was already attending to another customer. She gave me a little wave and a big smile. I walked out, very happy with my purchase and the lovely shopping experience.

I have been using the products for some weeks now and the condition of my skin has markedly improved. I think it's a combination of my being more regiment with my routine and using the right products.  I hope when I next go to L'Occitane to replenish my creams the trainee would still be there.

Skincare Tip II Essential Oil

Aromatherapy

The saying goes oil and water don't mix. It's true, they don't. The weather is considerably cooler and drier and the moisture from the skin seems to evaporate with the brisk winds. It's such a luxury to immerse in a nice hot bath filled with bath oil. The problem is, the oil mostly floats on top and it really beats the goal of moisturizing the whole body.

I ask a beautician about this and she says the trick is to put some soap on the palm of your hands, work it into a lather, then pour the oil on top and rub again. After the soapy oil is mixed, you can "wash" it off in your tub of water and the oil will be evenly distributed in the water. The thing to remember is not to put too much soap on your palm, it's only purpose is to mix the oil and water.

I also use a blend of essential oil for my face. I feel so pampered when the oil glides on my face and I can do a mini facial when the skin is absorbing the oil. However, when I wash my hands afterwards, I always feel there is a residue of oil. Then I remembered the tip above of water and oil don't mix. So one day after using the oil, I pump a dollop of liquid soap on my palm and rub them before I touch water. It works. The oil melts away. My face is moisturized and my hands are squeaky clean.

This is yet another great tip if you use essential oil as a skincare routine.
(photo: www.splendicity.com)

Skincare Tip I Sunscreen

Guerlain Sunscreen

For the longest time, I have been "plagued" by a skincare "problem" which is accentuated in photographs. It does not matter if I tilt up or lower my head when photographing, I just can't hide the rings on my neck!! Winters are much welcomed because I can wear turtle necks and hide my neck rings.

People say there are two places that show your age, your hands and your neck. Well, I have a turkey neck since my 20's so I guess I am born with it. I have used many different brands of neck creams that promise to reverse or halt the process of developing neck rings. Aside from being more moisturising than face creams, they simply don't work.

One day, I point this out to a makeup artist and she says neck creams are a waste of dollars and since the rings are already there, it's impossible to make them go away without plastic surgery. Okay, I won't go under the knife for this, but she says there is a way to lighten them and keep new neck rings from forming.

She says since there is no fat deposit on the neck, the skin is prone to sagging and forming rings. She asks me if I use sunscreen on my neck. I just use it on my face. She then suggests that I dab sunscreen on my neck. Since we don't usually apply makeup on the neck we can reapply the sunscreen during the day.

I really have my doubts upon first hearing it. However, after a summer's of diligence, it has paid off!! The rings on my neck are still there, but much lighter. The best thing is the tone of my face sans makeup and my neck are the same. Usually the neck is darker for most people.

I am so happy it has worked and sunscreen comes so much cheaper than the pricey neck creams. It's a routine now. When I apply sunscreen on my face, I dab on a thicker layer on my neck. What a wonderful skincare tip!!
(photo www.guerlain.com)

Summer Colds

I have a major allergy attack this morning, which worsened into a full blown cold. I have used one and a half box of tissue already, taken my cold medicine, and still my nose won't stop running. I am feeling miserable and real pissed about blowing the nose all the time.

I always get colds in the summer, it never fails. It's the alternate hot and cold air, that causes the first sneeze, and if I am lucky, it'll stop there. If I am unlucky, like today, it will go downhill.

Despite the trauma I have inflicted on my nose area going through a whole box of tissue, the skin around my nose hasn't started peeling. Sure I have a Rudolph nose, but thanks to the botanical oil from Fancl, my skin is spared the worst. The botanical oil is 100% olive oil and other vegetable oil and could be used for a variety of skin problems.

It is best for dry and sensitive skin from exposure to the sun, heating in the winter, etc. I was in Korea in May of 2006, and the central heating was literally sucking all the moisture out of my skin. The botanical oil saved my skin and kept it moist and not flaking. This is a great all purpose skin care I vouch for!!

(photo www. fancl.com)

Eye Cream follow up

After a week's use, I firmly believe the splurge is worth it. The puffiness is less, dark circles are lighter, and the eye area is indeed 'brighter' as the sales lady vouched.

I think the best part is that the cream is not sticky as 'cream' ususally is and a tiny, tiny glob is all you need for the whole eye area. So, in light of the price versus the amount needed for each application, my guess is the jar will last for 4 months.

With the visible results, I think that this cream is worth the price and the hype!

This eye cream is a thumbs up!!
(Photo : www.esteelauder.com)

Splurge

I was reading up on eye creams a lot lately. Those that promise to eradicate fine lines, puffiness and dark circles. I was hoping to find a miracle. After much research and being a nuisance at skin care counters, I finally splurged on the Estee Lauder eye cream.

The texture is light and soft and it has powdered pearls in the ingredients, that promise to 'brighten the eyes'. Well, I was sold by the lady's pitch of making the dark circles go away. Yeah, right...

After I paid, the lady gave me sheets of the fragrance, Pleasures delight. They were individual sheets you'd find in Vogue and Elle, which you peel off and sniff. Well, that was a delight. All in all, the experience was nice, coz I feel really pampered.

Just hope the eye cream works wonder and the splurge is well spent.

(Photo : www.esteelauder.com)