Hitting the Pan

Review: Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing UV Milk (SPF50 PA+++)

beadsandends — Sun, 13 May 2012 22:07:41 SGT

Hada Labo has a new member in it's every popular family, and it's none other than the Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing UV Milk (SPF50 PA+++). Having reviewed Hada Labo Hydrating Cleansing Oil HERE (http://hittingthepan.onsugar.com/Review-Hada-Labo-Cleansing-Oil-High-Purity-Olive-Oil-20296587), I was excited to try out the newest UV Milk!

This product is a convenient 3-in-1: UV Protection, Hydration, and Make-Up Base. So it basically functions as a Sun Block, a Moisturizer and a Makeup base! In our hot and humid climate, sun block is a daily staple for me. But guess what, sun block can clog pores!! The HORROR!!!

But this Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing UV Milk is safe for girls who fear for their pores. Free of fragrances, mineral oil, alcohol and colorant that may burden the skin, this product promises to be gentle towards the skin. It has also been tested for low skin irritation, so for those with sensitive skin, feel reassured!

It comes in a squeeze bottle with little balls inside to mix the product before use. The packaging is fuss-free, with a sharp nozzle to dispense a controlled amount onto the hands. I like to spread the UV Milk out on both my palms before rubbing it onto my face.

Like the name suggests, the consistency of the product is milky and runny. It is easy to apply and spreads out well to leave a subtle sheen. No white cast. As for it's moisturizing properties, i do think that the presence of of the Super Hyaluronic Acid helps to lock in moisture, but i still like to use a separate moisturizer. I applied on BB cream without any additional makeup base, and i have to say, it does work well in helping my makeup to adhere to the skin! My bb cream usually requires a touch up after half a day as the humidity here tends to cause some of the bb cream to smudge and melt. That being said, my face looks shiny from the lack of oil-control (my regular makeup base has oil-control properties).

Hada Labo's Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing UV Milk is exclusively available at Watsons for $19.90 for 38ml.

Have you "Liked" the Hada Labo's Facebook page here? They have some upcoming giveaways!

Contest: L'Oreal Paris Color Infaillible Eye Shadow

beadsandends — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 18:22:46 SGT

Of the 8 Color Infaillibles, my personal favourite is 009 Permanent Kaki. It's a frosty olive green that looks great on it's own, yet it can be easily combined with other shades for interesting colour combinations! I did a simple look, applying 004 Forever Pink on the inner corner of my eyelids and 009 Permanent Kaki on the remaining 2/3 of my eyelids.

Application was done using my ring finger (gasp! the horror! you mean you don't use sponge applicators or brushes?!) It really was so much easier to apply with my fingertips!

I wore it out for about 6 hours in insanely humid 32 degree celsius and there was no smudging nor creasing! That's one amazing eyeshadow! By the way, the photos were taken at the end of the day, after wearing this look out.

Now that i've introduced the new range of L'Oreal Paris Color Infaillible Eye Shadow, here's a fun contest for my readers!

Submit photos of yourself wearing color infaillible eye shadow in 009 Permanent Kaki
Send the photos to Kaw@sg.loreal.com by 13^th May.
We’ll announce the winners on L’Oreal Paris Singapore Facebook on 16^th May! (note: we’ll post entries on L'Oreal's facebook too)

The Grand Prize is a Samsung ST200F Camera worth $299!

Event: Color Explosion Night with L'Oréal Color Infaillible Eyeshadow

beadsandends — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 21:39:01 SGT

L'Oreal Paris Singapore is launching 8 of the 15 Color Infaillible intense eyeshadow singles in May, and i was invited to preview it. With 4 times more binder than a typical powder eyeshadow, the Color Infaillibles have a velvety texture that is between that of a powder and a cream.

As for the packaing, these come with a little black "pot hole" cover called a "conserve". This helps to compressed the unique formula of the eyeshadow. As some product tends to stick to the conserver, i tend to pick up the eyeshadow from them as a little bit goes a long way.

The Color Infaillibles are touted as "Smudge-proof, rub-proof, blink-proof and water-proof. It’s intense fashion colors that last all day". It can withstand 11000 blinks, and the lovely makeup artist even demonstrated to us that when water is sprayed onto the eyeshadow, you can't even rub it away! A-MAZING, right?!

The pigmentation and pearlescent effects are truly great, so i'll let the swatches do the talking.

On the left is swatches of the 8 permanent colours Singapore is getting. On the right, is my vigorous attempt to remove the Color Infaillible swatches after i left them on my inner arm for 5-10 minutes. I rubbed till my arm was slightly red, and boy, did it really stick! No worries though, it can be easily removed with a bi-phase makeup remover.

Next, there was a mini contest amongst us bloggers, to create a look using the Color Infaillibles. That's Jerlene's (MusicalHouses) masterpiece on the left and mine on the right. Guess what? I won a $190 Spa Voucher! Yay!!!

There will be a L'Oréal Color Infaillible Eyeshadow Contest coming up, so stay tuned to my blog for more updates!

Color Infaillible eye shadow is available in 8 intense shades at $14.90 from May’12 onwards.

disclaimer: All opinions expressed are entirely my own. I am not affiliated with L'Oréal Paris Singapore.

Off to Korea + wishlist!

beadsandends — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:07:32 SGT

It's a couple of hours to go before my flight to Korea and so what do i do? I BLOG!! If you haven't heard, i'm heading to Korea for 10 days. It'll be my first time there so i've made a quick list of things i want to get in Korea:

Pic credit to Sweetestsins

1. Sleeping Mask/ Masks

I've used about 3 sleeping mask packs so far, and i love that they provide great overnight hydration! It's a saviour for my combination skin, as my cheeks and lip area can get dry and flaky at times. Korea is the land of affordable skincare, so why not stock up?

Pic credit to Laneige

2. Laneige skincare

Laneige is a more premium korean skincare brand, famous for it's waterbank series for deep hydration. I plan to get my hands on the PERPECT RENEW DUAL TOUCH EYES. I already have a jar of the sleeping pack, so i'll decide if i want a backup while i'm in Korea.

Pic credit to Skinfood.sg

3. Skinfood

Always wanted to try out things from skinfood as they have such interesting inspirations from natural ingredients. Fancy Red Bean BB cream? Or perhaps a Black Sugar Mask (Wash Off)? How does a Cocoa & Honey Live Powder Mask sound? I know i want to get my hands on the Salmon Eye Cream :D

Pic credit to Innisfree

4. Innisfree

This brand is currently not available in Singapore, but i've tried out a few items from them, and i really like them! Innisfree is a natural brand that shares the benefits of nature from the pristine island of Jeju (will make a visit there!) allowing for vibrant beauty and pursues an eco-friendly green life to preserve the balance of nature. I want to get serums, moisturizers and eye creams. What? Yet another eye cream? Well, i use them twice a day, and go through 15ml within 3 months. Eye cream is usually the most expensive skincare item, so why not haul the affordable ones in Korea?

Pic credit to Rainbowinourcloset

2. Hair accessories

If you've ever met me in person, you'll probably notice that i like to stick cutesy hairclips in my hair. I've even made a small sunflower out of felt and worn it out quite a few times already. Korean hair accessories tend to be very feminine, which means i'll go berserk at the closest accessory shop and buy a truckload of hair ties/ hair clips/ hair bands back.

And that's my quick wishlist! Gotta Jet!

FANCL Spring Serenity Makeup Collection Tea Party‏

beadsandends — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 08:01:02 SGT

Image credit to FANCL (Singapore)

Betsey Johnson Meets Sephora by OPI

beadsandends — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 15:55:54 SGT

Fun, Flirty and Eclectic designer, Betsy Johnson is collaborating with Sephora to create a line of nail polishes, nail tips, nail art stickers. In Betsy Johnson's words "The collection is just how I like it – loud, outrageous, pretty, pinky, and kickass rock and roll.”

One of the items that caught my eye was the Betsey Johnson Too Too Scented Nail Colour ($9.50 USD).

"A hot pink polish designed by Betsey Johnson and infused with her Too Too Fragrance.
This nail lacquer is the ultimate accessory-combining Betsey's favorite neon pink shade and her signature, flirty fragrance in one scented polish. The bold hue perfectly complements any afternoon adventure or adds a playful pop of color to an evening out with the girls. Flash your fingers and take in the effervescent, fruity scent with every flick of your wrist." (info and pic credit to Sephora.com)

Another star item is the Betsey Johnson Mini Nail Colour Set ($24.50 USD)

"A set of six petit nail lacquers in flirty hues designed by Betsey Johnson. From wild brights to pretty neutrals, this collection of six mini nail colors from Betsey Johnson is the perfect accessory to any wardrobe. The long-wearing, chip-resistant shades are full of personality and reflect Betsey's own style obsessions."(info and pic credit to Sephora.com)

To me, the packaging is one of the main selling points. Feminine rocker chick, just like the designer herself. The actual products look interesting, especially the Too Too Scented nail colour and the mixture of colours in the mini nail polish set.

What caught your eye?

I Line My Eyes + Flawless Foundation

beadsandends — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 21:27:36 SGT

I seldom use eyeliners, as i'm quite klutzy and have stabbed myself with the felt-tip eyeliner while lining my eyes. After that experience, i shunned away from eyeliners till recently, when i felt brave enough to tackle my fear of eyeliners.

I tried a wing-tipped look with neutral eyeshadows for an event and here are some pictures taken in natural outdoor lighting.

Eyeliner: Majolica Majorca Perfect Automatic Eyeliner in BK 999 (I'll review it soon)
Foundation: Lancôme Maqui Miracle Compact in PO-02

Boy, do i look different with lined eyes! i always liked my eyes au naturel, but the bold black liner really makes my eyes POP!

My skin was also complimented by several beauty buddies. I have reddness and acne scars on my face, so it's really not great. But thanks to Lancôme's Maqui Miracle Compact in PO-02, my skin looks flawless! I swear, no concealer or addition loose powders were used.

Jean Yip $30 Offers

beadsandends — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 07:40:49 SGT

It's time to pamper yourself with the following great offers from Jean Yip at a wallet-friendly price of S$30! In conjunction with their 30th anniversary, Jean Yip is having a special price on facial, hair, and massage for 1st time customers over 21 years.

Click for larger image.

Watsons House Brand Products

beadsandends — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 08:02:56 SGT

In the past couple of months, i've spotted several new skincare and bodycare lines by Watsons, the in-house brand of Watsons Personal Care store.

For skincare, they have released the Collagen series, which is a really comprehensive range, that has everything like hand cream, sleeping mask, cleanser, body lotion, serum, moisturizers and more! The key ingredient, Collagen, is a deep sea fish collagen from Germany. The price ranges from S$3.90 up to S$21.90. Pretty affordable, eh?

Next up is a bodycare series, called H Bella. Watsons calls this their first "Dermaroma" line which is made of antioxidants and scented with real fruit and herb extracts. That being said, the collection is not organic or paraben-free. It does have an interesting variety of scents such as Pomegranate & Ginger, Rose & Mixed Berries and Strawberry & Cinnamon. Let me tell you, they smell A-Mazing...

Packaging-wise, they come in steel-like metal tins and bottles, which just make it feel more sturdy compared to the usual clear plastic.

I also spotted a body wash line, where they have scents like Japanese Cherry Blossom. This is where my love for the in-house brand dies. I mean, the packing of this looks suspiciously like a certain Beauty Brand With unique scents.

*cough cough*, in case you want to figure out the original brand i'm comparing it with, just see the bolded initials above...

Eternity Inter-trade Spring Sales (Kracie, Ichikami, Hadabisei, Aquamoist)

beadsandends — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:21:38 SGT

Mark your calenders for some awesome buys! Eternity Inter-trade Singapore stocks brands such as Kracie, Ichikami, Hadabisei, Aquamoist, Benico 3D masks and so much more! Do take note, they only accept Cash Payment.

Have fun hauling!