If you haven't already seen my posts on Instagram and Facebook, I am heading to Korea in a couple of days! I am, of course, packing makeup to take with me, and this post will share some of the products I am bringing along with me!

When it comes to travel, I like packing products that I know will work for me, as well as pop a couple of new products in there just because I get a little bit excited whenever I purchase something new. I like products that will last the whole day without touch-ups, and that are easy and quick to apply.


1. ArtDeco Eyeshadow Palette and single eyeshadow pans, RM29 per pan

Something I like is being able to take along with me an eyeshadow palette with all the eyeshadow colours that I want, and not a bit more. ArtDeco, a German cosmetics brand that recently launched in SaSa here in Malaysia, is perfect for that. Their eyeshadows are mid-range and very pigmented and easy to blend, and come in a huge range of colours that you can pick and choose from to insert into your customizable palette. At only RM29 per insert, but with quality comparable to MAC and Inglot eyeshadows, this is an absolute steal!
ArtDeco also does a range of beautiful foundations, each one suited to a different skin type and preference, so if you want good quality at a decent price, this brand is definitely one to look out for the next time you visit SaSa. They also release limited edition empty palettes from time to time, so look out for them when the different seasons come around.

2. Dermalogica Super Rich Repair Limited Edition Set, AUD110

This isn't a makeup item per se, but I am a huge believer that skincare sets the base for beautiful base makeup. This Dermalogica Super Rich Repair set is limited edition, and comes with their AGE Smart Super Rich moisturiser, Skin Resurfacing Cleanser, as well as a bottle of Dermalogica's famous Precleanse.
I know this is going to be perfect for the freezing cold, dry Korean winter, so I am definitely packing this! This moisturiser is very, very rich, and is perfect for drier skins. I've been using it in tiny amounts even here in Malaysia, and haven't experienced any problems with it so far. Remember that even oily skin needs to be hydrated (in fact, skin gets oily from of lack of hydration), so you may not even know that you need this type of moisturiser! Your best bet? Head to a Dermalogica counter for a free face-mapping skin analysis. Your skin will thank you for this.


3. Shu Uemura Holiday Collection 2013: Takashi Murakami 6 Hearts Princess Collection Limited Edition Enchanted Black Parallel Palette, RM250; and Lip & Cheek Fun-tasy, RM78

This heartbreakingly cute collection is a Shu Uemura design collaboration with famous Anime artist Takashi Murakame. The reason I'm bringing these along? The palette features a brand new eyeshadow formulation called the silk smooth eyeshadow, and my goodness they are ravishing! The textures are spongy and so silky smooth, and pigment transfers so easily with hardly any fall down! I am completely in love!
The Lip & Cheek Fun-tasy's? They're so convenient because they are multi-tasking, and so easy to apply. Just dot on, and blend.

4. Illamasqua Intense Lipgloss in Maiden, AUD22

Illamasqua always releases the most vibrant, unique seasonal collections, and their latest Christmas collection is no different! More to come on this collection soon, but my favourite by far (and a very safe bet, I will admit) is their Intense Lip Gloss in Maiden. This is a beautiful peachy-pink lipgloss with great coverage and lasting ability, without compromising moisturising qualities. Since Korea is freezing right now, this is perfect for adding that little bit of slickness to the lips, and providing a protective barrier so I don't lose any moisture.
For more about the collection, check Illamasqua counters now. They have also released a beautiful clear polish loaded with white flakes, that looks like snowfall on your fingertips. So pretty!

5. Laura Mercier Deluxe Travel Brush Set Holiday 2013, AUD95

Before I say anything, let me comment on the brush case. Have you ever seen anything more beautiful?! The amazing holiday collection by Laura Mercier is styled in this exact way - with beautiful faux-croc skin, hard cases - in the classic Laura Mercier brown. This brush set is a great all-round brush set for the more experienced makeup user. It features a blush/powder brush, a couple of dual-ended brushes complete with blender and smudger brushes, a concealer brush, and a dual-ended liner brush.
As if its gorgeous design wasn't enough, the hard brush case is also perfect because it protects your brushes from getting squished in transit. I know it costs about RM200+ here in Malaysia, but I can't be sure of the exact price. Once I check, I will update the post!


6. Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Eyeliner Trio, AUD24.95

These are my fail-safe eyeliners. I don't like that they are sold in a pack where I am most likely to never use at least one of the three eyeliners, but there is no denying that this is the best eyeliner I have ever used, even compared to high-end, luxe eyeliners. This eyeliner is creamy and smooth (just remember to keep the cap on!), pigmented (I like the black and it is a perfect, beautiful black black), and so easy to smudge. But its one star quality, what separates it from the rest, is that it does. not. budge. This is by far the most smudge-proof eyeliner I have ever used, and that's why it unfailingly goes into all my makeup bags and pouches, no matter where it is that I am travelling.

1. Simplicité Instant Help Gel
This refreshing eye gel soothes, calms and reduces redness and puffiness. I haven't tried it enough to be able to report long-term results, but it definitely feels very light and refreshing on the skin, and is perfect for more humid weather. It also reduces puffiness a little bit immediately upon application.

2. Simplicité Firming Rehydration Eye Creme
The firming Rehydration Eye Creme can be used in conjunction with the Instant Help Gel, and it is a light, yet hydrating creme. It is also meant to firm the skin underneath the eye, and reduce the appearance of fine lines around the eyes as well. I have high hopes for both these eye creams, and am testing them out as I type. More to come once I've trialled them enough!

3. History of Whoo Hwanyu Eye Cream
History of Whoo is a luxury Korean skincare brand that uses absolute premium products to create a brand that most claim work incredibly effectively. I was intrigued by the hype online, and decided to purchase a small, sample sized version of their Hwanyu Eye Cream. It was only when I was almost finished using my 5ml sample that I found out that among the ingredients used to create this cream is deer antlers. I was absolutely horrified.
Overall, the cream was indeed as luxurious as it is made out to be. It has a waxy sort of texture that immediately melts into this viscous cream that glides onto the skin and sinks into the skin easily. I did see a marked improvement in the appearance of the skin underneath my eyes - the little lines were so much less obvious, and my undereye area looked hydrated and smooth. I wouldn't repurchase this though, just because it was so expensive, and more importantly because I don't agree with the ingredients used in this particular formulation.

4. Kosmea Apple of My Eye Cream
Kosmea has always been a brand that I love - their rosehip oil is something I really enjoy using in the winter time, and always keeps my skin hydrated, radiant, and supple. This eye cream comes with a little applicator-cum-dispenser that smooths the product onto your skin easily.  I think this eye cream would have worked equally beautifully had it been wintertime when I used it, but I started using it only once I landed in Malaysia, and though it kept my undereye area well hydrated, it was a little too rich for my eyes and I started developing the tiniest spots of milia around my eyes. I think this is still a very beautiful eye cream, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it if you have oily skin, and certainly not if you have oily skin and live in a warm, humid country.

5. Dermalogica UltraSmoothing Eye Serum
This is by far the lightest in texture and the most beautiful smelling eye product of this group - granted because it is an eye serum and not a cream (does that mean that you can/should follow up with an eye cream? I have no idea - if anyone knows, please leave a comment and tell me!). I've always loved Dermalogica products because they smell beautiful - I wish my room smelled like Dermalogica all the time - and always have such a calming effect on me (I only just looked back at the name and realised that this eye serum is from the UltraCalming range. How fitting!).
This serum has helped to soothe the puffiness around my eyes quite a bit since I started using it, and I am quite impressed. Puffiness is a big issue for me because the puffiness makes me look tired, and let's face it, undereye bags are not attractive. I would recommend this for anyone with puffy eyes, and if you're looking for something that reduces fine lines, perhaps use this together with the Kosmea eye cream if you have dry skin, or the Simplicité eye creme if you have more oily skin.

Do you have any eye creams to recommend? I have such a problem with lines underneath my eyes, so any recommendations are welcome!

Everyone has done the research, gone to the shops, and tried to pick out a skincare routine that best suits them. Did you also know that the method and order in which you layer your skincare also has an impact on the skincare's effectiveness?

Have you ever tried layering skincare, only to find that it ends up balling up in flakes all over your skin?
Today, I will share with you the best methods for layering your skincare, so that the products absorb easily into your skin, and actually work, instead of just sitting on top of your skin.

Set Up a Good Base
Skincare will not absorb into skin that is dirty and clogged. Always cleanse your face before applying skincare! To aid the absorption and effectiveness of products, make sure to exfoliate your skin at least once a week. A double-cleanse routine - where you cleanse the skin first with a cleansing oil, and then with a regular cleanser - really helps to keep the skin clean and ready to absorb your skincare.

Density: From Light to Heavy
The best way to layer your products is in order of density, from the lightest products to the heaviest. That means after cleanser, you follow up with your toner, then serums, then moisturiser. If you have more than one serum, that's fine! Just apply the lightest serum first, followed by the heavier ones.

Treatment Rule
The treatment rule says that treatment products always go first! After toner, the first thing you should apply is your eye treatment. Eye treatments do not absorb unless they are the very first product to hit your face, so it would be best to keep that in mind when you are creating your skincare regime. After eye treatments, apply anti-ageing or anti-acne serums first, before any other skincare.

Give it Time
When you apply a product, give it a couple of minutes to absorb into your skin before you apply your next product. Otherwise, the product just sits on top of your skin and makes it difficult for the following products to absorb. This is also how the balled up flakes form.
Tip: Lightly drumming the pads of your fingers against your skin also aids absorption of the product into your skin. Make like you're playing the piano on your face, and tap away.

Beware the Active Ingredients
Most skin specialists agree that if you are using active ingredients, it is best to stick to just one, or at most two products that contain active ingredients. Otherwise, you risk irritating your skin and making it raw and red, and prone to sun damage.

Staying Loyal Helps
Unless you're good with skincare ingredients and how they work on your skin, your best bet is to stick with a single brand as much as possible. Some ingredients and skincare textures can cancel each other out, rendering your skincare (and the moolah you spent on it!) useless. Brands tend to formulate their ingredients so that they all work well together and don't impede on one another, which is why sticking to a single brand is always recommended. I love using Simplicité products, because they are formulated to work with one another, and the brand is so customer-friendly that I can always ask them how and in what order I should layer my products, when I'm not sure.

This is not to say that mixing brands is completely wrong - if you take your skincare to a dermatologist, they can help you figure out what works best together and what would be most effective for your skin.

I hope this article has helped rid you of your skincare layering fears and concerns. If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comment box below, or just email me! x

Hey guys! As a follow up from my previous Christmas Gift Ideas post, here is the Christmas gift ideas video that I promised to put up!

There are some repetitions (only because I was super excited about those products!), and some new gift ideas as well. I hope you all enjoy the video, and thank you so much for watching :)



Here are the products mentioned in my video:


Some great Christmas gift ideas for anyone who's doing some last minute shopping!

Products mentioned:

Laura Mercier Body Soufflé Sampler (4x100g jars) - AUD 69
Jurlique Purely Age Defying Essentials - AUD 169
Urban Rituelle Travel Trio Gift Set in Hibiscus and Cranberry - AUD 29.95 at http://www.urbanrituelle.com.au
Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel gift set - AUD 53
Kevin Murphy Smooth Operator Gift pack - AUD 66.90
Kiehl's Aromatic Blends collection - various prices, see in store
Illamasqua Freak - AUD 149
Balenciaga Florabotanica - AUD 85 (30mL)
L'Occitane Marvellous Flowers and Magical Leaves collections - prices available in store
Trilogy Everything Balm Christmas box - AUD 18.95 (45mL)
Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse OR - AUD 29.95 (50mL)
Personal Microderm - more information available at www.personalmicroderm.com
Phillips Lumea Precision Plus IPL Hair Removal System - AUD 1, 299.95

I hope this video helps you find a couple of gifts for your loved ones!

It's that time of year again! And though I have no religious ties (or any other) to Christmas, I, blinded by the sheer genius that is the Western marketing strategy, adore the festive season. What's not to like about it?!

Sales, pretty lights, happy people (mostly), and, most importantly, holiday collections and packages.

I have some fabulous products to share with you all today, some make jaw-dropping gifts, and others make delightful stocking-fillers. Enjoy! :)



I'm going to start with fragrance - a classic gift whether or not it's the holidays. If you're buying for a younger, edgier crowd, then Balenciaga's Florabotanica will have them screaming for joy. The fragrance's spokesperson is one Kristen Stewart, the hottest thing on the silver screen at the moment, and this gift times in just right with the release of Kristen's latest movie, Breaking Dawn Pt 2.
If you're looking for a classier, older fragrance, L'Eau de Chloé is perfect. Its light, floral tones is perfect for a sunny Christmas, and the elegant packaging is to die for!





For skincare lovers, Kiehl's has released a new collection of body lotions, body cleansers, and fragrances, called their Aromatic Blends collection, featuring yummy scents like Orange Flower & Lychee, and Vanilla & Cedarwood - both of which I was lucky enough to be able to sample. They smell divine and last a very long time on the skin!







L'Occitane is one of my favourites when it comes to bodycare, and they do some beautiful Christmas packs. Their latest collections include the Magical Leaves collection, and the Marvellous Flowers collection. The Magical Leaves collection is fresh and tangy, whereas the Marvellous Flowers collection is more delicate and floral. Both smell fantastic, and you can be sure that they will be beautifully packed in Christmas-ready packs in store.






Jurlique always has some beautiful Christmas gift packs, so stop by their stores to have a look - you won't be disappointed! I highly recommend their Rose Moisture Plus range, which times out perfectly too, because after holiday partying and drinking, your loved ones are going to want to replenish the moisture in their skin! Check out my post on post-party skin savers here, and you might just find yourself wanting to purchase a pack for yourself too :)


Dermalogica is another brand that everyone wants to try - so many of their products have made it into the favourites of beauty editors and beauty bloggers across the world. A brand new offering from them is their ChromaWhite range, designed to target uneven skin and sun damage. The range is so well thought out and so complete, plus it comes packaged in a beautiful roll-up box, so it saves you the hassle of having to wrap it.


Anyone who knows anything about beauty knows of the iconic Shu Uemura eyelash curler, the beauty device that can do no wrong. This makes a fantastic stocking stuffer for women of almost any age, and comes in a limited edition gold design for Christmas, too. Lovers of all things kawaii can also purchase the new Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura curler, which comes with a little add-on dangle-chain with the adorable Mon Shu girl attached to it.


If you have an eco-conscious beauty lover in your family, then these brushes from Furless are the perfect gift. Entirely vegan friendly and fur-free, these brushes are soft, high-quality, and come in a pretty pouch for ease of travel. Available at furless.com.au.

Recently it's been beautiful and sunny here in Melbourne. With the sunny days comes everyone's scramble to get pretty, glowing, flawless skin.

There are a few products that can help you get that glowing skin that you see in magazines (okay, not exactly, but in my defence, those people use Photoshop!). Here are my product recommendations:

Multi-purpose Skincare


My absolute favourite products to use are products that serve multiple purposes, like the Estée Lauder Idealist Even Skintone Illuminator, which brightens and illuminates as it works to even out your skin tone. A more affordable alternative is the L'Oreal Paris Youth Code Luminosity Moisturiser. Both products contain illuminating particles in them, which reflect the light, soften imperfections, and give you a more glowing complexion.

Illuminating Primers


There are also some fantastic primers out there that hold your makeup in place, smooth over imperfections in your skin, and brighten your skin. A fabulous multi-tasking wonder is the Dermalogica SkinPerfect Primer, which serves a multitude of purposes including hydrating your skin, protecting it from the sun and covering imperfections.
The famous Laura Mercier foundation primer also has a brand new sister now, called the Radiance Foundation Primer, which adds a subtle shimmer to your look to enhance your glow.

Highlighting Concealers


When used right, highlighting concealers are the perfect secret weapon to create flawless, glowing skin. Apply these concealers in a V-shape underneath your eyes, on the centre of your forehead, down the bridge of your nose, and on your cupid's bow. This will draw the light where you need it the most, and help you look not only more glowy, but more awake as well!

Setting Spray


Nothing gives you a good, natural-looking glow like Asian cosmetics! This beauty from Etude House has no shimmer, pearl, or glitter particles in it whatsoever, yet manages to give your skin a dewy, fresh, young look. Retailing at only AUD 14, it is an absolute steal, and has the added benefit of setting your makeup.

And that is my 4-step routine for glowing skin!

Happy Monday, everyone! I thought you might like to take a little peek into my beauty cupboard and see what I'm trialling this week. Most of these products were sent to me by PR agencies, and some I purchased myself.

I don't usually do these kinds of posts, but if this is something you'd like to see more often, please leave a comment below telling me and I will do my best! :)

The first picture I am going to post is of some products that I found quite interesting, and products that I normally wouldn't try myself!


Kurahito Toning Lotion
This is a great toner that aids with the absorption of products that you apply to your face. I don't use it as a toner, but instead soak my DIY face masks with it and use it as a prepping mask before I apply my nighttime skincare or another face mask. I feel like it really helps my other products absorb better into the skin. It has a very slight fruity scent to it, but it is very light and doesn't bother me at all. You can get this and other Asian skincare products at www.choiceessentials.com

LUS Extra V-Line Lift Up
This is an interesting little contraption. It contains a sheet mask that you apply underneath your chin, and then you put on this funny looking stretchable headgear that is meant to 'exercise' your chin and get rid of the dreaded double chin. I tried the headgear on out of curiosity and it is SO tight! I will report back once I have actually tried this and let you know if it helped with my double chin ;)
This is available from www.GlowandGlamour.com

FatBlaster Coconut Detox
So the coconut is considered a superfood, and has been shown to fuel the body's metabolism, increase fat oxidation and energy expenditure, and decrease the appetite! In a couple of days, I am going to try this two-day detox (worth AUD 39.99). I am pretty excited, though I have no idea how I am going to stay away from all things yummy for two whole days! Wish me luck!
Oh, and if you see me having a weak moment on Twitter or Facebook, give me a quick slap, please!

I pretty much have a bucketload of exciting products to try out this week. This next range is the Keratin Earth hair straightening and smoothing system. It gives you salon straightened hair from the comfort of your own home, without the staggering price tag attached!


Retailing at AUD 129.95, this 4-step system lasts anywhere between 30-90 days. It won the coveted Allure Magazine Best of Beauty Award in both 2011 and 2012. I am really looking forward to giving this a go. Look out for my instagram updates!


Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder
I am also trialling a couple of makeup products (I love makeup!) and the one I am most excited about is the cult Ben Nye Banana Luxury Powder. Ever since Kim Kardashian's makeup artist started talking about this powder and how much he loves it, this product has been sold out almost everywhere! I was lucky enough to find a jar (though I didn't expect that it would be so HUGE) and I have been trialling it for the past week. I love it but I haven't gotten a good feel of how it works in different situations, so I will put up a full review of it later on.

Rimmel Scandaleyes Show Off Mascara
This is a gorgeous, brand new offering from Rimmel. It doesn't volumnise my lashes much but it does add some gorgeous definition, curl and length. It also does a really amazing job at feathering my lashes. So far it's held up amazingly well and I love layering this on top of my Benefit They're Real mascara.



Dermalogica Chroma White TR Range
I was so excited when I opened my package to see this beauty! I won't be trialling this, but my entire family has a history of bad pigmentation, so I will be passing this on to my sisters and Mom for the ultimate test of Dermalogica's whitening prowess. I cannot wait to see the results. This is the first time I've come across such a complete, targeted range!



L'Occitane Limited Edition Collection
It's no secret that I am a huge fan of L'Occitane. I have always loved everything about them - the way they are presented in store, their packaging, their gorgeous scents. The way I feel about their latest collections is no different! Both the Marvellous Flowers (with rose absolute and peony extracts) and Magical Leaves (extracts of verbena and hazel leaves) range have the most lovely scents. I am very much looking forward to experiencing a little pampering session with these products.
These launch on the 31st of October, by the way! Look out for them!

That about sums up the products that I will be trialling this week. Are you looking forward to reviews of a particular product? Let me know in the comments!

Almost all of us have had a night or two when we partied a little too hard, laughed a little too loud, and drank a little too much. And almost all of us have paid the price the next morning when we awoke to sore throats and angry, broken out skin.
Bioré Makeup Removing Wipes (25 pack, AUD 8.99; 10 pack, AUD 3.99)

Anyone who's stayed up late, whether to party or to cram for exams, knows the pain of having to try and conceal puffy, dark, tired eyes. A great way to reduce the appearance of tired eyes is to pat on a good eye cream before going to bed.

Uriage AquaPRECIS Moisturising Eye Contour Care (15ml, AUD 39.95)

Hello everyone! I finally have another video tutorial to share with you - this one was inspired by the K-pop smoky eye.

Here are a couple of pictures of the look, along with my brand new hair! My aunt (a salon owner back home) is in town for a visit and my whole family was all over me to get a haircut, so I did!

My apologies for the lousy quality of the pictures - I keep forgetting to take pictures with a proper camera after I'm done filming!


And here is the video!



Products used:

Dermalogica Skin Perfect Primer (review to come)
Dior Diorskin Nude Fluid Cult Foundation in 020 (review to come)
Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow/Liner in Strut
Concrete Minerals eyeshadows in Wicked and Kinky
NYX Ultra Pearl Mania eyeshadow in Lilac Pearl
Sleek Contour Kit in Medium
Clinique Brush-on Cream Liner in True Black
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Opal
Giorgio Armani High Precision Retouch Concealer in #4
MAC Select Cover Up in NC20
Bobbi Brown Shimmerbrick Compact in Wildrose
Manicare Glam Eyes Crystal Face Jewels

Thank you so much for watching! Please subscribe and share the video if you liked it! x

If you're familiar with Dermalogica (which most of us are), then you will probably have seen little green banners with the word 'FITE' on some of their products.


FITE stands for Financial Independence Through Entrepreneurship and provides women entrepreneurs access to small loans that will help them start or grow a business. As little as $200 can go a long way to helping a woman establish a business. Research has shown that a large portion of the income that a woman makes is funnelled back into the community, so in essence, these donations contribute to underprivileged communities as a whole.

Dermalogica is doing away with the complicated codes and signup process that came with the old FITE products, and are now instead simply asking you to direct their donations towards your entrepreneur of choice - no donations necessary!

In conjunction with Nelson Mandela day, Dermalogica is hoping to direct 670 joinFITE loans. Visit www.joinFite.org/mandeladay to direct a loan to a woman entrepreneur, then if you want, you can share your action on Facebook or Twitter, and spread the word!


This requires no donations, and only a few minutes of your time. Join a good cause?

Happy Mandela Day :)