Honestly speaking, if not for keeping up with this series on my blog I would have totally failed my New Years resolution of masking at least once a week. I don't know what is so hard about it but somehow finding 15-30 minutes a week to just lay there and do nothing seems quite impossible!

I typically prefer masking on weekends and this weekend was filled with visitings and errands but inbetween all that I managed to squeeze in some masking time while getting errands done around the house.

Instead of the usual sheet mask, I opted for a paste-like one which you apply on. This allows me to move around and get stuff done while feeling like product from the mask is about to drip down. Aside from that, I also think this Clinique Turnaround Instant Facial Masque is probably the next best thing to Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack EX, for those too-busy-to-mask.

I received this product as part of a giftbag since I was a 'demonstration model' for it at the Metro Ladies Night a long while back. Due to my lack of interest in masking, I had chucked it aside only to rediscover it now.

Description
In 5 minutes, this high-performance oil-free facial delivers all the radiance and smoothness of microdermabrasion with significantly less irritation and stress to skin. Promotes surface cell turnover on multiple levels to instantly unveil skin that's fresher, more vibrant, even toned.
(taken from clinique.co.uk)

(click to enlarge, it was too big in the next size)

The whole point that really attracted me, aside from it being a paste and something I can wear while walking around, was that you only have to leave it on for 5 minutes!

Clinique's instructions is to apply it liberally to the entire face, avoiding the eye area and leave it on for 5 minutes. I think liberal is a subjective term but the amount I used for my entire face is about 3 1/2 'squeezes' of the blob you see above.

This masque is more of an exfoliating one hence you can spot some tiny little scrubby bits/flakes. You can feel them as you slather the mask on as well.

How I rinse this off is by first wetting my hands and massaging those granules around, giving my face a good scrub. Once I feel it's sufficient, I'll wet my hands more, repeat that, followed by finally rinsing everything off.

In point form, so it's easier to digest, here are some of my findings about this mask:

• It smells a little minty and slightly herby at the same time, which I was not expecting
• It feels a little minty on the skin but not a strong sensation
• The scrubby bits work very well at exfoliating without feeling harsh
• Skin feels immensely smooth after, I know it's the whole post-exfoliating but it feels even smoother than after my typical exfoliator, even after 4 hours
• Surprisingly the skin doesn't feel taut after but neither does it feel extremely hydrated so I went ahead to spritz on Shu Uemura's Depsea after
• Complexion appears to be brightened and freshened after, probably due to the exfoliating effect.

In all, as I said, this is probably the next best thing to Laneige's Water Sleeping Pack because it's so quick and easy to use and there are results to it too. Clinique recommends to use it 2-3 times a week but with the amount I use each time, I think the recommended usage will have you running to the store quite often.

This product is more of an exfoliant and not one I can rely on greatly for hydration and making my skin supple so thankfully I can't fall back on it too much. Else I would be lazy and just pick this up from week to week since it's so quick to use. Looks like my sheet masks and all are still saved from being neglected!

Which do you prefer more? Paste/applied on masks or sheet masks?

Thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Product mentioned had been provided to me for consideration.

Beauty subscription boxes, I'm sure most of you have seen it all... just for the fun of here's my opinion, images and all to add to the mix, though I'm guessing that's hardly necessary.

Previously I had mentioned and showcased the Bellabox and this time around, here is the Glamabox!

I received this early December and just found out this was their November Glamabox so I'm officially very late with this, I apologise. With these beauty subscription boxes I find that the ones available to us thus far (that I know of) seem to have their own focus. They might border pretty closely to each other but at the end of it they have their own particular product group and also target audience group.

If you share the same sentiments you will know what I mean, or else no fret, let's run through the box and you can share what you think at the end!

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Now, about Glamabox, they cost S$18 per month and comes with "5 luxury products from high-end brands" which may be full sized or sample sized. The reason I quoted that phrase is because I feel otherwise about the high-end and luxury tag thrown in there. Some of their products fall in that category but definitely not all 5.

When registering for your Glamabox, you will be asked to fill up a Glamaprofile. The reason for this is to gather information about your preferences and according to Glamabox, it is so that they can adjust the contents of your box to suit you.

Since I received a generic press sample box there isn't any customization to my preferences in this one. I will still run through what it came with to give you an idea of the product range and type that they include.

The founder of Glamabox is actually Lisa S, an international model based in Hong Kong, so I believe the product-scope of Glamabox would be somewhat along those lines. It would most likely be a little more... I want to say geared towards the asian cosmetic/skincare scene but not particularly asian brands (am I making sense?).

The slips of paper that come with (box introduction & product breakdown) have english printed on one side, and mandarin chinese on the other. The prices of the products (in the Glamabox) are also listed in HKD instead of SGD.

Here are the products in my November Glamabox:

Neogence Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Eyecream (HK$185 ~S$30)

I haven't tried this eyecream out just yet and it is my first time coming across this brand but the ingredient list of pure olive extract, ceramide, squaline and of course hyaluronic acid (and more) sounds pretty enriching for the skin. This product was included in full size, 15ml, and apparently I got lazy to remove it from the box to photograph because I couldn't find that shot but oh well, if I do give this a sole review entry, you'll see it.

Cyber Colors Hand Cream (HK$40 ~S$6)

Cyber Colors is not a stranger brand to most as it's available in Sasa and I believe... John Little? This strawberry-scented hand cream comes in a small 30ml tube, making it handbag-friendly. Strawberry is not particularly my type of scent so perhaps this might be one of the customizations involved?

Agatha Ruiz de la Prada Lip Balm (HK$45 ~S$7)

Something about lip balms in tin form just excites me, it's not exactly old-school now that everyone is doing it but it's still retro. I have not heard of this brand prior and turns out this is cited to be an all time favorite Spanish brand with the balm made wholely from natural ingredients. It smells deliciously of raspberry too!

Perfective Ceuticals Anti-Imperfection Eye Therapy Cream (HK$192 ~S$31)

If anything is considerably high-end in Glamabox, it would be this item right here. It was provided in a sample size of about 4ml, enough to last a couple of applications. This product is said to basically banish the four pillars of aging eyes and give you pow-wow luminious and radiant ones in exchange after a couple of uses. To believe or not, I'm not sure. I'm currently quite hung up on my current eyecream (review soon) to deter but I will get to this one soon!

VOV Wash Off Pack Green Tea Collagen (HK$15 ~S$2)

This VOV Wash Off Pack is said to revitalize and moisturize the skin with the power of Green Tea's anti-oxidant properties.

Though I had not mentioned at the start, the theme for the November Glamabox is actually "Moisture". Therefore the products included are all aimed at supplementing moisture be it to the entire face, the lips, under the eyes or your hands!

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Wrapping this up, I'm sure this gives you a rough idea of what the Glamabox consists of. They typically have a list of items to send out and handpick 5 out of all of them to include in your box, based (as much as possible) on your preferences. Take a look at the contents of their December Glamabox via their website.

In Conclusion...
If you were to ask me, I would personally say that Bellabox appeals a little more towards what I like and what I prefer using and that's not to say that Glamabox isn't good in any way. Like I had mentioned these beauty boxes thus far are pretty niche and stand firmly in their own 'market'. I do feel that the Glamabox isn't quite matching up to the luxury product image they have mentioned and their subscription does cost a little more than the Bellabox but all this is purely my opinion.

At the end of it it's all down to what you prefer! I'd say the nice mix of boxes available now is pretty good for having a taste of the different types of products be it from a western point of view or more asian one, skincare-focused or cosmetics. Perhaps if more join the scene and start to overlap via their product scopes and target audience, then that would make the field a lot more competitive. What do you think?

Visit Glamabox.com to find out more about them if you are interested and thanks for reading!

Disclosure:
Products were provided to me for review consideration.
I am not affiliated to them and all opinions expressed are my own.

I've probably used a similar title about a thousand times but there's really no other way to describe a look like this.

The purpose of this look was to balance the transition of day to night because I met up with my girlfriends for a girls night out/catch up yesterday but before that I had to drop by the office and do a quick CNY-visiting beforehand. Hence I couldn't go with an overly smokey night look nor could I just go super neutral (though it was a casual meet up I probably could, but still!).

I grabbed for this Too Faced Duo, that I had acquired from Mag (thanks!), to settle the look.

(sidenote: the darker tone doesn't pick up this intensely with a brush, layering will needed)

Aside from the muted brown to blend out the crease area and highlight, everything else was done with the above 2 colors.

I layered on the darker shade as softly as I could because I'm still a little iffy when blending dark shades straight to lighter tones. I don't want to lose either's effects yet the transition has to be smooth.

That aside, I do love that lighter shade. It tends to look pink from angles but gives off a gold sheen when the light hits it.

Products Used

BROW/FACE
K-Palette Brow Liquid in 01
MAC Brow Gel in Showoff
Maquillage Brow Wax in 77
Leaders Clinic Medieu Sun Cream
Shu Uemura Smooth Fit Fluid Foundation
LUV Carat Long Last Face Powder in Natural Beige

EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Too Faced Eyeshadow Duo in Beauty Mark
28 Color Palette
CLIO Professional Brush Liner in Black
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Dollywink Mascara in Volume

CHEEKS
ELF Bronzing Powder in Warm
Laneige Styling Romantic Blusher in #2

LIPS
MAC Viva Glam Gaga II Lipstick
Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Honey Ginger (dabbed lightly over)

Highlighted products were provided by companies/distributors,
I was not obliged to use/feature them in LOTDs.

I'm slowly starting to like how nude lip shades work with my current hair color but even so I doubt i'll be back into that dead-nude phase that I was in anytime soon.

Even in this case, I could use the Viva Glam Gaga II on its own before but now, it felt a little too washed out that I dabbed a smidget of a red-brown over just to liven the color up. If anything, I probably toned down the pink of Viva Glam Gaga II but the final shade still remains a nude.

Also a quick mention to the CLIO Professional Brush Liner that I've been using and loving lately. I haven't done an official review because I'm considering clumping the Brush and Pen Liners together for a comparison but I'm liking how easy it is to draw on the brush liner and how it wears. It's something I reach for daily now and is in almost all of my recent LOTDs (I use it on my upper lid).

So that's about it!

Has anyone else ever gone over to the red/darker side of lip colors and found it hard to go back to nude-nudes?

Thanks for reading!

Oh lookey here....

I was going through my pictures and chanced upon these bottles of polishes I acquired towards the end of 2011. I haven't been overly secretive about them because I did mention and swatch one, but amidst the other posts I suppose I had overlooked posting this up.

Be it subconsciously trying to minimize the haul factor on here or if I had really forgotten, I'm not too sure... heh.

I was eyeing a few colors from the China Glaze Halloween collection when it first came out and contemplated to spree for them or get it off an online nail beauty store but in the end none of that happened, though it didn't mean that I had forgotten about them. While browsing Mei Mei Signatures after hearing about them for the first time, I saw these in stock and immediately snatched them up.

I picked up Haunting (black with silver shimmer flecks) and It's Alive (undescribable glittery olive green).

It's Alive was the color that drew me towards the Halloween collection with it's glittery murkiness. It's seems to have this mysterious witch potion allure, or is it just me? I was also tempted to pick up Near Dark to pair it with but settled simply for 2 colors.

Haunting is sort of what I wanted OPI's Baby it's "Coal" Outside to be, with the slightly more obvious silver shimmer flecks against a black base. I still like OPI's Baby... for being a black that isn't too flat-black but it's not particularly special like I thought it would be.

I had done swatches of Haunting, which I wore over Christmas, see them here.

I haven't swatched It's Alive just yet, which is quite odd considering it's the color that drew me to this collection but I find that always happens, saving the best for last? Well with the festivities I find it a bit off to have on an olive (mildly murky) green though there's really no code for what to have on but still.... you get what I mean!

Lastly, I picked up this pretty interesting Nail Art sticker that you apply via the help of water.

I haven't tried it out just yet and as with new things and experiences I'm pretty sure I'll screw up along the way but fingers crossed alright! Will share when I try my hands (literally) at this.

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Since we're on the topic of nails, here's an update on my Sally Hansen Salon Effect's Nail Stickers. I've only had it on for 3 days but so far so good!  I don't spy any signs of wear and tear on them, just yet.

I haven't done any vigorous chores but I did wrestle some crabs along the way (albeit as mildly as I could) and... no battle scars!

Some shots I just snapped with my iphone cam.

I guess these nail stickers are a lot sturdier than I give them credit for and I'd like to think having a Top Coat over helps too!

Thanks for reading!

Before things pick up and get waaay too busy (celebrations and back to work after) I want to squeeze out this Chinese New Year entry! It's a rambly mix of my LOTD, outfit and some perfume thrown in there. If I could call this entry a mini-summary, I would.

Why am I doing a random Chinese New Year entry when only Day 1 has gone by? Well I'm not too sure but perhaps it's also to give a quck HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR shoutout!

Makeup-wise I think the Chinese New Year period is never a time for me to showcase any interesting eyeshadow combinations because it's neutrals all the way! Somehow I prefer neutrals over Chinese New Year, perhaps it's the whole meeting elderly thing, you want to look as.... 'naturally made up' as you can?

Following shots were taken when I got home because it was all rushrushrush in the afternoon.

I have worn this neutral combination (using Sleek's Storm) about a gazillion times now and it's one I reach for when in doubt. It's great for formal social situations where colors might not be such a good idea and it's neutral yet not too everyday-natural.

Since I've worn it so many times I always fall back on this when time is of an essence because I know it will work and it's really quick to do.

Here's a full face though my blush is a little non-existent after 8 hours.

Products Used:

BROW/FACE
K-Palette Eyebrow Liquid in 01
MAC Browset in Showoff
Maquillage Brow Wax in 77
Shu Uemura Smooth Fit Fluid Liquid Foundation
LUV Carat Long Last Face Powder in Natural Beige (to set)

EYES
Urban Decay Primer Potion
Sleek Storm Palette
28 Color Palette
CLIO Professional Brush Liquid Liner in Black
MAC Powerpoint Liner in Engraved
Dollywink Mascara in Volume

CHEEKS
NYX Powder Blush in Natural

LIPS
Clinique Almost Lipstick in Luscious Honey

Highlighted products were provided by companies/distributors,
I was not obliged to use/feature them in LOTDs.

Since Chinese New Year is all about visiting and eating, carrying a lip product around for touch ups is a must!

I wore Clinique's Almost Lipstick today and brought it out as well and am liking it for it's color and texture. The balm-like texture does it's job of hydrating the lips so you can constantly reapply it without drying out lips out. Color-wise it's quite a soft natural color but still provides an accent and applying it on a moving vehicle isn't too much work either.

It's now a resident in my bag for the Chinese New Year period, along with my must-have Gatsby Powder Oil Blotter and MAC Studio Fix Compact.

And here's the very simple outfit for today.

Typically the first day is a very simple affair as on my end the closer relatives come over to my place so there's not much dressing up to be done. After lunch I'll head over to the boyfriend's place and do some casual visiting with his family so that's as far as dressing up goes.

Instead of busting out glamorous dresses, I opted for something more casual yet still presentable. A little nautical set I had purchased during my Bangkok trip! Boyfriend went for a casual-formal look though you can't see his pants here so... oh well. Snagging these shots off twitter & instagram.

And ..... this isn't the end!

Very quickly, since I shared a perfume choice over the Christmas festive period (Elizabeth Arden's Pretty Hot), I thought to share what I would most likely be spritzing on over the course of the Chinese New Year visitings!

Coach The Fragrance

It is an extremely wearable perfume that's floral, fruity and yet balanced out with a soft hint of musk at the same time. It's perfect for every situation really be it day wear or night wear and the fact that it is pretty lasting on me definitely makes it a good one for CNY. Not a particularly quirky or interesting scent but still a classic, feminine one to check out.

For real this time, this is the end of it!

So do share, what is your preferred fragrance choice for the visitings this year?
Or for any family occasions if you don't celebrate CNY :)

Thanks for reading and Gong Xi Fa Cai!