One of my past time

This is probably one of the posts unrelated to reviews and beauty products..... but would like to share this very website that I stumbled upon and already been a regular over the past 9 months.

A website that provides..........

MAGAZINE SCANS !

*afterall, good things are meant to be shared*

*ballons, and squeels !*

To visit this website....go to www.vvshu.com

Some of the magazines available........

I think they're easily 100+ over types of magazines.

The website is in Mandarin, I'm a banana, I can't read Chinese despite proudly being one, but I manage to navigate my way through...... however, that's only if you're interested in Japanese Fashion Magazines. Some of the brands that I've never heard of *simply because they don't have it in Msia!!*....like Figaro, Nylon, ecaES POSHH!, Anecan, and so much more ! Go check it out, go go go :)

Like most Pisceans, I consider myself an arts person, I love creative stuffs from card making, paper quilling, sequinns, and also embroided stuffs. And this website provides some craft books from Japan. It's fun and pleasing to my eyes, but have never attempted any projects from there, because, first, they're all in Japanese!, secondly, I have to gather all the materials from scratch....where to get, I know some places, but the price is over the roof ! *Sigh*

And the best thing is that most of the fashion magazines are pubished 2 months in advance. This issue of Ray magazine below is May 2009's edition. *which is also my fav mag!* I know that the Jap magazines in M'sia are at least 2 editions older, I quietly wonder if they're importing these unsold/tak-laku mags from overseas, which is deemed as a way to get rid of old stocks. In economic term, this is also known as dumping!

Word of caution:
You may get frustrated viewing the scans if your connection is not fast enough. It might take some time for the pages the load, and you CAN'T download the entire issue in one shot.... all pages must be viewed individually. So if you have nothing- else- better- to- do- days, and if you're a fashion maniac like me, then by all means, go ahead and tease your patience :P

Tip: For a shine free day look

Very often, when it comes to choosing cosmetics...... I am very tempted to choose those that comes with sparkles/shimmer/micro-glitter/whatever you call it. And I bet that many girls out there are one the same side of team with me, am I correct cOrrect ?!

Well, ofcourse products with shimmer provides that extra sparkle to your overall look and definitely spices up your make-up. However, being in Malaysia.... where normal day temperature averages about 32 degree Celcius, I believe that many Malaysian women felt that their make up kinda melts at the end of the day, if not...... ending up with unwelcomed glistening cheeks/forehead. So, in here, I would like to share a very simple tip that reduce (or at least creates an illusion) of make-up that stays fresh throughout the day.

A good example of day make-up that I'm talking about.
Natural look that enhances on the skintone.

Personally, I have combination skin, where my skin tends to be oily at the T-zone. I've learnt my lesson over the years to choose day moisturizers that are oil-free, and also be selective in choosing cosmetics. What I meant by 'selective in choosing cosmetics' is not to provide too much shimmer-effect on the face. Imagine if you applied a nude shimmery eye colour, coupled with a highly shimmery blush PLUS lip gloss that shines like a mirror ! Seriously, I've seen many ladies out there whom tend to go for overly shimmery stuffs, and when it comes to someone lazy like me, whom doesn't blot/touch up frequent enough (when your skin starts getting oily)........ the result is a pool of melted cosmetics!

Therefore, my advice is to prep the skin with the suitable moisturizer, for me, I prefer an oil free one. Always remember to keep your skin moisturised even if you have oil-producing skin ! Then, follow up with your sunscreen/make-up base (in here, my recently bought BB cream is all I need!). Then lightly dust your face with loose powder. For a more natural finish, just concentrate on your T-zone.

Finally, if you decide that:
--> You want all the attention to your eyes, then keep the lips matte/simple.
--> You want kissable glossy lips, then its best opt for a non-shimmer blush.

A simple rule of thumb : Less is more.

Products I use for day look:
--> Avene Micellar Lotion Cleanser (non-rinse type)
--> Avene Thermal Water as toner
--> Eucerin DermoPurifyer as moisturizer
--> ZA Dewy Effect Eye Gel + Kate's Stick Concealer for the eye area
--> GoWoonsesang BB Cream (very good oil control properties)
** For cosmetics, products varies as it depends on my mood and occasion

Note: Ofcourse, if you live in a winter country where the atmosphere tends to be drier or if you have normal/dry skin, then you may not find the above tips very useful.

Have a nice day, muah!

Review: BB Cream by Gowoonsesang

So, after hearing all the raves about BB cream in beauty forums and beauty blogs, I made a very detailed research of the BB cream that I was going to purchase (YES, it's recession now.....every penny spent must be worth it value !! ).



Apparently, there are a few shops here in Malaysia that sells BB cream. A few to name are: The Face Shop (the texture on my wrist was alright, but I do not like the fact that it does not contain SPF, meaning, you would either have to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen or a sunscreen seperately. I know that Missha and Skinfood has it too, but I did no try them as the reviews I read were not very positive.

Anyway, the next shop, which unites all the best-selling cosmetic items in Malaysia is none other than SASA Cosmetics ! I went there, not once but twice to enquire about the BB Cream. Apparently, there were two brands of BB creams available in SASA: Tic Toc and Gowoonsesang. I was HIGHLY recommended by the sales assistance (SA) of the later one, Gowoonsesang as it's a famous brand in Korea and apparently, it is a 'doctors formula'.

At the back of the box it reads:

"Gowoonsesang is No.1 cosmeceutical brand in Korea which established by 8 medical doctors (MD/Ph.D), 43 dermatologists, 114 nurses and 110 medical estheticians with abundant clinical experiences of treating 300,000 patients since 1998".

WHEW, with 8 medical doctors, 43 dermatologists 114 nurses..... how wrong could this product go ?!

Description of packaging:
Comes in a squeezable plastic tube and a screw off cap. Hygienic and practical !

The funny thing about most BB creams is the fact that they do not come in various shades unlike other foundations. So, I would assume that your skin tone would need to be within the 'normal range', meaning that you can't be geisha-ly fair nor too dark. I was told to dot only five dots on the forehead, both sides of the cheeks, nose and chin. Then gently blend outwards to the entire face. The first thing that worried me was the fact that the BB cream's shade was prolly 2 shades darker than my skintone. However, as the blending goes, it seems to melt seamlessly into my skin leaving no traces of makeup or whatsoever. It is also not oily, and does not make my skin feels uncomfortable.

However, as compared to my regular foundation powder (currently using Skin Remaker by Majolica Marjoca), my skin somehow does not look as bright and fair, perhaps because I'm using the powder which is shade lighter than my skintone. In terms of oil control, this BB cream does a pretty good job, but I think it depends on the type of moisturiser that one is using. The one I'm currently using is an oil free range from Eucerin.

Fast facts of BB creams:
The full name for BB cream is also known as Blemish Balm Cream. Although initially created by cosmetic surgeons in Germany for patients, it was popularised in Korea. Up to date, I've never came across a non-Korean BB cream. Most BB creams act as moisturiser, make up base and foundation, however their properties might be different. Most of them (altho some may differ) has special properties to prevent breakouts, evening out the skin tone and also whitening. Therefore, there is actually a thin line of the BB cream falling into the category of skincare or cosmetics.

One may wonder if make-up remover is needed during cleansing process? The answer is YES. I guess that as long as you put on make-up, although just very minimal, it is vital to ensure that your skin is free from traces of make-up during the night time.

Ingredients:
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Titanium dioxide, Glycerin, Talc, PEG-10 Domethicone, Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Methicone, Dipropylene Glycol, Isoeicosame, Arbutin, Hexyl Laurete, Disteardimonium Hectorite, Triethylhexanoin, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone, Crosspolymer, Cyclomethicone Acrylates/Dimethicone Copolymer, Magnesium Sulfate, C12-14 Pareth-3, Zinc Oxide, Iron Oxides, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone, Metylparaben, Imidazolidinyl Urea, Tocopheryl Acetate, Silica, Proplyparaben Betaine, Aluminium Stearate, Aluminium Hydroxide, Sodium Metabisulfite, Rosmarinus Officialis (Rosemary) Leaf Oil, Rosa Centifolia Flower Water, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Glycosyl Trehalose/Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Camellia Sinesis Leaf Extract, Fragrance, Trimethysiloxy Silicate, Dimethiconol/Silsesquioxane Copolymer, Butyleparaben, Propylene Gycol, Butylene Glycol.


*Ingredients are copied directly from the back of the bottle. If I were to read all this out, my tongue would probably end up in a knot !