Operation Use It Up

Here are the products that I finished up in June.

1. Nude Hydrating Water is a rose and vanilla water mist with prickly pear extract and probiotics to calm and refresh skin. I found the scent quite odd though, not exactly what I expected of a rose mist. This refreshes my skin without leaving it sticky but it is no longer available as Nude has undergone a revamp of its products and packaging.

2. For Beloved One Extreme Hydration Toner was more moisturising compared to the Nude lotion. Frequently, I would use just this and skip moisturiser if my skin is not feeling dehydrated. It does not leave any sticky feeling.

3. Suqqu Face Refresher R also does a good job of leaving the skin feeling refreshed and clean but it didn't seem special enough to warrant the £35/5250yen price tag for the regular 150ml version.

4. Cleansing Express Cleansing Lotion (Sebum) removes makeup quickly and effectively with just a few swipes of the cotton pad. It is also very easy on the pocket so replenishing it doesn't break the bank like Shu Uemura's cleansing oils. I usually follow it up with a face cleanser as I prefer a thoroughly cleansed feeling. It doesn't work that well with waterproof mascara so I use a separate eye makeup remover.

5. Shu Uemura High Performance Balancing Cleansing Oil whisks off all makeup in a jiffy. This is slightly thicker than the Fresh (pink) version but not as thick as the A/O (green) version. I also always follow this up with a face cleanser.

6. L'Oreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover is a biphase remover that works effectively without irritating my eyes. An affordable staple that I don't stray from.

7. L'Oreal Smooth Intense Instant Smoothing Serum helps to keep my hair manageable and frizz-free. It absorbs quite quickly without making my hair look greasy.

8. Lush Snow Fairy shower gel is released only every holiday season. The sweet candy scent takes some getting used to. It also contains shimmer particles but these get rinsed off pretty much immediately.

9. Murad Vitalic Energizing Pomegranate Moisturizer SPF15 made my skin oil up within an hour so I won't be repurchasing this. The 30ml tube lasted over a month with daily use.

10. Phyto Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm is a clear, slighty watery gel that helps to tame the frizz without stickiness or stiffness. I don't think I'll repurchase this as I prefer the L'Oreal serum.

11. Three Balancing Emulsion (Enriching) has a strong scent of essential oils. It absorbs quite nicely and hydrates my skin without irritating it.

12. Paul & Joe Brightening Serum helps to hydrate my skin without making it feel sticky. I haven't used it long enough to notice any brightening effect though.

13. Lunasol Watery Makeup Base is exactly as the name suggests. The light watery texture is similar to RMK Makeup Base. It doesn't offer any coverage but helps to hydrate the skin and smoothen it for easier application of foundation. It also does not make my skin extra oily.

Can't believe half the year has already flown by just like that! Here's to a more productive second half :-)

Zuneta, ASOS & Sephora Hauls: Paul & Joe, Nude, Rouge Bunny Rouge, Urban Decay

After learning about a 20% discount code ELLE20 for Zuneta.com, a UK-based online retailer that offers prestige brands like Becca, Hourglass, Nude and Rouge Bunny Rouge, I placed my first order. Zuneta orders free international delivery for orders over £65. My order was placed on 8 January, shipped via DHL on 9 January and I received it on 10 January in Switzerland, less than 48 hours after placing the order!

I've been curious about trying out more Rouge Bunny Rouge products after WorshipBlues Curator gifted me with their Orpheline blush. This Best Things in Beauty review of their Milk Aquarelle Liquid Foundation convinced me to take the plunge. I purchased this in 025 Almond Milk Parfait.

Nude is another brand that I've always wanted to try, in particular their Advanced Cellular Renewal Serum which received positive reviews on The Beauty Bite and London Makeup Girl. It is super pricey but the discount code enabled me to finally take the plunge. Zuneta is currently offering a Miracle Mask (15ml) with a 30 purchase of Nude skincare. The ELLE20 code is valid until 28 February. If you are based outside UK/Europe, you also pay lower prices less the VAT.

From the current ASOS sale, I picked up a Bliss Snow Wonder Scent-sational Set of a body butter and body wash for just £15, a 50% savings. My order was placed on 1 January and I received it today by UK Royal Mail post. ASOS offers free international shipping.

The Pixi Autumn Winter Essentials set also looked like a worthwhile deal at £19, down from £31. The price has gone up slightly since I placed my order and is now £21.50.

The set includes an All-Over Magic Radiance Powder No.2 Rose Radiance (7.09g/0.25oz), Flawless & Poreless primer (15ml), Endless Silky Eye Pen No. 1 Black Noir (1.2g) and Lips & Line No.2 Fresh Pink.

As ASOS.com was the first online retailer to launch the Paul & Joe spring collection, I also purchased the new Lipstick C in #77 Catwalk and #75 Sex Kitten (£16 each). Each lipstick is engraved with 10 paw prints. I skipped the Face & Eye Colors as the gradational color schemes did not look that attractive to warrant the £21 price tag.

The prices of Paul & Joe makeup on ASOS are cheaper than the counters in Singapore, where the lipsticks usually retail for S$39. However, the drawback is that ASOS never offers any cute gifts with purchase. They also do not wrap cosmetics properly to prevent breakage, so I would not order anything that is too fragile from them.


Accessories from Lipsy and French Connection.


Over at Sephora in France, several holiday sets had been marked down. The Urban Decay Book of Shadows IV, which was originally priced at €58, was now just €40.60. The BOSIV hasn't been as well-received as the Naked palettes and the 15th Anniversary palette, which is much more compact with a more vibrant selection of shades.

I wasn't too keen on BOSIV, as I already own the 15th Anniversary palette, BOSIII New York and the Alice in Wonderland palette. However, at the sale price, BOSIV looked like a pretty good deal considering the number of products in it, including a mascara and a full-sized liquid eyeliner. Plus I always have a weakness for pretty butterflies!



The mini speaker is pretty nifty, and works perfectly with my Samsung Galaxy Ace phone for playing music. It was a real struggle trying to get the speaker out of the box though, as it is squeezed in so snugly.

The Fred Farrguia Midnight Kit, which includes the Pearlized Twinkle Eyeshadows #15, Illuminating Powder #1 and Creme Lipstick/Lipgloss #24.



A Yes To Cucumbers Ultimate Calming Facial Kit comprising the Calming Facial Moisturiser, Soothing Eye Gel and Natural Glow Facial Towelettes.

And finally, at Carrefour, I spotted the new Dream Nude Mousse foundation by Maybelline. This doesn't seem to have very positive reviews online but still, I was curious to see how it compares to the Face Architect Sheer Refining Mousse Foundation by Shu Uemura , which is also owned by L'Oreal. The US and UK version is called "Dream Nude Airfoam" with identical packaging but I don't know if the formula is the same. The Dream Nude Mousse version sold in France is made in Belgium.

Thanks for reading!