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Beauty & Fashion

in Beauty & Fashion, OOTD

Fashion: Kenzo Time’s 2015 Collection

Well this blog has been rather quiet! Sorry for the lack of updates, guys. If you’ve been following my Instagram, you might have noticed that I am not in Malaysia at the moment. The husband and I are finally enjoying an actual (!) holiday since our honeymoon.

It’s also well-deserved, I must say. They’ve been so busy at the embassy! He was ending his work days at 2am during the most recent ASEAN meetings. So to everyone who thinks that the job of a diplomat is easy – well, it’s not. Especially in a really busy post! We’re currently in Europe to visit my family and drop by a few must-see cities. It’s my husband’s first time here so it’s pretty fun to explore with him.

We’re currently at our second stop which is Paris! The city of lights, love, and of course – fashion. Looking at the Eiffel Tower yesterday reminded me of something! I actually have important news to share with you guys!

Before leaving for our trip, I attended the launch of Kenzo Time‘s 2015 collection in Kuala Lumpur and I must say that I was pretty impressed. I’m a lover of vintage and the classics when it comes to fashion and that mindset extends to my choice of timepieces. I usually stick with gold, vintage watches or bangle-type silver timepieces. I never saw watches as an accessory that can make or break my outfit. But alas, I stand corrected yet again. 😉

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Althea, Althea Korea, Korean, Skin Care, Makeup, Cosmetics, Piolang, Gold Mask, Petitfee, Eye Patch, Hydrogel, Laneige, Blackhead Melting Gel, Holika Holika, Waterproof, Eyeliner, Beauty, Review, Online Shop, Online Beauty Store, Shopping, Online Shopping, Cheap Korean Products, Discounts, Savings
in Beauty & Fashion, Expat Life, KL Shopping, Kuala Lumpur, Skincare, Video

Beauty: Althea Korea Shopping Guide + Mini Haul Reviews [VIDEO]

Althea, Althea Korea, Korean, Skin Care, Makeup, Cosmetics, Piolang, Gold Mask, Petitfee, Eye Patch, Hydrogel, Laneige, Blackhead Melting Gel, Holika Holika, Waterproof, Eyeliner, Beauty, Review, Online Shop, Online Beauty Store, Shopping, Online Shopping, Cheap Korean Products, Discounts, Savings

Back with another video for you guys! <3 This time, I’ll be talking about online shopping for Korean beauty products without having to break the bank!

I love great savings and a wide variety of choices – especially for things that I love and use regularly. Like great skin care and makeup products! 😉

In this video, you’ll get to know how you can get your fix of Korean beauty products here in Malaysia without having to spend a ton and see my mini haul too! I added reviews of each of the products as well so you might want to consider them when you go shopping on Althea too! <3

Let me know what you guys think and do tell me what you bought in the comments section below!

Love,

Carol

*Sp

in Beauty & Fashion, Skincare

Beauty: Clinelle Caviar Gold Range Serum Review + Discount Code For You!

In my quest to find the answers to ageing gracefully, I often find myself testing out products I’ve never heard of or always deemed as something I have no need of. Only to realise during the short testing period of mine – which usually ranges between two weeks to a month – will have a lasting effect on me and that certain products sent to me will actually be the catalyst to a new step in my skin care regimen.

I’m talking about serums.

While I’ve been loyal to my creams – from hand, eye, face, to whatever (you name the body part and I will probably have a cream for it) – I always thought that serums are just a redundant product. Why would I need one when I’m actually diligent in using my moisturisers? They’re the same thing right?

That was until I tried some serums from a Korean brand called Purebeauty and most recently, when I was sent serums by Clinelle –  a brand I’ve never heard of until I moved to Malaysia.

I admit to buying their toner when the toner I brought from Manila during our big move to KL last year ran out. I was attracted to the clean, professional, and no frills look and the product literature it came with. It worked well on my dry skin that I developed a certain level of respect for the brand. So when they asked me to review their new line, of course I had to say yes. They mentioned caviar, black, and gold in one sentence so I thought back then that this was bound to be interesting.

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in Beauty & Fashion, Makeup, Video

Beauty: Super Fast and Easy Go-To Makeup Look! (VIDEO)

In celebration of the recent .com purchase and after really thinking about whether I should do this or not, here’s my first ever makeup tutorial video! 🙂

I decided to show you guys the easiest look I do when I’m often in a hurry – say, when my husband tells me that we have to attend a function in 30 minutes (yes, these things happen sometimes). Instead of just posting this as a blog entry, I decided to make a video to fully show you guys how easy it can be done. 😀

WATCH IN HD! 🙂

Comments, feedback, (constructive) criticisms, and suggestions are welcome! Would love to hear what you guys think! But keep in mind that this is a first timer’s video, okay?

Love,

Carol

in Beauty & Fashion

Beauty + Photos: Hair Makeover at Andy Ho Haute Coiffure

Up until last week, I can honestly say that I never really had a full hair makeover. I would usually give myself drastic hair cuts or get my hair treated. I even tried experimenting with with hair colour by dyeing my bangs blue or pink (Don’t judge. I was a But of a rebel). But all these happened one at a time – never all at once. I also never coloured my hair in full.

I guess I’ve always been comfortable with my dark brown curls. Brunette through and through here! 😉 It even took a while for me to actually consider highlights!

I love my curls a lot and I’ve always been very particular about who touched my hair. In Manila, there was only one person I’d go to for a hair cut. This is because – being curly haired and all – I cannot afford a bad hair cut. I’ve been told before that dealing with curls is a lot harder than dealing with straight hair. My curls which are composed of big rings and waves, look best when layered and layering curls can be quite a task.

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I haven’t gotten a hair cut since moving to Malaysia (don’t judge!) mainly because I just didn’t know who I can trust to give me layers that won’t leave me looking like a long-haired poodle. By the time we hit June of this year, my layers which I got exactly a year ago was just all over the place, my curls weren’t swirling to their proper rings anymore.

So when I got the invitation to go to meet Andy Ho (!!) himself for a haircut, I was over the moon. Andy Ho is a name that you hear a lot here in KL – especially in the beauty scene. With two decades of experience plus his own, in-born talent, Andy has become synonymous to classy hair styling here in Malaysia.

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in Beauty & Fashion, Expat Life, KL Shopping, Kuala Lumpur, Skincare

Smart Buys: Bath and Body Works Summer Scents, Sale Haul, and Weekend Raya Promotion! ;)

Bath and Body Works, BBW, Bath and Body Works Malaysia, Lotion, Fragrance, Candles, Body Care, Skin Care, Moisturisers, Bubble Bath, Love and Sunshine, New Collection, Sale, Home,

It’s sale season here in Malaysia so that means only one thing – the cheapskate in me is totally bursting with so much happiness! I’m not the type who shops for a lot of things in one go but when I entered Bath and Body Works recently, I came out buying more than I actually planned. I came out with 8 items!

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in Beauty & Fashion, Makeup, Skincare

Beauty + Reviews: Win the War Against Pores with Laneige’s New Mini Pore Range!

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The road to flawless skin can be a tricky and full of side trips when you’re living in a tropical country. It’s hot and extremely humid which makes caring for your skin throughout the day a bit of a nightmare. Even my dry-as-a-desert skin is starting to show a few signs of wear and tear. Of course, that’s enough to send my personal alarm system into overdrive. Great skin is always on top of my list after all. :-S

One thing I also noticed recently was how I can now see some of the pores on my nose which were practically invisible before. Thankfully, they still haven’t reached a monstrous size as of the moment but that’s enough for me to consider trying to prevent any further damage to my skin.

I also noticed blackheads as well as whiteheads popping out on my nose and chin. This resulted to a nasty habit of picking them out using a metal tool used by dermatologists. I know, I know. I shouldn’t be doing this to myself as I might damage my skin more but my OCD kicks in when it comes to my skin. One little ‘irregularity’ and I fuss and worry like crazy.

The problem with picking out your black/whiteheads by yourself – aside from the fact that it hurts like a b*tch – is that you might end up with bigger pores that are left open, making it vulnerable to dirt and new blackheads. Eeep! You wouldn’t want to be trapped in such a vicious cycle.

Thank goodness for products that will actually help me break this bad habit by actually doing the job for me. Who doesn’t want tight, almost-invisible pores anyway?

Laneige, a Korean brand that I’ve always trusted since it was introduced to me here in KL, recently launched the new Mini Pore Range which contains products that will clean, tighten, and make sure you’re looking flawless all day!

Let’s start with the reviews, shall we? 😉

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in Beauty & Fashion, Skincare

Beauty + Events: A Day of Pampering with the Beauty Guide Tour 2015!

When we moved to Malaysia last year and finally got settled, I found myself thinking about how I miss Manila and my regular hangouts. The nail salon that has branches everywhere in Metro Manila – always so convenient for me to just drop by where I’m nearest to, anytime I’m in need of a manicure – my favourite waxing place, my go-to place for a massage, etc.

Oh, and how could I forget Oliver – the only person I trust when it comes to trimming my curls. (In case you’re in Manila, you can find him at Vivere Salon in Megamall)

A few weeks into moving here, I found myself with really long nails sporting chipped nail polish. A month later, I had dry hair and my curls were starting to become unruly. Oh, and don’t get me started on my need for waxing back then. Moving into a new country, starting from scratch, and trying out new things can be pretty exciting but when it comes to beauty-related services, I find it hard to take risks. I only want the best services as I cannot stand another waxing accident (more on that later) or a bad hair cut.

Along came Beauty Guide, a website that was brought to my attention by none other than my sister (all the way in Denmark!). A friend of hers recently put it up in Malaysia and was starting to make waves among beauty and personal care aficionados in the country.

Since I signed up late last year, I never had problems when it comes to where to go for any kind of service. I simply just click on what I want, where I want it, and voila – fail-safe recommendations! I love how I can review and also see what other Beauty Guide users are saying about the establishment as well.

Imagine my delight when I was recently invited for a Beauty Guide event where they took us around the city for a beauty day out. The best part? I got to do it with my friends. <3

The day started out at Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf in Bangsar Village II. We had a little meet up and my friend Tammy found out early on  the best part of her goody bag:

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I approve of this! Haha! Kidding, la! 😉

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Off to start our day of pampering! But first, a #selfie with Arpita and Miriam! 😉

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in Beauty & Fashion

Beauty + Review: Shu Uemura Skin: Fit Foundation (Perfect for Summer!)

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I’ve had my ups and downs with foundation. From not liking it to having to wear the thickest of its kind back when I was doing TV reporting, to finding the ones that I would actually like.

And one thing is for sure: For me to freely fork out money on a foundation, it has to be good to my skin. Nothing too harsh or too heavy (so over that!). Over time, I’ve met a couple who have met the criteria but I’ve often wished for a formula that would also feel lightweight and would let my skin breathe throughout the day. Oh, and it wouldn’t hurt too if it’s long-lasting, right?

Back then, I felt that those things were too much to ask. You can always get a lightweight foundation but you can bet your your toes it won’t be lasting you for more than 4 hours in this humid Southeast Asian weather. You can get a thicker, long-lasting kind but that would just make your skin feel suffocated throughout the day.

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So when I got the invite for Shu Uemura‘s launch for their new foundation, I’d have to admit that I had my doubts. A foundation that has all the things I’ve been wishing for? You’ve got to be pulling my leg!

But alas, I am amazed. By now, it’s pretty obvious that I will be raving about this product. But I suggest you read all the way till the end to see what it’s all about. Oh, and you guys do know that I nitpick, right?

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in Beauty & Fashion, Makeup

Beauty: Burt’s Bees Lip Crayon Review (4/6 shades)! Plus: Get your own at a DISCOUNT with this code!

Burt's Bees, Lip Crayon, Lip Colour, Makeup, Beauty, Natural, Organic, Cosmetics, Review, Blogger, Recommendations, Diplomat's Wife, Swatches, Lipstick, Hydrating,

It took a while but finally – Burt’s Bees’ Lip Crayons have finally reached our side of the world! I was lucky enough to be invited at the launch, held at Marini’s in Suria KLCC a couple of weeks ago.

Afternoon tea + blogger friends + makeup. What more can a girl ask for, right?

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Six colours were introduced – Hawaiian Smolder, Napa Vineyard, Redwood Forest, Carolina Coast, Niagara Overlook, and Sedona Sands.

My friends and I had fun swatching the  colours during the event but since the lighting at the venue was way too yellow, getting you good pictures that are true-to-colour was quite impossible. But fret not! I took some just yesterday under natural light. And there will be a review of 4 out of the 6 shades that they came out with in this post. 😉 I made the extra effort because you know I love you guys, right? *virtual hugs for my readers*

Burt's Bees, Lip Crayon, Lip Colour, Makeup, Beauty, Natural, Organic, Cosmetics, Review, Blogger, Recommendations, Diplomat's Wife, Swatches, Lipstick, Hydrating,

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