Operation Use It Up!

Haven't done one of these posts in awhile but I've been diligently using up as many products as I can before the end of 2010!

Here are my quick thoughts on each product.

1. Live Gain Premium Rich Protein Treatment: While purchasing Shiseido Tsubaki hair conditioner at People's Park, the shop assistant highly recommended this Korean brand conditioner as being even better than Tsubaki. While it did soften my hair nicely, I did not find it to be superior to Tsubaki. I also preferred the floral scent of Tsubaki.

2. Rituals Zensation Rice Milk & Cherry Blossom Foaming Shower Gel Sensation: The rice milk aroma was wonderfully relaxing and soothing. I purchased this in Belgium last year at a super cheap price (less than S$10). It lathers up amazingly well and leaves a subtle scent on my skin without drying it out.

3. Dove Damage Therapy Intense Repair Shampoo: I love this! It lathers up very well and rinses off easily while leaving my hair soft. It's one of the few shampoos that doesn't leave my hair tangled when I rinse it out, and I can actually run my hands through the length of my hair even before using conditioner.

4. Dove Damage Therapy Intense Repair Conditioner: Another excellent product that leaves my hair soft and manageable, and does not make my scalp oily. I also like the clean light scent, which is typical of Dove. If you don't like sweet floral scents, this could be a good option for you.

5. Kenzoki Clearwater Gel: This is my 3rd bottle and I've reviewed it before. It's a good basic skin refresher.

6. Juicy Couture Frothy Shower Gel: This lathers up very well to create light frothy bubbles. The sweet scent is probably not for everyone.

7. Ole Henriksen Body Sleek Hydrating Lotion: The name is quite apt as the texture is very light and slightly watery. It absorbs well and fairly fast without any oily after feeling. It works well in Singapore's humid weather but it is not hydrating enough for winter or if you have very dry skin.

8. The Body Shop Wild Cherry Shower Gel: I'm not a fan of the cherry scent so I won't be repurchasing this. The shower gel is average and leaves my skin a bit dry.

9. Soap & Glory Clean On Me Creamy Clarifying Shower Gel: I adore the sweet scent of Clean On Me, which is identical to the Girligo Spray-on Body Moisturising Mist. The scent lingers subtly on my skin.

10. Stila Jade Blossom Eau de Parfum: A very old favourite that remains for me still distinctively unique and fresh in the crowded field of fragrances.

And I have finally finished a full size makeup product! It is none other than the Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Liner which many of you would probably recognise from my FOTD posts this year. I received it from Mandom Singapore back in May this year and it quickly became a daily staple. I love its fine brush tip, which is easy to work and draws a precise jet black line that you can then layer over to achieve the desired thickness. The eyeliner liquid also flows naturally into the brush tip and there's never any excess suddenly oozing out. Definitely a product that I will purchase in the future!

Le rollerball parfumé arrive

Le roll-on pour le contour des yeux, c'est so 2009 ! Il faudra d'ailleurs que je me penche un jour sur cette tendance car je n'arrive pas à trancher : est-ce un pur gadget marketing ou bien ce système d'applicateur dope t-il vraiment l'efficacité du soin en lui même ? Toujours est-il qu'en tout cas, de très nombreuses marques (Garnier, L'Oréal Paris, Clinique, Sanoflore, Sampar...) se sont engouffré dans ce juteux business ces derniers mois. Mais aujourd'hui, c'est une autre utilisation du rollerball qui commence à émerger : le roll-on pafumé !

Outre-Manche, ils fleurissent à vitesse grand V. Jugez donc avec cette photo du haut réunissant les derniers-nés d'Annick Goutal (Petite Chérie), Juicy Couture (Peace Love & Juicy), Bvlgari (trois fragrances de la marque sont déjà proposées sous cette forme), Vera Wang, Hanae Mori... Et si jusqu'alors ce phénomène concernait plutôt des marques de niche, il s'étend maintenant aux grands acteurs du marché puisque Calvin Klein a déjà décliné son dernier-né, Beauty, en format nomade.

D'autres (ci-dessus, Michael Kors et Donna Karan par exemple) vont même encore plus loin en proposant des rollerball à double embout, contenant d'un côté la bille qui délivre le parfum et de l'autre un gloss. Seul bémol, ces petits gadgets ne sont pas donnés, entre 18$ et 25$ selon le prestige et le positionnement prix habituel des marques en question. Chez Sephora US, on peut aussi, pour réduire les coûts de ce genre de fantaisie, investir dans un roll-on ressourçable dans lequel on peut mettre le parfum de son choix (8 euros environ).

Alors oui, ce n'est la révolution du siècle puisque certaines marques commercialisaient déjà des vaporisateurs de sacs sous forme de pulvérisateurs. Il y en a même parfois des très jolis, qui sont de véritables petits accessoires de mode comme par exemple ceux de Prada (mais à plus de 60 euros les 3 x 10ml, c'est la moindre des choses que cela soit joli!). Non, moi ce que je trouverai totalement novateur, c'est qu'à chaque fois que l'on achète un flacon de parfum 50ml ou plus, on ai la chance de trouver dans la boite un petit rollerball de notre fragrance chérie pour pouvoir se faire une petite "retouche parfum" dans la journée ! Ca, ce serait top ! Et le prix du parfum en France étant tellement prohibitif en France, je suis certain que les marges confortables que s'octroient les grandes marques leur permettraient de mettre en place ce genre d'initiatives.

Magazines Haul (AneCan, Steady, Marie Claire Taiwan)

Picked up a few magazines at Kinokuniya (Ngee Ann City) earlier this evening for the attractive freebies.

First up is the October issue of AneCan (S$20.20) which comes with a Juicy Couture "spa bag" and white plastic drawstring bag.

The spa bag has an unusual mesh bottom and a zipped middle compartment.

It's roomy enough to fit two novels.

I also picked up the October issue of Steady (S$16.70) which comes with a lace-print Rebecca Taylor small tote bag.

The bag is made of polyester and a pink inner lining.

Like the Juicy Couture spa bag, it has a zipped middle compartment.

The dimensions are very similar to the Juicy Couture spa bag.


Finally, I also got the September issue of Marie Claire (Taiwan) (S$14.60) as it comes with a Revlon Skinlights Bare It All Lotion 01 Buff Love (19g).

The ingredients list is printed in both Japanese and Chinese. According to the Revlon Japan website, this retails for 1890yen (about S$30) in Japan. The retail price in Taiwan is NT$520 (about S$22). Mix it with either foundation or moisturiser for a skin-perfecting glow. It can also be used on the décolletage. The expiry date is September 2011.

There were only about 5 copies of the Marie Claire left but more than 50 copies each of Steady and also InRed, which comes with two Marc Jacobs Daisy zip pouches.

Juicy Couture opens in Singapore!

I was at Ngee Ann City this afternoon to pick up my usual stash of Japanese beauty magazines and chanced across the new Juicy Couture store, which has just opened! It is on the third level near Kinokuniya. The decor of the store is impressive and unusual, with a striking contrast between the metal studded frame of the storefront and the pink interior.



Wonder if the knight armour is a signature display of JC stores like the skeleton in Kiehl's stores?





The stuff is extremely pricey though, and marked up considerably by over 30% more than the US retail price. This terry baby fluffy bag and baby fluffy velour bag are US$198 and US$178 in the US but costs about S$400 here. The larger rectangular velour tote bags were about S$500 each. You would probably save quite a bit by ordering from the US when Juicy Couture has a sale and having it shipped to Singapore by Borderlinx. I didn't have time to check out the prices of their other items but the accessories such as charms look incredibly cute.



Banner ads outside Ngee Ann City.