Sunday, November 29, 2009

Review: Burts Bee

Ive tried quite a bit of Burts Bees products because I all the products Ive tried have been great! Heres are reviews of all the products ive tried for them.

Peach and Willowbark Deep Pore Scrub 98.43% Natural



How it Works
Finely ground peach stone naturally and gently exfoliates your skin, while willowbark and golden seal help clear pores. This natural facial cleanser also contains ginger and sea algae extracts to revitalize your skin and replenish essential minerals, leaving your face deeply clean and naturally nourished.

How to Use It
Wet your face and apply scrub with your fingertips or washcloth, massaging gently to loosen and remove dirt and makeup. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with a cool rinse. Complete your daily regimen with a toner and your favorite Burt's Bees cream or lotion.

Featured Ingredient
Willowbark Extract — This extract contains natural Beta Hydroxy Acids, which work as a natural skin exfoliants to help unplug follicles and pores.

Ingredients: water, vitis vinifera (grape) seed oil, stearic acid, glycerin, prunus persica (peach) seed powder, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, sodium borate, fragrance, salix nigra (willow) bark extract, glucose, anthemis nobilis (chamomile) flower extract, hydrastis canadensis (golden seal) extract, zingiber officinale (ginger) root extract, fucus vesiculosus (bladderwrack) extract, xanthan gum, sucrose stearate, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

What I think: LUV IT!! It smells sooo good! Ive been using it with my clarisonic mia and it makes my skin sooooo smoooth! It makes my skin really moisturized after.

Orange Essence Facial Cleanser 100% Natural

How it Works
With orange oil to cleanse and purify, and olive oil and aloe vera to soothe, moisturize and condition, this formula is perfect for refreshing, hydrating cleansing. It's designed to clean and replenish without the tight after-feel that harsh soaps and detergents can leave behind.

How to Use It
Wet your face and apply the cleanser with your fingertips or a washcloth, massaging gently to loosen and remove dirt and makeup. Rinse thoroughly with warm water and follow with a cool rinse. Complete your daily regimen with a toner and your favorite Burt's Bees cream or lotion.

Featured Ingredient
Orange Oil — Obtained by expressing the cold, fresh peel of the orange tree, a smallish tree native to China and India, now cultivated in Brazil, Cypress, Israel, Mexico and the United States.

Ingredients: glycerin, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel oil, avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, lanolin, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, quillaja saponaria extract, avena sativa (oat) kernel oil, vegetable oil, beta-carotene, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, tocopherol

What I think: It smells really good like oranges obviously. Its very moisturizing for dry skin and for the winter, but I dont like how it doesnt make my skin feel clean after. I think its better for mature skin because my mom luvs this!

Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream


What it claims: Looking for a deeper clean? This rich, sulfate-free facial cleanser is made with a gentle, yet effective plant-based cleansing complex featuring quillaja saponaria (soap) bark extract and witch hazel. Luxurious lather foams away excess dirt, oil and make-up leaving skin feelling clean and refreshed. Extracts of chamomile, echinacea and aloe help soothe and calm skin while glycerin and cocoa butter provide a touch of moisture for naturally fresh, healthy skin

What I think: This is my HG cleanser! It makes your skin tingle when you use it, but doesnt dry your skin up. Its not so great at removing eye makeup but I still love it due to the great feeling i get after i use it.

Replenishing Lip Balm with Pomegranate Oil 100% Natural
How it Works
This replenishing and hydrating natural lip balm is infused with the antioxidant goodness of Pomegranate oil. It replenishes moisture and restores texture to reveal smooth, healthy lips, and coats them for a smooth, even-toned appearance.

How to Use It
Apply balm liberally to lips as often as needed.

Featured Ingredient
Pomegranate Oil — Pomegranate fruit extract, from the tree Punica granatum, contains several polyphenols and anthocyanidins which are highly antioxidant, protecting hair and skin.

Ingredients: helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, beeswax, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, ricinus communis (castor) seed oil, lanolin, flavor, punica granatum (pomegranate) seed oil, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil, carmine

What I think: I like it, its really moisturizing, however i still like Blistex Daily Conditioning Treatment for lips better because its moisturizing and minty :D

Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion 98.2% Natural

How it Works
Soothing milk meets honey in this nourishing yet lightweight natural moisturizing lotion. Honey acts as a natural humectant, while aloe and sunflower oil soothe and moisturize. It's perfect for dry and sensitive skin.

How to Use It
Apply lotion all over your body and hands as often as needed.

Featured Ingredient
Milk Powder — Solid residue which remains when water is removed from defatted cow's milk.

Ingredients: water, helianthus annuus (sunflower) seed oil, glycerin, cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, stearic acid, beeswax, fragrance, non-fat dry milk, honey, tocopherol, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) peel wax, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, beta-carotene, vegetable oil, glucose, xanthan gum, sucrose stearate, sodium borate, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

What I think: Smells nothing like milk and honey to me, actually it smells more like coconuts! I really lie thi body lotion. It has a light texture but is really moisturizing.

Beeswax & Banana Hand Creme 100% Natural
How it Works
This super rich, all-natural hand cream is made with aloe vera and vitamin E to moisturize dry skin and beeswax to help seal and protect your hands from the elements. The sweet smell of banana reminds you to feed your skin with nourishing care.

How to Use It
Smooth a small dollop of cream onto freshly washed hands. Use after every handwashing.

Featured Ingredient
Beeswax — A natural wax made by bees in the cell walls of honeycombs, this substance is a natural emulsifier used in cosmetics.

Ingredients: prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, water, beeswax, aloe barbadensis leaf juice, kaolin, fragrance, citrus grandis (grapefruit) seed extract, stearic acid, glucose, chondrus crispus (carrageenan) extract, sodium borate, tocopherol, beta-carotene, vegetable oil, glucose oxidase, lactoperoxidase

What I think: It smells like banana bread! Super thick moisturizing cream, however i dont like the after smell of it. Once the banana scent is gone, it leaves a waxy smell. If you dont mind it its really mosturizing.

Hand Salve 98.05% Natural

How it Works
Our most intensive hand treatment, this formula is packed with botanical oils, herbs and beeswax to moisturize hard working, rough, dry hands. It's an everyday miracle.

How to Use It
Apply salve to your hands as often as needed.

Featured Ingredient
Olive Oil — Obtained from pressing ripe olives of Olea Europaea, olive oil is greenish-yellow in color and has a strong, somewhat spicy odor.

Ingredients: prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond) oil, olea europaea (olive) fruit oil, beeswax, fragrance, tocopheryl acetate, symphytum officinale (comfrey) root extract, tocopherol, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaves, lavandula angustifolia (lavender) flowers, rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf extract, glycine soja (soybean) oil, canola oil

What I think: This stuff is amazing! It has a old chinese woman smell but if your skin is really dry this stuff makes it a lot better over night!

K I think this post is way TOOOO long! I will review the rest later!

Review: Skinfood

Skinfood Rice Wash Off Mask



What it claims: Exfoliating wash off scrub mask with minerals, vitamins and gamma oryzanol. Moisturizes and whitens the skin.

Instructons: Apply evenly after cleansing. Avoid eye and mouth area. Gently scrub and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 - 15 minutes.

What I luv about it: the smell, it doesnt smell like rice at all. Im not quite sure what it tastes like, I just really like it though. My face is really soft after I use it and I temporarily get a brightening effect, however it doesnt last long. Other than these factors I dont find it that amazing?

Skinfood Black Sugar Wash Off Mask

haha looks like poop in this pic

What it claims: Moisturizing and exfoliating wash off scrub mask with minerals, vitamins and glycolic acid. Cleanses and revitalizes the skin.

Instructions: Apply evenly after cleansing. Avoid eye and mouth area. Gently scrub and wash off with lukewarm water after 10 - 15 minutes.

What I liked about it: I got a sample of this and really liked it. It smelt of oranged and warms up when you apply it to your skin. Skin foods really soft after and gives a nice glow. Overall, I think I like this mask more than the rice one as it gave a nice glow after.

NARS + Guerlain

VIP Sephora 20% off Sale

I got the NARS "Silk Road" eye shadow (40$) and the Guerlain Meteorites Pearles (62$) Imperiale cuz ive been eyeing for a while but just couldnt justify spending soo much on them. So when Sephora had their 20% off I immediately grabbed it! Though I aready own very similar neutrals, I got this anyways because of the big chunks of sparkles in one of the shadows. The shadows are quite smooth and i have been using it almost everyday since I got it.

I luv the Meteorites! It was worth the 62$! I bought this because of the gorgeous packaging! Its black and blinged up!! I have read reviews that the black sparkles on the package have come off but this hasnt happened to me yet and hope it never will :D! The meteorities are very fine sparkles that give a very nice glow when brushed all over the face or just subtle highlighter on the nose and under the eyes -not a bling bling face.

The saddest day of my life....


On Halloween 2009 I lost my HG shu uemura eye lash curler! I was sooo upset! So then the next day i had to run into the mall to buy another but to find that its 22$ cdn!! PLUS TAX!! I got it for like 15$ in hk! Its almot 10$ more in canada! what a rip off!!! But neways! I go it and I also got the Koji Curving Eyelash Curler (17$ cdn) from sasa after watching a youtube video on it saying that its great for azn eyes and that it fits better. So lets do a showdown between the Shu Uemura and Koji Curling Eyelash Curler.



Koji Curving vs. Shu Uemura:

The Koji curler is a lot bigger than Shu Uemura. It has a flat edge and is 38mm long. It was a little awkward to use at first because of the long flat edge, however, once I got the hang of it, I could get all my lashes with one curl - including the hard to reach lashes at the corners of the eyes. The curl stayed longer than the shu uemura one as well. Overall its not a bad curler - I cant decide which is my favorite so I am gonna say either one is great! :P

Review: Maybelline Whitestay UV Mousse Foundation


I got this last year in HK and havent used it since I found bb cream! but i found it at the bottom of my drawer a little while ago and started using it again! I think you can only get the whitestay UV version in asia. But i know Canada has the Dream Matte Mousse which seems to be the same product but maybe lacks the brightening effect?

Color: Porcelain
Texure: Sure duper smoooth!
Coverage: Light-medium (it slightly covers acne scars)
Price: I dont super remember but i think i got it for <15$cdn
How I use it: I lightly stipple it all over my face or i use my fingers and pat it on

I think this is a pretty good foundation for everyday. It has SPF24/PA++ and I only need a light layer to make my face look a lot brighter. It gives a nice glow when i use it with Guerlain Meteorites Perles Imperiales. Sorry I forgot to take a pic, but I will remember next time i use it! :D

Cheers!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Rack of Lamb & Bacon scallop wraps :D

Me and my f LUV lamb and scallops so we decided to make our own!!
They both turned out really well! The lamb was sooo juicy and tender! There was no "so" taste!
Bacon wrapped Scallops:
Scallops were easy! wash, dry and basically wrap the bacon around the scallop and poke a toothpick thru it!


Rack of Lamb:
Ingredients:
- dijon mustard
- rosemary
- thyme
- Lamb
- salt & pepper

Cut off the silver lining of lamb and any fat you dont want. Wash, dry. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Use a fork and poke lots of holes into the lamb. Pinch of salt and pepper. Smother the mustard and herbs on. Heat a frying pan brown each side of the lamb. Cover the bones so they dont burn and turn black! Then stick it in the oven for about 7-10 minutes and ur ready to eat!!

addicted to avocados!


"About 75% of an avocado's calories come from fat, most of which is monounsaturated fat. Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas. They are rich in B vitamins, as well as vitamin E and vitamin K. They have the highest fiber content of any fruit - including 75% insoluble and 25% soluble fiber." Also, "High avocado intake has been shown to have an effect on blood serum cholesterol levels. Specifically, after a seven day diet rich in avocados, hypercholesterolemia patients showed a 17% decrease in total serum cholesterol levels. These subjects also showed a 22% decrease in both LDL (bad cholesterol) and triglyceride levels and 11% increase in HDL (good cholesterol) levels" (Wikipedia, 2009). So hearing all these benefits I ran out to my local grocery store to buy a bag of avocados! Im sure my skin can use some of those yummi vitamins! So after that Ive been addicted! I cut some avocados and tomtatoes, add some salt and pepper and i have it for a snack! Its soooo goood! :D Then i use the skin for a face mask! or hand mask! Super moisturizing! I leave it on for about 5-10 mins! Feels really good!

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Clarisonic Mia :D

Yesterday was a super happy day! I got my f to go to FL to get me the Clarisonic Mia cuz they dont sell the Mia in my city >< but neways they came back yesterday with it and Ive already used it like 3 times! I told him to buy it in pink cuz apparently the profits go to breast cancer or somethign? just seems to justify that im spending 150$ on a face brush? But neways!! haha Its sooo relaxing! i look forward to washing my face now! Ive also bought a TON of stuff lately that i havent had time to post or do reviews on cuz im too busy talking to mentally ill patients... but neways!! heres a pic :D

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Happy Halloween!

Bestest Halloween ever!