Orble - Playing around with beauty

Playing around with beauty

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Pampering showers

August 4th 2009 13:33

I take quite a while in the shower - well, many girls do, I would guess?

Though I am not the type to rotate around shampoos or shower creams, I do enjoy trying out new items when my existing stock depletes. My all-time favourite shower cream brand has to be the beautifully affordable Dove. Apart from its famous original formula (which I love as well for its great moisturizing properties and scent, though it can be a bit overpowering for some), I like to try out the different varieties under the brand.

My current staple is this:

A nice pink and creamy texture, it is has a nice floral (cherry and almond!) scent and goes on smoothly onto the skin. Despite the creamy texture, it washes off easily like the other Dove creams. It leaves the skin feeling well-moisturized and soft after showering, and I get tempted to skip the moisturizer in summertime!

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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Infusing the skin with moisture!

July 29th 2009 14:01

For someone with dry and eczema-prone skin, I am pretty religious in slapping on moisturizer after my shower, regardless of season (though I do use different variants in cold and warm weather). Hence, I have gone through numerous brands such as Nivea, Vaseline, Jergens, St. Ives, etc (of course, nope of the pricey ones since I go through body lotions pretty fast!) in my attempt to find THE ONE(s). A good body lotion to me, is one which is easy to spread and absorbs easily without leaving a greasy feel. And of course, it has to be priced reasonably since applying body lotion is certainly not a dainty affair.

Nivea lotions are too mild for me, even in summer (due to air-conditioning I suppose) though the texture is usually quite light. Vaseline ones are cheap and pretty moisturizing, but the more hydrating ones are rather thick and leave a heavy feel on the skin after application. Jergens does decent body lotions too and they are as affordable as Vaseline. However, the lotions from Jergens have the same drawbacks as Vaseline in its thick and heavy feel.

My favourite ones for the moment are the ones from the Swiss brand, St. Ives. They are also highly affordable though they are not as widely available as the other brands I have tried (at least it is not easy to find a wide range in the drugstores in Singapore). I have tried a few types from this brand - Vitamin E, Intensive Headling, and Collagen Elastin.

The Vitamin E lotion hydrates very well and is not as thick as the ones from Vaseline or Jergens. However, it does a while to absorb and it has a pretty strong scent (probably the VItamin E scent) which I am not particularly fond of.

I love the Intensive Healing and Collagen Elastin lotions. The former is slightly thicker and is fragrance-free, but it absorbs very well and does not leave any greasy or heavy feel. It is perfect for dry winter weather whereby I need some heavy-duty moisturizing and yet do not want to spend a great deal of time dealing with lotions in the bath.

The Collagen Elastin lotion is my staple for summer now. The texture is light and has only a slight scent. It spreads and absorbs very well, which is ideal for warm weather like summer - you wouldn't want to feel sticky after taking a bath right? It moisturizes the skin well I would think, as I do not feel my skin getting dry after a night in air-conditioning. The big bottle (close to 600ml) can last me for about 3 or 4 months with daily usage and it cost me about SGD11 from the Watson's store in Singapore, which is pretty good value for money.

I am quite impressed by the lotions from St Ives so far, and I should be trying out the rest of the range (the latest addition, Mineral Therapy Lotion, looks great!) after my current bottle of Collagen Elastin is done

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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Fancl Cellmild Essence

July 28th 2009 13:05

Fancl, the Japanese beauty brand touting products free from ingredients such as preservatives, colour, alcohol etc, has gained popularity rapidly in Asia. The cute little bottles Fancl products come in add to its appeal and its service staff (in Singapore) are generally friendly and are not stingy with offering detailed explanation or suggestions and giving samples to customers. This is a welcome change from the inattentive or unfriendly service dispensed by many other counter brands in the market. Being generous with samples is also a great gesture of goodwill, which goes a long way towards garnering positive feelings about the brand in general.

For its rather expensive positioning (given the short expiring dates and small bottles), Fancl is not all fluff. It makes some nice and effective products such the Fancl Washing Powder and Fancl Mild Cleansing Oil. However, one particular product I have tried last spring was disappointing - the Cellmild Essence, only available in China and Hong Kong at this moment I believe. It is purported to boost hydration especially for dry and sensitive skin, and reduce dry/fine lines.

As with most Fancl products, this essence absorbs well within a short while of massaging it in, and there is no greasy or sticky feel after which. However, after 2 months (this is roughly how long a normal essence product from Fancl, normally about 18ml, would last if you use 2 pumps per day) of usage, I did not feel any significant improvement in my skin or better moisture levels. In short, it was status quo. At about HKD250 or 260 for 2 months of usage, this is certainly not cheap but it has failed to deliver.

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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Protecting delicate lips

July 26th 2009 05:06

I have dry lips and this is accentuated in drying conditions such as air-conditioning or warm weather. Thus applying lip balm is almost a routine thing for me, and I do it several times a day. It helps a lot with preventing chapped lips and I don't get the irritating dry and flaky feeling on my lips with regular application of lip balm.

I have tried many different brands of lip balms throughout these years. I usually prefer those with SPF protection as it is more convenient to bring along just 1 lip balm with me and I can use it when I am outdoors too. There are many good reviews about offerings from brands like Neutrogena, Nivea and Chapstick, of which I have tried them all. Neutrogena and Chaptick make decent lip balms and they are affordable too. However, I do not find them moisturizing enough for my personal use though. Also, the effects are quite short-lived and I find myself needing to reapply very often in a day

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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Light yet strong- Taking off the make up

July 26th 2009 04:14

I started applying make up some years back, when I stepped into the workforce, and also out of vanity

I am not into heavy make-up and neither am I a professional. However, I do like playing around with mascara and eye shadows as they add life to the eyes and they are not difficult to apply either! However, I prefer waterproof mascara as they do not smudge easily and can stay on nicely even after a whole day of work and even a gym session after-which

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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Fighting against the deadly summer heat - Suncreens!

July 24th 2009 03:55

It is the much-dreaded season now - Summer, where the highs can easily cross the 40 Degree Celsius here in Shanghai, China, where i am located in now. The burning rays coupled with low humidity (compared to the warmer tropics where I originate from, and add a double whammy with the much-essential indoor air-conditioning) makes sunscreen application an essential yet delicate affair.

To get good protection against the deadly sun and yet not melt like an oil field or grease like a sticky frying pan, I have tried out various sunscreens, though I must say, I have to find a permanent love. I have dry skin, but sunscreens usually meant for dry skin (the cream texture type) are a tad too oily for me as I really hate the look of grease on my face, especially in days where I cannot be bothered to apply foundation

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Posted By: Tracy Lee - Category: No Category

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