Like almost everyone in this country, the Monday engine has not started, so I was just having idle chatter with a colleague earlier.

Me: “How was your weekend?”

Her: -stunned silence for a good 5 seconds- “What weekend?”

My sentiments exactlyyyyy.

I’m always so torn between spending my weekends fruitfully lazing and recuperating at home, or fruitfully going out, hanging out with friends and creating good memories. This past weekend, I managed to drag my carcass out, and decided to also put in some extra effort in the makeup (think: highlighting and contour, not so much of strobing heh).

Etude House Play 101 Stick Contour Duo – S$24

I say…

The Packaging: It’s a simple and very convenient retractable stick/pencil format. The caps are click-on types (and are the same for both sides).

The Scent: Nil.

The Texture: It glides on very smoothly (semi-cream), but settles into a powdery-matte finish. It’s easily blended, and thankfully doesn’t cake or get patchy even when applied over your existing makeup.

The Application: Based on what I learned from makeup maestro Clarence Lee during the launch event (how-to videos available here!), I used the same methods.

For highlighting the nose bridge: Draw 5-7 dots down the nose bridge (for makeup noobs) or draw a straight line down your nose bridge (for seasoned makeup pros). Blend gently with a fingertip.
For shading/contouring the sides of the nose: As before, draw 2-3 tiny dots / draw several short straight lines along the sides of your nose and blend it in. Now make sure you go easy on this and don’t apply too much at one shot, as you might end up looking like a drag queen.

The Verdict: Now as you guys can tell from my eyeliner, I can be pretty heavy handed when it comes to makeup, which means the probability of me looking draggy is about as high as the MRT breakdown frequency. Thankfully, I love that this contour duo has a medium pigmentation – the vibrancy for one layer is visible (but not too much), and is buildable. The highlighter portion isn’t overly shimmery (a very subtle pearly sheen but nothing too shiny nor reflective), while the contour/shading portion is a light-medium hazelnut brown that isn’t too dark and harsh on the skin. This means that all makeup noobs can have a go at trying to contour and highlight without worrying about ruining your existing makeup. Plus, it’s super convenient in its retractable stick format, thus doing away with the need for brushes, or having to worry about fall-out powder flakes. What’s more, it’s got a relatively affordable pricing (compared with other brands, or when you consider having to buy two separate highlighter and contour/shading pacts). Me likey this item, and methinks you will like it too!

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ETUDE HOUSE WONDER PORE FRESHNER REVIEW

Categories: Acne/Blackheads, Skin Concerns, Skincare, TonerBrand: Etude House Sponsored

If you’ve read my post about popular skincare products for oily skin you should already know this toner is like a must have for Korean women with oily skin, pores troubles and pimples.

Some of my followers asked me to review this toner so even though I have dry skin I said why not.
I actually tried this toner on myself, since I have pore troubles and blackheads, and two of my friends who have oily skin and pimples.
We compared our thoughts on this toner and we pretty much agreed on everything, especially on how amazing this toner is.

If you’ve never heard about the Wonder Pore Freshner, let me tell you a little bit about it :

It’s a 7 in 1 solution for combination to oily skin.

Deep cleanse pores
Maintain ph 4.5 (who cares?)
Control sebum
Minimize pores
Refine skin tones
Keep the elasticity of pores
Moisture inside and outside of skin (mmh…?…)

Anyway, this toner is an amazing skincare product for every skintypes with pores/blackheads/pimples troubles.

I am seriously not able to describe the fragrance of this toner at all, this is crazy. I don’t even know if it smells bad or good, since it’s so strange. It smell like alcohol, flowers and I don’t even know what.
It’s not overwhelming at all so I don’t really mind.

The texture is liquid, just like a normal toner, but feels a little bit sticky on the skin until it is absorbed.
Since it contains moisturizing ingredients, this toner doesn’t give a tight feeling and isn’t drying either.

According to Etude House you can put the toner in a mist type container and just spray your face whenever you want.
I personally won’t do it because I don’t need it but if you have oily skin this might be a great option whenever you need to refresh your face.

THE GOOD PART…

It does an amazing job at minimizing pores size, reducing blackheads and controlling sebum/oil without irritating the skin .
I usually can’t use oily skins products since I have sensitive skin but I didn’t notice any bad side effect like a tingling sensation or anything with this toner, which is great because it means it fits sensitive skins as well.

It reduced my blackheads and pores size effectively within two weeks, but also my redness a little bit. My nose is a lot smoother than before and I can’t feel any “bumps” like I could feel before.

Lately, because of the very dry and cold weather, my nose area was super irritated and my skin kept peeling and fortunately for me the moisturizing ingredients in this toner actually made my nose definitely smoother and less irritated.

THE BAD PART…

Honestly? None.
Maybe the scent but honestly it’s not a big deal at all.

OVERALL…

This toner might be the holy grail for all troubled skins. It really does fit all skintypes including sensitive ones so don’t be afraid to use it even if you have a dry sensitive skin.
I am definitely going to get a new bottle once I’ll finish this one!

Etude House Wonder Pore Freshner
Available at PEAK PRINCESS

Disclosure : this product was sent to me for review purposes.

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Even though there are truly outstanding foundations out there, like the Laneige Water Supreme and the Hera CC Cream, I haven’t found yet one (very) moisturizing enough for my very dry skin. Throughout the day I always end up with dry patches, visible fine lines and more. BB creams usually turn gray, CC creams are too greasy and foundations empathize my fine lines & dry patches.
I want my foundation/bb/cc/whatever to be liquidy (like the MUFE Face&Body), with a sheer to medium coverage, brightening, full of great skincare ingredients and of course long lasting.
After months of trying different “recipes” by mixing various products together I finally created the perfect foundation for me as it does everything I was asking for.

I pretty much used my favorite skincare & makeup products to create it. I’ve been using it every single day for two weeks and so far no breakouts, no dry patches, no visible fine lines and of course no dryness. The recipe below is for light skin with neutral undertones (NC/NW20) but can be adjusted by using your own foundation or cc cream in the shades of your choice.

In a clean plate (I should have used a bowl) I added and mixed altogether with a toothpick.
6 pumps of the Hera CC Cream in shade Natural Beige
6 pumps of the Laneige Water Supreme Foundation in shade Natural Beige
3 squeezes of the Cosrx Lovely Cream
4 squeezes of the Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base
A little bit of the Benefit High Beam highlighter
1 pump of the Hera Magic Starter in shade Lilac
2 squeezes of the Laneige Sunblock Supreme SPF 50
3 pumps of the Hera Aquabolic Moisturizing Emulsion
1 big spoon of the Su:m37 White Award Ampoule In Cream
1 small spoon of the Hera White Program Radiance Cream
2 squeezes of the Hera Waterin Serum
1 drop of the Innisfree Canola Honey Oil (next time I will use two drops of Rosehip oil instead)

Since I did not have any clean jar ready I decided to use a cushion instead. It was originally the Laneige BB Cushion but since I haven’t used it since years and don’t like it much I removed all the BB cream inside to pour my mixture in. I soaked the clean sponge inside real good in the mixture left in the plate and put it back in place. I let it sit for a whole night before using it, just to make sure the sponge is really soaked with all the product.

I also made one for a friend of mine who has oily, dehydrated & acne-prone skin, and to do so I simply replaced the Hera Aquabolic Moisturizing Emulsion by the Hera Aquabolic Balancing Emulsion, the Innisfree Canola Honey Oil by Rosehip Oil and the Su:m37 White Award Ampoule In Cream by the Laneige Trouble Relief Cream.
We also replaced the Hera CC Cream & the Water Supreme Foundation by her own foundations as her skintone is darker than mine and so far it seems very, very good. She used to use blotting papers three times a day but since she started using her own homemade foundation/bb/cc/whatever she only has to do it once throughout the day. Her blemishes visibly diminished, probably because of the Rosehip oil or the Laneige Trouble Relief.

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EXPERIENCE PURE PORE-FECTION WITH

LANEIGE’S LATEST SKINCARE LAUNCHES

Mini Pore Waterclay Mask and Mini Pore Blurring Tightener

It’s little wonder that women living in a hot and humid climate like Singapore’s suffer from enlarged pores. Pores are essentially tiny holes in the skin that allow the release of sebum secreted from sebaceous glands.

When the skin surrounding pores loses elasticity, pores become enlarged – about 150% larger than the normal pore size. There are number of reasons this happens. First, stress and environmental pollution may disturb the skin’s regeneration cycle, leading to the accumulation of dead skin cells in pores. Makeup residue can further exacerbate the problem. Hyper-secretion of sebum – either due to high temperatures or dehydrated skin – may also be responsible for further weakening the skin’s barrier.

A survey done by LANEIGE has shown that some of the common ways that women deal with enlarged pores include: Using nose packs or manually extracting clogs from pores; covering them up with primer; or using oil blotters. None of these, however, are effective at addressing the problem at its root cause.

Tackle the problem of enlarged pores by clearing clogged pores and restoring elasticity to skin with LANEIGE’s newest skincare launches – Mini Pore Waterclay Mask and Mini Pore Blurring Tightener.

Mini Pore Waterclay Mask: The Newest Mask-Have

The problem with many clay masks in the market is that they can leave skin feeling taut and dry after it’s been washed off. LANEIGE has found a way around that problem with its all-new Mini Pore Waterclay Mask. With Shinan mud clay mixed into a moisture gel cream base, it removes excessive sebum and tightens pores while providing adequate hydration to skin.

LANEIGE Mini Pore Waterclay Mask Texture1

Powered by Pore MinisizingTM Technology, the Mini Pore Waterclay Mask consists of mint water to help strengthen skin’s barrier and care for dehydrated skin, as well as pine needle extract that prevents pores from becoming further enlarged by controlling excessive sebum production. In a clinical study done by LANEIGE, 93% reported that skin felt tighter immediately after using the mask, while 91% said skin felt softer and smoother in the morning after using the mask.

As the gel-clay mask dries on your skin, enlarged clogged pores will become visible and you can see how much clearer skin looks after washing off the mask

How To Use

After cleansing, apply an appropriate amount evenly on the face, avoiding the skin around the eyes. After about 10 minutes (or when it’s dry), cleanse your face with water or use the provided sea sponge to remove sebum more effectively, and apply toner immediately to further tighten pores. If you have combination skin, use the mask on the oilier areas of your face. Recommended to use it once or twice a week.

—

Mini Pore Blurring Tightener: The Skin-Loving Quick Fix

Is it a makeup or skincare product? LANEIGE Mini Pore Blurring Tightener combines the best of both worlds. Powered by the same Pore MinisizingTM Technology as the Mini Pore Waterclay Mask that hydrates the skin and prevents further enlargement of pores, Mini Pore Blurring Tightener also offers the following benefits: (1) Forms a protective layer over skin to seal in the goodness of the previous steps of skincare; (2) Keeps sebum secretion under control; (3) Covers up and blurs pores with Blurring Layering technology; ball-shaped powder brightens up areas with enlarged pores, while plate-shaped powder completes the natural blurring effect by reflecting light for a smooth complexion.

How To Use

Use Mini Pore Blurring Tightener as the last step of daily skincare in the morning and at night to tighten pores, activate active components in applied essence/cream and adjust oil-water balance. Simply apply it on areas with noticeable pores and gently pat to aid its absorption into skin.

PEAK PRINCESS SELLING IN A SET FO $80!!!

HURRY UP

LANEIGE Mini Pore Waterclay Mask, 70ml ($38) and LANEIGE Mini Pore Blurring Tightener, 40ml ($52) are available from 2 July 2015 at all LANEIGE counters and boutiques.

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TODAY’S TOPICS

How to get rid of very large pores and deep blackheads easily.
How to get rid of ingrown hair and razor scars.
When to start using anti-aging skincare products, how to pick & use them.

First of all don’t forget to join my giveaway of the fabulous :

Pore Waterclay Mask & Pore Blurring Tightening set here!

How to get rid of large pores and deep blackheads easily

BHA, Zinc Oxide, Bentonite Clay and Ghassoul Clay are your best allies in this neverending fight against blackheads. Forget about blackheads patches and weird natural remedies, they don’t work. BHA (salicylic acid) is a skin exfoliant with anti-inflammatory & antibacterial proprieties. It unclog pores, tighten enlarged pores, reduces redness (rosacea) and minimizes sebum production. It is ideal for all skintypes as it is very gentle and not irritating. Among all the anti-blackheads and pores-tightening skincare products I have tried in my whole life serums with 2% BHA are the ones who work best against those kind of annoying skin troubles.
Bentonite Clay and Ghassoul Clay are also two excellent ingredients against sebum, blackheads, enlarged pores and acne but I find them less effective than BHA and great only as wash-off masks.
I’ve been using the Paula Choice 2% BHA Liquid for about six months now and my blackheads reduced by 90%, which is huge since my blackheads are deeper than the bottom of the sea and my pores larger than Texas.

A lot of wash-off masks against blackheads are available on the market but I find these three particularity effective.

– Laneige Mini Pore Waterclay Mask

–Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Pore Mask

The three of them contains pretty much the same ingredients but they are a little bit different. The Mamonde contains a few anti-aging ingredients and is less drying & more brightening than the Innisfree, while the Laneige is a little bit more moisturizing than both the Mamonde and the Innisfree. All three of them provide excellent results and are perfect for all skintypes, including sensitive ones.