DIY Face Mask

Mention the word 'mask' and you will immediately picture a relaxing time pampering your skin. Today I am going to share with you guys some simple and fast do-it-yourself masks you can make at home.


For a moisturising mask:


Ingredients:
- Honey
- Oatmeal
-Unsweetened plain yogurt


1. Get a bowl and add 3 tablespoon of organic oatmeal inside the bowl. Add 1/2 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Mix them all together to form a goo-ey paste. 
2. Apply on your face with your fingertips or a foundation brush after you have cleansed your face. Leave in on for 15-20 minutes.
3. Store the remaining mask in the fridge with a cling foil. Make sure you use it in about 2-4 days. :) 


 For a refreshing mask:


Ingredients:
- Powdered green tea
- Yogurt


1. Add 2 tablespoon of yogurt into a bowl. Mix it with 1 tablespoon of green tea. The mask should be a minty green colour.
2. Apply it on your face for 10-20 minutes, or until the yogurt mask dries.
3. Store the remaining mask in the fridge with a cling foil. Make sure you use it in about 2-4 days. :) 
There you have it! :) 


The end results? A soft, supple and moisturised skin. 

"A young woman, pretty, lively, with a harp as elegant as herself; and both placed near a window, cut down to the ground, and opening on a little lawn, surrounded in the rich foliage of summer, was enough to catch any man's heart. The season, the scene, the air, were all favourable to tenderness and sentiment." - Jane Austen

With kisses,

Sunscreen tips and tricks & SUNPLAY review

A very good afternoon to you! :) Okay before I start reviewing the products I have tried, I would like to emphasise the importance of applying sunscreen/sunblock. I actually only started to use sunscreen 'religiously' in the year 2009. I have always had this mind concept that sunscreen is only applied when I go for sports. You may go like, for real? Yes. I have a reason behind it. I realised that my whole family doesn't use much sunscreen at all. 


So I went and did some researching. In fact, sunscreen is applied 20 minutes before you go outdoors. So the first thing I thought, "how silly of me!" Personally, I don't put sunscreen when I'm in my home. I just got to make sure I am not near anywhere that has windows that allow sunlight to penetrate through. 


Tips and tricks for applying sunscreen:
1. Apply 20 minutes before heading out.
2. Don't be stingy with applying less. When you don't apply enough = sunscreen doesn't work.
3. Remember to apply sunscreen before your makeup. Sunscreen must be the first product to touch your skin.
4. Apply sunscreen after you have cleansed your face with your favourite cleanser and toner. 
5. Allow the sunblock to set before putting on your makeup, eye cream or whatsoever. 
6. Reapply every 1-2 hours. Reapply after swimming or sweating.
7. Use a minimum of SPF 25 with protection against UVB and UVA rays. 
8. Remember to apply around the tops of the ears, cheeks, neck, decollete and the tops of your feet. 


Here are some benefits of applying sunscreen:
1. Reduce the risk of having skin cancer.
2. Prevent pigmentation.
3. Reduce the signs of premature aging. 


On with the reviews!

Firstly, it would be the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Mild Milk SPF 25 PA ++. This sunscreen doesn't break me out, like other brands of sunscreen. I love the slight 'moisturising' texture for my oily/combination skin. Too moisturising is not good for me. I like the feeling of applying it without having the complete awareness of having sunscreen on. Some sunscreens have the annoyingly sticky feeling after applying it onto your skin. Do you know what I mean? 


The scent of this product is light and it is not detectable after you apply it on your skin. In the description, it contains hyaluronic acid and collagen to keep the skin soft and moisturised. It also contains vitamin E and antioxidants. It is suitable for sensitive skin but I don't actually have sensitive skin. Initially, I bought it because it was in 'milk' form. :) It is also free from fragance, alcohol, mineral oil and colorant - which makes it a bonus! 


I use this sunscreen when I am going outdoors. (not when I'm doing sports - I'll explain why later)

Next would be the, SUNPLAY Clear Water SPF50 PA++. I really like this. It glides on smoothly on my skin, it's like applying another smooth layer of lotion on my skin. It makes my skin really smooth. It can be used as a makeup base. Awesome, isn't it? I use this when I am doing sports and only use the  SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Mild Milk SPF 25 PA + when I am going out to run an errand/something. 


I use this sunscreen for sports because it has a higher SPF which protects me from the UVA and UVB in a higher percentage. After all, I'm directly under the sun when it comes to sport. For the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Mild Milk SPF 25 PA +, I will be only exposed in the Sun for a while before I am shaded by buildings and such. :) You get what I mean?


It contains aloe vera that keeps the skin smooth and soft. It is also waterproof and has low irritation. :) 

This was my first SUNPLAY purchase actually. It is called SUNPLAY Perfect Shield SPF 130 PA++. I used about 3 bottles because of the 'high SPF' initially. I don't know, but I didn't really like the texture of the product. It feels like my skin became paper-y after applying it on. It gives me the awareness of me having sunblock on. I know some people don't mind and some people do mind. I am the latter. ;)


Anyway, I found out that the higher SPF means that they block out higher percentage of UVB and UVA rays. So I thought, 130SPF and a 50SPF? I am a bit skeptical about 130 SPF blocking all the rays. So I picked comfort with just a little less protection over this. :) 


If you don't mind about having that sandy/paper-y feeling, then this product will be okay for you. But for me, I prefer the SUNPLAY Clear Water SPF50 PA++. It is more comfortable. 

Lastly, I recently purchased the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Moisture Gel SPF25 PA++. Basically it's like a twin of the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Mild Milk SPF 25 PA ++. But in gel form. I haven't try this yet. But I will soon try it and let you guys know! :)


It also contains hyaluronic acid and collagen to keep the skin soft and moisturised. Contains vitamin B5, C and E. It is ultra light gel texture and  alcohol free. 


P.S - All of this product I have mentioned, except the SUNPLAY Skin Aqua Moisture Gel SPF25 PA++, are in white liquid form. They are all very easy to blend and work with. 


Update 8/12/12: I am no longer using any of the SUNPLAY range. Check out my new sunscreen review (here). 

"Prevention is better than cure" - Amanda Rouge

Happy applying!

Beauty tips and tricks

Good morning everyone. :) Today I would like to share with you some of my beauty tips and tricks. Sick of chapped lips? Take an old toothbrush and gently exfoliate your lips when you are in the shower. Make sure you're already in the shower for quite some time. This will allow the lips to be moist and soft.


Don't forget to floss your teeth at least once a day and also brush your teeth twice a day. You'll notice the health of your gums will increase in a couple of months and  your breath won't smell as bad. Flossing helps in reducing the plague build up and food particles in the spaces between your teeth and also under the gum line. And so, the decomposition of bacteria will decrease = less bad smell. However, you still need to brush your teeth because brushing helps to get rid of the dirt and bacteria on the surface of the teeth. Also, remember to clean your tongue by scrapping it with a tongue-cleaning tool. This will ensure that you will have a clean, beautiful sparkling teeth and sensual lips. 




Here are the steps on flossing your teeth:
1.Starting with about 18 inches of floss, wind most of the floss around each middle finger, leaving an inch or two of floss to work with. 


2.Holding the floss tautly between your thumbs and index fingers, slide it gently up-and-down between your teeth



3. Gently curve the floss around the base of each tooth, making sure you go beneath the gumline. Never snap or force the floss, as this may cut or bruise delicate gum tissue. 



4. Use clean sections of floss as you move from tooth to tooth



5. To remove the floss, use the same back-and-forth motion to bring the floss up and away from the teeth


Two types of flosses you can use:
1. Nylon floss (available in unwaxed and waxed) 
2. PTFE floss. (more pricey than Nylon floss because it is more easy to slide in between your teeth)


P.S - Do not fret when you realise after flossing your gums is bleeding, it is normal. But do still remember to floss gently! (It might be because you flossed too hard) :)

"Beauty comes from deep within" Amanda Rouge

Kiss kiss,

The Body Shop review

Hey everyone! Before I started using the Burt's Bees Pimple range, I actually used The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil. I use to like it, it did clear up my pimples like all the other TTO. It is 10ML for RM29, if I am not mistaken. I was a bit skeptical about the ingredients but I couldn't find any at the back of the bottle. Then an arrow at the end of the bottle caught my eye, I peeled it and viola! 


Then I wonder... If it's just a Tea Tree Oil, how come there are so many ingredients behind it? So I went and do a little research of different TTO containing what ingredients. Basically in my perspective, TTO aren't suppose to have so much ingredients. For instance, the Burt's Bees Blemish Stick has alcohol denat, other type of plant's oils, ones that I could relate to. The Thursday Plantation's TTO contains Tea Tree Oil and Limonene.   But TTO from Body Shop? 


Here's the list of ingredients of the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil:
Water, Alcohol Denat., PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Polysorbate 20, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil, Limonene, t-Butyl Alcohol, Calophyllum Inophyllum Seed Oil, Citral, Leptospermum Petersonii (Lemon Tea Tree) Oil, Denatonium Benzoate, Tocopherol.


About a few years ago, I didn't really bother about the ingredients listed behind. But after stumbling upon a website that says a lot of the side effect of every product, I became slightly paranoid. So that's why I started using Burt's Bees products. If you're interested, here's the website. (click here)


Which would you prefer, to know the truth about an ingredient you're using on your face or... to just use the product without knowing it's side effect/whatsoever?

Just to clarify, I like the Thursday's Plantation TTO better. :) 

"First, love yourself and then love others too."  - Amanda Rouge

I love me,

Galderma review

Good morning. Today I will be talking about the Galderma Benzac AC* 5 Benzoyl Peroxide Gel. I have been using this from the year 2009 to mid year of 2010. I didn't exactly like it but it did zap my pimple spots away so I didn't really give much a thought about it. After first starting to use the Body Shop Tea Tree Oil, I realised that the Galderma Benzac's cracked my skin out and made it dry. My skin was sensitive to benzoyl peroxide. I could only apply it twice a day, maximum.


Worst of all, it made the area that dry/crack super itchy. I had the strong urge of scratching it. But we both know what did happen if I did scratch to my heart's contents, my skin condition did become worst. 


So anyway, for those who aren't particularly sensitive to benzoyl peroxide, this product did be okay for you guys/girls. Galderma is a recognised brand for dermatologist. 


Ciao! XOXO.

"Happiness is not found in your physical surrounding, it's what the inside of what your heart is feeling." - Amanda Rouge

Happiness will be yours (or should I say, already yours?),
.

Asience review

Ohayo! Today I am going to talk about this brand called Asience which is under a Japanese Brand called Kao. I have had dry damaged hair, so I always looked for a solution to my problem. So I picked up the Asience Inner Rich Shampoo, Conditioner and Inner Rich Treatment (Hair Mask). This Asience range is available for oily/dry hair in Watson.


I've finished the conditioner and switched to the Burt’s Bees Pomegranate and Soy Conditioner (check out my review here). 


Previously, I have been using the Redken haircare products. Unfortunately, I felt that my hair was getting less moisturised, smooth and healthy-looking after using the Redken product for about a year. To top it all, the on-the-counter products last a long time so my hair might "get use to the products". It is true, though. That's just my point of view okay? :) 


** Do remember that, you can't shampoo your hair and blow dry your hair every single day. (That's what I did and I learned the hard way)  My hair became tangled, rough and most importantly, FRIZZY! 


So I switched to shampooing alternate days and use the fan blow my hair. Anyway so after trying this Asience product, I find that my hair became more manageable. I apply the Inner Rich Treatment once a week to my whole hair. And viola, my hair was less frizzy and more pretty.


My grandma will definitely chastise me if I just left my hair super wet. I think Chinese believes that you'll get "fung sap" (Something like wind/water entering into your scalp) and you will see the results when you are old. So when that happens, you will get serious migraines. I didn't believe her at first, so I left my hair wet always (thinking I was still young). Oh boy, how right she was! Sometimes old wive's tale are there for a reason. :P That's just my beliefs again, alright? 

"A genuine smile is more beautiful than the sparkle of a diamond" - Amanda Rouge

With love,

Ecotools review

Good morning! :) Would like to talk about Ecotools Brow Grooming Kit. The mirror is sometimes effective for zooming into stray hair around your eyebrows. I haven't use the scissors yet because I prefer my eyebrows to be long lasting hair-free. The spoolie makes my eyebrow nice and neat. A spoolie is after all a spoolie, right? (In case you guys aren't sure what a spoolie is, it's the brush to comb the eyebrows) The tweezers are good because it is small so it's not troublesome to get close to the mirror as much as I want. 


Details on how to get this product: 
For Malaysia, Ecotools can be found here (Shins). Unfortunately, it's quite pricey, it cost RM59. I bought mine online, it was RM46, if I am not mistaken. For those who are living in the overseas, I am sure that it only cost about 3$ or less than 5$. Lucky for you guys/girls! Ugh, currency exchange and shipping fees! :( 


Anyway, this Ecotools has my thumbs up! :)


Buh-bye!

"I think your whole life shows in your face and you should be proud of that" - Lauren Bacall.

Smile an hour a day it's free-of-charge,

Thursday's Plantation & Burt's Bees review

Thursday's Plantation Tea Tree Oil (TTO) is like my Holy Grail. Why? It reduces the size, my redness and the pain of my pimple in about a day or depending on the size, 2-3 days and my face will only be left with light marks of the pimple was at. It's about RM40 and it is available at your local drugstore. For Malaysia, that would be Caring and Watson. If I am not mistaken, for the US that would be Walgreens and Walmart. :) Hope that helped. Also I think every pharmacy in Australia has this. 


This tea tree oil is 100% pure tea tree oil. One thing I like about this TTO is because it doesn't crack and dry out my skin. It's gentle and effective. Furthermore, it is available in 25ML. I love.


To use this TTO, start with using a clean finger. And slightly invert the TTO bottle so you can get some of the oil. Apply it the areas you have pimples or "upcoming" pimples.


Here are some list of the multi-uses of TTO:
1. Good for treating acne.
2. Treat Boils and Carbuncles.
3. Dandruff and lice.
4. Toenail fungus.
5. Bad breath, inflamed gums and plague. (Mix 3 drops of TTO into a cup of warm water and viola! It can be used as a mouth wash. Also, you can add a drop of TTO to your toothpaste before brushing your teeth.
6. Disinfecting things.
7. Clear blockage of nasal passage.


The list goes on and on.... 


Okay, enough of the gory details already! :P 


BURT'S BEES BLEMISH STICK

On the other hand, I previously tried the Burt's Bees (BB) blemish stick. It was effective but it stung, a little. It sort of felt like ants bite. It cost about RM50 and the amount was 7.6ML. It's not so worth it compared to the TTO from Thursday's Plantation. Furthermore, it was a bit unhygienic because it came in a roller form. 


BURT'S BEES Natural Acne Solutions Targeted Spot Treatment 

Well, this was my second purchase after the BB Blemish stick. Yes it was more hygienic, but more pricey. Similarly, it also stung like the BB Blemish Stick. It cost RM65, if I am not mistaken. :( My pocket is burning. This is for 7.5ML for RM65. No, it wasn't worth it for me. 

Alas, my Thursday's Plantation is my knight in shinning... oil? Lol.


P.S - Products are more expensive in Malaysia because of the exchange currency, so for those in the overseas, the products I have mentioned might be more cheaper for you girls/guys. :) 


Ciao for now! XOXO.

"One who loves others will be loved in return" - Amanda Rouge

Love yourself,

BURT'S BEES review

I purchased another one of their products. *Smiles* It is the Burt's Bees Peach & Willowbark, Deep Pore Scrub. It is a exfoliant that unclog pores and follicles. Willowbark extract is a natural source of BHA which work as a natural exfoliant. You can find out more from the (BURT'S BEES) website 


Personally, I don't use this scrub as much as I do with another exfoliant. I actually prefer chemical exfoliant instead of physical exfoliant. This BB's peach exfoliant is good because it helps me to minimise my upcoming pimples that are slowly showing on the surface of my skin. I will apply more than a dime size and scrub my face for roughly 30 seconds before I leave this on as long as I can 10 minutes plus to reap its benefit.


After removing the exfoliant, my skin feels smooth and for me, it feels like my face is moisturised. I realised that a day later, the pimples that are suppose to be 'cystic'  - reduced in size, it's like getting a hammer and slamming it. Goodbye pimples! :P


Tata, see you soon.


Update 8/12/12: I am no longer using this product as I have found other alternatives to this. :) 

"In love, there is always one who kisses and one who offers the cheek" 

You're worth it,

BURT'S BEES review

At the same time when I bought the Burt's Bees Cream cleanser, I also purchased the Burt’s Bees Pomegranate and Soy Conditioner. First of all, I love the smell of it. It smells really sweet, not sickeningly sweet. :) Heavenly.

This product is said to make your hair more volumed. I have long thick and limp hair, so I pick this up to give it a try. If I'm not mistaken, it cost about RM50. Natural product is worth the price, right? :P I'm not really sure myself. :x

This conditioner leaves my hair soft and fragrant. I find that my hair doesn't tangle when I comb through it with a wide tooth comb. My hair feels more volumed, soft and silky. :) 

After shampooing, I wash my hair and I squeeze out the excess water from my hair. Then, I apply a dime size of the conditioner to the ends of my hair. I find that massaging it into my scalps promote dandruff. Therefore, I just apply to the ends of my hair and tie it into a bun while resuming to shower my body. The longer you wait, the better the condition of your hair.

For me, I don't usually blow dry my hair because it leaves my  hair rough and damaged. I usually prop myself on a sofa while letting my fan do the drying work while I lazily flip through a magazine. When my hair is about 60% dry, I take the Body Shop Wide Tooth Comb and comb it through my locks, untangling the stubborn knots. You will notice after using any type of conditioner, your hair won't be so stubbornly tangled. :) It should pass smoothly through your comb.

If you still feel your hair is easily tangled, you could try to apply a leave-in conditioner for your hair to absorb more nutritious benefits. Personally, I give myself a hair mask once a week so that my hair stays nice and  healthy. 

Do remember that too much is no good. :) That's it! Hope you enjoy your day and remember to smile. Beauty comes from deep within! 

"Love is a great beautifier" - Louisa May Alcott

Because you're beautiful,

.

♥ ♥ ♥

P.S - If you're a xanga reader:

http://redscarletdress.xanga.com/

Follow me on twitter!

http://twitter.com/ScarletDress

BURT'S BEES review

Today I would like to talk about BURT'S BEES Soap Bark & Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream. I bought it about RM60 (Yes, I am a Malaysian) , 4-5 months ago. I was tired of feeling guilty buying products with a lot of chemical ingredients that I didn't know of, so I thought why not try something more "natural"? This product has a cream consistency and it smells really nice. 

Tips on how to use it:

1. First, wet your whole face. (Be sure to pull up your hair, you don't want your hair to have some of the cleanser by accident).

2. Wipe your face with a piece of paper towel or a cloth. (I prefer to use paper towel because it is more hygienic)

3. Press a dime size of the cleanser and dot it on your forehead and cheeks. And massage them while spreading the product. You'll feel a  tingly sensation. Wash your face.

4. Finish off with your favourite toner.

The smell of this product is awesome, it's like a pick-me-up in the morning. It magically makes me feel more awake. I have combination skin/oily so, this product help me with the tightness around my cheeks, leaving my cheeks feeling smooth. But, it also cleans my T-zone area, leaving my face soft and supple. 

Before trying out the tips I listed above, I actually tried wetting my face and just applying the product all over my face. I found that the water actually makes the product a little too watery to spread evenly on my face. It even went to my eyes! Did I mention my eyes didn't feel that nice with the tingly minty sensation? 

Sometimes I leave this cleanser on for 10 minutes plus just to get more of its benefit. It's like a mini mask for me. My face feels more clean and supple after washing. :) I'm still using it till today.


Enjoy! 

Talk to you soon, beauty diary!

Update 8/12/12: I am no longer using this cleanser as I really like my Esmeria Cleanser. 

"There is love of course. And then there's life, its enemy." - Jean Anouilh

XOXO,

.