Christmas Haul: Dermalogica Cleansers and Soothing Spray

I started using Dermalogica about 3 weeks ago and I absolutely loved it!! My friend was kind enough to give me his unused trial kit to see if it would help clear my acne. To be fair, I can already see a difference after 3 weeks of using them! For your information, my skin is oily, acne-prone and I also suffer from discolouration due the acne-post scars. I know, poor me.

The trial kit that I had includes:

1. Dermal Clay Cleanser

2. Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

3. Multi-Active Toner

I am over the moon with these products and was so happy to see them in big bottles when I unwrapped my Christmas presents. I cannot thank much these generous people who got me these things for Christmas!

Derma Clay Cleanser

This product says:

A skin-perfecting formula designed to provide deep-cleansing to oily, congested skin. 

Review:

I cannot agree more! This is probably the best cleanser I have used. Since I have started using it, my face has never got shiny once! I don't even break out. It also makes my face feels light, breathable and fresh without overdrying my skin. The only downside that I can think of is the design of the bottle. For 250ml, there is no pump dispenser and the bottle can be too hard to squeeze.

Skin Resurfacing Cleanser

The product says:
Achieve superior smoothness and ultra-clean skin after just one use with this dual- action exfoliating cleanser. Helps retexturize skin suffering from visible signs of aging by removing dulling surface debris and helping accelerate skin renewal. Antioxidant Vitamin E conditions and enhances softness while fortifying the skin's natural moisture barrier. 

Review:
I am only 24 and some people say that we should only start using anti-aging products when we see first signs of wrinkling. I think it's a good idea to start using anti-aging products long before you're even thinking about wrinkles! My friend said this also helps in reducing the post-acne scars that I am suffering at the moment. The weird thing about this cleanser is that it sank into my skin quickly on application! It was like applying a moisturiser! Could that be right? The instruction does tell you to massage at least 30 seconds so maybe that is how it was supposed to react anyway. 3 weeks after using this cleanser, my skin is certainly brighter, smoother and starting to glow. I am not sure if it has reduced my scars yet but so far I am liking the glowing effect so I am going to continue using this cleanser. 

Multi Active-Toner and Soothing Protection Spray 

I can't really say much about the multi-active toner coz I have now swapped it with the Soothing Protection Spray. It is described by dermalogica as a shield that protects your skin against external environmental assaults like irritating cosmetic products, pollution from cars, dust etc. Although the Multi-Active toner did help hydrate my skin I just think that the soothing protection spray would be better for my skin in the winter. As my skin gets flaky over the winter, this spray hydrates my skin more than the multi-active toner. It also has a wonderful smell which is hard for me to describe but it is simply wonderful!

1, 2, 3

So here is my new skin regimen:
I wash my face with 2 facial cleansers, twice a day. Once with the Derma Clay Cleanser and then I will massage my face for at least 30seconds with the Skin Resurfacing Cleanser. Next is the Soothing Protection Spray. I spray it directly to my face and then gently rub in.

Result: Hardly ever break out and my skin is less greasy. I love love love Dermalogica! 

Molton Brown - Naran Ji

I've always liked Molton Brown bathing brand but their products do not come cheap.  As I am living on a student budget, I don't think I am ready to splurge £15 on a hand wash  just yet. Oh well, gotta love being a student!

Anyhow, as a member of the Middle Temple (one of the Inns of Court in the United Kingdom - where I will be called to the bar once my course has finished), we're spoilt with the luxury of having Molton Brown handwash everywhere in the wash room/changing room. My friend Aaron really likes the smell of Naran Ji handwash from Molton Brown. He once told me that whenever he's in the changing room, he would normally use four to five pumps each time he washes his hands. Nope, he does not have OCD just obsessed with the smell. 

So, knowing that he really likes the smell of  the Naran Ji hand wash, I thought of surprising him with a little gift from Molton Brown.. Tadaa....

Naran Ji handwash and the hand lotion.

Now, how should I describe the scent? I think this handwash has a mixture of citrussy and spicy with undertones of cinnamon. I don't normally like the smell of cinnamon but this one is not overpowering at all. However, I personally think that the smell is more suitable for men than it is for women.

As for the lotion, I had a quick sniff in the shop and I could say that the smell is extremely mild. - which is good as you don't want it to clash with your perfume. Although it can be quite runny, it is easy to use as it has a pump-action dispenser. What I love most about this lotion is that it is very light, non-greasy and absorbs into the skin in seconds!

Packaging wise, Molton Brown manage to keep the packaging minimal. Their clear/transparent plastic bottles are just classy and they will definitely look lovely on show in the bathroom! I do think that they will make a very good Christmas present. I also like the fact that they come with a very cute bag with a little ribbon to tie it together. This way, there is no wrapping nightmare to deal with!  

Beautiful and Elegant = Blair Waldorf

I am a huge fan of Gossip Girl and Blair is definitely my favourite! I still think that she is one of the prettiest woman I have ever seen on TV! I love her beautiful doe eyes, high cheekbones and oh so perfect porcelain complexion. I may have a crush on her at one point. I mean, who doesn't? Here are some of her best outfit and make up that I adore soo much!

Some people may say that Serena has a better wardrobe but I personally prefer Blair's. I mean, both have different styles so I can't really judge. Serena is more towards a boho-chic style or Kate Moss's inspired whilst Blair is more of a preppy kind of style with a feminine and elegant touch. And she only wears dresses and skirts (never seen here wearing a pair of jeans before!). Now, if only I could actually shop their closets!

1,2,3 Cheese!

I went to a wedding last weekend and it was my very first invitation to an English white wedding in the UK! It was not a lavish one but everyone was definitely enjoying their time dancing to some 80s songs! Anyway, this post is just to tell you guys how pleased I was to see the photos that were taken by Steven Oliver, the photographer that night. He took some shots of Adam and I and these are the outcomes.

Steve the photographer is a very pleasant man and friendly. He was also kind to give us a second copy of the photo for free. Well, he was having a buy one get one free promotion for a month but we missed it! But when me made an order, Adam got two copies for one! In terms of the price, they are very reasonable. So why don't you check him out? Click here to see more of his work. :)

Chloe Perfume

Another present that I got on my birthday was a perfume by Chloe. I pretty much fall head over heels for this perfume when I was in Sephora in Champs-Elysees (Paris), but I never got it. I did put it in my birthday list instead (in which I was torn between this one and Rose, The One by D&G).

(My man got this perfume for me)

I've always liked perfumes with fresh smell, not too sweet but yet, girly. I also like some fruity perfumes too. Chloe has all the scents I love. It is light, fresh, fruity and it has floral scent too. It is not overpowering and won't suffocate anyone around you, promise! It is definitely a versatile fragrance that suits both day and night, be it summer, winter, spring or fall.

Last but not least, the packaging. How can you not love it! It is feminine and elegant, simple yet classy! I just love the silver band around the top that ties in a knot! The clear bottle with Chloe into the metal just adores me. Such a perfect design. Gotta love Chloe!

Boots No 7 Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation

I bought No 7 Intelligent Balance Mousse Foundation a couple of months ago but never actually used it. So today I decided to try it and... I am disappointed.

First, the shade is totally wrong for my skin tone at the moment. I have gone two shades darker (travelling doesn't help at all) and I am/was NC30 in Mac. I got the shade in 30 Almond and it proves to be too light for my skin. Fail!

(You can see that my forehead is way darker than the rest of my face)

Although to be fair, this foundation glides on my skin easily giving me a flawless finish. It is so light that you'd never think that you have any make up on! It also gives full coverage without looking cakey at all. So if you have blemishes or post-blemish marks, this foundation works better than any of the No7 foundation that I have tried so far.

The only downside, apart from the shade - which was my own fault, it does make my t-zone shiny after a while. It's no big deal really as you can always touch-up using some loose powder or blotting powder to reduce the shine.

Overall I think this foundation is worth a try, provided that you found the right shade for you skin tone. :) For £11, it is a definite bargain considering how big the pot is! Have a good day everyone.

Soap and Glory

I turned 24 earlier this month! I am not complaining because it was the BEST birthday I have ever had. Even though I didn't celebrate with my family back home, I have my sister, my boyfriend and his family and our closest friends to celebrate with. Anyway, my sister got me beautiful presents (and so did everyone else) but for the sake of this blog, I am not gonna brag about every single thing that I got. I am just going to share with you the things that are worth reviewing.

First - Arc de Triumph 2 in 1 Brow Sharper and Highlighter

I found that a perfect eyebrow pencil is difficult to find, at least for me. They can either be too light or too dark for by eyebrow colour. Even when I have found the closest shade, it doesn't fill my eyebrows nicely and often they can look too 'drawn on'. This one however seems to have the perfect shade for my eyebrows. Do you think it was just luck? Who knows. Not only that it has the perfect shade, it is smudge-proof, long lasting and it fills in the sparse spots naturally as if I have never filled them.

It's not creamy so it doesn't glide easily. Some people find this annoying as you have to press hard and I heard that this could result in brow hair loss? I personally like it hard and non creamy as it helps me get a precise and sharp eyebrows. The pink highlighter is very useful too. I won't use it on everyday basis though. I will only use it on a night out - to add more definition to my eyelid and give me a sharp looking eyebrow.

The only downside about this item is that it has small particles of glitter and you can actually see them through your brow. I don't know why anyone would want shimmery eyebrow! It may look good during the summer but not for winter.

Verdict: 4 out of 5

Second is the Scrub Your Nose In It

I have only used this scrub about 5 times only but so far, I have no bad reaction to it. I first thought that it is meant for your nose only. I really don't see the purpose of having two different scrubs - one for your nose and another one for the whole face. What a waste of money! However, upon reading the instructions, you can use this as a face scrub AND also as a mask. Isn't that cool?

I have to say that this scrub surprises me. It has extremely fine particles (probably the finest I have ever tried), glides very easily, and has slightly minty scent. The best thing about this product is that it comes off easily with just several splashes. I don't know about you but most of my scrubs left me with some bits and residue on my skin.

The result is pretty noticeable. My slightly congested and dull looking skin now looks fresh and brighter. A good exfoliator helps remove dead skin cells giving out a healthy looking skin and I think that this scrub did a good job!

Verdict :4.5 out of 5

Last one is Scent-Sationalism

I don't really have much thing to say about this product apart from their amazing smell. My favourite one is the one in the middle - Spray on body moisturising mist. It smells sooo good and it lasts all day! You probably won't need perfume when you have this on your body. It also moisturises my skin pretty well (may not beat my Garnier Hydralock lotion) although your skin could get sticky if you sprayed too much.

Verdict: 3 out of 5

My sister has always been a fan of Soap and Glory and I am now too! I love the retro style packaging and their unique names which remind me of Benefit. For a drug store brand, the price is not cheap at all but not overly extortionate either. I am so excited to try other stuff and will definitely put some on my Christmas list!