Nursing and stuff

Now that my exams are over, I am free. NOT. I still have my hospital placements to go to. I am assigned to two different rotations and won't finish until the 23rd of December.

My placement is at a mental health facility. Let's hope that I make it out sane. The second one is at a medical ward in a hospital. I am going to be pooped by the end of all these.


xo

Ultimate Temptation

San Churro: Hillarys Boat Harbour

My ultimate weakness is.... Chocolateria San Churro! I cannot resist no matter how full I am.

San Churro: Fremantle

The best San Churros I recommend to eat when in Perth, Australia, would be the  Fremantle, in my opinion. I visit there whenever I go eat fish and chips at Fremantle. The service is fast and the churros are long, warm, crunchy and delicious.

The worst San Churro I have been to would have to be the Northbridge. It was their first week of opening and me and the boyfriend mistakenly went on a Friday night. Big mistake! The place was VERY crowded and the service was different to the usual. We had to wait for a waiter to take us to our seat and from then it took us 30 minutes to place a order because the waiter forgot us. At this time, I saw several tables leave from impatience. The food took another 30 minutes to arrive and at this time, I was seething with anger...I just want my Churros!! The food came out cold and hard, a big disappointment. We then had to wait in line (so much waiting) to pay for our meal. I prefer the other service system of just lining up and ordering your food and then finding your table. I have not been back to the Northbridge San Churro ever since but I intend to go back on a quieter night.

Oh..and while you're there, try the Banana Lambada (the drink pictured in the first image). It's devine!! I love bananas..but the prices for them in Perth is ridiculous! It's a rich man's food.


Okay peeps...tell me what is your favourite temptation....


xo

Make Up Forever HD Elixir

I have recently bought this item, Make Up Forever HD High Definition Elixir, online from strawberrynet from reading the rave reviews from makeupalley. You can read what this is and what it promises on the official site HERE. Okay, to sum it up, this Elixir promises, instant hydration, and radiance and can be mixed with foundation, in particular their famous HD foundation. The price is rather steep regarding this is only the 12ml and I paid $36.45 AUD online. As shown in the pictures below, the glass bottle is considerably small and has less amount than the nail polish!

The consistency is gel like and very cooling. To dispense, you push the button on the top of the lid. As I don't have the Make Up Forever HD foundation, I mix this with my all time favourite foundation, the Make up Forever Face and Body Foundation and it works wonders. Oh, and by the way, I don't use primer. I don't like the feel of using primer beneath my makeup. The one that I had, Smashbox primer,I feel that the makeup does not blend well with it on. So I apply this straight onto my cleansed skin. My skin stayed hydrated without being oily throughout the summer heat ( 38 degrees in Perth) and looked fresh-faced. I bought this Elixir hoping it will help with my dry skin patches and it does exactly that. I even use this at night and mix it with my Kiehl's moisturiser and wakes up with a fresh face.

So, overall... I highly recommend this elixir in my experience. It does all that it promises. This Make Up Forever HD Elixir is added to my favourite product list.



xo

Topshop haul

I am a total internet shopping addict when it comes to beauty buys, but I have shyed away from online clothing purchases just to the fact that they are plain hard to buy! Either the fit is wrong, not the same colour when shown in the picture or the material and quality isn't too great. I have given away tops I have purchased online in the past to my mum because the sizes were too big. But this doesn't stop me from always clothe browsing on the net though. So last month, while looking through Topshop, I found a couple of sale pieces I really liked. With an offer of spend 75 pound and free international shipping I 'had' to buy the items I had my eyes on. I took advantage of the 'free shipping' as I live on the other side of the world (damn geographical isolation!), shipping costs usually cost an arm and a leg. I paypal-ed six sale clothing items with totalled 86 pounds. I purchased this on the 18th of October, but didn't get the parcel until the 13th of November, and it was delivered on a Sunday!

Overall, I am happy with the quality and fit of the items although I purchased a size bigger for each items based on Topshop customer reviews. So my recommendation would be to read the customer reviews on each items as it will give you a good idea of the fit. The only item I was not happy with was the alphabet hotpant shorts. This was mainly my fault because I failed to look at the pictures properly and they end up being really short (can see a bit of my bum cheeks). But I cannot be bothered returning it as the return postage will probably be about the same cost as the shorts!

My next shopping site I have my eyes on is ASOS! Free shipping too!!



Thanks for reading and hope this review helps


xo

Happy Birthday to me

November is my birthday month (sooo many people I know are born in November!) and I have been spoilt. My boyfriend bought me my favourite cake (Black Forest) and a very nice present. But I'm too scared to use it in case I damage it.

             My favourite Black Forest Cake                       Birthday Present: Jimmy Choo

To all the Scorpions, especially November childs out there... Have a blessed birthday!!


xo

Stressssss

My stress levels are super, mega, extra high this week as it is the start of my exam week (eek!). I have three nursing exams and wont finish them until the 23rd of November.
I had an exam on Wednesday and I reckon I (kind of) aced it! So as a 'congratulation to me' I went to dinner with my boyfriend straight after the exam. We had Korean BBQ.

 I will be able to upload more posts/entries once the exams are over.

Wish me luck for the exams....

xo

Purple Hair?!

I am always changing the colour of my hair and never satisfied with one stable colour. So this week I decided to temporarily dye my hair purple/violet. I didn't want to dye it permanent because it won't be as dramatic if the colour didn't work out.

So this is the colour I'd decided to try. I have tried other colours in their range before (a browny colour) and like the shiny, smooth result it gave. I bought this from Priceline in Raspberry Black 316.

Garnier HerbaShine 316 Raspberry Black

Colour of my hair BEFORE the dye

The before colour seen in this picture above is from Liese Chiffon Beige. I have dyed this colour a month ago for a wedding that I attended. As you can see, there are some regrowth already.

In development

There was no strong smell to Garnier HerbaShine compared to the more permanent dyes (Liese). This might be because there is no ammonia therefore less damage to the hair. The instructions were clear and understandable. But the worst thing about dying hair a darker colour is the mess they come with. During the dying process, I made a bit of a mess near the basin from the splattering of purple hair dye. Also made a BIG mess when I was washing the colour out. The bottom half of the shower was covered in splattered purple! Oh...and make sure if you do dye a darker colour, have a dark coloured towel ready. I destroyed and stained 2 towels in the process.

Colour AFTER the dye

I liked the result of the dye, although I think it's a bit too dark. The colour is dark with a tinge of plum/raspberry tone when out in the light. Unlike other colourants, Garnier HerbaShine made my hair shiny, vibrant and smooth on touch. The only downside personally for me was that I should have bought and used 2 applications. As my hair is very thick, and having only used one bottle, there were some patches of my original hair colour (brown) that can be visible on careful inspection.


Overall, I highly recommended this brand, Garnier HerbaShine, if you're looking for a semi-permanent way to darken or liven up your hair colour.


xo

Imma be an artist!!

I am sooo excited!! Why...?? Well...it started on a lazy Sunday afternoon, watching TV enjoying the weekend off from work, when I came across a local program of a talented artist teaching how to paint an Australian scenery. I was totally gobsmacked by his painting techniques and how easy he made it looked. So right there and then, I made a promise to myself (early new year resolution?!) that I will learn to draw.
That night I stumbled onto ebay and searched 'paint by numbers' paintings. Now, these are not the kiddy paint by numbers kit that I once did as a kid. These were 'paint by numbers for advanced painters, thats right...for adults! Although I've never been a talented painted (cannot draw to save my life!) I've always wanted to draw. So what better way to start by knowing what you're painting and making the painting come to life. These will start my career...one day.

The purchase from ebay. How pretty is this??!!!



Now all I have to do is wait for my delivery (sighhhhhh). I will post the painting up on this blog when I have done painting them in




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My painting finally arrived on Wednesday! This is what the painting looks like:

So many numbers

Paint pots

I have 'coloured' in the top left corner of the painting already and that alone took me a whole day! I will post the completed picture up once it is done. But that would probably be after my exams and hospital visits.




Stay tuned
xo

Shu Uemura haul

This is a review for all my Shu Uemura makeup haul. The products pictured from left to right are: Face Architect Smoothing Foundation 764, Eyelash curler (full size), Peach 40 Glow On blush, Gold 335 pressed eye shadow and Peach 42 Glow On blush. The details for all the above products can be found at www.shuuemura-usa.com/.

I will start with the foundation. I must admit, before I found the Makeup Forever Face and Body Foundation,I liked this foundation initially. It goes on smooth most of the time and is blendable. But ensure that your face is nice and hydrated before applying as this foundation does gather and accentuate dry patches. It is a matt finish so no need to use powder. I found the colour to be a bit dark on me and more yellow based.

Pros: blendable, pump is easy to use and hygienic, smooth texture, cover up small scars, pleasant smell.

Cons: can be drying and accentuate dry patches, a bit too heavy, yellow based

Next is the all famous Shu Uemura's eyelash curler (full size). Seeming my last eyelash curler was from Manicare, this curler is a winner by far! The curler is suited for Asian eyes and does not pull or pinch the eyelashes. The angle is designed to fit the entire lash line. When curled, the eyes looks more open and defined.

Peach 42(top) Peach 40 (bottom)

Peach 42 and Peach 40

I had bought the Peach 42 Glow On blush first from Strawberrynet but was not very happy with the paleness of the colour. Hoping it to be a pale pink of some sort, but upon opening, found out the colour was very pale pink, almost white which looked odd on my cheek. So I am saving this colour to use not as a blush but as a highlighter.

Not happy with my first purchased, I ventured into David Jones to buy another blush as they had a sale going on. Wanting a peach colour blush that is true to the name, I bought the Peach 40. This colour was much better and more pigmented than the initial blush and gives the cheeks a nice rosy, natural glow (the look I was after!)

 Lastly the eyeshadow... Now, I'm a virgin when it comes to eyeshadow application, might be due to the fact that I have different shaped eyes (one monolid, the other creased). Plus I don't bother much because I always seem to rub my eyes (sensitive eyes). So if possible, I avoid wearing eye makeup (shadows and mascara). When I do experiment with other eyeshadow colours, I would end up looking like I had a black eye from my lack of experience in blending!

I bought this Shu Uemura eyeshadow on a whim as it was on sale at David Jones with my favourite shopping buddy while she was oogling the other shades. I picked the shade Gold 335 because it looked pretty with shimmers and I had a wedding to go to the following Sunday which I thought would be perfect for the occassion. 

The colour, as you can see from the picture, is very pigmented gold but I found it to be a pleasant wearable night-out colour. It might be a bit too shimmery during the day under the sunlight. I would wear this colour again if I had another special occassion to attend. I wore this colour to the wedding reception and was suprised that it had stayed put the whole night (6 hours). It is a very girly, summery shade.





Prices: sale prices from David Jones during their special promotion (September 2011):          
eyeshadow: $23.40     Glow on blush Peach 40: $34.80     foundation shade 764 and blush Peach 40 purchased from strawberrynet.com 

MakeUp Forever Face and Body Liquid Foundation

I had been researching and reading reviews about this make up for several weeks before buying. All the reviews seemed to be really good, so I finally decided to buy it hoping it would live up to the reputation.

According to http://www.makeupforever.com/products/face-body.html this is what it promises:

The gel texture of the Face and Body Liquid Make Up is light, fresh and meltingly smooth. It evens out the complexion and leaves a thin layer of powder on the skin, for a very natural finish.
Its long-lasting and water-resistant formula is also suited to the body. Recommended for all skin types, its light texture makes it especially suitable for mature and problem skin.
Essential on vanity tables and trays, Face & Body is the ally of any nude make-up, fresh and faultless

I bought this Face and Body Liquid Foundation online from http://www.pmstudio.com.au/, an Adelaide based company. I bought the shade in 20 Ivory. Just for comparison, I am a MAC NW20.

A blob of the makeup

Gel consistency

  I find that the shade suits my skin tone very well, due to its watery, almost gel-like consistency and is effortless to blend and apply. It can easily be applied with fingers instead of brush and sponge. Shake well before use!! One thing to note though is that Makeup Forever Face and Body Foundation will not cover severe scars/acne scars as it is sheer but buidable. It does even out the skin tone and gives it a radiant appearance without looking oily. This is the BEST light to sheer foundation I have tried so far, in comparison with other brands such as Lancome Teint Miracle and Christian Dior's Diorskin Forever.

Blended under normal light

Blended under sunlight

Pros: super blendable, flawless application, even out skin tone, virtually foolproof makeup, no strong scent, natural looking even in harsh lighting

Cons: hard to get if you live in Australia, does not cover monthly breakouts, does get a bit oily during the day.



Price: As mentioned, I bought this makeup from  http://www.pmstudio.com.au/ for AUD $58.
But users in America can buy from the official site http://www.makeupforever.com/

Neil George Pure Shot Intense Repair Treatment Spray

In my latest search for silky, smooth, shiny, manageable hair, I came across Neil George's Pure Shot Treatment Spray. As an Asian, I am blessed with a thick head of hair, which I have destroyed many times by religiously dying, straightening and intense blowdrying.

I found this treatment when browsing through the online shopping site strawberrynet.com as a new product. Being in Australia and away from other part of the civilisation, the only way to obtain American products is through online shopping sites.

This is the description taken from http://www.neilgeorgesalon.com/

The miracle product, our popular at-home treatment for hair damaged by chemical processing, the sun and hot tools. This five week treatment spray restores your hair from root to tip with our unique Neil George Treatment Complex. Reduces the amount of time it takes to blowdry your hair, leaving you with extra soft and silky smooth locks.

The most intense at home treatment yet from Neil George; this spray restores your hair from root to tip and is the answer for hair damaged by chemical processing, the sun and hot tools. Infused with Indian Gooseberry, Jojoba and Avocado Oil and a unique Neil George Treatment Complex, this miracle product penetrates the hair cuticle to offer deep conditioning, resulting in longer lasting benefits over several shampoos. The amount of time to blowdry your hair is reduced, leaving you with extra soft and silky, smooth hair, increased color longevity and shine, free of flyaways and less breakage.

This is my personal review of the first treatment spray that I have used so far. I first washed my hair with a normal shampoo (I used Panteen) then roughly towel dried for the treatment. I found the spray very easy to apply as it came with a spritz head. I sprayed the ends first as it is the most damaged part, then worked up along to my roots. I found the smell soothing, with a cross between a lemony-ginger smell. Waited for approximately 5 minutes then rinsed.

This is the result after the first treatment:

Hair after the first treatment

Second image: after the first treatment

The photos were taken at night with my Iphone straight after the blowdry.

I did find the blowdrying time to be less as usually, my hair takes a while to dry. The next day, I found my hair to be really nice, smooth and SHINY!! My boyfriend did tell me that my hair was bright and shiny (thats amazing because he actually noticed!). There seems to be light halos when the sun hit my hair, from the reflections.

So therefore, in my opinion, I do find that the treatment does work. Now I cannot wait until I have tried all 5 of them. I will keep u guys posted...

Price: at the time (Oct 2011) I bought this from Strawberrynet, I paid AUS $65.60 but if your in America, it retails for around US $55 from Neil George's site.

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Okay, so this is my second week/application of the spray treatment. Oh...and I dyed my hair as well. You can read my post about my hairdye HERE! Here is the result:

Week 2 of the treatment

What do you think of the treatment??????!!!??? Will keep you guys updated...

xo





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Week 3 is here and the results.....I am loving it! My hair feels smooth and looks shiny and vibrant. My temporary plum dye is washing off as expected. I did do the treatment 2 days later than the designated day Thursday as I was really busy with work.

Week 3 result

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These are the pictures for weeks 4 and 5 :

Week 4

Week 5

Overall, I think the treatment is most noticeable in the first treatment. After the first treatment (week 1) my hair felt more shiny and vibrant then the proceeding weeks, which might be because I was getting used to the effect.

Would I recommend this?
I would if you don't mind sending the amount on a weekly treatment. Compared with other treatments (Sebastian Cellophane treatment, Kerastase Pixelist Vial Colour treatment) I feel that this works better in achieving the result. I would buy this product again.




xo

I am...

A humble "Hello" to all my fellow all-things-makeup-obsessionist!

Now to introduce myself...I am Asian, of Burmese decent and lives in Western Australia. I am a nursing student and will be finishing my degree next year. Other than studying, my obesssions with finding 'the perfect' beauty products are yet to be fulfilled. This could be fuelled by the fact that I work in a department store, therefore staff discount is a plus :)
Before I buy a beauty product, I would religiously search through all the reviews. Therefore, I am finally starting a review blog to voice my opinions in products that does/does not work FOR ME.
From my reviews, I hope to inform my fellow people my personal experiences I have had with the products. So stay tuned, and read on...


Lots of Love,
Jo