Emptied Products in July

I've not been diligent in the empties' project during July. Sometimes I thought it's because I've put much emphasis on getting rid the (annoying) amount of samples/deluxe samples that's been accrued in boxes and trunks, so I could have finished more full size products if not for this. I've also decided not to accrue empties in a plastic bag, instead I'll take pictures of them and will throw them away instantly; yes I'm the girl who's holding a Bioderma empty bottle and a Clarins toner bottle you saw in the morning lift ride. Anyways, here's what I have finished. 

Full Size

Emptied Products in June

June was a slightly more productive in terms of product empties, even though it had been slow on the masks front. There were 6 items which I tossed (shame I know!), read on!

Products I'm digging lately / 愛不釋手的產品

I intended to post this sooner but somehow a plethora of personal issues had eroded much of my spare time and mental energy. So here it is, a new post on the products I've been digging a lot lately! 

原本打算早點寫起這篇文, 惟在數天之間, 各種生活煩腦接踵而來, 實在令我吃不消. 現在終於大功告成了! 以下會介紹幾種我近來都 keep 住用的產品:

Korres Mandarin Lip Butter Stick SPF 15 in Pink: I just adore the print on the lipstick tubes (both outer and the bullet!), they look like newspaper print, and the best part? This lip balm really moisturizes chapped lips, and it carries a very faint tint of pink as well. I had no hesitation to put it in my handbag since it has SPF protection as well. This is the tube I reach for whenever my lips are chapped and don't know what else would look good and at the same time, heal.

Benefit Creaseless Cream Shadow in Birthday Suit: I've had this shadow for ages but kept overlooking it. Until I discovered Burberry Pale Barley, and Birthday Suit happened to resurface amongst my stash, I put them side by side to compare, and I love both. FYI, Birthday Suit is slightly more 'bronze' and more shimmery. I love how easily this shade applies to the lids, it brightened my eye and made them look awake. Do note though, cream shadows do start to dry out after sometime. 

Korres 潤唇膏 - 很喜愛那種報紙 print, 外殼和內膽都印了圖案, 還有防曬功效, 帶點微粉紅色的輕輕塗已很漂亮. 還有!!! 無敵的潤唇功效!

Benefit Birthday Suit 眼影膏 - 有了這瓶眼影很久了, 直至我愛上 Burberry 的 Pale Barley, 才發現2 者很近似. 這瓶眼影膏很易塗搽, 又持久, 對眼即時精神晒. 不過要小心關好瓶蓋, 要不很快便會乾掉!!

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift Foundation - My skin had been misbehaving for the past year (gasp!) and only this foundation could conceal the blemishes for the most part. I usually need some concealer on top and everything will be covered up. I'd totally recommend this to anyone who wants high coverage.

Le Metier de Beaute Eye Brightening and Setting Powder in Revive - I've terribly dark under eye circles and thought this might help. This little compact doesn't really offer coverage to eye circles, but at least it could help your concealer last longer. For the lines under my eyes (yes I know, pathetic, right?), they still do appear after using this. My point is, this is not a wrinkle-filler kind of setting powder, but I do feel more confident when using it.

Giorgio Armani Luminessence Universal Greige BB Fluid SPF 50++ - this product is not tinted according to skintones so that it has coverage, nor it is completely without tint. The name “greige” already suggested a blend of beige and grey together. It doesn’t translate to the face as a greyish color at all. The effect is pretty colorless and therefore, without coverage. I use this as primer mainly, due to its high sun protection. I could not remember why I bought this. It’s not bad, absorbs easily and gives a healthy glow (without shimmers) to your complexion. My trusted primer in the past, is a tinted sunscreen from Orbis. However, that became too drying on me since last winter. I needed something slightly less runny and I discovered this in my stash (I bought it but hid it away somewhere). The packaging is a squeeze pump once you open the cap, not a squeeze nozzle.

Giorgio Armani Designer Lift 粉底液 - 自從我的皮膚學懂了爆粒粒是不須要理由的道理後, 這粉底便成了我的好朋友 (真悲哀...). 單搽一層, 已經遮了 8 成的痘印, 只須加少少 concealer 便行了. 遮瑕度極高, 絕對推薦啊!

Le Metier de Beaute 眼部定妝粉 - Joyce Beauty有LMdB, 但應該沒有賣這個眼部定妝粉了. 這個粉不會有任何遮瑕的作用, 眼下的細紋照舊會存在. 不同的是, 它令 concealer 不會容易脫落.

Giorgio Armani Luminessence BB 底霜 - 這支底霜話它無色又唔係, 話它有色又唔係. 個名 “greige”就是混合了象牙色和灰色色調, 但搽上面又唔會變有色, 亦唔會有遮瑕度. 不太記得當初為何買了它, 但我用開的 orbis sunscreen 不再適合我的皮膚了(因為太乾了). 這支底霜質地不會太水, 防曬度又高, 唔錯. 打開了蓋後, 是個泵嘴設計, 不是唧的.

Alpha H Liquid Gold (with Glycolic Acid) - decided to give Liquid Gold a go and bought an Alpha H sample kit. I wasn't sure the idea of glycolic acid doing to my badly broke out skin in the first place, but after two uses, I'm a total convert! I couldn't say this eliminate ALL breakouts I have, because I don't think it's possible. However, it does leave my skin less bumpy and more smooth by the next morning! I've had a huge zit about to pop out and after using this, it shrunk size-ably the next day. One thing you should note though, if you have any broken out pimples/acnes/zits, or other 'wounds' on your skin, you will feel minor tingle and slightly pain like a small electric shock when you apply Liquid Gold to those area. I, however, continued to use under such circumstances. I suggest you to try a small bottle first.

Alpha H Liquid Gold - 這支超級神奇的 skin treatment, 實在不知應該稱為 toner 還是甚麼名堂好. 它是含有 glycolic acid 的柔膚露, 似 toner. 隔晚使用, 用後不要用任何護膚程序, (我只塗了 eye cream), 便可入睡!! Zzzzz 岩晒我!! Zzzz 我試過有粒勁大既痘準備爆出來, 用了這個之後, 那粒痘起床時收細了勁多! 同埋佢令皮膚滑了很多. 不過喇, 都是先試一試牛刀啊, 畢竟不知道你皮膚受得了嗎? 還有, 如果你面已經有爆發了的粒粒, 或者有粒粒造成的傷口, 塗這個時你的皮膚會有觸電的微痛感覺, 但我在這些情況下還是會用的! 

How often and how do you use Liquid Gold? One might wonder. Easy Easy. You soak a cotton pad up once every two days, at night, apply to your face after washing. Do not follow with normal skincare, because this is the only way to allow Liquid Gold to work its best. This product is so cool because I have an excuse to allow myself to be lazy! Wash your face, apply LG with cotton pad, eye cream, and go to bed! Simplicity is what I craved when my skin broke out incessantly!

隔晚使用, 洗面後把這個倒在化妝棉, 再搽在面上, 不須任何護膚程序 (起初不太信), 便可睡覺! 我只塗了 eye cream 便睡覺了. 第2天醒來, 皮膚有一半以上地方變平滑了. 我在 beautybay.com 買的, zuneta.com 亦有售.

Tom Ford Black Orchid EDP - I bought this without a sniff beforehand, just based on the reviews online. After my first spritz, I ABSOLUTELY FELL IN LOVE THIS SCENT!! It's a very mysterious, strong, bold, and yet feminine scent. I'm not too sure what goes inside the bottle notes and the making of Black Orchid, but the perfume makers and Tom Ford has got it right!!! The scent really lingers still after 8 hours, which is AMAZING. None of my other EDPs really can compare in terms of longevity. The first time I wore it in office, my boss actually came and asked me what scent I"m wearing. To me, it's a very special scent which not only the girl in me loved. Black Orchid is bold, loud, and sexy. 

Tom Ford Black Orchid 香氛 - 買的時候未聞過 (網購的), 一聞了就不得了, 我完全愛上了這個味道! 我不再鍾情微花香, 果香那些了. 不太清楚入面的調子是如何構成的, 但都不再重要了. 這個絕對不是為喜歡 "淡香氛" 的人而設的, 我則十萬個喜愛, 因它味道很出位, 很sexy, 很有女人味, 連我老闆都忍唔住問我噴左乜, 話佢會買番支. 

That's all for my sharing, have you found any favourite products lately? What are they?

你近來有發現甚麼 products 令你愛不釋手嗎?

*Updated* BLOG SALE

The long overdue mega blog sale is HERE finally! I figured that these little pretties could use better homes since I hardly use them, if not at all. The blog sale is open to everyone in the world, I'll try to ship within the next few days after I received payment. 

PLEASE READ THE RULES BEFORE BUYING :)

1. Ships both local and international, via airmail.

2. All Prices are listed in USD $. Only PayPal gift payments are accepted. I will give you instructions on how to pay with PayPal gift if needed.

3. Shipping is $4 for the first item and $0.5 for each additional item in your purchase order. Add another $2 if you would like to send by REGISTERED airmail (i.e. with tracking number).

4. All sales final. No returns. No exchanges.

5. Prices of items and shipping non-negotiable. I don't open a shipping company and ship for free.

6. If you'd like to buy, email to jenlovesbeauty@gmail.com with “Blog Sale” in the subject line. Please include your PayPal email address in your message; I need to know who the money is coming from. Indicate which items (and color) you wanted.

7. Please do not send payments until I emailed you back confirming that 1) the items are still available and 2) my paypal address.

8. Items are on a first come, first served basis. Payment is due within 24 hours. If payment has not been received within 24 hours, the items go to the next person that’s interested in purchasing those items.

9. I'll put "PENDING" on the items within 24 hours when I got your email, when payment is cleared I'll put "SOLD" next to the item.

10. The condition of each item is as described and shown in the photos.

11. I will pack and bubble wrap everything carefully. I'm not responsible for what may happen in transit after the items leave my hands.

12. Happy Shopping!! :)

BLUSHES:

Lunasol Cream Cheeks in EX04 Tender Glow Pink (used five times, LE, 12g)   US$20

Lunasol Cream Cheeks in EX08A Soft Orange (used twice, LE, 8.5g)   US$22  SOLD

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric cream blush in 01 (used once)   US$28  SOLD

Giorgio Armani Blushing Fabric cream blush in 03 (used once)  US$28  SOLD

(CLICK ON TO READ MORE!!)

Monthly Favourites (May, 2011)// 每月至愛產品

I'm so happy to write the Monthly Favourites post for May, since summer has officially started in this corner of the world and it's time for sunshine and bronze!

今個五月要feature甚麼產品我早已有心水, 哈. 原因是夏天已降臨地球的這個角落, 五顏六色的妝物是時候出動了!

Packing makeup for travel// Bloggers meetup// Happy Holidays!!

Hi ladies! Since I will be leaving for Taiwan in 2 days, I figure I would do a post on what I pack for trips that last for 1 week. I planned on blogging more often but my daytime job is sucking away my time and energy (and daylight for taking proper product pictures)! Hence this condensed post :P

Packing for a 1-week trip is easy, and the choices are considerably easy to make compared to, say, packing for my stay in Europe for 6 months.

There is a separator which came along with the makeup bag and I use it to separate base/face products and point-makeup products.

On the far left is a close-to-finishing tinted sunscreen from Orbis with SPF 34, it will be used up after a few uses. Next to it is the MAC x DSquared Sculpt & Shape Powder. On top of it is a loose settling powder given to me by Georgina in our swap, love anything with high SPF. Next to it is Benefit I Lotused You Looking blush (lilac), Canmake cream blush in Vitamin Orange, and Lola's Refine Eye Mousse eye base and primer, which also acts as a makeup eraser when something goes wrong ;) I keep it in my bag all the time whenever I found something smudging.

Below is 3 foundation samples (Jill Stuart, Cle de Peau, Dior Snow). 3 foundation samples should be more than enough for a week, and they weigh much less than a full-size powder foundation.
Then the right portion of the makeup bag will be devoted to: Q-tips, Canmake nudy glow gloss 01, YSL mascara sample, Shiseido Maquillage concealer stick, Canmake Cover & Stretch concealer wand, Revlon ColorStay eyeliner in Charcoal (love this stuff), Urban Decay Bourbon eyeliner (brown with golden glitter). Shiseido Majolica Majorca lash expander, Benefit Miss Popularity Highlighter, Shu Uemura eyelash curler, mini concealer brush from a Benefit palette, and 2 face brushes, the dual-ended one for contouring + blush, and the other one for applying loose powder. It's really hard for me to decide which blush to bring (LOL do I need to explain this?), so at the end I think it'd be great to bring an orange and my HG lilac blush, I could possibly throw in a pink one too...bu I remind myself it's just 1 week. For eyeliners, I go for softer colors (versus all black), charcoal and deep brown are definitely on the list too.

Now move on to the skincare bag, I put it 3 pairs of eye masks + 3 face masks; dental floss; 2 bottles of contact lens solution, 1 contact lens case; a sample of body lotion, The Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Stick (for you don't know when a pimple will come up), wet facial + hand wipes, Shu Uemura moisturizer samples (5 of them there, think it will be sufficient for 7 days?). Sara Happ Lip balm, Crabtree & Evelyn hand cream. Then notice the far left on the top: I use an old contact lens case to store my facial wash instead of bringing a large tube with me. I filled both sides with the facial wash and should be enough for more than 1 week. I also read that some girls will pump their liquid foundation into the case instead of bringing a large glass bottle, it makes your bag so much lighter. Next to the facial wash is a mini bottle of toner (container bought from Muji), a small tub of eye cream.

A few days ago I met up with Kay from Cosmeddicted! We went browsing and shopping for a bit ^^ and settled in a local restaurant serving typical local food! She was very kind to help me CP a few stuff from Korres in Sephora too, thankyou so much for bringing them all the way from Hawaii!

Hawaii-ness + Kawaii-ness = Hello Kitty! (Sorry for the bad pun, lol.....)

Apart from the Hello Kitty phone strap and memo pad, she got me a palette from Stila and a shower gel from Philosophy. I love gingyyyyy! This is way too cute *v*

She helped me CP a gift set from Korres, and their anti-aging primer, Korres is not available in HK. Thanks again Kay!

This was the third bloggers meetup I've had in a month :) the forth one is coming soon too!! hehe you know who you are :P

The following items are given to me by my friend: NARS Multiple in Copacabana, Sofina jenne moisturizer, the silver tube of eye cream next to the Carmex hand cream, and a beauty serum and tiny jar of cream on the far left from a brand called iS Clinical.

And this hugeeeee bag from Bobbi Brown....

....Which houses the deluxe travel kit (makeup traincase).
It's black and made of patent leather.
it's really HUGE (you will see why soon), the insides:
There are slots for keeping your makeup brushes in place:
The black makeup bag is detachable from the traincase:
When the cover of the bag is lifted, it revealed a very roomy space:
I put a blush compact next to it so you can compare the size of the traincase... I probably won't bring it with me to travel, not for a week anyway, lol it's almost the size of my notebook computer...
To end this post, I would like to say ♥Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas♥ to everyone of you reading this :)

Blogger Meetup with Georgina from Coffretgorge!

Can I start this post by saying: You totally spoiled me Georgina!!!

Yesterday Georgina from Coffretgorge and I met up, and we went to "shorten her shopping list". LOL. She was very thoughtful to know my birthday is coming up in a month's time and brought me so many goodies! We also arranged a swap hence the bunch of things you see here. I left out a few items at home and by the time I got home last night I remembered I forgot to bring along the mask she wanted! Stupid me -_-

She got me the Goatmilk body lotion I was looking for on my wishlist (OMG I didn't know people read that page!!), a beauty essence/serum from Etude house, Korres Lip Butter (been wanting to try Korres for agesssss!), Kanebo loose powder in a separate jar ;), Lunasol eyeshadow palette, a lip and cheek tint, Coffret D'or glitter liner, a seashell-shaped compact mirror, and an orange(!!!) blush from The Face shop!

THANKYOU SO MUCH George!

We went to Cle de Peau to try their famous concealer stick, and we had the SA to try on our eyes. The coverage was GREAT even though she applied a thin layer, I think I'm sold on that concealer *_* I didn't get it but Georgina did, and the SA gave each of us a sample of their cream foundation!
Thanks to George for helping me to pick this shade, I got the Shu Uemura blush in M Pink 33C as well *argh, more blushes?!?!*

On the left: Shu Uemura M Pink 33C. On the right: my HG lilac blush from Benefit "I Lotused You Looking". You probably can figure out why I bought the Shu blush now, hehe I was looking for a dupe of the Benefit one (will do a separate post on that later).

After putting the two side by side, although the Shu isn't as lilac as Benefit, but it swatched nicely in the store haha!!

Are you getting anything from the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales :D?

happy thanksgiving xx