Practical Charm

The Dior fan in me wants to burst into song at the thought of SPRING!

I couldn't stop oogling and nearly left a pool of drool at the Dior Counters just admiring the intricacy of design and colors.

As I dusted some all over my face, It left the most beautiful pinkish iridescence that was just glowing! I'm chucking all my bronzers aside for summer and saying hello to sweet pastel colors!

Just a few more days until I can purchase one. It's a shame I will have to ruin the lovely prints on it just to make myself beautiful.

I got my hands on this while I was in Bangkok! THANK YOU BOOTS Pharmacy.

It was sitting quietly looking pretty in a 'kitsch' Pink and with a name as cheeky as" Sexy Motherpucker", i ask you, which chick that easily gets intoxicated by makeup can resist?

It's a slim tube of lip enhancing wonder. Working well as a lip gloss and a lip plumper.

The greatest thing about this that it smells like chocolate! The lip plumper leaves a minty tingly sensation that feels like a very shy first kiss. Does it really work? Yes it does, I have incredibly full lips and just when I thought my lips couldn't get any sexier, this baby does the job. I've also run some testing on some friends and it works!

Though leaving a glossy finish, it can be rather sticky. Somewhat like Lancome Juicy Tube sticky that you'll have to keep your hair away from your face. So if you want to pose for that 'come get me boys' look with pouty lips and a couple of strands of hair in your face, this is not the gloss for you. It also may be a little too much to handle for sensitive lips (like all lip plumpers) so if there is a tester available, do test it out first

The verdict? Asides from the fact that it is only available at Boots Pharmacies (which I am praying will open in Malaysia very soon), It's surpasses the standard for a Pharmacy OTC product! I've bought two tubes to keep for myself already!

Product : Soap & Glory's Sexy Mother Pucker lip plumper and gloss
Price : 2890 Baht (~MYR30.00)
Application : For surreal sexy lips
Shelf Life : 12 months
One Tube : I've been using mine everyday since November and it's still great. Word has it that it can last up to a year in everyday use.

Produced in Spain, this has got to be one of the better eye drops in the optical and contact lens care market.

I never encourage the use of Normal saline for rewetting your contact lenses. They don't contain any antibacterial properties, and some of them are not pH buffered. I borrowed a friends normal saline solution once and it stung when I tried rewetting my contacts! He even soaks his lenses in that stuff. Cheap yes. But really bad and uncomfortable for your eyes!

AMO's blink contains Hyaluronate, a dissacharide unit mostly found widely distributed in connective, epithelial and neural tissues. In most opthamological surgical procedures these days, (e.g. cataract surgery, retinal detachment, glaucoma etc). This bottle claims to create 'moisture cushion so eyes stay refreshed and comfortable'

The people at AMO sure know how to make its consumers feel more comfortable. OcuPure, a peroxide-free preservative which later breaks down to water and sodium chloride when exposed to light (And thats why it's in a opaque green bottle). Very gentle stuff

Product : Amo's Blink contacts eye drops
Price : RM11.90
Application : Lubrication for soft and Rigid Gas Permeable Contact Lenses
Shelf Life : 45 days after opening
One Tube of 10mL: Regardless of frequency of use, bottle is to be disposed of 45 days after use.
Tips: No real tips! This product is so good, if i could afford it I'd slather it on every minute of the hour!

In all my years of using contact lenses, I made a switch some two and a half odd years ago and I think I'll never switch to another set of contact lenses again.

Ocular Sciences has given me the freedom of sight without my glasses with amazing comfortability. I have recommended this brand to friends who complain of their previous contact lenses giving way to discomfort and wear and tear, and all I hear from them is now thanks and praises for introducing them to… *drumroll*

Biomedics55by Ocular Sciences.

It's SO COMFORTABLE, it doesn't give that itch in the eye or 'misplaced' feeling even after wearing it for 12 hours on. Moreover, I like the fact that it's slightly tinted blue, so I can see it in my lens casing for easy pickup without having to feel too much with my fingers ^^

Going for RM80 a box of 6.

Since April's been gushing about her eye-gel collection, I thought I'd talk a bit on what I use.

Actually, this is what my mom uses, I actually use eye gel too since I've got oily-combination skin. (Note, if you have oily skin like I do, avoid creams like the plague, like I do). I'll probably tell you what brand I'm on for the eyes another time.

Mayaltha's Better Eyes. Retailing for about RM89, I think (can't quite remember cause my mom bought this, but I'll update this section the moment I find out the real price). Now Better Eyes comes in a 35 ml pot, so it can last quite some time. Of course, there's the concern for hygiene, since you literally have to dip your finger tip into the pot just to get what you need out. But what my mother does is scoop out a small amount into a smaller sample pot, and gets her daily serum doses from there.

What I like about the serum: The scent! It's naughty to say this, but somehow the scent gives me the feeling that there's a lot of goodness within a pot. The ingredients section mentions Rose Hip Oil, Sodium PCA, Methyl Glucose, Vitamins K and A-Retinol, which are active ingredients which ensure your eyes get the nutrients they need. For my mom, whose been using brands ranging from Shiseido to L'oreal to Christian Dior, she personally attests that Mayaltha is a 'dream -come-true' not only because of the value for money, but also because it's the best eye-cream she's ever used.

'It's not as oily as Shiseido!' says my mom.

My mother is 57 this year, btw. I can't use the serum, because I noticed that after a week of using it, a tiny milia seed appeared at the corners. SO REMEMBER, this serum is not for those of you with oily skin.

Product : Mayaltha, Better Eyes
Price : About RM89, available at all The Natural Source stoes
Application : After daily morning and night cleansing, apply to eye areas.
Shelf Life : 1 1/2 years
One bottle : It's been only 6 months and my mom still has 3/4 left in her pot.

I fully advocate the early protection of skin around the eyes before those nasty lines start to appear!

I have been using this since I was 16 years old and this never fails to do me good! Mom had it over the dresser counter, and curious me decided to experiment with it before getting out of the house.

But don't let it's name fool you; Although specifically designed for the eyes, I slap and smoothen it around my whole face.

It's amazing as a skin refresher and cooler. This gel like texture is Non Oily and leaves a suprisingly smooth, moisturised yet matte finish on the skin. I love to put this as a base on my face before the makeup and foundation application, It makes removal so much easier by keeping my face almost makeup-contact-free.

What's more is that it's a very affordable tube to have

Product : St. Ives, Eye Stress Gel
Price : Approx. RM19.90
Application : Put on and let it COMPLETELY DRY before applying makeup. Also use as daily eye reviver and for night time eye stress reliever
Shelf Life : Approximately 12-18 months
One bottle : Lasts me for about 3 - 6 months depending on frequency of usage
Tips : Available at most retail pharmacies and retail stores. Do hang on until sales like the Great Guardian Sale or Watson's sales for at least 15% discount on the item.