Empties #13: September 2014 – Part 1

When an empties post become an EPIC post. This month I had a really good clear out of some of my sample size products, as well as some old products. I also bought a lot of Memeboxes lately, so I wanted to clean out some of the older stuff I have to make space for the new. I suspect the next few months’ posts will be littered with sample size products as I try to wind them down.

1. Nalthin Body Fit Patch x7sheets
I’ve been trying out a few slimming body patches – out of sheer curiosity and desperation to lose some weight… and now I have to report back that nothing but exercise and diet really works. It does heat up and make the area that it’s applied to really hot, but besides giving me a rash I don’t think it really did anything. I still have another 2 weeks worth that I will continue to use up.

Unboxing: Memebox Special #37 Wake Up Makeup Box

OMG not another Memebox!? I promise this is the last… for this month! But this time it’s one that I rarely pick – a makeup themed box. I usually choose the ones focused more on skincare but since I am currently overflowing with skincare I thought why not give the makeup a try? Plus the theme sounded like it will be a box full of very natural no-makeup kind of makeup, and can be easily added to my daily routine, so it sounded like a pretty safe bet. So, how did it fare?

I bought this as a value set with the Memebox Superbox #53 My Honey Box – I only had to pay one standard shipping for 2 boxes with free upgrade to express shipping. The shipping date for this was fixed on 19 September and I received this on 22 September. The set of 2 boxes cost me USD46, plus another USD6.99 for shipping from Korea. Individually, it’s priced at USD23, plus another USD6.99 for standard shipping. There was a free gift included – the Cellbydate The Real Galacto Zero Essence.

Unboxing: Memebox Superbox #53 My Honey Box

More Memebox! Time at work has been really tough lately so while I think that my Memebox obsession has really gone into madness zone, they bring me some joy after a long and sad day at work. I just love seeing these little pink boxes in the postbox – it instantly cheers me up! 🙂 I love diving into them and finding out what mysterious item I have been sent. So exciting!

I bought this as a value set with the Memebox #37 Wakeup Make Up Box (including a free gift) – so I only had to pay one standard shipping for 2 boxes with free upgrade to express shipping. The shipping date for this was fixed on 19 September and I received this on 22 September. The set of 2 boxes cost me USD46, plus another USD6.99 for shipping from Korea. Individually, it’s priced at USD29, plus another USD6.99 for standard shipping.

Review: Sunday Riley Blush in Blushing

It’s probably too soon to put up a review for this blush as I’ve only just received this recently, but I am in love with it and just had to put up a little post on this. I bought this Sunday Riley blush some time ago from Cult Beauty when they had a 20% off sale, promptly forgot about it, and was pleasantly surprised to see the package on my door step about 1-2 weeks ago. I’ve been using it ever since!

Unboxing: Memebox Special #29 Scrub Box

Please bear with me, my Memebox obsession has gone out of hand! Hot on the heels of the last box is this scrub box. I still have over 10 boxes of Memebox outstanding that will be shipped later so you’ll be seeing a lot more unboxing. I’m sorry, I have gone totally mad. Oh, actually I’m not sorry when I receive all these little boxes – they brighten up my day and gives me something to look forward to.

The shipping date for this was fixed on 5 September and I received this on 17 September. This box costs USD29, plus USD6.99 for shipping from Korea.

Monday Masking #4: Simply Bye Dark Circle Hydro Gel Eye Masks

So to brighten up your Monday, here’s my imitation of the Panda on the packet – with a big face, little slit eyes and dark circles… I think I did a great job, right?

Anyway, it’s Monday Masking time again! Where I show you my masking journey. And this time it’s a pair of eye masks. I admit that I picked up this packet of eye masks because the packaging was cute – I saw the pandas, thought it really looks like me on a bad day, and I had to get it. It costs SGD3 from Sa Sa for 2 pairs in the packet, which is quite reasonably priced.

Honestly, I don’t think this did anything other than look amusing – the masks felt like sticking stickers on my eyes. It’s actually dry, with an adhesive side. A little like those slimming patches, and less like a facial sheet mask. It’s a little weird, and I definitely still looked like a panda afters.

Random Thoughts #10: Life Goes On…

A wonderful picture of a yummy Lobster roll is always a great way to start a topic about life. If anyone is interested, you can find this at the Dancing Crab at PasarBella @ The Grandstand. It’s one of the best lobster rolls I’ve found in Singapore, at a very affordable price considering how much meat was in it. It came with 2 rolls, but I already ate one before deciding to stop and take a picture. 😛

Anyway back to life. It hasn’t been particularly easy lately, dealing with some corporate politics, and a boss who tries to save himself at the sake of all his subordinates. It was self preservation at its ugliest. It’s ugly but sad at the same time. People whom you thought could be trusted, that you worked so hard for, would be happy to throw you into the fire and put all the blame on you to save themselves.

But it wakes me up to the fact that… no one will be there to protect you in life, but yourself. If you don’t stand up for yourself, your rights, then no one else will. I can complain and whimper, but life will go on and pass me by. I will stand up and fight; but I will not follow in their footsteps… I will rise above and be better, and I will do it in a respectable way.

Final Swatch #10: Tarte Amazonian Clay Mineral Bronzer in Park Ave Princess

I recently got rid of the Tarte Amazonian Clay Mineral Bronzer in Park Ave Princess – I had picked up a small travel version of it about a year ago but had barely used it. I have heard a lot of great things about this bronzer, so I had picked it up without even swatching it.

Sadly, I don’t think this did me any favours – it has a pretty strong sheen to it so did not look good at all as a contour. The colour was also a little too coppery for me to use all over, especially since I have a yellow undertone. It just does not look natural on me, and not the most flattering.

So this was a fail for me; I have sold this off and hopefully the new owner will be able to give it a little more love than I did.

Review: NYX Blush in Mocha

Say Hi to a blush that I have had in my collection for ages but have been neglected in preference of its higher priced blush peers – the NYX blush in Mocha! First of all, it does not in any way look like Mocha! Don’t be deceived by the name! It also does not smell like Mocha so I have no idea who and why they decided to name this product Mocha. It’s actually a really pretty dark pink/rose shade.

Midweek Peek #15: New Kid on the Block – Neal’s Yard Remedies now in Singapore!

Holy cow Neal’s Yard is now in Singapore!

I was just at Millenia Walk for dinner when I suddenly saw something familiar from back in the days that I lived in the UK… Neal’s Yard Remedies! I loved this brand when it was so convenient to get, but when I moved back to Singapore, I remember finding out that shipping was insane so I stopped using this brand and soon totally forgot about them.

But now they’re in Singapore! Really happy about this – I can’t wait to go grab something from there. I remember loving their hand creams – smelt amazing. Actually everything in there smelt amazing. And they’re organic. I’m not that fussy using organic products – I don’t totally buy into the organic products hype; but if they are organic and works, and smells amazing, all the better!

Have you tried Neal’s Yard products before? What would you recommend?