Nerdy Review // Battle of the Powders

I have been a powder person for as long as I'm aware of. But recently, to be exact for the past 6 months, I have been slowly ditching the powder face & started to embrace the healthy glow. The 3 powders you see in the above are the ones that have been rotating in my makeup/travel makeup bag. After using them quite a good period of time, I can now provide my verdict.

1. Bourjois Healthy Balance Powder in 53 Beige Clair
One of my favourites so far. The price is reasonable, could be found in the drugstore, so finely milled it doesn't cake up, has a slim packaging with build-in mirror, light weight, has a faint floral scent and most importantly it doesn't clog pores. The faint floral scent however might not be everyone's cup of tea. For a drugstore powder, it has done everything it should have done. There isn't anything to complain about, other than the colour range. Since it is from the drugstore, this powder comes in 4 shades only.

The reason why I've partially stopped using this is because shade 53 a little too neutral for my skin tone. As my skin has yellow undertones, this doesn't match me perfectly. Overall, I would still recommend this to people who needs a simple powder that works.

2. Soap n Glory Instant Retouch Pressed Powder
Best face powder till date. By looking at the picture above, you could tell the powder is very yellowish which really brightens up my face without changing the colour of the base! No matter how much I slap this on, this powder somehow doesn't show on the skin. Weirdly amazing how invisible this product is. I like how the compact comes with a mirror and doesn't have a scent. Personally, I don't think this has any coverage at all. But since I don't mind my little imperfection peeking through, it's not an issue to me :)

Soap n Glory makes good beauty products and this is the very first makeup product I've tried. I have the 'One Heck of a Blot' powder at home and is currently being testing out.

3. Innisfree No Sebum Mineral Pact
Before my trip to Seoul I did some research online just get some knowledge on Korean cult beauty products and all that jazz. This powder was largely recommended by several bloggers so I caved in and bought it. At the first sight, don't you think this product is organic, natural and lightweight? After using it a handful of times, I stopped reaching for it. This is why:

~ It is so powdery that the powder clings onto my dry patches like no other. Emphasizes them as if I have skin disease.
~ Doesn't apply smoothly. Picked some up with my brush, gently swiped across my face and ended up with a blotch of white powder in the middle of my forehead. LOL.

Gosh, thank goodness I bought one only. Seriously considered buying two because the reviews were so convincing! Anyways, do you have a powder that you love? After I'm done testing out all powders on hand, Laura Mercier's loose setting powder is next :)

Happy Saturday people!

What's Next : Manicure May // Essie Midnight Cami

New IN - Beauty Products!

Woot! Woot! What's new in the nerdy beauty stash? Since they took a 17 hours flight back to me, for sure I have to give them a go right? *wink wink* On a side note, the Bosica Cleansing Oil was bought from Sephora@Zalora. Use this code to get a 15% off : ZBAPqLL

1. La Roche Posay Serozinc
2. Boscia Make Up Break Up Make Up Cleansing Oil
3. Soap n Glory No Clogs Allowed Deep Pore Detox Mask
4. La Roche Posay Eau Thermale
5. Rituals Fortune Scrub
6. Soap n Glory The Greatest Scrub of All

How was your week so far? Mine wasn't good. Currently watching Sex and the City 2 and I feel so much better now :) I believe a woman can have low moments and down time sometimes but when its time to get up, get up my dear <3

Took a picture of my 10 years old Converse because I wanted to get rid of it, you know just for memory. But...it ended up in my shoe closet again because there is no reason for you to throw away a vintage piece. *wink* Last Sunday I was busy styling this versatile Doublewoot Crochet top! Fun fact. If I cant style a piece in at least 10 different ways, I wouldn't buy it :)

And lastly
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Reminder to self : Remember to close the closet door.

Happy weekend <3

Umbrella Your Skin

I wonder am I the only one who haven't started using Sunscreen yet? Since I have been struggling with skin issues since 2 years back, venturing on different sunblocks and protecting them from the sun was not my main concern. I have very sensitive and easily clogged pores so the act of trying out sunblocks scares me. Even though sunblocks nowadays are Oil-Free (Whats shown on the bottle), certain ingredients can cause reaction to sensitive skin still.

Since my skin has been stabilizing recently, I decided to try out these 2 sunscreens that are said to be good for people with sensitive skin. The first one on the run would be the Soap n Glory Make Yourself Youthful Sunshield Superfluid. As you can see in the picture below, it has SPF 50 with surreal descriptions on the box :)

The packaging of Sunshield Superfluid reminds me of the Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation. Sleek and compact. The lightweight plastic packaging and screw on lid makes it amazing for travelling. I have been using the Sunshield Superfluid for 4 days now and I can say that it has changed.My.Life.

This sunshield is slightly runny and liquidy. When its smoothed out on the skin, it gets slightly sticky. Don't fear because its in a good way :) Literally feels like a thicker moisturizer. In the morning, I apply a generous layer of this after moisturizing my skin. Instantly, my face looks glowy and healthy. You can leave it this way but occasionally I slap on some cc cream to even out my skin tone. A point to note is that since the sunscreen itself is flesh tone, it did not change the colour of my face. Which is my pet peeve because nobody needs to know that you're wearing sunscreen :/ I personally think that this product is good for men as well. Pretty much unisex.

Makeup applies smoothly and sits nicely on top of it no doubt. Its weird how a sunscreen double up as a primer. After testing this out for 4 day, I noticed my pores looking noticeably smaller. Besides that, it is also oil controlling. [If I were to use 6 sheets of blotting sheets daily, with this product, only 3 is required. Thumbs up! ]

Wait! I have not even mentioned the best part yet. This sunscreen does not clog my pores! It actually lightened my scars too T_T I'm sold. Shut up and take my money. hahaha :D

Left: Laneige Sunblock Sensitive SPF 30+    Right: Soap n Glory Sunshield Superfluid SPF 50+

Just a comparison, could you see why have I been hesitating from trying the Laneige Sunblock even though I got this since last September? The consistency and the color of the sunblock scares me. It takes alot of effort to 'rub' the product into the skin and the product feels too thick & heavy for our weather. Even after spending minutes massaging the sunscreen into the skin, I could still feel a layer of 'cream' sitting on my skin = =' And if you observe closely, the Laneige Sunblock has a tinge of blue-ness in it. This is what that will cause a flashback/white cast in flash photography. In other words, Casper face.

Laneige Sunblock Sensitive SPF 30+                25000won/50ml [approx rm83 ]
Soap n Glory Sunshield Superfluid SPF 50+     £ 15/30ml [approx rm85] Update: Rm120 at Sephora Malaysia

*Note: The price point for SnG is higher given it is 20ml lesser than Laneige. :c By the way, I believe you can find the SnG Sunshield at Sephora Malaysia. If you are interested in getting it, let me know if you want a 10% off <3

Anyhow, I will continue to put this on a test and perhaps give the Laneige one a go ;p Are there any sunscreens out there that you love? Please recommend! Happy Thursday!

Nerd Reviews : Soap n Glory The Fab Pore

If you spend 80% if your time in Sephora, half of your bank account on skincare bits and is always on the hunt for 'better' products to improve your skin? Then you are like me. :p

Scouted around in Sephora for about 1 hour last April (yes, it was a serious deal haha) and saw 'The Fab Pore' on the shelf. I knew I had to get it. As at that point of time, the deep pore cleansing masks I had were too stripping and drying for my skin. So I was in need of a pore cleansing mask that doesn't make my face feel naked. Currently running on my 2nd pot and its halfway down already! The previous pot lasted me for a full 8 months.

Before I start to tell more about this product, I have to let you know my skin condition. It is dry/combination, extremely sensitive and gets clogged easily. I do get shiny throughout the day but definitely not Oily.

 'The Fab Pore' has a minty smell and a cooling sensation when its on the skin. Texture wise, its smooth and thick with tiny little beads in it. To be honest, I use this almost every other day because I love it that much. My skin feels clean, smooth and less irritated. Skin definitely improves after every application. Miracle happens in the product itself and not really contributed by the tiny beads in it. The packaging is lovely. It comes in a thick plastic pot which makes it easier for travelling in comparison to a glass pot. The lid closes tight enough for the product to not dry out. Even said so, I prefer if it came in a tube rather than a pot.

I don't exfoliate daily but when I do, the mask works noticeably better. I have repurchased and will definitely do so until I find something better. The price point of this is not cheap I would say. But in comparison to the Glamglow YouthMud Mask, this is a steal. I've tried the YouthMud mask before but for that ridiculous price, I expected a heck lot more than what I got.

If you are interested, I bought mine at Sephora for RM100/50ml

Happy Monday People <3

New IN - Soap n Glory

Have not tried any Soap n Glory cosmetics before so tadaaaah! Got help from a friend of mine before he came back to Malaysia :) Gonna test these products and provide my verdict on them soon. Products shown above:

- Soap n Glory one heck of a blot
- Soap n Glory kick ass instant retouch pressed powder
-  Soap n Glory archery brow tint & pencil in Love is blonde

I love the Soap n Glory Clean, girls body wash, The righteous butter, Flake away body scrub, Face soap n clarity 3-in1 face wash, The ultimelt deep purifying hot cloth cleanser, Peaches n Clean, Fab pore 2-in-1 facial pore purifying mask...that's a mouth full haha =D I have not had any issues with the products in their line. Not even for my sensitive so 2 thumbs up for that.

By the way, I do have 4 more Soap n Glory products on the way & cant wait to share what I got! Happy Saturday <3

What's in my Shower?

Happy Monday everyone! A little sneak peak of what I use in my Shower. I love the feeling of getting squeaky clean at the end of the day :) 

1. Soap n Glory Clean, Girls Body Wash - My favorite scent out of the entire Soap n Glory range! This legit smells like a dreammm. If you're curious, go to Sephora and have a little sniffy sniff. You can now get this on Zalora.com with 15% discount! Use this promo code : ZBAPqLL
2. Michael Todd Tropical Fruit Gentle Exfoliant Scrub
3. L'Oreal Hair Expertise EverSleek - The best shampoo I've tried till date. Luxola doesn't ship this to Malaysia anymore and none of the salons here carry this range of products. So if you are going to Singapore anytime soon, make a visit to Watsons Singapore! (Product Link)
4. Watsons Argan Oil Shampoo - Blogpost alert. In depth review coming up this week!
5. Soap n Glory Peaches and Clean
6. Skinfood Pineapple Peeling Gel
7. Olay Regenerist Megasonic Specialist Cleanser - This is a fraction of the price of the well known Clarisonic. Come on, RM 600 is too much to be spent on a cleansing machine. Perhaps one day in the future I'll get it but for now, This one will do. The brush head does need to be replaced every 3 months. And yes, mine is looking a little brown :/ Gotta replace asap.
8. Soap n Glory The Ultimelt Hot Cloth Cleanser - Review coming up next Friday.
9. John Freida Frizz-Ease Conditioner

What product staple do you have in your shower? <3 Just in case you missed my last post, I blogged about my favorite person of  the week!

Nerdy Haul : Sephora Member's Day Sale

Since I was out, I stocked up on my favorite products that are already running low :) Lucky enough, Sephora was having a 10% off store wide sale for SEA members!

3-in-1 daily detox vitamin C facial wash 150ml (Rm 51) -  The one i'm finishing up has been used for 8 months already. Definitely value for money.

The Ultimelt Deep Purifying Hot Cloth Cleanser 100ml (Rm 74) - I've heard great reviews on this so thought of trying this one instead of 'Peaches n Clean' that I'm currently using. Since its a new product, my skin might or might not breakout! We shall see. I think I'll post a review of this product after 2-3 weeks of test and trial.

The fab pore 2-in-1 masque & peeling 30ml (Rm100) - Running on the 2nd tub! Favorite mask among all that I've tried. Not the cheapest mask you can find out there but for someone with sensitive skin like me, finding a mask that clears up the skin and at the same time not too drying is like looking for the perfect dough ball for your doughnut hole!

If any of you are interested to get something from Sephora, let me know because I can get it together when I pay the next visit. I have a 10% discount on hand as a result of spending too much at Sephora haha :c Why not share the love and save you some bucks right? Its time to stock up on stocking fillers and little Christmas gifts for your loved ones <3

AM Skincare

I don't think anyone is a morning person. For me, yes sometimes but most of the days I would rather snuggle up in my bed for 3 more mins. Therefore when it comes to skincare, I don't do alot. As I use quite a heavy oil serum in the night, a gentle cleanser and simple skincare is the way to go!

1. Colgate Carbon toothbrush 

2. Soap n Glory 3-in-1 Daily Detox Vitamin C Facial Wash - Favorite morning cleanser till date! Its not drying on my skin at all and gives my face a glow after each wash. Most importantly it removes oily residue from previous night, leaving the skin feeling clean and soft. Have been using this for the past 7 months and it has definitely lasted me well! Got mine at Sephora. 

3. Michael Todd Tropical Fruit Enzyme Exfoliant Scrub - I don't use this every morning but if my skin feels crappy and dull, this is an extra step to 'revive' sleepy skin. Get it here or here.

4. Mario Badescu Facial Spray with Aloe, Herbs and Rose Water - Provides a lightweight moisture to replenish moisture lost earlier. This product smells like rosy goodness without being too overpowering. Overall a great and simple product that doesn't irritate the skin. Got mine at Luxola.com. Luxola always have discount codes hanging around so definitely check it out before paying the full price =D

5. Nivea Lip Butter - Moisturizes the lips without drying them after 3 hours. For some reason other lip balm used previously always dries my lips hours after application. This product is not available in Malaysia yet. Got mine at boots in UK.

6. Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream- I am not too picky with moisturizers. As long as it does its job and does not clog my pores. Currently using the 2nd tub of this but might switch to different ones soon after this is emptied out! Why not explore right? Got mine from Kiehl's.

7. Michael Todd Intensive Organic Cream Eye Treatment - Has a very runny texture but good enough for daytime under eye moisturization.


The whole routine would take up to max 5 mins in the morning. Now, that's reasonable :)

Product Empties Part I

October is finally here and....*drum rolls* its time for an installment of product empties collected throughout the past 9 months! Some of them I loved and repurchased but some of them didn't really work for me. Long post ahead haha!

1. John Freida Frizz Ease Hair Serum - This is my favorite hair serum till date as it has an insignificant scent and worked really well taming my frizzy Asian hair up to 8 hours a day. If you live in the UK, John Freida can be found at any Boots outlet or even online. However if you are a fellow Malaysian like me, try asking your friends in the UK for a favor ^_^

2. Soap & Glory Scrub Em and Leave Em Body Buff - The scrub does work pretty well but I cant say its the best I have tried. Not my favorite scent from Soap & Glory. Plus, the granules are pretty coarse causing the scrub to 'fall' off my body when I exfoliate. Good news for us pretty Malaysians because you can find Soap & Glory at all Sephora outlets. (or boots.com)

3. Soap & Glory Flake Away Body Scrub - I love this! The smell is great, consistency is thick enough to work it in and skin feels luxurious after each use. Get it and let me know if you like it! (or boots.com)

4. Batiste Dry Shampoo in Medium & Brunette - Very useful product for lazy days which is most of the days. Haha.

5. L'Oreal Hair Expertise EverCreme -  My favorite from the range, currently running low on the 2nd tube already! I've tried EverRiche and EverStrong but neither control my flyaway and frizziness as good as this one. Hair feels 'in-place'. Bought mine from Luxola.

6. L'Oreal Hair Expertise EverStrong - Overall a good shampoo. Hair feels clean and shiny but EverCreme provides the same effect with extra softness added to the hair.

7. Rexona Deodorant in Shower Clean 

8. St Ives Shower Gel in Mineral Therapy - Nothing special. Does not moisturize my skin as much as I want it to. Bought mine from Watsons.

9. Michael Todd True Organics Blur Green Algae Toner - This is my 2nd bottle and I have one more to go in my beauty closet. It was a favorite of mine but I find it pretty drying on my skin recently as my skin has became less oily. You can get it here or mysale.my

10. Essence Eyeliner - I used this to tight line. Good product but it dried out quite fast.

11. Maybelline Mineral Concealer in 02 - Not a fan of the light coverage that does nothing to the dark circles and it creased so badly :c

12. 17 Oil-control Makeup Remover - Worked really well removing waterproof mascara, no oily residue plus its affordable! Bought mine at Boots Thailand during the Buy 1 Free 1 sale.

13. Essence Multi Action Waterproof Mascara - Gave me good amount of volume but definitely not waterproof and dried out so fast.

14. Essence Stay No Matter What Mascara - Favorite out of the whole essence mascara range! Volume it gave was like falsies. The down side is that it smudged on me :c If you do not have oily eyelids like me, I recommend you give this gem a try. Can be found at Watsons.

15. L'Oreal Gentle Eye and Lips Makeup Remover -  Did nothing removing anything. Not even concealer underneath my eyes.

16. Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel - Loved it but currently obsessing over my Khiels gel moisturizer. Not gonna repurchase anytime soon.

17. Michael Todd True Organics Honey n Oat Cleanser - Great great great cleanser. Does not dry out the skin, removes face makeup beautifully and most importantly it doubles up as a brush cleanser! Get it here or mysale.my

18. 17 Doll'd up Mascara - Does not hold a curl so what I did was applying it to my bottom lashes.


That's all for this installment of trash review :) Let me know what products you have used up and still love <3