Bowling with RBKD

About a month ago I was asked to help with organizing a Bridging Activity. I was really excited, but because this was the first time I’ve ever organised anything for RBKD, I felt really pressured as well.

I was so stressed out because I wanted everyone to have a really good time, and my imagination is really weird so I had really graphic thoughts. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt or injured and there was a moment in there where I actually couldn’t breathe. But luckily I had a really nice mentor who listened to and subdued my worries.

So after planning and quite a few hiccups along the way, it was finally D-DAY. The day of the Bowling Bridging Activity.

It was really fun. I love the playing method whereby it wasn’t the usual one person to a 10 frame game. We played, in all essence of the word, randomly. We took turns to throw once each and in the end it was more of having fun together as a team instead of gunning for an individual final score. It’s really difficult to explain (see! if you joined us you’d know! :p). I guess the best way to describe it is organized chaos. This really paved the way for natural interaction. We talked and laughed a lot. It was definitely not as awkward as I thought it  might be. Props to whoever came up with this idea! I love that the Teamwork that RBKD is all about was brought out so clearly.

I also met many new people who loved RE, and I definitely hope that I will be seeing more of them in the future.

All in all, I enjoyed myself thoroughly and all the preparation work was well worth it!

Note: This was written on 16 Dec 2013, but I wanted to put it up only after it got up on the RBKD blog, and then when it was put up there I was so busy, so this is up on here only now.

Christmas 2013 Wishlist

Here’s my Christmas 2013 wishlist!

Books:

Review: Innisfree Jeju Volcanic Black Head Out Balm

With the upcoming opening of Innisfree in Singapore, I thought I should share about an item I bought on my recent trip to Seoul so that everyone here can include it in their shopping list when heading to the store! You can already tell I recommend this product. LOL.

Well, Innisfree products generally can be trusted to do the job since it belongs to the same owner as Sulhwasoo and HERA (and more) which have highly raved products.

So basically, this is a balm you use before you wash your face. You take a little (or a lot, depending on how big the area you want to apply it on is) on your fingers, then rub it into the areas where you have blackheads. I don’t have too bad blackheads, but I get clogged pores really easily have this has really helped to clear it out.

Don’t rush this process..really take the time to rub it in, on your blackheads, white-heads & clogged pores. Then, what I like to do is go do something else for a few minutes so the balm can get “absorbed” a  bit more, then I use one of those pimple removers and scrape along all the areas where I applied the balm. Everything just slides out, no kidding. Then, wash your face and do your thing.

For really old/deep impurities you might only get it to slide out after a few times of application and scraping. I’ve been using this product once a week and it really makes my pores feel so clean.

I also like doing a soothing mask whenever I clear out my pores because I feel that it helps to calm the skin and the mask gets absorbed easier since there’s no more gunk in my pores to interfere!

I got this in Seoul for around 5000KRW and I hope the mark up won’t be too high in the Singapore store! If you can’t wait to try this out, you can also try getting it on Gmarket.

Innisfree Singapore will be at Takashimaya B2.

What’s In My Travel Makeup Bag

I’ve been wanting to post this for a while, then of course I procrastinated..but after seeing Felicia’s post, I got more inspired, so here goes!

When I travel, I like bringing make-up that doesn’t require brushes because 1)they are a hassle to store, 2)I don’t like using the same brush too many times without deep cleaning it in between, especially for liquid items like foundation and 3)it doesn’t make sense to lug around a brush cleaner when travelling. I prefer to travel with items I can apply with my fingers or disposable sponges.

Here’s what I brought on my recent trip to Seoul.

Review: Snail Slime Skincare

I bought this Snail Solution  from Nature Republic on my recent trip to Seoul. Snail slime is supposed to be good if you have sensitive , easily inflamed skin. I have very sensitive skin and always get red patches when I wash my face after waking up, so I decided to give it a go.

I really like the way Koreans package their products..you can just tell that they’ve put some effort into it and it’s not all haphazard. Anyways, this is what the set I bought looks like on the outside. You can choose to get the products individually if you do not want the whole set or want them in bigger sizes.

And when you open it up, you’ll see three different products and a spatula for the tub of snail cream. The Cream is full size, the other two is sold in bigger sizes individually. I don’t use the spatula, since I only ever go into the jar with clean fingers and using the spatula is one more thing to wash and keep clean.

Here are the names of the products up close. I was told by the salesperson to use the Booster first, secondly the Cream, then lastly the Emulsion so that’s what I’ve been doing. Since I started using this set of products, I no longer wake up with tight, dry and flaky skin, and my skin didn’t have red patches after I washed it. I could feel that my skin has been hydrated and the hydration has been “locked in” to my skin instead of being lost to the evil air-conditioner which I cannot live without.

I’ve been using these three products (nothing else except for my eye cream) for about 10 days now, and seriously, I totally recommend it to anyone who has sensitive skin, dry patches, red/inflamed skin issues. I’ve only been using it for 10 days and yet I already see the benefits! And actually, the morning after the first time I used it, I’ve already seen the amazing effect, so I’m really confident that this will definitely help my skin a lot more in the long run.

This set retails for 69,000KRW in the city shops, but I got it cheaper at the airport AND they were having a Buy 1 Get 1 promo so it was absolutely worth it. Even without any promotions I find that it’s pretty reasonable for something that works so well. If you have friends in Korea right now, get them to check it out for you! Or else, you can also get these products on Gmarket.

OVERALL:

Product: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Repurchase?: YES

Cheers to our lovely helpful Snail friends!
Melissa xx

Hong Kong Bound!

WOOHOO! I’ll be flying off to Hong Kong in a few hours!

Really looking forward to all the good food and shopping but not the flight though. I don’t have a fear of planes or heights or anything like that. I just find being stuck in a plane very uncomfortable (since I’m poor and am stuck in Economy..). I hate the recycled air in the plane that makes me skin super dry. Hopefully there’re no wailing babies on the plane.

Anyway, it’s funny, everyone has requested for me to help them buy the same thing..I hope I can find it and it fits in my luggage.

I’ll also be going to Macau, and I can’t wait to have Lord Stow egg tarts and the famous pork chop bun! Also planning to go visit some casinos. Since the only casinos I’ve seen are those in Vegas, I kinda want to see how those in other places look/feel like. I want to go to the Grand Lisboa and the Ruins of St Paul (Poetice Justice HAHAHA!). The last time I went at night so now I want to see it in the day.

Okay I’m really tired now goodnight.

My New Guitar!

As the title says, I bought myself a new guitar! It’s a low range acoustic guitar. I didn’t need one that’s too good (read: expensive), because I am an absolute newbie! I have ZERO idea how to play. It’s a matte black Fina and it looks really good! I couldn’t get a picture of it that justified how good it looks though but basically it’s true to that colour you see in the image below.

My friend, who is self-taught and super awesome, helped to pick this one out for me. She’s also very generously teaching me how to play! I’ve been practising daily. Fingertips don’t feel as painful as they did on the first day now, but I still can’t manage the get the chords spot on GRRR. Need to practise more!!!

Abruptly, goodbye.

August Outs & Reviews – NARS, Lancome & The Face Shop

A few days ago I finally got down to clearing my vanity table, and when I was about to throw them out I went: “oh luckily I already bought a back-up”, “oh…I should another one of these” and “meh, wasted my money on this”. So I thought I should write a short review on them! I think some people will be surprised at which one I thought was a waste of money. Scroll down to find out!

From Top:
NARS Sheer Glow
Lancome Teint Miracle
The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream

*They look dirty because they are used!*

1) The Face Shop Power Perfection BB Cream. 

PROS:
> SPF37/ PA++
> Medium-high coverage yet still feels reasonably light on the skin
> Doesn’t give you a grey cast
> Works even on dry skin. It does not settle into lines to make flaky skin more obvious
> Provides a light dewy finish (not in a way that you look oily)

CONS:
> Too much more expensive in Singapore than it is in Korea!

I used this in Light Beige, but I have tried the other darker shade and found that it isn’t much darker so I’m actually already using the “back-up” that is in the darker shade. I find that the prices in Singapore is marked up too much so I will only get this in Korea.

2) Lancome Teint Miracle

PROS:
> Very light, perfect for “no makeup makeup” days
> Evens out skin tone
> Gives you a nice, healthy glow

CONS:
> Not good for already dry skin as it settles into lines and make flaky skin very obvious
> Contains a lot of alcohol, which dries out the skin further
> Need to be shaken before use

I am a shade O-03 and it suits my skin perfectly. I like this foundation, but can only use it when my skin isn’t too dry and flakey. I don’t mind the “shake well” part as that’s what’s expected in foundations that promise a glow.

3)NARS Sheer Glow

PROS:
> As it says, it gives a sheer glow

CONS:
> Even though coverage is light, it feels very cake-y
> The packaging. Come on now..really. It looks good, but not functional
> Oxidises quite a lot
> Makes lines and flakes obvious
> Needs to be shaken before use

I got this in the shade Light 04 Deauville. On the website it is described as  “Light with neutral balance of pink and yellow undertones”. But no, it is probably 1-2 shades too dark for me and it is very yellow. My skin has a pink undertone so this was..just no. I didn’t like the feeling of this on the skin. This is the one I felt that I wasted money on. It’s a big disappointment because I got this not long after it was released and there was so much hype about it! And yes, I did get this THAT long ago. I didn’t throw it out earlier because…it looked so good just sitting on the vanity.

So yea, it looks like finding a good coverage foundation that feels light and doesn’t make dry, flakey skin stand out is really difficult! If you have any good recommendations for those, especially those that are ok for sensitive (eczema) skin, please let me know!! 😀

Melissa xx

Review: LUSH Fair Trade Honey Shampoo

Fair Trade Honey(FTH) has been my favourite shampoo ever since it came out last year. I dye my hair every 2-3 months and so I have dry hair that frizzes easily. But with FTH, I can use it without a conditioner and it would still leave my hair tangle free, and it makes it so soft and shiny too!

WHAT IS IT:

LUSH Fair Trade Honey Shampoo

Just to put it out there, FTH is the most expensive LUSH shampoo to date. However, don’t let the price deter you from trying this gem out. With LUSH shampoos, you already need to use less of an amount than other brands, and with FTH, you need even less of it because it is really thick. Plus you can save on conditioner when you use this shampoo, so it works out to be really good value for money! I’ve actually tried it with many conditioners as well and think that the effect is the best without a conditioner. If you still feel more comfortable with a conditioner, use a light conditioner like the LUSH Veganese or LUSH Coolaulin. Heavier conditioners tend to defeat the purpose of this shampoo and I personally find it a waste to use anything that smells strong over top of FTH, because it smells SO good and I don’t want anything to mask its scent!

WHAT’S IN IT:

Green= Natural, Black= Safe synthetics

WHY IT WORKS:

• Fairly Traded Honey is the bulk of the ingredients in this shampoo (50% to be exact, hence it’s name). It helps make your hair soft and shiny, and gives your scalp a really good cleansing as honey has natural anti-bacterial properties. This also means that there are no extra preservatives in this shampoo.
• Linseed (AKA Flaxseed) Mucilage is a jelly like substance formed by boiling Linseed/Flaxseed in water, and this ingredient helps to prevent hair loss by strengthening your hair as it contains lots of Omega 3 fatty acids. It also gives shine.
• Sunflower Lecithin also makes your hair shiny and supple.
• Geranium, Neroli, Bergamot Oils and Rose Absolute all contribute to the amazing scent that stays in your hair for hours after you wash your hair.

It says on the bottle;  “This is a no expense spared shampoo.”, and it’s definitely true. Even all the essential oils used to make the fragrance are the most expensive ones. Whenever I use FTH, the scent stays in my hair until the next wash! (I wash my hair once a day before I sleep)

HOW I USE IT:

1. Squeeze out a 2-3cm diameter blob onto palm.
2. Mix in a little water and give the shampoo a headstart by lathering it between palms.
3. Lather onto wet hair and give scalp a nice massage.
4. Rinse off.
5. Dry hair.
6. Have luxurious hair.

It is really that simple. When you rinse if off, you might feel like your hair is tangled/dry/not smooth etc but trust me, just go and dry your hair, go to bed, and you will wake up with amazingly soft and shiny hair, no tangles or kinks. And yes, I find that my hair looks much better the morning after I use this shampoo.

So, if you always find yourself waking up to a bad hair day, trust me and try this. You will never want to use anything else.

WHERE TO BUY:

• £7.25/110g, £14.45/300g, £23.95/600g from LUSH UK
• S$25/110g, S$49/300g, S$79/600g from LUSH SG

Trust me, go for the 300g or bigger, because it’s better value for money and you wouldn’t get enough of it anyway! 😀 Feel free to comment if you have any questions or if you have tried it too!

OVERALL:

Product: 5/5
Price: 5/5
Repurchase?: YES

Let’s have shiny, happy hair!
Melissa xx

All images from http://www.lush.co.uk

Thankful Fridays: 12 July 2013

This week I am thankful that:

• I spotted a haze free, super blue, super white clouds sky. Sometimes the most beautiful things in life are really free. It’s just up to us to keep it that way by reducing our carbon footprints!

• I helped Lush Singapore in their Guinness World Record attempt. They are trying to raise awareness of the cruelty that’s involved in cosmetic testing and how LUSH does not test on animals and also do not condone it or support it in any way. All of the ingredients used at LUSH are purchased from sellers who do not test their raw ingredients on animals, unlike some other brands who claim to be cruelty-free yet have their raw materials tested on animals behind the façade.

  

• Melly (a friend, not me), helped my get some things from the YG eshop and I met up with her to collect them! Also met Yawen and managed to score stuff at the Accessorize sale!
• Got a new coat of color at the salon

  

• Tried out Bull and Butcher and the food was quite good! Especially loved the Petit Tender and the Banana and Toffee tart. Recommended! But, do go in when you have lots of time to spare because the food took quite long to arrive. Service is so-so.
• Went for tea with the family at Goodwoord Park! Seriously the durian mousse cake is to die for!
• Finally submitted a proposal and it’s totally weight taken off my shoulders. It’s not the end of it though so still a little nervous but at least the first step has been taken..
• The peony has been 80% finalized and I am so in love with it! Can I say more? NO hahaha.

Is this part of being an adult? I feel like now, there are so many things that I really cannot disclose. Ok the last point is a choice but still. Like how I said in my previous post that my next post would be about *** but I haven’t put it up because I’m still waiting for clearance..hahaha.

Anyways, back to my project life! (Keep checking back for scoops~)
Melissa xx