I went on Project 10 Pan, codenamed P10P, sometime ago. The purpose was to halt my beauty shopping expeditions which were increasing relentlessly. For those who don't know what P10P is about, it means that I cannot buy anything beauty related until I have finished using up 10 beauty products. Of course, there will be slight variations and I had mine. My variations included:
- If I finished using up a beauty essential that I did not have a back up of, I am allowed to purchase it.
- If I purchased a non-essential beauty product, I would have to increase the number of products that I had to finish using up by the number of non-essential beauty products I purchased. For example, if I bought 1 non-essential beauty product, P10P will become P11P. If I bought 2 non-essential beauty products, P10P will become P12P.
For more, check out my blog entry on P10P.
At first I thought 10 products- yeah, it should be relatively easy to stop shopping until I finished using up 10 products. However, my shopping itch resurfaced by the time I finished 4 products. With all the sales popping up like weed, it was not easy to resist. Naturally, I succumbed to makeup temptation and picked up 2 goodies while I was on P10P.
If you follow me on Instagram, you would know that my first temptation is Guerlain Rouge G in #03 Galia.
Guerlain Rouge G in #03 Galia
Swatches: Guerlain Rouge G #03 Galia is 2nd from the bottom
I think I spent most of October obsessing over Guerlain products. I wanted to choose the baby pink (bottom) and the bright fuchsia berry red (top) as well but I figured that I would not wear them as often as Galia. Also, I did not want to add too many to the number of products that I had to finish using up!
After my Guerlain Rouge G #03 Galia purchase, I was good for awhile because my online beauty purchases (purchased before P10P) began to arrive. My online beauty purchases distracted me from beauty shopping for sometime. However, after I read Fleur of Fleur De Force's blog entry about her interview with Taylor Swift, I felt like I had to get my next makeup temptation.
Covergirl Lipstick in #305 Hot
While I am not the BIGGEST Taylor Swift fan, I will admit that I like her music. I started listening to her ever since "Teardrops on My Guitar".I loved that song so much that it was constantly on repeat. Subsequently, she had more and more songs that made it to my playlist. Anyway, I digress. What I am trying to say is that I have always been intrigued by Taylor Swift's lipstick. If you haven't noticed, she wears a particular red lipstick in nearly every single picture of her. When the cat came out of the bag and it was revealed that her favourite lipstick is Covergirl Lipstick in #305 Hot, I was on the prowl for it. At that point in time, it felt like I was meant to get it because I got the last one at my local Priceline! LUCKY!
So P10P became P12P for me. By then, I could not wait for P12P to be over. More sales had come up and my shopping itch was incurable. I felt like I had to hurry with P12P and I felt like I cheated a bit because 2 products are samples. :X (Do note that P10P commenced after I had binned my product empties so the finished products for P10P do not overlap with my product empties.)
Here is what I finished using up :
Left to Right (First Row): Palmer's Cocoa Butter Massage Cream for Stretch Marks Concentrated Cream with Vitamin E, Collagen & Elastin, Sukin Hydrating Mist Toner, Korres Body Butter (Guava), Biotherm Biopur Pore Reducer Cleanser, Aqua Rine Peach Japanese Aroma Bath Sea Salt, L'Oreal Paris Elvive Colour Protect Deep Repair Treatment
Left to Right (Second Row): Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Body Lotion with Vitamin E, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Lotion for Stretch Marks, Colgate MaxWhite One Ice, My Beauty Diary- Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Sheet Mask (x3)
As soon as P10P was over, I was ready to shop! While I purchased some (aka many) items since then, I have also used up another My Beauty Diary- Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Sheet Mask and I am making good progress on some of my other beauty items. I won't tell you what now so stay tuned for more upcoming blog entries and Youtube videos!
Hello there! If you don't already know, Halloween is one of my favourite times of the year. I did not celebrate Halloween as a child but I was introduced to Halloween sometime in 2007. My friend S had her birthday and we were all asked to dress up since her birthday is very close to Halloween. I went as a black angel and boy, I discovered my love for Halloween.
Sometime during mid year, I was contemplating what I should dress up as for this Halloween. I came across Jordan Liberty's video (his Youtube username is: Givegoodface) where he did the Leopard eye look. I was so inspired by his video that I wanted to try it out immediately. After that, I was convinced that I wanted to be a leopard this year.
I did a trial run previously so that I would not make a total mess of it later on. I took photos of the look that I rocked on Saturday (not the actual day!) and posted them on Instagram and Facebook. I got compliments and some asked to see my leopard ears. So here they are and I did my own leopard manicure to complete the leopard look.
I hope you had a great Halloween. What did you go as? Until next year! *time to keep my Halloween stuff*
Hello hello, this is the corresponding blog post for my "Product Empties/Products I've used up/What's in my garbage bin #1" video that is very belated. I don't know about you but for me, I have mixed emotions when I finish using up products. If it is a product that I really like; I feel sad about it coming to an end and even sadder if it is expensive. If it is a product that I dislike; I'd say 'Good riddance!'. Overall, it is very satisfying to finish using up products.
After much hoarding of the empty packaging, I managed to gather a sizeable amount of product empties to film Product Empties/Products I've used up/What's in my garbage bin #1. They were sitting in a corner in my room for quite sometime and I could not wait to bin them! Imagine my satisfaction when I finally binned them. *cues maniac laughter* MUAHAHAHAHA....
To check out the video, click on the link below:
If you prefer to read about it, keep scrolling! :)
I hardly ever finish any makeup product so this is my only makeup product that I finished using.
Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner
I used to think that liquid eyeliners were intimidating and never ventured into the winged eye liner look until I got the Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner. This is a life changing product. Now, it is easier to create that elusive winged eye liner look with the Dollywink Liquid Eyeliner. It has one of the finest tips in the market and it gives the user a lot of control when it comes to lining the eyes. The colour is a matte black. While it is not as black as Urban Decay 24/7 Liquid Eyeliner, this is one of the blacker eyeliners in the markets. TWO THUMBS UP FOR THIS and I can't wait to repurchase it!
For your information, I am a HUGE My Beauty Diary Face Masks Fan. My love for them started in 2010 when I was introduced to them in Hong Kong by my friend D. We were there for a school program but she went to Hong Kong with her mum prior to the commencement of the school program. Her mum left Hong Kong when the program commenced and she told me that she got her mum to bring back 8 boxes of these face masks. At that time, I was not into makeup and skin care like I am now so 8 boxes of face masks sounded pretty incredible to me.
These face masks were on sale at Sasa (a Hong Kong cosmetics store) at that time so I bought 2 boxes based on D's recommendation. Fast forward a couple of years, I lost count of how many boxes of these face masks I have used. :S
My Beauty Diary- Japanese Cherry Blossom Masks
My Beauty Diary- Black Pearl Mask
My Beauty Diary- Earl Grey Tea & Macaron Sheet Mask
The photos with the boxes indicate that I have used up the entire box of face masks. Out of the three, my favourite is Black Pearl. 2nd would be Japanese Cherry Blossom. While the 3rd is Earl Grey Tea & Macaron, I would not call it a 3rd favourite. It feels good on my face but I don't think it works amazingly well for my face. I would definitely repurchase Black Pearl and Japanese Cherry Blossom (I have repurchased many times already!) but I would not repurchase Earl Grey Tea & Macaron once I finish the entire boxful.
Sessenz (Lef to Right): Bio-Tox Rejuvenating Lift Mask and L-Ascorbic Acid Ex Whitening Lift Mask
The Sessenz masks were gifted to me by my aunt who knows that I am a skincare junkie. What makes the Sessenz masks so special are the hooks and the neck masks. Each mask is bigger than your usual face mask and it comes with the bottom neck mask to nourish your neck area. Our necks often get neglected as we focus on our face so Sessenz takes that into consideration and VIOLA! A face and neck mask! It shows that Sessenz has given much thought into its product which I really appreciate. The mask also comes with 2 pairs of hooks- one for the face mask and one for the neck mask. You hook them onto your ears and they prevent the mask from slipping off your face. In my opinion, it is a great product concept. While I have not used the masks continuously to tell whether the product claims worked, I did notice a visible difference in my face's condition. It feels good on my face, it clarified my skin and I would definitely repurchase if it was available in Australia at a decent price point. (PS: Australian beauty products are very overpriced.) :(
Guardian Facial Makeup Remover Wipes
For a drugstore facial makeup remover wipe that is not expensive (from my recollection anyway), I was pretty impressed with it. It did a very good job of removing my makeup quickly. While it is not going to remove your waterpoof makeup, it is a handy product to keep in your vanity for days when you want to remove light makeup or non-waterproof makeup. Its inexpensiveness also means that it is great for daily usage. I have backups of these!
Left to right: Biotherm Biopur S.O.S Normalizer Toner and Cleanser (Moisturizer not pictured), Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel (Combination Oily to Oily Skin), Lancome Genefique Youth Activator, Lancome Visionnaire and Benefit Eyes It's Potent Eye Cream.
For more details about the Biotherm Biopur S.O.S Normalizer Skin Care series, Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel, Lancome Genefique and Lancome Visionnaire, check out my blog post or Youtube video about my skin care routine. Biotherm Biopur S.O.S Skin Care series are currently discontinued or going to be discontinued so I would encourage you to buy it if you are hemming and hawwing about getting it. I have backups but for now, I want to try to find a replacement before I start using my backups. I have already repurchased the Clinique moisturizer, Lancome Genefique and Visionnaire!
As for Benefit Eyes It's Potent Eye Cream, it is a product that I am indifferent to. It is not amazing that I will rush out to buy once I finished using it (though I do have one more in my collection), but it is not bad that I have anything to complain about it.
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula Massage Cream for Stretch Mark Cream Concentrate
This is embarassing but yes, I do have stretch marks. While this cream has not made my stretch marks miraculously disappear, I find that it has made a visible difference by improving the elasticity of my skin. I have repurchased it and because I like it so much, I am currently trying out different variations of Palmer's Cocoa Butter's products for stretch marks.
Bioré Gentle Make-up Removing Wipes and StriVictin-SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks & Wrinkles
As these are only samples that I have only used once or twice, I have not actually tried it long enough to review it so no comments!
Bioré Black Nose Strips and Bioré Pore Perfector Nose Strips
The Bioré Black Nose Strips come in a pack of 10 which I purchased. They work relatively well but they do not remove all the gunk from my nose completely. The Pore Perfector Nose Strip was a sample that I received so no comments on that since it was a one time use only.
TRESemmé Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner
I have so much to say about the TRESemmé Split Remedy Shampoo and Conditioner that I will have a separate product review blog entry on these.
Korres Shower Gel (Guava) and LUX Exfoliating Body Wash (Tahitian Escape)
The Korres Shower Gel was okay but I am not a huge fan of the Guava scent. On the other hand, I am a huge fan of LUX body wash because they all smell amazing! With LUX body washes, you have the choice of exfoliating or regular body wash. I love the entire range so I do use both the exfoliating and regular body washes. With the exfoliating body washes, they are very gentle so I don't feel like they exfoliate my skin much. You will definitely have to use a body scrub on top of the exfoliating body wash. While it cannot replace a body scrub, it is a good body wash to use.
Left to Right: Soap & Glory Body Scrub (Scrub Actually), Boots No. 7 Body Scrub (Yoghurt), Victoria's Secret Body Scrub (Hello Darling) and Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub
My favourite body scrubs are from Soap & Glory. Their scents are incredible! I also used up Soap & Glory's Scrub of Your Life but I forgot to save the packaging of that. Soap & Glory's Scrub Actually is an excellent body scrub that I will definitely recommend! It does a great job at exfoliating and it leaves my skin feeling moisturized afterwards. Comparing Scrub of Your Life and Scrub Actually, I prefer Scrub Actually because it is more exfoliating. Scrub Actually's exfoliating brown sugar also dissolves as you exfoliate your skin. I like how it does not leave residues in my shower.
Boots Yoghurt Body Scrub does a decent job at exfoliating and moisturizing but it left residues in my shower. It is especially troublesome when it dries up in the shower and will make your shower area look dirty. :(
Victoria's Secret Body Scrub in Hello Darling is a decent body scrub. However, when compared to the other body scrubs featured above, I find that I need more of this product to do the same job. Maybe that's why it barely lasted a fortnight. (oops)
As for the Bioré Pore Unclogging Scrub, it is a good product! For a mini sized bottle, it lasted for a good period of time. It does a decent job at exfoliating and I like the minty refreshing feeling it leaves on my skin. I will definitely repurchase it once I finish the facial scrubs at home! In fact, I can't wait to buy it and use it again... Do bear in mind that it contains small amounts of salicylic acid so remember to protect your skin with SPF!
Boots Caribbean Cocktail: A Very Berry Surprise Body Lotion
This is a very lightweight body lotion that smells scrumptious! It smells like berry yoghurt which I love. It is readily absorbed into my skin but it does not leave my skin feeling moisturized after a few hours. It will be suitable for those living in warmer climates and people who love berry yoghurt scents!
So this is it for my blog entry version for my product empties. I actually started this blog entry awhile ago but never got round to finishing it. BAH! This is a very long blog entry but I hope you will enjoy it nevertheless. Stay tuned for more blog entries and Youtube videos!
Hi everyone, hope everyone is doing well! Pardon the pun above but it does seem like I've been using a lot of Essie nail polishes recently huh? I have been really laggy with my blog posts and Youtube videos (surprise surprise). I honestly don't know what happened to October. I feel like someone has been messing with the time machine- making the days fly pass faster like in the Spy Kids movie where the kids face an evil villian who messes around with a Time Machine.
Anyhow, I'm here to clear my backlog of blog posts so that I can get to the really BIG blog post that I really want to do NOWWWWW. This is a good incentive for me to clear up some of my backlog so let's get down to it!
PRESENTING...............................
ESSIE BANGLE JANGLE! The colour is a lovely lavender lilac colour under the sunlight but it also borders on a taupey lavender colour without flash if that makes sense. The formula of this nail polish is excellent. The consistency is good- not gloopy or too liquidy/streaky. It applies opaque within 1-2 coats depending on how you apply it. I like to apply 2 coats for my manicure but that is my personal perference. It also dries fairly fast which I really appreciate. Combined with Essie Protein Base Coat and Wet n Wild Fast Dry Clear Coat, my manicure has lasted for more than a week without chipping! The above photographs were taken yesterday which meant that my manicure was 9 days old. You can tell that my nails have grown since then so that explains the part on top which is not covered by nail polish. My manicure stands up to regular washing of dishes and cars (yes, I do household chores too!).
Overall, I'm impressed and I love this nail polish! So far, I have had really good luck with Essie nail polishes that my manicures with Essie nail polishes last really long except one using a mini Lion Around from Essie's 2011 Far Game Resort Collection. That particular manicure barely lasted a day. I'm not sure if it means that the formula for the minis are different from the full-sized Essies because I've read good reviews for the Lion Around polish. Oh well, I shall experiment some more and leave it for another blog post.
I hope you enjoyed this blog entry and stay safe wherever you are. If you are in the US/Canada, I pray that you are doing well and that God will keep you safe from Sandy.
Hello there, I am so excited to announce that I am going to do Project 10 Pan! While this is not an original idea- many other bloggers and Youtubers have embarked on such a journey before, this is my first Project 10 Pan. It is code named P10P- it reminds me of those code names given to secret agent missions.
Basically, the whole idea of P10P is that you must use up 10 things of what you already have before you buy anything else and it applies to all beauty products. I have seen some bloggers and Youtubers do variations of P10P and some of the more dedicated ones have gone far and beyond to tackle P50P and even P100P! I question my dedication and my low threshold for temptation that I have decided that P10P will be a good start.
I will chronicle my P10P journey and maybe start a monthly empties video and blog post if I go through products fast enough. I am not sure if fate is encouraging me to do this because I am nearly done with my current cleanser! With any luck, washing my face tonight will spell the last of my current cleanser. Do not think that I will simply waste the product just to finish it faster. Pfftttt. I will squeeze the life out of the tube just to get every last bit and use it up. It explains why my tubes always end up looking mangled towards the end. You will see them in my upcoming product empties video which was filmed on Wednesday. I will upload it really soon but those product empties will not be counted for this P10P. My P10P journey will start today: 19 October 2012 and only products used up on 19 October 2012 and onwards will be counted.
Anyhow, here are my variations to my P10P:
- While I will TRY MY BEST not to buy any beauty related products FOR MYSELF before completing P10P (let's be realistic here), if it is an essential product that I do not have a backup/ another of (i.e. shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste), I can buy it.
- If I buy any non-essential beauty product before completing P10P, I will add the number of products I buy to the number of items I have to finish. For example, if I buy a blush while on P10P, P10P will become P11P.
- If it is sent to me for review or gifted to me, it does not count.
My disclaimer is that if you see any haul videos/blog posts/pictures while I am still on P10P, they are most likely my purchases before P10P started. I will be honest if I bought more while on P10P or if they are my purchases before P10P. *pinky promise* And let's face it, this P10P is more for myself than for anyone else anyway. It will make me go through my makeup collection and hopefully, I will focus on what I have and not what I do not have!
I am getting pumped for P10P!
Have you gone on P10P before? If not, are you thinking of doing P10P?
Cheers
annsleyw :)
Update: This has inspired me to finish up whatever products I have opened but stopped using. P10P may be going faster than I thought!
Hello Gorgeous! *wolf whistles* Is this not the prettiest lipstick you have ever set your eyes on? For me, Guerlain has become my latest brand-crush. Guerlain has amazing products with amazing packaging but the Rouge Gs are top on my list with the exception of the ever elusive Cruel Gardenia that I want so badly. :(
The jewel lipstick compact has a luxurious look and it does have a good weight to it which adds to the luxe effect. The practicality of the compact to open and reveal 2 mirrors is a good idea since it is troublesome to find a mirror to re-apply lipstick when you are out. However, the hefty weight of the lipstick does not make it ideal for having many of these in your bag. Also, it is very susceptible to finger prints and because I like my things to look as pristine as possible, trying to handle the compact without getting my fingerprints on it is not easy. I end up having to use a cloth to wipe off my fingerprints everytime I use it. Yes, I am weird like that.
Anyhow, here is a description of the Rouge G lipsticks on Guerlain's website:
A jewel lipstick compact with a white gold shimmer designed by Lorenz Bäumer, the young and talented jeweller in Place Vendôme. A horizontal design with feminine curves that houses a secret: a mirror automatically appears when the compact is opened. The lipstick has a pure elegant, contemporary design, and closes magnetically. This exceptional object boasts a comprehensive, premium formula containing a star ingredient: ruby powder, which acts as an optical whitener to bring out the colour and shine of the shades. The blend of natural active ingredients (Tiger Grass, wild mango butter, Gugul resin, used in Ayurvedic medicine) complete the formula to plump up, smooth and bring moisture and softness to your lips.
So with the description out of the way, here is what I think of the Rouge Gs. IT IS AMAZING! It has my vote for best lipstick of the 2012. I applied the lipstick when I got home from the mall which was around 6pm. I wanted to test the colour on my lips, the texture and how long the lipstick would last on my lips. It applied like a dream. It glided onto my lips very easily and it felt moisturizing.
Grenade is a pretty raspberry red with a sheen that eliminates the need for a gloss on top.The lipstick was pigmented and the colour payoff was good. One swipe along the lips will give you an opaque colour.
Dinner time was around 7pm. After eating my dinner and drinking my favourite green tea, the sheen wore off but the colour on my lips was about 75% the strength of how it looked like when it was freshly applied. Throughout the night, I was talking and drinking more green tea. I took a photo around 9-10pm that night and posted it on Instagram saying how impressed I was with the lasting powers of the lipstick. Here's the photo:
Pardon the use of filter in this photo and the photo is not a true reflection of the actual colour. I did not apply makeup sans the lipstick so I was not keen on scaring people on Instagram. Besides, the whole point of the photo was to show the lasting power of the lipstick and not my makeup (or lack thereof).
At 12 midnight, the colour was still there. I was getting sleepy and for me, the knowledge that it would last me for about 6 hours was good enough for me. Though the lipstick did not dry my lips out, the moisturizing feeling I got when I first applied the lipstick did not last 6 hours. Do note that I was not expecting the lipstick to be a lip balm so I was not bothered about the lipstick not moisturizing my lips for 6 hours. It is just extra information to make the review more complete. I removed the lipstick and went to bed a happy girl.
In Australia, Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks retails for $70 AUD while it retails for $48 USD in America. The price tag attached to the Rouge Gs is on the high side but depending on the lipstick that you choose, for example; Grenade which comes with a sheen, you will have no need for gloss over the lipstick. The dual purpose of Rouge G in Grenade makes the price tag seem less intimidating.
Verdict:
Packaging: 7/10 (because it is rather heavy and susceptible to finger prints)
Price: 6/10 (definitely a splurge item)
Texture: 9.5/10 (moisturizing and glides on easily- I am only reserving that 0.5 mark because there is always room for improvement no matter how good something or someone is)
Colour: 8/10 (very pretty colour but not a must-have unique colour exclusive to Guerlain Rouge G in 65 Grenade)
Lasting power: 9/10 (sheen will not last but the colour will last for about 6 hours or more even with eating, drinking and talking)
Do you own any Guerlain Rouge G Lipsticks? If yes, which ones do you have? If not, are you looking to try some in the future?
Hello there! I finally edited and uploaded my August/September 2012 Favourites (Hits & Misses) video. Here is the link to the video if you have not checked it out.
In the video, I sported my potential Halloween makeup look for this year. I have been dressing up as a french maid for the past 2 years. In 2010, I was french maid in a black and white french maid outfit. In 2011, I was a french maid in a black and pink outfit. I was getting tired of constantly revamping my tired french maid outfit and looks. I was watching a Youtube video from Jordan Liberty of givegoodface. It was his tutorial on the Leopard eyes look which inspired me to try the Leopard eyes look using different colours. So now I am thinking of going as a Leopard for Halloween this year. Say "MEOOOOOWWWWWWWWWWWWWW...."
Do let me know if you are celebrating Halloween this year and what you will be going as. I have more blog entries and Youtube videos coming up so stay tuned!
Cheers
annsleyw :)
PS: Products mentioned in the video are:
Olive Manon Olive Oil (Cosmetic Grade Olive Oil)
Garnier Daily All in One Miracle Skin Perfector (Medium)
Garnier Daily All in One Miracle Skin Perfector for Combination to Oily Skin (Light)
Bourjois Healthy Mix Foundation (53 Light Beige)
Rimmel Max Bold Curves Mascara
Becca Eye Tint (Gilt)
Maybelline Baby Lips (Anti-oxidant Berry)
Fresh Sugar Treatment Therapy (Rose)
Essie Mint Candy Apple
Essie Luxeffects Set in Stones
China Glaze Midnight Mission
Hollywood False Eye Lashes
Disclaimer: All products were purchased by me or in the case of the cosmetic grade olive oil; given to me by my grandmother. All opinions are my own and this is not a sponsored review.
