Budget beauty: Drugstore haul

In this edition of budget beauty, I feature some of my drugstore purchases (Guardian, to be exact) that I've been using over the past few months.

 After reading Jessica Alba's The Honest Life, I went on a "all natural" shopping spree to replace some of the products I've used that contains harmful substances, as indicated in her book. This lip balm was one of it, after scrutinizing the ingredients of all the lip balms on the aisle, I went home with this because it is one of the few that contains the least chemicals and is paraben free. I also loved the cocoa scent that comes with it but that's from fragrance which is bad too but there were not many fragrance free lip-balm options at drugstores. At least its a step better from using Petroleum jelly or "colour changing" lip balms. God knows what chemicals they put in it for the colour to change on your lips.

Price: RM11.90 for a pack of two

A couple months ago, I have also been on a hair product spree because I bought a hair curling iron in an attempt to curl my hair. This is an activator that is supposed to hold the curls better and protect your hair from heat. I believe that it did do its job because my the curl does hold better when using this but unfortunately, I found out my hair texture is too fine and straight to hold curls for long so curly hair + me = fail. 

Price: RM12.90

In another attempt to achieve curly hair WITHOUT heat, I purchased this product which looks easy enough. You just pump a generous amount of this hair jelly and run it through your hair. Then you scrunch your hair as much as possible and to create wavy hair. This product does work especially when you wear your hair in a bun for an hour or two after using this. Upon releasing your bun, you should have some nice waves. This method works better for me instead of heat but it still doesn't hold the waves long enough because of my hair type *sad*

Price: RM15.90 

Similar to my lip balm hunt, I went on an anti-aluminium compound deodorant because aluminium plugs the pores to prevent sweating and apparently is linked to increased breast cancer risk. Although, there are no direct studies that links to this, I felt that it is best to avoid it where possible because after all, aluminium is a metal compound and to apply that on your body everyday seems kinda dodgy to me. So I managed to find one from Nivea which is the brand I have been using for years. My previous deos all contain aluminium in their ingredients but I didn't see any in this one (unless it is a hidden!). It works just fine and I think there's no harm avoiding aluminium if you can find a reasonably priced one without it like this one. Alternatively, there are crystal salts deodorants that is apparently all-natural which I have yet to try. Will definitely do an update if I decide to purchase that next.

Price: RM11

Another product that I purchased was sunblock for my face and I realised that 90% of drugstore sunblocks contain aluminium (again!). I finally found one from the Biore range that doesn’t have it in its ingredient but works pretty well! It kind of prevents you from sweating as much when you have this sun block on. It is also non-sticky and gives a matte finish which is a major plus point.

Price: RM23

Last but not least, is this matte top coat that I really wanted for the longest time. I finally found a reasonably priced one from Sally Hansen and it works pretty well. I actually have it on my nails now as I am typing this. Highly recommended!

Price: Around RM20

Budget Beauty: The Basics

Today's review gonna be all about the basic stuff you need will need in your basic grooming routine. These are things I don't think I can live without!

Everybody needs to smell good, but fragrance is one of the most toxic products we can put on our body (surprise, surprise!). However, all hope is not gone, eventhough you really can't eliminate fragrance out of your routine, the very least is go for ones using natural fragrance like this Shea Karite EDT from Body Shop. I've started appreciating sustainable brands like Body Shop even more after reading Jessica Alba's The Honest Life.

Price: RM59 (i think)

I have been using a similar product from Bio-Essence every night which I reviewed here  until one day I saw this sleeping mask on sale. After the discount, it was actually cheaper than my usual night creme of the same range and brand so I got this instead. To be honest, it is as good as my usual product but this one has a thicker consistency while the night cream has a more gel like texture. I love them both the same so I'm probably going to alternate them depending which one is on sale! #win

Price: RM49.90 on sale (usual RM69.90)

Laneige is not exactly a budget brand but I thought I throw in a review here since I got this as a sample. I didn't really like it because it was too oily for my liking. I prefer a water based make-up remover over an oil version like this one. It did remove my make-up easily but I had to spend more time washing my face clean from the oily product than the actual time of removing my make-up. I would only use this if I have full make-up on. Otherwise, I'll just stick to my Hada Labo.

Price: N/A (Free Sample)

Confession time: I rarely remember to use toner. I usually wash my face while I'm in the shower (cos I multitask like that!) and usually forget to tone my face once I'm out of my shower. This resulted in my toner expiring before I could even finish it! This time I went hunting for a smaller bottle and found this Tea Tree Oil version from Aiken. If you don't already know, I LOVE TEA TREE OIL. It's natural, it has healing properties and I use it religiously every time I have a pimple or a scratch or a minor injury. The 100% tea tree extract I am using is also from Aiken...So back to this toner, I honestly have no complaints about this, it feels like it works better than my previous Simple fragrance free toner. I absolutely love the smell of tea tree and this product is super affordable!

Price: RM5

One day while shopping for conditioner, I totally went to the store thinking of buying a Schwarzkopf one but ended up getting this Tracia one instead because I got influenced by the promoter!! Oh well, despite it being a local brand, I am actually liking this. It does gives that silky smooth feeling and also smells very professional..like the ones used in salons. I guess that's why its called Salon Treatment? It also comes in a big tube and I think it will be able to last for the rest of the year since I only condition my hair every other day.

Price: RM9.90

OK. So this isn't really a basic product per se since many people I know don't use dry shampoo. But to me, this is a very important product because I have an oily scalp. Previously, I used an aerosol dry shampoo by Sephora which leaked half the bottle away in my drawer (!!). Although I really loved that product, I felt that I should try another format besides the spray format. I went to a pharmacy to find one and this was the only dry shampoo in the entire store. I tell you, dry shampoos are hard to find in Malaysia!! Anyway, this powdered version was not too bad, it did mattify my hair on oily days but it does leave your hair a little grey so you need to blend it in. This was a saving grace during the water rationing weeks where I would sometimes skip a shampoo to save water. I also use this when I get back home late at night and it is bad to wash your hair (the Chinese believes it causes arthritis). I also think the powdered version would work better for ladies in confinement since they aren't allowed to wash their hair or have any contact with unboiled water. Yikes!

Price: RM22

Last but not least, a body wash is probably the most basic product ever because everybody needs to shower everyday. I got this as a gift from Sephora actually, when I got their membership. It says it's an orange blossom wash which I thought would be similar to the Body Shop's Satsuma version here but unfortunately it is nowhere near. The Body Shop definitely produced a fresh smelling citrusy fragrance while Sephora's version is more of a musky orange. It is also very creamy which somehow didn't leave my skin feeling that clean. I don't mind using it but I probably wouldn't go out and buy this.

Price: RM29

I am trying to do this once in 2 months so hopefully I'll have be able to share more in 2 months time :) 

Budget Beauty: Nails & Make Up Edition

This here is the latest addition to my nail polish collection. I got this at a clearance sale so there were not many colours to choose from and this was the last bottle of a colour that was actually nice. Its midnight blue with a little bit of sparkle. Sorry you can't see it clearly here. My bad. In terms of quality, Revlon definitely did not disappoint. It didn't chip that easily and colour glides on pretty smoothly. Though not as good as my Sally Hansen's which I'll get to later. 

Price: On sale for RM5 (Usual price around RM15)

At the same clearance sale, Silky Girl was also clearing their stock so since I needed a new blush cause my old Sephora one was finishing, I took the opportunity to grab this coral blush. I love the colour very much as it has slight orange undertones that really gives that healthy glow. It is also really natural and matte. I'm mad about matte so that's a plus point for me. 

Price: On sale for RM8

This is probably the best beauty buy of 2014 to date. First and foremost, this was also at the same clearance sale and it also happens to be the same brand and range of lipstick that I use on a daily basis. It is the matte range from Revlon (see, what did I tell you?) and although there were only two colours to choose from at the sale, one of it is this Smoked Peach colour which looks so gooood. Just look at this picture. Its subtle enough to wear it everyday so now I actually have an option in the morning to wear this or my usual colour.

Price: On sale at RM10 (Usual price RM32 - 35)

I bought this from Sephora because I wanted to change up my concealer brand (Maybelline) which I have been using since I was 18. That is almost 10 years!! There's nothing wrong with it actually, just that I just wanted a change. So in came this Nyx concealer which I thought was a bad purchase after the first try because I felt like I was tugging my skin during application. It's in a stick format so the texture is harder than my usual liquid concealer. But turns out, the stick does soften over time and it's easier to apply. At the moment, I do not have a preference for this over my usual but it does gives more precision during application and you can reach those hard to reach areas like the corner of your nose, corners of your eyes etc. because of the stick format.

Price: RM19

Confession: I have not worn mascara in about 2-3 years. Simply because I have no reason to. I started wearing glasses more during the past few years and my lashes are naturally long so if I applied mascara and wore glasses, my glasses will be filled with mascara streaks #truestory. So anyway, I decided to buy one now because the number of events, functions and wedding dinners I have to attend are increasing so I figured I needed one. Plus this was 50% off so the decision was easier to make. So far what I like is that it doesn't clump much but the mascara wand is a bit too big. I'm not sure if its the reason that it gives more volume but I do find it a little difficult to apply.

Price: RM19.90 (Usual price around RM40)

This product is true to it's name. Seriously, one of my best purchases because it actually works! I've tried so many anti-chip fast drying top coats by brandless polishes and seriously, just don't bother with those! Invest in brands that are experts in this field as they do make a difference. I find Sally Hansen's range not overly expensive like O.P.I, Butter London or the likes of it and you can get it easily at Guardian Pharmacy. One con though, sometimes if you apply too thick of a coat, air bubbles will form. 

Price: Around RM20 

This baby here is my favourite nail polish right now! This is part of Sally Hansen's Hard As Nails collection and it is also true to its name. I use this one on its own because it really doesn't require a top coat. Just two coats of this and you're good to go. Doesn't chip easily too and the pink has a little bit of shine in it, very subtle almost unnoticeable but makes it look a bit more interesting. 

Price: On sale at RM10.90 (Usual price RM17.90)

I really enjoy doing these beauty reviews despite it requiring the most effort from me out of all the types of posts I do on my blog. I love blogging and sharing things I love with the world so I hope you are enjoying this new category as much as I do. Cheers! 

Budget beauty: Dry shampoo, the best sunblock and more!

As promised, I will be doing more beauty reviews this year and here is my second review of some products which I have been using lately.

First up is this mini lotion which I got as part of a goodie bag at an event in Sunway Lagoon. This is basically a body moisturiser that also comes with SPF 24 for some sort of UV protection. I would say this is a mild sunblock that would probably work well for a short trip to the pool downstairs or for running errands, but if you were to be out in the sun then this will not really leave you that "white". I love how convenient it is though because it is within the 100ML liquid limit at airports which is ideal for travelling. I also love how inexpensive it is! I brought this along with me to Krabi and finished the whole tube there (I only used it the last two days) so there really isn't much inside this tube, but I would still give this plus points for its convenience.

Price: RM1.25 (you can usually pick this up at Guardian's cashier counters)

This was a part of a gift set I received for Christmas and this is actually one of my favourite scents from Body Shop. The Satsuma orange tangy scent is just so refreshing so it really adds to your in-bath experience. Haha. Although this is a scrub, it doesn't really hurt your skin because it is really mild. If you are looking for a scrub that will leave you sparkly clean then this may not work for you though.

Price: Probably less than RM50 per set

This body butter here is also part of the set and comes in the same Satsuma orange scent. I am not a big fan of body butters from The Body Shop in general, because they tend to leave my skin feeling so sticky (is it just me?). I still used this anyway because it gives off a nice scent which I can fall asleep to. I also prefer using this on my legs and feet instead of my hands cause I don't like the feeling of sticky hands! 

Now this, was like discovering something totally new to the world to me. You see, I have never understood why beauty vloggers use dry shampoo until I started using it myself... If you are like me and tend to have an oily scalp, trust me THIS WILL SAVE YOU. There are days when I do not have time to wash my hair but need to head out, and this baby here is the "magic ingredient" that will keep my hair oil free. It also kinda works like a milder hairspray which gives my limp hair some volume. Double win. 

Price: RM29

I have recently switched from a bio-essence cleanser from another range to this one here to complement the night cream that I am using (here). What I really loved about this one, is that it doesn't create a lot of soapy bubbles and instead it feels more creamy and gentle to your skin. Despite this, it still cleans really well and removes traces of make up which I really love. I use this after  my make-up remover so that it gets all the leftover gunk on my face out. To top that off, I am sure nobody minds some extra exposure to collagen :) Definitely the best cleanser I have used to date! 

Price: around RM20

Last but not least, is this sunblock from Sunplay that you really must invest in if you are going to the beach and do not want to come home tan (Asians, take note). I used this when I went island hopping the entire day and I only got darker by a little. So little, the difference wasn't even obvious because when I got back, everyone commented that I still look fair! Much to my disappointment actually because I really wanted to get a tan! I was even in water at noon (water actually makes you tan faster because it reflects the rays to you and noon sun is the harshest) but yet I didn't get dark. I guess this sunblock worked really well at blocking those UV rays. 

Price: RM30+

Stay tuned for my next review where I would be featuring my favourite nail polish brand.

Budget Beauty: First review of 2014!

Happy New Year everyone! In conjunction with the new year, I am starting a new series called Budget Beauty. I will be doing some reviews of skincare/makeup/beauty products that I have used and loved which everyone can afford (Read: Below RM100)! I thought it would be beneficial to myself and my readers to note down which products works well and which doesn't, so here goes! I will normally try and feature about 5-6 products at one posting and hence, this obviously would not be a monthly feature (unlike my Fashion Forecast series) because I don't buy that many beauty products at a go...so I will blog as and when I have enough products to talk about in a post. Hope you'll enjoy! :)

First up I would like to talk about my favourite BB cream which is from Hada Labo. I've been using this for almost two years now and it is definitely the best BB cream ever used. I love that it does not make my face cakey but at the same time it provides a full coverage. I also love their Ivory Beige colour which matches my skin tone really well. It is actually a little bit darker than my skin tone but when applied, it kinda just blends into my natural skin tone so well. I hate BB creams that makes my skin white like a vampire so this BB cream really works for me! But if you prefer a lighter shade they do have that option too. This also comes with SPF50 which is perfect for Malaysian weather. 

Price: RM50-55 (available at major pharmacies)

Recently, I have been re-visiting the red lip trend and bought this matte red lipstick in Cardinal Red from IN2IT. Just a tip to anyone who wants to rock a red lip, get yourself a matte one and you will thank me after. Red lips are already bold enough on its own, you don't really need that extra shine or glitter which might just come off as trashy. This one here is matte and affordable (a combo so hard to come by) so even if you are not a red lip girl you could just buy this and give it a try. Minimal damage to your wallet but with good quality.

Price: RM17.90 (available at selected pharmacies and Parkson)

This one here is some sort of a primer which you can wear below your make up or just on its own. It is a clear primer though so it does not provide any coverage. What it does is it minimizes the appearance of your pores. However, your pores will not become any smaller unless you use it long term (according to the sales girl). I did notice my pores "dissappearing" when I use it but it is just temporary. If you are looking for something to eliminate your pores entirely, try splurging on Dr Brandt's Pores No More (read my review here). I do love the tea tree scent of this product though and tea tree does have healing properties so sometimes I use this on my zits too. 

Price: RM50++ (at all Body Shop outlets)

When it comes to day creams I almost never bother because my BB cream on its own acts as a moisturizer, sun block and foundation so I don't normally use moisturizers. But when I do, I use the most basic Olay product which is this Olay Total Effects 7-in-One Anti Aging Day Cream. Whew, what a mouthful. It comes with a little bit of SPF and it is quite thick in terms of consistency. I have been using this for a couple of years but it does not really do much for my skin so I am considering trying out another brand. I would recommend this one here only if you are looking for something really basic. You can also use this to mix with your foundation/BB creams if you want a lighter coverage or an easier glide. 

Price: RM20+ (available at all major pharmacies)

This one here is my favourite day time lipstick. I fell in love with this because of its matte finish, have I told you I love matte lips?! This colour is natural, just like all mauves, and gives your lips a bit of colour which makes it perfect for work. This is my second stick already!

Price: RM32-35 (at all major pharmacies)

Recently, I have been seeing quite an oily T-zone and hence I bought this compact powder to carry around so I can touch up my oily forehead on the go. I would recommend this because it is handy, has a mirror and the powder is really light which makes it not cakey at all. Best part is, the price is unbelievably cheap and its from Maybelline which is quite an established brand so you can rest assured it is not some cheapo low quality product. I'm guessing this is their loss leader product...any insights?

Price: Less than RM15 (at all major pharmacies)

This here is my staple product. I use this without fail every night and it is the best night cream I have ever used! I love that it is gel based and really light, it also smells really good and I wake up the next morning with supple skin. It has collagen in it which is anti-aging so it is definitely something a girl in her mid-twenties need. Highly recommended! 

Price: RM50-55 (available at all major pharmacies). The nett price is RM69.90 but do wait for Guardian or Watson's sales where the price will go down to as low as RM50.

These are obviously not budget products but I thought I'd review them since I received these free samples. 

Laneige White Plus Renew Essence: The thing about essences/serums is to layer it before putting on your night creams. I have tried doing that and my skin did feel supple the next day, but I'm not sure if it was because of this product or my night cream that was working. I did use it on its own without my Bio-Essence night cream and I felt that the absorption is not as good as my night cream. It takes longer for my skin to absorb this product and the texture is a white cream instead of a gel-like which I tend to prefer. Also, when used on its own, it doesn't have that supple skin feeling the next morning...so I am not too sure if this product would work best when used with another product from its line.

Laneige Snow BB Cream: The BB cream is pretty good if "snow" is what you are going for. It really has that sun-block feeling and my skin looks really white when I applied this which I don't really like. It also doesn't cover your flaws well but I guess you are supposed to use a foundation / concealer with this product? I like that it has SPF41 but Hada Labo still wins because it is a moisturizer, foundation, concealer, blemish balm and sun block all in a bottle. 

That's all for today, my next Budget Beauty post would focus more on body products so stay tuned!

xx