Makeup Noob: BB Creams

If there's one beauty product that seems to have been made specifically for lazy girls like yours truly, it's probably BB cream.

With it's disturbingly redundant name [BB supposedly stands for Beauty Balm or Blemish Balm. Either way put that together with cream and you've got a name that's something like Beauty Balm Cream], and incredibly long list of uses (moisturizer, make up base, sunscreen etc.), it's one of those things I initially looked upon with much skepticism. I rarely believe anything that claims all-in-one features can really perform all functions effectively. 

So, when you can just as easily buy a good moisturizer, serum and makeup base, what the heck would you be doing mucking about with this stuff?

Honestly? No idea. 

But I'm the sort of girl who, before the BB Cream, survived on just moisturizer and two-way powder foundation (with UV protection, of course) and two swipes of blusher. So bear with me while I'm still pretty much on my way to discover the joys of makeup.

Got this image off Google search.
Finished my sample awhile ago.

So when I got my first sample of Estee Lauder's Cyber White BB Cream, I was completely blown away

 by how awesome it really was. The texture is light enough that I don't feel like I've got inches of makeup on my face, yet the coverage is so awesome it looked like I had no pores! The fact that it doesn't feel sticky at all makes me feel completely confident about leaving the house without having to put any other product on my face. I think the full sized tube costs RM 139 when I asked.

Verdict: The perfect BB cream I would totally buy. 

Bought this some time back,
came with this super un-glam cellophane tape
around it to keep the security tag/label thing on.
You can still see bits of it where
I didn't bother to peel off completely.  

Still not entirely convinced that there was any room for BB cream in my very super streamlined almost non-existent makeup routine, I went in search for a more reasonably priced option. That's when I found Maybelline's Clear & Smooth BB Cream, can't really remember the price but I think it was something like RM22.90. I was definitely surprised to find it pleasant to use. It comes in two shades: 01 Fresh and 02 Natural. I tried the latter at first - which turned out to be a little too dark for me. Took quite a lot of blending to make sure I don't look like an oompa loompa. Got the lighter colour second time around, which suited me fine. Coverage is excellent, no pores and all that. The texture is a little bit oilier which makes it liquid enough to be applied with a foundation brush, but also feels a bit heavier on the skin and pores felt a little clogged after awhile. 

Verdict: The cheap BB cream I would have around for like massive, indiscriminate use. You know, like days when you're just bumming around at home sans makeup, but have to go out for like 10 minutes just to buy lunch.

Next up: Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery BB, RM 32.90.
Got this at Sasa which gave a discount at the time so actual price paid was RM 27.95.
I first tried this out as a sample, and I have to say I found the texture rather different from the first two. As the name suggests, its more watery and light, which is a really nice change from the Maybelline one. Coverage isn't as awesome, but it does sort of even out skin tone and give the face this dewy look which I really loved. Really good if you haven't got any major blemishes or anything like that to cover up. It's a little sticky at first, but after a little while, you don't really feel anything. Again, only good if you're really just looking for sunscreen and some base.
Verdict: My current favourite for daily use. 

Circling back to Estee Lauder, I recently got this sample of their BB Balm [OMG! Redundant name alert again!].

It's pretty much the same thing as the Estee Lauder BB cream I wrote about here, except that it's in a compact form instead of a tube. Not loving it as much - has all the good things I mentioned about the other Estee Lauder one, except that it feels a little too dry for easy application. Then again, it might be because I'm using the super small sample with it's super small sponge.

Verdict: Meh, so-so. I'd still go back to the Estee Lauder BB Cream. This one currently sits in my gym bag as replacement for the entire makeup pouch. 

Unconventional but awesome vacation souvenirs!

How many times has a friend gone on vacation, and you almost already know what you're going to get from them the next time you hang out right after they get back?

I know I've received my fair share.

How many times have you been guilty of mass-buying souvenirs that come in packs of 10 at tourist spots in insert vacation destination name here?

Yeah...slightly less guilty. 

I just plain don't buy stuff for people if I don't think it's awesome or that the receiver would totally love it.

Whatever it is, it's always awesome to receive gifts unexpectedly. 

So when my colleague got back from Oz, I totally didn't expect to receive anything. Or at the very most, a koala in a vest. 

But then she surprised me with the most thoughtful gifts ever!

Yes, you can get Kaiser Craft brads here. But so much more choice (and cheaper) in Oz! I can't believe she even remembered that I'm into paper craft.

Same goes for Typo - I know there's one in Pavilion.
But who cares? When do I ever not need/want another purse? Perfect for my coins..or lip gloss..or keys.

Mac's Kitchen Cheat Sheet: Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

This recipe uses store bought pasta sauce with modifications of my own. I like to utilise convenience when short on time. It saves me from the need to prepare stocks and I can already be assured of a good 'base' taste. In the end, I get a rich sauce tailored to my palate, perfect for a quick and good meal. I'm not much of a stickler to measurements when I cook. So, measurements I have herea re more of a rough guideline. It's all about personal preference when it comes to the amount of seasoning you'll need, or the consistency of the sauce. Preparation plus cooking time takes 30 minutes, and this recipe serves 2 portions.

Ingredients:
1. Bottled pasta sauce of your choice. (I use Prego's Fresh Mushroom)
2. 1 medium tomato (opt for canned tomato puree if blending takes too much effort)
3. 1 medium yellow onion, cut into squares
4. 1/2 can button mushrooms, sliced
5. 1 large carrot, grated
6. 2 cloves garlic
7. Mixed herbs, oregano & paprika (or any herbs of your choice)
8. 100g minced pork
9. 2 tbsp olive oil
10. Black pepper & salt to taste (I personally do not add salt as the pasta sauce already has all the salt it needs)
11. Parmesan cheese (to serve)

Some of the ingredients used

Method:

1. Cut tomatoes into quarters and blend with a little bit of water.

2. Heat the olive oil in a non-stick pan

3. Saute the garlic lightly and add in the minced pork and onions

4. When the onions are soft, add in the mushrooms and grated carrots

5. Add in approximately 1/4 bottle of the pasta sauce and blended tomato puree. Add more bottled sauce or water for desired consistency.

6. Add mixed herbs, oregano, paprika and black pepper to taste. I find that the paprika adds a little zang to the sauce

7. Leave to simmer for 5 minutes and ladle over cooked pasta.

Enjoy!

Dreaded Measurements

It was Sunday brunch, and I'd been pigging out on some really scrummy yogurt (more on where this was next time!), when D arrived with fiance in tow. 

So here's the thing - much earlier in the year, I knew I was going to be one of the bridesmaids. 

But then a couple of weeks ago....

Brunch was the first time we were meeting up since my appointment as M.O.H. and there was much to catch up on. Not easy to not feel like a completely useless M.O.H. from half the country away! First on the list of things to do: give D my measurements so that she can order the bridesmaids dresses.

What? So soon?

Yes. But don't worry, we'll have a fitting and then you can get the dress altered.

Phew. That buys me some time to work out. 

By the way, she showed me a photo of the dress we bridesmaids are supposed to wear. Let's just say I've got a lot of work to do on my shoulders, back and arms in addition to the tummy I already knew I had to lose. 

So when is this fitting?

Early September. 

WHAAAT? 

Needless to say, the gym membership that I'd put off signing up for was signed and stamped the next day.

No kidding around this time.

when Mac came to visit

Interior decor is usually Mac's thing - it's always only been the sort of thing that I love browsing, but never had any reason to actually shop for. 

Stores we went to, with some pretty cool stuff, too!

But as always, Mac has a knack of convincing me to buy a thing or two as well when we go shopping. 

Decorative plate from Iwannagohome

This is the sort of thing I'd want to have on my kitchen wall. Of course, there's no kitchen to speak of as yet, but it was so pretty I just had to get it. 

Decorative glass plate from Iwanagohome

As with this really cute glass plate I imagine will someday sit on my hallway cabinet, and be home to my keys & change. 

A trip to the city also proved to be quite fruitful. Managed to find myself a new blusher palette at Sephora.

Too Faced No Makeup Makeup palette, RM 122

The awesome thing about summer - all the bargains on swimsuits! They were so insanely cheap at H&M.

Bandeau bikini top RM 19, bikini bottom RM 5

Wasn't too sure about which size top to get - I'd been considering one size larger, but the queue for the fitting room was too insane. Didn't help that this woman in the queue ahead of us actually asked if I was sure I could fit into it (yes, I could by the way, and it was none of her business!). 

Well, wouldn't hurt to get two then, eh?

Quote Of The Month: August 2013

So true! We finally started our blog!