Hello hello and a very happy Chinese new year to all!

Just a short note to let you know that I’m still in Malaysia for the holidays (in case you were wondering if I have fallen off the face of the earth). It’s been a roller coaster of a couple of weeks, with a couple more to go. As much as I enjoy my time here with family and friends, I’m pretty homesick and am quite ready to go home. Many thanks to LeGeeque for checking up on our house for me during the storm and flash floods last week.

A few updates:
– The inevitable question looms “So, when are you having kids? You’re not getting any younger. So and so already have two/three/four. When you conceive when you’re older, your kids aren’t going to be that smart“, etc. Yes, complete WTF-ness to the last comment. My answer? “I want a dog. Period.” 😛

– Fell sick on the first week of the holidays. Haven’t had a cold in over a year, and I get a full-blown one on the first week. No Chinese New Year goodies for me this year. Sigh.

– Shopped a storm and given a LOT of pressies. Mum gave me two bottles of Chanel No. 19 (one eau de toilette and a miniature eau de parfum). Love!

Can’t wait to show you what I bought and my holiday photos when I’m back in Melbourne. I didn’t bring my laptop back with me this time, only the iPad, so blogging with photos is a bit of a problem.

Hope you’re all doing well, and to those celebrating the lunar new year, you have ’till the 17th (the 15th, and last day of the Chinese New Year) to keep eating before you go on that diet 😛

tine xx

About a month ago, I was kindly sent a box of Naive Beauty Magneteyes Under Eye Algae Mask to try out. I like masks of all sorts and something just for the eyes, in conveniently packed foils, is just right up my alley. Who am I to say no?

Description:

A gorgeous moisture-rich eye treatment that’s simple and easy to use! Simply unwrap Magneteyes and place under the eyes (on clean skin) for 30 minutes. The all natural, plant dna (cellulose) and collagen is quickly absorbed into the skin. You’ll notice a fresh, cool sensation as the algae gently targets wrinkles, puffiness and dark circles as it hydrates stressed areas around the eyes.

Now before I delve into the review, first of all, I would like you to understand that short of cosmetic surgery, no facial masks in the world can give you permanent miracles. It will not magically remove wrinkles and fine lines and eliminate eye bags and dark circles altogether (sufficient sleep and less water to drink at night before sleep will reduce water retention). What masks do is give that area a boost of moisture to the skin due to its high concentration of serum goodies, giving it an appearance of plump, lovely skin. Your skin will go back to normal the next day. Sad, but true.

Having said that, how did the Magneteyes Under Eye Algae Mask fare? Not bad, I’d say. The rubbery, “boing boing” texture of each piece is made of xantham gum. The appearance of eyebags and dark circles was reduced after application. Personally, it’s a decent eye mask to use especially before a night out, when you don’t want to have those eyebags bugging you.

Every set of eye pads are individually wrapped in foil, and it’s actually quite tough to peel off the plastic bit in front. All the better for me, because I know these pads are sealed real tight with no chance of contamination.

For better efficacy of the masks, I’d recommend keeping them in the fridge. Not only do they feel much better on the skin, the cold masks will temporarily contract the skin below, tightening it, thus giving you an appearance of reduced eyebags.

One snag about the masks though. The instructions state that you do not need to lie down when the pads are placed below the eyes. I’m afraid that’s not true because these babies slip off the skin very easily. Slight movement of the face will cause the eye pads to slip off. So it’s imperative that you stay put, and try not to talk when you have the mask on 😛

Naive Beauty Magneteyes Under Eye Algae Mask retails at AU$27 for a pack of 10 eye masks (excluding postage), and is available at the Naive Beauty website.

What I like about it: Tightly sealed, individually wrapped packets (plus points for hygiene), comfortable use, reduced the appearance of eyebags.

What I do not like about it: The pads fall off the skin pretty easily.

Description:

Illuminate, radiate, make your face come alive with the colour and drama of Illamasqua Powder Blusher. Colour-intense and highly pigmented, use it to shade, brighten, enhance and define the shape of your face. Be bold, be daring, be the centre of attention.

Illamasqua powder blushes have a matte finish and are highly pigmented. They remind me very much of NARS blushes. So if you like your NARS, chances are you’ll like Illamasqua’s blushes too (they’re *ahem* cheaper too). One swipe of the powder, and you get lots of colour. If you prefer building your blush layer by layer, then you either need a very light hand with this, or choose something less colour-pop-y.

Hussy is bright candy pink. Not something I would normally go for, but when on the cheeks, it just looks amazing.

Face: MAC Studio Fix Powder in NC30
Cheeks: Illamasqua Powder Blusher in Hussy
Lips: Benefit Full-Finish Lipstick in Saucy

I took this picture outdoors, and I think I was too light-handed with the blush, because it sadly doesn’t show much in the photo. Oooops. But trust me, the colour is quite strong.

You’ll notice that I used matched a pink-based blush with an orange-based lipstick. Makeup suicide? I don’t think so. I don’t believe in rules that cool colours should just stick to each other (and so on with warm colours). I tried both on together, and it just worked.

Illamasqua Powder Blushes retail at AU$38 a pop. If you bring in any old makeup you have (unwanted, broken, etc), as part of the Amnesty program (ending Jan 30), you get 25% off. Awesomeness.