© DURIS Guillaume

I’m sure you’ve seen this topic on lots of Twitter chats, blog posts, webinars, forums, etc for the past couple of years. The subject almost always revolves around the big question: how do I work with brands?

It’s not surprising that some beauty blogs are dropping out of the, what I’d like to call, “PR-friendly scene” these days and will only review the products they buy. They will not accept anything for review. This way, they have greater flexibility to be able to properly talk about the product without worrying about stepping on anyone’s feet. Of course, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that; in fact, it can be a huge relief not to have to worry if some brand is going to blacklist me just because I said their product was truly rubbish because hey, I’m a consumer and I purchased said product myself.

Still, this got me thinking: can you run a beauty blog without working with brands?

This is also a question I get from readers from time to time and I thought I’d address the issue today.

Read More »

It’s no secret here on Beautyholics Anonymous that I’m not a fan of the Clarisonic cleansing brush. I didn’t have the best experience with it but having said that, I’m not knocking all cleansing brushes because the much cheaper alternative, the Olay Regenerist Specialty Cleanser, works very well for me.

Cleansing brushes must be what they call “oh so last season” because here comes a range of cleansing brushes that aren’t really brushes at all! Instead of plastic bristles that form a brush, these are brushes that have silicone, rubbery bristles. Instead of rotating brush heads, they vibrate.

What the … ?

Today I’d like to show you two types of vibrating cleansing brushes that come in two sides of the price spectrum. It’s what I call a Save vs Splurge because they do pretty much the same thing.

Read More »

Now I’m not trying to be racist (can I be racist towards my own kind?) so let me try to ask this in the most delicate manner that I can: is it an Asian thing that Asian mothers take as many toiletries as they can from hotel rooms?

You see, when I was growing up, each time I got to stay in a hotel with my parents, when it’s time to pack up and leave, my mum would turn on the Sweeper mode and sweep up all the complimentary toiletries from the hotel room. Her excuse? “You can always use them later. It’s free, don’t waste!”

Hahaha, oh mum. Well, it’s true, they are free so why not, eh? So, for years and years, each time I had the opportunity to stay at a hotel, I made sure to clear out their tray of bath salts, shower gel, shampoo, conditioner, body lotions, razors, shower caps, combs, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and whatever else I can bring home. I hoard and I hoard ’em good. Hello, they’re free? Don’t waste!

How low is your opinion of me right now? 😛

Read More »