Biore Marshmallow Whip Extra Moist: Same Fun Foam, Better Moisturization!

Back in 2011, Biore launched their Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash, which I reviewed (said review is interesting, by the way :P). Fast forward to 2013, Biore has now come out with more variants of the Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash, which is Acne Care and Extra Moist, in addition to a reformulation of the Regular variant. So how is this new variant, is it really new and improved?


Biore Marshmallow Whip Extra Moist: New and Improved!
I know you guys were expecting me to review the Acne Care version, but...I have here the Extra Moist one. Muahaha. Well I'd be keen to check out the Acne Care one, too, but I thought given that my last review on the Marshmallow Whip Facial Wash claimed that it was fine but dried out my skin, I thought that it might be good of me to give the Extra Moist version a shot. After all, the Regular one was rather drying, so it would be great if the Extra Moist one worked out fine.

Beauty Blog Link Love

What does bacteria in your gut have to do with your skin? Musicalhouses finds out in her review of Lancome's Advanced Génifique Youth Activator!

Phyrra brings you the best in cruelty-free beauty brands! She includes her favorite products and international shipping information.

Love Rihanna? FabDiva20 is loving RiRi Woo. Check out her MAC RiRi Woo lipstick review and swatches!

Brand's InnerShine Marine Collagen Essence Strip Review: Does It Work?

Brand's, the maker of Essence of Chicken and Bird's Nest supplements, has branched out from just its staples of chicken essence and the like to include more beauty-related products with their "InnerShine" line. The Marine Collagen Essence Strip is just one of them; the company also has a Innershine Berry Essence and newer, heavily-promoted Innershine RubyCollagen Essence. But it's never too late to review a product as interesting as this one, surely!


Brand's Innershine Marine Collagen Essence Strip: Collagen, Niacinamide, and Vitamin E.
Interesting because, like most other ingestible collagen supplements, Brand's claims that its product "supplies skin with collagen, Niacinamide (a form of Vitamin B3), and Vitamin E to maintain its suppleness and elasticity." It also is "a delicious, low calorie beauty supplement in jelly format" and they recommend that you take it twice a day, "once in the morning with your daytime skincare regimen and once more in the evening with your nighttime skincare regimen". Some very impressive claims! And, if you've been reading other beauty blogs, you'll see that pretty much all of them have raved and written lots of positive things about the product. Sounds good, right?

KATE Makeup Haul: Eyeshadow Palettes and Lip Products (And a Related Ramble)

Kanebo, the Japan-bases parent company of KATE (drugstore cosmetics brand that I've swatched before), Lunasol (upscale cosmetics brand), Freshel, Impress, and Blanchir, had a sale just a couple of weeks ago. And you know me - I just had to check it out! I do have a fondness for both KATE and Lunasol, so it would have been understandable if I had emptied my wallet into Kanebo's coffers. Fortunately, I was a good girl, so I did some planning - I set myself a budget, rationalized all my purchases, and revised each item before proceeding to the checkout counter. And, this was what I finally ended up with!


Who doesn't love a cute Asian cosmetics haul? And it's KATE, too!

Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion Review: New Nano Formula

Sometimes, Asian drugstore skincare brands can be excessively gimmicky and trend-driven, rather than truly effective. That's why Hada Labo (literally "skin lab" in Japanese) has won my respect out of a plethora of available options, just because they have simple, cosmetically elegant products that work. While they do have a supremely effective marketing slogan ("one drop locks up an ocean", anyone?), I generally feel that Hada labo actually also has products that have proven to be effective. The latest product, the Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion, is also similarly promising.

The company previously had a Lifitng and Firming Lotion for bouncy skin, their famous moisturizer with the "one drop locks up an ocean" tagline and even an olive oil cleanser, so what's missing from a complete repertoire of products for the Asian market? A new-and-improved whitening line, of course!


Hada Labo Arbutin Whitening Lotion: pretty bottle, effective ingredients, easy to use - great!

Quick Look: Sleek Lip4 Palettes (Lip⁴, Really) in Ballet and Siren

Sleek has released the Lip4 (it's really Lip⁴, meaning Lip Cubed, but Lip4 seems easier to type, heh) Palettes, and because I've been busy in real life (which you know, I have, because I can't exactly survive solely on the light and heat emanating from my laptop), I've been kinda...sitting on these. No excuses, I know, but I hope some pretty Lip⁴ Palette photos and my first thoughts of them will be sufficient until I swatch these babies for you! I have Ballet and Siren here with me, and man, are these gorgeous looking!


Sleek Lip⁴ Palettes - L: Siren, R: Ballet

Lancôme Advanced Génifique Youth Activator Review and Analysis

Lancôme always has very interesting and cutting-edge products, and this time, they've lived up to expectations with their latest Advanced Génifique Youth Activator. The claims for this product stress the research that has gone into updating the formula - it's "inspired by 14 years of research in gene science and 9 patents covered until 2029", and is "enriched with a biotechnology derived ingredient and exclusive self-loading dropper", and claims to "deliver almost 40% more active ingredients than before", with "visible results in just 7 days". That's definitely a confident sales pitch!

Lancome Advanced Génifique Youth Activator: sleek and sexy in black packaging.

Samsung's Fashion Steps Out: Orchard Fashion Runway

Last weekend saw one of the highlights of Samsung's Fashion Steps Out, the Orchard Fashion Runway. During this event, Orchard Road is shut down and transformed into a fashion runway. This year, 173 models, each wearing one outfit, strut down the 600 meters along Orchard Road. It's an impressive affair, and I was able to capture a few shots, both backstage and on the runway, for you!

Balloons...who doesn't love balloons?
Having Orchard Road as the runway emphasizes the show's accessibility - almost all the clothes seen during the show can be bought immediately after the show, too, in stores. That's something that's a little different from most runway shows.

Cellnique D'Sensi Calming & Hydrating Cream Review

Cellnique is an Asian brand, but the impressive thing about is that, unlike other Asian brands that tend to be more marketing than substance, churning out near-identical faddish products, Cellnique seems to have a unique position in the market. They have solid technology behind their products, and their products actually work. Cellnique isn't cheap, to be sure, but it is really good. Case in point is the Cellnique D'Sensi Calming and Hydrating Cream. I tried it out, and yes, it is indeed good.

Cellnique D'Sensi Calming and Hydrating Cream - Great product, but the clunky jar...

Illamasqua Haul: Nail Polish and Eyeshadow!

Illamasqua recently had an Easter sale (which took the form of an easter egg hunt), and of course, I HAD to order something. So, look at my loot! Ta-da!

Illamasqua haul! Yay!
Now, I know that I do have more than enough makeup and nail polish, but you guys shouldn't judge me for my beauty product acquisition illness. I mean, it was a sale! 45% discount with an extra 10% discount on top of that, guys! One does not simply pass up an Illamasqua sale!

Come on, who can pass up an Illamasqua sale?!
Yes, one does not, indeed. But if you did, Illamasqua's two big sale seasons are Christmas, and Easter. I'm guessing there are a couple more, but I'm hanging on til the end of the year to see what's up then. Anyway, you want to see what I bought?