Anastasia Brow Stencils

It can get taxing to have brows shaved at the salon every so often, and since I am personally opposed to threading because it thins the eyebrows out, I finally invested in some eyebrow Stencils from the famed brow-specialist Anastasia to make life easier (thank you 三 姐 for helping me find this). 

It is packaged in a slim, deep brown pull-out case.

The stencils are made from clear, soft plastic.

After determining the most suitable brow stencil using the guide above, simply shade in the outline with an eyebrow pencil or eye shadow. Then using an eyebrow blade, clean off the excess hairs that are left unshaded. 

Above, the five templates to choose from. These may be a bit of a hassle to carry out than going to a salon, but with constant practice it gets easier. Overall, a purchase not wasted. 

Clarisonic Mia

Live from New York, it's . . . the Clarisonic Mia! Thanks to my 三姐 who helped pick this up for me at Sephora last Christmas during her to trip to NYC (the last yellow Mia left at that time, she said). After almost a year of observing reviews and going it over my head, I finally decided it worth the hefty price tag. The original Clarisonic, which can be used for both face and body is a larger version of the Mia. The Mia is marketed as a face-only cleanser and also as travel-friendlier option. It comes in a wide variety of colors and other graphic designs. *There is actually a Clarisonic Mia 2 now, which has two speed controls.* The reception of this brush cleanser has been phenomenally successful, and as I believe achieving healthy skin begins in step one of skin care -- cleansing, that is -- I thought it would considerably improve my skin care routine.

 First opening.

The cover page.

 The above description says it all.

The promises.

Yet sleeping in the box.

Hello, sunshine. The brush is compact and is a visual pleasure elegant curves and all. This small thing is barely six inches long, yet is the ultimate cleansing powerhouse. The grey power button activates the brush and keeps it moving for 60 seconds.

The back of it.

User manual and pLink charger.

The Clarisonic Mia has no port for insertion of the end of a charger, unusual for gadgets that require charging. It has a magnet on the slightly recessed portion on the lower part of the handle (below the power button) where the head of the charger (with a magnet also) is magnetically attached. This one-of-a-kind feature makes it a treat to set up. 

The Clarisonic Mia is very easy to use. The above diagram shows each part of the face requires 10 seconds of brushing totaling 1 minute, which is enough for the Clarisonic Mia to clean the entire face properly. Beware of abrasion when cleansing over the recommended time. 
Observations
Usage: close to six months
Frequency: once a week with the delicate brush
Result: cleaner feeling than manual cleansing done with hands; softer epidermis; fewer breakouts, clearer skin; no reduction in pore size, however fewer clogged pores
Product pair-up: I follow up with Clarins HydraQuench Cream-Mask 
Charging: once every two months (my personal usage)

Other Clarisonic products.

The Gentle Hydro Cleanser came as a free sample. It is meant for all normal to sensitive skin.

It is a soft cream type of cleanser that smells of carrot juice. I didn't find this any helpful in cleaning the face. It left the skin unclean and dirty. Definitely not recommended.

The Delicate Brush Head is recommended for extra-sensitive skin, such as people suffering from rosacea, eczema, etc.

Each box contains two pieces of the brush.

An introduction.

Pale blue duo comes with a plastic protective cover. These are sturdily made and clasp on to the Mia securely and are also easy to remove.

The back.

There really is a difference among the brush heads. The sensitive brush head was too harsh for my skin, leaving it somewhat feeling raw and sore, while the delicate brush cleaned with no uncomfortable feeling.

Some description.

Recommend the Clarisonic Mia: yes.

Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge

Rare is a cleanser beloved by many beauty bloggers. There is one brand that is always on top of the list and it is none other than the humble Daiso. Daiso's sponge cleaner comes in a sturdy plastic bottle.

The Japan-made detergent states it "removes remaining foundation quickly." True to form, the transparent liquid erases all traces of makeup in my sponge. Unlike traditional soap which always leaves stains and residue, a few squirts of Daiso Detergent for Puff and Sponge wipes the entire sponge clean.

I have come across reviews stating this is not suitable for makeup brushes, and find that to be accurate. It was too harsh when I used it to clean my Shu Uemura Kolinsky 5R.

The tiny hole makes product usage easy to control.

Instructions above.

At SGD$2 a pop (apprx. PHP70), no wonder this cheap and effective cleanser is a household name among makeup fans.

Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean Toothbrush

Like most things in life, an electronic toothbrush did not come of my own volition. I held the belief that my manual toothbrush and right hand were doing a decent job at cleaning my teeth, when I was kind of held at gunpoint (well, it felt like such) to believe otherwise. Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean toothbrush was shoved into my face as a gift (thank you S), because I was told it was that good.

 

It came in a securely packed clear plastic packaging.

I also got two more brush heads in a refill pack (sold separately; thank you for your thoughtfulness, S).

The back part.

It does say that it's clinically proven to clean teeth more thoroughly than a manual toothbrush.

One thing that I really like -- no batteries necessary.

The slender part of the mechanism (from the brush head to the base that touches the blue handle) is detachable. This tiny machine assembles into one long toothbrush.

Pictured above are the charger, cradle, and toothbrush. The bottom of the handle has a hole that fits perfectly into the cradle.

Here it is positioned and ready to be charged. It can also be recharged without the brush head on, since only the handle is being powered.

One press of the round white button on the handle activates the toothbrush. Press once again to turn off. This Oral-B toothbrush is powered using Braun technology. The power comes from the handle and it shakes the entire toothbrush so that the bristles vibrate.

The bristles are softer than that of a manual toothbrush. In fact, the circular brush head is tiny compared to the oval shape of toothbrushes I'm used to. At first I rejected the idea of an electronic toothbrush because I was afraid once I start using one, it would be hard to go back to a manual toothbrush. I found the usage is quite similar to that of a regular toothbrush; I put a dollop of toothbrush on the brush head, position it flush against my teeth, and press the button. So far, the only differences I've noticed are: 1. I do not need to brush back and forth; rather I move my hand in circular motions around my mouth and the toothbrush does the brushing work. 2. The surface of my teeth feel more squeaky clean than when I use a normal toothbrush (not that I can't produce the same results with a manual toothbrush, only it takes more force and time).

Also, my teeth did not experience any bad reactions -- no bad breath, sore mouth, or lesions in the gums, which were some concerns I had prior to using this product. The handle requires charging about every four days with twice-a-day usage. The force of oscillation is much stronger when it is newly charged; over time it goes slower and weaker until it no longer vibrates; then it is time to charge it again. Overall, this is a fine mechanism that effectively does its job. I haven't gone back to my old toothbrush since :) For those who prefer a more novel and "precise" way to clean your teeth, Oral-B Vitality Precision Clean is a good way to start. 

Happy New Year! 

The Face Shop 100% Cotton Pad

Gone were the days when the only kind of cotton I used for the face was the balled-up type from supermarkets. As I got more acquainted with the world of makeup, I realized special types of cotton were made especially for cosmetic purposes. The Body Shop's Organic Cotton Pads have been my staple for some years, and although they worked just fine, I also thought they could be better. With some Bench vouchers to spare, it was a good time to try The Face Shop 100% Cotton Pads.

It comes in a sturdy light green box with leafy motif. It has perforated sides for easy and clean opening. The box is designed to be used as a case in itself; it can be closed conveniently to keep the cotton clean of dust and other elements.

I prefer my cotton to be in a separate case, so I got this clear container from Make Room (now switched to Muji's cotton case, which has an attached lid, and two compartments for cotton and cotton buds; more user-friendly).

The cotton is pristine white, cut very neatly.

It has two different sides.

One side has a "weaved" pattern which feels a little rougher compared to the other side. I think this side is used to remove, or "pick-up" makeup from skin. This is the side I use when removing eye makeup.

The other side has a pure soft texture that is more ideal for applying lotions/toners. I usually use this side to remove lip products.

I have absolutely no complaints about The Face Shop's Cotton Pads. These are basic, clean-cut, cotton pads that serve their purpose well. They do not irritate skin. It is also a plus to know that they are sterilized. At P65 a box for 80pcs, I think it is priced reasonably for the quality.