Tips for clean and tidy look of nails

Despite amazing makeup technique and stylish clothing match, care for details make a big difference.

One crucial part to an impressive look is clean and tidy nails.

Note these points caring for your nails. They make gorgeous nails a LOT easier.


To clear nail stains…
Dark or cheap nail polishes leave stain easily on nails. To fix this dirty impression, you don’t need thinning the nail surface.

Instead, here is a quick easy fix: put fingers into lemon halves for five minutes. Your nails are instantly brightened!


To polish nails…
Never wear polishes without top and base coat. The coat protects and prevents nails turning yellowish.

For an even polish, wipe nails with alcohol or polish remover.

For a clean and tidy look, leave a thin border on nail sides polish-free.


To moisturize…
Prepare a moisturizing hand cream at office. Apply immediately after cleaning, sealing the moisture before it evaporates. A formula caring for nails is even better.

*** The most nourishing hand mask:
Apply a heavy coat of hand cream, or even Vaseline, put your hands into cotton sock and sleep. (Or wear for 20 minutes.) Your hands are reborn silky smooth the next morning!

Is it safe to DIY facial mask with natural fruit?

Making your own mask with natural ingredients is common. Say, green bean powder, pearl barley powder, aloe and loofah.

Is it safe to do so? Does it harm sensitive skin? What to note when making a mask?

Let’s have a brief reminder.



Are all fruits and vegetables fine to make facial mask?

When you are making your own mask, note some ingredients are sensitive to light and thus facilitate the accumulation of melanin. For example, avoid citrus ingredients like lemon to make natural mask.

And sour fruit and vegetable may have a pH value too different from your skin’s. It is irritating.




Will my skin be allergic to natural ingredients?

Absolutely yes. Natural fruit or plants don’t contain fragrance or colorant. Yet your skin may still be allergic to them.

Even if you apply the soothing aloe vera, it can be an allergen. Certain people can still be allergic to aloe vera. So, like other skincare, you should first test the DIY mixture on the upper part of your inner arm.

Some people may have considered planting your own aloe. Well, just note that not all types of aloe can be used as skincare.

Also, the fresh aloe vera juice has not been processed, it may be easy to oxidize.

P.S. For a convenient aloe vera facial, buying one at drug store will do. Kuan Yuan Lian from Taiwan and Akiku, an aromatherapy brand, offer good choices of aloe gel.


How to store the mixture?

The safest way is simply not to store it!

Play it safe and DIY the amount for one-time use. Natural masks don’t contain preservative, they can stink easily.

Take my natural toner as example. I mix green tea with apple vinegar as acne treatment toner. The mixture can only be stored in refrigerator for a week.

Well well, making your own masks did involve some safety issues. It’s still fun to do so :> Let’s start with the simplest formula and stick to the allergy patch test.

Exfoliating Masks from IsQueen and Suisse Programme

Does your skin flakes after lotion or cream?

This is a common situation in season changes. When skin is dry, metabolism slows down and dead skin cell builds up, it’s easy for skin to flake.

Skincare lotion has both oil and water ingredients. After absorbing, only a thin layer of oil is left for protection. Yet, when too much dead skin cell has built up, it mixes with oil and skin flakes. To prevent, cover your face with a warm towel to soften the horny layer first.

Soften the horny layer and the coming skincare absorbs better. (A previous entry did mention it!)

The most effective prevention tactic? Clear dead skin cell regularly, for sure.


---------------------------------------------------------------

This time I wanna talk about two exciting buys combining facial scrub and mask. Exfoliating can be more than an old tube of scrub.


Exfoliant + Moisturising Mask
IsQueen Rice High Performace Mask


The series “Rice High Performance” from IsQueen is much discussed online. A year ago I did try Rice High Performance Purifier. It was gentle.

This time I tried the gentle mask. It smoothes but leaves no irritation and reddish skin, contrary to many other facial scrubs.



[ What I got is a 15ml sample. It looks mini. ]


What I DO like:
- the nourishing rich texture that won’t dry fast. You can massage on it easily after 15 mins.
- the small peeling particles
- very budget-friendly price


What I DON’T like:
- The instant whitening effect is not obvious. Looking forward to the long-term effect….



[ Rice High Performace Mask: the texture ]



Exfoliant + Brightening Mask
Suisse Programme Gigawhite Fresh Double Action Exfoliating Mask

It scrubs and whitens. Comparing to IsQueen’s, this mask is more “irritating” as it contains AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) to whiten.

Yet the exciting result is worth the price! It whitens immediately after you wash the mask. The new skin under the old skin cell is revealed.

Mind it: since it really makes a huge difference, spread the mask over both your face and neck. Other wise your face and neck will be in different skin tone! How awkward!




What I DO like:
- VISIBLE instant whitening effect. It cleans well.
- tiny and non-irritating scrub particles


What I DON’T like:
- The tube design is very special. You need to learn to squeeze even amount of the two fluids.
- It dries quickly. You may start massaging after just 7 mins. Note: Moisten your fingers and massage.




[ Leave the tube flat to squeeze even amount of fluids. ]


[ Squeeze. ]



[ Mix the essences. Put it on face! ]

5 Refreshing Preps in the Morning

Pink eye lids, puffy eye bags, a lifeless expression…

Many women have to fix a crisis every morning—that they look super tired! If you want to get some more sleep and erase tiredness, take these steps to lift your spirits!

Prepare these refreshing tools:

Remove puffiness: Cool Eye Masks
Heard of cooling a spoon in a refrigerator as a morning eye mask?

Swollen eyes need something cool for lymphatic drainage. Beside spoons, you can prepare refrigerated cucumber slices. Put them on your tired eyes for a few minutes and sharpen eye contours!





Brighten up eyes: Eye Primer Base
Pink eye lids are an obvious sign of tiredness.

Soak a cotton ball in cold water. Dab on the pink eyelids for a few times. This can erase redness.

If your eye lids are still pinkish, no worry!

Get an eye primer! A peachy one can neutralize uneven colors around your eyes.

Best buy: Benefit Lemon Aid


Conceal blemish: Light foundation
A rich layer of foundation will never do on tired skin. This conceals blemishes as well as the natural translucence.

A better way is to use a brightening BB cream. Apply with fingers.

Prefer powder foundation? Must dab it on forehead, chin and the sides of nose, creating natural glow.


Add a natural pink: Creamy cheek color
Pale face is another sleepy sign.

Pick an apple tone cheek color for the healthiest complexion.

Try one that’s creamy in texture, creating a more translucent effect.



Line your eyes: Nude eyeliner
Just an eyeliner can brighten up your eyes several times!

Choose a natural subtle color for eyeliner. Say, a chocolate or charcoal one.

Fill your lash line and add a small wing at the end.

Best buy: Sasa Eyeliner Pencil (Grey (GY)001)

Season Change Alert: Start Autumn Skincare.

These mornings it’s getting cooler. Wow, what a long-time-no-see breeze!

It’s already autumn in Chinese calendar. (That’s why!) I guess it’s time for skincare more moisturizing.

Emphasis for autumn skincare varies with skin types.

Season Change on Face Care
Gals with combination or oily skin should start with a watery / light moisturizer. Pick a light lotion with a little oil.

Recommend : Kawaii Tokyo Brighten-Up Gel Citrus Paradise

For drier skin, don’t hesitate adding more oil for protection. Add an extra layer of lotion / cream after toner or essence, locking in moisture well. This prevents flaking.

Recommend: Methode Swiss Essential Care Aqua Hydrating Night Cream


[ Switch to a richer lotion ]


Season Change on Body Care
Both air-conditioning in summer and cold wind in winter urge me to get some oil for my skin after bath.

A bit afraid of using oil? I was so. Yet, I’ve learnt the pros of body oil these years.

Aroma essential oil is different from chemical oil. It’s much easier to absorb. It takes less than 3 mins to absorb essential oil and your skin will get soft fast. It moisturizes well.

I’ve been a fan for bodycare from the aromatherapy brand, In Essence. I pick this Body Firming Solution for its firming function. This comes perfect for tightening body contours for sexy autumn wear!

Note when you apply body oil, massage the oil in and strengthen the tightening and slimming effect! Massage to detox, smooth and slim.


Firming & Nourishing Massage Technique:
Start from ankle. Massage upward and in circular movement to heart. Emphasize thighs, bottom and stomach.


[ Apply In Essence Body Firming Solution after bath. ]



[ In Essence Body Firming Solution ]

BB cream from Dr.G: as anti-aging as bird’s nest?

BB cream from Dr.G has been a great hit among Sasa.com. So far the most popular is Hydra Intensive Blemish Balm SPF 30 PA++. (See my review on this bb cream!)

This time comes a review on the latest one from Dr.G:
LUXURY EGF Prime BB Protector



How different is it to the Hydra Intensive BB cream?

The latest one is an anti-aging and wrinkle-smoothing buy. It whitens and smoothes wrinkles.

The texture is richer and more hydrating. So it suits dry or more mature skin.

Note the color is lighter, matching gals with light skintone more. Some gals complaint that the color tone of Hydra Intensive BB cream is too dark for them. In this case, the Luxury EGF one makes the ideal choice!

How about the effect? Just like other BB creams from Dr.G, it covers naturally with a translucent glow. No doubt it will become another BIG HIT BB cream soon.


As anti-aging as bird’s nest?

Let’s have a brief of the ingredients of Luxury EGF BB cream:
Arbutin, Vitamin E, Titanium Oxide, Allantoin….perform multi-functions to hydrate, depress melanin and protect as sunscreen.

The most EXCITING point is: it’s got EGF, like other products from the same line.

How powerful is EGF?
Chinese women like taking bird’s nest to fight aging. And what makes bird’s nest a good anti-aging weapon? It’s the EGF inside.

EGF can facilitate the growth of cells and repairs wound / damaged skin fast. Since it energizes even the aging cells, it restores smooth and tense skin.



[ Have a QUICK look ] LUXURY EGF Prime BB Protector

[ Approx. amount for perfect coverage for face and neck]

[ Natural sheer coverage in light color. ]
(See my skin tone is at least 1 tone lighter! )