Best gift with purchase EVER!

I’ll admit that I am a sucker for a gift with purchase and until 23rd of May (or while stocks last), Clinique have an awesome pack (only available at David Jones and only when you spend $60 or more in one transaction).

How did I come across this adorable deal? It was during my search for a new foundation, since the cold weather has hit, my foundation and my skin decided not to get along anymore. So I hit the Clinique counter since they have affordable foundations which are of great quality. My friend Elise recommended the Even Better Foundation from Clinique new Even Better range, so I thought, why not! It is ideal for dry to combination skin (which is exactly what’s happening with my face right now) and it also had medium coverage, which is surprising for a light weight liquid foundation.

It also comes in a plastic bottle, which ideal for those clumsy bottle breakers out there (like me). There are 12 available shades and the benefits of using this foundation include covering and treating uneven skin tone, long wearing, natural skin-perfecting look and its mineral enriched.

The foundation cost me $49, so to be eligible for the free gift (spend $60 or more) I decided buy some lip gloss (gal always needs some gloss). So I bought the Full potential Lips Plump and Shine, because I figured sexy name, sexy lips! It does plump your lips and provided a lovely gloss, but it also very sticky. If you wait for the gloss to settle on your lips, it doesn’t feel that bad. I do appreciate the packaging as it comes with a lip wand (I am not a big fan of lip tubes).

So what was included in my free gift? Bottles of skin care awesomeness! This included Clinique's...
- Rinse-off foaming cleanser mousse 75mL
- 7 Day scrub cream 30mL
- Dramatically different moisturizing lotion 30mL
- Moisture Surge 30mL
- Aromatics Elixir 4mL
- Long last lipstick
- Blushing blush 3.1g
- High impact curling mascara in black
AND a super cute beauty bag!

Trying to give good face

I'm am currently 24 years old and I still struggle to give good face. You see I am Asian and I have a serious case of the "Asian eyes". I don't have a visible crease across my eyelid and my eyelashes are very short, in fact sometimes I wake up and freak out because I think they've all fallen out. On the plus side, it has saved me money on buying mascara (which, when I try to apply, there is more on my skin than my lashes) and eye shadow (when I attempt to do a smokey eye, it looks like a black eye).

So I've been trying to find a solution to my face problem and I think I am one step closer. I have discovered a book called 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women' by Taylor Chang-Babaian. It's a book that has been on the market for a while, but all the information is still relevant. It can also be very helpful for those who aren't Asian, the book doesn't discriminate!

Who is this genius - Taylor Chang-Babaian? She is Korean-American, a celebrity makeup artist and beauty author. She also understands that the way you look on the outside can make you feel good on the inside. In her book she simplifies the whole make up process with great images and a step by step guide to creating the look that she has created.

There is also a play-by-play of the tools you need, a guide to determining your skin type and then there's a whole section on fake eyelashes (yes it's an Asian girls dream!). Chang-Babaian also goes through the type of makeup you should use for your skin type. Something so obvious, yet I had been oblivious to, thus my struggle for good face.

So if you're like me and want to give good face, pick up a copy of Taylor Chang-Babaian's 'Asian Faces: The Essential Beauty and Makeup Guide for Asian Women'. I bought mine from Angus and Robertson for $40.95, but I'm sure you can get a copy from any leading book store.

Salycilic acid it to me!

So I've had a giant pimple on my chin for the last few days. And i've tried all your typical MacGyver solutions; toothpaste, tea tree oil and other products which promises to zap my zits into oblivion 'instantly'.

So I hit the blogosphere and it seemed like any product with salycilic acid was the solution. This has changed my life. I purchased 2 products Garnier's Pure Pore Purifying Astringent (RRP $8.85) and Garnier's Pure Active Roll-On (RRP $12.55 ). The astringent is a pore tightening toner which removes surface bacteria and the salycilic acid dries out the pimple. The Active Roll- On reduces redness and drys out the pimple as it is 2% purifying salicylic acid, it also contains Herbasoothe which is derived from blueberries and helps heal the skin.

Available at selected pharmacies, supermarkets, department and variety stores.
Picture Credit: Primped

Suffering from Post- Traumatic hair-cut syndrome?

I was a sufferer. It took me 5 months to grow out my fringe from my last hair cut and I have been in no rush to get a trim. So I hit the websites and blogs, searching for hairdressers in Sydney who can handle cutting thick Asian hair, in order to avoid another 'hair-tastrophe'. When I moved into Inner West Sydney I thought I’d try the Newtown strip of hair boutiques.

Noddy’s on King: Has won several awards in the past and I think they have gone straight to their heads. All I wanted and expected was little trim, 7cm off the ends later I ended up with a shorter than expected cut. The people were nice enough, although the guy who cut my hair started bagging out Sydney and how everything closes early and there’s not party life. All I wanted to say was “Dude, nobody brings down my town!” if only he converted all that negative energy into positive hair-cutting energy. There was also nothing special about my hair cut - it was just really short and I paid too much for it.

Price: Senior Stylist $85 (includes a shampoo and blow dry which they describe as ‘complimentary’)

Toni & Guy: This place gave a great hair cut and the stylist actually listened to what I wanted. They also offered a wide variety of beverages (I chose hot chocolate because it was winter and raining), she didn’t cut too much off the ends and also recommended a reasonable treatment for my hair, in order to keep it healthy. The only reason I didn’t go back was because the atmosphere was a little too 'come in get a cut and go' - there wasn’t an intimate atmosphere and I had a feeling if I had come in again in 2 months, the stylist who cut my hair wouldn’t remember me. You see for me, having some sort of relationship with my hairdresser is important - I am more enticed to ask for product recommendations and go back for those special occasions.

Price: $83 for a cut & blow dry with a top stylist, $30 for a deluxe treatment.

Dirty Girl hair: This was the place which caused my traumatic hair experience. At the time I was told that it was Daniel Mostyn’s ‘budget’ salon as his official salon had moved and he had hired a bunch of new hair dressers to run Dirty Girl at 230 King Street Newtown. There is an edgy industrial feel to the store so I was a little excited for a new look. I sat down and talked it over with the stylisy who was about to Edward-scissorhand-me and I was expecting a slightly shorter fringe and lots of layers, which was fine. She took me out the back for a wash and then it happened. She hacked into me hair like it was going to attack her. It is true, I have the Asian hair, thick and lots of it, but still there is no need for hair-cut rape. I ended up with a diagonal fringe which was 2cm at the shortest and then it eventually blended in with the rest of my hair. I ended up being fringe-less for at least 2 months, it is a look which my forehead does not care for!

Pelo hair: After being a hair perve for the last few weeks- checking out my friends’ tresses. I asked a friend of mine with a great cut and curly hair, who tames her mane, and she referred me to Pelo hair at 526 King Street Newtown. She recommended Brigitte or Kelly, so I made my appointment and I tried to psyche myself up for it, reminding myself that it will be different this time. When I walked through the doors, I was welcomed into a warm and friendly environment, the chatter sounded like everyone knew each other and the laughter confirmed this. My appointment was with Kelly and she looked at the condition of my hair and the aftermath of my Dirty Girl cut, she then understood the development of my post-traumatic hair cut syndrome. We basically needed to balance my hair out, since it was starting to look a little Carol Brady. So I got my wonderful and relaxing shampoo, then it was down to business and I ended up with an awesome cut which hid the fact that there are still sections of my hair that needed to be grown out. Kelly is my hair savior! I have already made an appointment to see her again for a wedding I have coming up and now that she knows my hair, she’ll know exactly what to do with it!

Price: $78 for Kelly (Who also owns the salon with Brigitte) they also do complimentary fringe trims!

This is definitely my kind of place!

WANTED: A facial with some serious removal of dead skin cells

So it's the start of the summer season and the party season. So a facial was definitely in order. "Goodbye dead skin cells, goodbye!"

I was also in need of some serious extractions, stat! So I made an appointment with my beautician from by old hood, Sonyla of Sonyla's Beauty Spot in Merrylands. She is the queen of extractions and will get every one of the little buggers. Although it is slightly uncomfortable, the end result is lasting and when I walk away my face is smooth as a baby's tooshie!

Unfortunately Sonyla wasn't available today, but I was placed in the very capable hands of Steph, who also introduced me to a new facial product they had just got in, Sothys. This was instead of the usual Dermalogica facial which is what my skin was use to and although it was good, Sothys is better as it promises more instant results. I was intrigued. My love for trying new products had taken over.

The products used smelled amazing and was so soothing to my face. I was most impressed with were the product which lifted all the blackheads and whiteheads to the surface, making it easier to see all the necessary extractions. Then there was the exfoliator which didn't have the usual sand-like texture, it was more like a cream and when it dried you lightly rub it off the skin and it takes the dead skins cells along with it. It was gross and amazing at the same time. You just felt so much cleaner! Then there was an incredible calming and hydration mask with help my sore and previously dry face.

Currently my face is slightly red, but not as red as it usually is after a facial. My awesome chin pimple (which looked like it was just going to become a permanent fixture on my face) had also instantly looked better after my session.

I can't wait to see my face after a few days to see the real results.

SUMMER HERE I COME!

Where: Sonyla's Beauty Spot (02) 9633 4115- Shop 2, 5 Hilltop Rd Merrylands NSW

Cost: $75