Do you like house brand products? Or do you think they are cheap and low in quality? I find myself more willing to try house brands these days, probably because: - the recession (haha) - the packaging is much nicer now - the products look like they'd do a pretty decent job while saving some $$$. I bought this Cocoa Butter & Vanilla Hand Cream for only $5.74 - 350ml. What a steal! I'm happy to certify that this hand cream is keypad friendly! I love hand creams, and my number 1 requirement is that they don't leave my hands feeling sticky and stain my laptop. I'm always with my laptop (work and home), and I hate the shiny oily stain some creams leave. But no.. this is perfect! Well absorbed within a few seconds. The smell... mmmmm for a mo I was thinking hard for that word. Smells so familiar... and then... SARSI!!! Yep, smells sweet and Sarsi-ish. I don't know how long this bottle will last me.. I use it like every hour or so. Its now standing proudly next to my laptop :) I love this as much as my Crabtree & Evelyn Hand Butters... muaks! I love it more for the price!

I feel like smackin myself silly. -For not getting the Skinfood Black Sesame Hot Mask way back. How could I not? Its so good! I had a sample that I totally forgot about.. until I check my samples. Didn't know what to expect really.. but upon tearing off the packet, whiff whiff.. Smells like Zi Ma Wu.. the sweet black sesame dessert that momma makes. :) Yummy~! The texture is kinda thick... when I slathered it on my damp face, a warm sensation was there, lasting about 30-40 secs. Gel like with crushed black sesame. Uhmm the warming sensation worry me a little, as I was thinking if I'll go red after washing it off (like Estee Lauder's). So after scrubbing and rinsing it off... whoa.. no patches, just rosy cheeks. Just like blushing. Love it instantly. Will definitely be buying this soon! :)

Mmmm stumbled upon this site while surfing, I'm soo going to try out these DIY recipes: {cool names too!} 1.Caring Carrot Mask: Take a carrot, grate and mix it well with one spoon of honey. Apply this all over the face and leave it for only 15 minutes. Now wash and feel the difference after regular use. 2.Punch of a Pineapple: After mashing up well a pineapple slice, mix it with the juice of an orange or a lemon and add all these ingredients with wheat flour. Apply this mixture on the face and neck. Scrub it off after some time, to get fresh and smooth skin. 3.Lemon-Egg Protector: Whip an egg white till it gets peak up and store it in the freezer for about 15 minutes. Now add the juice of a lemon and a grated tomato with this. Apply on the skin; practice the same for minimum of a month to get the soft skin. 4.Guava Grace: Mash one guava; stir it well with the mixture of oatmeal and lemon juice. Apply this now on the face for about 20 minutes and wash it off to see the better glow. 5.Spinach Support: Take a cup of raw pureed spinach, and one spoon of fresh cream, mix well all these and apply on the face. Leave it for about half an hour and wash it off to see the charming skin to support your great looks. 6.Ravishing Radish Touch: Take half grated fresh radish, one spoon of vinegar, one spoon of lemon juice and one spoon of honey. Mix all these ingredients in a glass of distilled water and store in a bottle. Wipe your skin regularly to shrink open pores and reduce greasiness. 7.Healthy Honey treat: Mix one spoon of honey with the white of an egg and grated potato. Apply this on the face and let it dry. Wash it off with cold water and feel the magic of freshness. 8.Marvel milk treatment: Mix together 50 grams dried pea powder, lemon juice, one pinch of camphor and a little milk. Apply it over the face and leave it for 15 minutes and scrub it off with milk. This is good for treating scars. 9.Strawberry silky soft: Mix well about 5 strawberries, one spoon of china clay and the juice of a small orange. Apply this on the face and scrub it after about 20minutes with a towel dipped in cold water. 10.Tomato and Sandal pack: Mix well one grated tomato, one spoon of sandalwood powder and half spoon of china clay. Mix again all these ingredients in rose water and apply on the face, leave it for 20 minutes. Wash it off to feel tightened skin.

I'm itching to use my new stash - Estee Lauder Cyber White Moisturiser and Sunscreen. So so so wanna open them and slather on those precious creams. Well the problem is... I still have my Cellnique Emulsion, with SPF25. In dire need to re-plan my whole skincare range. Has been a junkie lately using multiple brands at once... *grins* Don't be lazy don't be lazy... stop spending money stop spending money.....Ohmmm..

Ooh so I had the LHE. Feels exactly the same with the underarm treatment, only slightlt less pain. I mean it was like rubber bands snapping onto your face for a good two rounds... I'd better look firmer!! While at it, I was thinking if I dread this tiny bit of pain for the sake of looking pretty, how on earth could ppl out there go for Botox, lasers, etc? You know, those are chronic abuse. The pain omg, I'm pretty sure LHE don't even come close! This is the last time I'm going for LHE for my face (well only because I've got a free voucher ok). And I know I know.. don't be cocky.. and never be absolutely sure of the future. So I'll re-phrase it. This is the last for now.. at least a couple of years. Happy? :P Am not supposed to scrub my face, put on weird creams and no excessive sun exposure. Feeling kinda delicate now.. so I'm gonna enjoy the next 2 days curling up on my couch with a good book (this Brit chick lits are damned entertaining!) Hopefully my skin enjoys the days off too, with only the basic nutrient I feed in... Cheerios!

So tomorrow I'm going for my LHE Facial, and am a little nervous. For one thing it sounds like a serious kinda treatment, and I'm worried I'll look like an idiot with red patches all over! Praying praying so praying that it will give me better skin instead... Fingers crossed! Duhh doop.. duhh doop.....

So its been like 2 months since I started using EL Nutritious. Long enough time to let it settle and see the results yeh? Here goes: Idealist You only need one single pump for the whole face. So the 50ml bottle will probably last you 7-8 months (I'm lookin at once a day, in the morning only - to explain why below). $275 for 8 months is not too bad. Slightly over a dollar daily. I don't find that my pores are 69% smaller (you liar! lol). When you apply the lotion on, it does make my skin feel smooth.. somewhat like satin-like, hence a plus point when applying foundation later (after your moisturiser and sunblock, you know the sequence). And the magic really just end here, coz when you wash your face it goes back to the original.. maybe over time I might see some real results I was hoping for... Nutritious Day Lotion Mmm this is my favourite from the range. Same as above, only one pump for the entire face, you may need extra if you apply it to your neck. It smooths on beautifully on my face, and not greasy at all. But did it gives me a rosy pink healthy complexion? Hmmm I'll rate it about 6 out of 10 maybe( I'm pretty stressed these months... so..) $165 for 50ml, its a not bad buy me thinks :) Nutritious Night Creme Ooh la la, this is rich! I'm not particularly pleased with the texture... a tad bit too rich for my liking. And I do have tiny bumps these days, a sign of too oily? Sigh but good if you sleep in air condition (I don't) so after this $175 50ml jar, I don't think I'll go for seconds... Nutritious UV Protector Ahh this one me likes.. so far of all the sunblocks I've tried on, I like this the most. Doesn't leave any whitish traces.. but the SPF is 50. Thought that is a bit too high ain't it? I prefer this during the weekend though, when I'm out shopping / brunch. $160 for 50ml Ya know.. after all this while, what really pleases me is the Eve Taylor Face Oil #1. I can picked on my face and appear like a girl with measles (touch wood ahem!) and after applying the face oil.. the red patches just dissapear. And I thought my skin looks its best when I was using the oil together with Dermalogica's Skin Smoothing Cream (the downside is that its freaking expensive!!) I'm considering the Gentle Soothing Booster but it will rob me off $203 :( Xmas treat or New Year 2008 treat for myself?