Soap & Glory’s Heel Genius

Tags

Foot Cream, Heel Genius, Review, Soap & Glory

Wanna have baby-soft skin on your feet?

Try Soap & Glory’s Heel Genius!

I think the skin on my feet are the most neglected part of my body. I apply body lotion religiously everyday, including my feet but they would still be quite dry. I tried the usual drugstore body lotions as well as those meant for the feet (like Scholl’s) but I still found that the skin would feel moisturized for only a couple of hours before they started feeling dry again… even when I put socks on right after applying the lotion, before I go to bed every night.

Heel Genius however, is ama-zing! The skin on my feet is so soft… and stays soft even throughout the day! I absolutely love it! And it smells so good! It contains allantoin, glycerin, macadamia oil, menthol, bilberry, orange & lemon fruit acid smoothers. I also purchased the Hand Food lotion, which smells so yummy!

Soap & Glory products are sold at Sephora.

Shiny new shoes!

Tags

Blue, Enzo Angiolini, Nine West, Nine West Blue peep-toe pumps, Nude color, Platform heels

I’m in love with platform heels. I love how you can’t feel the ground when you walk. I don’t know about you but the balls of my feet start hurting when the soles of the shoes are thin and I can literally feel the ground I’m walking on. I find that platform heels offer greater stability when walking because the soles are sturdier. I’ve had many pairs of shoes with heels that start to wobble after a few months and I would unconsciously start to tense my leg muscles as I try to maintain my balance as I walk.

Even so, I had great difficulty finding platform heels that are of the right height (most are ridiculously high and I’m very sure I’ll trip and fall) and with the right amount of padding for added comfort. I’ve been wearing my Tory Burch wedges to death (almost!) and I wanted to find a pair of nice nude heels.

Nine West was having a sale (well, sort of) and I found these!

They’re Enzo Angiolini heels. I have a pair of peep-toe heels in black and they’re of pretty good quality.

I also had my eye on this pair of Nine West peep-toe heels in Blue for a while, so when the sales assistant told me that there would be a 20% discount if I were to buy two pairs, I told her to wrap them up and headed for the cashier’s. I love peep-toe shoes but I shy away from them because most of them are cut too big and my toes hurt because they tend to stick out too much. But these… these were comfy!

Each pair comes with a Nine West shoebag. Can’t say I really like the bags but I keep all my shoe bags and use them when I need to pack shoes in my luggage for work or holidays.

The damage? S$304 for these two pairs. What do you think?

Marc by Marc Jacobs – Classic Q Little Ukita

Tags

Classic Q, Creme, Crossbody, Genuine Leather, Little Ukita, Marc by Marc Jacobs, Nordstrom, Shoulder Bag

This blogpost is long overdue. In one of my previous posts, I mentioned that I had placed an order for the Classic Q Little Ukita bag in Creme from Nordstrom. It arrived in early Apr, I think… but I’ve been so busy that I didn’t have the time to take decent photos of it for my blogpost.

Better late than never… so here it is!

I love it! It’s from the 2012 Spring/Summer collection, and I am so glad that I chose to purchase the Creme rather than the Indigo (which I think looks great with darkwash jeans, btw). I think the Creme is much easier to wear, especially on casual weekends. In fact, I’ve been wearing this bag so much that I have neglected my all-time favorite, the LV Mini-Lin speedy.

The bag is of the right size. I can fit in my purse, my phone, a shawl, my Gucci sunglasses and even a makeup pouch… with lots of room to spare! I love wearing it on my shoulder, although sometimes I wear it as a crossbody bag when I need my hands to be free. I’m also very glad that I chose this over the Prada Vitello Daino Hobo bag because I think the Prada would’ve been a tad too big.

In case you’re interested, I purchased it from Nordstrom. I could’ve purchased it directly from the store at Mandarin Gallery or Shaw Centre instead of having to wait for it to be shipped, but it worked out to be much cheaper buying it online, even with shipping costs factored it. I think I saved about S$120…

Re-discovering Ann Siang Hill

Tags

Ann Siang Hill, What to do in Singapore

Last Saturday, The Hubby and I decided to have brunch at our favorite cafe at Ann Siang Hill. Ann Siang Hill is located in Chinatown and has a historical significance in being the site and estate of a wealthy merchant, Chia Ann Siang, in the 1800s. From what I’ve read, this used to the area where there were remittance houses at which the early Chinese immigrants would come to send money back to their families in China. There were also letter-writing and calligraphy services provided for those who wanted to write home but were unable to because they were illiterate. Today, Ann Siang Hill is home to a number of cafes and restaurants, as well as businesses. The shophouses that were built in the early 1900s and were once traditional homes of clan associations and exclusive social clubs have now been elegantly restored.

We spent a pleasant afternoon exploring the shops and alleyways of Ann Siang Hill and the neighboring Duxton Hill.

I saw this being displayed in a window of one of the shophouses, and I really like it.

If you have the opportunity to visit Singapore and would like to get away from the hustle and bustle of cosmopolitan living and shopping malls, I’d recommend taking a slow stroll through Ann Siang Hill and Duxton Hill.

You’d never know what gems you might find here.

Hesperides from Fresh

Tags

Citrus, Eau de parfum, Fragrance, Fresh, Hesperides

I was browsing at Sephora ION Orchard again a couple of weeks ago when I spotted this…

I wasn’t shopping for a fragrance but I spotted it whilst standing in queue in front of the cashier’s. The packaging was very girly yet simple, which is something I’d always liked. I had no idea what the fragrance would smell like since I didn’t know what Hesperides meant, but I reached for it nevertheless. I took a whiff and promptly decided that I had to get it (even though I wasn’t planning on getting a fragrance in the first place but well… things happen, ya know?).

I’m really lousy at describing scents so I shan’t even attempt to. Fresh describes it as a bright full-bodied bouquet of citruses including mandarin, grapefruit and bergamot housed in a mini artisanal bottle. It reminds me of a sunny spring day and ripened fruits. It’s an eau de parfum and although past experiences with light citrusy fragrances have shown that they lack staying power, I was quite surprised that I could still smell it on my clothes even after a day out. It was S$49 but I only had to pay S$9 as I had the S$40 Sephora voucher which I used.

I first thought that Hesperides was a type of flower, but was pleasantly surprised to find out that it refers to the Hesperides of Greek mythology. They were nymphs who tended Hera’s orchard of immortality-giving golden apples. They were also the goddesses of the evening and golden light of sunset. Even since I was a child, I loved reading books and illustrations of Greek mythology. I hope to be able to visit Greece one day and visit the ruins and learn more of her culture and history. Till then, I’m quite happy to enjoy Hesperides as a fragrance.

Wrinkles begone!… I hope.

Tags

Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Night Cream, Serum, Strivectin-SD, Strivectin-TL

I recently read an article about the connection between sleeping positions and the development of facial wrinkles. Apparently, those of us who like to sleep on our sides have a higher chance of developing wrinkles on our faces, particularly on the cheeks and chin. Sleeping facedown could result in a furrowed brow. The best would be to sleep on our backs. It makes sense, really. Yours truly here sleeps sideways most of the time, with my face squashed between the pillows. For those of you who are like me, how many times have you woken up to sleeplines etched on your cheeks or temples? I know I often do!

So, I tried sleeping on my back… which was probably only for a good hour or so before I’d unconsciously flip over to my side. I’ve developed this sleeping posture since I was a child and short of having to install some device that zaps me each time I flip to my side while sleeping, I’d have to resign to the fact that I will continue to sleep on my side and make a generous contribution to my facial wrinkles. So what’s a woman to do?

I’ve yet to reach the BIG 4-0, and I do not have very prominent wrinkles. I do however, have fine lines around my eyes and laugh lines around my mouth. One of my concerns is sagging skin, mostly around the cheek and lower jawline. Over one weekend, I popped into Sephora at ION Orchard to check out the Clarins Extra-Firming Tightening Lift Botanical Serum, which I’ve read pretty good reviews of. Whilst there, I came across the Strivectin ‘Less Wrinkles, More Lift’ kit – which appealed to me. I mean… Come on, would you NOT be interested? After having spent some time reading the brochure and discussing my skincare concerns with the BA (beauty advisor), I decided to give the trial kit a try. I think that wrinkles are a part of life, but if I could delay their ‘appearance’ with the use of proper skincare products – why not?  I cannot remember the exact retail price, but I believe the trial kit cost around S$130. I’ve used this kit for a few weeks now and I thought I’d share with you my thoughts on the products.

The kit came with a Strivectin-TL Tightening Face Serum (30ml), a Strivectin-SD Intensive Concentrate for Stretch Marks and Wrinkles (30ml), and a Strivectin-TL Tightening and Sculpting Face & Neck Cream (30ml).

After cleansing and toning, I’d apply the Serum, followed by the Intensive Concentrate and then the Face & Neck Cream (which I’d apply on my neck as well). It gives me a slight tingling sensation once applied, which would wear off after a while. They each have a pleasant scent – faint and almost mint-like (I’m hazarding a guess here). I must say that layering 3 products after toning is not something I’m used to doing. It feels a tad heavy on my face, even though I’m using the products sparingly – and so I use these products only at night. Another thing that I noticed was that after a few days, my neck developed rashes and bumps. I stopped applying the cream onto my neck area and opted to apply my Eucerin Hyaluron Filler Night Cream instead. I was using this as my night cream for about a month before I started using the Strivectin kit. I didn’t want to waste it and so I decided to use it on my neck area instead. The rashes eventually disappeared after two days or so.

It has been a few weeks since I started using the products now, and I like the way my skin feels in the morning. I also love how soft my neck feels since I started using the Eucerin Hyaluron-Filler. My face and neck feels plumper and smoother. When I wash my face in the shower, I can feel a thin residual layer on my skin but I’m not too bothered by it. I can’t say for sure that it reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines, but I hope that with continued usage, I could continue sleeping on my side without having to worry too much about wrinkles developing. Wishful thinking eh?

Have you tried these products? If you have, what are your thoughts on them?

P.S. – I am not a skincare expert and my advice would be for you to do your own research to determine which products would probably suit you best. I’m just sharing my personal experience with the use of these products.

Best Buddies…

Tags

Cat

Caught these two napping like this…

Five minutes later…

After a while…

C’est la vie, no?

My Own Sugar Cat!

Tags

Cat, Sugar

Look at what a friend of mine gave me!

It’s made entirely out of sugar and is edible. I’m not sure just how well it’ll keep, but I’m definitely not going to eat it. It’s so cute!

I’m going to name it Francois.

Too pretty to eat…

Tags

Cookies, Eggs

I recently received these.

When you have a newborn baby, it is customary to have a celebration one month after the birth. Where I’m from, this traditionally involved throwing a little ‘party’ at home with family and friends. Growing up, the food served would include fried vermicelli, fried chicken wings, spring rolls, etc. – and of course, hardboiled eggs stained with food-grade red dye. The eggs are a must. I must admit that I don’t really know enough to share with you the significance of this event and the red eggs, but I’m pretty sure you’d be able to Google it up.  Instead of presents, it is customary to shower the baby with red packets containing money. In return, the parents would give out tokens to be brought home, and this usually includes an egg or two, and some cakes. Well, at least that’s what they do in my hometown.

I have many friends who have had babies and in the past, I would get to bring home a pretty box containing an assortment of goodies – the eggs (of course!), traditional cakes and even pretty cupcakes. Recently, a friend of mine gave birth to a baby girl, and as tokens, we were given these beautifully-wrapped cookies.

They’re meant to be eaten, but they’re just too pretty! These cookies were from Little Red Shop Pastries. You can check out their website for more of their adorable cookies.

Now, what should I do with them? Hmm… to eat or not to eat, that is the question.

Meet Ms Sally Black…

Tags

Nordstrom, Online purchases, Sally Wedges, Tory Burch

Ever since I found out that Nordstrom, Jildor Shoes and Saks Fifth Avenue ship directly to Singapore, I’ve been hooked on their websites. I’ve discovered that even with shipping costs factored in, some items cost much less if I were to purchase them online. So, what I’ve been doing is this… I see something I like (for instance, a pair of shoes), I go to the store and try out sizes, and then place an order online. This way, I minimize the risk of ordering the item in the wrong size. This has worked pretty well for me so far.

If you’ve been reading my previous blogposts, you’d know that I purchased a pair of Spotted Roccia Tory Burch Sally wedges in Chestnut a while back. I purchased them at On Pedder, at a retail price of S$580. They were so comfy and of the right height that I decided that I had to get a pair in black. On Pedder did not have any stock and they didn’t know how soon it would be before I could get my hands on them. It was a while before I found that they were back in stock at Jildor Shoes and when I did, I promptly placed my order for a pair.

Say Hello to Sally Black…

Please excuse the amateur-ish photography skills. They do not do Sally Black any justice. I’ve yet to find the time to learn how to use the Nikon D90 properly. These shots were taken using the Canon Ixus 70 point and shoot camera.

I’m 5’7″ in height and am a size 8M for Tory Burch. They took a little while longer to get broken into but are very comfy to wear. I could run after buses and trains in these! (Not that I do, really. I’m just too lazy. I’ll just wait for the next one. Hahaha!)

And how much do they cost? S$427, inclusive of shipping costs. As you can see, I saved quite a bit! My friends tell me that it could work out even cheaper if I were to use VPost,  but I’d done the math and it wasn’t a significant difference. I just couldn’t be bothered having to email VPost my order details and having to arrange for a separate payment for shipping.

I also love Enzo Angiolini shoes. They’d probably be my next online purchase.