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Beauty Editors reveal their beauty must-haves

October 30th 2007 03:59

They get free samples of new beauty products before they hit counters and their reviews on what’s hot and what’s not are lapped up by the many beauty and age-defying-obsessed. Want to know what beauty editors have stocked their bathroom cabinets? Here are 10 of the beauty editor must-haves, according to NY Daily News :

Cetaphil Face Wash

The fact that the packaging isn’t the most attractive (virginal white with a pump and a blue label stuck to the front – very no frills), it only shows that the manufacturers are confident that the product actually does the job and doesn’t need the fancy get-up to garner sales and positive reviews. The face wash was originally formulated for dermatologists’ use. It’s gentle, soothing and fragrance-free. Suitable for all skin types (even babies!) but especially for those suffering from dry, sensitive and/or acne-prone skin.

Cost : AUD$14 for a 500ml pump from E Pharmacy. Check out cetaphil.com.au to get free samples!

Kiehl's Lip Balm #1

Lip Balm #1 is Kiehl’s best-selling product. Like Cetaphil, this product comes in plain white packaging but with black writing all over it. It helps relieve chapped or cracked lips and from the drying effects of the wind and frigid weather and lasts longer on your lips than your average lip balm. The lip balm feels and smells a little like Vaseline but glides more smoothly on your lips.

Cost : While you can buy this product in a jar for AUD$16 from Mecca Cosmetica, I think I’ll stick to my Vaseline, thanks.

Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

Beauty editors have raved about this eyelash curler in their magazines since it came out. Does it live up to the hype? According to the reviews I’ve read online, yes it does. Stainless steel, sturdy with a black rounded rubber pad, it fits snugly at the base of the lashes and to the contour of the eye for a long-lasting curl. Touted as a ‘wonder’ eyelash curler, it works better than the heated ones and suits all eye shapes.

Cost : AUD$17.95 from www.fountaincosmetics.com.au

Mario Badescu Drying Lotion
Containing a blend of calamine and salicylic acid, a tiny dab of this lotion on an unsightly pimple (particularly that one on the tip of your nose) will soothe it and clear it up overnight. Overnight! Sounds almost too good to be true. Where was this when I had to stay home from a ‘disco’ and missed the chance to make out with my Polish crush because of that unsightly pimple?

Cost : AUD$22

Phytodefrisant Botanical Hair Relaxing Balm

Using only a minimum amount to damp hair, this relaxing balm takes away those nasty-looking frizz (that makes you look more stressed than you are) and tames even the most stubborn stand of hair. The result, after it’s dried, is like coming out of a hair salon – silky, shiny hair that ripples through your fingers like water. Voted as #1 haircare product by Allure magazine time and time again, the balm doesn’t leave residue so it doesn’t make your hair look flat and oily by the end of the day.

Cost : AUD$26 from strawberrynet.com for a tube that can last up to 6 months

Bumble & Bumble Does It All Styling Spray
This medium-hold hair spray keeps your locks in place without making your hair clumpy and stiff that can rival a hedgehog. It leaves your hair shiny and glossy and you can use a heat-styling tool straight after without hearing that sizzling sound of your strands being cooked.

Cost : AUD$30

Nars Blush in Orgasm
For the fairer-skinned woman, this blush reputedly gives you that peachy shimmer flush that apparently creeps up to the cheekbones after…well, read the product name.

Cost : AUD$32

Lancome Definicils
Another bestseller by Lancome, this mascara goes on your lashes smoothly, lengthening them and leaving your new glamorous-looking lashes clump-free. It doesn’t smudge and washes off easily. The mascara won’t give you the dramatic-looking eyelashes that are huge in Hollywood right now and supposed to be THE trend for summer but go for this one if you’re after a low-maintenance mascara you can wear everyday and can give some attention to your eyes without the others looking at them and thinking spiders have crawled up and settled on your lids.

Cost : $48

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch

Yves St Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Touch

Make-up not doing anything to hide those dark circles under your eyes after a long night of tossing and turning? This ‘miracle’ highlighter contains light-reflecting particles that deflect any attention from shadows and blemishes on your face, instantly brightening your skin. So who needs foundation then, eh?

Cost : AUD$48

Lancome Instant Colour Self-Tanning Leg Gel
Give yourself that healthy, shimmering, sun-kissed glow for summer without even stepping a foot outside your house. The gel dries on your skin within one hour of application, giving you an overall, natural tan.

Cost : AUD$50

Out of the above, I’m quite keen on trying out Cetaphil Face Wash (simply because it’s excellent value for money, compared to what I’m paying for my current cleanser), Phytodefrisant and the YVES Highlighter. But with the exception of Cetaphil, the other products seem just a bit pricey to me, despite the glowing reviews I’ve read online. And since I’ve vowed from last week on to curb my spending habits on beauty products, I might have to put this on my Xmas wish list for 2007.

Any of these tempting you to buy?

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Posted By: Aimzster - Category: Skin Care, Face, Hair Care, Body Care, Eyes

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What's your tried-and-tested Beauty trick?

October 4th 2007 02:43

Whether you came across them by accident, your favourite celeb swears by them or your friend strongly recommends them, there are some beauty tricks that actually work and don't break your budget. Here are some of mine, what's yours?

1. This one I found by accident when I had a slight shaving mishap and had to stay in the bathroom for a while. Directly after showering, rub moisturiser all over your body and stay inside the bathroom for 10-15 minutes (brush your teeth, wash your face, sit in the toilet, etc). I find that the warm, damp air makes my skin absorb the moisture, making my skin softer and more supple.

2. Another one I found by accident - directly after a morning workout, wash your face and slather on some moisturiser. You'll have a natural healthy glow that will last all day that you'd hate to cover up with make-up.

3. How many times have you find yourself rushing home from work to prepare for a big night to find you don't have time to wash your greasy, limp hair? Add volume and absorb the grease by rubbing talc powder into the roots of your hair and blow-drying it. This is a trick a lot of hairdressers swear by.

4. To make the curl on your lashes stay longer, use the eyelash curler AFTER the mascara, but wait about a minute.

5. Lips looking and feeling chapped because of the recent weather? Condition and plump your lips by gently scrubbing vaseline onto them with a dry toothbrush at night. In the morning, create your own coloured lipgloss by mixing vaseline with your favourite shade of lipstick.

6. If you're Asian, you'll understand what I'm talking about when I ask - don't you hate how the hairs on your eyebrows go straight down, sometimes creating a ragged, uneven bottom line? Brush your eyebrows across with a hair gel and cut off any stray hairs at the bottom.

7. I tend to stay away from eyeliner pencils to fill in the gaps as they can make your brows look harsher. Besides, having 'leaking' eyebrows in the rain aren't very attractive, you know. Opt for a brow bush powder instead - one or two shades lighter (if you're a brunette) or darker (if you're blonde) for a soft, natural brow look.

8. After washing and towel drying your hair, bend over and let your hair hang down then blow dry from the root to the tips to create instant volume in your hair. Never blow up against the hair tips as this causes damage to the hair and more split ends.

9. Here's a facial scrub masque that you can whip up yourself at home or if you've forgotten to have your daily dose of fruits and there is a bunch of rotting bananas on your counter. Mash one banana and mix well with 3-4 tablespoons of honey. Apply an even layer to your face and let it set for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly to reveal an oh-so-smooth face.

10. I've only recently just tried this and will be looking out for the results but apparently, this is a huge hollwyood beauty trick, according to Diane Irons, a model who's written several books on beauty and make-up tips she's picked up from the modelling industry. Did you know that caffeine is a key ingredient in many expensive products targeting cellulite? Don't throw away those used coffee grounds just yet. While still warm, rub the coffee grounds onto your problem areas (you may want to line your bathroom floor with papers to catch all the residue), seal the grounds to your skin with a cling wrap and leave for 5 minutes. Shower afterwards.

*images from www.wikipedia.com

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Posted By: Aimzster - Category: Skin Care, Face, Hair Care, Body Care

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#9 Stupid Thing I've done for Beauty's sake

June 26th 2007 17:52

#9 Detox your body - Drink 8 to 10 litres of water a day

Water, water everywhere

Water cleanses out the toxins in your body, not to mention it helps clear skin of pimples and blemishes that are so much a part of the awkward, embarrassing adolescent years. At the time I had read about the benefits of water for the body and skin in a Dolly/Girlfriend/Cosmo article, big red pimples had started popping up all over my face that I had to turn my inexperienced hand at applying foundation. When you’d only ever dabbled in the art of make-up by applying loops of eyeliner to the outside of your lids, prompting your own dear father to remark, “You look like a prostitute”, it was no wonder when my attempt at applying foundation resulted in white, pock-like marks on my face. With a ‘dance party’ looming five days away and the anticipation that it was the event that would mark the beginning of a romance with a certain Polish dude, I was too impatient for just an 8-glasses-of-water-a-day. In a move that clearly showed I am my mother’s daughter, I decided to take this tip a step – make that, several glasses – too far. If I drank 8 to 10 litres of water a day, surely, my skin would clear up in a matter of days? Or, more precisely, in five days so I can dance the ‘Ice Ice Baby’ with my Polish crush? So I drank one litre of water per every waking hour per day. That’s approximately one glass of water every six minutes, one trip to the toilet every hour, and two trips from 11pm to 7am when I should be asleep. Finally, at 3am on the fourth morning, I was half-asleep when I needed to go to the toilet but my brain probably realised enough was enough, ignored the urging from my bowels and tugged me back to sleep where I promptly dreamt that I had gone to the toilet. When I woke up in the morning with the bed all soaked (gross!), I finally decided this 8 to 10 litres a day thing had to stop.

*image from www.wikipedia.com

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Posted By: Aimzster - Category: Skin Care, Face, Stories, Body Care

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Day Spa Review : Ding House

June 5th 2007 00:37

DING HOUSE BEAUTY & SLIMMING SALON
Lower Ground Floor, 410-420 Sussex Street, Sydney

Date of Treatment : Saturday, 3pm February 2, 2007

Ambience
When you walk down the steps to the ground floor of the complex, you’d be forgiven for thinking you’d come to the wrong place. At the bottom of the steps is a small store of clothes, shoes and bags with two to three people staring at you expectantly from behind a steel counter and to your left is a crowded hair salon. It’s not until you venture a few steps forward that you see a small narrow hall to your left which houses the reception area for the actual salon. The reception desk is usually unattended so you would have to furtively knock on the closed door.

The place is very small with only about three rooms – not counting the main room which is the main thoroughfare between the other rooms. They also hold some treatments in this main room and I was unfortunate enough to have had one of my facials here which allowed for no privacy with the constant movement of people about and the bright lights overhead. But most of the time, I had my facials in one of the two facials rooms – a small, cluttered room with two beds against opposite walls. When the place gets booked out, you’ll find yourself sharing the room with a stranger and another therapist. Despite some relaxing music in the background, other employees come in and out of the rooms to use the sink or get some supplies that it does get a little distracting – the good thing is the facial and massages are so good, you’ll find yourself drifting off to sleep, despite the noise.

Ambience rating : 1.5

Treatment
Sensitive Facial Treatment
Duration : approximately 1.5 hours
Price : $55.00AUD
Products used : Sothy’s

Ding House was where I had my first ever facial treatment, which was in 2000. I had broken out - the area around my nose was flaky, dry, itchy and red and I had some bumps all along the sides of my face like I had an allergic reaction to something. After my first treatment there, my skin settled down and the redness and itchiness was gone. A week later, my skin was back to its normal complexion.

Since then, I get my facials at the salon about two to three times a year. I don’t know of any other facial treatment in any other salon that offers heavenly facial and shoulder massages and, without fail, I drift off to sleep halfway through, only to be awoken by my therapist calling out “Done!” and trying to rouse myself to get up and get dressed. The therapists there have the smoothest hands that glide like silk over your face and the pressure on your face and shoulders is just perfect. They say you know it’s a good hair salon if you like the hairdressers’ hair – I say the same thing about Ding House. Every single therapist has the softest, most translucent skin I’ve seen, totally devoid of pimples and blemishes – apparently thanks to Sothy’s. My complexion is even and brighter – I love the mask they use which unfortunately, isn’t for sale – and I’m not the only one to notice the difference either.

My only problem with the facials there? Some therapists get very intense with the blackhead extraction – they dig into and scrape your skin. First-timers have admitted to shedding tears.

Body Massage
Duration : 1 hour
Price : $80.00 AUD

Body Massages are tricky. I’ve had full-hour massages here about five times and it’s a hit and miss, depending on who you get and whether or not they’ve massaged someone before you so their hands are a little tired.

But for my latest body massage, I was told that there’s a new girl recently arrived from Hong Kong and touted one of the best masseuse in Hong Kong. Usually, massage therapists would ask you where your vulnerable spots where. Lily(?) did no such thing and promptly worked on my body, almost a little impatient to start. She pinpointed exactly where my sore spots where and massaged the aching muscles away that, before too long, my eyelids were heavy and I found myself drooling. The bad thing about someone who can pinpoint your exact sore spots is that they won’t hesitate to put the required pressure to get the job done. At times, especially when she was massaging my legs which were still a little sore from Tae Bo the night before, I would wince in pain which I was certain she knew of but pressed on anyway.

The weirdest thing about the massage was that Lily didn’t just use her hands and elbows. From the very beginning, she jumped up on my back, braced her palms on my shoulders, and her knees in the vulnerable spots in my back. Then she proceeded to massage the backs of my legs and feet with her own feet and toes. She wasn’t heavy at all – while the pressure was firm, it was just right and I could feel the tension from my shoulders ebbing away. She was the best masseuse I’d had in a long time.

Another good thing with getting a massage at Ding House is that, if time permits, they let you lie on the massage bed before your massage appointment for up to 45 minutes.

Treatment rating : 5

Service
The therapists aren’t the friendliest around and won’t hesitate to tell you how crap your skin is but after a few remarks and questions at the beginning, they leave you alone and won’t say anything more until the treatment is finished. They’re also known for selling their products and services quite aggressively so if you go there with a certain budget in mind, try not to let them sway you. It’s hard, especially with them insisting that the treatment you’ve asked for won’t do anything for such bad skin, but try to anyway.

Ding House therapists also take their time with the treatments – which could be a good or a bad thing. I’ve had some facials that have lasted close to two hours and this really depends on the therapist you happen to get – if you don’t specify who you want at the time you make your booking. Some are very meticulous especially when removing blackheads and analysing your skin while others realise you may have another appointment afterwards. Book a treatment here only if you have a couple of hours to waste – I wouldn’t recommend booking if you have a strict appointment afterwards or have someone waiting for you – unless they’re prepared to wait two hours or so. Even if you prompt your therapist that you need to get out by a certain time, they’ll merely nod their head but pay your request no heed.

Another thing I make sure of is that I never book for more than two people at Ding House. I once made a mistake of booking for 5 people and although I was reassured at the time that we would all be treated at the same time and no one would be kept waiting, such a case never happened. Two of us were in the facial rooms at least 45 minutes before the other two were brought in. The fifth one was promptly forgotten.

Service rating : 1

OVERALL RATING : 4.5
While the service and ambience are lacking at Ding House, I believe the treatments make up for them, thus the 4.5 rating. I don’t recommend this to those looking for a true spa experience or who like people to fuss over you, asking if you would like tea/coffee, etc. But if you want a routine treatment for your skin or need urgent treatment for those breakouts or other skin problems, this is definitely the place. Ding House also offers the best value for money when it comes to facials. I’ve recommended this place to my family members and friends and while they agree that the service and ambience aren’t the best, the facials themselves are excellent and cheap. Plus, you get free samples if you're a newbie.

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Posted By: Aimzster - Category: Skin Care, Face, Body Care

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