Don’t mind it okay?

This is just a sharing of my thoughts of beauty related stuff for 2008, as this is one year that is completely STRANGE to me, and yet I survived it all. Somehow.

2008 is completely new for me, as I am no longer a student, but a working young lady. Which means stronger spending power I also started this blog, to jot down my thoughts on beauty stuff and everything, and because I have more money on hand, I can actually try out more products!

So, yeah, on to a few interesting finds for 2008.

Avon.

My first encounter with Avon was way back, I think 8 to 10 years back. My mom’s friend just started selling Avon’s stuff, so as a friend my mom purchased a few items from her now and then.

I remembered using a few items from them, Avon Advanced Technique hair shampoo and conditioner, Avon sunblock, and Sweet Honesty perfumed talc.

The hair shampoo and conditioner is no longer sold right now, I think. I don’t remember whether it did any good for my hair, but it does have a really nice smell.

The sunblock was HORRIBLE. It was my first sunblock back then, and I hated it! It’s greasy and oily! I stopped using sunblock because I thought all sunblock’s consistency would be the same and never used any until I went into university. Bad huh? That explains the freckles. Hehe.

Their perfumed talc is still in the market, but with a different packaging. I like the old packaging better. It was pink and white. Lovely smell.

I never really like Avon as it is quite focus towards only a certain group and I somehow felt it is very “aunty”, if you get what I mean. It is only recently after reading Izzy’s blog that I think Avon deserve another chance.

And hey, Avon’s not that bad! But I think they should expand their target group and do a better brochure layout. The current one is kinda like boring?

Next one, Shu Uemura.

I haven’t got much counter brand items actually. My first really expensive item is Stila’s Rouge Orchid palette, a birthday gift from the bf. And I never really bought anything else that is as expensive as that until now. Because I am now working! Hehe. My first official counter item is 2 palettes from T’estimo, which has been discontinued.

I ventured into Shu Uemura because I saw them doing eyebrows for RM20, and I wanted to do up my brows since it’s bushy and kinda messy, and I had some extra cash, so I thought why not? It was then I got hooked onto Shu. Really.

The next time I went back, they launched the Christmas palettes. I was really tempted already when I saw the swatches and reviews on some blogs and forums, and I quickly lay my hands on them. And yes. I bought 2 out of the 3.

And my next purchase? Their blushers! I am looking forward to checking out their Spring ’09 items, though the swatches of the eyeshadows are pretty sheer. But seriously, I think Shu’s stuff are nice.

After Shu Uemura, I had a thing for Shiseido. Be it Maquillage or Integrate. My first item from Shiseido is their Christmas coffret set, which is absolutely lovely! And I am waiting for my GY831 gel liner to arrive! Weee! I am looking forward to buying the Design Cheek colour from them. Super lovely!

I am also venturing in Lunasol and Coffret D’or, as I read too many good reviews about them! Tee hee~ Awaiting for Lunasol’s Christmas edition eye palettes and blusher to arrive. And I haven’t touch my Coffret palette, they are just so pretty!

The only brand that till now still fails to really capture my heart is MAC. I have 2 #187, a blusher from Strange Hybrid, Fleurry, and Macroviolet fluidline, and I have no strange lemmings anymore. Yeah, I do like their MSF blushers, but then again, I don’t quite have the urge to buy them right now. Unlike my crazy urge with Japanese/ Korean makeup, Western products just fail to impress me as much. Hence, why I am not a MAC fan. But I would love to own a few of their MSF blushers though

That’s about for counter brand stuff. Next one, drugstore!

I love drugstore products.

I wonder if Elianto is considered as a drugstore product or not. They offer a wide range of colours, though the quality isn’t very good, but for the price, I shouldn’t be complaining.

Kate and Majolica Majorca is a staple for me. They offer good quality stuff with a decent price tag. I don’t complain if they fail to perform what they promised once a while though.

Another one I like would be Lavshuca. Not available here, but I think their products are lovely! Especially packaging! ^_^

Etude House is my latest craze after Skinfood. It’s pretty, cheap and quite good. Skinfood, on the other hand, I find them not living up to the standards as much as before. Maybe I am expecting too much from them.

Rimmel offers decent stuff too, but they don’t fancy me as much as Japanese/ Korean brand products. I have a crazy obsession with Japanese/ Korean stuff!

That’s about it. For 2009, I wish to try out a few more different brands like Gransenbon, Integrate, Missha(been around for so long, but never really dig them), and uh… everything that I can get my hands on!

I’m a beauty blogger, so I should be doing that right?

Bad for the pocket though!

May 2009 be another good year for everyone!

Time flies huh?

Anyway, I am doing a quick simple round up for 2008, based on the stuff I’ve tried out so far, which either I have reviewed, or have not reviewed

If the item has been reviewed, a link will be provided. Otherwise, a general review shall be written and a more in-depth review will be up sometime later in the year.

Here goes for part I!

Skincare

Cleanser: Mandom cleansers

Scrubs: Laneige Strawberry Yoghurt Peeling Gel, Garnier Brightening Scrub Wash, Skinfood Black Sesame Hot Mask

Toner: Nivea Visage Refreshing Toner

Serum/ Essence: Neutrogena Fine Fairness Essence

Moisturizer: Sana Nameraka Soybean Isofrabon Medicated Emulsion, Loreal Hydrafresh Aqua Gel Essence

Eye cream: Avon Eye Perfector with Peptides

Lipbalm: MyLipStuff lipbalms

Why: Moisturizing, cheap, not waxy, smells and taste great! It comes in like 400 flavours? Downside: Not available in Malaysia.

Lip serum/ essence: Shu Uemura Deep Sea Moisture Lip Serum

Bodycare

Bodywash: Johnson & Johnson Milk Bath, Shokubutsu Grapefruit Shower Wash

Why: Both are cheap, smells good, and doesn’t dry out the skin!

Scrubs: Watson Body Scrub(Brown tube)

Lotions/ Creams: Lotions from Vaseline, Johnson & Johnson Baby Cream, Johnson & Johnson Milk Lotion, Johnson & Johnson Baby Softlotion 24 Hour Moisture, The Bodyshop body butters

Why: Inexpensive (Not for TBS body butters though), easily available, does the job well!

Haircare

Hair shampoo/ conditioner: Shiseido Tsubaki, Joico Silk Results

Hair mask: Shiseido Tsubaki Hair Mask, Loreal Elseve Anti Breakage Hair Mask

Why: Tsubaki is really good! I love it! But the problem is that it’s not available here Other than that, this is a really nice hair mask! Might be a little heavy for oily hair though, but good for dry hair like mine!

Leave in conditioner: Schwarzkopf Bonacure Moisture Kick Moisture Spray Conditioner

Treatment: Sexy Girl Night Repair Oil Essence

Serum: Schwarzkopf Osis Magic Anti-Frizz Gloss Serum

Why: Moisturize my hair ends, keeping it soft and silky, not too expensive, last quite a while.

Part II will consist of makeup and stuff, so stay tune okay!

Oh god, this is just so hard! It’s killing my brains!

Happy New Year everyone! ^_^