Thank You!

Thank you sweeties for your participation!! I've given away the first round of DollyPalette's giveaway! Posting out on Monday!!

Have a great weekend! xoxo

Look at this beautiful island -- Tavarua Island, Fiji

DollyPalette's FIRST giveaway!!

Hi beauties!

In order to thank you for staying patiently with DollyPalettes...

DollyPalettes is doing its first giveaway! 

I'm starting with something small -- 4 beauty travel packs from Kiehls which includes a moisturizer, scrub, eye cream and hand/body lotion!

To participate, send an email to dollypalettes [at] gmail [dot] com with some feedback before 27 February 2013!
I will randomly select one winner from all the emails sent and announce it on my blog thereafter!
Hope to hear from you soon! xxx

Happy Lunar New Year!

Hello sweeties! I'm once again so so sorry for being away for so long! I've been caught up in a whirlwind of things to do! I've been trying a couple of new things recently. Here's the lowdown on them...

1) Fancl Overnight Hydrating Pack (RRP S$56.00) - Unlikely to repurchase
Was told that it is limited edition. Halfway through the bottle, instructions require 5 pumps for every night use which is very draining for the small bottle. Don't see any significant improvements in moisture locking but caused my Tzone to shine faster than it normally would. 

2) Super Hyaluronic Acid Moist Essence EX by Hada Labo

ooh, I love this. Got it at a drugstore and didn't expect much. The essence does not look thick but after application, you can feel a layer of water on your face! Love to use it before make-up!

3) Laneige Perfect Renew Essence_EX - I need something more moisturinsing. 

Just a little sample from my purchase of the ampoules. When I tried this many years back when they first launched in Singapore, my face broke out in allergy... red and itchy. However they have since improved the formula. I'm pleased to say that my face has taken this sample bottle well.

3) Laneige Water Bank Moisture Full Ampoules - May consider repurchasing
It is a milky white texture which apparently maximises the moisture absorption from deep within. Was told by the Laneige ladies in Hong Kong that they use this 10 bottle cycle every 3 months to ensure that not only the outer layer moisture is locked in but also the inner layer.
Can't see the real effects since its on the inner layer but scars seem to heal faster after the 10 bottles usage. pretty pricey if you ask me, but ampoules are a good routine to have every once in a while. 

5) VMV Hypoallergenics Grandma Minnie's Nurturing Do-it-all Oil 
Supposedly organic virgin coconut oil + monolaurin and suitable for babies. It has the typical coconut oil smell which makes it avoid it if I'm going out (you don't want weird stares coming your way). Not sticky but well not totally absorptive either. Don't see my skin improving drastically even after a whole bottle. Perhaps we need more than a baby does and VMV didn't realise that when marketing this product to adults too. Their Know-it-oil (100% organic virgin coconut oil) seems to have much better effects (if you want to smell like a pressed coconut). 

6) Atorrege AD+ Acne Spot (RRP S$59.00) - buy it!
HG product!! Made in Japan and given to me by my mom. It is anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial! This HG essence clears up pimples and acne but does not peel skin! Awesome isn't it? My acnes heal quickly with this application and best of all, its suitable for sensitive skin! I like to use this at night but avoid it in the day before make-up as I don't want the contents of this gel to be spreaded over areas without acne ( I wake up late and can't afford to wait for it to form a protective film...)
As seen from the picture, it uses a dripper to dispense the gel-like essence which makes it more hygenic! It gets abit troublesome at the end when your dripper no longer picks up the gel though, otherwise all ok! Oh and becareful of that glass bottle!
This wins my previous use of Ettusais Acne Gel and Biotherm's Anti imperfections targeted solution hands down! I'm going to try VMV's red better spot corrector next. Lets see if this one wows more or VMV's. I was last told that this miracle formula is available at watsons! 

7) Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure - oh skip it. 
Was given a set of Sally Hansen's nail polishes for Christmas. Totally unimpressed. Just don't buy it if you are used to brands like China Glaze and OPI or even Nicole by OPI. Next please. 

Now, before you go.. here's my nails which i did for Lunar New Year! Coincidentally, its the 15th day of the Chinese New Year today! Here's wishing all my readers, 新年快樂， 萬事如意， 心想事成，身體健康！ 

All under one roof

Hello ladies!

I have not been able to catch up on the reviews of the products I've been trying out! I'm probably going to relook the length of reviews so I can get the views out to share with you!

Here's the lowdown of some of the products I've used over the last couple of months, in no order of preference:

Bobbi Brown Extra Eye Repair Cream: Will not repurchase

too rich for me, caused milia seeds. 

Burberry eye-shadows : will add more to collection if $$ permits
great pigmentation, love it but its costly.

Diorshow Iconic Extreme Mascara: Yes! but its often out of stock!
Love this baby. It gives a distinct yet not too dolly/dramatic look! Love how the lashes separates and lengthens with the brush!

Elizabeth Arden Prevage Hydrating Fluid: will not repurchase
Too rich for my skin type and too expensive as well!

Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin: on the fence
I have a love-hate relationship with this product. I'm questioning the underlying reason for its brightening effect and if might be due to the shimmery pearly pink extracts they have added to the serum.

Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Ex: my new HG!
Love how this gel like product keeps my skin supple and soft the next month despite sleeping in an extremely dry environment. My must-have product!

Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder: repurchased once but...
Very fine and lightweight powder, does not cause end of day cracks in the make-up as much as Bobbi's brown loose powder (old version)

Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer: No way I'm buying again
I don't like this at all, no intention to repurchase. In fact I barely touched the tube.

Loreal Impact Collagene Curl-Fixing Volume Mascara: Not really my type of mascara

ok for the price, slightly clumpy after 2 straight week of use. 

Moogoo Oil Cleansing Method (Combi Skin): Don't waste ur time on this product
Oh this is horrible, the oil is so thick that it clogs my pore. I've suffered tremendous breakouts, likely accrued to this product!

Talika Gentle eye cleanser: Will not repurchase
Not friendly for my eyes, has caused irritation thrice throughout entire use

.
.
.
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And for the next couple of weeks/months... I'll first be trying out Ettusais Skin Extra Version Up, Aqua Shooter and Acne Nighttime Defense Powder!

+

new products which my mom kindly gave me from VMV Hypoallergenics where I spotted a new store in Ion Orchard, Singapore. Its apparently an American brand.

Thanks babe for stopping by, I hope the low-down helped! Do email me at dollypalettes[at]gmail[dot]com if you would like me to cover any one of the above in detail before I get to it! (Yes, I know I'm slow!)

psst: have you supported the breast cancer initiative? Its National Breast Cancer Awareness Month every October (:

xoxo

beauty hauls from the trip!

Hello ladies!

I'm so so sorry for my lack of posts! Workload has gotten more intense and I've been traveling as well. Pardon me!

I bought quite a fair bit of items from my trip this time round (See above); the picture above does not include some other items such as a Loreal Impact Collagene mascara (i forgot to bring my mascara for the trip) and some other daily items such as my bobbi brown corrector and concealer and the recent sheer loose powder! 

I was also really excited that Biotherm came up with a XXL AquaSource moisturizer! Now that makes the most sense for an almost daily user like me!

The Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin and Dior Addict Lip Experts Duo were both both on flight! So far the Tsuya Skin together with my moisturizer and night sleeping mask has returned most of the moisture my face needs to keep it supple! However, much of the brightening/ 'radiance'  effect seem to come from the 'stardust' bits they have stirred into the mixture. Still, it has a lovely smell (well at least to me!)

My favourite of the lot is a make-up palatte from lancome! I love the blush design and the subtle glitter that came with the shadow and blush! Lovely lovely!

Review: Biotherm Skin.Ergetic Concentrate

Hello! Today I'm back with a review on Biotherm's Skin.Ergetic Concentrate. Yes I know that this product was out last year and I've been trying it since January this year. I prefer to give a suitable amount of time before reviewing products as the effects may take time to come through or on the flipside, see negative impacts after some time too.

When I was shopping for a serum, my final 2 choices were between this product and Lancome's Genifique. Due to the latter's high alcohol content, Biotherm's gimmick of the broccoli extract won me over! Since none of my friends around me have tried this product, I read several reviews and decided that I should just go for it... afterall I was looking really tired and this serum as meant to "to fight the most visible sign of fatigue". Yes marketing sells sometimes...

The other selling point of this product was the target group - for a younger crowd - who notices their first sign of aging! It claims to reverse the aging signs to boost radiance and smoother features. This selling point was backed with the product's 99% of Natural Origin ingredients, paraben-free, mineral-oil free, synthetic colorant-free and most importantly, suitable for sensitive skin. It has ingredients such as Broccoli (sulforaphane), Apple (botanical cell), Soy (protein), lemon (AHA), Sugar Cane (AHA) etc.

The packaging was gimmicky with a "mix your own serum" which makes you feel that the product is truly amazing or 'fresh'. It claims to have a lifespan of approximately 3 good months before the miracle of the powder which you inject into the bottle runs out.

In essence, they give you a sachet of powder which Biotherm claims to contact broccoli extract and you are meant to use the other they gave to inject the powder into bottle, shake it well, before you start using with the dropper. A 1.5cm diameter amount is sufficient for each use. This website gives a clear step-by-step process of injecting the powder.

In terms of the serum, it is white, smooth and has a slight tinge of veggie-fruity-like fragrance which is calming to some but not for anti-veggimites. It applies well with a slightly thicker consistent texture (some say a little slimy) and is quickly absorbed into my skin but the smell stays on the skin for some time. The serum does not leave a sticky or oily layer which works well if you are applying your moisturizer after that.

Unfortunately for me, this product did not work for my sensitive skin. I wanted so much to believe in it but my face kept breaking out with red irritation and lumps of acne that doesn't seem to be extractable after using this serum. I'm still stuck with some of this bumps. I gave it a couple of tries, stopping in between each breakout but this product simply did not work for me. Besides the irritation, my face did not improve in radiance nor was sufficiently providing moisturizer (to my horror, many commented on my dry facial skin only after I started on this product. This made me wonder about the real ingredients of this product.)

So all in all, this is no go for me and I certainly would not be recommending it to anyone at all. Harsh but no I won't want to risk it again especially every time I see the unextractable bumps... sobs. Do note that I have nothing against Biotherm, in fact i've been using their Aquasource moisturizer for a long long time, amidst all the product changes that it has gone through. Still, as mentioned that much as I wanted this product to work, it failed me. No bias-ness.

Nail Designs

Love exploring new ways of painting my nails! 

My first attempt using nail glue!

Newspaper nails! Heart this.

The 2nd nail picture is a simple newspaper nails! looks chic and very easy to achieve! Just paint as usual, using a light base color. Swipe your newspaper in alcohol and place on your nail for 5-7 seconds. Paint a glitter top coat or normal top coat. You're done!