I wish Jill was here...

I mean Jill Stuart, my favourite cosmetic brand. An American brand made good debut in Japan, now it has counters in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Seoul. It has a stream of followers who scour around Asia to get any of its oh-so-romantic products. My favourites are Mix Blush Compact and Eye Palette.

It launches limited edition products from time to time. There are even special coffret sets available only in Taiwan in conjunction with the Republic's famous annual department stores' anniversary sale! Taiwan is also my favourite place to buy Jill Stuart stuff, not only there's 5% VAT refund, the prices in Taiwan are relatively cheaper from the rest of the world, except for a few items in Hong Kong.

Check out Jill Stuart's Christmas 2009 LE set here.

Therapeutic Skincare

Been to the Jurlique counter so many times at the Changi Airport duty free shop made me so wanted to try its products. The pricing wasn't attractive enough though I really like its natural ingredients especially the use of aromatherapy and herbal remedies.

Now that Aussie dollar is almost on par with Sing dollar, my dearie SIL Connie helped to buy me its latest star product from the Biodynamic Beauty range. I can't wait to use it for a therapeutic moment to pamper my ageing skin. I am always on a lookout for age-defying elixir to prolong my youth. The fact that I am near 40 is freaking me out!

Girlie Buys

I went to Taipei for business trip from 2-4 Sep.

Knowing that Taiwan is crazy over Japanese cosmetics, I joined the bandwagon and bought stuff that are not available in Singapore. Here are my stash:

1. Majolica Majorca mascara (2nd generation)
2. Majolica Majorca pencil eye liner (gold)
3. Majolica Majorca liquid eye liner (grey)
4. Majolica Majorca quad eyeshadow (brown trick on powder)
5. Jill Stuart oil blotters
6. Jill Stuart mix blush compact (06 fresh apricot)
7. Eternal nail art stickers
8. Bourjois mini lip gloss
9. Pantene Clinicare hair treatment

I love them, the only thing I have not used (more like couldn't bear to use) is the Mix Blush Compact from Jill Stuart, because it is just too pretty, it even comes with an attached brush (there's a pink crystal encased on the brush holder - how can I resist it???)! Had wanted to buy its latest limited edition "Illuminance" but the compacts were SOLD OUT! The eyeshadows also caught my fancy but it's so pricey I gave up, phew!

During this trip, I got the chance to eat the very delicious dessert from "Xian Yu Xian" (literally means fresh heavenly yam). I had a generous bowl of grass jelly (xian cao) with peanuts, pearls and red beans, drizzled with milk (only NT$50 = S$2.30)... mmmmm so yummy I WANT MORE!

Pretty stuff from Taipei

My sis went to Taipei and bought some pretty Japanese cosmetics for me from the Momo Shop. Apparently the Taiwanese are crazy over Japanese beauty products and many brands are not found in Singapore, such as Majolica Majorca (MM), Love Clover, Gransenbon, Jill Stuart, Visee, etc.

She got my fav MM (a sister line from Shisido) mascara both in its original 2nd generation black mascara and a limited edition copper from its Summer collection, a black liquid eyeliner, a limited edition copper loose powder and a frosty white eyeliner. The MM mascara has fibres that make your lashes naturally long. She also got some blushers from Love Clover which come in small, pretty packages with dainty furry puffs.

Wonder why Singapore doesn't carry these pretty things that go easy on our pockets.

How to have brighter larger looking eyes?

I stumbled upon a great video tutorial on how to achieve brighter larger looking eyes through clever and easy to follow make-up techniques.

Try it out, it really works:



And if the above is not enough, try this one to achieve a natural look with minimal make-up. Have fun!

Faceworks

A dear friend returned from a whirlwind holiday in Japan and managed to grab some stuff - lipstick, spice blush, mascara and lip gloss from Majolica Majorca by Shiseido.

I read alot of rave about MM products and have since longing to try them. Shall use tomorrow! The prices are very reasonable (like Loreal's) and packaging is oh-so-sweet. With such a combination, how could I ever resist? I heard a couple of shops here carry MM but at exorbitant prices. These retailers should know better that people nowadays travel widely and ain't no "mountain tortoises".

Today, I placed an order of mineral makeup from Alima for myself, sisters-in-law and some girlfriends. Am so happy already and just can't wait to get hold of them!

Mineral goodness

Lately I have been reading so much about the goodness of mineral makeup. To defy the sign of aging, I need all the goodness I can find to help retain (and hopefully prolong *grin*) my youth.

In particular the brand Alima from the US.

I found a shop in Singapore that carries Alima products and bought two samples yesterday for myself among others. The two samples are satin matte foundation and luminous shimmer blush in soft rose-pink.

Couldn't contain my excitement, I applied them this morning and I LIKE THEM.

The foundation powder makes my skin feels like it was airbrushed and velvety smooth. The shimmer blush makes me look radiant with a tinge of pinkie glow. At first I was skeptical for it felt strange to apply foundation powder and blush in loose form. I applied them gingerly with my brush and they glided oh-so-easily. The foundation covers my skin well and I didn't feel at all cakey after a few hours. Only a light touch-up was required after lunch.

Convinced, I am going to buy online for the sake of beauty. Hah!

Beautiful buys

On my last day in Hong Kong (29 March), I zoomed off to Faces at Habour City to buy some stuff from Benefit after checking in my luggage at Central. I heard quite a fair bit about their beauty stuff and I just gotta have it.

I bought 5 items (realness of concealness, de-puffing action eye gel, eye bright, brow zings and 10) and am very happy with my purchase :)

Nails!

I placed order with a US merchant for some OPI and Essie nail varnishes, Nail Tek treatment, Essie spa pedicure and a bottle of Aloe Vera hand & body lotion a week ago and they arrived today.

I was so happy and excitedly I applied OPI Passion on my fingernails and OPI Lincoln Park at Midnight on my toenails. They were gorgeous! Look so much more groomed now.

I'll be wearing my comfy Birkenstock sandals onboard the plane tomorrow morning (tsk tsk, at the same time, show off my new toenail colour, heehee).

Connie, Joo & Jamus came to our place this evening with yummy pizzas. I proudly showed Connie my new purchase; she liked Lincoln Park at Midnight and I played pedicurist to her.

Mixed bag of things

Just 2 of the many gorgeous dresses I like from Anthropologie...

The one on the right is from Anna Sui for Anthropologie.

Hmm... I adore Springtime!

Today has been a frustrating day on personal level... maid issues... I felt better now after doing some online shopping for nail varnishes at 8ty8beauty. Hope they will arrive soon!

Janice, by the way, Kieran likes the Blue's Clues flash cards. He would like to say "THANK YOU" to Auntie Janice!

To end this mixed-mood Monday, I finally filed my Income Tax online, duhh.