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My Favourite Asian Beauty Products

After being asked over the weekend about my favourite Japanese beauty products,

I thought it might make a change to post about some of my favourite Asian beauty products.
I know I have done it in the past, but I hope this will help my new readers and those who don’t know much about them.
I’ve decided to make it simple and pick my favourite make-up brands, for certain products.
I have chosen items that I use everyday. I don’t use items such as bronzer etc. so they won’t be included. 
It’s also worth mentioning that even though I have used a lot of Asian beauty products I haven’t tried out every single brand, and I do prefer Western brands for certain products so where there are gaps, this is why.
Also, I have not only chosen Asian brands, but brands that are also popular in the Asian beauty market.
A lot of the ‘Western’ beauty brands that are popular often carry lines that are only available in Asia.

I have linked each product to where you can purchase it online.

Face

Concealer: Candydoll / Sana
BB Cream: Skin79 Hot Pink / Skin79 Diamond Collection
Contouring: Diamond Beauty / Canmake
Loose Powder: Diamond Beauty

Blush: Canmake
Highlight: Canmake

Eyes

Primer: Canmake
Eyeshadow: Dollywink / Canmake
Eyeliner: KATE / Dollywink
Eyelashes: Diamond Lash / Eyemazing
Mascara: Dollywink

Lips
Lip Care: Paul & Joe
Lip Gloss: Candydoll / B & C
Lip Balm: Happy Bath Day

Nude Lipsticks: Candydoll / Canmake
Other Lipsticks: Anna Sui
I hope this has helped a few people who want to venture into the Asian beauty market.
I don’t know everything about Asian beauty products but my time living in Japan, and importing products from Asian companies has helped me a lot. My favourite place to shop online is Sasa, the prices are reasonable (not marked up as high as other stores), they offer a very large selection and are reliable. Alpha Beauty Store on eBay also offer a wide variety of Asian Beauty products, including most of those listed above.

Source; 1
bloomzy /

Review: Trilogy Exfoliant & Apricot Face Mask

Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant & My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask

I decided to review these two items together, as they are both new additions to my skin care routine and 
are also two products that compliment each other well.
Trilogy Gentle Facial Exfoliant 
Purchase it here

I use this twice a week, in the evening after my skin care routine.
I love the texture of the product; it feels a little grainy to touch, but when applied it’s quite satisfying to feel the Jojoba wax spheres work their magic on your skin, as you massage the treatment in. 
It leaves a pleasant smell on your skin, which reminds me a bit of oats.
After several weeks of use, I would definitely say my skin is feeling smoother and more radiant. A little goes a long way with this product, so I think it will last me for quite a while. My only criticism would be that it dried my skin out a little, but I wouldn’t suggest using an exfoliant without a moisturiser of some kind anyway. 
My Beauty Diary Southern France Apricot Mask 
Purchase it here 

I’ve only been using these for a week, but so far so good.
These are sheet masks that cover your whole face. You leave the mask on for about 20-30mins, and just sit back and relax. The masks are incredibly cool and really are relaxing to wear, and smell amazing! Afterwards it’s best to massage in any remaining serum. I use this after I have exfoliated and I must say the moisturising effect is amazing. My skin felt so supple and soft after only the first use, which surprised me as I don’t usually expect to see a difference straight away with most skin care products. This mask is suitable for normal to dry / combination skin.
No criticisms really, except that the mask is pretty big so you will need to make sure it is securely on.
Finally, here’s a scary picture of me in my mask after exfoliating:


bloomzy /

The Big Pink Box!

A few days ago I received a rather cryptic email, telling me to look out for a big pink box in the post.
This had me very intrigued, and when the fiancé came back today with a big parcel in hand, I hastily unwrapped it!
 What was inside?
+ Dr Organic Rose Otto Facial Serum
+ Dr Organic Manuka Honey Skin Lotion
+ Hydrolysed Collagen, for Skin, Hair & Nails
+ Skin, Hair and Nails Formula
+ Hyaluronic Acid with Vitamin C
+ Perfectly Pure Coconut Oil
+ Miaflora Argan Oil
Now recently I’ve become a bit of a health-nut; I watch what I eat, I take vitamins everyday and I try to use only natural hair/skin products. I’m working toward a healthier me for 2012!! So you can imagine my joy when I found these items inside. Even better was the fact that I’ve been considering buying half of these products myself!
Coconut Oil, Argan Oil and Manuka Honey products are making big waves in the beauty-sphere right now.
I’ve been contemplating using Argan and Coconut Oil a lot recently, but never really went for it.
Obviously I have no excuse not to now! Look out for reviews soon!
The package also came with a Holland and Barrett rewards card, which is such a coincidence as I signed up for one last week – I’m addicted to rewards cards! As I couldn’t use this one, I signed the fiancé up in my place! Sharing the love.

Check out my images of the products below
They may not look like the most exciting products, but I’m really looking forward to testing these!
If you love health/beauty supplements and natural products you’ll understand my joy.
Disclaimer: These items were sent to me by the lovely people at Pegasus PR. However, I have not been paid for this post nor is this an advert for Holland & Barrett. I was genuinely happy with all these products and I choose to feature them as they are items I would happily have purchased myself.
bloomzy /

Presents from Taiwan

(Face Masks; Sasa, Green Tea Powder, Happie Nuts Magazine & Rienda Pouch)

Recently my mum went over to Hong Kong to visit my sister, who is currently living there with her boyfriend.
Whilst she was there they decided to take a trip to Taiwan, as they’d been before and really love the country.
In-between visiting friends, and eating some amazing food, my mum picked me up a few gifts.
She’s calling these ‘belated birthday presents’, but I already received some money and chocolate from my parents, so I wasn’t expecting anything else. 
What did I get?
+ Japanese Cherry Blossom Sheet Face Masks
+ Apricot Sheet Face Masks
+ Green Tea Powder Sachets
+ Happie Nuts Magazine
The face masks are from a store named Sasa. They have quite a few stores in Asia, but they also sell their products online, here. They ship internationally, and are one of the best places online to find Asian beauty products.
Happie Nuts for my readers who don’t know, is a Japanese fashion magazine. It’s mainly aimed at women in their 20s and predominantly features ‘gyaru’ or ‘gal’ fashion, which some of you may know I was a fan of. I still enjoy reading Happie Nuts though, as I find the fashion and beauty articles are more on trend with Western styles. 
For my new readers, I do speak and read Japanese (competently, not fluently).

Finally, the green tea power sachets (Matcha) are just because I love Matcha so much, which you’ve probably heard me mention a thousand times before. I’m like a broken record!
bloomzy /

OOTD: Feeling Floral

Dress: Primark | Wedges: Internacionale | Necklace: Swarovski | Bracelet: Internacionale

Techinally this was yesterdays outfit, but then I went and made that Graze post and forgot. Sorry about that! Here’s hoping the floral print on this dress has distracted you enough to forgive me.
 
Now, Nails! Lots of people on Twitter & Instagram mentioned my nails. Lots of you complimented the shade, thank you, and some wanted to know where it was from. Well it’s this polish that I previously reviewed. It’s honestly one of my favourites. The coverage is amazing, as is the application and the amount you get in the bottle. You can buy it here (so cheap, and free shipping) and use my discount code to receive 10% off: BLOOMZYK31

It should also be mentioned that in my last OOTD post I mentioned that I wanted to wear more colours. I guess this was my way of doing that, whilst still keeping some black elements.
bloomzy /

Review; Harrods Glossybox

Glossybox The Harrods Edition

You probably remember my post about the Harrods edition of Glossybox this month.
Well I received my box yesterday, and to be honest I was a little worried as lots of people had been complaining.
Why? Well they felt that they didn’t receive a box worthy enough to be ‘The Harrods Edition’ and in some cases I do understand and sympathise with those people as it did seem like they may have gotten the short end of the straw.
Me?! Well I am actually very happy with my box. I received the 3 items I had really been hoping for!

I received: 
+ Narciso Rodriguez – For Her Eau de Parfum
+ Molton Brown – Heavenly Ginger-Lily Moisture Bath & Shower
+ Yves Saint Laurent – Forever Youth Liberator Serum
+ Burberry Beauty – Miniature Lip Cover #4 Rosewood
+ Clarins – Extra-Firming Body Cream

I had really been hoping for the YSL, Burberry and Clarins items.
I wanted the YSL for my mum actually, as it’s aimed at older women so I don’t need it right now.
I will however be doing reviews of the Burberry lipstick and Clarins cream.
As for the rest, well I already have the exact Molton Brown shower gel at home, but this will be good for travelling and I do adore perfume samples as they get placed in my handbag for when I’m out and about, or travelling.

All in all I think I was very lucky with my box.
Next month will be my first ‘regular’ Glossybox so I’m looking forward to it!
For those in the States, Glossybox is coming to you soon too – click here.

bloomzy /

Review: Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick

Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick, Shade #31

Remember when I admitted to being a red lipstick virgin? Well those days are long gone, and I now have a variety of red lipsticks in my collection. So I wanted to do a small review on my favourite of them all, my Chanel Rouge Coco Lipstick, in shade #31; Cambon.

Swatch (click to enlarge)

Pros:
+ Great coverage
+ Easy application
+ Amazing pigmented colour
+ Hydrating formula, so it doesn’t dry lips out
+ The colour lasts for hours, unless you’re drinking/eating
+ Chanel counter staff matched the shade perfectly to my skin tone

Cons:
– Stains ever so slightly
– There’s never enough!!

Notes:
As you can tell from the photos I’ve already got plenty of use out of it…I just wish I had taken pictures when I first bought it. The pros largely out-weigh the cons. The staining on the lips is nothing more than a regular lipsticks, and I don’t mind being left with tinted lips afterwards as it gives a nice healthy look. I usually like to apply a little Chanel ‘Soin Tendre Levres’ (which is a lip care treatment) before I put on my lipsticks, but with this one it’s not really necessary as it’s moisturising in itself. Also, I have found that if I apply Carmex beforehand, it creates a lovely lipgloss-like effect, which you can see in my previous post here. As I also mentioned, the counter staff at Chanel are incredibly helpful and will kindly help you match any of their lipsticks to your skin tone/desired look. I think beauty fanatics know by now that there is a reason why the brand is so popular. I’ve been a fan of Chanel’s lipsticks for years and I would recommend them to anyone who is looking for a good quality, long lasting lipstick which is true to colour.

Pictures of me wearing the lipstick: 1, 2 & 3