Taobao Haul (April 2014 - Part 2)

Denim Dress (RMB31.99, S$6.81)
Tropical print shirt (RMB20, S$4.26)
Pink skorts (RMB49,  S$10.43)

Black midi vest (RMB37.80, S$8.04)
Black shirt (how do you describe this correctly?!) (RMB35.80, S$7.62)
Pale blue lace peplum top (RMB45, S$9.57)
Leaf print midi dress (RMB55, S$11.70)

Problem? What problem? *denial*

Also, I have decided to change S$250 for my 5-day Shanghai trip in May. Kengyang thinks that S$250 will not be enough for me because he's bringing us (his family and I) to all the shopping streets. FML but I will control!!!!!!!!!

Stockholm, I miss you!

11 January 2011. That was my first day in Stockholm, the start to my roller-coaster 6 months in a foreign country. I can't believe it has been more than 3 years?! 

I'll forever remember that first day when the four of us were trying to find our lodging with our many gigantic luggages. We had to go to the university library first to get our keys. That was easy. We took a cab! After that, we dragged our luggages down the slope to the train station and at the same time we were blessed with a mild snow storm. The elevator was under repair. What are the odds right? We carried our luggages down the stairs and waited for our train. Our accommodation was just one station away. Once we reached Universitetet station, we lugged our luggages out and this time the elevator worked. Thank God. We took bus 40 to our hostels at the Professorslingan area and by this time, all of us were drained out of our energies. When we alighted, the snow was already up to my mid-calf area, making it almost impossible to drag my luggages. So all of us carried our >30kg burden to the opposite side, and we decided to help each other carry the luggages up to the rooms because there were no elevators. By the time I was in my room, I wanted to sleep so badly, but I had no pillow, no blanket and no mattress cover. BOO. All of us made our way to IKEA to buy all the household necessities and we had the authentic IKEA meatballs that night. The most memorable dinner in Stockholm - a plate of meatballs and mash for just SEK16. Going back was another nightmare because it was nail bitingly cold and windy. I had the best sleep ever on the first night. 

This "first day in Stockholm" scenario keeps playing in my head whenever I miss my exchange experience. 

I miss my cosy hostel room that had the freshest tap water. 

I miss looking out of the window and seeing snow fall. 

I miss walking in snow in my boots, and occasionally slipping on ice. 

I miss the scarily accurate public transportation. The bus stop for bus 40 is just outside my building!

I miss doing my laundry and bitching about strangers who didn't know how to do laundry properly (LOL). 

I miss the beautiful KTH (or Royal Institute of Technology). 

I JUST MISS EVERYTHING LAH. :( 

I definitely must spend at least a month in Stockholm in the near future. The company has plans for me to go to Copenhagen for a research workshop at the headquarters. Maybe I should visit Stockholm after my week in Copenhagen! 

I LOVE YOU STOCKHOLM!!! 

New in: Shoes from Taobao (Slip-ons crazy)

Kengyang has been in Shanghai for almost two months and he has been doing quite a lot of shopping on Taobao. According to him, shopping from Taobao whilst being in China is a breeze. Sellers respond fast and well-packaged items get delivered to him quickly. On the other hand, I have been shopping on Taobao through 65daigou consistently for the past year, and the experience has always been pleasant. However, whenever I bought shoes/bags/heavy items, I always felt this tiny heartache because of the hefty shipping fees incurred. It's not a crazy amount because 65daigou is very reasonable with its shipping fees, but it's still a substantial amount. So....since I'm visiting Kengyang in May with his family with a 30kg baggage allowance, I decided to grab the chance and I selected 4 pairs of shoes and 2 bags, and he helped me with my order! HOORAH! 

Here are the shoes that I ordered. It's quite obvious that I'm obsessed with slip-ons. I think it's the most perfect trend for me because I can't survive in heels for long and I get frustrated with difficult-to-wear shoes way too easily. All four pairs were less than S$40! SCORE! 

Black strappy platforms (RMB 35)
Black reptile skin slip-ons (RMB 28.80)
Reptile skin slip-ons (RMB 78)
Leopard studded slip-ons (RMB30)

Usually if I buy them from Singapore, I would have to pay at least an additional S$15-S$20 for the order because 4 pairs of shoes are quite heavy. But now that I'm not paying for international shipping, I feel a little bit happier for my bank account. :)

Can't wait to go to Shanghai to meet my dear Kengyang and to try on all my shoes!!!!!! :D 

Quick Review: Clinique All About Eyes Rich and All About Eyes Serum

I was researching on a new eye cream to buy and there were so many raving reviews about the Clinique All About Eyes line. I wanted to try them out but their pricetags are quite ... exorbitant. Hence, I was on the hunt for sample size Clinique All About Eyes products because sample sizes are always cheaper, and I found a store on Qoo10 selling the sample sizes for cheap, and they also had a 1+1 promotion. SCORE!! 

I bought both the Clinique All About Eyes Rich (7ml) and the Clinique All About Eyes Serum (5ml) for S$21.90 (additional Timed Sale discount) with free Singpost normal mail. 

Link: http://list.qoo10.sg/item/SPECIAL-PRICE-1-1-CLINIQUE-ALL/413555184?selectedOptions=

I have been using both products for 4 days and I LOVE THEM!! In the future when I have way too much disposable income, I will definitely purchase the full-sized items, but for now, I will just depend on these sample sizes. 

I use the Clinique All About Eyes Rich at night before bed and the cream feels so thick and moisturizing. Over time and consistent applications, this product promises to diminish undereye circles and puffiness. It also helps to boost natural collagen production and strengthen the skin's moisture barrier against common irritants. Although the Clinique All About Eyes Rich is thicker than the normal formula, it still is absorbed easily. 

For my morning skincare routine, I use the Clinique All About Eyes Serum. The metal rollerball instantly cools and depuffs the eye area. People always tell me to not drink water before bed because I will look like a goldfish the morning after, but I just don't listen. So yes, in the mornings, I look unwell because of the swollen eyes. This serum works perfectly in combating the puffiness! It also acts as a great makeup base for undereye concealer! 

I'm loving both products now and I don't think I will be trying out new eye products any time soon because these two Clinique ones are PERFECT.

Ah~~ I really love Qoo10! It's like a platform that provides alternative choices for people who cannot or do not want to spend on expensive full-sized products. However, please do be careful with your purchases on Qoo10. Do read the reviews before purchasing any sample-sized items to make sure you're buying authentic products, or to make sure you're not buying products that are going to expire soon. There are some dubious shops in Qoo10 that have reviews revealing their true identity. So please read the reviews before purchasing!! Let other shoppers help your shopping experience!

Have a great weekend guys! :) 

Quick Review: Kao Megurism Thermal Steam Eye Mask

I have been eyeing the Kao Megurism Thermal Steam Eye Mask for a few months. I first saw it on Qoo10 last year and I was so intrigued by this mask that's targeted for stress-relieving and promoting a better sleep. But, I didn't want to commit to buying the box of 14 yet because what if I hate the mask? Waste money le! So I waited....and now the product page has over 1000 reviews, and a huge majority of those reviews are positive. Ok! BUY LAH! 

The Kao Megurism Thermal Steam Eye Mask retails on Qoo10 for S$19.80 for a box of 14 masks (excluding postage fees) and it comes in 6 variations: Unscented, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Rose, Ripe Yuzu (Citrus) and Chamomile. There's even one specially for men!

I bought the Lavender one since I wanted to have better sleep, and the mask certainly did make my sleep a much improved one. 

I stare at the computer more than 12 hours a day, be it for work or at home, and sometimes I strain my eyes so much I can feel them hurting when I'm sleeping. It's not a pleasant feeling to try to sleep off, and since I cannot stop what I'm doing at work, I can only try to find ways to treat my eye area at home. The Kao Megurism Thermal Steam Eye Mask has done a fantastic job in relieving the pain around my eye area and making me sleep so much faster! 

Once opened and applied on the eye area, the mask will slowly generate moderate heat (up to 40 degrees celsius - nothing too extreme) and this heat helps to warm and relieve the area. To my female readers, this is the same logic as applying a warm water bottle on top of your abdomen to relieve those painful period cramps. Works like magic every single time, and I have a feeling this mask will work as miraculously. 

My fatigued and overworked eyes felt a gradual comfort as the heat sensation intensified. After a seemingly luxurious 10 minutes, I took off the mask and once my head hit the pillow again, I was instantly teleported to my dreamland. Crazy effective?! Usually it takes me a good 30 minutes before I can fall asleep! 

Two thumbs up and I feel the need to spread the gospel! Highly, highly recommended!! 

This mask will be excellent for plane rides too! Can't wait to bring this along for my next trip to Shanghai. 

It's really easy to apply too. Just remove the mask from the plastic packaging and tear open the perforated area and that becomes your ear hooks, and you just attach the two holes over your ears and you're good to go! The mask is completely dry, so you don't need to worry about messing up your pillow or bedsheet. 

The Kao Megurism Thermal Steam Eye Mask is certainly a good before-bed product to have if you're staring at the computer screen way too much at work. Go get yours if you need a better sleep! S$19.80 for 14 masks is quite reasonable! The seller ships out the item quite quickly too.

Have a great weekend guys! :) 

Quick review: Etude House Color My Brows

As I get older, I pay more attention to my eyebrows. I have extremely thick and bushy eyebrows. A set that's almost impossible to manage without regular trimming and shaving. Another problem is that my eyebrows have really black hairs. Many beauticians said that my eyebrows were the best to work on because they were so thick and dark. However, I'm not a certified beautician who can magically transform a set of unruly eyebrows. I find them really irritating to be honest, especially when my hair colour is significantly lighter than my eyebrows. 

I scrutinise them way too much, maybe more than a normal person should. 

Hence, I caved and decided to give the Etude House Color My Brows in #4 Natural Brown. I was hoping that this brow product will do a decent job in lightening the colour of my eyebrows, and it certainly did. 

The Etude House Color My Brows is now my go-to brow product! I don't use an eyebrow pencil anymore because I'm not proficient enough in using it for a well-diffused, blurred-at-the-edges look. So, this brow product is excellent! 

The Etude House Color My Brows targets customers who have too-dark or too-light eyebrows and want to match their eyebrows to their hair colour (me, me, ME!). I got it for S$7.70 (free Korea normal airmail) on Qoo10! There are 5 shades available - #1 Rich Brown, #2 Light Brown, #3 Red Brown, #4 Natural Brown and #5 Blondie Brown. 

Link: http://list.qoo10.sg/item/ETUDE-HOUSE-COLOR-MY-BROWS-4-5G/408426903?selectedOptions=

As you can see in the photo above, my eyebrows look significantly lighter. They match my hair colour perfectly and overall, my face looks less harsh when I have this product applied. 

It lasts an entire day without touch-ups (brilliant!) and the product does not melt under extremely hot/huid weather. 

The Etude House Color My Brows has certainly become a staple in my life! Love it!! 

Favourite Sheet Mask: Leaders Insolution AC-Dressing Skin Clinic Mask

I have tried so many sheet masks, but I always ended up going back to the Leaders Insolution AC-Dressing Skin Clinic Mask. It's one of my most favourite sheet masks to use and it's also one of the most effective. 

There are many sheet masks out there that claim to target acne-prone skin, but they simply do nothing for acne-prone skin! The least such a sheet mask can do is to reduce redness after one to two applications, but most of them just performed way below expectations. The Leaders Insolution AC-Dressing Skin Clinic Mask, on the other hand, remains to be the only sheet mask that works for my acne-prone skin. 

How amazing is this sheet mask? 

Let me give you an example on how effective this mask is. 

Last night, I had a major skin turmoil. My nose and upper lip area were extremely red and painful, and I could feel a few pimples forming. So I went ahead with my normal cleansing and exfoliating routine, and then applied this mask. Instantly, the affected area felt cold and less painful. After a good 45 minutes, I removed the mask, and astonishingly, the redness had disappeared quite a bit and I could only feel slight pain. After that, I just applied my usual moisturiser with a little bit of tea tree oil, and I went to sleep. 

This morning, I woke up to no redness on my face and although the painful sensation is still lingering, it's nothing to be bothered about. I'm so pleased with how the Leaders Insolution AC-Dressing Skin Clinic Mask has worked on my skin! And it's only after ONE application. 

One more reason to love this Leaders Insolution range of masks is how well the sheet mask covers your face. The sheet mask is made out of a gel-cloth material and this enables the mask to perfectly fit every angles and corners on your face. No air bubbles at all and you don't feel like you have a stiff sheet mask on. It's like you soaked a damn expensive tissue in damn good liquid and applied it on your face. Very luxurious feeling, for just slightly over S$2! 

I bought 5 of these and I'm scared of running out. I think I need to get more!! 

It's available in Watsons and Luxola.com, but if you want to buy it cheaper, you can buy it on Qoo10! 

Link: http://list.qoo10.sg/item/LEADERS-CLINIE-LOWEST-PRICE-STOCK-IN-SG-HIGHLY/406782705

There are 8 different variations in the range, so there's definitely one that will suit your individual skin concerns!!

(x)

I'm not sponsored to write this review at all. I just love the Leaders Insolution AC-Dressing Skin Clinic Mask too much! It's like a miracle skincare product for me!!

Taobao Haul (April 2014 - Part 1)

This month, I have gone overboard in the Taobao hauling arena. This is only part 1 of the haul because I have one more batch coming. Oops? 

If some of the photos have no links, that's because the seller has taken it down from his/her shop already. I'll try to link if the items are still available for purchase online! 

Leather panel dress - not listed anymore

Blue floral shift dress - not listed anymore

Cross-back dress (S$11.83)
This is a little tight in the bust area. Should I keep it or should I just lose more weight to fit into this??

White vest with black trimmings - S$10.54

Leather wrap skirt - S$8.39
This is way too short. I can only wear this with thick leggings underneath!

Red stripe blouse - S$9.25

Ripped denim jacket - S$9.68

Such an unhealthy obsession. Kengyang also just bought me two bags from Taobao because it's much more convenient for him since he's in Shanghai. The bags came 3 days after he placed the order?? I think my trip to Shanghai in early May needs a relatively empty luggage for all the potential shopping that I'm going to do.

Have a great week ahead guys! :)

Zalora + Qoo10 + LoveBonito Haul

This past week has been quite mundane. I realised that I have developed this bad habit of just locking myself up in my room and only coming out when absolutely needed (toilet, food, work). Part of the reason, actually a large percentage of why I'm cultivating this terrible habit is because kengyang is in Shanghai and I have no one to go out with. Not that I don't have anyone else to go out with, but I just don't want to bother them and take up their time. It's the beginning of the depression cycle. Definitely not a good sign. Also, because I'm online so much, I just keep buying more and more and more stuff! 

Aiyoh. Better kill this habit. The last time this happened, I had hallucinations and I almost wanted to kill myself. That's not very pleasant. 

Okay, I shall stop being morbid. MORE HAULS! 

First, some sandals from Ezra (through Zalora.com). I really needed nicer and work-appropriate sandals for those lazy days, so I bought two perfect pairs. They were also really affordable!

EZRA Glitter Flat Sandals - now on sale for S$12.60

EZRA Mix Material Strappy Sandals - now on sale for S$12.60

I also needed to stock up on my masks and seriously only these masks will work on my crazy oily and acne-prone skin.

Photo from Qoo10 Shop

Photo from Qoo10 Shop

Lastly, I rewarded myself with a really gorgeous maxi dress from LoveBonito. I should have bought an M because L was slightly too big and way too long for my average 162cm height. Mom's helping me to alter the dress though (cutting off 10cm all round, wtf haha), so yay all's good~

Mysha Maxi (S$38) - all sold out, indicate your email on the site if you want to be notified when it's available again. 

River Island Haul (March 2014)

River Island had a free worldwide shipping deal a couple of weeks back. Such a deal has to be taken advantage of! I didn't go crazy with my order - I had 3 items checked out! 

BLACK MESH CUT-OUT TURTLE NECK CROP TOP - 5 pounds
I got this in a size UK16 for that oversized look. 

BLUE STRIPE PANEL SLOUCHY V NECK JUMPER - 15 pounds

NAVY PAISLEY HEART PRINT T-SHIRT DRESS - 10 pounds
I hope this is not too long! Such a t-shirt dress is too pretty for lounging around the house. 

More haul posts coming up! :D