Review on Maybelline's BB Cream

Yes, I bought another BB Cream; Maybelline Dream Fresh BB. This is definitely my last one, no more buying UK brand BB Creams. I am finally convinced they are just not as good as Korean ones. Initially, I was looking for a new mascara but as I was walking towards the Maybelline shelf, *BAM* the word 'BB' caught my eyes straight away. The 8-in-1 feature, high SPF and it having a gel based formula got me very curious about it. I squeezed some out from the tester tube onto the back of hand. I was impressed straight away because it just melted into my skin when I was rubbing it in. It absorbed really well, dried up really quick leaving no sticky/ heavy feel; my skin was really smooth, it felt so light and has a natural finishing look.

It is very runny, which is why  it feels so light on the skin. It has 3 shades; light, medium and universal glow. I opted for the universal glow shade; the swatch in the picture does look way too dark for my skin and looks orange but once its blended out it doesn't look orange or too dark on me. It just gives me a little bit more colour. See below:

I've only applied on the left side of my face to show you the difference (left is right in this picture). Maybe because I've got a rubbish camera, you can't really tell the difference but in real life you can see a little difference.

Any how, I wore it the next day and the result was a little bit different from how it felt on my hand- now I understand why make-up artist suggest testing make up on your jaw line and not on hands. It wasn't a big difference, it was just the cream didn't dry as quick and my skin wasn't as silky as my hands felt.

The BB absorbed better into my skin when I applied with my fingers; the heat of the finger really helped smooth it out. A foundation brush didn't make my skin as smooth.

It says 8-in-1, I would say 5-in-1.  When people say 2-in-1 or 4-in-1, etc, usually it refers to the functions it has, but feeling fresh, making skin look smooth and creating a universal glow doesn't count.

It says it can be worn without moisturiser but not with my dry skin. I still had a bit of flaky skin on my forehead even when I've applied moisturiser beforehand.

Coverage
You can probably guess what the coverage is like judging from the photo above. It definitely does what it says, blur imperfections. So what I'm saying is, it only blurs but doesn't conceal. And because of this I wouldn't call it a BB Cream, it is more of a tinted moisturiser.

This is only suitable for people with perfect skin or hasn't got much to conceal. Not that I have a lot to conceal but I have dark circles and the redness on the side of my nose to cover. None of these areas were covered. However, it did make my skin look smoother.

Final Pros & Cons
Pros
High SPF
Makes the skin appear smoother
Light weight, non-sticky/ greasy
Affordable- £7.99 for 30ml

Cons
No coverage
Packaging- a tube which makes it harder to control and messy when squeezing it out.

Glossybox April Edition

April Edition

My Glossybox for this month has finally arrived!

This month I got :
Caudalie Vinosource Serum-the little white tube
Inika Cosmetics Organic Black Caviar eyeliner- the black long tube box
Ayuuri Body Wash- big bottle
Figs & Rouge Lip Balm- round container
Kai Perfume oil sample- attached to the green card

I'm really happy with what I've received because the sizes are bigger than sample sizes apart from the perfume of course. This is definitely a bargain for £10!

Anti-ageing Sk:n cream for younger skin

Sk:n, The UK's No. 1 skin clinic

I recently bought a new moisturiser, Sk:n Age-Delaying Cream for younger skin. I bought this because it indicates it is for younger skin and anti-ageing. I thought this is perfect since I was trying to figure out which brand is more suited for my age group- 20s.

The other feature that attracted me was the ingredient. Lately, I have been paying more attention to the ingredients of the skin care products, I never used to read the ingredients. I just chose which ever one I thought was affordable and indicated it was hydrating. But we all know 5/10 skin care products doesn't do what it claims to do or it doesn't suit our skin even if it says its for our skin type. So I did my research to find out what makes a good moisturiser and what does people in their 20s need for their skin.

A good moisturiser should have (for the age group 20s);

Sun Protection, UVA & UVB filter
Vitamin A, E & C
Shea Butter/ Cocoa Butter/ Macadamia Oil, or others that really hydrates the skin
Ceramide

Although, this Sk:n face cream doesn't have all of above but it does have most of them. The main problem I have with it, is that it doesn't have sun protection but I could just apply an extra layer of sun protection on top.

I've been using it for 2 weeks now and so far so good. I say that because I have sensitive skin and my skin works in a funny way. A moisturiser may seem to work for a couple of weeks but later certain parts of my face will start to have bad reaction with red patches that burns. And so far I haven't had such reactions with this cream, after all it does say it is UK's No. 1 skin clinic so should be good.

Final Pros & Cons:
Pros
Really hydrating
Contains Vitamins that are anti-oxidants; A, C & E
Good packaging- it has a pump which is easy to control.
Small- can easily fit in a travel cosmetic bag.

Cons
Doesn't have sun protection
Has a greasy/ sticky finishing feel
Quite dear- £29 for 30ml only. When I bought it, it was on offer for £19.

BB Cream for MEN!!

Lab Series BB Tinted Moisturiser

BB Cream for men?! Can you imagine your partner, brother, dad or uncle putting it on? 

I think Lab Series is a brand that specialises skincare for men only. They have launched their very one BB Cream for men but they call it BB Tinted Moisturiser. It has a broad spectrum SPF 35 which is the highest I've seen so far in BB Creams in the UK- better than the ones designed for women. It is meant to be corrective, reparative, shade adjusting, pore refining, tone evening, lines/wrinkles and sagging skin diminishing.

Available at Boots for £32.00.
I'm not sure if they are the first brand to develop a BB Cream for men but that is definitely a gap in the market.

Are you fully protected?

I recently blogged about sunscreen; that your skin should be protected not only in the summer but all year round and ensure that your skin has optimum protection from the sun (Click to read this blog).
I just read an article/questionnaire on the Boots website on "Dangerous UV Rays" and I got 2 questions wrong. I thought it is has some really good facts so wanted to share it with you guys. I've copied and pasted my results below.

Results: Dangerous UV rays: Are you fully protected?

You answered 6 out of 8 questions correctly. Your quiz results:

1. Sunscreen and sunglasses are most important in summer, when ultraviolet (UV) rays are intense.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: False
   The sun produces visible and invisible light. Exposure to the invisible kind, ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB), is never safe and is responsible for skin cancers, cataracts, sunburn and premature ageing. That's why it's important to limit exposure to UV rays all year. While UV ray intensity tends to be highest in the summer, experts say there is no "safe" UV exposure. UV radiation can damage the body any time of year, even when it's cloudy.
   The answer? For adults and children over six months old, experts recommend sunglasses and a generous application of sunscreen with a UVA and UVB sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15.
2. The darker your skin, the less you have to worry about UV rays.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   It's true that darker skin doesn't burn as easily as lighter skin, but UV rays can lead to lasting harm, melanoma cancer, eye cataracts and other problems, no matter what your skin tone is. Research shows that cataracts are more common in black people than in white people. Also, skin cancers in people with darker skin are often not detected until later stages, when they're more dangerous.
3. For UV protection, even waterproof sunscreen must be reapplied after swimming.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: True
   A sunscreen needs to maintain its SPF after 80 minutes of exposure to water to be considered waterproof, yet even waterproof sunscreens can rub off. To stay safe, apply at least an SPF15 sunscreen 30 minutes before going into the water, and then again after you come out.
   Did you know sunscreens have a use by date? Like lots of products, sunscreen can become less effective over time. Check the label on yours, it may be time for a new bottle.
4. Wearing a hat is the best UV protection for your eyes.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   UV rays can severely damage eyes and the exposure accumulates, leading, for some, to macular degeneration, cataracts and blindness later in life. While a wide-brimmed hat offers good protection from ultraviolet light, it still manages to block only some of the sun's rays. The best protection from damaging UV rays comes from sunglasses that filter out 99% to 100% of ultraviolet light.
5. Sunglasses are recommended for adults and teenagers, not children under 12.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   Children usually spend a lot more time outdoors in the sun than adults, and that means they're potentially exposed to a lot more UV rays. The risk for retinal damage is greatest for children under 10, says Dr Alan Greene, clinical professor of paediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine in the US. That means sunglasses are a vital part of every child's sun protection, no matter what their age.
6. Damage from UV rays, like sunburn, heals after a couple of weeks.
   
   

   You answered: False

   The correct answer is: False
   We suffer temporary pain with sunburn, but most effects of sun damage add up over our lifetime and can lead to life-threatening problems like skin cancer, macular degeneration and cataracts, as well as premature ageing. It is worth remembering that there is no safe level of UV exposure and no "safe" tan either.
7. Snow reflects over four times as many UV rays as sand and water.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: True
   Snow is an excellent reflector, sending 80% of the sun's rays back to us, sand and water reflect less than 20%, that's why it pays to be protected all year, even in winter. Wear sunscreen, sunglasses and protective clothes whether you're playing on the beach or skiing on the slopes.
8. All sunglasses protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
   
   

   You answered: True

   The correct answer is: False
   You can actually get sunburn on your eyes, raising your risk of macular degeneration and cataracts later in life. The best way to protect your vision is with sunglasses. But be careful when buying them; not all sunglasses filter out the same amount of sun.
   Expensive lenses or those with a dark tint don't guarantee more protection than cheaper, lighter lenses. So always read the labels. Look for sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, say the experts and look for snug-fitting glasses with large lenses, preferably with a wraparound design. These features all help to block damaging UV rays.

Free cake from Patisserie Valerie- Part 2

Back in March, if you've read my blog you would have seen that I blogged about a complaint that I made to Patisserie Valerie. I tweeted my blog link to them and they read it; they tweeted back and the Brand Excellence Manager, Ms. J.D. sent me a e-mail. See below;

"Dear Ms. Li

As part of our monitoring of customer service, we regularly check internet review sites, facebook and twitter to ensure we are aware of feedback both good and bad from our customers. We have come across your blog of 19^th March regarding your cake and your unhappiness with way in which I dealt with the issue.

I am so sorry if I caused you any offence in the way I dealt with your complaint.

Re-reading the emails I sent to you I can see why you were not happy, especially as in the first email I had mistakenly typed ‘could’ instead of ‘should’ (which you will notice was written in my second). The typo completely changed the tone of that initial email and I can quite understand that you felt this was not right. Regarding my first email not containing an apology for the problem with the cake, as the Café Manager had already spoken to you and expressed her apology on behalf of the company I did not feel I needed to repeat this; I am sorry that I misjudged this.  I usually ask for a photograph of the cake in question as this can sometimes show up an issue that might explain a problem; I can see how that may not have been immediately apparent.

Other than the letter that accompanies a complimentary voucher, we always write individual replies to all customers and believe that the vast majority of customers are satisfied with the response they receive. I will of course be looking at how I can improve personally on this issue in the future.

Please once again accept my apologies. I am glad your voucher arrived safely and I do hope you enjoy your next cake.

Regards

Jane Duncan

Brand Excellence Manager

PATISSERIE HOLDINGS LTD"

I tried to do a print screen of the e-mail but was too large to fit in this blog. I thought I'll show these to you guys because I don't want to seem biased. Ms. J.D. wrote a long e-mail after reading my blog, it shows that social media these days play a big part in every business/ organisation. Anyways, I do appreciate that she wrote this e-mail.

My casting outfit

On Friday, I went casting for a role in a TV advert. The role was 'a young, sexy, good-looking business woman in chic office attire.' This is what I chose to wear, what do you guys think?

Shirt is from Hong Kong
Skirt is from Jane Norman.
5" Stilettos are from Office