KATE Tokyo Red Nude Rouge Swatches and Review

Click to watch the KATE Tokyo Red Nude Rouge IGTV swatch video

Here's a quick IG video showing all 8 KATE Tokyo Red Nude Rouge duos swatched to show a full gradient. Meaning you can see the full spectrum of colors achievable in each compact, depending how much of each shade you use.

You obviously aren’t supposed to wear them the way I did. You can wear them ombre or 3D style, or just mix for a single solid color. The point is to wear them as vibrant or soft as you want, depending on the look and occasion. Also, each duo comes with a little sponge applicator but I find it much quicker with a clean finger, and you also won't contaminate each color by transferring the other onto it with a stained applicator.

Happy White Day!

Today, 14 March, is White Day, and if you've heard the day referred to among some Japanese friends, but have not experienced it for yourself, you might be a bit confused, as I was.

What many people don't know is that Valentine's Day is celebrated quite differently there than in other parts of the world. Typically for those familiar with Western cultures, on 14 Feb, lovers, partners, sweethearts, and friends will exchange gifts and celebrate together. 

In Japan however, only the women prepare gifts for men on 14 Feb. This usually takes the form of chocolates. Giri-choco is presented to platonic friends, colleagues etc, whereas Honmei-choco is reserved specially for lovers, spouses, sweethearts. Many women will actually take a hand in making Honmei-choco by hand and presenting these as a special gift to represent their commitment and love.

The men on the other hand, wait until White Day, to present their loves with a token of affection. And that's also typically the occasion when a lot of people will make a gift of luxury skincare (especially "whitening" coffrets to tie in with the "white" theme).

Shiseido, the grandest and most traditional of the Japanese skincare houses, tends to be a popular source of gifts for ladies of all ages. Unblemished, fair skin is the hallmark of youth and beauty here, so a luxurious White Day skincare coffret containing a spot-targeting product like the White Lucent Micro Targeting Spot Corrector tends to go down well.

P.S. Customers in Singapore can get an exclusive White Day Shiseido x Swarovski crystal accessory as a gift (while stocks last) when purchasing White Lucent MicroTargeting Spot Corrector or a 50ml bottle of Ultimune!

It may be the end of 14 March in Asia even as I post this, but I'd still like to wish everyone a happy White Day. (I mean - the Japanese know where it's at; I'll exchange chocolates for luxury skincare any day!)

ZOEVA Rose Golden Eyeshadow Palette Swatches and Review

As a fan of ZOEVA brushes, I admit I haven't been all that curious to try out their makeup. Until the Rose Golden palette that is.

This is a 10-shade palette filled with mostly warm metal tones from copper, peach, rose, soft wine, and 3 very functional matte shades which are nicely chosen to provide a little bit of definition and contrast where you maybe don't want shimmer. Namely the socket line, brow bone, and lash line.

The pigmentation of most of the shades are buttery smooth and very soft, but the surprising thing is you don't get a ton of fall-out. These are not exceedingly powdery, which many affordable shadow lines that also give good payoff (e.g. Wet n Wild) tend to be. These shadows are formulated quite similarly to higher-end shadows - true to color, and neither too unpigmented, nor overly soft and intense. You get medium payoff, good blendability, and the option to build up intensity if you need.

Most manufacturers - cheap or expensive - tend to get the metallics right. But I was especially impressed by the mattes in the Rose Golden palette. I will say that a couple of the darker shades here are less pigmented than the others, but that might be a good thing for beginners who are afraid to load on too much dark color too quickly.

Luster, the medium beige matte shade is great as a brow bone shade and even just to clean up around the edges of your eye look as a final touch before mascara. 

Reflective Elegance is a soft warm peach-pink champagne with incredible pigmentation. 

Copper is King is to me THE shade that draws the eye in this palette. It's a true copper with wine undertones, and looks like it would be extremely red and intense, but actually goes on soft. 

Shining Bright is a mauvey metallic brown that is beautiful all over the lids. 

Rusty Petals is a chocolate-y deep bronze which is not as pigmented as I'd expected. This has more of a tendency than the other metallic shades to go on slightly patchy.

Foil is a coppery brown which sometimes look a little rosy in the pan, but goes on more bronze and warm. 

Just a Rose is a quintessential duochrome rose gold with a rosy undertone and coppery-gold highlights. 

Golden Rule is straight-up gold - I love this color; it has enough neutral beige tones in it to not look overly yellow and harsh on the skin. 

Harmony is a taupe matte shade which is great as a transition color in the socket. It's a bit on the cool side, but that only brings out the warm metallic shades more. Dark haired girls can also use this in their brows. 

Wonder Full is a dark matte cocoa, and as with the metallic dark brown in the palette, this is also slightly patchy and not as easy to control and blend compared to the other shades. It still works fine - it's just not as easy to work with as Luster or Harmony.

The quality is fair to great but definitely not consistent across the different colors, and with some of these shades, you do need to spend some time packing on the color for intensity. If you are expecting a super-vibrant molten metal look with this palette, you might be disappointed. I've seen some very intense and vibrant looks done with this palette online, and I'm going to go out on a limb and say you can't get that effect using just this palette - without a primer or cream shadow to grab and intensify the pigments, or foiling the shades with some water.

Applying it on clean lids with standard dry brushes will give you this sort of intensity below. (I'm wearing brown pencil along the lashes as well. The dark shades will not give you this intensity on their own.)

VERDICT:

This is an affordable, good quality palette I actually recommend for beginners or those who want a nice daily palette with beautiful warm tones. It's also a palette girls with blue or grey eyes can use to maximize contrast with their eyes, although honestly speaking, I'm not a big fan of restricting your eye looks by eye color. (You are more than your eye color - your hair, skin, lip and cheek shades, outfit also affect how shades look on you.)

So this is good for anyone unless you want maximum color intensity and payoff from the get-go. I find these comparable to maybe MAC or Too Faced shadows in general. Smoother and less powdery than Wet n Wild, less pigmented than Urban Decay and Make Up For Ever.

I do feel this is a palette lacks 1-2 pale shades for paler girls to use as highlight colors. If you are MAC NC25 and paler, none of the shades will really be pale enough to act as highlights. Not even the soft yellow-gold shade will be bright or light enough to add a strong pop on paler skins. Just something to be aware of. If you want a single palette with a whole spectrum of light to dark tones and don't want to have to add in paler ivory or champagne shades from elsewhere, this might not be for you.

I purchased my ZOEVA Rose Golden palette from Sephora.sg for SG$32.99.

Chanel No 5... My Kinda Snow Globe!

Can it get any more adorable than this?

Chanel Beauty is giving away a limited quantity of gorgeous No 5 parfum snow globes to VIP customers in Singapore this year; if you are a regular and received the latest holiday mailer from them, don't just chuck it out - there's a little invitation inside with instructions to redeem a holiday gift, and you need that invite in order to get this lovely thing.

I haven't been into snow globes since I grew past the age of about 8 but how's this for a great conversation piece when guests come over during the festive season?

And it's fitting, because a century ago, perfumer Ernest Beaux had wanted to capture the scent of fresh snow when he created the aldehydic top notes which would later be used in Chanel No 5. The rest, as they say, is history.

As a teen this was the very first proper perfume that I ever noticed. I had a tiny little tester vial which I treasured and would dab on to feel oh-so-grown-up and sophisticated. Strange, because I had almost no exposure to perfumes then and "Chanel" meant nothing to me. Somehow - even then - it smelt beautiful and womanly to me.

I was on holiday in a Winter climate when I first smelt it as young girl, and I've always associated the scent with cold weather and holidays since.

It's not something I wear often these days - but I still appreciate its history and the nostalgia. 

Imedeen Time Perfection 3-Month Trial and Ultrasound Skin Scans

Awhile ago, I started on a 3-month course of Imedeen Time Perfection tablets to see what effect it might have on my skin. I've invested in skincare since I was 20, so I'm really no stranger to spending $400-500 on creams to stave off the aging process. But now that I'm approaching my mid-30s, I'm starting to notice that applying topical products can only do so much, and I've been looking out for ways to supplement my basic skincare routine.

Imedeen is one of the best-known and best-selling anti-aging supplements around, and it's designed to support collagen production and moisture-retention levels in the skin, as well as help fight external aggressors like UV damage, so I suppose it was only a matter of time before I tried it for myself.

Before you begin any skin treatment, remember that skin maintenance and repair is a slow process that takes place over weeks, so any treatment that works from the inside out can take around a month or two to show results, as you slough off old cells and new cells start coming to the surface. If you want to try oral supplements, remember it's like wearing sunblock and applying antioxidants. Be consistent, and be prepared to invest for the long term.

Imedeen Skin Perfecting Formula contains:

• a proprietary Biomarine Complex with protein and polysaccharides that are necessary to skin repair and regeneration
• Tomato extract, Vitamin C, zinc, and Grape Seed extract - a "super-soup" of antioxidants and nutrients that support cell-division and protect the skin from environmental damage and free radicals that break down collagen

It's not meant to replace a healthy lifestyle, but if you're like me and you don't always manage to consistently get enough sleep, drink enough water, and eat a very balanced diet (yes - I'm quite terrible), a daily supplement and good skincare can really help to maintain the condition of your skin. And I dislike the taste of liquid oral supplements in general, so taking 2 tablets a day before bed was easier and more ideal for me.

I've also gotten questions from people asking if it is meant to treat acne, and also if it causes acne. The answer is no. Imedeen is an anti-aging supplement which contains marine extracts and plant-based antioxidants. There is currently no scientific evidence I can find that says any of the ingredients it contains will reduce natural sebum production or cause more acne.

My experience:

For me, the objective of taking oral supplements should be to support your body's own processes and stimulate or accelerate regeneration and repair. I've got pretty dry skin which can get a bit sensitive when the cell barrier is compromised (which happens quite often as I test so many skincare products), so one of the things I wanted to see was whether Imedeen actually could help to maintain moisture balance.

Another thing is that I'd just gone for Thermage awhile ago, which boosts collagen production for up to a year or two, so I have to say I wasn't expecting a dramatic difference in terms of collagen levels in my skin, but I did want to see a better condition overall.

After about a month or so of taking the pills, what I did observe was less dryness and less instances of chronic flaking around the tip of my nose. My skin felt more moist overall, after about two months, felt like it was combination/dry instead of just dry all over. I can get away with wearing matte foundations without it being tight and uncomfortable.

I went for an ultrasound skin scan in February before beginning on my course of Imedeen, and it might be hard to understand the graphs above but I'll walk you through it. Both scans were done on my left cheek, which is a typically normal-to-dry area of my face.

Dark, yellow and red areas represent collagen distribution and moisture levels. The more evenly distributed and dense those colored clusters are, the better.

You can see above that in May, the dark clusters on the surface are significantly increased. In February, my collagen levels were already pretty good, but the surface isn't exactly in the best condition. There were several gaps in my skin barrier, so I needed heavy moisturizers to keep my skin balanced, and makeup always faded quickly because of how dry my skin was.

In May, the surface density is noticeably higher. That probably explains why I felt more like I had "normal" skin, and there's more of a natural glow even without applying highlighting primers or powders. Makeup sits better and lasts better now that I'm not quite as dry, and I feel (marginally) less guilty about my late nights and lack of water.

It's still hard for me to get 8 hours of sleep except when I'm ill, and I drink more tea and Diet Coke than water. I know; it's terrible. But 2 pills a day, I can manage!

I do want to remind everyone that Imedeen - and any oral supplement - is a long-term investment and something of a lifestyle commitment, like wearing a proper high-SPF and PA sunblock daily. Do not expect a quick temporary skin-fix although some people do respond better and faster than others. You should be prepared to take it on an ongoing basis as a longer-term investment for your skin.

If you're interested in supplementing your basic skincare routine I suggest starting in your late-20s to early-30s, when your natural repair functions are starting to get sluggish. When you are very young, there might not be a noticeable effect on your skin while it is still functioning at its peak.

If you're the sort to spare no expense on your skin, but don't have the time to fuss with lasers and other procedures, or are too sensitive for retinols and acids, this might would be a good thing to try for a few months to see if your skin responds well to it!

Sunday FOTD: Tom Ford Eye Color Duo in Raw Jade

Sunday makeup! Was on my way to town to check out some things at Sephora (and grab a few more candles from Bath & Body Works while they still have the holiday stock on 50%) so threw on a quick face using a few products I'd neglected for awhile.

If you've not seen the duos, they're supposed to be limited edition, but I've seen them still at the Tom Ford counters locally. I think a lot of people here pass them over but I'm here to tell you - don't. They are gorgeous. If you like the silkier, more diaphanous, less powdery textures of 03 Nude Dip quad, these duos have that same texture.



I have a full review and swatches of all 3 duos at http://blogger.makeup-box.com/2015/02/tom-ford-spring-2015-eye-color-duo-eye.html.

And just to show you green doesn't need to be outlandish, I've applied the dark shade all over the lid and also along the lower lash line, then the pale green duochrome down the center of my lids and in the inner corners. Then I finished with black pencil in the water line and mascara.

I have to say Green shadows are gorgeous on Asian skintones; if you want a subtler, more chic look that suits most occasions, skip the crazy bright emerald greens and matte textures and go for the deep, rich evergreen colors in shimmery textures. It's actually often more flattering and brightening for the skin than typical neutrals. And flush of translucent neon pink stain on cheeks and lips will tie everything together and soften the overall look.

I used Stila's Convertible Color in Fuchsia from my Field of Flowers palette on cheeks, and then dabbed it over a layer of nude liner on the lips, concentrating the color in the center for a slightly stained effect.

A quick FOTD tutorial: stained coral pink lips and soft lids

Shared a simple FOTD on Instagram and Dayre and was requested to do a tutorial on the look, so here it is!

It's really all about bright "stained" lips, and the eyes are kept quite soft so that the lips can be the focus. And I call them stained lips because they're quite translucent and soft, like you applied a strong color and then blotted it away a bit. It's not ombre lips where the lip color is a different tone in the center or between the upper and lower lips. 

You can do this with pretty much any strong lip color  that you don't want to apply full-on. The only color that wouldn't work for this sort of look would be those dark, almost-black purples. Those would sheer out quite grey and deathly because there isn't enough red or pink undertones in them.

Because we're working with metallics, it's always a good idea to prime the lids well. A good base catches onto shimmery pigments and brings out the intensity and shine.

For the shadow color, try any beige-golden champagne tone like MAC Naked Lunch, Tan pigment, The Balm Mary Lou Manizer highlighter if you are pale, etc. I'm using that bronze-beige pigment which is from the now-defunct brand I Nuovi. But this sort of color is easy to find.

Good brown transition colors like MAC Omega, etc are great. I used a Body Shop shadow called 215 Coconuts About You, which is affordable and a fantastic taupe transition color for the socket. If you have small lids or eyes and apply a shimmery beige all over, it can make your eyes look flat and smaller than they really are, so it's important to add definition back.

Here I simply applied a stroke of Mary Lou Manizer frmo The Balm down the center of my lid with my finger. This way of having a darker shade, and a lighter shade helps to re-establish that 3D contoured look of the eye. 

I used Benefit They're Real mascara and Innisfree Gel Liner pencil in No 9 for the final bit of definition around the lash line. Again, this just helps to add some strength back to the eyes. Pale soft colors can really wash out your features. 

The final effect you want is that of gleaming lids. As if your eye lids were slightly wet/dewy. You don't want the focus to be on the color of your shadow or the strength of your eyeliner.

Next the lips! I'm using OCC's Lip Tar Stained Gloss in New Wave, a bright neon warm pink. And the trick to a long-lasting stained lip is to have layer of nude pencil (I used Make Up Store Nude Beauty) beneath as a base.

This step is optional but I actually often apply a taupe/grey pencil (a brow pencil is perfect) right along the outer edges of the lip to expand them slightly. This works better than using a nude or a colored lip liner, in my opinion, because what you want to do is create that "shadow" that appears on the edges when someone has naturally curved, pouty lips.

The actual color I dab on evenly with a finger, and remove any access. You are aiming to stain the lip liner beneath and create a rose-buddy, soft effect. Not apply a thick coat of color. (That's a nice look too but that's not what this tutorial is about.)

Then to finish I wanted a blush that had similar rosy, warm, and tawny tones in it, so I went for Givenchy's Le Prisme blush 22 Vintage Pink.

Shade Highlight: OCC Yaoi Lip Tar

I'm a complete OCC Lip Tar addict. I have probably around 40 tubes in total, and have been collecting them since a few years ago. 

Which is strange if you consider the fact that these are some of the most basic beauty products in the world. They are literally oil and pigments/dyes with some preservatives. That's it. But somehow they're just perfect in their simplicity. 

That said, I do happen to prefer most of their creme (or what they now call "Matte") colors because some of the metallic ones can have a slightly odd consistency. The sparkle pigments are a bit coarse, which makes for a more visible sparkle, but also a texture that is more gritty on the lips, and also tends to sink into lines and emphasize flakes more.

The darker metallic shades are much nicer in general than the pale ones because the darkness makes them automatically appear more even. 

But I do love me some Yaoi.

OCC Yaoi worn over fuchsia lip liner

If you didn't know, Yaoi in Japanese refers to "Boys' love" roughly. I.e. a specific genre of manga and fiction in Japan popular among some women, which depicts romantic attraction between boys/men. Don't ask me. I don't get it. But I do get this lip color.

It's a frosty neon, blue-toned candy-pink. In fact, I'd probably describe it as a metallic/semi-sheer version of Candy Yum Yum from MAC.

It's such an over-the-top, potentially-tacky, frosty Barbie color that it's actually cool. 

You can mix a teeny tiny bit with clear gloss for a sheer frosty pink, or just lay it on strong for that shiny lip effect. What I will recommend if you want to wear this at full intensity, is to 

1. apply it over a hot pink lip pencil or a matte lipstick. Lip Tars are oil and pigments. They contain no wax, so they WILL bleed. There is no getting around it. Also, the metals have a bit more of  a tendency to be sheerer and not as opaque and even as the creme textures, so a base layer of color will ensure everything looks even.
2. start small. Apply just a tiny bit first, and add more if you need more. This is more true for the matte colors than the metallic ones, but it's still good to use less because when you over-apply, everything slides around.

Frosty opaque lipsticks have been out of fashion since the 80s, so wearing this looks instantly retro. My favorite OCC pinks are probably still Pretty Boy and Anime, but I have to say - this one is still fun fun fun.

Do you own any metallic Lip Tars? And what colors are they?

Serge Lutens Un Bois Vanille Review

Vanilla pod; photo credits: www.marcussamuelsson.com

Serge Lutens was one of the first truly avant-garde niche fragrance lines I ever tried, and - under the umbrella of Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido - the creative genius himself paired up with Brit perfumer Christopher Sheldrake to paint vivid pictures, tell gripping stories, and convey complex moods and emotions, all through scent.

His fragrances are quite avant-garde, and often unforgivingly strong. Some are near unwearable without a highly-developed nose, and not the type you’d spritz for a night out with friends. (Just ask anyone who has smelt Musc Kublai Khan.) 

Un Bois Vanille - on the other hand - is one of the most accessible and popular scents in the Lutens line, because while the quality and performance is still impeccable like most of the range, the concept itself (wood and vanilla) is inherently accessible to most people.

The official notes list includes: sandalwood, black licorice, coconut milk, beeswax, bitter almond, musk, vanilla, benzoin, guaiac wood and tonka bean.

Un Bois Vanille is described as being linear, but I think it only seems so because the initial layers are somewhat similar; both warm and foody. At the beginning,  this smells like warm coconut crème brulee. The benzoin and coconut adds a sense of non-sugary thickness and body to the overall scent. As it starts to dry down further, the vanilla comes out in full force, and it’s not the standard synthetic vanilla ice cream sort of vanilla. It’s the crisp, hot, brown skin of a toasted marshmallow pulled from the flame. Almost bitter-sweet with caramelization.

I’ve heard and read reviewers saying it’s not a woody fragrance and that there isn’t much wood at all. I beg to differ. This IS a rich, warm, gourmand oriental for sure, but the bitter-sweet toasted marshmallow aspect is anchored on a bed of wood. The closer your nose gets to the skin, and the longer the scent dries down, the more the smoky, almost-pungent wood aspect comes out.

As a "gourmand", this is balmy and complex, not sticky or overtly edible compared to some others.

Like many of the Lutens fragrances, this is a scent to be dabbed on, not sprayed on, in the tropical Summer heat where I live. Sprayed, it can be overwhelming (like eating too many toasted marshmallows). Dabbed, it lifts seductively off the skin and wraps around you for hours. 

Thermage Total Tip 3.0 Experience and Post-Treatment Review

Now I'm usually all about the "shallow" stuff. Makeup, skincare; generally things that go on the surface of your skin and enhance your appearance from the outside.

But there comes a point in your life when you start getting problems that regular skincare cannot penetrate deep enough to fix, but you're not quite at the point where you need to start considering anything drastic yet.

Many of you know I'm a big believer in prevention over cure. 

Rather than spending a lot of money trying to hide the signs of aging with temporary fixes, if there is something that can potentially rewind the clock and get your body to naturally behave like it used to a few years ago, then that's really ideal to me.

Which is why I even considered Thermage in the first place.

For those of you who are not familiar with it, Thermage - in a nutshell - is a non-invasive procedure where pulses of radio-frequency waves are sent into the deeper layers of your skin using a special device. This energy stimulates your skin and triggers a response whereby it ramps up collagen production and regeneration for 3-6 months following the procedure. Basically, it's like a wake up call which forces your sluggish cells to behave the way they used to years ago.

I used to have the misconception that Thermage was like a non-invasive "lunch time face lift". I.e. it was meant for "mature women". (I'm not young; I'm 33. But I do take good enough care of my skin that I feel I'm relatively young-looking for my age.) So Thermage couldn't be right for me, no?

Not exactly.

Here are some of the common problems we start to face as we get a bit older:

• Enlarged pores: Collagen is what holds our pores close. As we get older and collagen levels diminish, the skin around pores gets slack and leads to the appearance of larger pores, even without black heads.
• Expression lines: Fine lines form around our eyes, forehead, and beside our noses and mouths from daily movement, and start to become more pronounced or stay there permanently even when we're not frowning or smiling.
• Slackness/Sagging: One area women often don't pay attention to until it's a bit too late is the jaw line. Around your 30's is the time our lower cheeks start to slide downwards imperceptibly. Our faces start to look square and our jaw line less smooth. In time, they can develop into marionette lines (deep furrows leading from the outer corners of your mouth down towards the jaw), full blown "bull-dog" jowls, and a double-chin.

Now here's a reminder. Thermage works best on women in their 30s - 50s, whose skin is still in relatively healthy condition. 

For skin that has aged to an advanced degree, Thermage is not as effective because there isn't enough of a healthy collagen matrix left to stimulate. Also, if you are in your 30's, the results from a single session often lasts much longer (about 2 years) than if you were doing it in your 50s (about a year). 

Thermage's latest advancement Total Tip 3.0 (left) versus the previous face tip.

If you're in your 20's, Thermage can still stimulate your collagen and give it a boost, but you won't see much of a noticeable difference because your skin is probably still in its peak condition.

Thermage has been around for quite awhile, and is currently in its third generation. Reputable clinics should now be using the latest Total Tip 3.0. How it differs from previous generations is:

1. it's designed with a special vibrating function to desensitize the skin and make the procedure less painful
2. it's designed to send radio-frequency waves deeper; hence it's more effective than the previous Face Tip

My experience:

Thermage pre-treatment image (photo credits - Aesthetics & Hair Clinic): my personal areas of concern!

1. During my pre-procedure consultation at Aesthetics & Hair Clinic with Dr Tyng Tan, we discussed my "pain points", and I mentioned expression lines (mainly the nasolabial lines), lines on my neck, as well as a slackening jaw line. We agreed this would be the area we want to focus more on during my treatment.
2. I was led to the treatment room where my skin was cleaned, numbing cream was applied, and then a marker sheet applied (see the scary image above).
3. Thermage has adjustable energy settings and your doctor can dial it up or down depending on your pain tolerance. Unfortunately, I was a complete wimp and even with the numbing cream, I could only tolerate up to about level 2.
4. After the procedure which took about 30 mins, my face was cleaned, I was given a post-treatment balm to use for a few days, and I simply walked out without any redness or residual pain.

Results:

• Immediately that night, it felt like my skin was tighter. But I decided to put that down to some subtle post-procedure swelling, and didn't want to jump to conclusions. 
• A month later, my neck lines started looking a bit less deep and obvious, and my jawline felt tighter, more sculpted. Pores are also seem more uniform and tightened.
• 2 months in, my nasolabial lines are much shallower, as are my neck lines. What I did NOT expect was that my jawline actually looked more defined and tapered (more a "V" then a "U" if you know what I mean) compared to before images. I hadn't lost any weight. In fact I probably gained a little, so I was expecting my jawline to look puffier compared to before. 
• I didn't notice much of an improvement to the eye or forehead areas.

I got the pre- and post-treatment images directly from the clinic after my review visit. They were taken by a nurse, not myself. I also did not retouch or edit other than to add in text and water-marks.

Thermage 2-month post treatment image (photo credits - Aesthetics & Hair Clinic)

Which brings me to one extra benefit of Thermage (besides anti-aging) which, actually, to many of us younger women is a HUGE thing. Thermage has that sneaky way of helping to sculpt and contour the face. By tightening your contours, it actually reduces the "puffy" look and almost lifts everything upwards imperceptibly, so your cheekbones are more prominent, and your contours are more defined. (I could have sworn I was slimmer in the After page.)

My next review is in another 6 months, because Thermage continues to work for up to half a year, so in the good cases, patients see a continual improvement for quite a while. 

After saying all this, I do have to mention some cons of course:

1. It's expensive. It's not like buying a $50 face cream or a $100 serum. You do need to consider it carefully. But if you're tired of buying and trying so many different anti-aging products and having a majority of them do nothing for you, maybe it's time to try something different.
2. I won't lie. There is a certain amount of pain to tolerate. Thermage is an "as much as you can handle" treatment, so no matter what, you'll need to raise the setting to the point where you feel you can't go any higher. 
3. In some cases, patients who have a very high pain threshold might experience mild blistering, redness or some peeling. This is usually minor and goes away in a few days, but if you have a major event to attend (like your wedding) and need to have zero down-time, you will need to be careful and stick with a slightly lower setting. 
4. It isn't as effective on everyone. Everyone's skin condition is different. As with all things, some people may respond to treatment better than others.

P.S. If you have a low pain threshold like me, don't feel you're not getting your money's worth, because using a lower setting and doing more passes over an area (as opposed to going over an area only once at a high setting) can give similarly good results while reducing the pain you need to bear.

All in all, I have to say I'm very pleased with the results.

I'd actually thought there wouldn't be any difference, and the only benefit for me would be that of stimulating my skin's collagen production levels. But apparently, there WAS a visible difference. And I do have to say, it's kinda cool that unlike Botox or fillers, it's my skin condition that's improved, and the benefits do last for up to 2 years.

It's like suspending the aging process for awhile. I'll still be in a far better state than I would be if I didn't have the procedure now.

For more information on Thermage or to locate a clinic, check out the below resources:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thermagesg?fref=ts

Website: http://www.thermagesg.com/

Jo Malone Orange Blossom Cologne and Bath Oil

Few things brighten my day as much as a be-ribboned bone and black Jo Malone box.

I'm a fan of white florals, and Orange Blossom (sometimes also called Neroli) is one of my favorites. I would consider the gorgeous girl-next-door, alongside the king of plush white florals - Jasmine - and the more loud and busty Tuberose, or the more virginal Lily of the Valley.

So it's kinda odd that I've never actually decided to buy Jo Malone's bestseller Orange Blossom until now.

Top notes: Cedrat (a fragrant citrus fruit used mostly for perfumery), Green notes, and Clementine leaf

 Heart notes: Orange blossom, water lily

Bottom notes: Orange blossom, lilac 

The odor of orange blossom is slightly tangy and fruity, aromatic and only slightly sweet. It also smells soapy and clean, but with an idolic edge of animalic pungency, like many other white florals. Think of a fruity gardenia.

Jo Malone's Orange Blossom is very linear. What you smell at the start is pretty much what you get towards the end. Maybe a bit more powdery and clean, as the lilac starts to peek out, but mostly translucent and fresh throughout. It smells - pretty. That's the only word I can think of. It manages to bring out the delicate sweetness and aromatic nature of orange blossom, but mutes the fruity pungency that often characterizes orange-blossom laden fragrances. It's still indolic, but is not as rich and "ripe" as Maison Francis Kurkdjian's version, so it's great for a quick hit of freshness.

I've been in the mood for a Jo Malone so I decided to pick it up.

1. Blue Agave & Cacao - my oldest Jo Malone; this smells almost cakey and like chocolate frosting but minus a lot of sugar, and with a translucent melon-like facet to it. Very strange and interesting to me. 
2. Vanilla & Anise - this is a like but not a love; this spicy warm ambery scent is quite deep and interesting, but not quite as complex and faceted as I usually like my amber/spice scents to be, so I only wear this occasionally.
3. Red Roses - a gorgeous basic rose soliflore. It's not too sweet, not too green, and has enough complexity to not smell like rose essential oil, so I enjoy it.
4. Blackberry & Bay - possibly my absolute fave for hot days; this is so addictive and fresh; like sipping fizzy non-sugary blackberry soda water with a bay leaf floating among the ice cubes. 

The problem with Jo Malones is their lasting power. Most of these do not last that long, unfortunately. Especially not on my dry skin. And because I don't like to bring perfume bottles out to touch up in the middle of the day, I always buy the matching bath oils in the scents I love. If you smooth a little of the oil on and then let it sink in for a moment before spraying the cologne over, the scent lasts for hours and hours.

So of course I got the bath oil version for Orange Blossom as well. The only 2 of my JMs without a matching oil are Vanilla & Anise which I like but don't love, and Blackberry & Bay, which I love but can't find an oil for. (I regret not purchasing a bottle in California last year; it's not stocked in Singapore.)

Sounds extravagant, but owning any Jo Malone cologne is an extravagant thing to begin with, and the bath oil is really the best way to extend and maximize the scent - and your money. (I'm not always a fan of layering scents over lotions because there's more of a tendency for the scent to get distorted or change on the skin. Oils are a more stable medium for scent, so I love this option.)

Plus, you can sometimes just dab on the oil and just wear it like a light perfume oil, skipping the cologne altogether. For Red Roses and Blue Agave & Cacao, this method of layering gets the colognes to last like eau de parfum for me. 

Sadly, the lasting power for Orange Blossom, even layered, is probably about 4 or so hours on my skin. Very fleeting. Without the oil it's probably about 2-3 hours. Similar to other fresh scents like Blackberry & Bay. Still, it's large enough a bottle that I don't feel too bad about re-applying. 

Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Mask Review and Giveaway

I must have some traces of dragon blood in my veins, because the moment I saw Peter Thomas Roth's 24K Gold Mask, my jaw dropped and I latched onto it and wouldn't let go. It's not just how hypnotic the swirly, bouncy, iridescent gold gel is to look at. It's also the curiosity about colloidal gold and whether this product would really firm and smooth.

Now face masks don't always get me excited. They're mostly a hassle to apply and take off, and I usually prefer to invest in serums or creams that will not be washed away. But I have used and enjoyed quite a number of Peter Thomas Roth's anti-aging products, including Instant FirmX for temporary fine-line reduction, and that gorgeous, gorgeous Oilless Oil, which just makes skin feel like silk. So of course, the 24K Gold Mask was just something I HAD to try.

Gold itself, as far as I know, does not actually do anything to make your skin act or look younger. How these metals actually work in colloidal (solution) form is they serve as delivery catalysts for other active ingredients, speeding up effectiveness.

In 24K Gold Mask, the 3 main ingredients I see are quite simple really. 

• Glycerin
• Caffeine
• Peridot (Magnesium)

Hyaluronic Acid and Glycerin are humectants, and they give this gel that sticky slippery texture, and that sensation of warmth when you rub it on. Humectant substances like glycerin and honey absorb and hold moisture, which also coincidentally traps heat. (As opposed to substances like alcohol, which vaporize and dehydrate, making the skin feel cool when applied.) Here, it helps to lock moisture into the top layers of the skin, smoothing and plumping.

Caffeine constricts blood vessels, which can quickly reduce redness and inflammation or the appearance of veins. It also is an effective diuretic, making cells shed excess water, so there is a temporary slimming and tightening effect. Recent research has also found that caffeine has antioxidant properties which can protect the skin from skin cancer. 

Peridot is a semi-precious gem which contains high concentrations of Magnesium, which is the 4th most prevalent mineral in our cells and necessary for DNA repair and other essential functions. It's effective at reducing inflammation and oxidation in the skin, and significantly reduces the rate of oxidation damage our cells suffer. 

So the colloidal gold in the formula, in my personal opinion, does nothing more than enhance the effectiveness of these three ingredients. 

At SGD$158 per tub at Sephora, this is no drugstore mask, and after using it for a couple of weeks, I have to say I really enjoy it personally. But you have to be clear what its main benefits are, so that you're not disappointed. This is not the typical hydrating or purifying face mask. 

1. The slightly sticky colloidal texture can be hard to rinse off if you live in a hardwater zone. You might want to use a cloth dampened in warm water to wipe it off.
2. This mask is not one of those fresh hydrating gel masks. It's a humectant mask and it almost feels warming on the skin. If you live in a warm climate or are using this in Summer, it will not feel "refreshing".
3. Remember this is a diuretic mask. Instead of applying it to typical problem areas like the T-zone, I actually would recommend applying this to the fleshier areas of the face, like the cheeks, down around the jaws and down the neck. These are the areas which can benefit most from the draining, tightening effect.

The very first time I used this, I stayed away from the press information or the ingredients so I could do a less biased review and observe the effects for myself without any pre-formed expectations. The first two things I noticed were how smooth and hydrated my skin felt after rinsing it away, and how it felt tighter.

Only after I read the ingredients did I realize it contained caffeine.

Now I use this as a regular "quick-fix" because it not only hydrates and smooths my dry skin, but also really helps to sculpt the face, especially around the jaw line. If you don't really need much firming or de-puffing, this mask probably won't benefit you that much. There are hydrating masks that cost less, and this is probably not for you.

As for the gold?

It doesn't really stay on the skin or impart any sheen or radiance that I noticed, so I'm not sure about the company's claim to "brighten". As far as I'm concerned, it's there to support the other ingredients. And for me to stare at.

And that's perfectly fine.

NOW - GIVEAWAY TIME!
Sephora Singapore is kindly sponsoring full-size tubs of the Peter Thomas Roth 24K Gold Mask Pure Luxury Lift & Firm Mask for 2 Makeup Box readers. Simply be signed in with a valid Google account (so I can contact you for details) and comment below to name one of the key active ingredients that helps this mask to work, and say why you'd like to win it. Winners will be picked on 8 Mar Sunday.
Winners will need to be in Singapore to redeem the prize from Sephora Takashimaya between 11-17 March.