Motives Double Take Lipstick Duo in Royally Red

I read a quote 'Give a woman the right lipstick and she can conquer the world' somewhere before and I always thought how corny it sounds. I would never think I can conquer the world with right lipstick because I always want to improve the look of my monolid eyes more than anything else.

However, duo-toned lipsticks have been gaining popularity especially in the korean cosmetic scenes and I personally feel it stems from the ombre lips creation. It's a good price to pay especially when you pay a price for 1 lipstick but you get 2 - 3 shades of lipstick, depending on how you apply and mix them. Today, I would like to introduce my new favourite duo lipstick from Motives Cosmetics Double Take Lipstick Duo in Royally Red.

Cased in signature Motives Cosmetics shiny dark navy case, this lipstick duo just look totally sleek and beautiful.

Here we have a deep brownish red shade on 1 side of the bullet and a metallic gold shade on the other. Formulated with sunflower seed oil, the lipstick duo feels smooth and comfortable on my lips and after wearing it for a full day, my lips did not dry up and chapped too.

As you can see from the swatch below (which is only 1 swatch per shade), the shades are pigmented and smooth and upon layering (first shade on the right), this lipstick gives a different dimension altogether.

The shades in Royally Red are versatile for daily work (especially when you are in need for a perk me up look, FYI that's me most of the time, haha) and for that special occasion (perhaps upcoming V day) where you need to look sharp and vibrant. Retailing at $34.75 only (with $0.65 cashback), Motives Double Take Lipstick Duo in Royally Red is exclusively available over here. There is an exclusive 10% discount for my readers so do PM me for the discount code over at this site.

Have you tried any lipstick duos and have any favourite? Do share with me too.

Lumiere De Vie Needle-Free Serum for a 'no needle' treatment!

I always believe no one is perfect, especially in our looks. In all honesty, I also embrace my imperfection such as the acne scars on my face and the laugh lines on my face. However, as a woman, it is in our humane instinct to just wish that we can look better than what we normally are. I am no exception too, being a vain pot too.

As I celebrate more birthdays (haha), I noticed changes in my skin condition (especially when you look back at some of old pictures). Lines that used to be not so obvious seems to be more obvious and skin that is used to oilier is also not as oily now. Definitely a sign of aging...... haha.

Many people are starting to go for specialised treatments such as botox and fillers to beautify on their skin condition but this is never something I would consider because I hate needles. Furthermore, each treatment is temporary and comes with hefty price tag. However, I'm glad to find a product that helps to 'fill' up lines without the need of needles. Woohooo!!

Lumiere De Vie Needle-Free Serum is light, concentrated serum that gives a tightening and hydrating effect to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The skin feels soft and smooth and looks firm after application of this serum. Best of all, this serum is suitable for us (me included) with sensitive skin as it can also help to soothe and calm sensitive skin.

To try out the effect of Lumiere De Vie Needle Free Serum and prove that it can indeed reduce the appearance of lines, I tried it on the lines on hubby's forehead. Using only pea-sized of product and massaging into the lines on his forehead for a few minutes, I can see significant improvement where the lines look less obvious. Hubby feedback that he does not feel any discomfort (such as itch or stingy feeling) after application and his forehead also look more supple and firm.

The main ingredients in Lumiere De Vie that provides such effective results are indicated below (also available on the link above):-

Neodermyl® (Glycerin, Water, Methylglucoside Phosphate, Copper Lysinate/Prolinate) Neodermyl® is a novel skincare ingredient that is a combination of a glucose-based compound, amino acids and copper. This unique combination of components helps the skin to look firmer and more supple, while helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Liftonin®-Xpress (Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Pullulan, Porphyridium cruentum Extract) Liftonin®-Xpress is a blend of polysaccharide-based, film-forming polymers and a red algae extract. This polymer matrix blend has been optimised to give a rapid and noticeable physical tightening effect. This tightening effect minimises the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for a smoother-looking complexion.

Zanthalene® (Oleyl Alcohol, Zanthoxylum bungeanum Fruit Extract) Zanthalene® is an extract from the fruit husks of Zanthoxylum bungeanum, a perennial plant of Chinese origin that is widely used in Asia as a spice (Sichuan pepper). The unique properties of this extract help soothe the skin, while also temporarily reducing the appearance of wrinkles for smoother and softer-looking skin.

CeraFluid (Olive Glycerides, Ceramide 3) CeraFluid consists of ceramide 3 solubilised in olive oil glycerides. Ceramides are lipid molecules that are found naturally within the cell membrane of stratum corneum cells and are essential components of the skin barrier. This blend of fatty acid glycerides and ceramide 3 helps moisturise the skin for a smoother and softer-looking complexion.

Lumiere De Vie Needle-Free Serum comes in 30ml bottle each and is available over here at $157. If you sign up for a free customer account on the website, you will be entitled to cashback that can be used for future purchase.

Do you have lines concern that you have been wondering how to tackle it? Why don't you consider trying Lumiere De Vie Needle-Free Serum?

Coffee addict

Are you a coffee addict? I know I am and I know I need minimum 1 cup of coffee per day to stay sane at time, hahaha. Any type of coffee works for me. Latte, long black, cappuccino, flat white, kopi-o, kopi-c, AS LONG AS it's not 3-in-1. In my opinion, 3-in-1 is the worst type of coffee ever because the amount of sugar and creamer in that small sachet spoils the real taste of coffee.

The best coffee I tried so far is in Australia. Trust me when I say you can walk to ANY place in Australia and you can get GOOD coffee. Even the coffee is my office in Australia disperse coffee that is way better than the coffee we get in Starbuck, TCC etc etc. But guess what, just as I was scrolling through my photo album to find pictures of the nice coffees I tried so far, I realise I did not take any pictures of the fantastic coffees I had in Australia!!! OMG...... this is crap.

Anyways, there are some of the coffee pictures that I would like to share in this posting just to prove my point of a coffee addict. Haha.

Motives Pressed Blush in Dreamsicle

Further to the review of Motives Mineral Blush in Empress previously, today I will be reviewing another blush from Motives. It is none other than Motives Pressed Blush in Dreamsicle.

Motives Pressed Blush in Dreamsicle is a warm toned peach blush that comes with a satin finish. I personally like orange and peach tone blush because my cheeks get flushed very easily so I always find pink toned blush just makes my cheeks look redder.

The pigmentation of the blush is impressive as I just need a gentle tap of my brush on the product and I can already see pigments being pick up on the brush. So I suggest for you ladies who are keen to try this product to go easy on the application and build up the pigmentation to your desired state.

So, as usual, I like to compare swatches of this new product to my existing stash and also take a look at how different the swatch of Dreamsicle looks like as compared to other products. I managed to dig out other blushes that I think look close enough to be compared and they are:-

1) Dior My Lady 007
2) THREE 24 Into The Ather
3) Benefit Sugarbomb
4) MAC Springsheen
5) Motives Dreamsicle

From the swatches above, you can tell how the blushes look different when swatched. During swatching, I found THREE to be the blush that is most difficult to pick up the pigment and this is no surprise considering Japanese cosmetics tend to lean on the 'natural and almost non existent shade'. Benefit and MAC has the same satin finish as Motives Dreamsicle but the pigment look lighter. Dior, on the other hand is a matte finish blush but would look closer in terms of the colour.

Retailing at $29 for 4g of product, you will get a blush that is paraben, fragrance and oil free. It's currently retailing at www.allyourfamilyneeds.sg (residing in Singapore), or www.allyourfamilyneeds.com (any countries other than Singapore).

Motives Collagen Core Lipstick in Motivated

What do you do if you often has chapped lips that makes you afraid to put on lipstick because your lips just kept flaking? I have this problem and will always need to apply lip balm before putting on my lipstick. If you ladies have this same problem as me, you need to look at the lipstick that I am sharing with you now. It's Motives Collagen Core Lipstick in Motivated.

The main benefit of Motives Collagen Core Lipstick is that it doubles up as a lip treatment in addition to being a lipstick. With hydrolysed collagen in the collagen core, it works with elastin in the skin to diminish fine lines and wrinkles. It also aids in the binding and retaining of water, which helps to moisturised and plump the lips. With Motives Collagen Core Lipstick, my lips feel comfortable even though I did not apply my usual lip balm before application. I also do not experience any flaking on my lips during the day.

Motivated is a mauve plum shade which I love very much. Do not be afraid to look goth after applying this shade because I can assure you that it doesn't. It gives my lips a tinge of plum pinkish tone that helps to brighten up my look.

Looking through my stash of lipsticks, here I am trying to find comparisons of swatches against Motives Collagen Core Lipstick in Motivated. The closest swatch looks to be Burberry Lip Mist in OxBlood with more brown tone in it.

Motives Collagen Core Lipstick is retailing for SGD39 at www.allyourfamilyneeds.sg and I hope this posting has been helpful to you. :)

Cooking healthy lunch in office with electic lunch box

Ever since I shifted out from my parents' place, it's common for me to eat my meals outside in coffee shops, food courts and restaurant because of the time constraint I have to cook my own meals after work. As for weekends, I also find it a chore to cook and wash up (basically, I am just lazy, haha). When I saw some of my colleagues buying electric lunch box and cooking simple lunches in office, I was seriously intrigued by how simple it is to cook a meal that is healthy and delicious so here I am jumping on the bandwagon to cooking with electric lunchbox!

I opt for the bigger capacity with the option of single or double tier. It's always a good idea to have the flexibility of expansion :)

So here you can see that it basically comes with 2 bowls. 1 slightly bigger suitable to cook soups, porridge, stews etc and a smaller bowl that u can use to steam smaller items or even rice for a single portion.

The concept behind the electric lunch box is basically steaming. All you need to do is pour water (I usually use hot water) at the lowest compartment of the lunch box and it will create steam to cook the raw food ingredients. Yes, your ingredients can be raw and the steam will cook it till it's fully cooked! In general, I noticed that 20 - 30 mins is all it takes to fully cook the ingredients. For soups (especially if I want it to be more flavourful, I will cook up to an hour. As long as there is water in the lower compartment, it will continue to steam and cook. So during the times when I am cooking a dish for longer period of time, I either add more water at the beginning of the process or add water after a while to keep the electric lunch box cooking.

Here are some of the dishes I have tried in office. They are all simple, one dish items.

Quinoa with salmon, carrots and edamame beans

Quinoa with steamed salmon, golden mushrooms and tomato

Corn, carrot and pork ribs soup with rice

Claypot chicken rice! Yums!

Pork porridge with cabbage, carrot and century egg

You can see from the dishes I tried above that it's simple to use this electric lunch box. Just need to exercise some creativity on what you want to cook for the day.

I ordered my electric lunch box from Qoo10 previously at around $20+ and it is a product made in China. You can use a travel adaptor for this lunch box as the original plug will be China plug. I have been using the cooking regularly for close to a year and is still working well.

For readers out there who find cooking to be a chore, this is something that you can consider to start simple healthy cooking. :)

My choices of body care products

I am not usually a person who bothers much with body care mainly because the humid weather in Singapore does not dry out my skin as much. Even though I work and sleep in air-conditioned room everyday, I am not someone who lather on body care products often because I dislike the sticky, uncomfortable feeling of applying. However, having said that, I still using body care products and today I would like to share some of the body care products that I use.

Just to share my personal preference on choices of body care products. I always prefer something that is light in texture with mild scent. Not only will I not have the uncomfortable sticky feeling, I like having something lightly scented on my body for that 'fresh out of shower' smell.

Below are the body care products that I am currently using:-

1) DNA Miracles Natural Hydrating Baby Lotion
2) Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Body Cream
3) Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion

DNA Miracles Natural Hydrating Baby Lotion

Yes, I know this body lotion is for babies but what is stopping adults from using them? NOTHING, haha. I have always like baby lotions because they are usually the lightest in texture with the gentlest ingredients that can be applied on babies' skin. I have to say I reach out for this lotion more often than the other 2 because of the light texture. It is easily absorbed into my skin, providing the hydration I required on dry areas. There was once I had slight rashes on my arms after CNY spring cleaning and DNA Miracles Natural Hydrating Baby Lotion helps to sooth my skin after application. The combination of glycerin, willow herb flower / leaf/ steam extract, pathenol, aloe leaf juice and sodium hyaluronate make this product a wonderful body lotion for everyday application. With a mild sweet scent, DNA Miracles Natural Hydrating Baby Lotion does make me feel a child!

Available on www.allyourfamilyneeds.sg. Retailing at $24.50 for 190g of product.

Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Body Cream

I bought this body cream plainly because I am a fan of Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Cologne and it would be a great item for me to lay my scent when I would like my scent to stay longer. Being a body cream, Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Body Cream comes in a luxurious glass pot and you scoop out the cream using your fingers (that's me) or a spatula. Despite me buying this previously to layer my scent, I ended up using this product at night, just before bed. I like how the scent relaxes me after long, stressful hours in offices. The texture is creamer than lotion and does makes me feel there is a thin layer of cream on the surface of the skin.

This product is available over Jo Malone boutiques in Singapore but I previously purchased mine over Saks Fifth Avenue at USD 75 for 5.9 oz (approx 167g) of product.

Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion

Ok, I have to say this. Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion is the product that I have hardly used. Despite being named as 'body lotion', the texture is the thickest among the 3 making me feel very sticky after application. I guess it will worked well for individuals with badly chapped skin. The scent is also the strongest among the 3, which is the reason why I touches it the least now. The key ingredient in Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion is Argan Oil and Argan leaf extract which is a very popular ingredient in a lot of products to provide hydration.

Available over Kiehl's counters in Singapore, it was previously retailing at $100 (I'm not sure if there are price changes lately) for 475ml of product.

Swatch of textures for the above-mentioned 3 products

From left to right: DNA Miracles Natural Hydrating Baby Lotion, Jo Malone English Pear & Freesia Body Cream, Kiehl's Superbly Restorative Argan Body Lotion

Motives Mineral Pressed Blush in Empress

What make up items do you ladies not live without? For me, it would be base (primer, foundation), blush and lipstick. The reason is because I usually do not have the time to do much eye make up when I rush out for work so I just want very basic products to even out the uneven skin tone on my face and then brighten it up so that I do not look tired or 'dead'. Blushes and lipsticks are especially easier to pick up because they are usually affordable and small. We can always come up with 100001 excuses why we need that extra blush or lipstick. Today, I would like to share my new blush love. It's none other than Motives Mineral Pressed Blush in Empress.

The packaging is basic and no frill. Housed in a plastic round case with clear plastic cover, the packaging is as simple as it can be. (Sorry for the sorry state of the blush but you can see how much I have been using it just by looking at the picture).

Motives Mineral Pressed Blush in Empress is a nice warm pink shade with gold shimmers. I totally love it. A little goes a long way as this blush is pretty pigmented and the pigments get picked up very easily by the brush.

I know warm pink shades are usually my go-to blush shade so I decide to compare it against my long time favourite, MAC blush in Springsheen. So glad to see that the colours are no where close. Springsheen is more peachy than pink and the gold tone in Springsheen is also stronger than Empress.

From left to right: Motives Mineral Blush Empress, MAC Blush Springsheen

From left to right: Motives Mineral Blush Empress, MAC Blush Springsheen

At only S$28 for 4gram of product, I say Motives Mineral Pressed Blush in Empress is a good buy, not only in terms of price but also quality. For ladies concerned with ingredients in the products that they are using, you will be glad to know this blush is paraben and talc free.

In case you wonder where and how you can purchase Motives products, you can purchase Motives products at www.allyourfamilyneeds.sg (residing in Singapore) or www.allyourfamilyneeds.com (any countries other than Singapore).

How to switch your skincare products

Hi all, it has really been a while and I apologize for the lack of updates in this small space of mine. Life just catches up with us and we have other priorities that we need to attend to. I would certainly continue to update this humble blog of mine and would appreciate your patience with this.

Today I would like to share my personal experience on switching skincare products. Some people out there are not as lucky as others who have zero issues switching their skincare products just like that. Unfortunately for me, I fall into the 'unlucky' category whereby issues will always surface whenever I switch skincare. So you would say 'Why switch then?'. Well, there could be reasons..... Because we heard good feedbacks from our friends, we were fascinated by the advertisements on TV and the list goes on..... So how do we do it then?

1) Know yourself (and your skin)
Nothing beats knowing yourself and your skin, especially ingredients that you have reacted adversely towards to previously. Skin does change over time and especially as we age. My skin now reacts differently to products as compared to 10 years ago and products that I have tried previously that gave me severe breakouts instead worked wonders for me now. However, as a precaution, you can always start with a patch test first.

2) Plan ahead
My skin can be sensitive at times so I always plan ahead when I have the intention to switch products. You might ask "Ruby, what do you mean by planning ahead?'. My suggestion is always to start baby steps in switching over to new products while you are still on the existing skincare regime and products. I always start trying out new products while I still has 1/4 of the existing products. A suggestion could be this:-

Week 1 (Trying new products only on alternate evenings)
- Morning: Existing products
- Evening: New products (alternate evenings only)

Week 2 (Trying new products every evening)
- Morning: Existing products
- Evening: New products

Week 3 (Using new products alternate mornings, and every evenings)

Week 4 (You can fully switch over to new products)

For ladies who have extremely sensitive skin, you have to start gradual and be patient. My sister who has extremely sensitive skin, tried this method and thank goodness was able to switch over to new skincare regime and products.

3) It's normal to have breakouts?
I used to stop continuing with the new products the moment I see pimples popping out within the first few days. I started to recognise that this is the way my skin goes through the detoxification process. This is no difference from you feeling lethargic when you start on a juice cleanse or detox program. However, should the breakouts be extremely red and fierce after 1 - 2 weeks, the new products might not be for you.

4) Be patient
I usually do not switch over an entire new skincare regime just like that. My personal preference is to switch product by product. This is also because my products do not all run out at the same time. By switching over product by product, it will also be easier for you to identify which products work or not work for you.

5) Drink more water
Healthy skin always start with proper lifestyle. Drinking sufficient water help the body to flush out toxins and keep our skin hydrated.

The above pointers are tried by me personally and I certain hope that it can help other individuals. However, do note that results will varies from individual and ultimately you know yourself best. :)

Topshop Singapore

Popular British multi-national fashion retailer, Topshop has been a popular brand that I will always go to because I really love the petite range that they offers to short girls like me. We are always spoilt for selection because of the wide range of selection offered from casual (flattering jeans and jackets) to formal (blazers and dresses) and not forgetting accessories that we can pair with our outfit.

We used to need to visit a brick and mortar store in order for us to purchase our favourite pieces from Topshop Singapore but it's no longer the case now. Log into the internet, shop at the comfort of your home and just wait for the delivery to be made to you. :)

I have always been a fan of Topshop jeans and the skinny jeans here have definitely caught my eyes.

This sleeveless belted coat is definitely a keeper. I do not recall seeing many such pieces. If you think you can buy only clothings online, think again..... Check out the bags and shoes! Always love pairing boots with my outfit especially when I travel.

I have always been an advocate for online shopping for the simple reason of CONVENIENCE. It's just too tiring to get out of there, squeezing through the crowd, fighting for that item you want and in worst case scenario, getting there and not being able to buy what you want. With 30 days free returns and free delivery for purchases above $40, it's such an enjoyable shopping experience.

Soak in Korean Fashion with ZALORA

I have always been a fan of J-Drama when I was a teenager and as the years go by, the K-entertainment industry has boomed out of nowhere creating a hype both in the entertainment and fashion industry. Everyone wants that lipstick that was showed on this drama or that hairdo that was in that MTV, even Paris Baguette got so popular! For a while, I have friends trying to get hold of korean fashion clothings when on holiday to Seoul but the good news now is........ you can get your hands on korean fashion just by shopping over ZALORA!

I seriously love these culottes and bermudas, they look chic and so so comfortable! Price is super friendly to our pocket too. :)

Want to look more feminine? No problem there, these dresses comes in different styles that can definitely match the date that you want to.

I super love accessories from Korea. I personally think they look so cute and yet matchable to most outfits that I 'swept' quite a lot of them when I can! If you especially love colourful and statement-styled accessories, you must check out their accessories.

Don't forget to dress up your man like one of your favourite korean star as well!!! Check out the Mens' Fashion! There are tees and outerwears that are suitable to Singapore weather and yet not compromising the look of korean fashion.

I really like the leather shoes with neon sole below. Such a statement look just by adding that subtle pop of colour to a pair of black shoes.

Look no further if you have already seen items that caught your eyes........ Check out Korean Fashion at ZALORA for more items. You never know which korean star you will look like! :)

Hari Raya sale with ZALORA

I really like the multi-racial diversity we have here in Singapore. Not only are we able to celebrate Christmas, Chinese New Year, we can also share the joy of Hari Raya as well as Deepavali. Not only we get to enjoy the different culture of our friends in different race, there are always more excuses for us to shop for the special festival, whether it is for ourselves or our friends.

For the upcoming Hari Raya, you will be glad to see beautiful items available on ZALORA such as the beautiful maxi dresses, chiffon dress as a nice contrast to the usual kabayas.

If you prefer the modern twist to what to wear on this traditional festival, the following peplum top or tunic top from ZALIA are great choices!

For something closer to a traditional kebaya, you can opt for the following drape dress.

The advantage of getting these beautiful pieces for your Hari Raya preparation is you can enjoy the convenience of shopping in your home with a click of the button so that you can spend your time preparing for this special festival. Delivery is also free with purchases above $40 so how convenient is that? With a 30 days free return policy, there is no concern additional delivery fees and wastage in the event the item does not fit you or you change your mind. It's time to head over to ZALORA, select pieces to beautify you and your family on this Hari Raya!

Lola Skye Collection with ZALORA

Having to wear office wear from Monday to Friday means that I would crave for casual and sweet girly, carefree style over the weekends. Don't we all just want to let our hair down and unwind and relax in style? It's really nice to know that Lola Skye Collection at ZALORA fits what I am looking for.

Looking at the banner on the site and I already fallen in love with this brand. It looks dreamy and girly! Here are some of my personal recommendations from Lola Skye Collection!

If you are looking for that simple black dress that can bring you to a nice date with significant other followed by a romantic dinner, why not consider this black lace insert dress? The lace just gives this simple black dress a subtle sexiness.

Girly dresses is not your thing? How about a jacket and jogger? Coupled with a helmet, you will be all ready to hop on a bike and ride down the road and not worry about anything in the world.

Maxi dresses look so relaxing and comfortable, don't they? I can already imagine walking down the beach in this maxi dress!

My personal recommendations above are just some teasers on what you can expect from Lola Skye Collection. If you head over to the collection available to ZALORA, you can see other designs ranging from tops to bottoms with different texture such as knits and laces. I am sure something will be able to catch your eye. Coupled with free delivery for purchases over $40 as well as 30 days free return, there is no concern additional delivery fees and wastage in the event the item does not fit you or you change your mind. Shopping can be as carefree as it be!