EMPTIES:: August with SKII, Jurlique and more!

Hi guys! To be honest, I don't usually use up a lot of make-up OR skincare as I usually find something else I start using before I finish up anything...(not the best for my poor wallet). However, I have recently cleared up some skincare products.

REVIEW: Peter Thomas Roth Gentle Complexion Correction Pads

I am one of the fortunate ones out there who don't usually have a lot of problems with my skin. However, I do maintain a rigorous skincare routine and when a friend went to the States for a holiday, she kindly brought this baby back for me. Peter Thomas Roth is a clinical skincare brand that most are familiar with. Unfortunately, only a very limited range of products are available for sale here in Hong Kong. I wanted to try these Gentle Complexion Correction Pads mainly for some hormonal acne that I get every month. 

POSE - OOTD: Topshop in Black and White

On a hot summer day in Hong Kong, I decided to play with the crop top / high-waist bottom trend. A white crop top with lace detail and a beaded neckline and a high-waist side-slit (not sure what it's called?) maxi skirt. 

Please excuse the squinty eyes as it was a very sunny day! 

REVIEW: Tatcha Classic Rice Enzyme Powder

When a friend invited me to a Tatcha PR event, cocktails at MO bar in the Landmark Mandarin Oriental hotel, I jumped at the opportunity. Not only would it be my first time attending a skincare PR event, but I saw it as the perfect chance to learn more about a brand that I had heard of a bit before on YouTube but had never had much exposure to. 

The founder of Tatcha, Vicky Tsai, left her corporate career to study the beauty secrets of the Japanese geishas. She travelled to Kyoto, Japan, where she had a chance encounter with a modern day geisha. She discovered a two-hundred-year-old text containing the geishas' beauty rituals and secrets which led her to create Tatcha, a line of skincare products based on those timeless beauty rituals, harking back to the twilight of Japan's Edo period renaissance. All Tatcha products contain 3 key ingredients, red algae, rice bran and green tea. This special blend is patented as "HADASEI-3" and according to Tatcha, this bioactive complex is shown to improve the appearance of elasticity of the skin, moisturise the skin and reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation. 

We were each given a goodie bag at the event, tailored to our skin's needs, based on a quick skin analysis performed by Vicky Tsai herself. My goodie bag contained: aburatorigami japanese beauty papers (oil-blotting papers), the classic rice enzyme powder, the deep hydration lifting mask and the camellia nourishing lip balm. 

Having tested the classic rice enzyme powder several times, I'm in a good position to let you know my thoughts.

Packaging gets a big thumbs up. The push back mechanism of the jar keeps everything neat and tidy and you can easily control exactly how much powder you want to dispense. The recommended amount is half a teaspoon.

This rice enzyme powder acts as a gentle exfoliant - when mixed with water, it becomes a creamy foam that really quickly dissolves the dead skin cells on your face as you massage it on in circular motions. The powder is a blend of rice and papaya enzymes, conditioning pearl and Tatcha's signature "HADASEI-3" complex. This should be applied to a wet face. Be careful not to leave it on your face for over 10-20 seconds as it really does act fast and you don't want to overstimulate! After rinsing it off with water, your skin immediately feels extremely clean and smooth, almost to the point of being squeaky clean, but not so that your skin feels dried out. 

There are actually 3 different levels of rice enzyme powder in the Tatcha line - a gentle one for sensitive skin, this classic one for normal skin, and a deep one for active skin (i.e. acne-prone), so it's easy to find one that suits your skin type. Although I have acne-prone skin, I'm actually glad I was given the classic powder as I believe it's always better to go gentle on your skin rather than to dry it out too much (which, if you have naturally oily skin, will cause it to produce even more oil to compensate).

I like to use this exfoliator once or twice a week, followed by either one of my favourite masks - the Antipodes Aura Manuka Mask or the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. 

I can honestly say that this is the best exfoliator I've tried to date. Highly recommend! The only drawback is the steep price tag at US$65 (around HK$500) but I can see the jar lasting a long time.

Have you tried anything from Tatcha? What's your favourite exfoliant?

S

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HAUL: Mini shopping spree from Sasa in Hong Kong

This is actually a belated post and I have already tried all three products on myself for about a week, so I will share a few of my first thoughts on these three products.

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S & V

HAUL: 3 Concept Eyes (3CE) Eyeliner

3 Concept Eyes (3CE) is a Korean cosmetics line under StyleNanda and was started in 2009. The product I naturally reached for was their eyeliners due to the infamous Korean clean eyeliner look that I love. The two products that I picked out was their black liquid eyeliner - Super Slim Pen Eye Liner in Black and their Creamy Water Proof Eye Liner in #10 Mojito. Here is both of them in action - 

POSE - OOTD: Work Fashion from Zara, Topshop and more!

We've been pretty focused on skincare and makeup so far on this blog and in order to not have you guys forget about the "Pose" element of PrimpPrimePose, I have decided to post an OOTD before Part IV of my Top Beauty Picks.

This post will be on work fashion! Some are not bothered to dress up for work because they feel grumpy, unmotivated and for all sorts of other reasons. For me, I love dressing nicely for work as feeling like you're looking nice actually keeps my spirits up and awake -  fellow Corporate Finance people, you'd know how important it is to stay awake!

The fashion posts that we will be posting here will usually be focused on high-street fashion that can look put together. For this post, I took pictures indoors (in my office, actually) as this is how the outfit would look in the office. As a fashion-related post, it will be picture-oriented, so without further ado, here goes!

REVIEW: Top Beauty Picks Part III - Lancome Artliner and Estee LauderDouble Wear

Part III: Eyeliner

Who doesn't love eyeliners? Yet, we have all had the most annoying encounters where our eyeliner smudges, giving us panda eyes without us knowing. I have tried numerous formulas of eyeliners (i.e. pencil/gel/liquid) with different brands (both drugstore and premium). I do not have particularly watery eyes, nor do I blink particularly hard, but somehow, nothing I have tried stays put on my waterline (other than liquid eyeliner but please do not use liquid eyeliner on your waterline!!!!)

Right now, my favourite combo must be the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil and the Lancome Artliner.

REVIEW: Favourite Masks

One of my favourite ways to wind down after a long day is to treat my skin to a pampering mask. Being a beauty obsessive, I have tried a lot of different masks but have managed to whittle them down to my two favourites. Both of these masks work well for my oily, acne-prone skin.

1. Antipodes Aura Manuka Honey Mask

Antipodes is an organic skincare brand hailing from New Zealand. The brand first came onto my radar when Meg of lipssofacto blog started raving about their Juliette cleanser (which I've also tried - it's a good 'un!). Having read about the anti-bacterial properties of manuka honey and how it can work wonders for acne-prone skin, I couldn't resist popping this into my feelunique shopping basket and within a couple weeks it arrived on my doorstep!

This is a  deep-cleansing mask that provides a bucketload of hydration at the same time. Basically it's an all-rounder. The key ingredients are manuka honey, pohutukawa bloom, vanilla pod and mandarin. What stood out to me the most when I first smoothed this onto my face was the amaaaazing smell!! credits to the beautiful vanilla and mandarin mixture. The spa-like smell made me feel instantly relaxed and pampered.

Here's an extract from the Antipodes website:

A traditional remedy of New Zealand Maori people is antibacterial manuka honey, which powerfully draws moisture to your skin to hydrate it intensely. This facial mask delivers an intensely moisturising, cleansing and antioxidising treatment. It is the ultimate solution for spots and blemishes. Fragrances of vanilla pod and mandarin linger to bring peace and balance to your aura.

DAILY RITUAL: Smooth thick layers of this creamy mask over your face and neck twice weekly. Leave for 15 minutes then rinse with warm and pure water. Also ideal for treating spots and blemishes as they may arise. 

This mask leaves my skin feeling smooth, plumped and generally healthier looking. It also calms any angry pimples I have. Because of it's all-rounder properties, I tend to reach for this when my skin is looking a bit dull and needs a pick-me-up.

Left: Origins - much thicker texture; Right: Antipodes - more watery consistency

Both masks spread out - you can really see the difference in consistency here

2. Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask

This is the mask I reach for when my skin is oilier and more congested than usual - making it perfect for the hot and humid summers that we have here in Hong Kong. This is my second tube of the Origins charcoal mask and the almost empty state of the tube is a testament to just how much I love it! I've been a loyal user of this mask since my university days so it's been a good several years of regular use. 

Here's what Origins have to say about it:

When environmental toxins, dirt and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, skin looks cloudy. Nature's complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of skins overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best. Activated Charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers, White China Clay absorbs environmental toxins, Lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that "stuff" down there, skin "breathes a sigh of relief."

HOW TO USE: Once a week or as often as needed, open pores with warm, moist towel and layer mask on. Allow to dry, rinse well. Watch your skin shake off the shroud of dullness and take on a new clarity.

Best for all skin types

Can I just say how much fun it is to use this mask? I've gotten many a kick out scaring family members and the boyfriend by popping out of nowhere with a black face and raccoon eyes. Very mature, I know...

This mask can be a bit challenging to remove due to its hardened texture once it's dried. My preferred removal method is with a wash cloth (i.e. face towel/flannel) dampened with warm water. This gives my skin a gentle exfoliation at the same time. 

To me, this is the ultimate deep-cleansing mask. The charcoal really sucks out all the impurities hidden under your skin, leaving your skin feeling thoroughly purified and fresh. There's really no comparison with other deep-cleansing masks I've tried in the past, such as the Kiehl's Rare Earth Pore Cleansing Masque and the Aveda Deep Cleansing Herbal Clay Masque. The Origins blows them all out of the water. I will continue to repurchase this - on to the third tube!

Warning: don't use this if you have a big night out or important event coming up the next day as you may be left with pimples that have come to the surface from all that charcoal action! Give it a couple days and your skin will look clear and fresh, guaranteed.

What are your favourite masks? Any recommendations for us?

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S