WHAT TO WEAR ON THE NAILS WHEN PREGNANT?

Left: Aurora #ZP646
Right: Rue #ZP706

I am a big big big nail polish wearer, but I'm taking a temporary break to this excessive compulsive beauty behaviour of mine whilst I'm pregnant.

Ever since I fell pregnant, I am becoming increasingly but gradually more aware of what to put in my mouth, on my skin; and of course on my nails.

No one has told me not to wear nail polish anymore but the general advice from peers (doctors not mentioned anything and I actually didn't raise it with them either) is that less (or none) is more.

This triggered me to study a bit more of the harmful effect of wearing nail polish whilst pregnant, if any.  The result is shocking albeit they aren't seem to be fully scientifically evidence based (as I can't see the source of information), it freaked me out a little bit.  

So, what to look for in nail polishes when you are pregnant?  They need to be:

• Free of formaldehyde
• Free of toluene
• Free of dibutyl phthalate, also known as DBP, a petroleum product that has been proven to pass through breastmilk. 

Also when you are applying nail polishes, try to keep the ventilation in the room that you are in as best as possible.  I would also advise to avoid going to nail spa and the likes of it just to be on the safe side.  Choosing acetone-free nail remover is also a safer option, too.   Also making sure that you wash your hands with soap and water afterwards.

You might now ask, what brands; if any are mom-to-be choices when it comes to nail polishes safety in pregnancy?

There are number of brands (mostly American), amongst which Zoya is the most popular one, and seems to be the most readily available in the UK.  You can find Zoya products in health food shops such as the Whole Foods Market.  In the end, I picked up two colours that I know I would enjoy wearing them all the time throughout different seasons.  They are actually really nice polishes even without the chemicals, they general last on my nails up to 5 days which is pretty amazing!

Despite knowing that they are free from the three main chemical products in their nail polishes, I have definitely drastically cut down on the regularity I wear nail polishes, and are enjoying my bare nails more.  I have definitely noticed a stark difference this has made on my nails, they look much healthier, and no yellowness, too!  I have also stocked up on some false nails to wear at times when I'm desperate for me prettier and more diversified colours and patterns on my nails.

What's your experience when it comes to wearing nail polishes when pregnant?  Does it make you think to choose 'healthier' nail polishes even if you are not pregnant?

The very natural looking base for warmer weather

Hello all, I'm back and I'm sorry I've disappeared for a while.  Possibly the longest I have been idled from my blog since it's inception last year!  Before I dwelled into the nitty gritty of a recent favourite beauty product, let me give you guys a quick and brief update of where I have been.

I'm officially back in London, hooray!  For those of you who read my blog, you'd know that I relocated to Hong Kong last September with my hubby.  So what made me return?  Lots of reasons of course, but the main one is that I'm expecting a baby!  Wow!  It feels better to give birth in London so that's why I've made a return to this beautiful city!  Nothing seems to have changed since I left 9 months ago.  I mean, some-thing has changed but it feels right to be back!  Anyway, so I shall be blogging from London for a while, and perhaps a few baby related posts will start creeping in.  P.S. I haven't really started baby shopping properly yet but if you have any tips you want to share with me, please feel free to do so here, or tweet me @beautyorbread.

So, enough of my recent update; let's move onto something I have really been enjoying using lately.  Since reuniting with my sister @forksandbrushes, I have the joy of helping myself to try out a few different bits that she has added to her ever growing makeup collection,  that I didn't get the chance to when I was in Hong Kong.  The L'Oreal Nude Magique Eau De Teint (£9.99 ) is one of them, I looked high and low, and it just wasn't available in Hong Kong!  The main reason why I wanted to try this is because I've heard that this is a dupe for Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation (£35.5 ), and with such a purse-friendly price for the L'Oreal one, obviously I'm going for what's cheaper! 

Just like other drugstore branded base products, it comes in a limited 6 shades.  I use the one in #110 warm ivory which has got a bit of a yellow undertone but is pale enough for my skin complexion, I say it is almost a perfect colour match to my skin.

It comes in a small frosted glass bottle which makes the packaging so lux, I think, and it looks so cute, too!  The only downside in terms of the design of the packaging is that, it hasn't got a pump or a proper dispenser, so pouring out the products inside the bottle can be a bit of a messy act, and potentially waste more products.  The above picture shows roughly the amount of product needed for my entire face, which isn't bad I think considering the size of my face!

My sister did warn me of the very watery texture before I used it but I hadn't realised until I poured it out, it is soooooooo watery, it's almost like pouring out foundation liquid!  I haven't tried anything quite similar to this texture.  I loved using my Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation which is a water-based foundation but this is probably 10 times more watery I feel.  So, using my fingers to apply this is the best way!

It's really easy to apply, no harsh blending or anything, it smoothens out on the skin really easily.  Just like what it says on the bottle, 'Fresh Feel Foundation, Weightless Bare Perfection',  The finish of this foundation is exactly like that.  Even though it's such a light textured foundation, it offers a light coverage, not buildable though.  At first I thought it wouldn't be enough to cover up some of my blemishes but actually, after applying it all over my face, it managed to even out my complexion, in exchange I feel that I didn't need extra concealing, you can if you want to.  This would be a perfect foundation for a good skin day but if you just have a little bit of imperfection on the skin that you don't mind them showing through, this foundation would be perfect to give that natural finish.  However if you are looking for a perfect cover up, I wouldn't recommend this to you.

As the weather gets warmer, well it did in the past few days in London; but I thought this would be a perfect foundation to wear in warmer months.  One more thing to mention is that, this foundation is really hydrating, even for me as a very dry skin girl, there's no flakiness on the skin even after wearing it for 6+ hours.  It doesn't give a dewy or matte finish either, it's a very neutral type of foundation that gives a healthy complexion to the skin.

Is this something you have tried and had the same result?  Would you fancy trying something like this?

Be Right Back!

Hello my lovely readers

So sorry about not updating my blog for a few weeks!

Due to laziness, lacking of ideas, moving between cities, etc...

Sounds like a lot of excuses but I promise I shall be back soon!

Meanwhile, happy shopping!

Creamy Rosy Cheeks

Spring has definitely sprung in Hong Kong, actually the weather feels more like summer in recent days; it's warmed up so much.  My makeup has changed a little with the weather as well.  I still like to smoke my eye makeup a little bit every now and then but the rosy cheeks have definitely made a return to my daily makeup routine.

As I haven't been adding many new blushers to my makeup stash lately, I have been rediscovering many of my old favourites, and also reaching for products I haven't really started using since I bought it.

Canmake Cream Cheek (#8 Marshmallow Pink) has quietly crept up to my daily creamy cheek product in the past couple of weeks.  For those of you who are less familiar with the brand Canmake is an all-round Japanese drugstore makeup brand which offers a wide range of products from foundations, eyeshadows, to nail polishes.  It's affordable yet the packaging and the quality are both outstanding.  I remember my Japanese friends used to rave about it.  

In the cream blusher range, it has a total of 10 shades altogether, ranging from what I have a pale girly pink, to some coral shades, and some more out-there reddish shades.  This is an all-round creamy blusher, by that I mean from touching it on the pan to applying, and to setting to a creamy finish.  The staying power isn't one to impress but it definitely gives a very natural finish and rather pigmented for what it is.  I prefer to use a stippling brush rather than my fingers to apply, although both can achieve an easy-to-blend application; I found that using a stippling brush can result in a more precise finish on the cheek areas.  This marshmallow pink shade that I got is so versatile, while it complements with a smokey eye look to just give the face a healthy rosy cheek finish; it can also be used alone on a no makeup makeup day to give a very natural finish to the face.

Whilst I apply Canmake Cream Cheek, it reminds me of my Chanel Le Blush Creme De Chanel (in the shade Inspiration) that I bought last summer.  Both are cream blushers but the Chanel one has a special texture, it's got a powdery touch and finish to the product; which stays put a little bit better than Canmake's.  However, both are extremely easily blended using both fingers or a brush.  The Chanel blusher has a slightly more rosier colour to the shades with a pink undertone, whilst the Canmake cream cheek is a pink shade; both give a very natural finish and complements with most makeup looks.

Has Spring arrived at where you live?  Do you fancy a bit of a rosy cheeks look to embrace the flowery weather?

Voluminous hair that looks au naturale

I have fine and flat hair, and the ends are quite dehydrated (just like my skin!).  I found that styling my hair isn't the easiest of all.  You probably wouldn't guess this might be the case as it doesn't look that 'high maintenance'.  I found that when I had curly hair it was way easier to handle - at least I could get away with no-drying just giving it lots of treatment.

Now that I've had my curly bits completely grown out of, I'm left with my original hair style - straight, which I do enjoy and like.  However the crown area can be quite flat and lack of shape.  As a result, I found a great hair combo that gives a rather natural (not mega big and crazy) voluminous hair style.

After washing my hair and towel dry them, I would spray the TRESemme straightening spray with Argan Oil (£4.99), targeting the ends rather than the roots.  Although this stuff won't leave your hair greasy, it is my ends that needs more attention and treatment to.  This spray also has frizz control so it proves an extra protection from heat when styling.

Then I would spray a bit of this Mark Hill Big Blow Volume Spray (£3.99) I wouldn't spray this all over my head but instead, I would target the spray to my crown (top of my head) section, underneath my hair instead of the top layer of my hair; and as close to my roots as possible.  After spraying, I would use my hands to squeeze my hair together a little bit to make sure the volume spray is being absorbed by my hair thoroughly.

Then, that's it - all I need are these two hair products to create this straight but a natural voluminous hair-do.  I would blow dry my whole head roughly first, then section them into two parts: blow dry the underneath section using a round-shape comb, then the top part of my hair.

If I wanted more volume, I would spend a little more time when I blow dry, but most days I would go for a natural look, like so:

I hope that this has given you some affordable (2 products come in a total under a tenner!) and extremely hassle-free ways to create voluminous hair!  What's your trick?

fresh Sugar Lip Polish

My lips are always dry, no matter how much moisturising and hydrating elements I'm injecting into them.  I just cannot help it.... which actually really annoys me because there are always flaky skins residual on my lips.  Unless straight after exfoliating them, they then look and feel a bit more smooth but a few hours in, they go back to their dry and flaky state.

I have tried a few lip scrub, this time I'm nearly at the end of the fresh Sugar Lip Polish. It is a dual function lip scrub: exfoliates and conditions the lips at the same time.  Let's have a look if they live up to the standard.

The exfoliant is a brown sugar looking stuff inside the pot, it smells rather sweet, a bit like brown sugar really.  I scooped this out with my fingers, I need quite a lot of the product as the exfoliant bits are very fine particles.  It is good in a sense that they won't hurt your lips as it's so fine but at the same time you need quite a bit and quite a vigorous action to scrub off the dead skin on the lips.  But cautious though, if you don't have as dry lips as I do, you might not need as much product and as violent as I needed to when exfoliating.

I would give my lips a good 3 minutes of scrub at the very least in order to feel that this stuff has worked its magic.  What about the conditioning quality of this scrub?  Yes it certainly does feel moisturising whilst exfoliating the lips as it feels a little bit tacky both on the fingers, whilst you exfoliate, and after you get rid of the exfoliant using a cotton pad.  Ah, one good tip is that, when you feel that you have completed the process, I'd suggest that you use a piece of dry cotton pad to wipe off the exfoliant from your lips as an extra further step to scrub off the last little flaky bit.  Then followed by using water to clean the lips.  This, I found will leave a much smoother lips.

So.... sounds like I'm not convinced if this gets a thumb up or down from me?  Hm.... I think it would suit more for people who don't have dry and flaky lips but just want a gentle exfoliation of the lips to keep them nice and smooth.  For people like me who has extreme chapped, dry and flaky lips, this perhaps isn't quite the product for you.

What lip scrub/ exfoliate products have you used before?

Four Empties: likes or no-like?

I feel like a ball of fire finishing up my various skincare and beauty bits recently. Seeing that my uncontrollably large collection of a bit of absolutely EVERYTHING that are coming up to their very last lapse of lives, I had no choice but to restrict myself from hauling more and to put what I have into good use!  I've enjoyed the process and glad that I did, because by using up the last drips and draps of creams, lotion and potion, I developed a different experience with them.

Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturiser for dry/ sensitive skin - this really is my all-time fav when it comes to skincare, not only is this particular product but also LE the brand itself. I found every product in the brand very gentle to the skin, it's very soothing yet does the job well and effectively. It doesn't cause any irritations at all, no stinging to the skin but offers great amount of hydration. Whether or not it's repaired my skin, I can't put my fingers on it as it's unfair to tell by having just finished one tub of this good stuff. However, the result is great enough for me to want to repurchase. Also, the price is fitted in the middle range amongst other skincare brands but results in premium achievement. Liz Earle's that good!

Diorskin Sculpt Line Smoothing Concealer in shade 002 Beige - I personally like Dior as a beauty brand as I have liked a few of their beauty products. You can sneak into my Dior beauty collection here. However, now that I've finished up this concealer, I feel like this is the first of its product that I'm not entirely satisfied with. It's a creamy texture concealer which makes it easy to blend. The coverage isn't great, it's a bit wishy washy. I was told this could be applied under the eyes as well as covering blemishes so I used it as a dual purpose concealer. They couldn't cover things well and it looked as if I've piled on some cakey stuff on my face. Even though I said above its got a creamy consistency and easy to blend, as the coverage is weak, I tend to pile more and more.... A not-so-nice viscious cycle. Also I think I was colour mismatched so it appeared a bit "yellowy" on my face... Not a good look... I had to blend blend blend to make it work! Oh boy that's too much of a hard work!

Oilatum natural repair face cream is my ultimate remedy for dry skin.  It's an aqua based hydrating and repair face cream for dry and sensitive skin.  You only need a tiny amount for the entire face as it really is very moisturising minus the greasiness.  It's not fragranced at all which is a big plus in skincare.  I use this more frequently in between seasons and especially during the winter time.  I would apply a bit more round my nose area as they tend to suffer from flaky skin.  I'd strongly recommend anyone who has dry/ sensitive skin to give this a try, you can use this in replacement of your normal moisturiser.  I don't find that my makeup slips off if I have this applied underneath - I thought you might want to know this.

L'Oreal New Skin Perfection 3 in 1 Purifying Micellar Solution This incredibly affordable, Bioderma Sensibio H20 (the King/ Queen of makeup remover) dupe by L'Oreal has received an overwhelmingly amount of hype in the bloggersphere quite a while back.  Did I like it?  Hm.... This was actually my 2nd/ 3rd bottle.... it's a sign I must like something?  Hm.... The answer actually is I'm not entry sure.  I was certainly attracted by the price, approx £1.67/100ml for the L'Oreal Micellar solution, whilst for the Bioderma water is around 

£4.50/100ml.  In terms of effectiveness, I would say they are almost identical, and cannot 

tell the difference really.  I would say that L'Oreal Micellar solution is slightly more effective in

removing waterproof mascaras.  Having said that, I don't think a water-based makeup remover

can ever outperform an oil-based one.  However both are very gentle on the skin and I can

almost say that the L'Oreal one is even a bit more gentle.  However the dispenser is no-good, 

the content inside can be over spilled when you try to get the product out, so in the end you are 

wasting quite a lot of product and end up having to top up more and quicker.  I think now that

I've finished this one and have repurchased, I'm happy to move onto something else different.  

The next one on my list is Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water.

I hope that you liked this kind of empties + product review blog, and didn't find it too tedious.  

What have you emptied recently?  Have you tried any of the above products?