Relocation, Relocation!

Hello peeps

A very big juicy hello all the way from Hong Kong!

Nope, I'm not on yet another holiday, I have been relocated to Hong Kong to join my husband who has been working here for 1.5 years.

I want to thank you for all you lovely people who have been following my blog since its launch in April this year.  For those who is reading this for the first time, welcome.

Relocation to Hong Kong will not discontinue myself from blogging, I look forward to sharing with all of you my new findings and thoughts on the beauty world here - compare and contrast!

Before I venture out to the likes of Sasa and Bonjour (Hong Kong Sephora), Mannings and Watsons (Superdrugs, Boots, CVS or Ute for those of you who are less familiar), and other small independent beauty stores in Hong Kong; normal postings of blog will remain as regularly as possible.  Let me tell you a little secret, I am normally a highly organised person, so I do have quite a few pieces of blogs sitting in my draft folders waiting to show their faces!

Thank you for bearing with me in the transition period!

Love to all
beautyorbread/ Cynthy

A Sharing: Gel Manicure at Nails Inc

I am a fan of gel nails but because of its rather high maintenance in between one treatment and another, I only really have it done for special occasions or at times when I could foresee I will be so busy I won't have time to do my nails for a few weeks.

I normally have my gel nails done in just some random nails bar locally but this time, I decided to give the Paint Shop by nails inc at Selfridges a go.

I made an appointment 2 days in advance but normally you could get a same day appointment as a walk-in customer, only if it isn't a busy day.  

As I arrived at The Paint Shop, I was asked to choose a colour of my choice.  I knew the shade I wanted so it wasn't too challenging to pick my favourite.

I wanted a neutral tone, beige/ nude type of colour, so in the end I chose Basil Street.

A 45-minute gel manicure will set you back at £38 which costs a little bit more than a local nails bar, so I expected a little more from Nails Inc.  I always opted for an Intensive Cuticle Therapy which cost me another £10, but I wanted my nails to look as perfect as possible so I didn't mind paying the extra.

I have to say though, I felt the team was a little disorganised when I first arrived.  Although I was told to pick a nail colour of my choice, I didn't know that I wasn't restricted to nails inc. own brand's shades only.  As I was having my nails done, I saw other customers choosing colours from other brands available in the shop floor area, such as Butter London, Essie.  Luckily I was pleased with what I have chosen, otherwise I would have been gutted if I knew I had a wider range of choice to choose from.

I had to wait for quite a bit before any nail technician attended to me, so I was left a little confused sitting there waiting.....

However, I ended up having a really experienced, patience and friendly nail technician who helped do my nails.

Firstly I had my cuticle treatment which did make my nails and cuticle looking rather neat and tidy!

Then she applied a coat of gel nail base onto my nails and in between my hands were put underneath some UV lights - I guess that's the secret to the long-lasting effect of gel manicure.

After a coat of gel nail base, she then applied 'Basil Street' on all of my nails.  Then topped it off with another coat of gel nail top coat.  Again my hands had to undergo the UV light machine.

The whole process lasted for just over an hour.  It was very relaxing and pampering and I loved how it looked in the end.

It was glossy and shiny.  I love 'Basil street' as well, it is such a neutral and elegant colour.  As I wanted something to last for 3 weeks (gel manicure normally lasts up to 3 weeks), so I didn't want a colour that is too 'outstanding' that wouldn't go with my outfits for 3 weeks.

After two weeks, my nails were still looking strong - no chipping and the glossiness and shininess were still maintaining!

Gel Manicure after 2 weeks

Overall I am satisfied by the gel manicure provided by Nails Inc. but I most likely wouldn't go back and have my nails done again by them just because it is a little bit more expensive than my local nails bar which they offer the same result, dare I say a little better (both the customer service and finishing result).  My gel manicure has lasted well for just over 2 weeks, then it was just me who couldn't stand it anymore and had them taken off.  Otherwise, I am confidence they will last for 3 weeks as they claimed.

However, I do think as a birthday gift to girlfriends would be an idea option!

Waste Not, Want Not

Is your beauty cupboard overflown with way too many beauty products?  Have you ever bought skincare products that you thought was going to work but found out they didn't?  Are you one of those type of people who are sucked into the hype of products and bought it for the sake of it?  Or you bought something purely because of the free gifts promotion?

All sounds familiar?  (I can see heads nodding!)

I only have one face but often I buy too many skincare products in one go that some of them just sit in my beauty cupboard for ages, waiting for their turn to perform and show their real colours.  Then when I finally put them to the test, sometimes not all products would pass the ultimate challenge.  I would be left feeling gutted and stupid about wasting all the money.  At the same time, being a selfish person myself; it's even more heart-breaking to just give them away to friends and families because I think to myself, 'I need to find a way to use them up'.

Clarins Double Serum was a product that I bought in an emergency situation because lines on my forehead were getting too obvious, too fast.  I bought it and used it immediately for more than 3 months.  I struggled with it (you can see a detailed review here).  I continued and kept telling myself my skin loved it but really I think I was lying to myself.  I finally came to terms with it the fact that anything branded as an anti-ageing product can be a little too overwhelming for my skin at this stage (I am 31, any recommendations?)

I just wouldn't give it away to anyone I know, this was NOT going to happen.  I paid so much money on this bottle and had to admit it didn't work for me was hard.  An eureka moment came one night, 'Ah I could use it as a neck serum to retain elasticity and smoothness.'  I was so pleased about my creativity and thought I was a genius!  

I use this serum as a neck and upper chest treatment as part of my evening routine.  Serum is considered to function at its best if put as the first layer to your skin after cleansing and toning.  An overnight treatment perhaps requires a little something more potent.  I have been using it like how I described for over a month.  Although I can't see a real difference this has made to my neck, it certainly felt that money spent was worth it.  At least I didn't waste the product.

As picky as I am, I needed my neck to be treated during the day as much as in the evening but using this serum seems a little too extravagant for this purpose.  I went through my beauty cupboard and found the Multi-Active Day Early Wrinkle correction  (this came as a free gift when I purchased something else from Clarins in Boots) sitting there waiting to be used.  Since I am a little skeptical about using 'anti-ageing' product on my face, I found this could be the perfect neck day cream for me and it worked perfectly.  It is a thick cream but absorbed extremely effectively.  It is very moisturising and my neck is left feeling hydrated and tightened.  Yet again, I am a genius!

All you beauty lovers out there, how about going through your beauty cupboard today to see what's been ignored?  See if you can discover an alternative use for them on different parts of your body?

Waste not, want not.

In-flight Beauty Bag

There must be something in the air, I seem to be travelling all the darn time this year.  This week I am going long-haul again, all the way to Hong Kong.  A bit of announcement in here, too - I am relocating to Hong Kong in just a few days of time to reunite with my husband who now works in Hong Kong.  I look forward to continuing to blog and bring you more new thoughts and reviews on products when I have settled down in there.  Meanwhile, normal posting of blogpost should remain regular - I'll do my best!

Anyway, packing my in-flight beauty bag was the highlight for this packing mayhem!  I snapped up the Charlotte Tilbury's Makeup Bag recently from Selfridges after my sister Forks and Brushes has got one for herself.  I am loving this makeup bag everyday - I love the printed lips (from iconic fashion women, shame I didn't know whose lips are who) on one side, and the little phrase, 'Give A Woman The Right Make-up & She Can Conquer The World' on the other side - very empowering, well said Charlotte!

Sometimes I try to avoid cotton material makeup bag because of how dirty it can get, however I now think that it is actually better for cleaning purposes.  I also love this makeup bag for how wide the bag can open up.  This makes life much easier when I need to fetch something out from the makeup bag.  The size of the makeup bag also makes it very flexible to fit it rather a lot of products in but at the same time the shape doesn't stay bulky if there isn't too many things inside.

As you can see I am planning to take with me quite a number of things, just in case!  There are mainly two groups of products: skincare and makeup.

What's better time to try out some sample when you are travelling.  This time I am bringing along with me an Aesop Facial Cleanser, Biotherm Aquasource 24-hr hydration moisturising gel and Kiehl Ultra Facial Moisturiser.  I especially left these two moisturiser to use on the flight to use because of their reputations of keeping skin very hydrated, that will be exactly what I need on a long haul flight!   I am not normally a face-wipe user but on the plane, I thought it is a rather convenient tool.  Under eye areas is also my priority especially on a long-haul flight so I brought along my Tony Moly Intense Care Snail Eye Cream (I also like to bring products which I need to use up).  As my hands can get so dry any time, and on the plane it gets even drier, I am bringing along with me a travel size Rose 4 Reine Hand Cream by L'Occitane.  My lips can also get so dry therefore I brought along two lip balms: La Roche Posay lip balm and a recent favourite Reve De Miel Lip Balm by Nuxe it is a light weight but impressively moisturising and hydrating lip balm.  Finally some essentials, tooth brush, tooth paste and my contact lenses case.

I have also included a few makeup bits, I picked these because I won't need to reach out for my brushes at all.  I don't think I will use all of them up but I think I'll want to put something up to refresh my face before I touch down in Hong Kong!

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua - I love taking this when I'm travelling because this foundation provides a finish which is in between of a tinted moisturiser and a foundation - light weight but enough for a light to medium coverage dependent on how my skin feels.

RMS Beauty 'Un' Cover up - my new favourite concealer and can be doubled up as a foundation if needs be.  I like how hydrating and light this concealer is.  It can also be used to lightly brighten up those dark circles.  Most important of all it doesn't cake up at all!

RMS Beauty Living Luminiser  - another great discovery which I found.  Cream highlighter isn't the commonest product so when I saw this and tried it on my hands, I instantly fell in love with the texture - smooth and hydrating, and gives the most natural dewy luminising finish without making you looking like a glitter ball.  Great for highlighting brow bones, cheekbones and the bridge of the nose using your fingers.

Other products taken:

• RMS Beauty Cream Eyeshadow in Magnetic 
• Topshop Kohl Pencil in Sable
• Jouer Cream Eye Shadow Crayon
• Jouer Cheek & Lip Tint
• Yves Rocher Mascara Volume Vertige
• Shiseido Eye Brow Pencil (sorry, website link unidentifiable)
• YSL Rouge Volupte Shine Lipstick

I want to know what do you bring on your inflight beauty bag?  

New In: Vaseline Paint The Town Red Lip Tint Limited Edition

Just when I was getting rid of my current stash of Vaseline (I have way too many lip balms going on in my life!), there is a new one just released!  Every time when there is a new limited edition vaseline launched, I just couldn't resist but to dash down to Selfridges to get it!

Vaseline Paint The Town Lip Tint Limited Edition (£3.49) exclusively available in Selfridges for a limited time only.  At first when I opened the lid and saw the content I was quite taken aback because of this very intense red colour.

However, don't be freaked out by the intense deep red colour!  As I applied on my lips, it actually appears very sheer, as the product stated, it gives a tint of red colour on my lips, and provide an 'au naturel' finish.  It also has a yummy fruit jelly scent. It is, as you would expect, very moisturising to the lip and I found this formula stays on longer than other vaselines I've tried.

I think this would be perfect to wear in Autumn especially for girls who have dry lips and sometimes can't be bothered to wear colours.

Are you tempted to get one?

Pinkie Promise

My favourite colour used to be blue when I was little, then purple/ violet has taken over my life.  However pink still plays a big part in my life that I found myself wearing pink every now and then.  Here's only a small makeup collection of the pinks I have.  Forget about purple and burgundy colour for Autumn, let's take a moment to appreciate these beautiful pink colours.

Pinkie Promise's Run-down:

Bourjois Je T'Aime Powder Blush in #34 Golden Rose

Bourjois Cream Blush in #3 Rose Tender

Rimmel Lasting Finish Soft Colour Blush in #050 Live Pink

EOS lip balm

innisfree in #49 shimmery pink (From Seoul)

Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede in #025 Socialite

L'Oreal Glam Shine Stain Splash in #101 Lolita

What about you?  What's your pinkie promise?

How to...... display your accessories?

Do you sometimes find trawling through your jewellery box picking out a necklace to go with your outfit a messy act?  Especially when you are in a hurry, you've got your makeup on, you've thrown something on your body but there's just something missing!  

Here's a couple of ideas of how I display my accessories to save times on picking accessories to go with your outfits at record time!

#1 idea - A mug stand......

Displaying necklaces on a mug stand

I used to use this to stack up all my mugs in the kitchen but since moving house a few times, gradually this has become an extra piece of unwanted equipment.  Instead of leaving it covered with dust, I have been using this to hang up some of my statement necklaces which I reach to them regularly.  You can get this mug stand very easily in kitchenware shops.


 #2 Idea - Hanging Basket Jewellery Holder

I bought this Hanging Basket Jewellery Holder priced at £12 from Claire's Accessories.  They come in more than 5 different colours and styles.  I have been using this for the past 6 months or so and have really enjoyed both the design and the function it offers.  I also think that this is a great idea for displaying your accessories in style and it makes me a very happy person.  I hang it by the entrance to my bedroom door so every time before I head out, I can perfect my outfit by choosing the most suitable pair of earrings or necklace.  I also think it is a great piece of storage if you don't have a lot of 'surface space'.  Hanging something up makes things easier, saves a lot of space and it looks pretty, too!

 I managed to hang up 21 pairs of earrings which is pretty amazing.  This hanging basket holder also allows me to choose my favourite, go-to pieces on display, too.  In between the top and bottom half, there is like an open drawer/ plate type of thing (excuse my description!), which is fantastic because I can just throw any loose pieces (as you can see I put them inside these little velvet bag as there are precious earrings inside) there.

 The second half of the holder has many hooks to it and I picked out my favourite statement necklaces and bracelets and hang them there.  As you can see I can hang over 10 pieces there, and a cute little pink knitted dress which owned by my little cuddly toy, so she gets to use it, too!

This hanging holder comes with two black ribbons already tied up, when I first bought it I wasn't sure about the strength of the ribbons.  However, I have since added one piece after another piece of accessories on it and so far it's been holding well.  If anything (hopefully it won't), I could just replace the ribbons with other stronger materials.

Do you display your favourite pieces of accessories?  Do share your ideas!