Day 1 of 31dc2014 - Red

Day 1 of the 31 day nail challenge!

So many firsts!
1. My first time attempting #31dc2014
2. My first time attempting vintage roses
3. My first time doing nail art on my left hand too!! Oh, the rose on my right index chipped :( But I'm super darn proud of the big pink rose on my right middle.

Products used:
Zoya Pixie Dust in Chyna
OPI - My Vampire Is Buff
Acrylic paints and HK girl topcoat.

All handpainted.

Mint Green, Silver and White Aztec

Polishes used -

Base coat: Cyber Colors Eco Nail Color Eco Oxygen Base Coat

Mint green =Catrice Am I Blue Or Green

Silver = Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Silver Sweep

White = Acrylic paint

Topcoat: HK girl topcoat

Thanks for looking!

Sunset Ferris Wheel and Palm Tree Nails

Polishes used -

Base coat: Cyber Colors Eco Nail Color Eco Oxygen Base Coat

Base: Sleek Nailed Polish in Meringue #29

Ombre: China Glaze Man Hunt for the blue, Suki Nail Color in #175 for the purple, Barry M Gelly in Grapefruit for the link, China Glaze in Lemon Fizz for the yellow and Sun Worshipper for the orange.

Ferris wheel and Palm trees: black acrylic paint.

Topcoat: Glisten & Glow by HK Girl

Cyber Colors Eco Nail Color Swatches and Review

Back in November, I was provided a bunch of polishes by the dearest Ai Peng of  SaSa Malaysia.

Cyber Colors recently (ok, not so recently since this is such a late post) launched their latest range of nail lacquers called the Eco Nail Colors. Why the name you might ask? Here's why!

Cyber Colors Eco Nail Colours are formulated with up to 85% biosourced natural ingredients from plants and non-toxic substances, making it the first eco nail polish to be introduced into the Asian market. Their polishes are 5- free, making it them Toulene, Formaldehyde, DBP, Camphor and Phthalates free! This makes their polishes on par with some of the big boys in the market (Info grabbed from http://www.goddesshuntress.com/).

OK, on with the swatches and reviews!

I received a total of 5 bottles -

• 1 Eco Oxygen Base Coat
• 1 Eco Glossy Gel Look
• 3 Eco Nail Colors in Pearl White (#06), Grape (#38) & Peacock Blue (#51)

Let me start by comparing the brush sizes. 

L-R: Essence Gel Look Top Coat, Cyber Colors Eco Glossy Gel Look, OPI & China Glaze

Whilst OPI is well known for their Pro Wide Brush, some people might not like it as it's too wide for their narrow nail beds. I personally love it as I have fat nail bed, hahaha. I find China Glaze brushes too thin and the Essence brush here was  ok I think, since I've only used this topcoat once. 

Cyber Color's brushes are pretty damn awesome! To get a perfect line on your cuticle, you only have to apply a little pressure so that it fans out it a round shape nicely! The swatches below are all without cleanup, that pretty much shows how awesome the brush is! It's certainly not as wide as the OPI Pro Wide brush which will make it easier for those with smaller nail beds.

Moving on to the swatches!

1 layer of Eco Oxygen Base Coat.

The Eco Oxygen Base Coat is a 5-free formula. It claims to strengthen the nails by increasing the nail keratin cross-links with Urea and Minerals, enriched with Neem Oil, which is an antioxidant and antiseptic (good for those with nail fungus!). It also nourishes the nails with Trace Elements for maximum durability, resiliency and more permeable to oxygen. Mummy, now I can tell you, my nails can breathe with nail polish over it!

The Eco Oxygen Base Coat looks like a nude milky color in the bottle but it really is very transparent. Here I have 1 coat over my bare nails. Please excuse my yellow nails! It dries really fast, when I was done with all my 10 nails, the first hand was dried to the touch! There's only a very slight smell which doesn't bother me as I've tried some really stinky polishes before. 

I have this on as my current basecoat with Grape (#38) over it for over a week, and whilst I can't say that they've strengthen my nails because I am really lucky to have strong nails (Thanks mummy for all the milk feeding, yucky fish oils and yucky veges you've fed me when I was younger!). I however do believe that a good basecoat can help prevent staining (especially when you use reds since red molecules are larger and 'sink' into your nails more easily). 

3 layers of Pearl White, over 1 layer basecoat and 1 layer of Eco Glossy Gel Look.

Photo taken in indirect sunlight. 

To be very honest, I am not a fan of pearly or frosted finishes (think grandma pinks in the 70s!). I was very hesitant to try this color and I questioned Ai Peng when she first gave me this. She mentioned that she specifically chose the colors to each individual blogger and we will definitely like the colors  *insert super skeptical face here*.

So this was the first color that I tried because I was thinking that I will not hesitate to remove the color once I'm done swatching. Surprise, surprise! I actually liked it!

The first coat went on really streaky, and whilst the second coat evened most of it out, I am totally against VNL so on went the third coat. I think I didn't give it enough time to dry so there were a wee bit of bubbles on the nails. The Eco Glossy Gel Look helped to even out the lines and remove some of the brushstrokes when it dried and gosh, don't I just love it!

Just like the name, it was nice and pearly with slight brushstrokes to emulate the pearl finish and it was such a classy white! It actually did make my hand look really fair. I showed it to my mum  and she said the same thing - classy and sophisticated. I think I can get married with this polish on my nails. Maybe some diamantes *plays Wedding March*

2 layers of Grape, over 1 layer basecoat

Photo taken in indirect sunlight with increased exposure.

Sorry about the change in brightness for Grape and Peacock Blue. The sun was setting real quick but the exposure also helped me to bring out the real colors of the polishes. 

This is a blue-toned dark purple creme.The application for this was perfect. Creamy, pigmented and glossy. 2 coats of perfection.  

 2 layers of Peacock Blue, over 1 layer basecoat

Photo taken in indirect sunlight with increased exposure.

This is a gorgeous cornflower blue creme. Same with Grape, this was 2 coats of perfection. It literally applied itself and there was no cleanup needed.

Pros: 
5-free.
All the polishes (base, colors and topcoat) all dry super fast and glossy.
Both colors are without topcoat as it was not necessary at all. (Can you see all the weird shapes on my nails? Those were the reflections from the late afternoon sun.)
Easily affordable.
Wide range of colors to suit everyone.

Cons: 
Are there any, really?


When I use the Eco Glossy Gel Look topcoat on my Pearl White swatch, I was surprised that it dried really fast, just a couple minutes slower than Seche Vite, which this really upped the bar of my expectations. Let's just hope that it doesn't goes gloopy halfway thru the bottle like how SV always does.

I use Grape as a full manicure and while tipwear was very quick without topcoat, I can say that it's common of all brands of polishes. I gave it another go with the Eco Glossy Gel Look and after a week, my nails had minimal tipwear.

Cyber Colors Eco Nail Colors are available in 52 colors, and only exclusively in SaSa Malaysia.

Cyber Colors Eco Oxygen Base Coat & Glossy Gel Look retails for RM21.90 each while Eco Nail Colors retails for RM19.90 each.

For more information, please visit SaSa Malaysia or on their social medi links below:
Website: www.sasa.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/SaSaMalaysia
Blog: www.blog.sasa.my
Twitter: www.twitter.com/SaSaMsia

Till then, toodles~

In loving memory of my late grandma

Nuxe - The Marriage of High Rigor & A Touch of Poetry

Ever since I was introduced to Nuxe Nuxellence Jeunesse, I've fallen hard for this French lady. A natural beauty, sensual and classy - she is the perfect epitome of Beauty by Nature.

Nuxe very kindly provided full size products, inclusive of the Nuxellence Jeunesse (click to read my review) from their blogger launch.

So grab some snacks and coffee as this will be a lengthy post.

The 5 products given was a full range of skincare, inclusive of eye and lip cream, pre-essence, serum, face cream and the oh-so-famous multi-purpose oil. I will describe and review each product.

But before I start, I just want to state this: All Nuxe products has their signature floral scent to it however, as they use different flowers for different products, so the scents differs from each product. However, the scents for all their facecare range do fade off after a couple of minutes after application so it doesn't quite bother me. If you are not sure whether you will like the scent, do try out their testers before you commit to a full-size.

First up: Nuxuriance® Yeux et Lèvres

Or translated to Eye & Lip Global Anti-Aging Cream

Self explanatory picture of the eye and lip cream

(L-R) One teeny pump, spreaded out and blended.

Verdict: I never noticed this when I was using it but when I was taking photos for my review, I realized that the eye cream has a slight golden shimmer, which is more evident when I spread the product. Do click on the picture and you'll see what I mean. 

Ryan - Nuxe's regional trainer's application method was to apply the cream in a U-shape. Starting from the inner corner of your eyes, moving to the outer corner and ending at your temples. He mentioned that it's not necessary for you to apply on your eyelids, but your eyelids do age and end up looking like crepe if you do not take care (especially removal of eye makeup, rubbing your eyes, straining at the computer screen etc) so I do apply it on to my eyelids too.

Texture is thick but not sticky and absorption is almost immediate. My eye area doesn't have that tacky feel and with the use of my usual primer, my eye makeup stays all day long. I think the shimmer it meant to help brighten up your eye area but it disappears upon application. Further plus point is that it doesn't gives me oil seeds around my eye area. 

Would definitely recommend it!

                                            

Next up - Sérum Merveillance®

Translated: Visible Expression Line Serum

L-R: The serum, spread out and blended into the skin.

Verdict: Thick texture not easily absorbed into my skin. I concentrate on my forehead, laugh lines by my nose and lips and my neck. Nothing to dislike about the serum as it doesn't break me out nor make my oily skin any oilier. If I applied this at night, I wake up with a slight sheen on my forehead but it doesn't matter to me because I wash up before going to work. Then again, I always wake up with oily skin (regardless of products).

Crème Nirvanesque®

First Expression Lines Cream

L-R : The Cream, spread out and blended into my skin.

Verdict: This cream has my favourite floral scent. It's not as strong as any of the products mentioned above and I personally wished that the scent of this cream lingers after application. It's a softer, more feminine and sweet scent. 

It looks a tad thick in the bottle and felt quite thick when I was smearing this on my face but it absorbs beautifully, without any tackiness! Nuxe, how is it possible that you have something that's for anti-aging but not rich and sticky??? *mindblown*

This is meant to be applied on areas of your face where you can notice the beginnings of fines lines. Obviously, with my lack of sun protection knowledge and bad health habits, my wrinkles are no longer under the fine lines category >.<

I am already thinking of getting another jar when this runs out. 

And last but not least!!! The HG product everyone has been raving about - Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse 

Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse - the Limited Edition packaging for their 20th anniversary (150ml bottle) and their miniature travel size, too cute!

This is probably the worst shot of the Limited Edition bottle you have ever seen. As you can see, half the bottle of oil is gone so it's proof that i've used it for a while. And I think it was the oil that made the sticker peel :(

L-R- The oil, spread out and blended.

Verdict:

This oil was applied after all my eye cream, serum and the first expression line cream.The image above shows the product in various stages and in the final picture (blended into my skin), it leave no shiny sheen that most people are afraid of. 

Lots of people shy away from products when they see anything with the word oil on the product name. Let me tell you, this dry oil is magic! 

Upon spritzing on to my skin, it dried almost immediately! I had to be fast when applying otherwise it would dry very quickly and I will have to spritz more on to my skin. Upon drying, the oil leaves a very delicate floral scent that lasts the whole day. Usually, scents like these will end up as a migraine that progressively gets worse as the day wears on but this scent didn't do that to me! 

It lasted throughout a long day at work (approximately 10 hours), my skin was still lightly scented and not dry even though I was in an aircond room the whole day. 

I would probably need 4 spritzes per fat leg of mine and 3 spritzes for both my arms.

Overall, I am totally in love with all of the Nuxe products that were provided for review. The only gripe I had was the sticker on the oil bottle. I think it's just me, but i feel that a different print on the bottle itself with slightly more flowers or motives would have enhanced the 'collectabl-ity'of the bottle whereby I might even consider keeping it on my dresser because it's prettier. My sticker is going to be pretty much gone when I finish using the bottle, and then I won't remember that it was a Limited Edition 20th anniversary bottle. 

Nuxe products can be found exclusively in all Sa Sa Malaysia outlets.

Nuxe - Where Nature Meets Luxury In Beauty

I was invited to the exclusive Nuxe blogger event 3 weeks ago for the launch of their latest product - Nuxellence Jeunesse. The event was held at BSC's Sa Sa outlet.

Nuxe specially flew in their Regional Education Manager from Hong Kong - Mr. Ryan Lau. Whilst he looks fierce in person, he is actually very soft spoken and funny!

For examples, after introducing and explaining the star product, he explained a few of their other best-sellers and one of them was the Nuxuriance® Eyes and Lips Global Anti-aging Cream. Another blogger asked whether we should apply on our eyelids as a lot of brands have different application methods.

His reply: "No, you only apply beneath your eyes and massage in a U-shape motion, starting from the inner corner of your eyes and ending at your temples. If you have any dark shadows on your eyelids, it's your EYESHADOW!" 

Hahaha! Ok, I find it quite funny *awkward moment*

On to the review!!

The lady.

Is she such a beauty? The lovely bronzey skin, with a slim lines and clear print - she is the epitome of luxury.

After much research, it has discovered that our cells de-charge, just like our handphones and in the heart of the cells, mitochondria supply the cells with the energy to function properly. As it is more vulnerable than cellular DNA mitochondria DNA weakens over time AKA as we age. The function of the mitochondria detoriate and the cells decharge themselves daily.

The Nuxe laboratory identified 3 flower extracts which demonstrated their activity on the repair of the mitochondria DNA. 

The combination of the active ingredients in these 3 flowers increase the repair of damaged mitochondria  DNA up to 43%!

After just 28 days, wrinkles and fine lines appear diminished, the skin is plumper while the complexion is much more even-toned!

Ryan explained that Nuxe Jeunesse is a pre-serum (like an essence) - to be applied after toner and before your serums to make sure your skin absorbs the most of your serums!

The inner diva (beauty, mind you) in me practically sang out loud when I first popped open the NUXE makeup bag I received from the event.

I received FIVE full-sized products, alongside with the star product - Nuxellence Jeunesse.

Twist-to-pop-up-nozzle.

Being a sucker for packaging, and a newbie at that too, my inner diva sang again at the sight of the twist top dispenser for this gorgeous lady. 

No more digging in with your fingers and creating a nice lovely bed for bacteria; no cap will slip through your fingers, bounce on the floor and create a nice big crack for bacteria to sneak through!

One pump gives me sufficient product to spread all over my face and another half pump will go to my neck.

It comes out as a nude color product but after spreading out, it's practically second skin.

Here, I've placed Benefit Porefessional next to it for color comparison as they both are nude color products but is clear upon application.

Sorry about the lighting in the last picture, my camera decided to make me fairer, but nonetheless, after blending it out on my skin, it's practically invisible, but of course, more moisturized and the lines are diminished :) 

After testing it for 3 weeks, here are my thoughts:

Pros:
The packaging. 'nuff said.

It smells absolutely amazing. Like walking into a florist, it smells like fresh flowers.
Lovely texture that absorbs with no stickiness.
Doesn't clog pores.
87% ingredients of natural origin.

My skins feels absolutely smoother.

My complexion is brighter.

No parabens.
Suitable for ALL skin types.

Cons: Maybe some people will be turned off by the smell. 

The only thing is, I never know which way to twist the nozzle up (which I'm pretty sure it's my inner blonde acting out).

Nuxe Jeunesse can be found exclusively at all Sa Sa Malaysia outlets.

Retail price is RM180 for 50ml.