[SPONSORED POST]: RIBENA® SPARKLING CANS

Hello! I'm back from my exams and hopefully I manage to pass my finance & tax without having to retake my mod while proceeding to my last semester of my university life. 

I know that it has been a while since I've updated my blog. I have so much I want to write up so keep your eye crossed for those! 

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Before I begin, I was super stocked when Media Flair and Suntory Beverage & Food Limited(SBF) contacted me to review my all time favourite drink- Ribena. I've been an avid fan of Ribena since I was a young girl. Also, if you remember I'd a review of Ribena's NEW Pineapple & Passionfruit Drink‏ back in September 2015 too.

Now, Ribena has recently introduced a sparkling vibrant of Singapore's all time favourite blackcurrant drink- Ribena® Sparkling Cans.

Quench your thirst with this fizzy goodness as it is free from artificial flavour and colour. This refreshing drink is naturally sweetened and flavoured by the freshest and finest New-Zealand-grown blackcurrants. One of nature's true superfoods, New Zealand blackcurrants boasts of high antioxidant levels, and various vitamins. With one of the lowest sugar levels as compared to other carbonated drinks. coupled with 24mg of Vitamin C content, Ribena® Sparkling Cans is a healthier choice, and the perfect beverage to be shared with your family and friends, and the sparkle of your life. 

 To be honest, I do not drink & do not like carbonated drinks. I am so accustomed to the sweet smooth liquid that Ribena carries but surprisingly after a few gulps, it does felt refreshing and certainly a best way to beat the heat too. Besides that, I like it that it is not too sweet and making it a guilt-free treat, it taste great and I can see it will appeal to most consumers. 

Ribena® Sparkling Cans is available at all leading supermarkets, convenience stores, and out-of-home premises island-wide. For more information on Ribena®, please visit https://www.facebook.com/ribenasingapore/?fref=t.

Thanks for reading

xoxo.

[Sponsored Post]: Ribena's NEW Pineapple & Passionfruit Drink‏

Hi everyone! The makers of Ribena are giving fans a chance to re-live the warmth of the past months with a brand NEW flavour! It unveils it's FIRST non-blackcurrant ready-to-drink variant for Singaporeans, like you & I who just can't get enough of Ribena's fruity goodness, called the PINEAPPLE PASSIONFRUIT DRINK! This FIRST non-blackcurrant beverage by Ribena allows one to experience the new citrusy, tropical sensation that tingles the 

tastebuds with every sip.

Comes in a re-sealable bottle for easy consumption on the go. 

This fruit drink contains one's daily vitamin C requirement that is suitable for all age group- young & old alike.

Honestly speaking, I feel that it is indeed a very bold move that Ribena has actually left it's original flavour- the blackcurrant out from their recipe. And do you know that this new beverage's zesty tang comes from real fruits juice and that makes this fun, fruity beverage a little sweet, sour and deliciously different? Well, will this change appeals to the Ribena's fans? I certainly do, this drink has a refreshing topical flavour with the right amount of

sweetness(not too sweet which is good) and it's the perfect thirst-quencher for this tropic we live in.

Cocktail shaker, what's that for? Read on to find out!

The richness of the pineapple and a hint of tangy passionfruit is a winning combination of any palate- the perfect 'mocktail' for anytime of the day. This fantastic new flavour not only tastes amazing but it also offers a more affordable option to the ready-to-drink version, and you can make it yourself at home. 

This Pineapple & Passionfruit can be easily used in many recipes. You can customise and concoct different types of beverages of your choice from it (if not you could just drink it out of the bottle because it tastes good just by itself too). The great thing is that all your concoctions will be packed with goodness of Vitamin C! 

Here i had customised my choice of beverages. 

Yakult is available in flavours such as the original, the apple, the grape & the orange. All flavours have this distinct taste and fruity kicks that you can easily identify. For me, nothing beats the original however if they have other more flavours so how not? Hence, I decided to come up with this by mixing the original Yakult with the Ribena's Pineapple & Passionfruit Drink. 

And the end result was......... it tastes so good! :)

Anyhow, there's no hard or fast rule for what you should mix, so go ahead and unleash your creativity in you! 

Below is a recipe for you to try at home: Pineapple & Passionfruit Margaritas Mocktail Recipe// Serves at 4

INGREDIENTS

1 bottle of Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit 

10lime, small

1 cup orange juice

2 cups ginger ale

Sufficient ice cubes

Sufficient salt and lime juice- rims of the glasses

1 Pineapple wedge for 4 cups- garnish

Step1: Rub rims of four glasses with lime; dip rims in salt and set aside

Step2: Combine the following in a pitcher- Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit, orange juice, ginger gale, lime juice and ice.

Step3: Pour the concoction into the glasses with its rims dipped in salt (Step1)

Step4: Stir and it's ready to serve

Ribena Pineapple & Passionfruit is available at ALL Cold Storage, FairPrice, Sheng Siong and ALL leading supermarkets and convenience stores island wide, from 1st July 2015. For more information on Ribena, please visit www.facebook.com/RibenaSingapore!

Have fun & Thanks for reading 

xoxo.

[Beauty Review]: INNISFREE COSMETICS

" Innisfree is a natural brand that shares the benefits of nature from the pristine island of Jeju allowing for vibrant beauty and pursues an eco-friendly green life to preserve the balance of nature."

In today's post, I will be sharing some of the best cosmetic products which i had hand-picked from Innisfree. 

#1 Innisfree Water Glow Cushion(No 21- Natural Beige) SPF 50+

Cushion products are insanely popular these days. Innisfree Water Glow Cushion is no exception. I would say that this cushion is best made for people with dry skin. Here I'm using No21-  True Beige. The full package of the Innisfree Water Glow Cushion comes with a mirrored compact case, instruction pamphlet as well as a removable refill. A simple pat with the enclosed sponge into the cushion picks up a small amount of product that you can blend over your face in a patting motion. When applied, there's a slight cooling effect to the skin. The foundation reveals to be creamy version however it turns into matte finish soon after. Coverage wise, It's definitely build-able but i wouldn't recommend you to apply more than a layer even though the cushion is light-weight because it can get a bit cakey so just a single layer provides you enough coverage that gets you satisfied. PS: Make sure to spritz on some facial mist before applying! Longevity wise, It's pretty lasting. The foundation has a nice scent too. 

(In case you are wondering the differences between Water Glow Cushion & Long Wear Cushion... Long Wear Cushion creates smooth, fresh and bright skin that lasts long, without being smudged by sweat and sebum whereas Water Glow Cushion creates a radiant and moisturised look) 

#2 Innisfree No-Sebum Blur Primer

This primer helps to blur out pores, allowing you to have a smooth canvas to apply makeup on. The texture is soft and it's easy to apply. It is very light-weight. It has a faint, fresh minty scent. Since it is silicone based, it also leaves your skin feeling really silky smooth. 
(This primer can be used as a base too!) 
How to apply: Take an adequate amount and spread a thin layer on areas with pores, and tap lightly. PS: It may cause flakes or clumps when used excessively, so use ONLY a small amount and spread in a thin layer by tapping.

Lastly, this primer is suitable for all skin types since it isn’t drying, nor does it accentuate dryness.

#3 Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact

Innisfree No-Sebum Mineral Pact// a dual sebum control system: sebum absorption and sebum control. The first time I tried this I noticed a marked difference in texture to the other compact powders I've tried in the past. It's very lightweight and the white powder becomes translucent upon application, so no need to worry about a that dreaded white cast. Those of you who are sensitive to fragrance will be elated to know that this has no scent. This compact is by far the best one I've tried, I use this to apply my T-zone. It has silky soft finish and It absorbs oil instantly.

#4 Mineral Stick Concealer

Here I'm using No 2-Natural Beige. It's creamy and light-weight, easy to apply- just dab & blend with your finger tips. Good coverage that leaves a matte finish that is long lasting and brightening. 

#5 Innisfree Creamy Lip Mousse

It has a total of 7 colours. Here, I'm wearing No3- Sweet Fresh Coral. It has a very sweet, fruit like scent, very much like skittles! This is by far the best one among the other lip tint I've tried. It moisture your lips. It last up to 4-5 hours. It is crazy vivid, the pigmentation is so good! It has a matte finish and It dries into a velvety kinda feel. You could also easily create  to apply the gradient lips! (This product can be used as a blush too!) 

So, that's all for the best Innisfree cosmetics that I knew & are highly recommended.

xoxo.

[Review X Swatches]: PONY X MEMEBOX SHINE EASY GLAM 2 PALETTE

Today, I will be sharing the Pony X MeMebox Shine Easy Glam Season 2 Palette  which is the second eyeshadow palette collaboration between Pony and the ever-growing MeMebox own-brand makeup line.

 

For those of you, who are unfamiliar with Pony(Park Hye Min), she's a celebrity makeup designer Youtuber from South Korea! Since 2008, she started posting simple and easy make-up tips on her blog and had received great feedback from her followers. She soon began to publish her book and it became the best seller in Korea! Till date, she has published five make-up books.

Last but not least, The series are called 'Pony beauty diary'. Be sure to check them out! :) 

The palette is made up of 8 shadows. This shadow is filled with shimmery and glittery goodness. 

Here's the swatch:

(All the swatches were done with no primer)

As you see from the swatch above, Shine Peach doesn't show up that much but it leaves a lustrous finish. Glam Violet is more modest than shimmer. It's an orchid-pink shade with gold shimmer. Not as pigmented as it was but nonetheless, beautiful shade for an accent. Shine Rose is a baby pink with glitter. Shine Beige is one of my favorite shade. It's a wearable soft beige color with the perfect amount of shimmer for an everyday look. Shine Dew is similar with Shine Beige but it has a warmer undertone. Glam Bronze is a shimmery bronze. Glam Mocha is a shimmery warm brown with a pearl finish. Glam Choco is a shimmery chocolate brown.

NOTE: I must warn that some shades are pretty crumbly and have a lot of fall out. They are all very sparkly. The pigmentation on some is a hit or miss. To use: Primer the lids with eye primer first before applying the eyeshadows. 

What I Think......
If you love your neutrals, This is definitely the palette for you. I love the colors in this palette, they are very versatile. Out of all the colors, i like Shine Beige, Shine Dew, Glam Violet & Glam Choco. The colors can be mixed together easily too! I can create a day to day look to night time look with this palette. This palette is best for all occasions. It's a very travel friendly palette and the packaging is simple, sleek & chic. As a neutral palette fan, I am glad i got this palette! :)

Where to buy?

I bought mine from Qoo10. 

{Click the link above^ and it will direct you to the page}

Thanks for reading :)

[Sponsored Post]: KAO ESSENTIAL HAIRCARE RANGE

Are you struggling with oily, dry, dull, frizzy, tangled & damaged hair? 

In this post, I will be sharing this one brand that worked for me.

'Essential' is a popular haircare brand from Japan. Understanding the needs of girls and their hair woes, Essential has a wide range of products to help repair & care for hair. Essential offers products ranging from basic care- Shampoo & Conditioner to more intensive treatments like hair care masks & serum. 

ESSENTIAL'S HAIRCARE REVAMP

The newly revamped Essential range are now formulated with their Microfine All Smooth Essence, which coats each strand evenly with a protective veil to lock in moisture and repair dry, damaged hair ends without causing it to be too heavy; and the new variants contain Sebum Cleansing Technology, which ensures that you do not have to compromise or use two different hair care ranges just because the needs of your roots and hair ends are different.

With the newly, improved formula and technology, Essential is now available in 4 variants to suit all hair needs and types: 

Nourishing Breaking Defense (Orange) - For WEAK & DAMAGED hair

Moisturizing Frizz Free (Pink) - For DULL & ROUGH hair

Light Finish Volumizing (Light Yellow) - For LIMP & FLAT hair

Deep Cleansing Care(Blue) - For OILY SCALP & DRY ENDS [NEW!!]

Out of these 4 variants, the new Light Finish Volumizing (Light Yellow) and Deep Cleansing Care (Blue) variants are specially catered to people with combination hair. 

WHAT IS COMBINATION HAIR?

Just like facial skin having oily and dry zones is known as ‘Combination Skin’, hair that exhibits mixed behavior like oily roots and dry ends is known as ‘Combination Hair’. For people with combination hair, they might use two shampoos to target the two problems – light, clarifying shampoos target oily roots but cause hair ends to be dry. Rich moisturizing shampoos target the dry ends but may be too rich for the scalp, resulting in build-up that makes the scalp oily. Moreover depending on the thoroughness of scalp massage during shampooing, the scalp build-up may not be thoroughly washed of, further causing the scalp to feel oily in a shorter time.

Essential Light Finish Volumizing (Yellow) and Deep Cleansing Care (Blue) variants brings the best of both worlds to you! With the optimum combination of Smart Cuticle Care & Sebum Cleansing Technology, you can now achieve moisturized hair ends while maintaining a refreshed breathable scalp!

I've been using Deep Cleansing Care (Shampoo + Conditioner) for the past weeks and i've seen remarkable changes in my hair condition. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Essential’s hair care worked for me – from how clean the shampoo left my scalp, and ridding my hair of oil and grease fast without further tangling or damaging my hair.

Because my hair gets greasy at the end of the day, but after using Deep Cleansing Care, it really helps to counter my combination hair. When shampooing my hair with the New Essential Deep Cleansing Care shampoo, I didn't encounter any tangles in my hair at all (from roots to tips). Best part is at the end of my shower, my hair feels soft, and I can easily comb through it without breaking any strands of my hair! 

My favorite part other than the detangled and smooth hair Essential gives me? THE SCENT! I know that every shampoo of Essential’s goes through special scent formulation, but this one made me very happy every time I catch a whiff of it, especially when I’m outside :)

CHOOSING THE RIGHT ESSENTIAL VARIANT

Incase you are still unsure about which is suitable for you..Essential has come up with a matrix table to help you make your decision for a complete care range.

MASSAGE SHAMPOO BRUSH

DID YOU KNOW?

Essential is also giving out a massage shampoo brush with purchase of shampoo and conditioner. A massage shampoo brush is a common haircare tool in Japan and is used by the majority of Japanese women to help improve blood circulation & promote relaxation and remove dirt & sebum more effectively from the scalp. 

Note: The Massage Shampoo Brush is to be used ONLY when shampooing & IS NOT for combing purposes!!!

DIRECTION OF USE

BRUSH STORAGE

Try it!

You can redeem your FREE SAMPLES of Deep Cleansing Care Shampoo & Conditioner at www.facebook.com/essential.sg.

Get your free Essential Massage Shampoo Brush with these banded packs! Essential Shampoo 750ml + Conditioner 750ml with free Massage Shampoo Brush in hot pink or mint green available from mid-May 2015 at all leading supermarkets ($19.60). While stock last!!!

Also, remember to follow Essential on Instagram at @essentialsingapore for updates & promotion of their products!

Thanks for reading :D

[Beauty Review]: Laneige BB Cushion Pore Control SPF50+

Laneige is my favorite high end beauty products, with my love affair starting after falling in love with their Laniege Water Sleeping Pack, since then i've bought a whole host of Laneige products, each and everyone being amazing quality and just generally fantastic products. I have really grown to love them & you may have read my reviews for a few of them. Today, we are delving into their BB cushion [Pore Control].

Laneige currently has a few different types of BB Cushion in the market. This exact one you are seeing here is the latest updated version of the BB Cushion [Pore Control] (Other variants include the original BB cushion, anti-aging etc).

The full package of the Laneige BB Cushion comes with a mirrored compact case, instruction pamphlet as well as two refill cushions( one of which is already in the compact). The offical Laneige lists 5 shades which coverages from light to medium to dark skin tones although most stores tend to carry the 3 lightest tone. 

A closer look at the cushion itself, shows a soft sponge which holds the foundation. 

A simple pat with the enclosed sponge into the cushion picks up a small amount of product that you can blend over your face in a patting motion. The foundation has the classic (heavy) Laneige fragrance that will linger around for a few hours after application. I do not mind the smell but I'd prefer they make it a little milder though.

Here, I'm wearing No 21. True beige- the calm natural beige for chic and natural skin.
 Remember! Make sure you get the correct tone. You wouldn't wanna look ghastly pale or darker right? *Seek assistance if you need help in getting the suitable shade.

Doing a little finger swatching with the foundation reveals a creamy consistency. The swatch photo above is a really good representation of how creamy the foundation is.

THE FINAL VERDICT

This is my first time laying my hands on a BB cushion and I'm very impressed by the results. The Laneige BB cushion did an excellent job in the coverage, the consistency, the longevity etc. It keeps my skin hydrated throughout the day. No other breakouts, negative reactions or skin issues to report which is great! I like it how it provides a natural satin glow yet keeps my skin hydrated and moisturized and feeling lightweight is exactly what i need. Consistency wise, it has a cooling sensation after application. Coverage wise, it's definitely build-able but i wouldn't recommend you to apply more than a layer- Because once i dabbed more than necessary, it really felt heavy and uncomfortable on my skin. Just a single layer provides you enough coverage that gets you satisfied. Longevity wise,  it is long lasting than any other foundation. Best suited for dry to combination skin rather than oily skin. 

My favorite way of applying it has to be with the Laneige Water Base CC cream, adding coverage where i need it without leaving my skin look  cakey and plastered in foundation. So on days where you want to rock a 'no make-up day', you can simply dab on the cushion on the areas you need to cover up, like blemishes or uneven skin tone and your skin will look flawless with no sign of any foundation. Days where my skin is dry...This Laneige BB cushion really comes in handy. It's incredible ability to disguise my dry patches very well. Until using this bb cushion, i'd never found a product that would actually make a difference to my dry patches and would either cling onto them or just emphasize them further.

I seriously cannot recommend this Laneige BB Cushion [Pore Control] enough. It's lightweight and easy to carry it around thanks to the mirror, it has amazingly build-able coverage, it gives my skin a natural glow, it leaves a gradient radiant finish, it is also long-wearing- lasting a good 6 hours before any touch-ups are required which is impressive.  My claims might seem a bit biased for some but If you've read numerous reviews on my blog, you'll know i'm very critical over every product i reviewed.
If you are on the lookout for a new BB cushion, you certainly need to give this a try! As for me....i will most definitely be picking this up again :)

[Sponsored Post]: Biore Micellar Cleansing Water

Let's do a 'MAKEUP REMOVER EXPERIMENT' today! :)

On my face, i have my sunblock, cc cream, foundation, eyebrow, eyeshadow, eye-primer, concealer, blush, bronzer, highlighter and lipstick. 

But, before i start, who is guilty of not removing your make-up before bed? I most certainly am not. Makeup remover, i will never skip. No matter how tired i am at the end of the day, i will always make it a point to remove all traces of makeup on my face before i hit the sack. 

What really happens when you sleep with your makeup on? 

'The more you sleep while wearing your makeup, the greater damage there is to your skin' Our skin, like the rest of our body, functions on the circadian rhythm. At night, the skin most important function is to renew itself. Wearing makeup and foundation to sleep prevents the renewal process, causing damage to the skin. It is true that the more often you sleep with your makeup on, the more damage the skin will sustain over time. But do you know even the rare occasion can have negative effects on your complexion too? Do you think it's worth skipping? 

As a total product junkie, i spend a lot of time putting stuff on my face. So at the end of the day, a good makeup remover is just as important as the makeup i'm taking off. When choosing a makeup remover, i always look for the main characteristic: it takes off everything in one swoop, it won't clog my pores and won't leave gross, oily residue on my pillow. 

The best of the best... let me introduce you my new best friend- Biore Micellar Cleansing Water.

What is Biore Cleansing Water?

Made with Natural Mineral Water from the Japanese Alps enhanced with Watery Micellar Technology. This light-weight and refreshingly makeup remover lifts off make up and dirt effectively from pres. Skin feels clean and refreshed with no sticky after feel. 

Let's get down to the experiment!

1) Remove the stopper from the pump

2) Pump appropriate amount onto cotton pad(About 2 pumps) 

Here you go!

3) For eye makeup, placed soaked cotton pad onto closed eyes for 5 seconds before wiping it gently. 

PS: Remove contact lens before use! 

4) (Repeat until makeup is completely removed) 

Tada~ just 1 cotton pad with 2 pumps of cleansing water, and few gentle swipes on my face..everything is removed! 

Isn't that amazing?! 

Hmm, still having a little doubt? Not to worry, let's do 1 final test!

On my hand, i have a few dabs of waterproof mascara, waterproof eyeliner and eyeshadow. As we all know, mascara is 1 of the biggest challenges to remove & not to mention it's 'waterproof' mascara. Nevertheless, let's see the end result.

Almost all the makeup has come off (99%). The remains on my hand shows some traces of waterproof eyeliner and mascara.

Just 2 gentle swipes, and thereafter my hand is completely clean! :)

Verdict: I have tried several cleansing water from various brands but i think Biore Micellar Cleansing Water is hands-down the best make up remover as it eradicates the need for a separate makeup remover. Biore Micellar Cleansing Water is perfect for all skin-type, doesn't matter if your skin is normal-dry-oily. It is ultra gentle but yet supremely effective. It does not leave my skin feeling greasy or sticky. 

This all-in-one cleaner can not only be used to remove day to day make up like my sunblock, cc cream and eyeliner but also thicker make up like foundation, eye-shadow, mascara, bronzer, highlighter, blush and lip-stick. The best part to rave about is it is extremely refreshing after application. 

The enriched collagen and white tea extract is made to brighten the skin, leaving it soft and supple. The anti-bacteria formula helps to prevent pimples and break-outs, arising clear and redefined complexion in the long run. Honestly, so far so good...no break-outs, nothing. 

On a side note, I usually do a double cleanse immediately after removing my make up to ensure that all traces of my makeup are thoroughly removed. Although Biore Micellar Cleaning Water is not designed to be rinse off however, i would recommend that you follow up with your regular cleanser. 

Where to buy? Biore Micellar Cleansing Water retails at $18.90 at all drug stores. 

If you would like to test this out yourself before purchasing the full bottle, you can redeem a free sample from Biore's FB page. 

Thanks for reading :)