Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm Review and Pictures

We've come to the second part of the My Beauty and Skincare Travel Essentials series. My first post was on the La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Fluide Extreme, which is my HG sunscreen. Today's post will be on the Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm, my HG lip balm and go-to travel essential to prevent chapped lips!

My Beauty and Skincare Travel Essentials Series

Part II: Lip balm - Burt's Bees Honey Lip Balm

Watsons (Taman Maluri Jusco) Haul

And today, I proudly present my haul from F.O.S. (at Viva) and Watsons and Daiso (at the Taman Maluri Jusco)! Just like yesterday's haul, I have no idea why today's haul isn't that fantastic - I just didn't like most of the things I saw. Am hoping that tomorrow will be different. I still have to hit Times Square and Sungei Wang before I head back to Singapore, so I'm crossing my fingers on being able to get better hauls in the next few days. Full haul post and more pictures after the jump!

Watsons (Suria KLCC) Haul

Just a quick haul post to show you what I bought from Watsons at Suria KLCC today. Pardon the grainy quality and bad lighting of the photos; it was really late at night. Full haul post and more pictures after the jump!

La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Fluide Extreme Review and Pictures

As some of you may know, I'm currently overseas on a short summer holiday. Having a good WiFi connection here is a godsend, and I'll be able to continue blogging daily. Since I'm travelling, I decided to do a series of travel related posts about my beauty and skincare travel essentials which I've brought on this trip. In every post of this series, I will feature one travel essential that is currently in my bag, with some general tips on how to use it well and some things to avoid. At the end of the series, I will do a summary post with pictures of the entire line-up and links to all the individual review posts - remember to check back often for updates!

My Beauty and Skincare Travel Essentials Series

Part I: Sunscreen - La Roche-Posay Anthelios XL SPF 50+ Fluide Extreme

Before moving on to the review, just a word on sunscreen first*:

Ever thought that the higher the SPF (sun protection factor), the better the sun protection offered? Think again. It's a myth that has been capitalised on by many sunscreen brands that advertise sky-high SPFs to tempt the consumer who doesn't know any better. Find out why after the jump!

Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Make-up Removing Mousse Review and Pictures

In my review post of the Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50★★★★, I was wearing some make up, which included the BB Sunscreen, concealer, eyeliner, eyebrow pencil and lip gloss. This is my basic make up, less the eyeshadow, blusher, highlighter etc.

Today, let's see how effective the Naruko Narcissus Total Defense Make-up Removing Mousse is at removing my make up! I've also tested it two other times on a more heavily made up face and had the same results. To find out how effective this make up removing mousse is, read on after the jump!

Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★ Review and Pictures

Oh, what's this? A Naruko product with both skincare and make up functions? I knew I had to try this, and when Naruko Singapore offered me the opportunity to review the Naruko ampm All Day No Shine Sebum Balancer, Naruko Total Defense Make-up Removing Mousse and this BB Sunscreen, I jumped at the chance.

Naruko is a brand that is well-known for its plant-derived ingredients (e.g. essential oils) and focus on high-quality, low-cost, effective skincare products that are suited for daily use. However, Naruko has also ventured into make up, with products such as the Naruko Narcissus Defense BB Sunscreen SPF50 ★★★★. Against my glowing reviews of Naruko's other skincare products, how will this BB Sunscreen fare? Find out after the jump!

Disqus: New comment system

Hi everyone, you may have noticed that I've just changed the commenting system to Disqus! IntenseDebate was being glitchy yesterday and because of the downtime, two comments were on IntenseDebate and another two were on the Blogger comment system. Frustratingly enough, there is no way of importing Blogger comments over. So I decided to switch to Disqus, which has fully importable comments from both IntenseDebate and Blogger. I managed to import almost all of the comments, but I have no idea why two or three weren't imported. Another thing is that my Pages (About Me, Contact/PR etc.) do not support the Disqus commenting system. Sadly, commentluv was an Intense Debate feature, so your newest blog posts will no longer be displayed on your comment.

So far I'm loving the new interface with its Community and upvote/downvote features! You just have to log in once to Disqus and remember to include your website URL (if you have one), and after that you'll be able to comment on my posts with your Disqus ID. It's quite simple, but if you encounter any problems with the new system, do email me at cherchez[dot]beaute[at]gmail[dot]com and let me know. Thanks!

What do you think of the new Disqus system?

A Photo A Day

So after I got my beloved Xanthe (aka Fujifilm FinePix X10), I've been testing 'er out in different environments. And I decided, why not do a photo a day sort of thing? I love starting new projects (this blog is one of them), and to celebrate my newest acquisition, I've decided to post a photo a day on my Tumblr and Facebook, under the new album "A Photo A Day". Do drop by to take a look! I'll also be posting a collage of all my photos for the month at the end of every month on this blog.

Here's today's photo:

Goldfish scales manicure

As promised in my previous review post about Megan Miller Coral Bliss, here's the goldfish manicure I did, inspired by the lovely coral-red that reminded me of a goldfish' scales. Fish scale type of manicures have been around for a while, and most people use cool colours such as blue, purple and green to create that marine effect, but here's my take on a warm-toned goldfish scales manicure, which reminds me of the typical red-orange goldfish in a bowl. Read on for more pictures!

Megan Miller Coral Bliss Swatches and Review

Today, I have a nail post (finally) for everyone. A truly luscious warm-leaning coral red, Megan Miller Coral Bliss is the perfect shade for summer. Read on for swatches and a discount!

Megan Miller Coral Bliss in the shade

Naruko ampm All Day No Shine Sebum Balancer Review and Pictures

[EDITED 25/4/2013]

Just received this piece of information:

It's recommended that this product be used at the serum-step (Cleanser -> Toner -> Serum -> Moisturiser -> Sunscreen) of your skincare routine. Please use moisturiser after that! I've edited the parts of the post below with this error.

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In my previous Naruko post on My Skincare Routine Part III: Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Toner Review and Pictures, I mentioned this amazing Naruko product that is the only thing I need (apart from eye cream) after toner when I'm in a bit of a hurry. This little product packs a multi-tasking punch, with its oil control and moisturising properties that leave the skin feeling smooth, supple and oil free - all day long! I've tested the product over the span of a week; do read on to find out more.

New ways to follow me + updates

Hi everyone! You may have noticed that I've replaced the clunky "Connect with Me" section in my left sidebar with a nice, clean set of social media icons.
   

Basically, you can follow me on Facebook, Twitter, RSS or send me an email. You can also follow me on Bloglovin' and Instagram!

I'd love to hear from you, so don't be shy! If you're wondering what I'm up to now, I'm working on my next Naruko post about the Naruko ampm All Day No Shine Sebum Balancer. It's fantastic, easy to apply, and it's on my face right now. Review will be up tonight, hope you're looking forward to it!

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Acne Toner Review and Pictures

[EDITED: 16/5/2013]

My skincare routine has changed since this post was written, and instead of using the Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out range for oily/combination skin, I'm currently using the Naruko Rose & Snow Fungus range for dry/combination skin. I still use the Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Acne Toner with in the cleansing mode of my Hitachi HadaCRiE Cool though, as it has a nice watery texture that allows the HadaCRiE to cleanse my face more thoroughly.

Do note that I don't recommend the use of a physical scrub (e.g. Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Acne Clay Cleanser) anymore, as I find liquid exfoliants (e.g. Salicylic acid/BHA) to be more effective and less abrasive. I still use the Naruko Clay Cleanser as a "clay mask" to soothe inflamed pimples though.

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Today's review will be on Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Acne Toner, which is an essential part of both my day and nighttime skincare routines. Read on to find out how to use it!

Featured: The Sample Store & Cherchez Beauté is now an official The Sample Store blogger!

Hello dear readers, it's mid-week and I hope you're holding up fine. Today I have two things to share with you: a very interesting local e-store and a good piece of news.

When buying make up and skincare products, full-sized products sometimes leave a bad taste in your mouth (not literally, I hope) if they are not compatible with you or your lifestyle. I've experienced my fair share of failed purchases, which I bought because they looked promising on the shelf, but ended up chucking aside once they proved to be unsuitable for me.

Enter The Sample Store. The Sample Store was born out of the ingenious concept of providing a wide range of samples at a low cost. It stocks a wide variety of sample-sized products (e.g. beauty, skincare, food, health etc.) for both women and men, and works on a point-based system. Basically, you receive 8 points when you first sign up. Each sample costs 2 points to redeem, and you are allowed to redeem up to 4 samples after paying S$3.99 for postage costs. Once you have used up all your points, you can write reviews on products you have redeemed or other products you have used in the past. Each review earns you 2 points (which is the equivalent of 1 sample), allowing you to redeem more samples.

This is a very effective system, as users are encouraged to review the samples for other users' benefit. Before I redeem a sample, I make sure to check out what other users have to say about that particular sample, which is why user reviews are so influential. When I review products, I feel a sense of gratification that my views are being noticed as well, so it benefits both the reviewer and the user reading the review.

If you were wondering what kinds of samples you can redeem, let me share with you one of my recent sample "haul"s. More details after the jump!

Cherchez Beauté receives the One Lovely Blog Award

A big thank you to the lovely Yadu for nominating me for the One Lovely Blog Award! It's my first blog award (!!) so this is quite exciting.

Nomination Rules

1. Post the award image to your blog

2. Link the person who has awarded you

3. Post 7 random things about yourself

4. Nominate 8 other relatively new blogs

7 Random Things About Me

1. I love make up, nail polish and fashion, but on a normal day in the holidays, I spend more time in my PJs than in my full regalia (yes, it's unglamorous but true).

2. I recently got my Fujifilm FinePix X10 and it's become my new baby. She's called Xanthe (it's a Greek name/word), and I've been taking her out to shoot some photos, which I will post on here soon!

3. I haven't read the newspapers in months... Don't stone me! I just don't feel the need to when my parents/friends spout a constant stream of news updates, which I just imbibe.

4. I am jobless for the summer. While my friends are complaining about work and colleagues, I am whining about having no income and being forced to stay in most of the time. But I'm glad I have more time for my first love - blogging! That's why I've been updating so frequently.

5. I'm rather short - less than 1.6m, if you were wondering. I remember that my friend once said I had the "model look" but it was a pity I was too short to be one. I wonder about that sometimes.

6. Today I just went on an Essence spree. Bought a lip lacquer, highlighter powder, translucent loose powder and two nail duos. I love Essence! When I head to Switzerland, I will be in Essence heaven (Essence is a German brand) and I will post tons of Essence pictures and make all the girls here jealous.

7. Cherchez Beauté went live on Facebook pretty recently and you should "like" me there because I post updates very frequently! About 3 times a day at least. Oh and just follow me on twitter too at @cherchezbeaute. You won't regret it, trust me.

8 Other Blogs I've Nominated

1. Ariane from The Frenzied Polisher - special shout out to you for being so supportive of my blog!

2. I would nominate my beauty blogger friend, but her blog's not really up yet, pity!

3. Chu Fang from Food for the Soul - new local food blogger on the block!

4. I really can't think of any relatively new blogs, so if you want to nominate yourself, do leave a comment here and let me know.

Kent Natural Shine Brushes Review and Pictures

Hair - it can make or break a pretty face. Smooth, shiny hair instantly boosts your attractiveness, while frizzy, dry, damaged hair detracts from the natural beauty of your face. My recent post on Sukin Protein Shampoo and Conditioner (which are organic and fantastic for the hair) dealt with the kinds of hair care products I use to maintain the condition of my hair on a daily basis. While shampoo and conditioner is a must for keeping hair clean and healthy, daily hair brushing is just as important in distributing natural oils on your hair for a smooth and glossy mane. My daily hair brushing routine is nothing without my trusty Kent Natural Shine Brushes, made of pure boar bristle and wood. Read on to find out how to get smooth, glossy hair with Kent Natural Shine Brushes!

Penguin Books Expo Sale 8-10 June 2012 Haul Post

Here's my haul from the Penguin Books Expo sale, which is held once every 3 years. I spent a total of S$ 41 for 4 books, which works out to S$10 per book! What a fantastic deal. I managed to buy books that I have been eyeing for a while, so it was a great field day for my literary side.

Sukin Protein Shampoo and Conditioner Review and Pictures

Organic products are all the rage now, as they act as health-friendly alternatives to beauty and skincare products that contain harsh chemicals which could potentially harm our health in the long term. The Sukin line of products from Australia is one such organic skincare line that has captured my attention. Sold at Watsons, Guardian and a few other local drugstores/pharmacies, Sukin products are readily available for those who do not fancy sulphates, parabens, artificial colours and synthetic fragrances in their skin care products.

Prior to using Sukin Protein Shampoo and Conditioner, I was not paying much attention to which brand of shampoo or conditioner I was using. I hardly scrutinised the ingredients list too, until I found out that Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLS) was a potentially harmful and harsh chemical found in most soap and shampoos. SLS is used to create the foamy texture in these products, which gives the "squeaky-clean" feeling that is actually an illusion - the amount of foam produced is not a measure of cleanliness, and in fact, SLS is quite drying to the skin and hair. Given that Sukin products do not contain SLS, I was curious to find out how they fared against other products with the foam-creating SLS.

How will Sukin Protein Shampoo and Conditioner (for fine/limp hair) match up? Read after the jump to find out!

Absolute! Solid Perfume in Noblege 5 by Nicka K New York Review

I've recently gotten into perfume and fragrances, so you'll be seeing a few more of such posts over here! After giving a glowing review of Tokyo Milk's Honey & the Moon No. 10 eau de parfum, I felt it would be apt to compare it to a different form of fragrance/scent - solid perfume sticks.

Ever wondered how solid perfume sticks compare to spritz-on eau de parfum, eau de toilette or eau de cologne? I've always wondered how effective solid perfume sticks were as scents/fragrances, but have never tried them before. Recently, I was one of the lucky readers who won a prize from the Watsons Glow 3rd Anniversary giveaway, and the prize was (you guessed it) Absolute! Solid Perfume in Noblege 5, by Nicka K New York.

According to the Nicka K website,

Absolute! Solid Perfumes embody the spirit and passion of New York, a city that never sleeps. Escape the everyday with evocative scents, both refined and seductive, and each with a different city secret to discover. Parceled in beautiful, boutique-inspired packaging, our addictive perfumes are perfectly sized to slip into your purse and transform your world. 

Does Absolute! Solid Perfume live up to its claims? Find out after the jump!

Singapore Arts Festival 2012 - Review of Songbird (24 May-27 May 2012)

Hi all, remember my post on the Singapore Arts Festival 2012: Remembering Our Lost Poems? I recently went for Songbird, an interactive storytelling experience which was presented as part of the Singapore Arts Festival 2012. According to the Singapore Arts Festival website, Songbird is about

…uncovering a journey of ambition, obsession, aspiration and love through an interactive storytelling experience. SONGBIRD is presented by Tara Tan of creative collective Studio Now & Then, with the participation of the Media Development Authority. 

A glamorous but mysterious singer is about to make her debut. No one knows who she really is, or even what she looks like. A crowd is gathered, waiting at the concert venue. They chant her name. But something is amiss. Something is not quite right. 

Playing out across the dazzling cityscape, SONGBIRD is set against an original soundtrack, films and live installations, and melds multiple worlds — digital, physical, real and imagined.

Now all you need is your iPhone. Download the app at www.hellosongbird.com to start. 

GO FOR SONGBIRD …

…if you are interested in stories told in new ways.

…if you want to see the city in a new light.

…if detective intrigues are your cup of tea.

I wasn't quite sure what I was in for, but upon listening to the "debut single" by Songbird (watch the MV above), I was intrigued by the musical potential of this singer, described on the website as Singapore's equivalent of Feist, so I decided go for the show on 26 May 7.30pm. In retrospect, it was a fantastic and well-crafted experience, kinda like a real-life quest/role playing game. More details after the jump!

Caribbean Oomph Giveaway and Cherchez Beauté on Facebook

Hi everyone! Monday morning blues have probably started kicking in for those who're working right now. Fear not, I'm here to snap you out of your boredom with a short post.

First things first, Cherchez Beauté has just gone live on facebook yesterday!

Some of you have already "liked" my facebook page, and some have probably noticed the facebook plugin that is currently appearing on my website. If you haven't already "liked" it, please do it to support my efforts :) It's not easy work to maintain this website and craft detailed posts for my readers, and any amount of support, no matter how little, is always appreciated. It's very easy to give me your support - see that facebook plugin right at the top of my left sidebar? Just click the "like" button and join 30+ other readers in support of Cherchez Beauté! I'll be posting links to my most recent posts, questions, pictures and mini-updates on facebook (no long, detailed posts there) with sales/other things I spot when I'm out and about, so do "like" it to be updated on the go. A big thank you to those of you who have already liked my page and joined me on GFC. Your support is very much appreciated!

Next up, there's a Caribbean Oomph giveaway going on at CozyCot right now! It's really quite simple to enter:

Step 1: Visit http://www.caribbeanoomph.com/

Step 2: Pick your favorite accessory (necklace, ring, etc)

Step 3: Tell Cozycot on the thread why you choose that accessory and how it jazzes up your look of the day

The best entry will stand to win selected pieces from Caribbean Oomph!

Total prizes worth S$400 to be given away!

Prize Categories: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 10 consolations

Join Now!

Contest closes: 26 June 2012

So far there aren't many replies on the thread, so I'm assuming that either everyone is waiting 'til the last minute to submit their responses, or few people have noticed/are bothered to participate in this giveaway. All the better for us then! Caribbean Oomph sells a variety of marine-based jewellery and accessories made out of seashells and the like. These are very versatile pieces, and it can't hurt to join - you may end up winning one of the 10 prizes! Hope that perked you up a little :)

I'll be updating soon about my highly interesting experience at a Singapore Arts Festival 2012 show (Songbird) and a nice place for all-day breakfast/brunch; so watch this space!

EDIT: The contest deadline has been extended until 26 June; do join and take a shot at winning!

Cherchez Beauté is now a NARUKO Singapore Certified Beauty Blogger!

I have some very exciting news for everyone! NARUKO Singapore has recognised my posts on Naruko products and has awarded me with the NARUKO Singapore Certified Beauty Blogger status. I was really glad to receive this piece of news, and am really grateful to the awesome people over at NARUKO Singapore.

I'm honoured to be able to use the NARUKO Singapore Certified Beauty Blogger logo (pictured above) on the sidebar of my blog, in support of my favourite skincare brand. It's on the left sidebar, just below "Contact Me".

From now on, my reviews on Naruko products will be appearing on the NARUKO Singapore Blogger Review page, along with the reviews of other bloggers.

I even took a few screenshots, haha.

To date, I only have two reviews on Naruko products, but both have proved very popular amongst my readers:

Naruko Marjoram and Lavender Brightening Eye Cream and Whitening Night Eye Gelly Review

Naruko Tea Tree Oil Out Acne Clay Cleanser Review

If you're wondering why I'm so crazy about Naruko - it's cheap, it's effective and I'm using it in my daily skincare routine. I promise that you won't be disappointed with the line. And I will definitely be bringing you more Naruko reviews based on my experiences with the brand and its products. Thanks again, dear readers, for your support!

Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover Review

After yesterday's post about my Watsons haul, I received a comment from a reader asking about Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover. Neither she nor I had seen it before, and I found out that it is the newest Bioré facial makeup remover, replacing the well-loved Bioré Hydra-Clear Makeup Remover. I had been meaning to try the old one for the longest time, but I hadn't finished using my Bifesta Water-Based Makeup Remover yet (comparison review soon!).

This is the Bioré Aqua Jelly Makeup Remover.

Review after the jump!