Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

This jar of mud masque detoxes my pores and deep cleanses my face.

I bought it from Smith and Caughey after my friend recommended it. It's a reasonably big jar - I've been using it for about 5 months now so good value for money too.

First you wash your face with warm water and when your skin is slightly damp, apply thin layer with using mask brush, or just your fingers. I find it easier to use a brush - that way you don't waste much and you can apply it thin & evenly on your face.

When I first used this, it had this burning sensation but after 2 - 3 times, it was OK. I didn't have any other further affects other than my skin feeling extremely clean.

I would recommend this product to people with blemish prone or oily skin - but also for all other skin types.
Use only once a week if you have dry skin.

Leave it on for about 10 minutes. **Remember - don't laugh or frown!! Otherwise it's going to leave lines on your face!!
I usually lie down and listen to my ipod. This helps me relax.
When it's dry to touch, rinse with warm water. And again, I would splash cold water few times just to tighten the pores.

Score: 3 out of 5 - because of burning sensation! otherwise a great deep cleanser

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cleanser

That's my face in the morning.. *HORROR*!!!
If you look closely (not recommended) you would notice I still have acne scars around my mouth - not mustache! :(

I use bubble maker - you can get these from Missha or other Korean cosmetic stores - or buy Loreal Perfect Clean Foaming Face Wash, or Wave by Neutrogena. Thicker & more the bubble, the cleanser penetrates tiny pores in your skin, leaving you face fresh and deep cleansed.

Kiehl's Ultra Faciel Cleanser is perfect to use in the morning - it's gentle, fragrance free, and gives your face hydration and it moisturises, so it doesn't leave your skin dry.


Wash your face with warm water - this helps to loosen your pores.

Put the cleanser on the bubble maker (little sponge that looks like a bun) and create thick foam. Apply foam on your face (looks ridiculous right?) and use your middle & ring finger to gently massage your face.

Rinse with warm water, and then splash cold water few times to close the pores.

CLARINS HydraQuench Cream

 I have found a true gem!!
I work in an office where there is either air-con or heater running all day and it dries the hell out of my face.
But.. this brilliant cream here leaves my skin hydrated for at least 8 hours.
I'm currently using this as my day cream before I apply make-up.

My skin usually reacts when I start using a new product, but I've had no problem with this one.

The bottle size is generous, and it's not too thick like other creams. I feel like it 'shields' my face from losing its hydration without being over shiny or oily.

There's HydraQuence Gel for summer/hot climates as well which is lighter and has the cooling effect. Can't wait till summer to try it!!

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream

This is my fifth Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream!! Once you have tried it, you can probably never use anything else. It's that awesome!!

No overwhelming fragrance, and there's no nasty surprise that you get sometimes when you open the lid and you find that the packaging is twice as big as the actual product inside. It is very generous.

It's a perfect cream for autumn/winter - it protects your skin from dryness and shields your skin from the cold without being overly oily or shiny.

It really gives you the moisture and hydration you need throughout the day. It may be a little rich to use in spring/summer so use Kiehl's Ultra Facial Moistriser which is lighter, yet still provides plenty of hydration that your skin needs on warm days.

Magazines have raved about it, and lot of my friends are using them too.

Description from the website:

Inspired by our original, beloved Ultra Facial Moisturizer, this 24-hour, light-textured daily hydrator leaves skin comfortable and visibly well-balanced, particularly in harsh weather conditions. Our formula is made with Antarcticine–a Glycoprotein extracted from microorganisms sourced from sea glaciers and notable for an ability to protect skin from cold temperatures–as well as Imperata Cylindrica, a plant indigenous to the Australian desert which possesses superb water retention properties in dry conditions. Our unique combination of ingredients helps reduce moisture loss while drawing and absorbing moisture from the air. With continuous water replenishment throughout the day, skin is smooth, healthy-looking, and "moisture-even."

• 24 Hour, light-textured hydrator
• Reduces moisture loss
• Continuous water replenishment throughout day
• Inspired by our original, Ultra Facial Moisturizer
• Not tested on animals

You can buy Kiehl's products from Smith & Caughey in Auckland, or order them online from is website. You can get them from amazon.com at duty free price. ★★★★★ stars given. Thumbs up definitely!!



P.S. I love their shopping bag too. I can say they are genuinly GREEN products.

Gloomy day

Death toll has risen to 155. Unbelievable.. how devastating..

A Korean father came to NZ to search for his children. His both daughter and son came to NZ to study English at Kings Education. They are still missing. I don't know what's worse, not knowing if they are OK or finding out that they are both dead. He can only anxiously wait.

===@ a white rose for the quake victims.

My blog is pretty much deserted. Even by me sometimes.

I have no followers...   :(

Anyone there...??

22 Feb 2011 Earthquake

12.51pm on 22 Feb 2011.
I was sitting in the office, front of  my computer.
Then it started shaking with a thundering noise. Everyone ducked under their desks.
It felt like at least 5 minutes.

I could hear people crying, trying to call their family, and a lot of "oh my god"s.

This is the moment that Christchurch residents would never forget.

154 lives so far have been claimed by this tragic event. There could be more.

What would normally take 10-15 minutes to get home took me 1 hour and 15 minutes to get home.
My mum was stressed out and shaken. Everything from the cupboards and bookshelves have fallen, the piano (that huge thing) moved from the wall about 50cm and its leg is broken.

Mum's favourite china and glasses are broken also. But this is nothing compared to what others went through. We had no power until 9.30pm that night. We immediately turned on the TV and saw the horrific images and they brought us tears.

I am glad that I'm still alive, we have water and power at home, mum's safe, brother's safe in Dunedin. My kitty is OK, just little bit stressed.

The whole CBD has been cordoned off and no one is sure when the city will be back to normal. It will never be the same. The horrible images and this event will be engraved in our hearts and minds forever.

It's now been one week since the earthquake. At 12.51pm, the whole nation will stop to observe two minute silence as a sign of unity and to respect the quake victims.

Boxing Day sale replay 12 Feb 2011

Eftpos, check.
Credit card, check.
Cash, check.

This post is a little late, but here goes.

On 26th Dec 2010, there was yet another aftershock that shook the whole town of Christchurch. This meant the
retailers in central town had to shut down and lose their biggest profit.
And yes (thank you God), that's why there was the Boxing Day sale replay yesterday.
I was so thrilled as there were so many things that I needed, and wanted!!
I just ran out of my night cream so for about a week I've been using samples, and starting to run out of my day
time moistrizer.

The store was to be opened at 9.30am, I got to city around 9am. I actually got my brother to drop me off as
I knew there weren't going to be any carparks available. If there was, I probably wouldn't be able to get in.
(Yes, I'm 26 and still on restricted l/c, and terrible at parallel parking! haha)
I thought I'd get a head start by going at 9am, but NO. There was a long queue of people eager to get in and grab
the sale items. Women's faces were glowing, excited and just so happy. Men on the other hand were reluctant,
tired, and not interested at all. Their facial language was just saying "let's make this quick, I'd rather be home
sleeping".

The shutter wheeled up and people ran in. We all got handed a big see through bag for us to put our goodies in.
I saw one Chinese lady just dumping whatever she saw in the bag. The bag became full within seconds. Her husband was
following her pushing the pram, and looking shocked.

First stop: MAC
MAC has to be my favorite brand, at least for cosmetics anyway. I picked up a Luna Cream Color Base (excellent for highlights) and Soft and Gentle Mineralize Skinfinish (brilliant for giving the face sheer glow around the cheek bones)

Second stop: Clarins
I've actually done some research online and magazines for best day time moistrizers
that helps hydrate your skin. And the answer was Clarins Hydra Quench Cream. Unfortunately this item was not on sale :(  But that didn't stop me from buying it.

Third stop: Mecca
I was surprised to see Mecca down here in Christchurch. I've been there once up in Auckland, and I fell in love with with store.They have a wide range of brands from Origins, Philosophy, to NARS and various hair products.
The sales rep got me sold on this Night Health Bedtime Face Cream. It cost me $128. I will post the review of this product after couple of weeks. Hope it's worth it!!  

The Elizabeth Arden & Estee Lauder were for my mum. Awwww.. 

Overall, I was a little disappointed with the sale at Ballantynes, as most of the items that were worth buying were
not on sale, the ones on sale were mostly cheap or affordable without the sale anyway. They did have a wide range of perfume on sale though, and I saw lotta ladies going crazy over the perfume booth, stocking them up in their see-through bag.

And guess what! They are stocking Wonder Woman limited items at MAC in March.
I will definitely be back to the store for those. Or even before that.