For Audrey + Lush and Luxe

Woke up early enough to paint my nails. :)

Nothing much to say, I love this combination. And that irregularly shaped glitter/confetti, whatever you call it, is just gorgeous. It looks like foil or gold leaf except it's not gold. :P

Oh, one not so good thing about Lush and Luxe is that you really need to make sure you get the glitter on the brush because it doesn't adhere very well. if you don't check, you might just end up adding a layer of clear polish on your nails.

But that little bit won't stop me. It's too much fun to look at. :D

Review: China Glaze White Crackle in Lightning Bolt and Sweet Hook

I'm not quite sure how I feel about this combo. 

As an individual polish, I love China Glaze's Sweet Hook from the Electro Pop Collection. I like the color and the consistency. A perfect alternative or match with this Spring's mint greens (Although we don't have Spring in Singapore. #WishfulThinking).

Now, the Crackle polish, I hate. I'm not a pro at applying nail polish and I proudly admit to being slow and to doing a sloppy job. If you're anything like me in this regard, this nail polish is going to be a pain for you to apply. 

Once you take the brush out and start swiping it, you need to be fast. If you take time, the polish thickens on the brush and on the sides of the bottle. Turning into what looks like a chalky paste. As thick or even thicker than all purpose glue. And once it reaches that stage and you accidentally apply it on your nails, you'll have that thick gunk on top which no longer cracks and just sits there.

Lastly, I find that this white from China Glaze is not opaque at all. You need to apply quite a thick coat at one go for it to work. If you apply too little, it's translucent and the finish isn't nice. I haven't tried double coating though but I'm not sure that would work with a cackle polish.

Lucky for me, I'm not a big fan of the crackle nail look so I don't have to go out searching for the perfect crackle/shatter nail polish.

Review: OPI My Pointe Exactly

Pardon the awkward three-finger photo. This nail polish is just horrible. I give up.

I applied a layer of base coat and 4 coats of nail polish on each finger. On the last finger, I put a single coat of white nail polish to give it a bit of opacity but that still failed.

At 4 coats, it takes almost forever to dry. I was really looking forward to this collection from OPI. I thought I'd get the jelly, semi-translucent finish without struggle and even get away with converting it into an opaque one with a layer of white polish. But no. :(

It looks really pretty on the bottle and the vendor I got it from does not allow you to test the products, so there.

Anyway, I buy my polishes from D.Y.O.N in case anybody's interested. They sell China Glaze at S$8.00 each and OPI at S$10.00. Probably the best deal you can get in Singapore. Only downside is you can't test the products out.

You can find them on Facebook for the latest additions to their stocks and at the Scape flea market from Fridays to Sundays.

Avene Cleanance Lotion-Toner Review

Let's hope I do this review poperly, shall we?

What it is according to the product description on the website:

• Astringent toner purifies skin and tightens pores without stinging or irritating sensation. [sic]
• Mattifying powders help absorb excess sebum and leave skin shine-free. [sic]

Use it if you suffer from the following:

• Oily, blemish prone skin
• Visible shine
• Enlarged pores

What you can expect:

• Purified skin with tightened pores.
• No stinging or irritating sensation
• Helps regulate sebum secretion
• Mattifying powders help absorb excess sebum, leaving skin shine-free
• Avene Thermal Spring Water to soothe and soften skin
• Hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic

Okay. Now, the truth.

I use the toner twice a day, morning and evening after I wash my face. You need to give the bottle a good shake to mix the powder into the toner. You'll see that the solution is divided, before you use it. The dominant top part is clear, and the lower part is cloudy white. 

I put a pretty good amount on a facial cotton and dab and swipe across my face very gently. I don't put it on my neck because, I don't need it there. Then I let my skin absorb it first and apply serum and moisturizer. Or if it's during the day, sunblock and moisturizer. Now for the findings.

Pros:

• Very light, clean scent.
• Does not sting at all. No redness, irritations, or any warm sensation which most acne toners have.
• Doesn't leave my skin dry.
• Does a good job at mattifying the skin. In Singapore's humid weather, it lasts a good 6-8 hours.
• Mild and neutral that you can use it in conjunction with other acne medications or serums, etc without over-drying your skin.

Cons:

• I'm on my 3rd or 4th bottle and my pores do not seem that much tightened. But I do notice some minor/minimal skin improvements.
• About the purifying part. I'm not sure what it means but I still get black and whiteheads and occasional acne.
• Feels a bit tacky after application. But that disappears after awhile.
• It's too mild that it needs help from other products to do its job. Like a serum or a specialized acne moisturizer. This could actually be a good thing, though. :)

Final verdict:

• If you have acne-prone skin which is sensitive and is easily irritated by strong toners for acne, use this product. Just don't expect it to work as fast and as rigorous as some other stronger acne treatments. This toner will not aggravate your present skin condition but it will take time to work. Patience is key. :)
• I've suffered from acne since high school and I've used acne products since then as well. I used to think that stinging and redness were signs that a product is working. That's a very big misconception. Sometimes you just really need to be patient and wait for the products to take effect.

Last piece of advice:

• Remember that what goes into your body has a huge effect on your skin as well. Eat fruits and vegetables and drink lots of water too. And lastly, if you have time, exercise and sweat all thouse impurities out. ;)

Good luck.