I posted a while back on participating in a top-secret skincare project – which most of you might have already guessed by now (thanks to that giant poster on the store window!) – was with Origins.

Originally called Project Power Plant, I was invited by Origins Malaysia to join a group of women from all ages to try out their new super-duper anti-aging Plantscription serum. If you were anywhere near the Origins store at The Gardens, you would have seen a rather disturbing shot of me pasted on the window, flashing a big smile – and giving the serum a NINE. I was also lucky enough to be featured in an advertorial in the Malaysian Women’s Weekly, grinning away because I was that happy with this product.

We started on the project late last year - I can say that I have been using this serum for months – almost six, I think. So rest assured, this review took a looooong time coming because I just had to be really sure.

Plantscription comes in an understated air-pump bottle, with standard Origins packaging it doesn’t look shiny and high-tech at all – but what powers lie inside!

Pump some out and you get something that feels more like a lightweight gel-lotion with a subtle herbal scent that I found pleasant. It sinks in quickly, and feels really comfortable on the skin. So I really didn’t have to wait that long to apply my moisturiser.

Plantscription is chock-full of retinoids – that potent ingredient proven many, many times over to boost collagen and elastin production and keep skin looking fabulously young. Retinoids do just about all that, and more because it also smoothes skin out. The only downside of retinoids, however, is that it can sometimes cause irritation, flaking and itching.

But not from Plantsription. While Origins have stated that the retinoids in here are much gentler on the skin, claiming that you’ll see zero percent irritation, word on the street seem to almost echo this – some users I’ve spoken to with sensitive skin experienced slight flaking after a few days, but that was it – no irritation or breakouts.

The retinoids come in the form of extracts from the Anogeissus tree bark (to help skin generate the fibrillin protein which forms elastin and prevents sagging, Siegesbeckia (an Asian shrub) and rosemary – which helps stimulate collagen and elastin repair. Combined together, they have 88 percent of the visible wrinkle-reducing power of a prescription drug! Now that’s a lot to live up to.

And this humble bottle totally rose to the occasion. You see effects the very next morning – skin looks healthy and smooth, pores have all but shrunk in – but wait a few weeks, and those fine lines start to disappear. And after a few months, you’ll wake up one fine morning realising that you’ll have to stare harder at that forehead of yours to even find them!

So yes, ladies, you’re looking at an anti-aging serum that is almost as effective at reducing lines and wrinkles as a prescribed product – minus all those annoying after-effects. This is great for overall skin texture and look, but the only thing this doesn’t do is work on your sun or age spots – for that, you will need something else.

And for you Green girls out there, you’ll be happy to know that over 80 percent of the ingredients in Plantscription are naturally derived. The serum has no parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, paraffin or animal ingredients.

I am happy to say that I’ve just purchased my second bottle – and am looking forward to look 26 in a few months time!

Available at Origins for RM260 (30ml).

The advertorial in Malaysian Women’s Weekly

I still remember the first time I tried a foundation from Shiseido. It was during a press junket to Tokyo to meet Tom Pecheux, who was the brand’s Creative Director before Dick Page, and the current one for Estee Lauder. Not only did I develope a crush on him afterwards – such genius – but I also fell in love with the range of Shiseido products making their debut during the event, including the Accentuating Color Stick (Rosy Flush is beautiful with red lip gloss!) and the Dual Balancing Foundation. That liquid foundation gave me the closest thing to flawless, dewy skin – and I love it till today. 

But now, I can happily report that Shiseido’s gone one up with their latest skin make-up – the Perfect Refining Foundation.

Let’s start with the bottle. Something a little different from your usual clear bottles (to show the liquid itself), the Perfect Refining Foundation comes in a black, lacquer-like, rectangular bottle with a needle nose nozzle. So all you do is squeeze out, and I love the nozzle because it’s pretty precise – each squeeze brings out a drop – and all I needed was about two drops.

Yeah, I know … two drops doesn’t sound like much – but this stuff is amazing. The formula is a little runny, but a little covers so much.

I am happy to apply with my fingers because I think it blends seamlessly – and I find that there’s more wastage when I use a brush to apply this. You will need to practice your blending skills though, because the liquid foundation creates that matte effect almost instantly once applied. It’s really comfortable on the skin, yet it covers like nobody’s business. Any uneven bits are evened out, my imperfections perfected, pores are minimised … and ultimately I look fresh even if I really was exhausted.

The foundation’s secret weapon is called the Micro-Smoothing Complex, a Shiseido-exclusive ingredient that protects against the enzyme that causes skin roughness – so what you get is flawless skin all day, with optimal moisture. In fact, Shiseido says that with regular use, it will even help refine skin’s roughness by maintaining its moisture balance.

The finish is more matte than dewy – and seems to stay that way for hours – with the dry spell we’ve been experiencing this foundation has been a life-saver! My skin stays matte, and even a few hours under the sun there’s no need for me to reach for may compact to touch up because it just refuses to melt off!

I am in love with how my skin looks with this – I’ve been using this on a daily basis since it was delivered to my doorstep (a huge thanks to the ladies from Shiseido), and believe me when I say that it’s soooo hard now to reach for the other foundations on my dressing table!

You can see what I mean with the images below. The first is of me with only the foundation – and no other make-up whatsoever – okay, maybe some eyebrow pencil … and I swear I did not touch up the shots!

 

And since I was happy with my skin, I did very little with my make-up – the final look was some cheek colour (Nature Republic’s adorable Baby Tok Lip & Cheek in Baby Rose courtesy of Miss B!), mascara (Cover Girl’s Lash Blast Volume mascara in Black) and lipstick (17 Mirror Shine in Belle).

All done!

The Perfect Refining Foundation is available in 14 shades and is RM130 at Shiseido counters nationwide.

We’ve been blessed with quite a few noteworthy collections from M.A.C this year, and let me tell you, the fun ain’t stopping anytime soon!

This month will see the arrival of Surf Baby, and I think one can gauge from the name that the collection is all about sun, sea and … well, surf.

I’ve posted an image of the entire collection for your viewing pleasure below.

Now have a look at what we’ll be getting here in Malaysia …

Surf Baby! Bag, RM95

Surf Baby! Bag, RM110

Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in Lilt of Lily, RM68

Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in Full of Grace, RM68

Suntints SPF 20 Liquid Lip Balm in Pink Tinge, RM68

129SH Powder/Blush Brush, RM140

Bronzing Powder in Refined Golden, RM98

Bronzing Powder in Solar Riche, RM98

Skinsheen Bronzer Stick in Billionaire Bronze, RM120

Skinsheen Bronzer Stick in Gilty Bronze, RM120

Skinsheen Bronzer Stick in Tan Tint, RM120

Studio Careblend/Pressed in Gold-Go-Lightly, RM115

Studio Careblend/Pressed in Lush-Light Bronze, RM115

Available at M.A.C stores.

Photo credit: Darlingelle at http://michelleho.blogspot.com/

Love … that Guerlain calls this a diabolical red. I cannot agree more – the red is so … outrageous, so scandalous it must have been the very shade of red frowned upon by Church leaders in the Middle Ages, or the one Queen Victoria banned in the 1800s when she said that red lipstick was only suitable for ladies of the night!

What a red this is – and encased so elegantly in its golden home. It starts off as a whisper of a fiery red, which is easily transformed into an almost opaque scarlet as you layer. And there’s more to this lipstick than just amazing colour (there’s 24 other equally beautiful colours if you’d like to have a go). Its beautiful “second-skin” texture hugs the lips like a silken veil, it’s creamy and moisturizing, and it provides delicious shine – it continues to do so even hours later.

And now … please, allow me to gripe a little about the packaging. I know Guerlain always strives to stay innovative as it preserves its luxurious heritage, but this sliding tube thingy just doesn’t do it for me. This is what you do – slide the “G” button down, and the lipstick itself slides up and out. But I get paranoid every single time I slide the lipstick out to apply, thinking that one day, the bullet is going to break and completely destroy the whole thing. I also have proximity issues with this lipstick. I’m having a bit of difficulty explaining this – but because of the “square” surrounding the bullet, I don’t feel as “close” to my lipstick any more, and I find myself having to re-work my application technique slightly, adjusting the distance of the bullet to my lips. Does this make any sense to you?

On top of that, like the Parure powders, this only looks luxurious – the package is extremely lightweight, there’s no heft to it at all because it’s all plastic. A shame really, considering they went all out with Rouge G (that lipstick can kill – all you need to do is aim and throw it to your enemy’s head!)

But enough ranting … such beauty deserves praises … and I am still not short of them. Love this, love the red. Will buy more. Promise.

Wear it … lined with Guerlain’s The Lip Liner in Rouge Dahlia (21) for a pout that’s far from angelic.

Rouge Automatique is RM114, while The Lip Liner is RM81. Available at Guerlain counters nationwide.

Sometime late last year I was invited for a treat by Amway at Khareyana Spa (yes, this is a LOOOOONG overdue post!)

I said yes because I LOVE the spa, and after the Artistry LX Cream, I was more than a little curious about trying more Amway products.

The event was to introduce their Artistry Time Defiance range – and to get a bit of pampering done. We were treated to a blissful body massage, and a basic facial using the Time Defiance products.

I must be honest, Amway is a brand I would never have thought to try if it weren’t for their PR team making the effort, and I am really glad they did. Because the Time Defiance range has a few gems in its line-up.

The core technology of the Time Defiance range is the Derma Cell Exchange, which basically boosts the communication between key cells, telling it to protect skin during the day, and repair at night. An added bonus is that extra communication which helps the skin to protect itself from future damage.

The overall feel of the range, for me, is of something I can use without worrying – the products work well, with no side effects. I think maybe it’s because they don’t try to complicate things the way some skincare brands try to do. Everything is clear-cut – as in use these guys, and they’ll help protect your skin and make it look better. Not better as in 10-years better, but rather you – just better. Only maybe they could’ve done it without the rather strong floral scent, I can’t imagine those with sensitive noses enjoying their beauty regime.

These were the products I was privileged enough to try, read on for my thoughts.

Artistry Time Defiance Cleansing Treatment – RM129/125g

Because of the amount of make-up I wear during the day, I double-cleanse at night, and this foaming cleanser finishes the job nice and well. I use this at night and in the mornings – and really, really like how my skin feels fresh and clean afterwards. Just a tiny amount is enough, because gosh, this foams fabulously. Now if only they’d do something about the smell – this cleanser, with its effective cleansing properties, has a strong floral scent, kinda like old-fashioned soap. And for some reason I find it disturbing because those soaps, while cleanses like nobody’s business, sucks the moisture right out from your skin.

But rest assured, an innovative moisture delivery system incorporated in the formula restores moisture balance – so you still walk out from your bathroom with fresh, clean – and most importantly – soft skin!

I just wish it didn’t cost as much as it does …

Conditioning Toner – RM129/250ml

Another product with an overpowering floral scent. Apart from the scent, it takes forever to dry off the skin, and leaves a slightly … for lack of a better word … slimy residue on my skin. This is a toner that I can live without because I don’t see a difference with – and without it.

Day Protect Creme SPF 15 – RM163/50g

This one, I like.

I can’t quite vouch on its effectiveness in preventing and reducing wrinkles, but because it has great moisturising properties, my fine lines look less visible after a couple of weeks of use. While the brochure says that this is a moisturiser for women of all ages, I don’t see this doing much for someone in her forties or fifties. The scent isn’t as overpowering as the Cleanser and Toner, and while it looks rich and creamy, it absorbs nicely, and I don’t have to wait too long before moving on to my sunblock.

Skin Refinishing Lotion – RM183/30ml 

This one, I really like.

Yes, there is a slightly off-putting scent – this one smells like bad oats. The name is a little misleading. The texture isn’t liquid, or emulsion, but very much like a gel-serum – and it does great things to the skin!

The Skin Refinishing Lotion works like a peel, minus the acids. The secret weapon is Oat Extract (could this explain the scent?), which Artistry scientists have learned to be very effective at increasing cell turnover. It also contains sugar and algae to help further exfoliate.   

You’re meant to use this as you would a serum, after toner and before moisturiser. What I loved about this product is that this helped reduce the size of my (usually ginormous) pores, especially around my nose. The texture of my skin improved, and my foundation applies better, so much so I could skip my regular primers.

I haven’t decided if I would go back to any of the products, though I am giving the Skin Refinishing Lotion some serious thought.

The price range is pretty decent, products work well – and they’re easy enough to purchase, just get in touch with an Amway member, or you can be on yourself to be entitled to 20 percent off! You can get more info on them at www.amway2u.com