February 2012: NicaBell's Simple Skincare Haul + Review

Think green, think nature, think SIMPLE!

Hello peeps and I am back again for a beauty haul and a review on Simple Skincare.

A little background on this brand: (Taken from the Malaysian Simple Skincare web)
- Developed by a chemist in Albion Toiletries who had children suffered from sensitive skin. He found that other brands of perfume soap caused irritation, he therefore wanted to develop a kind and gentle soap that they could use. He then developed the first perfume and color free soap that was suitable for sensitive skin and the Simple brand then came to market on 1960.
- With strong followings of the Simple brand in the UK, the Albion team saw great market opportunity to create zero perfume and color skincare line. Thus, they launched the first ever 3-step skincare regime in 1978.
- Then they added more product based on their brand concepts along the way!
- Since then, hey not only have the famous Simple 3-step regime, they also have products for hand&body, toiletries, baby care, sun care as well as men's care!
Today, Simple Skincare became UK’s No1 Facial skincare brand after the marketed Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes!

Simple Skincare coins the phrase - We Believe In Goodness; I truly believe it!
I was introduced to this product when I was working in a drugstore around 2006 (Not Watson or Guardian but a store similar to them). I was not really a fan of the product simple because the product doesn't have a smell, no attractive color, even the packaging does not attract the younger me. But I was feeling odd that many people was interested with the product! I thought that it was just a new brand and put the "Dermatologically tested" term there just to convinced people to buy it! I WAS SO WRONG!!!
There are few of my customers told me that the brand helps them to over come their skin problem like eczema, sensitivity, dryness, etc. One of my customer even said that Simple Skincare helps her a lot when she was at the beginning days studying in the UK to over come her drying skin because of the sudden change of weather. Though I get so many testimonial from my customer, I turn a blind eye because I was doing just fine with my skincare regime at the time. ( I was using Aiken Facial Cleanser)
Then, around 2010, my mother have some complex problems with her skin. She was easily irritated by many product in the market. Product from Olay, Rexona deo, Neutrogena, L'Oreal, Garnier & even my Nivea lotion irritates her skin! It all started when she began to show some menopause symptoms. She went to the doctor and her doctor said that she should expect some changes on her body. I was totally clueless! We use to share the same toner, moisturisers and cleansers. Then suddenly she was allergic to everything we used to share. And then she was introduced to Simple Skincare line from a promoters at Guardian of CityMall. Guess what? It was the best thing she have ever get from any promoters!
She was first introduced to this 3-step regime and she is loving it!

Simple Skincare 3-step Regime
From left: Cleanser, Toner, Light Moisturiser

This is a trial set or most people call it a travel size set. I bought it in Guardian for RM23.90.

- Simple "Kind To Skin" Refreshing Facial Wash Gel
- Simple "Kind To Skin" Soothing Facial Toner
- Simple "Kind To Skin" Hydrating Light Moisturiser
This is how the Refreshing Facial Wash Gel looks like:

- clear gel

- texture: liquidy-runny gel

- does have a faint smell but not a fragrance smell.

What it said on the back of the tube:

 

Refreshing Facial Wash Gel is a perfect blend of ingredients to help to keep your skin thoroughly cleansed and revived. Perfect for even sensitive skin.

simple goodness

(1)      VITAL VITAMIN

PRO-VITAMIN B5 actively restores, soften and smoothes

(0)      NO PERFUME, NO COLOUR

NO UNNECESSARY INGREDIENTS or HARSH CHEMICALS so it won't upset your skin

Dermatologically Tested and Approved

INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Propylene Glycol, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose, Sodium Chloride, Panthenol, Disodium EDTA, Sodium Hydroxymethylglycinate, Sodium Hydroxide, Pantolactone, Citric Acid.


What NicaBell say:
I like that it is gel. I wore it once today and it refreshed my face in the morning. This is a travel size tube and I believe the full size one is also in tube. I just wished that they made it in pump because I love products with pump packaging^^ My initial view - GOOD!

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Soothing Facial Toner looks like:

- clear watery texture
- like the  Refreshing Facial Wash Gel, does have a faint smell but not a fragrance smell.


What it said on the back of the bottle: 

Our Soothing Facial Toner is a perfect blend of active ingredients and vitamin goodness to keep your skin clarified and refreshed. Perfect for even sensitive skin.

INGREDIENTS: 

Aqua, Sorbitol, Sodium PCA, Allantoin, Disodium Laureth Sulfosuccinate, Methylparaben, Propylene Glycol, Panthenol,Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol,Chamomilla Recutita Extract, Pantolactone, Phenoxyethanol, Potassium Sorbate, Citric Acid, Butylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben,Isobutylparaben



What NicaBell say:
Though it instruct users to use it with cotton wool, I use it like I use my Hada Labo Arbutin Lotion. My skin quickly absorbed it. I love the nozzle as well as it helps control the amount of product I need^^ My initial view - GOOD!

Thumbs up for the nozzle^^

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This is how the Hydrating Light Moisturiser looks like: 

- white liquidy texture
- like the its other companion, does have a faint smell but not a fragrance smell.

What it said on the back of the bottle: 

Our Hydrating Light Moisturiser is a perfect blend of active ingredients and vitamin goodness to keep your skin replenished and hydrated. Perfect for even sensitive skin.

INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Cetyl Palmitate, Dimethicone, Cetyl Alcohol, Panthenol,Borago Officinalis Seed Oil, Carbomer, Potassium Hydroxide, Bisabolol,Methylparaben, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Disodium EDTA, Propylparaben, Lactic Acid, Sodium Lactate, Mica, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Serine,Sorbitol, Urea, Titanium Dioxide, Sodium Chloride, Allantoin





What NicaBell say: It feels like lotion on the touch which I like as I don't fond of creamy moisturisers. The main problem that I found is that it does not have nozzle like the toner have. I feel hard to control the amount of the product I need. I am also concern of the hygiene while using this. But it is travel size only. I hope the full size is going to be better packaging^^ My initial view - GOOD! 

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My review on the Simple "Kind To Skin" Deep Cleansing Face Mask


I have used this mask for 3 months now and I finally bought the full size one! I have been buying the trial pack and love it! Just 3 minutes, twice a week, it is the perfect mask for me!

Full Size 75ml in tube

- white creamy texture
- like the its other companion, does have a faint smell but not a fragrance smell.


What it said on the back of the bottle: 

Our Deep Cleansing Face Maskis a perfect blend of active ingredients and vitamin goodness todraw out deep down dirt and eliminate dead cells. Perfect for even sensitive skin. 

Simple goodness

(2)       VITAL VITAMINS

PRO-VITAMIN B5, actively restores, softens and smoothes

VITAMIN E moisturises to improve skin condition

NATURAL CLAY detoxifies and purifies

SEAWEED EXTRACT cleanses, soothes and softens

(0)       NO PERFUME, NO COLOUR

NO UNNECESSARY AND HARSH CHEMICALS so it won't upset your skin

Dermatologically Tested and Approved

INGREDIENTS: Aqua, Kaolin, Glycerin, Paraffinum Liquidum, Glyceryl Stearate,Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Panthenol, PEG-100 Stearate, Carbomer,Fucus Vesiculosus Extract, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Hydroxide,Methylparaben, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hamamelis Virginiana Distillate, 2-Bromo-2-Nitropropane-1,3-Diol, Sodium Benzoate

What NicaBell say: My dry flaky skin gone like magic after using this mask and it lessen the oil production. It is considered light weighted mask. You doesn't necessary need to get a full size tube. The trial size is enough for a month usage because you only need a little product and it goes a long way. Applied for 3 minutes and rinse of to get a knew clear complexion. This is a great mask for those who have a hectic schedule. My view: GREAT!!!

measuring the full size mask with MAC Fix+  & the travel size with Revlon lipstick

Thus I end my haul + review. Please follow me on Twitter, Tumblr & Facebook! I will make a month challenge for this Simple Skincare product while posting my progress on Tumblr! I hope this will do me great in this 30 days.

xoxo

NicaBell

January 2012: NicaBell Haul & Review Samsung Galaxy Y Young S5360

I don't have photo for this one yet but HEY! it's been a while ya mate! 


I was so busy with Chinese Lunar New Year and works in my office. We are going to be audited for MS ISO around next month (I think) according to our company's yearly schedule! 


Putting that aside, I don't have any beauty haul this January as I spend my beauty allowance on my gift for boyfie!! Getting it to him makes me excited! I didn't blog it earlier also because I don't want him to know what I am getting him for V-day! owh~ how nice of me <-- =.=" 


I will post the photos later so stay tune for updates^^ 


Samsung Galaxy Y Young S5360 


I was given 2 choices: Either an AP set or an Original set. I choose the Original set. I am not really understand what AP set means. But I think I heard the owner said that there are differences on the warranty & prices on each set. AP set have the in-shop warranty (I think that's what it is called). If the phone broke or any faulty was found, buyers can ONLY refer to the shop where he/she bought his/her phone. In the other hand, buyer can refer his/her phone with ANY Samsung center around Malaysia if found any faulty in the phone he/she purchased. 


Back to the topic, I chose the Original set mainly because the included items in the box. 


AP set in-the-box items (RM450): 
- the phone
- charger 
- USB cable 
- 1GB memory card 
- some instruction booklets


Original set in-the-box items (RM470):

- the phone
- charger 
- USB cable 
- 2GB memory card 
- 4 color battery cover case 
(orange, pink, black & white) 
- some instruction booklets


Just RM20 difference between the sets, of course I'm gonna buy the original! 


My few months experience using my first Android that boyfie & I got from the Digi Contest made me want to buy this new phone for boyfie. It was just the right time cause he broke his phone around the month of January! 


Design
-'candy-bar' type 
-104 x 58 x 11.5 mm
- Classic looking design 
- Glossy surface. so expect fingerprints all over ya SCREEN! 
- Black. Look sophisticated. 


Performance & Display: 
- Unable to compare other Android phone as this is my first time touching a Android phone after all. 
- 3 inch screen is just enough 
- browsing the internet with this phone much impressive: faster & smoother than my Acer Iconia Tab A501


Application: 
- my findings: not much exciting apps that I can download. some games or apps that I like in my tab cannot be download in this phone. I can't even find it anywhere in the market place with this phone
- I tried ninja fruit in this phone, it was lag like crazy! 
- twitter, tumblr, facebook apps can be downloaded. and works better and smoother with this phone than my tab. 
- blogger apps is tiny. I refrain myself from using it with this phone. 


Battery: 
- from my previous experience, I found touchscreen phone use up or drained a lot more battery power and faster. This phone is not excluded. 
- I recommend to kill your apps every now and then to save battery power. 
- minimize brightness is also recommended 
- minimize usage such as frequent calling, frequent sms, browsing internet, gaming, etc. 


Audio: 
- I am used to my Sony Ericsson W995 which have 2 speakers. So this phone definitely lost it in this department. 


Camera: 
- 2 Megapixel. What do you expect a under RM500 phone have? But good enough to post for a Facebook profile page^^ 


NicaBell say: 
- overall, it is good enough phone for a below RM500 phone. It is a good price for any of you who never tried and would like to try on a Android phone. Suitable to ladies and gentlemen. The virtual keyboard might be quite small for some of you. But the touch responds is good! Just try getting a non glossy screen protector to avoid fingerprints^^ 


UPDATE 25 FEB 2012: Here are the picture that I have taken^^ 

The box

What inside the box 

5 colors battery cover

USB cable & a handsfree

a leaflet, cd-rom & 2 GB memory card

UPDATE: 28 May 2012; My brother bought it as well. Apparently the price has drop to RM 390/370? That's what he said anyway. Boyfie is happy with it. He is just a little bit upset that some apps are not compatible the device; a lot actually. Example: The Sims Freeplay, Contract Killer, and Skype without the video calling.

Nicabell: Valentine!!

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

I am excited for this day not because I want to celebrate it with boyfie, but I am intrigue to look what my handphone screen would look like! eeeekkk!!!

I have a SE W995i phone and I found an animated theme through the internet. I sets it on my phone and to my surprise, everytime there is a festival or special day, it will shows special screen which indicate the celebration. for example, there will be fireworks on the main screen on new year, mistletoe on Christmas day, and this morning I have hearts pop up on the main screen!

Its sad that boyfie and I would not do anything special on this occasion. But I got used to it already.

I appreciates him for being here with me.

I pray for love, peace, respect and joy.

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell: Quick Post!

Hey y'all!

I was surfing the internet yesterday and found this amazing website full of pictures! 

I found many amazing pictures that gave me storage ideas for my makeups, beauty tricks, makeup looks, hair tricks, etc! 

You have to check it out! Pinspire.com! 

I bet you will love it! 

That is all! 

Update 21 August 2012: Another picture pinning website that brings great ideas to me is the Pinterest.com!

xoxo

NicaBell

Nicabell Is Born On A Lucky Dragon Year 1988

Happy Lunar New Year everyone!

It is a new Dragon year! Wish that this Dragon year will do us all good! Weeeee~

Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year is celebrated by the Chinese people as it is the first day of a new year in Chinese Calendar. This is the day when The Chinese will wish each other with "Gong Xi Fa Cai" which means "Wishing You Many Prosperity" in Mandarin. 

This is the most anticipated day that the Chinese had been waiting. It is a glamorous day for the Chinese because we will decorate everything in our house in RED color! Red does not mean dangerous in Chinese community. It simply means prosperity. YES! We Chinese are obsess with money and prosperity. No we ain't. I was just joking! But everybody do wish to have a comfortable life. 

It is crucial to remember to not clean the house on the New Year's day especially using broom! Broom is always associated with bad omen in Chinese old folktale. There is a term in Mandarin saying Sao Ba Xing translated Broom Star which means Unlucky Star. It is kind of a nickname toa person who is said to bring bad omen or unlucky circumstances to anyone near him/her. 

Mandarin orange is the main fruit for the occasion. I don't understand much about it but I like 'em! 

There is another folktale regarding the Lunar New Year which has something to do with firework/firecracker! I hate firecracker but I love it when I was the one who lit it! LoL! Well the story goes in the ancient time, a lion-like monster from the underworld would come to the earth to eat the children. Thus, the people gives huge feast like offerings so the monster would not harm the human. But the feast were never enough. The monster would still devour the children to satisfy its hunger. Therefore, a wise man made firecracker, and lit it on the Lunar New Year when the monster came. The monster was so scared of the firecracker, it ran away! Thus the reason why the Chinese lit firecracker every Lunar New Year. Though the monster might not be seen in the present days, lighting the firecracker becomes a tradition. 

This post show how beauty of my Chinese tradition. I am so glad to be part of the Chinese community. I am a Sino-Kadazan - Part Chinese Part Kadazan. Both part of my ancestors tradition is beautiful. I hope that it won't vanish from the face of this world. 

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell Review: The Body Shop Face & Body Brush

Wassup guys!

I will be making another review for my favorite brush!

I bought this brush the same time I bought my M.A.C 187 brush. I got my yearly bonus at the time so I got all excited to buy good quality brushes.


I have always been a big fan of the TBS. I love the fragrance, the body butter, the lip pot, the nail buffer, the body scrub, etc. I love their make up even though I cannot wear them because TBS's make up is usually very shimmery and glittery. My face is too oily to add more shimmer to it XDDD

So when the brush was launch here in KK, I was excited but I cannot afford to buy it! Its quite expensive for me who is a student at the time. Then, I remember another friend who love the brushes told me: "Even OPRAH gives thumbs up to the TBS brushes!

As a young OPRAH fan from Malaysia, I got much more excited! It got me thinking, if OPRAH said they are good, then it must be very good then!

It cost me around RM 80++ and I didn't get the whole range too. The reason is because I didn't really need the rest. Well, at the time lah! Now, I think I really need to buy the other brushes into my collection^^

I learn that the bristles are made out of bamboo which I think the most amazing thing about the brush! I am actually okay with animal fur, but I would try to get vegan product if I get the chance.

I say that it is amazing not just because it is vegan, it is amazing because bamboo trunks are hard! The fibres are not suppose to be as soft as this bristles!

This brush is:-
1. Wide tapered brush
2. Very soft, no density
3. can cover the whole apple of the cheek.
4. Would not hold a lot of product during application
5. Could be used with wet and dry product.
6. Never shred even from the first time I wash and use it.

I love using this for applying loose powder to set my make up. The fact that it only pick up a little product helps a lot in the application.

I only have 2 minor issues about this brush.
1. The huge handle eats up a lot of space in my storage. The person who came up with the design might have the ideas that users will leave the brush by making it stands on its flat bottom. But I don't do that. Leaving brushes like that will only let dust, germs and bacteria to sit on the bristles easily.
2. It is quite burning for the wallet just to buy this brush. I feel like I am paying the price of it being a TBS product instead of a brush! And a friend had told me that TBS brushes are quite expensive for synthetic brushes.

Comparing the size with the M.A.C 187 brush. Look at how huge the handle is comparing to the 187 brush!!

No matter what, I still love this brush for what it have done for me. Good job TBS!

xoxo

NicaBell

NicaBell Review: M.A.C 187 Duo Fibre Brush

Hey-Yo! 

I am so happy that my best cousin had deliver her first child!! Her baby girl was borned on the same day and month with my brother and weight about 3.4kg. Baby girl have her daddy face, very chubby!! I was unable to visit her as I was busy with the preparation for my brother birthday party and prayer, to thank God that he was able to have a quick recovery from his accident. 

Back to the title, YES! I am going to give my opinion on the M.A.C 187 Duo Fibre Brush! Yay!! 

Known as the stippling brush and the skunk brush, this brush gives what its promise; airbrush finish!

The bristles is so fine, stippling with this gives an airbrush & flawless look!

It was called duo fibre because the bristles were made out of 2 types of fibre which are black goat fur and synthetic white fibres; nicknamed the skunk brush for its black & white bristles; and also known for stippling brush for the awesome method people usually use with it. 

It is a flat top brush with a metal feral and a black wooden stick. The brush is dense and that would help when you are stippling. 

I use it as my foundation brush and covers foundation all over my face with stippling motion. 

This brushed was introduced to me by Enkore through his EnKoreMakeup YT channel (He is so FAB!!) saying stippling  will help to give a flawless airbrush finish and he show the 187 brush as one of the most popular option for stippling. I was fascinated by it and saw another video (which I forgot the channel's name), she has quite a lot acne scars and I swear, her face look flawless after stippling the foundation with the 187 brush!! It gives me a thought: I MUST GET IT NO MATTER WHAT! 

It cost me about RM180++ (here in KK) and that is very expensive. But I never regret buying it because it really deliver what it promised. 

I have been using it for a whole year last year and I love it! I only have use it with liquid and gel foundation though. I personally thinks that it is a good brush if you are using foundation that has liquid texture. Gel foundation dries out fast so stippling it with this brush smell like a disaster to me. My face looked cakey and patchy because I can clearly see I cannot stipple it evenly as it already dried up. Gel foundations are not bendable with stippling method! 

If you  were to use it with swirling motion or stroking, you will not get the airbrush finish like it suppose to be. I have tried it, and I can see few streak here and there. 

For me, this brush is not a necessity to have in your make up bag. It is kind of a luxury item. It does gives a flawless finish which you can also get with primers and concealers. However, my reason to invest on this brush is because of my curiosity and it is hard to find good primer here. We don't have Sephora or UD here either. All we have here is M.A.C, TBS, SaSa, Watson, Guardian, Clinique, and other high end brands that I don't think have produce primers that I think worth investing. <<-- IDK. May be that is just me. So, suggest a good one for me puh-leeeeaaassse! 

I read some blog saying this brush sheds like craaayyyzzzaaayyy. Hell no! It does shred but it was minimal! I was it before I used the first time, it shreds like 3 or 5 bristles. Wash the second time, it shreds 2 or 3 bristles. And by the third time I wash it, there are no more shreds. 

Comparing the size with the PaperMate retractable ballpen.

If you haven't own one or going to get one, please give it a deep thought. IT IS EXPENSIVE!! But if you are such a curious cat, having one is a good anyway. Just make sure you have some money left till your next pay check! 

Till then! 

xoxo

NicaBell