Pages

2010-07-25

Afternoon Tea @ Windsor Arms Hotel

My first experience having an Afternoon Tea at Windsor Arms Hotel was excellent in terms of the cozy ambient, friendly service and great food.  There are two choices of the menu: either $30 (Full tea) or $18 (tea to go) or $24 (forgot the name of this, Half Tea :P) with your choice of loose leaf tea. The food picture below is the food offered for full tea.

I believe that afternoon tea is served everyday at Windsor Arms Hotel with two time slots: 1:00 -3:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 5:00p.m.

It would definitely be a good place for organizing an event such as gals gathering, bridal shower or baby shower.

 



First, we were served of a warm goat cheese tart.  Yum.  The picture of goat cheese tart is not shown here.  I would say that the amount of food for full tea is too much for one person.  My girlfriends and I couldn't even touch the upper tray (the desserts) as we were already too full.  The scones are very fresh and the mini sandwiches taste awesome.



FOTD:
My skin is vey tanned now after the Miami vacation.I used very light makeup on that day. Make up used: Skin79 BB cream, Laura Mercier Mineral Powder and Dior Cinnamon blush and Nude lipstick.

2010-07-20

New blush/Highlighter purchase from Nars & Bobbi Brown




Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick Set with a mini face blender blush (Limited Edition) - purchased this item from Strawberrynet for $47.50 U.S.

The picture (attached) -the swatches from the top to the bottom of the blush palette.  The white shimmer on top cannot be shown in the picture.

It's a very nice bronzer with a lot of gold shimmers (glitters).    It gives a nice sunkissed glow on skin. The lighter colours can be used as highlighter for eye contour, forehead , under browbone. The middle part can be used as contour for face. Remember just to slight tap it, as the colours are very pigmented.   The colours are good for use as eyeshadows as well.



My very first blush and highlighter from MAC (Limited Edition): Happy together ($26 CAN) & By Candlelight (forgot about the price of this one, but I think that this is more expensive than the Happy Together).  My first product of MAC is the Studio Fix foundation, and I found that it was too drying on my skin.  Then, I have strayed away from MAC and move on to the other brands.

Anyways, I got hooked on to the "Happy Together" when I saw the blog reviews. I really love the sheen peachy/coral colour that Happy together offers.  It glows on my skin but without glitters.  The colour is more subtle that I can wear these two products to work.  The "By Candlelight" is in Golden pink that gives a very nice warm glow as highlighter.

Colours are very pigmented.  A little goes a long way.

2010-07-13

Darphin Arovita Eye and Lip Contour Gel Review

I need moisture!!!

It has been very hot and humid these few weeks in Toronto. I have been drinking a lot of water and I still feel my whole body is dehydrated especially the area under the eyes.  Have tried a lot of eye cream/gel, the tight feeling under my eye is still there.  Sometimes, if the cream is too rich, I noticed that there is some white bump under eye area.  If you have similar experience, I would like to introduce my favourite eye gel - Darphin Arovita Eye and Lip Contour Gel which claims to:

  • Smooth fine lines;
  • provide radiant and hydrated appearance




  • Scent: Floral.  Very refreshing.  The texture of this gel I would actually considered as a cream-gel, more to the cream texture.  A very moistured cream (with no greasy feel) that is easily spread over skin.  I love the cream the first time I applied it under my eye area.  I feel like I found an oasis in the dessert. The discomfort/tight feel under my eye is gone after applying.  It also provides some cooling sensation (feel like a splash of water) and the cream is quick for absorption. Since the under eye area is supple, the fine lines are smoothed.

    Price is expensive $105 CAN. However, a 30mL jar goes a long way and you only a little to pat on the area.   I bought this container in winter last year.


    The gel is in glass container with a plastic lid.  After opening the lid, there is a plastic cover as a protection.  It comes with a plastic spoon (not included in the picture)



    Key Ingredients: Avocado Oil, Chamomile, Orchid and Rose Extracts, Jojoba Seed Oil



2010-07-09

Vichy Purifying exfoliating cream Review

I picked up a few products from Shoppers: Etival Gel Cleanser (an new skincare line in Shoppers), Vichy purifying exfoliating cream and Clarins pore minimizing serum.  


With the purchase, I am very glad to receive a lot of samples to try:

Lancome detoxifying body scrub
Lancome Age fight anti-age perfecting fluid & eye cream (going to give them to my husband)
Dior pro-youth protective cream SPF 15
Dior Capture Totale (will give them to my mom)
Dior Jadore Eau De parfum (I received a full size as a gift, but this sample size would come in handy for travelling) Scent: Floral with the combination of Ylang-Ylang, Rose and Jasmine.  It's pretty refreshing.

Alright, lets get back to the topic.

Review of Vichy Purifying exfoliating cream 75mL (2.54 fl. oz) -Made in France

Packaging: A plastic tube with a flip lid. (I love the hygenic packaging)

Appearance: White consistent cream with very fine blue beads

Scent: very light

Suitable for all skin type, even for sensitive skin

The cream is consistent and easily to spread on skin, even without wetting the face beforehand.  The exfoliating is quite gentle. I like the moist feel it gives when applying on skin.  It makes my skin smoother, refined and moisturized. This is the best exfoliating that I have ever tried.

For your reference, here is a  brief summary of the scrubs that I had tried before:

- Shiseido Pureness exfoliating gel - doesn't do anything.

-St. Ives Scrub- the beads are too harsh for my combination/normal skin.  I could only use it on my T-zone area.  This scrub is too drying for my cheeks.

- Pangeas Organics Facial scrub- This is actually a pretty good scrub.  I also gives an extra brownie point for organic product.  My skin became smoother, brightened, refined and moisturized after use.  The only downside is hard to rinse it off and it is not good to rub the skin too much.

-Nuxe Scrub - very creamy scrub which is good for sensitive skin. However, I don't see much difference on my skin after use.

-Origins Modern Friction -you can just check out my previous post.

Overall, Vichy purifying exfoliating cream is my favourite exfoliator based on the results and price.  I got 20% off (Shopper's promotion) from the regular price. I paid around $15 CAN.

Ingredients:

AQUA, Butyrospermum Parki Butter, Glycerin, Cyclohexasiloxane, Paraffin, Paraffinum Liquidum, PEG 100 Sterate, Glyceryl stearate, Polyethylene, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Acrylates Copolymer, Peg-2 Sterate, Stearic Acid, sodium benzoate, salicylic acid, sodium hydroxide, phenoxyethanol, jojoba esters, tocopherol, hydroxyethylcelluose, polysorbate 60, Acrylates, cetyl alcohol, acrylates, alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, parfum

2010-07-02

Lancome High Definition Mascara & Fiberwig Mascara

Fiberwig has been a big hits in Asia.  I was glad to pick this up during my Hong Kong trip because it costs so much more in Canada.

Fiberwig- claim to lengthen, separate and define lashes.




Before applying mascara:

After applying Fiberwig mascara:



I also compare with Lancome High Definition Mascara which also claims to lengthen & define lashes.  I got it as a gift when purchasing other Lancome products.
  
Left : Lancome Definition Mascara; Right: Fiberwig Mascara  (my dark circle is getting bigger...need some sleep)

I love how the natural look created. Both mascaras do work for what they claim: Lengthens & defines lashes. Both of the mascaras dry pretty fast, without giving any black marks around my eyes.  Lasting power for both are good that my eye lashes stay curled after 8 hours. Which one do you like better?

Personally, I think that these two mascaras ($31 CAN)  are bit too pricy for me.  My favourite drug store mascara is Maybelline.


What is your favourite mascara?