Translated reviews on UNT BB cream

It's been such a long while since I blogged. Was extremely busy with my baby born in Oct 2010 who is now a toddler. It's been such a year!

I've only started catching up on my beauty reading and beauty shopping recently. Being a new parent was such a daunting thing and easily the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Harder than any 'job/career' I know.

I've always wanted to restart blogging especially after boring Mr Effort with beauty talk. And after reading a post from one of my fave beauty sites, I've decided to kick off with a translation for her and her readers.

UNT has launched a BB cream in December 2011. Please click to read hope-inablog's article.

Hope-inablog has also kindly provided 3 links for shade charts on UNT's BB cream. I'll like to briefly translate these 3 reviews for those who don't read traditional Chinese. This is not a word-for-word translation since there are so many apps, sites or software which can easily do a far better job of translating word for word.

1) Link 1 - Hannah's fashionlist

The post header reads "Unforgettable UNT BB cream" (to be nit-picking, it's more closely translated into "Once you use (UNT BB cream), you won't be able to forget it")

Hannah posts that the different shades are due to the poor lighting in her house. She apparently loves UNT nail polishes and skincare and has added the BB cream to her faves. In her comments on the BB cream itself, she says that her skin is prone to redness and the UNT BB cream makes the redness and spider veins disappear, evening out her skin tone.

2) Link 2 - Nini House
Post header - "With the UNT BB cream, I don't need any other (base coverage products)"
Nini has used the product for a week at the time of review. She reminds readers to use more strength for the first pump to ensure product to come out. She mentions that the BB cream feels sheer on the skin yet offers decent coverage. Without pressed powders, there is no detectable face 'shine' (skin does not appear oily). She also comments that on one of the days when she used the BB cream, it was drizzling but her base coverage due to the BB cream remain intact (she indicated that she usually uses sunscreen alongside the BB cream).

3) Link 3 - bobo888's blog
She starts off the post by saying that when she was in Korea, random Korean strangers have asked her on the base coverage she was using. She reminds readers that even although when using UNT BB cream with a lot of skin care properties, it is important to remove makeup effectively before bedtime. She jokes that she wanted to go back home after 12 (midnight) but someone told her "U still look very awake (presumably due to the BB cream)!"

Mulberry for Target

Mulberry will be creating some limited edition handbags for Target (USA). These bags will be available at Target stores and at Target.com (online) from 10 Oct to 24 Dec 2010 (but I foresee them selling out before 24 Dec).

Just a little background on Mulberry, Target and this collaboration.

Mulberry is a British luxury design label, previously old-school but getting trendy in recent years. Their most notable famous "It" bag is based on the famous British "It" girl, Alexa Chung.

Alexa Chung has a wiki entry of her own. I first knew of her while reading fashion and style magazines and blogs. She also did a show with Gok Wan of "How to look good naked" fame.

Alexa Chung carrying the Mulberry bag named after her, the Alexa

Target has been collaborating with big names to produce limited-edition items which are both jaw-dropping and saliva-inducing at the same time. Some names which I can recall offhand are Liberty of London for Target, Jean-Paul Gaultier for Target (I was lucky enough to snag a JPG for Target dress!) and Sonia Kashuk (Target carries her make-up line, which is named after herself).

In my book, the designer collaborations with Target are similar to what H & M have been doing with Comme des Garcons and Jil Sander and Karl Lagerfield. It's about bringing high fashion (or luxury fashion) to the mass market at an affordable price. One does not truly expect the same quality of fabric from a designer collaboration selling in Target for USD$49.99 and a similar item from the designer from his main label selling in upmarket stores for USD$149.99.

What I do expect from such designer collaborations are:

1) Unique designs in the style of the designer; or

2) If the designer is known for expert cuts and well fitted clothes, then the clothes should fit well even if they are selling for a cheaper price; and

3) Slightly better fabric quality for the designer collaboration vs a non-designer collaboration selling in the same store. I trust that the designer will put his/her foot down and insist on using a basic quality of fabric, which should be slightly superior to the other unknown or private label brands being sold in the store.

Mulberry for Target will go on sale 10 Oct 2010 but as with most releases, these bags will only be sold in USA. So you might have to figure out who you can pay to get these bags into Singapore or wherever you are based in the world. Me? I'm mentally checking my USA contacts even as I type this.

Kose Haul!

Read about the Kose family sale from Haru whose beauty blog I read avidly. It starts Tuesday 29 June (today) and ends 30 June (tomorrow).

Having many beauty products myself, I was inclined to go to the sale just to take a peek. But the husband who knows me better than myself predicted that I would get something (or somethingsss).

True enough, as he predicted, I hauled items back! Simply couldn't resist them nor the price.

1) This is the Esprique Precious Illuminate Fantasy Collection Christmas 2009 set! I seem to recall reading somewhere that this was deemed as Esprique's most popular Christmas offering in recent years in the Japanese market.

This set is made out of 4 items:

A)Face Color

B) Glamorous Glossy Eyes WT01(white)

C) Dress on Glossy Rouge PK883 (pink)

D) Nail Color N PK 816 (pink)

Am really keen on the face color, but not so much on the rest. They're a bit too glittery for me (considering that I already have tonnes of glitter-loaded beauty products). Guess I'll research the swatches before I start using these pieces. Like most Christmas sets offered by beauty companies during their sales, this one was going at 50% off its original retail price.

2) Cosme Decorte Whitelogist Day Advanced SPF12/PA+. This is my first whitening paid product (I've received whitening products as gifts before, but never forked out money for one of them before). Am not sure of the Singapore retail price, so can't tell you how much the discount was. But it's the most expensive item I've bought in recent years which I haven't tried before.

3) Eyeliner from Beaute de Kose in Delicate Shell (matte white and cream with a delicate sheen). This was selling at S$12 (as you can see on the price tag). Was originally considering a Esprique Precious eyeliner, but picked this one instead.

4) Esprique Precious nail polishes were going for S$10 each. I accidentally broke off part of one cap when I dropped the bag on the floor, but the nail polishes were sold in very good original condition.

5) This Fasio set was also part of Fasio Christmas 2009 offering. I wasn't able to find much information on the Internet about this set after I got back from the sale, so maybe it was a Singaporean set where they bundle existing products together. Am intending to give this to JA to help her experiment with make-up.

6) These are sheets for making your own sheet masks. You simply soak these sheets in the lotions that you like and voila! Your very own, customized eye/cheek sheet masks.