I Want To Be A Part of Sample Room’s Bloggers Circle (2014 Edition)

 

Just typing that title makes me feel like I’m in a reality show for bloggers. But in the blogosphere, things are done a bit unorthodox, and it’s what makes being on the plane a whole lot of fun and the whole blogging experience is rather innovative. 

I’ve been a Roomie since 2012 and have been looking out for new samples to try in Sample Room since started my blog and have been rewarded with the initial 100 points when the platform first launched. Being a Roomie means keeping an eye out for new samples, making sure there are enough points in the account to purchase new samples (especially the full-sized ones), paying the shipping fee and practicing extreme patience while waiting for the order to arrive. Of course, once I’ve had my fill and decided on a yes or no for the products, I write down my review and get rewarded my points back. There are also fun contests being held across social media sites and occasional goodie bags. 

Now let’s tackle why I want to be a part of Sample Room’s Bloggers Circle for this year. Most of those in the beauty blogging world would agree that being a Roomie is pretty convenient and addictive. It gives its members the chance to try out new products for free. I feel that being a Partner Blogger would be quite the privilege, and being a blogger from the south, I can introduce the concept of trying before buying to interested women especially among small town bloggers like myself. 

I keep coming back to Sample Room to find new products that can help me with my skin problems like discoloration, acne, sun care and protection and just about anything else that’s creating waves in the beauty world. The site also introduces useful tools for beauty enthusiasts of various degrees and it’s just about time that more women get to discover for themselves the clever system of Sample Room. 

Sample Room opens doors for women who want to discover what’s out there that deserve the slice of their budget. Women owe it to themselves to decide first if the products that they encounter are worth it, saving time and money in the process.

So do I deserve to be a part of the Bloggers Circle for this year? If it were a reality show, will I make the cut? Only the beautiful people at the SR team get to decide. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Do You Love Flash Sales? Baobella Boutique Is Worth Checking Out!

If you're on the lookout for beauty products and would want to save money, a flash sale may be a good idea. But not a lot of online shops offer flash sales and have varied brands. Let me be the one to tell you that's changed. Baobella Boutique is an exclusive beauty flash sale shop featuring amazing discounts of well-loved brands and products. I've seen Clarins, Elizabeth Arden, Rimmel and Ciate. It's like getting your beauty fix for almost 80% off.

If that hasn't caught your interest, Baobella Boutique is giving you a free Maybelline lipstick worth £7.89 on orders over £1, just enter the code FreeMlipstick,  runs until April 30. 



Here are some personal picks from Baobella Boutique. What would you choose from the shop? Head on to the shop and tell me.

 

 

  

Try This! MyBeautyCompare, A Practical Beauty Products Matching Service For Your Needs..

Credits: www.frmheadtotoe.com

With thousands of products in the industry catering to different types of skin, how would you know which one is suited for you? I have to admit that it can be overwhelming somehow. I could go on ahead and dive into trying new products but it would mean having to wait for weeks for visible results to appear, and what about having to spend money and in the end not get the results I’ve wanted to achieve? Going by this method might seem time-consuming and also a waste of effort, right? 

Now wouldn’t it be good to have an automated matching service online for all your beauty needs based on your profile? My Beauty Compare does just that. It’s free to use, easy and you get leads very quickly. Visit the site and fill out the details being asked and you can immediately find the beauty products that suit your needs. It’s the very first beauty comparison site of its kind. Clever idea, isn’t it? 

How was my experience? 

The quiz is detailed and personalized, from skin type, complexion, skin concerns, eye color, hair color, texture and length, daily water and alcohol consumption,  even specified if I were a smoker or not. After clicking on the confirmation email, you can get started. 

I like lipstick and have been playing it safe with just pink for some time now because that’s what I normally get from beauty subscription boxes and it’s a staple when it comes to work. But I was surprised to find four beauty product matches under lipstick and it was a raincheck for me, even if I have Asian features and brown skin, I can still dare to wear (Maybelline) Color Sensational Vivid Lipstick and (Lancôme) L'Absolu Nu Replenishing & Enhancing Lipcolor. What’s great is that I also get to see the prices of each listed product and helpful reviews from users who have had experience with their recommendations from My Beauty Compare. Almost all of them are satisfied with their new beauty discoveries. 

Next, I was next to empty with my current body wash and I was eager to see what else is out there. I enjoy nice, calming showers and I was surprise when my top matches led me to (Victoria Secret) Dream Angels Heavenly Angel Body Wash (only £7.20!) and (Anna Sui) Dolly Girl On The Beach Shower Gel. I wasn’t even aware that Ana Sui had a shower gel available.

As for a little color, I like playing with eyeshadow. I am ultimately in love with my Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette and was thinking of what else is out there in terms of color since I’ve been an Urban Decay loyalist for long enough. I now can’t wait to try out (DIOR) 5COULEURS Eyeshadow Palette Summer Look which I would not have discovered without My Beauty Compare.

The Verdict

 

I found My Beauty Compare to be a helpful tool in helping me discover new beauty finds that I would not otherwise be aware of because there are certain brands that I patronize. However, with this new matching service, I am able to take a second look at the new products that are on the market today. I can say that I will staying on for longer hours checking out what else I can try the next time I reach an empty tube of personal care and beauty needs.

All Natural, All Minerals: My AHAVA Favorites

All natural, all minerals from two extremes; this is the ambience that I transport myself to every time I apply a load of AHAVA Hand Cream in Mud (which is at least five times a day). I am so fond of my sample that it’s already half empty by the time this post is up. (It’s that good.)

AHAVA is an all natural and all minerals brand that takes pride in being the Dead Sea cosmetic brand, owing many years of research and discoveries in discovering the purity and natural richness of the Dead Sea region. But why the Dead Sea of all places? It is a basin of the greatest concentration of moisturizing minerals and age-delaying algae that helps to soothe the skin-all these grow in the driest of desert conditions. Who would have known that there is life in what we normally overlook?

I received these AHAVA products from the #Inspire bag from Sample Room except for the Dead Sea Osmoter Concentrate which came from my Sampler Buffet from Beauty Selection earlier this year. Even with just samples, I've already made up my mind about this brand.

The Eye Makeup Remover came in full size. It's just perfect timing for me to receive this because my makeup remover is about to go empty. I like that it's sheer and very lightweight and it's very helpful to have during late night events (every woman who's crazy about makeup should have a remover nearby). However, the stopper is just too wide, and it's enough to soak a whole round cotton pad, it could leave the face looking drenched in something so oily. But it effectively cleans eye makeup, there's no traces of makeup whatsoever, it's even safe to use on the whole face and even on the neck (might as well maximize a drenched cotton pad, yeah?)

The only regret I have about the Body Exfoliator is that the sample is only good for a single use. The other sample was Dead Sea Water and it was as good as empty in one of my weekend showers, but I don't regret it at all. Exfoliate, it did and I was wondering, how about if there was a body lotion to go with it, hmm? I felt like having an exfoliating experience in a high-end spa and it was a lightening experience. Perhaps I'd be sad to see this Dead Sea Mud Body Exfoliator go.

 Between these two, I'd have to say that the Hand Cream has got to be my favorite. It sits on my desk and I lather on every time I reach for it. It has a calming, soothing scent and the cream is quick absorbing and moisturizes the back of my hands and palms. I have calloused fingers because I grip pencils and write like there is no tomorrow on my notepad. I even have conditions of skin peeling in between fingers. But the hand cream was able to relieve the uber noticeable peeling skin. If anything, my hands look plumper though.

The comforting cream is a little magical worker. It's a handy partner (because of its size and wonders) in soothing sunburned and slightly tanned faces. One way to find out if the face really was overexposed is when there is an itchy feeling and reddish marks on the skin's surface. But this one helps to cool that burning, itchy feeling. It's not only good for sunburns, it also soothes allergies. Lately, I've had rashes appear on my arms and thighs, this little tube sure saved the day for me. Even if the rashes didn't disappear immediately, at least the itchiness disappeared. 

 

Lastly, I have to admit that I don't come close to knowing what an Osmoter really does. But that's nothing Google can't solve. According to AHAVA's official site, it's an "exclusive concentrated extract of mineral-rich Dead Sea water that helps restore the skin's vitality and enhances its natural ability to retain moisture".-so in short, this is a moisturizer. 

I use this after my cleansing, toning routine in the evening, and it's pretty quick-absorbing. When I get up in the morning, I can feel the concentration of the moisturizer still there even after nine hours of sleep. Just one pump of the osmoter and it covers my hyperpigmented forehead, then a portion goes on my cheeks and all over the face. I'll be sad when this will be empty, which it is nearing because it's just a sample size after all, and it's due because it has a subtle feel-good scent about it that I really like.

My absolute favorites among all of these products has to be the Hand Cream. I put it in my bag and pull it out when I feel like I need some hydration every time I look at my dry hands (which is often) and there I am- ridiculously happy gal.

I'm still dying to try their makeup and body lotion as well as body wash. Have you tried AHAVA? What are your recommendations?

You can still join my giveaway here with Christine's Books and Baubles. Good luck!

On Fragrances: Bella Belara by Mary Kay

 

It took about a few years for me to finally get my hands on this scent. This has got to be my unicorn scent which I have encountered for the very first time during my college days. The only obstacle to this being my signature scent is the fact that it was so expensive for me, especially on a student budget. Now that I'm earning for myself, it finally falls on my lap and I get to enjoy the fruits of my hard work.

"More than a fragrance, Belle Belara Eau de Parfum is an exuberant floral fruity scent that evokes a beautiful feeling.

Top note: Nectarine and Apricot

Middle note: Rose Petals and Jasmine

Bottom note: Blonde Woods and Cool Moss

"You live to your fullest potential knowing that it makes you confident, happy and attractive. For the woman who lives life to the fullest, loves feeling beautiful and knows how to show her beauty with confidence and joy."

Thanks to the thoughtfulness of Ms. Epie from Mary Kay Zamboanga, I received this for my Christmas-New Year gift together with a Mary Kay @ Play Lip Gloss tube in Berry Me.

 My Observations

The bottle is sexy and it has an ombre effect of red from the top transitioning to black at the bottom- I do recall that it's the same bottle design from when the scent was launched even before the ombre effect became popular. It's simple in shape and very elegant that suits an old-world memento- the cover resembles a top hat.

As for the scent, simply describing it as fruity floral is not enough. It exudes a feeling of confidence and ambition, it is suited for the woman who believes in possibilities, it makes one realize that anything can happen and that all it takes is one moment filled with the elements of magic- that it's all just there.

The scent lasts for many hours  from initial spray- 8 hours to be exact. It starts off strong and then still leaves a subtle fragrance. It's great for formal evenings where one can hope to have a glimpse of a fantasy world that's magical and romantic. 

 I've also fancied the script font on the box.

Don't you just find women with top hats absolutely sexy?

Unboxing: 13 Piece Sampler Buffet from Beauty Selection by Aliza Sim

 

When the good news broke, I decided to reward myself just because. I also found Beauty Selection by Eliza Sim at Happy PH. This Sampler Buffet has 13 products and comes in a cute pink travel pouch in kiss prints. Perfect for Valentine's  don't you think? Can you believe I did the unboxing in a hospital room of all places? I was playing watcher and keeping my mom company when she was confined for a weekend. The confinement didn't last long thought because she was insisting to go home because she badly missed her dog! Dog lovers, yeah...

I'm also grateful that the bag included perfume samples because fragrances give me an idea on which scents to write about for my next On Fragrances post. I have another feature coming up though!

The bag also has some hair care products, I received Rockaholic Hair Spray in travel size and a Technician Color Care shampoo which I gave a try in the hospital room.

 

These are my favorites in the bag. The Urban Decay Primer Potion will go well with my Naked 2 Palette and I already am impressed with this brand. I already emptied my ELF Primer wand now I have this to play with.

The Escada Shimmer Powder is really cute and handy. Its powder is perfumed. Although I'm not really a fan of shimmer, I am willing to put this on exception simply because it's one of those feel good products that I can use to give me a boost. The puff is small but still very useful.

I'm quite grateful that I got this bag that's not just an assortment of mumbo jumbo. I actually can use some of the products here especially for travel since I'm anticipating another trip at the end of the month. This turned out to be a feel-good bag and I am so enjoying it!

Do you see some products here that you would want me to review? I'm thinking of doing a quick spotlight on the fragrances already. Let me know!