A Shoe Lesson

Today I learned something new about myself. I have hammer toes.  I've always had long feet and long toes. I have toes so long they curl downwards and bend a little on the joints.  I've known these to be my toes as long as I could remember and have accepted them as part of my feet.  However, finally today, upon walking into a specialized shoe store, I found out the truth. I have hammer toes, which is actually a deformity at the proximal interphalangeal joint of the second, third, and forth toe causing it to be permanently bent, resembling a hammer. Don't worry, I'll spare you of any disgusting pictures of my actual toes to prove my point.  I was not born with hammer toes (at least I don't think I was).  They are results of wearing poor-fitting shoes, forcing the toe to a bent position.  As I hear the shoe/foot specialist explain all of this to me, I knew that he was right.  I have worn too many shoes that are really too tight for me! Of course, growing up - who knew about all these things? We never had our feet measured. Shoe-shopping was a trip off to Payless or something equivalent and find a shoe that fit the budget. Even when I got to buy my own shoes, I've sometimes compromised comfort for style instead. I was also stupid enough to believe in an old wives tale that if I wear a big shoe, my foot would grow even bigger to fit that shoe. So I always opted for a smaller shoe even though it was snug.

I ended up buying a pair of Brooks Addiction shoes from the shoe store. They are one of the ugliest shoes out there, not to mention that they are ginormous in size!! But if you notice, this shoe doesn't have any arches.  In fact, I have an insert in there on the arch so when I walk, it forces the toes to flatten out (rather than bend).

    

I've learned my lesson.  From now on, I will buy shoes that I have wiggle room in and that I can stretch out and flatten my toes inside the shoes.  I may be wearing the biggest shoe on the planet known to mankind, but at least I can be comfortable!!

New Beauty Favorites

It has been a while since I last blogged about Beauty products. Here are some of the new products that I'm trying or have tried recently that are worth mentioning as my new favorites:

Well, ok, this is not new...but realized that I haven't mentioned it at all! This is L'Occitane #1 sku - hand cream for dry hands!  It comes in so handy this time of the year, especially in the winter. It's not greasy at all and makes your hands soft.  Plus, it smells great. Don't leave home without it!

All my colleagues in the Beauty world rave about the Giorgio Armani foundation.  I finally bought myself one (yes, you read correctly, BOUGHT one) when I was in Hong Kong. After using it, I must say I am a huge fan now too!!  First of all, there are a couple of lines (I bought the Designer Lift) and there are over10 shades to choose from, which means you are bound to find one that matches your skin. Btw, I learned that you don't find the color that matches your "hands" because people tend to put the sample on the back of your hands to try out the color.  You need to find the color that best matches your neck!! That way, you don't have a face with one color and a neck with another!  Anyways, why do I love this foundation?  Because it provides excellent coverage but yet it is light as a feather! Your face does not feel heavy or oily at all ~ plus, it's very natural-looking.   

  

I am an advocate of using eye products because I am always in a hunt to find a product that can get rid of my dark circles and eye bags.  OK, OK, I'll admit it - don't ever let anyone convince you that you can get rid of dark circles or eye bags with a skincare product.  They are lying. The only way is probably to go through plastic surgery. BUT there are products out there that can "hide" or "reduce the appearance" of dark circles.  This Estee Lauder Idealist Eye Illuminator does that job. The cream dispenses through the ceramic applicator, which is cool and refreshing around the eyes.  The cream is also slightly tinted so it can double up as a concealer. 

 This product is a 4-week program from La Prairie called the Cellular Power Infusion.  It is a double-pump that starts off "clear" like the first vial. With a twist of the cap on the bottom, a spurt of serum comes out and combines with the other ingredients (pic 2 thru 4). Then you shake it up and use the vial for a week.  There are 4 vials, so it lasts you basically for a month. You do this program once or twice a year. La Prairie is a very high end brand, but this product only sells for $450, which in their line of products, is considered a bargain.  I only used 1 vial so far.  Maybe it's my skin, but I haven't seen the results of elasticity and illumination as the product claims.  Perhaps I need to use all 4 vials?? 

I saved this one for last, because it is my favorite among all the products I wrote about here. I am IN LOVE with the new Lancome Blanc Expert Nuit (Whitening night cream).  I apply it at night and in the morning, my skin feels super soft like baby skin, and I feel like it's bouncy and full of energy. That feeling lasts throughout the entire day!  The smell is not horrible, but it is more fragrant than most of the products I use. But I am able to overlook this, because the cream gives me visibly softer and smoother skin!  The version I'm using now is the 2012 version with an updated formula, which looks a little bit different than the picture I've shown her.  This product is only available in Asia and will start hitting the counters in February 2012. 

Cough, cough, cough

I have been struck with a nasty cough these past 3 weeks. I don't think I've ever experienced this long and stubborn of a cough before, ever, in my lifetime.  It first started with a sore throat end of January and then the coughing began and it never stopped.  Of course I thought the coughing would eventually go away, but 3 weeks later, I am still coughing.  Worst is that sometimes I will have these cough spells that can go on for a good 5 minutes.  My throat gets super itchy and then I cough and cough until tears roll down my cheeks and my face turns flushed red.  It's really embarrassing (not to mention annoying) when I have these uncontrollable cough spells.  I finally went to the doctor's this past Tuesday.  I was afraid that I might have bronchitis, but thank goodness I didn't.  My lungs are clear.  The doctor thinks I have a post-nasal drip, caused by sinusitis.  Basically my sinuses are congested and the mucus that accumulate in that area falls into throat, causing me to cough.  I got prescribed Codeine and OTC Claritin.  Took the meds for 2 days now, and there seems to be a sight improvement to the cough. I just want to be done with this cough!!  It's really annoying.  Not a great start to the year, health-wise....

Update (2/19/2011)
I can't believe that due to my excessive coughing, I've pulled a muscle in my left rib area.  It is painful whenever I deep breathe and extremely painful when I cough!  It even hurts when I put on a jacket or lift up Sarah.  This is not good.  This is not the progress I was looking forward to.

A Few of my Favorite (Beauty) Things

As part of my job, I am lucky that I get to sample a lot of beauty products for free.  The down side is that sometimes I absolutely fall in love with that product...and then I have to shell out my own $$ to buy them when I run out of the sample.  Here are a few of my favorite (Beauty) things!

Clarins Gentle Foaming Cleanser

 
Why I like this:  It really cleans my face - all the make up, dirt, and oil. I feel very refreshed and squeaky clean. Best part is that my face doesn't feel dry at all.  







Chanel Precision Toner

Why I like this:  I actually don't know if toners ever really "tone" my face, but I like this one because it's alcohol-free and it smells great.









Genifique Eye Serum

  
Why I like this: It's super light.  It doesn't make your eyes heavy like some of the other eye creams do.  







Estee Lauder Hydrationist Moisture Cream

Why I like this:  I am in love with this product.  It has the perfect balance - it's heavy enough for my dry winter skin, but yet it's not too oily that my face feels gross.  I apply it 2x a day during the winter months, and my face is silky smooth and moisturized.



Christian Dior Hydra Life Gel Serum

Why I like this:  On hotter months when my face is less dry, this is the perfect moisturizer for me.  This is also good for people with oily skin.  It's light and easy to apply.  The gel texture in a serum formula is a great combination.  





Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler

 


 Why I like this: Because it really CURLS.  I have bought so many of the cheap ones from drug stores before, and it just isn't the same!  Asian lashes are short to begin with, but this curler really can make your lashes longer & curl up!!  I accept no other imitation!   





Helena Rubinstein Lash Queen Black Mascara

 
Why I like this:  The mascara is black-black. Super black. The brush is perfect and can really extend your lashes.  I wrote an entry on this blog about this product before.  Go check it out here.  I absolutely love it!!  







Lancome Bi-Facil Eye make-up remover

Why I like this:  Because it works!!!  Again, I have used other eye make-up removers before, and still can't get all the mascara out. But this one works wonder and it is the best! 

New Beauty Skincare Products

Below are some of the hot new products in the Beauty world! I was able to try these products and think that they are quite nice. Unfortunately, I haven't used them long enough to realize the benefits of their beauty claims! P.S. General rule is that you have to use the product religiously for 30 days before you can say if it works or doesn't work...

Clarins High Definition Body Lift

Clarins High Definition Body Lift redefines the hips and thighs, minimizing the appearance of cellulite.

Retails for $65

Lancôme Genefique Serum

Lancome Genefique Serum is a Youth Activator that boosts your genes' activity to stimulate the production of youth proteins.

Retails for $78

La Prairie Skin Caviar Crystalline Concentrate

This luxurious serum contains plant extracts, peptides, amino acids and even diamond, mica and quartz crystals to give your skin youthful glow, to make it firmer and increase skin’s elasticity, and to soften appearance of wrinkles.

Retails for $375

M.A.C. presenting Hello Kitty

MAC, the Cosmetics company, has came up with an ingenious business partner - Hello Kitty. Such an incredible idea and promotional gimick. It's not just Hello Kitty, it's the NAUGHTY Kitty! I first learned of this a couple of months ago, in one of my company's business meetings.

Today, I finally saw it Live!

At Bloomingdale's at the Westfield Center, MAC had a special promotion featuring Hello Kitty... and here is what they did!!

Hot (at least bodies anyways) guys had a Hello Kitty head on... isn't this crazy?? The big glob of black you see in the background is a bunch of Hello Kitty balloons, which my friend waited about 30 minutes to get one.

Of course my friend and I had to take a picture with the Hello Kitty hunks.

The look-aline Hello Kitty make-up model made an appearance. Sorry picture is very fuzzy.

Simply adorable. The make-up colors were kinda too crazy for me, so I didn't buy anything. It's very cute though. This will sell out in a minute.

Oh yeah, I got a Hello Kitty tattoo on my wrist... LOL!

The Best Mascara

Since I work in the Cosmetics department, I have a lot of exposure to make-up products. Of all the ones I've tried, this is by far my favorite and best mascara ever. It is probably the one mascara I would pay money for. It's called Lash Queen Feline by Helena Rubinstein.

Helena Rubinstein is owned by L'Oreal. Demi Moore is their spokesperson. Unfortunately, they don't sell products in the United States, but is widely popular around the world. Not sure why they don't sell in the U.S. - what a shame. It's such a great product. They are really well-known for their mascara. So what makes them good? The mascara is really black, separate your lashes, and extends them. It doesn't clump up at all. I know, it sounds too good to be true - but it's true!!

Here is a before and after picture. Check it out for yourself!

Before, lashes curled, no mascara


After, H.R. mascara applied