Hangover Busters for Girls: Look and feel as good as new

The last thing I need after an all nighter of partying like a rockstar is to look like I was the next day.  I'm also the type that will only get 4 hours of sleep max. with a hangover.  Well, people have different hangovers they deal with but if you are girl like me, the evidence of partying can be quite overwhelming; the breakouts, the dark puffy circles.. And besides looking like shit, there's also feeling like shit too; the headache, absolute dehydration and constant need to vomit.  Oh yea, don't forget about the calories and the toll on your liver.  Therefore, to keep my stamina, detoxify, and steering clear from looking like a zombie, I've come up with a hangover cure regime.   In order to look and feel as refreshed and rejuvenated as though one week of partying is just a dream, try out hangover busters.
Before you go to bed: Drink at least 3 glasses of water. Don't forget to remove the makeup!

When you wake up:

*1. Detoxify - Drink as much water as you humanely can.  Forget the 8-10 glass/day rule, you are going to want to remove most of that toxin from your body.  Drink one glass of water every hour and double with each meal.  Rid yourself those bloated and nauseated feelings.  DRINK IT!! DO IT!!

*2. Eyeball burstings headaches - If you forget to pop 2 advils before bed, it is probably a good idea to pop a couple once you wake up, even if you don't feel the headache coming yet.

3. Bags and dark circles - Cool pad pads, eye stick, eye cream... anything you got.  The best treatment for puffy eyes and bags are probably using a refrigerated tea bags pressed over your eyes. The caffeine in the tea will elevate blood circulation, while the coolness of the bags will ease the swelling.  I use Tony Moly 24 Hour Cooling Eye Stick coupled with Clinique All About Eyes.

*4. Eat carbs avoid fruits and dairy - this maybe the only occasion where it is better to eat more carbs than veggies as they tend to absorb excess alcohol.  Fruits, veggies and dairy may make you feel more bloated or give you diarrhoea.

5. Hit the gym and do light cardio. - nothing intense or you might seriously hurt yourself.  Just a quick 20-30 minutes work out on the elliptical or in the pool just to get the blood flow going, removing excess toxins from that hardworking liver of yours.  Most of all, remember how much calories are in those drinks? They will eventually catch up to ya.  If you have been consistently been going out, you probably will need a fixed daily workout schedule.

6. Hot tub - relax sore muscles, stimulate blood circulation.  You will feel a 100 times better.

7. Spa treat your skin - Hit the steam room. After not having enough sleep and with access alcohol consumption, I breakout like crazy.  To nourish my skin back to its health, I have to give it extra attention. The best way is to hit the steam room and open up those pores, detoxify for a bit.  Afterwards, I lather on Balea sea salt clay mask for deeply cleansing pores and rejuvenate fresh skin turnover.  Moisturize.  After this treatment, you will look more refreshed like you just came back from a vacation than a week of binge drinking.

Kwang Loong to the rescue!

8. If you're still feeling puky... Last but not least, if you are feeling nauseated, you can either vomit and get it over with. Another option is to take medication.  I have tried a small medicated drink and, after the first and last taste, I thought to stick with the hangover instead.  A less painful alternative is to take Gravol.  The downside is it will make you extra drowsy if you have to go to work.  The last option, my favorite, is to take the aromatherapy path (aka grandma smelling ointment).  My number one cure is Kwang Loong oil, a pain relieving ointment.  It is made up of menthol, lavender and eucalyptus oil that will help clear the air path, making you breathe easier and feel less nauseated.  The downside is your friends may make fun of you, but who really gives a shit at this day and age?


9. Green Tea - Free radicals from excess alcohol consumption can damage skin cells, leaving skin looking blotchy and leads to premature aging.  Green tea contains polyphenols, antioxidant compounds, which combat free radicals and reduce cell degeneration.  Drink up!

IT'S SKIN: Power 10 formula YE Effector serum review

I tried out this "high-potency serum with Yeast extract to instantly hydrate your skin and help it to maintain skin's ideal moisture level".  I'm not sure if yeast extract will have effects on oily skin but I tried to avoid my t-zone since (in my head) yeast + sebum might equal unpleasant side effect? Correct me if I'm wrong.  Anyways, the clear gel glides on evenly.  I do feel more elasticity soon after application.  However, shortly after the serum dries out my face feels firm but sticky.  I'm pretty sure I didn't over apply.  So for the result, moisture and softness, yes.  As for "perfect comfort", I don't really like the weird stickiness like I just smeared a popsicle on my face.

Battle of Mascaras: L2 De Guerlain, L'Oreal Telescopic, L'Oreal Voluminous, Benefit BadGal, Maybelline Colassal

Separates and Extends:

L2 de Guerlain mascara $50, from Sephora. Double wands gives lashes extra length before separating them into chunks, which after many strokes can look very clumpy.  Nonetheless, for its price and luxurious gold tube, it still does what it promises and the result is a very dramatic look.  The mascara stays on too well.  I have trouble removing it with eye makeup remover.  Initially, I purchased the waterproof one but it was impossible to remove at all with makeup remover.  I would've rated it higher, but since I find that I can achieve similar effects with average brands and it's so hard to remove, I give it a 4/5.

L'Oreal Telescopic mascara, $9.98 for 2 bottles and a liquid liner from Costco (approximately $3.30 each).  This tiny wand gets around every corner the big wands couldn't.  Lashes look fanned out and are extended just as long as using Guerlaine mascara. Although I feel like there is more control using the ball tip applicator, getting the bottom lashes can be sort of tricky and I have to be very careful.   The downside is the opposite of Guerlaine, it smudges easily and doesn't stay on for long.  Try coating with Clarins Double Fix mascara, no more smudges and runs! Oh, and every time I use this mascara, I have the biggest urge to bobble my head like this girl did here! 3.5/5

Voluminous and luscious:

L'Oreal Voluminous, $7.90, is by far the best for creating volumes and most affordable mascara.  I've been using this product for years and still finds it is working right up there with the high end mascaras.  Eyelashes look full and not clumpy.  I have very short lashes so it looks much better if I curl them before using this mascara.  It looks great for day or evening wear.  I would call this a classic, or a pair of black shoes I always keep around.  Good to have and worth the price. 4.5/5

Benefit BadGal Lash mascara, $19 from Sephora.  It does a great job of volumizing, in terms of lengthening, I feel like it could do more.  Very easy to apply but after too many sweeps it tends to clump.  Otherwise, it lasts all day with minimum smudging.  Removing it is not as painstaking as Guerlain, which I am thankful for.  4/5

Maybelline Colossal Volume Express mascara, $7 works the best when used with fake lashes or on bottom lashes.  It makes eyelashes look fuller but not too the point that it looks very different or dramatic than what any other mascara can do.  It also works way better on very long lashes since it is light and plumps up volume.  However, for short eyelash folks like myself it is not the right tool for everyday wear.  Removal is very easy. It comes right off.  3/5

Natural Beauty Blog

Anarin , my latest beauty blog about Thai natural spa and skincare products as well as easy to make skin care treats!  Online shopping for natural skin care products made from herbs and virgin coconut oil coming soon!

That perfect coverage, I found it...

After visiting Asia this past trip, I was still in search for the perfect makeup that gives a natural coverage without looking too caked on.  All I kept hearing about is the magical BB cream which was initially widely sold in Korea but now has become the biggest makeup essential all over Asia.

What exactly is BB Cream?
BB cream stands for blemish balm which was originally used as therapeutic moisturizer in Germany to treat irritated skin after facial treatment. BB cream becomes popular because mainly for its ability to conceal pores, blemish and acne while giving your skin a natural glow.  Most BB cream only comes in one or 2 shades.  BB cream has become so popular that almost every makeup brands have their own line of BB cream.  Special functions are also added to cater to clients' different needs ie. SPF, anti-wrinkles, whitening functions etc.  The prices for BB cream also range from $8 to over $50.

Picking out BB Cream
I was lucky enough to be shopping at the source of BB cream, South Korea.  Myong Dong in Seoul is a shopping street littered with shops after shops of cosmetic brands.  Picking and choosing BB cream with no prior experience or comparison can be quite overwhelming.  Missha has a reputation of carrying the best like of BB cream, so I decided to test it out for myself.  I picked out a tube of Missha M Perfect Cover BB cream in 23 natural beige.  The price was around $13 which was quite reasonable.  Once I put it to the test, I wasn't sure how much to use.  It turns how that you only need very small amount.  The  texture of the cream is more like a lotion but you get more coverage than using a foundation and concealer combined.  The cream also doesn't cake.  It blends in naturally on to my skin and evens out the complexion.  I was pleasantly surprised at how well it works.  The BB cream gives my skin a flawless and natural glow.  It looks like I was born with great skin!!! I have honestly never used anything as cost effective and has such great result!!  The only downer about this is that to keep it cost effective, you'll have to buy the BB cream straight from Korea.  Online websites obviously jacked up the price for something that are well sought after.  But I guess if you are looking to try it out, it is definitely worth a try.

I will even post comparison pictures up between the $13 M Perfect BB cream from Korea versus the $50 Classified Era Airbrush foundation I bought from Beauty Junkie (which does the trick, but my face feels like I'm wearing a mask).

My latest crush

I am absolutely digging this violet colour nail polish I discovered at my aunt's salon. It has just the right shade, hue, and gloss. It's not too flashy and not too light. I haven't stumbled upon this unique shade before. Unfortunately, it is from a no name brand which is leading me to a quest to find where exactly I can get more for myself! And another journey begins...

I got myself a treasure set

The Tarte Treasure Set from Sephora which folds out with layer after layer of goodies. This little jewel box got everything you need from eyeshadow, lipgloss, bronzer, highlighter, and 4 colours of blush. I especially love the huge spectrum of eyeshadows! It's branded natural so I assume it's better for your skin. Great quality, looks appealing, and I get excited every time I pull everything out like a transformer. It's only here for a limited time so get it before it's gone!

If you haven't made a wish on SephoraClaus already..

Sign up on twitter and follow @sephora now! Each day Sephoraclaus grant one wish to a lucky winner up until December 19th. Enter at http://sephoraclaus.com/

My top picks for cosmetics

Best Moisturizer - Neutrogena Moisture Oil Free Formula for Sensitive Skin

It's great for combination skin and in any type of weather. The lotion is non-sticky and you can tell the difference in skin softness right away.

Bare Escentuals (exclusive at Sephora) is 100 % bare minerals and comes with UV shield. The introductory kit comes with a How To dvd for beginners. I use it as all in one concealer, foundation and powder. The powder is really light and doesn't clog pores. I would recommend it for all skin types.

Dior 5 Colour Eyeshadow in Night Butterfly, really beautiful colour palettes.

Le 2 de Guerlain mascara adds volume and length like no other mascara. It's quite an investment but definitely worth the price if you have short eyelashes like me.

Skin products for Winter: Fight the dry spell!!

This article will especially come in handy if you are in Alberta, or living in areas of frequent snowstorms, and extreme winter season which lasts over 5 months.

Keep your heels soft through the snowstorm
The heel of your feet get the most stress from everyday activity; whether it's the type of restricting shoes you wear, standing on your feet all day, or the cold dry spell of winter. Overtimes, the skin develops callus, becomes cracked and blistering. If you suffering from old lady cracked heel syndrome, worry no more! Dr. Scholl's Callus Remover cream exfoliates dead skin right off, leaving you with newly exposed skin. Sorta gross scrubbing off dead skin..... but the end result is quite impressive. After, use Dr. Scholl's Pedicure Essentials Ultra Overnight foot cream. Not only is it good for your feet, but great for other dry areas such as hands knees and elbows as well. If you are looking to transform those dead looking hoves, into baby soft skin, the combination of those creams are perfect essentials! They are available in any drugstore for the callus remover and so they are great for your feet AND your wallet!

Lip Service

To cure flaky peeling lips, try using SmashBox Emulsion Lip Exfoliant which gently scrubs off dead skin cells with a hint of cooling mint sensation. Twice a day, moisturize your lips with Vaseline petroleum jelly or lip moisturizer with vitamin E to prevent your lips from drying. I find that Vaseline jelly works the best against combatting extreme winter.

Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly is a mixture of mineral oils, paraffin and microcrystalline waxes that, when blended together, create something remarkable - a smooth jelly that has a melting point just above body temperature. The result - it literally melts into skin, flowing into the spaces between cells and the gaps in our lipid barrier. Once there, it re-solidifies, locking itself in place.

Vaseline® Petroleum Jelly serves two functions: First it helps keep the outside world out - it protects skin from the effects of weather and exposure. Second, it acts like a sealant to help keep the inside world in - it forms an occlusive barrier to the natural water loss of our skin. So skin that is dry and chapped is protected from drying elements, enabling skin-softening moisture to build up naturally from inside the skin itself.

Lastly, don't forget to drink lots of water to keep your whole body hydrated.