[Me-Luna Shop Review] International Shipping Experience & Why I Chose MeLuna Cups + 10% Discount on Me Luna Cups

Price + Shipping: 26.88 € 

Purchasing Experience: 10/10

Shipping: 8/10 (14 days from Germany to Malaysia)

Coupon Code: DPA5Z8XC 

(10% on a Me Luna® valid until 31/01/2019 on www.me-luna.eu)

* not valid for other products from our offer or reduced goods. I don't earn any money from readers using the code.)

What is a menstrual cup? 

A menstrual cup is a small, pliable cup that looks like a tiny funnel that you can find in laboratories, but instead of funneling liquid somewhere, it's sole purpose is to collect - you've guess it - menstrual blood. It is folded and then inserted into the vagina like a tampon, where it will then unfold itself and create a sort of seal inside the vagina to collect menstrual flow. 

Me Luna has very kindly sent me a giant cut-out on how exactly a Me Luna cup can fit inside the vagina. ^^ This cupboard cutout tickled me for ages. Lol. Thank you~ 

The cup is emptied after a few hours as needed, and depending on the size you get, that could be up to 12 hours. Afterwards, the cup is emptied, rinsed out, and reused. In between menstrual cycles, the cup can be sanitized by boiling in water for 5 minutes or cleaned as necessary. Menstrual cups can last for up to ten years with proper care, which is an eco-friendly alternative to tampons and sanitary pads. 

There is, admittedly a steep learning curve in the beginning, but after you've gotten used to the way it works, it's easy to use, practical, hygienic, environmentally friendly, and offers - according to the Me-luna description page - a completely new feeling of independence. 

I've first heard of menstrual cups a few years back, but in a fleeting, 'huh, I didn't know things like that existed.' Unlike tampons or sanitary pads, menstrual cups are like the bonus content in the game of life. Some people never really unlock it. Some skip past it altogether and don't bother finding out more about it. It could be due to a number of factors. As for me, I was just getting used to having to suffer through sanitary pads and wasn't really keen on taking on another responsibility. After all, why fix something that isn't broken? 

Then why am I looking at alternatives now, you ask? Good question. 

Image from Health Medicine Network

Other than the obvious reason that this is a much eco-friendlier route (the average woman will use 12,000 to 16,000 disposable pads, pantiliners, and tampons in her lifetime), or that I could potentially go more than 12 hours without thinking about my period, or that it will reduce/eliminate ordor due to it's position, or that it could collect a lot more blood than sanitary pads/tampons and thus not have to worry about leakage, or well, you get the point. Initially though, it wasn't my noble quest to reduce wastage... I'm just a really curious person, okay? I see new things, I want to try, and this appears to be a new and improved way to handle periods and I really want to try it too. 

Menstrual cups have existed for a long time. According to the Me-Luna page, the first 'menstrual cups' were invented in the 1930s. This got me curious because I never would have thought cups to have existed for so long! The first design that looks like the cups that we are more familiar with today is invented by Leona Chalmers, who patented a design made from latex rubber. There were designs for cups before that too, but those look nothing like the cup designs now. 

The Improved Menstrual Receptacle was invented in 1884 and looked like this: 

Image from: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2015/06/89096/first-menstrual-cup-history

Lol. Interesting, isn't it? According to Refinary29.com, section a goes inside the vaginal while section B leads outside the woman's body to section A, which would collect menstrual fluid throughout the day. Seems kind of unnecessarily complicated now that we know about menstrual cups' design, doesn't it?

It didn't really make sense in my mind why the menstrual cup design didn't take off afterwards. In Lunette's history of Menstrual cups, I found the answer. Unfortunately, a shortage of latex rubber during World War II forced menstrual cups production to stop. In the early 1950's, inventor and American actress Leonar Chalmers re-launched the cup with improved designs. Yay, right? Unfortunately, it's an uphill battle there too. 

Women aren't as open to the idea of menstrual cups back than as they are now, and even with the menstrual cup company's big advertising budget, they were unable to make much sales and the cups disappeared in 1963. 

The problem with menstrual cups is also it's biggest selling points. People who would buy it would not necessarily need to buy a replacement. After all, the cups are reusable! And the people who aren't comfortable with trying it in the first place, which makes for the majority of the population, just wouldn't buy it. 

The earliest reappearance of the menstrual cup after that is quite possibly by The Keeper, which is manufactured in the United States in 1987 and is still available today. With the introduction of medical grade silicone in the beginning of the 21st century, menstrual cups became medical-grade and the first company to made silicon cups was the UK-based Mooncup in 2001. 

Now, there are so many brands available to purchase that it's dizzying. Yet, the use of menstrual cups are still not full embraced. 

There are many reason to go for menstrual cups. If you're already familiar with using tampons, I'd imagine the switch to menstrual cups would be easier for you, but even if you're a sanitary pads user (like me!), it's not too difficult a switch either!

Why Use Menstrual Cups? 

Menstrual cups collects menstrual fluid inside the body instead of absorbing it, like with tampons and sanitary pads, which means it would reduce odor, since it doesn't actually leave your body. I don't know about you, but whenever I get my period, my nose power amps up to a thousand percent and I turn into a bloodhound. There's no actual smell. It's just my brain insisting that there is because I know I'm having my period. 

Not having a tampon inside your body or a pad outside of it also means that the vaginal environment isn't affected by the pH of whatever the tampon/pads are. Tampons can cause or worsen vaginal dryness whereas sanitary pads can cause an overly damp environment outside of the body and increase the risk of fungus growing over the perineal region and around it. People with diabetes are especially prone to this issue. In cases where the pads are worn for too long, menstrual blood can lead to skin rashes and infections. The issues is further exacerbated by the damp environment caused by wearing pads. Ideally, you should change your pads every three to four hours. It is not recommended for women to wear panty liners daily (not even though that are meant to be worn daily - corporations are after your money!). The moisture absorbing surface can dry out the skin and cause irritations. 

Speaking of which, the cups are able to collect more fluid compared to tampons or pads and does not have the risk of infection, which means that you won't have to switch it every three to four hours. The suggested period to empty your cup is 12 hours or less to clean the cup and/or prevent leakage. 

While it's still possible to experience leakage using menstrual cups, this is mostly due to improper cup size or wrong application. There's a steep learning curve when it comes to menstrual cups, so don't be discouraged when you don't find the perfect fit the first time around. If worn properly, 

Which brings me to why I decided to go with the MeLuna cup.

Why Choose Me Luna?

They have a bundle (starter) pack available where buyers can get both sizes S & M, which leaves a little room for error so if it's your first time using a cup and you're not sure what size would fit you better, getting their bundle set is definitely a good deal. 

MeLuna Cup also has one of the biggest ranges available, so there's bound to be one that would work for you. 

When I purchased my MeLuna cup from the EU website and let them know that I will be doing a review, they were so kind as to send me a bunch of these samples that give a good idea of how varied their sizes are! Unfortunately, they are all punched through so I can't use any of these if the ones I purchased ends up not working. XD Well, I do have the coupon code that's usable until Jan 2019, so I could just get another? :P The glittery ones looks nice! They've also very kindly sent me a Sports version of their cups, which I will be reviewing shortly. ^^ 

The XL sure looks imposing, doesn't it? The sizes in the ring are from the smallest to the biggest. the shorter ones are the shorty classics, which would work better for those with shorter cervix. 

Or, here's a size by size comparison for the Classics vs their Shorty versions. 

There is a size guide for the Me Luna cups in their link here. Or, if you're like me an unsure, get a starter pack! They're reasonably priced. ^^ 

To tell the truth, there aren't many options available for getting menstrual cups here in Malaysia. Well, there aren't many options if you're looking for safe Menstrual Cups. There are so many cheap options available on shopee and lazada, cups for RM10 or less that ships from China and claims to be safe to use and 'medical grade' but hasn't gone through any testing. 

They're quite the deal, especially considering a legitimate menstrual cup is priced at RM90 and above. 

But the thing is, these cups aren't tested for safety and there's no telling what would happen if you put one of those silicone (or whatever it's made from) inside your vagina. Some consumers have purchased cheap cups and found the chemical smell too off-putting to even bring it even near their vagina and others have reported getting headaches after using the cups. And we don't even know what the long-term effects of putting those unbranded cups inside your body will do! 

With almost ten years experience in the industry, Me Luna cups are manufactured in Germany from start to finish and meet the highest medical standards. Me Luna menstrual cups do not contain any harmful plasticisers, protein, latex, pvc, silicon, alkylphenols, bleaching agents, deodorants, or absorbent gels. They're cleared for sale by the FDA in USA and by the Japanese Health Authority in 2017. Me Luna cups in every color are regularly tested by independent laboratories and judged to be safe for use as well.

Price & Shipping

There are a few places where I can get menstrual cups shipping to me from international locations, but I decided to go with Me Luna cups because the bundle purchase + shipping costs actually come up as the cheapest per cup. The company in EU ships worldwide with a reasonable shipping fee. 

For my bundle of 2 classic cups and shipping, the cost was 26.88 €, which is ($30.40) RM127.35. That's not too bad at all for two cups. There are three different handle styles available: 

• The Small Ball, least noticable and most comfortable.
• The Ring, which is most noticable and easiest to find for user worried about not being able to reach their cups easiliy (me); and 
• The Stem, which is great for beginners. It is comfortable and easy to find as well. 

I went to the ring because I wanted to have something I can grab onto when I panic and I've read a few reviews that said the ring is more comfortable than a stem, which can be a little pokey. 

I made my order on November 16, 2018 and the item was delivered the very next day. I received the order in Sarawak, Malaysia on November 30, 2018. Two weeks, so that's pretty good too! Unfortunately, the cup arrived while I was just finishing up my period and I had to go on a short trip, so I haven't gotten around to testing it out yet! I will be doing that soon.

Cleaning Instructions 

Before using the Me Luna cups for the first time, it is important to disinfect the cups by floating it completely submerged for 3 - 5 minutes in boiling water. Afterwards, it is sufficient to clean the Me Luna cups with mild soap and water. Rinse with clear water after washing to remove any traces of soap prior to using. 

From time to time, it is recommended to cook the Me Luna with some vinegar water or salt water to prevent stains and deposits. 

Dry the cup completely before storage and in non-airtight container. The storage bag provided with the purchase is a good place to store the cups. 

Instructions for Use

Always clean your hands thoroughly before inserting or removing the cup. Prior to inserting, fold the Meluna cup that is most comfortable for you. There are several folds that you can use, as illustrated in the pictures below. The C-fold, S-fold, or Punchdown-Fold. Personally, I feel the C-fold would be the easiest to get right the first time around. 

You can insert the cup while sitting on the toilet, in a standing position, or while crouching, whichever position is the most comfortable for you. A water-based lubricant can be used if you find yourself having difficulty inserting the cup. To avoid leakage, make sure the cup is unfolded completely upon insertion. On average, it is sufficient to empty, clean, and re-insert your cup two to four times a day. 

To remove the cup, relax your lower abdominal and vaginal muscles and remove the cup by slightly squeezing it together with your fingers to release the suction, which results from the fact that you pull on the cup during daily activities. A slight twisting motion of the cup can be helpful when removing the Me Luna Menstrual cup. The grip should not be used for gripping and forcing the cup out. Instead, it is supposed to lead you to the base of the cup. Take hold of the bottom of the cup to pull out the Me Luna. Be patient and don't panic if it is hard to remove it the first few times. 

The insertion, positioning, and removal of the menstrual cup needs a little practice. Some women succeed immediately while others take 2 - 3 cycles before it works. Be patient and don't worry too much if you have leakages. It may be that the cup wasn't opened all the way and you need more practice, or the cup size isn't perfect and you need to switch it up with another. ^^ No worries. 

First Impressions

I don't know why but I expected the cups to be bigger. Lol. There're not as imposing in real life as they are on screen! Me Luna has very kindly sent me a Sport version of the cups. As you can see from the pictures, there is visually nothing differentiating the two cups except for colors. In terms of firmness, however, the Sport is definitely firmer than the Classic. 

The sport version is aimed for those with a more active lifestyle and provides a more secure seal and resists compression by strong pelvic muscles but it can be more challenging to insert and remove. 

I have yet to boil it for safety and will do so prior to my first period just to make sure it's nice and clean. ^^ 

Hope this is helpful in some what! 

In the meantime, if you're looking to purchase a cup and doesn't know where to get one, Me Luna ships to most countries for reasonable shipping fees and you can use the code they've kindly provided for my readers! I'm not affiliated and I don't earn any money from you using the code. ^^ 

Coupon Code: DPA5Z8XC 

(10% on a Me Luna® valid until 31/01/2019 on www.me-luna.eu)

[Blackmores Official Flagship Lazada Store Review] My Shopping and Returns Experience

It's been a while since I reviewed a store, mostly because I haven't been purchasing as many things online as previously. It's a good thing, trust me. 

So, my parents are getting older and as such, have started requiring more supplements in their diet to keep their bodies in tip-top condition.

To make a super long story short, we've been purchasing a lot of Blackmores supplements and while most of them are readily available in stores, some are out of stock quite often. In addition, I don't like leaving the house, so purchasing online is a better option for me. 

It's something I'm not going to do again anytime soon. Let me tell you why. 

It's because some sellers think that since you can't see what you're buying, they can just clear off expiring stock with you. Exhibit A: Blackmores Flagship Store Lazada. 

I'm not even going to link them because I don't want to give them the traffic. 

First though, since this is a review, I'm gonna share my experience purchasing from them. 

Blackmores Flagship Store Lazada

Guardian and Watson also sells Blackmores, but I thought to myself, hey, official flagship store on Lazada means they would have newer stock and I wouldn't end up with expiring things right? Right? Wrong. Half of the items I received from the store expires in May 29, 2019, which gives me 6 months to finish it. Honestly, if it was one of those 30 tube supplements that my parents would probably finish in a month, that's fine, but no. They're 360 capsules with the recommended dose of 2 per day. I got two of these, so it's 720 capsules + another two bottles of 30 each so that's 60 +720 = 780 capsules. 

The Blackmores Official Flagship Store in Lazada was having a launching promotion during the time and had a free gift event for orders above RM180 and RM250. I was getting enough to reach the RM250 threshold and could use the free gift, which is the Blackmores Evening Primrose Oil + Fish Oil tube of 360 capsules. Good deal, right? Wrong. You've probably guessed it. This is one of the items that's expiring in six months. It's a free gift, so I'm going to forgive this, but I've purchased the EPO and Fish Oil tube separately in a different order because I don't like leaving the house and I don't really see this sold elsewhere and buying more means I get to leave the house less. Lo and behold, it has the exact same expiry date. 

That's 720 capsules of EPO and Fish Oil that Blackmores is expecting me to finish within 180 days. The only way I can even get closed to finishing this is if I take 4 pills a day like an EPO/Fish Oil addict. Nobody needs this much essential fatty acids in their diet, okay?

In retrospect, I should have checked the other reviews, which have stated that this is a common occurrence with the Official Blackmores Flagship Store.

Shipping & Packaging

I made my order on 20 November 2018 and paid for it on the same day. Package is processed on 21st and packed, shipped out, and subsequently delivered on the 29th November 2018. That's a 9 day delivery time, which is five more days than I'm used to because I've been a shopee supporter for a long time and they use poslaju that ensures shipping and packaging doesn't take too long. Still, it's not too bad lah. I'm just used to faster delivery. 

As for packaging, the bubble wrap does a pretty decent job of keeping the glass bottles from breaking, so I have no complaints there. However, they do seem to have a problem with underwrapping items and causing those to shatter in transit. And, from what I'm reading in the reviews, it appears that they mark this off as a loss and hope the buyers forget about it since you can't really return shattered glass, can you? Can you? Huh. That would be interesting. From what I can see, Lazada does not have an option whereby if you received items that are not to expectations (arrived broken, ect), you can open refund straight. In Shopee, the payment doesn't go through until the buyer has checked the contents and confirmed items are received in perfect condition, whereas in Lazada, the items are tracked and once it's delivered, it's no longer their problem. 

You wish lah. You're a seller with responsibilities and I intend to hold you accountable. 

Solving The Problem

The item listing for the product is gone. I wished I had taken a screenshot, but the reason why I had proceeded with the order is because a buyer had asked in their Q&A section when the items would be expiring and they reassured the buyer that all items shipping from their store would have reasonable expiry dates.

6 months is not a reasonable expiry date. 6 months is clearing stock. 

Never mind though, I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and check what they can do about it. I took a picture and sent to their customer service on the day I received the item, 29th December. I received a reply yesterday, on the 4th of December. Their solution? Contact someone else. AKA, Lazada customer service. 

Seeing as this is Blackmore's fault, I don't understand why they're redirecting me elsewhere, but it's fine. I'm a reasonable consumer. I can deal with being redirected. 

I went to Lazada CS, which is another load of trouble altogether. Getting an actual human being to response from Lazada is a treasure hunt and an exercise in patience. It's Wednesday and I've already downed two EPO & Fish Oil in an valiant effort to finish it before it expires. 1000mg of Omega-3 and 1000mg omega-6 are pumping in my veins. I've got this! 

After some explaining, Lazada CS tells me that the items are no longer available, so I should open a return and refund request and I'm raging because the entire point of buying things online is so that I don't have to go through the trouble of going physically into the store and now it's just more trouble because I have to return the items in a poslaju and wait for refund once the item reaches the warehouse.

And the free gift after RM250 purchase is a complete loss, since I can't very well request a refund for that, can I? 

Now, I have to decide if I want to catch a grab to return the items to poslaju or if I just want to brush this off as a loss, which is probably what Blackmores Malaysia is banking on. Still, getting a grab and back from poslaju is going to cost money and ugh, not only am I going through all these trouble and won't end up with the products that I actually want, I'm going to LOSE money. 

Edit: I've started a return process after talking to a customers service representative in Lazada and was informed that shipping would be covered by Lazada. So, I've sent the item for return this Monday, 10 December 2018. We'll see how it goes!

What an unnecessary load of headache.

For your information of the eight items I purchased from Lazada Blackmores, 2 expires in May 2021, 2 expires in April 2020, and 4 expires in May 2019. I want to say salted eggs also last longer than the supplements from blackmores, but they don't lah. Blackmores sells supplements that lasts a little longer than salted eggs. Lol. 

Honestly, the entire experience has put me off purchasing from Lazada altogether. I'm not going as far as to delete my Lazada account, but I'm sure as hell never going to buy Blackmores online again (and neither should you). 

[Airish Makeup Review] Airish Blacky Bold Mascara (Lashes De Vagary Mascara)

Price: RM49.00

(available in Airish Official Malaysia) 
Verdict: 9/10

Airish Lashes De Vagary Mascara

I received this Airish Cushion Foundation from All A Box Malaysia in exchange for an honest review, but all thoughts are my own, as always.  This retails for RM89 in the official Airish store.Airish London LTD is a cosmetic brand that has branches in Malaysia and Indonesia, with the brand being more popular in our neighbors (Indonesia). The makeup brand was found in 2016 and originated from London, but their products are made in Korea, which is arguably the beauty capital of the world.  

This Airish Mascara is supposed to a lightweight water-proof mascara that instantly thickens and lenghtens lashes evenly and smoothly, leaving them soft with virtually no flakes, smudges, or clumps. 

Packaging and Formulation

You know what would be very nice. If they actually wrote what this is outside of the tube. It just says Airish Cosmetics, which is cool and all, but I kinda like my stuff when they're, y'know, labelled. Lol. Regardless, the packaging of the mascara is pretty nice! I like that the handle is long and steady, which makes it easy to handle and pply. 

According to the description, the mascara is suitable for sensitive skin and contact lens wearers. It has non-sticky gel formula that can be removed with soap and water. 

Performance

(I'm not quietly judging you, I'm showing off mascara. lol.)

Performance-wise, they're actually really good! As you can see though, they're not as 'clump-less' as they like to claim. There are visible clumps even with just one application on the left side of the picture. I didn't apply any on the right.

These are amazingly water-proof and just life-proof in general, which basically means I can forget I have this on and rub my eye without getting smudges all over my face, which is awesome~ 

Getting this off is kind of more than a soap-and-water affair though. You would definitely need a proper makeup remove to get it all the way off, but as long as you're gentle with it, you won't end up taking any lashes. 

Overall, I'm really pleased with how the Mascara performed! I've used this for a whole-day event in the past and my mascara stayed perfect throughout. ^^

[Makeup Review] Airish Cushion Foundation

Price: RM89.00

(available in Airish Official Malaysia) 

Airish Glowy Cushion Foundation 

I received this Airish Cushion Foundation from All A Box Malaysia in exchange for an honest review, but all thoughts are my own, as always.  This retails for RM89 in the official Airish store. 

When All A-Box Malaysia offered to send me a box of beauty products to review, I wasn't expecting the cosmetics in it, mostly because my skin is particularly sensitive to anything that could potentially be clogging, so that pretty much means I need to be extra careful when it comes to introducing makeup to my skin. That said, I was estatic to get this because I'm running out of my 7Hara Cushion. I am very curious how it would fare against the 7Hara Spotlight Cover Cushion, which is almost twice the price of this one at the suggested retail price of RM183. We'll see. :D 

Airish London LTD is a cosmetic brand that has branches in Malaysia and Indonesia, with the brand being more popular in our neighbors (Indonesia). The makeup brand was found in 2016 and originated from London, but their products are made in Korea, which is arguably the beauty capital of the world. 

The Airish Cushion Foundation is a liquid foundation that is, according to their flowery description, 'infused in an innovative sponge that delivers the perfect amount of makeup. Our glow refreshing formula creates sheer to medium coverage to match your skin tone for natural fresh-faced perfection.' I have expectations, man. XD

Packaging

The Cushion comes pre-filled and does not include a refill, which is to be expected for the price point. The packaging for the cushion is pretty standard for cushions, in my opinion. Nothing too fancy or revolutionary about it, which is good.  The compact is sturdy and comfortable to hold with a design that is matte and doesn't try to record my fingerprint, which I like. Lol. 

Do remember to remove the protective layer on the mirror. I've seen people fail to do this because of how well the protective layer adheres to the mirror that they don't even realize it's there in the first place. 

The sponge is reminiscent of the Face Shop CC Puff that I've purchased for about ~RM8. It's not a bad thing. I quite like the puff since it doesn't absorb too much for my product and allows me to have an even application. There's a reason for my repurchase, after all. 

Ingredients

You know what would be really nice? If official product pages would have their own ingredients list so I don't have to painstakingly stare at it from their tiny print. I keyed in some of their ingredients into cosdna and found the usual stuff, water as the solvent, titanium dioxide as the pigment  and sunscreen, various iron oxides as pigments, and a few emollients as well as well as viscocity controls. The preservative used appears to be phenoxyethanol, which some people may be sensitive to. 

It also contains fragrance, though I can't really smell it on the cushion. 

I'll be the first to admit that I've been spoiled by the 7Hara cushion, which is made not only with natural and safe ingredients, but also add ingredients that are able to promote healthier skin, such as Japanese Apricot flower for anti-aging, cheery blossom for soothing, white magnolia for it's anti-inflammatory properties, and lotus flower for skin purifying. 

I kind of wish that Airish would adopt the same concept, but again, the price point of RM89 means sacrifices have to be made. It does have several emollients in the product, but the main focus of it is to be a pigmented foundation. The fact that it works as both a cushion foundation and a sunscreen is enough to satisfy me. 

Due to the addition of several sunscreen ingredients in the product, it has an SPF of 50, which doesn't surprise me. What does surprised me that there's no PA mentioned, for some reason. PA refers to the amount of protection the sunscreen offers from the UVA rays, whereas SPF protects against UVB. Titanium dioxide, which is the second ingredient in this cushion foundation protects against both UVA and UVB radiation, so there's definitely UVB protection here too. I'm curious why they didn't think it's necessary to point it out. 

Upon further digging, I found that the description on it's store mentions it is PA+++. It's just... not advertised on the box, which is odd.

Directions and Texture

Instruction says to 'press the anti-microbial applicator into cushion foundation and tap the applicator onto skin to deliver the perfect dose of foundation. Then tap on more to build a desired level of luminous coverage.' 

I have yet to learn the importance of not dragging the product on my skin and patiently patting it on instead. Still, this is very forgivable when I do forget and drag it on instead. 

The water-based formula is supposed to give a refreshing effect on the surface of my skin for an instant hydration of fitting sponge. There are several emollients in it's ingredient, which can help soften and soothe the skin, but I do find it just a little on the sticky side. The texture is spreadable via both patting and *cough* dragging, so I didn't find it hard to apply. As for the fragrance... It kind of smells like crayola, to be honest. Thankfully, the scent doesn't last long after application. 

Performance

The shade provided for me is natural beige, which is should probably be a closer match to my skin tone compared to the only other shade it provides, which is Natural White. Unfortunately, this isn't the right shade for me. :( I'm not sure if you can tell from the picture above, but I did half my face and one side is a different (browner) tone than the side that's not applied. It is supposed to create a sheer to medium coverage to match my skin tone for a natural fresh-faced perfection, but I didn't find that too true for me. 

I wore a #21 for 7Hara and the same shade for laneige, for a quick comparison. I don't know how I feel about this cushion foundation, to be completely honest. While the coverage is pretty good, I did not like the finish of the cushion foundation at all. It has a sticky finish that makes me feel like I have a film over my skin. Unfortunately, this isn't the shade for me, since it made my skin a darker tone and just a wrong shade, as you can probably tell from the picture above. It does have a pretty good coverage though! 

It is, however, waterproof enough that it will stay on very well even in the hot Malaysia weather, which is a really good thing. The finish also means that if I'm doing a full-face makeup, it will allow the rest of my products to set perfectly, which means it's an ideal makeup to be wearing for a full-day event. Ahh, pros and cons, I suppose? 

Rating makeup is a little difficult, since user reviews varies so much from person to person. Just because it didn't work perfectly for me, doesn't mean it would be absolutely perfect for you. For this cushion, I started with a perfect 10 and deducted points for a few things. 

1. The lack of any visibly 'healthy' ingredients in the product. Something moisturizing or soothing for the skin would have been nice! At the price point, there are other cushions that does the exact same thing this cushion offers and manage to have ingredients that have me swooning. For example, the April Skin Snow Fixing Foundation that retails for RM80+ has green tea leaf water, jeju blossom extract, and camellia japonica flower extract for anti-aging, antioxidant, and moisturizing. Silkygirl is half the price and contains eldeweiss extract as an antioxidant. 

2. Lack of shades. For a brand that seems to be focused on Malaysia and Indonesia market, having only 2 shades available is almost unforgivable. There is such a variety of skin tones in both Malaysia and Indonesia. I get that it's impossible for carter to everyone, but I expect at least 3, okay? One with darker skin tone would be good. 

3. Dewy (sticky) finish. This cushion foundation is impossible without a finishing touch and isn't ideal for a quick makeup session. 

I expect more from the product. It's not bad for what it is, but it's also worth pointing out that at the price point of RM89, there are plenty of products offering a lot more. 

[Cosmetic & Skincare] Malaysia Beauty Store: Airish x All A-Box Skincare and Cosmetic

Isn't this just the loveliest box?! I received this PR Beauty box from All-ABox Malaysia in exchange for an honest review two weeks ago and have had some time to play around with everything in it, so I'll get to mini reviews in a bit! ^^ I do like to make in-depth reviews of skincare products though, so you can count on separate reviews for most of the items here as well. :) 

Before we delve into what's in the box, I just have to gush about how ridiculously beautiful this box is. Ahh... The fairytale theme is just awesome and makes me feel like I'm opening up a gift! I keep the nicer boxes I get from stores to reuse, and this is definitely going to be one of the boxes that's being reused as a storage box. Althea does these lovely thematic boxes as well ever holiday season, but this is lovelier, I think. :P

Anyways, a little background on All A Box Malaysia and the Airish brand. 

All A Box Malaysia

The story of All A-Box started in September 2017. It is a platform where the curators find and provide not just beauty products, but hair-products, supplements, and miscellaneous fashion and popular items sources overseas and also in Malaysia. 

The founders of All A Box Malaysia understands that the hot and humid weather here means not all beauty and skincare products are suitable to be used, so they  source brands that are more suitable here. They focus on brands from Korea, Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, and others. Some of the more popular and well-known brands that they are selling include Tony Moly, Innisfree, and Nature Republic. One of their main sellers, however, is the Sparkling Skincare line, which is a fusion of technology from Korea and Philippines. They've included one of the Sparkling products in the box, which I'm really excited to be able to try out. :) 

Check Them Out Here

Airish London LTD (Airish) 

Airish London LTD (Airish), according to their about us page, "is a leading brand in the international cosmetics and beauty industry that uniquely exhibits a combination of fashion elements into a cosmetic product range." That's an odd description for a beauty product, but I can deal. They have branches in Malaysia and Indonesia, though I believe this brand is a lot more popular in Indonesia and they're expanding into the Malaysian market gradually. The makeup brand is found in 2016 and originated from London but their products are made in Korea. That threw me for a loop, definitely, because of the word 'London' in their names. XD 

Anyways, now that we've got their backgrounds out of the way, let's look at what pretty little things I get to paint my face with! ^^ 

Check Them Out Here

What's in my All A Box! :D 

The first thing I see upon opening are the two sheet masks! :D I am a huge fan of masks, so these intrigue me. I try to sheet mask at least once a week. I used to sheet mask a lot more frequently, but because the weather here in Malaysia has gone into raining season, it's too cold and humid to sheetmask as much. That said, these Images mask originate from China and are both pearl extract masks. I've actually had a fairly decent experience with masks from China. They tend to have more alcohol in their masks that makes it so that the end-result isn't so tacky, but since my skin isn't sensitive to alcohol in products, I'm fine with that. :) I can't seem to find this brand online, but I'll do a mini review on my instagram when I get to it. :) 

This white box contains a face towel. Towels are always useful. The texture for this is a bit on the harsher side though, and I kind of wish it was more colorful. XD Still, a good addition. :) 

The blue box is an All-A Box, which is another lovely addition to my collection of boxes. ^^ There's no such thing as too many boxes. ^^ Before we get to that though, let's look at the Fresh Sparkle Wipes and Airish Glow Cushion Foundation. 

The Fresh Sparkle Wipes contains 50 pieces of wipes that feels minty when applied. Apparently the main ingredient is lemon, which I'm a little iffy about since lemon on it's own is really harsh and when used incorrectly, could cause burns. I'm happy to report that the lemon content in this is fine. :) I'll do a fuller review once I've had a few more uses of this. :) 

The Airish Cushion Foundation retails for RM89 and is a water based foundation with SPF50 protection. There's 13g of product and the shade I received is natural beige. The only other shade is Natural White. Limited choices for sure, but natural beige worked pretty well for my skin. I normally wear a laneige N23, for your information. :) The coverage for this is pretty decent! I tried this on the back of my hand and it provided enough coverage to hide the veins all over my hand. It does leave somewhat of a tacky finish though, which is fine since it's only meant to be the first step of the makeup routine. :P 

Opening the All A Box blue box gives me more Airish products. Specifically, the Airish Beauteous Compact Powder. This retails for RM59, which is a decent price for a compact powder. It does look like it would last a long time since a little product goes a long way. The shade I received is Medium beige, which isn't a particularly good shade on me. It would work perfectly as a contouring powder though, so I've taken to using it for that. This goes perfectly on top of the Cushion Foundation and provides a smooth finish. 

Next is the Fancy Lady Blusher, which is RM39 in stores. I received the peach tone. It can be applied with your finger, or a regular blush. The color payoff is pretty decent and gives me a nice, healthy flush. ^^ 

My favorite thing of the lot is probably the Airish Blacky Bold Mascara. It's quite big for a mascara, but it's very light and the size allows me a better grip. It elongates my lashes perfectly and is fairly waterproof.  It gives a smooth and glossy finish and is safe for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers. I had this on for 5am to 10pm on a particularly long day as a bridesmaid and it was perfect throughout! No smudges, and waterproof. :D It was removable with cleansing water, though I do still find specks on it a day later, but it doesn't look like it's taken any lashes with it, which makes me happy because I have limited eyelashes and I don't want to lose any. 

Another free gift that I almost forgot is a Hyaluronic Acid Hydra Essence that comes in a really fun packaging that looks like it's a needle. :D It's just fancy packaging. There's no actual needles involved. Lol. This is meant to lift, moisturize, and replenish skin. With only 10ml of products, it won't take too long to finish it. ^^

Last is the Ice Whitening Cleanser Sparkling Skincare. This is a natural skincare that consists mainly of papaya, which has the enzyme papain that helps fade dark spots and induce skin fairness in addition to removing blemishes. The cleanser should be finished within 6 months of opening. I haven't used this long enough to see results, but will report back when I do! 

Overall, I'm really pleased with everything in the box. Airish is a new brand for me and I haven't seen it anywhere in stores. I tried to click the 'store locator' on it's official site and it didn't work, so I do believe they aren't available in brick-and-mortal stores yet. If you're interested in getting anything of theirs, do get in touch with the lovely people in All A Box! :) 

x

Hello #MYCYBERSALE 2018! A Short Guide To Buying Safely Online

The 5th #MyCyberSale 2018 national online sales even starts in less than 4 hours as of the publishing time of this article and I am very excited! September 3rd, 2018 marks the launch of Malaysia's biggest online sales event with more than 1,200 merchants taking part this year. With this many merchants, many of whom are capable and ready of shipping orders overseas, #Mycybersale 2018 aims to draw more than 13.9 million online shoppers in Malaysia from 3rd September to the end of the event on the 7th.

Before launching into the background of the event and a mini guide to buying online, let me just drop this link here so you can get ready to start shopping if you're a veteran of online shopping! :D

Start Shopping Here

And before I forget, #MYCYBERSALE has a lucky draw even for purchases over RM50 in a single receipt from any participating merchants. Submit the form via the website above to be entered into the lucky draw!

The National ICT Association of Malaysia (otherwise known as PIKOM) event is supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC). According to their press release, regional and international brands taking part in the online sales event includes Lazada, Shopee, Shopback, 28Mall, Malaysia Airlines Berhad, Qoo10, Hermo, Shopback, and Unilevel, though some stores have already started on the online shopping even with vouchers and discount codes given out daily in anticipation of it.

There are bound to be a multitude of items to strike your fancy during the event, be it flight tickets and travel essentials, home and living products, food and beverages, wellness services, sporting equipments, smartphones and other electronics, or just a bunch of new skincare and makeup items and clothes! ^^

Still, it doesn't hurt to be careful and if you're new to buying online and am wary about typing your credit card details on your computer screen, here's a short guide to buying online. 

A Short Guide To Buying Safely Online

What You Need: 

1. A Secure Internet Connection

I am sometimes guilty of this too, but we really shouldn't be online shopping with free public WiFi. I'm looking at you, all the people browsing shopping sites in Starbucks and in airports. This is one example where paranoia is encouraged. Do not enter or access sensitive personal information when you're using public wifi hotspot. This includes entering your credit card information to complete a purchase, so none of that.

While it is usually safe to purchase online via WiFi, some online shops do not encrypt the information shared on their site, which makes it possible to steal your data. Be sure to check for https and a padlock icon. However, since most of the stores are linked via 

2. Credit/Debit Card or Online Banking

In order to complete online purchases, you're going to need at least either an online banking account or a debit/credit card. This allows you to  pay the merchant, obviously. ^ ^ I've noticed that recently, my debit cards are linked to my phone so that each purchase needs to be authenticated with another passcode sent directly to my phone number, so keep your phones handy as well. This added security is awesome for making sure all purchases are authorized by the owner of the cards and if you haven't gotten your banks to get around to that yet (though I'm pretty sure this is mandatory at this point), I strongly suggest doing so.

How To Stay Safe On Your Shopping Spree

1. Check Statements

With online banking so readily accessible nowadays, it's just logical to go online regularly and check for your electronic statements. Checking for credit card, debit card, and checking account statements not only keeps you on your toes with what's happening in your accounts (ie, how much you've spent), it also ensures that you're not spending over your budget.

In case of credit cards, ensure that your charges are all accurate before paying the bills. If you notice anything suspicious on your statement, notify the bank immediately!

2. Stay At Home and Use Your Own Device

I mentioned a secure internet connection beforehand, but it's worth noting again to stick to known networks, or if you're tech-savvy, use a VPN (virtual private network) when doing purchases. Don't use unfamiliar computers/devices to buy things online either! You have no idea what kind of spyware or malware might be infecting that computer.

Plus, if you shop at home, you can do it in your pj's without getting judged. :P

3. When Something's Too Good To Be True, It Probably Is

With more than 1,200 merchants taking part, it's difficult to ensure that all merchants are trustworthy, so it's up to you to keep yourself (and your money!) safe. Skepticism goes a long way toward saving yourself from a bad purchase. If something's too cheap to be true, there's probably a catch somewhere or the other.

Watch out for links that bring you out of the merchant's store. Don't let sellers conduct businesses out of the store. Basically, don't let anyone talk you into banking in payment directly into another account. This is a sure way to never see that transferred money ever again.

That's all I have to say. ^^ Happy Shopping everyone!

Kuching Fest 2018 - Must Try! Watermelon Ice Cream, PokeBowl, Crocodile Meat, and More!

One of the most look-forward to yearly events in Kuching is the Kuching Fest celebration that's held throughout the month of August. In addition to various performances, musical concerts, galleries, exhibitions and garden shows, the event is host to more than 200 food stores all congregating in a single location. The food, is, admittedly, the highlight of the event. 

The annual event is organized by Kuching South City Council and held yearly at Dewan Masyarakat along Jalan Padungan from July 27th to August 19th. This year, Kuching south City Council (MBKS) banned the use of styrofoam packs in order to encourage the 3Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). There are a total of 287 food stalls, including 15 serving halal food in the festival in 2018. 

Getting to the location is an exercise in patience, since the issue of traffic jams has never quite been solved. Getting a parking spot is another problem altogether, though if you don't mind a little walking (especially after getting stuffed with all the different food in Kuching Fest), then it's not a problem at all. That said, I recommend using Grab if you're not into driving through traffic. If you've never used Grab before, my referral code: KUCHING2018 gets you RM3 off your first ride (which means if you live near enough to kuching fest, it might end up being a free ride. lol). I would rather just have someone drop me off at the front door for a fee than worry about getting a parking space for my car. ^^ 

I've managed to try a selection of different items in Kuching Fest this year and have opinions. OPINIONS! Lol. Here's all the things I've tried and what I thought about them! Unfortunately, I visited a bunch of these stalls during heavy rain, so I hadn't had the chance to take pictures of everything. :( Also, do bear in mind that this are just my opinions. I'm entitled to like or dislike stuff, as are you. That said, here're some of the things I tried this Kuching Fest and what I thought of them! 

1. Ice Cream

Fried Ice Cream is one of the stalls that I didn't manage to take a picture of, but Fried ice cream is, in my humble opinion, a must try item during Kuching fest! I'm not sure if it's available any other time of the year, honestly, and for RM2.50 per piece, it's a bite into nostalgia that's not to be missed for sure! It's a bread-wrapped ice cream (flavor of vanilla, strawberry, and chocolate), that's deep fried. Crunchy and sizzling hot on the outside and ice-cold ice cream inside. Yum!

There is a ridiculous amount of ice cream selections during this year's kuching fest, including Burnt Ice Cream (Stall 211b), which is basically an outer layer of marshmellow that's scorched to perfection wrapped around a layer of peanuts and an ice cream.

There are more Watermelon Milk Ice Cream stalls than I could count. It's like everywhere I turned, there's another watermelon ice cream stall. I suppose it's a good pick-me-up for hot weather, but 2/3 of the Kuching Fest this year is dreary weather, either raining, drizzling, or thunderstorming, so I wasn't particularly keen on getting wet from the rain + ice cream. Nevertheless, it's a fun refreshment and the watermelon will counteract all the fried food items you're bound to have later on. :P Another fruit-themed ice-cream dessert I've been seeing around is Coconut Ice-Cream. At RM8.00 per piece, I deem this waaaay overpriced and since I'm not a huge fan of coconut-themed dessert that's not like, coconut water, I didn't even bother. Still, I notice their business is pretty good though, so people seem to enjoy it. 

I-stick (Stall22) caught my attention due to sheer cuteness. The ice cream deserts are all designed in a cute-sy matter that's immediately instagrammable. Not my cup of tea and hardly worth RM8 unless you're really into taking cute pictures. 

2. Cheesy Chicken 

Another food option other than watermelon ice cream that's springing up like mushroom after rain is cheesy chicken, which is deep fried chicken with a melted cheese inside the layer of chicken. There are a couple of stores that sell this and from what I've gathered from friends and family, the consensus is that the more money you pay for the chicken, the more cheese you get. If you're really a fan of chicken and cheese together, splurge a little. It's worth it! 

The stall I tried is 71, which has the cheesiest option at RM15. It's quite worth it. The cheese is super stringy inside and melted just the right amount. It's delicious, to be fair, but RM15 for flattened chicken with cheese is expensive lah. ><

3. Poke Bowl (70A) 

The only store in Kuching Fest selling something marginally healthy is the pokebowl stall that's, unfortunately, quite well-hidden. But if you're gonna try the cheese chicken from Stall 71, they're right next door! Lol. 

The colorful mixture of meat and vegetable on rice makes a full meal on it's own. I tried the braised pork, which is well-seasoned and tastes pretty good with the fresh vegetables and edamame soybean (yum!). This is a good option if you're tired of all the deep-fried monstrosities in kuching fest, or would just rather have something less unhealthy to go with all the meat-selection that you've gotten. :P The price for pork is RM9, if I remember correctly? Their price ranges from RM7 - RM10, which is probably one of the cheapest option for an actually balanced meal you'll find in kuching fest. 

I'd suggest sharing this and eating it with other meat options though! Since there's so many things to try in kuching fest. 

4. Taiwanese Sausages 

Some things never change. The selection of taiwanese sausages available in Kuching Fest is no exception. I've seen this available for years and years. I'm not a particularly big fan of mystery meat myself, but Kuching Fest calls for an exception and I managed to try a few. Still not a big fan. Lol. You'll have your options if you enjoy them, since there are multiple stores selling taiwanese sausages during the event. 

5. Souffle! 

Souffles are baked egg-based dishes that are meant to be crispy on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. The souffles available during kuching fest are pancake souffles, which is a breakfast trend in Japan. Instead of cooking the souffles in the oven, the pancake souffles are made just the way pancakes are made, except the egg whites are beaten beforehand to soft peaks, and then folded into the pancake mixture in order to obtain the fluffy, airy, souffle-like texture. The batter deflates quickly, so it's meant to be eaten as soon as you get it.

These are lovely desserts and worth a try if you're not keen on making them at home on your own! About RM10 for ~2 piece of souffle pancakes with a flavor of your choosing, which isn't too expensive. :) If you're an adventurer, this recipe worked pretty well for me! :) 

6. Dragon Beard Candy 

This is another item that I don't see very often outside of Kuching Fest, and it's something that I always pick up whenever I go. :) The stall 193, has a few selections of filling for the candy. I'm normally a huge fan of sugary deserts and dragon beard candy, which is a handmade traditional art in China, a type of pulled candylike taffy that's flossy-delicate and melt-in-your-mouth delicious is... just not. I'm not sure if it's because the pack that I bought has been sitting out for a while, or if my expectations were too high, but eating the candy is a chore, which isn't how eating sugar-based desserts is supposed to go. :( Major disappointment. 

7. Crocodile Meat 

One of the biggest attraction this Kuching Fest is the Crocodile Meat stuffed in a bun. It sells like hotcakes and the customer service here is quite bad. Lol. You could wait here for half an hour and not get anything, which is what happened to a few of my friends during the kuching fest. If you're not keen on waiting and really really want to try Crocodile meat, Juniper, which, if is linked to the stall anyways, sells Crocodile Chop in their restaurant. :) The meat has a fish-like texture and a chicken-like taste with a gamey aftertaste that lingers in your mouth. It's probably due to the fact that the crocodile sourced are wild. I'm personally not a fan but I'm sensitve to gamey aftertastes of wild meat, so maybe you'll like it. It's just like, my opinion, man. 

Regardless, it's worth a try if you're in it for the wow-factor, and the smaller serving (RM10 for 3 pieces) is a good thing in the sense that the flavors added can probably cover the taste, but don't go into it expecting something life-changingly delicious. >< 

8. Miscellanous 

No Kuching fest outing is complete without trying all the little things available. The whole point is to gouge on unhealthy stuff you normally won't get your hands on. Leave all plans of dieting at the gate please. Lol. The deep fried Oreos available in Auntie E's Sweet Treats (Stall 130B) are well worth a look. There's also Enoki Golden Mushroom, both of which are near the front gate. ^^

You can also get your hands on plenty of skewered meat, even more ice cream treats, and all the dessert. Like, legit. All. The. Desserts. 

I went to Kuching Fest more times than I can count this year and couldn't even try like, a fraction of a fraction of what they have to offer. My overall opinion on it is surprisingly okay lah. If you go early enough, (5pm-6pm), you can avoid all the crowd that comes after. Then again, half the fun of these events is the crowd ofo people. ^^ 

I'm the first to admit there are way too many ice-cream stores this kuching fest. The grab driver that dropped me off was a representative for Nestle and he had 30+ clients. There's way, way too many and I wonder if they were profitable. 

With almost 300 stores, it's surprising to note that there's a startling lack of variety unless you do your research and really know what to look for (half the fun of kuching fest is to be surprised though!) Hopefully, we get more variety when Kuching Fest returns next year. :)