Green Tea Vermicelli

The first time I ever tried green tea vermicelli was at a korean restaurant in Hong Kong a few years back! I love green tea anything!! I have this obsession with anti-oxidant foods and I love the taste/scent of green tea!!

I like noodles from time to time, although I am a very fussy eater, I favour in japanese or korean noodles. I only eat noodles that are thick like udon or flat like 'ho fun' chinese ones.I love the texture and how they look, especially when I cook them with vegetables, tofu and an egg!

Green tea vermicelli tastes pure, unique in flavour and kinda weird to look at but I assure you, it looks interesting in a bowl or on a plate! but for some people it can be quite off-putting because of the colour and possibly the smell if they aren't a fan of green tea. I like to try these weird and wonderful things!

I found these unique noodles in a chinese supermarket in the Korean section, I was super excited to buy these and cook them at home!!

In the pack there are 5 handfuls, each handful consists of quite alot for one serving, I would recommend to split them in half if you are cooking for one.
They are seperated with the paper band around them, which is a clever idea because when it comes to cook noodles, we just put in more than we need, especially when you are hungry lol!

Each time I cook these noodles, I use one handful and make 2-3 meals out of them, I cook them with vegetables, tofu, fried egg and sometimes meat so realistically, you don't need that much noodles!

They cook quite fast, within 3-5 minutes they are cooked and they go soggy and stick to the pan so you have to be quick with these bad boys!

It is impossible to boil them then pan fry them as there is too much water in the strands, therefore , they stick to the pan!

Pro's:

• green tea is known for it's anti-oxidant
• fun colour on your plate
• fast to cook

Con's:

• suitable for noodle soup or dry boiled noodle style
• sticks to the pan if it gets too soggy
• unsure how much green tea is in each meal
• hard to find

  I must admit, the flavour for the noodles aren't as intense as I expected, the freshest green tea noodles have a heavy taste of green tea but this one didn't and i was quite skeptical about finding out how much green tea was actually in these noodles?  I felt like I was conned lol.
Nevertheless, I found something I didnt expect to find and I was so happy to have had the chance to cook it at home and re-live that memory of tasting green tea noodles again!!


I had so much fun cooking with this and it has made my meals very interesting to look at!! I serve mine with slight soup base, tofu, chinese vegetables like pak choi or gai lan, and also a fried egg.


If you are looking for a unique dish and you like noodles or green tea then try this!

XOX

Graisset Liquid Eyeliner Product Review*

Thanking Graisset for this amazing opportunity to review another one of their products!
I have also had a previous opportunity to review one of their skin care ranges, Graisset Repair Moisture Range back in winter-spring this year.
Graisset is very exclusive to buy outside of Korea due to the Korean law and you cannot buy from a seller unless they hold a licence and have permission from the company, therefore I was very greatful to have this opportunity.


I first discovered Graisset last year as one of my best friends was using one of their skin care collections,after seeing how pretty the packaging was, I was intregued by their collections.
I was contacted by a legit Graisset seller in Hong Kong to review this eyeliner.

I must admit, I don't wear eyeliner anymore, I use to line my waterline and my upper lash line to create the illusion of thicker top lashes but now that my lashes are longer, I decided to stop using the eyeliners.

There are 2 things I look for in an eyeliner, first would be the darkness/pigmentation of the colour, and secondly would be how long it would last for on my eyes. I sometimes would use the liners to create tattoos on my body or create 'beauty spots' which change my look dramatically!

We all use eyeliners in differently ways, I like to make good use out of mine.
You can do a lot of art work with eyeliners, crazy but true! I love creating tattoos with templates and liquid eyeliners.
Just by using a liquid eyeliner, you can create different looks on your eyes 

The box presentation is very neat and high-end feel, a real gift idea for someone who likes make up whether they use it often or not.
Bronzey-gold colour cardboard type box neatly presented, I was very intregued to see what the product would look like!

The text on the box is in Korean, which is very exclusive for the beauty market outside of Korea.


This is priced at $168hk

Isn't this beautiful?
I love the gem at the top of the lid and the gold colour tube. It's not often you see luxurious packaging for an eyeliner! Especially in England!!

It weights 5g/018oz of product.
I have mine in black.

I like the shape of the top half of the bottle, it's non slippery smooth golden coloured casing helps me to precise my line. This is very important to me as I hate re-applying and wasting time on clearing up messed up marks and causing redness to my eyelids. Does anyone else have that problem?

can create thick or thin lines

I used the liquid eyeliner on the top lines only, and as you can see I have created a slight thick cat liner and applied eyeshadow on the bottom and outter corners of my eye to create a dramatic effect.

I love how I can create the sharp defined look on my eyes, usually I find the liquid liners to smudge and consistency too wet to set, then when I blink, it smudges and sets!!

Pro's:

• can create lines as thick or thin as you want
• intense black
• beautiful packaging and box also - ideal for gift

Con's:

• not waterproof
• can smudge, takes a while to dry
• slight scent (but not strong enough to smell it once it is applied to the skin)
• exclusive product and brand, can only buy from certain Korean stores or Korean cosmetic high end beauty stores in Asia
• unavailable to buy in England

Thank You Graisset for the product to review! It's been a wonderful and kind gesture for me to use and share my honest opinion.

You can pay via paypal if you live outside of Hong Kong, shipping will be arranged from the seller. 
click here for Graisset HK link all info on products and purchases can be found here.



* This product was sponsored by Graisset, all this review is in my most honest opinion, I was not given any directions for this review.

Fashion Friday: Big Framed Glasses

 Tired of people staring at your puffy, dark, tired eyes? You can minimise this and stop people from telling you how tired your eyes look!
I don't often have dark circles around my eyes but when I do, wearing less make up on the eyes is definatly better than wearing more make up on the eye area because it doesn't become more noticeable and damaging to the eyes. Wearing more make up on the eyes when you are tired can actually make it look far worse than it actually is! Of course, the first thing we initially want to do is to apply more make up on the eyes to try hide the dark circles or the puffiness, but it does your eyes no favours!! It can cause infections and irritation, which can be hard to treat!

I wear big frames glasses to eliminate my tired eyes, it's also for the purpose of a fashion accessory which is a bonus as it completes my outfit for the day.
I have 3 pairs in total, 2 are non perscription ones , and one other is my perscription glasses for reading - I have been wearing glasses since I was a young teenager. No one really knows because I use to hate wearing glasses but now I make them look like a fashion accessory!! LOLZ.

Big frames glasses can accentuate the look of the day, they say the highest point of a women is the eyes - so make it stand out!

You can chose different shapes, styles, colours and textures of these fashion accessories, I love my black simple ones and also my leopard print ones as it's one of my favourite animal prints!


I wear my glasses with and also without the lens, it doesn't really matter. Sometimes my long eyelashes would scratch the lens so I have to clean them often or take out the lens.

There are a lot of celebrities who wear the big framed glasses on a lazy day, I wear it at times when I dont wear make up and just a pop of colour to the lips can make the look natural and girly!

You can dress up or dress down with these, add abit of funky style by hanging them on the top of your hair or on your collar of your top. I like to wear mine on the top of my hair to hold my hair back as it's long. I think it looks super cool as an effortless look!


I prefer to wear bigger framed glasses as I like to see through them without seeing the frame half way through each lens! It's annoying! Don't know if that's just my preference though?

I wear my big framed glasses all year round, I try avoid wearing them in the summer time as I don't want tan lines, having tan lines on my face is the last thing I want! Don't forget to wear your SPF!!

Applying a primer before your make up can help prevent your make up from smudging when you wear glasses.

Have fun!

XOX

Hello Kitty!!

Fashion Friday: The Boyfriend Jeans

Whoever thought of the boyfriend jeans style -  is amazing!! You don't have to be a male to wear these! Men's style can be so versatile for females, and comfortable, perfect for dressing down with abit of an edgy look teaming up with lots of accessories or a big jumper!

I love the boyfriend style, especially the jeans because it is so versatile! You can dress up or dress down with them and still look stylish!

Boyfriend jeans are suitable for weekdays, weekends day or night. They are basically men's style jeans as they are not fitted, slightly baggy but the bottom is slightly tapered or rolled up slightly.
They give the edgy look but also gives you the shape on the hips and not too tight on the thighs or legs.

They are so comfortable and it does not necessarily mean you have to take them from your boyfriend, the boyfriend is just a term to show they are the men's style.
Boyfriend jeans are meant to be low rise and have a cuff at the bottom for you to turn up. Some of them have rips for the more edgy look but you can add these yourself.

However, it is possibly to look classy simply by pairing them up with a pair of heels and a fitted top/smart jacket. For a relaxed look then just pair it up with a plain fitted top, I wore my long sleeve korean fashion top that has a unique design on the arms and front of the top.

 I decided to match my shoes with my handbag as I fancied adding a splash of electric blue to add some eccentric pieces to make the outfit stand out.

I personally think I look ridiculous in baggy style jeans so I rolled the bottom up slightly to give the edgy look, this can change the look completely. If you're short then I wouldn't recommend this as it would look like you're drowning in the jeans.


I would personally invest in a good pair of boyfriend jeans as you can wear them for a number of years. A cheaper pair may give you poor quality and would destroy the look you want to create, but for real denim you would be able to create your
looks better.


What I am wearing:

• Top - Korean fashion from Hong Kong Causeway Bay
• boyfriend jeans - River Island (3 years ago but they still have this style in store majority of the year but colours may vary)
• belt - H&M
• high tops - Ebay
• hand bag - Kate Spade
• scarf - Zara (2012 collection)

Some stores charge ridiculous amount for a pair of jeans, have a look at the men's section and don't be afraid to wear men's jeans. Fashion speaks for itself!

Enjoy!

XOX

Korean Snail Slime Face Masks

Snail slime face masks

Who ever would have thought you create snail slime extract face masks?! People in south Korea swear by using snail slime products!!

I am not a dermatologist, I just enjoy looking after my skin and ensuring it is maintained looking well.

I guess there's people in this world who would try anything to look good by looking younger or treat old scars. One of them being me by the way lolz. 

By using snail slime extract, it is actually quite a beauty craze at the moment in some countries especially in Asia. People would use snail slime products such as hand cream, face masks, night cream, serums. 

I have tried the Holika Holika snail hand cream , and a few face masks from Korea and I quite like the results!

I got these face masks for my birthday from a friend and I was very reluctant to try them. Infact, I was scared but I really wanted to see what it would do for my skin! After reading up so much reviews about them in magazines and beauty blogs, I didn't want to miss the opportunity! 

I expected it to be really slimy, cold and gooey but it actually isn't. Some have no scent, and some have a strong scent. I don't actually know how much of the snail slime is actually in the face masks as there are a lot of fake products out on the market!

I like certain brands of skin care, I like to read up on ingredients before purchasing any product that I use on my skin. I would rather know what I am putting on my face rather than trying the products before knowing. The skin is important to me therefore I do make sure I am using the right ingredients to maintain its good state as much as I can. 

Snail slime claims to:

•  Helps to reduce the visible signs of skin-ageing
• Refreshes & rejuvenates 
• Excellent skin-regenerating properties
• Helps to stimulate cell growth, restore optimum skin-moisture levels and improve elasticity
• Suitable for all skin types 
• have a complex mix of proteins, glycolic acids and elastic that that protect the skin from damage, infections and harmful UV rays

So why wouldn't we want to try this?!
I have sensitive, dry-combination skin and there has not been any problems for me, my dry patches of skin on the face has felt more moisturised and plumped, the skin tone is more even, less redness and not caused me to have break outs or redness. The fine lines are diminished after a few masks, but not straight away - it's an on-going fix up. 

From the ones I have tried, I do favour the TonyMoly ones the best. The masks cover majority of my face and it feels nice and cool on my face. I love using a face mask atleast once a week, especially after a hard days work and I just need a fix up to help my face feel moisturised.

I think it is a wonderful idea to get a beauty junkie a mixture of high end face masks, or ones with good ingredients that would benefit the skin so much more than wasting your money on products with poor ingredients. I would recommend giving TonyMoly ones a try. The first ones I used was TonyMoly ones and ever since, I have compared the rest to those ones and am glad I did!!

You can get snail slime products from healthy stores such as Holland & Barrett, SaSa, or online.
I will be reviewing some snail slime face masks soon!!

Holika Holika Green Detox Cleanser Product Review

This is a product from Holika Holika collection.
I was so excited to try this as it was a detox cleanser!
I bought this in Hong Kong, Causeway Bay back in December 2012. I started using it whilst I was in Hong Kong and I brought it over to England with me.

I use it every night in the shower on my face and wherever I have spots, which is mainly on my back. I guess a lot of people have that problem too but don't talk about it right?

Unfortunately this product is discontinued now, not too sure where you can purchase it from unless you go to Korea where it is manufactured from!

This product comes in just one size, it was roughly about UK £5 which is very affordable for 75ml of product, it lasted me for about 4 months using it every day in the shower.

It claims to:

•  Green complex fermented with chlorella extract makes skin clear 
•  Olive oil ingredient removes makeup clearly
• Green tea relaxes stress and creates lively face

(found from Korean online store )

I love the smell of this, its a strong smell of sweet green apple, even though I did expect it to smell like green tea?  But I didn't recognise a hint if green tea at all.
The cleanser is slightly discoloured, lotion is very watery-like and doesn't seem like it sits in the skin. I have tried this on a piece of cotton pad and soaked it on my face, it hasn't felt like it benefited my skin at all. If anything, it has given my skin a reaction, sometimes red patches.
I have also tried this on my pimples and it hasn't made it go less red, it feels like it hasn't done anything to it either.

I think this is a fun item to try but with no benefits. It totally isn't isn't suitable for me because I can't see any good changes to my skin.
It has made my bathroom look interesting with the korean text all over it, but I sadly don't understand korean but I made sure I asked the shop assistants at the store how to use it.



I have tried to use this to remove my make up but it defiantly is not a make up remove product. Maybe just on lipstick but defiantly not for mascara!



Pro's:

• gorgeous fresh sweet scent
• the design of the bottle makes it feel like it is a very natural and good benefit product

Con's:

• the consistency is too watery and slides off the skin like water- makes me wonder, how much of this product actually sits on the skin and benefits my skin?!
• the product starts forming bits at the bottom of the bottle when you keep it still for a few days
• hard to find to buy
• not a great make up remover

I won't be purchasing this again and won't go through the stress of trying to find it because it simply did not benefit me at all. I wouldn't recommend this to anyone because even though it is an affordable drug store product price, save the money and buy something worth your while!

Holika Holika Syn-Ake Night Cream Product Review

I first discovered Holika Holika in Hong Kong December 2012 in Causeway Bay. The brand originates from Korea, and there is a store in a mall in Causeway Bay Hong Kong which sells a range of the Holika Holika products from skincare to make up.

Holika Holika is an exclusive brand in Hong Kong, any brand from Korea is hard to find outside of Korea due to it's law about copyright and licensing. I felt very happy to be able to purchase it and bring it back to England to continue using.


Syn-Ake peptide products are a huge craze in Asia and have been the last 2 years or less, I wanted to give it a try and see what the hype was all about so I purchased a few items including this wrinkle focus cream.

Syn-Ake is an alternative to botox in a bottle, it's basically a copy of snake venom, to help freeze the wrinkles on the skin but without the pain of injections.

I first heard about the use of snake venom in skin care about 4 years ago when I found out celebrities such as Cheryl Cole, Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss using it. There were reports of long queues for these kind of products in the beauty market due to its high quality for the skin.

For 50ml of the product in this fancy jar, it has lasted me about 5 months use every single night.
It wasn't too expensive, less than about $200hk, I was really excited to buy it and I even bought one for my mom as a gift.

It promises to:

• Take care of wrinkles softly
• Give soft texture like velvet for the skin
• Promote elasticity and hydrate the skin

The active ingredients are , EGF (Epidermal growth factor), adenosine, hyaluronic acid. 
Essentially, to help maintain moisture and help cellular turnover while you sleep.


I apply a thin layer of this to my entire face and neck in an upward and outward motion after I have taken my make up off, cleansed, toned, applied serum then this as a night cream. I always wait about half hour until I can sleep, this gives the skin time to absorb the product.

There is a heavy scent to this product, even when it's absorbed to the skin. At first I enjoyed the scent but then after a few months, I realised the scent was so strong and the product was so sticky on my skin. Usually after I apply any product to the face, I tap it in to help with the circulation and massage the skin, but after applying this night cream, the skin felt like it was thicker as it was covered with this cream even applying a thin layer. I also noticed my face became red at times and itchy, I stopped using it and changed my night cream for my face.
I would not recommend this to those who have sensitive skin as the perfume is so strong and it did irritate my skin.

Pro's:

• pretty packaging
• tub looks nice in my room
• screw off the top lid to reveal product and you can scoop out the product without wasting any of the formula
• affordable price

Con's:

• sticky formula even after applying a thin layer
• scent too strong
• big tub for 50ml of product 
• hard to find Holika Holika outside of Korea

The lid reminds me of snake

Holika Holika Syn-Ake Night Cream

 I personally didn't enjoy using the product after about 3 months, it literally sat on my skin and didn't do anything but irritate my skin. I am happy that I got the chance to try it and share my experience!

XOX