Review: Lancome Teint Miracle + Mystic Launch Party.

Taking a break from the Taiwan posts.
I was totally hyped when I first read Haru's post on the new launch of Lancome Teint Miracle.

Thanks to her post, I found out that they were giving out samples at their counters.

Headed to Vivo to get the sample at the Lancome counter that very day.

Thing was, the SA was quite relunctant to open the new bottles for me to see the shades or give me a sample.

Nonetheless, I did manage to get 7-8 pumps of the sample she thought suited my skin tone best in a 3 gram jar.

I've tested it once for work a couple days back and I felt that the staying power was pretty strong.

I have to clarify first - I'm pretty lucky as I do not have much skin issues (thanks to good genes).

Meaning no enlarged pores or massive secretion of oil on my face.

My problems are probably red zits, nose area and dark eye rings/bags.

Also, I have really tanned skin unlike most Asian women (not really a minus but it gets difficult to get right foundations and I can't use BB creams as the tint is usually ghostly white on me).

So, I did a 2nd attempt at it after reading up some beauty blogs on tips about using this foundation.

Here goes, don't get scared of my 0 makeup face =)

So, dark eye rings and zit scarrings are my major issues.

Pardon the towel as I just washed my hair =)

After 1 thin layer of Teint Miracle on the face.

As you can probably tell the difference, the dark eye rings were concealed slightly.

I would say that the coverage is pretty good as the foundation is pretty easy to blend.

FYI, I use my fingers and do it from under the eye blending it outwards and then the forehead.

I find that fingers tend to warm up the foundations much better for application.

I also added an additional step to cover my face with my palms with a little pressure to warm my face =)

Learnt this from Kevin Lao Shi on the TV as it helps to even out the foundation or better staying power (Don't remember which one).

2nd layer of foundation - this time I used slightly more.

I can't see the discoloration around my nose or the zit scarring on my nose and cheek =)

Totally agree that it provides the dewy look!!

And, you don't really need alot of the product to achieve this look.

Not sure how much the pump will produce in 1 pump but I think 1 pump or a little lesser will be enough for the face and jaw-line.

That means that bottle will last pretty long even if you use it daily.

And, the small jar I have will probably last me for another 2-3 applications.

Done!

Used CG face powder, a little bit of under-eye concealer, JS eye jelly, Sleek Storm Palette, Dollywink eyeliner, Canmake blusher and lip balm.

I wore this look to the Laneige Mystic Launch Party earlier this evening at Wisma.

After 5 hours or so with a new lippie color thanks to Larry Yeo.

The result - my blusher was still there (very much like the first time I tried and I wore the foundation for over 8 hours) and it was still pretty much dewy and flawless =)

Also, it doesn't feel cake-y or thick on the skin like some other foundations I've tried before (I'm totally adverse to thick foundations after my wedding last year).

Given the results of this second use, I might be tempted to buy the bottle at S$65.

I'm looking forward to the event next week.

I love the lip color in this above photo that I bought the Laniege moisture lipstick on the spot.

Not part of the Mystic launch though.

For the Mystic items, I'm only interested in the Mystic Veil foundation but I'm hesitant aboon buying as I have to dip my fingers into the tub which is something I don't really like to do.

The color is LR-01 Nude Pink.

Larry used it with a peachy gloss overlay on top as I asked him to help me out with the nude look lip.

He very kindly did the look on me =)

Larry was so interesting to talk to and he was like an encyclopedia of beauty products and secrets!!

Not sure if I can remember every thing we spoke about but it was certainly an eye opener to meet and chat with him.

Thanks to Diana who accompanied me to the party.

We also met Iris of Rouge Deluxe!

She was really warm and friendly despite this being our first meeting.

She also shared some beauty tips and products.

Thanks for everything on your blog Iris - we really and sincerely appreciate all the effort in maintaining your blog.

We weren't joking when we say we check out your blog on a daily basis babe..sounds like stalkers already right?

Larry managed to get me some Laniege sunblock samples which I wanted to try =)

And the book was the door gift for the event.

I wore this dungree dress with white tank (both from Taiwan).

Once again, thanks to Diana, Iris, Larry and Laniege for the launch party =)

It was really enjoyable.

Taiwan Day 2: Hualien-Taipei Qi Xing Tan (七星潭).

The last stop in Hualien before heading back to Taipei was Qi Xing Tan (七星潭).

Pebble beach and not sand.

The pebbles have some very unique 'prints' on them too.

Time to go catch out 1750 train back to Taipei.

Actually, the 1750 train would give us ample time to grab dinner and do a little mochi shopping in Hualien City.

But on the way out of Taroko, there was a massive jam.

We had initially thought it was a tour/school bus that was causing the hold up but as we passed the stationary vehicle, we found out what really happened.

All roads in Taroko is pretty tight as it's serving 2 way traffic and when vehicles are parked on the road - traffic comes to a stand still.

A falling rock hit the windscreen of the car causing a big hole on the driver side windscreen.

I think it was lucky that it had hit the driver side as there's the steering wheel to block the impact.

So, due to the delay, we could only pick up some quick bites and eat them on the train.

Zha Dan Chong You Bing!

Direct translation - Bomb Onion Oil Pancake.

I asked for the egg inside to be fully cooked as it will be messy if it's not.

D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!

Their xiao long bao.

The skin is like char siew bao.

I didn't really fancy this =X

Same fillings as our xiao long bao.

Once we reach the Hualien train station, we were running for the train!

I zzz-ed all the way back to Taipei after eating.

When we reached Taipei, Yong said he was hungry -_-"

So I brought him to the famous Ah Zhong Mian Xian to tabao.

There are pushcarts selling food at XMD once nightfalls and I found the Di Kwa Balls!

Erhm..it's deep fried sweet potato balls.

The small pack was NT20 =)

Yong was hooked on this too.

First attempt at Taiwan beer and it was Taiwan beer for the rest of the nights.

And!

Since this was Aug 27!

How can I not get a cake?

We did the same thing in Bali last year.

Cheesecake from Starbucks.

Tasted really different from SG's one.

Very nice though.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Taiwan Day 2: Taipei-Hualien (Part 5 - Tunnel of 9 Turns 九曲洞步道).

Final post of the Taroko Gorge area.

It was really enjoyable for me to be there but it was also a wake up call telling me how fragile nature and life can be.

We headed to the Tunnel of 9 Turns 九曲洞步道 which was supposed to be another walking trail that allows one to see the folds, joints and faults of these marble cliffs who are so near to each other.

Before even entering, Mr Lu told us that 1 Chinese girl was on her way out and returning to the bus when a falling rock hit her on the head.

I'm not very clear if the girl passed on.

But this actually reminds us of the danger of mother nature and human advancements into these areas.

Nonetheless, we went for a walk in to the tunnel.

All tourist of this tunnel are required to wear a helmet.

Yong took this un-glam photo of me while I was trying to put it on.

Done.

Looks better.

Another sad thing - we only walked to 250 meters as the tunnel was closed due to falling rocks.

Dedicated to Michelle.

This was the end.

The white color boxes in front are toilets.

You see everyone congregated here taking photos.

We also take.

Was testing my safety helmet..haha..

The cordoned off areas behind me are the high risk areas where loose rocks will fall on.

You can also see the wall of the marble cliff's unusual surface.

Last photo and we headed out.

Mr Lu was so shocked that we took so fast and kept asking if we saw the toilet cubicles before turning to walk out.

The red bridge behind me is known as Cimu Bridge (慈母橋).

This was built by late President Chiang Jing-guo, in memory of his mother, during construction of the road. Cimu pavilion area is on the east side of the bridge, built by late President Chiang Kai-shek, in memory of his mother, Mrs. Wang.

The pavillion was built on a rock that looks like a frog which I could tell at one look since I'm afraid of frogs.

No photos on that.

This is read as 'Yue Fei Ting'.

This was the end point of a trekking trail for some adventure seekers who want to go deep into Taroko Gorge.

They will wait here for the transportation to pick them up.

I like suspension bridge!

Yong just want to get over quickly.

Mr Lu came and shake the bridge which only made me laugh.

Then he asked me if I was scared..no way!

The naughty boy.

You need a permit to trek the mountainous range of Taroko.

And Mr Lu says that there are limited slots.

I don't think I'll ever try as it takes 5-7 days to complete the trek -_-"

Like I mentioned earlier, it was summer and there was no typhoon.

That equals to no water in the river and no waterfall to see.

Mr Lu trying to block the sun so can't see his face.

The bright sorching hot sun.

We moved on to TianXiang area to see the famous 5 star hotel - Silks Place Taroko Hotel.

And also to see the temple seated in the hill.

 5 star hotel from the hill.

The tall White Robed Guanyin Statue.

There's also a  7-story high Tian Feng Pagoda, Giant Statute of the Bodhisattva, Xiangde Temple, and, in 1968, Daxiong Baodian temple, have been built on the terrace and have become popular spots for visitors and worshipers.

To those planning on heading over the Pudu suspension bridge to go into the temple.

Take the stairs one step at a time.

It's a real workout.

As usual, Mr Lu said that we were very fast in heading up and coming back down =X

Actually, there are some other scenic points in Taroko such as the Baiyang Waterfall or the Shui Lian Dong.

But they are also closed due to falling rocks that blocked the entrance.

Mr Lu mentioned that it will hopefully re-open at the end of this year.

I've seen some travel photos and they look like water wonderland.

Before leaving the gorgeous Taroko Gorge, I saw some flowers that I no longer see in Singapore.

Wild flowers have the strongest will to survive.

With this, I end my posts on Taroko Gorge.