February 2015 Favourites

The first few weeks living in the UK was tough due to jet lag and climate changes. In a blink of an eye, the tough month has passed and I slowly getting used to the UK life and climate. What I love about UK is the access of so many cool products that I can't find back in my country. 

Today, I will share my favourites for the month of February!

Vaseline Spray & Go Body Moisturiser Cocoa Radiant 190ml - £4.99 here

I was skeptical about this spray at first, tried it and loved it! It just works as well as it said so, Spray & Go! This spray dispenses the moisturiser with one all over continuous spray which instantly leaves skin soft, not sticky or greasy! I got mine in pure cocoa butter and I really adore the scent and how it moisturises my skin in seconds so I can put my clothes straight on!

COLAB Dry Shampoo Paris 200ml - £3.49 here

I dislike the Baltiste dry shampoo mainly because it leaves a white patchy area on my dark hair. Even if it does the job, I need to make sure to spray them on before I go to sleep. With this, I can spray it anytime I want to, what a great invention!

COLAB, invented by Ruth Crilly, a popular Youtuber 'A Model Recommends' last year and received a lot of hype. I have oily scalp that is very visible after a day and with this, my hair can lasts as long as 3 days before washing it. Really love this product! I don't think any will replace this from me, considering the price and size!

They have 5 different fragrance and I chose the floral fragrance (Paris) which is describe as an enchanting floral bouquet of jasmine and rose with a touch of patchouli.

Bourjois Healthy Mix Serum Foundation (Vanille 52) - £10.99 here

My Korean/Japanese cosmetics are out of reach out (unless I'm desperate to purchase them in eBay) now since I am in the UK. I went back to use my favourite Bourjois healthy mix foundation that I have used few years back. The colour still suits me until now and I am still loving it! It gives a nice healthy glow to my face after applying!

When it comes to foundations or BB cream, I tend to go for a brand that I've tried before and settle with it if I really like it. I am not good in matching my skin colour to new foundations and buying a wrong shade is such a waste of money! Korean and Japanese foundations are created more to asians skin tone so it was easy for me to match and try other foundations. 

KMS California Tame Frizz Taming Creme (Sample size 50ml) - Full size 120ml £15.00 here

KMS never fail to amaze me with their product. I really love their range on the Freeshape quick blow dry which I featured in my November Favourites in 2014! 

This Taming creme claims to controls hard-to-tame frizz with light hold. It is used on towel-dried hair before air or blow dry and it provides heat protection as well. It can also add to dry hair for extra definition and control.

I have never try to apply it on dry hair because its consistency is a white thick sticky cream with amazing scent (although I can't describe it very well). I usually work it with towel dry hair and blow dry afterwards. My hair tends to be frizzy very easily because I have fine hair but I can see it is lessen after using this product. 

This is a sample sized product I received from a beauty box ages ago!

Khiels Midnight Recovery Concentrate (Sample size 4ml) - Full Size 30ml £36.00 here

I received this sample size from my Selfridges Advent Calendar 2014! I have seen many hype on this oil especially from Essiebutton (Youtuber) so I decided to try it. Just 2-3 drops for my face at night and I woke up with a glowing face, no kidding! This oil works like a magic. I can feel my face more moisturised, soft and look healthy the next morning. I never look healthy unless I put my foundation on! Haha!

This oil contains 99.8% naturally derived paraben-free ingredients that helps to recover radiance by morning. Just like what it claims, in one night and a few drops you will get a younger-looking skin by morning. A pricy elixir which I don't think I can afford after I finish this sample size.

B. Cosmetics Defined Brow Kit (Dark) - Full Size £9.99 here

I just recently received this product from this February's Glossybox and I fell in love with it the first time I use this! Maybe because it is my first time to use a eyebrow powder as I always use my pencil ones. I didnt use the low quality brush they provided but instead, I used my ZOEVA #317 Wing Liner to do my eyebrows. Both the brush and the powder is so soft, it blends like a dream when doing my eyebrows.

As you might notice, I haven't touched the highlighter & concealer yet but you can tell I have dipped on the eyebrow shades. They are perfect matching my dark brown hair colour and makes my eyebrow looks so natural than using a pencil. The darker shade to create the arch at the end, lighter shade to fill in the gaps and a spoolie to blend them together. 

Since I found this product, I never go back to my eyebrow pencil anymore. I can't wait to try more products on eyebrow powder such as the Anastasia ones. 

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More

Chinese New Year in Mancester 2015

Gong Xi Fa Cai  Gong Hei Fat Choi  Happy Chinese New Year

It's a new year for a the Chinese people around the world. Everyone is getting one year older again! What are your wishes on this new year? I hope everyone will stay healthy, happy and bright during the year of Sheep!

This wasn't my first time celebrating Chinese New Year without my family around. I am blessed to have met good friends here in Manchester even my university courses are not started yet.

My OOTD on the night! A simple white long sleeve shit and a maroon skirt! Not very red for CNY but I couldn't find any bright red skirt around. 

Really got addicted to just do a natural makeup these days. For my small eyes, just a mascara, tight lining and highlighting inner corners is enough.  

They hang red lanterns on the trees in front of the Manchester Town Hall. So pretty! 

The red lanterns are extended until the Arndale shopping centre where most shopping happens here! It was a rainy day, not much are happening on the Chinese New Year Event here due to that. 

Weird western and chinese fusion show is going on that day. We didn't stay long to watch it but head to Yang Sing restaurant where I met a lot of new friends from Chester (a town near Manchester).

After dinner, we went to Bierkiller pub to chill before saying goodbye to them. They are all going back to Chester the next day. It was so nice to meet a bunch of new friends from Malaysia & Hong Kong :)

We went home almost midnight and took a taxi back to the flat. So that was how I spent my first day of CNY in Manchester. Tired and a little dizzy from the alcohol.

Day 4 of CNY, there were a firework event in Chinatown so I went out and there were a swamp of people there. A lot of Chinese stalls selling traditional foods and CNY stuffs. Also, there is a lot of games which are mostly targeted to children.

The fireworks lasted only for 15 mins but it was very beautiful! :) 

How can we leave chinatown without eating any chinese food? 

And of course desserts! I had my most favourite waffles with ice cream! That girl, Jezebel is my first friend and flatmate here. Super kind and beautiful person I've ever seen, bless her :) I am so lucky to meet a friend like you. 

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey. 

Read More

Blackpool Tower Circus & Pleasure Beach

I travel to Manchester, UK on the 26th Jan 2015 with a dream to travel as well as to study ACCA professional body for 2 years. It was a big leap for me but I am so glad that I finally made it here and today is exactly one month! YAY

Blackpool is the first town I visited when I am still new in Manchester. Still not getting used to their cold winter days yet but that is not my excuse not going to travel! 

I went with my flatmate and her 2 friends, took a 2 hour bus from Manchester to Blackpool for, a very beautiful seaside town! Our plan is to stay for 2 nights and go to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, an amusement park on Valentine's day which happens to be on the weekend!

Bus delayed for few hours due to traffic which led to us reaching in Blackpool at night. However, we still are able to catch the Blackpool Tower Circus which is in this building!

Still managed to take a photo before the circus it starts! 

Both of them are literally hanging on the rope!

This is my first time ever watching a circus and I was so excited! The show was great, there were mixture of singing, performance and dancing. A lot of dangerous movements going on but they handle them very well which impressed all audience. Enjoyed it!!

The show lasted about an hour and we decided to head back hotel to rest after eating fish & chips for supper . 

Next day, the real deal begins! Yes, it is winter and I'm going to ride roller coaster, crazy I know. It's FREEZING, but its FUN! 

This Valentine, I am celebrating by going to amusement park which I always wanted to experience. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is probably the 2nd best after Alton Towers (They didn't open during winter times). Their entry fee is £30 but we got it half price on offer during weekends!

We went early there and surprisingly, there's a lot of people going there too even during these times. 

That was the tallest roller coaster I have sat on!! Yes, I can't believe I achieve it, I literally can see the whole Blackpool while sitting on it which feels so GOOD! At some point, it felt like I was flying and I just want to scream FREEDOM! Haha..

The blue ride above is a 360 degree turn ride which makes me so dizzy and sick. Not a very good experience on this ride though.

Took a photo together first before we got all our hair all messed up after the rides.

This is a pretty easy ride where you sit on the 'plane' will keep going round and higher each time. It's still nice to see the view of Blackpool but I got dizzy on this ride too. 

I had the best donut I've ever ate! They literally fry the donut and dusted with sugar on the spot for you. It was hot, fresh and so soft! I was gutted I didn't take a picture of it as we were rushing for the next ride already. Missed it so much now, I wish they have it in Manchester somewhere.  

I never tried Free Fall before in my life and hence the nervous face of mine in the picture. While queuing for the ride, I have seen the people before me took the ride and it was so scary. However, it only lasted about 10 seconds and that was the scariest 10 seconds for me! Thinking back, I am so glad that I did it! :)

This ride is awesome, too bad I can't take pictures while we were inside but basically everyone will get wet. Everyone purchased their disposable rain jacket and go on the boat to the river caves. There is a lot of water splashing everywhere and at some point, it will be pitch black in the cave before it slides down and everyone gets splashed. 

I didn't let my guard down, keep holding on my rain jacket but still my hair is all soaked. Luckily there is a heater outside the river cave where we can pay a pound to dry ourself before we move on to next ride.

Can't resist not to take photo with the bunny from Alice in Wonderland. It's Alice, it's my name!!

We started out ride at 11am and finally sat down to eat at 4pm. We were all tired and hungry so we went to a restaurant for a buffet. Took a lot of pizza and it's only just the first round! 

I was feeling so much better after the buffet as I run a lot during the day trying to catch up with my group after each ride. They were obviously going for the ride and not taking any pictures for memories. 

Friend's attempt to win a Minion Plushie and finally got it after trying for a few times.

Took a group photo before we leave the amusement park! 

The last picture before calling it a day! So much rides I sat and I can't believe I did it all. I really like the Blackpool Tower, wish it was Paris Eiffel tower! Haha but this is a mini version compare to the Eiffel Tower.

Our last day in Blackpool, a photo before we check out our room. Thank god, the end of my sleepless night! I never sleep well anywhere other than my own home.

The weather during that day is really nice, we went to stroll around Blackpool while taking pictures. The seaside view is beautiful, isn't it? There were a lot of seagulls and people bringing out their dogs for a walk. It was such a nice and sunny day!

Lastly, a clear shot of the Blackpool Tower! It actually look more beautiful when the lights are on during the night. However, I missed my chance to take a photo of it. 

Miss Blackpool already, such a peaceful and lovely town to visit. Blackpool have given me a lot first-time experience there and hope to visit there again!! 

Thanks for reading! xx

alicelovey.

Read More