Chapter 1 – Chabor’s Skincare Philosophy

It’s been a while since I’ve talked about my skin condition.

I have some sorta taboo thing going on. For example, if I were to rave about the fantastic weather on a nice day, BOOM it’ll rain cats and dogs. FML so I’ve grown used to the silent treatment whenever I have the urge to RAVE.

But if I don’t rave about it, the Internets will lose a sucker’s advice on a possibly great solution that could help lots of acne-sufferers out there.

And I think if I rave on the Internet my skin won’t hear me and go break out again lah hor? Right? LOL.

Now from what I gather from previous readers who’ve commented on my acne-related posts, I can tell they’re pretty darn serious cases. Not those that surface 1 or 2 in  a blue moon, but full-blown, out of control ones that seem impossible to control.

And I’m sure all of you are sooooo tired of the common preaching from 101 other Internet gurus. No offense, seriously, because I admire the efforts they put in to help so many out there. Although, technically, I’m writing this because their efforts dun work for me. T_T

Some examples:

Cleanse, tone, moisturise even though you have acne!

Problem is, peeps, acne sufferers need special care. And you just can’t simply classify skin as oily or dry. Not so simple wan.

It’s ok to makeup as long as you take it off properly.

Then I ask you lah, if your skin is capable of absorbing skincare, wouldn’t it drink in some of the gunk you’re putting on?

Don’t touch it, it will heal by itself.

REALLY? Screw that! I’ve tried leaving the problem alone and it NEVER healed. People who said this are ones that never suffered from acne. And you KNOW it is just IMPOSSIBLE.

Isotetrinoine or oral medication from the doc is bound to heal acne.

NOT. I’m living proof. However my bf is the complete opposite. His face is flawless as of now, after 1 year of oral medication.

Don’t eat -insert seafood or innocent food here-, sure break out wan.

Thanks, but no thanks. Even if I fasted like the Dalai Lama, my acne is still raging because I’m a woman with hormones. FML

Maintain your hygiene lah! Wash your face more often~

WTF *shows fist* I know I have acne but it doesn’t make me a dirty bugger, you idiot!

And various other typical methods preached on and on by 101 other people, but somehow there are still a big population of acne sufferers crying for help.

Do you see just how much can a persons skin vary from one another?

And as much as I appreciate all the feedback from all the lovely beauty websites / bloggers out there, being a chronic acne sufferer, I just can’t bring myself to believe anything because eventually I know it’ll bound to screw up my face.

So anyways, I’m pretty impressed with my skin progress after joining this salon.

And have an army of products to get rid of acne, once and for all.

I have been devoting myself to go to this salon weekly and using their products consistently for the past months since I’ve came back from India with a bad acne infection, and it cleared up well.

I could never bring myself to put 101x faith in skin salons, and never will. But the results achieved with them just amazed me. Nope, I do not have baby smooth skin, nor have I stopped breaking out. It’s really wishful thinking. And near impossible. If you managed to get rid of acne on the surface, only to battle it again and again, and endlessly when it surfaces after you healed it up, I guess you’ll know what I mean when I say it’s a never ending battle.

Let’s take a simple, overly commercialized, overly bombarded and just grossly overrated approach of curing acne.

Cleanse > Tone > Moisturize > Serum > Spot healing.

Clinique *cough* Clinique. And name 101 other brands using this approach.

EPI Derma Formulation, however, breaks down skincare for acne sufferers into a lot of segments, and tackles them one by one. There are no miracle results, but they can clear up your skin from all the bacteria and germs that feed your acne. And when the deep layers of your skin are revitalized and healthy, you’ll still need to keep your facial hygiene well-maintained so that your skin is strong enough to resist future acne infections.

For acne sufferers, depending on how serious the condition, you will need to go through constant acne extractions (tweezers, not squeezing) with them and aid the healing process with their products, to be used at home. And for every different skin type, they will pair different formulations for you. Though I really wonder why one needs that much products to get clear skin, I’ve seen the results so I’ll keep my mouth shut for the time being.

Catch? Helluva expensive and time consuming. But if this is what I have to do to live with clear skin, so be it. I never want to gamble my face with the all too cluttered cosmetics market out there anymore. I’ve had enough.

And no, EPI did not pay me to write about them because I’m just a lauyah blogger, unnoticed in some corner of the blogosphere. And I’m not endorsing their credibility because I’m writing this based on ‘so far, so good’. Anything can happen in the future but please noooooo I dun wanna breakout again anymore. Kthxbai.

Keep yourself posted for Chapter 2!

The Internets Lead me to Hair Kunst.

Someone please stop me!

I hate it when my hair is half long not short. It’s at the point where it has past the short border, but not long enough to be categorized as long. My hair is at it’s ugliest at this length. Grrrrrrr.

Middle parting wtf.

Stop me pleaseeeee. I promised myself no hair cut after 3 months of abstinence in India. T_T But I freaking did it again.

Poor bf waited for me in the salon to get this done and egged me on for a short style. Where got guy like short hair girl wan?! My bf is weird. -_- But then again, he’s the best ❤ ❤ <3, tarak merajuk for waiting so long. Sigh guys are so pity sometimes.

Oh ya, the internets lead me to Hair Kunst at The Curve, Damansara. I’m too poor and not adventurous enough to go around and experiment on my own. LOL.

With an overwhelming amount of salons and tons of people all too eager to milk your money, I really hate visiting so-called hai crass salons. They’re usually the most pushy. But yet, cheap salons have aunties that have a set of skills worthy of the sixties. It’s 2009 yo.

I love the hair color Imran, the color technician, gave me. I never thought non-vibrant colours made an impact on your looks but I’ve changed my mind. And walah, another bob. It looks like my previous hair cut, but if you see it live, there are bits and pieces of detail that makes the thing special and lively. I’m a bit paiseh to Mr Faris who tended to me, I was telling him my Indian story and talked about how slumdogs didn’t have money to eat. Ah damn forgot it’s Ramadhan. Sorry dude. T_T

I approve! Since it’s the internets contribution, it’s my turn to contribute back lol.

Hairkunst, The Curve, Damansara,
Lot 226, 2nd Floor
6, Jalan PJU7/3, Mutiara Damansara
47800 Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.
Tel: 03-77105585

Kthx good night!

102 Reasons That People Really Need to STFU When They See Acne-Sufferers.

I think I’ll blog about my trip to Hari Dada Vav later on. I really wanna blog about my skin first. Just coz I’m so excited. XD Still remember this article (101 Stupid Reactions People Give When They See an Acne-Prone Kid) where I spilled my guts on how I despise the way people treat us acne sufferers? Read that before you proceed.

—————————————————–

I’ve come a long way, from this piece of shit,

To what I have now.

CLICK READ ON LAH,
I KNOW YOU WANNA KNOW
WHY I WANT PEOPLE TO STFU (shaddafakap)
WHEN THEY SEE ACNE-SUFFERERS!

Discovered: Bourjois and Max Factor in India by the Malaysian Chabor! Spree? :D

Hi guys! Just got back from my weekend outing. As usual, another mall raid.

Top is 600 and skirt is 700… Rupees. 😀

I dun think these two match, but I was just trying it out at home. Fitting rooms here are dangerous – the pr0n industry is booming with tons of MMS on sale, featuring girls trying out outfits in various malls in India.

Faggots.

And guess what? I discovered a Bourjois and Max Factor cosmetic counter, right here in India! And the hygiene standard far surpasses any typical mall here in Ahmedabad City. Kononnya Designer Mall. I wonder how many of the population can afford to visit here. >_> In fact, the mall was empty! @@ I only see an Audi and a BMW parked outside. And there I was taking a Rs.30 (RM3 +/-) auto rickshaw to this ‘designer’ mall. LOL wtf.

I was hogged down by a Bourjois girl swatching whatever eyeliner she got her hands on. Typical Indian salesperson, but slightly more friendly than those from normal malls.

Suprisingly they don’t budge when I tried rubbing it off, and when I flushed it with water, all the liquid liners went off except for the pencil liner (gray one). o.O And DON’T LOOK AT MY HAIR WTF.

I’m pretty excited to see this two brands here. Anyone wanna spree? 😀

Monolid Eyelining Guide – Find What’s Suitable!

If you have been following my makeup posts, you’ll notice my eyeliner is usually done in this style, with varying thickness and flicks at the end.

Thick, vibrant, unblended, and always black eyeliner, no browns, no grays. Somewhat Egyptian style-ish. I swear I won’t do the pursed lip thing again, make me look like lala wannabe. T.T

I have tried various methods of lining my single eyelids but unfortunately, not much suits my eyes. They simply don’t bring out my features.

But first, let’s take a look at my type of monolid.
As you can see, I have virtually no crease, inside out, nada. Some people HAVE a crease but are folded deep inside; some don’t. So you really must experiment to see what suits yourself!

It can occassionally fold up to a double eyelid too, which is freaking annoying and can hamper my makeup, making me look big-small eyed.

Ok I really hate it when that happens. Sibeh unnatural and not ‘me’.

As everyone of us is unique, we need to spend some time to find a style that suits you. What works for others may not suit you. So play around and have fun searching!

Monolid girls should also note that not all the rule of thumb in eye makeup will suit you. (Makeup has no rules actually – screw those ‘rule of thumbs’!)

This guide ought to show you how to gradually try each of the common methods, and make you find out WHAT actually rocks on your eyes, and what doesn’t.

Click Read More To Find Out How!

Chaborkia’s Buying Guide to Cheap (and Good) Bras.

You see plenty of websites teaching people how to find a bra with the correct fit, but I bet you definitely haven’t read one who directs you where to buy good quality bras at low rates, right?

I have a love-hate relationship with inner beauty, these things are soooooooo lacey, so pretty, so sexy but they are also extremely expensive. For my regular brand, Triumph, normal rates range from RM79.90 – RM169.90, which is waaaaay overboard for me. So I always make it a point to walk by the bra section in department stores, keeping a sharp eye for good deals. Here are 3 ‘where-to-buy‘ tips for bargain hunters. 

Got the Valisere for RM50 at Robinsons, The Gardens.

 

 

Read on, and enjoy!

 

 

1. Don’t be fooled by big names like Robinsons or Isetan. Big and ‘branded’ does not mean there is no sale happenin’ there.

Some people assume the stuff in these departmental stores are highly unaffordable. I strongly agree, BUT most of the time you’ll see past season bras being thrown out for sale at pretty good prices, ranging from RM39.90 to RM200. 

Valisere is like, the ultimate luxury lingerie brand we have in KL. Even the bra adjusters are gold-plated. w00t! And I got it for RM50! Guess bag was on sale too, it was going for RM80 at the sales stash. XDXD

These Valiseres were stashed at the sales corner. one stack was RM50 while the other RM100. Was sorely tempted to buy the RM100 one but I couldn’t do it. Expensive sial. Mom and sis-in-law also hopped in and bought some goodies for themselves. Valisere bras are the high class range from Triumph, with price tags ranging from RM200 – RM400. Extremely comfy and figure enhancing too. 😉 And you ask me to pay RM79.90 for a La Senza? No way.

 

2. Go to less populated department stores, eg. Tangs in Pavilion (like no business wan), Robinsons in The Gardens (hardly anyone there except a few rich tai tai)

A department store has gotta clear up it’s stock to prepare for new arrivals. But what happens when the stock turnover is no good?

The old stock goes on sale! And if turnover no good, plenty of choice for you to choose!

If a store is not very populated, you can assume that there will be lots of buried treasure among the mess. So help yourself and dig in! I once saw a Triumph going at RM79.90, Buy 1 Free 1, at Tangs Pavilion. The color was a vibrant combination of cyan lace and yellow cup, so vibrant so cute, but I didn’t buy. Why oh why, 79.90 for two bras is just RM39.95 each!!!!!!!!!! *Slaps myself*

 

3. Low-end shopping malls, ie. Jusco and Sogo are your best friends.

I have no idea why, but Jusco ALWAYS have a stash of bras lying there, selling at extremely cheap prices. This is especially true for standalone Juscos, not the ones integrated into another shopping mall. I always manage to grab Sloggi’s for RM39.90 – RM49.90 at Jusco, Maluri. I have no idea why, but it happened twice. 

And they’re not old stock, ya know, those stocks exist in The Gardens too, last I checked, The Gardens ones weren’t on sale, and they were going for RM89.90. But Jusco is selling at RM49.90!

According to a Triumph saleswoman, she said that high-end malls like KLCC or Pavilion tend to stock up high-end bras while normal malls like Jusco stock normal priced ones.

Different target customer, different demographics, different stock. Makes perfect sense.

So these are my 3 ‘where-to-buy’ tips for bargain hunters.

 

Dear girls, what is your favourite brand and how much are you willing to pay for a decent bra?

 

 

 

Chaborkia Noticeboard: On Hiatus. For A Week.

Last two exams and I’ll be off college life and in search of bigger and better stuff for my future. Will rest this blog this week for studies, after this will kick back in action! =D

Coastal Scents 88 Palette is somewhat MIA, haven’t get it yet. I am excited to create looks with my palette. I hope it comes to me successfully. =(

Would love to post a nice picture I took during my recent Malacca trip but my fukken Adobe CS4 locked itself up and refused my valid licence key. Adobe personnel has yet to get back to me. Grrrrr. Talk about GREAT customer service.

In the end, it’s still the Dell Webcam that’s the most reliable.

Kudos to those who are following Chaborkia.com. Please lemme study first. One week no update only k. Even got update also bombard you with pimples that I can’t remove without Adobe Photoshop. Bluek!

I will be back. =)

PS: Whoa… Did you note the nice little glow my skin has? My skincare is showing good progress… Once the pimples dry up… I can kiss foundations and concealers goodbye and say hello to light mineral makeup! Yesh! =D

PPS to Akonana: Mineral makeup is kissable k, you don’t have to worry about staining your lips. ^^

The Day My Aunt Left Us… A Project 365 Approach to Life.

 

Day 22 : 2009-04-06 ~ Women’s Achievement Awards (WAA!)

Looks real right? Actually this pic is just a setup. A setup that required 3 poor students to run amok in a shopping mall, trying to gather a baju kurung and saree clad women to pose for us. Fricking pose for an event that does not exist but must look real and credible. Imagine explaining that to bewildered passer-bys and KLCC security guards. Cheongsam girl is courtesy of a friend’s help.

Day 23 : 2009-04-07 ~ All Women for Earth and Equality

Yet another fake but must look real event courtesy of my course syllabus. Did a press conference where I had to be some sort of fake CEO for a real company and doing a fake event that must look real. Phew what a mouthful. Glad it’s over.

Day 24 : 2009-04-08 ~ My Serious Skincare Regimen Starts TODAY

I have had enough with having oral antibiotics for acne. I have a faint suspicion that I’m not doing it the right way. Hence, grudgingly, I went to EPI Derma Formulation for treatments. Hope they can cure me.

Oh ya, first time I do facial painlessly and don’t go back home with even more pustules to pop by myself. See above for proof.

Day 25 : 2009-04-09 ~ The Day My Aunt Left Us

It’s amazing how news can travel so rapidly. A call from my cousin informed me that my aunt has passed away due to an accident. It took her 0.3 seconds to blurt it out, and it took me several minutes to sink in. I was walking in the streets when I came to an abrupt halt. I cried.

She had only just recovered dramatically from a major surgery and has been well and healthy and had been a good grandmother to her grandchild. She had only just appeared in my brother’s wedding a few months back, full of life and dressed beautifully for the occasion.

Now, she’s gone.

Guys, cherish the people around you – Life is just so so so fragile. I have no idea how people can hold grudges for a long time. Boyfriends, girlfriends, parents, children – If you are mad at your loved one, pull them to a hug and tell them you love them… No anger is worth holding that long if you love the person… Don’t leave it too long, it might be too late then…

Dearest aunt, I hope you rest in peace.

Day 26 : 2009-04-10 ~ Big Foot Eated my Brinjal

See previous post for the LOL factor.

Day 27 : 2009-04-11 ~ My Brother is a Good Cook

Yes, you heard me right. My brother was only halfway through his portion when I nearly reached the end of my bowl and took this pic. My bro is a great cook – Does wonders with herbs and olive oil and all things western, Italian, fusion etc. Anyone wanna hire him? He does professional C&S Engineering too. 😉

 

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus Mascara Review

Say hello to my latest impulse buy.

Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus. The third generation of this ever famous line. Use the coil side to frame your eyes for an eyeliner effect. Jet black fiber helps to lengthen your lashes dramatically. Gosh, I actually remembered part of the description. Why can’t I do so in exams? -_-

The two-faced mascara wand:

• Number 1 is a coil-shaped side for you to coat your lashes with the mascara formula to ‘frame eyes’ and give off an eyeliner-like effect.
• Number 2 is for you to comb the formula smoothly to coat each lashes to lengthen and separate them.

 It has jet black fibers that dramatically lengthens all your lashes, 50% more than their famous Lash Gorgeous Wing mascara. Citation needed?

Here is my eye without no makeup whatsoever. I know I virtually have no bottom eyelashes at all. *Sigh* I curled my lashes with RMK’s Eyelash Curler. Nice huh? They were stick straight before curling.

After applying 1 layer of MJ mascara…

I like it pretty much for three reasons:

• It stayed put no matter how much sebum or tears you produce. No smudge, no flaking. And not a pain to remove with any oil-based makeup remover, eg. Loreal Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Fasio has exactly the same characteristics but was a mighty pain to remove. (Fasio FAILS. It’s like using permanent marker on your skin and lashes!) Olive oil doesn’t remove this properly, to my disappointment.
• It holds the curls forever, never drooping even after you have a teary-eyed session. If you have stick-straight lashes like moi, you’ll bound to love this characteristic.
• Lengthens. But I’m not fussed about this, because I have learned that the only true length that I can get for monolid / stick-straight lashes is from the use of falsies. 
• Frames the eyes due to it’s jet black formula. But for me, the ‘eyeliner’ effect might be due to the staining on the eyelids when applying the mascara LOL.
• The fibers are very lightweight and do not weigh down lashes at all nor cause any flaking.  

 

Two coats of mascara here plus eyeliner. W00t the lashes are indeed separated individually!!!!!1

Here is the side view of how lengthening it is. Monolid eyes tend to have fatty (read: heavier) eyelids so it’s important to find a mascara that holds curls else your eyelids will only weigh your lashes down.

Tips to remember during application:

• When I was patting on the mascara formula using the coil side, the fiber always gets into my eyes. So have a Q-tip ready for this.
• It is best to have a spoolie ready when you’re applying this as it’s easy to coat on too much formula, causing clumps. 
• Wipe off excess formula with a tissue before applying as this tends to be pretty wet. 
• The formula needs to ‘warm up’ to activate the fiber for easier application. How do you do this? Grasp the bottle in your hand, open it up and stir gently for a few minutes. 

My verdict?

A great mascara engineered truly for Asian people. I have met with lots of fantastic mascara formulations. The formula is great, but either (1) the wand sucks, (2) does not retain curls well, (3) not suitable for Malaysian climate. But this delivered what it promised to do. Knowing that Majolica Majorca is a sister company of Shiseido, ever famous for their concentration of the Asian market, you can be sure that they deliver things that are suitable for us Asian ladies.

Pros: Waterproof, sebumproof, holds curls superbly.
Neutral: Lengthens pretty decently but doesn’t impress me like falsies do.
Cons: Compared to other brands of mascara like Estee Lauder, Dior, Anna Sui, etc, this mascara needs a wee bit of tugging to remove even with an oil-based remover. Virtually impossible to remove with yummy olive oil.

Bf is right. Woman’s money is the easiest to cheat. Blame it on the packaging. Not pink but definitely girly with a twist. Retailed for RM39.90 at Watsons for their introduction promotion which has already ended. Normal price is RM53.90. This sells out terribly fast, so you ladies better have your battle gears ready! 🙂

 

Makeup Review: Thank Goodness for Daiso Eyeliner Coat!

Does your eyeliner smudge on you no matter how much you invest on getting good quality items? Fret no more! I have something great to recommend! RM5 nia too!

I was in Mid Valley with the bf yesterday for a movie and some good food. Being the vain pot I was, I caked on my beloved eyeliner before I stepped outta the door. I had the following on my eyes:

• Estee Lauder eyeshadow palette
• Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Frame Plus (the latest mascara in MM’s famous line)
• Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner

Eyeshadow, mascara and liquid liner – All the essentials that a girl needs, unfortunately cursed by the fact that if not well taken care of, it’ll smudge make you look like a panda.

But thank God, thank goodness for Daiso. The Daiso Eyeliner Coat, I mean. This works like the infamous Benefit Shelaq. Why go for overpriced Benefit Shelaq when you have good old Daiso from Japan?

It looks like any typical liquid liner packaging except its packed with some liquid wax that seals off your eyeliner, making it waterproof, smudgeproof and long-lasting. w00t!  

Being the eyeliner freak I was, I decided to put this to test using all the eyeliners I have.

To the left, to the left, all the things pencil drawn on the left.

This baby has a very very fine brush tip that you can drag smoothly across your liner.

I let it sink in a little, and started rubbing. The way you would when you rub your eyes.

It’s apparent that this seal does not do well to make pencil eyeliners long-lasting. It worked wonderfully for liquid and gel liners though. I’m astounded that MAC Powerpoint liner goes off so easily. MAC wor, so lousy wan.

And if that isn’t enough to satisfy you, let me guarantee this thing is waterproof. Which translates to tearproof to me too.

Yes, I test my eyeliners like that. Sot leh.

And they’re all intact, as shown in the picture, although a bit washed out for all the pencil eyeliners.

Verdict? Daiso Eyeliner Coat is a Godsend. At only RM5, it managed to seal off my eyeliner properly all day long, even for a girl who tears easily like me. I tend to tear whenever I yawn so my lower lashline liner ALWAYS smudges, no thanks to my hyperactive sebum glands too. But not with this! Imagine the joy when I saw this on sale. Say goodbye to Benefit’s Shelaq, ladies. Daiso is located at The Curve, Damansara, near Nichii Fashion City. 🙂

And I think you have one last burning question: Does this wash off easily?

Answer: Yes.

I used Loreal’s Gentle Eye and Lips Makeup Remover and glided gently once.

All the pencil liners were off except for Revlon and Bobbi Brown liners, which stayed put and still vibrant. But it didn’t take lots of tugging to get it off, so no worries.

Revlon Colorstay Liquid Liner / Bobbi Brown Long-Wearing Gel Liner + Daiso Eyeliner Coat = Indestructible eyeliner that lasts you FOREVER!

Now THAT, I call a holy grail item.

PASS! Go get it, ladies, and never shall you fret about having eyeliner smudge on you no more!