COFFEE MADNESS!!

Coffee culture has gone full blast here in China, and it's always something I've found very interesting and amusing. For starters, coffee drinking and cafe culture is a relatively new thing in China (when you think about a civilization that for centuries have only been drinking tea). But Chinese urban society today, especially the youth have embraced coffee drinking fully and whole-heartedly. I have seen this phenomenon in all the cities I've been to in China, but never more so than here in Dalian where life has elevated cafe culture to a whole new level. 

In almost every street corner, and nook and cranny in this city, you will find a cute roadside cafe for your much needed caffeine stop. But of course, not all cafes are created equal. You have the regular social hangouts like Starbucks and Costa Coffee. But I'm much more interested in the quaint, unique cafes with interesting decor and great atmosphere. Here in Dalian, there's no shortage of beautiful cafes with outdoor seating and that one-of-a-kind vibe. 

September is actually a great month to visit Dalian..the weather is still warm but with a cool pleasant breeze..perfect for having that hot cup of coffee in one of the city's many cafes. 

Here are some of my favorite picks:

MONTE CARLO CAFE

3rd Floor, Warehouse 15, Renmin Road East

Zhongshan District, Dalian

Monte Carlo is a cute cafe with great outdoor seating facing the East Dalian Harbour. You can take in the fancy, colorful decor while sipping your coffee and watching seagulls by the dock.

PARIS BAGUETTE CAFE

Zhigong jie corner Lushun lu (beside Carrefour)

Zhongshan District, Dalian

(many branches around Dalian)

Paris Baguette is an awesome cafe and bakery with goodies as far as the eye can see. From bread, croissants, pastries, cakes, sandwiches and pizza, it's all here. They have great yogurt too and a good selection of coffee. 

JIA JIA LA MAISON

Wanghai Street (in front of Botanical Garden)

Zhongshan District, Dalian

This is one of my favorite cafes in Dalian. It is located in an old house by the Botanical Garden. The interior reminds me of an English garden or countryside cafe. It's very rustic and bohemian and just a great relaxing place to go with friends. The French hot chocolate is authentic and amazing!

MOMI CAFE

Fisherman's Wharf (dock area), Laohutan,

Zhongshan District, Dalian

Momi Cafe is a truly unique cafe filled with postcards, notepads and art paraphernalia to suit your fancy. While having a cup of coffee, you may write a friend in one of the many cute postcards and mail it right then and there (one of the cafe's perks - a one-stop mail service). Not to mention, Momi is located in one of Dalian's most beautiful areas, Laohutan, complete with a marina and breathtaking sunsets. 

JPC Cafe

Qiqi Street corner Jiefang jie,

Zhongshan District, Dalian

I recently discovered this cafe with my friend Eya. Owned by a company based in Hong Kong, the cafe is situated in its own building by a small park and is quite impressive. Breads, pastries, a complete food menu and of course, great coffee are just a few of the goodies to be found here. The Blueberry cheesecake is a must!

PREMIUM SKINCARE WITH AUPRES

Even in the heat of summer, our skin needs moisture and good hydration to keep healthy and maintain balance. Lately, I find myself changing moisturizers constantly and trying new brands as my skin can be a bit difficult to shop for. It can be, at times, oily and dry, and acne-prone and sensitive...so finding the perfect moisturizer can be a bit tricky.

I have, however, found a few brands that seem to work for my skin that I constantly go back to time and time again. One of the brands I'll be adding to my moisturizer haul is Aupres by Japanese premium brand Shiseido. 

Aupres ("close to you" in French) is a prestige skincare and makeup brand initially launched by Shiseido to be sold exclusively in China. Since 2012 however, Aupres products are now also available in Malaysia. 

Walking up to their counter in a department store here in Dalian, I was impressed to see that the brand has five full skincare ranges: Pureness Bright, Ultimate White, Premium, Pro-Balancing, and Time Lock Solution. Another thing that impressed me: the price! For a prestige brand, Aupres products are quite affordable in comparison to other product brands of the same quality. 

I was most interested in their anti-aging line, Time Lock Solution, that is said to help skin maintain its vitality and resilience, and eliminating fine lines and wrinkles. The line consists of ingredients such as Yeast extract which enhances the skin's collagen network and Japanese basil extract to maintain skin's resilience. 

AUPRES Time Lock Solution Vitalizing Emulsion II
(130ml.) (230RMB) (US$37.50)

I decided to try the Time Lock Solution Vitalizing Emulsion II (for combination skin) as I liked the fluid consistency of the moisturizer. It is light in texture which I prefer as a daily moisturizer before putting on makeup. So far, I have been using this for quite some time and loving it. It is great for everyday and keeps skin hydrated, soft and supple. 

A small amount like this is all you need to moisturize your
entire face and neck.

AUPRES Time Lock Solution Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream
(20g.) (260RMB) (US$42)

The star product in the range is the Intensive Anti-Wrinkle Eye Cream (so had to buy that one of course!). It is described as a rich and lustrous eye cream formulated with nourishing ingredients to help correct wrinkles and fine lines around the eyes. 

It is quite thick in consistency compared to other eye creams but it is very easy to gently pat around the eyes. I like to put this one at night before going to bed. 

So, if you're traveling around China some time and would like to give this brand a try, I highly recommend it!  

http://www.aupres.com.cn

ISEHAN'S KISS ME MAGIC!

Recently, I've been on the lookout for a really great mascara and the perfect BB Cream. These are two makeup products that are constantly in demand. But with so many out there to choose from, which are the best ones?

These days, I have a growing love for Asian products especially Japanese and Korean brands. So when I found out that the Japanese food store located on the ground floor of the building where I live sold Japanese cosmetics, I practically jumped for joy!

Here are the gems I found:

ISEHAN KISS ME Heroine Make

Volume & Curl Mascara (S01 Jet Black)

Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara (US$10)

This mascara with the super cute packaging comes from one of Japan's biggest drugstore cosmetic companies, Isehan. Their Kiss Me Heroine Make Volume & Curl Mascara contains a fiber-in, curl-set polymer extract with volume plumping wax to bring volume and curl to your eyelashes. It is sweatproof and waterproof. It also has moisturizing extracts of chamomile and camellia. 

As I tried it on, it glided on smoothly over my eyelashes with the brush, leaving a shiny and glossy finish and no clumps at all! The polymer formulation keeps the curl and sets it in place. I'm actually really liking this mascara and for the price, I would say it's definitely value for money. 

IMPORTANT TIP: Everything about this mascara is great, but you will need a VERY GOOD eye makeup remover/cleanser to get it off completely at the end of the day. It is a bit hard to remove without a good cleanser.

ISEHAN KISS ME Heroine Make

Mineral BB Cream SPF34 PA++

(02 Natural)

Kiss Me Heroine Make Mineral BB Cream SPF34 (US$10)

I got a free sample of the KISS ME Heroine Make Mineral BB Cream SPF34 in 02 Natural and decided to try it out. I love BB Creams because they are really great for everyday. They are not as thick as foundation yet still give a nice light coverage that looks really natural. They are usually packed with anti-aging skincare ingredients as well that can be really beneficial in the long-term. If you have never tried a BB Cream yet, I suggest you go out to your nearest drugstore and buy one. A little warning though: you might get addicted. 

I noticed right away as I tried this particular one on my skin that it had a bit more coverage than other BB creams I've tried, which tend to be more sheer. This is a medium coverage BB cream that is slightly opaque, perfect for covering pores, spots, dullness and freckles. 

The cream is said to contain hyaluronic acid for optimum moisture and mineral ingredients such as brown algae extract. It is fragrance-free and contains SPF 34. 

Ready to head out: Me wearing the Kiss Me Heroine Make Mascara and BB Cream

http://www.isehan.co.jp/heroine/

SCENTS OF SUMMER

Summer is in full swing here in China and a change of season is always the perfect excuse to buy new things...new clothes, new shoes and of course, new perfume! If you're a self-confessed perfume addict like me and constantly looking for the next best-smelling bottle of goodness...it's time to shop!

For summertime, since the heat is on, it's best to leave the musky and heavy scents for the colder seasons. Fresh, light and breezy are best in warm, humid weather.

Here are my summer picks:

CHANEL NO. 5 EAU PREMIERE

Eau de Parfum

http://www.chanel.com

I really love Chanel No. 5’s woody, powdery, floral scent. But I know the original one is not everyone’s cup of tea. Many people claim it smells too old-fashioned. To be honest, I don't agree with that, although, it is definitely a heavy perfume.  So I prefer the lighter version of the fragrance that was released in 2008, Chanel No. 5 Eau Premiere. Eau Premiere still keeps the distinct scent of No.5 with the familiar notes of Ylang-Ylang & Jasmine Absolute, yet is also slightly different with a little more citrus and rose notes in it. It is lighter and fresher but still elegant & sophisticated. Perfect for everyday and even in hot weather! 

VERSACE BRIGHT CRYSTAL

Eau de Toilette

http://www.versace.com

This is my new favorite now! I've basically been using this everyday and it's my go-to scent this summer. Bright Crystal is a fruity floral scent that smells unbelievably posh. That's the best way to describe it. It's very refreshing and light, yet lasts pretty long on the skin. This pleasant scent has fruity top notes of yuzu and pomegranate, floral middle notes of peony, magnolia and lotus, and base notes of musk and amber. Experience its juicy goodness this summer!

DURANCE LOTUS-LAVENDER

Eau de Toilette

http://www.duranceusa.com

I love the scent of lavender so I'm always on the hunt for the perfect lavender fragrance. Durance Lotus-Lavender Eau de Toilette smells amazing and is my latest discovery amongst the many lavender perfumes out there. The mix of lotus and lavender notes creates a sparkling and fresh aroma. The fragrance is described as aromatic, herbaceous, balsamic, rustic, powdery and iridescent. It smells clean, green and wonderful.

LUSH KARMA KREAM 

Hand and Body Lotion

http://www.lushusa.com

I can't believe I just discovered this recently! My mom-in-law introduced me to it when I smelled this amazing scent on her. LUSH Karma Kream is a hand and body lotion that smells like a spicy, citrus dream. The unique scent is made up of the intoxicating fragrances of orange flower, lemongrass and patchouli. It also contains cocoa butter and almond oil to soften and calm skin. When you put this on, you don't need perfume at all! The scent lasts all day yet is light enough to wear in summer. Best of all, all LUSH products are handmade, organic and against animal testing. 

Last but not the least, my latest obsession and on my current wish list...

ARMANI CODE FOR WOMEN

Eau de Parfum

http://www.giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com

This signature fragrance for women from Giorgio Armani is captivating and just lovely. A blend of Orange blossom, Madagascar vanilla, Sambac jasmine, sandalwood and honey gives this perfume a powerful radiance that cannot be ignored! Super feminine and sensual...in my opinion, this can be worn all year round! A fragrance for all seasons!