Well, April was just a totally bad month, for me and for the world I believe. With Boston, then Texas, and all the innocent people who lost their lives and limbs....it is just so sad.
On my side, I suffered a loss too, of a relative. And another one is in the hospital. A really bad month.
As such I did not manage to get any books out. I WILL send one in May though. That I am sure.
More news that saddened me, I was contacted for a RAK this month. But alas, the person, who's name I will not reveal for their sake, never replied to my emails and I most definitely have not received anything. I think it is one thing to offer someone a RAK, but not going through with it is not very nice.
Anyway, I am SO looking forward to May since this month has been so sucky. I hope it was better for everyone else.
Malaysia has been going through some of the worst weather in a very long time. It's so hot and humid you can cook an egg in the shade (not that I've actually tried). I am always drinking cold water and taking cool showers just trying to cool down. But when it comes to my face, I like to use masks.
Recently, I was one of the lucky bunch who got the chance to review a mask from a new brand in Malaysia in Plusizekitten's Easter Giveaway in collaboration with The Butterfly's Project - Beauty Bloggers. I received four masks in total, how generous! I was only expecting one!
And it has cuts in the mask to help your skin breathe and to help the skin absorb all the serum's goodness.
The menthol in the mask was a welcomed respite from the heat. The mask is extra wonderful if you stick it in the fridge for a bit before putting it on, perfect for a little beauty boost during the day time. But as for me, I used it at night and as I was relaxing in my air-conditioned room, I didn't think I'd need the extra help of the fridge. BE WARNED! I am no mask model. And the pictures below have been taken by myself with a DSLR camera so it was pretty difficult getting a good, balanced picture.
The reason there are some gaps visible is not because of the mask. But my oddly shaped face. Yes, I know it looks weird too. Feel free to move onto the next paragraph.
I was looking forward to the hyaluronic acid boost as well since that helps with plumping up the skin. I have dry and sensitive skin so I was not sure how the mask would fare against this challenge. But alas, it was fine. Better than fine really! It did not affect my skin in any way. No flare ups, redness, or any of those nasty problems I get when a product reacts badly against my skin. After the usual 20 minutes, the mask had pretty much been fully absorbed and so it looked pretty dry. Compare the before picture with the one below and you'll see what I mean.
And the cutest bit, besides the snowflake on the packaging of course, is that my skin continued to tingle for a few minutes even after removal. My cheeks especially felt tingly and cool, something I have never experienced before. Very cool (pun intended)! That's not all! I thought that my skin looks slightly brighter after masking, even my facial scars looked somewhat lighter. No joke.
A look at the back of the package. It states the Ingredients, Directions, Skin type, Cautions, Validity, Manufacturing Date, Storage, and Manufacturer.
All in all, if you want a sheet mask that offers an instant brightening effect or just something to give you some relief from the heatwave, this is the mask for you! And at RM8, it doesn't cost an arm and a leg. Some interesting info about Timeless Truth
The only skincare brand in Burj Al-Arab – Tower of Arabs; 7 stars hotel in the world.
Available at Armani Hotel, Dubai.
Selective masks are available at 370 outlets in Sephora France and Italy.
Selective masks are available at 70 over outlets in Parashop, France.
4 flagship stores in Taiwan and China.
Marketed by ColourMix in Hong Kong and Macau.
Leading Taiwan skincare brand.
GMP + ISO22716 + ISO9001 certified
Certified Halal by the Chinese Muslim Association of Taiwan.
The products have been registered with the Ministry Of Health, Malaysia.
And if you want to know the correct way to put on a Timeless Truth Mask, check out the video below:
Disclosure: I won the products above but was not compensated financially or otherwise. Everything mentioned are my
own thoughts based on my experience.
Jack Templar and the Monster Hunter Academy (Book 2)
After barely surviving the onslaught of monsters that tried to kill him
the day before his fourteenth birthday, Jack Templar leaves his hometown
on a quest to rescue his father and discover the truth about his past.
Joined by his friends Will and T-Rex, and led by Eva, the mysterious
one-handed monster hunter, Jack sets out for the Monster Hunter Academy
where he hopes to find answers to his questions. Little does he suspect
that the Academy is filled with dangers of its own, many of them more
terrifying than anything he’s faced so far.
Orphan Jack Templar has no memory of his parents and only the smallest
details from his Aunt Sophie about how they died. The day before Jack's
fourteenth birthday, things start to change for him. At first it's
great: A sudden new strength helps him defend his nose-picking friend
"T-Rex" from the school bully, and even his crush, Cindy Adams, takes
notice. But then a mysterious girl named Eva arrives and tells him two
facts that will change his life forever. First, that he's the descendent
of a long line of monster hunters and he's destined to be in the family
business. Second, that there's a truce between man and monster that
children are off-limits...until their fourteenth birthday! Jack has only
one day before hundreds of monsters will descend on his little town of
Sunnyvale and try to kill him.
As if that weren't enough, things get even more complicated when Jack
discovers that the Lord of the Creach (as the monsters are collectively
known) holds a personal grudge against him and will do anything to see
that Jack has a slow and painful death. To stay alive and save his
friends, Jack will have to battle werewolves, vampires, harpies, trolls,
zombies and more. But perhaps the most dangerous thing he must face is
the truth about his past. Why do the other hunters call him the last
Templar? Why do they whisper that he may be the "One?" Why do the
monsters want him dead so badly? Even as these questions plague him, he
quickly discovers survival is his new full-time job and that in the
world of monster hunters, nothing is really what it seems.
Praise for Book One: Jack Templar Monster Hunter "Gunhus brings young readers a monster-filled romp to read at their own risk. In
the first few pages, Jack, the storyteller and main character, warns
readers not to read about these real-world monsters that would seem to
only exist in fiction. The tone is set--sarcastic, tongue-in-cheek and
likable; rooting for Jack is easy...Gunhus masterfully introduces fully
realized characters with whom readers can connect almost instantly. The
pacing is quick but not rushed, and events seamlessly progress, complete
with action, cliff-hangers and surprise reveals. " - Kirkus Reviews"The action starts right from the first chapter and doesn't let up until the book ends. This is the first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the rest of them." -The DMS
"Jeff Gunhus has made a terrific fast paced fantasy. I even wanted to bolt my doors and lock my windows! Five stars for the best book of the year." -Elizabeth A. Bolt
"Everything
in this book was something a reader could love - action, adventure,
mythical creatures, mystery and even a touch of romance. Not bad for
fourteen-year-old Jack Templar. There were so many messages to take
from this book - messages of love, self-sacrifice, faith and and having
the belief that you can be so much more than you are if you just
believed. The words poured from the page and I just couldn't help
lapping them up." -Sandy @ Magical Manuscripts
"This was fun read with non-stop adventure. Reminiscent
of Percy Jackson and Harry Potter, Gunhus creates an interesting world
and characters that are easy to root for. Very good pace, lots of fun
and a solid start. Already anticipating the next story!" -M. Profant
Jeff Gunhus grew up in Cyprus, Greece, and Saudi Arabia where there was a
distinct lack of television. He quickly found books were the gateway to
incredible adventures, fascinating characters and unbelievable
discoveries. Now, with five children of his own (all who watch too much
television, in his opinion), he has enjoyed revisiting his old books and
reliving those adventures all over again.
Yeah, you read it right. I’m a monster hunter. Back before I
actually became one, I would have thought that sounded totally awesome.
And don’t get me wrong, in a lot of ways it is. But most of the time,
I’m either running for my life or hiding in the shadows, praying the
monster chasing me doesn’t pick up my scent. And I’m almost always
scared to death. In a few pages, I think you’ll see why.
But there are a few things I need to warn you about before I tell you my story.
First, this isn’t a cartoon. These are bloodthirsty creatures who
will stop at nothing to kill. They are scary. Very scary. Second, the
only way to stop them is to kill them first…and that gets gross and
messy. Third, this is all real.
You think I’m kidding, don’t you? I can almost see you smirking as
you read this. But this isn’t a joke. Monsters are real and the story
I’m about to tell you really happened. If you’d rather walk through life
believing that monsters are only found in books or on the movie screen,
then you should shut this book right now and go do something else.
I give you these warnings because the story I’m about to tell you
isn’t for everyone. Not everyone can handle it. The blood. The gore. The
monsters.
This life was thrust onto me. I had no choice but to take up a
sword and fight. But you can still walk away and pretend this dark world
doesn’t exist. Or you can walk through the door that I’m about to open
and find out the truth about the world around you.
But I warn you (and this is a big warning), if you read this book,
if you learn about the monsters that roam among us and the hunters who
fight them, if you decide to learn the truth, then you will become fair
game for the monsters to chase.
Make sure you understand what I’m saying.
If you read this book, you will be part of this world and the
monsters will come after you too. You will start to see things that no
other humans can see. The shadows will move when you walk near them. The
creatures of the night will seek you out, testing the doors and windows
of your house, looking for a way in.
And, at some point, they will find you, just like they found me, and you will be forced to defend yourself.
So, think carefully before you turn the page, because once you do, there’s no turning back.
Ever.
Once a monster hunter, always a monster hunter.
See you on the other side.
If you’re brave enough.
Book Blast $50 Giveaway
Ends 4/19/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com
Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize
being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter
or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by
rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48
hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no
way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity
unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received
determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I
Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the
author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
