mmu != multimedia university

But instead, it's shorthand for mineral makeup.

I've always been a on a perennial hunt for that 'natural makeup' look (and no, you don't have to point out how oxymoronic that sounds). Benefit, the brand, was the closest I got to that look I'm searching (Some Kind-a Gorgeous and Benetint are excellent for it), but the price tag was a huge issue.

In my online 'researching' though, I stumbled upon the world of mineral makeup, which I only vaguely knew of before. Anyway, read up about it enough, I girded myself and embarked on a fruitless quest to find it in the local shops. No luck. Except for the big brands (Laura Mercier, and I heard Shins in Midvalley carries Bare Escentuals), which are not just prohibitively expensive to me (I mean, might as well take a deep breath and buy Benefit proper), but contains bismuth oxychloride, a well-known irritant. But I was in one of my shopping moods, and was *this* close to buying it anyway.

Well, thank goodness I didn't. Thanks to my google-fu, I found a couple of useful threads at the malaysianbabes and lowyat.net forums. Which lead me to Simply Naturale, a local small-time distro for Signature Minerals. They're offering starter kits at RM29.90, and the postage's free (though I suspect it's possibly already included in the price). Delivery's through Pos Ekspress, which means 1-day delivery period (if you live in the lucky postcodes).

The challenge for any makeup I wear is that I have combination skin and I walk to and from the LRT and my office. So far, it's holding up well, and I do feel my skin can breathe. Oil production *and* moisture retention remains an issue, and for crying out loud, I need to get a better blusher brush. But hey, this is only my second day. Once I get the hang of this, it should be fuss-free application, which is also the other thing I'm looking for (shaving off minutes = more time to eat/sleep!).

But I do like the finish. It's not ashy or particularly flat, it has a satiny feel to it. One thing I will say, its feel on your skin doesn't turn to 'yuck' even after a particularly sweaty activity (er... Hot Yoga, if you must know -- I had to test this claim out; ALWAYS remove regular makeup before exercise). The choice of foundation shades seem particularly Asian-friendly, and Simply Naturale offers combination packs that provides with all that you need to start in mmu should you decide to take the plunge. For that, I highly recommend it.

That said, I was surfing around, and Lumiere, whose foundation finish is highly touted, is offering a sample starter kit of four foundation shades, a finishing veil and blush, for only US$9, with free shipping worldwide and a US$5 coupon that you can use for your next order to cancel out the shipping costs. It also accepts Paypal, not just credit cards.  So give that a go too, if you like, but just remember, if you're unfamiliar with mineral makeup, or even makeup, research research research. There are key differences in terms of application and concerns. For example, an investment into a good kabuki brush (what their applicator brush is called) or a good facebrush is required.

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Now, after all that vanity talk, onwards to other things in a vain attempt to prove to this empty space wot is my blog that I'm not as shallow as... as... *grapples as witty simile that is not a cheap shot at plagiarists-cum-poet/model/actors/slashes, Britney Spears, Datuk V.K 'What, I wasn't drunk!!' Lingam; gives up*

- In the world's ongoing attempt to not disprove of my personal theory that Malaysia, being a nation that started its life pirating its national flag* and its national anthem, is a land whose people have no problems with piracy whatsoever, I am presented more stories of plajiariztz. (previously: Sri Cempaka staging 'Wicked', except it's called 'Witches of Oz', because if you change the name, no one will know, amirite? Amateur school production my ass!), I have learnt that local model/actor/professional slash Natasha Hudson IZ A PLAJIARIZT. (classic wanky behaviour includes: defensive replies and deletion/locking of own journal. HAHAHAHAHAHA. Someone needs to do a write-up of this for otf_wank. OTOH, fandom_wank's hot with reports of various plagiarism wanks at the moment, all of which brings a joyful tear to my eye.)

This N.Hud wank is supremo man. Basically she's been found out, that instead of original Malay poems, her book of poetry (for children! WOULD SOMEONE PLEASE THINK OF THE CHILDREN??) contains a number of poems that sounds suspiciously like they've been translated from well-known English poems. Mind you the samples I've been reading sounds like someone did it with a slightly superior Babelfish engine, but anyway: Someone should make a makro, with a pic of th DBP Kamus Dwibahasa with the caption: ICANHAZPLAJIARIZMNAO?

- Blogging the Quran - a no less wanky, but substantially more brain-building avenue. :P This Guardian blog is interesting because the Quran is approached by two commentators, one Muslim, the other a non-Muslim Westerner, though neither, it must be said, are specifically theological or exegesis experts. Still, here's the explanation for the project.

- Stephen Fry's blog - just because!

*To play the broken record, I only wish I'm kidding - I read the 1957 newspapers (and other non-57 materials) dude, and the guy who won the flag-design contest, pretty much admitted he was inspired by USA's flag. Oh, like that wasn't obvious at all. Oh ye, buy the 'Chronicle of Malaysia' book! And remember, I may be part of the editorial team, but any factual errors aren't my fault at all! :P