Catrice Sun Glow Minarel Bronzing Powder Review

I love Catrice! Arguably the cheapest drugstore brand at Guardian next to Silkygirl.

Previous Catrice product review Catrice Allround Mascara link here.

This is the Sun Glow Minarel Bronzing Powder review.

The product.

The product inside. It had an obvious dome shape.

Product description.

It gives the skin the subtlest loveliest glow. If you’re any shade lighter than me it’ll bronze up your skin beautifully!

Description: A bronzer that comes in one shade, 010, Golden Light. It comes in 8 grams or 0.28 oz of product.

Where to buy: Guardian stores nationwide.

Price: MYR 24.90 (please wait for a promotion or discount!)

 

Pros:

Blends like a dream.

That glow is so subtle yet so beautiful.

Even tanned skin can use it to give the skin a beautiful glow.

Large pan for the price.

Extra points for packaging.

 

Cons:

Powdery.

 

Rating:

8.9/10

If there’s one product that is fail save from this brand if you have light to tanned skin, this is it! Try it!

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Bare Essentials by Althea Review

The Butterfly Project (no affiliations to the similar sounding title of a movie), is a Malaysian beauty community for influencers. They work with many beauty brands to bridge companies with bloggers, YouTubers and Instagrammers for product reviews and projects to promote launches and new releases. They also organise community projects to allow networking among local bloggers. I have been a member from the very beginning of my blogging days but this is my very first time being involved in one of their projects.

Here are their links:

Website: http://www.butterflyproject.my/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/ButterflyProjectMalaysia/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/butterflyproject.my/

So they sent me three products to try from Bare Essentials, a skincare line created by Althea Korea. I’ve mentioned Althea in the past; a Korean based online beauty store that sells an array of K-beauty products. When they celebrated their first anniversary in 2016, PR representatives reached out to me, offering MYR150 in store credit to purchase anything I wanted in exchange for a shout-out on my blog (post link here). So today I review the three-step Korean skincare, Bare Essentials by Althea.

Althea’s links:

Website: http://my.althea.kr/

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/altheamalaysia/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/altheakorea/

Disclaimer: Not sponsored. These products were sent to me in exchange for my honest review. Thoughts are all mine and links provided are not affiliate links (meaning, I don’t make any money from any of the links on this review).

Althea’s outer packaging has always been simple and clean. PS: I always reuse this box.

The stuff inside!

THERE’S A BRAND MIRROR! I feel like a proper influencer now!

Stars of the review.

I love the clean, simple sophisticated packaging!

#1 Contour Cleanser

Description: A foaming cleanser that comes in 150g or 5.29 oz. of product. It is supposed to containt micro capsules that is supposed to help with exfoliating and is infused with ice plant and lemon myrtle extracts.

Ingredients list: (this is something new I am going to be doing with all my skincare reviews, do check out my past reviews as well for this update)

Glycerin,Water,Myristic Acid,Stearic Acid,Potassium Hydroxide,Palmitic Acid,Lauric Acid,PEG-32,Glyceryl Stearate,PEG-100 Stearate, Cocamidopropyl Betaine,Glyceryl Stearate SE,Microcrystalline Cellulose,Zea Mays (Corn) Starch,Lactose,Potassium Cocoyl Glycinate, Polyquaternium-67,Sodium Chloride,Disodium EDTA,Menthol,Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Polyquaternium-7,Fructooligosaccharides,Saccharide Hydrolysate,Pullulan,1,2-Hexanediol,Tocopheryl Acetate, Mesembryanthemum Crystallinum Extract,Sodium Benzoate,Sodium Acetate,Butylene Glycol, Lippia Citriodora Leaf Extract,Ethylheaxylglycerin,Fragrance

Price: MYR 23

Where to buy: Althea website (link above)

Product

It definitely foams up a lot more than apparent here.

Pros:

AFFORDABLE!!!!!!!!

Does a good job cleansing the face.

A little goes a long way.

The tiny beads are so tiny that they’re almost indistinguishable but it works and they are not plastic beads which means they dissolve.

Fragrance is not too overpowering.

Skin feels fresh.

 

Cons:

Has a tiny bit of a tight feeling after cleansing.

 

Rating: 8.6/10

This is  a good cleanser for the price! I would definitely consider purchasing this myself.

 

#2 Primer Water

Description: 2-in-1 product; a toner and a primer in one. Comes in 200 ml or 6.76 fl. oz. product. Infused with snow water extract and apparently there’s a patented dew drop technology that helps absorption.

Ingredients list:

Water,Propanediol,Diphenylsiloxy Phenyl Trimethicone,Alcohol,1,2-Hexanediol,Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract,Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract,Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer,Tromethamine,Betaine,Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate,Xanthan Gum,Ethylhexylglycerin,Pullulan,Butylene Glycol,Dipropylene Glycol,Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Saussurea Involucrata Extract,Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria) Flower Extract,Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Leaf Extract, Origanum Vulgare Extract,Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower Extract,Thymus Vulgaris (Thyme) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract, Sclerotium Gum,Agar,Polysorbate 20,PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil,Fragrance

Price: MYR 43

Where to buy: Althea (link above)

Clear thick liquid.

Pros:

Absorbs well.

Good amount of product for the price.

Skin was hydrated and it feels really good on the skin.

There was a surprising evening out of my skin texture which was very surprising to me!

A little product is enough to cover the entire face.

 

Cons:

It is pretty heavily fragranced which, although goes away after a while, is pretty strong upon initial application.

It takes a while to absorb into the skin.

 

Rating: 8.5/10

Another surprisingly good product! And at MYR 43, hey, I may even consider purchasing it!!!

 

# Fixer Cream

Frosted glass jar, I LOVE!

Description: A moisturiser that comes in 50 g or 1.76 oz. of product. Contains trehalose which apparently locks in moisture, wild green tea extracts which has potent antioxidants, and baobab tree extract which apparently promotes collagen in the skin.

Ingredients list:

Water,Glycerin,Methylpropanediol,Dimethicone,Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil,Hydrogenated Poly(C6-14 Olefin),Cyclopentasiloxane,Glyceryl Stearate, 1,2-Hexanediol,Cetearyl Alcohol,Polysorbate 60,PEG-100 Stearate,Cyclohexasiloxane,Salvia Hispanica Seed Extract,Centella Asiatica Extract, Houttuynia Cordata Extract,Carbomer,Tromethamine,Polyacrylate-13,Fructooligosaccharides, Saccharide Hydrolysate,Polyisobutene,Propanediol,Ethylhexylglycerin,Pullulan,Disodium EDTA,Polysorbate 20,Butylene Glycol, Sorbitan Isostearate,Trehalose,Sodium Hyaluronate,Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Flower/Leaf/Stem Extract,Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Imperata Cylindrica Root Extract,Opuntia Ficus-Indica Stem Extract,Adansonia Digitata Seed Extract,Fragrance

Price: MYR 50

Where to buy: Althea (link above)

Product.

Pros:

Provides amazing moisturisation and hydration.

Absorbs well into the skin.

My face feels smoother and bouncier when I use this.

For something so hydrating, and with so many oils, my face doesn’t oil up.

 

Cons:

The tub is something I am not a fan of. I hate digging into it and it doesn’t come with a spatula.

It takes a while to absorb into the skin

 

Rating: 8.5/10

Again, I am really surprised! Would definitely consider purchasing myself!

 

NOTE! PLEASE READ!!!

This three step skincare is so easy and affordable that even disinterested MEN can use it!!! Trust me, men like that often skip skincare because it may be cumbersome. This is a no brainer. Leave all of it in the bathroom! Right after bathing, your man, brother, father, uncle, stepdad, stepuncle, stepbrother, cousins (once, twice, thrice removed), neighbour (OR YOU if you’re the man), can wash the face, and lazily slap two things on their face. No rhyme, or nothing complicated. This would be a great way to get someone who’s lazy about skincare to just do something about it…

Product Regret #12

Can’t believe there’s two of these in the span of 3 posts!

I generally can make mascaras work for me but this was hands down the WORST I’ve ever used!

The product.

 

What I liked about it:

The green colour on the tube.

 

What I didn’t like about it:

EVERYTHING ELSE! It’s like putting on a layer of clear gel on the lashes. It has NO EFFECT on the lashes! It doesn’t dry down fast and ends up smudging. The bristles are too widely spaced to catch any lash. The wand shape and bristles cause smudging during application. I can’t say anything good about this mascara! Not one redeeming quality. Paid MYR 10 for it! That’s a meal down the drain! 😥

TWO COATS OF MASCARA! This is how my lashes would look with clear mascara!

Smudging! HELL NO!!!

Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review

I’ve done a Benefit product review before aka the Benefit Gimme Brow (link here).

This is the Benefit Roller Lash Mascara Review.

The product.

The tube (this is the travel size version). The wand handle is rubberised.

The box has information all around it. These are the claims…

Proof.

Product info.

Concept behind the wand.

Ingredients list.

More info.

Very little information on the tube itself.

The wand really is something!

Description: Mascara that comes in 4 grams or 0.14 oz of product and comes in two shades black and brown. The full sized one comes in more than twice the amount at 8.5 grams or 0.13 oz of product.

Where to buy: Sephora and Benefit boutiques and counters nationwide (a full list is available on the Benefit Malaysia Facebook page).

Price: Full sized; MYR 125, mini; MYR 65.

 

Lash swatches.

Bare lashes.

One coat.

Two coats.

Pros:

Best curling mascara I’ve ever used! It curls and holds (I don’t have particularly stubborn lashes so this ought to be taken into account).

Lengthens pretty well.

No clumps or lumps.

Nice separation.

Didn’t run or smudge on me (although it does NOT claim to be waterproof).

The wand grabs and coats even the tiniest lashes.

 

Cons:

YES duh!!! PRICE!!!!

Not much volume.

 

Rating:

8.7/10

Much like the Benefit Gimme Brow, do I love this product? Heck yes! Will I ever buy it again! HELL NO!

Product Regrets #11

I didn’t purchase this but this post is just so you don’t buy it.

Received this from the Sephora birthday gift this year (I completely forgot to add it to the last haul of 2017).

This is the Tarteist Lip Paint in the shade Birthday Suit.

I’ve used some terrible liquid lipsticks but boy is this terrible. I love your stuff Tarte! Not to mention, everyone is using the Shape Tape and loving it that it is on my wishlist.

But what in God’s good name was this?

What I like about it:

Cute packaging. Doe foot applicator is soft and rather flexible. Pigmented and comfortable to wear.

What I don’t like:

EVERYTHING ELSE! It is grainy, patchy, it settles into every line and crevice and collects there even with the thinnest, lightest application, moves around too much, grabs onto every dry patch. I don’t mind it being not a formula that doesn’t dry completely down but since it is so bad, it kind of adds to its negatives. A full tube is MYR 95 which isn’t too expensive but, you know me! Nope! BYE!

Catrice All Round Mascara (Waterproof) Review

Catrice products are available exclusively at Guardian and are extremely affordable. Not dark skin friendly in terms of complexion products but where other products are concerned, there are winners.

This is the Catrice All Round Mascara; waterproof.

The product.

Description on the side.

Product info.

Wand; very standard natural bristle wand with a tapered end.

Description: Waterproof mascara that comes in 12 ml or 0.4 fl. oz. of product. Also comes in non waterproof version (purple tube). Code; 010 Blackest Black.

Price: MYR 18.90

Where to buy: Guardian pharmacy

Lash swatch.

Bare lashes.

One coat.

Two coats.

Pros:

Lengthens and adds dramatic volume.

Nice separation.

Minimal clumps (this comes with a con, read further).

No fallout (this comes with a con, read further)

Pretty good at curling and the curls hold.

No smudging.

 

Cons

The formula drastically changes as it dries out and it worsens (referring to the pros above);

• As the formula dries out it becomes clumpy (the swatches bear evidence as my second coat picture shows a little bit of clumping).
• When the formula dries out there also seems to be fallout.

The size of the wand makes it a little hard to work with.

 

Rating:

8.3/10

I am giving it a high rating because the mascara blew my mind when I initially tried it out. This would have gotten a rating above 9 if the formula didn’t change as it dried out. But hey, for a MYR 20 mascara, 3 to 4 months use is more than enough although I kept using it until the 8th month mark! 😛

AQUTOP Skincare Review

So I was contacted again by the PR representatives I received the J.One skincare products from and this time around was approached to review skincare from AQUTOP.

Disclaimer: These products were sent to me for my honest review. Thoughts are all mine and links provided are not affiliate links (meaning, I don’t make any money from any of the links on this review).

So AQUTOP is a new Korean brand launched in 2015 and have been available in Singapore since 2017. Fun fact, the brand name is apparently a combination of the words water (aqua) and best (top). They are all about moisture for the skin and undeniably it is the most important thing the skin needs!

The three products that I received.

 

Let’s first start with the product I liked the most.

Description: It is a foaming cleanser that comes in 150ml/5.07 fl. oz. It contains germinating black beans which apparently allows for smoother skin and deeper cleanse.

Ingredients list:

Glycine Max (Soybean) Seed Extract (29%), Stearic Acid, PEG-400, Glycerin, Myristic Acid, Lauric Acid, Potassium Hydroxide, Polyquaternium-7, PEG-100 Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Propanediol, Saponaria Officinalis Leaf Extract, Portulaca Oleracea Extract, Disodium EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Fragrance.

Price: USD 7 (approximately MYR 27.31 at time this post was published).

Where to buy: For my fellow Malaysians, they are sold at Qoo10 (link here). Price on Qoo10 may differ from the price stated (applicable for all products).

Product.

Lots of lather! And I didn’t even use much water.

Pros:

Deep cleanse!

Doesn’t leave the skin dry and tight.

The tiniest of product goes a long way (on my big face, two peas sized blob lathers well and cleanses properly!).

Doesn’t have a distinct scent (which is good)!

Skin does feel much smoother!

Even price is affordable!

 

Cons:

NONE!

 

Rating:

9/10

Definitely recommended!!!

 

Let’s move on to the second product.

It comes in a tub.

Comes with a tiny spatula.

Description: Moisturising face cream that comes in 50 ml or 1.69 fl.oz. It apparently brightens, tones and moisturises skin.

Ingredients list:

 

Price: USD 37 (MYR 144.24 at time this post was published)

Where to buy: Refer above.

 

Pros:

Toned skin (my skin texture was improved).

Moisture was locked into the skin.

The spatula is an advantage.

 

Cons:

The skin brightening wasn’t so evident perhaps because of my darker skin tone.

It leaves a horrible white cast on the skin that never does go away (pictures below)

It sits on the skin funny, like a mask instead of a cream that absorbs into the skin.

 

This is a layer of product freshly applied! NOT A BEFORE AND AFTER!!!! The cast doesn’t go away! So walking out in the day with this on, NO! However, I used it at night and my skin did improve! I had a lot more texture on the skin than I did before using this product.

Rating:

4/10

As much as it improved my skin, the white cast and the way it sits funny on the skin is not something I can tolerate using it during day time.

 

Moving on to the third and final product.

A body lotion.

Description: A toning body lotion that comes in 100 ml or 3.38 fl. oz. It is supposed to brighten and tone skin while adding moisture.

Price: USD 18 (MYR 70.17 as of the time this post was published)

Where to buy: Refer above

Pros:

Definitely smooths out the skin (I tried it around my stomach area, obviously won’t share pics! 😛 ).

Helps improve texture and definitely helped with toning of the skin!

Sinks into the skin really well and feels comfortable upon application.

A small amount goes a long way.

 

Cons:

It doesn’t absorb easily (I usually had to work for a while before the product gets absorbed)!

Didn’t really notice a brightening effect (again perhaps due to my complexion).

 

Rating:

7/10

I may change this rating, because I used it for just about 2 weeks and wasn’t enough to see if the effects were persistent. I had a hard time using it because it does take a while to work it into the skin especially since I am using it on the body.

2017 Collective Product Empties

Happy New Year Guys!!!

Another year, a new dawn, a new horizon! Lots to do and conquer!

Hope you guys had a wonderful time welcoming the New Year!!!

In my 2016 collective empties I decided to set aside MYR 100 every month for cosmetics which I would collect end of the year and do something good with. Well, I did and it went for a better cause than cosmetics. Purchased a beauty blender and a Hugo Boss perfume though; something I wanted to do even with the challenge.

Come 2018, I am continuing with the trend and doing a Low Buy 2018! MYR 50 for cosmetics each month. No more! I am allowing myself to pool the money so if I happen to spend MYR 100 for a month then there would be nothing for the next. All in all, there’s MYR 600 for the whole year for cosmetics (which isn’t much; A MAC powder costs MYR160 and I spent about MYR 200 in 2017 EVEN WITH the NO BUY challenge!!!). Of course this doesn’t extend to things pertaining to skincare like facial cleansers, toners and moisturisers. I had this concession even last year (I GOTTA WASH MY FACE DON’T I????).

Moving on…

Previous collective empties

2016 – link here

2015 – link here

I need to preface this post by stating here that I don’t feature products twice. That means these aren’t the only products I have finished. Some stuff I regularly repurchase and use don’t get mentioned here. However, if a product comes in different flavours or colours then they get repeated due to the variation. For example, in this collective empties, cleansers from the brand LipHop are featured twice because they are of different types.

Here are the stats;

• I have posted 7 product empties post which would amounts to 35 products. In actuality there are only 34 because I accidentally repeated a product.
• I featured 11 full sized makeup products excluding lip balms and makeup removers. These were 2 eyebrow pencils, 1 foundation powder, 2 mascaras, 2 eyebrow gels, 1 eyeliner, 1 eyeshadow, and 2 matte liquid lipsticks.
• There were also a lipbalm and 4 makeup removers (I bought the travel sized Garnier ones to try out; I compared 5 cleansing waters; link here).
• There were 2 hair products, one styling cream (which was more of a hair mask for me) and a hair mask.
• The rest were skincare which amounted to 16 products. These were 2 sheet masks, 1 face mask (in a tub), 1 nose pore pack (pack of 10 strips), 3 facial cleansers, 1 face cream, 1 lip mask, 2 eye masks, 2 sample facial cleansers, 2 facial mists, and 1 toner.

List of product empties post (clickable);

Product Empties #15

Product Empties #16

Product Empties #17

Product Empties #18

Product Empties #19

Product Empties #20

Product Empties #21

Have a great year ahead guys!

It is going to be a good one for me!!!

Product Empties #21

Last product empties of the year! I will be doing a collective 2017 empties in January but for the moment, here is my last for 2017!

The blurred out product had already been featured and I had discarded the other products to be able to retake the picture… Apologies!

I’ve inserted this picture from the review. I am obviously referring to NC42 on the left. It has reduced a lot more since this picture. Review link here.

This is the Collection Cosmetics Moisturising Lip Cream. Extremely similar to the next product and MUCH cheaper! I went so far as to call it a dupe (post link here). Unfortunately, the brand is no longer available here in Malaysia but this was an amazing product. I don’t think I am going out of my way to purchase this. Purchased it for MYR 10.50 (which seems kind of redundant but hey, for reference purposes anyway).

Already reviewed this; link here.

This is the Dabur Vatika Naturals, styling hair cream. I LOVE this stuff!!! My hair was softer, stronger and healthier. You know something is good when you actually feel a difference. However, I didn’t use it for its intended purpose because as much as I loved the initial scent, it would start smelling like pee after it sat for half an hour or so on the hair. I do tend to have dandruff breakouts (well, go ahead, ewwww away, I don’t care. Spoiler alert, I am human!) but it didn’t really do much for the dandruff. The only way my dandruff is cleaned up is if I wash my hair everyday without fail and when I don’t, it just flares up. Again, not much for the dandruff but for the hair and the scalp! YES! And this small tub was MYR 3.50!!! Definitely repurchasing!

This is the Innisfree Whitening Pore Cream. Won this from a giveaway and was featured in an old haul. I did just start using it this year and finally finished it up. I am not a fan of anything that markets itself as whitening, however, this cream was nice, absorbed well and smelled good. Didn’t do much to “whiten” though… My gripe with it was, after a couple of hours my face oiled up a little more than it usually does. Not anything too bad but I would have a strong urge to blot my face. I love using it at night because in the morning my skin is nice and plump and bouncy. Wouldn’t purchase it because I checked out the price online and it is a whopping MYR 125! Nope!

J. One Skincare Review (by Beureka)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Christmas on a Monday! An extra holiday here in Malaysia!

Wishing you all a warm and wonderful Christmas!

These products were sent to me by a company called Beureka, which was started by men (two Singaporeans actually)! Well, there’s were I relate!

They offer a wide array of beauty products with a focus on Asian and Korean brands. The products that were sent to me is by a high end brand called J.One which has been available in Sephora US for a while now.

Disclaimer: I was sent these products to review but opinions are entirely mine.

I’ll attach all links to Beureka at the end of the post.

I received four products; 2 masks, a makeup primer and a cream.

First the makeup base.

Description: A clear jelly like leave on mask that has anti-aging properties, and acts as a makeup primer. Comes in 50 ml (1.69 fl. oz) of product, complete with a pump.

Price: SGD 42.00 (excluding shipping and as of 25th December 2017, the exchange rate for SGD to MYR is 1 to 3.03, so the product costs MYR 127.37)

Where to buy: Beureka (details at the end of the review)

Pump!!! Yes!

The product

Leaves a dewy finish on the skin without feeling oily.

Pros:

Leaves a tacky surface for product to cling on.

Scentless.

Easy to work with.

PUMP, YES!!!

Hydrates and moisturises skin (in fact, it seems to almost trap moisture on the skin).

Prevents makeup from settling into lines (not entirely but, it would make a phenomenal difference for someone with wrinkles).

 

Cons:

Price (obviously a con for a cheapo like me HOWEVER, Beureka rates are amazing; this one is sold at Sephora US for USD 42 and since 1USD = 1.34SGD, it makes this product CHEAPER on Beureka).

Didn’t really smooth out pores.

Made my skin oil up at the end of its run, more than if I didn’t wear a primer at all (nothing too bad).

 

Rating: 8/10

Now here’s why I am giving it an 8. I don’t particularly have skin that makeup slides off. In fact, my skin holds on to makeup like no other! I wear primers for pore refining and oil control. However, working on people with different types of skin, I can say that there are people with skin so smooth that makeup actually doesn’t stick on and so for people like that, this product would be a Godsend!

 

Description: Lotion like cream that come in individual beads. 20 grams (o.7 oz) of product and comes with a tiny plastic spatula.

Price: SGD 58 (converts to MYR 176.01 as of 25th December 2017)

Where to buy: Beureka (details at the end of the review)

The product inside.

The plastic spatula.

I find it very satisfying picking individual beads for every use. I need to use about 3 beads for my large face.

Pros:

Easy to use.

Extremely hygienic since the fingers don’t go digging into the pot and the spatula can be easily cleaned.

Works well!

As moisturising as it was, my face doesn’t oil up and found that very fascinating!

Absorbs very easily into the skin.

Definitely made my skin smoother (nothing phenomenal but for the short amount of time I used it, I was amazed).

 

Cons:

Price.

I need 3 whole beads for my face.

 

Note: This is fragranced and pretty heavily I might add. So that may be a concern.

 

Rating: 8.5/10

I LOVE this thing! Best part is the fragrance which is very nostalgic for me.

 

The mask was refreshing at best. There are two parts to the mask. Step one is a sheet mask and step two is a jelly lotion that felt very much like the J.One Jelly Pack. The mask isn’t available on the website as of the time of this review but you’re welcome to check back on Beureka. I found a source that lists it at USD 3.80.

Rating: 6/10

Refreshing.

 

So about the company.

Beureka at https://beureka.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wearebeureka

Instagram: wearebeureka

I implore you to compare prices because the J.One products are much cheaper on Beureka than even the Sephora US website. So I am sure there are good bargains! They have perfumes, skincare and some makeup too. Mostly high end and luxury brands.

For Malaysia, they offer a flat rate of SGD 12 for every order. So perhaps pool order with a couple of friends???