LOOKBOOK: One bite, and all your dreams will come true.

Ted Baker glasses, G2000 knit top, F21 floral skirt, ASOS watch
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Snow White: A wishing apple?
Queen: Yes. One bite, and all your dreams will come true.

REVIEW: K-Palette's 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner (Super Black)

I have been a huge fan of K-Palette since 2010 (Click here to read my very first entry!) and one of my favourite products is the 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner (Super Black). So I was both thrilled and curious when Relle from Japalang emailed me about the eyeliner's 2nd generation. Thrilled because well, I'm a beauty junkie and curious because I mean, the 1st version is already so perfect! How does one actually improve on that?!?

Turned out that it was possible (Japanese technology is top-notch. Why did I even doubt it?!?). The new formula ensures that the eyeliner dries instantly upon application, which is awesome because you know how when you are waiting for the eyeliner to dry and all of a sudden, your nose twitches and you NEED to sneeze or like when your eyes get itchy and you NEED to blink? The eyeliner always gets smudged inevitably! Always. So thank you, K-Palette!

Besides that, the new formula is also a stronger nemesis of water, sweat and sebum and has been infused with Hyaluronic Acid Na, water-soluble Collagen and Swertia Japonica Essence to condition and protect your delicate eye areas during and after application.

And unlike its predecessor which required makeup remover, all you need is warm water to remove the eyeliner. Pretty cool, eh? :D

The brush is pretty much the same as its predecessor (Maybe just a teeny weeny bit thinner, if I were to scrutinize really hard.). The firmness is the same and the lines drawn are of the same thickness. Physically, nothing has changed much which is good; brands are always improving on perfection and then, it becomes not-so-perfect anymore. So yay! Good job on keeping the brush the same, K-Palette!

And here's how thick, thin and black the lines you can draw with the eyeliner! :D The above shot of this little face was taken after running it under cold water and drying it with a towel. No bleeding, no smudging. At all. Awesome much? :D

I have been using this for two weeks now and I love it more than I did with the old one. I have the tendency to blink my eyes at weird timings so it's very often that I mucked up my eyeliner during application. But with the new formula, I can blink without cursing myself right after application. It dries THAT quickly! And just like the old one, I didn't encounter any irritations, smudging, flaking and fading during the times I had the eyeliner on and I removed it easily with Bioderma's Créaline H2O. And yes, I could remove it with just warm water too! :D

I can't say much about the new formula being a better fighter against water, sweat and sebum because the old one was already more-than-splendid to begin with. But yes, as mentioned earlier, there wasn't any smudging throughout the day (Just like the old one!) even though my eyelids are pretty oily. I don't think the effects of the conditioning ingredients will be very obvious but I'm glad that they were included, just to maintain the health of my skin around those areas.

K-Palette's 24H Real Lasting Eyeliner (Super Black) is one improvement on 'perfection' that I welcome and will repurchase FOREVER (Cue: Dramatic music.). Haha. It's available at selected Watsons and Sasa outlets at $19.90. (:

HAUL: From Vitacost and iHerb

I have been waiting for, like, ever for my parcels to arrive so that I can write them all at one shot. I'm still missing one but I don't think that's going to arrive till I have like 10 grandchildren or something so. Stupid DHL Global Priority Mail!

Anyway, I have been obsessing over Sesame's website, Viva Woman (I swear, if I see her, I would be like how Kenneth was like when he saw Jerry Seinfeld! Yes, I'm very embarrassing for someone so old.)! She writes really well and she does all these great DIY stuff, which are really interesting!

Some of the stuff that Sesame wrote about were oils and homemade masks. Some ingredients are available in Singapore but at exorbitant prices so I decided to get them online instead. The wait isn't too long, as long as you opt for DHL Express. (: Do NOT touch DHL Global Priority Mail, if patience isn't your thing.

And TADAHHH!!! Fresh from the mailbox! Here's what I got from iHerb, which is a website that Sesame ordered several times from. This isn't my first order, which consists of gluten-free oat flour and oils like Jojoba, Avocado and Sweet Almond. It's still lost at sea. BIG SIGH. Fingers crossed it finds its way soon. ): Anyway, here's what I got (And my deluded justifications for each purchase.):

Arrowhead Mills' Organic Oat Flour: For my oat mask! :DDD
Now Foods Solutions' Apricot Oil: I can't remember why I got this. Haha.
Heritage Products' Castor Oil: Apparently, this is a-mazing for scars (You HAVE to read this!) and lashes.
Heritage Products' Rose Water: (not pictured) It's ROSE!

Everyday Minerals' Jojoba Base Starter Kit (Fair): One of EDM's new bases and kits are always fun!
Real Techniques' Core Collection and Enhanced Started Set: I haven't bought brushes for a very long time. *nods*

Shipping was done by DHL Express and it was USD$8 for orders that are USD$60 and above, which is pretty alright! I made my order on Monday and it came today! :DDD For those who are interested (Though I strongly discourage.), DHL Global Priority Mail was USD$4.

(If you're gonna make an order, key in my promo code MMS978 and you get $5 off for small orders and $10 off for orders above $40. :D )

This loot is from Vitacost, which was introduced by Shirley. Supplements are A LOT cheaper there so I stocked up on my Garden Greens's Super Acaiblast. The other items that I got are Honeybee Gardens' Deodorant Powder, Sibu Beauty's Sea Buckthorn Seed Oil and California Baby's Calendula Cream (Not pictured.). :D

Again, shipping was done via DHL Express and it was USD$$13.99, a dollar more than DHL Global Priority Mail. I ordered on a Thursday and received my parcel on the following Tuesday or Wednesday. (:

If you have any questions about shopping on either website, feel free to tweet, leave a comment or drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com! (: Will be very glad to help! HAPPY FRIDAY, people! :DDD

REVIEW: Olay's Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Micro-Sculpting Cream

This January saw the launch of a whole new generation of Olay's most advanced anti-ageing line, the Olay Regenerist. It was reformulated with the revolutionary Skin Energizing Technology, based on the breakthrough made in Cellular Bioenergetics science. This means quicker results in the same amount of time!

The Skin Energizing Technology consists of a potent trio of Olivem, Niacinamide and Pal-KTTKS. These anti-ageing ingredients battles skin fatigue by accelerating surface layer cell turnover. Our skin's surface layers are regenerated up to two times faster, revealing skin that is smoother and brighter. Here's a little more information about the trio:

Olivem: Derivative of olive oil which helps increase penetration of anti-ageing ingredients into skin's layers.
Niacinamide: Helps maintain skin's moisture barrier and increase natural skin exfoliation rates.
Pal-KTTKS: Fragment of collagen molecule that enhances penetration into skin's surface layers.

For Olay's Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Micro-Sculpting Cream, a timeline was even provided:

10 minutes: Noticeable improvement to appearance of ageing concerns like eye lines, brightness and hydration.
4 days: Intense hydration firms skin.
5 days: Regenerates surface skin up to two times faster by boosting natural surface skin renewal.
7 days: Visible reduction in wrinkle appearance.

The white opaque cream comes in a 50g, palm-sized jar. Fragrance has been added to it and it has a pretty light and pleasant scent. I do wish it came without it though. Makes me wonder what it actually smells like without the candy coating. The cream sinks into the skin very quickly, making this suitable as a day cream as well (Just 4 dots will do. One each on your two cheeks and forehead and half a dot on your nose and chin.).

When I first applied this on my face, it stung a little but I'm attributing that to late nights, which make my skin a tad more sensitive. Anyway, it went away after a few applications and I didn't get any bad reaction. (: After the first application, my skin felt plumper and more hydrated. It was a feeling that lasted throughout the day and got more obvious during the two weeks that I tested this out. I can't really say much for wrinkles because I'm still young (I hope.) but umm... It didn't do very much for my laugh lines. Then again, they are pretty deep (Especially the left one! ):).

I was hoping that this would actually 'sculpt' my face since the word is in its name but I guess my definition is kinda different. I was expecting a more defined jawline? Haha. That's a bit too much to expect from topical creams but anyway, I don't think this is the cream's function at all. BUT if you're looking for a product that will inject some life (i.e. fresh, plump and baby-like) into your skin, then yes! Olay's Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Micro-Sculpting Cream is for you! (:

Olay's Regenerist Advanced Anti-Ageing Micro-Sculpting Cream is available in most leading departmental stores and pharmacies at $49.99.

TAG: 32 Things You (Probably) Didn’t Know About Me!

Earlier today, I was tagged by Jade and decided to work on it immediately, lest I forget (Which is usually the case. :\). Jade's actually one of the first few bloggers I got to know when I was starting out, though we haven't met offline. I think I actually got to know Juliet through Jade (All the J's. Haha.). :DDD But anyway, do check out Jade's blog here (She did a really inspiring post on her weight loss. (: )!

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1. Is your hair naturally curly or straight?
It's naturally wavy and wiry, just like Dad's. Haha. I have it straightened every 6 months so that it's easier to maintain. I had it permed once last year but uhhh... I didn't like it too much so it was gone in a blink!

2. What's your natural hair colour?
Jet black!

3. Do you dye it yourself or go to a salon?
Myself! Hair is always growing so I can't quite justify the money spent at salons (Except for straightening!). BUT then, my hair never looks like it has been dyed, though it isn't as black as it used to be. Haha.

4. Do you wear the same style every day or do you change it?
Okay, I'm an extremely lazy person so yes, I wear the same style every day. It's too warm in Singapore anyway, to dress up. BUT work is starting soon so I have to bid my tees and shorts goodbye and dress like an actual adult.

5. Do you do your own mani/pedi or go to a salon?
My own. Again, can't justify the money spent because I muck up pretty nails real quickly! I'm just not a very careful person. Except maybe when it comes to Math (I just had to throw this in because...)

6. How often do you change your nail polish?
It really depends on my mood! When I was still in school, I would change it like 3 times a month (Each lasting a week. The 4th week is for resting.) just to keep things cheerful. But now, I'm like... Really lazy. And I'm usually in an air-conditioned room so all the fumes get stuck inside. I don't actually die from them (Oh, who knows!) but I do feel like I am. It's like inhaling cigarette smoke.

7. Do you polish your toes in the winter or just the summer?
Okay, there's only scorching summer here but oh gosh! The last time I painted my toes was when I was 19! I don't bother with them anymore because no one's gonna see them (Like Jade, I'm always in flats!) and they are really difficult to paint! And you know, it's like you don't actually do anything with your toes but mine likes to like overlap each other after I paint them. So they get mucked up too. Joy.

8. How long does it take for you to put on your makeup?
For everyday makeup, it's less than 10 minutes because I just put on foundation (with SPF) and a tinted lip balm. If it's for an event, probably about half an hour because taking my time prevents mistakes.

9. What do you do first, face or eyes?
Face! I tried doing my eyes first but it was just too weird. It was like I put on my clothes wrongly. I suspect it's because of all those writing exercises I did for Chinese characters. Like for the character for country, you can't close the 'box' unless you have done the strokes inside because even if the outcome is the same, it's still wrong.

10. Do you 'collect' makeup or just buy what you need when you need it?
I used to! Omg, you have no idea how much I spent! Urban Decay will be the 'death' of me with all their limited edition palettes. But now that I'm all grown up (Ahem!) and a tad more 'mature', I try to restrain myself as much as possible. I spend more on skincare now.

11. How often do you wear false eye lashes?
Whenever there's an event or when I conduct my own 'photoshoot'. False eye lashes really glam things up. A lot. I mean, even if you haven't got much eyeshadows or blushers on, false lashes can still make you fabulous.

12. Do you do a full face of makeup every day?
Nope, Singapore is way too warm for that. Just foundation, with SPF, and a tinted lip balm.

13. Do you wear makeup when you are home alone, or with family?
Nope! It's important to let your skin breathe. Besides, my family (Includes you, M!) is supposed to like me as I am blah blah blah. Haha. Okay, truth is I'm too lazy to paint my face everyday.

14. Will you leave the house without makeup?
It's important to have sunblock on and it's just so much easier to use it in powder form so I never leave the house without my foundation (Which is in powder form and has SPF in it.).

15. How many high-end products do you have?
Hmmm... Probably about 10? Mostly SK-II products. I'm using only 3 of them right now. The rest are backups.

16. Do you plan your OOTD every night or decide when you are getting dressed?
Nooooo, I never plan my OOTD in advance! I always try to make a decision about an hour and a half before I leave the house, giving myself half an hour to decide and iron (The hour's for showering and makeup.). BUT it is NEVER half an hour so I'm always 'late'. :\ I only arrive 'early' because most of my friends are usually later than me. Hahaha.

(The only 2 friends who are almost never late are Juliet and Fel. I try to get ready 2 hours before for them. Haha.)

17. How often do you change your handbag?
Uhhh... I don't really change bags. How do I say this? Hmmm... I have bags for different occasions. My Jay Jays' Superman bag is for casual outings. I have a Cotton On black bag for gym. The little Tony Bianco grey bag that Cheryl got me is for events. M gave me a yellow Charles & Keith bag for my birthday last year so that will be my work bag. And yeah... All that I transfer over are my wallet, my Marc Jacobs pencil case, umbrella, tissue papers and wet tissue papers.

18. What time do you get up and go to sleep?
Last night I slept at 12am and got up at 6am, only to go back to sleep at 10am and wake up at 12pm. Heh. It's a very strange sleeping pattern but I'm trying this new thing called 'sleeping early' but then, my body clock just gets totally messed up. Like waking up at 6am, which is splendid for work but then, I start getting sleepy around 9.30am so I'm gonna be in trouble next week.

19. How often or when do you work out?
2-3 times a week! I go for Step Aerobics and Spinning classes. Join a gym, people! I swear that it isn't a waste of money. Unless you're a Chandler.

20. Left handed or right-handed?
I don't work my left brain. ):

21. How tall are you?
5'3".

22. Do you speak a foreign language?
I studied French I and II and Japanese I in university but I don't practise them anymore. My Mandarin's really basic and I do understand some dialects. I can say "I am hungy.", "Butt's red.", "No." and "I don't know." in Teochew. Haha.

23. How many pets do you have?
Nuh uh. No pets at all. I had 3 terrapins when I was 13/ 14 but they were so smelly they stunk up my whole house. I had them for a week before I gave them to my cousin because everyone in my family couldn't stand it (Me included.). The stench infiltrated the whole house and I bathed and changed the water EVERYDAY. I don't find kittens or puppies cute. I don't dislike them. I just don't feel anything towards animals. Maybe, except for the hippos (We had to file A LOT in primary school and I really hated punching holes. It was so much of a hassle. You had to fold before you could punch. And then, the stupid hole puncher was like so small you could only punch like 5 sheets. Cute and innocent me thought the hippos could help me with it.).

24. How often are you on Blogger (or your other blog platform)?
Every single day. Even if I don't blog, I'll be on my Dashboard, checking out blogs I follow. It's like my Tumblr.

25. Do you read comments posted on blogs?
Sometimes!

26. Do you keep a list of products to try as you see other posts?
I usually take a screenshot on my iPhone but I have like 1,200+ photos so they always get buried and lost. But that's alright. I find things to try quite easily.

27. How did you come up with your blog name?
My parents actually came up with it. Haha. It's my name!

28. What kind of camera do you use for photographs?
I usually use a Canon PowerShot S100 for events. And for my own little 'photoshoots' at home, I use a Canon EOS 600D because I can swivel the screen. But really, my iPhone camera is like a hell lot better.

29. How often do you clean your house?
Like once in a long, long, long while? Heh.

30. What is your favourite colour?
I haven't really got one. I used to like brown because I was in Brown House in primary school. Then, it was green in secondary school because my uniform was green. But I didn't quite fancy the blue that my JC uniform was in, so that kinda stopped the favourite-colour-because-of-school trend. I just feel that I have to be 'loyal' to my House and schools... But I really didn't like my JC's blue because it was too pale and washed out. Anyway, I think we should be fair to all colours, really. They can't defend themselves so we shouldn't like one more than the other. Other than black because it absorbs heat and that kills in Singapore. So go free with the hatred!

31. Do you swear?
Yes, I do. Though I have cut down a WHOLE lot because M doesn't like it and I'm like almost a quarter of century old already. I feel too old to swear.

32. What are you doing with the rest of your day?
Watching telly. Haha. I watch so much of it that one day, my eye balls will just roll out. I read very little... Like celebrity gossip, upcoming movie reviews, recaps on shows that I have watched (Some are really hilarious!). Oh yes! Am currently obsessed with Battle Cats on the iPhone now. Haha.

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So yes, you are now 32 steps closer to knowing me. Haha. Thanks for the tag, Jade! Passing the baton on to Fel, Joey, Yvette, Eliza and Ru! :D

MAIL: Greedy Chimp

Greedy Chimp is the latest addition to the growing family of subscription boxes in Singapore. However, unlike the others which revolve around beauty, Greedy Chimp presents to you a knapsack of tasty and yummy snacks! Mmhmm... Gratifying much? :D

Earlier this month, Julian from Greedy Chimp dropped by my place to pass me my very first Greedy Chimp bag. Thanks Julian! Receiving so many snacks at one shot got me giddy with happiness and sent me 'back and forth' like a ping pong ball; Should I eat this first? No, wait. This is really nice. If I eat it now, I won't be able to enjoy it later. Okay, maybe I should try that one. But I really, really, really do want to eat this one! But but... *rolls eyes*

The way in which Greedy Chimp ticks is just like any other subscription box. Every month, the Greedy Chimp team will go on a snacks spree and pick those that will get our taste buds tingling with excitement!

A pretty ingenious idea! There were many instances when I found myself 'lost' in the snacks department. Like should I try this strange-looking new snack or should I just stick with familiarity? Most of the times, I went with the latter. Which makes things a tad mundane... So yay for Greedy Chimp!

So far, I'm done with all the little packets of Impact Mints (In blackcurrant, peach, strawberry, fresh and ice flavours.), Kiwa's Plantain Chips (A tad plain but I had fun chomping away and hearing all the 'crrracckkk' sounds coming out of me. Haha.), Mamee's Vegetable Flavoured Rice Sticks (SOOO good I can't even.) and Chocolate Company's 99 Chocbar which is a square overloaded with endorphins!

I had no idea that Mamee had other stuff, besides the original I-wish-I-can-eat-it-everyday dry noodles so I'm really glad I have/ had those 2 packets in my bag! I mean, you can never go wrong with Mamee!

The idea of a monthly bag of snacks delivered right to our doorsteps is pretty fun and interesting and would make a great gift. The servings are also pretty generous with 8 decently-sized snacks (I lumped all the mints as one.) but I think it would be great if a healthy snack or two (Like a packet of dried fruits?) were included? Heh. I do love my fruits quite a bit.

Each monthly subscription of Greedy Chimp is at $14.90, whilst a quarterly subscription costs $44.70 and comes packed with a secret gift. Do connect with the cute little chimp here and here for the latest updates! :D

EVENT: Heal Spa

Thanks to Haren and Street Directory, I got my first massage session at Heal Spa last Saturday! After attending Spinning classes for close to a month, a massage was sorely needed for my back (Spinning classes are in no way 'damaging'. It's just that I haven't got good posture, on and off the bike. Slouching is so much easier, damnit!). I decided to give M a treat as well. :D It's always fun to do things as a couple! Heh.

Located near Tanjong Pagar MRT, Heal Spa provides natural therapy that takes on the traditional Chinese medicine approach. It is a place for the busy to relax and sweat out all the toxins for some solid rejuvenation. Heal Spa also practices the 'Prevention is better than cure.' axiom where treatments help regulate the physique to improve system recuperation.

When we first arrived, we were each given a form where we had to fill in our personal particulars; addresses, telephone numbers, physical ailments etc. Thereafter, we were led into the room and had a little chat with our consultant on our body conditions and the different types of massages that Heal Spa provided.

Here's a short summary of some massage types that I got from the chat (Click here for more information!):

Swedish Massage: This is the most common massage technique used in salons. It is a touch therapy that helps to relax and eradicate toxins in the body. The massage oil used in Heal Spa is Jojoba Oil.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage: A more rigorous form of Swedish Massage.

Aromatherapy: This is similar to the Swedish Massage but uses essential oils instead.

Shiatsu Massage: A Japanese massage technique that focuses on pressure points. This is perfect for tense muscles and doesn't involve the application of oils.

Meridian Therapy: Designed more for females, this helps to alleviate premenstrual woes.

Lymphatic Therapy: This helps to reduce cellulite and water swelling. It is more of a treatment than a massage and requires more than a single session.

The above's Longan Red Date Tea, which is personally brewed by the staff from Heal Spa. It was a sweet prelude to the massage sessions that awaited us!

Anyway, I opted for the Shiatsu Massage and M went for the Traditional Chinese Medicine Massage! Which was a tad funny because Shiatsu is supposedly more painful than the gentle TCM one. Haha. I think some 'pain' is good because it relieves more muscle tension but M is way too ticklish for anything!

Here's my cozy massage room! The bed took up most of the room but there was still a perimeter around it where I could walk around comfortably (to take photos). A locker was also available for me to place my clothes and bags and because it came with a proper lock, I kept my valuables in it too. I had the option of keeping the key by my side or placing it in a small box placed at the end of the bed.

I was provided a set of clothes to change into since my massage didn't require the application of oils. It was pretty cool that Heal Spa actually had sizes for them because I mean, usually such places don't bother and just hand you a 'free' size. A shower cap and paper undergarments were also provided, just in case you needed them.

Unfortunately for me, that Saturday was pretty booked so I couldn't get a more fitting set of clothes. But it didn't matter much anyway because it wasn't like I was drowning in it and it was actually very soft and comfy!

And this is the gap for you to place your head in! The gap was actually pretty big. When the therapist massaged my back upwards, my throat kinda 'hit' against the edge of the gap and it was pretty discomforting. BUT fear not because there are actually neck rest pillows for us small heads! (: Just inform your therapist! (M didn't have encounter any problems with the gap!)

For the next hour, I was treated to the most relaxing time of my life. I used to think massages were pretty unnecessary but mannn, I think I'm gonna make a habit out of it (Maybe like once very month. That's pretty okay, right?!?). My therapist, May, started the session by 'pushing' my body diagonally outwards. This helped to loosen my muscles and prep my body for the massage. She worked meticulously on my shoulders, back, thighs, hands and temples (Pretty sure I missed out some body parts. Haha. I was just enjoying every moment of it because it was so SO good!).

I didn't fall asleep but instead had a really nice conversation with May! She shared that all therapists in Heal Spa were certified and had to undergo training with the lady boss, who's a trained therapist from China. And even though Heal Spa was opened recently, the place is packed during lunch hour weekdays so do make an appointment in advance! Heal Spa also has two male therapists for those who prefer a more rigorous massage session. And they usually work on the Shiatsu Massage. I also asked about the application of oils. For Shiatsu Massage, no oils are used because the massage technique involves the pressing of pressure points and oils will reduce the friction between the fingers and skin, rendering the massage ineffective.

Sneaked into M's room before my massage started and he was like semi-asleep. He raised his head high enough to make a nod of acknowledgement and promptly went back to his lala land. Hahaha! Anyway, when I came out of my session, boy! Was he rejuvenated! He was all wide-eyed, telling me that it was superbly relaxing! Haha. His therapist was Wendy. M's lower back is a tad swollen so Wendy took extra care in that area. She also taught him some stretches that would help his back. (: At the end of his session, a warm herbal pad was placed in the middle of his back to aid blood circulation and speed up his body's healing process.

That Saturday was perhaps our most relaxing date ever. The place is really accessible and service was great! Our consultant was very knowledgeable and patient. She made sure we understood the different massage types, asked us what we wanted and then, gave us her opinions. Our therapists, May and Wendy, were also fab! They were both very meticulous and we could tell that they took pride in their work. (: The place was clean, which was very important for us, the clean-freak couple (The therapists' nails were short and clean!). Prices are also pretty alright. (: I paid $48 for M's massage (Lasted a full hour!) and this is the price for first-timers. Subsequent sessions cost $58 each.

Thanks Haren and Heal Spa for the invitation! :D M and I will be back! :DDD

HEAL SPA
100 Tras Street
100 AM, #04-14
Tel.: +65 6694 8606

NAILS: Vintage English Roses

Or so I like to think they are (vintage English roses). Haha. Last night, whilst catching up on 'Pretty Little Liars' (This show is going nowhere. I just play it in the background when I'm working on things that don't require writing.), I decided to FINALLY attempt to paint roses on my nails. And they aren't too shabby for someone with shaky hands, I think (Just don't come too close!). Heh.

Previously, I tried to make my own name cards with the same pattern. And yes! I am rocking my own domain now! :DDD

The last finger is a little smudged because I didn't wait for the leaves to dry before applying the top coat. And the texture is a little wonky for the middle and ring fingers because I went to bed after painting them. We all know how that goes.

I referred to tutorials here and here.

Base Coat/ Top Coat: O.P.I's Start To Finish Base & Top Coat
Base Colour: Essie's Turquoise & Caicos
White Stripes/ Highlights: Nature Republic's WH002
Roses: Essie's Innocent
Rose Petals: Essie's Handle With Flair
Leaves: China Glaze's Jolly Holly

UPDATES: Out of school!

Hey Muffins (: I haven't written an 'Updates' post since like forever but not-so-recently, a (huge) chapter of my life ended and I thought I just write a little about it. As gleaned from the title, I'm officially out of school (Well, kinda.)! Yay!!! :DDD University wasn't exactly smooth-sailing and I'm really glad to be out of it. But university gave me many things and one of them is this little space of mine on the net. This space has brought me so many friends (Massive hugs for Juliet and Fel!) and opportunities and I'm crazy thankful for it everyday. (:

Offline, university gave me M (Who tries so hard to make me happy everyday. (:), a better understanding of my family, a fab once-in-a-lifetime internship experience and of course, a-mazing friends. :D And yes, also a degree and a means of survival. Haha. If everything seems a little too condensed... It's meant to be. Haha. I tend to go on forever when it comes to such entries so I'm really restricting myself here. Heh. Just wanted to give thanks to everyone and everything that has happened in my life thus far. (:

Anyway, yes, back to the little blue box! When I got back from Taiwan, the siblings surprised me with a little blue box as my graduation gift! My heart sure was feeling really warm and fuzzy that night. (':

And this was the perfect gift! Ever since I watched 'Sex and the City', I have wanted my own 'Carrie' necklace. It seemed a little silly to get my own since it's supposed to represent 'love' and 'friendship' so yay! :D And I didn't even mention it to the sibs, making this a more-than-perfect gift! :DDD

I'll be opening a whole new chapter come March 25th. (: Wish me luck!

P.S.: I contributed my very first article on GlamAsia! Click here to read! :D

EVENT: Witness a Transformation to Translucent Aura Bright Skin with SK-II

Three weeks back, I headed down to Paragon Atrium for the launch of the newly-enhanced Cellumination regimen. Besides the Cellumination Essence EX, it now includes the Cellumination Day Surge UV. The whole concept behind this regimen is to allow us to achieve an aura bright complexion, as if we were wearing light foundation. The Cellumination Day Surge UV strengthens the benefits of your night skincare regimen by protecting and treating your skin during the day.

This is going to sound a wee back technical but for those who are interested... SK-II research has shown a strong correlation between balanced red, green and blue (RGB) levels found throughout our skin and the evenness of 'light' transmitted from within, paving the way for new heights in skin radiance and aura. When our skin's RGB variance is high, it reduces our skin's aura and contributes to skin damage. The only way in which we can prevent this is to keep the effects of external and internal stresses at bay.

Damage done during the day lasts into the night and so, affects the efficacy of our night skincare regimen. Hence, the Cellumination Day Surge UV was developed with a new active complex Aura Bright Cocktail D to target and normalize the RGB variance, whilst fighting damage caused during the day.

In the middle of the atrium, 2 posters of each lady were put up. We were given a little sack of red marbles and were supposed to drop one in front of the poster which we thought the lady had no foundation on. I hemmed and hawed for the longest time! And I think I only got like 2 right...

The top photo features the entire Cellumination range. Valerie Lim, Miss Singapore Universe 2011, was there to grace the event. Earlier during the month, she tested the products only on half of her face! Juliet went up close and personal to identify the half which she tested on and could tell the difference immediately!

And here's the Cellumination Day Surge UV!

When we arrived at the event, we were each given a stamp on our arms. This stamp mimicked the damage caused by UV rays and could only be seen under the UV detector.

And here's what happened when I applied the Cellumination Day Surge UV! Pretty cool, isn't it?!? I don't suppose it will totally eradicate the damage in real life (Prevention is better than cure!) but at the very least, it will certainly mitigate the effects of those evil rays! (:

SK-II's Cellumination Day Surge UV ($134) is available at all SK-II counters from March 2013. It is recommended for day use as a moisturizing emulsion.

SPOTTED: Tatty Marsh

I like to take a walk round Tanglin Mall sometimes. The stores there hold some really whimsical treasures and it's just so fun (For me!) to walk down the aisle and look at every item and its intricacies. One store which I never fail to drop by is Tatty Marsh and quite recently, I got the chance to pick up a little teacup for work (Yes, I'm entering the workforce soon! :D). (:

Green is the colour of my secondary school uniform (Love my secondary school! :D) and also, my favourite colour! Also, the teacup exudes a country feel, which is how I planned my future house with M to be like (At least for one of the rooms anyway.). (:

Besides The Tatty Marsh Range, Tatty Marsh also stocks Cath Kidston (Whimsical English prints!), Emma Bridgewater & Rice (Colourful watercolour polka dots!), Susie Watson (Country prints!) and many more. (: Do drop by Tatty Marsh when you are around the area!

TATTY MARSH
163 Tanglin Mall #02-07
Tanglin Road
Tel.: +65 6887 4225
URL: http://www.tattymarsh.com/

REVIEW: Vita Green's Lingzhi

Vita Green's Lingzhi is the latest addition to my family of supplements. Lingzhi is a fungus and also the rarest and most precious Chinese medicinal herb. Known for its efficacy in healing without side effects, Lingzhi is said to energize men, provide women with a glowing complexion and restore health to the elderly and bring about longevity.

For Vita Green's Lingzhi capsules, each contains 3.78g of natural Lingzhi raw herb that is made up of 6 species to provide complete care for our health.

White Lingzhi: For lungs.
Green Lingzhi: For liver and eyes.
Black Lingzhi: For brain and kidneys.
Violet Lingzhi: For replenishing vital energy.
Red Lingzhi: For joints, skin and heart.
Yellow Lingzhi: For spleen and intestines.

As the saying goes, you are what you eat. Vita Green's Lingzhi promises beauty, anti-aging properties, provision of antioxidants and better sleep and reduction of allergy symptoms, white hair and age spots.

I have been taking 1-2 capsules daily, as recommended and according to my moods. Haha. I haven't noticed a glowing complexion but at the moment, my complexion seems pretty clear. I have also noticed that I sleep better at night. Previously, I would wake up at around 3am and just stare at the ceiling for ages. But now, I stay in slumberland till about 5am. The pills are pretty tiny too, so for those who have issues with pills, this should be alright (If M can do it, so can you! Haha. That boy hates taking pills and have to take them one at a time. For me, I can swallow 4 softgels at one go.)! (:

Vita Green's Lingzhi (72 capsules per bottle.) is stocked at Guardian and is priced at $129. Right now, it is going for $109. (: Gonna get another bottle some time this week! Thanks Elfaine for sending this one to me! :DDD

REVIEW: Naruko's Narcissus Total Defense Night Eye Gelly

The Narcissus Total Defense Skincare Series is one of the 11 Naruko series that are now available in Singapore. As we all know, it isn't just our diet and lifestyle that contribute to our skin's condition. The environment plays a huge role too. For some of us, the role played is a lot bigger and this series has been designed with us in mind. It helps to rejuvenate tired and dull-looking skin, whilst conditioning it at the same time so that we have brighter, smoother and well-protected skin. (:

Late last year, Naruko Singapore sent me a parcel of skin-loving goodies and one of them is the Narcissus Total Defense Night Eye Gelly. Certified by the reputable Taiwan's Fashion Guide, this is the world's first night gelly for the eyes! Yes, you've got that right! It's meant for the eyes! :D

The Narcissus Total Defense Night Eye Gelly is jam-packed with antioxidants and moisture. It promises to revitalize, firm and moisturize your eye areas, smooth out fine lines, prevent wrinkles and improve dark circles, with its content of Snow Fungus Extract, Tamarind Fruit Extract, Hyaluronic Acid, Vitamin B5, Solomon Oil, Phytoferulin Complex and Narcissus Bulb Extract. Just like the gelly for the face, this is an overnight sleeping mask. It is meant to be applied after your eye cream, so that it seals in the benefits of your eye cream and add more to it.

Housed in a 30ml purple tub, the Narcissus Total Defense Night Eye Gelly comes with a small spatula so that there is no dipping of fingers in the product. Yay for hygiene! Do remember to wash the spatula before and after use!

The night eye gelly smells like my other Naruko products; a light, refreshing, slightly minty, Chinese-herbs scent. When applied on the skin, it has a cooling and refreshing effect.

I use about slightly more than half a scoop on my eyes at night and slightly less than half a scoop in the day. When I first started using the gelly, I found that it took a longer time to sink into the skin as compared with the face gelly and it didn't really make sense. Then, I realized that I was using way too much! The scoop hasn't been calibrated according to usage, so just a flat, half a scoop is more than enough! (: I dot it around my eyes and then, using my ring finger, swipe and dab the gelly around my eyes until it is absorbed.

On days when my eyes feel especially tired, I'll rub my palms together and cover my eyes for a minute or so. The heat from your palms will help with the absorption of the gelly into your skin. At the same time, it also relaxes you (Yay for Yoga classes!). (:

Having used this for more than 2 months, the skin around my eyes feel more hydrated now. It feels firmer and smoother too, though my lines are still evident and my dark circles look pretty much the same. This night eye gelly will make a good everyday treat for the eyes. If you want to stop the clock from ticking round your eyes, this is for you. But if you are looking for a solution to dark circles, you may want to take a look at the Marjoram and Lavender Eye Cream instead. (:

I hope this post has been helpful! Thanks for reading and do like Naruko Singapore's Facebook page here for more updates! :D

EVENT: Watsons' Spring Colour Report 2013

Last week, Fel, Patricia and I headed down to 7Adam for Watsons' Spring Colour Report 2013. I was really thrilled to be there because I practically spend half of my life in Watsons. M will be like "Huh? Watsons again? Are they updated every week?" and after a while, "There's nothing new, dear. What is wrong with you...?". Heh. Anyway, a big thank you to Valerie for the invitation!!! :DDD

This event marked the launch of a brand new Watsons. Armed with a whole new logo, the brand is set to shape the beauty movement in Singapore big time! And it's starting with Spring first. So whether it's your makeup, hair, skincare or well-being, Watsons is going to bring all those to you in great bursts of colours. :D

And because the event was so massive (4 major platforms were featured; cosmetics, hair care, skincare and inner beauty oral supplements.), we were all divided into teams, colour-coded by flowers! So yay, say hi to the purple Power Rangers! Haha.

Cheers to an awesome-r Watsons, that's going to make us 'Look Good and Feel Great' everyday! :DDD

Elite Models
Available at selected Watsons outlets, from $7.90 to $26.90.
This was our first booth and I was going giddy with happiness at their Jardins Secrets Spring 2013 display! The eyeshadows all had roses delicately etched in their beds, coupled with the soft pink rose petals carelessly thrown around them... Too dreamy, too pretty!!! I would actually get all 4 eyeshadows, because of the roses. *nods seriously*

The star product is the Fantastic Primer ($24.90 for 15ml). This water-based gel makeup base is suitable for all skin types. Equipped with anti-ageing and anti-pollutants agents and Plankton, this base not only ensures even and long-lasting makeup but also, radiant and healthy skin!

The Intense Kajal eyeliners were also really pretty, with glitters dotting the base like fairy dust! Comes in 4 shades; black, navy blue, forest green and brown. (: For those who are bored with the usual shades, go for the navy blue. It will make the whites of your eyes whiter, so your eyes will look brighter! :D

Rock Beauty
Available at selected Watsons outlets. Nail Rock from $9.90 to $14.90. Eye Rock at $11.90.
Rock Beauty was next and I got my right index finger decorated! The brand allows us to catch up on trends easily by providing them in easy-to-use, stick-on embellishments. Hang on, gorgeous nails and mesmerizing eyes in a sec!

For the nails, you have Nail Rock Classic which are basically normal nail wraps. There are 16 designs to choose from, and I spied a pink one with a tiny mustache in the middle! If you're going to party the night away, glam things up by choosing from the Nail Rock 3D Collection. These nail wraps are textured and adorned in black and metallic shades!

Toni & Guy
Available at selected Watsons outlets, from $19.90 to $24.90.
This premium brand was recently spotted with a whole new look. It now has 6 collections; Cleanse & Nourish, Prep, Casual, Classic, Glamour and Creative. Each will breathe life into your tresses, styling them in a way that conveys your attitude to the world.

One product that got me seated straight up was the Sea Salt Texturing Spray ($24.90 for 150ml.). I mean, who doesn't want hair like Blake Lively's! To achieve those coveted tousled beachy waves, spray a little of this into towel-dried or dry hair and scrunch away! And don't worry about the sea salt drying your hair up because it won't! All it does is give your hair texture. Moisture level remains status quo. :D

CandyDoll, Eyemazing and Jewelove
Available at selected Watsons outlets, from $21.90.
And this is the booth where all girls' dreams come true... Makeup that gives you porcelain and doll-like complexion, glossy and soft lips and long, fluttery lashes. Sighhh... *dreamy look* Before I skip off into my daydream, Eyemazing will be launching a series of pink-brown lashes, the first of its kind in Singapore! Do keep your eyes peeled for #801 Eyemazing AMO Pastel Type A ($21.90 for 3 pairs.) for full and long lashes and #802 Eyemazing AMO Pastel Type B ($21.90 for 3 pairs.) for sweet and natural ones! I like that they are neat and nicely cut at the tips (Princess lashes have some seriously blunt tips! :\). Heh. Maybe I'll pick them out on my next trip to Watsons... Heh.

CandyDoll didn't have any new launches on the table but do expect more new glosses to invade our vanity tables soon! ;)

And oh yes! Do you see the brand Avancé?!? I recently saw 2 bottles of their lash serum at Ngee Ann City's Watsons outlet and got both (On 2 separate days.)! Lol. Call me kiasu or whatever but it was on the Cosme list! Haha. But yes, I'm still recovering from the shock of my impulsiveness (You know, like a day later, when everything has sunk in and the excitement is gone...) because these are $39.90 each! Eeps! But fear not! They are out of stock now so no worries about being tempted! Haha! Actually, I'm rather tempted to get their mascara too. So you know, I have the whole deal. Haha.

Pretty Jemay helped me put on a pair of Eyemazing lashes in No. 101, the same one that she had on! It was really fab to meet Jemay because we have exchanged several emails but haven't actually met formally! And she was so friendly and sweet and looked so much like a dainty doll with her straight bangs, curls and white lace dress!

Took this photo from Fel's Instagram because the girl's enjoying herself in Genting now! Here's us with our amazing Eyemazing lashes! Haha! I'm a little hooked on lashes at the moment, especially now that I have extensions on. Long lashes really do make a world of difference!

Glow Ignite 2.0
Available at selected Watsons outlets, $128 for 60 capsules (1-month supply).
This booth is designed for the weight-conscious! Made from a 100% natural proprietary blend of powerful fat blasting botanical extracts, this has been clinically proven to promote weight loss. An upgraded version of Glow Original, this one promises to accelerate maximum fat loss, oxidize belly fat cells, reduce waistline circumference, increase lean mass to fat mass ratio for a toned body appearance... Among many other benefits! Those who made resolutions to lose the love handles... This will be your solution!

Dr. Wu
Available at selected Watsons outlets, from $45.90 to $59.90.
Made a stop at Dr. Wu's booth after that. For the uninitiated, Dr. Wu is one of Taiwan's top brands and the products have all been formulated for the Asian skin. They are free from additives, alcohols and have a high concentration of high-grade actives that are safe and effective, even for sensitive skin. Sounds like my kind of thing, aye?

The latest line to be launched is the Mandelic Acid's. This acid is known for its superb efficacy in renewing and refining skin for greater clarity and smoother texture. Based on the Derma-Cells Renewal Technology, it helps to rejuvenate skin cells for a softer and youthful complexion.

Heroine Make
Available at selected Watsons outlets, from $9.90 to $23.90.
And last but not least, everyone's favourite Heroine Make!!! I introduced the brand in the 2nd half of 2012 and you can click here to read all my entries. The Long & Curl Mascara is one of my all-time favourites! Anyway, the brand will be launching the BB Mineral Loose Powder this year. Available in 2 shades, this provides a natural and matte coverage, keeping you oil-free and smooth the whole day!

Camwhoring in front of Olay's vanity table! Fel looks so adorable in the first photo (Must be really thrilled with the table lights. Haha. :P). And if you noticed, Patricia was looking in different directions in the second row of photos! Haha. Taught her how to take these camera-in-the-mirror shots, which was taught to me by Fel! Haha.

Other brands that were present were Aqualabel (Launching their Anti-Aging Line!), Senka, Olay (Will be introducing the New Generation Olay Regenerist in another entry!), Pure Beauty (Watsons' very own brand!) and Brand's Inner Shine!

The night ended pretty late but I thoroughly enjoyed myself! It was so fun touring the booths, trying out and learning about so many brands! I'm especially excited about Eyemazing and Jewelove (As if you can't tell already. Heh!)! Also, it was the first time I was introduced to Dr. Wu and Mandelic Acid sounds really awesome. And of course, I can't wait to own palettes from Elite Models. Then, of course, there are also the wraps from Rock Beauty... And I'm basically just going through all the brands again. Haha!!!

I really can't wait for all these new launches to roll out in my favourite Watsons (So much love for you!)! Yay to a bigger and better Watsons! Thank you so much Watsons for the lovely evening, Valerie for the invitation again and of course, Fel and Patricia for the awesome company! Love you girls! :DDD

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To conclude this entry, here's a peek at the generous goodie box Watsons gave us! :DDD And yes, it was heavy!

TADAHHH!!! I'll be holding a little giveaway soon so stay tuned! :DDD

And thank you for sticking with me till the end! It's a pretty long (And rather detailed?) entry but I hope you enjoyed 'going on the tour' with me. (: As always, tweet or drop me an email if you have any questions and do like Watsons's Facebook page here for the latest updates and sales! Have a fab week, ladies! :DDD