MAIL: Crabtree & Evelyn's Handy Tips for Happy Hands

Last month, Crabtree & Evelyn launched their very own nail lacquer collection in Singapore. It comprises of 12 rich colours bathed in elegance and they are all formulated without toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate.

I was sent my very own Crabtree & Evelyn nail kit which contained:

• Ultra-Moisturizing Hand Therapy in Caribbean Island Wild Flowers
• Nail Lacquer in Snow Drop
• Nail Polish Remover Wipes

I tried out the Nail Polish Remover Wipes immediately. These wipes replace highly damaging hydrocarbon solvents with a gentler soy-based formula. They come in pretty large square mesh pieces and they clean all 10 fingers very thoroughly. As they contain nourishing oils as well, your nails and cuticles are left well-conditioned.

And here's the Nail Lacquer in Snow Drop! Described as a true white, this works perfect for a French manicure and as a stand-alone (Gold accessories will go incredibly well with it!). I used two coats to get a solid white and it wasn't the least bit streaky. (:

Each Crabtree & Evelyn nail lacquer is retailing for $13 and is available at all Crabtree & Evelyn stores.

WORLD CUP 2014: CONTEST + 5 weird superstitions of soccer players

The Contest

UPDATE: Hey everyone, apologies for the delay!
For Image No. 1, congrats Hock Guan for winning it! :D

Over the next 7 days, three images will be posted here on this blog. For each image, be the first to spot all of the bottles of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken hidden and stand to win

• A pack of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken
• $50 Takashimaya Voucher

To participate:

1. Drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com and tell me the image no. and the specific columns and rows where you think the bottles are! For example:

   Image No.: 2
   Bottles are at: A2 (Where A is the column and 2 is the row.), B3 etc.

2. There will only be one winner per image.
3. The first to spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken wins for that particular image.
4. If none of the participants spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken, the participant who spotted the most number of bottles wins.

Good luck! :D

Image 2 (Click on the image to enlarge it.) -

The FIFA World Cup is known to be one of the, if not the, biggest sporting events the world currently knows, bringing together some of the best soccer players from all over. But besides their prowess on the field, these iconic players have some pretty interesting or plain weird quirks behind them too. Here are some of them:

1. Luis Suarez
   Not all hat-tricks are celebrated in the soccer world, as Luis Suarez has come to prove. Seemingly living by the motto "If you can't beat 'em, bite 'em.", Suarez recently completed his hat-trick of bites with Ajax, Liverpool and just a few days ago, Uruguay. Nobody knows for sure the reason behind his weird fetish but what we do know is that the Uruguay star player has been banned for 9 matches, all football activity for four months and fined US$112,000. Way to go Suarez.
   
2. Cristiano Ronaldo
   The Portuguese team captain and Real Madrid forward is widely known as the world's best player, the world's most expensive player and the player with the ever-changing hairstyles. Well, there could be a good reason for that too. Ronaldo fans are probably familiar with his famously weird pre-game 'rituals', but for those who aren't too familiar, here are a few superstitions the world class player reportedly practices.
   • Ronaldo insists on sitting alone in the back row and he must be the last one to leave the bus.
   • The Portuguese player has to change his hairstyle in the locker room at halftime during every game.
   • In fact, he needs a new hairstyle before every game he plays.
   • He must touch the ball before leaving the dressing room.
   • In the Portugal national team, he is the only Portuguese who is allowed to start off with a long-sleeve jersey.
   • He always steps onto the pitch with his right foot first.

   Well, we don't know how true all of the above are, but we know you are going to be looking out for these signs from now on.

   
3. Cesc Fabregas
   In case you have never watched the "Beats by Dre" commercial, here's how Fabregas, star midfielder of the Spanish national team wishes himself good luck – by kissing a ring given to him by his girlfriend four times.
   
4. Kolo Toure
   Kolo Toure, a highly valued member of the Ivory Coast national team, always insists on being the last player from his team to walk onto the playing field. This pre-game ritual is so important to Toure that he reportedly once missed the start of the second half of a Champions League Game while waiting for a teammate to precede him.
   
5. Iker Casillas
   Goalkeeper of the Spanish national team, Iker Casillas is interestingly known to be one of soccer's most superstitious players. He has countless rituals that he modifies depending on the progress of the match, such as changing his jersey every time he concedes a goal or cutting the sleeves off his shirts, etc. His most consistent one would be touching the crossbar every time his team scores. And his most disgusting one? Wearing his socks inside-out during matches. But he has reportedly kicked that habit since 2009. Thank goodness.

The World Cup 2014 series is a collaboration between Charlene J. Lee and Brand's. Images are taken from Google.

WORLD CUP 2014: CONTEST + 5 Things to Bring to a Football Match As a Fan

The Contest
Over the next 7 days, three images will be posted here on this blog. For each image, be the first to spot all of the bottles of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken hidden and stand to win

• A pack of BRAND'S® Essence of Chicken
• $50 Takashimaya Voucher

To participate:

1. Drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com and tell me the image no. and the specific columns and rows where you think the bottles are! For example:

   Image No.: 1
   Bottles are at: A2 (Where A is the column and 2 is the row.), B3 etc.

2. There will only be one winner per image.
3. The first to spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken wins for that particular image.
4. If none of the participants spot all the bottles of BRAND'S Essence of Chicken, the participant who spotted the most number of bottles wins.

Good luck! :D

Image 1 (Click on the image to enlarge it.) -

One thing the World Cup always brings to the screens around the world is the adoring, and sometimes crazy, fans. I'm sure you have seen photos of fans decked out entirely in their country's colours, faces painted with the flag, arms raising the team scarf up high.

If you are a football fan, you'll want to make pilgrimage to a major football game – be it during the World Cup or even the league matches. But what should you bring with you to the stadium to make sure that you are 100% ready to cheer your team on? Here are the top 5 things every fan should have with them.

1. Lozenges
   Extremely practical and it may just save your life. Lozenges are a must have when you are screaming yourself hoarse for your team. At the stadium, the cheering never stops, so make sure you are ready for all that action!
   
2. Cheer Gear
   As the 12th Man, the least a football fan can do at a match is to dress in the team's colours. At the World Cup, fans take things up a notch and things get very, very creative (check this out: http://bzfd.it/1lihtLn). Wear your team colours and bring your cheer gear along. This includes: face paint, team scarves, hats, noise makers, and if you would like, a cute plushie of the team's mascot.
   
3. The Right Bag
   When you're heading to the games, you'll want a bag that is roomy, but won't get in the way. Plus, the stadium would be littered with spilled drinks and wrappers, so you'll want a bag that you don't mind getting at least a little dirty. There are also restrictions on bags at the World Cup so you may want to consider a sling bag over a backpack.
   
4. A Good Camera
   At the World Cup, the stadium is huge so your iPhone camera probably won't cut it if you want to get some nice photos of the players and the game. This is where your 15 megapixel camera with a 20x zoom would come in handy!
   
5. BRAND'S Sesamin with Schisandra Extract
   The party only starts after the match is over when everyone takes it to the nearest pub for some pub grub and drinks. If you're a fan, you definitely can't skip out of the after party. So make sure your body is ready by bringing along a few of this to keep your liver at its best!

The World Cup 2014 series is a collaboration between Charlene J. Lee and Brand's. Images are taken from Google.

MAIL: Brand's Essence of Chicken

Brand's Essence of Chicken played a major role in my childhood because Gran thought it would help me get good grades. On the mornings of examinations, she would warm up a bottle and prepare a little cup of sweets beside it. I drank it all the way till the big Os (Without the sweets, of course.) and then, it just kind of stopped. Actually, no. Dad started drinkinggulping it. Haha.

Anyway, even though I have consumed so many bottles of it, I had no idea that Brand's Essence of Chicken has been around for 170 years. Truth be told, I thought it was a young Singaporean brand because of all the top PSLE kids' endorsements. Haha. Yes, it doesn't make sense. And yes, I amwas ignorant.

The birth of the brand actually dates all the way back to the 1820s, when King George IV's health was deteriorating. It inspired the royal chef Henderson William Brand to develop a chicken tonic and it boosted the king's health. Of course, word got around and backed by popular demand, Mr. Brand decided to establish his own business in 1935. He started selling Brand's Essence of Chicken as a supplement for both the young and the old.

For the uninitiated, Brand's Essence of Chicken is an extract from high quality chicken in an easily digestible form. A holistic, all-natural, ready-to-drink product, it is free of fats, cholesterol and preservatives. Here are some of its benefits:

• Boosts brain health and brain fitness.
• Reduces stress levels and contributes to a relaxed mood.
• Increases levels of stress tolerance.
• Increases mental concentration and improves short-term memory.
• Improves immunity.
• Increases metabolic rate.
• Boosts energy.

And Brand's Essence of Chicken now comes in various flavours to suit our needs!

Brand's Essence of Chicken
For people of all ages.
The original Essence of Chicken provides us with the daily nutrients required for health maintenance and mental alertness. It is fat-, cholesterol- and preservatives-free.

Brand's Essence of Chicken with Cordyceps
For busy working professionals who require a mental, emotional and physical boost.
Coupled with the goodness of premium Cordyceps, this helps to enhance and strengthen out immune system. It stimulates the production of natural 'killer' cells that attack pathogens such as viruses and bacteria.

Brand's Essence of Chicken with American Ginseng
For athletes, students and professionals who require maintenance and a boost in mental and physical strength and stamina.
American ginseng is known to be an effective stress reducer and energy booster. Containing Zinc, Vitamins A, B6 and C and Polysaccharide Glycans, it is often used to enhance out mental and physical performance.

Brand's Essence of Chicken with Tangkwei
For women who need a boost in their performance during the time of the month.
An excellent herbal tonic for blood circulation, Tangkwei is added to help balance our estrogen levels and regulate our menstrual cycle. It also helps to alleviate symptoms of menopause, ease menstrual cramps, reduce pain, dilate blood vessels and stimulate the relaxation of uterine muscles.

Thank you, Brand's and DeVries for sending me the 5 boxes to try out! (: I know my health will be well taken care of for the next month... That is, if Dad doesn't get to them first!

GIVEAWAY: Novalash's Eyelash Extensions by Lolita

I'm kicking of this weekend with my favourite giveaway thus far; an entire set of Novalash's Eyelash Extensions by Lolita! You have read all about my journey here and now, it's your turn to embark on your own! :DDD

Your journey will begin with my nimble fingers. Yes, I will be learning how to attach eyelash extensions the Novalash way and you will be my model! Heh. Please don't worry too much because Shuxian will be taking over after a very short while! :DDD

Here's what you need to do:
1. Be available on July 21st (Next Sunday!) from 5pm to 8pm (Roughly.).
2. Drop me an email at lovecharlenejudith@hotmail.com with your name and the quickest way to contact you!

The giveaway will end on July 19th (Next Friday!), 10.30pm. Cheers to pretty lashes! :DDD

GIVEAWAY: The Body Shop's Tea Tree Pore Minimiser

Hey everyone! Thanks for hanging around when I haven't exactly been active. Eeps, big apologies! But anyway, holidays have just begun for me and I have got ten million and one things to share with you ladies (And guys)! :DDD

To kick-start the 'revival' of my blog, I'm giving away The Body Shop's Tea Tree Pore Minimiser.

Here's what you need to do:
1. Leave just one comment with your name and email address.
2. Have an address in Singapore.

The giveaway will end on June 11th, 10.30pm. Good luck! :D

P.S.: Please remember to check your junk folder!

MAIL: Etude House's February Pink Box

Mid-February, I received Etude House's February Pink Box! In line with Etude House's goal of turning us all into princesses through fairy tales, the 2nd theme for the year is Sweet Recipe. This collection is based on one of Grimms' Fairy Tales, Hansel and Gretel (Did anyone catch 'Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters'?!? I thought it was a pretty fine movie! A predictable story line but it kept me on the edge the whole time!).

And since we have our favourite brother-sister duo on the pedestal, you can expect makeup and accessories packaged as candies and desserts in more colours than the rainbow offers! Fel was really excited about this collection when the promotional posters were first posted on Etude House's Facebook page (Click here!), texted me and got me all excited too! Etude House really beats every other brand hands down when it comes to packaging!

Here are the items in my Pink Box. (: Was incredibly thrilled to find the 4 little Sweet Recipe Ice Cream Nails in my box, with little 'toppings' in them! I'm practically drowning in cuteness! I also received the Sweet Recipe Baby Choux Base SPF25, PA++ in #02 Berry Choux. This moist and fluffy makeup base and primer gives you flawless, baby-like skin by retaining the moisture in your skin. It contains a silky control powder that helps control sebum so you look perfect for a longer time!

The Sweet Recipe Dear My Jelly Lips-talk in JPK002 was another item in my box. This lipstick is gonna glam up your lips and make them as yummy-looking as the the candies in Candy Crush Saga (I have been stuck at Level 65 for a week. HELP!)! They will be moist, soft and bouncy, with a sweet cherry scent! There was also a box of Sweet Recipe Sliced Cake Puffs to help with my makeup application!

And now, onto my little, yummy 'ice-creams'!

#1 Mint Choco Chip is a a pretty pastel blue-green shade with octagonal and squarish glitters in shades of dusky pink, deep purple, rusty brown and lime green. The coats are pretty watery and the above took 3 to be completely opaque.

#2 Lemon Sherbet is a rather bright yellow with octagonal, squarish and circular glitters in shades of silver, green and orange-red, interspersed with strips of silver and gold. When I saw this, I thought of lemongrass immediately! Haha. Doesn't it remind you of the plant?!? The coats are also watery and required 3 layers to achieve the above.

#3 Apricot Candy is a sheer beige with circular glitters in various shades. As seen above, it is pretty translucent, giving your nails a light but healthy wash of colour. I really love this one too! :D

And finally, #4 Strawberry Stars Candy! This one is a cool pink with octagonal, squarish and STAR glitters in teal, purple and pink. I thought it was really awesome to have star glitters in it! I mean, hearts have been done way too many times already. I say, throw in the stars, Christmas trees and whatever interesting shapes glitters can take! :DDD The above required 3 coats too.

The Sweet Recipe Ice Cream Nails make perfect, muted pastel Spring colours! The formula, as aforementioned, is watery but I actually find them easier to work with where the glitters are concerned. Multiple layers won't 'pull' the earlier layers, if you get what I mean.

Ending off the entry with the first CF movie of the Sweet Recipe Collection! f(x)'s Sulli (She reminds me of Amanda Seyfried!) and and Krystal are the new spokesmodels for Etude House and they are at SHINee's confectionery bakery, vying for just one vacancy to be a baker.

Etude House's CF movies are always so adorable and very creative! :D Can't wait for the other collections to roll out! Till then, do check out Etude House's Facebook page here for the latest updates. (:

HAUL: Typo

Back in December, I popped into Typo to get a birthday card for a friend... And umm, well, ended up with some other stuff as well. In my defense, Typo was having a massively crazy sale and it would be a shame to let it pass. I'm helping the economy.

These lovely cards were going at $10 for 3! I used to make my own cards but it was pretty expensive (Fanciful papers usually come in a whole stack and I go crazy in craft stores. I just mentally erased them from my sight.) and time-consuming.

I spotted this frame when I was in Sydney and wanted to get it so badly. But I am SO glad I held out because this was on sale and I paid only a fraction of the original price!

Lastly, this was like 5 bucks. And I got it because it was 5 bucks. Haha. I thought I could use it to hold my little stuff when I go to school for exams.

Alrighty, thanks for reading! It's really early now and it's pouring outside. I hope you had a good sleep! :D

GIVEAWAY: LEADERS' InSolution's Parcels (Results)

Happy Tuesday, everyone! (: Big thanks to all who joined my giveaway for the LEADERS' InSolution's Parcels! Took entries from both Sunbathing Muffins and Love, Charlene Judith and here are the results!

Congrats Jas and Wena! Have dropped you ladies emails. (:

P.S.: Just a heads up... There is going to be a Watsons Member Preview Sale tomorrow and Leaders InSolution is having a 20%+5% off promotion! So it will be a great time to stock up! :D

GIVEAWAY: LEADERS' InSolution's Parcels

Happy Saturday, lovelies! I have been preparing this giveaway for a while now and was waiting for the 'right' time to hold it. Thanks Joyce and Leaders InSolution for sponsoring this and for being so patient! :DDD

I'll be giving away 2 sets of the above! The sets also include the monthly (5th and 6th!) pieces of masks I won at LEADERS InSolution Mask's Bloggers Launch Event and promised to share with you (Apologies that that was stopped for a while as I was pretty busy with work and travelling! :\).

Here's what you need to do:
1. Leave a comment with your name and email address on either Love, Charlene Judith or Sunbathing Muffins.
2. Have an address in Singapore.
3. Leave only one comment.

The giveaway ends on October 12th, 10pm. Good luck!

GOODIES: The Body Shop's Spa Fit Range

credit.

Earlier last month, I received a basket of The Body Shop's newest spa series, Spa Fit. Thank you, Dorcas and The Body Shop, for making my June zesty! :D

Made for Summer, Spa Fit shapes you up and gets you 'spa fit'. Get excited about frolicking under the sun in your brand new swimsuit... With confidence!


credit.

Spa Fit is described as 'the ultimate home-spa range that delivers the firming and toning power of a spa trip in just minutes'.

The range is jam-packed with orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit oils and natural caffeine. The fruit oils help keep your skin smooth and soft like a baby, while caffeine works hard at toning and firming you up!

Spa Fit was tested on over 150 women and here are the figures!

70% said their skin looked more toned.
74% said their skin looked firmer.
74% said their skin felt smoother.
96% said their skin felt softer.



Here's my pretty basket of goodies! A tube of Tea Tree Pore Minimizer was included as well but I'll leave that for another entry. (:



Spa Fit is an equation of 4 products; Body Massager ($14.90), Smoothing & Refining Body Scrub ($42.90), Skin Perfecting Massage Oil ($28.90) and Intensive Toning Concentrate ($34.90).

As most of us are aware, The Body Shop is a brand that practises giving back to society. Her products contain Community Fair Trade ingredients and Spa Fit is no exception. The organic aloe vera found in this range is from Guatemala. It is hand-harvested and hand-filleted to preserve the gel's freshness and all these are done within half a day. The trade provides income for the El Progreso's farmers and materials to more than 100 schools.



Here are the steps which are to be accompanied with the products to get your body picture perfect!





I have been using the above 3 products for close to a month now and it has been a complete delight! For those who don't follow me on Twitter, I'm currently on an internship. And I don't know how the other ladies do it, but juggling family, boyfriend, friends, blog and work is no mean feat. I try to get an average of 6 hours of sleep daily but every morning, I wake up feeling like I just ran a marathon.

Haha. Please excuse my whining (If this irks you, do not follow me on Twitter. Do not. You have been warned.). Heh. But I'm pretty glad that I have got this range in my bathroom right now. I make it a point to use the Smoothing & Refining Body Scrub every morning (Even when I'm running late. Which happens every other day.) because I love the citrus scent! It lifts my mood and you know how morning moods set the tone for the day. (: The scrub also keeps my skin smooth!

Using the Skin Perfecting Massage Oil every night keeps my skin from drying out (I swear Singapore has her every own Arctic and it takes the form of my office.). The oil absorbs in the skin quickly, leaving no sticky residue or heaviness. I sleep in comfort and when I shower in the morning, I don't feel like I'm washing off a layer of anything. I don't feel anything at all, except smoothness and softness. The skin just soaks in all the goodness of the oil.

The firming and toning effects are slight but I do think that these 2 areas need a longer time. And most certainly, a little exercise will help! (:

I haven't used a luxurious body care range for a really long while now and am really glad for these new residents in my loo. I think this might just set off some kind of obsession with body care products in me. Heh.

Anyway, do check out the range when you pass by The Body Shop! Go take a whiff of the products and I hope you fall in love with them too. (: Thanks for reading and sweet dreams to you! :D

GOODIES: Clio Professional's Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liners

In April, Clio Professional launched its revolutionary eyeliner, Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner! Before I go into the nitty-gritty, here's a little about the brand. (:

Clio Professional is the birth child of a group of talented makeup artists who were seeking for their creative colour world back in 1993. They collaborate with manufactures from France, Italy, Germany, amongst others to come up with quality products. Thus, it wasn't long before they became one of the top makeup brands in Korea. In spite of their success, Clio Professional continues to better herself by meeting ladies' needs to stay beautiful and confident and maintain individuality.



This was the little pencil case I received from Clio Professional! Thank you, Natasha! (:

Inside the pencil case, were two Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liners. Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner is touted to be the next IT eyeliner! Made of a siliconic cross polymer, it is everything that a girl wants her eyeliner to be; smooth, even and ever-lasting staying power to create the perfect defined eye. Gelpresso is a cross between a pencil and a gel liner. And the best thing of all? It is talc and paraben free! Sensitive skin, shout your hurrays! :D

And just so you know how fabulous this eyeliner is, 100,000 pieces of Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liners were sold in its first week!

"Gelpresso pencils are so easy to use and glide on with such ease. This realyy is my new favourite eyeliner."
- Clio Professional's Ambassador Hyo Lee

Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner comes in 6 shades; Beige Shine, Dark Choco, Metallic Silver, Star Purple, Golden Black and Chic Navy.

I received the colours 5 Metallic Silver and 6 Star Purple. These are the 2 shades which Hyo Lee used in her posters to create the signature Korean pop star look.



And here are the swatches! 6 Star Purple is a deep purple with shimmers that I couldn't really manage to catch with my camera. ): Do swatch when you are in Watsons! It is so pretty!

5 Metallic Silver is stark greyish white with shimmers. Applying it in the inner corners of your eyes will make you look really awake!



The Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner works on the twist-up concept, so no sharpening is needed. A sharpener, however, is provided for you so that you can make the tip as pointed as you want it to be.

It is a little difficult to work with though, because the liner is really soft. I broke mine twice. You really need to be gentle with it.



The Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liner glides on easily and smoothly across my skin, so there is no need for any tugging of the skin. It blends easily, though I find that I have to work quite fast. Once dried, it was a tad difficult to try and make the purple blend into the silver (in the above photo.).

This is a much watered-down version of Hyo Lee's look. What I did was to apply 5 Metallic Silver to the inner corners of my eye and do a cat eye with 6 Star Purple. I finished it off by tightlining and drawing on my waterline with a black eyeliner.



This is a simple everyday look. I did a cat eye with 6 Star Purple and then, drew beneath my eye with 5 Metallic Silver.

See? You need not stick with boring ol' black! Purple and silver are pretty wearable colours too! :D



For this look, I drew a silver cat eye on top of the purple one. My eyelids fold quite a bit, so only the tails of the silver is left peeking out, emphasizing the purple.

So those are the 3 simple variations that I came up with the 2 Gelpresso Waterproof Pencil Gel Liners I was given. These liners are available at selected Watsons at $18.90 each. I think Clio Professional is having some discounts now, so do check the brand out when you are there! (: I'm pretty interested in Beige Shine, Dark Choco and Chic Navy!

Alrighty, I'm off to bed. I hope everyone has a good weekend! :DDD