So…. I attended a seminar on “Image for Oral Presentation” for one of my assignments last week and the speaker divided us by gender for one activity, that is to list out 10 image destroyers for both men and women.
The guys only managed to list out eight of them. But oh well, since I have the list I might as well post them so that girls of my age can know what the guys are thinking.
The list compiled is not in order of importance.
1) Untidy Hair Fringe or hair that covers the face is a no-no. The guys prefers girls to look clean and fresh.
2) Revealing Clothes
Thumbs down for low cuts and translucent chiffon tops.
3) Bright Coloured Hair
They said that if you are Asian, then look like one. Blonde hair for Asians are big no-nos.
4) Huge Earrings
Self explanatory.
5) Too many Piercings
Self explanatory as well.
6) Too Shy
Shy girls need to speak up more so that they can strike up and continue a conversation. Key word is to CONTINUE a conversation.
7) Bad Postures
Walk with confidence, don’t slouch!
8) Lots of Make Up
Guys really like clean faces and minimal make up. So skip the foundation routine and opt for a light coverage such as BB cream. Also ditch your thick black eyeliner that make you look like a panda. Use a brown eyeliner instead to tightline your eyes for a natural and well defined eyes.
Recently I attended a workshop on image presentation and I found out that the strong perfume scent is in the list of the top 10 image destroyers.
But no, this post is not about the workshop. It is about my latest fave – pureDKNY A Drop of Rose EDP.
A while ago I was invited to the launch of pureDKNY’s A Drop of Rose EDP and by the end of the event, I was sold.
The perfume smells really light, with a tinge of rose scent, a scent that reminds me of rose syrups.
A Drop of Rose pureDKNY’s latest perfume with its predecessors, A Drop of Vanilla and A Drop of Verbena, trailing behind.
The roses that were used in the making of each bottle perfumes were hand picked individually in the pre-dawn hours, in Turkey’s Anatolian flower fields during the harvest season in June.
By season’s end, 2500 tons of petals have been bagged, weighed, and transported by a truck to the distillery where they are processed through 26 stills into essential oil of rose. The essential oil would then be added into the making of the fragrance.
The packaging of the perfume is absolutely recyclable. The perfume bottles and caps are made up of 100% recyclable glass and aluminum components, while its carton is bio-degradable and printed with low-VOC inks. The outer wrap is made from cellulose.
In addition, I also found out that pureDKNY has a partnership with CARE, a leading humanitarian organization to help lift women out of global poverty. Hence, DKNY will make donations to support CARE in order to continue its efforts in providing resources to help more women to escape poverty.
I also received a bottle of A Drop of Rose and I really loved it!
I find this perfume incredibly versatile. I can apply it when I’m going to school and to events. The best part about it is that the perfume lasts for about 6 hours in the hot summer weathers of Singapore.
You can find pureDKNY A Drop of Rose EDP in both 50ml and 100ml, at the price of $96.00 and $132.00 respectively at all major departmental stores.
Biore is a skincare brand known for offering consumers quality yet affordable facial products that addresses certain skin care concerns. Earlier this month, they launched an improved version of their facial cleansers and I got my hands on one of them and the new scrub for review!
The improved version claims to:
1. High cleansing ability vs. competitors.
2. Low irritation as cleansing chemical does not penetrate skin.
3. The first cleanser that works to rebalance skin – reduce oil at T-zone (forehead and nose) and replenish moisture at U-zone (cheek and chin).
Additionally, with continuous usage, this skin caring series also promises to show improvements within 14 days.
Skin Caring Cleanser – Mild
The mild cleanser is suitable for all skin types and promises smoother and softer skin. Biore has developed a Skin Purifying Technology (SPT) that has high cleansing efficiency without leaving residue on the skin.
The cleanser foams up really well. It is enough to cover my face with using just a pea sized amount.
Like its predecessor, Biore cleansers leave a squeaky clean feeling on my skin after washing. It may or may not be a plus point for some. The cleanser also doesn’t dry out my skin after usage like some foam cleansers do.
I recommend this cleanser to people who are not willing to splurge but are looking for a decent cleanser that can perform its job.
Skin Caring Cleanser – Scrub
This is a facial foam scrub that contains tiny micro beads in the cleanser, suitable for all skin types for a clearer and refined skin.
It also contains SPT innovation and ultra tiny beads that are smaller than our pores to effectively remove dirt and dead skin cells.
Similar to the mild cleanser, it lathers up pretty well and feels gentle on my skin when going through the scrubbing motion.
However, I would not recommend this for deep cleansing facial routine as I feel that it is not strong enough. It can be used 2-3 times weekly though to remove dead skin cells accumulated on the surface our skin.
The cleansers and scrub are available at all Watsons, Guardian, SaSa and other major departmental stores.
Last December I met up with a group of bloggers and Dr. Law, a liver health expert working in Raffles Hospital, for a short lunch to find out how we can take good care of our liver.
Christmas and New Year had just passed not too long ago, and with the upcoming Lunar New Year in around a month’s time, we will be binging on food such as bak kwa and abalone and drowning ourselves in alcohol again! Over-indulging on these delicacies not only causes us to put on weight but also can become a nightmare for our health, particularly our liver.
The liver is an organ your body can’t live without. A healthy liver helps to remove impurities and toxins that are harmful to the body while it combat infections. However, poor lifestyle habits such as the lack of exercise, poor diet, stress, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can hamper the liver’s function. Lack of exercise can cause fat to
accumulate in the liver cells, which can then lead to fatty liver disease (FLD).
Here are some of the tips that you can follow to reduce stress on your liver:
1) Have a Balanced Diet
Your meals should be taken in small amount and should be rich in vegetables, fruits and proteins. Studies have shown the correlation between a diet high in fat and fatty liver, so
minimise the intake of fatty foods.
2) Drink in Moderation
Excessive alcoholic beverages destroys liver cells. Limit your alcohol intake to 12 oz. of beer or wine cooler, 5 oz. of wine, or 1.5 oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits.
3) Take Medicines as Prescribed and do not Exceed Recommended Doses
Even seemingly harmless medicines can damage the liver. If you have diabetes and high
blood cholesterol and triglycerides, strictly follow your doctor’s prescribed treatment.
4) Exercise
30 minutes of cardiovascular exercises such as aerobics, jogging or swimming helps to increase in the amount of oxygen and the change in breathing pattern and speeds up the delivery of oxygen to the vital organs, including the liver, helping it to function better.
5) Take in Nutritional Supplements
You may also want to consider taking supplements which contain polyunsaturated fatty acids, also known as essential phospholipids (EPL), to keep your liver in good shape. Taking liver supplements daily can bring sustained vitality and help you deal with daily stress.
The bloggers also received a box of Essentiale® to try out.
A healthy liver can regenerate itself by absorbing EPLs, essential phospholipids that are the building blocks of the liver cell membrane. However, unhealthy lifestyle can hurt the liver and cause liver calls to lose phospholipids. Clinical research has proven that taking a supplement of EPLs can support vital function of the liver*.
o Essentiale contains 300 mg of essential phospholipids (EPLs) that work by restoring normal cell membrane* to help support the vital liver functions.
EPLs is found to support vital function of the liver.
*As shown in experimentally induced-liver cell damage
However there are certain side effects to this supplement that you should be aware of. My mum took it and she had vomitted for two days. However no side effects are found on me while taking it.
The Extra Brightening Duo Lifting mask is another range of mask from Taiwan’s mask brand SexyLook.
This mask claims to reduce fine lines, wrinkles and helps in brightening of our skin, as it contains tranexamic acid, hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, west indian cherry extract and vitamin B3 that is rapidly absorbed into the skin layer. Additionally, it also includes gemstone ingredients such as malachite extract and platinum nanoparticles for extra brightening effect.
The extra brightening duo lifting mask also promises to enhance moisture level and promote collagen synthesis that increases our skin’s elasticity.
Material/Fitting
The mask material is thick and does not absorb much of the essence present inside the mask pack. Due to it being a lifting mask, the mask is rather small and the area around my nose is not fully covered by the mask.
Smell
Personally I find that the perfume added is acrid. It smells of chemical that is too overpowering for my liking. :/
Effect
As mentioned, this mask claims to brighten skin, reduce fine lines and enhance moisture in the skin. However, I find that the claims are unfounded. As seen from the pictures above, my skin still looks the same. The only difference that is visible is the lifting effect.
I also find that the mask stings a little. Hence people with sensitive skin might want to be careful about that.
What I like about this mask is that the essence was absorbed into the skin easily. However, my skin still feels dry.
Price
The SexyLook Extra Brightening Duo Lifting mask is retailing at $8.80 per box, with 5 pieces inside each box. However, Secretive.sg is currently selling this range at $7.90 per box. I find that the price is reasonable if selling at $7.90.
Overall Rating: 2.5/5 Will I purchase it again? No. This range is disappointing as compared to the other ones I have reviewed before.
Maybelline New York is putting up an awesome flea market this Saturday at Scape!
Click to view in actual size*
There will be 8 hottest blogshops setting up their stalls there and you can also get free makeovers and watch exciting runway shows at 3pm and 5pm!
The best of all is that you get to be one of the first to preview Maybelline New York’s latest Color Tattoo 24HR, the new range of eyeshadow colors that will be launched in 2013. You can also purchase them at a special price at the flea!
Date: 15 December 2012, Saturday
Time: 12pm to 6pm
Location: *Scape, Level 4 (Click here for map)
I was invited by L’Oreal Paris Singapore to try out their latest Lucent Magique series! I must say that this latest range of highlighter/concealer, foundation and primer is by far the best over-the-counter cosmetics! You seriously have to get them.
Sis and I at the launch!
The Lucent Magique range is the latest innovation by L’Oreal Paris! Lucent Magique is the first skin transforming makeup line ever created by an over-the-counter cosmetic brand.
This range promises to give you a radiant and flawless looking complexion. It consists of a foundation, BB cream, highlighter and primer. The BB cream was launched a while ago but not the others!
Lucent Magique Liquid Foundation – $32.90
The Lucent Magique Liquid Foundation uses 40% pure water in its formula to give you a sheer, lightweight and hydrated finish, and also provides you with a light-medium coverage.
Its formula gives you 33% more radiance, as compared to traditional foundations.
The foundation will also suit every skin tone with the 6 different shades available. Below is a swatch of the primer and the foundation’s lightest tones N2 and R2:
Swatches of the Lucent Magique foundation’s lightest shade.
R2 is lighter than N2 but it is slightly pinkish, hence most fair Asian would suit N2 better. Even though N2 looks a little dark, but it is actually lighter when spread out.
Notice how my skin looked death pale with R2 on my skin than N2?
Most bloggers have fair skin and picked N2 as it suited our skin tone better and looked more natural.
Lucent Magique Primer – $24.90
The primer is a whitish, pearly liquid that turns transparent upon application. The primer would enhance the light reflection on your skin for a 3D sculpted look. Use it alone for a subtle glow on your cheeks and T-zone area, or under the foundation for a long lasting hold.
Lucent Magique Touch of Light Pen – $22.90
This pen works as both a highlighter and a concealer. It can help to highlight cheekbones, nose bridge, enhance lip pout, brighten tired eyes and plump expression lines (laugh lines) to achieve a flawless complexion.
The Touch of Light pen has only 2 shades available – Light and Fair. Light works very well as an under-eye concealer and highlighter of the cheekbones and nose bridge to enhance my facial features.
All these three products from Lucent Magique are currently my HG products! I’ve been using them everyday!
Everything can be photoshopped including the glow of our skin, but photoshopped glow can never look like radiant skin taken under the sunlight.
There were also makeup demonstration that taught us how to use the Lucent Magique range:
The nail art sticker has 6 fashionable designs in total and are very easy to use! The video below teaches you how to achieve beautifully manicured nails without the pain of applying messy nail polish!
I tried it myself at home and here’s the result:
It has extras for certain nail sizes and therefore you can redo your nails if you make mistakes.
The downside of this product is that not everyone’s nail size are the same width, hence fitting can be quite a pain.
Recently L’Oreal also launched their latest L’Oreal Paris moodboard on their page where you can create your own moodboard, and then upload a cover photo using those pictures in your board! You get to stand a chance to win $300 worth of prizes weekly. The grand winner will win a Samsung NX100 camera worth $799.
These are the products that I apply religiously on my face every single day and I thought I should share the good or the bad.
(Left to right, background to foreground)
L’egere Pure Aqua Pore Tightening Ice Toner, La Roche Posay Effaclar Duo, L’egere White C Revitalizing Collagen Essence, Garnier Aqua Defence, Fancl Acne Clear Essence
Remember L’egere’s Ice Toner that I mentioned in my blog few days ago? I absolutely adore this product because it really doesn’t leave water droplets on my face and feels minty and cool.
I’ve been using the Effaclar Duo since I bought it in May and this stuff doesn’t seem to run out at all. This product is meant for unclogging pores. I wouldn’t say that I’m free from zits and clogged pores now because my pores still get clogged sometimes but pimples have diminished in size when I do get it.
The collagen essence is really that makes my face look much smoother I believe. I have some fine lines on my forehead because I have a really bad habit of frowning but they have since faded a little when I use them. I also applied it on my acne marks and they get lighter each time I use it. It is NOT a miracle product that promises you instant effect, so you have to be patient and you will see improvement on your skin within weeks.
The moisturiser is not really my favourite because it doesn’t get absorbed into my skin as quickly as most gel products do, even though it is very moisturising. It also has a really strong fragrance added to it which can be choking to some people.
Lastly, the Acne Clear essence is also something I adore. Firstly, it doesn’t clear blocked pores so applying it won’t help you to get rid of the keratin plugs and whiteheads. It does helps zits to become smaller but it takes time. Definitely not a very strong product that stings and gives you immediate clear skin.
All these products except the Effaclar Duo and Ice Toner are sponsored products. However, as this review is NOT a sponsored review, there will be no product information available.
I think the girls would have noticed this cute Sanrio character while at Watsons right?
LoveMore has launched this My Melody Oil Free 3D Fitting Masks few months ago in 2 types: Blue for moisturizing and pink for whitening! Who is able to resist such cute masks really?
I never do buy masks with cute cartoon characters as I am a little skeptical to try it out myself just because of its irresistible cute packaging. Personally I would prefer a celebrity as the mask endorser to reduce the “risk” factor. But how good exactly are these masks? Let’s find out:
The reason for the mask to be called the “3D fitting mask” is not because it has ear hooks like the normal lifting masks we see. The design of the mask is much rounded as compared to conventional masks, so that it fits our chins and noses for a lifting effect.
A picture tutorial of My Melody at the back of the package teaches you how to use the mask!
LoveMore My Melody Oil Free 3D Fitting Mask Whitening - The mask contains Vitamin C that contains anti-oxidant properties while it whitens the skin at the same time.
Moisturizing - The mask is enriched with Antarcticine, a type of glycoprotein that helps to retain water and prevent cutaneous dryness. Additionally it also has Marine Collagen added to provide hydration to the skin.
Material/Fitting
It did not fit my face really well despite the 3D cutting design that supposed to enable a better fitting to face contour. Despite that, I like the fact that my nose is very well fitting due to the oversize mask and the mask has a pocket for the jaw. This would suit a bigger face better.
Additionally, it also has flaps to cover the eyes.
Smell
It has a pleasant fragrance added to it that is not too overpowering.
Effect Whitening: 3.5/5
My face has brighten up a little overall and the acne marks also reduces its redness. There is not much lifting effect at all, and hence I wouldn’t recommend you to use this mask if you want a better lifting effect.
Moisturizing: 4/5
I let my sister to try the moisturizing mask and she loves it! She thinks that the skin feels very hydrated after use and make up is able to adhere to the skin better than before.
Both my sister and I found that the essence absorbed into the skin really well and left no stickiness on our faces. Another plus point of the product.
Price
$2.90 per mask sold at Watsons/secretive.sg
The price is a little steep as compared to the other LoveMore masks we see in the market. Personally I wouldn’t purchase it again because I find that there are other better masks than this.
Some time back, L’egere and M.O.S.S invited some bloggers to L’egere’s media conference. L’egere invited Kevin laoshi, the well known beauty maestro in Taiwan, on board Starcruise Virgo to conduct a series of beauty workshops. Therefore, I got a chance to meet Kevin laoshi in person to bring home more beauty knowledge!
Background Information of L’egere
L’egere is based in Korea that aims to bring effective and innovative skin care and make up solutions to women around the world at reasonable prices. Through research, L’egere has developed a wholesome and holistic range of products that are catered to different skin types and needs.
Can you believe he is 43 years old this year?
Kevin laoshi first came across L’egere a few years back and have since been an ardent fan of it. During the media conference, he shared some tips on how to achieve beautiful skin here are the highlights:
Q: What are his favorite products from L’egere?
His favorite product has got to be the Ice Toner that turns water in the spray can into frost when dispensed out. This product is his favorite because unlike the usual thermal water sprays, the Ice Toner does not leave droplets on our face. Kevin laoshi introduced this product in the famous Taiwan variety show 女人我最大 and received favorable responses.
Q: What are the products suitable for Asian skin types?
Kevin laoshi recommended the L’EGERE WHITE -C Revitalizing Collagen Essence which is an oil-free essence that helps to exfoliate skin, increase skin elasticity and delay aging of skin.
I received the collagen essence in my press pack and honestly speaking, I’m loving it so much. It has worked very well on my skin. I’ve been using it for around 2 months or so and the acne scars have faded in about 2 to 3 tones. The essence is also very thin and watery which leaves no stickiness on my skin.
Q: What are the must-haves for Singapore’s weather?
Oil free products BB creams and oil control products are recommended by Kevin laoshi on the T-Zone area ONLY as our cheeks are usually dry. He recommended the L’EGERE Magic Water Cool Aqua Powder because it has a Water in Powder technology that contains 60% of water in the powder to moisturize our skin. Additionally he also recommend that we have the ice toner in our bags to calm our skin to combat our mid-day shine.
To check whether you have dry or oily skin, look out for spots and freckles as they appear only on dry skins. However some girls have both freckles and oily skin. The reason is due to the lack of moisture and the skin has to produce more oil for the lack of hydration.
I also got to take a picture with Kevin Laoshi!
The day after was the workshop conducted by Kevin laoshi and it was opened to the public.
Kevin laoshi with the emcee of the day
Kevin laoshi recommends us to lie on our beds like the picture above when applying moisturiser as it helps with lifting of our faces.
He also demonstrated the correct massaging technique to achieve “V-shaped” face on an audience:
For the benefit of everyone reading this, I got the whole process videotaped down… Yes I know, you don’t have to thank me.
Personally I tried this method at home and I’m glad to say that it works!
My face during September was a little puffy and less firmer as compared to now. Even my girls who have not see me since the HK trip have commented that my face looked much defined and sharper now!
He also taught the audience the tips and tricks to achieve a flawless and natural looking face.
On applying blush on the cheeks, Kevin laoshi recommended finding our cheekbones to determine the area that our blush should be:
End result:
He also taught the audience in choosing the correct clothes to suit our own body shapes and sizes:
It was a fulfilling experience overall! Hope to see him again sometime!
Kevin laoshi with the emcee of the day 
