Had the opportunity to do makeup and styling on a friend for a portfolio shoot recently and this was my favourite photo from the set:
To be able to turn up the fierce and mysterious factor on someone as sweet and lovely as her was just great!
To see more of my make up work, click here!
Went a bit manic the other day and got a new stash of blushers to add on to my current ones! Spot the odd one out:
Decided to colour my skin to match the wall decals in my dressing area. And of course, in case you would like a reference in terms of colour :)
With flash:
Just to note, the blushers are layered on pretty thick so the colour would be more obvious in the photos. All of them are sheer enough for light layers if you prefer.
While I’m loving all of them, FACE atelier facade in cha cha is definitely the one I’ll carry around with me on travels. It feels incredibly light, doesn’t require a brush (and I find it much more hygienic this way) and it gives a very nice natural flush!
I will confess – I am a sucker for samples, packaging and nice smells.
It’s been some time since I got a ton of free make up and beauty samples (for spending too much) from Sephora in the States and when I found out about Bellabox, I jumped at the chance to get my hands on awesome samples again!
Bellabox’s first ever October box came recently and receiving a nice box in the mail just made my day. :)
A closer look at the samples within:
(Left to right: Aveda Smooth Infusion Glossing Straightener, Aveda Light Elements Smoothing Fluid, OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers in Ginger Lily, Oscar De La Renta Esprit D’Oscar, Twistband)
Now for a review of these babies… (click below to read more!)
Aveda
I’ve always loved all things Aveda and the glossing straightener and smoothing fluid are no different. Aveda strives to increase their use of naturally derived ingredients and you can definitely tell by the unique natural fragrances of their products (which I really like). Hair always comes out feeling soft with shine.
The smoothing fluid feels a bit oily when working it in your hands at first but after smoothing it over hair, it does an excellent job of taming flyaways and giving shine while staying weightless and non-greasy. Definitely using this on my touch-ups on beauty shoots!
Will be testing the glossing straightener on someone else soon since my hair just got straightened…
OPI Avojuice in Ginger Lily
This is flat out amazing. I’m a heavy user of hand creams and Avojuice is incredibly light yet moisturising so it’s perfect for using multiple times daily when you’re out and about. Finally, a hand cream that doesn’t need you to wait several minutes before you can touch anything without greasing it!
The scent of Ginger Lily is my favourite part. I’ve always loved Sweet Pea and similar light, floral scents from Bath and Bodyworks and this is somewhat similar. I think I’ve pretty much gone insane and have used this every time after washing my hands! My rose L’occitane hand cream is now being relegated to night use only…
Esprit D’Oscar
While Esprit D’Oscar does smell quite nice with hints of citrus notes, the musk and tuberose elements are a teeny bit too strong for my liking. For the humidity and heat in this tiny island, I generally prefer sticking to lighter, fresher scents.
The actual bottle is beautiful in true Oscar style though!
Twistband
These feel pretty stretchy although I have to grab a guinea pig with longer hair as mine is currently un-tie-able. Any volunteers…?
This month’s Bellabox made me discover my favourite hand cream and got me reacquainted with my love for Aveda so next month’s subscription is definitely a must. And at S$15 a month, how could you not!!
For the longest time I’ve wanted a laptop case that didn’t look all IT and gadget-y and something that I could carry everywhere with my handbags without any stark contrast.
To be honest, I’ve never seen something that I felt fit the bill and so with my usual mantra of ‘if you can’t find it, make it yourself’, I finally got the time to whip out some faux skin I carried back from Japan to make this:
An laptop case that looks more like a clutch! Featuring bronze distressed skin on the outside with full padding and a dark brown cotton twill lining within. My 15” macbook pro fits happily inside:
Will be making a couple more in different variations (like gunmetal skin with a turnlock closure) to sell at a bazaar coming up on 7 Nov, so stay tuned!
Once in a while I’ll come across stories or businesses in fashion that impacts lives in a different way and Stella & Dot is yet another example of that.
Having come across their website in a search for accessories for some clients, I was glad to find out more about this company. Their mission, taken from their website, is simply beautiful:
In a nutshell, they have not only put together beautiful accessories, but they have used it as a means to provide women with an alternative career with flexibility, profit and fun. Sales are created through in-home trunk shows, merging e-commerce, social media and personal service and they are now an Inc. 500 Fastest Growing Company!
It’s no wonder because some of their accessories are dead gorgeous! Here are some of my favourites:
(Left: Infinity Charm Necklace; Right: On The Mark Necklace)
(Left: Paige Enamel Bracelet; Right: Chantilly Lace Cuff)