Archive for May, 2011

I must thank Kate Cosmetics for initiating me into the whole gel eyeliner phenomenon way back in 2008. It’s been 3 years on and gel eyeliners still rank at the top of my list of eyeliners. However, with the addition of Tokidoki’s Perfetto Eyeliner, the one that I finally found and brought along in my travel make up kit, felt-tip eyeliners are on the climb up as my go-to eyeliner.

The difference between felt-tip eyeliners and gel eyeliners is its precision. Felt-tip eyeliners fall under the category of liquid eyeliners, but the main difference between the two is the stiff brush tip of felt-tip liners. Instead of the soft brush head of conventional liquid eyeliners, felt-tip eyeliners are very much like pens or markers. In fact, they’re even sometimes called felt-tip eyeliner pens thanks to the short stiff tip at the end.

Kate Cosmetics Eyeliner FR

I, thus, found the Kate Eyeliner FR highly intriguing. You know how the one make up tip that pros always give regarding applying eyeliner is to keep the line as close to lashes as possible? Well, the Kate Eyeliner FR lets you get close to your natural lash line and more.

Kate Cosmetics Eyeliner

The three pronged tip of the Kate Eyeliner FR is very unique and when I first saw it, I wondered what sort of effect it was designed to give. Turns out instead of needing to draw a continuous line like you normally would with eyeliner, this Kate eyeliner was designed to fill in the spaces between your lashes. It’s as simple dotting the felt-tip pen across your eyelid and making sure the tips of the eyeliner go between your lashes.

Because the eyeliner fills up the spaces between your natural lashes and is very fine, it looks like you have naturally defined eyes thanks to thick lashes, perfect for those who prefer nothing over the top. Furthermore, because the lining effect is so subtle with the Kate Eyeliner FR, if you’re one who always had a problem with drawing bottom eyeliner, you will certainly marvel at your new found skill of perfect eyelining when you dot the eyeliner on your bottom lids.

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Sponsored Post by Whisper

I’ve probably never actually told you before how much I love being a girl. I mean, what’s there not to like? If I werent a girl, I probably never get to indulge myself silly in all that makeup that’s inside my make up case. And when it comes to clothes or shoes, you can own 21 tops, 407 bottoms, 1695 accessories and 36790 pairs of shoes and never feel guilty about it because, well, you’re a girl. Men complain about the lack of dress up choices when it comes to events.

Other than the obvious physical differences between males and females, there is one other thing that sets us apart from the boys: the fact that our bodies change every month. You’re probably all too aware of the symptoms of your body just before your period comes. But change is the only constant and every change is a new beginning. So, let me just illustrate some of the good things that come exclusively from being a girl because knowledge is sexy.

Chocolate
Image via images.google.com

Menstruation, Days 1 to 7 of the cycle
The first day of your period is counted as day 1. During days 1 to 7 your cycle, you may experience chocolate cravings and can feel low in energy. Instead of resisting that luscious bar of dark velvety chocolate, go ahead and indulge. Because your body metabolises carbs most efficiently during the first and second day of menstruation, you dont have to worry about that delicious dessert tipping the scales. At the same time, when your body metabolises this chocolate, it can help increase levels of serotonin, the ‘happy hormone’!

I know we complain about the hassle of getting our periods, but this is the best time to impress your man thanks to the decreased levels of both female hormones: oestrogen and progesterone. Less prone to jealousy, encourage your man to spend time with his bros one night and then plan a date the next night where you drive. Thanks to days 1-7 of your cycle you get enhanced parking skills with your heightened spatial awareness!

Valerie
Image by: mycake.sg

Pre-ovulation, Days 8 to 14 of the cycle
If you think your body is done after menstruation, think again. The pre-ovulation stages are the best part of being a girl! Where do we start? During this time, oestrogen levels increase and you’ll probably feel a lot flirtier and cheekier on top of having better hair days. With increased memory and heightened verbal fluency skills, this might just be the time for you to ace that interview or presentation you’ve been dreading. If you work in teams, improved mood levels, being less aggressive and being more creative will for sure help you score extra points with your team mates! So schedule all your team meetings during this stage of your cycle.

Post-ovulation, Days 15 to 21 of the cycle
On week 3 after your period, classic symptoms of PMS start to show: mood swings, irritability and fluid retention are probably all too familiar to most of us. But instead of agonizing over them, cut down on salty foods and coffee to help combat fluid retention. Drinking lots of water and going for a good workout can also help you stay fresh during PMS. A solid sleep at night definitely always keeps me energetic throughout the day. With Whisper Super Long Overnights’ revolutionary 3D Absorbent Core which prevents fluid running along your skin, no matter how you move during sleep, you are assured peaceful, comfortable, worry-free sleep.

Relax
Image via images.google.com

Pre-Menstrual, Days 22 to 28 of the cycle
Just before your period your body prepares for the coming 5 days of menstruation. It gives you warning signs and signals. Although you experience the usual PMS and other bodily changes like greasier hair, there is a quick and easy beauty tip to get rid of oily hair in an instant. One plus side I particularly love during the pre-menstural stages is a lower sensitivity to pain during this time. It’s the perfect timing to make an appointment for waxing or eye-brow threading.

Despite disturbed sleep at night, having a long hot bath just before bed-time will help you relax and sleep well through the night. In addition, Whisper Super Long Overnights also give you added protection throughout the night thanks to its super 1 second absorbency material. It can absorb 10 times average flow letting you feel long lasting dryness throughout the night.

As mentioned previously in the tips for better sleep, make sure your bedroom should be cool, dark and quiet. A good night’s sleep should help combat daytime sleepiness too. Once your body is all prepared for menstruation, it’s back to day 1 of the cycle and you get to enjoy the benefits of being a woman all over again.

Disclaimer: This is the personal opinion of the blogger. This writing contains clinical information quoted from other books and internet sources and may vary from individual to individual.

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Whenever I’m on the move traveling or at my latest photoshoot, there are certain things I never fail to have with me. Next to all the things inside my insane make up case, my essential basic make up brushes are the next most important tools I cant live without.

I’ve always kept my brushes in a roll up case, but there are times when I absolutely disregard storing them properly and leave them strewn all over my vanity counter. You, of course, know that the way to keep and extend your brush’s lifespan is to protect them on top of regularly washing your make up brushes.

Basic Make Up Brushes

I read about The Brush Guard previously in some magazines and was always intrigued. This flexible, breathable plastic tubing always reminded me of those things they use to protect fruits such as apples and pears. It wasnt till I saw how The Brush Guard allowed your brushes to stand upright that I realised the usefulness of having a Brush Guard. Plus, since the US dollar is at an all time low, I decided there was no better time to buy but now. I, thus got myself a Variety Pack (USD 5.50) with 6 Brush Guards, and the Eyeshadow Brush (USD 5.50) pack with 10 extra small Brush Guards for brushes of all shapes and sizes.

The Brush Guard

The stretchable yet stiff tubing fits snugly around your brush owing to the different diameters. Slip The Brush Guard from the end of the handle until it covers the bristles of your precious brush. It is important that you select a size that fits snugly, otherwise The Brush Guard will slip backwards and spoil your brush bristles.

Short of pegging my brushes to the clothes line, I had always wondered how to get my brushes to dry bristle-down. Before using The Brush Guard, I used to let my brushes lie to dry. That to me, however, never seemed quite so thorough as I thought water could still be retained in the brush. But, the Brush Guard allows your brushes to dry standing bristle-down so water doesnt go back into the handle and damage it. This is pure genius as the brush eventually dries in perfect shape and lasts longer!

Essential Make Up Brushes

What I also like is how The Brush Guard can easily be cleaned should it get dirty. The hardy material allows gentle rinsing before being you can reuse it again and again to protect your brushes whether in a roll or make up bag!

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Compared to my previous beach make up look, the beach make up I had for the shoot on Saturday was a little different. The look was lighter, more natural with more defined eyes. Hair was curled and tousled instead of naturally wind-swept.

Glominerals Face of the Day Makeup

The main difference, however, between the previous beach makeup look and this one was the fact that mineral make up was used and no primers were harmed called upon in this shoot. Glominerals mineral make up did a fantastic job of providing flawless yet natural coverage the entire duration of the shoot and way beyond the hours of the shoot. I was floored by how the foundation never feels cakey despite long wear and your skin retains its flawlessness at the end of a long day. I think I have just found the next foundation on my to-buy list.

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Bare Escentuals Bare MInerals Faux and Foxy Collection

I loved a bronzed beach babe. With summer around the corner, get a foxy sunkissed look instantly without causing actual sun-damage to your skin. The Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Faux and Foxy collection is a 3-piece set that will get you glowing all the way to the beach.

Get a tan with sun protection by buffing on the All-over Face Color SPF 15 in Faux Tan with the portable Buff and Go™ Brush. But dont forget to also protect your perfect pout with the 100% Natural Lipgloss with SPF 15 in French Toast. Once you’re all set with your beach face of the day, hit the waters in your itsy bitsy yellow polka dot biniki and make a splash!

I seem to have come full circle and reignited the obsession with mineral make up. (I blame it on Rachel K’s mineral make up really.) But when I first got into mineral make up it was its paraben-free, sulfate-free, lack of synthetic fragrances, synthetic dyes formulated and a whole bunch of other harsh chemicals that got me hooked.

But nevertheless, Bare Escentuals Faux and Foxy collection is ready to get you glowing!

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When we were younger we made cards and chocolate flowers for Mom on Mother’s Day. I’m sure there are those who still make the effort to do a little something special for Mommy dearest on Mother’s Day. But if you’re looking to pamper and surprise Mom a little bit this Mother’s Day, tantalize her senses with a one of these Mother’s Day gift ideas when you’re out tingling her tastebuds at one of these restaurants with Mother’s Day promotions.

Mother's Day Gift Ideas
For the glamour-puss Mom
Of course I’d be the first one to give my Mom a whole bunch of make up products. Regardless of age, a lady will never get tired of playing with make up, trying on different make up looks and looking her best. The glamour-puss Mom will appreciate transforming her look with the L’Oreal Curl Impact Collagene Mascara. With its luxe gold packaging, she can pop this beautifully designed mascara into her handbag for lashes with 13x more volume any time, any day.

Otherwise pick from Kate Long Gel Mascara with its simple nondescript packaging for long curled lashes. Honestly, the glamour-puss Mom will never complain about having too many mascaras in her basic make up must have stash!

For the au naturel Mom
If Mom is concerned about always putting her best face forward without too much effort, she’ll love you for signing her up for regular facials with a facial package or helping her keep her nails perfectly manicured with a gel nail manicure.

Mother's Day Gift
For the chilled out Mom
For all the hard work she’s done, what better way to indulge and say thank you to Mom with a spa experience. To show her how much she means to you, why not do it at home and possibly throw in a DIY foot spa and body massage (how’s that for effort) with fresh handmade spa products by Lemongrass House.

Pick from Lavender, Blue Chamomile, Rose and Ylang Ylang to set the mood at home for your spa. I particularly like the Lavender Room Spray for its calming, anti-stress and soothing properties. Perfect for helping Mom unwind from the stresses of daily routine. The best part? All products have not been tested on animals! Yay!

For the scent-sational Mom
If Mom has a nose for the finer things in life, choose from a whole range of women’s perfumes on the market that will have your scent-sational Mom feel like she’s floating on cloud nine.

Mother's Day Gift Guide
For the eco-friendly Mom
Gift the gift of green with The Body Shop’s Rainforest Radiance series. With UV protection, not only does the Rainforest Radiance series protect your hair, it meets strict biodegradability standards protecting our land and aquatic environment. Minimising the use of non-sustainable packaging resources is sure to win you extra points with the environmentally-conscious Mom.

You’ll also want Mom to take care of herself holistically with The Body Shop’s Earth Lovers™ range. Consisting of 100% biodegradable shower gels in all sorts of natural flavours like cucumber and mint, apricot and basil, these sulphate, paraben and colourant-free will leave her skin fresh and soft to the touch with organic aloe vera and real fruit extracts.

Regardless of what you do or get for Mom this Mother’s Day, it is my personal opinion that we be thankful for Mom’s tireless efforts on a daily basis. I can never express the amount of gratitude I have for the unconditional love and support I get from my Mom. Thus, I dedicate this post to my beautiful and cheerful Mommy whom I always share my beauty stash with. I love you Mom! With you, every day is Mother’s Day.

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