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Alice in Wonderland has finally opened in Singapore cinemas! And adding to the Alice in Wonderland craze, makeup brand Paul & Joe has jumped on the bandwagon and teamed up with Disney to come up with a new collection to commemorate Tim Burton’s movie.

How cute is the packaging?! They used Disney’s classic Alice in Wonderland.

Blotting Paper with mirror for shine control and their refills.

Lip Treatment that works to add a hint of colour while conditioning dry lips
Sweet Milky Pink – Fantasy (pink set)
Sheer Orange – Daydream (blue set)

According to BritishBeautyBlogger, the collection has launched in February on ASOS.com. I wonder if they’re still available.

Are you as mad-hattered as I am with regards to all the merchandise relating to this movie? I would totally buy everything if I could, because Alice in Wonderland is such a classic!

To keep your skin healthy and smooth, scrubbing should be an important part of our beauty routine. Because we perspire all the time, dirt and dust can get trapped on the skin surface making it dull. Body scrubs help exfoliate the dirt and grime to reveal the new skin underneath! So just like we scrub away dead skin on our faces, we should do the same for our bodies!

Most scrubs have fine or rough particles in them that work to exfoliate the dead skin on the surface. A lot of them are also beautifully fragranced. Some come with moisturing properties. So other than removing the unwanted dead skin cells from your body, the scrubs help moisturise and keep new skin underneath soft and supple.

To keep your skin looking beautiful and smooth to the touch, scrub no more than twice week from neck to toe. You don’t want to overscrub and bruise tender skin. While you’re scrubbing, dont be shy to give yourself a massage. Remember to scrub those often neglected areas like your elbows, knees and heels! You’d be amazed what a scrub once a week can do for your overall skin condition and your mood.

Some recommended products:
Body Shop – Olive or Papaya Body Scrub
Origins – Incredible Spreadable Scrub

What body scrub do you use? I never used to like the Olive Scrub from Body Shop, but now it’s one of my favourites. I find it so rejuvenating. If you don’t use a body scrub, you totally should start today!

I picked up this Maybelline Define-a-Lash mascara at the Bangkok International airport on my return trip from there a while ago and bought it again at Philippines’ NAIA duty free because I think I might have just found my holy grail of mascara. After using it for several moths on end now, I’m finally writing a review on it .

The first thing that strikes you about the mascara is its bright green packaging; it is eye-catching and hard to miss. The entire thing looks futuristic and you might think, to youself, that green isn’t exactly a conventional color for a beauty product. But pull out the wand and here’s surprise number two: the comb is a rubbery one that is flexible. Wow, not only is the packaging bold, so are its claims.

Here’s what Maybelline says about this mascara:

This zero clump mascara creates stunning length with clean definition.

* Patented shaped-to-the-lash brush
* Ophthalmologist tested, Contact lens safe
* Waterproof; also available in washable formula

“Separated, sensuously long, no clump” lashes. Mmmmmmm… I like that. The promise of a no smudging formula would mean fluttery lashes that last from day to night. But could it withstand the hot and humid weather in Singapore? I’ve always had the problem of little mascara flakes on my bottom lids after a day of living in my mascara.

So how did this mascara fare? Let’s see.

Zero clump? CHECK!
Separated and defined lashes? CHECK!
Stunning length? Well, the lashes didnt exactly STUN me but they DID look longer.

All three claims FULFILLED! I’m impressed!

Although they never mentioned this, but another thing I really like about the mascara is it’s ability to hold a curl. Curl your lashes and sweep on about 2 coats of this fabulous mascara early in the morning and you’re set for the entire day! I came home after a long day and found my lashes sitting prettily curled just as I had curled them that very morning. On top of that, NO FLAKING! YAYYYY!

Here’s the evidence.

I’m SOLD.

I swear I’ve never seen my eyelashes looking so long and pretty before. In fact, I cant remember what my eyelashes used to look like before this mascara. Haha. Is it any wonder why I have 2 of them sitting in my drawer at this very moment?

Sadly, they dont carry this particular mascara in Singapore but it’s available at drugstore.com. In fact, I’m going to the Philippines in April again. Anyone wants me to get it for them? Lol.

Imagine my ecstasy when I saw the NARS counter in the Philippines. Oh yes, when I saw the counter, I had an Orgasm.

No, really.

I had myself an Orgasm.

The NARS Orgasm blush that is. This is THE blush that everyone knows from NARS, a definite cult favourite.

You can’t find it here in Singapore (boo!) so I HAD to get it when I saw the counter tucked away near the entrance of Rustan’s. Ahhh…The thrill of picking up the makeup and then trying it out for real. Shopping for your makeup online just isn’t the same.

The blush comes in a simple black rectangular packing with white letters emblazoned across it (same as their eyeshadows and other products really). Open up the lid and the colour of the blush startles you a little. It looks like a bright pink for the uninitiated, but really is a pink with peach undertones. Gold shimmer twinkles in the pan as you tilt the blush and you wonder, with one eyebrow raised, if the colour will suit you.

But sweep it on wherever you desire and the colour shows up immediately (no questions about how much I love their pigments). That being said, all you need is to gently brush the blush across your cheeks and viola, instantly glowing cheeks.

Out of the pan, the colour shows up as a light pink with a golden tinge, thanks to the gold shimmer. Despite it looking like a kid just tipped the entire jar of shimmer into the pan, the shimmer is really not that obvious. In fact, I really like how the shimmer adds a subtle glow to the skin. Like they said, it’s a perfect pinky-peach flush.

Well, if any one now ever comments on how radiant I look and I’m using the NARS Orgasm blush, I now can break into a cheeky little smile and say, “Oh yes, it’s Orgasm.”

M.A.C Viva Glam teams up with Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper for the new From Our Lips collection. The lipsticks Viva Glam Gaga and Viva Glam Cyndi are a light blue pink (Lustre) and light reddish coral (Lustre) respectively.

About M.A.C Viva Glam:

Time to wham up the GLAM in VIVA VIVA GLAM !…and celebrate the indestructible idea that ALL girls (and boys) just wanna have fun! It’s a gaga-glamorous look at our abiding passion: The M·A·C AIDS Fund and the VIVA GLAM program are the heart and soul of M·A·C Cosmetics.

Established in 1994 to support men, women and children affected by HIV and AIDS globally, VIVA GLAM I, II, III, IV, V and VI were launched as continuous shades and have achieved tremendously gratifying success over the years. Spring 2010 sees two new Lipstick shades introduced as limited life for 12 months on counter. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you the sensational Cyndi Lauper and the electric Lady Gaga!

Every cent of the selling price of VIVA GLAM Lipstick and Lipglass is donated to the M·A·C AIDS Fund to support men, women, and children living with HIV and AIDS.

For all the Cyndi and Gaga fans (me me!) out there, the collection should be out here in Singapore March 2010. I want those gaga-licious pink lips! Ma… ma… ma… Muah!

Happy Lunar New Year everyone! It’s the first day of the Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival. So what better day to talk about the new NARS Spring Collection than on the first day of the Spring Festival!

NARS is one of my favourite makeup brands because the pigments are amazing. My collection of NARS items is small. I only possess the NARS Orgasm blush and bronzer on top of the awesome Pandora eyeshadow palette because they dont carry NARS here in Singapore, otherwise I totally would have more. I got the bronzer and blush from the Philippines while Arissa personally hand-carried the Pandora eyeshadow from the States.

So when they introduced their new Spring collection 2010 consisting of lipsticks, liners, glosses, shadows and polishes, you can imagine my excitement. A chance to own ALL of these at once! OooOoooo….

From the website,

The NARS Spring Collection starts with lips that signal the season, from the deceptively demure Easy Lover Lip Gloss in hot pink, to the nearly nude subtlety of Lipstick in Cruising. For eyes that demand center stage, NARS mixes rosy gold with luscious boysenberry hues and sparkling sienna with moss flecks. A sky blue Glitter Pencil makes the eyes pop. Highlight your mesmerizing new look with Orgasm Illuminator and finish with the next cult nail color, Purple Rain.

I love how the colours are cheery, bright and fresh; obviously meant to make you look as pretty as a spring flower.

The collection can be viewed at Sephora.com. Hooray for online shopping!

What do you think of the new NARS Spring Collection?

To add to your Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows collection, OPI has nail polishes that honour all things Alice.

The new collection invites you to Wonderland with 4 beautiful colours.

Off With Her Red! – A brilliant tomato red
Absolutely Alice – Sparkly blue that obviously matches Alice signature blue dress
Mad as a Hatter – Grey/black with mad loads of multi-coloured glitter
Thanks So Muchness! – Metallic berry red with an undertone of pink

I can definitely see myself wearing Mad as a hatter for some mad partying, and the two reds for the upcoming Valentine’s/Chinese New Year holiday. Unfortunately, I dont think these are out in our local stores yet. I just got wind that some stores are already carrying these, Sephora being one of it! Yay!

Which of the 4 featured colours do you like best?

Mum always told us to eat our veggies.

But what she really meant was for us to eat our fruits.

The humble little tomato (yes, it is a fruit!) is actually a powerful skin booster.

The skin, our largest organ of our 5 senses, might probably be one of the hardest things to maintain. The constant exposure to various physical elements including the sun can leave the skin looking dull over time.

But because tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and the antioxidant Lycopene, they help to fight off free-radicals which damage skin cells and leave your skin looking aged.

Eating one tomato a day can help to keep the doctor away, and can help your skin look more radiant.

Here are some easy ways you can incorporate tomato in your daily routine:
- Juice 2 large tomatoes in the morning and drink up with your favourite toast.
- For breakfast, make yourself a cheese and tomato sandwich.
- Pack one large tomato in your lunch box.
- Cherry tomatoes are a great alternative to regular tomatoes. They are small and easy to eat. Pop them a handful of them in your mouth in the morning before heading out to work or school!

If you have a little more time on your hands, the best way to eat your tomatoes is to cook them lightly in oil. You can cook them with pasta or as part of a colourful salad. The cooking fully releases the Lycopene in cell walls giving you the full benefits of tomatoes.

Looks like tomato juice is on the menu for breakfast tomorrow!

Has anyone of you tried this recipe previously? Did it work for you?

Hands up if you love lace!

I know I do.

Image courtesy of M.A.C Cosmetics

With the arrival of a new year, new season, there’s always a good excuse reason to buy makeup.

There’s something very seductive about lace. Something alluring, sexy, sensual yet not too over the top about lace. I love how lace embodies femininity yet at the same time shrouds you in some sort of a mystery. I love a good mystery, dont you?

This new collection captures precisely just that with subtle yet smokey eyeshadows, pale pink lipsticks and tinted lipglass.

The look features primarily the eyes. They are dramatic and bold in cool colours like Suave Intentions and Hypnotizing. The cheeks and lips are kept pale and neutral with just a hint of colour.

A little different from the bright and cheery Spring looks you’d expect, but lace never goes out of fashion. You just might want to consider this look for your upcoming Valentine’s hot dinner date! Always good to seem a little mysterious on your first dates. Haha.

I stumbled upon the Urban Decay website late one night and my heart stopped short.

ALICE IN WONDERLAND!

Let’s not talk about Alice whom everyone obviously knows. But who can forget the Mad Hatter, the White Rabbit with his pocket watch, the Cheshire Cat with his amazing wide grin and of course, the Queen of Hearts.

Off with her head!

Not only does the collection come out in time for Spring 2010, it also marks the launch of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland movie.

The palette comes with 16 eyeshadows, 2 eye liners and it’s famous Urban Decay Primer Potion all in a beautiful box that opens to a pop up of Alice in the mushroom forest.

Named in line with Wonderland, the 16 best-selling eyeshadows are given topsy-turvy names like White Rabbit, Jabberwocky and Oraculum. With the best-selling Urban Decay Primer Potion tucked neatly beside these shadows. I’m quite eagerly awaiting the palette to arrive here so I can lay my grabby little hands on them! I might take a leaf out of the movie stills to inspire me to use the psychedelic colours.

What do you think of this collection? Would you buy it?