Posts Tagged ‘cosmetics’

Knowing which basic make up essentials you should have in your basic make up kit is important, but these cosmetic products dont just appear out of thin air (although I wish they did so I could own more makeup).

Some of you have asked in the previous essential make up post where to buy make up to start your basic make up collection and take the next step to becoming a beauty-holic. For that, one must know where all the make up stores in Singapore are. I dont personally buy a lot of make up in Singapore, but when I do, here are the make up stores in Singapore I frequent.

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It’s been about 2 weeks since I last came back from New York and I think I just almost finished packing all my loot. I’m honestly surprised I didnt buy out the entire Sephora store when I was there, but I did pick up some pretty good buys when I was there. One of them was the limited edition Sephora Best in Bronze Deluxe Sampler worth USD113 that was going for USD39!

This set contains 10 of Sephora’s favorite bronzers and luminizers that “creates believable, sunkissed color, year-round”. Perfect for a setting where it’s summer all the time dont you think? And what could be more perfect than getting a sample of each one of these 10 gems in precious mini bottles?

From left to right:
* 0.39 oz Korres Monoi Oil Bronzing Powder in Sunglow Light
* 0.16 oz SEPHORA COLLECTION Nail Polish in Bright Red
* 0.08 oz Too Faced Pink Leopard Bronzing Powder
* 0.04 oz LORAC Tantalizer Baked Bronzer in Golden Bronze
* 0.17 oz Josie Maran Bronzing Argan Oil
* 0.2 oz Smashbox Artificial Light Illuminating Lotion in Glow
* 0.02 oz Bare Escentuals bareMinerals All Over Face Color in Faux Tan
* 0.09 oz Tarte EmphasEYES Waterproof Clay Shadow Liner in Bronze
* 0.09 oz Benefit High Beam
* 0.08 oz TEMPTU RETOUCH Highlighter in Gold

I probably wont be able to finish using them all this year, but they wont ever run out style here in Singapore! Heehee.

My OTHER loot comes in the form of individual items that I picked up off the shelves. I like to have a little bit of this and a little bit of that. But when I took this picture, I realised most of the items were from Urban Decay.

From left to right:
* NARS Super Orgasm Blush
* Urban Decay Stardust Eyeshadow in Moon Spoon
* Urban Decay Urban Defense Tinted Moisturiser SPF 20
* Benefit Concealer Brush
* Urban Decay Ink for Eyes Cream Eyeliner in Demolition

I just adore the funky packaging from Urban Decay, especially the Ink for Eyes Cream Eyeliner. Definitely cant wait to try it out! In fact, I also cant wait to compare the difference between the NARS Super Orgasm and the NARS Orgasm blush. Anyone tried them both before? Which one do you prefer?

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You must already know that Singapore has its very own Sephora. Two in fact. But I’ve always lamented on the lack of cool brands they carry. After just spending two days in the beauty department of various department stores and in Sephora right here in New York itself, I realise I get turned on excited by brands such as Urban Decay, Smashbox, NARS, DuWop and Buxom. Being such a beauty junkie, Sephora was naturally the first store I wanted to visit.

The very first Sephora I stepped into here in New York was located near the financial district Wall Street. I saw the store, squealed my head off and rushed to take a photo from across the road. Going inside was like dying and going to beauty heaven. It wasnt one of the largest Sephoras, but it still held all the coveted brands we dont get back in Singapore. It was where all the cool brands were and at that point, the long flight we had to sit through was well worth it.

The shop was rather crowded compared to the deserted streets outside. I walked inside and had to keep my grabby little hands to myself. It wouldnt be wise of me to spend my entire budget on makeup stuff on my very first day in the City now would it? I thus had to distract myself by getting trigger happy.

Here are some of the brands that we dont have back home.

They, of course, stock some of the same brands we have here in our Sephora, but carry a much wider range of products. I havent done any serious damage in Sephora as yet. But I did get myself Super Orgasm from NARS to see how different it is from its sister blush Orgasm. I foresee many more ventures into Sephora these coming few days. Haha. In fact, there’s another one along 5th Avenue near Empire State Building.

Sephora is located in many places in New York City, but the ones I’ve been to are at:
150 Broadway
New York, NY 10038-4381
Monday – Friday: 8 am – 8 pm
Saturday: 11 am – 7 pm
Sunday: 12 pm – 6 pm

597 5th Avenue
New York, NY 10017
On 5th Avenue, between East 48th & 49th Streets
Monday – Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm
Sunday: 11 am – 7 pm

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With the beginning of a new month, I can safely tell you that beginnings are just as difficult as endings. A beginning always holds uncertainty; a beginning is always full of pebbles along the way; a beginning is always where you start mucking about before you finally find what works for you. As much as you always plan for something, the unexpected never fails to happen and it’s these unexpected surprises that you have to deal with that make a simple beginning challenging yet so very exciting.

It is with the beginning of dweam.com as a Singapore Beauty Blog that I say goodbye to my previous direction. It is today I welcome a new beauty direction in my blog.

I’ve always toyed with the idea of starting a full fledged beauty blog. I can tell you it was difficult to do so. The beginning is always tough. I never thought that I was qualified to do so despite spending all my years in University on stage dancing; never thought that all the time I spent in front of the camera and on the runway was enough for me to tell anyone how to do their makeup. In fact, why would they listen to an ugly duckling like me?


Can you guess which one is me? Hahaha. Fresh faced into Uni. Taken when I was in Year 1 in 2004.

But maybe it was really when I finally ventured into the pageantry circuit and had to “fend for myself” that I finally got the courage to start. Afterall it was then that I had the most “drastic” changes in terms of how I looked. Hahaha. No, it was not plastic, but merely a refining of the basic techniques I already had. With this experience in dance, modeling and pageantry, yes, I’ve decided to give myself the go ahead. That’s not to say, up to this point, my beauty tutorials, makeup reviews and DIYs come from professional backgrounds. They are simply genuine reflections of what I do, use, experience and feel for the products on a regular basis.


Fast forward 4 years later, 2008.

However, beauty, to me, is not merely about who has the biggest eyes, the fullest lips, using the best makeup or having the most extensive number of products. I have to say that coming from a Psychology background (oh yes, I’m trained in Psychology. Let me read your mind now) that beauty to me is really just a mental state. I fully believe that we can and all should dream of the beautiful to be truly outstanding. My one month in the Philippines representing Singapore as Miss Earth also taught me that exact same thing. It wasn’t the girl who had the flashiest clothes, biggest eyes or the best hair that eventually won the crown. It was the girl who could compose herself well in times of duress that finally got crowned Queen. It was her who could smile despite not having things go her way. It was her who was a friend to all. Despite landing only Top 16, I have to admit, I learnt a lot during that trip to last me a lifetime.

Being beautiful is an art, but more importantly, being beautiful is a holistic development. As I share with you what makes me beautiful outside and in through my DIYs, reviews, tutorials, outfit posts, the not-so-newly conceived SneakerSunday and the occasional lifestyle posts, I hope new readers and potential followers will take my hand (albeit a virtual one) and join me in my beauty journey. For those who have been following me for a long time, I thank you for your unfailing support. There are so many people I have to thank, because without them dweam.com would not be where it is now. But, I will leave that for another day.

As an ending note, my dream for this blog is to inspire you, my reader, to become more beautiful inside and out as you explore uncharted territories with me, in this new chapter of dweam.


2010. Photo credits: Brad Lau

This is me. This is dweam now.

Not everyone can be a beauty queen, but everyone can be beautiful.

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With the intense heat these days, the perfect place to spend and pretend it’s summer is the beach. You’ve got your favourite swimwear, beach towel and sunblock. But just as you’re about to go out, you wonder, OH NO, DO I NEED BEACH MAKEUP too?

I fully subscribe to the idea of wearing makeup when you’re going to the beach. You really, don’t know who’s going to be taking your pictures or you might even spot a beach hunk playing beach volleyball with his hot friends. Haha. But seriously, most foundations come with sunblock, so that’s the ONE reason why you should wear makeup especially if you don’t religiously apply sunblock daily. The key when wearing makeup on the beach is to ensure everything is waterproof.

So when I went to Sentosa recently for a shoot, everything had to be “insured”. Insured with primers, that is.

Here’s the breakdown for the beach look I did:

Face
Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer
M.A.C Studio Fix foundation
M.A.C Studio Sculpt Concealer
M.A.C Pinch-o-peach blush
M.A.C Dsquared Sculpt and Shape powder in Accentuate Sculpt

Eyes
NARS Eyeshadow in Pandora
M.A.C Paint Pot in Rubenesque
M.A.C Royal Assets in Smokey Eyes
Everyday Minerals eyeshadow in Hoodie
Majolica Majorca eyeshadow palette in GR750
Maybelline Define-a-lash mascara (review here)
Majolica Majorca Lash Gorgeous Wing mascara

Lips
Smashbox Oplump Lip plumper

Would you believe me if I told you that this face was the one I did for the photo in the banner above? :D

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Beneath all that dark eye makeup you might see me with usually, lies a very lazy girl. I’m really quite a fuss-free person even though I’m mad about makeup and have a deep love for dark dramatic eyes. But we all have our off days, and from time to time (actually most of the time if I can get away with it. HAHA), I opt for a no makeup face.

How To/Tutorial: No Makeup Face

I recently decided to do a no makeup face (and have it photographed) while having Sunday brunch. Sundays are meant to be days where you chillax and enjoy good company without worrying too much about how you look. Yet at the same time, in the presence of company, you do want to look presentable without being overly madeup.

So here’s how-to achieve a no makeup face:

1) You want to appear like you have no makeup at all yet still maintain a flawless complexion. Concealer is thus, your best friend in this no makeup face. Apply concealer and blend thoroughly to the dark circles under the eyes with your ring finger. Also remember to conceal any blemishes or other spots.
2) Next, dust powder foundation all over your face with a big fluffy brush for a natural finish.
3) Choose a natural peachy blush for that rosy flush and sweep it over the apples of your cheeks. I used the NARS Orgasm blush because it’s has lovely golden sparkles that brighten up your complexion instantly.
4) Light pink lips are the way to go in a no makeup face. I like the e.l.f Luscious Liquid Lipstick in Baby Lips for a hint of colour and gloss. Also because the lipstick is in the form of a pen, it’s so easy to carry around!

Do you have an alternative method to achieving your no makeup face? Share it with me or even better, show me!

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