Posts Tagged ‘singapore’

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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Sponsored Post

When I was younger, I remember sneaking into mom’s closet to try on her dresses, shoes and then swiping a couple of her prettiest jewelry before parading in front of the mirror. Even now, I sometimes borrow her chunky vintage jewelry because going through her stash opens up more options for me. Admit it, who hasnt once borrowed a sister’s or friend’s outfit because you needed it. It’s always fun to play dress up, even more fun when the outfits arent yours. Your fashion options are limitless when you have another wardrobe to look through.

Dress Collection

So when the wardrobe you pick from consists of an amazingly wide variety of well known international designer evening wear labels like Jovani and Faviana, you can rest assured any outfit you pick will be incredibly stunning. On top of that, there is no worry about someone else donning the exact same outfit at your event because of the closet’s exclusivity! After you pick your outfit, selecting accessories to match and complete your outfit can seem like a daunting task. Here’s me fretting over what jewelry and bag to get to bring out this best of this outfit. Lol.

Dress Sense

Well, bag all your dress up worries and shelve them because with personalised service and a wide array of evening and cocktail dresses, evening bags and jewelry, Dress Sense is set to fulfill all your fashion fantasies through it’s revolutionary buy or rent concept.

Dress Sense collage

The buy or rent concept is truly ingenious. Like any retail store, you can always opt to buy any of the items you see on the shelves. Brand new items go for the full retail price while the sale prices of rented out items will automatically be marked down. If you’re buying a pre-loved piece, you know you’ll get a great deal for an excellent dress!

Now here comes the fun part with renting. If you think bleeding your wallet dry buying a to-die-for dress that you’ll only ever wear once doesnt make economical sense, then rent and borrow it! Rental prices of outfits are a fraction of the original sale price, and because you rent an outfit for something way less than the original buy price, that gives you the option of wearing a different outfit to every single event. This unique, guilt free shopping concept ensures you can rent a brand new outfit, complete with jewelry and evening bags, without busting the bank every single time. Thanks to Dress Sense‘s huge collection of cocktail and evening gowns, wearing that ONE little black dress to all your events is a thing of the past.

I’ve had the opportunity to go down to Dress Sense‘s boutique at Raffles City, #03-29A to rent dresses on two separate occasions, both for photoshoots. I swear, picking one dress out of the so many stunning ones was difficult, and I had to change in and out of at least 5 dresses I grabbed from the racks. Haha. But for the first shoot, I eventually settled on Faviana’s Greek goddess inspired gold dress that Jennifer Lopez had previously worn. Talk about invoking Hollywood glamour right here in Singapore!

Dress Sense Gold Dress

The owners took great pains to lovingly source and import trendy, wearable designer gowns that cater to girls of all shapes and sizes, of all whims and fantasies. For whatever occasion you might need to dress up and impress, Dress Sense will make you look like a princess and feel like a queen. With attentive staff and everything you need to get a complete outfit under one roof, I always feel as though it’s a private shopping experience each time I step into the store.

Dress Sense Ambassador Group

Having then been a previous customer of Dress Sense, I was honoured when they nominated me as one of the contestants for their Blog Ambassador Search. Starting 12th January up until 18th February, there will be a voting contest among the three ambassador nominees on the Dress Sense Facebook page. You, yes you reading this, get to decide who you want to see as the Dress Sense 2010/2011 Blog Ambassador and be one of the lucky three voters to win an $80 Dress Sense shopping voucher that will help you fuel your dress up desires.

This is how you vote:
1. Click “Like” on Dress Sense’s Facebook page
2. Click on the Ambassador Search photo album and click ‘like’ on my collage!

DS Ambassador Search

And you’re done! You’re one step closer to landing yourself that $80 Dress Sense shopping voucher, and one step away to being all glammed up. Also, helping me win the title of Dress Sense Blog Ambassador would mean more gorgeous dresses for you to ogle on my blog!

So are you ready for some glamour? Vote for me now and roll out the red carpet. Dress Sense will dress you like a queen without you having to spend like one.

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Miss Earth Singapore crown

Some say winning a title puts the world on your shoulders. So you might say winning Miss Earth Singapore 2009 puts the Earth on my shoulders, but I beg to differ. Sure with the title, crown and sash came many responsibilities; responsibilities to my organization, to the lovely ladies in my court, my friends and family. But the most important responsibility I had was to Mother Nature. It’s been a year since I last landed the title and on Thursday, I handed over my crown.

I had mixed feelings about that night. My journey the past year has been a truly memorable one. Winning the title last year sounded like a huge calling: one woman for the environment. But the best thing about this newly bestowed power was finding out I was not alone in my cause. I realized that last November in the Philippines where I met 89 other gorgeous women who were all passionate about the same thing: creating change for our one home. We were all allies, competing allies if you must. But we were competing to see who would be able to make the biggest change for our planet; we were competing to be the voice of Mother Earth. One winner emerged but the month long challenge made us all winners in our own right. We could carry proudly of the growth in our hearts back home to our countries to further advocate for a better future. For me, the experience and growth from within was made all the more sweeter when I placed Top 16 internationally. The amazing experience of spending an entire month in a foreign country with beauties from all over the world will never be forgotten. I am thoroughly glad to have met these strong and beautiful ladies from all over the world who I know, without a doubt, will do good for our Earth.

Miss Earth 2009

Other than the Philippines, my journey as Miss Earth Singapore has brought me to many places, both literally and figuratively. I quote my very dear friend Miss Philippines Earth 2009 also Miss Earth Air 2009, Sandra Seifert, in her farewell speech: “The best thing about having all three (a crown, sash and title) is that when I speak, people listen.” Doors have opened and opportunities have been aplenty from the very beginning, and I am quite sure they will not stop.

My reign may have ended, but the winning never stops. Thus it heartens me, to know that my growth as an ambassador for our planet will not stop the once despite having handed the crown over. It is with our future children in mind that I will continue to push for greater awareness in the green movement. I am excited for the beautiful girl who has succeeded me. I have faith she will continue to do good and carry the title of Miss Earth Singapore to greater heights.

Miss Earth Singapore 09

Of course, my journey as Miss Earth Singapore 2009 in the last year would not be complete without the individuals who have lent their support to the Miss Earth Singapore organization. To my friends and my one and only beloved family, I thank you for standing by me unfailingly. You have supported me every single step of the way and I would not be the person I am today without your constant guidance.

Whether you’ve met me personally or not, I hope I have, in some way or another, inspired you to take baby steps forward in protecting our environment. I congratulate the new batch of girls for putting up an amazing show on Thursday and to my new queen Marcielle Wong, I am certain you will have the once-in-a-lifetime experience that only every girl can dream of in Vietnam if you open your mind.

Miss Earth Singapore 2010 Coronation
Photo credits: Chen Jinfu

Beauty, like I always say, is only a state of mind.

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Singpore Beauty Blog

As a Singapore Beauty Blog, it is my duty to blog how much my country means to me on its birthday. Although a young nation, we have made good progress in many areas: education, national security, politics, economy growth. Sure there are times we lament and gripe about how much we have to pay and pay, but travel overseas and you’ll realise how truly blessed Singaporeans are in so many other ways.

We are well known for the beauty of our greenery and cleanliness, transportation hardly ever breaks down and we can walk the streets safely at night without the fear of being mugged. Education here is recognised all over and with our multi-cultural society, we experience a multitude of cultures in every nook and cranny.

Here to many more good years ahead, Singapore. There is definitely no place like home.

Happy 45th Birthday Singapore!

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What if I told you behind this face lies cancer? A cancer that does not reveal itself until the later stages is eating away on the inside showing symptoms only too late. Cancer does not strike based on age, looks or how much money you have; anyone can be a victim of cancer. Most cancers are terminal, but cervical cancer is different.

Cervical cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer in the world and in Singapore, the numbers are astounding. 1 woman dies from cervical cancer every 5 days and 200 new cases are reported each year. But why would we be alarmed at these figures? It is sad knowing that a cervical cancer vaccine is available yet so many women are dying from something we have control over. Hahaha. There IS a prevention and treatment for cervical cancer, but the best way to protect yourself from cervical cancer is to start with education. Here are the facts:

Cervical Cancer Symptoms
* Abnormal bleeding
: in between periods
: after menopause
: after intercourse
* Watery or bloody discharge
* Lower abdominal pain during intercourse

Cervical Cancer Risk Factors
* Being a sexually active female
* First sexual intercourse at the age of 12++
* Multiple sexual partners
* Being a smoker increases the risk 10x
* Previously suffered from STDs

What are the available cervical cancer treatments available and appropriate preventions you can take to keep yourself safe, you might ask. Cervical cancer results from an infection of the cervix by the HPV (human papillomavirus). Because it’s transmitted via sexual activity, higher sexual activity naturally means higher risk of cervical cancer. But keeping yourself free from cancer is possible with the cervical cancer vaccine. Other than that, to fully protect yourself from the cervical cancer virus, below is a list of some prevention methods.

Cervical Cancer Prevention
* Go for your regular pap smear
* Stay faithful to one sexual partner
* Quit smoking or avoid secondhand smoke
* Get your cervical cancer vaccination

The cervical cancer vaccination is a total of 3 jabs taken over several months. I figured it was a good start for me to get on the right track to protecting myself from cervical cancer. I got my first jab done last week and it was swift, although not exactly painless. Which injection is truly ever painless you tell me. But, it’s a temporary inconvenience for a lifetime of protection.

My mom was actually brave enough to get her pap smear done and she willingly signed up for the vaccination too! I’m so proud of her. But when she got to the clinic, she was told she didnt need the vaccine. The cervical cancer vaccine is actually recommended for women below 25 years of age in Singapore.

You know the saying, I am woman hear me roar. Dont let the symptoms of this women specific cancer tell you it’s too late. Take charge and be the change you want to see. If you had the power to control one thing in your life and make a difference, what would it be?

I’ve taken power over cervical cancer, will you?

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Sponsored Review

Carry my heavy as a brick bag, and the first question you’ll ask is, “What’s in your bag!?!” (exclamation marks optional.) I will admit, without hesitation, that I carry a truckload of beauty products in my bag on a daily basis. Heehee. I’m quite a smell person, so naturally perfumes and body mists make up the majority of the things I bring. But look carefully and you’ll wonder what a pink bunny wabbit is doing inside my bag.

Being a beauty junkie, when I was offered to try the Soap ‘n’ Sorbet Steam Cream, I jumped at the chance. Steam Cream! Is it anything like steam cake? Sounds yummy! Gimme gimme gimme.

It’s delish sounding name and the fact that it contains lavender oil made it hard to resist. Lavender oil has antiseptic components which can help heal and reduce inflamed and sore skin. It is also a known fact that lavender helps induce sleep on top of improving blood circulation. Take a deep breath with me now everybody. Ahhhh…..

Opening the screw cap, the cream is visibly slighty runny but smells absolutely delish. It is light weight and applies easily onto your hands, body or face. Massage the cream gently to your desired spot, and viola, it magically disappears leaving your skin softer to the skin and smelling oh-so-good.

This natural multi-purpose cream comes packaged in eco-friendly (yay for going green!) aluminium tins, each individually decorated with eye-catching art designed in Japan. Each design is run as a limited edition print, so presenting this to anyone as a present would be perfect. You wouldn’t be able to find another one like it! Porky Rabbit is now a member of my family of beauty products.

Chock full of natural and vegan ingredients like oatmeal infusion, orange flower water, almond oil, lavendar oil, organic jojoba oil and cocoa butter, SGD 26 is a reasonable price for quality skincare handmade in England. Using a steam-infused process, the result is this luxurious vegan cream that me, the skin nazi, would slather all over my body just to pamper myself.

Soap ‘n’ Sorbet, a delightfully easy-to-navigate Singapore website, is the first to stock this delish sounding Steam Cream for your enjoyment. The wide assortment of beauty and lifestyle products are thoughtfully categorised into various groups for easy searching. Be it bath, makeup, skincare or fragrance, you name it, they got it alongside the best-selling Steam Cream.

I already hear the beauty addicts cheering, but shopaholics, this is the best news for you. The Great Singapore Sale is still going on and will go on till the end of June. This means, A WHOLE MONTH of shopping! And on top of that, they just launched 12 new adorable designs that run in limited quantities. So, are you ready for some luxurious pampering? Let’s get Steam-y!

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