Attos - My 'Angel' bag

Many of you read my post on ATTOS earlier and found out a bit about this 'Angel' bag. Now it has arrived! Actually a few weeks back but have been really busy, so here it goes!

A blue full leathered, beautifully crafted bag. The side of the bag comes with 2 flaps that symbolises the wing of an angel.

It comes with the ATTOS logo on the metal piece of the opening and on the leather itself, on the inside of the bag. The zipper also have the words "love, joy and peace" engraved on it.

Accompanied with a lovely long stripe.

Spot Fake!

Continuation from my previous post on "Why pay with your life" on some very toxic ingredients found in low quality or fake cosmetic makeup. 

Apart from the lower quality makeup by smaller brands in the market, there are many fake makeup of the bigger brands! These manufacturers earns a big fraction by selling the fake because they substitute important ingredients with the low quality and cheaper ones.

So how do you spot the fake ones when the makeup looks exactly the same as the original ones? These manufacturers copy boxes, colors and prints in boxes. But if you look closely enough, you will be able to tell if the product is a rip-off.

Here's some handy guide:
A) Read through the leaflet. If you notice misspelled words or incomprehensible english, don't buy it!

B) Check item codes. The item codes on the product should match that which is on the box, only applicable for brands with item codes printed.

C) Compare lids and applicator brushes with the original ones. Usually fake makeup comes with an applicator of a different size.

D) Examine the box thoroughly. Some counterfeit items will use a slightly different font or colors to print. There will surely be something that will give it away that it is a counterfeit, so be attentive to the details.

E) Only licensed sellers are allowed to sell branded products. Do not risk for health and skin just to save on the few dollars differences.

F) Be suspicious of cheap branded products.

If all these are too much for you, trust me, just do your purchases at authorized sellers or retail stores for 100% authentic products.

Why pay with your life?

Every year ladies spend over thousands of dollars on skincare and facials. However not realizing how important it is to get really good quality makeup. Some thinks that by spending on good quality skincare will make up for all the damage makeup does to their skin, but the fact is yet to defer.

I wanted to name this title, fake or counterfeit makeup at first. But noticing the many numerous makeup cosmetic brands hitting the market, i think it is more important to know the ingredients than just identifying by brands. I cannot guarantee to say that all big brands in the market or commonly seen or used brands are of good quality.

Below are 5 different types of toxic ingredients found in low quality or counterfeit makeup that might cost your life:
1) Lead, is considered as an ancient poison that leads to headaches, nauseas, abdominal pains and lethargy. Serious cases may lead to coma and seizures.

2) Arsenic, is listed as Class 1 carcinogen and is commonly used in pesticides and can potentially lead to bowel diseases, cancer, weakened immune system and weak liver function.

3) Copper, can cause irritation in nose and throat when inhaled. Exposure to high doses can cause diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, liver and kidney damage and even death.

4) Mercury, is one of the most poisonous substance ever known. it can potentially harm the central nervous system and other harmful causes includes mood changes, insomnia, irritability, loss of appetite, tremors and short-term memory loss.

5) Cadmium, is toxic even in low levels. Exposure can cause heart and lung irritations, breathing problems, fluid build-up in lungs and softening of bones that may eventually lead to fractures.

Some of these ingredients are often used to substitute the other expensive ones that gives the same outlook effects of the makeup, but leaving long lasting damage to our skin and even our body.

Audi Fashion Festival 2013

Counting down to the upcoming Audi Fashion Festival Singapore! 16-19th May, 2013

Taking place at the Tent @ Marina Barrage

I'm totally looking forward to meet the man behind these creations. Just some photos to wet your appetite!

Introducing British Fashion Designer Peter Pilotto and his partner,

the men behind the brand, Peter Pilotto.

Everything?

Money is not everything but yet you cannot do anything without it.

Dressing up and looking good is not everything, but yet it reveals all that is within!
I am not someone who will make up everyday. In fact, I only do when I goes to church because I believe that we need to look good when we come before our king. 

My recent trip to shanghai, I met a friend and stayed with her for a few days. Everyday I see her diligence in putting make up and looking her best, till the very moment she goes to bed. On the last night, I had the chance to chat with her. Talking about the importance of working on marriage, I realized looking good is also a constant effort in making the marriage work!

Whatever is true on the outside reflects the truth on the inside. Very much like the saying that goes, there are no ugly woman, only lazy ones. When you dress simple, life will also be simple and boring. Using "not a make up everyday kinda person" as an excuse of my laziness was greatly revealed.
When you just wear whatever comes to you without thinking, is really because you are too lazy to stand in front of the mirror to take a look at yourself a bit more to see if it all matches!

Does it cost to look pretty and dress up? Of course it does. I am not going to lie to you and say that it does not cost money. But does it have to cost thousands of dollars for plastic surgery and branded? NO.
Dressing up is about how you can put various things together and give a completely different style each time. With the same pieces of clothing but yet wear out a completely different you, for different events. Fashion is not always about the new and the expensive.

It's never about the brand, it's about the design. It's never about the trend, it's about my style! - Jamie Lin 

Attos

A completely inspiring boutique and brand.

Housing a wide range of famous luxury brands, they also house an inspiring range of their very own in-house brand. Every item has a story to tell and deeper meaning behind. A meaning of LOVE.

Their range of items includes the following:

BAGS

ACCESSORIES

SUNGLASSES

HEELS

I bought a bag known as the 'Angel' bag, designed with the inspiration of angel wings. This bag is specially designed and all proceeds will be used to fund a charity for children. What makes shopping a greater joy? is when you get to enjoy the process and yet helped people in the process.

You can check out more at their website: ATTOS
or simply make a trip down to visit their store and get inspired!
New flagship store opening in Milan, Via Della Spiga 34

On SKIN

I am very particular when it comes to skincare! Because what goes on your skin do not just stays on top of your skin! They are being absorbed into the different layers of your skin underneath. What then appears on your skin, is a result of that which went under some time ago.

I will never buy skincare products of the malls, departmental stores or product counters. Reason is simple, most of these staff are paid by commission and they are mostly more concern with getting a sale done, then to get you what you really need. Without proper training and understanding of your skin type and condition, most of the time, it is not just what you see on the outside.

So where should you get your skincare products? Find a beautician or aesthetician whom you can trust. Someone whom you know that has your interest at heart! Do not buy different items from different brand or range because the chemical content of each brand can be very different and by adding on other products from various brands will only make it harder for your beautician or aesthetician to know which item is not suitable for your skin, in the event of complication arises.

Below is the product i am using!

You may or may not find these products overseas, but these are my secret to my skin!
Dermafloral Make Up Removal is a must have if you are always on make up. It helps to remove all waterproof make up without leaving any stains and then wash off with the Milky Lotion that contains minerals and natural plant extracts, the hypoallergenic milky lotion effectively cleanse and dissolve stubborn grime and impurities from my skin.

Days without make up, i will use the Active Cleanser Gel which has a calming and gentle non-irritant cleanser that deeply cleanses my skin. The natural plant extracts leave the skin feeling renewed, refresh and revitalized! Always followed up by the Active Soothing Toner, specially formulated anti-oxidants and purifying ingredients help to refresh and hydrate both sensitive and reactive skin to achieve a healthy and radiant complexion. However, these are not the secret yet.

The secret behind it all, is the Active Anti-Oxidant Serum with it's unique formulation helps to stimulate better blood circulation. The anti-oxidant lotion contain powerful protecting, moisturizing and healing properties to repair damaged skin tissue, it also helps to disinfect acne and pimples, reduces blackheads, ease pore congestion, prevent aging, repair damaged cells, improve fine lines and moisture to the skin, balancing pH level of the skin! After the super powerful serum, i will end of with the Active Protective Repair Cream uniquely designed and created to provide high UV protection. The sunscreen concentrates meet the most stringent requirements of product safety and non-toxicity standard. It also helps to fight against free radical, reduce fine lines and pigmentation!

It may sound like there's a lot of steps to follow, but stay tuned for more beauty tips as i explain why each and every step is very important to our skin! Because knowledge is power!

Real or Fake?

With the huge market out there, how do you tell the real from the fake? And when does it really matter to you?

Many people ask me from time to time, how to differential an item's authenticity. But my question back to you is, does it matter to you? There are things that i feel you should NEVER get a fake, but yet there are some things that does not really matter to me! So what's the guidelines to this?

For me, i am simple. The 3 NEVERs!
- I will NEVER buy huge brands items from unknown source if it will get me fined while entering the main shop, if i happened to be cheated into getting a fake. I will just get them from the original stores.
- I will NEVER buy food supplements, medication or consumable items that are to be eaten, from unknown sources because this can literally kill me if they are not made with the correct prescriptions.
- I will NEVER buy skincare products like cream or serum that are to be used on the face from unauthorized shops, because i will not want to sacrifice my face, just to test the authenticity of the items.

Apart from the 3 NEVERs, i think the rest of the following are fine with me.
Things like perfume - I choose it according to the scent from the bottle and not just the brand, so assuming that the scent I chose did not go wrong. Then I feel it won't kill me if it so happened that it is a non-authentic piece. At most, the scent may not last as long as the originals.
Eye shadows - There have been some commotions about the authenticity of some eye shadows in the market, like the common one is the Urban Decay Naked Palette. But the main thing in choosing a eye shadow is often the shades, so if i like the shades i buy them, and i guess the authenticity is not the main issue with me. But i have to add, a good authentic foundation base is very important!
Clothes - According to the chart we did previously, if you are not someone who goes purely for brand i think you won't really mind if they are authentic cause very often we are going for a certain trend or design. However if you are particular about the brand then my advise is to go to the authentic stores. As for me, i goes for the design and style, if i like it, brand and authenticity does not matter to me. But if i don't, even if it is a 100% authentic branded item at a great discount, i will not get it.
Shoes and accessories - I think my stand for shoes and accessories are the same as clothes, if i like it, i buy it. Not for the brand, but for the design, style and quality! Things without brand or non-authentic can be of great quality too!
Makeup brushes - Quality is very important to me. There are many brush brands out there that produces really expensive but bad quality brushes while some without a brand can be of great quality! Personally i have a 32 pieces M.A.C Make up brush set i got online some time back, even though some people may say that i might have been cheated, but because they are of great quality, smooth and soft, i love them alot! They are of such good quality it is comparable to the authentic ones! The question is, does authenticity of such item matters to you just because of the brand? To me, i simply loved them and would even recommend them to my friends and to you!

Am i saying that i support the production of non-authentic items? No.
Yet, to some things, i feel what is more important is that i like them, i do not really care about authenticity. What is the point of getting something authentic, that you do not like? But then again, i have my rules when it comes to authenticity, my 3 NEVERs!

I set my own priorities and i am careful to guard them myself. You can do it too!

Which comes FIRST

Knowing yourself is the first step towards success!
This is a very simple and easy exercise. Basically, it is already naturally in us, but it is important for us to know it at the tip of our fingers!

Below, there are 5 categories. Base on these categories, write down a number between 1-5 beside each of them, ranging from 1 being the least important to you, to 5 being the most important.

There are some shoppers tight with budget, who simply follows the latest trend and get the cheapest item along that trend. Smart shops will have a category catering to this group of people by selling really simple designs or easy to make fashion with that latest trend, and selling them at really great prices!

There are also those high and mighty, who goes for the brand names! Regardless of designs and trends, these people look for the branding behind the items, willing to pay any cost for it. Intelligent shops come out with really high brand setting, marking up their prices to look really classy, to cater to these group of people!

The fashion dressers, who searches for the unique and of the uncommon! They go for things that are not sold in bulks or of huge quantity all over the world. Their eyes are fixed on the Limited Edition pieces, where they can turn up at an event, knowing that no one else will dress the same! They do not follow trends blindly, but with a touch of their own style and may even have a mind of their own. Only shops that sells the unique will draw them in to take a look and explore further. They may or may not be able to pay too high a price to get the piece they want, but they will definitely keep them in mind. An impression formed, is an item considered sold!

Most shoppers are the mid rangers, they want to be fashionable and yet trendy without spending high prices. Going to the malls just to get something they think is really fashionable, among the latest trend. This is where shops have the mid range designs where there are simple designing and detailing, according to the latest trend. This range usually consist of a wide mid range prices and are designed in the bulk.

To cater to different groups of people and different demands, different items are made of different quality and set at a different branding to meet those needs. What is it that you are looking for?

No one knows you better than you do!