S H A D E S

There is not one lady i know, that owns only 1 lipstick at a single time. Most of us will agree that we have at least half a dozen or if not, even more!

I started with MAC lipsticks because it was a gift. Then in search of nude colors, i went into exploring different shades that MAC has. I had 3 different shades, liked them but when i was looking for something hot red, i could not find the exact shade i was looking for...

So i went into Dior.. Dior lipsticks are more moisturizing and less sticky compared to MAC's. Got myself 3 different shades and sticked with them for awhile.

Received a lip gloss from Make Up Store as a gift, tried but i didn't like the glossy sticky and thick feeling of lip gloss so i went back to my lip sticks :)

When Chanel came out with the matt lipsticks, i tried and i loved it! The color is so beautiful and the texture is so light!!!

VDL famous Tint bar triple shot came as a popular hit! I bought 4 out of 6 of the colors that they have! The triple tone in one lipsticks forms shades where you can make your lips looks bigger or smaller with the same lipstick!

So guess my favourite pick? Chanel, VDL and followed by Dior! Hope you will love them as much as i do!

Military Fire!

Are you ready for war?

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (My Husband!)

Designer: Olivia

Stylist: ME!

Makeup artist: Xenia

Model: Annabel

How do you look fierce and yet stylish at the same time!

Play attention to every details artistically crafted on. This is the outfit that caught my eye and indeed a master statement piece, truly my favourite outfit designed by Olivia!

Sorry for the delay in posting up the photos, there will be more to come!

Military Camo Cape Part 2!

Photos taken in a different perspective! Cause they are taken by ME!

Photographer: ME!

Designer & Stylist: ME!

Co-designer: Olivia

Model: Annabel

Make-up Artist: Xenia

If you saw the earlier post, you will know that this cape is designed and sewn by me.
Take note of the accessories, they are handmade personally by me too.

Military Camo Cape

Introducing my for own creating of the military camo cape. For some time i was working on this and finally had the chance to get it on a model and get the fashion shot done!

Photographer: Ivan Yeo (My Husband)

Designer & Stylist: ME!

Co-designer: Olivia

Make up artist: Xenia

Model: Annabel

Thanks everyone for making this photo shoot possible! More photos of Olivia's design will be up soon!

Eyeliner Magic

Have you caught the latest eyeliner makeup?

Not just easier than putting eyeshadow, it gives a bold and stronger statement than normal eyeshadows!

If you are bold enough, you can stack up to 3 or more colours!
Usually i will start the first layer, the lowest layer with my long lasting and waterproof Majolica Majorca eyeliner!

Be patient to wait for the first layer to dry before you start drawing the next colour. I love the range of colours Sephora have. You can check them out!

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.

M.A.C Brush Sets

Lately i have been seeing a lot of post on how people identify whether their M.A.C brush sets are authentic or not. Looking through some of them i realized a few interesting points stated by some of these blogs, which i think is not so true!

Before i begin, let's look through some of the M.A.C Brush sets available in the market!

All of these brushes are produced by M.A.C for a different season of different years and some are exclusive to make up schools at different years. Some maybe many years ago and some are the really recent ones.

Some of the facts mentioned that are not so true:
1) They only come in silver tips
Looking through the photos, i think you can be very sure that it does not apply all the time.
In fact, they come in silver, black and even gold depending on the series they are being produced for.

2) They only come in black glossy body
Again, you can see that they DO NOT only come in black glossy, they come in matt black, blue, transparent and others not stated here!

3) All brushes comes with the number
This only apply to the more recent series of brushes

Remember i mentioned of the M.A.C brush set i got?
They come in black tip and matt black body. They may not belong to the latter series but the quality is so good.

No so long ago, a friend was telling me about the M.A.C brush she bought from the M.A.C shop itself and the brush is dropping hair every single time she uses it. I believe all items may experiences factory faultiness. It does not determine the authenticity of the item.

The fact remains, if you are afraid and insistent on getting authentic items, my advise to you is to purchase them from the original store itself instead of online stores. So that even if the item does not function well, you will not doubt its authenticity.

I choose the Best, I chose Guerlain!

When it comes to make up, the most important part is the foundation and I choose the BEST! It determines your whole overlook and most importantly, it either protects or destroy your skin underneath!

I choose the best, i chose Guerlain!

First up, it's the Guerlain LINGERIE DE PEAU invisible skin-fusion foundation. Personally, i do not need concealer. Therefore after all my skincare, i will go straight to using my liquid foundation. Among all the different range that Guerlain have, i choose this because just like its name, it feels like a silky thin lingerie on your skin. Unlike other foundation that gives you a very thick feeling in order to achieve it's results, this foundation provides a wonderful coverage and yet you feels like you have nothing on! You got to try it, to know it!

After liquid foundation, you will always need a good loose powder to set you foundation so that it will not look patchy through the day! This Guerlain LES VOILETTES MINERAL invisible skin-fusion loose powder works perfectly well with the foundation! Feeling just like nothing on~!

For a full make up, you cannot go with the Guerlain METEORITES PERLES illuminating powder - pure radiance, that gives you the perfect highlight!

Followed by the Guerlain TERRA INCA sublime radiant powder that gives you the perfect shading and radiant effect. I use this as a bronzer and also my shader!

And how can i leave house with my Guerlain METEORITES COMPACT illuminating and mattifying pressed powder to ensure that my make up stays at its best form!

Next time i will show you the other items i use to top over my foundations! But remember, your foundation will determine whether everything else that builds on it will stand or will fall!

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!

Unfolding Chapter!

As i unveil a new category, beauty and wellness guides! Be more informed about your skin and body, how to take care of it and tips on looking your best! Find out more in our bi-daily issue! Feel free to leave your comments on questions or topics you would like me to talk about in my next post! Your feedback and suggestions are very important to me!

In the world, there's no ugly people but lazy ones, you can look great too!