Strip Me!

Sometimes I wish I could just say that without any consequences, I think this post will be the closest I get away scot free talking about stripping in Singapore!

Confused? Well, this ain't about clothes, although if you do like your clothes more than makeup and beauty, you should drop by StyleShoppes, an online fashion portal, which I am contributing articles like this onto as well.
Now, back to the matter at hand.

Before I went on an Italian spring vacation about a month and some back, the folks at STRIP:Ministry Of Waxing invited me to try out their brand new product, which is a collab with New York based apothecary and uber cool brand MALIN+GOETZ.

So now, marry the two beauty experts: 

STRIP, which offers the most hygienic brazilian waxing experience in Singapore and beyond (and trust me on this, I've seen many other places that truly fall short of good hygiene), has literally stripped off and pruned over 2 million bushes and counting. They bring to the table experience on hair removal, and can pre-amp what happens to your skin after, since they've seen a hell lot of skin that has been irritated, inflamed and affected by ingrown hairs. 

MALIN + GOETZ, which develops their products in the heart of New York, uses paraben-free natural ingredients, botanical extracts, to create tried and tested skincare which is as irritant-free as possible. 

What I love about MALIN+GOETZ is that the co-founder, Matthew Malin, suffers from skin conditions like rosacea and eczema. I know that sounds horrible of me, but I suffer from eczema too, so I find it a relief that somebody who actually understands and experiences our plight is creating a broad line of skincare that aims to be suitable for sensitive skin. 

And their baby is the STRIP x MALIN+GOETZ Ingrown Hair Cream!

How does this work? Well, after my brazillian wax at Beauty Emporium (see pictures below!) by Strip, I was given the cream and  told to apply it on any area which had been waxed, from the first night right after the waxing session. It contains Chamomile to soothe the skin which is usually sore or red after waxing. There is also Vitamin B5 and E to promote skin repair. 

How then does it prevent ingrown hairs? Enzymes from Papaya and Pineapple help to smooth skin out for days following your waxing session till the new hairs start peeking out again. 

Also, the cream can be applied on any other area prone to ingrown hairs, be it your underarms, legs, or even  the face for men who shave. 

I was pretty sold! The Brazilian wax I got lasted me a good couple of weeks and I was frolicking in the (cold!) water along Italy's Amalfi coast in my teeny bikini! 

too cold to swim but I HAD to put on a bikini and get some sun

The Ingrown Hair Cream is available at all 34 Strip Ministry of Waxing locations from London to Shanghai and beyond. If you're in the US out of Manhattan, fret not, order your Ingrown Hair Cream from the MALIN+GOETZ website                     

If you're in Singapore, be sure to drop by the super cool HOUSE at Dempsey where on the 2nd floor you will find STRIP inside Beauty Emporium. Be sure to call ahead to book an appointment for your waxing sessions! 

STRIP Co-ed Beauty Emporium

8D Dempsey Road, #02-01

+65 64757833

10am to 9pm daily

Cute & quirky interiors at Beauty Emporium where Strip is found

Or get your nails done under the same roof - by Spa Esprit 

Deep In Love With The Deep Sea

The fantastic folks at Skin Inc (www.iloveskininc.com) sent me a few products to try when I met them a couple of months ago at a photoshoot with Skin Inc's lovely founder, Singaporean Sabrina Tan.

I have to say I was very impressed with the Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask.

Firstly, there are a few factors I look for when searching for a hydration mask.
1. That it does not clog my pores. I like using oil-free hydration masks that do not feel heavy on my skin.
2. It must be suitable for sensitive skin. Sometimes I come back from the outdoors, and when I get a touch too much sun, my skin is parched and sensitive. I need masks that do not sting on application
3. Results must show. That, my dears, is my demand. Why use products that do not give positive results? I'm sure many of you would agree in me with that. If the hydration levels in the skin are changing, you can actually feel and see the difference.

Guess what, the Pure Deepsea Hydration Mask does check off my list perfectly!

The ingredients in the mask include deepsea water from Okinawa, an island off the southern coast of Japan, which I'm dying to visit by the way. Since the water is from such depths, it is not exposed to pollution and *gasp* radiation unlike that on the surface.
The mask contains minerals such as calcium, manganese, magnesium and nutrition for our skin, alongside added Hyaluronic acid for hydration and soy bean extract for brightening.

Whats more, the lazy (or Kiasu) girls out there would love that you can leave this mask on overnight for a more intensive boost! It is water based, so it does not leave streaky or greasy stains on your pillowcases.

Retailing at S$188 for 100mls, it is a bit of a splurge, but you can ration it out as you need just a thin layer for each application. They also have a smaller size which is $68 for 30mls.

Also worth a mention: Skin Inc's 5-in-1 Nano Gel (S$158 for 60mls) is a fantastic non-greasy moisturiser that has earned its way into my makeup kit and now all my clients get to try that before makeup application! It's a multi-tasker, toning, hydrating, repairing, protecting and priming your skin. Makeup glides beautifully on top of it and does not slide off.

Developed and made in Japan, Skin Inc is available in Singapore at many locations including Ion, Orchard Central, Nex, Changi Airport and Resorts World. It also retails internationally in Hong Kong, Hanoi, and Madrid.

Miracle Argan Huile!

From the dusty sands of Morocco has come an oil that is fast gaining popularity around the world. Argan oil, highly moisturising and restorative, is sought after as a key ingredient in many multi-tasking beauty products for face, body and hair. It's subtle nutty aroma also smells great and does not have to be masked with artificial fragrances, unlike when using oils from sources like fish.

Here are some top picks.


For Hair

Moroccanoil Original Hair Treatment


The first time I tried a product with Argan oil, it was this one. For use on it's own as a hair serum, or mixed with your favourite hair products, this great smelling oil will leave your hair conditioned, smooth and fortified.

Moroccanoil also has a great range of other hairstyling and body products with the signature fragrance.

www.moroccanoil.com

For worldwide shipping, try www.hqhair.com








For Body

Khiel's Superbly Restorative Dry Oil

The best thing about dry oil is that it never leaves a sticky residue, even in a humid climate like Singapore (I've just heard this term, the Singapore Slick, but that's gonna be a story for another time)

Much less viscous than Moroccanoil, this multi-purpose oil can be used after your shower to moisturise your skin, or as a massage oil, and they say you can even use it on your hair, although I would advise you to just keep it to the ends of your hair.

Available at Khiel's stores and counters
http://www.khiels.com









For Face

Dermalogica Overnight Repair Serum

Not satisfied with only having Argan oil in the mix, this night use serum also includes other aromatherapeutic oils like Jasmine, Rose, Ylang-Ylang, Geranium and Rosemary, also with ingredients such as Brown Seaweed to fight free radicals and and Hyaluronic Acid to smoothen out lines.
Great for mature or dry to very dry skin.
Ask for a demonstration on how to do an at-home relaxing face massage


Available at all Dermalogica- authorised skin care centres and Aster Spring in Singapore
http://www.asterspring.com.sg/





For Anything Else and In Between

Josie Maran Argan Balm

Josie Maran. Supermodel and my childhood girl-crush! After years of cosmetics campaigns, she now has her natural and eco-friendly line of skincare and cosmetics. I'm excited that Josie Maran Cosmetics will be hitting our shores very soon!

The Argan Balm is a carry-everywhere, multi-use balm infused with Argan oil and Shea butter. Apply to dry cuticles, chapped lips, heels, elbows, sun-burnt noses and split ends.


Look out for it at Sephora
http://www.facebook.com/sephorasingapore
or find out more at http://www.josiemarancosmetics.com/

This Stuff Won't Budge: The Best Makeup For Your Workouts

Makeup that lasts through your wedding day, tears and all? That's a piece of cake.
Ask for makeup that is going to last you through your swim, spin class and kickboxing matches? Now that's a real challenge.

Most of my friends and clients who know me will know that I go for a work out almost everyday. And no, I never wear makeup on my hill rides and laps in the pool.

OK I lie.

If there's gonna be a cute guy there, I sure as hell don't want to look like a sweaty mess. At least I will look like a sweaty hot mess. Yeah!

And I agree with you ladies who just can't go out without makeup, even if it's to the gym downstairs. I know they all say "makeup will clog your pores" and even I worry about that, but sometimes you just have to put something on. Right?
If you have to meet your client over golf, or play tennis with that yummy boy, you want to put your best face forward at the very least, yet not look like you're wearing a ton of products.

Here's a quick guide to shopping for the most sports,sweat & sun-friendly products in town - tried, tested and loved.


Skin:

Bare Escentuals bareMinerals Matte SPF15
















This is a personal favourite. I use it daily! It's a fantastically light-weight mineral foundation that keeps shine away, does not contain preservatives and helps minimise pores too. It doesn't give you the foundation-y look, just makes your skin look great.
Although this is not going to withstand your swim, it's fantastic for your land-based sports like golf, gym, tennis and jogging.

Available at Sephora (get the starter pack, it's well worth it at S$104!)

Cheeks:

Face Atelier Facade












This beautiful liquid (well, not really, since it's silicone based) to powder blush is like a cheek stain that builds up or blends out easily with your fingertips. Although it looks scarily bright in the tube, upon application you'll find that it's actually very sheer and really natural looking.
It also goes onto your lips as a matte lipstain, and it's handy pocket size means you don't need to look for more space to cram it into your gym bag.

Available in Singapore from luxola.com at S$45 or in North America from the Face Atelier website


Brows:

B & C Browlash Ex Water Strong W Eyebrow



















I know i JUST wrote about this in my last post about brows , but I am hooked onto this waterproof, long lasting eyebrow pencil and brow liquid liner. Yes, it sounds weird, but this is a double ended pencil that has a wind-up crayon on one side, so you never have to bring a sharpener with you, and a liquid liner for the ends on the brows on the other side so you get a sleek, defined brow. This WILL last you through your swim, although I haven't tested it in the surf, but it really takes a great deal of heavy rubbing to move.

Available from Watsons at S$19.90 or on Sasa's online store


Eyes:

M.A.C. Liquidlast Eyeliner
















I have recommeded this to ladies who go swimming in this and I've seen it do what it claims to do, last and last and last! It doesn't move at all, and in so many colours, you can always get a new colour to suit your bikini.
The Liquidlast Liner does last even longer than the Superslick, if you want to compare these two liquid liners from MAC.



Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Shadow Pencil















Once you get a hang of quickly blending these pencils before they dry to a waterproof finish on your eyes, you'll love how longlasting and beautiful they are. You can blend them out to a full eyeshadow, or keep them neat and defined as a pop of eyeliner. My fav is the emerald green Clinic colour, but you'll be spoilt for choice with more than 10 shades.

Available at Sephora


Diorshow Waterproof Mascara




















Ah, mascaras.. tricky tricky. With so many of them claiming to be waterproof, water-resistant, I've found that I always go back to relying on this classic. It gives you big, bold, va-va-voom lashes and stays put.

*Quick tip: For mascaras, the trick to getting them not to smudge especially with smaller asian eyes, is to lay off the creamy concealers which once your mascara-ed lashes touch, tend to melt off and onto your lower lids. If you can, dust a light veil of powder onto your lower lash line just to help it stay matte and prevent the mascara from smudging.


Lips:

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm












There's nothing ickier than having lip gloss goo all over your lips when you're working out, it gets on your towel, your bottle, your face..
I love lip blams and bless the genius who created coloured balms. They moisturise your lips and give a lovely hint of colour, especially great if your lips tend to turn pale when you're gasping for breath in the cold pool or surf.

I just got my hands onto the Clinique Chubby Stick in Super Strawberry and am loving it! It's so cute, love the way it looks like a little pencil, and the sheer touch of colour it gives, without making my lips feel oily like some balms do.

It's costs a little bit on the steeper side for a tinted balm, at S$26 it's an indulgence you probably want to get at the duty free store.



Body:

I felt like i had to include this in, because it's no point putting all those lovely colours on if you're not taking care of the rest of your body.

#1 Please, please remember your deodorant!
Smell as pretty as you look with

Burt's Bees Herbal Deodorant















It combines sage, lavander and lemon essential oils to naturally neutralise any odours, without all the harsh chems like other anti-prespiratants or deodorants.

Available at Sephora


#1 (Yes, #1 again 'cos it's just as important!!) Sunscreen
I was mortified when I trained with athletes who don't use sunscreen while training in the hot afternoon sun at the track. You might think you don't see the sun damage, but soon you will. I know I have, from all those holidays, workouts and generally taking my skin for granted when I was younger. Right now I use an SPF50 whenever I know I'm going to hit sun when I cycle, and I'm reminding myself to use it daily too.

Clinique Sun SPF50 Body Cream

















I started using this cream when I was having a really strange arm rash and it not only helped protect my skin from the sun, but also helped soothe the rash, thanks to it's creamy, moisturising texture.
Since then I've continued using this sunscreen, and it's awesome because being fragrance-free, like all Clinique products, it doesn't have the strong smell of sunscreen.
I've let my best friend try it recently when we went for a swim, and he (yes! a guy! wearing sunscreen!) commented that it "didn't feel sticky". Yay for men who use sunscreen!


So, enjoy your workout, the sun, sea and the great outdoors, while knowing you ARE LOOKING HAWT!

Korean Women Seriously Have The Nicest Brows

Over the weekend I happened to watch the Korean Drama "Smile, Donghae", and other than the complex dramatic plot, my eyes were transfixed on Park Jung Ah's gorgeous eyebrows.



For myself, growing up with close to no brows, aka the "Alien look", I've resigned to the fact that I will never have lush, full brows that many of my other asian friends have.

I've tried tons of brow pencils, brow gels, brow powders, and yes, they have worked for me. (This isn't a sob story.)

Recently my friend Sally asked on my facebook page if I had any new updates on my favourite makeup things. So I was trying to describe this eyebrow pencil from Japan that I've been using, and I finally found out what brand it was.


It's called B & C Browlash EX Waterstrong W Eyebrow .. what a mouthful. So to make it easier for you to find, here's the pic of it in the package (I was at meidi-ya yesterday, they sell it there and also at watsons, and Sasa)


It retails at SG$19.90, and comes in two colours, Natural Brown (left) and Grey Brown (right).
I have both! The natural brown is alot lighter and great for those who have brownish hair. The grey brown is darker and suited for those with black hair, when a light brow might look funny.

The pen has two sides to it, one's a crayon twist-up pencil, which requires no sharpening. It's soft and water-resistant (they claim waterproof, and it lasts through sports but not if you rub it it when wiping your face.. yes! i've tried it during my workout). The other end looks like a liquid liner, it's a sheer ink that that gives you the defined "tail" of the brow.

If you live outside asia, Sasa is selling it online and with free worldwise shipping! Unfortunetly it is currently out of stock .. oops!


Till then, keep watching those korean babes and even though they may have a ton of plastic, their brows look truly real!!


Song Hye- Kyo.. what I would do to have your hair & brows.....

Up Close: The Wedding Stylist

Happy 2012 everyone!! I had a fun Christmas and New Year, and I'm really looking forward to Chinese New Year when my family has chicken rice for reunion dinner! (we're Hainanese :D)

This year, I'm bringing a new feature to this blog, to give you insights for your wedding day. This "Up Close" section will bring you interviews, secrets, and tips on organising your big day while looking your polished best, straight from the professionals in the business!

To start us off, I scored an interview with Caroline Tan- Reed, wedding planner and founder of The Wedding Stylist. Also included are photographs of a wedding she had planned, taking us through from conceptualisation to the actual day.

Caroline Tan- Reed: Founder of The Wedding Stylist

What inspired you to become a wedding planner?

2007, I had a very good friend who asked me to help her with her wedding, and that sparked a passion for it. I got into it full time in 2008.

I did a Wedding Planning Diploma with a school in the UK, which helped me in terms of planning a wedding, such as managing the budget, timeline, and prioritising.
It was more detailed than what I did with friends.



Why the name "The Wedding Stylist"?

I did a focus group with some friends, and we were contemplating on 3 names, "The Wedding Designer", but it sounded too much like a fashion designer. The other was "Unveil Weddings", but they thought it was too boring. The Wedding Stylist was a little bit more American, I wanted to bring a western touch to Singapore weddings.

About 80 % of my couples have studied abroad, or are of mixed heritage, or live abroad, or their other halves are not Singaporean.


What are some of the misconceptions of the job?

The most common misconception is that it is a glamorous job, and it is not a glamorous job at all.

On the wedding day, while the bride usually wakes up about 4 or 5am, I wake up at 3am to prepare everything, and am the last to leave.
I also have to throw out the trash - definitely not glamorous.

Some demanding brides also expected me to book their honeymoon.
One of my brides insisted that I book tickets and plan the route through UK for her pre-wedding shoot and travels.



So what exactly is the jobscope?

I am there to only help her manage her wedding.
Part of our jobscope is also to come up with the concept and theme, to present different options for decorations, give them advice on things like dresses, food, and schedules.

Storyboard: The Wedding Stylist

We usually do up a storyboard, taking into consideration their personality and what they like. It has a floorplan, pictures and colour palattes of our recommendations.
(Other than that, I'm not there to organise their honeymoon.)



What's a typical month/week/day leading up to the wedding?

Month: Final details like flowers, alterations of dresses, suits, wedding stationery, design and fonts of the menus, type of music to be played, itenary for the day, car decor & flowers.

Week: Last minute scrambling for changes, forgotten details, picking up bits and pieces.

Day: Surprisingly, it is very smooth because you already know what you have to do, and it's a long day so you're so busy that you don't have time to think of anything else.


Time line: The Wedding Stylist


But also because you're there?

I hope so, haha.


How does a bride decide if she needs to have a wedding planner or not?

Usually if the bride is very busy, she will need a planner.
The other reason is that they need some inspiration, because they might not have the resources or knowledge to look for ideas, so they come to us to help them design the wedding and recommend our contact list, like you as the makeup artist for example. (Thanks Caroline!)



Have you had weddings where the couple brings you in to salvage their plans?

I had to plan a wedding in 1.5 months, they had only booked the venue and got the gown and the suit. We had to get everything in place - the food, flowers, band, itenery, Justice of Peace (JP). They didn't even register at the Registry of Marriages (ROM) yet.

(Usually the ROM booking opens up 3 months before your wedding, and you need to have your JP who has agreed to marry you, and there's an online form where you sign and pay. )


Where do you get your inspiration from?

Blogs, wedding magazines, friends, people I work with, like photographers. We discuss what weddings we've been to, and bounce ideas off each other.


How about when you got married ?

Mine was a very simple ceremony with only 100 people, a church wedding and a small dinner. I wanted something intimate and cosy.
In the morning we had a colour theme of yellow and pale coral, and we used orchids to incorporate some Singapore touches.
The evening was a small dinner at the Raffles.


Would you change anything if you went back to that?

No, as a wedding planner you lives your own dreams through so many weddings, so when it comes to your own, you know what's really important is the company and that you enjoy yourself and that everyone is there to share it with you.



What's the strangest thing at a wedding you had planned?

It's not weird in a bad way, we had a wedding in Chijmes and we brought in some ah kwas (transexuals) to perform, so that was quite a shocker, but the couple wanted something outrageous and fun.



Are Singapore brides and weddings too mellow or regular?
I think because we come from a culture that teaches us to respect and listen to our elders, a lot of the brides cannot have a wedding that they truly want, but what their parents want. That's really sad because it is their day after all and it is going to happen once in their lifetime.
That's one bit I feel quite sad about, because I know alot of it is planned by their parents, and they're doing it for the parents.

Other than that I've had some brides who are quite chill, and they just do what they want to do. These brides turn out to be the more fun and happy brides, because they give you alot of imput and they are so involved in the wedding.

Which was your most memorable wedding?

There was a couple who hired me 2 months before the wedding, and the bride had lots of ideas but they just didnt know how to execute it.
They wanted a garden theme for the church and reception.
Since she was on a budget, we went to Ikea and bought small vases, and did the flowers ourselves. It was very DIY and we used ribbon strips on the table and paper dollies to make it more garden feel for her. It was fun.
She had a dessert buffet and she made her own doggy bags where she stamped each of them individually.

There was a vintage typewriter so that people could write their messages to them on it.

Photo: The Wedding Stylist

Some things were difficult to find in Singapore, like a clay ring pillow where their vows were written on it, which was very cute.


It was very fun working with her because she was very inspirational.



Show us how your ideas became reality!


The Storyboard



The Venue : CHIJMES






Details:





The Entrance:





Photography: Aloysius, 39 East Photography
http://www.39eastimages.com/



The professionals are in: Caroline's Little White Book


Non-hotel ballroom wedding location:

The Marmalade Pantry at The Stables
http://www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg/
55 Fairways Drive, Singapore 286846
+65 64679328




Burkill Hall at Singapore Botanic Gardens
http://www.sbg.org.sg/visitorinfo/venueforrent.asp
+65 6471 7374
photo: 39 East Photography











Clifford Restaurant at The Fullerton Bay Hotel
http://www.fullertonbayhotel.com/dining-en.html
"With full height glass windows, you don't even need a lot of decorations"
Photo: Fullerton Bay Hotel



Food & Catering:

Asian: Tung Lok
http://www.tunglok.com/

Western: Marmalade
http://www.themarmaladepantry.com.sg/
"They've got great food and impeccable service"


Wedding Gown Designers (all by appointment only):

Louis from Amor Meus Design Studio
23 Purvis Street, #02-01 Talib Centre
Singapore 188613
+65 6336 6930
amormeus@singnet.com.sg


The Prelude Bridal
http://www.theprelude.com.sg/
21A Duxton Hill Singapore 089604
+65 6221 4982
"The Prelude brings in very sleek and modern dresses from the UK and US"

photo: The Prelude Bridal













Love, Yu
http://www.weloveyu.com/about/
8 Mohamed Sultan Road #03-01 Singapore 238958
+65 6235 7781
yu@weloveyu.com




















"Ee-Lyn is so accomodating. Her off-the-rack is a very different style from what people usually go for, but she has designed complicated things very similar to Vera Wang"
Photo: Love, Yu















Wedding Stationary & Cards:

Caroline's team of graphic designers and printers will whip up beautiful bespoke invitation cards if you have something in mind, but if not, pay a visit to
Craft Inc
http://craftincdesign.com/
402 Orchard Road, Delfi Orchard #02-16
+65 6734 1811




To have your wedding planned by Caroline, click here or read more about her work at http://www.the-wedding-stylist.com/
She also has a really pretty blog with ideas and photos

Merry Christmas Folks!!!

Oh, it's the time of the year again!!

I usually get the blues during the holiday season for some reason, but this year I'm trying to reflect on all the fantastic stuff that has happened (YES OMG it's been a whole year already? feels like yesterday), and I am so grateful for all the wonderful things I have received.

Friendships, great crews that I work with, lovely clients, a super family, a roof over my head and chocolate cake in my tummy.

And of course lots of fab blessings from the different cosmetic,skincare & haircare brands in Singapore, including MAC Cosmetics, Lancome, Palmer's Cocoa Butter, American Crew, & Sephora Singapore.
Thank you all, so very very much for supporting me.

And in the Christmas spirit, I'm doing my first giveaway on my facebook page, where I'll send one lucky lady a beautiful Sephora Green Eyes Palatte.
It doesn't matter what colour eyes you have, I believe makeup is universal and colours only express what you want them to! Don't be tied down by "rules" ;)



All you have to do to win this, is to post a comment on the giveaway thread on my page, and share how great your year has been.
Contest ends 26 Dec 2011.


Good luck, Merry Christmas, HAVE A FANTABULOUS HOLIDAY SEASON!

Love, Jo