May 23
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Evonnz's Skincare Routine

My Skincare Routine (May 2013)

Posted by | beauty, Cleansers, Moisturizers, Serums & Others, Skincare | No Comments

No better time to do this than now, because I had to bring my skincare items and talk about them a few weeks ago at a survey.

I do tend to try out new stuff every now and then, but I’m happy to find a reliable routine and these are my go-to products on a usual day!

Cleansers

Step 1: Cleanse

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For cleansing, I use both Shu Uemura’s Anti/Oxi (A/O) Skin Refining Anti-dullness Cleansing Oil, and Fancl’s Washing Powder - but not always both together.

In the morning, I just use either one alone – but preferably Shu Uemura’s A/O Cleansing Oil (1-2 pumps) because it is gentle and dry me out. At the survey, one of the ladies actually mentioned that she only washes her face with water in the morning – I don’t disagree with that (you cannot disagree with her clear, smooth complexion) but I just don’t feel comfortable just washing with water, especially since I need to get rid of oil build up and all so that my makeup goes on better.

If I have make up on, I will pump out a liberal amount of Shu Uemura’s A/O Cleansing Oil (3-4 pumps) on dry hands, and massage it in a circular motion to dissolve my make up – make sure your face is dry too, because the oil emulsifies upon contact with water. Cleanse with water and voila! If I have really thick make up on, I will take on an extra step and use Fancl’s Washing Powder to double cleanse, although Shu’s rep has mentioned that it is not necessary to do so.

I have to sing praises for the Shu Uemura A/O Cleansing Oil because it is extremely efficient at removing all traces of make up – plus, I can clearly see that my pores are less clogged – I’ve never seen my nose so clean before! It is a bit of a struggle when it comes to removing mascara though, so I’ll still use Heroine Make’s mascara remover before using Shu’s A/O Cleansing Oil.

Shu’s latest A/O Cleansing oil is formulated with Green Tea & Moringa Extracts, and Moringa is a great anti-oxidant – it captures and clears away harmful pollutants as well as oxidative sebum in an instant.

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Shu has a total of 4 cleansing oils in their series (A/O, White Efficient, Fresh Clear Pore, High Performance), but I’ve only tried A/O, so I’m not sure how the others perform – I’m pretty keen in testing out the Fresh Clear Pore after I’m done with A/O. The 150ml bottle has a lock mechanism which is great for traveling – I’d recommend the 150ml if you’re just trying this out first.

In case you need to know how it is used (image from the www):

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As for Fancl’s Washing Powder, it is gentle, soothing, and I get a kick out of using it with the foaming ball. My face feels a lot cleaner than using other cleansers and best of all, no tight feeling! Other than that, I know that Fancl’s products are usually formulated without preservatives and all, so I do feel that this is good for me.

Another cleanser I like would be Philosophy’s Purity 3-in-1 cleanser for face & eyes, for its gentle, non drying formula and the scent too.

Prices:

  • Shu Uemura AO Cleansing Oil – $58 SGD (150ml), $130 SGD (450ml)
  • Fancl Washing Powder – $26 SGD (1 bottle, 50g), $48.50 SGD (2 bottles, 50g x 2) / Foaming ball is $1 SGD each.
  • Philosophy Purity 3-in-1 Cleanser – $35 SGD (240ml)

Toner

Step 2: Tone

9225596There’s a lot to choose from in my stash actually, but I find myself attracted to the soothing herbal scent of Kiehl’s Calendula Herbal Toner most, ever since I tried a mini bottle (which is what you see here) from a Bellabox – I have a 250ml one sitting on my shelf now!

I use this two ways -

  1. In the morning or when I didn’t put on any make up, I just simply pat this on with my bare (and very clean) hands after cleansing.
  2. If I’m using this after makeup removal/cleansing,  I’ll wipe down with a cotton pad first just in case (It’s just a habit of mine), then pat on with bare hands or use a cotton pad to pat it on.

Kiehl’s has been giving back and have marked down their prices permanently, and I was pleased to find out that they’ve been marked down by this much for the Calendula Toner!

Kiehl’s Calendula  Toner Prices

  • 125ml $54 ➡ $40 SGD
  • 250ml $78 ➡ $58 SGD
  • 500ml $110 ➡ $90 SGD

Serum

Step 3: Serums (Extra care)

evonnz_skincare_routine_serumsI’m not sure if it’s Shu Uemura’s AO Cleansing Oil, or Shu Uemura’s Tsuya Skin Youthful Radiance Generator, but my face was instantly less oily from the moment I started using this combination. It is wonderful, because my skin has gone from extremely oily to just oily. I can feel the difference instantly – first from the lesser oil build up I get at night, to the fact that my make up lasts longer on me. And yes, my skin does seem more radiant than before!

Shu Uemura’s Tsuya Skin can also be layered, so you either use it alone, or use it before your other serums. I have quite a few serums in my stash, and one of my favorite to layer with it would be Biotherm’s Blue Therapy Serum, for anti-aging and also because I like the scent of this range!

Prices:

  • Shu Uemura Tsuya Skin Serum – $108 SGD (30ml)
  • Biotherm Blue Therapy Serum – $99 SGD (30ml), $129 SGD (50ml)

 

Moisturizers

Step 4: Moisturize

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If you’re sharp, you would have noticed that there’s no moisturizer in the picture above! That’s because I’m still searching for a holy grail one – I have a few which I’m rotating, and are quite gentle to use, as listed below.

  • Ettusais White Shooter Dual Effect  – Gentle on the skin, but it’s pretty watery so some may not get used to this.
  • Biotherm AquaSource – I’m in love with the scent of this. It’s gel based, so it gets absorbed pretty fast into my skin and so far, no aggravation.
  • Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – This is strictly speaking not a moisturizer, but sometimes using this alone is actually enough for my skin and it does aid oil control. The calming scent is a bonus for me!
  • Origins Plantscription Anti Aging Cream – Origins is a skincare brand I always trust, and the cream may look hard to deal with because it is a cream, but it actually goes on pretty easily and it is really moisturizing! Doesn’t clog my pores, and has a great scent to boot.
  • Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle & Pore Reducing Cream – it is a little hard to spread for me, but if you get your palms suitably warmed up enough it does help it to go on easier – this provides adequate moisture for my skin.

Prices:

  • Ettusais White Shooter Dual Effect – $42 SGD (170ml)
  • Biotherm AquaSource Moisturizer – $69 SGD (50ml)
  • Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Concentrate – $90 ➡ $80 SGD (30ml)
  • Origins Plantscription Anti-aging Cream – $110 SGD (50ml)
  • Kiehl’s Powerful Wrinkle & Pore Reducing Cream – $80 SGD (50ml)

Eye Care

Step 5: Eyes

evonnz_skincare_routine_eyecare

My Eyes have always been one of the biggest concerns because I wear contact lens all the time (all the tugging and pulling) plus I spend long hours on the computer for work. I’ve tried out a few items which I like and think works for me.

The Génifique Eye Light-Pearl™ has a massager which is a joy to use. It really helps to boost circulation around the eyes and the massager means you don’t have to use your fingers and tug on your skin unnecessarily. My girlfriend Mag has been using this for quite a while now and I think it works wonderfully well for her – and she likes it!

The other two items which I love are pretty similar in terms of usage and function – both Make Up Store’s Cooling Eye Stick and Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-puffer are basically like a fat lip balm – product is dispensed when you twist it and they both are cooling when applied – and you don’t need a mirror to use this so I tend to do my work halfway and quickly roll this over my eyes for quick relief. I have one stationed on my table all the time!

  • Génifique Eye Light-Pearl™ - $110 (20ml)
  • Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-puffer – $45 (5g)
  • Make Up Store Cooling Eye Stick

Some beauty experts have recommended using eye care right after serums and before moisturizers, but as long as you wash your hands and don’t get moisturizers near your eye areas (to avoid getting millia seeds), I think this as a last step is fine.

Hope this entry wasn’t too long and that it helped! I’m not paid to write about of the products, even though I’ve been sent some of the products – I’m grateful that I get to try these stuff out and I’m just sharing about which ones worked well for me.

May 14
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$50 SGD Omakase at Teppei’s Japanese Restaurant

Posted by | Food, Japanese | 4 Comments

Remember my post about Lunch at Teppei’s?

I was left wanting more (wanted to try the ala carte and omakase) and most of all, I wanted to jio (gather) my friends down for a good time! And so happens I was given the chance to head back for omakase even though the waiting list was 3 months long (can you imagine, the next slot’s in July/August already!)

$40, $50, $60 Omakase?

“Omakase” means “I’ll leave it to you” – you decide a price, and the chef will decide what you’ll be eating! The menu changes all the time so you don’t know what you’ll be expecting and that’s half the fun in having an omakase meal.

We were curious about what the differently priced omakase had to offer and were told that:

  • $40 – more fried stuff
  • $50 – additional wagyu beef
  • $60 – additional wagyu beef, uni (sea urchin) + some other sashimi, and oyster!

Considering that I don’t really eat raw food (raw shellfish aside) nor oyster, I went for the $50 omakase and so did the rest of us (it was the oyster lol).

So what does the $50 Omakase get you?

After we were what my husband would term as “explosion full”, we counted a grand total of… 15 dishes! And yes I was really super duper uber full from the two servings of starchy stuff (two noodles!)

Tea’s free, Asahi draft costs you $9 per glass and prices are before GST & Service Charge (7 % + 10%).

Parking in the hotel at night costs you $3 per entry as opposed to $6 for an hour and a half.

Let’s run through the dishes one by one!

1 – Appetizer 前菜・サラダ

I’ve seen this appetizer served during lunch before – the difference is that it’s no longer free flow (haha) and this time round it has more greens. It is a mixture of beans, dried seaweed and I honestly couldn’t tell if it was pork, chicken or fish – but it’s nice nonetheless, and goes really well with rice! You don’t get rice till the 2nd last dish by the way.

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2 – Appetizer 2 – Seaweed Jelly 前菜・若布こんにゃく

I found this a little bland – like Rei (our friend) said, like grass jelly but blander. It does have a distinctive seaweed taste and is very light.

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3 – Edamame 焼き枝豆 & Inari Sushi いなり寿司

They were served together, so I classified it as one dish.

It was my first time trying out Edamame. hahaha. And I do like washing it down with beer. I sorta let out the satisfactory “ahhhh” after having the beer. Asahi draft, me likey. I was half contemplating finishing the inari sushi’s rice but ate it all up anyway. The Toshihikari rice from Toyama (Fuji) was delicious!

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4 – Sashimi 刺身

Remember I said something about not eating fish sashimi? I told the chef my preference (okay, I told the waitress with a pained expression on my face like as if I’m allergic to fish hahaha) and they gave me something else instead.

So everyone got this set which includes Salmon, etc etc AND prawn + scallop. They praised the freshness of the prawns and I was bummed that I missed it out because…

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I got an entire serving of scallops. HAHAHA. Not bad, eh? I really love scallop anyway. They were just a LITTLE fishy, but thanks to a little suggestion from the fellow patrons, I tried it with oyster sauce and all fishiness went off. It does really go better with oyster sauce, use that dip instead!

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5 – Chawanmushi サツマイモ・茶碗蒸し

As noted by my husband and le resident chef of our group, Miya, they seem to have used agedashi tofu sauce on the chawanmushi! And the little surprise was the sweet potato at the bottom of the chawanmushi. Yummy, and the first time I found that in chawanmushi. Does make the egg dish a little more interesting – there were also yuzu strips and it lent the dish a little citrus twang which was lifting (and surprising)!

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6 – Clam Soup / Asari Soup バターアサリ•スープ

The broth for this seemed a little more hearty than miso-salty, and I like it like this! Clams were sweet, and I didn’t squeeze the lemon so my broth stayed the same even though the lemon slice was in my soup the entire time.

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7 – Grilled Yellowtail ぶり

I surrendered my portion to Miya XD

I think they took one whole fish and chopped it up in pieces so you get different parts around the table. Some contained bones, so be careful! I tried a little bit of it and decided I didn’t like it – but I gladly finished the entire portion of mashed daikon ; D

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8 – Tempura 天ぷら

The tempura was supposed to be fish, but I requested for ebi instead so…

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My uber delicious ebi ; D

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Don’t be afraid to ask or tell them if you have a particular preference. I was rather worried that the chef may be insulted by my requests but he was smiley to the end. Should have treated him to some sake! (but too bad no one was drinking sake)

9 – Scallop sashimi with Wasabi ホタテのマリネ

I was apprehensive of this dish due to the wasabi content, but on the whole (since it was such a small dish!) the spiciness was tolerable and in fact, went EXTREMELY well with the raw scallop. The result was an alternative for chuka hotate – difference is, one used the edges (the skirting) of the scallop while Teppei-san’s version used the scallop meat itself.

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10 – Uni Beancurd 海胆・豆腐

I didn’t like the taste of Uni so I skipped this once again, especially since there was wasabi on top of it. The beancurd was silky smooth!

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11 – Wagyu Beef 牛肉炒め

The way it was sliced and marinated made it feel and taste more like pork, but I love the marinade and the texture of this. Star of the night. I had two plates! Oh god I can already feel those pimples coming. (My body isn’t able to take beef very well and I’ll sprout pimples when I have digestion issues :( )

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12 – Somen noodles そうめん

Somen’s kindda like soba noodles, but smoother – in shoyu broth, with seaweed, chicken and the soup base has a special yuzu chilli in it! The very sharp Rei pointed out that the soup was citrusy and spicy – Teppei-san told us the ingredient and I think it has Miya getting ready to hunt down the special spice in Isetan scotts tomorrow, hahaha. Portion was small and as much as I didn’t want to finish it… I ate all the noodles. Just too good and I seemed to always be one mouth away from finishing it entirely, haha.

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13 – Smoked Radish 燻製大根串

I loved the crunchy, smoked taste of this. Super like it. The only thing I didn’t like was that there was only one on a stick for each person. The bunch you see was for 4 of us, put together for photo taking purposes only hahaha.

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14 – Rice or Noodles

For this we were presented with 4 options from 2 categories.

  • Rice – Sashimi Don, or Spicy Fried Rice
  • Noodles – Soba or Udon

My husband naturally went for the spicy fried rice スパイシーな炒飯です but the portion was so huge he only managed to finish 5/6 of it. That’s not too bad right? The spicy fried rice comes with an oozy egg (oh how I’d love it if it wasn’t spicy) but you can request for the egg to be fully cooked (it didn’t turn out fully cooked but better than raw yolk!). You can choose to tabao this dish if you like.

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I chose the udon naturally (I’ll pick noodles over rice anyway though I love both)and it was super silky smooth! It came with seaweed, rice cakes and.. and… apparently, that’s Taro – Yam! The chef said “tonight, you cannot sleep!” (something like that) – I gave him a quizzical look and he flexed his arm and said “powerful!”. What was that!?!!? Yam is an aphrodisiac ah?! LOL

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And the best selection of the night had to be the sashimi don 刺身丼 Miya chose. She was mad happy that there was negitoro! It was also the most visually appetizing dish of the night lol.

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15 – Ice Cream

You are allowed to pick from these flavors:

  • Matcha Ice Cream (green tea)
  • Sesame Ice Cream
  • Yuzu Ice Cream
  • Walnut Ice Cream
  • Calpis Ice Cream

It was a waste that Estrella wasn’t there or she would have been super 感动 (moved) by the Calpis ice cream, hahaha. I picked Yuzu, Yang picked Walnut and Miya got Matcha.

Conclusion? Pick the Matcha! or maybe the Sesame or Calpis. Yuzu was refreshing, but I preferred the Matcha which was just right – it didn’t taste powdery like other places’ and the walnut was a little too “american” for a Japanese restaurant.

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We also ordered some ala carte side dishes because my husband was feeling peckish (seriously!?).

Behold, Mentaiko Omelette チーズ・オムレツ…

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And the buttery squid (ika!) バター・いか

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These were great! I’m looking forward to dining here with my dad and bro – they would definitely enjoy dining at Teppei’s!

Bumped into Elaine (sugar73) during dinner, who went with the $60 Omakase – she had a sushi platter which looked like this:

teppei-restaurant-omakase-meal-23

The next most visually appetizing dish after the sashimi don. I wouldn’t have liked it (so much fish!) but I know you guys would appreciate this picture. The picture alone looks so umami, yes? ; D

Take note though, that all the omakase courses on different days will have different dishes and what I ate is just a visual guide as to what you may expect – I had no idea what we were having till the dishes were served to us!

Ended the omakase session with Miya and I requesting Teppei-san to take a picture with us. He was being very typically Japanese with his v^^v and there was even another picture where he 扮鬼脸 behind us – I decided not to upload that, hahaha.

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On the overall, the meal was super value for money – I don’t think you can find anywhere else serving omakase at such great prices – and the 830pm slot was perfect – it meant that you could take your time to eat as there was no one else waiting after that (the 630pm slot had 2 hours to eat and cleared the place by 845pm, while we ate right till 11+ pm (gasp!).

Teppei-san, his other chef Steven and the staff were super friendly as well and dinner was filled with laughter and great conversation. Somehow somewhere it was mentioned that Miya was a great cook and since she happened to have some of her marvelous home cooked food with her (which was actually meant for me to bring home), Teppei and his staff tasted it and gave her a compliment! Teppei-san said he could feel that she cooked from the heart, gave her the thumbs up and his staff mentioned that “很有妈妈的味道”. XD!

The japanese text you see on this post were all contributed by Miyabi. Thank you so much!

Also, thank you Yiwen, for calling me to tell me that there were available slots! Much appreciated. Quick, call them up and make your appointment now!

Teppei Japanese Restaurant

1 Tras Link
#01-1863 Orchid Hotel
Tel: 62227363
Opens for:

Lunch: 12pm – 230pm
Dinner: 6pm – 1030pm

P.S. – I left the place smelling like a walking tempura – please make sure you head home straight to shower or arent going anywhere after dinner if you are visiting this place! Alternatively, drop by and do take-aways (of their ala carte items)- they do allow takeaways during lunch / dinner times, and I think that’s a great option for those who are unable to dine in or get a slot for omakase! I’m totally craving for an onigiri right now.

May 08
0
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shu uemura gloss unlimited swatches, lip looks + giveaway!

Posted by | beauty, Lips, Make Up | 3 Comments

Advertorial

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welcome to my studio. you are the artist. enjoy make-up with all your senses. - Shu Uemura

What sets Shu Uemura apart from their Japanese counterparts would probably be their wide range of colors available, and also the customizable aspect of it – you can mix and match from the beautiful range of colors displayed at their beauty counters into a palettes! shu uemura’s colors are bold and daring, yet gentle, and distinctively Japanese-soft at the same time. Like you know, I love all things Japanese and it’s this distinctive feel (both the simplicity, and attention to details) about Japanese products which I love. Also helps that Shu’s past branding images have been nothing but eye-catchingly adorable, especially their most recent collaboration with ob!

Founded by the legendary makeup artist and beauty pioneer, the late Mr Shu Uemura, the eponymous brand was developed based on its founder’s belief that “colors are like personality, they are infinite”. To affirm shu uemura’s legacy as the color creator extraordinaire, the brand has launched its latest gloss unlimited range in an extensive collection of colors and textures.

shu uemura’s gloss unlimited

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At $33 SGD each, there are 22 fresh, playful colors in the gloss unlimited selection to accompany you on any adventure! shu makes the perfect partner for exploring uncharted beauty territory and precarious fun with 3 different texture formulations, C (clear), S(shimmer), and G(glitter) denoted at the back of the shade code:

  • clear – creamy color with lacquered shine, no pearls
  • shimmer – subtle & delicate sheen
  • glitter – strong sparkles and shimmers with no dullness

and in the 3 different textures with a total of 22 colors, there are 4 special artist modulator shades, a “plus on” which changes your original lip look once it’s applied over!

Glossy lips attract attention. Add a touch of gloss to lips and they become like a flower bloom covered in morning dew along the roadside. Its the perfect way to wake lips up – a breathe of freshness.

- Yuji Asano, shu uemura international chief make-up artist

skin loving formula

“The shu uemura gloss unlimited has a special skin loving formula. It contains a moisture active complex, which has 3 active ingredients with nourishing and protection properties – new lotus flower extract, hyaluronic spheres, and ceramide. The glosses also contain botanical oils – vegetable derived emollient paste and oils – rapeseed, olive, caster and sunflower which provides a strong protective feeling to lips and provides a rich moisturizing sensation. “

new shape memorizing technology

“A brand new combination of flexible polymer and regid resin builds a 3D elastic gel network that locks in transparent paste and oils. Due to this gel network, a surface disturbed by pressure slowly re-creates its smooth and flat surface, which reflects light effectively and gives you dramatic high shine for long wear. “

an innovative applicator

“A circle shaped design traps the suitable amount of gloss for smooth, ample and even coverage with just one stroke. shu uemura’s attention to details sprits made the unique, slanted shape and perfect size tips fit every part of the mouth, even the hard to reach corners for precise application.”

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This ingenious new applicator is easy for every one to use with professional results. You don’t want people to see you open your mouth to apply gloss. To use, you close your mouth, then place the applicator tip into the point where lower and upper lips meet, then slide it from center to the left and right.

- Yuji Asano

I would need an entire dictionary to describe all 22 shades available (in Singapore) to you, so instead of doing that and killing myself over finding 10 ways to describe “red”, I’ve gone on an extensive swatching spree for you guys!

Before we begin, I would like to introduce the 3 shu uemura drawing lip pencils which I’ve used in some of the swatches here to help me achieve certain looks, because my lip color’s a little too strong for the nude and light pinks to show up nicely. Everyone’s lip colors are different so ultimately, I would still advise you to check the colors out at the counters for yourself!

shu uemura’s drawing lip pencils

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They come in 3 colors, namely:

  • nude beige
  • rose beige
  • wine beige

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The lip pencils are soft, creamy and easy to apply. I like rose beige the most, followed by wine beige which is a closer match for my original lip tone. I have a darker upper lip, so both rose beige and wine beige really helps to even it out better. I don’t have a preference for nude beige, because like all nude colors which are lighter than my lip color, they tend to accentuate my lip lines :( it’s not an issue if you don’t look at it up close, but I am quite particular about such things : p if you have smooth lips with no lines, this color will work well for you!

Sophia, shu uemura’s make up trainer recommends that you draw upwards (meaning you start from the edges of you lips and go upwards rather than the cupid’s bow downwards) so that your lips are more “lifted”.

Let’s get on to the gloss colors, shall we?
(colors marked with * are my personal favorites!)

the four artist modulator colors

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briefly:

  • AT30S* – a clear blue with iridescent pink pearl shimmer – tones down reds
  • AT60C* – a neon pink clear gloss, which accentuates a plumped-up lip appearance when used in the middle of the lips
  • AT20G – dazzling gold glitter – use as an overlay on top of colors to brighten up a lip look!
  • AT50C – a bold orange which gives you juicy lips – best for yellow or tanned skin which dulls pink tones.

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Here’s a lip swatch to show you how the artist modulator shades can help change a lip color – I’ve used them over the rouge unlimited lipsticks in CR330 here, a bright coral pink!

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I am especially fond of AT30S, which is a clear blue with a bit of iridescent pink pearl shimmer (barely visible!) and this color not only helps to add a translucent blue sheen (to tone down redness), when used alone or over matte colors, it helps to reduce the appearance of fine lip lines and gives my lips a softer look.

Here are some close up arm swatches of how the colors look like when used over 3 rouge unlimited shades!

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-AT30S-over-rouge-unlimited-OR540-CR330-RD160-swatches-1 shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-AT50C-over-rouge-unlimited-OR540-CR330-RD160-swatches-1 shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-AT60C-over-rouge-unlimited-OR540-CR330-RD160-swatches-1   shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-AT20G-over-rouge-unlimited-OR540-CR330-RD160-swatches-1

the pinks

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There are a total of 6 pink shades, which are so lovely that they make even me (I’m not really a pink person) attracted to it!

  • PK20C – A creamy pink which leans a little lavender to me
  • PK30S* – bright pink with some light shimmers! pretty and wearable shade when applied, makes your lips look healthy!
  • PK40G – glittery hot loud pink! lends a healthy flush on the lips when applied
  • PK50C – extremely sheer, light pink clear coat
  • PK60S* – I forsee this being a hot favorite amongst girls – it is my favorite in the tube!
  • PK70C* – my favorite shade out of the bunch. gives you kissable, juicy lips!

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-PK20C-PK30S-PK40G-PK50C-PK60S-PK70C-swatches-3

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-PK20C-PK30S-PK40G-PK50C-PK60S-PK70C-swatches-4

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-pk20-pk30-pk40-pk50-pk60-pk70-lip-swatches

the corals

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Coral is a marriage of red-pinks and oranges, and are usually extremely wearable – the glosses in coral are not otherwise! In the tubes, they may look a little bright and dauting but once they’re on the lips… gorgeous! 3 colors in this shade range;

  • CR10S -  a light reddish coral, which becomes pink on me and is extremely pretty! lends a healthy pink flush to my lips.
  • CR20S – this one’s a little pearly frosty – I see more shimmer than color
  • CR30G* – another wearable color – more orangey-coral, with gorgeous flecks of glitter, which doesn’t overwhelm the base color of the gloss!

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shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-CR10S-CR20S-CR30G-lip-swatches

the wines

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I was extremely happy when I saw WN20S – the darkest shade of the entire gloss unlimited range proved to be popular at a recent blogger’s party I attended, and it was out of stock before I could grab one for myself T_T

  • WN10S – It seems really frosty in the tube, but on the lips it is pretty wearable and the color shows through the glitter pretty well!
  • WN20S* – A personal favotite. Jelly stain with some shimmer – really gorgeous! It does settle a little into my fine lines, but I don’t care!

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shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-WN10S-WN20S-lip-swatches

the reds

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The reds look really bold in the tube, and RD20C for some reason was calling out for me to pick it… but i didn’t in the end.

  • RD10G – the glitter surprised me because it wasn’t that obvious on the lips – the gold glitter makes it look a little coral-ish, and very wearable despite the bright tube color.
  • RD20C – this is clear gloss which gives you a healthy light red gloss!

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-RD10G-RD20C-swatches-2

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-RD10G-RD20C

the beiges

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-BG10S-BG20G-swatches-1

  • BG10S – leans a little coral, but turns out pretty neutral on the lips as i lined it with drawing lip pencil in rose beige!
  • BG20G – can look a little frosty… just a little!

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-BG10S-BG20G-swatches-2

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-BG10S-BG20G-lip-swatches

the nude, orange & brown

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-ND10S-OR10C-BR10S-swatches-1

These colors were a little on their own – one in each color category so I grouped them together! They are:

  • ND10S – this gives you very pretty nude lips when used over a lip pencil. somehow it turns out pink on me…
  • BR10S – this looks extremely frosty in tube, but the shimmer doesn’t drown out the brown so it’s still pretty alright!
  • OR10C – OR10C is a creamy coat of lip color and is much less translucent AT50C which is also a bright orange.

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-ND10S-OR10C-BR10S-swatches-2

shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited-nd10s-or10c-br10s-lip-swatches

the mix & match lip looks

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Here, I have recreated 3 lip design looks as masterminded by Yuji Asano, international chief make-up artist of shu uemura, and also recreated a fourth, the ombre lip look which I’ve been intending to do for quite some time!

The first one proved to be really popular amongst the friends I’ve shown before this post was done up – the colors are really sweet and pink!

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And the last look, the ombre doll lips, was created with:

  • shu uemura drawing lip pencil in nude beige
  • shu uemura gloss unlimited in WN20S
  • shu uemura gloss unlimited in AT30S

ombre-lips-with-shu-uemura-gloss-unlimited

I’ve always wanted to recreate this look after seeing so many uzzlang girls do it, but mainly because it is a very dolfie lip look!

doll image from dreamofdoll.com ; D

doll image from dreamofdoll.com ; D

It is extremely wearable – just that I didn’t dare to apply too many glosses in fear of smudging the wine color all over – I dabbed the glosses on instead! Probably could have gone for a second coat or applied AT30S before WN20S. shu-uemura-unlimited-gloss-look-ombre-lips-6

Interested in knowing how to created the first 3 looks? Or a live demo? Trying out all 22 colors to find out which ones suit you?

pucker up with shu uemura at their launch party in Tangs Orchard on 10th May, 2013!

tangs post

And to reward all of you for sticking with me till the end of this post… ; D

Giveaway!

For Local (Singaporean) readers


Simply like Shu Uemura on their facebook page and stand to win your own Shu Uemura Gloss Unlimited in PK60S!

  • Contest joining via Rafflecopter Widget below
  • There will only be one winner.
  • Liking Shu Uemura’s fb page is mandatory
  • You will receive an extra entry if you like my facebook page too, but that is optional
  • Contest ends 22nd May 2013 12mn.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can find a list of Shu Uemura’s retailers here, on their website!

Also, do check out the makeup look which Makeup Box has created on her blog with WN20S & PK70C!

May 08
2
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Multi Color Streaks x Grey Ash-Brown hair by Salon Vim!

Posted by | beauty, Hair | 2 Comments

I actually walked into Salon Vim for my appointment with Stephanie not knowing what I wanted. I think I’ve just about tried out almost every color and I told Stephanie, my stylist in 313 that I would just leave it to her to decide for me this time round.

And some hours later…

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Yes, my “good friends” came back to visit me… all at one shot in the form of multi colored streaks on a ash grey-brown base! : D

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Hello there, Pink, Purple, & Turquoise!!! (Blue is missing but I guess that can be represented by turquoise? The green isn’t really that green IRL, it’s more blue-green!)

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Pretty happy to have them back, actually! ; D

And before this dye job, I actually went for their latest treatment in the salon, the Arimino Privy treatment, which promises to give your hair intense moisture and a head of shiny, silky smooth hair!

And pair it with the Steampod, which has become my favorite hair straightening apparatus in the salon…

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This is the Salon Version of the Steampod, which is a collaboration between L’Oreal and Rowenta (more well known for their household appliances!) – the result is a steam straightener which works so wonderfully well and gives you frizz FREE hair even in this terribly humid weather. I’m serious. I didn’t wash my hair for the next 3 days and it stayed incredibly SMOOTH throughout. The steampod locks all the moisture in and that’s why your hair stays frizz free.

I’m in love with this thing. In fact I’m planning to beg L’Oreal Singapore to bring the home version of this in. Please? Hahaha. It would make my hair straightening so much easier and painless! I’m ready to throw out my babyliss if I can get my hands on the home version of this in Singapore!  Dear L’Oreal Professionnel, if you’re reading this, please consider my plea. I’ll even do a video tutorial if you do bring it in, hahaha.

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I swear to god that this machine really gave me studio shoot ready hair (save for a few baby hairs on top)!

If you’ve seen me with my naturally dried hair before (I have thick, curly / wavy hair – all natural) you would know how much difference the arimino treatment + steampod makes!

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If you’re wondering what I used to help me tide over not washing my hair for 3 days (hahaha) – I used Redken’s Powder Refresh 01, a dry shampoo. You know its good when I use up A BOTTLE A MONTH. I was almost paiseh to ask Stephanie for it hahaha.

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So if your hair needs a moisture fix this month, do head down to Salon Vim and request for the Arimino Caretrico Privy treatment!

Let me tell you more about the promotion this month – there’s a 30% off selected hair treatments, and it’s valid for either the Arimino Privy treatment or the Redken Chemistry Cocktail hair treatment. You just have to be either a member, or a reader of my blog! Quote “Evonne” to my hairstylist or the receptionist for that 30% off!

And to sweeten the deal, the price of the treatment is capped at $160 BEFORE discount, for the longest and thickest of all hairs. That would mean it’s gonna be $112 max AFTER DISCOUNT. Hello, that’s a really good deal!

arimino-portrait final s

If you’re already picking up the phone to make an appointment with the Salon, please remember to ask for Stephanie Yeo, my beloved stylist! She’s positioned at the 313 branch. Take note though, if you’re trying to make an appointment between 13th – 24th May – Salon Vim 313 will be closed temporarily for renovations, but business carries on as usual over at their Bugis branch, which spans 2 over storeys, and has their own toilet in-salon, which is pretty convenient and less embarrassing when you need to visit the ladies’ mid-session.

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Call now ah, the promo ends 1st June, 2013!

** this post was written in a more light hearted tone – just less braincells consuming lah, me not born literary genius you know? ; p **

May 06
0

My Facial Experience with Bella Skin Care

Posted by | beauty, Facials & Treatments | 9 Comments

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Have you heard of Bella Skin Care? To be honest, I only knew about Bella Skin Care a few years ago when I was doing some online ad banners for them (not directly, though) so this time round when I was invited to receive a facial from them, I was surprised to learn that they have been established since 1982! Wah… that’s older than I am! That means you can be sure that they won’t be closing down any time soon (choy!) as they’re pretty established!

Bella Skin Care has over 2 decades of experience in providing professional skin care solutions, and they have over 30 branches alltogether in Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Brunei!

In Singapore, Bella Skin Care has outlets in 5 convenient locations all over Singapore – Orchard, Marina Square, Jurong Point, Tampines, and NEX Mall. I was invited to the branch in Orchard, located in International Building (just next to Isetan Scotts!).

Rows of their products on display!

Rows of their products on display!

Cosy corner with a super comfortable sofa while you're waiting, with plentiful of magazines. And may I add, a wonderful aromatic scent lingers around the waiting area, relaxing you before your session begins!

Cosy corner with a super comfortable sofa while you’re waiting, with plentiful of magazines. And may I add, a wonderful aromatic scent lingers around the waiting area, relaxing you before your session begins!

I was greeted by their friendly staff, and Ginny, who was a consultant, had me blown over. Her skin was so incredibly smooth and flawless that it was unbelievable. I wanted to tell her “TAKE ALL MY MONEY!” – but we had to get my skin checked out before she could let me know what I could do to improve my skin condition.

Don’t say I never warn you first. Image below is EXTREMELY DISTURBING.

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*deng deng deng*

An extremely disturbing image of the clogged pores on my nose. YIKES. If this isn't disturbing, I don't know what will be. I was so distraught by that image - I wanted to get all that junk out immediately!

An extremely disturbing image of the clogged pores on my nose. YIKES.
If this isn’t disturbing, I don’t know what will be. I was so distraught by that image – I wanted to get all that junk out immediately!

After the review, Ginny told me that my complexion was alright – just some clogged pores, plus uneven and dull skin tone, especially around the lower half of the face. I was told that the treatment most suitable for me was their Pure Blossom Plus Treatment, which will provide my face with intense hydration and also help to brighten up the areas which were dark (the area around my mouth, below my nose & chin area).

The treatment rooms were cozy and comfy, and there was a locker for you to place all your stuff while you’re relaxing away (possibly into dreamland!)

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Handed a robe to change, the usual, and then got ready for my facial! Before we started, I told the therapist not to bun up my hair too tightly – I needed to attend an event after that and didn’t want crazy hair! She very nicely acceded to my request and I walked out of the facial with my hair still nice! ; )

Bella Skin Care – Pure Blossom Plus Treatment

More information about the treatment

Benefits of the Pure Blossom Plus Treatment

  • Brightens skin color due to increased cellular energy
  • Rejuvenates & improves skin clarity
  • Prevents Premature skin aging
  • Improves & maintains skin elasticity & firmness
  • Oxygenates & revitalizes the skin
  • Calming effect for blotchy or sunburnt skin
  • Improves hydration – softens lines & wrinkles
  • Fresh & relaxing floral aromatic treatment relaxes you

I was first welcomed with a light facial massage – which the therapist told me was their “welcome” massage – with some aromatherapy oil to relax me.

After that was over, she cleansed my face with a gentle make up remover + a gentle exfoliating scrub to remove dead skin cells. Scrub smells a little like oatmeal, and was gentle enough for me.

Next came extraction. I usually dread this, because I have a low tolerance of pain, but the therapist was very gentle with me, and guess what I was happiest with? SHE GOT MY STUBBORN MILIA SEEDS OUT!!! Milia seeds are oil clogs on your face, and there usually isn’t a way to get rid of them – you can squeeze a pimple, but you can never extract milia seeds on your own because they are usually around the delicate eye area.

I was SOOOOOOOO glad to have them remove! I know some facial places don’t do milia seed removals – weird as it sounds, I’ve come across those and the milia seeds have been on my face since 2 years ago. Super happy when I put on make up now because I don’t see them anymore!

After the milia seed removal, I was given a rose infusion with pulverizer – basically it is a face mist, which smells really good and is supposed to moisturize your skin!

That was followed by by the Pure Blossom Serum, which contains CoEnzyme Q10 as a key ingredient – it is a chemical compound which helps with metabolism. A co-enzyme can bond with different enzymes to help them do their job, and one Co-Enzyme Q10 is one of them. It plays a significant role in increasing the energy production in cells, boosting skin repair and regeneration, and is an excellent anti-oxidant!

Some where in-between, I was treated to a paraffin hand wax! I was surprised by this and the therapist informed me that this is usually included for every facial – and I was only happy to receive it, because my hands gets cold easily and the warmth was more than welcomed!

Hand wax!

Hand wax! This also stops me from fiddling with my phone, much as I wanted to. It kind of forced me to relax, haha.

One of the last two steps was the mask. Ahhh, the mask. This is when you would usually fall asleep with your mouth agape till you realize you’re in a facial. Hehe.

The Pure Blossom Mask contains Vitamin C & Glycolic Acid – Vitamin C has been long considered one of the most important anti-oxidants for the skin, renowned for its ability to prevent UV damage. The stable Vitamin C formulation not only helps to tighten and detoxify the skin, it also improves elasticity and has the ability to heal the skin, leaving you with a youthful and radiant complexion. With Glycolic Acid, the combo helps protect against UVA/UVB rays, preventing premature aging and also stimulating collagen production below the skin surface. Glycolic Acid also works to slough off the rough outer skin layer, giving you a brighter complexion after the dead skin cells have been removed!

The final step? Was the removal of the hand wax… and also a “goodbye” massage! You get a hand massage, followed by some kneading and thumping on your back which was much appreciated – it woke me up and I felt more awake – just nice for my event later!

Before & After Bella Skin Treatment - you can see that my face is less dull, the red spots are less angry and of course you can't see it but my milia seeds are gone! *happy dance*

Before & After Bella Skin Care’s Treatment – you can see that my face is less dull, the red spots are less angry and of course you can’t see it but my milia seeds are gone! *happy dance*

Thank you so much, Bella Skin Care!

Promotional offer for readers!

Bella Skin Care has kindly offered all readers a promotional price to try out the same treatment I’ve done! The promotion runs from now till end June, and if you use this voucher, you only pay S$98 for the facial instead of the U.P. of S$168! That’s a whooping $70 SGD saved. I could buy like 16 packets of Jellybeans with that. Or 18 Laduree Macarons. Ahem.

Print out this voucher to redeem your facial treatment at a promotional price of $98!

Print out this voucher to redeem your facial treatment at a promotional price of $98!

Have dull, clogged skin? Go for a facial! This month, why don’t you give Bella Skin Care a try? ; )

Bella Skin Care Outlets

Singapore’s 5 Outlets

For appointments, call 1800-777-222!

Orchard

360 Orchard Road, #08-06 International Building Singapore 238869

Marina Square

6 Raffles Boulevard, #03-153 Marina Square Singapore 039594

Jurong Point

1 Jurong West Central 2, B1-60/61 Jurong Point Singapore 648886

Tampines

300 Tampines Avenue 5, #01-04 NTUC Income Tampines Junction Singapore 529653

NEX Mall

23 Serangoon Central, #B1-52 Nex Mall Singapore 556083

You can view a detailed list of the outlets’ opening hours on Bella Skin Care’s website here! Also, visit them on their Facebook Page to get updates about their promotional offers and more!

What people say about Bella Skin Care…

In case you’re doubtful of my words as this is an advertorial – I asked around before agreeing to this post, and I realized that two of my closer friends actually have packages with Bella Skin Care!

Here are some questions I’ve asked and read their answers to find out more about Bella Skin Care!

1. How did you find out about Bella Skin Solutions, and what made you try it?

Estrella: I tried Bella Skin Care when there was a credit card offer, back in 2007 or 2008. Fann Wong was endorsing them then!
Magdalyn: Through their ad campaign with Fann Wong some time ago.

2. Which outlet do you go to, and which therapist do you recommend? Did you try a few different therapists before settling for the therapist you’re using now?

Estrella: Yes I tried a different therapist each time before picking a favorite therapist previously. She has since left Bella Skin Care, and I’m still in the midst of finding another therapist I like!
Magdalyn: I go to the one at International Building. Yes, do keep an open mind and try out different therapists until you find someone you like.

3. How long have you been going to Bella Skin Care Solutions, and what are the marked changes you’ve seen in your skin?

Estrella: I’ve been going to them for more than six years!
Magdalyn: About 2.5 years. Skin is less oily, less prone to breakouts. Pores are slightly smaller too.

4. What treatments do you usually do, and how do you find it?

Estrella: I go for their basic facial package. It’s very nice because it also includes a paraffin hand treatment and head and shoulder massage.
Magdalyn: I’m on my third package with Bella, and I go for their Hydrating facial and CVT light treatments.

5. Is it easy to get an appointment, and what do you think of their prices?

Estrella: It’s very easy to get an appointment. I can just book my next appointment after every session. I think the prices are reasonable for a working adult.
Magdalyn: My therapist is very popular, but it’s relatively easy if I’m not picky. Usually make appointments one month apart so I can still generally get the slot I want.
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