[Review + Video Tutorial] Hello Kitty Sanrio Makeup Collection

Hello Dblchinis!

Haven't been able to blog much last week but I'm going to kick start this post with a video makeup tutorial embedded from my pretty much dead Youtube Channel. I know is almost been half a year since I uploaded another video but trust me, now that I have more time I'm going to keep up my motivation for beauty vlogging.
You probably noticed my latest video (just right below) carries better quality in terms of both visual and video editing (of course not as good as the veterans in the youtube sphere), all thanks to my Sony NEX-F3 and my new Macbook I'm able to improvise myself to the next level. I dunno when will I start doing voice over, still pretty hesitant about it for now. I'm just not confident enough but guess I'll try it out somehow.

A while ago, Starasia decides to send me some Hello Kitty Sanrio makeup for review. At first I was like, Hello kitty? are you kidding me? All these children play masa masa thing can meh, besides I used to be a kitty hater. Ok that will be another story to tell.

I was pretty hesitant but after seeing the array of colours they brought in, I decide is worth a try even if (I was preparing for the worse) the pigments weren't as impressive.
Plus it might garner some traffic to my blog since this mouthless kitty created a worldwide phenomena with the ladies, young and old, and some uncles. Remember the times where these rabid fans created a chaotic toy riot over at Mcdonalds in 2000? I duno how it happened (read here) but it triggered my dislike for Hello Kitty. I WANT WORLD PEACE.

To be honest, after swatching the eyeshadows and literally painting these colours on my eyes, I found myself slowly steering back to the likes of Hello Kitty. I was even desperately searching for the new released of Hello Kitty printed toilet rolls which was out of stock islandwide, to the point where I felt obligated not to wipe my ass until I see the next toilet roll in view.

Ok, think I completely went off track.
 Let go back to this look which I totally adore because it was inspired by Maryam Maquillage 'Feline Fatale' smokey eye look, I wanted to recreate my very own with shades of greens that was sent to me.

You probably noticed I've lined 1 of my eyes thicker than the other, the reason is very simple. My right eye is much smaller than the left with regards to both the size as well as the crease. The above picture is showing the opposite direction, so my supposedly left is your right and vice versa. Hope you get it.

I've deepen the outer socket with a little help of black combined with an intense green, this way it gives me the needed dimension I yearn for.
I was wrong about the pigments, they are excellent stuff, the colours payoff is mega awesome and Maybelline HyperCosmos duo quads eyeshadow is not even comparable to these Sanrio duos. 
I have to say Kitty win hands down. 
What I absolutely love love love about Hello Kitty Sanrio Makeup is their Crayon Yeux Intense Khol eye pencil, it glides on like a breeze and I swear this is absolutely true. 
However, one thing that is deem unsatisfactory is that this eye pencil is not smudge proof, it stains my lower lid so badly I look like a heart-broken teenager at the end of the day. The only solution I could do to minimise the cross staining is to pat small coats of eyeshadow on the area where the liner is drawn, this way a protective layer is then form so transferring is less likely to happen. 

Products Used:

Eyes

Hello kitty Ombre A Paupieres Eyeshadow -Nor D'enfer (HK01 -01)

Hello Kitty Ombres A Pauieres Eyeshadows -Duo Lemon Green (HK00-03)

Hello Kitty Ombres A Pauieres Eyeshadows -Duo Bleu Forever (HK00-14)

Hello Kitty Crayon Yeux Intense Khol- vert fjord (HK0509)

Cheeks

Hello Kitty Blush Florence (KH10-02)

Lips

Hello Kitty RAL Mate & Kiss Pondichery (HK08-05)

Hope you like my review!

♥Dblchin

Please Thumbs up for my page :D

*Products are sponsored, opinions are my own.
*Hello Kitty Sanrio Makeup Collection is available at all major watsons stores

[Review] 3D SkinTech Treatment with Estetica

With 33 years of long-standing history, I'm sure many of you have heard of the well acclaimed one-stop beauty station, 'Estetica'.

I was invited for a facial session last week located at Serangoon NEX (#02-37).
Greeted by the luxurious yet clean cut setting of the outlet, the interior was decked mostly in off-white shade and soothing soft light with a tinge of purple romance.
 Hmm, sexy and sultry but why purple?
It all came to light when Diana, the marketing manager gives an insight of the company. Purple's the favourite colour of Estetica's founder Maggie Png which eventually, needless to say became their corporate colour for Estetica.

While waiting for my consultant Alice to get ready, I sat on this slightly bended oblong sofa which happens to be in the spectrum of purple as well.

The corporate colour has taken itself to another level, tier of products displayed within the purple box definitely makes the shelf more attractive. 

A small shot of tea was served upon the start of my consultation.

After a brief exchange of self-introduction, to understand my skin condition further, Alice passed me a form with simple Q and A to fill in. I believed this is the Standard Procedure for first timers aka new clients, this way the therapist can address the skin condition better and customize a suitable facial treatment for the receiver.
Say for example certain products should be avoided if client is suffering from skin allergy or sensitivity. Take my case, I'm a chronic sufferer of Eczema thus my skin should be mildly handled and use of certain products should avoided to further trigger the condition.
 To further implicate my poorly built skin, I have Spider Veins (the correct term should be ‘broken capillaries’ but ‘spider veins’ might be more easily understood) all over my cheeks (slightly concentrated near lower cheeks and usually this happens around the legs) which needs to be taken extra care of, lesser pressure the better.

 Aside from filling up forms and discussing about my skin condition, Alice actually kick started my pre-treatment magnified to a level 99 scan. This is supposedly the condition of a 'Healthy' glowing skin and...unfortunately this is not part my face. This is the part where the sun don't really shine (not my genitals either), have you guess it?

Yes is my forearm! The skin around this area is so healthy you could barely believe your eyes.
OK how do we tell?
Notice the lines are pretty defined and uniformed, looks like little boxes if you see from afar. The deeper the groove, the healthier the skin.


On the contrary when Alice used the device on my face, I immediately spotted enlarge spots that felt like freckles which are unlikely to be, freckles.
Let me tell you what these are, they are my most dreaded nemesis,
'Blackheads'.
 Several images of these congested pores are presented to me at different areas of my face: inner cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. My gawd, an absolutely nightmare to witness this...

After analysing my condition, Alice then proceeds to customise a facial package suited for my skin.
Aside from trying our their latest 3D Skin Tech Treatment, I will also be receiving the following (in no particular order) from this Brillage Radiance Facial :

• Cleansing
• Steaming
• Extraction
• 3D Skin Tech
• Therapeutic Face and Shoulder Massage
• Mask

I was then led to a dim treatment room to begin my session. 

Here's a full frontal shot of Alice and me.

Here I'm lying comfortably in Estetica's treatment room, there is something different about this if you haven't notice. The secret lies within the bed.

This latex memory mattress beneath me could be customised to my preferred high and angle at every section with its 3 silent hydraulic engines. Working closely with chiropractors and industry experts, Estetica developed a "Zero-Gravitiy" mattress that moulds the contour of my sleeping form distributing my body weight evenly. No doubt why I could receive total relaxation during treatment.

Alice started with basic cleansing and when is all clean and ready, she then set me under a steaming machine to enlarge my pores before extraction.
I have to go through a slightly warm mist for approximately 5 to 10 mins during this process, Alice would then momentarily tap on my skin, 'testing' out the texture to see if the pores are ready for extraction. 

I cannot deny the fact that every extraction hurts but I'm glad mine was minimised to a tolerable level this time round, it came to a point that my skin got immune to the pain that I was almost drifting in and out of sleep.

Unbelievable amount of yucky substance from my congested pores.

After Using ActivCalm Ultra-Calm Serum (which I will be bringing home for review), Alice proceeds to use a device on my cheeks which feels pretty icy!

This is the part when I got totally Zonked out, this segment really feels pacifying I didn't even know that Diana was still documenting my process, she handed me a few pictures (from my camera) so I could choose the best out of the lot. 

Due to my hectic schedule, I haven't had time to head down for my regular massage session for the longest time.
This facial is like killing 3, 4 or 5 birds with one stone, I'm so looking forward to getting my muscles pinched!

And now is time for mask. 

You know your therapist is awesome when she takes care of not only your face but your neck as well.
The mask is made of organic nano grade fibres to help deliver and lock the treatment essence into the deepest layers of my skin. That’s why I can see immediate results after my treatment.

Me admiring myself in the mirror after witnessing how fair and radiant I look immediately upon removing the mask. 

Alice knew my concern about having double chin and fine lines on my neck, so she decides to give me a bonus treatment to specially target the problem area.

Although there is a significant appearance of slight redness around my neck due to my skin's sensitivity (which will subside in a day or so), the targeted area seems to flatten magically. If you look at the above picture (centre), usually this angle is totally unflattering and the double shows up pretty obvious but this case there is no obvious double chin!
This treatment must've removed the unwanted water retention and stimulated away a small amount of fatty tissue!

Conclusion:
This is how I look after treatment, despite my round-shaped face which can only be corrected with surgery, my skin actually looks smooth and clear.
I can feel the tightness of my pores and when I put my hands on my chubby cheeks, it feels less puffy and bloated. I believe Alice has flushed out most of my water retention via the lymph drainage via the massage I've received earlier . The best feeling of all is having less double chin than the usual self.
Alice also give a truckload of pointers to me on how to reduce puffiness by minimising water intake after 8pm, eating too much meat might be the cause of muscle tension and how to reduce sensitivity by partially replacing serum with moisturiser, etc.
Overall, I've learnt a lot more about myself during this 1.5hours session and I'm definitely thankful for that!


Reader's Special!
As part of Estetica's 33rd anniversary, they are offering a $33 trial price for their signature 3D Skin Tech Brillage Radiance Facial (U.P. $168). Visit here to sign up for first trial session!

Estetica’s 8 outlets are conveniently located throughout Singapore. Visit esteticabeauty.com to find out more or join their Facebook page www.facebook.com/esteticabeautysg for regular updates and promotions!

A closing appearance of Diana, who has been the documenter of this post.
Thanks for helping me with all the photo-taking and answering to my queries!

♥Dblchin

Please Thumbs up for my page :D

*This is a Sponsored Advertorial

Summer Ombre Gelish at Millys (Nails)

Now that Summer has decided to sweat the buckets out of us, I think is time I show how much joy I can make out in such a sticky weather. 

(images from Google search)
I decided is time I head for an nail overhaul this season.

Having no idea in mind, I begun collating my Summer inspirations from all over the web.
Apparently I wanted everything to happen; ombres, sectioning, gradients with many many pinks! I'm so overwhelmed by the amount of elements I wanted to achieve it was almost impossible to make up my mind until...
I saw what my (god) Sis-in-law wore on her nails. Pardon the graininess, my phone quality gets real bad when the skies darkens.

She had on this subtle pink gradient that couldn't possibly to go wrong under any circumstances.
So I decided that's it, it'll be my next nail colour for the next 1 month or so.

I showed my Manicurist Corine the above picture and she came up with her very own version of pinks!

To be honest, I'm a huge fan of blings, jewellery, 3D nails art but this time round I decided to go easy on that and went with glitters instead. For now I'll be keeping all 10 fingernails short and neat until I've completed my makeup course. Also neater nails makes me feel less retarded when dealing with household chores, and yes I cook and clean sometimes.

Corine started with a basic nude pink gelish coat all over my nail bed, then a 2 coats of pastel pink goes onto the centre.  Lastly, she used a stronger much noticeable pink at the tip giving it a slight soft bam. The tiny streaks you seen there are created by a slick brush tip, very creative indeed!
Due to the various techniques different manicurists used, when you compare both the abov nail pictures they actually looked very similar yet unique in their own way!

After heading down to Millys for countless times (thought not as frequent as Elaine, you should see her nails they are amazing!) I still don't get a chance to bump into Milly. But When you least expect something, it'll magically appear in front of you!
Forgive me for slouching which I don't even understand y, my height is already not helping with the posture.

we caught up with a mountain of stories, gossips and laughter even for a short session.

Thanks Corine and hope to c you again Milly!

Outlets to visit at your convenience:

Milly's at Far East Plaza
14 Scotts Road #03-131
Singapore 228213
Tel: 67376723
Operating Hours : 11am - 10pm (Mon - Sun)

Milly's at Bugis
Bugis Village Extension,
Level 2 @ Bom Bom street.
Tel: 63384137
Operating Hours : 11am - 10pm (Mon - Sun)
http://www.millys.org/
https://www.facebook.com/millys.beauty

♥Dblchin

Please Thumbs up for my page :D

*This is a sponsored treatment

LOTD with Urban Decay Vice Palette

Hello Dblchinis,

Is been a while I posted a Look of the day #LOTD photo, ok aside from part 2 of Geo Lens where I showcased more of the fancy lens than eye makeup, this time round I'm concentrating on the eyeshadow colours instead. 

I managed to do pull off a blue smokey-eyed using the Urban Decay Vice Palette (available at sephora), below are the colours that I've use:
 (image credited to makeupandbeautyblog.com edited by me)

Pior to application of eyeshadow, I already primed my eyes with a Korean brand Primer you can use any eye primer that you are comfortable with as long as it shows the intensity of the eyeshadow colours.
I managed to incorporate a few of my favourite shades from this palette, gold (Blitz), Turquoise (Unhinged) and Taupe (Echo Beach) to put the look together.

Other than the usual intensifying of the outer V with Black (Black Magnet) and Silver (Armour) I managed to achieve a subtle smokey effect by highlighting below the brown bone with a light beige colour (Anonymous) also giving it a clean finished by sweeping this colour down to where it hits the eye socket.



For my Top lash I'm using Eyemazing Natural Brown No.103.
For Bottom lash I'm using Brigitte Romantic Eyelash in No.6 Flare which I had already chopped them up in small sections for easy adhesive.
Both could be found in Watsons and Guardian respectively.
Geo Lens are available at Kimmy's website which could be found here

I pretty much enjoyed this look except it gets a little muddy at the end of the day, I hope you enjoy it too!

♥Dblchin

Please Thumbs up for my page :D

[Guest Post] Where to Find Summer Style Inspiration

Shopping for a new season wardrobe can be an overwhelming task. With new trends coming thick and fast, it can be difficult to get to grips with the latest must haves, and what will work for your body and lifestyle.

The last thing you want is to panic buy at the first sign of sunshine, wasting money on new clothes that aren’t right for you. Smart stylistas spend some time pre-shopping spree, looking up the latest trends and deciding which ones to invest in. This results in a far more co-ordinated wardrobe than taking a scatter gun approach to buying up the new season styles.

But where should you look for summer style inspiration?

Style Blogs

Blogging is big business, with endless fashion and style blogs to be found online. The trick is whittling them down to find style blogs that are relevant to you.

While reading a high end blog when you’re on a budget can still give you some good ideas, far more useful is a women’s clothes blog that features affordable and accessible items that are easy for you to pick up with minimum effort.

Have a look at the George at ASDA women’s clothes blog – Style File. Not only will it show you what’s new, it also puts together easy outfits for every occasion, so you have a ready made shopping list at your fingertips. What’s more, all items featured can be picked up easily and affordably at George at ASDA online, or in store – whatever works best for you!

Fashion Mags

Fashion mags can be a great source of inspiration, with more and more affordable alternatives hitting the newstands, such as Look and Grazia. Featuring a good mix of high street and high end purchases, these mags are perfect if you can afford to look at various price points.

Alternatively, most celebrity magazines – Now and Reveal, for example – have a style section featuring affordable brands and labels.

More and more fashion ranges are bringing out their own mags, which might either be sent out to you by post or be available to pick up instore.

Celebrity Style

Celebrity mags are also great for checking out what those in the public eye are wearing. As celebrities often have stylists to ensure that their outfits work amazingly well together, what they are wearing can give you some good ideas for your own budget versions.

TV Shows

Gok is the king of the fashion TV show, but daytime shows like This Morning also have useful fashion segments that will show you the latest trends and how to wear them. If you can’t catch the show, have a look at the style and beauty section online for highlights.

Hit the Shops

Shops spend a lot of money on their window and in store displays, to make sure that the items work perfectly together. Take advantage and make notes for an easy style that someone else has put the effort into!

It’s easy to find style inspiration, from fashion blogs to celebrity outfits. A few hours spent browsing to get a good idea of the new season’s trends will pay off with a summer wardrobe that works – with not a single panic buy to be found!

*This is a Guest Post