Monday, June 25, 2012 :: Heroine Make makeup review


For the past 2 weeks, I have been wanting to sit down to blog this entry as this post contains a few products which I would love to share with you! After using them for 3 weeks now, I am a convert for some of the products below and specially, its eyeliner ;) 

I am not going to list out all products which I was given. I am only going to share the ones which I find is worth sharing and worth splurging ;) 

To be dead honest, before I attended the bloggers' event for Heroine Make makeup products, I never once used any of the brand's products even though I seen them often in Watsons. I was never enticed enough by the cutesy packaging  to try out their products. Guess I am not a fan of these cute, anime-like marketing.
I rarely purchase those Japanese makeup products in Watsons except Dollywink lashes. 
That aside, I have learnt not to judge the quality of the product by its packaging after this event. 

You will see why. 

For this event, we were asked to wear minimal eye makeup as there would be a hands-on session. 
I was greeted with an array of products on the table. 


Turned up at the event with my foundation on, eyebrows drawn darker than usual so it takes the attention away from my bare eyes, light blusher and a subtle tight-lining of my eyes with Maybelline's Hyperliner. 

This is the foundation powder which I tested on my face.

I rate this foundation 7.5/10!
Which is a pretty good rating I am giving since I am quite the bitch when it comes to base products. 
The downside is, upon applying more than 2 layers on my skin, it goes on my face looking abit cakey. So I suggest powdering only 1 layer onto your face if you are going to try out this foundation. 
The coverage for 1-time powdering was enough to cover the redness around my nose areas. FYI, my nose area can get pretty red at the sides so I usually buy specific foundation with good coverage and goes on smoothly on my skin without looking too cakey. So this foundation is pretty decent on my skin, I would say.
You can see the powder puff is provided in the foundation case (as below). Using the powder puff would definitely provide better coverage than a brush. For those who do not like too much foundation on the face, I recommend using a brush to dust on this Smooth Cover Powder foundation instead of its powder puff.

On oil control, it can last up to approx 4 hours which is nottt too bad. I have combination/normal skin which I believe most of us are! (No one has perfect skin!) So the max I can go with this powder is about 4 hours before I need to do touching up. 

Heroine Make mascaras are quite the bomb haha. You will see from my photos below. 


I am a convert to Heroine Make eyeliner. The purple pen which I am holding on to in the photo below is the eyeliner which I totally fell in love with. On my first use, I was impressed by the pen tip and the pigmentation of the black ink. 
I highly recommend this eyeliner for beginners as the Japanese style fine tip brush is really hard to make mistakes with. It is so fine and the control of the flow of liquid out of the tip is extremely miraculous.
I did not get a clear photo of this item as I was too engrossed in examining the details/ingredients upon my first application haha. 
I rate this eyeliner 8.5/10 as I find it does not last as long as it promises. Granted that it is waterproof as stated and DO NOT smudge easily, I realized the liner near my tear ducts always fade away the fastest. And I need a touch up in like..3 hours time. Can someone tell me why? Haha. 
Other than that, I find no fault with this eyeliner and will be getting my 2nd one really soon :) 

With Heroine Make foundation and eyeliner.
At my first stroke application, the pigmentation of the eyeliner is as dark as it is seen in the photo below. For the record, I drew on my eyeliner in like...10 seconds which is really fast compared to using a separate brush when applying Mac/Bobbi Brown gel eyeliners (they come in a pot instead). 

A close up on the eyeliner drawn

This photo below was taken AFTER I put on 3 coats of the mascara (photos of the mascara above). 
It delivers what it promised with bold lengthening effect, keeping curls in place for the entire day and waterproof. 
However, on the aspect of clump free glossy lashes, I beg to differ. It adds volume to each coat and by the time I get to the third coat, it can get pretty clumpy and I had to quickly separate my lashes before it gets too ugly looking when it dries up. 
For that, I am rating this mascara a 7/10. 

With extremely strong sunlight streaming in from the window, I snapped a frontal hoping to capture how caked up my face looks after 2-3 layers of the Smooth Cover Powder foundation. 

My face actually looks really cakey over here.
Nonetheless, it is a pretty good end product with the eyeliner making my eyes look bigger and definitely sharper thanks to the extreme fine tip, a prettier set of peepers with natural eyelashes enhanced by microfibers (in the mascara) giving me a wide-eyed preppy look and the Smooth Cover Powder foundation for smoothening out my face making my pores look less obvious. 



I have been asked a number of times what eyeliner I am using so this post should answer your queries! :) 
I mentioned that I have been a convert for Heroine Make eyeliner and for the below photos, I have been drawing my eyes effortlessly these days with it. I like to extend and flick my eyeliner upwards to my temples at the end instead of a normal wing tip. This is to make my eyes "smile" when I smile haha. My eyes get really small when I smile widely or laugh so with the extended wing tip, it will appear as though my eyes are smiling when they are shut. PS: This is my secret tip! 

And using Heroine Make fine tip eyeliner, it makes the tip look really defined. A plus point which won me over :) 

Remember I mentioned above that the eyeliner do not last more than 3 hours for me although the pigmentation is really strong? Refer to the centre of my eye - this is what I meant. Additionally, you can see the line near my tear duct is fading off as well. However, it does not smudge so I don't know where the color went too haha. Prolly into my eye! 

Posted this photo on my instagram few weeks back. Also used the Heroine Make eyeliner to line my eyes.



Please let me know if you are also a convert to Heroine Make eyeliner after using it! It amazed me and I am sure it will for you too! ;) 

Here's a great start to a new week! Cheers! <3


With Love,
Tricia

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Monday, June 18, 2012 :: Vainpot Private Sale & VGY C96 sneakies!


Did you drop by for Vainpot's Private Sale on 30 June? 
Thank you so much if you did! :) 

We spent sleepless nights in there preparing for more than 100 new designs in the shop, shifting furnitures, garment steaming, cleaning (gasp) and so much more! 

Here are some of the behind-the-scene shots late into the night.

The shop in a horrible state of mess. I don't even clean my own room. Thinking back, I really don't know how we managed through. It had to be our two lovely angels who gave us so much support and help. We are too blessed indeed to have found them through countless interviews! :*) 

Don't know how they manage smiles in such adversity haha. Geez, look at my midnight towering bun in the mirror.

How Matt managed such a clean look at midnight in a dusty working environment still amaze me today.

On the day itself.
Our pretty shop just minutes before the private sale!



Gearing up with a quick dinner before doors are open! My trusty partner, Matt from MMTP, Vi & Eve :*)
Can never be thankful enough to have them in my life. 

My darling angel, Yvonne, who have even taken leave from her full-time job to help us out :*) 

Pretty Vivian who can go on without sleep for a few days!






I am looking forward to a Vainpot company retreat with the angels this end June!
We all deserve it for working so hard together! :)


* *

To get things going before I launch a new collection this week, here are some unedited behind-the-scene/over-exposed photos for VGY C96.
Won't be using these photos in the collection as they are over-exposed no thanks to the scorching sun. We all went home 1 shade darker that eventful day :(


My hair looks stunning here in ombre red, doesn't it? In this photo, this is the true bright red color I had on me during the first 2 weeks of dying my hair. The color is absolutely stunning IRL. Someone even walked up to me at 313 HMV asking me where I did my hair while I was browsing the store geez!
I am really so thankful to dearest John for always making me look my best no matter how busy he gets :*)
I will never forget what a reader once told me - That my hair is a testament of his love for me.

Having my little break in this pretty floral dress which I adore so much! Have already worn 2 colors out and I will be leaving the other 2 colors for my other events in June! It is so effortlessly chic and saves me so much time from prepping an outfit before leaving house. Keep a look out for the last color which I will only reveal on VGY facebook closer to launch date this week! ;) 

So here's a great start to a new week for you! 
To hell with dull Mondays! We shall all welcome the new week with anticipation and with so much energy in us! :) 


With Love,
Tricia

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Monday, June 4, 2012 :: Marc Anthony True Professional


Feel so lucky to be able to receive invitations for press events wayy before product launches! Gives me an opportunity to try out the products first hand and give an honest review on them! 
One thing about press events for product launches is there are alot of valuable and in-depth information regarding the product that is rarely readily available where they are sold. We will know what goes into the product, how many times it has been tried and tested etc before the brand's daring invitation to opinion leaders to come down and sample then provide their honest review about the product to their respective social circle. 

And that is why I pay special attention during such events. It interests me to see how brands make, market and sell their products. 

2-3 weeks prior to the product launch, I was at Klapson's Boutique Hotel for Marc Anthony True Professional line of hair products. Marc Anthony himself is a brand. Just like how David Beckham is a brand. 
He is a famous hair stylist in Hollywood who have done almost ALL celebrities' hairstyles in Hollywood and for most red carpet events.
Too bad he could not make it down to the press event or I could have seen him in person :( 


This Caucasian woman below is Justin Bieber's hairstylist and she is responsible for giving Bieber his signature haircut. She was giving a live demo on the efficacy of their products.
Refer to the "before" photo on the projector screen.  

And I saw for myself how va-va voom this model's hair became by the mere use of 1 of their products - Dream Waves.

Clara. Another model used for live demo. She walked out with red carpet ready glamorous curls which had a great texture and movement. 



After the live demo, I was surprised to hear there were 3 awards to be won. 
And I was even more surprised to hear my name being called up for "Best Hair" that I stayed put on my seat and looked really startled haha




With Claire, who became a VGY customer hehe :) 


In this photo below, my hair became really voluminous upon using some of their products which I tested on during the free time. 

So glad that heading to such events give me an opportunity to make new friends! Say hi to Claire! 




I have not used up all the products that I was given but I especially love these few range of products which I swear by! 

For the record, my hair is really flat and limp due to my hair structure. My hair is......stone-Asian. It is extremely extremely fine and it lies down limply on my scalp as though they are one. So any increase in volume is substantial to me. I was really shocked that upon my first use of this product (last wash at night, just before I head to bed), I woke up with volume in my crown. Even John was shocked haha. 

John often complains that the hair at my crown is ridiculously flat. Without the use of matt powder which he recommended, my hair will never be what it seemed in all my photos. Although the product promised 10X volume, there is always puffery involved. However, I got at least a 3X increase in volume, or so I believe. 

For the condition of my hair, I am satisfied with even 1X increase in volume as I have lived with flat and limp hair forever. So, I have been rinsing out my hair in this shampoo once daily (for 2 weeks now) just before I head to bed so I wake up with voluminous hair every morning that really gets me smiling. 

Another product worth splurging will be Dream Waves which many people recommended (during the press event). Tried it once before blowing out my hair to create a bigger volume which can last me all day and I was very pleased with the results. My hair was extremely voluminous and the curls looked healthy and shiny. Sadly, I do not have the habit of blowing out my hair nor apply any product on my hair before I use my curling tong so this product will not be having a space in my daily to-use products. 
Having said that, Dream Waves is definitely worth splurging on :) 
I believe there will be raving good reviews about this product within the next 3-6 months so for those who require a careful read before purchasing, you can wait for reviews on local forums! :) 

Lastly, I often use hairspray after curling my hair to hold the curls in. However, I am very picky in my choice of hairspray. An important factor in choosing the right hairspray is making sure it does not flake. Once it starts flaking in the middle of the day, it will look as though you have dandruff and it can be a really ugly sight. 

So far, I have been using a hair spray from John's salon which is pretty good in terms of holding my curls in and yet does not feel stiff, sticky nor does it flake. This hairspray from Marc Anthony is comparable to the one I am using currently and it also gives a healthy, luminous shine to my tresses. 



So these 3 are the products which I highly recommend.
Do check out the various range of products which Marc Anthony True Professional offers such as Damage Repair, Moisture Gloss and many more. 

I am often skeptical about hair products and will not use any other line of products unless it is of salon-worthy standard. However, I will definitely be adding Marc Anthony into my category of salon-worthy hair products having proven the effectiveness of their products on my flat and limp hair structure. In fact, I will definitely head down to Watsons to buy Instantly Thick shampoo once I finish using my first bottle (which was given to me free). 

Let me know of your reviews if you have tried their products as well! ;) 

With Love,
Tricia

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