What's new in my makeup stash

It's evident that I'm no makeup guru. I am not big on cosmetics; what I own fill up just a small black pouch (about A5 size). I've only started using cosmetics when I was 18, and even then I used only lipsticks! The first lipstick (and makeup) I bought was from TOPSHOP, in deep burgundy, though now I have no idea why I chose that colour for my first because it isn't the most versatile shade. My second makeup purchase was also a lipstick in a pinkish-nude shade, from 3CE, There was a pop-up sale in school and I was looking for a nude lipstick so I got one with my friend. That was more suitable for daily wear. 

So I've only used lip makeup all the while till last year end. My eyebrows are pretty full naturally but they looked a little sparse at the corners in pictures, and my best friend had also started using a brow pencil so I followed suit. It's the Fashion Brow Duo Shaper by Maybelline, with powder on one end, and pencil on the other. I just needed to fill in the arch of my brows, and I think this did a pretty alright job. Anyway it's almost finished and I'm looking for one with the spool so that I can brush my unruly brows. I got my eyes on you, Glossier's Boy Brow! 

I also bought a concealer from MAC last Christmas because my hormones went crazy and vent their anger on my poor chin. Then more lipsticks, from Laneige. Love them ombré lipsticks. These smell good and are surprisingly moisturising. I got one in Cashmere Nude which was discontinued, and then I asked my friend to get another one for me from Korea, in Red Blossom. 

In total I had 3 lip balms, 4 lipsticks, 1 lip pencil, 1 brow pencil and 1 concealer. Even if my face is makeup-free for the day I will still make sure to use a lip balm to moisturise my chapped lips. 

And now I add on two more products to the collection!

NARS' Blush in Orgasm, and Urban Decay's Vice lipstick in Bad Blood, which is a little drying for me but expected of for a matte lippie. With the blush, I think my makeup stash is pretty complete. I'm still in the process of finding out what suits my skin tone and features, as well as learning the tips and tricks in makeup application to achieve the best results. Ultimately, I still believe that taking good care of your skin is the most important, and something I've been trying to do is to go to bed earlier at night. With good skin, the base is pretty much set.

For now I'm really satisfied with what I can put on my face. Just missing the Boy Brow, really.

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THE COFFEE ACADEMICS

horseshoe ring: Curated Editions

Spent the Saturday from two weeks ago at this cafe situated in town with the sister, after my shoot with Her World Singapore (you can vote for me here!). I've visited the place previously, and it was really empty in the earlier hours. This time round, there was a queue outside the place (and the dining area is actually pretty huge man, so you can imagine the weekend crowd in town) but we got a table fairly quickly because all the other people in the queue were in large groups. Visit crowded places in a pair, guys!

Ordered the crab & avo salad + curly fries with three different dips and I was really surprised by how good they were because, well, I heard otherwise. Avocado is one of my favourite superfood recently; I never really had them in the past until I discovered avocados in rice bowls, and on toasts. The salad was really moreish... I want crab & avo salad everyday! Also, curly fries can hardly fail. I think the dips were barbecue sauce, honey mustard and curry. My sister and I promptly ignored the barbecue one because the other two dips were so good!

The place also has really nice marble or wooden tables for food flatlays (Instagrammer's heaven, yeah?). Good place to chill if it's not too busy.

The Coffee Academics

Scotts Square

#02-01/02

6 Scotts Road

Singapore 228209

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Crossing Lines

               top: Eight Slate Blair; skorts: The Fifth Label Fact & Fiction 

                                                                    from Threefold Collection

A few Fridays ago I got another piercing on my left ear (man, it took me 10 seconds to figure out which is my left...), just right beside my first piercing. I've thought about getting one since last year and delayed acting it out until mid-2016. So much procrastination going on yeah? Haha! Anyway, I'm really loving the piercing and although I want to remove the starter stud, I haven't because I don't have a spare stud to fill in the piercing afterwards... One more item added on to the shopping list. 

Here, I'm in my go-to colour palette: white, denim, & black. It's so easy to mix-and-match, once you've got all the basics in your wardrobe, and avoid looking boring. I love this pleated top but I wish the armholes aren't so big, although they do facilitate wearing/removing. The fold and buttons of the denim skorts also make it an elevated not-your-usual-denim-shorts piece. Definitely a staple for me.

Chasing light is not as easy as waking up early/hunting for the right spots, it requires a little luck. From where I stay, the tall buildings and gloomy skies are often a hindrance, but thank goodness there's also an abundance of trees to create this beautifully splattered light and shadows (and white walls!). Also, thank you to Allan for his help and patience with my light-chasing every time. I am a really blessed girl. 

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SOUTH UNION PARK

Finally visited this new bistro with my sister last weekend, and it has fulfilled my pasta dreams. 🍝 The decor of the place is minimal as compared to all other cafes I've visited, but hey, I'm not complaining! There was ample sunlight, so all's good. The place was full when we arrived but lunch time was almost over so we got a two-seater immediately. The attentive service crew even asked if we needed an extra chair for our bags. First impression? ✓

We ordered the Duck Confit & Short Rib Beef Ragu Pastas, + Fried Chicken to share. I loved the Beef Ragu Pappardelle I had at Populus, but I think their rendition has got nothing on this one here. Freshly made pastas + melt-in-your-mouth tender beef? I'm sold. The pastas have got really such good texture, it reminds me of the ones that my brother made last time. I wish more restaurants make their own pastas. 

The hazelnut cream sauce for the Duck Confit pasta was really interesting for me since I've never had hazelnut for anything else other than desserts hahaha. The sauce itself was really fragrant and refreshingly light, but the duck didn't really remind me of the duck confits I had haha! But I only had one big bite so... or maybe I just haven't had enough duck confits to know. I also liked how the fried chicken tasted slightly sweet to balance out the saltiness. And it was a damn good combo with the dense cornbread.

I see why South Union Park has become Nat's favourite cafe, because it's really hard to find a cafe with food that's worth the money, and time spent to locate it. I wouldn't say that the location is very convenient to me, but I love the quiet, laid-back hood; it reminded me of my intern days, when I was attached to vet clinics located in private residential areas like this. Wish I had more room for desserts, but I'm definitely going to visit this place again, so I'll leave them till the next time! 

South Union Park
101 Jalan Kembangan, Singapore 419139

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ANEW

dress: The Fifth Label Age of Aquarius from Workshop Collection

It's a little embarrassing how long I've delayed this little project of mine for. My best friends know that I've been planning to revamp my blog for the longest time... and finally it's up again! Honestly, nothing much has changed. I was pretty happy with how this space looked before, except for the banner. 

I've owned a blog (on various hosts, although only one's active at a time) for ages and dreamt of having an illustration of something as a banner, but since I suck at drawing, it just didn't happen. Then my best friend got in a design course and developed an interest for illustration works, so I was like, hey, could you illustrate a picture of me? Hahaha, vain.

So thank you Carmen, for making my dream come true. ✨ I think it is going to motivate me to post a lot more here. I've just had so many ideas running through my mind and can't wait to share them. Of course, this space is nothing much, but I promise it's all from my heart and I'll be sincere (and truthful to myself) about everything I write in here. 

p/s: thank you to those who left me messages on various platforms, whether you're a friend, stranger, or an anonymous, telling me that you miss my blog; it means a crazy lot!

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