So.. Quite a number of you have been asking me for makeup tips, or to do a video on how I construct my everyday look. I attempted to do a video a while back, but it was a failure.. In epic proportions. I couldn’t figure out how or where to place my mirror that would allow me a clear enough view of my face for precise makeup application, while not blocking the camera at the same time so you guys can actually see what the hell I’m doing. Yeah, well. I couldn’t figure it out. And being a perfectionist.. I refuse to do a video if it’s gonna be sub-standard. After all, I like to believe my makeup skills are pretty phenomenal. As such, I should have a kick-ass makeup video to complement my abilities. Never settle for less, never!

I’ve constructed a step-by-step makeup tutorial, complete with pictures of each stage to show you how I attained the final look!

The look that I’m gonna show you today is an evening / night smokey eye look – for most people, that is. I religiously apply this look everyday for every possible occasion, because after countless experiments, I’ve realized that this look works best for me. And yes, I’m aware it’s a little heavy for day wear, but fuck it. It’s my face, right? lolol. Right. Read on!



Step 1: Base

So the first step is to pat on your foundation and powder to create a smooth canvas. If you’ve got great skin, feel free to skip this step. But I personally think it’s essential to dust on a light layer of powder at the very least. This will keep your skin matte and smooth, and will also help prevent the harsh pigments in your eyeshadow / blusher from staining your skin.

I don’t use foundation per se cos it’s harsh and bad for skin. Instead, I use BB Cream. Its coverage may not be as good as foundation, but I’d rather have less coverage but healthier skin in the long run, no?




I’m using HD Perfect BB Cream from TheFaceShop. It’s a slightly thicker version so it covers my pores pretty well. One downside is that it’s pretty dry and tends to get cakey. Meh.



To set the BB Cream, I use a mineral face powder from AHAVA. And God, do I swear by this brand or what?! All their products are infused with Dead Sea Mineral extracts that work wonders for skin. I genuinely saw an improvement in my complexion after religiously using only this face powder.


Step 2: Eyeliner

If a hurricane suddenly hits Singapore and I only had the time to pack one cosmetic item, it’ll be my eyeliner. Seriously, you guys. I swear that this little pot is packed with a wonderous concoction that will TRANSFORM YOUR EYES.





I usually just draw one thin line along my upper lash line first. Then, I’ll proceed to stick on double eyelid tape OR double eyelid fibre. What’s the difference, you may ask? Well, eyelid fibre is a whole lot less obvious than tape.



These are my eyes with the fibre stuck on them. It’s just a thin microscopic line, much more natural as compared to tape.



Eyelid Fibre comes in a little box like this!

A single fibre strip.

However, I don’t know if double eyelid fibres will work for people with single eyelids. I’ve read reviews about people complaining that single lidded eyes have too much skin / fats thus the need to only use tape. Hmmmm. Not my problem. I do have double eyelids, but they’re not defined or parallel enough for successful makeup application.



Sooooo anyway, after sticking on my eyelid fibre, I will proceed to really draw on my eyeliner in a precise way that will contour and reshape my eyes. This is achieved by extending my line all the way past the tear duct (illustrated in the picture above with red arrows) and by creating an obvious wing at the outer corners. This will really open up your eyes and elongate them – making them humongous.


Step 3: Base Eyeshadow




Take a light beige nude colour (should be a shade lighter than your actual skin tone) and sweep it generously along the inner halves of your eyes, along the tear ducts and at the bottom of your lids. This will serve to further open up your eyes and add that sparkle and glint, making you look fresh and awake all the time.

Take a deep brown and sweep it along the outer corners of your eyes, filling in the crease. This creates a shadow effect, giving the illusion of deep set eyes.


Step 4: Black Eyeshadow




Use a dense, precise brush and brush on black eyeshadow generously over your previous brown eyeshadow, allowing the brown to peek out just a little above your black. Be sure to only apply the black on the outer half of your eyes. After which, grab your blending brush (it’s very important to invest in a good blending brush. I’m using one from Coastal Scents) and blend out all the harsh lines. The key to creating a winning smokey look is to BLEND, BLEND, BLEND! Allow the colours to seamlessly transcend into each other to achieve a polished, smouldering finish.

I’m aware that this is the part most people find challenging – actually blending the black eyeshadow to achieve a soft focus finish instead of an ugly harsh blob on your face. I do regret not being able to demonstrate this on video, but trust me when I say all it really takes is patience.


Step 5: Eyebrows

Fill in your eyebrows and shape them however you like!





I personally like creating a defined arch, and I do so with MAC’s brow powder and brow brush. This trusty brow powder has lasted me for a good 3 years and it hasn’t even hit the pan. The brow brush works wonders too!

I know some girls don’t thread or shape their brows cos they think that if they already have thin brows, they shouldn’t further aggravate the situation by removing more hairs. THIS IS WRONG. By shaping your brows, you will achieve a defined shape without those tiny stray hairs lingering around and this will make your brows appear fuller, darker and defined!


Step 6: False Eyelashes



I don’t usually use false eyelashes unless I have an event or have plans to hit the clubs. But when I do, I usually only use falsies from Cosmos. You can find this brand at our local SaSa stores. These lashes are fabulous because they’re comfortable, thin and incredibly natural looking! They look and feel like real lashes, to the extent that people often can’t tell that I’m even using falsies.

I’m not a fan of thick dramatic fake eyelashes cos they look, well, fake. Natural’s the way to go, and I would suggest you try it too!

I also use only DUO Surgical Adhesive as my eyelash glue – this nifty little formula’s strong as bricks. Your eyelashes will NEVER fall off while you’re out.
I also never use mascara on my top lashes because the flakes tend to fall into my eyes and irritate my contact lenses. I only apply mascara on my lower lashes. Don’t skip this step – it makes a huge difference, trust me!


Step 7: Bronzer

I never use blusher because I’m a huge fan of contouring.

Choose a bronzer that’s one shade darker than your actual skin tone, and sweep the formula along the hollows of your cheeks. Don’t know where this is? Simple. Take a mirror, look in it, and do a ‘fish face’. Don’t know what’s a fish face? Simple.

This is a fish face.

And yes, sweep your bronzer where the arrow is pointing.



You may also choose to contour your nose (I do that) to make it appear sharper. I don’t do it to make my nose any sharper – it’s already fucking humongous. I do it to make it appear slimmer. Damn. I do envy those asian girls like Angelababy with cute button noses. FML.


Step 8: Primp your puckers!

Apply lipstick / gloss / balm!

I personally never use lipstick or lipgloss cos I think it’s uncomfortable. Feels like a film of oil on my mouth. Gag. So I only use LipIce’s lip balms.


Step 9: Fluff your hair!

Create your favourite hairstyle! I always screw my hair into a messy bun with tendrils cos it’s the easiest and fastest hairstyle.


Step 10: Look slammin’!

Shimmy into your favourite dress and heels and get ready to kick some ass. I recommend buying your dresses / outfits from Kisslocke. They’ve got pretty fabulous stuff. Ahem.

Okay I’m done with my insanely long monologue. I’m down with a fever, by the way. I officially sound like a man. Of which I’m not complaining.. I come across all husky and sexy now. Hahaha.

PS: I'm wearing permanent contact lenses for SHORT-SIGHTED VISION in the pictures. I am, by no measure, wearing enlarging contact lenses of any kind. It annoys me when people who have perfect eyesight insist on wearing contact lenses.. It's redundant. And to go through the hassle just for aesthetic purposes? Meh. Then again, it's a free country..

this kind of chemistry - it's tangible; palpable.

Peacock Colourbrushed Dress: Kisslocke
Will be launching in december!

Do you know how it feels.. To find that one person you can talk to for hours on end without having to rack your brains for a response? That can connect with you on a whole new level – a level that has only been, thus far, established over years of friendship with the people closest to you – and yet this person, this one person; simply walks right in and the chemistry between the both you is enough to destroy the place?

The best part is that at times, the very person that walks into your life is someone you would never have expected nor appreciated by any stretch of the imagination, usually.

It’s a conundrum, really. Sometimes I think I wanna venture out and try my hand at new things, yet at times I would rather curl up into a ball and stay on the safe side. I don’t know what I want; I don’t know what I need. But I do know that I want more than what I currently have.

I’m so tired of my brain being in overdrive all the fucking time. I’m over analytical – a compulsive thinker, if you must. I don’t speak much of what goes on in my head because words pale in comparison to the magnitude of inane thoughts that bump around in my brain. But my brain needs a fucking vacation.

It’s Sunday tonight. A brand new semester of school is starting tomorrow, and I couldn’t be less excited. I feel the onset of a major sore throat fiesta creeping up on me, thanks to consecutive late night parties, booze overload and singing at the top of my lungs. All I really want to do now is lie on the top of a brick roof, gaze at the sky and.. Be still.

Breathe in the possibilities the night air holds for me - for my future; for my hopes; for my dreams.

Tuesday was spent stuffing my face with sinful food at pretentious places – I usually stay away from quaint little cafes with fanciful decor and names because, well, I really can’t be arsed to travel most of the time, and aforementioned quaint little cafes are commonly tucked into some inaccessible corner of our island. However, the tiny hipster-chick (as Nik would say) part of me called out for a trip to a fanciful connoisseur type coffee joint so I demanded that Nik take me someplace nice. And I can’t even type this with a straight face. Lolol.

We were trying to present a calm and composed face while attempting to contain fits of embarrassed laughter because a bunch of tourists were patiently standing at the side, watching us while waiting for the self-timer to snap our picture before they walked across. Mortifying much. lolol.


Bikini-Cut Cascading Dress: Kisslocke
Not launched yet - will be launching in the first week of December!

Anyway, we landed at this little cafe called Laurent something-or-other at Robertson Quay. I can’t recall the exact name now and I can’t be assed to google it. They’re famous for the soufflés but ironically neither of us ordered any. Nik ordered a tiny pitcher of lemonade that cost $9.50. For lemonade. See what I mean by pretentious!?

Upon reaching there, I realized that I had been there before – to that exact cafe. With J and friends sometime last year. I can distinctly recall that fateful day as I ended up tripping, falling and bleeding all in the span of 2 hours. I swear Robertson Quay is cursed. We (J and I) were walking along the stretch of restaurants. If you’ve been to Robertson Quay, you’ll know that the ground is uneven and cobbled with stone, grass and god knows what else. Coupled with me being half blind at night, I tripped at the entrance of a super crowded restaurant and fell flat on my face. And this is the best part – J laughed himself silly before picking me up and apologizing profusely. Freakin’ evil, right!?

And after finishing our dessert, J and I decided to go out for a smoke. Me, being half blind as mentioned before, failed to realize that just because a glass door is transparent, it doesn’t mean that it does not exist. I walked straight into it and hit my lip on the metal handle and bled for a good 10 minutes (while crying like a wuss). Good memories.

Ahem.



Back to my intentional story (I need to stop digressing). I had waffles with ice cream, chocolate sauce and raspberries. Look at the picture. It looks freakin’ fantastic.. Save for the fact that I had zero appetite after. We met up with Alethea for dinner at Bella Pizza where the food was meh and service staff was pushy.





I know this is unrelated but I feel the need to mention that I won 7 games of Monopoly Deal in a row. Heh. Humble, I is not.

PS: Against my innate lazy tendency, I googled the name of the little cafe and here it is: Laurent Bernard Chocolatier.
You might wanna pay the place a visit - it isn't half bad, actually.

The little boat rocked back and forth gently. The surface of the water was smooth; with nary a ripple. It resembled a sleek sheet of glass, although of course, unlike glass, there was the very real possibility of slipping under and disappearing forever.

“You have got to be kidding me,” she choked out, amidst gasps of air punctuated with laughter. “Nobody could be that oblivious to obvious signs of homosexuality!”

He smiled, crinkling up the corners of his eyes.

“You mock me. After years of being friends, am I not allowed to make a couple of mistakes?” He said.

“Forgive me for being judgemental, but how the hell could both you and John gloss over the fact that she’s a lesbian!?” She doubled over with giggles, while clutching on to her fishing rod.

It was a comfortable union – him and her. They had grown up together as children, and entered the first phases of adulthood hand-in-hand. He always had her back, and she, his.

A cool breeze swept ripples across the calm surface of the lake and whipped strands of her long brown hair across her face, the tips grazing his cheeks. After a moment’s hesitation, he raised his right hand and tucked the loose strands of her hair behind her ears.

They gazed at each other, silence holding more than words. The seconds ticked by while they listened to the song of birds and the melodious splash of water.

“So..” He paused to clear his throat. “How have you been holding up?” He asked her quietly.

She dropped her gaze to her knees and started fiddling with her fishing rod. These were signs of nervousness, perhaps, or just a hesitance to answer his question.

“I’ve been.. Surviving.” She mumbled.

“But that’s no way to live now, is it?” He pressed on, while the water lapped quietly against the wooden base of the boat. “Don’t you want to enjoy life while you still have it?”

Her head snapped up suddenly, and her eyes bored into his with such intensity that he instinctually recoiled with apprehension.

“Yes, I believe in making the most of life. Do you not think that I would like to live with passion and gusto?” Her right hand gripped the fishing rod tightly while her left pulled at her hair – an unconscious sign of frustration she had developed over the years. “I want to be happy. It’s so simple – happiness. Yet, it’s the very thing that eludes us the most.”

“Could you teach me how, simply, to be.. Happy?”

xxxxxxxxxxxx

Someone once told me that happiness is a journey, not a destination. To which, I agree. However, I also believe that we should never take on the journey if we don’t see a destination. Why go down the long winding path if you know that at the end of the road, there simply is.. Nothing? Why take the treacherous journey if there isn’t a promise for a better ending?

I wish I could simply live day by day, as many of my peers do. I look at them and I can’t help but feel jealous. I’m envious of how carefree they are. I’m envious of how readily they can throw caution to the wind and plunge themselves into craters that promise no happy endings. I’m envious of how they simply do not fixate on more.

What’s more?

Well, that’s the question that nags at me all the time.

I want more, but I don’t know what that ‘more’ is. I can’t define it. It’s just the feeling deep within that tells me I should never settle for less. That tells me I should fight every single battle that comes my way because I should be proactive at seeking the best for myself.

That, in itself, should work in my favour, logically.

But this particular trait is ruining my life. It stands in my way of faith. It makes me question and it makes me doubt. It makes me overly logical and rational. I don’t believe in gambling and I don’t believe in taking on a journey if the probability of it unveiling a favourable destination cannot be seen. And it is this very reason that has rendered me a quivering mass of desolation.

Why do I do these things? Why did I choose to walk away? Why did I choose to put mind over heart and rationality over leaps of faith?

Because I’ve been burnt. I had once placed my faith in the good of mankind, and got torn apart as a result. I no longer believe that there are happy endings. Disney’s just a cruel mockery of human behaviour and fate.

Perhaps I’m destined to ruin every good thing that comes my way.