Laneige Two Tone Lip Bar

I have yet to try this myself but if I recall correctly, these were already flying off the shelves before the show became popular. I hope you can still find them in stores!

Shirts & Shirtdresses

Shirts are practically her wardrobe staple and it is not hard to see why. Song Hye Kyo transits from weekend casual chic to smart casual/semi-formal with absolute ease simply by changing from a pair of shorts to a feminine A-line skirt or putting on a shirt dress. These basic pieces will never go out of style and thus ensure that she is always on point.

Bottom – Washing Linen Blouse from Stylenanda (Shop HERE)

Printed Silk Crepe Mini Dress by Victoria Beckham (Shop HERE)

Bags

Song Hye Kyo generally goes for minimalist, functional bags in the series, such as this beautiful Symmetrical Bag from Celine and the Eco Shoulder Bag from J.Estina, a Korean jewelry and bag label that she was endorsing till January this year. 

Celine Symmetrical Bag (Shop HERE)

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag

J. Estina Savvy Helio Eco Shoulder Bag (Shop HERE)

Earrings from J.Estina

J.Estina Oro Lia Helio Earring (Shop HERE)

DvF by H. Stern Collection (Shop HERE)

Shoes

Comfortable
footwear is a must in the fictitious country of Uruk, and although this
statement about comfortable footwear isn’t entirely true (didn’t you see
her running around the disaster zone in platform heels?!), I’m sure this beautiful pair of
perforated high-top sneakers struck a chord with you, just as it did
for me, because it’s now completely sold out!

Junya Watanabe Comme des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers

I
have left my email address in the link below and asked to be notified
when the item is back in stock. Good things ought to be shared, so I’m
sharing the link with you too!

Junya Watanabe Commes Des Garcons Perforated Leather Sneakers (Shop HERE)

Now that the long weekend is here, it’s the best time to indulge in some retail therapy! Have you watched the series yet? If so, which of these products do you like best?

Some smart travel tips can also be useful, but if you’re thinking of going solo, here are a couple of tips from my personal experience that I hope you’ll find useful!

4. Dress in neutral or dull colours

Always do your research and find out where the potential danger zones are located – e.g. dodgy neighbourhoods and certain modes of transport or transport companies that should be avoided. It is also important to find out where the nearest clinics/hospitals are, what the local police hotline is and where your country’s embassy or consulate is located in case of emergencies.

I once booked an accommodation in a relatively unsafe neighbourhood (I found out only on hindsight) when traveling alone. Fortunately, nothing untoward happened but it was rather unnerving to have to live in fear, even if it was only for a few days.

6. Keep your valuables close to you at all times

Never place important documents like your passport, cash and credit cards or valuables like your laptop or iPad in your luggage. I always keep them close to me, preferably in a sling bag that comes with a zip. I also make it a point to keep a separate stash of cash in a hidden compartment in another bag. This will come in handy in the event that I do fall prey to pickpockets.

London – Exploring Buckingham Palace on my own

7. Never provide real-time updates on social media

Being a social media addict myself, I know how tempting and instantly gratifying it is to share real-time updates. To protect myself, I never ever reveal the name of my hotel when I’m traveling alone, and even when I do share pictures on my social media platforms, these are not real-time updates. With so much public information readily available these days, you’ll never know who is trying to keep track of you.

8.  Keep in touch with friends and family back home

You may be miles apart, but letting your family and friends back home know where you are at every point of your journey is important when you’re traveling alone. In the worst case scenario that you get into trouble, they’ll have a better idea of how to reach you.

9. Don’t be penny wise, pound foolish

Thriftiness is a virtue, but not when safety is compromised as a result. There are just some things that aren’t worth scrimping on. Choosing to walk down an empty street late at night instead of forking out extra cash to take a cab puts you at a greater risk of getting into trouble. Whatever it is, we need to constantly remind ourselves that safety should always be our top priority.

10. Buy Travel Insurance

As I travel pretty frequently, I always make it a point to purchase annual travel insurance for peace of mind. Comprehensive travel insurance is relatively affordable these days and will adequately compensate you for loss of baggage, delayed baggage and medical expenses incurred overseas.

*****

These are just some general rules that I abide by when I travel and I find that they have worked well for me thus far. If you’ve any other travel tips that you’ll like to share, do drop me an e-mail at regina.chow@gmail.com.

For more of my latest travel updates, follow me on instagram (@reginachow_sg) and Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/shoppingqueenshaven)

*****

This post was brought to you in collaboration with Hotels Combined.

As you would know by now, minimalism is my cup of tea. The minimalist style, a classic style that makes dressing up a breeze for anyone, probably best describes the French woman.  T-shirt and jeans are great for summer, but when temperatures are cooler, a tailored shirt and black pants or overalls (like the one pictured here) are my go-to ensemble.

 This
French fashion boutique houses many brands and each collection has a
distinctive Parisian flair to it. Not only do they have quality basics
at affordable prices, you can also find playful, vibrant, feminine
pieces that add a quirky touch to your wardrobe staples. I’m currently obsessed with boxy silhouettes and I have my eye on this two-tone cut-out sleeveless dress from Tara Jarmon.

Tara Jarmon Two-tone Cut-out Sleeveless Dress

The cut-out details at the side add an element of surprise to the clean, minimalist look. I love how sophisticated the collection is and the amazing thing about Rue Madame is that it only carries exclusive, one-of-a-kind pieces that maintain a sense of individuality.

Rue Madame has recently launched their online store, which is so exciting especially since summer is just around the corner (fine, for Singaporeans, it’s summer all-year-round)! But yes, whatever the season is, check them out to get some Parisian inspiration and lovely festival wear with several boho, gypsy style brands that are all the rage right now!

Why Tarte?

Tartelette in Bloom Eyeshadow Palette – S$69 (Shop HERE)

Pick and choose from a dazzling array of 9 mattes and 3 lustres which are perfect for transitioning from day to night. Creating different looks is an absolute breeze with this palette as there are endless possibilities. All you have to do is mix and match!

Tarteist Clay Paint Liner in Black – S$34 (Shop HERE)

Eye make-up is never complete without eyeliner, one item that I can never do without. While I usually prefer pencil liners out of sheer convenience, I do like the intense colour that only a cream liner is able to deliver. 

The only issue I have with cream liners is that it takes a steady hand and tons of practice to perfect it. Well, that was until I discovered Tarteist Clay Paint Liner. The sketcher-angled eyeliner brush makes it completely hassle-free. Squeeze a tiny amount on to the tapered tip of the eyeliner tube which transforms into a flat blending stage, then pick up a small amount of product with your brush and line away! 

 It has everything you need in an eyeliner, especially if you wish to create dramatic looks. Not only is it waterproof and budge-proof, it is also extremely black thanks to its triple-black formula. I adore its creamy consistency as it slides effortlessly across your lids. I was able to achieve the perfect winged eyeliner with utmost precision even on my first try, hence to say that I was impressed is definitely an understatement.

Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint – S$30 (Shop HERE)

Top: Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in TBT // Bottom: Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint in Namaste

Moving on to lip colours. Now we all know that matte lipsticks are all the rage currently, but the trick to getting luscious lips with matte lipsticks lies in finding the right formulation. 

Some matte lipsticks dry out your lips and amplify unsightly lines that even you probably have never noticed before. That is not the case with Tarteist Creamy Lip Paint. It is highly pigmented and comes with a lightweight, moussey consistency that glides luxuriously over your lips before drying to a velvety matte finish. I know this sounds like an oxymoron, but I love how matte my lips look without that dry, icky feeling.

I typically use the precision felt tip on the brush wand applicator to trace the colour on my upper and lower lip line before filling in the lips completely. Namaste is my ideal nude shade as it has blush undertones that perk up your complexion. To dial up the glam factor, go for TBT, a mysterious shade of mauve that is bound to turn heads wherever you go.

Tarteist Lip Crayon S$28 (Shop HERE)

Lip liners are one of the most neglected beauty items, but they are essential tools for priming and defining your lips. Formulated with Vitamin E and mineral pigments that soothe, nourish and protect your lips, it is comforting to know that Tarteist Lip Crayon does so much more than just sculpt your lips. Did you know that it also prevents your lips from feathering?

Transitioning from Day to Night with Tarte Cosmetics

As promised, here are two looks that I created with Tarte Cosmetics’ latest collection. The first look is a soft, feminine everyday look that is suitable for dates and yet professional enough for work. 

For my eyes, I swept charmer (light beige shade) all over my lids to the brow bone as a base, followed by jetsetter (matte warm chocolate shade) on my lids and rocker (shimmery chocolate brown shade) on my crease area, before blending activist (matte cool dark brown shade) and smokeshow (matte dark charcoal shade) at the outer corners. These beautiful eyeshadow shades can all be found in the Tarlette in Bloom palette. Funny girl (champagne gold shade) was used to highlight the inner corners of my eyes before I lined the top and bottom of my eyes with Tarteist Clay Paint Liner. Tarteist Lip Crayon in Boho and Tarteist Lip Paint in Namaste were used to achieve the perfect nude lip.

All I did to achieve a dramatic evening look was to intensify the eyeshadow colours at the outer corner of my eyes with activist and smokeshow from the Tartlette in bloom palette. To add more dimension, I dabbed firecracker (a shimmery cool brown shade) in the inner crease area too. Tarteist Lip Crayon in Latergram and Tarteist Lip Paint in TBT lent the finishing touches to this glamorous look. 

As you can tell, a change of lip colour makes a huge difference, which explains why I always carry two lipsticks in different shades with me.

Do you like these looks that I’ve created? 

If you are interested in these new products from Tarte Cosmetics, click HERE to shop now!

To ensure that your hair and scalp are well taken care of, only Aveda and Keraganic products are used at ToliV Salon. Aveda probably needs little or no introduction as they are widely known for using natural ingredients that are beneficial to your hair, scalp and overall well-being. I am a huge fan of their shampoo and conditioner.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that Tibet would end up as one of my favourite travel destinations of all time. Besides the spectacular National Geographic-worthy scenery, I thought I would share some reasons why you should visit Tibet at least once in your life:

Tibet is every photography enthusiast’s paradise

Tibet is very photogenic. When it comes to natural scenery, no other country comes close, except probably New Zealand and Switzerland, but there is a wilder and deeper side to Tibet that makes it breathtakingly beautiful.

Think dramatic white clouds, beautiful turquoise lakes, vast frozen glaciers and rocky, towering mountains that are largely uninhabited. You don’t even have to visit the 3 holy lakes to be treated to spectacular views like these.

Panoramic view of Lhasa

Also, have you ever visited a destination where every walkway, building and passerby looked this photogenic? Keep your eyes peeled and cameras handy, because pleasant surprises await at every turn.

Tibetan Pilgrim

There are more Tibetan pilgrims in winter compared to any other time of the year.

;;;

Masquerading as a Tibetan pilgrim (Told you there are surprises at every turn!)

You’ll be intrigued by their cultural heritage and religious traditions

Did you know that the bold, intricate designs of the traditional costumes worn by local Tibetans are not just beautiful works of art? They tell a story too. From the costumes alone, you can ascertain which part of Tibet a person is from and whether he/she is a farmer or nomad.

Tibetan pilgrims and sporty-looking tourist (aka me)

Tibet’s culture and identity are inextricably linked to Tibetan Buddhism. Visits to places of worship and UNESCO World Heritage sites such as Potala Palace, Drepung Monastery, Sera Monastery and Jokhang Temple are eye-opening experiences as Tibetan Buddhism is unlike any other religion.

Sera Monastery

The Monks Debate at Sera Monastery aims to deepen the monks’ understanding of the holy scriptures. Monks who are seated are questioned by those who are standing. Depending on the quality of the answers, the standing monk will either clap his hands with both palms facing each other (this means the answer is good) or with both palms facing up (meaning the answer isn’t satisfactory and requires further justifications)

Potala Palace, the main residence of the Dalai Lama until the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959

Tibetan Knot  – Blue symbolizes the sky, white symbolizes the air and wind, red symbolizes fire, green symbolizes water and yellow symbolizes earth.

Rituals are a vital part of the culture and their meticulous attention to detail can be seen from the way these places of worship are constructed, to the Tibetan prayer bells, wheels, flags and even the way pilgrims pray by sliding on the ground continuously in full prostration.

Tibetan pilgrim holding a prayer wheel at Bakhor Street

Prostrating Tibetans (Gotta love those stylish braids too)

Tibetan cuisine is delicious, if you avoid tourist traps

We had a very good Tibetan guide (his name is Chimple) who brought us only to restaurants frequented by the locals. After hearing horror stories about how tough and tasteless yak meat is, I was pleasantly surprised that the yak meat we had at every meal was succulent and tasty. It is compulsory to hire a guide in Tibet, so go on, ask your guide to take you to his favourite local joints!

Butter tea is a common beverage in Tibet and Chimple brought some of his home-made butter tea to sample. Did you know that authentic butter tea is made using milk from the female yak (also known as nak) but most butter teas found in shops today use ordinary butter? It was a privilege to have had the opportunity to savour this delicacy.

Tibetans are a welcoming bunch (and they can speak Mandarin too)

Everywhere we went, Tibetans would smile warmly at us. It is useful to have a decent command of the Chinese language because Tibetans can speak Mandarin too.

Exploring a Tibetan village

We had the chance to visit a Tibetan village and some of the local houses, which gave us a deeper understanding of their living environment and how Tibetan Buddhism is a way of life for everyone.

Typical Tibetan house

Tibetan living room

Even when the rest of the house looks like it needs a makeover, their dedicated prayer room is always spick and span. As most Tibetans are still devoted to the Dalai Lama, who is currently in exile in India, religious activities are closely monitored by the Chinese government.

Altar in the prayer room

Flour cakes made with flour and butter for prayer rituals

Butter lamps for praying

Words and photographs alone cannot adequately express how enchanted I am with Tibet, and I would urge you to visit this beautiful destination at least once in your lifetime. You’ll only truly understand what I mean when you’ve personally experienced the wonders of Tibet.

Plus, where else can you enjoy such a gorgeous view during a massive traffic jam?

*****

For more information on my trip to Tibet, click on the links below to read my previous posts:

Tibet: Altitude Sickness & Acclimatisation Tips

Taking the Qinghai-Tibet Railway to Lhasa

You may also be interested in this article on preventing altitude sickness in Tibet written by YoWangdu Tibetan Culture business and website:

Altitude Sickness Prevention in a Nutshell

Being able to truly experience the four seasons is one of the simple pleasures of life that I have come to appreciate in China, although I have to admit that I do miss the blazing sun on chilly days. I remember running towards the sea of red maple leaves at Hangzhou’s West Lake, catching a glimpse of the very last cherry blossom in Suzhou’s classical gardens before it withered, jumping out of bed at 7am in Nanjing just to catch the first snowfall, and now that Spring is upon us, I have been photographing flowers in bloom from every angle imaginable. The fleeting beauty of each natural phenomenon makes every moment more precious than it already is, and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity to be able to reconnect with Mother Nature.Just a few days before I returned to Nanjing from Singapore, I read in the news that the plum blossoms in Nanjing have bloomed prematurely. Overwhelmed with excitement, we told our driver to take us to Plum Blossom Mountain for the annual plum blossom festival the day after we arrived.

An ocean of marshmallow pink and white greeted us along with throngs of visitors on an early weekday afternoon. The plum blossoms, also known as Nanjing’s national flowers, were in full bloom in end February, a rarity since they usually bloom in mid-March. Not unlike Japan’s cherry blossom season, we found visitors settling into their favourite spots, picnic baskets brimming with food in tow and just enjoying a leisurely afternoon with their loved ones. The plum blossoms danced to the rhythm of the wind, and when the sun cast its rays upon them, that was when their beauty came to life.

The beauty of photography lies in its ability to capture magical moments that bring back beautiful memories and today, I hope these moments captured in time will put a smile on your face as we take on another week ahead.

Eyebrow embroidery gives you perfectly groomed brows that frame your features beautifully, but eyeliner embroidery is the secret behind expressive, magnetic eyes that sparkle. Aren’t we glad that gone are the days when eyeliner embroidery results in a thick line drawn on your eyelids? Today, perfecting the no make-up yet polished look calls for eyeliner embroidery to be done on your waterline to fill up the gaps between your lashes, as this not only enlarges your eyes but also gives the illusion of thicker lashes. 

Can you tell the difference before and after eyeliner embroidery? I
look more wide awake than before, and I am in love with the subtle
definition that it gives to my peepers without any eye make-up, something that I could never do without in the past. Now, I can literally wake up like this every morning. It simplifies my beauty routine and I am able to get more shuteye.  

We all need a little more beauty sleep, don’t we?

Why did I choose Arch Angel Brow?

First and foremost, as with eyebrow embroidery, I cannot place enough emphasis on how important it is to engage an experienced professional for eyeliner embroidery. As eyeliner embroidery is done extremely close to your eyeballs, I would only entrust my eyes to a professional who has done this umpteen times, has a good aesthetic eye and most importantly, has at least 10 years of experience. 

The founders of Arch Angel Brow, Kelly and Eileen, have combined experience of 18 years in the beauty industry. Only plant-based ingredients are used and all the techniques and technology utilized are imported from Korea. All of the above gave me the assurance I needed, and having seen their works (plus my past experience with them), I knew I was in good hands. 

 What is the process like? How long does it take?

It is recommended that you head down without any eye make-up, but even if you do have make-up on, your eye area will be thoroughly cleansed before the procedure. 

Numbing cream is then applied for about 15-20 minutes, before a wand-like instrument is used to embroider the eyeliner pigment on your waterline. Your eyelids will be gently pulled up during the process and the most important thing to note here is to keep your eyes closed throughout. At the end of the procedure, your eyes will also be rinsed with saline for hygiene purposes.The entire process takes about an hour.

Application of numbing cream

Eyeliner embroidery work-in-progress

Rinsing my eyes with saline after the procedure

How long can it last?

I was told that eyeliner embroidery can last about 2-3 years on average. 
 

Does it hurt?

It generally feels a little ticklish and I felt a tingling sensation at one point, after which Kelly promptly reapplied an additional layer of numbing cream. I would say I experienced more discomfort during eyeliner embroidery as compared to eyebrow embroidery due to the skin around the eyes being more delicate and sensitive, but the entire process is very tolerable with numbing cream. Since it lasts a good 2-3 years, going through a little discomfort is certainly worth the convenience of looking great without make-up!

Is any aftercare required?

 Avoid getting your eyes in contact with water on the same day that your eyeliner embroidery is done. Personally, I used wet wipes instead of facial foam to clean my face that evening. 

 You can also ice your eye area with an ice pack if you experience swelling, which is rather common after this procedure. My eyes swelled immediately after as my skin is generally more sensitive and I had very thick double eyelids. After icing it with an ice pack, the swelling subsided the next day.

As with eyebrow embroidery, there is some scabbing involved in eyeliner embroidery too. Scabbing takes place over a few days and all you have to do is to use some eye drops regularly throughout the day to moisten the skin. Do not scratch or peel the scabs off prematurely as this will lighten the pigment of your eyeliner.  

Follow all these steps religiously and you’ll end up with beautiful eyes after the scabbing period passes.

More defined eyes after eyeliner embroidery

***** 

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