Sponsored Review
Three gorgeous months ago, I visited Beauty Asia, a highly acclaimed beauty trade exhibition, that was held at the opulent exhibition halls of Sands Expo, Marina Bay Sands.
The exhibition showcased more than 150 beauty salons and brands from 18 countries that included Singapore, Australia, the U.K., Canada, Mauritius and the U.S.
And in this medley of reputable beauty brands, a quirk of fate brought me to Lolita Group’s Novalash booth – which later did I know would radically change my life forever.
Click to find out more about this eyelash aficionado!
We’ve heard the horror stories of eyelash extensions – eyelash breakages, allergic reactions and balding eyelashes so I’ve always resented eyelash extensions. I rather perm then extend my lashes – thinking that it is less detrimental.
Well, expectedly I’m so wrong. Perming weakens the lashes which can also result in breakages and to add fuel to the fire, the chemicals used may also irritate the eyes and skin around them.
So is there no other way to achieve pretty fluttery lashes?
Well, hope is not all gone. Meet Novalash by Lolita Group!
This was Lolita Group’s Beauty Asia booth and Jocelyn (owner of Lolita Group) generously treated me to a full set of eyelash extensions.
What convinced me was Jocelyn’s conviction in the high quality of Novalash’s products and her dedication to produce the most natural looking eyelashes without harming the real ones.
She explained that Novalash eyelash extensions are meticulously applied lash-by-lash, bonded with award-winning medical-grade adhesives that do not contain formaldehyde.
Most glues contain formaldehyde which is the main culprit of eye infections and irritation so formaldehyde-free adhesives certainly sounded more comforting. However, I have to warn you that it is still glue after all so still expect a certain degree of irritation in the eyes.
On top of top quality products, Novalash also ensures that their lash stylists are professionally and adequately trained and certified before they are allowed to administer eyelash extensions.
These are the certificates of Jocelyn and her colleague Pinky.
Yes. They travelled all the way to Novalash’s New York headquarters to receive the industry’s most comprehensive eyelash extension training.
So how can I not trust them?
Here’s Pinky working her magic on my lashes.
My damaged permed lashes.
And here’s the final product!
I asked for a natural look so the lashes Pinky attached are the shortest in the range, between 8mm to 10mm. In case you’re wondering why she used lashes of different lengths, it is because uneven lashes produce prettier and more naturally-looking lashes. She also used longer lashes at the outer corners of the eyes to create the kitten flick look (or winged eyeliner look).
Because if they are of the same length, this is how they’ll look.
Image credits: flirtlashstudio.com
Eew.
The extensions last up to 6 weeks and it’s been two months so I decided to go back to Lolita Group at Marina Link to replenish the fallen lash extensions.
I’ve been to the Lolita Group salon once and the salon looks rather different from the last time I saw it. Apparently, it underwent a major overhaul.
This was how it used to look like.
And Lolita freshens up the salon with this brand new look!
It looks more spacious now with a chill out space equipped with magazines and candies and a new shelf that exhibits a whole new range of beauty products from LJH.
Jocelyn also added new beds to accommodate more customers. How thoughtful!
Then I was ushered to my very own private treatment room by Ally, my lash artist of the day. She’s very experienced and has served many top bloggers like Dawn Yang and Mag of modgam.com fame.
These were the ‘leftovers’ from the last treatment.
Not too bad eh? Most of them were still firmly adhered to my own lashes. I was rather surprised by this result because I knew my permed lashes were too weak to hold the extensions for long. The lightweight extensions and skillful techniques of Pinky defied the laws of gravity and prevented the extensions from falling out. 😀
This time, I requested for a more dramatic look so Ally suggested removing the old extensions completely and replacing them with brand new extensions that are between 10mm to 12mm.
Here we go!
To make sure that the lash extensions and chemicals do not come into contact with the bottom lashes, Ally covered them with skin-friendly tape before she proceeded with the removal.
Within a mere 10 minutes, all lash extensions were removed.
The length of my natural lashes. Pretty pathetic.
The entire process takes about two hours and since I’m keeping my eyes closed during this period, Ally applied a complimentary soothing eye patch mask under my eyes for a mini eye facial! Talk about great service!
And the makeover begins…
Each lash was attached 1 – 2 mm away from the root. This ensures a healthy eyelash will continue to grow and the skin on the eyelid is kept clean.
Then Ally finishes the treatment by fanning off the dust and sprinkling water on the extensions.
According to Jocelyn, water enhances the viscosity of the glue and ensures that it holds the extensions for a longer period of time. I thought this was rather amusing because lash artists usually advise against water contact. Yay!! This means I don’t have to discard any water activities!
The final product.
You may experience a slight stinging sensation and redness of the eyes during the treatment due to the fumes from the glue but these symptoms usually wear off after a few hours or a day.
To view more photos or watch the lashes in action, click here.
To keep my lashes clean and tangle-free, Novalash gave me a lash wand to maintain the lashes’ cleanliness and tidiness.
Here’s an important fact…
The greatest nemesis of Novalash extensions is Glycol. Any cosmetic product or cleanser containing glycols, organic solvents, urea or high concentrations of alcohol should be avoided to ensure the longevity of the extensions. This is because products such as these can potentially break down the adhesive bond and shorten the lifespan of the extensions.
So I’ve been using Novalash’s alcohol-free Clean Lash cleanser pads. Each pad is soaked in pomegranate extract, pomegranate seed oil and mineral oil to remove makeup and to condition the lashes, extending their lifespan and ensuring that they remain flexible and radiant.
With Novalash’s eyelash extensions, I no longer use mascara so removing eye makeup is a breeze. My peepers also look bright and happy 24/7.
Thanks Ally, Jocelyn and Lolita Group for the immaculate service and products!
Ally and me.
If you were wondering what’s the state of the longer and heavier extensions this time, well here’s a photo.
This was taken four weeks after the treatment. Less ‘survivors’ this time but I’m still pretty impressed with the results.
Guess what?
Besides multiple length options, there are also multiple color options at Lolita Group to satisfy the fashionista in you.
NovaLash’s exclusive LASHcandy adds glimmer and shimmer to your already fabulous lashes. The delicious, hand-dipped, freeze-dried and crystallized lashes can be worn day or night for a delicate sparkle that lasts up to 2 weeks. Choose from a variety of sinfully sweet LASHcandy flavors!
On top of lash extension services, Lolita Group also conducts training for salon owners who wish to bring in Novalash products. More information about their training procedures may be found here – www.lolitagroup.com/training.html.
Wanna enhance your peepers too?
Great news my Honeyz Belles!
Quote “Novalash@Honeyz” and enjoy eyelash extensions by Ally at SGD39* only! (U.P. SGD139).
* Valid from April to May 2013 for first time Lolita Group customers. By appointment only.
Lolita Group is located at Marina Link @ Marina Square #B1-12 Singapore [Tel: 65-63389981] and Rochester Mall @ Buona Vista #03-17 Singapore [Tel: 65-65703317].
Lunch hours are between 3pm – 4pm. For more information, visit their website at www.lolitagroup.com
Trust me, gorgeous peepers begin here.
Your friend, Juliana
Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the products and services were sponsored, they do not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are objective and genuine. Also note that all sources, information, content, links are valid to change at any time.