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Sponsored Review Since I got engaged a few months ago, I’ve been enjoying the whole notion of being a bride-to-be – fantasizing about the perfect dress, sweet-smelling flowers, gorgeous cakes as well as the breath-taking setting for my special day. But have I forgotten something? Yes. The radiant glow of love and happiness that is becoming of every bride. So achieving luminous wedding-day skin now transcends everything else on my wedding list. 😛 A fab way to start is to devise a solid grooming routine. I’m embarking on my Bridal Beauty journey with non-invasive KPL treatments, flaunted as the successor to IPL, to nurture and rejuvenate my skin for the big day. Click to read the first entry of My Bridal Beauty Log. 🙂 I’m a huge advocate of IPL treatments as they are the safest short-cut to smooth and hairless skin. However, there may be some recovery time needed as they may cause redness or darkening of pigmentation right after the treatment. Such symptoms usually subside after a week. Well, I’m not prepared to take the risk of leaving it too last minute. So to ensure that my face looks picture-perfect on my wedding day, I scheduled a series of monthly IPL treatments 12 months before my big day. Haha! And I’m entrusting the big task to Regina Hair Removal Specialist, who were recently bestowed the ‘Best Hair Removal Service’ title by Blissful Brides magazine. I decided if I want to reap the full benefits of the treatment, I’ll have to do it with the expert. As their name suggests, Regina Hair Removal Specialist is a hair removal salon that utilises a more effective IPL technology known as Krypton Pulsed Light (KPL). What is KPL? And how does it differ from IPL? Well, for starters, Krypton Pulsed Light has nothing to do with the birthplace of Superman. KPL is an advanced FDA-approved, patented pulsed light technology which delivers higher performance with reduced side effects compared to traditional IPL devices. Sounds like a marvel of beauty ingenuity, eh? KPL uses intense light energy to safely and effectively remove unwanted hair from any parts of the body, putting an end to routine shaving and waxing. The light energy is absorbed by the pigment in the hair, melanin, which is then converted to heat. The heat damages the hair follicle and destroys its ability to re-grow without harming the surrounding tissues. Benefits of KPL Hair Removal include: – Unwanted hair is permanently removed, creating beautiful and smooth skin – No more shaving, tweezing or waxing is required – Useful for large areas such as the back or legs – Effective on almost any area of the body – FDA approved for permanent hair reduction – Painless compared to other hair removal treatments – No downtime – Non-surgical I was still skeptical of this new technology so I chose treat only a small area of my face for the first treatment – my lips and chin area. I have some obvious hairs and acne scars on my lip and chin areas so I was really looking forward to it as the results would be pretty noticeable. Joanne, Assistant Manager of Regina, personally administered the treatment for me. Before she began, she conducted a patch test on the area near my collar bone. It was a mandatory procedure for all first-time KPL treatment customers. My skin was fine after the test so Joanne went ahead with the treatment. The hair above the surface of the skin were all trimmed away before Joanne thoroughly cleaned my skin with a cleanser. Then she spread a specially formulated cooling gel with whitening properties to prep the skin for the KPL treatment later. Joanne was extremely thoughtful. Not only did she provide the usual eye wear to prevent light exposure to the eyes, she also placed a thick towel over my eyes for extra protection. 😀 The KPL treatment was administered by placing a special probe on the skin while light-based energy is emitted in highly controlled pulses destroying the hair follicles. The process was quick and painless. I was done within 5 minutes! Thereafter, Joanne wiped the gel away and applied an aftercare moisturizing essence to the treated area to soothe the skin after treatment. Joanne explained that the hair may grow again after a few days but they will fall out after two weeks. She advised avoiding the sun as much as possible and highly recommended the use of sun screen on days that I go out and about over the next few days. After the treatment… It’s been weeks since my treatment and I haven’t suffered any side effects. My skin also looked brighter and smoother. There was no sign of facial hair on the treated areas too. I was very satisfied with the results so I went back for more. 😛 This time, I chose their Face Rejuvenation treatment to create that natural glow on the face. Face Rejuvenation treatment is also conducted with the KPL technology. Besides removal of unwanted hair, KPL can treat a wide variety of skin problems by stimulating the skin to produce more collagen, plumping out the skin and making it appear younger. Some of the skin problems that the Face Rejuvenation treatment can address include: – Age and sun damage spots – Pigmentation and blemishes – Fine lines and wrinkles – Acne – Rosacea – Large pores – Uneven skin tone and texture The Face Rejuvenation procedure is similar to that of the KPL hair removal treatment that I did earlier. The only difference is the gel that they used for the treatment. Instead of whitening features, this cooling gel comes with Coenzyme Q10 to curb pesky free radicals and to prevent wrinkles. Regina also uses moisture-rich and gentle products from Estesophy to cleanse and tone the skin. Joanne then zapped away my gaping pores, freckles and fine lines with the KPL device. She noticed my deep neck wrinkles and also kindly extended the treatment to my neck area to smooth out the neck lines. 😀 Like the hair removal treatment, Joanne wiped the gel away, applied an aftercare moisturizing essence and wrapped my face with a cold towel to soothe the skin after treatment. Mummified! Joanne nourished my skin further with a whitening mask to revitalise, hydrate and brighten the skin. She prepped my face by placing a soft white sheet over my face. Then she covered my face with a thick layer of whitening mask. After the mask is dried, she removed the hardened mask and applied some toner and sunscreen on my face. Here’s the finished product. 😛 I was very happy with the results. My face was glowing with radiance and it was noticeably brighter and tighter. These great results lasted for weeks. The good service from the Regina folks, especially Joanne, is highly commendable. They were polite, accommodating and very thoughtful. They were also very well-informed about the latest beauty technology and products, constantly dispensing their beauty knowledge during the sessions. I was very grateful and picked up many beauty tips that day. I award 4.5 Honeyz crowns to Regina for their attentiveness and effective treatments that produce long-lasting results! The Face Rejuvenation treatment is available at the following prices. A beauty tip for all brides-to be! Don’t overload your beauty regimens before your wedding day as your skin may not react well to the sudden surge of beauty treatments and products. Remember to always plan them way ahead to let your skin get accustomed to the products and your new skincare ritual. Lastly… Being a bride-to-be is a once-in-a-lifetime experience so just enjoy the ride. 🙂 Special thanks to Joanne for the impeccable service and my Honeyz Belles , Tiffany and Rusty for the wonderful photos. ❤❤❤ For further info on Regina Hair Removal Specialist and their locations, please consult their website at www.regina.sg or their Facebook Page at facebook.com/ReginaSingapore . Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the food 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. #beauty #beautyreview #BridalBeautyLog #ReginaHairRemovalSpecialist

Yay! Honeyz Cube achieved yet another notable milestone last month with the organization of our very first bloggers event – Honeyz Cube x HKCplaza Pamper Party! We wanted our maiden event to be as cozy and indulging as possible so instead of holding one Pamper Party, we held four over four weekends to accommodate and pamper a small number of girls each time. It was insane but totally worth it. More than 30 prominent bloggers in the beauty and fashion industry graced our event with their presence. And they were all treated to luxurious facial treatments, coddling manicures and also presented with a bag of LJH goodies. The event was proudly sponsored by HKCplaza and Nails D’vine nestled amidst the tranquility and lush greenery of Dempsey Hill. The European Renaissance-themed salon looks spectacular I tell you. Click for proof! The Nail D’vine reception My fiancé, B was there to support me too – as a receptionist. JUST KIDDING! 😛 Of course, he was there as my ‘partner-in-crime’ and supportive fiancé. 🙂 The nail parlour The makeup counters Touching up my makeup at the newly installed vanity counters that fuse Renaissance with gorgeous Broadway-esque mirrors. The ceiling directly above the parlour is adorned with paintings and images of beautiful cherubs reminiscent of the famous Sistine chapel. It reminded me of the castle from my favourite cartoon, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. :p Beauty and The Beast ‘Be My Guest’ Restaurant at Walt Disney World Resort The resplendence is extended to their little chill out corner where kids or our bored compadres can hang out. The entertainment includes toys, magazines, a TV and even beauty products for guests to try. Chilling out while waiting for my distinguished guests to arrive… It was an hour away from the time of the event, so I decided to try LJH’s signature face slimming treatment as part of the product demonstration later. My new V-Shaped jawline. You can read all about my experience and the astonishing results of the V-shape face slimming treatment on the Honeyz Cube blog . 🙂 Whee! The girls are here! We held the event to celebrate the recent launch of our online beauty store, known as the Cube Store, as well as showcase all the LJH products that are available on the site. Della of HKCplaza introduced some of our signature LJH products and conducted several product demonstrations on me as well as our lovely bloggers. In case you’re wondering, HKCplaza is the key distributor of LJH products. There were three products that caught the beauty-loving eyes of our bloggers. The first one was the LJH Oxygen Bubble Brightening Pack that uses a special foaming formulation to remove impurities and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin. The consistency is gel-like when applied but within seconds, it turns into foam which you can easily remove with water. Besides cleansing properties, it also improves the overall tone of your skin and produces an instant whitening effect. It is suitable for use on all skin types. The LJH Oxygen Bubble Brightening Pack retails at SGD58 on the Cube Store. In fact, all LJH products are suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin as the brand was initially created for patients who had just undergone cosmetic procedures. LJH also has a chain of reputable aesthetics clinics in Korea and the LJH products were researched and developed by the top doctors in their clinics. The next product that everyone was fascinated with was the LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence . The 90 in its name refers to the percentage of tea tree extract in its content. The serum deliver its nutrients deep into the skin resulting in moisturized, clearer, brighter and more vibrant skin. What we all loved was its fragrance-free and oil-free formula which is very rare for a tea tree product. The LJH Tea Tree 90 Essence retails at SGD68 on the Cube Store. And finally, the most significant product of the session – the LJH P.Antarctica 77 Cream . The cream consists of 77% P.Antarctica, a microorganism that grows at -20 degrees in the Antarctic glaciers, as well as ice plants and baobab tree extract. These ingredients provide emollient properties by forming a moisture coat on the surface of the skin to improve its softness and suppleness. It also includes sage leaf extract that is effective in tightening pores and soothing irritated skin. On top of these nourishing ingredients, it also contains madecasic acid from its centella asistic extract that is great for fading scars and promoting skin regeneration. The cream produces a mild cooling sensation when applied and it also absorbs pretty easily. So it was no surprise why it was such a hot favourite. Enticed? Try the cream for free by clicking on this link – http://hkcplaza.com/HKC플라자-Professional-Korean-Brand/1st-300-LJH-P-Antarctica-77-Cream The LJH P.Antarctica 77 Cream retails at SGD34 on the Cube Store. To celebrate the launch of the LJH P.Antarctica 77 Cream, we created a special Antarctica-themed manicure for the bloggers. Check out the photos! Then it was time for some lovely banter and feast! Every week, the menu changes. Haha! We had Korean BBQ, German Sausages, Italian Pizza, etc. All proudly sponsored by HKCplaza. They are one hell of a sponsor I tell you. 😛 After the feast, we also had a mini photoshoot taken by Yong Thye, our Honeyz Cube Creative Director. Here are some photos from the other sessions. Lovely Alethea and I. The awesome Herine and I at the last Pamper Party. The adorable Michelle and I. Each blogger also got to bring home a specially curated goodie bag of LJH products. If you’d like to find out more about the LJH products, please click here – http://honeyzcube.com/SearchResults.aspx?KeyWord=ljh Or visit HKCplaza’s website at hkcplaza.com . Finally, I want to express my extreme and humble gratitude to all the bloggers for their participation and enthusiasm. The response we received from you ladies were very flattering and we are extremely grateful to each and everyone of you. The Pamper Party wouldn’t have been a success without your presence and support. We look forward to seeing you again at our next event! The bloggers have also shared their experience and thoughts about the party on their individual blogs. Read them all here . 🙂 Experience the beauty miracle yourself! We would like to invite you to try the LJH Doctor’s Care V-Shaped Facial Treatment too! Simply register your interest here – http://hkcplaza.com/hkcplaza/detox-lifting-impression and you’re well on your way to getting a smaller and sharper chin like the bloggers did! We’ve only 80 vacancies spread over 2 days – 30 Nov and 1 Dec 2013 so hurry before all seats are taken! Your ideal V-Shaped face is just a click away! 😀 Your friend, Juliana #beauty #beautyreview #BloggerEvent #HoneyzCube

Channelled my inner model with Yikeshu Photography yesterday. 😛 I was very impressed with their craft as they’ve captured angles of myself that I’d never even seen before. Eagle, photographer and co-founder of Yikeshu Photography actually gave me a pep talk before the shoot to give my self-esteem a little boost. And the final product? I would say – astounding. We’ll be collaborating again for new photos for my blog. *excited* Meanwhile, click to view some of the images from the series! So what do you think? My most favourite is the cover photo which I thought reflected the essence of my inner thoughts at the point of the shoot perfectly – peaceful and self-assured. Well, I guess the pep talk helped as I was on the other side of the emotion spectrum before the shoot – reticent and slightly flustered due to the traffic jam en route to the studios and a lack of familiarity with the new photography team. It was obvious that all that was eradicated and only positive emotions were portrayed in the photos. Yay! B loved them too! 😀 Great work guys and thanks for this! If you’re interested to discover your inner Kate Moss too or to find out more about Yikeshu’s photography or wedding services, you could visit their website www.yikeshu.com.sg or their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/yikeshu . Have a fab Thursday! Your friend, Juliana #fashion #Photography #YikeshuPhotography

We’re officially days away from the season of Yule! Woo hoo! Got your dresses, party hats and dance moves ready??? Don’t forget a flawless and gorgeous canvas for your festive makeup! You know, we can do much more than just velvety soft skin. How about adding a slim, contoured jawline to the equation? Well, you can now do that by signing up for our Honeyz Cube Beauty Party! All party-goers will receive a complimentary LJH Doctor’s Care Detox and Lifting Treatment (worth SGD146) and of course also an exclusive opportunity to try our Cube Store LJH best sellers! Check out my review of the treatment here – http://blog.honeyzcube.com/beauty/ljh-doctors-care-detox-lifting-treatment-review-exclusive-invitation We’ve only 80 vacancies spread over 2 days – 30 Nov and 1 Dec 2013 so hurry before all seats are taken! Your ideal V-Shaped face for this Christmas season is just a click away – http://hkcplaza.com/hkcplaza/detox-lifting-impression . Your friend, Juliana #beauty #FacebookGiveaway #HoneyzCube #LJH

Advertorial Studs and spikes reign supreme in the fashion world right now. They are no longer reserved for the punk rock and metal heads only, you can now see them everywhere – from jackets, shoes, phone cases to nail art! And you’ve guessed it! I decided to jump on the bandwagon too with some fetching rock chic studded nails for the holidays! Click for a closeup look at my ‘studded affair’! 😛 I’ve adorned my nails with rhinestones, pearls and ribbons before. But this time, I decided to ‘upstage’ my previous nail designs with metal studs and roses! Nail Indulgence De Beau’s latest best seller – metal gold roses! To make the metal embellishments stand out even more, Amanda, owner of Nail Indulgence De Beau used a black varnish that has gold glitter in it from Jacqueline Burchell as the base. The dark color accentuated the grunge rock style and the gold glitter added dimension to the design. Then she whipped out this gorgeous black glitter nail polish from her stash to create some pretty cool glittery patterns. The black glitter gel polish is a new product by Korean nail polish brand, Brite. I thought the black glitter looked pretty fascinating because they were not the usual iridescent glitter that sparkles and shines. Instead, they compliment the nail color with evenly distributed hexes and strips of different sizes which make the nail design look totes unique. You can check out the rest of the colors from the range below. And here’s the final product! Pretty rock chic eh? You’ve done it again Amanda! Thank you! As usual, I’m going to present a series of photos that features my Nail Indulgence De Beau nails. If you’re expecting something like this from this series… Ah-uh! I’ve been back from Paris for a while and over these few months, I’ve been missing the romantic vibe, the magnificent Eiffel Tower and its signature cobblestoned streets pretty badly… … So I decided to do a series of photos that are inspired by my love for Paris and I’m calling it Je t’aime, Paris! I retained the grungy traits with a funky neon spike necklace and a punk rock leather skirt. LOL! Enjoy! Fin. Wanna try Nail Indulgence De Beau’s services too? Sure! Enjoy their services with the following promotion for all first-time customers: Quote ‘Honeyz‘ at Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) to enjoy a gelish nail manicure and free soak off at $29 only! (Priced at $60 originally.) So ladies (and gentlemen), bring your mommy, grandma, girlfriends and aunties to Nail Indulgence De Beau too! With these low rates, everyone can afford to be pampered with manicures and pedicures! Nail Indulgence De Beau (uBeau) is located at No. 1 Liang Seah Street, #02-14. (Opposite Bugis Junction) You may call them at +65 6333 1687 for an appointment. (Remember to quote ‘Honeyz’!) Click here to view their Facebook page! This fall, get runway-worthy nails from Nail Indulgence De Beau! For more exclusive content on the latest product reviews, style books or to receive the full gamut of privileges as Honeyz readers, like my Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/ilovebunny.net Your road to a sparkling lifestyle begins here . Your friend, Juliana #gelishnails #beautyreview #JacquelineBurchell #uBeau #beauty #advertorial #NailIndulgenceDeBeau

Advertorial Why are long fluttery eyelashes attractive? Because… – they brighten the peepers and make them more alluring. – they are a time saver. No more long eye makeup routines. – our eyes are the windows to our soul so having longer and fuller lashes are like drapes that frame and beautify the windows! Long luscious eyelashes are basically the universal symbol of beauty! If you think your lashes are short or sparse, it’s not the end of the world yet. I’ve a beauty saviour to introduce to you. Click for more! Tada! Here it is! Mention “TAKE75%OFF” when you book an appointment at Lolita Group for a new set of NovaLash Eyelash Extension at SGD34.75* only! (Priced at SGD139 originally.) *For first-time Lolita Group customers only. Check out these posts for my review of Novalash extensions. The offer is valid till 30th November 2013. Lolita Group is located at Marina Link @ Marina Square #B1-12 Singapore. Contact them at +65 63389981 to book your very first Novalash appointment! Lunch hours are between 3pm – 4pm. For more information, visit their website at www.lolitagroup.com or facebook page at www.facebook.com/LolitaBeautyStudio Trust me, gorgeous peepers begin here . Your friend, Juliana #beauty #beautyreview #LolitaGroup #Novalash

Dessertarians rejoice! There’s a new dessert spot in town! Meet Francisca Dessert Parlour , a European-styled tea room by former Miss Singapore World, Colleen Francisca and her gorgeous sister, Scarlet! Specialty cakes, hand-made Swiss truffles, Italian gelato, luscious macarons, teas and infusions are some of the tasty confections on their hearty menu. The icing on the cake? They are all free from trans fat and artificial ingredients! Now scroll down for your sweet taste of happiness! The homey cafe is strategically situated at P02-35/36, a couple of metres away from the entrance of Millennia Walk PARCO. [df_divider el_width=”100″ style=”solid” accent_color=”#EEEEEE” border_t_width=”2px” padding=”20px 0″ position=”align_center” el_class=””] Upon entering the premises, you’re greeted by a splash of pastel colors and intricate Parisian details that are reminiscent of a French patisserie. Their awe-inspiring gift boxes are perfect for parties and gatherings! Each of these boxes are lovingly designed by the Francisca sisters. Noticed those paintings on the walls? If you find them acutely familiar, that’s because they are works of  David Delamare whose fanciful paintings have also appeared on countless book and album covers, in television programs and in films. He has produced concept work for Warner Bros. Animated Features and Francis Ford Coppola, and designed sets for the American premier of Trevor Nunn’s Peter Pan. Colleen is a huge fan of David Delamare so she’d collaborated with the famous artist to produce a series of paintings known as Nighttime in Wonderland for the walls of her dessert parlour. It is a unique new interpretation of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland. I thought the paintings not only amped up the artistic factor of the cafe but also injected an air of whimsical enchantment into the settings, which is totally fascinating. Francisca Dessert Parlour’s slogan ‘Happiness Delivered’ Francisca Dessert Parlour’s macarons are airflown from France and they offer more than 16 luscious flavours like chocolate orange, peanut butter, rose, rocky mountain, just to name a few. The best sellers are summerberry, rose, lemon raspberry and salty caramel. If you’re looking for a less calorific but equally palatable treat, try the mini macarons instead! They come in different flavours such as liquorice, lime yuzu, chocolate mandarin and apricot nougat. Francisca Dessert Parlour serves gelato instead of ice-cream! Francisca Dessert Parlour offers more than 12 flavours of gelato including exotic flavours like Lavender, Sakura, Lychee Raspberry and traditional favorites such as Cookies and Cream, Dark Chocolate and Banana Chocolate chunks.To be honest, I prefer gelato to ice-cream and it’s no surprise why. Gelato is made with a greater proportion of whole milk to cream, so it contains less fat than ice-cream. In case you’re wondering, the difference is about three to five per cent of fat. And because of the way the dessert is made and stored, the flavour is more intense than ice-cream and it also melts in the mouth more quickly. The dessert parlor also has a large selection of asian and western teas. I chose the Sakura Flower tea to go with my Francisca High Tea Set. My Sakura Flower Tea The aroma of the cherry blossom was rather prominent unlike most sakura teas which have pretty subtle floral notes. The ratio of water to the tea leaves was on point. It refreshed my palate for the Francisca High Tea Set that was coming up next. Francisca High Tea Set My high tea was served on a classy 3-tier stand and it consisted of truffles, mini macarons, freshly baked cupcakes and sandwiches. The sandwiches were a huge delight, especially the Shrimp and Dill sandwich which was an original Francisca Dessert Parlour recipe. The shrimps were fresh and crunchy and the herbal dressing simply accentuated its delectable flavour. Well, you don’t need a gourmet to tell you this combination is a match made in food heaven. 🙂 The other sandwiches served were Egg Salad Tea  and Cucumber and Cream Cheese which I thought pales in comparison to the Shrimp and Dill one. But just to be fair, I’m a typical Singaporean who loves anything seafood so shrimps are definitely more to my liking than eggs and cucumbers. :p I’m not a huge fan of cupcakes but I found myself falling head over heels with the Francisca Dessert Parlour’s cupcakes which were freshly baked by none other than its founder, Colleen. Colleen has a huge passion for baking so she makes sure she maintains the high quality of the cupcakes at Francisca Dessert Parlour by making them herself. I’m not kidding. When we met her in the afternoon, she only just came out of her kitchen and told us that she’d spent the entire morning baking. In case you think she appeared looking sweaty and unruly, I can assure you that she did not. On the contrary, she came out looking like well… Miss World. Check out this photo! From left to right: Me, Colleen, Rusty, Tiffany and Scarlet. We spent the afternoon bantering about cupcakes and her business concept. She explained that the reputation of her cupcakes is too precious to be handed over to someone else to uphold so she decided to leave the most important part of the business to herself – the baking. I really admired her for that because unlike most restaurant owners or bosses, she wasn’t afraid to get her hands dirty. Kudos Colleen! Guess what? Her perseverance paid off because Francisca Dessert Parlour caught the attention of BBC News and Colleen’s story was featured on its business segment. Check out the coverage here ! Surprisingly, I can totally understand Colleen’s insistence on making her own cupcakes as I had the same attitude towards my Honeyz Cube database too. I had a hard time convincing myself to let someone else take care of the database. I only learnt to let go when the work became too overwhelming and started to take a toll on my health. But I’m glad I did it as Honeyz Cube has a much larger and comprehensive list of beauty product information now. Anyhoo, coming back to the Colleen and her cupcakes. I could tell she put her heart and soul into the cakes because it tasted absolutely fabulous. The cake was light and fluffy while the icing was smooth and not too sweet. Francisca Dessert Parlour’s slogan is “Happiness Delivered” and I tell you, they certainly delivered happiness to my palates with their signature cupcakes. Well done ladies! We also tried the chocolate mandarin and white chocolate lemon mini macarons which were pretty fab too. The macaron shells were crunchy and the fillings were chewy. I’m big on citrus flavours and even though both macarons contained the juicy aroma of my favorite flavour, I was a bigger fan of the chocolate mandarin macaron. The tangerine flavour was much more prominent than the lemon in the white chocolate lemon macaron. It’s time for some gelato! (said in my best Italian accent) 😛 To keep up with the European theme of the dessert parlour, our gelato was served on an antique-like silver tray which made it looked extra classy and yummy. We had the best sellers dark chocolate, blueberry cheesecake, snickers and brownie and also the sorbets, mango and lychee raspberry. Even though the dark chocolate gelato tasted sweet and decadent, my favourites from the lot were the sakura and lavender flavours – all thanks to my floral obsession. Overall, I had a great experience at Francisca Dessert Parlour. The service, food and the atmosphere is top-notch. I’m definitely coming back. I’m actually looking for a nice cozy venue for my wedding solemnisation next year and this fine dessert parlour is certainly one of the few places that I’m considering now. 😀 For its sophisticated and artistic settings as well as great food, 4.5 Honeyz crowns! The Francisca High Tea Set is served with a choice of a pot of loose tea or coffee. Each set is priced at SGD20 with a minimum of 2 sets per order. Francisca Dessert Parlour is located at Parco P2-35/36 Millenia Walk 9 Raffles Boulevard Singapore 039596. Contact them at +65 6333 4847 or visit their Facebook page at facebook.com/FranciscaDessertParlour  for more info on their latest promos and offerings. Happiness delivered? Affirmative! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the food 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. #FranciscaDessertParlour #cafe #SponsoredReview #FoodReview #travelreview

I attended pureDKNY’s – A Drop of Rose product launch a few months ago and was surprised to learn that there is actually a very noble cause behind the fragrance. Even though I’ve already introduced the fragrance and its sustainability story on my Facebook Page and Youtube channel , I thought I could share it again since the season of sharing and giving is just around the corner. Well, Christmas is all about giving and celebrating worthy causes, isn’t it? Now click to find out how you can lend a hand to our hardworking women in the CARE organisation as well as our local social enterprise, the Mother and Child Project. 🙂 The event was held at Parco Caffe which is located at 10 Raeburn Park, Singapore 088702. The restaurant boasts an elegant rustic interior that was cozy and very inviting. But the feature that blew my mind away was its glass-roofed central courtyard where the event was held. I can’t explain how gorgeous it looked! Just imagine an indoor alfresco dining area – I reckon it’s a pretty splendid idea in our sunny Singapore cus alfresco dining just got ‘cooler’! 😛 The pleasant smell of roses lingered amidst the secret garden settings. All thanks to these beautiful roses and the exquisite PureDKNY fragrances that could be spotted at every corner of the room. We were then given a short presentation about pureDKNY’s noble move towards sustainable development through their partnership with CARE – a leading humanitarian organization to help lift women out of global poverty. In honor of the launch of pureDKNY’s new scent: Rose, DKNY will make a donation to support CARE, providing resources to help even more women escape poverty. This is actually their second time collaborating on such a meaningful project. They first worked together in 2010 to increase economic opportunities for the vanilla farmers in Uganda who produce the signature ingredient in their first pureDKNY fragrance, pureDKNY Vanilla. CARE’s experience has shown that when people in the world’s poorest communities have access to basic financial services – including secure savings, credit, insurance, and other products – they can help lift themselves out of poverty. Locally, pureDKNY Singapore supports the Mother and Child Project – a special project under the Singapore Anglican Community Services that helps single mothers, mothers from low income families, retirees and those recovering from psychiatric illnesses. The organization raises funds by selling handmade products (made from upcycling donated fabric) by these women. Guess what? We also got to ‘play seamstress’ by making a stuffed heart key ring out of donated fabric! The last time I sewed something from scratch was in Home Economics class where I made a ‘pretty decent-looking’ pouch. 😛 That was more than a decade ago. This time, we were expected to be done with the handicraft in an hour, so even though I was very excited, I was nervous at the same time. Let the sewing begin! But the kind representatives of Mother and Child Project did not leave us sewing noobs in the lurch. They guided us patiently throughout the session. With their helpful directions, I managed to come up with this in an hour! Woo hoo! Not the best, but good enough to make my fiancé happy. Yup! I gave this to him in the end – stuffed heart sealed with a kiss! Haha! Show your support for the Mother and Child Project ™ by purchasing their handcrafted products! The ladies at the Mother and Child Project ™ produces a wide range of products ranging from clothing (jackets, dresses, tunics, shrugs, scarf dresses, blouses, skirts, pants, children’s clothes, etc), accessories (bags, handcrafted belts, fabric necklaces, paper bead necklaces, chokers, bracelets, earrings, rings, etc) to practical household items (patchwork quilts, door stoppers, handphone holders, paperweights, cup warmers, coasters, notepads, keychains, etc) They also customise and produce unique eco-friendly and ethnic-inspired gifts upon request. Find out how you can lend your support to the Mother and Child Project ™ by visiting their website at www.motherandchildproject.com . The pureDKNY – A Drop of Rose is available nationwide at all major department stores at SGD132 (100ml) and SGD96 (50ml). This Christmas, let’s help to make an impact on improving the financial future for women, one drop at a time. 🙂 Your friend, Juliana #beauty #charityawareness #pureDKNY

Last year, I gave you Christmas Gifts for Him and Her (which surprisingly was quite a hit). 😛 This year, I thought I could be more helpful and specific by offering you a list of Christmas gift ideas for ‘that friend‘ who might be The Fashionista, The Nature Lover, The Beauty Junkie or maybe even The Creative Fiend! It’s time to buy the right gifts and hit the proverbial nail on the head! Click for my specially curated catalogue of Christmas shopping destinations! The Nature Lover The friend who is all about conserving the environment and making a difference to her community. I recommend… The Body Shop I guess we all already know that The Body Shop does not test on animals but do you know that they have taken ‘sustainable development’ to the next level by also practising fair trade so that communities benefit as well as you? Our favourite Body Shop loofahs, cocoa butter, wooden massagers and the signature Christmas gift boxes are all produced by their Community Fair Trade Partners in Ghana, Honduras, Nepal and Northern and Southern India. And guess what? Not only do these communities earn a regular income and avoid exploitation by middlemen, they are also given a higher standard of living as The Body Shop donates part of their profits from the Christmas gifts to these communities to build new schools. Many of the children in those areas have to walk at least 5km to school everyday so the funds could offer a better learning environment that is within their vicinity. Some of my faves from The Body Shop’s Christmas collection * Images courtesy of missrusty.net . 4-Step Smoky Eyes Palette (SGD39.90) It includes palettes of four on-trend eyeshadows, a mini eyeshadow brush and mini eyeliner brush so you can touch up on the go. Comes in Smoky Brown and Smoky Plum. From left to right: The Smoky Brown Palette and The Smoky Plum Palette. The Sparkler (SGD39.90) This limited-edition atomiser releases a fine shimmery powder to highlight the face, body and hair. It is perfect for the party season. It provides a golden shimmer, even application, mess-free make-up with a lightly scented smell. From left to right: Boudoir Pink and Enchanting Gold. Ginger Sparkle Shower, Scrub and Moisture Collection (SGD39.90) Enjoy the spicy, limited-edition scent of ginger from top to toe with this pampering box set that is packaged in a reusable tin shaped like a gingerbread man. How adorable! From left to right: Ginger Sparkle Body Butter 50ml, Ginger Sparkle Shower Gel 250ml, Ginger Sparkle Body Scrub 75ml, Ginger Sparkle Soap 40g and a reusable aluminium tin. The Fashionista The friend who’s always at the forefront of fashion and whose eyes always light up whenever the F word is mentioned. I recommend… Zalora.sg Crowded malls make me edgy and frustrated. We all know how packed the malls can get during the holiday shopping season. So avoid the crowds altogether and shop in your warm bathrobe or Hello Kitty pajamas in the comfort of your own home with Zalora.sg ! Heralded as one of the largest online style merchants in Singapore, Zalora offers a jawdropping number of men’s and women’s global fashion labels. Yes, it carries more than 400 international and national brands with products across all categories and styles. Some of my faves include: River Island (Zalora Exclusive!) Click here for all the scoop. Something Borrowed I love its affordable and trendy outfits that are great for any occasion! Steve Madden Zalora offers an amazing inventory of Steve Madden shoes that will definitely make your fashion-forward friends go gaga! Besides reigning fashion coutures, Zalora also established itself as beauty royalty by carrying highly coveted cult beauty favourites like DRGL, Nail Rock and Paperself which were only accessible and known to industry experts, and now they are readily available to local shoppers as well! Receive a SGD10 shopping voucher from Zalora! Great news guys! Get an all-access pass to Zalora’s latest Christmas deals and a $10 gift voucher from Zalora when you sign up for their newsletter. Visit http://www.zalora.sg/christmas/ for all the details. The Creative Fiend The friend who’s peculiar (in a good way) and who has an unbridled love for anything unconventional. I recommend… Fancy.com Fancy.com is like the epitome of quirk. Don’t believe me? Check these out! Zooquariums: Cat Shaped Betta Fish Tank Squirrel Tissue Holder My Half Your Half Pillowcases 13th Street Stationery of Horror The last one shocked you eh? 😛 At Fancy.com, you can discover an unparalleled assortment of unusual stationery and gadgets, fun novelty gifts and even amazing places submitted by their members. I’m pretty sure you and your exceptionally creative friends will love everything the store has to offer. Alright, one final gift recommendation for your adventurous and whimsical buddies! Haha! It’s a wine tote bag – perfect for those Christmas house parties! 😀 The Beauty Junkie The friend whose life revolves around skincare routines and who would buy the latest makeup on the fly. Then this next virtual storefront that I’m going to introduce is going to help you pick out the most suitable gift! I recommend… the Cube Store It is a beauty discount store by my beauty encyclopedia website HoneyzCube.com . Through our close friendship and collaboration with the biggest beauty brands, we are able to bring in some of the most sought after and exclusive beauty products at some of the most incredible prices. Think promotions like free shipping and Buy 2 Get 11 free offers! Our latest Buy 2 Get 11 free promotion No more elbowing fellow shoppers, dealing with flustered sales assistants or enduring long counter queues. Our free delivery orders and special web-only sales streamline your shopping experience and help you save a ton of time and money when you shop for your beauty-loving friends. Team Honeyz Cube loves Christmas! Stick around because in the next few weeks, the Cube Store is going to launch more exclusive products that are not available in our local retail stores such as the Star Lash Fancy False Eyelash range and a beauty subscription bag service known as Purse-nality that features a collection of some of the most highly rated items by our Honeyz Cube community. Stand out from the crowd with our Star Lash Fancy False Eyelash range. What is your Purse-nality? So what defines our purse-nality beauty bags? We have three categories of bags namely The Polymath, The Artist and The Purist. For your reference, this is what each Honeyz Cube personality means: The Polymath – She has expertise in many different areas including skincare, makeup and fashion. She’s constantly striving to become the all-rounded fashion and beauty maven. The Artist – The face is her canvas. She expresses her artistic flair though her brushes and palettes. Needless to say, she’s our makeup aficionado. The Purist – The skincare connoisseur seeks for pure, clean and clear skin. She is determined to refine and sculpt the complexion to perfection. Which personality most resonates with you? This is important because each bag is represented by its respective personality. The Polymath bag offers an amazing collection of beauty, makeup and fashion items. The Artist bag contains deluxe samples of the latest in the cosmetics world while the The Purist bag introduces a wide range of skincare goodies that are not readily available in Singapore. Each purse-nality bag comes in handy cosmetic cases which you can bring on your travels or use to organize your beauty essentials. Our very first Purse-nality bags will arrive in branded cosmetics cases that we’ve sourced from various countries. They will be available on the Cube Store later this month, so sign up as a Honeyz Cube member and subscribe to our newsletters for first hand news. Finding the perfect present for your favourite friends can be pretty mind-boggling. I hope my list of recommended shopping sites can help you ease the gift shopping woes slightly. Please feel free to recommend more useful stores or websites by commenting below. Meanwhile, let’s start counting down to Christmas! Your friend, Juliana #fashion #TheBodyShop #GiftIdeas #Zalora #beauty #Christmas #CubeStore

Sponsored Review Word has it that wearing purple enhances creativity and is associated with confidence, self independence and class. Nice. I need that but I don’t think I should wear only purple or everyone might start associating me with Barney. Well, since I wasn’t born to the purple, I decided to wear the gorgeous amethyst hue on my hair instead. It’s a perfect plan eh? Now I can look chic and exude ‘ostentatious’ confidence at the same time! Haha! Guess what? I got my mommy dearest involved too. Click for all the scoop! As usual, before I experiment with a new colour, Kenji, Director of Hair Profile Salon highly recommends a hair treatment to prep the hair for any oncoming dryness. This time I’m getting a hair and scalp treatment from top Italian hair care brand, Napura . My scalp has been rather irritated by the new hair products that I’ve been using. It is red and slightly flaky. I guess it is probably still trying to get accustomed to the new chemicals introduced to it. Kenji recommended Napura’s T15.6 Active Pre that soothes and reduces redness of the skin, controls the bacterial flora of the scalp and removes dandruff. The balanced mix of the Active Vegetal Principles and precious essential oils in its formulation facilitates the elimination of dandruff by opposing aggressive bacterial activity and keeping the scalp hydrated. Joanne of Hair Profile, distributed the product directly onto the scalp by using soothing and gentle massage strokes that were absolutely invigorating. The delicate herb scent was a huge plus! I felt like I was reaching beauty nirvana during the treatment. Haha! The road to healthy hair is never complete without a full hair treatment too. Kenji introduced me to Napura’s M19 Rikeir which is an innovative concentration of proteins, specifically formulated to reconstruct the damaged areas of the keratinical structure. A full treatment will result in stronger and shinier hair which is easier to brush and more resistant to future damages. This process was like using a hair treatment mask. Basically, Eileen of Hair Profile sprayed the product on my dry locks and let it sit for a few minutes for maximum absorption before she rinsed the product thoroughly. After an hour and a half of massaging, deep conditioning and cleansing… … my hair was restored to an excellent condition. Check out the front view. The hair looked and felt soft and bouncy and the highlights also appeared more vibrant than before. Check out the shine! A month later… The good condition maintained. My hair was still shiny and smooth from the intensive Napura hair treatment a month ago. According to Kenji, the Napura products were formulated by highly acclaimed and experienced trichologists, hence the effective long-lasting results. My mane was now fully-prepped and ready for my hair colour transformation. Check out the choices that were presented to me! After much deliberation, I chose Blueberry Hill which was kinda like mardi gras purple. The final product! The color was rather dark immediately after the dye job. It only got lighter and brighter after a week or so. This was the result. What I love about Hair Profile’s dye jobs is their longevity. Hair colors usually last more than a month before they fade to an ombre style. Here are a couple of photos of my hair taken in a studio about two months after the dye job. The hair color has faded slightly to create a gradient effect which still looks pretty good. I always believe that good things are better shared. So I brought my mom to Hair Profile for a makeover too! Momsie’s long-time hair stylist had recently quit the business so even though she has been wanting to get a new hair cut and color, she hadn’t done so as she didn’t know who to turn to next. I thought Kenji might be the answer to her hair prayers. Check out their chemistry! Mom was sharing her hair woes while Kenji was examining her hair and scalp. According to Kenji, my mom’s hair looked flat and out of shape with plenty of unsightly flyaway strands. The color had also faded into dull city so he suggested a hair trim and a new hair color to refresh the style. He begins the makeover with a quick hair wash, then began to cut the stringy ends away. Did you know? Hair Profile uses the best scissors in the market? Their high-quality scissors have a polished surface with the sharpest type of blade that gives a very smooth cutting action. They send their scissors back to their factories in Japan every few months for maintenance services. Talk about devotion to their craft! Kenji suggested a well-layered hair cut that looks full and heavier than her ragged style before. He also recommended a dark brown color to complement the new hair cut. According to him, this will make my mom look 10 years younger! The finished look. Momsie loved her new hairdo and this was her review of her Hair Profile experience: “I’ve never been to a more comfortable salon than Hair Profile. Their friendly staff and great service made me feel right at home. I was also very impressed with Kenji’s hairstyling skills which gave me beautiful, voluminous and healthy-looking hair. I’ll definitely come back again.” Special Promo for Honeyz Belles! Quote ‘Honeyz‘ and enjoy 15% off all chemical treatments and a professional hair consultation with Kenji (strictly by appointment only). Hair Profile Salon is located at 14 Scotts Road Far East Plaza #01-91. Contact them at +65 6838 1811/ +65 6737 7617 for your hair appointments. For more info on their latest services, hair tips and promotions, visit their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HairProfileSalonSG So what did you think of our new hair styles from Hair Profile? Do you have a favorite hair color or hair style you wanna share too? Let me know by tagging me on Instagram at @Anastasialove22 ! 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. #beauty #beautyreview #HairProfile #SalonReview