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Sponsored Review Before my wedding last November, I was visiting the salon and aesthetic clinics at least twice a week. This year… I kinda went into a ‘beauty retirement’ mode and guess what? I haven’t been to a beauty salon for facials AT ALL. Gulp! But I’m not all that lazy, I still made sure I kept the zits at bay with my trusty Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask. Despite the deluge of facial mask choices in the market, I’ve been pretty loyal to this mask since it’s never failed me. So I haven’t exactly explored the other facial masks from Origins until recently, when online beauty behemoth, Luxola sent me the ultimate beauty squad from Origins – GinZing Refreshing mask, Drink Up Intensive mask and an updated version of the Active Charcoal Mask. Thanks guys! And it seems like the beauty brand, famed for its natural and wholesome ingredients, is all out to reaffirm its commitment to offering only high performance products that meet all skincare protocols. So have Origins reinvented the wheel with their new Active Charcoal Mask? Are there dramatic results after using these new masks? Most importantly, any drawbacks??? Well, you’ll have to read on to find out! 😛 And here are the Three Musketeers of Origins! Haha! From left to right: Active Charcoal Mask, Drink Up Intensive mask and GinZing Refreshing mask I’m so glad the packaging overhaul didn’t involve jars. Jars may look pretty on your vanity desks but trust me, they do nothing but harm to your skin care products. Beneficial ingredients start degrading the moment they are exposed to air and sunlight. That said, the translucent tube packaging of the charcoal mask is not ideal too. Opaque and air-tight packaging is the best way to retain the effectiveness of the products. Well, at least the hygiene factor is not compromised. I never liked dipping my fingers into the creams in jars. Imagine the amount of bacteria that is being transferred during the process. On that account, I think its new packaging deserves 3 Honeyz crowns. And now we check out the products! ORIGINS Clear Improvement™ Active Charcoal Mask A mask with activated charcoal to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. When environmental toxins, dirt, and debris get under your skin, its waste-filtering system gets jammed, pores get clogged, and skin looks cloudy. Nature’s complexion clean-up crew gets to the bottom of your skin’s overcast condition and clears the way for it to act its best. Activated charcoal acts like a magnet to draw out deep-dwelling pore-cloggers. White China clay absorbs environmental toxins, and lecithin dissolves impurities. Without all that stuff down there, your skin can breathe a sigh of relief. Best for all skin types. It is formulated WITHOUT: – Parabens – Sulfates – Phthalates How to use: Once a week or as often as needed, open pores with warm, moist towel and layer mask on. Allow to dry, rinse well. Watch your skin shake off the shroud of dullness and take on a new clarity. Active Ingredients:  -Active Charcoal: Absorbs 100- to 200-times its weight in impurities. -White China Clay: One of the gentlest and most effective clays, it draws out impurities and toxins while clearing the skin of excess oil, dirt, pollutants, and other waste materials. Price: SGD50 Afterthoughts: As mentioned in my intro, this is indisputably the best ‘impurities sucker’ ever! Haha! Everytime I touch my face after using the charcoal mask, it would feel incredibly velvety soft and smooth. And you think the results may be short-lived but hell no. The clear, baby smooth complexion lasts all day and night! Yup. This could easily give other pore minimising products, pore packs, charcoal masks a run for their money. However, its consistency is rather thick. So if you apply a hefty amount, say two 50-cent coin size dollops of the mask, it would be rather challenging to spread it all over your face without tugging the skin. The removal process… don’t even go there. So remember to go easy with the application and you’re well on your way to having crystal clear skin. As mentioned earlier, Origins has decided to shake up its packaging with this new translucent tube. If you think this means upgraded contents too, I’m sorry to burst your bubble but it’s status quo – the list of ingredients is exactly the same. All in all, it’s still a superb sebum extractor that won’t blow your budget. I use it once a week and a 100ml tube of charcoal mask lasts approximately four months. Pretty cost-efficient eh? 4.5 Honeyz crowns for its amazing skin care benefits! ORIGINS Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight Mask A luxurious nighttime mask to quench your skin’s thirst. Your skin depends on water for its youthful functioning. But all day long, skin loses vital moisture and the busier you are, the more it loses. This intense moisture replacement mask with avocado and apricot kernel oil deeply and instantly quenches compromised moisture reserves and builds a reservoir for tomorrow. Best for dry skin types, Japanese seaweed repairs the skin’s barrier to prevent future dehydration and signs of premature aging. Drink Up™ Intensive Overnight mask to quench your skin’s thirst is a versatile product, and is great for travel, shaving, and dry body patches like elbows and knees. It is formulated WITHOUT: – Parabens – Sulfates – Phthalates How to use: Twice a week or as desired, gently massage onto clean skin at bedtime. Tissue off excess. Active Ingredients: Apricot Kernel Oil Price: SGD59 Afterthoughts: This baby here is heaven in a tube. It smells awesome, feels awesome and works awesome. My cheeks are extremely dry most of the time and most products merely sit on top and not fully absorbed by the skin. I know that because when I remove the product, my skin will usually return to its flaky and dehydrated state. I was afraid that the drink-up mask would work the same way. And here comes the more worrying part – when applied, it feels like my body lotions, buttery and moist. These questions started flooding my mind as I lay on my bed with the mask on – Is this too rich for my skin? Will this cause a breakout? Will I look like a pimple plantation after this??? All these concerns were proved unfounded when I removed the mask and unveiled its hidden mojo –  my new luminous youthful looking complexion! Woo hoo! Yup! One application and moisture in my skin is restored. I now use it like a body lotion too, spreading it’s goodness all over my torso and limbs. I’ll be heading to the land of white sand and blue seas, Maldives, in a few weeks. And I’m definitely bringing this with me to calm and hydrate the suntanned skin later. Tell you a secret – its properties seem to enhance if I apply it after my SK-II Facial Treatment Essence. The face practically glows if I use it in this sequence – cleanse, apply essence and massage mask onto face. Try it and let me know if it works for you too. Meanwhile, 3.5 Honeyz crowns for this Origins Drink Up Intensive Mask. GinZing™ Refreshing Face Mask A refreshing gel mask to wake up tired skin. GinZing™ Refreshing Face Mask gives dull, tired skin an extra boost with this icy cool, gel texture. Best for all skin types, coffee beans energize as cucumber refreshes and hoelen mushroom soothes. Skin’s get-up-and-glow is rapidly restored. It is formulated WITHOUT: – Parabens – Sulfates – Phthalates How to use: Apply to clean skin and leave on 10 minutes. Tissue off. Use AM and PM as part of your GinZing™ regimen. Active Ingredients: Panax Ginseng and Coffee Beans. Price: SGD50 Afterthoughts: In terms of texture, this is clearly the winner amongst the three. Gel-based textures always resonates well with me because they usually do not leave a greasy film on the skin after cleansing. To be honest, I didn’t like this mask when I first tried it as the zesty-smelling fumes from the product irritated my eyes, making them red and watery. I might have applied too much of the product on my face as these effects went away when I reduced the amount applied in subsequent uses. So does it distinguish itself from other luxurious gel masks? Upon application, the mask produces a slight tingling sensation which is absolutely invigorating. My skin feels very refreshed after removing the mask. I think it’s comparable to Laneige’s Water Sleeping Pack Ex and Olay’s Olay Aquaction Softening Sleeping Mask but not necessarily better. It’s the kind of mask that makes you feel good when you’re using it. Your face would look pleasingly refreshed for a while and you’re back to square one after a few minutes. If you’re looking for a more hydrating option, I think the Origins Drink Up Intensive would be more suited for you. As for the GinZing Refreshing Face Mask, it’s a nice energy booster but I think I can live without it for now. 3 Honeyz crowns for this Origins mask. 🙂 The Origins masks are now available at  http://www.luxola.com/sg/brands/luxury/origins/view-all Special Offer For You Belles! Enter BLX-BUNNY at checkout to enjoy 15% off on all your first time orders made before 30th April.  The offer is not valid on non-discountable brands such as the following:  – Dercos by Vichy  – Dr. Wu Clinical Skincare  – Real Techniques  – SkinCeuticals  – Sigma Beauty – ZOEVA  – Origins  – Sacha Juan  – Vichy  It was great catching up and trying new products with you belles. Alright, I’m off to watch Disney’s live action remake of Cinderella! Woo hoo! But before I go, I’m leaving you with Olaf who’s apparently ‘head over heels’ with the glass slipper too. Haha! Have fun! 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 #beautytips #Origins

Sponsored Review Sunplay’s Watery Cool Series makes you feel like winter even when you’re basking in the sun! An oxymoron but true. Sunplay is determined to seal their status as Japan’s number one sunblock brand with its latest release – Sunplay Watery Cool Mist SPF75 PA+++. Sunplay Watery Cool Body Mist Sunblock This new UV Spray packs a powerful punch with their new patented SOLAREX-3 technology and icy cool menthol formulation. It is easy-to-apply and comes with high SPF75 protection that repels harmful UV Rays, so you stay cool and protected. Here are its amazing properties, • High UVA and UVB protection • Water resistant, long lasting for all kinds of outdoor activities • Easy-to-apply one touch aerosol spray that applies sunscreen evenly • Icy Cool Menthol formulation gives you refreshing relief on a hot and sunny day • Non-greasy and light The folks at Mentholatum sent me a bottle to try. Afterthoughts… Before Sunplay Watery Cool Mist, I used Shiseido’s Hadasui Skin and Body lotion to help me stay cool under the scorching sun. Did the Sunplay Watery Cool Mist replace my Hadasui? Yes and no. Yes with its added sun protection feature, lighter weight and pocket friendly price. The strength of Sunplay’s aerosol spray is also stronger which allows a more even application all over my body. The ultra-light texture of the Cool Mist makes it easy for the skin to absorb the sunscreen leaving behind a non-shiny finish. However, I think the Sunplay Watery Cool Mist still pales in comparison to my Hadasui. Here’s why… The menthol scent of the Cool Mist makes me smell like a guy! Most men’s shaving products contain menthol so my brain naturally associates the smell of menthol to men’s “odor”. Not that it’s a bad thing but I usually prefer my scent to be more on the feminine side. To add to the list of downers, you can’t spray the sunscreen directly to your face. The recommended method is to spray it on your palms and apply the sunscreen on your face. To me that defeats the purpose of the refreshing experience since the cooling sensation is most felt on the face. Hadasui cures all that I’ve mentioned with its non-existent scent and refreshing face spritzer. All in all, the Sunplay Watery Cool Mist is a still a great companion for the beach with its high SPF and non-sticky formula. I give it 3.5 Honeyz crowns! I’m sure many of you are packing for your summer holidays, but the bulky Sunplay Watery Cool Mist may not be flight security friendly with its 150ml net weight. Here’s your solution! Sunplay Watery Cool Sunblock Besides the Cool Mist, the Sunplay Watery Cool Series also comes with a 35ml Sunplay Watery Cool SPF65 PA+++ sunscreen! The Sunplay Watery Cool SPF65 contains Menthol that provides a cool refreshing sensation. It has a Revolutionary Watery Liquid Formulation that gives you the protection that you need. It is highly water resistant and great for face and body application. The texture is exactly the same as that of the Sunplay Super Block SPF 130 . Similarly, it does not leave a white pall on skin after application. The differences are the additional menthol fragrance of the Sunplay Watery Cool Sunblock and the lower SPF. Despite the manly menthol scent of this sunblock, I applaud the novelty of a sunblock with cooling properties. Moreover, menthol calms the itchiness caused by heat rash. If you’re prone to sun rashes, this might be a great solution for you. If the masculine smell of menthol bothers you too, the Watery Cool Sunblock is a better bet (than the Cool Mist) as the menthol scent in the sunblock is less prevalent. I give this product 4 Honeyz crowns for its portability and non-greasy formula. It lost one Honeyz crown to its costly price tag – SGD17.20 for 35ml Sunplay Watery Cool Sunblock. Need your Sunplay Cool fix too? Grab the Sunplay Watery Cool Mist and Sunblock at all local drugstores! The following is the Sunplay Ultra Protection Range and their prices for your outdoor needs. It’s Fweebies Time! Redeem a Sunplay Superblock SPF 130 PA+++ travel size sample for free! Click here or image for redemption! Ahoy, Cool Summer! Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the products were sponsored, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are genuine and honest. #Mentholatum #beautyreview #beauty #SponsoredReview #Sunplay

CC Cream – An upgraded version of the BB cream. Yay or nay? Introducing one of the most popular and hyped beauty product in Asia – The Color Control Cream (CC Cream)! So what is a CC cream? It is the enhanced version of the BB cream and it delivers more benefits (than the BB cream) that includes: color control, oil control, whitening, moisturizing, brightening and even sun protection! So what is the difference between the BB cream and the CC cream? BB cream is short for Blemish Balm cream and it was initially prescribed to patients who underwent laser procedures and surgery to protect their skin while also providing light coverage. With those amazing skin healing and concealing properties, the BB cream eventually reigns as most popular beauty product in Asia and touted as one of the greatest beauty inventions. This led to the development of the CC cream which is a refined version of the BB cream. Not only does it offer more benefits than the BB cream, it also acts adequately as a foundation that evens out our skin tone and as a vitamin skin booster that feeds our skin with Vitamin C and Vitamin E. Psst! Vitamin C brightens and whitens skin too! Actually, this CC cream craze was brought to my attention by a Honeyz Belle from Spain a month ago. She raved about the amazing Rachel K CC cream and recommended that I try it too. I frown upon tedious make up routines and I thought this divine all-in-one foundation might finally give me the “easy way out”. So my knee jerk reaction was to GET IT IMMEDIATELY. I bought the Rachel K CC cream in neutral shade due to my yellow undertones. After all those rave reviews, I’m curious to find out if the CC cream deserves a Honeyz Gold Label . Are you too? Wait no further! Read my review to find out! My Rachel K CC Cream Review I’ve only tried one BB cream and that is Odbo’s Protection BB cream. I did not like its watery texture as the beige liquid tend to drip everywhere. Surprisingly, the texture of the CC cream is thicker than the Odbo BB cream. I like the thick texture as it is easier to apply to the skin. No more messy foundation on my palms and clothes. Even though the texture is thick, the CC cream blends well to my skin, almost like second skin, and gives my skin a dewy finish. This is me with CC cream on only. The CC cream has oxidized to match my skin tone and I thought I looked like I wasn’t wearing any make up at all. Even though it did not cover the imperfections well, but I was happy that it evened out my skin tone and healed my pimples. I know that because I used the CC cream as a concealer for my pimples. One time, I applied the Rachel K CC cream on my freshly popped pimple (a sinful act I know) and after a couple hours, the pimple dried up. This is shocking to me as the usual ramifications of that (pimple and foundation) is a bigger and angrier looking pimple. However, the CC cream did not cure my oily complexion look. My face looked buttery after a couple of hours due to the combined effects of CC cream and oil secretion. To avoid this problem, I pat on some loose powder after I apply the cream. Rachel K claimed that the CC cream is water-proof but it was clearly not. I went swimming with CC cream on and the product vanished from my face after a mere 10 minutes. How I know? I wiped my face with a tissue and there was no trace of the foundation on it. I guess this CC cream is not cut out for a Honeyz Gold Label after all. Despite these downers, I still think the Rachel K CC cream is a pretty amazing product. These days, it only takes me 10 minutes to put on my make up. All thanks to the Hada Labo UV Milk and this CC cream! 3.5 Honeyz crowns! I bought my Rachel K CC cream at SGD 29.90 at Watsons Singapore. But you can try it for free here ! Psst! If you think CC cream is the end of the story, you’re so wrong! I just found out that DD cream is out in the market already! Credits: http://tracyleemengsyn.blogspot.sg/ So what do you think of CC creams? Yay or nay? Your friend, Juliana #beauty #beautyreview #CCCream #RachelK

Spruce up your summer wardrobe with edgy pieces from Triselle ! Triselle has a great assortment of casual clothes and fashion accessories that will not break the bank. Psst! I wore their Twisted Rope necklace at my Vacation in a Spa party and received many compliments on it. 😛 Here’s another alluring couture item from Triselle – Padded Easy Blouse. As seen on Triselle.com Honeyz’ rendition Give the ensemble a kaleidoscopic revamp by layering it with a blazer of a different hue. This look is great for the office too! Or team the blouse with jeggings and chunky accessories for a rocker twist! Afterthoughts… I’m feeling for an 80s padded shoulders fashion revival this summer and this Triselle number delivers just that. The padded shoulders are not over-the-top, and just enough to lift my fashion meter up a notch. The loose fit and lightweight style of the blouse makes it easy and comfortable to wear during any season. However, the loose fit may also cause a mini wardrobe malfunction, in that, bra may be seen when you raise your arms. Well, I guess it’s not a huge problem if you wear a tube top or wear a nude bra. Even though the fabric is thick and comfortable, it wrinkles rather easily as seen here. Nonetheless, the thick fabric means it can stand up to multiple washings and this make our cost-per-wear extremely low. Workmanship is pretty good. A couple of loose threads around the buttons but none at the hem. All in all, I thought the blouse has a great couture look and provides a good value for money! Triselle’s service is also top-notch and this makes shopping very pleasurable (More about that in my next Triselle fashion review.) Meanwhile, 4 Honeyz crowns for this cute blouse! Model Photography It’s time for another Facebook Giveaway! In conjunction with my Vacation in a Spa party , I would like to give away a Mary Chia Treatment voucher worth SGD88 and a mystery gift from Vanity Trove. (Sorry, this is available to Singapore readers only.) The Mary Chia voucher entitles you to either an Express Deep Cleansing Facial, a Thermal Sculpting Wrap and Detox Sauna or a Tension Relief Back Massage! And the mystery gift? Well, you’ve guessed it! Items from this June trove! 😀 To win, like Honeyz Facebook Page and share this photo on your wall. Then comment ‘Shared‘ on this photo on Honeyz Facebook Wall. I’ll announce the winner this Saturday, 30 June 2012 at 12pm on Honeyz’ Facebook Page. Lastly, please vote for me! One more day before voting ends! Your votes constitute 30% of the final score and that’s extremely significant. If you like what I’ve been writing here so far, please show your love by voting for me. 😛 Here’s how you can cast your vote. Register an account here , then activate your omy.sg account by verifying your email in the confirmation email sent by omy.sg. Psst! If you’re wondering why you are required to fill in your personal details, it is because voters also stand a chance to win attractive prizes ! The personal details that you have submitted is for verification purposes in the event that you win something. Please click on my ‘Vote for Me’ icon after you have registered an account. Voters are allowed to vote once a day, so please show me some love everyday by voting for me! 😀 Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: I know I’m going to sound like a broken record but I would like to emphasize again that Honeyz fashion reviews are NOT advertorial posts. I do not endorse any of those brands featured. Rather, I’m trying to show you how normal girls (girls with non-supermodel statures) look like in clothing from these famous boutiques. This is to aid you in making informed purchase decisions when it comes to updating your fashion wardrobe. 🙂 #fashion #fashionreview #Triselle

Sponsored Review Vanity Trove – For your monthly dose of happiness and beautiful surprises! Howdy Honeyz Belles! You’ve seen Vanity Trove’s (VT) goodies – Ettusais BB Cream and Style Hair Moisturizer in my ‘Vacation in a Spa’ post. Here’s more! For SGD25 a month, you receive a treasure-trove specially put together by the VT team that includes varying beauty products for skincare, fragrances, body, hair care, makeup and even an occasional surprise, just for you. This month, I received the June Edition of the Vanity Trove! It is nice to receive a box filled with luxe goodies that are catered to my beauty routine and lifestyle. It kinda feels like “the stork has brought my baby home”. Well, the only difference is I expect ‘a new baby’ to arrive every month! Here’s my baby! When I opened the box, the smell of citrus filled my nostrils immediately. The citrus aroma came from this bar of soap – Cheeky Ginger Citrus by Filthy Farmgirl. All Filthy Farmgirl soaps are 100 percent natural and vegan friendly without detergents, surfactants, sulfates, artificial scents, colorizers or petroleum products. How much and where to get it? SGD16.00 for a full-sized bar from thenatureskin.com A sweet card from Victoria. Victoria is the ‘spokesperson’ of Vanity Trove. Once you become a member, she becomes your very own Vanity Trove beauty consultant who’ll assist you with all your enquiries from makeup emergencies, beauty tips to technical glitches on the VT website. Fight harmful sun rays this month with Enavose Invisible Sunbrella UV Mist SPF45. The convenience of the spray makes it very easy to apply the sunblock to the back and areas that are difficult to reach. Another plus point – the micro-vapourised nature of the sunblock makes it easy to apply the sunblock even over make up with no smudging involved! How much and where to get it? SGD39.90 from enavose.com Your ‘Snow White’ journey begins with The Body Shop Moisture White™ Shiso Whitening Serum It contains Shiso extract that helps to prevent early melanin-making signals, halt the start of the hyperpigmentation process and melanin production cycle and exterminate brown spots and freckles leaving a more even skin tone. How much and where to get it? SGD50.90 at The Body Shop outlets all around Singapore Sidetrack… I was at Raffles City yesterday and I noticed that The Body Shop store had undergone a major face lift, including bright wooden tiles, smooth wood panel wall shelves and individual beauty counters, transforming it into a modern and sleek beauty and lifestyle store while still retaining the brand ethos. Go check it out at Raffles City! Egyptian Magic Cream – Revive tired skin with this miraculous skin cream. Top celebrities and their stylists swear by it for moisturizing and restoring skin and hair, reported by magazines such as Oprah, Vanity Fair, Allure, InStyle and Harper’s Bazaar. How much and where to get it? SGD41.50 at cosmetification.com Here’s why you should become a Vanity Trove member. On top of getting samples of fantastic products, you get further discounts when you purchase the full-size versions too! Make your pout pop with YADAH Angel Liptint! I love the sweet scent of the product. It is made from natural ingredients so the fragrance is safe for sensitive skin too. After application, it leaves my lips tinted tomato red which looked really natural. Don’t apply too much though as the liquid might stain your teeth when you smile. You can use it on both lips and cheeks. How much and where to get it? 1 bottle 3ml – SGD10.90 at all Sasa outlets or these websites: yadahskincare.com , beautyfinest.com Give your skin a water boost with Erabelle Skin Treatment Mask (Mizu-Fairness). Mizu means water in Japanese. The mask helps to boost the skin’s cell repair and moisture retention ability while promoting skin fairness by inhibiting the formation of melanin. Yay! More deals for VT members! How much and where to get it? SGD26.25 from erabelle.com Conceal imperfections while hydrating your skin with Ettusais BB Mineral Cream! It also comes with moisturizing ingredients and acne-preventing ingredients as well as SPF 30 PA ++ for a good dose of summer skin protection! More VT exclusives! How much and where to get it? SGD38 at all good Ettusais counter. More information of the counters here: ettusais.sg Go Green! Don’t throw out that Vanity Trove box! Indulge in the divine ritual of recycling with me! Make a chest of drawers from the VT boxes! See how pretty they can look on any shelf! Use them to store all your cosmetics items! The beauty items in the trove are cushioned by these pink crinkle cut paper shreds. Don’t throw them away either! They make great party decorations! You can also use them to protect your fragile items in the post or storage. I’m in the midst of giving my room a cottage-style makeover. I’m thinking of getting new shelves, a vanity desk and bean bags for a chill out corner. These dried flowers from the trove will blend well into the cottage room. What’s coming up in Vanity Trove? July and August editions are already out! But this Spree edition caught my eye instead. 😛 Get your very own box of surprises from Vanity Trove too! Click here to subscribe. It’s time for another Facebook Giveaway! In conjunction with my Vacation in a Spa party , I would like to give away a Mary Chia Treatment voucher worth SGD88 and a mystery gift from Vanity Trove. (Sorry, this is available to Singapore readers only.) The Mary Chia voucher entitles you to either an Express Deep Cleansing Facial, a Thermal Sculpting Wrap and Detox Sauna or a Tension Relief Back Massage! And the mystery gift? Well, you’ve guessed it! Items from this June trove! 😀 To win, like Honeyz Facebook Page and share this photo on your wall. Then comment ‘Shared‘ on this photo on Honeyz Facebook Wall. I’ll announce the winner this Saturday, 30 June 2012 at 12pm on Honeyz’ Facebook Page. Lastly, please vote for me! 2 more days before voting ends! Your votes constitute 30% of the final score and that’s extremely significant. If you like what I’ve been writing here so far, please show your love by voting for me. 😛 Here’s how you can cast your vote. Register an account here , then activate your omy.sg account by verifying your email in the confirmation email sent by omy.sg. Psst! If you’re wondering why you are required to fill in your personal details, it is because voters also stand a chance to win attractive prizes ! The personal details that you have submitted is for verification purposes in the event that you win something. Please click on my ‘Vote for Me’ icon after you have registered an account. Voters are allowed to vote once a day, so please show me some love everyday by voting for me! 😀 Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the products were sponsored, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are genuine and honest. #beauty #beautyreview #Ettusais #VanityTrove

Who says you can’t have a beach getaway in a spa? Say aloha to summer at ‘Vacation in a Spa’! A week ago, I hosted a spa party at Mary Chia Tampines with a beach theme titled, ‘Vacation in a Spa’! Before I go into the juicy deets of the party, let’s check out this video first. Haha.. Noticed the diverse group of party guests of all ages playing games, having fun and chilling out? Besides my closest friends and supportive readers, I’ve invited the women of my clan too – my mom, grandma, aunties and cousins. This party has a special meaning to me. I wouldn’t be able to come this far without the ardent support of my lovely family and my best friends. Juggling work and writing on this blog is no easy feat. Many times, I find strength during stressful times through my family’s support and their words of encouragement. They have always been there for me – read every post, provided creative ideas and even purchased beauty items from my sponsors. On this special day where I commemorate the birth of my one-year old blog and celebrate my Singapore Blog Awards nomination, there is no doubt my family is on the top of my invitation list. Well, you’ve seen the video. Now take a peek behind the scenes at all the crazy hard work that went into preparing the party, from packing the door gifts to selecting the decorative items for the vacation themed party. The decorations Cupcake napkins to jazz up the buffet table! Swirly straws for the summer drink station Hawaiian Hand Leis for that added beach chic. Also prepared pageant princess sashes for the top three best dressed winners! The goody bags Colorful striped beach bag to hold all the beauty treats. Dainty jeweled lipstick pen for the girly moments. Generous sponsorship from Vanity Trove ! Style Hair Moisturizers to combat our frizzy woes. Style Aromatheraphy Curl Control Hair Moisturizer Style Aromatheraphy Moroccan Argan Hair Moisturizer Style Aromatheraphy Intensive Repair Hair Moisturizer Ettusais BB Mineral Cream BB cream – our trusty all-in-one foundation. Sidetrack… Besides the lovely beauty goodies, I also received a June edition from the lovely folks at Vanity Trove. More about this in my next post. 🙂 Alright, these guys are going into the ‘Vacation in a Spa’ goody bag! Whoopie! Are we fully prepped for the party? Coconuts? Checked! Beach balls! Checked! Sent out invitations? Doubled checked! 😀 I think the only beach essentials I’m lacking now are refreshing winds of a sea breeze and a nice ocean view. Alright, let’s head to the party! Would you like to join me too? Yeah you! The one reading this right now. You can be my virtual guest! How cool is that??! Wow, you’re already decked out in your summer best! Nice! Let’s go! Here’s your spa party card! Mary Chia is big on giving free beauty treatments to the party guests and as my virtual guest, you’re going to get a pampering complimentary treatment too! More about that later. 😛 Welcome to my ‘Vacation in a Spa Party!’ Here are the activities lined up for today. Oooh… colors put me in an upbeat mood. Up your summer style quotient with a garland! Delicious spread from Flamingo.sg! Do you like my pastel party banner? The goody bags! Wait! Don’t grab the bags. Enjoy the treatments first! Check out the wide range of beauty products from Mary Chia’s house brand. Yay! More party guests have arrived! Meet other Honeyz Belles! Help yourself to the food! Chocolate ecalir seem to be a hot favorite at the buffet table. It’s time for my ‘Thank You Address’! At this point, I think I was showing the guests my website and photos of my models… Grandpa and Daddy! Haha! Attentive gazes… I must be at a serious part of the speech now. Speech is over. Let’s start filling in your spa party card with treatment stamps! May I present your first treatment of the evening- Hand Paraffin Treatment. First dip your hand into the melted paraffin wax. Wrap hands with cling film and wait for about 10 minutes for wax to dry. The cling film retain the heat for a longer period of time and this maximizes the heat benefits for joint pain and stiffness. After 10 minutes, remove cling wrap and peel off wax. And voila! Soft and silky smooth hands! Let’s move on to the next station – BMI Test! Mary Chia’s BMI Test is a Body Composition Analyzer. It helps us understand what is going on inside our bodies by categorizing weight into muscle mass, water, and body fat. This is Crystal – my beauty consultant for my Mary Chia Facial Treatment. After the test, Crystal explained to each guest the implications of an unsatisfactory Body Mass Index (BMI) and suggested ways they can improve their weight scores. The girls look happy with their results! Enough of alarming weight results. Let’s enter the world of massages, imbued with relaxing lavender scents and romantic ambient lighting, to chase the day’s stress away. Next up! Photo time! Say cheese! Hi virtual guest! You too! Big smile! No photos of me this time because you ladies are the stars of tonight’s party! However… YT, our photographer and my dear friend, still managed to steal some shots of me looking like this… Our three best-dressed princesses of ‘Vacation in a Spa’! This is Jasmin from Mary Chia. Not only did she help me with the organization of this party, she also surprised me with Wally Amos’ Famous Amos cookies moments before the party ended! Sharon, me and my aunt. Sharon is the Group Marketing Manager of Mary Chia. She sprung a surprise visit to the party! I was really happy to see her as she’s a really busy woman and yet, she came all the way to Tampines to support me. During the party, we chatted quite a bit and she even gave me a mini marketing lesson! A big thank you to the Mary Chia beauty therapists for their stellar service at the party! And one last photo with the sweet Jasmin before I reunite with my party guests! Group photo! Thank you all for coming. Special thanks to B (my beau) and YT (my trusty photographer and friend) for helping out at the party. Because of all of you, my party was repleted with smiles and laughter and many great activities. I’ve never been more happy than now. Virtual guest, I hope you had fun at my party too! To complete your virtual ‘Vacation in a Spa’ experience, I’ve reserved a goody bag for you too – a Mary Chia beauty treatment voucher and a mystery gift proudly sponsored by Vanity Trove. Talk about virtual reality. Yes. One lucky reader is going to receive a Mary Chia Treatment voucher worth SGD88 and a mystery gift from Vanity Trove. (Sorry, this is available to Singapore readers only.) The voucher entitles you to either an Express Deep Cleansing Facial, a Thermal Sculpting Wrap and Detox Sauna or a Tension Relief Back Massage! To win, like Honeyz Facebook Page and share this photo on your wall. Then comment ‘Shared‘ on this photo on Honeyz Facebook Wall. I’ll announce the winner this Saturday, 30 June 2012 at 12pm on Honeyz’ Facebook Page. Good luck! Party Sponsors Update: Flamingo.sg is no longer in operation. Statement necklace worn during the party was proudly sponsored by Triselle . Photos and videos brought to you by Honeyz Paint House Lastly, please vote for me! 6 more days before voting ends! Your votes constitute 30% of the final score and that’s extremely significant. If you like what I’ve been writing here so far, please show your love by voting for me. 😛 Here’s how you can cast your vote. Register an account here , then activate your omy.sg account by verifying your email in the confirmation email sent by omy.sg. Psst! If you’re wondering why you are required to fill in your personal details, it is because voters also stand a chance to win attractive prizes ! The personal details that you have submitted is for verification purposes in the event that you win something. Please click on my ‘Vote for Me’ icon after you have registered an account. Voters are allowed to vote once a day, so please show me some love everyday by voting for me! 😀 Your friend, Juliana #contest #beauty #FacebookGiveaway #MaryChia #BloggerEvent #SingaporeBlogAwards2012

Sponsored Review No, this is definitely not a Lady Gaga makeup tutorial. And it is not some outlandish beauty treatment either. In fact, I’m having a skin workout! Read on to find out! Okay… That was probably not so Lady Gaga but more like this… Source: donvito62.deviantart.com Anyways! A week ago, I was invited by Mary Chia to try out their services and I was given the following voucher. I was psyched! Yes, $1000 worth of treatments and products from Mary Chia. They are super generous I tell you. I’m certain that most of you have heard of Mary Chia. For our foreign Honeyz Belles who haven’t, here’s a brief about Mary Chia. Mary Chia is a homegrown and leading beauty and wellness spa brand that has 30 years of beauty and wellness expertise, with 10 outlets in Singapore and seven outlets in Malaysia. Believe it or not, the doyenne of Mary Chia, Mary Chia started out as a wedding gown seamstress and only ventured into the beauty industry when her clients requested for make up services too. Today, Mary Chia provides a comprehensive range of lifestyle and wellness services. Some of her signature treatments includes: Invigorating Cellulite Buster, Crystalite Face Rejuvenation, Diamond Face Sparkler, Ginger Infusion Exfoliating Scrub, just to name a few. So here I am at the esteemed Mary Chia Salon. I was greeted by Jasmin – the Corporate Account Relations Manager of Mary Chia, who also helped me with the organization of ‘ Vacation in a Spa ‘. *extremely grateful* She walked me through the Mary Chia Tampines outlet at Century Square. Come, follow me! This is the cosy chillout area of the salon. Bored of chilling? Check out Mary Chia’s signature products displayed near the reception and chillout area. You never know what goodies you might discover! The ultra-retro corridor that oozes contemporary style: everything was orange, fresh and gorgeous. Glistening glitters could be spotted everywhere in the salon. Then I was asked to place my stuff in the lockers. Wow, I thought that was pretty thoughtful. Usually, I’ll place my stuff near the massage bed which of course is not the safest place as my eyes are closed half the time. Well, not only do they offer lockers but… Wait for it… Our stuff are also secured by fingerprint locks! Ultimate thoughtfulness. Then I was introduced to the massage room where party guests of ‘Vacation in a Spa’ would get to enjoy free massages and paraffin hand treatments. Next, I was brought to my room where I’ll get to enjoy the beauty treatments. The signature Mary Chia towels. All ready to indulge in my 2 hour beauty treatment! Before the treatment, I was given a skin analysis by Mary Chia’s beauty consultant, Crystal. This is to ensure that the products and services chosen are suitable for my skin type and condition. After the analysis, Crystal concluded that even though the nature of my skin is oily, it is still deficient in water and this can lead to wrinkles. She decided that a a Collagen Lifting Facial and an eye repair treatment will be ideal to revive my tired and dehydrated skin. So I lied on the comfortable massage bed as Mary Chia beauty therapist , L, awakened my skin with a nice face and scalp massage. The massage was very relaxing and soothing. I could feel the accumulated tension slowly leaving my body and mind. Alright and the treatment begins proper. This is my totally bare naked face. L cleansed, exfoliated and steamed my face before she extracted the stubborn blackheads from it. Then she gently stroked my skin with a device known as Ultra-sonic to apply a hydrating lotion onto my skin. I was curious as to why a machine was used to apply the lotion to my face instead of just applying it directly to the skin. Let me guess. Another form of massage therapy? Can you guess why too? Well, Crystal explained that this machine breaks the molecules in the lotion into smaller particles so that they are small enough to penetrate into the skin. In this way, the lotion will be fully absorbed by the skin. Wow, why didn’t I think of that. Next, I was treated with soothing and cold crystal balls that massaged and calmed my ‘traumatized’ skin (trauma from the extractions earlier). This treatment helped to promote blood circulation and close up the enlarged pores from the steaming. Then L proceeded to massage the area around my eyes to reduce puffiness. Yup, my eye repair treatment has began. I was reintroduced to the Ultra-sonic facial tool but this time it comes with a different treatment tip. The device and hydration liquid used was the same as the last one. The only difference was the smaller tip as the areas of application this time were smaller. After tweezing my eyebrows, L patted a few masks on my face. Here goes! As I waited for my mask to dry, L gave me a another firm scalp massage. Absolutely heavenly. After 20 minutes… The face mask hardened to form this.. L pummeled my tense shoulders one last time before she ended the facial treatment. Tada! Refreshed and polished! Overall, my skin felt hydrated, healthier and smoother. No more unsightly bumps! My only gripe was the redness caused by the extractions. However, the extraction technique was so skillful that there was minimal inflammation two days after the treatment. I probably only saw two inflamed pores on the side of my face. Usually there’ll be tons of inflamed pores after a facial. After a week, my skin tone was also evened out. So I guess the extractions were all the better for it. Since I still had credits left, I redeemed them for a RadianX Phototherapy (RXP) underarm treatment. RXP is dubbed the first pain-free light-based therapy that clears up acne and removes unwanted hair. It requires no pre-treatment procedures, numbing or treatment down-time. It sounds like Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) treatment except it is painless. However, I was shocked the first time I used it as the machine sucked my skin lightly before blasting the light energy. Here’s the wonder maker… According to the therapist, the machine will remove unsightly hair and whiten the underarms. Results may not be immediate though. I’ve done similar treatments before so my underarms are free of hair. Though I still look forward to fairer underarms. 😛 After the treatment, I was served a cup of fresh-brewed ginger tea to detoxify and warm my body. It can get quite chilly in the massage rooms. By the way, ginger is great for the body, especially the stomach. It eases digestion and calms an upset stomach pronto. Just when I thought my beauty treatment had come to an end, Crystal presented me a bottle of Age-Defying Hydrating Lotion, a popular product from their house brand. Now my skin is truly on a path to perfection… More about this baby in my next beauty review. If you would like to find out more about the premium services of Mary Chia, visit their official website at www.marychia.com Meanwhile… My ‘Vacation in a Spa’ party was a major success! Here are some of the highlights of the evening. More photos and a party video coming up in my next post! Lastly, please vote for me for Best Beauty Blogger in the Singapore Blog Awards 2012! 😀 Your votes constitute 30% of the final score and that’s extremely significant. If you like what I’ve been writing here so far, please show your love by voting for me. 😛 Here’s how you can cast your vote. Register an account here , then activate your omy.sg account by verifying your email in the confirmation email sent by omy.sg. Psst! If you’re wondering why you are required to fill in your personal details, it is because voters also stand a chance to win attractive prizes ! The personal details that you have submitted is for verification purposes in the event that you win something. Please click on my ‘Vote for Me’ icon after you have registered an account. Voters are allowed to vote once a day, so please show me some love everyday by voting for me! 😀 Your friend, Juliana Disclaimer: Please be rest assured that even though the products and services were sponsored, it does not have any bearing on the content of this post. Opinions stated are genuine and honest. #FacialTreatment #beauty #MaryChia #beautytips #SingaporeBlogAwards2012

To the greatest men in our lives, Thank you for your discipline (we know you meant well), your sacrifices (the long hours you worked to give us a good life), your guidance and your wisdom. This Father’s Day, we celebrate and honor our heroes (that’s you Daddy!) who supported us and made our lives savory and colorful like flowers! Happy Father’s Day! Love, Juliana

Prep up for a ‘Vacation in a Spa’! G’day Honeyz Belles! Guess what? We might finally get to meet up! By now, I believe most of you are aware that I’ve been shortlisted as a top ten finalist for the Singapore Blog Awards Beauty category. (Thanks for all the congratulatory remarks and emails!) In conjunction with the awards, Mary Chia has proposed that we (finalists) organize a nice Spa Party at their Mary Chia outlets for our family and friends. Whoopie!! The theme of my party is ‘Vacation in a Spa’! Everyone will be expected to come dressed like they are on a beach vacation and the top three ‘best dressed’ ladies will receive attractive prizes from Mary Chia! Mary Chia is extremely generous. On top of a $300 budget for refreshments and decorations for the party, they are also giving free massages and service vouchers to all the party participants. Besides Mary Chia, Vanity Trove has also offered to sponsor the event with items from their monthly troves! Check out this photo for further enticement! Ettusais BB cream from Vanity Trove’s June edition. Besides juicy goodie bags, there will also be product demonstrations (where participants can try Mary Chia’s latest products) and a Party Photo Booth to capture all those glamorous moments! Delicious beach snacks proudly sponsored by Flamingo will also be served to all party participants! And…. drum roll please! I would like to invite Honeyz Belles to the spa party too!!! 😀 If you would like to attend the party, please send me an email at honeyz@ilovebunny.net and tell me in less than 10 words why you would like to come to the Mary Chia Spa Party. Yup! It’s that simple. Three Honeyz Belles with the most creative answers will be ‘handsomely rewarded’ with exclusive passes to the Mary Chia party!* *Note: This is a Ladies-Only party. Sorry guys! Please send your answers in by this Friday, 15 June 2012 and I’ll select the three best entries on Saturday, 16 June 2012. Chosen Honeyz Belles will be notified via email. Oh my, I can’t wait to meet you soon! Here’s a video that I did as part of my ‘Singapore Blog Awards Voting Rally’. 😛 Please vote for me! Here’s how you can cast your vote. Register an account here , then activate your omy.sg account by verifying your email in the confirmation email sent by omy.sg. Psst! If you’re wondering why you are required to fill in your personal details, it is because voters also stand a chance to win attractive prizes ! The personal details that you have submitted is for verification purposes in the event that you win something. Please click on my ‘Vote for Me’ icon after you have registered an account. Voters are allowed to vote once a day, so please show me some love everyday by voting for me! 😀 Thank you and have a very great week ahead! Your friend, Juliana #beauty #MaryChia #Flamingo #SingaporeBlogAwards2012 #VanityTrove

Advertorial Should men get manicures too? Absolutely! I mean why not? Men should indulge as much as we girls do. Men may not get manicures for the same vanity reasons, but doing so will elevate their hygiene cred and help them maintain a clean and trimmed appearance. Don’t we all agree that manicures are great stress relievers too? The mini-massage component and casual conversations with the manicurists always help me find the calm that I missed during my busy work days. Moreover, a neat and clean manicured look projects a polished appearance and indicates that the guy takes pride in his appearance (which is highly commendable). Okay, so manicures improve personal hygiene and appearances and give men their moments of relaxation. For those awesome reasons, I decided to bring my boyfriend, B, to a nail salon to get his nails manicured. 😛 Here’s a pictorial story of the process and the struggle… Me: Let’s go shopping! Me: Wait, stop! B: Eh.. why are we stopping? B (thinks): Great. I’ll have to wait hours again for her to get her nails done. Me: Ewww… What ugly nails you have! We need to do something about those unkempt nails. B: They do look kinda bad. Me: Let’s go get a manicure! B: Eh… what? Now I’m getting the manicure???!! He saw the glint of excitement in her eyes and coyishly said… ‘Ok.’ Me: Whoopie!! I walked up the stairs while his reluctance filled the air… And here we are at Nail indulgence De Beau. We were greeted by my good friend Amanda, the owner of Nail Indulgence De Beau, who offered to give B a free manicure! 😀 Amanda: B is a medical practitioner and a guitar player so it is vital that he pays more attention to his nails than guys from other professions. Clean and trimmed nails improves his hand hygiene during work, and also prevents harsh tones when his nails strike the nylon strings of his guitar. And let the treatment begin! Me: B, are you okay? B: Not quite! I never realized there’s so much dirt hidden under my nails! Gross! Worried me. Amanda cleaned up B’s cuticles by pushing at the base of the nail. This is to remove unsightly hang nails. In the meantime, I thought I’d explore some new colors for my next Gelish appointment. The latest colors of the gel nails range are on these palettes. Check them out for your next appointment too! Also watched Wai Fun (a sweet Nail Indulgence nail technician) create wonders on her nails with acrylic powder. B savoring his moment of relaxation. Amanda finished off with a colorless coat of enamel. B looked happy and satisfied. B: Wow! This is so cool! The nails feel so smooth! B gushed over his new manicured nails and probably wondered why he took so long to get a manicure. 😛 B: Thank you Amanda! I’ll be back again! A: You’re welcome! B: Check out my nails J! We thanked the Nail Indulgence De Beau team and… … I left with a happy manicured boyfriend in my arms. The End. Photography Model B Yay! B totally nailed it! As you can see, manicures can be pampering and reinvigorating for the men of our lives too. So Honeyz Belles, bring your boyfriend, brother, Daddy and uncles to Nail Indulgence De Beau too! Psst! A manicure makes a great Father’s Day gift for our dearest daddies. For further information on male manicures, call Nail Indulgence De Beau at +65 6333 1687 Ladies, you’re not left out! Here’s your treat from Nail Indulgence De Beau. 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! Sidetrack… Last weekend, my dear cousin Belynda introduced me to Gushcloud – an advertising platform that rewards you for sharing brand messages and ads on Facebook, Twitter and your personal blogs. Everytime someone clicks on your shared ads, you are rewarded with either cash or vouchers. The ads are mostly from reputable brands such as Lancome, Singtel, Sony, etc. I’ve also spotted some meaningful ads from charity organizations that allow us to share their noble causes. I thought this is a great win-win situation since we’re always sharing messages over social networks. The only difference this time is we get rewarded! Click here or the banner on the left to sign up for your own Gushcloud account now! P.S. Celebrate Honeyz’ first birthday with us by liking Honeyz Facebook Page , sharing our birthday post , and commenting ‘Shared Honeyz’ on the link of this post on Honeyz Facebook Page to stand a chance to win Sephora Vouchers! Alright, signing off with this photo. Your friend, Juliana #gelishnails #gelishnailpolish #beautyreview #uBeau #beauty #advertorial #NailIndulgenceDeBeau