Author: Fiona Seah

REVIEW: MAC x Brooke Candy Lipstick in Which Witch

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment

Hello guys!

Whenever MAC Cosmetics announces a celebrity collaboration, the beauty community would normally be in a complete hysteria. But when news on the collaboration with American YouTube sensation-turned-pop rapper Brooke Candy broke, it was largely met with perplexity because nobody knew who the star in question was, not even myself despite being relatively in tune with the latest trends in music and fashion.

Not really fond of those brows, though

Not really fond of those brows, though

But even so, this seemingly unknown artiste somehow managed to clinch a partnership deal with the cosmetics giant to launch not one, but two collections. The first which had released in late August was a miniature online-exclusive with two lipsticks (Mind Control and Which Witch, US$17 each) and a black liquid eyeliner (Boot Black Intense Black, US$21).

I’m always very excited about celebrity beauty campaigns because products that come out from such collaborations had mostly been phenomenal and one-of-a-kind, colour or packaging-wise. However, MAC failed to hype me up with this one. As a MAC fanatic, I was absolutely underwhelmed by the not-so-exclusive black eyeliner and the uninteresting choice of lipstick shades – a bright cherry red (..not another red..) and a deep plum. I had expected more from a collection that’s supposed to serve as a prelude to a bigger one that’s set to launch in 2016.

MAC probably realised that so they tried to mask it with a graffitied sleeve over the regular lipstick box to appease the packaging whores. Good try, but nope.

I might have been less upset if the graffiti was done on the tube instead

I might have been less upset if the graffiti was done on the tube instead

Obviously displeased with this collection but still eager to lay my hands on a limited edition MAC product, I carted out just one lipstick (as opposed to my usual ritual of buying all the shades if it’s a mini collection). Wanna make a guess which shade I picked up? No prize for getting the right answer, though.

MAC Which Witch

MAC Which Witch

Of course it has to be the deep plum! I’ve lost count of the number of times MAC has released another Russian Red-esque lipstick. The last time I bought a similar red MAC lipstick, I ended up selling it away. But how did Which Witch fare? Let’s find out!

Which Witch is a deep plum with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Which Witch is a deep plum with Amplified Creme finish (US$17)

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

Which Witch

There’s an old saying: “A picture is worth a thousand words”. Here, I’ve provided you with four, and that’s more than enough for you to make your own judgement whether you should hunt it down (if you missed the launch).

Correct me if I’m wrong, but when did Amplified Creme become a Lustre clone? The finish for Which Witch is horrendous and nothing like the Amplified Creme lipsticks I already own. It got streakier and patchier the more I tried to build it up and it feathered upon application! It’s unbelievably frustrating. I wanted to use a lip liner to stop the feathering but with such slippy consistency, my lips would most likely end up with just the unsightly lip liner mark at the end of the day.

But having said that, Which Witch did leave a slightly hydrating and supple feeling on the lips and it may actually work better as a tint too.

Swatch comparison

Swatch comparison

In short, this small makeup collection was nothing short of a disappointment. But this could be a blessing in disguise because that means more money to spare for the Guo Pei collection! Hooray!

What do you think of this collection? Let me know in the comments below!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

MAC X BROOKE CANDY (PART 1) is a limited edition, online-exclusive collection and is no longer available on the website.

REVIEW: Minus 417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, Aromatic Body Peeling & Aromatic Body Butter

/ Fiona Seah / 15 Comments

Hey guys!

The -417 products that will be reviewed in this post

-417 products

Choosing the right face wash is an integral part of my skincare regime. However, it’s not easy finding a suitable one because of the sensitive nature of my skin. To top it off, I’ve also been battling serious acne since my adolescence although it’s a billion times better now. My self-esteem and self-confidence took a nosedive during my secondary school years because I often got taunted and humiliated due to my facial flaw, especially during petty arguments where the other party would resort to using personal insults and name-calling to get their point across. Jokingly or not, those words definitely stung and made me even more self-conscious. And that kinda sparked my obsession with facial products.

In a bid to improve my complexion, I started spending a wallop of money on products that promised results. I have probably tried almost every product sold at pharmacies, mostly recommended by sales reps. But none of them managed to keep my awful pimples at bay. Instead, some of them actually aggravated my skin condition (extreme dryness, skin inflammation and whatnot) and caused multiple scarring on my face because my pimples just couldn’t heal properly. It was devastating and demoralising!

But after many years of trial and error, I finally found the face wash that best suits my skin type. Prior to that, I had used The Body Shop‘s Aloe Gentle Facial Wash faithfully every day and night. However I felt that my skin kinda got immune to the effects after a couple of years and my face became a minefield for acne once again. Boyfriend noticed the severity of my condition and got me -417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel as part of my birthday present last year (after doing his research) and I’ve been using it as my daytime facial wash ever since!

What is -417?

-417 is the developer of an exclusive and unique line of natural skincare products based on natural active components and minerals from the lowest place in the world – the Dead Sea.

Founded in 2003, -417 has been committed to keeping the value that has established itself as a trendsetter in the beauty industry. Through meticulous research and development, scientific advances, professional expertise and the understanding of a customer’s well-being, -417 is continuing to change the world of beauty. With global distributors in more than 15 countries including France, Switzerland, Russia, Denmark and Argentina, -417 products are sold through international distribution channels such as at department stores, chain retailers and pharmacies, perfumeries, chain cosmetic stores and at leading spas & hotels.

(read more)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel (S$120)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, 200g / 6.8oz

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel (pardon the dirtiness ‘coz it has sat in my bathroom for quite some time)

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

Yup, it’s recommended to be used only in the day because it contains micro natural luffa beads that help to dislodge impurities and dead skin cell. Therefore, it may be too harsh on the skin if applied too many times in a day. According to -417, the foaming gel itself is based on the Vitamin-Mineral Complex – a combination of natural active ingredients, including moisture-balancing minerals from the Dead-Sea together with nourishing plant extracts and active vitamins (A, B, E, F and H) – as well as jojoba oil, olive oil and grape oil, that leaves the skin clean, soft fresh and glowing. It aids in reducing the appearance of dark spots while speeding up the skin’s micro-circulation and providing a deep cleansing. Impressive, eh?

And the crazy part?

It costs a whopping S$120* at retail.

*gasps* No wonder boyfriend refused to disclose the amount he paid regardless of how much I bugged him about it because he knew I’d definitely lambaste the hell outta him for spending that kind of money! It’s like what, the cost of two premium ribeye steaks at an extravagant restaurant combined?!

With the price that ridiculous, this product has got to work. And very fortunately, it does to a pretty large extent as visible improvements were seen as early as one week. I had my qualms about the exfoliating function of this product initially as I had read somewhere about face scrubs being harmful to the skin.  As it turned out eventually, my worries were for naught.

Before and After

Before and After (the seemingly sharper and fairer complexion could be due to the use of other products)

My face, once clogged with filth and oil, now appears cleaner and more radiant. It had also eliminated most of my greasy sheen and stubborn zits. Of course, these results are also dependent on my lifestyle and diet. Still, although staying away from fried food and having enough rest help to subdue my acne eruption, they can’t purify and unclog my pores. I would need a facial product like this to do the job.

Furthermore, if you’re eagle-eyed enough, you’d have realised the great difference in the timestamp of my before and after shots – they were taken almost a year apart! Believe it or not, I’m still on my first tube despite using it every single day! And I’m probably only halfway through. That’s because a teeny weeny layer of it is enough to make a lather for the entire face.

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

-417 Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel

Just a thin layer like this will do

Just a thin layer like this will do (actually, I squeezed out way too much product – it’s more than enough!)

As this is advisable to be used only in the day, there’s another product that is designed for night use. The Whitening Cleansing Soap helps to lighten hyperpigmentation while removing eye and face makeup together. Like the Facial Micro Luffa Foaming Gel, the price is likely to burn a hole in your pocket and I was almost tempted into buying it when I was at their nex booth to redeem a gift for my boyfriend’s birthday a few months ago.

And that’s the thing about their sales reps – they are highly convincing and persuasive in their sales pitch to the point that it may seem a little pushy.  Apart from offering a special rate, they would also do a live demo of the products on you and chances are, you would be wowed by the instant results and enticed into getting it. While waiting for them to retrieve my gift, one of the sales reps took the opportunity to introduce me to some of their bestsellers and managed to win me over with just a simple demonstration. This was despite the fact that I’m usually very strong willed and firm against unrelenting pressure sales tactics. Well, I guess it becomes a different story altogether if the results are proven before my eyes.

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender (450g, RP: S$140 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender

As a mild sufferer of Ichthyosis Vulgaris (a common form of inherited skin disorder), I am always on a lookout for effective moisturising cream to relieve the dry and scaly skin covering most parts of my lower legs. The Aromatic Body Peeling is a fantastic addition to my skincare stash as it contains microscopic grains of the Dead Sea salt that helps to gently exfoliate dead and dry skin cells. On top of that, it also encourages skin rejuvenation and reduces signs of aging. The lavender fragrance smells reeeeally good too!

It comes in 3 other scents – Kiwi & Mango, Mik & Honey and Ocean.

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender - application

-417 Aromatic Body Peeling in Lavender – application

Packaged in a rather large tub that can probably last users for months, this only needs to be applied on the skin once a week during bath. It can be used on any part of the body except for the face and hair (because there are separate products for them). Most of the time I use it on my legs, arms and neck.

Application-wise, it was a breeze. The coarse texture of the salt evens out smoothly like a regular body wash and it leaves a silky, buttery and a minuscule tacky finish on the surface upon washing it off. Indeed, the skin doesn’t feel dehydrated and rough but I didn’t like the greasy feeling. That’s why boyfriend also got me the Aromatic Body Butter to tone it down a bit.

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender (250ml / 8.5oz, RP: $120 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender (250ml / 8.5oz, RP: S$120 but you can get it a lot cheaper. Scroll down for more info!)

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender

Enriched with Shea butter than nourishes and relaxes the skin, it also shields it from UV radiation and prevents skin aging. It contains sweet almonds oil, avocado oil and mango extract to provide a feeling of moisture, nourishment and silk. That said, I was advised to use it just once a week after shower (the same day I apply the Aromatic Body Peeling) but I’m probably going to increase my usage due to my abnormal skin condition. No matter how much of a quantity of the butter I massage on my body, the tubs seems to have an endless pit 😯

Moreover, I absolutely love the sweet aroma of the Lavender fragrance. It’s light enough not to irritate my sensitive nose and the smell actually lingers on for quite some time. Like the Aromatic Body Peeling, this also comes in 3 other similar scents.

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - application

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender – application

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - apply until it is fully absorbed into the skin

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender – apply until it is fully absorbed into the skin

-417 Aromatic Body Butter in Lavender - application

End result. Also, proof that I do have scaly skin :\ It’s better now with maintenance because it used to be a lot scarier and uglier than this.

The butter has a thick and consistent texture which spreads out nicely over a large area with just a dab. The absorption didn’t take very long too, probably in a few seconds. My skin definitely feels a lot smoother and softer after application, and less sticky as well.

*For best deals, purchase -417 products over the counter. Sales reps are usually very eager to close deals hence they would very often offer you the lowest prices possible (e.g. staff discounts, bundle prices at 30% off).

Remember, stand firm and don’t be afraid to say “no”!

All in all, -417 products are generally a costly investment (prices range between S$50 for a soap bar and S$600 for a facial mask, on average above S$100 per item) but the contents are mostly packaged in such large quantities that they can actually last you for months, thus helping you to save a lot of money in the long run. However, if you’re apprehensive about splurging on a product you’re unsure that would work, I’d highly recommend that you share it with a few people in your household.

And that’s about it!

Thanks for reading! 🙂

For more information on -417 and their products, click here.

6 Reasons Why Fajar Shopping Centre is Awesome

/ Fiona Seah / Leave a comment
SPONSORED

Hello everyone!

Come this February will be three years since I moved from my long-time residence in Bukit Batok to Bukit Panjang. Although both are technically in the Western part of Singapore, each of them has their own distinct personality. As a newer town, Bukit Panjang (henceforth BP) may not have a public transport as well-integrated as Bukit Batok yet (looking forward to the new BP MRT station!) but it has certainly come a long way in the last 20 odd years. From a secluded or ulu estate in the early ’00s along with a lack of amenities, it is now a vibrant self-contained town with many bus services connecting to the city, complete with at least two community centres, a swimming complex, dozen of eateries (not forgetting the newly-built BP Hawker Centre and Market), two pretty decent malls and a few HDB heartland shopping centres scattered all around the neighbourhood to cater to the diverse needs of BP residents!

“Eh, what are HDB heartland shopping centres?”

Unlike urban malls, these smaller-scale shopping centres house a cluster of everyday shops and are normally located within a community to serve primarily the residents living around the area! They are not air-conditioned, however, but maybe that’s how rents are affordable and prices there are kept to the minimum, right? 🙂

In fact, these HDB heartland shopping centres have been a commonplace around Singapore. You may not know it, but there should be at least one in the vicinity of your house. Not sure where? Check this list out!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Fajar Shopping Centre

In my case, the nearest one is Fajar Shopping Centre which has served me well during my considerable length of stay here. So without further ado, here are 6 reasons why you should go to Fajar Shopping Centre.. and perhaps why moving to Fajar/Segar isn’t a bad idea after all (property agents marketing BP flats, you can quote me on that).

1.  It is more convenient than you think

Fajar LRT station

Fajar LRT station

Directly next to Fajar LRT station (like, literally beside it) and accessible by 2 city-bound and 1 feeder buses (bus-stop just smacked right in front), it is easily the most convenient heartland shopping centre in the Bukit Panjang housing estate. There’s also ample parking space if you’re driving, both within the compound of the shopping centre (multi-storey carpark) and the HDB flats around it. What’s more, parking is FREE at Fajar Shopping Centre during lunch time from Monday to Saturday, 12 noon to 2pm. And yes, there are good eats there as well! I will touch more on that in a bit.

Free Lunchtime Parking!

Free Lunchtime Parking!

2. There are THREE 24-hour shops for your late-night needs..

That’s right, folks. THREE.

They are McDonald’s, 7-eleven and mini GIANT supermarket, all conveniently located on the ground level.

McDonald's at Fajar Shopping Centre

McDonald’s at Fajar Shopping Centre

I think it is very essential to have convenience shops or eateries that operate all day and night in the neighbourhood because they help to save on delivery charges (and that unnecessary money you have to spend on more food just to hit the minimum order amount) when midnight hunger pangs strike! Furthermore, if you’re not too perturbed by the lingering food smells, McDonald’s is actually a great place to study (and snack when time comes) after midnight because it’s usually rather quiet by then.

3. ..and many specialty stores to accommodate every other shopper

Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a bargain hunter or a stationery hoarder, Fajar Shopping Centre has got you covered! Apart from the usual apparel shops (many pushcarts selling accessories around!), salons and whatnot, there are also a reputable music school, a value shop and a huge stationery shop that spans across two units!

ABC Bargain Centre

ABC Bargain Centre

More shops on the second level!

More shops on the second level!

Wide corridor on second level

Wide corridor on second level

Ossia Music School

Ossia Music School

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re a tertiary student, their printing services might be of importance to you (think all the reports and lecture notes you have to print).

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

Fajar Stationery & Copying Centre / My Book Palace

If you’re feeling lucky, you can also purchase lottery tickets at Singapore Pools on the second level! Too stressed out at work? House of Tui Na is just a few shops down the row. In addition to that, parents can drop off their kids at Carpe Diem Young Joy and then leave to do their grocery shopping! And that brings me to the next point.

4. You can grocery shop at any time of the day

Not only is there a supermarket but also an indoor wet market for the early risers. I didn’t know there was a wet market the first time I went to Fajar Shopping Centre because it doesn’t look like it from the outside (and somehow I failed to notice the big “Fajar Market” lettering on the wall). With glass doors leading to the market on both entrances, it definitely looked more like an office building to me (I honestly thought it was the Town Council la).

Fajar Market

Fajar Market

As hygiene and cleanliness become the top priority these days, the wet market is relatively clean and spacious! The floor was perfectly dry when I was there on two occasions.

Giant Super

Giant Super

5. There are plenty of food choices under one roof

Of course, no shopping centre is complete without a food court! While most urban enclosed malls have just one, Fajar Shopping Centre has TWO – one with air-conditioner (Koufu) and another without (Astar). Impressive or not?

Koufu

Koufu

I  haven’t personally tried the food at Astar kopitiam but people living in Bukit Panjang have been raving to no end about the vegetarian food, which attracts a long queue of customers every time!

Freshly prepared fruit juice, just outside Astar!

Freshly prepared fruit juice, just outside Astar!

If you’re not in the mood for a heavy meal, there is a Mr Bean joint right next to Koufu that offers a dine-in area for patrons to enjoy their famous pancakes or soya beancurd!

Mr Bean

Mr Bean

6. Festive activities are planned for shoppers

To further enhance the shopping experience of residents and encourage family cohesion, the Housing Development Board (who operates these HDB heartland shopping centres) would also have programmes and activities lined up every now and then, especially during festive periods! The last time I was at Fajar Shopping Centre, there was an event specially organised to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival!

Event banner

Event banner

Due to the haze from the Indonesian forest fires shrouding Singapore for the past few weeks, many outdoor activities were cancelled so I was worried that this would be scrapped too! Fortunately, the haze miraculously cleared up on that day (and came back with a vengeance the following day) and the event went off without a hitch.

Beautiful lantern that lined the tent!

Beautiful floral lanterns that lined the tent!

Shoppers who spent at least $20 at the shopping centre were also entitled to redeem a doorgift consisting of a mooncake and a toy, or to participate in the activities such as the lantern decorating competition!

Doorgift

Doorgift

Mooncake

Mooncake

Lantern decorating competition

Lantern decorating competition

All of the participants were kids but were mostly aided on the artistic and creative direction by their enthusiastic and supportive parents. Seeing how much fun they were having, the child in me couldn’t resist not partaking in the activity! 😀

My masterpiece! Haha!

My masterpiece! Haha!

I submitted my lantern to the panel but decided not to participate in the competition eventually because it would be so unfair to the young kids if I won. There were 10 winners but the top 3 winners got to walk away with some household items. The grand winner, if I remember correctly, received a rice cooker. Whoa, not bad for such a small-scale competition leh! Kinda regret not joining in the end 😆

Having said that, my favourite part of the event still has got to be the caricature artist because.. who doesn’t like to be sketched?

Started stoning towards the end

Started stoning towards the end

Caricature artist drawing a portrait of me with so much skill

Caricature artist drawing a portrait of me with so much skill

Neat work! Though I don't quite see the resemblance hahaha

Neat work! Though I don’t quite see the resemblance hahaha

With better lighting!

With better lighting!

The event concluded with a meet-and-greet session and lantern walkabout with the HDB mascot, Wisely! He was so popular among the children who kept groping him. Parents were also hounding him for a picture with their kids 😆

A mascot with a lightning symbol as an outfit design named Wisely? I see what you did there, HDB *shifty brows*

A mascot with a lightning symbol as an outfit design named Wisely? I see what you did there, HDB *shifty brows*

Missed out on the event? Fret not!

The Mid-Autumn Festival may be over, but there are still ongoing activities for you to partake in while standing a chance to win some attractive prizes for yourself!

  1. Vote for your Top 50 shops

    Click for more information

    Click for more information

    Acknowledging that retailers at the HDB Shopping Centres addresses the needs of the residents while being an important part of the community, HDB will be rewarding these neighbourly retailers this year with a decal and commemorative plaque for display in their shops as testament of their popularity.

    Starting from 1 July 2015 till 31 October 2015, shoppers can nominate and vote for their favourite online via the app myfavHDBmall (currently available on Android and iOS) and stand a chance to win prizes in the Top 50 Favourite Shops contest.

  2. #myfavHDB Photography Competition
    Click for more information

    Click for more information

    The #myfavHDBmall Photography Competition is already launched. HDB Shopping Centres form an integral part of the residents’ daily lives by being a place for leisure, shopping and community bonding. This competition aims to collect these precious moments that are captured by residents at the 24 HDB Shopping Centres.

    Residents can submit their photos here and stand a chance to win attractive prizes. The winning entries will also be exhibited at 888 Plaza in 14 November 2015.

  3. Enter the Book of Records
    Click for more information

    Click for more information

    To mark the momentous year, an attempt is underway to create the largest SG50 logo made from stamps to set a new record in the Singapore Book of Records. Starting from May till end October, residents can play their part and donate their used and unused stamps for this record-breaking initiative.

    To participate, residents are to “post” their stamps at the specially designed post boxes at various HDB Shopping Centres and all submissions will qualify for the Lucky Draw. A total of $2,000 cash vouchers will be up for grabs. The finished masterpiece will be unveiled with great fanfare at 888 Plaza on 14 November 2015. Shoppers can expect an evening of games, activities and snacks.

And that’s about it! Do share with me your thoughts about your HDB heartland shopping centre in the comments below! And don’t forget to join the aforementioned contests! 🙂

Thanks for reading!

Fajar Shopping Centre

Blocks 443, Fajar Road, Singapore 670443
Bus Services: SMRT 922, 971E & 922
Nearest station: Fajar LRT station
Click here for more information and here for directory of shops