Impressions count, like it or not, and in the workplace it could mean a promotion or closing a deal. You want your makeup to look appropriate for the office, without going overboard. Nanzinc.Com takes a look at makeup tips for the workplace.

By: Lianne Ong

Assuming that you’re not working in the fashion or entertainment industry, you wouldn’t be wearing makeup that is loud and sparkly, topped with fluttery false eyelashes on a daily basis.  Yet you want to look polished, awake and pretty (but not slutty).  It helps you look and feel confident, and there’s nothing wrong getting a spring in your step knowing you look good, and being presentable for the office.

Looking polished

Makeup should be clean and not look like it took ages to put on. Makeup that says “inefficient”, “trying too hard” and “vain” are not impressions you want to leave in people’s minds. Choose a palette of colours that work for your skin tone, and that complement each other. Avoid garishly bright colours – save that for the company’s annual D&D. You don’t want to distract clients and colleagues when you’re talking about something serious.

Try to make some time for touch-ups during lunch hour. Politicians are known to use antiperspirant products designed for the face and neck for TV appearances so that they do not appear nervous or anxious. While we don’t need to take such measures, be sure to remove mid-day shine with some facial blotters – looking matte gives a polished appearance and creates a picture of calm. Using a good primer, like Make Up For Ever’s HD Primer will help makeup last the whole day.

Looking awake

Whether you stayed up to finish that report, or your sleep got interrupted by your baby, looking awake is often important to feeling and looking like you’re on top of things. Conceal those dark eye bags well with a pink or peach toned concealer (to neutralise the blue tones), and set it with powder so that it lasts. Even if you don’t wear mascara, curling eyelashes can do wonders in opening up the eyes.

Looking pretty

Working in a man’s world doesn’t mean you have to give up being feminine. We’ve come a long way from the big shoulder pads and fierce eye shadow of the ‘80s. Today it’s OK for a woman to be pretty and powerful at the same time.  So go ahead, wear makeup that makes you feel pretty, not because you need to mask who you really are.

A word of caution: Be prudent with beauty enhancements that alter your look for an extended period of time. Eyelash extensions and eyebrow embroidery are some of the popular beauty enhancements right now, but bear in mind that they usually are not as natural looking as you think they are, especially when they are freshly done. If you must have a go at it, make sure you choose more discrete and natural options, e.g. natural lashes rather than dolly lashes, and make your appointment way before important meeting dates.

Why has mineral makeup become so popular? Nanzinc.Com finds out what exactly is its allure, and whether all mineral makeup brands are created equally.

By: Lianne Ong

Mineral makeup used to be an alternative form of makeup but it is now fairly mainstream. Even mass market brands have created their own range of mineral makeup. Buffing on mineral powders with short-handled kabuki brushes is something to get used to if you typically use liquid foundation or two-way cakes, but give it a go and you just may be a convert. Also, nowadays, foundations are not the only makeup that has been mineralised – blushers, eyeshadows, eyeliners, and even lipglosses can carry the “pure pigment” tagline.

Still can’t get your head around buffing on your foundation? Here are some reasons why you might rethink your position on mineral makeup:

• Won’t clog your pores and is irritant free
A major selling point is that mineral makeup is non-comedogenic (i.e. does not aggravate the skin) and is free from preservatives, talc, fragrance, oil and other potential irritants. This is a godsend for those with skin conditions eczema, rosacea and acne.

• Feels light on the skin
No one wants to wear thick, liquid foundations only to have it melt away by mid-day. Mineral powders make you feel like you’re not wearing makeup, and it looks natural. If you break a sweat, it stays on, making it perfect for Singapore’s hot and humid weather.

• Less is more
Because the product is almost pure pigment, you only need very little for each application. No worries on the product expiring soon – its dry nature allows it to last a long time without bacteria breeding.

• Buildable application and excellent coverage
Some brands have different formulas from sheer to intensive for different degrees of coverage.

• The brands you trust are adding them on to their arsenal
Your favorite brands like Clinique and Elizabeth Arden have joined the mineral makeup bandwagon and are offering items like Clinique’s Superbalanced Mineral Powder with SPF 15 or Arden’s Pure Finish Mineral Powder with SPF 20). You grind what you want to use, no more. So you save on powder and won’t make a powder mess in your makeup pouch.

• Inexpensive brands available
No longer an exclusive salon item, many companies are retailing mineral makeup online at very reasonable prices. Samples are often free with purchase or cost a small fee, so you can find your perfect shade before committing.

Things you should know before trying mineral makeup:

• You will need to purchase a kabuki brush or flat-topped kabuki brush to apply it. Application techniques involve dipping the rush into the powder, tapping the excess off, and buffing it onto your skin.

• Look for formulas that are as pure as possible, and not diluted with other materials or chemicals. The ingredients you want to see are titanium dioxide, mica, iron oxides and zinc oxide. Avoid formulas with talc, a known carcinogen, and bismuth oxychloride to ensure that they are irritant-free and will not make the skin itch or break out.

Have a favourite mineral powder? Tell us which one you like! Leave a comment!

Earlier this year Nanzinc.Com gave away a mega prize to one reader. The prize consisted of:
• A Cut-And-Colour Treat at Ooosh, worth $350
• A Get Set & Glow 2-in-1 Optimiser from Skin Inc worth $528, plus a $50 voucher!
• Opalescence Take Home Whitening Gels from Canaan Dental Surgery.
• A complete makeup set from Make Up For Ever worth $400
• A full set of acrylic or gel nail extensions worth $150, 3D Nail Art (6 pieces worth $60) plus product hamper worth $150, from Fave Nails.

Our lucky winner was Tan Jia Hui, who shares her experience with the first of her prizes — a transforming haircut at Ooosh!

The neighborhood salon has been my most frequently visited hair salon for the past few years. I thought I had found myself a stylist in my neighborhood — it was an inexpensive and convenient choice as it was located just across the road from my house. This has gone on for years—I’ve become so used to cheap haircuts since I was studying and supporting my own expenses.

I continued going to my old salon even when I started working, mostly because I was used to it. Until Nanzinc.Com told me that I had won their grand prize which was five prizes! One of the prizes was a haircut and colour at Ooosh! Hair Academy at Delfi Orchard.

My first impression when I walked in was: Great place, luxury design, warm lighting with a beautiful chandelier. Many smiles greeted me as owner and hairstylist Perry Goh walked me to my seat.

I was served tea and the salon was filled with relaxing music. But my heart was still beating a little fast. I had come here with a very conservative style in mind. I didn’t dare to risk too big of a change as a few months from now, I’m going to be a bride. I told Perry my concerns, and he gave me a sense of assurance that it would not be something I would regret.

He then came with a few hair colour choices—I left the decision to him. Having my hair coloured at Ooosh! was like a high-class massage for my hair! I loved the feeling of fingers running through my hair, the sensation calmed all my nerves.

The colour came out better than expected, not too loud but yet stylish. The cut, on the other hand, was a bit frightening! Perry suggested straight bangs, something I had always wanted to try but never dared to do. Thinking that I would still have time to grow it out before my Big Day, in case I didn’t like it, I decided to let Perry go ahead and cut it.

The result was and is amazing! It is really worth while trusting your stylist to do the job. I feel like a top model with my new bangs.

Perry and his team are like a big family, making me feel really welcome. Oh, did I mention that I was given a VIP seat? Yes, a really cozy corner in the salon protected from prying eyes by a beautiful curtain.

Thanks all for such a wonderful experience! I will definitely return, and highly recommend Ooosh! to all!

Postscript: A few days later we asked Jia Hui how her fiance liked her new look. She shared this exchange they had:

Jia Hui: See my hair? Nice?
Fiance: Ya (kept looking looking looking non-stop, haha!)
Jia Hui: Did you notice I put on eye shadow?
Fiance: No, you look different, I’m still trying to get used to it.
Jia Hui: Oh, then is it nice?
Fiance: Delicious!

Read Jia Hui’s blogpost on her experience.

Like Jiahui’s adventure? Leave us a comment! Also, take this survey and tell us what prizes you would like Nanzinc.Com to give away next!

In this third in our Glam-over series, meet Sherrie Yap, who just gave birth to her third child a month ago. Sherrie was in dire need of a haircut and was just about to call her hairdresser when Nanzinc.Com came knocking.

By: Melanie Lee

You could tell that Sherrie Yap, 35, mother of three, was absolutely eager to get a new haircut. For her Nanzinc.Com Glam-over, she brought her then three-week-old newborn Darius, with her confinement nanny in tow to Ooosh! Hair Academy.

“I’d actually wanted to get a haircut before my third kid popped but that chance never came,” said the busy stay-home mom. “So when Nanz called and asked me if whether I wanted a glam-over, I was so excited! It’s exactly just what I need now,” she exclaimed.

Sherrie had very long hair that hung down her back, and a long fringe that draped down both sides of her face. Coupled with her glasses, she looked a little tired (as even Supermoms sometimes do!).

Perry Goh, the Golden Scissors-winning head of Ooosh! knew exactly what would give Sherrie a breath of fresh air. “Sherrie has a slim face with a high forehead, but her long hair is dragging her down and making her look tired. With bangs and a shorter length, it’ll give more body to her hair and more life to her face,” he explained.

Sherrie was surprisingly unsentimental about her hair. When Perry asked if he could lop off what was about nine inches off her locks, she said “Yes!” As her hair fell away, a new Sherrie began to emerge.

Nanzinc.Com writer Melanie Lee, self-proclaimed “non-dresser” and simpleton, was won over to the alluring side of hairstyling and make-up with a “Glam-Over” at Ooosh!, a new hair salon at Orchard Delfi opened by award-winning hairstylist Perry Goh.

I usually dread going to the hair salon because most of stylists I’ve met usually: a) pooh-pooh my helmet-like hair (my ego is quite fragile)
b) give me an unsuitable hairstyle (I was mistaken for a butch recently)
c) pressure me to get an array of expensive hair products (I don’t do complicated hair routines)

So when Theresa suggested that I go for a hair makeover with the “fabulous Perry”, my first reaction was “Don’t make me look like a butch!” (following an incident in which some guy thought me and a gal pal were “a couple”).

But as she raved on about how nice and talented he was, I became a lot more receptive.

Perry was trained by Vidal Sassoon in London and had won numerous hairstyling awards, including the coveted Golden Scissors. At the same time, his new establishment, Ooosh! is not just about giving customers fabulous hair, it also doubles up as a meaningful social enterprise with a training school that provides fabulous opportunities for marginalized youth to be trained as hairstylists.

I was a little intimidated when I met Perry because he seemed even more stylish than all the other hairstylists I have encountered over the years. Adorned in an edgy black tee with gold studs and shiny white Dr Martens, he ruffled my hair for a while, quizzically analyzing the strands while I held my breath for more “pooh-poohs”.

His prognosis? “Hmm, you have natural curls so it’s quite heavy behind. What I can do is to layer the back to give it more shape.” That’s it? Sure, I could deal with that!

Before Perry started work on my crop, I managed to get a quick cosmetic makeover with Make Up For Ever artist Cheryl Ow, who turned out to be just as pleasant and non-judgmental. In fact, when I told her I had a secret liking for blue eye shadow but never had the guts to put that on myself, she came up with a customized way of applying blue eye make-up suited for my more “conservative” taste. At the same time, she gave some good tips on applying eye make-up including using a creamy eyelid base to help the eye shadow powder stay, using a round eye brush for optimum blending and placing a piece of tissue under your eye when applying mascara on the bottom lashes.

After that, it was back to the hot seat to get my hair cut by Perry. And I must say, I’ve never met a hairstylist so analytical and meticulous with each snip. As Nanz had put it while she was observing him cut my hair, “He studies so hard for our hair! He wants to make sure our hair does well!”

The result? A stylish bob that makes me feel lighter, younger and a whole lot more feminine! *jump for joy* I think Perry was just as pleased with his workmanship as I was with my new look. Besides the fantastic end result, I also appreciate the fact that he made it a point to discuss his ideas in a friendly, non-imposing manner about what he wanted to do with my hair before and during the cut. In my books, it really shows he knows his stuff and has the customer’s best interests at heart.

I think I might have just found a regular hairstylist to go to!

Ooosh!
Delfi Orchard
402 Orchard Road
#01-05/06 & #02-10
Singapore 238876
Tel: 6733-1068

Make Up For Ever Academy
39 Stamford Road
#02-06 Stamford House
Singapore 178885
Tel: 6333-0678

WANT A GLAM-OVER? WRITE TO US at editor@nanzinc.com WITH A PHOTO AND TELL US WHY YOU NEED IT!

Create a new look this spring with products from Make Up For Ever’s Spring 2010 collection, Gold Icone.

By Lianne Ong

This Spring, Make Up For Ever’s founder, Dany Sanz, was inspired by the sensual art of Austrian artist, Gustav Klimt. Klimt’s subjects were mostly women, and his work is often distinguished by the use of gold.

In transposing the Klimt woman onto the makeup canvas, Dany’s interpretation of the woman was “proud and sensual”. With a fair complexion, “deep, frank eyes” are outlined in black and gold while the lips are kept shiny and slightly pink to give a finishing note of “softness and lightness”.

The looks created rely on Make Up For Ever’s latest products from the Gold Icone Collection.

New Products from the Gold Icone Collection:

1. Metal powder
Metal powders used to be in the domain of professional makeup artists and thespians, in particular for creating special effects or for the catwalk. But now you can use these powders to create dramatic looks of your own.

The powder, which is a 100% mineral powder pigment, is so versatile that it opens a whole new world of options. It can be applied dry or wet to create different effects. When applied with water or with Make Up For Ever’s Eye Seal, a more intense, ‘liquid lava’ look is created. Apply wet with an angled eyeliner brush, and you’ve got yourself a metallic liner. It can also be mixed with other products such as foundation, gloss, lipstick or other powders to create other effects.

For the Spring Look 2010, Metal Powder in #01 Sunflower Gold was used to create an intense block of colour on the eyelids. But a myriad of different looks can be created if you pair them with other colours like turquoise, green or copper.

Metal Powder is available in four shades of gold: #01 Sunflower, #02 Maize, #03 Honey and #04 Olive.

2. Gold Diamond Powder #16
Diamond Powders are made of borosilicate crystals, which reflect light subtly, giving even, dazzling colour. In the Spring 2010 looks, it adds the finishing touch to the dramatic eyes, and complements the Metal Powders perfectly.

3. Kohl Pencils in Metal Gold #07 and Black with Metal Highlights #6
Exchange your traditional black and brown coloured kohl pencils for these dramatic, metallic ones.

So how can Asian women wear gold with plenty of pizzazz?

For fair skin tones:
Metal powders can be used with a light or transparent application. Pair gold coloured powders with coral or peach toned blush and lipstick or gloss.

For darker skin tones:
Metal powders can be applied lightly or more intensely. For cheeks, use caramel, rusty, golden copper blush, and for lips, try a mandarin or orange lipstick.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY MAKE UP FOR EVER

Nanzinc.Com selects five male style icons who exude a personal style through a keen sense of fashion, good grooming, and that certain je ne sais quoi. Choosing who to include was a tough call!

By Lianne Ong

1. BRAD PITT
Whether on the red carpet or off, Brad Pitt’s style is always easy going and never too ‘done’. He has the ability to pull off several looks and styles, making classic looks appear current. We attribute this to his ability to mix things up – a henley tee with a jacket, or the unbuttoned shirt, tousled hair with a classic suit, or even a new hair colour.
And we love how he has embraced his role as a father, choosing leather nappy bags in a sleek messenger style like British brand Storksak’s unisex Jamie design, when he is out and about with the kids in Europe. But what is Brad’s ultimate accessory? His gorgeous kids!

2. GEORGE CLOONEY
When George Clooney came to our consciousness as Dr Doug Ross on the set of ER, it was obvious he would be the closest thing to Cary Grant Hollywood would throw up in a long time. Whether casual outfits or on the red carpet, George Clooney is always dressed appropriately and looking dapper, complimented by the tan he gets living in his Italian coastal villa.

3. BARACK OBAMA
While his wife, Michelle Obama, is often creating fashion headlines on her own, President Obama deserves some credit for his classic fashion sense. While on the campaign trail, he was already dressing for the job, choosing sharp tailored suits, which always looked well cut. A good rule to follow is that he keeps his wardrobe simple, changing things up with a different tie. During family getaways, Obama also sticks to classics like khakis and solid coloured polo tee-shirts. It also helps that he works out daily – which other American president can boast of a six-pack?
We also love that taken some cues from Michelle’s sartorial sense of dressing, exchanging his usual Ermenegildo Zegna suits for American label Hart Schaffner Marx.

This photo? Well, we just love the way he subtly takes off his coat and unbuttons his cuffs and rolls up his sleeves when he wants the American people to feel like “he’s working, the President is working” for them.

4. SEAN CONNERY
The original Bond is the perfect proof that some men get better with age. Even at 78, he was signed to be Louis Vuitton’s latest face in its Core Values campaign. Not many Hollywood stars today have gravitas like Sean Connery – you certainly need some of that to pull off facial hair!
And even if he didn’t look the way he did, with that unmistakable Scottish brogue he could read the phonebook and still capture a woman’s heart – listen to his reading of the Beatles’ lyrics to ‘In My Life’ on George Martin’s tribute to the Fab Four, and you’ll see what I mean.

5. KIM JAE JUNG (centre)
We would be remiss not to include at least one Korean celeb in our list. This singer-songwriter, key member of boyband TVXQ and occasional actor has a huge following. If there would be a style icon who could single handedly influence Asian style, Kim would be given the award for his hairstyles and ever changing hair colour, which have been copied by fans. Don’t let those pretty boy good looks fool you; the young star boasts a toned physique as well.

ED’S NOTE: Lianne’s list is by no means exhaustive… tell us who makes your list and we’ll run another story!

Looks like you readers couldn’t get enough of the DIY beauty recipes Nanzinc ran a few weeks ago. Actress Pamelyn Chee generously shares with Nanzinc even more of her favourite beauty concoctions using ingredients that can be found in your kitchen.

By: Lianne Ong

Oatmeal and honey skin calming mask
Oatmeal has calming properties, so if you are suffering from excessive exfoliation or a harsh AHA peel, this is great for your skin. Honey is not only moisturising, it is a natural antiseptic too, making it great for breakouts. This mask is suitable for all skin types, especially irritated and acne prone skin.

Boil a cup of oatmeal (any brand will do) in three cups of water. When the oatmeal is cooked, drain the water into a clean receptacle, and cool it in the fridge. This will keep for three days. When the oatmeal water has cooled, it should have a sticky, gluey consistency. Spread some on your face, and top that off with a teaspoonful of honey. Let it sit on your face for 10 minutes and then wash it off.

“Don’t waste the oats – have a healthy breakfast with it!” Pamelyn suggests.

Green tea and apple cider vinegar toner
Green tea is highly antioxidant, and it is also great for oily skin. Apple cider vinegar fades red marks from acne and also helps breakouts to heal faster.

Make a thick cup of green tea with two tea bags. Let the tea cool in the fridge. Add some apple cider vinegar to the cold tea in the ratio of 1:3. Keep this in a bottle and use it as a toner with cotton pads.

This toner needs to be kept in the fridge but will keep for up to 10 days. Make a small batch every so often so that you don’t waste any. The ratio of tea to apple cider vinegar is a guide, but you can tweak the ratio of the ingredients till you find the perfect balance for your skin. Add water if you find it too strong.

“The ratio of one part tea to three parts apple cider vinegar in this toner is perfect for my oily skin,” says Pamelyn.

Comedone purging oil massage
Great for strawberry noses! Warning: Do not try this oil massage if you are currently suffering from a major breakout as the massage might aggravate the skin. Some trial and error is required in the choice of oil, so try this at your own risk.

Get some cosmetic grade olive or jojoba oil (or any pure skin oil that is preservative- and fragrance-free). Massage each section of your face with your fingers for 10 minutes – or just focus on the clogged areas. This can be a little tiring but after 10 minutes on each section you will see and feel the little whiteheads and blackheads come out of your pores and onto your fingers. When you are done with this mini finger marathon, wash your face with a gel or foaming cleanser. Your skin will have a nice glow from the massage and your pores will look smaller and super clean.

“My cheeks and nose are my problem areas but everyone’s different. I start massaging the nose, then cheeks, chin and lastly, the forehead,” Pamelyn says.

By Theresa Tan

I woke up this morning to half a dozen messages that Alexander McQueen had died last night. At the risk of “jumping on the bandwagon”, I’m going to share some thoughts and memories. Even as I write this, Massive Attack has dedicated a track to him, and Lady Gaga has Tweeted a recent photo of herself and McQueen. The world is in mourning.

There is always a profound sense of loss when a great genius dies — Kurt Cobain, Heath Ledger, Brittany Murphy (who, to me was the greatest talent of her generation — more so even than Britney Spears), Yves Saint Laurent, now McQueen. But while the world enjoyed the full run of YSL’s creativity, McQueen had just shown his most brilliant collection last October — the Spring/Summer 2010 collection that fashion lovers can expect to get their hands on in a few weeks.

I had gone shopping for a piece of McQueen last Christmas — for a showbiz friend who adores his fashion, and was clamoring for those famous claw shoes (which I said flatly, I couldn’t get my hands on). Given budget constraints, I bought her a McQ piece eventually, a trapeze dress in purple and grey crepe — deceptively simple, stunningly seductive when worn.

I’ve been out of the fashion magazine business a while now, but I remember catching McQueen’s 2000 collection for Givenchy — it was the year (1999) Gisele was literally on every runway in Paris and Milan. He had come up with this puzzling sports-inspired collection that critics mostly panned; now in hindside, that probably ushered in the era of the super-designer sports contract (ala Stella McCartney for Adidas, and McQueen himself designed collectible sneakers for Puma).

The next year he left Givenchy and with funding from Gucci group, launched his eponymous label, and that’s when it started to get fun.

The last nine years have seen “L’enfant Terrible” of British fashion skyrocket to dizzying heights of design genius. It seemed to me he was only going to get bigger. Born March 17, 1969, McQueen was a East London boy who grew up in a council house. He dropped out of school at age 16 and apprenticed Savile Row tailors Anderson and Shepherd — the skills he gained here served him greatly throughout his career. His entry into high fashion began in Milan with Romeo Gigli. He finished his masters degree in fashion design at Central St Martins, and his graduation show was lauded by the media, and fashion icon Isabella Blow bought up every piece. (I’m sure the irony’s not lost on many that Blow took her own life too, in 2007.)

McQueen was named British Designer of the Year four times between 1996 and 2003. In 1997 he was hired by Givenchy, which proved a short-lived arrangement. He was really much better off doing his own line and building a name for himself. In 2003 he was made a “Commander of the British Empire” (CBE). As his star rose, his boutiques opened in fashion capitols from New York to Milan.*

Of course, the celebrities adored him, from SJP to Madonna (who wore his designs in her Louis Vuitton bag ads) to Lady Gaga (who was the first to dance in his 10-inch claw heels in her video for ‘Bad Romance’). And actually, if you ask me, I thought the leather outfit he made for Janet Jackson was fantastic, even if her right breast popped out during her Superbowl performance with Justin Timberlake.
 

For me, my three favourite memories of McQueen are:

a) the Bumster

He was responsible for launching those hipsters worn so low your butt crack showed as you walked (forget about sitting!).
 

b) his first collection for his own label

An ethereal dreamscape of shapes and details that I’d only even seen in movies before. Cascades of cloud fluff appeared down the collar and bodice of his Yeti-fur dress like a fantasy. If I could do my wedding over, that’d have been the dress I wanted to wear.
 

 

c) The fact he loved using Alek Wek

She was the darkest supermodel anyone had ever seen, and I thought he just made her look marvelous every time.
 

 
I am sure, like so many fashion fans across this world, I am not alone in my sadness that this young man who has grown so much creatively and as a person, has had his life cut short for lack of hope. Someone once said to me “Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.” I cannot begin to understand the dark despair he went through losing his mother, but I also cannot help but regret that he chose the permanent solution …

You’ll be sorely, deeply missed, Alexander McQueen.

* Thanks to Wikipedia and Bio Channel

Make Up For Ever is the go-to brand for makeup that’s dramatic and out-of-this-world — and also for that extra something in your makeup when you want to set yourself apart from the crowd. NanzInc reader Sharon Xie tries out Lashionista, which is exactly what it sounds like — eyelashes that make them go “Wooooh”!

I love everything dolly, from hair to makeup to clothes. So naturally my first reaction when NanzInc’s creative head Theresa Tan approached me to be a guest blogger for Make Up For Ever’s Lashionista range was “Wow!” Now I could have a professional doll me up!

I’m pretty sure there are more and more women out there who are using fake lashes. For me, mega-lashes became my obsession when I first saw (Japanese singer) Ayumi Hamasaki some years ago. Her doe-eyed image was a boy-killer — don’t we secretly wish we have her eyes? I totally fell in love with her eyes!

So this was too marvelous an opportunity to pass. I’m a great lover of make up and have using fake lashes as part of my make up regime for 2 years — and I have never looked back. Being an Asian, I do not those desirable deepset eyes, and in my opinion, I constantly look sleepy without any eye makeup. I work in a job that requires me to be in constant face-to-face communication with people so I do need to look awake all the time! To enhance my eyes to make them “talk”, I always put on eyeliner and fake lashes.

This Saturday morning, I turned up at Make Up For Ever’s academy at Stamford House. I was greeted by the amazingly polite and ultra talented makeup artist Herddie Norman. This place is so conducive for people to have their makeovers done, and this is also where they conduct professional makeup courses and workshops for makeup lovers.

You can tell that Herddie is really into his work. He makes sure you are comfortable with him, and chats to put you at ease. This isn’t my first makeover — I have had some makeovers done by celebrity makeup artists before. Yet in comparison, Herddie is one of the nicest and most gentle makeup artists I’ve ever come across.

My main purpose today was to experience Lashionista, but Herddie gave me a complete do-over for my face. Hecarefully cleansed my face and applied full makeup for me.

After cleansing, he put two primers, numbers 7 and 5 so that my makeup will last for the day and to reduce the redness on my cheeks. He explained in detail each and every single product he used so that I had better understanding of the products.

Next, he put the concealer to brighten my eyes, and then he applied foundation in High Definition 117. He says the HD foundation makes makeup look good in pictures. Along the way, he taught me some great makeup tips like how to sculpt my face to make it look smaller, and the techniques to apply eye shadow and eyeliner so that I won’t get droopy eyes. He also asked me for my colour preference for my eye shadow, which I told him smoky and dark. He chose the jet-black eye shadow.

Usually when it comes to eyes, I am very particular as I have sensitive eyes. More often than not, when a makeup artist puts on eye makeup for me, I will usually tear. Herddie made the extra effort to ask if the brushes are prickly or if it is painful on me or causing me any discomfort.

Before he put on the fake lashes, Herddie set my makeup with Mist and Fix. Usually if I am working, I keep my fake lashes as natural- looking as possible. For this makeover, I decided on one that was more dramatic.

The result? I totally fell in love with it! The lashes were dramatic but still subtle enough for a look that I can carry even in the day. Best of all, my eyes look really big with the smoky eye effect. Herddie was very quick with the whole makeover — in just 90 minutes, he was done!

It was a totally spectacular experience.

Brought to you by Make Up For Ever

Make Up For Ever Academy
39 Stamford Road
#02-06 Stamford House
Singapore 178885
Tel: 6333 0678