I put on makeup only once a year, on the average. It is really for performance purposes. I do have the urge to do so at other times of the year but am rather lazy to do so. Hehe. I strongly believe that makeup clogs the pores of the skin. Having to use makeup remover before bedtime is also cumbersome. Nonetheless, I still update my makeup when necessary and these are some of my favourite items.
I have favourite brands too. The primary factors are the price and the attractiveness of the colours. I recommend Silky Girl, CanMake and In2it for the cheap prices which even younger women can afford, and Maybelline for its products.
CanMake Clear Mascara: I am not confident with using coloured mascara, even the normal black one. My hands are shaky and mistakes are usually visible.
Maybelline Eyeshadow palette: I am absolutely passionate about shimmer eye shadows. The shimmer comes out more than the colours and this does not make it obvious that I am wearing makeup, which is fine by me. :) I learnt from my friend how to put on eyeshadow with my finger which is so much easier but I still have to work on my proportion of colours when I combine them. I also tend to neglect the outside corner of my eyes.
Another eyeshadow palette from Maybelline: I love the different colours provided, from pink to brown to blue in various tones. I use the darker blue for stage makeup and the lighter blue for pageant makeup. I blend them with biege.
Maybelline Blusher: This is rather unusual in packaging since it comes in a round compact rather than the rectangular compact. At the same time, it is easier to use for application, since it does not share space with a brush and thus has more to spare. Of course, this means that the brush must be bought separately.
Magazines have advocated cream blush over powder blush but the former is not as easy to blend into the skin as the latter.
In2it Pressed Powder: I prefer to use just this on my face before applying blusher and the rest of the makeup. In the past, I would use liquid foundation but I found that it created a layer on my skin and it seemed rather unnecessary. Hence, now I skip foundation and use 2 layers of pressed powder in place of the foundation.
I also love the baby blue compact. :)
Wet N Wild Lip Expressions palette: I got this as a free gift from an overseas teens' magazine. Magazines such as Shout, Mizz, Gurl Power and Bliss give freebies, and some freebies are makeup items like mascara, lip gloss, face wipes or in this case, lip colours.
The colours have good staying power and there is an additional MegaGlo colour for highlighting the face. I learnt from a magazine that using the finger to apply lipstick makes it look like a stain and more natural as a result, and I practised this tip on my concert night.
I found this blusher from Daiso and so it is obviously $2.
This is the front view. It has the texture of a lipstick though and is not powder blush.
This is the side view of the blusher in the previous picture. It is easy to use because it can be left intact in its case and directly applied onto the face, by holding the base of the case, after removing the cover.
This is what Daiso looks like. It is the branch at Vivocity.
This Clarins Eyeshadow palette was a Christmas present and I was over the moon upon receiving it. I have never received such an expensive brand of makeup and fell in love with the compact case too. Look at the amethyst on it! It looks so luxurious!
This is the inside of the Clarins palette. The eyeshadow colours are mainly brown, which is the present trend. There is a highlighter as well, to make your eyes bigger.
I like the bright colour and the beaded embroidery at the neckline as well as the long sleeves make this blouse look glamorous. It has an Indian-like design. It is one of the latest arrivals too.
I like the bright colour and it is very suitable for Deepavali. Though it is very simple, the lilac and bright pink embroidery at the hem make it look very sweet.
:)
The focus is on the brown long dress. The orange border at the neckline makes a difference to it and the flowers at the bottom give it a feminine touch. I do like it so!
The focus is on the long dress. It is made up of a dark blue and black colour scheme. The lace panel at the top with the ribbon below it makes it feminine and yet formal-looking. I think it is rather suitable for Christmas. :) The blue embroidery at the hem contributes to the sweetness of this outfit.
An Indian shawl that looks ultra-glamorous due to the shimmery embroidery at the bottom as well as the satin material. It can be worn at Deepavali or at Christmas.
This is from the kids' collection, made up of a blouse and a skirt. The white blouse looks like a cheongsam top with its Mandarin collar, and has colourful flowers and butterflies embroidered on it, so that it does not look so 'unlucky'. The short red skirt has an unusual design made up of a plaid panel in the middle. Together, this combination can be worn by your young daughter for Chinese New Year.
This is from the kids' collection, a sweet-looking long dress where there are flowers embroidered on the top portion while the bottom portion has little flowers closely scattered to one another, so pretty! The red ribbon tiers also make it pretty.
This is from the kids' collection, a long dress is simpler in design than the one above but the pink ribbons on it make it still look sweet and the pink embroidery on the top portion make it stylish. It can be worn for Christmas, in my opinion.
These are from the kids' collection. They can be worn for casual occasions like shopping trips and Chinese New Year. The red blouse may look plain but it has plaid borders and worn with the short plaid skirt, has a new look. It looks "very Burberry". The skirt on the left has a embroidered pattern made up of flowers at the waist, which does not clash with the plaid pattern but complements it, surprisingly. The blouse on the right has a embroidered logo-like pattern made up of birds and flowers and worn with the plaid skirt on the right, looks stylish. The skirt is rather unusual too, with a bow at the waist and embroidered flowers at the poufy hem.
Kids' hair accessories which are pretty and striking enough for Chinese New Year, especially the red ones and the bright pink one at the bottom. They range from clips to ponytail holders. My favourites are the yellow and light pink clip on the top left corner and the pinkish-purple beads with the flower on top, on the bottom right corner. This accessory is versatile enough to be either a ponytail holder or even a bracelet. :)
Incense sets are also sold and they come in a range of different colours, so pretty!
A close-up view of an incense set. It includes 2 flower candles, incense sticks and a porcelain tray. The flower candles are sold separately too, besides the normal type of candles.
Trinket boxes made of plastic. The designs are very Chinese in nature but I especially like the blue one. The cobalt tone is very striking.
Another one of my favourites, with its three-quarter sleeves which had ribbons at the sides and its gathered waist to make it so lady-like. Suitable for Chinese New Year visiting.
Suitable for Chinese New Year visiting, with its Chinese knot embroidery at the neckline and yet so decent. Relatives will not be able to find anything wrong with it! :)
A camisole made of pure Indian silk. Its quality is obviously good because I can see the shimmer of its gold threads. It is in the boho-chic style, the trend for this year. Why not wear it under your sari for Deepavali, my Indian friends out there? :)
A simple, sweet blouse, primarily because of its frilly sleeves. It can be worn for the office under a cardigan or a jacket.
This long dress can be worn in cooler weather and it looks feminine due to the colour and the embroidery beside the buttons.
A pair of culottes which is unusual in its design. The material is thinner, unlike the typical denim, and the pink ribbon at the waist makes the culottes look sweet and feminine. Another factor which makes it striking is the embroidery at the side. (Front view)
Side view of the same culottes as shown above.
It is in the boho-chic style, the trend for this year. It is simple but the embroidery at the v-neckline makes it trendy.
It is in the boho-chic style, the trend for this year. I have a similar skirt and wear it with a white feminine blouse that has white roses at the three-quarter sleeves and a frilly gathered neckline.
Coral Isle on the 3rd storey of Centrepoint is having 20% and 50% discounts off its items. Go for the dresses and blouses on the racks. The salesperson is friendly and such genuine service is rare indeed. The shop will operate till 24th January. Here are a number of products that are striking:
This cloth bag costs $20 after 50% discount. It is simple but I like the blending of colours in a tier effect. It is just like one of my shawls whose colours are blended in a vertical effect. It has a zip to put my things inside and its material is thick enough to hold them. It is versatile enough to be brought everywhere, even to my workplace. 
I love this light blue bag. It costs $20 after 50% discount too. Its material seems to be woven, which is thick, and its handle, plastic but giving the impression that it is wooden. It makes a suitable accessory for the upcoming Chinese New Year visits, good to impress your traditional relatives, and to put in oranges and red packets.
This long dress is one of the latest arrivals. It is definitely suitable for Chinese New Year. It is maroon in colour, a more subdued tone of red. To make it more decent so as not to incite frowns from your elders, a caradigan or a shawl can be thrown on. The embroidery makes the dress less drab and more lady-like; sweet-looking, with its pink flowery design.
This long dress is one of the latest arrivals. It is simple but the white flower design makes the dress less drab and more lady-like; sweet-looking.
The yellow long dress is very ethnic; very boho-chic, which is the trend for this year. It is the way the design is embroidered on the dress. The design also looks just like a huge choker.
The red dress next to it is pretty, and most suitable for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day. The neckline makes the dress look decent with its gathers, and it has a little ribbon. The best thing is that its short sleeves enable it to be worn on its own.
The pretty dark and light pink flowers at the bottom make it romantic. I would wear it for a
date or a day wedding. :) It costs $45 after 50% discount.
This sleeveless blouse is one of the items from the Chinese New Year collection. Its light pink colour coupled with the light yellow embroidery at the v-neckline makes it suitable for Valentine's Day too. A camisole can be worn inside to make it more presentable when visiting your relatives. I like it!
The short dress on the left is made up of two different print designs. The flowery portion gives it its sweet aspect while the plaid portion gives it a trendy look, like the Burberry style.
The white long dress next to it is one of my favourites and one of the latest arrivals. It is simple and sweet with the pink flowery embroidery at the bottom. I would wear it for Christmas if I want to dress down for a change. :)
I especially love this white three-quarter sleeved blouse. It costs $25 after discount. It is very decent and is not transparent unlike white blouses in other shops, because of its thick material. It looks sweet with the embroidery on the top half. I would wear it to work as it makes me look approachable to my students.
This yellow spaghetti-strapped dress is another of my favourites. It is sweet and its flowery embroidery on the top half contributes to that. The bottom portion seems to be made of crinkled material.
Again, this long dress is pink but in a brighter tone. Yep, I love pink. The design is made up of squares. Wearing it with a cardigan on Chinese New Year would make it the perfect outfit.
This white long dress is one of the latest arrivals. It is simple but the blue embroidery makes it pretty and sweet.
This light beige skirt is one of the latest arrivals. It may look simple but there are little pretty touches to it. The ribbon belt and the white embroidered lines at the bottom make it less drab and more lady-like; sweet-looking. It is most suitable for work.
CanMake Clear Mascara: I am not confident with using coloured mascara, even the normal black one. My hands are shaky and mistakes are usually visible.
Maybelline Eyeshadow palette: I am absolutely passionate about shimmer eye shadows. The shimmer comes out more than the colours and this does not make it obvious that I am wearing makeup, which is fine by me. :) I learnt from my friend how to put on eyeshadow with my finger which is so much easier but I still have to work on my proportion of colours when I combine them. I also tend to neglect the outside corner of my eyes.
Another eyeshadow palette from Maybelline: I love the different colours provided, from pink to brown to blue in various tones. I use the darker blue for stage makeup and the lighter blue for pageant makeup. I blend them with biege.
Maybelline Blusher: This is rather unusual in packaging since it comes in a round compact rather than the rectangular compact. At the same time, it is easier to use for application, since it does not share space with a brush and thus has more to spare. Of course, this means that the brush must be bought separately.
In2it Pressed Powder: I prefer to use just this on my face before applying blusher and the rest of the makeup. In the past, I would use liquid foundation but I found that it created a layer on my skin and it seemed rather unnecessary. Hence, now I skip foundation and use 2 layers of pressed powder in place of the foundation.
Wet N Wild Lip Expressions palette: I got this as a free gift from an overseas teens' magazine. Magazines such as Shout, Mizz, Gurl Power and Bliss give freebies, and some freebies are makeup items like mascara, lip gloss, face wipes or in this case, lip colours.
I found this blusher from Daiso and so it is obviously $2.
This is what Daiso looks like. It is the branch at Vivocity.
This is the inside of the Clarins palette. The eyeshadow colours are mainly brown, which is the present trend. There is a highlighter as well, to make your eyes bigger.
