Hey Everyone,

Finding the perfect scent can be hard. You walk into a perfumery or your local Sephora and in front of you sits hundreds of different brands of perfume. I reckon your little nose gets tired of the scents after a while and for me at least, I walk out of the store with more than a few mixes already on me. Honestly, scoring a free spray is always a hit with me. But, it can be hard to find the perfect scent for the season, an occasion and mostly for yourself. In fact, did you know that it’s always good to have a signature scent? People (cough boys) can recognize your scent better and it helps them be reminded of you whenever they take a whiff of it. It’s like an emotional thing. That’s probably the reason why Marc Jacobs Daisy reminds me of my first semester of Uni, Anna Sui’s Secret Wish of senior year and Chloe of last semester. I’ll suggest some of my favourites as well that I’ve used throughout the years.

1. Compare it to Clothes

Silly enough, what style do you usually wear? Your scent should correspond with the kind of clothes you like wearing. So if you’re into floral prints and pastel colors, you’re probably going to go with Marc Jacobs Daisy and if you’re more sophisticated like a Samantha Thavasa girl or have a pet poodle and like to wear beige or cream than Chloe would be more of your fragrance. If you’re more dark and sophisticated maybe something more musky like Theirry Mugler’s Alien or Marc Jacobs Lola. It depends what you like to wear, your personal style and your fragrance should match that.

2. Compare to Seasons

Besides your clothes, you should look around you to see what the weather is like. I know in Singapore you don’t have much choice – it’s mainly just summer – but in Australia, you do. If it’s cold, a musky and more warm winter fragrance will suit better like Juicy Couture and for Summer or Spring, something light like DKNY Cherry Blossom might be a better pick. Plus can you imagine smelling a musky, tired fragrance during a hot summer day? Not that great either.

3. Trust your instincts

Honestly, I’m not going to lie, perfume is all about personal preference. It’s such a personal preference that it’s so basic that maybe you don’t need to keep in mind the first two guidelines. Maybe all you have to do is smell, like, buy. It’s not something I recommend unless your wallet needs to go on a diet but trust your instincts and if you like the scent a lot and see yourself wearing it, well, it’s as simple as just getting it.

4. Wear the scent and then buy it later

You should always spray the scent that you’re eyeing on yourself and then walk around with it before you think of purchasing it. You need to see how the scent develops throughout the day. Even better, hold your horses, and just get it the next day. If you still see yourself wearing it and if you really like it, then get it but wait. I’ve bought Dolce & Gabanna Rose The One and fell so in love with it the moment i smelt it, bought it and realized that it really had a metal note I did not like as it developed throughout the day. I’ve also made a mistake with YSL Parisienne, the musk after-smell is quite ageing.

5. Observe how the scent develops

That being said, how the scent develops and changes, is a key characteristic that people overlook. Scents have lots of scent layers. They are complex scents, especially the ones you are really paying for. You should make sure to smell the perfume and then smell off it. I’m not sure what the after-smell is, but it sometimes changes. Some scents morph as you go and as you hit the sun, how does the scent change. Especially in hot and humid weather, this is really an important point.

A few perfume tips for the road? – Those coffee beans are there for a reason. Smell them before you smell the next fragrance so that it cleanses your palette. Keep some of your perfumes in the fridge for a refreshing spritz in the morning before you leave and remember to never put your fragrances in direct sunlight!

Smelling good is very important and I hope I helped you find your purrfect scent!

*images by Bellasugar

To view my perfume collection, click here: http://roseannetangrs.com/?p=14837943

Love,

Roseanne

Hey Everyone,

I don’t know about you but I sure think that buying makeup at the counter can get pricey. Too pricey in fact. In Australia, my wallet can go on a lean and mean diet for dishing out 39 bucks for a revlon foundation at Priceline when I know I can get it in the states for $8 which explains my dreary late night activity of hunting down beauty bargains at the following online stores. Probably one of the second best feelings in the world is returning home from a day of studying only to plop down on your bed, whip out the card and in a state of bluriness do some good old online retail therapy. One of the BEST feelings in the world is getting that notice that your parcel is waiting for collection.

I get this question a lot. “Roseanne, where do you buy your makeup online?” Well, today I’m here to give you a rundown of my favourite online haunts so your early morning hours will be that much more interesting.

1. Cosme-De.com (www.cosme-de.com)

Beautifully laid out with an easy navigation and it stocks asian brands like Kose, Ettusais, FANCL, Etude House, Hado Labo, KATE and SANA – asian drugstore products that you can find in Singapore but probably not so easily in places like Australia and the United States. The shipping is fast and efficient and there is free shipping on every order. I ordered NARS blushes from them when they had them because the would sell them at US prices which was awesome. I just looked on the website and they don’t stock them anymore but it still is a unique site in that it has the asian products that other online makeup stores miss out on.

2. The Beauty Club (www.thebeautyclub.com.au)

The Beauty Club probably has the largest collection of department store brands to date. You can find MAC, Makeup Forever, NARS, Scott Barnes, Bobbi Brown, Chanel, YSL, SKII, the list goes on and at discounted prices. I like how there is a review option so you can see other people’s take on them and the prices are great. A MAC blush from The Beauty Club will cost you around $20 but at the store in Australia, it’s $40. So you’re basically doing half the damage or if you’re cool like me – will buy 2 for the price of 1. From makeup, to skincare to perfumes to haircare, the range at The Beauty Club is amazing. The only catch is that you have to be a member and pay a membership fee to enjoy these privileges. I do think it’s worth it if you do buy a lot of makeup. The delivery is also fast, efficient and free once you become a member.

3. SG_Beauty (www.sg-beauty.livejournal.com)

I know it can be a little weird but second hand makeup isn’t all that bad. If its been swatched once or twice, you can still use it. SG_Beauty is an online livejournal community in Singapore in which Singaporeans come together every weekend to sell their makeup in sale posts. It’s like a tradition to browse through them on a lonely Saturday evening. Usually, the products are secondhand or new and you would arrange to email the seller about it and proceed to pay through bank transfer/postage. It’s like a secondhand market, but online. I’ve bought lots of nail polishes through here and a couple of NARS blushes too. Now, how cool would it be if that concept went global? Thinking of integrating a marketplace on my upcoming website but we’ll see. Give me feedback though!

4. Crush Cosmetics (www.crushcosmetics.com.au)

Crush Cosmetics is a site where you have so many brands you can’t normally get anywhere, not even in the average online shop. They stock brands like Wet N’ Wild (where you can get that comfort zone palette), NYX (jumbo pencils and lipsticks), NYC, E.L.F, China Glaze Nail polishes, Seche Vite, Eyeko, Sleek, Barry M and even Lime Crime. It’s for sure a place to check out and the prices are reasonable too – usually under $20 an item or even below $10 bucks.

5. AllCosmeticsWholesale (www.allcosmeticswholesale.com)

If you’ve stuck with me for a while, you probably already know I had a previous obsession with AllCosmeticsWholesale. I know, I know, gone were the days when I did hauls at least once a week but when I chanced upon allcosmeticswholesale back in the day, I was so happy. Think of all the US brands you know – MAC, NYX, NARS, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, KORRES, Sigma, Sugarpill, Tarte, Too Faced, Victoria’s Secret, and more. It’s not only that they stock brands like this but they stock huge varieties of each brand. They even have a lot of MAC makeup from past collections that are rare and you can’t find anymore, MAC brushes (!!), NARS Blush refills, OCC lip tars, Urban Decay palettes, Kryolan and more. A Maybelline expertwear blush can go for a little over USD$2. It’s a great website. It’s the kinda website that you could spend hours just putting things in your online basket like you have all the money in the world but never hitting the checkout button when you’re done. I call it online window shopping aka online window drooling. The only downside is that shipping is very expensive so make sure you split with a friend if you’re up for it.

So, there we have it! My favourite online makeup shops.

What are your favourite online makeup shops?

Love,

Roseanne

Hey Everyone,

Honestly, the time I spend on the net is probably more than a normal girl should ever spend on the internet but that makes me more prone to coming across cool and funny things, especially those related to beauty and makeup. In this post, I’ve sort of collected my findings into one to introduce to you the funniest or weirdest beauty products that have graced planet earth. Hear me out, some of you may take offense to what I’m about to find out as weird or funny but please take it as lighthearted fun or forever hold your peace.

1. Justine Bieber’s Nail Polish Line and Perfume

The picture tells it all. I have nothing whatsoever against Justin Beiber. I actually really like it when ‘Baby” comes up on the playlist in a club, it is the epitome of an awesome song that everyone can sing to. But, I’ve noticed a little trend with his paraphanlia – that he’s really getting into the beauty scene too. But, he’s a guy, right? I mean how many people can raise their hands in sorrow when he announced he was going out with Selena Gomez? I can’t raise my hand but I’m sure you might have your teeth bared at her right now. I find his new perfume hilarious. I also find that the name “SOMEDAY” is hilarious. Basically, if you wear this perfume, someday, you will get to be Bieber’s girlfriend. Someday. That’s so sad. It’s almost like false hope in a bottle. But hey, if the shoe fits, wear it. Most of his target audience are girls anyway. Kind of sad that he can’t wear his new perfume out, nor his nail polish line. Justin Bieber perfume, not colgone, perfume. Am i the only one finding this amusing?

2. Sheep Placenta Cream

The last time we visited China was in January of 2009, my parents love connecting to our roots and instead of our usual Shanghai haunts, we decided to branch out a bit to places like WuZhen, Hangzhou, Suzhou, Nanjing and Wuxi, home to views like this:

Despite it’s beautiful facade, Wuxi is home to distributors of not only pearl powder products, but sheep placenta creams as well. They call it the Sheep Placenta element, a cream that my Mother actually stocked up on and bought for the whole family. I used mine until it ran out. It made my skin really smooth and I know how gross a placenta can sound but if it works, it works. The logic behind sheep placenta is that a placenta is created by the mother to nourish the womb and supply the baby with nutrients while it’s in the stomach, making the placenta home to very nutrient rich stem cells, the start of life to every cell. Using live cell therapy, the stem cells from the sheep placenta are extracted and then injected into the topical creams so that when applied, will activate older cells to life (something along those lines). It’s an anti-ageing treatment for skin rejuvination and have been used by personalities like Charlie Chaplin, Winston Churchill and Dwight Eisenhower.

3. Nightingale Dropping Facial

First of all, for some reason, I always thought nightingales to be birds of legend, something that people wrote about but hey, nightingales are actually real birds. Okay maybe I need brush up on my bird knowledge but imagine putting nightingale poop on your face. Sounds tantalizing doesn’t it? Apparently in Japan, uguisu no fun or powdered nightingale droppings are used in a facial, The Geisha Facial, to improve the skin. Yes, it actually exists. The theory behind this beauty treatment is that the natural enzymes in the dropping can make your skin extremely soft and that Geishas are known for their beautiful complexions simply because they used this treatment to take off their makeup and to rejuvinate their faces. I know the video is japanese but you can see how it works! If Victoria Beckam things it’s hot, then why not.

4. F Cup Cookies

image source: http://vujie.blogspot.com/2011/06/f-cup-cookie-review.html

I don’t know how appropriate it is to put this here but hey, I reckon it’s beauty related. If you don’t need a shirt that says “up here”, you might want to look at F cup cookies as your next solution. F Cup cookies are cookies that you eat to make your boobs bigger. Sorry for the bluntness but the story behind these cookies again from japan is that you ingest a herbal supplement called Pueraria Mirifica which is a breast enlargement supplement. The cookies come in two flavours – Soy Milk or Pralines and Chocolate. Who would have known.

5. Deo Perfume Candy

Sometimes, we can all dream a little. Imagine a candy that you eat and then suddenly you smell just like it. Introducing the Deo Perfume Candy. Alpi, a belgian confectionary company found out that when you eat garlic, you kind of smell like it. They got the chemical that does this and apparently it can’t be digested so it must be released by your pores, making a natural scent. Alpi got smart and put this into candy with natural scents like rose and lavender via gernaiol, a component in essential oils. Right now, it can only be found at Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Hungary.

And there we have it, I hope I made you gawk a bit!

What’s the weirdest beauty product you’ve seen out there?

Love,
Roseanne

P.S: Eating collagen doesn’t work, so don’t even think about eating those Collagen Marshmallows. Plus, there’s a SEPHORA Monopoly Edition that I could cry for.

*Images and information sourced by various websites from Google.

Hey Everyone,

There are just some rules and guidelines to makeup that everyone should know, so I decided to do an entry on what my top 5 beauty don’ts and do’s are. Do beware though, I might offend some people in this post, nothing personal, but please don’t spear me on a rod and roast me like a marshmallow later. Take it as well, constructive criticism. Let’s have some fun.

Don’t:

1. Don’t Tatoo Your Eyebrows – Murder Charges Apply

Sometimes when I walk around back in Singapore, I see these wonderful old ladies with blue eyebrows. I don’t mean to be brutally brash or rude, it’s just that it’s totally unflattering. If you haven’t heard of this myth before, people actually wax out all their eyebrows and tatoo them back in. There’s no natural hair anymore. Why on earth would you do this? Because baby you’re lazy but don’t you know no pain, no gain? Don’t wax off all your eyebrows and tatoo them back in unless you want to eventually have blue eyebrows. Over arched brows can age you as well.

2. Wrong Lipsticks Don’t Look Hot

When you look at a celebrity and there’s this lipstick that looks dead hot on her, it sometimes doesn’t mean that it will look hot on you. Our skintones and less mentioned undertones are different. I am not a marshmallow to roast, but take for example that MAC Lady Gaga lipstick. If you’re unsure about what that lipstick looks like, it’s a bubblegum very nude and light pink with blue undertones that may look beautiful on Lady Gaga with her blonde hair and pink undertones but on others, it looks like someone just came out of a sci-fi movie looking like a hoochiemama. Know what looks good on you and wear it, not the other way round.

3. Circular Blush for Clowns Only

I have to say that I’m still seeing girls trying to go kawaii on me and adding pink or orange circles to their cheeks as their blush. That or it’s an undefined circle and I have to say lots of it. I’m trying to blame the beautiful japanese anime as the culprit for this beauty don’t or even a lack of practice and know-how. Blend your blush upwards a bit so it becomes natural and don’t put that much, please – with a cherry on top.

4. Hide your Undereye Circles but Don’t Play Reverse Racoon

I know, dark circles can be a pain in the you know what and we will try all the ways to cover them but somewhere in the history of makeup, someone said to use a very light concealer under your eyes. I am not a marshmallow again but sometimes people in a frantic frenzy pile on way too much that they don’t have dark circles anymore, they have white circles. This does not wake you up, it wakes other people up seeing you look like that. I’m so mean. But, you know its true. Here’s your tip, don’t go more than one shade lighter if you can’t use your original concealer shade, only if, and take a little and pat it underneath. Make sure what you’re doing is buildable. It’s better to put a little less than a little more. That way, you can blame any unproductivity at work to not sleeping enough and you have the proof to show it, I kid.

5. Don’t Pop em Zits

I know it’s tempting. It’s like a volcano waiting to erupt. All you have to do is put those two fingers together and go “Pop!”. But, don’t. That’s a sure-fire way to cause acne scarring and we all know that acne scars take ages to dissapear. Just let them ride it’s life. It will come and go like it never was there, it just takes 1 or 2 days of embarassment and then everyone will realize that they’ve had zits too.

Do:

1. Take off all your makeup every night

Everyone should take off their makeup every night before they sleep. If you don’t, it causes clogged pores which eventually leads to zits which eventually leads to unhappy faces. Regardless of the awesome night you had, whether it’s 4 or 6 am in the morning when you come home, take a shower and clean up. Afterall, that’s the most you can do for your body that night, eh?

How do I take off my makeup? Here: http://roseannebeauty.onsugar.com/My-Nightly-Beauty-Routine-Removing-Make-up-9736273

2. Be Careful of Undertones

Sometimes people are too concerned with their skintones when picking out their colors but they forget about their undertone. If unfamiliar, undertone is concerned with whether you are a pink or yellow undertone. Just turn over your forearm and see if your veins appear blue or green. If blue, you are a pink undertone and if green, you are a yellow undertone. Knowing if your foundation has pink or yellow undertones helps to eventually make a better match.

3. Match Things Together – Cream with Cream, Powder with Powder, OIl with Oil and not Oil with Water

With matching undertones comes matching formulas. If you’re finding that your makeup isn’t lasting as long as it should, it’s probably because you’ve mixed up the formulas. If you decide that you are wearing an oil based moisturiser, make sure your foundation sitting on top of it isn’t water based because we all know that water and oil don’t mix. Likewise, if you have decided to powder your face, applying a cream blush after will probably result in patchy blush. Make sure you match formulas too.

4. Wear Sunscreen

Probably one of the common mistakes people do is that they don’t wear facial sunscreen. I’m not talking your regular banana boat let’s go for a holiday sunscreen, facial sunscreens have better formulas than body sunscreens in terms of mixing with your facial chemistry and making sure they stay presentable under makeup. You wouldn’t wash your face with showergel right? Wear a sunscreen because it protects your skin from harmful rays that can cause skin cancer, melanoma and of course wrinkles. Save money on botox in the future. Kidding.

Need sunscreen help? All you need to know here: http://roseannebeauty.onsugar.com/What-Sunscreen-Best-Sunscreens-Face-14902443

5. Embrace your skintype

Probably one of my number one makeup do’s is to embrace your skintype. Often, we don’t. Often, we try to make ourselves the opposite of what we are. For example, if you have oily skin, you try to find lots of matte products to make yourself extremely matte. Likewise, if you have dry skin, you try to make yourself extremely glowy. What you should do is embrace that you have oily skin and not walk around like a caked up monster and start thinking of maintaining your look throughout the day instead of putting all your apples in one basket in the morning. You’ll look better and not to mention feel better.

My Personal Makeup Pet Peeve – White Liner and Really Heavy False Lashes

Now for my personal makeup pet peeves. When the wonderful makeup godesss started using white liner, the whole world seemed to start using white eyeliner on their water line as well and well, much to my dismay. Maybe it’s the structure of my eyes that makes white eyeliner look like an alien invasion to me but it sure looks horrendous on my eyes. I also do not understand why some people put false eyelashes with hair as thick as a moustache onto their eyelids and walk around as if they don’t have moustasches on their eyes. They do, and they look pretty funny. Find false lashes that suit your eyeshape and make sure your ordinary eyelashes can hold them up. Too much of a good thing, perhaps?

Make-up Pet Peeves from you from my facebook page

Thanks for contributing everyone!

What’s your makeup pet peeve?

Love, Roseanne

Hey Everyone!

Like all of us, when I first started watching youtube videos, I was kind of lost in cyberworld. It was prom and my mom wasn’t going to dish out eighty bucks at Bobbi Brown so I could get my makeup done. So, I looked for a tutorial online and soon my makeup craze soon bubbled and boiled until it grew to what it is now. I have to say that when I first landed my eyes on youtube, I was quite intimidated. People were using products that I didn’t have and I didn’t know where to get. Urban Decay, MAC, Benefit? But Benefit was like fifty bucks for one product, how was I to afford that with my high school pocket money? Furthermore, the collections of the makeup gurus online were so big, was I to have as big a collection as well? I was confused, stunted and most of all, kind of intimidated. If you currently feel the same way, here are my top 5 tips to building your makeup collection if you are a begginner. If you have a collection going, I urge you to simply reminisce.

1. Don’t be intimidated by massive collections

Don’t be afraid of these collections that you see on Youtube or on blogs. Those collections took ages to collect and no one in their right mind would have gotten every single thing at one go, well the majority of us anyway. If you’re an avid collector, you kind of look for products that you know you want and then go out and find them when you’re out. It’s a slow process and just like any “journey” it takes steps to incur.

2. Start Low, End High

I get relevant questions to this point every now and then from a begginners aiming to get their first foundation or their first blush or powder. They always ask me what should I start with, what foundation is good for me and where they should get it. My answer is usually that it really depends. With each makeup product, say foundation, comes many different varieties of the product. You might be a liquid foundation girl, a powder foundation girl or a cream foundation girl. But, wouldn’t it absolutely suck if you bought that 50 dollar liquid foundation from MAC and you discover that you’re actually a powder foundation girl? My tip is to simply start low and end high. If you are an absolutely begginner and there is no problem with that, experiment with the different kinds at a low priced avenue like the drugstore first and once you know what you like, experiment with higher end products. That way your wallet doesn’t lose as much money and you can get the momentum going to building your own collection, if necessary.

3. Get Organised

A lot of makeup enthusiasts when they first start out, don’t know where to put the makeup. Do I put it scattered in my vanity table or all in one bag? I say you should get stackable drawers and catergorise and organise your makeup. It really helps to quicken the process of your morning makeup routine if you know where everything is. I have stackable drawers and one drawer is for eyes, for face, for lips, for blushes etc and my brushes are standing up in a brush holder. In the morning I sit down and I’m like octopus mom and I just take the makeup and get everything done in just 10 minutes.

4. Do your Research

I always get mad at myself when I commit to an impulse purchase. I didn’t even need that new blush anyway! That’s why my advice to you is to always do your research first and stop impulse purchasing. That way, each and every item in your collection is like a treasured find, not a mass collection getting dusty if you know what I mean. Say you want the Nars Blush in Deep Throat. Find out what other people are thinking about it, whether it’s on other blogs, youtube channels or even makeup alley. Make informed decisions and that way you stop spending so much and start loving your collection even more.

5. Look at Trouble Spots and Start from There

If you have no idea what to get and you’re starting from zero, start at your trouble spots. If there’s something that you want to fix or make better, start with that. For example, if you have prom coming up and you have a zit outta nowhere, get a concealer, or even start with the basics of foundation and powder. Don’t worry about every single color of eyeshadow you can lay your paws on just yet or the whole range from clinique, start with trouble spots and then find out what you need from there!

Hope you liked it!

Do you have any tips for begginers?

Love,
Roseanne

P.S: The banner is right! We are moving soon to a new roseannetangrs.com ! I can’t wait and I am so excited, so excited..Haha. If you have any suggestions that you’d like the website to have, let me know in the comments section below! Hope you will be as excited about the move as I am!

Hey Everyone!

Blessed with less than flawless skin, I’ve always been a fan of foundations. Plus, with my wallet losing more weight than I can lose by only eating apples, I thought it would be awesome to list out my five favourite drugstore foundations to fuel your healthy or not so healthy addiction to makeup. In this post, I’ll be talking about my five favourite foundations or bases or whatever you wish to call them and talk about what they are, why I love them and a few caution points to consider before you grab it off the shelves the next time you’re there. Let’s go!

1. Maybelline SuperStay 24Hr Foundation

What is it? This is a liquid foundation that claims to have a special characteristic called micro-flex that allows the foundation when applied to move with the surface of the skin. This allows the foundation to be flexible and not flake off or melt off as easily as some foundations might do, leaving the 24HR claim up to us to decide.

Love the..

1. Ease of Application -the best way to apply this foundation is with a foundation paddle brush or if you’re feeling lazy, you can use your own fingers. The texture of this foundation is like Optimus Prime. It’s not too thick and not too watery making application uber easy.

2. Great Coverage - Forget about leaving your scars in the light, this foundation covers the lot and leaves your skin nicely flawless.

3. Great for Daily Wear - Unlike many liquid foundations, this one in particular doesn’t feel too heavy which means it’s great for everyday wear. My bestie uses it everyday and hey, if you can be absolutely flawless everyday, why not?

Keep In Mind the…

1. Lack of Oil Control - This foundation doesn’t really pack a punch in the oil department so make sure you carry some blotters with you in case you have the oilies.

2. Short Longevity - Forget what this foundation says about lasting 24 hours, it really doesn’t (but that was expected, right?). You can bet on 6 hours and maybe a few more.

Read my Full Review Here: http://roseannetangrs.com/?p=15504214

2. Revlon Colorstay Foundation

What is it? A liquid foundation with absolutely full coverage. Super famous for being probably one of the top drugstore foundations.

Love the…

1. Full Coverage - This is one of the highest coverage foundations that I have for sure ever tried. It’s so full, that your flaws will see it on the brush when you put it on and then epicly dissapear in fear of this foundation because it knows it stands no chance. That’s right. Epic.

2. Oil Control - This is the number one drugstore foundation that has done very well in controling oil. I find myself not blotting at all really throughout the day, maybe once, but really I know I don’t need to. I come back from class and it’s like close to flawless. I love it.

3. Lasting Finish - You can put this on in the mid morning and go clubbing until the next and it’s great, it doesn’t move or melt. I really like this because it really does last really long.

Keep In Mind the..

1. Thick Consistency - This foundation is not that great in the blending department. I like to use a foundation paddle brush but just think of a really strong serum and this is kinda equivalent to that.

2. Ability for Daily Wear – Not so Much :( - I wouldn’t recommend this for people to use everyday because it feels unatural and is so flaw-proof that I feel that I’m laying more than a few chemicals on the surface of my skin. I wouldn’t recommend this for first timers who have never used liquid foundation before because it doesn’t really look that natural so I don’t want to potentially scare you from using makeup ever again. If you are first starting makeup, try a mineral foundation or something lighter and then work your way up to something like this.

Review: http://roseannetangrs.com/?p=11023445

3. Rimmel Lasting Finish Foundation

What is it? A liquid foundation that is supposedly mineral enriched and provides 16 hr wear. Right now, they have a new lasting finish that is supposed to last 25 hours, I have yet to try that one. This review is based on the old lasting finish foundation!

Love the…

1. Texture/Blendability - If there was ever a foundation designer, you should look at this as a role model. Not to watery, not to thick for the absolutely perfect finish.

2. Great for Everyday - Light enough feeling to use, this is an awesome foundation if you are looking for a foundation that looks great and feels not too bad either.

Keep in mind the…

1. Short Longevity - I know this foundation is called lasting finish but it’s more like..finish…because it’s not THAT long lasting. We’re talking 5 hours before it’ll start looking like you need to touch up.

2. Use on Sensitive Skin, Beware! - I did breakout from this foundation, but man do I hate my skin for it. If this baby works for you, then it’s a keeper.

4. Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

What is it? A mousse foundation in a pot from *puts song commercial on* “Maybe it’s Maybelline”.

Love the…

1. Flawless Coverage - If you use your fingers the way I do and work this foundation into the skin, you can really get a beautiful finish from this unlike any other. You can enter a room and you can trick people instantly that you have flawless skin, naturally. (From afar at least).

2. Super Smooth - Being a mousse, you can bet on a really nice silicone feel texture after you apply the foundation. Your powder glides on easier but if you use your concealer ontop, it might actually slide a little. So be careful but setting that aside, it feels great after application.

Keep in Mind…

1. Clumps/Application - The application part can get difficult. The trick to this foundation is that you need to press and apply the foundation onto the skin. Ditch the brushes and the sponges lest you want to waste a decent amount of foundation and use your fingers to press the foundation and work it into the skin in circular motions. If you don’t, you could get decent clumping instead that can fall from your face and onto your lap. Not so cool for a hot outfit.

2. Short Longevity - It wears fast, especially in humid weather. Geat for events for 2-3 hours but not for a day out.

3. Poor Oil Control - Be prepared to blot if you have oily skin!

Check out my Full Review:http://roseannetangrs.com/?p=16376613

5. Rachel K CC Cream

What is it? The new generation of BB Cream. A much improved and refined version of a BB Cream. This baby is a skincare and makeup product that can be used in place of your foundation or makeup base but provides a myriad of skincare benefits as well.

Love the…

1. The Brightening Effect - When you apply the CC cream, it really does brighten your complexion which I love. It’s like I just slept a few more hours in the morning. This is due to the really nice salmon color that really color corrects when you apply it.

2. Pore Minimizing - Pores for sure seem to dissapear when I apply the CC cream, melts it off. It’s a beautiful skin-like finish.

3. Lasting Skincare benefits - After using this for a month daily, I did see improvements in my skin and I became much more radiant and brighter even without any makeup on. My mom even commented on my skin when I came back from Australia!

4. Natural Look - Probably the best thing is that it’s makeup but it looks like skin, making it my daily foundation right now and for a long time ahead. I don’t always want to carry a thick face of makeup and this CC cream makes me feel like I’m not wearing anything and it looks so natural.

Keep In Mind…

1. Application - You have to remember that a little goes a long way. Not applying it correctly can result in the opposite finish. I suggest putting it on the back of your hand, just a squidget, and using your three fingers, spread it out a little until you have some on those three fingers placed together like you’re E.T and then patting the CC cream over the surface of your skin. That, or you can dot lightly the CC cream all over the skin and then with clean fingers, pat lightly until the surface is evenly covered.

2. Color Selection - Only one color so far and for people with tones below an NC30! I wish more people with darker skin tones can use this product because I absolutely love it.

Check out my Full Review: http://roseannetangrs.com/?p=16036721

And there we have it! My Top 5 Best Drugstore foundations, healthy for your wallet and soul.

What’s your favourite drugstore foundation?

♡ YouTube Channel | Facebook Page| Online Store | Hellocotton | Bloglovin’ | Twitter | Instagram

Love,
Roseanne

Hey Everyone!

I have to say that I’m a foundation buff and just as there are so many varieties of foundation, there are just as many varieties of methods to apply them. Today in this post, I thought it would be handy to point out the five main methods of applying your foundation, the tools involved, what kind of foundations work best with what and the finishes that you’ll eventually receive. In no time, you’ll be able to figure out how to get the most flawless face out of the foundation that you’ve recently purchased at the store.

1. Use a Foundation Paddle Brush!

Probably the most basic brush that comes to mind is the foundation paddle brush. This brush is characterised by its synthetic fibers and paddle shape with a relatively long handle. The best kind of foundation for the paddle brush is a liquid foundation because the paddle brush is able to smooth and blend over a wide surface area without the need for applying pressure. That’s the key thought here. A paddle brush cannot apply much pressure and thus an easily manipulated texture is the only thing that would be most suitable for the paddle brush. Pressing down hard can clump your bristles.

The key to finding a good paddle brush is one that keeps its shape and isn’t too fluffy. Synthetic paddle brushes should be evenly shaped, meaning that they shouldn’t be spiky, and it’s bristles shouldn’t disperse extensively when pressure is applied or when you press down on the brush. That way, you’ll find that the liquid foundation won’t cause the bristles of the brush to clump together making it unusable to spread your liquid foundation flawlessly and evenly.

To apply your foundation with a paddle brush, simply pour your liquid foundation onto the back of your hand. Use the brush and dab a little bit onto the foundation as if you’re using a painter’s palette and then apply in short strokes onto the face. Once the area is covered, proceed to longer strokes and then finish with a smooth over with your hands.

My favourite foundation paddle brush is the Smashbox Foundation Brush in #13!

2. Smear with a Sponge

A sponge, whether of a decent quality or disposable, can make it easy to blend your foundation on the skin. Sponges come in all shapes and sizes, but the most common form of sponge for foundation is the wedge sponge. The wedge sponge is so popular because the lower end of the sponge makes it easier to reach into hard to reach places like the crevices of the edges of your nose or the nook of your eye.

Sponges are best for liquid or cream products. Although sponges can pick up too much product at times, almost soaking up the foundation like a sponge that can make it hard to clean and may even waste your product, the ease of the application and the finish it creates offsets this. Getting a pack of disposable sponges are great or if you haven’t checked out the beauty blender, you seriously need to. Absolute flawlessness but also an absolute pain to clean up. If you are in Singapore and you’re looking for a great sponge cleaner, the one Daiso has at only 2 bucks is worth much more.

3. Dab with Clean Fingers

Sometimes the best thing to do is to use what your mama gave you. Using clean fingers allows you lots of control and lots of blending power. Even if I use a tool beforehand, I alway smooth it over with my hands anyway just to make sure I didn’t miss any spots. Plus, the application suits any foundation except powder foundations because that would take you forever. You can also vary the amount of coverage easier with your fingers.

The products that I use my fingers almost 100% of the time include BB creams, makeup bases, sunscreens and skincare products of course. I do also use my fingers if it’s a light to medium coverage foundation. I think it’s too much to handle if it’s a high coverage foundation like the Revlon Colorstay which is a foundation you’ll be best off using a sponge or brush with.

4. Stipple and Swirl with a Stippling Brush

A stippling brush is commonly referred to as a skunk brush. Forget about smelling a bit “unique”, a stippling brush has a more dense black haired body connected to the ferrule with a more sparse set of white synthetic bristles coming out of the dense set of black animal hair. This brush helps you achieve a flawless, less than full coverage foundation finish by moving the white bristles independently of the black bristles onto your skin. It can also be used for powder blushes and bronzers for a more sheer application. The best foundations to use the stippling brush are liquid foundations, balm like cream products and powder.

The reason why a stippling brush is called a stippling brush is because of the application process. Simply pour some of the foundation on the back of your hand and taking the brush, get some foundation onto the bristles and in light dabbing motions, stipple the foundation onto your face in quick dabbing motions. Once you have covered the majority of the face, lightly swirl the brush to blend and create a smooth finish. Be careful not to push down on the brush when you are swirlling as the effect can be quite disastrous. Always move the white bristles independently of the black bristles.

5. Buff it out with a Kabuki

Whether it’s your favourite fluffy kabuki brush or a kabuki stuck on a long handle, there’s only one thing the kaubki does better than any other brush can and that’s buffing. The foundation that needs the most buffing into the skin? Mineral foundation. To make mineral foundation absolutley flawless, you need to buff the powder into the skin so it really is worked into the skin. Litle do we know that long handle kabukis also make great companions when it comes to buffing foundation, liquid or powder, for that even complexion.

And there we have it! 5 Different Ways to Apply Your Foundation!

How do you apply your foundation?

Much Love,

Roseanne

Hey Everyone!

Let’s set the scene. You’ve only just started to explore the world of makeup, you have your eye-shadows infront of you, the same primer, the same brushes and you open up youtube, click on an eye-makeup tutorial ready to take on the world. As you apply the shadows with a quick hand just like the guru in the video, you don’t know why at the end of the video when you look in the mirror, you look nothing like your ”idol” on-screen.

Image Source: Google Images

I’ve been there. And it’s not to add to any racial slurs, it’s because everyone is different and every eye-shape is different. If you have smaller, beautiful asian eyes, this is the post for you. Not all eyes were created equal, mine are smaller, I don’t have a deep crease and sometimes I can wake up with one eye a little puffier than the other. I don’t have eyes like Angelinia Jolie, nor her lips, but that’s a different story.

Thus, here are my top 5 tips to getting perfect makeup for Asian or smaller eyes – without that deep-set crease and large double eye-lid. These tips are suitable for smaller creases to monolids. I’ll give you more options than just layering on those eyelashes, which I personally do not think is very flattering at all. The goal here is to enhance your eye-shapes by defining them, but still making them appear larger.

1. Use Smaller Brushes – Pencil Brushes

Don’t deny it, not all brushes were created equal either. Stop using those big fluffy brushes because they can make your makeup look ruddy and muddy. Instead, opt for more specific and smaller brushes like the pencil brush or the MAC 217 (one of my all time favourite brushes) that can add color to where you want it to go instead of making it look like you had a little too much to drink at a Panda party. Sort of. The point is, use brushes that fit your eye, there’s nothing wrong with that.

2. Keep darker colors concentrated on your lower lid

For Asian eyes, or monolids, the trick is to keep the darker colors on your lower lid – which sort of explains why liner is sometimes my second best friend. The darker colors concentrated on your lid can define and mould the shape of your eye to become rounder and thus larger. If you put a darker color in your crease with a blending brush, you will mould or contour your eye by squashing or flattening, limiting the shape of your eye and making it smaller. This is not what you want to do. Lighter colors to your browbone or matte neutral shades in your crease are the most flattering keeping in mind that your charcoals, dark browns or plum colors should be closest to your lid line. If you have a slightly puffy browbone, stop adding a white frost or lavender or light blue to it, just stop it.

3. Create an outercorner and then brush in. Don’t brush the color out because you will distort the eye shape. Contour in.

Again, with eye-shadows, or the purpose of eye-shadows is to contour or mould your eye-shape into a more desirable shape. For asian eyes, the almond shaped eye is the most flattering. To get this shape, add color to your outer corner and then add liner to elongate. Every person knows that the basics to eye-shadow is to have a darker color and a lighter color. Lighter color goes all over the lid, and the darker color goes in the outer corner. With asian eyes, yes have that base shade, and then with a darker color start at the corner (outer corner of your eye) and shade inwards, not outwards, until you have a handsome looking outer V. Remember not to go far up because you need to concentrate dark colors on the lower lid. Then, blend away. Because we want to concentrate the darker color on the lower lid again, use a small brush right after, like a pencil brush, and apply the darker shadow on your lid line smoking upwards.

4. Start from the lid and smoke upwards

This is an absolute skill to use for smaller lids. Take a pencil brush or a small shadow brush and after applying a soft more neutral shade all over the lid, take the pencil brush and with your favourite darker shade whether it be a plum, charcoal or dark brown, shade upwards starting from your lower lid and smoke upwards. This instantly defines your eyes, much like a liner but isn’t too harsh that it sets borders on your eyes.

5. Open up your eyes with eye-liner

You’re probably familiar with this already. If all else fails, eye-liner can be your new best friend at the vanity. For asian eyes, the best eye-liner for you would be liquid or gel eye-liner mostly because they are the most smudgeproof eye-liners. My lids tend to be oilier, smaller and more prone to smudging than other eyes so most liquid eye-liners stay on forever while gel-eyeliners are like training wheels for the begginners. It’s also important to get an eye-lash curler and a good mascara (I recommend the Benefit Bad Gal Lash) to help open up your eyes in addition to your favourite eye-liner.

And there we have it, my top 5 simple tips to getting eye-makeup right for pretty asian eyes.

Check out my previous eye-makeup tutorials here:

http://roseannebeauty.onsugar.com/category/tutorial

Love,

Roseanne

Hey Everyone,

This is possibly one one of my most frequently asked makeup questions on the list. I receive emails and questions about helping people find their foundation shade because they can’t whip out the testers at the drugstore. Not to fret, superman might be late, but I am here yet again to save the day.

*Image Source: Beautylish

1. Observe your undertone

You can observe your undertone by flipping your forearm over. If your veins that show through your underarm skin appear green, then you have a yellow or warm undertone and if your veins appear blue/purple-ish, then you have a pink or cool undertone. This is because your veins near your forearm area are blue and the undertone of your skin (yellow + blue = green) and (pink + blue = purple, blue) can thus be displayed.

You need to not only match your shade, but you also need to match your undertone. A fair skin lady with a yellow undertone wearing a foundation that is meant for a pink undertone will have a maskey look that doesn’t look so great unless you are auditioning for the Phantom of the Opera. Ha-ha. *crickets chirping in the background*. Nevermind.

Know your undertone first so when you go to the drugstore, you can match your undertone and your face shade.

2. Search online communities and google beforehand – Get your keywords right

If you’ve been thinking of getting a foundation, you can search on google for people who you know is your shade and what color of the foundation you want that they are wearing.  This is a little online research beforehand and is something I always do.

Here are the steps to getting this process right:

1. It is always handy to know your shade in M.A.C

M.A.C is almost like the universal shade language in the makeup world. Knowing your shade in M.A.C is like unlocking the key mysteries in life. Well, not really, but almost. O C’mon, if you can say “Girlfriend, whatcha talkin’ bout, I use the 116 to put some color on my cheeks, the 134 to dust my powder all over, the 217, 224 for the eyes and the 109 for my contour and the 190 beforehand. Duh,” you know you’re there. Just kidding. Back to the topic. Just go to the fiesty sales assistants at M.A.C in your local department store and ask them to color match you (if you dare) and you are just about about halfway there.

If you don’t know your foundation shade in M.A.C and don’t have a M.A.C nearby, know it well in another common foundation that’s been written a lot about online. You basically need a point of comparison or reference so that you know that when this person is an NC30 in MAC, you can pretty much imagine it on yourself already.

2. If you’re able to get a hold on your M.A.C Shade, look on Temptalia’s Awesome Foundation Matrix. it uses your MAC shade as your point of reference and will tell you your shade in just about any other foundation. It’s awesome. Really. Like Kung Fu Panda! Alright, I’ll stop now.

Just key in if you’re a cool or warm tone (depending on your undertone) and what category you fall under:

Search and scroll for your foundation. I’m an NC30 so now I know that I’m a Soft Beige or Nude in the Rimmel Lasting Finish foundation which is totally true:

3. If That doesn’t work… and if you know your shade (or point of reference), type in google and search for a review or a blog post on the foundation you want and make sure the person who wrote the review has the same shade to see what shade they are in the foundation that you want.

For example, if I am an NC30 in M.A.C (my point of reference) and I want to know what shade I am in the Maybelline Superstay foundation,

I would type in google “NC30 MAC Maybelline Superstay foundation color shade Nude” Putting in a random shade helps the search even if it’s not the right one. You’ll get something like this:

Ta-Da! You can get a pretty good idea of your shade in the foundation that you want now!

3. Bring along foundation that you know is your color to the store:

If all else fails and your online search bears no babies, then bring a foundation that you know is your color to the store and color match the bottles with your eye. A neat trick but not something that most people think about. Just put the foundation you bring and the foundation you want at the store side by side and see if the color matches. If there are testers, you can even pour the foundation out to see if they match!

4. If you have testers, match it on your jawline

And if you do have testers and you know that this foundation stuff isn’t gross and disgusting or have an insane need to put it on your face to know, then your jawline is the place to go. The foundation should match your neck and jawline. I do not endorse or support this practice as makeup on the tester aisle can be full of bacteria that should be a no show for your complexion.

5. Forget about your hand:

Your hand is not the same color or texture or skin as your face. Forget about it. Period. “Oo it matches my hand, thus it should match my face” IS NOT, I repeat more pleasantly, not the way to go darling.

And there you have it! I shall no longer do the searches for you. And no, I cannot possilby know what foundation shade you are if I have never seen you before in ma life!

♡ YouTube Channel | Facebook Page| Online Store | Hellocotton | Bloglovin’ | Twitter | Instagram

Lots of Love,

Roseanne

Hey Everyone!

I don’t know about you but I’ve been seeing my newsfeed and twitterfeed filled lately with updates regarding the hot, hot, hot Singapore weather. Although the weather would be quite welcoming here in Melbourne being about ten to fifteen degrees right now nearing winter, I thought it would be pretty handy to state my top ten tips to keeping your make-up fresh during the summer time.

Just to set the scene if you live near Antartica, summer weather means pearls of sweat and lots of it, hot weather that can turn your make-up look from fresh and fabulous to a flop in minute and foundation that melts off like…well an ice-cub out of a fridge. Excuse the awful pun but the summer isn’t the best climate to look fresh and fabulous 24/7 in. I always keep a fanning device or a thick brochure in my bag to cool myself off with, but let’s see what other summer beauty tips there are to keep in mind as June and July draw near.

#1. Primers are a Girl’s Best Friend

Make-up primers are pretty much essential if you find your that foundation not lasting as long as everyone tells you it will. I remember working in the office in Singapore and although you’re not really hot because of the air-conditioning, I found my make-up dissapearing by midday. Trust me, it wasn’t a look I liked to sport. Make-up primers are great because they help your make-up last longer. According to the finish you would like to acheive, more silicone based primers will help you with your pores and will help keep your make-up mattified or if it’s seriously hot, then you should look for a more gel or water based primer as it feels lighter under the skin and will be less prone to cakey foundation flaws. Eye-shadow primers are absolute must-haves as well! Refer to my Back to Basics post on Face Primers Here.

#2. Keep Blotting Sheets Handy

I used to be adament about bringing a blotting powder around, but now I’ve gotten used to the idea that blotting sheets or just blotting with tissue or your bathroom’s toilet paper really helps throughout the day. Either way, keep some sheets in your bag as an instant refresher after a long day. The sweat and the potential humidity could make you look like you’ve just run a marathon so blotting is a must. If you’re scared of eradicating coverage, then keep a sheer face powder to dust off with all over your face after the blotting.

#3. Wear a lighter foundation

During the summer time, I’m for sure not a fan of thick and creamy foundations. If you’re out and about during the day, the most unattractive thing to see and probably what I’m also guilty of are those nasty sweat beads peaking out through a powdered and foundation covered nose. It’s quite unattractive and it’s inevitable when you’re looking at cream and heavy liquid foundations. Thus, it’s always good to go with something more everyday and lighter. Mineral powder foundations, tinted moisturisers and BB creams are great bets to have, but if you like the coverage and flawlessness of the liquid foundation, make sure you’re not under the sun for too long. It’s absolutely fine if you’re indoors for the majority of the day.

#4. Don’t be afraid of the glow

I have to say that I must raise my hands in guilt for being guilty for a time when I just wanted to be as matte as possible. Coming from Rae Morris herself, you should analyze your skin and not try to change it to the other extreme. For example, if you have oily skin, don’t make yourself the other extreme and try to go extremely matte with a cakey powder and lots of coverage. Embrace a glow instead, not an oily glow but a nice highlighted glow, highlighting the good points like the bridge of your nose, the top of your cheek bones and the face of your chin. It’s for sure a more natural look to sport during the summer months.

#5. Play with fresh pinks and peaches and keep dark shades in storage

Summer is all about being light, happy, and fresh. The sun urges you to dance on the beach, go surfing and be just overall happier than you obviously are during the winter. Your makeup should reflect this joy, so keep the dark shades in storage and bring out more fresh colors like lighter pinks and peaches. Bring on the neutrals and tans and bronzers. Use fresh colors during the summer and you’ll blend right into your surroundings. I always advocate standing out from the crowd but in this case I’m sure you’ll appreciate a fresher color pallette than the palette you’ll use during the winter time.

#6. Go Waterproof

Things melt and things drip during the summer. Always opt to try and go waterproof even if you don’t have anything to cry about. Waterproof eyeliner and mascara are great bets to have to prevent panda eyes from forming and a good waterproof sunscreen will help too.

#7. Don’t forget your sunscreen!

Speaking of sunscreen, you’ll need one. Refer to my Back to Basics Sunscreen post where I give you the ultimate guide and an all you need to know about sunscreens to get a bigger picture but in a nutshell, you want to go with an SPF 30 usually to prevent you from all kinds of nasty things like skin cancer, melanoma, wrinkles and sun burns that won’t let you enjoy the waves of the ocean anymore. I mean, what fun is summer when you can’t enjoy it?

#8. Layer and Set your Make-up!

Setting your make-up is just as important as priming your skin. Not only should you set your foundation with a good powder, a loose powder or any favourite powder to be exact because it makes makeup last longer, you should look to setting your blush and even eye-liner as well. For longer lasting blush, use a cream blush then set it with a matching blush in the same color, blend away so you don’t look like an odd looking clown and apply lightly as you are putting on two blushes but you want to make it look like you only applied one. Setting your eye-liner with eye-shadow is also a good idea to keep liners from smudging. After you’ve applied your eye-liner, take a small brush and use the same color to set your liner with the eye-shadow over the line. You could also have a little fun and use brighter colors like teal or turqouise that are great summer picks.

#9. Foundations do oxidise faster during the summer, what a bummer.

Keep in mind that foundations oxidise during the summer. That means that foundations that appear flawless and just the perfect color when you leave the house may not be the same color in a few hours under the heat. They often appear just a little darker. In cases like these, it’s alright to get a foundation just a little lighter than the foundation you really match with. This is really only the case if you know that the foundation will oxidise, just ask the sales assistant if it will, and if you will be under direct heat and humidity. If not, just use the foundation that matches you, it’s always safer that way.

#10. Add a bronzer for that summer glow

Bronzers are a must have during the summer. Everyone loves to sport that bronze goddess look and it just adds warmth and vibrancy to your look. You don’t want to go too heavy so using a fluffy brush to lightly dust the bronzer onto the places where the sun naturally hits is a great way to do it. I like to contour with the bronzer on the hollows of my cheeks. It slimifies but adds just the most beautiful shade of warmth.

And there we have it! My top ten tips to look fresh and fabulous during the summer time, even in hot and humid weather!

Stay tuned to my winter version soon for all you Aussies out there!

Do you have any summer beauty tips?

Love,

Roseanne

I’m on YouTube as well! Check out my channel at http://www.youtube.com/roseannetangrs

and Talk to me on Facebook for giveaways, beauty tips and secrets onhttp://www.facebook.com/roseannetangrs !

Here on roseannebeauty, you will get a reply! :)

Hey Everyone,

I don’t know about you, but I have an absolute obsession with perfumes. If I walk into a department store, I’m instantly gravitated towards perfumes and out comes my sniffing nose to sniff pretty much all the perfumes the store has to offer. I also think smelling good on a daily basis is important to your overall image so today, I’ll be talking about my current perfume collection – a little obsession that has overtaken make-up for the meantime and has turned my vanity into a little bottle house.

YSL Parisienne Eau De Parfum

I usually tend to go for fresh or floral scents, so this one is a bit out of the norm. I bought this as part of a pack on sale and I think I was a bit on a shopping high because I honestly don’t wear this out much at all. The YSL Parisienne smells like berries, powdered berries, and it’s a very light scent. Not a light scent by ways of a refreshing one, but more so that you can’t really pile this up and smell overpowering. It’s subtle and slightly alluring. However, it develops into a funny musk smell throughout the day so I stopped wearing. My friend refers to this as the “grandma” scent. I don’t know if I disagree.

Givenchy Ange & Demon Le Secret Eau De Parfum:

This is a scent done right. It smells so familiar – like something my Kindergarden teacher wore but it’s hardly Kindergarden appropriate. Think sexy, Victoria’s Secret, alluringly yummy. If that makes sense at all. This is one of my favourites. It’s a sweet and sophisticated scent that smells like flowers, sweet citrus, jasmine with a hint of tea and an after woody base. I hope I got that right. I just gave it a couple more sniffs. It smells amazing.

Ok, ok. I admit I bought these perfumes because of the bottle. Just look how cute these bottles are. They belong on some kind of princess vanity with a bunch of pearls and lots of make-up. I love them. But, I guess they don’t smell too off in the perfume department either. Actually, they smell pretty good.

Juicy Couture Viva La Juicy:

This scent is a very light, sweet, peppery scent. It has a mix of honey suckle, jasmine, caramel…and *sniff sniff* vanilla…and probably a woody note like sandalwood. It smells great. Funny how we associate smells to different experiences. I wore this perfume all the time when I was studying for exams so whenever I give it a whiff I think of stress. I know, how horrible. I also think of a certain boy. Hehe. Smells great, give it a try. One of Juicy Couture’s most popular scents in their little family of four.

Juicy Couture Juicy Couture Eau De Parfum

I am in love with this scent. It smells so alluringly sophisticated. The kind when you walk into a room and you pass someone and that someone goes “ahh” . It’s the kind of scent you want to go to sleep in Peter Alexander pajamas with, or the kind of scent you want to wear to an afternoon tea with scones and..well, tea. I don’t know if this is right, but I smell jasmine, woods, vanilla with notes of roses and lily flowers. It’s a wafting and beautiful scent.

JLO Glow

I’m not a fan of celebrity perfumes. Most of them make me kind of nauseous or remind me of teenange girls going on a wild frantic to see Justine Beiber sing live. But by the looks or rather the smell of things, JLO can not only sing, she can make perfumes. I’ve been looking for a scent for a long time that would smell differently when you smell it and then you smell off it. If a boy should smell like anything, they should smell like Emporio Armani’s Diamonds – that smells different when you smell the air after smelling the scent. It’s like letting go and letting loose, mixing with the ambience, that it can develop into another scent. I really hope this makes sense but JLO glow does this beautifully. In fact it has it’s own wikipedia page. It’s a very clean smelling, powdered smell that reminds you of a top notch resort house, white sheets, white sands, and deep blue water. It smells like rose, sandalwood, grapefruit, vanilla and musk with jasmine notes.

DKNY Be Delicous:

Well, this one is an ultra popular perfume isn’t it? This has the perfect balance of fresh notes and vanilla notes but despite it’s apple shape, I really don’t think it smells like an apple at all. When I give this a whiff, I think of New York, well despite the brand name, I really do. I think of this woman dressed in a sand colored burberry trench coat (sorry DKNY) with a…Marc Jacobs bag..along Saks Fifth Avenue, strolling into boutiques and having a good time. I guess in other words, it smells very day like. It’s a day scent. Grapefruit, cucumber, perhaps hints of apple, vanilla and sandlewood. Am I seeing a trend in my perfume collection here? I think I do.

Paul Smith Rose

This is actually one of my first perfume buys in the days when I first sort of started buying like crazy. I was so obsessed with this perfume, I would run to every store, find it and give it a whiff before spraying it all over myself before the sales assistant caught me. Yeah, classy.  But this perfume is no short of classy. It smells like roses. It’s really a rose scent and I got all caught up with being Roseanne and smelling like roses but I don’t wear this perfume out often. Sometimes the musk gets a little annoying but still, it’s a very nice scent. If you are into roses, then this is for sure a scent for you.

Elizabeth Arden Pretty Hot

Right before I left for Melbourne, I met up with Elizabeth Arden and they gave this perfume to me to smell. I actually really like this fragrance. Inspred by the fearless, bold woman who knows what she wants, the Pretty Hot fragrance is I would say really spicy and sensual. I still think it lacks uniqueness though. It smells like a generic ladies perfume and nothing absolutley special smelling like the Chloe is, you know? Nonetheless if you are into blood oranges, apples, and peonies with bottom notes of amber and sandalwood, this makes a great perfume to check out at the store if you haven’t yet!

Other Notable Perfumes (Not Pictured because I finished them):

Chloe Eau De Parfum

Probably one of my all time, all time favourites. So unique. Nothing in the world smells like Chloe. It’s clean, so darling, so sophisticated and alluring. It’s the kind of girl who’s brought up well, very well mannered, wealthy and a good girl. Not the good girl with bows in her hair and hello kitty clips, the good grown up girl who’s confidant, bold, gentle and very considerate and kind. The girl who would pair up with a chivalrous man, doesn’t sleep or kiss around, a woman who waits for their prince charming. Lychee, Magnolia flowers, Amber and Honey..I would buy another one but looking at my collection, I probably need to go to PAA (perfume addicts anonymous).

Marc Jacobs Daisy

Who doesn’t love Daisy? I love this scent. Like I said, certain smells always pair up with certain experiences. I wore this perfume my first semester of uni and my best friend had the same smell too so I don’t really want to go out and buy another one because it’s very significant to me and I want to keep it at a first semester of uni scent, not a second or third semester. I love it because it smells fresh and there’s nothing that smells quite like it. A very floral and fresh scent.

Anna Sui Secret Wish

Believe it or not, I finished two bottles of this stuff. I bought the first one when I was in Kyoto in Japan and they have a lot of perfume sales all the time so I quickly grabbed this one knowing that I fell in love at first whiff. It’s peppery but it’s very hard to explain. It’s very citrus smelling as well. With notes of peach, melon and lemon, mixed in with a bit of pineapple from what I remember, with amber and musk as the bottom notes. It smells like what tinkerbell would smell like I reckon. For me, it smells like junior year and that was a good year.

Anna Sui Flight of Fancy

I love this scent and I got so many compliments when I wore it. Now, it’s gone though and I’m not a fan of re-purchasing perfumes simply because I buy too many. So hard to explain. It’s a sensational and sensual blend of citrus and floral notes. You need to check this out and spray it on yourself. Smelling from the bottle makes it smell kind of funny.

Back in Singapore:

1. DKNY Cherry Blossom – a no fail scent, sweet, floral and light.

2. Dolce & Gabbana Rose The One – I don’t like this one anymore. It smells like juicy oranges, just like Benefit’s Coralista but unfortunately it develops into a quite metallic scent so I don’t uber suggest it.

Perfumes on my Wishlist:

1. Dolce and Gabbana Light Blue

2. John Galliano Parlez-Moi D’amour

3. Dolce and Gabbana L’Imperatrice

4. Burberry Brit

5. Chanel Tendre

Top priority being the John Galliano but all scents need a check out from you. I love them all but parting with my money with my already stable collection would be too much, I rekcon? Haha.

5 Perfume Tips:

1. When you’re thinking of buying perfume at the store, try it on first. Don’t buy it on impulse (trust me, you’ll regret it). Spray it on yourself and walk around and then if you really like it, think some more and spray it on a sheet. Wait a few days and then buy it. These babies are expensive, you don’t want to make stupid mistakes!

2. What’s all this eau de parfum gibberish? Eau De Parfum (I translate it into perfume) is lighter than Perfume while Toilette and Colgone are lighter versions of the perfume. Sometimes the companies like to mix it up a bit so the Eau de Toilette smells a little more fresh than the heavy perfumes. They make more wearable day scents but they don’t last as long.

3. When a sales assistant tries to sell you a perfume and he or she knows their stuff, they’ll probably explain that a scent has top notes, middle notes and base notes. This is how the scent smells or develops. It’s like eating a Warhead. You’ll taste the extreme sour and slowly it develops into a sweet tasting candy, or even a food with an after-taste. The top notes are usually light scents like fruit or citrus while middle notes are more floral and a little heavier while the base notes are woody, or musk which are the heaviest notes. It makes for the more complex fragrance, something that’s very unique. There’s coffee beans around the store to help you clear your scent palette while you’re having fun so that each scent doesn’t mix with the next one.

4. Make sure you keep your perfume out of the sun, and not by a window. In fact, I tend to keep all my makeup in a shady place away from sunlight. It can damage your hundered dollar perfume, and you wouldn’t want that right? Don’t get it on your clothes either, it might stain.

5. Where should you apply your perfume?

Easy, on your “pulse points”. That means on your wrist:

Or behind your ear, on your neck line. This is because this is where your body heat sort of does its thing. Body heat + perfume = stronger scent. Simple equation, really.

and there you have it! I hope you learned something about the wonderful world of perfumes!