Sally Hansen - Diamonds are a girl's best friend

When they say "Diamonds are every girl's Best Friend", they ain't lying about it. Apparently diamond dust powder particles have been infused for the Diamond Strength No-Chip Nail Colour, amplifying the brillant shine and sparkles on every finger.

Your Diamond Collection fantasy begins with Diamond Strength No-Chip Nail Color:
Be drawn into a magical fairy tale fantasy, with each shade of the extensive selection (of 18 ultra-luxe shades) reflecting a distinct dimension of grandeur and beauty.
The range spanning across regal jewel tones, confectionary color, bold brights and ethereal sheers are all synthesized with diamond powder particles. Housed in a radiant faceted glass bottle reminiscent of a real diamond, each formula carries the brand’s trademark brilliant strength and quick touch dry-time.
Check out the Exceptional Dazzling Range with 18 Ultra- Luxe Shades as below:

These are available at $13.90 from Sasa, Watsons, Guardians, BHG, Robinsons and John Little.
I have also tried out the colur but was unable to capture some of the brillant shine especially for the Black Tie. I must say that I am totally blown off by its' shine and colour. I absolutely love it.

I have also learnt several take-away tips from this Sally Hansen event which I shall share below.

Removal of Cuticles This is the first time I am doing it on my own and honestly speaking, I am kind of nervous as if you are not careful, you may end up damaging cuticle bed and this may cause infection.
Steps to removing cuticles safely
1) Apply the Gel Cuticle remover around your cuticle area and leave it for 1-2 mins.
2) Push the softened cuticle back toward the base with the flat tip of the Orange Stick using gentle round motion
3) The excess cuticle will be seen on the flat tip. Do not attempt to cut your entire cuticle or forcefully push back towards your nail.
4) Then give your nails a quick rub with a cotton cloth and wash any excess solutions off your hands with running water

As I am pretty much a newbie when it comes to applying nail polish on my own (less than 10 times in my lifetime as I normally visit the manicurist instead), I am glad Sally Hansen's nail polish has a flat brush which make it for easier application in my opinion.

Before application (I presume you have already applied the base coat to strengthen and protect your nails)
1) Roll the bottle of nail polish gently between 2 palms to warm it. Do not roll it vigourously as it creates bubbles during application.
2) Open the bottle and remove excess nail polish by circling the brush round the opening.
3) Then press the brush down to the bottle next flat (as in horizontal to the bottle opening) to remove excess nail polish and to allow for even nail application for the first coat.

During application 1) Start from the middle of your nail and use the flat brush to swipe downwards to your cuticles then upwards (without lifting the brush).
2) Then using the other side of the brush to apply nail polish to both sides of the nail.

After application
1) Do let the first coat dry and work on the other fingers before application of the second coat.
2) Last but not lest, apply the quick dry top coat to strengthen and enhance your shimmering nails. It should dry within 60 seconds but do note only the top layer is dry so please avoid extreme situations.

The top coat will be available at $16.90 from Sasa, Watsons, Guardians, BHG, Robinsons and John Little.
3) Do remember to apply cuticle oil to moisturize your cuticles and nails!! Keep it happy!!

Traditional Javanese Massage Hut - West Coast Plaza

During this long break, I am back to my spa pampering treats for myself. As I was unemployed during this period of time, I wasted no time in indulging myself for my long lost freedom and "tai-tai" lifestyle though on a low budget one as I was income-less. =)

This is one of the things you can attempt without breaking the bank.

I have choosen the Hut 67- Signature Service which is bascially their trademark massage. No frills but pure firm massage to release the knots around my shoulder,neck, calves and spinal area. These are the concerns most working professionals especially ladies have.

You can choose either Herbal Oil or Olive Oil for your massage. However, do note for Herbal Oil, you can only bath after 2 hours after the massage.



Not sure if it was become it was off-peak period then (Wed 1530hrs) or because, it was a new opening at West Coast Plaza, there was a promotion for 1 for 1 massage at $60. Technically, we both paid $30 each for an hour massage. It was pretty much a value for money massage as I didn't want to spend too much during this period of time.

Despite the low budget, both my friend and I were assigned therapists whom I must say are pretty good and experienced.

My therapist, Nora was firm in her touch and helped release some of the knots and tension especially at my shoulder blade area. It wasn't the most relaxing of the massages as it is meant to help with better blood circulation after releasing knots, allowing the blood to flow smoothly throughout your entire body.

I have chosen Herbal Oil to be massaged on me and it was rather pleasant smelling. After an hour of massage, my body felt warm and I feel more refreshed and energetic as my muscles were more relaxed. I was able to sleep better that night too as my shoulders had been aching for weeks and a massage indeed made me feel good.

You can request your therapist to focus on areas of your concerns such as shoulders or calves if you ladies have been wearing too much of the heels.

Understand that this trademark therapy combines ancient Javanese healing techniques that target the body's 67 major acupressure points with smooth yet firm rhythmic stroking to revitalise and renew mind, body and soul.

I have attached their website for the list of treatments and massages which you may be keen to try out:
http://www.javanesemassage.com.sg/massages.html

I would say try this if their promotion for 1 for 1 @$60 is still on. Usual Price is $60 for an hour massage.
Don't say I never share Good stuff with you readers =)

West Coast Plaza #02-20
Call 6774 7737 for more enquiries!

How your interviewers or Employers judge you?

 An inspiration to touch on this topic as I read an article from JobsCentral
http://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/interviewer-secretly-thinking-appearance-030111253--finance.html

It is incredibly sad that employers tend to focus on appearance, grooming and clothes before you even speak. I have heard of horror stories from friends and colleagues that some interviewers have already brushed them off without even listening on their capabilities and performance. The interviewers have already crossed their arms, pushed the chair backwards and muttered: "Speak" and the interview went on without a question from them. Nonethless, you know the outcome. They never got a call back from that employer.

Sad but true, I guess generally people are judgemental to a certain extent whether you like it or not. Perception can be pretty subjective too but all variable factors aside, what can we do to bag that job or even getting a decent pay increasement for the next job you are aiming for.

I am sharing my two cents worth especially relevant in Singapore before you brush this article aside as we are competing with lots of foreign talent since we are are an open competitive labour market.

Like you, I have similarly made mistakes thinking capabilities will be upmost importance since I have exceed my job performance from what was expected, things would be easier for me. It turned out to be a very grave mistake for me thus I have since learned and moved on.

First impression are incredibly important as it set the perception of a person of you from the start and the horrible thing is that it is and will be a lasting impression. It may take months and years to change perceived view of you or it may not change till the day you set foot on your grave.

Appearance - Grooming Yes, it is true that there are many articles which has shown that more beautiful and handsome people bag the job or get paid far higher than their peers. Yes, you can blame for your parents for life but there is nothing you can do about it unless you want to do a total make over eg: Plastic surgery, make-over or change your entire wardrobe. Face it, not many of us working professionals are rich enough to spurgle like that. That's why we are all working.

Clothes and DressingIt is not necessary to be dressed in branded designer goods from head to toe.
What commoners like me and you can do is to at least ensure clothes that are ironed and be dressed appropriately for the industry you are applying for.
It is better to be over-dressed than underdressed. What do I mean by that?

For LadiesYou can choose to be in a business suit with pants / skirts. Do ensure that shirt are tucked in neatly in place with the correct sizing. It is not professional to appear in a size too much and the cleavage button "popping" or a size too big as it makes a person look sloppy.
You can also choose to appear in structured shift dresses with length to the knee area. The dress has to cover the shoulders if you wish to have a professional office look.
No fanciful earrings and accessories. Keep that for a hot date!
Covered shoes and pumps are recommended. Peep-toes and wedges are not formal shoewear for the office.

For GuysIt has to be business suit with pants with tie. Shirt has to be totally buttoned up neatly tucked in.
Socks should be well fitting when you sit. Any exposure of your ankle is equalivent of a lady showing her cleavage.
Leave the fanciful ties or shimmery suits for other evening occassions.

Other pointers: Wear a subtle classic watch. It reflects composure and punctuality.
Colours which generally rarely go wrong: Neutrals like nude, grey and earthy colours. Black and White.
This applies to both Clothes and Make up.

Make-up and other Grooming tips:
For Ladies
Do put on some light day make up and use concealer (if necessary).
Do trim your brows to keep it neat with no stray brows.
Blot your face and touch up so it look clean and fresh.
Light, day make up with no vibrant splash of colours (unless you are in advertising or as such)
Leave falsies for evening date please.
Spray some floral or citrus perfume to lighten up your mood.

For Guys
Do trim your brows. For guys, you can it trimmed to look neater and tidier. Avoid over-trimming or you will look feminie.
Go with a clean look - Shave your moustache and "sideburns" (unless you are in advertising or as such)
No nostrils hairs peeking out please.
Blot your face so it look clean and refreshed
Spray on some lightweight perfume eg Davidoff Coolwater

I hope the above information would help you to have a good headstart for your interviews.
May you be lucky. Happy job hunting =)

Crown of Glory Matters to Girls

ChangPo Magic Straight Shampoo (FACESHOP) - 300ml

1) Replenish the moisture in your hair for greater manageability, silkiness and shine

2) Moisturizes and calms dry, shaggy hair.

3) Slightly acidic for optimal elasticity, this shampoo will tame even the wildest of hair

Usage tips:

Massage over wet hair and scalp, working up a good lather before rinsing thoroughly.

Review:

I totally love this how it can keep my naturally wavy hair straight even till end of the day. (See last picture)

Most importantly, I am very particular on how this shampoo is not too moisturising that it can cause my already oily scalp to create wet shiny hair look especially in humid Singapore.

It keeps my hair clean and sweet smelling for the entire day. However, I do find this a tad too drying on the ends thus I have came up with a perfect solution instead of using a rich shampoo.

This is my 2nd bottle and I notice using conditioner will still cause my hair ends to be dry.

If you would like, you can match this with an ultra rich mask for the HAIR ENDS only... Take note the ENDS only :)

Do note that using a rich shampoo for oily scalp ladies can cause hair loss (based on my personal experience).

Ultra Honey & Shea Butter (ESSENTIAL from Watsons) - 200G

Essential NUANCE AIRY Ultra Honey Hair Mask is formulated with 3X more high purity honey and milk protein to protect and strengthen. It provides intensive care, especially to the last 15 cm of hair, which is prone to dryness, tangles and split ends. Hair is left soft, elastic and easy to manage. The mask gives a scent of flower and fruit. It is added with shea butter, a repairing and moisturizing ingredient, to make hair extra smooth. Wild rose essence leaves a protective layer to keep hair soft and moisturized. The product leaves hair airy. It gives limp and flat hair a light and bouncy feel. It provides iIntensive care for severely damaged hair, without the heaviness.

Usage tips:

1) After washing hair, gently dry it with a towel.

2) Apply an appropriate amount to hair (it is recommended to apply a table-tennis ball-sized portion to medium-length to long hair).

3) Leave on for 5 minutes before rinsing with water

4) Recommended for use 2 to 3 times a week. 

Review:

It is creamy sticky texture but amazingly it works. Although it looks kind of disgusting to me, the benefits are just wonderful. I usually moisturize only the ends of my hair with it but on a daily basis on my clean hair. After 3-5 minutes, I will rinise it off. Clean dry with a towel and brushing your hair will be a breeze. After I combine the Faceshop shampoo and Essential Hair mask, my hair has became less shiny and more tame at the ends. I do not need to struggle every night brushing my tangled strands of hair. Saying that, it significantly reduced my hair fall. However, do note that during this period of time, I have also changed my diet to healthier portions of more vegetables and some fruits (though not alot). 

Perhaps you can try this combination and see if it works for you if you are having oily scalp and concerned about hair fall but want silky smooth hair for easy maintainence. 

End Outcome of My Hair:

Not exactly model perfect style but good enough for me. It is a vast improvement from my initial stage which I am disgusted to bear it all here.

No more oily hair when i press oil blotters papers on them.  

This is my Straight and shiny hair after 3 months without it being "fried or frizzy".