Have you ever ‘ummed’ and ‘ahhhd’ in hesitation about whether a certain colour suited you…but had no guidelines to help you decide? You might have heard the theory some groups of colours flatter you more than others.  I first heard about ‘colour seasons’ theory through ‘Colour Me Beautiful (the book and movement) back in the 80’s…yes I was only 9 years old but my mum started selling a range of makeup via direct sales. Part of her training included practicing draping people in swatches of fabric to assess their ‘colour season’. My mother draped me in satiny fabrics, deliberated, then diagnosed me as warm (not cool).  So from then on, still unsure if she was right, I wore golden yellow, forest green, peach, browns and indulged in the colours of the 70’s in my regular retro op-shopping trips as a teenager. When I first became a makeup artist I was keen to know how the colour seasons theory impacts on makeup colour choice.  So I sought out a style coach and first ‘had my colours done’ in 2008.  The result = Summer (cool).  I’ve remembered and worked with the colour seasons in both my own personal dressing, and professional makeup […]

On the weekend I gifted a mini makeup workshops to 3 women who won their place after registering for a flower crown craft workshop hosted by Cloe’s Creationz. Cloe creates unique dining settings for couples and groups, but since the planned venue of Kulim Park was soggy and cold, we went indoors for an even more ‘intimate’ workshop in her lounge. 😉 There I met Tearani, Sarah and Jemma. I took them through a 1-hour mini makeup lesson, which would usually be a private, one-on-one experience, as a small group of three. Here are their self-applied results. What do you think?

Have you always worn black mascara?  Black seems to be the default choice of most women.  But is it right for you? Black mascara is great for those with naturally black or dark brown hair but for those with brown (like me) or blonde hair, brown or brown/black mascara is more flattering. Black can be ‘overpowering’ and look too stark or contrasting against paler features – and fake too. How could your lashes ever be naturally black when your hair is blonde (or red or auburn, for that matter)?  Black mascara has the potential to look ‘tacky’ against paler features. Swap to a brown or brown/black mascara – you’ll still have darkness you need for definition but without the harshness of a true black. Try it and see if you can tell the difference!  It should harmonise better with your natural colourings. My fave true brown mascara is Mary Kay Cosmetic’s Lash Love in ‘I ♥ Brown’. will also better suit natural redheads and those with naturally warm colourings (light those in the ‘Spring’ or ‘Autumn’ colour seasons) – plus it makes blue or green eye POP! One exception when black mascara is a must: On the occasion you wear […]

The last few months I’ve been decluttering with the loving email advice from FlyLady.net. She says clutter causes chaos and takes up precious ‘head space’. I reckon she’s right! Living with clutter is like walking through golden syrup; it slows you down and drains your energy. Have you noticed a trend towards minimalism, not just in home decorating, but in general living? It’s the practise of reducing needless materialism and intentionally investing in the people and experiences that matter to you. And while I’m not painting my house all-white or wearing just one set of clothes, when my physical space is clearer, so is my mind. When not having to rush and rummage, an everyday task can become a life-affirming ritual, an oasis of calm, even an opportunity for appreciation and creative expression! While I’ll let FlyLady guide you on decluttering your house, here’s how to streamline your makeup routine: Do you want to say goodbye to: • Rummaging through a cluttered makeup bag filled with individual items? • Buying pre-filled eyeshadow quads, trios or palettes only to use up your fave shades then have it sift around unused for a few years because it feels wasteful to throw it out? • Opening up individual makeup items to […]