[Get The Look] Goodbye Mr Lee Kuan Yew Nail Art

Hi Huneybees,

Last week was a tough week to get through as the nation waves goodbye to our founding father - Mr Lee Kuan Yew. He was cremated last Sunday and aside from dressing in black, I also did a set of monochrome nails as a tribute to him.

This black ribbon image was circulated around social media within a few hours, so I wanted to do my set of nail art, revolving around the image. But getting the image drawn right is definitely not easy to do freehand. So, I wana show ya my little trick, this might be able to help those who find it difficult to draw with your left hand (if you are right handed) too.

1. After measuring nail bed size, I got the image shrunk down to around that size and did a tracing of the image (you can draw instead of tracing too!).
2. Find a transparent file and slot the drawing in between, or you can use a plastic bag as well.
3. Paint a layer of the topcoat on the plastic file, covering more than the drawing.
4. Using acrylic paint or nail polish, start painting and draw up your image.
5. Once dried, paint a layer of topcoat again, covering more of your drawing dimension.
6. Let the image dry. Normally it takes up to 2 hours, but I like to let it dry over night.
7. Using a tweezer, slowly pull up the image, starting from the corners and work your way in. Do not pull too hard as you might break it.
8. After painting your base nail colour, apply a thin layer of top coat for the newly made "sticker" to stick on.
9. Press down to remove bubbles and trim the size if it's too big.
10. Once done, apply topcoat and you are done!
    
    Note: I did a little touch up on the drawing after sticking on, so that the image fills up the thumb. 

Voila! This is a close up of the other fingers. I did a PAP symbol as well and freehand drew on those black ribbons and Singapore Flag. Hope this little trick helps you to perfect your DIY nail art, bringing your work to another level. 

Do you guys have any other tricks to share? Would love to hear about it. :)

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[What's New] To Gel Or Not To Gel - Etude House Enamel ting Gel Nails Collection

Hi Huneybees,

Etude House has recently joined in the gel nails trend in K-beauty and launched a new affordable series of nail products - Enamel ting Gel Nails collection, allowing you to have your very own nail salon at home! 

Though it is available in the Etude House branches around Singapore, but I still prefer to have mine ordered and delivered right to my door step. All thanks to Qoo10, I've got my items shipped right from Korea and most of the time, even faster than the local stores can stock up!

The whole collection includes a Enamel ting LED gel lamp, Enamel ting Gel Nail Cleanser, and Enamel ting Gel Nail Remover together with 35 brilliant gel nail polishes, that allows you create all sorts of nail art and manicure.

The gel lamp is slightly cheaper than what you can find out in the market, portable and easy to use with 36 LED lights, letting you set your gel nails in 45 seconds flat. It has an internal timer that will auto turn off after 45 seconds, so that you know it is time to add another coat of colour.

I've gotten 2 colours - #5 Apple Bite (Red) and #17 Coating Jean (Blue) to try out the nail polishes. The colour payoff is amazing and it is very easy and smooth to apply. With just 1 application, you can get full shiny coloured nails. My nails are ready with 10 minutes with just 2 coats of the nail polish.

But, getting your gel nails done is not as straight forward as your usual nail polish of applying the colours coat after coat. You will also need the help of the Enamel ting Gel Nail Cleanser. Removing the gel nails is also not that fast too! Here's the steps to it...

But purchasing these gel nails materials were with an initial struggle. I was weighing the pros and cons, reading up more of gel nails manicure before deciding to get them. In fact, I still have my reservations doing gel nails again. Why? Here's my list of them...

The PROS

• Affordable and easy on the pockets
• Manicure that lasts 2-3 weeks
• Chip-free
• Fast Drying
• Easier to create nail designs without smudges

The CONS

• A health risk as you are constantly baking your nails under UV lamp - cancer, increased photo-aging, more wrinkles
• Hassle for gel nails removal 
• Filing down of the nails to break the top coat, might lead to over filing, thus making the nails thin and weak
• Soaking in the gel remover makes nails dry

Some tips when applying gel nails at home...

• Apply sunscreen on your hands before application
• Buff your nails to get a better surface for the gels to stick to, ensuring your gel nails last longer
• Be sure not to paint your cuticles and wipe off any that gets on your skin before curing
• Apply cuticle oil and hand lotion once you are done.

So, what do you think? 

Would you consider giving the Etude House Enamel ting Gel Nails collection a test drive?

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[What's New] Etude House Launches Festive Collection - PINK WISH TREE

Hi Huneybees,

My favourite Korean beauty brand - Etude House has launched a new collection just in time for the festive season. Come decked in gold, green and my favourite shocking pink, I knew I had to get this collection, once a little bird tipped me saying that it is already in stores!

In the 'PINK WISH TREE' collection, you can find their infamous Precious Mineral Any Cushion, Kissfull Lip Care trio set, Moistfull Collagen Cream, Moistfull Super Collagen Cream, Hand Bouquet Hand Creams and Petit Bijou Cotton Snow Body Set. 

The Moistfull Collagen Creams are specially packed in a tube instead of their usual tub. Not only are they upsized, this tube version, makes it more hygienic, easier to store and dispense. Agree?

But what better way to beautify yourself, than to give back to charity? When you purchase from the 'PINK WISH TREE' collection, you will receive these Wish cards for you to write your wishes on. For each wish card, Etude House will donate 100KRW  to 'Save the Children' in Korea, to help provide educational opportunities for girls in African Countries this Christmas! The pink and green elastic band is for you to keep.

So, what did I get from the collection?  Kissfull Lip Care trio set and Precious Mineral Any Cushion. I got the Pink Precious Mineral Any Cushion, though my shade was suppose to be the green cover, but I really prefer the pink cover more. Anyone looking for N02 refill? Hehehehe...

The Kissfull Lip Care trio set was a fun one to have. I got it with my girlfriends and since we each had our own favourites, we easily each chose one. My favourite is the gold one, translucent, yet providing the lips with moisture with a soft peach scent. Green has strawberry scent whilst the pink is cherry with a slight tint of pinkness.

This collection is already in stores islandwide and I bet they will make such lovely gifts for your friends, families and colleagues.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[Get The Look] Neon Nude Accented Nails

Hi Huneybees,

Nude nails have been seen on the runways this season, everything is going back to basics whilst showcasing the gorgeous fashion on the runway. But knowing me, I can't go away with just nude nails. So drawing from other trends seen on the runway, I created this set of nail art with the half moon and gold accents trend as well. I call this "Neon Arabic Nights".

Photo credits:

http://www.harpersbazaar.com/

http://www.fashionisers.com/

http://www.cosmopolitan.co.uk/

The look was created with these 2 nail colours from the Etude House Nails & Body Painting Set #2 Warming Lemon. The neon yellow nail polish is favourite nail colour from my collections and when  paired with a nude shade, it just makes my nails pop.

The gold accents were nail stickers I purchased from a while back and of course, not forgetting the blue Swarovski crystals that I have that I have stuck on using nail glue.

You guys should give it a go, I bet your friends will find it refreshing especially if you are always in nude nails. You can also pair it with this season's favourite red or maroon. Have fun!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[What's New] Can't Wait For The Etude House Play 101 Pencil

Hi Huneybees,

As a kid, colour pencils are my best friends. I would make everything I draw come to life with colours and till today, they are my companions in my bag. What Etude House recently launched, would definitely let me renew that childhood feeling again by "painting" on my face! 

Under there Play series, you can find tons of nail polishes to create millions of nail art and now the Etude House Play 101 pencils in 50 different colors works wonders just like the nail polishes. They may look like eyeliner pencils for you, but in fact, they are plentiful of ways you can use them!

The Etude House Play 101 Pencil (0.5 g, 6,000 won) can be used as a concealer, highlighter, blush, eyebrow pencil, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip liner, and lipstick. You might even be able to create an unique, new lipstick color by mixing three different colors with each other. It is like an artist's colour palette and your face is the canvas!

There are 5 kinds of pencils (see color of the words behind the number of the pencil):

• Creamy (yellow)
• Matte (blue)
• Glossy (orange)
• Shimmering (pink)
• Glitter (white)

So, Etude House has collaborated with Pony's Beauty Diary and  created 8 different looks that you can try with the Play 101 Pencils: Angel's Drop, Baby Doll, Mini Retro, Love Affair, Deep & Deep, Kiss of Fire, Queen of Queen, and Hey! Bad Girl.  

Here's Part 1 of the video tutorial, featuring - Angel's Drop and Baby Doll and Mini Retro...

I can't wait to get my hands on these pencils. Wonder if there's any special set if I get all 50.... Hmmm....

All pictures in this post are from Etude House.

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[What's New] My Korean Beauty Hauls

Hi Huneybees,

This is my longest video ever done with the largest beauty haul ever!

I can now officially call myself a beauty addict. I couldn't stop buying in every beauty shop I stepped in when I was in Korea. Some of the items here cannot be found in Singapore and some, well, should be on their way here into our shops.

So watch this video and hear me "rant" on and on about my buys. The items featured will be listed below..

Etude House

• Lip Gel Patch
• BeBe Foot Mask
• Skin Note Hydrogel Mask
• Moistful Super Collagen Ampule Essence 
• Dust Cut Finish Cream
• Dust Cut Facial Mist
• Help My Finger Nail Paraffin Pack
• PLAY NAIL Sugar Powder Nail Polish
• PLAY NAIL Campus Runway ( #201 / #211)
• Etude House x Disney XOXO Minnie Collection
  - XOXO Minnie Any Cushion Case
  - Minnie Touch Blusher
  - Minnie Touch Highlighter
  - Look At My Eyes Cafe eyeshadows (PK005 / PK006)
  - Minnie in the Nails ( Mininie White face / Minnie Pink Ribbon / Minnie Silver Ribbon / Minnie Black face)
  - Minnie in the Nail Glitter (1 / 2 / 3 / 4)
• Precious Mineral BB Any Cushion
• Limited Edition Etude House Cinderella Magic Any Cushion Case with Precious Mineral Magic Any Cushion #01 Magic Pink

Clio

• Gelpresso Waterproof Pastel Upper Eyeliner (#3 Mint Ade)
• Gelpresso Glow Tint (#5)

Aritaum

• World Glam Coating Tint (Vienna)

Holika Holika

• Bye Dust Mist
• Jewel Light Under Eye Essence
• Jewel Light Under Eye Maker
• Jewel Light Peach Eye Maker

Odbo

• Vitamin C Essential Brightening Mask
• Collagen Hydra-Mask
• Mediheal E.G.T Double Zone Effect Mask
• Secret Foot Healing

THE FACE SHOP

• Kiss The Colour Cheek Tint (No.2)

Too Cool For School

• CC cream - Dinoplatz Cinema City (Concealer)

3 Concept Eyes (3CE)

• Real Soft Cleansing Sherbet
• Pink Lip Color  (202 Momo / 506 Daily Lady)
• Pink Gradation Bold Blush (Peachy Beach)
• Pink Bold Blush (French Lilac)
• Duo Color Face Blush (Peach Crush)
• Pink One Color Shadow (Kathy)

Innisfree

• Forest for Men perfect all in one skin
• It's Real Green Tea Mask
• Forest for Men Breath Mint Spray (Before Kissing / After Smoking)
• Innisfree Eco Nail Color (#47 / #50 / #31 / #35)
• Eco Finger Mask (Rose & Rose Hip / Shea Butter & Argan Oil)
• Eco Science Lip Care Gel Mask
• Mineral Rose Marbling Brighter (No.2 Natural Rose)
• Innisfree X Jill Stuart Shadow Pencil (Mandarine)
• Creamy Tint Lipstick (#2 / #11)
• Jeju Volcanic Pore Clay Mask
• Jeju Volcanic Steam Towel
• O2 Pore Mask Pack
• Soybean Firming Neck Cream
• The Green Tea Seed Serum

Phew! That's a lengthy list.

I would be reviewing the products one by one on my blog, so stay tuned!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[Tried & Tested] Etude House Face Conditioning Cream

Hi Huneybees,

Etude House launched the Face Conditioning Cream just at the right time. I got it in a whim, knowing jolly well, I will be getting it cheaper it Korea, but what the heck, I still bought it and brought it along on my trip.

Right now, this is my favourite must-have! This little baby makes my skin soft, priming it for makeup, whilst keeping my skin moist. I always have this problem of getting dry skin when in cold weather, but this time was different, with the Face Conditioning Cream, I had no trouble at all!

The Packaging

Its white pearly box is exactly the same the colour of the cream. Whilst maintaining its girly feel, this white tube is made of a sturdier and shinier material like your toothpaste, so you won't mess it up with their brand of CC Cream.

The Fragrance

It smells a little like baby powder, delicate and soft, with hints of floral scent.

The Benefits

•  With Ingredients like Argan, Olive and Coconut oil to moisturise, nourish and control excessive oil
• Minimizes complex steps from skin care to makeup base to boost makeup condition lightly and simply.
• Anti-Wrinkle
• Whitening
• With added SPF 25 / PA++

 

The Texture

The texture of the product is very creamy, silky and smooth. It is lighter than your usual moisturiser creams and it get absorbed very fast, without leaving any sticky feeling. The skin is just nicely primed and slight whitened, though not as pale looking as CC Cream.

The Review

I only need 50c coin size of the cream for my whole face and after it's fully blended out, my skin is a little brighter and more even-toned with a glowy feel. I have it under my makeup and it adheres to it very well! I didn't need to do any touch ups throughout the day and my skin feels so soft and moisturised even after a day of being out!

So, if you are looking for the all-in-one primer and moisturiser for that glowy, dolly look like the Korean ladies, try the Etude House Face Conditioning Cream!

Don’t forget to stay tuned to my blog / like my blog’s Facebook page / follow me @huney_84 on Twitter & Instagram  for the latest updates!

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[Tried & Tested] Etude House Color Lips-fit Lipsticks (Spring 2014 Collection)

Hi Huneybees,

Etude House has been one Korean beauty brand I've been using since Day 1 they launched in Singapore, and everytime there's something new, I would be rushing to stores for them. A little bird told me of their new launch - Color Lips-fit Lipsticks and I knew I had to have them!

Endorsed by the pretty Sulli and Krystal from Korean girl band - f(x), they lipsticks were definitely something to have this Summer!

These Color Lips Fit lipsticks being soft and silky, with an airy texture that provides vivid colour pigmentation. With a range of seven lovely colours and one clear gloss, there's a shade for everyone to show off those lips!

• PK001 Magical Fit Pink
• PK002 Silhouette Fit Pink
• PK003 Fantasy Fit Pink (Sulli’s pick) *Already sold out by the way I arrived!*
• BE101 See Through Fit Beige
• OR201 Dream Fit Coral (Krystal’s pick)
• OR202 Wanna Fit Orange
• RD301 Perfect Fit Red
• H901 Petit & Top Coat

Here's a swatch of the lipsticks on my hand, basically what you see is what you get. The color on the top lid of the packaging is the color you get on the lips. 

I fell in love immediately on how vibrant the colours were and how easily the colours get picked up with just one swipe. But since I've been "collecting" quite a bit of lip colours, I only got the BE101 See Through Fit Beige.

Even the packaging is so bright and bubbly like the colours!

So, I had the lipstick on the moment I got it and I simply loved how *may I stress* easily it glides onto my lips. Once it's dried, there's this light powdery texture, you almost don't feel it at all. There's a matte texture to it and it can be a little drying (that is why the topcoat would be required). 

It didn't transfer at all, even after a few drinks, except that the colour faded off slightly. But the good thing is that the lipstick is buildable and you can layer on a bit more after that.

The only thing I didn't like was the smell. Though it is suppose to be fruity, it kinda reminded me of cough syrups, but luckily once applied, you don't really get the smell or the taste of it. 

The shade that I got - BE101 See Through Fit Beige had a tinge of orange in its nude shade, slightly different from the pinkish nude shade that I have. But I liked how I can match it with almost any colour eyeshadow, definitely a shade for olive skin-toned ladies like me.

If you buy Etude House Color Lips-Fit lipsticks at the store, they are giving out mini H901 top coats per lipstick. It gives the lipstick a slightly more glossy look, but I would prefer it matte, you can have a little lip balm on before applying the lipstick!

Do share your photos with me if you do get the lipsticks! I can't wait to see how the rest of the lipsticks look like on your lips!

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