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11 Useful Coffee, Tea, and Alcohol Machines For The Home

Oct 12, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Beverage machines have become permanent fixtures in our home. Take this for example: you’re up early in the morning; you need a caffeine fix. What’s the first thing you look for? Why, your coffee machine of course!
It just goes to show how much we rely on beverage machines, and how topsy-turvy our lives would be without them. That said; drink-making gadgets aren’t limited to just coffee makers. There are great tea infusers, and even cocktail and beer devices to go for as well. Here are 11 of the best to make sure you’ll never go thirsty again:

Coffee

Nespresso Essenza Mini

Bigger isn’t always better. Case in point: the Essenza Mini is Nespresso’s smallest coffee machine ever. Weighing in at just 2.3kg and no taller than 205mm, this pint-sized gadget makes for a cute home addition, plus it packs a punch too – it has two programmable buttons to prepare an Espresso or Lungo, to give you that perfect caffeine fix.
Nespresso Essenza Mini, starts from $158, available at any Nespresso boutique, authorised trade outlet, and online at www.nespresso.com.
Behmor Brazen Plus

Here’s one for the control freaks. The Behmor Brazen Plus lets you control the coffee-brewing process right down to a tee. Whether it’s adjusting water temperature, presoak time, or manual release into alternate brewing vessels, this drip machine gets the job done, making sure that your brew is just how you like it.
Behmor Brazen Plus, $143.10, available via www.amazon.com.
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto LUMIO

Design-wise, no coffee machine beats NESCAFÉ. And sophistication is at the heart of the brand’s latest machine – the LUMIO. Sporting a sleek, curved body, this gadget can brew 20 premium recipes, ranging from cappuccinos to hot chocolates, while cleaning is made easier thanks to a remodeled drip tray.
NESCAFÉ Dolce Gusto LUMIO, $219, available via www.dolce-gusto.com.sg.
Bonavita BV 1900TS

If you’re all about that flavour, and have some barista skills to boot, then say hello to the Bonavita BV 1900TS. A simple porcelain unit that’s easy to clean by hand, this dripper is basically a pour-over cone that makes use of pour-over style brewing. Follow the right steps, and you’ll enjoy some of the best coffee of your life.
Bonavita BV 1900TS, $37.47, available via www.amazon.com.
Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker

Making cold brew is usually troublesome. Not with the Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker. Its simplicity is one of its selling points, giving you an easy way to steep and strain grounds at room temperature. Oh, and it delivers as well. Expect your joe to arrive potent yet sweet – an ideal combo if there was any.
Oxo Cold Brew Coffee Maker, $203.72, available via www.lazada.sg.

Tea

Finum Brewing Basket

Brewing tea is a serious business – nope, not tea bags, but actual tea leaves that are loose and everything. For that, the Finum Brewing Basket is the best tea infuser in the market. It allows your tea leaves to swim around in hot water for maximum flavour, while its mesh doesn’t allow leaves to escape. Plus, it’s heat resistant too.
Finum Brewing Basket, medium ($10.68), large ($14.29), available via www.amazon.com.
Fred & Friends

Because tea brewing is serious, it’s easy to lose sight of what makes it fun in the first place. Fred & Friends’ tea infusers prevent that from happening. Coming in all sorts of cute designs like a “Manatea” – ha, get it, a sloth, and a whale, these quirky infusers are a fun way to introduce beginners to the world of tea aficionados.
Fred & Friends, Manatea ($7.80), Mr. Tea ($7.49), Sloth ($9.72), Brew Whale ($11.91), all available via www.amazon.com.
Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot

Drinking tea is a classy affair, so your teapot should look the part too. And it doesn’t get any classier than the Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru. A gorgeous Japanese-made apparatus, this glass teapot is fitted with a giant mesh brewing basket, making sure your tea leaves are fully immersed in hot water to bring out the ultimate fragrance.
Hario Chacha Kyusu Maru Tea Pot, starts from $12.50, available via www.amazon.com.

Alcohol

Alchema Home Cider

With Alchema Home Cider, enjoying cider has never been easier. This revolutionary gadget actually turns fresh fruit into cider or mead in just two weeks, and it’s real simple to use. All you’ve got to do is choose a recipe on Alchema’s app, add the following ingredients, and wait for the app to alert you when it’s ready.
Alchema Home Cider, US$499.99 (currently sold out), visit alchema.com for updates.
Fizzics Waytap Draft Beer System

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Ask any beer lover, and they’ll all say the same thing: great beer always comes in draft form. Which is why Fizzics Waytap Draft Beer System is a godsend. This contraption uses micro-foam technology to improve the flavour and mouth-feel of canned or bottled beer, so whatever you’re drinking is the maximized potential of your booze.
Fizzics Waytap Draft Beer System, US$129.99 to US$169.99, available via store.fizzics.com.
Somabar: Automated Craft Cocktail

Can’t make a cocktail to save your life? Not to worry. The Somabar’s got you covered. This Wi-Fi connected kitchen appliance is actually a personal robot bartender that helps you make drinks via an app, which in our opinion is pretty darn useful, especially if you’ve knocked back a few stiff ones already.
Somabar: Automated Craft Cocktail Appliance, US$429 (currently sold out), visit somabar.com for updates.

Hush's Latest Candle Will Creep You Out Just In Time For Halloween

Oct 12, 2017Jun 11, 2018

When you’re trying to get into Halloween mood, you’ll probably think of pumpkin spice and candy corn. That’s what we had in mind when Hush Candles announced a limited edition candle for Halloween. But they went and one-upped us with a candle that borderlines on the creepy – one that looks likes a baby doll’s head specifically.

Like how we have trends for beauty, there are also trends in horror movies. This year, it’s all about clowns and dolls, courtesy of It and Annabelle: Creation. Hush thought it would be a really good idea to mould a candle in the shape of a baby doll’s head, because babies can be as creepy as they are cute. Not to mention that we have watched enough movies with demonic babies and dolls to know that those things can be very evil.

Hush Little Baby, $59

As for the smell, the candle will fill your room with Hush’s signature lavender or lemongrass scents (although it would have been cool if it smelt like baby powder). If you love watching those satisfying videos of chocolate melting, you will probably want to get your hands on one of these doll-candles because we’re guessing that’s how it’ll melt when its lit, except it’ll take about 60 hours for the entire candle to melt. Each candle is hand-crafted, which means that every baby’s face melts off differently.

The candle is also the perfect house decoration that’ll definitely scare the young ones without being too graphic when you light it up for trick-or-treating. Also, good luck sleeping with that baby’s head watching you all night.
The Hush Little Baby candles are available on hushcandle.com at $59 for the month of October only.

Tarte's Toasted Palette Is So Close, We Can Feel It's Warmth Already

Oct 12, 2017Jun 11, 2018

If you asked us to sum up this year’s major beauty trends, it’ll have to be glitter and warm tones. Earlier this year, we were bombarded with a lot of warm eyeshadow palettes when the Urban Decay Naked Heat palette brought the attention to that look. Suddenly, it was cool to wear warm tones on your eyes and lips. Tarte might be little late to the warm tones game with the Toasted palette, but we all still want to get our hands on it!

Say hello to the Tartelette Toasted palette, featuring 12 warm cosy colours that is the epitome of the warm tones trend. You might think that it looks a little similar to the Tartelette In Bloom Clay Palette, but that one has more earthy tones compared to this palette. The maroon tortoiseshell casing can come off a little dated, but once you open it, you’ll find deliciously toasty shades that are simply magical. Just look at all the colours!

The Toasted Palette keeps it’s versatility with a range of buildable shades, which is the reason why we love Tarte’s palettes so much. There are both shimmers and matte finishes that you can mix and match for a whole load of different looks. We are itching to swatch everything already! But until then, have a look at these swatches.

Left to right: Fireside, Cozy, Crackle, Simmer, Flame, Sunset, Candle (Source)

Popsugar managed to get their hands on the palette (lucky them!) and has commented that the shimmery shades have a little fallout, but the matte and metallic shades don’t fall everywhere. If you are still deciding which warm eyeshadow palette to get, you might as well just wait a couple more days to get the Toasted palette.
The Tartelette Toasted Palette drops on 15 Oct.
Header image: @tartecosmetics

How to Give Your Manicure a Fresh Coat of Creativity

Oct 12, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Whether you’ve got them all glammed up in a loud metallic shade or polished in a French manicure, your nails speak volumes about your character; and that’s exactly what the original girlboss Sally Hansen (yes, she’s real!) intended. Self-expression is increasingly formidable in our culture today, and with DIY nail designs back in full force, picking a style has morphed into a whole new ballgame. It’s not as harrowing as it sounds, though – not when you have these on-trend shades from Sally Hansen’s new Miracle Gel® “Travel Stories” collection.

“Romantic Rendezvous” collection (L-R-):
Shhhh-immer, In The Sheer, Orchid-ing Aside, Proper P-rose, Love Me Lilac, Cabernet With Bae, Jealous Boyfriend

Inspired by Sally Hansen’s Global Colour Ambassador, Madeline Poole, the new collection features two ranges of polishes to have fun with if you can’t settle on a single shade. From the “Romantic Rendezvous” collection, we’ve got our eyes on In The Sheer, an on-trend millennial pink that’s incredibly easy to wear, and Shhhh-immer, an iridescent rose that would go perfect on top of any nude or pink shade. The bold colours in this range are grabbing our attention too. Cabernet With Bae raises a glass to this gorgeous, deep burgundy hue, while Jealous Boyfriend is a shade that’ll leave everyone green with envy.

“Adventure Land” collection (L-R):
Adrenaline Crush; Red-y, Set, Run!; Beet, Pray Love; Wild For Violet; Swim Upstream

For those who love to stand out from the crowd, the “Adventure Land” collection is where it’s at. Red-y, Set, Run! is a red hot tomato flecked in pearlescence that adds the perfect finishing touch to any bold outfit, but if you have a penchant for mystery, take on Wild For Violet, a stunning dark purple hue, as well as Swim Upstream, a deep marine blue that dares to be different. A fresh spin on self-made beauty, we’d say. What we’ve really got our heart set on though, is Adrenaline Crush – a glimmer-loaded silver with a hint of bronze.

What you’ll get with these nail polishes is a high-shine finish and lasting power akin to a salon gel manicure, all without the need for a UV lamp. So unlike salon gel manicures that require a UV lamp, these nail polishes will set in natural light, giving you the same volume and intense sheen for up to 14 days. It’s all in the innovative technology and formula.
This two-step gel system will leave your nails significantly more chip-resistant than your regular varnishes, and it also comes right off with regular nail polish remover – harsh buffing not required. Simply paint on two coats of your favourite colour (you don’t even need a base coat!), let it dry, and apply the Miracle Gel 2X Volume Top Coat over to seal the colour in.
Mesmerised by the lineup, we pounced on the collection and picked out several shades for ourselves. Have a look at the easy designs we came up with and take them all on!

Shades used: In The Sheer & Proper P-rose
Looking to take that millennial pink manicure of yours to the next level? Try inserting a geometric shape for a little fun. Paint your nails in two coats of a light base colour like In The Sheer and allow those layers to dry before moving on to the next step. You’ll need to grab some tape, cut it, and position two strips to create a triangular space for the nail polish. Then, go ahead and fill it with Proper P-rose. When it’s all dry, remove the tape and finish up with the top coat.

Shades used: Swim Upstream & Orchid-ing Aside
Polkadots are a cheeky way to amp up a plain nail colour. Choose a deep base colour like the blue Swim Upstream and give your nails two coats of that. Once they’re dry, use a dotting tool like the end of a paintbrush handle or the round tip of a bobby pin and dip that into a lighter, contrasting shade like Orchid-ing Aside and add random dots of that onto each nail. Likewise, let those dots dry completely and swipe on a layer of top coat.

Shades used: Cabernet With Bae, Wild For Violet, Shhhh-immer
Who doesn’t love a cool ombré effect? Here, we’re giving the chic colour gradation a slight shimmery update. Start off with a dark base coat like Cabernet With Bae or Wild For Violet – we used both shades on alternate nails here – then grab a makeup sponge (preferably one you’re about to throw out), dip a tiny surface in Shhhh-immer and dab it gently onto the tips of your fingers. Remember not to go overboard, or you’ll risk covering the entire base. Use a nail polish remover to clean off the excess before locking your colours down with the topcoat.

Sally Hansen Miracle Gel® “Travel Stories” collection, Miracle Gel Color and 2X Volume Top Coat (14.7ml) retail at $16.90 each. Available from 12 October 2017 at Watsons and Guardian stores.

Get Your Heart Pumping: Extreme Activities in Singapore For Thrill Seekers

Oct 11, 2017Aug 15, 2018

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think of extreme activities? Crazy stuff like skydiving, bungee jumping, or mountain biking, right? Fair enough. That’ll definitely get your heart pumping.
That said; despite Singapore’s relative mildness when it comes to pure daredevil badassery, our city-state does pack more than its fair share of thrill seeking activities that will satisfy even the hardiest of adrenaline junkies. Here are the best of them:
Bungee Jump, Giant Swing, and Sky Walk

Say hello to Singapore’s first ever bungee jump site – AJ Hackett Sentosa. Okay, compared to other sites around the world, this is meek.

AJ Hackett Sentosa measures 50 metres tall at Siloso Beach, a lot shorter than sites like the Macau Tower in China; which stands at 233 metres, or the Verzasca Dam in Switzerland; where you get to free-fall amidst alpine trees at 220 metres.

Giant Swing
Just remember though, 50 metres is still pretty darn high, so you shouldn’t worry about not getting a kick down here. There are also two giant swings that can hit speeds of 120km/h, as well as a vertical sky walkway and a skybridge walk – activities that’ll make your legs quiver.

Vertical Skywalk

Skybridge with transparent glass panels
For more information, visit ajhackett.com.
Drive on an F1 Track

Suffice to say, driving on the ECP or PIE is not exactly the most exciting activity in the world, let alone extreme. However, little is it known that you have the chance to unleash your inner Michael Schumacher at the F1 Track, with an actual supercar.
Yes, that F1 Track – the one that hosts official racers from across the globe every September. You can legit drive on it.

Thanks to Ultimate Drive – a luxury auto distributor, racing enthusiasts can choose to cruise on the official F1 circuit, either driving themselves or be driven, with luxury cars up for grabs like the Porsche 911 or Lamborghini Gallardo Spyder. Our need for speed craving just got real.
For more information, visit ultimatedrive.com.
Indoor Skydiving

Never has an extreme activity been labeled with such contradiction. Welcome to iFlySingapore at Sentosa, where you’ll get to partake in what is called “Indoor Sky Diving”.

Not sure what the word sky is there for, although you’ll get to simulate the thrill of freefalling from a plane in an indoor five-storey wind chamber. That includes being blown and flipped around like a rag doll, pretty much like how it feels to be 10,000 feet in the air.

For more information, visit iflysingapore.com.
Swim with Sharks

Ask any sane person, and they’ll all tell you the same thing: swimming in shark-infested waters is not the safest thing to do. Well, unless the sharks happen to be in an aquarium, that is.

At RWS, daredevils can do exactly just that at Adventure Cove Waterpark, either inside an acrylic enclosure, or pure freestyle, with just diving gear to accompany you.
Whatever your choice is, this is probably the safest opportunity to get up close and personal with these beautiful marine predators. Just don’t pee in your pants when they bare their teeth!
Duel with an MMA Fighter

Angela Lee
It’s not everyday where you get to come face-to-face with a pro MMA fighter. It’s even rarer to meet a champion, although you’ll be able to do that at Evolve Mixed Martial Arts – the top dog organisation of martial arts in Asia.

Dejdamrong Sor Amnuaysirichoke
From Muay Thai to Boxing, and Wrestling to Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, learn from the best with Evolve’s one-on-one classes, and who knows? You may even engage in a duel with them one day and come out on top.
For more information, visit evolve-vacation.com.
Cable Skiing

East Coast Park is great for picnicking, cycling, and relaxing. While that is all fine and dandy and everything, those who want something a little more extreme can head over to the Singapore Wake Park near Lagoon Food Village.

Being Singapore’s only cable-ski park that offers knee-boarding, wakeboarding, wakeskating, and double-skis ‘cable style’, you’re in for a whole lot of fun down here. And hey, you’ll save money on splurging on that beach holiday too.

Previews for Singapore Wake Park, Singapore, Saturday 16 July 2016.

For more information, visit singaporewakepark.com.
Slacklining

We all know what you’re thinking. Nope, slacklining doesn’t involve actual slacking. It’s a side sport for the climbing community in Singapore, and it’s real tough.

What happens is that there’s a tightrope (or slackline), and you have to walk, yes, actually walk across it. Besides being the ultimate test of your balance, it’s also a great form of leg exercise, plus there’s that thrill factor in avoiding a fall. Sounds pretty exciting if you ask us.

For more information, visit elephantslacklinessg.com.
Cover image: AJ Hackett Sentosa

Music Festivals Happening At The End Of This Year That Is Worth Using Your Leave On

Oct 11, 2017Jun 6, 2018

We are fast approaching the end of the year, which means two things: end-of-year bonuses and leave to clear! We bet you thought we were going to say Christmas and New Year, but you’re wrong. We love presents and all, but paid leave and bonuses are, well, a bonus.
Now you’re probably wondering what to do with all that free time. Should you travel? Just lepak at home? How about a festival experience overseas? Discovering new music, making new friends and just having a ball of time is the best way to end 2017. With Neon Lights taking a break for this year (sad face), there are plenty of other festivals that are equally as exciting to choose from, including our own annual rite of passage, ZoukOut.
We sorted out our favourite festivals happening at the end of this year by destination below!
Thailand: MAYA Music Festival

This festival was so good that they are holding it again in the same year. So far, only Flume has been announced for the upcoming date in December, but judging from the earlier festival’s lineup, you can expect DJs from all sorts of genres. Because it’s so close to DWP and ZoukOut dates, we think that the lineup will probably be quite similar. But it’s in Thailand, and they do know how to party a lot better than we do. Case in point: Songkran Festival and their monthly Full Moon parties.
When: 10 December 2017
Hong Kong: Clockenflap 2017

The name doesn’t mean anything because you can’t describe Clockenflap in one word – it’s an amalgation of everything. Arts meets music and dance at this annual festival in Hong Kong. This year sees the likes of The Prodigy, MØ, The Dandy Warhols, Dean and Bob Moses taking the stage at Central Harbourfront, with Massive Attack and Feist headlining the festival. It’s also going to be cold in Hong Kong at this time of the year, giving you a whole new partying experience (not like in Singapore where you will be sweating buckets).
When: 17 – 19 November 2017
Tickets
Thailand: Wonderfruit 2017

Held in the fields of Pattaya, this eco-conscious festival is a celebration of the community and arts. If you need a replacement for Neon Lights, Wonderfruit is your answer and more. Don’t expect EDM giants or pop groups; the music here borders more on indie. Some artists to look out for INCLUDE Gui Boratto, Izzy Bizu, KFC, Curtismith, and Eduardo Castillo. Other than the awesome bands, you’ll also be able to witness art installations and attend workshops about sustainability in the middle of a dusty field (it’s nothing like Burning Man though). The food offerings at the festival all practice the farm-to-table concept, and there will be various tents sporting everything from flea markets to salons and yoga classes. There’s even a tent for power-napping, because why not, right?
When: 14 – 17 December 2017
Tickets
Indonesia: Djakarta Warehouse Project 2017

You don’t need to wait until New Year’s Eve for those amazing pyrotechnics! Indonesia’s biggest EDM festival will satisfy your fireworks cravings. Cheap flights, cheap hotels, and cheap tickets for a weekend of fun and a lifetime memory? Worth it. This year sees an explosive lineup that includes Flume, Gallants, Marshmello, Hardwell, Rehab, Tiesto, and Robin Schulz. Hip hop lovers will also be in for a treat, with Rich Chigga, Keith Ape, Higher Brother and Joji all scheduled to take the stage too.
When: 15 – 16 December 2107
Tickets
Singapore: Zoukout 2017

Of course, if you don’t have too many days of leave left, you can just make do with our very own EDM festival here in Singapore. The annual beach fest is the only dusk to dawn party that will really put your partying endurance to the test because you can literally party the night away in your best beachwear. Just remember to take the next Monday off so you can fully recover from the weekend (trust us, you’ll need it when Monday rolls around). Only a couple of names have been released with more to be announced soon, but we’re pretty happy with the lineup so far. For now, you can look forward to Axwell and Ingrosso, Claptone, Yellow Claw, Robin Schulz and Rehab. Crossing fingers that we’ll get more EDM heavyweights!
When: 8 – 9 December 2017
Tickets
I don’t care where I go: It’s The Ship 2017

It’s The Ship is the Asian version of Holy Ship, where the party doesn’t stop for four whole days – and they really mean it. This cruise festival is perfect if you don’t have a destination in mind and you just want to party the entire weekend away. You’ll be on the ship with hundreds of partygoers and DJs (yes, you’ll bump into them A LOT) for 96 hours of straight up partying. There will always be something going on, with all sorts of after-parties (or pre-parties?) happening in the various cabins. You just gotta know the right people. The lineup this year includes Krewella, Peking Duk, Yellow Claw, Coone and Oliver Osbourne.
The cruise also docks at Phuket, where the legendary beach party returns this year! With meals included and your room permanently a couple of floors below the party, there will be no need for camping or all those annoying things to deal with when flying to another country for a festival. But if that sounds too good to be true, just take note that your ticket includes everything including food and accommodation, except alcohol.
When: 17 – 20 November 2017
Tickets
Time to start planning your leave.

Dress Your Best at Zouk’s Halloween Fest and You Might Win Tickets to Greece

Oct 11, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Halloween is quite a spectacle, isn’t it? Kids going trick-or-treatin’, adults dressing up as their scariest (or sexiest) best – there’s a whole lot to love about ye All Saints’ Day.
And the festivities have already begun. USS’s Halloween Horror Nights 7 is a spooky feast for the senses, while LEGOLAND Malaysia’s Brick-Or-Treat is an event that’s more family-friendly. Partygoers however can look forward to The Laboratorium Of Horror at Zouk.

Come 28 October, Singapore’s premier nightclub will be transformed into a “dystopian, sci-fi horror” setting, manned by a “deranged scientist” called Dr. Gore, whom we can only assume will be the DJ, who has yet to be officially announced for the event.
You can check out the teaser trailers below:
Teaser 1

Teaser 2

Body parts and chopped up organs will be placed all over the club – definitely not for the faint of heart. If you can brave all of that though, let’s just say the rewards are magnificent.
On the night itself, the best-dressed person walks away with a pair of Scoot Economy Flybag tickets to Athens (worth $1680), while the consolation prizes aren’t too shabby either: you can win classic brow resurrection and Browhaus makeup products (worth $1,510) and Jimmy Choo fragrance hampers (worth $500) among other prizes.
Check out the full list of prizes below:

Tickets for The Laboratorium of Horror will set you back $55 (includes entry to all outlets and one standard housepour), although if you’re an early bird, there’s free entry for the first 100 partygoers who arrive in full costumes.
So go freaky, or go home. It’s all up to you. Just remember that your outfit will matter at Zouk’s grisly Halloween night.
Date: 28 October 2017
Time: Saturday, 9pm to 4am
Venue: 3C River Valley Road, The Cannery, #01-05, 179022
Admission: $55, available at the door.
For more information, visit zoukclub.com.
Images: Zouk

Amp Up the Heavy Metal With Urban Decay's Upcoming Collection

Oct 11, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Thanks to the endless amount of holiday beauty launches, our wishlist has grown from a few beauty essentials to “I NEED EVERY SINGLE ITEM FROM THIS COLLECTION RIGHT NOW”. Unfortunately, Urban Decay’s latest announcement isn’t going to curb your appetite at all. Instead, it’s about to fuel your desire even more. Feast your eyes on Urban Decay’s new Heavy Metals Palette.

@UDWende just broke the news! We’re going full-on Heavy Metal for the holidays. 💜 ⚡️#HeavyMetalHoliday #UrbanDecay

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on Oct 6, 2017 at 4:04pm PDT

If you thought ’80s glam metal died out aeons ago, think again. The beauty brand is giving it a new lease of life by way of their first-ever metallic-only eyeshadow palette, which is a HUGE turning point for a brand that prides itself on wearable nudes and shocking neons. The new palette made its debut on Instagram recently in all its shimmering glory, and we’re 110% ready for these metallics.

We packed our Heavy Metals Metallic Eyeshadow Palette with 20 of our most amped-up shades yet! And it's all organized by color: brights on one side ➡️neutrals on the other. ⚡️#HeavyMetalHoliday #UrbanDecay

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on Oct 10, 2017 at 10:20am PDT

Introducing our first ever all metallic eyeshadow palette — Heavy Metals! ⚡️⚡️These are the creamiest, most amazing, shiny metallics we've ever created. ✨✨#HeavyMetalHoliday #UrbanDecay

A post shared by Wende Zomnir (@udwende) on Oct 6, 2017 at 3:57pm PDT

You’ll find 20 new molten hues housed in a sleek metallic packaging, complete with a purple sleeve that’s designed to look just like a matchbook, because let’s face it, we can’t channel our inner rockstar without falsely adopting their unhealthy habits too, right? You’ll also notice that the mirror inside isn’t on the opposite side of the eyeshadow shades. Instead, it’s situated between the two sets of eyeshadow – neutral shades to the right, bold colours to the left (we’ve got our eyes on the wilder colours this time, of course.)

Glitter gets loud! New shades of Heavy Metal Glitter Eyeliner. Shades (left to right): Punk Rock, Gamma Ray, Stix and Bones, Pyro, Grind, Catcall. ⚡️#HeavyMetalHoliday #UrbanDecay

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on Oct 10, 2017 at 5:15pm PDT

We're rockin' out with a collection of our favorite metallics this holiday. Are you ready? 🙋#HeavyMetalHoliday #UrbanDecay

A post shared by Urban Decay Cosmetics (@urbandecaycosmetics) on Oct 10, 2017 at 3:46pm PDT

Creamy metallic eyeshadows aside, we’re also stoked on getting those 6 new shades of Glitter Eyeshadows from the Heavy Metal collection. More metal for the eyes, we say. No news on when these babies will be hitting local shores just yet, but when they do, you’ll be the first to know.
Main image: @urbandecaycosmetics

Hey, Training Bras Can Be Fashionable Too

Oct 11, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Exercising can be quite a chore, especially after a long, tiring day. Plus, you’ll probably end up looking really terrible after an intensive workout, and no one wants to be caught looking like the sewer just coughed you up.
Once you’ve made up your mind to head to gym or the yoga studio, the next hurdle to cross is what to wear. Bringing a change of clothes can be oh-so-tedious, and yet you don’t want to be seen wearing your ratty exercise gear out. Finding the right bra is really important too, unless you want to deal with jiggly boobs throughout your entire routine which can really hurt and cause sagging in the long run.
Have you seen Truimph’s latest training bras from their Triaction range?

control lite designed for all levels of power training

The Control Lite is your answer to sports bras that are able to provide your boobs the level of support it needs and still look good on you. The Control Lite bra comes in a vibrant city camouflage print that fits right into street style. Pair it with some joggers and pop a bomber jacket over for that atheleisure look and let everyone think that you are sticking to your New Year’s resolution to exercise more. Not to forget its three layers of padding (more support!) and wide straps to reduce chafing. What more can you want from a bra?

Get the matching set with the Fit-ster shorts to give you a pop of colour. Because if you look good, you feel good! This is one exercise outfit we wouldn’t mind being seen in.

For something more bad-ass with a subtle feminine touch, you can try the Magic Motion bra in black. The Magic Motion bra is fitted with light padding for extra comfort and to reduce bouncing (which we all hate). The metal clasps in pink and the cross back straps are stylish enough to be worn under a racerback tank top.

Of course, Triumph understands that everyone is different, and we all have different bust sizes. If you drop by any Triumph store, they’ll take you through all the various designs in their Traction range from wired to push ups to get the right fit. Don’t be intimidated to ask the sales people for help, because your want to exercise in comfort. Our boobs have never felt so pampered!

Now that you’ve read all about it, we want you to have a chance to try Triumph’s Triaction range for yourself too! All you have to do is like and share this post on our Facebook page by 13 October, 6pm for a chance to win a $150 Triumph voucher.

The Triaction AW17 line is available at all Triumph stores, sg.triumph.com and at leading retailers.

Nokia 3310 Priced at $99, Available in Singapore From Oct 14

Oct 10, 2017Aug 15, 2018

First came news of the Nokia 3310’s arrival. Now come the numbers. From October 14, mobile phone users in Singapore can expect to snag the old school gadget for the price of $99. It will be available in two colours: Warm Red and Charcoal, as well as come with 3G.

Warm Red

Large-3310-3G-_Charcoal_Front_300DPI_DSIM-2

Charcoal
HMD Global, the Finnish startup that owns Nokia’s branding rights, announced in a statement on Monday (October 9) that everyone’s favourite dumbphone has been improved to deliver an “enhanced, customisable experience”. This refers to the ability to change icon colours and position, pretty much like what an actual smartphone can do.

What Snake looks like on the new 3310
HMD Global announced that the phone would be available at Courts, Harvey Norman, Challenger, Gain City, Sprint Cass, Mustafa, Handphoneshop, 3Mobile, and selected A-Mobile authorised retailers – for those of you interested in enjoying a dose of nostalgia.
But while the Nokia 3310 is nowhere near the forefront of cutting edge technology, at least it does the job. Users can look forward to 6.5 hours of talk time, MP3 playback of up to 40 hours, and a 2-megapixel camera – features that are perfect for elderly folk, or for kids who aren’t responsible enough for a smartphone yet.
For more information, visit www.nokia.com.
Images: HMD Global

The Louis Vuitton X Stranger Things Shirt Is Already Getting Ripped Off

Oct 10, 2017Jun 11, 2018

It’s no big secret that Nicolas Ghesquière, the creative director of fashion house Louis Vuitton, is a huge science geek at heart. And a huge fan of cult show Stranger Things at that. The kids were even invited by Ghesquière himself to visit the LV headquarters when they were in town, which probably was how this collab came about. We are not complaining though!
Nicolas Ghesquière sent Stranger Things down the runway during the Louis Vuitton Spring 2018 Fashion Show at the recent Paris Fashion Week. One of Netflix’s Stranger Things tribute posters to iconic 80s sci-fi shows was emblazoned on a plain black shirt with a loop of chains around the neck, paired with a rosy prairie blouse and pink see through pants. It’s an understated outfit compared to the rest of the LV collection, but it’s the best thing to happen that night for pop culture fans – Ghesquière knows exactly how to get the attention of both the upscale fashion market and pop culture fandoms at the same time.

Source: Pascal Le Segretain

This shirt will (unfortunately) cost you a bomb when it hits the LV stores next spring and who knows if you’ll even be able to lay eyes on it, but good news for all of you Stranger Things fans — you can get a rip off at online retailer Teespringer.
The tee, sans the neck chain, features the same exact 80s poster on a plain black shirt. We are pretty sure you could just DIY those chains yourself, and even then it’ll still be cheaper than getting the actual thing from LV. Just saying.

The best part? It only costs about SGD$32. We know which website we’re going to be camping at when Black Friday Sales roll around.

Source: Netflix

With the second season so close that we can almost ~~smell~~ hear it, we are sure that everyone is excited to get to get their hands on more merch. Other than shirts, you can also get mugs, hoodies, and stickers with the same poster on it too.

Shop the LV Stranger Things Collection on Teespringer online now.
Binge watch Stranger Things Season 2 on Netflix from 27 Oct.

Moncler Reimagines The Puffer Jacket For The Urban Street Kid

Oct 10, 2017Aug 15, 2018

For a lot of us, outerwear is more of a necessity than an aesthetic. Once you lay your eyes on Moncler’s jackets, you won’t have to search any further for chic outerwear that’ll turn heads when you stroll down the streets.
Moncler is known for their fashionable down jackets, turning classic styles into something that is actually runway-worthy. Together with STYLEBOP.com, Moncler has worked together to release a the range of outerwear that reimagines one of the brand’s classic designs – the puffer jacket – in a mix of high fashion and street style.

It’s hard to pull off a puffer jacket because of its bulky silhouette that kind of resembles a sleeping bag. Puffer jackets were meant to be more functional than fashionable, with shapeless Michelin Man poofs that keeps you warm. With Moncler, you don’t have to worry about looking like an unsightly ball. Moncler embraces the oversized silhouette, matching it with bright colours for a bold winter look. The additional detailing and chunky zippers all just add to the street style of the jacket. You won’t look out of place at any skate park or ski hills at all – the hypebeast look also works for winter!

The highlight of the capsule collection is the exclusive Moncler Jacket, a slick, glossy jacket with graphic detailing down one sleeve. Black will always be the new black, so embrace the darkness this winter. The reflective nylon laqué fabric ensures that your outfit will never fade into the background even thought black can be a dull colour.

Exclusive Moncler x STYLEBOP.com Jacket

The collection continues with other silhouettes of different shapes that comes in the same slick, glossy nylon laqué black layering. There’s one with a hood to keep the wind out of your hair, one with a high collar to hide from the cold, and also one that belts at the waist to give you a slightly curvier shape (in the feminine way, not in the fat way). The Gaura and Liriope jackets have an inner lining in peach that lends a pop of colour to your outfit just in case you worry about your fall colour palette being too dull.

(left to right) Gaura Jacket, Liriope Jacket, Amelancher Coat

If you love Moncler’s bright bold colours like in their previous Mr and Mrs Moncler series, don’t fear because they haven’t forgotten about it. The collection also includes a cherry-red jacket and a millennial pink hooded jacket -because even Moncler is jumping on the millennial pink bandwagon.

Nerium Jacket

Callis Jacket

Shop the Moncler and STYLEBOP.com Fall 2017 Special Release Collection on STYLEBOP.com from 11 October onwards.

Drop Everything – Fenty Beauty's Galaxy Holiday Collection Is Coming

Oct 10, 2017Aug 15, 2018

If, like us, you fawned over each and every item from the Fenty Beauty debut collection and were left just as mesmerised by RiRi’s makeup tutorial, you’re gonna wanna listen up, because the multi-hyphenate superstar is about to drop her hyper-limited beauty collection.
Fenty Beauty’s Galaxy Holiday Collection is about to immerse the world into a whole lot of holographic shimmer by way of glitzy lippies, sparkling lip glosses, a metallic-to-glitter eyeliner, and one spectacular eyeshadow palette loaded with glimmer. Have a look at what’s about to hit the stores this Friday.

Galaxy Eyeshadow Palette, $82
Every holosexual out there is about to lose it. Housing 14 celestial-inspired shades ranging from sheer to smoky and shimmer-drenched hues, Fenty Beauty’s new eyeshadow palette is practically a treasure trove of colours and finishes for the eyes.

Galaxy 2-Way Eyeshadow Brush, $36
Of course, you’ll need a convenient brush to takes those glimmery shadows to new heights. This dual-ended brush features two must-have eyeshadow brush shapes to help you achieve that perfectly blended and layered colour.

Eclipse 2-in-1 Glitter Release Eyeliner, $30
Prepare yourselves, because this liquid eyeliner is unlike any other. Similar to that insane matte-to-glitter liquid lipstick we LIVED for, RiRi’s created a liquid eyeliner that transforms from metallic to glitter. It dries to a sleek metallic finish, but when it’s dry, go ahead and rub it for a surprise glitter reveal.

Cosmic Gloss Lip Glitter, $28
We loved the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer from the debut collection, but now, we’ve got ourselves 4 new iridescent shades that fuse pigment, glitter and gloss to amp up the sparkle even more.

Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick, $28
Yup, she heard us, and now she’s giving us exactly what we want – lipsticks. Say hello to the Starlit Hyper-Glitz Lipstick, a shimmering lip colour that delivers the feel of a balm, except it gives your lips a lustrous finish thanks to the colour-soaked microshimmers. Go ahead and gleam this Friday.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Galaxy Collection (Limited Edition), available at Sephora stores and sephora.sg from 13 October 2017.
Header images: @badgalriri

Step Into The Hermès Lifestyle At This Immersive Exhibition

Oct 9, 2017Aug 15, 2018

Everyone knows Hermès; the creator of one of the most iconic and exclusive handbags in the world – the Birkin, the crafter of fine leather goods and the purveyor of silk scarves as the ultimate sign of luxury.
But how well do you know the Hermès lifestyle?
Hermès is not just about celebrating the luxurious life, it’s all about incorporating good design with a purpose. Beautiful materials are always a wonder to behold. There is nothing more relaxing that appreciating a piece of excellent craftsmanship whether you are talking about a handbag or a chair, especially when it’s both functional and aesthetic. It can be a bit unsettling when you come home to a mismatched living room everyday, or when you have a beautiful shirt that wears out after two washes.

Considering that we spend so much time in our living spaces, its not a surprise that the Hermès portfolio also includes a home universe, which includes home objects and furniture that look good and can withstand the test of time (and your clumsiness). You want to live in comfort and style, and there’s no better way to do than the Hermès way.

Through The Walls is an immersive exhibition that also doubles up as a showroom at the Hermès flagship store in Liat Towers. A lot of the materials used in the homeware like silk, leather and wicker also appear in their clothes and other products, whilst keeping the whimsical, timeless feel that embody all Hermès products. You can get your entire house kitted out in Hermès – if you can afford it, of course. From wallpaper to a customisable curiosity cabinet to store your silk scarves, you can find anything at Liat Towers.

If you have a small budget, there are also plenty of little knick knacks that you can dress up your house with. There are small maplewood boxes with sheets of leather that can double up as cardholders because everyone needs one and vibrant hand-painted lacquer boxes by Italian illustrator Gianpaolo Pagni that you can use to organise your coffee table. Dinnerware will add a pop of colour to your dining table without being the center of attention.

You have to step into the Hermès home universe to truly experience what it’s like to lead the Hermès lifestyle. It’s like Muji, but a more elegant, colourful, and aesthetic Muji.
Through The Walls
Date: 7 to 29 October, 2017
Where: Hermès, 541 Orchard Road, Liat Towers
Admission: free

The Pixelbook is Google’s Thinnest and Lightest Laptop Ever Made

Oct 9, 2017Aug 15, 2018

With new smartphones and wireless earbuds that can translate up to 40 languages on the fly, Google is at the cutting edge of technology – there’s no doubt about that. And if you, like us, have been fawning over the tech giant’s latest product releases, feast your eyes on this: say hello to the brand new Google Pixelbook.

Launched last week, the Pixelbook has everything you would ask for in a notebook – namely, slick performance and great design. Not to mention, it’s also the thinnest and lightest laptop that Google has ever made – weighing in at just 1.1kg and measuring no thicker than 10.3mm. That’s as good as carrying around a feather!
Okay, fine. We exaggerate. But there’s no denying just how gorgeous this new gadget is. For one, it’s not just a laptop, but a tablet too, with its sweet 12.3-inch LCD touchscreen. Google calls this “4-in-1” design. You can use the Pixelbook as a laptop, tablet, with the keyboard folded underneath the screen, or propped up behind it.

And it gets even better. There’s a digital stylus called the Google Pixelbook Pen, which uses machine learning to make writing feel as normal as legit pen on paper action – to do that it has an incredible latency of 10 milliseconds, as well as 60 degrees of angular awareness and 2,000 levels of pressure sensitivity.

Plus, with Google being Google, there’s a built-in Google Assistant too. All in all, the Pixelbook is without a doubt a premium laptop, and is a far cry from the company’s previous unexciting Chromebook line. Heck, it may even give the Apple’s MacBook and Microsoft’s Surface Pro a run for their money, but we’ll have to wait to find out.
Currently, there are no details for local pricing and availability just yet, although the Google Pixelbook has a starting price of US$999 (with the Pixelbook Pen going for US$99) and is available in the U.S, Canada, and U.K from 31st onwards, with pre-orders open right now.
For more information, visit store.google.com.
Images: Google

We Finally Tried those Brooklinen Sheets That Are Everywhere on Facebook

Oct 9, 2017Aug 15, 2018

By Adele Chan
I’m a sucker for Facebook ads. I see them every day on my newsfeed, and Facebook seems to know me well; the ads I’m pushed make sense to my lifestyle and I end up clicking on a lot of them.
Earlier this year, there was a “Popsmile” advertising video that promised teeth whitening with an LED light gadget — I bought it, and no, it doesn’t work. Then a few months ago, I saw this ad:

I ended up buying both designs you see above. The Totoro onesie was a great buy — no regrets! Super cute and made of good quality, non scratchy cotton! The dino onesie, on the other hand, turned out to be made in some crepe-like material that didn’t seem very breathable; nor did the spikes stick out nicely the way they do in the picture. It was good for one Instagram photo and that was it.
One ad that I’ve been seeing almost daily, is this one…

Who else keeps getting spammed by Brooklinen? To be honest, I don’t need new sheets; but it was the review by NYLON U.S. that made me take notice. They say “Brooklinen’s sheets have been making it hard to get out of bed since they launched on Kickstarter two years ago.” Wow; what a review. I ended up getting an entire set for my bed. See here:

These look like ordinary bedsheets, but THEY ARE THE SMOOTHEST SHEETS I’VE EVER OWNED! For most of my life, I’ve been using Ikea bedding, because it’s cheap. By the way, Ikea is finally available online! I won’t lie; Ikea sheets are scratchy. They aren’t smooth and need at least six months of sleeping in and washing to get rid of some of that roughness. So perhaps Ikea isn’t the best standard of comparison for new sheets. So let’s talk about Boss bedding. Yes, Hugo Boss — that Boss. At the beginning of this year, my friends bought me Boss bedsheets (fitted sheet, duvet cover, 4 pillowcases) at the Robinsons sale for my birthday. Apparently the original price was close to $2,000!!!! They were smooth; a lot smoother than the Ikea ones I’ve used for more than a year (at that price, obviously!). But I was blown away by Brooklinen’s material the minute I took them out of the box. They are actually smoother than the Boss ones that I’ve run through the wash for more than half a year.
The reviews on Brooklinen weren’t wrong. These sheets are really smooth, and they do make it feel like every side is the cool side of the pillow. They are soft as well — well, not soft like cashmere soft, but soft like the kind of sheets you’ll find in a good hotel like Sofitel (and Sofitel really has one of the BEST bed systems in the world. So good that they started their own brand of beds and bedding). But with Brooklinen, the prices aren’t hotel crazy. For the price you pay for Brooklinen, you can’t get any better (really smooth sheets with a cool touch). A “Classic Core Sheet Set”, which includes 1 flat sheet, 1 fitted sheet and 2 pillowcases, prices start at US$99. Their best-selling range is the “Luxe Hardcore Sheet Bundle” that includes everything in the Core Sheet set, plus 1 duvet cover and 2 extra pillowcases, with prices starting from US$198.
Apart from solid colours, designs include stripes, checks and polka dots; and the website features a whole lot of design combinations to inspire you to put together your own. See below:

And no, I wasn’t paid to write about these bedsheets. I really do love them and have already recommended them to my friends. If you’re wondering what to get your parents for Christmas, this is a good idea.