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How Supermodel Behati Prinsloo Levine Is Preparing For Her Next Moment In The Spotlight

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Whether you’ve seen her as a runway model, campaign girl for Tommy Hilfiger and Juicy Couture, or in one of the #squadgoals pictures of supermodels at award shows, Behati Prinsloo Levine should be a familiar name; of course, she’s most known for being a Victoria’s Secret model, with an Angel of a face, and as Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine’s wife — plus, most recently, a mother of a beautiful baby girl (imagine all those good genes!). That aside, we’re also here to tell you that being blessed with good genes isn’t everything.

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Let’s be real; it definitely helps to be born with stunning features, but you’ll still need other things to keep you looking this beautiful — one way we can all achieve something close to supermodel standards is this: one familiar SK-II bottle. As part of the brand’s latest beauty campaign, #OneBottleAwayFrom, they’ve unveiled a series of short films that star three celebrities and how they’re preparing for their next moment in the spotlight; Girls Generation singer Choi Soo Young shares about moving into acting, Chinese actress Li Qin talks about her next major film role, while Prinsloo talks about making a comeback with her first television appearance. And they all have one thing in common — glowing skin, thanks to SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence being part of their daily routine.
It’s no surprise when you consider what goes into the skincare saviour, and how it has helped our skin in the most stressful of circumstances; back in May, some of the NYLON team tried the ‘miracle essence’ for ourselves while on physically-taxing hikes, and have seen it work in our favour. The benefits of well-hydrated and bouncy skin were immediately apparent, thanks to the signature ingredient Pitera™ that makes up over 90% of essence. As for the 27-year-old model, just look at this:

It’s clear that her skin looks amazing, crystal-clear in fact, even without makeup. “I feel immensely thankful with all the amazing opportunities so far,” she says about the SK-II campaign, her first big project since giving birth to Dusty Rose last year. “When they first shared the #OneBottleAwayFrom campaign with me and that I was working with SK-II for this, I was really excited. I loved the approach which was really authentic and I am looking forward to sharing my #OneBottleAwayFrom journey with everyone.”
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As part of the campaign, she got to try — for the first time too — a bottle of SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence, and see how it transformed her skin into something she can be proud of. The video showcases a rare and very real side of the picture-perfect Prinsloo; she talks about her concerns about making a comeback, and even speaks directly to us about her journey in vlog-style episodes. At Day 30, you can see that she’s glowing, and it’s not just because of great lighting or filters. “So my skin’s feeling really good, I’m definitely ready to step back into the spotlight!” she says confidently.


Sure, most of us don’t have to contend with the difficult task of being in the spotlight or having to constantly be in front of the camera, but what we can identify with is wanting to look our best selves for any significant milestone. It could be a first date or a birthday party, the everyday challenge of being a #girlboss — or something huge, your wedding, your first job or a major promotion, your foray into motherhood; whatever it is, you’ll want to look just as fabulous as you feel. It might be slightly vain to admit it, but how we look has a part to play on how confident we feel. “They are connected,” Prinsloo agrees, “When my skin is clear or when I’m having a great hair day, I stand up taller and I feel like I can take on anything.” Surely, something we all feel from time to time.
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Since becoming a mom, Prinsloo has also had to face the familiar struggle of balancing work and family life, which explains why she’s looking to simplify her beauty regimen. “My secret to skincare is to keep things really simple and I love products that help me do that — especially multi-tasking products. That’s why I love SK- II’s Facial Treatment Essence. It’s packed with vitamins and amino acids and addresses all of my skincare concerns. You also see great results after just one bottle, which as a new mom taking so many photos, is really great. It has been a great addition to my skincare routine. Being a new mom, it’s so important to find a product like FTE that provides serious results but also saves me time.”

In this interview, she also opens up on her skincare secrets, how she truly feels about her new SK-II regimen, and her next major career move — television.

  • At what age did you start thinking about the importance of skincare?
    Prinsloo (P): Growing up in Namibia, I was really into sports—I did field hockey, track and was out in the sun a lot but I did not really think so much about it. It wasn’t probably wasn’t until I started modeling when I started to invest in skincare products and make it a priority. Being in the industry, you are constantly surrounded by beauty professionals so from the beginning I started to learn from the best all the different tips and advice on taking care of my skin. Also, one of my earliest memories related to skincare was how much my Mom pushed the use of sunscreen since I was a kid.
  • What are the skin issues that you currently face?
    P: I love being outdoors—I love the beach, playing sports so pigmentation is something that I always had. Another of my constant skin issues is that my skin tends to be on the dryer side. It’s always been important for me to have a good moisturizer, nothing too heavy, but just enough to keep my skin hydrated and nourished.

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  • When do you feel the most beautiful?
    P: No makeup, hair in a bun, in jeans and T-shirt. Feeling beautiful is when I am feeling the most comfortable.
  • What is one insider beauty tip you’ve learned along the way in your career?
    P: One of the best insider tips that I learned from early on and stick to this day as a part of my routine is removing any makeup before bed, especially after a day at work. It’s so important to cleanse the skin before going to sleep to really let your skin breathe. Makeup clogs your pores, so removing that before bed with a good nighttime beauty routine is essential to clean and healthy skin.

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  • Do you have a secret skincare routine that you can share with us, especially before you get in front of the camera?
    P: My makeup artist will put on a sheet mask to help my skin get that extra glow but recently she’s been experimenting with using Facial Treatment Essence as part of my skin prep getting ready for my shoots. It really conditions my skin and I do see a difference as make up is being applied—my skin has that lit from within glow!
  • How did your skin look/feel after finishing your bottle of Facial Treatment Essence?
    P: I noticed that I was sporting my natural glow again and my skin was looking more radiant.

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  • Would you continue using Facial Treatment Essence after this 1 bottle?
    P: Absolutely yes!! It has really transformed my skin –it’s definitely a must-have for me now. I’m generally very fuss-free and love to go makeup-free so this really gives me the added boost of confidence. It’s amazing to have such a solid product to rely on that serves as an all-in-one multi-tasker.
  • Is SK-II’s Facial Essence Treatment worth it?
    P: Without a doubt. It’s such a multi-tasker and has worked wonders for me as I prepared for work coming back from my maternity leave… I was getting compliments on how my skin was looking in the 2 weeks. If you have a big moment in your life coming up, say a birthday or wedding, this product will visibly transform your skin after just one bottle.
  • What are your special tips using the Facial Treatment Essence?
    P: I sometimes put my Facial Treatment Essence in the fridge before using to keep it chilled on hot days for a quick pick-me-up skin treat. I also leave cotton pads soaked with Facial Treatment Essence on my eye area to depuff the eye area after a long flight or day. If there’s any left on the cotton pad, I use the excess Facial Treatment Essence on dry areas on my body (i.e. elbows) — works wonders!

Follow Behati Prinsloo on Instagram, or search #OneBottleAwayFrom to check out other influencers and celebrities who are getting their skin spotlight-ready.
SK-II Facial Treatment Essence, available at SK-II counters. sk-ii.com.sg

The New Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder Collection Includes A $2,100 Beauty Box

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Last fall, we dropped several dollars indeed on the first Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder capsule makeup collection – because damn, was it all so gorgeous.
And now, we guess it’s time for us to empty our beauty budgets again, because the second drop of this very glamorous collaboration is coming for Fall/Winter 2017.
 

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This time round, the collection is as luxe as before, and has been expanded with a whole bunch of new products, which will join 10 hero items from the first collection. The focus seems to be still on natural-looking skin contrasted with bold colours and finishes on the eyes and lips, all kept in gold and black textured packaging.
 
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New products joining the collection this season include a translucent face powder, highlighting gloss, eye palettes, lip gloss, matte lipsticks and creme blush.

 
And then, if you really want to go all out for this range: the Victoria Beckham Lit Beauty Box, with 8 signature items from the collection laid out in a very covetable black and gold box, with a lighted mirror on the inside.
It’s similar to the Daylight Edition box set from last year’s collection, but this one comes at a very cool $2,100. What are you paying for, though? Just how exclusive this is – each box comes uniquely numbered, and will also contain a note personally signed by VB herself.
 
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Victoria Beckham x Estée Lauder collection, $50 to $2,100. Available at Estée Lauder boutiques and Sephora from October 2017. esteelauder.com.sg

We Can't Contain Our Excitement With These Sailor Moon Bath Products

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Yeap, bringing back fond childhood memories of every 90s kid is definitely on top of the priority list right now for both the fashion and beauty world, what with the Hello Kitty skincare collection, Disney collaborations featuring our round-eared friend, Mickey Mouse, and blast-from-the-past mobile flip phones – the nostalgia is R-E-A-L. And the next to feed our grown-up, self-denial ass just can’t get any better – Sailor Moon-inspired bath products. We can’t believe it either. If you didn’t watch Sailor Moon while growing up, can you really call yourself a 90s kid tho?

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The indie beauty brand who brought to you the sinister Chucky bath bombs the last time is back again with a bath collection that is not only limited to bath bombs. California-based beauty brand, Loquita Bath and Body has replicated Sailor Moon’s handy compact into a Crystal Star Soap for the non-tubbies, a bath bomb of the same design, Artemis and Luna-shaped bath bombs, as well as a Luna Shower Fluff, which looks like a whipped shower foam, adorned with a crescent soap.




Sadly, most of the products are already all sold out. Yes, what a bummer. However, the Crystal Star Bath Bomb is still available for pre-order, and who knows, if there is an overwhelming demand for these magical bath products, Loquita might just restock them!
Alternatively, you might want to get a little hands-on and create a Sailor Moon soap from scratch by watching this video tutorial here:


Loquita Bath and Body Sailor Moon Bath Collection, US$6 – US$8, available at loquitabathbody.bigcartel.com.
Main image: Loquita Bath and Body

Estée Lauder's Double Wear Foundation Gets a Fresh, Lightweight Update

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If there’s one liquid foundation beauty enthusiasts won’t shut up about, it’s Estée Lauder’s original Double Wear Foundation. With its high coverage, semi-matte finish that promises 15 hours of longevity, it’s no surprise that this base has gone on to secure a ‘holy grail’ status since its introduction to the world, a consistent bestseller for the brand year after year. Well, for those of you who’ve always wanted a lighter coverage with the same skin perfecting benefits, we’ve got news.
 

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The beauty brand is giving the Double Wear foundation a fresh update with the new Estée Lauder Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup SPF 30 / PA++. But before you freak out, the original Double Wear foundation isn’t going anywhere, so don’t worry – it’ll be sold alongside this new one.
 

 
Yes, indeed. Similar to the original, the new Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup delivers an even-toned, flawless complexion that withstands the heat. What makes this one different is its lighter texture, sheerer coverage, and its 24-hour longwear formula. That’s right – 24 hours. To ensure the base doesn’t slip around or cling onto any problem areas, the unique foundation pigments have been wrapped in a flexible polymer that moves with your skin instead of caking on top of it, so what you’re left with is an unmatched, glowy finish that lasts for an entire day, literally.
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The Double Wear Nude Water Fresh Makeup may be oil-free, but that doesn’t mean it’s drying. Its hyaluronic acid blend will infuse the skin with hydration to boost moisture levels while it smooths out fine lines, so it’s not just ideal for those with an oilier complexion, those with drier skin types can reap the benefits of this refreshing gel formula too. We know we’ll be bringing a bottle home to meet its big sister as soon as it launches.

$62, comes in 8 shades: Ecru (1N2), Bone (1W1), Sand (1W2), Cool Vanilla (2C0), Desert Beige (2N1), Warm Vanilla (2W0), Ivory Beige (3N1), and Tawny (3W1). Available at all Estée Lauder counters, Estée Lauder Boutiques at ION Orchard and Marina Bay Sands from October 2017. Launching in Sephora stores from November 2017. 

Review: Why You Should Walk A Day In These Timberland Sneakerboots Too

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By Adele Chan

I know Timberland as the brand my brother wears to go walking in the forests in Queensland, and also those yellow boots that Kayne wears (or used to wear. I suppose he’s all in Yeezys now). Timberland and all its ruggedness has never been a brand that resonated with me, considering I live my work days in heeled boots; but now with two young kids to run after on the weekends, I’ve been eyeing a good, comfortable pair of anything that I can move quickly in. That’s when I read about Timberland’s new shoe called Flyroam — to be honest, it was the design of the men’s leather boot that caught my eye. Look how pretty the men’s range is:

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But what’s truly unique is that the Flyroam shoe has a technology called the “Aerocore” energy system; which is an aerodynamic sole design that offers high rebound cushioning, rugged traction and is very light. And for the first time for the brand, they have included this wonderful technology into their women’s shoes. See here the range for women, also very pretty:

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I picked out the white sneaker boot version for myself. Nice?

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Here’s a closer look at how chio it is:

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From the few times I’ve worn this shoe, I can say that it’s extremely soft, light, and cushy. And it grips the constantly wet floors in Sheng Siong well (most of my other shoes usually make me feel like I’m going to slip while I’m heading to pick prawns). This hiker is crafted from full-grain and nubuck leathers, has a durable outsole made with 34% recycled rubber, includes an OrthoLite® footbed that absorbs shock, and has breathable mesh linings made with 50% PET. Also, two thumbs up to Timberland for including that huge finger strap at the back of the shoe to help pull it on.

This is clearly a shoe to helps you move about, and quickly. The campaign video says it all:

And since this is the year of the sneaker, we’re giving away 3 pairs of the women’s Flyroam sneaker (worth $219), one in each colour (white, black and pink) to three lucky readers! Head to our Facebook page for details on how to take part!

I know exactly which pair you want — the millennial pink. Speaking of pink shoes, I discovered a whole wall at the Timberland ION store:

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Timberland Flyroam Leather Oxford (shoe) for Men and Women, $219
Timberland Flyroam Leather Hiker (sneaker boot) for Men and Women, $239
Timberland Flyroam Leather Boot for Men, $269
Available at Timberland stores and shop.timberland.com.sg.

See NARS' First-Ever Cushion Foundation In Action

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The last time NARS really shook up their foundation offerings, it was with the revolutionary Velvet Matte Skin Tint of early 2016. And now, there’s something very exciting coming up in September: meet NARS’ first-ever cushion foundation!
 
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Meet the Aqua Glow Cushion Foundation. As the name implies, you can expect the texture to be relatively lightweight, and the finish more luminous.
We got NARS Korea’s Senior Artist Oh Jun Hee to put the Aqua Glow Cushion Foundation into action for us, to create an easy look (that also features the very exciting new Powermatte Lip Pigment!)
 


NYLON Singapore x NARS – The Aqua Glow Cushion Foundation from NYLON Singapore on Vimeo.

 
The cushion’s formula also shields the skin from environmental and sun damage, with an anti-pollution complex and SPF 23/PA++ UV protection. It’s also enriched with water, so there’s a natural cooling sensation when you pat it onto your skin. Coverage starts off medium, but can be easily buildable.
NARS has kept this an Asian exclusive, with 6 Asian-specific shades in the range that cover both pink and yellow undertones.
 

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As Oh demonstrates in the video, getting a natural glow right is really quite a no-brainer with this cushion. Definitely one of the Fall launches we’re looking forward to the most.
 
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Adele Chan, using the Nikon D7500
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NARS Korea Senior Artist, Oh Jun Hee
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Cheyenne @ Basic Models
 
NARS Aqua Glow Cushion Foundation, $68. Available at the NARS store and counters from September 2017. narscosmetics.com

Mickey Is Making Another Appearance in Uniqlo’s 2017 Fall/Winter Collaboration With Disney

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It was only just now that we blogged about the collaboration between Superga and Disney, and now we’ve got another Disney collaboration with our favourite Japanese clothing store, Uniqlo. Mickey Mouse sure has many fashion projects up his sleeves, huh? But no complaints because who can really resist the oh-so-fine cartoon character and his beloved partner, Minnie Mouse?
In this collaboration, there are three distinctive collections to cater to fans of all ages, namely Mickey Travels, Disney Textile, and Mickey Stands.
As the name suggests, Mickey Travels is a collection inspired by Mickey and Minnie Mouse’s travels around the globe and the souvenirs the couple brought back from their world tours, including cities such as New York, Paris, London, Shanghai, and Tokyo. Pretty well travelled than most of us hoomans, we must say. The range consists of apparels from T-shirts, sweatshirts, and even bomber jackets, as well as accessories such as totebags and pouches, all featuring nostalgic yet classic 1940’s art designs from Disney.

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Next up, Mickey Stands is back again for its second season, and once again features Mickey’s iconic pose throughout the collection, which includes comfortable graphic T-shirts and cozy sweatshirts and knitwear. Receiving popular demand from the first collection that was made exclusively for men only, this collection is now finally available for both women and children as well, so there is no excuse not to get your hands on them now.
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The tiny tots are not to be left out as the last collection is specially dedicated to babies, newborns, and toddlers. Besides Mickey and Minnie Mouse, other Disney characters and perennial favourites such as Chip & Dale and Bambi make a special appearance against playful patterns designed by Swedish designer, Cathy Nordstrom. The little ones will bound to find comfort in the snuggly mini clothes that features a calming colour palette, folk craft styling, and toy graphics in Scandinavian forest settings.
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While Mickey is so fine he blows our minds, our wallets won’t be blown away as the collection remains pretty affordable, as expected from Uniqlo. Ranging from $9.90 for a pair of kids leggings to $99.90 for a Souvenir Jacket, there is something for every avid fan of Mickey Mouse to purchase.
The MICKEY TRAVELS collection will be available on 8 September 2017 at Uniqlo Orchard Central, followed by the release at other selected stores and online from 11 September 2017. The DISNEY TEXTILE collection will launch on 14 August 2017, while the MICKEY STANDS collection for men will be available on 14 August, followed by the Women and Children’s designs on 11 September, at selected stores including Uniqlo Orchard Central and online at uniqlo.com.
Header image: Uniqlo

All The Exciting New Desserts You Now Need To Try

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We’ve recently talked about the cafes you need to hang out at, but what about the places you need to haul your ass down to, simply because they’re so hyped about or delicious-looking, you need to know what the fuss is about? We’ve got you covered. From cheese tarts and muffins to Instagram-worthy unicorn-coloured toasts and ice creams, here are the ones we tried that you can’t afford to miss out on — and remember, IG stories or they didn’t happen.

PABLO Cheese Tart Cafe — Freshly Baked Cheese Tart, Mini Cheese Tart

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Yes, you all can breathe a sigh of relief and stop bugging your travelling friends for this — the popular Pablo Cheese Tart finally makes its way to Singapore in the form of their first PABLO Cheese Tart Cafe, a dine-in place you can chill out at in Wisma Atria, and it promises to be very… cheesy. Of course, people generally have zero chill about their cheese tarts. We witnessed a long queue already formed hours before they launched on opening day, full of people eager to get their hands on the cheese-based products this esteemed Osaka-based chain is selling, chief of all the PABLO Freshly Baked Cheese Tart ($13). That one’s filled with delicious custard-like cream cheese, in a flaky baked crust, that oozes out when you sink your fork in, guaranteed because that’s what we got too.

What we love even more are the PABLO Mini Cheese Tarts ($3.50) — these are filled with more of that tasty cream cheese with a nicely browned top but soft centre that melts into your mouth on first bite; compared to a certain other popular Hokkaido brand, the tart crusts are thicker and have more bite, but that’s probably to contrast with the melty texture of its cheese. Definitely go for those! You can also go for the cheese tarts in matcha or chocolate flavours, or opt for the Cheese Soft Serve Ice Cream ($3.90).

Location: Wisma Atria, #01-02/03
Opening Hours: 10am – 10pm, daily

Lickety Ice Cream & Waffles Parlour — Ice Cream + Egglet Waffles

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Located in the heart of Kampong Glam, the Lickety store front should scream out to you — as much as soft pastel pink and mint does, of course, and you’ll find many a tourist or Instagrammer eager to take a shot at the cafe’s sweet-looking facade. And yes, search ‘licketysg’ on Instagram and you’ll find plenty of the same shots, arms outstretched with the combination of egglet waffles and ice cream in their hands, all with good reason: the desserts, with their bubblegum shades and crazy textures and even crazier overload of toppings, deserve to be photographed. But are they worthy of a bite after you’re done? Very much so.

You must first realise that this is an ice cream parlour, so the ice creams aren’t your run-of-the-mill chocolates and vanillas; they have artisan flavours (from $4.50 for a single scoop) including gula melaka, or earl grey and figs, among the favourites of milo dinosaur, snickers and dark angel, an exclusive flavour of rich dark chocolate ice cream mixed with freshly baked chocolate bread bits . If you’d like the works, go ahead and get an egg-based waffle to go along with it too — in buttermilk or red velvet, it was a delight to find that the waffles did not turn soggy over time, and maintained their crisp as a nice contrast to the nicely-churned ice cream. You can pair that with any two of their 10 toppings, such as rainbow sprinkles and pocky sticks, at $12.90 for a three-scoop serving, and there you go, your friends will be clamouring to know where you’ve gone over the weekend too.

Location: 34 Bussorah Street, Singapore 199452
Opening Hours: 12pm – 10pm, Sun to Thurs; 12pm – 11pm, Fri & Sat

Lady M — Earl Grey Mille Crépes, Rose Mille Crépes

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In line with the two brand-new Lady M outlets here, the New York brand has launched two stunning creations that just might surpass their original and very popular mille crépes: the Earl Grey Mille Crépes and the Rose Mille Crépes ($9.50 each). We tried the tea-infused flavour at the South Beach venue, and are happy to say that it’s all very pleasing flavours blended together well; earl grey tea is only lightly infused with the cream, and then spread thinly in between those 20 paper-thin handmade crepes, so it doesn’t overpower the soothing harmony of the cake. Just like the original, it’s a light and fluffy cake that’s especially delicate with the ratio of cream and pastry perfectly balanced. You’ll notice that this makes the cake less sweet and more aromatic too. As for the rose creation, a Scotts Square outlet exclusive, the cream is blended together with flavours of rose, while the cake is garnished with rose jelly and edible rose petals, a pairing that should go well with a spot of tea.

Location: Lady M South Beach, #01-17 / Lady M Scotts Square, #01-06/07 
Opening Hours: 11am – 10pm, daily

Dazzling Cafe — Mermaid Toast

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When we first saw this beautiful creation, we knew we had to go down and try it for ourselves. Now, Dazzling Cafe‘s known for plenty of their towering, dazzling toast displays, so we’ve already got pretty high standards, but this one takes the cake. See, it’s inspired by mermaids, and you know how ridiculously obsessed some of us you can get over anything mermaid-themed. The toppings on the Mermaid Toast ($16.90) take on the whimsical palette of pastel blue, pink, yellow, and purple, and especially pretty are the swirls of cream where you can see the colours blending together for an ombre-like effect. This is then loaded with mini marshmallows, colour pop cereal and rainbow sprinkles.

If you can’t already guess, the dessert’s definitely made for those with a sweet tooth; the vanilla ice cream and toppings make the dish sweet, though this is thankfully cut through by the lightly strawberry-flavoured toast. We like that the toast is served warm, and when sliced through, still has that buttery pillowy centre set against a crunchy crust, which adds bite to the whole dessert. Go ahead and take all the pictures, but remember to share this with your friends if you’re afraid it’s too cloying for one person. Oh yes, and this limited edition toast is only available till end August!

Location: Dazzling Cafe Pink @ Orchard Gateway
Opening Hours: 11.30am – 9.30pm, Sun to Thurs; 11.30am – 10pm, Fri & Sat

The Dark Gallery — The Chocolate Rhapsody

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We’ve talked about the chocolate cafe before, in particular their dark chocolate creations, but we still feel like we have to bring The Dark Gallery up again, based on how delicious their dark chocolate ice cream is. It’s the perfect texture, a soft ball that still holds it shape, while still offering an exciting tone of acidity, complexity and richness that sets dark chocolate ice cream apart from its lighter blends. Seriously, the 80% Dark Chocolate, ugh. This, of course, comes together nicely in The Chocolate Rhapsody ($18), a plated dessert where you get to try their three freshly-made blends: the signature dark, milk, and white chocolate ice cream. A bed of chocolate ‘soil’, along with chocolate mousse, crispy meringue and cacao tuile, complete the dish, while offering some great texture that somehow makes the ice cream even smoother. Chocolate lovers, you don’t want to miss out on this.

Location: #01-K5 Millenia Walk, 9 Raffles Boulevard, Singapore 039596
Opening Hours: 11am – 9.30pm, daily

Hattendo Cafe — Cream Muffin

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If you believe that the Japanese just do things better, a widely-accepted notion by the way, then you’ll need to get your hands on these muffins. Baked by Hattendo, Japan’s most famous cream bun maker, it obviously isn’t your standard old muffin that you gobble down during a hurried breakfast. Better, remember? These cream muffins ($3 each) are a dream, light yet addictive with its much-touted three layers: a crispy outer layer, soft centre, and a creamy core.

How do they taste? Delightful! The outer layer is made of crispy biscuit, a crust with a nutty flavour that you’ll hear a pleasing crunch from when you bite down, only to find a pleasant surprise of a light and airy centre, so yeah, you’ve got a pretty great muffin right there. Wait until you taste the cream though — we had the Matcha Muffin, so it was a matcha-flavoured custard cream that greeted us, a fragrant but sweet filling that’d satisfy any dessert craving. The blend uses Yame Matcha, a fine quality match from Fukuoka, Japan, and absolutely no preservative so they’re best eaten fresh (and warm too). You can also try chocolate-flavoured custard cream, or a Singapore Muffin that features a double cream filling of kaya jam and custard cream.

Location: 7 Wallich Street, Tanjong Pagar Centre #01-05, Singapore 078884
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm, Mon to Fri; 10am – 8pm, Sat & Sun

These Horror Movie-Themed Bath Bombs Are Just What Our Tubs Need

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Ever since LUSH perfected the bath bomb, they’ve become a perennial favourite and a staple item even – for those lucky enough to own a bathtub, that is. Adorable round things that fizzle and dissolve in a pool of water, tinging it with the colour it comes in, it’s easy to understand why people love them. For those who happen to enjoy their baths with the added thrill factor though, indie beauty brand Loquita Bath and Body may have some unique bath bombs in mind…


 
Never thought you’d live to see the day Chucky the killer doll gets turned into a bath bomb, did you? The spine-tingling bath essentials produced by the California-based brand are carved out and painted, taking on the form of some horror classics such as the aforementioned Chucky, Eric Draven from The Crow, and a pair of purple lips inspired by Nancy Downs from The Craft. These bath bombs also seem to come in an infinite combination of colours and scents, addressing specific skin needs at the same time.

Pre-order starts tomorrow!!!! Who's ready?!

A post shared by BATH AND BODY CON CARACTER (@loquitabathandbody) on


 
Wouldn’t it be great if the brand actually made bath bombs in the form of Pennywise the Clown? As horror movie junkies, we’ll definitely be borrowing a friend’s bathtub for that one.
Loquita Bath and Body Bath Bombs, available from loquitabathbody.bigcartel.com.
Main image: Chucky Film Facebook

The Taiwanese Makeup Brands To Get Onto Your Radar

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There’s a whole lot that’s still undiscovered when it comes to Taiwanese beauty. While you might know Taiwanese beauty brands for dermatologist skincare and face masks, as we recently discovered at a Taiwan Beauty Alliance presentation, there are quite a few noteworthy skincare brands in their fold too.
Some of these Taiwanese brands, such as 1028 Visual Therapy and BeautyMaker, have already made it pretty big and gained quite a bit of international exposure, most of the time thanks to high-profile makeup artist ambassadors like Xiao Kai and Kevin lao shi. But there are more that are still bubbling under the radar that you should start getting acquainted with, to expand your knowledge of Taiwanese beauty beyond that cult transparent makeup puff.

Lam Sam Yick
lam-sam-yick
When a makeup brush brand started off as a maker of calligraphy brushes, it’s obvious they know their stuff. Lam Sam Yick started off as a producer of traditional writing brushes way back then in 1917, in the Chinese province of Fuzhou. Sometime around the middle of the century they shifted their headquarters to Taipei, and focused on really understanding the materials used to craft brushes. They’ve since modernised and now make brushes for the face instead of for paper, with bristles of both animal hairs and synthetic fibres.
Star products:
Acne Brush, Heart Shape Brush, Fat Foundation Brush
Selected Lam Sam Yick products are available on qoo10.sg. 
 
Solone
solone
Meet Taiwan’s most popular pencil eyeliner, the Solone Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil. It just performs its basic functions of not smudging or fading, and you can get it at under $10. Instant winner in our books already. Other than that, the range also includes on-trend products like eyeshadow palettes, liquid cheek colours, and a very handy eye makeup remover pen.
Star products:
Fantasy Wonderland Eyeshadow Kit, Waterproof Eyeliner, Makeup Remover Pencil
Selected Solone products are available on lazada.sg.
 
City Color
city-color
At first look, we’d guess this brand to be Western. The colours and packaging have none of the girlishness of most Taiwanese brands, but instead the matte textures and daring shade selections remind us more of Instagram-famous brands like NYX Professional Makeup, BH Cosmetics, etc. As with these brands, City Color does some pretty solid contouring and highlighting palettes.
Star products:
Contour & Correct Cream Palette, Strobing Palette, Banana Powder
Selected City Color products are available on comamakeup.com. 
 
Miss Hana
miss-hana
This brand is inspired by an interesting premise: every girl’s dream wedding. That means products that are all dreamy and very feminine, all to “arouse a girl’s desire for romantic love”. We don’t know how makeup can make you feel like falling in love, but we still can get on board with the pretty packaging, pigmented formulas and drugstore prices.
Star products:
Perfect Metal Cushion Foundation, Dual Lasting Tint Lip Balm, Smoky Eyeliner Pen
Selected Miss Hana products are available on lazada.sg. 
 

Superga Has Once Again Partnered With Disney In This Collection For The Little Ones

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We’re not sure about kids these days and what cartoons they tune in to now, but we think it’s safe to say that almost every kid from the 90s and before grew up watching Disney’s shows, be it the enchanting princesses, or the sitcoms such as Lizzie McGuire and That’s So Raven. And we’re relieved that just like us, Superga has not forgotten about one of our all-time favourite Disney characters, Mickey Mouse. As the official mascot of The Walt Disney Company, Mickey Mouse was what made going to Disneyland every kid’s dream, and Superga is letting every kid know that if they can’t make it to Disneyland, copping a pair of sneakers from the Superga x Disney collection will more than make up for it.

Screen Shot 2017-08-15 at 11.49.23 am

Superga X Disney Junior - Light Grey Mickey

Superga X Disney Junior - White Minnie Dots

Specially dedicated to the juniors, this collection has 4 different Velcro-strapped designs featuring the prominent characters of Mickey and Minnie Mouse printed all over the canvas upper. Mickey’s distinctive and highly recognisable white-gloved hands are also plastered everywhere against a contrasting red canvas, while Minnie appears on a preppy polka-dotted pair, and on another millennial pink colourway. To match with the kids, two adult models will also be available in the classic Superga 2750 silhouette, so the whole family can all be on-theme together. Now nobody can say they didn’t get the memo.
Superga X Disney Junior - Pink Minnie

Superga X Disney Junior - Pink Minnie (1)

Superga X Disney Junior - Red Mickey Hands

The Superga x Disney collection is available in size Eur 25-34 for kids and retails for $79.90, while adult sizing ranges from Eur 35-40, and retails for $99.90. You can get yours in stores at Wheelock Place and VivoCity, or online at superga.com.
Header image: Superga

The Magic Of A Triangular Makeup Brush

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We’re huge suckers for fancy makeup brushes, as can be seen from our posts on things like Game of Thrones brushes, Mean Girls brushes, and these mermaid tail brushes. For fanciful makeup implements like these, we often throw practicality and functionality out the window – who cares if they don’t blend that well, as long as they’re photogenic, we want them.
Today, we’re going to be a bit more practical, and not just focusing on the aesthetics. We recently discovered triangular makeup brushes, by way of Sigma Beauty’s new launches, the F87 Edge Kabuki and 4DHD Kabuki.
For the F87 Edge, the flat triangular surface helps with applying and blending setting powders, and stamping the edges of your highlighter and contour to blend out the edges; the 4DHD Kabuki is made for concealer application, with a soft triangular dome that helps with diffusing product over blemishes.
sigma-triangular-brushes
 
The magic of triangular brushes lies in their more compact surface area that enables more precise application, while the multiple edges have the harder-to-reach parts of the face covered.
Triangular brushes seem to be a relatively new trend, so far with only Real Techniques carrying anything similar. We’re hoping more brands get on this, and we start investing more in brushes that are more function over form. Though it really is quite hard to say no to unicorn brushes.
 
Sigma Beauty F87 Edge Kabuki  and 4DHD Kabuki, US$25 each. Available on sigmabeauty.com from 22 August 2017.

If You Miss Nickelodeon's Green Slime, This Face Mask Is for You

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If you’re a millennial who grew up as a TV-addicted kid, you’ll probably have fond memories about Nickelodeon and all the quality content it raised us on, which explains why we are the way we are today – a little messed up in the head. We love chancing upon things that’ll take us down memory lane, which is why we pretty much freaked out when we came across Mizon’s Enjoy Fresh On Time Revital Lime Mask on our Instagram feed.


 
Looks like Nickelodeon’s signature green slime, only they’re housed in tubs and served up as face masks this time. Getting any childhood flashbacks yet?
 


 
The vivid green jello-like mask contains natural lime extract promises to hydrate and brighten up a dull complexion, which is something all of us could use after a tiring week. It doesn’t just look like a fun product to slather onto your face, though. The reviews on Peach & Lily are raving about this product, and it seems to work for those with sensitive skin too.
 
mizon collage
 
Peach & Lily also gave us a digestible step-by-step look at the product via their Instagram Stories. As you can see, it’s got a bouncy texture we’d love to get our hands on, and although the product appears bright green in the tub, it actually goes on clear, similar to the texture of aloe vera gel. To use, slather it all over your face, leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse it all off. If you’ve got sensitive skin, we’d suggest letting it sit for about 5 – 10 minutes instead because it does contain a number of citrus extracts. Make sure you do a quick patch-test before applying it all over your face, too.
Mizon’s Enjoy Fresh On Time Revital Lime Mask. $14, available from lookfantastic.com.sg; and US$13, available from peachandlily.com.
Main image: @peachandlily

Watch The Kat Von D Artistry Collective Create These Mesmerising Eye & Lip Looks

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We previously introduced two members of Kat Von D’s Artistry Collective, Tara Buenrostro and Kelsey Anna Fitzpatrick, makeup maestros who are able to work magic with a brush.
Tara’s a master of eye makeup, able to take an eyeliner flick to a whole different level. Here, she creates an abstract eye look using strokes of black and blue lipstick to transform the lids into a canvas for her one-of-a-kind art piece.

NYLON Singapore x Kat Von D Artistry Collective – Artistic Eye Look With Tara Buenrostro from NYLON Singapore on Vimeo.

Products used:
Lock-It Concealer Crème
Studded Kiss Lipstick in Slayer
Shade + Light Eye Contour Palette
Everlasting Lip Liner in Satellite
Alchemist Holographic Palette
Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Dreamer
Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Witches
 
And then there’s Kelsey, who Kat Von D herself says “probably sees a paintbrush in everything”. This girl is able to blend makeup and manipulate textures in a way that turns every face and body she works on into quite a sight to behold – as you’ll see in this holographic lip she created for us.

NYLON Singapore x Kat Von D Artistry Collective – Artistic Lip Look With Kelsey Fitzpatrick from NYLON Singapore on Vimeo.

Products used:
Studded Kiss Lipstick in Bachelorette
Studded Kiss Lipstick in Homegirl
Lock-It Concealer Creme
Everlasting Liquid Lipstick in Echo
Alchemist Holographic Palette
 
tara-buenrostro kelsey-anna
Hear Tara and Kelsey’s stories here:

 

 

Kat Von D Beauty is available at Sephora and sephora.sg.
Videos shot on the Nikon D7500.

These Heatproof Beauty Gems Are Waiting to Be Discovered at Your Nearest Drugstore

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If your makeup’s been wrecked by the blazing sun one too many times, you’re not alone. This relentless humidity has a reputation for melting off our meticulously painted faces, which is why we generally gravitate towards beauty products that’ll help put an end to that.
On our hunt for more weather-appropriate makeup, we came across a fresh Australian brand, Klara Cosmetics, which recently nestled itself into Sasa stores, serving up plenty of pigmented, longwear, and heatproof options. Needless to say, we immediately enlisted a number of their products to beef up our arsenal of warm weather warriors.
We had a quick chat with the brand’s passionate founder and CEO, Klara Sabotkoski, to get acquainted with the brand as well as our new makeup essentials.
What makes Klara Cosmetics stand out in a sea of beauty brands?
What makes our products stand out is the 100% pigmentation. One swipe will give you a strong colour, so our customers will feel like they’re getting everything. It has to look good visually and it has to feel beautiful on the skin, so that is our point of difference, our unique position. The other thing is the innovation of colour and colour palettes that we put together. We concentrate a lot on makeup artists and follow what’s trending, so our consumers can use our amazing products to take on with the hottest trends.
What are some of the bestsellers in Australia right now?
We’re really known for our Kiss Proof Lips but we’re starting to be known for our Eyeshadow Palettes. At the moment, we’re creating something a little bit different with our eyeshadows. The themes behind it, the colours that we’re choosing… So we’re probably leaning towards eyeshadow palettes now.

klara cosmetics kissproof
Klara Cosmetics Kiss Proof Matte Lips, $29.90 each

 
In your presentation earlier, you mentioned the KissProof Lips can be used on the lids as well.
Yeah! We’ve got so many colours, but with the KissProof, you can actually put it on your eyelids, you can mix it into your foundation, because what we’re trying to do is allow you to become an artist. So you can use pigments and become creative yourself. If you just wanna use a bit of the product on your cheeks, or a little on your eyes to create an ombré effect – it’s absolutely safe to do that. All of a sudden, your product becomes many different products.
I know there are hundreds of items to choose from, but if you had to pick a favourite, which product would it be and why?
It’s like picking a favourite child – it’s hard! If you heard me in the presentation, I was just going, “I love this. I love that.” Which kid do you love most? They’re all so different. At the moment, I’m loving my limited edition Desert Rose Eyeshadow Palette and my Pro Palette… You see, I can’t. It just doesn’t work, I can’t do it.
 
Screen Shot 2017-08-14 at 6.52.59 PM
Screen Shot 2017-08-14 at 6.52.48 PM
Klara Cosmetics Pro Palette No. 1, $28.90 each

 
Which products do you think will perform really well in the Singaporean market?
In Singapore, obviously it’s hot, but in Australia, we could get four seasons in one day. So when I was designing, working, and going into production, we took all those elements into consideration so it would work for all markets. What I’m thinking for Singapore and what I can see from the [Sasa team’s] reactions, because they weren’t even concentrating after they’ve been introduced to the makeup [laughs], I think eyeshadow is a big thing and lipstick is easy – it’s a good way to introduce the brand. I have a sneaking suspicion that our foundations and BB creams will do really well here. I think if our Reset 3D creams get discovered in store, it could be a phenomenon.
Reset 3D Moisture
Klara Cosmetics Reset 3D Cream, $37.90 each (L-R): Daily Skin-Corrector, Daily Anti-Aging, Daily Brightening

 
What’s the one makeup product every girl needs?
Oh my God, what can you walk out without? You can’t, you need everything. It’s very hard to walk out with just eyebrows, or eyelashes, or base. You can’t, you need the whole lot!
Okay, is there a set of products you find yourself reaching out for on a daily basis? 
For me, I always wanna have beautiful skin, so while we wanna transform ourselves with makeup, we still want to be ourselves. We don’t wanna look over-caked, we don’t wanna look like we tried, so glowing, natural, beautiful skin is the first step, and then you need an eyebrow, you need a mascara, and you need a lippie.
What is the brand working on currently?
We’re working on so many things. I have a lot of passion for innovation, and I’m always looking to introduce new technology when we’re formulating our products. What we’re working on at the moment are our big palettes – each is gonna have like over 24 amazing colours. The ones that are coming out are called “Marrakech”and “Bondi”, and with the different colours we’ve put in there, we’re creating different themes, and because we’ve had a lot of makeup artists and a lot of input from influencers on what’s trending, I think it’s gonna do extremely well.
Are you also looking to expand the skincare range?
I’m always expanding, so we have roughly over 20 products in our skin range, and I think our most innovative area is in that range. Like the Reset 3D, it sits between skincare and makeup, so it’s skincare but it gives you a little bit of coverage. It’s creating a new demographic for the woman who doesn’t wanna wear a lot of makeup but she needs something for herself, for her own confidence and attitude, and that’s where Reset sits. But yeah, absolutely, I’m always expanding.

Vans Got Their Camo On With Their Latest Authentic Silhouette

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Why go for plain monochrome colours when you can go loco over mono camo? With military print making a major comeback in the streetwear department, there is no better time than now for Vans to stock up on some basic military… equipment. And the skateboard brand is doing it like a boss by coming up with two full-on camo iterations of the Vans Authentic silhouette.

vans snow camo

vans classic camo

Coming in either “Snow Camo” or “Classic Camo”, the camouflage print runs from the heavy-duty canvas upper and down to the rubber midsole – they might just be the next training shoes our NS boys will rock in the army. With hue-matching shoe laces interweaving through metal eyelets, the shoes are then finished off with Vans’ signature waffle outsoles.
vans camo lismore jacket

vans camo back pack

vans camo socks

Besides these sneakers, Vans has also come up with other camo-printed accessories, such as backpacks, trucker hats, socks, and even jackets. Fashion recruits, it’s time to put your camo on!
Vans Mono Camo Print Authentic Sneakers, US$55, available now at vans.com.
Header image: Vans