The colour of your iPhone can be an intensely personal choice – everyone has a few friends who set their eyes on the rose gold iPhone the moment Apple announced the shade together with the iPhone 6S, or you might be one of those who have stubbornly stuck to only the space grey through all the iPhone iterations.
So, your choice of these Happy Plug earphones will be a very personal choice too, since these three newest additions to the brand’s Deluxe Collection are meant to match your iPhone colour exactly, in the colours Champagne, Space Grey and Pink Gold. They come in a sleek matte finish, but upon closer inspection, you’ll notice they carry some subtle sparkle as well, to glint nicely in the sunlight.
The earphones, like the rest of the Happy Plugs range, come in both in-ears and earbud variations, but it doesn’t stop there. It extends into an entire collection that includes phone cases and USB charging cables, so you can match pretty much your entire life to your iPhone. Here’s an idea: get the whole range and arrange them nicely for some perfect #flatlay goals. WIN! We’re giving away 10 pairs of the Happy Plugs Deluxe In-ear Earphones in Champagne, Space Grey and Pink Gold. Head to our Instagram @nylonsg for more details.
Main image: happyplugs.com. The Happy Plugs Deluxe Collection is available on atlas-sv.com and selected electronics retailers.
The annual Comic-Con have always been an exciting event, what with the divulging of information regarding upcoming seasons, panel discussions and reeling new trailers. This time, HBO released two new Game of Thrones trailers and Silicon Valley’s season 3 highlights; making it even more challenging for us to wait till the next season for each show to air.
Game of Thrones Season 7 In-Production Teaser
It was just announced that the next season of Game of Thrones will only have seven episodes. Yes, seven. Airing only next year, we’ll just have to watch videos to keep our withdrawal symptoms in check. If there’s only seven episodes to look forward to, we’re definitely expecting something riveting; which is always the case with Game of Thrones, anyway. Meanwhile, you can still catch season 6 every Monday at 8.30pm from August 8 on HBO SIGNATURE.
Game of Thrones Season 6 Blooper Reel
Who knew “benevolent” could be such a hard word to get right?
Silicon Valley Season 3 Highlight Reel
Spoilers ahead for those who aren’t caught up with the latest season of Silicon Valley. With the show renewed for season 4, we’ll thankfully be seeing more of the Pied Piper gang and their comical antics. You’ll be able to catch season 3 on HBO SIGNATURE every Monday at 10pm from August 29.
So we were there at the official launch of the all-new Sephora ION Orchard at noon today, and as you might have heard or seen for yourself, things got pretty cray. We hear queues started as early as around midnight, forming steadily through the wee hours in the morning – since Sephora generously gave out plenty of freebies to reward those first in line: the first 50 got a $100 Sephora gift voucher and a limited edition gift pack, for example, while the next 100 got $50 to spend.
Of course, the freebies have all been given away by now, but there’s still every reason to check out the new Sephora, stat. We give you some very good reasons.
1) The first ever Kat Von D Beauty store-in-store in the world
Kat Von D beauty launched online on sephora.sg earlier this month, and unsurprisingly, the stocks flew off the virtual shelves. But from today, we all finally get to touch, feel and swatch all the Kat Von D products we want at the first-ever store-in-store, located near the entrance of Sephora ION – this will be the only Sephora branch to carry everything from the brand that’s available in Singapore.
From today till 3 August 2016, beauty advisors will be there to give flash Kat Von D Beauty makeovers, so you can experience the products for yourself while having them expertly applied. By the way, Kat Von D herself is making an appearance tomorrow, and if you’re one of the very lucky ones who have scored a silver wristband after buying a product today, look forward to having your pic taken with her tomorrow.
2) The crazy adorable MAKE UP FOR EVER “sushi bar”
The brand has done something pretty genius and built in an actual working conveyor belt into their counter, and “bento boxes” containing makeup befitting the trends of the season will be making their way around. Take a seat at the stations and pick out the ones you want to try, and the makeup artists will help you try them on. Just so you know, here are the beauty trends on the current “menu”: a sculpted glow using contouring and strobing, Korean-style puppy eyes, ombre brows, and creating a poutier look using lip colour.
3) New exclusive brands: Cover FX and Zoeva
New brands that have already hit the shelves include Cover FX, famous for their Custom Cover Drops that you can add to your foundation to get your truly perfect shade, as well as Zoeva, a German brand that makes high-quality yet seriously affordable makeup brushes, so you can easily stock up on a whole range of brushes for all parts of your face, without breaking the bank.
4) Try out all 100 shades of the new Urban Decay vice lipsticks
Sephora ION is the first place Urban Decay is having their massive launch of their Vice lipsticks, a total revamp of their lipstick selection with 100 shades in six textures. So this is the only place you’ll get to try them all, until 4 August, when they hit the rest of the Sephora stores, as well as the Urban Decay freestanding stores.
Sephora ION Orchard is located at #B2-09-15. sephora.sg
After renewing their partnership with German premium luggage brand Rimowa, the French-Italian brand Moncler will now be releasing a customised set of luggages from the company’s iconic aluminium range, the Topas Stealth. The collection sees the bold, many-faceted creative vision of Moncler and the extremely high-technological standard of Rimowa meeting once again to create a special version of the Cabin Luggage beloved by the world’s most demanding global travellers.
The new edition of MONCLER & RIMOWA Multiwheel® “Topas Stealth” range is produced in three travel sizes, featuring a new take on both design and dimension. Don’t let the metal exterior fool you, either, the luggages are surprisingly light due to their Aluminium case, making them highly practical.
Moncler has also swathed the interiors of the cases with glossy quilting in a camouflage print, created exclusively for this collaboration. The quilted and padded lining is also available in the two footwear bags and the two wash bags contained inside the suitcase, designed specifically for transporting personal possessions and liquids in airplane cabins.
So, book your holiday yet?
MONCLER & RIMOWA Multiwheel® “Topas Stealth”, $1300 onwards, available at select Monclear and RIMOWA boutiques worldwide and online at monclear.com.
Everyone loves to dance. Even if you don’t take formal classes, there’s always something in us that just can’t help but make us move whenever we hear that certain song. But sometimes fashion tends to cancel out function; we could risk spraining an ankle or stepping on someone else’s toes if we so much as tried to bust a move in our heels. Thankfully, beloved eco-friendly shoe-brand Melissa has blessed us with a collection that looks good and feels good, perfect for that work-by-day, party-by-night life.
The collection itself also draws inspiration from various dance genres, from ballet to hip hop, so you don’t have to worry about breaking a heel if you try to switch up your dance routine. Of course, Melissa hasn’t forgotten about the little ones too; the collection also has shoes for the Mini Melissa line!
In fact, to prove just how good these designs are, the launch of the collection even featured a group of dancers performing a specially choreographed dance at the Raffles Green space. Sporting various key designs, such as the Melissa Grunge, an oxford styled shoe, the Melissa X-boot, a minimalistic and stylish ankle boot; and the Melissa Elastic Dance, the perfect summation of comfort and style with mid-heels and modern lines, we’re definitely reassured of these shoes when it comes to picking something to dance the night away in.
Melissa Dance Machine Collection, $85 onwards (for the Mini Melissa line) and $95 onwards, available at all MDREAMS boutiques, selected retailers and online at mdreams.com.sg.
Makeup is most definitely all about colour, but for most of us, ain’t nobody got time to figure out which lipstick perfectly matches our blush…especially if we’re already running late (again). Alternatively, this can be an intimidating point for anyone just beginning to wear makeup. Sure, it’s all about experimentation, but we’d prefer not to step out looking like we got sunburnt and/or rubbed chilli all over our mouths. Thankfully, we’ve got the perfect solution to this problem: lip and cheek tints/stains.
1. Benefit Cosmetics – Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain
You can never go wrong with Benefit, especially when it comes to the Benetint Cheek & Lip Stain, one of the most raved about dual-function products on this list. It’s kiss-proof and smudge-proof, and it comes in a universally beloved colour; a rosy pink. The brush applicator also helps ensure that you don’t slab on too much on the first dab, a definite plus when it comes to making sure your blush looks as natural as possible.
This one’s tried and tested, folks! The new line of Body Shop Lip & Cheek Stains are enriched with Community Trade honey and organic Community Trade aloe vera, which would explain why they’re definitely nourishing on the lips throughout the day. Available in three natural shades like Dusty Pink, Dark Cherry and Pink Hibiscus, the product also comes with a doe foot applicator, making it much easier for you to achieve that super-popular gradient lip look too! Be warned, though, the staining power is pretty strong, so we recommend building the product up when it comes to blush to avoid looking a little too embarrassed.
Don’t be alarmed by the name, this lip & cheek tint is perfectly pigmented. You know you can trust Korean brands when it comes to creating products for achieving that gradient lip effect – after all, they pretty much made it a thing. In fact, this tint comes in five gorgeous colours, with names like “Strawberry Juice” and “Orange Juice.” Plus, we can’t help but love Mari Kim’s designs. (PS. This product is also rumoured to be a perfect dupe for Benetint, so if you’re on a tighter budget, look out for it!)
$9.90, available online at Gmarket and selected Watsons stores.
4. Stila – Exclusive Convertible Colour Palette
This one’s definitely a little different from the rest, but when it comes to makeup, we trust anything from Stila. Each of these 12 shades is inspired by a flower, and the creamy, non-greasy texture is perfect for anyone who doesn’t like getting the stains from the liquid tints all over their fingers. While it’s definitely a little more pricey than the rest, the wide range of colours = more chances to switch up your look, and over a longer period of time. You can even use the darker shades for some light contouring, if you wish!
Food, again. But don’t get us wrong, we aren’t complaining. Conveniently located at ION Orchard, this weekend’s definitely going to be a treat, both for shoppers and foodies alike. The “feastival” is a team effort between Free Folk and Imaginators Studios, bringing to us a haven of local culinary creations, artisanal food and a trove of lifestyle products from independent designers and shops. What we’re really excited about is the highly-raved Rainbow Bagels from WORD – yes, the same unicorn rainbow bagels that has already been making its appearance at the Ramadan Bazaar at Geylang Serai. Also, there’ll be lots of local flavours you’ll be familiar with at the festival, including salted yolk fries and the famous Everton Parks ang ku kueh.
Date: 18 July to 24 July 2016
Time: 10am – 10pm
Venue: ION Orchard B4 Event Hall
Admission: Free
More info at facebook.com/IONOrchard and facebook.com/freefolksg
Singapore Garden Festival
If there’s one place in Singapore that tourists love, it’s the Gardens by the Bay. Back for its 6th instalment, the festival will feature several top local and international designers, so you can expect to see beautiful garden landscapes tabletop displays and floral windows. Some highlights of the festival includes the Orchid Extravaganza, where there’ll be exquisite orchid displays, and you’ll also be able to learn more about the orchid’s rich heritage and its significance in the floral world. Not only will there be just flora and fauna, there’ll also be performances by local artists such as Gentle Bones, 53A, Jack & Rai and more.
Date: 23 July to 31 July 2016
Time: 10am – 10pm
Venue: Gardens by the Bay
Admission: $12
More info at singaporegardenfestival.com
Chill AF (Arts Fest)
These days, art markets have been springing up almost every weekend, but this will definitely be something you’ll want to be part of. Besides selling accessories, art and craft products, the one-day event will also feature live music performances starting from 6pm. Taking place at the Red Baron cafe, you definitely won’t go hungry, with an assortment of craft beer, snacks and flavoured soda water. It really does sound chill af.
Date: 23 July 2016
Time: Art market, 3pm – 9:30pm; Music, 6pm – 11pm
Venue: Red Baron, Gillman Barracks
Admission: Free
More info at facebook.com
It’s impossible to ignore classic Disney sweethearts Mickey and Minnie Mouse – but after all, what’s not to love? As global icons, the most famous mice in the world are featured in theme parks, movies, and of course, fashion. That’s why we’re so in love with Kate Spade’s latest Minnie Mouse collaboration: it’s the perfect balance of pop culture and chic, modern designs that work with any outfit, for any occasion.
The collection was initially launched exclusively on katespade.sg earlier this year, but they’ve recently announced that the collection will be re-launched in certain stores around October of this year. Featuring tote bag, an evening purse and even a handphone case, it’s safe to say that this collection is definitely one of the most adorable we’ve seen this year.
Kate Spade x Minnie Mouse Spring 2016 Collection, $90 – $570, available at Kate Spade Stores at Marina Bay Sands and Takashimaya Shopping Centre only, from October 2016. katespade.sg
Sometimes, you just need to let it all out. But when you’re a teenager, awkwardness tends to get to you, and it can become increasingly hard to really express how you feel, if you even get the chance to. Thankfully, music was there for us – whether we listened to these songs alone in our rooms or on solo train or bus rides, they all helped us feel not so alone anymore – and you can bet that we know all the lyrics to these songs whenever they come on. Care to put your knowledge to the test?
***** Simple Plan – Perfect
It was definitely hard to decide between this one and Welcome To My Life, but the music video definitely takes the cake for that running into the rain sequence. This wasn’t exactly logistically possible for a lot of us – it’s hard to make a dramatic exit from a HDB flat when you have to wait for the lift – so you can bet we lived vicariously through the actors in the music video. These lyrics definitely still hit us, though, especially when we think about our parents 🙁
Good Charlotte – The Anthem
School is hard, especially when you’re a teenager. Thankfully, Good Charlotte was always there to remind us of what’s more important in life; sometimes you just have to brush your shoulders off and be proud of being different. Also, we’re pretty sure we’ve heard this song used over and over in movies…not that we’re complaining, anyway. It’s still a true jam.
Paramore – Pressure
Whether you’ll admit it or not, we all aspired to have hair as gorgeous as Hayley Williams’. Paramore might be pretty different now – we’re still nursing wounds for their split, not gonna lie – but that flip in Pressure will live on in our hearts forever. Also, do electric guitars really survive being sprayed with any amount of water? We still don’t know.
Fall Out Boy – Thnks Fr Th Mmrs
Don’t lie: you definitely tried typing like this at some point, whether it was over text or on MSN Messenger – yes, we know. We’re also pretty sure almost everyone knows the lyrics to the chorus; admittedly, sometimes it’s hard to understand the verses in any Fall Out Boy song. But hey, the music is there when words fail. Also, we still have no idea what the monkey is all about.
Panic! At The Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies
Hearing all the hype that’s been generated around Panic! At The Disco finally arriving on our shores, you can bet that almost every one of your friends knows at least 90% of the lyrics to this song. It’s definitely one of the raunchier, slightly more controversial videos on this list – that lipstick smear on the bride after she pulls away from the kiss is definitely not a look we want to sport any time soon. One thing’s for sure though: Brendon definitely taught us a thing or two about leaving doors open. Don’t nag us, man, sheesh.
Boys Like Girls – The Great Escape
Almost every teen movie has featured this song at least once, and we can’t say we blame them: the whole thing was pretty definitive of how it felt to be a teenager. The Great Escape helped us imagine ourselves, well, getting away – at least just for a while – which was especially difficult to do when you could feel weighed down by schoolwork, difficult friendships, and life in general. Also, for the record: that girl was so not subtle in using her phone during class. Just saying.
Featured Image: Panic! At The Disco – I Write Sins Not Tragedies (YouTube)
July weather can be erratic; with the sudden downpours and the crazy blazes, we are sure feeling the wrath of the much-dread heat wave. On days when the temperature becomes too much to handle, wearing your normal dresses and full-length tops just won’t make the cut – it just feels sticky and uncomfortable on the skin. Enter the glorious invention of the genius cropped top. Aptly cut just above the belly button, these are the best kinds of tops to be clad in on sunny days like these. We know, it sure looks tiny on the shelves; but it doesn’t look that itty bitty when worn. Besides, you don’t have to look like you’re wearing horribly shrunken clothes if you know how to style them.
This goes without saying. If you, like us, aren’t comfortable with revealing your belly, high waisted bottoms are the quintessential item to pair your cropped tops with. Our favourite way of wearing the typical high waisted and cropped combo is to pair a cropped T-shirt with a baggy Mom jeans and sneakers – you’ll achieve that off-duty look, whilst still looking super chic. Also, high waisted bottoms are a great way to hide your bloat after a large meal.
Pairing skirts with cropped tops are not only the easiest thing to throw on in the mornings, it makes your coordinate look a lot more polished and well put together. A great way to always pull off this look is to pair your basic-colour cropped tops with a printed or loud skirt, and it’ll be able to take you from day to night. However, skirts can be tricky sometimes; be sure not to pair a tight-fitting bottom with a tight cropped top. Our best bet would be A line skirts or a flowy midi skirt.
Your trusty dungarees and jumpsuits can easily be layered on top of your cropped top. It’s not only breezy, but this look is also great for those who aren’t comfortable with showing too much skin.
You’ll have plenty of ways to wear your cropped tops with an outerwear. This is especially great if you want to wear a sleeveless cropped top but are afraid of looking too “naked”. Throw on an oversized jacket and its texture and baggy design will be sure to draw attention away from your mid drift and also, cover your skin. Alternatively, an oversized cardigan or duster coat will help you look a whole lot more event-appropriate.
Following the digital release just a few days ago, we finally have a music video for THELIONCITYBOY’s latest track YAYA featuring Benjamin Kheng of The Sam Willows! The love song takes its name from the colloquial phrase “yaya papaya,” playing on the idea of simultaneous affection and frustration that someone can feel in a relationship. Featuring a gorgeous house and a super-inviting swimming pool, you’ll also probably recognise local celebs like Munah Bagharib (of Munah and Hirzi fame), Trishna G., and of course, Aarika Lee (it’d be kind of awkward to release a music video for a love song without featuring your wife, no?).
Also, a heads-up to TLCB fans: THELIONCITYBOY will be performing at the upcoming Ignite Music Festival on 29 July, and his full-length album “Paradise” will be available in August.
Until then, you can catch the video here:
Starving yourself isn’t the only way to lose weight and the French have proved it. Home to yummylicious food (think croissants and pastries!), France is a must-go destination of many Singaporeans. But how is it that many of us put on a few kilos and just get ‘fat’ even from a short trip to France but the French women manage to stay slim (not to mention effortlessly chic) despite eating the high-calorie but ‘die die must eat’ local delights every day? Puzzling indeed, right?
Well, the difference lies in our approach. Think about it, when we want to slim down, we’d either torture ourselves with ridiculous diet plans or jump onto a grueling workout plan, albeit only to give up a short while after, right? Good news is, French women aren’t born naturally slim and elegant. The untold secret of theirs is to make everything they do enjoyable – including losing weight.
Slim down the French way with dorra, the lower body slimming expert for women. Forget about crash diets, skipping meals and rigorous exercises to lose weight. At dorra, it’s all about being yourself and still getting weight loss results fast. You don’t even have to break a sweat (literally!) to get rid of the flabby belly fat or the jiggly, chunky thighs. How does that sound? We’re not sure about you but it’s definitely music to our ears!
No pills, no injections, no crash diets involved. Here’s how you can slim down effectively with dorra:
Step 1: Detailed body fat composition analysis – An in-depth body composition analysis that reports your body’s toxin level, muscle mass, fat and water content.
Step 2: One-on-one Consultation – To understand your daily eating habits and lifestyle so as to better devise a slimming treatment plan to suit your needs and busy schedule.
Step 3: Customised Treatment – A slimming treatment (20 – 40 minutes) is then devised based on your unique set of fat problems and composition to effectively burn fat while toning and recontouring your body shape. Hooray to losing weight at the RIGHT places!
Step 4: Visible Results – You can expect up to 5cm loss off your tummy, hips and thighs in just 1 session! Step 5: Consistent Monitoring – Coupled with a sensible meal plan, dorra’s professional consultant will also monitor your progress from the comfort of your home, helping you achieve the best weight loss results in the shortest time.
Not to worry if you’ve water retention, cellulite or other fat/weight concerns. The specially imported formulations and technologies from France promote efficient discharge of fat-cell content, detoxify and increase metabolism and reshape your lower body silhouette to perfection.
Here’s your chance to slim down in absolute comfort. Fuss free and no frills, expect visible CM loss with dorra! For a limited time only, NYLON Singapore readers are entitled to 1 Lower Body Slimming Treatment + 4-pc Exclusive Homecare Product Set (U.P: $368) absolutely free. The FIRST 50 to signup will get to enjoy an additional free slimming treatment!
Click here to redeem your treats now. dorraslim.com.sg
We can’t say we’re entirely surprised about this oldie that used to be the only thing that was cool. Following the whole metallic trend, yet another 90s’ and 00s’ beauty look has clamoured its way back into our lives, and we’re definitely excited to relieve what was the bulk of our childhood and teen years.
First, a throwback to the old days when lip glosses were the thing:
Britney’s iconic lip gloss look that propelled many teenage girls to follow suit (guilty as charged).
from instagram.com/destinyschild_fan.
Hands down one of the best girl groups ever. Well, anything with Beyonce in it is definitely golden anyway. Till today, we’ll never forget their shiny lips and even brighter dresses…and the lyrics of Survivor.
Buffy’s hairstyle may not be relevant anymore but her lip colour indeed slays. Other than being a vampire slayer, she does put on a decent amount of lipgloss in almost every episode.
Present day, it sure seemed as though matte lips were here to stay forever, but let’s be honest, beauty trends do get boring after awhile. Not to mention, matte lips can get pretty drying and frankly, a definite no in our books for those with dry and chapped lips. Glosses on the other hand, are moisturising and have a soft texture, giving your lips a healthy sine. We would think that the glow the glosses give are definitely in line with the “barely there” make up look that everybody’s chasing after today.
from instagram.com/kyliecosmetics.
Yes, Kylie has done it again. So we’re definitely expecting to see more lip glosses in the beauty market anytime soon. But meanwhile, try these lip glosses that are already available now and ditch your matte lips for a day or two.
Left to right: NARS Lip Gloss, $37, available at Sephora and NARS counters. Tarte LipSurgence™ Skintuitive Lip Gloss, $32, available at Sephora. Shu Uemura Laque Supreme, $42, available at Sephora and Shu Uemura counters.
For the budding artists out there, you’re not alone when you experience periods of inspirational drought. If you’re lucky, they last for days, but they typically stretch to weeks or months of just sheer boredom and a lack of motivation when faced with the prospect of creating work. And looking for inspiration is hard, especially if you have limited time and money. Luckily, there’s a whole pool of inspiration (and talent) that’s available for us on our phones; we’re talking about Instagram. So here are five artists we feel definitely help us kickstart our creative projects – and if you’re one of those people who just “can’t art”, well, these accounts will make your feeds even prettier anyway.
You’ve probably seen Kim Daehyun’s work floating around on Tumblr. The minimalist, black-and-white style of his work is definitely benefitting from the current “clean aesthetic” craze – but his art isn’t just here as a fad. His illustrations typically invoke images of introspection and calm, or maybe even a slight existentialist experience, but they’re all visually striking in their own way.
Here’s the brilliant thing about Japan-based, Russian illustrator Ilya Kuvshinov: she can do anything. Literally; just take a quick glimpse at her Instagram and you’ll see a whole host of different styles – all gorgeous in their own way, but evidently different. Similarly, don’t force yourself into a bubble when it comes to art, sometimes it’s better to just try everything and see which works best. Fortunately for Kuvshinov, the answer is…everything.
Any medium can be a powerful weapon in the right hands, and luckily for us, Valerie Chua’s weapon-of-choice is watercolour. Be prepared for some serious art (and life) envy when you scroll through her feed, although her primary use of pastels and overall choice of a medium that creates “softer” lines will definitely calm you down eventually. Just look at those blooms!
Moving a little more into comic books, Brazil-based freelance illustrator Gabriel Picolo is probably most well known for his re-imaginations of the Teen Titans characters as modern-day superpowered teenagers, although we wouldn’t be surprised if you’ve seen his remarkable Icarus and the Sun series. His style is an interesting mix of cartoonish facial features and very realistic shading for clothing, and his creations are typically in black-and-white, although there is the occasional coloured illustration if you scroll enough.
Of course, it wouldn’t be right to make a list like this without a sprinkle of local talent. The great thing about @ultraaviolets is that their works are not only quirky, modern and able to bring a brilliant burst of colour into your life – they also have merchandise! So if you love a print or a drawing, you might just be able to wear it and continue to support the brand. For those who prefer something a little more old-school, they also provide sticker packs; for something a little more modern or subtle, try their phone cases or socks.
The world of contouring can sure be tough; especially with so many brands popping up these days and just the sheer amount of highlighting tutorials online are enough to frazzle us. Thus begins the hunt for the best kinds of highlighters to get. Gone are the days when highlighting was as simple as just making your skin glow, it now comes in different shapes and sizes, and not to mention, different textures that will easily confuse. We’ve narrowed the wide range of highlighters to three categories, so you’ll know which ones to get on your next haul. 1. Powder
Powdered highlighters are the easiest kinds to use; whether it comes in the form of pressed or loose powder, it’s a great place to start for those of you who are just beginning to dabble in the art of making your skin glow. However, you have to be prepared to invest in good brushes, as you won’t be able to just use fingers to apply this one. A fan brush, kabuki brush or an angled face brush should do the trick for general highlighting on your face, but for the trickier spots like your brow bone, cupid’s bow or the tip of your nose, you might need a smaller and more precise brush.
Liquids can be tricky, but the payoff is usually greater than that of cream or powdered texture due to it’s thick consistency. You can definitely play around with this one, mix it with your foundation and you’ll get a dewy glow all over your face. We’d say that liquid highlighters are best used when you’re heading for a night out, as it provides a more even and consistent glow.
The texture might get confusing initially, but you’ll get used to the soft touch that the cream highlighter provides. Not only that, it glides on almost effortlessly with just the use of your fingers, or it can also be directly applied on your face, as seen for the Marc Jacobs Glow Stick and Nudestix Sculpting pencil. The texture’s usually rich and thick, so a few strokes of it will do the perfect job. The best part of cream applicators? No need for brushes, and plus, they hardly make a mess, unlike liquid ones. You’ll never go wrong with these.
The murder. The femme fatale. The doomed relationship.
Even if you’ve never actually seen a film noir film, their key cinematic elements have gone on to permeate all forms of entertainment, especially American media. Contrary to popular belief, the term “noir” in the name is not a reference to the black-and-white style of the films. Rather, these films were categorised according to their pessimistic, menacing tones and themes. Throw in a little bit of murder-mystery, and you get one of the most iconic film genres of all time. We listed down five of them to get you started:
***** Double Indemnity (1944)
If you want a frank, straightforward introduction into film noir, this is it. Billy Wilder’s Double Indemnity is probably one of the most quintessential films of the genre, featuring all the great cinematic hallmarks – it’s hard to pick a favourite scene, but the blocking of the characters in the hallway is one of the most brilliant shots of all time. Brief spoiler alert, though: the trailer pretty much sums up the entire film, so proceed with caution.
Woman On The Run (1950)
Taking a bold twist on the notion of the femme fatale, the plot of Woman On The Run may seem pretty simple, but it’s definitely one of the most enjoyable films to come out of the genre. While it’s definitely a little more unheard of, we honestly can’t imagine why: Ann Sheridan’s Eleanor is sassy, intelligent, and the prime example of a heroine. Plus, there’s a perfect balance between the drama and the mystery. We honestly can’t think of anything not to like about this one.
Sunset Boulevard (1950)
Yet another great from Billy Wilder, this film pushes the “film noir” genre out of the standard metropolitan neighbourhood and into the spotlight…quite literally. The story, instead, takes a rather meta turn by exploring the greed and fame of Hollywood through the eyes of – of course – a young screenwriter trying to make it big. If there was ever a film deserving of the label “classic”, this is it.
Strangers on a Train (1951)
It’s hard to make a list about the iconic films of yesteryear without mentioning anything by Alfred Hitchcock. Based on the 1950 novel of the same name by Patricia Highsmith, Hitchcock presents us with two (potential) villains – although let’s face it, when it comes to film noir, there are hardly any heroes – who are both looking to make major changes in their lives…if you will. Once again, the trailer tends to spoil the story a bit; you’ve been warned.
Fargo (1996)
You know anything with the Coen brothers’ names on them is going to be good, so it’s no wonder that this film even served as the inspiration for a whole TV show of the same name after its release. While it’s a little different from the others on this list – considered a “neo noir” film rather than “film noir” due to its more modern themes and concepts – it’s still one of the best “homages” to the era. Also, you know, Steve Buscemi.
Featured Image: Woman On The Run (Trailer) (YouTube)
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