Highlights: A 2014 Recap...

2014 is definitely a horse year, with months passing so quickly. It felt like 2013 just past, and now 2014 is soon to be over.

In the 1st quarter of the year, Valda Goh welcome the collaboration with Bespoke Gown Expert,  Fay's Couture (www.fayscouture.com) and Michelle is our 1st bride for 2014 after the collaboration.

Then I also met Adeline, freelance fashion design and founder of Taikensonzai (https://www.facebook.com/taikensonzai). It's an honour to know her and be able to participate in her wedding as her wedding makeup artist. As a freelancer myself, I know how much hardwork it takes to break free from the usual routine. I admire her bravery and her passion for fashion designing. 

And in Sept, Polished Nail Boutique and I extended our collaboration for another year. This time, we work hand in hand to introduce a new all in 1 Bridal beauty package - Airbrush Makeup, Hairstyling and Bridal Nails. Response were really good and well received, thus we have decided to make this package an on-going promotion. 

Lastly comes a Singapore Brides' featured on a unique themed pre-wedding shoot for Weirong and Jing Xian whom makeup & hairstyling was done by me. Jing Xian shared with me that she is also planning a Maple Story Wedding Day too. I am really look forward to that. Excited much!

Source: http://singaporebrides.com/articles/2014/11/maple-love-story/

In a few days time, we will be welcoming 2015. Plans and new collaboration have been concrete and will be implement in time to come. I hope 2015 will be smooth sailing and wishing everyone well and have a wonderful 2015!!

Beauty Department: A makeup artist's perspective on beauty

Makeup is a tool, it helps to cover imperfection, enhance natural beauty and boost one's confidence.

In recent years, with all the mixed of misconception of beauty, the misused of photoshop, some ladies begin to feel inferior about how they looks. Perhaps it's the pimple mark/scar, open pores, uneven skin tone or mono lids (small eyes) that bothers the hell out of you. 

I chance upon this video, a talk by Eva De Virgilis about makeup artist's perspective on beauty. 

Video from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gto6w0a13B0

In the video, she spill the truth that none of us (the makeup artist) have mention, but might silently agree - we as makeup artist is treading in the deep end of a shallow profession. She said, makeup is her tool, like a therapy puppet, to help a woman open up about how she feels and her concern.

The message here is, with or without makeup, you are beautiful as who you are. You just need to believe in it. Some people find confidence in love, find confidence in their career, and others find confidence in how they looks and feel. It's all a mental thing. It all boils down to how much TLC you gives yourself. You would have to learn to love yourself before anyone else does.

Valda says:

To me, makeup should be an enhancement (bringing out your natural beauty), rather than a transformation (tuning to look like someone else).

Love yourself and love how you look, it do shows.

Real Wedding Feature: 1 Day 3 Looks.. It's Possible!

Wedding Date: 21 Dec 2013 (Saturday)

Not that I have witness it myself, but many makeup artists have shared with me about how the Taiwanese wedding makeup artists are like personal assistant to the bride. They will tend to follow the bride throughout the wedding day. 'Why?' you asked. Because it's a norm that they change into 4-5 wedding dresses. With every change of dresses, they touch up the makeup and change the hairstyling to compliment the dress. 

Well, in Singapore, 3 gowns are considered the maximum, and to dress and undress in that heavy loads of fabrics is no fun and games, needless to say, going thru the hairstyling process again for a new style. But changes are possible and with the help of the wedding entourage, it could be an easy breeze, and surprisingly an enjoyable experience. 

Registration of Marriage

When Melissa shared with me her idea of the perfect wedding, she has a clear idea of the looks for each dresses she had.  For her ROM, it's a garden theme and we incorporated butterflies (paper lashes, bride's own) and flower head band (loaned from Louvre Bridal).  

Wedding day

For her actual day morning, she is in her off the shoulder taffeta dress. She wanted an updo that portray the sweet and demure. Makeup was kept to the lightest nude tones and tinted eyebrow to match her hair colour.

In the evening for the wedding dinner, she puts on her Marchesa's black laced bodied dress and we went for the classic Audrey Hepburn's breakfast with Tiffany look. The walk down from the banquet aisle was breathe taking as Kenny and Melissa grace through the red carpet. 

Putting on her one shoulder bubblegum blue court dress, I did a twist back side do. This is one of the most requested look after I posted her wedding pictures up on Facebook. 

Valda says:

Good things are worth waiting! After 6 months from the wedding date, a testimonial reached me with the most heartwarming words. 

Dear Valda,

This is long overdue but I would like to thank you with the sincerest way I can think of- my heartfelt words. The first time you did my bridal makeup for my rom was truly befitting of the garden wedding theme I was going for. I had cut bangs then and the makeup and hairstyle made me look gorgeous! I remember the effort you put in to liase with me what style I wanted and bothered to send me a few photos.
The second time was for my actual wedding day. For each outfit you meticulously planned a flawless look to match (: I complained that my hair dye hurt my scalp and you compromised with lesser hair spray. I complained that my brows didn't match my hair and luckily you had tricks to help. All three hairstyles (with the braids and buns) you did was pain-free and easy to wash out. During the interval, with only 20 mins to spare and you managed to create a whole new hairstyle for me. I received so much compliments for both occasions!

I don't have much experiences with many make up artists but my experience with you has raised the bar for me with the standards I'd expect in future (if you're not free for me next time). You are so creative, caring and tedious with every thing I would expect a make up artist to be at and I am quite the perfectionist. Your personable character makes it a dream to work with you! Everytime I look back at my wedding photos, I will always remember what a wonderful job you did for me that made my wedding that much more beautiful to reminisce upon (: I am truly glad that fate brought you into my life and better yet, for my wedding.

Thank you so much (:

In a true reflection of how much I love your services you are always my number one referral to others because to me, nobody does it better and you have not failed me once (through four different hairstyles and makeup!).

Much love,
Melissa Leo.

The first time when I was near to tears by her, was a speech her best friend gave during the wedding dinner. I deny being a sentimental creature but with the ambiance so filled with love (I am not exaggerating, you can feel that, really) it's hard not to. Her best friend talks about how they met and how despite the long distance, they could keep in touch and Melissa is someone who will get angry when she remember your birthday and you forget hers. She is just a fiercely loyal friend and that's really a sweet part of her.

To be honest, Melissa has a hard shell to crack. For example, her Facebook account gives you no leak of her information, and in no way, you could send her a friend invite nor a private message. It's either she adds you or you die waiting. haha!!

So when she opens up to me, it's a gift I will always cherish. Thank you so much for the friendship!

Wedding Venue by:

ROM - Botanical Garden

Wedding Day - Amara sanctuary Sentosa 

Gowns by: 

Black laced bodied dress - Marchesa (www.marchesa.com)

Wedding Gown, Bubblegum Dress and ROM Dress  - Louvre Bridal 

Photography by: 

Coffee & Tea Dreamzcoffee - dreamzcoffee.com‎