Thoughts On Love

Thoughts On Love

Recently I realized I might have forgotten the basis of love;

it's buried somewhere deep in my heart underneath all the resentment, anger, bitterness and the need to want the other party to "know how it feels".

But love is not like that, it's about forgiveness and acceptance.

Accepting another person for who they are, what they like and dislike no matter how insanely stupid you might think it is. The desire to simply want the other party to be happy instead of constantly trying to change them.

“Love is not affectionate feeling, but a steady wish for the loved person’s ultimate good as far as it can be obtained.” ―C.S. Lewis

♡♡♡

Outfit: Vintage Top - Burberry / Coltrane Boots - Jeffrey Campbell / Felt Hat - Thrifted

Personality Begins Where Comparison Ends

Personality Begins Where Comparison Ends

Comparisons are easily made, but no two persons are the same no matter how similar. I fell into the trap of making comparisons so many times throughout my life, and at the end of the day I find myself feeling worse than before.

This quote by Karl Lagerfeld changed my perspective and helped me to find freedom. I hope it will for you too ♡ 

Outfit: Netted Outer - Thrift / Leather Skater Skirt - Julien / Coltrane Boots - Jeffrey Campbell / Straw Hat - Thrift

My Top 5 Beauty Picks + Giveaway

My Top 5 Beauty Picks + Giveaway

Hello! Today I'll be sharing my top 5 favourite skincare products ♡

On top of being a fashion ninja, I'm also a beauty junkie who's constantly on the lookout for new and better products! After years of trial and error, these are my current loves :)

1. SK2 Brightening Lucent Base

This is my ultimate all-time favourite ever!

I discovered this while on a trip to Taipei last October and am onto my 2nd bottle now :) 

It has a lightweight translucent texture and instantly brightens up dull skin!

It's meant to be a makeup base applied under your BB creams and foundations, but I just ditched everything else and only use this with loose powder now :) No more thick cakey looking made-up face anymore!

Not sure if this photo is clear enough, I applied some of the base onto the middle portion of my hand, can you see the brighter area?

The only negative side of this product is that..

IT'S NOT SOLD IN SINGAPORE :( 

So you can only purchase it in other nearby countries like Taipei, Japan, Korea, HK etc.

Price: about $119 depending on where you purchase it from

2. SK2 Facial Treatment Essence

The famous "miracle water"! This has become a staple in my skincare routine. I like that it absorbs quickly and can be applied under the eyes as well :)

Sometimes when I'm lazy I'll skip the toner altogether! 

Price: From $99 (Tangs)

3. Laneige WaterBank Essence

I went through bottles of these before switching over to SK2 :)

Would totally recommend this for young girls whose skin is not suitable for something as strong as SK2 yet. The gel-like texture is so soothing and calming for the skin. This absorbs pretty quickly as well! Love it

Price: $65 (Tangs)

4. Skin Food Black Sugar Scrub

Hands down the best scrub ever, and at a super affordable price!

One tub can last you a really long time. I love how the black sugar granules melt unto the skin while exfoliating, and your skin becomes instantly softer after you're done, amazing. 

Price: $25.50

5. Bifesta Makeup Remover Wipes

I'm pretty lazy when it comes to removing makeup so wipes are perfect for me! Unlike many others I've tried, Bifesta feels non-oily and soft and removes makeup in an instant.

Price: $15.90

And now, I have a little giveaway for all you beauty addicts out there!

2 Pieces of Shiseido Revital Lifting Mask EX (worth $24.30/PC)

Simply follow me on instagram @audt and comment "I WANT THIS!" to win!

Contest Ends 18th June ♡

London Calling

London Calling

London calling to the underworld

Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls

(Cambridge Satchel - www.asos.com)

(http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m14wvsiBTl1qcng6to1_500.jpg)

Outfit: Kitty Bowler Hat, Black London Dress - Julien

Hide Me Under Your Wings

Hide Me Under Your Wings

The black maxi is my go-to on days when I feel exceptionally vulnerable;

it's kinda like an imaginary armor that will protect me from all sorts of fears

Probably because my image of women dressed for battle are usually like these?

Long (and very complicated) dresses! 

It might sound absurd, but playing dress up does wonders for me :) I'm no expert on fashion, I just love how it allows me to somehow bring a part of my fantasy world into reality. And after looking at so many inspiring styles on the web, I'm so fascinated by how tweaking a few details can transform the entire mood of an outfit! So a black maxi would probably take on a whole different meaning for you, do you like to play dress up too? ♡

Outfit: Gypsy Maxi Dress - Julien / Silver Slippers - Charles&Keith

Pale Palette

Pale Palette

It's been raining a lot in Singapore lately, so even when I'm home I'm constantly in sweaters and jackets. This kind of weather always makes me want to curl up in bed with a good drama series, a bowl of hot soup and an endless supply of munchies! 

Sidenote:

If you're a fan of asian drama too and am looking for something to watch,

here's a pretty good free streaming link:

http://www.lovetvshow.org/

The site is updated with all the newest 2013 shows and all the drama series have english or chinese subs! I started watching Last Cinderella yesterday (Japanese drama), pretty good ♡ 

Sometimes if the link doesn't work there are mirrors just below that work.

Only downside for this site is that you have to navigate in mandarin :/

SWEATER WEATHER DAYS

Outfit: Cream Sweater - Julien / Pants - Uniqlo / Heels - Everbest / Hat - Julien

All About Bird's Nest

All About Bird's Nest

Hello! I've recently developed an interest in the famed beauty miracle food, Bird's Nest. Trusted and believed by asians for ages as the secret to beautiful flawless skin. So here's a little research I did :)

My dearest boyfriend bought me a box 2 weeks ago after seeing me obsess over my skin like a brat. Needless to say, I was over the moon ♡

Contrary to popular belief, a whole box of bird's nest in it's raw state is actually a lot cheaper than buying pre-made bottles. This box costs about $290 for 18pieces which amounts to about $16/piece. According to the sales lady, 1 piece is just enough for 1 bowl. However, after cooking it, the bird's nest was so thick that I prefer splitting one piece into 2 bowls :)

Benefits

• Stimulates regeneration of cells resulting in fairer more radiant skin
• Erases wrinkles 
• Contains a water-soluble glyco-protein that promotes cell division, strengthening the immune system
• Replenishes strength and vital energy
• Accelerates recovery from diseases
• Enhances the metabolism of fat
• Moisturizes and replenishes the lung and clears intestinal heat

House or Cave Nests?

There are two main types of bird's nests selling in the market; house nests and cave nests! House nests are basically from farms whereas cave nests, as the name implies, are nests found in caves :) Most of the bird's nests you find in stores nowadays are house nests and are usually an ivory white in colour. House nests are more popular because it contains lesser impurities due to the cleaner housing provided for the birds. ( The ones I'm eating right now are house nests! ) Cave nests comes in a variation of colours from "blood" nests to yellowish white, due to all the minerals found in cave walls and also dependent on the bird's diet.

Some tips and fun facts!

• "Blood" Nests are not red due to the blood of the swiftlets, the colour is actually a result of the environment of the caves
• Some suppliers will use chemicals to bleach or remove odours from the nests to cheat customers, so beware! Always buy from reputable stores! 
• Believed to be an aphrodisiac? 
• Prices have fallen drastically in 2013 due to a ban China imposed on nests imports from Malaysia (so now is the best time to buy bird's nests!)
• There are now home delivery options available for those who have no time to cook their own bird's nest soup :O

So far, I haven't noticed any noticeable difference in my skin. Will probably have to consistently consume it for a longer period of time before seeing the results! I'm currently consuming it 2-3 times a week :) Hopefully this post is helpful for those considering to purchase bird's nest!