I went to the Women's Fair 2010 at Marina Square this morning with my mother. Organised by Her World, Nu You and Simply Her magazines, the fair started on Friday and today is the last day.
Aside from generous gifts for new subscribers, there were also loyalty gifts for existing subscribers and a variety of companies exhibiting their products and services.
We were there primarily to pick up the free set of Dove Damage Therapy shampoo and conditioner that you can redeem with coupons from any two of the three magazines. The giveaway for 2000 sets started at 11am. When we arrived at 10.40am, there was already a queue of more than 40 people! Later in the morning, the queue dissipated and one could pick up the set without having to queue.
There was a long queue for these "Happy Bags" that retailed at only S$3 and contained a wide variety of products. Many are deluxe sample sizes and convenient for travel. I saw some ladies lugging four or five each!
My bag contained shampoo, hand sanitiser, toothpaste, drinks, sunblock lotion, laundry detergent etc.
There was also a sure-win lucky dip for registering as a member of herworld.com on the spot.
I registered my mom and myself and got these Burberry and Givenchy fragrance samples :-)
The magazines were also available for purchase at the fair and each issue came with a generous goodie bag. My mother decided to buy Simply Her, which was only S$4.20. Some of the items in the goodie bag were the same as those in the Happy Bag.
I've been using the Dove Damage Therapy Intense Repair shampoo and conditioner for the past week with excellent results, which was why I was keen to get this set. Both are 700ml with a combined retail value of S$23.60. All in all, it was a very fruitful trip!
Blemish balm creams, popularly known as "BB Creams", were first popularised in Asia in South Korea by companies such as Skin79. These are multi-functional products that are supposed to act as moisturiser, base and foundation in one and often come in just one shade that is supposed to suit most skintones. As a testament to their popularity, Western companies also released BB creams in Asian countries and travel retail this year. In Singapore, you can find the Lancome, Estee Lauder and MAC BB Creams at Changi Airport dutyfree as well as at the DFS Galleria in Scotts Road. Clinique's BB Cream is also set to be launched in November.
At DFS Galleria yesterday, I did these comparison swatches of the Lancome, Estee Lauder and MAC BB Creams. The Clinique one was not available yet. The Lancome BB Base UV Expert GN Shield SPF50 PA+++ is made in France and the most expensive of the lot at S$78 for 30ml. The Estee Lauder CyberWhite EX Extra Intensive BB Cream SPF35 PA+++, made in Belgium, works out to be the cheapest per unit at S$59 for 50ml. The MAC Prep + Prime Beauty Balm SPF35 PA+++ is S$45 for 30ml and is made in Canada. At Changi Airport dutyfree, the Estee Lauder BB Cream costs S$55 and the MAC version is S$42.
The Clinique Age Defense BB Cream SPF30 PA+++ (in the pic below) will retail at around US$31, so I expect the pricing to be between MAC and Estee Lauder. The BB creams by all four brands are available in only one shade.
As you can see, the Lancome BB Base is more neutral with a slight grey undertone whereas the MAC and Estee Lauder versions are more beige-toned.
The Lancome and Estee Lauder creams felt a bit thick upon application but all three do sheer out and meld into the skin, as BB Creams are supposed to do.
Of the three, the MAC cream had the nicest texture. It was lightweight, smooth, non-greasy and provided some coverage whereas the Lancome and Estee Lauder versions had a slightly oily sheen that didn't dry down after a few minutes. I didn't try any of these on my face so I can't say how they actually perform over time but you can easily find reviews online for them on other blogs.
On an unrelated note, the Christmas trees and other decorations are already going up all around town!
Spotted this gorgeous La Mer The Illuminating Powder Limited Edition at Tangs Orchard earlier today. Retailing at S$174, it is a lightweight shimmering pressed powder infused with illuminating gemstones, shimmering pearls and color true pigments for a healthy, luminous glow. It reportedly sold out quite quickly in the US where most counters received only 5-6 units. In the US, it retailed for US$95.
Guerlain's Ombre Éclat 4 Couleurs palettes have seldom tempted me in the past as there are usually some shades in the quads that were lacklustre for me. However, when pics of the Ombre Éclat 4 Couleurs #410 Velours D'Or first appeared online, the smoky mysterious purple combination appealed to me immediately. I eventually picked it up at London Heathrow Airport dutyfree for £32.20 (about S$68.30). In Singapore, the quads retail for around S$82 at the department store counters and around S$75 at Changi Airport dutyfree.
After prepping with Urban Decay Primer Potion, I used the broad sponge tip applicator to apply the dark greyish purple (bottom left) shade from the inner corners to the middle of the lid and the dark plum shade (top right) shade from the middle of the lid to the outer corners. Next, I used a brush to apply the gold shade over the browbone area, inner corners and along the lower lashline. I blended a light taupe shade from the Guerlain Ecrin 6 Coulerurs 93 Rue de Passy palette in the crease to add more depth.
While the eyeshadows are well-pigmented with a smooth texture that blends easily, I was disappointed that the greyish purple shade turned out to be quite a flat greyish black on my lids, without the flash of purple that you see in the quad. Nevertheless, I liked the overall look which lasted quite well over more than 9 hours of wear with minimal fading or creasing. The gold shade is the only one with a shiny metallic finish while the rest are more matte. There was a bit of dropout on my under eye area when applying so I would recommend applying foundation only after you've finished your eye makeup.
For this look, I also used: Clinique Age Defense BB Cream and Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss #9 Currant, Shu Uemura Miracle Cherry Blush Tint, Shiseido Nourishing Mascara Base, Visee Wide Long (Curl Impact) Mascara BK002, Benefit It Stick, Jill Stuart Loose Powder 01 Natural, Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Liner and K-Palette Real Lasting Eyebrow 24h 01.
The Clinique BB Cream is a travel exclusive product that is scheduled to be launched in November. It has SPF30 PA+++ and is made in Belgium, just like the Estee Lauder CyberWhite EX Extra Intensive BB Cream. I'll review this in greater detail after trying it out a few more times.
The Clinique Superbalm Moisturizing Gloss #9 Currant (which I picked up in London as a freebie with UK Glamour) has become a fast favourite with its non-sticky texture and ultra hydrating formula. After using this, my lips have none of their usual dryness.
