RAVISHING RED X MAKEUP LOOK

Excited to unveil my very first MAKEUP post! You'll find step-by-step instructions on one of my most frequently used looks. This particular look is all about the bold red lip because I think red lipstick is an ABSOLUTE STAPLE (and often times life saver) as it's suitable for all skin tones. I use red lipstick on a regular basis; whether it be for business meetings, lunch out with friends, or semi-formal/formal events. As you can see, the look I'm sporting in the photograph below is rather heavy and is more appropriate for formal events. However, you can draw inspiration and take a lighter, more casual version of it to use on a day-to-day basis.

Note: This is NOT an endorsed post. All the products I have listed below are the products I personally use and is what I believe works best for my skin type. Remember to always, always, test out the product first because everyone has a unique skin type. What works for me, might not work for you. :)

For this look I used:

Moisturizer: GNC Aloe Vera Moisturizing Cream

Primer: Make Up For Ever All Mat Face Matifying Primer

Foundation: Make Up For Ever Mat Velvet Matifying Foundation #35

 Concealer: Make Up For Ever Lift Concealer

Powder: MAC Studio Fix NC40

 Eyebrows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade in Dark Brown

Eyeshadow: NYX Love in Paris Shadow Palette

Blush: Bare Minerals in Warmth

Bronzer & Highlighter: LT Pro Shade & Tint Kit 01

Lipstick: Make Up For Ever Rouge Intense

Finishing Powder: Bare Minerals Mineral Veil

1. Make sure your face is free from any lotions or oils. Wash if necessary. 

2. Evenly apply moisturizer to face and neck. Let the moisturizer set.

3. Wait a minute or two, then evenly apply primer to face and upper part of neck. Primer will act as an important base for the makeup and helps your makeup last longer. Let the primer set.

4. Wait a minute or two, then evenly apply foundation.

5. Apply concealer to any blemishes or spots that you might have. Also apply to eye bags and over the eyelids to create an overall even skin tone.

6. Apply powder to face and neck.

7. Next, you want to go ahead and form the eyebrows. I use a gel-like pomade, but you can just as well use a regular pencil. 

8. Set the eyebrows with a thin layer of mascara to hold them in place. 

9. Apply a mixture of light brown, dark brown, black, and bronze shades to your eyelids. Try to create a smokey-eye effect. 

10. Apply eyeliner and at least two coats of mascara. If you want, you can also apply a set of fake lashes to further enhance your eyes.

11. Apply bronzer along your upper cheek bones all the way down near your lips. This should create somewhat of a line to help emphasize your cheek bones. Blend well. 

12. Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks. Blend well to banish any harsh lines. Blending is key!

14. Start contouring by applying shade/bronzer over your jaw line, cheek bones, temples and either side of your nose.

13. Highlight your brow bone, nose line and top of your cheekbones using the highlighter. 

14. Apply the mineral veil, or finishing powder, to help set everything in place.

15. Apply lip balm to moisturize your lips, then last but not least, apply your red lipstick! 

.....and voilà! What do you guys think? Send me your thoughts and opinions in the comment box below! Would also love to know what other makeup looks you'd want me to feature next. :)

xx

Elizabeth

DEKUTA - NEBULA ROOM

When you think of Poppies Lane, trendy restaurants that offer considerably great food is not the first thing that come to mind. Located on a well-known street in the heart of Kuta, Nebula Room, positioned at Dekuta Hotel, is one of the areas' best kept secrets.

With its unique tropicana/bohemian vibes, it's hard to believe Nebula Room is only a 2-minute walk from Kuta Beach (say what?)! You can also find Depalm Rooftop & Lounge on the second floor. Right off the bat, you are greeted with a burst of vivacious color. Color is marked everywhere - on the walls, ceilings, floors, chairs, tables, etc. Details I especially like are the batik covered chair cushions. The eclectic interior design, a fuse of Indonesian and South American influences, is a feast for the eyes.  

Speaking of feasts, Nebula Room offers Indonesian cuisine with a European touch. We started things off with a fresh round of strawberry daiquiris and iced teas. You have no idea how happy I was to see these after a day of sweltering heat - so delicious! 

As for appetizers and main dishes, we had the Quinoa Salad, Stellar Burger and Khao Pad Moo Krob. The Quinoa Salad is definitely not your traditional salad. It's a mouthful of rucola and quinoa with mustard dressing. The flavor could prove a little too much for most Indonesians, but since I enjoy arugula in general, it was acceptable. A crowd favorite was the Khao Pad Moo Krob, a traditional thai fried rice with crispy pork belly. Whenever the words pork belly are mentioned, I'm all in! 

They were all pretty tasty, but I would have to say the Stellar Burger definitely stood out from the bunch. It's a 150gr imported AUS beef patty served with tons of BACON (I die), mozzarella cheese, tomato, onion, fried egg, arugula, hash brown & homemade hollandaise sauce. You'll need to gather a massive appetite to chow this one down - just look at the size of it (good for sharing)!

 

FLORAL SET: Perpetuum FLATS: Minka Shoes CLUTCH: Manikan RINGS: Personal Collection

Photography by Galih Hastosa

Overall, Nebula Room is a great spot to sit back, relax and unwind. It's now on my list of go-to places in Kuta! :) 

xx

Elizabeth

AQUASCAPE

The heat that has engulfed this island has, at times, been overwhelming. Let's just say I can't wait until the rainy season officially graces us with its presence. In the meantime, there's an adequate excuse for lazy, lingering sessions by the pool. This hot spell calls for an aquascape and hails for me to take the plunge. 

DRESS: Vone Clothing

 Dekuta Hotel

SEEING STRIPES IN NEW YORK CITY

As New York Fashion Week came to an end, we were finally able to take a take a five-minute breather! Although it must be noted, the minute that five-minute breather ended, I wanted fashion week to start all over again. I genuinely didn’t mind the hectic fashion show schedules, endless shooting agendas, draining sessions of trekking around the city in circles for days. If anything, I loved every second of the chaos and desperately searched for a restart button. 

On the bright side, it meant that I could freely roam the vast streets of New York City and finally sink in the sites like a real tourist should. When traveling, comfort is EVERYTHING to me. I don't want to wear anything that could remotely translate into a wardrobe malfunction. Therefore, when wanting to stay comfortable yet stylish, you can't go wrong with a cotton knee length dress. You just can't. I chose a striped figure-hugging, long-sleeved one from DKNY. It was the perfect dress for a long day in the city because it was so comfortable to wear. It's one of those low-maintenance dresses that look like anything but, with its intricate layering effect in the front and bold print. I loved the way it fit. A pivotal element? Its stretchy fabric meant I could easily move in it as well. It allowed me to walk/power walk/jog if I really wanted to. 

With it, I carried along my trusty Michael Kors Selma satchel in the color tan. It's safe to say that it's one of my favorite classic accessories as it goes with everything, and it's big enough to fit almost anything. This includes my absolute essentials which I brought with me eve-ry-where, such as: Fuji camera, makeup, NYC Lonely Planet guidebook, sunglasses, passport, a large water bottle and finally a pair of flip-flops (Yes, that's right. Just in case my feet get worn out from heels). That's why you don't see me carrying clutches very often - I don't/can't carry light!

As for my makeup look, I sported basic foundation, powder, blush + bright red lipstick. As you can see, I wasn't wearing any eyeshadow, eyeliner or mascara. My eyes get easily irritated so If I know I'm going to have a particularly long day, I try to keep them natural. Also, I never ever wear mascara unless I absolutely have to. Mascara is wonderful to enhance ones lashes, but when applied on me, it feels uncomfortable, hence I stay clear from it. I'm obsessed with brows and I use a combination of Too Faced Bulletproof Brows in brunette, Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow in dark brown and Tony Moly eyebrow tattoo in light brown to shape them. Last but not least, the lipstick I'm wearing is my favorite hue of red from Make Up For Ever. 

DRESS: DKNY BAG: Michael Kors SHOES: Zara

Alas, all good things must come to an end, so that other wonderful journeys may be given the chance to have their beginnings.  

xx

Elizabeth

NEW YORK FASHION WEEK DAY 3 PART II

Here it is! My second look for New York Fashion Week Day 3! This was hands down one of my favorite looks of the entire trip. Can you tell by how deliriously happy I look? I collaborated with Jakarta based designer Gina Devi Atelier to create this leather set. I knew I wanted something white (my favorite color to wear these days), edgy and daring - all tied with a bow of sophistication. When it came to color and fabric, stark white synthetic leather was the material we went with in the end. I absolutely love how the color complimented my skin tone! The contrast really hit the mark I thought. 

Now, let's talk about that slit! I've worn slitted skirts before, but never quite like this one. It goes dangerously high above the thigh, and it's aligned with a zipper, therefore it conveniently can go as high or low as you wish. It's the perfect skirt for day to night wear, as you can lower the zipper for business meetings, then raise it higher for dinner with your friends for example. 

An obvious stand-out accessory from this look were the sunglasses that I wore. I know you're dying to know who designed them! I got so many compliments on these, many assumed they were Dolce. Nope! They're gold Piyasombatkul sunnies under the Thai brand Moo Eyewear which you can order through Roxalne.com. These are the type of sunglasses that were made for New York Fashion Week. Big, unconventional, eccentric - Yonce sunglasses.

Speaking of accessories, my python clutch from Milago also stood out with its gorgeous red hue. The deep red fit well against a sea of white and nicely complimented the other gold/nude-colored details I wore (rings, watch, sunglasses. heels). 

LEATHER SET: Gina Devi Atelier SUNGLASSES: Moo Eyewear via Roxalne.com CLUTCH: Milago HEELS: Steve Madden WATCH: Marc Jacobs

That day we attended the Zang Toi fashion show, which took place at Lincoln Center! Zang Toi is a Malaysian-born, New York based designer who's known for his bold aesthetic. Honestly speaking, I was thoroughly pleased with the show and his designs. Zang Toi celebrated 25 years in the business with a dramatic Spring/Summer 2015 show entitled "A Privelaged Life: The American Dream." The American-themed collection wa filled with red pantsuits, white sport coats and regal gowns. Hats off to you, Zang! 

xx

Elizabeth