My makeover + makeover workshop with Style Essence giveaway!

My little man wasn’t the only one who turned ONE in March.

Singapore Mom Bloggers, this awesome community of local moms + blogs & shares their parenting tips, stories & experiences with so much passion (and I’ve been blessed to be part of that community for the past year) turned ONE too!

And to celebrate, we were invited to a style workshop by Style Essence – founded by  fellow mommy blogger, Flo Mummy

I was really excited to attend this event because…

1) ever since being introduced to the importance of personal grooming/image over a decade ago during one of the ex-company’s “staff workshops”, I’ve always been a sucker believer in looking decent/presentable as much as possible whenever out of the house (it also reaffirmed mom’s nagging during my baggy-jeans-and-tees-getup phase :p)

2) the ex-job taught & showed me how first impressions played a big role in representing one’s self

3) since becoming mom, I’ve (unfortunately) been gently nudged by closed friends that it’s okay to dress up even if it’s just for fun (short of saying, can you wear anything else besides your comfy tees & shorts which we are always seeing you in since you became a mom?)

4) I miss my pre-preggy & preggy effort-to-put-on-a-dress-or-some-accessories-or-even-some-lipgloss self

5) some me-time to pamper oneself  is always a good thing right?

6) I definitely wanted to learn the tricks to looking effortlessly stylish, without much effort of course (because I’ve not been successful in being able to get ready without needing to attend to the bub once)

7) finally meeting the moms behind those blogs that I frequent? How cool was that!

I didn’t quite know what to expect prior to arriving at the venue since the last time I attended a “beauty workshop” organized by the ex-co, it felt like one of those parenthood seminars where one sits among a sea of audience, try to take notes quickly before the next slide jumps in, wonders what’s for tea break and try not to fall asleep for most of the time.

But this session, it was so engaging & interactive that I didn’t even have time to do anything else apart from paying attention.

Before the workshop started, I was told to get my measurements taken to find out what body shape I belonged to and was pleasantly surprised to find out that I was an ‘hourglass’. Hah!!!!!! Which meant that I’ve finally lost some of ’em stubborn pregnancy weight and for the first time, I have an obvious waist!, even if it’s not necessarily a small one. (unimportant tidbit: I used to be a ‘pear’ shape and then was probably a ‘column’ shape which I was told is quite common among new moms).

{we were each given a card of our current body shape.

I love the thoughtful illustrations on what clothes will flatter this bodyshape at a glance!

Doesn’t it make shopping for/trying on clothes that much easier?}

After everyone had an understanding of which body shape we had, the stylemeister herself, Flo mommy commenced the session.

I enjoyed how natural & witty she was in her delivery & how she connected with us. Needless to say there were no awkward silences (except when we were all hard at work during our hands-on segment) during the entire session.

{Flo kicking off the session by thanking SMB’s founder and co-organizer of this lovely workshop, Rachel with a token}

I’ve recently reignited my love for colours (been purchasing shades of yellow & blue for myself and orange for the little man) in my wardrobe again (is it an age thing as they say?) since motherhood (they say, black is not a colour 🙁 ), so when Flo showed us what some colours meant, I couldn’t be more pleased with those purchases.

{what colors are you usually dressed in?}

Do you sometimes wonder why someone comments that you look tired when if you’ve had a good night’s rest or compliment that you are looking really good even if you didn’t do different from your usual? Or can’t decide between a blue or orange top because they both look fabulous on you but you want to pick out the better of the two? That’s because some of us suit either “warm” or “cool” tones (ignoring the fact that there are also the lucky ones who can take either tones!)

And depending on which tone you suit better, these are some colour guidelines to help you look your best!

{And so I found out I’m a “cool” tone. No wonder everyone kept asking if I slept enough whenever I wore a brown dress to work}

But of course how would you know whether you’re a warm or cool? Here’s a simple test Flo did for us: throw on a “warm” and “cool” coloured shawl (in this test we did brown vs. black) and ask an audience of closed and honest friends which colour lets you look your best. (psst: if you don’t have both warm & cool shades in your wardrobe, you can do your ‘test’ at the shop with your friends too, try not to be alone with pushy salespeople who just want to make a sale)

{Flo asking which colour looks better on Evelyn}

We were then shown hair styles that suit the various face shapes. I enjoyed this segment because I’ve been contemplating chopping off my hair for a long while now because I was getting bored with it (been wearing the same hairstyle for a long times now) and I’ve been wanting to attempt a bob but wasn’t sure if I could carry it off because the last I had short hair was when I was 12 years old and the husband laughed (at the photo on my IC) and said short hair made me looked like a boy.

Flo also kept us abreast with the latest trends for the various face & body shapes and taught us a tip which I’ve been wanting to know…how to find that perfect shade of foundation! I rarely put on foundation unless the occasion calls for it but it was interesting & startling to realize that I’ve been taken for a ride during those times I was purchasing a foundation when the salesperson merely smeared various shades on my cheek, saying all 3 shades suit me. Not cool!

{and to think those times I applied foundation, I did it wrongly. That probably explain the random breakouts}

Next segment was exciting! It was time to get our hands-on experience and as much as I was reluctant to strip my face of the concealer and powder which I’ve been hiding my bare complexion beneath since I left home, I couldn’t be more thankful for learning the correct way of washing my face and applying make-up.

{removing the layers of undereye concealer I piled on using Mary Kay eye makeup remover}

So apparently my method of plastering my filled-with-facial-cleanser palms to my entire face and just rubbing and splashing water has been wrong. There’s a reason why facial therapists dot your face with facial cleansers and gently massage them in using their third & fourth finger. Because that’s the correct way. And if you’re facial-deprived like myself, this is definitely one handy tip to achieving a healthy looking complexion without needing to trade an hour at facial salon. It did sound bothersome to me initially but I got to admit, a week into reminding myself to wash my face using this new method and I do feel the face is a lot cleaner than just slabbing foam and rubbing it in hoping that all grime gets washed away.

After cleansing, we were given a sample of the Botanical Effects Mask to try on. I was rather bummed when we were told to apply to only half of our face so that we could see the immediate benefits because I really liked using this product, though admittedly, comparing the results before & after side by side was definitely more convincing than a mental comparison of a before and after.

{while waiting for our masks to do its magic. With the cousin}

{guess which side of my face felt more taut?}

Next, it was hands-on make up time! Flo did a demo on Pauline showing us the correct method for makeup application. Tip from Flo: always remember to apply sunscreen  and apply it sideways so that it doesn’t clog up your pores.

I’ve always wanted to practice how to do proper make-up apart from my usual 4-step routine: concealer + powder to set + blush + mascara and it was here that I got to dabble with some shades of eye shadow & lip colours under the guidance of a pro!

{choices & more choices}

And this was my DIY makeover:

{ah-soh no more!}

NOW, the highlight of this workshop? Remember when I mentioned earlier that I was somewhat bored of the long hair especially now that I was more aware of my face shape and body shape, and what would suit it? I asked Flo for suggestions and without hesitation, together with the rest of the moms present, I was encouraged to cut a short bob. These mamas could obviously read my mind on wanting a chop it off and wanting a bob. But what convinced me to step into a hair salon next was how they said it – full of camaraderie, candidness, the willingness to help each other up our style essence quotient.

And so I did the deed.

{I love it}

GIVEAWAY TIME! – 3 MAKEOVER WORKSHOP WITH STYLE ESSENCE PASSES (worth $150 each) TO BE GIVEN AWAY! 

I have 3 makeover workshop passes with Style Essence (worth $150 each) to give away. Please leave me a comment (with your name & email) and state why you would like to win it. Winners will be picked randomly and will be contacted by Style Essence.

Closing date: 14 April 2013, Sunday at midnight.

 RESULTS OF GIVEAWAY: 

Congratulations to Chor Ee, Serene Seah & Tiredmummy for winning the makeover workshop passes! Style Essence will be contact with you shortly 🙂 Do update me on your “makeovers”! 

P/s: Lynn, was informed that you won the giveaway in another blog giveaway hence the re-draw. 🙂