As promised from my last review on drugstore products, here are some of my favourite lip balms I got from Silkygirl lately!
If there's one drugstore makeup I've been using for the longest time, it has gotta be Silkygirl. My best friend used to rave about their products which was how I got introduced to these bunch of cheap and good stuff. Tried their blushers, eyeliner, eyebrow pencils, mascara previously and I've been particularly loving their eyeliners and eyebrow pencils as you can see from most of my makeup stash. Hence, I couldn't resist trying out their new Moisture boost lipcolor balms the moment I gotta know about them too!
Once in awhile, I get cracked-lips from the oral isotretinoin I consume for my skin and it takes up an unnecessary amount of time to exfoliate my lips and put on some vaseline right before I apply lipstick most of the time. These two extra steps can be quite a hassle on days where I'm in a rush. Also, lipsticks can be a little too overwhelming sometimes, especially on those days where I have slightly heavier eye makeup on.
Which is why I decided to share with you my new favourite - Lipcolor balms!!!
Pacing back and fro, I had a really hard time deciding which colour to go for, among the variety of choices. After a couple of minutes, Rose, Ruby and Poppy were the ones I selected. Definitely a range of fun colours suitable for everyday-wear.
Here are the swatches of the three colours I picked.
With the benefits of a lip balm, not only does it contain Vitamins A, C and E and moisturises my lips, it has excellent colour payoff and doesn't wear off easily.
With sufficient amount of the lipcolour, you'd probably only have to touch up once throughout the day. Another reason to love these crayon-like lip balms is because of how precise they are. Not to mention, since it's rather sheer and creamy, I can easily glide it over my lips without a mirror unlike how it's a must to check out the reflection when I apply lipsticks, due to how prominent the colours are.
Most lip balms give off a waxy, sticky texture after application, which to a certain extent, feels uncomfortable to me. However, when it comes to the Silkygirl's Moisture Boost Lipcolor Balm that feeling would dissipate after a few seconds as it melts into my lips.
Twist to use, like how it works for any usual lipstick! In other words, no sharpening required.
My favourite colour has gotta be Rose since it goes really well with my current hair colour, and it's definitely something I'd wear in the day. I'd also pop Ruby into my bag if I decide to switch it up a little when it comes to night time.
Last but not least, they comes with a 4-No formula: No fragrance, No paraben, No carmine, No animal testing unlike many other lip products. Yet another few reasons to have this.
I would say it's something I'd have as part of my makeup routine, even on days when I'm lazy to put on much makeup, this would come in handy just to give my face a pop of colour.
It's retailing at Pharmacuetical outlets such as Watsons, Guardian and departmental stores at the price of $11.90 only!
Makes me happy when I get such a great bargain :p Feel free to comment and share with me your thoughts on the Silkygirl's Moisture Boost Lipcolor Balm if you've tried them too! :)
You may also participate in the #boostofcolor contest and stand a chance to win a SilkyGirl hamper worth $100! All you have to do is to post a picture of your lips on Instagram and hashtag #boostofcolor! Contest ends on the 7th Sept and the 3 winners will be announced via @Gushcloud_SGInstagram. All the best!
Besides eye makeup (excluding eyeshadow) and lipsticks, I hardly touch any face makeup (foundation, powder etc) from our local drugstores such as Watsons or Guardian.
Not because I've too much money in hand to spend a few hundred bucks on high-end brands all the time, (cause I don't) but it's just that I've really sensitive skin and as much as possible I'll avoid buying things that I feel skeptical about.
I have no idea why or when I started to have such thoughts drilled into my head, but I always had a bad impression of makeup that are lower in price. I guess just like many other people, we have this misconception that expensive stuff are always better than cheap stuff. And cheap stuff are only cheap for a reason - Which is that they aren't good.
Most of my face make up cost an average of $50, and they can range to as high as $90. Hence, I feel a lot poorer each time I walk out of Sephora.
I tested out a decent amount of brands to know how my skin works and what I look best in by now... And since my skin condition got a lot better recently (thanks to IDS) I thought it was time I gave drugstore products a try; and that's when I went on a hunt at Watsons and Sasa the other day.
My great monthly expenses on high-end products, as mentioned earlier on, is yet another reason to give drugstore-products a try. I mean besides it being a very "Singaporean" thing to get cheap stuff, we are all looking for alternatives to spend lesser whenever possible. If $50 could get you 10 bottles of foundation, I'm guessing there's no reason why one would rather spend that $50 on one bottle instead, if both products work pretty much the same way.
Just because it's expensive and "branded," they may not necessarily work for you nor your pocket.
Moving on...
First, I restocked some of my fav products from Silkygirl; such as their eyeliner in brown and black, eyebrow pencils, and their new moisture lip balm as well, which I will talk about in my next post. Moving on, I also got some super lustrous lipsticks from Revlon, that I love love love! Last but not least, the only face product at Watsons that caught my attention was the new Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC cream stacked neatly on the front shelves of the store.
As you can see, I've extremely visible pores and that's probably my biggest worry when it comes to skincare problems. After all, pores unfortunately become more visible with age. And based on some information I've garnered online - once enlarged, pores can never return to their original size. *Screams*
I honestly would go without any foundation or BB/CC cream if my pores weren't that obvious, but they are this bad probably because my skin's rather oily and I didn't conscientiously take time and effort to take care of my face in the past = Sebum = Wide pores.
That being said, besides looking for skincare products to help reduce my pores, I've always been in search of makeup that could do the job.
In case you aren't certain of what CC Creams are; They combine anti-aging (AA) benefits and beauty balm (BB) to create an all-in-one beauty solution. Olay CC Cream also offer longer-term correction benefits, to reveal the 7 signs of youthful skin. - See more (here)
I'm pretty darn amazed! I'd love to say that I'm right about how cheaper products don't work, but I have to admit that I'm wrong about this for sure.
Retailing at SGD32.50, I think I've yet to come across anything cheaper than this with better benefits. I tried out many other pore minimising products before and they usually either don't work for me or have a really thick consistency. In the end, it just looks really obvious that I've layers of makeup on.
I've been using it for a week now, and if there's one thing I'm not really fond of, is that it doesn't really last me through the day (given how I spend at least 8 hours outside on a daily basis) due to its light texture. I guess I can't exactly put the blame on the product after running a full day of errands. Nonetheless, I do like it for how it evens out my skin tone, moisturises my skin and gives me a flawless finish with its pore minimising effect. Not to mention, it doesn't grease up halfway through the day unlike many other products - When you have just the right amount of sebum, it helps protect your skin. But if your skin has too much of it, you'd end up battling acne, and if it has too little sebum, you could end up with dry, cracked skin. Therefore, since the Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream moisturises and it's non greasy, it'll work just right.
Something I'd recommend if you're looking for something close to a tinted moisturiser, with definitely more benefits. Good for everyday use and since it's just 50g, you can pop it into your bag and easily touch up along the way without it caking up. Pretty light in coverage though, so it's something you'd have to consider if you're looking for something that's able to cover up spots and blemishes.
Comment and let me know if you have other ways on how to get smaller-looking pores! :)
Since a very young age, I’ve always been intrigued by perfumes in terms of their different scents and packaging. Besides visiting the toys section like any other kid, another reason to make a trip to any department store like Metro or Robinsons was to sneak to the basement where all the fragrances and cosmetics were displayed.
Part of being vain was the need to smell good and even though I was just a kid, I really wanted to own a bottle of perfume. However, I guess every parents’ worry was that their child might be growing up too quickly, and mine was no exception. In other words, I wasn't allowed to get my own perfume and the closest I could get to one was the testers in drugstores or department stores.
Anyway, that being said, it was a dream come true when I finally got to purchase my first bottle of fragrance with my own pocket money at age 16. Since then, I started collecting perfumes and I own about 26 bottles today.
Anyway, I'd tell you guys more about my perfumes in future. As of now, I'd like to share with you my new bottle of fragrance from DKNY I've gotten about a week back, and have been wearing it ever since.
The new DKNY MYNY has gotta be my favourite fragrance of the month.
Powerfully unique. Irresistibly compelling. Spontaneously playful. Top: The sexiness of Raspberries and Galbanum spiked with accents of Pink Pepper Heart: The sensuality of Egyptian Jasmine wrapped with Freesia and roots of Orris Finish: The soulfulness of Patchouli Heart LMR, Vanilla Absolute and Musk, laced with vibrant Ambergris.
Not only do I collect perfumes for their various scents, I am usually captivated by the uniqueness of their individual packaging as well. The DKNY MYNY obviously got my eyes glued to its enthralling design which suggests the skyscrapers of New York. The scent however, made me step out of my comfort zone for the first time.
I'm usually into sweet-smelling fragrances, be it fruity or flowery scents and the DKNY MYNY doesn't really belong to any of these two AT FIRST. What do I mean...?
It is a rather uplifting, energizing scent because of its top notes such as fresh raspberry and white musk. When I first sprayed it on and allowed it to sit on my wrist, the top notes settled in and I could smell a strong scent of Orris root among a deeper backdrop of vetiver and patchouli. Earth and spicy, I must say.
However, it wasn't long before I decided to give it a second sniff and realised that the scent has changed to blend in with my own body odour. Such perfumes take on a life of its own and create a unique mark of identity. In other words, they give off a different smell when used on different people.
As my body temperature rose throughout the wearing, the scent became warmer with it, and I could really smell the beauty of the vetiver in the dry-down, but all the top and middle notes became a lot more subtle, but created a warm, musky smell.
Since then, not only have I fell in love with it, I've been receiving great responses from my friends as well; with them asking which perfume I was using, where I could get it etc.
DKNY MYNY comes with a woodier scent. Heavy patchouli with pleasant undertones of fruits and flowers. Does smell rather masculine at first, but slowly fades away into a sweet-smelling scent of heaven... :D
Verdict? I love it!
Some tips on where I usually spray my perfume and how to make them last throughout the day:
WristsNeck (Under-ear area where your pulse it) and right in the middle.
Your cubital fossa and popliteal fossa.
Apply some of the DKNY MYNY’s body lotion before spraying on their perfume.
That should at least last you about 6-8 hours if you don't carry out any vigorous activities.
Just in case you were wondering, the fragrance is already in stores, islandwide at leading department stores (Metro Paragon, Robinsons JEM, Robinsons Orchard, Robinsons Raffles City, Takashimaya, Tangs Orchard & Tangs VivoCity) and selected perfumeries (SaSa Cosmetics & others)
Anyway, because of how sophisticated and energetic this scent is, I love wearing it on days where my outfit's a little more on the dark/black side!
The collection will be retailing at the following prices:
DKNY MYNY Eau de Parfum 100ml SGD 133
DKNY MYNY Eau de Parfum 50ml SGD 99
DKNY MYNY Body Lotion 150ml SGD 63
DKNY MYNY Shower Gel 150ml SGD 49
Any fans of Rita Ora?! Cos she's chosen as the scent's face due to her similar, energetic character and because of how much she connects to New york.
Visit DKNY MYNY to create your DKNY MYNY heart and be part of it!
Do drop by the atriums to have a taste of DKNY MYNY that will be happening at these locations:
15 to 31 Aug’14 – Robinsons JEM Promo Area
15 to 21 Aug’14 – Robinsons Orchard Promo Area
18 to 24 Aug’14 – Robinsons Raffles City Water Court
28 Aug’14 to 3 Sep’14 – Taka 2BB
29 Aug’14 to 4 Sep’14 – Tangs Orchard Entrance
10 to 14 Sep’14 – Tangs Vivo City Centre Court B
Anyway, that's all for today's post! Do comment and let me know what's your current favourite fragrance, of if you've tried this out, what are your thoughts on it! :)
For those of you who don't know, I'm a HUGE shopaholic, and my hard-earned money vanishes into thin air at the speed of light. Most of my money are either spent on clothes, otherwise cab. I take a cab at least twice a day and that's why the cash in my pocket runs out really quickly. And now that school has started, the nearest ATM from my school requires quite a bit of a walk... Even worse.
Every single day we’re spending money, buying this, paying that. Ever had a long queue waiting behind you while you dig for loose change at a convenience store? Or forget to bring your wallet out and have to walk back in the scorching sun just to get it? It happens so often for me cause I’m really forgetful.
So I know I’m a little little slow, but I recently heard of this new app called Dash. Since taking a cab is a norm for me, it also came to my mind that I’ve been seeing the Dash sign on nearly every cab I hopped on the past few weeks. I’ve also seen the same sign while shopping at places like Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Watsons. They have those little tags on the counter with the Dash logo and a counter number. Furthermore, I overheard a lady queuing in front of me at Watsons that she wanted to pay by Dash. It got me a little curious as to what “paying by Dash” means. Anyway, few days ago, came my friend's experience with Dash. I was craving for Koi while accompanying my friend to run some errands during our 15min class break. We both didn’t have our wallets with us and my friend suggested she pay with Dash and I was shocked she knew about it too.
She happily shared with me how Dash works. I thought it was quite interesting how we could make cashless & cardless payments, even though I was pretty skeptical as usual as she went on and on about how she really likes it.
Basically after witnessing how it was being used, the concept of Dash is that you just need your phone to make transactions. Yeap, it's really as simple as it sounds.
I went online to do a little research and I found out that Dash is a new app by Singtel and Standard Chartered. The website states that Dash is an update to money and that us users can directly download cash into our phone.
Why Dash appealed to me is because I really LOVE having everything on my phone. From calendar events to photo filters, I practically have everything stored in this little device of mine.
I also really hate having a super heavy wallet cause of all the loose change I get when buying food in school. And the hassle of going to an ATM which is so inaccessible from school.
Now, I can throw these worries aside and just whip out my phone every time I need to pay for my cab ride, shopping or food.
It's actually quite amazing how far technology has come; perhaps soon our wallets are not even needed. Haha.
Don’t you guys also hate it when your friend borrows money from you and think it's okay to keep using the same excuses to not return it? Especially the most common "reason" like, "Oh I don't have cash with me now." It really gets on my nerves, but now I can just get them to swipe the money back to me with Dash. Sucks to be you. :p
Anyway, I haven't really tried out the entire app yet and I would love to soon. I've just signed up for it a couple of weeks back and to my surprise, I received a $10 credit for FREE, which I thought was rather a good strategy to get us kiasu Singaporeans to sign up. Free stuff, why not? Can buy two cups of Koi or a few necessities from Watsons lol. Cheapskate max.
Kinda excited to try it out over the weekends cause my wardrobe seriously #needsanupdate. I NEED NEW CLOTHES!!!
If you guys are interested in finding out more about Dash, or sign up to get your $10 credited for FREE, visit: DASH'S WEBPAGE Do leave a comment if you have tried Dash and let me know how you like it! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: #needsanupdate | YouTube
"Washing your face?! You gotta be kidding me right, Naomi? Who doesn't know how to clean or wash their face?"
Well, you'd be surprised to know that many people actually do not possess the habit of washing their face on a daily basis, especially men!
Just by doing a little research, you'd be able to find tons of articles on why you shouldn't wash your face in the morning. However, in our hot and humid climate, it is important to make sure that your skin is free from oil, dirt and blemishes in prevention of the most unwanted thing, PIMPLES.
A pimple is a small pustule or papule. Pimples are small skin lesions or inflammations of the skin - they are sebaceous glands (oil glands) which are infected with bacteria, swell up, and then fill up with pus.
The sebaceous glands are tiny skin glands which secrete sebum - an waxy/oily substance - to lubricate the skin and hair of mammals (humans are mammals).
In human beings they exist throughout all skin sites except the palms and soles; there is a greater abundance of sebaceous glands on the face and scalp. In our eyelids, meibomian sebaceous glands secrete a special type of sebum into tears.
Sebaceous glands ➭ Sebum ➭ Blockage in your pores ➭ Bacteria ➭ Inflammation of the skin ➭ Pimples/Acnes
Just a little more on the signs and symptoms of pimples:
Whiteheads - also known as a closed comedo. These are very small and remain under the skin, appearing as a small, flesh-colored papules.
Blackheads - also known as an open comedo. These are clearly visible; they are black and appear on the surface of the skin. Some people mistakenly believe they are caused by dirt, because of their color, and scrub their faces vigorously - this does not help and may irritate the skin and cause other problems.
Papules - these are small, solid, rounded bumps that rise from the skin. The bumps are often pink.
Pustules - these are pimples full of pus. They are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. The base is red and the pus is on the top.
Nodules - these are morphologically similar (similar structure) to papules, but larger. They can be painful and are embedded deep in the skin.
Cysts - these are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are filled with pus and are usually painful. Cysts commonly cause scars.
So now that you have a rough idea on the contributing factors to bad skin, what are some ways to prevent breakouts?
Definitely, hormones, emotions, and your health are also reasons as to why you'd breakout, but if there's one way you can definitely prevent that from happening? It's good hygiene.
I've a habit of washing my hands right before I wash my face all the time, and use a tissue instead of a towel to dry my face after cleansing (sorry for killing trees.) Reason being, I feel that towels are usually exposed and are more prone to getting dirt etc on them, especially when they are moist; which calls out for all sorts of bacteria to feed on.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'll always wash my face at least 2 times a day, and never touch it with my bare hands! Your hands are probably the ones with the most germs, cos we use them the most throughout the day.
Many people only wash their face once in the night, cos they feel that "I'm just sleeping at night, how dirty can my face get the next morning?" No matter how clean your room is, there will always be dust, particles and pollutants you can hardly see with your naked eye, which settles on your skin while you're asleep.
We all know from Science class that our body's still functioning even when we're fast asleep, same goes for our face. It's when you're sleeping when your skin tends to excrete oil from the sweat glands you produce. So it's always good to wash your face in the morning!
Anyway, many of us find it a chore to wash our face, and to add in an additional step of washing your hands... I'd understand why you'd rather skip the whole procedure.
However, what if you can complete your routine within 30 seconds, and you don't even have to bother, whether or not if your hands are properly cleansed?
I believe in the morning, when we have to rush to work or school, a face massage can take up a hell load of time... Which is why, I want to introduce my favourite tool of the month! :D :D :D
Let me share with you a little on my experience with face brushes... NONE. lol
Even though I've never had my hands on any of them before, I always had my reservations about these brushes. WHAT IF THE BRUSHES ARE NOT CLEAN?! Or... What if they are so rough that they scrub my skin off?! Paranoia at its best.
It wasn't until I was asked to try out the Clinique Sonic Brush a while back. After attending their launch of the product, and listening to how it works for more than an hour... I still had my doubts and felt really skeptical. A brush with anti-bacterial properties? And it has a battery that can last for 6 months based on recommended usage?? But honestly, the presentation was really impressive and I must admit that it got me curious.
I was so eager to try it out that I tossed aside my brand new $80 facial foam for it. VERDICT? I LOVED IT!!!
I don't mean to exaggerate or sound like a salesperson now, but I cross my heart that I felt the results instantly!
I've been using it every day and night for more than a week, and I'm literally ASTOUNDED by the way it works.
Not only is their cleanser mild and suitable for all skin types, adding the brush into my skincare regime has saved me lots of time, and made my skin way softer and smoother.
(I made JH touch my skin yesterday and even he was amazed. Hahaha)
I love love love this product! 30 secs and you're ready to go!
It's important to get all the dirt off your face so that it preps your skin from absorbing more nutrients thereafter; like the most common ones, your toner and moisturiser.
The bristles are super soft and its shape helps to reach the difficult areas around your nose. And I can toss my worry (about the brush being dirty) aside cos they reassured that it's fine as long as I rinse it after each application, and change the removable "head" (where the bristles are) after every 3 months.
Guess I'm one step closer to getting softer, smoother skin in no time! Hehehe. Just one week and I could see a vast difference, can't wait to see how it works in a month's time! :p
With this tool, all the oil and dirt will be easily removed! Feel so relieved now. Yet another reason why you should wash your face with such great technology!
I hope you guys learned something! If you're interested to purchase this brush, it's in stores now at the price of $149 and visit (here) for more information.
Feel free to share with me your own effective skincare regime in the comments section! :)
Quick update before I begin - Last Saturday was crazy!!! Only had less than 5 hours of sleep before my day started. Went for a 4 hours outdoor photo shoot for Ohsofickle, (Can't wait to share with you guys more!) before I made my way down to Ryan and Sylvia's place to begin the craziest video shoot ever, for JH.
Filmed from 5pm all the way till 1.30 in the morning. Felt like 10 bottles of deodorant wouldn't have done any justice to my stinky self.
Anyway, here's a sneakpeek of hao's upcoming video and some photos taken behind the scenes. :p
Moving on to the main topic of the day, as you can read from the title, I GOT A NEW PHONE!!! (It's gonna be a pretty long post today, but bear with me till the end!!! I've a piece of good news to share.)
Before I begin, I just wanna share a little on my phone experience. Ever since I had my hands on my first iPhone in 2011, I've never switched to any other handsets. Firstly, I'm a diehard Apple fan, and secondly, never have I tried any other phone that I was able to stay with for more than 3 days. I swear, 3 days was the max I could go without my iPhone. Not to mention, that only happens in worst case scenarios, e.g losing my phone.
In other words, for me to actually, willingly try another phone, it has to either work as well, or better than an iPhone.
Which is why, my experience with the new LG g3 is worth the mention.
(All the photos, including the video above is captured using the LG G3)
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I guess with similar competitors or phones of the same calibre; such as Samsung and HTC, it's extremely difficult to be able to keep up with the standards of people and their growing demands.
There are so many great stuff in this phone alone, but I probably wouldn't be able to list them all down, so I'm just gonna share with you guys some of my...
Favourite Key Features
Personally, I really hate phones that look plastic-y, cos they look hella fake, and as much as I like my phone to be light in weight, I'm definitely wouldn't want a phone that looks like a kid's barbie phone.
Despite the G3 being made of plastic it is however, finished off with a metallic design. 80% polycarbonate, the 20% of metal that mixed in with it, gives it a look of sophistication.
Thin, and easy to grasp, the G3 has no buttons along the sides of the phone, to emphasise on its simplicity. The startup and volume buttons are placed behind, for it's where we normally place our fingers at.
Thoughtful and a rather new concept, however, it does take a bit of practice and getting-used-to.
Above it all, should you need a battery swap-out if the phone ever crashes, it has a removable rear which allows you to easily remove and replace the battery. With the removable rear, it also means that you'd be able to slot in an additional micro-SD card for extra phone capacity.
Fell in love with the screen design and quality when I first saw it. Extremely futuristic, and crystal clear. I felt like I was holding a mini television.
Quad HD display, supports 538ppi (pixels per inch)
Vibrant colours, ultra sharp images 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.
Bezel-free 5.5 inch screen
Minimalism is they key.
After you unlock your phone, (via 1) KNOCKcode - where you can customise your own knocking pattern with 3-8 taps. Interesting concept. OR 2) Slide up to unlock) you'd enter the phone's home screen where everything's pretty straightforward, unless this is your first phone... You should be able to figure everything out within the first hour, maybe couple more hours to find out all the really cool technology, and eventually fall in love with the phone. :p
What I don't like about certain phones is that I get so confused by what's going on the moment I look at the screen, then I'd get so pissed off with the complexity and not wanna use it anymore.
Laser auto-focus + Perfect shot with one touch
A good selfie not only requires good lighting and angles, but the quality of the picture matters too! What's fascinating about the G3's front-camera is that it has a beauty mode for its built-in camera application. Where you can even adjust how "flawless" you want your skin to be. So much for Camera 360 and Mei tu xiu xiu, lol.
Not only does the beauty mode appeal to me, LG is brilliant for coming up with the idea whereby you could easily snap a seflie with a fist gesture. It first identifies the hand, (accuracy at its best) and the timer goes off once you clench your fist.
What the laser auto-focus does is that you can snap pictures by clicking on wherever you want the focus to be on, and it detects it almost immediately.
Have you ever deleted a photo or video by accident and wish you could undo it?! God! This is awesome.
Smart Keyboard
With just two fingers, you could effortlessly resize your text while typing, and easily slide to adjust the keyboard to the size of your preference as well.
You could also minimise your text message and modify the opacity.
My favourite of all favourites?!?!?! Schedule sending! Nothing's better than being able to craft a message in advance... You know what I'm talking about? Like Birthday messages maybe?Hahahahahahahahha. Kidding.
Dual window
I'm not really sure if any other phones have this feature, but the person who invented this is INGENIOUS.
It's basically like multi-tasking, where you can do two things almost simultaneously. For example, watch a video on YouTube while sending a text message.
QuickCircle and Wireless Charging
You could get the extra phone cover which allows you to go on an app through a circle, based on your 6 most frequently used apps, and charge your phone without a wire now. What's more annoying than breakable, coiled up cables right? -_-
The part most of you may probably be anticipating for, the comparison between the LG G3, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC one M8.
Just some of the more common features people look for in these smart phones these days, which I did some research on, and came up with this chart to your convenience. Others which are not listed here are probably because the three phones share the same feature.
Not trying to tempt you guys into getting a new phone, but if you are planning to get a G3, or any other phone, this is not the end of my post yet, I've a piece of good news to share!
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As a student myself, I'm aware that money can be a huge issue to our daily lives, and phone bills are such pain in the ass. Especially with limited amount of data, my bill easily exceeds by at least $50-$100 more. Hence, when I found out about the new SingTel Youth Plan, I really wanted to share with you guys!!!
Here’s a simple comparison table that compares the different plans available across all 3 telcos.
Basically, whether you're from NS, a young adult, and of course a student, you're entitled to this; as long as you have a valid student pass! And what’s more, in return to all your support all this while, SingTel has stepped in to offer an additional 2GB and $50 handset discount voucher just for you guys! That’s a total of 6GB if you sign up for the Value Youth Plan!!
How to purchase?
First, click this link http://singtelshop.com/naomineo (NOTE: You can only enjoy the extra goodies if you sign up via this link.)
Next, you'd be redirected to this page. -> Click on "Start Shopping"
You can then choose your handset.
Followed by the "Sign up new line" button once you're done.
Choose to get a new number or recycle your old one.
Then choose your ideal plan. The additional $50 off would be deducted at the final checkpoint.
Lastly, it's the extra value added services. (Skip this page if you don't need any, and you can checkout & make make payment!)
Reasons to buy online?
Super easy and straightforward.
You get $30 off daily on selected models.
$30 off every Wednesday on selected models.
Extra $50 off if you purchase from the link I provided.
Additional 1GB data.
30% new balance voucher.
Free delivery to your doorstep. (For trade-ins, it can be done at that same time as well)
Free SIM card change for re-contracting customers
All modes of payment are acceptable.
Besides, you can save the trouble from travelling and queuing in stores. Hence, I don't see any reasons for any of you to wanna miss out this great deal, unless your contract has yet to end.
The promo will end in (To be confirmed)
And whether you're from Starhub, or M1, you can still sign up if you're planning to re-contract! SingTel users? Good for you, you'd just have to upgrade your plan!!! :)
YOUTH PLAN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible for the Youth Plan?
a) All students with valid local student cards
b) Full time NS men with service status “NSF” in their 11B identity card and aged 25 years
and below at the point of sign up, excluding regulars
Do note that only 1 student card or 11B IC is applicable per youth plan. Any customer with both
a valid local student card and an 11B will not be eligible to apply to 2 youth plans under his
name.
Is there an age limit?
If you are below 18, you require a photo of your parent/guardian guarantor’s IC when you apply
online. If you go down to the SingTel shops, your parent/guardian guarantor needs to be
present. If you are above 18, you can do everything yourself
To which Youth Plans are the perks applicable?
Only the Lite and Value Youth Plans enjoy the perks, so do select either of these when signing up
for a new line/re-contracting.
Can I only sign up for this plan online?
You may also sign up for this Youth Plan at any SingTel shop, but do note that there are some
special perks only available to those who sign up through our unique links with our social
influencers.
How will the phone be delivered?
It will be delivered right to your doorstep so do provide the right address! It should take
between 2-4 working days.
How does the phone trade-in work?
If you have a phone you’d like to trade in, there is an optional segment before check-out to
offset your one-time payment. Select which phone you would like to trade in, and present it to
the delivery person at point of delivery.
In the event that you are still having doubts to purchase your phone or to sign up for a new phone plan online but still want the exclusive goodies from me, you can always email contest@gushcloud.com with your Name, Contact Number and let them know you are my reader and the voucher will be mailed to you directly for you to spend at a physical shop.
As promised from my last review on drugstore products, here are some of my favourite lip balms I got from Silkygirl lately!
If there's one drugstore makeup I've been using for the longest time, it has gotta be Silkygirl. My best friend used to rave about their products which was how I got introduced to these bunch of cheap and good stuff. Tried their blushers, eyeliner, eyebrow pencils, mascara previously and I've been particularly loving their eyeliners and eyebrow pencils as you can see from most of my makeup stash. Hence, I couldn't resist trying out their new Moisture boost lipcolor balms the moment I gotta know about them too!
Once in awhile, I get cracked-lips from the oral isotretinoin I consume for my skin and it takes up an unnecessary amount of time to exfoliate my lips and put on some vaseline right before I apply lipstick most of the time. These two extra steps can be quite a hassle on days where I'm in a rush. Also, lipsticks can be a little too overwhelming sometimes, especially on those days where I have slightly heavier eye makeup on.
Which is why I decided to share with you my new favourite - Lipcolor balms!!!
Pacing back and fro, I had a really hard time deciding which colour to go for, among the variety of choices. After a couple of minutes, Rose, Ruby and Poppy were the ones I selected. Definitely a range of fun colours suitable for everyday-wear.
Here are the swatches of the three colours I picked.
With the benefits of a lip balm, not only does it contain Vitamins A, C and E and moisturises my lips, it has excellent colour payoff and doesn't wear off easily.
With sufficient amount of the lipcolour, you'd probably only have to touch up once throughout the day. Another reason to love these crayon-like lip balms is because of how precise they are. Not to mention, since it's rather sheer and creamy, I can easily glide it over my lips without a mirror unlike how it's a must to check out the reflection when I apply lipsticks, due to how prominent the colours are.
Most lip balms give off a waxy, sticky texture after application, which to a certain extent, feels uncomfortable to me. However, when it comes to the Silkygirl's Moisture Boost Lipcolor Balm that feeling would dissipate after a few seconds as it melts into my lips.
Twist to use, like how it works for any usual lipstick! In other words, no sharpening required.
My favourite colour has gotta be Rose since it goes really well with my current hair colour, and it's definitely something I'd wear in the day. I'd also pop Ruby into my bag if I decide to switch it up a little when it comes to night time.
Last but not least, they comes with a 4-No formula: No fragrance, No paraben, No carmine, No animal testing unlike many other lip products. Yet another few reasons to have this.
I would say it's something I'd have as part of my makeup routine, even on days when I'm lazy to put on much makeup, this would come in handy just to give my face a pop of colour.
It's retailing at Pharmacuetical outlets such as Watsons, Guardian and departmental stores at the price of $11.90 only!
Makes me happy when I get such a great bargain :p Feel free to comment and share with me your thoughts on the Silkygirl's Moisture Boost Lipcolor Balm if you've tried them too! :)
You may also participate in the #boostofcolor contest and stand a chance to win a SilkyGirl hamper worth $100! All you have to do is to post a picture of your lips on Instagram and hashtag #boostofcolor! Contest ends on the 7th Sept and the 3 winners will be announced via @Gushcloud_SGInstagram. All the best!
Besides eye makeup (excluding eyeshadow) and lipsticks, I hardly touch any face makeup (foundation, powder etc) from our local drugstores such as Watsons or Guardian.
Not because I've too much money in hand to spend a few hundred bucks on high-end brands all the time, (cause I don't) but it's just that I've really sensitive skin and as much as possible I'll avoid buying things that I feel skeptical about.
I have no idea why or when I started to have such thoughts drilled into my head, but I always had a bad impression of makeup that are lower in price. I guess just like many other people, we have this misconception that expensive stuff are always better than cheap stuff. And cheap stuff are only cheap for a reason - Which is that they aren't good.
Most of my face make up cost an average of $50, and they can range to as high as $90. Hence, I feel a lot poorer each time I walk out of Sephora.
I tested out a decent amount of brands to know how my skin works and what I look best in by now... And since my skin condition got a lot better recently (thanks to IDS) I thought it was time I gave drugstore products a try; and that's when I went on a hunt at Watsons and Sasa the other day.
My great monthly expenses on high-end products, as mentioned earlier on, is yet another reason to give drugstore-products a try. I mean besides it being a very "Singaporean" thing to get cheap stuff, we are all looking for alternatives to spend lesser whenever possible. If $50 could get you 10 bottles of foundation, I'm guessing there's no reason why one would rather spend that $50 on one bottle instead, if both products work pretty much the same way.
Just because it's expensive and "branded," they may not necessarily work for you nor your pocket.
Moving on...
First, I restocked some of my fav products from Silkygirl; such as their eyeliner in brown and black, eyebrow pencils, and their new moisture lip balm as well, which I will talk about in my next post. Moving on, I also got some super lustrous lipsticks from Revlon, that I love love love! Last but not least, the only face product at Watsons that caught my attention was the new Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC cream stacked neatly on the front shelves of the store.
As you can see, I've extremely visible pores and that's probably my biggest worry when it comes to skincare problems. After all, pores unfortunately become more visible with age. And based on some information I've garnered online - once enlarged, pores can never return to their original size. *Screams*
I honestly would go without any foundation or BB/CC cream if my pores weren't that obvious, but they are this bad probably because my skin's rather oily and I didn't conscientiously take time and effort to take care of my face in the past = Sebum = Wide pores.
That being said, besides looking for skincare products to help reduce my pores, I've always been in search of makeup that could do the job.
In case you aren't certain of what CC Creams are; They combine anti-aging (AA) benefits and beauty balm (BB) to create an all-in-one beauty solution. Olay CC Cream also offer longer-term correction benefits, to reveal the 7 signs of youthful skin. - See more (here)
I'm pretty darn amazed! I'd love to say that I'm right about how cheaper products don't work, but I have to admit that I'm wrong about this for sure.
Retailing at SGD32.50, I think I've yet to come across anything cheaper than this with better benefits. I tried out many other pore minimising products before and they usually either don't work for me or have a really thick consistency. In the end, it just looks really obvious that I've layers of makeup on.
I've been using it for a week now, and if there's one thing I'm not really fond of, is that it doesn't really last me through the day (given how I spend at least 8 hours outside on a daily basis) due to its light texture. I guess I can't exactly put the blame on the product after running a full day of errands. Nonetheless, I do like it for how it evens out my skin tone, moisturises my skin and gives me a flawless finish with its pore minimising effect. Not to mention, it doesn't grease up halfway through the day unlike many other products - When you have just the right amount of sebum, it helps protect your skin. But if your skin has too much of it, you'd end up battling acne, and if it has too little sebum, you could end up with dry, cracked skin. Therefore, since the Olay Total Effects Pore Minimizing CC Cream moisturises and it's non greasy, it'll work just right.
Something I'd recommend if you're looking for something close to a tinted moisturiser, with definitely more benefits. Good for everyday use and since it's just 50g, you can pop it into your bag and easily touch up along the way without it caking up. Pretty light in coverage though, so it's something you'd have to consider if you're looking for something that's able to cover up spots and blemishes.
Comment and let me know if you have other ways on how to get smaller-looking pores! :)
Since a very young age, I’ve always been intrigued by perfumes in terms of their different scents and packaging. Besides visiting the toys section like any other kid, another reason to make a trip to any department store like Metro or Robinsons was to sneak to the basement where all the fragrances and cosmetics were displayed.
Part of being vain was the need to smell good and even though I was just a kid, I really wanted to own a bottle of perfume. However, I guess every parents’ worry was that their child might be growing up too quickly, and mine was no exception. In other words, I wasn't allowed to get my own perfume and the closest I could get to one was the testers in drugstores or department stores.
Anyway, that being said, it was a dream come true when I finally got to purchase my first bottle of fragrance with my own pocket money at age 16. Since then, I started collecting perfumes and I own about 26 bottles today.
Anyway, I'd tell you guys more about my perfumes in future. As of now, I'd like to share with you my new bottle of fragrance from DKNY I've gotten about a week back, and have been wearing it ever since.
The new DKNY MYNY has gotta be my favourite fragrance of the month.
Powerfully unique. Irresistibly compelling. Spontaneously playful. Top: The sexiness of Raspberries and Galbanum spiked with accents of Pink Pepper Heart: The sensuality of Egyptian Jasmine wrapped with Freesia and roots of Orris Finish: The soulfulness of Patchouli Heart LMR, Vanilla Absolute and Musk, laced with vibrant Ambergris.
Not only do I collect perfumes for their various scents, I am usually captivated by the uniqueness of their individual packaging as well. The DKNY MYNY obviously got my eyes glued to its enthralling design which suggests the skyscrapers of New York. The scent however, made me step out of my comfort zone for the first time.
I'm usually into sweet-smelling fragrances, be it fruity or flowery scents and the DKNY MYNY doesn't really belong to any of these two AT FIRST. What do I mean...?
It is a rather uplifting, energizing scent because of its top notes such as fresh raspberry and white musk. When I first sprayed it on and allowed it to sit on my wrist, the top notes settled in and I could smell a strong scent of Orris root among a deeper backdrop of vetiver and patchouli. Earth and spicy, I must say.
However, it wasn't long before I decided to give it a second sniff and realised that the scent has changed to blend in with my own body odour. Such perfumes take on a life of its own and create a unique mark of identity. In other words, they give off a different smell when used on different people.
As my body temperature rose throughout the wearing, the scent became warmer with it, and I could really smell the beauty of the vetiver in the dry-down, but all the top and middle notes became a lot more subtle, but created a warm, musky smell.
Since then, not only have I fell in love with it, I've been receiving great responses from my friends as well; with them asking which perfume I was using, where I could get it etc.
DKNY MYNY comes with a woodier scent. Heavy patchouli with pleasant undertones of fruits and flowers. Does smell rather masculine at first, but slowly fades away into a sweet-smelling scent of heaven... :D
Verdict? I love it!
Some tips on where I usually spray my perfume and how to make them last throughout the day:
WristsNeck (Under-ear area where your pulse it) and right in the middle.
Your cubital fossa and popliteal fossa.
Apply some of the DKNY MYNY’s body lotion before spraying on their perfume.
That should at least last you about 6-8 hours if you don't carry out any vigorous activities.
Just in case you were wondering, the fragrance is already in stores, islandwide at leading department stores (Metro Paragon, Robinsons JEM, Robinsons Orchard, Robinsons Raffles City, Takashimaya, Tangs Orchard & Tangs VivoCity) and selected perfumeries (SaSa Cosmetics & others)
Anyway, because of how sophisticated and energetic this scent is, I love wearing it on days where my outfit's a little more on the dark/black side!
The collection will be retailing at the following prices:
DKNY MYNY Eau de Parfum 100ml SGD 133
DKNY MYNY Eau de Parfum 50ml SGD 99
DKNY MYNY Body Lotion 150ml SGD 63
DKNY MYNY Shower Gel 150ml SGD 49
Any fans of Rita Ora?! Cos she's chosen as the scent's face due to her similar, energetic character and because of how much she connects to New york.
Visit DKNY MYNY to create your DKNY MYNY heart and be part of it!
Do drop by the atriums to have a taste of DKNY MYNY that will be happening at these locations:
15 to 31 Aug’14 – Robinsons JEM Promo Area
15 to 21 Aug’14 – Robinsons Orchard Promo Area
18 to 24 Aug’14 – Robinsons Raffles City Water Court
28 Aug’14 to 3 Sep’14 – Taka 2BB
29 Aug’14 to 4 Sep’14 – Tangs Orchard Entrance
10 to 14 Sep’14 – Tangs Vivo City Centre Court B
Anyway, that's all for today's post! Do comment and let me know what's your current favourite fragrance, of if you've tried this out, what are your thoughts on it! :)
For those of you who don't know, I'm a HUGE shopaholic, and my hard-earned money vanishes into thin air at the speed of light. Most of my money are either spent on clothes, otherwise cab. I take a cab at least twice a day and that's why the cash in my pocket runs out really quickly. And now that school has started, the nearest ATM from my school requires quite a bit of a walk... Even worse.
Every single day we’re spending money, buying this, paying that. Ever had a long queue waiting behind you while you dig for loose change at a convenience store? Or forget to bring your wallet out and have to walk back in the scorching sun just to get it? It happens so often for me cause I’m really forgetful.
So I know I’m a little little slow, but I recently heard of this new app called Dash. Since taking a cab is a norm for me, it also came to my mind that I’ve been seeing the Dash sign on nearly every cab I hopped on the past few weeks. I’ve also seen the same sign while shopping at places like Topshop, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins and Watsons. They have those little tags on the counter with the Dash logo and a counter number. Furthermore, I overheard a lady queuing in front of me at Watsons that she wanted to pay by Dash. It got me a little curious as to what “paying by Dash” means. Anyway, few days ago, came my friend's experience with Dash. I was craving for Koi while accompanying my friend to run some errands during our 15min class break. We both didn’t have our wallets with us and my friend suggested she pay with Dash and I was shocked she knew about it too.
She happily shared with me how Dash works. I thought it was quite interesting how we could make cashless & cardless payments, even though I was pretty skeptical as usual as she went on and on about how she really likes it.
Basically after witnessing how it was being used, the concept of Dash is that you just need your phone to make transactions. Yeap, it's really as simple as it sounds.
I went online to do a little research and I found out that Dash is a new app by Singtel and Standard Chartered. The website states that Dash is an update to money and that us users can directly download cash into our phone.
Why Dash appealed to me is because I really LOVE having everything on my phone. From calendar events to photo filters, I practically have everything stored in this little device of mine.
I also really hate having a super heavy wallet cause of all the loose change I get when buying food in school. And the hassle of going to an ATM which is so inaccessible from school.
Now, I can throw these worries aside and just whip out my phone every time I need to pay for my cab ride, shopping or food.
It's actually quite amazing how far technology has come; perhaps soon our wallets are not even needed. Haha.
Don’t you guys also hate it when your friend borrows money from you and think it's okay to keep using the same excuses to not return it? Especially the most common "reason" like, "Oh I don't have cash with me now." It really gets on my nerves, but now I can just get them to swipe the money back to me with Dash. Sucks to be you. :p
Anyway, I haven't really tried out the entire app yet and I would love to soon. I've just signed up for it a couple of weeks back and to my surprise, I received a $10 credit for FREE, which I thought was rather a good strategy to get us kiasu Singaporeans to sign up. Free stuff, why not? Can buy two cups of Koi or a few necessities from Watsons lol. Cheapskate max.
Kinda excited to try it out over the weekends cause my wardrobe seriously #needsanupdate. I NEED NEW CLOTHES!!!
If you guys are interested in finding out more about Dash, or sign up to get your $10 credited for FREE, visit: DASH'S WEBPAGE Do leave a comment if you have tried Dash and let me know how you like it! Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram: #needsanupdate | YouTube
"Washing your face?! You gotta be kidding me right, Naomi? Who doesn't know how to clean or wash their face?"
Well, you'd be surprised to know that many people actually do not possess the habit of washing their face on a daily basis, especially men!
Just by doing a little research, you'd be able to find tons of articles on why you shouldn't wash your face in the morning. However, in our hot and humid climate, it is important to make sure that your skin is free from oil, dirt and blemishes in prevention of the most unwanted thing, PIMPLES.
A pimple is a small pustule or papule. Pimples are small skin lesions or inflammations of the skin - they are sebaceous glands (oil glands) which are infected with bacteria, swell up, and then fill up with pus.
The sebaceous glands are tiny skin glands which secrete sebum - an waxy/oily substance - to lubricate the skin and hair of mammals (humans are mammals).
In human beings they exist throughout all skin sites except the palms and soles; there is a greater abundance of sebaceous glands on the face and scalp. In our eyelids, meibomian sebaceous glands secrete a special type of sebum into tears.
Sebaceous glands ➭ Sebum ➭ Blockage in your pores ➭ Bacteria ➭ Inflammation of the skin ➭ Pimples/Acnes
Just a little more on the signs and symptoms of pimples:
Whiteheads - also known as a closed comedo. These are very small and remain under the skin, appearing as a small, flesh-colored papules.
Blackheads - also known as an open comedo. These are clearly visible; they are black and appear on the surface of the skin. Some people mistakenly believe they are caused by dirt, because of their color, and scrub their faces vigorously - this does not help and may irritate the skin and cause other problems.
Papules - these are small, solid, rounded bumps that rise from the skin. The bumps are often pink.
Pustules - these are pimples full of pus. They are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. The base is red and the pus is on the top.
Nodules - these are morphologically similar (similar structure) to papules, but larger. They can be painful and are embedded deep in the skin.
Cysts - these are clearly visible on the surface of the skin. They are filled with pus and are usually painful. Cysts commonly cause scars.
So now that you have a rough idea on the contributing factors to bad skin, what are some ways to prevent breakouts?
Definitely, hormones, emotions, and your health are also reasons as to why you'd breakout, but if there's one way you can definitely prevent that from happening? It's good hygiene.
I've a habit of washing my hands right before I wash my face all the time, and use a tissue instead of a towel to dry my face after cleansing (sorry for killing trees.) Reason being, I feel that towels are usually exposed and are more prone to getting dirt etc on them, especially when they are moist; which calls out for all sorts of bacteria to feed on.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I'll always wash my face at least 2 times a day, and never touch it with my bare hands! Your hands are probably the ones with the most germs, cos we use them the most throughout the day.
Many people only wash their face once in the night, cos they feel that "I'm just sleeping at night, how dirty can my face get the next morning?" No matter how clean your room is, there will always be dust, particles and pollutants you can hardly see with your naked eye, which settles on your skin while you're asleep.
We all know from Science class that our body's still functioning even when we're fast asleep, same goes for our face. It's when you're sleeping when your skin tends to excrete oil from the sweat glands you produce. So it's always good to wash your face in the morning!
Anyway, many of us find it a chore to wash our face, and to add in an additional step of washing your hands... I'd understand why you'd rather skip the whole procedure.
However, what if you can complete your routine within 30 seconds, and you don't even have to bother, whether or not if your hands are properly cleansed?
I believe in the morning, when we have to rush to work or school, a face massage can take up a hell load of time... Which is why, I want to introduce my favourite tool of the month! :D :D :D
Let me share with you a little on my experience with face brushes... NONE. lol
Even though I've never had my hands on any of them before, I always had my reservations about these brushes. WHAT IF THE BRUSHES ARE NOT CLEAN?! Or... What if they are so rough that they scrub my skin off?! Paranoia at its best.
It wasn't until I was asked to try out the Clinique Sonic Brush a while back. After attending their launch of the product, and listening to how it works for more than an hour... I still had my doubts and felt really skeptical. A brush with anti-bacterial properties? And it has a battery that can last for 6 months based on recommended usage?? But honestly, the presentation was really impressive and I must admit that it got me curious.
I was so eager to try it out that I tossed aside my brand new $80 facial foam for it. VERDICT? I LOVED IT!!!
I don't mean to exaggerate or sound like a salesperson now, but I cross my heart that I felt the results instantly!
I've been using it every day and night for more than a week, and I'm literally ASTOUNDED by the way it works.
Not only is their cleanser mild and suitable for all skin types, adding the brush into my skincare regime has saved me lots of time, and made my skin way softer and smoother.
(I made JH touch my skin yesterday and even he was amazed. Hahaha)
I love love love this product! 30 secs and you're ready to go!
It's important to get all the dirt off your face so that it preps your skin from absorbing more nutrients thereafter; like the most common ones, your toner and moisturiser.
The bristles are super soft and its shape helps to reach the difficult areas around your nose. And I can toss my worry (about the brush being dirty) aside cos they reassured that it's fine as long as I rinse it after each application, and change the removable "head" (where the bristles are) after every 3 months.
Guess I'm one step closer to getting softer, smoother skin in no time! Hehehe. Just one week and I could see a vast difference, can't wait to see how it works in a month's time! :p
With this tool, all the oil and dirt will be easily removed! Feel so relieved now. Yet another reason why you should wash your face with such great technology!
I hope you guys learned something! If you're interested to purchase this brush, it's in stores now at the price of $149 and visit (here) for more information.
Feel free to share with me your own effective skincare regime in the comments section! :)
Quick update before I begin - Last Saturday was crazy!!! Only had less than 5 hours of sleep before my day started. Went for a 4 hours outdoor photo shoot for Ohsofickle, (Can't wait to share with you guys more!) before I made my way down to Ryan and Sylvia's place to begin the craziest video shoot ever, for JH.
Filmed from 5pm all the way till 1.30 in the morning. Felt like 10 bottles of deodorant wouldn't have done any justice to my stinky self.
Anyway, here's a sneakpeek of hao's upcoming video and some photos taken behind the scenes. :p
Moving on to the main topic of the day, as you can read from the title, I GOT A NEW PHONE!!! (It's gonna be a pretty long post today, but bear with me till the end!!! I've a piece of good news to share.)
Before I begin, I just wanna share a little on my phone experience. Ever since I had my hands on my first iPhone in 2011, I've never switched to any other handsets. Firstly, I'm a diehard Apple fan, and secondly, never have I tried any other phone that I was able to stay with for more than 3 days. I swear, 3 days was the max I could go without my iPhone. Not to mention, that only happens in worst case scenarios, e.g losing my phone.
In other words, for me to actually, willingly try another phone, it has to either work as well, or better than an iPhone.
Which is why, my experience with the new LG g3 is worth the mention.
(All the photos, including the video above is captured using the LG G3)
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I guess with similar competitors or phones of the same calibre; such as Samsung and HTC, it's extremely difficult to be able to keep up with the standards of people and their growing demands.
There are so many great stuff in this phone alone, but I probably wouldn't be able to list them all down, so I'm just gonna share with you guys some of my...
Favourite Key Features
Personally, I really hate phones that look plastic-y, cos they look hella fake, and as much as I like my phone to be light in weight, I'm definitely wouldn't want a phone that looks like a kid's barbie phone.
Despite the G3 being made of plastic it is however, finished off with a metallic design. 80% polycarbonate, the 20% of metal that mixed in with it, gives it a look of sophistication.
Thin, and easy to grasp, the G3 has no buttons along the sides of the phone, to emphasise on its simplicity. The startup and volume buttons are placed behind, for it's where we normally place our fingers at.
Thoughtful and a rather new concept, however, it does take a bit of practice and getting-used-to.
Above it all, should you need a battery swap-out if the phone ever crashes, it has a removable rear which allows you to easily remove and replace the battery. With the removable rear, it also means that you'd be able to slot in an additional micro-SD card for extra phone capacity.
Fell in love with the screen design and quality when I first saw it. Extremely futuristic, and crystal clear. I felt like I was holding a mini television.
Quad HD display, supports 538ppi (pixels per inch)
Vibrant colours, ultra sharp images 2,560 x 1,440 pixels.
Bezel-free 5.5 inch screen
Minimalism is they key.
After you unlock your phone, (via 1) KNOCKcode - where you can customise your own knocking pattern with 3-8 taps. Interesting concept. OR 2) Slide up to unlock) you'd enter the phone's home screen where everything's pretty straightforward, unless this is your first phone... You should be able to figure everything out within the first hour, maybe couple more hours to find out all the really cool technology, and eventually fall in love with the phone. :p
What I don't like about certain phones is that I get so confused by what's going on the moment I look at the screen, then I'd get so pissed off with the complexity and not wanna use it anymore.
Laser auto-focus + Perfect shot with one touch
A good selfie not only requires good lighting and angles, but the quality of the picture matters too! What's fascinating about the G3's front-camera is that it has a beauty mode for its built-in camera application. Where you can even adjust how "flawless" you want your skin to be. So much for Camera 360 and Mei tu xiu xiu, lol.
Not only does the beauty mode appeal to me, LG is brilliant for coming up with the idea whereby you could easily snap a seflie with a fist gesture. It first identifies the hand, (accuracy at its best) and the timer goes off once you clench your fist.
What the laser auto-focus does is that you can snap pictures by clicking on wherever you want the focus to be on, and it detects it almost immediately.
Have you ever deleted a photo or video by accident and wish you could undo it?! God! This is awesome.
Smart Keyboard
With just two fingers, you could effortlessly resize your text while typing, and easily slide to adjust the keyboard to the size of your preference as well.
You could also minimise your text message and modify the opacity.
My favourite of all favourites?!?!?! Schedule sending! Nothing's better than being able to craft a message in advance... You know what I'm talking about? Like Birthday messages maybe?Hahahahahahahahha. Kidding.
Dual window
I'm not really sure if any other phones have this feature, but the person who invented this is INGENIOUS.
It's basically like multi-tasking, where you can do two things almost simultaneously. For example, watch a video on YouTube while sending a text message.
QuickCircle and Wireless Charging
You could get the extra phone cover which allows you to go on an app through a circle, based on your 6 most frequently used apps, and charge your phone without a wire now. What's more annoying than breakable, coiled up cables right? -_-
The part most of you may probably be anticipating for, the comparison between the LG G3, Samsung Galaxy S5 and HTC one M8.
Just some of the more common features people look for in these smart phones these days, which I did some research on, and came up with this chart to your convenience. Others which are not listed here are probably because the three phones share the same feature.
Not trying to tempt you guys into getting a new phone, but if you are planning to get a G3, or any other phone, this is not the end of my post yet, I've a piece of good news to share!
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As a student myself, I'm aware that money can be a huge issue to our daily lives, and phone bills are such pain in the ass. Especially with limited amount of data, my bill easily exceeds by at least $50-$100 more. Hence, when I found out about the new SingTel Youth Plan, I really wanted to share with you guys!!!
Here’s a simple comparison table that compares the different plans available across all 3 telcos.
Basically, whether you're from NS, a young adult, and of course a student, you're entitled to this; as long as you have a valid student pass! And what’s more, in return to all your support all this while, SingTel has stepped in to offer an additional 2GB and $50 handset discount voucher just for you guys! That’s a total of 6GB if you sign up for the Value Youth Plan!!
How to purchase?
First, click this link http://singtelshop.com/naomineo (NOTE: You can only enjoy the extra goodies if you sign up via this link.)
Next, you'd be redirected to this page. -> Click on "Start Shopping"
You can then choose your handset.
Followed by the "Sign up new line" button once you're done.
Choose to get a new number or recycle your old one.
Then choose your ideal plan. The additional $50 off would be deducted at the final checkpoint.
Lastly, it's the extra value added services. (Skip this page if you don't need any, and you can checkout & make make payment!)
Reasons to buy online?
Super easy and straightforward.
You get $30 off daily on selected models.
$30 off every Wednesday on selected models.
Extra $50 off if you purchase from the link I provided.
Additional 1GB data.
30% new balance voucher.
Free delivery to your doorstep. (For trade-ins, it can be done at that same time as well)
Free SIM card change for re-contracting customers
All modes of payment are acceptable.
Besides, you can save the trouble from travelling and queuing in stores. Hence, I don't see any reasons for any of you to wanna miss out this great deal, unless your contract has yet to end.
The promo will end in (To be confirmed)
And whether you're from Starhub, or M1, you can still sign up if you're planning to re-contract! SingTel users? Good for you, you'd just have to upgrade your plan!!! :)
YOUTH PLAN FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible for the Youth Plan?
a) All students with valid local student cards
b) Full time NS men with service status “NSF” in their 11B identity card and aged 25 years
and below at the point of sign up, excluding regulars
Do note that only 1 student card or 11B IC is applicable per youth plan. Any customer with both
a valid local student card and an 11B will not be eligible to apply to 2 youth plans under his
name.
Is there an age limit?
If you are below 18, you require a photo of your parent/guardian guarantor’s IC when you apply
online. If you go down to the SingTel shops, your parent/guardian guarantor needs to be
present. If you are above 18, you can do everything yourself
To which Youth Plans are the perks applicable?
Only the Lite and Value Youth Plans enjoy the perks, so do select either of these when signing up
for a new line/re-contracting.
Can I only sign up for this plan online?
You may also sign up for this Youth Plan at any SingTel shop, but do note that there are some
special perks only available to those who sign up through our unique links with our social
influencers.
How will the phone be delivered?
It will be delivered right to your doorstep so do provide the right address! It should take
between 2-4 working days.
How does the phone trade-in work?
If you have a phone you’d like to trade in, there is an optional segment before check-out to
offset your one-time payment. Select which phone you would like to trade in, and present it to
the delivery person at point of delivery.
In the event that you are still having doubts to purchase your phone or to sign up for a new phone plan online but still want the exclusive goodies from me, you can always email contest@gushcloud.com with your Name, Contact Number and let them know you are my reader and the voucher will be mailed to you directly for you to spend at a physical shop.
Hey there! I share about anything and everything here. You can choose to leave, but I think you should get to know me a little more before you pass your judgement. Check out my FAQ section if it helps.
Who are you?
I'm Naomi, better known as Naomi Neo, and I'm born on the 25th of January 1996. I don't have any siblings, but I'm grateful to have the best parents in the world, who love me unconditionally, and a best friend Trixy who's been there for me for the past 5 years. Currently titled as the youngest "Celebrity Blogger" under my management, Gushcloud - With approximately 124k likes & followers on my Facebook profile and page, 80k followers on twitter and 116k on Instagram currently.
What are you known for?
Honestly, I've no idea what am I known for in majority's eyes, but here's what I presume and hope to be recognised for - I've been writing on all my social platforms since 2009, and got kind of known from writing my thoughts and views on Facebook. My first blog post that went viral was an entry dedicated to my good friend back then, titled "Mothers," in late 2010. Noticing the positive results, I decided to take blogging a little more seriously in 2011. Since then, I've been told that my posts were relatable and inspiring to many, which hence, got me to where I am today.
How well to do is your family? You seem rather spoilt.
I think I'm just average and if you think I'm wealthy rich and spoilt, you're so wrong. I mean yes, my parents do pamper me cos I'm the only child, but I've never taken their money since 2013. And I pay for all my clothes, accessories, make up and 90% of my daily necessities from the money I earn.
What are your stats?
I'm a UK 4 or 6, I've been stuck between 38kg - 40kg. Since I've never really talked about my height, you can deduce I'm exceptionally short and I'm not proud of it - So if you know it, good for you. If you don't, too bad I'm not revealing it. :p
Are you single?
Yes I am. My last relationship was in 2013, and I'm not seeing anyone at the moment.
Do you photoshop your pictures?
No, I don't. Cos I honestly have no idea how to use that crazily complexed software. Ok, it's not very complicated I suppose. I'm just god damn lazy. I only use it to design my texts etc. However, I've been using PicMonkey to edit my pictures. Yeah I know, the main question's still back to whether I "beautify" myself or not. Er, I've no idea what's up with people constantly harping on this issue. The last time I claimed that I don't, was probably in 2012 (which I really didn't back then) But along the way, I figured it was necessary to "upgrade" myself and learn how to. If I can't do plastic surgery, at least make my pictures look chio what. If you know how to, question is, WHY NOT? And, don't you guys wanna see nice pictures too?!?! However I'd like to emphasise that - I do not beautify myself in all my pictures. I only do so when I feel the need to. And 3/4 of the time, I only make adjustments to my gigantic, elephant legs WHICH I admit, I'm very insecure about. So don't tell me my legs are damn nice la, cos some pictures are deceiving. Anyway, I've tons of videos everywhere... Judge for yourself?
Did you have any plastic surgery done?
No I didn't. Firstly, I could not afford to. Secondly, even if I do have the money, my parents are definitely not open to the idea. Thirdly, if I have the money and my parents' consent... OH PLEASE, I would have made myself look a zillion times better than how I am now. So some of you may ask, why is it that I have parallel eyelids. I've mentioned this before, but since some of you are too lazy to find out the truth - Fyi, I am born with double eyelids to begin with, I just wanted to have parallel instead of tapered eyelids. And in case you're really sensitive about it, I'm not saying tapered's not nice... It's just personal preference. In case you don't know what I'm talking about...
So yeah, I tried using eyelid tapes for about 6 months in 2011, and miraculously, have permanent parallel lids since then. I think I'm really lucky. Why do I say so? Cos it doesn't work for everyone.
Don't you think it's better to be natural?
Unfortunately, not everyone's blessed with natural beauty. And even though I've never claimed to be ugly, I've never claimed to be pretty by nature either. I won't deny I've been rather extravagant when it comes to the amount of money I spend on things to beautify my physical appearance, cos sadly, it is important to look good in this society today. You can read more on my views about physical appearance (here). And I don't see anything wrong with wanting to look good or better. Everybody wants to. If you tell me you value natural beauty, I'm cool with it, but if you tell me about your self-righteous logic on how it's wrong to enhance your appearance... Fuck you, go marry a plant since you like it natural.
Don't you think it's better to be natural?
Unfortunately, not everyone's blessed with natural beauty. And even though I've never claimed to be ugly, I've never claimed to be pretty by nature either. I won't deny I've been rather extravagant when it comes to the amount of money I spend on things to beautify my physical appearance, cos sadly, it is important to look good in this society today. You can read more on my views about physical appearance (here). And I don't see anything wrong with wanting to look good or better. Everybody wants to. If you tell me you value natural beauty, I'm cool with it, but if you tell me about your self-righteous logic on how it's wrong to enhance your appearance... Fuck you, go marry a plant since you like it natural.
Are you insecure about your looks?
Yes I am, to a certain extent. I believe you would too, if you have a hundred people reminding you about your flaws every single day. But the thing is, I love myself. So I've accepted that's it's fine not to be perfect.
Do you think you're attention seeking?
Most ridiculous question ever. My question to you is, are you not? This is probably my millionth time saying this, but I think everyone seeks for attention. The only thing that differentiates each of us would be the miles we would travel for it. From a level of - I want attention to Kim Kardashian, it's just a matter of fact how much you want it. And I see absolutely nothing wrong with it unless you're doing something despicable, and harming someone to your own benefits. Besides, no matter how much I love it - It may sound ironic, but I hate unnecessary attention. I only like it when it's for something I worked hard to gain. If you know me well enough, I'm not the kind who would go nude just to get myself to where I want. (Just an example)
How do you deal with your haters?
I've been receiving nasty comments since the day I had a blog, in 2007. I've seen the worst, and it came to a point where it amuses me, because I actually get to find out things I didn't know about myself. I used to care so much, I would cry myself to bed on most nights and I even had issues stepping out of my house at a period of time. However, it took me years to realise how stupid it is to reciprocate to what people who don't me have to say, especially stories/rumours they fabricate. I'm fine with constructive criticisms because I've learnt to take it the positive way - Helping me to improve and get better. Of course it still pisses me off at times when I see untrue stuff about me circulated around by my haters, and I'd either ignore it (if it's nothing too serious) or address it, in other words, stand up for myself (if I find a need to.) And when I ignore it, I don't look at it in a way where I'm a coward or I admit to it - I just find it a waste of time to acknowledge the existence of these people, when most of them are just dying to get my response from their juvenile remarks. Yet when I retaliate, (which I rarely do these days) I only do so when something's getting out of hand. Like if it's tarnishing my reputation or sort. After all, I'm a girl. And I wouldn't "just ignore it" if it affects my name. If I don't stand up for myself, who would? Then again, I don't think that means I care about my haters - I just care about myself enough to want to shut your mouth. Besides, I can stop 1, 2 or 3 people from talking about me, but how many times can I do so? Fact is, you can't please everyone. So it's either you focus on what you have, or waste your life by dwelling on what you don't. And for those friends who decided to leave and hate me for what others have to say? Here's a big... THANK YOU. Haha, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't have realised who my real friends were.
Do you think you deserve what you have now?
Honestly, I've always felt that I don't in a way, cos of how affected I used to be about what people have to say - "There are better looking people out there," "You are not good enough!" etc. However, I've came to a realisation that it's impossible to be the best. Cos there will always be someone better, no matter how good you think you are. And as long as I think I've done my best, I don't see why I don't deserve to be where I am today. I've worked so hard for the things I have, and it's not like everything I have is an overnight success. So too bad if you beg to differ and think that a) I'm only here due to my looks, which I think is completely senseless, cos if it was just about my looks, I wouldn't have been around after so long - Taking into consideration, the ever-rising number of good-looking people there are today. b) it's bcos of what I write, cos I definitely won't claim to be the best writer. Somehow it's still a mystery to me why people still read my blog until today. c) and it's probably cos you don't know me well enough. I definitely agree that someone out there deserves this so much more than I do, but I guess it's true that life's unfair, and I'm sorry I have no control over it.
Fan mails, personal questions, or need an advice?
Contact me at asknaomineo@gmail.com
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