All posts filed under: Style & Beauty

My Eyelash Extension Experience

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I’m no beauty expert and I consider myself conservative when it comes to beauty regimens. Not one to perch for hours at the salon, I always try to fix myself up at home on my own, which isn’t hard since I try to keep things basic, minimal, and simple. But even a traditionalist like me isn’t completely temptation-averse. And just last month, my uncharacteristically adventurous self took the plunge for a set of fluttery, wispy lashes to inject life into my otherwise dull strands. Oh, and of course to awake with that “I woke up like this” air that’s got everybody obsessing about. And for this, I have lash expert Everlash and makeup artist and friend Yuli of Lilac Beauty Studio to thank. The first step of the process involved choosing the type of curl I wanted. I went with the recommended C-curl, one that would give my lashes a lift while still looking natural (enough). The extensions were applied directly on top of my natural lashes and almost to the roots, but not on …

8 Simple Ways to Organize Your Closet Today

Published by Stephanie Jaya

“I have too many shoes!” — said no woman ever. We girls love our shoes, so please get off our case! So we love pretty shoes, bags, and dresses. But what’s the point if we don’t have them in view to marvel at? Hey, it’s not about how much stuff you have. It’s definitely not about buying more stuff. It’s really about how you work with what you already have. It’s about organization—knowing where you put what, and being able to easily pull it off a shelf to wear. It’s about giving your favorite things a happy home when you’re not using it on you. If you’ve been putting off your closet organizing, we say procrastinate no more! In just 8 simple steps, you’ll be able to turn what was once a disarray into an oasis you’ll love and want to spend all day in. And when we say simple, we really mean simple—nothing drastic and no supermom skill required (although that’s always a bonus!). 1. Start with a clean, empty space. Empty out everything from your drawers, …

Organize Your T-Shirts in 4 Simple Steps

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I’m generally not a big T-shirt person. But even so, I’ve accumulated quite a number over the years. And when I have a collection of something—anything—I find ways to keep it organized, visible, and accessible. My latest current favorite t-shirt storage method is easy, effective, and unbelievably space-saving! All you’re going to need is about 15 minutes (really depends on the size of your t-shirt collection) and your two hands. Let’s get started! 1. First, empty out drawers. You’ll want to start with clean, empty drawers. Whatever mess you made earlier, toss it out of the drawers! And if you’re feeling it, toss it over your shoulders! Feels good, doesn’t it? 2. Fold t-shirts into a small rectangle. Step 1: Fold length-wise and lay on a flat surface (the floor will do). Step 2: Fold sleeves inward. Step 3: Fold width-wise. Step 4: Make another fold width-wise. 3. Stack according to color. With the folded t-shirts, group them based on color. 4. Store inside drawer. When storing the t-shirts, store against the front and side of the …

High Tea at Cacaoté with Bio-Oil: Discover Your Happy Skin

Published by Stephanie Jaya

Today’s afternoon tea get-together was organized by Bio-Oil, a skincare product specialized in clearing out the appearance of scars and stretch marks, skin issues with which women are unceasingly in battle (some more than others). Boasting a record of being the number one specialized skincare product for treating scars and stretch marks in 17 countries, in addition to 191 international awards since its launch in 2002, Bio-Oil also claims to take care of yet other skin “concerns” among women: aging, dryness, and unevenness (yes, the bottomless pit of issues!) To complement the topic of beauty, we were joined by the lovely Ratna Somantri, Founder of Komunitas Pecinta Teh (Tea Lover Community) and Head of Promotion of the Indonesian Tea Board, who shared not only her fondness for tea, but also tips on how to properly store, brew, and enjoy different kinds of tea. And while she did, we lady-likely sipped from our hot cup of Chamomile. To further champion Bio-Oil’s campaign “Hello Happy Skin,” Spokesperson Tiara Dwijayanti Lestari, joined by Product Manager Nurhayatini, gave us insight on the …

How to Stretch Shoes in under 5 Minutes

Published by Stephanie Jaya

Happiness comes in many different forms. One of them: shoes. But what’s happy about not being able to fit into our favorite pumps? Nothing. Sadly, it happens. We outgrow them, our feet bloat, and there was a sale and we absolutely couldn’t pass up a good deal. Life is short. Buy the shoes. No? But hey, relax, we’ve got a super quick and easy way for you to fit into your heels (and flats) in just under 5 minutes. Note: this method works with shoes that are half to one size too small. Let’s get started! THINGS YOU WILL NEED: 1. Shoes that fit tight (half to one size too small) 2. Thick socks 3. Blowdryer Step 1: Wear a pair of thick socks. If one pair isn’t thick enough, wear two. Step 2: Wear your socks with the shoes. Step 3: Blow dry around the areas of the shoes that are tight, particularly around the front and side areas. Move your blowdryer across your shoes, being careful not to concentrate on one area for too long. …

Packing Light for Travel

Published by Stephanie Jaya

I used to be an overpacker. I would bring way more than I needed because I felt like I wanted options. I was afraid of being limited to whatever I had in my suitcase. And worse, I used to be paranoid about forgetting things. But then I got tired of having to roll around a heavy suitcase and waiting for my luggage to come out at the airport (which we all know takes forever). So I decided I needed to be a smarter, more efficient traveler. These days, when I travel for a few days up to two weeks, I fit all my things in one carry-on suitcase. No more check-ins, no more annoying waits. There’s a certain pride that comes with successfully fitting your two weeks into one dainty little sack (I gotta be honest, I take a lot of pride in this accomplishment). You may think it’s hard to do, but no! All that’s needed is a little pre-planning! Now, I’m happy to share with you my tips on how I pack light …

Heirloom Galerie Exclusive Invitation and Promotion

Published by Stephanie Jaya

Is your closet due for a revamping? Wishing you could trade in your old stuff with new frills? Dreaming of waking up to a completely retailored wardrobe? If you’re thinking yes, yes, and yes, chances are you are into, if not obsessed with, fashion. And we get you. Sometimes it feels like the world of designer handbags and shoes takes over. What starts out as innocent window-shopping turns into you-can’t-pass-up-on-a-good-bargain purchases. Those bags and shoes are literally dangled in front of our eyes, calling for us to adopt and take them home. But of course, unless you are Carrie Bradshaw, Rebecca Bloomwood, or impossibly married to the Duke of Cambridge (meaning your name begins with a “Kate” and ends with a “Middleton”), you probably can’t max out your (or your daddy’s or husband’s) credit card every time you “fall in love” with a shoe or bag. So, what do you do? What can you do? Calm down all you non-Bradshaws, non-Bloomwoods, and non-duchesses – Heirloom Galerie is here to refresh your collection without breaking your bank. At this luxury consignment shop, you can either drop off your pre-loved …

Fashion Through Bill Cunningham Eyes

Published by Stephanie Jaya

As we all know, New York City is the capital of fashion. But really, when you hear the phrase “street fashion,” you would probably think of it in a way that is entirely different from the blue-jacketed photographer Bill Cunningham. Starting out as a milliner, Bill didn’t think of himself as a good photographer but he was very gifted in picking out the latest trends. He’s known for having those “right eyes” and “taste” for a certain kind of look considered to be “stunning.” At the age of nineteen, Bill came to New York to work as an advertiser in hopes of a business career, but he knew that he was much more interested in fashion. Around the 1950s, he got his own place and started making hats for a living. After being drafted to the Korean War and returning in 1953, Bill continued to work as a writer and later on wrote for The Chicago Tribune. That marked the start of his street fashion photography days. Bill received his first camera as a gift and started taking pictures and recording fashion on …

A Festive Smokey Eye Makeup Look

Published by Stephanie Jaya

Here’s an easy festive makeup tutorial for anyone to follow–perfect for this holiday season! Yuli of Lilac Beauty Studio created for us this special look which is basically a smokey eye that’s not too dramatic but with a few twists added here and there such as the winged liner applied just at the outer corners of the eyes, glitters applied to the eyes area as well as parts of the face to really bring out this holiday season’s festivities. To complete and sweeten up the look, she added top and bottom fake lashes. See how they really bring an eye makeup look to another level? Enjoy! STEP-BY-STEP TUTORIAL: Step 1: Start with a clean moisturized face, and apply on your favorite primer and foundation evenly to the whole face and neck. Step 2: Use concealers to cover undereye discoloration and dark circles. Step 3: Fill in your brows with eyebrow powders and an angular brush. Step 4: Line the top part of your eyes with a black kohl pencil liner. Step 5: Use a pencil brush rounded brush to put …

Infinity Pro by Conair Curl Secret Review

Published by Stephanie Jaya

The Curl Secret is probably the most talked about hair styling product out there today. The innovation? Hair goes in, curl comes out. No joke! This styler, whose shape (although not precisely) reminds me of Thor’s hammer, sucks your hair in and does the curling job for you! No more having to twist and turn the way you would operate a traditional curling iron. This technology supposedly allows for quicker and easier, as well as bouncier and tighter curls. HOW TO USE 1. First, make sure you have sprayed your hair generously with a heat protectant. 2. Select the heat setting from “0” to “I” or “II.” When the red light stops blinking, the curler is ready to use. 3. Set the Curl Secret timer to your liking: 8 seconds for loose curls, 10 seconds for medium curls, and 12 seconds for tight curls. 4. Take 1″ sections of hair and place the curler where you want the curl to start. 5. Wait for the final “beep” and voilà! 6. Finish with hair spray or other styling …