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8 Makeup Mistakes S’porean Women Make

From wrong foundation color and misapplied concealer to peeling lips and mascara that makes you look like a racoon — the island’s premier image consultant tells you how to do it right
By Audrey Quek

The question these days is no longer “Do Singaporean women wear too much makeup?” Rather, it’s whether they’re wearing it right. Time and again we’ve seen ladies who lunch who look like they’re going to a dinner ball, and brides who look like they’re getting married to Frankenstein. What to do?

So 88DB.com Lifestyle approached former beauty queen Audrey Quek for her expert opinion. Ms Quek, who runs her eponymous image consultancy business, not only knows her color palettes and makeup brushes, she is also a good teacher.

To read more about how to put makeup on, visit 88DB Lifestyle now.

How To Get A Killer Butt

Because it’s not your legs that men find sexy, says our writer
By Ronald Wan

YOU see that hot woman strutting down the streets in a pair of short shorts. If you take time to think about it, it’s not the pasar malam shorts that makes her hot, nor is it the cheap frilly top or OTT makeup.

It’s the butt.

Ladies, sometimes, the guys aren’t really checking out the legs. It could very well be that awesome phat (hiphop term for butt). That all-important booty — nicely shaped and squeezed perfectly into the size 0 shorts.

How can you get one like it? Visit 88DB Lifestyle to read more on how to get that perfect butt.

Exercise Your Dog In S’pore? Can!

Most take their dogs for a walk when what’s really needed is a workout
By Mavis Ang

EVEN if your pet dog is not obese, exercise should still be an essential routine for him or her. Most owners like taking their dogs for walks when what they really need is the right amount of workout.

According to veterinarians, besides the benefit to their mental and physical health, regular exercise makes sure that dogs don’t develop destructive habits like ripping up sofas and chewing shoes.

The reason behind these frustrating actions is the same for most children: they simply have too much energy.

To read more about dog exercises, visit 88DB Lifestyle now!

[iRecommend] Nutri-ForeFronT

Who swears by it: Sal Selamat-Sim, Writer

Writer Sal Selamat-Sim, 22, has made visits to the gym a regular habit (he goes three times a week), and that’s how he learned to appreciate the benefits of sports nutrition supplements. He goes online for his stash — but he’s discovered that online shopping isn’t always a cold, faceless transaction. That’s why he recommends Nutri-ForeFronT.

To read more about our product review on this health supplement, visit 88DB iRecommend now!

9 Minutes of Sex and Gore

Is the director's cut of Lust, Caution worth seeing?

THE NC-16 version released last month was 148 minutes long. Any individual resourceful enough to check IMDB would have known that the movie’s full running time was 157 minutes.

So where did the other nine minutes go? Wasn’t most of the talk surrounding Ang Lee’s latest masterpiece about supposedly controversial sex scenes that some said bordered on being pornographic? Caution was definitely exercised with the censored release.

So after much flak that characterized an earlier Ang Lee-tamed (the director himself did the edits, hence, this too was an ‘original’) version of Lust, Caution, the Singapore’s movie goers above 21 years of age can finally view the ‘full-uncut’ version of the film – all 157 minutes.

To read more about this movie review, visit 88DB Lifestyle now!

8 Ways To Get Better Sleep

Re-energize yourself this weekend by catching up on that much needed beauty sleep
By Ronald Wan

UNLESS you’re some famous celebrity doing a world tour or a yuppie clinching five-figure deals everyday, you ought to be having regular sleep. Our point here is that sleep is important and more often than not, we always don’t sleep well or catch enough winks. How many times have you woken up complaining of not having enough sleep and dragging yourself to work all weary and sleepy?

Babies sleep about 17 hours everyday while older children sleep about 10 hours each night. We adults need about 7-8 hours of sleep, but it varies with individuals. As we get older, we tend to wake up more easily, so here’s a piece of advice: when you’re still worthy of age, get your regular sleep.

To read more and get simple suggestions on how to sleep better, visit 88DB Lifestyle now.

[iRecommend] Ice Cold Beer

Interview by Mavis Ang

Who swears by it: Shayne Koh, Flight Attendant.

For 24 year old flight attendant Shayne Koh, finding time to catch up with friends is nearly impossible, so when she’s in town, she goes to just one place. “Ice Cold Beer [ Located in a converted shophouse off Orchard Road ] is definitely a place to chill and have crazy times with my friends because you need not lower your noise level even if you're laughing or talking at the top of your voice,” Shayne said.

To read more about this food review, visit 88DB iRecommend.

Relive the 80s at Zouk’s Outdated is in this Friday

By Mavis Ang

Party with Singapore’s scenesters at Zouk on 9th November as local street magazine JUICE celebrates its ninth birthday with an electro-themed party. Named Robo Electro, JUICE’s birthday bash will bring back all things hip and in during the 80’s to the early 90’s.

Getting to party with the hip crowd requires some underground knowledge, and if you haven’t been a loyal reader of JUICE, you might not have heard the term new rave before.

Sure, it’s an 80’s themed party, but fashion evolves, so don’t be mislead into going for the bad hair spray and coats with big shoulder pads look. Instead, go new rave. It’s the term for a whole new underground culture inspired by fashion and music from the 80s.

So what do new rave-rs wear to electro parties this the one this Friday? Here are 8 simple items to mix and match with, and if dressed with the right attitude, you’d easily pass off as one of the hippest hipster in town.

To read more about this party at Zouk, visit 88DB Lifestyle.

Hide Your Blemishes In Just 8 Minutes

No, we’re not asking you to do it in Photoshop

By Ronald Wan

CURSE your luck if you have a zit or pimple breaking out hours before an important date. Of course there’s a plethora of makeup choices available but, we say, stick to foundation and concealer. Forget about the pimple cream even if it contains some secret ingredients from the mountains of Japan.

Here’s how to apply foundation and concealer to achieve a blemish-free look. If it fails to work, you can always wear a party mask to the ball or to your date. We’re kidding, of course.

To read more about pimple treatments and facial care, visit 88DB Lifestyle.

DIY Dog Grooming

Save at least $50 a month with our easy-step guide
By Stephanie Marilyn Martin


EVER wondered how much you can save if you cut down on your pet grooming costs every month?

Well, truth is, pet owners spend a minimum of about $50 each month to groom their pooches. That adds up to a total of $600 every year just for dog grooming! You can easily save on this by grooming your own pet. For many of us, this may seem like a daring venture to pursue. It’s much simpler than you think it is, though.

Here’s a guide on basic grooming for your pup. Follow it and I guarantee it will leave you several hundred dollars happier each year!

To read more about DIY Dog Grooming, visit 88DB Lifestyle.

[Review] Geylang Lorong 9 Beef Kway Teow

It’s not just about their signature dish
By Mavis Ang

When a hawker food stall is named after their signature dish, I can’t help but think that nothing else on their menu would be good. However, my parents and I ended up ordering four other dishes because we needed to make the trip to faraway Geylang worthwhile – by stuffing ourselves to the max.

Judging simply by the pictures on the menu, we picked the essential Beef Kway Teow, Stir Fried Chicken Wings with Spicy Salt, Thai Style Tofu, Stir Fried Sprout-lings, and Pork Ribs. It added up to $45, and for such a grand feast for three persons, that’s a pretty good price.

As we were there pretty early in the evening (about 5pm), orders were served within 10 minutes, even before I had taken in the sights fully. Sitting at a roadside table among narrow streets and rows of old shop houses reminds me of Bangkok, and this took my Geylang meal to a whole new eating experience, as if I was on a little holiday with my family.

Located at 237 (Lorong 9) Geylang, this hawker stall is open from 11am to 3am everyday except Mondays, when they open at 5pm. Unless you’re in Geylang for other activities, be sure to plan an early dinner at the Lorong 9’s Beef Kway Teow stall as it gets crowded and waiting hours are much longer later into the night.

To read more about this food review, visit 88DB Lifestyle.

Sexy, Not Slutty

The difference between sluttiness and beauty is class
By Xin

THINK sexy, and images of Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johanssen and Jessica Alba come to mind. But there is only one main pin-up girl for slutty, and that is Paris Hilton. Sexiness is attractive and alluring and can make you stand out. But while being sexy is good, there are times when the fine line between sexy and slutty is blurred.

Here's a simple guide on how to look sexy without venturing into unwanted territory. Just what it is that separates the two? You’d be surprised.

1) Don’t overdo it. The three often-flaunted body parts of women are the legs, cleavage and midriff. The rule of thumb is to just reveal just one part, anything more than that would be overwhelming. For example, a short skirt with a tube top would definitely be a little over the top, but when matched with a slightly more conservative top, the skirt would draw the attention to your legs. Always know which part of your body is most flattering, and choose to highlight it, whenever possible, with the right choice of clothes.

2) A is for Attitude. You can be decked out in the latest Chanel garb and have your hair styled by a $1000-an-hour hair stylist but if you mannerisms isn’t on par with your looks, then you are really not doing justice to your outfit. Imagine a beautiful woman sashaying into a room, her curvy figure accentuated with a simple yet tasteful flowing dress, an enchanting smile on her face. Then all of a sudden, she sits down with her legs wide open and starts laughing, snorts punctuating her laughter. Not a very pretty sight, and the initial good impressions of her replaced by a creeping sense of disgust. Well, you get the idea.

3) Your choice of words matter. Fact is, steering clear of profanities might not make you a better person. But it will do wonders to leave positive impressions on people. Words, when used wrongly, cuts deeper than knifes sometimes. Should you want to get to know someone better, coming across as aggressive is definitely not what you should aim for. Say, “Hey, your office is just a few minutes away by car! Let’s do lunch sometime together shall we?” instead of “Damn! You’re that near? We should so get drunk together in the pub after work soon!” What a world of a difference a few words make!

4) Be subtle. Forget what you see in movies where men seem to be smitten by women with outlandish flirtatious gestures, such as the unabashed fluttering eyelashes and playing footsie. In reality, this will probably scare men away and you’d be stuck with an unflattering label forever. What would really work in real-life situations is to be subtler and less sexual. From the light touching of your hair as you speak to the undulating eye contact, a little does go a long way.

The ‘Ang Mo’ Advantage

Why we sometimes find white men hotter — and what you local guys can do about it
By Xin

WITH the influx of foreign talents homing in on our little island, it is apparently more than jobs that are being taken away.

Although this topic has been done to death, it is still very much on everyone’s mind, as it is unfortunately becoming a very real situation. While local men are sitting around coffee shops lamenting about their sad state, the foreigners are taking advantage and swooping in on the local women.

What exactly is it about the alien intruders that seem to appeal so much to the local lasses? Some say it is the white superiority complex, while others maintain that it is the exotic appeal of the blue eyed and blonde haired species that stand out so conspicuously from the crowd. But surely, it takes much more than the above-mentioned superficial qualities to forge a romantic bond.

So what can the bitter Asian man do about this disturbing trend that is definitely on the rise? Plenty.

Grow up. The fact that western culture is such that if you’re still living with your parents after you’re 21, you’re considered a loser. That is a startling contrast to Asian societies where it is the norm to see adults still living with their parents long after embarking on working life. Of course this is largely due to the filial piety values imparted on us, a key point in our traditionally Asian upbringing. But does this promote maturity? Sadly, no. While college students elsewhere in the world are slogging their guts out trying to pay for their rent and support themselves through school, our young people are still being spoon-fed.

How to go around it: Try not to whine too much, for starters. Refrain from saying things like “You shouldn’t do that! Women should just stay at home and wash dishes” or begin your sentences with “My mother said that…”

Kneel down. It has been a long running joke that men here do not propose — they simply ask their prospective partners if they want to apply for a flat together. No roses, no kneeling, zilch. That aside, Asian men have been wired to be as practical as possible. Valentine’s Day gift? Sure, he’ll fork out $10k for a state of the art snazzy television set, but only because that’s something that he’ll be able to use as well. Flowers? That’s only because he’s hoping to get some tonight, in exchange for a few pollen-laden sticks.

How to get around it: It shouldn’t take that hard to do what the white man does best — indulge his lady love, until he gets her that is. Always believe that giving and taking should be highly coveted when it comes to love, that you should always get something in return when you lavish her. Of course, do not let your attempts be too thinly veiled, lest she realises it. Unless you resemble Wentworth Miller then probably you’d have to fork out a fair sum to win her heart.

Get a life. Asian men are boring — admit it. When with an Asian date, I put up with conversation topics that revolve around the same few things: NS life, NS life and NS life. Of course, there are the vaguely interesting ones, where they would try to tell you how they managed to bag 7As without trying. Nice.

How to get around it: If you haven’t noticed by now, women love to talk about themselves. All you have to do is to give them the cue to do so. For example, a good opening would be, “That’s a really awesome dress, I think red really brings out your rosy cheeks.” She’ll not only feel flattered, she’ll also start to twitter excitedly about how “I discovered red was my colour, and oh and there was this once last year, I…” You get the idea. Once the floodgates are open you can survive with minimal conversation, and still come across as a master conversationalist.

So, it is not that hard to counter the moves so regularly used by our white counterparts. Tread carefully and, if all else fails, always remember that women in Singapore outnumber the male population 52:49 so there is no lack of potential partners. Just be patient!

Disclaimer: The author wishes to add that she is happily attached to a Boring Asian Male in every aspect of the term.

[TREND WATCH] Kate’s New Hairdo Is The New ‘Rachel’

Thousands have been asking for it in London — in Singapore, you can get the look for as little as $70
By James P. Ong

THE latest buzz in the hair industry overseas, we hear, is the Kate Moss haircut: long, shaggy locks and long, healthy bangs. The hair, which seriously reminds us of Farah Fawcett in the 1970s, covers up almost half of the supermodel’s face, yet still manages to highlight her beautiful eyes. (That’s the big difference between Kate and us, unfortunately.)

Even United Kingdom’s The Independent has reported on how thousands of women in London have been asking hair stylists for the cut that’s already been dubbed “the new Rachel” — in reference to the hairdo popularised by Jennifer Aniston in the TV sitcom Friends.

“Kate needed to freshen up her look and move with the times, so its great to see her change her hairstyle,” says Roy Sng when we shared with him the news. Roy is a senior style director at TONI&GUY Hairdressing, the London-established hair salon, at The Heeren.

Thing is, we’ve already seen the same style many times before: on the pages of Vogue, the fashion runways from two years back, Anne Hathaway in Devil Wears Prada, and even among Singaporean ladies trawling the streets of Clarke Quay — so we really wonder why it’s taken this long for the rest of the world to catch on.

Perhaps it does take a Kate Moss to make things trendy?

(Incidentally, the makeover happened just days before James Brown, Kate’s hairstylist since she was 15 years old, was to launch a hair product line under Boots Pharmaceuticals.)

But does the Kate Moss ‘do fit all types of Asian hair? Not rebonded hair, warns Dila Rasiti, TONI&GUY Academy’s Technical Director. She adds that anyone with naturally straight Asian hair could achieve this natural movement effect with a digital perm to create wonderful soft curls.

The Kate Moss cut is a classic style for longer hair. However, the strong fringe is quite high maintenance and requires regular fringe trims (which TONI&GUY Hairdressing provides for free to regular clients).

“Always seek the advice of a professional stylist when thinking about a new style, as they should understand your natural hair movement and growth patterns and make the best of what you have,” warns Sng, who can give you the Kate Moss cut for at least $70. “Our Toni&Guy philosphy is that a fantastic cut should be personalised towards a clients hair texture, face shape and lifestyle!"