January 2013 - Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

Vanilla Mood: In Her Mood

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

I've been so caught up with work, catching up with family and friends as well as unpacking (5 suitcases down to 1 now!) that I haven't had time to sit down and write a proper blog post. Well, now that most of my spring cleaning is done, it's about time I ended my little hiatus!

I've been very active on Instagram these days, and for those of you who follow me at reginachow_sg, you might have noticed that I recently received a beautifully wrapped parcel courtesy of Vanilla Mood.

Vanilla Mood is a sister brand of ClubCouture. If you love romantic lace and floral pieces (like me!), you'll definitely be in for a treat, because Vanilla Mood stocks an amazing selection of sweet, feminine apparel. It is currently based in Bangkok, but if anything catches your fancy, all you have to do is to drop them an email at hello@vanillamood.me and they'll be happy to ship it to you, wherever you are!

Lace top: Vanilla Mood

Bangle: Hermes

Bag: Loewe

Jacket: F21

Earrings: Forever New

I had a hard time taking my pick from their In Her Mood collection because I would personally wear every single item in that collection. I eventually decided on a dainty lace top which you see here and I absolutely adore how the delicate white lace material stands out so beautifully against the black collar and sleeve trimmings.

Keeping the look simple and clean was my objective here, and what better way to do it than with a black asymmetrical faux leather skirt, my trusty Loewe bag and pumps from Australian label, Basque. Since I've been wearing way too much black, grey and white lately, I couldn't resist injecting a splash of colour with a silk foral blazer from Forever 21.

The black collar, juxtaposed against the floral lapels, creates an interesting contrast and for some reason, the pairing of floral and lace always has a mood-lifting effect on me. Does it have the same effect on you? ;)

I'll be back soon with more backdated posts, so do watch this space! :)

Polka Dot and Bow Socks

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

New Zealand 2012: Lake Tekapo Part 2

Monday, January 14, 2013

I may be back in Singapore, but whenever I look at photos of my New Zealand trip, I can't help but smile. :) I'm sorry I took so long, but I finally found time to do up Part 2 of Lake Tekapo!

There are only about 11 restaurants in Lake Tekapo, so there aren't many choices for meals. Since Kohan Restaurant is ranked number 1 on Tripadvisor, we decided to give it a go.

The sashimi here comes from the salmon farms that New Zealand is supposedly famous for, but I much prefer wild salmon. The texture and sweetness of the flesh is just different!

The restaurant is run by true blue Japanese, and you'll be surprised to see that the entire restaurant is filled with Asian patrons. In New Zealand, you'll see cows, sheep and busloads of Asian tourists everywhere!

We weren't too impressed with the salmon, but the tempura here was fried to perfection.

To end off the meal on a sweet note, we ordered their signature creme brulee, which turned out to be great. It came with candy floss too! That pretty much summed up our dinner for the first night.

The next day was slightly gloomier than usual, but we were in high spirits as Karen finally arrived!

With scenery like that, it's hard not to feel happy. With scenery like that, of course we had to take as many photos as possible too!

Lake Tekapo will not be complete without these gorgeous Lupins in shades of pink and lavender.

After lunch, we explored the area near the lake.

Statue of a sheep collie dog dedicated to the working collie dogs of the McKenzie region

There's nothing much to do in Lake Tekapo, but the scenery alone is worth every bit of your time. It was a sight to behold, even as dark clouds loomed above us and the raindrops started falling.

We climbed atop a huge rock perched in the waters, just for the sake of taking beautiful photos.

JW and Karen went first while I assumed the role of the photographer. I never intended to follow in their footsteps because of my irrational fear of water, but after seeing the photos, I overcame my phobia and went for it!

See how tightly I was clutching on to JW's hands? We look sooo loving, but I actually did that out of fear!! LOL

The Church of the Good Shepherd is the most iconic architecture in Lake Tekapo. If you were to google Lake Tekapo, you'll probably find a gazillion pictures of this church. It looks like any other church in the day, but by night, it transforms into the perfect spot for stargazing.

We didn't have the right tools to capture the night view in its full glory, but this is exactly what you'll see when you're there at night.

I know, it's surreal right? We were in awe of the magnificent view!

If you're interested in my previous post on Lake Tekapo, click on the link below:

New Zealand 2012 Lake Tekapo Part 1

Sale Post: Vintage Rose Dress (Brand New) - LAST PIECE

Sunday, January 13, 2013

Chye Seng Huat Hardware

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

My Face Make-up Products

Saturday, January 05, 2013

After I shared that I've stopped using powder foundation on my face, I started receiving enquiries about the face make-up that I am currently using. Today, I'll share more about these products with you. :)

1. Jane Iredale's Powder Me SPF 30 (Translucent)

My skincare routine has not changed in years (I use DRx products) but in place of their tinted sunscreen, I have switched to Jane Iredale's Powder Me SPF. Don't get me wrong, I really liked DRx's sunscreen, but the thick texture made my face look greasy all the time when I'm in Singapore. However, it is great for drier climates as it is very moisturizing, hence I would still use it when I travel.

Jane Iredale's Powder Me SPF, as the name suggests, is a powder sunscreen with both UVA and UVB protection. It's actually skincare, as it is made of Titanium Dioxide (as with all sunscreens) and a unique clay that contains minerals to nourish the skin. Karen first recommended this product to me and I fell in love with it the moment I tried it on. I use this like any other powder, after primer and concealer, before applying blusher. There is no greasy after-feel and the best part is, it is water resistant, made of natural ingredients and doesn't clog pores at all! This product is highly recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation as well. My mother-in-law bought this for me from her regular facial salon. You can also check out their official facebook page for more information on where to get their products in Singapore.

2. Loreal BaseMagique

Loreal BaseMagique is great for minimizing imperfections such as pores and fine lines. You can use this all over your face alone or under make-up, but I only use this on my undereye circles before concealer. Not only does it help the concealer to go on smoothly, it also ensures that eye make-up lasts longer without caking. I have tried this on my forehead as well, where I've got some fine lines, and lo and behold, the lines vanished miraculously upon application!

3. MAC Blusher and Mineralize Skinfinish Make-up

I use MAC's Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Dark for contouring my cheekbones, jawline and forehead. I also use MAC's sheertone blusher in Pinch O' Peach. This is the last step of my face make-up. :) I generally like MAC products as they are very pigmented.

4. YSL Touch E'clat and Ettusais Medicated Acne Real Concealer

I turn to my Ettusais medicated concealer on days when I have small zits as it has healing properties and SPF 12. I also like that it's extremely versatile! I use it together with YSL's Touche Eclat in shade no. 1 to conceal my dark eye circles as well, and this formula seems to work pretty well for now.

So there you have it, a list of all my face make-up products!

Hello Smorgasbord

Friday, January 04, 2013

We made our way to Star Vista one rainy day last week and by some stroke of luck, we found a sheltered walkway where these pictures were taken. If you've not been to Star Vista, you aren't missing out much because there are hardly any retail stores there! It does however boast a wide variety of eateries and cafes. You're bound to find something that suits your palate.

The name smorgasbord came about because this outfit reminds me of a buffet of colours, textures and prints. Blue and pink shades take centerstage here, while white and nude hues assume a supporting role. The name is especially apt too, because there are so many things going on in my life right now.

I have since returned to work full-time and I'm enjoying every minute of it. It is wonderful to reunite with colleagues who've since become more like friends and family to me.

On the family front, my dad hasn't been particularly well lately and I'll be taking him to the specialist next week for a thorough check-up. We're all keeping our fingers crossed that it's a temporary condition, and I would be very grateful if you could keep him in your prayers.

Jacket, shirt, shorts and shoes from random shops in Singapore

Necklace given by my mum

Bag from Hermes

On a more personal note, I generally like to focus on the positive aspects of life, and I hope that my positive attitude will put a smile on everyone's faces (remember my new year resolution?). We come across new faces and personalities all the time, and sometimes it's inevitable to become a victim of gossip, for reasons that may not be justified. I prefer to steer clear if possible, because what good do you get out of all this negativity? Having a clear conscience is the most important thing to me, because that is the surest way to ensure that I have nothing to fear.

Always remember this - The only reason why people talk behind your back, is because you're already two steps ahead. ;)

Have a great weekend guys!!