May 2009 Style Newsletter

SAVY PACKING SOLUTIONS

Living in Singapore allows us the luxury to travel to other destinations easily and, let’s be honest, most of us here indulge in more than just the annual holiday– but that’s what living in Asia is all about!  Quick, easy access to some of the most exotic parts of the world entices us regularly, but do you find yourself fed up with the constant packing?  I certainly do and I keep striving to find the perfect and simplest way.  One thing that’s helpful is to make a list of all the basics you require for a holiday and file it for future reference.  You may need separate lists to cover the warm, exotic sojourns, the cold, energetic ski trips and the annual pilgrimage back home made by so many ex-pats.   You may even consider keeping certain items in a suitcase for when you next need them.  Here are some more tips that you may find useful for sunshine holidays:-

• A common mistake is to pack too much so whatever you start with put several items back in the wardrobe!
• Start early, a few days in advance of your departure date, by packing the uncrushables. 
• Go easy on the pairs of shoes you take; if you’re sight-seeing take a pair of trainers that can be used for this purpose as well as visits to the hotel’s gym.  A pair of pretty flip-flops can double up as pool shoes and slippers, and choose them in a neutral shade or a metallic such as gold, silver or bronze because these will go with any colour of swimwear or nightclothes.  Also, you can extend this into your evening shoes by opting for metallics again or nude shades and try to take only two pairs, high and kitten heels often work bestat night time.
• With your clothes, stick to one basic colour scheme – this is where a visit to Nutri-Style to determine your colours would savea lot of time!  A friend who’s a Winter has built her entire wardrobe around black and white with splashes of colour here and there.  For her, packing is less of a chore as she knows that anything she takes from her wardrobe will co-ordinate.  And try to avoid clothes in linen which creases; a lot of the stores now stock resort wear in non-crease fabrics and search the web for alternative on-line shopping.
• A kaftan is highly versatile – you can pop it over your swimwear or shorts for lunch, you can wear it as a dress for the evening and even put it with your jeans for the journey home.
• Bags, like shoes, should be kept to a minimum.   A rucksack to throw over your shoulders for the plane and sightseeing, a beach bag, and a clutch for the evening should suffice.  And remember, apoolside sarong can even double as a bag if necessary!
• Buy your swimwear in similar colours and take only two bikinis or tankinis and one swimsuit if you’re a keen swimmer, not forgetting the goggles (a pair of which can be left in your suitcase indefinitely).  Tankini tops, if elaborate enough, can also be used as an evening top so bear this in mind too.
• If you’re in swimwear most of the daytime, pack limited sets of underwear, again in neutral shades to go under any colour.
• Use soft bags to pack en masse – underwear can go in one, swimwear in another and so on.  This makes it easier to unpack quickly and saves delving around in your case trying to find that one elusive item.
• If it’s a short trip away, keep toiletries to a minimum.  Decent hotels now provide good quality products in their bathrooms so only take your most favourite essentials.  You could decant shampoos etc into smaller bottles that can be bought in Watsons, or MAC provide more durable ones.
• Ensure your toiletry bag is waterproof and for extra protection against leakage wrap it in a plastic bag.  If you’re flying don’t take brand new bottles of liquid as the liquid will expand slightly due to the pressure and leak so use each bottle once to avoid this happening.  Creams and aerosols are fine though.

And what not to pack:-

• Anything of sentimental value that you would be upset to lose and anything you are taking “just in case” – you can always have the pleasure of shopping should you need to…

Bon Voyage!

Contributed by Louise Field

MOTHERS DAY SPECIAL

Having just become the mother to a beautiful baby boy, I have a new appreciation for mothers and I would like to celebrate all mothers this month with a very special offer.

Book a one on one colour consultation for yourself and your mom can enjoy having her colours done for just $100 (Saving of $190).

If your mother is not in Singapore at the moment, then you can make a booking and pay a deposit so you get to do your colours together at a later date. This offer is only available for bookings made between 4th -15th May and you must mention this promotion.

To make a booking, please send an email to me at aileen@nutri-style.com

UP COMING WORKSHOPS

Get together with some friends and have some fun and at the same time learn how to look your best with Nutri-Style's workshops:

SECRETS OF COLOUR

You may want to wear more colours but it can be difficult to know which ones suit you best. When you understand which colours complement your natural colouring you can look healthier, more confident, more alive and more interesting.

SECRETS OF MAKE-UP

A makeup & grooming consultation is conducted with a qualified image consultant, a hair stylist and makeup artist. Learn the secrets of applying make-up professionally and bringing out the best of your features.

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE, PLEASE CALL, 6887 5220.

For more information on the workshops, please visit www.nutri-style.com/her_workshop.php

BEAUTY MUST HAVES FOR SUMMER

With the weather having turned so hot and wet, I’ve found plenty of excuses to duck in and out of the air-conditioning, particularly along Orchard Road!  This has given me ample opportunity to browse amongst the stores to discover some summer essentials that I feel compelled to share with you.

• Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser – this comes in a variety of shades all with a sun protection of  SPF 20 and in two formulas: hydrating or oil free.   It glides on easily, especially over a primer, leaving the skin looking natural and dewy.  Available at True Colors, Ngee Ann City, B1-13A
• Chanel Glossy Lip liner Pencil – a fabulous find in a great selection of colours.  If you’re not a devotee of lip liner these may change your mind - just match a pencil to your shade of lipstick for a completely natural look.  Or even wear it on its own by outlining the lips then filling in.
• Coral lips are de rigueur this season which is an attractive shade for most people.  Springs and Summers should go for a pinky coral (pastels for Summer), Autumns a coral with more orange in it, and Winters can afford to opt for a strong coral with blue-red tones.  Again, Chanel has some tempting corals to consider.
• As a pioneer to find the perfect mascara I’ve tried most on the market today, even the vibrating and chimney sweep versions (very unimpressive).  The best by far and with traditional spiral brushes are: Fat Lash, Model Co, available at Metro, Paragon, Bobby Brown’s Everything Mascara and Adonia Mascara, only available at Nutri-Style.  If your colouring is very dark, black can be worn day and night, otherwise brown mascara gives a softer appearance for daytime.  For fun and wow factor, try a colour such as blue, mauve or green.

Finally on my travels, I was thrilled to spy the new Jo Malone store in Ngee Ann City.   How it’s taken so long to get here is beyond me but better late than never!  An exclusive lifestyle collection of scents for the bath, body and home that will not leave you disappointed but will burn a hole in your pocket I’m afraid (so visit when you’re feeling flush!).  There are numerous sumptuous fragrances to entice you, all beautifully packaged in cream and black boxes and tissue paper, also scented to attract attention as you waft your way home.  A clever concept is Jo Malone’s advice on layering the fragrances; a little booklet is available which recommends the scents that compliment each other to give you a totally unique perfume.   Look out for the summer limited collection of Kohdo Wood. 

Ngee Ann City, #02-12B.

Contribution by Louise Field

Looking for a stylish gift for that someone special?

Click to view Nutri-Style Colour, Style & Makeover Gift Vouchers

ARE YOU PRIMED AND READY TO GO?

Foundation Primers are relatively new on the cosmetics market and during the past couple of years they have evolved and improved enormously.  But if you are unfamiliar with using a primer or you simply thought it just another product on which to waste money, let me explain the advantages. 

 Just as you prime a wall before painting, you can prime your face before applying foundation or tinted moisturiser.  Primers act as a barrier between the skin and foundation, sealing in moisture as well as preventing the skin from absorbing talc and pigment from make-up.  This, of course, is an advantage when living in Singapore where the humidity frequently causes make-up to “slip” and disappear.  Many primers contain botanicals such as lavender, orange, jasmine, rose, grape and aloe extracts to soothe and refresh which is good news for all skin types but especially sensitive ones.  Most are colourless but some have a hint of a shade: pink to enhance the skin and attract light, or green to correct redness.  They fill in lines and pores to create a smooth, velvety finish that allows foundation to glide on beautifully and blend easily.However, if you’re not a user of foundation you can happily apply a primer on its own to “finish” the skin.  A major tip though - before applying a primer, allow your moisturiser to settle and dry for a few minutes otherwise the primer will just flake off.

Most cosmetic houses now offer a primer in their collection but I’ve found some to be better than others: Clarins, Model Co (Metro, The Paragon) and Laura Mercier (True Colours, Ngee Ann City) are three of the best and Smashbox do a fantastic one called Photofinish.  Unfortunately, Smashbox cosmetics are not available in Singapore yet but if my make-up mole is correct this brand will be hitting our shelves soon.  Or if you are  travelling to Hong Kong or the Philippines keep an eye out as Smashbox is already available there.

Contribution by Louise Field

Style E-Books

Learn how to be stylish not trendy. Our online E Books will equip you with all the knowledge every woman should know!   Written by leading Image Consultant, Aileen Lane; she shares her knowledge to help women feel better about themselves. Choose from 5 exciting titles; everything from choosing the correct accessories to becoming a polished career woman.

    Click to view Nutri-Style E-Books

Interested Colour & Image Consultant Training In Singapore?

Nutri-Style is well recognised in Singapore as a leader in colour & style services.

Nutri-style offers Colour & Image Consulting Training to aspiring colour & image consultants.

For in-house colour consultant training course detail and contents , click here:

Colour Consultant Training

Next Colour Consulting Training Course

18th May 09 - 19th Jun 2009

(Every Mon & Fri 9.30am -12.30pm)

For Image Consulting Training Course detail and contents , click here: Image Consultant Training

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