Hi Ladies!
Does the headline not sound like something off a newspaper… or maybe a gossip rag? :P Either way, I just had to share this bit of exciting news :D
A few months ago, I was invited by Cittá Bella magazine to be one of their 10 judges of the 100 Beauty Best Buys, an annual feature in Cittá Bella magazine, a local Chinese language mag. I was provided with 10 items from various brands and I had to just try them and share my thoughts on them. Fortunately, I’d already reviewed 3 of the items right here on my blog (Esmeria Organics Butterfly Bush shampoo, Madara Ecoface Deep Balancing Toner and Shiseido White Lucent Intensive Spot Targeting Serum) , so that made life a little easier as there was a bit of a tight deadline :D
I was just informed yesterday that the feature is out on the news stands (Cittabella June 2011 ed) so I naturally ran out and grabbed a copy! :D Unfortunately, everything is in Mandarin so I can’t read a thing it says :P But I hope its all good lol! I’ve also been named in the feature as “Sue” and a beauty blogger but then, you all know me as Paris B here eh? ;)
I don’t know when the day will ever come again when I might find my mug gracing the pages of a glossy alongside celebrities like Denise Keller and Chermaine Poo :P So I’m going to savour this moment and say a huge heartfelt thank you to Elsa, Beauty Editor of Cittá Bella magazine for picking me and giving me this chance. You made my day, week, month… year! :D
I thought some of you might enjoy some “Behind the Scenes” shots of the photoshoot that took place some time in April and a couple of the products I tried that I liked. Or you could just wait up for a regular beauty related post to come up soon :)
Hair and makeup took almost 2 hours in itself, and I have never sat for so long in a chair, nor had so many MAC products used on my face at one go :P The makeup and hair was kept natural which means although the makeup on my skin in real life is an inch thick, it looks “natural” on camera.
I was requested to pose with one of the products I was given to test – the Lancome Maqui Miracle compact (the shade was way too dark for me so I could only give thoughts on texture) and I’m glad they cropped it so I did not look like a Lancome spokesperson :P
Before me went Denise Keller (TV Host) and one Karena (2nd Runner Up Miss Astro Chinese International 2010) who I must say are gorgeous ladies and unfortunately for me, professional models to the core. They took about 10 minutes to shoot, and there were probably an infinite number of useable shots. That’s Karena up there looking effortless.
While I on the other hand, took something closer to 20 minutes with A LOT of direction, and we ended up with maybe 1 or 2 useable shots. Sorry guys! I don’t think they’d ever worked with someone this amateur in the business :P
At the end of the photoshoot, I was left with newfound respect for models and celebrities who have photoshoots after photoshoots. It is not an easy task to pose for the camera, its very tiring, its very hot under the lights, you wear so much makeup that it feels like a mask, and my facial muscles got really tired after holding my smile for shot after shot. Glamourous? Yes. But a lot of hard work goes in behind the scenes that few of us see.
Here are 2 products I tried that I particularly liked.
Neogence Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Essence – my first time trying this product and I liked it! I’ll have my review up for you here soon.
Cle de Peau Beaute Intensive Facial Contour Serum. I don’t know if it contoured my face, but I loved how my skin felt after using this. Like velvet!
This was an eye-opening and humbling experience … and I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat :D
Sue (aka Paris B) the Beauty Blogger in the CittaBella 100 Beauty Best Buy feature – thrilled! :D
I’ll have something meatier for you to read in a bit. Thanks for allowing me to bask a little in my 15 seconds of fame LOL! :)
xoxo
Paris B
Congrats girl!! Bask all you want because you deserved it 101%!! :D
BTW i LOVE your white dress!! Its so pretty! *sighs dreamily*
Thank you so much Jenn! :)
Dear Paris, congrats on being featured! :) you look great in the outfit and in the pic :) really happy for ya! :) too bad i can’t get a copy of this mag in Singapore…
Thank you Esther! :D Its too bad you don’t get it down there but I thank you for the thought nonetheless! :D
love the dress too! did u get to mug the dress home :D
Haha… its mine lah… so yes I took it home :P
Thanks for sharing !! We’re all excited for you being featured!! I love your white outfit too .. you looked absolutely gorgeous !!!
Thank you so much Jessl!
Congrats Paris! You looks great!
Thanks Juli!
congrats paris :) you look awesome!
Thank you very kindly domn!
Congratulations Model PB!!! :P I love your photo! You look so fresh! And girl! The dress!!!! I love your dress!!!
More features to come and I know what you mean about models holding their posts and smiling, NOT EASY!
*preen* LOL Thanks sweetie!! It was so hard for me to pose (because I’m so bad at it) so I really admire those who can do it off the bat! And I’m glad you like the dress.. it was an impulse and last minute purchase because the shoot called for something white (and I had none!)
Awesome!!! WAY TO GO PARIS!
Thank you Violet! :D
congrats dear! you deserved it! :D
the white dress is pretty on you~
Thanks so much plue!! :D
You look gorgeous! Love your overall look, so elegant yet so soft and feminine. I agree with Nikki, love the frilly flowery white dress;)
Thank you Mrsdjones! I can’t believe the dress is getting so much love LOL!
Yes, the dress complement you really well. You look natural & pro in the end product nevermind the extra time spent on the shots.
Thank you Lisa! I’m glad you think so (and didn’t think I looked stiff as a board next to all the pros!) :D
Congrats Paris! It must have been very exciting. Though hair and make up took you 2 hours, the results are great. You looked fab!
Thank you so much Alexandra :D Yes it was terribly exciting and I’ve been bursting to tell all :D
Congrats PB!!! You look like a star in the photo! I shall run and get a copy just to have a picture of you for my own! Hahahaha, just kidding!
Ooh thank you Hanny! And you don’t need the mag… you already have the internet! :P
That is really cool! Congrats!
Thanks Jacqueline :)
ooh, your dress looks very nice! congrats!
Thank you Reese! I guess it was a good buy then! LOL!
oh..the dress is pretty!…sounds like a really great experience for u….congrats..n i think there will b more for u..ehhe…u looked really pretty in that pic…
Thank you so much Andrea! :D More would be fun but I’m very thankful for what I’ve received now :D
Congrats PB *beams* You look good and cute. And oh! so fair.
*kawaii* LOL! Thank you Joy! I think it was a combination of lighting and photoshop ;)
Love the shots of you, so pretty!!! do you know what items they used for your makeup (brands and colors)? thanks for sharing :)
Thank you Jan! I can’t remember what they used for my makeup but it was mostly MAC for foundation, eyeshadow, powder, blush; Bobbi Brown for concealer and lips… I think. I wasn’t paying attention LOL!
Congrats! I love your dress, and you look really cute in the second photo :)
Thank you Denise! I honestly thought that you know (I can’t read Chinese) but it turned out the form was also in English hehe…
Congrats Paris!!! You look gorgeous!!!
Thank you Mia! :D
you look gorgeous and so is your dress. Pray tell where you got it?
Thank you Aiyu! The dress was purchased from Tangs in Singapore :) I forgot the brand LOL!