Hi Ladies!
Does the headline not sound like something off a newspaper… or maybe a gossip rag? 😛 Either way, I just had to share this bit of exciting news 😀
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 😀
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! 😀 Unfortunately, everything is in Mandarin so I can’t read a thing it says 😛 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 😛 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! 😀
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 😛 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 😛
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 😛
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 😀
Sue (aka Paris B) the Beauty Blogger in the CittaBella 100 Beauty Best Buy feature – thrilled! 😀
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
I’ll support u by buying CittaBella June’s ed. Eventhough this is the 1st time im reading it…ganbateh! Thanks for providing so many make up and facial tips…keep it up!
You are too sweet, Maine! 😀 Its my very first time buying a Chinese mag (2 of them!) even though I can’t read it! LOL Thank you for all your support!
Congrats Paris! You deserve it!!! You look so pretty and you look so excited in that photo! 🙂
Thank you so much Issa! 😀 They made me smile and smile… and in the process, my eyes disappeared! LOL
This is cool! I’m glad you enjoyed yourself! Love that dress–you look fab:-) Btw, 20 mins for a shoot is very very fast! I have worked with professional models and have taken hours to finish a shoot! But maybe cos I’m a fussy art director…hehehe!
Thank you Monstro! I think they just got fed up (and it was already about 12.30pm so we were all hungry!) and just picked the best one of the lot LOL! If you were directing, I’d probably still be there 😛
Everybody loves the dress and I’m no exception! 😛
You look fab in the magazine, PB… very Korean in fact. 🙂
Thanks Rinnah! 😀 Ahnyeong Haseyo!
Congrats, totally dig the dress 🙂 Too bad it’s in Mandarin. Perhaps we’ll see you in Cleo or Female mag next giving opinions on beauty products? 🙂
Oh wouldn’t I wish! hehe… Thanks Cas! 😀
White suits u. Your Blush is complimenting u . u rock. May I know the brand and number … name …of the blush, is it coral or peach??? Alas, I cannot get the copy of the magazine in India.
Thank you Shirley! I can’t remember which blush they used anymore – its probably a MAC blush and they mixed pink and peach.
Congrats, Sue… you look great and I echo all the sentiments, the dress is so elegant and pretty on you 🙂
Thanks Lyn! 😀
The minute I read the post I went : omg that dress is lovely! Then I saw all these comments complimenting you on how lovely you look in that dress! =) I’m getting Mum to pick up a copy and will get Dad to translate it for me!!
Again, you look stunning in that dress!
Thank you for the support S! But there’s really no need to go and buy the mag – its not like its a personal feature LOL! 😉 Thanks again!
oh nice! 😀 well deserved PB, love the white dress!
Thanks bunches Bee!!
And yes, I am another person to comment on your dress/top. I love it! Is it your own or provided by the magazine? Which brand is it from?
LOL Thank you! I actually wasn’t too taken with the dress at the beginning, but got it just in case I couldn’t find another (and I didn’t) 🙂 Its my own and I got it from Tangs Singapore. I can’t remember the brand but it might be TS.
Congrats! That’s awesome and so exciting! You deserve it! Love the dress too.
Thank you Gio! The dress is really feeling the lurve!
Oh, so that’s the photoshoot you were twitting about! How very glamourous! You are really going international, Paris!^^ I find it amazing that they invited you not only to test the products, but also featured you on their magazine. I hope more invitations like that follow in the near future… and maybe I’ll be seeing you featured on a Brazilian mag! 😀
Yes yes! 😀 You remembered and thank you Mari! 😀 I’d love to appear in a Brazilian mag… with perhaps a photoshoot in Brazil thrown in? hehe… Thank you so much for your support and faith! 😀
OMG, its undeniable ur dress capture everyone’s heart! that includes me! :p i totally agree with everyone’s comment dear, u look pretty, and even prettier in that flowery dress! another successful story of yours! Congrats!
Thank you Pearl. Appreciate your support too! 🙂
Congrats!!! You look pretty on those photos btw 😉
Thanks so much Marina! 🙂
You look gorgeous! The dress is so sweet. Way to go girl!
Hehe that dress deserves it’s very own post it would appear 😉 thank you!!
Congratulations!! You look really great in the pic! Please please bring the mag next week k? Though I can’t read a word (ok, maybe a few… like 10 words)
Thanks Connie! And I”ll try to remember to bring it next week 😀 I can read… about 10 words too haha!
Woot! You look gorgeous babe! And very natural! Love your floral dress, and when you smile, it brings such a glow! Congratulations, and here’s to more to come! *raises champagne glass*
*clinks champers* Thank you sweetie! Feel all a-glow now 🙂
Congratulations on being featured! You look lovely, liked the candid & behind-the-scenes shot better though. Also like everyone was going to ask about the dress too! Do share where it’s from? 😀
Thank you Shuaddict! The dress is from TS and I got it in Tangs, Singapore 😀 I’ve done a full post just on that dress due to the queries LOL!
Must buy this mag!! 🙂
LOL! I hope you enjoy the rest of the reads in it too!
Congrats PB! That dress you have on is so sweet! 🙂
Here’s to more features in mags for you! 🙂
Thank you so much Nadia! And I would say likewise for you too!