Hair styles for Reference: Bridal Braids

So inspired to try many beautiful braided bridal styles and so I grabbed bestie Zanne for my hair model!!!

All styles customisable according to different brides :)

All Reference Hair styles and Makeup by me
(www.facebook.com/artsy.gerra)

Fringe area for Zanne is always up but that's cause I want to show her beautiful face!
If you prefer fringe, it can be done too! :)

Sorry for the slightly messy look for some. I didn't exactly make it super neat as it's easier for me to change styles after!

Bun Braid

4-strand Bun Braid Chignon, Side view

4-strand Bun Braid Chignon, front view

4-strand Bun Braid closeup

4 strand roll up Braid

4 Strand Roll up braid

Band of Braids

Braids twined with ribboned hair

Band of braids

The Braid Embrace

Dewy Makeup

Braids up-do

The Braided Bunch

The Triple Braided Bunch: Side View

The Caged Braid

Caged braid up-do

A Hearty Affair

Front view of heart shape braids

Heart shaped braids

Milk of Magnesia on Skin: My Experience

I'm a curious person and someone who has an extremely oily complexion!!!!

I dislike my oily skin no matter how my friends console me that at least I won't have wrinkles that early as I age.... Yes, this consolation only made me a tiny teeny bit better. I still dislike my oily skin very much!

Whenever I have clients who tell me that their complexion is really oily, and after I see them, I will be like:
"What?! This is not Oily!!! What are you talking about!!! Compared to mine, your skin is a godsend!" type of response....
Only a handful have accurately judged their skin to be 'really' oily, in my opinion, after I have assessed them.

Well, aging seems to have helped me control my oil problems more than when I was still in my teenage and post puberty years..... But I'm still not satisfied. (yes, I'm one of those greedy humans)

So one day, I was happily surfing the net and I had no idea how, but I stumbled upon a page on a remedy to control oily skin.

It seems the info under the results page are all focusing on this one solution: (Myth or otherwise)

Philips Milk of Magnesia

Apparently, this is a laxative for constipation and many people who have tried  it (on their skin) are extremely pleased with this unorthodox household remedy to curb oily skin!!!
I have no idea why or how people start to use this on their face.....

*Note: there are some who claims it does not work on them. 

I guess you've got to try it to know it!! 

*Double note: I shall NOT be responsible if your face rots.....

BUT THE MAJORITY SWORE IT WORKED

HEll YEA!!!! 

I was excited. This may be my saviour and so I decided to bravely be the myth buster and find out if I belong to the majority!! (I was crossing my fingers)

One problem: I don't think I ever saw this in any pharmacy in Singapore. So, being the ever resourceful 'brainy whizz' and the determined curious cat, I researched on the ingredient of Phillips milk of magnesia (MOM) so that I can get the equivalent of it in our Singapore's pharmacies.... Maybe??????

The only main ingredient: Magnesium Hydroxide.

I scoured the major Guardian and Watsons and read every single medication for tummy meds.
They do not sell this particular brand and I even checked with the pharmacist.

Unfortunately, the other medications remotely similar to MOM is not exactly the same after all.
They all contain some other form of magnesium plus another ingredient, which after VERY careful consideration, I concluded I SHALL not take this stupid risk to try something DUBIOUS on MY face. ARGH!

So being a very determined person, I conveniently found out that my boyfriend's client is going to the US and I got him to help me get a bottle of the Philips MOM from there in original flavour (as recommended). I don't think I want my face to smell like weird strawberry.

So, just to play it even safer, I decided to do one more in-depth google on how the magnesium hydroxide will work on our skin. I wanted to get more concrete objective science facts than what people typed in forums subjectively.

I mean, I don't want my face to rot, do I??!!!

And I googled: Effects of magnesium hydroxide on skin.

"On your skin, you can use magnesium hydroxide to treat canker sores and to prevent excess oil buildup that causes pimples to form. Further, magnesium hydroxide can decrease the size of your facial pores and prevent dirt from clogging in your pores."

Read more: http://www.livestrong.com/article/447570-what-are-the-health-benefits-of-magnesium-hydroxide/#ixzz2SV2av4BK

Seems like a trusted health science site! And just like what I needed!!!

I AM READY TO BUST THIS MYTH!

I applied according to instructions from the forums.
-After moisturizer and sunblock, before foundation.

-You'll need to shake bottle well before using it.

-Apply a thin layer over oily areas; for me its mainly the T-zone and my cheeks. After awhile you'll find white streaks that will appear on the skin, which you'll just have to blend in some more with your fingers.

-Then apply your foundation or powder! I suggest patting in your liquid/powder foundation for a more even application without the powdery residue coming up.

-Avoid MOM on your eye area

Apply the rest of your makeup as normal and you are good to go!

CHECK me out:

Left: with photo app effect / Right: Raw no photo app effect

Ok don't judge. In my opinion, the difference is minimal (with and without app) in this pic with MOM use. Normally, my face will be like an oil slick after a few hrs and it still will not look this Matt even after cleaning and 8 hrs later!!

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
Im so lucky!!!! (sobs with joy)
IT worked for me!!! Not only did my face not rot, the oil free effect lasted around 8 hrs or so, as seen in this picture with MOM application. Plus!!!! You don't have to splurge on this cause it's CHEAP!!

I am now a huge fan and can only keep hoping MOM does not cause strange allergies for me with prolonged use of it.

I can confidently step out with much lesser eye makeup now just as long my face is Matt the whole day, which at least makes me look fresh.
I mean for me, Matt skin with minimal eye makeup is acceptable, whereas oily skin with no eye makeup is NOT!

You can check out the reviews of other MOM users online by googling:
MOM on oily skin.

Later I found out, you can actually get this Philips MOM on www.amazon.com
It is really easy. Just read those instructions!!!

Good luck to those who are going to try this..... :)

Love,
G

Makeup: Floral Paradise

Did a shoot with lots and lots of flowers! I just love the strong and vibrant colours and the mood of it all!
How I wish to be surrounded by flowers like some garden fairy..... *daydreams

Hair by me
 (www.facebook.com/artsy.gerra)

Makeup by Me and Yanti

Photography and concept by Daven Lee

Headgear by Gioelli

Colourful Makeup with Flowers

Colourful Makeup with Flowers

Wedding Photoshoot: Yachting at One degree 15 by White Sails in Sentosa

Up on an early morning and off to a day of yachting adventure for a couple shoot with Lumiere photography and White Sails (1 Degree 15-Sentosa).
view more pictures at: www.facebook.com/artsy.gerra

I was excited as it was my first time on a yacht in Singapore, (my first yacht experience was when I went to Hongkong) and was pretty curious to see the yacht's interior and experience the life as (what many people would consider) the "upper society" class. Hooray!

The charter was for 4 hours. Though it's not considered expensive but I wouldn't label this as an activity like: going shopping in town on a whim; as a sort of activity whenever we feel like it. I was just going to fully enjoy being on one FREE OF CHARGE. Hahahhahaha

Surprisingly, the waters are clear here and you can see FISHES! I was AMAZED!!!!!!!!

A pretty pic of Angeline before we board. :)

Before the yacht set sail, it was bobbing crazily at the dock. We were all busy loading and setting up our equipment without paying much attention to the crazy swaying until much later. 

As I did not have a proper breakfast, my gastric juice was swishing around in my stomach and I was starting to get EXTREMELY whoozy and nauseated. 

I would say I'm not prone to seasickness that easily but for this, it proved too much for me to bear. ARGHHHHhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I desperately tried to swallow mouthfuls of water, trying to hydrate myself thinking maybe it was due to the hot weather. Snacking periodically to ease the rumbling of my stomach. 

Finally I couldn't take it anymore and went to biggest bed inside the cabin and tried to sleep the nausea away till we docked at the island. 

My Unglamourous Pic:

Unfortunately, the poor photographer puked and he had to shoot. Poor Dan.

The unglamourous Photographer:

By this time, we had already docked on this island called:
St Lazarius. (not even sure if I got the spelling right?) 

And another boo-boo phtographer who had his socks screwed up. At least it's still the same colour tone...

Anyway this island is part of the St John' island in Singapore, secluded and un-developed. Basically you could skinny-dip in the waters and nobody would know. (except your friends of course! Coming alone would be way TOO CREEPY!) But the waters are clear and very nice!

St Lazarius in a snap

Look of the day: Waterfall braids and wedding makeup

Shot on a yacht at: One degree 15, Sentosa by White Sails. 

While on the yacht, Angeline and her beau, Joey, had to strike poses and I thought they looked kinda awkward and funny but still cute. Look at their strained necks!!! I never thought taking pictures were easy anyway.....

I shamelessly camwhored too! Couldn't couldn't resist..... 

Shameless

Candid Shot of Joey trying to do a jump shot and me failing terribly trying to capture it
Erm.

Well it sure looks like this girl is enjoying herself too! 

Our man Shao looking good here!

While on the beach......

My heart goes AwwwwwwWWwwwwww.......

It was a crazy hot day and my feet were burning. We quickly finished up on this island and proceeded to continue with Joey taking a jumping shot off the yacht and then it's back to Singapore. 

So the boys, Shao and Dan, set off on a dinghy, which they reminded me of Tom Hanks in the movie: Cast Away. HAhah

So, Finally it's a wrap ending with a nice hearty beer and lunch at Harry's bar. 

To top it all off, I had ugly tan lines. ARgh!!!!! I hate it. 

Love,

G