Creative and quirky fun daily products, courtesy of HKTDC DG Studio

Besides being a bustling hub for shopping and the source country for highly addictive TV dramas, Hong Kong is the birthplace to many homegrown brands and innovative lifestyle products. The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is a statutory body dedicated to promoting products and services from Hong Kong in the international arena. The DG Studio initiative brings trendy gifts and premiums from Hong Kong to shoppers in Malaysia.  Twelve outstanding brands will be featured in 1 Utama Shopping Centre (New Wing LG Floor Highstreet) from 20th to 24th February and Da Men Mall (LGB1, LG Floor) from 20th to 26th February.

The twelve DG Studio’s brands are Artiart, Cardhoda, Eco Concepts, Hoobbe, Hyone, Kilovest, Konstar, MH Blocks, Paris Garden, SOAP Studio, Tea Lab and Team Green. These twelve brands specialize in specific lifestyle products, usually offered as personal or corporate gifts and premiums. What makes these products different is its creative, trendy and sometimes quirky edge it takes on daily consumer products. 

Artiart is an innovative design household products brand that produces home wares, drink wares and business-related items with a creative, quirky fun and colourful take. Its AR Ice-berg Suction Cup, with its grip bottom, and 100% leak proof Elegance Suction Bottle is heaven-sent for accident-prone individuals and are the company’s best sellers. As seen here by Venice Min demonstrating how steady is the suction cup making it is spill free!

Konstar specialises in small household appliances. Its design innovation simplifies how time-consuming household chores are done. 4 of its products have since been awarded the RedDot Design awards. “I still can’t get over how fast it took for me to peel an apple with the Super Apple Peeler. It does in practically seconds what usually takes many minutes to do," said TV Host/Personality Dahlia Shazwan who demonstrated the products at the event. 

For the ultra-discerning hostess, Hoobbe’s household products are creatively and cleverly designed to make excellent conversation starters when hosting guests at home. Forever injected with a dash of quirk and fun, its Wooly Pins Pushpin, Floaty Duck Salt & Pepper Shaker, Right Cake Measuring Cups and Thanks Giving Salad Server are bound to put arouse interest and raise smiles. 

Those who enjoy the finer things in life, Tea Lab, as its name suggests indulges in all things tea. Tea lovers will find the process of brewing a cup of tea more fun with the brand’s creative tea infusers and tea making accessories. Its unique tea scoop and infuser are firm favourites among the tea drinking society. 

The tea infuser has small holes to enable the tea to infuse into water without the tea leaves contaminating our cup. How cool is that?!

Tech-enthusiasts will love Hyone’s range of products. It markets smart and stylish design solutions for all occasions, with its focus on mobile phone gadgets and electronic accesso-ries. Its Chic Crystal Ring that attaches to mobile phones to serve as a phone stand and fall proof Stand Firm Cup are best sellers. “Hyone’s Mini Selfie Stick with bluetooth remote and mini tripod is a super useful for Instagram personalities like me.’ said, Venice Min a social media influencer.

The tech-savvy would also love Cardhoda’s range of card protector wallet and name card holders. Its aluminum case prevents malicious parties from unscrupulously reading cards containing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) and Near Field Communication (NFD) chips for fraudulent activities.

For those that seek a unique twist in daily items, Kilovest makes various products, like watches, bags and passport holders, all in the ever durable and versatile silicone material.

DG Studio products will be permanently available at these outlets

•Parkson Elite at Pavilion KL

•Parkson at 1 Utama Shopping Centre

•CM3 at Sunway Pyramid

•Times Bookstore at Pavilion KL

•Times Bookstore at Bangsar Shopping Centre

•Parkson Elite at Gurney Plaza, Penang

Wedding canvas from Printcious

I was talking about wedding gift ideas HERE and since we are doing up our house, I thought of a way to surprise my other half by printing our picture on a canvas to be hung up on our bedroom wall =)

I was looking through the canvas section and I came across two types of canvas:

A square one or a rectangle one.

Plus, there are so many designs you can choose from. You can either create your own design or choose from their template.

This is a sample of one of their template. You can use this template and replace the picture with your own picture and write any text in the space given.

This is another pretty design.

See, you can just replace the picture and it will turn into such a beautiful picture.

However, I didn't use any of the templates because my picture background was already very dreamy and picturesque as it was taken in Santorini =)

Just need to add picture and...

...I rotated and cropped it.

After that, just click done and pay and wait for it to be delivered to you. It was as easy as 1,2,3...

...and TA-DAH!! OMG, I was quite surprised on how huge it turned out to be LOL

Beautiful, right? ^_^

Yay, thank you so much Printcious for beautifying our master bedroom =)

How to use concealers?

That was actually my first concern. Because I have never used concealers in my life. The most I ever used to conceal a zit or any blemish is actually compact powder HAHA The way I see people highlight or contour and I'm like wow, that's too complex for me. But then when I was given 4 different types of concealers from Althea Korea, I was determined to learn how to master the art of highlighting and contouring. And so, the journey begins *laughs*

But first, please admire the makeup flatlay below that I have received from Althea Korea. Being an Althea Angel is nothing but exciting. It's raining Christmas every other day =) Althea launched their own house brand of makeup products and believe me when I say the products are not only good but they are also super reasonably priced!

If you're into makeup, you would be salivating looking at this =p

FLAWLESS CREAMY CONCEALER (6G) [RM15/stick]

Okay, as mentioned, I received these concealers and I was like, 'Yes, I can finally play with it and experiment how to conceal, highlight or contour my face.' The concealers are perfect for spots, panda eyes and other blemishes. It is a pigmented, blendable concealer with a buildable formula which is made with Aquaxyl to moisturize and improve the overall health of the skin, while its long-wearing properties ensure it stays on your face all day. Aquaxyl is derived from birch tree sap, also known as the “the queen of the forest". This extract creates a moisture barrier on the skin and prevents dehydration. It prevents moisture from evaporating, leaving the skin feeling hydrated and comfortable even after a couple of hours.

There are 4 shades to choose from:

 #01 Vanilla (Pink beige #21) for brightening/highlighting

 #02 Ginger (Warm ivory #21) for natural coverage

#03 Honey (Warm peach #23-#25) for medium coverage

 #04 Mocha (Deeper yellow #30) for darker skin tones to conceal or for fairer skin for contouring

The swatches.

HOW TO USE

 STEP 1- Conceal and highlight

I applied shade #03 which is closest to my skin tone to hide blemishes and... 

...lighten redness under my nose.

Then I applied shade #01 under my eyes to conceal my dark circles as well as illuminate it. 

Highlight by applying a lighter shade on the high points of the face. I applied some on forehead and the bridge of my nose to bring those features forward. Then gently blended with my fingers. I did it step by step and not all at once because well, I'm still a beginner and needed to perfect one step before the other otherwise it'll just mess my whole face up.

STEP 2- Contour

I contoured with a darker shade #04 Mocha to carve out features and define the face shape. I applied on my cheek bones, under my chin, near my hairline as well as..

...the side of my nose to make it look smaller. As you can see, I have already blended the other parts of my face so you can see a more defined face shape.

STEP 3- Blend, Blend and Blend
The texture is creamy and hydrating so it has a smooth and a flawless semi-matte finish. It is not cakey so it's long lasting. I found it very easy to blend and I'm surprised I fared quite well in this highlight/contouring skills hehehe

EYE PALETTE SUNRISE & MOONRISE BCL X ALTHEA [RM140]

Add some celestial magic into your beauty routine with Althea's very first eye shadow palette: Sunrise & Moonrise! Made in collaboration with Bunga Citra Lestari, these 8 shades will take you from gorgeous daytime to sultry night time, giving you the effortlessly glamorous feminine style Bunga is known for. In shimmers, mattes and glitters, these pigmented shadows glide easily onto the skin and blend out like a dream, allowing you to create an array of looks suitable for any occasion. 

Bunga Citra Lestari is an Indonesian singer and actress that have graced the screens of many across South East Asia. Affectionately known to her fans as BCL, she’s also a beauty and fashion icon that exudes style, beauty and femininity. 

8 expertly chosen shades inspired by 2 of BCL’s most prominent looks: a fresh look perfect for everyday, and a glamorous look perfect for the stage.

The swatches.

Create your own look with various textures such as pearl, glitter and matte finishes. I will be doing an everyday day look and a glamorous night out look below.

For day look, I like to wear minimal makeup when I go to work. So, the nude/natural shades in the palette was just right for me to create a working day look.

Add on some concealer for a cut crease look to make the colour pop and long lasting effect.

Once the concealer is applied, it's a good base to work on.

A shimmery nude with pink undertones is applied first, perfect for a base shade or to highlight. Then a matte light brown is added to create definition. 

Then the metallic gold to add shimmer to the look for added radiance. A rich brown with golden shimmer is applied to the upper lash liner for an added depth so that the look can be worn without an actual liquid eyeliner.

Subtle yet enhances the eye feature with nude tones.

Add on mascara and you're good to go for a day out.

The minimalist day look. I did not highlight/contour my face for this look. Just used the palette and shade #04 of the Watercolour Cream Tint.

WATERCOLOR CREAM TINT (4.5ML) [RM20/tint]

Get deliciously juicy lips with the pigmentation of a lipstick, the long-wearing power of a stain and the moisturizing formula of a gloss. Bold, pigmented and equipped with a pretty sheen, these lippies contain hyaluronic acid and squalene to prevent chapped lips from flaking, perfect for stashing in your purse for easy touch-ups and comfortable wear.  

Formulated with both water and oil, this emulsion type tint consists of 40% hydrating solution. Its creamy texture glides onto the lips for a plump, kissable pout.

Pick from 4 must-have colors ranging from a natural color to a luxurious burgundy:

#01 Plum Cream- A rich, luxurious plum shade, perfect for a night out

#02 Strawberry Cream- A juicy red reminiscent of freshly bitten strawberries 

#03 Peach Cream- A brightening, fresh coral with pink undertones to suit both warm and cool skin tone [My favourite]

#04 Marron Cream- Made from browns and pinks for a chic, everyday look

I would actually love some lighter hues but if you're not into red lips, you can try the Korean gradient look which is quite subtle.

HOW TO USE

You can apply directly onto the lips with the applicator provided and gently blend onto the lips...

 ...OR you can achieve the Korean gradient two tone lip by applying at the inner lips and just dab all over.

I also used this as a cheek tint. Just a slight swipe on the cheeks for a flushed look.

It is very pigmented but glides easily onto the lips without a sticky feel plus it's super long lasting! I would have eaten and the red stain still stays. Also, the swatches on my hand I did above? I didn't use a makeup remover to remove to see the long lasting power. I just washed with normal soap and water. Guess what? Those swatches stayed with me till the next day on my hand HAHA

Get 10% OFF on the Watercolor Cream Tint Set that comes with a special gift box! Great gift idea for friends, family, or yourself! 

WATERCOLOR CREAM TINT SET (10% OFF) [RM72]

SPOTLIGHT EYE GLITTER (4.5ML) [RM24/stick]

This sparkly number doubles up as both an eyeshadow and a liner to light up the eyes for some perky, glamorous peepers. Whether you like a subtle glow or a full-on glitter look, these have a hydrating formula that glides on like butter over the lids, allowing for an easy blend. 

Pick from two pretty shades to suit your look:

-Gold Light
-Pink Light

HOW TO USE

Apply onto the lids using the applicator. Then wait for 3-5 seconds to dry. It's very easy and once it dries, it doesn't smudge! The slim applicator allows for precise and even application.

Hydrating on the eyes, this formula is made with a moisturizing gel matrix that gives eyes a sparkling touch. It creates a film for a longer wear, preventing smudging caused by sweat or water.

There's a skincare which was popped into our gift box as well.

SKIN RELIEF SPOT FILM GEL (15ML) [RM19]

This zit-zapping treatment is a revolutionary formula that applies thinly onto the skin before drying down to a smooth canvas, protecting the area.

It contains tea tree oil to quickly and effectively treat acne, while a mix of Centella and pine leaf extracts calm redness, treating acne while you’re out and about. Salicylic acid, tea tree leaf and Pinus Thunbergii leaf extracts helps protect and treat troubled areas. It also contains glycerin and niacinamide to help soothe, moisturize and brighten for a healthy, happy complexion.

A unique clear gel texture that dries down into a translucent patch. It creates a thin film that creates a protective barrier to effectively soothe and treat the troubled area.

HOW TO USE

Ensure the area of the skin is clean before application. Gently squeeze to dispense a small amount of product. Apply a thin layer onto targeted areas and allow to dry for approximately 5 minutes. Ensure the patch is completely dry before applying makeup on top.

I applied on my acne. However, I find that the thin film distracts the makeup look because it will not have a smooth finish. As you can see, the thin film can tear out. But it is customizable by adjusting the thickness and size of the patches applied. I still do prefer to just use this at night but I quite like the uniqueness of the film which acts as barrier to prevent secondary infection caused by potentially dirty hands or environments.

Now, I also did a video tutorial for CNY dinner makeup look using the makeup by Althea Korea. Enjoy! 

So, here's the look in pictures. First, I concealed, contoured and highlighted my face as explained above.

Then, I used the BCL x Althea eye palette and applied shimmery nude with pearly pink as base for full eye and above the crease line.

Then concealer is applied in shade #02 for a cut crease look.

After it dried, I mixed deep wine with metallic rose gold for some shimmer.

Cool purple on the upper lash for a smokey in depth look.

Add on some pink gold eye glitter.

Dabbed on some Cream Tint Shade #03 Peach Cream.

TA-DAH!

Ready for CNY 2019!!

So, did I fare well in my contour/highlight, Korean gradient lips and a glamorous night look? Let me know! So that I can improve as well =)

Thank you so much Althea Korea for letting me experiment and learning new skills. Can't wait to do more new looks with all the products given =) Shop the products above at Althea Korea today!