Urban feature: behind the scenes ‘hits & misses’

So here’s Renee and Mag with me at Sephora on Tuesday morning, being dolled up and waiting to have our photos taken for the Urban feature. I actually wanted to take some behind the scenes shots but ended up too engrossed in conversations with the makeup artist and hair stylist and later on, being too shy to pose for pictures. Anyway, the clothes I wore were prepared by Urban. I have no idea what sort of look I took on, but if I added a headband and a cigarette holder, I could possibly pass off as a flapper. Heh.

For those outside of Singapore, Urban is a beauty, fashion and style supplement that accompanies our national newspaper, The Straits Times, every Friday. It is a guide to looking good and yesterday, they ran a feature on Singapore’s top beauty bloggers and I was featured along with three other lovely ladies – Mag, Renee and Roseanne. Well, I really have to thank God for giving me the courage to do this, and of course my dearest readers who have been so supportive of Viva Woman. (n_n)

The makeup artist, Benedict, did my makeup using products from MAC. He’s a really cute guy and I was so surprised to learn that he used to work as a IT support specialist prior to becoming a makeup artist! Talk about a dramatic career switch. As for my hair, I really didn’t have that many options compared to the others with their long tresses. But thanks to Wayne of Essensuals Bugis, I really love how I look with my hair – they were styled with straighteners and they didn’t look limp and flat!

The shot of the three of us together was quite funny. We were standing behind the MAC counter at Sephora trying to play with the cosmetics. But actually, there were not many products at that corner and we ended up swapping products with each other to kill time. Haha. As for my individual picture, I didn’t spend a lot of time posing for the shots really. It was just maybe about five or six shots for me and I was done. Pretty easy and relaxing for me. The only thing was that the photographer had to remind me to smile for the pictures. Oh well, I smiled all right but just not the sort of teeth-flashing smile. And if I turn around for a picture, you would have seen a big clip holding the dress too – for I had given them the wrong clothes size!

All in all, we were there for about three hours but most of the time was actually spent on the makeup and hairdo than the actual photography. Gladys, the journalist, asked me if I’ve ever been involved in such a photoshoot. And after thinking about it for awhile, I turned to ask her cheekily, “do wedding shots count?” (~o~) Oh, and since my age has been revealed, I must well just tell you this. I actually wanted Gladys to write my age down as 40s but she couldn’t oblige due to strict orders from her editor. So I told her – okay, let’s put it down as 44 for my birthday for the year is still not over! (^▽^)

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Comments

  1. pf1123 says:

    Wahhhh…you’re in the news! Famous now! Congrats. ?

  2. Rebecca says:

    You look great!!! Your skin looks awesome!

  3. Paris B says:

    Congratulations Sesame! This is awesome and you look amazing! ?

  4. MsLips says:

    Good job on the feature Sesame. Urban gave your blog good reviews. Think you’ll be recognised on the streets now? Like the hair :)

  5. EcoBeauty says:

    congratulations, sesame. u look great and i think the dress actually suit u well. i read the feature last night, hubby bought me a copy when he saw your name on the papers coz he knows i love your blog :p

  6. Blovetbeauty says:

    U look stylish and classy and I love ur flapper insired hair! I read ur interview and loved ur answers too! Congrats on being featured :-)

  7. Dee says:

    Congrats Sesame! Great feature and you look lovely.

  8. Roseanne says:

    awesome love! :)

  9. Soos says:

    Congratulations! You look very polished: great shiny hair, soft lip and cheek colors.

    I know about those clips, as I used to be in that industry.

    You’re as old as you feel, and age is only a number!

  10. sesame says:

    Haha…so-called ‘famous’ but these news are quite forgettable. :)

  11. sesame says:

    Thank you! The makeup artist did a good job too!

  12. sesame says:

    Thank you Paris!

  13. sesame says:

    I don’t think I’ll be recognized…except for those in the know. The article was pretty positive as a whole…thank God!

  14. sesame says:

    Aww…so happy to know you like my blog! Thank you! :)

  15. sesame says:

    Thank you! I like the hair…toying with the idea of getting a mini straightener myself.

  16. sesame says:

    Thank you Dee!

  17. sesame says:

    Wish you were here for the photoshoot to add to the fun!

  18. sesame says:

    Thanks Soos! These people really know how to style…

    Oh, you used to be in the industry? That’s interesting to know! It must have been quite hectic and fast paced then too.

    Ah the age…I’m letting go of that insecurity. Just like to tease. You know a smaller number will always look better on paper, even if it’s just a difference of ‘1’. ? Haha…but today someone who is 55 said she use her age to get away with things although in reality, she feels young!

  19. Brownies says:

    Congrats! will read the article right away!
    Soos is so right. Age is just a number and it does not reflect our age that is in our heart. :)

  20. Iris says:

    Hi Sesame,
    You looked great in the article, especially the solo pic! I enjoyed reading your interview, it was very frank as always.

  21. Roseanne says:

    Hey Sesame, just blogged about the issue. I didn’t like that they got some random 29 year old to say that we aren’t credible. Ridiculous: http://roseannebeauty.onsugar.com/Lets-Discuss-Beauty-Bloggers-Credible-14870147
    Do add your opinion here if you have time

    Love,
    Roseanne

  22. stella says:

    that dress looks great on you; i think you should get it! :)

  23. Audris says:

    Flapper style definitely suits you, your hair length/style and your frame too.

  24. Diane says:

    congratulations sesame! :) great article! age is just a number! When I met you before, I thought you were much younger than your age! :)

  25. makeupmag says:

    Hi dear,

    Like I told Iris, I’m glad I got to know you better through this Urban thing. ? And you looked very polished; more than one friend told me you definitely don’t look your age (i.e. you look much younger)!

  26. Gwen says:

    Congrats! You look great!

  27. N. says:

    Yeah I saw it on one of the other girls blog. And I was very surprised. #k8SjZc9Dxk#k8SjZc9Dxk

  28. sesame says:

    Heh. Hope it was a pleasant surprise. ?

  29. sesame says:

    Thank you Gwen!

  30. sesame says:

    It was fun! Wah, must thank your friends for the compliments! :)

  31. sesame says:

    Yeah, it’s a number just that I wasn’t so comfortable about revealing it cos the industry is dominated by smaller number. ?

  32. sesame says:

    I wish I can have bangs…my hair is too little for that style. Can only sweep the fringe to the side.

  33. sesame says:

    I might check it out…it’s from Topshop. :)

  34. sesame says:

    I read it but didn’t add any comment. Actually, I’m okay with it. You know how the paper works. I think there is some truth to it but it’s not across the board. Anyway, your large number of readers can attest to your credibility already. ?

  35. sesame says:

    Thank you Iris. And you’re so supportive with the shoutout! :)

  36. sesame says:

    Yeah…that’s right! :) I am a child at heart. ?

  37. Ms. Blacklace says:

    Haha! When I saw the title Singaporean beauty blogs, I quickly flipped the page to see if you were in it.

    And you were! Congrats! You look great!

    I know how you feel about those clips too. Even the “S” size was too big for me so they have to clip my whole back down to my hips. So if you see models with beautiful form fitting dresses… It’s a LIE…… Lol.

  38. Winnie says:

    You look absolutely stunning! I love natural looking beauty and your blog is my perfect cup of tea :-) Congrats again!

  39. chenyze says:

    omg you looked amazing! in the first photo you looked about late 20s! hehe. and I think it was great that you didn’t do have teeth-flashing smile for the article – There was a definite too-cool-to-care edge to your expression (=

    and do you know where that dress was from? I’d buy it in a heartbeat hehe!

  40. sesame says:

    Wow, late 20s. I would love to look that age. ? And thank you for the way you describe my expression – I like that description!

    I was told the dress is from Topshop…not too sure as I haven’t checked it out.

  41. sesame says:

    Thank you! Come back often! ?

  42. sesame says:

    Now I know! It never really occured to me that those picture perfect models were “clipped”. Ah…all the industry tricks!

    And thank you for your compliment!

  43. Sylvia says:

    Hi Sesame, Congrats on the feature. You look amazing! I thought it was a good feature, very reasonable. Funny to read about your “misses”. I thought that didn’t make any sense (the comment about you using other people’s youtube videos). It’s clear that they were just looking for something negative to say!

  44. Amanda says:

    You look amazing in the photo. And I love your blog, especially the fact that you take time to respond the comments.

  45. sesame says:

    Thanks Sylvia! Yeah, I suppose they need to critic something but they’re were at least nice to write something positive to counteract it.

  46. sesame says:

    Thank you Amanda for being so supportive!

  47. BT says:

    Wow, congratulation! What made you change your mind? (I remember you rejected a newspaper interview last time ;)). You looked very chic and sweet in the white floral dress!

  48. Ellie-B says:

    Hi Sesame, you are beautiful, you look very elegant in these photo shoots, and I love the dress!

    Congrats, I am very excited for you :)

  49. sesame says:

    Thanks BT! I recently started updating my other space so you can find my reasons there. ?

  50. K. says:

    Hey Sesame! You look awesome for your age ?

    I was under the assumption that you were in your early 30s!

  51. Ivy says:

    hey Sesame…

    u look great.. me too thought u were in ur 30s…. the dress is very pretty! and u r so slim!!!

  52. sesame says:

    Thank you Ivy! I need to be fatter. ?

  53. sesame says:

    Thank you K. I guess being small built can be quite deceiving in terms of age. ?

  54. Ris says:

    Everytime i watch kbs world’s “smile again” or the other korean show, “temptation of wife” whenever i see Jung Ae Ri, she reminds me of you… Hmmmm

  55. sesame says:

    She does? Haha…I had to google to find out who she is cos I don’t watch Korean dramas. Only know a few faces…

  56. sesame says:

    Thank you Ellie-B. For some strange reasons, my earlier reply never came up. The dress is interesting! :)

  57. ris says:

    yup! especially your hair and sharp eyes and facial features. I think even you also have the same slender physique that looks elegant yet very intimidating at the same time (since she always portrays as a rich, business woman)

  58. sesame says:

    Haha…I like the word intimidating! A lot of people tells me I look fierce when I don’t smile. ?

  59. Nina says:

    I must say, you are in great shape !

  60. sesame says:

    Thank you Nina! :)

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