The Ultimate Luxury @ Branché Hair & Nail Salon

Some places leave you feeling like a million bucks. Branché Hair & Nail Salon, at the new Capitol Piazza, is one such haven.

It was by sheer luck that two girlfriends and I got invited by the Salon Director /Top Stylist, Kensuke Kai-san, to a free trial of their hair spa and styling. I was initially hesitant but (thankfully) signed up for an appointment with Kai anyway - turned out to be one of my best impromptu decisions ever!

Stepping into Branché on a Saturday afternoon in May 2015, first thing that struck was how serene and peaceful the place was. None of that hair-dryer noise, busy chatters, hustle and bustle you'd find at a typical hair salon. In fact, there wasn't even that mish-mesh of chemical smells, just a pleasant, calming atmosphere. The ambience here is a little formal - bright, posh, spacious - and everyone were so polite and friendly, puts one instantly at ease.

Newly opened in March 2015, Branché offers hair and nail services under one roof, helmed by a team of true-blue Japanese stylists and nailists, each with over 10 years of experience. A successful chain with 20 outlets in Japan, 3-month-old Branché at Capitol Piazza is its first overseas establishment, as Kai explained.

The service here is IMPECCABLE - and so are the stylists' sense of style ;) It's not just about the hair, it's the entire customer experience in play - nothing but made-in-Japan best quality, products and services, and just that extra bit of attention to details too. Subtle but certainly noticeable. I was truly blown away! I received undivided attention from my skilled and very patient stylist, Kai, from the point of arrival, through the 1.5-hrs of pampering hair treatments, delicate care, seriously to-die-for head and shoulder massages, and beyond. Nothing about the customer is insignificant here. I felt truly valued, respected, and pampered like a princess. An experience unlike any I've had before, and one that inevitably won my heart over. Even the selection of drinks offered, and the (very Japanese) way they're presented, left me in awe - just check out that picture below of my delicious Matcha Latte!

The prices here are, of course, not for the faint-hearted. Expect to pay around S$200 for a haircut with scalp analysis, wash and style. But what you pay is what you get. In fact, I believe you're getting way better service and value here than what you'd get at some of the larger salon chains, for the same price. As you can tell, I'm quite a convert now ;)

I've since recommended several colleagues and personal friends, and everyone has only good things to say about Kai and Branché. In my opinion, a treasure cove, and an indulge (even if it's a guilty one) worth splurging on.

Branché Hair & Nail Salon

13 Stamford Road, #B1-33 Capitol Piazza, Singapore 178905.

Opening Hours: 11:00am - 8:00pm Daily

For Appointments, call: +65 6702-3036 (Recommended Top Stylist/Director: Kai)

Other Awesome Hairstylists: Ichi | Eri | Kento
Nailists: Safori | Meg (based in Nagoya, Japan)
www.branche.sg | Facebook | Instagram

"Tikkam" for grown up women :)

remember when you were a kid, you would spend all your spare pocket money at the neighbourhood "tikkam" store - picking up a random number from a cup/box, matching it against the numbers on the gift board, and then often, smiling silly, walking away with an inexpensive little bell, a trinket, an eraser or something...

this is like that, except it's targeted at the grown up women ;)

www.vanitytrove.com

 

you pay a fixed monthly subscription fee of S$25.00, and get little surprise packages of random beauty samples - skincare, bath & body, makeup etc. - delivered to your door steps every month.

very interesting concept, and i think it would continue to work as long as the perceived value of the packages surpasses the amount being paid, and of course, that lousy samples stay out of the packages. moreover people are not exactly paying for the items in the box, what they're after is that surprise, the suspense and that little thrill of receiving something expected - yet unexpected - in the mail. so keep it pretty too, and the subscriptions will roll...

travel with tokidoki this Spring

we all love to travel, don't we? visiting new places, experiencing new sights and sounds, new tastes and wonders, shopping, exploring, meeting new people, the occasional holiday romances.. lol! there's just something about holidays, vacations and travelling that's simply magical.

now take that magic and throw in some tokidoki, voila! that's what makes this Spring 2012 so wonderful. how so? check out these awesomely adorable travel-inspired tokidoki collections:

(tokidoki Ramblers handbags collection - from USD68)

 (tokidoki airways palette - USD42)

makes you can't wait to book your next holiday and hop on that plane, and bring these lovely bags and make-up along with you, doesn't it? :)

tokidoki rollerball fragrances...

these are toooooo adorable!
i wonder if sephora singapore carries these... shall drop by to check it out this weekend :)

adios & ciao ciao rollerball duo (US$30)

 

rollerball collection (US$18 each)

jingle bells...

i love the harajuku lovers fragrances, have always loved them since i first set eyes on the original collection at a Macy's store in Seattle :) and of course, that's also the beginnings of my (evil) little collection of those cute little fragrance dolls... hehehe.

confession: after all these years, i must have a total of 6 or 8 bottles to date (a few of which were gifts) - selected ones from every single collection, as well as the special edition "Gwen-only" ones :)

yay! there's a new release from HJL, its latest but also the very last fragrance from the line. *sob sob* such a pity because it's been fun looking forward to each new release, but also a BIG sigh of relief, after all no one can go on collecting them forever, can they? ;)

i am definitely getting the 10ml (S$38) for this festive "jingle gwen" fragrance doll. i've heard from colleagues that Robinsons Singapore already has this in store, so get yours early whilst stocks last!

related posts:

• harajuku lovers - G of the sea
• Harajuku Lovers are wicked ;)
• harajuku lovers - solid perfume coffret
• i want the Harajuku Lovers Snow Bunnies gift set! :)

what do you think these are?

make a guess...

(scroll down for the answer...)

(((tada!)))

(view more on these pages: modelling pics. 1 and pics. 2)

pretty remarkable, aren't they? so delicate and beautiful, almost like art... remind me of those paper cuttings, like these traditional ones, or the contemporary ones, don't you agree?

a colleague had directed me to this post on Scrangie's blog, and that's where i had come to know of these fancy stick-on eyelashes from the brand paperself. i had in fact checked out the actual products at the Sephora store here the other day (retails SGD30 per pair) but the packaging is so plain, you'd hardly notice if you weren't looking for them in the first place... such a pity.

i personally have not tried any form of stick-on lashes before, but have certainly witnessed how some of those 'falsies' do wonders to one's eyes.. amazing! :) pretty as these are, i don't suppose we would start seeing these fluttering about in public on the average days... would probably make more sense as some eye-catching pieces for the runway, or fancy costume / themed parties.

this is my favourite pair - deers and butterflies :)

available from paperself.com; sephora; urbanities australia etc.

harajuku lovers - G of the sea

me likey this!! sooo adorable! :)

should i, should i not?

too pricey though.
i would get this if they have it in the smaller 15ml version.

to add to my tiny collection of the small HL fragrances *wink*.

sooo cuuuute...

Harajuku Girls G of the sea perfume (USD64)

edited to add: good news, fellow H.J.L. fans! this limited edition mermaid "G" is now available in Singapore! :) in fact, to my surprise, they have actually brought in the 15ml version of it too *woohoo*. as i had promised, i went ahead to get myself a 15ml bottle of this at a 10% discount ;) original retail price S$38, available at Takashimaya shopping centre fragrance department. go get yours now!

M.A.C. - a tartan tale

i'm usually on the fence with M.A.C cosmetics. i know there is a huge fan following for M.A.C., making sure that all limited edition new collections get snapped up within days or even hours of their launch, but for me, M.A.C. is usually a hit or miss, and i always still have my soft spot for stila, too faced, Paul & Joe and such... what can i say, i'm a packaging kind of girl, the makeup has to look pretty in the palette before i can be convinced that it'll look pretty on me :)

M.A.C. launches a new collection every month or so, they're usually very bold and loud, hardly my cup of tea. once in a while though, i do get attracted and even tempted by some of their whimsical, mod-style collections.... just like its current Tartan Tale collection, totally spot on for me! gosh, shall i make a trip down to CK Tangs this evening? ;) wonder if there's anything left...

a tartan tale
We're telling a slightly twisted Tartan Tale to celebrate holiday, in all its posh, punk, ancestral, anarchic, noble and naughty glory. Royal and raunchy, colours and patterns collide, fantasies come true, punk fairies take flight with enchanted new looks. Be transformed! (abstract from maccosmetics.com)

gee, i'm so loving these... the scottish checked prints and crest on the cases/pouches are soo pretty! ooh tempting tempting tempting :P

view more gorgeous pics. here:

• british beauty blogger
• temptalia

Harajuku Lovers are wicked ;)

if something this cute ain't wicked, then what is it? lol.

i first came across Gwen Stefani's Harajuku Lovers fragrance (original set) during my vacation in Seattle back in 2008. it was love at first sight. i KNEW i had to bring home some of those even before i had a sniff of the scents. as it turned out, they were all very pleasant and i even got oddly hooked to the unusual fruity coconuty scent of 'G'. so i ended up with a big splurge at Macy's, left the store with the 10ml petite bottle of 'G' and 'LOVE', and the entire set of solid perfume cuties :P

in mid-2009, the brand launched a limited edition seasonal collection featuring the same 5 dolls dressed in warm fluffy winter coats and each spotting rosier cheeks - the 'Snow Bunnies' collection! even though i wasn't in the USA then, Harajuku Lovers eventually made it to the departmental stores here, and so i added the new 'G' and 'BABY' to my collection. from then on, i knew there was just no turning back *gulp*...

and right i was. earlier this year, when Summer came, the Harajuku Lovers left their thick winter clothes behind and showed more skin :) these 'Sunshine Cuties' looked sooooo adorable in their tiny bikinis and bathing suit, they even had tanner skin, and oh.. look at 'LOVE' with her over-sized sunshades! hehehe... how could i resist? *tsk tsk tsk*. i chose the 10ml 'G' and 'LOVE' again. this time, other than 'G', each doll's scent was slightly different from the original, so that made it more interesting.

when i saw the new 'Wicked Style' Harajuku Lovers on sephora.com, i must say Harajuku Lovers are just wicked! lol. i'm gonna be broke collecting them, even though i limit myself to only 2 dolls per season, it all still adds up :P

initially, i thought i would be safe with the 'Wicked Style' cuz it's darker, more 'emo' and not quite my usual fancy, but they actually grew on me. yikes! the scents are new, and they now have fuzzy felt heads, new hairdo too! cute. i've already taken a liking to 'G', 'BABY' and 'LIL' ANGEL'.

hmm.. i don't think they'll be available on our shore for at least another month or so, let's just see if i'll still be tempted then ;) oh wicked wicked wicked...

coca-cola on the go...

i'm not a coke fan, but i know many friends who are. i'm like an old auntie.. hehe, my favourite drink is hot milk tea, and i seldom or almost never take cold drinks, especially the carbonated ones. nonetheless, that didn't stop me from bagging a set of these coca-cola cuties the moment i saw them at the store! ok, i don't use 4 lip balms/gloss at the same time - the regular coke set is a surprise gift for a gf, mine's the vanilla lip balm *slurp.. yummy* (it smells and even tastes a little like the real thing!)

i've always read of lip smacker and their wide range of very interesting co-branded and food/drink-flavoured lip products online, but sadly they're just hardly available here in Singapore. in recent years, thanks to globalisation, expanding retail giants and even the more enterprising smaller blogshops, we're now beginning to find more exciting, cutesy merchandises on our tiny little island too :) besides the regular coca-cola and vanilla coke flavours, i also spotted sprite, fanta - strawberry, orange & grape too! such lovely collectibles.. hurry, go grab yours today before they're all gone!

available at Guardian Pharmacy at the following prices:

• regular lip balm (S$4.90)
• clear lip gloss (S$6.90)
• roller-ball lip gloss (S$7.90)
• packaged set of all 3 lip items (S$15.90)

i hope they'll bring in the lip smacker paul frank lip balms set too.. way toooooooo adorable! (don't ask me how i'll ever get to finish my lip balms) :P

this July, be pretty in Paris with Chelsea and stila!

following up on my post in June about stila's 'wish you were here' U.S.A. road trip... here's the second part of the road trip - this time to romantic Paris, with virtual girl Chelsea! ooh la la...
this looks so pretty too! i simply love the packaging (haha.. yes, you know me) :P and what's there to resist when each adorable palette goes for only US$10.00! eeks! why oh why don't they sell this in Singapore too? *sob*

i soooooo sooooo wanna collect the ENTIRE collection of 5.
if they still have all in stocks by the time the 5th palette is released, i will so do a spree for myself ;)

next up on the road trip map in mid-August is kawaii Tokyo (Japan)! take a sneak peek here:

btw ladies, the Borderlinx Singapore 15% off shipping is still valid, all the way till 31 jul 2010. so if you like what you see, there's still time ;) simple apply discount code 440067 or 804062.

take a road trip round U.S.A. and more with stila!

wow. i really like this "wish you were here" stila online campaign.
of course, i may be a tad bit biased because i've been a stila cosmetics fan forever *smile*... but when i first saw the landing page of this campaign, i literally went "wow!" :) me likey!

stila has been a little boring in recent years, and honestly i don't expect even this new campaign to revive much of the dwindling interests from the general public. BUT i just gotta give special mention to this because it really is quite something i've not seen from the regular cosmetics brand for a while now. i like how simple, integrated, cute and fun this whole idea is..

so, follow Kylie (the 1st virtual stila girl) on her road trip in U.S.A, then meet other virtual stila girls in other countries - France, Russia, Japan, Fiji - along the way, and pick up more awesome new deals too!

to kickstart the trip, get your hands on this lovely compact palette (worth US$65) for only... US$10! unbelievable! i want one too.. or rather, i want ALL 5 of them! :D

well done, stila!
wish i were there...
spree, anyone? :P

ps: Borderlinx Singapore currently has a '15% off shipping' promo.
apply discount code: 440067 or 804062 (till 31 july 2010) :)

Paul & Joe lets you play peekaboo with your lipstick ;)

i'm not sure whether to call this cute or freaky..

hmm, maybe cute in a freaky way, or freaky in a cute way. lol.

looks pretty normal on the outside...

roll up the tube and... *gasp* - boo! lol.

(source: FAnet via Rouge Deluxe)

i have no idea how to apply this on your lips without 'killing' the cat or ruining your lip makeup. hehe.. so weird. i seriously wouldn't know where to start applying. i guess a lip-brush might be the only logical way. nonetheless, i have to admit the kitty carving is quite delicately done on the lipstick.. very pretty, it's almost like chocolate.. hehe.

not the most practical of lipsticks but definitely a unique collectible and conversation piece. Paul & Joe always has the prettiest packaging and girliest makeup and beauty sets. i don't think i'd be getting one of these (likely very expensive) kitty lipsticks, but the face colour collection for Fall 2010 sure looks very enticing ;) not the usual Paul & Joe single eyeshadows. check them out.
i love the swans packaging, but the colours on the other set look simply gorgeous!
this is sales strategy, the product designers always pair the less interesting colours with the nicer packaging :p

get chic nails even with shaky hands ;)

i could never do my own manicure well, so i've given up and usually just go bare on my fingernails, except for special occasions when i'll get them done, professionally.

now there's hope for people like me with shaky hands :)
check out these ultra chic nail patches (thin film stickers) from Sephora by OPI.
USD15 for a set of 16 nail patches - good for fingers or toes.

ooh.. don't they look so very good on the model's hands?
so which is your favourite? :)

if you can't eat them, lick them ;)

saw these lovely fairy cakes lip balms on vie couture, sooooo cute! :)
i love how pretty these look, and the packaging too.
would make wonderful stocking stuffers or little party favours.

available from asos at £6 per set of 4.

ooh.. and check these out too.. flower power!
ooh la la!!
also available from asos at £5 per set of 2.
anyone spreeing from asos soon? ;)

kinda reminds me of the one donut lip gloss i have.
mine's the pink donut - plain gloss version. *happy smile*
if you're also into girly funky lip balms and glosses, check out more on these sites:
- asos
- totally funky
- cupcakes & cartwheels via amazon.com
- sweet shop via amazon.com

cozycot's free newspaper available today!

wow.. cozycot seems to have evolved so much over the years, doing pretty well.. they have just launched their very own "newspaper", available at various locations nationwide from 15 april 2010 (that's today!)

hmm.. i'm definitely curious what goes into their first newspaper, shall see if i can get hold of a copy this week. any of you with easy access to it, please don't forget me ;)

available at the following locations and times:

or
view a PDF version of the newspaper (issue #01) here.

btw, cozycot is also launching a paid membership card this saturday, 17 apr, 11:00am (singapore time) at Orchard Central... looks like quite some new initiatives from them. check out the teaser ad. here :) given the huge following on cozycot forums, this can be quite successful.

3rd Sephora Singapore store coming to Great World City!

*woohoo*.. i'm really excited that Sephora Singapore will soon be opening their 3rd store at Great World City (GWC) next to Zara on level 1! this is fantastic news because i can literally walk to GWC!! hehehe *happy dance*

just read about it on rouge deluxe, makeupstash and makeup&me, looks like news have been going around for several weeks now, i'm just slow on this. ok, my wallet may not be that happy.. but the idea of having a Sephora store so near my home is just too inviting ;)

honestly, Sephora has always been a must-go stop whenever i visited USA in the past years, i don't always buy tons of things there but it's just such a makeup/skincare/fragrance shopping haven for all ladies (at least for those of us who are crazy over them)... wide floor space, rich variety of products, freedom to walk around and try out everything without being closely tailed by sales assistants, plus access to all the unique brands that were (back then) not available here at home! so even on occasions when i ended up buying nothing from the store, the shopping experience in there was enough to perk me up (well yes, i'm a true blue shopaholic) :P

anyway, just wanna share the good news.. in case some of you, like me, aren't aware of this yet. looks like the GWC grand opening will be happening very soon (late-April)... who knows, the next time my friend and i go watch a movie at GWC, we'll be able to pop by the brand new Sephora store there! such a happy thought *swoon*... :D

paul & joe x alice splurge

confession: i splurged on paul & joe x alice in wonderland set + new lip balm yesterday :P

have been looking forward to the alice set since november last year, now that it's finally here, i just couldn't resist it! hehehe.. a little treat for my recent hard work.

the collection comes in 2 colours, i decided on the pink/nude version.
the sales assistant said their first batch of pink set has all been fully reserved / sold-out. guess i made a good choice then ;)

soooo pretty, aren't they? lovely limited edition collectors' item. i'll start using them tomorrow - TGIF! yay! ;)

happy day..

today is a happy day :)

1) because it's friday - TGIF!! fridays always make me happy :)
2) i'm finally able to take a teeny weeny break from work, just chill, watch TV and not worry about stuff for a little..
3) dinner at xinwang HK cafe tonight was simple and good... yumm yumm.
4) more tokidoki fever! lol..

i almost couldn't believe my eyes when my colleague pointed me to the tokidoki for sephora page online. O.M.G. in addition to their very successful line of canvas bags, clothing, collectibles, vinyl dolls and all.. tokidoki now comes in make up as well? woohoo! what more can a toki fan ask for? ;)

since the tokidoki-smashbox co-brand makeup collection launched in 2007 (which never made it to singapore), this is actually the first time tokidoki has launched a standalone makeup line of its own. isn't it exciting? exclusively distributed via sephora.com, with such affordable pricings (as compared to its regular line of merchandise), i've got a feeling this entire collection would completely sell out in no time at all.

i like the eyeshadow palettes, the lip glosses and the bellissima makeup pouches! :) such adorable designs and packaging. really wish sephora singapore would bring in the full range as well! pretty please...