MEET the team
editor’s note
Hello ladies! It’s that time of the year again, when you see chocolate being sold at obnoxious prices and heart-shaped balloons floating in storefronts, when restaurants advertise special, romantic “dinners for two” and lingerie stores roll out all the lacy red underwear. Yes, it’s going to be Valentine’s Day. If you’re finding yourself staring down V-Day wholly unprepared, stay calm. In this month’s issue of Flair, we teach you, among other things, some simple hairstyles to tame your mane (pg 7), as well as how to fill in your brows to complement your face shape (pg 8). We’ve also got an exclusive Valentine’s Day spread to get you ready for that very special day, with a delicious waffle recipe, a cute gift idea, and tips for making your very own selfie-station (pg 12-13). Also, stand a chance to win a beach getaway for two to Bali! Additionally, we’ve spoken to some young women on the rise, such as radio DJ Sonia Chew (pg 14-15), and talk about some health issues that affect women like you and me.
stay fabulous,
Have a wonderful February, dear readers, and if you haven’t got a date on Valentine’s Day, well, you don’t really need a man anyway.
EDITOR
Stefanie Yeo
SUB EDITORS Eng Cheryl Jolaine Chua DESIGNERS
Charlotte Low Vivien Low
PHOTO EDITOR
Isabelle Seah
WRITERS Stefanie Yeo Rachel Stansilas Syahmah Haniss Debbie Chang Isabelle Seah Charlotte Low Vivien Low Eng Cheryl Jolaine Chua
COVER ILLUSTRATION BY
Toh Kui Qiang
COVER & DESIGN CONCEPT BY Isabelle Seah, Charlotte Low, Vivien Low Flair is made for women, by women, discussing things that are close to our hearts. The woman on the cover is confident, independent, and elegant, which is what we want all our readers to be- women who can take the world by storm.
Stefanie Yeo Editor
IN THIS ISSUE FASHION
2
LADY BEHIND THE SCENES
4
SPICE UP THOSE OLD SHIRTS
6
JOLAINE CHUA
CHARLOTTE LOW
8 THE ART OF BROWS
BEAUTY
7
HAIR HUES ENG CHERYL
QUICK HAIR TRICKS
DEBBIE CHANG
11 PLASTIC, NOT FANTASTIC
SYAHMAH HANISS
SYAHMAH HANISS
9 COLOURFUL DAMAGE
14 ALL ABOUT THE GIRL CHARLOTTE LOW
ISABELLE SEAH
10 FIGHTING THE PIMPLE VILLAINS RACHEL STANSILAS
SPECIAL FOOD
12
V FOR VALENTINE
SYAHMAH HANISS, DEBBIE CHANG, RACHEL STANSILAS
16 NOT YOUR AVERAGE JANE
20 BOOZE WON’T BOOST
18 A POACHED EGG-CITEMENT
22 WORKING ON A TITLE
STEFANIE YEO ENG CHERYL
HEALTH
B
DEBBIE CHANG
VIVIEN LOW
23 WEAR THE CORRECT HOOTER HOLDER 25 THE SKINNY ON TEATOX ISABELLE SEAH
YES TO QUITTING 24 SAY RACHEL STANSILAS
VIVIEN LOW
FLAIR 1
CLEO Chew, the face behind the Instagram account
FASHION
@forthegerbera is not just your typical young fashion blogger as she has more to her than meets the eye.
Dressed in a sleeveless white top with a dark blue midi skirt, a pair of shades, and accented sandals, the chatty 21-year-old carries an air of confidence that was instantly noticeable. Cleo does not exactly dress to the nines, but she still manages to give off a chic, fashionable look. Not the kind to be seen in a flouncy floral skirt, or an elegant off-shoulder dress, she prefers comfort rather than girly outfits. She portrays the “girl-next-door” look without being overly feminine. “My style is more clean-cut, and tailored-looking,” Cleo laughed. Unless there was an important event, or a ‘girl’s night out’, Cleo would typically be in her most comfy get-up: a loose-fitting top and some comfy bottoms. Cleo also has no problem naming some of her favourite style icons, which she takes inspiration from. Names like Margaret Zhang, Taylor Swift, Emma Watson and Singaporean fashion blogger Andrea Chong rolled off her tongue quickly, without much hesitation. The Singapore Management University (SMU) student started blogging as a hobby, with a private platform. The Singapore Management University (SMU) student started blogging as a hobby, with a private platform.
The Lady Behind The Scenes
“It was only in the past year that I decided to try blogging on a commercial platform,” said Cleo. She also said that she does not just do fashion posts on her blog, but also posts little snippets of her life. “I like documenting my memories and holidays. It’s nice to have a platform that I can look back on one day to recount the things I’ve done,” she shared. When asked about what she found most rewarding about being a fashion blogger, the business student perked up, answering without hesitation. “It’s definitely the styling,” smiled Cleo, “I like putting together something original, and the creativity that goes into it.” She also mentioned how she would, frankly speaking, prefer blogging to a regular desk job. “It’s great how I am being paid to do something I like, especially because I feel that I have the passion in doing what I do,” she admitted.
JOLAINE CHUA speaks to Cleo Chew, an up-and-coming presence in the Singapore fashion scene 2 FLAIR 2 FLAIR
PHOTO BY: Isabelle Seah PHOTO BY: Isabelle Seah
Cleo had also coincidentally worked for the Singapore magazine CLEO, under the fashion and editorial section. Apparently, blogging was not what Cleo imagined herself doing from the start. “When I was young, I always wanted to be a nurse,” Cleo giggled. “Somehow I thought I was such a noble person, but in the end I realised that that wasn’t what I wanted to be,” she shared. The young SMU student is now making waves in the fashion industry in Singapore, working with
online labels such as Ellysage and Love, Bonito. Cleo also recently attended the Digital Fashion Week 2014 (DFW), a platform to showcase the designs of local designers, in Singapore earlier in November. She saw Singapore-based bloggers like Jemimah Wei and Andrea Chong, along with well-known fashion YouTube celebrities like Jenn Im. Cleo also revealed how ashamed she felt after attending the DFW as she didn’t know so many of the local designers featured in it. She mentioned that there were “a whole lot of local designers that the mainstream public are not aware of” and that “their works deserve to be seen by the world”. Cleo isn’t all just about blogging and schooling, she also has an open water diving licence. Cleo recounted diving in Pulau Aur before, although she wishes to experience diving in other places as well. Cleo’s close friend, Dora Soh, said that Cleo is always the “adventurous one”, someone who loves experiencing new things. Dora and another of Cleo’s close friends, Jocina Tan, both agreed that Cleo’s worst trait would be how she is a perfectionist. “When it comes down to getting work done, Cleo always makes sure she supervises whoever is doing it and makes sure everything is done right,” commented Jocina. Dora also agreed and stated that Cleo can be an extreme “micro-manager” when it gets down to it, but also added that Cleo was always the humorous one. “She is more relatable than anyone, and it’s really easy to talk to her about anything,” stated Dora. Despite being a fashion blogger, the free-spirited girl mentioned that she doesn’t spend long preparing for a day out, whether it’s for school or work, and believes in dressing for an occasion and practicality. “When I’m going to school, I’m a student, so I dress to that. There’s a time and a place for everything,” explained Cleo. “If I’m taking three hours to prepare for a single day of school, then perhaps I’m not getting my priorities right,” she added. As a fashion blogger, people would wonder where Cleo gets all these staple pieces of her wardrobe from, and where she usually goes to shop. Cleo admitted to doing more online shopping now, compared to actually going out shopping. Like most youths, Cleo loves browsing through apparels from the comfort of her own home and take her time to find what she wants. Some of her favourite online labels are shops like Modparade, A for Arcade, and Love, Bonito. “They have something for everyone, whether you’re looking for girly or minimalistic,” she commented. The future seems a bit unclear now for the up and coming blogger. Cleo mentioned that she cannot exactly see the job she’ll be holding in 10 years’ time. “I’m still expanding my horizons for career options,” she explained, “but one thing I’ll definitely be in, is my very own walk in wardrobe!” ♔
FLAIR 3
FASHION
FASHION
SPICE UP THOSE OLD SHIRTS
the braided bohemian top
Let CHARLOTTE LOW teach you how to turn your old clothes into brand new, fashionable pieces
REVITALISE these shirts and
re-design them! You do not have to spend a single cent. “Instead of spending money on something, why not make it yourself,” quipped Sandra Riley Tang, 23, founder and creative director of RileyArt (an online art collective shop featuring handmade items for sale), and member of local indie band, The Sam Willows. Revamping an old shirt is relatively easy. Just do some cutting, tie some knots, and there you have it, a “new” shirt with an edgy touch! In this feature, you will learn two different designs.
fashion tip You can thread beads on each fringe to give it a more fun and bright look before securing it with a knot.
This design has the highest level of difficulty but yet, it is one of the most fashionable designs you can find. The end look of the shirt will be worth the challenge.
So let us start revamping these shirts! Materials you will need: An old shirt (one for each design), a pair of fabric scissors, a marker or tailor chalk and a ruler
the fringe top Step 1 Grab an old shirt and make these markings as shown in green using a marker or tailor chalk.
Step 4 French braid the fringes. Pull the fringes to make it look neater and easier to braid. To do a French braid, place fringe B over fringe A and fringe C over B. Cross A over C and B over A and repeat.
Step 1 Grab an old shirt and make these markings as shown in blue using a marker or tailor chalk.
Step 2 Grab a pair of scissors and cut off the fabric following the first blue marking from the bottom seam of the shirt.
Braid the *“spine” of the shirt, and the six sections.
Step 2 Cut along the lines of the markings you have made. If you are unsure where to cut, you can refer to the YouTube video tutorial that has more detailed steps on cutting up the fabric. Step 3 You should get something that looks like this after cutting of the bottom marking.
Step 4 Take the pair of scissors and start cutting fringes all the way up till the first blue marking.
( 5 Ways To Revamp An Old T-Shirt (NO SEW!) - The DIY Project (EP 4) )
Step 5 Braid the 3 fringes for each section, leaving excess. Secure the braids with a knot. Do not cut off the excess, as it will be used to connect the braided straps to the “spine” of the shirt later.
fashion tip
Step 5 Pull on the fringes. The fabric will curl in on itself. This removes any imperfections from cutting and it gives the fringes a more finished and neater look.
4 FLAIR
Step 6 The shirt should look like this after connecting all the braided straps to the “spine”.
Step 6 End off each fringe with a knot. Take a piece of fringe, make a loop with your finger and pull the end of your fringe through the loop and tighten the knot.
Step 7 (Optional) If you want to make your fringe top into a fringe tank top, just cut off the sleeves as shown.
Step 3 (Photo courtesy of Sandra Riley Tang) Cut the fabric highlighted in light pink further into three smaller sections.
Make sure that the braided fringes are of equal length so that you will not end up with a lopsided look after connecting the straps to the “spine”.
Step 7 (Optional) If you want to cut off the excess fabric after connecting all the braided straps to the “spine”, make a knot over the connected straps before cutting the excess. Having done something similar to this, Bernadette Seow, 18, an avid DIY hobbyist said that these projects are fun to do and it allows one “to get a sense of satisfaction” after doing it. So why not invest a little time and use your creative juices. Who knows what designs you can come up with. Your shirt will be one-of-a-kind! ♔
* The “spine” of the shirt is going to be the center fabric that was cut into three smaller sections in Step Two.
All shirt designs were taught by Sandra Riley Tang of RileyArt PHOTOS BY: Charlotte Low, Sandra Riley Tang BACKGROUND BY: Charlotte Low
FLAIR 5
FASHION
AIR
UES
EVER wanted to have cotton candy pink hair, mysterious
dark purple hair or any other “outrageous” hair colours? Then you are in luck, as it is the latest trend that started two years ago and still going strong! Partially sparked off by the Korean Pop (K-Pop) sensation that has taken Singapore and many other countries by storm over the past decade, this hair trend has become wildly popular, as people try to resemble some of their favourite K-Pop idols. This hair colour trend has been around for quite a while, but only became much more prominent in the last year or so according to Jeff Low, a hairstylist at The One hair salon that provides bright hair colour dyeing services. According to Jeff, the number of teenage girls who have been getting bright hair dye jobs done has been on the rise, and that it is catching up to the number of people that request to dye their hair “normal” colours such as brown and dark red. “About 40% of the customers that request for hair dye jobs would request for a bright hair colour,” he estimates. Most hairstyles can fit bright hair colours, but Jeff’s favourite combination of hairstyle and bright hair colours would be girls with “short or shoulder length hair” as it tends to look edgier. Of course, people who had their hair dyed a bright colour are not necessarily K-Pop fans. “It’s a good way to express yourself,” said Andrea Caroline Koh, 17. She dyed her hair red on a whim as she saw that red hair looked really good on other girls, and has been loving it ever since. In a country that is still generally considered conservative, bright hair colours may not be fully accepted in our society. People would stare, while others would be fascinated. But the people who dye their hair bright colours normally seem to be okay with it. Also, vivid colours are a way of “expressing freedom,” said Jarin Lee, 18. She had tried red and orange hair dye before, and had also bleached her hair
6 FLAIR
FASHION
ILLUSTRATION BY: Vivien Low
ENG CHERYL investigates the latest hair trend - bright hair colours! She gets the scoop on what hairstyles go well with it, what it does to your hair and more
blonde. The most common hair colours would be purple, pink, green and blue, according to Sang Shi Wei (also known as Kenny), a hairstylist at Artica Hair Studio. He mentioned that the younger females would be more daring, going for a whole head a bright colour of their choice, whereas the older females tend to be less adventurous when trying bright hair colours, often requesting for highlights, or block hair colours, in which certain parts of your hair will be sectioned off as blocks to be coloured. The most unique hair colour that Kenny had done was three tonalities in a whole head of hair, using the colours red, purple and pink. Similarly, Jeff had once coloured a selection of warm to cool colours for a girl with short hair, ranging from pink to blue. Most people come in with a picture for the hairstylist to refer to, but it is important to note that the hair colour shown in the picture may not turn out exactly the same on other people’s hair. According to the Women’s Health Magazine, one of the reasons for this would be a dark-based hair colour. Just like using a bright colour pencil to colour on top of a brown piece of paper, the colour would turn out “muddier” than expected, especially if the desired colour is a light shade. Of course, there are drawbacks to having bright hair colours. According to the Livestrong website, dyeing bright hair colours would require you to bleach your hair, stripping it hair of its moisture, leaving dry and damaged ends. To counter this, hairstylists would suggest using special hair conditioners to nourish the ends of your hair. Naturally, if you are planning to dye your hair for the first time, you may get nervous and think about whether the colour would look as good on you as it does on other people, but as Jarin mentioned, “always remember to have fun”! So what are you waiting for? Dyeing bright hair colours is the new popular trend now. Whether you are a cool girl or an angelic girl, there will be a colour to fit your personality. Embrace your youth and go wild with it! ♔
Quick Hair Tricks
If you’re always in a rush, DEBBIE CHANG shares some tips on getting your hair ready under five minutes
SNOOZING the alarm upon hearing
its first ring? Regretting it almost immediately after realising how late it is and there’s not much time to prepare for school or work? Don’t worry, because here are two ways to achieve neat hair in five minutes! Let’s start with the simplest method of taming wild bed hair, regardless of the length of hair:
1
2
Half-up & Half down braids
Not only does this hairstyle get hair out of your face, but it also keeps your hair in place while looking super cute and presentable! Step 1 Grab some hair from the sides of the face and braid them.
Throw on a beanie,snapback or even a headband!
Use a bobby pin to hold up each braid at the back of the head. After pinning up one braid, pin the remaining braid across the other one and cover the bobby pin that’s used to hold it in place. Secure the braids with another bobby pin and tuck the excess hair that’s out of place under your braids, and there you have it, the “Half-Up Half-Down Braids”!
Hair accessories are the best tools for hiding the messy bed hair that’s sticking out in all directions. It tames the hair while adding a certain element to the person’s appearance. Look chic with beanies, cool with a snapback, or elegant with a flower headband. People are going to be so busy noticing the accessory; they probably wouldn’t even notice the few stray strands of hair that’s beneath it. It’s quick, simple, and stylish, so it’s definitely an option to consider. A recent survey shows that men think that the top three sexiest hairstyles females can have is when their hair is down, regardless of whether it is straight or curly, and also when they have their hair done up in a ponytail or a nice hair-do. The next hairstyle consists of both having hair done up, as well as let down. The best of both worlds and done in less than five minutes, what more can anyone ask for?
Professional Hairstylist May Tiang recommends not tying hair too tightly as it causes migraines and discomfort. No one likes having migraines in the middle of a lecture or a busy day of work, right? For those who don’t know how to braid, it’s really simple! Split the section of hair that has been gathered into three even strips. Take the right strip and place it over the centre strip but under the left strip. Following which, place the left strip under the centre strip. Pull and tighten it before repeating this till it reaches the ends of your hair. Step 2 Secure each braid to the back of the head with pins. PHOTOS BY: Debbie Chang
With this, “Snoozing Offenders” can cut down on preparation time in the morning and have some extra time to rush off for school or work! Brenda, the lovely hair model, is a frequent snoozer and really like the hairstyles that were introduced to her. “It’s so simple and quick to do, yet it still looks like I spent a lot of time preparing my hair for school. I’m definitely going to try it soon,” Brenda shared. Of course, the most ideal solution is to get up once the alarm goes off but it can’t be helped, can it? ♔
BACKGROUND BY: Vivien Low
FLAIR 7
BEAUTY
THE
ILLUSTRATION BY: Vivien Low BACKGROUND BY: Charlotte Low
ART OF BROWS
colourful
Keep up with the latest trends and learn how to get the perfect eyebrows to flatter your face shape as SYAHMAH HANISS helps you look good for that special someone on Valentine’s Day
FROM the Needle-Thin to the Barely-There to today’s
Bold-and-Beautiful, eyebrows have been a trend since anyone can remember. With the ever-changing eyebrow trends, it’s hard to stay current. But one can never go wrong with nicely groomed eyebrows that compliment the face.
There are lots of eyebrow shapes to explore, but doing eyebrows is a skill that needs to be acquired. However, one size does not fit all and just because someone looks good with thick and bold eyebrows, doesn’t necessarily mean that you can work the look too.
“The shape of your eyebrows can change the way you look,” says Browhaus expert Ms Jeane Tang. She adds that eyebrows are like “the roof to your house” because they frame your face, which is why eyebrows are an important feature.
Want to know how to get the perfect eyebrows? For starters, your face shape plays an important role in discovering the perfect eyebrow shape for you. Do you have a square face or a round face? Or a heart-shaped face maybe?
ROUND-FACE
HEART-SHAPED FACE
A gentle reminder: Having a round face does not make you fat. But you could lose some of those curves by adding some angles to your face. A nice angled eyebrow should do the trick.
For this face shape, why not accentuate the beautiful shape? Rounded eyebrows fit people with sharp chins. Arch it low for a natural look, or arch it high for a more dramatic look. The choice is yours!
OVAL FACE
LONG FACE
SQUARE-SHAPED FACE
Ah, the square face. You can go two ways with this face shape; balance the heavy jawline with thick eyebrows angled sharp at the peak or soften it up with curved or rounded eyebrows. But remember! Rainbow-like eyebrows are a big “NO”.
HOW TO FILL IN YOUR
BROWS This is the face shape that every women dreams of. But fret not, “because you’re amazing, just the way you are”. A well-proportioned face like this deserves the classic soft angled eyebrows as seen on Jennifer Aniston and Britney Spears.
This face shape is similar to that of an oval shape except that it’s, well, longer. Straight eyebrows make the face appear shorter. This eyebrow shape is currently one of the hottest trends in Southeast Asia. Lucky you if you have a long face! You get to be up-to-date with the latest trends and it will look great on you!
Now that you know the right eyebrow shape for you, let’s start drawing! Nurul Amirah Bte Amiruddin, 18, who prefers straight eyebrows says, “(whenever I fill in my eyebrows) I try to stay as close as possible to my natural eyebrow shape”. That’s right! “Beginners might find filling the eyebrows a scary and stressful process,” says Ms Tang, “so start by following your natural eyebrow shape.” Keep practicing, because practice makes perfect. ♔
8 FLAIR
Step 1 Always start by combing through your eyebrows with a spoolie. Step 2 In soft strokes, trace the outline of your eyebrow and slowly work your way into the desired eyebrow shape. Step 3 Remember, less is more. Follow the direction of your eyebrows and lightly fill them in. Keep doing so until you get the right intensity. Step 4 Comb through your eyebrows once again to get rid of any harsh lines. For a more natural look, it should have a slight gradient effect where the eyebrows start – it should go from light to dark.
BEAUTY
ILLUSTRATION & BACKGROUND BY: Vivien Low
damag e
Wearing cosmetic lenses may not be the best idea after all, as ISABELLE SEAH shares with you the dangers of putting these lenses on
IT started off as a mere trial “just for fun” when she was 16 years old, but just days after starting to wear her new pair of cosmetic contact lenses, Lee Mei Hui, a student at Singapore Polytechnic, found herself becoming “increasingly dependent” on these lenses.
Cosmetic contact lenses are printed with opaque pigment and are worn to alter the natural appearance of the eyes, even extremely dark ones. There are various kinds of cosmetic lenses, including coloured ones, those for fashion or beauty, and even costume contact lenses. They can range from the usual brown-coloured contact lenses, to glow-in-the-dark lenses. According to Asia Research Online, beauty lenses are becoming increasingly popular. As of 2011, the money spent by consumers in Malaysia on cosmetic contact lenses amounted to US$14 million. That is a whopping 28% more than the amount spent in 2010! It is no longer unusual for people with perfect eyesight to be putting on beauty lenses so that they can keep up with the latest fashion styles and trends. Cosmetic contact lenses are often used, primarily amongst teenagers and young adults. “There’s quite a big population of people who use cosmetic lenses daily for long hours, especially young working adults and students,” said Ms Chi Fang Ying, an optometrist at Optimax Vision LLP.
One issue is the misuse of them. A very common example would be putting these lenses on for long hours of the day. According to Ms Chi, contact lenses with opaque pigments are “generally thicker than normal clear lenses”. Wearing these lenses too long “allow less oxygen to be able to enter the eyes,” said Ms Chi. Noelle Chen, a 17-year-old student from Ngee Ann Polytechnic and an occasional cosplayer, says that she wears coloured contact lenses every single day of the week, for approximately 13 hours each day. “I feel the dryness in my eyes, especially when I use the computer,” said Noelle. Mr Alex Kwan, another optometrist from Optical 88, said that many users of contact lenses overlook the seriousness of misusing their contact lenses. Wearing lenses for too long tend to result in “corneal hypoxia, a condition in which your eyes do not get enough oxygen”. Another major issue that has to do with cosmetic contact lenses involves the purchase of the lenses without a prescription from an ophthalmologist. Several youths purchase their lenses from online stores.
Circle contact lenses, also called the 'big eye' lenses, are a type of cosmetic lens that make your eyes look bigger to give a 'doll like appearance'. Females make up more than 65% of circle contact lens wearers, as indicated by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most of these online stores do not sell The Food and Drug Administration (FDA)- approved contact lenses, so one can never be sure about its quality. The manufacturing process of these contact lenses online may not meet federal health and safety standards, and are thus capable of damaging the eyes.
Another interesting type of lens is the special effects contact lenses. It is most commonly used by cosplayers or by people during Halloween.
Mr Kwan also mentioned that a very common habit users tend to have is only washing and cleaning their contact lenses when they need them. All lenses need to be “cleaned every day”, he said even when not in use.
A lot of us wear contact lenses everyday and take them for granted, not realising how much damage we are inflicting on ourselves.
However, wearing cosmetic contact lenses can entail several problems.
Do keep these in mind to manage the amount of time you wear your cosmetic lenses, and also to clean them every single day! ♔
FLAIR 9
BEAUTY
BEAUTY
Fighting the s n i a l Pimple V i l
WHEN it comes to skin, we’ve all got our own
mega-villains to fight, but how do we fight those pimples without having to burn a hole in our wallets? Well, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) Mung Bean Face Mask is here to save the day! Mung beans, also known as green beans, are a staple in Asian cooking and are readily available in several supermarkets. The beans can be purchased for about $4.00, and all you need to do is blend it until it becomes a powdery form. Alternatively, the powdered form can be easily purchased at Four Seasons Organic Market for $6.00. “Mung beans are great for acne-prone skin because of their detoxifying quality and ability to soothe irritation while supplying protein-rich moisture,” said Sesame Chew, the blogger behind Viva Women. Apart from Mung beans, yoghurt is another essential ingredient in this mask as it is a natural moisturiser and skin brightener. According to The Beauty Gypsy’s Five Ways Yoghurt Keeps Skin Glowing article, the zinc and lactic acid in yoghurt helps to exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells and tighten pores while keeping the skin hydrated and smooth. “Yoghurt adds a natural glow to the skin and can be mixed together with mung beans or turmeric to form a paste to reveal a brighter and more moisturised complexion,” said
THE STEPS
RACHEL STANSILAS tells you about a quick simple home remedy for clearer, pimple-free skin that will cost you less than $10.00 Director Navila Y. Dharma of Navi’s Herbal Beauty Care. It is important to buy yoghurt that is unsweetened so as to not cause any skin irritation, as stated in StyleCraze. Small tubs of natural yoghurt can be purchased in local supermarkets from $3.00 onwards. The DIY Mung Bean Face Mask possesses anti-inflammatory, soothing and non-drying properties, which is suitable for almost all skin types. Preparation of this face mask is easy, mess-free and has four simple steps. This face mask can double up as a face scrub due to the granular structure of the mung beans. The granular structure helps get rid toxins and dead cells, leading to a much fresher and younger skin tone. Therefore, when applying the mask onto your face, it is good to gently massage your face to open up the pores for the nutrients to easily penetrate the skin. After around two weeks, “my blemishes started to clear up” and “my complexion became fairer”, according to Kavitha Balakrishnan, who tried out the face mask. “Natural DIY face masks show slow results, but when they do, it is long-lasting,” commented Navila. She added that it has no side effects and is much safer and cheaper as compared to treatments like laser that may burn and damage skin in the long run. ♔
WHAT YOU WILL NEED •
2 teaspoons of grounded mung bean powder
•
3 teaspoons of natural yoghurt
Step 1 Put two teaspoons of grounded mung bean powder into a bowl.
Step 3 Mix both ingredients together until mixture becomes a thick paste and there are no traces of powder or yoghurt.
10 FLAIR
ILLUSTRATION BY: Vivien Low
pLAStic, Not Fantastic ONCE a taboo, plastic surgery
for aesthetic purposes a.k.a. cosmetic surgery is now becoming a growing trend, even amongst Singaporean youth. Well, no surprise there, since Singapore is listed as the tenth city in “The Top 10 Cities for Plastic Surgery” by plasticsurgeryportal.com. Statistics in 2011 by the Straits Times showed that over the past five years, there had been an increase of 30% in the number of cosmetic surgery clients under 21 years old. Research done by the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) found that one in five teenagers would consider plastic surgery. Dr Leslie Kuek from Leslie Kuek Plastic Surgery Clinic mentioned that the most popular procedure amongst his teenage clients is the double eyelid surgery. People with single eyelids tend to have smaller-looking eyes and less visible eyelashes. Double eyelids make the eyes appear bigger and brighter, which is why double eyelids are highly desired, especially in an Asian country. This other popular eye procedure adds puffiness under the eyes, also known as eye bags. For those who are influenced by South Korea’s beauty standards, this feature is highly coveted. They call it ‘aegyo sal’ in Korean, which directly translates to “cute flesh”. With this puffiness under the eyes, it makes the eyes look like they’re always smiling brightly. Another cosmetic surgery favourite is the nose. According to the experts from plastytalk.com, rhinoplasty is the procedure to change the shape of the nose. But rhinoplasty is one of the more major procedures, which means there are more risks. Many young people get information about these cosmetic surgery procedures from the media, which typically only show the surface of it. Hence, these youths are not fully aware of the risks that come with it. Some possible complications may include blood clots, pneumonia, scarring, permanent numbness and the rare but possible, death. Infections at the incision site may also occur, which would require additional surgery to fix the complication. Even lifestyle blogger Ms Jacqueline Koh, 33, who has spent over $130,000 on cosmetic surgery procedures,
Step 2 Add three teaspoons of natural yoghurt into the bowl.
Step 4 Use the back of a spoon or your fingers to apply mixture onto clean face and leave on for 30 minutes before washing off.
In a world where “nobody’s perfect”, SYAHMAH HANISS explores one of the more extreme measures taken in the pursuit of perfection, even if it’s plastic
PHOTOS BY: Isabelle Seah
said she wouldn’t recommend it. “Not only is it painful and tiring,” she shared, “it requires a long term commitment and care after the surgery itself.” Finding the right surgeon for the job might help reduce complications. It’s best to interview several surgeons about their past works, their qualifications and credentials in order to find the right one. Even after the recovery, those who undergo cosmetic surgery have another problem to deal with: the stigma society has against them. Although Dr Kuek cites reduced stigma as one of three factors as to why youths would want to undergo cosmetic surgery (the other two being higher disposable income and media portrayal), cosmetic surgery in Singapore is still taboo as compared to countries such as South Korea.
" If you want to go through surgery because you’re insecure about yourself, don’t. " - Jacqueline Koh, lifestyle blogger “Over there, it is so common that people can discuss it publicly and walk around wrapped in bandages. Teenagers there even get new noses and new chins for their birthdays,” said Ms Koh, who had her first surgical procedure at the age of 27. Rather than being accepting of cosmetic surgery itself, Singaporeans are more accepting of individual choices. Temasek Polytechnic student Jaime Han Jia Ying, 18, finds cosmetic surgery “startling”, but agrees that it “has positive impacts too”. “It’s okay if it makes them happier and more confident about themselves, but too much is a bit too drastic,” she added. This growing trend shows that physical appearance means so much more than it should. What ever happened to “beauty is only skin deep”? A final note from Ms Koh: “If you want to go through surgery because you’re insecure about yourself, don’t. A psychologist would be able to help you instead. Plastic surgery would not make you feel secure.” ♔
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V
PHOTOS BY: Isabelle Seah, Rachel Stansilas ILLUSTRATION & BACKGROUND BY: Vivien Low
for Valentine
BUT FIRST , you should TAKE A SELFIE
RACHEL STANSILAS, SYAHMAH HANISS and DEBBIE CHANG come up with ideas for you on how to spend your Valentine’s Day, with or without a special someone
SPECIAL
Sewn with a kiss
FINDING the perfect gift is always a struggle, especially when it’s for the
opposite gender. Agreed? Well, this handmade gift is totally inexpensive and meaningful at the same time, making it the perfect gift this Valentine’s Day. Step 1 Cut out circles that are 4-inches in diameter from the felt cloth, and fold them in half.
Forget branded stainless steel watches or expensive shirts, Do-It-Yourself (DIY) gifts will always win in terms of sincerity. Bring in some good Fortune with this one-of-a-kind gift idea from marthastewart.com: felt fortune cookies! All you’ll need is felt cloth, some Hershey’s Kisses, white paper, a pen or pencil, a pair of scissors, a needle and some thread. In four simple steps, you’ll have your Valentine’s Day gift ready in no time. Easy, right? Even if you can’t sew, you can always glue it instead.
Step 2 Sew just little bit down the middle of the halved circle.
m
ZAGAT'S 2014 Valentine’s Day survey states that 54% of
females stay home on Valentine’s Day, so if you are one of them, fret not! You don’t have to be alone on Valentine’s Day binge watching Netflix and popping popcorn in the microwave. By incorporating the felt fortune cookies and homemade waffles (see facing page) you can throw a party for your girlfriends and yourself! With selfies becoming an essential tool for self-expression on social media, the only thing missing at this party would be the proper place to take those selfies. How else can you share with your friends that you don’t need a guy to celebrate this holiday? PicMonkey’s selfie survey showed that 90% of 18-34 year old females having taken a selfie and shared it, making this simple DIY selfie booth a necessity.
Making your own selfie station doesn’t require you to be an expert in art. All you need is two A2 vanguard sheet papers as your backdrop. Once that is pasted on your wall, go ahead and decorate the vanguard sheet however you like. You could place a decorative garland at the top of the backdrop, which can be bought at a craft store. After that, take some coloured markers and draw on the vanguard sheet papers to serve as the background. Additionally, you could cut out or buy some photo props and place them next to your photobooth. Once this is done, it is selfie time! For the felt fortune cookies, all you need to do is change the fortune notes to suit a girls-only Valentine’s Day themed party. With that, some homemade waffles and your selfie station, you’re ready for the best party ever! Who said you needed a guy to have fun on Valentine’s Day? ♔
Looking for a beach getaway ? Tell us how you spent your Valentine’s Day, whether it was with the man of your dreams or with your trusty gal-pal. Write in to inbox@flair.com by 28 Feb and tell us all about it! The most exciting story will win two tickets to a 3-day beach holiday at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in Bali! Get writing ladies! *terms and conditions apply
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THE STEPS
As for what to write for the fortune, how about some motivational quotes or advice to show him you care? Or maybe some cheesy pickup lines to brighten his day? Or simply reasons as to why you love him? Just be yourself and say what you want to say. No doubt, he’ll love it anyway. No one can ever say no to a heart felt gift. ♔
Step 3 Take the edges and flip the cloth over to get the fortune cookie shape.
THE struggle is real when your other half expects something delicious and
homemade from you for Valentine’s Day, but you’re not exactly the best cook. Fear not, because there’s always an easier way out. Where’s the sincerity in purchasing high quality chocolates for your significant other? Why bother stressing out over a recipe you’ve never seen in your life? Forget about trying out the mainstream desserts like churros or whipping out a 10-course dinner, which requires too much effort. Make things simple with a versatile yet easily made treat: waffles. Follow any recipe online and don’t worry about doing it wrong because you can’t go wrong with waffles. Some recommended websites include noobcook.com as well as allrecipes.com. Here’s a tip to remember when making your own waffle: Half the battle is won with a waffle iron. If you don’t have one, you know what to ask your secret Santa next Christmas. But don’t worry too much about it, because if you really want to make waffles but don’t have a waffle iron, you could always utilise your everyday kitchen tool: the grill pan. It may not have the exact and typical shape of a waffle, but it tastes just as great.Why waffles then? Waffles are extremely versatile and easy to make. You can have them plain, or you can have them served with fruits for some extra nutrients. Make it extra sweet for your sweet by topping it off with syrup of your choice. Of course, not forgetting sugar, spice and everything else that’s nice.It’s such a simple procedure that produces such a visually appealing dish. It’s a perfect treat for your special someone on Valentine’s Day. ♔
Step 4 Cut out short strips of white paper to write out the fortune, and stuff it into the cookie along with a Kiss.
o A Treat for your Sweet
l
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the radio show on weekday mornings together. “She’s fun and punny. One that is quick with her thinking and always in control. She gives me good advice as well,” Joakim said.
All About The Girl PHOTOS BY: Charlotte Low BACKGROUND BY: fivepointsapart
Up and coming radio talent Sonia Chew is living the dream. CHARLOTTE LOW gives you the inside scoop on what she’s been up to lately, and beauty advice from the ambassador of Maybelline Singapore 2014 herself
WRAPPING up her weekday
morning drive-time show, The Wake Up Call with partner Joakim Gomez in the 987FM studio, Sonia Chew is oozing with unique personality, all bubbly and enthusiastic behind the radio console. She’s definitely not your ordinary girl–next-door. Decked in grunge Topshop apparel from head to toe, the edgy and quirky 22 year-old is still slowly taking all of it in. She never expected herself to be in radio as a career at this age. According to an interview she did with The Straits Times on 16 May 2013 after her 987 Radio Star Challenge win, she revealed that she had intended to join the television industry. She did her internship at Consumer News and Business Channel Asia (CNBC Asia) in polytechnic but later on realised that television may not be “her thing”. “I guess it became more than that, which is a good thing,” said Sonia, who recalled that joining the competition back then was just to get a part-time job that she wanted.
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It was also revealed during the interview with The Straits Times that her exposure to radio work while studying Mass Communication at Ngee Ann Polytechnic had caused the change in career interest. She signed up as a deejay on the campus’ radio station, Radio Heatwave, and gradually realised that she was more suited for radio. The journey to becoming a radio deejay wasn’t easy even after the competition win. She faced the problem of sounding a little lifeless as she had a lower radio voice compared to other female deejays. “It took a lot of effort to inject more energy into my voice,” explained Sonia. Being in the media industry is a demanding job as the working hours are long. You rarely have time for yourself and sometimes, you’ll be thankful if you can scramble for a few hours of sleep or a quick nap. It’s officially the second year in the radio industry for the humble radio presenter who looks up to established seniors in the radio industry like Jean Danker and Rosalyn Lee (Rozz).
She sees herself being a full-time radio deejay in the long run and doesn’t hesitate to affirm her love for radio when asked if she would jump at the chance when offered a job in the television industry. “I would. But I wouldn’t give up my spot in radio,” she said. Her colleagues whom she hosts her current radio shows with, Joakim Gomez and Kimberly Haley Wang, think fondly of her. “She’s very daring and herself. She doesn’t try to fake an opinion. So if you say something and she agrees or disagrees, she’ll go like ‘ Yeahhh’ if not ‘No! What the hell!’ She’s very real. Like what you hear and see is what you get from her on-air and off-air,” quipped Kimberly, who does the weekly Saturday night show, Girls Night Out with her on 987FM. “Working with her is very comfortable,” Kimberly says. Bragging about his radio partner, Joakim Gomez from The Wake Up Call show sees Sonia as someone who is very confident, determined and very driven from the start. He feels that of her even more now that they are doing
He joked about getting “random bulk of noises in the morning” from her. “I get cat noises for some strange reason and she’ll show me stuff on the computer screen and go like ‘Look at this cat!’ and then she’ll force me to look at cats. It’s been happening for the past 10 months and she’s kind of converted me into a cat lover already,” he said. Being the adventurous and outgoing self she is, Sonia enjoys doing active sports. She has tried out wakeboarding a few times and shared that she wants to pick up snowboarding in Austria this month. She’s also planning to travel as much as possible while she still has the time. “I’m planning for my trip to Japan at the end of the year,” she said. The self-proclaimed fashion and beauty junkie is the ambassador for Maybelline Singapore this year. She has landed herself in several magazine features and endorsement deals ever since her win in 2012. She was the cover girl for the April 2014 Issue of FHM Singapore and was Topshop girl in the month of October 2014. Topshop Singapore describes her style as bold and brilliant. Her radio listeners are quick to pick up on her dressing style as well through her Instagram feed, of which she claimed is “a reflection of her life”, “an open book”. They find her a fashionista who knows how to take good care of her skin and look good all at the same time.
extensive shoe collection. “50. I have like 50 pairs of shoes at home, it’s insane! And … I love socks. I have so many pairs of them too! I think more than 50 as well and they are all different.” Naming models like Cara Delevigne and Kiko Mizuhara as her fashion and beauty inspirations, she gushed that they are really “stylish and effortlessly chic” with “ah-mazing” skin complexion. The Maybelline Singapore ambassador 2014 has a strict skincare routine that she follows and will never skip it regardless of how hectic her work schedule may be. She maintains her skin by following a daily skincare routine, which consists of a double-cleanse and frequent use of facemasks. She laughs at her latest buy, saying that she bought it for fun because of the appealing packaging. “I know this is going to sound weird. This is not even considered a skincare line, but I’m loving this cleanser that I bought from Muji. It’s so cheap and it’s so good. It works even though I have sensitive skin! I literally bought a travel size one at four dollars!” she exclaimed.
BEAUTY
" She's very daring and herself. She doesn't try to fake an opinion. " - Kimberly Haley Wang, deejay of 987FM The Hit List Sharing what she’s been up to lately, Sonia’s got a few projects and travel plans lined up for the coming year. “I do have an upcoming thing next year but I cannot say what it is yet. All I can say is that it’s a new endorsement that I’m looking forward to. It’s a different type of product and a different brand. It’s not cosmetics but it’ll be something new that will be happening throughout 2015. And also, I’m still working with Topshop. We’re still running a campaign together all the way till the end of the year.” Surely but slowly, this girl is on her way to success and she’s one up and coming young talent to look out for in the media industry. ♔
“I am really particular about skin. I must remove my makeup at night. I try not to wear as much make up as possible and in the morning, I am bare-faced and that’s why my working partner gets to see the worse side of me in the morning,” she laughed saying that she was only looking 20% better that day.
“She dresses in really fun and bold colours and is always experimenting with daring outfit mixes. It brings out her personality well,” says Shaista Dinis, 19, a fan of hers.
Makeup wise, she shares her essentials. She uses a setting cream from Maybelline followed by tinted moisturiser and some loose powder instead of foundation, as she prefers a lighter feel. “NARS lipsticks are one of my favourites and I can’t live without this lip gloss from Japan cosmetic brand Shiseido, MAQuillAGE.”
Another listener Crystal Seow, 14, compliments her for constantly dressing according to the latest trends and looking good in them.
The products that Sonia brings along with her wherever she goes would be her sunscreen and moisturising spray from Belif, a Korean skincare line.
“Guess how many shoes I have. Like pairs,” Sonia prompts, hinting at her
“It’s something moisturising. As I am in air-conditioning most of the day, it keeps me fresh,” she explained.
FLAIR 15
FOOD
NOT YOUR
AVERAGE
JANE
STEFANIE YEO talks to Ng Li Tying, baker, businesswoman, and Good Samaritan
CLAD in a pair of colourful boho
pants and a white cropped top, with her black laptop case tucked under her arm and dyed-red hair, Ng Li Tying looks like any average woman on the streets. However, the 23-year-old is anything but your average Jane. Despite her youth, Li Tying is the woman behind The Spatula and The Pen, an online bakery where she whips up colourful concoctions inspired by stories. She shares her breathtaking creations, along with snippets of her own daily life, on Instagram (@nglitying) where she has over 4,000 followers. “I’m someone who I know for sure doesn’t like the ordinary,” she remarked with a grin, “I’m on the look out for things that are different, more exciting.” Li Tying studied Business and Economics, with a major in Operations under Business, at Singapore Management University (SMU), graduating in 2014. For someone as risk-averse as she is, starting up her own business came as a surprise to a lot of people. “People are surprised I went into this path, I always thought I'd go into an office job rather than going out there and taking risks,” she chuckled.
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The Spatula and The Pen opened officially in January 2013, but the true origin of the online bakery actually goes back further. “It all happened very organically,” she said with a smile, “it wasn’t a conscious decision, things just snowballed.” It all started when she was working at Wimbly Lu Chocolates in 2010 and she saw that people were actually buying the cakes she made for the café. While her bakes, according to a spokesperson from Wimbly Lu, received a mixed response, the entire experience inspired her. “It was quite exciting to see that people put a dollar value to it [her bakes], and I realised maybe I could create stuff that people would like and buy,” she explained. She soon began taking cake orders from friends, who she felt were trying to encourage her, and when she received an order from her first corporate client, Microsoft, she decided to set up her website and officially open The Spatula and The Pen. She chose the name of her bakery out of the love she has for baking and stories. “I like fairy tales. You know how some fairy tales are like ‘The Beauty and The Beast’, ‘the X and the
Y’? The story element is very important to my business; each bake is a ‘book’ for people to read. The spatula for baking, and the pen for writing, the idea is that they go hand in hand, you need a story for the bakes and the bakes showcase the story,” Li Tying explained.
cake ‘bread’ topped with traditional sandwich fillings like ham, boiled egg and shrimp. Another was a sticky date and bacon cake, complete with caramel ganache and coffee buttercream, in order to describe a lady who would choose savoury over sweet in a heartbeat, but loves date pudding.
Baking aside, Li Tying also makes sure to give back to the community as much as she possibly can. “I’ve always believed in giving back a portion of what you earn,” she said. She organised a fundraiser for the Food Bank in 2013, introducing the concept of people paying for food with food.
The eldest of three children, Li Tying operates her entire business out of the kitchen in the home she shares with her family.
Essentially, people could exchange unused food that could be donated to the needy for her scrumptious creations. She also organised a small pop-up café to raise funds for a mutual acquaintance, a Singaporean pastry chef who was badly injured in a car accident in New York.
“I know fundamentally that my parents support me,” Li Tying remarked casually, fiddling with the black hair tie around her wrist, though she admitted that they are of two minds about it.
Just this year, she also lent her support to a group of students from SMU who wanted to raise funds in order to buy necessities for South African orphans. Additionally, she tries to do Christmas fundraisers annually to raise money for charitable causes.
“They believe it’s better to get a proper job, but I think out of love they feel that if I really want to do this, maybe they should let me,” she explained. At home, the kitchen is her dominion and during her busiest periods, she can be working from 7am-12am.
" I'm on the lookout for things that are more different, more exciting. " - Ng Li Tying, The Spatula and The Pen
Specialising in custom cakes for any occasion, no two cakes ordered from Li Tying are the same. “It’s like fashion, people don’t like wearing the same thing as others,” she quipped.
So how does her family feel about her domineering the kitchen? “They’re used to it,” she quipped wryly, “but when I first started they were pretty unhappy because we had fridge space problems.”
Her actions had not gone unnoticed as in 2014, Li Tying was nominated for the #daretodream award at the The Young Woman Achiever Forum, organised by Her World and Her World Plus.
She draws her inspiration from almost everywhere, but particularly from the stories about the person the cake is for, crafting something that describes them perfectly.
Now that she’s running her business full-time, Li Tying’s free time is sparse.
“She’s someone I would look up to because she’s so bada** with what she does,” student Amabel Yeo, 17, said. Another student, Elizabeth Teo, 17, felt that Li Tying is “really inspirational” and “puts her heart into baking”.
Going into the custom cake-making business, according to Trish Ratna Rahmat, another custom cake maker, requires “loads of imagination and creativity”, which is something Li Tying has in spades. Indeed, Li Tying’s cakes are unique and vibrant, with a whole plethora of flavour combinations guaranteed to make every product unique. Based on discussions with her customers, she comes up with all sorts of amazing bakes that truly blow the mind. One of her most recent creations was a sandwich cake made with savoury
FOOD
“Honestly, I don’t have much free time,” she laughed, “it’s hard to run a business, it’s something 24/7”. However, Li Tying does ensure that she makes time to exercise. An avid runner and a former dancer, she said that working out is “the one time I don’t do anything except exercise, so it’s a relaxation time for me”. Given that her full-time occupation involves baking sweet treats and confectionaries, Li Tying admitted that she sometimes get sick of cakes. “I try to make new stuff so that when I taste test it’s also a bit more exciting for me,” she chuckled. “Sometimes I’ll crave for something really salty,” she added.
At the moment, The Spatula and The Pen is Li Tying’s entire life. But does she see herself doing this in the long run? “I don't know, I need time to figure things out, things are tiring,” she admitted. “There’s still the thought of getting a proper job and doing this as a sideline. I’m keeping it open still,” she shared. With her strong desire for change and her savvy business acumen, Li Tying leaves no doubt that no matter what she does she’ll definitely make a difference and be more than just your average Jane. ♔
PHOTOS BY: Stefanie Yeo ILLUSTRATIONS BY: Vivien Low & Charlotte Low
FLAIR 17
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FOOD
Pair It Up! Sick of having poached egg on top of brioche? Try these simple combinations to put a whole new spin to your take on poached egg!
A POACHED
Step 1 Put the water, salt and white vinegar in the pot.
Step 5 Before the “whirlpool” disappears, pour the egg into the centre of the vortex gently.
EGG-CITEMENT
ENG CHERYL shares a guide on how to make gorgeous looking and tasty poached eggs right in the comfort of your home
EVER wanted to hop onto the eggs
benedict craze? This guide will teach you how to cook a poached egg, what to pair the poached eggs with and mistakes to avoid, including some insights from the owner of The Quarters, a café that sells poached eggs in a unique way. What exactly is the ideal poached egg? According to Chung Deming, the owner of The Quarters cafe, it is “one which has a perfectly formed white with a yolk which breaks with a viscous consistency”. Typically placed on top of brioche and drizzled with hollandaise sauce, the poached egg certainly does create a
visual impact when the yolk is broken and it leaks down the sides of the brioche to create a pool of rich yellow yolk on the plate. However, that’s not the only combination it is good with, as shown in The Quarters cafe where they serve a poached egg in laksa broth, which should be broken into the broth to enhance the enveloping taste. People think that poached eggs are hard to make, like Wong Dawn, 18, who has tried making poached eggs before and thinks it’s “damn difficult”. She also mentioned that the transferring of the egg to the plate is the hardest part as she often “breaks the yolk”. Though “some skill” is
needed to poach an egg, not a “high level” of skill is required, according to Deming. Some common mistakes that people make would be to put the egg in at the “wrong temperature”, “wrong timing” and “breaking the egg” when putting it in the water, he said. Fresh eggs are also crucial in poaching eggs. According to WhatsCookingAmerica, this is because a week old egg will produce a much different end result, visually and texturally, from fresh eggs. The egg white will become wispy and harder to wrap around the egg when using an old egg, whereas the whites of fresh eggs will gather around the yolk easily and make it look more presentable with a round shape.
Step 2 Heat the mixture in a small pot over a medium high heat until small bubbles begin to break the surface of the water.
Step 7 Turn off the heat and cover the pot for about three minutes for a very runny yolk, or five minutes for a slightly firm but runny yolk.
Step 3 Crack your egg into the ladle and hold it.
• 1 spatula or spoon • 1 ramekin or a ladle big enough for an egg
• 1 litre of water • 1 medium or large egg
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• • • • • •
1 salmon fillet 1 slice of lemon 1 tablespoon of yoghurt 1 teaspoon of garlic 1 teaspoon of mayonnaise 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves
With these simple steps, you will never have to pay exorbitant prices for eggs again!
“I had to do it a few times before it turned out perfect,” she said.
• 1 small pot, approximately 15cm in diameter
• 1 teaspoon of salt
What you will need:
It may seem hard at first, but you would soon be able to whip up a batch of poached eggs like Clara Tan.
WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
• 2 teaspoons of white vinegar
Step 6 The vortex should help the whites of the egg wrap around the yolk, but in the case that it doesn’t, use a spoon to guide it around the yolk.
PAN-FRIED SALMON WITH A SIDE OF GARDEN VEGETABLES, TOPPED WITH A POACHED EGG, LEMON SLICE AND YOGHURT HERB SAUCE
Step 4 With your other hand, use the spoon to create a “whirlpool” effect by stirring the spoon in one direction quickly. PHOTOS BY: Eng Cheryl, Isabelle Seah
Practice is important, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t get it right the first time, enjoy your delicious poached eggs! ♔
POACHED EGG GARDEN SALAD What you will need: • • • •
1 stalk of broccoli 1 medium carrot A sprinkle of salt A sprinkle of pepper
FLAIR 19
FOOD
hours of the morning” and that she doesn’t take note of the amount of alcohol she drinks in a session. Pamela mentioned her love for Scotch, which contains about 40%-45% alcohol content. By having more than three drinking sessions and each including more than five full cups of Scotch, she definitely qualifies as a heavy binge drinker.
BoozE WON'T BOOST consciousness. After midnight, along the roads of Clarke Quay lie the bodies of the youths almost passed out after countless rounds of alcohol. Not a pleasant sight? Well, it’s definitely not a pleasant idea to be this drunk. Different individuals have different ways of relieving pent-up tension and stress. Some sweat it off by hitting the gym regularly and some spend the remaining free time they have on their hands reading their favourite novels. But there are also youths dealing with stress through binge drinking, and the numbers of these youths are on the rise. Statistics provided by the World Health Organisation states that the number of youths that binge drink has undergone a sharp increase, from a lingering 5.1% in the previous five years to 10% in recent years. Binge drinking, as defined by the Health Promotion Board (HPB), refers to consuming four or more drinks in one session. This is different from casual drinking, which refers to having a safe limit of alcohol consumption in one session. A safe limit is defined as nothing more than a standard glass of wine or a standard can of beer a day.
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Sergeii Malinkov, 31, a bartender at Mediterranean restaurant, Medzs, has been working in the restaurant as one of the three team leaders for approximately four years.
of beer and Scotch,” Pamela shared, while casually drinking a mouthful of Tiger Beer she ordered earlier.
This can actually lead to alcohol poisoning, which can cause blackouts to occur.
“It’s just my way of relieving stress since I don’t get a lot of time to myself anyway. It calms me down and I forget the bad stuff,” added Pamela.
Alcohol poisoning, as defined by Mayo Clinic, is when one drinks too much alcohol in a short period of time, causing an increase in breathing rate, heart rate and might even lead to a coma or even a potential death.
Lee Jin Hua, an 18-year-old student from Singapore Polytechnic shared that she once experienced a blackout during a drinking session with her friends and when she regained consciousness, she found fresh
“There are a few ladies that I’ve seen coming around here often because of the 2-for-1 beer promotion. They’re usually in small groups, both guys and girls, but there’s no difference in the number of beers they drink,” observed Sergeii. He even joked that he wasn’t complaining, because it was nice to have more girls around the bar area for a change. Sure, having more girls around the bars definitely serves as a motivation factor for some bartenders, but it might not be a good idea to see them that often. The girls mentioned by Sergeii are said to be visiting the restaurant right after work approximately four days a week. Pamela Marie Anne, 22, is currently working as a retail assistant in Tampines. She spends most of her time at work and travelling from her house to her workplace, which are at two extreme ends of Singapore. “It’s really tiring for me to travel back and forth every day, and my working hours are really long. Most of the time, I just don’t feel like going back home, so instead, I go and have a few bottles
PHOTOS BY: Debbie Chang
Just like how there are people who binge eat when feeling all stressed out, Pamela is quite clearly not alone when it comes to her stress-relieving tactic. According to research done by the National Addictions Management Service (NAMS), binge drinking is prevalent amongst the 18 to 29 year-old youths, and the number of female binge drinkers increase with every passing year. Statistics from Alcoholrehab.com show that female binge drinkers have increased from 0.9% to approximately 1.2% of the binge drinking population in Singapore. The real problem at hand is that many females don’t realise that their alcohol intake is way over the limit and is considered binge drinking, which both Pamela and the frequent lady visitors of Medzs fall under. When asked if the number of drinks mattered during each drinking session, Pamela shrugged, claiming that she usually “drinks till the wee
F O FOODO D
One fine example is of a 28-year-old woman in Halesowen, West Midlands, who was drunk and barely conscious, and became the target of rapist Gerald Malcolm at four in the morning. She was brought to his house and raped while she could not do anything to defend herself. She also mentioned her deep regret for being so drunk, putting herself into such a situation. Also, younger people who drink have a higher possibility of getting into fights and are more prone to committing crimes due to their unstable mental state, causing them to have a risk-taking behaviour. There have been cases of youths drink driving, which have resulted in accidents that took the lives of not themselves, but their close friends or family, causing a lifetime of regret.
DEBBIE CHANG finds out what females have to lose when binge drinking and discovers healthier alternatives for alcohol
SPRAWLED on the floor, losing
More than anything else, binge drinking is a very dangerous hobby for female youths. Binge drinking has harsher effects on the ladies as compared to men. According to ‘Principles of Gender-Specific Medicine’, a scholarly journal written by Marianne J. Legato, females have a smaller blood volume and a higher fat to muscle ratio and with fats having low alcohol solubility; the concentration of alcohol in a female’s body during a drinking session is much higher.
NAMS stated that one of the risk factors of consuming too much alcohol for women is that it puts them at risk of getting molested or raped while being unconscious, leaving them defenseless.
“It’s just my way of relieving stress since I don’t get a lot of time to myself anyway. It calms me down and I forget the bad stuff.” - Pamela Marie Anne, retail assistant in Tampines
bruises on her shin. She also realised that she had her wallet and cellphone missing from her purse, which had been rummaged through. She still isn’t able to recall what exactly happened that night, but the whole situation created a lot of unnecessary trouble for her. “Ever since that time, I make sure I go drinking with my closer friends and I watch how much I drink. I even tell my friends to tell me when I’m drinking too quickly or too much,” said Jin Hua.
Drinking alcohol is fine, but do it in moderation. Have a can of beer after a long day of work, but not anymore than that for each day. If stress relief is what you’re looking for, there are other alternatives apart from pure alcohol. There are plenty of variations to try out and with the right ingredients; you’ll be able to achieve the stress-relief you’ve been looking for. If you aren’t one for heavy drinking, and would rather have a cup of fruit juice, then you could take a step further by trying out mocktails instead. Mocktails are great alternatives to have. They are drinks that mix different fruit juices and even occasionally soft drinks together, forming a mock-up of a cocktail. With it both being packed with nutrition as well as stress-relief properties, mocktails are definitely something to look forward to at the end of every long day. Binge drinking is a bad habit to have, but it doesn’t imply complete abstinence from alcohol. Everything is good in moderation. Moderate alcohol consumption, defined as a drink per day for women, has its health benefits as well, so it’s all right to pick up a drink every now and then. Remember ladies, sometimes one is better than two and the third and fourth time isn’t really the charm. ♔
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FOOD
Wear the correct Hooter Holder
HEALTH ISABELLE SEAH fills you in on the importance of wearing a correctly fitted bra, and also on how to measure your bra size all by yourself
A lot of women do not know the importance of wearing well-fitting bras. Does your bra move or ride higher than the
middle of your back? Do the bra straps leave a mark or slip off? If so, you are probably not wearing your correct bra size.
WORKING ON A TITLE WHEN someone mentions
EGGS AND TOAST
breakfast, the first thing that comes to mind has to be that it’s the most important meal of the day; but nobody said it had to be the first meal of the day. Cafés that serve all day breakfast meals are god-sent, and Working Title is one of them. It’s killing two birds with one stone: you get to have breakfast any time you want, and you get to café-hop. Café-hopping in Singapore has slowly evolved into a past-time for the hipster’s soul. Over the past few years, over 100 cafés have popped up all over Singapore, and it’s not likely to die off soon, according to an article in My Paper. Websites like cafehopping. sg and thecafetion.com have been set up to help budding café-hoppers find the next joint that they should hit. You don’t have to be a hipster to enjoy café-hopping though. As long as you enjoy food, you’ll fit in just fine. Working Title is a small café situated in a quiet street and it doesn’t have a particularly large sign that declares its location. Keep an eye out for its black awning printed with its name! You have to place your orders right at the cashier, but they’ll serve your food straight to your table. Everything is made only when you order to ensure its quality, so expect longer waiting times as compared to other eateries. We tried their all day breakfast meals, as well as some side dishes that take the proverbial cherry on the cake.
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Eggs and Toast doesn’t only consist of eggs and wholemeal toast, it also has smoked salmon, turkey ham, sunny side-ups, mushrooms and a side of greens that has a light and sour dressing. “If you’re in the mood for some smoked salmon, this dish is the one to look out for,” Basyir, the manager at Working Title, suggested. It’s a well-balanced dish, neither too salty nor oily. The smoked salmon was heavenly, and easily the highlight of the meal. It is soft and chewy, and the moment you put it in your mouth, it seems to melt. The serving of salmon was pretty small though, so we were quite disappointed when it seemingly disappeared from our plates in a flash. However, if you’re not a fan of fish that isn’t fully cooked, then this isn’t the dish for you. ROSTI
$12.90 | ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
A café serving all day breakfast? VIVIEN LOW heads down to check it out Another of Basyir’s recommendations is the Rosti, which is basically fried potato pancakes topped with mayonnaise, served with chicken sausage, sunny side-ups and a side of greens. It is the oiliest out of all the recommendations. It’s crunchy, and the mayonnaise gives it added taste, but with the combination of the savoury sausages, you can literally feel your calorie count shooting through the roof. For patron Carol, who remarked that she preferred plain foods, the Rosti was too oily and salty for her. $10.90 | ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ CHURROS
Churros, which are fried dough sticks with a chewy consistency, generously dusted with cinnamon sugar. If you have a sweet tooth, this is one dish that you shouldn’t miss. It comes together with a chocolate dip and a kaya dip. It’s great for sharing if you have other dishes, but expect it to be snatched up quickly. $10.00 | ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Working Title is located at 48 Arab Street and it opens daily from 10am -10pm, except on Friday and Saturdays, where they open till midnight. ♔
PHOTOS BY: Vivien Low
Generally, a whopping percentage of women, about 70%-80%, do not wear correctly fitted bras. Most women are also unaware about the various health risks of wearing wrong bra sizes - long term and short term - including Jasmine Tan, 38, a cashier at a seafood restaurant. 1. HIP AND BACK PAIN Women who wear bras of the wrong size do not provide sufficient protection for their bosom. They tend to stoop due to the effect of gravity, leading to pain in the hip. If your bra size is too small, the force on your ribcage can be too much, causing you to feel pain in the back. 2. SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN Pain in the shoulders and neck is one of the most common effects of wearing the wrong bra size. When your bra is too small or tight, the straps can put a lot of strain on your shoulders. Such strain can also go all the way up to your neck, causing intense pain. 3. BAD BODY POSTURE Wearing an incorrectly fitted bra for a long time will damage your body posture. You may find it difficult to maintain the correct posture, as hip, back, shoulder, and neck pain can lead to slouching. “Maybe that’s why I’ve been feeling strain on my neck recently. The pain is quite bad, since my job requires me to sit or stand for seven hours straight every day,” commented Jasmine, when she heard about this health risk. 4. FAILURE OF LYMPH NODES This is a serious health effect of wearing a bra of the wrong size. In short, the lymphatic system is a crucial part of the immune system, which helps fights diseases and removes toxins. The vessels are thin and are very vulnerable to pressure. The valves and vessels can close due to constant pressure. When you wear a bra too small, it can potentially cut off the drainage from the lymph nodes to your underarm area. This is a serious problem as it can lead to breast cancer.
If you think that you’ve been wearing the wrong bra size, it’s time to change your bras! Better late than never, right? However, if you find it a hassle to go all the way down to a shop just to measure your bust size, Stephanie Ng, 25, an employee at La Senza at Ion Orchard, kindly explains how to measure your accurate bra size yourself! Step 4 Next, to determine your cup size, subtract your band size from your bust size. Every two inches of difference is the difference in cup size. For instance, if your under-bust is 27 inches and your bust size is 30 inches, then you are an A cup as the difference is three inches. Difference between bra and band size
Step 1 First, while wearing a non-padded bra, measure the inches around your under-bust, which is the circumference of the area right below your bust. Do make sure that the measuring tape is snug, but not tight, and that you feel comfortable. Step 2 Next, add five inches to it to determine your bra band size.
Cup size
2”
A
4”
B
6”
C
8”
D
10”
DD
Do remember to follow these steps cautiously and be careful not to miss out on any one of them! When asked about the common mistakes made by women who measure their bra size, Stephanie said, “they measure their under-bust wrongly as they forget that they have to add five inches to it”. “They are unable to determine their cup size as they do not know how to calculate it,” she added.
Step 3 Then, measure your bust size. Measure the fullest part of your bust without pulling the tape tight. ILLUSTRATION BY: Isabelle Seah BACKGROUND BY: Charlotte Low
Do not neglect the importance of wearing the right bra size. It actually lessens fatigue as well as prevents harm to your breast tissues. Do keep them healthy! ♔
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HEALTH
PHOTO BY: Isabelle Seah BACKGROUND BY: WallpaperToon
Say yes to Quitting ACCORDING to the Singapore Mental Health study done
RACHEL STANSILAS finds out what health risks young female smokers are facing
in 2013, breast cancer diagnosis has increased to 15% as the number of female smokers aged 18-29 have been on the rise. Research done by Dr. Christopher Li of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, together with his research team, showed that young female smokers who have smoked for over 10 years are more prone to breast cancer than those who have for a shorter period of time. “There is a significant increase in breast cancer risk among those exposed to more than five hours of cigarette smoke per day,” said Zheng Jye, a Resident Physician at the National University Hospital. However, he also added that there is no safe level of smoking. Nur Sabrina Sabarudin, a smoker for four years, laughed when asked how often she was exposed to cigarette smoke. “Everyday, both in school and at home,” she stated. The British Journal of Cancer indicates that the risk is much greater among females who started smoking before their first menstruation cycle or have their first child. “The increased risk of breast cancer, mainly among premenopausal women is linked to both passive and active smoking,” affirmed Dr En Loong, who works at Tan Tock Seng Hospital. Experimental studies done by the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention (CEBP) indicated that tobacco smoke contains human breast carcinogens (cancer-causing substances). The higher prevalence of smoking-specific
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DNA adducts, which are altered forms of DNA as a result of exposure to carcinogens, and gene mutations found in the breast tissue of smokers compared with that in non-smokers supports the possibility of a positive connection between cigarette smoking and the risk of breast cancer. The American Cancer Society states that there are two types of second hand smoke: sidestream smoke, which is smoke from the lighted end of the cigarette, and mainstream smoke, which is smoke exhaled by a smoker. Sidestream smoke has a higher concentration of carcinogens and is more poisonous as compared to mainstream smoke. This is due to their smaller particles, allowing it to enter the body’s cells effortlessly. “Chemicals from cigarette smoke will reach the breast tissues, causing harm when it is inhaled by a smoker, second hand or not,” said Zheng Jye. Clinical Hypnotherapist Arpita Saluja revealed that one of the symptoms commonly seen in smoking addicts is their tendency to smoke first thing in the morning. They smoke more than seven sticks of cigarettes a day, even when they are sick. She added that when they are unable to smoke they tend to be irritable, restless and may even suffer from insomnia or mild depression. Zheng Jye reassuringly said that those who quit smoking by age 34 would live 10 years longer on average than those who continued to smoke. He also said that the younger you are when you stop smoking, the greater the chances of reducing breast cancer risk. ♔
HEALTH
Is teatox as tea-rific as it’s all made out to be? VIVIEN LOW explores the trend and to get the lowdown on it ILLUSTRATION BY: Vivien Low
TEATOX is an abbreviation for
THE SKINNY ON TEATOX they had worked eight months prior to their launch to find out what Singaporeans like. The Morning Boost and Night Cleanse teas have eight different ingredients each that are perfectly combined to bring you that great taste.
tea detoxification, and as its name implies, users consume a special brew of tea in order to clear their body of toxins that the liver may not be able to get rid of. However, detoxification is a form of alternative medicine (a form of practice that claims to have healing effects like regular medicine, but without the science) that has a lack of scientific evidence to back its claims of removing ‘toxins’ from its body, according to a report co-written by Harriet Ball. However, that isn’t stopping teatox from being a hit in Singapore. There are numerous brands to choose from, but the Singaporean’s go-to brand for teatox would have to be SkinnyMint. Apart from clearing built-up toxins, people who go for teatox programmes often hope to lose weight and reduce bloating. According to US gastroenterologist Dr Robynne Chutkan, women are much more bloated and constipated compared to their male counterparts. This is because women have longer colons and less space to contain them. Kathleen Zelman wrote in her WebMD article that women are also more prone to gaining weight than men due to lower testosterone levels, which
“Teatox is a supplement, rather than a standalone slimming diet plan.” - Mia Foo, lifestyle blogger at MollyMia
means that men have more muscle than fat, and muscle burns more energy. According to the SkinnyMint website, their 28-day teatox programme, which includes a morning blend and a night-time tea, is said to help increase energy, burn off fats, remove toxins, reduce bloating and boost metabolism. Mia Foo, 28, a lifestyle blogger at MollyMia (molly-mia.blogspot.sg), has tried the SkinnyMint teatox programme for herself. “I am sceptical of such products,” the blogger revealed, “I was expecting the extremes – either no results or diarrhoea with severe cramps, but both didn’t happen to me. The result? Reduced bloating and an increase in bowel movements! She knew of the teatox’s claim to burn off fats, but she wasn’t upset that her weight fluctuated only a little, as her main purpose was to reduce bloating. “Teatox is a supplement, rather than a standalone slimming diet plan,” Mia reasoned, but also added that it’s hard for her to compare teatox to other slimming plans. Crafted in Germany, SkinnyMint was launched on 1 March 2014, and has so far accumulated at least 50 positive reviews on their website. SkinnyMint’s Managing Director, Alexander Ostrowski, 36, said that
The Morning grapefruit leaves, strawberries and pineapples. We’ve heard plenty about the benefits about green tea, strawberries and pineapples, but what about the rest? Yerba mate, originating from South Africa, is a drink which helps to detoxify the blood, enhance attention and quell hunger, according to FitDay website. Nettle leaves are said to help with constipation, whereas dandelions clear out the kidney and act as a mild laxative, while the root is often used to deal with bloating. The guarana fruit, originating from the Amazon, reduces mental and physical lethargy. The Night Cleanse tea, which cleanses and reduces bloating, contains ginger root, orange leaves, lemongrass, senna leaves,peppermint, liquorice root, hawthorn berries and psyllium husk.The lesser-known ingredients might be senna leaves, liquorice root and psyllium husk. Senna leaves are natural laxatives that should be taken in small doses. Nonetheless, the purge also allows the colon to be cleansed, which is directly linked to weight loss, according to HealthGuideHQ.com.Liquorice root relieves the digestive system, whereas psyllium husk mainly aids in easing bowel motion as a laxative. We’ve broken down teatox in this one article, and whether you’re keen to hop on to the teatox bandwagon… That’s totally up to you! ♔
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