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How to: A new cute up 'do

Got a wedding coming up soon? Need a new look for a birthday party? Just want to look super cute at your next do... or simply want to impress your co-workers with the cutest hair ever? This cute new up 'do is the thing for you! Thanks to our gorgeous Australian beauty editor Lauren for this hair tutorial.

1. Start with clean hair

2. Separate into 4 sections (try twistbands for snag free fun)

3. Take the two outer sections and lightly fluff/tease with a brush or comb, simply to build a little texture

4. The twist them from head to ends, on both sides

5. Get your model to hold them (while you do the rest of the work!)

6. Plait the two central bunches of hair

Be sure to mess them up a little - this look us all about rustic!

8. Then forget about them. Grab the two outer bunches (twisted) and bring together, twisting as you go. They will form one long 'twisty' piece of hair, as shown.

9. Then twist it around on itself until it forms a cute mini-bun (similar shape to a topknot)

10. Then take your plaits and weave them up and around the twisted hair on the sides of your models head (this may take a few 'weaves' - 2 times for us here)

11. Once both plaits are weaved in, bobby pin them into place, including any stray bits of hair. Just keep tucking them in as you go, adding a bobby pin here and there.

Finish with a tonne of hairspray and feel free to pull a few more bits and pieces out to make it more textured. 

12. Smile! Be happy! Love your cute new up 'do!

Thanks to my lovely model, Maddy (my little sister) who let me to play with her freshly washed hair, only hours before she boarded her flight to LA last weekend! 

There you have it bellas! Any girl will look super cute with this up do, will you give it a go? Practice makes perfect but remember, keep this look a little messy and 'lived in' so it doesn't look to princess-y! Enjoy! - Lauren

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5 super cute ways to wear twistbands today!

Here at bbHQ we love our twistbands, so we thought we'd share with you our top 5 ways to wear them!

To the gym

Sweat it out in style with a cute twistband in your hair. Best of all, they are super-comfy both on your head (begone tight-ponytail-headaches!) and on your wrists. 

In the shower…

Want to keep your hair up and dry during your morning shower, without leaving a huge kink in your locks? Twistband have got your back! Keep your strands from getting waterlogged without the hassel of having to warm up the straightener again. Winner!

Growing out/disguising a fringe

Don’t forget, twistbands also come in headbands, not just hair ties. Perfect for keeping a pesky fringe out of your face whilst growing out, or simply when you want to wear all your hair back. Plus they come in heaps of cute colours, so you can accessorise with every outfit you could possibly pull from your wardrobe!

Stacked on

Braids and plaits are the coolest weekend hairstyle since ever. You can wear them messy and your tresses can still look ‘styled’. Add a stack of cute and colourful twistbands at the bottom to give it a little more oomph in less time than it takes for you to read this very informative twistband tips and tricks article!

As part of an arm party

What is an arm party I hear you say? Well it is the most exciting thing to happen to your lower arm since 2007 when nearly every celebrity started rocking wrist tattoos! An arm party is the calculated stacking of watches, bracelets, and all things bangle-y. Loved by fashion darlings right now, the arm party is having a moment. Throw in a few twistbands to get the party started on your wrist (and then use them to tie your hair up later!) Ingenious!   

To learn more about the amazing twistbands just click here or simply head to our online store to purchase your own twistbands and let us know how you wear yours! - Lauren

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Looking back: Our Best of..

I can't believe we just shipped our 8th bellabox! Our members have discovered over 40 different brands and 70 products over these 8 months from amazing skincare, makeup, beauty trends, hair products and even beauty drinks! Today we look back on our customer favourites from each box.

Initially, there was a mixed reaction to Twistbands but sometimes the most simple product are the most effective. These simple elastic hair ties do not dent or damage the hair, plus they come in an amazing array of colours from fluoro to metallic. Also, watch out for the headbands and stretchy shoelaces coming soon. 

This was a hot favourite among those who knew the brand well. But for those who never tried Obsessive Compulsive Lip Tars were in for a shock, these super pigmented lip tars are somewhere between a lip gloss and a lipstick and they will get you noticed!

Everyone goes crazy over full size make up items but this month it was extra special with a Savoir Faire lipstick in the Party in Style box. These creamy lipsticks will dazzle you!

Pangea Organics Lip balm is an organic but super moisturising balm that not only keeps your lips super hydrated, you won't swallow nasties in the process. This brand even uses Eco-friendly packaging.

We were glad to introduce this new kid on the block to our members with their Ansley Gel Eye liner. Ansley products are innovative, effective and great value!

We instantly fell in love with the Caudalie Radiance Serum. This oil-free serum is a global best seller as it works to reduce dark spots, promotes even skintone, and boosts radiance. Now we all want a bit of that!

For some of us, the only alone time we get is in the shower, all Mums would agree! So it is important to enliven the senses and dream of that next holiday. That is why the Lemongrass House Shower gel was a hit as each product is handmade with love.

Did we miss you favourite product? We can not wait to hear about the favourites for May with our pampering box. If you havent signed up yet, you can get on board right now: http://bellabox.sg/box-membership.html

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Get the lowdown on our Spring Spree

We are one week away from our Spring Spree shopping evening hosted at the Bellabox show room this Thursday 17th May. The highlight of this shopping evening? The entire range of Twistbands and the new spring collection from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics!

If you have been living under a rock and haven't heard about Twistbands, they have been spotted on the wrists of celebs like Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristen Cavalari. Twistbands are a super-sleek and colourful solution to uncomfortable elastic bands. They’re made from elastic cloth, so you can bid a fond adieu to those attractive wrist indents and that ponytail headache.

The new OCC Spring collection, is inspired not by garden variety roses but psychotropic and poisonous plants. This collection turns traditional spring pastels upside down, injecting them with hallucinatory notes of nearly-neon vibrancy. Mixed in are more subtle neutral lip shades, meant to be paired with a dizzying flash of color on the eyes, in this garden of earthly (and unearthly) delights. The Garden Collection also heralds the arrival of new packaging in both our Lip Tars with a more precise applicator and a fashion-forward new look!

You can find all the other cult products from the Bellabox shop including Laqa & Co, Faust's Potion, Pangea and Savoir Faire.

There are so many reasons we would love to see you there:

We have special gift packs with 4 for the price of 3

Spend $100 and get 2 travel size products of your choice

Get a welcome drink and the best in cult beauty shopping!

Just head down to our showroom located at 26A Temple St in China Town on Thursday 17th May from 4pm to 8pm. See you there!

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Get Superhero Style - Avengers-Themed Eye Makeup

We are loving The Avengers in 3D, did you see it yet?  Marking the release of the sci-fi blockbuster, these amazing creations are based on The Avengers characters including Captain America, Iron Man, and The Hulk. These are the work of makeup artist Jangsara.

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More May Bellabox Details Revealed

Production of our special May Bellaboxes is underway! We took a trip to our warehouse to see how things were going and it was crazytown to see rows upon rows of bella bags! We thought we should change it up this month with a reusable bag.

As far as what’s inside these cute bags, you’ll have to wait to find out! We can tell you that Elizabeth Arden, Sally Hansen, Macadamia Oil and CandyDoll are some brands you are going to discover inside.

Plus, we are please to announce our special Spring Spree Shopping event on the 17th May, where we launch the entire Twistband range and the Spring range from Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics. Members will find a special offer to our event inside their box in addition to special partner offers. 

If you haven’t signed up for Bellabox yet, there’s still time. Just visit our sign up page — and get ready to dive into a month of pampering!

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Spring SPREE: The bellabox shopping event

This month we welcome new Twistbands and the Spring Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics range to bellabox. Yes finally the whole range of our two favourite brands are here! To celebrate we are hosting a special shopping event in the Bellabox showroom.

Twistbands are beautiful hair ties that don't dent or damage the hair and the best bit, they come in the most amazing array of colours and styles, from tie dye to metallic, to any colour under the rainbow.

Our beauty cult favourite is OCC, loved by makeup artists around the world. We are excited to introduce the whole OCC range include the new Spring Lip Tars, Cosmetics Glitters and Loose Colour Concentrates.

Come to our exclusive launch event on the 17th May at the bellabox show room located at 26A Temple St in China Town from 4pm to 8pm (get in early as there is limited stock). Cash and credit card payment accepted.

Why should you come?

We have special gift packs with 4 for the price of 3

Spend $100 and you will get the choice of 2 gifts

Get a welcome drink plus the best in cult beauty shopping

Bellabox members will get an extra treat, look out for the info in your May Box!

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March Bellabox Feedback

Now we have made it easier to give feedback on the product sampled in your monthly box.

You can earn reward points for each product reviewed and you can use your reward points for discounts on full size products in the bellabox shop. Each 100 reward points equals $10 discount for shopping!

This is the last week to give feedback on your March Bellabox, start reviewing your March Bellabox items now.

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SPRING SCENT: Inspirations and new cults-to-be

Springtime makes us think of rejuvenation and change, which means updating our wardrobe and beauty regime!

With this, we bring you a few inspirations and new cults-to-be for new your Spring scent:

1. Annick Goutal Les Soliflores Collection: This limited edition line of fragrances perfectly captures the single note essence of four gorgeous florals, delicately mixed to enhance your femininity.

2. Maison Francis Kurkdjian APOM Pour Femme: He incorporates the spicy seductive touch of ylang-ylang, the exciting, carefree scent of Orange Flower, topped off with a heady, luscious scent of cedarwood. Get swept away to the streets of Paris with Francis Kurkdijian.

3. Narcisco Rodriguez For Her Eau Délicate - Limited Edition: The fundamentals of this fragrance are a masterpiece that so many have copied.  A delicate version = air freshener, pillow freshener, air freshener, lingerie drawer freshener, in a beautiful spring scent.

4. Philosophy Amazing Grace: Just landed in Singapore, their best selling scent Amazing Grace is clean, feminine and beautiful. A must for your Spring rejuvenation! 

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Know your ingredients

Do you know your ingredients? Do you know your face creams?

I've had more than one conversation in Singapore with people who are reluctant to use rich moisturising creams on their skin. I love rich creams and Ahava offers up a great reason why.

Do you know how great humectants are?  Products created with humectants such as honey, glycerin etc work solely to take moisture from the air and draw it in to skin and hair. And what's more, they work better in humid environments than in dry ones.

Humectants help to attract water from the dermis to the epidermis therefore increasing the plumped up effect of skin cells and in places where the humidity is higher than 70% they can even attract water from the atmosphere - meaning that the hot sticky weather of Singapore can actually give you skin some good!

Not only this but they also help skin to be more flexible so it doesn't crack or wrinkle, to be less prone to irritation and to encourage skin to shed it's outer layer more easily.

Ahava Hydrate Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Dry skin infuses the complexion contains Vitamin E and soothes with Aloe Vera Amino Acids are rich in humectants. This creamy, gel-textured formula transforms into a light, absorbing moisture cream when it touches the skin for a cool and refreshing sensation.

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The perfect complexion in less than 5 minutes

This month Bellabox is bringing you all the down low on creating a flawless complexion. SO who better to offer us some advice than Tayaba Jafri, Director of International Artistry and Promotions for Laura Mercier? Tabatha shared with us some great tips for creating a knock-out look without looking overdone and we're going to share them with you!

STEP ONE: PRIMER

There’s no arguing that the perfect make-up look begins with a clear canvas. To make sure your skin looks it’s best, start with a foundation primer. Take a five-cent size dollop of primer and massage over skin working from the middle of the face to the outer edges, this will help skin appear more even and help your makeup last longer.

STEP TWO: FOUNDATION

Next add foundation. Depending on your skin type and preference you can go for a mineral powder or more traditional liquid foundation. We love Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturiser with SPF20 because you can follow it with a setting powder for the final step.

STEP THREE: CONCEALER

Concealer is one of the last steps to creating a great complexion as it should only cover what you can still see after applying primer and foundation – which should help to improve the appearance of your skin. For dark circles and discolouration around the eyes use the Laura Mercier Secret Concealer. It’s moisture-rich so ideal for the delicate eye area.

For other blemishes or marks around the face use Laura Mercier’s Secret Camouflage – the best bit about it is that you can easily create the perfect colour for your own skin tone by mixing the two palette shades.

STEP FOUR: SETTING

Finally, finish skin with a setting powder. Not only does it create a ‘seal’ to the foundation you have created but it also gives you a natural velvety glow. Tayaba suggests setting with a powder like Laura Mercier’s Mineral Finish Powder as it has minimal pigment so you don’t add yet more ‘colour’ to your makeup. Lightly dust over skin working from the centre of your face to the outside.

Laura Mercier is available in Sephora

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In a frizz

Singapore’s humid weather is hardly a friend to hair – but what can you do to get hair in tip top shape and looking gorgeous and glossy all day long?

(photo: Living Well blog)

Condition for best condition: Dry hair can be more prone to looking frizzy and dull, and contrary to popular belief conditioner will not make your hair oily. If hair feels dry, use an intensive moisturising shampoo and conditioner, and follow with a weekly intensive moisturising mask or anti-frizz treatment. Only use conditioner on hair strands, not on your scalp and hair will look lustrous not lank.

Super stylin': When styling hair, use a wide tooth comb and dry hair on the lowest setting. Blasting hair with intense heat will cause it damage, meaning more splits and fly-aways.

The good oil: Use a styling frizz-fighting specially designed for hair that is to be dried and straightened before picking up the blow-dryer.

Teetotal: Avoid styling products that contain alcohol. Alcohol acts as an astringent, which will shrink and contrict the hair causing it to dry out even more.

 Keep cutting: Don't underestimate the importance of regular trims – they'll keep dry, fuzzy ends under control and make you look more groomed.

Davines Momo Shampoo is ideal for dehydrated hair. The sweet almond proteins in it's unique formula deeply hydrate hair, while Vitamins C and B help protect hair from damage.

Davines Momo Shampoo, $28 for 250ml

Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner has a rich, creamy formula that means frizz is eliminated and hair is left feeling softer and looking shinier. While borage seed oil tames hair and helps stimulate your scalp. 

Davines Love Smoothing Conditioner, $29 for 250ml

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The Benefit of visiting a Brow Bar

Now if you happen to be a hairdresser and you trim your fringe at home, perhaps it actually looks pretty great. And perhaps if you’ve been trained in eyebrow waxing, shaping and grooming then your eyebrows look pretty great too. But if, as I suspect, you’re like this mere mortal, then you really should get your eyebrows looked after professionally.

Today I was lucky enough to be invited to trial the Benefit Brow at Tangs (although they also have one at Sephora too) and hang out with Ace, a Benefit Brow technician, who has been professionally trained for 3-4 months to make sure she has all the skills required to make your eyebrows look gorgeous.

I was a little nervous about the whole affair to be honest, but Ace really made me feel at ease. I have over the years had my eyebrows threaded and plucked but never waxed and I was dreading the pain I felt sure was coming my way!

Firstly Ace took a measurement of my eyebrows, recording and marking the points where they should begin, where they need to arch and where they should end. Ace also made sure they were balanced with one another – much like your hairdresser would do when trimming hair on different sides of your head.

Next it was time for the waxing. Despite not looking forward to this, it really wasn’t too painful at all and the pearl wax seemed to make my skin feel ultra smooth afterwards.

Finally, Ace finished off by plucking away stray hairs, cleaning my brows of any excess wax and then adding a soothing aloe treatment to reduce any redness. Once my skin had a moment or two to calm down Ace defined my brows

And used a little concealer on the red spots so that I looked   as good as new…only better.

I was thrilled with the shape and feel of my eyebrows and as I took in a big fashion billboard on my way back to the office I felt a kinship with the model whose eyes and brows were the focus – because mine too were now showcasing my face and making me feel as gorgeous as she looked!

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Francis Kurkdjian

Francis Kurkdjian? Oui? Non?

Well you may not know the name but I promise you know the fragrances - Escada, Dior, Jean Paul Gaultier, Yves Saint Laurent and Guerlain, Elizabeth Arden and Davidoff.

A rising star in the perfume world, he is known in fragrance as the edgiest and most unique perfumer around and he has now given up working for the big fashion houses to create his own boutique - Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris.

Kurkdjian is leading a new wave of perfumers who are creating scents that evoke a notion not just a smell; he made the scent of money for the artist Sophie Calle, and his bespoke scents, created over a 6 to 10 months, are priced at $10,000 for two 60-milliliter flasks, hand-engraved with a name or personal message.

There is a little doubt that his perfumes are a little luxury in a bottle and that owning a scent by Kurkdjian is akin to having a little vintage Chanel or Dior in your wardrobe.This month Bellabox has been able to share that luxury with you - were you one of the lucky recipients of a perfume from Maison FrancisKurkdjian Paris? Have people commented on your scent when you've worn it?

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Most thirst quenching cuppa we've had in a long time!

Dry skin is my nemesis. Even in Singapore’s humid climate, my skin can often feel dry and sometimes can get a little flakey. So when I discovered that Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask was in this month’s Bellabox, I was thrilled….and it was hard to keep a secret how great my skin was finding it!

Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask promises results within 15 minutes, and I can certainly tell you that my skin seemed more luminous even after the first use. Initially I put a lot of the mask on my skin, as it seemed so light I wondered how it could possibly quench so deeply. I needn’t have worried though because my skin felt softer and more hydrated even when I used less.

The secret it seems may be one of the mask’s key ingredients, the time-released Swiss Glacial Water which helps keep skin hydrated for longer by slow releasing it’s benefit over time which means that skin is in better shape to retain moisture. Effectively, the more plump skin cells are, the more able they are to take on water and healthful nutrients. 

I really love that when I use the mask it makes my skin feel cool and refreshed, and when I wash it off, softer and brighter. Although you only need to use the mask once a week to notice a difference, I have found myself using it a little more often and loving the effect it has on my skin.

Have you tried the Enavose H2Osis Black Tea Quench Mask yet? Have you noticed a difference?

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Holiday in a bottle

A friend of mine gifted me with some Lemongrass House Shower Gel for my birthday in March. I immediately lifted the lid and had a sniff.

"Ah!!" I exclaimed, "It's like a holiday in a bottle."

And let's face it - who couldn't do with that feeling of being on holiday every time they have a shower?

Lemongrass House hails from Phuket in Thailand and each product in their range has been hand blended – you can even find the name of the person who hand blended your product on the bottle.

Perhaps the thing that we at Bellabox like most about Lemongrass House though is that their products use only essential oils and are free from synthetics such as parabens and sulfates so you can be guaranteed they'll be kind to skin.

I was really thrilled then to discover that Bellabox was to be offering the Lemongrass House Shower Gel as part of the April box, as I think it's a real treat!

Have you had a chance to try your bottle yet? Does it represent a holiday in a bottle for you? I'd love to hear about where!

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If you do one thing this week....

....then take care of your lips.

Nothing can ruin a flawless complexion and perfectly made up face like cracked, dry or flaking lips. Sometimes the cause of cracked lips is simply because there is a lack of moisture, but it can also be caused by the layer of oil that is naturally produced by the body to coat the lips being removed or lacking. 

And a humid climate doesn't mean that you don't need to fear chapped lips - harsh air-conditioning can equally cause damage to lips.

Using a good quality natural lip balm is a great way to ensure that skin is kept moisturised all day long. Keep it in your purse or on your desk so that it's always close to hand.

My current favourite is Moa Green Balm because it really does make my lips feel nourished and soft. My biggest problem has been making sure that no-one else uses it. After extolling the virtues of this little pot of wonder - that it can soothe skin harassed by anything from psoriasis, bumps, bites, grazes and minor burns, even coldsores - I found it disappearing from my desk and reappearing some time later but in another place.

So if you do one thing for yourself this week, really do try the Moa Green Balm....just don't tell your friends about it until you've worked out your hiding place!

(Image: b4tea.blogspot)