Introducing M.A.C Ellie Goulding and Faerie Whispers | January

January arrived and is winding down to a beautiful ending very soon. We glide along this first month of the year very nonchalantly, in our approach to beauty as well. But, something from M.A.C Cosmetics came along and added that little sparkle and spring vibe into our makeup routine, not forgetting, rubbing off that little fairy dusts and sensual goddess magic onto us *_^ 

M.A.C Ellie Goulding Collection

Who could forget that angelic and sexy vocal of Ellie Goulding, that infamous song Love Me Like You Do that basically renders all women feeling all weak in front of her "ideal man"? (thanks to the movie, 50 Shades of Grey *_^). This powerhouse goddess had previously teamed up with makeup giant, M.A.C and through a carefully curated collection, launched a special edition M.A.C Cosmetics x Ellie Goulding range that looks super sexy, like the singer herself. The collection maneuver along the lines of being effortless au naturel by day, but transformed into breathtaking bombshell by night. Here we are introducing you to two of the products from the many ones in the collection.

Kids Around Malaysia, That Little Luxury Wonderland

We had the pleasure to be a part of the opening of a luxury lifestyle and fashion brand which our dear friend Matthew and his team have been working tirelessly hard on, to bring it into the Malaysian shore sometime last year. Kids Around opened its door at The Gardens Mall to a fun-filled crowd and attendees for the day, media friends and parents alike. 

Kids Around is a brand that consists of high-end clothing and apparels for children, culminating and bringing together the junior lines of brands such as Boss Hugo Boss, Chloe, Karl Lagerfeld, DKNY, Little Marc Jacobs, Timberland, Carrement Beau and others from Paris, France and other parts of the world. Therefore, Malaysian parents can now shop for these premium brands without having to travel abroad. 

This is the first Kids Around store in Asia, joining the league of other existing Kids Around stores worldwide in London, Milan, Moscow, Madrid, Saudi Arabia, Beirut, Panama and many others coming up this year.

[Inspiration | Musing] This Very Saturday My Heart Flutters Because Of You

Press that PLAY button, before you read on.

This Saturday, my heart took a detour, she says she is aching, aching with a sense of nostalgic black, that secluded blue, yearning to go back in time, to that very moment when our eyes met, that moment when I was about to leave school, taking my bicycle along with me, you handed me a small little package, at that very long back lane, piled with bicycles lined up uniformly. "For your birthday". I stopped, momentarily, gazing at that little package in my hand, not knowing what to feel, when I looked up, you had walked off, disappearing from my sight, just like that, without another word. My heart pounded, horribly... terribly, simply because I wanted so much to say... "thank you... I like you too" but those words choked in me, that very afternoon. Young love, that was. You were my first love, one that makes me feel crazy, just by sitting next to you, one that ride with me on my way cycling home, you on your bike, myself on my silly little bicycle, side by side.

My young love left without a trace, without hearing those precious three words that one would come to expect from her first love. We remained friends, the best of friends, for many years on.

Could you love more than one person in your lifetime? Perhaps

The heart says she wants love no more, for it will end in vain, without no good reasons, until you came into my university life. Yes, you. That charming looking one who is smart, over confident, yet gave me a little pad and rubbed my head in hope to comfort me when I was sobbing, crying while telling you I had a horrid bad dream of seeing my own sister dying, in front of my eyes. "Silly, it is just a dream". My heart surrendered to the sound of those words, ringing in my head, that very day. Our love was fast, it was hurried, but that was perhaps my real first love then, for we did all the silly crazy things that a couple would do.

Looking out at the field, under a tree, your sudden words broke the peaceful silence of that one fine afternoon. "I wish I could kiss you now." Those were the exact words. I quickly buried my gaze, looking down, could barely breathe, did not answer, afraid to look up to meet your eyes. I had my very first kiss, with you, that same evening, by the beach, outside of campus, but never to realize that it was the beginning of a beautiful tragic ending to the love story that we were writing.

You ended our love, not long after, with no clear reasons for me to grasp, or even comprehend. My heart was broken, utterly crushed. That was love, to me - ever so eloquently beautiful, but never quite real enough for me to hold onto and depend on.

Does your heart flutter, ever so slightly? Now and then? After all these years? Thinking of that special someone who was trapped in your past? Never quite make it to your present, in person? Thanks for being a part of my past, for the present appears more gorgeous just by thinking of you, once in a while.

Perhaps that walk in the rain alone at night, perhaps taking that coffee in the morning in bed, reading your favourite magazine, perhaps the time you spend with your girlfriends, out and about, perhaps during those quiet moments in life, while taking in a deep breath, your heart flutters, ever so gently, just because of those special little moments in life, that you have experienced, which make you feel alive, that make you realize, life is just a beautiful journey after all.

We are hopelessly in love now, in love with this little romantic and sweet song called Fluttering Heart. We hope you have that special someone in your life, be it past, present or in the future.

All visuals via LUMI pinterest here.

With love, 

Jeann

LUMI's Top Picks For Natural Radiance Base Makeup

We are a huge fan of natural and radiance base makeup look and what is more exciting than starting the year of 2016 with our top picks for achieving such glowing looks, right? So, we have decided to put together a special feature, introducing you some of our most favourite base makeup products to achieve the glowing radiance look. If you are all for that healthy glow skin, a better version of you type of base makeup, stay on for more then, lovelies *_^ 

We take on the notion that skin needs to breathe, for makeup to look natural, your skin needs to do that little peek-a-boo thing, we feel covering every imperfection is not exactly our best makeup approach, or at least, how we fancy it. Nonetheless, not everyone of us are born with perfect poreless or smooth skin, so it helps to have some base products that could even out the skin tone, making a few adjustments onto our skin surface here and there, (like blurring out some degree of imperfections) and yet, still maintain the true face that we would like to put forward. So, here are some of our most favourite base makeup products to meet such objectives, and later on, one or two products to enhance that extra little "glow"!

Shiseido Professional Asian Texture Trend 2016 With Kim Hyun Tae

One of the many things that frames a person's face well is most definitely how the hair looks. Keeping healthy hair is essential, maintaining and updating the hair style that fits your personality while keeping updated, to a certain extend, with the current trend helps boost a confident image too. We recently had the pleasure to sit down with the CEO of RaBeauty Core Salon, the renowned Korean hair stylist, Kim Hyun Tae and got some tips in terms of what's trending in the hair industry, one that Shiseido Professional called it the Asian Texture Trend 2016. Let's check them out, shall we?

Visual courtesy of Shiseido Professional Malaysia

Visual courtesy of Shiseido Professional Malaysia

Apparently, what is trending in 2016 in Korea is the wavy styles. Wavy hair and curls has been a beauty staple for several consecutive occasions, and this trend is set to continue. The natural loose curls, also known as the famous "Korean" big waves are the trending looks now and also in the upcoming season. Just think - those lovely Korean actresses and you will get the big idea. Here are some, shown above, compiled via LUMI's Korean Faces Pinterest board here. According to Mr. Kim Hyun Tae, with his 15 years of experience in the haircare business and styling the likes of Korean beauties like actress Song Hye Kyo, amongst others, revealed that Koreans love to see women in wavy or curls hairstyle is because this trend usually compliments the face structure well and makes the women look young. When one looks younger, most naturally, they would come across more appealing and pleasing to the eyes.

[LIVE STREAMING] Burberry AW2016 Menswear Collection

Super excited yet again, LUMINNEJ to be given the opportunity to collaborate with our favorite British fashion and beauty brand, Burberry to bring you their up-and-coming new Autumn/Winter 2016 Menswear collection, unveiling right here at our space.

We are indeed very much looking forward to this collection, knowing and witnessing the previous seasons before this, since its AW14 collection here, we have always enjoyed the menswear selections. Judging from the sneak peek visuals here, perhaps Christopher Bailey is trying something a little different?

Let's sit back and countdown with us, and drop back here again, on the 11th January, 2016, coming Monday, 9:00pm (Malaysian time) to catch the show live here. We most definitely will be around for this.

All visuals and details courtesy of PR team for Burberry Malaysia. Thanks for the love and support and for choosing LUMINNEJ, once again. See you again, lovelies *_^

With love, 

Jeann

[Review] Beautiful Innisfree Long Wear Cushion SPF50/PA+++

First thing first, we have to say that we have never own ANY types of cushion before this. We have tried samples of BB cream and never really gotten over the thickness of it, which we definitely are not a huge fan of, and we have not tried any CC cream either. So, when we were presented this infamous cushion by the Korean brand, Innisfree, we were a little apprehensive. Will this work on our combination skin? Is cushion that huge in Korea or even outside Korea and that great that we have to give this a try? Perhaps that was our pivotal moment. That little Innisfree Long Wear Cushion we received previously forever changed our mindset towards this little wonderful creation.

[Inspiration | Musing] I Am The Woman I Am

I may not be pretty, I may not be perfect. I may not live up to society's expectation of what beauty is all about, I am not thin and slim, I do not fit into some clothes, I don't wear my makeup in a pristine manner, I don't have glowing pore-less skin most of the time, I don't have the patience to not give my best, I don't just listen to beautiful sugar-coated words but rather the things or action that you can show me. 

I am me, I am imperfect, I am a woman with too much softness and self-sacrificing qualities that may deem weak, some may even think that I am shallow for being a blogger, or flaunting the better things in life I have for being a blogger. Yes, I can seem pretentious in this fabricated alternate reality sort of make-believe "perfectly" enjoyable life that I have carved out for myself, since I started blogging. 

But

I am who I am. I am a mother of two growing boys, I am a full time screenwriter producer who runs a boutique production house, I am also a self-absorbed woman who loves to write freely, who wants to explore the inner works of what it takes to be a woman. I am a woman who just love to share the appreciation of beauty, to advocate finding beauty in life, and sharing them. 

I am learning to live better, love (myself) better, let go more, worry less, balance life better, not be judgmental, I am working on myself. I am seeing myself in a different light, now onwards. I am striving to be truthful towards my own feelings and emotions. I am a woman with conflicting thoughts, questioning myself if I am being who I really am or becoming that virtual version of that make-believe blogger that I portray myself to be? Are these two personalities the same? They merge or are they completely different? 

Questions left unanswered, and to be explored and determined. I would like to conclude one thing

I am the woman I am, and strive to be.

Have you been the woman you are? 

Isabeli Fontana for Porter Magazine. Visuals via MyBougeotte here. 

With love, 

Jeann