2016 Shinagawa Lasik by Dr Lee Sao Bing Post 1 (Pre-op)

Finally plucked up my courage to attend the pre-assessment for lasik.

I've been sitting on the decision for years now but never quite got around to actually doing anything about it.

My eyesight is quite a bad one. 650 degree on both eyes plus another 175 for astigmatism.

I've been wearing glasses since Primary 2 and contacts since Secondary 2. I used to be the kind that will refuse to step out of the house unless I put on contacts, and I will go for like as many as 20 hours in them, but since about 5 years ago, my eyes have been complaining. They were so dry that I can't leave the contacts in for more than 4 or 5 hours, otherwise I would have to drop in eyedrops like mad. Since last year, I kind of just gave up on wearing contacts and have been wearing spectacles to work, but it made me really self-conscious and has taken quite a toll on my self-confidence.

The reason why I've been putting it off for so long is that
1. The technology is only about 20 years old. I'm paranoid about what happens after the 20 plus years.
2. There have been cases where lasik failed, making the person's eyes worse. I'm afraid that I'll be one of the unlucky ones.
3. The lasik procedure is also very expensive.

But I've quite a few friends who've gone for the procedure and none of them regretted their decision, so I finally decided to take the plunge.

The two clinics that I shortlisted were Eagle Eye Centre (Dr Julien Theng) and Shinagawa (Dr Lee Sao Bing). Of the two, I don't know why but I'm just more biased towards Shinagawa, and that was the only clinic that I went to for the pre-lasik assessment. Didn't go for any of the talks at all.

My first consultation was for my chalazion. Wanted to do the pre-lasik assessment on the day itself but was adviced against it because the chalazion (which is like an enlarged stye thing) could have been pushing against the cornea, and the readings might have been off. I initially wanted to do the removal surgery but Dr Lee Sao Bing adviced against it because most of it has dried up so it's just a scar tissue left. Now there's a lump on my left eye lid, so sad. But it's pretty unnoticeable unless you stare closely.

For the chalazion consultation, I paid $149.43 in total.
1. Systane ultra eye drops x 1 ($15.71)
2. TLC eye care wipes x 2 boxes ($23.94)
3. Consultation ($100)
4. GST ($9.78)

After a week, I went for the pre-lasik assessment.

Won't be talking about the pre-lasik assessment since you can find plenty of information online, but basically the nurse is the one conducting all the readings, then you will be led to see Dr Lee Sao Bing who will then advice you on the suitable procedure based on the readings taken.

For me, because my corneas were thinner than the average person's (mine was 510um and 530um compared to 550um for the average person), Dr Lee recommended doing the Intralase Bladeless Lasik (where a flap is created) over epi-lasik, reason being due to the high degree and thin corneas, there's a greater chance of scarring occurring during the recovery. Scarring on the cornea would lead to a haze-like effect for your vision. On top of that, I'll have to add on the cross-linking procedure to strengthen the corneas. Total cost for both the lasik plus cross-linking would amount to about $5200 after the $200 credit card discount.

Chances of my eyes regaining perfect eyesight was 97%, 3% possibility that there might be some residual degree left.

Catch is that I'll have to complete the procedure within 3 months, otherwise when I redo the pre-lasik assessment, it will no longer be counted as a first visit, and would be priced higher (around $70).

Total damage for the pre-lasik assessment was $34.81.
1. Lasik consultation ($20.56)
2. TCL eye care wipes ($11.97)
3. GST ($2.28)

I've scheduled my surgery for mid May, so I'll update again probably end May after it's done. Hopefully the surgery will go smoothly.

Review: SkinnyMint didn't work for me

SkinnyMint has been all the craze lately.

I first noticed them when the ads of Skinny Mint were popping up left, right and centre on my facebook newsfeed. I got bored one day and decided to check out what all the fuss is about.

The idea behind SkinnyMint is simple enough. It's a detox tea (teatox) that is supposed to help you get your dream body through natural cleansing, energy boosting and detoxifying effects.

If you instagram their hashtag #daretobegorgeous, you'll come across many pictures of their supporters.

I got really tempted by some of the before/after photos because there seemed to be a hell lot of difference. The plus point was that their office was located in Singapore, instead of the faraway US or other countries so somehow it seemed more legit. And since the team behind SkinnyMint claimed that their tea is all natural, I thought that there was no harm trying it out.

The thing is that, the SkinnyMint tea is not cheap. It's priced at USD $29.90 for the 14 day starter pack, and USD $54.90 for the 28 day ultimate teatox pack (which is essentially 2 x the 14 day starter pack). 

Because I'm still a poor student, I told myself that I'll start out with the 14 day starter pack, and then repurchase it if I do see any positive effect.

So here is my 14 day starter pack. I wanted to at least try it out for an extended period of time before I gave my review so that it'll be my accurate.

It really saddens me to say that Skinny Mint did not work for me, especially after all those positive reviews I read. I was honestly looking forward to a brand new dream body like they advertised, but sad to say it did not happen.

The morning boost tea bags were supposed to be taken every day. It is supposed to be a healthier alternative to coffee but still give you that energy boost to help increase your metabolism, burn more fat and give you a nice energetic feeling. At least that's what their website says.

I drank it for 14 days straight, and from day 1 I did not feel any of that supposed high-energy effect. Nope, nuh-uh, nil. It was really disappointing but I told myself to brave it out and see if it actually worked.

Next was the night cleanse tea bags, which was supposed to be taken on alternative days from day 1. It had a very ginger-ish smell and taste, slightly unpleasant but nothing too unbearable.

But I really did not like the effect of the night cleanse.

The morning after, I'll get this stomach cramps from the moment I wake up. It's nothing too major that I have to station myself permanently in the toilet in case any unfortunate incident should happen, but enough to constantly remind you that your tummy is really feeling unwell. On some days, there was no cleaning effect at all (read I did not need to do any big business), but when I do, it always comes out too watery, like it was on the brink of becoming diarrhea.

Okay, too much info?

I just thought that it wasn't right to feel that stomachache all the time and end up having such runny...business. Ended up I always feared taking it if I had any early class the next day.

At the end of the 14 days, I really did not notice any reduction to my weight, or any reduction to the inches at my waist. But I've also got to admit that I did not do much exercise during this 14 days, like what they had suggested, so that might have contributed to the lack of results as well.

I won't be purchasing the 28 day pack anymore because I really think that the results were not evident for me.

Maybe my body wasn't suited for the tea and it really worked for others, but I just thought that I'll provide an honest alternative review since the reviews out there kind of made Skinny Mint out to be some super, all-powerful tea that could give you that hot summer bod in an instant.

How my kindle almost drowned...and lived to see the day (partially)

I can't remember doing anything this dumb for a long time now. Whatever mistakes I've made really paled in comparison to the recent saga.

I brought my kindle with me on an overseas trip and kept it in this secret compartment that my bag has. Because you know, I was so scared that it will get stolen.

When I returned from the trip, I took out everything from the bag (or so I thought) and promptly sent the bag for washing. 15 minutes into the wash cycle, I realized that my precious kindle was still somewhere in the bag, and I panicked.

By the time I managed to get it out, it was soaking wet. The screen was still on but my heart kind of just shrivelled up looking at the drenched kindle. My kindle is still pretty new, only about 3 months old and practically a baby by age.

So I did the next best thing I knew, I googled the internet. After reading through pages of info, I decided to try the rice trick. I zipped it up with some uncooked rice and left it there for a week.

And lo and behold, it actually worked! It didn't respond when I pressed the button and I thought it was a gone case already. But I plugged it in for charging and it reset itself and now it's working like before.

Almost.

The battery life has been seriously affected though. It used to last me 3 to 4 weeks even with heavy reading, now it lasts about a week maximum.

I'm a bit bummed out by this but hey, the bright side is that I still have a working kindle right.

Everybody loves fimo canes

Everybody loves fimo canes right. I mean, what's not to love!

I just found out about their existence a few days ago (yes I'm slow I know), but I couldn't stop gushing about them ever since.

They come in all kinds of shapes and colours and you can use these to really really spice up your DIY nails and make them 3D looking. So far I've seen pretty much anything under the sun. Flowers, leaves, butterflies, funny faces, cartoon characters, stars, hearts, fruits, brand logos, etc etc. And because of all the different designs they come in, you're bound to find one (or many) that fits the nail art design that you want to do!

And I simply love love love them because they're so simple and easy to use. Some people prefer using nail glues for fimo canes, to make them adhere to the nails longer, but I'd say it works just as well with a good top coat.

The top coat that I'm using is the much-raved Seche Vite. All you have to do is paint your base colour, and stick the fimo cane slices onto your nail before that layer completely dries, then paint about two coats of top coat over, and voila, you have pretty DIY nails! :)

In case you don't know what fimo canes are, they are a type of polymer clay that is sculptured into the desired shapes, then baked so that it'll harden. It comes in a stick form, and is normally about 5cm long and 3mm to 5mm wide. But of course, you can find pre-cut ones on the market to make your life easier.

You can even use them together with your nail art plates and pearls and rhinestones and dotting tools to create all kinds of unique designs.

And fimo canes not just limited to nails! You can use it to jazz up your phone covers, notebooks, laptops, MP3s, remote controls, monitor screens, wallet, for scrap-booking, headphones. They can be used for practically anything that you want to decorate. Useful right!

Below are some nail designs using fimo canes I found on the internet that I really like.

Cool right!

In case you're wondering, I got mine from bornprettystore.com. They even provide free shipping worldwide.

This is not a paid advertisement because I actually bought the fimo canes with my own money.

You can get 10% off your purchases when you use the code "SME10K31" .

Tried and Tested: Tresamme Deep Cleanse Shampoo Review

The Tresamme vitamin C deep cleansing shampoo (for hair prone to build-up) is said to be able to: 

"clarify and gently remove build-up and heavy residues that diminish hair's inner glow. Its formula, containing vitamin C, is gentle enough for daily use and will deeply purify your hair to get that just-left-the-salon fresh feel." 

The shampoo comes in a light transparent greenish-blue hue and has a very minty and fruity smell to it. 

This is my first time trying a deep cleansing shampoo, and I decided on Tresamme after reading some positive reviews on it. 

Although the Tresamme deep cleanse shampoo is said to be gentle enough for everyday use, I only use it once, or at most twice a week. My hair is kind of dry towards the ends and very prone to split-ends, so I don't want to strip away any more moisture than is needed.

Using a deep cleansing shampoo once in a while is important because it helps to erase build-up and reduce oil. The clarifying components help to regulate sebaceous gland secretions. Because of all the hair products that we use, and the residue left behind from shampoos and conditioners, our hair follicles and "pores" can become blocked over time, this is what causes hair losses, dandruff and so on. So using a deep cleansing shampoo helps you clear all those harmful stuff once in a while.

I read in some reviews that the Tresamme deep cleansing shampoo feels like a mud mask for the scalp, which was one reason that really tempted me because I'm a huge fan of mud masks. But I didn't really get that feeling. 

In fact, it didn't feel anything like what I expected, there was a very slight minty smell, but you don't feel that minty fresh feeling you get from some "fresh" shampoos. It just felt like a normal shampoo really. 

But after washing my hair, I do feel that it is more clean when I run my fingers through it, so I think it really worked in getting all the gunk out of my hair. And although it's not as smooth as when I'm using my moisturizing shampoo, I seriously liked that cleansed feel afterwards. 

I would say thumbs up for this product! :) 

Psst. Remember to use a conditioner/hair mask after using the deep cleansing shampoo.

DIY: Home Facials Step-by-Step Guide (Achieve Glowing Skin at the Comfort of Your Home)

I'm sure everyone loves facials. You get to rid your face of all the impurities and feed it with wholesome goodness while feeling relaxed and pampered.

But sometimes it's hard to go for facials regularly. You may not have the time to take 2 hours off from work, and it's hard to make appointments for after-work hours, or it may be because facials are oh-so-costly, ranging about $70 to $100++ even with packages.

I used to go for facials regularly when I had packages signed up, but now that I've completed them, I have yet to find another salon I like.

So I've began doing facials at home. With that $70-$100 a month, I can buy really good products that I can use again and again.

Of course you don't get all the frills that you enjoy at facial salons, you don't get people serving you and you don't get all the massages, but the price and convenience makes up for it.

What you will need:

1. your normal facial wash
2. a cleansing scrub
3. clarifying clay/mud mask
4. peel off mask
5. face steamer/hot water and a wide-base container or plate
6. pimple extractor
7. moisturizing mask
8. eye mask
9. relaxing soundtrack of your choice

So here's what you do.

Step 1: Play a relaxing soundtrack that you like. You can source for quite a few from youtube. 

Try searching under "relaxing spa music" if you don't know where to start. They have quite a few tracks that last for at least an hour so you don't have to keep getting up to switch tracks.

This is one track that I really like. But the down side is that it stops around 37 minutes before resuming again at 60 because that's the time when you're supposed to be 'asleep'. But I have to get up around that time anyway for the next steps so it wasn't a big issue for me.

Step 2: Clean your face with your normal facial cleanser, followed by the cleansing scrub. Pat your face dry.

Step 3: Apply a clarifying mud mask or clay mask.

The mask that I'm using for this step is the Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal facial clay mask. I tried this after reading glowing reviews about it online, and have been using it ever since. It has this pulsating feeling while drying which I really like, makes me feel as if all the impurities are sucked out from my pores. It also leaves your skin baby soft after use.

The Queen Helene Masque Mint Julep is another much raved mud mask that supposedly gives amazing results. I've yet to try that though, maybe after I've finished my tube of Freeman first.

The good thing about these two products is that they are both amazingly cheap. You can get Freeman products at either Mustafa or Guardian. Mustafa is cheaper though. I'm not so sure about Queen Helene, but drugstore.com definitely has it.

Step 4: Wash off the mud mask, and follow with a peel off mask. (optional step if you have sensitive skin)

I'm using the Kose black peel off mask that you see above. I feel that it helps to remove whatever impurities that my Freeman neglected, because the mud mask already drew all the impurities to the surface.

I tried using the Sophie Monk Strawberry Bye Bye Blackhead peel off mask, but it didn't work as well. I feel that Sophie Monk has this tendency to 'recede', so you find that as it dries, you see more and more dots of your skin exposed, and it makes me feel as if those spots are missed out.

Step 5: Steam your face with a face steamer for a few minutes to open up the pores. 

If you don't have one, you can substitute this by pouring hot water into a wide-base container or plate and bending your face over it.

Step 6: Use the round side of a metal pimple extractor and gently press against your nose in the areas prone to whiteheads and blackheads. 

So for me, I'll do it mostly on my forehead area near the bridge of my nose, my nose itself, and also my chin. This pushes out the stubborn blackheads and whiteheads that the mud mask and the peel off mask couldn't get out. Try not to prick it or squeeze too hard otherwise you'll damage your skin tissues.

Step 7: Wash your face with cold water to close back your pores.

Step 8: Apply a moisturizing mask of your choice, depending on what you want it to do for your skin (brightening, whitening, firming, etc). 

For me, I really like the My Beauty Diary Bird Nest masks, followed by beauty buffet masks. But this depends on whatever works for your skin type as well.

You can apply a eye mask after this step, or together. For me, I substitute the eye mask by pouring Hada Labo Hydrating lotion onto cotton pads then placing them over my eyes. It helps to brighten my eyes considerably.

The whole process will take about 1 and a half hours or 2 hours depending on how long you leave each product for.

There, now you have it, home facial that gives you cost-savings and convenience while keeping your skin healthy. :)

Tried and Tested: FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence

This is a very word-heavy post with little pictures because I just want to share my experience.

Went for a facial treatment trial at FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence.

I went to the Ngee Ann City branch, but now they've moved to Plaza Singapura instead I think.

FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence boasts several award winning facial treatments that will take your skin back to its heydays.

Some of FIL's more famous facial treatments are:

FIL Hyaluronic Concentrated Essence Face Therapy - Voted Best Hydrating Facial (STYLE, Aug 2011)An intensive hydrating treatment to help the skin maintain a youthful look, this facial is the skin’s ‘thirst quencher’ that gives an elastic lift, adds firmness and locks in moisture to dry skin. 

FIL Premium Gold Face Therapy - Voted Best New Facial (ELLE Beauty IT List, June 2011)A revolutionary therapy that boosts powerful anti-aging benefits, FIL’s Premium Gold Face Therapy delivers faster results as compared to other machines due to the gold-plated probe and the appliqué of a Miracle Gold Mask. 

FIL ReFirme Vibra-Lymph Face Therapy - Voted Best Firm and Contour Facial (Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2011)A treatment that both firms and contours, this facial improves lymphatic circulation and smoothes out wrinkles for a firmer appearance by tightening and firming facial muscles, preventing aging and uplifts saggy skin by improving the permeability of skin for better nutrition absorption. 

FIL Young Anti-Aging Treatment - Voted Best Anti-aging Facial (Harpers Bazaar Spa Awards 2010)Attain soft, supple skin reminiscent of your glowing younger days with this treatment. The infusion of collagen and elastin into your skin plumps up your skin’s elasticity and eliminates the appearance of premature aging and dull complexions, reducing the appearance of wrinkles, fine lines and crows’ feet.  

FIL Face/Neck Slimming/ Contouring Treatment - Voted Best Neck Reviver (Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2008) & Voted Best Contouring Facial (Singapore Women’s Weekly, May 2009)Achieve a firm, contoured jaw line and neck. This treatment reduces fatty deposits around face and neck, helping to minimize double chins and tones saggy cheeks to attain an accentuated outlook. 

FIL Surgical Pulsed Light Skin Therapy - Voted Most Revolutionary Treatment (Harpers Bazaar, February 2009)A revolutionary treatment that stimulates the production of new cells and collagen to energize skin cells, minimize pores, compacts the epidermis and improves skin radiance. Blood circulation is also increased to regenerate tissue and combat skin aging. 

FIL Oxus-2 Face Therapy - Voted Most Revitalizing Facial (Parent’s World, September/October 2009)An advanced treatment that increases the metabolism rate of skin cells, this face therapy minimizes and tightens pores, reduces pigmentation, brightens skin and diminishes fines lines to lifts and contour saggy face shapes.

When you enter the shop, you'll be asked to fill up a form with your particulars and some of the concerns you want to address, like whether you're most concern with blemishes, dark eye circles and the like.

Then you'll be led into a consultation room where the consultant will ask you more questions on what kind of facial treatments you're looking for. I didn't really have any preferences and I wasn't sure which was more suitable so she recommended me the face contouring one.

A stylish aunty, probably in her 50s, was the one who did my facial for me. She did the normal routine, with cleansing, extractions eyebrow shaping and all. 

The most notable part was when she did the contouring massage. She did only half of my face first, and when you look into the mirror, you can actually see quite significant results. 

On the whole, I would say that the service and the facial treatments were really good. In fact, I would say that it is one of the best that I've been to.

But their packages are quite expensive. On my visit there, they were having some promotion for their facial packages, with $75 per treatment that can be used for other services like body and spa as well. But the catch is that you have to sign up for 30 sessions at one go. Being used to signing up for only 6 sessions, this was a realy shock to me, especially when you times $75 to 30 sessions. So I didn't get it in the end.

My concern with signing up for so many sessions is that, with some of my previous facial salons, it started off really good but then the service and quality just started going down after a while when you have paid fullyfor your package. So there wasn't anything you can do.

But if you have cash to spare, do go for  FIL Skin, Body & Spa Intelligence's trials and consider their packages. I would say that it is much more worth it if you plan to visit them for the long run because each individual session can cost up $300.

Review: Lifebuoy Antibacterial Handwash

 I didn't think of reviewing the Lifebuoy Antibacterial Handwash at first because it's such a common everyday product. But I finally decided to because I really really like this handwash. I picked this up at my local beauty store because they didn't sell the dettol handwash in individual bottles, so I guess I took a lucky chance. :)

The Lifebuoy antibacterial handwash boasts the ability to kill 99% of germs in just 10 seconds. It has a very nice clean smell to it that makes you feel that your hands are really clean. It smells a bit like dettol, but the strong is not that strong that makes it smell like you just spilled alcohol on your hands.

I used to have eye infections quite often because I wear contacts everyday, it might be due to the handwash I was using at that time I'm not sure, but ever since I started using the Lifebuoy antibacterial handwash, I haven't gotten any eye infections so far.

And it isn't expensive! It's retailing at only around $2 for a bottle, and can last you for quite a few months. So the next time you're thinking of buying some handwash, do give this a try!

Review: Biotherm Aquasource Deep Hydration Replenishing Gel (Normal and Combination Skin)

I got the Biotherm Aquasource hydra-mineral deep hydration replenishing gel together with the Biotherm Aquasource Hydra-Mineral Lotion Toning Water for normal and combination skin, and I've been using it for about half a year now.

I would say though, that the Biotherm Aquasource deep hydration replenishing gel has worked loads better for me than the toning water did. 

It's described as a fresh, weightless gel-cream that provides intense, long-lasting moisture up to 24 hours; leaving skin to be smooth, plump, luminous and healthy.

I would say that this gel did deliver what it promised. I was using the Loreal version of the hydrating gel and this one beats that hands down.

It smells really really fresh, like spring water, with a slight tinge of mint and musk. 

The moment you apply the gel onto your skin, it kind of just melts right into it. Within seconds, you won't feel any stickiness on your skin anymore, unlike other heavy creams or gel. And the moment the gel sinks in, it feels as though your skin is receiving a surge of moisture. I always imagine my skin to be like a dessert, jut absorbing the cream like sand absorbs water. Haha. Is the description weird? But it really does give your skin that much needed moisture.

I use this mostly at night, but I do apply a bit of it on my face if it feels exceptionally dry that morning.

I would say that this is definitely worth the price, and I will be re-purchasing it once my tub finishes.

Review: Biotherm Aquasource Hydra-Mineral Lotion Toning Water (Normal and Combination Skin)

I have been using the Biotherm Aquasource Hydra-Mineral Lotion Toning Water for normal and combination skin for about half a year now. 

I own both the Biotherm Aquasource Hydra-Mineral Lotion toning water and deep hydrating gel, so on most days I use them together. But sometimes, I also use this with my other moisturizers, such as the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Ex.

The Biotherm Aquasource Hydra-Mineral Lotion Toning Water Zn claims to contain rich, active water which helps to rebalance and moisturize the skin by replenishing its nutrients, prepping your skin well for the full benefits of the next step and making it supple and toned. 

My normal routine is to pour a bit of it onto a cotton pad, and then I'll dab it onto my face and neck. It has just a teeny weeny bit of chemical smell to it, like those cosmetic chemical smell? It's not very strong, but when you're applying it, it is noticeable.

Right away after you apply, you can feel that your skin doesn't feel that tight anymore, which happens to me all the time after I wash my face. It's as if my face can't decide if it wants to be oily or dry. Sigh.

I normally use it only at night. I seldom put anything on my face in the morning because my face tends to get oily after a while if it had any products on it. Big problem there. But not the point.

I would say that this toning water does help me absorb my subsequent night products better. I'll feel that my skin is slightly more supple and bright when I use this as compared to just applying night moisturizer alone (sometimes I do that when I'm lazy).

But surprisingly, it seems to work with the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack Ex better, rather than the gel in the same Biotherm Aquasource range.

Overall, I would say that the product is worth a try, it did help make my skin more supple and toned, and seem to work well with the moisturizers that I am using. But the results are not as instantaneous or as good as I expected it to be.

Review: Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair, Oil Nutritive Shampoo (Anti Split Ends)

I've been meaning to do a review on this but never had the chance to. So today I'm finally doing one.

This is the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Shampoo (Anti Split Ends). I've always liked Schwarzkopf products because the packaging just makes them look really salon-like.

I've been using this Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Shampoo - Anti Split Ends, and also the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin treatment mask.

But I've got to say that the shampoo is nothing spectacular, and the treatment mask works way better.

The Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Shampoo is supposed to repair damaged areas on the surface and deep inside the hair. The formula claims to contains 7 nourishing repair oils to help reduce split ends up to 85%. The end result is supposed to be healthy, shiny hair from root to tip.

The shampoo itself smells really fragrant, like you're washing honey into your hair. But honestly, I feel that after months of usage, there was still no noticeable reduction in my split ends. In addition, unlike the treatment mask, it didn't seem to give my hair any extra shine or smoothness or whatsoever. 

The transparent bottle itself is also really fragile. I dropped the bottle once and a hair-line crack formed at the base of the bottom straight away. I had no choice but to store the shampoo bottle upside down. So it's really not for clumsy girls like me.

All in all, I would say that this shampoo is not worth the hype. It's slightly more expensive than your usual drugstore brands, but it delivers the same, if not lesser, in quality. If you want to give your hair that extra boost in nourishment, shine, or just make it smoother in general. I would suggest you go for the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin  instead.

Review: Elva Beauty Palace

Disclaimer: This post is really word-heavy with very little pictures because I just want to share my experience. I paid for their packages and all comments are purely my own opinions.

I first got to know about Elva Beauty Palace through one of the online coupon sites, I can't remember which it was. I hadn't gone for facials for damn long and since this facial place was near where I stay, I decided to give it a try.

I think the coupon I got was $18 for a 90 minutes Guinot Paris facial session, but during the session they did ask me if  wanted to top up another $20 for an ampoule. I guess I kind of got carried along. Hahaha. I didn't try the one without the ampoule so I won't be in a position to tell you if the ampoule did actually make a difference or not.

So anyway, after the facial, they served me tea (which honestly was quite nice), and then told me about the different packages they had to offer. In the end, I ended up signing up for 6 sessions at $58 per session, inclusive of one ampoule per session.

I've finished all my 6 sessions with Elva Beauty Palace now, which is a relieve, because I feel that their services have been deteriorating over time. This may be due to the fact that they do have a lot more customers who joined them from the coupon websites, and also because they're expanding into other services that wasn't there when I first joined, like Brazilian IPL and manicures and stuff. So they weren't really that attentive anymore.

In the initial stages, I was really quite happy with the service that they were providing, I do see my face becoming super red right after the facial (and it'll last for 2 to 3 days), but then I also feel like the extractions were quite helpful in ridding all my blackheads. But then over time, the person that I always stick to, Amanda, kind of became more and more busy. So every time I was there, I had to wait quite a while before she could attend to me, or she'll leave the room halfway while doing my facial to attend to other stuff. Or her colleagues will come in and ask her stuff.

And there was once, another person just started on my facial claiming that she's just helping me to wash my face and Amanda will be coming soon. What a load of bullshit. She ended up completing the whole facial for me, and it wasn't a job well done either. I feel like my blackheads were not extracted much and the whole feel was just off, you know. Amanda did come in in the last part where she removes my final mask, then apologised saying that she's the only one who knew how to operate the Brazilian IPL machine. But man, that is totally not a valid excuse. I booked my slot a few days ago and they should have just told me if she didn't have an available slot right.

Now that all 6 sessions have been used up, I don't think I will be going back to Elva Beauty Palace anymore. They tried to ask me to sign up for new packages at a rate of $88 per session (omg $30 increase in price please), but for that price, I can totally go to somewhere better right. So nope, not going back there anymore until they decide to buck up on their service.

Freeman Facial Clay Mask, Avocado & Oatmeal

Promised a review on the Freeman Avocado & Oatmeal facial clay mask  eons ago but haven't actually gotten around to doing it. So finally, I decided to just do a short write up on this, because good things are meant to be shared right. :)

The mask is in a squeeze out bottle, which can get quite frustrating because only a bit comes out even though you're like squeezing the bottle like mad. But the packaging is definitely better this way because it's more hygienic than the tub kind right.

So it's in like a green paste form, and can be spread quite easily. It sort of just glides along your skin and settles there. When I first used this mask, I made the mistake of spreading it quite close to my eyes, but during the drying you'll realise that's a really stupid thing to do because your skin around the eyes will feel really stretched. So nowadays I leave a wide margin around my eyes.

It dries quite fast, and you kind of feel this pulsating feeling during the drying process, makes you feel like the mask is really sucking all the impurities out. You can't really move your face muscles when it's drying, feels a bit like those peel off sheets imo. But after 15 minutes or so it'll be completely dry and you can wash it off. I normally leave it longer just a bit though, it makes me feel as if more impurities are being removed. Lol. During the drying process my skin does feel a bit tingly though, and once it's dried it can get quite flaky so don't move or touch your face too much unless you want green coloured snow all over your place.

The mask is really amazing for the price you can get it for. My face feels really baby soft afterwards and I can't stop touching it. I've read some other people do dab it on their pimples and leave it overnight and it works wonders as well. But I've not tried that yet because I haven't really gotten angry red pimples for a while, just tiny small bumps (which can be really irritating because they kind of just sits there forever).

I got mine from Mustafa for $5.90. I think it's retailing at Guardian for around $8.90. And one tube can last you at least two months or more (especially if you're lazy like me and only use it occasionally) so it's really a steal!

No harm trying right? :)

My beauty secret to hair fall control

Disclaimer: This is not a paid advertisement. It doesn't have any scientific groundings whatsoever. Everything is based on my own experience and that of my family.

I'm sure hair fall is a major nightmare for everyone, especially girls with long hair. My hair has always been very prone to falling out. When I was younger, I had damn a lot of hair on my head so I didn't think much about it. But as I get older, my hair began to slowly thin out. It's not so bad that it's balding, but it is still a major concern for me, especially when chunks of hair gather at the drain hole as I bathe. I always get damn paranoid.

And the magic component that I'm going to introduce is this!

Shanghai Sulphur Soap!

Actually I don't think that it has to be this brand. Any sulphur soap will do I guess. But this is the only brand I've tried so far so I can't speak for the others.

Recently, my dad was sharing with me how his scalp conditions really improved when he started using it. He doesn't have any hair fall problems, but he does occasionally get dandruff. And because he's getting old, he has to dye his hair often.

But ever since he started washing his hair with this, his scalp doesn't get flaky anymore no matter how he rubs it. And his hair is glossy black without the need to dye. I was so shocked to hear this because his hair is really really black and I thought it was because he dyed it religiously to avoid showing any whites.

Despite finding it weird to wash my hair with soap instead of shampoo, I gave it a try hoping that it can somehow slow down my hair fall problem. And it worked! Right after the first wash, when I run my fingers through my hair, only one or two strands max will come out.

But of course, it's not a miracle worker and it does have its down sides.

1. It smells really horrible. Because of the sulphur component in it, instead of the nice fresh floral smell I get after my normal shampoo routine, I was overwhelmed in sulphur everytime I moved my head. It made me really really self conscious. So I suggest replacing your normal shampoo with this only on days that you're not going out.

2. It made my hair feel dry to the touch. It's not the kind of brittle dryness you get when your hair gets too much chemical makeovers. It's more like a not-soft-to-the-touch kind of dry. I had to put tons of hair conditioner and hair serum in it. One hair mask that I recommend is the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin.

But your hair goes back to normal once you shampoo again, so I don't think it's actually damaging to your hair.
3. I tried rubbing the soap on my hair, then massaging my hair and scalp like how I usually wash, but the foam from the soap doesn't really stay on for long. It's not really a con, just more of an inconvenience. So what I do is I hold the soap with one hand and massage my hair and scalp with the other.



I did try washing my hair twice in the shower, once with the sulphur soap, and again with my normal shampoo, in the hope of masking the smell. But it seems to diminish the effects I experienced as compared to using purely the soap. I still get reduced hair fall, but not as impressive a result.

So my suggestion is, like how I mentioned before, use this purely on days that you're not heading out. It doesn't have to replace your normal shampoo, but I guess it doesn't hurt too to use it once a week or more.

I got mine for like 70 cents a piece from one of those ABC shops outside Clementi Mall. Effective and cheap I would say!

Review: Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin

I've been doing a lot of stuff to my hair for the past two years and my hair was really badly damaged as a result. I rebonded it, then dyed it, then permed it, then dyed it again. And it went from being smooth and healthy hair to really dry, brittle ones with lots of tangles and split ends.

I don't believe that products can help you repair split ends because once your hair is apart how can you mend them together again?

I should know because I tried tons of shampoos/conditioners/hair masks that claims to restore your hair and cure split ends but it just doesn't work.

For example, I tried the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair Oil Nutritive Shampoo.

Schwarzkopf products are highly raved and I had high hopes for it, but it didn't work la. So in the end I snipped quite a bit of my hair off because I couldn't stand looking at all the split ends.

But I do believe that you can help minimize split ends by maintaining them.

So recently this is the new product that I'm hooked onto: the Schwarzkopf Gliss Hair Repair with Liquid Keratin.

This product claims to repair hair-damages precisely and fills hair fissures, whatever that means. But basically its supposed to be effective already with just 1 minute of application.

Of course I leave it on for more than a minute la, normally what I do is I leave this on after shampooing, and go about doing the rest of the bathing steps and wash this off last.

And I must say, it really works wonders in keeping my hair silky soft and tangle-free. And guess what! It only costs me $12.90! Why go for expensive treatments that is only temporary when you can have permanent temporary for a tiny fraction of the price!

There's seriously a very noticeable difference. I'm also using the conditioner for this, but the conditioner does not seem to work as well as the hair mask. But well, conditioners are not meant to be as rich as hair masks so its understandable.

If you want to wake up with hair like this, I suggest you give this a try!