My skincare regime

CNY is over (for me) and Valentines’ Day is next.

How good do you want to look on Valentines’ Day is pretty much dependent on how good the skin is. You need good clear skin to complete the whole look other than just putting make up on. And this starts from the very basic – hydrating your skin, feeding your skin well.

I have very basic skincare routine and this is definitely for people who are as lazy as me!

Morning:
1. Lotion – Hada Labo Super HA Hydrating Lotion
2. Super Hyaluronic Acid – Hada Labo Moist Essence EX
3. Hada Labo UV

I always start my day by cleansing the face. Wash, tone, moisturizer and then sun block! It is very important to apply the lotion in the morning as it helps to balance the pH of your skin and prepares it for moisturizing.

Night:
1. Lotion – Hada Labo Super HA Hydrating Lotion
2. Super Hyaluronic Acid – Hada Labo Moist Essence EX
3. Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Mask (one to two times a week)

This Hada Labo SHA Hydrating Essence is a Winner of COSMO Beauty Grand Prix 2012! It was also awarded in 2013 by her world Beauty.

I always wake up to good skin day after I started using this (not to mention about an allergy outbreak last month. My skin had an allergy reaction to other products because I forgot to bring my skincare products out for a staycation).

You may feel that I am exaggerating or saying good stuffs about these products because I am the ambassador for Hada Labo. I am very proud to be the ambassador for the brand, but I wouldn’t lie and say the products are good just because of that. I am proud to be the ambassador because their products are really good. Tested and proven by yours truly 🙂

You don’t need expensive or many products to achieve good skin.

Try Hada Labo! I am all prepared for Valentines’ Day.

Are you? 🙂

Deep Hydration for the Skin at Astique

MFP has kindly arranged for a pre-CNY facial for me at Astique Clinic by Dr. Matthew Yap.

Cold weather means flaky skin for the dehyrated skin. Hence, more hydration booster would be needed to keep the skin bouncy and radiant.

My last facial was also probably more than half a year ago, so why not!

Other than their in-house scrub, these were the products used that day – ESTHEMED, which are made in Korea. Well, we all know that Korea is the place for good skincare products!

I enjoy doing facial a lot because it is extremely comfortable, relaxing and at the same time, better skin. The benefits of this facial is to keep the face moisturized and dewy.

The first step is to remove all the makeup by cleansing and scrubbing the face. Scrubbing also remove dead skin cells from the surface, making sure that the skin is absorbing all the nutrients well.

Hydra B3 Spray was sprayed and massaged all over the face before the Hydra B5 Serum.

Following with the Hydra B6 Cream. Okay, I gotta admit, I had this thing for the cream and the masks that came after. They were too goooood! Read on to find out why.

I have read about the mask from Miyake and she commented that the masks actually work like fillers. YES, IT SURE DOES!.

The ASTIQUE Recovery Essence Mask improves elasticity and firmness of the skin, smoothens and softens skin texture, resulting in firmer and younger looking skin.

How?

It locks in moisture, boosting skin cell regeneration and causing skin to glow from within.

The  masks are also retailing at a box of 5 ($155). Definitely worth the money.

It is filled with essence. You can literally see it dripping. So instead of wasting the essence, the beautician rubbed a layer of the essence onto my face before placing the mask on.

Psst: I think I would apply it all over the arms and legs if I were home.

It was left on for a good 20 minutes.

No washing is needed after masking. You can massage the face gently until the essence is absorbed in – as recommended by the nurses/beauticians there 🙂

Take a look at the rest of the photos below at how dewy and bright my skin is! It only took me 60 minutes to see the results. I went out without foundation that day because I was so confident of how my skin was.

You know, whenever I go for facials, I was always told that my skin was rather dull. But not all places promised me results within a visit. But ASTIQUE proved me wrong, anything is possible.

Still rubbing all the good stuffs in….

Close up of the skin… Pictures don’t lie. Neither were they edited. It is as real as the mask and facial.

I was extremely happy with the overall results and this photo was taken right after the facial. Remember, no powder, only eyebrows and eyeliners were drawn.

Big hug for ASTIQUE!

Laneige – The New and The Improved

I was tied between 2 events but had decided to skip one of it and head over to Laneige because it is one of my favourite makeup/skincare brands! I was filled with awe when I attended the launch of their new makeups: Click here to read

This time, they have came out with new and improved products in addition to their White Plus Renew Line and 6-in-1 BB Cushion!

The technology behind the improved formula is the Melacrusher Technology. To explain it in layman, a cell self-purification systems is accelerated to regulate melanin and waste materials that contribute to dull skin and pigmentation, while inhibiting melanin formation and transfer.

This essential step stimulates a cell to break down melanin and eliminate tri-coloured undertones – red, yellow and dark – resulting in a pure, flawless and radiant-looking skin that is 2 tones brighter.

The technology is formulated with 3 key ingredients:

Truffle Yeast Extract – Anti-oxidant and anti-yellowness care
Green Tea Extract – Whitening agent, inhibits melanin formation and block melanin transfer
Vitamin B3 – Anti-oxidant and helps to restore healthy colour to the skin.

The first product that I wanna talk about is the new Laneige 6-in-1 BB Cushion.

Love how clean the packaging looks.

This little cushion here has 6 amazing benefits:

– Brightening effect
– UV Protection (SPF 50+, PA+++)
– Moisturizing Effect
– Water-resistant
– Make-up Tint
– Soothing Effect

Talk about soothing, it immediately cools, soothes and refreshes skin fatigue by heat! Clinical data has shown that skin temperature drops by 4 degree Celsius after using the new BB Cushion.

It contains bead tree extract that acts as an anti-pollution whitening component that protects the skin from harmful external environment and filter pollutions. Laneige values water, so natural mineral water from Jeju Island can also be found in the ingredients. It is said to absorbed into skin faster than general mineral water.

This little treasure is priced at $59 and will be available in stores from March 2014 onwards.

Next is the best selling White Plus Renew Original Essence (40ml, $78) – the star product in the White Plus Renew line!

It has a safe and mild formula with globally proven trust and recognition. Having won 10 Global Beauty Awards in Asia within the first year of it’s launch made it a true attestation to its effective and quality.

Accordingly to the surveys done, 99% of the women experienced improved skin condition after only two weeks of use!

My first impression of it was that it looked rather creamy.

But as I started to spread it around the hands, I realized that it was more watery than creamy and after weeks of application, your skin will tend to go 2 tones brighter than the natural skin tone.

Lastly, having tried their Sleeping Pack (I bought it myself, it was not sent over for any review purposes at that point of time!), I was quite happy that they came up with another mask! – White Plus Renew Capsule Sleep Pack (A box of 16 capsules, $42).

This is a new addition to the line and it is an innovative combination between a whitening capsule and hydro gel cream.

The hydro gel is a transparent gel-type hydro ample which hydrates the skin and makes brightening capsule more effective. The brightening capsule is a soft and non-sticky cream type ample, which contains the whitening agents of Melacrusher Technology.

2 in 1 – Moisturizing and brightening care can both be delivered when you are asleep!

Thumbs up for the innovative packaging as well. The single-use hygienic packaging makes traveling more friendly and can be easily stored in the fridge!

Tina, the makeup artiste from Laneige also demostrated how we can use the products together with their make up to achieve a natural korean look.

And my whitening resolution for 2014 is…… To go 2 tones brighter! How about you? 🙂

You can have baby skin too!

Due to my constant juggle with events, school, family and friends, I rarely have the chance for a proper rest and this made me a victim of dark circles, eye bags and some other problems that will be discussed later.

Hence, I am on a mission to babify and save my skin with The SPA-Lon!

I could see visible results just from the first session! (Pictures as evidence. 100% without photoshop)

On my first session, I was consulted by the senior beautician, Irene, and was told that I have quite a few areas of concern.

1)Dull complexion (due to congested skin, not properly cleanse)
2)Dehydrated Cheeks (due to poor circulations)
3)Dead skin cells (on forehead, chin)
4)Laughing Lines (caused by sagging muscle)
5) Dark circles (caused by late nights)

You know, all along, I thought that the only problem was probably my dehydrated skin because I hate drinking water. I never knew I had so much problems. I guess they are not really visible or major like acne for me to notice and that is probably why I always thought that my skin is pretty good except a little dry.

We all know that with better complexion, comes higher confidence.
And with The SPA-Lon’s help, I can be confident! 🙂

To me, The SPA-Lon is a very comfortable, classy yet relaxing place.
No tension, no noise, just pure relaxation.

This was a corner of their toilet. You can choose to take a quick shower there before starting on the facial. Isn’t it always better to feel clean rather than lying down with a long day sticky body with a clean face post facial?

Before the lady began the whole treatment, she massaged my head, neck and shoulders a little to loosen me up. It was so comfortable that I almost fell asleep.

Cleansing the face.

After cleansing, I was quite afraid of the huge equipment beside me because I have low tolerance for pain. I was told that I would be doing Micro-peeling as one of the procedure and the word peeling hurt me a little. LOL.

In the end, the micro-peeling was probably lesser than an ant’s bite. PHEW.

Here is a picture of the before and after with Left being before and Right being after.

This picture is probably the best evidence for the visible results after 1 treatment. Can you see the glow on the post-treatment picture on the right?! :O

This is just the first session. So you can still see some flaws on the close up picture.

Another point is that my face was ultra smooth. Yes, super was an understand so I used ultra. Even the application of make ups were so smooth and easy for the next few days – a week. Irene also told me that the treatments should be done weekly (for I am not sure how long), to see more effect. So do look forward to my second entry on my second session 🙂

Let me give you more details on the treatments that I did that day:

5 treatments to address the 4 main problems that I have.

1) Dull complexion and Dead Skin Cells
Micro-Peeling Treatment – To cleanse the skin and exfoliated dead skin cells together with removing fine lines on the face with minimal discomfort. Pigmentation and dark spots are also reduced to brighten the skin.

Photo Rejuvenation Treatment – Combined with Micro Peeling Treatment so that you can’t see any post peeling redness. It also helps in increasing the collagen production and regulates melanin levels (for dark spots and pigmentation), resulting in more radiant skin.

2) Laughing Lines/ Aging
Radio Frequency Treatment – Provides an immediate tensor and lifting effect to the skin and has a filler effect to the wrinkles, combining all signs of aging. Sounds painful but nah, it is 100% un-invasive and pain free. It was like massaging my face and nothing else.

3) Dark Circles
Cryocooling Treatment – Done by a soothing, low temperature hand piece. Eye bags and dark circles were visibly reduced and the surface of the eye contour was smoothened. It was very cooollldddd but comfortable.

Eye-Lifting Treatment – The eye contour was lifted by electromagnetic waves as well as smoothening expression lines and crows feet.

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You can compare the old photos in the other blog posts and those which I just took recently. Look at the face contour and glow! 🙂

If you’re interested, head over to their facebook page to find out more! :
https://www.facebook.com/thespalon

of floral and make ups // marriage

I like floral prints. I think they actually make a girl look more demure 🙂

June is going to be an awesome month for me because I’ll be out of the university by the first week of June and I am going to be my one of my cousin’s sisters for her wedding in the second week.

Looking forward to the Hen’s night. This is my first time!

Lots of people around me are getting married/applying for flats. What kind of age group do you think is the most appropriate to be planning all these?

I am really not as young as I look but not of marriage age yet (to me. I don’t wanna be a young mom/wife or anything). I feel that both parties should be financially stable enough to afford a flat before talking about the remaining plans. Paying for the flat shouldn’t be a guy’s thing anymore given that the living expenses in Singapore is no longer the same as the past.

Anyway, my cousin isn’t really that young (not that old either). She’s a few years older than me and they have been dating since….. Can’t remember when, but at least 7-8 years already? I was just thinking about myself. I can’t imagine leaving my parents/dog. I think I would probably cry like shit LOL. And no, would never marry young unless financially stable enough.

Please bless me with better skin and slimmer body contour and jaw.

Boxing Crab Sentosa

Do you remember Boxing Crab Sentosa? Recap here: http://maybelinesim.sg/2012/12/08/boxing-crab-sentosa/

A must-try is the Braised Claypot Crab with Superior Broth and Pumpkin!!!

This is my third time there (I went back with my family for the pumpkin crab as well).

They came up with a Menu for Mothers’ Day Special!

Treat your mother to the best crab secret in Sentosa, a nice gem that overlooks the seafront and as such the scenery is splendid.

The Mother’s Day Set Menu for 4 pax is at $328++ and only valid from 1 to 12 May.

And the dishes includes:

Deep Fried Spiny Lobster Salad
I like the chewy feel of this dish and it taste as if it was soaked in salted egg yolk! Yums!!

Braised Treasure Chicken in Lotus Leaf

Most mom loves herbal stuffs. This taste a little like herbal chicken but different.
Look at the pictures below and you can see how filled it is with all the different ingredients!

Homemade Water Chestnut Bean Curd with Spices Meat

Inside the tender beancurd is some crispy water chestnut. The meat used is chicken, not pork.

Boxing Crab do not serve Pork or Lard.

Stir Fried Sea Scallop and Prawn with Asparagus

Big scallops and juicy prawns.

Braised Chili Crab wrapped in Lotus Leaf Deep Fried Bun

And now, the highlight, the Chili Crab which most Singaporeans loveeeeee!

As much as I love their Pumpkin crab, I love their Chili crab too. Most of the bloggers that night prefer chili to pumpkin and I had a hard time deciding which is nicer because both were equally awesome.

But I guess my ultimate choice is still the pumpkin crab!!!

What’s Chili Crab with Man Tou right????

Alright, we are ready to attack them now!!!

Stir Fried Vermicelli with Seafood

Another dish with juicy prawns and scallop.

Red Bean Soup with Coconut and Lotus Seed

There is always room for dessert no matter how full one is.

Pamper your mom with the Red Bean Soup after a satisfying meal.

Happy Seafood Lovers!!

Boxing crab is located at 80 Siloso Road Singapore 098969

Contact: 6274 7760

Opening hours: Monday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm daily.

For more information, please visit their Facebook page at Boxing Crab

BioNike Beauty Products

Attended BioNike event 2 weeks ago and the brand was created in the 1960s.

It is pronounced as Bio-Nee-Kee, not Nai-Kee (Nike), the sports brand.

All BioNike brands are developed for subjects with sensitive, allergic, reactive skin and aim at providing relief to and preventing these conditions.

BioNike products are highly effective and contains no preservatives, no fragrances, no gluten and nickel tested.

Do you know that nickel, preservatives and fragrances are well known skin sensitizers that are responsible for triggering contact allergies.

I didn’t! Until I went for this event :O

BioNike products are:

• Nickel Tested
• Preservative free
• Fragrance free
• Gluten free

This is the BioNike Defence range.

If you have sensitive skin and is not sure of what products to use,
you can perhaps give BioNike a try.

A small presentation and sampling of their products.
Since there is no fragrance added to the products, do not expect it to smell nice etc.
It doesn’t smell bad at all but I would say that the products all smell the same.
They all share this neutral scent.

With Jacelyn, the beauty queen! 😀

And the rest of the beauty bloggers 😀
That was perhaps my first meal of the day that day :O

 I went for dinner with the girls after that though.

So it was a fattening dinner, for me because I finished the cupcake!

Camwhoring after the event. HAHA.
 

Do stay tuned for my review on BioNike DAY PEEL and ROLL-ON-FOCUS which will probably be up soon (as soon as I am free) as I have already tried the products for a week by now.

Photographer: Jacelyn 🙂

Outfit of the day:

Dress: My Exclusive Label (Ignore my inner piece. I forgot to pull down the dress when taking this shot :O)
Shoe: HongKong
Clutch: New Look
Watch: Aigner

ShopMaybeline in Instagram

HEYOOOO PEOPLE!

Instead of advertising for other people, I am advertising for myself this time round.
HAHAHA

Not sure if you followed me on Twitter/Instagram, but if you haven’t, it’s okay.

I am here to tell you that I have just opened a ‘shop’ in Instagram!

Username: @ShopMaybeline

Prices all include regular postage.

Some items which are on sale right now.

Daisy Pullover in red at $22

Pictures credit: http://ohsofickle.com.sg

 

Collared Top at $18


Black off shoulder top at $19

Picture credit: http://www.shoplabellavita.com/
 photo JM9C5120_zps04a2c51b.jpg

Alternatively, if you’re interested in any of the items, 

you can email me at simmaybeline@gmail.com
 Follow for more updates! 🙂