Monday, 30 March 2015

Beauty Talk - Vitamin C for healthy skin

Many of us take Vitamin C orally, be it chewable or tablets regularly, but how many of us actually realized that our skin needs Vitamin C when very little of the oral Vitamin C reaches the skin when orally ingested. 
Overexposure to ultraviolet radiation and environmental pollutants can accelerate skin aging by degrading collagen and triggering oxidative stress in the skin. Fortunately, the anti-aging benefits of a time-honored remedy used by ancient civilizations to heal their skin can help overcome these undesirable effects. Vitamin C is an essential component in the body’s production of collagen and a potent antioxidant that can help rejuvenate aged and photo damaged skin. 
When incorporated into your daily skincare lineup, well-formulated products containing vitamin C can provide a range of benefits that keep your skin younger-looking, longer! 
Some of the benefits of C: 
  • Reduce the appearance of brown spots and other types of sun damage
  • Helps boost healthy collagen production (hello, firmer skin!) 
  • Reduce inflammation and irritation, both of which cause a cascade of damage 
  • Fade post-breakout red marks by improving skin’s natural healing response 
  • Increase the effectiveness of your sunscreens and boosts your skins defense against UV exposure
Dermagold Miracle C+


The star product of Dermagold, Miracle C+ is a silky smooth high performance concentrated 18% Vitamin C Ester serum. Multi-functioning product with anti-oxidant, anti-age, anti-pigment, anti- inflammatory and anti-wrinkle properties. Formulated in a base of hyaluronic acid to boost, protect and restore skin. Another good news is that it is so suitable for oil control!


The texture is light and smooth so I really love it! It contains ingredients like organic herbal infusion, aloe vera, jojoba oil, etc and is paraben-free!

Well the good news is that you can win a dual prize for whiter and brighter skin which includes the Dermagold Miracle C+ ($69) and a Hadara Essential Facial ($98) (worth a total of $167).


All you need to do is:

  1. Like Dermagold.sg (www.facebook.com/Dermagold) Facebook page 
  2. Like and share this post (Only public shares valid) 
  3. Tag 3 friends and Tell us why you would like to win the prizes in the comments box below this post
Contest ends 12 April 2015. Winners will be announced here on Dermagold's Facebook page on 20 April 2015. Good luck! :P

*Do note only public shares and those living in Singapore are eligible
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Saturday, 28 March 2015

Beauty Talk – NIVEA Make Up Clear

[Sponsored post]

Working in the fitness industry, I have gotten used to leaving home bare-faced, with just sunscreen on. Therefore, I have always had a habit of removing my makeup first thing I get home because I can’t seem to feel at ease with makeup on. Not sure if you were also facing the same issue, I realized my makeup was always not fully removed even after double and triple cleansing! Even the most expensive makeup remover I had ever purchased could not solve this, so I ended up with clogged pores, acne and sometimes mild breakouts after.

I was privileged to be invited to attend the new product launch of the NIVEA Make Up Clear Range a few weeks ago and learnt a lot more about how to take care of my skin. Because #goodthingsmustshare, I’m going to share with you what I learnt from the experts!

NIVEA Make Up Clear product launch

I’m sure NIVEA doesn’t sound foreign at all, I grew up using NIVEA and recently wrote about the NIVEA Deodorant (click on the link if you have missed that) and I can’t say how much the brand has grown over the years and constantly improving effectiveness of the products, yet still superior in terms of care and mildness. Best of all, its widely available at affordable prices!

With gorgeous Evonne and Mongchin
The event was hosted at Top Deck, along Upper Thomson Road and it felt sooo good to be amongst so many gorgeous ladies all gathered to talk about beauty and skincare over yummy food and cakes! :P


We were each given a plush and a range of products, and of course some yummy refreshments before the presentation started.

Checking out the pretty demo booth at a corner of the café
Make up for us to play with and test out the NIVEA products

The presentation started shortly after and we learnt about how makeup can actually damage our skin and increase the tendency for clogged pores and therefore acne. Using too much make up can also make wrinkles more apparent. It is so important to remove makeup properly because the lack of proper makeup removal can cause premature skin ageing.


The Star Product, focus of this launch is the NIVEA Make Up Clear 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser, designed for light make up users, it can remove 10 types of makeup for 10x fairer*, water-like looking skin! (* 10x better whitening efficacy than vitamin C, based on in-vitro study of Pearl Whitening Complex by Beiersdorf AG Germany.).

The NIVEA Make Up Clear 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser provides 3 effects in 1 use!

1. Apply as Mud Mask to absorb makeup & unclog pores
2. At the touch of water, turns into Makeup Remover to remove 10 types of Makeup
 
    The 10 types of Make Up include:

  1. Make up base 
  2. Concealer 
  3. Foundation 
  4. Bronzer 
  5. Blusher 
  6. BB Cream 
  7. Powder 
  8. Brow Pencil 
  9. Tinted Moisturizer 
  10. Tinted Sunscreen

3. Cleanses as foam with whitening effect


For heavy makeup which includes waterproof and eye makeup, you may want to use the Make Up Clear Micellar Water & Make Up Clear Cleansing wipes for double cleansing to ensure all makeup are thoroughly removed. There is actually no need for unnecessary double or even triple cleansing if you do not have heavy makeup (times you include eye makeup) on.

So, the presentation ended with a fun demo by the NIVEA Girl, Xin Lin.

She started with applying layers of the usual light makeup (sunscreen, bb/cc cream), and added some concealer on her forearm.


After which, she first removed with the 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser and then ended off wiping using the Micellar Water to assure the audience that the makeup is fully off and skin is clearer and more radiant after cleansing.


The session then carried on with some mingling around, followed by the recording of our video appearance, which I was very shy about! :P

I tried the Micellar Water and then 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser as soon as I got home and love the clean feeling right after cleansing so I continued using it, and am still using it now – Micellar Water when I have eye makeup on and the 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser when I have light makeup or just tinted sunscreen on. On some days, I will switch between the 3-in-1 Foam Cleanser as well as the 3-in-1 Scrub. Having been on the products for 2-3 weeks, I’m still very much in love with the results considering that my skin is very thin and it has always been very sensitive to certain products.

I actually have both the Micellar Water and 3-in-1 Mud Cleanser (especially) in my huge gym bag almost everyday because it’s so convenient! The product range will be available in Watsons, Guardian and hypermarts in Singapore and I’m so glad that now, its not expensive to not only smell good but look clean and good! :D

For latest news and updates on NIVEA products, feel free to LIKE the Facebook page!
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Sunday, 8 March 2015

Beauty Talk – DermaGold Botanical Acne Gel

My skin have always been quite clear, except for mild breakouts during the time of the month. And because my skin had always been rather clear, these little breakouts tend to annoy me as they get pretty obvious at times. All my life, I have not used an acne gel before! I had only tried using the 3M Acne patch which I only use at night, because the patch could look very visible and obvious if I leave them on during the day.

I got introduced to DermaGold and their products last year before J and I headed for our Seoul trip. They provided me with a range of products suited for the colder climate and for the first time, I did not have to bring moisturizer out to apply and reapply every other hour when we were in Seoul! Also, my skin adjusted easily back to the hotter climate after the trip. I was so impressed because I have very sensitive skin and very prone to getting hives upon pressure (on my skin).

Back to the acne topic, I was then given the Botanical Acne Gel (which is their current best selling acne product!), among a full range of skincare from DermaGold. Dr Grace explained to me its use and that it is a herbal gel that contains natural ingredients. I was very excited to try it on the moment I got home after cleansing.


I tried it on the first week and my acne dried up and clearer within a few days! Besides the fact that I have to moisturize more (since my outer layer of skin is dry) since the Botanical Acne Gel contains alcohol which will dry the affected spot/area, it also helps me curb the bad habit of me squeezing the pimples/acnes out!

So I decided to do some tracking to make what I said credible. These photos were taken a day apart, at night after cleansing and under the same room light (please ignore my tired eyes and eye bags) and notice the red spot, that is one of the usual headless pimple that I get nearing the time of the month. These 3 photos were taken using my iphone 6 plus and no other editing besides mild light adjusting was made to make the photo lighting look similar.

Day 1 - acne pops and is slightly inflamed and red at the surrounding
Day 2 - surrounding redness subsided and acne dries up
Day 3 - acne totally died up and left with the scap
Within 3 days, my acne dried up and with constant moisturizing (I use the Hydra Recovery Gel at night and HA+ Booster in the day, all from DermaGold), my skin restored its texture and the pimple eased within a day, at Day 2. The best part is that, if you happen to have a problem area like the forehead, you may also use the Botanical Acne Gel on the problematic areas!

The texture is light and easy to apply! 

The DermaGold Botanical Acne Gel is available for sale at the Hadara Aesthetics Boutique and you may also enjoy some promotional offers by quoting our names. I will be writing about the facial that I did with Hadara but meanwhile, you may refer to J’s blog if you are interested to know about his facial treatment.

Quote ‘Jason&Limaran’ for the following offers:

  1. Hadara Special 25% off 1st time trial (ala carte price) 10+10 promo for Hadara Power Facial/ Sparkling Eye Therapy/ Hadara Derma-calm Facial (valid till 31 Mar 2015) 
  2. Buy any 3 DERMAGOLD products to enjoy 10% discount (valid till 31 Mar2015)
Remember to like Hadara Aesthetics Boutique on Facebook and follow them on Instagram (@dermagold_sg)!


Hadara Aesthetics Boutique 
23 Lor Telok 
Singapore 049035 
 
Contact number: 6969 3022 

Opening hours: 
 Mon-Fri: 10am to 8pm 
 Sat: 10am to 2pm 
 Closed on Sun and PH 

Email: info@hadaraaesthetics.com  


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Thursday, 5 March 2015

Food Talk – Yoogane @ Westgate

I was invited to try the newly opened Yoogane outlet at Westgate earlier this month and boy it really reminded us of our recent Seoul trip! We visited Yoogane when we were in Seoul last November and so we were very excited to be able to have some authentic Korean again in Singapore. 

Yoogane


Established in 1981, Yoogane has been one of the most popular and best Chicken Galbi Restaurants in Korea. There is more than 130 outlets in Korea and Yoogane is especially popular in Busan, where it all started. Through the years, Yoogane managed to achieve great success despite the competition they faced in Korea. What really differentiates them from the other competitors is the unique blend of sauces and seasoning created using fresh and premium ingredients.






Yoogane @ Westgate

I was determined to try the same thing as when we were in Seoul – Chicken Galbi, so we did! And while waiting for the waiter to cook the Chicken Galbi, we had some other of my favourites.

Spicy cold noodles
Korean Seafood pancake
The long-awaited Chicken Galbi was served!
1. Ingredients prepared
2. Waiter mixing the ingredients
3. Cutting up the chicken into smaller pieces
4. Added some Korean glass noodles
The waiter then used the leftover chicken and sauces, topped with seaweed and cheese, to make the super good fried rice (I’m sooo gonna make this very soon!). To the Koreans, nothing can go wrong with cheese, seaweed and rice (with leftover sauce). As a common practice in Korea, Koreans love to keep leftovers from dinner in the fridge and save for breakfast the next morning. I really love this brilliant idea because you can prevent food wastage.

We left Yoogane feeling super full and satisfied! :D

Yoogane also provides complimentary phone charging services for Samsung and Iphone users so worry not about your dying/dead phones!

Yoogane Westgate:
3 Gateway Drive, #03-08
Singapore 608532
Contact number: 6710 7821
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday - 11am- 10pm (Open daily)

Yoogane Bugis Junction: 
Bugis Junction #02-47/48
Contact number: 6337 7337
Operating hours: Monday to Sunday - 11am- 10pm (Open daily)

Remember to follow @yooganesg and their Facebook page for promotions and news!

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