Beauty Talk – The Urban Clinic

I have been blessed with relatively good skin, I must say. At least from the outside, there isn’t much to complain about my skin. However, if you look closely at my skin, I have very sensitive skin and my skin is really thin. Therefore, there is a limit to the amount and type of treatment I can put my skin through. As I have mentioned before about how my skin gets into breakouts and hives during specific treatments, this is usually a main concern for me.

I was invited to The Urban Clinic for a consultation with Dr Yanni Xu at the end of October last year and she very patiently listened to all my concerns about my skin. As compared to Jason’s skin, my skin is on the dry side and highly sensitive so it shows very much when I get a blood rush after a long day of work, or post workout.

The Urban Clinic

TUC is located at Raffles City Shopping Centre, just outside the clinic is the taxi stand. Jason and I love how the clinic doesn’t feel and look like a clinic with its modern and edgy interior.



Super cool entrance and always greeted by the friendly staff.



This is one of my favorite area because it’s almost like I’m preparing to go on a Moulin Rouge stage, HAHA. This is where the assistant will remove my sunscreen before taking 3D photos for the consultation.

Dr Yanni Xu

This gorgeous lady is Dr Yanni Xu and aside from her qualifications and awards lays lies a doctor who is passionate and down to earth. She is patient and sincere, almost like a sister that I never had. Most of all, she has flawless skin, which I thought was an important asset as a role model to her patients. I was really inspired to achieve the same flawless skin that I always thought I’d never achieve.

Before every scheduled consultation with Dr Yanni, her assistants will use a super cool 3D camera to document and analyse my face. During the first consultation, Dr Yanni Xu prescribed a fully-customised set of treatments to target the specific problem areas, which for me were was the bumps on my forehead.

Well, the above photo (taken in mid Oct last year) was already a filtered image so you can only imagine how bad it looks in person. I cannot recall since when, but the bumps had been bothering me for a very long time. The redness made the bumps look worse post workout or at the end of the day after work.

Excel V Laser

Among other treatments that was prescribed to me by Dr Yanni Xu, which includes Lasemd (you can check out Jason’s blog entry for more info), Excel V is my favorite!

TUC is one of 10 clinics in South East Asia to have the Excel V laser. This superior USA technology is the newest and best for treating “red” skin conditions such as acne and rosacea, which is perfect for me since my skin gets red easily.

The coolview handpiece handpience on Excel V is a green laser and improves by closing the abnormal blood vessels that cause redness, inflammation and flushing. Laser genesis is another function of the Excel V laser that stimulates collagen whilst gently removing pigmentation and redness from skin. This mild laser in combination with patented “Ara peel”’ technology produces immediate radiance and anti-aging of skin. Over 2 treatments, my skin tone looks more radiant, glows and most importantly, the redness and bumps on my forehead has lessened sooo much!

Me looking mighty happy after Excel V laser because there is very very minimal downtime. There is no numb cream needed, very minimal discomfort and laser only takes around 15 – 20 minutes!

I have gotten many comments saying that my skin looks more glowy and radiant now and here’s a last photo to share my progress!

Left photo was taken after a workout, photo on the right was taken after a full day of work and workout in the midday (with face washed once post workout). This is what I meant by the redness post workout and after a long day. However, there is only redness on my cheeks in the photo on the right, very minimal on my forehead now! The bumps are also a lot less visible which is very very ideal! :P Coupled with the basic products from TUC, I’m very pleased with the results as of now and will continue to go for treatments with Dr Yanni too!

TUC also provides other treatments and you can find out more over at the website.

252, North Bridge Road

#01-15

Raffles City Mall

Singapore 179103

(next to the taxi stand facing Chijmes)

Phone: +65 62540407, +65 62540419

Email: info@tuc.com.sg

Beauty Talk - Revile Laser at Prive Vitale

Friends who know me well enough will know that I have very sensitive skin. I had tried IPL twice and my face would break out into small bumps within the same week. I would get hives when too much pressure is applied on my skin, especially during extraction. I shunned away at any idea of doing laser on my skin.
Revlite Laser at Prive Vitale

It was until I met the very gorgeous Dr Karen Soh during my first visit. She assessed my condition and I told her my fears and concerns. She decided that I should do a test session before my first session and when everything was cleared within the next few days, she gave the go-ahead.
So what is Revile Laser?
Revlite Laser is a non-invasive treatment that uses light energy to gently stimulate natural collagen growth, minimizes pores, remove irregular pigmentation and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
How is it done?
The procedure is safe, simple, comfortable and fast. I always make my appointments in between my pt sessions so I usually head out of the clinic within 15 mins, which will include cleansing and preparation for the treatment. The laser beam will be directed towards the area of concern, heating the deeper layers of the skin.
Which areas can be treated?
I consider this more like a weekly facial treatment for me as it can be done on the undereyes and face. Also, it can be done on your hands and body, practically anywhere that is exposed to the sun.

One day post Revlite laser after the 6th session

I have raved about how affordable and effective this laser treatment is to my friends especially after they had actually noticed the minimizing of my pore sizes after 4-5 sessions and I really think its a great investment for ladies who are looking at getting a quick-fix during lunch time because there is no downtime at all and Prive Vitale is very conveniently located at the CBD area!
30 Raffles Place #02-25 Chevron House Singapore 048622
Tel: 6535 3328 Mobile: 9171 3328 www.privevitale.com www.facebook.com/privevitale
Opening hours: Mon-fri: 10am to 8pm Sat: 10am to 2pm Sun/PH: CLOSED

Beauty Talk – Hadara Derma-calm Facial

My skin has always been very thin and sensitive I’m always very skeptical about going for facials because I’ve had an outbreak of hives once after extraction was done. My entire face was swollen, red and it was itching so bad I will never forget that unpleasant experience. Since then, the thought of going for facial still scares me sometimes.

After having used Dermagold during our Seoul trip last year, I decided to go ahead and give the Derma-calm Facial a shot after consulting the doctor (and co-owner of Dermagold) and it was to be customized according to the needs and condition of my current skin. Besides, all products that are used during the facial are Dermagold skincare, which immediately puts my mind at ease.

The Hadara Experience


We were greeted with an uplifting Hadara signature scent upon entering the boutique. It is a blend of organic aromatic oils especially concocted for Hadara in collaboration with a clinical herbalist. This signature scent never fails to soothe my senses and brings my mind to a complete relaxation mode, ready for a good ‘sleep’! :P

The therapist then ushered me into one of the rooms to get ready for my facial.

Hadara Derma-calm Facial (60min)

This facial is calming and soothing, specially designed for sensitive skin like mine. It was sooo good I fell deep asleep, undisturbed almost throughout.

1. Skin is first cleansed, followed by a award-winning scrub (Harpers Bazaar most gentle scrub award 2014).

2. Very simple extraction was arranged for me with minimal pain I could almost sleep through.

3. My skin was then soothed with a cold hammer therapy and recovery gel to restore and calm down the sensitive areas right after the extraction. This was my second favourite part!

4. After the cold hammer therapy, this is my favourite part of the facial (actually maybe I have another favourite part at the last part of the facial too!)! The therapist used an air-spray called Cleopine Air-spray. The Cleopine ampoules and air spray are invented by a Korean doctor. It is manufactured using a patented technology and it is FDA approved as a food substance. (it can be sprayed safely into the mouth too!)

Cleopine ampoule are especially suitable for sensitive skin and is penetrated into the skin using a special nano-technology air spray.

What is Cleopine made of?
- fermented peptides from mushrooms grown in korea 

- nutrient extracts from pine trees in Korea 

- high quality mineral salt 


Benefits of Cleopine: 
- whitening 

- anti-aging 

- anti-wrinkle 

- moisturising 

- improved skin tone 


Hadara Sparkling Eye Therapy (30min) 


The next part of the facial is the Eye Therapy and is especially suitable for people like me with tired eyes or people who uses the mobile phone and laptops for long hours.

Benefits:
- Stimulates blood flow to the skin, muscles and capillaries in the areas around the eyes, helping to drain excess fluids, reduce sagging areas, tone the muscles and nourish new cell growth. De-stressing the muscles that cause crow’s feet. 

- Activates the pressure points around the eye sockets to help release tension in the visual system and increase the flow of life energy to the eyes. 

- Enhances penetration of products into the skin for maximal effectiveness 


The last part of the facial includes a mask and super-good massage!

I really like the fact that my therapist did not leave me alone at all times. I hate it when I go for facials and have to wait alone helplessly (especially after the machines used had stopped beeping). Over at Hadara, my therapist made sure I was not left alone for more than 2-3 mins. I was attended to all the time, and the session ended right on time (very important for me as I always have pt sessions planned before and after), I cannot afford to let the session overrun without me pre-empting my clients. So thumbs up! :D

The final clean and fresh look of my skin (minus the slight redness due to sensitive skin, which cleared up within the same day). My day continued after the facial, without having to deal with people staring at a red and swollen, freshly-out-of-facial face or people asking me what happened to my face! I love it! ☺

We quickly grabbed a photo with the beautiful owners of Hadara before we left for work too!

Exclusive promotions

Because you have all been soon supportive, there is some exclusive discount just for all of you! :D

1) 8% OFF Dermagold Sensitive Skin System
This system consists of:
- Delicate Skin Cleansing Mousse
- Delicate Skin Toner
- Miracle C+ (star product of Dermagold with 18% Vitamin C)
- HA Booster (100% Hyaluronic Acid)
- Hydra Recovery Gel [won award for: NUYOU Suncare Awards 2015 - After Suncare (Face) and SHAPE Suncare Awards Aftersun Care For Face (Most Moisturising)]

Validity: Valid till 30 September 2015

2) Purchase 3 Hadara Customised Facials for S$399 (U.P. S$450) AND receive 3 x S$50 Hadara Cash Voucher
Hadara Customised Facials include:
- Hadara Power Facial (whitening / anti-aging)
- Hadara Acne Clear Facial (acne)
- Hadara Derma-calm Facial (sensitive)

Validity: Valid till 30 September 2015

There is also a special promotion for all tertiary students and more details can be found on Hadara's Facebook page! :)

Specially designed for Singaporean skin, Hadara provides a very good range of Dermagold skincare which I love very much! Do pop by and grab a few to try if you are around the area!

Hadara Aesthetic Boutique 

23 Lorong Telok #01-01 

Singapore 049035
 

Contact number: 6969 3022
 

Email: info@hadaraaesthetics.com 

Website: www.hadaraaesthetics.com 

For other promotions and giveaways, feel free to like the Facebook page of Hadara and Dermagold, and follow them on Instagram, @dermagold_sg and @hadara_sg too! :D

Health & Beauty Talk – Collagen in our body

[Sponsored post]

I learnt from a beauty course I attended years ago (before I even knew about aging) that women’s skin actually start aging as young as 18 years old. That really scared the shit out of me because I was 21 years old then and had wasted 3 years of not doing anything. So I started becoming very conscious and spent so much money on products that contain collagen, mainly application, trying to prevent my skin from premature aging.

So, what is collagen?

Collagen is a protein found in our bones, teeth and muscles that supports cellular activity. 70% of skin is made up of collagen that helps keep our skin firm and bouncy.

Just as we associate collagen to the pillars supporting our skin or acts like the spring in a mattress, when the supporting pillars sag or springs wear out, the “padding” of skin dissipates; which means there will be loss of firmness and wrinkles starts to appear. Recent research also proves that we start losing collagen even in our twenties or earlier.

Losing collagen will make our skin lose its elasticity and have wrinkles, just like a withered apple. The more collagen we lose, the older we will look!

Where can we get collagen? 

Collagen can be found in cows, fishes, chicken, pigs, seaweed and can be extracted from the skin, bone, cartilage or scale. In most sources, there is a challenge of extraction technology, molecular size and absorption capability so research have shown that there is a good amount of quality collagen in deep sea marine fishes with the most appropriate molecular size for absorption by our body.

Kinohimitsu Collagen Diamond 5300mg Drink

For the longest time, I have been trying to look for a good collagen drink as it is not only safe for consumption but is easily digested and absorbed by the cells in our body. Years of getting collagen applied to my skin have proven little effect and age is catching up. #truestory

With Kinohimitsu Collagen Diamond 5300mg, I can now look forward to hydrated skin, tighter pores, lesser fine lines, radiant and glowing skin! Not only does it offers you all the beauty benefits, do you know that collagen actually helps with your health too? It’s been proven to help with joint and bone health, as collagen is one of the most necessary amino acids and one of the major connective tissue in the body.

I was glad to be introduced the Kinohimitsu Diamond series and happy to give it a shot because of these reasons:
- Only collagen brand that is SGS tested (no additives, no hormones, no preservatives, no chemicals, no artificial colouring)
- Ingredients extracted through advanced technology
- Sugar free (sweetness from fruit’s extracts)
- Collagen from deep sea marine fishes’ scales (that means it’s pure, high quality & that explains why It’s so great tasting and that there’s no fishy taste)
- Ingredients are carefully formulated to ensure our body can absorb properly
- Molecular size of collagen peptide is small enough for easy absorption by our body

Also, do you know that Kinohimitsu products are 100% natural? 

So, I decided to give the Diamond Nite to mummy and take the one in the day since I have a habit of taking my supplements first thing in the morning. I love how the taste is so yummy and that it’s not too sweet (I could drink more than 1 bottle just for the taste!). Mummy takes the Diamond Nite and she’s loving the taste of it too! Its also amazing how the results are almost immediate and I’m already planning to get my next batch of supplies! 

In fact, Kinohimitsu Diamond Nite is the first collagen drink in the market that helps you to sleep better while repairing your skin at the same time! Sleep time is very important as this is the time when your skin starts to renew and repair damaged skin cells. With the added ingredient - Manuka Honey, it helps reduce inflammation and promote effective healing and rejuvenation too! 

Best of all, I’m very surprised to see changes in my skin suppleness (though it may be slight)! My skin feels slightly tighter and the crow feet are starting to show less! Super stoked and very very impressed! Okay you may not be able to see much difference (I know) but I can totally feel it so thumbs up! :D 

Good news! 

So, only for my readers, you get 30% off your total purchase when you quote ‘limaranxkino’ at checkout here! (http://kinohimitsu-eshop.com/) This is only valid till 31st May 2015 so hurry get yours! I’m already planning for my next month’s supply! :P 

Another good (or even better) news! 

Celebrate Mother’s Day with Kinohimitsu and stand a chance to win ONE YEAR supply of Kinohimitsu Diamond Series and Goldheart diamond pendants! 

Facebook 

1. Like Kinohimitsu Singapore (https://www.facebook.com/KinohimitsuSingapore) 

2. Like the post 

3. Share a selfie of yourself and your mother in the comments part of the contest post and tell them what is the BEST BEAUTY TIP your mother has shared with you. 

4. Tag two of your friends in the post 

5. Share the post on your Facebook wall 

Instagram 

1. Follow us on Instagram @KinohimitsuSG 

2. Like our contest post 

3. Share a selfie of yourself and your mother and tell us what is the BEST BEAUTY TIP your mother has shared with you. 

4. Tag @KinohimitsuSG and hashtag #KinohimitsuSG and #KinohimitsuCelebrates 

*Accounts have to be made public to be eligible for this contest 

2 grand winners will stand a chance to walk away with one year supply of Kinohimitsu Diamond Series and a set of Goldheart Diamond Pendant each (total worth $2,000) Contest ends on 10th May 2015, 11.59PM. 

3 consolation winners will walk away with Kinohimitsu hampers worth too. Good luck everyone! I will definitely hope to get ONE YEAR SUPPLY of Kinohimitsu Diamond Series! :P

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

Fitness & Beauty Talk - 5 tips to look younger

I know this is rather shameless but those who know me will agree that I do not look my age at all. And of course, #goodthingsmustshare! So I decided to reveal my secret, not like the previous post but REAL secret to looking younger. Ladies (and gentlemen), sit up straight and read well! :P

Tip 1: WORKOUT!

I can never emphasise how important it is to workout and the results actually show on your skin and your physique! I'll be doing a separate entry on how important working out is and why you should kickstart your fitness journey but in short, working out relieves stress, increases your self-confidence and improves your skin's radiance in the long run!

Tip 2: Eat clean and drink up!

Admit it, you know how true it is when they say, "YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!". Eating clean and healthily can give you younger-looking skin. Healthy food promote good cell growth and can eliminate harmful free radicals and toxins in your body. Just because of this simple reason, your skin will regain its natural glow and suppleness. Make sure there is a good mix of greens, protein and carbs in your meals. Of course, do not forget to drink at least 1.5 to 2 litres of water a day to stay hydrated!

Tip 3: Care for your skin!

Now this is the reality, people judge you by your first impression. Therefore, caring for your skin is very important. Make sure you cleanse your face well regularly and exfoliate 2-3 times a week. Remove your makeup thoroughly and double cleanse if you have to. Wash your face after working out and most importantly for those with dry skin like mine, keep it moisturised and massage it well! Here are some of the products I use and I don't really believe in sticking to a particular brand anymore, because I believe your skin knows better than the brands do. I have a couple of different brands for the same purpose and I use them according to how my skin feels that day. I focus on correcting my skin tone recently, apart from the hydration.

Tip 4: SUNSCREAM!

Stay away from the sun unnecessarily if you can! Unfortunately for me, I coach and train my clients in the sun sometimes so I don't have a choice but to use sunscreen. I love looking tanned and I cannot really stand my skin colour looking yellowish whenever I get fairer so it's even more crucial for me to use sunscreen. Ladies and men alike, this is a TALL ORDER: USE SUNSCREEN! Because you will only have yourself to thank when you get older! 

For those with oily skin, I suggest that you don't use anything too milky. Get a water-based or gel sunscreen which will produce a cooling effect on your skin. I think Neutrogena has rather good ones so check out Watson's or Guardians! For those with dry and combination skin like mine, it's a little more tricky because you cannot go for too moisturising ones, yet gel or water-based ones may not be moisturising enough. This is what I use! I recently got mine replaced when I visited Trinity Medical Centre so do your skin a favour and get a good sunscreen. 

Tip 5: Hang out with younger friends! (FOR REAL)

I'm serious! I hang out with a lot of younger friends and they make me feel younger at the same time! Of course, as much as laughing makes you get wrinkles (in the long run), feeling happy, smiling and laughing when you are out with your friends will release happy hormones and laughing helps increase blood flow around your face, making you look and feel younger! Go ahead and laugh till your jaw cramps and teary-eyed! :D

SOME of my younger friends (I have more), who never fail to make me feel young! 

There you go! I hope I shed some light on some of you and for those who needs an extra push to kickstart your fitness journey with me, feel free to drop me an email! 

Good night!