Category Archives: advertorial

BEAUTY: Spectra Carbon Peel

Three weeks to the big day and there are several must-dos a bride-to-be should have in her checklist.

Aside from the bachelorette party, the bride-to-be checklist includes:

1) A spa pampering session
a. What better way to relax than with a full body massage after a hydrating spa session.

2) Manicure and pedicure
a. This can be done months in advance and just a couple of weeks before the big day. In fact, a once a month manicure session is ideal. Having luxuriously soft hands and carefully manicured nails is crucial, so you can show off your ring!

3) Hair treatments
a. Complete your wedding look with soft and healthy tresses that frame your face. Start with a deep conditioning steam treatment at the salon and follow up at home subsequently with leave-in hair masks.
b. If your hair is colored, make sure there are no grown out roots showing. Head to your local salons

4) Thorough facial and aesthetic treatments to get your “radiant bride” look
a. Camera shutters will be clicking, and you have got to put your best face forward.

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BEAUTY: Acuvue 1-Day Define

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Whether it is a photo shoot or an Instagram #ootd, “the eyes are the windows to the soul”. Most of our communication is done through non-verbal cues and to change a look from sweet to sexy to fierce, it is all in the eyes.

   

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Oral-B Power Brush

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Every June when Father’s Day rolls around, I scratch my head and wonder what else I can get my dad. He likes his tech gadgets (which man doesn’t?) and every time he gets his hands on a new gadget, he gets excited like a little child in a candy store.

I remember when he was the first in the household to get a pager. Haha. It makes my heart swell to see him fiddle with the switches, trying the different modes, plugging the item in and when he manages to “figure it out”, he smiles. 

Father's Day Oral B Gift 

So this year, to really get him to smile, I got him the Oral-B Power Brush. Not only is this electric toothbrush easy-to-use; all you need to do is plug in the charging stand to your wall socket and dock the brush. Once charged, the brush is ready to use! No need for manuals or difficult assembly. 

  
This is an appropriate gift for my practical Papa because I remember when I was little, he would be the one to guide me and show me how to brush my teeth. Then, in my teenaged years, he gifted me with a set of beautiful healthy teeth; he recommended that I get braces. I had awfully crooked teeth then. Fast forward 10 years, you cannot imagine how thankful I am for good teeth because it has changed my life. 

HEALTH IS WEALTH

Oral hygiene is sometimes over looked. Something as simple as a clean, healthy mouth cavity can actually impact how people react to you. 

Think about it, would you ever want to talk to someone who has BAD BREATH? Ohhhh dear no, I would never want the people closest to me to ever suffer from that.  

Aside from your regular dentist visit, daily brushing can prevent tooth decay and gum disease. So it is important to pick a brush that helps you protect your oral health. 

ORAL-B POWER BRUSH

Compared to regular electric toothbrushes, the Oral-B Power Brush has 5x better cleaning along the gum lines versus manual brushing. Using it, reminds me of being at the dentist! And just like your dentist will tell you, brushing isn’t limited to just your teeth. Cleaning your gums are equally, if not, more important than just cleaning the surface of your teeth. 

I used to neglect brushing my gums. Because of that, I suffered from sensitive gums and they would occasionally bleed. 

  

The gums are where bacteria reside, and with the Oral-B Power Brush, you can clean and massage your gums with up to 48,800 unique oscillating / rotating + pulsating movements. This is the special 3D action of the Oral-B Power Brush that helps to removes more bacteria and dirt per minute. You obviously would never be able to reach that speed yourself unless you were bionic man. Regular brushing regularly hovers around 600 oscillations per minute. The Power Brush is at least 6 times faster! But because it is the visual pressure sensor that helps reduces brushing force. My Dad never has to worry about brushing too hard and hurting his gums.  

  

My Papa also can choose from 3 brushing modes just like a dentist’s brush – daily clean, sensitive and polish. The Oral-B ProfessionalCare series brushes also provide a superior tooth-by-tooth clean through compact, round brush heads. The set I gave my Papa comes with 2 extra brush heads.

The gums are where bacteria reside, and with the Oral-B Power Brush, you can clean and massage your gums with up to 48,800 unique oscillating / rotating + pulsating movements. This is the special 3D action of the Oral-B Power Brush that helps to removes more bacteria and dirt per minute. You obviously would never be able to reach that speed yourself unless you were bionic man. Regular brushing regularly hovers around 600 oscillations per minute. The Power Brush is at least 6 times faster! But because it is the visual pressure sensor that helps reduces brushing force. My Dad never has to worry about brushing too hard and hurting his gums.  

My Papa also can choose from 3 brushing modes just like a dentist’s brush – daily clean, sensitive and polish. The Oral-B ProfessionalCare series brushes also provide a superior tooth-by-tooth clean through compact, round brush heads. The set I gave my Papa comes with 2 extra brush heads.

The first time my Papa used the tooth brush, he said he liked the Daily Clean mode because of the speed and the pressure of the brush. But the real reason why he likes the Power Brush so much, is the fact that the brush head moves on its own. He now doesn’t have to exert so much effort at brushing his teeth to get a good thorough cleanse. Haha! 

WIN YOURSELF THE ORAL-B POWER BRUSH

If you are still thinking about what to get for your Papa for Father’s Day, you can win for yourself the Oral-B Power Brush! 

This Father’s Day, power your dad’s smile and save up to 50% on selected models of Oral B Power Brush on Qoo10! Saving 50% off your shopping will certainly make almost anyone smile!

The other option is to simply join the Instagram #oralbsg contest. 

Here are the deets! 

* Contest runs 8 to 21 June 2015

* Three winners will be picked

And the steps to winning yourself an Oral-B Power Brush are:

1. Post a photo of your father in his best smile (with or without you in it) on Instagram

2. Tell us why you would like to win an Oral-B Power Brush for your dad!

3. Hashtag #oralbsg AND #powerofdadsg

And that’s it! The hardest part is probably convincing your Dad to take a photo. I know it took a while to convince my Dad because he is quite camera shy. But, he was a good sport. Just take a look at my picture on my Instagram account and see how we did it.
  
He taught me how to take care of my teeth when I was little, and now I want to do the same for him. 

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY, PA!

BEAUTY: Updates on the Eucerin 30-Day Challenge

BEAUTY: The 30-Day Eucerin Challenge Update

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Remember my blog entry about the Eucerin 30-Day Challenge?

Eucerin Beauty Blog Post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I uploaded onto the blog my first thoughts and impressions about starting the 30-day Eucerin Challenge. Before this update post, I also posted updates about my progress with the Eucerin 30-Day Challenge on Instagram HERE.

If you have forgotten, this challenge is done yearly and I decided to join this year to take my skin care to the next level.

Why 30-days? With skincare, you need at least 2 weeks to a month to be able to get your skin to stabilize. Our skin is very resilient thing. It has a natural defense mechanism and tries to remedy itself in whatever situation. Interestingly, what it does in response to the absence of hydration is over-produce sebum. This is the skin’s way of trying to “hydrate” itself.

But de-hydrated skin is not limited to the cold countries. Spending long hours in an air-conditioned room can dry out your skin and strip it of moisture.

The key to supple happy skin? Hydration, hydration, hydration.

Eucerin DermoPURIFYER

There are 3 key steps to fresh and clean skin that I covered in my previous Eucerin blog post.

But the Eucerin DermoPURIFYER Acne & Makeup Cleansing Water is my lifesaver. In my first post, I mentioned that this unique product has 3 wonderful benefits.

1) Gently removes make-up and impurities
2) Reduces acne
3) Moisturizes with Hyaluronic Acid

Actually they should add one more benefit, refreshes and energizes skin. I absolutely love using the Acne & Makeup Cleansing Water as a toner when my skin is feeling tired and dull. Aside from using it first thing in the morning (after brushing my teeth of course) and just before going to bed, I have also incorporated using the Eucerin DermoPURIFYER Acne & Makeup Cleansing Water as a skin pick-me-up mid day.

It is so crucial to remove your makeup and cleanse your skin well daily. In the long run, too much sebum on your skin surface causes outbreaks and acne inflammation. Your skin is angry and unhappy when its pores are clogged. Imagine your skin being stuffed up daily, of course you would be unhappy and grumpy!

Acne

Acne Problem

I received comments on my Instagram posts that many of you already use the Eucerin range on a daily basis! As you already know, the Eucerin DermoPURIFYER range is effective in reducing acne symptoms.

To be very honest, I do not remember being plagued by acne when I was younger. I did, however, witness what it did to my younger brother, Jeremy. He was a little shy and awkward because of his skin condition and he always had to be very careful selecting the right kind of skin care regime. I remember watching as my mom did all she could to help him overcome the acne. It not only caused stress for Jeremy, but for my mom too.

Past adolescence, Jeremy is free of acne but there is some visible scarring. Occasionally, he does get inflamed pimple or so but I am so glad he is past that stage now.

The closest I can imagine what he went through is when I see the dermatologist and he says, “Oh you have faint acne scarring just by your jaw line…” it is hard not to bristle and feel a little self-conscious and worried. If that is how I feel just by having a doctor tell me about the SCARS I have, I can only imagine the self-esteem issues my brother had to deal with as a teen – the mix of emotions would have been many times amplified mine.

Skin Improvement After using Eucerin

My skin before

Eucerin Skincare Before

 

 

 

 

 

 

What I was hoping to achieve by using the Eucerin DermoPURIFYER range during this time was
reduced sebum production – measured by how oily and shiny my T-zone becomes during the day
visibility of my pores on the cheeks, chin and forehead

My skin after

Eucerin Skincare After

 

 

 

 

 

 

As I mentioned, I use the Acne & Makeup Cleansing Water 3 times a day. Since I started last month, my skin is calmer, and definitely less oily. My T-zone does not get shiny mid-way through the day and my skin are definitely less visible.

I remember one period when my pores were sooo enlarged even a facial at my regular dermatologist didn’t do much to help reduce the pore size. My skin was constantly oily and skin tone had also darkened.

Now, there is a subtle glow from happy, hydrated skin. I am so thankful that with clear skin, the time spent on applying make up has reduced to about 7 minutes! Some days I even leave the house without foundation because my skin feels free and happy!

Thank you Eucerin!

Eucerin DermoPurifyer Skincare

BEAUTY: Ginza Calla $78 Promotion

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Fitness

I cannot emphasize how important it is for women to be clean shaven – smooth legs, hairless underarms and no mustache! Whether you are an active sportsperson or a fashionista, staying hairless should be part of your beauty routine.

Seeing how the Miss Universe 2014 pageant has just concluded in Miami, it was a huge throwback to when I was competing in the Miss Universe 2011 finals, The swimsuit is always the most anticipated segment of the contest. Whether you are a contestant or simply an audience, you look forward to seeing toned and hair-free bodies rocking the stage. I cannot imagine a beautiful girl who does not remove unsightly hair.

Miss Universe Singapore 2011

But going for regular IPL treatments is not just about being aesthetically pleasing, it is also a matter of personal hygiene. Did you know, having hair in the underarm region can actually encourage body odor?

Let me delve into a little science here. Everyone perspires and perspiration is, in fact, good for the human body. It cools your body temperature down and also serves as an avenue to eliminate toxins from your system.

But did you know that of the 2 genders, male and female, researchers in Switzerland found that samples taken from female armpits had different, higher, levels of a sulfur-containing compound than levels found in the sweat samples taken from male armpits: 5 milligrams in female sweat compared to 0.5 milligrams in male sweat. This is from a source published in the Oxford Journals

So, having unwanted hair in your underarm area creates a breeding ground for this odor-causing bacteria as it thrives in warm and humid conditions.

High levels of sulfur + bacteria = VERY BAD BODY ODOR.

Bad body odor is up there on the list of THINGS NOT TO HAVE – just alongside bad breath.
So you can definitely shave, pluck or use creams to remove unsightly hair, or you can permanently get rid of it with IPL at Ginza Calla.

Review
I used to have trouble with keeping up with my shaving schedule. Especially when I travel and jet-set on short trips, I end up buying a cheap razor from a nearby convenient store that leaves me with cuts and scars … That is, until I signed up for an IPL package.

If you have been following my Ginza Calla journey, you will know that I have been undergoing IPL treatment for months now. Because of my lifestyle, I naturally chose the most exposed areas for treatment: the underarms, legs and knees.

Unit 27 Apartment Bar and Restaurant

I am happy to report that after undergoing IPL treatment Ginza Calla, I hardly ever have to check if I need to shave my legs when I am wearing short skirts. This saves me precious time and keeps my schedule hassle-free when I travel. Once I get my outfit planned, I am usually out the door in about 15 minutes and off to my meetings on time.

New Member $78 Promotion
Now that it is February, I am already looking forward to spending my summer in Boracay. This will be my 3rd year going for LABORACAY and the beach will be packed with girls in skimpy bikinis and boys with ripped abs. If I am going to be rocking a new bikini, I want to ensure that I am hairless in all the right places.

Ginza Calla Singapore Promotion

So I was very glad to hear on my last visit to Ginza Calla, that there is a new promotion. This is one is SPECIALLY FOR NEW MEMBERS!
For just $78, you get UNLIMITED sessions of IPL removal for
– V-line
– underarm
– fingers
– hands

It is not a pretty sight to see a beautiful girl frolicking on the beach with unwanted hair peeking out from under her gorgeous bikini. EEK!

Ginza Calla is always thinking of new ways to reward their customers. They constantly update the Ginza Calla website with their latest promotions. Very soon they will be introducing special IPL packages for adults and students.

Now if you will excuse me, I am going to workout to get that bikini body to match my smooth, hairless skin.

Ginza Calla location address
Plaza Singapura, #04-55
Singapore 238839
For IPL appointments or enquiries, call 6238 8850

Ginza Calla IPL opens in Singapore – The Easy and Painless Way to Hair Removal

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Marathon Runner

Can you imagine finishing a race and raising your arms in victory only to have unsightly underarm hair take the spotlight instead? GROSS!

As an avid runner and gym rat, I am always in shorts and sleeveless tops. The LAST thing I want is unsightly hair peeking out from all angles when I am stretching or lifting weights. Add to that, sweltering heat plus endless perspiration and you have the prefect breeding ground for odour-causing bacteria. Keeping clean is not just about being vain – it is about basic hygiene and common courtesy!

Ginza Calla Singapore Plaza Singapura

Whether it is shaving my legs or bikini areas, I have countless war stories where instead of coming out of the bathroom with smooth, hair-free legs, I emerge marked with cuts from battling a hand-held razor. This is especially true when I travel. I never carry a razor in my hand-held luggage because I simply buy a cheap razor from the supermarket. That, however, is also the easiest way to look like you got caught in a catfight or ran through the jungle in shorts.

No beautiful woman should have unwanted hair problems.

The best way to avoid all these unwanted hair problems is the tackle it at the root… Literally!

Ginza Calla Singapore IPL

I recently discovered the wonderful technology of IPL (Intense Pulse Light) treatments. After I went for my first session at Ginza Calla, I asked myself WHY I have subjected myself to the pain of plucking and shaving all these years.

The benefits of IPL include:

1) no more in-grown hair
2) no more dark pits
3) smooth and soft skin
4) painless removal

If you are new to the concept of IPL, you�ll want to know that it stands for Intense Pulse Light. Basically, it is the use of a high-powered, direct beam of light on a specific wavelength to target a single condition � in this case the root of the hair.

Ginza Calla Singapore Plaza Singapura

To understand how IPL works, you will have to know the different stages of hair growth. I won�t completely explain it here because the experts at Ginza Calla will do a better job providing clarity during the thorough consultation. Just to help you have an idea of how it works, have a look at this diagram.

IPL Hair Removal Review

What to do before your first IPL treatment:

Don’t shave, then shave! Leave your hair to grow for about 3 to 4 days before treatment, and then shave it the day before.

DO NOT PLUCK THE HAIR. The key thing is to leave the root of the hair in its place.

It generally takes a series of treatments to see the best results, perhaps three to six treatments, usually a month apart.

IPL is highly safe for all skin types (psst! IPL was previously used to treat broken capillaries too) you can undergo IPL treatment on ALMOST ANY PART OF YOUR BODY. Whether you love your bikinis (VIO line), denim shorts (legs and knees), or sexy back tops (back IPL), IPL is around to prevent you from looking like a fur ball.

Ginza Calla has cleverly separated the body parts based on their size for easy reference. RED = small part, BLUE = big part. Treatment on the small parts can take anywhere from 15 minutes to about 30 minutes, while IPL on big body parts usually range from an hour to sometimes 3 hours.

Ginza-Calla-IPL-Singapore

IPL is also safe for use on the face. Ladies, make your make up stay longer and keep yourself mustache-free by opting for the Ginza Calla IPL treatment on the upper lip.

What are the Ginza Calla Packages?

At Ginza Calla, you can sign up for the $40 unlimited under-arm promotion OR V-line (bikini) promo from now till 31st July. A ridiculously low price to pay for a life-time of hair-free parts.

Why are the prices so competitive? That’s because Ginza Calla has a HUGE following of over 300,000 women through its 35 stores that span across Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong! With 21 years of experience in the industry, is an established Japanese Hair Removal Specialist. These ladies trust Ginza Calla for their hair removal needs.

Ginza Calla Singapore IPL

If you’re a beach bunny, you’ll be happy to know that aside from the S$40 V-line (front bikini line) that is on offer, the VIO plan (everything up to your between your bum) is going at an unbeatable price of $1680 for 12 sessions. You can use this plan on any other 3 parts of your choice for smooth, hair-free nether regions.

And JUST FOR MY READERS, Ginza Calla is offering 2 exclusive plans for you! YIPEEEE! There are two options you can pick from.

1) Fitness Hottie Pack – S$1588 (U.P S$5610)
Get baby-smooth soft skin as you remove hair from your entire body.

– Full body 3 times: $1588 (U.P $5610)
– 22 Body Parts: Underarm/ Navel/ Neckline/ Knee/ Below Navel/ Chest/ Hands&Fingers/ Nipples/ Stomach/ Feet&Toes/ Waist/ Upper V/ Thigh/ Upper Back/ Lower Leg/ Lower Back/ V-line/ Upper Arm/ Hip/ Inner/ Thigh/ Lower Arm/ O-line
– Free bottle of Bihada-junbi

2) Gym Bunny Pack – S$288
Workout hard and smart when you have your underarms free of hair.

– Unlimited V-Line & Under Arm: $288
– Free bottle of Bihada-junbi

Both of these packages come with a bottle of Ginza Calla’s specially formulated “magic water”, Bihada-junbi. The Japanese are always meticulous and careful about after-care, they thus developed Bihada-junbi to promote “Tsuru-Puru” (silky-supple) skin, much like a baby’s.

Ginza Calla Bihada-junbi Baby Skin

And you get to bring home a bottle when you sign up for either the FITNESS HOTTIE IPL PACK or GYM BUNNY PACK because Ginza Calla wants to make sure you maintain soft and supple skin even after you leave their premises.

Ginza Calla Singapore Plaza Singapura Outlet

Keep your V-line vacant.

The deals are even better when you sign up with a friend.

Ginza Calla has a B.F.F campaign where both you and your friend will benefit when you both sign up for plans over $500.

1) You will receive immediately a S$150 in-house credit voucher
2) Both you and your B.F.F will EACH receive 6 FREE sessions of a small part treatment (worth $150)

So many people are turning to IPL treatments to get rid of unwanted hair because it is effective and the whole process is painless, easy and fuss-free. On top of that, the packages are incredibly reasonable!

Ginza Calla Develops Its Own IPL Machine

What is special at Ginza Calla is the proprietary IPL machine they have; trust the innovative Japanese to develop it in-house. This machine is unique to all Ginza Calla outlets. Unlike traditional IPL machines used elsewhere, each shot of IPL from Ginza Calla sends out 5 pulses of light, compared to 3 pulses. That’s 150% more effective than normal IPL lights!

Aside from fast and effective hair removal, Ginza Calla�s other priority is to take care of your skin. Both BEFORE AND AFTER your IPL treatment, the therapist applies Bihada-junbi generously all over your treatment area.

The heat from the IPL treatment can sometimes be very drying on the skin. But using a spray, they apply this magic location to the skin to ensure that the skin stays well-hydrated. Bihada-junbi is made up of collagen, Vitamin C and plant extracts.

Bihada-junbi Ginza Calla Singapore

This is the Bihada-junbi machine.

It gently sprays the magic lotion onto your skin as you relax in the Ginza Calla therapy room. The machine is also equipped with a proprietary high-pressure jet spray, which is used to deliver the Bihada-junbi to the deeper layers of the skin, giving you longer-lasting hydration.

Treatment Review

With soft dim lighting, fluffy towel and a comfortable robe, you rest in a lying bed as you begin your treatment. As I mentioned earlier, at Ginza Calla, the therapists first spray the magic lotion, Bihada-junbi all over your treatment area. The lotion is so cooling and feels extremely good on the skin! In fact, it is so relaxing you will most likely fall asleep if the treatment is anything more than 45 minutes.

Ginza Calla Review Singapore

Just 2 weeks ago, I did the IPL treatment on my leg and about 15 minutes into the treatment, I was already fast asleep! I did not wake up until the therapist cooed at me to turn over – she needed to work on my shins.

You feel absolutely nothing when the therapist puts the IPL light to your skin. The cooling gel and Bihada-junbi do an amazing job of protecting the surface of your skin. And unlike my battles with the hand-held razor, I left the room feeling relaxed, happy and with skin so soft to the touch.

Now that we are into the hottest summer of the year, the opening of Ginza Calla cannot be more timely. Thank you Ginza Calla for the wonderful painless experience! Visit Ginza Calla’s first outlet the following address and location:

Ginza Calla
Plaza Singapura, #04-55
Singapore 238839
For IPL appointments or enquiries, call 6238 8850