WEDDING TALK : OF FACES AND COMPLEXION

Monday, August 11, 2014

|PUBLISHED 11 Aug 2014
|TALKED ABOUT Sun Protection, Facial, Detox, Collagen

I know, I know. Most bride-to-be(s) will be talking about pre-wedding photoshoot, bridal studios, banquet venues etc etc but cause our matrimony date is still generally far and we haven't really gotten in the actual planning other than having our pre-wedding photoshoot package signed last year, I don't think there will be much of a journey-kinda post till we really have gotten down to doing it. So today's post, as the title suggests, is about preparing my skin for our upcoming pre-wedding photoshoot in Feb 2015.

Wedding pictures are forever, but there is only so much that photoshop can do when it comes to our skin. I mean let us be realistic, I can't change the way my face looks like, that is why having a skin care plan is so important. Think of it as bridal bootcamp for our face and body. Friends who are close to me will know that I am a maniac when it comes to anti-aging, whitening, and the list goes on and on. Of course, I wouldn't say that I have the most well maintained skin, but then again, why not share my little secret with all of you right ?



We all know the importance of wearing sunscreen, but which SPF is best ? A walk through the sunscreen aisle reveals dozens of options, with varying SPFs. The highest SPF protection is 100, but does that make it the best ? It is just one of the many questions that we consumers have when it comes to the dizzying array of sunscreens.

SPF, or sun protection factor, measures the product’s ability to block the sun’s UVB rays. Those rays can turn our skin into a fiery-red hide. SPFs does not take into account UVA rays, which can damage skin and lead to certain kinds of cancer. In Singapore, where it is sunny all year long, we all know that our sun is very damaging and extremely dangerous, but with our busy lifestyles, do we really have the time to apply sunscreen over our make-up at work or the beach every 2-3 hours ?

People assume the higher the SPF, the better the protection. Sunscreen with SPF 50 offers twice the protection of SPF 25, right ? Wrong. Sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks 94 percent of the sun’s UVB rays. SPF 30 blocks 97 percent, SPF 50 blocks 98 percent and SPF 100 blocks 99 percent.



Yes, SPF 100 offers the highest protection, but it is not significantly more than its double-digit competitors. Plus, many doctors fear consumers who buy products with SPF 100 will apply it less, making it less effective than other options. No matter what the SPF, you should apply sunscreen every two hours. Yes, sounds like a crazy thing to do but that is the cold hard truth.

And my conclusion is, EVERYONE SHOULD BE USING SUNSCREEN.

Rather than focusing on the SPF, look for a broad spectrum sunscreen. These will protect against both UVA and UVB rays, offering full protection. Whether it is a day at the pool, an afternoon walk in the park, or even just sitting in the office, do make sure that you are armed with ample sun protection so that you can enjoy many other sunny days ahead.



Kick start a good skincare regimen, which probably can include monthly peels or facials. If you have acne issues , do consult a dermatologist to figure out the best treatment plan. Else, most bride-to-be(s) can just make do with the monthly pampering probably 6 months before your big day so that your skin can have ample time to absorb all the amazing nutrients that your therapist has to offer.




On a side note, I was recently approached by ClearSK Medi-Aesthetics for a collaboration and they will be taking care of my skin, ensuring that my skin will be at its best condition for my pre-wed shoot. I can never be more than thankful for this opportunity cause I have been looking for an aesthetic sponsor for the longest time and the chance just came by 6 months before my pre-wed shoot, THANK YOU CLEARSK !!



Now that we have done whatever we could on the outside, we have to work from the inside. Beauty often comes from within. Whatever we eat, reflects on our skin. So first things first, eat clean, if not, detox or cleanse.

Detoxification refers primarily to the body's natural and constant process of getting rid of waste and harmful toxins. These include both internal toxins - the by-products of everyday bodily functions such as respiration and digestion, and external toxins - pollutants, pesticides, and heavy metals that are found in our air, water, and food.



The goal of detoxification is to clean up our body at a cellular level and support its natural daily functions so you have more energy and feel better. An effective detoxification program, apart from giving you that glow from within, it may also help address a wide variety of health issues such as poor digestion, allergies, weight gain, cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure.



People often say a woman's skin stops producing collagen after they are 25. The body will then start losing collagen at a rate of 1.5% per annum, leaving us with a wrinkly and dull complexion. Having said that, I am 26 this year and I will be 28 on my wedding day. It is extremely frightening to know that age catches up in such a fast and harsh manner. Especially when you have the world's most baby-faced boyfriend who still looks like he's 21 at the age of 26.



So my solution is, Suntory Milcolla Collagen Powder. Taking adequate collagen with your regular meals can be difficult but with one spoon of Suntory's Milcolla Collagen powder, you can easily receive 5000mg a day. I take them everyday with my usual morning drink. Be it milo, coffee, tea, anything ! Just note not to add in the collagen when your drink is boiling hot. Let your drink cool off for awhile before adding it in as heat kills collagen.

On a side note, I am replenishing my stocks for Milcolla so if you guys are interested, drop me an email with the quantity and I'll order for you guys as well. Each packet is SGD 46 exclusive of postage and there will be free registered postage if you purchase 3 packets and above. Interested parties, please email me at toxikk_@hotmail.com

Till then, xoxo

HONG KONG DIARY II #6

Sunday, August 10, 2014

|PUBLISHED 10 Aug 2014
|TRAVELED TO Ruins of St Paul, Fortaleza do Monte, Galaxy Hotel, Venetian Hotel



HONG KONG DIARY II #5

|PUBLISHED 10 Aug 2014
|TRAVELED TO Central, Causeway Bay



HONG KONG DIARY II #4

|PUBLISHED 10 Aug 2014
|TRAVELED TO HongKong DisneyLand
I think generally travel entries are pretty self-explanatory. I will just let the pictures do the talking ! But then again, if you guys have any questions that you want to ask, feel free to drop your questions in the comment box below !



HONG KONG DIARY II #3

Saturday, August 9, 2014

|PUBLISHED 09 Aug 2014
|TRAVELED TO Ngong Ping 360



HONG KONG DIARY II #2

Thursday, August 7, 2014

|PUBLISHED 07 Aug 2014
|TRAVELED TO Wong Tai Sin, CityGate


First thing in the morning, breakfast at our hotel ! Breakfast at Rainbow Hotel was fairly okay. They had quite a few mains choices for us to choose from. The only complaint is that maybe the buffet line is too small ? They only have like rice, porridge and noodles for us to choose from. Its like mini mini buffet.