De-Auntify Archives

Stepping into the Big 4 (Part III) with IDS (ft. IDS)

May 31, 2021

So I entered the Big 4.

Did things immediately go downhill as people have warned me?

I do feel my metabolism slowing down a fair bit since last year and my observations are that if I lack sleep (which I really do), it really shows from my dark undereye circles and if I am not treating my body right with exercise and a balanced diet, my pores do break out in some gunk for a few days.

And for some reason, the peels on my lips are back with a vengeance even though I moisturise copiously. Ugh, no thanks to the mask-wearing.

IDS reckons it may be time to get laser treatment started. If you remember, a while ago I was recommended a Pep.Blue Deep Treatment which helped my face glow for a couple of weeks and showed very satisfactory results for a non-invasive treatment.

Visiting IDS Flagship at International Building and consulting for my skin condition

During my consultation, IDS noticed my skin drying out a lot more than when she last saw me and decided to order the BroadBand Light™️ (BBL) treatment to target the hydration issue and the pigmentation and dark spots near the undereye area. I was informed that there may be obvious dark patches and scabbing for a few days post-treatment before I can see brighter and firmer skin, to which I was completely OK with.

I was more concerned about the pain level — after all, I had to apply numbing cream and wait out its effect for about an hour — but I was relieved to hear that the BBL treatment works like a very advanced form of IPL and would not go beyond that for the discomfort level.

So after the numbing cream was applied and waited out, IDS handled the treatment swiftly and efficiently – a special cooling gel was applied to my face prior to the BBL shots and I later learned that the BBL system features a chilled sapphire that is applied to the skin before light energy is discharged. It’s an added safety feature to prevent burns to the skin and decreases the discomfort of the procedure.

A chilled sapphire is applied to my face before the BBL

My lip area — which is super sensitive — gets some TLC from the BBL

There was targeted emphasis on the skin tags surrounding my undereye and the pigmentation all around my upper face, plus a few more shots to treat the chapping on my lip area to increase the hydration, with almost no pain experienced at all. In no time, I was out and on my way home.

The tightening is immediate, and although I experienced some redness, it quickly disappeared after an hour.

About 5 days later, with very minimal makeup (just S3 and a bit of blush) and no lip balm at all, I could head out with the pigmentation and skin tags largely gone and a more hydrated face.

Very happy with my #IDSJourney thus far, and really loving the treatments and products recommended to accompany me in navigating the forties.

Disclosure: Results from treatments differ and all opinions here are my own.

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(Self) Examination Reviews

Stepping into the Big 4 (Part II) with IDS (ft. IDS Aesthetics)

March 30, 2021

To me, turning 40 is a big deal.

Everyone tells me it’s downhill from here. Your weight goes up, your skin sags, and your metabolism will be non-existent. Cellulite will pile and your fine lines will increase. So until I come to 50, which is a bigger deal, I’ll do everything and anything to de-auntify myself.

I recently tried Pep.Blue Deep Treatment at IDS Aesthetics because I really need to see my face lift and my collagen stimulated. A while back I thoroughly enjoyed (and still am enjoying!) trying the IDS Skincare range recommended to me by Dr Michelle Wong from IDS and I couldn’t be happier to be back at her clinic again to let her know that the RC and IM really worked for my dry, constantly-masked skin and to hear her recommendation for a facial treatment I should try

Here I am, back at Dr Michelle Wong’s office at Innovative Dermatological Solutions (IDS) telling her that I need help with some fine lines below my eyes.

And so a Pep.Blue Deep Treatment was what Dr Michelle recommended – and in a jiffy I was shown to a calm, quiet and nice-smelling treatment room to await my therapist.

Getting ready for deep cleansing and treatment

Her nimble hands gave me a good deep cleanse before she applied IDS’ proprietary Pep.Blu Serum and then starting me on a micro-current-like deep massage of the serum in my face, which I later learned is called ‘Non Invasive DEEP Electropration Technology’.

What it really means is that there’s intense prickling for a while, somewhat like a lot of needles just vibrating through to your skin, delivering the serum deep into where they should go.

Unlike traditional permeation machines, this one from IDS creates channel openings in the skin to allow permeation of solution to be absorbed.

For sure, it’s not the typical relax-and-close your-eyes kind of facial but hey, the results made me want to bear with the microcurrents running from that machine:

What a difference half a treatment makes: my right is more lifted and looking less dull than the left side!

After the electropration, I did have a close-your-eyes-and-sleep kind of facial when the Pep.Blue mask was applied under LED light. Caught 40 winks, which was not too bad. I thought the light would affect me but no, I was totally relaxed.

Time to get some rest after the electropration!

I would definitely recommend this treatment if you have dull skin, need a lift for sagging areas and desperately want some help with fine lines. I walked out feeling fresh and ready to conquer the world – till my next treatment, at least!

No makeup, all lifted, and feeling fresh

Loving my #IDSjourney so far and always feeling #IDServe it with their pampering.

Disclosure: All opinions here are my own, including all the apprehension about turning 40. Your experiences may be different but if they are similar, IDS is a great place to turn to!

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(Self) Examination Reviews

Stepping into the Big 4 with IDS (ft. IDS Skincare)

February 16, 2021

2021 is the year I’ll have to click a different range of age category, and I’ll be writing the number ‘4’ for the first digit of my age.

While it’s quite evident that my metabolism is slowing down a fair bit, makeup and concealer are still helping me hide a couple of things. Skin tags. Fine lines. Eye bags. Flaking lips. In addition to all these, ever since the mandatory face-mask wearing started, I also started developing red patches around the area below my nose.

Just last Christmas alone, I received many skincare and wellness gifts well-meaning friends thought I ought to have: lip balm (I received MANY kinds), eye cream, hair tonic, eye masks and moisturisers. I think everyone was seeing these two things on my face: red and dry, and clearly wishing for my sake that I should do something about it.

Thankful for friends who care, for sure. But I was even more thankful to be invited by Innovative Dermatological Solutions (IDS) to embark on a skincare journey with them. I’ve read a little of this homegrown brand while flipping magazine pages, and I’ve always been curious on what they really offer.

And so I paid a visit to the IDS flagship at International Building earlier this year to acquaint myself with their offerings and services, and to see Dr Michelle Wong from IDS Clinic for my skin issues.

The IDS Flagship is located at International Building.

Dr Michelle was empathetic in listening to my skin woes and without hesitation, ordered a range of skincare products for me to try – all to address the issues of enlarged pores on my T-zone, my fine lines around my eyes, my eye bags and eye rings, and the flaking around my lips.

At the doctor’s office, ranting non-stop

What happened subsequently was a rattling of a whole bunch of letters of the alphabet and numbers — T2, C2, IM, RC, etc… which was a little baffling at first but I soon realised IDS adopted a really simple way to name their products by using the first letters of the product and a number code for each skin type – oily, normal, dry. How easy to understand!

The IDS skincare range – PLENTY of options, all developed locally and extensively tested.

A rundown on what I got for my skin to be used in this order: C2 (Cleanser for normal to sensitive skin) > T2 (Toner for normal to sensitive skin) > PF (Pore Formula) > C+ (Vitamin C serum for the eye bags and dark rings) > RC (Rejuvenating Complex for the fine lines) > IM (Intensive Moisturiser for the flaky skin) > S3 (Tinted Sunscreen with SPF 50 PA+++)

It’s been close to two months now, at this point of writing, of using C2, T2, PF, C+, RC, IM and S3 in my daily skincare ritual and I’m really happy to report that I am blown away by the efficacy of this Made in Singapore line. The dry skin around my lips and the peeling lips have completely disappeared within a week of using RC and IM religiously twice a day, and I see visibly shrunk pores and fewer fine lines. The dark eye rings are still a battle (pretty much also genetic as I have always believed), but other than that, I have very moisture-ful, supple skin from the beginning to the end of the day and needing very little makeup and concealer after using the prescribed range from IDS every day.

In fact, I hang on to this for dear life now before I head out and rarely use any other kinds of makeup:

A special mention of this tinted sunscreen: I have been searching for something light, non-sticky, tinted, water resistant and chemical free. Bought a couple of them from my last Japan trip but found them on the cloying side.

This S3 just MELTS into the skin. AMAZING.

And this is the before and after of how my skin is looking – with zero filters used.

On the right is the patchy, red, flaky dry skin I started having since face-mask wearing, and on the left, is after a day’s work which is not super oily and with zero flaking after using my prescribed IDS skincare range.

Can’t be happier with this result and loving the local brand that is IDS. And more stoked that this is only the beginning of my IDS journey!

Disclosure: All opinions here are my own. I only do honest reviews – including reviewing how much HELP I need for my own skin.

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Reviews

I Went For a Full Facelift, Without Surgery [Review of Ultherapy at Halley Medical Aesthetics]

July 4, 2019

These days, I am looking for quick fixes.

In my time-starved world, I need anything and everything that’s efficient and saves me time. And I was so thrilled that Ultherapy will do just that for me in terms of stimulating collagen, lifting my face and smoothening my skin – because, eh, where got time to go for facial every month?

So what I hear about Ultherapy is this: you spend about one hour to get a non-invasive facelift for tighter and better skin which will last for about a year. That’s all, yes.

Sounds good! This is the quick fix I need for my life RIGHT NOW.

I recently headed to Halley Medical Aesthetics to find out more about Ultherapy from Dr Terence Tan, the same doctor who froze my fats a while earlier this year and made the cellulite on my thighs disappear. Dr Terence Tan is someone I fully trust, because after having experienced CoolSculpting at his clinic, I am convinced that it’s needful to be under the care of someone experienced and who knows what he’s doing with the technology that’s available to use.

Dr Terence Tan sharing why delivering 800 shots of micro-focused ultrasound energy for my full-facelift, with upper neck – no less – is important to him. It’s about dedication and commitment to his customers!

It’s the face we’re talking about here afterall; nobody wants a botched job!

Dr Terence Tan explaining how Ultherapy treats the different layers of the skin

Dr Terence Tan introducing me to Ulthera® – the machine responsible for delivering micro-focused ultrasound to stimulate collagen non-invasively

Back to Ultherapy, which I’ve heard so much about, being non-invasive, needle-free and all. BUT I’ve also heard about the discomfort it can cause, and so I needed to go for a consultation to understand what this all means. Quick fix doesn’t mean just go for a process blindly, right.

So here’s what it is, and what it means to undergo Ultherapy, and this treatment specifically at Halley Medical Aesthetics, summarized.

Ten Facts You Need to Know About Ultherapy at Halley Medical Aesthetics:

Ultherapy is the only non-invasive skin tightening treatment that’s cleared by the US FDA. This means that it’s backed by numerous robust clinical trials and is very safe and effective. There is no downtime, no surgical incisions made.
Ultherapy uses micro-focused ultrasound energy to bypass the surface of the skin to stimulate the body’s collagen.
With Ultherapy, doctors are now able to direct ultrasound energy with pin-point accuracy at three specific skin depths (1.5mm, 3.0mm, and 4.5mm), to trigger lifting of the skin from within, a process that will develop over a period of 90 days. Tissue laxity is largely the result of structural weakening in the skin’s foundation (called SMAS) which is only accessible during a surgical facelift before Ultherapy came about.
It is the only non-invasive treatment that has real-time visualization capability which allows doctors to see precisely what layer of tissue they are treating. This enables doctors to target exactly where energy will be delivered, and to avoid structures such as bone and blood vessels.
The body will start responding to Ultherapy right after the treatment, and the skin will become tighter and more lifted over time with results most obvious three months after treatment.
Medical evidence shows that the lifting and firming process continues even after three months.
Ultherapy can be used to treat the whole face or it can be used to target problematic areas on the face like the cheeks, undereye, forehead, jawline, and upper and lower neck.
Halley Medical Aesthetics (Halley) follows the Amplify™ Protocol recommended for Ultherapy. This protocol advocates that doctors deliver approximately 800 lines (or shots) of focused ultrasound energy for an effective, long-lasting full-face and upper neck lift. This means you can go elsewhere to do this but you may not be experiencing the full 800 shots! which Halley promises.
Halley also gives patients doing the full-face and upper neck lift treatment an Ultherapy patient record that details the number of lines delivered to each part of the face. This is to provide them with transparency and peace of mind that they are receiving the optimal number of focused ultrasound energy needed to lift different parts of the face.
Halley has also won two “Golden Record Awards” for their commitment and dedication that the clinic puts into delivering Ultherapy to its patients.

Halley has won 2 records for Ultherapy

So what about the discomfort? Any google search will inadvertently show up results of people talking about some pain they experienced. And I definitely need to have my fears allayed about this, and what level of discomfort to expect.

What I really appreciate being at Halley is that nothing is glossed over thoughtlessly if you had a concern. You get very honest answers here and yes, Dr Terence Tan says, there will be some degree of discomfort experienced because the device is directing micro-focused ultrasound energy into structural layers of the skin and such penetration will cause a certain level of discomfort. To minimise the discomfort, Dr Terence Tan recommended a combination of oral painkillers and numbing cream application.

And, that is ALL that will be experienced DURING the treatment. Some people may feel soreness on the jawline for a day or two, but other than that, it’s not going to last.

Oh well, for someone who’s walked an entire day without realising her foot was fractured, pushed three babies out naturally, did a hair transplant (will blog about it soon!), and lived with horrible cramps two days a month that sometimes induces fainting, I think I can live with this “pain” of some sort.

Ok la, let’s go for it!

TREATMENT DAY
On the day I was scheduled for Ultherapy, I showed up an hour early, took painkillers provided by the clinic and had numbing cream applied on my face and neck. I was a little nervous nonetheless but was quickly calmed by the ever-funny Dr Terence Tan who would tell me jokes and ask me riddles. I think he’s found a way to calm his patients’ nerves, since he’s probably done this for so many patients.

Numbing cream applied to my face and neck after cleansing

When it was time to start, Dr Terence Tan constantly checked in with me to see if I was feeling ok and would adjust the energy level if I wasn’t. The discomfort was also greatly alleviated with a fan blowing cool air next to my face, such a brilliant idea.

The fan blowing cool air to my face was such a relief!

Getting my shots on the right cheek

The Ulthera machine visualization screen which shows Dr Terence Tan my skin tissue depth, and also show how many lines (or shots) that have delivered to my right cheek

So the areas where it’s more boney and has lesser flesh were the parts that you could feel a zapping sensation that’s more pronounced than the rest. It was a momentarily sort of shock-zap that would disappear quickly. It was like maybe, 5 seconds of a burning sensation combined with a sharp pinching feeling of your skin.

Ultherapy on the forehead

Ultherapy on the left cheek. I’m smiling here cos’ there really was minimal discomfort and Dr Terence Tan kept telling me jokes

Ultherapy on the upper neck – double chin be gone!

I had two foam bears to squish and that helped with those bigger, sharper zaps that came in the undereye and jaw lines. Other than that, it was really interesting to watch Dr Terence Tan work with the Ulthera machine, experienced as he is, in adjusting the energy level according to how ok I feel, and at the same time, counting down the 800 shots he promised to deliver

Skillful hands at work!

He would place the device on the different parts of my face and activate the shots – all very deftly and skillfully within an hour.

POST TREATMENT

Any change? Yes! My double chin area instantly felt tighter!

After I was done, I felt a little sleepy from lying down for a full hour, and some aching sensation on my jaw. Almost immediately my face felt tighter. The next few days, I felt my face becoming tighter, my double chin becoming smaller, and my jawline becoming sharper.

I kid you not, it was that obvious, that fast.

I was so amazed when I looked in the mirror that I exclaimed to my husband that this is probably an investment I need to make every year.

Apparently, results will only be obvious 90 days later BUT I already felt a significant difference a few days after the treatment. I actually also felt my skin was more supple by the third week, and that it was absorbing facial products a little more readily than before.

I think there will be more surprising finds in the weeks to come, and I can’t wait. Feeling a huge difference already with collagen stimulated naturally, and I am pretty sure it hasn’t reached its peak yet. Another post to come after my 90-day review.

Evidence of my 800 lines, recorded in detail: cheek & jaw area for the 4.5mm depth

Shots delivered at the 3.0mm depth

These are the 1.5mm depth shots at my undereye and forehead area

My picture captured in a recent event, post-Ultherapy 2 weeks!

It’s $3900 to get 800 lines done, and I reckon this has been one of the best quick fixes ever. This price tag is for every 1 -2 years which your face would need this non-invasive lift. With this, you probably don’t need monthly facials, plus it goes a longer way than surface-only masks and scrubs.

Time for me to start saving up! Meanwhile, if you want to see what I went through for Ultherapy at Halley, watch the video below:

If you are interested to try out Ultherapy at Halley Medical Aesthetics, here’s where you can look for Dr Terence Tan directly for a consultation:

Address: 277 Orchard Road, #03-15 Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858

Contact Number: (+65) 6737 8233

Email: info@halley.com.sg

Here are some quick links for you to check out the details for yourself:

Disclosure: All opinions here in this post are my own, including how desperate I am to have tighter skin in record time. Because, VAIN.

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Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Reviews

Eyewear coolness. Because vain. – Review of Ottica.com

June 24, 2017

Just like you never say no to one more bag or a pair of shoes, you never say no to one more pair of sunglasses.

Because?

Because vain.

I recently had the opportunity to find my perfect pair on Ottica.com, and by golly, the perfect pair I did find. All in the comfort of my home, in front of a screen, without having to take off, put on that trial pair of sunglasses – and repeat a hundred times – to find what fits my face.

It was online shopping at its best! So stoked that technology has made that all happened.

All I needed to do was to go to Ottica.com, and start browsing each tab.

I went to Sunglasses, then to Gender, selected Female, and then a whole new world of choices opened up from colours, to shape to frame size.

You can choose to see what’s most relevant for you from size and shape to colour and brands

I keyed in my frame size, following the current pair of sunglasses I have with the best fit, and then the search was filtered further. When I clicked on any choice of sunglasses, a section on the right allowed me to upload my own photo to see how I looked.

You can key in your frame size by looking in the insides of your current frame that fits best

Uploading a profile picture

And then, SHOPPING BEGAN!

I tried my Raybans, I put on Tory Burch and Michael Kors and fitted Carolino Lemke and Versace cat glasses just for the fun of it. I got snapshots of myself in aviators, with round rims and oval ones and got the kids to do a poll for me.

I could even get an overview of what I tried, just to do more comparisons.

All very good fun.

When I finally narrowed my selection to getting sunglasses from Coach, I could further choose between brown and black lens, rotate the sunglasses frame to see what I get on the sides and how it looked.

And then, it was down to these three in black lens – with frames different – which was then put to a vote by the kids.

You can imagine how long this process took. But at least I got to “try” every possible choice possible. Without needing to put on/take off like a gazillion times, which I imagine would be laborious and might likely result in me making decisions in a haste, if I were in a physical shop!

When it was time to check out, all I needed to do was to choose the type of lens type and thickness I’d like to have, and then check out through the payment link after keying in my shipping address.

Fuss-free, easy, convenient at my finger tips.

I loved that I had FULL control of what I am getting, and I probably will never buy sunglasses any other way again; or glasses for that matter of fact, since Ottica also provides for prescription.

I got the sunglasses in a matter of days – I think it was less than a week – and wala, it’s been lovely having it for company while I was on holiday.

Chic, cool and chosen by my kids.

All in the name of vanity.

~~~

Disclosure: I was gifted credits to experiment and review this website by Ottica.com. All opinions here are my own. I’ve been looking for a website like this for the longest time and this is a timely collaboration opportunity for a time-starved mother like me!

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Invites & Tryouts Reviews

Zap the fats and the double chin with LPG at Aura & Miracles [Review]

December 10, 2016

After three kids, I am resigned to the fact that I have to live with orange peels on my thighs and a flabby tummy that makes me look like I am four months preggers perpetually.

Well, in fact, after three kids, I now have issues I never used to have, which has everything to do with elasticity down south but that’s for another post on another occasion altogether. Suffice to say, I’ve paid many visits to my piles doctor this year.

For the record, I don’t hate my body – pushing three kids out is what I am proud to have done – but I do wish it could look better on some days and not having to feel like a truck’s ran over it and back.

So when my friend, Mummy Ed, shared with me how lipomassage worked for her when we met for coffee some time ago, I couldn’t wait to try it.

I’ll take anything non-invasive anytime, so this is perfect.

So to Aura & Miracles I went, hoping to find a miracle for the orange peeled skin and stubborn fats to melt into nothingness and disappear. I know nothing can replace diet and exercise but I really wouldn’t mind indulging in a quick fix or two once in a while. Some stubborn fats melting away is better than none.

Aura & Miracles – how apt the name: look for Sherry or Pearl and they will show you some magic with the LPG

And there I was introduced to the LPG technology, via this ginormous machine that could so many wonderful things. Here are 3:

This looks like a giant rabbit to me!

1. Induce lipolysis – so it does melt the fats like butter somewhat! The roller technology targets the areas for fat burning and breaks the fats and other lipids by hydrolysis.

2. Give you 10 hours equivalent of physical exercise – 30 minutes of lying there is equivalent to 10 hours of hard core cross training, minus the cardio bit, of course, but that’s the effect.

3. Improve blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, and smooth cellulite

Well, apparently LPG is the world leader in patented innovation when it comes to the treatment of connective tissues for therapeutic, beauty and medical applications. This treatment is also quite commonly used for sports therapy.

While I was assured I was in safe hands due to the brilliance and track record of this technology, I couldn’t wait to see what effect it has on me. The thought of #1, #2 and #3 happening sounds awesome already.

Melt, fat, melt!

So I got into a body suit, laid flat for about 35 minutes and had the LIPOMASSAGE BY ENDERMOLOGIE® pinch, suck and roll my fats around. Some parts were awfully painful (I was told by Pearl, my therapist, that the fats must have been too stubborn there) and some parts gave me the good kind of pain, like what a good deep tissue massage does. As it was my first, I was told that it would get better with every subsequent session and that would be a sign that the fat cells are getting smaller.

Yep, something like that (sorry no picture of me in a body suit that you can see) except I was flat out trying to catch some sleep.

Watch this video for the scientific bits of how the fats actually get broken down with this ‘giant bunny’: https://youtu.be/e7dsppIa4FQ

I was also told that I won’t drop dress sizes immediately or walk out looking like 36-24-36, so there, I had my expectations adjusted right away.

This is the area on my thigh I have the most orange peels. Nope, not going to show how they look but suffice to say, some lines out of many many lines were smoothened. So I assume they are gone?

This is the area on my thigh I have the most orange peels. I’m embarrassed to put out my peels on my very public blog but suffice to say, some lines out of many many lines were smoothened after one session.

But what I could really expect out of even a first treatment was to immediately see the water retention in my body gone, feel some smoothening on the cellulite-inflicted areas of my body and have a really good night’s rest after the treatment. Like a deep tissue massage, the lipomassage uses the technology to mechanically stimulate each cell for rejuvenation.

I don’t have awesome before and after photos to show for (sorry, not a pro beauty blogger here, and also too tired after work and massage to pose like I’m a 36-24-36), but this is what I have:

Clearly the top is “before” and the bottom is “after” and you can see much of the flabbiness on my left side being pinched away just after one session.

And what I did have was a really good sleep that night (and the other night I did my 2nd treatment) and many days of feeling lighter and less flabbier. The arm is more toned, that’s for sure.

I also went back after two lipomassage sessions to try the EndermoLift™ by Endermologie® which was like a mini lipomassage for the face. The treatment apparently helps to revitalize dull, tired looking skin, reduce signs of wrinkles and stimulate collagen production. At the same time, it enhances facial metabolism, detoxifies and prepares skin for natural absorption of enriching serum and ampoules. This relaxing treatment unblocks facial lymph nodes, promotes skin renewal and enhances blood circulation.

This is how your double chins and fine lines are pinched away and your cells are rejuvenated

It’s like a smaller version of the lipomassage technology pinching your face and neck everywhere, rolling, and sucking as it goes along every contour.

I caught a selfie of my very tired self on the left (in the dark, no less) just before the treatment and there – can you see the double chin? The one on the right is after one session of Endermolift and it’s considerably more contoured

Melt, double chin, melt.

If you’re looking for a wellness centre to experience the LPG technology and non-invasive treatments like Endermolift and Lipomassage, Aura & Miracles is the place to visit (402 Orchard Road, Delfi Orchard, #05-13 Singapore 238876 | Tel: 6333 8707).

The therapists are well trained in the LPG technology, and know exactly how to manoeuvre it to target specific areas of fats and cellulite that are exercise-resistant and diet-resistant (yep, apparently some fat cells are such!). They also provide you with a comprehensive assessment of your body and educate you about the technology before commencing treatment, something I appreciate very much.

And just for Motherkao readers, Aura & Miracles has kindly extended a special offer for anyone interested to trial the technology!

Quote “Motherkao” or “Elizabeth from Motherkao Blog” and try any treatment for SGD 68 (U.P $88) for the first time.

If you wish to take up a package for the lipomassage to do it regularly, you can get a 10% off the package price of $2500 and enjoy two additional complimentary sessions (total 12 sessions).
If you’d like to take up a package for Endermolift face treatment, you can get a 10% off the package price of $2000 and enjoy two additional complimentary sessions (total 12 sessions)

Disclosure: I was invited by Aura & Miracles to try out 2 lipomassage sessions and 1 Endermolift face treatment for the purpose of this review. All opinions, as well as the actual outcomes here are my own. It will differ from yours because your body is yours and my body is mine. Simple logic, I know, but please don’t hold me responsible for any outcomes, intended or unintended. You should just go try out one session for yourself! and who knows – your fats may melt faster than mine! Good luck!

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I ♥ lists Invites & Tryouts

5 staples every mom should have

July 21, 2016

Preamble:

Apart from my husband, there hasn’t actually been any guest posts on this blog since I started. Every now and then, people would write to interest me in a range of topics, and usually the ambitious me would rather pen certain thoughts myself.

Now the reason for this guest posting is really because I REALLY want to know what are the things I should have in my wardrobe from a fashionista’s perspective. And now with e-commerce becoming so convenient, I’d love to keep up to date (and my fingers busy with online shopping) to invest in what I should have so that I can stay ‘less aunty, more trendy’.

[Guest post]

5 STAPLES THAT EVERY MOM SHOULD HAVE by Sabrina Klein

Don’t you just love that feeling when you can throw something on in seconds and it just works? As I got older I realised how much time I wasted when I knew how I was going to be late for work and still spent most mornings faffing around trying to choose what to wear that day. I’m sure every woman can relate to this at one point of their lives. Back then I would even think about what I was going to wear for work the night before and plan it in my dreams and still get it wrong.

Being a mummy now, I realised that we need to take care of ourselves and put ourselves first just as much as our babies, whether that means dressing with a little effort – at least, it’s a start. It’s always a race in the mornings and because of this I managed to pick up on what are the pieces of clothing I do wear and which are the ones I never touch.

Then I discovered that the ones I repeatedly wore over and over again were of course, my staples.

So here I am, guest posting on this blog to share what I think should be 5 staples that are easy to put on and easy for mom-life:

The T Shirt Dress

Just wear and go – t-shirt dress for easy breezy wearing
(Dress from The White Pepper, from asos.com)

A definite lifesaver when you feel a little bit bloated on that day or if the weathers getting warm and you just want to keep it easy breezy. T-shirt dresses are always casual, probably with a few buttons in front and a waist tie. Sleeveless or 3 quarter length sleeves are the best picks for me and I usually go for prints that are dark so that if there were any spillages or splatter from my babies’ dinner, nobody can really notice.

Depending on what the weather says, you can pair a t-shirt dress with ankle boots or some strappy sandals and you’re good to go.

The White Sneaker

Bensimon White Tennis Elly Sneakers from lyst.com

Every woman needs a pair of comfortable white sneakers, it is a must-have and a staple that can be worn with absolutely anything. I love putting together a girly outfit and then dress it down with some sneakers for a casual look. Bensimon and Veja are my 2 favourite sneaker brands which can be found at Rue Madame Parisian boutique.

The Denim Culottes

Different ways of wearing the denim culottes

A french style that I can’t get enough of are the culottes, they are the next cropped jeans! The wide leg space gives me every comfort and breeze. The denim finish makes the culottes come across a little bit edgy and super versatile that can be worn with casual flats or going out heels. Usually I will throw on a white t shirt and some chunky sandals.

Chunky sandals for the win

The Soft Basics
I think I’ve lost count of basic t shirts, cardigans, tops and tanks I have. I live in them because they always work and I like the feel of the soft cotton against my skin. Majestic Filatures is one of my go to brands I swear by for basics that last because the quality is great and the price tag is not so bad either. T shirts make it easy to wear chunky necklaces with too!

Soft basics from Majestic Filatures

The Everyday Jacket
Every mom should have a jacket she can wear with everything. It’s like a safety blanket. Everyday jackets like the wrap jacket that wraps around anything and looks good every time or a blazer in simple colours of white, black and navy which is easy to match with most things and is perfect to wear to work or on casual weekends.

I have my eye on IRO’s white chic jacket which has side pockets and gives off a sense of elegant and fashionable look.

IRO’s the embodiment of Frech chic meets NY Street. Here’s the white blazer I love

How many of these do you have in your wardrobe, and do you concur these are every mom’s absolute must-haves?

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Becks Kao Motherkao loves... Reviews

The haircut after the haircut that went wrong (ft. a review of Aqua Korean Hair Salon)

July 19, 2016

So we all know that my little girl had a haircut gone wrong.

She was very upset with how short her hair turned out to be and threw a fit two weeks ago. Thankfully she is also one happy-go-lucky girl who bears no grudges and after we kissed and made up that night, she showed her mama she loved her more than she ever did.

What a wonderful little girl. Feisty and stubborn as she can be, sometimes hurling hurtful words to break my heart but also endearing and very expressive with her little acts of affection at the same time.

Just last Wednesday, after I returned home declaring that I was done with filming (the Channel 8 folks came by and interviewed me for Money Week 财经追击), my kids promptly echoed a chorus:

‘TIME TO CUT YOUR HAIR, MAMA!’

You see, out of panic at the salon the other day, I had randomly asked Becks if she wanted me to cut my hair too to ‘keep her company’. To which she said a resounding yes. I was held ransom immediately by the offer but got off the hook when I told her that I could only do it after Wednesday because I didn’t want to have short hair for TV.

She remembered. And so did her brothers who overheard everything we said.

Oh well. Don’t believe your kids if they tell you they can’t remember anything.

~~~

For my haircut, I took the chance to try out a Korean hair salon near where I worked.

So after this…

this…

and this was done…

I am happy ]to say I now have shorter hair than Becks’ and ain’t no one’s going to be complaining anymore about any haircut gone wrong.

Of course, the little girl was really happy she’s finally got company.

~~~

A quick review about the hair salon:

I love k-culture and have been immersed in it for close to 6 years now. It started with Running Man and quickly morphed into a crazy love for everything K – food, hairstyles, fashion, people, drama and history. For the longest time I’ve wanted to get a Korean hairstylist to do my hair, and when I finally did at Aqua Korean Hair Salon, I did it over very few words and lots of quiet flipping of CeCi magazines.

You need to completely trust that a Korean hairstylist knows exactly what to do when you give him simple words like ‘short’, ‘c-curl’ and ‘volume rebond’, and even then with Moon, my stylist, he was first to suggest I was good to go with just an A-line bob because my hair’s really straight anyway, and if I were to be diligent to blow dry it daily, I would have a similar c-curl effect. I liked that he was honest, and didn’t try to hard sell anything that didn’t make sense.

But I’ve always wanted to try the c-curl and know for a fact that no one else would do it better than a Korean (plus I love Kim Ji Won’s hair in DOTS) and told Moon to go ahead and try it on me.

KJW in DOTS
(Photo credit: KBS)

And he did. He unassumingly worked on every strand and step, with quiet confidence and finesse.

The result? I. loved. it. much.

I managed to even tell him that in Korean.

좋아. 진짜좋아. (Joa. Jjinja joa.)

More details:

Aqua Hair Salon is at Delfi Orchard #03-16, next to the best place to do your brows, Browtisan. Connect with them on their FB Page – you can make appointments and get a non-obligatory consultation by leaving the stylists a message on FB, or contact them at 6732 8011.

Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All recommendations and opinions are solely my own.

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Invites & Tryouts Motherkao loves... Reviews

New year, old perm, and magic! [Review of Mosche Hair Salon]

January 7, 2016

This new year, I had my hair “refurbished” instead of getting a new look.

I’m not sure if you remember this exactly a year ago – but I got hooked up with two very experienced stylists who heard my plea for bounce and texture to my otherwise very limp, fine hair, who did this for me as part of my ‘De-Auntify Me’ Image Improvement Project at the end of 2014:

The BEFORE

The AFTER, Part I: A soft perm at Mosche in December 2014

The AFTER, Part II: And then a final touch of brown

And the perm that I got done at Mosche exactly a year turned out to be the very FIRST perm that I’ve ever had that lasts. For one entire year.

I’ve had fine, straight hair all my life. And I’ve had countless perming done to it. They lasted from 2 weeks to 3 months at most, most of the time. None has ever proven my money’s worth (and time too).

Until this.

I think only Magic Scissorhands can give a defined cut like this and a perm that can last for a year

Which makes me love these folks at Mosche, namely my stylist Leslie and his assistant, Annie, and all the very experienced colourists, so very much. They are good folks who won’t fleece a cent out of you and would go all out to make sure that everything that’s done for you is worth your time, money and effort making your way there. They would suggest hair colour that matches your skin tone, take the time to learn about the image you need to portray at work, and recommend hair styles that suit your personality and habits. I’m used to going to stylists all around Singapore whose first question is always, ‘So what can I do for you today?’ but ever since stepping into Mosche I realised that they work a little differently around here. They actively take a keen interest in what really, really suits you.

With Leslie, before the cut and after the colour

At last, a perm that lasts!

So this was why I only had a hair colour (done twice in fact, because Leslie’s perfectionist streak wouldn’t even allow any uneven patches!) and hair treatment done.

Because the perm has retained its wave for a year and the hair is growing out very nicely with it. Because there’s no need to do another for the sake of it.

Same hair, same perm, different year!

And this is how magic happened. I am starting the year in total awe of such professionalism and talent, and all ready to kickstart the year looking refurbishedly refreshed, all thanks to the good people at Mosche, who take their work and my crowning glory very, very seriously!

Happy New Year!

More details:

Mosche Hair Salon is at ROYAL PLAZA ON SCOTTS, Level 2, 25 Scotts Road, Singapore 228220.

Operating hours:
Monday to Friday – 10.30am to 8pm
Saturday – 10.30am to 7pm

Tel: 6734 0923 | 9628 8312

The person to ask for is Leslie Yap, the Artistic Director of Mosche Hair Salon, without whom this magic would never have happened.

***

Disclosure: This is not a paid review. All opinions here are my own.

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Invites & Tryouts Reviews The real supermom

Minus Calories 30-Minute Workout at Active Hive [+Giveaway]

July 25, 2015

Many people wear their post-workout soreness like a badge of honour for having pushed their limits and worked their muscles hard.

But me and lactic acid build-up – neh, we don’t usually go together. I don’t welcome it, and as a result I don’t like to exercise. When I do exercise and suffer the wretchedness of a sore body, I’d start swearing to myself I will never again exercise – and so begins the love-hate relationship with exercising and this damn thing called lactic acid.

So it remains then that should you take lactic acid away and dissolve it into the abyss forever, you’d find Motherkao all raring to go exercise.

Cue the Minus Calories Workout at Active Hive.

When I was invited to try it out for 5 sessions for a consecutive 2 weeks, the thoughts that ran through my mind were: me not eager. me not keen. I can think up a gazillion legit excuses, if I had to to avoid lactic acid.

Actually, I’m all for exercising, keeping fit, moving away from my sedentary lifestyle, lowering my cholesterol level, getting more cardio workouts, building my muscle mass, reducing my fat mass, and burning away all those calories from my sinful indulgences of bacon, egg yolks, organ meat and butter – things that I live to eat. I think I have more reasons to work out than not BUT the aching was my biggest issue.

And then I was told I would not ache a single bit if I did the Minus Calories 30-Minute Workout and I.was.sold.

I had to see this for myself – CAN I WORK OUT WITHOUT ACHING? Really?

Ladies and gents. I’ve tried it, done it, tested it.

And I’m here to shout out loud: IT’S POSSIBLE TO WORK OUT WITHOUT ACHING. REALLY.

At Active Hive: a Body Composition Analysis first …

The exercise machine within the Minus Calories machine

Step in and work out!

Apparently, this “miracle” invention of a machine (of course together with the exercise equipment) promises you that a 30-minute workout is all that you need to burn calories five times more than the usual workouts. The infrared which is the secret to the NO ACHES, NO LACTIC ACID BUILDUP and ionized air not only optimises fat burning but also makes you sweat more and effectively remove toxins quickly.

So what if you had to work out in the sauna-like infrared enclosed space (totally safe level, by the way)? I didn’t mind that at all.

What I hear is in exchange for 30 minutes of my time (and watching my favourite hk and k-drama on tablet while at that!) and keeping my pulse rate at 75%, I get quintuple the effect of a normal workout, I sweat my toxins out, and the infrared technology improves the rate of my blood circulation, metabolism and absorption of anti-cellulite or slimming creams (I had anti-cellulite cream applied on me before every session. BURN, BABY, BURN!). The ionized air also supplies purified oxygen to rejuvenate my skin cells and improve my respiratory system and speeds up the process of purging toxins and weight loss.

By Session 2, I was encouraged by Nikki from Active Hive to push to burn more than 500 calories. Or course, the infrared was turned off at 30 minutes. And I continued to use the Step Exercise Machine.

By Session 2, I was encouraged by Nikki from Active Hive to push to burn more than 500 calories. Or course, the infrared was turned off at 30 minutes. I continued to use the Step Exercise Machine. And yes, I was watching some random HK drama.

This was by the 4th session. And Running Man kept me company.

I had a really incredible time pushing my limits (while keeping within the acceptable pulse rate) progressively throughout my five sponsored sessions – I absolutely felt no soreness nor any lactic acid build-up. ZILCH. I looked forward to sweating like a pig, catching up on action in dramaland, and drinking that slow-juiced glass of goodness from a concoction of beetroot, celery, spinach, xiao bai cai, carrot, lime and orange after every workout.

A treat I look forward to after every workout

Definitely won’t have taken beetroot under any circumstances!

…Or drink a concoction of celerey, spinach, and all imaginable leafy greens!

The result that I lost 0.2 percent of my fat mass was just the cherry on the cake. I enjoyed the workout more than anything, only because I didn’t have to deal with any horrible morning-afters, also known as wretched lactic acid build-up.

Such should be the happiness of exercising.

Working out the sweat, with anti-cellulite cream smeared all over my belly, thighs and even my double chin!

More details:

The Minus Calories 30-Minute Workout is only available at Active Hive (65 Ubi Road 1 #02-88, Oxley Bizhub, Singapore 40872 | Tel: 6385 2758).

Active Hive will be conducting a holistic wellness workshop on 15 August 2015. Learn how to ‘Get the Right Balance’ to improve your overall health. Register for the event here.

AND NOW, for a GIVEAWAY:

5 readers will stand to win a free trial workout at Active Hive on the Minus Calories machine, complete with 1 free Body Composition Analysis and 1 post-workout juice worth up to SGD103*.

To participate, all you need to do is:

1) LIKE and SHARE Active Hive’s Facebook Page

2) Comment here on this blog to share one tip on how you handle soreness after you exercise

Giveaway ends 31 July 2015.

*Terms & Conditions*

Winners must provide Active Hive with full name, email, mobile number and NRIC before Active Hive issues a letter for redemption.
Winners will liaise direct with Active Hive for their trial redemption.
Winners must utilise their trial session by the stipulated time provided by Active Hive.

Disclosure: I didn’t want to exercise, but I went, because I was sold on the ‘no-ache’ part. But it was in exchange for working out in a machine that had infrared technology for about 30 minutes. I was cool with that – that was my ‘no pain no gain’. I received no monetary compensation for this review, and all opinions here are my own. Oh, and the glass of slow juice after every session was a chockful of veggie-fruit goodness I wouldn’t otherwise ingest if I had a choice. Do tell them if you absolutely hate something.

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