Velvet love

Dress: Gift from Steph (Similar here) | Shoes: Karen Millen (Similar here) | Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here) 

I am obsessed with this Korres shower-gel that my friend Angie got for me. It smells SO delicious because it's a mix of velvet orris, violet and white pepper (so says the label but I'm really just guessing here) and it's the kind of scent that lingers on the body so it feels like body wash and perfume all in one, but minus any fake and yucky chemicals that can actually cause your skin to be dry. Korres originates from Greece and the products are made from natural ingredients in recipes passed down through the generations. Another great thing is that they don't test on animals!

You smell so good

Of course Korres products are a bit more expensive than regular supermarket/pharmacy brands so being a cheapo, I squeeze just a little bit of the body wash onto my wet loofah and work it into a lather. This is great because I slough away dead skin cells while ensuring I'm not overusing cleanser. Expert saving tip lor!!

So if you're looking to pamper yourself with some awesome body wash, I seriously urge you to give Korres a try. Thaaaaaaaaaaanks.

Thanks for reading!

Sharing is caring

Dress: ASOS (Similar here) | Bag: Vincci (Similar here) | Shoes: H&M (Similar here) | Sunglasses: ASOS (Similar here)

 Necklace: Jessica Buurman | Bracelet:Gift (Similar here) | Ring: Jessica Buurman

I struggled with a bout of stomach flu last week which made me too exhausted to think about what I was going to wear to work so I threw on my trusty ol' black sack dress and super comfy H&M flats and called it a day. I actually really like this sack dress because it's very forgiving when I have a huge lunch and it matches easily with other things and it allows me to take naps in dark places with less chance of being seen.

I hear that the stomach flu bug is actually going around so protect yourself, don't go sharing your food and beverages with just anyone. In fact, be like me, don't share it AT ALL. Because 'selfish' is my middle name. I don't actually know how I got it, but I did meet the mouse squad and CC had had it the previous week, and although we didn't share food, I imagine her germs, being the nasty little creatures that they are, jumped from her Nam Nam noodles into my bowl, and then I ingested them and then they became runny poo. THANKS A LOT CC. Friendship over.

Anyway, as the ever-doting girlfriend, I've shared my best friend's gift to me, with my boo. THANKS A LOT CC.

Protect yourself. Thanks for reading!

Gone byebye

Top: Mango (Similar here)

Skirt: Mango (Similar here)

Shoes: Ras (Similar here) | Necklace: Old (Similar here)

Bag: TK Maxx (Similar here)

And then I cut my hair off and took a selfie

The temperature in Singapore has been holy heck humid hot and aside from making me use lots of alliteration, it's also made me super sweaty. One day during lunch, I didn't have much to do so I decided I'd just chop some hair off. I dropped by some hair salon near my office building without an appointment and just told them to chop off about 5 inches. Thankfully, I like the cut! 

I expressed hesitation before cutting my hair at this random salon because since I was about 7 years old, I've always only gone to one hairstylist - Ritz Lim. He runs his own salon, Ritz Salon, and is the bomb. He works really fast and is a super sweet and soft-spoken guy who just knows me and what I like. I've never had a bad haircut with him. I actually feel bad for cutting elsewhere, like I've cheated on him, but I felt REALLY bored and really uncomfortable with such long unruly hair it just had to go (Sorry Ritz). 

But you know how your hair looks great on the day of the cut because it's been styled as well? Well I can't seem to get those random flyaways to just calm the hell down on my own so I'm probably going to be heading to Ritz's soon to rebond my hair into obedience. If you're looking for a hair stylist in Singapore and you like quiet, muscular, handsome and professional hair stylists. RITZ IS DA MAN.

Ritz Salon shares a unit with the Super Space, which is a trippy clothing store selling cool men's and women's clothing and accessories so you can get your hair done and pick up a new outfit too (I got my necklace featured here from Super Space). Still unconvinced? There's a Tori Q in the basement of the building where Ritz is located (Orchard Gateway). SOLD!

Thanks for reading!

Sticky situations

Top: New Look (Similar here)

Skirt: ASOS (Similar here)

Shoes: Aldo (Similar here)

Bag: Y-3 (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa (Similar here)

Earrings: Vintage (Similar here) | Sunglasses: Karen Walker

In a bid to not be mistaken for a yeti, I've been through various hair removal processes since I was 20 years old, I think. It's been so many years of torture that I can't even really recall when it started but here I am, at... a certain age... a near-hairless ape.

It started with waxing, where a therapist would apply hot wax to various bits of my body, then lay on a fabric strip, let it cool and RIIIIP the hair right out. I went to Strip since it's one of the larger and more well-known chains. I have to commend them for their professionalism, cleanliness and efficiency. Eventually, instead of waxing, the therapist started up-selling IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) hair removal where they basically shoot lasers pew pew at your skin and your hair dies at the root (after a few sessions and depending on the thickness etc etc and all that science stuff I don't know).

Doing IPL is waaaaay better than waxing because you don't have the hot sticky wax applied to your body and it doesn't hurt the way it does when you freaking rip hair from your body, although some warmth and tingly laser sensations are to be expected in IPL.

But even though Strip wasn't ripping hair any longer, I felt like they were ripping me off because their packages weren't exactly cheap and as hair regrowth really varies from person to person, I ended up needing maintenance packages even after the first 8 sessions so I felt like I was bleeding money.

Several bloggers were promoting Datsumo Labo so I thought I'd try it out because it was known to be more affordable.

Datsumo Labo packages do appear to be much more affordable and they have quite a few packages catering to your hair removing needs. They are a no-frills kind of place so the layout is basic with no fancy interior design, you're expected to come in for your appointment having already shaved yourself beforehand (although you can pay for them to shave you too), get zapped, then leave, no magazine-reading-while-sipping-hot-tea-while-you-wait kinda thing.

No fancy tea and magazines!

Sweet. Free 1 ply toilet roll.

My first session there gave me quite a shock, I went in, removed my clothes, put on the protective eye gear and lay down on the bed. All of a sudden, maybe three or four therapists came in and stood around me to begin the process. As two of them slathered the ice-cold gel, likely gathered from the jelly mountains of the Antarctic, onto my shivering body, another one started up the IPL machine and started zapping away on the areas that had just been covered by gel, and yet another therapist would start scraping the gel off the areas that had just been zapped, wiping it down, and then laid cold wet towels on my body. I felt like I was a test subject in a production line of alien experimentation and it was bizarre.

I'm from the future.

Obviously you can't always expect the four to one body ratio, I think it depends on the number of available therapists for the day but having so many therapists at once was good in that it shortened the amount of time I needed to lie there exposed so I was done in about 15 minutes or less. However, one thing you'll realise is that each room is separated by curtains, and between two rooms, I think they share their IPL machines mid process. So I'm lying down and so is the lady next to me, and maybe they're zapping my leg, then moving the machine across and zapping her crotch. That's weird right?

Lie down and PEW PEW PEW!

Anyway, once you're zapped, they leave you in the room with the cold wet towels on your skin and leave the room and you are allowed to rest a few minutes (maybe recover from the icy shock) after which you get up, try your best to wipe your sticky self down, and get dressed. I recall at Strip, they did a lot of wiping down for you, so it wasn't so sticky but Datsumo relies on more self-service so aside from coming pre-shaved, you also need to wipe your own body more thoroughly unless you enjoy being a sticky date pudding. Then you go outside and make your next appointment for about two months later, which allows you to almost completely forget all the weird sensations you just felt until your next appointment.

Bye bye hair

But at least I'm more or less hairless. I guess I'd recommend Datsumo Labo to those who are looking for affordable hair removal and who aren't that fussy about ambience. The therapists are all quite nice and professional just that you definitely get what you pay for.

Thanks for reading!

Masking my feelings

Top: Uniqlo

Skirt: Sheinside

Shoes: Zalora (Similar here)

Necklace: Twentyeight Lane (Similar here)

Ring: Vintage (Similar here)

In case it wasn't already abundantly clear to you - I am hella vain. Aside from spending tons of clothes and accessories, I also spend lots on skincare. I mentioned before that I had a bout of acne and I remember feeling so self-conscious that I felt embarrassed to leave the house. In order to prevent myself from feeling like that again, whenever my skin decides to go all SPAAAARTTTAAAAAA on my face, or when I can be bothered to get off my lazy butt, I slather on a thick layer of my super awesome Kiehl's Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque for about ten minutes onto my semi-damp face, then wash it off with water. DEEP CLEANING POWER ACTIVATED.

It must be a fancy mask since it's spelled 'masque'

Obviously the effects aren't immediate but I honestly feel like it gives a nice deep clean, without stripping the skin of its moisture. My face feels nice and bouncy after.  Also, taking pictures of yourself rocking an awesome face mask and sending it to your friends and a family is a good way to bond.

So fresh and so clean

I ordered it direct from the Kiehl's US site and had it shipped to my brother-from-another-mother (Mousie's husband) who then brought it to Singapore because it's significantly cheaper to do so but Kiehl's is available in Singapore too so if you're in a rush for some deep cleansing, go buy it in-store now!

Thanks for reading!

Travel toiletries and troubles

Dress: Smooch the Label

Bag: Kate Spade (Similar-ish here)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Necklace: Twentyeight Lane (Similar here) | Ring: Lovisa/Gift from Wens (Similar here)

Shoes: Pedder Red (Similar here)

I do short overnight business trips to KL pretty often and I really hate lugging around loads of things so I think I've become quite the pro at packing for such trips and I'd like to share some of my must-have toiletries for these trips.

Must have toiletries when travelling (from left in a clockwise direction)

Travel-size everything!

1. Dalacin in a 10ml bottle: I need acne prevention especially when I travel because travelling stresses my skin out. This handy little bottle means I apply the solution to my finger and dab the affected zitty areas. 
2. Theramed travel sized toothpaste: It tastes nice and keeps my breath fresh. 
3. Suisal beauty clear powder: This is awesome. My mommy bought it for me from Japan, it's little pots of facewash in powder form (kinda like powdered detergent for the face) and it gives that squeaky clean feeling. Just pour a little powder out on your hand and lather into a paste with waster and voila, foamy facewash! 
4. Laneige moisturiser: Throwaway sample packs of moisturisers are perfect for short trips. 
5. Makeup brushes: These travel-size makeup brushes and pouch are from Kumano, Japan, which is a town in Japan that is famous for its brushes. Apparently all the makeup artists in Japan only use brushes from Kumano. I can't recall what brand this one is but check out Mizuho or Hakuhodo
6. Toothbrushes: A toothbrush with a cover is basically the only way to go because HYGIENE. 
7. Biore makeup wipes: I think this has about 10 pieces of pre-soaked pads and it's good to remove even stubborn mascara 
8. Ok I realise the layout might be confusing but now I'm talking about the round green thing is is travel sized dental floss: So much yes. Flossing is next to cleanliness which is next to godliness which is next to awesomeness. 
9. Lastly, the blue crocodile: This crocodile is actually a pair of scissors that Mouse Squad member Nic, bought for me from Iceland. Having scissors is great because sometimes you have loose threads or need to cut open packs of things (eg. the moisturiser samples).

With regard to must-have no. 9, if you carry a pair of scissors, remember to check in your luggage! I forgot I had these in my cabin bag and it went through the scanner and the airport security made me open my bag to show them I didn't have a concealed weapon. They couldn't locate the offensive weapon (and I didn't know I had it on me) so they let me pass, but only after I had forgotten to zip up my bag thus lifting it up and letting the entire contents of my bag, including panties and bra, spill out on to the floor. I was so flustered by the way, that I did it TWICE. I am the coolest.

Thanks for reading!

Kid

Dress: Just Taylor (Similar here)

Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Shoes: Nelly (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Ring: Jessica Buurman

First off, sorry for the ultra bad quality of the photos. This is what happens when you leave the camera in the air-conditioned room overnight and immediately start taking photos. The reason why I'm still sharing them is because I'm a warts and all kind of blogging person (but not moles, I remove those because YUCK). Also I'm too lazy to retake. Anyhoodle....

I really like this dress, I bought it ages ago but the material has maintained its shape and held up quite well. Much like this dress, I also hope to hold up well and maintain my shape. But that's proven to be quite an uphill battle because as I've mentioned before, age just isn't on my side. (AGE, YOU BASTARD!!!) 

Someone once told me that sunblock is the only proven successful anti-aging product (besides a time machine or delusion I guess) so obviously I've gone all out to block that sun the best I can. Some good methods include: 

1. Don't leave the house

2. Wear a Hazmat suit 

3. Destroy the sun 

But sunblock seems to be the best option and I've got a new sunblock to recommend! I've told you before that I use Biotherm for my face and Sunplay for my body but I've recently decided to try out a new sunblock by Cetaphil Daylong.

Liposomal just sounds sciency

While Sunplay states that it's SPF 80++ or even 130++, I tend to be a little skeptical, mostly because so many established and famous brands hover around the SPF 30 to SPF 50 kind of levels. It's as if Sunplay just said 'hey we're SPF whatever's-higher-than-the-other-guys'. So I selected this one which is called Cetaphil Daylong Kids SPF 50. I chose this not because there wasn't an adult option and not because I imagine myself to be young and sprightly but rather because it comes in a larger bottle so I just felt more inclined towards it. Also, if it's good for sensitive baby skin, it should be good for me, right?

I like it so far with all its claims of goodness on the box (non-comedogenic, fragrance-free, water-resistant, dermatologically tested, paraben-free, oil-free, non-sticky) and I've found it to be less sticky than Sunplay. Another plus, I like the squeezy nozzle pump which controls the amount of sunblock I use more effectively than the aerosol spray. 

So I hope that I'll suddenly see my skin becoming more like that of a child's (untarnished by the sun) but so far I'm happy with this product and would recommend it. I bought mine from Watsons in Raffles City, but I don't think all the outlets carry it though so I'd call and check before heading down if you're intending to get it from your nearest Watsons.

Thanks for reading!

Crowning glory

Shirt: Asos (Similar here)

Skirt: Seed (Similar here)

Shoes: Vincci (Similar here)

Clutch: New Look (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Aldo (Similar here)

Ring: Gift from Alvin and Leona (Same here)

So in a previous post, I told you guys I was using Kerastase shampoo and conditioner but it was pretty pricey and wasn't really doing what I hoped it would - Make my hair the 'after' shot in a hair commercial. So after I finished using it, I decided I would switch to something cheaper and on my friend's recommendation, I started using Kao's Essential haircare.

Essential smells really nice but my scalp didn't want to be friends with it. Shortly after using it, I developed dandruff and my scalp felt oily and itchy. Although it totally seems to work for my friend whose hair remains as glorious as ever. 

The search continued but I think I may have found the one...

*Sound of angels singing and harps playing*

I read a bunch of reviews that Matrix Biolage was really good so I bought the Hydrasource shampoo and conditioner when I chanced upon it at a salon in Bugis+. (You can also purchase it on Qoo10.)

The shampoo suds up quite well and gives my scalp that nice clean feeling without being overly drying. The conditioner is quite thick and makes my hair feel soft and smooth. And the company is pretty proud of the fact that they don't use parabens in their products (they say so on the bottle) so it must be a good thing.

Parabens, as per wiki, 'are a class of widely used preservatives'. I'm not normally a stickler for preservatives because I like the idea of not putting potentially moldy products onto my body, face and hair but then wiki continues to say that parabens in deodorants may or may not be linked to breast cancer which is like really inconclusive and wishy washy if you ask me, but I prefer mold over cancer of the scalp/brain/face/head/ears/anywhere so yeah.

The only downside to Matrix Biolage is that it is still a little pricey (but not as pricey as Kerastase) and it doesn't smell super fragrant. It's not bad, but it doesn't have the normal sweet floral smell that I like.

Bonus point: Matrix Biolage is owned by L'oreal and they have made a commitment not to do testing on animals unless absolutely necessary.

Bonus bonus point: This is not an ad. Thanks for reading!

Touch my body

Dress: Diane Von Furstenberg (Similar here)

Bag: Gracious Aires (Similar here)

Shoes: Beverly Feldman (Similar here)

Sunglasses: Karen Walker

Do you love getting groped by strangers in a firm yet gentle way? Do you like being covered in oil and rubbed down like a turkey being marinated for Thanksgiving dinner? Do you like lying face down almost completely naked in a darkened room? If you said yes, then this is the post for you.

I love a good massage because it feels so luxurious and pampering but I also want it to be good and work out those kinks and knots I've developed due to being a poor-postured individual. I've tried a few places and usually I'm left kind of tickled or in absolute pain but I think I've found a really good massage place in Singapore. Now this ain't no skanky happy-ending kind of place so if that's what you're looking for, ew. Please go away.

There are obviously some really high-end massage places like So Spa but if you're looking for a place that's reasonably priced (in a Singapore context only), hygienic and comfortable then look no further than Natureland Care.

I've tried their full body massage as well as the foot reflexology and I've loved both services. Obviously a good masseur is important, but so far, I've not had a bad experience at their Robertson Quay outlet. They've recently opened an outlet at Valley Point which is really near me but I've been resisting the urge because while it's still affordable, it still costs $55 for a full body hour long massage and that's like 5 weekday lunches right there.

Anyway, if you're itching for a treat, I recommend Natureland for sure although just FYI, the Mousie also gives really great massages. Thanks for reading!