Updated Skincare Routine!!!

Hello Beauties!

It's been a longggg time since i last updated and i'm making a comeback!

Thanks to my friends who are interested by beauty topics, i'll try to make this beauty blog alive again! So whats better to start it of with a skincare post!

So a background of my skin.  I have normal to dehydrated skin and as i age (-.-") some products doesn't work as well as before. And so i switched some of my products and even added more into my routine. I have noticed significant reduce in break-outs and have smoother skin that makes make-up much easier. Here are what i use now:

Specifically speaking, there are many additional serums and essences that i started to use awhile back and i would say it's working wonders and i no longer have to spend a ton of $$ going to the facial to fix problems, just occasional pampering :P

Skincare (Cleansing) steps:

1) Remove eye-makeup with eye-makeup remover

2) Remove overall makeup with cleansing lotion/cream

3) Rinse face with lukewarm water

4) Foam and wash face with foaming cleanser (Tip: use a brush cleanser for a more thorough cleansing - i use clinique cleansing brush)

5) Rinse with cool water (Tip: ice water can help to minimise and tighten pores)

Skincare (Moisturising) steps:

1) Soak cotton pad with activating essence 

2) Tone your skin to level it's PH value with toner

3) Pamper your skin by patting with penetrating essence 

4) Warm and massage in hydrating/lightening serum

5) Massage your under-eye with eye-cream

6) Moisturize with day/night cream (Avoid gel base moisturisers if you are prone to clogged pores)

The above is what im currently using that works for me. However if you are on a budget and you'll like to start small, here are the basics for skincare:

Basic skincare essentials:

1) Make-up remover - PLEASE remove ALL makeup and NEVER leave it overnight! 

2) Cleanser - to wash away whats left on the skin after removing your make-up

3) Toner - to further cleanse the skin, balance your skin PH value and shrink the appearance of pores

4) Moisturise - Hydrate the skin and improve the skin's texture for a healthy and glowing skin.

**As most of my products are finishing soon and some are new that i bought to try, i shall not be commenting on the individual products. 

Most importantly is to drink plenty of water (recommended intake of 7-8 cups a day) and have plenty of rest (recommended 8 hours of rest). It keeps the body hydrated and the organs well-rested which would result in a healthier body and healthier skin :)

I would try to post some tried and tested posts or favourites where i would then share more on some of the products. 

You may also let me know if you are interested in any product reviews and i would try my best to give an honest opinion if i ever tried them before :)

Till then, 

Stay healthy and happy!

XOXO,

Charmaine

Advertorial: Beijing 101

Woots! Today we shall touch on HAIR CARE!!
Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post :)

Do you know, your scalp is also part of your face skin! We care so much to have great skin through detailed skincare, but have you neglected your scalp? Our skin condition is closely affected by the condition of our scalp too. Let's take a look at how we can care for our scalp and hair :)

The most common hair issue that many face is hair loss; it could be caused by the following:
1. Oily scalp/hair
2. Dry scalp/hair
3. Itchy scalp
4. Dandruff
5. Stress
6. Environment
7. Illness
8. Other factors

The are many ways out in the market to aid us in better care for our hair whether is it through proper diet, medication or hair treatment products. The most popular and fastest way of all is hair care centres where we seek the help from the professionals. One of the top would definitely be Beijing 101 Hair Consultants!

• Pioneer in merging Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) philosophy into hair care
• A recipient of multiple international awards world-wide
• Beijing 101 is supported by a team of qualified Hair Consultants, and TCM Practitioners
• 40 years success in treating hair problems effectively

Beijing 101 is available in 60 countries worldwide with 9 island-wide branches in Singapore.

Why do they stand out from the rest?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
- Uses Premium-grade Chinese herbs and extracts which are natural and effective:
- Compared to western medicine, Chinese herbal medicine will have no side effects even with long term use.

Customized Treatment
- Solutions tailored to individual customers and concerns
- Customized products for both men and women
- Treats all hair conditions including oily scalp, dandruff, hair loss etc

Hair Care Tips! (Recipes)

If you have read my post on Tea for Health and Beauty, you would have know my love for tea! It's definitely no surprise that there are herbal tea recipes for hair care! Here are 2 to share :)

Frequently asked questions

1. How many times a week should I wash my hair?

I would say at least once a day. Which simply means we should wash our hair daily to wash away the sebum on our scalp that can clog up our hair follicles. Daily hair wash and good hair care routines are also the key to healthy looking hair. Getting rid of the dirt on the hair is the most basis step to allow nutrients to be absorbed more effectively. Chinese herbs such as Chinese knotweed root, Chinese angelica root, Wolfberry tree fruit, Black sesame, helps to achieve radiant-looking hair.

Ps. Imagine a day out in the streets with smoke, oil and dirt blown onto our hair. If we do not wash it, these dirts would be transferred to our pillow and as we toss and turn. these dirt would again to transferred to our face and skin. Without care, it would result to pimples and clog pores.

2. What is the proper procedure for washing hair?

Step 1:  Rinse your hair with luke warm water
Step 2: Squeeze shampoo onto your palm and rub to lather before applying to your hair. do not apply shampoo directly on your hair.
Step 3: Do not scratch your scalp with finger nails; instead use your finger tips to gently massage it.
Step 4: Rinse your hair thoroughly to avoid leaving any residue on your scalp.

Beijing 101 Promotion

Having serious hair loss or other hair issues? Thinking of seeking professional help? Good news! Beijing 101 is currently having promotion!! Call their hotline at 6-5588-101 and make a appointment with them for a FREE consultation today! :)

Beijing 101 Promotion! <---(Click)

Stay Pretty, Stay Healthy!,

XOXO,

Charmaineskx

Vitamins for Beauty

Vitamins are highly mentioned in the health benefits. But what do these vitamins help us with beauty?

Vitamin A: Essential for the growth and renewal of skin cells. Keeps your skin and mucous membrane healthy, while creating new skin, hair, and nails.

Vitamin B: Increases fatty acids, promote exfoliation and firmness. Keeps the skin youthful with elasticity.

Vitamin C: It is the building block of collagen and protein giving the skin its tone, elasticity and structure. Prevents spots and freckles by stopping new melanin pigments from being created. Collagen keeps the skin young and moisturized. The citric acid contained in vitamin C will make you look slimmer too! :)

Vitamin D: Necessary for the development of skin cells

Vitamin E: Helps you stay young by slowing down the skin’s aging process. An antioxidant that maintains healthy skin tissues.

Fat: Necessary for supple skin and shiny hair. Some fat is necessary for overall health. Take them in moderation though :)

So it pretty much summarize how important it is to have a balanced and healthy diet. It not only gives you a healthy lifestyle, it also helps in giving you healthy glowing skin and keeping you in shape!

Stay healthy, stay pretty! Most importantly, Be-You-tiful!!

XOXO,
Charmaineskx

I got my Cert!!!

My goodness,

Sorry for the long wait for posts but i was busy preparing for my exams and the effort has ripened!

Presenting to you my certification!!!

WOOTS! :D 

What i've been up too!

Arghhh!!! Sorry for the lack of posts!!! Well... here's some updates of what i have been up to!

Below are some of the makeup creations that we've been doing for the past weeks :) Should i do tutorials for you pretties? Let me know k? :)

1920's Look

1950's Look

1960's Look

Bridal

Bridal

Bridal

 

Dramatic Fashion

 

Kpop Look

Punky

Smokey Eyes

Thats all for now! Stay beauty and healthy babes! 

Tried and Tested: Health Supplements

Hello Beauties!

Today's post is on supplements. While many would say taking too much pills is not good for the body, i would say to select what you take carefully. Choose only the supplements that you really need. What i'm going to introduce are the supplements that my body needs. You might not need what i take and of course you might need something else which i don't.

Disclaimer: I am not paid to to talk on the following products :) Purely tried and tested!

There are many different brands out there for many different purposes. I definitely do not recommend to take pills for dieting/slimming. What i am going to recommend is to boost the vitamins and minerals needed by the body to help you to have healthy body and skin.

I am not going towards which brand is better as i have not tried as many brands to be able to say so. The vitamin/mineral itself is what i want to recommend :) so if you would like to try them out, you can start of with any brand :)

Evening Primrose Oil

 

Main Benefit: Relieve the discomforts of PMS, menopause, menstruation, endometriosis and fibrocystic breasts

During menstruation, many women experience inflammatory effects such as pain, breast tenderness, irritable bowel flare-ups amd carbohydrate cravings. This is because the body is lacking in GLA (a type of fatty acid), and these acids is suppose to help reduce inflammatory symptoms. These acids, by interfering with the production of inflammatory prostaglandins released during menstruation, the GLA in Evening Primrose Oil  can help to lessen menstrual cramps and other symptoms.

I used to have very bad cramps which results me having to roll around on the bed, unable to stand straight and even dizzy spells. But after consuming the pills on a daily basis, it helped alot. I no longer have cramps and dizzy spells! 

Other Benefits such as: 

- Prevent diabetes-associated nerve damage

- Reduce the symptoms of eczema

- Help treat acne and rosacea

- Combat damage from multiple sclerosis

- Counter impotence and female infertility

- Treat Alzheimer's-related memory deficiencies

- Nourish nails, scalp, and hair

- Prevent alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Vitamin C 

Main Benefit: Protection against immune system deficiencies (boost immune system and prevent against colds), cardiovascular disease, prenatal health problems, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling (prevent from growth of fine wrinkles ;)

Biotin

Biotin is a natural vitamin in our body,widely known as Vitamin B7 or Vitamin H

Biotin Metabolism Benefits

Biotin is essential for your metabolic process, as this vitamin processes almost every type of food that you eat including carbohydrates, protein and fat. When you have proper levels of biotin in your body, food that you take are processes quickly. Instead of taking weight-loss pills or diet pills, biotin is a healthier and more natural choice with it's clear effects of metabolic levels.

Biotin Blood Sugar Benefits

Biotin plays a major role in your blood glucose production. Being able to breakdown carbohydrates within the body, it helps to keep/get your blood sugar level at healthy levels to properly functional amounts.

Biotin Hair & Nail Growth Benefits

Biotin may have an important role in the growth and maintenance of your hair and nails. If you suffer from a Biotin deficiency, you will typically experience hair loss and brittle nails, and taking supplements of this vitamin may help to halt this process. In many cases, taking a Biotin supplement may even help you to stimulate new hair and nail growth. Even though hair loss is rarely caused by a Biotin deficiency in your body, this problem can quite often be helped if you take Biotin supplements regularly. 

I personally have quite a issue with hair loss and slow hair growth. It's getting better after i started consuming Biotin. I've just started to add Biotin into my daily dosage for less than a month and it's already taking effect :)

Biotin General Health Benefits

Biotin, like all of the B-complex vitamins, has an essential role within your body. Biotin offers your body much more than just a metabolic boost - it can help virtually every part of your body to achieve and maintain good health.

Hakubi White C (whitening pills)

There are many different types of whitening pills in the market. However i'm recommended to try out Hakubi White C by SATO. They contain Vitamins that helps to reduces pigmentation and freckles.

It contains the following Vitamins:

- Vitamin C (600mg) for skin whitening

- L-cysteine (240mg) promotes active skin re-generation and flawless skin

- Calcium Pantothenate - enhance skin whitening to as much as 1.6times

It is known to be able to suppresses the production of melanin that causes pigmentation.

Whitening pills are perfect for people who are prone to blemishes and freckles, and for those who lead active outdoor lifestyles at work or play.

That's all for today. Such a long post!

But most importantly, be happy and stay healthy!

XOXO,

Charmaineskx <3

My first BellaBox is here!!!

Hello Everybody!

I believe some of you would have heard of beauty boxes where you pay a subscription fee and they would send you a box of samples every month. Some of the samples are even the newest in the market which you get to try it out at a lower price!!! Pretty good deal for many gurus to get updated and bring the best to our pretty friends :)

Many countries have many different companies providing such services and what we have in Singapore is BellaBox Asia!

I love it that not only do you have to just pay $19.95/mth or $219.45/12mnths you get quite a decent amount of beauty samples in such a pretty and good quality box!!! Its not like other products where you buy online and only get to use what you buy, the box that the goodies come in can also be used on a long term basis! Totally awesome. I guess my storage is going to be filled with BellaBox boxes! 

The theme for July is La-Petite Parisienne. So excited to see whats inside!!! (I know its August already but i only recently decided to get it so my July box came slightly late...^^)

Look what i got in my Bella Box! I have so much to try out and share with you all. But first lets see what each items are. The box also comes with a description card  :) 

L'oreal Paris Hair Expertise Eversleek Shampoo & Conditioner (in stores: 250ml / $14.90)

100% free of drying sulfates and harsh parabens, get ready for sleek and seriously smooth hair without the harmful chemicals!

Hair Expertise Eversleek is infused with natural oils and flower extracts. It claims to give you a wonderfully sensorial hair care experience and undeniably beautiful hair with frizz control for up to 48 hours!

I have seen the effect it has when it was tried on "Tried and Tested" show. Can't wait to feel it for myself!

Givenchy Dahlia Noir EDP (in stores: 75ml / $175)

Concocted with pink pepper, mandarin, cedrat, rose, peach, cedarwood, sandalwood, vanilla and amber, this structured yet delicate scent fully embraces the brand's identity of a woman's enthralling elegance.

I have always had this impression that Givenchy has like very unisex scents and caters more to guys. No doubt, when i sprayed in on my arm, the pepper smell is quite rich and it smelt very powder. I always think if i want the smell of powder, a bottle of baby powder will do the trick. 

Not that it doesn't smell good, but i prefer more floral and sweet scents :)

L'oreal Paris UV Perfect Anti-Dullness UV Protector (in stores: 30ml / $22.90)

A silky smooth sunscreen that offers lasting UV protection, its lightweight texture offers sun-shielding properties of SPF 50+ UVB, UVA PA+++ for up to 12 hours long.

Pretties, if you would like to have fair smooth skin, please protect your skin with sunblocks. It's very important and UV rays are very harmful and it darkens and brings out ugly pigmentation. No matter which brand you like to use, PLEASE USE  SUNSCREEN! I cannot emphasize it more.

Many sunscreens that i tried are very thick in consistency which i don't really like. Since it claims to be lightweight, i shall try. As i try out this product, i would recommend Biore Sunscreen if you are looking for one and like lightweight textures at the mean time. ^^

Dr. Ci:Labo SUPER Cleansing EX (in stores: 120g / $50)

This cleanser is know to provide umpteen benefits in one special formulated product that's designed right down to its feel, look and use. It is formulated for anti-aging and makeup removal as it encapsulates and softens debris to lift it away. It is said to be able to improve blood flow and introduces moisture and vitamins for skin radiance and health.

The product comes in a tube form and in a gel consistency. However, when comes in contact with the skin, i can feel that it turns a little oily and warm. It is mentioned on their website that the gel deeply penetrates into the skin, warming on its own to improve blood circulation which helps in anti-aging. The oil helps softens debris and dead skin cells for easy removal with rinsing.

Who wouldn't like to have smooth wrinkle-less, clean and healthy skin? For people like me who puts on make-up, being able to clean off everything at the end of the day is very important and the chemicals and particles in make-up are not good for the skin as it clogs pores resulting in pimples and acne. So it's important to have a good base before putting on make-up and a good cleanser to remove everything. Definitely will give this product a try and share after my experience :)

Lollipops Glossy Liptick in Fatal Cocktail (in stores: $27)

Description: An ultra-nourishing lipstick with a shiny, shimmery finish, its coral shade will transform your lips into an alluring cocktail concoction that is deliciously glossy. It is paraben, preservative and lanoline free.

I did a quick swatch on my hands earlier and think that it feels more like a tinted lip-balm then a lipstick as the pigment is very sheer (i accidentally deleted the photo -.-") I'll try it on my lips and do another swatch again soon :)

For girls who like sheer and moisturizing look, this could be the product to go for :)

This is the product that came in full-size in the box though :) Not too sure how long the case can last though as it feels rubbery and rubber cant that heat very well - they tend to turn sticky~

Last but not least

L'oreal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 Cream and Serum (in stores: Cream @ 50ml / $39.90, Serum @ 30ml / $49.90)

A triple-action cream and serum that claims to give laser procedures a run for its money - it resurfaces, corrects wrinkles and re-plumps skin for youthful, radiant skin.

I have always wanted to try L'oreal's recent skin care products such as the above product and the  Youth Code Boosting Serum and  Luminizing Essence. But i have pretty sensitive and dehydrated skin which makes me think twice. I ever used L'oreals skincare day and night cream before but it made me breakout. it was a while back though. probably my skin was still young at that time. Now that i am 22, its the time where skin aging starts and so i would give them the benefit of the doubt and give them a try again.

I always believe, you don't have to spend tons if you can find and choose the right products :)

I'm very very careful at what i am using now as the New York Skin treatment has already caused me a bomb (no choice as my skin was in a drastic stage. It has really gotten better already, no worries :) i have my smooth skin back with some scars to take care of now) Facial treatments do help to speed up healing process but it is not a long-term solution cause they are mega expensive. 

I am not recommending super cheap skincare here, don't get me wrong. Quality is still very important. You pay for what you get. I suggest to spend a little more to take care of your skin (which is worth it). At least middle range products are recommended :)

That's all in the box!!! There's so much for me to try and review!!! So do look out for my review posts!!! :D

I cant wait for my next BellaBox too!!

Signup for yours @ BellaBox.com.sg

Till then, 

Stay pretty Beauties! ^^