20Feb/131

Need a running BOOST?

Adidas just released their latest running innovation called the adidas BOOST. I was given a pair of the running shoes to try out and I gotta tell you; these babies are so comfortable I'm still wearing them right now after a workout!

With my fellow adidas girl Linora and Soraya from adidas

Dropped by the adidas HQ and met with my fellow adidas girl Linora and Soraya from adidas.

A late Christmas gift from adidas... The shoe box had my name on it!

A late Christmas gift from adidas. All these goodies which came in a shoe box with my name on it!

Soft cushioning. Bouncy. Light. Boost.

Soft cushioning. Bouncy. Light. Boost.

The stretch, breathable mesh material on the shoe offers the fit of a sock. Minimal stitchings inside the shoe means less irritation on your skin so it's totally ok to go without socks. My feet get really sweaty when I run so I prefer to wear socks to avoid stinky shoes :P

The right fit ensures support and helps stabilize the feet when on the move.

Run. Better. Faster.

Run. Better. Faster. (Excuse the angry face, I was pretty tired after a run on the mill!)

The Energy Boost retails at RM550 for both men and women and is now available (limited quantities) at the adidas Sports Performance Concept Stores in Suria KLCC (Level 3) and Sunway Pyramid (Level 2). In conjunction with the launch, from now up till 24th February 2013, you can pre-order your very own Energy Boost at www.adidasboost.com

Check it out!

 

25Sep/125

Stay Active & Beautiful With Kiehl’s Powerful Strength Line Reducing Concentrate

When it comes to skin and hair, there’s one brand that I’ve stuck to for years, and it’s funny that it was in fact Charles, who introduced me to Kiehl’s when we started dating. Who knew men and women could share the same favorite skin care brand? I choose recommendation over experimentation, especially when it comes to skincare. Kiehl’s generosity with free samples of pretty much all their products made it easy to find what was best for me.

I believe that vitamins, particularly vitamin C, is an important nutrient in your diet. That's why it's important to eat your fruits and vegetables! Vitamin C is the first thing that comes to mind if you catch a cold as it is helps support the immune function and protection from viral disease and cancer.

As mentioned in my previous post, while consuming vitamin C is great for overall health, the best way to absorb vitamin C for a healthier skin is to apply it directly. So... Lo and behold! Kiehl’s intelligent chemists have finally worked a formula to come up with a serum that contains the highest level of concentrated vitamin C to offer benefits to the skin’s appearance. It is powerful yet gentle enough that it does not irritate the skin.

Feed your skin pure vitamin C! Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate has been a popular product since it was launched in 2005. THIS is why - It contains 10.5% pure, stabilized vitamin C which helps improve not only the look of fine lines and wrinkles but to address skin texture and radiance as well.

I’ve been using this product every morning and night diligently for more than a month now and I'm pleased to see some improvement on some “expression lines”! You know those facial lines that just don’t go away even when you’ve stopped laughing or frowning? There's a solution to that, and it's not fillers!

My daily morning skincare regime: Vitamin C concentrate!

To use this product more effectively, you’re meant to firstly squeeze about 1 to 2 pumps on your palm, gently rub your palms together then dab it all over your face and allowing it to fully absorb before putting on your moisturizer. This product is highly concentrated so you may feel a temporary warm, tingling sensation when the vitamin C reacts to your skin. I like to tell myself that’s when the vitamin C is working its magic ;) Depending on your skin’s sensitivity, the warm sensation goes away very quickly.

I like that it comes in a small 50ml pump bottle as it fits perfectly in my travel toiletry bag. The twist lock on the bottle pump also gives you assurance that not a drip would spill.

The vitamin C concentrate does not replace my daily moisturizer though! To compliment the Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate, I also use Kiehl’s Clearly Corrective White Hydrating Moisture Emulsion. This gentle moisturizer was tested and developed for Asian skin to intensively correct uneven skin tone and improve skin clarity.

Wear a daily moisturizer to keep skin hydrated and happy!

After a refreshing shower and my morning skin care regime, I start the day with a hearty breakfast and a warm cup of green tea to kickstart my metabolism.

Don’t make excuses such as you’re always in a rush in the morning! A whey protein shake takes 2 minutes to make and helps to boost your metabolism by 25%. You’re making the wrong assumptions thinking you’re saving calories by skipping breakfast. Skinny people eat breakfast! (That may not be true, but I like to use that as a motivator.) My favorite breakfast meal is oats topped with fresh blueberries and crunchy muesli. I look forward to it every morning!

I’ve taken up a personal training course under FIT Malaysia to prepare myself for the ACE exam. Yes, I am training to be an ACE-certified Personal Trainer! About time, you say? ☺

I like to pack my own meals before class in the morning or at night before I go bed. If you’re seriously trying to shed some fat, preparing your own meal is a great way to keep your calorie intake and food proportions in check. Instead of settling for hawker/fast good, you stick to what you know is good for your body.

All these dishes take less than 20 minutes to prepare!

My favorite time to workout is after breakfast/before lunch (anytime between 9am-2pm). I like an outdoor run in the park at least once a week, otherwise I hit the Interval Training Program on the treadmill or elliptical machine.

To switch things up, I also do other forms of cardio workout such as spinning class, Muay Thai or High-Intensity interval training (HIIT). Check out an example of a HIIT workout here.

Training at X-studio in Brickfields.

Question of the day: What’s the best ab exercise? Hanging leg raises!

Staying in shape naturally makes you feel more confident of your body. I love modeling not only as part of a job, but I also appreciate and admire a photographer’s work. Always had an interest in photography!

I like to be behind the camera too sometimes!

Check out some of my work.

Men’s Health Singapore: August 2012 issue

2 years in KL flew by so quickly and I didn’t realize how rapidly Singapore is changing! However, It's always nice to be back and I’m just waiting for the right opportunity to return permanently again. So many countries to explore, I'm not settling anywhere just yet. Meanwhile, I'm so blessed because KL's been awesome! I've made quality friends and am pursuing what I've always wanted to do. Couldn't be more grateful.

Now back to my daily skincare regime, I make it a point to remove any make-up and cleanse my face before bed. I don’t know how Lady Gaga does it but sleeping with make-up on clogs the pores of your skin, which may lead to breakouts! For healthy skin, best make sure your skin is clean and moisturized before hitting the hay.

After cleansing and applying the PSLR, my nighttime skincare regime consists of the Midnight Recovery Concentrate and the Midnight Recovery Eye Cream.

Applying the Midnight Recovery Concentrate is pretty much like the PSLR. Squeeze 2 drops on your palm, gently rub both palms together then lightly dab your palms, covering all areas of your face.  This miracle worker contains natural oils such as evening primrose oil and essential oils including lavender, which gives your skin an instant moisture boost! The scent of lavender helps you to relax so you can be ready for bed. Make sure you aim for 6 to 8 hours of restful sleep to let the Midnight Recovery work its magic. Say goodnight to tired-looking skin and wake up to hydration and freshness!

10Sep/121

Feel The Powerful Strength Of C!

The more I think about it, the more it seems true: A lot of good things start with the letter C - carrot, cheese, cakes, cherries, candy, caramel, chips, corn, chili, calamari, chamomile, coffee, change, cats, Christmas, career... I could go on but I'll save the silly jokes for next time :P . Above all, the most important C that you need in your life is VITAMIN C!

I've been a genuine fan of Kiehl's since Charles introduced it to me 3 years ago. Most (if not all) of his bath and skincare products are from Kiehl's. Curious to find out if his favorite brand would work on me too, I did a quick skin analysis at the store and got a few samples to try at home. My first love was the Ultra Facial Oil-Free cleanser. It was perfect for my skin type and didn't leave my skin feeling tight after cleansing (if your skin feels taut after cleansing, it is likely that the product you're using is too dry for your skin).

Have you taken your vitamins today?

 My birthday last month reminded me that maybe it was time to look for a skincare product for mature skin. Every woman wants to maintain firm, youthful skin. I'll admit to getting fillers for my laugh lines last year, but I was never a fan of needles so I'm hesitant to go back. Excessive sun exposure, free radicals and aging naturally slows down collagen synthesis which causes skin to sag and wrinkle.

Taking Vitamin C tablets is great for overall health and beneficial for your hair and skin. It helps create scar tissue and ligaments, and it helps your skin repair itself. Lack of vitamins will eventually  slow down hair growth, cause thinning hair and make your hair look dull and easily broken.

Taming this medium-length hair is far more manageable than the Rapunzel hair I once had

For skin concerns specifically , the most effective way to absorb Vitamin C is to apply it directly on the skin. I've just discovered that Kiehl's formulated a gentle serum that contains the highest level of Vitamin C to offer benefits to the skin’s appearance without irritation. Kiehl’s Powerful-Strength Line-Reducing Concentrate contains a powerful and potent level of pure, stabilized 10.5% Vitamin C! That's great news for your skin!

Bear in mind that you are still recommended to wear sunscreen on your face (yes, even if you love to tan), especially if you spend a lot of time under the sun. Even with the help of Vitamin C, the sun's harmful UV rays can cause undesirable damage to the skin.

Feel the power of C on your skin! This potent treatment serum formulated with a high concentration of pure vitamin C (10.5%), known for its powerful ability to improve the appearance of aging, significantly reduces marionette lines around the mouth, crow's-feet and sub-orbital wrinkles with continued use.

This product is said to be Kiehl’s #1 best-selling product in the U.S., China, Italy, and Singapore - which makes it very promising, I can't wait to see if the same miracle works on me!

Will try with this C-rum :P and give you all an update in a few days.

Filed under: Beauty, Blog, Reviews 1 Comment
26Feb/122

Do Something Good For Your Skin!

Been awhile since I posted a video and I love this product so much that I think it deserves a video review!

Do you use sunscreen everyday?

Filed under: Blog, Reviews, Videos 2 Comments
5Jul/111

Very Effective Anti-Cellulite Massage at Face Factors Clinic

To be honest, I've never really been a huge spa or massage fanatic. I much prefer doing DIY facials at home and chiropracty if I needed a full-body rejuvenation. Some people freak out at the thought of getting someone to crack your back and neck but there's more to chiropracty than just that.

But hey, if it isn't your thing, there's always a less expensive and a more conventional way to revitalize your body.

There are several benefits to getting a massage. Besides being one of the nicest ways to pamper yourself, it helps to improve blood circulation, promotes total relaxation and stress reduction.

The body has the tendency to get so worked up from all the exercising and dieting that it can forget to relax, just as you forget to relax. Massage is beneficial for this reason because it allows the body to just chill out for a while and try to recover.

Face Factors is a premier aesthetic and wellness clinic located at Solaris Dutamas. The clinic offers a complete range of services ranging from advanced aesthetic and anti-aging solutions, unique body treatments and hand and nail therapies.

I was a little sore from a recent leg workout so I signed up for a massage to aid with muscle recovery.

The massage room doubles up as a waxing room which explains why it doesn't look like your regular Balinese-style massage spa. The bed is covered by a while plastic sheet with a sauna blanket bag underneath. This will be used as part of the massage later on. The sauna blanket wrap emits heat throughout your whole body which helps you to sweat and reduce water retention. It also helps to promote blood circulation, resulting in a more effective muscle recovery when combined with massage.

The Lymphatic Drainage Body Contouring Massage is a powerful deep cleansing treatment that will counteract the strains and stresses caused by the environment in the urban life. The treatment helps to detoxify the body by opening the routes of elimination which cleanses toxic accumulations, stimulates vital immune defenses and noticeably reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Does massaging get rid of cellulite?

On its own, massage will not remove cellulite, but is a great way to improve circulation, and with improved circulation excess fluid can move more easily out of the tissue, and proper cell functioning is improved. Massage also assists in temporarily reducing the skin dimpling appearance caused by cellulite.

It is responsible for flushing out toxins, waste, dead blood cells and excessive fluid among other functions involving the body’s drainage system – thus leaving you with beautifully defined silhouettes.

The sauna blanket wrap was a little uncomfortable (it lasted 30 minutes) but it's far more bearable than the massage that comes after it. The Lymphatic Drainage Contouring Massage reminded me of how achy my muscles were and it wasn't quite as relaxing as I thought it would be. But my 2 massage therapists assured that the massage will visibly the reduce cellulite on the back of my upper thighs - a common area for most women, so I endured the pain and just went with it.

The 90-minute sauna blanket wrap + massage session left me leaving a little dehydrated at the end hence it is important that you drink plenty of fluids to avoid water retention. The next day, I was pleasantly surprised to see that the appearance of cellulite on the back of my upper thighs is almost diminished. A daily massage with your favorite body moisturizer should help to reduce the appearance of cellulite even further. I would definitely consider going back once every twice a week!

Face Factors Clinic
D3-G4-2, No.1, Solaris Dutamas
Jalan Dutamas, Sri Hartamas
50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +603 6205 3508

18Jun/112

THE SLOANE CLINIC REVIEW: Finally Getting Rid Of My Dark Under-Eye Circles

The Sloane Clinic™ opened its first branch in KL recently and Dr. Low Chai Ling (founder and Medical Director of The Sloane Clinic) made a special visit from Singapore to give a special treat to 4 lucky bloggers including myself!

The Sloane Clinic focuses on all aspects of aesthetics, from cosmetic dermatology (including botox and laser treatments) to plastic surgery. It opened it's first clinic in Singapore in 2006, with 4 other branches (including the newly opened branch in Malaysia) following its success.

From left to right: Dr. Teh Siew Yen, Katherine Ng, Brigette Liberty, myself, Helenness Chong and Dr. Low Chai Ling

Dr. Teh Siew Yen is based in KL and she's your go-to person who will most likely have all the answers to your beauty concerns.

Consultation with Dr Teh Siew Yen

Personally, I don't have any problems with my skin. However, due to work, stress and the inevitable effects of aging, the dark circle under my eyes and laugh lines have become more prominent and it seems no amount of concealer or anti-aging cream has helped. I would never have considered getting fillers to improve the problem until it was recommended by Dr. Teh.

Truth be told, I AM afraid of needles and I've only done a facial spa once in my whole life. So yes, getting this treatment done was quite a big deal to me! I also considered getting botox in the beginning but I didn't do it because 1) I was afraid of the pain 2) maintenance isn't cheap.

The major difference between botox and fillers is that botox focuses on immobilizing or relaxing the facial muscles to relieve wrinkles, whereas injectable fillers focus on tissue filling to teat the age lines.

If wrinkles appear upon frowning, smiling, laughing, blinking or squinting, botox treatment is recommended. If wrinkles are present even when the face is at rest, fillers are the best treatments to smoothen out the age lines.

Think about it: If you're going to spend money on the best anti-aging products  that will probably take weeks or even months to show any results, why not spend your dollars wisely on a more effective treatment that will deliver immediate results?

There is no doubt that many would debate with on this matter but not a lot of them realize that cosmetic dermatology is more common these days, not just with Hollywood celebs, but among us. The reason for not knowing is simply because they don't openly talk about it.

Before & After results of laser toning and filler injections

I was very impressed by the results and there was barely any discomfort during the procedure. Besides fillers for my under-eye and laugh lines, I also did the laser toning treatment which helped to even out the skin tone and minimize pores. The results? Like I've taken at least 4 years off of my face... Amazing!

Preparing the skin before the treatment. Firstly by removing make-up and cleansing the skin.

Laser toning (RM1000)

Laser toning: Depending on the sensitivity of your skin, this no downtime laser does not leave your skin red or flushed after the treatment and is great as a lunch time beauty fix to tone your skin, and minimize pores. The treatment was done by Dr. Low. As I have a tanned complexion, my skin absorbed the heat more than it is likely to happen to those with a fair complexion. Hence, my face was left a little red but not for long.

The whole procedure took about 10-15 minutes. It was a little painful (almost like getting slapped in the face...) but Dr. Low was very comforting and handled it well. Next, fillers.

Revitalift undereye (RM1800)

Revitalift undereye: This skin brightening treatment is delivered via a series of painless microinjections. It boosts your skin’s collagen, illuminating skin and undereye circles. It can be done on the full face or on the undereye area as you have done. This treatment was handled by Dr.Teh with assistance from her nurse.

First they used frozen peas in a bag to numb the area under my eyes. A small needle is used to inject the fillers under the eyes while a small handheld vibrating device is placed on my chin to minimize pain during the injection. After the laser toning, this one didn't hurt at all. Surprisingly, I personally felt that getting the injections was far more bearable than the laser treatment!

The best part is, I made a comparison after getting fillers on one side of my under-eye and could clearly see the major difference! The same procedure was done for my laugh lines too.

These filler injections left pin pricks that are so tiny that they will close rapidly and healed very quickly. It was also concealable with make-up.

Should you feel like you need to do a bit of touch-up before you go, there's a powder room where they provide make-up from Model & Co., Sloane Inc. Mineral Make-Up (yes, they have their own cosmetics line too) and Rachel K Cosmetics.

You can continue to do your daily facial regimen with no reactions to the laser toning and filler injections. However, good skin care is advised to maintain the results.

Sloane Inc’s Miracle lift (RM400): A non-oily facial lifting serum that helps improve skin tone and boost firmness so that your skin looks gorgeous even sans makeup.

Sloane Inc’s 24K gold (RM316): A glow inducing skin primer. You can literally see the gold flakes when you pump this liquid gel on the palm of your hands! It helps enhance skin’s elasticity, firmness & smoothness. By improving circulation & decreasing skin inflammation pure gold helps to rejuvenate the skin from inside out, boosting skin’s natural radiance & luminescence.

Personally I only use the Miracle Lift at night before I go to bed (after putting on toner, followed by a moisturizer) and the 24K Gold Skin Primer to prep my skin before I put on my foundation and make-up during the day.

Truly satisfied customers after receiving our treatments of course, we have Dr. Teh and Dr. Low to thank for a wonderful job!

The Sloane Clinic
79 Jalan Maarof, Bangsar
Tel: (603) 2288 1788

Open on Monday to Saturday from  10am - 8pm. Closed on Sundays & Public holidays.

To see a list of other treatments provided at The Sloane Clinic, check out http://www.sloaneclinic.com/

(hat tip: Andy Kho for the photos)

 

6Jun/113

Review: Adidas ClimaCool Ride – Perfect For Beginners

 

GOT ME A NEW PAIR OF RUNNING SHOES FROM ADIDAS! THE ADIDAS CLIMACOOL RIDE.

Have I mentioned that I love Adidas?

Charles bought himself a pair as well - those black & yellow CC ride belong to his feet. Now before you stick a finger down your throat, let me first explain that we're NOT into 'couple color coordinating'! He got his shoes during a shopping trip to Bangkok when I wasn't around and he hadn't noticed that I got a similar one back home.

Going for a night run at Desapark to train for our 10km!

We signed up for the Standard Chartered KL Marathon on June 26th. Just a few weeks ago I did a fun run with the physically disadvantaged students for Standard Chartered as well but this time we're doing 10km. That's a big deal to me because I'm not a long distance runner. But I'm up for the challenge.

Running on the treadmill just doesn't cut it for me. Especially when I'm training to build up stamina. Pressing the accelerate and decelerate button gets on my nerves. I'd rather control my speed with my legs, not a machine. I just wished there was a nicer park near my neighborhood where I can run but unfortunately my apartment is surrounded by office buildings.

Leonard drove Charles and I to Desa ParkCity which was about 40 minutes away from where I live. A little out there but that's probably the nicest suburban area around. No tall buildings, no traffic, clean air and plenty of grassland.

Christian Bale looking fly in his blue Adidas ClimaCool kicks.

I know a friend who has 3 pairs in different color combinations to match his outfits. The design of the shoe is comparable to the Reebok ZigTech except the Adidas CC Ride is lighter, less bulky and comes in various color combinations.

Take your pick!

What I like about it
✓ it's light. The mesh on these shoes keep my feet cool when the weather outside gets warm.
✓ the mesh ventilation makes it dry exceptionally fast if you're a Sweaty McSweaterson like me, or if you happen to step into a puddle.
✓ it feels like you're running barefoot.

What I don't like about it
✗ it doesn't have a lot of cushioning on the heel part and I personally feel it needs more arch and ankle support.
✗ you'll probably need to wear thicker socks, which will make your feet sweat a little more but at least the shoe is well-ventilated.

 

Overall it's the perfect shoe for beginners because it's flexible, lightweight and does it's job of absorbing impact instead of your knees taking the damage all the time.

It's good to wear when you're running outdoors in the heat or even on a casual day out but I wouldn't wear these in the winter outside the gym.

Filed under: Blog, Fitness, Reviews 3 Comments
25Apr/112

Keepin’ Cool In My CC Ride Kicks

Got me a new pair of kicks from adidas.

The CC (ClimaCool) Ride just came out last week (April 21, 2011) and figured it was time to get new running shoes.

A good rule of thumb is to replace your running shoes every 300 to 400 miles, depending on your running style, body weight, and the surface on which you run. Smaller runners can get new running shoes at the upper end of the recommendation, while heavier runners should consider replacement shoes closer to the 300 mile mark. If you run on rough roads, you'll need to replace your running shoes sooner than if you primarily run on a treadmill.

The CC Ride comes in a variety of colours... 17 to be exact! 11 colours for men, 6 for women - You'll be spoilt for choice. Being the girl that I am, I went with black + hot pink.

Anyway, am about to hit the mill with this new baby. Also just loaded 4 of the tracks from adidas Colour Missions into my iPod. I just previewed the tracks and I'm already pumped up to *get in the zone*.

I'm going to start with 'Colour Missions Red' - Before Dawn.

I'm being chased by vampires... Gotta run!

Will tell you what I think about the new shoes soon.

 

Filed under: Blog, Gym Jam, Reviews 2 Comments
14Apr/114

Honeypot Wax Boutique: For My Pleasure or Yours?

Review

With a few special events coming up this month, I had to make sure that Iwas well-groomed so I went for a little pampering down at the Honeypot Wax Boutique in Bangsar Shopping Center (KL) the other day.

While it wasn't my first time getting a Brazilian wax, it was the first time I was trying out a new salon in KL. I can be a bit picky when it comes to choosing a place because going to a regular spot to get waxed is just as important as getting a hair stylist you're comfortable with. It also helps to have a wax therapist that you're comfortable with and I try to stick to one so it doesn't feel awkward every time. Especially when it comes to Brazilian waxing.

I liked that Honeypot is so conveniently located in Bangsar Shopping Center (BSC), which made it really easy to find.

The boutique is relatively new as it opened its doors last year in January 2010. The first one was opened in Singapore, followed by Jakarta, Bangkok and finally, Malaysia. Looks like more and more girls have discovered the benefits of waxing and ditched their razors!

If anything, this is a place for pampering, not torture ;)

The pink hard wax that was used smells delicious, like cherry bubblegum! It cools off fast and comes off easily so it's less painful compared to the super sticky type that can sometimes be harder to come off.

If you'd rather wax yourself, you can even buy the wax that was used at the store.

DIY Brazilian waxing, anyone?

I had 3 wax services done that day:
1) Full Brazilian wax known as the 'Hollywood' (RM98)
2) Underarms (RM30)
3) Upper lip (RM12)

To see a full list of the services they provide, check out their quirky little site here.

You may have remembered that I did 6 sessions of Brazilian IPL and a few sessions for the underarms too back at FabulousTan (Singapore). Well it's been 5 months since my last session and while I don't have much fuzz growing out anymore, I still much prefer to wax those little bits of hair rather than shaving/tweezing it off.

Waxing also helps to strip off the dead cells and when followed with good exfoliation, leaves you silky, smooth skin. My secret is mixing raw honey with salt and using that as a body scrub. Honey really makes your skin soft and supple!

*     *     *     *     *

Honey Pot @ Kuala Lumpur
Lot S123, 2nd Floor
Bangsar Shopping Centre
Tel: 03 2092 5598
Open Mondays - Sundays from 10.30am - 9pm

9Apr/116

Gettin’ It Done… ;)

In dire need of new gloves!

And a manicure...

Nail Basics to the rescue! Manicure first... Adidas later.

I love how they ONLY use OPI.... The best!

Ready to party! Going to the Johnnie Walker Black Circuit Lounge tonight!

*     *     *     *     *

Nail Basics
No. 32 Jalan Tun Mohamed Fuad 2
Taman Tun Dr Ismail
60000 Kuala Lumpur
Tel: 03-77275285

Filed under: Blog, Reviews 6 Comments