I was invited by Cutis Medical Laser Clinics to try out a new procedure called TriLipoMed that helps your face keep looking younger for longer. In total I received 4 treatments and the main area targeted was the sagging skin on my chin area.

What happens at your first appoint at Cutis Medical Laser Clinics?

Before starting the planned treatment, 3 photos are taken of your face. The clinic uses a special machine for this, which is great as there are no differences in the before and after photos, so you can clearly see if the treatment has made a difference. After that I was introduced to Dr Sylvia who owns the clinic, a very warm lady who takes her time to explain what she sees on the photos to you and explain possible areas of improvement. As I’m well over 40, my skin is starting to sag at some places, particularly around the mouth and chin area. It was therefore decided that the treatment would focus on that area, to provide better toning and get rid of some sagging ‘fat bubbles’.

What is TriLipo Med?

TriLipoMed is a facial procedure that aims to strenghten the underlying muscles of the skin, while at the same time also renewing the epidermal layer. It uses lasers to penetrate the skin which aim to thicken the dermal layer. This will result in a younger looking skin and a fresher appearance. It can also be used to approve the appearance of acne scars and to contour and tighten the skin.

How does it work?

First, your face is cleaned and prepared. Then a (very cold) gel is applied to the face so that the skin is prepared for the heat of the laser. Your therapist will then move the TriLipo Med laser over your skin so that the heat penetrates the layer of your skin. This is not uncomfortable although sometimes the heat can be too much, in which case the heat has to be scaled down a bit. This will take about 10 minutes to complete. After that a different applicator is used and what feels like small electric shocks are then applied to the skin. This sounds scarier then it is, but feels like little ‘tings’ entering your skin. Again, this is not painful although you do need to ask your therapist to scale it down a bit when the ‘tings’ get too much. This will last for about 5 minutes, after which your face is cleaned, sunscreen applied an you are done.

How effective is this treatment?

According to press reports, this treatment has been very well received. After comparing my before and after photos, I could actually notice a slight difference after just 4 treatments. My sagging fat bubbles were less pronounced and the skin looked slightly tighter. I think that to see clear results though, you will need to have well over 10 treatments. This may be different for each person though. If you like to see some before and after photos of what could potentially be achieved, then check out this page from Pollogen.

Conclusion

The Cutis Medical Laser Clinic is a small, but efficiently run clinic where I always felt welcome and well-cared for. Dr Sylvia is a skilled and wonderful doctor, that makes you feel comfortable and at ease.  I believe that the TriLipo Med procedure can definitely help with the tightening of your skin.It is a fast and painless procedure that you could easily fit into your daily schedule. Be prepared though. In order to see clearly visible results, you may need to have quite a few  treatments.

Related posts:

1. Some great natural anti-aging treatment tips
2. IYAC signature anti-aging facial – a review
3. Bod organic anti-aging eye serum – a review + promo

Christmas is fast approaching and you may just want to give the gift of beauty to your friends and family. Here are a few ideas of products I recently tried and liked: Face cleansing from Meltie, Aesop skincare products, Beaute Pacifique skincare products, Mary Kay Recover Complex and Murad Makeup and skincare products. 

Meltie, just like an icecream

One of the most fun beauty christmas presents you could give this year are these wonderful cleansers from Meltie. It looks and smells just like icecream, but in fact they are very thorough facial cleansers that have no trouble at all removing all your make up and get your face soft and clean. They come in a lemon, strawberry and aloe vera flavor. For more information visit the Meltie website.

Aesop

For the last half year I have really enjoyed using products from Aesop. Their sage and zink facial hydrating cream is very nourishing and hydrating. It can be good for all skin types but I found it worked really well for my combination skin. I also loved their geranium leaf body scrub. So effective and the smell is just delicious! They have some good products for the men too, like the Moroccon Neroli post shave lotion. Their products look great, so will make wonderful gifts! Retail addresses can be found on the Aesop website.

Beaute Pacifique

Beaute Pacifique has just launched in Singapore and their line of products looks very promising. Their main slogan is: “We repair your skin” and they have accumulated quite a lot of scientific evidence to prove that. I did a skin scan and am currently trying out some of their products to see if they can indeed improve the condition of my skin. You can read all about this on my recent article at 40+Style: Can Beaute Pacifique repair your skin.

Mary Kay TimeWise^® Night Restore & Recover Complex

This is a really nice night cream I have been using. According to Mary Kay the TimeWise^® Night Restore & Recover Complex works in four key ways – activating collagen production, targeting the skin matrix, helping skin recover from daily damage and restoring the skin barrier.  The cream contains age-fighting ingredients such as peptides palmitoyl tetrapeptide-7 and Cotton Seed Extract, which have been shown to help minimize skin’s environmental damage and help skin recover, while Acai Berry Extract replenishes antioxidants, Pomegranate Sterols help strengthen and stabilize the skin barrier and Chestnut Seed Extract is shown to help promote cell turnover* for more youthful looking skin. This is a great night cream that comes in a handy long flacon and would make a great gift. More information can be found on the Mary Kay website.

Murad

I have also come to like Murad products. The combination of natural and anti-aging ingredients makes these creams very suitable for aging skin. They also offer some great makeup products that combine skincare with makeup. Some Murad products that I can recommend include:

Murad Hybrids™ Skin Perfecting Primer Matte Finish – 1.0 FL. OZ., light makeup (or a makeup base). Perfect for people like me who don’t really want to use makeup, but still want to smoothen the face a little bit. This product combines both makeup with skincare attributes.

Murad Hybrids™ Eye Lift Illuminator – 0.06 FL. OZ., to lighten dark circles around the eye.

Murad Hybrids™ Eye Lift Perfector – 0.06 FL. OZ., similar to skin perfecting primer, but then for the eyes.

One of their newest products is the Hydro-Dynamic Ultimate Moisture day cream which is an intensely hydrating anti-ageing cream for mature or very dry skin. It’s based on the principle of the science of cellular water, which is focussed on the ability of skin cells to hold water which are therefore better able to fight aging. Visit 40PlusStyle.com for a full review of Murad products.

Did you see anything you like? What will you be giving your loved ones for Christmas?

Disclosure: These products were gifted to me for review and consideration. All opinions stated in this article are my own and I will only highlight and review products that have been effective or that I have enjoyed.

Related posts:

1. Jeff Murad on Murad Skincare new product range Hybrids™
2. Order beauty products online! Free delivery to Singapore.

I was invited by local online store I love my Life to attend a makeup workshop with makeup from Jane Iredale. As I always like to learn more about makeup and especially mineral makeup, I was keen to attend. 

We were first introduced to the Jane Iredale brand and some of the benefits of mineral makeup. Jane Iredale is a brand that doesn’t forumulate with FD&C dyes, chemical preservative like parabens or synthetic fragrance and it doesn’t use fillers like talc. Instead crystalised minerals are used that offer the following benefits:

• Fast weightless coverage
• Oil free
• Anti-inflammatory
• Minimum allergy risk
• Contains powerful anti-oxidants like pomegranate, pine bark and algae extract

1. Neutral
2. Warm: yellow, suitable for most Asian skins
3. Cool: Pink, suitable for Caucasians that have a reddish skin tone

I used one of the cool tones: light beige. We spent a lot of time applying all our bases, using the supplied brushes. We gained a lot of knowledge on covering up our blemishes and blending in makeup and blusher. Unfortunately, that did not leave enough time in our group to experience some of the eye shadows, mascaras or lipsticks so will have to do that some other time!

Want to attend a make-up lesson or a free consultation?

The next lessons will be in December so you may already want to reserve your spot! However, free 30 minutes consultation sessions are offered continually to try out the products and colours. Products will not currently be sold online but can either be ordered in the class or consultation sessions or by sending an email. When booking your lesson or products be sure to mention Singapore Beauty Guide or SBG and receive a free LipDrink with any Jane Iredale products purchase above $ 120, worth $21. For all further information and bookings please visit the I Love My Life website.

Related posts:

1. Why a makeup lesson is such a good idea!
2. How to get rid of dark circles under eye with concealer
3. Biore makeup removal products – a review

After a long holiday to Europe and the USA and my skin going through all kinds of different climates, it was time for another facial! I made use of an offer through Deal to try out a facial at Spa Rael, which is located next to the Goodwood Park Hotel.

Entrance and Reception

It took me some time to find the spa as it’s not actually inside the hotel but just outside of it on the hill. The premises itself look wonderful and well cared for. I was welcomed with some lemon ice water and was requested to fill in a form.

I was then taken to a spacious room with large windows to the garden. The room is a lot larger than what you get in most salons these days and well cared for. The treatment table was comfortable and the temperature good. Sofar so good!

The treatment

After cleansing and exfoliationg the skin was analysed and I received a brief explanation of my skin condition. The therapist recommended the vitamin C facial to strenghten my skin and help with anti-aging. Some steaming was applied after which the therapist proceeded removing black and white heads. Following that I received a mask that was left on for about 15 minutes. I received some light massage of neck and also arms during the treatment as well. The facial ended with the application of moisturizer. Products used are from Natura Bisse.

What I liked about this treatment

The atmostphere is very calm and soothing. The room is spacious, the lights dimmed and it’s very quiet, which makes it easy to relax. The therapist was good, although I sometimes had trouble understanding her english. This is a very traditional facial with all commom procedures like exfoliating, steaming, black head removal and masks in place. The black and white head removal was actually one of the most thorough I have experienced in Singapore. Now I know that opnions differ on whether or not you should actually do this, but I quite liked having it done well. For me it’s one of the reasons I’m having a facial.

What could be improved

As you know from my article facials: how to get in right in 8 steps, I prefer it if I’m not left by myself in the room while having steam or a mask. I like to get a neck massage instead. Although my arms were massaged during the beginning of the mask there was still some ‘waiting’ time.

Conclusion

This is a good traditional facial in a pleasant environment with thorough black and white head removal and I can definitely recommend it. However, I was advised that the normal price for this facial was $342, which to me seems rather steep. Of course huge discounts are offered when a package is taken.

Related posts:

1. Bella Luna Facial – a review
2. Radio Frequency facial at Beyond Beauty – a review
3. Jurlique Signature aromatherapy facial – a review

I was recently offered to review Ginvera’s Green tea Nude Cover BB cream as well as their green tea aqua whitening cream (which I did not try). As I had heard quite a lot about the popularity of BB creams, I was keen to give it a try.

What is a BB cream?

BB actually means Blemish Balm. BB creams are meant to be a cominbation of a skincare product (moisturizer) and makeup. Or you could consider it makeup with extra skin healing properties.

In the case of Ginvera’s Green tea Nude Cover  BB cream the cream has been enriched with Green Tea, Ginseng, Chinese Angelica and Hyaluronic acid. It also has an SPF of 30 so it also acts as a sun protector.

What are the benefits of using this BB cream?

Ginvera claims the following benefits:

• Natural and flawless skin coverage for all skin types
• Non-greasy formula that provides natural matt finish
• Spreads with nano-fine texture which results in even tone and natural look
• Provides day hydration for soft, supple skin
• Provides SFP 30/PA ++ to protect skin against UV rays
• Helps to reduce the formation of lines

Application

The cream is to be applied after daily facial care and can just be applied with the fingers.

What I thought of it

Ginvera’s claims of all its benefits are quite extensive. Can one cream really look after your skin, avoid lines, cover blemishes and protect against the sun? This would definitely be ideal for a lazy person like me, as that would mean I would only need to apply just one product! After trying it, I must say I’m quite impressed of what it can do. I felt the colour looked quite natural on my skin. The cream also provided hydration and felt non-greasy. It is a not as thick as a foundation which suits me quite well.

Although I was happy with this cream and will continue to use it, I feel that it is more ideally suited for a younger person, who can still get away with a relatively basic moisturizer and foundation. An older person (over 40) like me needs a bit more ‘heavy duty’ skincare and arguably also a foundation that covers up a bit more.

However, saying that, I did like the ‘airy’ BB cream. I would normally not wear any makeup at all, so this BB cream that would at least give me some cover and evens out my skin tone is already an improvement.

Conclusion

I feel that this BB is a great asset to my skincare and makeup products. It’s ideal for those days that I don’t feel like applying makeup, but still want to look a bit better than just the natural me. The cream blends well with the skin, has a pleasant smell and is light and easy to apply. It manages to cover quite a bit of the unevenness and is perfect for people like me who like to get ready in 5 minutes.

Try it out for yourself!

Want to try it out. You can redeem your  FREE NEW AQUA WHITENING CREAM (with Oil Control) & NUDE COVER BB CREAM SPF30/PA++ samples at www.facebook.com/ginvera.sg

Related posts:

1. Freeze 24/7 anti-wrinkle cream effective or not? A review
2. What is the best sunscreen cream

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure to interview Vice President Product Development of Murad Skincare, Mr Jeff Murad. Mr Murad was in town to promote his new line of Hybrids™ prodcuts of Murad Skincare. It was a good opportunity to hear his views on aging and how we can look after our skin the best. I will discuss some of the products I was given in a later post, but here are some of the highlights of the interview.

I have split up the interview in 2 parts. On anti-aging web Mr Murad goes into detail on how to delay aging. Mr Murad provides a lot of insight in the main cause of skin aging and how best to avoid it, so be sure to check that out. Below you will find information on Murad’s new product line Hybrids™. Enjoy!

Can you tell me a bit more about your new Hybrids™ product range

Jeff Murad: Our customers had been asking us for years for more ‘coloured’ products. The Hybrids™ range is the first step in that direction. The concept here is that we all have certain flaws or issues in our skin that we would want to cover up immediately. So these products will do that, but they will also treat those problems while you are wearing it.

They are not moisturizers, they are more treatments, so you would first apply a moisturizer and then this product.

Like all our products they are based on the cullular water principle, where skin aging is caused by a reduction of water cells. The idea behind the cullular water principle,  is that once your cells are as intact and as strong as they can be, then anything we will give you for any specific skin concern is going to work much better. For example, if you have cells that are old and porous and they are not holding their water, if we then are going to treat your acne or wrinkles, those active ingredients are not going be as effective because your skin is not going to accept them or work with them. All of our products have the ingredients, that help to repair the cell membranes but then they also have the targeted treatments for whatever your skin concern is.

Is hybrids™ good for a lazy person like me who wants as little makeup as possible especially here in humid Singapore?

Jeff Murad: The hybrids™ makeup is very light and you would not feel it on your skin. It provides that nice finish for your skin. Although these are designed as makeup primers that hold your makeup in place, but a lot of people find that when they use them, they don’t need to wear makeup. There is a matt version for oily skin and a dewy version for dry skin. There is only a single shade, designed with Murad’s adaptive shade technology  so they are designed to match any skin tone. We use fewer pigments and more light reflecting minerals so it will blend in naturally whether you have asian, african or caucasian skin. It just adapts to your natural skin tone.

Will it still cover the unevenness and spots then?

Jeff Murad: Yes, it will still cover the spots, still help with appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, it will still help enlarge pores and at the same time it’s covering all of those things. It will also help treat those issues. We have a complex here that is called perfector 5, which contains 5 ingredients which target enlarged pores. Both immediately and in the long term. One of those ingredients is a lentil seed extract which has shown to reduce the appearance of large pores by 62% after a month.

What is the star ingredient in the hybrids™ range?

It’s the whole complex that really works. But lentil seeds are high up there, in terms of the long-term benefit. With the eye lift products, we are targeting 3 issues that people have with their eyes.

There is the loss of elasticity, puffiness and dark circles.

These (eye lift products) help address all of these long term and immediately, but as far as firmness goes we have 5 different firming ingredients. The strongest is oat kernal extract and that helps (after a single application) to increase the firmness under the eyes by 50%. But then we also have peptides and botanicals in here that strengthen the capillary network, so you will not have water seeping out of your vains that cause the dark circles.

Stay tuned for product reviews

I’m looking forward to trying out some of the products given to me by Murad Skincare. So be sure to like our facebook page to stay up to date on updates on this site. As mentioned, Mr Murad’s views on anti-aging can be find here. If you have tried any Murad products, then please let me know your thoughts in the comments.

Related posts:

1. Aqualabel whitening skincare products review
2. Chanel’s new makeup range
3. Acids in skincare – Which one would benefit you?

Thinking about getting Botox, but don’t know where to go? I did a little bit of research to find out which clinics offer Botox and advertise their prices for this service online. Here is a quick summary for the cost of Botox in Singapore below.

Please note that these prices were advertised on the company’s websites on 22/5/2011. Always check with the provider about current prices.

I will update this table as I come across more prices.

Related posts:

1. In the news: do Botox and parties mix?
2. Why botox makes you happier
3. What is Botox and who should use it?

Today I visited Jurlique Day Spa in Bukit timah for their signature aromatherapy facial. I had heard of Julique skincare products before and was keen to give it a try.

What is the Jurlique signature aromatherpy facial all about?

The brochure states: “This classic facial promises to provide holistic benefits essential for radiant healthy skin. It is both cleansing and relaxing.” Let’s find out if that is correct.

Location and treatment room

Jurlique is conveniently located on Bukit Timah Road (on the corner of Robin Drive). You can park in the street. It’s a small boutique spa with a lovely reception area, where I was greeted with some hot tea. The treatment room is small and windowless and doesn’t have much decoration to speak off. But there was welcoming music playing in the background, the treatment table had been warmed up and had plenty of blankets and there was ample space for my belongings.

Procedure

The treatment started with a gentle cleansing of my feet, followed by a gentle face cleansing and a steam bath. My skin was then examined and it was determined that I have combination skin that was lacking moisture. There are actually 3 aromtherapy facials to choose from and the therapist chose the replenishing facial for me.

After the steam bath there was a very extended soft exfoliation and massage. This facial is clearly designed to relax and the lady succeeded in doing that. The massage was very soft but very deliberate and the products used smelled divine. After this extended facial massage, a mask was applied. Special pads were applied to the eyes on which a very warm substance was applied. Not sure what it was exactly, but it felt really good as well. Meanwhile my arms received a massage as well as my neck and shoulders area.

After the mask my face was thoroughly cleansed and moisturizer was applied.

What was it like?

This facial is indeed very relaxing. My therapist’s hands were very soft and skillful and the zen music ads to the relaxing atmosphere. There was no other noise to be heard so you could just close your eyes and enjoy the treatment. I also liked the products used. They smelled wonderful and did not irritate my skin at all. Even the mask felt soothing.

The results

My skin certainly felt a lot softer and better toned. And I certainly felt more relaxed!

Conclusion

This is a very traditional facial that as the name suggests focusses on infusing you with lovely smells and products while at the same time totally relaxing you and your face. This is a very relaxing facial that was skillfully done in a basic but pleasant environment. If you’re looking for a nice relaxing facial that will nourish your skin, then  I believe Jurlique is a good place to go.

Contact details

Jurlique Day Spa
383 Bukit Timah Road
#01-04 Alocassia Apartments
Singapore 259927
Phone: 6735 7233
Website: jurlique.com.sg

Related posts:

1. IYAC signature anti-aging facial – a review
2. Radio Frequency facial at Beyond Beauty – a review
3. Jet Facial at Jet Concepts – a review

Even though I’m over 40, I’m not very good with makeup. I guess I’m a bit lazy when it comes to makeup and I also prefer a “natural” look. However, as I get older I feel there is a greater need for makeup since my face can look a bit depressed and blemished.

I have written before about going to Bobbi Brown for their free makeover when you buy beauty products. Although that taught me a little bit more about how to apply makeup, they still did not go into detail about my specific needs when it comes to applying makeup.

That is why I asked Maninder Krishnan, makeup artist and image consultant at Imageandme to come and give me hand and give me a decent makeup lesson. Luckily she said yes!

How does a makeup lesson work?

Before coming to my house, Maninder asked me to send some pictures of me wearing makeup. This would give her an idea of my style and  give her the opportunity to come up with some ideas and bring some makeup with her that would be suitable for me.

I had prepared a table, laid out with some of the makeup that I had, some mirrors and tissues. And, in this case, also some cameras for filming so I could document the makeup lesson.

Once seated at the table, Maninder asked me some questions about my makeup routine and how I apply makeup. She then had a look at some of the makeup I currently have and came up with some recommendations.

Applying the makeup

The lesson started with the basics first. Application of foundation and powder. This was followed by tips on how to define my eyebrows, how to apply eye makeup, bronzer, blusher and finally lipstick. I’m not sure how long a makeup lesson usually lasts, but in my case it took a good 2 hours. Many of her demonstrations and tips are documented in videos and I will discuss the whole process in this post on anti-agingweb.com: how to apply makeup after 40 – a makeup lesson. Be sure to check this article and watch some of the videos!

Why is a makeup lesson such a good idea?

All in all, I must say I was very happy with the outcome. I learned a lot more about what works for my specific face and skin colour and gained a lot of insight along the way on the right procedures for applying makeup. I think a private makeup lesson would be good for a lot of women. You will get makeup tips that are personalised for your specific needs and advice on colours that would suit you in the style that you want. You determine what you want to learn and what look you would want to achieve.

Special promotion for SBG readers!

If you like to take advantage of getting your own makeup lesson, then Maninder offers a special promotion for SBG readers until the end of May. Receive a 25% discount for a makeup training lesson. Or, if you are interested in one of her other services like a style & bodyline analysis or colour analysis, you will get 25% off those as well. Be sure to mention the Singapore Beauty Guide when making your booking! Visit Maninder’s website for more details or check out the Image and Me profile on this site.

If you go, we hope that you share your experience with us or send us your before and after pictures!

Related posts:

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2. Makeup tutorials from Sharon Connolly
3. Chanel’s new makeup range

I used another daily deal for my first facial in the new year. As I quite liked the dermabrasion facial which I experienced at Mary Chia, I decided to go for another facial that includes this treatment.  This time I chose True Shape in the Adelphi in Coleman Street.

Entrance and welcome

True Shape doesn’t have the splendor entrance of some of the beauty spas. Instead it’s a welcoming and functioning space where I was welcomed with a smile. After filling in a short form I was led to the treatment room, which was basic, but clean and functional. There was a space to put my belongings and a warm enough towel / blanket provided to lie under to protect me from the cold.

Treatment

It was nice that the therapist could speak english and explain the treatment to me. The treatment started with the dermabrasion which is basically an exfoliation of the outermost layer of skin via the mechanical abrasion of a diamond-tipped head. To me it feels like a little vacuum cleaning the skin.

After that my face was cleaned and steam was applied and some mild extraction took place afterwards. This was followed by a mask during which I also got a shoulder massage.

What I liked about this treatment

This was a no fuss basic facial that had the extra benefit of the microdermabrasion. I thought it was very professionally done, by a friendly therapist and effort was made to make the facial very comfortable. I’m quite of fan of microdermabrasion as well as the traditional steam and my face felt very fresh, clean and soft afterwards.

What could be improved

Quite a few requirements of my  ’how to get a facial right in 8 steps‘ list were met. However, it would have been nice to receive a massage for the full length of the mask. I would also have liked to have some coverings on my eyes during the mask. Although the treatment rooms were functional, they did not have closed walls. This meant that you could hear everything happening outside. Although voices were kept quiet, for me it still is too much noise to get a full relaxation.

Conclusion

This is a very effective facial to achieve soft, clear and lighter skin. Set in a no fuss enviroment with professional therapists in a friendly atmosphere. If you do not require complete quietness during your facial, then this is a good place to go.

True Shape
No. 1 Coleman Street
#03-03 The Adelphi
Singapore 179803
Phone: 63366596
Website: www.trueshape.com.sg

Related posts:

1. Radio Frequency facial at Beyond Beauty – a review
2. Bella Luna Facial – a review
3. Mary chia power of diamond facial – a review