Camellia Japonica Oil

Another horrible hair accident, so now I'm stuck with...

frizzy (!!!) dried hay hair.

So again, looking for a miracle... and Oshima Tsubaki Camellia Hair Care Oil came as a surprise and total saviour. Bought it on a whim in Watson's. What a great product. I used it all over my hair and it softens my hair so much that I'd managed to tame the frizz. The smell is faint and pleasing.

Of course, I am also using extra virgin olive oil before shampooing daily. So I guess everything helps.

This oil (not in Oshima' packaging) is suitable for hair, nail and skin.


I really like the 100% Camellia Oil (seen below) because the bottle is really very orientally quaint. Of course it's useless as a hair oil for me as I tend to over do everything and ended up with very oily hair. However, I've decided to add mineral water and produce a homemade(ish) version of the one above.

Just so darn beautiful

http://joannelam.com/hello/






http://ooamouroo.blogspot.com/

Night massage / routine for face

I've always wondered if the way I put my serums and cream has been wrong... And I guess I was!

This is the right way to massage the serum on our face!

What's with the face?

He asked.

"Huh? I was just thinking about crowd simulation and collision detection."

Here's my new beer garden AUNTIE hair as ND will say.

Oh well... I'll live.

Amy Winehouse

without the tattooes.

I've finally managed to learn the liquid eyeliner cat eyes. And brave enough to do it. Well, I guess I don't have a choice due to my strange new hair.

Even thought I line my eyes these days, I rarely flick up. I just let the brush follow my eyes and make them round and somewhat droopy. But fear not! No more frumpy eyes!

I bought myself the brown eyeliner from Etude House with recommendations from the girl with the moustache. A very nice eyeliner by the way.

(Believe me, a good eyeliner comes with a thin brush. Tried the hard spongey ones, too messy).

Googled for how to apply eyeliner and found the video below:



Ah har! Practised a little. And voila! Look like cat now.

And I must say, Etude House has a lot of cute packaging. Can't vouch for the products though.

Amy Winehouse, behold! Here comes your asian wannabe.

And then, I watch the how to conceal dark circles. Which I think is great too:

Marks my 30th vial of Fancl Tense Up EX

Today, I drank my 30th bottle. And that should be it for the time being.

Any difference, you ask? Well... I have a fantastic measuring method. You see, as a kid, teenager and then young adult, I never knew I had a dimple on my right cheek. I mean, my mum and brother, goodness... the dimples are so concave, they look like they sucked their cheeks in. But me? Nothing. Always with that fat cheeks.
(I wished so hard to have dimples and be part of the "gang".)

But... this year, the shy dimple decided to make her appearance. And wouldn't go away! So I know, my skin has sagged... Just smiled into the mirror. That darned dimple is still there.

Conclusion? Yes and no. Even though I don't see vast difference on my face, my skin feels smoother all over, especially on the more "saggy" areas.
Totally recommend this to everyone who wants to pump up their collagen.

Note: Drink more water as this can be heaty. I got pimples on my forehead.

http://www.fancl.com.sg/tenseup.asp

You need to, sayang

My face fell when she said that. Here I am surrounded by big boobies filipino ladies.

I am again at the unfortunate Lucky Plaza because my tailor is there and I needed to get my jeans altered.

I was skipping and past the much talked about #04-88 that sells all kinda SEA beauty products. And that is one heck of a collection, I must say.

The varieties of mandi lulur, kojic soap, papaya soap alone is crazy. But the other stuff. Oh my! I can't help standing there and reading all the dodgy printing on the boxes with all sorts of female body parts (clothed, of course) printed on them.

There's one soap called Virginity that makes me laugh. It's actually a feminine soap but claims to also "tightens vaginal muscle". I thought ok... unless you've had 5 kids, you don't need that right? At the same time, the thought that the men might be just as crazy to make their women suffer. Read more about it here: http://www.kuwaittimes.net/read_news.php?newsid=MTMxMzQ5MDIwMg==

Side tracked without actually going into my unfortunate incident. You see, as I was reading all the labels uuu-ing and aaah-ing at all the things I didn't know exists, the lady from the store came and talk to me in Tagalog. I smiled. I pointed to a bust enhancement soap and said, "How do you use this?"

"Oh sayang, this is soap only. Use at bath. But for you... need more. Use this cream. Massage at night. Many singapore girls buy. You should use this. You need. You massage around, don't touch nipple."

I had a look on my face. It was self-pity mix with embarrassment. I felt like a man for a moment and I thought my gut was sticking out too. Gosh... My tummy is sticking out further than my breasts??
I just nod, pay for the cream and dashed out. Now that I am in the right state of mind again, I've googled and found equally dodgy sites selling it at exorbitant prices!

http://www.kedaidewasa.com/g_bio_active_bust_cream.htm

I can't find much info on forums about the effectiveness of this. Or whether anyone's breasts fell off using it. For the time being, I will just sit here looking at the box wondering what will jump out if I ever open it.

Side note: while googling with keywords "bust cream" I came upon transvestite bust cream, bust pills, bras, hair depilator... I know now things I didn't 30 minutes ago. I cannot undo the knowledge...

Different shades

Sorry for people who rss or been waiting for the next beauty thingamie that I am going to post. Haiz... I am, after all, living the life of a superhero now. Studying and working.

Alright, recently, I've been noticing that my skin is of different shades. Well, I am sure it's been like this for a while now except that I never bothered to look at my own skin much. Anyways, that irks me. I love my tannish skin. I cannot imagine being too fair because I know I will look jaundiced, but I can't bear having so many different shades of colours!!! I want to be one shade.

So I've been searching around and here's what I found out:

BODY

Whitening soap
Silka / Likas Papaya soap - A lot of pinoy ladies swear by this. Popular on soompi & flowerpod. I've even rushed out to Lucky Plaza and bought myself 2 bars. Let me test it out and we shall see. From the forums, this soap sounds very drying. Please moisturise afterwards. Or oil yourself half an hour before showering (who so free? Siao). Some says Biolink is good too but have to be used along with their other products. Could be an effective product for cleaning off sunblock.
Let the lather stay on your skin for 5 minutes before washing off. That's the best method.
Price: $3.50
There are another brands "Miss White Princess" and "KSA Magic Whitening Soap" but I was not keen to dig at Lucky Plaza. Some says #04-88 has the most products. Ok. Will confirm this next time.

Whitening scrub
Mandi lulur - Any kind of mandi lulur (body scrub in bahasa) from any indonesian jamu shop. I buy mine from Kampung Melayu near Paya Lebar. Joo Chiat, or Tanjong Katong. Please avoid those labelled "Pradasari". That one has the coarsest beads. Scratch my skin like wanna bleed! But for those with tough skin. Be my guest. Some says pradasari works the best for them as the others are too mild....
Price: $2.50

Side note: Papaya enzyme anything has whitening effects. For mandi lulur; licorice, bengkoang, susu, mutiara are all ok.

Whitening lotion / cream
I have no idea about the whitening lotions because I just use whatever that's selling cheaper in watson's. However, having said that, I know some that seems to have whitening effects according to the forums.
Watson's Whitening Lotion - one huge bottle for about $6. I am not sure about the whitening effect but surely the price you pay for that is really ermm... ok lah?
Vaseline Intensive Care - Err... about $5 for a small jar? I am not sure about the whitening properties but smells like yogurt. Nice!


Whitening serum
Bio-oil - got mine in Watsons Malaysia. Costs about... RM33? Helps in improving uneven skin tone. Or so I heard. (I will never argue about beauty things with pinoy ladies!) Using it for stretch marks. Haiz... Let's see how it goes.
HABA White Lady - Ok this is for the face mostly but I LOVE this! I love HABA. Totally natural and suitable for all sensitive skin. And this really evens out my patchy skintone. However now that I am on doctor's perscriptions, I've stopped using it. About $80~ a bottle. HABA White Knight is for oil control.


Highly Rated Drug Store Brands
Olay White Radiance Night Cream
ZA Whitening range

Splurge
Haku Whitening Essence

[Yes, unfortunately, I am so vain I will use face products on my body]

Some people sing praises of Kate Jones' products. I am just too lazy to order online. I am not so needy... yet.
But the raves for:
1. kojic soap
2. luz cream
3. coco puro

Other says Yanko products (can get from Taiwan) works for them. Not sure....

e.l.f, marjolica marjoca and sephora

Besides being makeup. These are brands that's not available in Singapore. Until now!

I was just at Ngee Ann and saw the sign showing a Sephora shop in renovation. Of course I had to tell Thomad. Who looked at me and said,"Does it matter to me?" Thank god he said that. He knows too much about being a woman than most of us...combined. So I am glad he didn't care too much.
(Ya right. I'll bet he wants us to go in with him to check out the products.)

And... today, I was just going to sasa to buy more brushes when I saw... e.l.f!!! I mean, no offence but Singapore has not been know to carry much mid to low range cosmetics. It's either high end like my mum's Estee Lauder and the likes, or sporadic American drugstore like Loreal, Maybelline. So I am glad Sasa brought in e.l.f and promptly bought the "brightening eye colour" in 2001, Buttermut. This is basically just a quad eyeshadow powder in the very safe earth tones that I use a lot. I've also gotten myself the "long wear lip liner" in 1904, natural blush. Ai... All those funny names. I'd rather just remember the numbers. Anyway... this long wear lip liner is a little too light for my lips but I wanted it for the nude effect. And it delivers!!!! Ok This is a keeper! And it comes complete with a little sharpener! Woohoo to the colour. Let's see about the long wear part tomorrow.

I was rushing into Watson's to get my body lotion because I am so dry I can feel my hands cracking for the past few weeks. Then something magical (in the colour of gold and sparkles) caught my attention. I read it again. Yaaaay! Majolica Marjoca is in Watson's!!! Now no more waiting for the next trip to Japan to stock up. I personally like their Sky High Curl which actually curls and lengthen your lash before you put your mascara on it. You gotta, because it's white in colour! Don't want to walk out like ghost, right?
So I felt as I have to do them justice and support their launch in Singapore. Looked around. In then end bought the red eyeshadow; Shadow Customize, RD422. Anyone who knows Majolica Marjoca will know the cute packaging it comes in. Yesh! It's that lovely! Especially the eye colours. It's a little transparent square with a little gold plastic button on the top. I like picking it up with my thumb and index on the gold button. So cute, lah. So there. You deprived locals... You have the mid ranges now. Hmmm... Rimmel London should think about coming here too...


Huh? Huh? Cannot remember? Recap:

1. Sephora in Ngee Ann City
2. e.l.f in Sasa
3. Marjolica Marjoca in Watson's

The impossibly high killer red heels

Sometimes we do stupid things. The female species. Today I wore the impossibly high killer red heels. Killer not because it is red and guys might go weak seeing it. Killer because it is lethal!

I kicked myself accidentally on the left foot and blood started gushing out from below my arch. But I persevered. I stuck a handyplast on the wound and kept on walking, 4 inches too much. Whenever I walk, I imagine fresh blood oozing out with every step. But I kept them on.

Why? I have no idea. Just another stupid day with a pair of impossibly high, impossibly sharp, red killer heels.

Falling down the stairs in Mango Orchard

Aaah... the mad rush of Mango sales. I didn't plan to go or buy anything from Mango because I am still suffering from that big hole in my pocket from shopping in tky and bkk.

But I past Mango on the way to get my jeans from the seamstress. So I went in. And walked out $250 poorer. You see, I have a weakness for dresses. And now, vest. Got meself 3 vests, 2 dresses and 2 camisoles. (Also have a bad habit for layering even though I live in the tropics).
I just couldn't resist getting the blue polka dot dress that looks like the one tokyobanhboa has. The only other one I've seen was from Naf Naf which I thought was really cute too. I even wanted to wear it with long spats like tokyobanhboa. But stop short of that. Spats and me... we don't have good relationship.
Ok, just googled and found that only in Japan does spats mean leggings. Yes, I meant leggings.

Anyways, armed with my oh-so-fabulous finds; I proceeded to walk down the impossibly shiny black stairs. Oh no, slipped on one of the black step and fell forward! Luckily, it's sales period and there's a lot of people. I fell on a sales assistant who was coming up with two handful of clothes. I grabbed onto her to stop my face from kissing the ground. I apologised profusely but deep inside, I thanked her for being so strong because she managed to support this heavy girl. Now I have this redness on my shin. Tomorrow, it will turn blue. Oh well, I guess there is no avoiding the leggings now.

Who says female engineers have to be...

ugly?

I've always been technical. I can hold my own when it comes to any technical discussion or customer meetings.

I love sci-fi. I love telco. I love being challenged. I love dresses. I love makeup. I love cutesy-pretty things. I love ribbons. I love digital photography. I love talking nonsense. I love linux. I love whacky earrings. I love sitting for hours writing complicated scripts. I love high heels. I love exploring new technology. I don't even like sappy chick flicks.

So I do NOT believe that good female engineers have to be ugly or dress like male. The mind does not deteriorate just because you wear dresses and your legs might feel kind of cold. It's all in your head!

So here are videos from 女人我最大; on how to apply eyeliner for 3 different asian eyes.








Personally, normally I will line my eyes like below to get the chinky look:

Dermatitis

My skin's been acting up again. So I have to be extremely careful with how I treat my life.
Why do I say so?
Well eating the wrong food could cause allergy. Not sleeping enough could cause eczema (at least for me).
Dirty environment could cause eczema...
Hair products could cause eczema...
Eer... Emily will say I have the glass child syndrome. Have to be in an extremely sterile room.

Having said that, I still managed to get allergy reaction twice in 10 days.

The first was because I couldn't fall asleep for 2-3 weeks. Or is it the new liquid foundation? My face started itching and there were bumps but I thought it was just pimples. Then it started to get really itchy and weeping. Believe me, I didn't make that word up. I was searching for skin allergy this syndrome is called weeping. Basically, small blisters start to appear on skin. Ruptures after a few days and keeps watering. Sometimes it dries up but the watery part will come back.
This kind of allergy is called: Dermatitis.
The syndrome is the exact opposite of eczema but the itching, which after you scratch will result in scaling; pretty much put it up there for me with eczema.

I was treated by the doctor with steroid and hydrocortisone and one month's worth of tetracycline/doxycycline. Har? same treatment as eczema? I could've diagnosed myself.

I kept at the doxycycline but the syndrome persists on another area of my skin. So I went to another doctor in Chinatown. Apparently, he has a reputation of healing these problems really fast. Ugh...
The clinic is right at the corner of Smith Road. The whole shop looks like... an old pawnshop! The dispensary has metal bars, which I am sure has a dozen coats of paints underneath, but at this moment, is white. The nurse is an old dude; shiny head with a laurel of greys.
Old Male Nurse: What you want?
Me: Eeer... to see the doctor? *uncertain grin*
Old Male Nurse: Been here before? Any allergies, ah? *Stood up and reached for a patient's card*
Me: Here is my IC. First time here. Allergic to aspirin.

*Old Male Nurse wrote my details out.*

Old Male Nurse: Go in to the 2nd door, lah.

3 metres to the left, I can see the back of the shop. It looks exactly like an old chinese coffeeshop, complete with the usual mess that comes with the back kitchen.

I looked uncertainly at the 2nd door he had indicated. "Come in!", a voice bellowed from behind the door.
I knocked hesistantly. Pushed the rickety door, with a dozen under paints but currently white.

The doctor is as old as his male nurse, a head of white hair, hands behind is head; chairs on 2 legs.

I went in, sat on the chair and grinned.

"So... are you married?"

"Huh?"

"Just a question."

Sickening deja-vu.

"No. Eeerr... doctor, see I have this allergy here. "

"Ooohh... bad bad. The other side?"

"Don't have."

"Oh, you're here because of your husband?"

Grrrr... "No."

"Hmmm... Studying?"

"Nope"

"Oh... Planning to get married here?"

"Ya. *whatever* the plan is there"

"Ok. I am prescribing you one week's worth of medicine. Come back next week. Good luck with your marriage"

"Eerr... thanks, I guess."

I didn't know what he prescribed me because the male nurse didn't say. But it works wonder! I was healed in 2 days.


***********************************

Thong Teck Clinic
72, Smith Street
S058969

Phone: 62236946

***********************************

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: How to maintain curls

Some one said my posts too wordy... Ah then? Word's the only thing I know, mah.

So for a $500 head, how do you maintain the curls with your oh-so-fantastic leave in moisturiser that also curls and defrizz ah?

Oh.... very easy... Knowing me... Lagi easy! Follow the steps below, lah.







I am using the U one instead of the chopsticky-ish bun holder. This is easier for me. Some say, to maintain equal curls, make 2 buns and curl them in. Eeerrr.... To me, got curls, happy enough!

女人我最大

This is a fantastic beauty talk show from Taiwan.

Search on youtube ba.

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: Caring

Anyway now you have your pretty, fake, distressed hair... So how do we take care of the poor poor head after that?

Well, these days treatments very outdated liao. Not like last time our mothers, wrap in hot towel. Now there's stuff to apply on the hair that cares, styles and doesn't need to be washed out.

Again.... my skin very sensitive one. So I can't anyhow take the leave-in styling/treatment products. Which is a good thing really because I don't believe in putting too much crap on my head everyday. My face already needs too much of my attention (this will be a beauty blog for another day, patience!).

Let me explain how sensitive my skin is to hair products. I've had cases where the first day I put the styling product, I get breakout and rashes on the part where the hair touches my skin; which is back and cheeks...

(Face cheeks hor! My hair not so long lah, siao! You think Yoko Ono meh?).

Sooooo.... always do a patch test of any product behind your ear or on your wrist. Basically styling products' no good lah. Don't use unless it's your own wedding then boh pian....

The 2 products I will like introduce for sensitive skin:

1. REDKEN: Fresh Curls Curl Refiner leave-in anti-frizz detangler for unruly curls

Fresh curls is a leave-in moisturiser, that curls and anti-frizz. SO GOOD HAR? Ah then? Price also very good. $35 plus from chinatown. If get it in salon will cost about $50 plus. I lied to the nice stylist that I want to do 24 hours patch test. Then went to chinatown to get it cheaper.

2. Phytologie: Phyto Defrisant Relaxing Hair Balm

HOWever... I still feel Phytodefrisant is a better defrissing balm. All natural vegetable thingie..

Aiya anyway these days all natural liao, if you see behind the tube and there's a flammable sign, put it back on the rack and run far far away.

Remember the "America's funniest home video" where the auntie's hair caught fire? Use those flammable products loh. I kid you not.

Anyway for our tropical, humid weather; almost everyone have frizz so having a good defrizz is extremely handy.


Well, if it's too expensive for you, then you can use macadamia oil (the highest ingredient in Phyto 9; helmed by Jennifer Aniston) or coconut oil.
Where to get? Don't know yet. Still in my searchlist.

Anyway, try to go natural. If you don't need styling products, then don't!

Now we know how and what to use to care for the curly, frizzy hair... what about the shampoo and conditioner?

Aaahh... Very tricky one. For me, I curled the ends (wavy hair want to keep long... plus vain!), and now it's coloured.

But I have oily, sensitive scalp

~~why always so sensitive one!?!?! Better live in bubble like bubble boy!~~

with dry ends... HOW!!??!?!

Fret not! Chio Bu Wannabe is here to help!

Firstly, get a shampoo for oily scalp like teatree or peppermint. Sure can find. These days shampoo's like the new age kuih lapis / "chiu chen kau" = 9 layered kuih. Very varied, very colourful, very assorted!

-By the way, I really don't like the new kuih lapis. Very colourful, eat already scared get cancer!

Also remember to check your shampoo properties as indicated in the picture below. Try to avoid shampoos with either of the first 2 properties. Too harsh! My current shampoo is Sodium Lauryl Sulfate which is still not good enough.

The best pick will be TEA Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate!

Then get the appropriate conditioner for your hair. If you permed, then get the perm conditioner. If coloured, then get coloured conditioner. If like me... Err, since I got the curls leave-in, I opted for the coloured conditioner.

***************************************************

CORRECT METHOD FOR WASHING AND CONDITIONING HAIR

1. Shampoo the roots of your hair only. Also make sure you scrub & massage the hairline on forehead, behind ears and above nape. This will prevent pimples and breakout on this area.
2. Condition from 2/3 of your hair to ends.
3. Make sure you wash your back clean clean or else can get pimples one hor.
4. Rinse thoroughly.

***************************************************

Unless you do home hair treatment, then you can shampoo all your hair.

Oh what is that I hear??

You all screaming,"DO what treatment!?!?! Just now say no need to do home treatment why suddenly talk about this!?!?"

Aiya... still vain. If got time, do loh... After all, watch tv already wasted 2 hours, why not just put the stuff on the head before watching right?

Ok... also got "mi zhue" to hair treatment one.

***************************************************

EASY HOME HAIR TREATMENT

Ingredients:
Olive oil
Aluminum foil cap (can get from Daiso for $2, traps heat that's emitted from the head)

Methods:
1. Microwave the oilive oil for 15-20 seconds. Depends on how hot you want.
2. Pour it over the end of the hair. Massage your head abit if you like.
3. Put the aluminum cap over your head.





***************************************************

Watch tv............................. As long as you like. Till you wash your hair later. But please wash from roots to ends this time as olive oil is very oily. Depends lah you want to use conditioner or not this time.

Later, will feel your hair's very soft and smooth. Can do once a week. Sometimes, I will mix with other hair treatment to make it more potent. Cheap stuff you get from Watson's home brand is good enough.

BEAUTY DIY/ Knowledge -Hair: Permanent treatment

Very long story about how suddenly I become the hair expert now.

Let me start by saying, I am very cheapskate and lazy. My method's not the best but most suitable for lazy, cheapskates like myself. So there!

~Sunday (1st Sept) went to this salon (HairPlus in Serangoon), highly recommended by my friendsssssssssssss....

Anyway the stylist gave me orangey-blonde highlights on black hair. When she toweled my hair, I was so distressed, I told her, "I don't like this at all. I don't want tiger hair".

But she didn't do much besides saying,"Oh you so conservative, har? Not adventurous?" What??? My fringe alone has 4 parts of black and orangey-blonde!

That was about it. So that marked the day I became tigerlily for 3 days before I get it fixed at Chapter 2, Marina Square.

Also, the fact that I look like mee hoon kway auntie/ 7th month getai singer. On a side note: very old ah peks from the hawker stall seems to like that hair. Thomas stand witness to that. ~




Ok what I want to say here is:

1. In the event of a botched dye job, get it fixed in 48-72 hours. Can be fixed one, not to worry. A lot of experts believe that this is the window period before the hair dye lock into your cuticle.

In my case, I think so lah, hor?

2. Do not try to do it yourself because you might end up damaging your hair more. Get an expert to do it. Because now your hair will need a treatments too. Cannot save on that. Serious! You want hair like hay??

Gross, nobody will sayang and pet your hair. Except for your own mother, but that is out of pity I am sure.

3. There are colour removal for permanent dye or just dye a darker shade. I think for us, black hair ppl, the best bet is to darken the shade. Which is what I did.

BUT remember, not to use heating whatever to get the dye in. Hair was already damaged in the first dye so let time do the work instead. Make sure your hair stylist is not using those heat stuff on your head the 2nd time.

4. Treatments! Very important. For me, I have sensitive skin. So I told the 2nd stylist that. He mixed a very mild dark dye for me.

Opt for Loreal or anything else instead of Wella. Wella's products are very strong with very high chemical composition and not suitable for sensitive skin.

And there's no pain or itchiness. Aiya... how women suffer, right? Anyway there are 2 very important treatments during hair augmenting process.

a - scalp treatment. Very important, hor! Our scalp very kesian.

Kena tortured like nobody's business but we give so much attention to the dead (hair is basically dead once it leaves your scalp) but none to the living skin. Wah Lau!

So this scalp treatment is a must!It helps to soothe and care for your scalp while ridding all the chemicals that might've fell onto your scalp.

b - hair treatment. Hair dead already why still wanna take care?

Well problem is, we mess with the hair so much, that it looks "dry". Dry texture is caused by raised cuticles on the hair shaft.

See any marketing for shampoo will understand what I am saying. So this treatment is to flatten the cuticles, soften the hair for a nice shiny sheen.

AND lastly keep the moisture in (not sure about this la, so I read on google).

Ok lah, want to sleep already. If anybody needs anything, just comment lah, hor? For those difficult steps, I will include pictorial guide but the model is most probably me. So tahan only lah hor.

Love,
Chio Bu Wannabe