Lifebuoy Antibacterial Body Wash Cool Fresh Review

WHAT IS IT: Lifebuoy Antibacterial Body Wash Cool Fresh

THE PRODUCT(S):

Lifebuoy Antibacterial Body Wash Cool Fresh: Regular bathing with Lifebuoy body wash helps to prevent the spread of germs. With advanced germ protection ingredient Active5, it's menthol extract helps you feel cool and fresh.

The shower foam actually has this really light blue base color, it smells clean and fresh with a light hint of menthol that doesn't overpower the nose. And my skin feels so clean and refreshed without feeling overly dry nor taut.

VERDICT: As a kid, I used to hate showering. Don't ask, but most kids just hated showering partly because that moment after a shower, everything feels insanely cold. It doesn't help that there always seemed to be a nice and cooling breeze that is ever present right as soon as you stepped out of the shower. However, when I stopped/finished schooling and entered the workforce, my appreciation of having a long, comfortable, enjoyable and relaxing shower suddenly ranks much higher than having food or fun. In fact, it goes like this, where #1 is the highest and the lowest is at the bottom:

1. Shower
2. Sleep
3. Skincare
4. Enjoy the breeze, warm sunshine, breathe some clean air
5. Food and Drinks

I don't know about everyone and anyone else, but this is the order of what's important and what isn't the important anymore. Maybe when one gets older, one will actually appreciate the little pleasures in life more than before. I mean, see it this way, work (and school for some of us) is like a second home. 10 hours is spent on transport and at work while the remaining time in a day is at home. Minus the minimum 8 hours of sleep and you're only left with only 4 hours which you try to cram as many activities as you can before you need to get out of the house and get to work or school. That's life for most of us when we realized the concept of the word "time".

But sometimes, too much activity outside work results in sensitive skin that is prone to slight damage and sensitivity which in turns makes one scratch like a monkey. Like as if our workload isn't enough, add in skin irritants and this already feels like too much to handle on our plate already. But luckily, Lifebuoy is here to the rescue. Lifebuoy Cool Fresh actually contains menthol crystals that are derived from nourishing peppermint leaf oil and at the same time gives an invigorating refreshment to one's senses. The wonderful cooling sensation I get all over my skin is an instant refreshment and a perk-me-up and leaves me feeling fresh, revitalized and energised to continue where I left off with my activities.

People who know me will realize that I am famous for having "itchy" hands, touch touch a little here, grope grope a little there. And bam! Itchy skin occurs suddenly making me feel like I have ants and fleas crawling all over my skin. And yes, that is just how "sensitive" my skin is. Just a little irritant and I feel like I have dozens and tons of things crawling all over me. But Lifebuoy Cool Fresh is always there to the rescue for my skin. Let's just say it sucks a little when my skin feels a little strained due to sensitivity and I have to stop using my fancy scented shower gels for a day or two, so I can concentrate on getting that sensitivity issue out of the way with my trusted Lifebuoy Cool Fresh.

For Lifebuoy Cool Fresh, the shower gel itself is actually a pearlescent blue color and I like that it foams up really well. Once the foams are all foamy and whatnot, you can smell the cleanness and freshness of the shower gel. And the shower gel also rinses off easily without having to spend too much time, effort nor trouble on it. And I like the fact that my skin feels clean and refreshed from a day's dull tiredness without feeling it's too drying and taut/tight to the touch.

PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Basically, I am a sucker for scented shower gels and every once or twice a week, I would take the time and effort to use a Lifebuoy product to ensure my skin is in tip top condition to minimise the risk of skin problems. Also my shower sessions is that time of the day where I can totally relax and chill and take a breathe, so a full pump into my shower puff for all the clean and refreshed foamy goodness.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No samples for redemption.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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The 10 Commandments of Foundation

So, I was browsing around YouTube, which in turned led me to Pinterest due to a particular series of videos that features makeup myths found on Pinterest. I found this informative tidbit and felt that I should share it with my readers. We all know the basics of foundation starts from clean skin all the way to flawless makeup while at the same time serving as a protective barrier against environmental damage and stress.

Right off the bat, applying foundation sounds easy-peasy, right? Not exactly. It's only until you think you are done with applying your makeup do you finally notice that your preferred foundation, which you thought was flawless, actually looks cakey from all different angles. Cakey makeup isn't the only thing that looks and feels traumatic, many factors are also present as well.

But fret not! This infographic that I found, and posted just below, teaches you how to apply your favorite foundation flawlessly for even radiant, beautiful looking skin. A little something for us ladies, doesn't matter whether you are a pro or just starting to use makeup, this really benefits us all :D

~Infographic Source: Pinterest~

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Prizes Won [JĀSÖN Singapore]

Well, JĀSÖN Singapore had an awesome contest on Facebook and the rules are really simple to join. In fact, I think it's one of the best type of contest, instead of the usual voting type of contest where unscrupulous Facebook users always tend to cheat in. All contestants need to do is to stop the animated GIF in their post at the right time to reveal the full bottle, or in other words the actual scent they carry in their range. In other words, no top half Tea Tre Oil while the lower half is of another scent/color. Basically, they will randonly choose 3 winners to walk away with a set of JĀSÖN body washes!

Honestly, I just joined for fun with no idea I might be so lucky to be one of the 3 lucky winners to actually win a set of JĀSÖN body washes. Maybe my luck as the Queen of Shower Gels is working right for once in my life LOL Anyways, I didn't even know I actually won until someone tagged on the winner's post, which in turned pointed me to a new notification which in turned prompted me to go check out what's going on. A few clicks here and there and I was like "OMAGARR!! I WON!!"

You can check out my entry/comment over at JASONPersonalCareSG/posts/1015430655201287 or take a look at the shower gels I've won right below.

Calming Lavender Body Wash at 887ml

Invigorating Rosewater Body Wash at 887ml

Considering that a 887ml bottle of JĀSÖN body wash retails at S$12.90, I wasn't really expecting a big bottle, no scrap that, 2 big bottles of body washes. Well, needless to say, I am just smiling and grinning deliriously from the moment I knew I won until now, a week after I've redeemed my prize(s).

It's still not too late to join and be one of the lucky ones to win a set of JĀSÖN body washes. Just go over to JĀSÖN Singapore Facebook page at facebook.com/JASONPersonalCareSG/, Like their page and join in. Here's wishing you Good Luck and once more, a fantastical THANK YOU to JĀSÖN Singapore for picking me as one of the winners :D

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Shopping Haul [Venus Beauty + The Body Shop]

I recently did a small shopping haul around my neighbourhood, partly because there's a new Venus Beauty outlet despite their location being under renovation recently. Well, the renovation is supposedly going to benefit stall owners and shoppers alike as there will be shelter from the sun and rain. And not forgetting ventilation as well. This also saves me the trouble of going all the way to Choa Chu Kang MRT station or Causeway Point at Woodlands just for a Venus Beauty shopping haul.

Some of the few items I got are facial scrubs, shower gels (I love shower gels a lot) and a body sorbet. Body sorbets from The Body Shop are the next best thing, as body creams and body butter are too rich for my skin. Despite the fact that I am not using a huge blob, body butter tend to leave a sticky and oily residue on my skin. However, body sorbets are a totally different league altogether as they are just right to use in Sunny Singapore, it absorbs so fast leaving a refreshingly wonderful scent minus the sticky and oily sensation caused by body creams and body butter.

However, users with really dry skin are still recommended to stick with the body creams and butter as your skin is dry, hence the utmost need for a slightly more intensive moisturiser to the rescue. My skin isn't that dry, so body sorbets are just right for my skin type.

Another reason for this Shopping Haul post is also because I intend to separate my posts according to samples received and redeemed, shopping hauls and prizes won so it won't look utterly messy having jammed everything into a "Samples Received and Redeemed" post. Also because when it comes to labels on the blog itself, it's easier to search through if there's a need to find something. Part of the reason for the Shopping Hauls and Prizes Won post is to point readers in the right direction to products I think are really awesome to give a try and as a thank you for having a chance to win some prizes :D

I first saw this St Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub a couple of years ago at the Watsons in Bukit Panjang Plaza when they just barely finished with their store renovations. I was contemplating for a few days and decided to want to get it. But alas, it was completely sold out before I even knew it. And thereafter, it seems that this particular Watsons outlet never did seem to re-stock it again. The only St Ives Facial Scrub available ever since is only limited to the Even & Bright series. Maybe they think everyone has the same type of skin type lol

Anyways, I happened to know of Venus Beauty having an outlet at my area, saw the Apricot Scrub and decided after a few months just for the sake of seeing if they will continue to being in this particular series of facial scrub. Turns out they do, they even have a range for my mother as well and on top of that, I found that Venus Beauty tended to price their products slightly cheaper and more affordable than Watsons. Watsons is mostly for when you really need a product, but can't find it anywhere, not even places like Venus Beauty and SaSa for example, that you have to absolutely buy from them.

I practically got this St Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub for almost half the price if I were to buy it straight from Watsons. So, it's worth the buy in terms of price. Besides, the contents are the same anyways, so it's wiser to buy the cheaper alternative so I can save up more money for products to buy and try :D

Has anyone noticed that some products in The Body Shop seemed to have a new look to them? The Eau De Toilette, to quote for example, has this very expensive look and feel to it. And get this straight, The Body Shop products are also reasonably priced and their EDT scents are to die for. There was also a English Dawn Gardenia EDT, but I find the initial scent a little too strong. I tend to favour scents that aren't so heavy from the first whiff as I am asthmatic as scents too heavy from the start makes me cough and wheeze a little. However, flowery scents are different though, I don't seem to have an adverse allergic reaction to heady floral scents. Weird~

I chose this Polynesian Island Tiaré EDT (retailing at S$36.90 for 50ml) since the scent isn't too light to the point it feels like it's fading away in hot and humid Singapore and yet feels exotic with a deep level of sweetness to it. Just a FYI, the Tiaré flower's snow white petals are a symbol of purity and its suave and addictive fragrance is the signature of Tahiti and the Islands of French Polynesia. Polynesians wear this iconic flower tucked behind their ear – on the right if the heart is free, on the left if not. It is also the flower offered to welcome those who arrive in Tahiti – an invitation to well-being.

But beyond its symbolic and sensual dimensions, the Tiaré flower is one of the most important plants of the Raau Tahiti, the traditional pharmacopoeia of Tahiti. The flower is largely used in many preparations: the treatment for some eczemas, headaches, insect bites. It's sensual and soothing emulsions, body oils, tonics, fragrance is now the composition of personal care products from major brands around the world.

Next up is the newest range from The Body Shop, playful and cheeky Piñita Colada range. They have the usual full range with the body butter and so on and so forth, but I always favour the shower gels and body sorbets. The Piñita Colada Shower Gel on the left retails at S$12.90 for 250ml and the Piñita Colada Fresh Body Sorbet on the right retails at S$19.90 for 200ml.

The exotic and dreamy scent of hand-harvested coconuts from the Antilles region of the Caribbean, as well as juicy pineapples from the Santo-Domingo area will send you into beach heaven in an instant. I love how the scent is like a fruity cocktail that seems to lift your mood and senses and it's as if you can keep sniffing more variety of sunshine-y fruits that makes you feel glad to be in a tropical place, all that summer fragrances is bound to make you feel good from the inside to the outside.

On a side note, Singapore is too hot and humid sometimes to feel anything tropical nor even worth trying to get into the tropical mood though lol It's just plain sweat, sweat and more sweat no matter where you turn, makes me wonder if there's an invisible sun following me 24/7 since I can pretty much sweat a lot just by going to the mama shop downstairs D:

Well, I'm not the Queen of Shower Gels for no reason. Every single time I pop by The Body Shop, it will always be about shower gels, shower gels and even more shower gels. Most ladies are crazy towards high heel shoes, expensive branded bags, the latest fashion trend or the latest makeup trend, I am personally crazy about the shower gels from The Body Shop. As I always believe in this mantra I read more a geisha book (I forgot the title anyway), a geisha's utmost importance is to ensure her hair doesn't smell as they are in constant close contact, or in other words, they are sitting next to their clients and smelly hair will put off even the customer who is capable of spending big bucks on a geisha house entertainment.

That is where I based my principality on smelling good as much as I possibly can, it's not for the guys who passed by me. It's more of a, "I smell great, I feel great and I can do great things today because I am in a great mood" sort of feeling, if you understand what I'm trying to explain here.

On the left is the English Dawn Gardenia Shower Gel retailing at S$15.90 for 250ml and on the right, Polynesian Island Tiaré Shower Gel retailing at S$15.90 for 250ml. I won't go on anymore about the Polynesian Island Tiaré Shower Gel since I've pretty much said my part for the EDT. However, the English Dawn Gardenia Shower Gel isn't as "strong" as the EDT itself, the scent is definitely heavy but it doesn't linger heavily either. I feel that this shower gel is going to be refreshing wonderful after I stepped out of the bathroom from using it in the shower.

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Samples Received & Redeemed: May 2016

First off, my humble apologies for taking so long to write up this monthly post. My Canon camera is in the midst of douche-ness since I've been trying to charge it since 2 to 3 weeks ago, but it time, the battery bar just refused to fill up. It's not even charging at all, despite having the correct charger and the switch is on. Maybe I need to consider buying those cheapo charging wires that can be bought cheaply from Box Boss that you can find in neighborhood shopping malls. Anyway, I ended up giving up on the camera and used my Samsung S6 for the photo-taking of all these samples instead.

Sometimes, I think Post-It isn't really actually giving out any samples at all, the package is always so flat it makes me wonder if there's anything useful inside.

The sampling activity for this time is the Post-It flags, which I personally think are rather miserable, to be honest. It states 6, which means 3 of each size, which still boils down to 2 types of Post-It flags. I'd rather they give a little more of the flags as it's easier to gauge how useful the flags are if I need to make notes, for example, inside a travel guide book.

Not sure why Post-It always gives this, their sampling activity is always misleading to a certain degree lol

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I can safely presume sampling redemption is over as I can't seem to find any info or the actual link that brings me to the redemption page.

I got to know about it on Facebook rather late, and to be honest, just 2 days before the closing date for the sampling activity. But anyway, I managed to get a CALECIM® Moisturising Cream (10g).

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: CALECIM® Moisturising Cream giveaway has now been fully redeemed.

The sample(s) comes with a sachet each for day and night cream, as stated just below:

• Age Reverse Day Repair SPF 30 @ 2g (left)
• Age Reverse Night Lift @ 2g (right)

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Fully redeemed.

It feels like ages since I redeemed something a little more atas from The Sample Store's "Free Samples" tab.

I redeemed a IQueen Wrapping Mask EX @ 7g, it consists of:

• Power Lifting Serum (top)
• Wrapping Mask EX (bottom)

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Fully redeemed.

Expat Living Singapore was previously giving away complimentary one year magazine, Expat Living Singapore Body & Mind Guide 2016-2017. I haven't gotten around to browsing through it yet though ^^;

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to http://expatliving.force.com/Checkout... and fill in your details. As the link is still working, the giveaway could still be available, so go on and request your copy.

Nescafe was previously hosting a samppling activity for their latest product, the NESCAFÉ Zero Sugar added and the samples I've gotten consists of 7 sachets which is just enough for my personal porcelain cup. Sometimes, instant coffee can be overly sweet, so it's nice to see Nescafe coming up with a version that does not contain sugar at all. Well, if you still want it just a teeny wee sweet, you can add in a splash of sugar yourself, but it defeats the purpose of getting a zero sugar coffee instead.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling is over, although I still see their Sponsored Post floating around still.

Alpen Singapore was previously hosting a sampling activity, I've gotten:

• Alpen Original Muesli @ 50g
• Alpen Fruit & Nut @ 28g
• Alpen Trail Bar Big Berries @ 48g

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Sampling has ended.

Bioderma was having a sampling acitivty, I got the 3-day trial of Hydrabio Perfecteur SPF 30 @ 5ml.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to bioderma_fb/sg/redeem, fill in your details and wait for the sample to arrive in your mailbox. As the link and webpage is still working, I believe the sampling activity is still ongoing.

Freebie redemption with purchase, but I'm not going to go all the way to Jurong Point for a tumbler ^^

EverSoft was hosting a sampling acitivity, and I got a 30ml travel pack Yuzu & Mint Beauty Shower Foam @ 30ml. And needless to say, the scent is refreshing~

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I've tried the link, but it isn't working. So it's safe to presume the sampling activity is over as well.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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No blog updates until 18th May 2016

My apologies, I'm not feeling well and won't be able to commit 100% here. Life sucks a little for females every month due to this natural occurrence called Menstruation and mine is always the heavy and painful variety and the pain always lasts for exactly almost 1 week in all. However, if the pains do slowly subside, I'll resume blogging at the earliest convenience. Meanwhile, posts will be limited to only Facebook posts related to sampling redemption. Have a wonderful weekend and stay positive :)

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The real reason you can't lose weight

Why do most dieters put all the weight they lose back on ... and often a bit more too? It's not lack of willpower or not enough exercise. Nor is it motivation. So why is it so hard ... and is there any point ever going on a diet again?

~Image Source: Fitness Bin~

It's easier to quit smoking than lose weight. What's more, the nicotine in cigarettes is as addictive as heroin – so that means one of the most potently addictive drugs is easier to kick than losing weight. And yet chocolate and other fattening foods are not actually addictive (though they may feel like it sometimes). So why do only 4 or 5 percent of dieters succeed, while between 20 to 30 percent of those who try to quit smoking stay off cigs for good?

It's partly because to quit smoking, you just stop, if you can. But with food, it's impossible. You have to eat. Food is something we both use and abuse; abuse in the sense of taking in more than we need, using it for pleasure beyond physical need. That's why so many of us in the Westernised world have a weight problem: food has moved way beyond mere survival.

But our brains still program us for survival, to find calorie-dense food – such as high-fat foods – the most attractive of all. Our brains don't yet know that for us, there's an abundance of such food freely available and if anything, we need to re-program our brains to find healthier foods such as fruit and vegetables equally as attractive.

Big bodies, big biz

Obesity is now a major health problem for all Westernised countries, making a major contribution towards death from heart disease, strokes and diabetes. And this at a time when the pressure to be thin has never been greater. Americans, for example, spend between US$30-50 billion a year on weight-reduction, yet 90 to 95 percent of people who lose weight put it back on – two-thirds within a year, and the rest within five years. Failure brings feelings of guilt and self-hatred. Ever more desperate means are tried to lose weight, including drugs that may have harmful side effects.

So why is it so hard, given that we know the health benefits to being around the right weight for our height and age? The reason seems to be related to a system far more complex than a simple conflict between energy intake (calories) and energy expenditure (exercise).

For example, the average man or woman between the ages of 25 and 55 gains 9.1kg over 30 years. This represents an excess energy intake of only about 0.3 percent over energy expenditure. It seems that a person's weight is stable around a set point that is defended ruthlessly by a control mechanism in the central nervous system.

Your weight tends to go back on after a diet because your brain works like crazy to make sure it does. And some of us, due mainly to the genes we inherit, have a higher set point than others. Sounds pretty hopeless, doesn't it?

Bluffing your body

Your set point can be overridden but only by severe calorie restriction combined with rigorous exercise. That's how the likes of Jennifer Aniston, Calista Flockhart maintain their reed-like figures. Excessive exercise. Little eating. But as soon as you stop these measures, the weight will go back on. So those stars will look like real women again the minute they let up!

Far better than dieting is to prevent the extra weight going on in the first place, if you can. But if it's already there, it is best to concentrate on a healthy diet and enjoyable, not excessive exercise. Those who are only mildly overweight are best advised to maintain their current weight with these measures rather than trying to lose it.

There are many psychological reasons that militate against successful weight control. One major way is how our brains program us to eat. It's all done via a neuro-transmitter called dopamine. Neuroscientists still don't have the entire picture of how the chemical soup that is our brains. But they do know that dopamine is responsible for flooding our bodies with feelings of pleasure and enjoyment each time we eat. It's a reward mechanism (we get similar sensations when we have sex because the brain recognises this as something that promotes the continuation of the species).

Without the dopamine reward, or “hit”, we wouldn't have the same desire to eat. There is definitely a psychological reason why it is hard to restrain ourselves from eating and that reason involves neurochemicals. But the story is not yet fully understood.

But what we do understand thus far is that many of our most basic human drives come from the desire to get that natural dopamine “hit” even though we're mostly unaware of it. We just know it feels nice! Because our brains run on chemicals, we can fool them by using chemicals to hijack the process behind our survival drives. Drugs work by mimicking the dopamine hit without doing anything to promote our survival. And that's why some dieters take amphetamines to try and reduce their appetite – the amphetamines increase the dopamine in our system, thereby fooling the brain into thinking we've already eaten, or eaten enough when we haven't.

~Image Source: Weight Loss Miss~

Diet dependencies

Amphetamines, like cocaine and heroin, are addictive and have powerful side effects, such as feelings of paranoia. This is why they tend not to be prescribed for weight control, though they were in the past. However, they are still taken by some for recreational purposes and weight control. Drugs obtained this way carry great dangers as there is no way of knowing their exact contents. But some dieters are that desperate.

This desperation could also be one of the reasons why many young women take up smoking and refuse to give it up – they think it will help them stay thinner. Smoking does increase the body's metabolic rate and nicotine may act as an appetite suppressant. Nicotine may also encourage the heart to beat faster thus burning calories more quickly.

However, a smoking-induced increase in metabolic rate only accounts for about half the difference in weight between average smokers and non-smokers. Smoking can also lower the body's set weight point so the weight gained on stopping reflects a return to the body's natural weight.

Also, it's been found in fact that on average the gain for ex-smokers is at most 2-3kg and those who increase their physical activity after they give up gain only 1.3-1.8 kg. Furthermore, it's been found that the weight gain is most common immediately after stopping. In the longer term, an ex-smoker's weight can return to normal.

Alcohol is also a short-cut to a dopamine high. But if you're of Chinese descent, you may have a problem metabolising alcohol. Whereas Westerners have somehow evolved a series of liver enzymes to metabolise alcohol and its breakdown product, acetaldehyde, Eastern populations have not been so lucky. About 50 percent of Chinese and Japanese people lack the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and so just one glass of wine taken by people without this enzyme gives them a very unpleasant reaction.

Due to the build-up of acetaldehyde they become flushed, dizzy, nauseated and may even collapse. And without any of the pleasant feelings of intoxication.

And in fact, cutting back on alcohol should make it easier to control your weight because as well as alcohol flooding our bodies with useless calories and filling us up with poison, alcohol lowers our blood-sugar levels making us hungrier. This is why we drink appetisers before a meal and also why you can feel so ravenous for food after a night out on a pub crawl.

So if you have the enzyme that lets you drink freely, try not to. And if you're constantly losing the battle to lose weight, why not experiment with cutting out alcohol for a few weeks? It can make a massive difference, for example, singer Robbie Williams said, in his own words, he was really “lardy” until he went into rehab for his drink and drug abuse. The weight fell off when he stopped drinking.

Starving doesn't help

There's one further main reason why diets don't work: they actually lower our metabolic rate and so make it easier, not harder, to gain weight. It works like this: you start restricting calories and your body think there's a famine going on – which for many thousands of years of human evolution was very likely and sadly still is very likely in many parts of the world. So the dieter's body slows down the metabolism to try and make the most of what food is available. The brain pushes and pushes you to eat more and eventually, most of us can't exist for long on semi-starvation diets so we do what our brains want us to: we resume normal eating. Bang goes the weight back on because our metabolism has been lowered.

Oprah Winfrey once said she had completely ruined her metabolism by constant dieting and bingeing. But none of us should blame ourselves for the inevitable binge that follows the diet. If you go too low on your calorie intake, your brain simply won't let you stay there. The few who can override the constant hunger signals from their brain either become anorexic or go crazy from the effects it takes.

Imagine all the energy Elizabeth Hurley and her Hollywood size 0 friends must use not eating. They fight their bodies every day. They fight the message their brains send out. They become terrified of food. Glorious, wonderful, gorgeous, fabulous food. Seriously, is that any way to live?

Surely the way forward is to become as comfortable as we can with our bodies. To exercise for healthy and enjoyment, not weight control, and to eat for pleasure as well as survival. Many women find that once they get off the diet-binge merry go round, nothing terrible happens. Their weight settles down its set point and they release tons and tons of energy to enjoy life instead of fearing it.

Diets don't work. Evolution is against you. So chuck out the calorie counter and just relax. Food won't kill you. But constantly cutting down on one of the most pleasurable activities known to humans can make life really miserable. Even then, it's unlikely to give you the slyph-like figure you crave. Give it up. Enjoy life.

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Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R Review

WHAT IS IT: Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R

THE PRODUCTS:

Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Spot Essence R: This spot essence rapidly calms down sudden apparent breakouts with its torreya seed oil and green calamine ingredients.

Enriched with torreya seed extract, bija anti-trouble helps control blemish for clear skin. Use cotton swab to gently apply to troubled areas.

As you can see, this spot essence have a slight whitening effect when applied. I purposely refrain from applying with a cotton swab so readers can see what the spot essence is like, if not the cotton swab will probably soak up the essence itself and nothing much will show up.

VERDICT: Well, the first reason I got this product is that, my chin area is mostly prone to breakouts. When one pimple heal, another will pop up within the chin area to replace it's previous fallen comrade. Every. Single. Time. It is really frustrating when you thought you've dealt and get it over with one pimple, only to have another show up. Sometimes, it's a heal 1 and get 2 more "promotion" going on though. As you all might have probably noticed, I got the Spot Essence R as it's meant for pimples that are more red and angry. And besides, the Innisfree in Singapore that I've been to only carries the "R" version, instead of both "R" and "W" version.

The color is similar to dark algae-green color, and the texture and consistency is actually rather creamy and powdery at the same time . The nearest and closest example I can name on the spot is the Oxy Cover Acne Pimple Medication, slightly thick and this "R" version is also slightly whitening so it actually works rather decently in covering up pimples and acne if you are wearing makeup as well. But because my skin tone is more towards the pale variety and my pimples tend to look rather red and angry, it doesn't really cover well even when I wear makeup. I would still have to dab Oxy Cover Acne Pimple Medication on top to literally make the pimple look really less obvious.

Normally, my body and skin doesn't react at all to products that are of the weaker variety. Allow me to explain in another way: When I fall sick and visit the doctor, I always ask for stronger medication as my body doesn't react to medication that is "mild". "Mild" medication simply meant I would take even longer to recover, for example, from a fever. But with stronger medication, my fever literally can go down in as fast as half a day's time after medical application. That is exactly what I meant when I say my body and skin do not react to products that are "weak and mild". It's the equivalent of wasting money on a product that I know do not work. And I think it's also because Singapore is humid all year round and it's actually easy for majority of the under 35-year-old population to have pimples and acne problems that are of the red and angry variety too.

I would say that I am rather "pro" at noticing new pimples that haven't quite turned red on my skin yet, so I practically knew when I should start using this product as soon as I "feel" a pimple coming. But because I'm working, I can't simply go to the toilet during break-time for the sake of washing off a layer of makeup just for the sake of re-applying this product. Only to re-apply another layer of makeup to cover it all over again. It's rather troublesome to go through so much trouble just for the sake of re-applying throughout the day. So most times, I just simply skip applying makeup altogether. This means it's actually easier to see if the product does actually work. And it does work for me rather well.

Although 15ml sounds like a lot, since I'm only dabbing a really small and adequate amount to cover and apply on the pimple itself, it can pretty much last me quite a while. But also because I tend to re-apply this product at least twice a day when my pimples seemed extra hyper, it really doesn't last that long in the long run. I gave it probably around 6 to 7 months before I have to re-stock this product again. All in all, the scent isn't much of an issue as I only apply a really thin and sparing layer on my angsty pimples.

PRODUCT RATING:✓✓

WHAT I THINK: For readers with sensitive skin, you might want to enquire more at Innisfree to check if they do have sample sachets for both the "R" and "W" version as the "R" version can be too strong for the skin to handle. But it works quite good for me though, as I have oily/combination skin. It has a whitening effect and literally covers new pimples rather well, but doesn't do any decent coverage if your pimple is really reddish-looking. Be careful to apply only to affected areas or it may dry out the skin around the pimple.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No sample for redemption. But you can pop by any Innisfree retail outlet and test out the tester tube.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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Benefits of Face Steaming

Although it might sound scary, but it is a relatively simple procedure in one of the many steps in ensuring your skin reap some benefits from it. If you happened to be someone who is suffering from mild acne from time to time, the biggest benefit of facial steaming is that, it helps clear up your skin. Because the gentle heat softens the surface layer of dead skin cells called the stratum corneum, this simple process helps to free any dead cells, dirt, bacteria and other trapped gunk that could be causing that breakout that keeps showing up unexpectedly. Facial steaming actually helps and allow the skin to better absorb any other products you are using immediately after the steaming, in short it opens up the pores for cleaning while cleaning it at the same time. But if you suffer from a bad case of severe acne, steaming might make it worse on the other hand, so it's best to check with your doctor or a dermatologist first.

~Image Source: Only My Health~

The gentle warm humidty from steaming may increase perspiration and at the same time stimulate blood circulation, depending on how easy it is for your skin to "sweat". To look at a human body's natural cooling system in a little more detail, our sweat consists mostly of water. But it is also mixed with a small amount of our body's waste and toxins, hence sweating literally washes these waste and toxins away. And also, increasing blood circulation in our facial skin can help to give a warm and colorful glow, all complimentary of a facial steaming. This is better than layering on layers of blush repeatedly throughout the day.

But also be aware, skin that is suffering from sweating or blood circulations, such as rosacea or fungal infections may actually do more harm than good. So, always check and check with your doctor and/or dermatologist. It helps if you are aware of your latest skin conditions in the event that you are considering facial steaming.

If you're someone like me who tend to want to save money via the do-it-yourself route, the other benefits wil be the cost and convenience of facial steaming. There are plenty of at-home facial steaming products, like the one you can buy at any Watsons outlet in Singapore, and it's less than S$30 the last time I checked. And the best part, you don't even need any special lotions just to do a DIY facial steaming in the comforts of your own home. Even if you do not have the intention to plonk down S$30 for it, as long as you have running water, a kettle, a small wash basin large enough for your face and a big towel, you're already set to start doing a facial steaming immediately.

Facial steaming might sound easy, but at the same time, there is a wrong way and a right way to go about doing it. Below are a couple of steps to steam your face without doing your skin any harm.

~Image Source: Afrophire Magazine~

Method 1: Steaming your Face

• Because a basic DIY steam involves only water and your skin, it doesn't require much water
Simply fill up a small pot with 1 - 2 cups of water and bring it to a full boil


• While the water is boiling, wash your face using a gentle cleanser to thoroughly remove all traces of makeup, dirt, oil and sweat that is sitting on the surface of your skin
It is very important that your skin is clean prior to steaming it. As your pores will open wide during the steaming process, any dirt or makeup on your skin will actually cause irritation. Avoid cleansing your face with exfoliating scrubs or using harsh soap, as this is to reduce the chance of the steam treatment further irritating your skin. Simply pat dry with a soft towel after cleansing.


• Pour the boiling water into a bowl and let it cool for a minute or two. If you're doing the steam treatment as a follow up to any at-home spa treatment, pour the water into a big ceramic or glass bowl. The prettiness of the bowl is optional
If it's only a quick steam that does not involve any DIY at-home spa treatment, you can just leave the water in the pot and place the pot on a flat surface. Avoid using a plastic bowl to hold the water as you do not want small plastic molecules getting involved in your facial steam.


• Add your favorite essential oils or herbs to make the treatment a little special and luxurious. Be sure to add extras after you've taken the water off the oil as the scents will evaporate quickly
If you do not have any special oils or herbs nearby, try using tea instead. Put a few herbal tea bags in the water, mint, chai, chamomile are excellent choices.


• Place a towel over your head and drape it so that it drops down on either side of your face. This traps the steam so that it will concentrate near your skin. Place your face just close enough to feel the steam on your face, but not too close to the point where your skin feels like it's burning or you are having trouble breathing in fresh air
A typical steam lasts for only 10 minutes, even if you have a 5 minute facial steaming, you can still receive many benefits as if you are doing a 10 minute steam. Don't steam past 10 minutes as steam can cause the face to swell while can exacerbating acne, especially if you have acne or other known skin issues.


• As the steam treatment leaves your pores wide open, this is the perfect time to draw out dirt and other impurities by following up your steam treatment with a clay mask suitable for your skin type. Simple apply the mask over your face in a thin layer, let sit for 10-15 minutes and wash away with warm water before patting dry with a soft towel
If you do not want to use a clay mask, use plain honey or a honey and oatmeal mask instead. If you do not wish to use any mask treatment, just simply wash your face with warm water after the steam treatment. Do not use a strong exfoliant or harsh soap on your skin after steaming, especially if you have acne problems. Since your face will be slightly swollen and your pores will be open, scrubbing it could cause it to become inflamed.


• After rinsing your mask away, use a facial toner to help your pores close back up. Apply gently to your face using a cotton ball
Lemon juice makes a great natural toner. Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 cup of water. Apple cider vinegar is another great option. Mix 1 tablespoon with 1 cup of water.


• Steam and heat can cause our skin to dry out, so it's the most important step to follow up after your steam treatment with a good moisturizer that is right for your skin type. Use a moisturizer that has soothing oils, such as aloe vera or butter to prevent your skin from getting too dry after the steam treatment. Let the moisturizer completely absorb into your skin before applying makeup

Method 2: Cold Relief Steam

Steams can help to clear sinuses when you have a cold, especially when your nose is so blocked that you are practically breathing through your mouth like a koi. Not a pretty sight, right? Simply use herbs such as Mint, Chamomile or Eucalyptus and/or essential oils such as Eucalyptus, Bergamot or Mint. Follow the steps in Method 1 while using the forementioned herbs or essential oils.

Method 3: Stress Relief Steam

Herbs such as Lavender, Chamomile and Lemon Verbena and essential oils such as Bergamot, Sandalwood and Passionflower are wonderful scents to help you to alleviate your stress while calming and soothing your nerves, mind and emotions. Steaming can also help soothe the soul as it is a relaxing procedure that lets your breathe in wonderful scents while you sit back and relax. Again, follow Method 1 and use the forementioned herbs and/or essential oils for a stress-relieving steam.

Method 4: Sleeping Aid Steam

If you are someone who tend to lose sleep easily, suffer from insomnia once-in-a-while, doing a facial steaming for at least 10 minutes can actually help you to relax and sleep more peacefully. You can consider using herbs such as Chamomile, Lavender, Valerian or essential oils such as Geranium Rose, Lavender, Patchouli. You can add all of the herbs/essential oils or add the the scents you referred to help you to sleep more easily. Best of all? No sleeping drugs needed.

NOTE: You should steam your face no more than once a week. If your pores are particularly clogged, you can steam your face twice a week until your condition improves. Steaming your face too often can actually lead to more breakouts.

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Samples Received & Redeemed: April 2016

At last, it's time for that post of the month that accumulates samples and some cheap buys included. Sometimes, it really amazes me when I walked into a run-down and small looking Giant hypermarket, only to find really cheap shower gels which makes me wonder, how come I never saw these cheap buys before when I browsed around inside? Anyways, here's a look at what I've gotten my grubby hands on for the month of April :D

• Zen Garden Goat Milk Bath & Shower Gel @ 300ml (left)
• Zen Garden Lavender Bath & Shower Gel @ 300ml (right)

Goat Milk retails at S$1.00 per 300ml bottle while Lavender retails at S$2.00 per bottle, if you were to buy the bundle pack of 1 litre and the 300ml bottle together, you only need to pay S$3.00 altogether. Because I haven't tried this brand before, I didn't dare to buy the bundle pack in case my skin has an allergic reaction to it.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No samples for redemption.

• Pure Clarifying Foam Wash @ 125ml (left)
• Black Musk Shower Gel @ 250ml (right)

Well, I've tested a small amount of the Pure Clarifying Foam Wash right inside the retail shop itself, and I dare say, the skin on my left hand looks brighter when compard to the right hand. The shower gel is because I don't use soap bars at all due to sensitive skin.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I don't recall seeing sample sachets for shower gels, but for the foam wash, you can try asking. As I've tried it inside the retail shop, I'm guessing there's no sample sachet for the foam wash as well.

• Essential Deep Cleansing Care Shampoo @ 15ml (left)
• Essential Deep Cleansing Care Conditioner @ 15ml (right)

Well, I forgot where I saw the sample ad from. But no doubt, these samples are kinda "late" after I bought the trial-size version almost 6 months back LOL

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to essentialsg.com/deepcleanse/ and fill out your details. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox and it's while stocks last. Hurry~

• Creighton Manga & Papaya Balance Bath & Shower @ 500ml (left)
• Creighton Cherry & Wild Fig Sensual Bath & Shower @ 500ml (right)

• Creighton Vanilla & Macadamia Cocoon Bath & Shower @ 500ml (left)
• Creighton Raspberry & Pomegranate Revive Bath & Shower @ 500ml (right)

There's a new Venus Beauty outlet opened at my neighborhood, so I went for a look-see and happened to see these 4 bottles retailing at S$6.95 per bottle, which is rather affordable. I debated for 2 nights and went back on the 3rd day and got all 4 flavours. And I regret not! The scents are heavenly~ xD

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: No samples for redemption.

• Dove Sensitive Skin Nourishing Body Wash @ 200ml

Well, a visit to The Sample Store's "Free Samples" page reminded me of how long I've been deprived of writing anything on this blog. NEVER AGAIN!!!

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: The last I check, the "Redeem" button is still in blue, which means there should still be samples up for grabs. Hurry~

• Crème Simon Brightening Detox Gentle Double Exfoliation Scrub @ 5ml (left)
• Crème Simon Crème Universelle @ 5ml (right)

Happened to know about 2 samples available for redemption at Crème Simon's website, but you need to register an account on their website first.

Just a warning, while attempting to check out my samples, the website kept giving me weird error messages and I though it didn't went through. Tried to re-request again and the website stated that I've already requested for the samples. If you encountered the same thing as I've mentioned, try re-requesting once again and it should inform you that you've already requested for the sample. Delivery took less than a week, so no harm in waiting.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to creme-simon.com/collections/, scroll down until you see the above 2 products, there will be a "REQUEST FOR SAMPLE" button that is clickable. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox.

• Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock SPF 50+ @ 15ml

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Also redeemable at The Sample Store, under the "Free Samples" tab. Same thing, it's while stocks last. So, hurry~

• Cetaphil DailyAdvance Ultra Hydrating Lotion @ 14g (left)
• Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser @ 29ml (middle)
• Cetaphil Daylong SPF 50+ PA++++ (right)

Anyway, I got my samples as Cetaphil was organizing some sort of online FB contest. But you can just skip the contest and get the samples instead, if you don't wish to join.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to cetaphil.com.sg/samples/ and fill in your details. The samples will be mailed to your mailbox.

• Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Lotion @ 2ml (left)
• Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Hydrating Water Gel @ 2g (right)

Hada Labo wasn't organizing anything on FB, I was just bored and randomly surfing around. Saw Hada Labo website has samples, and requested for them xD

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to hadalabo.com.sg/, on the right of the website, you'll see "Free Samples" flag. Doesn't matter which sample you picked, you'll get one of each when they mailed it out to you.

• Jergens Ultra Healing Extra Dry Skin Moisturizer @ 5ml

I don't really recall how I got to know about this sampling activity for Jergens, but the website is still working and it's while stocks last. Hurry~

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: Go over to ksgpromo.com/jergens/, fill in your details and the sample will be delivered to your mailbox.

That's it for April's samples and cheap buys. See you all in this segment next month in May~ Walalala~

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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Quickie Review: White Musk Libertine Eau De Toilette

White Musk Libertine feat. Bun & Skip

Q: So tell us, what's the notes for this particular Eau De Toilette?

A: It's is a fragrance with vegetable musk note in the top, middle and the base note. The composition also includes Turkish delight (rose, almond, honey) and whipped cream. We just love vegetables also, it is so healthy and hearty for small furry folks like us ❤❤

Q: What does this Eau De Toilette reminds you of?

A: *sniffs* It smells like Burberry Brit EDT's younger, and much more shy sibling and a little bit sweet~

Q: How long does the Eau De Toilette lasts after spraying?

A: The scent is strong at first, smoky and heavy with a rose scent at the beginning, but then slowly dries down to a cozy sweet musk of cream and honey that lasts quite long ❤❤❤ Omigosh!! Sweet cream and honey!!

Q: Is this Eau De Toilette good for the climate in Singapore?

A: As woodland creatures, we know the 4 seasons very well. We even know where to gather berries and nuts when winter is nearing. During winter, this scent seems to be only just a pleasant light sweet musk, nothing too heavy-headed. But now that it's getting really warm recently, we can smell every single note! And this is the first time we noticed how soft, sweet and creamy it smells. ❤❤ Definitely a must-have for months when the weather is slightly warmer.

Q: How would you rate this Eau De Toilette as a whole?

A: This is a really versatile scent no matter the scenario, weather or location. Reminds us of running freely in the woods, dreaming of cream and honey ❤❤❤

Q: How many points would you guys rate this Eau De Toilette, out of say, 100 points?

A: 90 points!!! We love the cream and honey ❤❤

~ The End ~

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Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion Review

WHAT IS IT: Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion

THE PRODUCT(S):

Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble Lotion: This watery moisturizing lotion helps to clear and treat troubled skin with its outstanding protection power of jeju torreya seed oil and natural originated salicylic acid.

A moisture rich antiblemish lotion with natural Jeju torreya seed oil, outstanding healing effects of the torreya seed oil help troubled skin. Contains natural salicylic acid for exfoliation and blemish care, oil-free moisturizer and 100% Natural essential oil: The scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest comforts your mind and body.

This lotion comes in a white opaque milky liquid consistency while the texture doesn't feel heavy like a cream. The scent is rather splended, somewhat like a forest-y type of scent and the lightweight lotion spreads evenly without making my skin feel heavy and clogged.

VERDICT: Despite the product claiming to have the scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest, I think I pretty much get the "forest" part. It doesn't help that most Singaporeans wouldn't have known what Pine and Juniper Berries are supposed to feel like, while Pine products seems manaufactured to the point you won't even know if the pine scent is real or manufactured. But anyways, that forest scent I mentioned, it's almost like skipping through a magical forest somewhere where your skin feels relaxed and calm.

I was actually recommended this range by the SA at Plaza Singapura Innisfree sometime in March/April a year ago. Reason for going to Innisfree to find a good daycare skin regime product is really due to the reason that their Innisfree products seems just about enough and straight forward. Instead of the usual skin/body-based product shops that seems to sell a bazillion products that makes you feel as if every item is a must-have. Over at Innisfree, the ranges seemed few but well detailed and the SA actually seemed to know their products pretty well too. No matter how I tried to explain my skin problems by tweaking it, I kept being recommended back to this Innisfree Bija Anti-Trouble range without fail. It's like, their SA doesn't get sidetracked easily and is dedicated to ensureing you make the right purchases for your skin type.

The lotion itself is a white color milky liquid, that at first glance looks heavy like a cream-based moisturizer. But as soon as you rub it into your skin, the lotion simply melts into your skin with gently massaging. And naturally, no parabens were located anywhere on the tube itself, instead, I got Jeju torreya seed oil and salicylic acid with extracts such as from Japanese Camellia, Camellia Sinensis, Opuntia, Satsuma and white willow. During and after application, my skin doesn't feel sticky, heavy, nor clogged at all although it has a slight cooling sensation that makes your skin feel relaxed at the cooling sensation.

After using it for around 2-3 weeks, I noticed that my skin started behaving better. Meaning: pimple outbreaks were less as compared to before using this product. Existing pimples weren't irritated at all and didn't even "sit" clueless on my face for days and weeks on end, instead, my existing pimples actually cleared up normally. My skin doesn't even look that oily during the day, and neither did it feel heavy from having a product applied on it. Normally, my skin feels like it's been through a week of existence even though it's only a mere 24 hours. You'd understand the feeling on your face when you didn't apply or apply the wrong facial moisturizer.

And I actually use the toner and this lotion as my daytime skincare regime, short and simple with 2 products during the day as I'm not too fond of loading extra products on my face during daytime as I sweat rather easily from the humidity. Basically, this helps to treat skin with acne and pimple issues, not an overall product that gets rid of acnes and pimples and blemishes. But I find that this product works just well for my skin without bad aftereffects.

PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Honestly, I didn't expect much from this product as I've been using so many different types I'm almost jaded in trying anymore sometimes. But this product range surprises me quite well with it's simple promises. My skin feels calmer and refreshed without feeling heavy nor clogged at all. And it's really lightweight and absorbs easily into my skin without hassle.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I haven't encountered any sample products for this range, but you can try asking in any Innisfree if they have samples for trying first.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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Teeth Whitening at Home

One of the top most common complaint we all have about our teeth is that they're discolored from so many things. Such as drinking coffee, tea, smoking, eating highly pigmented foods, to quote a few as an example. This always result in an ugly yellowish tinge on our teeth that everyone of us loathes to see when we look into the mirror.

~Image Source: 123RF Stock Photography~

If we do have extra money to burn spend, we can always visit a dentist for a quick whitening treatment. But let's face it, no matter the economy, we either don't have the extra money or even want to spend that extra money on teeth whitening. Unless we're earning S$10,000 a month from our jobs, that would have been a different story though. And this is one of the few reasons people start getting creative and looking in their own pantry for household products that does the job, but for a mere fraction of the price.

Cheap Ways to Whiten Teeth

DIY teeth whitening is one of those beauty treatments that sounds like it involves science and seemed rather hard to do, but honestly, it really isn't all that difficult to grasp and do note, no matter what your budget is, it will never ever burn a hole in your pocket and wallet for that. But be aware that if you are a regular caffeine drinker (coffee, black tea) or a regular smoker for years already, this DIY teeth whitening method might not be enough to restore the former whitening glory of your teeth. Maybe only just a little, in fact, these DIY tips are better suited for you if you just want your teeth to be a few shades whiter as it does not totally eliminate and get rid of severe stains.

Basically, you only need 2 products: Hydrogen Peroxide and Baking Soda.

Yes, Hydrogen Peroxide is mainly used for cleaning cuts and scrapes, but surprisingly it works. Unsure still? Next time when you are out shopping in the supermarket, look at the ingredients in teeth whiteners and quality toothpastes as most times, hydrogen peroxide and/or baking soda is included in the ingredients list as well.

Hydrogen Peroxide as Mouthwash

Swap out your normal mouth rinse with hydrogen peroxide or mix it with a ratio of half cup mouth rinse and half cup hydrogen peroxide. Swish liquid (not gargle) around your mouth for at least a full minute before you spit it out. You can rinse your mouth again with plain tap water to get rid of the weird taste too. Just don't forgo the plain water mouth rinse please.

Baking Soda as Toothpaste

Make a mixture using a tiny amount of toothpaste (roughly the amount you need to brush your teeth with) in a small container, add in 1 teaspoon of baking soda and half a teaspoon of plain tap water. Once the mixture is thoroughly mixed and resembles the consistency of toothpaste, use it to brush your teeth for a full 2 minutes gently like how you would brush your teeth on a regular basis. Spit out and rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain tap water. Check your reflection in the mirror, does your teeth looks as if you've treated it with those expensive teeth whitener and expensive toothpaste products?

But please be aware that this is only recommended for a once weekly usage until you get the desired shade of white you want for your teeth while at the same time cutting down on teeth-staining food and drinks. If you must have these, at least do rinse your teeth with plain tap water and brush gently without toothpaste after consuming teeth-staining food and drinks to prevent your teeth from getting stained again. Once your teeth is in the shade of white you desired, limit the baking soda treatment to only once a month to maintain the whiteness.

Because if you use the baking soda treatment on a regular basis, it will gradually wear down the enamel on our teeth and make your teeth more susceptible to cavities. Basically, while you have a megawatt white smile, you'll at the same time suffer from sensitive teeth and cavities, which is worse than having teeth discoloration in the first place. Without overdoing this simple DIY, you can have a beautiful smile full of clean white teeth while saving hundreds of dollars to the dentist for professional teeth whitening. Because if you realized, I doubt dentists will ask you to go back for a weekly teeth whitening session.

First time round, they'll whiten your teeth as much as they possibly can without trying to do much damage to the enamel in your teeth. The rest is up to you on whether you want to take care of it or not. If you don't, you're just giving the dentist extra money on a monthly basis for teeth whitening.

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The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask Review

WHAT IS IT: The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask

THE PRODUCT(S):

The Face Shop Raspberry Roots Sleeping Mask: Drawing on the pure and natural strength of the Himalayas, extract of Himalayan raspberry root tones and lifts skin for refined facial contours.

Skin problems? Try sleeping on it with this overnight beauty mask and wake up to porcelain smooth skin. Himalayan Raspberry Roots and Grain Extracts optimize elasticity and tighten pores while thoroughly hydrating and replenishing skin of lost nutrients. Additions of plant extracts in the formulation promote the natural secretion of pleasure-inducing beta endorphins and stimulate the formation of collagen for more youthful skin.

It comes in a cloudy gel form that spreads like water easily without much hassle, although it leaves a layer of shine and sheen on my face after application.

VERDICT: I got this trial/sample version while on my previous a.k.a last The Face Shop haul for hair products, I really had no intention of getting a sleeping mask from Korean beauty shops as I believe most of them are somewhat overhyped. But for their shampoos, it's a different story as it's under-hyped but reliable, trustworthy and useful. Anyway, despite the sales staff in getting me to buy a sleeping mask, which I politely reject, they gave me this trial/sample tube instead so I can try out while reassuring me that it's a really good product that gets rave reviews and is really popular among their clientele.

This sleeping mask has a wonderful fruity smell that is clean and fresh, kind of reminds you of walking through a field with nothing but beautiful sweet smelling fruits as far as the naked eye can see. Just don't ask what fruit though as my sense of smell can be quite bad sometimes, so it's a little hard to differentiate scents sometimes, but this fruity smell isn't overpowering nor cloying at all. And the scent actually dissipates upon spreading it on your skin, which I think is rather great. It's better than trying to struggle with a sleeping mask that smells weird and puts you off in using it, huh?

Unfortunately, I think it's a over-hyped product that doesn't quite deliver as compared to "how popular it is with our clientele", which I quote the SA saying to me. Maybe it's my skin problem, maybe it's not me but them, I don't know. But I can assure you that after dutifully using this for close to a year, I don't really see much improvement in the pore tightening claim it has. Skin elasticity-wise, there might be some improvement, but it isn't that obvious to tell at first glance either. Kinda like a "Meh!?" to me, to be truthfully honest.

A quick way to know if you have dry overnight skin upon waking up is to look for bedsheet lines on your face. If you see it, your skin is losing moisture when you sleep at night. But if you don't, that means your skin is doing okay.

Hydration wise, it's a little hydrating as my skin doesn't look too dry and taut when I wake up in the morning. Let's just say, my skin doesn't have bedsheet lines showing when I check with the mirror in the morning, it didn't help that I toss and turn like a human burrito when I sleep, so it's definitely going to leave bedsheet and pillow lines on my face and I am also prone to lying face down when I sleep. It's just that I fall asleep and sleep better than I lie face down instead of face up, yeah, I'm a weird sleeper alright LOL

However, I find that after applying this sleeping mask, my face tend to look a little greasy and oily and mind you, I don't put that much products on my face before bed. I literally followed the application instructions to a T as I don't like having my skin feel "heavy" with products just before bedtime. I only apply sparingly, but a quick check on my face seems to suggest that I overload the products instead. But the saving grace is that it doesn't make my skin feel oily upon application as it's a gel-like consistency and texture that spreads easily and evenly on my skin, just that it makes my skin looks oily and greasy though.

Thankfully, it doesn't make my skin look red nor make it feel itchy after a night of application. And the best part is that it doesn't trigger my sensitive pimples that I might have on certain days too. But the ultimate gross part? It has parabens in it, so how it got popular among Singaporean females amazes me. If it's a sample sachet, I don't mind the parabens as it is just one-off. But to have to use a product that contains paraben on a daily basis or even twice weekly is enough to make our skin go astray in the long run.

PRODUCT RATING: ✓

WHAT I THINK: It's actually a good product for me as it doesn't irritate my skin or even irritate existing pimples on my skin, but it's the presence of 5 different types of parabens that make it a turn-off for me. If it's just 1 type and it's a product that is recommended to be used once a week, I still find it acceptable. But because my skin tends to suffer from dehydration overnight, I tend to use it up to 3 or 4 times a week to combat the dryness of my skin at night, which makes it a bad product to use on a long-term basis.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: I think The Face Shop should have sample sachets for buyers to take home and try. I got this small tube due to a $100+ purchase.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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Benefits of Green Tea: Your New BFF

“A cup of tea would restore my normality," Douglas Adams once wrote in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. And he was definitely onto something healthy and good. Turns out that regularly drinking green tea can do lots and lots of wonders for your body and health. Here are 7 easy ways the drink gives you a much needed health boost:

~Image Source: Shutterstock~

#1. Green Tea is good for your bones

Everyone from our mothers to health experts used to say "Milk is good for your bones", although personally, I don't find myself growing any taller all these years. But according to a study published in the journal Nutrition Research, green tea can help slow down the process of age-related bone loss and at the same time help to decrease the risk of fractures caused mainly by osteoporosis. Especially women who made the effort to drink at least 3 cups of green tea per day have a 30% chance to lower the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures, most noticeably from the hip.

#2. Green Tea prevents cancer

If we are to take a look at Japan for example, cancer rates are actually lower there, because green tea is the number 1 go-to drink. While researchers cannot be absolutely sure that just consuming green tea alone is responsible for low cancer rates, we do know that tea contains chemicals EGCG, EGC and EC, which are highly known for their antioxidant activity. These chemicals help protect our cells from DNA damage, which is one of the first steps in growth cancer cells. Also, the properties in green tea can help protect your skin from UV damage which is also a leading cause of skin cancer.

#3. Green tea to lose weight

Not only does green tea helps you to maintain a healthy weight when taken on a long-time regular basis, it can also help to reduce body fat at the same time. According to a 12-week study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, green tea extracts may also have the power to help decrease obesity and obesity-related illness, like diabetes to quote for example.

#4. Green tea lowers your cholesterol

Green tea has been linked to lower levels of LDL which is known as the "bad" cholesterol, according to a paper published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In short, tea drinkers have slightly lower levels of LDL compare to those who do not drink green tea at all. So, load up on all that green tea.

#5. Green tea gives you healthy gums

Those of you who drink green tea on a regular basis would have realized that their gum-tissue and gum bleeding problems doesn't happen that much, as compared to the rest of us who probably don't even touch a single drop of tea at all. According to researchers at a Japanese university, the more tea their test subjects drank, the fewer symptoms of periodontal disease are displayed, so drinking more than a cup of green tea a day is definitely the way to improving your oral health. Psst! It's not just about the specific brand and type of toothbrush and mouth rinse anymore huh?

#6. Green tea helps your heart <3

According to Harvard Medical School, drinking green tea daily can help you to lower the risk of heart disease. Reguar tea drinkers also showed a 26% lower risk of dying from a stroke or heart attack in a Japanese study of over 40,000 participants. And to further back this up, all these 40,000 participants consumed at the very least, 5 cups of green tea on a daily basis. So, do drink up on your green tea.

#7. Green tea gives you energy

Those of us (me especially) who are trying to cut down on caffeine can also reap the energy benefits of green tea as well. One 8-ounce cup of green tea contains at least 24 to 45 miligrams of caffeine, as compared to 95 to 200 milligrams in a cup of coffee, tea itself offers a boost of much-needed energy with the chance of a lower risk of headaches, shakiness and nausea that comes complimentary with caffeine overload. And that healthy jolt of caffeine in tea can boost exercise endurance, according to a research published in the American Journal of Physiology. So it doesn't matter whether you're an athlete or just a normal person looking for a quick and healthy instant pick-me-up, it definitely helps to go the path of green tea.

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Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex Review

WHAT IS IT: Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex

THE PRODUCT(S):

Innisfree Bija Anti-trouble Skin with Torreya Seed Oil and Green Complex: Natural originated salicylic acid, natural originated alcohol presents you with a clear complexion as it exfoliates dead skin cells that cause skin trouble and removes impurities left inside pores. A toner made from natural Jeju torreya for treating blemished skin! The outstanding healing effects of the torreya seed oil help troubled skin. Contains natural salicylic acid for exfoliation and blemish care. The naturally fermented alcohol soothes skin. 100% Natural essential oil: The scent of pine, juniper berries, and the forest comforts your mind and body.

Despite the bottle looking all blue on the outside, this toner is actually a clear liquid instead of the blue we expect it to be.

VERDICT: Scent-wise, there's a strong scent of alcohol with a hint of herbal tonic in it although the herbal tonic scent is more towards lemon grass scent. For those of us who are sensitive to the scent of alcohol or whose skin is sensitive and allergic to alcohol, this product might actually do more harm than good. Although funnily enough, part of the product describes this product having the scent of pine, Juniper berries and woods and most reviews for this product I have come across have a varying difference when it comes to the scent. And at the same time, it's a toner made from natural Jeju torreya, which means it should smell more like torreya instead. But personally, I don't find the scent too "dramatic" in terms of the difference in scent.

Upon using this toner, it gives a refreshing and clean feel to my skin after using it. And to be honest, a toner is essentially a liquid that delivers beneficial ingredients directly onto the skin after cleansing. And depending on the formulation of the toner, it can also "close" or minimize pores and smooth the texture of the skin, ready for the application of moisturizer and/or makeup. Although toners containing alcohol can be somewhat controversial towards certain toner users as alcohol can be drying. But at the same time, the drying part can actually clear the skin of any excess sebum on the spot to ensure sebum doesn't mess with the moisturizer that follows soon after.

For me, this toner helps to control oil and sebum on my skin without making my skin feel too dry after using and luckily for me, the toner doesn't irritate my skin too much especially when pimples are present. And upon using, I can feel and see my skin brighten up a little although I doubt it helps in the whitening department though. I mean, I haven't heard of any toner that whitens complexion. Complexion whitening tend to be products in the serum or moisturizer range, as far as I am aware. And personally on my skin, it actually feels a tad hydrating instead of the usual dryness I encountered when using other brand toners.

Sometimes, when my skin feels too oily and shine-reflective, I just use this to clear off the excess sebum on my skin. But I don't recommend continuously using the toner throughout the entire day repeatedly just for the sake of getting sebum off your face though. I tend to use it only when my face and skin actually feels "heavy" from the serum and I want a quick refresh on my face to feel better. It does help dry out the whiteheads, on a side note. As I've noticed less whiteheads showing up on my skin after using this product for the past 1.5 years.

PRODUCT RATING: ✓✓✓

WHAT I THINK: Although this toner contains alcohol, I personally find that it doesn't over-dry my skin at all. In fact, my whiteheads are noticeably lesser after using this toner. It hydrates and also reduces the amount of sebum on my skin as my skin condition is of the combination type. Whitening wise, I don't really see much difference but it actually brightens up my skin a little after using.

WHERE TO REDEEM SAMPLE: You can pop by any Innisfree outlet and enquire for sample sachets to bring home and try it out before committing to this product on a permanent basis. Or alternatively, there should be opened sample bottles in their outlets. But I still recommend asking for sample sachets that you can bring home and try instead.

Why not like my Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PuNiaosProductReviews to be informed of latest samples I found, which is duly updated? Also includes updates to health, beauty & lifestyle tips regularly. It will definitely save you the trouble of having to hunt them down :)

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