Sunday 22 December 2013

LADY@LXG: The Braun Silk-épil 7 SkinSpa experience

My new obsession..

After many years of epilating my nether regions and under arms, my poor epilator bid this world adieu and died on me mid epilation (yes you read right, it died in the midst of epilating me, so my hairs were still stuck in the mechanism). After wrenching it off my hairs, I was in quite a tizzy about which epilator I should get to replace old faithful.

Thankfully I didn’t have to think too long as Braun were kind enough to send me their Silk-épil 7 SkinSpa. This little beauty is the female equivalent to the Braun CoolTec shaver. Not only is it an epilator, it is also an exfoliator, can be used both wet and dry and even has a detachable electrical shaver head and trimmer (how much more awesome can this little gadget get?)

Ok so I test drove each of the attachments, and here are my views:


SkinSpa’s epilator head: 

My favourite part about this section is that it comes with a very handy (can’t believe I ever epilated without it in the past?!) little Smartlight. Basically, as soon as you switch the epilator on, a little light pops on and literally illuminates every single hair, making it so easy to ensure that you get a perfectly smooth finish. 

I used it both in and out of water and it works. If you are an epilator virgin, please note that it hurts, like waxing does, cos epilating is essentially removing the hair at the root. The advantage of this method is that you will remain hair free longer (think 1-2 weeks) and newer hairs (after prolonged use) are usually finer. 

I have very fine hairs on my arms and legs which my usual epilator could never reach, but this little beauty did. Although it didn’t remove 100% of my fine hairs, it gave me a very clean finish when I epilated my bikini area and boy did that Smartlight come in handy there!

SkinSpa’s exfoliation brush:

I am so into exfoliating. I have numerous body scrubs, loofahs and natural fiber body brushes, so I was super thrilled to give the exfoliating brush a go. At the end of the day, just like in the case of our face, there is really no point investing a fortune on your skin care if your skin is coated in dead cells, which is why exfoliation is a daily must-do!

I must say, that I love this feature cos none of my exfoliators do the job for me, I usually have to put some effort into manually scrubbing myself, but this cute little things swirls away by itself and my skin looks all glowing and soft after! 

Skin Spa's Shaving head and trimmer:

Have you ever made the mistake of shaving your bikini area cos you were just too lazy or tied for time to get it waxed? Did you them itch your skin off a few days later when the hair started to grow out? Well I did. My advice, don’t EVER shave your nether regions, the grow back is torture!

Well anyway, I was a bit concerned about putting myself through that torture again, but heck, I had already epilated my leg and arm, hair off so I didn’t have that many options. The shaver is great. Its fast, very gentle (especially around the delicate bits) and the best part?? There is absolutely NO itching when the hair grows back. I am so impressed. I don’t know why this is the case, but I don’t care, I am just so thankful I wont have to rip my skin off itching again.

I love the fact that this is cordless cos my old one wasn’t. Its beautifully designed, ergonomic and a joy to hold and use. If I had to choose just ONE feature, what would it be? I love them all, but If I was forced at gun point, I would choose the Smartlight, cos it really illuminates the area and makes epilating so much more efficient.

The Braun Silk-épil 7 SkinSpa retails at $219 and will be available at all major electrical chain stores, departmental stores, selected hypermarkets and independent electrical stores. 

Join Braun on facebook for more promotions and giveaways :  www.facebook.com/braunsingapore

Stay tuned because I will be giving away this little beauty to ONE lucky winner in January!








Saturday 21 December 2013

LADY@LXG: Say what! sunscreen in a capsule??

I am a big sunscreen user. Unfortunately for me, I started this obsession a little late in life, so I have already damaged my skin irreparably, but heck, better late than never, so for the past decade or so, I have been slathering, spraying and daubing on almost every brand of sunscreen in the market, so believe me when I say that I know my sunscreen brands.   

Since the beginning of this year however, I have focussed this sunscreen obsession of mine towards one specific brand; Heliocare. I like the simplicity of the product and the fact that it is not tested on animals, as I am a huge animal advocate.

Their sunscreens also smell nice. Not overly perfumed or reeking of chemicals, but subtle and nice. My favourite is the gel/cream formula which melts into the skin. 

But today, I am not going to wax lyrical about their topical sunscreens. Instead, let me tell about their top-seller; Heliocare Oral, which is quite simply, sunscreen in a capsule. Its perfect for those of us who are not as conscientious about applying SPF on every visible surface of our skin, including the webbing between our fingers and toes. Its also great for when you just don’t have the time or ability to reapply every 2-4 hours, which is why Heliocare Oral is a must-have for me every morning to ensure that my already damaged skin, does not get damaged any further.



Thankfully because I have been literally dousing myself in sunscreen and now ingesting Heliocare oral for about a year, I do not have any freckling issues (phew!) but looking good and staying healthy takes effort, so if you want to ward off those pesky freckles and unsightly pigmentation, but keep forgetting to apply your sunscreen religiously, then my advice would be to get yourself a bottle of Heliocare Oral which claims to be able to protect skin from premature aging and sun damage, while inhibiting the depletion of collagen caused by UVA by 55% and reducing free radicals by up to 50%.

Its simple, mess free and keeps you protected when outdoors. Their patented fern extract of Polypodium leucotomous is currently the only agent known to provide oral sun protection. It also improves your skin’s inner defenses by preventing and reducing cellular damage caused by UV rays and free radicals. 

The best bit? I no longer have to run from one shady patch to the next like a demented vampire when walking my poor embarrassed dog, all thanks to Heliocare oral!

For more information and to take part in their year in giveaways, LIKE Heliocare on Facebook : www.facebook.com/Heliocare.Singapore

My formally embarrassed dog, can now walk with her head held up high as I no longer run from one spot of shade to the next.

Friday 20 December 2013

STYLE@LXG: Katie has her first Medi-facial


It’s been around nine months since my last facial, which to be quite honest is quite good for me. With time taking its toll on my otherwise, pretty decent skin, I have been concerned about the few fine lines that have popped up recently.

It will come to no surprise that I have never been for a medi-facial. I mean, to be quite frank, to find the time for an ordinary facial is hard enough with my work schedule, and until today, I had never even heard of such a thing as a medi-facial.

I was a bit nervous, never having been to an aesthetic clinic before, but the staff were lovely. Very friendly and welcoming and my therapist Winnie was very attentive and guided me through all the steps of the procedure, so that any residue of nervousness was soon a thing of the past.
The facial felt so amazing! It was pampering but most importantly, it used medical grade machinery and products so I knew that the effects would be more long term in comparison to a regular run of the mill facial. I especially loved their own Japan-made skin care range that felt light as water and wasn’t greasy or overly perfumed like most skin care products in the market today. 

After the treatment, my skin was a little flushed but a few hours later, it felt very smooth and much more hydrated. A week after the treatment I kept receiving compliments on my glowing complexion and I noticed that my skin did look smoother and free of blemishes. Although my fine lines are still present, I believe with more treatments they will soon be a thing of the past!

A big thank you to EHA Clinic and Winnie for this wonderful experience and I do recommend you try it, especially if you have an important date, meeting or interview coming up so you look your very best!

For more details and to schedule an appointment for your medi-facial, contact EHA on 6235-3325. The clinic is very conveniently located at Shaw in orchard. Join their facebook page for special promotions and giveaways - www.facebook.com/EHAclinic.sg







Monday 11 November 2013

STYLE@LXG: The Big Braun CoolTec Giveaway!

Regular visitors will recall our recent review of the stylish new Braun CoolTec Shaver

Well I hope you paid attention, because those equally cool people at Braun Singapore have now teamed up with LXG to present a fantastic CoolTec competition!
Want to be the lucky winner of a Braun CoolTec shaver?

Braun Singapore has kindly sponsored TWO CoolTec CT4s worth S$289.00 to 2 lucky winners during the month of November, and another TWO in December!!!
To stand a chance to win:

1. Send us a picture on our FB Page to illustrate why you need a CoolTec Shaver!


2. Like this post

5. Share this post with EVERYONE!
 
The more you share, the greater your chance. Good luck!

LADY@LXG: HAIR BE GONE - SOPRANO PART 5

I know that many of you have been wondering what happened to my underarm hair after my last session with Dr. Pang. Well, I wanted to wait a few months to see if my hair grew back before I wrote my review, so here goes:

To understand how our hair grows, its important to have a quick biology lesson. Hair growth has three distinct phases: anagen, catagen and telogen. Each phase has specific characteristics that determine the length of the hair and all three phases occur simultaneously. Therefore, one strand of hair may be in the anagen phase, while another is in the telogen phase.


Because I had been epilating my underarm hair for several years, five session, done over a period of five months, was not enough to catch the hairs in the catagen and telogen phases (see, the quick biology lesson was helpful wasn’t it?) My advice, if you are looking at having your hair permanently removed - go for it, its totally worth the money, but opt for 6-8 sessions, which should catch your hair in whatever growth phase its in.

Although my hair has grown back, its much less than it was before and I can still get away with shaving about twice a month. 


For more information about the procedure, check out my first post where I get a bit technical, explaining how laser hair removal and IPL differ.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Aaron Pang at The Sainte Chapelle Clinic, #B1-10, Marina Square. 6 Raffles Boulevard, S039594. Tel: 63363128. http://stchapelleclinic.com/
 

Monday 7 October 2013

STYLE@LXG: Braun CoolTec

Braun CoolTec - a Woman’s Perspective:



Before we go any further with this review, let's talk about the Braun CoolTec from a woman’s perspective. The gadget is cute, I love that it comes in its own little zip-up case, which makes taking it with you when you travel, an absolute breeze.  
I must begin by stating for the record that Mr. LXG was not enthusiastic about me using his new shaver on my legs, but hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do for her readers, so after much whining and arm-twisting, I got to have the first go!


After growing my leg hairs out for a few days, it was the perfect length to try out the Braun CoolTec CT4s. 

I normally shave my legs with a good old fashioned 4-blade razor when I shower - mainly because because if I dry shave, my legs tend to get itchy and bumpy. 

Which is why I decided to trial this shaver on my dry legs - to see if its cooling function would prevent my skin from itching (honestly, the sacrifices I make just so you can get the real low-down). 



Although admittedly the shaver is not actually designed to be used on a woman’s legs, it nevertheless performed very well. 

The cooling function was very impressive, and actually quite pleasant. It literally felt like I had an ice cube being drawn across my skin and even after shaving, there was no itchy reaction.



My only criticism is that it did not shave as cleanly as a traditional razor after one go over a particular area, but you can't have everything I guess. I had to undertake a second pass to achieve a smoother shave and pass the feel-test - but visually it looked just fine after just one go.
 
In summary, I think its a beautifully crafted gadget and I wish we women had one for ourselves, preferably in pink!

Its super-handy and I love the cooling factor, which really does work.



Would I buy it if I was a guy - or even for my guy? Most certainly! 

The Lady@LXG


Braun CoolTec - The LXG Review:

For as long as hair has been sprouting on my face, I’ve been a member of the Wet Shave Club. I’ve never found anything more refreshing or effective than the crisp, clean partnership of razor-blade and shaving foam.

I did have a brief liaison with an electric shaver in my late teens, and all that left me with was irritated and reddened skin, so needless to say, that relationship didn’t last very long.

Of course I do agree that wet shaving requires an investment in time, perhaps ten minutes compared to the 2 minute spin on an electric shaver – but the results of a wet shave have always far outweighed  anything else, so this extra time has never been an issue.

So when Braun recently announced the launch of their CoolTec electric shaver, the traditionalists amongst us at LXG were admittedly not that excited at the news.

But nevertheless I am not one to turn my nose up at any new experience, and after having read a little more about Braun’s patented CoolTec technology, I was happy to have the opportunity to give it a test drive… It would surely take a LOT to change this old shaver’s mind…

Okay so the first thing that has to be said is that as far as electric shavers go, the CoolTec looks pretty cool in black and dark blue.  
Braun’s promise with the CoolTec is to deliver something that other electric shavers thus far have failed to achieve - a non-irritating shave. Their solution sounds misleadingly simple – to just keep it cool.

You see, the problem with all electric shavers is that they generate heat. While you're shaving, this warmth is passed on to the skin and often initiates the most common shave irritations, such as redness, ingrown hairs, and breakouts – hence why my earlier attempts with electric razors were so short-lived.

Braun has added a cooling aluminium bar on the tip of the razor, designed to cool it down as it shaves, through proprietary Thermo Electric Cooling (TEC) technology.

The CoolTec ‘effect’ can be triggered by pressing the ‘snowflake’ symbol on the razor’s handle. The cooling bar is set between two SensoBlade foil-style razors and one epilating jaw.

After charging the razor, I set about introducing it to my 3-day old stubble – already nervously anticipating razor burn as soon as I began…  

But even as I started to shave, the Cooltech kicked in, and this wonderful, icy sensation followed wherever the razor moved over my skin. As I shave, the bar comes into contact with my face and chills any sparks causing the irritation process before they can even start.
The science behind this is literally quite cool - underneath the razor is a cooling element, much like in a fridge, which cools the aluminium bar as you shave. The CoolTec also works to remove heat from the face created by friction and transfers it into a heat sink stowed away in the middle of the shaver.

In no time at all my face was fuzz-free, and not a single razor-burn in sight. The cooling effect really seems to have made all the difference. The razor also includes a long hair trimmer that worked well to trim my goatee, and should work just as well on sideburns, beards, and moustaches.

It’s also waterproof so you can have a shave in the shower (I will also be putting this to the test shortly).

I was testing out the CoolTec CT4s model, but the CoolTec CT5cc has an added self-cleaning attachment incorporated in its charging dock which cleans and lubricates the blades.
 
The CoolTec stays charged for 45 minutes worth of buzzing and gets enough power from five minutes of charging for one good shave.

So, the question must be asked… has the CoolTech made a convert out of me? Well, all things considered, it did impress – and the cooling effect made a usually uncomfortable process actually quite pleasant.

Of course as far as I’m concerned there’s still nothing quite as invigorating as a traditional closer-than-close wet shave, but when pushed for time while still needing the assurance of a comfortable, burn-free shave – I might just be reaching for the CoolTech more times than I might care to admit…

For more information about the CoolTech and the latest news about the range, check out the Braun fan-page on Facebook. 

Sunday 6 October 2013

LADY@LXG: Cycle Vital by Eugene Perma

Inspired by nature, to cleanse, heal, protect and nourish hair from its very core.

Cycle Vital by Eugene Perma from Paris is a range of hair care essentials inspired by the wondrous healing properties of nature. In Paris, this brand is only available at salons, but luckily for us here in Singapore, we can find our favourite Cycle Vital product from John Little and Beauty By Nature stores.

Cycle Vital hair care comes in an extensive range of hair care products, each in their own unique colour coded packaging to make it easy for consumers. From their Primary Range for normal hair, to their Sun Protection Range and everything in-between, expect to find a range that is suitable for your hair / scalp condition. 
I was lucky enough to try the Nutri-Plus Range of shampoo and conditioner which is for dry and damaged hair. This protecting and healing range of hair care uses quinoa as one of its main ingredients. Quinoa, which is jam-packed with essential fatty acids, proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, is further reinforced with Aquaxyl, a combination of two plant sugars with moisturising, regenerative properties and Cosmedia Guar, a conditioning agent that helps keep hair clean, freshly scented, deeply hydrated and tangle-free.


Although I actually have normal to dry hair, this shampoo has now become one of my favourite go-to’s. Its extremely gentle and hair is instantly softer and smoother, without being weighed down, after use.


Because I was my hair daily, it tends to get a bit dry, but no matter how often I wash it, this range keeps it soft and healthy.


The Nutri-Plus range comes in:


Nutri-Plus Shampoo $24.90 (250 ml)

Keeps hair soft and supple.


The Nutri-Plus Cream $39.90 (150 ml)

Has a light, non greasy texture that protects the hair fibre from external aggressors. 

The Nutri-Plus Mask $44.90 (200 ml)

A rich, creamy texture that fortifies damaged hair to repair the hair fiber to keep hair soft, supple and shiny.


Cycle Vital is available in the following ranges: Anti-hair fall, Anti-dandruff, Purifying - for oily scalp and hair, Anti-ageing, Intense Volume for thinning hair, Smoothing for unruly hair, Soft Curls, Radiance enhancing range and their Coloured hair range.

Sunday 8 September 2013

LADY@LXG: HAIR BE GONE - SOPRANO PART 4

I had my fourth session of Soprano this August and although I only had to shave once during that month, I noticed that I had a few fine hairs growing in the area. 

I figured this was because since I have been epilating (for those of your who are not aware what epilating is, its similar to waxing, in that it rips the hair off at the root - the difference is that instead of using a wax or sugar paste, I use a handy little gadget that does the deed for me. Fuss-free but as painful as waxing and with the definite risk of ingrown hairs) which is why I am so thrilled to be able to have hair-free armpits thanks to Dr. Pang! 
When I spoke to Dr Pang about it, he confirmed that the new, albeit fine and sparse growth was due to the fact that because I used to epilate, not all the hairs re-grew at the same time which is why the laser was unable to kill them, so fingers crossed that after my fifth and final session this coming week, I will truly be permanently hair-free in my under-arm area.

The procedure was very fast, around 10-minutes or less and completely painless. Because Dr. Pang increased the intensity (he usually does this as the patient progresses in the treatment) I felt more heat, but it was not painful - uncomfortable, but bearable. If it gets too hot, all you need to do is let Dr. Pang know and he will stop, apply more cooling gel and reduce the intensity, easy as pie. 

After each session the nurses will clean the gel and apply a gentle moisturizer to the area and you are ready to go. There is no down-time, no pain, no mess, its simple and you can have it done during your coffee break or lunch hour and no one would be the wiser :) 

I seriously love this machine - as you can see the results after just one session - and it is pain-free, fuss-free, and best of all - permanent! I really do hope that the fifth session next week can kill off the remaining hair follicles so my under arms can look flawless and hair-free!
For more information about the procedure, check out my first post where I get a bit technical, explaining how laser hair removal and IPL differ. 

For more information or to schedule an appointment, please call Dr. Aaron Pang at The Sainte Chapelle Clinic, #B1-10, Marina Square. 6 Raffles Boulevard, S039594. Tel: 63363128. http://stchapelleclinic.com/