LADY@LXG: When Travel and Fashion Collide...

“The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.” Paris Hilton.

How many of you bother to travel in style? Yes, I’m sure you’ve got a few designer bags that set you back several grand, but what about how you look when you are jet-setting around for work or pleasure?

I believe that no matter where we are, we should always make the effort to look good. I love my Delsey and Samsonite luggage, they come in a variety of colours, accessorized with cute colour coordinated luggage tags and make me super-happy while I wheel them through customs, clad in my equally cute but comfy travel wear. Talking about customs, you should see my tres chic passport cover from Kate Spade ;) but I digress...

Today, I just have to share my favourites out of Tumi’s new range of travel goods and accessories that I plan to include in my Christmas list of must-haves!  

Tumi and Anna Sui reunite for a second season to introduce a to-die-for travel collection for the stylish jet-setter. Inspired by an original Anna Sui print which graced the spring 2009 runway, this floral motif lands on Tumi’s most coveted travel and lifestyle accessories.

 

TROLLEY BAG AND TAG

Think pink or lilac trolley bag with this purple luggage tag. What could be cuter!

STACKING BAGS

What stylish stacking bags!

 

2 IPAD CASES AND 1 PAD CROSS BODY CASE

Love this floral patterned ipad case! Ok love this pink ipad case too! 

Complement this further with this very stylish ipad cross body bag! 

TECH@LXG: The Dawn of the Micro-Commuter

Further evidence of the coming fragmentation of personal transportation arrived when Honda released details of the next iteration of its "Micro Commuter" prototype.

The new version is close to production-ready (without the extreme aerodynamics of the initial prototype) and concentrates the battery and functionality of the micro EV below the floor, enabling the vehicle's body to be easily changed to accommodate different functionality.

It seemed so obvious 100 years ago, with an excess of petroleum, unreliable metallurgy and no concerns about air pollution, to over-engineer our automobiles so they'd have low stress, reliability and longevity, and be able to carry very large amounts of everything. There was only one casualty – efficiency. The folly of those ways is now equally obvious, and Honda's Micro Commuter Concept is at the extreme far end of the spectrum to that over-engineering approach.

Billed as a short distance EV commuter, the 100-inch long Honda Micro Commuter is a full six inches shorter than the smart fortwo's 's 106-inch length, and 20 percent narrower at 49 inches compared to the smart's 61.4 inches.

The secret of the latest vehicle's energy frugality is it's extremely light weight. Whereas a smart fortwo ED (Electric Drive) has a weight of 870 kg, the Honda comes in at considerably less than half that weight (it's less than 400 kg but we don't know the exact figure), and is able to achieve similar performance to the the smart ED with a motor producing just 15kW, compared to the smart's 30kW.

The Micro Commuter is built specifically for a new era though – it is designed to take one person and one passenger (or two children passengers) a maximum of 60 miles at a maximum of 50 mph. Those figures are realistically well within the range most people use in their commuting, but it will take some time for people to become accustomed to having just enough, instead of three or four times the power, weight and range required.Honda developed the Micro Commuter within a new framework of micro mobility categories currently being proposed by the Japanese Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism as well as European L7 regulations. To be classified under the L7 category in Europe, an EV must weigh less than 400 kg and have an output of 15 kW or less – in meeting those targets, the Micro Commuter is suddenly a very realistic alternative to the traditional automobile in an environment which will certainly appreciate it.

Honda will begin real-world testing of the Micro Commuter in Japan next year to verify the potential of the vehicle in short-distance transportation roles for a variety of users – families, ferrying small children and senior citizens to their necessary activities, home delivery services, commuting and car sharing.

The Micro Commuter Concept was first seen at the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show this time last year, but the concept has developed significantly since then, with the adoption of the Variable Design Platform.

LADY@LXG: Jyunka Hyaluvital Cream

Hello everyone and welcome to the start of our Christmas countdown giveaway! 

To kick start the celebrations, we are giving away ONE bottle of Jyunka Hyaluvital Cream worth S$ 175! 

Happy News for Jyunka junkies!

Jyunka Junkies are going to be thrilled to know that not only has Jyunka launched their very first facial moisturizer packed full of caviar and other good stuff, we are also giving away one bottle to one very lucky reader. 

Happy days! I am so thrilled that Jyunka has finally launched their very first facial moisturizer.  When it first came out last month, I heard that while it was extremely hydrating it still managed to be very light-weight and perfect for my suddenly sensitized and congested skin. 

So you can imagine my joy (and yes, I did do a bit of a jig) when I got my first bottle! The cream smells fresh and clean and is more like a water-based lotion in texture than a cream. I use one pump during the day and two pumps during the night and my skin feels so comfortable and hydrated! 

Its fantastic for those who have oily or combination skin (like me) as it does not leave your skin feeling greasy and filmy. This cream goes on light and absorbs immediately.

The Hyaluvital Cream is an intense restructuring, protective, repairing and deeply moisturizing cream that works 24-hours on the epidermal layers of the skin. Thanks to a special combination of pure Caviar extract, Hyaluronic Acid and a hydration complex, the skin has the perfect environment   to rebuild and regenerate. The skin is also provided the necessary moisture for complete comfort.

Skin is immediately softer and more moisturized. 

+11% moisturisation after 10 minutes

+30% moisturisation after 3 hours 

+40% moisturisation after 14 days 

The "intense and immediate hydration" effect is tested after 14 days of twice-a-day application.

Want to try the new Jyunka Moisturizer?

Jyunka has kindly sponsored ONE Hyaluvital Cream worth S$ 175

To take part, all you need to do is:

• Like this post
• Like Jyunka’s FB page
• Tell us why you would like to win this moisturizer  
• Share this post with EVERYONE!

Btw, the more you share, the greater your chances are of winning. Good luck!

LADY@LXG

LADY@LXG: The Shoe That Fits (I Wish...)

I love you pretty shoe. You are so beautiful - yet when I wear you and walk ten steps, the excruciating pain you fill me with, leaves me with an uncontrollable urge to rip you off my feet and smash you against a wall.

I seem to have a love-hate relationship with shoes. Because I am a half-size and I have rather thin feet, I seem to have quite a problem finding shoes that fit, look amazing and are a dream to walk, stand and run in. So far, apart from my absolute favourite and rather battered pair of nude wedges from Banana Republic, I am at quite a loss.

Recently I was invited for a super posh launch. So I spent the afternoon dolling myself up, having my hair and nails done and donning a pair of beautifully crafted leather heels, which although only worn twice, have been stored for over a year (due to them not being too comfortable and only bearable for short spurts). Unfortunately, being in storage didn’t do my beautiful shoes any favours as they literally came apart when I reached the venue and I had to scuttle around Orchard Road looking for the perfect pair of wearable heels, which didn’t happen - so it was back home for me, all decked out in my finery with nowhere to go.

During the entire journey home, I fantasized about how I would smash my shoe with my trusty hammer. Unfortunately when I got back home, my dear man foiled my attempt at retribution by taking away the hammer and broken shoe and promising to have it seen-to by the cobbler. Bah! 

Several of my friends swear that Ferragamo shoes are a dream to wear and in desperation, I found myself at the said boutique. The staff were lovely and helpful but to be quite frank, they were not as comfortable as I had hoped (maybe its just me?) and I was not ready to fork out over $600 for a pair of shoes that would spend most of its life wrapped up in tissue paper and stored in my wardrobe. 

When I see girls prancing about Orchard in sky-high stilettos with all the dexterity and comfort of someone wearing flats, it gives me quite a case of shoe-envy. When I watch movies where the heroine runs and kicks zombie-ass while clad in a pair of vertiginous high heels, it makes me call up my mother and blame her faulty genetic material.

I give my cobbler so much business that the man knows me by my first name and actually asks after my many pairs of shoes. He has stretched, re-stretched and resoled so many of my shoes that he has formed quite a bond with them. 

Alas, I may have to accept the fact that for some reason (maybe its age catching up with me or just bad genes?) I am not as tolerant of the discomfort felt when wearing high heeled shoes as I did in my 20’s. Perhaps when we are in our teens and twenties, the nerve-endings in our feet are not yet fully developed or perhaps they are simply anesthetized with alcohol and a zest for life. Whatever the reason, now that I have hit my 30’s I find wearing high heels as comfortable as performing surgery on myself - sans the anesthetic.

LADY@LXG

LADY@LXG: The Miracle of Argan Oil

It is scary just how much ‘muck’ we slather onto our skin on a daily basis without giving it a second’s thought. What many of us don’t realize is that our skin is our largest organ, and what we apply on it, is absorbed directly in to our system, so if we apply carcinogenic products simply because they are cheap, freely available and smell nice, we are literally poisoning ourselves slowly but surely and that is truly a scary thought.

Products like deodorant, body washes, soaps, talcum powder, body lotion and sprays that we often take for granted, may not be as healthy or safe as we expect them to be.

Although more expensive, I like the fact that Kneipp products use natural ingredients and less preservatives than most. I also respect and value the fact that no animal testing is conducted on their range as I love animals and don’t agree that they should suffer for our vanity.

Kneipp® Natural Skincare Jasmine & Argan Oil 

Jasmine, also known as the “oil of romance”, has a strong floral scent. It has been used for centuries to promote total body relaxation and warm the emotions, because of its strong calming nature. 

Argan Oil It has been used for centuries by the women of Morocco who traditionally used it in the daily care of their skin and hair. Pressed from the nuts of the Moroccan Argan Tree, it is a rare and precious oil rich in vitamin E and unsaturated fatty acids and is highly nourishing for skin and hair.  

The Kneipp® Jasmine and Argan Oil range available in Singapore is the Body wash and the Body oil. 

This Body Wash is extremely moisturizing and protects skin from drying-out. I love the lotion like feel to it and the fact that although it does not lather, it keeps your skin feeling clean, hydrated and delicately scented. To me, it smells like shea butter and you can even go without lotion after using it as your skin really does feel softer and moisturized. This has now become one of my favourite body washes! 

The body wash retails at SGD 21.90 for a 200 ml tube. 

The Body Oil is not greasy or heavy and is best used after a shower or bath when you skin is still slightly damp. It smells lovely, just like the shower cream and because the scent is so light,it wont clash with your fragrance. I use the oil in the night so I am enveloped in its delicate scent and also so that my skin doesn’t dry out under the air conditioner, plus I like to smell good at all times, especially in bed :)

The bottle of oil retails at SGD 28.90 for a 100 ml glass bottle.

This range has the NATRUE-Label stamped on it. The NATRUE-seal allows you to easily identify high-quality natural skin care worldwide. 

It is not profit-oriented, but rather aims at one target: To strengthen the consumer’s trustfulness in true bio- and natural skin care. For more information on NATRUE and the NATRUE-seal, visit www.natrue.org. 

You can find products from Kneipp at the following locations: 

Unity Healthcare: 

2 Jurong East Central 1 #B1-05 Jcube Mall

252 North Bridge Road #B1-44L Raffles City Shopping Centre 

LINK BRIDGE 62 Collyer Quay #02-01 to 04 OUE Link 

3 Temasek Boulevard  Suntec City Mall #02-105

Choa Chu Kang North 6   #B1-08/09 Yew Tee Point 

1 Kim Seng Promenade #B1-14/15 Great World City 

Guardian Health & Beauty:

290 Orchard Road # B1-20/24 Paragon

101 Thomson Road #B1 United Square

930 Yishun Ave 2  # B1-01/02 Northpoint Shopping Centre 

2 Jurong East Street 21 #01-57 IMM Building 

Novena Hospital 38 Irrawaddy Rd.#01-08/09/10/11 

1 Woodlands Square #B1-28/29/30 Causeway Point 

23 Serangoon Central #B1-62/63 Serangoon NEX 

Uchino Bath Designs 

Takashimaya Departmental Stores: 391 Orchard Road, Basement 1

Isetan Katong Departmental Stores: 80 Marine Parade Road, Parkway Parade

Kneipp is on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kneippworksnaturally 

Want to try Kneipp Jasmine and Argan oil range?

Kneipp has kindly sponsored either a body oil worth S$ 28.90 or a Body wash worth S$ 21.90 to TWO lucky winners!

You can win either a body oil or body wash (you decide), just tell us what you would like to win and why and share! Share! Share!

The more you share, the greater your chance. Good luck!

• Like this post
• Like Kneipp’s FB page
• Tell us what you would like to win and why
• Share this post with EVERYONE!

LADY@LXG: PORCELAIN INTRODUCES THE R3 SELECTION

The Recharge, Re-energize and Re-new Facial Regimen customized specifically for men...  

Continuing on my list of “must try facial treatments” I must share my first ever experience at Porcelain the Face Spa. 

The salon is located a mere five minute walk away from Outram Park MRT station. Upon entering the salon, if your therapist is still engaged, expect to have a relaxing foot soak in a sea salt infused bath and a cup of tea while you wait.

There are three treatments under the R3 Range; Recharge, Re-energize and Re-new, which are adaptations of Porcelain’s existing treatments, tweaked specially for men and their skin care concerns.

If you are a frequent reader of this blog, you would know that I suffer from chronically congested pores. But having said that, my skin has been quite decent as of late thanks to my religious use of Jyunka’s M+ Fluid. However, my last facial left me with breakouts and scars, due to over enthusiastic but incomplete extractions - which was quite depressing really, if you consider how long and hard I worked at keeping the zits at bay. 

Treatment Room

When Porcelain invited me down to try their R3 selection of facial treatments (which although is created for men, can also be used on us women), I was quite skeptical to be honest, but I had to do something with my deteriorating complexion, so I decided to give it a go, and I am still thanking my lucky stars that I did!

My therapist Nicole (who I greatly recommend), suggested I try the Renew treatment based on my skin’s condition. This treatment is perfect for those suffering from open pores, blackheads, whiteheads, pimples, acne, acne scars and oily/sensitive/dry skin, which more or less described me to a T.  

This facial is an adaptation of Porcelain’s bestselling Quintessential Treatment and showcases the face spa’s key-competency in deep pore cleansing by using extractions to achieve clearer looking skin.  

Nicole put her whole heart and soul into taking out every blackhead she could find. For a facial totally focussed on extraction, this was one of the most painless procedures that I have ever experienced. Most of my blackheads are concentrated around my T-zone, and Nicole ensured that they were all eradicated. To prevent my skin from turning red and swollen, she applied squares of cotton saturated in skin calming chamomile essence and at the end of the facial (it took almost three hours) my skin looked so clean and clear with minimal swelling and redness. 

She warned me that I would have some scabbing the next few days due to the extraction using a surgical needle, but honestly, that was not a problem for me at all, considering how clean and pore-less my skin looked for the first time in its oily little life. 

It was a joy talking to Nicole, as she was a wealth of information and gave me many tips on how to cleanse and extract my blackheads at home without causing any scarring or breakouts. 

It is recommended that this treatment be done every 10 to 20 days depending upon your skin condition. 

This facial costs $280 for 90-120 minutes and although I am sure that all their therapists are good, I was really impressed by Nicole’s skill and professionalism. Not many people can spend two hours painstakingly extracting every single blackhead from someone's face and still be cheerful by the end of it.

Special Launch Promotional Rates: 

1. Purchase either ReEnergize or Renew at 50% off AND receive a complimentary Recharge 

treatment. 

2. Purchase all 3 treatments at a special price of $250 (UP $720) 

3. Purchase all 3 treatments x 3 sessions each at $1500 & receive a complimentary custom 

product home-care regime worth $290. (UP $2450)  

For the holiday season, Porcelain Face Spa has launched a limited edition five-piece DIY facial spa kit, so you can recreate your experience in the comfort of your own home, or simply extend the effects of your treatment. The kit retails at just $99 (UP $157).

For more details, contact Porcelain the Face Spa at Tel. 6222-9802.