WELLNESS@LXG: Jyunka M+ Fluid - Miracle Skin Care?

For regular readers of this blog, you'll know that I have been undertaking something of a journey of discovery with regards to facial treatments for the modern man...

Where once there was a mere soap-and-water kinda guy, now stands a man who appreciates and adheres to a regular facial treatment regime. Man thought it couldn't be done, but here I stand; living proof that even the most stubborn Neanderthal can become a member of modern well-groomed society.

But after having undertaken my first facial treatment and my first facial peel, there was one other step that had to be taken to complete my initiation.

And it was to be Keefe Chie, Marketing Director and Trainer at Jyunka International, who would introduce me to a rather special product. Having previously undertaken the facial peel, using Jyunka's Epidermal Treatment Kit, Keefe was keen to find out if the texture and quality of my facial skin had improved. So I arranged to have a consultation with him.

Jyunka product range at Phoenix La Beaute

I found myself in the familiar surroundings of Phoenix La Beaute at Palais Renaissance once again, where my journey of dermal discovery had initially begun.

Phoenix La Beaute

After having met Keefe and settled down in one of the comfortable treatment rooms, my face was placed under close scrutiny. Although still a little uncomfortable with the idea of having someone that close to my face, Keefe was quick to put me at ease and soon went about picking out areas of my face that were obviously prone to dehydration and sun damage. Old scars and blemishes were also zoned in for treatment.

And this was when Keefe unveiled his secret weapon - JYUNKA M+ Fluid.

Now my better half had previously sung the praises of this 'Miracle Fluid, and of course I was initially dubious as to its healing effects. But on reading further about its properties, I realized that there was some heavy science behind its composition.

You see I'm a sucker for science, and it wasn't long before I was researching the patented 'QuSome Technology' that powers the M+ Fluid's restorative attributes. Very, very interesting...

According to the published research, QuSomes are a delivery system of anti-aging skin care ingredients. Minuscule and multi-layered, the theory is that QuSomes more effectively penetrate the skin, delivering nutrients and beneficial ingredients to deeper layers than is possible with other products.

A QuSome is a microscopic bubble layered with different types of ingredients designed to benefit the skin. As the products are applied to the skin, the layers are absorbed one at a time. QuSomes alternate layers of water soluble ingredients with fat soluble ingredients, on the theory that each layer will target a different layer of the skin, designed to deliver nutrients ever deeper. As one layer of these QuSomes is absorbed, it exposes and makes way for the next, allowing the appropriate ingredients to each reach the layer of the skin where they would be most effective.

This diagram explains the delivery system of QuSomes and how they differ from ordinary skincare products:

Okay, so there was enough there for me to become intrigued, and so when I got the offer to experience M+ Fluid firsthand, I was ready, willing and able...

Keefe explained to me that the QuSomes are able to deliver Vitamin C in its purest form, directly into the dermis of the skin. Pure Vitamin C is well known to counteract the causes of skin's blemishes, acne, pores, wrinkles, and sagging - but it is extremely unstable and rapidly deteriorates if left exposed to the air. But the new technology used in Miracle + enables deep penetration inside the skin.

After cleansing my face, Keefe applied the fluid - just about three drops massaged across the contours of my face and neck. There is no greasy feeling or residue - the liquid simply absorbs into the skin. Keefe also advised further topical application to darker spots or blemishes.

And this is when the really interesting stuff happened: Keefe had me sat in front of a mirror, so I could see any visible effects taking place. And within minutes of the application, I could actually see a  change... Most obvious were my cheeks - they seemed to have been given an instant lift; like a filler without the needles! The skin had firmed up, with a visible glow.

A subtle lightening of dark blemishes could also be seen. Really quite amazing - and all within 20 minutes.

Keefe explained that the change taking place was due to the facial contour being lifted at the muscular level, leaving the skin firmer and more toned. Long term usage is said to lead to increased skin cell production, followed by increased collagen and elastin production at the dermis level - which basically means, overall skin rejuvenation.

After seeing it with my own eyes, I was convinced enough to sign on for a long term trial. I mean, if it takes just minutes to see a visible improvement in the texture of my skin, think what regular use over, say three months, could achieve?

So I'll be carrying on with my M+ Fluid usage - and I'll blog again in about three months with some photo comparisons, to see what further changes have taken place,and if the product actually retains its effectiveness.

But so far, I am well and truly impressed...   
_________


Jyunka M+ is priced at SGD 344.00 (inclusive of GST) for 30 ML and is available at :
Phoenix La Beaute : Palais Renaissance #B1-07. Tel: 6733 4556

AND AS USUAL, I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!

Jyunka has kindly sponsored a bottle of their star product, M+ Fluid, for one lucky reader worth $344.

To take part:

1. 'Like' this post and tell me why you want to try this product
2. 'Like' Jyunka's FB page
3. Share, share and share this post. The more shares, the greater your chances of winning!
4. Good luck! 

WELLNESS@LXG: PEELING AWAY THE LAYERS

As a recently converted/evolved caveman, I am still new to the whole skincare regime that many women and metrosexual men take for granted... So when the good people of Jyunka recently gave me a sample of their Peel Kit with instructions to start having a “peel” done every week to keep my skin in optimal condition -  I was initially at a lost to how to go about using it.

Thankfully, having a partner who used to be an editor for a beauty magazine helps. After promising to share my Peel Kit (yes there is always a price to be paid), she explained that unless I exfoliated my skin weekly, it would lead to a build up of dead skin which would leave my face looking dull and congested. Because the peel would treat my superficial epidermal layer and stimulate regenerative cells, it would leave me looking younger and more attractive. When I still looked a bit confused, she summarized it all by saying that unless I used the peel, I would look like something the cat dragged in, and she would have no choice but to leave me for a metrosexual, So with that kindly cleared up, use the peel I will.  

In my first review of Jyunka’s M+ Fluid, which I use religiously together with my usual skin care products, Keefe, the trainer for Jyunka, applied the Jyunka Peel onto my skin after thoroughly and gentle cleansing it. 

Being a typical guy and only recently having learned that exfoliation is necessary or else your partner leaves you, I was quite nervous about using the peel on myself without an expert to guide me. ( I was recently spoiled rotten by a fantastic therapist during my first ever facial treatment). Luckily, the good lady was at hand and quite roughly (I must add), scrubbed my face clean and rubbed in the peel cream. After four minutes (you can leave on for between 1-5 minutes, but must not exceed five minutes) she very roughly cleaned it with cotton pads soaked in the Epidermal Lotion and then sent me off to wash my face.

During the peel, my skin felt a slight biting sensation which was very bearable and far less traumatic than the good lady’s rough facial cleansing (how I yearned for the gentle hands of the therapists at Phoenix La Beaute). After the peel was cleaned away and my skin neutralized, my face immediately looked clearer, lighter and matte but not dry. I was in fact rather pleased. 

The Peel Kit is very simple to use and shows immediate results. I would recommend using it before an important date or meeting, as your skin will look refreshed and brighter. 

If you have PIGMENTED SKIN - Apply the peel on spot locations three times a week. 

If you suffer from congested skin and and have BLACK HEADS - Apply it for three consecutive days on the problem area, after which you can apply it one to two times weekly.

If you have DULL SKIN  - Apply the peel on your whole face weekly (avoiding the eye area and lips).

The Jyunka Epidermal Peel Kit retails at SGD119 and is available at Phoenix La Beaute at Palais Renaissance #B1-07. Tel. 6733 4556.

OF COURSE I DON'T EXPECT YOU TO JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT!

Jyunka has kindly sponsored an Epidermal Peel Kit, for one lucky reader worth SGD119.

To take part in this giveaway:

1. 'Like' this post and tell me why you want to try this product
2. 'Like' Jyunka's Facebook page
3. Share, share and share this post. The more shares, the greater your chances of winning!
4. Good luck! 

LADY@LXG: When Sunscreen Meets Science

A sunscreen that doesn’t need to be reapplied every two hours is born! 

One thing I can’t live without, is a good sunscreen. Whether I am cloistered away writing at my desk or horseback riding on the plains of Mongolia, one beauty product that I will always have on, is my broad spectrum sunblock. 

Unfortunately, a good sunscreen has not so much to do with how high its SPF is, but its efficacy. This is because no matter how high the SPF is, every sunscreen’s effectiveness halves every two hours. This simply means that if you use a sunscreen with an SPF of 60, in two hours it will reduce to SPF 30. In two more hours, that drops down to SPF 15 and so on. In next to no time (unless you reapply) you are left with zero protection. And let's be frank - how many of us actually reapply our sunscreen, especially over our carefully made-up faces? Its just not practical.

This is why - when EHA Clinic, run by Aesthetic Doctor Elias Tam launched its first Japan-made SPF 30 sunscreen with 24hr efficacy, I just had to have it...

The sunscreen is mildly tinted and applies smoothly and is very easily blended. It has no scent and the tint is very subtle and leaves my skin looking clear, fresh and natural. I love using this by itself during the weekends or when I don’t require too much coverage. But if you have good skin, you can skip the foundation or powder and simply go with the sunscreen.

For those skeptics among you, (and I was one of them to be quite honest), lets talk science...

Many of the high SPF sunscreens available on the market today use chemical filters to block UVA rays, but these have been shown to only offer marginal protection. That’s because commonly used UVA filters like avobenzone and Mexoryl, break down quickly and lose effectiveness in the sun unless stabilized. This stabilization process is difficult and few companies have been able to prove that they can do it. Therefore in the past, the best way make sure you were protected throughout the day was to reapply sunscreen often – at least once every two hours. Even if it offered the best UVA protection, it’s efficacy soon disappeared.

EHA’s Sun Shield 24hr has been proven to block both UV-A and UV-B rays by 99%, for a period of 24 hours, with just one application.

The main ingredient used in Sun Shield 24hr to block UV rays is called the "Y titanium particle", a kind of Titanous Oxide coated with silicon. A very thin application of this product (10-15 microns) is all you need to maintain its effect. Stearyl glycyrrhetinate helps prevent inflammation caused by sun burn and snow burn.

Plantal moisturizing ingredients such as Scutellaria baicalensis root extract, Althea extract, Arnica extract, Paeonia suffruticosa root extract, Linden extract, etc., and organic ingredients such as sodium chondroitin sulfate, aspartic acid, glycerin, etc., help maintain good condition of the skin by moisturizing and giving tensity and elasticity to the skin. Oil-based moisturizing ingredients such as natural vitamin E, squalane, etc., help prevent dryness and oxidation of the skin.

EHA Sunshield 24 hr is available at EHA Clinic. 1 Scotts Road. #15-01 Shaw Centre. Singapore 228208. Tel: 6235 3325

EHA Sunshield 24HR is priced at: 
30 Ml bottle $98.00
5 ML travel size tube $38.00

Want to try this sunscreen? EHA is sponsoring three 5ml travel-size sunscreens worth $38 each. 

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LADY@LXG.

MENTOR@LXG: Back in the Dating Game

We here at the LXG are always happy to lend some constructive words of advice to any of our fellow gentlemen out there. Whatever the issue, dilemma or query - we are here to help.

So let's kick off with a situation that quite a few gentlemen are finding themselves in these days. This query will surely resonate with many:

Q: I'm going out on the town for the first time in years. My work life has taken over for so long that I've completely neglected the personal side of things. Anyway, what should a guy in his late-30's wear on a date with a very attractive and fashionable lady in her mid-20's? And of course, how do I avoid making a nervous and awkward fool of myself?
LXG: It's not usually about the person you're with, but rather where you are going. But we can understand your concerns... could you be in danger of looking like her uncle, or worse still - her father? Well, you can't go wrong with a slim dark suit and a fine white shirt. If you're worried about looking geriatric, hold the tie. And use a fine fragrance - but don't drench yourself in it. Just a few dabs. Subtlety is the key here. You may be shaking inside, but an outwardly relaxed air of confidence will also put her at ease...  

Nervous people often talk too much, so be wary of too much chatter. Be respectful of her and listen (even if you are not interested in what she says, be polite and courteous). And don’t talk about your EX... If she asks you questions about your ex then gracefully sidestep the question without too much criticism or complaints!

Turn your cell phone off and put it away. You simply have to put your work life away this evening. Make the effort to give your date your full attention. Checking your phone every few minutes for messages is the height of rudeness!

Don’t order more than a couple of drinks and don’t get drunk. It’s not impressive to your date. Drunk people often talk too much and too loud!

And yes, you are paying the bill. You're not going halves, you're not going Dutch. You are paying the bill. All of it...

-LXG-

If you need some words of advice, our experts at LXG will be sure to point you in the right direction.
Just message us at our facebook page.

TECH@LXG: The Mixtape Reloaded!

In the days before CD, MP3 or iTunes, when Sony's Walkman was just about the only mobile music player worth having, hip young music lovers engaged in the painstakingly intricate process of recording a 45-minute-per-side compilation of favorite tunes onto an audio cassette tape. I'm not ashamed to admit I remember those days well...

A kind of forefather to today's MP3 playlist, the mix tape was about creating a unique musical identity, an expression of personality that could be shared with those near and dear. Technology marches relentlessly on and tapes are now all-but extinct, replaced by digital files on smartphones and media players.

The essence of the compact cassette mix tape has now been given a modern update by the folks from the MakerBot Industries Applications team in Brooklyn, New York, with the launch of the 3D-printed Mixtape do-it-yourself music player kit.

The first in a new series of DIY Projects, the Mixtape is available in two distinct flavors - the choice depending on whether you own something like a MakerBot Replicator or not. A DIY kit containing the electronics (including a Li-ion battery that's good for four hours of playback between charges), a USB cable and instructions is available for US$25.

The design files needed for 3D printing are available for download from Thingiverse.com. Once the components have been created with a 3D printer, the Mixtape just snaps together with the electronic board housed inside. The 3.5mm headphone jack should be available at the bottom (where the pressure pad would be on a cassette) and three buttons positioned on the front of the Mixtape control play/pause, skip forward or backward, equalizer, volume and reset.

MP3 music files can be dragged and dropped onto the 2GB of built-in solid state storage from a Mac/PC via USB. For those not lucky enough to own a 3D printer, MakerBot has also made a ready-to-go Mixtape available for $39, which is printed, assembled and shipped from the Brooklyn workshop.

As you can see from the following promo video, creating and sharing a personalized collection of tunes with a loved one continues into the digital age with the MakerBot Mixtape.
Source: MakerBot

LADY@LXG: The Battle against Cellulite Never Stops...

Bath time for me is all about pampering and luxuriating in the scent and feel of my bath products, which is why, I am quite picky with the toiletries that I use.

I am personally a huge fan of Kneipp, so when they sent me this range of products, I was ecstatic. I heard that their Grape Seed range helps to strengthen the structure of the skin and this in turn helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Unfortunately, after years of consuming food without any consideration for what would happen when my metabolism slowed down, I have quite a bit of dimpling in areas that shouldn’t be dimpling, so the chance to lessen this was all the more appreciated. 

The fine massage particles in the Kneipp Grape Seed Oil Exfoliating Body Scrub with Jojoba wax helps stimulate circulation while removing dead skin cells. The scrub smells lovely and is a pleasure to slather on and rub. Exfoliating our skin, be it on the body or face helps to ensure that the products we apply are better absorbed, so the next time you don’t get the results you expected from your skin care, remember to exfoliate, as you probably have a build up of keratin.  The Body scrub is priced at $21.90 for a 200ML tube.

Kneipp Grape Seed Body Massage Oil contains 15% of pure Grape Seed oil and other precious nourishing oils with vitamins A & E. If you have a personal masseuse or have a package at a salon for body treatments, take this oil along with you. This way, you ensure that the products used on your body are good for you, while at the same time giving your cellulite a bit of a pummeling. When I am not carting this along to the beauty salon, I use it after a bath in the night as a body moisturizer. The scent of grape seed is lovely and the whole room smells gorgeous and I wake up the next morning with hydrated and firmer looking skin. The massage oils is priced at $28.90 for a 100ML bottle. 

The Kneipp Grape Seed Oil Intensive Cream has 21% pure grape seed oil, which is particularly rich in vitamins A and E, Shea Butter, Panthenol and other nourishing oils, which helps keep sin hydrated while improving skin tone and elasticity. The product smells so lovely in fact that I was actually complimented on the scent I was using, which was actually the grape seed cream. This product is priced at $39.90 for a 200ML tube.

 
Kneipp® Herbal Teas are naturally caffeine-free and contain no artificial colouring, aromas or flavouring, just pure, natural ingredients. Cranberry (Cleansing Herbal Tea) - with blackcurrant  - this delicious and fruity tea actually contains pieces of cranberry. The tea is has a mild sweetness and is pleasant enough to drink unsweetened, although if you do have a bit of a sweet-tooth a little honey would add to its flavour. Cranberries are well-known for their effectiveness in maintaining a healthy bladder and urinary tract and I personally love the taste of this tea. If you enjoy rose-hip or fruit teas or enjoy eating cranberries, you will definitely love this tea. This tea is priced at $9.90 for 15 tea bags. 

THE LADY


LXG is giving away a set of Limited Edition KNEIPP products not available in Singapore. Each set is priced at $80! 

To take part and stand a chance to win this set of Citrus Fruit and Melissa Body Lotion and Anti-Callus Salve:

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ICONS@LXG: Christopher Walken

I could swear that Christopher Walken was from another planet. He has an other-worldliness about him that seems to permeate every role he's every played, and even comes across in the few interviews that I've seen him in. 

But I love watching his movies and he's obviously a very smart and astute guy.

He never seems to answer a question directly, and seems to be in deep thought before offering up any reply. It would be great to engage him in conversation, and God knows where the subject matter would lead. 

Like Connery, and perhaps Caine, no matter what role he plays, Walken always seems to be able to inject part of himself into the character - and still get away with it. So even when he is playing a complete psycho, you can't help but still love the character.

And so, without further ado, some choice, classic left-of-centre words of wisdom from the dancer, actor, thespian, writer, orator - Christopher Walken no less:

Morning is the best time to see movies. 

I remember once, years ago, I was walking out a door — I'd been having a conversation and I was walking out the door, and this guy said to me, "Chris," and I stopped and I turned, and he said, "Be careful." And I never forgot that. And it comes back to me often: Be careful. That was good advice. 

That's supposed to be a fact, that the question mark is originally from an Egyptian hieroglyph that signified a cat walking away. You know, it's the tail. And that symbol meant — well, whatever it is when they're ignoring you.

When I was a kid, there was someone in my family, an adult, and whenever I saw them, they would say, "You got a lotta nerve." From the time I was a little kid, it was always like, "Heh, heh, heh — you got a lotta nerve." I always thought, What does that mean? But then when I got older, I thought that it was an instruction. If you tell a kid something, it sticks. I think I do have a lot of nerve. But, I mean, I think I maybe got it from that person who said it to me. 

My father was a lesson. He had his own bakery, and it was closed one day a week, but he would go anyway. He did it because he really loved his bakery. It wasn't a job.  

I used to love Danish. My father used to make a Boston cream pie. You never see that anymore. Very good.  

Most of the jobs I get are basically very unwholesome people. There's always something wrong with the guy, and sometimes something deeply wrong. I'm tired of that. I tell my agent I want a Fred MacMurray part. I want a part where I have a wife and kids and a dog and a house, and my kids say to me, "What do you think I should do, Dad?" and I say, "Be careful." 

 I always figured that if I'm gonna be playing these people, that there should be this relationship to the audience that is very clear. "That's Chris, and look at Chris having a good time, wanting to take over the world and sink California and shoot everybody in the room" — just so long as they understand that that's Chris on the set having fun. And that Chris wouldn't really do anything like that.  

Golf. My God, that's a mysterious occupation. I know people who are — good friends — who are absolutely smitten, practicing their swing and talking about it. I can understand some sort of sport where your body got a benefit, like marathon running or bicycle racing. That's not golf. And not only that, but the whole business of standing in the sun — my God. That's like torture. 

 I love spaghetti. And I like to cook spaghetti. And I used to eat it every day. I weighed thirty pounds more than I do now. You can't — you can't do that. Ice cream — I love to watch television and eat ice cream. But that's like a ten-year-old. I can't do that anymore. Beer. Beer, spaghetti, ice cream. 

Professional dancers don't go dancing.  

When you're onstage and you know you're bombing, that's very, very scary. Because you know you gotta keep going — you're bombing, but you can't stop. And you know that half an hour from now, you're still gonna be bombing. It takes a thick skin.  

I had an agent when I first got into the movies who said to me, "You're gonna be in Los Angeles now once in a while. If somebody invites you to a party, don't go. Stay in your room, go to the movies." And I have a feeling I know sort of what he meant: Don't show your face around too much. Let 'em be a little glad to see you.  

It all happened when I did The Deer Hunter. Suddenly — I'd already been in show business for thirty years, and nothing much had happened. I mean, I really was laboring in obscurity, and then suddenly this movie. It was kind of infectious, and I really did become rather social. Gregarious. And that lasted, I don't know, ten years.  

Movie scripts are usually pretty loose — things usually change a lot. But not with Quentin. His scripts are absolutely huge. All dialogue. It's all written down. You just learn the lines. It's more like a play.  

Sometimes I look at this watch and I think, There's some guy that puts these little screws in there? There is something about it. I'm not into cars, either, but there is something about a really magnificent car.  

Me and Dennis [Hopper], when we were doing that scene in True Romance, it was hilarious. It really was — including shooting him. All that laughing was real. He was killing me. And all the guys around us — that was a very cracking-up day. 

I like to listen to radio interviews. I got a list of things that if I wasn't so lazy, I would do something about, but the idea of having a radio show — two people talking on the radio is fascinating. I'll bet you there's some college around here — they all have radio stations. I get now that I don't like to go anywhere, so if there was some place down the road — twenty minutes' drive.  

I don't like zoos. Awful.  

They say that the human smile is in fact one of those primordial things — that in fact it's a showing of teeth, that it's a warning. That when we smile, in a primeval way it has to do with fear. 

There's something dangerous about what's funny. Jarring and disconcerting. There is a connection between funny and scary.


If Christopher Walken is indeed from another planet, I'm glad he decided to stay...
 
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