LIFESTYLE@LXG: Joanne tries the Cocoon Mask facial at Immortelle Atelier!

I’ve always had dehydrated and sensitive skin, and the condition of my skin has gotten a lot worse ever since I came back from Paris (the weather was pretty cold when I was in the City of Light). If you take long flights or visit drier countries, you probably know what I mean. So I was pretty excited when I was given the opportunity to review the Relaxing Eye Treatment and Maria Galland's Cocoon Facial at Immortelle Atelier.

Conveniently located at United Square in Novena, Immortelle Atelier provides professional facial, make up and hair services using only high-quality and premium products. Indeed, some of the products that the salon uses are Maria Galland, a premium skin care line from France and Jyunka from Japan.

I was attended to by my friendly and knowledgeable therapist, who took me through the various facial services that are available at Immortelle Atelier in-depth, and they include:

-          Maria Galland Hot Modelling Facial Treatment (for rejuvenating & lifting effects)

-          Jyunka Vitamin C Facial Treatment (for instant radiance)

-          Jyunka Epidermal Peel Facial Treatment (for skin purification)

-          Jyunka Whitening Facial Treatment (Whitening treatment)

-          Filorga Cryolift Facial Treatment (for firm and intensive radiance)

-          Intensive Dark Circle Eyecare Treatment (for dark eye rings & puffiness)

The treatment that I was scheduled for was the Maria Galland Cocoon Facial Treatment for instant hydrating results. I’ve never tried something like this before, but the professionalism and friendliness of the staff put me at ease.

I was led into a small but cosy room to being the treatment.

We started off with the usual deep facial cleansing procedure, followed by the eye treatment thereafter. This is really interesting as she applied the Gua Sha therapy to my under eye area. If you’re not familiar with Gua Sha (just as I was earlier), this is a traditional Chinese medical treatment that uses a spoon-like tool to scrape your skin. According to my therapist, this helps to stimulate blood circulation and reduces dark eye rings. She even shared that some customers actually commented that they could feel a difference in their vision right after the eye treatment.  I can’t attest to this, but it did feel good.

For the facial treatment, she applied the Maria Galland Masque Froid Hydratant Hydrating Cooling Mask. As it name suggests, the mask was really cooling and I felt good knowing that my (dehydrated) skin could finally get the essential moisture that it needs. She shared that this is one of the star products by Maria Galland, and that she has seen her fair share of brides who diligently used the Cooling Mark for at least a week before their big day, and swear by it.

Both treatments lasted slightly under two hours. Eyebrow trimming, extraction and your usual neck and shoulder massages are provided as well. I could instantly feel a difference right after the facial – my skin was much firmer, supple, radiant and definitely well-moisturized.

Apart from facial services, Immortelle Atelier also provides professional makeup and hair services for both adults and kids. Not surprising, given that United Square is also known as the ultimate kids mall. My therapist shared that they have their fair share of experience styling kids for children’s birthday parties.

The team of lovely ladies and their affordable treatment that uses premium and quality products easily attests why Immortelle Atelier has won several accolades (such as CozyCot.com’s ‘Best Salon Vitamin Infused Skin care' for their Jyunka serum SME of the year 2014 and ‘Singapore’s Outstanding Enterprise’ Award 2013). This may be my first time at the salon, but I know I’ll definitely be back for more!

Immortelle Atelier is located at: United Square Shopping Mall Singapore, 101 Thomson Road #02-08B, Singapore 307591. Tel: 6259 9001/ enquiries@immortelleaterlier.com

LIFESTYLE@LXG: TS takes the Braun Cruzer 6 for a test drive

I am often told I need to shave more. My reply is often a mumbled apology about time and a fear of having my face ripped to shreds by dull blades. All right, I maybe exaggerating slightly when I say rip my face to shreds, but let's be honest here; getting nicked while shaving is probably the third worst thing that can happen to you before you leave the house every morning. The first two being constipation and diarrhea in no particular order. 

So when I was offered a chance to review the Braun Cruzer 6, I was interested but not really hopeful. I had tried electric shavers before and they were not good. I looked unshaved and the shavers usually irritated my skin. So with trepidation I decided to give it a try. I've had it for about a week now and here's how it has been so far. 

Day One:

I had shaved the day before, so I only had a short bristles. It was time to test the claims that the Cruzer gives you a smooth clean shave, even removing the the 5pm shadow that Asians never ever get. 

The result was surprising quite decent. Usually it takes around a week or two to get used to an electric shaver, however the Braun Cruzer was amazing easy to use and I had a smooth shave (impressed but still skeptical. Maybe this was a one off?). 

Day Four:

Skip ahead a few days and here I am with thicker beard and an unofficial warning from HR about maintaining professional standards (I seriously can't believe they did not accept that I had to grow my face hair for a review). Ok, let's see how well the Braun Cruzer does on my longer, thicker and generally bushier beard and mustache. 

Personally, I prefer to dry shave, though Braun has the awesome option of a wet or dry shave, so if you're strapped for time, you can always shower and shave at the same time.  

After three passes of the shaver, my hairy beard was a thing of the past. I was a little sad to be honest cos I had kind of grown attached to my fuzz, but feelings be damned, I had a review to write. 

This time I was able to test it more thoroughly and see how well it shaved the contours of my face. And I must say, my jaw line has never felt so smooth before (the girl friend was most appreciative too!)

I'm going to skip the next week or so, because it is safe to say that the shaver works well and I also don't want to piss off HR any more than necessary. 

The Braun Cruzer is awesome and I am a believer. Though I probably should mention the styler or as I like to call it the sideburn trimmer. You can slide up a trimmer that allows you to maintain your sideburns and if required trim your facial hair rather than shave it all off. 

To those of you who can actually grow a lot of facial hair and think thin beards and mustaches are uber cool, you're most welcome.

The Braun Cruzer 6

The Braun Cruzer retails at S$119 and is available at all major retailers.

You can find out more about the product on the Braun website: http://www.braun.com/global/male-grooming/cruzer-shavers-and-trimmers/cruzer-cleanshave.html Or join Braun’s facebook page for great giveaways and tips: BRAUN

LIFESTYLE@LXG: Jyunka launches TWO new products!

We at LXG are huge fans of Jyunka and did a happy dance when Jyunka sent us two of their latest launches; Jyunka 5-in-1 Gel Cleanser and the JYUNKA Extreme Hydrant Serum

JYUNKA 5-in-1 Gel Cleanser goes beyond just cleansing your skin. We should know, we all got a chance to try it out!

Enriched with H complex, it maintains harmony in the skin’s hydrous equilibrium while tackling skin sensitivity, perfect for those of us with sensitive skin or post laser treatment. 

This all-rounder is pH balanced, removes all traces of makeup (hoorah no double cleansing required!) and impurities, leaving your face looking and feeling so fresh and and clean. 

Do we love it, hell yeah! 

Extreme Hydrant Serum We all know that hydration is crucial to keep skin looking and feeling youthful and healthy. Tiredness, aging and sensitivity are often magnified due to insufficient moisture. 

Environmental factors, a lousy skin care regime, aging and insufficient sleep can cause a lack of hydration in the skin. The Extreme Hydrant Serum immerses your skin in an aqueous environment and locks the moisture in the upper epidermis to ensure optimal cellular activity. 

A special Visco-Elastic Complex using high molecular weight proteins, provides gentle nourishment while forming a protective layer, tightening pores and improving skin firmness. 

The LADY@LXG is currently using this twice a day and is in love! (this is all well and good, but not letting us use more than 1 pump is just mean!)

LIFESTYLE@LXG: Chen Chen tries the Thalasso facial at Immortelle Atelier!

Many people always stare at me in disbelief when I tell them my beauty routine consists only of cleansing and moisturizing. Period. Yes, that’s how lazy I am when it comes my skin care. I find it chore to even slap on sunscreen before heading out, let alone go for a facial.

So when my girlfriend raved to me about this really fabulous facial she’d had I just brushed it aside. Until I checked myself out in the mirror one day and had the shock of my life – tiny bumps lined my forehead, my cheeks were dehydrated and I looked like l’ve been punched in the eyes. Horrified by this discovery I called  my girlfriend up and made her book me an appointment with her facialist, pronto.

And thats how I found myself at Immortelle Aterlier, two days later.

The salon, although small and cozy, pays great attention to ensuring that customers get only the best. The bed linen is super luxe and so is the robe. The attention to detail is impressive!

After a detailed skin assessment, my beauty therapist recommended two treatments for me – the Thalasso Facial and Meridian Eyecare Treatment.

The first is designed to rejuvenate tired skin and comprises of an active ingredient specifically tailored for my skin type. It is then followed by a micro-algae mask that helps to rebalance and delivers long-lasting hydration deep into the skin. The latter incorporates the “Guasha” method (a form of traditional Chinese therapy), and uses a smooth bone to apply pressure and relax the eye area. Total bliss!! You MUST try their eye treatment and the best part?its only $48 by itself! 

I must say that the treatments felt really luxurious and pampering! My therapist's masterful massage strokes put me in a totally relaxed, almost meditative state, and I loved the rich and soothing scents of the Maria Galland products used.

More importantly, my skin felt much smoother and hydrated, and I no longer look like Kungfu Panda!

To try out the treatments for yourself, visit Immortelle Atelier at 101 Thomson Road, United Square Shopping Mall #02-08B. Tel: 6259 9001

For more information, visit their website www.immortelleatelier.com or join their Facebook page for the latest news and promotions.

LIFESTYLE@LXG: Natural Healings opens its first branch in Chinatown!

 

"Many of us take better care of our automobiles than we do our own bodies… yet the auto has replaceable parts".

- B.J. Palmer

By opening their third outlet at China Town Point Natural Healings hopes to introduce Chiropractic treatment - something that has always been perceived as a very western form of alternative treatment - to the people of Chinatown, the home of traditional Chinese medicine.

The wellness centre aims to bring its unique brand of pain relief and preventive treatments to a wide cross-section of Singaporeans. By integrating chiropractic and physiotherapy, the treatment plan targets to help patients achieve relief from chronic pain and illness, sports and work-related injuries, as well as pain caused due to illness and aging.

This is achieved by combining hands-on therapy utilizing state-of-the-art equipment with specialized stretching exercises using modern gymnasium equipment and facilities. Completely needle-free, this is a great solution for all you needle-phobes out there suffering in silence.

Natural Healings caters to everyone in the family – from the youngest to the oldest, with specifically designed treatments that focus on both pain management and injury prevention.

Their new Chinatown branch is located at 133 New Bridge Road, #B1-38, China Point. To make an appointment or find out more, call them on 6225 2202.

LADY@LXG: On a quest for the perfect brows with ALLURE Beauty

" I find that nothing frames a face so beautifully, or gives an instantaneous lift quite like perfectly shaped brows" - Anastasia 

I don’t know about you, but when I was a kid, I had no eyebrows and looked like an alien, so my father, in an Eureka moment, decided to shave my non-existent brows, resulting in a fine, downy growth of hair - and that, dear reader, is how I got my eyebrows. 

But as I grew older and realized how important our eyebrows are in framing our face, my fine downy brows were just not enough. Although beautifully shaped and arched, thanks to weekly threading appointments, my skills with a brow pencil were quite clumsy and primitive and it took me ages to draw each morning. Needless to say, this left me quite frustrated and irritable, not the best mood to be in just before a long commute in a cramped train! 

Then several years ago I was invited down to Allure Beauty for a media trial and two hours later, I left with the most spectacular brows in human history!

Since then, I have insisted on having my brows done only by the trained professionals at Allure. Although some may consider it a bit pricey, I think its a sum worth paying for quality brows, which will last you up to two whole years. This is unlike other places which may charge less, but the brows just don’t go the distance in terms of shape, how long it lasts and how much detail is put into every strand of hair that is painstakingly drawn amidst your own natural hair. 

Allure Beauty celebrated their 12^th anniversary this year with a newly revamped Allure Beauty Salon at West Mall. This outlet boasts 1,182 square foot space with eight individual beauty suites, ten beauty couches, two couple rooms, one eyebrow suite and four facial suites!  

 1 Bukit Batok Central Link, #04-10. West Mall. S(659713). Telephone +65 6898 2242.

LADY@LXG: I ‘heart’ my new Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510

I have finally (after more than 30 years) come to realize that there are no bad hair days, just bad hair tools! 

After having existed my entire life on this planet without ever having owned a hair dryer (much to my stylist’s dismay), I was handed a snazzy looking new model from Braun. To this day, I don’t know why Braun chose me of all people to test-drive their new dryer, especially since I hadn’t the foggiest clue as to how to use the thing. I suspect it was my post on Shiseido where I featured a ‘before and after’ photo of my hair, which was when I finally realized that I had spent the past three decades fooling myself that my hair looked awesome from every angle.

So after admiring my sleek new Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510 for a few days, I decided to visit my stylist who promptly dropped to his knees and thanked the heavens for this blessing (I honestly don’t know why I stick with him, what with all his overly dramatic gestures and sarcasm) and promptly gave me a “hair drying for dummies” tutorial.

Its been a month and I have dried my hair almost daily (if I am not leaving the confines of my house I just let it drip dry). The beautiful thing is so easy to use. It is lightweight, not too hot, has a funky green light that releases ions and keeps my hair shiny and pretty - and best of all, my hair actually looks groomed and sleek and does not turn up on one side and inwards on the other.

I seriously love my Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510. If I had more space in my house, I would build a display case for it and admire it upon waking every day. At the moment, I store it in it’s nice box in my cupboard together with my Ferragamo bag. 

I am big enough to admit that I was an idiot to not get a hair dryer sooner. But more importantly, I think its important to get the right dryer, as opposed to any old model you see in the store.

I love my Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510, not just because its so sexy, sleek and black and has a funky green ion light, but also because;

Unlike other heat stylers which increase the risk of static build up, my new Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510 helps eliminate this effect. It’s unique ion technology (the funky green light) acts like a natural moisturizer during drying, taming frizz and static and leaving one’s hair gorgeously shiny and smooth. Because every individual hair is unique, the Satin-Hair 5 dryer has 3 heat and 2 airflow settings that can be adjusted separately to match the needs and requirements of your hair type and styling preferences. The calibrated fan technology distributes the heat evenly so that your hair gets dried efficiently without drying out.  

The Cold Shot function (which I have yet to use) allows you to cool your hair and set your style in place. The cold shot also protects, preventing the heat from remaining in your hair longer than necessary. The heat may go, but the style will last longer.  

If you are looking for an awesome hair dryer, you have to get yourself the Braun Satin-Hair 5 dryer HD 510 which retails at just $99.