Tuesday, 11 March 2014

LIFESTYLE@LXG: Finally, A 24hr Sunscreen!

We covered EHA Clinic's Japan-made 24hr Sunshield a while back when it was first launched in Singapore. Today, we are giving it another shout out because its got itself a brand spanking new look and plus we really love this product!


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. Even when applied thickly to the skin, the base - which is equivalent to an SPH factor of 30 - still appears transparent – giving a natural look without the feeling of any make-up application.   

The protecting ingredient also prevents spot generation, keeping the skin cool and resistant against sunburn. Sun Shield 24hr can also be used as foundation base before make-up application. I personally use it in place of foundation or concealer. I love the fact that its subtle tint evens out my otherwise patchy complexion and leaves my skin looking matte and clean.


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


WELLNESS@LXG: A Review of Centrum Multivitamins - for Men and Women

Long working hours? Check.
No time to eat three full meals a day? Check.
Have trouble sleeping? Check.

- And I don’t think I’m the only one…


Work rules your life; everything-else comes in second.  And although you’ve had the best intentions to turn your life around – taking time to eat and cook healthily, exercising, and putting in the correct amount of sleep-time – these often end up failing miserably.  Am I right?

Welcome to the Club. And don’t worry, because there is something you can do to help reverse this unhealthy trend.

There are lots of good reasons to take a multivitamin. Even if you do manage to tidy up your act and improve your diet, even the best eating plans can fall short of meeting all of the 40-plus nutrients you need each day. So taking a once-daily multivitamin is an easy way to fill in those nutritional gaps.

But with so many different brands and varieties to choose from, it’s hard to know where to begin. Which is a reason why I personally used to give up altogether and just pray that what I was eating was good enough.

But when I started to notice the increased frequencies in which I was getting ill, catching the flu, and having sleepless nights, I realized that perhaps there was something lacking health-wise.

Yes, I could just blame it on work, but when my better-half began to observe my drop in energy and enthusiasm for life in general, it was a situation which could no longer be ignored.

Many studies have also found that men are less likely to have a healthier eating pattern. We eat less fruits and vegetables, and ahem, also have a higher consumption of alcohol compared to females.

So when Centrum introduced a multivitamin designed just for men, I really couldn’t make any more excuses.
But why a multivitamin specifically for men?

Well, the greatest difference between the genders is that the average guy is bigger in size than the average woman, and so uses up more energy going about his daily activities. And in particular, his higher muscle mass makes it crucial that he receives higher magnesium to ensure proper muscle function.

Turns out that Centrum for Men is specially formulated for a man’s nutritional support - with the following key benefits: energy release, healthy muscles, and heart function. You could call it the life support system we need to improve total body wellness in a fast paced lifestyle.

Complemented with a variety of B-vitamins to promote cell metabolism, and along with a higher zinc content, Centrum helps boost a guy’s vitality ensuring he has enough energy to conquer his grueling day. A higher number of body cells, due to body size and muscle mass also mean that the demand for Vitamin E is higher to protect against oxidant attacks.

Like its female counterpart, it contains 24 essential vitamins and minerals, complete from A to Zinc – but these are offered in different proportions to cater to each gender’s needs.

After a couple of weeks of taking Centrum for Men daily – c’mon it’s just one pill a day; (how easier could it be to stick to a health plan!) – I can honestly feel an improvement in my total body wellness – and I’ve certainly got more energy to deal with the stresses of work. I also have it from a very reliable source,  that I’m no longer such a grouch in the mornings either!

_______________________________________________

  Centrum for Women: A review by LADY@LXG

While a balanced diet is important for every woman to look and feel her best, how realistic is it for us, in this day and age, to get all the nutrients that we require through our diet? Most of us get through the day by mainlining huge doses of caffeine. This is why I am a huge fan of supplements; multi vitamins in particular!

What makes Centrum for Women special, is that this new complete multivitamin, is formulated to address the unique nutritional demands of today’s woman. You know, the sort that works her butt off at the office, mainlining espressos as she dodges a mine-field of back-stabbing colleagues and demanding clients, then gets home, only to play master chef, seductress and super mummy to her two-legged or four-legged offspring, making it a tad bit impossible for her to fit in her daily dose of assorted fruits and veges.

In Centrum for Women you’ll find more calcium, magnesium and vitamin D – which help with bone health – as well as over 20 other important nutrients based on the latest findings in nutritional science. So what you essentially get is a supplement that is custom made for us women, how awesome is that!

In the past, I used to pop between 10 to 15 tablets a day. But now, thanks to Centrum for Women one tablet with food together with my oral sunscreen capsule is all I need to keep me going for the day. Most importantly, it leaves me with a sense of security, especially when I forget to include greenery in my diet.


Centrum for Men and Centrum for Women both retail at $42 for 60 tablets, so go grab yourself a bottle today! 

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

STYLE@LXG: A hairy matter




Okay girlfriends let’s be honest: Hair. If it’s not on your head, eyebrows or eyelashes – is not acceptable. Period.

Unwanted hair could ruin that perfect dress, which in turn ruins what could have been a perfect night! Nothing is more alluring than a confident woman, who knows her skin is smooth and silky.At the same time, nothing is more off putting than hair legs clad in a mini skirt --- eeek!


While there are many ways to go about removing unwanted hair, I personally prefer epilating. Shaving only removes the hairs above the skin, leaving the roots in the follicle. Waxing, while it does remove all the hairs from the roots, can get pretty expensive. 

This brings us to epilation. This tried and tested method removes the hairs from the roots and provides lasting smoothness at a fraction of the price of waxing. I can safely proclaim that this is the most value-for-money option I have yet to come across. 
Most of us keep away from epilation because it is perceived to be painful and not as effective as waxing. Girlfriends, let me tell you, this only happens to people who use cheapo epilators and lets face it, beauty comes with its own share of pain. 

I’ve put together some reasons on why epilating is the way to go for getting the best results. Thanks to the people at Braun for providing some of the information: 


·        Epilation provides lasting smoothness: With epilation, you get smooth skin that lasts up to 4 weeks. That’s because removing hair from the root means that hair takes longer to grow back than removal with surface methods like shaving and creams. ·  
·         Epilation is great for sensitive skin: Epilating in the bath is the new hair removal solution for modern women everywhere. It is ideally suited for sensitive skin and those new to epilating. As the tweezers on an epilation head do not pull the skin directly when removing hair, there is minimal effect on the skin.
·         Epilation helps hair grow back less noticeably: As hairs are removed at the root, hairs grow back with softer, narrower tips than hairs removed with a razor, so they feel softer and finer to the touch. Second, as hair grows back at different speeds depending on the phase of the hair growth cycle they are in, there is also less hair to be removed after the first few sessions.
·         Epilation can be more efficient than waxing: While both epilation and waxing remove hairs from the root, waxing can press hairs flat against the skin, making them harder to lift and remove.


We are giving away TWO Braun Epilators this month!

Want to take part? then simply:
1. Tell us why you want to win (on this blog and on our FB page)
2. Like this post and our FB page (we like LIKES)
3. Share this post. The more you share, the better your chances.

GOOD LUCK!





Tuesday, 11 February 2014

STYLE@LXG: Save face this Valentines Day!


Personally I am not a huge fan of grooming. If I didn't have a hot girl friend, I would probably look like a cave man and be proud of it. 

But with Valentines day, quite literally around the corner, I have started planning ahead to ensure that I look my very best or face a month of ice from the lady friend.


I blame commercialism for making this the most harrowing period of the year, other than her birthday and Christmas that is. But needs must when you have have to keep the lady friend happy or spend the rest of eternity being nagged at and beaten.

Forget the perfect gift, or booking an impossible-to-book restaurant  that will probably have me eating Maggi mee for at least the first quarter of the year, My biggest trauma at the moment is trying not to look like I have been living in a cave without access to any reflective surface. So the grooming has commenced....

Whats the big deal about shaving? Well, I don’t know about you, but after a great night out with a beautiful lady I like to move in for that goodnight kiss, a precursor for better things to come. Apart from bad breath (need to buy a new toothbrush and some floss), the biggest impediment to getting that kiss is an unkempt, rough and stubbly chin.Trust me, girls don't like hair.

The key to getting that perfect shave is finding a shaver that you like. One that feels good on your skin. I personally use electric shavers, but the choice is ultimately yours. Owning the perfect grooming accessory is not the end of the story. You will need to know how to use it effectively to get the most out of it. Here are some tips for the perfect shave, cos if anyone knows how to wield a shaver, its me.

To get the perfect shave
·         It is advisable to shave before you wash, since our skin tends to swell after washing.
·         If you are not a daily groomer like me and prefer to shave every few days, then my advice would be to trim your stubble before you shave, especially if you are using an electric shaver, I like to use the   power long hair trimmer on the Braun oCoolTec Shaver, which is my preferred grooming tool.
·        
          For first time or new electric shaver users, here are some helpful tips to ensure that you get the closest shave. You know, the type that motivates a girl to run their fingers across your face.
o   Stretch the skin and shave against the direction of your beard's growth
o   Hold the shaver at a right angle (90°) to your skin
o   Keep the pressure even to achieve the best possible shave

Why I love the Braun oCoolTec
The Braun oCoolTec is the world’s first dry shaver with revolutionary cooling technology, designed to put shaving irritation on ice, which is great for me as I have super sensitive skin. The kind that turns pink for absolutely no reason. Its perfect for men with sensitive skin as it takes the heat out of shaving and creates an instant and noticeable reduction in the signs of shaving irritation such as burning, itching, redness and skin tension. The recommended retail price is $289 for the CT4s model and $369 for the CT5cc model.

Thursday, 9 January 2014

LXG Braun CoolTec giveaway 2014

A happy new year to you all!

As promised, we are giving away TWO more BRAUN COOLTEC shavers, each worth $289!


To take part, simply do the following:

1. Send us a creative picture or photo or pen a verse on why you should walk away with this fabulous gadget on both our FB page (www.facebook.com/theLXGers) and on this post.

2. Share this post with ALL your friends. Enemies too if you want.

3. Like this post and our FB page so you will be notified if you are the lucky winner.

That's it. Its as easy as pie. Good luck!

This giveaway is only open to those residing in Singapore and will be run until the end of January 2014.

Friday, 3 January 2014

STYLE@LXG: Karryl bids her freckles adieu!

Finally, a solution to freckles and dark spots 

I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with the sun. I loved being outdoors, sitting by the pool in my sexy bikini, basking in the sun and the admiring glances of the passing boys. I loved to tan. In my eyes, a tan looked healthy and radiant. Unfortunately my pasty white complexion doesn’t tan easily, and instead of getting that beautiful, glowing bronze hue I craved, I usually ended up, red (and raw – Ouch!).


It didn’t help that I wasn’t a fan of sunscreens either. I hated the sticky feel of lotion on my skin. And although I would get a smattering of freckles  after a day out in the sun, I thought they looked sort of cute. And so I carried on with my outdoor activities with nary a concern for something as dull as sun protection.

As I entered my thirties however, things changed. I spent less time under the sun, and started slathering on the SPF. I grew to love my fair skin and freckles no longer appealed to me. If anything, I found those tiny brown specks embarrassing - I’ve lost count of the number of times "helpful" people thought there was something on my face and tried to rub it off with an; "aiyah girl, you got something on your face lah, come I wipe it for you"

I tried various products to even out my skin-tone, but the results were dismal. Just when I was about to resign myself to the fact that those pesky brown spots were here to stay, I received a bottle of SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector from the kind folks at L’Oreal.

For those not familiar with the brand, SkinCeuticals, they are known for their advanced scientific formulas and come highly recommended by dermatologists, cosmetic surgeons and aestheticians.
My sister has tried their antioxidant serum and it worked wonders for her skin, so you can imagine how excited I was to try out their pigmentation treatment.

The product itself is easy to use – after cleansing, I applied a small amount to the pigmented areas, followed by my usual skincare products - morning and night.

So did it work? I’d say yes. It’s been only 10 weeks since I started using the Advanced Pigment Corrector, and while the spots have not completely gone, they are much lighter. My mum has also commented that I look more radiant.

SkinCeuticals recommends using the Advanced Pigment Corrector for at least three months for the best results. I’ve been using it for only two and a half months but I’m already sold. There’s quite a fair bit of the product left, and I’m pretty optimistic that I would get to see further improvements in my skin by the time I’m done with the whole tube. Keeping my fingers crossed!

SkinCeuticals Advanced Pigment Corrector, $198 (inclusive of GST), is available at the following:
·       Freia Medical Aesthetics
Wisma Atria Office Tower #19-03, Tel: 6735 8180
·       Skin Physicians
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre #11-08, Tel: 6733 6466
·       Spa Artisan
The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, Mezzanine Floor, Tel: 6423 1382
·       The Aesthetic Studio
Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre #12-08, Tel: 6836 8382
·       Cosmopolitan Clinic
25 Lorong Telok #01-01, Tel: 6327 3773

For more information, please visit www.skinceuticals.com.