[Review] ClearSK V-face Shaper- Relaxing Method to achieve a V-face

ClearSK Medi + Skincare

I'm obsessed with the elusive V-line that after the effects of another V-line face treatment product I reviewed previously wore off, I wanted a treatment that would give me a longer-lasting V-line. Of course, the same conditions apply. No pain, needles, surgery or downtime. Old habits die hard and my tolerance to pain is negligible. =(

Luckily for me, ClearSK has offered SampleStore Beauty Panelists the chance to try their signature V-Face Shaper treatment that achieving the desired celebrity's V-line face shape is now possible! This treatment targets sagging cheeks, double chins/jowls, and crowfeet near the eyes. It is quick with no fuss, pain, needles, surgery or downtime.
 

ClearSK @ Novena

Before I go off about the treatments, let me tell you a bit about ClearSK. ClearSK Medi-Aesthetics ("ClearSK") was founded in 2008 to offer aesthetic treatments powered by medical technology. Their niche areas lie with their wide selection of skincare and slimming treatments that are personalized and prescribed by aesthetic experts. Currently, they are located at Novena Medical Center, Velocity, Orchard,Toa Payoh,  Tampines, Jurong East and they have 6 more upcoming outlets.



Interior

Welcome treatment

The reason why I mentioned their locations so early in the post is because I want to highlight their Novena Medical Center and Velocity outlets. Remember when I mentioned aesthetic experts earlier? ClearSK has a group of qualified doctors at the Novena Medical Center branch to administer medical-grade aesthetic treatments using medical-grade technology and they are assisted by the nurses there. Located close by is the Velocity outlet which is manned by nurses and therapists who administer salon-grade aesthetic treatments using medical grade technology as well. Now, can you tell me how many salons in Singapore offer treatments administered by qualified nurses?



Nurse Joyce administering the treatment for me. By the way, congratulations on your wedding!

Needless to say, I was suitably impressed because I was attended by the beautiful and knowledgeable nurses Joyce and Siti during my first and second visits respectively.


The bed which I fell asleep on--it is very comfy.

When you first enter, you will be showed into a clean room with a comfy single bed. The nurse or therapist (whoever you get that day) will start by cleansing your face (and remove your makeup if necessary). They used a cleansing milk which smelt divine and instantly relaxed me. I asked if I could buy it but it wasn't for sale. Boo.

Then it is time for the treatment! This treatment is called the Accent Ultra V Face and it combines ultrasound waves and radio frequency ("RF") technologies into one non-invasive procedure. You will start with the Ultrasound treatment so wax will be applied to the target areas of treatment for the easy manoeuvring of the machine head. There is no specific reason why wax was chosen sans the fact that it was specified by the manufacturers as the chosen medium.

Ultrasound treatment

The Ultrasound treatment uses both cold and hot ultrasound waves to selectively shear off the fat layers and break up the fat cells at the epidermal layer of our skin (i.e. the top most layer). It does not damage the other surrounding tissue types. During each treatment, the therapist or nurse will determine the target areas so they may focus on different parts of your face during different visits. For example, during my first session, the focus was on my jawline and it slowly went up to my cheeks and cheekbones during consequent visits.

After that, the wax will be removed and a floral smelling oil will be applied to the entire face. Correct me if I am wrong but I think it could be a Moringa Flower-based oil. The scent was subtle and relaxing... Ahhh...

Following which, the RF treatment would commence. The RF treatment consists of unipolar RF technology which generates alternating electromagnetic fields that cause friction and heating in the deeper tissues to improve the overall shaping, firmness and new collagen formulation.

Okay, if I were to be picky, the RF treatment would be my least favourite part of the entire treatment because the sounds from the RF machine can be quite annoying. There is also heat involved so those who are sensitive to heat have to be extra careful and communicate with their therapist/nurse if it gets too hot. For me, the heat was bearable for the most part though it did get a bit too hot for comfort at one point. Luckily, the heat was quickly turned down so it was okay.

The last part of the treatment is my favourite part of the entire treatment. FACE MASK TIME!


My favourite part: Face MASK TIME!

At the end of every facial treatment at ClearSK, a paper mask will be applied. There are 5 types to choose from and they are:-

1. Aloe Vera Hydro Mask;
2. Sensitive Calming Hydro Mask;
3. Pure Whitening White Mask;
4. Acne Control Mask; and
5. Age Delaying Essence Mask.

The type of mask used for you will depend on your skin condition and what your skin concerns are. The Aloe Vera Hydro and Sensitive Calming Hydro Masks have hydrating properties in addition to whatever is claimed in their names. The Pure Whitening White Mask contains milk- lactic acid for whitening purposes. The Acne Control Mask is self-explanatory while the Age Delaying Essence Mask is for collagen building to treat severely aging skin.

Since I have sensitive skin, the nurses have chosen the Sensitive Calming Hydro Masks for me on both occasions. When they say it is calming, they are spot on. I feel calm and relaxed that it was time for me to nap. Best 20 minutes of my day: 20 minutes of nap time with dimmed lights and soothing music... I just want to continue napping!

After 20 minutes, they will come in to remove the mask and massage the remaining essence into the skin. Since it is essence from the essence mask, it is intended to be left on your skin and NOT TO BE WASHED AWAY!

I would highly recommend ClearSK for the effectiveness of the V-face Shaper treatments, the soothing and relaxing ambience, and the knowledgeable staff. To see the effectiveness of the treatments, let's have a look at the photos from Week 1 and Week 4:

Week 1:

 

 

Week 4:

 



Things to note:-

1. On my last visit, the therapist chose to use the Acne Control Mask on me because I said I was stressed. At first the methol effect of the Acne Control Mask was refreshing but slowly, it started to sting with increasing intensity that I couldn't take it and asked for it to be removed. The reason I brought this up is not because the Acne Control Mask isn't good but perhaps it isn't suitable for those with sensitive skin; and

2. All the above pictures are unedited, have no filters applied etc. except the addition of the Miss Bon Viveur stamps.

Disclaimer: The treatments were sponsored by ClearSK in collaboration with The SampleStore but this is not an advertorial or a paid blog post. My views on ClearSK, their products and services are not influenced by ClearSK and are completely my own.

Nylon Coffee Roasters

White: 7oz (left) and 5oz (right) pictured together with 72 Smalldive Neo Vintage Handbag

 

 

I am painfully aware of the backlog I have but a Sunday trip to Everton Park resulted in the discovery of a coffee joint that I am excited about enough that warrants this post.

Coffee aficionados lament the lack of a coffee scene like those down under especially places like Melbourne. Having lived in Perth for the past 8 years, I got a coffee shock when I came back to Singapore to work. While it was the norm for cafes in Perth to serve decent to good cuppas, I found it rare for cafes in Singapore to serve cuppas of similar quality and standard. So can you imagine my excitement when I find a place in Singapore that serves a good cuppa? But for the fact that I already had coffee prior to going to Nylon Coffee Roasters and would be fidgety if I consume too much caffeine, I would have gladly overdosed on the coffee there.

The Maillard Project i.e. In-House Coffee Roasting

Nylon Coffee Roasters is a name that is known in Singapore for its bean to cup approach i.e. they source, blend, roast and brew their coffees. I'm also very much impressed by their efforts to source for the best beans that they travel to visit coffee farms in faraway places like Brazil and Africa to see the coffee in its natural habitat. Their personal approach to coffee is such that they see and taste the coffee in their natural habitats. They understand the coffee's characteristics as affected by the weather conditions, methods of processing at the farm, and TLC (tender loving care) from the farmers etc. before they are transported to Singapore to be roasted in-house.

Because of the above, they are able to bring out each coffee's full characteristics to create the ultimate blend to achieve its maximum potential. To me, this is what artisanal coffee is all about.

Four Chairs Coffee Beans. Santa Rosa was unavailable.

With all the available blends at sight, I was overwhelmed by the choices that I asked the lovely barista which blend would be suitable if I wanted a latte. Notwithstanding that the Santa Rosa was unavailable that day, she recommended Four Chairs as being a good blend to pull an espresso shot for a latte.

Coffee Machine

She also explained the differences between ordering the 3oz, 5oz and 7oz. They refer to the amount of liquids the varying sized coffee cups can hold. All contain 1 shot of espresso and are topped with steamed milk. For the best balance of milk and coffee, she recommended the 5oz. Nonetheless, taste is subjective and if you prefer more milk in your coffee, go for the 7oz.

I heeded her advice and went for the 5oz while my milk loving friend Su went for the 7oz. When our coffees arrived, Su offered me the opportunity to taste hers to draw the comparison between the 5oz and 7oz.

At that point, I understood why the barista suggested the 5oz.

Coffee works as such. Connoisseurs balk at putting milk into coffee because milk detracts the taste of the coffee. However, unadulterated coffee is an acquired taste and my personal preference is coffee with milk. It is not necessarily a bad thing to put milk in coffee because it helps create a creamier and smoother mouth feel. The disadvantage is that there is the potential for the milk to overwhelm the coffee and blanket over the nuances of the coffee.

The 5oz had the perfect balance such that the berry notes from the coffee were fluttering ever so lightly on my palate while the milk provided the smooth and creamy mouth feel that I had a mental image of berry fairies dancing lightly on the surface of gentle waves of milk. The two components had complemented each other perfectly. There was a lingering smoothness at the end of each sip that I thoroughly enjoyed as well.

That is not to say that the 7oz was bad. With the 7oz, it was significantly milkier and the smooth mouth feel remained the same. However, it lacked the coffee notes that were peeking out in the 5oz. I felt that the coffee and milk components had fused into one that the coffee notes were masked and indistinguishable and felt more like milk coffee.

For those who balk at adding milk to your coffee, be rest assured that Nylon Coffee Roasters also have their recommended blends for your filtered cup.

Cupping room

If you are still not convinced as to their dedication to their craft and coffee, this cupping room should change your mind. From what I know, there are only a few places in Singapore that conduct coffee cupping. (Coffee cupping is the equivalent of coffee tasting where the tastes and aromas of brewed coffee are determined. Imagine wine tasting but with coffee instead.)

Standing coffee bar with products on display on shelves

Since coffee is all they offer and it is not recommended for one to consume copious amounts of coffee consecutively, the standing coffee bar is a clever concept to ensure that customers do not overstay given that the premises are small. The place fills up quickly and can get noisy so do get your coffee and leave quickly so that others can get their coffee fix too.

Nylon Coffee Roasters
Address: 4 Everton Park, Singapore 080004
Tel: 6220 2330

Opening Hours:
Weekdays: 8.30am to 5.30pm
Weekends: 9am to 6pm
Closed on Tuesdays

Nearest MRT Station: Outram Park

Music is self-reflection for my soul

A relationship has no rules. Rules are for those who play games but is relationship a game? In today's hook up culture, relationships are akin to games and unwittingly, I've been sucked into the game forgetting what a proper relationship is all about. Treating relationships like games is my downfall because love is unconditional.

Love is blind and makes people do illogical things. It is contrary to human's basic instinct of self-survival. Love is what makes people put others ahead of themselves. So how do something so illogical co-exist with something driven by self-interest?

For example, love is unconditional that no matter how much a person hurts you, if you still love them, you will still want them back. The question is: how much are you willing to take before severing the ropes of the relationship? The other perspective would be how stupid can you get that you are willing to let someone use and trample over you AGAIN? When will you learn your lesson, wake up and stop being so stupid? Don't let him use you AGAIN.

John Legend's All of Me resonates with me especially the part where he goes "even when I lose, I'm winning, cause I give you all of me".

It makes me think back to my own relationships where I have held myself back. For example, do I call him or do I wait for him to call first? This is driven by the fear of "losing". Ultimately, relationships scare me because I can't let go completely to give all of me to someone who has the potential to take all of me AND hurt me.

Even when I let someone into my world, I still hold myself back for fear that he would not like who I truly am. The result is people who enter my world don't know me and they judge who I am on the superficial level which frustrates me because that is not who I am. Then it hit me that it's because that's all of me that I let them see and they realize that it's time to let go because I am not who I am.

Suddenly, John Legend's voice pops up again. "All of me loves all of you, love your curves and edges, all your perfect imperfections."

A proper relationship starts from being who I truly am. I would rather he loves me along with all my strengths and weaknesses than the facade of me. This means I have to start being comfortable being me though it is akin to being comfortable naked. I'm not entirely comfortable with it but I will get there eventually.

Klarity V-Line Challenge with Lasertox V-Line Shape Up

What do all these women have in common that makes them so beautiful and photogenic that we mortal women would give an arm and a leg for?

Vivian Hsu

Kourtney Kardashian

Kim Kardashian

Reese Witherspoon

Sarah Jessica Parker

All the above photographs are courtesy of Google.com

 



A search on the internet for female celebrity faces show that most of them have the V-line regardless of their face shape. No matter what your face shape is, a V-line will most definitely make your face look slim and give others the illusion that you are slim regardless of how thin or curvy you are downwards.

While celebrities boast their V-lines in photographs, mere mortals like us do not have the V-line. Instead, we have chubby cheeks, fleshy jaw lines, double chins (gasp) and generally have U or O jawlines.

For me, I have a pointy chin so if I smile a certain way and photograph at a certain angle, I look like I have a V-lined jaw. Otherwise, strategic hairstyles and photo apps with the "thinify" effect will also do the trick!


Smiling a certain way

On the other hand...there are times when I don't photograph well and look super chubs (see below). :(  Photographs like that don't usually surface because they have a direct route to the rubbish bin or I don't upload them. Period.



Bad photo

If you are scared of pain just like I am because invasive surgery scares me to no end, you can bet your bottom dollar that I will NOT be involved. If there are cutting, needles and pain involved, I'll be running in the opposite direction so......what do I do if I want a V-lined jaw without pain, needles or surgery?

Tada....

Left to right: BODYFIT, Velvet Silicone Belt and V-line Shape Up Cream 

Klarity has considered all that and came up with the Lasertox V-Line Shape Up. It is an intensive treatment to shape and lift the face so that we can achieve the V-Line jaw without any pain and down time.

My initial reaction: *jaws drop, eyes widen* FOR REAL???

KLARITY Lastertox V-Line Shape Up is an intensive 5 days treatment featuring 3 primary components: BODYFIT (5 pieces), the Velvet Silicon belt and V-line Shape Up Cream.

BODYFIT is a mask for your jaw and chin that is soaked with a liquid enriched with Adenosine and natural substances capable of inhibiting the activity of fat tissue and improving firmness of the skin. The liquid penetrates onto the skin to tone the V-line and redefine your facial planes, reduce puffiness by improving drainage and water distribution through the skin tissues as Adenosine accelerates the fat and double chin reducing process. The effects claimed include a more defined contour and improved skin elasticity.

The Velvet Silicone Belt is intended to fit precisely along the V-Line. It has unique acupuncture points which exert pressure to help enhance facial blood circulation for a better result.

Last but not least, the V-line Shape Up Cream is a light weight and hydrating cream that hydrates the skin from deep within and restores the skin's firmness that your face should appear slimmer and visibly lifted by the end of the treatment.

How to use:

Step 1: Place unfolded v-line mask at the jaw area.

Step 2: Wrap the silicone belt around the chin and head for 30 minutes.

Step 3: Massage the remaining essence and then the V-line Shape Up Cream

Here are the results:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

 

Day 5

Day 5: side profile. Less fleshy! Yeay!

Post Day 5: After waking up

All the pictures above of me have no filter or makeup applied. The difference is the lighting and time when I took the pictures.

Do you see a difference? For me, I do see a difference from Day 1 to Day 5 but what is not so obvious from pictures is the difference with my jawline. I am fleshy around the jaw bone area but I could feel the sharpness of my jaw bone after using the Klarity Lasertox V-Line Shape Up. What is more impressive is that my grandmother, who usually comments on how round my face is, noticed a difference and commented that my face grew sharper. Mind you, she sees me everyday so it is harder to notice a change but she did! Naturally, I was on cloud nine for the entire day! :D

Do note that this result is only temporary so one would either have to lose weight (and hope the face slims down too) or go for plastic surgery or cosmetic treatments for a more permanent solution. However, do check out the Klarity Lasertox V-Line Shape Up for a quick V-line face without pain or fuss!

The Klarity Lasertox V-Line Shape Up retails at SGD$59 and is available at:

Online: www.klarity.sg and www.luxola.com
SaSa: Jurong Point, Bedok Mall, Parkway Parade, Novena Square, Junction 8, Plaza Singapura, Vivo City, Holland Village, Nex Serangoon, Tampines 1, Wisma Atria, Causeway Point, Westgate, Lot 1 CCK
BHG Singapore: Bugis Junction, Tampines 1, Juntion 8, Lot 1 CCK, Clementi Mall

Disclaimer: Products are sponsored by Klarity for the V-Line Challenge but this is not an advertorial or a paid blog post. My views on Klarity and their products are not influenced by Klarity and are completely my own.

Essential Leave On Treatment [Warning: UNGLAM PICS!]

When my mum calls me a lion or a "pong sai gao" (Hokkien dialect for poodle) early in the morning, I automatically turn grumpy. Who wants to be called a lion or pong sai gao first thing in the morning?!

Before I start ranting, pong sai gao or poodle is used as a literal translation to describe people with big hairdos (i.e. Afros or Albert Einstein hair). Lion, well, think of a lion's mane and you get my drift.

But then again, Mum has a point. When I wake up, I look like this:-

Was late for the gym so I went straight after I brushed my teeth.

Excuse the puffy eyes and crazy hair but the above selfie was taken when I was on the train (trying to convince someone that I was on my way) straight after washing up because I woke up late.

So after a comb has been through the hair, it looks slightly better but it is still majorly poofy! Mummy always tells me off for not combing my hair but I can't help it if my hair looks crazy after it's been combed! ;((( On a more positive note, I feel like I can hide pigeons in my hair to do magic tricks! :P

Close up of my hair

Lol, my hair looks like it's ready to conduct static electricity! And who is/are the culprit(s)? *shakes fists*

Culprits!

These culprits can be summed up as "Pillow Damage". Essentially, crazy hair is created when sleeping, tossing and turning in bed. As we sleep, toss and turn, our hair rubs against the pillow, creating friction ("pillow friction"). Pillow friction causes our hair cuticles to open up (hello split ends), become rough, frizzy or prone to tangles. It results in frizzy, unmanageable hair like mine. And to solve this problem, I either have to douse my hair in various hair oils and serums or the worse, loads of gel (which hardens throughout the day- yikes!).

This is what they do when you are asleep:-

Hard to believe that such cute girls are masterminds for something so naughty! Here is my arch-nemesis:-

Taming my hair takes up so much effort, time and energy that I tend to leave it as it is when it comes to hairstyle. Also, I have to smoother my hair in lots of gel just to create a somewhat decent hairdo that I typically can't be bothered to. And because crazy hair will lead to people calling the Institute of Mental Health (IMH) (okay, I exaggerate but you get the pun), I have to do magic with my hair.

My magic comes in the form of........................*drumrolls*.................The New Essential Leave-On Treatment Range!

Essential Over Night Intensive Repair Leave-On Treatment Milk (100ml) (left) and Essential All Day Instant Repair Leave-On Hair Serum (60ml) (right)

For the uninitiated to Essential's products, Essential is a popular hair care brand for damaged hair from Japan. You know how Japanese girls tend to have dyed hair? Dyed hair = damaged hair! Since Singaporean girls are also privy to dying their hair, Essential was launched in Singapore for Singaporean girls to help repair and care for their damaged hair. The products available range from basic Shampoo, Conditioner to Treatment items such as Leave-On Treatment Milk (100ml) and Leave- On Serum (60ml) as shown above!

Anyway, I digress. Back to my magic. The new Essential Leave-On Treatment Regime are specially formulated with cuticle care and cuticle protection ingredients that weightlessly repairs and moisturizes damaged hair cuticles and shields it from external stresses such as friction and humidity ROUND THE CLOCK! Yes, even while you sleep!

The Over Night Intensive Repair Leave-On Treatment Milk is used to prep your hair at night to look great in the next morning. It's called the Sleeping Hair Mask because hair mask needs to sleep too. Lol, jokes. It's called the Sleeping Hair Mask because you apply the product on your hair before you go to bed. No need to wash your hair again. Perfect for lazy people (*ah-hem* me)!

Two pumps of the treatment milk

The treatment milk has a milky but non-greasy texture that is absorbed instantly by the hair. The scent is quite pleasant and the product claims to form a protective layer between each hair strand and the pillow. How to use the product:-

1. Use on towel-dried or damp hair.
2. Pump an appropriate amount onto your palm (I use two pumps because my hair is quite long and thick).
3. Spread and apply evenly onto hair, concentrating on mid-length to the tip of hair.
4. Do not rinse off (My favourite part of this product!)
5. Go to bed (Zzzzzzzzzzzz)

Picture taken before bed (PS: My hair looks like that without any product in it)

Sleep - Alarm rings- Wakes up - Clean up- Put on makeup.....

The next morning after using the treatment milk

Different morning- hair after using the treatment milk

From the pictures, there is a noticeable difference in the manageability of my hair. While the lion can never be domesticated, its mane is tamed significantly!

Paired with the serum which looks like a hair oil... the difference is even more noticeable and hair becomes more lustrous. Anyhow, good hair days call for lots of selfies to be taken! :DDD

How my hair looks like after using both the treatment milk and serum.

Can't resist selfie time!

I love using the treatment milk and serum especially when I know I'm going out.

Was feeling blue last week but the good hair day called for a selfie!

Overall, I find that for the price point, the Essential Leave-On Treatment range is worth a shot especially if you have frizzy hair like mine. They are easy to apply, quite lightweight and absorbed easily. Very fuss-free!

You can get the Essential Leave-On Treatment Milk (100ml) and Hair Serum (60ml) [RRP $11.90 each] at leading supermarkets, hypermarkets, pharmacies and personal care stores.

*************************************************WANT TO TRY IT BEFORE YOU BUY?*************************************************

For savvy consumers, trying before buying is a must so Essential is giving all of you a chance to try the product before you buy it because they want you to love what you buy. Get your free sample of Essential Sleeping Hair Mask today! Go to http://on.fb.me/1hUqJoA

Not only that, Essential is giving away tickets to the upcoming 2NE1's All or Nothing World Tour Concert held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 28th June 2014. Simply purchase $10 worth of Essential products to qualify. Super do-able! More details can be found at www.essentialsg.com/2ne1

You can also check out www.facebook.com/Essential.SG to keep updated with the latest news and promotions from Essential. Good luck! :D