Lifebytes

Our current pain...

It has been almost 3 years since we got married. We have been searching for a place of our own before we got married - knowing that there is no way we would qualify for a subsidized public housing. We thought that the current arrangement to stay with our parents would cease once we find a place of our own, but we only find ourselves still shuttling between parents. As prudent spenders, we would prefer to spend less for a house that I live in because I need to support my parents and we need to safe for old age. But now, I seriously have no idea where my children will sleep when they are born when we are only taking up a room at our parents' place. Are we supposed to pay S$1M for a resale flat that would not appreciate as much over time? Or pay over $900psf for a private property that is far from city and be laden with huge housing installment for the rest of our lives - only to be left without savings to support ourselves when we are old?

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Saviour for inflammed acne

I have cystic acne. They are small bumps that are painful and red and without pus. Normal acne creams containing salicylic acids or sulphur will not work with them.

Fortunately, my beautician recommended me this Zaatar Cream by Christina, a popular product made in Israel. Made of mostly essential oils and clinical grade healing agents, it does not clog pores and is highly effective in reducing the swelling and inflammation of acne without having to consume antibiotics or anti inflammatory drugs. According to it's description on the tube, it is also effective for treating seborrhea, psoriasis. The mask is supposed to improve the appearance if problem skin by detoxifying, soothing, healing and repairing irritated skin while refining scaly complexions and promoting skin cell's regeneration

Everyday, I apply Zaatar Cream on problem areas after toning my cleansed skin. In the evening, I use cleansing milk to cleanse my face of all the grime and skin products followed by toning. Then I will apply Zaatar Cream again so that it will work overnight for me. The next day I will notice that the red bumps have reduced by at least a third or have grew pus which allows my acne to purge out by itself. I will then apply normal acne cream to dry up the pus. Once it's dried up or purged, I will apply Zaatar Cream again to reduce the remaining swelling. Simple ! :)

Zaatar Cream is available at Face Essensuals located at Midpoint shopping centre along Orchard Road.

Lunar New Year 2011

Four and half days of lunar new year celebrations. All the binging on junk food and house visiting while battling the onset of cold (weather), mouth ulcer, sore throat and the temptation of high calorie foods such as the oh-so-famous-and-must-haves bak kwa. I succumbed to the temptation of course, a mere mortal myself. Though deep down I do crave for a hot yummy bowl of ramen or porridge that would purge out all the toxins I have consumed. Whoever set new year resolution to lose weight or live healthily must be kidding his or her self. It don't happen this way. And if it's true that the beginning sets the tone for the rest of the year, think again...

Life after Pixel

Its been a while since I blogged about my skin condition and my road to keeping acne outbreaks under control.  As mentioned, I had cystic acne so its a bit troublesome because it just keeps coming back.

Its been many moons since I started blogging about going to a beautician for facial. It has worked well so far, even my friends are saying that my face has cleared up substantially. Of course, thanks to Pixel (albeit the pain I had to go through) which helped to clear away the earlier outbreaks which were most annoying and painful. I thought the beautician did a great job too and I'm glad that I listened to her advise about reducing the number of product brands I use on my face. Nonetheless, I just can't help it when I find a good acne treatment product off the shelf. :p

Here's a list of the products that I've been using for the past few months:

1) Dermatologist's cleanser for day and Celmonze Facial Mousse at night (if your face feels extremely grimy, cleanse face with gentle makeup remover before using the mousse)
2) Dermatologist's clearing toner
3) Celmonze Immun Concentrate Ampoule (1 vial can  be used over 5 days for me (twice a day for once every 4 weeks - during this period, I stop using SK-II Treatment Essence and SK-II Clear Solution for combi skin)
4) SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
5) SK-II Skin Clearing Solution
6) Facial at Beautician's once every 3-4 weeks to unclog pores and for gentle fruit acid peel

The result?
My skin has cleared up substantially - now only slight outbreaks around the chin area and some pink scars around my mouth (due to past outbreaks). Skin texture has also improved though still a bit oily but not as bad as before. The beautician was amazed at the improvement as well. I hadn't gone back *touch wood* to the dermatologist other than to stock up on cleanser and toner. I use Mario Badescu's buffering lotion for pimples occasionally.

During my recent trip to early winter Tokyo, I stuck with my regime (wash, tone, SK-II essense and clear solution). It work very well and I didnt had as much problem as I had previously whenever I travel. To top it off, I used a sheet of SK-II mask in one of the evenings to hydrate my skin before I sleep. When I return, I spent 1 week treating my face with Celmonze Immun Concentrate for a week. My skin improved even more and it felt smooth and well hydrated.

Some points to note though:
1) tone ur face and tap dry before using Celmonze Immun Concentrate Ampoule and applying any mask because it helps your skin to absorb better
2) If you are using non-SK-II toner, please make sure you tap your toned skin dry with clean tissue before applying any SK-II product.
3) Regular facial helps for acute problem skin. Good beauticians are skilled at clearing your clogged pores (from overreactive oil producing glands) without leaving scars on your face. They should also be concientious about your needs and not just busy pushing salon products to you. I would not go visit the beautician again if he/she pushes me to buy products.

PIXEL!

The gel based hydrator I mentioned earlier didn't work very well because I started to develop some bumps on my skin. Anyway, i am back to my usual regime of wash, tone and SK-II essence. Everything was very under control, until I start to break in to huge acne on my nose. I thought its find just to apply some of my dermatologist's cream but it got really bad, so bad that it gave me headache. Even my beautician did not dare to touch it when she was giving me a facial.

I finally got enough courage to visit my dermatologist again for treatment (she gave me a earful, for not using her medicated products and leaving my acne to get so bad before going back to her). She treated me with high powered PIXEL which was so painful (no anesthesia fyi) that I winced about when the treatment was applied. My god! I don't want to go back to get it done again. After the treatment, they gave me a cooling mask and let me rest in a room for 20mins. It was heavenly! Its a silicon gel like masque with lingzhi extract. It did calm my face a lot during that 20mins. Amazing! (But of course I still feel as if my skin was 'cooking' after the beams). I went back to office (it was lunch time consultation) with tinted sunblock on my face (compliments from the counter staff there). Everything looks normal until it started to peel the next day.

I know I was told not to wash my face on the day of treatment coz it may sting, but I really... REALLY... cannot sleep without a clean face. So I plucked up the couraga again to use a make up remover (Biore waterbased makeup remover). It did well to remove the makeup. My face felt fresh thereafter (though a tad dry). I pat my face dry and started applying the antibiotic gel from the dermatologist, and went to sleep.

The next day, I started using my normal foaming cleanser - all is well (hurray!) just a little red here and there. Threw on tinted moisturizer and off I went to work.

My face started peel 24 hrs after treatment and was rather bad on day 3. Thereafter all is fine. I am now back on my cleansing regime - though I still have some acne that needs to be treated with antibiotics. I also started using moisturizer (the SK-II Clearing Solution was okay so far) so lets see how it goes.

I also visited an SK-II counter where the lady did a scan of my face - other than having even skin tone (thank god!), she it showed up a lot of whiteheads and a few blackheads. The SK-II lady recommended me to try on the revitalizing cream to dissolve blackheads. Have not tried it but read the reviews on Cozy Cot (which I am also a member now), it seems pretty effective.

Keeping skin under control

As mentioned in my last post, I was trying out a new product from my beautician. Turns out, the product was not suitable as I developed small bumps near the bridge of my nose and under my eyes, as well as around my mouth. It was not itchy but unsightly and feels bumpy.

 

I switched out of the product after using it for 3 times (i.e. wash with the cleanser and apply the cream). Immediately, I applied my dermatologist's Trentonine night cream and it subsided. I also used the dermatologist's cleanser and toner.  The bumps subsided in two days. *Hurray!*

 

After the bumps came down, I stopped using the night cream, and applied SK-II facial treatment essence. When I next visited my beautician 2 weeks after I started trying out the trial product, she noticed that its a lot easier to clear my pores (the whiteheads and blackheads comes off a lot easier!). She even managed to purge out an unsightly and larger than normal blackhead that was embedded deep into my skin - we suspect it has been there for months! There are also not as much whitish oil that she extracted from the pores as before. This helps us to conclude that the whitish oil she extracted two weeks before was due to the ROC combination skin moisturizer that I was using. (Sob! I got a brand new tube in my cupboard!)

 

Since the dermatologist cleanser, toner and SK-II facial treatment essence seem to work, beautician ask me to continue using them. But I would need some kind of moisturizer that has oil control capabilities to manage my shine. For now, I'm not using anything. I asked about those gel based creams that I may be able to use (recalling Laneige Water Sleeping Pack) when I'm in an airconditioned room. She recommended me the Dr Keith Chrysler's aqua silk gel to hydrate my skin. (Note: this product is not readily available off the shelf) I tried it twice, it leaves a smooth hydrated feeling on the skin. No complications thereafter - still I was cautious about using the product too often. :-)

 

följe

följe

http://www.folje.sg/

100% handwoven cotton, hand dyed with plant extracts, odour free even after 1 mth. Bean pillows and tummie blankie filled with sun-dried bean husks. Absolutely chemical free. Just the way our mums make it.

Dermatologist + Facial

I have started visiting the beautician. Its been a while since I visited my dermatologists.

On my first visit, beautician asked me to stop using BB Cream (I was using BBRC BB Cream - Whitening) and stick to mineral powder. (I did) And I used Biore's new makeup remover (blue transparent bottle). It was kinda drying after wash though, but the "oil" came off once you rinse it off with water.

Yesterday I paid a second visit to my beautician. Its been 3 weeks since I last met her. Here are some of the products that I was using during the last 3 weeks:

1) Dermatologist's gel based cleanser (which I had been complaining that its a tad drying)
2) ROC Purific Toner (it has alcohol in it)
3) SK-II Treatment Essence (I swear by it coz the redness on my face came down substantially after 2 weeks of use)
4) ROC Hydra+ (I loved this product coz its smells refreshing and its gel cream. Seems to work well since I started using. My 1 tube is almost used up)

My beautician's verdict after my 2nd facial is as follows:

1) Very oily (she squeezed out whitish cream like residue that is actually oil)
2) Still reddish and slight discolouration

She commented that it could be due to the mish mash of products I had been using. But I told her that since I slipped in SK-II a week after facial, the redness on my face has reduced significantly. It looked more "angry" before I started on the Treatment Essence.

Anyway, she's asked that I stop using all the mish mash. Put them aside and stick to a product first. She asked if I am keen to try out this product call Papulex. I only need to wash and apply the cream. Just used it twice so not sure if it would work. Anyhow will keep you all posted. :-)

Know your skin

I never knew my skin condition - until I visited my dermatologist.

Living in humid tropical country like Singapore does make us more susceptible to problem skin. Those of you who had travelled to temperate countries would notice that your acne skin that used to give you so much problems will clear up miraculously and it seems to keep acne at bay. However, it all comes tumbling back when you return to Singapore. I had this all the time. :(

Any beautician or dermatologist will ask you to always keep your skin clean. Hands off your face, no squeezing of pus (eewwww!), fingers should be clean when applying medication on your face, etc etc. Some will recommend that you use oil control gels or creams, or oil control powders, etc. Or ask that you stay away from sunblock (hang on, no sun block means no outdoors?!?) because they are generally oil based.

We receive all sorts of advice here and there. At the end of the day, a basic step is to identify how our skin reacts to the environment while adhering to good personal hygiene. We should always watch out for our skin's reactions to the environment. For example, how your skin reacts to the weather, late nights, diets, etc and how it reacts to certain active ingredients in specific products? For acne skin, also monitor the oil secretion patterns (when it usually happens, when will your skin secrete more oil and what works to control the oil production). This will help you modify your diets, your lifestyle patterns if you are serious about having good skin.

My Skin

We all had our bad skin days. For me, bad skin days just doesn't go away. I had tried various products, visited the doctors who pumped me with 6 mths worth of antibiotics for my acne problems. Only to realise that the painful acne came back to visit me again. I have tried various off the shelf products - it doesn't work. Eventually, a girlfriend of mine recommended I visit a dermatologist at Ngee Ann City Singapore - thats where my skin start to get a breath of fresh air. It was fabulous results! As part of treatment, I had taken Roaccutane, undergone IPLs, Laser treatments, Pixels - all just to bring down the painful inflammations and to get that smooth & clear skin every girl dreams of. But is that all? Its not all. I had Cystic Acne - at least thats what I was told.

After two years of treatment (well, I got restless with all the harsh medicinal creams), the treatment sessions went on free gear (or free will) and soon the treatment sessions became sporadic because treatments are expensive. How I wish I could be that girl on the SK-II advertisement - crystal clear skin. Acne free. No more expensive and painful treatments.

Thats where I decided to start this blog. To share the road I've travelled so that others will not make the same mistakes. My search for clear flawless skin is still ongoing. Watch this space and you will learn more about the products I've been using. Hopefully some of them will help you along the way.