A couple of days back, I was shopping at Daiso and saw a cute pastel-coloured ice pop maker, bought it (an unintentional purchase though!) came home and played with it ....and WoOLala... here I have it, my first Icy Cold Beauty Popsicle! - from fresh Orange Juice which is loaded with vitamins. Orange juice
is known to contain a high percentage of Vitamin C, which is helpful in boosting
the immune system. It also contains Folate, which plays a major role in the reproduction of new skin and blood cells, and can aid in the healing process.
This pure orange popsicle is healthy, low in calories, without added sugar or preservatives as compared to the mass produced ice cream sold at supermarkets.
Interested to make your own Beauty Popsicles too? Very simple to make and these are 2 things you will need...
1)$2 Ice Pop Maker (Reusable) from Daiso (You can also use plastic cups and ice cream sticks)
2) Your Preferred Choice Of Juice(s)..Besides Orange juice, you can use any juices you like or can think of - like cranberry juice, carrot juice, celery juice, mixed fruit juice, watermelon juice, strawberry juice, kiwi juice, apple juice, papaya milk, banana milk, tomato juice, lemon with honey...basically there are endless of choices for everyone. and besides juices, you can even add in small cubes of the fruit itself into the making...
Yes very easy to make without much stuffs needed...
Just 2 tips to share:
Try to fill the juice to the brim of each popsicle's compartment so that the frozen ice will sit nicely at the base of the plastic stick when you pull it out.
It may be a bit difficult to pull out the frozen ice from the compartment, try to move the stick in left-right movements to loosen the frozen ice before pulling it out. If its still difficult to pull the whole popsicle out from the compartment, pour water to the back of the maker (as shown in the above instructions guide) and try to pull the stick out again.. You should be able to get a nice popsicle shaped like an ice cream as shown in the picture.
Have fun making your own icy cold Beauty Popsicles for yourselves and your loved ones.. Ya, I think the kids will love them too..
I am thinking of making red bean and bandung popsicles next..
So what flavours of popsicles are you thinking of making?
About two weeks ago, I was back at Beauty Emporium at House@ Dempsey again. As I mentioned before in my previous post on my Strip Strawberry Brazilian Waxing experience, Beauty Emporium is a world’s first one-stop shop for all our beauty and nutritional needs. Everything you need for all your beauty and nutritional needs (be it massage, facial, manicure, Brazilian wax or brow treatment) can be found in this one convenient location. This time round, I got the chance to understand more about the benefits of essential oils and even hands-on to create my own customized shower gel at this Spa Esprit Power of Scent Essential Oils Workshop.
First part of the workshop, we had the knowledgeable doterra's essential oil expert, Sweelin, who shared with us her passion and knowledge on essential oils.
I am sure many of us have used essential oil before, but have you ever wonder what exactly is an essential oil made of:
Natural aromatic compounds found in plants
Steam distilled or cold pressed extraction
Powerful, safe benefits without side effects ( If the essential oil is not pure, it is actually harmful to bodies.. so be careful when you are buying one.)
50 to 70 times more powerful than herbs
How powerful is an essential oil?
Oh ya, It was my first time learning that certain Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils can be used internally (consume them).
Essential Oils come in different grades and the best ones are the CPTG Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade. CPTG essential oils are 100% pure natural, with no artificial ingredients, fragrances and fillers that would dilute their active qualities and are free of pesticides or other chemical residues. And we are happy to know that Spa Esprit carries and uses doterra's collection of CPTG essential oils.
The many uses of Essential Oils:
And after having some yummy spread of delicious pastries and desserts from the Test kitchen, it is the hands-on session as we got to make our customized shower gels using the wide collection of doterra essential oils...
Check on what is on doterra's essential oil label:
doterra's Geranium can be used internally, hence it is indicated to dilute one drop in 4 fl oz. of liquid (water).
doterra is 100% pure therapeutic grade essential oil. - one of the finest aromatic extracts available in the world today.
We were each given a huge beaker of unscented shower gel, an ice-cream stick, an oil blend chart, a handy booklet on essential oil usage Guide A-Z, and 2 full trays of doterra essential oils to choose from ....
All of us were having lots of fun choosing which essential oils to go into the plain shower gel, sniffing the countless number of essential oils, and trying to make the end product smell nice and unique/beneficial to each of us.. so here are some things that I asked myself before I mix the essential oils into the shower gel:
what to choose for the top, middle and base notes?
will the oils blend well together and smell pleasant?
what benefits am I looking at in my customized shower gel?
It was hard for me to decide what I want for my top, middle and base notes... but in my mind I just wanted a customized showel gel that can help in my back acne, smell nice and make me feel relax ...So I added these few essential oils into my shower gel..
Melaleuca - also known as tea-tree, cleansing and regenerative properties, especially for the skin.
Lavender - Calming and relaxing qualities
Geranium - outstanding benefits for soothing skin, calming effects and also useful for joint support and minor aches.
After mixing the above 3 oils, I find that my shower gel smell more of melaleuca, so I added in a few drops of doterra's citrus bliss invigorating blend which combine powerful essences of wild orange, lemon, grapefruit, mandarin, bergamot, tangerine and clementine with a hint of vanilla to form this unique and harmonius blend, giving a fresh, sweet scent.
dadaa...... here is my creation - actually my very first time customizing my own shower gel... and we poured the beaker of our 500ml customized shower gel into 2 brown bottles, each 250ml.
We were also given super cute samples of doterra's basic essential oils trio which consist of Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint. Yes, I tried mixing in a drop of the lemon essential oil into my plain water to drink, and it indeed taste like freshly squeeze lemon juice mixed in water. I also tried a drop of peppermint essential oil into my Lipton tea, and it taste exactly like peppermint tea.. Pretty convenient by adding just a drop of the essential oil into my daily drink. ('',)
Oh well, are you wondering how my weird customized shower gel smell like?? haha, it smell quite nice and uplifting. At first sniff, I can smell Melaleuca (i do quite like the scent of tea tree though). During massaging the shower gel onto my skin, I can slowly smell the uplifting scent of citrus and calming lavender, making my shower a really pampering and relaxing one. My skin felt soft and the lovely citrus scent linger on my skin for a while even after my shower.
So are you thinking of making your own customized shower gel as well? There are many many choices/combinations depending on your needs.. I was reading through the essential oil guide and discovered some interesting things.. Essential oils can help diminish sexual desire, increase sexual desire, encourage appetite, ease coughs, purify the blood, reduce menstrual pain, relieve gastric disorders, lower blood pressure... and the list goes on.. In fact, whatever concerns you have, there will be an essential oil out there to give you its medical and therapeutic benefits.
By the way, each bottle of customized shower gel cost $35 (250ml) and $65 (500ml), it will make a great gift either for yourself or your family/friend. Besides shower gel, you can also customised body scrubs, massage oils, moisturisers, shampoos and conditioners.
Updated (5th July 2011):This workshop really got me interested in doterra essential oils and I ended up buying a bottle of Melaleuca (also known as tea tree) for my acne problems. It is so pure that I can also dab a drop on our tongue and swallow to curb the starting of a sore throat.
A Big Thank you Spa Esprit Singapore and Pearlin for inviting me to this interesting and fun-filled Power of Scent Essential Oils Workshop at the cozy and beautiful Beauty Emporium that always delighted me with its lovely decorations and unique products/services.
About 2 weeks back, I was privileged to be part of LMS Spotlights Launch at one of the private dining rooms@ Equinox. (Yes, the one located on the 69th level of Swissotel The Stamford.) Splendid evening view, a sumptuous spread of delectable pretty-looking finger food & drinks, nice ambiene and the company of a group of lovelies and a friendly gentleman (Mr Paul Aylett) made the evening a memorable and exciting one....
Exciting?!?!?! You did not read wrongly... The highlights that evening was an exciting one!! To be honest, that was my very first time that I was so excited and yearned for the product presentation/introduction to start early..
So what got me so excited that evening???? ....
Presenting to you the latest LMS Spotlights...
LMS Spotlights (Love My Skin) is a unique and simple-to-use beauty range that uses red light therapy to help clear spots and mild to moderate acne, fast!
Actually a couple of years back when I was a beauty therapist, the salon which I worked at offered light therapy treatment which involved a bulky-looking LED light therapy machine with different colored-panels, each used to treat different skin conditions. I still remember my beauty trainer told me that principle behind the effectiveness of light therapy treatment is somewhat similiar to why our eye sight can improve when we see green colored things over a period of time.
I personally witnessed my clients' skin conditions improved a lot with regular weekly treatments that was why I was so excited because LMS Spotlights are beauty gadgets which use red light therapy, and most importantly they are small enough for me to bring them around whenever I go and use it wherever I want to.
So are you wondering what is red light therapy?
Red Light Therapy (RLT) is the application of red light to the skin, originally developed for NASA. It is a safe, natural wavelength used in skin treatment that is clinically proven and medically tested to treat mild to moderate acne and spots.When skin cells are stressed (for example, by a spot), nitric oxide builds up. Nitric oxide is naturally present in cells, but when levels increase, it can inhibit the skin's natural ability to heal itself. The red light used in LMS Spotlights penetrates the skin cells to force out nitric oxide and stimulate anti-oxidants to speed up skin cell repair, helping to clear spots and mild to moderate acne, reducing redness and inflammation.
The good news is LMS Spotlights are now available exclusively at Guardian Health & Beauty stores in Singapore. (the official launch date was 17th March 2011, infact Singapore is the second country, after the U.K, to launch the LMS Spotlights range)
Now let us take a look at LMS Spotlights range.. there are 3 LMS Spotlights in the range...
LMS Spotlight 3
LMS Spotlight 3 is ideal for use on a single spot. It has 3 x LEDs for individual spots and has a rounded tip. This is the smallest out of the 3 products. You can just pop it in your clutch or pocket so you have it on hand to act fast at the first sign of a pimple. Use it only 3 times a day for 3 minutes each time.
Price: $79
LMS Spotlight 8
LMS Spotlight 8 is ideal for use on a few pimples.It has 8 x LEDs for a few spots and has a broad slanted surface. This is just slightly taller and thicker than LMS Spotlight 3. No problem fitting into a cosmetics pouch or a handbag. Use it only 3 times a day for 1 minute each time.
Price: $129
LMS Spotlight 24
LMS Spotlight 24 is ideal for use on a larger skin area on our faces and even our backs and chests.It has 24 x LEDs for larger areas of spots and has a wide flat surface. It is stylishly designed to look like a compact. Perfect for use at home. Use it only 3 times a day for 1 minute each time.
Price: $199
How do you use LMS Spotlights?
Use LMS Spotlights as part of your daily skincare routine. For best results, use it after you have cleanse and tone your skin. To use LMS Spotlights, simply hold the ON/OFF button for a couple of seconds to activate the therapeutic red light and hold against the affected area 3 times a day until the spot has gone. Do note that for LMS Spotlight 3, it should be used for 3 minutes each time as it is smaller and emits less light.
All LMS Spotlights are battery operated and can be used anywhere and at any time. Batteries said to last approximately 50x 1 minute treatments.
So does these products work?
I was anxious to know the answer too and had been using it diligently 3 times a day, 1 minute each time since the night I brought them home as I had serious breakouts around 3 weeks back.
- See my ugly, big and irritating pimples on my skin... Took this picture before I started using LMS Spotlights.
- Using LMS Spotlight 8 on the area for 1 minute. (No need to set any timer neither do I have to stare at the clock to keep track of the time, because once I press and hold the ON/OFF button for a few seconds, the unit will be turned on and just place the illuminated area directly on to the spot or pimple..and there will be a continuous beep, beep sound ..and once 1 minute is up, the unit will automatically shut off) Then you can proceed to another area or just clean the surface with an alcohol wipe or clean soft cloth before replacing the protective cover.
Personally I find LMS Spotlight 24 fits the contour of the chin, cheeks and forehead well enough since it has got a larger surface area.
and after using it for 13 consecutive days..
Let me place the before and after pictures side by side for easier comparison...
I use LMS Spotlights after cleansing and toning my skin. Sometimes when I am outside, I will use it over my makeup. Did you notice any difference in the before and after pictures? I find that my pimples totally subsided and flattened. No more pus and my previous scar marks seem to have lightened. I will continue to use this light therapy treatment until the pimples clear up.
My thoughts about LMS Spotlights:
I really love these new beauty gadgets that use red light therapy to help heal and clear pimples. They are simple to use and I experience no side effects so far. I also heart the size of these gadgets, making it so convenient and handy for me to put in my pouch wherever I go. I have already incorporated LMS Spotlights into my regular skin care routine because I always have breakouts and these really come in handy to help me bust the pimples. Now, I can enjoy the benefits of light therapy at the comfort of my home (in fact everywhere) without breaking a hole in my pocket with LMS Spotlights. Plus the LEDs in LMS Spotlights have a guaranteed life of 5 years.
And which is my favourite LMS Spotlights out of the 3??
Actually the LMS Spotlight 3, 8 and 24 applies to different coverage needs and storage, depending on one's needs. My favourite one is LMS Spotlight 8 because I like the wide slanted surface making it easy to use on hard to reach areas like sides of the nose, temple. I also like that it comes with a protective cover.
LMS Spotlight 3 is a bit time consuming for me as I need to use it for 3 minutes each time; I have many spots on my face and I think it will take a long time if I solely rely on it to cover my whole face. On the other hand, LMS Spotlights 24 works great on a larger surface area but I would prefer that it comes with a protective lid or a pouch so that the illumination area will be kept free from dust.
But one thing for sure, all the 3 LMS Spotlights are really compact and nice looking. Do you know that LMS Spotlights even caught the attention of guys? After the LMS event, I was trying out Spotlight 8 while I was in the train.. and the guy besides me immediately asked me what the product was when he saw the red light being emitted from the unit. He was rather surprised when I told him that it was a beauty gadget that used red light therapy to clear pimples and spots.. Guess he must be thinking it was an IT gadget at first.. but I can say the black stylish packaging suit both ladies and guys...
Personally Ithink LMS Spotlights will make a great and useful present if the recipient has concerns for spots and pimples. (Do note that LMS Spotlights should not be used when pregnant.)
- See how compact and small they are..
For more information about LMS Spotlights, do visit LMS Spotlights website. If you are interested to see the actual products, do drop by any Guardian to have a look.
Also check out LMS Spotlights on Facebook and Twitter. (maybe there is a chance to win a LMS Spotlight on LMS Spotlights Facebook..so quick go and like LMS Spotlights Facebook now)
Special thanks to LMS Spotlights (Mr Paul Aylett and Ms Olivia Brafman) for having us be part of this exclusive LMS launch event and giving out the chance to bring home the entire range of LMS Spotlights. It was nice meeting Claudia, Rachel and Jannah in person. Thank you ladies for organising such a wonderful event at such a posh venue.
I went to watch Disney on Ice at Indoor Stadium this afternoon (with Jasmine and her son, Jocelyn and her family). Think the Disney on Ice crew will be here for 4 days and today is the first day of the show. Since it is school holidays, I saw many parents brought their children to watch the show.
Took some pictures for memories... ( The characters skated too fast, so it was hard to snap the characters with their faces facing me..plus I still don't know how to use my camera, mostly I used auto, and tried snapping a few using low-light mode)
Mickey and Minnie bidding Goodbye to us!
After the show, I went over Marina Square to walk walk before going for a bloggers' beauty event.. and Guess what I happened to see at Marina Square Atrium.. A colorful paradise of giantic balloons exhibit... and took out my camera to snap away again as it was my first time seeing so many pretty and cute balloons in person... LOL..
Colorful right? They are made from our local balloon sculptors.. I think it's definitely a great place/background if you like to camwhore... or if you have kids, I am sure they will love them too...
Of course, I took down the details of this exhibition just in case anyone of you is interested...
It is free entry to this colorful giant balloons paradise.. and I just realise from this picture that one lucky winner will get to take home his/her favourite masterpiece.. too bad I did not see this, or else I would have voted.. but all very pretty, also hard to choose... but I think I would choose the following design:
(This was really eye-catching piece of artwork and it's like the biggest one there!)
There are also friendly staff around to help visitors to snap pictures.. so nice right?
and by evening time, I was high up at Level 69 @Equinox to learn about the newly launched LMS Spotlights..
It is pretty co-incidence that this product is associated with color; LMS Spotlights is a unique and simple-to-use beauty range that uses red light therapy... Just used this product earlier and will be using it diligently for the next 2 weeks since I am suffering from very bad breakouts since the last few days, stay tuned for my review on the whole range of LMS SPOTLIGHTS
What a fruitful and colorful day that bring back childhood memories..think seeing colorful and pretty things can make one feel happier and younger.
