My New Best Friend~ ꒰⑅ᵕ༚ᵕ꒱˖♡

New category up today~ And given my tendency to ramble I have decided to, very aptly, call it Baby Babble =D *cue awkward applause*

Baby Summer is now 6 weeks old and progressing quite nicely. She's been settling in to a fairly regular routine of feeds, bath time, playtime and naps every 2 or 3 hours in the day and seems to be progressively sleeping better and longer at night~ In the earlier weeks we had to stay up really late and squeeze in an hour or so of sleep between wee hour feedings so that was really tiring. Now, I only occasionally sit at my bed till 3 or 4a.m, expecting her to wake up hungry but she calls my bluff and snoozes all the way till 7a.m.... (-_-;;)

That said, she really is getting more and more adorable as the weeks pass. Now that she's becoming much more responsive, it's a daily highlight for the family whenever she gives us her Mona Lisa half smile and that fabulous open-mouthed smiley face~ I wasn't much of a baby person before, because I never really knew what to do with them, but now I turn to goo every time she laughs and smiles~ (^__^)

One of my favourite moments is when I pat her to sleep and she curls up on my chest, wiggling her way around until she gets herself all scrunched up in her favourite position. It's like crouching real low on all fours on my chest with her head tucked into my neck~ You can't see her legs in the photo but they're all hiked up like a sitting frog =P

And from this point it's hours of uninterrupted sleep.....sometimes for both of us! My Dad has sneaked shots of the both of us concussed in this position before and I love those shots despite the unglam-ness of it all XP (and no I shan't publicise them here.)

Oh! And it was also quite the highlight when she saw her fairy lights above her bed for the first time! She opened her eyes so big and her mouth totally fell open like "OOOoooooo what're these~~~~"

Lapsing into quiet rapture ^^

I love those lights, got them for a steal during the babymoon to Helsinki. They're actually warm lights instead of the cool white in the photos and they're set into felt animal and flower cut-outs. Running on a couple of AA batteries, they were super easy to put up and also super cheap so getting them was a no-brainer.

And then it was off to dreamland after another bout of patting and walking her up and down the living room~

See? I'm turning into goo just looking at the photos and recalling the moment I switched on those fairy lights! ^^

Ok, it's time to squeeze in forty winks again so bye for now! ( ´ ▽ ` )ﾉ

My PPP - Post Pregnancy Post =P (Wordy post, sorry!)

So! The pregnancy is over~~~ Hello postpartum woes!

We've embarked on a whole new section of the parenting journey and it largely involves my parents & I slowly but surely turning into a trio of pandas. This is one of those milestones in life when your appreciation for your parents reaches a whole new level and especially towards your mom. Sleeping for 2 hours at a stretch is such a luxury now you would not believe! But this new little button of a housemate is worth it. At the moment anyway. I'm not sure I'll feel the same when going through those turbulent teenage years lol

Messed up sleeping aside, there's the leftover baby weight and kinda saggy paunch to deal with.

The Weight

I gained 14kg over the course of my pregnancy and lost about 5kg through the delivery of little Summer. Without much appetite for the week plus after my delivery, I was eating all 3 meals (confinement cuisine by mom no less) but in smaller portions than I used to. The fact that I was in some pain & discomfort from the episiotomy (the cut made to aid delivery) helped curb any wayward cravings I might have fantasised about.

So through just a lighter diet, I lost another 2 - 3kg. Still have about 6kg to lose but since this is just the 2nd week after my delivery, I'm still fairly optimistic =)

The Paunch

I got quite a shock when I realised there was a big potato sack-looking tummy left after the delivery. I'd expected the reduction in size to be more considerable but I guess one totally underestimates the mass of skin that's left after your baby bump has been deflated. Pfffttttttt.

Engaged a masseuse for the traditional Indonesian postpartum wraps & massage for 10 days and it really helped! The massages hurt (because the lady was on a war against cellulite) and the tight wrap wasn't the most comfortable thing in the world but the majority of the paunch shrunk and only some loose skin on the lower abdomen is bothering me now~ Some toning and tightening is definitely in order.

The Epidural 

I also wanted to share my experience with the epidural though. I think there are quite many people who're rather apprehensive and expect it to be painful so I thought describing the experience might be helpful somehow.

I'd been told I was 1.5 - 2cm dilated at the point of my admission to KKH but they figured I'd take a few hours more before anything exciting was going to happen so The Husband popped out to get some supper. Minutes later, I decided that pacing around my room to distract myself from the contraction pains (about 7 min apart, lasting about 30 sec each by this point) was not working anymore so I trotted myself out and asked if there was some painkiller I could take. As it turned out, I was 3cm dilated and could take the epidural already if I wanted. As a first-timer, I happily thought I could go back to my nice suite and relax with The Husband while waiting to deliver but no. My painkiller request was a one way trip to the delivery room and I'd left my phone up in the suite! Luckily The Husband came back and was directed to the delivery room before anything interesting started.

Sidenote: Take the epidural earlier during labour. You need to be able to stay really still for the anaesthetist in order to get the shot in right. There was another lady delivering some rooms away and she was screaming so loud I had to ask the nurse if that was a delivery with or without epidural. Long story short, she decided she wanted an epidural too late so she couldn't have it.

So how does the epidural feel like? Prior digging around the internet showed that experiences varied so I just went into it with a "what the hell, let's just get this over with" kinda mindset.

I have to say though, that I don't have a huge problem with needles and shots. E.g: A girlfriend had told me that the drip insertion hurt but I was fine with it. Anyway, the anaesthetist artfully kept the needles he was working with out of our sight...to prevent unnecessary freaking out I suppose. After asking The Husband to leave the room, I, seated on the bed, was told to bend over to expose my spine as much as possible.

Mr Anaesthetist (a man of few words) went "ok... I'm just going to clean your back first... Alright now injection on 3, 1.....2.....3..injection."

All I felt was a small pressure in my lower back. Then a second stranger, still small, very slightly prickly pressure as the thin tubing was inserted...imagine poking your spine with a fishing line. Moments later the drugs came in and I felt like warm water was being flooded into my stomach. It's like reverse peeing XP A strange feeling but not uncomfortable....just weird. And after that, it was SO GOOD. After almost 48hours of not being able to sleep due to the contractions, I was so happy to finally get some rest.

Just a little extra - As Summer was lying more on the right side of my tummy, the nurse had me lie on my left to encourage her to shift towards the centre. But by doing so, the epidural effects flooded to my left, leaving my lower left body COMPLETELY numb (totally surreal and quite funny) but still mobile. Problem was my right side could feel the contractions again! So I had to keep alternating between lying on my left and my back for a few hours until I was ready to start pushing.

During the delivery, I could move my legs and push very nicely without experiencing any pain from the contractions or the doctor doing the episiotomy so all in all, definitely no regrets on the epidural. Jury's still out on side effects and all, so Time will be the judge of that I guess.

Alright that'll be all for now, duty calls! And after that, hopefully I can squeeze in some sleep (^--^)v

☀ Sunscreen Showdown ☀ Dr Jart+ vs Somme Institute vs Supergoop! [Sponsored Review]

A little while ago I was very pleasantly surprised to be gifted a small selection of sunscreens from Luxola Singapore for comparison! Seeing as the sunny (omg oh-so-sunny.....┌(▀Ĺ̯▀)┐)  days are upon us, it was perfect timing~ As you may know, pregnancy is one of those times when you are more susceptible to hyper pigmentation and higher production of melanin (I've already discovered 1 new freckle urrgh!) due to decreased adrenal gland function. So I've definitely been in the market for a good lightweight sunscreen! As it turned out, I had quite a few town errands to run over the past week or so and was able to test the sunscreens for 1 to 2 days apiece~

From Left: Somme Institute Double Defense, Dr Jart+ Ctrl-A Sensitive Sun Protector
and Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen with Cellular Response Technology

Let's pretend to be organised and proceed in the pictured sequence shall we? =D

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SUNSCREEN NO. 1

Somme Institute Double Defense SPF 30+

S$65 / 3.8 fl. oz (approx 112ml)

About the product:

Double Defense with SPC30+ and Parsol 1789 is a light-weight moisturising lotion to protect the skin from premature ageing whilst locking in vital moisture. Perfect for the whole body and suitable for all skin types, this moisturiser with added SPF provides the skin with a broad spectrum of protection from UVA and UVB rays ensuring your skin is protected and remains healthy and youthful looking.

In case you were curious about Parsol 1789:

Also known as Avobenzone. Because of its long history of safe and effective use, it is documented as a strong UVA absorber and the most-used UVA organic sunscreen worldwide.

Back of the Box:

Active Ingredients: Homosalate (10%), Octinoxate (7.5%), Oxybenzone (6%), Octisalate (5%), Avobenzone (2%)

THE EXPERIENCE:

It's a simple but stylish-looking packaging, a little more on the clinical side in terms of design. Features a twist lock pump style dispenser, just turn the pump top in the direction of the arrow and push to dispense~ A tad bulky to pop into your handbag but ok for a beach tote.

I have to say, I was slightly put-off upon dispensing the product because it was thicker than expected =\ Definitely the creamiest of the 3, it'd probably be more suited for those with drier skin types. Although it spread well, absorbed decently and didn't leave a whitish tint, I could still feel like there was an extra layer on my face and that it was just slightly tacky. I was thinking this might be so because it's supposed to function as an all-over moisturiser as well? As a body sunscreen it was fine though, there wasn't that much stickiness and absorbed decently.

The packaging states that Double Defense is suitable for all skin types but my (still slightly sensitive) jawline sprang a couple of oil clogs at the end of my 1st day so....maybe the moisturiser aspect was a little too rich for my combo-oily skin. Whilst the 'sunscreen-y' smell is also present here, it's extremely light and so shouldn't be an issue.

In the ingredients department, you may notice it contains 6% Oxybenzone which was one of the ingredients that both Dr Jart+ and Supergoop! found necessary to omit (see why in the Dr Jart+ section of this post). So that might put you off if you're particular about what goes into your skincare. Personally, though I'm not THAT particular, I would've preferred it to have been omitted as well. That's what reading up does to you.

Oh and there was a little note inside the box that highlighted this:

I would think this is mainly for the skincare products in the line? I still don't like that my jawline reacted so I'm more inclined to use this sunscreen on the body instead of my face in future.

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SUNSCREEN NO. 2

Dr Jart+ Ctrl-A Sensitive Sun Protector SPF 35 / PA++ 

S$36 / 40ml

About the product:

Get maximum sun protection without the harsh chemicals with Ctrl-A Sensitive Sun Protector. Fear not those solar rays with this well-formulated product which shields the skin while leaving behind a smooth powdery finish. Proven safe and non-comedogenic, this product is composed of ingredients that prevent acne and keeps skin from being irritated by external factors. Being under the sun is no longer a cause for concern with Dr Jart's Ctrl-A Sun Protector, giving your skin a natural look with added protection.

Benefits:

• Light on the skin, this product leaves a powdery finish without the stickiness.
• Proven non-comedogenic; does not contain any ingredients that may potentially cause acne.
• Passed skin irritation test and is free from the following substances (10-Free System): Paraben, Fragrances, Tar Colours, Mineral Oils, Benzophenone, Triethanolamine, Sulfate Surfactant, Benzyl Alcohol, Talc, Polyacrylamide.

Active Ingredients: AC-Fensine, Salicylic Acid, Centella Asiatica, Celtic Water.

Product information extracted from Luxola

Back of the Box:

To add to the list of active ingredients in the product description; info on the
side also indicates this as a Cruelty Free product!

I thought I might add little extra info here on a few components for us non-scientific folk =P

From the 10-free list:

Benzophenone (Aka Oxybenzone) - Although a common ingredient in sunscreens, a study conducted by the CDC on 2,500 Americans found that 97% of subjects tested positive chemical remnants in their systems. It's also a powerful free radical generator activated by ultraviolet light that can possibly set off  a reaction that may lead to melanoma and other skin cancers. Yikes.

Triethanolamine - A strongly alkaline substance and classified as a respiratory toxicant, can give rise to allergic reactions in short-term use whilst long-term use could damage the skin. Concentration in skincare products or makeup should be within 5% for safe daily usage and even so, be sure to wash it off throughly.

From the active ingredients list:

AC-Fensine - The patented mainstay of the Dr Jart line for acne-prone skin; it is anti-bacterial and serves to eliminate acne-causing bacteria and strengthen the skin's immune system.

Centella Asiatica - Also known as Asiatic Pennywort, native to the wetlands of Asia, is traditionally used (in the area of skincare) in the treatment of skin damage. A popular ingredient in anti-aging formulas, it has anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and is supposedly good for stimulating collagen production and skin repair therefore improving elasticity and firmness.

THE EXPERIENCE:

Primarily a sunscreen for the face, the Ctrl-A sunscreen applied and absorbed well without leaving any sort of whitish tint on me. The texture is slightly thinner than our conventional sunscreen and although 'fragrance-free' there's still an extremely light 'sunscreen-y' smell that you wouldn't notice unless you stuck your nose in it.

I'm happy that it didn't have a tacky finish and didn't make my skin degenerate into an oil slick over the course of the day even though I broke into a sweat going in and out of the afternoon sun and aircon. Promises a powdery finish but I wouldn't go that far. Definitely not oily at all, decently matte but, sorry to say, not to the extent of powdery ( ^_^ ) That said, it didn't interfere with my makeup~

Being from the Ctrl-A (i.e anti acne) series, this isn't your regular sunscreen. I was leaning towards Dr Jart+ in terms of preference at first as the formula included one of my favourite acne fighters: Salicylic Acid. So those who are appreciative of the effect this ingredient has on your skin will probably consider this a big tick in Dr Jart+'s favour.

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SUNSCREEN NO. 3

Supergoop! Everyday SPF 30 with Cellular Response Technology

S$27 / 2.4 fl. oz (approx 71ml) or S$68 / 18 fl. oz (approx 532ml)

About the product: 

Everyday Sunscreen SPF 30 (Also available in SPF 50) provides super broad spectrum sun protection for face and body in an oil-free, non-comedogenic lotion. Powered by potent anti-oxidant-rich Cellular Response Technology, this lotion preserves and protects skin's youthful glow. Ideal for a day of play, this feel-good formula easily absorbs into the skin allowing skin to breathe and sweat. Replenishing moisture through a unique beta-glucan proven to deliver better long term moisturization than hyaluronic acid. Natural extracts of citrus, basil and boise de rose provide a subtle sensorial experience with no unpleasant "sunscreen" smell. The 18oz has an easy twist-and-lock pump so you never have to worry about spills or drips when you put it in your bag or suitcase. 

Formulated with Avobenzone, it is a good product for people of darker skin tones as it absorbs into the skin and will not leave a white veil. If you're looking for a sunscreen to use while playing sports this is your good go-to as it allows the skin to breathe unlike a mineral sunscreen which creates a physical barrier on top of the skin.

Back of the Box:

Oxybenzone Free!

Cruelty-free!

THE EXPERIENCE:

Just a small note which may or may not matter: this was the only sunscreen that came with a foil seal. Anyway, I LOVE the texture of the Supergoop! sunscreen! It was the lightest of the 3, more on the watery side, and even though I sweat through it (dog walking till around noon), it didn't leave an oil slick and felt comfortably smooth and quite matte on my skin after dabbing the sweat away and thus worked nicely under makeup too!

Can you tell it's more watery in consistency?

Instead of the usual sunscreen smell, Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen is formulated with some herbal & floral extracts so it smells...well...prettier? Instead of bringing a swimming pool to mind, Supergoop! reminds me of the sunscreen my facial salon uses during my sessions =) But as with the other 2 brands reviewed, the smell wasn't strong so no issues there if you're not a fan of any sort of fragrances~

Regarding its performance as a body sunscreen, is it any surprise that there was no issue? Because of the lightweight formula, it absorbed very well and didn't leave any sort of tackiness. Nice!

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THE CONCLUSION

I have to admit I was initially predisposed towards Dr Jart+ from just studying the box but by the time I was done testing all 3, I have to say my money's on Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen.

Product consistency is a big deal for me when it comes to sunscreen and the added fact that it's suitable as a body sunscreen as well just made it that more attractive. I really liked how it absorbed and didn't turn my skin tacky or oily even when I sweat through it, didn't experience any skin reactions over the couple days I used it and it's cruelty free! ｡^‿^｡ 

At S$27 for 71ml, it's reasonably priced and the slim flat packaging makes for easy packing. Should you be purchasing for family use, the 532ml version (S$68) is economically priced too~ I'm popping off for a short trip this week and this sunscreen is definitely coming with me! ^__^

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If you've read the whole post today, thanks for hanging in there! I know it's a pretty lengthy one this time XP 

Luxola has kindly provided me with a promo code for you lovely people! Simply enter at checkout

BLX-RHI

And receive 15% off your first-time order!

(This code expires a month from the date of this post and is not valid on non-discountable brands as stated HERE.) 

It's getting really hot these days so I hope this Sunscreen Showdown post has been useful~
Click to check out the full range of sunscreen on Luxola Singapore! 

Happy Shopping! Thanks to Mallika & Weina from Luxola for the sunscreens and Thank YOU for reading! (◍•ᴗ•◍)❤

*Products featured in this post were kindly provided by Luxola for my review and comparison. I am not affiliated with the company (or any others, just sayin') and my reviews are unbiased and based on personal usage & experience. Photos are my own and should not be reproduced anywhere else without prior documented consent.

Luxola x Skin Inc Get Awesome Skin! Workshop - Optimizer Voyage Showcase

Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of being a girlfriend's plus-1 for a joint Luxola & Skin Inc workshop at the pop-up store at Millennia Walk~ The purpose of the event was to showcase the new Optimizer Voyage (S$268) from Skin Inc, a more affordable and travel-friendly alternative to the Optimizer + AIO (S$843).

Skin Inc's new Optimizer Voyage S$268

Some info about the Red light benefits off the Optimizer + AIO device

It was a pretty cosy workshop with macarons and bottled blends from hicJuice for refreshments~ I got a Matcha Nut Milk, which was a mix of organic Matcha powder, raw cashews, raw almonds, Medjool dates, Himalayan Salt and ionized water =) There were other blends available too and they seemed really, and I mean REALLY, healthy! Pity they're a tad pricey >_<

They had this Optimizer Voyage set for S$298 where you'd get the device plus the Pure Revival Peel (20ml), Anti-Ageing Serum (10ml mix of Q10, Hyaluronic Acid and Collagen) and Deep Sea Hydrating Mask (20ml)...so basically you'd pay just S$30 for the New Year New You Set (RRP: S$89). Pretty ok deal but still a tad rich for my blood XP

Anyhoo, for the demo, their model was late so the organisers picked another model from amongst the attendees.

Skin Inc trainer Donna explaining the new Optimizer

Some key points for the Optimizer Voyage:

• Runs on 3 AAA batteries.
• Switches off automatically after 10 minutes so there's no worry of accidentally leaving it on.
• Works only with water-based serums/masks.
• After Skin Inc serum and Pure Deepsea Hydrating Mask, run the device in a circular, upwards motion for 5 minutes on each side of the face. So 10 minutes total, twice a day.
• Boosts cell renewal and collagen production, general anti-ageing properties.
• Supposed to be good for firming the skin and get that V-shape face!
• Safe to use over the eye area but the red light is quite glaring so closing your eyes would be more comfortable.
• Apparently some clients use it on the body as well!

If you're thinking that 10 minutes is a long time to spend, I have to say there's no avoiding it because I tested the Optimizer Voyage on the back of my hand and the serum takes MUCH longer to absorb compared to when I apply it on my face at home. The reason for this is that a large amount of product ends up being absorbed by your fingers/hands! According to Donna (the Skin Inc trainer), only up to 40% of skincare is absorbed to the face when applied by hand. Using the Optimiser can bump that number up to 90% so you get more bang for your buck!

The demo began by removing the model's makeup and then prepping it with the Skin Inc Pure Revival Peel before dripping the serum directly onto the skin, slightly distributed over the face by hand and covering that with a layer of the Deep Sea Hydrating Mask. Lastly came the 5 min treatment with the Optimizer Voyage. As u can see from the pic up there, that light's pretty glaring!

After the treatment, we went up and took a closer look at the model's face and it was redder, I guess due to increased blood circulation after the massaging motion. I have to say it's too soon to say if there were lesser wrinkles or pores etc (plus she had good skin to begin with) but her skin looked firmer than before and her jawline seemed slimmer!

Some contraindications to note with this device though:

• Not to be used on bare skin without a water-based product
• Not to be used longer than the recommended time to avoid muscle fatigue
• Do not leave the device on the same spot of the skin during use
• Not for use during pregnancy 
• Do not use on implanted areas or injuries
• Not recommended for use if running a temperature of above 38 degrees, children under 12, if suffering from acute symptoms, cardiac condition, skin diseases, hypertension, cerebral infractions, herpes, folliculate acne, furunculosis, carbuncle, lupus hepatitis, general sclerosis or Madison's disease.

Above info extracted from Luxola

At S$268, the Optimizer Voyage is a lot cheaper than the Optimizer + AIO and makes sense to purchase if you're specifically after the anti-aging function. You don't feel any heat, tingling or prickly sensations during use too so it's comfortable~ Need I mention the frequent sales on Luxola that you can catch?

So after the demo we basically just hung around looking at all the products and redoing our Skin Identity checks after which we would receive a 5ml bottle of serum from the recommended mix. In my case, my results included Hyaluronic Acid (Replenish), Chlorella (Revitalize) and Licorice (Relieve). Licorice is new in my lineup so I picked that for my 5ml sample and went to ask why the sudden introduction and the Skin Inc girls said that it was most likely recommended for skin issues related to hormonal changes i.e my pregnancy. Somehow, even though I didn't touch on much skin sensitivity/hormonal issues, the test still managed to figure that I might have some hormonal skin changes. Impressive!

And lastly, goodie bag contents! Skin Inc & Luxola very kindly gave everyone a 10ml Collagen serum plus a small selection of other goodies in a cute Luxola eco bag! My girlfriend was especially happy with the Hello Kitty nail wraps hehe~

So concluding first thoughts on the Optimizer Voyage are! It's very tempting for the skin firming properties but is still SLIGHTLY pricey at the regular retail price. I would very seriously consider it during a good Luxola sale though! =D

Well it's awhile to go since I can't use it till after delivery so I have time to twiddle my thumbs about it still! 

The Heat & Eat Petite Potato - Quick & Easy Eats for 1!

I made a half-hearted attempt to eat less rice-based meals after the onslaught of "Don't eat so much~", "I didn't say it, the doctor said so~ so you better watch it." and "Don't blame me when you get fat and can't lose the baby weight." so I threw together a tub of salad and went shopping for something to keep it company whilst I demolish it hurhur =D

So, it's been awhile since I browsed the range of potatoes available in the supermarkets but the last last last time I definitely didn't see this brand (Kangaringa Station) of Heat & Eat Petite Potato packs. Quick & easy, why not?

S$3.90 for 500g (about 10 potatoes)

Got these at NTUC by the way. Available in all white, all red or mixed packets~ I've never noticed them before, hopefully they'll be stocked often!

Comes with instructions and a quick recipe on the back.

The nifty thing is this is one of those packs that you can throw straight into the microwave (in the sealed pack) if you're preparing a meal for the family, so convenient right? But I was only preparing for myself so I had to skip testing that method..

Used my trusty kitty collapsible steamer thingy from Japan~

The instructions said 6 - 8min in a 1100-watt microwave, I put my 3 potatoes on a 600-watt setting at 8min and set about plating my salad and frying the paprika & garlic mixture in a bit of butter~ Added a dash of dried peppers & seasalt to taste~

8min later...tadah!

Salad with cucumber, tomato & egg with a side of garlic butter potatoes for 1! Ok maybe 1 1/2 haha~ I feel the potatoes were just a tad overdone though so I'd bring it down to 7min next time. Oh and the red potatoes were delish! Sweeter than the white, oh-so-good!! =)

As my luck would have it, my mom then comes after inspecting the fridge and tells me not to eat too much salad cos it's too 'cooling', not advisable for pregnancy =_____=

(；￣д￣）/  "but...but....but salad's my favourite diet food!!!!"

(一。一;;）"too bad"

(✖╭╮✖) 
TSK.

Just a little ramble and a romp~

How do you like the new banner? I think it looks kinda babyish XP but since that's where I'm headed in a few months it seemed quite appropriate hehe

Chinese New Year has come and gone, with much less fanfare as compared to previous years =( The Husband isn't a fan of visiting so my outings have dwindled after our marriage..talk about the old ball & chain huh.

Not sure if it's hormones but I get bored easily and go through bouts of irritability during this 2nd trimester...oh I'm a little past 5 months now by the way~ *flashes a peace sign* Gained like 6kg only to be told by the doctor that that's too much weight too soon! Blaarrgghhhhhh~~~~ my husband and my mom are more than happy to wave that bit of info in front of me now whenever I reach for my beloved rice (or anything remotely related to carbo and sugar). Pppfffttttttt I hate it when people get between me and my food.. ( =_____= )|||

On the other hand, I did manage to wander around Takashimaya and Westgate mall over the last couple weeks and managed to buy a couple of items to inject some life into my otherwise boring beauty routine!

Maybelline Hypersharp Wingliner snagged at S$11.90 at Watsons!

White Wash Carbonated Foam - whitening & brightening facial foam S$26 at Tokyu Hands

Lits Wistea Skin Revival Lift Ex serum - Bought from Matsumoto Kiyoshi on my Tokyo trip but is
also available at Tokyu Hands Westgate in Singapore. Retails around S$50-60 from what I remember =P

I've only been using the Lits Wistea serum and WhiteWash facial foam for a couple days so I can't say much about the effects as yet. But I've experienced no adverse reactions, which is a good start!

The romp through Tokyu Hands really....REALLY....made my heart ache for Japan (Y__Y) If I had known I was gonna get pregnant at this time I would've shopped more during last year's trip!!!! ARRRGGHHH!! So tempted by the Yokohama Canvas totes by the way >_< the designs are so classically simple Japanese and the canvas feels SO tough! But forking out S$200 for a simple tote seems....extravagant at this moment when I'm forking out hundreds for hospital visits every month.. =((( Contemplated a sakura-viewing trip this year but mom does not approve for fear of~~~ get this....radiation ( =____= ) *throws hands up in exasperation*

Sigh....oh Tokyo, when can I see you again~

MIA Apologies!! And some stuff about Salicylic Acid.

Hi again! Didja miss me? (^^;;;;) Sorry I've been gone for....a little over a month now ahahaha~ Some little developments have me all in a tizzy in more ways than one really. And with all most situations, I have a very good excuse.

And here it is.

Get it? Get it?!?

Yep, 100% natural in the traditional way. LOL

I have to say it wasn't expected but I guess it's about that time in life before I get much ahem older. The Husband's a lot more excited than I am. I guess it's hard to get excited when you feel pretty bleh and slightly motion sick so often throughout the day m(=____=)m yep, that's my life now...constantly clutching a bottle (sometimes 2) of medicated oil. I tell people the kid might have a hearing problem at the rate The Husband keeps yelling into my belly button like it's the Grand Canyon lol Just joking of course, about the hearing problem, not the yelling. That part's true unfortunately XP

Looking forward to including some new topics into the blog with this development and thought I'd start with a small piece that I was checking up this week.

This is especially important if you intend to breastfeed.

In a nutshell, topical use is considered safe as long as it's within 2% (if it's near the bottom of your product's ingredients list you should be fine.). The general opinion is that toners are ok because you do a quick swipe instead of 'soaking' your skin in the stuff but it's safer if you know the concentration of your product. Peels are totally out of the question. ALWAYS check with your gynae if this is a big concern of course.

Oral forms of salicylic acid are a big no-no because the chemical in oral form gives rise to higher risks for miscarriage, heart defects, heart & lung problems for the baby as well as bleeding issues for both mother and baby. These are the same reasons for not taking aspirins during pregnancy.

Sidenote about painkillers: My gynae tells me Panadol (the regular type, not Max or Cold/Flu etc) is fine if not taken often and just 1 tab.

My DHC Salicylic Acid Acne Toner has Salicylic Acid listed fairly high up on the ingredients list, 3rd to be exact, but a check on the website (DHCCare) states 2% Salicylic Acid so I'm slightly relieved. I have just a few drops left in my current bottle so I'll probably down the usage to once a day till it finishes and hunt for a more natural toner option for my combination skin.

All in all, anything that's too concentrated is potentially harmful to your new little best friend. So if your hormones aren't doing kamikaze somersaults and creating absolute havoc on your skin, it's best to go as natural and minimalistic as possible with the skincare routine during pregnancy just to be absolutely safe. OR you can bombard your gynae with a list of products and ask their opinion~ Fortunately my skin isn't breaking out or anything so far...hopefully it'll stay nice and calm for the next 7 months!

Now to stock up on my Konjac sponges again~