As the years pass and the cotton bralette became a trend, I too have caught on and found how comfortable and convenient it is to own a few, especially when traveling. Not only that it saves space, it is easy to clean compared to padded bras and I am able to wear a lot of things with the beautiful designs peeking through. However, little did I know this trend would cost me a bit more than I expected. Growing up with thick, padded push-up bras I never felt I should be worried about my body figure. As I grow older, however, my bust starts to give in to gravity due to these bralettes and the habit of going braless at home. As Dr Michael Edwards said, “The more your boobs bounce around, the more stressed breast skin and collagen become” and this gets more apparent as age catches on. 

As much as I am comfortable with my body shape, I too want to maintain and keep it as youthful as possible especially since I love fashion and certain skin-revealing outfits. Unfortunately, there’s only so much I can do and thick padded bras and I are never gonna be best friends. Even the thought of having to use firming cream on a daily basis sounds like a chore to me. 

I have scouted the market for collagen powders for a while now and thought of trying out NANO HYALURON & COLLAGEN as a start. I opted for the powder form instead of drinks, as it is easier to find in the market, not as tedious to bring around especially while traveling and far better to store too. I’m also very, very picky with flavors so having liquid type collagen would mean that they’re already flavored, and they might contain sugar (which is what I try to avoid daily) and that might cause Glycation - a reaction when sugar comes in contact with isolated active ingredient (collagen) that will cause accelerated ageing process once an individual stops the consumption. This is called the ‘rebound effect’. Plus, sugar is just bad for your skin!

NANO HYALURON & COLLAGEN is pretty easy to be consumed. I add it to my drinks – pink lemonade, tea, milo and so on. It gives an added milky yoghurt-based taste to my drinks. You can add it to any of your favorite drinks that you consume daily and it is also great with nestum. Top tip – add it to your milk for your daily cereal in the morning! Just make sure you don’t put it in alcoholic (lol) or soy-based drinks because it might cause you to gain weight instead.

But wait, everyone knows about collagen and how it is good for the skin but not everyone knows what is collagen and what does it do to the body. Collagen is a part of the connective tissue that in the skin helps in firmness, suppleness and constant renewal of skin cells and it is vital for skin elasticity. As we age, collagen production reduces and cell structures weaken – this is when skin gets thinner and prone to wrinkles, sagging and less elastic. Collagen is also affected by sun exposure, nutrition and exposure to pollutants.

As much as the collagen can help, you also need to take care of your skin and health to reduce collagen degradation by having a proper sun care regimen, avoiding cigarette smoke and sun exposure, and having sufficient sleep. Eating the right food with antioxidants also help to increase, if not maintain your collagen production. This helps you to achieve the ultimate results as you consume NANO HYALURON & COLLAGEN in the long run. 

I’ve noticed that my skin is starting to look slightly better, and even my bust line is slowly getting more noticeable as how it was when I was in college. I hardly use thick, padded bras nowadays but I try to make sure I have as much bust support as I can. I am also able to wear outfits that would not look good with bras and go braless with confidence. I think my bust line looks great, and definitely not a disappointing affair when I go shop and try out clothes anymore. I feel more confident to put on the nice dresses and tops that I have been keeping for nights out and I’m definitely excited for more beach getaways where I can flaunt my new swimsuits with this current body shape. I feel like my level of confidence have been boosted a few notches and I worry less about how I look when I go out. I definitely feel a slight difference in my skin as my smile lines are less prominent than before and my body shape is changing in a positive way.

With this I would say that I’m happy with the results so far and hopefully with a continuous usage, I would see more improvements on my skin as well as my body and bust and hopefully I can maintain my youthfulness in the coming years. People always say that prevention is better than cure, so it’s best to start taking care of your bust and skin now than to fix it in the future. If you’d like to try out this product, you can buy it on the links below:

Qoo10 | 11street

* NANO Collagen is HALAL and safe for Muslims to consume (halal sticker available at bottom of the can)

* Results may vary according to individual

Since I came back from The Cetaphil Experience trip in Karma Kandara, Bali I have been trying out different Cetaphil products for my daily and also sun protection usage. So far, everything seems fine and some products, which I will mention below, are exceptionally great! It also helped that I learned a few tips ad tricks during the workshops, especially busting myths about skincare and routine which were helpful. Here are some of my favorite mythbusters and also Cetaphil products from the all-new Cetaphil range:

MYTH: Does My Cleanser Need To Foam To Be Effective

This facial wash is gentle for daily usage especially for sensitive skin and it does not leave my skin dry and cause redness. I have personally been using this since early last year on my trip to California and New York where the weather is dry and I love it. It is not drying nor does it leave a sticky residue. The only thing is the minimal sud build-up takes a while to get used to as I was used to foamy cleansers. However, we learnt during the workshops that you don’t need your cleansers to be foamy for it to be effective on the skin. Watch the mythbusting video below.

MYTH: Your Skin Will Adapt To A Product So It Stops Working

Some might notice that after using certain products, your skin adapts to it and somehow it feels like it stopped working. However, that is not true. Yes, your skin adapts to it but it also means that the product is working well with your skin thus there are no apparent reactions upon application. For instance, using Cetaphil moisturisers for first timers would feel different than those who have been using it for a while. When your skin is dry, it might seem like the product is working, but after a while, the visible results will seem to be lesser but this is because your skin is already supple and moisturized from continuous usage of the moisturizer. It also helps that the Cetaphil moisturisers are not oily and it absorbs well into the skin. I personally prefer using the lotion as the formula is lighter but for drier weather I am inclined towards heavier cream textures. The Cetaphil moisturizers are good for any skin type and are not irritating to the skin.

Myth: The Higher The SPF, The Better The Protection

Ever heard of the term “The higher the heels, the closer to God”? Now we all know that’s not true (jokes, of course) but as embarrassing as it is to admit, I have to say that I used to think higher SPFs would mean higher protection. Since the workshop at The Cetaphil Experience, I have learnt that you need protection for your skin against harmful rays outdoors and also indoors! The lights indoors also emit UV rays! SPF 30 is enough for any activities, provided you constantly apply it as you go about your daily activities.

What are the skin myths that you’ve heard before? Please share with me in the comment box below. And don’t forget to check out more videos from Cetaphil Malaysia on their Facebook page and be a part of the Cetaphil Experience yourself via the videos and you could also win some prizes!

What if I told you that contact lenses were not supposed to be uncomfortable, would you believe me? For those who have tried wearing contact lenses, discomfort, sharp pain or irritated eyes are a norm and these people are considered as “silent sufferers”. This could be due to outside irritants or the lenses itself. Alcon has recently introduced a new technology of contact lenses that promises a different level of comfort like no other. 

From a survey conducted, 46% Malaysian consumers reported dryness or discomfort while wearing contact lenses and 53% felt their lenses were dry at the end of the day. What’s disturbing is that less than a quarter of these wearers actually speak out on the problem hence the term “silent sufferers”. This will soon be a thing of the past as Alcon introduces a breakthrough in contact lens technology after 40 years of advances with its latest innovation – DAILIES TOTAL 1®.

DAILIES TOTAL 1® is superior in breathability (up to 6x more than leading daily disposable lens in the market) and also in lubricity. Its groundbreaking water gradient technology (the first & only in the world) allowed the lenses to be developed with nearly 100% water at the outer surface, creating a silky-smooth surface that provides a cushion comfort that lasts til the end of the day. 

Most contact lenses are comfortable once you put them on but the true test is to see whether the same level of comfort can last throughout the day until it's time to take them off. I was a skeptic - having worn contact lenses for more than 10 years, I feel like I have never found any contact lenses that I would enjoy wearing but they became such a necessity that I have to just keep on wearing them.

Ever since I tried on the 5-day trial pack (you can get a trial pack with consultation from retailers that carries Alcon products), my life changed. I would find myself skipping my colored contacts for the clear ones and sacrificed the aesthetics for comfort! It has lasted me through late-nights, overseas trips and more as I need to be out and about for long periods of time. I find myself using less eye drops which is something I depended on previously. Little did I know small changes like this would completely change my life. I am no longer in discomfort throughout the day, I no longer prepare for the worst at the end of the day and I no longer dread the process of wearing contact lenses.

I was part of the chosen “Friends of Alcon” that got to share my DT1 experience on stage with other celebrities - Thanuja Ananthan, Tong Bing Yu and also Sherson Lian at the press launch and boy, did we have a lot to say as this was a great change in our lives. I would highly recommend other contact lens user (and those who wish to try transition from glasses to contact lenses) to skip the rest and go straight to the DAILIES TOTAL 1® as nothing comes close to this.

Visit your nearest optical Alcon dealer today to get the 5-day trial pack. There's currently an on-going introductory offer on the DAILIES TOTAL1® contact lenses where RM20 is taken off every pack until 31st Dec 2016 only so it's best to stock up on it! Don't forget to visit the links below for more information:

List of Alcon dealers in Malaysia

La Mer have finally stepped into the cosmetic line by introducing a bridge between skincare and color. Inspired by the healing powers of the sea and cell renewing energy of Miracle Broth, La Mer have included a collection of foundation, concealer, powder and luxurious brushes to give you the unmistakable 'Look of La Mer' - healthy, flawless luminosity for ageless beauty. It benefits the skin with the formula while the Color Capsule Technology creates a natural, pure looking color that seamlessly blends five attributes to transform the skin; color stays true, wears all day, humidity and sweat resistant, protects skin from UV and pollutant, buildable and offers flexible coverage.

It's weightless yet rich texture of The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF20 deeply hydrates, softens and smoothes visible signs of age away. La Mer have also included a potent dose of Miracle Broth to renew and gives 'life' to the user's skin. The Color Capsule Technology, on the other hand, functions to mimic true skintones. Color pigments are encapsulated in a transparent capsule to keep it pure, true and natural looking. This formula also contains an all NEW Soft Velvet Ferment and the Regenerating Ferment. The Soft Velvet Ferment renews and re-texturize skin with it's new high-performance Velvet Algae found deep below the surface of the North Atlantic. It helps soften the look of skin and enhances translucency. The Regenerating Ferment is engineered with a powerful stem cell blend of algae and marine peptides to help combat facets of visible ageing. Skin is plumped and renewed with hydration to combat wrinkles and lines.

Products available in this range includes:

The Soft Fluid Long Wear Foundation SPF 20 - RM 475

The Concealer - RM 300

The Powder - RM 370

The Foundation Brush - RM 250

The Powder Brush - RM 260

This Skincolor De La Mer is available in La Mer stores nationwide starting October 2016. 

Top Korean makeup brand, 3CE will be introducing its Barbapapa collection at all Sephora stores beginning October 13th.

The limited edition collection features the children's book-turned-cartoon character on a myriad of makeup products including cushion foundation, blush cushion, lipsticks, lip balms and eyeshadow palettes, as well as brush kit and pouch. 

Check out the product images below and visit the links for more information:

Website | Facebook | Instagram

With much excitement, the FENTY PUMA by Rihanna Creepers in original colorways is currently being restocked and will be dropping in stores worldwide as they celebrate their 1st year anniversary. The FENTY PUMA by Rihanna Creepers in its original colorways are back in best-selling colors of black-gum, black-white, white-gum, and oatmeal in both men’s and women’s sizing.

In Malaysia, fashion lovers and fans of the FENTY collection can expect the Creeper Re-Launch Pack to be in stores starting this week. The FENTY CREEPERS will be available exclusively at Sunway Pyramid store at RM459. With super limited pieces available, all colours except Oatmeal will in stores.