BodyLight Whitening Hydrating UV lotion by Garnier

This product came out in the market over a year ago and I bought it during its launch!

As I was going to be in tropical country where the UV rays are something to be concerned about, this seems to be the right product to use.

(Images/Info from www.garnier.com)

It comes in a 250ml bottle with a measuring tape attach which has skin tones in different shades for you to compare after using it for 4 weeks.

It promises to lighten and illuminate the skin complexion while giveing long lasting moisturizing efficiency. Its non-greasy milky lotion penetrates immediately, leaves skin soft, smooth and supple.

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Leg Slim Half Sole Slippers

First read about it in Pace Wu’s “All about a girl” book.

After a bit of surfing, this was what I found on the web.


"You just slip this on while you are walking, standing or doing household chores. It exercises the leg muscles and helps to break down excess fats of the leg. Burns more calories while walking/standing and just use them 3x a day for 15 minutes and you will see results."

Found it in RanKing RanQueen Shibuya and it had the No. 1 ranking. Couldn’t wait to try them when I got home from my holiday.

It was easy to slip on and the bottom of the slippers wasn’t one of those with slippery soles. Very comfortable to wear and I could feel my calves being stretched as I wore them and walk around the house. Not sure if it helps to lose weight but I am sure that more energy is required as you are walking around on an uneven surface with them on. I like the fact that my calves are stretched.

Olay Quench Body Lotion Active Hydration with Green Tea & Vitamin Complex

(Images/info from www.olay.com)

I bought this when I was in the US. I love green tea and when I saw that this has it, I decided to give it a try.

According to the Olay website:

Quench, with Green Tea and Vitamin Complex, is advanced body care. This quickly absorbing, non-greasy formula can actually prevent dryness while leaving skin with a sheer, fresh feel.

First, Quench provides an immediate burst of moisture that continues for 24 hours. Then, drawn deep into the skin's surface, it repairs and nourishes the moisture barrier, strengthening skin's resilience against everyday drying conditions.

The result? Fast-absorbing moisturization that breaks the cycle of dry skin, for quenched beautiful skin everyday.

The first thing I noticed was the smell. I just love the smell of green tea and it isn't overly strong or powerful. I can't take lotions that have a powerful fragrance.

The lotion had a good texture, not too thick that it takes forever for it to be absorbed but not too thin that you are not getting the hydrating benefits. I like that it is not greasy and the lotion absorbs easily. After using about half the bottle, I noticed that my skin has become a lot more hydrated compared to the previous body lotion that I used. This body lotion strikes the right balance in giving the hydration versus greasiness. I think that this is more suitable for those with normal skin. Those with dry skin might not find this hydrating enough.

Something else that I noticed was the slight shimmer that the lotion imparts on your skin. It is quite subtle and gives a very sheer luminent glow. Nice!

Luv ~ green tea fragrance (not overpowering), good hydration and moisture, the sheer shimmer, and non-greasy.

Don't Luv ~ Nothing

Little bumps on the back of the arms

Do you have these tiny little bumps along your upper arms? No matter how much you exfoliate, it doesn’t want to go away and just looks unsightly. Is that the end of wearing sleeveless?

What are these tiny little bumps? That was the question burning in my head for a while. I finally managed to find out what it is.

“Keratosis Pilaris (KP) is a common skin disorder, typified by “chicken skin” bumps on upper arms, thighs, torso, buttocks and occasionally the cheeks. Excess skin forms around individual hair follicles, creating the characteristic minute, rough, grater-like bumps. Keratosis Pilaris affects almost 50% of the world’s population and is particularly likely to affect anyone prone to eczema, asthma or hay fever”. (http://www.keratosis-pilaris.com/)

“Keratosis pilaris tends to be more severe during the winter months but no one is sure why that is the case and it definitely isn't consistent for everyone. Basically, the bumpy rough spots are clogged pores that sometimes get red and irritated but rarely itch. Regrettably there is no available cure or universally effective treatment, though it is generally well accepted that unclogging pores and reducing inflammation can improve matters greatly (Source: eMedicine Journal, July 2, 2001, Volume 2, Number 7).”

It seems that pure exfoliation alone doesn’t help (as I’ve tried) and that it NEVER goes away! Once you get it, you have to be prepared to treat it constantly. Sigh!

Based on the website and others, they recommend using a product which have AHA in it. So, I turned to my favourite AHA product. It definitely helped. The bumps are less obvious and don’t look inflamed. Even though the AHA helped to improve the appearance of it, it was still pretty obvious close up.

Frustration again! Until I read an article by Paula Begoun where she mentioned about this. What she said made sense, “Lactic acid (a very effective form of alpha hydroxy acid) can help exfoliate skin cells, but lactic acid isn't effective for dissolving lipids, so it can't penetrate into the pore and exfoliate the lining of the pore that is a major cause of the problem.”

She recommended using a product which salicylic acid in it that has a low enough pH for exfoliation to be effective. I followed her recommendation and YES!

Using both the AHA and BHA product alternatively, those bumps have reduced so much that it can hardly be seen. However, you need to keep doing this regularly or the condition just comes back (can’t be lazy here!).

This was what I tried and experimented with and now works for me.

So, if you have Keratosis Pilaris as well, why not give this a go?

Shower Gels by The Body Shop

Recently, I started trying a few of the shower gels from The Body Shop. In small pocket sizes, handy to bring it when you're traveling or going to the gym.

Strong wave of the Brazil nut smell. The lather is sufficient and is much creamier and a lot more moisturising that the others.

I am not a huge fan of this. But if you like the smell of mango, this can be a good option.

The smell of cocoa butter is quite soothing but it isn't as creamy as the Brazil nut version.

The strawberry smell is really powerful.

Overall, I think that there are better shower gels out there. It felt more like I was washing myself with the perfume rather than the actual cleansing agents.

Luv ~ If you like strong fruity smells from your shower gel.

Don't Luv ~ Doesn't feel that it cleans well.

Full spectrum Wipes SPF15 by Dermalogica

I was in a beauty salon when I noticed this. Dermalogica has come up with sunscreen wipes.

Further information on their website says that a pack (contains 15) have individual towelettes and can cover hard to reach areas without worrying about spills or mess.

It contains sunscreen ingredients that protects against UVA, UVB and infra-red rays. However, the website doesn't detail what sunscreen ingredient is used. I'm not sure if SPF15 is sufficient enough either in the summer. Winter would be sufficient when the UV alert is low.

Dermalogica has also included anti-oxidant properties from botanical extracts. There is grape seed, green tea, vitamin A, C and E. To calm and soothe the skin, there is balm mint and coneflower.

It contains no artificial fragrance or colour.

I think that the wipes are good to carry around for those occasions where you need to touch up or reapply or just plain forgotten to put on sunscreen. I probably wouldn't substitute it with my regular tub of sunscreen.

Hot & Cold shower

Do you feel sluggish or need to give your body circulation a boost?

I've been reading on water therapy and there has been many research and books on this.

Just before you head out of the shower, switch for 2 minutes or so to the hottest water you can stand (please make sure that it's a comfortable tolerance), which draws the blood to the surface, and then switch to the coldest water you can stand for 30 seconds to a minute, which will force the blood back into the internal organs. This is supposed to be done for at least three cycles(hot and cold) before ending the shower with cold water.

This helps to boost your body circulation, especially if you don't do regular exercise. Every little bit helps to minimise orange peel looking skin and dullness, I say.


Note that Woman on their menstrual cycle and pregnant women should skip this treatment. And anyone should stop the treatment if you become dizzy or start shivering uncontrollably.

Tone and Trim Your Legs While Walking

I recently got myself a pair of this and I absolutely love it. Best pair of thongs a.k.a flip flops that I have ever used.

It definitely costs me a lot of $$$ but worth every penny. What makes it worth its weight in gold? It is said to give your legs a work out with every step you take. So, you are burning more calories while wearing this as well as giving some of the small muscles in your legs a bit of a workout.

Its uniquely built multi-density midsole activates muscles midstep to help tone your thighs, your calves and your glutes. In fact, Fit Flops are biomechanically engineered to absorb shock, lessen joint strain, and recreate the gait of barefoot walking - but with a powerful new built-in micro-wobbleboard workout-enhancing effect.

There is a video here which explains how the sole works. It is basically split into three sections. The end is a cushion heel area which absorbs 36% more shock. Mid section uses micro-wobble board technology which slows the eversion rate and requires more energy to walk. The toe section is firmer which promotes faster toe push off to maintain the same walking rate.

This has been one of the most comfortable thongs I've walked in. I can walk in it all day and it really absorbs the shock of hard surfaces so that my feet doesn't feel really sore and tired. The tiredness comes from my calves and bum which means that I am using those muscles!

I will gladly wear this 24/7 if I can, not to mention that the thicker sole adds a few more Cm's to my height. Now I just need to wait till there are other styles that are more suitable for work and formal situations.

Check out their website for more details.


Luv ~ Can walk in it all day and my heels don't feel the brunt of the shock of walking on hard surfaces. Ultra comfortable, increases my height. Works our your legs and bums.

Don't Luv ~ Limited styles and colours.

Oil Bath by Nivea

Nivea was one of the pioneers when their oil bath bodywash hit the beauty market. Nowadays, other brands such as Dove has join in. When the oil bath first came out, I bought one to try it as it was winter and the timing seems to be right.

A check on the website describes this as suitable for even dry skin, offers a superior caring experience. The 55% caring oils and gentle foam replenish and care for your skin, leaving it feeling beautifully soft and pampered.

I have to say after using it that this definitely contains oil. Not only does it clean but it adds moisture at the same time from the oils. So what happens is that you come out of the shower having your skin feel all silky and smooth.

In a sense, this is good for winter as that is when skin tends to dry out more. It is also for those of us who do not put body lotion on a regular basis. I probably wouldn't place the liquid straight onto my loofah as I found that my loofah lost its toughness due to the oil seeping in. Hence, no more exfoliation benefits from my loofah. It is best to rub the bodywash onto your skin first before using the loofah.

Luv ~ Smooth silky skin. Moisturiser and body wash in one.

Don't Luv ~ Might make your shower floor & loofah a little slippery.