Talk about beauty : O.S.T Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum Review

SPONSORED REVIEW

Last month, I was approached by Wishtrend to be one of their official Singapore bloggers and I couldn't stop smiling about the entire deal because I am currently on a transition to switch to Korean skincare and makeup products as of late and this is definitely the right time to be sponsored by Wishtrend. I really gotta admit I am freaking lucky man.

So what is Wishtrend ?

Wishtrend is literally your hub of beauty secrets. They have all the top selling Korean skincare and makeup products you can ever imagine and the best thing is that they ship worldwide ! It doesn't matter who you are, where you are. They ship to anywhere on the planet that receives regular postal services.

And so, after all the liaising and all, I received one of their weekly best product, O.S.T Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum.

The serum comes in a tinted glass bottle due to the Vitamin C contents. If you still haven't known, Vitamin C oxidizes easily even under room temperature and therefore Vitamin C products are often to be refrigerated and comes in tinted bottles to prevent UV rays from entering and damaging the product.

One thing I adore about this product is its fresh, citrus-y scent. It is just the right for me, not too heavy nor too sweet, just the right amount for a refreshing feel. Upon application, it is slightly sticky, but is quickly absorbed into the skin and leaves my skin feeling velvety smooth.

For the younger ones out there, it is never too early to start fighting age. For the matured out there, I totally feel you when you say you are starting to see signs of aging on your skin. The O.S.T Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum will help retain your youthful and radiant skin by battling oxidants with Vitamin C. The Vitamin C content also help reverses DNA damage and stimulates the production of collagen. Think healing of acne scars, plumping of fine lines and gaining back all the lost confidence from battling with aging over the years ! Not only does the O.S.T Original Pure Vitamin C20 Serum make our skin look younger, it also brightens up dull skin, giving us the much sought after Korean Ulzzang look !

After all the talking, it's sharing time ! All my readers are entitled a discount of USD 3 off your purchase.

Quote 'RFXLSCOZ' to receive the discount. Discount is valid till the end of 2013, with minimum purchase of USD 20.



Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/wishtrend.sg
Website: Official Website, Qoo10

Till then, xoxo !

Event : Olay Look good, Feel Great' Masterclass

SPONSORED EVENT
Remember my entry regarding the Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-ageing Micro Sculpting Cream sometime in March ? Click here for the entry if you haven't read about it. Some time in early April, Olay held a 'Look good, Feel Great' masterclass at the Four Seasons Hotel.

Here we have Olay's Senior Scientist, David Khoo, who shared about the latest skincare technology for the All New Olay Regenerist range.

Myth Buster

Skin fatigue is caused by stress. True ? Or false ?

There was also a demonstration where he mixed both the Olay New Regenerist and a prestige skincare brand with water in separate bottles. He then asked a participant to shake both bottles to test its solubility. The Olay New Regenerist quickly dispersed in the water which indicates a possible high absorption level in the skin. A good skin care product is usually more water-dispersed. This is because the main composition of our skin is water, and more water-dispersed products can carry the ingredients deeper in skin layers.

Apart from the previous Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream (read my review here), the ever so loving folks of Cozycot & Olay also kindly gifted me two products - Olay Regenerist Revitalizing Serum and Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Eye Cream and Lash Serum Duo. I'll do a review on these two soon though. Time for me to hit the sacks !!

Talk about beauty : Suntory Milcolla Collagen Powder

People often say a woman's skin stops producing collagen after they are 25. The body will then start losing collagen at a rate of 1.5% per annum, leaving us with a wrinkly and dull complexion. Having said that, I am 25 now and being in the mid-twenties, it is definitely frightening to know that age catches up in such a fast and harsh manner. Especially when you have the world's most baby-faced boyfriend who still looks like he's 20 at the age of 25.

 

Unfair right ! While us girls spend almost all our money and time to go for facials and buy skin care products, all guys do is use tap water to wash their face or some even more solid ones, just ONE product to wash their hair, body and face. Yet they look more ravishing as they age.

BUT !! I have been receiving comments lately that I am looking younger than my actual age. I personally don't think so la but if quite a handful of people is telling me the same thing then it should be at least 70% true right. Don't say I am selfish cause I am going to share with you my secret to obtaining eternal youth.

Presenting to you, the mother of all Collagen,

 Suntory Milcolla Collagen Powder 

Because I am quite the gia xi (scaredy cat) type, I did quite a fair bit of research before purchasing them to see if it works and if there are any side effects. Some people have expressed disbelief on the internet that ingesting collagen will not work and collagen has to be produced by your own body. But scientific studies have also showed that oral ingestion of collagen will help improve certain aspects of health. Especially our skin, wrinkles and joint and limb health.

Typical collagen has very large molecular weight, making it difficult to absorb. Having said that, Milcolla was made easy to absorb with its small molecule size you can take in approximately 60 times the amount of collagen as other collagen sources. Beauty loss with old age is a major concern and you can't lose much with the strong proactive support of this miraculously formulated supplement.

Taking adequate collagen with your regular meals can be difficult but with one spoon of Suntory's Milcolla Collagen powder, you can easily receive 5000mg a day. All you need to do is add one spoon of Suntory's Milcolla Collagen powder into your usual morning beverage and you're good to go. It doesn't taste or smell fishy like many other collagen consumables out there. Trust me, I had tried and tested enough brands to rave about this.

I am replenishing my stocks for Milcolla so if you guys are interested, drop me an email with the quantity and I'll order for you guys as well. Each packet is SGD 46 exclusive of postage and there will be free registered postage if you purchase 3 packets and above. Interested parties, please email me at toxikk_@hotmail.com

What is YOUR holy grail collagen supplement ? Share it with me on http://ask.fm/tinhuishan ! And if I can, I would purchase them and feature them here and share with everyone else too !

Food Haunts : Tim Ho Wan (添好運) Singapore at Plaza Singapura !

To all you dimsum lovers out there, the famous Michelin Star Dim Sum Restaurant from Hong Kong Tim Ho Wan is finally here in Singapore ! I first heard about this news from Gladys, or was it Yucui I can't remember and I was super excited cause ever since B and I visited their main outlet in Hong Kong last year (read post here) I have been trying to find a store in Singapore that sell Baked Bolo Buns that were as yummy as Tim Ho Wan's but to no avail. I had high expectations for their bolo buns after my visit in Hong Kong but somehow I was disappointed with their spread here in Singapore.

68 Orchard Road #01-29A
Plaza Singapura, Singapore 238839
Tel : +65 6383 2828 

Introducing the Big 4 Heavenly Kings 四大天王,

 

 Steamed Egg Cake (香滑馬來糕) S$3.80 for 1 pc 

Right at the top of the menu, is Tim Ho Wan's Big 4 Heavenly Kings. First up is the Steamed Egg Cake which I personally think resembles the colourful steam cake that we often find at pasar malam but this is much more soft and fragrant of course. I was pretty impressed by its flavour and softness as it was the first time I ever had such soft steamed egg cake (I didn't order this back in Hong Kong)

 

 Vermicelli Roll with Pig's Liver (黄沙猪润腸) S$5.50 for 3 rolls 

The second of the Big 4, which is also my most anticipated dish. I have had vermicelli rolls with a variation of fillings before but I had never tried one with pig's liver. I read certain review that the skin of the roll was a tad too thick and not as flavourful but I beg to differ. I personally think that the thickness was alright except that it came a little too cold. Perhaps it was just me cause I was busy snapping away before I got down to tasting it.

 

Baked Bun with BBQ Pork (酥皮焗叉燒包) S$4.50 for 3 pcs 

Third on the Big 4 list, is the baked bolo bun that I have mentioned right at the start of this post. I think there is nothing much to say about this particular dish. I was mad disappointed. The one I had tasted back in Hong Kong was much much better. The crust was crispy and the filling was generous and juicy unlike the ones in Singapore which I personally feel not as 饱满.

See how hollow the bun was ):

 

 Pan Fried Carrot Cake (香煎萝卜糕) S$4.5 for 3 pcs

The last of the Big 4, Pan Fried Carrot Cake. It is not the ordinary carrot cake that you will out there. It is soft and filmsy, with generous amount of radish and lap cheong which made the entire carrot cake rather flavourful. Apart from the Big 4 Heavenly Kings 四大天王, Mom and I ordered a few more dishes.

 

 Steamed Prawn Dumpling a.k.a Har Gao (晶瑩鮮蝦餃) S$5.50 for 4pcs 

When it comes to dimsum, it is a must to order Har Gao. If it's good, then the dimsum restaurant is definitely worth a visit. I love how the dumpling skin is neither too hard nor thick, coupled with juicy and succulent crunchy prawns.

 

Glutinous Rice Dumpling (古法糯米鸡), S$5.00 for 1 pc

The Glutinous Rice Dumpling was another dish that I felt was not comparable with the ones I had in Hong Kong. Like in Hong Kong, it was also the last dish to arrive and despite being full from the earlier dishes, I actually managed to finish the one in Hong Kong but here in Singapore, I think the rice dumpling is a little too hard and dry. The fillings are no doubt flavourful but the chicken lacks moisture like the rice.

 

Spring Roll with Egg White (賽螃蟹春卷) S$4.20 for 3pcs 

The entire idea of having egg whites in replacement of radish for spring roll as unique but again, I felt that the filling was not enough. Skin was crispy no doubt but as I sink my teeth into the spring roll, all i could taste was the crisps from the skin and nothing else. It didn't even felt like there was filling in it.

My overall verdict, D.I.S.A.P.P.O.I.N.T.E.D. To be very honest, as much as I enjoyed some of the dishes, there were more nays than yays. Most of the dishes did not live up to the hype, let alone live up to the name of Michelin 1 star. To think I wasted 1 hour of my life queuing for something which is so disappointing. I would not say it was untasty but it just isn't quite as awesome as I had in Hong Kong. Nonetheless, everyone deserves a second chance and I will be visiting Tim Ho Wan when the hype is gone and hopefully the recipes will get better by then. For those who are trying out Tim Ho Wan for the first time, I think you will enjoy it pretty well. For those who have tried the ones in Hong Kong, I suggest you visit at a later date so you will not feel the same disappointment like I did.

Talk about health : How can you lose weight by drinking more water ?

Stay Energized

Studies have shown that staying hydrated with sufficient water while exercising can result in the ability to complete more reps and remain energized. This means the simple act of drinking enough water can directly increase the number of calories you'll burn, because you'll have more energy during your routine than you would have had if you were insufficiently hydrated.

Minimize Hunger

Consuming water prior to a meal will allow you to fill up your stomach without the evil of extraneous calories. This will minimize your chances of binging on food, because it will make you less hungry than you would have been.

Fill Up on Water Before Meals

The American Chemical Society suggests drinking 16 ounces (two cups) of water prior to every meal. Drinking this recommended amount while cutting down on the size of your meal portions makes you increases your chances of shedding pounds and keeping them off in the long run.

Opt for Zero Calories

Too many people these days substitute high-calorie beverages like soda, juice or alcohol for water during their meals. The situation gets even worse when you factor in the typical drink size at most fast food joints and restaurants.

Think of all the sugary, high-calorie drinks you consume in a given week, and imagine all the calories you could save by switching to water - if even for just one substitution per day. It's true that you can cut down on calories by switching to low-calorie diet sodas and juices in lieu of their regular counterparts, but diet drinks tend to increase your desire to eat. Water with every meal is the perfect choice when you're looking to cut down on calories.

Hydrate to Burn Fat

Whether you are vigorously exercising or burning a few calories just sitting down and chewing gum at work, your body needs sufficient hydration in order to efficiently use those calories for fat-burning. So, whether you're burning 100 or 1,000 calories, you still need to drink plenty of water for them to be burned as efficiently as possible.

Fulfill Your Hydration Needs

More research is necessary for accurately determining the water needs for every person, but the Institute of Medicine recommends that women drink 15 cups (2.7 liters) of water per day, while men should drink 18 cups (3.7 liters). These recommended amounts for body efficiency are total water amounts, and they account for water you consume in coffee, fruit and vegetables also.

Lose Weight Quickly

If you're looking to shed weight in a hurry, one way of doing so is to consume plenty of water while cutting down on your sodium intake. The decision to eliminate dietary salt (the pretzels and turkey you eat in the breakroom, the canned foods you prepare on the stove, or the chips or nuts you snack on between meals) while increasing your water intake will allow you to drop water weight quickly.

Flush Toxins

Whether you are burning hundreds of calories at the gym or handfuls of calories walking from place to place, the act of burning calories releases toxins inside your body. Drinking a sufficient amount of water allows your body to flush out those toxins, rather than letting them hang around all throughout your dehydrated day.

Keep Oxygen Circulating

Based on water's chemical compound (h2o), correlation between water intake and your body's oxygen level should be rather obvious. When you don't drink a sufficient amount of water, your blood volume decreases. This means your muscles are failing to get necessary oxygen, and you will become exhausted more quickly as a result.

Muscle Maintenance

Your body needs water for countless reasons, and one such reason is to make life easier on your muscles. When you are exercising, you are putting a heavy toll on most - if not all - of your muscles. Sufficient water is necessary for the proper lubrication of your joints, and it drinking to your needs will drastically minimize the amount of soreness you'll feel later.

Talk about beauty : Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-ageing Micro Sculpting Cream Review

SPONSORED REVIEW

There's always this saying that women supposedly start to age at 25. To some even more kiasu kiasee ones, 24. I have always been conscious about my skin and now that I am turning 25 this year, I feel the need to pay extra attention to wrinkles and fine lines so by the time I reach 40, I will not lose out to my then boyfriend/ husband who generally looks more ravishing the older they get.

Before this year, all I ever pay attention to was Whitening. To me, as long as my skin is fair and bright, I feel that it was enough. But as I got older, it gets kind of depressing when you look into your face and you noticed that wrinkles start to appear and pimple scars don't go away that fast anymore. It gets even worst when I get SO many comments from people telling me I look older than my age. It was then I realised that it wasn't enough.

I started consuming Collagen and as much as I like the improvement I see on my skin, I wanted more and I wanted quicker results. I then decided to switch one of my skincare products to something with anti-ageing properties and lucky me, I got sponsored at the right timing !

Olay Regenerist Advanced Anti-ageing Micro Sculpting Cream

Of course I had my doubts cause we all had experiences where we spent tonnes of money on big brands yet they won't deliver what they promised. Nonetheless, I still gave the Olay Regenerist Advance Anti-ageing Micro Sculpting Cream and I was totally sold.

The product has a flora scent to it and I was initially worried that the fragrance will cause horrors to my sensitive skin but it has been doing pretty well to be honest. The consistency is really thick but smooth to apply on the skin. Here's a photo of the texture.

Like every other moisturiser,

Step 1: Scoop some onto your fingers

Step 2: Dap

Step 3: Blend

Viola ~ You're good to go !

So, what's my take on this product ? 

Having tried many other anti-ageing cream, this is definitely one for keep. Not only does the Olay Regenerist Advance Anti-ageing Micro Sculpting Cream comes with 20% more anti-ageing ingredients compared to many brands out there, it also has more Amino-peptide and new ingredients such as Olivem and Lyslastine which can boost collagen and make the cream works deeper within our skin.

I would apply this on both day and night each time after I cleanse my face. What amazed me was that given its thick appearance, the cream blends very well and was easily absorbed into the skin. There was zero stickiness can you believe it ! I love how it livens up the skin almost instantly. To be honest, if you're looking for a miracle cream, you'll be pretty damn disappointed. Even though it's named micro sculpting cream, I didn't manage to see any firming effect as of yet but I could see distinct improvements on my laugh lines especially. I am also applying it to my neck cause I already have some visible necklines which I am having trouble filling up.

Find out more at http://www.olay.com.sg/Pages/DefaultFlash.aspx

Just remember, it is never too early to start on Anti-ageing. I would rather be kiasu than be sorry.

Talk about health : Eating Clean - OIAJ

Overnight Oats in a Jar

Overnight Oats, especially Oats in a Jar is getting kind of popular on Pinterest and Instagram these days. Apparently this kind of cold yogurt and oatmeal mixture has been around for quite awhile. I don't know where I have been, because I had never heard of it until I saw a recipe by Gwen on her instagram.

GXFC !

Gong Xi Fa Cai everyone ! May all of you stay happy, wealthy and most importantly, healthy !

I also wish for everyone to huat huat in the year of Snake !

It's merely 6 days into the year of Snake and I already am feeling the love from the universe. Been bringing The Secret to a higher level and it sure is rewarding. I have finally signed the lease and paid the downpayment for my flat after all the hassle that HDB have put the boyfriend and myself through. To read more on our application journey, please click here, here and here. If you and your partner are considering applying a flat and have queries in your mind, do feel free to ask me in my Formspring or comment below, I will be more than glad to help. I will be doing up a BTO FAQ tab soon so stay tuned. You can also check out the BTO FAQ tab at the top of the site ^.^

February has always been my favourite month of the year. With February, comes Chinese New Year and Valentines Day when it's the only month with so much love in the air. So how was your CNY and Valentines ? I would say my CNY has been a real tiring one cause I have packed several visitings in a day and my day usually starts as early as 8am and ends with overnight gamblings. The lack of sleep and feasting on heaty and oily new year goodies definitely caused disaster to my complexion. If you are like me, killing your own skin with our not-so-healthy habits, here's something I have been consuming for the past few months to ensure minimum damage to my skin brought upon during this festive period.

Sorry ah, this is not milk powder

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Yes, it is none other than Collagen Powder !!

The brand I am consuming is Suntory Milcolla Collagen Powder, highly raved in Japan and Taiwan. This particular product appeared upteen times on 女人我最大, with many Taiwanese female artistes swearing by it. I have personally tried some collagen big brands like Fancl, Meiji and some other brands and all tasted and smelt fishy which I find it hard to consume. I had to literally hold my breathe while drinking them but I do not have the same problem with Milcolla so I am definitely sticking by it.

Directions : Mix in one flat spoon of powder with your choice of hot or cold beverages (coffee, tea, juices) or even yoghurt, soup or food. I have tried replacing the cheese powder for my pizza and it tastes equally good.

Product Details : 105g per pack - 15 days supply. Does not contain fragrance and artificial sweetener. Only 25.3kcal and low fat. Suitable for people who are on diet as well.

Each spoonful contains : 5000mg collagen peptide. 600 µg milk ceramide. 50mg vitamin C. 120mg milk calcium. More than 1 billion of vegetation based lactic acid bacteria.

I am going to be ordering again and I thought why not share this with you guys ! Good things are meant to be sharing isn't it. Each packet will be $46 exclusive of postage and will arrive on 1st March if the order is made before 17th February.

Product introduction from 07:18 onwards