Reflections......

Year 2012...wow...how fast the year ended! Nonetheless, it has certainly brought many new adventures in my journey. Apart from discovering new skincare products, I am thankful that I managed to discover new places and fabulous food that year too! However, I've also realised that I didn't get to do as much things which I am passionate about. Oh well, in 2013, I plan to....

Life is Unexpected.....

Image from mirror.co.uk

I never thought that I would be sharing this post and in the midst of writing, I am still in dazed of events which happened to me a few days ago. No..this is not a death post but rather an awareness post to all.

Let me keep this short and sweet....

What happened was....

A few days ago, I felt tenderness and pain on one of my breast. The feeling is new to me and pretty unusual.

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 3 ): Pure Aloe Vera Sap

Image from bestsuperfoodlist.com

Many years back, I have heard of what aloe vera can do. I remembered back in the 80's, there was this hype going around with my uncles and parents. They were drinking some liquid 'thing-y' from a fairly large brown bottle that look like this:

I am sure many out there ( from my generation ) would recognise this fella. Yes, my family were quite obsessed with it for a few years, but eventually died down when it has proven too expensive to continue. I, too, eventually forgot about this until recently.

As many would have read from my previous post, I was introduced back to this miracle plant by my TCM ( Traditional Chinese Medicine ) practitioner. Well, she didn't ask me to drink it, but apply the sap topically on my affected area for 2-3 times a day. Little did I know, her advice has been the best discovery of the year!! And that is why, I'm saving this topic for last of my eczema treatment series.

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 2 ): Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM )

Picture taken from slinter.com

Suffering from eczema is no fun at all. It comes on and off and it is hard to determine the main source of the problem. Often, we see the culprit mainly from external sources like dust, animal fur, food, pollens or ingredients from skincare products. Very rarely, we pin point the problems to internal reasons. And this is where we need to seek the help from a Traditional Chinese Medicine ( TCM ) practitioner to see what is happening to our body internally. 

After a long battle with my eczema and I've decided to turn to TCM after Western medicine failed on me. I had been popping prescribed medicine by my doctor for months and I personally felt that it only helps to control the eczema, not curing it. I figured that this is not very good for my body in a long term basis. 

My Eczema Treatment ( Part 1 ): Symptoms and Basic Care

Yup...that's my lips!

If you are a avid reader of my blog, you may know that I was suffering from eczema around my lips area ( some may call it perioral dermatitis ) To those who may not know the full story, do read it HERE. In this post, I am going to sum up the symptoms and basic care ( based on my personal experience ), before moving on to my next post which deals with treatments.

Do you experience odd changes during the time of month?

Picture from flowergallery.com

Before the 'time of the month' comes, I usually experience the usual symptoms like any other girls. Breast tenderness and bloating. I know most girls crave for sweet things before their period but for me personally, I would crave for spicy and salty food. My most reached out 'comfort food' is preferably a bag of chips ( MUST be cheese flavor! ) Funny, isn't it?

I thank God that my skin goes through minimal changes before my period, even though I crave for those 'not so skin friendly' foodies. Even if I do, I get occasional zits, especially at my temple area. 

Do you use feminine washes?

( Image from freefotopia.com )

I first got to know about feminine washes from my cousin sister when I was staying with her during my college days. Before that, I don't even know the existence of feminine washes! I was brought up with the knowledge that 'all we need is soap'. I use the soap for my entire body, face and even hair! Can you believe it? Anyway, those were the days.

So can you imagine the first time when I was introduced to feminine washes? I was like "What?" You even need special gel for that part of the area? I was intrigued and started to use them....and I never looked back.

Healthy Eating: Pinto Beans Soup

Image from suzannecarreiro.com

Last two weeks ago, I shared about successfully getting my bowel movement to regular stage, many thanks to the adoption of a much healthier eating lifestyle. One of the main changes I made is including lots of fibers to my diet and drinking lots of homemade nutritious Chinese soups.

One of my favourite soup, which I drink on regular basis is the Pinto Bean Soup. Like all Chinese soups, it is simple to make and extremely nutritious too. Before I share the recipe, here are some informative facts about the goodness of this bean.

Choosing a healthier eating lifestyle...

Image from vegan.sheknows.com

Earlier this week, I shared a post on taking Chlorella as supplements, in hopes to get rid of my body odour. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it improved my bowel movements. Seeing that Chlorella helps to cleanse and detoxify the body, I thought to myself " If I were to consume back unhealthy foods, then what is the point to detoxify my body? Better make the most out of it and start to eat healthily.."

That is what I did 2 months back and it really help to boost the health of my digestive tract. I can go almost daily now ( 5-6 times a week ), unlike before, where at most 1-3 times a week or less.

Review: Lifestream Chlorella

Lifestream Chlorella 120 tablets MYR 92.80

I am not much of a fan of taking supplements, mainly because I am quite sceptical amid their fancy marketing write ups. Now, how come I ended up taking this one? Well, I was visiting my local drugstore searching for a natural based deodorant and a kind pharmacist came and assist me. I told her I have tried most of the deos available at the store but delivered no results. She then suggested me to take chlorella as she explains that the odour may be due to my body being toxic. Was I offended? No. She wasn't pushy or anything and I think she was pretty reserved too to even take up the matter to me. She gave me some reading materials and I told her I need to get a good read first before I even consider to purchase.

After searching through the internet and did a quick background check on the company and brand, I returned to the drugstore get a bottle of chlorella.

Ezema Flare Up....Again

Yes and unfortunately, it strikes again and this time, it seems to be more serious than last year. ( Read HERE ). I never had reoccurrence issues as quick as this time and worse, I don't have any idea what could have triggered this.

I don't have my own pictures to show but one word...it is bad! It looked mostly like this:

( Image taken from American Osteopathic College of Dermatology ) 

In my previous post, you may know that I was having some peeling problems around my lips. Well, one thing led to another, my entire mouth area was having these little tiny bumps, which is dry, scaly and course to touch. The surrounding area was extremely tight too. It would be itchy as well if I were in some hot and humid places. When I apply my Moogoo ezema balm or moisturiser, I could feel a little burning sensation at that area. Made a quick google to see what all these means and it leads to a case of ezema. Some may call it perioral dermatitis, which is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth. It can come and go for months or years.

I couldn't take any chances and went to see my doctor and was prescribed with both oral and topical medications. My doctor also gave me a mixture of 1% hydrocortisone with urea cream for topical application. Because hydrocortisone causes skin discoloration with prolonged use, I only apply it once a day. Within 3 days, the inflammation died down and was glad that the area around my mouth was back to normal except the lips.

Wait there is more.....

Does constipation causes acne?

( Picture from geekologie.com )

For the past few months, I have been experiencing great skin condition. It is properly balanced, well hydrated and has this certain glow too. My pores seems fine too. And best of all, my skin is clear of acne!
( My skin does have a habit of giving me scarred acne and it takes months for it to vanish completely from my skin. ) I was curious to know what can actually contribute to this great condition.

Some of you may know that I have been battling with constipation problem for months. In the month of October, I did a detox programme because I just feel I need to flush out all the toxins that are accumulated within me. ( Sorry for the gross explanation ) This is the 2nd time I did this programme and it never fails to do it's job well.

From that time until now, my skin is looking great and I feel fabulous. Even more so, I am happy to announce too that I have been able to go to the toilet almost everyday. Now, I am wondering, could the detox programmed have helped my skin to be clear of acne?

I did a little research over the net and I found this very interesting article that is related to this post. Here are some excerpts from it.

Acne is a very common skin disorder. Almost 95% of all people suffer from acne at some point in their life. The major cause of acne is because of hormonal fluctuation which every indivisual undergoes during puberty. The hormonal fluctuations can cause the sebaceous gland in the skin to produce excessive sebum which causes the skin to have acne. The other factors that could lead to acne are many these range from poor hygiene to excessive consumption of trans fat in the diet.


Research suggest that constipation can also accelerate and aggravate acne in certain individuals. This is because during constipation, excessive toxins are created in the body which leads to acne out breaks. Thus the people who suffer from constipation have a good chance to get acne.

And yes. This confirms my curiosity.. constipation can lead to acne.

Now, let's look at what I did to keep my skin clear:

Hydration is the Key to Healthy Skin

( Picture from animal.wallpapers )

A couple of post ago, I mentioned that my skin was looking a little dull and feeling a little drier than usual. I wasn't sure if the cause is due to the seasonal changes or not. What I know is I have to amp up the hydration level of my skin before it gets worse. I started to bring back my lotion mask into my night routine and use my Hada Labo Super Hyaluronic Acid Moisturizing Lotion as my toner in the day. Just tweaking my regime by using products containing humectants worked.

Why Hydration is Important?

The skin can be damaged easily by a variety of things. The sun, stress, hormones, and diet can all damage the skin, especially over a period of time. Since damaged skin tends to look older, hydration alone can make skin look much younger. Therefore, hydration is important to those who desire healthy skin which ultimately leads to better looking skin. Hydration is beneficial to:

Dry Skin- Proper hydrating will cause dryness to go away and makes dry patches, flakes or redness to disappear.


Aging Skin-Dry skin in need of hydration often makes people look older than they really are. Dry skin makes skin to damage easily, which further ages the skin. When cells move outward and age, skin's protective barrier becomes compromised, making water retention difficult. With a weakened barrier, dry skin becomes increasingly prone to environmental damage, free radicals, bacterial infection and other problems. So hydration will guard against skin damage and will give the skin a more youthful, healthy look.

Others-With age, skin is prone to sagging, brown age spots and wrinkles. Using hydrating products can help with skin's firmness to fight sagging skin.

Hydration Options

Reality Bites

How many of us would be in awe as we flip through magazines pictures of women with flawless and porceline skin? Honestly, I do..even though I know that the pictures are airbrushed.

"Oh, wished I had a perfect skin like her, with no spots what so ever." or "Oh, wish I can be so thin". We are all sucked and sold into the advertisements. That in reality, we can never achieve it. I found this you tube, addressing the topic and it is Highly Recommended to view by all.

Sensitive Skin

Early this week, I shared about identifying your skin type. In this post, I am going to share further about some of my readings on dealing with sensitive skin.


Many people say they have sensitive skin because:

• Certain skin care products, or household products that contact their skin, cause stinging, burning, redness, and/or tightness.
• Although they have no visible effects after contact with a product, it always makes their skin feel uncomfortable.

Dermatologists, doctors specializing in skin, consider the diagnosis of sensitive skin when they:

• See skin reactions such as pustules, skin bumps, and/or skin erosion.
• Observe excessively dry skin, which doesn’t adequately protect nerve endings on the skin and may lead to skin reactions from cosmetics or skin care products.
• Notice a tendency to blushing and skin flushing, which may also be signs of sensitive skin.

Identifying Your Skin Type

I've always thought that my skin is normal to combination all these while. In fact, I thought that this will always be my permanent skin type! In fact, I was wrong. Skin type do change season to season and as you age.

My skin type currently is combination and sensitive skin. I had many beauty advisors giving me 'multiple' diagnosis all the years. One would tell me that I have combination skin, the other will then say that I have dehydrated skin. One would say that I have normal skin. Usually it's between these three. But surprisingly, to date, only one told me that I have sensitive skin as well. ( and she is right ).

How do know that I have sensitive skin? I have the tendency to blushing to skin flushing when exposed to temperature change and I do experience stinging or burning reactions when using certain skin products. To some severity, I do develop some tiny skin bumps if the reaction is bad. Overly dry skin is also one of the symptoms of one having sensitive skin. We often misinterpret the dry skin condition and concludes that we have dehydrated skin type as a whole but not knowing that it is part of the signs of having sensitive skin.

I think many of us are still uncertain on what type of skin type that we have. We are so often influenced by what other tells us. Honestly, the best person to know your skin type is only YOU. I think no one can understand our skin better except ourselves.

Manuka Ville - Manuka Honey UMF 15+

Manuka Ville Manuka Honey UMF 15+ 500g RM 159.00

( Group Deal promotion price RM 79, 2nd bottle RM 121 )

Earlier this week, I've shared about the benefits of manuka honey for both skin and health. In hopes to heal my irritable bowel syndrome, I managed to purchase these two bottle of manuka honey through a group deal a few months back.

I am a bit sceptical on dealing with any promotions on group deals site. However, to my surprise, the process was pretty easy with no hiccups. I was extremely pleased too with the customer service from Manuka Ville as they personally send my purchases right to my doorstep!  Not only that, dealing with them is a breeze ( they are very pleasant and friendly too ) and they are quick to respond to any questions pertaining to the promotion or their products. I praised them because these kind of customer services is a rare find in Malaysia!

It is my first time I heard of Manuka Ville, so I did a little background check on them before I made the purchase. Surprisingly, they are from an established background.

Benefits of Manuka Honey for Skin and Health

I have heard of manuka honey many, many years ago but didn't really invest in it. One of the main reasons is, it comes with a high price tag per bottle. I am so used to buying honey that cost me less than MYR 10 and honestly, I don't see myself buying manuka honey because..well..honey is honey right? 

Last few months ago, I found myself purchasing this because my doctor advised me that consuming manuka honey will help me in my irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, I managed to get a good deal via deal mates and why not...just give it a try. It was my first time ever buying from those group deals sites and to my surprise, it was pretty simple and thank God, the distributor was very nice and helpful. I will talk more about this in my next post.

As I begin to do more research on manuka honey, I was surprised that it has so many benefits. Manuka honey is a special type of honey that is derived from a particular floral source in New Zealand, that has been found to have extraordinary healing properties. It has been used successfully to cure...

Seasonal Skin Changes

Picture source from web

How many of us believe that we would still experience the seasonal changes ( Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter ) even though we live in a tropical country like Malaysia?

I don't know how far this is true but I was rather intrigued by this when someone pointed out this to me a few years ago. I didn't really think about that until recently, I see a few changes on my skin. At this time, it is a period of transition from autumn to winter, where the air tends to be drier. I noticed that my skin, overall, feels much drier and rather dull than in the month of May-July. Funny isn't it? 

I am not sure if the cause is due to the seasonal changes or not. All I know is that I need to concentrate on hydration at this period. My skin regime is basically the same as updated in the month of October except that I incorporate my lotion mask back to my skin care regime. And boy, it does help! ( For those who have yet to know this wonderful and easy to do mask, click HERE to read more about it )