How to lighten your skin and keep it light!

Living in Asia, it seems like everyone is after white skin.  Movie stars in Asia are often the fair-skinned and so naturally this light skin is sought after by the regular person.  There are whitening agents in most body lotions, healthy beverages that promise lighter skin, even pills that one can take to achieve lighter skin.  I thought I would share with you the routine I use to keep my skin its lightest.


1. Use an exfoliate such as a loofa or a scrub while showering.  This helps to remove old dead skin and reveal newer brighter skin. Remember not to scrub to hard, you may cause irritation.

I use this loofah with soap inside.  If you don't live in Thailand you can find it on e-bay.

  
2.  Follow up your shower with a whitening body lotion.  There are many different brands to choose from and most can be purchased at the local store, probably even your nearest 7-11 (if you are in Asia).  Brands I have tried are Johnson's Naturally White Daily UV lotion, Nivea UV Whitening Cell Repair & Protect, and Citra Purely White UV.  These lotions all have mild skin lightening agents and if used daily will keep your skin moisturized and looking radiant.  I Suggest using after a shower or before bed.
Some whitening lotions may irritate your skin, so you may want to try a bit on the inside of your wrist before applying it all over your body.  I had a skin allergy to Citra Purely White UV, so now I stick to using Johnson's or Nivea's whitening lotion..although there are many other brands out there to choose from.

3.  Always apply sunscreen before going outside! Protect your skin from damaging UV rays.  Any SPF 30+ should be more than sufficient.  Make sure to apply liberally to all exposed areas about 30 minutes before you plan to go out doors.  I recommend Nivea 's sunscreen because it's not sticky and doesn't have a strong smell.

4.  Eat foods that protect your skin from the inside out!  Tomatoes actually act as a sunscreen, so by eating them you are providing more protection to your skin as well as feeding your skin vitamins.  Make sure to eat plenty of fruits and veggies.

Me on the left with very white skin, my twin sister on the right.  I live in Thailand and she lives in Canada and yet I still manage to stay more fair skinned than her. 

Alternatives to my above routine:


1.  If you have really dark skin, you may want to consider glutathione pills available at stores like GNC.  "Glutathione is found in most cells and is an important part of the body’s internal antioxidant defense system and functions as a potent antioxidant and supports the activity of the antioxidant vitamins C and E" according to GNC. Many people start seeing results slowly after a month of taking them and they come in different doses.


2.  For faster results you might consider glutathione injections such as "mixing white."  Friends of mine that have taken these told me they saw results after 2 weeks and their skin had a beautiful glow to it.  The mixing white also cleared up their acne.  I'm considering trying Mixing White, but currently don't have the money. 

Rhinoplasty in Thailand

I had a separate page for this but decided to just throw it into a post instead.  Since this procedure I have had a restylane filler nose job so you can see why and before and after pics in my "Restylane Nose Job" post..


Here's my experience from...

Two years ago I decided to get rhinoplasty to reduce the hump on my nose.  I'd broken my nose three times and as a result of trauma to the nose my nose had a large hump on the bridge.  As I was nearing my 21st birthday I decided to start looking more into rhinoplasty.  Prices were outrageous, and although you can't put a price on your face I didn't have the kind of money needed to do surgery in Canada, so I started looking at cosmetic surgeons in Thailand.

Thailand is quite reputable when it comes to cosmetic surgery, although i wouldn't say they deal with rhinoplasty that requires reducing the hump on a nose all that often.  I looked at several clinics before choosing Dr. Pat at Tokai Clinic on Sukhumvit soi 97 in Bangkok, Thailand.  I had read good reviews about him on web forums and upon visiting him decided he was the right surgeon for me. 

Rhinoplasty was probably the most painful and uncomfortable experience of my life, but well worth it for the results.  I stayed in the clinic for 3 days, where I was given healthy meals and waited on by a maid that stayed in my room.  I was given plenty of pain killers to help cope, but the most uncomfortable part was not being able to breath through my nose.  On the 3rd day before I left the clinic to stay at a hotel the doctor removed the gauze from my nose that helped keep each nostril open.. it was absolutely disgusting.  Upon leaving the clinic I was told by my doctor not to look in a mirror or remove my bandages until the next a week later.  I left the clinic looking like hannibal lector and saught refuge in my hotel where i stayed for a week without leaving...  i also removed my bandages once to have a look at my face, curiousity got the best of me.  It was really discouraging seeing my face just a few days after surgery, and at the time I thought I had made a huge mistake trying to fix something that sits in the center of my face. 

A few days passed and I went for a follow up, swelling was going down nicely and my septum that had to be cut to perform surgery, was healing nicely.  For a few months after my nose was swollen and I looked like a lion, but as time passed my nose was starting to slim down and finally I could see something I liked... NO HUMP!  Brilliant! 
The surgery including meds and 3 days stay at the clinic was under $2000 USD which is incredibly affordable and the service of the staff was hospitable and absolutely amazing.  If you are considering cosmetic surgery, before shelling out thousands of dollars look abroad.  There are tons of qualified plastic surgeons out there that can perform amazing work at lower rates than western countries.
I'm incredibly satisfied with my nose, although its not 100% perfect, it looks so much better. It's taken years off my face, brightened up my eyes and done wonders for my self-esteem.
If you have an questions or comments about rhinoplasty let me know, I would be happy to answer anything. 
Here are the before and afters(11 days after)

Two years later I'm very happy with the results and all the pain was worth it. I definitely recommend this procedure for anyone that has had trauma to the nose and as a result has a bump/crooked  nose.

Most recent photo

Since this photo i have had restylane filler injected along the bridge of my nose to create a taller more straight nose.  Please see my post about the "Restylane Nose Job"

Yes, I'm a phone snob!

Victoria Beckham with her custom gold plated iphone 4

Kim K clinging on to her BB BOLD 9780

If you are a fashion conscious person, you know that style doesn't just end in your clothes, accessories, and make-up but also plays a big part in the food/beverages you drink right down  to the electronics you use.  Yes, brand matters.  Usually you pay for the brand because you expect/trust that it will be good quality merchandise.  So when it comes to cellphones, I'm no different.
I've gone through 3 blackberry smartphones this year, not because i lose them, but because I'm aware of the new features and always want the most technologically advanced phones.  I'm currently using the Blackberry bold 9780.

The Bold 9780 is a sleek and sexy phone... I bought the white one because I thought it looked clean and more modern than the black one.  It's got great features : 3mp camera with flash, mp3 player, video camera, 3G capability etc..  Unfortunately I may have abused it a little and it's slowly but surely breaking down.  Not only is it breaking down, but my bbm (blackberry messenger) contacts are slowly dwindling away as my friends toss their  blackberries aside and replace them with iphone4 or the new iphone 4S.
Now, I'm considering making the big purchase and buying an iphone 4 or iphone 4s, it's sleek and sexy with cameras on both side -5mp on the iphone 4 and 8mp on the iphone 4S.   Because I live far from friend and family, the skype application available on the iphone is one of the best selling points for me.

So here's my dilemma:  Should I buy up the iphone 4, buy an iphone 4s, or wait till my blackberry totally shuts down before considering the purchase of a new phone? What phone do you like? Why? Which do you own? 

Starbucks -always a *hot* accessory

While some people think Starbucks is just an overpriced selection on super caffeinated beverages, they may not have considered it as a hot fashion accessory -it is! When you think of fashion you generally think of expensive, brand name goods, toted by celebrities -Starbucks fulfills these qualities.
This holiday season, keep warm and in-style by toting your favourite seasonal Starbucks beverage!  It's a great addition to any outfit, and has the ability to make your practical outfit of snow boots and sweatpants look more like an you're a fashionable incognito yuppie.  

My fav fashion conscious celebs toting their fav Starbucks beverages

Mischa Barton -photo credit goes to UrbanUpdater.com

Sienna Miller -Photo credit goes to NY Post

The Beckhams -Photo credit goes to Denim Blog

Ashley Olsen -photo credit goes to UrbanUpdater.com

Worried about the health effects of caffeine? Fear not! 

Health benefits of caffeine in moderation include:

• Regular coffee drinkers were 80 percent less likely to develop Parkinson's disease.
• Two cups a day reduced subjects' risk for colon cancer by 20 percent.
• Two cups a day caused an 80 percent drop in the odds of developing cirrhosis.
• Two cups a day cut the risk of developing gallstones in half.  (according to How Stuff Works: Caffeine )
•  caffeine can be a tremendous boon to those who suffer from rosacea, which is essentially caused by frequently dilated blood vessels that lose their ability to contract.
• caffeine is starting to get lots of attention for its antioxidant properties when used both topically and orally. 
• In fact, research suggests that both oral and topical caffeine may offer powerful anticarcinogenic benefits. A series of studies performed on mice found that caffeinated green and black teas prevented sun damage and even repaired damage once it occurred, whereas decaffeinated teas did not. (according to Health yahoo)

So here's to looking fashionable and feeling good with your Starbucks in-hand! Cheers!

Me sipping on a Dark Cherry Mocha! gotta love the seasonal flavours!

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The return of the Platforms .......with assorted Heels

When I started to see platforms return to the shelves, i had mixed feeling.  The last I remember, they died along with the Spice Girls back in the late 90s.  After seeing them everywhere in stores and magazines, I've begun to like them... kinda of like when you hear a song on the radio that's way over-played but you can't stop humming to it.  So the other day I tried a pair on, and now I understand why they've made a comeback.
Walking in 4 inch heels, is MUCH easier with a 2 inch raise under your toe.
The trends this year have brought in both a stiletto and a chunky heel with the platform base.

Here are some styles I collected from a few international chains Zara, Urban Outfitters, and Aldo.

available at Zara

Available at Urban Outfitters

Aldo, being solely a shoe store, had the best selection of platforms with both a stiletto and chunky heel.  

I ended up buying these:

What do you think about platforms making a comeback? 

Looking for that Little Black Dress for the holiday!? Zara's got the perfect one!

Zara never ceases to amaze me, they've always got high fashion looks for affordable prices, and the newest fashion trends right off the runway.
While shopping today I fell absolutely in love with this little black dress!!  It's perfect for the holiday, christmas parties, dinners etc.  The cut is slimming, classy, showing just the right amount of skin.

picture property of Zara

picture property of Zara

I love the idea of pairing it with boots, but because it lack the lengthy legs, boots will shorten my already short legs.  Instead, I've chosen to pair it with a pair of chunky platform black pumps.  Just bought these today, didn't think I'd be able to work a pair of platforms, but seeing as they're in-fashion now, I've committed to a pair and actually adore them.

 What do you think of this dress?? What kind of shoes would you pair it with? How would you accessorize it?

The Restylane Nose job

After much thought I decided i was a good candidate for the beauty enhancement procedure know as  the "restylane nose job".  This beauty procedure isn't invasive, lasts approximately 6 months, and is cost-efficient.  Restylane is a filler generally used for fine lines, wrinkles, etc, but is now becoming more commonly used is the nose, especially for asians seeking a taller more defined bridge.
I was recommended Medivisage Clinic in Thonglor (Bangkok, Thailand) by a friend who had been getting the same procedure done.  Medivisage is a small beauty clinic open 7 days a week located just across from J-Avenue and above She Bar and Hobs in Thonglor.  The doctors are very critical which made me sure this is where i wanted to get my procedure done.
The reason I opted for this is that due to my previous nose job, I had lost the definition in the upper bridge of my nose which made my nose look more hawk-like from the side.  The procedure itself took about 15minutes and left me a bit swollen but was quite painless. I was asked what i desired to change, was given some topical freezing to numb the injection site, and then injected along the upper bridge of my nose. I had bruises for about a week later that I was able to cover using foundation.  The results were beautiful and noticeable immediately
Cost varies, but for .5cc of restylane i paid about $300USD

Sorry the clarity isn't very good, but you can see the results pretty clearly.  I'll take better before and after pics in about 5 months.
Thoughts? Questions?

Versace for H&M finally released in selected H&M stores world-wide Nov. 19!

My fav pieces from Versace for H&M high-fashion line baby doll dress-$179CA, leather heeled sandals-$149CA (Also available in silver), leather black purse with chain strap and versace charms price unlisted. The pendant and the leather versace studded wristband are from the men's collection.

Finally fashion and wallet friendly H&M has come together with famous fashion designer Donatella Versace to launch a great line of fairly priced pieces!!  While I've had a look at the new line and can't say I think everything piece is a winner, there are some pieces that are absolutely beautiful and jaw-dropping.
The women's line tends to be more fashionable than the men's line..  Most of the men's pieces are heavily patterned in exotic bright colors and remind me of something you'd find on one of the fellas from Jersey Shore -eww.
Since many of these items will be sought after, shopping for the new Versace for H&M will be quite the task... nothing a feisty fashionable female won't be able to manage though.

Fashion Fail-  A sample of the men's wear for Vesace for H&M .... eek! Very Jersey Shore :S

The basic things you need to know:
-Check the location closest to you to make sure they will carry the new line
-Arrive early.  There will be a line-up.
-You are limited to a certain number of items, all of which have to be in the same size! So don't think you can send  a friend to do your shopping for you!! Take the morning off work if you must ;)
-Don't count on these items being in stores long! Go as soon as possible... there are limited pieces and if you wait, you'll miss out on these beautiful high fashion pieces.

If you don't have an H&M near you, sadly, you may be out of luck :(  I don't think this line will be available for shoppers online -so sad. It's a sad day for me.
Living in Thailand, the closest H&M is in Singapore :(

Click here to see the new Versace for H&M

Let me know what you think of the new line! Love it or hate it? Fashionable or Fashion fail?

Romi (from the real L word) inspired "tribal feather earrings" from Forever 21

I've always loved Romi from "The Real L Word" 's style, especially her asymmetrical feather earrings.  I decided to go look for a pair here in Bangkok... it was a lot more difficult than I expected.  I ended up purchasing "tribal feather earrings" from Forever 21 for the equivalent of $5.80 USD.  

purchase Forever 21 "tribal feather earrings" here

I wasn't thrilled about the wheel in the middle and I wanted something a little more simple, so I removed it and attached the feather to hook that goes through the ear.  Instead of having just one earring, i decided to stick with two, but keep them asymmetrical. So below is the final result.

They look beautiful on and are trendy and unique.  I even had one friend say they look expensive.  They really give a boost too a simple outfits and look great with hair down or tied back in a low ponytail or bun.

I found two great asymmetrical style earrings at Urban Outfitters online that I thought I would share. 

available here

This one is a single earring, VERY similar to the one Romi is wearing in the above picture.    It's quite long and fall past the collar bone.  It looks beautiful. The only downside I've read in reviews is that it tends to be quite heavy and pulls the earlobe down.

Available here

These earrings are hot hot hot. So stylish. This is initially what I was looking for, but couldn't find in Bangkok.  Hopefully I can still find a pair when I visit Canada next month.  The stud for one ear and feather earring for the other use the same type of metal, so they match nicely and look complete.  Very cute, fashionable and balanced for those of us that can't pull of the single feathered earring.

Dress like your favourite Pretty Little Liar

Second to Gossip Girl is my favourite series "Pretty Little Liars".  Pretty Little Liars just started it's second season, and with a promising start to the new season! What I loved most about the first episode is how highly-stylized all the girls are this season.  I decided to create a "How To" on how to look like your favourite Pretty Little Liar.


Aria (Lucy Hale)- 5'2" tall-  Aria has an edgy hipster look, you can usually find her in a vintage dress paired with a funky pair of heels or boots.  Her thin frame is perfectly suited for the girly dresses.  She's often the most accessorized of the Pretty Little Liars wearing over-sized dangling earrings, a long necklace or some great tights.


To get her look you will need: a girly-vintage dress, fitted (and cropped if possible) blazer, pair of casual riding boots, dangling earring.

all items available at Urban Outfitters

Spencer (Troian Bellisario)-5'7" tall- Spencer has a conservative and classic style. She has a beautiful long and lean figure which is made for leggings and skinnies -and if you haven't noticed, she pretty much lives in leggings.  You can catch her in almost every episode wearing a. pair of heel-less riding boots or oxfords, skinny jeans or leggings, a rather conservative shirt and a classic blazer, fitted jacket or cardigan. Spencer doesn't often accessorize, and she still looks great always keeping it simple. 


To look like Spencer you'll need a button up blouse, a fitted blazer or a cardigan, leggings or slim fit jeans and oxford style shoes.

Sweater, shirt, shoes from American Apparel
jeans from Urban Outfitters

Emily (Shay Mitchell)-5'9" tall- Emily is the sporty girl of the bunch. She always dresses casual and on the sportier side, maybe because she's on the swim team?  You can often catch Emliy in out-dated denim skirts, a loose fitting top(usually striped) and a pair of sneakers.  She doesn't often accessorize, but occasionally you'll find her dressing up and wearing a necklace or earrings.


To look like Emily, you'll need a light-medium coloured denim skirt that falls above the knee, a striped loose-fitting v-neck t-shirt, a colourful cardigan, and a pair of trendy sneakers.

Cardigan, t-shirt, bag, shoes from Urban Outfitters
Jean shorts from H&M

Hanna(Ashley Benson)-5'5" tall- Hanna is the shopaholic out of the bunch. She's very girly, usually dresses in flowery tops, skirts and heels.  She's a little thicker than they other girls so you'll notice that most of her outfits are sinched at the waiste to give her more of an hour glass figure.  Hanna always has beautiful outfits, but not hipster like Aria.  


To get her look you will need a high-waisted black skirt, flowy top or plain v-neck, thick belt, sheer black pantyhose, and black heels (preferably open-toed heels)
Skirt, T-shirt, pantyhose from American Apparel
Bag shoe, belt from Zara




Finally to complete the look of ANY of the pretty little liars you will need a curling iron.  I suggest the Sultra Bombshell from Sephora.  It's a curling rod, so no more hair getting caught in the springs and no more hideous kinks! For how to use, please follow the link to Sephora's tutorial at http://www.sephora.com/brands/sultra/couturecurls-bombshell.pdf