If you have always desired to be Snow White (without the circus of dwarves), but do not want to put your skin through excessive peeling (Obagi) or lasers, a tomato (not an apple), may be your antidote. Crystal Tomato is a revolutionary health supplement made with specially-grown tomatoes that are naturally-rich in colourless caretenoids, making them one of nature’s most efficacious whitening ingredient.

The result of 10 years of research and development by laboratories in Israel (and we know how advanced in technology, Israelis are), these precious tomatoes contain a high concentration of colorless caretenoids – Phytoene and Phytofluence, which have been proven to benefit skin and improve its clarity. I won’t bore you with all the scientific data and charts. All you need to know is that these two will increase protection of DNA and skin cells against oxidative and UV damage when you have them in higher quantities in your skin…via the consumption of Crystal Tomato. This supplement also contains L-Cysteine, an amino acid which already exists naturally in you and this helps to maintain the structure of proteins in your body and promotes healthy skin by encouraging collagen formation.

What’s great about Crystal Tomato is that it not only has the ability to lighten dark skin and pigmentation, such as acne scars and age spots on your face, it also works to lighten marks on your body, including dark underarms! This supplement is safe and approved by HSA (Health Sciences Authority) Singapore. In fact, one of the scientists behind Crystal Tomato, is Dr Alain Khaiat, who is an advisor with HSA and president of Seers Consulting who provides consultancy services to several regulatory authorities and associations in the areas of Cosmetics R&D and Safety Evaluation.

Crystal Tomato is marketed and distributed by Gromark Consumers Enterprise. It retails for $169 for a box of 30 caplets at selected clinics. For a list of stockists, contact Gromark at 6253-4388 or email [email protected]

“Ageing is optional” – This is the tagline of newly-opened aesthetic clinic, DERMACARE™ Aesthetic & Laser Clinic, which prides itself on three values – safety, results and luxury.

Located on the fifth floor of ION Orchard, this urban retreat is perfectly catered for sophisticated clients who can be dropped off directly outside its entrance, allowing them immense convenience and privacy in accessing the clinic. Be pampered the moment you enter the clinic by their in-house concierge, where you will wait in the plush private lounge and be served refreshing beverages such as juices, organic teas, including Bird’s Nest! You will also be handed your personal iPad where you can browse the web or check out DERMACARE™’s very own app which showcases all their treatments and you can even watch videos of their procedures in this interactive app.

DERMACARE™ Aesthetic & Laser Clinic offers a comprehensive range of aesthetic, slimming and luxury facial treatments – from HydraFacials to Ultherapy, to cater to your every discerning need – marrying medical expertise with the highest standards of quality and unparalleled luxurious pampering.

DERMACARE™ Aesthetic & Laser Clinic is located at #05-05, ION Orchard. For more information, visit www.dermacare.com.sg and “Like” their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/DermacareAesthetic.

Stepping into Fivelements, with its lush greenery and secluded location, has an immediate calming effect and I gulped down the fresh air with relish. Made up of only seven exclusive suites, this is just what city dwellers like me – who are sick of crowds, maddening traffic and endless skyscrapers, need. Here, you get the soothing sound of water from the Ayung river which surrounds the entire resort and monitor lizards for company. Even the rooms are designed to ensure that you leave all your modern living habits behind with no television and worktable for you to set up your laptop. But with a view of a beautiful waterfall in front of my room, who needs Facebook?

I was invited to partake in a water blessing ceremony by a Balinese priest to “cleanse my spirit” and prep myself for the array of treatments that have been customised for me based on a questionnaire sent before my arrival. First up, a Balinese Boreh which consists of a full body massage with virgin coconut oil followed by a cinnamon coffee scrub. This treatment is meant to relax and cleanse my body so that I am “pure” and ready for healing. I count myself to be a spa veteran but I was completely blown away by the skills of Ayu, my therapist. She turned me into putty with her strong yet soothing strokes and I had to fight to keep awake just so that I could experience the full massage!

Fivelements embraces holistic Balinese-inspired therapies administered by traditional healers using ancient wisdom passed down from their forefathers. I was booked for a muscle release massage with Pak Pangat, one of their resident healers, the next day. He managed to seek out knots hiding deep within my back and gave me a vigorous massage that made me feel like I had just done yoga. Besides these healers, guests can choose from an array of spiritual treatments that incorporate meditation, breathwork, aura protection, metaphysical healing, TCM and chakra balancing. Also in my healing programme, a Macha Tea and Clay Detox Cocoon, an anti-aging treatment to tone and detoxify as well as their signature Fivelements Super Food Facial which uses delicious homemade products such as Bali-grown neem, pineapple serum, aloe vera, spirulina and seaweed. These products looked and smelt heavenly and I was lulled into a state of oblivion by my therapist’s expert touch.

I am a foodie so even if my mind and spirit are appeased, I will turn into a monster if my tummy is not. Thankfully, that was not the case here with Fivelelement’s award-winning raw and organic restaurant. Here, they have turned food into art with tasty concoctions designed to nourish the body. Whether it is a healthful breakfast of Tofu Florentine, Super Food Smoothie made of organic cacao, maca, goji berries and bananas or scrumptious dinner of Live Lasagna encompassing layers of zucchini with almond cheese and fresh vegetables, every meal was a delight for all my senses.

It is the little touches that have wowed and created an indelible impression for me here – from starting each treatment with a floral foot-bath and reflexology, hot ginger tea with lime served post-treatment, energy balancing with my therapist before starting my massage, spirulina shot after my facial, cool cucumber water served at the restaurant and piped in spiritual music in my room, just to name a few. Fivelements is just what the doctor ordered and more, and I left the resort feeling refreshed and ready to take on the world!

Room rates start from SGD 712++ (approximately USD 475++) per night while treatments cost from SGD 127++ (approximately USD 85++) for a 90-minute Balinese massage.

Fivelements at Puri Ahimsa

Banjar Baturning Mambal Bali Indonesia 80352

For more information, check out their website: http://www.fivelements.org

It’s a given that you will look pre-pubescent instantly when you go for a Brazilian wax. Talk about anti-ageing on speed!

And, there’s no better time than now to do so – Strip has partnered with PETA to offer their signature service at only $40 (U.P. $58) and donate a $1 for every wax done. I’ve always liked being bald down there as on top of looking like a 12-year-old schoolgirl, it just feels great to be smooth (just ask my hubby!). Strip is the de facto place I head to as apart from being anal about their hygiene, it is also “zip zip zip” fast, to coin a phrase from popular TV chef, Rachel Ray. Comparing their wax to food is quite apt here as the waxes offered are yummy strawberry and chocolate. In fact, they smell so good that you will wanna smear it all over your body.

So, go naked than wear fur this Christmas and do your bit to help the animals too! Promotion is applicable for first-timers only and valid till 31 Dec 2010.

Nothing ages a person more than a protruding belly. Need weight-loss help? This will make a big belly difference: Start your day with a high-protein breakfast (think eggs). This shifts your appetite into neutral, where it will idle happily till lunch. Add some fiber to the meal, such as whole-wheat toast, and you’ll curb afternoon cravings. Imagine getting halfway through a day of healthy weight loss without needing any willpower! That’s because having plenty of protein and fiber early keeps you fueled and full for hours.

Not an egg lover? Have oatmeal topped with walnuts or smear peanut butter on your whole-wheat toast. Ready to just grab the toast solo as you zoom out the door? Think again. You’ll be elbow-deep in the candy bowl before lunch.

Block Snack Attacks with Protein

If you don’t get a certain amount of protein each day, but especially in the morning, your appetite shifts into snack-attack mode. Not only do you overeat but you eat high-calorie, high-fat, high-sugar snacks – the kinds of foods that go straight to your waistline and make your belly bigger.

Adults usually get plenty of protein, just not in the morning. About half get none because they skip breakfast entirely, which is another reason breakfast skippers tend to put on pounds. They haven’t eaten since the night before, so their bodies get panicky by mid-morning, wondering when/if the next meal is coming. The result? Their bodies start storing calories instead of burning them.

Successful weight loss, which includes not gaining back your hard-lost pounds, is about staying full, not going hungry. Hunger and cravings are your enemies. Feeling full and content are your allies. Morning protein and fiber? They’re your secret weapons.

In a bid to stave off aging, I have been turning my world upside down two to three times a week with inversion yoga. Yup, I am keeping wrinkles at bay by spending time on my head, forearms and hands!

Inverted poses, like the headstand, can refresh the glandular and circulatory systems, increase circulation and drainage of lymphatic fluid, and stimulate the nervous system. It also provides your face with an instant facelift! In fact, Hollywood bombshell, Eva Mendes admits that she lies upside down on a slant board for about 20 minutes before a photo shoot, or a hot date. She notes that the increased blood flow to her upper body and face brings on a vibrant, flushed-with-youth look.

Besides a radiant and glowing complexion, I also notice that my back feels really relaxed after each 90 minute session, probably because the upside down poses relieve the gravity pull on my spine, giving it a much needed rest.

Other reputed benefits of upside down yoga:

Reduce Gray Hair

Practicing headstands regularly has even been reported to convert gray hair back to its natural color. Although I can’t vouch for the validity of this particular claim, the transformation is supposedly due to the increase in blood supply and nutrients to hair follicles in the scalp.

Increase Sexual Energy

The bottom line is that a regular inversion practice can lead to better circulation to every part of your body, including the thyroid, pineal, and adrenals. This even goes for your sexual organs, which means better sexual health.

Delay Age-related Diseases

The stimulated circulation brings healthy, oxygenated blood flow to the brain, which increases mental alertness, helps to synchronize brain activity, and may help to prevent mental disorders and brain dysfunction.

Upside down yoga is not all about complicated Cirque Du Soleil-like poses. In fact, a simple Downward Dog position where your hips are higher than your head is an effective upside down pose! Who needs fancy creams and other costly beauty products that just add to your consumption? Stay young and youthful naturally.

If you’ve already blown out 60 birthday candles (or spend too much time online, like me!), it’s time to get extra serious about protecting your eyes from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – by hitting the salad bar. AMD is a progressive disease in the retina affecting people mostly over age 60. It gradually destroys sharp, central vision. But new research suggests that the nutrients you need to prevent it are all front and center at your local salad buffet.

So here are three eat-for-your-eyes salad bar tips you can use today to reduce your risk of AMD:

1. Load up on the carotenoids. At the salad bar, that means lots of carrots and leafy greens for lutein/zeaxanthin and beta carotene – nutrients associated with less AMD.
2. Lay on the omegas. Get your omega-3 fatty acids by sprinkling crunchy nuts on top of your salads. And add a little tuna on top, too. Diets high in fish oils and nuts have been shown to reduce the risk of AMD. Plus, coldwater fish like tuna, salmon, and sardines also contain appreciable amounts of vitamin D3 – another AMD stopper.
3. Look into a supplement. Many AMD studies have used zinc supplements to reduce risk of the disease, but check with your doctor before taking zinc. If you’d like to get more zinc through diet, add sunflower seeds and kidney beans to your green salads. A supplement with B vitamins (folic acid, B6, and B12) may be beneficial as well.

Time to hit the supermarket to load up on these vision-saving foods!

If you have lots of moolah (we’re talking six-figures here!), indulge in this anti-aging programme which utilises Swiss cell therapy.

The Total Swiss Anti-Ageing Programme of Rejuvenation, Revitalization & Youth Restoration is an exclusive cell therapy focused specifically on the renewal of the body, mind and soul. Designed as a 6days 5nights Medical Wellness program at the world renowned luxury resort area of Ascona, Switzerland, the royal vacation includes a series of holistic and integrative medical therapies prescribed according to your personal medical needs.

Offered by MFIII of Switzerland, the programme provides a full comprehensive range of principle diagnostics, modulation, balancing, restoration and detoxification processes. The main therapy in this medical programme is MFIII Fresh Frozen Live Cells (FFC) or Fetal Precursor Stem Cells, and some of the additional quality medical services include:

1. Comprehensive Executive Medical Check-up Program, Diagnostic Methods and Profiling
2. Colonic hydrotherapy for Enhanced Detoxification Process
3. Orthomolecular/Ozone Therapy through Infusion Program
4. Holistic Detoxification and Oxygenation Program
5. Pituitary Gland Hormonal Modulation Program
6. Intravenous Laser Therapy Program
7. Magnetic Field Therapy
8. Professional advice on Proper Nutrition and supplementation
9. Professional advice on Exercise and Lifestyle Changes

The MFIII Anti-ageing Programme also includes the following services:

1. Limousine Service (Return trip between Ascona and airport of Zurich or Milan)
2. Food and Accommodation pre-arranged
3. Boat Cruise on Lake Maggiore
4. A Shopping Excursion nearby Ascona (if weather permits)
5. An optional Facial Therapy according to your facial condition without any charge

Might be something worth breaking your trust fund for! For more information, go to http://www.mf3-antiaging.com/

I’ve just come back from The Farm – an amazing detox retreat where I did my first colon cleansing, and I must say, I am hooked! This is definitely on my annual to-do list, joining the ranks of famous celebrities like the late Princess Diana, Jennifer Aniston, Madonna, Mae West, and many others who credit colonic cleansing for their radiance.

Colon cleansing involves involves repeatedly flushing the colon out with pure water or organic coffee, removing layers of accumulated toxic debris, taking physical pressure off the abdominal organs. Parasites, candida yeast and other fungal forms are cleansed out as well. This gets rid of belly fat which so often is mainly comprised of the bulk of built-up wastes rather than adipose (fat) tissue. These methods also tone and condition the bowel, getting rid of constipation. Constipation is your complexion’s worst enemy.  When your colon is clogged with waste material, your body tries to eliminate toxins through the skin.  Even if your skin is functioning properly, these waste materials end up deposited in the pores and tissues creating a sallow and mottled complexion. Besides clear skin, each session also leaves you refreshed and energised. In fact, I’ve been as buzzed as a 2-year-old since I got back – and all this without coffee (which I’ve kicked too after the detox)!

Keen to try it?

The Farm is having a special promo “7 Day RAIN CLEANSE Organic Weight Loss Retreat” reflecting 30% discount off the entire programme. This is a time limited offer valid until September 30, 2011 only! Book your spot now

For the last 2 weeks, I’ve been starting my Sundays with 108 sun salutations. The first time I did it, I nearly left the yoga studio halfway and felt wobbly and weak after (could also be due to a particularly tough yoga class the day before). Surprisingly, I sailed through the poses the second time, feeling strong and enjoying every minute of it. My yoga teacher informs (or tried to motivate) us that 70-year-old yogis in India do 108 sun salutations every day. In India, it is a method of self-improvement used to harness the full potential of the mind, body and breath for a variety of benefits, including reversing the effects of aging.

Over your lifespan, the physiology of your body begins to change. One effect of aging is decreased elasticity of the lungs, which diminishes your body’s ability to use oxygen, resulting in fatigue and poor immunity. Also, you will lose muscle tone and experience an increase in fatty tissues. Your bones will begin to lose their density, making them more fragile. The activity of your thyroid will decrease, your metabolism will slow down, and the strength of your digestive system will weaken.

Surya namaskara, or sun salutations, is a sequence of yoga poses that are said to be almost universally beneficial, with benefits that counter many of the effects of aging. Use sun salutations to maintain muscle tissue and flexibility throughout your life, to boost your metabolism by stimulating the thyroid, pancreas and pituitary glands, to alleviate indigestion and ailments of the liver and the pancreas, and to strengthen the spinal cord and cells of the nervous system. Practicing sun salutations regularly will give you more energy and more focus throughout the day.

The late Swami Vivekananda, a prominent yogi in India, had once said: “The result of this branch of Yoga is to make men live long; health is the chief idea, the one goal of the Hatha-Yogi. He is determined not to fall sick, and he never does. He lives long; a hundred years is nothing to him.”