I received a lovely package from Reviva Labs this week.  Hailing from the US, Reviva touts itself as the “health food store” brand used in over 1200 professional skin care salons. Started by Stephen Strassler, one of America’s pioneer aesthetic doctors, its focus on using natural ingredients led to Reviva being sold in health food stores, hence its tagline.

Here’s what I got:

From left to right:

Collagen Fibre Skin Brightener Pads – This product uses the vitalising properties of freeze-dried native collagen, which is more effective than collagen that has been processed via heat and solvents in other kinds of creams. Native collagen fibre is a hydrating, healing treatment, in addition, Alpha-Arbutin, licorice, grapeseed extract and citric acid have been added to brighten and lighten age spots and create a more uniform skin tone. Results are purported to be seen after each 15 to 20 minute treatment.

Makeup Primer – To be used over moisturiser or directly on clean skin under make-up, this fragrance-free and non-comedogenic product smoothens lines, conceals pores and controls excess oil. When I told Reviva Labs that I don’t use make-up, they told me that I can use it as a moisturiser alone.

Collagen-Fibre Eye Pad Kit – Infused with Myoxinal, which is an extract from the hibiscus flower known to relax facial muscles for a Botox-effect, this eye treatment helps to diminish wrinkles, reduce puffiness and decrease dark eye circles.

Skin Energizing Gel – To be used together with the Collagen-Fibre Eye Pad Kit or on its own, this product contains “electrically charged” trace minerals ions from Hawaii’s ocean which serve as skin activators to stimulate skin cell energy.  It is used primarily to break down skin resistance which is common when skin ages and loses minerals. Apply this before using your regular skin creams and see how your skin absorbs the creams more effectively!

Light Skin Peel – This is not a strong chemical peel used by aestheticians, instead it is more of a gentle exfoliating product to remove dead skin cells.  It also stimulates the new skin cells to move upward at a faster rate so that skin surface can look tighter, clearer and healthier.

While I can’t wait to test out all these new goodies, my skin is currently having a bad reaction to something so I am taking a breather and staving off piling anymore new products on my face.

However, I couldn’t resist testing out the Skin Energizing Gel which controlled my sebum control when I applied it at night under my moisturiser, as well as the Makeup Primer which made my skin feel really matte and velvety.  Very promising indeed.

More reviews will be coming up soon, so stay tuned!

Chronic fatigue, stress and allergies, these are all the by-products of a hectic city life.  In recent years, medical experts have begun to understand the seemingly intangible relationship between physical, mental and emotional health. “Good health is more than a disease-free body. Good health is a stress-free frame of mind and vibrant energy,” says Dr Richard Anderson, creator of the Arise & Shine fasting programme and supplements at Atsumi Healing Center – a fasting and detoxing retreat in Phuket.

Dr Anderson’s program aims to elevate practitioners towards greater health, vitality and energy. It is much more than a colon cleanse. It is a complete intestinal cleanse and you will clean your entire alimentary canal from your tongue to your stomach and all the way down to your colon. In addition, however, as you begin to cleanse your digestive system (the hub of your body that every cell and organ depends upon) other parts of your body will respond as well. With this programme, you will not only rid yourself of toxic waste, you will also release disease-causing toxic emotions. In a very real sense, it’s as if the emotions are stored with the toxic waste and as one is purged so is the other. A total sense of well-being can be created from having a healthy body and a healthy mind.

Fasting is nature’s way of curing disease and one of the quickest ways of encouraging the body to rid itself of toxins,restore health and prolong life and vitality. Fasting allows the body to stop processing all the junk that’s put in it, to stop using energy to run the digestive and eliminatory systems, allowing an excess of natural energy that can then be devoted to cleansing, purifying and repairing all of the bodily systems. Through detoxification, the body’s amazing power to heal itself will be revealed, leaving you in tune with your own physical state, and reaching ever towards the pure perfection of health that we were all born with, and to which Mother Nature constantly guides us. Yoga, exercise and massage speed up this process by stimulating the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluid.

My sister and I are heading there in February next year to escape the Chinese New Year chaos and noise. Four days of no coffee…oh no.

For more information onAtsumi Healing Retreat, check out its video here:

Atsumi Healing Center – Phuket, Thailand

I’ve recently signed up for Pure Fitness @ Knightsbridge and converted into a gym bunny. If I’m not working, I’m probably at the gym, sweating it out at the machines or letting loose in group classes. The results: skyrocketing energy levels and glowing, radiant skin!

From reducing acne breakouts to fighting the signs of aging, health experts say regular exercise can play a big role in how young and how healthy your skin looks and feels. Our skin is the largest organ of our body, so the benefits of exercise can be enormous – increased circulation, delivery of nutrients to skin cells and whooshing away potentially damaging toxins. Exercising also gives skin the optimum conditions for making collagen, the support fibers that help keep wrinkles and lines at bay.

But perhaps the most dramatic effects of exercise are on acne-prone skin. Doctors say working out provides many benefits that can help clear the skin. How? Exercise mediates the production of testosterone-related hormones such as DHEA and DHT. “There’s a lot of indirect evidence that shows that when you exercise your level of stress diminishes. So your adrenal glands are producing less of these male-type hormones that are part of any acne flare-up,” says David Berman, MD, medical director and dermatologic/cosmetic surgeon at the Berman Skin Institute, Palo Alto, Calif., and former chief of dermatology at Santa Clara County Hospital. No wonder, the more stressed I am, the more I want to work out (5x for a particularly hellish week!).

If you want proof, think about any situation that increased your stress level – finishing a term paper or job project on deadline – and you’re likely to recall a breakout. Exercise can help control it. “By reducing stress, it tends to quiet the adrenals. There is less hormone output which in turn helps control acne,” says Berman.

Regular exercise also increases sweating, which in turn can unclogs pores and have a positive effect on breakouts. In the long run, people who exercise have a better complexion overall. If they have acne, it’s better controlled, and if they have occasional breakouts they are definitely less severe, and clear quicker and easier. Now, isn’t this enough reason for you to throw on your sweats and work it out? Can’t wait to hit the gym again tomorrow!

Vichy asked 10 of Singapore’s most influential bloggers to select 10 girls who want great skin to take part in the Normaderm Zero Imperfection 2-week Challenge.

In Phase 1, you select the 5 girls who should take part in the Challenge. Using Normaderm, the anti-blemish range that helps reduce acne, redness and shine, these 5 girls will document their progress with a Skin Diary with the hopes of achieving clearer and radiant skin.

For Phase 2, you vote for the girl who has shown the greatest skin progress. By participating, you will stand a chance to win a $300 Vichy hamper in each phase. So, what are you waiting for, VOTE now!

P.S. For those of you who have been diligently visiting my anti aging website: http://www.reviewantiaging.com, thank you for your support and sorry for the dearth of updates. I have been busy with my social media consultancy as well as working on two magazines, The Republic and Aesthetic Beauty Guide.

1. Do I still need to use a moisturizer if I have oily skin?  
 
An oily skin can still be dehydrated for various reasons. For example, a person with oily skin may have washed his or her face excessively, resulting in dry and dehydrated skin. However, the person may feel more comfortable with a light moisturizer which also shouldn’t block up the oil glands. 
 
2. What kind of skin care & cosmetics can an acne sufferer use?  
 
An acne sufferer should use light and non-comedogenic skin care and cosmetics. 
 
3. I wash my face several times a day, why do I still get acne?  
 
The formation of acne is not due to dirty skin. It is due to a combination of factors: blockage of oil gland, accumulation of oil gland secretion, excessive bacterial growth within the oil gland and inflammation of the oil gland. Washing of face will help to remove dirt, dust and oil from the skin but does not alter other factors that are important in formation of acne.

4. Does stress cause acne?  
 
Yes, stress may aggravate and precipitate acne. 
 
5. Does diet play a part in causing acne?  
 
Scientifically it is not known that diet causes acne, However, if one repeatedly experiences a flare up of acne after consuming certain food, then it may be a good idea to avoid the food. 
 
6. I have an unsmooth forehead because of several tiny bumps and I am told that they are milia. These milia are also present under my eyes. Is there a way to remove them or can I apply a cream to remove them?  
 
Skin bumps on the forehead and around the eyes could be due to several possibilities, such as milia, sebaceous hyperplasia, seborrhoeic keratoses, syringomas and others. These skin growth usually do not respond to creams treatment and minor skin procedures, such as laser treatment may be more appropriate. You should consult a dermatologist for advice on such treatments.  
 
7. My face is always red and irritated and only the eye area feels alright. Do I suffer from eczema? How can I prevent and cure it?  
 
You probably have sensitive skin that is prone to redness and irritation. Mild skincare products, such as those that are fragrance-free, hypoallergenic and non-comedogenic may be more appropriate as skin care for you. Please consult a dermatologist for assessment of the skin sensitivity. In addition to eczema, it is also possible that the blood vessels on the face are more reactive and tend to flush easily under warm and hot environment. If this is so, good sun protection and avoidance of factors that may induce flushing, such as avoiding hot and spicy food and warm environment may help.
 
8. How can I remove acne scars other than having a laser treatment done?  
 
For acne marks such as brownish pigmentation and redness, intense pulse light may be useful. For the more depressed scars, chemical peeling, surgical scars revision may also help. 
 
9. The red patches/ ‘wounds’ caused by picking on pimples/ bumps on the face do not heal and remain red and irritated. What can I do to reduce the redness and let it heal?  
 
It is important to make sure that the pimples are well treated so as not to create fresh wounds. There are some anti-redness creams which may help and in some instances, intense pulse light therapy will help to reduce the redness as well. 
 
10. I have blemishes caused by acne and pimple scarring,what are the ways to clear away the blemishes on my skin?  
 
The treatment options will depend on the types and nature of acne scars. They can range from injection of medication into the protruding scars, creams to lighten the marks, surgery to revise the scars and lasers to smoothen the scars. It will be better for you to consult a doctor for that.

Aesthetics & Beauty Guide (ABG) is the first aesthetics magazine from Singapore to bridge the information gap between medical professionals and the layman. In every issue, you will find detailed treatment reviews , the lowdown on the latest aesthetic treatments available and profiles of qualified medical professionals – basically, your go-to guide for all things aesthetics.

I started ReviewAntiAging.com last year in my personal pursuit to look for the best aesthetic treatments for myself. My partnership with ABG has allowed me to share my vast experience with a wider pool of women (and men!).  In the name of “work”, I’ve reviewed almost 20 treatments and looking at my skin now – smooth, radiant and taut, I’m definitely a big believer that aesthetic treatments can help you get better skin and maintain your complexion for many years to come.

In this inaugural issue of ABG, you’ll get a crash course in Aesthetics 101, reviews of the latest and most effective aesthetic treatments, hear from Dr Georgia Lee as she talks about her new skincare range, get all your acne questions answered by renown dermatologist, Dr Joyce Lim, get the skinny on the newest slimming treatments to get rid of your wobbly bits, and many more health and beauty tips.

ABG is available at all major newstands and bookstores, get your copy before it’s sold out (I hear that Kino and Borders have had to replenish and copies are being stolen from doctors’ clinics)!

Celebrate National Day and womanhood at the same time with this promotion by TOUCHE™ Elite via their Facebook Fanpage, Being WOMAN. Simply click on this link here and get started!

DNA-RNA Platinum NanoPLUS Treatment

Platinum and silver are used for jewellery but do you know that these precious metals contain anti-bacterial and antioxidants that can be used to achieve exceptional results in skin rejuvenation?

Platinum helps lock in skin moisture while enhancing skin self-defense function. Silver, an anti-bacteria agent used by NASA as a preservative of drinking water, can enhance skin immune system, boost blood circulation, skin metabolism and prevent skin degradation.   

I got a chance to experience this outstanding treatment at TOUCHE™ Elite, and now you can get a chance to try this amazing facial valued at $600 for only $210! Read my review here and then follow the instructions there:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/dna-rna-platinum-nanoplus-anti-aging-treatment.html

Dr Georgia Lee

Cosmeceuticals represent the marriage of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Examples of products typically labeled as cosmeceuticals include anti-aging creams, serums and moisturisers. Cosmeceuticals are cosmetic products with biologically active ingredients purporting to have medical or drug-like benefits.

And, who better to create these products than doctors themselves.  Several doctors have come up with their own skincare range to better serve their patients as well as tap on the burgeoning skincare industry.

They include:

Dr Georgia Lee with drgeorgialee skincare. Read my interview with her about her new “baby” here:

http://www.reviewantiaging.com/drgeorgialee-skincare.html

Dr SM Yuen with his Rose-2 range:

http://treatment.com.sg/product_rose.htm

Dr David Loh of David Loh Surgery who will be launching his luxurious line in a few weeks. Stay tuned for more updates here.