Pleasure became torture

In all my years of facial sessions, this has to be the worst, most torturous session. Most of you will agree that the only painful session of any facial treatment is the extraction of blackheads. My nose,to me, is the most 'insensitive' part of this process, probably because of my thick nose. And, yet this petite lady is capable of inflicting pain to this part of my face. I used to enjoy my nose being 'extracted' of blackheads. Not anymore.


My 'ouches' and moving of my face to signal to her of the pain didn't stop her from her passionate extraction. The last straw came when my cheeks were the next target. She didn't seem apologetic and continued until I finally raised the white flag. 'I don't want to continue anymore. It's so painful..,' I almost pleaded to her in desperation.

Still no apologies, she explained that the pain could be due to the 'stubborn' blackheads and my dry skin condition. My face was in dire pain and I couldn't be bothered with whatever reason she gave. Next, she said calmly and professionally,"Ok la, maybe next session we continue,". "No way!" I vowed. Under my dead body will I allow you to extract my blackheads.

Looking for economical facial programmes

I am still on the lookout for more economical facial programmes. It can cost a bomb when you require quality and natural products, products which can reduce the stubborn and ever increasing pigmentation on the face. On top of that, other age-revealing part such as the eyes and neck cannot be neglected too. These are the most prominent ones when it comes to age-telling signs. I still have quite a number of treatments to go with my current programme. I have been recommended to a beauty centre which claims to be much cheaper and sells quality products too. And the most important of all, no hard-selling. Emm, I'll definitely try this out.

Farewell to my Office Wardrobe Series - Part 2

A figure-hugging halter-neck top, in my favourite colour, blue. Normally, I wore a black knitted cardigan over it. When I was slimmer, I actually wore a tighter soft blue cardigan but not anymore. There is a matching skirt that goes with this top. Ooops! I almost forget about it. Let me go through my wardrobe for the skirt. It's the stretchable type, you know one that you can sit in very 'unfeminine' way in it and it will not tear or go out of shape.

Farewell to my Office Wardrobe Series - Part 1

A very wearable top, simple and chic,well at least it looked chic in my old office a few years ago. This was my favourites top especially when I was in a hurry or didn't have the mood to choose a proper office outfit in one of those dull mornings. It goes well with a pair of smart casual pants or a tight or A-shaped skirt. I normally,almost all the time, matched it with a pair of brown pants. Oh yes! I loved to match these outfits with my pair of all-time favourite eye-catching blue diamantes ear-rings. I shall remind myself to upload a photo of these ear-rings,one of my favourites.

Disappointing manicure

Sometimes,it is better to leave the job to experts. The lady boss enthusiastically served me and passionately did my manicure. No complaints about the cutting and chipping of dead skin. When it came to the painting session, my doubts seemed proven.

They looked too thick on my nails, high probability of 'old' varnish. Well, I was quite sure of this as before I even left the salon, my thumb varnish got scratched accidentally by me.The expert manicurist quickly did a 'repainting' job and commented that would not have happened if she were to do the job for me. True enough, her skills are better.

Confirmed! My varnish started to peel off the next day, one by one. Fortunately, I didn't pay through my nose for this. I have to make sure I don't get served by the lady boss in my next visit.

Anyway, I realised the lady boss was hard-selling on her detergent products whilst doing my manicure. Everything happens for a reason.

The recommended hairstyle

This is the hairstyle recommended by my hairstyle, well, last year. It suits people with thin hair, especially on top. I was a little sceptical because it will definitely look 'flat' on my already 'sparse' crowning glory. But, what harm is it to try except for a couple of hundred ringgit lighter?

Aster Spring closing down its outlet

So, they finally close down its outlet at Mid-Point. Who wouldn't with the low human traffic in the shopping complex which seems to be losing its appeal, except for a couple of main tenant, one of which is Aster Spring?

That means a slightly further drive down the road to the nearest outlet. Negative point is of course, further drive. Plus point is a 'newer' group of beauty consultants (hope they are better) and probably cheaper parking charges. And, a chance to grab some groceries too.

Metamorphosis?

I just can't believe that those pieces of dead skin were mine.

"See, your skin", the manicurist enthused.

A little embarassed in the beginning because of my dry and chapped heels, I was very satisfied with her service in the end. One must be passionate to do this job. No joke. Who loves hugging strangers' heels while scraping off the stubborn and unsightly cracks and dead skin? Who loves going through each toe while trying to trim them as nice as possible?

After the session has ended, I felt really 'new' and 'clean'. I own a layer of 'new' and better looking skin. No need to be shy and try to hide my heels, at least for a while. The session wasn't expensive. For both manicure and pedicure, it costs less than RM60 and it's located at Ampang Point.

Too red at first

It kind of look too red for me. The hairstylist insists it looks nice on me. Well, I have to submit since my hair is in their hands. The colour will eventually change to a lighter brown, so I don't think I need to worry too much. I probably have to wait for 3 months to see the toned down colour.

I told my younger 'associates' I used a wrong coloured-shampoo one fine day and this is how my hair turned out to be. The hue on my hair definitely drew attention and comments from them. My response sort of convinced them that I choose to look 'red'.

To get VIP discount

Not too bad a deal if I can accumulate RM300 worth of spending in 3 months. Initially, I mistook that I have to spend it in one month and was rushing to have hairwashes. Since, I still have so many weeks and I probably need another RM100 or so, I don't think it's much of a problem to get a VIP discount card.

5% is not too big deal but if I need to spend approximately RM20 every 3 to 4 weeks, then the savings can be quite significant.

A good massage

This is the first time I have ever been massaged since my post-natal during my confinement period of my older son. It's been more than a decade!

I signed up this upper-back massage. A little too much strength was applied though. But, it all depends on the massager. Since this is just my 'first' experience, I will demand for something that suits me in my next visit.

But, I definitely dislike the hot blanket. It kind of 'burnt' my abdomen skin especially when I was lying on my 'folded' abdomen skin. Am I having too much of loose skin,or what? After the session, I was told that they can adjust the temperature of the blanket. So, next time I'll ask for a lower temperature one.

Getting worse

Now that I do more washing and rinsing, deep ugly cracks on my heels are more prominent. Wet slippers in the bathroom worsen the situation especially I am one of those who stay up late and frequenting the bathroom spells disaster to my heels. Some slippers tend to 'hold' water.

So, a wonderful product come into the market. What they call the 'waterproof' slippers. Not sure if it is just a marketing gimmick with such 'convincing' name. But, what I can see is the slippers have holes where water can drain away if it ever get onto the slipper.

Seems to be good news to my heels. Let's see how it goes.

How do you tell if your whitening products are effective?

Even if the freckles or pigments don't look less darker, do you still think you are using the right products?

My beautician told me that if they don't darken, at least they maintain their colour. So, the products are considered effective.

I'm not so sure but I would never go for more drastic treatment such as laser treatment.

To renew my membership

My membership is expiring. I was told that if I pay a certain amount of money I will be able to renew it and in addition, I'll be able to get service voucher equivalent to this amount. If I don't do anything, my membership shall be downgraded (to a lower one with less benefits).

Whenever I tell myself that I'm not going to spend a single dime at the salon, I will most of the time end up signing up for a programme and this means cash outflow, what else? Anyway, I have to replenish a few products, that's inevitable spending.

If you really do want to know the price, do drop a comment with your email address or better still email me.

Normal hair-conditioner won't do the job

I can't use normal hair-conditioner, my hairstylist advised me. Those available on the shelves will not do the job. With the texture of my hair, I need special hair-conditioner, those recommended by hairstylists and mostly not available widely.

So, this means burning a bigger hole in my pocket? Looks like it. Or, I'll just be extra careful when I use normal hair-conditioner so that it won't contact my scalp.

Can I do without hair-conditioner?

Of course not! Quipped my hairstylist. In fact, with my kind of hair, even a little hair-conditioner at the ends help a lot.

'It's obvious', she said, my hair looks dry with dry ends jutting out when I walked into the salon. Actually, I have stopped using hair-conditioner a few months ago. I thought this would help alleviate my oily scalp problem.

I have to heed her advice else my hair will look like hay.

All-in-one package for fresh locks

Hair highlight + trim + treatment, all these for RM168 (approximately USD49), not bad, right?

I wanted to just have my hair highlighted and a trim. The hairstylist recommended this package which includes hair treatment. Afterall, I had resisted any offer to have hair treatment for umpteen years, so I don't think it's sinful to give in this time. A normal hair treatment costs RM60 (hopefully my hairstylist is truthful as I've not done any treatment for the last, don't know how many, years).

So, for this amount of money, it's worth it. Of course, the most important is I love the result. Nice, freshly toned, soft locks.

Another way to prevent oily scalp

I have just learnt something new from my hairstylist. She said we should refrain from using warm or hot water to wash our hair. If possible, use cold water. Warm water will stimulate production of oil on our scalp especially those with oily scalp problem.

That's news to me. I never realise this. So, from today onwards, it's cold water to wash my hair.

When do we start using anti-aging products?

My beautician said we should start using anti-aging products when we reach 25 years of age. It this is the case, I had long broken this rule.

I didn't challenge her or ask her why do we need to start so young. She probably wanted to convince me to buy some anti-aging products...

Too much of facial treatment is bad

Is it true that too much of facial treatment actually thin the skin? If this is true, then this might explain why the sight of green veins on my face is becoming more and more obvious.

I remember my beautician told me that regular facial treatment cleansed the face off impuritants and make it clear. Hence, marks/stains or in my case the veins which were not clearly visible earlier will begin to be more obvious.

I don't mind if the above is true. Or else something may be very wrong if there is green stuff growing on my face!