Author: Megan Thomas

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How Ampoules “Amp” Up Your Skin

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Ampoules – small little glass vials of skincare. What are they? If you are using an essence and serum(s), should you also use an ampoule? We think you should! Here’s why these skin booster vials deserve a shot. AMPOULES OR SERUMS? First up, they sound terribly similar, so why should we use both? Ampoules are actually quite different from serums. In order to understand why you should use an ampoule, you need to know about layering skincare. While the 10-step Korean skincare routine might be a little bit of an overkill, having a parred down layering routine such as a 6-step routine is actually quite manageable, even in our hot and humid weather. A common routine would be: Cleanse > Tone > Essence > Ampoule > Serum > Moisturiser. A skincare essence is usually lighter than an ampoule or serum, but it can be slightly thicker than a toner. These are preps for the steps after, and can also be formulated with active ingredients, such as Unicorn Tears. After applying Continue Reading

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You Might Not Know This, But Your Hair Is Aging

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The instant I noticed my first grey hair was a sort of milestone for me. I did not think much of it, yanking its root off my scalp. Then I discovered more and more new ones over months. Everyone ages. Whether we choose to camouflage these signs of aging is up to ourselves, but there is no denying that like wrinkles or a sagging jawline, our hair also inevitably ages. Apart from going gray (because cells stop producing pigment), if you notice a thinning ponytail, or more hair in the comb, your hair is probably thinning. While it is normal to lose up to 100 strands of hair daily, hair loss can present quite visibly on the scalp, with certain patterns of hair loss. Hair miniaturization occurs – hair follicles become smaller and the resulting hair becomes more fine so much so that it can barely be seen. In women, female pattern hair loss usually presents as a general thinning of hair , usually first noticed at the hair parting Continue Reading

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Do You Know Your Botox Facts?

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Botox is the famous anti-wrinkle treatment, but how much do you know about it? MYTH: There is only 1 type of “Botox” Fact: Many people use the term “botox” for the treatment, but did you know that Botox is a brand name? Just like how Band-Aid has become a household name, people have come to associate all adhesive bandages as the same, but there are actually different brands. Dysport and Xeomin are other brand names of botulinum toxin that is used like Botox to improve the appearance of wrinkles. Each brand has its own characteristics, so your doctor will usually choose the most suitable brand for your concerns. The most important take-home message here is, get the real thing injected, and not some scary, non FDA-approved knock-off.   MYTH: Botox is only for wrinkles Fact: This is a big, fat no-no-no. Apart from wrinkles, Botox (cosmetic) is also FDA-approved for primary axillary hyperhydrosis (Botox hyperhydrosis), a term for excessive sweating of the underarms. Cosmetic doctors have long been using Botox Continue Reading

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Youth Preserve – The New Age Filler To Have

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If you haven’t heard, Youth Preserve is a new hyaluronic acid injectable in the market. You can have this injected even if you have sufficient volume in your face and it won’t make you look bigger or more puffy. Before we continue (it’s confusing, we know), it’s useful to know that there are two main types of fillers – volumizing fillers and skinboosters. The former is designed to replace lost volume and is usually injected deeper. These fillers can also be used to sculpt or enhance bony structures of the face, such as the nose, or the chin. These fillers have variable hardness and last duration once injected. Skinboosters involve multiple tiny injections of a very soft, watery hyaluronic acid filler superficially into the skin. The primary use of skinboosters is to hydrate and improve skin elasticity. Youth Preserve is actually Profhilo. It is definitely not Botox, and strictly speaking, Profhilo is not a filler nor a skinbooster. It is made of hyaluronic acid, but it has the highest concentration Continue Reading

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Bye Bye Baby Body

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The “mom bod” can be loved and embraced, such as this beautiful photo shared by Hilary Duff.   After three quarters of a year of housing a little human, all mothers inevitably show some degree of battle scars for it. For the body, these changes are most commonly seen around the tummy, breasts and skin. Some women are perfectly happy with their new bodies, some are not but only need a drastic new hairstyle to feel like they have reclaimed control. But for those who want more and would like to look into treatments to make their body rehab a little easier, here are some tips on how you can do it.   TUMMY POOCH AND LOOSE SKIN Many mothers notice that their tummies post-partum are less tight, no matter how much abdominal crunches they do. During pregnancy, the abdominal muscles are stretched to accommodate the growing baby, separating in some women (a condition known as diastasis recti). In some severe cases, women can still look pregnant long after their Continue Reading