Category: INSIDER’S GUIDE

Postpartum Glow-How: How To Get Glowing Skin After Pregnancy

The pregnancy glow may be real, but this only lasts at most 9 months. Losing the glow is almost certain after giving birth, not only because the pregnancy hormones are no longer there to keep your skin rosy-looking, but also, other problems such as acne and pigmentation are also unmasked. So what are the common problems new mothers face after pregnancy, and what can you do to keep your skin looking clear and dewy? We spoke to Dr Michelle Lim from the SW1 Clinic, a mother of 2 herself, who gave a talk to over 200 expectant mothers earlier this year at the Super Mom Birth And Baby Seminar.   Problem 1: Acne and acne scars Some women have clear skin, until they have babies! If you have active acne, Dr Michelle recommends seeing a doctor quickly to clear them. Acne, especially the cystic ones, tend to scar. Some doctors will give antibiotics or stronger acne medication such as Roaccutane, but the latter especially, while very effective for cystic acne, Continue Reading

5 Sunscreen Myths We Want You To Stop Believing

It is summer now and you can’t wait to get out in the sun. Or you live somewhere in the tropical climate and live in fear of pigmentation? If you were just like me and have problems finding the right sunscreen (there are so many choices, I know!), here are 5 sunscreen myths we have debunked which will help you get smarter when you purchase your next sunscreen. Tip: It is not always about buying the most expensive ones!   Myth 1. Physical sunscreens clog up your pores and cause acne For those who don’t know, physical sunscreens are also known as mineral sunscreens, because they contain mineral ingredients titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. These work not by being absorbed into the skin (i.e. chemical sunscreens do that), but by forming a barrier on top of skin and deflecting damaging UV rays away from the skin. Contrary to popular belief, physical blockers are less likely to clog up skin and cause acne – silicones and mineral oils do. These tend Continue Reading

10 Things You Should Know Before Getting a Boob Job

SKIN spoke to one of the top breast plastic surgeons in Singapore, Dr Tan Ying Chien, for insider tips on what you should know before getting a breast augmentation.   In Nature, boobs are tear drop shaped. It makes perfect sense that enhanced breasts should mimic that for natural-looking results. The newer tear drop (or “anatomical”) silicone implants are especially good news for majority of Asian women who tend to have thinner chest walls, as traditional round implants have a higher likelihood to show at the edges, on top of looking like round char siew buns artificially stuck onto the chest. Moreover, the ability to customise both the height and projection for tear drop implants allows the surgeon greater flexibility to optimise results for every individual, and to correct pre-existing unequal breasts better.   The doctor may throw you a curveball. There’s much more to it than just size. Your new beautiful bosom buddies should be in proportion to the rest of body, have the ideal shape and curves from all angles, and Continue Reading

How Fillers Can Give An Unnatural Look

A mild facelift effect is now possible without having to go under the knife, thanks to the invention of dermal fillers. Usually made up of hyaluronic acid, a natural compound found in our own body, fillers have become quick fixes for restoring volume due to fat or bony loss, and erasing fine lines and wrinkles due to aging. Younger people who are not satisfied with the way they look are also turning to fillers first rather than surgery to improve certain less-than-perfect features, such as adding height to a flat nose bridge, augmenting a weak chin, filling up sunken undereye hollows or thin lips. Some dermal fillers can even be injected superficially into skin, to improve hydration for the smooth, dewy look. But things can go wrong when correction becomes overzealous, or if the wrong filler was used in the wrong area. In this article, we speak to Dr Michelle Lim from The SW1 Clinic, and give you the inside scoop on major filler no-go’s to help you navigate through Continue Reading

What Alcohol Really Does To Your Skin

We all love a little tipple every now and then. Whether it’s meeting up with your girlfriends for a good cocktail after work, enjoying a drink with an evening meal or having a glass of wine at home to unwind after a busy day, modern women are consuming more alcohol than ever. Most of us are aware about the effect an extra glass of wine has on our waistline, but how many of us ever considered what effect it’s having on our skin? So can drinking alcohol really speed up the clock? Well, the truth is yes, it can make you age faster by causing premature wrinkles, dehydration and loss of collagen. So put down the glass of wine and learn how booze wrecks your skin.   Puffer Flusher Alcohol works as a vasodilator when it is metabolised. It simply means that it widens the blood vessels that bring blood to the skin. This can lead to redness as well as puffiness or swelling. When one consume a lot of Continue Reading