Have you ever entered a Bath & Body Works store? Being in the store is akin to a kid in the candy store for me because I loveeeee exploring the numerous selection of products available. I get to slowly discover the fragrances, test the shower gels and hand soaps at the in-store sink, and try body lotions, candles and room sprays all in this fragrance playground!

I have a huge variety of Bath & Body Works products at home ranging from their candles, hand soaps, body lotions and shower gels. I've been an ardent fan of the brand for years and I can tell you off the top of my head what some of my favourite signature Bath & Body Works smells are.

1. Sweet Pea 

My no. 1 ultimate favourite fragrance from the store mainly because I am never tired of it. The shower gel and body lotion stay on the entire day and my hands smell of the beautiful Sweet Pea for a few hours after using the hand soap. My girlfriends are obsessed with this smell too - you really have to try it to believe it for yourself.

2. Japanese Cherry Blossom

What's not to love about sakura!! I love the ice-cream flavour (lol) and Bath & Body Works managed to create such a beautiful smell that is pleasant and light, which reminds me of the Japan sakura season! The scented candle in this fragrance is my top pick!

3. Moonlight Path

For a more muted and musky fragrance, I'd choose Moonlight Path. The smell is very light and barely there but it is so comfortable and intimate, H definitely didn't mind the smell!

Bath & Body Works hails from USA and it is America's #1 fragrance brand, with over 20 unique fragrances blended exclusively to fit your unique personality. Recently, I was introduced to a new smell - the Warm Vanilla Sugar. 

Everyone knows that vanilla smells awesome and this fragrance from their Holiday Traditions collection left me feeling warm and cozy over the festive season.

The amazing gift set comes with a body spray, shower gel, body lotion and body cream. Cream tends to be a little thicker than lotion so I'd always apply it on my body's drier areas such as my feet and elbows to give them more tender loving care ;)

Head over to the nearest Bath and Body Works Store for the most amazing deals in town and find the perfect gift!

Bath & Body Works is available at
- Takashimaya #B1-10/11
- Marina Bay Sands #B2-42

Follow their Facebook for the latest updates: https://www.facebook.com/bbwasiaaustralia

Festive Gifting: Coach Watches

“A good watch should possess all the attributes that make something a classic:
dependability, durability and design integrity. 
These are all things we consider when we think about a timepiece that bears the Coach name.”

Stuart Vevers, Executive Creative Director

It was only in recent years that I started to see watches as accessories. Before this, I lived with a $10 pair I got at Bugis Street because it was required for work. There was a lot of knocking and banging involved in an aircraft so I did not see the need to invest in a fancy pair and having to be careful around it. Slowly, I was wearing my work watch outside of work and it became a daily necessity. Only thing was, that pair of boring silver digital face watch was not exactly classy, stylish or complementing of my outfits. So I started shopping and looking around... And I'm proud to say I've now amassed quite a nifty watch collection with a variety of colours and style for different occasions.

The latest addition is this pair of rose gold(-plated) beauty from Coach - the Tristen watch. It is sporty looking, yet feminine and elegant with a hint of pink which I absolutely adore (rose gold is my favourite type of gold!). The Swarovski crystals accented bezel gives off a particular posh vibe, perfect for days when you are all dressed up and need some sparkles for your outfit.

We all need a pair of silver, classic watch for days when we have to be formal. Just like how you wouldn't wear crazy costume jewellery for a professional function, you wouldn't wear a bright yellow watch to meet an important client.

I picked out the delicate-looking Delancey watch from Coach due to its timeless design. The soft fluid bracelet complement the feminine look of this slender case design, I feel so dainty and ladylike wearing this! Also, silver on the wrist goes with everything.

I especially love men's sporty looking watches with brown leather straps. So it was love at first sight when I spotted the Bleecker Slim watch from Coach and I knew it was the ideal gift to get for H this Christmas. The navy coloured dial was a refreshing change from the usual monochromatic ones and I thought the 42mm case was the perfect size on H.

The above watches are from Coach FW15 Collection and are available for sale at Coach Boutiques and authorised retailers shop.

The History of Whoo Skincare

Gone are the days when I smack on matte skincare and makeup products for a matte flawless finish. These days, I try to achieve the dewy Korean look (which is not the same as looking oily okay!!) as it tends to make me look younger with super healthy looking skin. Other than using a BB Cushion as foundation, I found out that the secret to having the dewy look is actually in the skincare products.

A typical Korean lady follows a 10-step skincare routine DAILY. When I first heard it from Yoon Eun Hye's assistant earlier in May, I was appalled. That is A LOT of time spent on skincare, and I thought my 10-15 minutes routine was frightening enough. Anyhow, I'll be sharing about my 9-step daily skincare routine today!

The History of Whoo preventive ageing and hydrating skincare range + Bichup range I'm currently using.

When I was introduced to The History of Whoo's ("Whoo" for short) skincare range, I realised, the 9/10-step skincare routine is actually essential. Before I breakdown the steps to my skincare routine, I'd like to share with you the informative consultation I went through at the History of Whoo flagship counter at Tangs Orchard with Mannde.

Mannde brought me through the different product ranges Whoo carries and then we discuss about the problems my skin faces.

The History of Whoo is a relatively new skincare brand in Singapore. For the uninitiated, Whoo is a luxury skincare brand that fully embodies the Korean traditions. The concept of the brand revolves around providing self-care and self-regeneration beauty remedies for women using premium eastern medicinal herbal ingredients in their patented and signature herbal complexes that enable skin cell self-regeneration for powerful and effective anti-aging benefits.

One such complex is the Gongjinbidan (供辰秘丹) Complex, present in all The History of Whoo’s skincare and makeup products, is formulated by combining 6 different precious herbs; Siberian Deer Antler, Angelica Roots, Cornelian Cherries, Acanthopanax Root Bark, Asparagus Roots and Wild Thyme. Through modern technologies, The History of Whoo created a single complex that increases energy flow in the skin while balancing the Yin and Yang energy, improving every product’s efficacy while inducing self-regeneration by triggering skin cell activities.

And so, what we have today is a very traditional yet luxurious skincare line that contains ingredients adapted from royal court remedies that were used by empresses from the Eastern Royal Courts, and the products are, literally, fit for a Queen!

After we found the right skincare range for me, Mannde sat me down and we went through the products individually. The whole consultation took approximately 30 minutes.

So now, back to my daily 9-step skincare routine (2x each day)!

The first step is always cleansing. I always break that down into two steps: 1) removing makeup kinda cleansing and 2) washing your face kinda cleansing, or exfoliating, which happens once a week.

Then I'll normally move on to toning for my second step BUT for Whoo's skincare, it is a little different. Instead of toning, I am recommended to use the Bichup Soon Hwan Essence right after my face is thoroughly cleansed as it helps to prep the skin and enhances the skin’s ability to absorb nutrients from the next skin care products. 

The Soon Hwan Essence contains multiple herbal complexes that synergises each other to improve our internal Qi & Blood circulation. You cannot see it from the picture here but there are very tiny white beads in each pump that helps to maximise the skincare products efficacy AND reduce facial water retention.

The essence is actually very light, with very water-like texture when spread on the face. The recommended usage is 2-3 pumps and I found that 1.5 pumps work best for me.

Step 3: Toning
I'll drip a few drops of the Soo Yeon Balancer on my palm, then pat it all over my face for quicker absorption.

Also part of the Bichup range is the Bichup Ja Saeng Essence. This is Whoo's best-selling essence, and rightly so. What this essence does for the skin is powerful. Formulated with numerous herbal complexes, the main ingredient, the Plant Placenta, provides energy for skin to self-recognise individual skin concerns and activate the right skin cells for self-heal/repair.

How the Ja Saeng Essence works:

It is a 3-step self-regeneration essence. First, the plant placenta derivatives help the skin cells to identify skin concerns. Then, the Gongjibidan, Gyeongokbidan and Cheongsimbidan complexes activate cells for cellular repair via improvement of Qi & blood circulation, moisturizing and soothing functions. Lastly, the plant placenta will provide energy for the skin cell to conduct repair.

Our skin knows itself better than what we see on the exterior so I find the abilities/functions of the Ja Saeng Essence super amazing!!

The texture of the Ja Saeng Essence is a little thicker and more sticky so a pump is more than enough to go around my face. With oriental herbal medicine as its main ingredients for all of Whoo's products, the scent is surprisingly non-herbal. In fact, I couldn't even detect a teeny weeny bit of those Chinese medicine herbal smell that I'm used to. The scent is very refreshing, with hints of floral notes - just really pleasant smelling!

To achieve the best results (think glowing, dewy, hydrated skin), I would recommend using both the Soon Hwan Essence and Ja Saeng Essence together.

Step 5: 

Back to my complementing skincare range, the Camellia Moisturising Oil provides instant moisture for my skin - very much needed for my dry skin. However, I make sure to use it only once a day (instead of day and night) as my skin doesn't take well to products that are too rich.

The Camellia Moisturising Oil is THE secret to having the Korean dewy look! Just mix 1-2 drops of it with your foundation ;)

Step 6:

If you've noticed, this is the 3rd essence for my daily skincare routine. Layering of essence/serum is nothing new. Our skin has many needs (brightening, anti-aging, hydrating, etc) and if each essence provides different functions, I'd say, layer away with the essences/serums!

Part of the Gongjinhyang (preventive aging and hydrating) range, the Soo Yeon Essence supplies clear moisture to the skin and my skin feels hydrated for a long time. If I did not use the Camellia Moisturising Oil in the day, I would mix it with the Soo Yeon Essence at night and apply them together so I can save a step haha.

Step 7:

The Gongjinhyang Gi & Jin Eye Cream contains "Gongjinbidan" and Wild Ginseng which are excellent for removing wrinkles. The cream is thick so a little goes a long way.

Step 8:

It is either the day moisturiser or night cream in this step. I use the Soo Yeon night cream (gel texture) and I always wake up to hydrated and glowing skin the next day!

And of course, step 9 is either the sunscreen or sleeping mask (on alternate days).

The History of Whoo would like you to try out their star product - the Bichup Ja Saeng Essence!

Flash this blog post or my Instagram post at The History of Whoo’s flagship counter located at Orchard Tangs to redeem a complimentary Bichup Ja Saeng Essence Experience Kit from 18 Nov to 31 Dec 2015.

I hope you like the product as much as I do :)

And remember to stay updated with The History of Whoo's latest news and promotions at their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/thehistoryofwhoosingapore).

Guilt-Free Flavoured Sparkling Water from ICE MOUNTAIN

Don't you think that certain food tastes better with an accompanying cup of carbonated drink? I especially loveeeee my spicy food with a gassy drink BUT the moment right before ordering a carbonated beverage, the angel in me won (because health conscious) and before the devil could stop it, I blurt out "a bottle of water please". I used to down cans of Coke when I was ~younger~ but now that I'm in my late twenties, trying to be healthy is constantly on my mind. Especially since I'm not that active, I try to be more conscious about the food I ingest.

I'm pretty sure there are many of us out there who think the same soooo you'll be happy to know that ICE MOUNTAIN, the number 1 brand for bottled water has just launched a new flavoured sparkling water.



Life saviour! Not only does it come in two flavours - grapefruit and lemon, it is also one of the most affordable sparkling water available, at only $1.20 per bottle in supermarkets.

Personally, I love drinking my sparkling water with a slice of lemon for a hint of zest (and also because lemon + water are good for your body) so obviously the ICE MOUNTAIN lemon flavoured sparkling water is my favourite!

I always keep a few bottles chilled so I can get my craving for gassy drinks satisfied whenever I want it. This is my current favourite guilt-free carbonated drink as there's no need to add ice or anything extra to it and it's still as great tasting.

If you prefer something sweeter, the grapefruit flavoured sparkling water is a good alternative to carbonated soft drinks without any added sugar, colouring or artificial sweeteners. It is infused with a hint of fruity flavour and is definitely more exciting than the usual plain (sparkling) water. This certainly keeps my craving for soft drinks at bay ;)

Have I also mentioned? The ICE MOUNTAIN Sparkling Water in both flavours contain ZERO CALORIES unlike most soft drinks which are high in calories and sugar!

So drink up to your heart's content without worrying about additional weight gain or the health issues that will come with soft drinks!

Feels super good and refreshing to be having it in this humidity!

To stay updated with ICE MOUNTAIN's latest news and be informed about their newest promotions, head over to their Facebook page: www.facebook.com/icemountainsparklingwatersg.

To Better Skin with Caring Skin

I have been going to Caring Skin for my monthly facials for a year now. When I first went down for a trial session at their outlet in International Building, I did not bring any expectations along. I haven't gone for a facial in more than 6 months then, I knew my skin must be in a terrible state and I was looking for any sort of salvation.

Skin analysis machine at Caring Skin

What I didn't know was that, my skin is severely dehydrated until I had a detailed check on my skin with the machine above on my first visit. The outer layer of skin was dry and flaky due to the lack of sebum. My skin is naturally thin which means wrinkles will be formed easily if I don't bring the sebum level up. The horrors of what ageing does to you!!

It was truly a wakeup call for me after I saw the results.

Taken a year ago before my trial session at Caring Skin (it was renamed shortly after)

Taken in June 2015

The main difference between Caring Skin and other beauty spas is that, you never know what facial treatments you will be doing on the day of your appointment until the aesthetician has done a thorough check on your cleansed skin. Having personalised treatments will better target the problems your skin is going through that month. Whatever your skin is lacking of - moisture? collagen? elasticity? etc, Caring Skin provides the solution in the form of facial treatment during that session. This way, you can expect your skin to always be well-fed and in tiptop condition.

This picture was taken right before my first session at Caring Skin I'm not sure if you can tell but my skin was looking a little dry, rough and was extremely dull-looking.

Also with makeup on, this was taken in August 2015 while waiting for my pampering session to start. My complexion looks smoother, definitely healthier, more supple and emits that little bit of glow! I honestly have no idea how much my skin has improved IF I weren't looking back on pictures to do this post.

Okay, maybe makeup did the trick in the previous picture. Here's my naked skin after cleansing and I promise, no editing was done to the above photos. To say I am surprised by the change is an understatement. Caring Skin practically revived my (almost dead) skin!

One of the treatments that has improved my skin is the MatriCol Refiner Treatment. It is Caring Skin’s best collagen facial, where a facial peel and collagen is combined to renew your skin cells. Using a carefully chosen acid suitable for your skin and Gluconolatone as its main active ingredient, even the most sensitive skin can undergo this treatment to achieve improved radiance and brighter skin. To top it off, one of the best collagens used in the aesthetic field will be applied before the end of the treatment, slowing down premature aging and tightening of skin.

The main reason why I stayed on with Caring Skin is because I trust the brand. I can feel that Subrina (Founder of Caring Skin) genuinely cares for her customers and wants them to feel comfortable and beautiful in their naked skin. She strongly believes in NO hard-selling and only uses products with natural ingredients. The products used in Caring Skin are from Laboratoire Dr Renaud (http://ldrenaud.com) by the way! And of course, I stayed on because I see improvements in my complexion. Now, I'm gonna be concentrating on my under eye dark circles and Caring Skin uses "gua sha" 刮痧 so let's hope I'll see results in a couple of months!

It's been a year since my skin analysis test so I think I wanna go through the test again to see if my skin really improved that much. I'll definitely keep you guys updated!

Special Promotion

Mention my name "Jessica" when you make your appointment with Caring Skin to enjoy the first trial of the MatriCol Refiner Treatment at $98 (U.P. $298) and eye-treatment during off-peak hours (11am-5pm) at $68!

Caring Skin

360 Orchard Road,
#07-07A International Building
Singapore (238869)
Contact no: (65) 6737 7797

For more information, head over to their Website, Instagram and Facebook.
Let's work towards better skin together! :)

Beauty Review: Lancôme Advanced Genifique

Sponsored Post

Have you ever wondered what makes a woman feel beautiful? Or what makes you feel beautiful? I have. For me, it is when I feel good about myself, exuding confidence from within, and having that glow on my skin. I believe every woman aspires to have youthful skin and possibly remain forever 21. My complexion at 21 was my skin's prime - it was smooth and firm, clear, radiant and supple with no fine lines. I simply love that youthful aura and I want it back! Don't you?

I am in my late twenties now and I have learnt - time waits for no man. Now, I have to rely on makeup to get back that radiant glow which I was spotted with some n years ago just because I was young.

Thankfully, I found the Lancôme Advanced Genifique range because its sole purpose is to make you and me look physically younger than yesterday!

The Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate is a Youth Activator that has scientifically proven its effectiveness in repairing and activating 10 visual and tactile signs of youth which are fine lines, coarse wrinkles, radiance, clarity, evenness, texture, resilience, tonicity, firmness and sageness.

It is the most essential step of my skincare regime now as the Advanced Genifique targets every existing problem I have that comes with ageing. This is the first product I apply on my face as it boosts the efficacy of any other skincare products I apply after, by up to 3 times! 

Another aspect I like about the Advanced Genifique is the design of the bottle. With one twist, the dropper is loaded with the optimal amount of concentrate for application - extremely clever and convenient! I never have to gauge the amount of concentrate to pump again.

With its light watery texture, the concentrate is quickly absorbed into my skin, prepping it for my next skincare step. After using the Advanced Genifique for 2 weeks now, my complexion is visibly radiant, clear and rejuvenated!

It is an awesome time to try the Lancôme Advanced Genifique Youth Activating Concentrate for yourself now because the 30ml concentrate is retailing at a promotional price of $98 (U.P. $130) now till 31st August 2015 (while stocks last)!

You'd know I place a lot of emphasis on my eyes as fine lines have started forming a couple of years ago and I'm doing all I can not to worsen it. The bendable metal applicator of the Advanced Genifique Yeux Light Pearl was cooling on the skin and when I massage my eye contour in a up-down movement, it helps to smoothen wrinkles. Coupled with the rich and hydrating Advanced Genifique Yeux, I notice firmer skin around my eye area after a week. Hopefully with more consistent use and many bottles later, the areas around my eyes would start looking younger than yesterday like what the Advanced Genifique did for me!

WIN A BOTTLE OF ADVANCED GENIFIQUE:
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To find out more on the Lancôme Advanced Genifique range, check out http://www.lancomesg.com/advanced-genifique