For those that have met me in person, you will know that I am rarely seen baring my legs.   Not even a dress code on a hot day will deter me, and I cover my legs up 99% of the time with leggings, tights or pants.  The reason?  Nature and genetics have “blessed” me with sensitive skin that doesn’t like to be shaved, and any hair removal or regrowth sets off dermatitis that leaves scarring.  I’m also “blessed” with thick dark hair on my legs, so much that they are visible even after shaving.

Over the years I’ve resorted to epilation, but the trouble is that this method causes my hair to grow at it’s own pace – which in my case, is less than 2 weeks for some parts and 4 weeks for other parts of my leg.   Effectively this means I need epilate every 10 days to constantly keep up with it all.

Last winter, I began my mission to get my scarred legs back to they once were.  My mission started with the trial of E-One, the first epilator designed for home use that uses professional IPL technology, designed by Dr Yves-Vincent Brottier, a French expert in hair removal technologies.    For more information about E-One, visit their website which contains in depth information about how it works, user testimonials and the benefits of IPL over laser treatments.

For someone that had no prior experience with laser hair removal, I was nervous to say the least, but my fears were overcome by how easy it was to use & how minimal the pain was.

Pros:

• Easy to use.  Mark your legs with white pencil into ‘zones’, apply each zone with gel, and put on the safety glasses.  Once the machine is charged, the device will beep and you can start zapping the gel area.  It took me around 20 minutes for just the front of the legs.
• Minimal Pain. I tried the lowest and highest intensities, and both felt similar.  The pain level is as minimal as a rubber band flicking on your skin.  Having said that, some sensitive areas (eg. inner calves) felt more painful than other parts.
• User friendly, with customised settings to adjust the intensity based on your hair type, hair length and gender.
• Cost effective, especially if you regularly visit a salon for waxing or professional laser hair removal.
• Medically certified & safe to use on any part of the bodies, with few exceptions like tattoos and dark areas.
• Convenience & privacy.  Great for those who are time-poor, prefer the privacy of their own home, and are looking to save money from salon services.
• Compact: The device is roughly the same size as a back pack.

Cons:

• Requires assistance with hard to reach places (eg. back of the thighs), and both users require goggles.
• The delay between each light emission is minimal (approx 5 seconds), but when added up it becomes time consuming.
• Requires a well ventilated room.  The device emits hot hair, and by the time I’m done with both legs my room feels hot and stuffy.
• The safety glasses do not sit well over my glasses.   Since I don’t wear contacts, I had to close my eyes for peace of mind.
• Only suitable for those with fair skin and dark hair.

Results

• Hair fallout: After each session, I did not experience hair “falling out”, nor did I have the patience to wait for it to fall out by itself.  I tweezed a few hairs and it removed so easily without pain that I chose to epilate immediately after each E-One session.  Epilation felt totally painless & the hairs removed seamlessly without breakage.
• Reduced hair growth:  After just 4 sessions, only 30% of my leg hair grew back, and at a much slower rate and much more sparse.  Unfortunately my trial period ended, but I’m confident additional sessions would have achieved better results.
• Reduced hair thickness: The other impressive result was the significantly reduced hair thickness – to the point that I had to look intensely to find them.  My hair has never thinned from waxing or epilation (another “blessing”), so you can imagine how glad I was at this result!
• According to the E-One website, after 10-12 treatments, only 1 or 2 uses per year should be required to keep skin hair free.

E-One costs $2,495 AUD, and includes a complete pack of accessories which are detailed here.There is currently an exclusive offer until February 14 which features:

• Duo Pack includes extra: safety glasses, gel, spray, patches, guide plates & pencil.
• 6 month money back guarantee
• 2 year manufacturers warranty
• 5 x $499 installments

Stay tuned for Part 2 of this post next week!

The E-One device was offered for trial for consideration.

If you still haven’t decided on which lipstick to celebrate Valentines’ Day, here are my top 5 picks that make lips look seductive yet are incredibly low maintenance.  Why low maintenance? Because one really shouldn’t be interrupting a romantic dinner, checking up on the status of your lipstick every 48 seconds.  Ditch lipgloss (not kiss-friendly) for this special occasion and indulge yourself in one of these lipsticks this Valentines’ Day.

• Matte Velvet - CHANEL Rouge Allure Velvet is matte yet non-drying, pigmented yet buildable.  Incredibly comfortable without accentuating lip lines.  Although it is versatile enough to be worn both sheer and bold, a lightweight stain is not only lower maintenance but also more kissable and you’ll waste less of it on a napkin (or on your date’s face).  Matte textures look best on bold reds, fuchsias and bold corals.

• Diamond Shine – For a juicy coral high shine finish, you can’t go past MAYBELLINE Colour Sensational Lipcolour in “Mango Diamonds”.  Moisturising, high in shine and shimmer.  Although you won’t need a separate lip balm, pop this over a layer of Maybelline Baby Lips Lip Balm and it’ll look even juicier that you might just get bitten.

• Glossy / Bitten Stain – Slick in application and high in shine, YSL Rouge Pur Couture Glossy Stain is a long lasting stain that will fade gracefuly into a stain after a meal.  You’re spoilt for choice with 19 shades with everything from reds, corals, nudes, pinks, to mauves and violets.

• Juicy Shine – If the thought of bold lips is too much to bear, DIOR Addict Lipsticks are incredibly sheer, lightweight with tinted popsicle colours.  It’s also quite smoothing and moisturising on its own & has a slight plumping effect that you won’t need a separate lip balm.   Looks bright in the tube, but trust me – it goes on very sheer.

• Luminous Veil – Some guys find veil-like translucent lip shades more alluring, especially when paired with smokey eyes (eg. smokey chocolate).  Seduce him with a luminous lip veil such as BURBERRY Lip Mist Natural Sheer Lipstick, which has a lightweight smooth finish that dresses lips with a moist dewy veil.  The models in the Burberry campaign apparently use shade #2 Copper, but my favourite shade is #9 Feather Pink.

For the first time in my life, I am finally able to confidently proclaim that I have good skin!   My skin is more evenly toned than ever before that I am brave enough to avoid foundation, my pores are clear without needing a daily dose of Clarisonic, and my skin so luminous that even the sheerest of BB creams makes my skin look “made up”.

Further to my previous post on “How to achieve skin so radiant it’s a shame to cover it up“, so many of you were eager to know MORE (as though I was holding back) about how I managed to over haul my problematic skin into flawless skin, that inspired me to write up this post.

The tips I have for you today are the labour of trial and error (lots of it), research (from trusted fellow beauty bloggers), determination (there’s nothing more motivating than prepping for wedding), and adapted for my normal/dry skin type.   Achieving flawless skin does not happen overnight and in my case it took 2 years.   If I had known what I know today, I’m sure it wouldn’t have taken quite as long as 2 years, but I guess that’s the “beauty” of hindsight.

1. Start with a clean & clear complexion

Before addressing all other skin issues, the most important step is to start with a clean & clear complexion.   By eliminating breakouts caused by build-up & bacteria, you’ll be able to see your skin for what it really is & determine which targeted treatment to proceed with next.  Skin that’s clear and regularly exfoliated maximises the absorption of other treatments.  When your skin is in distress, it can be difficult to determine the source of breakouts & you may mistakenly blame it on the wrong product.

• Daily gentle exfoliation:  I start my morning with a non-foaming enzyme cleanser  (eg. Trilogy Age Proof Active Enzyme Cleansing Cream  ($39.95 AUD / 150ml) or Pod Liquid Detox ($60 AUD / 150ml) which gently breaks down dead skin cells and and brightens skin.   Twice a week, I’ll use Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant ($83.50 AUD / 50ml) which micro-exfoliates and brightens skin.  I find that daily gentle exfoliation has proven more beneficial for my skin in that it also reduces redness & prevents dehydration.

• Deep cleansing is as much about double cleansing, as it is about regular deep cleansing.  If your skin is oily or prone to being clogged up, use a clarifying toner (eg. Clinique Clarifying Lotion) and purifying masks to keep pores clean.  Now that my skin type is dry, I treat my skin weekly with Alpha-H Liquid Gold Smoothing and Perfecting Mask ($ 63 AUD / 100ml), a fast acting multi-tasking mask that contains 15% Glycolic acid for deep exfoliation, but also hydrates and skin instantly feels clear, radiant and plump.  Every 2 weeks, I’ll pause the glycolic acid mask & alternate with Clarisonic, using the sensitive brush combined with a finely grained scrub for a deep cleanse, especially on days after I’ve used foundation.
  

• Less is more with base makeup.  It’s easy to get addicted to covering your flaws with heavy coverage makeup.  The irony is that the path to clear skin is to wear less of it.   The less foundation you wear, the easier it is to keep your pores clear, and you’ll get fewer breakouts caused by clogged skin.  It’s sounds so simple & yet most of us are afraid to take the plunge away from foundation.

2. Give your skin a chance to be flawless & listen to your skin

There is nothing more frustrating when people ask me for tips on flawless skin, but refuse to wash their makeup brushes or even use a cleanser.  Your skin won’t stand a chance of becoming flawless if you’re inflicting bacteria onto your skin.   I’m fortunate to not suffer from severe hormonal acne, and these simple lifestyle changes have worked for me.

• Know which foods cause your skin to breakout. For me it’s excess sugar, spicy food and highly processed food (eg. instant noodles).  If I get a breakout after eating these foods, I blame myself and avoid those foods until my skin recovers.

• Go to bed with clean hair & change your pillow case regularly.  Think about it – your skin is not going to be happy nesting on a pillow that is contaminated with a build up of dust and pollutants that have transferred from your hair to your pillow & ultimately your face.  Not to mention saliva build up.

• Drink plenty of water.  My skin doesn’t look its best if I get slack with drinking water. Dehydration lines emerge & my skin doesn’t look as radiant.  Thankfully I don’t mind the taste of plain water & on most days I manage to get through 8 glasses a day.  If you’re the type that loves to procrastinate at work, use that moment as a reminder to pour yourself a glass of water.

• Keep your hands clean & away from your face.  Wash your hands before applying skincare or makeup, and avoid leaning your face / chin on your hands that have been contaminated with bacteria from your keyboard. 
  

3. Nip your breakouts at the bud

• Prevention is more effective than cure when it comes to breakouts.  At the first signs of a breakout, I followed Go Hyung-Jung’s advice to wash my face with salt water.   In just 2 days they disappeared without kicking a fuss.

• Salicylic acid should be applied not only on the pimple, but the entire affected area as well – a tip I learned from Wayne Goss from Gossmakeupartist.   I apply it even when I’ve washed the area with salt water, and also after removing blackheads from my T-zone area.  I use Naruko’s Tea Tree Oil Out Targeted Acne Treatment.

• Mario Badescu’s Drying Lotion also works really well in drying up broken pimples, particularly large & nasty angry ones.  But I haven’t needed to use mine for months, now that my breakouts disappear with just salt water and salicylic acid.

4. Invest in high performing brightening skincare

It’s not everyday I am totally blown away by a brightening skincare range.  But Dermalogica’s ChromaWhite TRX Pure Night ($142 AUD / 50ml) – a lightweight night cream, and ChromaWhite TRx C-12 Concentrate ($165 AUD / 30 ml) – a brightening serum, have truly taken my skin to another level of clarity.  Acne scars fade AMAZINGLY FAST & my skin looks milky, bright and evenly toned – something I never thought I’d be able to have without undergoing professional treatment.  When I took a break to try brightening products from other brands, my skin lacked the same radiance and needless to say, it didn’t take long for me to switch back to Dermalogica again.

* * *

So there you have it!
I hope this helps you on your quest for flawless skin.
I’d love to know which miracle products & skincare tips that worked for you!

Maybelline is celebrating its association with New York Fashion Week with a limited edition NYFW Baby Lips Lip Balm for the month of February.  Baby Lips is one of my favourite stick lip balms, with its on-trend packaging, moisturising sheen, SPF20 and less than the cost of an extra tall latte.  The limited edition lip balm features a delicious berry scent.

There are 10,000 Baby Lips up for grabs! Here’s how to enter:

• Visit facebook.com/MaybellineAU and register your details
• Between 9-16th February, follow the clues on Facebook to find the treasures hidden within Maybelline’s exclusive Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week NY coverage.
• If you’re fast enough, you’ll receive your free Limited Edition Baby Lips.

Happy 2012!

To kick off the new year, here’s a very special treat that mum and I prepared over the Christmas break.

Go Hyun-Jung, a Korean actress best known for her luminous and youthful skin, published her skincare secrets in a “beauty documentary” titled “Go Hyun-Jung’s Texture” in 2011, the same year she turned 40.  The book (a bestseller that sold out in just two days of its launch), covers Go’s beauty philosophy as well as her tips for leading a healthy lifestyle. The beauty tips in this book written in Korean, have been translated and summarized into this post together by me and my mum over Christmas.

Go’s beauty tips affirm my philosophy that beauty is as much about rituals as it is about specific products and brands.  So many people ask me for “miracle” product recommendations and are surprised (almost disappointed) when my response is that cleansing and exfoliating are the foundations of clear skin.

I hope you find these beauty tips helpful in your quest for clear skin!

* * *

1. Know Your Skin Type & Treat Your Skin from the Inside Out

• If you are prone to problem skin, keep a food diary and observe the effect different foods have on your skin.
• Go avoids salty and spicy foods to keep her skin clear, and alternates her diet with plain / bland food to re-calibrate her skin from the inside.
• Interestingly, she does not stick by the “8 glasses of water per day” rule.   She simply encourages “following your thirst” and drink when you feel you need to do so.
• Her favourite beauty foods are raw salads, fresh apple / blueberry/ carrot juice, grapefruit tea (which suppresses her appetite & keeps her regular), honey, and she takes organic Vitamin B and C.

2. Cleansing is the Key to Clear Skin

• Wash your hands before applying any makeup or skincare.  Also try to avoid touching your face except when cleansing or applying makeup
• When washing your face, mix foaming cleanser with warm water and work up a foam the size of an egg. Start from behind the ears and the jawline, and once the cleanser is warmed up, move towards the centre of your face.
• It takes her 15 minutes to cleanse her face, partly because her skin has very fine hairs (like peach fuzz).
• To treat skin breakouts naturally, wash affected areas with salt and lukewarm water to sanitize the area and prevent the breakouts from getting worse.
  

3. Skincare Commandments

• Whilst she cleanses her face from the jawline moving to the centre, she applies skincare (Eg. serums, toner) from the centre and outwards.
• For neck cream, she starts from beside the jawline down to the decolletage in an outward ‘C shape’ motion.  (Imagine yourself applying neck cream in the shape of the Chanel double ‘C’ logo)
• Apply skincare once it is warmed up in your hands, and press both palms onto your face to improve absorption of all the skincare layers.
• She discards skincare after 2 months of use for hygiene reasons – a steep contrast to the 12 months we’re usually told by other beauty experts.
• Hand cream should be applied up to the elbows, and neck cream all the way down to your decolletage.
• It takes her 20 minutes to apply body lotion, leaving no areas un-moisturised.
• Apply toner with your hands, not cotton pads to reduce redness.
• She has a two step facial mask routine, starting off with a cleansing mask followed by a nourishing mask.

Go Hyun-Jung at her book launch in 2011

4. Makeup Philosophy

• Go prefers using her fingers to apply foundation.  Unless the sponge is brand new or the brush is fresh and clean, she avoids using them for hygiene reasons.
• Brows: Her philosophy on makeup is centered on beautifully shaped brows.  She believes that an hour spent at a brow bar pays off for an entire month, compared to a professional makeup artist where makeup only lasts for moments.
• Primer: Before applying base makeup, she applies a generous amount of hydrating cream to avoid looking tired by the afternoon.
  
• Foundation: The secret to natural looking skin is not to apply foundation all over the face.  She applies foundation only on the shadows of the face (under the eyes, under the cheek) and keeps the high points of the face sheer.  Avoid foundation around the nose to prevent caking.   Even when filming, apparently she never has a full face of foundation.
• Lips: Her typical lip routine starts with BB cream & lip balm in the morning, followed by lipgloss in the afternoon and lipstick/liner in the evening.
• Sunscreen:  Apply a matte sunscreen on your forehead and nose, and a dewy formula on cheeks and other dry areas.
• Contouring: Using 2 different shades of foundation, a sheer application on the high points of the face, and using both matte/dewy formulas not only contours the face but also creates natural highlights without the need for a separate highlighter.
• Eyes: For natural looking eyes, use only eyeliner and mascara, and matte powder under the eyes to prevent smudging.
• Blush: She doesn’t apply blush!

5. The Bathroom is Her Sanctuary

• Go apparently spends more time in her bathroom than any other room in her house, including daily home spas with drops of essential oil.
• In addition to that, she soaks her hands and feet in warm water with half teaspoon of salt to relax and relieve tired hands and feet.  She also likes to use grapefruit oil to massage her calves.
• Drink a cup of tea or water before having a bath to prevent dehydration.
• To reduce puffiness in the face, soak a face towel in ice water and cover your face with it after twisting it dry.
• She applies body oil after body lotion & applies it from the legs and moves upwards.
• As for hair, she finishes off with a cold water rinse, lets her hair dry naturally if she’s staying indoors & ties her hair back in different positions to prevent hair loss in concentrated areas.

6. Include Facial Stretching in Your Exercise Routine

•  Go’s exercise routine not only involves stretching her body but also her facial muscles.
• The most effective way to do facial stretching is to coordinate it with your breathing.  Expand your facial muscles  & jaw on the exhale, then when inhaling, contract all facial muscles including your eyes, nose and cheeks.
• Although she believes that laughter is the best exercise for the face, she also exercises her lip and cheek muscles by pronouncing  “Ma Me Mi Mo Mu” 10 times – much like the phrase used in singing exercises.  This is apparently common practice among most Korean actors.

7. The Miracle Angle

The best angle for photographs is 45 degrees above your face. But if the camera is directly in front of you, then tilt your face 30-45 degrees with your “good side” facing the camera.  This ensures your neckline and jawline is emphasized and creates the appearance of a slimmer face.

 * * *

Sources: Yonhap News, Drama Beans, Hanbooks.com

I purchased this book from HanBooks.com