I love how Olay Project 360 makes understanding of these concepts so simple and easy. They illustrate it with everyday items and in the Hydration episode of Project 360 you’ll see how food is used to demonstrate the importance of hydration. On top of that, Singapore’s own top food blogger Dr Leslie Tay shares tips on the types of food for great skin!

Once your skin is well hydrated, you’ll generally find that it’s elastic, bouncy and firm just like a muscle. So not only does exercise keep you fit, it also has additional benefits for your skin! Additional blood circulation is always good.

Thus, to fully help the us girls in Olay Project 360 transform our skin, we work out with a simple exercise device you can bring on the go to improve our flexibility and elasticity. There’s also a surprise challenge but I think the real surprise was Jason the cute fitness trainer! Haha!

You’ve seen what’s inside my make up case and by now you might have already realised that I have all sorts of make up and beauty products inside my make up case. I practically live off my make up case when travelling or at a photoshoot and I absolutely cannot do without my basic make up essentials. You should already know these by heart: foundation, blusher, eyeliner, waterproof mascara and lipstick. But if there’s another basic make up essential you need to have in your basic make up kit, it’s make up remover.

Removing makeup is an essential part of the basic skin care routine. I know how it’s like coming home from a late night out and wanting to head straight to bed. But you know the rules for good skin: never sleep with your make up on. But when you’re pressed for time, the make up removal process can feel difficult and tedious. However, with Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets, I find that make up removal has never been easier. I always keep a packet of these Biore make up removal sheets in my make up bag, just in case I want to quickly remove make up after a long day of living in heavy foundation.

Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets come in 3 sizes – regular tub, refill and a handy pack. A high-performance, yet light and smooth cleansing oil, is present in each moist cotton sheet. It is this unique cleansing oil that removes make up efficiently and makes them different from other make up wipes. It’s so easy to use, you dont need a tutorial on how to remove make up with the Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets.

From eyeshadow to black eyeliner, Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets removes them all. When I’m in a hurry to jump into bed, I just grab a sheet, press it to the desired area of removal and wipe. Viola! Clean, make up free skin in a jiffy.

Enriched with moisturising agents, the sheets hydrate your skin as they clean. But to really put the sheets to the test, I decided to try and remove my eye make up. I use quite heavy eye make up when I go out: eyeshadow primer, eyeshadow, eyeliner, waterproof mascara and fake lashes on top of all that. Everything needs to come off before I go to bed.

Challenge 1: Would the Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets be able to completely remove waterproof mascara?

One important beauty tip to keep in mind during make up removal around the eye area eye make up is to never pull the skin around the eye area. This skin is particularly sensitive and thin. Constant tugging and pulling causes premature fine lines, and this was the next challenge Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets had to face.

Challenge 2: Would the make up removal sheets remove tough eye make up with just gentle pressure?

I held the moist sheet for about 5 – 6 seconds against my eye, using gentle pressure, before wiping the eye makeup off. I was really impressed by how even the stubbornest mascara was thoroughly removed, after several wipes, leaving no residue or sticky feeling.

The light fragrance of Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets makes the process of removing make up all the more pleasant. Coupled with the properties of being efficient, gentle and hydrating, I’d say Biore Cleansing Oil Cotton Facial Sheets is staying as one the basic make up must-haves in my make up case for whenever I need quick make up removal on the go!

I always feel honoured when someone compliments me on my good skin. Although I am a beauty blogger, I will admit to not wearing make up on a daily basis. I feel absolutely comfortable going out completely bare faced because I’m much too lazy to apply make up everyday. I wasn’t born with perfect genes but I try to keep my skin as clear as possible. Thus, on a daily basis, I live by some beauty tips. These are the beauty tips for good skin I keep to daily.

1. Never sleep with your make up on
This is definitely the most basic of all beauty tips for good skin. Your skin, like you, needs to breathe. Sleeping overnight with your make up clogs pores. Just like how water and oil dont mix, oil and make up dont mix, especially on our skin. Always remember to thoroughly remove all your make up before you go to bed.

2. Popping your zits
While I admit to being guilty of this from time to time, the general rule of thumb is to never pop your pimples with your bare hands. Our hands come into contact with all sorts on a daily basis and the last thing you want to do is infect your pimples with random germs from goodness knows where.

3. Go for regular facials
Having an expert who knows your skin condition and can dispense good skin care tips is extremely helpful. I usually try and go for a facial once a month. During my facials, my beautician does extraction and hydration to clear my skin. She knows my skin’s problem areas and tries to remedy it as best as she can. I absolutely love walking out of the room after a facial because not only do you leave with clear skin, you walk out well rested and relaxed.

4. Dont skip your basic skin care needs
This is probably another one of the most basic of all beauty tips for good skin. Basic skin care is absolutely essential for maintaining and getting clear skin. After thoroughly removing your make up, you want to make sure you’re skin is free from dirt and grime. A basic skin care routine is, thus, the next step after proper make up removal, in getting glowing skin.

5. Exercise regularly
We all know the benefits of exercising: It keeps you healthy and keeps you fit. These health benefits translate directly to your skin too. When you feel good on the inside, you look good on the outside. Furthermore, the better circulation that comes from exercising also provides a natural glow! Who needs blusher when you have a natural flush?

6. Drink loads of water
Other than flushing out toxins from your body, water keeps your skin hydrated. Our bodies are made up of 70% water and drinking at least 2 litres of water a day keeps you well hydrated.

7. Dont rub your eyes
The skin around our eyes are the thinnest and most sensitive. Rubbing and pulling the thin skin under the eyes excessively causes fine lines, and we all know what fine lines do to our appearance. I know it feels good to rub your eyes when they’re tired, but opt for eyedrops and keep fine lines at bay the next time your eyes feel dry.

8. Sunblock, sunblock, sunblock
If you’ve been reading and following my posts all these while, I’ll probably sound like a nag when it comes to sunblock. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, whether you’re travelling overseas or looking to start your very first basic make up kit, sunblock is a definite must-have in protecting your skin. UVA is the main culprit of pre-mature aging, but sunblock protects your skin from the damaging rays of UV. So, block up and get good skin that’ll last you years down the road!

I know it may seem like a lot, but no body ever said being beautiful was easy. These are but a few a couple some of the good skin tips that I live by religiously. Even eating right is on the how to get good skin list. But even if you use make up routinely, I cannot stress how important good skin is. A clear complexion is the bottom line for make up application and I hope these beauty tips for good skin will help you. I promise once you have a clean canvas to work on, your options are limitless!

I dont wear make up on a daily basis so I keep a pretty strict skin care routine to maintain clear skin. If you’re a skin nazi like me, I’ve got some basic skin care tips you might want to think about incorporating into your daily facial skin care regimen, if you already have one that is. Otherwise, here’s a guide to a basic skin care routine that both guys and girls alike can use. For good skin, all that’s needed is a simple skin care routine that covers your basic skin care needs.

1) Cleanser

Cleaning your face is the most basic of all steps in your daily facial skin care regimen. Spending a good part of the day outside of the house, the first thing you want to do when you get home is to thoroughly cleanse your face from all that perspiration, dirt and grime. Leaving impurities on your skin surface clogs pores and eventually causes break outs. It’s recommended for thorough cleaning, wash your face in small circular motions.

2) Toner

This cooling alcohol based solution’s primary purpose in your basic skin care routine is to tighten pores and remove any residual dirt that cleansing might have missed out, but you can even use it to remove excess oil from the skin during the day for a refreshing feeling. There is no one specific way how to use and apply facial toner, but it is most commonly used on a cotton pad. Gently sweeping the cotton pad across your face and neck in an upward motion is sufficient to remove trace dirt from your skin. Always remember to avoid the delicate eye area.

3) Moisturizer

Now this is a tricky yet highly crucial part of any basic skin care routine. Regardless of what skin type you have, moisturizing with the right type of moisturizer will ensure that you get glowing skin. Moisturizers provide important nutrients to maintain the moisture balance and improve skin texture. Whether you have oily skin, combination skin or normal skin, keeping your skin’s moisture content up is key to getting good skin. Here’s some skin care tips on what a good moisturizer should do for your skin: It should 1) rehydrate your skin and lock in moisture 2) not clog pores 3) not cause an allergic reaction to your skin.

4) Sunblock

You probably are already sick of my nagging you about sunblock. I’ve included it as one of the Basic Essential Make Up Must-Haves and also as a beauty necessity when traveling. So there really isnt much for me to say about it except that it’s infinitely good for your skin and prevents pre-mature aging.

So there you go, my guide on how to get good skin; the basic skin care needs that should be addressed in your daily skin care regimen. Other important steps skin nazis like me may want to think about including in their daily routine are using masks and scrubs. Scrubbing helps to rid your skin of dead skin to give you a brighter complexion. Other than that, it also promotes cell regeneration. Applying a clay mask once a week regulates oil production. These steps done weekly help keep your skin in tip top condition.

What’s your basic skin care routine like?

Sejaa’s philosophy is simple: Love life. They do that by being conscious, being grateful for what they’ve been given and by taking care of what they value—including our planet, each other and ourselves. Something I can fully relate to. It’s paying attention to what we have to fully appreciate how blessed we are.

Their products, including packaging and manufacturing, have been well thought out to fully stick to its green values.

- Labels are printed with soy-based VOC-free inks.
- Manufactured using post-consumer waste paper.
- 100% recyclable Forest Stewardship Council certified fibers.
- Manufactured with clean hydroelectric power. Hydroelectricity produces no waste and does not produce carbon dioxide a greenhouse gas.

Most impressive, is the fact that Sejaa’s products are manufactured with Green-e Certified Renewable Electricity (windpower). Green e-certified Wind Power Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) have been purchased to support the development of new wind-powered renewable energy generation. Wind power consumes no fuel for continuing operation, and has no emissions directly related to electricity production. Operation does not produce carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, mercury, particulates, or any other type of air pollution.

A $70 2-oz jar of day or night cream may not having us looking like Gisele anytime soon, but the 100% natural ingredients might do good for sensitive skin types.

All formulas are never tested on animals and the collection is sold exclusively on the Sejaa website.

Having never heard of this product before, I obviously had my doubts. I looked it up and here’s what they said on the website.

A shielding lotion is far more effective as a dry skin care treatment than mere moist­urizing lotions or protective creams.

If you suffer from dry skin, you know that just using a moisturizing lotion does not solve the problem.

This is an entirely new con­cept in skin care requiring a new classifi­cation: “Shielding Lotion”. Skin MD Natural keeps moisture-robbing irri­tants away while proprietary “super” humectants hydrate the skin throughout the day.

Skin MD Natural is promptly absorbed without the slightest hint of any greasy or oily feeling or residue, transforming the outer layer of skin into a hydrating invisible shield.

The Skin MD Shielding Lotion is recommended for dry skin and also said to be good for problem skin, eczema sufferers and people with latex allergies. Although I didn’t have any of these problems, I still decided to try it out since it’s paraben free and contains natural extracts. Really no harm in trying it because it’s over 90% natural – free of harmful fragrances and colorants. It’s also non-comedogenic which means it will not clog pores. Hooray! Maybe transforming the outer layer of my skin would prevent further loss of moisture and help improve my skin condition.

The first time I tried the Shielding Lotion, I really liked how it glided onto my skin and quickly dried up afterwards. I couldn’t believe how fast it took to dry compared to conventional moisturisers. It probably took a total of 2 seconds for the lotion to disappear. When it did, my skin didn’t feel tight and there was no sticky residue. WOW. The effect is instantaneous. You see your face looking visibly smoother and if you look carefully, it’s as though there is an invisible barrier on the outer layer.

The effect, however, doesn’t last the whole day. Depending on your skin condition you have to apply the lotion initially every 2 – 8 hours until moisture level improves, then just once every 12 – 24 hours.

As much as I loved how the Shielding Lotion made my skin look, I felt it worked better on my hands, heels and legs. Possibly because my skin’s primarily dehydrated and not completely dry. One application and my hands and heels were softer and smoother. I particularly love how the Shielding Lotion dries non-greasy, because I was able to get back to whatever I was doing in a jiffy without having to worry about all that stickiness. I could never stand just sitting around doing absolutely nothing waiting for stuff to dry.

Although the product wasn’t what I was looking for, it might work for someone with a different skin type. If you have dry skin and are looking for something to keep improve the moisture level in your skin, the Skin MD Shielding Lotion might just be the thing for you. A single bottle retails for SGD29.90 while a Twin Pack costs SGD51.90 at the DRM Concept shop.

First, I will tell you what this product is supposed to do. It is an epidermal re-texturising micro-dermabrasion and is thus supposed to re-texturise your epidermis via micro-dermabrasion. Haha. Okay, in short, it’s kinda like a scrub. It smoothens your skin surface via tiny particles in the product. I’ve written about how useful a scrub is for keeping skin baby smooth and soft and the same goes for your face.

Now, I will tell you what’s inside this product that helps you do just that.

There are three main components as listed in the Kiehl’s website.

Micronized Shells (Diatomatious Earth)
dia-to-may-shus
A naturally occurring crystalline silica derived from diatoms, unicellular microscopic algae. This fine silica powder is a natural exfoliant to eliminate dead cells located in the epidermis or surface layer of the skin.

Shea Butter
SHAY BUH-t’r
Shea Butter is the natural fat obtained from the fruit of the African Karate tree and is widely used in lotions and cleansing products for its hydrating properties. Protects skin from dehydration, restores skin’s suppleness and improves the appearance of dry skin.

Willow Herb (Epilobium Angustifolium)
will-oh errb
Derived from a plant commonly known as fireweed or willow herb. This plant is known to have anti-microbial and soothing properties for skin.

Unrefined skin texture with visible appearance of pores? Well, this Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion (trying say it really really fast) gets rid of them.

After one use, my skin was instantly more radiant, pores were visibly smaller and skin surface was smoother. I’ve always fretted about the appearance of my pores, but one use and my pores were instantly reduced. Oh yes! It was also hard to tear my fingers away from my new velvety skin. My new skin surface was so smooth it looked as though water would slide off it like water off a duck’s back.

The product is gentle on the skin and non-fragranced. Although the price is a little steep (SGD$92 at any Kiehl’s outlet), it’s not just ANY scrub. It’s the Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion and will probably last you an entire year giving you smooth and radiant skin the entire time you use it.

I haven’t used any other DIY micro-dermabrasion products (nor have I actually heard of any. have you?) but in my books, this is a keeper and I promise to use it 2 times a week along side my regular hydration routine. I adore seeing my skin after a good scrub and this product delivers results. Good skin care is sooooo important, wouldn’t you agree?

The Kiehl’s Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion is available at any Kiehl’s outlet or good departmental stores.

But what she really meant was for us to eat our fruits.

The humble little tomato (yes, it is a fruit!) is actually a powerful skin booster.

The skin, our largest organ of our 5 senses, might probably be one of the hardest things to maintain. The constant exposure to various physical elements including the sun can leave the skin looking dull over time.

But because tomatoes are rich in Vitamin C and the antioxidant Lycopene, they help to fight off free-radicals which damage skin cells and leave your skin looking aged.

Eating one tomato a day can help to keep the doctor away, and can help your skin look more radiant.

Here are some easy ways you can incorporate tomato in your daily routine:
- Juice 2 large tomatoes in the morning and drink up with your favourite toast.
- For breakfast, make yourself a cheese and tomato sandwich.
- Pack one large tomato in your lunch box.
- Cherry tomatoes are a great alternative to regular tomatoes. They are small and easy to eat. Pop them a handful of them in your mouth in the morning before heading out to work or school!

If you have a little more time on your hands, the best way to eat your tomatoes is to cook them lightly in oil. You can cook them with pasta or as part of a colourful salad. The cooking fully releases the Lycopene in cell walls giving you the full benefits of tomatoes.

Looks like tomato juice is on the menu for breakfast tomorrow!

Has anyone of you tried this recipe previously? Did it work for you?