2014 is a year of transformation. It's my last year in my twenties. Before i start musing about character transformation, i'll start with the easier bit. The physical.

ACQUIRING EAGLE VISION

I told myself i would do Lasik before turning 30 for quicker recovery and longer lasting results. I did it on 16 Oct at Eagle Eye Center with Dr Julian Teng. 

I asked the nurse if she would poke my eye before surgery to test if the numbing eye drops worked. She gave me a non-assuring reply "eeeer, we don't usually do tests", but promised to give me extra drops just before the surgery. 

She forgot, and i had to screech "You forgot extra drops!!", alarming everyone, just before they pushed the meanacing machine arm over my head.  

Dr Teng, a referral from afew of my friends, explained every single step of the process while its ongoing. Counting down as i experienced 30secs of blackout while conscious and with my eyes clamped open. That keeps alot of assurance but didn't stop me from giving my own commentary out loud during the procedure. Its the same phenonemon as my experience eating blind. The surgery room staff must be snickering at me, another version of a hyperventilating patient. 

It didn't hurt one bit and recovery was with little trouble. The only gripe was i couldn't join Zombie Run that following Sat as i could possibly get punched in the post-surgery eye.  

INVISALIGN MY TEETH

I've done braces in my teens and due to an irresponsible family dentist and an ignorant me, i didn't know retainers were to be worn for life. Thus, my teeth have shifted to be uneven. Having gone through metal wires, food in between them and coloured rubber bands for 3 years, i ain't going back again. iDental made Invisalign happen, almost self serving with 33 sets of aligners i will apply for 12 months. 

THE SHORT HAIR GIRL

Finally, having hair reaching my lower back for the last decade, i bought short hair for my birthday. Women loved it, men hated it. One assumed i'm experiencing a bad patch, one said i'v lost linear beauty (?!?), my bro laughed its "back-to-school" hair. 

At 29, i know who i am and i don't need to play it safe with long hair. I just didn't feel like falling in line and i know if i didn't like it, its temporary. Just like bad experiences, trials, tribulations, challenges and hardship. Nothing cannot be overcomed. 

It is what it is, there's no room for assumptions. 

It is fearless. 

When things go Bump!

What do you do when you get these little bumps blemishing perfect skin?

Just a month ago i got complimented by 2 strangers for my flawless skin! It must be the haze, heat or changing my night cream (i thought i needed something richer turning 29), but i started getting these bumps (but not surfacing as pimples) underneath my skin. 

It was demoralising, having been praised to Heaven then falling back down to Earth as a mere mortal plagued with bad skin. 

Only Porcelain Face Spa's Quinessential facial could fix it, my trusty facial salon for the past 2 years or more. 

Day 1 after Facial

Face horribly red and kinda blotchy but can be covered up with Porcelain's Flawless, a tinted sunscreen. Porcelain is a strong advocate for foundation free and  have no fear in repeatedly reminding you it'll undo desired results.

Day 2

2 new pimples occured with white pus visible. It burst while I was washing my face. Their client service rep whatsapp me to check in on my skin. I was surprised with this "extra" service. She kindly told me that all therapists give a "report" so she can follow-up. She reassures me that the break-out after a facial is normal and there is no need to panic.

Day 3
The whiteheads returned at the spot that burst. I squeezed it out with a cotton pad soaked with toner. They stopped returning after today.

Day 5
My skin is smooth and flawless as Porcelain promised. Perfect for my holiday snaps!

不登长城非好汉！ If you haven't scaled the Great Wall, you're nothing but a regular man.

A photo posted by Christine Ng (@chrispytine) on Nov 11, 2014 at 7:38am PST

Cheap Eats in Orchard

Orchard Road is the city's center and is the place for a shopping quick fix. Despite an entire stretch of malls from low-end to high, with Singapore's increasing standard of living, it is difficult to find cheap food.

Hawker centers (food courts) typically serve meals for less than $10 in Orchard but they are medicore. Here're my to-go for cheap AND GOOD food in Orchard.  

1) Wasabei Tei

Many on this list are found at Far East Plaza. It used to be a teenager's after-school location but in recent years, traffic have drastically dropped as teenagers take their shopping online. However, it remains my favourite place to shop as well as eat because of its affordable prices. 

Wasabei Tei's shahimi (raw fish) is air-flown in from Japan. It feels like you're in one of those authentic Japan stores when it's cramp and only counter seats are available. The owners' attitude have been known to be bad (as with all good food places because they can't give a damn) but have improved considerably since I first patronized it.

$2 is charged per seat regardless if you want a drink, an appetizer or a slice of watermelon. Every seat must place an order and the appetizer of warm seaweed and stewed chicken is worth the mandarory charge. No GST, quality Japanese food and a cosy ambience, Wasabi Tei is highly recommended. Try their sorbets too! They have seasonal flavours. They recently opened up space next door so there isn't quite a long queue as before. 

2) Hainanese Chicken Rice

A local favourite, this shop at the upper floor of Far East Plaza gives a rustic feeling with its bustling order calls. Not a place to idle after meal as strangers could be seated at your table. Not to worry, they don't share your food. Their menu stays focused and only offers rice, chicken and oyster sauce vegetables. They serve soups like Salted Duck Veg in old-fashioned tin containers at $3 to go along. 

3) Saveur

I never could make it into their other outlet at Purvis St but since they opened a new one next to KFC at Far East Plaza, i've been in it twice! If you want a seat, lunch is a better bet than dinner. Otherwise, aim for an early dinner at 5.30-6pm. The last time i ate was at 8.45pm and i had to wait 10 minutes for a table, and the restaurant was still bustling with diners. The last order is at 9.30pm. 

If you have always heard of foie gras but never tried it because you aren't sure if the price is worth paying for (what if you don't like it?) , Saveur is the place to take  your foie gras virginity. 

Bite sized foie gras grilled to perfection with a drizzle of cranberry sauce is only $6.90. The simple saveur pasta is delicious and priced at $4.90 as an appetizer, $6.90 as a main. The interior is nicely decorated, everyone i brought is throughly impressed with its deceiving interior but cheap prices for French fare. 

We could even afford to have 2 glasses of wine, and the total bill is $40!

3) Sakura Halal Thai

Serves affordable Thai fare. It has individual meals as well as tze char style. It is my go-to if i don't want to queue for a table as it occupies a rather large space (with an overflow room) at the top level of Far East Plaza. Don't let the sight of the lack of diners deter, my favourites are Tom Yum or salted fish fried rice, otherwise spicy mee goreng. They could do with lesser oil though. 

4) Nam Nam

When it first arrived in Singapore at Wheelock, i never had to queue. I liked the no-frills Vietnamese fast food vibe where i could sit at the bar counter, slurp my pho alone and let my eyes glaze, mesmerized by the red lanterns above. Since then, Nam Nam have expanded to many more outlets across the island, gaining quick popularity and extending their menu offering. If you would like to queue, it is quick, cheap and good pho in Orchard. The only gripe i have is they do not include a generous serving of beansprouts in their pho anymore, making it less value for money. 

5) Ayam Penyat Ria

There are a dozen of the same in Lucky Plaza, but i always go to this one where its chilli accompanying the Penyat is the deal breaker. 

Although certain elements of the dish look measly, when together, they make a good serving of chicken, kangkong, toufu and soy bean squares. 

This is a sinful indulgence because everything is fried, but it makes me feel better than KFC (some strands of vegetable makes the difference).

6) Sanpoutei Niigataa Ramen

Expecting queues to form soon enough at this new kid on the block, the latest ramen shop at the basement of Lido (next to Isetan) is made with a difference. Ikan bilis added to broiled chicken compared to the usual pork ramen broth. It tastes unique and instead of the usual char siew, each bowl is topped with two slices ot three-layered fatty pork. The decadent meat melted in my mouth, fat glistening on my lips. They also have atypical ramen ingredients, a generous serving of stir-fry cabbage.

7) Shaw Center Food Court

If you hate queues with a vengeance like i do, this newly opened food court at Lido is my latest secret. I always find a seat here. Sergeant Chicken serves fragrant rice that is not too oily and tender moist chicken. Like Bimbimbap but want it customized? Pick and choose at the Korean "tze char style" stall. Further in, you'll find Teppanyaki that is value-for-money. A slightly more posh experience in a food court, you sit at the countertop for a interactive cooking experience. Your orders come with an attempt at food presentation too.

A video posted by Christine Ng (@chrispytine) on Jun 6, 2014 at 10:51pm PDT

A Shoe can Change your Life

Advertorial

If Cinderella taught us anything, it would be that.

When i was younger, i liked to take the window seat on the aeroplane. As i grow older, i prefer the aisle seat for convenience of visits to the loo and stretching my legs. Similar with shoes, in recent years, i prefer to go for quality over quantity. If any of those Buzzfeed articles is true, it is that as i grow older, i am less concerned about style over comfort.

Ok, i lied. Style still matters. I'm not going to let myself go and turn into a frumpy woman overnight!
But i'll be more discerning and even if a pair of heels is drop-dead gorgeous, i will put it back on the shelf with all my will power as i know i wouldn't wear it more than once.

Walking into Arch Angel located at 16 Purvis Street was an informative experience. Finding the right fit took about an hour, about the same amount of time the Prince searched for Cinderella.

I've never thought about foot health. However, lately my toe nail have dropped twice and i noticed the arch of my feet hurting after a long day of walking even in my most comfortable shoes!

At Arch Angel, i found out why. Arch Angel have an in-house podiatry every month and i had the honour of having Owen, a professional shoe fitter (pedorthic) who helped to prescribe the right footwear to give a better walking experience.

With a rather lengthy lecture explaining his profession, Owen gave me a diagnosis on my current foot health by observing how i walk, measuring my feet and using sensors to weigh my pressure.

A foot scan to figure body pressure on feet.

It turns out that my left is shorter than my right foot. This explains the reason why my left toe nail turns black or falls off, my shoe is too small! I don't have a very high arch either, thus my feet overcompensate by putting more pressure on the outer side. I also have mild calluses at the ball of my feet because of unequal distribution of body pressure.

Foot changes may not happen to everyone definitely, but they can occur with prolonged use of ill-fitting shoes and these changes peak in above 40 years of age. No wonder an ex pointed out that a part of my feet is growing larger, like his grandma. I had no idea what he was talking about, until Arch Angel handed me a horrifying brochure on BUNION.

The below is NOT MY FEET, but an internet picture to demonstrate.

The bunion, a bump that seems to vie for the big toe's position, occurs when ill-fitting shoes rub against this spot as you walk.

Owen absolutely understands a lady's need for variety, colour, trend but as he aptly labels these ill-fitting shoes as Church, Wedding, Funeral shoes, they are not to be worn for more than 2 hours.

Arch Angel's staff were exceptionally patient in finding the right fit for me as i try over a dozen shoes, finding the right fit and style that pleases me. 

The final prescription for me was to get the newest arrival Isabella with zebra print fitted with Xsensible Inside, that is stretch leather that gives it maximum elasticity. This way, it can be a perfect pair according to my right foot bigger, left foot smaller condition.

When i shared that this will be my default travel shoe (with lots of walking), Owen replaced the detachable insole with a Spenco RX full-length arch cushion to give me maximum support and comfort.

With the right shoe, Owen did a simple exercise to test my balance by exerting strength on my palms.

Without Arch Angel's shoes, I was lifted off my bare feet (heel or front lifted) when pressure was exerted on my palms. With Arch Angel, my feet was firmly planted down.

No longer it's a situation where comfort and style can't be best buddies. Arch Angel have a good variety of options. They not only have their in-house brand but also carry brands from Israel and Europe. Almost all shoes are made of leather.

Heels, sandles, sneakers and shoes.

Both male and female styles available. 

I was also introduced to the smallest gym in the world!

Modeled after the Japanese traditional footwear, the clog, this Arch Angel version works out your back and calf muscles as you walk.

Fit for the lazy people who wouldn't go to the gym! I believe this pair called the Earth Woman will give you a nice ass too.

If you want to have your feet checked, Arch Angel organizes monthly Podiatry Day and the first Pedorthic Day to answer footwear questions is on 31 October at their store. Monthly podiatry dates can be found on their Facebook.

Even if you haven't got a foot fetish, i urge you to love yourself.

Extraction is the key to Porcelain Skin

So here's what gave me Porcelain skin. 

It has always been a battle with me and porcelain skin. Some days are good but most days are bad. Even if there are no visible acne, i was afraid for any lover to stroke my face. The sensitive fingers would feel the bumps (blackheads/whiteheads/clogged pores) beneath. Despite my regular monthly facial at another salon, while i kept acne breakout at bay, i never did achieve porcelain skin.

I hate extraction. The uncomfortable prodding and pushing with a metal loop and syringe needle sound scary.

Beauty is pain. Yet extraction is necessary so that impurities can be removed and nutrients from products can penetrate easily into the dermis. However, extraction needs to be done by professionals and with the right techniques. 

I've always had dry skin and minor pigmentation scars.

Photo from 2011.

Today, after 3 years with Porcelain Face Spa, everyone's praising my skin and i am no longer afraid of a lover touching my face.

The primary difference between Porcelain and other facial salons is other than the extraction techniques being a tad different from other salons, Porcelain recommends LED light therapy after.

Red Light Therapy Rejuvenates Your Skin

In the anti-aging process, what is important is the collagen production and red light therapy stimulates the collagen production. Collagen is responsible for the elasticity and firmness of your skin, resulting in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. The collagen is also the protein that repair damaged skin cells.

Blue Light Therapy Kills Acne

The blue light therapy kills the Propionibacterium acne bacteria. This bacteria is one of the cause of acne, and is sensitive to light in a certain range (405 to 420nm). The bacteria absorb the light and the light kills the bacteria. It is also used for to reduce the inflammation caused by acne, reduces scarring, sebum and oil production.

What makes Porcelain different is they believe in 3 key philosophies.

1. Good skin should be clear and radiant from within. Porcelain does not advocate covering imperfections; instead, they seek to treat the root of the problem.
2. No two skins are alike. To maintain a high level of quality and professionalism, all Porcelain treatment will be fully customized based on skin type, skin problem and therapist recommendation. Customization begins from a wide selection of cleansers, serums, ampoules, masks and other even equipments.
3. Skincare is long term. You can’t develop a six-pack after one gym session, just like how it is pretty hard to achieve Porcelain skin after 1 treatment. Because skincare is long term, Porcelain work to educate their clients and develop a trusted relationship to better cater to client’s skincare needs.

Over the years, i really do see Porcelain constantly improving herself with customer service. It must be because of the young, modern and capable lady boss Pauline at its helm. I don't know her personally, but have seen her photos with her mum (extraction pro) around. Just seeing how Porcelain Face Spa has shaped its business over the years have garner my silent respect for Pauline. 

My skin today, without make-up. Mum who introduced me to facials at age 15 is on the right with me.

Call 6227 9692 for appointment booking. Porcelain, The Face Spa is located at 31A Cantonment Road (3 mins walk from Outram MRT, Exit H) Alternatively, you may visit their website at www.porcelainfacespa.com

Facing Porcelain's New Outlet

Located at the new mall on Somerset Road, Orchard Gateway, Porcelain Face Spa's new outlet is pretty damn fine-looking.

I walked in and felt like i walked into a resort spa. Decked out in dark wood, pebbles strategically placed puts me in the zen mood.

Porcelain's outlets ( the other in Outram) have always given a cosy feeling, small, intimate with welcoming faces of therapists. 

At the new outlet, Porcelain's acclaimed skincare products are paraded in this exhibition aisle. 

I picked up my favourite products to go #foundationfree! 

Porcelain Face Spa's new outlet only serves treatments without extractions. A convenient quick fix in the midst of shopping.

Speaking of shopping, another reason to check out the new Orchard Gateway are these quirky new shops!

While the ladies are getting their face fixed, their boyfriends can browse a level dedicated to men.

Perhaps they can take the time to groom themselves too, at the new Premium Barber, a no holds-barred pampering outlet for men.

Or browse indie fashion boutiques like White Rose Parlour with an old Shanghainese intetior. 

And when you are done with your facial, he with the window-shopping, finish off the day with Instagram-worthy interior and #foodporn with Supply and Demand, a promising Italian Asian bistro.

Cocktail Recipes with Lipton

Just the other day, George Young invited us to his house for a Lipton tea party. 

When there's tea and canapes in the house, there'll be good conversations.

But when you combine tea AND alcohol together, you get many possibili-teas!

Bird's eye view.

George roped in a master mixologist from Cufflink Club to give us a master class in concocting some very refreshing cocktails.

Mixologist Joel looks at George lovingly, that's what possibili-tea do to you

16 unique recipes with a variety of Lipton tea, i am so inspired to start throwing ADULT tea parties! They are good looking to boot too, surely to impress my guests. The Fruitea Red Crush which i successfully made was SO SIMPLE yet such a pretty drink that tasted very refreshing. A tinge of sour, the right amount of sweet and very fruity! It felt like a healthy drink, i almost forgot there's alcohol in there. Such cocktails are deadly, they're so yummy that you'll down too many before alcohol has an effect. Hehehe. This recipe is ingenius! Perfect for our Singapore weather, perpeptually summer. 

Here're the recipes:

 

2 cocktail instruction videos available


However, if you are having a children's tea party....

I have tea parties with my animal friends!

there are also mocktail recipes! You can get them from Lipton's Facebook page.

With alcohol, tea and a relaxed atmosphere, i made friends at George's tea party. I spoke to another mixologist (also a guest) who told me he has never heard of tea being used for cocktails. This was rather innovative and revolutionary!

These recipes give a new twist to tea drinking, opened up many possibilities other than just being a hot drink. The new Lipton broke teabag tradition to come up with the Lipton Pyramid bag which allows tea leaves more room to move and infuse for a better brew. 

The Forrest Fruits Lipton tea pyramid bag smelled soooo good the moment i release the box from its wrapper. I think i can hang it like potpourri in the bathroom.

Possibili-teas right?

Interview with Porcelain Face Spa

Porcelain Face Spa did an interview with me some months ago. Reposting their article here.

Porcelain: It’s interesting that you have a “Skin Bible”! What was your inspiration?

Christine: The inspiration came from my readers. I frequently get emails from readers asking me how I achieve good skin, so I thought of doing a FAQ online in a visually engaging way.

Porcelain: If you had to choose a favourite quote from Skin Bible, what would it be?

Christine: “Chocolate do not give pimples!” I love eating chocolate.

Porcelain: At Porcelain, we advocate that good skin should be clear and it should radiate from within. Do you agree?

Christine: Definitely! Thus, my second favourite quote is “Ditch the Face Paint”. Also because I’m kind of lazy in removing make up, haha.

Make-up free

Porcelain: We like your blog’s motto! What was your premise of saying that?

Christine: Yes, “no Photoshop, no falsies, no push-up bras, just real life situations”. I know of many who spend hours digitally editing their photos (watch out for strained necks and wrists!). I like to keep my online persona real. I don't want to give anyone a bad shock finding out how different I look in reality (as compared to virtually).

Porcelain: As an avid traveller, what are the skincare must-haves in your travel kit?

Christine: The Balance Essence Serum just saved my life, I mean, my skin on my last travel! (Yay) I was tripping the Sahara Desert. I was worried that the dirt and heat will give me pimples and white heads! So I used [Porcelain’s] Balance Serum religiously. 

After the Sahara Desert, I went to Switzerland next, where it was cold and dry. So the Balance Serum helped my skin stay moisturized! Just having Balance Serum in my skincare bag was enough for multiple uses. It made traveling light!

Porcelain: Apart from your regular facials with us, how else do you take such great care of your skin? Do you have a daily regime?

Christine: Even though I do not use makeup remover, I will always cleanse when I return home. Because sunblock can clog pores.

Porcelain: If you had to describe us in one word, what would it be?

Christine: “Worth”. Because you’re worth it.