Kat Juju

New York skincare brand, Kiehl's, has dropped its prices for 21 of its best-selling products in Singapore. Reason?

According to published news, Kiehl's successful worldwide expansion has led the company to enjoy cost efficiencies that it wants to share with customers. Whatever the reason, the customer still wins. Here's the official press release:

As of 1st April 2013 (and it ain't an April's Fools joke), customers can enjoy these products for cheaper:

Source: joeychong.com

Thanks Kiehl's. Despite my previous review of Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel Cream that was not positive, I might just try popping back to your store to try one your best sellers -at the new lowered price. I have my eyes set on:

Early this year during the launch of Apivita's herbal first-aid creams, I was told their Antispot Face Cream SPF 50 under the Suncare range is one of their bestsellers.

I am always on the hunt for the next best SPF for face. Up until now, my all-time favorite is Heliocare's SPF 50 Gel listed as one of Kat's Best Products Reviewed in 2012. So, when my SPF finished, I was in the market to try something new and remembered Apivita's recommendation.

This sunblock for face is made with 77% natural ingredients and contains natural extracts such as sesame oil (Sesamum Indicum Oil), some sort of tomato extract (Lycopersicum extract), propolis extract, different grades of organically-cultivated green tea extract, sea fennel and sea lavender.

Natural ingredients such as sea fennel and achillea help to prevent and reduce brown spots, while propolis extract, sea lavender and lycopene offer effective photostable protection against photoageing and free radicals. (What does photostable mean? Basically, it means that the quality of this sunblock quality is stable and does not change or breakdown when exposed to light.)

One interesting innovation about this product is Apivita has replaced all water content with organic green tea infusion to enhance the antioxidant properties of all their Suncare range of products.

Here's my review of Apivita's Antispot Face Cream SPF50.

It has a strong floral smell. Quite pleasant, not what I had expected of a SPF product that usually smells of some sort of oil.

As a high SPF protection product, I expected the texture of the cream to be somewhat thick-ish. And it is. When squeezed, it comes out in the form of a beige paste. You will need to spread the product well before it gets absorbed into the skin.

According to the instructions, Apivita recommends half a teaspoon of product for the face. For me, that's too much! I usually use a squeezed blob (or two). That is more than enough because once the product is absorbed into the skin, my skin feels a little tight. And it leaves a shiny layer that I have to pat down with face powder, before putting on makeup.

The good thing is this product comes with an expiry date. But if you have read my article on 10 Common Myths About Sunblock I Bet you Didn't Know, you will know that the product's expired date is only just indicative. If you leave your sunblock directly exposed in the sun, the product may breakdown and expire quicker.

Lastly, the cream is rich. So for normal wear, you don't need to reapply throughout the day. Once in the morning is usually good enough to last into the evening. If you are going swimming or being exposed to the sun for hours, then you will definitely need to reapply a few times throughout the day. One tube can last me at least 6-8 months!

This product is hypoallergenic, water resistant and does not contain alcohol, parabens, silicons, mineral oil, propylene glycol, colorants, ethanolamines and phthalates. Its packaging is made from recyclable materials such as PE, PP and paper.

Retail price: $84 per 50ml tube

Available at Apivita boutique outlets at VivoCity (#01-04) and ION Orchard (#B3-45)

Disclaimer: This product was sponsored for consideration to review. Katjuju.com, is not affiliated, in any way, with this company or its products. This product review is written with editorial integrity and honesty; and without influence.

Blemish balms are so yesterday. Today, Korean beauty brands like Elisacoy are launching new CC creams like hot cakes fresh out of the oven. Not BB. CC.

CC creams, or Colour Control creams, are simply a refined version of the BB cream created in Korea. While BB creams were developed primarily as a skincare product, CC creams retains the skincare properties of BB creams while further adding skin tone balancing properties.

I will start by saying that Korean brand, Elishacoy, is not an organic skincare brand. However, their new CC cream is made with interesting Eco-Cert (an organic certification organisation used widely as an industry standard in Europe and internationally) botanical extracts.

As a niche Korean skincare brand with a strong beauty cult following, Elisacoy is like most local Korean beauty brands: difficult to find outside of Korea. The good news is there are online beauty portals such as Wishtrend.com and Qoo10 that Singaporeans can go to buy Elishacoy products.

Developed as a skincare product of convenience, Elishacoy's Always Nuddy CC Cream is said to be a 10-in-1 high multi-functional cream and they are:

Whitening
Anti-wrinkle
UV protection
Hydration
Corrects skin texture
Balances skin tone
Cover imperfections
Long-lasting
Excellent application
Instant skin radiance

As a makeup applicator, this cream corrects skin tone and texture with micro colour capsules. These micro capsules in a white cream base pops open during application. When you first see the cream, it is chalk white - like liquid paper. Kinda scary.

But as you apply the cream, the warmth of your hands activates the popped colour capsules to change colour. This helps blend the cream smoothly onto your face giving a radiant, smooth and even-toned appearance.

To test the colour change/blend, look at the cream BEFORE I spread it onto my skin, and look at the cream AFTER I wiped it off with a cotton pad (skin-toned beige).

As a skincare treatment, it is made with more than 20 hydrating (and exotic) ingredients to soothe and hydrate one's complexion. Main ingredients include black bean extract, olive leaf extract, cactus flower extract, cranberry fruit extract and avocado oil. Eco-Cert ingredients include lavender flower water, bitter orange flower water and large-leafed lime flower extract.

This cream's texture is very light and absorbs almost instantly into the skin. It has a nice creamy and slight watery consistency that is great for spreading unto the face. There is no detectable scent at all.

If you are thinking of getting this CC cream mainly for coverage (instead of correction), FORGET IT. I can still see my sunspots and freckles. But if you are primarily looking for a skin colour corrector to balance out uneven skin tones, GET IT!

For instance, some people have a slightly darker skin tone on their forehead and nose compared to their cheeks.

For one week, I used this cream as a base under my SPF fluid and makeup (avoid eye area). Boy, does it work! It gives that smooth fluid look to my complexion. This is me at work with Elishacoy Always Nuddy CC cream + daily makeup.

Makeup application a lot easier too. The effect can last the whole day into the evening without any need to re-apply - afterall, it is sitting as a base under my makeup. More importantly, the cream is so light that it absorbs completely into the skin without the feeling of leaving a layer of product onto my skin.

Also, given that Arbutin is one of their top 10 ingredients, I don't doubt that this product can help lighten my pigmentations with regular use. I will have to use it for longer and see.

My gut feel is that this CC cream is making its way to becoming one of my regular makeup essentials that is going-to-be-hard-to-live-without. So, unless you are prepared to get hooked to this new CC cream, read no further.

Online price: USD$34.99 at Wishtrend.com. International shipping is available.

WAIT, AND THERE'S MORE. Shop now and get USD$3 off your total bill (valid until end of 2013). All you have to do is enter the promotional code: RFXLSCOZ. Minimum purchase per order is USD$20. Happy shopping!

To get the latest promotions or information on Wishtrend Singapore, check out their Facebook page.

Disclaimer: This product was sponsored for consideration to review. Katjuju.com, is not affiliated, in any way, with this company or its products. This product review is written with editorial integrity and honesty; and without influence.

In recent years, the gluten-free craze has caught wave as the latest healthy diet fad. Even Hollywood celebrities like Miley Cyrus and Gwyneth Paltrow can't seem to talk enough about it. For many people, the gluten-free diet is just an evolution and expansion from the previous low-carb trend. You might wonder why gluten-free. Before you do, ask yourself the below questions:

Do you constantly struggle with fatigue?
Are you prone to depression?
Have you been diagnosed for a chronic illness or disorder?
Do experience frequent headaches, muscle and joint pain, persistent bloating and have digestive problems?
Do all of the above happen for no apparent reason?

If you have answered YES to all of the above, your body may be experiencing an adverse reaction to the foods you eat. In particular, gluten. These reactions are common to what doctors today term as gluten intolerance - a condition that has strong linkages to many of today's chronic health issues; from diabetes, chronic fatigue, rheumatoid arthritis, thyroid disorder, lupus and many more.

These illnesses have one thing in common: they are part of a group of illnesses called autoimmune disorders. An autoimmune disorder or disease is when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue and cells.

In other words, the body begins to self-destruct on a cellular-level causing tissue damage resulting in a chronic illness. While gluten may not be the sole trigger for the development of these chronic illness, research have found that it is by far a strong and possible contributing factor.

In today's figures, as many as 1 in 7 people are gluten-sensitive, or gluten intolerant.

What is gluten?
Gluten is a protein found in foods processed from wheat, barley and rye. It is what gives bread, pasta and cookies that chewy texture, and extends shelf life. Gluten can also be found in unexpected places like surimi (imitation crab meat), deli meats, soy sauce and even toothpaste.

Our bodies are unable to absorb and digest these processed proteins naturally. Hence, they manifest themselves in toxic ways resulting in an anti-reaction that comes in the form of headaches, body aches and joint pain. If left unresolved, the body will experience prolonged chronic fatigue, and eventually trigger some form of chronic illness at some point.

Gluten intolerance is easily detectable through the process of elimination. If you suspect you may be sensitive or intolerant to gluten, try to eliminate it from your diet first. Start for a period of two weeks, remove all wheat, rye and barley-based foods.

Take notice of your energy levels. Have they increased? Are your joint and muscle pains no longer feel like they are on fire? If you notice a significant improvement in the state of your body and health, then you are most probably gluten intolerant.

9 Items You Didn't Know Contain Gluten
Gluten is not always obvious to detect. It is very good at hiding itself. Just when you think you only have to worry about breads and pastas, even lipgloss has gluten!

Gluten-Guilty #1: Breads, Pasta & Cookies
As mentioned before, gluten is commonly found in these wheat-based processed carbohydrates we consume in our daily lives. This category can be expanded to include couscous, flour tortillas, muffins, cakes, pastries and certain cereal. Cut these out of your diet and watch your energy level and health improve. In fact, a lot of people have lost weight just by eliminating these from their diet! What a bonus.

Gluten-Guilty #2: Low Fat Dairy Products
Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, soft cheese, mayonnaise and even low fat/no fat salad dressings are all guilty for containing gluten.

Gluten-Guilty #3: Deli Meats
Processed meat usually have gluten added as one of the preservation ingredients. Everything from ham, salami, pepperoni to smoked turkey. Just when you thought a healthy sandwich lunch was a good idea, consider it again. Sausages are also off limits! Usually stuffed with bread and other fillers, packaged and processed sausages will contain high amounts of gluten. While real crab meat is gluten-free, imitation crab meat is not.

Gluten-Guilty #4: Canned Veggies
Since we are on the topic of sandwiches, canned vegetables and processed sauces that most of us slap onto our sandwiches are to be avoided like ketchup, mustard, pickles andhorseradish.Really? Yeah because they are usually soaked in a malt-vinegar solution, and malt is made from barley.

Gluten-Guilty #5: Beer
When it comes to alcohol, there is good news: not all isoff the menu. It depends on the source and production process. Most distilled alcoholic beverages are generally safe and gluten-free like gin, vodka and whiskey. Wines and champagnes are made from grapes so they are also safe and gluten-free.Other gluten safe liquors are sherry, port, brandy, cognac and triple secbecause they are made from fruits. The one to worry about is beer. Beer is made from hops and barley, a potent concentration of gluten. Ales and lagers must be avoided.

Gluten-Guilty #6: Gum & Candy
Love chewing gum? It is exactly what you chew on that is bad for your immune system. The chewiness of sweet candy and gum is made from gluten. Always read the ingredients and look out for anything that has to do with wheat, rye, barley and even malt vinegar. Licorice, made primarily from wheat flour, is a big no-no.

Gluten-Guilty #7: Stamps & Envelopes
Stop licking your stamps and envelopes! While stamps and envelopes are not food, many adhesives contain gluten. Afterall, glue is short for gluten...hello. And by putting your tongue on the sticky portion of stamps and envelopes, you will inevitable introduce gluten into your immune system. Remember in a Seinfield episode, George Costanza's fiancee died from licking their wedding invitation envelopes? Okay... you're not going to die from gluten overdose but you get the point.

Gluten-Guilty #8: Lip Gloss
Bummer...I love lip gloss. Every girl knows that lipgloss is inevitably sticky, and what makes lip gloss glossy and sticky is gluten. And like stamps and envelopes, once the substance is on our lips, it will inevitable make its way into our bodies.

Gluten-Guilty #9: Soy sauce
Soy sauce has 4 main ingredients: wheat, fermented soy beans, salt and water. In some brands of soy sauce, wheat is listed as no.1. How weird is that? Whether you are eating in or eating out, resist reaching for the soy sauce bottle. This is impossible when dining at a Japanese or Chinese restaurant. Best to avoid these cuisines during your two-week gluten-free trial.You can slowly introduce it back into your diet after the gluten-free trial period and make up for it in other areas (that's at least what I would do because how can a Chinese live without soy sauce, seriously?!).

There are, however, gluten-free alternatives like gluten-free beer, gluten-free milk, gluten-free bread, gluten-free pasta, gluten-free jams and much more. You just need to spend a little longer at the grocery store, look on every shelf, pick up every product and read labels carefully.

Happy grocery shopping.

Photo: mamapop.com

I have been looking into detox recipes. But I am a lazy dieter. I refuse to being held prisoner to unforgiving food plans and counting calories. I have no patience for ingredients I cannot even spell properly. I am also time-strapped.

I needed something easy-to-do with flexibility that I could slowly incorporate into my life, and not feel guilty if I lunch with friends or dine on date night. Nothing is worse than going for a meal with someone, and the person is on some kind of restricted diet.

I found this amazing drink recipe: lemon, organic honey and cayenne pepper - a variation of the famous Master Cleanse diet.

The Master Cleanse diet was created in the 1940s by nutritionist Stanley Burroughs to treat stomach ulcers and other health ailments. The diet requires 10 or more days solely on the consumption of freshly squeezed lemon juice, organic maple syrup, cayenne pepper and water. Dieters had to drink 6 to 12 glasses each day. And consume nothing else. I don't recommend this.

PLEASE NOTE: I am not advocating liquid diets. In fact, liquid dieting is not for me. As a foodie, there is no way I am going on a liquid diet.

Instead, I took this recipe, changed it up a little. Instead of using organic maple syrup, I replaced it with organic honey. And I incorporate this drink into my daily normal life.

What is the secret behind this drink?

Lemons naturally cleanse the gut because it is full of Vitamin C, and act as a purifier supplying potassium. It is also a natural antibacterial and antiviral agent to help cure digestive infections, and promote immunity. Lemons also help to boost fat burning at a quicker rate.

Honey helps people lose weight because it replaces other sweetners in this concoction. It is also easily digestible and cleanses the liver and body with natural anti-bacterial agents. Honey burns fat fast and is often used to decrease stress levels.

Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, which helps the body burn more fat and increase energy expenditure (thus, burning more calories). Cayenne pepper is considered a thermogenesis food - which means it stimulates weight loss by increasing metabolism and blood circulation. When blood circulates effectively, it carries and expels toxins from the digestive system through the natural process of waste elimination.

My Post One-Week Experience
I would have a glass in the morning, in-between meals and whenever I'm thirsty. Everyday, I would drink at least 1 litre. It has been one week and I have noticed subtle changes. I am eating smaller portions. While on this drink, I have also been consciously avoiding gluten-intensive foods (read The Gluten-Free Craze: 9 Things You Didn't Know Contain Gluten). I no longer have my usual mid-afternoon food cravings, no sugar spikes, no bloated feeling after a meal, I feel more energetic and mornings are easier to get up to. I do sense that I am a little jumpy (like I have a little too much energy) though. If you like Bloody Mary or Bloody Caesar cocktails, you take to this drink like camel to water.

How To Make Lemon, Honey & Cayenne Pepper Drink?
For this recipe, I am making my daily 1 litre intake. You only need 4 items. No blender, juicer or appliance needed. Just a little arm muscle, maybe.

You will need:
2 Whole lemons
4 Tsp of organic honey
1/2 tsp Cayenne pepper powder
Filtered water

Step 1: Put 4 tablespoons of organic honey into a measuring cup and add up to 200ml of lukewarm water. Stir until the honey dissolves. This should take no more than 1 or 2 minutes.

Step 2: Squeeze lemon juice into the honey water. Preferably use a lemon squeezer, it'll save you a lot of arm muscle workout. Through my experience, each lemon gives about 50ml of juice. Remove all seeds. Once you are done squeezing lemons, you will notice that your lemon honey mixture is now measuring up to 300ml.

Step 3: Add cayenne pepper. The level of spiciness is up to your preference and tolerance. But for me, I put in at least 1/2 tsp if I plan to make at least 1 litre of this drink. That works out to at least 4-5 heavy dashes of powder. Stir.

Step 4: Pour the 300ml mixture into a 1 litre water bottle or jug, and fill it up with filtered water. Drink chilled or room temperature.

Viola! That's it.

If you have any question, thoughts or like to share your experience with this drink, please leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.

Note: This lemon, honey and cayenne pepper drink recipe is an alternative and addition to your everyday beverage consumption. It is not suggested on this post for this drink to be taken as a liquid diet or meal replacement.

This is the best hair mud I have ever used. And it is an eco-friendly green product!

With my limp and straight Asian hair, my hair is always cut in layers to give that extra natural lift and body. Unfortunately, it only takes a few weeks of regrowth before my crowning glory starts to flatten on my head like a helmet. Hence, I cannot go anywhere with product.

I have spent lots of money on hair volumizing sprays, texturizing muds, body sculpting clays and root-lifting sea salt sprays. Even dry shampoo that promises to give that beach messy wind-blown look. Some are pretty okay, and some are simply useless. Point to note that none of them were eco-friendly made either.

The problem is that there is usually a compromise. If the product does the job (to give body), it usually comes in a super thick, gooey and utlra-sticky consistency. After all, the hair needs to stick together to give that volume and body, right? And I can't stand the feeling of sticky fingers after application, especially if it's hard to wash off - even with hand soap.

After many attempts, I found O'right Free Mind Mud.

O'right is a Taiwanese brand that focuses on green and eco-friendly haircare and bodycare products. They incorporated the global green concept of business into their products, ingredients, product design and packaging. O'right devotes itself to reduce carbon emissions by using only natural and certified organic ingredients, soy ink printing, and biodegradable and recycled bottles amongst many other green corporate practices to ensure a sustainable global future.

Apart from its eco-friendliness, this green hair product is amazingly effective - even without all the usual harmful chemicals and alcohol found in most hair care products. Here is my review of its Free Mind Mud hair mud.

Packaging
Without really knowing the brand, what sold me were a few pointers on the box packaging. First, the box paper comes from responsible sources and printed with soy ink. Also, there is a liner that states that product is manufactured by using clean energy of both solar and wind power. This already sounds like something worth supporting!

When I opened the box, there was an interesting seed paper attached to the box lid. Every box contains a piece of seed paper and instructions to water the paper and bury it into soil. Over time, the seeds will come alive - sprout and grow.

My seed paper has 3 seeds embedded in it. While I thought this is a smart marketing tact, I love the educational aspect of it. Immediately, you get the sense that this company is serious about being green.

Product
There isn't anything about Free Mind Mud that I don't love.

Super pleasant citrus smell
Gives hair instant body boost and texture
Paste is not too sticky yet it really holds
Extremely flexible to work through hair with fingers - no stiffness!
Easy to rinse off hands
Long-lasting effect - I never needed to retouch or add more product after my first application
Retains and memorizes hair style - even after you have your hair in a ponytail or exercise.
Shows off my long layers extremely well

As you can see from the ingredients list, it is free from the usual harmful suspects like parabens, silicones and propylene glycol. Instead, you'll find beeswax, coconut oil (cocos nucifera oil) and carnauba wax. Yes, there seems a lot of wax. But funnily, my hair does not go flat and weighed down.

If you like the long layered, tousled hair look, you need to get this hair mud. Most hair mud and clay products are often marketed for sculpturing short hair and give texture. I found Free Mind Mud works perfect with long hair as well.

BEFORE. This is me before Free Mind Mud. Look at my naturally flat helmet-forming hair with no visible layers or textures.Super unflattering.

AFTER. Two minutes later. This is me with Free Mind Mud. Look at my layers and hair body all over my head - from roots to ends.

O'Right Free Mind Mud is also highly recommended on TVBS-G Taiwan's variety show "女人我最大". You can watch their dramatic video demonstration here. The video is in Mandarin, but even if you don't know Mandarin, just watch how they create a hair volumizing style with Free Mind Mud.

Retail price: S$34 per 50ml tub

Unfortunately, this product is not easily found in Singapore (yet!). I bought mine in a boutique hair salon called Organic Hair Professionals. Their outlets are in the following locations:

Orchard Central #03-15

376 River Valley Road #01-01

I12 Katong #03-21

204 Hougang Street 21 #01-97

Tanjong Pagar Plaza Blk 1 #01-14

I SUPER love this tutorial on how to make your own scarf from an old T-shirt.

If you have T-shirts that are over-washed, over-worn, and hanging by a thread, but you don't have the heart to throw it out, then upcycle it! You can turn it into a gorgeous scarf!

This is a simple and awesome DIY tutorial for super cute, super adorable scarves. Thanks Mr. Kate!

This is my first eco body wash review.

I don't normally splurge on body wash simply because I don't see the need to shell out big dollars for liquid body soap. But, I have noticed Nature Gate's brand of personal care products on several retail shelves, and I was out of body wash. So I picked up this bottle.

Nature's Gate is a 40-year-old American brand of natural and affordable personal care products. Started by two friends, Leo and Vladimir, they create natural personal care product by hand collecting rainwater and combining botantical, herbal and floral ingredients into its formulas.

Using all natural herbs, Nature's Gate products are paraben free, sulfate free, phthalate free, EDTA free and synthetic fragrance free.

Here's my review of Nature's Gate Acai Velevet Moisture Body Wash.

For an eco liquid soap, this body wash gives great lather - like any other body wash you will find on the shelves. It cleans very well, without stripping moisture. I don't get the dry tight skin feeling when I dry off.

This could be because this body wash is infused with rich anti-oxidant berries, nut oils and butters. The blend includes Shea Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Apricot Kernel Oil,Soybean Oil and Camu Camu.

Looking at the ingredients, it is mainly made with water and coconut-derived by products such as Cocamidopropyl, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate and Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate.

There is a range of Nature's Gate body wash available but I choose the Acai Berry one. Acai berries (kinda look like blueberries) are found deep in the jungles of the Amazon rainforest and prized for its anti-oxidant and free-radical fighting properties. Even my favorite Dr. Oz is a big fan.

Unfortunately, I found the soap scent too sweet for my liking. If you like your body soaps with a strong sweet fruity smell, you'll love this. Imagine biting into an over-ripen sweet peach or apricot and it oozed out its juices in a gel-form all over your body, that would be pretty close to what this body wash is like.

The good news is: For an eco-friendly all natural body wash without the harmful chemicals, Nature Gate's Acai Velvet Moisture Body Wash does not come with a bank-breaking price tag.

For example, Nature Gate's body wash (532ml) sells for $15.90 per bottle. Compare that with Neutrogena Rainbath 16oz (473ml) that sells for $16.15 per bottle - one of my all-time favorite body wash, but it is not without harmful chemicals. So, when you compare the two, Nature Gate's body wash is worth a try for the budget-conscious shopper.

Retail price: S$15.90 per 532 ml pump bottle

Available in various organic and natural boutique stores island-wide. I bought mine at Dragon D'or Cosmetics at Old People's Park, Blk 32, #03-1126, New Market Road in Chinatown. I have also seen Nature's Gate product range stocked at NTUC Finest (specifically Marine Parade and Bishan) at their organic section.

I got this conditioner during one of my recent organic skincare hauls.

While I often rave about this Australian organic skin and hair care brand and cannot live without their Invigorating Shampoo, Rejuvenating Facial Exfoliant and Outback Cellular Recovery Serum, this conditioner doesn't quite knock me off my feet.

Don't get me wrong. I have tried hair conditioners that are far worse than this. Overall, this hair conditioner is actually quite good. It is just not as fabulous like the other Coast to Coast products I've reviewed.

Coast to Coast Replenishing Conditioner is formulated with natural and certified organic ingredients from native Australia to rebuild dehydrated and damaged hair types. Enriched with Kakadu Plum, Chamomile & Organic Avocado Oil, this moisture-intensive conditioner builds hair strength and elasticity.

Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum

Kakadu Plum is a native fruit grown in the northern Australian outback. It has natural antiseptic and healing properties. Known as a super food, did you know that Kakadu Plum is the world's most concentrated Vitamin C single natural food source? Apparently so. It contains over 3000mg of Vitamin C per 100g of fruit. That is over 50 times more than oranges!

The problem for me is it doesn't smell like oranges. Rather, it has a nutty and woody scent. Just look at the ingredients. It is made with all of Earth's goodness like Organic Aloe Vera extract, Wild Harvested Kakadu Plum and Desert Lime, Honey, Organic Avocado Oil, Australian Sandalwood Oil, Buddha Wood Oil and Ylang Ylang.

This 2012 BAZAAR award-winning lightweight hair conditioning cream nourishes the hair cuticle and gives hair a soft, silky feel without the weight. The good thing about this conditioner is that it delivers as promised.

After several weeks of use, the ends of my hair are not dry and I never struggle with hair tangles. As for giving fuller and thicker looking hair, I cannot say this conditioner has made any noticeable difference, but my hair is not weighed down with waxy buildup (like some other conditioners).

For some mad reason, I am not crazy about this hair conditioner. But I'll pick this conditioner over any other regular over-the-counter conditioners because it does give my hair the moisture it needs without the weight.

For dry and damaged hair.

Retail price: S$40.80 per 250ml

This conditioner was previously priced at S$37. It had a slight price increase last week. But don't despair, Coast to Coast is having a 1-FOR-1 sale for GSS (Great Singapore Sale) starting now until further notice.

Available at Coast to Coast retail boutique at VivoCity, #01-08. Telephone: 6376 9908.

To all my readers,

GREAT NEWS!

I'm so happy to share with you that my blog, Katjuju.com, has made it as a FINALIST in this year's Singapore Blog Awards 2013 in two categories:

Panasonic Best Eco-Challenge Blog Nanyang Optical Best Lifestyle Blog

Since I started this blog about 13 months ago, I have managed to connect with some of you directly via emails, messages, posts, comments and my Facebook fan page. Thank you, and all my personal friends, for your support and kind words of encouragement.

Now, I need your vote!

Please continue to support me by voting. The process is simple, but different process for the two categories (because there are two different sponsors). Here is the illustrated 4-Step process to vote for me in each of the categories.

*****

VOTE CATEGORY #1: BEST ECO-CHALLENGE BLOG

To vote, all you need is to have a Facebook account and follow these steps:

Step 1: Go to Panasonic's Voting Page.

Step: 2: Click on Voting Gallery.

Step 3: Click on the Filter drop-down menu. Choose Best Eco-Challenge Blog.

Step 4: Find my profile, and click VOTE.

As a voter, you stand a chance to win a Panasonic sponsored gift (I guess it's a camera!) at the end of the voting period. So vote for me every day!

*****

VOTE #2: BEST LIFESTYLE BLOG

To vote, all you need is to be a Singaporean or Singapore PR and follow these steps:

(If you are not a Singaporean or Singaporean PR, you can still vote! Thing to note: When you register, they will ask for your NRIC/FIN # - just key in S1234567A. And, fill the rest of the details as normal.)

Step 1: Go to Singapore Blog Awards 2013 Voting & Registration Page

Step: 2: Click on Register (if it is your 1st time), or Login

Step 3: Under Main category, click on NANYANG OPTICAL BEST LIFESTYLE BLOG

Step 4: Find my profile, and click VOTE.

That's it! It's that simple.

*****

Voting starts now and ends 23 June 2013. It is a daily vote count - that means you can vote for me once a day, everyday. Woohoo!

Thank you so much again, remember: Support the Environment. Let's Go Green Together.

Love, Kat ♥

Going green isn't as difficult as a lot of people think. It is actually very easy and can save you a lot of money. Just a few small adjustments (and new habits) in our everyday lives will make a huge difference to the environment, your life...and your wallet.

Here are 21 Dirt Cheap Ways to Go Green

#1: Turn Your Computer Off
Even if your computer is in SLEEP mode, it is still sucking up energy. Get into the habit of turning off your computer when you are finished with it - at home and at work.

#2: Stock Up Your Freezer
Freezers run more efficiently full than empty. Why? A fully stocked freezer has less air space to cool and exchange when the freezer door opens. When the freezer door closes, it will need less energy to cool the new warm air trapped inside the freezer.

#3: Use Print Paper Economically
Paper has two sides. Print and copy on both sides when possible. If only one side of printer paper is printed and no longer useful, flip it over and use as scrap paper. I love to collect printed paper around the office, clip them together in a thick stack and have an endless stash of scrap paper to scribble on.

#4: Choose E-Tickets
Buying tickets to movies, concerts and flights is a seamless process these days. Wherever possible, choose to purchase e-tickets. You also get to save on your printer's ink (and you know how expensive printer inks are)!

#5: Use Rechargeable Batteries
The upfront cost of rechargeable batteries may be higher than normal batteries. But, they last longer and hardly need replacing (once every 2 to 3 years). Plus, it saves shelf space because you only use what you need.

#6: Empty Your Truck
Does your car trunk look like this? A loaded trunk at the back of your car means more fuel is needed to drive the excess weight around. This translates to lower fuel efficiency for your car and more fuel dollars for your wallet.

#7: Eat Smaller Portions
Over-indulgence of food and calories not only contribute to obesity and weight-gain, it is also a considerable waste of resources. How many times have we heard our mothers say 'Don't waste food. Children in other parts of the world are starving.' Eating less helps prevent over-eating, obesity and food wastage. Take a look at your weekly grocery bill, see what you can cut out (or cut down) and watch your food bill drop.

#8: Eat More Veggies
While we mentioned eating in smaller portions, what you eat also matters. Try to include more vegetables to your diet. Eating green is good for health and great for weight management and financial savings. Cows, chickens, pigs and sheeps require a lot of grass to grow and survive. Our demand for their meat puts intense industry strain on these animal resources, as well as, our gut. Try going once a week vegetarian and your digestive system will thank you for it.

#9: Donate, Sell or Giveaway
Before you start tossing out old things, consider donating it instead. Or giving it away. One man's junk is another man's treasure. If the item is new or hardly used, try selling it. One time I found a few items in the house I don't use anymore so I brought them to work to sell. The sales covered my lunch expenses for the week!

#10: Use Old Newspapers to Wrap Gifts & Veggies
Hang on to old newspapers. They are great for wrapping gifts (read How To Wrap Your Gifts in Newspaper?) and packing fragile items. You can save money on fancy wrapping paper (which are coated with toxic chemicals) and bubble-wrap. And reduce unnecessary waste. Newspapers are also great for wrapping vegetables. It keeps them fresher for longer. If you are wondering about the health hazard of wrapping your fresh veggies in newspaper ink, don't worry. Ink from newspaper is from vegetable dye so it should be safe.

#11: Borrow Books
Hit the library! Children's books and novels can be easily borrowed from the library or from friends. These are books that kids and people grow out of. A good story is meant to be shared so pass it along.

#12: Make Your Own Household Cleaning Agents
Household detergents are collectively expensive. Yet, they are full of toxic chemicals that are harmful to our health. Effective marketing has us believe that we cannot do with these spray bottles to clean and disinfect our home. But the truth is, we can make our own cleaning supplies with a handful of basic ingredients such as baking soda, vinegar and water.

#13: Plan Your Day
Get into the habit of planning out your day, especially when it comes to running errands. Schedule them together to avoid unnecessary trips back and forth. This will not only save you time and petrol money, you will contribute less pollution to the environment.

#14: Recycle Everything
Everything has a final destination. It is usually the incinerator or landfill. Create a simple system at home to sort out trash from general trash, paper, plastic and glass. This will reduce the amount of garbage we contribute to the landfills, and emit less toxic gases into the environment when incinerated.

#15: Buy Organic
PasarBella is a new Farmer's Market in Singapore. Located at the old Turf club, PasarBella is open 7 days a week from 9:30am to 7pm. While I have not been there (yet), it has over 30,000 sq ft of market space selling fresh meats, seafood, dairy, fruits, veggies, wines and craft beers.

There are also plenty of wholesale organic farms and retail outlets in Singapore. Zenxin Organic, Murray's Organics, Kin Yan Argotech, Supernature, Best Organic Food and Brown Rice Paradise to name a few. Buy in bulk or be a member. You can save more with applicable discounts.

#16: Share Magazines
Read and pass them on. There are lots of places with waiting areas that would appreciate your magazine hand-me-downs like your doctor's clinic and your dentist office. So, the next time you go for a hair cut, bring and donate your stack of magazines.

#17: Switch to Paperless Billing
These days, most bills are payable online with a few clicks. You are already paying for monthly internet service - make full use of it and stop letting the banks earn on your cheque book replenishment orders.

#18: Take Shorter Showers
In humid tropical climates like Singapore, it is not uncommon to shower 2 or 3 times a day. But not every shower has to be a full-fledged affair. Maintain that a once-a-day complete shower, but take the other showers in the day as a quick body rinse instead. This will limit wasting large amounts of water and save on your monthly water bill.

#19: Unplug Your Electronics
Did you know that most electrical appliances continue to suck electricity even when they are turned off? Get into the habit of unplugging power cords to mobile phone chargers, TV, computers and kitchen appliances. Remember: If you are not using it, turn it off and unplug.

#20: Walk More, Drive Less
Clock in mileage with your walking shoes instead of your car odometer. This great little habit gets your blood pumping and circulating to better health. You will also lose weight, feel great and save petrol and parking dollars.

#21: Support Green Businesses
Shop for eco-friendly products, especially skin care. Since switching to natural and organic skin care products, my complexion has greatly improved. The slight cost difference is worth the otherwise expense to see a dermatologist.

Now, are you convinced about how easy going green can save you money? And time? And space?

When it comes to saving the planet and protecting the environment, remember:

Small Change = Big Difference.

If you remember not too long ago, I posted on Kiehl's permanent corporate-wide price drop for 21 of their best-selling products (read Kiehl's Singapore Has Dropped Prices, Permanently). So when one of my favorite toners (read Le Château du Bois Tonic Toner) finished, I took the opportunity to purchase their calendula toner.

Most people will not know what a calendula flower is. But it also goes by a more common name, Marigold. Plant pharmacological studies have shown that marigold, or calendula extract has anti-viral and anti-inflammatory properties often used in herbal and cosmetic products.

Ancient Greeks used calendula to treat wounds and minor fungal infections. Calendula oil was used as a healing ointment for cuts, burns, bruises, warts, body aches and pains.

Here is my review of Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner after using it for 4 weeks.

On first impression, I was fascinated to see natural calendula leave petals floating in the bottle. Lots of it. How often do you see natural flowers and leaves in your skincare? It is a great marketing and packaging tactic for shoppers like me who are just thrilled to see something that.

Made from whole flowers and pure extracts, Kiehl's Calendula Herbal-Extract Toner is suitable for normal-to-oily skin type. Being alcohol-free and free of harsh drying agents, this toner did not dry out or sting my skin upon applicable or contact. As for scent, it smells like I'm dabbing tea on my face - a combination of green and jasmine tea. A pleasant scent that makes you want to almost drink it.

The bottle has a great unobstructed dispensing flip top cap. I never struggle with getting the product out on my cotton pad.

Unfortunately, as an effective toner (stated on the bottle), I did not notice any significant improvement to my skin. My complexion is already fairly flawless. So, it is hard to say if this toner can make a noticeable difference to your complexion. To me, it makes for a good basic essential but not something that will specifically treat or yield obvious improvements.

However, I do have one major issue with this product. Take a look at the ingredients list.

It is not entirely free of chemicals with potential health risks! Propylene glycol (listed as #2 ingredient), pentylene glycol (listed as #3 ingredient), methylparaben (listed as #4 ingredient) and Disodium EDTA (listed as #5 ingredient). Oh dear.

Not to mention, the toner's main herbal extract calenula is known to cause allergies and should be avoided during pregnancy.

While these chemical ingredients are not directly responsible for health major risks and generally safe and stable, the truth is these chemicals have the potential to trigger allergic reactions, and at highly concentrated amounts have long-term accumulative effects that can lead to internal tissue damage, and even cancer.

Unfortunately, this is another Kiehl's product (read Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Gel) that I will not be buying again. But if this is a toner you have been using for a while and has shown significant improvement to your skin without any allergic reactions, then I suppose no harm sticking with it.

Retail price: S$58 per 250ml

Available at all Kiehl's outlets in Singapore islandwide.

Photo from careerintheoven.blogspot.som

Let's face it: Fresh herbs in Singapore is expensive. Go to any supermarket and you will find a handful of rosemary will set you back $5. And they don't last for very long.

I am no green thumb. Most plants under my care struggle to survive past four weeks. But out of pure dollar savings, I started experimenting with my own condo-living herb garden. Most have died a miserable death.

The one I found easiest to grow and most hardy (it has got to be if its under my care) is rosemary. Rosemary is great in pastas, and often paired with red meats like lamb, beef and pork. Lots of roast chicken recipes use rosemary as well.

Rosemary's anti-inflammatory properties have been used as a natural remedy for many years to treat digestive ailments, arthritis, joint and muscle pains. Today, researchers have found that rosemary contain neuroprotective properties that protect brain tissue against degeneration that can lead to Alzheimer's and memory loss.

Here is how you can grow your own rosemary herb in your condo apartment.

Step 1: Get a large deep flowering pot

Make sure the pot has a small hole at the bottom for drainage. If your pot doesn't have a hole at the bottom, bring it to your nearest nursery and ask them to help you drill one. Caution: If drilled too quick, it may crack the base of your red clay terra cotta pot.

Also, make sure you have a plastic dish or tray under your flower pot to catch any drained water from spilling unto your floors. For better drainage, place some large rocks at the bottom of the pot before you fill it with soil.

Step 2: Make a trip down to a nursery

Choose a nice bushy pot of rosemary. Make sure the leaves are green and healthy looking without any dried brown bits at the tips of the leaves. Also, look at the stem and where the leaves connect, it should be clear and no trace of white spots (plant bugs).

Step 3: Get a bag of potting soil

This is the part where a lot of people get it wrong. Even me. There are lots of different kind of soil to choose from and soil selection is critical to plant health. Choosing the right soil provides your herbs with the right drainage, soil consistency, and nutrient and water retention. Choose a medium-weight potting soil premixed with fertilizer. This will not only help the soil drain water when exposed in the sun for long periods, it will provide the necessarily nutrients to your rosemary plant for healthy growth.

Step 4: Pot the rosemary
Fill about 3/4 of your pot up with soil. Sprinkle the soil with water and mix it around to moisten the soil bedding evenly. It should have a loose muddy feel. Then, use your hands to dig down the center of the pot to create a sunken bed and transfer your rosemary to your pot. Once you have done that, layer about 1 inch of soil at the top of the exposed rosemary's root base. Pat the soil down to pack it firmly to the rosemary.

Step 5: Find a sun-filled spot for your pot

Rosemary loves sunshine. Apartment condo living has great sun lit spots like along a window sill, on a outdoor balcony or even a kitchen counter with an open window. One good thing about rosemary is that it does not require a lot of watering.

Special note on growing rosemary: It loves rain too. Rainwater is mildly acidic with low alkalinity making it easier for your rosemary to absorb nutirents from the soil, and promotes the soil's micro-organism activity. Alkalinity from rainwater makes rosemary more fragrant as well. Having said that, do not over-water. Rosemary plant can suffer from root rot, so make sure you have good drainage in your pot and stick to the average level of watering to wet the soil.

Happy potting!

As a Finalist in the 2013 Singapore Blog Awards for Nanyang Optical Best Lifestyle Blog, we were asked to write a post on what or who inspires us from the 60's. This is a themed challenge that is in line with this year's blog awards.

Looking back at the 60s, one thing I absolutely love is the fashion, and its stylish female icons. Feminist revolution in the mid-60s to the androgynous hippie style of the late 60s, women of this decade defined popular fashion. Sex kittens, cutey pixies and elegant powerful women were all part of this grandiose mix.

It was an era where fashion and beauty were infused with an evolving role of feminine confidence. It was a time when great and influential women like Audrey Hepburn, Jackie Onassis, Bridgette Bardot, Coco Chanel and Twiggy once lived.

These women were not only fashion icons, but their personal stories of survival, courage and pushing boundaries in history continue to inspire me in many ways. One of my greatest fashion icons and person of inspiration is Audrey Hepburn.

Audrey Hepburn: The Legendary Style Icon
Audrey Hepburn is a petite woman of timeless Hollywood elegance and beauty. Her sense of fashion is classic and almost always the same. She exudes a certain kind of grace that I wished I had. During the time of the blond bombshell sex kittens like Marilyn Monroe and Bridgette Bardot, Audry Hepburn kept things different with her waif, thin, flat-chested physique and brunette mane. Her fashion style resonates well with me and some of them include:

#1: Know What Works For You and Stick With It
At a young age, Audrey Hepburn knew what styles looked good on her and she stuck with it all of her life. For example, she had a small 22" waist. So she wore clothes that clinched on the waist or silhouette structured outfits to enhance her figure.

#2: Keep It Simple
Audrey Hepburn's style has always been about simplicity. She never liked anything complicated and uncomfortable. Just look at some of her basic wardrobe must-haves: a pair of over-sized dark sunglasses, a string of choker pearls, a pair of kitten heels or ballerina flats, a fitted suit and the famous little black dress.

#3: Maintain Good Posture & Grooming
What works for Audrey can always be found in the details. Grooming was a big thing for her. Her look is unmistakeably neat and well-groomed. For example, a flawless face, manicured nails and smoothly combed hair was how she always presented herself. Posture was also very important to her. Her early training in ballet taught her to maintain good posture and grace, never looking sloppy.

Audrey Hepburn: The Brave War-Torn Child
Not a lot of people know the real Audrey Hepburn. Despite coming from a well-travelled European family with aristocratic roots, she has been through and witnessed first-hand the tribulations of war, at home and in public. Her father left her family abruptly when she was very young after her mother caught him having illict affairs with the family's nanny.

She has many recollections of the war. One of which she said "More than once I was at the station seeing trainloads of Jews being transported, seeing all these faces over the top of the wagon. I remember, very sharply, one little boy standing with his parents on the platform, very pale, very blond, wearing a coat that was much too big for him, and he stepped on to the train. I was a child observing a child".

While she may physically look petite and frail, her courage was bold and strong. When the Germans in Holland confiscated all radios, Audrey Hepburn secretly delivered underground newspapers in her oversized boots. At the tender age of 15, she was a prolific ballet dancer, and danced secretly for the Dutch resistance during World War II. She gave ballet recitals to make money for the resistance until she was too weak from malnutrition. War had left Audrey Hepburn suffering from colitis, jaundice, anemia, endometriosis, asthma and depression.

Audrey Hepburn: The Woman Who Saved Lives
Her history of having almost starved to death during the Nazi-occupied Holland of World War II, led her to dedicate the later part of her life to help save improvised children in the poorest nations. She became a formidable UNICEF goodwill ambassador for starving children around the world.

On the personal front, Audrey Hepburn located her estranged father in her 30s. And while he remained emotionally detached from his only daughter, she kept in contact and supported him financially until his death.

In 1993 at the age of 63, Audrey Hepburn died from appendiceal cancer. As one of the most beautiful women who ever lived, Audrey Hepburn's beauty was not only skin deep. It came from within.

I am inspired by the woman Audrey Hepburn was. She was a survivor and she had courage. She lived her life with purpose and never bolted in the face of fear. And when she made it good in life, she gave it all back.

In today's grab-&-go culture, bottled water not only serves as a necessary accessory for jetting between yoga, spin and zumba class paired with the latest Lululemon outfit, it has become the essential icon of a healthy lifestyle.

Bottled water is healthy water - at least that's what marketers tell us. Nothing beats gulping down an icy cold bottle of pure spring water sourced from the majestic mineral-rich alpine peaks of Switzerland after a hot and sweaty workout. But what do we do with the bottle?

Unfortunately, our need for bottled water on-the-go stems from many years of great corporate marketing. And quite unnecessary. Here are 6 dirty truths about drinking bottled water.

Dirty Truth #1: Bottled Water Increases Garbage Load
Even for a recycling-friendly country like the US, only about 15% of plastic water bottles are recycled every year. Compared to countries like Canada and Germany, Singaporeans are dismal at recycling (read more Are Singapore's Ready to Pay-For-Plastic Bags?).

Just look at this photo I took this morning. There was a pair of old shoes on top of the recycling bin. The bin clearly states for paper, glass and plastic only. Unless they are Cinderella's glass slipper (which clearly it is not), we are definitely not recycle-smart.

If we continue to support the bottled water industry by purchasing bottled water, we will inevitably continue to fill our incinerators with unnecessary garbage, release more carbon and toxic chemicals into our atmosphere, and further tax our already limited landfill areas. All this time, bottled water companies will continue to prosper.

Dirty Truth #2: Massive Strain On Resources
The amount of crude oil needed to make plastic water bottles and transport them is enormous. In the US alone, production of plastic (PET or polyethylene) bottles to meet market demand for bottled water is equivalent to almost 17.6 million barrels of crude oil (excluding transportation). This equals to the same amount of oil needed to fuel more than one million vehicles in the US each year! Let's put it another way: it takes nearly 7x of water in the bottle to make the plastic bottle itself!

Dirty Truth #3: Bottled Water Serves Corporations
When you buy bottled water, you are contributing to the profits of the bottled water corporations. Period. This supports the privatization of water and financially discourages public infrastructure. When such privatization occurs in countries, access to water (bottled or not) is viewed as a luxury and not a basic human right. On the other hand, when people from developed countries drink safe and clean tap water, they are putting money back into the government's hands (not the corporation's). Governments are, in turn, encouraged by nation duty to ensure proper infrastructure, strict regulations and sound policies are in place to continue delivering clean water to its people.

Dirty Truth #4: Bottled Water is Really Expensive
Bottled water is expensive. Not just on the sourcing, transportation and bottling of water, it is also expensive to buy. One litre of bottled mineral water can set you back S$10 or more. According to the Institute of Medicine, the adequate intake of water for women is 2.2 litres per day and 3 litres per day for men. That's at least S$20-S$30 on bottled water per person, and over S$7,000 per person per year. You can go on nice vacation with that kind of savings.

Dirty Truth #5: Bottled Water is Less Regulated
Bottled water companies spend billions of dollars to convince consumers that bottled water is healthier, safer, fresher and better than normal tap water. The reality is - it is not entirely true. In fact, tap water in developed countries like Singapore, UK and the US are highly regulated by the government. They are subject to strict and rigorous water testing requirements for bacteria and chemical contaminants. Bottled water, on the other hand, is corporatized - falling under the watch of the Food & Drug Administration which are less regulated than the government municipalities.

Dirty Truths #6: Not All Bottled Water is Created Equal
Did you know that as much as 40% of bottled water in the US is actually just filtered tap water? For the die-hard water connoisseurs, they claim that bottled water taste better than normal tap water, making it hard to break the habit of drinking bottled water. But did you know that many research and surveys have shown that blind taste tests prove otherwise on most people? Why?

In 2009, a report by Food and Water Watch found that almost half of all bottled water is actually derived from tap water. Big and popular bottled water brands such as Pepsi's Aquafina (with over 13% of the bottled water market), Coca-Cola's Dasani and Nestle's Pure Life were forced to change their bottles' labeling to clearly state where their water comes from: public water resources.

So, before you get yourself into this expensive and unnecessary habit, ask yourself how badly do you want to save the Planet...and your wallet.

Photo source: blushinc.sg

Up until a few weeks ago, the word Konjac did not exist in my vocabulary. Used in the skincare context, the konjac sponge (or puff) is the latest natural beauty craze that has hit Asia and the rest of the world.

So, what is the Konjac sponge? It is simply a face buffer, made from 100% top quality food grade natural fibers of the konjac (Konnyaku) plant root - a kind of potato. However, these natural face buffers are not edible. Instead, they are meant to be used for cleansing your face as you would a muslim cloth or a face sponge.

Reputed for its health-giving properties, konjac is grown in Japan, Korea and China and has been used for over 1500 years as food and medicine. Konjac is loaded with tons of natural goodness like minerals, protein, zinc, iron, Vitamin A, C, E, D, B1, B2, B6, B12 and lots more.

Today, skincare companies have found a way to create an eco skincare product using the natural net-like structure of the konjac root plant. This new invention have been flying off the beauty counters every since. I say this because a few weeks ago when I went to Face Shop to buy their Konjac sponge, they were sold out! To make matters worse, the sales assistant told me that their konjac sponges is their best-seller and they hardly remain on the shelves for long.

Konjac's natural versatile and fibrous structure make for great gentle massaging of the skin, stimulating blood circulation and encouraging new cellular growth. When dry, it is small and stone hard. To use a konjac sponge, you need to soak it in water. It will soften and gradually puff up in size like how a well-soaked sponge. Once dry, it will shrink back to its original small size and can be re-used many times over.

The goodness of konjac:

100% Natural
100% Coloring Free (They do come in various colors, I'll touch on that later)
100% Additive Free
100% Biodegradable
100% Hyper-allergenic (Good for all skin types, including sensitive skin)
100% Environmentally Safe, Skin Safe
A naturally moisture rich plant fiber with natural alkalinity to help balance acidity of skin impurities and oils.

Common questions women ask about the konjac sponge:

Why is it damp?
When you buy your first konjac sponge, it will be packaged in a small air-tight plastic pouch. You will notice inside of the bag appears to be slightly damp. Don't panic. Almost all konjac sponge brands are the same. The reason being the konjacs are shipped and package slightly hydrated. You are probably wondering 'Won't it be easier to ship it dry like a regular hard sponge?'. My only guess is hard sponges may be prone to breakage or cracks during transportation, whereas a slightly damp sponge can absorb shock and pressure extremely well.

Konjac is suppose to be100% coloring free. Why are there so many colors of konjac sponges?
The original konjac sponge is pure white. There are some innovative konjac companies who have created konjac varieties using natural clay coloring. Look at Konjac Sponge Company. You can get them in red (konjac red clay sponge), green (konjac green clay sponge), pink (konjac pink clay sponge) and black (konjac bamboo charcoal).

How do I use it?
Using your konjac sponge is no different with using a face scrub sponge or face cloth. Simply apply gentle circular strokes all over the face and around your eyes. Here is a good straightforward review on how to use a konjac sponge by Katie Hughes of KatieandSophieBeauty.

How long does a konjac sponge last?
A good konjac sponge that is kept under good care can last you 2-3 months. Before using your konjac, make sure it is completely dry before wetting it. Never wring out your konjac. After every use, simply squeeze between your fingers to get rid of the excess water and hang to dry. This will extend the life of your sponge.

Can you disinfect konjac?
Yes. Disinfect your konjac by soaking it in just-boiled hot water once every two weeks. But make sure you don't get into a crazy habit and do it too often because it can accelerate the breakdown of the natural fibers shorten the life of your konjac sponge.

When should I change to a new konjac sponge?
When it starts to break apart and deteriorate. But you don't have to throw it away! Remember, konjac is 100% biodegradable. You can literally put your discarded konjac sponge at the bottom of a potted plant to help retain moisture in the soil.

As part of the Singapore Blog Awards, Panasonic held an eco-friendly Go Eco, Get Crafty event yesterday at City Square Mall. Finalist bloggers of this year's Best Eco-Challenge Blog were invited to attend and participate.

Fun Fact: Do you know why City Square Mall was the chosen venue to hold this crafty event? Because City Square Mall (nearest MRT station: Farrer Park) located at the junction of Serangoon & Kitchener Road, is the first shopping mall in Singapore to be integrated with an urban park!

This 49,000 sq ft park just outside the mall's entrance is filled with many natural green surprises, designed to provide a learning experience about ecology and the natural environment.

Last Sunday's event was attended by over thirty parents and their kids. It was great seeing families together and doing crafts. Good quality time spent. Moms, dads, little girls, little boys, brothers and sisters were all getting into the action!

Evelyn Kwek, our craft host was hard at work getting the kids to pay attention and follow instructions. Evelyn was hilarious and kept everyone laughing and entertained. She did a great jobs with the kids!

Evelyn Kwek, host

The main agenda of the day: Made 2 crafts from recycled old T-shirts.Here we go!

Craft #1: Old T-Shirt to Useable Coaster
All you need is an old T-shirt, scissors and craft glue.

Step 1: Cut three strips of T-shirt across the bottom hemline about 1-inch thick. You will end up with three large loops.
Step 2: Cut the loops to make 3 long straight strips.
Step 3: Tie a knot at the top holding all 3 strips together.
Step 4: Start braiding the 3 long strips together, like you braid hair. Make a small loose knot at the end.
Step 5: Roll braid into a tight circle and tuck the end under the bottom side. You can use glue to hold the braid rolls and ends in place.
Step 6: Add ribbons, stickers, marker pen inks and more to decorate and customize your coasters.

I was so inspired by this little girl's coaster! She made this cute coaster with neon colors and a pretty pink bow.

While the little ones were busy making their crafts (with their parents assistance), bloggers were busy juggling between making their own crafts, socializing and snapping photos. Hence, it is no wonder we worked a little slower than the kids, and needed a little more help.

Craft 2: Old T-shirt to a Recyclable Shopping or Grocery Bag
This is super easy! All you need is an old-T-shirt, preferably one with a nice printed design or colors with pockets.

Step 1: Cut off a strip across the bottom hemline of the T-shirt.
Step 2: If your T-shirt has sleeves, cut the sleeves off from the arm/shoulder hemline.
Step 3: Cut around the neckline. This will remove the collar hem.
Step 4: Turn the T-shirt inside out, and bunch up the bottom of the T-shirt. Make a small knot using the hemline strips you previously cut off.
Step 5: Turn the T-shirt back.

You can accessorize your recycled shopping bag with old buttons, ribbons and what other loose fabric you have laying around.

Two hours later, all the kids and bloggers proudly showed off their crafts! Thanks Panasonic and omy.sg for organizing this fun crafty event.

With the very funny host of the event, Evelyn Kuek

Haze situation in Singapore is getting from bad to worse. Yesterday, the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading was at 155! That's 50% over "unhealthy" levels of pollution which start at PSI 100 onwards. This makes the haze situation yesterday highest since September 1997. That's 16 years ago.

And the forest fires on Indonesia's Sumatra Islands are not letting up. To make things worse, Indonesian authorities are expecting the situation to get worse before it gets better. The hot and dry climatic spell is set to peak over the next 2 weeks. What?! Another 14 days of this haze.

Though smoke-filled air causes no long-term medical problems in healthy people, it can be irritating and uncomfortable. For people very old, very young and those with heart disease, haze can add life-threatening burden to their health.

Photo source: TodayOnline.com

Suit up now and and learn how to easily beat the haze in 10 ways.

Haze Buster #1: Stay Indoors
This is the best time to stay indoors. Put your outdoor exercise plan like running and brisk walking to rest for the next few weeks. Aerobic activity will only require you to breathe deeper, introducing more pollutants into your lungs. If you have to be outdoors, make sure you are not exposed to more than a hour of vigorous exercise because the body takes in 10 to 20 times more air during exertion than when at rest. If you have pets, keep them indoors. Dogs, especially little ones, have small lung capacity so no more long walks for your doggie until the smog clears up.

Haze Buster #2: Shut Your Windows & Doors
In this haze condition, there is no point staying indoors and leaving your windows and doors wide open for air ventilation. Shut all your windows and doors, and turn on the fans!

Haze Buster #3 Switch on the Air-con
Again, there is no better excuse to air-condition our homes. Make sure your air-con filters are clean and not clogged. If so, time to re-contract with your air-con maintenance company and gets your air-con units clean, unclogged and operating at maximum efficiency. This will help to save power and energy used as well.

Haze Buster #4: Quit Smoking
This is probably the best time to quit smoking. Besides exposing our bodies to the toxic pollutants in the air during this hazy season, cigarette smoke further aggravates our lungs, making them more sensitive to the effects of the air pollution.

Haze Buster #5: Reduce Indoor Air Pollutants
While you are staying indoors, make sure you are also managing other sources of indoor air pollutants. Avoid indoor cigarette smoking, candle burning, deep-frying of foods and heavy usage f aerosol products like hairspray. This will keep your indoor air as fresh and clean as possible.

Haze Buster #6: Put Away The Vacuum
Vacuum cleaners not only suck up loose dirt and dust off the floors, but they also tend to stir up surrounding areas of dust inside your home. Avoid vacuuming your home during this hazy period and use a floor sweeper and wet mop instead.

Haze Buster #7: Put on a Mask
Prevent from inhaling toxic air pollutants by wearing a mask. Don't just grab any surgical or paper mask because those do not provide adequate protection against haze pollutants. They are mainly used as a body fluid barrier rather than against fine micro particles. You will need a respiratory mask instead. Respiratory masks are designed to keep out fine air pollutants like smoke and dust. Available at most pharmacies and polyclinics.

Haze Buster #8: Wet Your Eyes
During this hazy period, having dry and irritable eyes is common. Make sure to keep your eyes moist with preservative-free eye drops. According to baby forums, some mothers use a few drops of breast milk to wash out their babies eyes. This helps to reduce eye irritation from the toxic air pollutants.

Haze Buster #9: Try Natural Remedies
Try natural home remedies to soothe ailments caused by the haze.

To soothe dry throat: Mix equal parts aloe vera and orange juice. Add honey. Drink a glass every morning.
To suppress bouts of coughing: Chop up a garlic clove and place in a small bowl. Add two tablespoons of honey, cover bowl and leave overnight. Take one tablespoon of the mixture throughout the next day.
To dissolve mucus: Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a jug of water and take occasional swallows. This will cut through the mucus buildup and naturally clear your airways.

Haze Buster #10: Up Your Vitamin Intake
If you cannot avoid going outdoors completely, the best way is to get maximum internal air pollutant protection. You can do this by watching your diet and ensuing you maintain high levels of Vitamin A, C and E. These powerful anti-oxidants will help your fight against internal pollutant irritation or infection. Also, cut down on your alcohol, tea (exclude herbal) coffee consumption. These beverages contain high purine, which are toxins that the body eliminates by urine or sweat in the form of uric acid. Purines need large amounts of water to dilute and flush out. This will leave you feeling dehydrated and run down.

Read more about the haze on How the Haze is Hurting Your Body and It's Raining Birds in Singapore.

More hazy news. PSI reading was 321 at 10pm last night. This is the worst and highest PSI reading in Singapore's history as fires continue to rage in Indonesia's Sumatra island.

News in the media states that the Indonesia government plans to "make rain" to dampen the smog, also referred to as 'cloud seeding'. This is done by dispatching helicopters in the sky to "inject" chemicals into clouds, which cause the formation of heavy ice crystals, and induce rain. How is this natural and safe to the environment and human health on the long-term....who knows.

Cloud Seeding Process

Even more bad news. According to Indonesia's disaster management agency, helicopters will be dispatched by Friday. At the earliest. To top things off, for cloud seeding to work, clouds must be present. Argh.

So as we wait for any action to mitigate this polluting atmospheric condition, the intense amount of air pollutants we inhale can trigger underlying and pre-existing health conditions, affecting the body in many ways.

Photo source: Open Knowledge

Don't waste time waiting for the governments to do something. Be vigilant. You need to know how the haze is hurting you and your family so that you can better protect your health.

Airways & Lungs
Toxic particles in the air can cause inflammation of your airways and lungs as you inhale. It will cause your airways and lungs to produce phlegm as a defense mechanism to try get rid of the particles. The airways may also provoke coughing to expel of these toxic particles introduced in your body.

How? Go to the pharmacy and buy a decongestant. Choose one that treats minor symptoms of sneezing, nasal congestion and running nose.

Skin
Those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like eczema may start to experience uncomfortable itching and minor skin inflammation.

How? Try slathering your skin with a PH-balanced moisturizer at least 3-4 times a day. This will create a barrier and help protect your skin from these environmental irritants. Make sure to regularly wash your hands and face to keep your skin's surface area clean and pollutant-free.

Throat
As you inhale, foreign toxic pollutants passing through your airway will start to dry out and irritate the throat. This will cause your throat to produce phlegm and mucus discharge to try flush out the toxins. In turn, it will clog up your respiratory tract making breathing difficult.

How? Go to the pharmacy and buy a cough syrup. Keep well-hydrated by drinking 10-12 glasses of water per day. Try having a warm glass of honey lemon drink before you go to bed and for breakfast. This will help soothe your throat to face another smog-filled day ahead. You might even want to throw a couple of lozenges in your purse to ease throat dryness throughout the day.

Nose
As you inhale, toxic particles and chemicals will irritate the nose. Your nose will naturally begin to excrete mucus to try flush out the toxins. As more mucus is produced, it will start to block the nasal passage way and the nose will swell. If you have allergic rhinitis, this condition will be much worse for you.

How? Go to the pharmacy and get an appropriate medication to reduce coughing and sneezing.

Eyes
Are you eyes feeling dry? The particles and chemicals in the air can cause a slight burning sensation. Normally, eyes will produce natural tears to wash the particles away. However, if the air quality remains contaminated, the eyes can get inflamed causing conjunctivitis.

How? Avoid rubbing your eyes and put your contact lenses away. Keep eyes covered by wearing spectacles and sunglasses when going out. Also, get some preservative-free lubricants or saline eye drops. Start dripping these tear supplements into your eyes every hour to wash the allergens away.

Heart
When the nose and air passage ways are inflamed, this puts immense stress and pressure on your heart. Your heart will naturally pump faster and this will inadvertently increase blood pressure. At the same time, the body will release chemicals to make blood cot easily. The combination of higher blood pressure and unnecessary increase of blood clots can trigger a heart attack or heart failure.

How?Stay indoors, avoid vigorous outdoor activity and wear a respirator mask. Slow down your pace of life a little. Take things easy and consciously check yourself to make sure your heart is not building pressure or pumping too fast.

People with Chronic Illnesses
If you have a pre-existing heart or lung disease, history of asthma, breathing problems (shortness of breath, coughing and wheezing), chronic sinuses, skin allergy and chest discomfort or pain, you are most at risk of developing adverse symptoms of this haze. Children and elderly people are also considered higher-risk due to their weaker and more vulnerable immune system.

How?Stay indoors, avoid vigorous outdoor activity and wear a respirator mask. For stay-at-home retirees, literally: stay at home. Avoid activities like outdoor gardening and line-dancing. Instead, organize a mahjong game and invite your friends over.

Read more about the haze on 10 Ways to Beat the Haze& It's Raining Birds in Singapore

Air Pollution Index (PSI) reading today at 11am has surpassed 400! OMG. If you don't think this is a big deal, let me put it in perspective: PSI 100 is the threshold for "unhealthy". Above PSI 200 is the threshold for "very unhealthy". Above PSI 300 is the threshold for downright "hazardous". And we are pass 400. See the problem? It is also worth a mention that more people die from air pollution (and the effects of) than AIDS and malaria combined.

The worse is yet to come.

I am really not sure how seriously the Indonesian government views this environmental crisis given their recent accusation that Singapore is "acting like a child", and warned Singapore to stay out of their domestic affairs. But I wonder, aren't Indonesians themselves facing the same problem and even worse given their proximity to the burning forest lands? Their PSI levels must be way above 400, reaching well beyond humane levels.

Every year, around this time when the climate is dry, farmers in Indonesia clear large areas of forested land by lighting it on fire in a slash-and-burn manner. And every year, neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia are left choking and gasping for fresh air.

Booming profits, increasing international demand for palm oil and a government willing to turn a blind eye have exacerbated this problem to no end. Is anyone concerned with sustainability, or is it just a matter of third world survival?

Tripa peat forest. A nature reserve in Northern Sumatra being burn to cinders

Indonesian villagers burning palm oil kernels after harvesting at Kandis, Riau Province of Indonesia

The saddest thing is the rich forest biodiversity in these regions is reaching life-threatening conditions for orangutans, tigers, sun bears, bearded pigs and other wild species; all facing extinction as their natural habitat is destroyed.

Orangutan

Sun bear

Bearded pig

In fact, it might sound strange but Singapore is starting to rain birds. The air is so bad that birds are starting to fall out of the sky. Even cats and lizards have reportedly been found choked to death.

There are a few odd things that we might have to reassess in our everyday lives to cope with this haze:

#1: Turn on your headlights when you drive. Don't wait until night fall. Nowadays, the smog is so thick it is hard to tell what time it is just by looking at the sky. Visibility on the roads is quite limited so once you get into your car, turn on your headlights.

#2: Drive carefully & look out for dead animals. I saw a couple of birds lying dead in the middle of the road on an expressway on my way to work this morning. Drive slowly and watch the road. You never know what you might find lying dead on the road ways.

#3: Don't hang your washing out to dry. Singaporeans living in HDBs are known for drying clothes by hanging their damp clothes on colorful bamboo poles outside their kitchen windows. During this hazy season, hang out your laundry indoors or get a dryer.

#4: No more doggy walks. Your dog is going to hate me for saying this, but refrain from any walks. Even dog walks. Haze is not good for lungs. Period. Yours and your dog's. Try spending more time bonding at home with treats and doggy games instead.

#5: Move your potted plants indoor. I know plants need sunshine to live. But they also need fresh air and water. Try moving your potted plants indoor where there may still be some sun exposure without being outside. If it starts to wither, then stick them out for a couple of hours and bring them right back in.

#6: Save the trouble of washing your car. This is probably music to many maids' ears. Singaporeans are mad about having their car washed everyday. Then again, who won't be when a car cost half a million dollars? But in this hazy condition why continue washing your car when you know the atmosphere is cloaked by smoke anyway.

#7: Wash your face throughout the day. This is probably easier for guys than it is for girls who wear makeup. So guys, you have no excuse. For the ladies, try to invest in a water spray or an Evian misting spray. It will help to refresh, rehydrate and hopefully, remove any layer of toxin particles buildup on your skin.

Lastly, let's pray for rain. If this smog continues until September/ October (as the Singapore government has predicted), not only will we see birds falling from the sky, we will start to see a dramatic increase in mild to severe health ailments, and possibility, human death count will rise from the effects of this dangerous air pollution.

Read 10 Ways to Beat the Haze and How the Haze is Hurting Your Body to know more about how to manage this hazy season.

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