SampleStore Review: Hiruscar Anti-Acne Series

Whenever I hear the name Hiruscar, I would always assume that it is a post-acne treatment... for scars! Hence the name Hiru"scar"? Get what I mean?

Hiruscar actually came up with an Anti-Acne Range with 3 products that promises you will "see acne improvement in 2 days! Reduce pimples and lighten spots without drying the skin."

1, The Cleanser (RP: S$14.90)

Step 1 of everything is to Cleanse. I only started using this 2 days ago. So it is rather difficult for me to say how it may remove excessive dirt and sebum and how it may balance the skin moisture. But truth be told, I have not experienced extreme dryness or anything. My nose is a little dry compared to usual but nothing to be worried about. What I really like, as a plus point is the smell of this product! Reminds me of baby shower gels. Could be because of the smell, I generally feel very safe using it.

Not sure if you can see. It's clear! Lather well!

2, The Serum (RP: S$39.90)

Step 2 is to tone and moisturise. I wasn't too sure if it could tighten pores but the product is indeed light and non-greasy. Something very important for people with combination skin. That said, the smell of this product reminds me of pepper. Could be the ingredients involved. Will list them out later.

Intentionally took it with the drip to show how light it is.

3, The Spot Gel - aka the HERO PRODUCT (RP: S$19.90)

Step 3, the final step of all is to treat. I think it works very well for the spots itself. That said, I can't confirm about the blackheads and whiteheads because I haven't been using this product long enough. They are really good for pimples though. I can really see the difference from 2 days ago till now.

Pointed tip makes application so easy!

So yes, as I was saying. Ingredients List.

Left: 11-Sep, Right: 13-Sep (Pardon the high forehead. HAHA)

I really think the ingredients helped to tone down the pimple redness and inflammation. Would continue using it and update if anything changes. In the meantime, you may purchase these at any Watsons & Guardian Stores island-wide. If you can't bear to spend the money on 1 entire bottle without knowing how it works in your skin?
Get your free samples here!

To better and healthier skin with #HiruscarSingapore and #SampleStore

Circling up the mountain for Lake Toba

I know I was supposed to complete this like 2 weeks ago, but I really couldn't. And I am actually writing this in the hotel room of another Indonesian City - Surabaya. How quaint. Hahaha.

Anyhow. During the most recent long weekend (during Hari Raya Puasa), I took a somewhat #YOLO trip with 2 of my UNI friends. One of my friend asked if anyone wanted to join her on a trip to Medan and 2 of us replied “Yes”! I was still in a meeting (cause I think it was my regular mad Tuesdays) while the 2 of them went ahead to book a hotel room as all rooms were snapping up fast! When it came to our flight bookings, we were more relaxed and only booking it the next day.

I was rather worried about the weather there as there were contradicting information on certain blogs and I really wasn't sure what to pack for. So I packed one of each - a pair of jogger pants, a pair of shirts (berms rather), a few t-shirts and a lightweight jacket. (FYI, our travel period is in End June).

Conclusion: I didn't have to use the jacket at all! It was cooler than usual but nothing too cold. When it rains, it gets extremely breezy though. So, in case you're worried, bring along a windbreaker.

There's nothing much to buy there unless you're into the Medan City T-shirts at the airport. Hence we didn't really spend much. The only hefty thing we splurged on, was Transport!

Day 1 - Arrival at Medan Airport

We were quite hungry so we got ourselves a Roti Boy each (at 11.5k) and then the must-have... DATA SIM card (at 55k). When you're travelling free and easy, it's always good to invest in the local DATA SIM cards. This way, you can look for maps and even call for vehicles wherever you are.

Bus counter

We read online that we were supposed to take a bus to AMPLAS terminal and change to another bus from there. So, thats what we did. Bought tickets to AMPLAS terminal (at 15k) and when we finally reached, we paid another 40k for the second bus fare.

All these people were headed the same way!

This is how the terminal looks like.

We were told that the bus will leave at 12pm. Mind you, it was only almost 10am IDN time. We had 2 hours in that rundown terminal with nothing to see nor seat. We were already prepared that the buses were non-air-conditioned, but when one of the local bus came and we saw how the people squeezed themselves into the non-air-conditioned bus, it caught us speechless. We were there at the terminal because we wanted a local experience, not a "I-shall-stick-my-whole-sticky-body-next-to-you" experience. Probably being judged, a Taiwanese couple came to us and talked about how they were cheated of their "aircon" bus that never came. So, we decided to uber back to the airport (100k per car) to get ourselves a shared taxi. (FYI, Uber and Grab do not service Parapat area.)

When we got to the airport (again), we couldn't find where is the shared taxi counter. All there is are the expensive private cars. Finally after asking around, we found the shared taxi counter - which is also the bus counter. Omg! So dumb right? There's a small sign on the counter that says "NiceTrans" taxi. So small card, who will notice?!

Anyway, after asking, we found out that shared taxi runs on a unidentified schedule and the taxi has just left. There are no taxis at the airport on standby anymore. So they offered the private car again (although slightly cheaper than the others). Eventually, the 5 of us took it and paid another 140k per pax. That's like a total of 230k spent on transport alone in that one morning.

The journey from the airport to Lake Toba takes 4hours (on good traffic). So, when we finally got to our hotel, it was already time for dinner. We were staying at the Parapat View Hotel.

Empty expressway on the way to Parapat. Wait till you try to local roads.

So nice!

Parapat View Hotel

View from  the main lobby

View of Parapat View Hotel

It's feels more like a chalet (with breakfast) than a hotel

It was almost impossible to go out of the area without a car. So, we ate at the hotel and spent about 180k per pax.

Day 2 - The only day we went around

Like I mentioned, without a car, there was no way around. So, we requested to our hotel to help us get a car to go sightseeing. Again, the car cost 700k but this time, we are sharing within 3 and not 5. So about 230 per pax.

There are many photo zones in the area. So pretty!

We went to Sipiso-piso. The waterfall!

And when we wanted to go Mt Sibayak, it started raining.

So we went to a place where we could see the volcanoes instead

View from Bukit Gundaling

Coffee with a view

And the toilet we had to go cause we were out for too long

Yeah, you get it. FYI, we had to pay to use the toilet too.

So yes, day 2 also ended with dinner at the hotel for 190k.

Day 3 is the day we leave Parapat and head back to Singapore.

This time, we managed to get ourselves the shared taxi and it cost only 80k per pax. However, the downside was, we had to hitch with regular Indonesian guys working at or around the airport. This means, a very early trip to the airport. Our flight was at 8pm! We initally planned to go around again, till 12pm and head to the airport, knowing it was a 4-5hour journey. But yes, because its such a long journey, you really don't know what's going to happen on the way, so we agreed to leaving at 8am for the airport.

Eventually, we reached the airport at 12ish.

Survivors of the back! 

A&W for lunch

POP MIE for dinner

Piece of advice, please stay within the domestic boarding gates until absolutely necessary. There are no food/ restaurants inside the international gates and POP MIE was our only option. So yeah, before going into the boarding gates, we hogged seats at Starbucks for 3 hours. But, can you blame us? Hahaha.

Anyway, after we came back from the trip, I felt like my back was breaking apart. Hahaha. Since I am the smallest sized (and youngest) on the trip, I always volunteered to take the back seat. By back seat, I mean the last (3rd) row of seat inside the MPV with no head rest. Right..? You can imagine, can't you?

So. The good thing about taking the back seat is, you get both left and right windows to yourself. If you want to see something on the left, scoot left. If you want to snap a picture on the right, move right! Hahaha! But because of the long distance journey, yes, my back felt like it was gonna break! HAHAHA!

That said, this trip is super therapeutic for the soul, but really tiring for the body!

Hence, therapy for my body the next day!

Total expenses for the trip (approximately 400 SGD)
Flight: 230 SGD
Hotel: 80 SGD
Expenses (Food): ~460k IDR
Expenses (Transport): ~550k IDR
Expenses (Others): 55k IDR

Hope all these little bits of information helped whoever going to Medan/ Parapat in future.
Cheers!

Burgers & Lobsters

Travelled to Genting in June for work and got to try out
Burgers & Lobsters.
Burgers & Lobsters.
Burgers & Lobsters.

They're a restaurant chain from London that specialises in beef burgers, lobster rolls and lobsters! I've not been to UK before so I have not tried it before. But the reviews are always so good! And when you google, things to eat at Sky Avenue, it was literally the first thing that came up.

Google Search Results

If you click into any of those sites, you will realise that Burgers & Lobsters is definitely within the list (and some even Top 3). So yes! I was really excited to try it out seeing that SkyAvenue (at Genting highlands) is the first SEA expansion.

Snapshot extracted from their story

I think they are probably planning their next SEA expansion in Bangkok seeing there's a red dot on the website's map... But there's no location indicated yet (unlike the red dot on Malaysia that says Genting Highlands), so I would say its in plan but nothing's confirmed.

The interesting signage that became the #OOTD wall of many 

The Menu

I ordered the STEAMED LOBSTERS!!!

What's the verdict?

For the price of approximately RM160 (SGD50), I felt that it was TOTALLY WORTH IT! The sauce was so good. And to ease the oiliness in the butter sauce and fries, the salad was sour and refreshing! The down side was that the steamed claws were probably a little overcooked. It was really tough to get the meat out of the claws. But they were really meaty!
My friend had the grilled ones and her claws were easier to eat. That said, the size of her claws were smaller than my original steamed. I would think that the meatier the better but sometimes the ease of eating does put some people off. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed it! Would love to go back there every month or so to eat but, it's so tiring to take the 2-3 hour ride from KL (and a possibly 5-6 hour ride from Singapore)...

After the awesome dinner, we went to walk around and look-see look-see. Hahaha. We went into the Casino as realised we couldn't understand the games. Was observing for a while and then we left without placing any bets. There were so many China Chinese in the casino and they were smoking everywhere. Somehow, the mall is renovated as an non-smoking premise. However, even in the mall, you could see people smoking within. Sigh.

Soon after leaving the casino, we found ourselves in a cosmic bowling alley. Haven't really seen one in Singapore myself, so as a frequent bowler, it was intriguing. Managed to play a quick game before heading back to the hotel for a good rest as I had an early day the next morning.

Even the balls glowed

SO PRETTY

I'll be writing another travel post about my recent trip to Medan in this week. Hopefully by tomorrow, they'll be up! Cheers!

A very real problem... How to clean your retainers?

Ever since I removed my braces, I’ve been a rather good girl, wearing my retainers every night as per instructed by my orthodontist.

Why a “rather” good girl?

I recall his instructions were to wear the retainers 24/7 for a period of 1-3 months, then every night when I sleep.

So, the rebellious thing I did?

I only wore the top retainers for a month for 24/7. And, then I started wearing the pair only at night.

The reason was simple.
The retainers were somewhat in the way when you talk. Knowing that my bottom teeth are stable for more than 6 months, didn't help (He said the bottom teeth were in place at least 6 months before I removed my braces). However, since the top teeth are always cheeky, moving around a lot, I kept to my promise to wear them for at least a month.

Then came the issue.

The plastic retainers started to smell a little. I could always taste a little bit of ‘sourness’ when I put them back on. Sounds disgusting? I know right! That’s why I say it’s a very real problem. Hahaha. So, before my next appointment with Dr Stanley, I tried googling a few ‘remedies’ and what I gathered were mostly:

1. Brush retainers with a new brush (use it only for your retainers)
2. Use antibacterial hand soap to brush your retainers (since the sourness is created by germs/ bacteria)
3. Soak your retainers in salt water

On my next visit to the dentist, I spoke and raised my concerns to Dr Stanley. He mentioned that plastic retainers are bound to smell as plastic does absorb your saliva, unlike the traditional stainless steel retainers. The best way to prevent it from smelling is to wash it with retainer cleaner like below.

It’s similar with Denture Cleaners, except that it is more gentle for clear soft plastic. However, these retainer cleaners are hard to find in Singapore. Even online, you may be required to ship them from overseas into Singapore.

So his alternative suggestion? Use Denture cleaners.
He mentioned that the ingredients of Denture and Retainer cleaners are basically the same. Just that one is stronger than another. Because for dentures, we eat and chew and food gets stuck. But for retainers, we are mainly washing off the bacteria and grime.

The thing to take note when using denture cleaners is to dilute the mixture more than usual. Logically, since the standard dentures would require 1 denture cleaning tablet, I would only use half for my retainers for each wash. I used denture cleaners from Daiso.

A box of 12pcs retails at the standard SGD2 and I use them on my retainers each week.
That’s SGD2 for 24 weeks! Each week will cost you even lesser than $0.10!

Nowadays, most Daiso products come with English translation. For those of you that don’t understand the 'curt' instructions on the box. There are 3 steps illustrated.

1. Add the tablet into warm water approximately 40-50 degrees, or room temperature.
2. Immerse your false teeth (or, in our case, retainers) immediately.
   What it means to say is that you should not wait till the tablet completely dissolve before putting your retainers in. They should go in while the tablet is "bubbling".
3. Cleanse your false teeth thoroughly after

Basically it does not tell you how long you should keep it soaked but they do advise to soak it overnight for thorough cleaning. That's what I usually do on the weekends, taking them out in the morning and soaking them till I need to use them again at night.

Do note that these cleaners are soapy in nature. So, after a good soak, you should always brush your retainers clean with your ‘retainer brush’ and rinse them thoroughly. Just get a brush from the hotel room of your recent travel, or buy one cheap soft brush off the shelves and use it to clean your retainers.

With this ‘deep clean’, your retainers should be able to stay smell-free and clean for a week before the next cycle starts again. On a daily basis, please still brush and soak your retainers in lukewarm water.

An extra bit of advice.
Sometimes you’d notice that when you had meals with strong spices (especially garlic), brushing your teeth alone doesn't get rid of the smell. You probably need to rinse your mouth couple of times with Listerine.
That said, the same thing applies to your retainers. Simply brushing it with lukewarm water won’t help!
So if you know you had meals with strong spices, it would be a good idea to ‘deep clean’ it the next morning when you remove your retainers and prevent the smell from being absorbed.
Keeping your retainers clean and bacteria free (as much as possible) is very important in maintaining good oral hygiene which may affect your health. 

Hope this little bit of information is helpful for all out there who are using retainers or are removing their braces and using retainers soon.
Cheers!

P.s., I know I mentioned in a previous blogpost that I will be doing a review on 'Beautiful Teeth Whitening Kit' but I have yet to be able to follow through with a treatment plan. Any reviews written at this point in time would be biased so please bear with me. I'll complete the suggested treatment plan and share my #elliehonestreview soon.

Review: "Clean it Zero" by banila co

‘Clean it Zero’ is THE makeup remover from Banila Co. I chanced upon this item online and spotted it during my travel to Korea last year at the Banila Co. shop.

Front of the box

Back of the box

Side of the Box

Unlike common Cleansing Oil, Banila Co. Clean it Zero is a Cleansing Balm, or otherwise known as a Solid Cleaning Oil. If you’ve not heard about Solid Cleansing Oil before, it is actually a wonder product that combines the effectiveness of the cleansing oil, as well as the gentleness of a balm. Clean it Zero is a “Lightweight sorbet-like textured makeup removing cleansing balm that whisks away pore-clogging impurities.”

Clean it Zero comes in a pretty pink tub. I’m talking about the classic Clean it Zero. I think there are 4 variations in total as seen on the website but at that point in time, I wasn't too sure of the differences so I stuck with the classic. But I found them out recently.

1. Clean it Zero Classic – Pink Tub
2. Clean it Zero Purity – Blue Tub (Refreshing, mild formula)
3. Clean it Zero Resveratrol – Green Tub (Uplift and defend against ageing)
4. Clean it Zero Radiance – Silver Tub (Brightens skin)

When I first saw the design, I was really considering whether to get it or not. WHY? Not because I don't like pink. But because… I HAVE NEVER BEEN A FAN OF TUBS! You can even say that I hate ‘tubbed’ items because I really don't like the idea of dipping my fingers into a tub of product. Not only do you waste product stuck within your fingernails, think about how much germs and bacteria you are introducing to the tub each time you dig in – no matter you wash and clean your hands or not. I have always transferred my TUB products into pump bottles. Like Laneige Sleeping Pack, Innisfree Green Tea Cream. I would always (ALWAYS) get a $2 vacuum bottle from Daiso, transfer the product into the pump bottle before using. However, considering the raves about this product, I decided to give it a try and seeing that Clean it Zero is a Cleansing Balm, there was really no way I could transfer it to a pump bottle. When I finally unboxed the item, I realised Banila Co. is so considerate that I am very accepting of their design. Hahaha.

A care pack with a inner lid, scoop and magnet,

The magnet helps to test authenticity. (vertical lines)

Horizontal lines, depending on how you align the magnet

The inner lid and scoop being put on

The classic Clean it Zero contains raspberry, mistletoe, papaya, and acerola extracts but it actually smells like grapefruit, I think. Or it could be because of the fragrance added into the product. The very mild scent feels very therapeutic and aromatic to refresh your tired senses after a day at work (or day out). I love how the product melts into a cleansing oil after you rub them warm on your palm. For people like me that love my waterproof mascaras, the Clean it Zero cleansing balm melts the makeup quickly without stinging the eyes. Similar as any other cleansing oil, I will emulsify it with a bit of water before rinsing it off with lukewarm water. Depending on what I have on my face, if I have my full makeup on, I will still cleanse it with a gentle foam cleanser (to be safe?). But if I am only on sunblock, after I rinse off the Clean it Zero, I just go about my toner and regular routine.

‘Clean it Zero’ is definitely recommended!

In Korea, a tub retails for 18,000 KRW. Which is approximately 22.50 SGD. With tax free, you can probably get a tub at 20 SGD or so. So far, I have yet to come across them in SG brick and mortar stores but I do see them available on qoo10. Alternatively, seeing that the SG-MY exchange rate is so favourable currently, you may want to pop by SASA Malaysia as they do carry it in stores. Unfortunately, SASA Singapore does not.

I only started using this product in June and looking at how much product I have left (or how little I needed to use each time), this tub should be able to last me for 3-4 months. So, in September or October, I should be popping over to our friendly neighbour JB to get it off the SASA shelves! Muahahaha.

Review: MKUP Real Complexion Cream

I keep seeing this online so I thought of getting one to try for myself.
MKUP Real Complexion Cream

The marketing is really targeted at lazy woman, like me. Hahaha. So, here's what I saw online...

How awesome does this look?!

Okay. So what this product is about is that it corrects the colour tones of your skin giving it a natural look and at the same time, hydrates your skin.

This is how it looks like without the box.

Vacuum designed tub that prevents oxidisation.

I swear they are very good at viral marketing. After I got this product and tried it for a few days, I saw another video online. The video still got me very worried.

Like, HELLO?! I just bought it! And even used it! Don't scare me lehhhh!

And then I realised, it was a gimmick. So irritating but effective for clicks.
Anyhow. Back to my review of the product.

The pros?

• Not a makeup but a skincare product. 
• No need to remove it using make up removers
• Can be applied during the day and before you go to sleep
• In the long term, it whitens and corrects your skin tone
• Products smells light and feels cool on the skin

Left, with MKUP Real complexion cream & Right, au naturel

The cons?

• Personally, it may brighten up my face too much. I'm pretty sure you can see the difference in colour in the picture above. I'm like 2 shades whiter! Omg. 
• Although one of the selling point is the vacuum tub, I felt the design is bad as there will always be residue on top which means the product at the top will still be oxidised and may also be prone to germs since you probably won't clean the white part much. And with your fingers swiping through each time... I really think they may be better off with a regular vacuum pump bottle that pumps right onto your palm. 
• I tried to apply it during the day (beneath my sunscreen) since this is a skincare right..? At the end of the day, I could see some cakey lines at the bridge of my nose where my specs sit. Tried it 3 days and I get the same result. 

So conclusion.
Each tub retails at S$34.90 at SASA outlets in Singapore. Would I get it again? Err. I highly doubt so. It is useful for people that are lazy, I think. However, given how it 'cakes' with my sunscreen, I really don't see why I would continue buying it since it means I won't be able to use it when I head out. So it kind of defeats the purpose of it being hassle-free. There are more products out there that helps to correct your skin tone (to the right tone, I might add). Hahaha. I just don't like the idea that I am 2 shades fairer. I would want to stay with my healthy tan.

An #elliehonestreview. #notsponsorednotinfluenced.

Travelling Essentials with DIY Facial Mist

As the titles goes, I am combining 2 ideas into 1 post. Hahaha. It makes sense though, since the DIY Facial Mist is a must-have when I go on trips as well.

My "Travel Essentials"

Starting from the "7-O'clock" position...

1, Watch
Nowadays everyone has their phones with them all the time and most phones will automatically change the timezone to the country you're in once you're connected to the local networks. However, I always think its a good idea to also know the time to your home country. In case you're making calls at different times of the day.

2, Powerbank
A powerbank is very important to me. When I go on short trips (2d1n), I usually dont bring an adapter with me. Just the powerbank to tide me through. And for longer trips, it helps to keep you on the roads a while longer.

3, Sunglasses
I am crazy over sunglasses. Particularly shades with a black frame and different coloured lenses! Hahaha. If you see any cute ones out there, tell me! Okay, anyway. Shades are important because no matter which trip you take, there's bound to be sun. You can hide yourself from the nasty glare and sleep your way through your flight (without waking up to lower the window shade when the seatbelt sign is turned off) or through your car ride to your destination. It can also help to hide your lost eyes when you arrive in an airport for the first time in your life, alone! Hahaha. 

4, Lotion, Moisturiser and Cleanser
Starting off the consumables line-up... THESE ARE A MUST! It's not even a choice! You have to bring them along! Especially after a flight, your skin is actually dry even when it does not look like it. The cleanser is important to clean off all dirt at the end of your day. So, please remember to bring yours along! 

5, Hair Mask
Instead of conditioner, I use hair mask as my conditioner. No, I am not crazy and no I am not very rich. This hair mask that I use is very affordable and I like the texture of how it feels even after you wash your hair. It does not feel too slick nor too 'siap'. If you guys know what I mean. I dont have to bring any shampoo or body wash because I can just use the ones in the hotel, but I am pretty particular when it comes to moisturising (point above too)!

6, Facial Wipes
These facial wipes are 'special' wipes for the face. When I travel, I use these wipes as a toner and a cleanser. At night, these wipes will stand in for the toner. In the morning, instead of washing my face with the cleanser, I will use these wipes instead. This is my experience but I feel that my skin feels better when I just use the wipes instead of washing off all the goodness I set on my face the night before. However, that said, it is very important that you cleanse your face properly at night and pamper it enough to let it repair. You can try it and let me know how it goes. 

7, Makeup Removing Wipes
As mentioned above, it is important to cleanse your face well. You should do that on a normal day, let alone when you travel. These wipes are pretty good for me as they're convenient and they remove my persistent waterproof mascaras! 

8, Additional Hair Products
When you fly, not only your skin will dry up, so will your hair. Similar as the concept of facial wipes... At night, I will moisturise my hair with hair oil after washing and in the morning, instead of washing my hair again, I will just use the Dry Shampoo to freshen the roots and avoid further drying of the scalp and hair ends. 

When I travel, I actually have a "wet" and "dry" bag when I travel. "Dry" bag will always be close to me when I fly and the "wet" bag will mostly be checked-in. The contents featured here are essentially the "wet" bag. The DIY Facial Mist will be part of the "dry" bag which is not featured this time. But here's my short secret recipe.

1. Get an empty spray bottle
• Personally, I prefer a tinted/ frosted glass bottle but if you can't get it in glass, plastic sprays are widely available. You can find them in Daiso or the neighbourhood "GOOD PRICE CENTRE".
2. Invest in 2 products (links included)
• Hada Labo Lotion
• Hatomugi Skin Conditioner
3. Considering the size of your bottle, use 2 parts Hatomugi Skin Conditioner, and 1 part Hada Labo Lotion.
• The Hatomugi Skin Conditioner is about 11SGD for 500ml and it will last you a long time. 
• Some people say they use the Hada Labo Lotion as a spray on its own but I feel the spray doesn't work and it defeats the purpose of a mist. So, 'diluting' it with the skin conditioner helps the solution spray out more evenly and still keeping the good moisturising properties!

And, TADA~ Thats it! Shake before use each time and spray your way through the airport. Hahaha. You can choose to add a few drops of essential oil if you want. My personal preference is 1drop to 10ml of liquid. Please try to add it in drop by drop so that you can control the 'strength' of the smell. DO NOT add in all drops at once ya? Have fun~