Groupon: Musee Platinum Tokyo IPL underarm hair removal

This is a post for ladies! Guys can just stop reading here heh.

One fine day I was just checking out the deals on Groupon, and I came across this Unlimited IPL underarm hair removal deal at Musee Platinum Tokyo going for only $98nett.

As a poor student, 98 bucks is alot. I could eat 20 meals and still have remaining money. However, I did some quick calculations and if I go consistently for 5 years, it would cost around 4 bucks each time. Moreover, I haven't even turned 21! so assuming that the business doesn't fold, I'll be able to get loads of service for it :D and hence I decided it was a worthy investment to start early. heehee.

More about Musee Platinum Tokyo:

They claim to be Japan's No.1 hair removal salon, with 140 branches in Japan! I couldn't find many reviews on Musee, but I have absolute trust in the Japanese and especially the Japanese ladies' pick for quality and service. since they can still thrive with 140 branches, can't be too bad right. 

For Singapore, there are 5 branches, and for obvious reasons I chose to sign up at the Bugis+ branch. Take note that the salons are REALLY busy; if you are working and have a tight schedule, it might be really difficult for you to book an appointment. It was relatively easy for me as I was okay with weekday mornings, the most obscure timing of the day haha. and even so I had to call a week in advance.

Usually the first appointment is for consultation only. What happens is the consultant will hand you a sign up form, checking for any allergies/hair removal habits, and half a dozen other contract forms for you to sign. They all sound the same to me, but do read through just in case. Consultant also asked if I was referred by anyone, apparently if you were referred, just quote your friend's member ID, full name and contact no. and you get a free small parts treatment! (i.e. upper lip hair removal)

What I liked about the consultation:

1. NO hardselling at all

2. Clear explanation of the procedure and how the S.S.C technology works (though abit boring)

3. Consultant was really friendly and made me feel comfortable amidst all the awkward talk :)

Then I was supposed to schedule my first appointment on another date. However, maybe because I was probably the 2nd customer that morning and there was not many customers scheduled that day, consultant asked if I wanted to have my first appointment that very morning! so yea, deal. Oh but you can only have the next treatment after 2 months! and after a certain number of treatments the in-between period increases to 3 months.

Some lousy photos of the area taken by my lousy iphone 3GS! Didn't bring my camera cos I wasn't expecting to have the treatment!

Musee uses the S.S.C way, so quoted from their website: "S.S.C. Hair Removal stands for "Smooth Skin Control Hair Removal" which is a new state-of-the-art pain free technology. With S.S.C. Hair Removal, our specially formulated gel is activated when exposed to the beams of filtered light. This reaction delays new hair growth and also dulls hair growth, consequently lessens and obscures your hair."

Note the claims here:

1. Pain free

2. Delays new hair growth

3. Dulls hair growth

4. Ultimately lessens hair growth

Basically this is what happens during the whole process:

1. Get changed into the blue spaghetti top that they provide!

2. Consultant comes in and covers your eyes with tissue(?) and puts on safety goggles to protect your eyes from the lasers

3. Put your hands behind your head and yea. -awkward turtle-

4. consultant uses an electric shaver to trim underarm hairs to a certain length?

5. Cold gel is applied! 

6. Its time for action! the Consultant then uses the machine thing to "zap" the hairs, i counted around 10-11 zaps per side. Let's just say I didn't felt anything at all, not even any sensation of "rubberbands shooting". When the consultant asked me if it was bearable I was like er am i supposed to feel something... Well I do have a high pain tolerance afterall.

7. Cold gel is wiped off and a cold gel pad is placed on both sides! you'll have to kiap on to it for about 5 minutes.

8. Pads are removed, some soothing cream is applied and tadah! done. 

It has been a few days since my first treatment, and yes it does seem that the hairs are growing much slower, in fact, they don't seem to have grown much since that day. But I have yet to observe any noticeable difference in the amount, of course it would take a few more sessions to be more obvious :) 

Review: Threadtheory and lacepipe loots

CNY season, bought too many new clothes :/

Here are two of the recent pieces that I got!

1. Lacepipe Black and gold tweed shorts

Got this BN from a reseller, it was from a launch almost a year ago!

2. Threadtheory Bloom Blaum Cut-in Lace top in Indigo $25.50

I rarely see people talking about thread theory, is it a new blogshop? I really think it is underrated for the quality of apparel they offer and the designs.

Managed to get the 2nd last piece in M heh. wanted S at first but it was OOS, and the threadtheory girls  very quickly reserved it for me :) Really love their customer service as well as their apparel! I hope they remain as good even if they grow bigger, unlike some other mega blogshops with awful cs :(

Stock photos:

Can I just mention that the threadtheory model, Elaine Jasmine, is SO PRETTY.

Love the electric blue colour and the lace details :) Theres a slight colour difference, the one in the stock photo seems more purplish, but i saw elaine's instagram so i knew it was more of electric blue 

Recently this "cut-in" or racer front style has been getting popular, but I still don't quite like it. IMO, its not very flattering, just makes me look fat. Plus it kind of looks like a swimsuit...

But this cut in isn't that extreme so it'll pass. theres an inner opaque lining and if you enlarge the pic you can see that the lining covers the zip too :) so that the zip won't scrap your skin. this made my $25.50 worth it haha

I really really appreciate it when the lining of an apparel is NOT sheer. it really saves alot of worry and problems and I don't have to wear another inner layer etc. you'll be surprised at how many blogshops have sheer lining in their items out there. so annoying!!!

Although this top is a little on the pricey side (to me, who usually budgets $26 for a dress lol), I decided to buy it after a few weeks of contemplation and totally not regretting it :) 

and now for the tweed shorts!

It is realllyyy hard to capture the gold tweed details :(

There was a little hole at the side of the shorts when i got it, which i'm sure is a manufacturing defect because it was brand new WITH tag, so the previous owner hadn't worn it at all. but it was easily mended with a few stitches.

I remember tweed was in the rage around 5 years back? because i still have another pair of tweed shorts that i got from taiwan when i first started online shopping in sec 2/3. haha. trends keep repeating. I really like the gold in the tweed though, makes it look more dressy!

When paired together :) but no I'm not gonna wear them together cos black is disallowed for CNY heh.

Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner Review

Gel eyeliners are all the rage today. IMO, its easier to apply than liquid eyeliners, and gives a more intense line then pencil liners. As a performer, its extremely important to get one that is waterproof+smudgeproof+intense, and I find that gel liners do the best job so far.

I used to have Maybelline's gel eyeliner. In fact, I think its one of the more popular ones around. I bought one and never repurchased again, partly cos 1. mine dried up even before I managed to use 1/3 of it and 2. the price kept going up! now its like $20 for one small pot?

This is the Maybelline one. No doubt it's good... but there are other cheaper alternatives! Like:

Tony Moly Backstage Gel Eyeliner

I happened to chance upon on while shopping on Korea's gmarket site last year when it wasn't that popular in sg yet. and since it was cheap (I think around 8500 won, approximately 12 bucks after shipping?) I decided to try it out. Of course, nowadays you can easier get it for around 8 bucks on Qoo10!

It comes in quite a few colours, the above are some. It now has 10 different colours in total! including brighter colours such as yellow and pink.

The actual thing. Bought it in black!

The packaging is quite bulky I guess, but I love it cause the brush is attached to the top of the cap, hence I wouldn't lose it so easily!

Brush can be extended, this is the short length. The brush isn't fantastic, but its sufficiently soft and precise for me! Its slightly more on the thick side, so not really suitable for those who are looking to draw super thin lines.

The eyeliner is somewhat creamy, and hence it is really smooth to apply! some liners will get stuck on the eyelid and product an uneven line, but this glides on smoothly, whether with or without primer. and the best thing is it hasn't dried up! A small jar goes a longgggg way. I have used it on countless occasions for performances, not only on myself but on other dancers as well,  and I still have more than half the jar left.

Such a intense black colour with one stroke!!! 

After it dries, it is basically smudge-proof. Yes. no amount of water can wash it off. It can only be removed with a oil-based eye makeup remover! However, it CAN smudge if you have oily lids/sweat too much. so its best to put some primer/eyeshadow colour over it.

I would definitely repurchase this (if I ever finish using it haha)! 

Baviphat Apple AC Therapy Sleeping Pack Review

Okay first time posting a product review! 

I'm damn lazy to follow a proper skincare routine and hence have cui skin lol. I really don't like the feeling of having smth sticky on my face so i do prefer sleeping masks/packs cos I can just go to sleep with the stuff on and not care about the icky feeling!

So some time last year i bought the Baviphat Apple AC Therapy Sleeping Pack during one of my gmarket hauls. Yes i bought two, and up till now i haven't finished 1. HAHA.

As its name suggests, it contains apple extracts. the peach ones contain peach extracts and so on. It claims to help in acne control (hence the AC label) by removing dead skin etc. Well I didnt know this beforehand, i just bought it cos the packaging is SO DAMN CUTE.

So the rough list of ingredients which i googled online:

Water / Aqua, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Cyclomethicone, Dimethicone, Caprylic / Capric Triglyceride, Sodium Acrylate/ Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Isohexadecane, Polysorbate 80, Alcohol Denat., Betaine, Petrolatum, Yellow 6 / CI 15985, Allantoin, Phenoxyethanol, Yellow 5 / CI 19140, Parfum / Fragrance, Arginine, Carbomer, Disodium EDTA, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Triclosan 

And what i like about it is that they're pretty thoughtful, there was supposed to be a small spatula/spoon attached (in the holes), but I lost it. HAHA. using a spatula DEFINITELY makes it more hygenic then just dipping your fingers in. But oh well i'm guiilty of this sin ;(

I have been using it on and off for quite a few months now, hence i'm only left with half the tub. 

The smell is SOO GOOD. it's not the kind of synthetic smell, but more of a sweet, apple scent. Everytime I apply it, the smell is so relaxing that I can just fall asleep.

It has a gel-like consistency, which will dry up a little soon after application. Bonus points for this because it reduces the yuck-smth-gooey-is-on-my-face feeling plus it wont be transferred all over your pillow/bed when you are sleeping. 

I dont see an obvious result, partly because I don't use it consistently. (But i'm trying to!) Guess i'm update this post again once i'm through the first or even the 2nd tub. It is one of the highly raved baviphat products and with such a cheap price (I think it was around SGD10-15?), its worth a try :) Use it 2-3 times a week to get the best results! AND remember to wash it off the next morning :)

Taobao Haul Again!

How to buy from Taobao

I really ought to stop shopping.

But this time I helped the other emixers bought stuff too so its good karma ^^

Taobao is a really awesome website! everyone can find something to buy from there. ahah. 

This time the whole parcel weighed 25kg :o Because we bought like 14 pairs of shoes and 9 sweatpants. Thankfully singpost granted me a redelivery otherwise i definitely would not have been able to lug it home from the post office D:

Filled to the brim!!

Studs for the DIY girls :)

Pile of shoes. There's thomas' awesome midnight blue shoes peeking out from the left. And they're only 41 bucks?? mega cheap. and alot of black and white shoes cos those are the colours we use

Labelled individully!

Neatly stacked up!

The stuffs i bought, which were mostly true to pic!! Happiness.

new snapbacks!! couldnt find much nice designs though.

Multi-layered bangle. Was hoping that it was more mintish in colour but it was bluish :( nvm!

Another plain denim shirt. not sure if i should stud it or??

 TOPS TOPS TOPS! finally a raglan tee :) 

Knitwear! Seriously treating singapore as though theres autumn but in fact its summer everyday =.=

the pattern so nice! but kena cheated by the colour AGAIN. wasnt so green in the stock photo :(

But loving the one on the right! :)

Pants! must stop wearing denim shorts everyday :(( love getting pants from one of the taobao shops, their quality + fitting v nice!!

Le 10 bucks Supra shoes. Wonder how long they will last!! 

I'm becoming at expert at this man, my shoes always fit nowadays :3

More accessories!!!!!!!!! 

Honestly I don't even know why i bought them cos i rarely bother to wear accessories. Oh well must start wearing.

Also thinking of creative ways to store/display them! 

The Haul

Have a soft spot for charm necklaces 

LOL reminds me of esplanade!!!!!!!!!

Chunky Necklaces!

Bought this cos i thought it looked pretty unique!! like claws? jaws? and the details~~

Zomg can see my pores LOL. diamante bracelets :)

STUDSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

I stud basically everything around me LOL this has gotta stop.

Anyway see those colourful studs? I chanced on them by accident! never knew they existed D: much more expensive than plain studs but so pretty!!

PRETTY

Marble effect too!! love thisssss

Not sure what I should use them on though :/

Okay now to showcase some of my favourite items in the haul!

denim overalls which i had been yearning for since foreverrrrrr

And I'm so glad that it fits perfectly! :D cost only around $20 including shipping

Yet another baseball jacket! the emix jacket is too big and my other one is kinda stiff. this was just perfect :D soft and fitting. and the colour is very muted, makes the jacket look like vintagey and old~

Checkered shirt! this was more of an impulse buy but i love it now!! material is thin enough for singapore weather and to dance in!

Chiffon sleeve denim shirt. have been wanting smth like that for v long. but blogshop ones are so common!!

Impulse buy #2. Bought cos i saw the prints and thought it was nice. but i was expecting it to be like thicker hoodie material. and was pretty disppointed cos the material is actually mad thin :( guess have to use for layeing!

And a new backpack :) cost around 20+ bucks but the material is super good! with v detailed inner compartments too. yay!

Awesomeness! ;) taobao nv fails to tempt me everyday.... sigh. now i feel like buying more stuff :(