clothes&people: January 2011

Ever since we launched our website almost half a year ago, people have been asking us who did our photos for the initial launch. And in case you didn't know or have forgotten how those pictures look like, here are some of them:

And the man behind it is Ashley Mak, www.ashleymak.com. We can say he shot us to fame because sometimes people simply know us as 'the one with the horses' and we think that's not a bad reference seeing how cute the horses were! :)

Ashley does all sorts of shoots, from weddings to events, family portraits to couple shots. Basically, anything you want to capture as a great memory!

We're not going to promote him because his pictures basically speak for him, his expertise and not to mention his great eye. You can view more of his work or contact him here.

Some of us may think that it's not necessary to get a professional photographer to do it but they are some moments that are best captured through a photographer's eyes, that tender moment between you and a loved one, the fun your entire family is having or even the joy of having a new baby in the family.

And the best part is, few years down the road when you look at the photos again, you still get that warm fuzzy feeling as though you're re-living that moment. It happens to me all the time, do you?

p/s: only happens to those well-taken photos that exudes so much feelings and emotions even though it's just a piece of paper with an image on it. Now, that's good photography.

:)

First of all, we would like to thank Strip for giving us vouchers for their waxing services that we've included in your parcels when you shop with us and for giving us an opportunity to review their wax treatments!

Jo and I were very pleased with the whole experience and we want to share it with you so that you can use those vouchers and go try it yourself!

The outlet we visited was the Beauty Emporium at Dempsey. Home to the brands under The Spa Esprit Group like Browhaus, spa esprit, Strip (of course!) and more, it also has a book store, florist and cafe! The idea was very fresh and unique.

If you make an appointment but you're too early, don't worry about waiting awkwardly because there are a few lounge areas for you to sit and relax, try products while waiting for your turn!

Hanging around the Strip area while waiting for our treatments!

Do you know... Strip is also very popular for their manicure and pedicure services? It's always fully-booked and you have to make your appointment at least 2 weeks in advance! It's definitely a fantastic way of pampering yourself. Aside from the pretty nails and excellent service you'll be getting, just look at the surroundings, you'll be enjoying your treatment while facing the lush greenery of Dempsey!

We know that for most women, exposure of body hair other than those on our head and face is generally considered to be unaesthetic and somewhat embarrassing. Both of us have tried different hair removal methods for removing hair that we don't want (haha this sounds funny) but honestly, we've never quite found a good method to do it.

For Jo, she's tried a couple of hair removal methods since she was 17. The first was a cream that you spread on the target area, wait for a few minutes and the hair will 'fall off' upon rinsing. It was easy to use and painless but it also caused allergic reactions like itchiness/redness and bumps on the skin, and it was much worse on the arms. Subsequently she got an epilator as a gift because of the problems she was facing with using that cream. She is still using the epilator but not for her arms, fearing that it might give her the redness and bumps again. So, when we were given a chance to try out Strip's waxing treatments, she immediately decided on the Half Arm Hair Removal treatment!

What went on after she was brought into the treatment room:

She removed her jewelleries and laid down on the treatment bed. Arms were cleaned with pre-waxing cleanser and then powdered. To start the waxing, a device with warm wax was rolled onto different small parts of the arm, then a piece of cloth (pictured below) was then pressed onto the wax. In a swift motion after a few seconds, the therapist removed the cloth and the hair was off. This action was repeated a few times on each arm and ta da! Smooth hairless skin! The therapist proceeded to remove hair from fingers by applying wax on a flat wooden stick (like an ice-cream stick) and in that same swift motion, removing the wax and hair.

When all the hair was removed, the pre-wax cleanser, which also acts as an antiseptic agent, is applied on the arms along with a post-wax lotion to soothe the skin. It also made the skin feel extremely soft.

Everything only lasted about 10 minutes.

BEFORE:

DURING:

AFTER:

Pain Meter (based on Jo's tolerance): 1/10 - "the pain was only a tinnnnyy little feeling for a fraction of a second"

It's been 7 days and her skin still feels very smooth and hairless. Honestly, she's now contemplating to ditch her epilator and sign up for a package!

Ok, any guesses what treatment I chose? Hint:

YES! The Brazilian xxxx Strip (all off)!

The truth about the Brazilian is that it's either

A. Very painful and uncomfortable OR B. Painful but bearable and comfortable

and

C. Not a clean job, leftover strays here and there OR D. Excellent job, smooth like a baby

You may end up feeling A and D or B and C but ideally it should be B and D.

My first Brazilian experience was at Strip when I was 21. I was gonna go on a beach holiday so a girl friend and I decided to wax for the very first time! I'd ask for an all-off but the pain was so excruciating that I ended up only doing the bikini line. Embarrassing I know.

Subsequently I didn't do it for a long time but when I finally did it again, the waxing places I went to weren't satisfactory, they were either very rough with 'handling' me or it wasn't a job well done. Can you imagine how vulnerable I felt to be exposing my coochie yet the therapist wasn't even gentle?! And thus, I have never visited the same place twice.

Honestly, my visit to Strip was really like a renewed faith in waxing for me. The therapist was friendly and gentle. First, I had to remove bottom but I recommend wearing a dress/skirt so that you can just pull your bottom up. I was also given a cleansing wipe to clean before she used the cleanser on me. There is also this pre-wax oil that the therapist puts so that when the wax is removed, it only 'pulls' the hair and not your skin, thus reducing any pain or discomfort.

The wax that they use is their own blend, which I must highlight that it really played a part in making it less painful. Apparently they have been trying out different waxes in the past few years and this one is the best so far, as agreed by most customers (remember my first waxing experience at Strip? It was a different wax and damn, it was painful!).

So the warm wax is spread on different small areas using the flat wooden stick. Once the wax hardens, the therapist then removed the wax in a really quick motion, followed by the cleanser which is antiseptic and at the same time cooled my skin to reduce any discomfort. Each time a new stick is used to spread on the wax and the whole cycle continues till I was all smooth and clean down under.

Once I was done, the therapist applied the post-wax oil to 'protect' the skin and I wasn't supposed to shower in hot bath (warm is fine) or go swimming in the next 24 hours. Everything ended in just 15 minutes. Fast, comfortable and VERY clean! I wish I had a picture so you do a post-wax comparison between the other places I've gone to and at Strip. I am really impressed.

Pain Meter (based on my pain tolerance, which is really low): 3/10

Methods of hair removal are varied these days, so choosing which method is best for you and your skin’s needs is challenging. There are many effective methods, but some work better than others while methods are ideal for a specific area on the body. From trial and error, we feel that waxing is most suitable for us, even for Jo's sensitive skin. It was fast and painless! And not only that, it also lasts longer than the other methods!

Hair removal is not just for aesthetic purposes but also for hygiene. Just because no one is going to look at it or it's not going to be exposed doesn't mean you should leave the lawn untamed.

Guys, this is the 21st century. Don't be shy if you too want to tame those weeds! There is also the BOYZILIAN available at Strip! The therapists have done it a million times so there isn't really any awkwardness.

Go make an appointment, try out the treatments and judge for yourself. C. shoppers will receive the 20% discount voucher with their purchases (while stocks last).

This promotion is also extended to our blog readers! Simply download the below eVoucher and make your appointment!