Cleanse or not cleanse?

In my previous post on understanding your skin, today we are going to talk about the good and the bad about cleansing your face.

First of all, we need to understand this thing called the Acid Mantle.

Acid Mantle is the thin, slightly acidic film on the surface of our skin. It is made up of our oil + sebum. it's purpose is to act as a barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that tries to penetrate our skin. Due to its slight acidity, this Acid Mantle helps to neutralise the chemical effects of these contaminants as they are primarily alkaline.

This is why babies to infants and even to children are not advised to use special cleansers to clean their faces. Many times the reason we give is because they are still young. But really, we need to know that we are created in a very amazing way where this Acid Mantle is like a God given protection for our skin.

Then what happens when we enter our puberty years? The food we eat, the stress in school, hormonal changes and imbalance causes this Acid Mantle to be imbalance due to the unequal amount of oil and sebum being produced at different parts of our faces. Very often you hear people will say T-zone oily. That is because our T-zone have got more oil glands compared to our cheeks and neck area.

When you cleanse your face,

you are literally removing this layer of Acid Mantle together with the impurities you feel on your skin. Meaning, your skin will be left 'bare'... unprotected... Therefore, if you wash your face with a good cleanser and do not apply any toner or moisturiser, then i would say that your skin is are a worse or dangerous state. Then it would have been better that you did not wash your face at all.

How harmful are the dirt on your face (When you have your Acid Mantle)? Less harmful than the contaminants that can penetrate your face when the Acid Mantle is being removed.

How long does it take for the new layer Acid Mantle to build up? It takes 4 hours before this natural defence is being built up again.

What is the purpose of a moisturiser? Moisturisers are meant to 'act-as' an Acid Mantle to your skin immediately after you wash your face. To protect your skin from bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that tries to penetrate our skin.

What about the different kind of moisturisers? I will explain that in my future post on moisturisers so stay tune. :)

In conclusion, cleanse or not cleanse? If you will be diligent to apply moisturisers, YES please cleanse you face with a good cleanser that suits your skin! But if you are too lazy to apply moisturisers or do not have a moisturiser that is suitable for your skin, then it is better for you to have not cleanse your face.

My next post will be on what are the different kinds of cleansers and how to identify which is for you. :)

Courtesy? #2 - Hoarding

This word "Hoarding" is a big word... It started with describing the human behavioural of hoarding food or natural supplies that they think will soon be in shortage.

And then it became a behavioural where everything is "MINE"... in this word "hoarding" there is no courtesy or sharing...

So how is this word being constantly seen in society nowadays? instead of just supplies....

Children at childcare centre hoarding all the toys and not allowing other children to play or touch those toys. Some parents even blame the school for not educating their children. But really, where are the kind of things taught at home? I believe that home is our first learning centre.

Then the very common and often seen in our daily life are people hoarding seats. The purpose of my post is not to embarrass anyone. Hence, I chose photos where faces are not revealed so that no one is put to shame.

This seat hoarding situation did not only limit to MRT but also cafes and eating places. Photos cannot be posted because faces are too close up and easily identified.

I'm sure many of us have faced frustrated situations, looking for seats at cafes or eating places. Waiting for people to finish their chit chatting, studying, 1 person taking 4 person's seats etc... all these happening during the peak hours. I understand that some times you are looking for places to study, hang out with friends etc and needed a place. I can totally understand this, because i do hang out at cafes and just relax, enjoying the ambience etc too.

I am referring to eating places where big crowds of people are standing around waiting. An act of courtesy or kindness would be, to share your table if you are alone or only taking up 2 out of 4 of the seats. :) i'm sure the people won't mind and will be really appreciative :)

Once i was at Soupspoon located at Bugis. it was peak hours at around 6.30pm where hungry people are hunting for food to fill their stomach after a long day of work. While many people are standing around looking for seats in the Soupspoon, i noticed a 4 seater table with some books and a school bag but no one was there. I waited for awhile to see if the person is ordering food etc. After 10-mins, the person still did not show up at the seat. So my friend and i decided to  sit at half of the table and leaving her things at the other half, to just have our meal.

We sat there and ate quickly as there were many other people waiting for a table. After close to an hour since we entered the shop, when we were about to finish and leave. The lady whom the books and bag belongs to came back and started to make a big fuss, raising her voice. She made a scene about us sitting on her seat and that she had placed her things there to show that the table is taken. Its obvious that she is not eating and neither is she really present at the seat because it was an hour since i saw her.

After making a huge commotion in the eatery, people around are feeling uncomfortable in the unpleasant situation, we realised that the boyfriend is one of the staff working. And she started scolding the boyfriend and embarrassing my friend and i publicly. It was a really awful experience.

Let's be people who are kind and passionate towards fellow humans. Sharing tables, giving up seats that you do not need or even to make an effort to finish up faster, can really help brighten someone's day. Caring and sharing is the opposite of hoarding. Some things may be OURS, but i think we can be kind to share it with someone in need.

Of course, the most important and easiest expression of courtesy is a smile. A smile can go a very long way and it can be passed on from one person to another :)

Hoshino Coffee, awesome food and the awkward lamp shade

Hoshino coffee~ you will love it once you try it! The soufflé pancakes, French toast, Japanese curry rice and the list goes on~

First up, the Hoshino hand drip coffee! The name of their shop is named after this hand drip coffee which is a very dedicate skill of coffee making. Unlike coffee by the coffee machine, hand drip coffee brings out the richness of favor and the smoothness of the drink. Coffee lover? Worth trying ;)

The Japanese curry rice! So delicious, I'm feeling hungry again just talking about it! However, it contains minced pork and beef. So if you cannot take beef, you would be missing out on this I guess. It has sausage, egg and the mixed pork and beef that are bended into the curry gravy. Hmmmmm~ yumm~

The omelette soufflé tomato rice.. If you are wondering what is in the omelette? It is literally egg soufflé on top and served with tomato favored rice below. A whole huge and fluffy soufflé egg. If you love eggs.. This will fulfill your eggs craving..

If you love dessert, waffles, pancakes... You will love the soufflés in an style. The pancake style with special toppings is really nice too! The softness of the soufflé leaves you wanting for more. Be prepared to wait for around 15-20mins for your soufflé to be served as everything here is done only when ordered. So you know it will be fresh... And hot...

End off with the French toast? I think it will be a little filling to be at the end cause you might already be full eating this! This is a must-try! The French toast served on a pan, with cream topped at the top.. And the sugary flour covering the French toast.. This is awesome! Advised to share with friends and you might want to order it right from the start as it can take up to 30mins to serve during peak hours. Worth the wait? I would gladly wait for this.

Then what is the lamp with the awkward shade about. I did not take any photos of this because photos cannot describe why is it awkward. But you were even out on those all tables on the right side of the cafes, you will know what I meant. If you are on a date, be sure to request for table seats on your left upon entering. You might have to wait a little longer for the seats but it will save your date night. The lamp on the long table is spread out equally along the long table with a awkwardly huge shade. The moment you sit down, you will realized that... You do not see the top half of the person's face opposite you. 

I was there with a group of friends once, sitting on that table. And we got to be bending over throughout. Literally leaning in the table so that we could all see each other, and have our conversations. Since then, I will always request for individual table seating even if it means to wait. :)

Service wise can be a little slow, but I can be understanding as it's always very packed. So it's hard to expect that the staff will be responding to you the moment you call for them. :)

Overall, I LOVE the food! I got craving for the food ALL the time, whenever I think of it! Other than the unnecessary huge shade, everything in this cafe is soooooo goooooddddd~

This cafe is located at Plaza Singapore, new wing Level 3.
If you are coming up from the long escalator from the new wing, it is just on the right hand side of the escalator.

Rate: 4.5

Understanding Your Skin

First of all, we need to understand our skin, in order to know what is the problem we are having and how different products actually helps, or make our current skin conditions worse.

After finding for quite some time, i manage to find a easier to understand image of our skin (above).

Basically in simple terms, 

Epidermis is our skin. 

Dermis is where our capillaries and nerves endings are.

Hypodermis is our main blood vessels, fats tissues and muscles are located.

Our Epidermis, the skin, is further divided into 5 different kinds of layers.

Many people think that our surrounding and whats happening externally is causing our skin problems. But actually what is happening from the inside is as bad as what is going on  on the outside of our skin.

before i go on explaining more about how these layers works and how they plan an important role. we need to understand our skin type vs our skin condition.

Skin type refers to the oil level of our skin:

- Oily (usually appears to have uneven skin tone and excess oil)

- Normal (perfect skin condition)

- Dry (also known as matured skin. Usually starts as we loss the radiance on our skin and slowly fine lines will begin to appear)

Skin condition refers to the water level of our skin:

- Hydrated

- Dehydrated (Most people are having problems with dehydrated skin from a young age due to wrong diagnosing and misunderstanding of skin type and skin conditions)

The most common problems i see among the youths are, very oily skin type and dehydrated skin condition. Many people mix up skin type and skin condition thinking that, if their skin is oily they need to use products that are very drying so that their skin will not be oily.

This result in worsening the condition as the skin continue to produce excessive oil but the skin got even more dehydrated, causing the excessive oil to be stuck under the thick layers of Stratum Corneum. Resulting in very congested skin with bumps, acne and constant outbreak due to hormonal changes or stress.

This is lesson #1 on understanding our skin. After you identify your skin type and skin condition, next week i will talk more about the kind of cleansers you should be using.

Is it important to cleanse your face? Find out why do some people say that "it's better not to cleanse your face"?

Courtesy? #1 - Reserved seats

Courtesy is a voluntary act of goodwill towards one another.

This is a "Reserved seat" sign implemented in Singapore a few years back. Has it made Singapore a better place since?

Let's start by talking about how things used to be like, before this sign came about. In the past, anyone could sit on any seat in the train. If an elderly or someone who need the seat more enters the train, people can choose to, or not to, give up their seats for them. This is an act of courtesy and goodwill. Though the risk that no one will stand up and offer up their seats remains.

After this sign was introduced, the often scenario is this, everyone rushes to the seats around. Sometimes pushing their way through when there are greater crowd. Not letting the people alight first, just so that they can get to the empty seats that are not with the reserved seat signs. These reserved seats are located on both sides of every entrance.

When all the other seats are filled, people reluctantly sit on those reserved seats, as they do not want to be the one expected to give up their seats or to be 'judged' by others. When someone who need the seats more enters the train, the first reaction is for everyone to be staring at the person on the reserved seat. It is like an eye-signaling to the person that they should be the one who give up their seat. In the event if they do not, people will stare at them and give unpleasant look like it was an obligation that they should have done so. Some times I see people who sit on the reserved seat and pretend to be soundly asleep.

While on the other hand, there are some older people who got offended and felt insulted when the priority seats are offered to them. Some lady who are a little bigger sized, mistaken to be pregnant and are offended by the kind gesture of giving up the seat to them. How do we gauge when to, and when not to offer up our seats?

Then I have witness this 3rd kind of situations where it is the other way round. The people who need the seat more, entered the train and demands their way. Personally it happened to me once. I was on the reserved seat as I have looked around and see that no one else is in need of the seat. An elderly uncle entered the train and immediately, he slammed the glass panel beside me and raised his voice shouting "EXCUSE ME!" And gestured for me to get out of my seat. I was shocked and hastily stood up that he could have the seat. But I guess I would have willingly and gladly stood up for him if I saw him entering the train?

A while back I was on a bus. Reserved seating are less obvious and noticable on buses as they are indicated by the color of the seat, and people are often less aware. This bus is a very crowded bus and often it will be so packed that it has to turn people away due to its full capacity. So it is no doubt that someone is definitely sitting on the reserved seats. An elderly man boarded the bus and at the instant he set foot on the bus, he shouted loudly at the lady on the reserved seat. "HEY YOU DONT KNOW THIS IS A RESERVED SEAT AR? YOU STILL DARE TO SIT! GET UP LA!" The lady was dumbfounded and embarrassed by the situation. She made her way out quickly, but the man did not stop scolding her with unpleasant words, till he sat down.

Has this "Reserved seat" sign made us better people? Or worse? Are the priorities given a privilege or prestige? How is this helping if people of greater needs are putting those who are sitting on these priority seats, in display of public embarrassment? Is this about courtesy or an obligation?

Should we then simply leave all the "Reserved seats" empty? Is it going to solve the problem? Who determines who need a seat more than another? If the reserved seat is already taken by elderly and a pregnant lady enters, how then can anyone say who deserve the seat more? Or another elderly enter, are they suppose to compare to see who is older, to determine who gets the seat?

We should move towards building our character and values of courtesy, than just the priority seating. There are so much more in the areas we can build and develop courtesy. While this seating issue is just 1 out of the many, of course, being the most common around us.

Peeping Tom!

Why are we watching Poshie shower?

Photographer: ME!!!

I actually believe that he is thinking of the same question too... LOL!
But one thing i can say, he really enjoy his bathing moments!

55-years to a miracle

Based on a true story.

55 years ago, a daughter was born to the family. However, on the 3 days she was given away to an adopting parents. In those times, life in Singapore was not really easy. After world war 2, Singapore took awhile to rebuild. Those were the years where Singapore, from Japanese occupation became under British colonial and then to become part of Malaysia... And eventually come out independent in the year 1965.

She was the 3rd child of the family, shortly after a brother who is slightly a year older than her. Having a hard life, the decision was made with the intention that she will live a better life with her adopted parents. However, things did not turn out the way her mother expected. At least not exactly how she thought it would be.

After giving her away, the mother regretted and secretly went to visit her baby girl. Some times she would even bring her older children along to find her and bring gifts, hoping to see her. But to no avail at all, as the adopting parents refused to allow them to meet and warned her to stop visiting.

This girl grew up with step-siblings who looked down on her and abused her, knowing that she is an adopted child. She would wake up early morning to do the laundry and all the necessary housework, going to the market etc before going to school. And eventually into her working years and her dating years and then to marriage. Things did not turn any better still. Instead the bias-ness of the adopted mother towards her and her step-siblings got even more obvious and direct.

Things only took a slight turn at her 40th year, where on a work trip, she met Jesus and was healed of her sinus that was with her since birth. There she give her life to Christ. After the trip, she was not sure if her adopted mother would allow her to attend church, as they had been very staunched Buddhist. But God did a work in her heart and the adopted mother allowed her to attend church.

Praying for the salvation of the adopted mother, she took got saved after a few years of constant loving her despite of how she would treat her and the some times hurtful words that she would use against her.

All the way into the late years of the adopted mother, she stayed by her side, working hard to pay off all her medical bills and expenses all by herself. She did not complain. There are nights where she would cry herself to sleep, feeling all alone in this and hoping for siblings who would stand by her.

At her 47th year, her adopted mother went to be with The Lord. Being faithful to God, she brought her children up in the way of The Lord, to the best of her abilities. 

2 months back, after a service in church, a church sister prophesied that a miracle will happen in her life. Being child-like in her faith, she believed that a miracle will happen! On her way home with another church sister, they took the MRT. Halfway though the journey, she notied someone smiling at her. Feeling uneasy about strangers smiling at her since young, she turned her back away.

At her station when she got off the train, the same lady ran up to her! And said,

"Do you use to live at ********?"

So she replied, "why do you ask?"

The lady then said that "I'm looking for my lost 2nd sister, who was given away"

Still feeling unsure, she asked for the name of the biological mother of this lady, because all she knew about her biological family is only the name of her mother.

When the lady mentioned the name of her mother, she knew that the name is the name of her biological mother. With great joy, they sat down and chatted!

So still confused at the boldness of this lady, her sister. She asked how is she so sure that she is her sister, and that she would approach her?

This lady said that she looked like their eldest sister and the way she talk looks like her younger sister. She has been looking for her sister all her life and she know that she cannot miss this opportunity! Hence, the boldness to approach her. There's a total of 4 sisters, including the girl. And they have another 4 brothers.

For all her life, she did not know about her biological mother's visits when she was young. Growing up feeling rejected and unwanted, now she is restored to a very big family of 8 siblings! The following day, she met up with all the sisters and the following week with all the siblings! They checked the birth cert and etc and confirmed that they are biological siblings! Indeed, it is a miracle! There are many people who tried looking for their biological family through medias and various methods but to no avail, and yet God did such a great miracle! Because of her simple faith in the spoken word!

After reuniting, the siblings told her that all the days of the life of her biological mother, she had been regretting that she gave her away and told all of them that they had a lost sister who was given away. And told them to look for her and don't stop looking for her! Unfortunately, her biological mother passed away shortly after she moved out of the old residential place. Due to the lost of contact or knowing her whereabouts after the move, as she totally had no idea where her daughter had moved to, she went into depression and passed away shortly.

Hearing all these, brought tears to her eyes, knowing that the mother had never stopped looking for her. The love of the biological parents and siblings came rushing into her heart and God did a healing work. Though it took 55 years, it's a miracle as great as the pain she had went through. God heard all her silent tears and crying out for siblings who would standby her. He did not give her 1, not 2... But a total of 7 siblings! And her siblings loved her so much and would stood by her anytime! Her usual uneventful weekends all her life, suddenly are filled with much family events and family time with her siblings!

I know this is true because it's my family story... God is a miracle working God, if you will only believe!

Habitat Cafe Review

Going along Upper Thomson looking for a nice place to chill... We came across Habitat!

Maybe i was expecting more due to the good reviews they are having...
However, disappointed to say that the Lava cake came cold. Like literally, the lava is harden inside the cake. When we request for the cake to be heated up again, the very nice staff gave us back the ice cream so that we can still have the ice cream before it melts, while he heat up the cake for us.
The cake came back looking like it explored in the oven, where the cake is in 3-4 pieces and the lava is everywhere on the plate.

The dessert disappointed us greatly. But i got to say that the serve is good. Though i feel that the air-con is a little strong too :x

If you just want a place to hang out.. love the chill, ambience and coffee is good.. This place is still good. :)

Sorry for the low rating, but i hope there will be another chance where i will pop by again for coffee and some other desserts. ;)

Rate: 3.0

3D Painting

Came across this online and thought it was really amazing!
This is a 3D painting with alternating layers of acrylic paint and resin, by a Singaporean!

Amazed, impressed and inspired!

Stay in Madrid (Part 1) Mercado De San Micuel

This is the place to go if you want to try all kinda of food!

Photographer: ME!

Everything in this place looks so delicious! Mauck~

Cheese~ Pasta~ Pastries~ Coffee~ Oyster~ Cakes~ Ice cream~

Stay in Barcelona (Part 5) Sagrada Familia Church by Antoni Gaudi

This is the final works of Antoni Gaudi and from the photos you will see that this church is still under construction. There are 2 sides to this church and will notice that the ending few photos, the style is very different from all the other part of the church. It is because the back of this church is done by another designer who is more of abstract artist, therefore the style differs a lot from Gaudi's work.

I took many close-up photos of the details. So take time to enjoy every little detail that are put into this building. It is art, it is a masterpiece. There is so much going on that but taking a glance, you would have missed out on so much more.

You can see that the lay out of the church is like the tabernacle of the old testament. Where there is a outer court, Holy place and Holy of Holies (where the sculpture of Jesus is hanging over) as shown in the photos above.

Below are the abstract design by other designer that i mentioned earlier.

Photographer: ME!

How you enjoyed every detail as much as i did!