Wednesday, February 24, 2021

IDS Journey: Experience at IDS and Customised IDS Skincare Set

Having healthy looking skin is everybody's dream, but not everyone has flawless skin. Balanced diet and lifestyle, sufficient sleep and the use of right skincare products play a part in achieving healthy looking skin.

Everyone's skin condition is different and will have different product needs. Therefore, it is important to seek advice from Aesthetic professional to assess our skin problems and prescribed the right products for us.

I was thrilled to begin my IDS journey with Innovative Dermatological Solutions (IDS) because I have heard lots of good reviews from social media platforms and was excited to try it for myself. 

I made my first visit to IDS located at International Building (Orchard) which is their flagship store. They have another outlet at Novena Specialist Center. Upon registration, I had to submit a online health declaration form and a hardcopy form to fill up my particular for first time visit.

Established since 2014, IDS Clinic offers offer innovative and effective treatments, and products from IDS Skincare that are designed to address the most common skin problems such as acne, anti-aging, hyperpigmentation and therapeutics. 

I was being brought to a room for consultation with Dr Michelle Wong. After assessing my skin's condition, Dr Michelle pointed out my skin's problems that I am facing which includes combination skin (oily skin around T-zome), clogged pores and acne. She has customised a set of skincare products and the product application sequence targeting at my skin's problems.

After the consultation, I was led to another room where one of the staff assigned to me, Mary, who explained in more details about each product that I will be using and letting me try out the texture of the products.

Next was to wait for my name to be called to collect the products at dispensary counter and good to go after that.

I received a customised IDS skincare set targeting at my skin problems. There are the skincare products that I use daily. The only difference between day and night regime is the exclusion of (S2) Non-tinted Sunscreen in the night regime.

Skincare products that I use weekly.

Let me share with you my skincare regime and the 8 products in details.

Step 1: Cleanse with (C1) Refreshing Cleanser

C1 Refreshing Cleanser is suitable for normal to oily/blemish-prone skin. It contains botanical extracts with anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties which soothes irritated skin and reduces redness.

The cleanser has a gel texture that lather well into soft foam when massage on our skin, it also has a light orangy scent. I like how it makes my skin feel clean, soft and refreshing after the wash. It supports skin cell regeneration with the deep cleansing, but did not strip away the skin’s natural protective layer. 

Step 2: Exfoliate with (FS) Facial Scrub (use twice a week)

I have to admit that I have often neglected this step in the past. This is actually a very important step to exfoliate the dead skin from the surface to unveil new skin cells. With the dead skin cell remained at the surface area of our skin, no matter how good the skincare product is, it will not get easily absorbed into the skin. This product is ideal for oily and blemish-prone skin.

The facial scrub contains ultra-fine crystals that are not too harsh on skin. It helps in clearing out impurities and regulating sebum production. With the removal of dead skin, our skin become smoother and brighter.

The facial scrub is very gentle that it can be use daily, but I use it only twice a week.

Step 3: Rejuvenate with (PM) Probiotic Mask (use once a week)

The mineral-rich mask is designed specifically for oily and problematic skin. Just apply a moderate layer after cleansing and leave it on for 15 to 30 minutes.

I only know that probiotics are commonly found in food such as yogurt, pickles, kimchi and some cheese, but this is the first time I am using a product with probiotics. The probiotics is in the form of Lactobacillus ferment, which aids in reducing blemish size and inflammation. 

After using the mask, I noticed that my skin become softer and instantly looked dewy. It also helped to unclog the dirt in pores and clean away the excess oil.

Step 4: Tone with (T1) Refreshing Toner

I am using T1 Refreshing Toner which is suitable for normal to oily/blemish-prone skin. I typically spray the toner mist on my face and neck, then pat until it is dry. Alternatively, you can also spray onto cotton pad and gently wipe all over the face.

The toner is cooling and comforting when sprayed on skin, it is effective in soothing my skin and balancing sebum production. It also helps to unclog the pores, leaving my skin feeling soft and hydrated.

Step 5: Clear with (PF) Pore Formula

This is a wonder product if you have large pores, visible blackheads and whiteheads. Dr Wong has suggested me to apply thinly around T-zone, forehead and chin area, do not apply too much as it might cause breakout. It contains flower extracts which speed up wound healing, reduce sebum production and control inflammation. This product is suitable for oily and blemish-prone skin. 

I am always bothered by my visible enlarged pores and my T-zone tends to get oily easily, I get start to feel the greasiness by noon. This product really works, it regulates the sebum production, reduce the blackheads and whiteheads, making my skin looks cleaner. The product has a very unusual scent that may not be to everyone's liking.

Step 6: Treat with Serum (C+) C-Plus

This award winning serum is suitable for all skin types. It is formulated with Vitamin C which contains antioxidant, stimulates collagen production, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, anti-acne and achieves skin brightening.

The watery texture of the serum was lightweight and fast absorbed into skin. It has lightened up my acne marks, making the angry red spots looked visually smaller. My skin also looked more glowing after the application. 

Step 7: Moisturize with (OM) Oil-Free Moisturizer

The moisturizer is oil-free which allows our skin to absorb the hydration without greasiness, suitable for oily or blemish-prone skin. It is enriched with Vitamin C, E and a gentle Vitamin A derivative that helps in clearing up complexion, minimizing sebum production and lightening blemish marks.

I always prefer moisturizer that comes in a pump dispenser so that it eliminated contamination from external contact with the product. The texture of the moisturizer did not feel heavy and absorbed into skin within seconds. The lightweight gel moisturizer has deeply hydrated my skin, making my skin looked dewy and glow with radiance after using it.

Step 8: Protect with (S2) Non-Tinted Sunscreen SPF 50 PA++

Sunscreen is one of the important step in skincare which many people neglect nowadays. Even with our mask on, we still need to put on sunscreen when we head out so that we are protected from the harmful UV radiation and radicals from pollution.

With SPF 50 PA++, the sunscreen gives a high coverage against the harmful pollutants, minimizes the risk of prematured aging and other skin problems. Not only that, the sunscreen also has moisturising effect. 

I have definitely seen improvement in my skin with just a week of using. Thank you IDS for treating my skin problems and giving me more confidence in showing my bare face.

My thinking has changed over the years. I would rely more on makeup products to cover up my flaws when I was younger, but now I would rather rely on more skincare products and wear lesser layers of makeup. Every step of skincare regime is important as they act on different functions of our skin. I will be sharing with you on my progress in my next IDS blogpost.

You can visit www.idsskincare.com for more about their products or www.idsclinic.com if you wish to have any teleconsultation service with IDS Clinic!


This post is a collaboration with Studio 155 and IDS Skincare, expressed in my own opinion.

Saturday, February 13, 2021

Happenings in January and February - Food Hunt + Serein Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner + JUS Toner

Thursday 7/1/21

Happy 2021, it might be another year where I spent majority of the time at home, another year with restriction in place and another year of seeking local exploration.

Ever since working from home, I rely heavily on food delivery because there are always days where we are lazy to head out to takeaway food. This time round, we tried on Collin.

Saturday 16/1/21

A last minute of sourcing of places for lunch at Bugis with my friend, J. I remembered there is a Thai eatery nearby, so we walked over to the steamboat area at Bugis. 

Though Thai Boat Noodle is a small eatery that fits about 20 pax or less, we got a seat without waiting. I had Green Milk Tea to go with the meal. 

My Pad Thai was finally here. Beneath the thin layer of omelette was the pipping hot Pad Thai. We were super hungry because it was already 2.30pm and we haven't took our lunch.

We also ordered a plate of Prawn Sticks that was accompanied with the Thai sweet chilli sauce, the Prawn Sticks were very crispy and the inner was tender, very addictive.

Walk back to Yummo Chow to try our luck for their dessert. The reason for coming here was to try their dessert.

Yummo Chow is located at the entrance of Hotel Nuve Heritage, the hotel guests will need to pass by the cafe before reaching the hotel reception.

We were here for the their best-selling Tempura Ice Cream where  the vanilla ice cream was wrapped inside the deep fried crunchy batter bun and drizzled with maple syrup. The tempura bun was very airy and thin with crispy exterior, when cut open, the vanilla ice cream was still in a solid state which we were amazed.

Saturday 23/1/21

Craving for good milkshake and burger we experienced at OverEasy, our next research finding brought us to Black Tap at Marina Bay Sands.

Black Tap is one of the more casual vibe dining place at Marina Bay Sands, it is a classic burger joint that is famous for their award-winning burger, craft beer and CrazyShakes.

Because the CrazyShake was too large for me, I went for the Classic Oreo Cookies & Cream Milkshake ($12++) instead. It has surpassed and become the best oreo cookies milkshake that I had before. I could taste the oreo bites in every sip, it was toppled with whipped cream to enhance the creaminess. My love for milkshake is beyond question, it's like a must order when it is available in the menu.

Baja Grilled Chicken Sandwich served with fries ($23++) came in a generous portion. The sandwich was totally different from what I have imagined, it exceeded my expectation. It contained so many ingredients which includes cajun grilled chicken breast, avocado, bacon, chipotle mayo and pico de gallo. The fries has a crispy crust while the inner remained soft. Black Tap's burger definitely the rank in my burger list.

Do you know that oily scalp will clog our pores and obstruct the growth of healthy hair, leading to hair loss issue. Luckily, I was introduced to Cosmicmoment Serein Vegan Shampoo and Conditioner, a premium hair care brand that target hair loss issue. 

Serein Vegan Shampoo is suitable for sensitive scalp as there is no added of any scalp irritation components., the ingredients are all naturally derived and vegan certified (no animal origin). The shampoo contains aloeswood and musk scent, it smells amazing and making me feel refreshed after the hair wash. With the cooling effect, the shampoo helps to cool down our scalp and relieve scalp stress. 

After the shampooing, it’s time to apply Serein Anti Hair Loss Conditioner Vinegar. Generally, the cream textured conditioner is only recommended to apply from mid hair to hair end. But for Serein Anti Hair Loss Conditioner Vinegar, it is a transparent liquid texture that we can apply to scalp till the end of hair, massage our scalp gently to let the product soak through our hair. The conditioner helps to bring back pH balancing to a healthy level, relieve dead skin on scalp and thus strengthening our hair. I like how my hair can comb through more easily after drying my hair and restore shine. 

Thanks 0.8L for taking care of my hair.

Saturday 30/1/21

Just when I thought 2020 was a tough year, 2021 is even worse. My family are caught in something and we have been dealing with anxiety for the past one week. Hope that we can overcome all obstacles and win the battle.

I’m always a fan of Korean product because it always works well for my skin. Recently, I started using JUS Eoseongcho 90 Toner which contains 90% Eoseongcho extract (0% purified water) with an optimized ingredient design with pH 5.5. 

I applied it after cleansing my face, the toner has a watery texture which was fast absorbed into skin. The toner contained a light scent which was calming and gave a refreshed feeling. I like that it helps to soothe and moisturise the skin. It is suitable for all skin types as it uses safe formula with no harmful ingredients that will cause skin irritation. 

Best of all, the toner comes in a big bottle of 500ml which can last me for a long long time. Definitely worth the price. Thanks 0.8L for sending this over.

Sunday 31/1/21

The past week has been a week of gathering with family and relatives. Today was Aiden's family. 

Aiden is all grown up, he has entered primary 1 this year. 
It has been a while since I last met the kids because I was either working or not at home when they came over. See you again during CNY.

Wednesday 3/2/21

I'm on leave today to accompany my parents out to settle some stuffs. After the things were settled, Dad was having cravings for Bak Ku Teh and we went over to our usual hangout place for Bank Ku Teh.

Their fried doughstick was the one of the best we tried, it remained crispy throughout and did not turned soggy. A satisfying meal before the start of the battle comes tomorrow. 

Himalaya is a familiar brand to me because I have been a user of their products (Himalaya Purifying Neem Scrub) previously. This time round I get to try out Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash, a soap free herbal formulation that helps to clear pimples. 

Himalaya Purifying Neem Face Wash lathers well and is gentle on skin, leaving no tight feeling. It effectively removes the dirt and excess oil on my skin, making my skin feel refreshed. It does not cause any irritation to skin too. Another plus point is that the face wash is affordable, the price range is from $6 to $10 depending on the size you buy.

Saturday 6/2/21

Right after my appointment with IDS Clinic, I headed down to Standing Sushi Bar at Odeon Towers to meet my friend for lunch.

There are two outlets in Singapore - Marina One and Odeon Towers. We choose the one at Odeon Towers because it offers a more extensive menu including robatayaki, tempura, and curry rice.

I had Chicken Katsu Curry Rice ($16++). The chicken katsu was juicy and tender, making it easy to cut. It refrained the crispiness of the skin when mixed with the curry.

Finally changed my phone after 4 years, brought my new phone out today. 

Saturday 13/2/21

This Chinese New Year (CNY) has been a quiet one for my family with daily visitors not exceed 8 pax due to Covid-19 restriction. House visiting by relatives will be spread out over the two weeks of CNY.

We had steamboat dinner with Aunt's family on the second day of CNY.  
CNY used to be the busiest period for my family but this year we cut down lots of preparation on food. For instance, CNY day 1 used to be most busiest day in preparing the food, but yesterday we only cooked chap chye for lunch and egg fried rice for dinner. The most simplest CNY ever and an unusual one.

Wednesday, February 3, 2021

Fresh Dailies Product Review: Anti-Ageing Skin Lifting RF & EMS Beauty LED Photon Home Beauty Handheld Device

 As age is catching up on me, anti-ageing has been added to my beauty regime to fight against ageing and maintain the youthfulness. 

Do you know that other than skincare products, we can also rely on beauty device to embrace the beauty?

I was introduced by Fresh Dailies to this multi functions beauty device. Fresh Dailies is an online beauty supplies store that covers over 400 affordable products for daily skincare, makeup, haircare, wellness and beauty tech products. 

The packaging was so pretty that attracted me at the first glance.
Anti-Ageing Skin Lifting RF & EMS Beauty LED Photon Home Beauty Handheld Device is a one beauty product that will meet all our skin needs. It comes in 7 modes:
- Deep clean
- Activation
- Essence-in
- Acne-T
- Whitening
- EMS up
- Eyecare

The beauty device is available in 2 colours, pink and silver. I'm glad that I got my favourite colour, pink.

I used it twice a week. Each mode is best used for 3 to 5 minutes.

Using the device is simple. To turn the device on, just press and hold the second button for 3 seconds. It will auto be set to Deep Clean mode and heat level is low (L). If you want to increase the heat level, simply press the first button to adjust the heat level to low, medium or high.

When the device is placed on our skin on deep clean mode, it gave a warm sensation that helps to promote absorption, increase elasticity and make the skin plump. The dirt in the deep holes will be thoroughly cleaned with the current being able to penetrate into the lower layers of the skin.

Just press the second button again and it will turn into the Activation mode and turn into red LED light (640 - 650nm). It is slightly warmer than the deep clean mode at 42℃ warmth. It activated our skin cell and rejuvenated collagen. This mode is suitable for people who is experiencing sagging skin and fade lines, this mode will help to restore skin vitality and elasticity.

The next mode is Acne-T which gives out blue LED light (415nm). This is one of the modes that I used regularly to improve on my acne condition as it helps to calm and repair our skin.

I don't go facial often especially when I spend majority of the time at home since I am still working from home. Having this beauty device makes me feel that I have undergo an express facial in the comfort of home. Super convenient and affordable way to maintain our skin.

Moving on next is Whitening mode which will turn into orange LED light (600nm). This mode will inhibit the production of melanin which aids in skin rejuvenation and lightening while increasing the skin moisture.

Essence-in mode gives off a tri-colour (Blue, Red, Orange) LED light, but in photo it was captured as purple. This mode can be used when you have a facial mask on, it will better help the skin to absorb the essence and maintain moisturisation.

For EMS Up mode, it uses the mildest impulse current anode to soften and discharge grease. It can be used after the application of toner and moisturiser. 

The last mode is Eye Care, the warm sensation will relieve and soothe our fatigued eyes, smooth away the dark eye circles. Besides that, it can stimulate blood circulation around our eye area.

It is not too late to kickstart on anti-ageing if you haven't, with the use of right beauty regime, one will definitely see the result over the time.

Anti-Ageing Skin Lifting RF & EMS Beauty LED Photon Home Beauty Handheld Device is retailing at $49, no shipping charge for delivery to Singapore. Head over to Fresh Dailies website for more shopping.


This post is a collaboration with Fresh Dailies and expressed in my own opinion.