I decided to add purple highlights to my hair on my second visit to Naoki Yoshihara by Ash. I tried purple highlights earlier
this year when I was holidaying in Taipei and I was yearning to recreate the look once again.

One of the easiest
ways to change your look is to add highlights to your hair. Not only is
it less damaging than changing your base colour, it also adds interest
and dimension to your hairstyle. What I like most about highlights is
that you can experiment with bolder hues without compromising on
professionalism and style. 

 
 The problem with having ammonia in hairdyes is that it is actually really harmful to your hair. Ammonia has adverse effects on a protein called Tyrosine which is found in hair shafts and Tyrosine produces the melanin pigments in your hair. Ammonia damages Tyrosine, which greatly affects your hair’s ability to absorb colour. 

If you realize that your hair colour seems to fade quickly, perhaps it is time to switch to ammonia-free hair dyes for longer lasting hair colour and stronger, healthier hair! 

I love the trendier and fashion
forward vibes that the contrasting purple highlights lend to my overall
appearance. It also gives my hair more movement and makes my hair look
more voluminous than before.

If you are thinking of heading down to Naoki Yoshihara by Ash during the upcoming festive season, do take note of these changes:

I personally prefer subtle enhancements that preserve the individuality and unique characteristics of my original features. Thankfully, after consulting Dr Chau, I realized that nose fillers would actually fit the bill.

  
The pictures of me that you see above were taken before I had nose fillers. I looked exceptionally tired in the first picture taken at the clinic as I headed there after a long day at work. Nonetheless, from all the pictures, you can tell that my nose bridge was relatively low and the tip of my nose was somewhat wide.

If given a choice, I would prefer a higher nose bridge and a sharper tip. So, why did I choose fillers and what were some of my considerations?

Why did I choose fillers?

Filler treatments are probably one of the fastest and most natural ways to enhance your nose because the final look depends largely on the characteristics of your existing nose. Unlike, rhinoplasty, otherwise known as a surgical nose job, you can’t show your doctor a picture of your favourite celebrity’s nose and get him/her to recreate the exact same nose with fillers. I have no intentions of looking like anyone else, not even my favourite celebrity and since preserving my individuality is a key concern, I chose fillers.

What can you expect during the treatment?

The make-up on my nose area was thoroughly removed and a thick layer of numbing cream was applied to my nose. After about 30 minutes, my nose was completely numb.

Then, it was time for Dr Chau to work his magic. Juvéderm® VOLUMA® Lidocaine was used in the procedure. He started with the top of my nose bridge and slowly worked his way down to middle, followed by the tip. Dr Chau also ensured that the injection was administered gradually and carefully to reduce the likelihood of bruising.

After the injection, my nose was moulded to shape. Dr Chau shared that ideally, ladies should have button-like noses for a softer look, which helps to retain their femininity while men should have higher and straighter noses as it would enhance their masculinity.

Finally, here’s the side view of my new nose. As you can see, my nose bridge is significantly higher but the curvature is remarkably natural.

Here are some pictures of me about two hours after the procedure, taken at home without any make-up except for some eyeliner. My nose looked very prominent during the first 2 days, which was normal and expected due to swelling, but it settled in nicely thereafter.

3 days later 

If you follow me on my instagram account (@reginachow_sg), you may have spotted this picture which was taken 3 days after the procedure. I had some bruising then, but it was completely concealed by make-up. The swelling had gone down as well and my nose looked more natural.

For a better comparison, I also included my ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures below. All the pictures in the post have not been digitally enhanced.

Side View 

Front View

If you observe the pictures carefully, you would probably realize that my eyes looked bigger in my ‘after’ picture. Well, that is actually one of the effects of nose fillers as well. Besides a sharper nose, your features, especially your eyes, will also look more defined.

For those of you who want bigger eyes and a sharper nose, fillers can help you to achieve your objectives! 

Is there downtime?

There is no downtime at all. I headed out to do Christmas shopping immediately after the procedure! This is an important factor for most of us who have to head back to office the next day or immediately after the procedure. 

I experienced some slight bruising for about a week, but with the help of foundation and concealer, nothing was visible to the naked eye.

Is it painful?

It  is a relatively painless procedure as numbing cream is applied and Juvéderm® VOLUMA® Lidocaine, the filler that was used in my procedure, contains Lidocaine, an anesthetic drug to minimize pain.

In fact, the procedure was absolutely painless for me, which left me pleasantly surprised. On a scale of 1-10, the pain factor was 0. 

Is the treatment reversible? 

Filler treatments are not permanent and yes, they are reversible. Fillers such as Juvéderm® VOLUMA® Lidocaine are made of hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in our body. If complications arise, which are generally uncommon with an experienced doctor, or you are dissatisfied with the results, the fillers can be easily dissolved and removed from your body. 

Of course, to reduce unnecessary risks, you should always do your research and engage a qualified, experienced doctor to ensure that more than half the battle is won! Dr Dylan Chau, for instance, has 9 years of experience in medical aesthetics and has a wealth of experience in administering filler treatments. 

How long will fillers last?

Fillers typically last between 12-18 months but it varies from individual to individual because everyone breaks down or metabolizes fillers at different rates.

Are there any other non-permanent aesthetic treatments for nose enhancements?

During my consultation, Dr Chau told me that I could try another procedure for nose enhancement, which involves injecting sutures (or threads, similar to stitches for patching up open wounds) into the nose. The results from this procedure is likely to last at least 2 years, which is slightly longer than fillers which are estimated to last between 12-18 months.

I was tempted to try this but I wanted to have the flexibility to assess if I preferred a higher nose bridge before deciding on a more permanent option. I would probably try this treatment after the fillers wear off.

For now, I am very satisfied with the results of my nose fillers. As always, I am awed by Dr Dylan Chau’s sense of beauty, aesthetic judgment and wonderful skills, and I would highly recommend him for all aesthetic treatments.  

I will be heading back to Celevenus in early January for a review, but meanwhile, here are some pictures of me 1 week after the procedure:

Email: 
beauty@celevenus.com.sg

Website:
http://www.celevenus.com.sg/

Intelligent Nutrients is the brainchild of Aveda pioneer Horst M. Rechelbacher, who wanted to make products so smart that they can be eaten. Intelligent Nutrients products contain a proprietary ingredient called Intellimune and are food grade, non-toxic, pesticide-free, gluten-free and vegan. In fact, the ingredients used are so natural that Intelligent Nutrients is now the highest rated natural and organic brand according to UK’s organic monitor. 

For more updates on myLIFE INC, remember to like their facebook page here!

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Mistress of Glam will also be setting up a stall at Public Garden (Level 16, Triple 1 Somerset) from 7th – 8th December, 1pm – 7pm. You will also receive a 5% discount when you purchase 2 items and a 10% discount when you purchase 3 items! 

Now, here’s the good news:

All my readers will be entitled to an 8% discount for every purchase! All you have to do is to let Queena know that you are “Regina’s reader”.

Do pop by next weekend to check out more of Queena’s gorgeous works!

What is interesting about this new portal is that it caters to both
buyers and sellers alike, hence resellers or individuals like you and me
are welcome to advertise our pre-owned and brand new luxury goods for sale too! 

My Dream Wardrobe possesses an expanding stable of both pre-owned and brand new luxury goods, with new items being added everyday. You can buy or sell anything and everything ranging from bags, accessories, small leather goods, apparel and even watches! 

 Honestly, it is quite the wonderland for luxury goods aficionados. I was especially tempted by the dazzling array of designer bags in a gamut of brands, styles, shapes and textures. Choosing the perfect bag takes time. After all, a bag is not just a place for storing your belongings. It is a extension of yourself, which defines your personal style. With My Dream Wardrobe, one click is all it takes to revel in your favourite designer labels and purchase the latest IT bag!
 

How does My Dream Wardrobe compare against similar luxury online portals or stores that offer used and brand new luxury goods? In my opinion, here are some of its unique selling points that set it apart from its competitors in the market:

Benefits for Buyers

Benefits for Individual Sellers

Merchants selling pre-owned and brand new luxury products can benefit from My Dream Wardrobe as it provides an additional platform for advertising your products and can complement your existing marketing strategies.  

What about individual sellers like you and me? With the rise of instagram and online resellers in the market which are fast gaining popularity with individuals sellers for listing both used and luxury goods, what is it that My Dream Wardrobe offers that gives it a competitive edge? 

Well, here’s the deal:

1) The contact verification system offered by My Dream Wardrobe gives buyers the assurance and confidence to make purchases.

2)  The search function on My Dream Wardrobe allows buyers to zoom into a specific brand or product, without them having to waste time scrolling through pages after pages of products that may not be of any interest to them. Buyers can immediately find the products of their desire at their fingertips, which increases the probability of purchase. 

On the contrary, one of the pitfalls of advertising with instagram resellers is that the multitude of items posted daily may result in your item getting lost in a sea of other products on sale. The lack of a search function on instagram also means that more often than not, you have to leave everything to chance.
 
3) More importantly, the advertising charges are very reasonable compared to most instagram resellers which charge anything from S$5 – S$50 per listing. 

Each advertisement on My Dream Wardrobe costs just $3 for 8 weeks!  This is a special promotional price offered by My Dream Wardrobe in line with the soft launch of its new website and each advertisement is slated to be priced in the region of S$10-S$15 after the official launch, so be sure to take advantage of the deal while it lasts!

I have also posted the steps below for your easy reference:

I am sure many of us
have pre-loved or brand new luxury goods that have not seen the light of
day in a while. Well, maybe it is time to give your bags, watches or
apparel a new lease of life by putting them up for sale on My Dream Wardrobe! 

Now
that you have more space in your wardrobe, you can also take the
opportunity to kill two birds with one stone and take a peek at what
else is available for sale at My Dream Wardrobe. Make room for a new
bag, watch, or accessory of your choice to achieve the wardrobe of your
dreams! 

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In line with the launch of its new website and the upcoming festive season, My Dream Wardrobe has launched not one, but two Facebook contests, where you’ll stand to win amazing prizes!

Here are more details about both contests:

 1) My Dream Wardrobe Facebook Contest – Win a Staycation at One15 Marina Club!

Click here to participate in My Dream Wardrobe’s Like & Share Facebook Contest to Win a 2D1N Staycation at One15 Marina Club!

Step 1 – Like My Dream Wardrobe on Facebook.

Step 2 – Like + Share the post on your Facebook wall with the comment: “I like My Dream Wardrobe because (share with them your reasons here)!”

Winner will be announced and notified via Facebook on 15th December 2013, Sunday, at 3pm.

Details of Staycation:

– Check-in Date: 28th December 2013
– Complimentary Continental breakfast buffet for 2pax

Contest is for 21 years of age and older only.

2) My Dream Wardrobe Christmas Giveaway!

Click here to participate in My Dream Wardrobe’s Like & Share Christmas Giveaway to Win a 45 min Bamboo Rolling Massage by Beyond Beauty!

Step 1 – Like My Dream Wardrobe on Facebook.

Step 2
– Share the post on your Facebook and Tag at least 5 friends.

10 Lucky Winners will be announced and notified via Facebook on 25th December 2013!

Good luck to everyone!

I wanted to touch up my roots and trim my ends, while Karen wanted to tone down her bright red rock-style hair for a more work appropriate look. Selecting the right hair colour to suit your skin tone and personal style is an art, and you can certainly trust Naoki Yoshihara by Ash to do it right.