What is Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish ? Read my experience in BMIC Salon

How many times we walked in to the nail salon with ugly/bad shaped nails and came out with clean & beautiful shaped nails



Well its the 5 Steps to basic manicure & pedicure that BMIC Nail Salon did on me that I am going to share in details with you girls here:)

1) Nail Cliper - to cut the nails to the desire length. And its always best to have nails of same length.

2) Shaping file - To shape the nails according to the preference



3) Cuticle Pushers - to push out the dead cuticle off the nails.



4) Cuticle Nipper - To clip off the excess dead cuticle. Gotta to becareful of this and not to cut your own meat .



5) Cushion file - To smoothen up the surface of the nail.


Hola, thats it .. sounds simple ? But of course all this required some patient and skills and most of us love to be pampered than to do it ourselves at home right ?

Apart from having the right tools to do the right job, it is important to have the right product to take care of our cuticle.



Nail and Cuticle Replenishing Oil - To moisture the cuticle and help to reduce growth of cuticle.



And now my nails are ready for nail polish session :D



This time around, I am trying Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish. Have been hearing about this for the longest time and finally got the chance to try it !

Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish is like your normal nail polish but it has the ability to last longer (around 2 weeks or more) because in part because they need to be “cured” under a UV light to dry (around 3-5 mins). Most importantly the gel must be applied and removed by a professional as normal nail polish remover cannot removed them.

No prize for guessing which color I choose ! I always love bling bling , so I chose gold with shinny dusts.

To apply Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish, our nails still need to be applied with base, color and top like our normal nail colouring but BMIC Salon has 3 in one gel nail polish (base, colour and topcoat)

Looked how shiny is my color nail polish !

Applying nail polish for both hands takes around 10 minutes.

Then my hands are put under the UV light box to dry. Takes around 3-5 minutes for the Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish to be completely dry.

The last step of this Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish is to use the special finishing wipe to remove the access on top of the nail. I was told this step is important or our nails will become sticky like cell tape.

Last but not least , I was given a good hands massage with OPI Avo juice. I chose Cris Apple flavour, very refreshing. The reason why the hand massages came after the Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish because our nails need to be completely oil free in order for the nail polish to last longer.



My Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish lasts around 3 weeks (including a week in India).



And the nail polish shine is still there even though it has been almost 3 weeks without any touch up! The downside of this Soak Off UV Gel Nail Polish is that I need to go back to the salon tomorrow to remove the gel nail polish when some of the color at the nail edge are coming off!


BMIC Nail Spa Salon
S18, Pamper Floor Starhill Gallery Shopping Centre
181 Jalan Bukit Bintang 55100 Kuala Lumpur
Tel : 03-2148 1818
For more information check out their facebook here

Maybelline Hypersharp Liner Launch Event

I was invited to attend Maybelline Hypersharp Liner Launch Event a while ago and only by now I got time to blog about this.

The event was held at the il Lido Italian Dining & Lounge Bar in Off Jalan Yap Kwan Seng, KL.

The event was to launch their latest Maybelline Hypersharp Liner which by now has been in a market for a while.

We are told that this Maybelline Hypersharp Liner is currently No 1 eyeliner in Japan and has the sharpest point only at 0.05mm at the tip hence the an eyeliner line able to be drawn as close as possible to the lash line, provide the precise coverage.

Apart from that, I was told that this eyeliner does not stain, smudge and water/sweat/sebum proof which can give long lasting effect up to 24 hours.

Members of the media including bloggers are listening carefully to the presentation.

Make-up Demostration on Liyana Jasmay - Ambassador of Maybelline New York'



Can you see how eyeliner has enhanced her eyes :)

Below are 8 awesome looks that has been created by local popular magazines editors (Marie Claire, Female, Eh, Cosmopolition, Remaja, Cleo, My women's weekly and Nuyou).

And because of the high precision that the eyeliner can give, these editors has came out with creative fine arts to be drawn on face using the pencil eyeliner only. Indeed very creative right ?

Group photo of all the models


Of course I did not miss out the chance to try the latest liquid eyeliner at the event. Will tell you more in my review post soon :)

Finally me & the super giant Maybelline Hypersharp Liner.

Check out the latest Maybelline New York Hyper Sharp Ultra-Fine Liquid Liner which is now available at all Maybelline counters in most leading pharmacies nationwide for only RM23.90.

Remember to stay tune for my review on Maybelline Hypersharp Liner.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/maybellinenysimplyfab

Himalaya - My Hair My Mane Woe Workshop

Have any of you heard of Himalaya brand before ? It is a brand that hails from India and has been in Malaysia (first flagship store in Suria KLCC) since the year 2006. And I remembered when I saw them at the Watsons, I was suprised to see their price was very affordable even it is 100% natural. I have tried a few face & body products before when they first launched here few years ago.

And when I was invited to join Himalaya My Hair My Mane Woe Workshop I was thrilled because it is a hands-on and I am getting a hair pampering session from A Cut Above Academy using Himalaya products !

So I started with a hair analysis session with Yvonne.

TO MY HORROR, I was diagnosed with having hair fall problem. Yvonne said that someone who has a healthy scalp would have at least 3 to 5 hairs per follicle. But looking at my scanning result especially the front part of my head, I have 1-2 only per follicle.. and the distance between each hair follicle is quite far.

And this is my first time I came know to know I have serious hair fall problem :((

Then Yvonne recommended a range of products for my hair scalp condition. And best of all I get to bring back all these 4 products to try and should be used in this order


1) Himalaya Revitasing Hair Oil
Massaging of hair & scalp with a proper nutrient hair oil gives additional nutrition to the scalp and prevents hair loss. Massaging also increases the blood circulation in the scalp & this keeps the hair roots strong. Revitalizing Hair Oil is a non-sticky oil which nourishes & promotes hair growth.
Direction to use : Massage the scalp gently with fingers in a circular motion, so that the oil gets absorbed into the scalp, gradually Leave for an hour or more before washing with an Himalaya Herbals cleansing shampoo

2) Himalaya Herbals Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo (2-in-1)
A breakthrough 2 in 1 formula that provides root nourishment and strengthens weakened hair. Conditions and improves hair texture to reduce hair fall due to breakage.

Direction to use : Gently massage shampoo into wet hair and scalp. Leave for 2 - 3 minutes and rinse thoroughly

3) Himalaya's Detangler & Conditioner
Makes hair smooth, soft and tangle-free. It adds shine and luster to dry, rough and brittle hair. By moisturizing the hair scalp, it makes hair manageable and tangle-free.

Direction to use : Apply generously over wet scalp & hair after washing hair; leave for 2-minutes and rinse off.

4) Himalaya Protein Hair Cream
Nourishes your hair with Natural Proteins derived from ingredients like Wheatgerm and Chickpea. Indian Gooseberry and Thistles promote hair growth.

Direction to use : Massage gently on scalp in circular motion and best to apply during the day time.


I was also suggested to use this Himalaya Hair Revival Cream but did not get this product to try at home as they do not have this ready stock. So I bought this during my India trip last week (as one of my friends told me its so much cheaper there)

5) Himalaya Hair Revival Cream
Stimulates the Anagenic (Active) phase of hair growth cycle. Induces quick multiplication of hair fibre cells an help to improve tensile strength of hair and increases hair density. However do note that this Hair Loss Cream does not work in cases of Male Pattern Baldness (baldness due to genetic reasons).

Direction to use : This product is to be applied on our entire hair scalp, part by part. For best results, leave on overnight and wash it off by morning.

The hands on experience with Himalaya's hair products.

Here the stylist massage my scalp with Revitasing Hair Oil before the hair wash.

And after the hair wash I was given a good head and shoulder massage!!

Always remember to massage our hair scalp while shampooing or conditioning as it helps to stimulate our blood circulation which will also stimulate our hair to grow naturally.

Tips : I always comb through my hair either with my fingers or big comb while conditioning my hair so that when I rinse my hair it is already tangle free !

Then my hair was blow dry and style.

The end result !

My first feeling when the products used on my head is that Himalaya products smell very good!! And the products does not caused any sensitivity on my hair scalp.

The back view

Me with the 2 beautiful lady Cynthia & Yvonne from Himalaya :)

Let me show you the reality of my hair condition in close and whether the products work for my hair.

Not only my hair scalp is unhealthy, the visible problems that one can see is that I have dry and tangled hair.

Before & After using the range that was given to me

I must say that the Himalaya's Detangler & Conditioner is the star product here as it has smoothed my hair condition significantly. And best of all their products are all mild and smell so good !!!

Beside using the right hair products, it is important to use the right hair brush is important as well. This is my favourite hair brush from Acca Kappa Professional Pro Hair Brush made with Pure Boar Bristles which is designed to stimulate the scalp and polish the hair shaft.

A brief introduction of all the Himalaya hair products range

There are total of 5 ranges under Himalaya hair products and they have just recently revamp their packaging!

1) Anti Dandruff Range
2) Anti Hair Fall Range
3) Protein Conditioner Range
4) Protein Shampoo Range
5) Protein Shampoo (2-in-1)

Under each range which , there are few products which will give different result to your hair.

Anti Dandruff Range

Soothing & Moisturizing (2 in 1) / Volume & Bounce / Gentle Clean

Protein Shampoo Range

Volume & Bounce / Gentle Day Care / Extra Moisturizing

Protein Conditioner Range

Colour Protect / Softness & Shine / Repair & Regeneration

Anti Protein Shampoo (2 in 1), Anti Hair Fall Shampoo (2 in 1) and Protein Shampoo (2 in 1) Range

This is 2 in 1, i.e shampoo & conditioner in one bottle.

Have you people try any of the Himalaya hair products ? Do share your experience here with me !

I did mentioned to you earlier on that I did a "little haul" of Himalaya products during my Incredible India trip last week after I felt in love with the products that I was given to try !!

Check this out !!

Will try to do some reviews of the products here :)

I must say thank you to the good people in Himalaya who made me realised how serious is my hair fall problem and recommending the the 100% natural products for me to use :)

For more information about Himalaya products, visit http://www.himalayahealthcare.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Himalaya-Healthcare-Malaysia/112675785445879

Media Launch of Biore Skincare Facial Foam with latest Skin Purifying Technology

Jojo Struys - MC of the day.

On 29 July 2011, I attended Kao Biore media launch their latest skincare facial foam with Skin Purifying Technolog which will replaced their existing range in the market. So read more to find what so special about this range.

Mr Murakami, Yoshihiro - CEO of Kao (M) Sdn Bhd and Mr. Tanaka, Satoru – President Premium Skin Care Business Group, Kao Corporation, Japan

Mr Murakami, Yoshihiro shared that their latest skincare facial foam has the latest Skin Purifying Technology (SPT) which came after the result of 31 years’ worth of research and tests catered to improve the way women all over the world take care of their skin. With this new technology, your skin is gently yet thoroughly cleanses dirt and sebum without removing your skin’s essential moisture, leaving your skin feeling light and evenly smooth skin. And it is called the skincare washing foam for that reason.

This skincare washing foam which is not your normal cleanser. The normal cleanser gets rid the skin of dirt and sebum but will also have the cleansing agents which tend to penetrate deep into our skin causing more harm as our skin’s natural moisture and pH levels are compromised.

However with Skin Purifying Technology in latest Kao Biore facial foam, all these challenges are no longer an obstacle. SPT does not irritate the skin but focuses only on removing dirt and sebum on the skin, even in the pores. The cleansing agent in SPT is not absorbed deep into the skin, but working only on the skin surface.

Therefore the skin’s natural moisture and pH levels are maintained even after it has been cleansed with the Kao Biore SPT cleanser. And with daily usage, the skin’s natural form is restored and the skin is able to renew itself effectively thus unveiling our skin true beauty.

Ms Matsuo, Keiko - Manager of Global R&D Skin Beauty, Kao Corporation Japan explained that the human skin is designed in such a way that it renews itself every 4 weeks. However, when dirt and sebum clog up our skin it is making our skin difficult to renew itself effectively. As a result, skin will begin to look dull and lifeless while makes our skin to be more prone to skin problems like acne and dry skin. By then the skin repair process will slow down and will caused it loses its softness and elasticity making room for all kinds of skin problems. So while it is important to use a cleanser that could removing dirt and unclog our clogged pores effectively it must not affect our skin natural renewing process.

Ms Matsuo did an experiment at the event to show to the media friends that the latest Kao Biore with SPT does not change the moisture and texture of the skin while doing the cleansing job.

Normal cleanser vs Kao Biore cleanser with Skin Purifying Technology

After the protein was put in both the bottle( left side having the normal cleanser and the right side filled with SPT cleanser), it was stirred. After approximately for 5 minutes the protein in the bottle of water with Skin Purifying Technology cleanser does not disolved or changed the texture of the protein while the other bottle of water with normal cleanser has dissolved the protein.

This showed that Kao Biore latest SPT cleansing agent is not absorbed deep into the skin, working only on the surface hence left our skin moisture and texture untouched.

Ms Joyce Chu, Skin Care Brand Manager of Kao (M) Sdn Bhd introduced the four different skincare washing which caters for people with different skin concern.

Pure Mild for Normal Skin - Gently cleanses & moisturizes skin
Thoroughly removes oil & impurities at T-zone area while leaving essential skin moisture around the delicate U-zone. - Formulated with Natural Rice extract to soften & lighten skin, revealing pure & even more supple skin.

Pore & Oil Clear for Oily Skin - Unclog pores & removes oil
Contains Crushable Beads that unclogs and deeply cleanses pores to remove accumulated impurities and excess oil. Formulated with Witch Hazel that helps tighten pores, making them less visible to reveal smoother, brighter & oil-free skin.

Acne Clear for acne & sensitive skin - Has Anti-Bacteria Formula
Contains Triclosan, an anti-bacterial agent that effectively fights bacteria that causes acne. Leaves skin acne & oil free.

Glowing Bright for dull skin - Cleans & exfoliates dull skin
Contains White and Green Double Brightening Micro-Crushable beads with Green Tea extract that helps exfoliate dead skin cells while removing impurities and excess oil. Formulated with Vitamin C to help lighten skin for visibly brighten and even skin tone with healthier glow.

On top of that Biore has revamped its packaging using the new ‘Burst of Joy’ motif to signify its important shift to skincare washing. To top it off, the pricing for this new skincare technology remains unchanged. You can get the 100g tube for RM12.90 and the 50g tube for only RM6.90

The four pretty models with the four different cleanser.

A group photo of the Kao Biore team.

Me and the super huge cleanser - Can I bring this home?

Well after I heard about the explanation about this latest Kao Biore skincare washing with Skin Purifying Technology I am convinced to try this range because personally I do believe as well that a good cleanser (whether its counter or pharmacy brand) should not make our skin dry and tight after washing but should merely does the work of cleaning away the dirt on the surface & pores of our face.

And if you have tried this latest Kao Biore skincare cleanser, share with me our experience here!

I will give this range a try of this skincare washing range and put up a review soon !


p/s: Buy a copy of the latest August Cleo Magazine as it comes with a sample (15g) for you guys to try!