Tuesday, August 23, 2011

So Weird!

Biomedical engineers at John Hopkinshave combined hyaluronic acid HA with polyethylene glycol PEG ( tissue glue). They took this combination and exposed it to light energy which solidfied the HA /PEG combo. How they came to do this I don't know . At 3 months these “implants” were stable. So in the future we may combine a hyaluronic acid filler and PEG – inject it – expose it to light and now we have a more permanent, longer-lasting implant


Oldie But Goldie - Revlon Lipstick Coffee Bean

An attractive brown nudey-pinky colour that doesn't shimmer and looks great with olive complexions. Love it! Please don't discontinue Revlon!



Yip those are my lips rocking Coffee Bean


Thursday, August 18, 2011

Groupon and Reading between the | Frown | Lines






Groupon has invaded South Africa and like in the other countries it has a grip on, aesthetic medicine is a firm favourite among the daily deals. Most people are familiar with this daily coupon deal site. Whether it is legal or not for use in the medical profession is still a grey area. In France and the UK Breast Augmentation, Rhinoplasty and Blepharoplasty are on offer at discounted rates.



Open the daily email to read the product write-up, which is quirky, bizarre and often preposterous. A "Botox" deal was described as “Isaac Newton discovered gravity not when cranially assaulted by a falling apple but upon noticing his sagging jowls while examining the forehead bruise in the mirror. Help reverse the Newtonian burden with today’s Groupon . . .”

The write-up is usually followed by an afterthought which is completely off-kilter and absurd. After the write-up of a pizza deal the following was offered “Food for thought: In the remote villages of Italy, old pizzas are used as Frisbees. When the children run out of amusing foods to throw at each other, they sit and stare at the bus station.”



In terms of marketing medicine there are many restrictions and you cannot directly market a schedule 4 drug like BOTOX® Cosmetic (onabotulinumtoxinA). You can say things like anti-wrinkle injections, cosmetic injections and a whole host of euphemisms. Which some savvy doctors have cottoned on to and avoid using the word Botox in their Groupon adverts (Groupon describes it as Botox in the subject line though). Here is one that popped into my mail box a while ago.







         Save up to 60% on rejuvenating Botulinum Toxin treatments at Dr *not going to say*


Similar to those concentric rings on tree trunks, the lines on your face are pretty good at broadcasting your age to all and sundry. They’re also really good at telling stories about your life, whether it’s a permanently furrowed brow that says you’re a deep thinker or other fine lines that chronicle late nights and possibly embarrassing circumstances. Silence facials informers and save up to 60% on rejuvenating facial treatments at Dr *No Name*.

  • Pay R210 for ten units of Botulinum Toxin, valued at R500 (save 58%)
  • Pay R210 for a 20% chemical peel, valued at R500 (58%)
  • Pay R399 for both treatments, valued at R1000 (save 60%)

Dr *name omitted*specialises in prettification procedures and helping faces to achieve their full potential. Using minimally invasive procedures to sculpt countenances, today’s Groupon holders can rest assured that they’re in safe, skilled and remarkably soft hands.


Using ten units of Botulinum Toxin, Dr *name omitted* can indulge in inverted frown lines, smoothened forehead wrinkles or crow’s feet shooed from the windowsills of their soul. Unlike reading the messages in your significant others inbox while they sleep, Botulinum Toxin is mostly non-invasive and eases the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, consisting of quick injections that hurt less than most things that are painful. Bonus points because you don’t have to worry about recovery time.


The other face-rejuvenating solution for shooing away cosmetic nuisances is the 20% glycolic acid chemical peel, because many skin problems are associated with the build-up of clingy dead cells that just don’t know how to let go. This can lead to complexions rougher than a hillbilly hit-man and duller than a beige pantsuit and, working down to the dermis, or living layer, of your skin, the peel stimulates collagen production which is effective in the thickening and re-elasticising of your skin, leaving you with improved skin texture and a dermis feeling smoother than a playboy’s pick-up line.


What many people don't realize is that 10 units is not going to say hello to glabella frown lines (on average you need at least 25 units), so the rest of the units you need you pay full price for - a luring trick and false advertising! Also the price is well below cost and people may not know but Groupon actually take 50-60% of the voucher value – a practise called fee splitting that is unethical.

I have treated patients that have previously used the Groupon deals and many complain of unsatisfactory results and poor service.

Why feel like just a number and often end up paying more than you bargained for? We offer a comprehensive, value-centred service and it is important to us that all our patients receive individualized treatments that they need and will give them the best results that truly make a difference to the way they look and feel . We only use FDA approved products with extensive clinical data to back up their claims. So don’t put yourself at risk - make an appointment with one of the best .

New Lust Have! Prada Sunglasses :Spring 2011




I saw these earlier this year , and I just had to share! Love them!

Lakme Fashion Week Winter /Festive 2011 : Rina Dhaka - Flirty , Feminine Fashion


Gotta Love Lakme





Don't you just love Rina Dhaka's feminine collection! How shockingly teeny is the model in the first pic (click to enlarge pics) 

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Decleor Aroma-expert Radiance Facial at Rocher Beauty

Aroma-expert Radiance Facial





For dull, lacklustre complexions this treatment will brighten, illuminate and even out the skin’s complexion.This intensive treatment harnesses the benefits of pure Vitamin C and the White-Bright complex to reduce areas of excess pigmentation and brighten the entire complexion for a truly radiant look.

Decleor, the specialist in Aroma-Skin care, has created a unique, natural approach to caring for your skin. Based on a 'Duo-Concept' combining the effectiveness of Aromatherapy with the protection of Phytotherapy. The Decleor range, including face, body, men and sun, can treat all skin types: normal; dry; mature; oily & combination; sensitive & reactive.


Jackie , the owner of Rocher Beauty House is extremely passionate about her Decleor treatments and the products and  really believes in them. She made a believer of me.I had also been dying to try one of her heavenly two hour facials.


The Friday before the Cosmedica 2011 seemed like a good time !


It started with a relaxing ritual - a 10- minute shiatsu- esque back massage and  a bit of lymph- drainage Thai-style leg massage. Then turn around for the actual facial to start. To be honest , I can't remember the exact sequence of the treatment and all the rituals of cleansing, exfoliation, steam , extraction, massage ,  the masque but what I can tell you that it was absolutely fantastic.  I was too blissed out to care about the sequence of the facial.I can't wait for my next one!


While the steam is on you get a head,neck and shoulder massage (this can also happen after the steam and extraction) and while the masque is on an awesome hand and arm massage.  Everything about the treatment is pure luxury. It went something like this :
   
       CLEANSE – Cleansing Milk – This is for all skins but              also hydrating.
   
 SECONDARY CLEANSE – Deep Cleansing Cream – This is a secondary cleanser used to dissolve and eliminate impurities and sebum in pores. Contains essential oils as well as Cotton Milk.
  
  TONE – Tonifying Lotion – To normalize ph. level of skin, hydrate and soothe skin.
  
  EXFOLIATE  - Gommage type
   
DIGITO PRESSURE AND DRAINING– Stimulating the energy points of the face while enhancing the effects of the aromatherapy. This stimulates and revives the epidermis
    
 STEAM AND EXTRACTION (oh the worst part)
  
  MASSAGE

  MASQUE –– This mask is specially mix for each client. It contains active ingredients which has been freeze dried to maintain the quality of the ingredients. It is then mixed with a lotion containing plant extracts .
    to activate the powder. It is then applied to the skin and left on for 10 – 15 min allowing the mask to become firm on the skin. This was absolutely amazing. It’s like a cocoon. Layers of fabric and masque.
    
 SERUM– Treats and increase the penetration of any moisturiser applied over the serum.
    
 EYE CREAM – Expression de l’age Eye Cream – Hydrates and treats fines lines around the eyes. Works on relaxing muscular tension.
  
 MOISTURISER



While my skin was glowing immediately after the facial , it was in  the week after the facial  that it looked amazingly radiant. Nothing compares to a Decleor facial!


Update : So I've been for my fourth #amazeballs , indulgent Decleor facial by Jackie and it is absolutely fabulous. Really if you haven't had a facial at Rocher beauty you haven't had a facial. This time I also had a pedi so my legs (up to the knee) had already had an amazing "Jackie massage" so I got some extra pampering on my head , neck , arms and shoulders - pure bliss. Another thing I love about Rocher Beauty is that it is not the proverbial sausage factory , all treatments are done with care and passion.
I love this facial so much I blab about it to everyone - so my sister had to have one and I sent my mum for Jackie's blissful Aromaplasty Facial with Decleor. She loved it! She looked fantastic afterwards.


Thailand Video - Us cruising the khlongs


I didn't include this in the last blog post because the video was taking forever to upload (as it is now while I type) and there were loads of pics in the last Thailand blog. See if you can spot the people fishing

Sunday, August 7, 2011

MAC PREP+PRIME Fortified Skin Enhancer Illuminateur de Teint Spf35/PA+++ (yellow, Neutralize)

Another little gem I picked up for THB1155 (Baht) at Duty Free at The airport in Bangkok. A little really goes a long way and is excellent under concealer or foundation for diffusing naso-labial folds, corner-of- mouth pigmentation and any other areas in need of a radiance boost. My only criticism is that it can be a little drying.



You may be wondering what the PA+++ means.All sunscreen labels list a sun protection factor (SPF). SPF is a measurement of how much protection the sunscreen offers from the UVB rays that cause sunburn (it refers to TIME of exposure).The way SPF works is if it takes you 10 minutes to start burning normally, wearing SPF 15 would mean it would take 15 times as long to burn–150 minutes. A few sunscreen labels also list a "PA" ranking, which refers to the amount of protection the sunscreen offers from the UVA rays that may cause long-term skin damage. PA rankings are listed as PA+, PA++ or PA+++. The more +'s, the more protection from UVA rays. For maximum protection from both UVA and UVB rays, choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen that contains avobenzone,  zinc oxide or titanium dioxide 

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Thailand Hot Tip :Sim Cards



Thai SIM cards are easy to use and are widely available in Thailand. Sometimes they're given out for free at the airports. We bought the Happy SIM (from a 7-Eleven) which was preloaded with 100 Baht airtime. Please do not use roaming - you'll be in for a shock when your bill arrives (advice from the MTN guys).

THE BODY SHOP Moroccan Rose Body Butter - A review




Yey! What an awesome surprise - the Hubby (otherwise known as Smoo) bought this fir me the other day. What a fantastic Body Butter - it's super rich and smells great. The smell is subtle and authentic - no cheap floral smell. The creme is instantly moisturizing and really softens the skin. What else can I say? I love it!

*       Best if you want to: Soften your skin all over with a beautiful 24-hour moisturizer infused with precious oil from hand-picked roses.
*       Best for: normal to dry skin
How it works:
*       Moroccan rose extracts moisturize and sooth skin with a fresh, floral scent.
*       Community Trade shea butter leaves skin soft, smooth and supple.
*       Community Trade babassu oil helps repair skin's moisture barrier while restoring suppleness

Friday, August 5, 2011

Thailand: First Day in Bangkok - Down the Khlongs

I really have no idea which Khlongs we went down, I think it was
Bangkok Noi

People may say that Bangkok is not a beautiful city but I feel that it has it's own aesthetic and idiosyncratic charm. I loved it! I would love go back and anyone who knows me will tell you I'm a real fussy-pants. Sure there is the traffic but there is a calm patience to it - in sharp contrast to the heated, grinding, cursing bumper-to-bumper in Johannesburg. It's clean, it doesn't smell bad ( we visited in hot, steaming June) and you know what  . . . I say it's beautiful. The paradox of Bangkok is exemplified in the exquisite temples and the glittering malls, religious devotion and ping pong shows , through all this it maintains it's cultural heritage. Okay, on with it . . .


After freshening up we went for our first tour (14h00 Bangkok time). The so-called "Rice Barge tour" on Bangkok's famous Chao Phraya River. I was so damn excited! We were going to travel on a longtail boat through the various khlongs and then return on a Rice Barge munching exotic snackies and drinking cocktails.


Rivers and canals are referred to maenam and khlong in Thai . When the capital of Thailand was moved to Bangkok in 1782 (the beginning of the Rattanakosin period), the capital was laced with canals, so Bangkok was sometimes called the "VENICE OF THE EAST" by European visitors.  The river is over a flat alluvial plain and sprawling around it is Bangkok. Bangkok lacks a "CBD" the way JHB has a CBD - there is no single central area. The river divides the city into Bangkok proper on the east bank and Thonburi on the west bank.If you are familiar with Terry Prachett then you would have heard of Ankh-Morpork and it's river. I'm not sure if that was a reference to the Thames but the Chao Phraya River could be its inspiration. It did have a "smell" which I wouldn't call bad , "exotic" to describe it sounds to good and "foreign" sounds down right offensive. It was strange and different but not bad - I didn't give a hoot because I was too damn excited to be in Thailand.

Two great rivers of the North , the Ping and the Nan join in the Central plains of Thailand to form the Chao Phraya (river of kings)


It was quite a task to get on the boat and to be honest it didn't really look that stable. Once I got on it felt more stable so if you ever have to get on one of these - don't be scared. It was a great experience and I highly recommend it! Click on the pics to enlarge .




Click to enlarge






A long-tail boat - I think we went down the Bangkok Noi canal


This is a Rice Barge


A Rice Barge

The Hubby with these cute characters at The River City Mall
(Snazzy Place)


oooo-la-la curios


Me with cute character




So Snazzy






It was so hot outside, an extreme moist heat. The hubby in search of
water


Found some at this cute cafe
There's one on every corner


In the longtail boat , on our way


Some random Australians that we bizarrely kept bumping into around Bangkok




me
A Chinese temple









A Chinese temple


The Grand Palace and Wat Phra Kaeo




Wat Arun - the Temple of the Dawn





Entering the khlong



How amazing are the roots of this tree. On the
opposite side there was a River Monitor- a
Komodo Dragon-esque type creature




Houses on the River














A Spirit House


A mansion - this is just a small part of it. It's huge!


Part of the mansion's garden






They love pot plants in Bangkok










Lovely home - one of the Khlongs


My Parents




Place where the Guide bought some bread so we could feed the catfish




The Catfish stirring






You can't see in the picture but these catfish are huge. They are considered "off-limits" as they swim
around the temples. It is taboo to kill and catch them



The Hubby got totally splashed by the catfish










The Rice Barge



A Mai Tai


The Snacks and to my delight mangosteens and rambutins




Peanut Crackle, Coconut, Mangosteen, Pineapple, Rambutin and
I have no idea what the thing is in the green leaf cup but it was yummy



On the way back

oops non- rotated pic. In the background is the hospital that the king
has been staying for the past year. He is very ill.












Many 5 star hotels on the river bank


Back in the mall


Snazzy mall bathroom


Love these things!


Spirit House


Family on bike. Click on the pic to enlarge


The election happened on the 3/07/11. no more military rule. The Red Shirts won - more on that later



Bangkok traffic on the way back to the hotel






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