Skincare I bought last night

After reading some beauty tips, I decided that I need to buy base for eye shadow and eyebrow liner.
As I was doing window shopping at Taman Anggrek Mall last night, I visited Skin Food store and Guardian pharmacy store.
At Skin Food store, I bought:



1. Choco Eyebrow Powder Cake
Each kit contains a soft Cocoa extract to define and shape brows, plus a complimenting setting powder to keep them looking WOW! Set comes complete with blending brush.
Price IDR 92,100

2. Soft Mouse Shadow
I chose white color for eye shadow base, price IDR 78,000

3. Milk Shake Point Make-up Remover
This is water proof eye make up remover, can also be used for face make up remover. Two-layered shaking-type point makeup remover with milk extracts like milkshake with rich and white foam to smoothly remove makeup in eye and lip areas without stimulus and dryness. Price IDR 163,000



While at Guardian, I bought Palmer's Cocoa Butter Formula with Vitamin E for my dry skin, price IDR 22,500

Notes on mineral make up products and beauty websites

My posting today consists of reviews and notes on make up products, websites, and videos about make up and tutorials.

I've been loving make up since my junior high years, but of course at that time I couldn't wear them because of the age. But I have started applying moisturizer and lip balm at that age :)

As I grew up, I started to use make up when I went to college. Bought so many lip colors to try on.
Eye shadow and blush were used when I started my first job, and the adventure begins.

Now, I have a vision to have my own business in make up or skin and body treatment products. I'm still doing my research on the products that I should promote.

Let's start with make up products.

I'm going to discuss about mineral make-up, because this type of beauty products has attracted my attention. Mineral make-up in my country, Indonesia, is not that common yet. I know some of the make-up line such as Revlon and The Body Shop have entered this segment, but they are not focus on mineral make-up, so this line can be only stay in the market for awhile then I may not see them again in the future.
The Body Shop mineral make up lines are too expensive. We are also required to buy brushes separately, which are costly too.

I bought my first mineral make up product when I was in Shanghai. It's from Maybelline, called Pure Mineral Natural Healthy Powder Foundation, W2 shade. It provide brush in the package. Price was RMB 199. I couldn't get much information about this powder because the Make Up Specialist couldn't speak English. She just showed me how to apply the powder. Also, I think the shade didn't match my skin tone because it looks dull on me.

During my research for mineral make up product line. If I'm going to import these products, I need to consider product pricing and shipment cost, so I can provide new, interesting, economical beauty products to my market.

I found these brands match my category:
- http://pureluxecosmetics.com
It has lots of eye shadow colors and you can always buy sample at only USD 1!
The maker is also concern on social responsibility to help, e.g. cancer patients.

- http://www.larenim.com
I love the Dusk til Dawn™ Skin Care, which is recommended for those with blemish prone and/or oily skin.

- http://www.monave.com
Has affordable samples too but not much choice on full size: 10 gr!

- http://www.lumierecosmetics.com

I bumped to http://lovingminerals.com, a site owned by Malaysian ladies that sells some of the brands above. I have ordered my samples, can't wait to try them :)
I'm thinking to contact the lady for discussion about the business.

Next, I need to learn how I apply mineral make up because it will be different from the usual make up lines. Above brands provide tutorial and make up tips too. That will be helpful!
So, I found so many tutorial videos and websites about the topics on YouTube.Com. I looked the ones that uses above brands so I have the picture about the application.



Another Malaysian lady's website that interests me is SkinDeco.Net. She's really creative and provides so many make up tutorials, also she lives in Malaysia, which is close to Indonesia. So her choosing of color may match my skin tone.

I'm planning to order some of the products to try (eye colors from Pure Luxe are my priority!) and will write down my business plan.....

Signs of Stress

Lately I have not been feeling well. It's not my feeling, but my physique.
Here's the list of my what I'm feeling and the change in my body:
a. Back pain
b. Shoulder pain
c. Bad digestive system, including gastric and colon functions.
d. Weight gain
e. Sleep very late, over 1 AM. Reluctant to sleep.
f. Dry scalp and hair loss
g. Miss small details in my jobs


I think it maybe caused by my workload that is high currently. I did some research in order to understand my condition.

Stress (http://www.helpguide.org/mental/stress_signs.htm) is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way.
Stress is a good thing, for example, it helps you to meet challenges. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert.
But beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, your mood, your productivity, your relationships, and your quality of life.

According to http://www.tranquilityisyours.com/signs-of-stress.html, here is symptom of stress:

• Anxious
  
• Mind-racing
  
• Chest palpitations
  
• Problems concentrating
  
• Anxiety
  
• Easily irritated
  
• Avoiding people and responsibilities
  
• Focusing on negative thoughts
  
• Anger issues
  
• Headaches
  
• Digestive problems
  
• Muscle tension and pain
  
• Sleep issues
  
• Fatigue
  
• High blood pressure
  
• Weight loss or gain
  
• Skins problems - breakouts, rashes,
  hives
  
• Hair loss
  
• Decreased sex drive
  
• Nervous behaviors - nail biting, pacing,
  teeth grinding

So, no matter how often I go to see my acupuncturist or doing some exercise, although it improves the condition a little bit, it will not go away until I can manage the stress and get my body to rest properly.
Like this weekend, I worked til 5 AM on July 4, 2009 because I was traveling and I was only able to work with my e-mails at night. I replied and wrote e-mails and went to bed at 5 AM, woke up at 7.15 AM.
That's not good at all!
If I keep doing it, my mind can't concentrate on work, it's dangerous when I feel sleepy when I'm driving, then I need to pay my sleep debt during weekend, stay in bed, while I actually can do more activities, like going for exercise.
Some organs in our system work best during our sleep.

My next goal: Get 8 hours of sleep.

Having back pain: Ouch!

It's been 2 months since I first felt the pain on my left back.
I think it caused by carrying laptop and heavy back pack everyday before I have my car.

What is back pain?
Wikipedia says that it is pain felt in the back that usually originates from the muscles, nerves, bones, joints or other structures in the spine.

Back pain can be divided anatomically:
neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain, tailbone pain.

By its duration: acute ( less then 4 weeks ), subacute ( 4 - 12 weeks ), chronic ( greater then 12 weeks ).

By its cause: MSK, infectious, cancer, etc.

The pain may be felt in the neck (and might radiate into the arm and hand in the upper back, or in the low back, (and might radiate into the leg or foot), and may include symptoms other than pain, such as weakness, numbness or tingling.

I tried traditional massage for the back, but it remains.
I'm on acupuncture now, it needs to be done regularly, while I only go there whenever I have some free time over my working hour.
Another therapy I can get is physiotherapy.

Let's try infrared sauna

There are many kinds of sauna types, spa tubs, spa heaters, and more spa accessories in the market you can choose to install in your home.

Nowadays we can have our own spa or sauna in our home. It really is a good investment for your health. Saunas are used both for recreational and therapeutic purposes, with most people utilizing them as a relaxation tool that provides additional health benefits.





I read about this new type of spa, it's very new to me and I'm sure it's new to most of you. It's called infrared saunas.
What is infrared sauna? Infrared radiation is electromagnetic radiation of a wavelength longer than that of visible light, but shorter than that of radio waves. The radiation hits the surface of the body and heats through a process called conversion, instead of heating the air around you.

An infrared sauna is usually a wooden box, or small wooden room, containing several infrared heaters. It uses different technology in the panels, which will give deeper heat to our body. Our body absorb almost 93% of the infrared waves that reach our skin, while a conventional steam sauna relies only on indirect heat: The skin must absorb the heat out of the surrounding air. So this infrared sauna is much more efficiently than a conventional sauna.


What are the benefits of having far infrared sauna ?
If you have muscle spasms, joint stiffness and achiness, general aches and pains due to conditions such as Fibromyalgia, Osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis, far infrared sauna can reduce the pain.
It also get rid off potential carcinogenic heavy metals such as mercury and lead, as well as alcohol, nicotine, sodium, sulfuric acid and cholesterol.


Before trying out infrared sauna or having it at your home, consider these precautions too:
- Check with your physician or pharmacist for possible interactions with a drugs affect due the use of an infrared sauna.
- Do you have certain diseases? Raising the core temperature may be contraindicated for individuals with adrenal suppression, multiple sclerosis, or systemic lupus erythematosus.
An acute joint injury should not be heated within the first 48 hours, or until the joint erythema and swelling subsides.
- Discontinue use of infrared saunas immediately when you are pregnant.

If you are ready to have far infrared sauna, you can choose a model that suits your needs and budget.

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Drink Water On Empty Stomach

I've been following my friend's advice to drink lots of water just after I wake up in the morning. My boo also told me the same thing, but he said the amount of water should be half of our size. Hmmm..... That much, huh?

This morning I found this good article, explaining more about drinking water:

It is popular in Japan today to drink water immediately after waking up every morning. Furthermore, scientific tests have proven its value for old and serious diseases as well as modern illnesses the water treatment had been found successful by a Japanese medical society as a
100% cure for the following diseases:

Headache, body ache, heart system, arthritis, fast heart beat,
epilepsy, excess fatness, bronchitis asthma, TB, meningitis, kidney
and urine diseases, vomiting, gastritis, diarrhea, piles, diabetes,
constipation, all eye diseases, womb, cancer and menstrual disorders,
ear nose and throat diseases.

METHOD OF TREATMENT

1. As you wake up in the morning before brushing teeth, drink 4 x 160ml glasses of water

2. Brush and clean the mouth but do not eat or drink anything for 45 minute

3. After 45 minutes you may eat and drink as normal.

4. After 15 minutes of breakfast, lunch and dinner do not eat or drink anything for 2 hours

5. Those who are old or sick and are unable to drink 4 glasses of water at the beginning may commence by taking little water and gradually increase it to 4 glasses per day.

6. The above method of treatment will cure diseases of the sick and others can enjoy a healthy life.

The following list gives the number of days of treatment required to cure / control / reduce main diseases:-

1. High Blood Pressure - 30 days
2. Gastric - 10 days
3. Diabetes - 30 days
4. Constipation - 10 days
5. Cancer - 180 days
6. TB - 90 days
7. Arthritis patients should follow the above treatment only for 3 days in the 1st week, and from 2nd week onwards - daily.

This treatment method has no side effects, however at the commencement of treatment you may have to urinate a few times.

It is better if we continue this and make this procedure as a routine work in our life.

Drink Water and Stay healthy and Active.

This makes sense.. The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water. Maybe it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating!!! Nothing to lose, everything to gain.

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you.

It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion.

Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine.

Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

A serious note about heart attacks: Women should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting.

Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack.

Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms.

60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up.

Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who gets this mail sends it to everyone they know, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life.

**Please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about**

Source: Good Health Manual

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Being in cold weather

I was in Shanghai for four weeks (Nov 16 - Dec 14, 2008).

It was winter season.

After three days stayed there, I started to feel my body changing because of cold weather. Of course, I'm from tropical country and then must stay in four-season country for almost one month!

My skin started to crack, causing some small wounds in some parts of my body. The skin on my fingers was dry. My face broke out and my lips were dry too, they were tight, I had trouble to smile.
Even my scalp got dry and it's like I was having dandruff. The problem was: I brought wrong type of clothes and I didn't bring all the moisturizer I needed just because I was very concern about my baggage weight!

So at the first weekend when we had time to go to down town, I and my colleagues dropped by at Watson’s. My boss recommended some items to be used. I bought several types of moisturizers:

Neutrogena Oil Free, RMB 199, it’s for face moisturizer

Pantene Shampoo with Milk Protein, for my dry hair

Vaseline Intensive Care for Dry Skin, 200 ml, RMB 53

I had my sunscreen cream and lip care from Jakarta (both from The Face Shop, Korea), so I didn’t need to buy new ones. I also brought my Cocoa shower cream from The Body Shop, it has natural cocoa oil to protect the skin from dryness.

Every time I wash my hands or my face, I apply hand cream or face moisturizer afterwards. Then when I felt my lip care worn off, I apply some more.

Now, after done my research in internet about how we take care of our skin in cold weather, here are some tips I can share with you:

• Limit your time in the shower, and bathe in warm rather than hot water, since hot water can strip your skin of moisture.
• Use a body wash instead of bar soap, which can often be too harsh; pat, don't rub, yourself dry; and apply a moisturizer liberally when the skin is still moist.
• Choose the right moisturizer. Moisturizers work not by putting water into the skin, but by slowing the natural loss of water from the skin. Look for one that's both thick and mild.
  
• But for your face, remember to use an oil-free lotion in order to minimize clogged pores.
• Avoid harsh ingredients. Use thick, creamy cleansers if your skin is regularly dry or a foaming gel if your skin is oily.
• Always apply sunscreen to exposed areas of skin, including the face, tops of ears, and backs of hands, and use a lip balm to prevent chapping.
• It's important to increase your intake of water and other fluids. Avoid caffeinated drinks like soda and coffee, which can have a diuretic effect.

For you who's from tropical country, I hope this tips help you when you are traveling to cold countries.

Know more about insurance

After I posted the importance of health insurance, the next step is to know more about insurance.
There are many sources of information to get the information. You can find them from newspaper or magazine, your insurance broker, and of course, the internet. When you look the information through search engines, there will be articles about insurance, useful websites, or insurance forum.

In the last source, you get to interact with other members. Usually there’s a moderator of the forum and several experts that can give you suggestions and recommendations. You are able to know other members’ experience with insurance.

I found this insurance forum in internet. All you have to do is just register your e-mail address. There are topics about any kinds of insurance: home insurance, pet insurance, boat insurance, travel insurance, etc.

Even if you are an insurance broker, you can share your ideas with fellow broker too.
The navigation menu of this forum is user friendly and it has simple lay out. The content is really useful for you.

What are you waiting for? Go register and find insurance information you need.