BUILDING UP YOUR LIVER HELPS YOUR SKIN!

~HAIRLOOM'S BELIEF~

HAIRLOOM strongly believes in taking care of your inner body first, before you can cure the outside. This is exceptionally true, you have to believe in it to help yourself!

IT ALL STARTS IN THE LIVER! SOUNDS IRONICAL?

Skin is a reflection of health of the internal body, especially the liver. Sometimes, your genes play a part too. If most of your family members do have acne, most probably you might be one of them.

If that is the case your acne is most likely genetic and it is something you can definitely learn to manage!f you are an adult acne-sufferer, then you're likely to have a weak or overloaded liver and gallbladder. It may be largely due to the food that you eat. But, you’re certainly not alone.

With these overloaded cleansing organs, our body needs to get rid of excess fats and toxins in some other way. If you’re lucky the toxins are removed through the colon. But sometimes they’re stored in fat cells in the body, and for acne sufferers the toxins often come out through the skin, resulting in clogged pores and acne.

The skin is the largest organ of the body and it helps other organs with eliminating waste. One of the best acne treatments is a diet which will help the body eliminate waste so that it won't interfere with your skin and cause acne. If you are unhealthy on the inside it will be reflected in your skin.

It is the livers job to remove hormones from the body. If your liver can't remove hormones fast enough you will end up with too much oil in your skin because hormones are like an instruction manual telling your skin to produce more oil. The function of the liver is also to get rid of toxins. If there is an over-load of toxins in your body, the liver can have problems removing hormones.

So what toxins concern acne sufferers the most? Mycotoxins. These nasty little chemicals are the 'excreted' waste of bacteria such as yeast, and usually found in the intestines. Mycotoxins put a strain on your liver and you already know what happens when your liver doesn't get rid of hormones!

Using diet as a natural acne treatment was not as bad as I had thought it would be. There are many foods that help the liver and help remove waste from the body.

Here are a few pointers from us:

1. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated!!! Water is the cure for many ailments.

2. Stay away from products that have ingredients that are acnegenic or comedogenic - meaning they cause acne or clog the pores.

3. Avoid using laundry detergents with fragrance. Don't use the fabric softener sheets you put into the dryer. These coat the towels and sheets you use and can make acne worse.

4. Avoid excess Iodine in the diet; including salty snacks, fast foods, processed foods, soy sauce, MSG, seaweed, kelp, cold medicines and vitamins containing iodine and kelp.

5. Avoid hormone laden food especially milk and cheese. I have known heavy milk drinkers with excessive acne to cut back or eliminate milk and their acne disappears.

6. Use ice on inflammed acne to help calm it down.

7. TRY HAIRLOOM'S REMEDIES!!!

8. EAT MORE FRUITS!!!

HAIRLOOM'S WORD OF ADVICE:

Those remedies we've discussed before helps prevent new acnes from forming and to keep your skin clear. Some mild acnes will probably even heal. However, MOST non-inflammed acnes, especially those existing blackheads and whiteheads usually don't go away by themselves - it is best to get an appointment with an esthetician and have them do extractions for you. DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT YOURSELF! - believe me, it is hard enough with an extraction tool. Most people end up "digging" blackheads and non-inflamed lesions out. This leaves a scab that will stay red for much longer than if you let someone do it for you. You can also scar from doing this, so leave it to the pros!

In our next blog, we will update you on many more beauty tips! Stay tuned, heirlooms!

Love, Sun.

Natural Skin Healer: The Wonders of Turmeric Powder

While many of us are aware of the numerous benefits of this deep, exotic yellow spice, few incorporate this wonderful turmeric powder in our daily use. Turmeric, a member of the ginger family, has been used for healing by Ayurvedic means, since time immemorial. Turmeric has anti-inflammatory properties, and is an excellent antiseptic. In addition, it is great for the skin. So before investing in an expensive beauty product, take a look in your kitchen!

Turmeric is an inexpensive and indigenous beauty aid. It is also used in the formulation of some sun screens. Smearing with turmeric paste cleans skin and beautifies it. Its antiseptic and healing properties prevent andcure pimples!

Here are just a few of the various benefits of turmeric:

~Below is how turmeric powder looks like~

This amazing herb has been used in South East Asian cooking for centuries giving it its strong yellow color as well as in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine for its healing properties. So where does it come from?

Turmeric comes from the ginger family, and is predominantly grown in South East Asia. The roots are harvested and then boiled for many hours before being dried in very hot ovens. They are then crushed into the orange-yellow powder which you may see in your local supermarket.

Turmeric for Acnes:

Turmeric is considered to be one of the best medicines to cure acne problem and to reduce scars. Almost all herbal acne creams include turmeric as one of the principal ingredient. There are various methods to make a home-based acne cream using turmeric. Make a paste of turmeric and sandal wood or tea tree PURE essential oil, apply it for 30 minutes and then wash it off. Acne will start vanishing within few days!

The other method is to make a paste of turmeric and few drops of lemon juice. This paste not only helps in reducing acne but also in other skin infections.

Alternatively, you might want to try mixing honey with turmeric powder. Honey contains anti-oxidant properties to keep the skin healthy, wrinkle-free, and feel smoother and softer!

*Personally, I feel that a easier and cheaper alternative is the latter. Lemon is easy to get anywhere, plus it is cheap! If you have pure honey at home, you may want to try it too!

Turmeric for wrinkles:

Mix a little turmeric powder with the milk and apply it to the skin around the eyes. This helps greatly in reducing the dark circles and the fine lines and crow’s feet around the eyes!

Turmeric for Reducing Pigmentation

Plagued with pigmentation? Turmeric is known to help even out your skin tone and colour. Simply apply a littleturmeric mixed with cucumber juice or lemon to the affected area. Leave on for fifteen minutes or more, and wash off. Do this everyday, and gradually you will notice your skin colour returning to normal.

~Other than the benefits Turmeric powder can aid for your skin, it also helps in other aspects!~

Strengthens Bones

Drink a quarter glass turmeric juice every night, with milk. The best way to have this is to take a ½ inch piece ofturmeric and boil it with half a glass of milk. Once the milk has turned yellow, remove from fire, let it cool slightly, and sip this. This will cure numerous ailments. Women especially should drink this every night, as it strengthens bones and reduces the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Softens the Body

Turmeric is a wonderful body scrub, which is why Indian brides apply a turmeric and gram flour (besan) mix to their entire body, the morning of the wedding. It leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing. Of course, a single application will not really make that much of a difference. Do this regularly, and watch your skin change for the better - much better.

Makes the Skin Supple for Pregnancy

If you are planning a pregnancy, apply a mixture of turmeric and malai or turmericand curd to your stomach and waist before going for a bath. Leave it on for fifteen minutes, and wash off. If desired, you could even apply this mixture after bathing. After you have washed off the soap, apply the malai and haldi mixture, leave it on for five minutes, and wash off only with water. Gently, wipe your stomach with the towel. The sooner you start this routine, the more supple and elastic your skin will become, and after giving birth, you will not be left with unsightly stretch marks!

Inhibits Cell Damage

Turmeric is an excellent anti-oxidant, which essentially means that it stabilizes unstable oxygen molecules. These are known as free radicals, and are what cause damage to cells, leading to ageing and various other diseases such as cancer.

Fights Diarrhoea

Turmeric fights the bacteria that causes diarrhoea, so the next time your stomach starts 'running', reach for some haldi. German health authorities have officially declared turmeric herbal tea to be a cure for loose stools.

All around the world you can now avail of turmeric in the form of teas, capsules, tinctures, lotions, ointments and powder. However, here, you have access to turmericin its purest form, so make the most use of it.

WARNING: Applying turmeric powder can stain your skin for a while, especially if you are fair-skinned. The yellow stain will probably stay for at most 1 day, and will disappear when you wash your face again. However, for the sake of beauty, bear with it! If we can do it, you can too!

HAIRLOOM'S WORD OF ADVICE:

Those remedies we've discussed before helps prevent new acnes from forming and to keep your skin clear. Some mild acnes will probably even heal. However, MOST non-inflammed acnes, especially those existing blackheads and whiteheads usually don't go away by themselves - it is best to get an appointment with an esthetician and have them do extractions for you. DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT YOURSELF! - believe me, it is hard enough with an extraction tool. Most people end up "digging" blackheads and non-inflamed lesions out. This leaves a scab that will stay red for much longer than if you let someone do it for you. You can also scar from doing this, so leave it to the pros!

Love, Sun

Most common skin problem our customers encounter - The IRRITATING ACNE

Other than many good and effective over-the-counter products, Hairloom greatly believes in natural skin remedies as well. In our blog, you will read and receive unbiased reviews and facts about many skin remedies, both natural and processed skincare products, all tried and tested! (AND YES - WE TRIED THEM ALL PERSONALLY!)

Our philosophy is to share our beauty tips with each and everyone of you here, in looking your best everyday, be happy and confident about yourself!

Lots of people have always been plagued by their skin problems, whether you are a teenager or adult. Probably, you are just another one of them. All these are in fact, common. Especially in a humid country like Singapore, a lot of us are facing skin problems. The most common culprit being, acne. We are now going to discuss about the most common kind of acne which a lot of us have experienced before, or unfortunately is still experiencing.

Before we get any further, it is very important for you to understand how our skin works. Let's take a closer look on our face.

A normal follicle looks like this:

Follicles, often called pores, sometimes get blocked. Sebum (oil) which normally drains to the surface gets blocked and bacteria begins to grow. Both whiteheads and blackheads start out as a microcomedone. The picture below is a microcomedone:

Acne comes in various forms.

First, we have the non-inflammatory acnes. There are basically 2 kinds of non-inflammed ones.

1) Whiteheads (usually known as closed comedones) - When the trapped sebum and bacteria stay below the skin surface, a whitehead is formed. Whiteheads may show up as tiny white spots, or they may be so small that they are invisible to the naked eye.

2) Blackheads (usually known as opened comedones) - A blackhead occurs when the pore opens to the surface, and the sebum, which contains the skin pigment melanin, oxidizes and turns a brown/black color. It is not dirt and can not be washed away. Blackheads can last for a long time because the contents very slowly drain to the surface.

A blackhead or whitehead can release its contents to the surface and heal. Or, the follicle wall can rupture and inflammatory acne can ensue. This rupture can be caused by random occurrence or by picking or touching the skin. This is why it is important to leave acne prone skin relatively untouched. (Do remember to slap your friend's hand if you ever see them picking on it! This is what I do to my girls!)

Next, we have the inflammatory acnes. There are also 2 different kinds.

1) Papule - A papule occurs when there is a break in the follicular wall. White blood cells rush in and the pore becomes inflamed.

2) Pustule - A pustule forms several days later when white blood cells make their way to the surface of the skin. This is what people usually refer to as a "zit" or a "pimple".

HAIRLOOM'S WORD OF ADVICE:

Those remedies we've discussed before helps prevent new acnes from forming and to keep your skin clear. Some mild acnes will probably even heal. However, MOST non-inflammed acnes, especially those existing blackheads and whiteheads usually don't go away by themselves - it is best to get an appointment with an esthetician and have them do extractions for you. DON'T TRY TO GET THEM OUT YOURSELF! - believe me, it is hard enough with an extraction tool. Most people end up "digging" blackheads and non-inflamed lesions out. This leaves a scab that will stay red for much longer than if you let someone do it for you. You can also scar from doing this, so leave it to the pros!

Do stay tuned to our blog for tried & tested remedies to help combat ACNE!

Love, SUN

Eye-witness

Sorry we've been lazy. Blame it on the recent cold weather. Especially at this time now, drizzling outside. Sometimes I wonder if it's a blessing to be staying near to the sea, it can really become so chilly even without the need for air-con.

Just witnessed a crime scene when Starry, bang and myself were chilling @ Jalan Kayu. Which sets my heart pumping and my hair standing. One of the members of "Gor orh-orh" meow meow clan was hit by a irresponsible "WRX" driver. Poor meow-meow. The driver was speeding anyway. I doubt he can even see the cat. But I guessed he realised he hit something, just slowed down for a moment, then sped off again. IRRITATING BARGER. I stood up, only to remember that I only have experience in carrying babies, not meow-meows. I thought I should at least carry the cat away from the middle of the road, just in case another car zoom past and hit it again.

Yes, i know cats are known to have 9 lives. But again??? Can't afford to eye-witness another such scene again. Poor cat. The staffs there carried it away and splashed some ice water on it(???). Dunno for what, maybe its their holy water??? For a moment, we thought the gor orh-orh meow meow was going to die. It closes its eye for quite a while and remained still. And guess what? The meow meow was tearing!!! Yes, no joke. IT WAS TEARING. We were like... S**t, and we felt so helpless. But after a while, it started to sit up with both eyes wide open! So, the holy water does help.

Maybe we should splash some on Jeffoo to wake her up too. From her dilemma.

Love, SUN.

HAIRLOOM HAD A GREAT TIME @ PHUTURE!!!

We had a fantastic time holding our flea market @ Phuture. ENDED UP SHOPPING TOO!!! Great crowd, great publicity done overall. Wanna thank Christy from Zouk(below), for supporting Hairloom! Thanks! And, hmm... she finally plucked up her courage to have her brows threaded! Well done, Christy!

Christy with our therapist, Neeru

Our male customer doing ear candling - Tommy boy!

Make a guess who's "ear shit" are these???

It's none other than our hao jie mei, JEFFOO - GROSSSS!!!

(No wonder she always have to shout for attention - because

she can't hear herself talking.)

Serious me @ work

Starry & her fake smile

My darling UPPKAR

"YES!!! She is Hairloom's heirloom!!!"

Starry & me, together with our darling therapist!

Brother Jason came and gave us his support - but he

was late!!!

So, after packing & bringing all our stuffs back to Hairloom,

all of us went for dinner!

And see what I manage to capture - Starry & Jeffoo, GG-ing in action!!!

GOTCHA!!!!!!!!!

Hairloom want to thank everyone who have been so supportive in our past 2 fleas. Those who have helped us in many many ways... our customers who went all the way to support us, our friends, YEZZIR MAN who helped us with transporting our threading chairs & stuffs after the flea(& trust me, the threading chair is a killer!!!), my dad, our hao jie mei(s), Christy & zouk management for accomodating Hairloom for the flea, and last but not least, kudos to both our therapists for working so hard for us as well. THANK YOU ALL! YOU ARE ALL SOOOOOOOO WONDERFUL!

Love, Sunny

HAIRLOOM'S 1ST FLEA @ HOMECLUB!

Its been ages since we updated our blog!!! Sorry folks, we're really busy... So, here comes the most recent pics and news about HAIRLOOM!!! Ta-duh!!!!!

Well, Hairloom recently held 2 flea markets, one at HOME CLUB & the other at Phuture. Needless to say, we've got lots of supporters! Who else??? All our "hao jie mei(s)"!!! And not forgetting, Hairloom's lovely & supportive customers!

Bobo mastering "the art of threading"

All of us trying to play "nerdy"... featuring our "nerdy therapist - JANICE!

Terence who had been a great help! THANK YOU!!!

(Well, he was the one who helped me with my "bloody feet")

Haha!!! This is Hairloom's senior therapist - "nerdy" Uppkar!!!

And... Ta-duh! Don't I look innocent????

Our 2 hardworking therapists @ work

Hairloom's supporters - Moon & Kathir

Tommy boy getting a full face threading done!

Hairloom's No.1 fan - Jelly bean

And I'm trying very hard to convince Jelly that, I CAN THREAD!!! TRUST ME!!!

YES, I definitely have to blog about this. THE THREADING CHAIR DROPPED ONTO MY FEET!!!!!!!! OUCHHHHH x 100!!!!!!!!!! This happens after the flea, when we were all carrying our stuffs out from Homeclub. I was smart enough to think that the threading chair WILL NOT GIVE WAY. But it did. And I ended up spending $300 in the hospital, the doctor "GLUED" back my wound. WELL DONE. Now I have to go without heels and covered shoes for at least a month............ good luck to me.

Nevertheless, everything was worth it, cos we had fun. But I have to hurt myself only @ the end of the day. What can I say - clumsy me, as usual.