PRODUCT REVIEW: Kérastase Cristalliste Hair Mask

 The next product review is on the Kérestase Cristalliste Hair Mask.

As you can see from the packaging, it's very luxurious and has a the Kérastase feel to it. The Cristalliste line is quite new to the Kérastase family. It's main goal is to add more shine to the hair, without compromising moisture. We all know that most products that add shine usually skip out on the moisture part of the deal, well Kérastase hasn't failed me before so I gave it a try.

This is what the product looks like, it has a pink creamy texture with a lustrous sheen to it. In short it feels smooth to the touch, and looks super girly. It smells really good too, kind of like a sweet candy smell. So when I use this, I follow the instructions of making my hair wet by rinsing it out first, then I massage some of it to my scalp before leading it down to the ends. Then, I put my hair up in a shower cap to trap heat, so the mask would be delivering more nutrients. I usually leave it for around 30 or so minutes before rinsing it off and shampooing it.




After continued use of the mask, I can say that once again, Kérastase never fails to meet my expectations. It gave my hair a very light and airy feel, making it very smooth to the touch but at the same time not at all oily. My hair now has more shine to it, making my hair feel healthy. I love the mask and recommend it to anyone with LONG hair and have problems with shine and oily scalps but dry ends. It helps to evenly distribute the hair's natural sebum along the entire hair. I give this product a 9/10 because of it's great performance.

Everyone, try the new Cristalliste line, it really gives a lot of shine, and I can say that the mask does also give the correct amount of moisture. Sometimes, we focus too much on our skin while our hair needs a little pick me up too. With all the styling we do to our hair, they deserve a little pampering :)

-Elizabeth Tiffany

PRODUCT REVIEW: Laniege Water Sleeping Pack EX

So today I'm going to make a review on the Laneige Water Sleeping Pack EX which is supposed to be a better and newer version of their old sleeping pack. For all of you who don't know this brand, it's actually a Korean mid level brand. As Korean skin care products are kinda popular, I wanted to see what's the big fuss about them. The sleeping pack in particular is also a very Korean product, but now some western brands also produce them.

Onto the packaging, from here you could see that it looked pretty cool and has a luxurious feel with the cooling blues and the nice thick packaging. I liked that its in a jar instead of a pump cause it's supposed to be like a mask that you wear while you sleep. It lets me get ALL of the product without any wastage. It seems unhygienic though since so much of the sleeping pack was exposed to the air, but thankfully they provided a little spatula that lets you scoop the product to your face so no bacteria transfer from your hands to the pack.

The Claim:
The product claims to have a soothing brightening effect that helps with moisturising the skin throughout the night, it also claims to let you sleep and relax better through their sleepscent technology. By using their snow water, Ceramide SLN, Hunza Apricot Extract, and Chesnut Extract, it claims to be like an antioxidant and  to help renew skin cells for a sleek skin texture.

This is what the product looks like, together with the spatula that I just mentioned. Its a light gel like texture with a faint blue colouring. When applied, there's a cool feel to my skin with each application. It really helps me relax and cool down my face whenever I use it. However, you can only use the sleeping pack twice a week maximum. This is to make sure that the skin does not get too irritated, due to the sleepscent. It has a very  nice smell which also alerts me to actually follow the dosage on the product (I usually don't do this and use products as often as I wish but not for this one) it's hard to believe that a product which you could clearly smell the perfume could be safe to use everyday. After using this product according to the instructions, it is safe to use.

This is how it looks like when its first applied to the skin, the cream is a semi-transparent and has a feels very cool and soothing to the touch. When its evenly spread out on the skin, it has a watery sheen to it. But it absorbs fast, and doesn't feel sticky when it's dry.

When the sleeping pack is already absorbed into the skin, the smell is not as strong as before and the skin looks moisturised and is soft to the touch. It only takes about 3-5 min for the pack to be absorbed into the skin.












After the full 8 hours, the pack should then be washed off, leaving clear, brightened and moisturised skin. In my case, my face felt moisturised and is not as oily any more. I have combination skin (oily on the t-zone area only) but its not acne prone, just gets a lot of white-heads (I hate them.) and the sleeping pack was great for me. The only major turn off for me would be the amount of perfume in it, so there is only a twice a week dosage. I'd rate this an 8/10 for overall use. I totally recommend this product to anyone who just needs a good moisture boost. For those living in four season countries this is great for the winter months. For people living in the tropics, its great for you guys too, the humid weather provides some moisture for your skin but under the AC its just as dry as being in a four season country.

Love the product, and remember a little goes a long way with this sleeping pack. :) Try finding them in Sephora, they are carrying the brand in my area so try them first. If not you could find them online. Have fun trying this sleeping pack :) its works like a dream.

-Elizabeth Tiffany

Blood Type Diet Series (Type AB)

The last of the Blood Type Diet Series, Type AB so this is for everyone who has the AB blood type. As an AB blood type group, you guys are a combination of both the Type A and the Type B groups. Meaning this diet would allow you to eat quite a variety of food, but of course in small portions.

On to the Health concerns most AB blood types face:

1. Low levels of stomach acid
2. Asthma
3. Frequent Infections
4. Excess Mucus

Again like all diseases listed throughout the series, they are a possibility but not a must. It could be avoided again through a healthy lifestyle, so not just by following diets but also by doing routine exercises. For AB blood types, you respond best spiritually with a creative method to express yourself. Relaxation exercises are the best type of exercise for those who are in the AB blood type. Yoga is a great way for AB blood types to relax and have a full body work out.

Food Do's and Don'ts for AB blood group:

• Meat: no more than 4-6 ounces Best types are Lamb, Mutton, Rabbit, Turkey, Cod, Ocean Perch, Mackerel, Pike, Rainbow Trout, Red Snapper, Salmon, Sailfish, Sardine, Sea Trout, Snail, Sturgeon. AVOID Pork, Ham, (ALL pork derived foods), Beef, Buffalo, Chicken, Cornish Hen, Duck, Goose, Partridge, Veal, Venison, Clam, Anchovy, Crab, Eel, Frog, Gray Sole, Halibut, Herring, Lobster, Lox, Octopus, Oyster, Sea Bass, Shrimp, Yellowtail
• Dairy & Eggs: Best types are Cottage, Farmer, Feta, Goat, Kefir, Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheese, Low fat Sour Cream and Yoghurt. AVOID American & Blue Cheese, Brie, Butter, Buttermilk, Camembert, Ice Cream, Parmesan, Provolone, Sherbert and Whole Milk
• Oils & Fats: Best type would be Olive oil, AVOID Corn, Cottonseed, Safflower, Sesame and Sunflower oil.
• Nuts & Seeds: Best types are Chestnuts, Peanuts and Walnuts. AVOID Filbert, Poppy, Pumpkin, Sesame, and Sunflower seeds
• Beans & Legumes: Best types are Navy, Pinto, Red,  Red Soy, Green Lentil beans. AVOID Asuke, Azuki, Black, Fava, Garbonzo, Kidney, Lima and Black-eyed Peas
• Cereal, Breads, Grains & Pasta: Best type Cereal (millet, oat bran, oatmeal, ricebran, puffed rice, spelt), Bread (Brown rice, essene, ezekiel, fin crisp, millet, rice, rye, soy, sprouted wheat, wasa) Flour (rye, rice, oat), Rice AVOID Buckwheat, Corn, Kamut, Kasha, Artichoke & Soba
• Vegetables: Best type Beet, Broccoli, Caulliflower, Celery, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Eggplant, Garlic, Kale, Mustard Green, Parsley, Parsnip, Sweet Potato, Alfalfa, Tofu, Yams. AVOID Artichoke (domestic, jerusalem), Avocado, Corn (white, yellow), Lima Bean, Mushroom (abalone, shiitake), Olive (black), Pepper (green, jalapeno, red, yellow), Sprout (mung, radish)
• Fruits: Best type are Cherry, Cranberry, Figs, Gooseberry, Grape, Grapefruit, Kiwi, Lemon, Loganberry, Pineapple, Plums AVOID Banana, Coconut, Guava, Mango, Orange, Persimmon, Pomegranate, Prickly Pear, Rhubarb, Starfruit 

Thats it for the whole Blood Type Diet Series. For the AB type, now that you have all the info you need to try out the diet, its okay to take baby steps to get used to this lifestyle change. Again as what I stressed in my other posts, a good and healthy lifestyle is the key to getting that body you've always wanted. To lose weight and be healthy, it will take time, results do not just happen overnight, with that in mind, hold on and keep going through the diet. GOOD LUCK you guys :) do your best to be healthy, remember you're only doing yourself a favor.

-Elizabeth Tiffany 

Blood Type Diet Series (Type B)

Okay, now its time for all you Blood Type Bs out there. You guys get the best of both worlds, unlike the Blood Type A whose good with veggies only, or Blood Type O that's all carnivore, Blood Type B is great with BOTH veggies & meats, to top it off, you could eat Dairy products & Eggs, something that they the other diets cannot do. Congrats guys, you have the blood type that lets you eat a bit more well rounded but like all diets remember WILLPOWER and eating JUST ENOUGH is key for a successful diet.

So the typical health concerns you guys would have are:

1. Immune system disorders
2. Neurological disorders
3. Puffy type arthritis
4. Anaemia (NOT due to lack of meat)

That sounds serious but worry not, a good diet and a healthy lifestyle would help you avoid these problems. Another thing about Blood Type B would be that you need a balance between mental and physical activities to stay in shape. Working too much, try relaxing a bit and go do some exercise like a light jog or some yoga, it'll help you do wonders. When you're all stressed up, Blood Type Bs handle that by creativity so try you're hand at art or music, maybe knitting or sewing? Be creative and try new hobbies, that should help with relaxation.

On to the DO's and the DON'Ts for the food category:

• Meats: Best type would be Lamb, Mutton, Rabbit, Venison, Cod, Flounder, Mackerel, Salmon, Monkfish, Ocean Perch, Sardine, Seatrout, and Sturgeon. AVOID Pork, Ham, Bacon, (All pig derived foods), Chicken, Cornish Hen, Duck, Goose, (All Poultry), Anchovy, Barracuda, Clam, Bluegill Bass, Crab, Crayfish, Eel, Lobster, Octopus, Oyster, Sea Bass, Shrimp, Snail, and Yellow-tail.
• Dairy & Eggs: Best type are Cottage, Farmer, Feta, Goat, Kefir, Mozzarella, Ricotta cheeses, Skim or 2% Milk and Yoghurt. AVOID American Cheese, Blue Cheese,Ice Cream and Strong Cheese.
• Oils & Fats: Best type would be Olive oil only, AVOID Canola, Corn, Cottonseed, Peanut, Safflower, Sesame and Sunflower oil.
• Nuts & Seeds: There are no best types for these but you could eat Almond, Brazil, Chestnut, Macadamia, Pecans and Walnuts once or twice a week. AVOID Cashew, Pistachio, Peanut, Poppy, Pumpkin, Sesame and Sunflower seeds
• Beans & Legumes: Best type are Kidney, Lima, Navy and Red Soy Beans. AVOID Azuki, Black, Garbonso, Lentil, and Peas 
• Cereals, Breads, Grains & Pasta: Best types are Cereal (millet,oat bran, oatmeal, rice, spelt), Bread (brown rice, essene, ezekiel, fin crisp, millet, wasa), Flour (rice & oats). AVOID Buckwheat, Barley, Bulgar, Couscous, Corn, Rye, Wheat
• Vegetables: Best type would be Broccoli, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Kale, Lima Bean, Shiitake Mushroom, Mustard Greens, Parsley, Parship, Pepper, Sweet Potato, Brussel Sprouts, Yams. AVOID Artichoke, Avocado, Corn, Olive, Pumpkin, Radish, Tempeh, Tofu, Tomato
• Fruit: Best types are Banana, Cranberry, Grape, Papaya, Pineapple and Plum. AVOID Coconut, Persimmons, Pomegranate, Prickly Pear, Rhubarb, Star-fruit.

That's it guys for the Blood Type B diet, with all this info it won't hurt to try the diet out. It maybe hard to adjust immediately to the food changes but it's okay. Baby steps are better than no steps at all. Try easing yourself to the diet and do your best to maintain it. So good luck and have fun on your new healthy lifestyles :) 

-Elizabeth Tiffany

Product Review: Derma E Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturiser

The Derma E Very Clear Problem Skin Moisturiser is targeted towards acne prone skin of all skin types and its main purpose is to hydrate, soothe and prevent any bacterial issues or clogged pores. It is made from all natural ingredients and is a good alternative to products that are made of harmful chemicals or hash ingredients. 

PACKAGING: 

The product as you can see, comes in a medium sized jar packaging which is pretty handy to carry around however, it would be a lot more hygienic and long lasting if it were to come in a pump bottle rather than a jar. I was always told to never use your fingertips to scoop out the product as there is staph bacteria that live on our hands naturally which could cause premature wrinkles and rancidity of the cream. Dipping your fingers on the product back and forth could also transfer the bacteria. It is best to use a q tip to scoop it out and place it on your palm to fix this problem. However, this is quite a hassle for me. 

PRICE: 

I can't really remember the exact price of this product but i do remember it being relatively cheap or atleast of a reasonable price. It was also placed on the bestseller aisle. 

FIRST REACTION:

When i first opened the jar, the product was of white cream like texture but not really thick or greasy. A little goes a long way and it smelled somewhat like wood or tea tree. I didn't mind the scent or the texture as during application, the product disappeared almost immediately and it felt like i wasn't wearing anything at all. 

OVERALL EXPERIENCE: 

I've always had oily, combination, sensitive acne prone skin and so throughout the day, it is really easy for my skin to get greasy or a pimple suddenly about to emerge. This product didn't really do much towards oil control . I still needed to blot throughout the day and actually, it didn't really reduce the amount of breakouts either. As for my sensitivity, the product didn't really soothe anything as well. The only thing it did do though, was that it did hydrate my skin very well but that's pretty much it. I used this day and night for 5 weeks straight and honestly, it was sort of a waste of my time. It didn't really do much but it wasn't a horrible product either.

I would probably give this a 5/10.

The product might work very well for you, but it didn't do much for me. Everyone's skin is different but this is just my verdict. 

-Tiffany Olivia

Blood Type Diet Series (Type A)

For Blood Type A, its completely different from blood Type O, reason being this diet is pretty much filled with veggies.

This is cause blood type A is from the farmer age, where there's a lot of grains and vegetables. People in who are a type A would benefit more from going on a vegan diet than by eating meat. Having low levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, its harder for type A's to digest meat. So type A's if you  like veggies, you're in luck cause they are GOOD for you. So lose the meat and pile on the veggies.

Blood Type A are also usually kinda fragile,with a few health problems so here are some health concerns that you guys might have that can be tackled by the diet.

Health Concerns:
1. Low Stomach Acid
2. Sensitive Digestive System
3. Excess Amount Of Mucus
4. Infections
5. Heart & Cardiovascular Diseases
6. Cancer
7. Diabetes

Yikes, thats a lot of problems to deal with, but look at the bright side its motivation to stay on a healthy lifestlye. These diseases won't affect you as long as you eat healthy, stay positive and be active in your day to day life.

The key for ALL diets is to eat in moderation, you do NOT starve yourself to death. When you starve yourself, the moment you stop, your body would just eat a lot of food to replace the food lost so you're weight is going to bounce back really quickly. Meaningless suffering anyone? So eat small portions but OFTEN. Don't starve and DON'T go overboard.

So for the Blood Type A diet the foods are:

• Meats: Best type FISH ONLY (eg. Carp, Cod, Salmon, Red Snapper, Yellow Perch etc) with servings of 4-6 ounces per meal (cook by bake, broil or poach) Turkey, Chicken, Sea Bass, Cornish Hen, Swordfish could be eaten once or twice a week. AVOID ALL RED MEAT.
• Dairy & Eggs: should be avoided ( rice as a primary alternative, soy as second. Goat cheese and yogurt could also be used and once in a while its ok to eat low fat mozzarella)
• Oils& Fats: Try to use Linseed (flaxseed) oil or Olive oil
• Nuts & seeds: Best are peanuts (with skins) and Pumpkin seeds, AVOID Brazil, Cashew and Pistachio nuts
• Beans & Legumes: Best typewould be Azuki, Black,Green, Soy, Red, Pea, Lentils. AVOID kidney & lima beans 
• Cereals, Breads, Grains, & Pasta: Best Type Cereal (Amaranth & Buckwheat), Bread (Essene, Rice cake, Ezekiel, Soya & Sprouted wheat), Soba Noodles, Flour (rice, rye, oat). AVOID wheat, english muffin, white flour, semolina and spinach paasta

• Vegetables: Best type: Artichoke, Beet Leaves, Broccoli, Carrots, Garlic, Horseradish, Romaine Lettuce, Onion, Parsley,Pumpkin, Alfalfa, Tempeh, Tofu, Tunips. AVOID Cabbage, Lima Beans, Mushroom (shitake), Olives, Peppers, Potato, Tomatoes and Yam.
• Fruits: Best type: Appricot, Blackberry, Blueberry, Cherry, Cranberry, Fig, Lemon, Pineapple, Plum, etc. AVOID Banana, Coconut, Mango, Honeydew, Orange, Papya, Rhubarb, Tangerine

Alright, so now all you Blood type A people are all equiped for your Blood Type A diet.  One thing is for sure, if you want to slim down FAST you need to do your diet properly AND put in some exercise, thrice a week is good enough each session being a minimum of 30 mins. So now good luck on your diets, and get some good results :) have fun with a healthy lifestyle.

-Elizabeth Tiffany

How To Get Clear Skin

1. WATER

Our body is made over 70% of H20. Lots of people may have heard about this but yes it is definitely true. Our body needs water for essential hydration and to flush out toxins by any means necessary. Water helps skin look and feel hydrated. Thus, preventing the skin from overproducing oil or excess sebum to combat any dryness. It will also flush out every toxin or bacteria in the body and helps cells to regenerate better. For example, a woman in Britain started drinking 3 litres of water a day and the results are exemplary. Here is the article and see the absolute difference of what drinking lots of water could do to the skin : http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2480491/How-drinking-litres-water-day-took-years-face.html                             

2. SLEEP

When you sleep, Our skin takes time to regenerate itself and it is scientifically proven that our skins absorbs anything you put in it at night,  whether it'd be good or bad. Sleep will definitely prevent you from having a dull, dehydrated or lifeless appearance. Lack of Sleep on the other hand, will increase levels of stress hormones which would cause inflammation within the skin that will definitely lead to an accelerated amount of premature wrinkles and worsen acne. It is also been proven that when people are sleep deprived, they could have trouble with skin sensitivity and irritation due to a reduction in the skin's natural ability to protect itself from chemicals and pollutants within the environment, Atleast 6 hours of sleep is essential. 

3. ADOPT A GOOD SKINCARE ROUTINE

We have all got different skin types. One could have Dry, flaky skin. The other oily, combination, acne prone skin and then there could be one with perfectly normal, problem free skin. Nonetheless, it is best to adopt a good skincare routine that is suited for one's skin type. In time, everyone will experiment with many different products to see whether they work or what suits best for them. Finding a skincare routine will be hard. It may take months or even years to find that one product that will practically save your life. A good skincare routine includes atleast a cleanser and a moisturiser. Others will add in toners, emulsions, boosters, serum, concentrate , masks, exfoliaters , scrubs, and sunscreen. Find one that works for you best and stick with it. Also, our skin type tends to change depending on the climate or time. So it is also really good to change or switch up a few products to ensure that your skin always stays in the best condition.                                               

4. DIET 

What you put on your body will show up eventually. And it may or may not appear on your skin. Lots of Models, Celebrities, Socialites always say they eat well and healthily and it definitely has paid off. Their skin looks absolutely wonderful and near perfect. Eating a diet of junk food and not drinking enough will make skin appear lifeless, parched and worsen its condition. Although, many do has said that diet has no connection or whatsoever to the skin. It is proven that eating a diet that is high in sugar or dairy will spike insulin levels and therefore contribute to hormonal imbalance and could produce acne. So try eating healthy and cut down on junk food and your skin will definitely thank you.

5. RELAX

Stress will show up in your skin. It is best to take a deep breath and be in touch with your surroundings to relax. When you are under a lot of stress or pressure, your body releases stress hormones including cortisol, which may increase the skin's oil production, making your skin a lot more acne prone. The mind and skin are connected in some way as a lot of the nerve endings are connected, which wraps around the organs so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin. So, whenever you are tense or have a bad day, take slow deep breaths and try to relax.

6. EXERCISE 

Exercise will increase blood flow. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to working cells throughout the body, which definitely includes the skin. In addition to providing oxygen, blood flow also helps carry away waste products, including free radicals, from working cells. It will also keeps skin vital and helps nourish skin cells. Not to mention, Exercise releases endorphins which reduces stress and leads to happier and healthier looking skin. Even a 10 minute walk a day will make such a difference. 

-Tiffany Olivia