[+GIVEAWAY] Devine Nutrition at Pisces Wellness: Retain the Youth in Your Skin!

SCROLL DOWN TO THE END FOR GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

The pandemic has upended the way the world functions, forcing us to embrace remote work which, more often than not, blurs the lines between professional responsibilities and duties at home. Hence, it is easy to understand why we are under a constant onslaught of stress and pressure this year – and our faces show it. Look in the mirror and you may find your skin already sapped of its natural lustre. But even as dullness inevitably creeps in, you can still fend it off with some help from the skin mavens at Pisces Wellness!

Pisces Wellness at Jurong Point 1

Pisces Wellness at Jurong Point 1

A young homegrown wellness centre located at the centrepiece of Jurong West, it doesn’t take a hawk-eyed person to spot their expansive outlet on the second floor of Jurong Point 1 (though in actuality, it’s along the walkway connecting the new and old wings). It is equipped with 12 treatment rooms for the purpose of providing body massages, facial, weight management and hair removal services, as well as a spa for onsen therapy (which may not be available at this point in time). Customisable to suit the needs of their clients, these treatments promise results in minimum time with the use of professional-grade products and state-of-the-art technologies!

Having toiled away all year, my complexion had, no doubt, taken a beating from the lack of beauty sleep, causing it to look dehydrated and slightly ashy. Thus, when Pisces Wellness offered to restore the radiance of my face, I jumped at the chance even though it would mean taking a one-and-a-half-hour train ride all the way from Punggol to get there!

My face, up close. Flare-ups as circled.

My face, up close. Flare-ups as circled.

Upon entering the centre, Joyce, who had been corresponding with me over the past two months to arrange a mutually convenient time to do the treatment, warmly welcomed me (despite my lateness 😖) and sat me down to complete a short declaration form. Then, we proceeded to a consultation room where my face was thoroughly examined using a handheld scanner that was attached to a skin analyser. Although virtually wrinkle-free (for now!), results also showed that my skin was leaning towards the dry side, making it more prone to premature ageing and fine lines. Therefore, Joyce recommended the Devine Nutrition treatment which aims to repair and reverse any early signs of ageing of the skin such as loss of moisture and elastin, appearance of wrinkles and uneven skin tone. In my case, this treatment would work more as a pre-emptive strike against the effects of time.

Analysis of my pores (click image to view in full size)

Analysis of my pores (click image to view in full size)

Analysis of my skin sensitivity (click image to view in full size)

Analysis of my skin sensitivity (click image to view in full size)

Summary of analysis (click image to view in full size)

Summary of analysis (click image to view in full size)

Number combination lockers outside the treatment rooms

Number combination lockers outside the treatment rooms

The treatment room I was in

The treatment room I was in

Following that, my therapist led me to my locker to deposit my belongings, and to another room to administer the treatment. She began with Double Face Cleansing (but not before receiving a relaxing neck and shoulder massage that seemed to synchronise with the soothing background music and the gradual dimming of lights?! *mind blown*) to remove any trace of makeup and dirt.

Double Face Cleansing

Double Face Cleansing

Double Face Cleansing

Double Face Cleansing

The extraction procedure that came after was much needed because my face was experiencing a minor flare-up from exposure to dust from spring-cleaning my house the previous day which resulted in tiny bumps on my cheeks. Although not my favourite step of the treatment due to obvious reasons, the extraction was done quickly (i.e. not hovering around the same afflicted spots for most of the duration) and fairly comfortably, as evident from the fact that my body never once twitched from pain, nor did my eyes tear up. But then again, this comfort level could vary according to skin conditions.

Extraction

Extraction

Post-extraction: not very bumpy and red, as you can see!

Post-extraction: not very bumpy and red, as you can see!

With almost every trapped gunk and grime out of the way, my face was now ready for the Cryotherapy (i.e. cold therapy) that had been tailored for me. It utilises Dermal Electroporation and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field to transport highly-concentrated serums, which help initiate DNA repair and stabilise the skin condition, into the deepest layers of the skin while speeding up its natural healing process. As the name suggests, this treatment literally sends chills through the vein, but the cold was certainly bearable.

Serum application

Serum application

Cryotherapy

Cryotherapy

As if my face had not been pampered enough, my therapist went on to lay facial gauze on it and apply a coat of clay-based mask before leaving me for the next 15-20 minutes to contemplate about my life choices (I kid – I actually dozed off 😂). Once the mask had been removed, she concluded the treatment with some moisturiser to lock in all the benefits my skin had reaped, and a final round of neck massage to boot!

Masking

Masking

Leaving it on for the next 15-20 minutes

Leaving it on for the next 15-20 minutes

Immediately after the mask was removed. Notice that my face looked much brighter now?

Immediately after the mask was removed. Notice that my face looked much brighter now?

My therapist giving her final round of massage

My therapist giving her final round of massage

From great room ambience to attentive staff, the whole experience, which lasted about 1.5 hours, was nothing short of wonderful. The treatment had left my skin feeling refreshed and instantly hydrated, and also provided a noticeable improvement to my skin texture. Given its location, Pisces Wellness would make a convenient stop for people studying and living in the far-west to melt away their daily stresses. Perhaps I wouldn’t be walking around NTU looking half-dead if Pisces Wellness had opened its doors during my undergraduate years!

Before and After: skin feels more rejuvenated, less congested

Before and After: skin feels more rejuvenated, less congested


🎉 G I V E A W A Y 🎉

NEW YEAR, NEW YOU! To help you start the year off right with a youthful and nourished complexion, Pisces Wellness has kindly offered to treat TWO of my readers to a set of 24K Gold Facial each (worth S$268 onwards).

Image courtesy of Pisces Wellness

Image courtesy of Pisces Wellness

24K Gold Facial utilises 24K pure gold sheets and the patented γ-PGA (the most powerful hydrating agent ever discovered!) in combination with the nano mist from a special facial spa system to restore radiance to dull, matured and dry skin, resulting in an intensely radiant skin. Not only does it enhance lymphatic drainage, this gold facial also accelerates the regeneration of new cells, restoring the following youthful skin qualities: softness, smoothness, elasticity, resilience and radiance.

(Description courtesy of Pisces Wellness)

To take part in this giveaway, all you have to do is leave a comment on this post with your name and valid e-mail address, and tell us why you want to win this treatment!

Although not compulsory, it would also be great if you could give a like to your potential sponsor’s social media platforms here and here to keep tabs on their latest updates and promotions 😊

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

  • This giveaway ends 22 January 2021.
  • This giveaway is open to residents of Singapore aged 18 years or over only.
  • Only one entry per entrant or e-mail address will be accepted.
  • The winners will be announced on this post and a notification email will be sent by 25 January 2021. The winners will be required to acknowledge by return email latest by 20 January 2021.
  • Voucher for 24K Gold Facial is non-transferable and has to be utilised at Pisces Wellness by the stipulated deadline.
  • Pisces Wellness and FionaSeah.com reserve the right to disqualify all entries that do not meet the rules and regulations of this giveaway. These include multiple submission of entries and entries submitted with invalid e-mail address.

May the odds be in your favour!


What do you think of Pisces Wellness and their services? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Pisces Wellness · 1 Jurong West Central 2 #02-21/21A Jurong Point 1 Shopping Centre Singapore 648886 (next to Boon Lay MRT) · Tel: 6776 0123 · For more information, do visit Their WEBSITE or Like them on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM.

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REVIEW: ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

The resumption of normal activities is gradually getting us back to the grind and for most of us, this just means more hours at work, so much so that we probably would not be able to carve out much ‘me time’ – time to indulge ourselves with some self-care and for our skin to take a breather. Moreover, with the restrictions in place due to the pandemic, securing a preferred time slot at the aesthetics clinic right now might also pose an issue for the busy professionals, so why not take the pampering home? All you need is 20 minutes every other day with this newcomer in the local beauty scene 😉

ILLUMIA Therapeutics, a new medical aesthetics spa and also the brainchild of local socialite-turned-entrepreneur Kim Lim, has recently introduced a skincare line under its umbrella with Baby Drops Mask, a spankin’ new luxurious sheet mask. Judging from its name, it is clear what you would achieve from using it – skin as smooth as a baby’s bottom. But of course, with a jaw-dropping retail price of S$139 per box, there is far more than it can offer.

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (S$139)

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (S$139)

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (I didn’t bother zooming into the details as you won’t be able to see them (the downside of iridescent packaging…), so click here if you wish to take a look at the ingredient list!)

Made in South Korea, the Baby Drops Mask contains coconut oil, stem cell cultures (an emerging technology where plant stem cells are grown under controlled conditions in the laboratory and hence they can be quite expensive), camellia sinensis callus culture extract (i.e. green tea) and portulaca oleracea extracts for their outstanding anti-ageing properties. In other words, this mask, which comes in an iridescent box of five, is capable of improving skin elasticity and strengthening skin cells to lessen the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while leaving the skin moisturised and baby soft.

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (S$139)

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask (S$139)

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask

Choosing to be her own guinea pig, Kim Lim had tested over 169 different face masks (bless her face!) before deciding on this formulation, hence Baby Drops Mask was certainly not created on a whim (so better guarantee of results?). It is also dermatologist-tested and found to be suitable for all skin types which is great news for problematic skin sufferers like myself!

The backing paper attached to the mask

The backing paper attached to the mask

The sheet mask screams opulence from the very first touch because of its thick and fairly weighty biocellulose material that, unlike other face masks, isn’t inordinately inundated with essence (but still thoroughly soaked!) that you end up with a drippy mess. Its drip-free quality could also be attributed to the syrupy consistency of the essence which kept to the mask (every single ounce of it) throughout the wear time – despite the fact that I was seated upright.

Cleansed and exfoliated, before masking

Cleansed and exfoliated, before masking

In addition, fragrance is listed last on the ingredients so you don’t have to worry about the mask being heavily perfumed. In fact, all my nose could detect was a faint fruity smell which reminded me of amoxicillin, or the pink childhood liquid medicine that most of us are familiar with 😂 I would have brushed it off as the natural scent of the biocellulose material (I’m not a mask expert, you see…) if I had not read the ingredient list!

To prevent it from sticking on itself when folded up in the packet, it has a layer of backing paper over it which can be peeled off progressively as you align the holes to the eyes, nose and mouth. But due to the thickness of the sheet material, the mask tends to bunch up along my jaw with air bubbles forming on the lower half. My trusty APRILSKIN angled spatula didn’t do much to flatten it, so I wasn’t sure if the mask had adhered properly to my face 😅

Peel off half of the backing paper before placing the mask onto the face (be sure to cleanse and exfoliate first!)

Peel off half of the backing paper before placing the mask onto the face (be sure to cleanse and exfoliate first!)

Now, remove the other half of the backing paper!

Now, remove the other half of the backing paper!

Use a spatula (or a mask applicator) to flatten out the mask. You can find cheaper alternatives on marketplaces like Shopee going for as low as $1!

Use a spatula (or a mask applicator) to flatten out the mask. You can find cheaper alternatives on marketplaces like Shopee going for as low as $1!

The mask doesn't seem to flatten out entirely on my face, unfortunately.. :(

The mask doesn’t seem to flatten out entirely on my face, unfortunately.. 😦

Bunched up sides..

Bunched up sides..

Once the mask has been laid over the face, leave it on for 10 to 20 minutes before removing. Then, gently pat the essence into the face for maximum absorption. The remaining essence in the packet can also be applied all over the neck, décolletage and arms so you don’t waste a single drop of this extravagant product. Truth be told, this is my least favourite step of masking because the essence usually leaves an uncomfortable, tacky finish on my skin that makes me want to wash it off but to my utter amazement, this does not at all 😱 For this reason, I have absolutely no qualms about slathering my whole body with it. That is, if there is even any left!

Time to remove the mask!

Time to remove the mask!

[Pardon my unruly brows, hehe!] As you can see, apart from what's left below my eyes (which got absorbed soon after), the mask didn't leave my face drenched with essence! 😍

[Pardon my unruly brows, hehe!] As you can see, apart from what’s left below my eyes (which got absorbed soon after), the mask didn’t leave my face drenched with essence! 😍

Side-by-side comparison: Before VS After! The texture of my face is visibly smoother after use.

Side-by-side comparison: Before VS After! The texture of my face is visibly smoother after use.

What's left in the packet.. not a lot of essence :(

What’s left in the packet.. not a lot of essence 😦

Applied the remaining essence on my arms and neck!

Applied the remaining essence on my arms and neck!

The final step is to follow up with serum (if applicable, a dose a lot smaller than your usual) and moisturiser to keep the skin hydrated. Should you be heading out after masking, do remember to slap on some sunblock too!

Post-masking: applied my serum and moisturiser! The shine here comes from the moisturiser. My neck looks practically normal even though I had applied some of the mask essence :)

Post-masking: applied my serum and moisturiser! The shine here comes from the moisturiser. My neck looks practically normal even though I had applied some of the mask essence 🙂

My verdict on Baby Drops Mask? I love it. Apart from the superior ingredients that went into these packets, what drew me into this mask is the fact that it is drip-free, mess-free and tack-free, providing me with a masking experience never felt before. That said, a repeat purchase is highly unlikely for me because this is way out of my league (sister here is a lowly wage slave 😩). But if you’re into upscale beauty products, the Baby Drops Mask is definitely something you should consider adding to your skincare routine!

What are your thoughts on these Baby Drops Masks? Let me know what you think in the comments below or take a quick poll!

Thanks for reading!

ILLUMIASKIN Baby Drops Mask is now available on Illumia’s e-store, SHOPEE, and Illumia Therapeutics at Wheelock Place. For more information on IllumiaSkin, follow them on FACEBOOK or visit their official WEBSITE.
PRODUCTs WERE SUPPLIED BY ILLUMIASKIN FOR MY EDITORIAL CONSIDERATION. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MY OWN.

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Gold Photothermal Therapy at The Clifford Clinic: An Unconventional Solution to Stubborn Acne

Six months have passed since the wearing of face mask was made mandatory by our government for everyone venturing out of their homes. If your skin still hasn’t been reacting well to the increased humidity behind the mask while being at the mercy of acne, you are not alone. Almost every day, my jawline, chin or cheeks would be greeted with pustules or whiteheads after donning a mask for nearly 12 hours in an environment without air-conditioning. These pesky flare-ups lingered even after they had healed, leaving fresh red marks on my newly-treated skin.

Image from Freepik

Image from Freepik

While acne treatments are aplenty, the nature of my day job forbids me to take a few days off to recover from any downtime that follows. Therefore, when The Clifford Clinic introduced their latest localised treatment for recurrent acne that promises no downtime, it honestly felt like my cries for help were finally heard 😩 The new kid on the block is none other than Gold Photothermal Therapy (or Gold PTT) which, from its name alone, already sounds superior than whichever existing treatments for mild-to-moderate acne. The Clifford Clinic is also the pioneer of this novel approach in treating acne at its root.

But why gold? Apart from potentially giving clients a taste of opulence (I mean, it doesn’t get any fancier than having gold infused into your skin 🤩 bling bling!), the key component in Gold PTT is, duh, gold nanoparticles which are chosen for their biocompatibility with human tissues and ability to penetrate easily into the deeper layers of the skin. That said, the gold nanoparticles are also specially engineered to enable them to be precisely and accurately delivered into the pores and glands of the skin via ultrasound sonophoresis (a type of drug delivery) before heating them with a dermatology laser to activate their function. This process is only possible because of the efficient light-to-heat conversion of gold nanoparticles, which allows local therapeutic hyperthermia of tissue.

My first stop: cleansing room!

My first stop: cleansing room!

During the treatment, my face was thoroughly cleansed by an aesthetician before an ampoule containing the gold nanoparticles was carefully applied. As someone with highly sensitive nose, the pungent smell of the ampoule hit me hard at first but thankfully, it got better with every ragged breath I took. Other than that, the whole cleansing process was nothing short of soothing and calming – I only wished it lasted a bit longer!

The little bottle containing the gold nanoparticle-infused ampoule

The little bottle containing the gold nanoparticle-infused ampoule

Applying gold onto my skin..

Applying gold onto my skin..

Spot my whiteheads!

Spot my whiteheads!

Pulsing the gold particles into the oil glands

Pulsing the gold particles into the oil glands

Pulse some more..

Pulse some more..

My skin is so basic, it couldn't handle the opulence of the gold nanoparticles so it broke out in a rash! Luckily, most of it went away towards the end of the treatment

My skin is so basic, it couldn’t handle the opulence of the gold nanoparticles so it broke out in a rash! Luckily, most of it went away towards the end of the treatment

Once the application stage was completed, I was led to another room where Dr Ee would massage the gold nanoparticles into my skin using Bellasonic, an ultrasound machine imported from South Korea designed for skin treatments, before performing the rest of the photothermal therapy.

A picture showing my entire face slathered with cooling gel that was taken during my second session!

A picture showing my entire face slathered with cooling gel that was taken during my second session!

The cooling gel allowed my face to cool before laser application took place...

The cooling gel allowed my face to cool before laser application took place…

At this juncture, a specialised long-pulse diode laser was used to heat the nanoparticles to break down the sebaceous glands in targeted pores, thereby reducing their secretion permanently. This heat also kills Cutibacterium acnes (the bacteria responsible for causing acne) so the risks of inflammatory pustules and papules forming on my face would have likewise been greatly reduced.

Last step: laser treatment to heat up the gold and the oil glands

Last step: laser treatment to heat up the gold and the oil glands

The most uncomfortable part of the procedure because I could feel some tingling sensation.. but it was bearable.

The most uncomfortable part of the procedure because I could feel some tingling sensation.. but it was bearable.

Although the final part of the treatment has been said to be painless, I could still feel a tingling sensation (somewhat like snapping a small rubber band on my face, but the pain is certainly nowhere near the agony I experienced during AGNES, inarguably the mother of acne treatments) with every zap of the laser. Due to the minimal discomfort of this procedure, anaesthesia is not required.

Post-treatment

Post-treatment

Another one without those shades.. My face looks a bit red here but it subsided very quickly

Another one without those shades.. My face looks a bit red here but it subsided very quickly

In addition, the Gold PTT is a highly-tolerable procedure. Unlike other lasers used in dermatology, the diode laser administered in this treatment only interacts with the gold nanoparticles instead of the skin directly. This allows for a highly-localised treatment where healthy skin is left undisturbed so there will not be any drying or irritating effect on the skin. The leftover gold nanoparticles are also inert – they will not react with skin tissue and secretion, and will eventually be shed off together with dead epidermal cells.

A total of three sessions (including the first) was scheduled over a 5-week period for me (it could have been shorter if not for work), each treatment lasting no more than an hour. Even so, noticeable results could already be seen after the first session as the areas where my acne would usually appear have remained as clear as day – even at time of writing (that’s two months after my last Gold PTT session)!

The day after my first session! Still some visible blemishes but they weren't there for long!

The day after my first session! Still some visible blemishes but they weren’t there for long!

All in all, this acne treatment fulfilled its objective of pulling the plug on my pesky acne. However, this might not be the most ideal treatment for those suffering from severe acne. For that, perhaps AGNES would be a better option ☺️

Have you heard of Gold PTT before? What are your thoughts about it and would you consider it if you’re suffering from recurrent acne? Let me know your views in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

The Clifford Clinic · 24 Raffles Place #01-03 Clifford Centre Singapore 048621 (Exit A from Raffles Place MRT) · Tel: 6532 2400 / 8318 6332 (WhatsApp) · For more information about AGNES, do visit Their website or Like them on Facebook and Instagram.

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