One thing that I will never step out of the house without is proper skincare with SPF functions to protect my skin against the harmful UV rays.

I don’t know if there’s still anyone who does not know what is UVA & UVB rays but just in case, here’s what you need to know what these harmful rays are and how it can harm your skin.

UVA and UVB rays are types of UV light. Both fall into the “short wavelength” category, which means they are invisible to the naked eye. *scary*

The difference between UVA and UVB rays is that the UVA penetrates more deeply than the UVB, through the epidermis layer, into the dermis layer. They are what that gives us Tan, but also the greatest cause of skin Aging such as wrinkles and fine lines!

So now you know why it is a compulsory thing to slap on your SPF before stepping out of the house! Heck, I had them on even when I’m at home. 

The UV EXPERT, enriched with a powerful filtering system effectively protects skin from all sources of hyperpigmentation and photo-aging. Multi-protection against UVB, Long UVA and Urban pollution.

The texture of this product is very lightweight and absorbs almost instantly. 

I love the smell of it and the size is perfect to bring it anywhere in case you are not putting on makeup and needs SPF protection against the UV rays. 

But I usually apply my SPF before applying my makeup and head out. 

Here’s a before and after photo for comparison, as you can see, it clearly brightens up the skin after applying.

I have a very simple agenda today - to share one of my latest favourite moisturiser that I am almost finishing. Bioderma sent over this Sebium Mat Control, which is also known as the shine-control moisturiser to me for my review. All along, I have a pretty good impression of Bioderma skincare, a well known dermatologist-tested brand suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skins. Let me convince you why you should try out this Bioderma Shine Control Moisturiser.


The Bioderma Shine Control Moisturiser's one good use is a mattifying moisturiser, making it very suitable for oily skins. In essence, it targets the source of oily skin by biologically regulating the quality of skin’s sebum.


What are the main causes of oily skin? 

1. Hormones 
Depending on individual, your imbalances and changes in hormonal activities can be part of the reason why your skin secretes excessive sebum (oil). Some people naturally secretes thicker sebum, which results in follicles being clogged.

2. Skincare 
I don't think this will come as surprising to many. The improper use of skincare can greatly affect your skin, especially when you use something that irritates your skin. For example, if you use something that overly cleanses your skin, your skin will become too dry. This sends a red alert signal to your skin, telling your skin to secrete even more sebum to compensate the dryness.

3. Diet and lifestyle 
Whatever you eat and do on a daily basis contributes to your skin's performance. High-glycemic diet (sugar, flour, rice etc) and high stress levels increases hormones activity, thus contributing to the formation of acne.

What I really love about this Shine Control Moisturiser is its matte finishing. It feels akin to primer, so I always keep this to the last step before applying my sunblock and eventually makeup.

The Fluidactiv™ Patent in this Bioderma Sebium Mat Control Moisturiser biologically regulates quality of sebum similar to that of healthy skin and reduces the chances of clogged pores and pimples forming. Most importantly, this moisturiser control shine and smoothes skin for 8-hour, and provides 12-hour hydration with Glycerin.

Other beneficial ingredients include Zinc Gluconate and Vitamin B6, which helps to control shine in the long run by reducing sebum production. Mushroom Extract’s astringent properties also helps to reduce the appearance of large pores. Finally, there's also Salicylic Acid present to refine and improve skin’s texture.


It instantly moisturises dry patches and even my wound on my skin (I accidentally scratched my face). This moisturiser works just nice for all skin types, including Oily Skin, Combination Skin and Sensitive Skin.

I've been using it for almost a month now and I have been loving it so much. I am not a primer person, so this makes it even better for me.

Plus, who doesn't love the slim packaging that makes it so easy to bring around? Great for travelling too!

I was also sent the Sebium Lotion in its travel size, which is perfect for my trip to korea. Again, I used it every single day and night during my trip. It has kept my skin in good condition, when I know very well that my skin may feel really dry during the slightly cold weather in Korea.

The lotion smells refreshing, and it feels so light you wouldn't be able to differentiate it from water unless you take a sniff of it. Despite being so lightweight, this lotion has the ability to regulate your skin’s pH to a healthy level, keeping sebum production at a sufficient level.

The best way to use this lotion is to pour onto a cotton pad or two, and wipe across your skin. Otherwise if you're too lazy like me, feel free to pat this good stuff onto your skin with your clean hands.
 

Who else is a fan of Taiwan?

Rejoice if you are because Sample Store is bringing Taiwan to you! Whenever people mention Taiwan, my eyes will lit up because I love their food, culture (people are so friendly!) and of course their milk tea!

No trip to Taiwan is complete without having a good cup of milk tea and my favourite bubble tea brand has got to be SOMA. Their Original Milk Tea is fragrant, smooth, delicious, not overly sweet and most importantly not overpriced. If you are in Taipei, please go try please! It’s super goood.

However, if you are not flying to Taiwan anytime soon, good news, you can still have a good cup of milk tea at home or in the office with this awesome tea bag from 3:15PM. Different from instant milk tea powder, you can find real tea leaves in the tea bag. The milk tea is pretty legit as it is made using Taiwan oolong tea combined with Sri Lanka Uva black tea.  

Using professional fermentation and roast, it definitely has its own unique aroma. Read till the end to redeem this particular product for you to try too!

Why I like it?

1.       Convenience – To serve, all you have to do is pour 200-250cc of hot water, wait, stir and you can drink it! It’s really as simple as 1,2,3.  If you like your milk tea sweet, 200cc of water is great; otherwise I like mine with 250cc of hot water (it’s like the siu dai version).

2.       Versatility – You can have your milk tea served either Hot or Cold depending on your preference. For a cold serving, halve the hot water and add ice cubes, as long as the total capacity is around 200-250 cc, it’s perfect in terms of taste.

3.       No artificial flavours – For health conscious individuals, you’ll be delighted to know that the product only uses sugar and creamer; it does not contain artificial flavours and chemical additives. So yay! Taste wise, the oolong tea flavour is distinct and unique in its way, which is an acquired taste that oolong tea fans would definitely like.

Nestlé Gerber® introduces Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers and Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Arrowroot Cookies, two types of baked goodies that will make the perfect “First Cookies” for your child.

The Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers comes in delightful animal shaped designs to put a smile on your child’s face.

Made with 29% of whole grains per 100g, fortified with Vitamin E, Zinc and Iron, and flavoured with a dash of cinnamon, these animal crackers are the ideal choice for a wholesome snack!

Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers are recommended for children from 12 months old, or children who are accustomed to chewing solid foods.

My first thought when I saw "Cinnamon" on the packaging was "eeeek!". I have never been a fan of Cinnamon, but I was so surprised when the kids dug into it without a second thought and kept asking for more!

Using a mixture of enriched wheat flour and arrowroot flour, the Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Arrowroot Cookies has a unique texture that is crisp on the first munch, yet softens and mashes quickly for easy chewing and swallowing. A snack that is both tasty and nutritious, the cookies are fortified with Vitamin E and Zinc that are essential for your child’s growth and development.

Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Arrowroot Cookies are recommended for children from 10 months, or children who are accustomed to chewing solid foods. 
 

And guess what?! Nestlé Gerber® New Bakery Snacks  DO NOT contain any artificial flavours, colours or artificial sweeteners. What’s more, they are specially sized so the littles ones can learn to hold them and chew. The Nestlé Gerber® Bakery Snacks also come in re-sealable pouches that will keep the goodies fresh for the next consumption occasion. Because who likes it when your cookies get soft right?

Pssttttt...
You can purchase samples of the Nestlé Gerber® Graduates® Cinnamon Graham Animal Crackers from Sample Store at S$5.99 (U.P S$8.90).

I’ve always believed that in order to have beautiful, you have to spend a good amount of money on it. I only visit reputable hair salons, have never dyed my hair on my own and I never scrimp on my shampoo or conditioner and I spend a great amount of time at the hair care section. So yes, I’m pretty fussy with my hair and would only use products that I believe is the best for my crowning glory and I was immensely excited when I got the chance to try out the renowned KEVIN.MURHY from Australia brought to our sunny shores through Sample Store.

The Brand

To fill a void in the world of hairstyling and unsatisfied with conventional haircare products on the market, founder and stylist Kevin Murphy introduced KEVIN.MURPHY Haircare line using advanced skincare technology to deliver weightless texture with gentle formulas using natural ingredients and came up with brilliant results that feature vitamins and amino acids to repair and thicken hair, weightless moisturisers from high-end skincare, smooth and soften hair and antioxidants from fruits and flowers to reduce hair breakage and chemical damage.

The Products

KEVIN.MURPHY products use gentle formulas and natural ingredients which are sulphate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free and all packaging are 100% recyclable.

The HYDRATE.ME range is suitable for people who live in dry climate or have naturally dry hair restoring smoothness, adds shine and moisture and creates a silky feel.
 

Directions

1. Apply HYDRATE-ME.WASH to wet hair, wash and rinse.
2. Apply HYDRATE-ME.RINSE to freshly washed hair and leave for 1 to 2 mins before rinse.

Verdict

You guys know how much I travel and one of my must-haves for every trip is travel insurance.

There are just too many things that can go wrong e.g. laptop or phone getting damaged (Zach dropped his phone recently in a koi pond in Japan lolol), eating too much street food and ending up in hospital (true story, happened to me in Thailand) and <strong>not</strong> to mention factors that are not within your control such as flight delays and cancellations (I was once onboard a flight that had already departed Narita when it had to turn back 2 hours into the flight due to a faulty engine and ended up being delayed for more than 8 hours omg) and that's when travel insurance comes in handy.

For my recent Taiwan trip, I had purchased my AXA@Post travel insurance online and it was so easy and fuss-free, I actually did it only the night before I flew!

This is what it cost me for one week of policy coverage on their single trip plan.

I also really like how they are very transparent with the benefits limits which I'm eligible for.

By the way, with AXA@Post Travel Insurance, personal accident cover actually starts before the trip. You can find out more about the policy here: http://bit.ly/2iihRVp