Beauty Ship

My obsession with Hollywood started during my teenage years. Blame the media they say. I would rush after school, grab my lunch and straight away plop in front of our old-big-bulky-the-kind-you-will-find-in-antique-store-now TV with a cushion behind my back, merely to sit and admire the gorgeous ladies 'living' inside the TV. I would idolize and worship all the celebrities and skinny glamorous models parading in my favourite drama series, music videos and TV shows. I would also analyze their make-up, hair, products, dresses, heels, everything! Coming from a small town with only one mall to boast then, this humble television was my only window to the outside world. I wanted to be just like them – glamorous and radiant, confident. Our relationship (Dear old TV and me) didn't last long after I had met the internet. Haha. It was the crawling dial-up connection at that time but it satisfied my longings better than the TV. Haha. And I also started to develop a deep relationship with my mirror. Haha. That lasts until now.

My basics... Use them like diligently!

I’m not super-model hot. I’m not super skinny. I don’t have naturally fair skin complexion that’s to die for with rosy blushable cheeks. I don’t have slender long figure with dazzling big-round-sparkly-electrifying eyes. I don't have the sexy-manga-kind-of-cute Asian girls vibe either.

I am just beautiful me. 

Inside the lift

I am not perfect but I am comfortable in my own skin. I have learnt to live with my freckles and the occasional outburst of pimple attack. I look good in most clothes, also the fact that I’m good at choosing the correct cuts that flatter me most. I know my fashion. I have nice smile. I have my bad-hair-days but normally they are quite tame-able. Haha. All those with some help indefinitely.

I have built strong beautyship (relationship with beauty, get it?). 

Because I don’t want to look old when I’m old. Haha.

“I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing, I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick” (Audrey Hepburn)

I believe that there is no ugly people, maybe lazy ones. 

Lazy bum

Even though in district, I still diligently do my own home facial, hair treatment and modified-detoxification. Cannot miss it! Every single day every single minute you are aging. Remember that.

You miss a week of not doing – you think, it’s okay. Still young.

Then you miss a month – you think, so busy, no time. Haven’t reach 30, still okay.

And then the routine dies off. You don’t even realize it. 

One day, you open your eyes, you see a fine wrinkle creeping up around both of your eyes. Your forehead looks like the railroad. Lines lines lines everywhere. Your hair limp and lifeless.

AIKS!!!

When these happen, it is a little too late. You canNOT reverse the process. 

Which is why prevention is ALWAYS better than treatment. Slows down the process.

This is my LOVE-YOURSELF Beauty Ship routine:

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• Invest on a good sunscreen. I like to use SPF of at least 35. This is because we Asians have higher melanin activities and are exposed to the UV rays longer in the hour, living in the tropics. Other than that, protecting yourself from the sun is also crucial. This act prevents unwanted pigmentation, wrinkling, as well as skin cancer. Wear your sunnies. It’s cool and also compliments your wardrobe. It hides your bored-looking eyes whenever you are forced to talk or entertain someone you don’t really fancy. Do not ever wear them in the evenings, please! Haha. 



Great cover-up with your shades.

• Hydrate hydrate hydrate! Gulp at least 1.0L of plain water a day. I know they say it should be 8 glasses (2L) of water a day, to hydrate and ‘water’ our skin cells. But I love my coffee. I love my hot milo and ice lemon teas. So I figure, 1.0L is realistic, for me. No one drinks 8 glasses of plain water THAT much. Or do they? Anyhow, this is a cheap way to cleanse and detoxify our body. The toxins will be released in form of urine. Plus, filling up your stomach will give a false sense of fullness. Haha. 

  

  Evian-up!

• Golden rule – remove and wash off your make-up before jumping into that inviting bed. Always. No matter how tired or exhausted you are, this step you most certainly cannot skip. Otherwise, no magic cream will ever be absorbed into your skin. In addition, it helps for skin regeneration and prevent premature aging. See those girls who look 35 but are only 22? This is the culprit. 

  
  

  
  

• Sleep well. Get a good 8 hour sleeps if and when you can. I personally love love our latex mattress with memory foam. Snuggling in the warm cozy bed is just heavenly! A good night sleep will do wonders to your concentration and sharpens your mind. I can no longer get my straight 8 hours of sleep due to breastfeeding, but a good uninterrupted 4 hours of sleep is good enough to clear my mind. Helps me focus.

  

  Sleep.. Sleep like a baby Maya...

  
  

• Choose a dependable moisturizer. Slap them on EVERYDAY, each morning before your make-up. Slather on moisturizing body cream all over after your shower, if you have the time. I always do this in the evenings. Mornings are just too hectic for the whole body rubbing. Haha. Also I like the silky smooth sense when I lie on my bed at night when my day is finally over. Better if it’s scented. Splurge on whitening and anti-aging products if you can afford to. There are economical ones in Watson and any other pharmacies also. No matter which products are your likings, don’t procrastinate! Start now, after this! Go grab one after this if you haven’t already. Most ladies my age (perhaps I shouldn't use this 'people my age' phrase. Haha.) already develop fine wrinkles – I can spot them, yes I can! Not me. Not yet. Could be my genes? But I’m dead sure it’s because I started young. I started mine at the age of 23 years old. And still faithfully using. 

  

  Up-close picture using iPhone. No filters or photoshop. Just playing with the lightings a little.

• Perform your facials and put on that cold cold hydrating or whitening mask at least once a month. Remember to exfoliate and scrub scrub clean clean your face prior to that. Don’t forget your hair as well. Once or twice a week I will do a hair mask. I like how it smoothens out my ends and gives it a shiny finish. This is such an easy, efficient way to conserve and preserve your beauty and youth. 

  

  Using a moisturizing mask
  
  

• Use any whitening toothpaste. Gargle! Don’t skip on your dental appointments. I know they are scary with the horrifying drillings and all the machinery sounds, it is an absolute must in order to have a healthy set of teeth and perfect smile. I just did mine recently. Make your scaling appointment now! 

  

  At the dentist
  
  

• There are few relationships in beauty ship that you must maintain in your life, other than your family, close-they-will-always-be-there-for-you-can-be-yourself-with-them kind of friends and relatives. Those people are your beautician, massage therapist, hairdresser, manucurist and dentist. Ultimately, it’s the relationship with these people who helped made me feel divine, appealing and looking like a million dollar bucks babe. It takes some time to find good qualified ones. And when I do, I usually stay with them, for a long long time. I am THAT loyal. Why wasting time scurrying over the town when I have the best here and happy with their services, right?
  
  
  
  
  I am not much of an exercise fan or gym fanatic. I don’t like feeling hot. I don’t like feeling beads of sweat all over my body. I like to smell good kind of person. I, however like to swim. I don’t swim frequently though. We don’t have our own pool. So my only choice will be at the local swimming pool. Where everyone swims there and kids spit into the pool. You understand why.
  
  I like my food and sometimes, just sometimes, I like them the unhealthy way. Fried and oily and fatty. BUT I don’t consume them everyday. I like to have my greens and fruits also. I like fruit juices. And toufu. Haha. Pick the day you want to indulge and go ahead! THEN eat healthy the next few days....or weeks. Haha.
  

  Moderation is the key. Balance it out.

I'm sure all of you our there have your own LOVE-YOURSELF BeautyShip routine as well. 

No matter what you do, take good care of yourself. 

This isn’t just pure vanity or superficial.

I pride in taking good care of myself. 

Love yourself.

If you don’t love yourself, who will?

If you don’t love yourself, how can you love others?


There is no expense spared in making sure you look and feel good. 

Why?

Because we are worth it. 

Adios Beautiful.