Haul from Tokyu Hands Messe Sales!

My haul!!!

The Propolinse mouthwash are on 20% discount and pens on 10% discount! Yay!! 😍

Tsui Wah in Singapore!

Hong Kong popular Cha Chan Teng (茶餐厅), Tsui Wah (翠華)

 opens in Singapore!

There were quite a few must try food but I only managed to try a few since I was quite full then.

The first branch in Singapore at Clarke Quay is about 10 minutes walk from Clarke Quay NEL station. It was around 7+pm when I arrived and there was a long queue but not as long as what I expected since it was dinner peak hour. There were indoor and outdoor dining area. I opt for indoor since it was really humid and I was not very hungry. The aircon indoor was really strong. So strong that my food turned cold by the time I finished taking picture of the food 😂

Tsui Wah Milk Tea ($3.50). The milk tea came without sugar added so I added 1 packet of white sugar which is just nice for me. The milk tea is smooth and does not leave a dry/bitter aftertaste. I would prefer to have a more fragrant tea scent though. But definitely, the best milk tea I had.

  

Borscht soup with thick toast ($5.50). Since it was quite cold in the restaurant, I requested to add on this dish after the first order. It was also because other tables ordered this which looks delicious 😝

There is alot of ingredients in the soup. The soup is not as sourish as other borscht soup I tried so far. In fact, there was a hint of sweetness in it and it feels like they really had stewed this with the ingredients given in it. There were small bits of beef in the soup, so for those who do not take beef, it might be difficult to pick them out. The toast was quite dry but it helps when dipped into the soup.

Crispy bun with condensed milk ($4). This reminds me of the retro way of eating toast. The bun itself is fluffy. After toasting, it becomes very crispy but not dry. The generous layer of butter and condensed milk spread and melted on the bun sip into every 'hole' at the top layer of the bun, making every mouthful so wonderfully delicious 😋. (I am craving for this when writing this 😂)

Tsui Wah Signature Pork Chop Bun ($7.50). I was dying to try this but was a bit disappointed with it after trying. When the dish was served, the pork chop was curled which makes it impossible to eat it like a burger so I had to eat every layer by itself. I would say the thing I like most for this is the bun. It is similar to the crispy bun above but without condensed milk. The sauce use is good too and the freshness of the vegetables used. Pork chop was too hard for me and it taste normal.

Given a chance I would want to visit Tsui Wah again. Wanted to try the King Prawns in XO sauce noodle, Lamb Chop and Mixian dishes. 😊

Empties #4 (Bodycare)

The last empties for June 2018, This time will be bodycare.

My sister raved about this Beaua Naturian Charcoal and Blackrice body soap to me. Although there are few other 'flavours' for this brand, she specifically said I should try this as it cleans really well.

It claims to contain microscopic activated, bamboo-derived charcoal that can wash away dirt, grime and toxins from the skin and effectively remove bacteria and prevent acne outbreak. It also contain essential minerals derived from black rice which protect and nourish skin while it cleanses. The soap is blended with Japanese cypress oil which gives a refreshing and relaxing feeling after wash.

Texture: 9/10 - Greyish-pearly cream wash that lathers easily.

Scent: 8/10 - Pleasant and light.

Result: 9/10 -  While it cleanses well, it does not stripe off moisture from the skin. I notice the keratosis pilaris (aka chicken skin) behind my upper arm had reduced after using this. Occasionally, I may have pimple pop behind my back but after using this there is no pimple at all.

Price: 8/10 - $19.90. Slightly expensive as I do not know this brand. But after using it I would think it is worth it.

Overall: 9/10 - It comes in a big bottle which last very long since it also lathers easily. It does what it claims. 

Re-purchase? Yes, to improve the chicken skin further.
(Note: the bottle should be black in colour)


Crabtree & Evelyn Rosewater Hand Therapy is said to be the award-winning intensive conditioning cream formulated with shea butter and macadamia nut oil to moisturise and soften hands along with myrrh to help condition cuticles and nails. Used this mini size in the office after washing my hands or when they feels dry.

Texture: 8/10 - Soft, light whitish cream.

Scent: 8/10 - Pleasant rosewater scent but does not stay long.

Result: 7/10 - Skin feels moisturise and not sticky after use but the effect does not last.

Price: 8/10 - $13 for 25g. Expensive for a small tube but worth getting during member sales.

Overall: 8/10 - Reliable but not the best.
Re-purchase? Yes when I am tired of looking for better hand cream out there. Like the fact they have small tubes which is easy to bring around and not stay with the same scent for too long.

Empties #3 (Haircare)

I had finished 3 hair products in June only. Personally I prefer to buy the normal size product than sample size (if available) so I end up taking longer time to finish them. Same goes for other consumer products I bought, I like to stock up of what I use or try. But recently I realised I have not enough space to keep too many things so I am trying to reducing my purchasing unless necessary.

I will start from left to right.

John Masters Organics Dry Hair Nourishment & Defrizzer. I have dry, damaged and frizzy hair. This is due to my natural curls, frequent colouring, and using hair styling tools everyday. I tried this defrizzer while window-shopping at Sephora one day and was impressed with the result. Frizzness was tamed immediately!

Texture: 9/10 - This is USDA-certified organic treatment oil. While it is oil based but did not leave a sticky feel. I bought 2 bottles at one shot 😂. The cashier staff even ask me if the product is really good. The oil is yellowish in colour and I assume it is sensitive to light since the bottle is dark colour so I keep the bottle away from direct light/sunlight.

Scent: 9/10 - Natural and therapeutic.

Result: 9/10 -  My hair routine on days that I need to go out will be to curl my hair with flat iron then apply a salon all-in-one milk (cos it smells heavenly and helps to tame the hair for a while) and followed by around 7 drops of the JMO defrizzer. I tried using this oil after washing hair and hair feels less frizzy and softer after blowdrying. But since I have other pre-blow hair product to finish and to prolong the usage of the JMO defrizzer, I kept to 1 usage per day only.

Price: 8/10 - Can't remember the price of this product but can check from Sephora store directly. I believe it will be cheaper in the US. Would say it is affordable. Probably can stock up during Sephora 20% member sales 😀

Overall: 9/10 - Could not find a replacement yet.

Re-purchase? Yes! Had finished a bottle, using the second bottle and stock up with 1 bottle.

OGX Quenched Sea Mineral Moisture Surge Deep Treatment. It says to quench dry, stiff strands leaving them refreshed, with Swish-like movement and super soft shine. It is a moisture replenisher for weak, dry, damaged, over-processed, or chemically treated hair.

OGX has quite a range of product in Watsons and the collections are always so interesting in terms of packaging and 'flavours'. Was researching on this brand and it seems that the coconut water range is well raved but after smelling it, I decide not to get it as I could not stand the coconut smell. Saw this sea mineral range and I feel in love with the scent immediately. It is similar to Crabtree and Evelyn La Source scent and because of that I bought this treatment thinking that treatment should be more moisturising than conditioner and my hair type is what it is meant for.

Texture: 7/10 - Thick but easy to spread.

Scent: 10/10 - I love it!

Result: 6/10 - I felt that it is not as moisturising as I expected. It feels like a normal conditioner and in fact there are some conditioner that makes the hair more moisturised and soft than this. However, it is easy to wash off. Guess this is the only plus point other than the scent.

Price: 6/10 - $10-ish. The result is not worth the price.

Overall: 5/10 - It does not serve the purpose although I love the scent.

Re-purchase? No.

Pantene Pro-V Severe Damage Care Conditioner (Japan) was finally available in Singapore around September last year. Got to know about this from 女人我最大 (I'm a fan!). They demonstrated the product on one of the female celebrities and there was really a drastic improvement.

So I head to Watsons to get the shampoo, conditioner and leave-in treatment. Reviews on shampoo and leave-in treatment here.

 Texture: 6/10 - Like any other conditioner. Needs a little bit more effort to wash off.

Scent: 8/10 - The usual Pantene scent.

Result: 6/10 - Feels like a normal hair conditioner. Result is normal and nothing much to raved about. In fact the leave-in treatment helps more.

Price: 6/10 - $10-ish. Affordable.

Overall: 7.5/10 - So-so product.

Re-purchase? No. There are a lot more other there to try.

My first electric toothbrush!

Realised there were stubborn plaques between my teeth that do not seems to go away even if I brush, floss and use mouthwash twice a day. So, finally visit the dentist after a year.

While i know my gums have been low which caused the gap between the teeth, I did realised that it seems to be residing. I asked the dentist about it and he agreed and say it was because my teeth was very dirty when younger. He advised me to not let the gums reside further by brushing the tooth one by one.

Someone told me I have to take care of my teeth in order to eat good food even when I am old, so I did not think twice and go ahead to get the electric toothbrush, cause I love to eat... 😁

There were two brands that I was considering - Oral-B and Philips. After reading some reviews and their comparisons, I go with the Oral-B as it can address my concerns and the brush head is easier to find and cheaper to purchase.

So, I bought the Oral-B Genius 9000 Rechargeable electric toothbrush from Best Denki. This model was on promotion (UP: $349, Promo price: $259) and there was $20 voucher which I can used to offset my purchase. Also bought a 5-year warranty with Best Denki in case device is faulty.

Believe this is the latest model from Oral-B. Never imagine toothbrush can be so hi-tech 😆. The device can be connected to the smartphone using bluetooth through Oral-B app to monitor the brushing process. Quite amazing.

This is the full set. The packaging also different from the lower range... 😜

The is the charging port and the case to store the extra brush heads. Will be useful if there are more than one brush head being used at the same time. (E.g. family sharing same device)

The charging port can be detached from the case.

Left: Device is off. Right: Device is on

With the Oral-B app, I can choose the colour of the ring light on the device. So cool right? 😉

There are 6 modes to choose from as well - daily clean, deep clean, sensitive, whitening, gum care and tongue cleaning.

Another reason for choosing this model is the travel case. Looks sleek, compact and nice. It is also a smartphone holder and the case can charge the phone as well. There is space for 2 brush heads too.

This is the cling mirror which hold the smartphone upright so that the app can detect and monitor the mouth while brushing.

Empties #2 (Skincare)

Finally #2 empties is here!!! 😄

Really need some discipline to keep those empty bottles when finished. Usually I will just throw them away immediately cause I don't see the usefulness of it being around. 

So, here's my June 2018 empties (skincare).

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I will start with skincare empties. There will be empties for bodycare and haircare in the post later.

From bottom to top (left to right)


Saborino Morning Facial Sheet Mask (32 pcs, 304ml). This morning mask claims to give 3-in-1 performance from cleansing, skincare and primer (base). Just need to leave the mask on for 1 minute and you are ready to go or proceed with makeup. Felt skeptical when I got to know about this. I usually do not have good feelings for product that is all-in-one as usually the outcome is 5 out of 10 of what it claims to do. After my colleague keep raving about it, I decided to give it a try.

The pack was first open around July 2017 and it was June 2018 that I finished. Surprisingly, the mask is still wet with the serum and some leftover in the pack (in above picture)

 Texture: 7/10 - Mask material is soft and thickness is normal. However, it is a little too small but it is stretchable (horizontally only). Though stretched, the mask still adhere to the skin well, which is very different from other masks that I had tried.
Scent: 9/10 - Citrusy and fresh. Great for mornings. 😃
Result: 9/10 - Initially I used it when I am in a rush to work or go out. It really save alot of skincare time for me since I apply alot of things on my face 😂. And because I had alot of bottles of skincare, I decided to use it on weekends when I do not need to shower immediately after waking up. So, I will use tap water to rinse my face and put on this mask for about 3 minutes. Other than the refreshing citrus scent, it feels very cooling even after the mask is removed. I will fold the mask into a square and wipe my face. My face feels cleaner and moisturised and won't feel so guilty when I shower late 😜
Price: 8/10 - Reasonable.
Overall: 9/10 - It is surprisingly good! It works what it claims. But still I will not replace it with my usual skincare.
Re-purchase? Yes! I had re-purchased but another flavour.

Uriage Thermal Water (Mini size). I can't remember when I start to be interested in facial spray. Probably after I decide to do something when my makeup seems to wear off after mid-day. I read that make up wear off is due to skin being dry and oil starts to produce which cause the makeup to melt and wear off. It is like using cleansing oil to remove makeup.

Texture: 5/10 - Feels like salt water.
Scent: 8/10 - No scent. I prefer some scent.
Result: 2/10 - I don't like the effect from the spray. It feels like using fingers to sprinkle water on my face. Will mess up the makeup abit as the water droplet is too big.
Price: 2/10 - While it is cheap, it does not served the purpose well.
Overall: 2/10 - I don't like this.
Re-purchase? No. Not even when it comes free.




Bifesta Eye Makeup Remover. I usually have single tone (brown) eye shadow and water and smudgeproof mascara on. It is quite effortless to remove the eye makeup completely and it does not sting the eyes. I use it to remove my lip makeup and my lips still feel supple and soft despite me using a circular motion wiping it with the cotton pad.

Texture: 9/10 - It has 2 layers - solution and oil. Need to shake before use. I did not give it 10/10 because I felt that it a bit oily on my lips after using which is good for many but because I will usually brush my teeth after that so I do not wish to 'stain' my toothbrush.
Scent: 9/10 - No scent but I would prefer some scent to have a more complete experience.
Result: 10/10 - It does what it is meant for. 😀
Price: 8/10 - The usual price $12.90 which I find a bit expensive but I will usually get it during sales which cost $9.90! 😁
Overall: 9.5/10 - Nothing much to complain about. It is my favourite eye makeup remover and have been using it since few years back.
Re-purchase? Definitely! I had repurchased many times.

Cosrx AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner. First got to know about this brand is through a youtube Korean vlogger. She was using alot of their product and had recommended many of their products. I had tried some of her recommendations and this toner is one of them. Had also did some research before purchased my first bottle from Qoo10.

Texture: 9/10 - Watery and light. Though it contains AHA and BHA, it does not feel harsh on the skin.
Scent: 8/10 - No obvious scent. I would prefer product with some scent.
Result: 8.5/10 - It soothe and clarifies the skin and did not leave the skin dry after using. I usually use this with my Yaman 10t on cleansing mode.
Price: 9/10 - Reasonable. Around $10+ or $20+.
Overall: 8.5/10 - It is a good product but still for those with very sensitive skin, it is recommended to do a patch test.
Re-purchase? Maybe. Had just finished the second bottle and have one more in stock. Not repurchasing at the moment as it is not available in a physical store in Singapore and I prefer the Labo Labo (by Dr. Ci Labo) toner.

Innisfree Super Volcanic Clay Mousse Mask. Bought this at Incheon Airport and I think at that time Singapore do not have this product yet. I was using the tub clay mask previously and I really dislike it because it just dry up and become hard and impossible to use. I was very excited when I saw this as I could not fully experience the tub clay mask previously. The clay mask for this range is highly raved and I wanted to give it a try again.

Texture: 10/10 - I like this mousse version as it is soft and easy and more hygienic to dispense the product. It glides on the face easily and it seems to get into the pores more easily. It is also easy to wash away with water.
Scent: 8/10 - Pleasant but not memorable.
Result: 6/10 - Skin feels slightly dry and not as clean as the Simple deep cleansing mask (which is always out of stock) that I like to use.
Price: 8/10 - Affordable since I bought at Incheon airport.
Overall: 6/10 - Only enjoyed the part during application. The mask has to be on for at least 15 minutes which is too long for me.
Re-purchase? No. Skin is not fully cleansed and waiting time is too long.

Kanebo Evita Beauty Whip Soap Rose Foam Cleanser. Wanted to try this when I first saw it in 女人我最大 and I love rose water scented product. Managed to buy it when I was in Taiwan in 2016 (hahaha... I always keep stock of skincare so it will take sometime before I start using a product) and there was another limited edition version which I have not use it yet. This product is actually meant for aging skin but I believe women of any age may not be able to resist this product. 😜

Texture: 10/10 - Soft and dense foam. Love the part when dispensing the product 😁. It is always so fun to use it.
Scent: 9.5/10 - Very pleasant rose scent. I believe it is from the damask rose flower water used. I would prefer it to be stronger though.
Result: 10/10 - Very very good. Skin don't feel too dry after washing. This could be due to hyaluronic acid and collagen used. The product also contain royal jelly extract and rice fermented extract. I also notice that pores are smaller and face looks brighter after using. My skin was very stable when using this.
Price: 9/10 - I would say reasonable for the experience and effectiveness of this product. I can't remember exactly the price but it is around $10+ to $20+.
Overall: 10/10 - This is the cleanser I like most so far. 
Re-purchase? Yes!!

Kiehl's Ultra Light Daily UV Defense, SPF 50 PA++++. There are many youtube vlogger recommended Kiehl's product as they are effective and consider most affordable counter brands. This is also one of the recommended product so I bought the largest bottle (60ml) when I transit at Hong Kong International Airport last year.

Below is extracted from kiehls.com.sg

Hydrate and help protect skin from the early signs of aging with our lightweight facial sunscreen with broad spectrum SPF 50 PA++++. With advanced UVA/UVB technology and pollution protection, our formula helps defend against UV rays, pollution and free radicals. Our daily, non-comedogenic sunscreen provides all-day hydration, absorbs quickly and leaves a matte finish.

- Helps protect skin from environmental aggressors including UVA/UVB rays and pollution which can cause the first signs of aging

- Lightweight formula absorbs quickly and leaves skin with a matte finish

- Formulated with advanced UVA/UVB technology and pollution protection

- Dermatologist-tested for safety

- Non-comedogenic

- Suitable for all skin types, including sensitive skin

Texture: 6/10 - While it is watery but it feels heavy on my skin. And I do not like the vanilla colour as that is the colour of whitish skincare when it is left open for too long 😝
Scent: 8/10 - No obvious scent but more of the usual sunblock scent.
Result: 7/10 - Not suitable for humid weather but in colder country it will be just nice. My makeup don't seems to stay well when using this sunblock as the face becomes oily faster.
Price: 5/10 - Expensive. Retail price is $89
Overall: 6.5/10 - It is not suitable for me as long as I am staying in a humid country.
Re-purchase? No. There are more suitable products out in the market.

Afternoon tea @ Pollen

Had a relaxing afternoon tea session with girl friend at Pollen. Had always wanted to visit but it does not seems to appeal to many whom I know 😕. Probably it gave the impression that dining here is very expensive which indeed is but I personally felt it is still affordable for afternoon tea. The price ($38++/pax) we paid includes complementary access to the flower dome. For afternoon tea, guests are sitted at the Pollen Terrace where you can view the main attraction of the Flower dome from.

These are some options for the tea set

With coffee/ tea - $38++

Free-flow coffee/tea - +$5

With glass of white peach Bellini - $50

With free-flow Prosecco (two hours) - $78

We opt for the free-flow coffee/tea. There are only 5 organic tea to select from (Earl grey, English breakfast, Chamomile, Sweet ginger, Red berries). For coffee, there are 7 (Espresso, Macchiato, Long black, Flat white, Cappuccino, Latte, Caramel latte)

These are the savouries served: (Clockwise) Chicken and mushroom tart, Egg and watercress sandwich, Squid ink crackers, Multigrain with smoked salmon and avocado, Beef caramelised onion and cumin croquettes and Beetroot hummus with feta and sesame

All are nice and different from what we usually had for high tea. Nothing to complain 😋

This beetroot hummus with feta and sesame is surprisingly good. Feels healthy eating it 😄

Almond and grape gazpacho is part of the savouries. It is a cold soup. Never thought of such combination and it taste really good. 

Sweets served: Clotted cream, Fruity jam, Chocolate marshmallow tart, Coffee macaron, Mandarin choux, Peanut and currant financier, Earl grey lemon cake

 Orange and white chocolate scones

The sweets are not as good as the savouries or rather, there was not much surprise as it is just normal sweets served during high tea.

Overall, I will visit again but not near future and if there is a change in menu. Love the ambiance here, very good for couples, girls date and when the weather is hot 😄

So we walk around flower dome after the tea. Isn't it relaxing? 😃

Lunch @ Alexandra Village Food Centre

Recently have been addicted to food at Alexandra Village Food Centre. 😁

For two consecutives days, I had these 小笼包 and 红油抄手 from stall #01-56 (上海拉面小笼包). The 小笼包 taste is sweeter than the usual ones we ate at Crystal Jade and Ding Tai Fung but still good. For 红油抄手, I can never forget the silky smooth dumpling skin. It is so silky that you can swallow it without chewing if not careful. The sauce is not as spicy but still a good combination although I prefer it to be more spicy. But definitely, I will return for more 😋 Oh! And it is very affordable, at $4.50 each.

This is another stall that I love 😍. Seafood soup from 炎记海鲜汤. It is along the same side as the claypot laksa. They have three kinds of soup - Seafood ($6/$8/$10), Crayfish seafood ($10/$12/$14), Red grouper seafood ($12/$14). I had tried seafood and red grouper. Would prefer the red grouper compared to dory fish used in normal seafood soup. There are different pricing for additional ingredients (La La - $2, Fish maw - $2), so you can add what you like. Soup is very tasty which I like but for some may feel it is too salty after finishing.

8-course Omakase @ Cast Iron

Saw from Facebook on the promotion for the 8-course Omakase at Cast Iron. Usual price is $128++ but paid only $68++ for the promotion when I make reservation through HungryGoWhere.

As I did not have the chance to try omakase during my japan trip in May because it is always fully booked, I was really excited when I saw this promotion 😏 Omakase is generally quite expensive as it depend a lot on chef's skills and creativity in preparing the dishes based on the ingredients that they have or the freshest ingredient they have at that time.

I was the first customer when I reached the restaurant. The nearest MRT will be Bugis station. It is located at the beehive-looking building. The restaurant looks really atas (means high end) and when I looked through the normal menu, the price is also atas 😂

So they start off with serving hot tea and followed by first dish. Each dish was served only after I am done with the current one. The turnaround time for each dish to be served is not consistent. I saw that some customers were served faster and slower.

There was no specific name to each dish but it was mentioned that the 8-course consists of appetizer, sashimi, deep fried item, seafood, grilled item, sushi, soup and dessert.

Appetizer: Contain scallop, fish roe, seaweed. Sauce is just nice with some hint of wasabi.

Sashimi: Can't really name the fishes but there was tuna and scallop. All are fresh 👍

Deep fried item: This dish took the longest to be served but the result was unexpected. Not sure is it because I am hungry but this dish really surprised me and I really like it but one serving is enough as it is quite filling. It consist of mashed potato with crispy crust around it and the seasoning is tasty and just right. So simple but yet tasty. In fact, most dishes are done just nice in all aspect.

Seafood: Consist of cod fish and fried kale. While kale is fried, it is not too oily and it feels like dried seaweed snack. But since cod fish already taste buttery, I would prefer the kale to be done differently to make it more balance.

Grilled item: Grilled quail is served. As this is quail, there was not much meat and the sauce is abit too bitter for me. The doneness of the quail is just nice and juicy.

Sushi: What can I say?? As good as what I had in japan 👍 😋

Just that I was puzzled why the honey cake was served together.

Soup: This seems like a sour plum soup. I would say this was the dish that I least enjoyed as it is too sour for my liking. It feels like a sour water than a soup to me. There was just one taste which is sour.

Dessert: Never expect fresh grapes will be served for dessert. I would think this is the japanese grapes that usually sold at Japanese supermart. It was so juicy and the sweetness is grapy (like the Hi-chew grape candy). Appreciated that they peeled off the skin as it may affect the taste of the grapes. 👍

Will I visit again? The dishes are of high quality, so do expect to pay more. But with promotion like this, I would definitely visit again as the experience of having omakase is different.

Dinner at Niku Kappo (by Watami)

Was at Ion and craving for beef badly but do not want to spend too much. So ended up at Niku Kappo. Had always wanted to try the food here as the slabs of beef at the front of the restaurant gaves me the impression that they specialised in making beef dishes.

It was very difficult for me to choose as everything looks delicious in the menu. Wanted to try their Mt. Fuji nabe but my friend is not interested 😒 So, I ordered something else.

This is a complimentary drink. Looks instagrammable. Taste like sprite.

Mentaiko Maki Omelette ($8.90). Traditional Japanese style roll omelette using dashi stock and cod roe. 2 of my favourite food - egg and mentaiko! Great combination and taste good too. Will definitely order again.

Waygu Nikomi don. Wagyu is soft and almost melt in the mouth. This is a special menu so could not find the price in their online menu.

Tokusen Niku Sushi Mori ($38.90). Special assorted meat sushi - rump, toro, tataki, rossini, grilled miso wagyu, wagyu uni, uni gunkan, chicken breast and teriyaki chicken. Very nicely done and so instagrammable 😁

Close up of the beef. The beef are mostly raw, so not suitable for those who cannot take raw food.

Will I come again? Yes, to try other food 😋