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Just last week, I had the most amazing training Skype session with the Scottish people from Pure Lochside. Finally, I got to meet Fiona Tutte, founder of Pure Lochside and her trainer Laura.  Fiona, a wonderful lady, with more than 16 years of aromatherapy experience, started with a brief story on how she got started. She decided to start her own line when the products she customized for her clients worked so remarkably well on them. Encouraged with her efforts, in March 2007, Fiona finally creates Pure Lochside products with a unique holistic outlook resulting in an exceptional range of luxury organic skin care.  Mind you, her products are 99.9% organic with remainder 0.1% made up of vitamins.



I love the smell of her products, the way it looks especially the Spritz bottle and it works so well (some other bottles are hopeless!).



Her products are jam packed with a powerful concoction of anti-oxidants extracts such as organic Frankincense, Sea Buckthorn, Arctic Cranberry, Argan Oil, Rosehip Oil, Pumpkin Seed Oil, Vit E and A. This potent mix of oils in high dosage (highest dosage possible) make its products very effective not just for the skin but also for the mind.  While the anti-aging properties work against the free radical on your skin, the aroma of the products works deeply to relax your mind. You can literally feel the tension easing away.



The training session went on in length on each ingredients, why it was included, what it is used for and how it should be used. Armed with insiders’ information, I am now even more confident to recommend her products.



My favorite product got to be the Revitalizing Face Treatment Oil is a heaven-sent for those suffering from hormonal skin problems. Laura, the trainer, explained that it contains a good percentage of Rose Otto, a highly prized essential oil which helps to balance hormones and skin, rejuvenates, regenerates and uplift emotions. Retinol Palmitate helps to fight signs of ageing by increasing the production of new skin cells and plumping the skin. End result is radiant and stress-free skin. Bonus: my husband and kids love the way I smell each time I apply this wonderful oil.



Judging from the way, Laura explained about the Organic Sugar Body Scrub, I can easily guess this is her favorite product. The sweet warming scent is often mistaken as Vanilla extract but in fact, it is Benzoin essential oil, which treats eczema. Another plus point is….O.K. you got to hear this, Laura has professionally explained that sugar instead of salt as it is less cutting and kinder to the skin. Microscopically-wise, salt grain has a jagged edge while sugar grains are round, thus making it less harsh on the skin. If you use salt to scrub on the same spot, your skin will turn red while sugar will not cause that. Try it yourself.  O.K. another vote to use sugar instead of sea salt is that our earth is actually quickly depleted of another natural resource sea salt. Hmmm...



Oh, did I tell you that the Siberian Ginseng Eye Gel which contains Ginseng Extract (2nd ingredients in the list!), besides tightening the skin around the eye area, helps to combat dark circles too.



Experience the Power of Pure Lochside’s Products and its Purity today.

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One of the daily things that bugs me is the amount of trash we dump.  I really hate to think about the amount of things we throw away each day and where it landed up in.

To make myself and the earth feel better. I started an in-house program last year that collect used bottles from customers. After collecting all the bottles, we will separate it into useable and recyclable. Reusable goes to our basin for sterile cleaning and re-use. Recycling goes to the glass recycling bins. This is so much I can do for glass bottles. How about plastics and paper bags? Well, besides re-using them to collect trash, the presentable ones will end up as carry bags for customers.

Recently, I came across an website that that states that 80,000 tons of flexible plastic packaging are manufactured each year in Indonesia and for every one ton of manufacturing, there’s 30 tons of waste. As we know there are no safe disposal methods for flexible plastic, it may accumulate and then sit in a landfill forever. This is gross fact and it is suffocating the earth.  And because there are no traditional recycling techniques for this type of plastic it has little resale market value.

The XSProject Foundation acquires the plastic from trash pickers before it piles up in toxic landfills. XSProject is the brainchild of visual artist and environmental activist Ann Wizer, who conceived of this initiative in the mid-90s while living in the Philippines.  The non-profit XSProject Foundation was established in 2004 with the aim of increasing environmental awareness and helping the trash picker communities by providing assistance for daily needs, schooling, etc. It also bring to our attention the huge number of invisible populations living in poverty – the very people who live with our trash.  Oh, these poor kids and women. The collection of bags originally started with a tote but the line has expanded into everything from makeup purses to laptop bags, even including some made from old billboard designs.

Well, who knows, I may start bringing this range in to Pure Tincture.  In the meantime, continue reading and before you throw away that plastic container/ bag, stop and think again.

I came across this article on "Keep Nanotechnology Out of Organic!".

 Nanotechnology can be found in some of the cosmetics products here. It claimed to be more effective as it is able to penetrate into your system better due to the  tiny nano size of the molecues. well,  it is true that it is able to penetrate better but the question is "Are the things penetrating through your skin SAFE for you?" Stop for a moment and think about it before falling for the promise that these wonderful nano products made.

An excerpt of the article on Keep Nanotechnology Out of Organic:

A major reason why consumers shop for products that are certified organic is to avoid hazardous and unlabeled Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs), toxic chemicals, and now the most recent, and likely most dangerous hi-tech poison of them all - nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is now a multi-billion dollar Frankenstein monster industry churning out a vast menu of untested and unlabeled products containing tiny nanoparticles including non-organic vitamin supplements, food packaging, processed food, cosmetics, and sunscreens.

The United States Department of Agriculture's National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) has been debating an official ban on nanotechnology in organic. When it meets November 3-5, 2009 in Washington, D.C., the NOSB will consider a recommendation supported by the the OCA and the organic community that would "prohibit nanotechnology in organic production, processing, and packaging."

Nanotechnology is inherently dangerous. Mounting scientific evidence indicates that nanomaterials produce dangerous "free radicals" which can destroy or mutate DNA and can cause damage to the liver and kidneys. Nanotech particles not only injure and kill lab animals - they can kill you as well.

Every day, new evidence of the dangers of nanotechnology emerges:

Workplace nanoparticle exposure was linked to seven cases of serious and progressive lung disease in China including two patient deaths.
Nanoparticles present in a chemical found in sunscreens - titanium dioxide - are being examined as possibly causing Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

 Bottom line:  Keep away from products using nanotechnology for now till further concrete scientific testing are proven.

Source from Organic Consumers Associations (OCA)

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For those who are wondering how I maintain my skin. Here are my skincare regime secrets to clear baby skin.

(1) Keep skin clean: Always wash it with a suitable organic cleanser. I have 2 types of cleansers. One for oily skin days and the other for dry days.

(2)  Lotion / Toner Masks on daily basis:

(a) Dampen a piece of cotton cool.
(b) Add a quart amount of toner (toner to use depends on for your skin type) onto the dampen cotton wool.
(c) Separate the cotton wool into 4-5 pieces thin layer.
(d) Apply it on your skin for 3-5 minutes

(3) Apply serum in the evening (a must step for 30s and above)

(4) Finish it off with moisturiser of your choice. Allow skin to go without moisturiser for one day / week. 

(5) Apply masks  every alternate days. 

(6) Have a facial done at least once every 4 weeks.

(7) Chill my face with a cold towel or ice pack before applying make up to ensure makeup stays on longer.  

The above is my skincare ritual for 4 years and my secrets to achieving baby skin. Most important of all, always use organic or natural skin care products to ensure tip top skin health.  it is true.

Try it too. 

Sign off, Helen Lien

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Do you think an  organically certified skin care brand is purer or cleaner than a organic skin care brand without certification?

if you answer is a astouding 'yes', i hope that you will change your perception after reading this.

i have done my research and tried many brands of organic skin care, to me,  a good honest organic skin care brand without certification is not any less purer than one that is being certified. suki advanced organic science is an clear example. this wonderful brand has not organic certification but her products are 100% pure and cleaner than many certified organic skin care brands. Really, how clean and effective a product is made depends on the maker, her philosophy and the effort put in to make the product superior. suki advanced organic science is the cleanest yet effective skin care brand i have come across (after 4 years of searching). Undoubtly, there are many other good pure skin care out there but it is could be just a simple mix of base oil + essential oils. Yes, it is pure and beneficial for the skin but it may lose points on other factors such as feel of the products (think oil vs fluid-based) and how fast it works and get absorb in.

Getting certified is a costly affair. Some smaller companies may find it not so worth it to get the certification due to lack of manpower and/or finances.  For some companies, they feel that their products are cleaner and purer than the critieria sets by these certified bodies  thus do not required to get their stamp of endorsement. Some other feel that the critieria set are misleading to the public and refused to join their wagon for instance.

On the other hand, getting a organic endorsement has its advantage as well. it helps a  layman to differentiate between "real" organic skin care vs a "bogus" ones. it also serves to lend a vote of confidence to the brand.

To an individual like me and you, certification or not, it all narrows down to being educated and self empowerment to know the differences and protect yourself. Learning to read ingredients in skin  care products is important and it will help you to differentiate the really pure and good ones.

Do we really need to use TONER?

There are split views when it comes to toner. To us, we say - Spritz it on! It is an important step for crystal clear skin. Here are some of the WHYs:

1. Toners’ primary purpose it to restore the skin’s normal pH balance which is often thrown out of kilter through cleansing. The skin’s natural pH balance is 5.5, which is often altered after cleansing. By restoring the skin natural pH balance, the skin natural protective barrier known as acid mantle is also restored thus protecting the skin against undesirable elements. A good toner will return the pH balance to your skin and prepare it for better absorption of the moisturiser / serum you are about to put on so it can work to the best of its abilities.

2. Good toner contains powerful active botanical concentrate such as white willow bark, aloe vera juice, natural vitamin c that will benefit the skin. These ingredients calm the skin, soothe any redness or itch and build up skin resistance. Even on days, when you did not apply any moisturizer, your skin will still receive the goodness from these active compounds in the toner.

3. It acts like a 2nd cleansing process and removes any traces of make-up, grimes and dirt that might have been left behind after a rushed cleansing.

4. Our toners hydrate your skin and set your make up. Unlike moisturizer, toner can be conveniently spritz on throughout the day to refresh and hydrate your skin. Keep a bottle on your working desk and let the toner take care of your skin as you work.

Toners like sukipure concentrated toner – balancing and nourishing works like magic, containing super anti-oxidants like liposome polypeptides and natural vitamin c to build up skin resistance.

MADARA toner contains exotic Baltic raspberry, plantain, cucumber, chamomile, rose water to help your skin look its best.

Now, we are offering 10% off for any online purchase. There you go, another reason why you should start using toner! :)

What is your daily face care routine?

What is the first product you apply on immediately after washing your face? Of course, the answer is different for everyone, depending on the day and the time and skin type. Everybody has their own secret product to keep their skin glowing or at least to maintain it in good condition. Right now, I am curious to find the most amazing natural products to apply on just right after I cleanse.

A product that can keep my skin glowing, smell wonderful (to soothe my senses), feel good (without the sticky feel), deeply nourishing (to keep the lines at bay) yet clearing. And i will love to hear your picks! I just cannot get enough of the feeling of a clean, pampered, smooth clear skin. One current favorite that I will always have it in my bathroom is Madara Moonflower Tinted Moisturiser with sunscreen. A perfect moisturiser with sheer coverage (enough coverage to even out uneveness + brighten up texture). Anyone that have tried it will surely agree with me.

Lately, i am obsessed with ANTI-AGING, thus my search for natural vitamin + peptide rich products that will douse my obsessed search. sukispa Facial Lift Ultimate Firming Creme is a absolutely worth-it splurge.Expensive and exotic extracts filled up the entire ingredient list, what more can I say? I can feel slight tightening of my skin after 2 weeks of usage. The smell is a PLUS PLUS PLUS. For those whom do not see a need for lifting yet, use it as a eye creme to extend the value of this bottle and as a preventive measure.

Finally, another all win hands down is Santaverde Hydro Repair Gel, enriched with aloe vera juice and elderflower water,  scored high in after-application feel. Absorbs in rapidly leaving skin feeling moisturised and clear.I am so loving it.

What is your favorite product to apply after cleansing?

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For those of you who knows me, you may think that i have always been blessed with good skin and never have had any pimples in my life before nor will i breakout no matter what i used for my skin. well, this is where you are wrong.

just over the last weekend, i had the most horrible experience. I was going through my skin care drawer and i found a commercial vitamin C intensive treatment sample right at the back. I have forgotten about this sample and how i got it. Never mind, anyway,  it was a pretty looking glass bottle with top compartment containing some white powder and the bottom part filled with yellowish serum-like liquid. On the label, it is stated: Used is continuously 7 days for best results. Like any skin care junkie or woman, i was tempted to try it. Never mind that i do not know the ingredients or if it is synthetic since it is such as a teeny weeny bottle. As long as it works! I pressed the top and "pop" the top catch broke and the powder dissolved in the liquid. It looked "intensive" to me since the powder and liquid are separated.  Now, that it was mixed, it seemed that the concoction was "activated".

i applied it in at night and expect to see glowing skin the next day. I woke up and checked my face. Nothing.

The next night, i applied it again religiously and went to bed. The next day, i noticed some small bumps on my cheeks area. well, no big deal, as it was small and not obvious.

the 3rd night, i applied it again. however, when i woke up, i saw a red bump on my nose. Half day through, the red bump ballon up and another bump appeared. the bumps on my cheeks became more obvious. Oh no! this is not right.

my mind raced through if i have ate anything wrong, etc. it came down to one thing. the vitamin c serum! Then it dawned upon me that the accumulative use of the wrong products is upsetting my skin.

i stopped using the serum . rambled to get apply suki Transformative Cleansing Clay, a 3-in-1 inflammatory purifying cleanser, masque & spot treatment. Definite first aid for itch, redness, pimples and what's not.  In 2 days, the bumps went away though the pimple on my nose  left a slight mark.

well, the lesson learnt is never to apply anything that you are not sure about on the skin.

Lately, I have an opportunity to ask a research scientist, in the field of skin care products development, on his view on non-comedogenicity. His reply is very interesting and I wanted to share it with you all:

"The cosmetics industry loves terms like noncomedogenic - Non-comedogenic is a term applied to oils, lotions, and skin creams that do not block pores (sometimes referred to as non-occlusive).

These have been tested on the oily skins of human volunteers or inside rabbit ears. These products are less likely to cause blackheads (open comedones) or whiteheads (closed comedones) in patients. A more accurate term may be non-acnegenic.

However, the clinical facts is simple, no single product is non-comedogenic for everyone.

It is important to test a new product on your own skin rather than rely on the label, before using it freely. Some points to note are:

• Many natural ingredients are potential acnegenes.
  Choose products with natural/naturally derived ingredients and where possible those that will minimize potential pore blocking (non-occlusive)
• It is possible during a skincare or make up product/brand change for skin reactions to occur, these usually phase out after a period of time"

If you have skin that clog easily or break out easily, it is important to choose your skin care products carefully. we agree with his view and thus made every effort to make sure that the products that we carry will minimize any chance of causing any breakouts. We road test all products we bring in on various individuals (with different skin types) to test its effectiveness.

We hope that this short excerpt will increase our awareness on the meaning of comedogencity a little more.

Cheers, Helen

I'm going to be happy today,
    Though the skies may be cloudy and gray
No matter what may come my way
    I'm going to be happy today.
                                               - Ella Wheeler Wilcox

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boy, i have been busy. trying to get our new website ready,juggling with getting new products brand in, sending news out and maintaining the store.

We are excited to share with you the latest news we got. sukispa renewal bio-resurfacing facial peel has won the top prize at the xx beauty industry awards, beating main stream brands like Murad, CBI Laboratories, Cures by Avance, Jan Marini Skin Research & Performance Branding. i am thrilled to hear that! finally, an organic skincare brand making a firm stand in the beauty industry and gaining recognition! a sure sign that organic skincare is here to stay.

we all love peel because of the instant glowing results it gives. sukispa renewal bio-resurfacing facial peel contains pumpkin, apple & papain to even out the skin while cranberry glycolic decongests clogged pores & exfoliates damaged skin. the peel, which can be used as a spot treatment, tingles to signal that it's working. Food working fabulously well inside and out!

you can try the power of this product in the comfort of your home at SGD158 or experience the professional dosage in our facial service.

this peel is suitable for all all skin types except for extremely sensitive skin and rosacea, eyes and lips area.

 

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