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December is a month of merry, joy, feasting and of course spending! Haha!
Spending is possibly the highest during this festive month. All thanks to the colossal amount of gifts, food and parties. We probably also spend a large fraction of our money on beauty treatments and products. Gotta look good for the parties eh?
Well, here’s the good news. I know where and how you can treat yourself to a pampering facial and great skincare products without the exorbitant bill.
Click to find out more!
Two weeks ago, I was invited to a mass DIY Facial Workshop that was held at Forever Building along Eu Tong Seng Street.
This extraordinary beauty class is held once a month with a maximum of 30 participants and conducted in both English and Mandarin.
All the facial products used in the class are from Forever Living.
The key ingredient in the Forever Living products is Aloe Vera and since they are all organic, they are suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. Forever Living is based in the US and it is apparently also the world’s largest Aloe Vera grower, distributor and manufacturer. It distributes to more than 150 countries and has a whopping 34 years of history in the business.
Do you know that there are more than 240 species of aloe in the world and the type that Forever Living produces is the Aloe Barbadensis Miller which is the most potent among the aloe vera species.
Since ingredients are listed in order of concentration by weight, you’ll be glad to know that the Aloe Barbadensis Miller is the first ingredient listed on the ingredient list of the Forever Living products.
Product label of Forever Living’s Natural Soothing Spray.
Forever Living Aloe First Natural Soothing Spray
Before the workshop began, we were presented a head band, a towel, a mirror, a facial bowl and a cellulose facial sponge for all the cleansing, scrubbing and extracting later.
Here I am all ready to remove my makeup with Forever Living’s Sonya® Aloe Eye Makeup Remover.
This gentle, lightweight aloe vera gel formula worked quickly and gently to thoroughly remove my makeup. I like how gentle and soothing it was on my delicate eye area. It removed my makeup without much tugging of the skin and the best part was, my lashes did not fall out when I removed my mascara.
I was in awe of the star quality of the product and the amazing properties of its key ingredient – Aloe Barbadensis Miller. The makeup remover’s other ingredients include Water, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Polysorbate 20, Sucrose Cocoate, Sodium Lauroyl Oat Amino Acids, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Phenoxyethanol Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.
Now brace yourselves for a makeup-free me. 😛
Guess who I ran into at the workshop – Charlene of Sunbathing Muffins!
After removing our makeup, we were advised to clean out our pores with Forever Living’s Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Exfoliating Cleanser.
The Exfoliating Cleanser is prepared from hypoallergenic ingredients to create a light, non-greasy, non-irritating lotion that is pH and moisture balanced. It is fast and thorough in removing makeup, dirt, and other invisible skin debris.
Use it as the first step in preparing your skin for a full Aloe Facial, or simply in the daily, routine skin care program of the Aloe Restorative Beauty Regime. Exfoliating Cleanser contains just the right amount of Jojoba Oil and water to leave your skin feeling fresh and thoroughly clean without drying!
Its ingredients include Aloe Barbadensis Gel (Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel), Water, Hydrogenated Polyisobutene, C12- 15 Alkyl Benzoate, Glyceryl Stearate, Cetyl Alcohol, Butylene Glycol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, PEG-100 Stearate, Diethylhexyl Adipate, Ethylhexyl Stearate, Ethylhexyl Palmitate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Xanthan Gum, Allantoin, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Dimethicone, Disodium EDTA, Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben*, Fragrance.
*Honeyz Belles, note that these products do contain Paraben which I have discussed before. However, there have been claims that it in fact does little or no harm to our bodies. Read this article for more info. The jury is still out on this ingredient so make of it what you will.
Squeaky clean!
Now we exfoliate our skin with Forever Living’s Forever Aloe Scrub® to prep our skin for the nourishing facial mask.
According to the Natural Treat beauty consultants, the shape of the scrub beads should be round and not triangular as the triangular ones tend to be more abrasive and may cut the skin due to its pointy angles.
The beads of the Forever Aloe Scrub® are of the ideal round shape so they are less harsh on our skin and they help to clean our oily and congested skin more effectively.
With its unique combination of Stabilized Aloe Vera gel and solid micro-spheres made from pure Jojoba Oil, this effective skin cleanser is gentle enough for everyday use and strong enough to clear away the debris that accumulates in the delicate pores of the skin. In combination, these two natural ingredients will clear the way for the skin’s own unique renewal process, while helping to protect it from the drying and damaging effects of synthetic cleansers.
The ingredients include Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel, DI Water, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil, Glyceryl Stearate, Propylene Glycol, Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate, Lauramine Oxide, Cetyl Alcohol, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, PEG-100 Stearate, Hydrated Silica, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E Natural), Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Diazolidinyl Urea, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance, Blue 1.
Before applying the mask, we were told to mix the Aloe Fleur de Jouvence®
Aloe Activator with the Aloe Fleur de Jouvence®
Facial Contour Mask Powder. This helps to balance our skin’s pH level when we apply the mask later. Our skin’s current pH level is 5.5.
Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Aloe Activator
Aloe Activator contains Stabilized Aloe Vera gel and Allantoin, an organic substance that has been shown to aid in cell growth and renewal. Aloe Activator is a superb moisturizing agent, containing enzymes, amino acids and polysaccharides. It works well with the Facial Contour Mask Powder to moisturize, cleanse and condition the skin.
Dead skin cells are removed by the mask, leaving new cells to give a fresh, vibrant and more luminous look to the skin. Its pH balance is 4.5, making it even gentle enough to use near the eyes.
Aloe Activator is incredibly versatile. Although regarded as a principal component of the Aloe Fleur de Jouvence regime, it is extremely effective for a number of other purposes, such as a skin cleanser, freshener and astringent.
Its ingredients include Aloe Barbadensis Gel (Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel), Allantoin, Methylparaben.
This is the mixture – Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Aloe Activator and Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Facial Contour Mask Powder.
We were told to apply the mask in the stated motions to ensure that the goodness of the mask is fully absorbed.
To extract the blackheads, we created our very own pore pack by placing a translucent sheet of paper on our nose bridge and brushing the mixture over the paper. We left it to dry for 15 minutes.
I experienced an uncomfortable tingling sensation when I first applied the mask but the feeling wore off after a few minutes.
As the mask began to dry off, my face also started to feel tight and stretched. This is a normal phenomenon according to the Natural Treat beauty consultants.
The dried mask also provided some tell-tale signs of bad skin. At this point, if your mask cracked, it means your skin is dehydrated and if it wrinkled, this signifies that your skin is very unhealthy.
Finally, my mask was completely dry and we were advised to peel off the DIY pore pack gently.
I thought the sheet made an effective pore pack as it efficiently removed the blackheads on my nose and cheek.
If you’re the squeamish sort, don’t look at this next photo!
Blackheads extracted on my DIY pore pack.
Next, create your own face mask sheet by soaking a cellulose mask in Forever Living’s Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Rehydrating Toner.
Rehydrating Toner is a non-drying, alcohol-free formula that contains natural aloe vera and witch hazel, together with special skin moisturizers and plant extracts, for toning the skin. It also contains collagen and allantoin for cell conditioning.
Rehydrating Toner is a gentle preparation, used to remove the last traces of cleanser, makeup, impurities and dull, lifeless surface cells, thus providing good secondary cleansing and toning to tighten the pores. It removes residual oils and dirt while invigorating the skin and leaving it clean, smooth, balanced and stimulated.
It ingredients include Aloe Barbadensis Gel (Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel), Water, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water (Non-Alcoholic), Propylene Glycol, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin,Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Extract, Cucumis Sativas (Cucumber) Extract, Equisetum Arvense Extract, Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Rosmarinus Officinalis (Rosemary) Extract, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Triethanolamine, Allantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Menthol, Fragrance.
Finish off with the hydrating Aloe Vera Jelly and Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Firming Foundation Lotion.
Aloe Fleur de Jouvence® Firming Foundation Lotion
Firming Foundation Lotion is a state-of-the-art skin care lotion specially formulated for use in the Aloe Fleur de Jouvence beauty regime. Ideal for daytime protection against the elements, it combines the science of dermatology with the art of cosmetology to produce an effective product that reduces the signs of aging by helping the skin to firm, retexture and tighten the pores, and to provide a protective foundation for makeup application.
To achieve these results, the lotion contains a blend of Aloe Vera and other special moisturizers, humectants and conditioners, together with the Collagen and Elastin needed to maintain good skin structure and prolong a youthful-looking appearance. Also contains vitamins A, C and E.
It ingredients include Aloe Barbadensis Gel (Stabilized Aloe Vera Gel), Water, Propylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, Methyl Gluceth-20, Stearic Acid, Glycereth-26, Tridecyl Stearate, PEG-100 Stearate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Soluble Collagen, Hydrolyzed Elastin, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Tocopherol (Vitamin E Natural), Squalane, Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Anthemis Nobilis Flower Extract, Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A Palmitate), Hydroxyethylcellulose, Triethanolamine, Carbomer, Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C), Cetyl Alcohol, Allantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea, Disodium EDTA, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance.
Afterthoughts… The jovial beauty therapists definitely made the entire workshop experience a joy.
My skin also looked more radiant and smooth immediately after the session. There were some mild breakouts a few days later but they quickly cleared up after a week.
I like the idea of a DIY facial regimen as you can clear your pores and nourish your skin as and when you like. The workshop delivers this with a 2 hour lesson on the proper steps of cleansing, toning and moisturizing with a handful of great products. The only downside is most of the session is spent on explaining the benefits of the Forever Living products rather than on proper skincare routines.
Nonetheless, I thought it was a fruitful session. 3 Honeyz crowns!
Here are the full range of products from Natural Treat.
Each set is priced below SGD200.
On top of affordable facial workshops, Natural Treat also provides facial services, home-based facial business courses (for those who are keen to start their own facial business) and health care seminars.
The next Natural Treat DIY facial workshop will be held on 12 Jan 2013. Each ticket is priced at SGD20.
Psst! Bring three friends to this workshop and your third friend will able to attend it for free.
To find out more about the prices and products, or to register for the workshops, contact Natural Treat at +65 94552826, email them at web.naturaltreat@ymail.com or visit their website at www.streetdirectory.com/naturaltreat.
So forget about pricey beauty treatments and try Natural Treat’s DIY facials!
Apart from a good facial regimen, healthy eating habits, regular exercise, smoking and alcohol abstinence are also essential for achieving great skin. So kick start your new year beauty resolutions with these healthy living habits!
Your friend,
Juliana