Don't Get Your Ginsengs Wrong!

Often we use the word "ginseng" very loosely to describe the famous root in Traditional Chinese Medicine that costs a bomb but is supposed to have tremendous health benefits and properties. However, not all ginsengs are alike. They even look different and can have very different medicinal purposes and so it helps not to get them confused. The three types of authentic ginseng are Korean Ginseng, American Ginseng, and Chinese Ginseng.

Korean Ginseng

Also commonly known as Panax Ginseng, is probably the most widely "publicized" ginseng due to it being a core ingredient in the popular Korean Ginseng Chicken dish. It is also the most researched on ginseng. This ginseng is known to have a "warming" effect on the body, which probably explains why Koreans feast on the ginseng chicken soup in winters. This ginseng has also been known to help detoxify and protect the liver, increase blood circulation, prevent stomach and lung cancer as well as aid the body during radiotherapy and chemotherapy. It is also supposed to enhance male libido and potency. In hot weather, this ginseng may cause headaches and insomnia. Patients of high blood pressure should be careful when consuming it.

Korean Ginseng
Photo from prkorea.com

American Ginseng

This ginseng root looks eerily like a human, so whenever I see this root being displayed in TCM shop windows it always gives me the creeps. Anyway, I digressed. Unlike the Korean Ginseng, this root has a cooling effect on the body so is good to be used in summertime. This ginseng has also been used to relieve cramps, stomach problems and PMS symptoms. It has been used to treat bronchitis, cough and fever. And it has been known to heal the lungs, act as a stimulant and fight body fatigue. This should never be used together with the Korean ginseng as they have an opposite effect to the liver. This root is suitable for people of all ages and conditions, except those who have low acidity.

American Ginseng
Photo from explorechinatown.com

Chinese Ginseng

The Chinese ginseng is also commonly known as the Panax Red Ginseng or Ren Shen. It is the cheapest of all ginsengs but has similar benefits to the Korean Ginseng. It too has a "warming" effect but is milder than that of the Korean counterpart. This root has also been known to improve vision and hearing, as well as combat against fatigue and protect against stress. It has a stronger Chi boosting effect than the American ginseng and is not recommended for those suffering from high blood pressure and heart conditions. It is suitable for people who have low energy, low sex drive, cold hands and feet and poor memory.

Ginseng (Ren-shen)
Photo from chinese.herbs.web

Note:

It should be noted that ginseng consumption should be moderate and best advised by a professional. This is because overconsumption of the ginseng could be highly toxic and side effects may range from anxiety and over-stimulation to dizziness, rashes, bleeding and even death. Some medications must also not be used concurrently with ginseng, as this might overly increase toxicity. When in doubt, always consult your doctor. They may also not be suitable during pregnancies.

I am a healthy (i hope!) human not under any medication and sometimes I infuse a sachet of American ginseng tea to boost energy levels while I am at work. I have reported no problems with side effects but to be honest neither have I noticed any significant difference in my energy level. My mother, on the other hand, highly endorses the American ginseng tea for its cooling properties and as a stimulant. I have also known classmates back in school to bite on a piece of ginseng to stay awake and alert during exam periods. So I do not know if one needs to be under a certain circumstance to best reap the benefits of these roots. I still maintain they look really creepy though! Heh.


Your Vanity Partner,
Snowy

The Incredible Acai Berry

Green tea, royal jelly, honey etc are so passe. Recently the new buzz word is Acai Berries! Used in many weightloss products, cosmetics and beauty products, this fruit is touted to have antioxidant content that is higher than the levels of cranberry, raspberry, blueberry and the like. 

Photo from www.acaiberryhealthdrink.com

While the jury is still out there regarding acai berry's ability to promote weight loss, products that include it as an ingredient claim that acai berry helps to boost energy levels, cleanses and detoxifies the body, regulates metabolism and suppresses appetite.

When used in beauty products, acai oil is used in facial and body creams, hair products and anti-aging products due to its high level of antioxidants. Even after it is processed and stored for long terms, the antioxidant content still remains high.

Acai berry has also been used as a health supplement because apart from its anti-cancer properties, it is also packed with vitamins, fiber, and essential fatty acids. This enables the body to maintain healthy levels of cholesterol and prevents hardening in the arteries and enhances blood circulation. The fruit is also effective in warding off the common flu, and it is rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9.

Sounds pretty amazing so far isn't it? =) The problem is, I don't think the fruit is easily available for sale in Singapore. The reason for this is because the fruit that grows in the flood plains and rain forests of South America tends to spoil really quickly and so has to be rapidly processed. There are acai berry supplements that can be obtained from heath food stores and online.

This festive season, may everyone be healthy and jolly! =)

Your Vanity Partner,
Snowy

Have a DIVA Christmas!

'Tis the Christmas season again!

The season of love, joy, wine & dine, gathering and gifting... But for some of us (especially the clueless men), gifts shopping could prove to be a nightmare. Okay, that's too intense, maybe not a nightmare but a headache. ;)

Chocolates are too boring and gift sets from The Body Shop are waaaay too predictable. And there are only 2 weeks left to the occasion, during which there are looming deadlines at work, social obligations at play and family duties to be responsible for... In short, no time for shopping! *thunder claps and lightning strikes*

You need ONE place to settle for all the gifts to all the womenfolk on your gift list. And from this place you must be able to obtain -

• A decent gift for your girlfriend that wouldn't bust your wallet yet not receive a raised eyebrow + sideways glance....
• A sweet and practical gift for your younger sister, something she'd be able to wear everyday with every of her outfits...
• Something for the nice marketing executive who's helped you out aplenty on your projects...
• Another something for the nice platonic friend of yours who's given you present ideas for your girlfriend 800 times...
• And any other female on your list. 

For the girls, here's the ONE place you can source for pretty gifts for your galfriends as well, and for us it's way simpler isn't it? We don't need a reason to give something to our fellow galfies!

And that ONE place where you can fulfil all your shopping requirements is none other than Diva, an accessories store originated from Australia, which you can find all over Singapore as well. And I'd personally verified - the prices here are not much higher than the real prices in Australia (with exchange rate factored in), so you don't feel like you'd been cheated by the inflated prices across continents.

Here are some amazing gift ideas from Diva -

Sets available in gold and silver - SGD$26

Chanti Bracelets - SGD$11

Cross necklaces available in gold and silver - SGD$13

Hoop earrings available in gold and silver - SGD$20

Love gift set - SGD$26

And they have a lovely (albeit a little cheesy) slogan for Christmas 2011 too!

Give DIVA, give love... Give the one you love DIVA.


Have fun shopping everyone! :D

Your Vanity Partner,
Snowy

Abercrombie & Fitch Opens Flagship Store in Singapore

First and foremost, I'm kinda amused.

Flagship stores are sprouting like mushrooms in Singapore, and each store boasts of "first flagship store in Southeast Asia" as their marketing slogan. First flagship store in Asia, I'd be pretty impressed. First in Southeast Asia? Nah... Pretty much expected isn't it?

Anyway, back to the main topic. A&F, an Ohio-based casual luxury themed brand, will open its 21,000 square feet, 4-storeyed flagship store at Knightsbridge on December 15th, 2011. Months ago, a particular ad of a topless man had spawned countless controversial discussions, leading to an eventual suspension of the ad in September.

Personally, I have no idea why people got so mad. When I saw this myself, I had zilch opinion on it. To the people who thought it's vulgar, offensive, objectifying men etc., I think they are being hypocritical. I'm sure they'd not have flinched at a half-naked woman's body on the ad, which are a dime a dozen all over Orchard Road anyway. What's the norm doesn't make it any more righteous than what's not. Such double standards are so loathsome.

Image from The Straits Times

I'm glad that the ad suspension didn't deter A&F from continuing to deviate from the norm, with their fleet of 40 buff-bodied shirtless greeters making an appearance outside the yet-to-open flagship store. Until organizers ban the swimsuit categories from beauty pageants, I shall support A&F's publicity stint with my whole heart! 

The first thought that came to my mind though when I saw these photos was - "How in the world did A&F manage to source for so many of such dishy men in Singapore?" And true enough, only 5 were from Singapore. The other 35 hail from Brazil, the United States, France, Japan and Italy. What are all the gyms in Singapore doing?! =P

In any case, I am very glad to see A&F finally in Singapore after I first got acquainted with the label about 10 years ago. Back then brands like A&F and Hollister were all the rage amongst college kids, but they were not easily available. And now that they finally are, I'm almost too old to be interested in such casual wear. *shakes head in dismay* I sure hope the brands will bring it on before I become too old to care! 

Your Vanity Partner,

Snowy

Up to 70% Off Clarks!

Just wanted to share this with everybody! =)

Have fun shopping everyone! *beams*

Your Vanity Partner,
Snowy

The Men Now Get It...

Alright, the title for this article is a naughty twist of a certain ladies' credit card marketing slogan "The Men Don't Get It", but it totally delivers my idea for today. I could see it coming for a while, was surprised they don't have it already, and I trust it will soon pick up in other Asian countries like Singapore and Taiwan.

And I'm referring to Manstudio, South Korea's first apothecary created expressly and exclusively for men.

Manstudio in Seoul

You just know that if somebody is going to do it, it'd be South Korea! Haha... I suspect that the typical man there is probably vainer than the typical woman in Singapore. But I think it's a rising trend (and awareness, if you could call it that) these days as I see the boys and men and young punks around me becoming more concerned and astute about their skincare, probably no thanks to the influence of the many South Korean dramas that have taken the country by storm.

Actually I think it's a very good idea. Most of the current male skincare products on the market right now are like small, insignificant subset of the women's collection under the same brand. Many major labels have still not begun to tap into the male market yet. To have a dedicated men's skincare collection would not only be way more convenient, but likely more credible as well. After all the structure of men's skin is very different from women's skin, and this includes having less sebaceous glands, being oilier due to the male hormone testosterone, being thicker (so less likely to be subjected to sun ageing as compared to women), being more fragile and more easily irritated in part due to daily shaving, and have less nerve fibers than than women. The amount of collagen also decreases to a lesser extent in ageing when compared to women. Effective skin products for men should therefore take in all these differences and attune accordingly.

Manstudio carries an impressive range of lotions, essences, creams, masks, sun protection, BB creams (!!!), shaving, cleasing, hair and body products. There prices average around an affordable USD$20 - $50. And their signature and most popular Intensive Care Program costs USD$281 for 8 sessions. That's an average of USD$35 per session. How inexpensive it is to stay good looking in South Korea! *shakes head in dismay at the prices in Singapore*

Said Sung Hoon Kang, product manager, when asked why skincare was Manstudio's top selling category - "As the social status of Korean women grows, men are no longer just competing with themselves, but with women as well. Men now need to groom to be relevant in today's world.".

Women take heart! The men are are all out to compete with you!

Dreamwarp Society by Mimco

Christmas season has yet to arrive, and fashion retailers are already all set to launch their Spring/Summer 2012 collections. In these competitive times, it's not easy to sustain a revenue-generating business indeed...

Australian fashion retailer Mimco is one of those to hop on the bandwagon of being amongst the first to release their publicity for their Spring/Summer collection - Dreamwarp Society. "Dreamwarp" is not a dictionary word but comprises of two dictionary words "dream" and "warp". I guess the word is essentially chosen to add a streak of whimsicality to the theme idea of being dreamy and surreal?

This is the story behind Dreamwarp Society... "The main character of Mimco’s dream is a pretty punk girl who rocks the renaissance, delves into the opium dens of 1930’s Hong Kong, slides into the retro futurism of a minimalist kingdom and finally leaving through the invisible exit door of a surreal and robotic desert-scape."


And therefore as you can imagine, Dreamwarp Society is a cauldron of design ideas, including a fusion of the East & West, punk and romance, modern and tribal, as well as minimalism. It is indeed a little complicated. I'm wondering if the designers cannot make up their minds and collectively decide on one major idea, and so they've decided to put it altogether for Dreamwarp Society's theme. And goodness knows how they came up with the idea of the punk girl and the 1930's Hong Kong opium dens!

But actually, notwithstanding the complicated ideas that are kind of overwhelming for straightforward me, the collection is really quite endearing. Amongst some of my favorites...

Fortune Hip Bag (Scarlet) SGD$430

Mahjong Long Drop (Jet Silver) SGD$260

Heiress Crystal Bracelet (Crystal Pearl Mix) SGD$220

Imperial Bow Twist Choker (Jet Pearl) SGD$390

Medici Midi Pump (Black Milky Way) SGD$300 

The jewelry in this collection are oh-so-pretty, while the bags veer towards the safe and functional route. The price tags are a little on the hefty side for a non-designer label. The collection will be available in stores from mid-January 2012, and you can get your Fortune Hip Bag from...

Mimco
#B1-29, 2 Orchard Turn , 
ION Orchard, 
Singapore 238801



Your Vanity Partner,
Snowy