Battling acne: A comprehensive guide

Note: The following is not an ad. It's just a friendly message

My battle with acne is not an easy one. I think it does not apply only to me but to everybody who suffers from this debilitating skin condition. A lot of people think that acne is insignificant and that one can grow out of it. Let me tell you this:

1. You can never grow out of acne unless you do something about it
2. Acne can affect your psychological as well as physical well-being.

Thus, acne is not insignificant.

I used to think that I will never get to the point where I would have horrible skin. To be honest, this had never come across my mind before. I mean, there was a point I had really perfect skin - my face looked like white porcelain. And I can say now that there was a point when my face was filled with pustules that hurt so badly, I could not even touch or move my face. It wrecked my self-esteem completely and at some point, I did not want to go anywhere at all.

I was fortunate because my parents gave me free reign to do whatever I want to do with my skin. The problem is, what do I do? It was easier if I were to be in Kuala Lumpur because I had an aesthetician I could trust. She would extract every single thing without leaving me battered and bruised. At Melbourne, things were different. I had several facials and none left me satisfied until I discovered Allison Browning Therapiesseven months after my journey of battling acne. I'll talk more about that later.

Point is, I did not know what to do. I've tried many skin products. Done many skin procedures. Got tricked by several nasty people and came to the point where I finally found the IT solution for my skin. Since I found the solution, I will share this piece of information with you readers with acne.

I hope that with this infor! mation, you can make use of it well enough and hopefully, you will not need to slather any foundation to hide your acne.

Steps to battling acne:

1. Research

I personally feel that research is important. People often confuse pustules, whiteheads and cysts. The best place to start researching about acne is to head to acne.org. Acne.org is a site by Dan Kern, who is famous for his acne regime that involves heavy use of benzoyl peroxide. I do not advocate using three pumps of benzoyl peroxide per day but the site houses some really good information on the types of acne, acne solutions and anything acne-related.

Another site I highly recommend is derm tv. Derm TV is a video blog like sort of thing by New York dermatologist, Neal B. Schultz. He offers tips that are offered by my cosmetic physician and the videos are really resourceful.

Apart from researching into acne, you should also conduct research on skin care products that you may use. Try Make Up Alley, Vogue Beauty and Adore Beauty forums for reviews on skin products. Do not blindly take advice from a random sales person aesthetician and buy whatever products you were told to just because they claim it is good for your skin. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT, REGRET THAT. It is a waste of money and waste of time. Research is the key to getting good products, high quality information about acne and access to good dermatologists and aestheticians in your locale!

2. Products

At the moment, I am using skin care products from Rationale. My skin is pretty horrible not because it has acne. It is because it is so stubborn to the point that average products do not work on me. Rationale produ! cts, in my opinion, are the best because they are really potent and therefore, deliver what is claimed. Many products just claim that they will transform your skin over night and etc. I've heard a lot of that, tried a lot of that and cried over my poor wallet because of that.

Rationale products are not the cheapest in the lot. Most of them are over a 100 dollars per bottle but when it comes to skin care, do not skimp. You want to go for the results, not the money. If you are not getting the results, you end up wasting more money because you keep switching products.

If you are interested in my regime, it is as follow:

AM:
-1/2 pea size of prep cleanser (The prep cleanser 200ml, costs 68 AUD only 1/4 is used)
-1 drop of Clear 03 (Clear 03 - 15 ml, 62 AUD, only 1/8 of the bottle is used)
-3-4 drops of Niacinamide serum (25ml, 148 AUD, only 1/2 the bottle is used)
-2-3 pumps of Reflect RX (120 ml, 99 AUD)

PM:
-1/2 pea size of prep cleanser
-1-2 drop of Retinaldehyde (15ml, 165 AUD - Not even 1/8 of the bottle is used)
OR
-1-2 drop of Unclog 02 (15 ml, 59 AUD - 1/2 the bottle used)
-2 drops of Niacinimide serum

Description of products:

I've used these products for 3 months and I am really happy with my skin. The prep cleanser is a gentle cleanser that cleans the skin without robbing your skin from its moisture. I have used many types of gentle cleansers from various brands and the prep cleanser is the best. Even my sister, who has dry skin, is using it! The Clear 03 is 5 percent benzoyl peroxide with 2 percent niacinamide.

Benzoyl peroxide is a famous anti-acne agent because it delivers oxygen to the skin. With oxygen, acne cannot grow because it kills the bacteria that leads to acne formation. The niacinamide serum is an anti-pigmentation serum that also doubles as an acne-killer.Niacinamideregulates oil production of the skin as well as reduces the appearance of red marks. It also soothes skin and gives it a nice glow. I cannot! live wi thout this product!!

Like retinols and Retin-A, retinaldehyde is a vitamin A derivative. In terms of strength, retinaldehyde is a step below Retin-A. Therefore, it is potent but it is not as harsh as Retin-A. Retinaldehyderepairs skin function and allows it to behave normally. Usually, people with acne have weird skin behavior. For instance, the skin cannot shed off properly or too much oil is being produced. Retinaldehyde will help normalize skin shedding and normalizes oil flow. However, the thing is, you cannot stop using Retinaldehyde. Once you stop, your skin will just go back to its normal acneic self. I'm serious about this because I did this and I had congested skin!

Unclog 02 is a serum that has 13 percent AHA and 5 percent BHA. Compared to most AHA and BHA serums that I have used, Unclog 02 is the strongest I've came across. Hence, you are meant to use only 1-2 drops. Despite its scary strength, it is not harsh on the skin. The AHA constituents are lactic acid, malic acid, citric acid and glycolic acid. These acids resurfaces the skin and help reduces the apperance of brown spots left my acne aka macular pigmentation. The BHA is none other thansalicylicacid (SA). SA is good for unclogging pores. Due to the unclogging properties of the SA, you may experience a series of breakouts before achieving clear skin because the gunk needs to come out. However, there is a way to speed things up. :)

3. Speeding things up: Extractions and peels.

There are many methods to get rid of acne apart from using products. These methods are, in my opinion, important. However, which method should you use? I've tried IPL, microdermabrasion (only 1 session), chemical peels and extractions. I can tell you, IPL is useless for acne because it only makes the skin look fairer and nicer but does nothing to the pre-existing acne. Microdermabrasion, like IPL, is good for skin resurfacing. It does little to acne and if you have active acne, you cannot use microdermabrasion because it ca! n worsen breakouts. Also, microdermabrasion is harsher on the skin than chemical peels. After on session of microdermabrasion, lines start forming on my skin. I hate the appearance of the lines so I will not vouch for microdermabrasion.

This leaves chemical peels and extractions. Which is better? Well, the best is: Do both. I've did some experiment on myself and I realized that, if i do peels alone without any extractions, the gunk will be brought up to the surface but it will just stay there (unless the peel is strong enough to get rid of it once in for all). However, if I were to go for facial extractions one week prior to a peel and two weeks after a peel, my skin will look really clean and nice. Almost acne-free. Currently, I am doing 16 percent BHA peels at the Victorian Cosmetic Institute and facial extractions one week prior to the peel and two weeks after my peel.

Oh, and do get your extractions and peels done at a reputable place. Just don't randomly pop into one after seeing the promises they write on the webpage. Sift through blogs and reviews! Moreover, when having your first consultation, ask a lot of questions! Communication is very important.



The one session of extraction at Jillian Wright Clinical Skin Spa in New York
dramatically cleared up 75 percent of my acne! So extractions are really,
really important! Your skin cannot get out the gunk itself!
Extractions can sound really scary but if done correctly, it is rewarding
for you and your skin.

4. Lifestyle

Most sites will tell you that food and lifestyle has nothing to do with acne. However, after talking to Jillian Wright, who is a renowned facialist at New York, and Allison Browing, one of the bestfacialistsI've came across in Melbourne, food and lifestyle has everything to do with acne. Stress, wayward hormones, poor diet, lack of exercise, lack of sleep, poor environment and poor hygiene can exacerbate acne. Some factors do not immediately give you acne. Let me give you a snapshot of each factor:

a. Stress: Last year, I had a lot of assignments and reading to do. Also, there was this pressure to get at good grades to secure my entry into psychology honours program. There was one semester where I had 10 essays to do and most of these essays are over 1500 words. During the second semester, I was stressed out by my tedious exchange application to Hong Kong as well as the problems that my faculty was giving me in regards to exchange.The lack of me-time and the increasing workload last year left me feeling really depressed. I was crying almost everyday and there a some point in which I lost motivation to continue university. I really plan to just quit uni (blasphemy!). To counter depression, I started taking Vitamin D and fish oil. Not sure how both of them works but ever since Vitamin D came into my life, I became less depressed and anxious about my work. In fact, my performance has improved since.

b. Hormones: I had really bad PMS towards the end of last year. It was so bad that it was driving me nuts. Two weeks before my menstruation, I will feel like the whole world owes me money. Two weeks of PMS means that I can only enjoy one week of normality. In order to combat this, I decided to google up information on controlling PMS. Many sources have claimed that EPO can help regulate hormones and control PMS. Thus, I started taking EPO. I realized that with EPO, I get zero cramps, zero PMS and better skin.

c. Diet: Dairy products can worsen acne. I can testify this because when I was in the States, I kept drinking low fat Mocha and mocha contains low fat milk. Somehow, I've got new bum! ps when I came back to Melbourne. Generally, it is ideal to eat more greens, fruits and adopt a balanced diet. Of course, don't deprive yourself off some sweets but then again, it is best to avoid them!

d. Exercise: I am not sure how this ward off my acne but I have been exercising since I was 9 because my parents would force me. Nowadays, I exercise on my own volition. I exercise three times per day, 35 minutes per session. I would spend half of each session doing the hula with a huge rattan hoop and another half skipping rope. I also walk a lot and do a hell lot of housework - i.e. vacuuming the house, handmopping the kitchen floors and cleaning the furniture. As I cook almost everyday, I move a lot in the kitchen too.

e. Sleep: My skin always look better if I get 8 hours of sleep. Dark marks will be less prominent and acne feels less painful. So I guess sleep has something to do with nice skin!

f. Environment: When I was at Boston, my skin felt pretty nice. As soon as I got into polluted New York, my skin went haywire!! Then, at Washington, my skin went back to its "feel good" state again. Thus, environment can play a role in exacerbating or reducing acne.

g. Hygiene: I change my pillow case once every week and wash my towels twice a week with hot water. I also sleep facing upwards and do not allow any form of clothing to rub again my face. I also do not touch my face or let my hair touch my face. Remember, bacteria can contribute to acne!


5. Patience

You may think "Oh my god! How am I going to do all this?". However, once you have experienced bad skin, you will try all ways to fix it but the most important thing to fixing it, is patience.

Here are some pictures to give you an idea, how long does it take to clear up skin:


Week 0:

Uneven skin tone and tonnes of clogged pores!


Week 2:

Two weeks after using Rationale products, my skin started unclogging
itself. Thus, the appearance of zits.
Week 8:

Purging at its worst. This is me after 8 weeks of using Rationale products and one 12
percent BHA peel. The BHA peel brought up so much of gunk to the point
I started doubting whether I should continue on with my products. Thank god I did!

Week 11:


This is after one extraction session at Jillian Wright and one 16 percent BHA peel.
This is 11 weeks after using Rationale products. This picture is taken 5 days after my BHA peel.
This might give you an idea on how your skin should look like after a peel.
It will appear a little brown!Week 13:

This picture is taken one week after having a fa! cial ext raction at Allison Browing Therapies. Sorry if my sucky photo booth cut off my forehead but there are less bumps on my forehead and my forehead is free from brown spots! YAY!


Nearly clear.

I have a facial extraction session coming up and one more 16 percent BHA peel to go. Hopefully, I will achieve that porcelain skin again:


No, I did not use any foundation or makeup. This is how I look like without make up.



P.S: In case you're wondering, my nose is real.



Ginseng Fruit or Sapodilla

Ingredient Name: Ginseng Fruit, Sapodilla, or Manilkara zapot

Traditional Chinese Name: (rnshn gu)

What is this?

  • The fruit of the sapodilla tree (which is an evergreen) grown in warm climates
  • The fruit itself has a very sweet and malty taste
  • The name ginseng fruit comes from the Chinese name (where is the Chinese word for ginseng)
  • It is a heart shaped fruit that is about the size of a large plum (about 2-3 inches in diameter)
  • Ginseng fruit reminds me of white tomatoes! (The texture is more firm though.)
  • It is classified as a warming ingredient

Howdo Iprepare it?

  • Rinse in warm water
  • Cut into halves

Where can I buy this?

  • Asian supermarkets may carry this (although it depends on season)
  • Wet marts may also carry this (although I have never seen it or maybe just havent asked for it yet)

What is the cost

  • Ginseng fruit is very affordable
  • Each costs around $2-3 HKD per fruit

Any benefits?

  • It is naturally sweet and adds a unique (ginseng-like) flavor to the soup without using real ginseng (which is more expensive)
  • Rich in essential trace elements (iron and zinc)
  • Excellent source of Vitamin C, B1, B2
  • Ginseng fruit is high in protein
  • The fruit is also low in fat
  • It is said to be anti-cancer, anti-aging, helps lower blood pressure and reduce blood sugar

Any precautions?

  • It is considered a cooling ingredient and should be avoided in early pregnancies, breastfeeding mothers and during menstruation

Additional Information

  • Use fresh Chinese p! arsley w ithin 3-4 days of purchase and keep in the fridge



Tokyo Don & Tokyo Teppan

Two sister restaurants, situated side-by-side at Pavilion's Tokyo Street precinct, one specializing in donburi and the other in teppanyaki.

Cross-ordering between both outlets is encouraged, but that can lead to customer frustration, since some members of the service crew seem dazed and confused.

Rice bowl with tempura prawn, fish & veggies. The batter was interesting _ not as crisp and light as other versions, but boasting an eggy flavor that suited the seafood.

Salmon teppanyaki. Fresh, flaky and buttery enough to curb complaints.

Angus beef teppanyaki with bean sprouts. Competently prepared but unexceptional.

Surprisingly, the highlight was the house-made tofu, which tasted like a cross between egg yolk & creme caramel. Our other orders included shiitake mushrooms & fried rice, but we ended up leaving in impatience before those ever reached our table.

Tamano Junmai Ginjo sake. The cheapest choice, but still RM78 for 300ml.

There's tons of potential here, but let's hope they sort out the teething troubles soon.

Tokyo Don & Tokyo Teppan,
Tokyo Street, Level 6, Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur.

Bornos Verdejo, 2010, Rueda, Spain

bornos verdejo 2010There use to be a tapas bar in my little country town; it didn't last. While the food was great and the prices ok there was just the one bar. Which rather defeats the whole tapas idea - a bite and a drink in one bar and move on to the next; you just don't stay in the one place all night. I recall the wines were not that great either, more drinkable international rather than regional Spanish. You just have to go to Spain to get the real deal...

There was one back street bar I stumbled upon in Madrid that served a rather scrummy morcilla dish; a dish I have been attempting to replicate ever since. I've also been trying to find an ideal tapas wine too (that isn't sherry). The dish I believe I've just about cracked. The wine I'm yet to find.

You can't really substitute black pudding for morcilla. The texture of black pudding is not the same, generally contains more fatty bits, and doesn't break-up as readily as morcilla. Brindisa stocks some decent versions and the pack I brought last week from The Tapas Lunch Company (2.15 for 200g) worked beautifully too.

Just fry the morcilla in a little olive oil and near the end of cooking add a handful of pinenuts. Top some slices of rustic bread with a little tomato sauce (mine I enhanced with a little sweet pimenton, also brought from The Tapas Lunch Company) and warm in the oven (or toast first) then top with the morcilla. My original attempt to replicate the dish included adding an egg to the morcilla before the pine nuts; not totally convinced this is what was in the original dish. To make more of a substantial meal you could serve a chorizo and tomato salad alon! gside. < /p>

You obviously need a wine.

The Palacio de Bornos Verdejo, 2010, Rueda, Spain from Waitrose 8.99 [Adegga / Snooth] isn't too bad a match. Thinking maybe a bowl of freshly griddled prawns might be better... this is crisp, weighty (a touch of residual perhaps?) like a ripe, fleshier Sauvignon Blanc.

Another drinking option could be the rather excellent La Bascula Catalan Eagle 2009 an organically grown mix of Garnacha Blanca, Viognier, Roussanne, a blend which I adore. A touch too floral maybe for the morcilla but that complexity melds rather gorgeously with the spice of the chorizo in the salad.

morcilla tapas



Cornflake Cupcakes


You need to do something when you don't have enough cereal for another meal.

Corn Flake Cupcakes

What you need:
3 cups flour
4 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 sticks unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 1/2 cups sugar, divided
4 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
1 cup milk
1/2 cup corn flakes, plus more for decorating the cupcakes
2 cups heavy cream

What you do:
Preheat the oven to 350, line a muffin pan with cupcake liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt. In a bowl with an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, cream the butter and one cup of sugar together until pale and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, mixing completely. Then add the vanilla. Combine the milk and cornflakes in a measuring cup, allowing the cereal to become soggy. In the additions, add the flour to the butter mixture. After the first and second flour addition, add half of the milk and cereal mixture. Make sure you end with the last third of the flour mixture. Makes sense right?

Divide the batter among the cupcake liners and bake for 25 minutes. While the cupcakes are baking, work on the frosting. In a bowl with an electric mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the heavy cream and 1/2 cup sugar on high speed until soft peaks form. Once the cupcakes cool, frost with the heavy cream and sprinkle more cornflakes to decorate it.

Wasabi Bistro A New Look, with the same great food!

Wasabi Bistro A New Look! Same great food!

Wasbi Bistro at Mandarin Oriental is one of those restaurants I always recommend to all my friends. Having eaten there a while back for Red FMs Big Red Food Review, over and over again I made promises to myself to return, especially for Kumis No. 1, their signature dish.

The iconic Kumi's No. 1

The iconic Kumi's No. 1

Well, over a year has flown by and another invitation to dine there came in, announcing their new look! And what a new look it was.

In Japanese, Wa means harmony and Sabi means simplicity superbly representative of the restaurant which exudes a simple elegance and is alluringly charming. The Japanese menu at Wasabi Bistro has its roots in the philosophy of Japanese art and cuisine borne out of Grandma Isekis kitchen.

Located on level P1, the restaurant itself is independent of the hotel, and you can access it via the carpark, and also through the lobby of M.O. The new Wasabi Bistro has had a facelift and now boasts a more contemporary feel.

A modern take on intricate, traditional Japanese fare enjoyed in the quiet elegance of an intimate bistro setting. Subtly decorated with exquisite Japanese art and artifacts, the dining areas have been designed to offer guests the utmost privacy.

While the deco changes only once in a blue moon, the food however, remains constantly evolving.

Edamame snacks to whet your appetite

Edamame snacks to whet your appetite

Traditional Japanese cuisine with a Hawaiian twist an outstanding combination which is intriguing and refreshing to the palate. Wasabi Bistro offers elegant fusion cuisine for diners who want a unique alternative! with pl easant traces of the authentic.

Fatboybakes, Lexie, Lil Chef and I sat down to dinner with Operations Manager Kevin James Hee, who tickled us with his sharp with and passion for the cuisine, and Azrina, who on behalf of Wasabi Bistro, graciously extended the invite for us to dine there.

We were treated to the highlights of Wasabi Bistros Menu. All these items are a must try if you dine there!

HORENSO GOMA-AE

Blanched spinach bathed in hand-crushed miso dressing

SPINACH

Served in dainty little dishes, this was a refreshing, crunchy and nutty way get our tastebuds going.

AHI POKE

Hawaiian style marinated tuna sashimi with crunchy seaweed

P6287849

Deep red, still raw, thick slices of tuna that tasted fresh out of the ocean. The flavour was sweet, again slightly nutty like the seaweed, with a hint of tropical fruits.

KUMIS NO. 1

Crabmeat with avocado wrapped in white fish fillet, oven-baked with Kumis supreme secret sauce

Unanimoussensational palate pleaser!

P6287840

Kumis No. 1 is a dish you will never forget! Its got so many dimensions of flavours that just work so well together. The crabmeat was sweet and fresh, the avocado smooth and velvety, complemented beautifully by the slightly oily, salty fish and rich, creamy sauce. There was no poi! nt being polite about eating it in small bites. Open wide and eat it all at once! It was just as good as I remembered

SPECIALTY SUSHI

Salmon mango soft roll, soft shell crab roll and rainbow roll

Sushi

One of the things I loved most about Wasabi Bistros assortment of sushi was the pretty colours that lit up the plate. I think eating with your eyes first always ensures a better taste sensation. A myriad of yellows, greens, reds and oranges teased and tempted us, until we could resist no longer and just dove in with our chospsticks.

Each roll itself is larger than what is served in other Japanese Restaurants Ive tried in KL, so be warned, they are very filling! They were all outstanding. It was hard to choose between the combinations of sweet mango wrapped delicately alongside fresh salmon, or the salmon and juicy crabmeat, or the avocado and intense eel I liked them all!

MARINATED BUTTERFISH

Lightly marinated Butterfish on a bed of crushed ice

P6287864Kevin explained to us that rather than serving it raw, the butterfish was lightly marinated to add flavour and give it some colour, then smoked. Its a meaty fish, and has a slightly chewy texture, and in this case, a hint of smokiness in the aftertaste.

GRILLED CHICKEN TERIYAKI ON SKEWER

Marinated grilled chicken teriyaki on skewers

SKEWER

Tender, caramelized chunks of chicken, with! a pleas ant balance of sweet and salty. Sprinkle some traditional Japanese spices on the juicy meat for an added kick!

PAPAYA MOTOYAKI

Sauted shrimps, scallops, mushrooms and peppers served in halved papaya shell, oven-baked to succulent perfection with Motoyaki sauce

PAPAYA

This is definitely one of the most unique combinations of ingredients Ive ever tried. I liked the idea behind it, but my tastebuds werent so sure. It was a little too rich for me, and I didnt take to the combination of the various shellfish against the warm, gooey papaya. Fatboybakes, on the other hand, loved it, and polished off his very own half papaya! To each his own!

CLASSIC TEMPURA

Shrimp and fresh vegetables dipped in light specialty tempura batter, deep-fried to a golden crisp

TEMPURA

Anyone can cook Tempura, but not anyone can do Tempura well! The batter was crisp and tasty, the prawn succulent and bouncy. Lovely with the dip of Japanese Vinegar & shredded radish.

GOLDEN FRIED BANANA WITH VANILLA BEAN ICE CREAM

Perfectly crispy golden fried banana with smooth-as-silk vanilla bean ice-cream

P6287904

So Sinful! Lovely textures, sweet and filling, balanced out by the refreshing Vanilla ice cream.

Fatboybakes loves his bananas!

Fatboybakes loves his bananas!

CLASSIC GREEN TEA ICE CREAM & GREEN TEA ICE CREAM WITH ROASTED SESAME

P6287901

Two flavours paired, enhancing the distinctive tastes of refreshing green tea and rich roasted sesame seeds; the sweetred bean sauce tops both to perfection

A simple end to a fulfilling meal. If youre looking for something a little out of the ordinary in terms of Japanese food, then I recommend the fresh, tropical tastes and creative dishes at Wasabi Bistro. Whether youre being mesmerized at the Sushi Bar by the intricate handiwork of the restaurants master chef, or quietly being adventurous with the restaurants more unusual food combinations, Wasabi Bistro will definitely awaken your tastebuds!

PEOPLE

I certainly hope this time, I wont wait so long again to get my fill of Kumis No. 1!

*Thank you Kevin, Azrina and the team at Wasabi Bistro for such a delicious and filling evening!

CONTACT

WASABI BISTRO

Mandarin Oriental Kuala Lumpur

Level P1 Kuala Lumpur City Centre

50088 Kuala Lumpur

Tel: +603 2163 0968

Cuisine: Contemporary Japanese

Hours: Monday Sunday | Lunch 12pm 2.30pm / Dinner 6.00pm 10.30pm

W: www.wasabibistro.com

!