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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

The purpose of Thai massage is to bring the body, mind, and spirit into a state of balance and harmony, providing an opportunity for self-healing. Thai Massage is a traditional asian science which is combination of gentle rocking, range of motion, acupressure, reflexology, energy work and stretching, and a form of passive yoga. It is based on an energetic paradigm of the human body/mind which is more energizing than other forms of massage.

Thai massage is designed to be beneficial for both the giver and the receiver. Today, Thai massage is a top request in most spas as it relaxes the entire body and the therapeutic technique helps to reduce common muscle and body pains.

Thai massage is especially wonderful before your athletic event, properly stretching muscles and reducing performance anxiety. Thai massage is beneficial at relieving muscle and joint pains. Thai Massage is a natural therapy for flexibility, relaxation and energy balance. The theoretical foundation of Thai massage is based on the concept of invisible energy lines running through the body.

Thai massage is a tourist attraction in Thailand and the practitioners are usually women which is different from European, Swedish massage. The goal of Thai massage is to treat illnesses by promoting a harmonious state of being. Thai massage is usually soothing because of its emphasis on stretching and loosening the body. For those in reasonably good health – regardless of age, lack of flexibility and obesity – Thai massage is highly beneficial.

Traditional Thai Massage is a fusion of eastern bodywork techniques ranging from Acupressure to Yoga for a truly Zen-like experience. Thai massage is an interactive manipulation of the body using passive stretching and gentle pressure along energy lines which is also a bodywork widely practiced in Thailand today.

Thai Massage is rapidly growing in popularity in the United States, and is now a regular offering at many spas and other healing centers.

I f you get to visit Thailand…Yes, you should try..:)

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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

Skin Secrets

The five Step skin check

Proper skincare aims to get the skin you had when you were five years old; when you did not have pimples and freckles, and it was not oily or sensitive. But the skin – which skin which shields your internal organs from the harsh elements – is damaged over the years.

Evaluate its state with these questions:

Are there pigmentations?

Is the skin oily?

Are the pores large?

Is the skin firm especially along the jawline?

Is the skin at least 1.5 centimeters thick?

Things to check before you buy the bottle

Check any product if it is dermatologist tested and, if possible, non-allergenic, not just hypoallergenic. Then, it boils down to how your skin reacts on the beauty agents you use. No single product is good for everybody, so do not just use what your sister or friends uses.

Test it first, and find out if it is what your type of skin really needs. You can ask your dermatologist to analyze your face so you know. Also, buy the small sizes first.

The fountain of youth

Green tea is a mild antioxidant that combats free radicals in the body. Since it is a diuretic, it also cleanses the body, which helps clear the skin. It is supposedly good for treating skin pigmentation too. However, even if you drink green tea, you still need least 12 glasses of water a day.

Why face creams are not enough?

In dermatology, we keep addressing the face, but what about the rest of the body? Anti-Aging medicine is about restoring your hormones to what they were before you were 25, when your body peaks and starts o break down.

Dermatologists in some Asian countries offer patients hormone injections and thyroid replacements.

Lifestyle check

Drink like a fish.

Your body is like a fishbowl. If you do not regularly replenish it with fresh water, it will become dirty.

Eat the right food. Lots of fiber, fruits, and water are good for you.

Exercise daily. This increases your organs blood supply. Your heart rate should be at least 120 to 125.

Sleep well. Do not beak your body’s diurnal rhythm since this is when hormones are replenished.

Talk yourself younger. Learn how to talk in a way that your face stays relaxed Sound weird, but it works.

Do not smoke. It constricts blood vessels, and contributes to wrinkles around your eyes when you squint, which happens when you puff.

Wash off makeup. Make sure to rinse off makeup from your entire face. Then moisturize.

Use skincare products in moderation. Too much of a good thing is bad.

A good cleanser that is not too harsh. You should have a pH of 5.5.

An exfoilant that is glycolic acid-based. Papaya is good; its papain is good for the skin.

Tretinoin, which is a vitamin E acid. This is a fantastic for anti-aging and good for pigmentation.

Sunblock applied in the morning that is suited for Philippine or other Asian whether, where has a hot humidity.

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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

Save Those Strands!

We are all guilty of hair torture: we have cut, snipped, tied, heat-blasted, ironed, bleached, teased, blow-dried, colored and sun-damaged our strands to death. So how do you repair your hair from all the damage you have inflicted on it? Read on.

Split Ends

Split ends start when the outer cuticle at the end of a hair strand dries up and splits apart. The culprits: excessive heat damaged caused by styling tools like curling irons, straightening irons, and blow dryers; chemical processing from perms and rebonding; over-coloring; overexposure to the elements and neglecting trims can also cause split ends.

Unfortunately, the only cure for a split end is to cut off right above where it splits. Prevention is the next best thing is deep condition your hair once a week and get regular trims every six to eight weeks. For dry hair, you can use Kertase Ciment Anti-Usure, where you can get it in different leading salons; Lush Retread; L Oreal Professionel Intense Repair Intense Nutrition Mask for Dry Hair.

Thinning or Falling Hair

Premature hair loss among women stems from hormonal imbalance such as those caused by giving birth, and taking anti-depressants and birth control pills. Other causes are fungal infections, improperly done coloring, perming, or straightening, and too-tight ponytails and braids.

A healthy diet rich in iron and zinc provides your scalp with essential nutrients, and proper anti-fungal shampoo gets rid of itching and falling hair. Products that can help are stiepox, Beauty Formulas Tea Tree and Mint Treatment Wax, and Lush New Shampoo Bar.

Dry or Damaged Hair

Much like split ends, dry or damaged hairs is caused by overzealous heat styling, excessive sun exposure, mechanical damage (overindulgent brushing, curling, and teasing), and chemical damage from coloring. Dry, damaged hair has coarse, ragged cuticles that have lost most (if not all) of their moisture.

Use a thermal protective conditioner, or apply a leave-in conditioner after you shower to help detangle and protect it during blow-drying and set the hair dryer on a “cool” mode. Products that you can use are L’Oreal Professionnel Absolut Repair Repairing Masque for Very Damaged Hair, Lush Coolaulin, or Earth and Body Honey & Vanilla Shampoo.

Dull, Faded Hair

Chemically treated hair is very fragile: the dyes cause the hair shaft to swell and the cuticles, to become more porous. When it is hit by chlorine and UV rays, the damage is done.

The color looks dull and brassy, and loses its natural sheen. Shampoos and conditioners with harsh chemicals can also cause color to fade, and product buildup within the week makes it worse.

To prevent lackluster strands, rinse with a gentle clarifying shampoo to remove buildup and finish with a light moisturizing mask. Products that can be used are Lush Big, Bench Fix Wearable Treatment, Pantene Age Defying Shampoo, Phytosesame Express Hydrating Conditioner.

Frizzy Hair

The main culprit of frizzy hair? Water. Or, more accurately, lack of it. Optimum moisture levels are what keep hair smooth, shiny, and manageable. Lack of moisture leaves our hair cuticles dry and brittle, especially in hot and humid climates.

People with fine and curly hair are most vulnerable to frizz. Solve it with a moisturizing shampoo. Products that can be used are Biolage Matrix Shampoo, Keratase Oleo-Relax Ultimate Controlling Elixir for very Rebellious Hair, L’Oreal Professionnel Liss Extreme Smoothing Cream for Unmanageable Hair.

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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

Here are my latest read, which I think are highly recommended for Asians like me.

Contemporary Asian Kitchens and Dining Rooms and Contemporary Asian Pools and Gardens by Karina Zabihi, Chami Jotisalikorn, et. Al.

I have the entire Contemporary Asian Home series in Borders in Kuala Lumpur because we will be building our home in a couple of months and I wanted inspiration. I love the clean look of modern Asian Architecture and interiors, and all these books have been reviewed and studied in detail.

The pictures have excellent details and are a joy to look at, repeatedly. I have already gotten so much inspiration and many possibilities to aspire for. If you find the books a bit pricey because they are coffee-table books, the best of he series is the one dealing with kitchens and dining rooms!

Another that I love is the one written by Jeffrey Archer entitled False Impressions

This book is very exciting, dealing with what happens to several very different yet interconnected people on the eve of September 11, and up to a week after the tragedy. Because of excitement, I was able to finish reading this book in just two nights!

False Impression is not political. It is about banking for the ultra-rich, priceless art, and FBI investigations. I cannot claim to have any knowledge on paintings; however, this book gives a good art appreciation lesson without my having realized it.

I first read Jeffrey Archer early in high school because he was a favorite author of my older sister. You must read Kane and Abel and Shall We Tell the President if you get the chance!

Another book that I cannot put down is the Beach Road written by James Patterson. I saw the book in the airport bookstore in Malaysia and wanted to jump for joy because, bar none, James Patterson is my favorite author.

His chapters are short; the prose is uncomplicated, yet the stories are exhilarating! He comes up with at least three books a year, either written alone or with a co-author. Of course, I am in love with Patterson’s most famous creation: Alex cross and his entire family!

Beach Road is a murder-mystery, dealing with a young African-American future NBA star, accused of brutally murdering several people who happen to be white, Southampton residents. It is also a love story between the two lawyers who defend him. It is satisfying page-turner, with a surprise twist for a perfect ending!

• Asian Books | Reading
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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

Are you experiencing skin darkening? Here is the lowdown of this pigmentation problem. There are various types of skin darkening. In the Philippines, various skin tones and types are affected by this problem because of erratic weather changes, prolonged exposure to the sun, genetics, etc.

Types of skin darkening

Hyperpigmentation occurs when certain skin cells release more pigment or dark color.

Cyanosis or purple skin is the darkening of the skin due to blueness.

Causes of skin darkening

Redness or bruising
Sun, exposure, certain dietary items and certain chemicals
Mole
Malignant melanoma
Seborrheic wart
Freckles
Café-au-lait spots
Hyperpigmentation caused by sunburn, stopping the pill, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiency.

The Filipina factor

Filipinas tend to whiten skin in various ways such as bleaching, peeling and using whitening products such as soaps, lotions and creams. But, sometimes, resorting to these processes may also cause allergic reactions such as redness and itching, which can do even more damage to your already dark skin.

Fortunately, with Pond’s new revolutionary White Beauty Detox formula, darkened skin can become spotless and have that rosy white glow in just two weeks.

What is detox and how does it work?

For the first time ever, Pond’s White Beauty Detox reveals the secret of professional whitening employed in treatments like Lontophoresis, Derma Peel and Photo-Facial (IPL): Detox Vitamins. These substances work in three fundamental ways in give you radiant whitening in as early as two weeks:

Purification

The breakthrough Detox Formula (containing Vitamins B3, B6, C and E) neutralizes darkness – causing impurities and reduces accumulated melanin.

Enhancement

Vitamin B3 makes skin noticeably whiter, softer, and more radiant.

Sun Protection

Triple sunscreens give enhanced protection against the sun’s UVA and UVB rays.

With Triple Vitamin B3, Ponds Detox Spot-less White Cream does not just work to make skin fairer and more radiant. It truly lightens the appearance of dark spots, pimple marks and blemishes.

• Asian Beauty Tips
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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

The women in my playgroup have been meeting since most of our firstborns were 6 months old. We have been through a lot together as mothers, including most childhood illnesses. However, some of us were not so thrilled when Sue’s two preschool sons became the first in our group to develop chicken pox.

Sue and her boys skipped several of our get-togethers before showing up one day, eager to socialize. Although Sue assured us that her kids were no longer contagious, most of us felt uneasy at the sight of their scabs. One by one, we left early.

As it turned out, none of the other kids in our playgroup caught chicken pox from Sue’s boys. However, that did not mean we were home free. Eventually almost everyone develops the distinctive dewdrop on a rose petal rash, as it is described to medical students.

Each year in the Philippines, 3.5 million cases of chicken pox, and 90 percent of the sufferers are children under age 15.

A varicellzoster virus causes chicken pox. It is member of the herpes family. Chicken pox is an extremely contagious disease and is spread by droplets that are in the air as a result of sneezing, coughing, spitting, and even drooling.

Symptoms are slow to appear. Once a child has been exposed to the virus, it can take up to 20 days for a full-blown case of chicken pox to develop. When it does, victims are easily identified by such symptoms as a slight fever; lethargy; headache; muscle aches; and the hallmark rash that develops into hundreds of itchy, fluid-filled sores that appear all over the body, even in the mouth and throat.

What is frustrating to chicken pox is that until your child develops the symptoms, you do not know whether he is harboring the virus and, thus, infecting other children. Children are contagious from 24 to 48 hours before symptoms appear until the sores crust over.

What should you do if your child develops chicken pox? Some children have such mild case that you do not have to do anything.

Give you child a baking soda bath to soothe itching. Do not overdo bathing, however, it can dry skin.

Dab Calamine lotion on sores with a cotton swab. Although there is no proof that the lotion stops itching, most kids like putting something on their sores. I remember Sue let her child lather on calamine lotion with a clean paintbrush!

Try the commonly recommended oral antihistamine. Try diphenhydramine hydrochiloride – benadryl – to ease itching. Follow label directions for dosage. For children under 2, consult your doctor.

Give your child plenty of cool fluids to replenish those lost through fever. Dress your child in loose cotton clothing that does not further irritate the skin.

Give acetaminophen as needed to reduce fever. Call your doctor if your child is under age 2. Avoid giving him aspirin because it has been linked to Reye syndrome, which can damage the liver and brain.

Trim your child’s fingernails to minimize scratching and, thus risk of scarring or infection.

Give our child gelatin, ice cream, or other soft foods to eat if he has sores in his mouth or throat.

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Shopaholic January 19th, 2007

Wipe off any remaining polish with a cotton ball soaked in a non-acetone polish remover, like Sally Hansen fast and Gentle Polish Remover, 183.75.

Trim your nails with a nail cutter. The length of the nails varies from person to person. But ideally fingernails shouldn’t be longer than ¼ of your whole nail. Toenails are best snipped short and clean.

Using an emery board or nail file, refine the shape of your nails by filing in just one direction from the outside to the center. Going back and forth will just split your nails. A squarish-oval or squoval tip – slightly rounded on tops with straight sides – is best to avoid ingrowns and is the most flattering shape.

Using an orange stick wrapped in cotton, rub a bit of cuticle cream into each cuticle and gently push it back. Cutting cuticles, if done incorrectly, may result in an infection so it is best left to a professional. Soak fingers or toes in warm water for 10 minutes afterward to rinse and help soften the cuticles. Minters Classic French manicure set, Beauty bar, Power plant Mall gives you almost everything you need: From emery boards to nail separators for peds.

After towel drying your nails, apply a clear base coat to each nail. Essie Sensitivity Base Coat is hypoallergenic and perfect for first-timers. This prevents your nails from absorbing the color of the varnish. Apply a thin coat over each nail and let dry for two minutes.

If you are in the mood for some color, rub the bottle of nail polish between your palms before applying. This will prevent clumping when you apply the polish. Do not shake the bottle; this causes bubbles in the varnish. Using a light hand, apply a thin strip of color in the middle of the nail first before moving to the sides. Resist going back and forth over one area to avoid smudges. Allow to dry for a few minutes, and then do a second coat on each nail. For a French manicure, apply the nude polish first before the white tip.

After you have finished each nail, apply a topcoat to help lock in the shine and prevent chipping. We love Sally Hansen Diamond Strength instant nail hardener. Dry Kwik Nail Color Dryer comes in a spray for easier and oops-free application and dries in a flash.

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Shopaholic January 18th, 2007

Asian DVD:

Whether you are into Asian culture or simply like to watch Asian Movies, getting in on the hottest new Asian DVDs is an exciting way to bring Asian entertainment into your home. Everyone loves a great, fresh Asian movie and these new Asian DVDs will give you just that.

New Asian DVD releases pop up in our shpos every day and it is constantly updated to bring you only the hottest new Asian DVDs on the market. Don’t be the last one of your friends to watch the hot new Asian DVD that just came out. The perfect new Asian DVD for you is somewhere in our shop. Order it today.

Asian Videos/ Asian VHS:

Nothing excites people more than new Asian movies and the latest Asian VHS releases can be found in our shops so that the Asian VHS watcher that you are or the Asian VHS watcher that you know can stay up on all of the hottest and latest Asian VHS video releases.

Every genre of Asian movie is available here and whether you are looking for a Romantic Asian VHS or any latest Asian VHS blockbuster, you will be able to find it here. Don’t get left behind watching Ghostbusters 2 for the third time this week. Instead, pick up one of these latest Asian VHS releases and grab some fresh Asian entertainment today.

• Asian Movies
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