Pre-travel Shopping

Since we are flying budget, overnight, I need a sleeping kit. Qoo10 is the answer when I want something quickly.

Inflatable pillow, eye mask and ear plugs set from CoolStuff6287.

$2.80

I ordered 4 sets on 15 Dec and received within I think 2 days? Very fast delivery!

Good Deal Alert!

I came across a product on promotion on iHerb.
MRM, FreshOmega, Pure Extra Virgin Norwegian Salmon Oil, 90 Pesco-Veggie Softgels

$10.68

Leathercare

Having bought my first (and possibly last) luxury bag, I want to take the best care of it. A friend has ever complained that her bag's moisturizer cost more than her face's. I thought that was so silly of her. Why buy something that's so expensive and expensive to maintain to boot?

Well, so here I am, doing the same thing. I resolved never to use my bag unless I protected it. Did my research and concluded that I had to buy Leather Honey Leather Conditioner and Apple Brand Garde Rain & Stain Repellent. I didn't plan to get a leather cleaner, coz I figured if I used a stain repellent, I shouldn't need to clean it, right?

FULLY Hair Fibers

Buying a different type of makeup! Shake-on hair that promises to transform a botak into a full crown! I had first-hand experience with it for Brother's wedding, when the makeup artist used it on me. It was marvelous and came off easily during shampooing. I remember seeing advertisements for a similar product a couple of years ago, going at about $50 per bottle?! Just have to be patient for a made-in-China version. Check out FULLY HAIR FIBERS from Buy Sell Supply @ Qoo10 for $10. Not sure if it's the same as what the makeup artist used and what was advertised, but $10 is cheap enough to find out for myself.

Balenciaga Classic Mini City

When somebody is going to France, you do NOT just ask them to bring back beauty products and food only! It's a chance to get my first luxury bag!

I am looking for a slingbag, that's easy to maintain and not too expensive. It should be large enough to hold my Agnes B wallet (yeah it's still around), phone, tissue paper and comb.

A313 Pommade

Brother and SIL were going to France for their honeymoon. Since I couldn't tag along, it made sense to make them bring back some French products.

Other than Klorane Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk which costs like 1/3 there (I think), I ordered a cheap retinol cream, A313. Need to start fighting wrinkles! It works by stimulating collagen production. I have read about people using Retin A, but that requires a prescription and I'm too lazy and cheapo to do that. Retinol is available OTC, but I haven't seen any product that's purely retinol, without other ingredients that I'm not interested in. A313 is the answer! The original hot product is Avibon, but it's now extinct. A313 is the closest match.

Supplements on a Budget

When I saw my neurologist this year, he wanted to start me on "nerve vitamins", so he prescribed them to me.

I was dismayed to find a massive queue at the pharmacy. I should have known better - late morning is the peak hour. And I'm in a hurry to meet my friend for lunch!

Let's try to get express queue...

Pharmacist at the counter not auto ley. Screw it, I shall get it another day. I asked the pharmacist to give me the name of the item. It's Neurogen-E. I was told it's sold in the retail pharmacy as well. Is it... let me scout for it outside first.

Grab iHerb

I have been very bothered by the build-up on my scalp. Normal shampooing was inefficient at removing it. Using brushes caused too much hairloss. If there's facial scrub for face, why isn't there scalp scrub?

Then, I read about exfoliating shampoo containing salicylic acid. It softens the build-up for easy removal. Neutrogena has such a product, but it strangely does not seem to exist in Singapore. Many other brands were of a more upmarket range.

Mineral Fusion was raved as an affordable and effective product. And guess what, iHerb carries it!! Haha I thought stuff like salicylic acid is chemical and frowned upon! Does it qualify by virtue of being paraben-free, cruelty-free and vegan? Like trying very hard lor!

But it's out of stock :(

iHerb New Hauls

After Mother complained that the last of her Now Foods vitamin B-12 have the problem of dissolving in atmospheric moisture, I'm getting another brand for her.

21st Century Health Care, B-12, 500 mcg, 110 Tablets

USD3.54

With lower dosage, since she has been on 1000mcg for quite some time. Let's see how this goes.

Queen Helene, Aloe Vera Scrub, Sensitive Skin, 6 oz (170 g)

USD3.40

A customer asked for facial scrub, so Mother decided to stock some. The only affordable brand that people might have heard of, is Queen Helene. I don't think it's wise, as facial scrub is a product that takes a long time to finish. We take a few years to go through ours! And I can't vouch for whether this product will move, as it's not well-known here. O well, let's give it a try.

Owndays

Sister has some eyecare allowance for claiming before she quit her job. Good chance to get new spectacles! My frames are 3 years old liao lor, so outdated sia.

Taobao Level Up!

My commode chair has become unsafe to use. The seat has cracked, causing me pain when I sit on it with my bare butt. Water seep in during my bath and out after my bath. Father had to drill holes at the bottom to allow water to drain out. The brakes are barely functioning for the longest time. The rubber handles fall out. It's a matter of time before a bad accident happens.

A new one costs $355 in Singapore. Is there an alternative?

Of course!

Enter Taobao!

Liquid Coconut Oil

Mother has finished selling the coconut oil I got her the last time. This time, she wanted pure liquid oil, not the semi-solid type. Ok, let's try something else. On to iHerb please.
Jarrow Formulas, Organic, Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, 16 oz (454 g)

USD10.45

I could not tell the state of the product from the opaque container. Let's hope it's liquid.

Yup, it's liquid, and smells nice. Mother liked it.

Restocking

My Sierra Bees Pomegranate Beeswax Lip Balm has run out after 1 year. So annoyed that iHerb has done away with the free gift system! As if it's not enough, they have stopped giving out random small gifts too. Now I have to buy my own lip balm :(

Shapewear From Taobao

After being wheelchair-bound, my waistline has exploded. I thought my body above my waist don't look fat, but maybe if it were, my pouch wouldn't be such an eyesore. And it's gonna expand on Brother's wedding because I'm not going to waste all the food just to look good!! :P

Still, I think I should do something about that pouch of mine.

Enter the shapewear!

The Dress From Taobao

O...k... So, Brother and X are getting married. I couldn't think of any pants that's suitable for attending a wedding as a family member, that is NOT leathery (too cool for Mother).

Haircut and Star Vista

Thank goodness CNY is very late this year, giving us more time to do our preparations.

Exploring New Products

I felt Mother has to sell more unusual stuff in order to differentiate herself. Something hip that OLs might like.

Sparkling Sotong Ears!

Following last year's happy purchase from the Qoo10 shop, miniart korea, I decided to reward myself for my hard work for the past year.

Anyhow Buy From iHerb Again

New products from iHerb!

Review: Pobling Facewash Brush and Kingdom Face Steamer

12/10
On Brother's recent trip to Hong Kong and Shenzhen with X, I took the opportunity to ask him to buy me a face steamer if he ever came across a cheap one. There are many available on Taobao, I'm sure he could find one!

And he did!