Eczema is now becoming rampant even among young children – one out of five children is affected by this skin disorder. When eczema affects young children, it can be a nightmare to the entire family. Enlightening these parents, caregivers and patients on the proper management and care of eczema is the central focus of the National Eczema Awareness Month (NEZAM).
Eczema is characterised by these two easily identified symptoms: rashes and extreme itching. Your skin becomes extremely dry and it begins to itch. The urge to scratch can become intolerable. When you scratch, the skin breaks and becomes a target for infection. This then triggers the release of inflammatory chemicals and your skin becomes inflamed, which further irritates the skin.
NEZAM launched 'My Eczema Action Plan: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Managing Eczema', a fully illustrated guidebook for young patients and little friends to effectively manage eczema. The book is arranged topically which makes it easy for young children to learn and remember the important aspects of eczema care. You can go to myeap.com.my to download a copy of the e-book for free.
From May to September 2015, RM 3 will be donated to this cause for every bottle or tube of Atopiclair sold at Caring Pharmacy. Do your part to raise funds for the Eczema Kidz Club HKL in conjunction with NEZAM 2015!
Launched in 2011, Atopiclair is a unique non-steroidal treatment that is ideal to treat all eczema patients during flare and remission phases of eczema. This controller cream, which is USFDA-approved, does not have added colouring, fragrance, paraben and animal derivatives.
Atopiclair has been clinically tested to be effective and well-tolerated among infants, children and adults who are suffering from mild to moderate eczema. For those seeking more information, perhaps atopiclairasia.com can be of help?
ღ Atopiclair™ Lotion
Pale yellow lotion
Name: Atopiclair™ Lotion
Price: RM 78 for 120 ml
Made in: Italy
With Shea Butter and Hyaluronic Acid, this lotion is sure to deeply moisturise, rejuvenate and repair while preventing the recurrence of itching skin.
There is no waffling about with the texture of this lotion. There is the watery type of lotion, made popular by Asian brands and there is the true-blue Western lotion with a thick, creamy yet just as fluid formula, which is the category where Atopiclair™ Lotion falls in.
It leaves my skin super soft - I can immediately feel the improvement the morning after. That said, it is a bit too much for me because I get really shiny when I use it. Then again, my dehydrated skin is not part of this lotion's target audience. Someone suffering from eczema would appreciate how rich this lotion truly is.
Updated on October 13, 2015. After using the May Coop Cleansing Mousse, dry patches emerged and were increasing in severity and size but this lotion along with the gentlest cleanser ever, Innisfree Calming Gel Cleanser, cleared them up within a couple of days. They are truly miracle workers!
Name: Atopiclair™ Cream
Price: RM 58 for 40 ml
Made in: Italy
Like the lotion, Atopiclair™ Cream also harnesses the power of Shea Butter, an ingredient known for its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, to promote healing.
The cream is a creamier (hah!) version of the lotion. The antiseptic smell is far stronger in the cream versus the lotion, which leads me to believe that the active ingredients in the cream are in a higher concentration. It does take a while to absorb completely so you may want to avoid contact with things for a few minutes after application.
One suffering from eczema should reapply their emollients at regular intervals, even when they are not experiencing symptoms. This is where the cream comes in handy. It can be tossed into one's bag and carried around (this 40 ml tube is not going weigh down your bag) and soothe or treat areas of concern on the go.
Magnetically drawn to one another; exuding desire when they are together, Gucci Guilty Diamond symbolises the spark between actors Chris Evans and Evan Rachel Wood. This sexual tension is recalled in the hypnotic glint of a diamond. A covetable jewel that exudes power and beauty. Infinite points of light emanate from its facets, scintillating with promise.
ღ Guilty Diamond Pour Homme Eau de Toilette
Name: Gucci Guilty Diamond Pour Homme Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 344 for 90 ml
Made in: France
Sharing the character of its feminine counterpart, Guilty Pour Homme is a contemporary fougère designed to provoke the senses.
◆ Top notes: Italian Lemon, Mandarin, Green Leaves, Pink Pepper
◆ Middle notes: Lavender, Coriander, Orange Flower, Neroli
◆ Base notes: Cedar, Patchouli
My first impression was of a performance hall of some kind. For ballet, perhaps, or ballade. The scent alludes to to an underlying vigor beneath all the romantic and gentle vibes. The woody base, grounded by Gucci's trademark patchouli, ties up all the notes together to complement the sophisticated side of the Gucci Guilty man.
With a name like Guilty, I expected a fragrance that makes its presence felt (a raptor?) the moment I spritzed it on but it is just about as harmless as a dove. Where is the passion, excitement and sense of danger promised in the commercial film?! My grumblings aside, I do think that it is an easy and safe scent that many will enjoy on a daily basis.
The Guilty Pour Homme flacon features a glass top fluidly attached to a metal base. The matte black outer packing radiates with Gucci's unmistakable gold entwined Gs.
The full ingredient list for Guilty Diamond Pour Homme Eau de Toilette:
Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Limonene, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Benzyl Salicylate, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Citral, Geraniol, CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2), CI 14700 (Red 4), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 42090 (Blue 1).
ღ Guilty Diamond Pour Femme Eau de Toilette
Name: Gucci Guilty Diamond Pour Femme Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 332 for 50 ml
Made in: France
Guilty Pour Femme is an oriental floral with hedonism at its heart.
◆ Top notes: Pink Pepper
◆ Heart notes: Lilac, Cardamom
◆ Base notes: Patchouli, Amber
This sweet scent becomes more addictive as time goes by. The heady and sexy hit in the middle makes for a refreshing change to the usual sweet scents. With Guilty Pour Femme loaded on, this rebel can sure be enticed into bending a rule or two (pardon the language, I have been watching too many Old Western flicks of late)!
Scents such as this suit the cooler weather more because of how warm it is, but failing that (seeing as I live in a tropical country), it can be fashioned into a scent for a night out. It is sure to attract bees like honey!
Wrapped in lustrous gold hued metal, the bottle possesses glass windows in an entwined G design to reveal the rich, amber-hued juice within. While the crystal insets are not real diamonds as the name may suggest, they sparkle with enough brilliance that all is forgiven.
The full ingredient list for Guilty Diamond Pour Femme Eau de Toilette:
Alcohol Denat., Parfum (Fragrance), Aqua (Water), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Hydroxycitronellal, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Citronellol, Linalool, Benzyl Salicylate, Isoeugenol, Citral, Benzyl Alcohol, Cinnamyl Alcohol, CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 42090 (Blue 1), CI 15985 (Yellow 6), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2).
Can you resist the dazzle and the shine of the limited edition packaging?
2015 is the year I was jolted to the fact that my skin has changed from the combination end of the scale to a permanent state of dehydration. While I used to pile layers of whitening products, now I can only treat myself to hydrating and/or anti-ageing products... and this is where Neesya's LumiScience°® Hydrating Serum and LumiAdvance°™ Age Defence Moisturiser come in!
ღ LumiScience°® Hydrating Serum
Name: Neesya LumiScience°® Hydrating Serum
Price: RM 100.70 for 30 ml
Made in: Malaysia
Neesya, Greek for butterfly, is a homegrown brand all about enriching lives with premium beauty care made affordable to women from all walks of life. All of their products are colour-free, paraben-free and manufactured in plants which are GMP certified to ensure high quality processes are observed.
LumiScience°® Hydrating Serum utilises Acquacell™ along with combination of Silver Vine Extract and AcquaBiomin™ Gem Blend to increase hydration levels and refine skin texture.
I use two pumps day and night. The watery texture makes it easy for it to be absorbed pretty quickly, and I have no problems slapping on a moisturiser immediately afterwards. My skin looks plumper after application – due to it gulping up all the additional moisture.
I know that some react badly to fragrance but I have gone through my fair share of foul odours so something with a floral smell is a joy to use. It is the least these brands can do since we slather these products next to on our noses, haha!
The full ingredient list for LumiScience°® Hydrating Serum:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Pyrus Malus (Apple) Fruit Extract, Lens Esculenta (Lentil) Fruit Extract, Sodium Lactate, Glycereth-7, Phenoxyethanol & Ethylhexylglycerin, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Butylene Glycol, Hydroxyethylcellulose, PEG-40 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Sodium Hyaluronate, Disodium EDTA, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Maltodextrin, Fragrance, Propylene Glycol, Saccharomyces/Opal/ Mother Of Pearl/Turquoise, Diamond Ferment Lysate Filtrate.
ღ LumiAdvance°™ Age Defence Moisturiser
Name: Neesya LumiAdvance°™ Age Defence Moisturiser
Price: RM 94.34 for 50 ml
Made in: Malaysia
Enriched with Silanol, Brown Algae Complex and Silver Vine Extract, LumiAdvance°™ Age Defence Moisturiser smoothens wrinkles, firms skin, soothes and protects against environmental agressors. The addition of Carbohydrate Complex promises deep and long-lasting hydration up to 72 hours.
There is an alcohol scent to this light, almost gel-like moisturiser. It would really much more palatable if it was swapped with a floral scent (like the serum) or no scent at all for those fussed about fragrance in their products. And because it is sort of a gel, I found it can be a little sticky, and it needs to absorb completely before I stop feeling it on my face.
It gives my skin a smooth, velvety appearance. It works better with the Hydrating Serum than alone, thus I have been consistently pairing them together. It is hard to say if it actually does anything to my lines the way it says it will, but I like to think of it as a long-term investment. Perhaps in a few years time, I can thank this moisturiser for helping me look younger than my peers?
The full ingredient list for LumiAdvance°™ Age Defence Moisturiser:
Water, Butylene Glycol, Glycerin, PEG-32, Sorbitan Isostearate, PEG-12 Dimethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Saccharide Isomerate, Phenoxyethanol, Sodium Acrylates/Beheneth-25 Methacrylate Crosspolymer, Hydrogenated Polydecene, PEG-6, Dimethicone, Lauryl Glucoside, Methylsilanol Mannuronate, Citric Acid, Sodium Citrate, Fragrance, Actinidia Polygama Fruit Extract, Sorbic Acid.
If you would like to know more about Neesya and also their products, visit
The television commercial for Hugo Man and Hugo Woman is the work of Ryan Hope. In this, French model Adrien Sahores and Danish model Freja Beha Erichsen inspire Hugo's wearers to write their own story, take their own path, and stray away from the herd. Your fragrance, your way.
They make an intriguing pair: nonchalant, audacious, self-assured - neither revering their scent, nor telling others how to live in the print campaign shot by Karim Sadli.
One of the top male models of the moment, Adrien is unmistakeably charismatic, cool and original, just like the Hugo Man fragrance. With an infectious zest for life and spirit, he perfectly embodies the sentiment of the fragrance. He describes travel and the experiencing of life around the world as something that fascinates him and as one of the opportunities he relishes as a model.
Known for her unique and captivating beauty, Freja has a femininity that carries a subtle boyish twist, much like the Hugo Woman fragrance. Today, Freja is one of today's most celebrated female models, appearing in the world's best campaigns and runway shows, including Hugo Boss, with Vogue citing her as one of its top models of the 2000s.
Would it interest you if I say that I happen to have an insight into Freja's beauty regimen, her style and even the contents of her fridge?! Go on, have a nose around! And while you are at it, peep at my perspective on the Hugo Woman perfume here.
Hugo introduces a new fragrance for women who live the Hugo attitude: passionate, bold and lives up to the motto 'invent yourself'. The Hugo woman is a trailblazer, who leads rather than follows, with a passion for the extraordinary in everything she pursues.
Here is a woman who seizes life, embracing all it has to offer. Originality is everything; surprise all. She is a pioneer: unique in her character, in her style, and in the scent that spurs her to live life on her own terms. Others aspire to be her. She sets the mold.
(Source: fragrances.hugoboss.com/)
Name: Hugo Woman Eau de Parfum
Price: RM 251 for 50 ml
Made in: UK
ღ The Fragrance
Apparently humans can tell apart 1 trillion smells. Well, I must be from another species then for I can't differentiate the most basic of things! In spite of that shortcoming, I got everything noted down below (for the first time ever!). Ok fine, most of them. The description by the brand hit the nail on the head!
My first whiff was a blast of masculine Indian Black Tea, which then softens down to reveal the intense elegance of the Jasmine Sambac and Iris components. The fragrance develops by becoming warmer and more full-bodied with the emergence of woody amber in its base.
Overall, Hugo Woman feels like a heady, creamy scent. It contradicts the form of the flacon; something so minimalistic brings forth thoughts of dynamism and coolness in lieu of the very essence of feminine charms.
◆ Top notes: Boysenberry, Italian Mandarin, Himalayan Red Grass
◆ Heart notes: Jasmine Sambac, Black Plum, Iris, Indian Black Tea
◆ Base notes: Sandalwood, Cedar, Amber
It requires frequent touch ups, but I can't say I mind at all since it is one of my new favorites!
ღ The Flacon
With its sleek circular body complete with a hidden scarlet ring, the design of the flacon speaks to the individual with her own defiant style.
ღ The Collection
◆ Hugo Woman EdP 30 ml RM 174
◆ Hugo Woman EdP 50 ml RM 251
◆ Hugo Woman EdP 75 ml RM 321
◆ Hugo Woman Shower Gel 200 ml RM 112
◆ Hugo Woman Body Lotion 200 ml RM 127
ღ The Composition
The full ingredient list for Hugo Woman Eau de Parfum:-
Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Limonene, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Geraniol, Hydroxyisohexyl 3-Cyclohexene Carboxaldehyde, Linalool, Citronellol, Citral, Anise Alcohol, CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2), CI 17200 (Red 33), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 42090 (Blue 1).
Treatment toner fans, Clear C Advanced Effector by Laneige is an awesome one to put on your list!
The goddess, Song Hye-kyo, looking mightily pleased with her find
Name: Laneige 라네즈 Clear C Advanced Effector 클리어C 어드밴스드 이펙터
Price: ₩ 40,000 for 150 ml
Made in: Korea
The 92.5% Superberry Extract (Acerola Fruit Extract and Acai Berry Extract) in Clear C Advanced Effector is stabilised by Laneige's Silicium Capturing Technology™, which releases 4 times more antioxidants than Vitamin C, to revive and energise skin from within, making it more moisturised, bright, clear, and even. The whole shebang basically!
Big claims coming here but of all of the brightening products I have tried, this is the only one that made a difference. I saw results right away! Usually, I tan easily when I spend time under the sun (regardless of the boatload of sunscreen slathered), however, this time, my skin tone was preserved. I even noticed an improvement in moisture levels!
I apply it right after my cleanser and before my regular lotion. I give it some time to work its magic unhindered (in spite of it absorbing within mere seconds) while I potter around the room. The interesting thing about this product is that it comes with its own specially designed cotton pads. As may be expected, there is a proper method on using this toner and the pads:
(Source: laneige.com.my/)
It is incredibly effective for something that feels like water and smells like floral water. I simply can't imagine going back to the dark times (dramatic much? Haha!) when this booster (can anybody shed some light on the proper term for these products?) didn't start off my skincare routine. How did I ever cope before this?!
Like? It is RM 154 in Laneige boutiques/counters nationwide.
The full ingredient list for Clear C Advanced Effector:
Malpighia Emarginata (Acerola) Fruit Extract, Euterpe Oleracea Fruit Extract, Propanediol, Alcohol, Niacinamide, Butylene Glycol, Moringa Pterygosperma Seed Extract, Melia Azadirachta Extract, Prunus Mume Fruit Extract, Nasturtium Officinale Extract, Nelumbo Nucifera Flower Extract, Glutathione, Glycerin, Lecithin, Bis-PEG-18 Methyl Ether Dimethyl Silane, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Adenosine, PEG-60 Hydrogenated Castor Oil, Water, Disodium EDTA, Fragrance.
In 2014, Dolce & Gabbana created Dolce, an Eau de Parfum that heralds an emotional and sensorial journey through the heart of Sicily. A year later, a fresher yet just as spellbinding version, Dolce Floral Drops, was unveiled.
Name: Dolce & Gabbana Dolce Floral Drops Eau de Toilette
Price: RM 437 for 75 ml
Made in: UK
ღ The Fragrance
I almost always love the Eau de Parfum version of a scent more than the Eau de Toilette. They are richer and tend to place more emphasis on those all-important notes (y'know, the ones that make a fragrance so unique). But Dolce Floral Drops may just be the exception to the rule!
If Dolce is said to bloom fully in the midst of spring, then Dolce Floral Drops is liberated when spring shakes off her winter coat. The crisp, floral trail summons up images of a lush garden setting with white flower petals fluttering in the wind.
◆ Top notes: Neroli Leaves, Papaya Flower
◆ Heart notes: White Amaryllis, White Daffodil, White Water Lily
◆ Base notes: Cashmeran, Musky notes, Sandalwood
The scent is delicate and warm without overwhelming the senses. It lingers on the skin for hours on end, proving once and for all that Eau de Toilettes don't necessarily lack longevity.
ღ The Flacon
The most exquisite cream coloured box opens to reveal the Dolce Floral Drops flacon surrounded by silky green fabric and white flowers. The attention to detail blew my mind away - what an opulent opening statement!
Like an echo of the original Dolce, this flacon features similar curved lines, a solid bottom and a milky white flower stopper. The frosted glass lends it a dew-kissed tone to express the fresh airiness of the fragrance.
ღ The Collection
◆ Dolce Floral Drops EdT 30 ml RM 260
◆ Dolce Floral Drops EdT 50 ml RM 339
◆ Dolce Floral Drops EdT 75 ml RM 437
◆ Dolce Floral Drops EdT 150 ml RM 617
ღ The Composition
The full ingredient list for Dolce Floral Drops Eau de Toilette:-
Alcohol Denat., Aqua (Water), Parfum (Fragrance), Ethylhexyl Methoxycinnamate, Diethylamino Hydroxybenzoyl Hexyl Benzoate, BHT, Benzyl Salicylate, Benzyl Alcohol, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, Linalool, Hydroxycitronellal, Citronellol, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Geraniol, Isoeugenol, Benzyl Benzoate, Citral, CI 42090 (Blue 1), CI 19140 (Yellow 5), CI 60730 (Ext. Violet 2).
Which fragrance have you chosen to step into spring with?
