A memento using DIY air dry clay set- review

It's been 2 months since we have become a family of 4! It's so much more taxing having to care for a toddler and a newborn at the same time though. One nurses all the time and only catnaps whereas the other is very active, loves his brother luckily and still dependent on us for many things.

To commemorate this precious moment or rather a chaotic one, we have decided to try externalizing our prints onto this DIY clay set.

I love how neat the packaging is. The front is the round metal mould where the clay will sit. The box next to it contains the frame. Behind these are the rest of the tools needed for the DIY- paint brush, green paint for the print, carving tools, kneader, loose pieces of small decorations.

Not very artsy? Don't worry. Me neither. My mom did some of my art homework back then. Haha. The set comes in detailed step by step instructions.

The overview of the steps are as follows

1. Prewarm clay pack
2. Knead clay
3. Shape the clay
4. Get the print!
5. Decorate
6. Air dry
7. Paint

After step 5. It's looking pretty!

This is how it looks like when it's all done!

We didn't use the small glass bottle with cork which is used to store baby's hair. Because we have just shaved Yi bald when he turned a month old. We didn't paint it either because we like the prints white.

A few things I have noticed while working with the air drying clay. In our hot weather, there's no need to prewarm the pack because it gets too soft. Make sure you Vaseline your hands and rolling pin before have to avoid the clay from sticking everywhere. I kneaded the clay until the bubble popping sounds are no longer heard- I think that's pretty safe to assume the air bubbles are expelled.

More tips about handling air dry clay here. 

Would I recommend it?

It's a fun family bonding activity. Especially with baby Bing who's almost 3 later this year. We could enlist his help with most of the steps except kneading. It can get messy though without close supervision. He's so proud of the end product and kept mentioning it the whole day. Baby Yi, oh well, is too young to really understand.

The other great point is that even if you mess up the first time round, you can always reknead the clay and start over again.

On the flip side of the coin, I do think the clay side is a tad too small to fit all our prints! Oh well, it's designed for a single baby's hand anyway. But the quality of the set is commendable indeed.

Even though I do feel like it takes forever for these two princes of mine to grow up, they will before I realise. They won't always be the small, clingy and dependent babies who have such cute fingers. They probably won't want to hold our hands either after they have grown up. And I love how this DIY clay set keep this special moment frozen in time.

Interested? Get it from Shopee

Organic baby products review from Riley and Declan

Being thirty something parents, all we have in mind are healthy and happy babies. We have our good and bad days. When it's good, both our princes sleep at the same time, allowing us some time to relax- even something as simple as a good unpressured toilet trip. On disastrous days, we will have a fussy baby who's gassy and keeps posetting into late night with a toddler who is trying to scream his head off demanding mom to scratch his itchy eczema.

I'm sure many can relate to the above scenario. We will try anything that work to keep the peace and calmness at home. We are very excited to see if Riley and Declan baby organics can help us.

Riley and Declan baby organics is a line of Australian products made with natural ingredients certified by Ecocert Greenlife.
It's an international network that sets the standard for all organic products. As mentioned on the packaging of the super relief cream, 99% of the total ingredients are from natural origin. 41% of the total ingredients and 95% of the plant ingredients are from organic farming. The percentage differs from product to product.

Of course, this range of products do not contain phalates, parabens, petrolatum and SLS. These are potential allergens.

Comfy tummy rub

Colic is a common problem for infants. The constant crying that is often inconsolable can push any person off the edge. 2 month old baby Yi, unfortunately, can be pretty fussy and I could spend hours soothing him. This really wears me out because I won't have time to eat, shower or even to read stories to Bing, let alone having some rest. Maybe it doesn't fit into the medical definition of colic, but it's bad enough to make us cancel our evening appointments.

Read more about colic on webMD

The comfy tummy rub's main ingredients are

Aloe vera- very commonly used, soothes the itchy skin, moisturises and heals small wounds.

Jojoba oil- similar to human sebum therefore good for sensitive skin especially for young children. Moisturises and doubles as massage oil.

Ginger root oil- it makes the cream sweet, spicy, woody and warm. The aroma and sensation is soothing. It also helps to relieve bloatedness and digestive problems such as gassiness.

What does  Dr Yingzangel think?

I know for sure I can rely on an organic product like this to minimise potential side effects since it's only maternal instinct that I want to give my children the best. I love the smell of the cream and the warming effect is definitely helping baby Yi. He's less gassy and cranky after use coupled with some massage techniques that I'm already using.

Super Relief Cream

Eczema is a very common skin problem particularly in children. I have previously written about using aloe vera gel and steroid free serum to manage eczema. I must reiterate the usefulness and importance of steroid in severely inflamed cases though.

Besides aloe vera and jojoba oil, this cream also contains

Calendula- widely used in nappy rash cream. It reduces pain, swelling and inflammation, as well as facilitating new tissue growth.

Shiso leaf- it's edible and used in Japanese cuisine. An antiseptic and anti-inflammatory.

What does Dr Yingzangel think?

In mild cases like baby Bing, it's perfectly ok to use products like this which contains no steroid. Because one can use it liberally on any part of the skin without worrying about thinning the skin which is the main side effect of prolonged misuse of steroid cream.

In more severe cases, one can use it as an adjunct to moisturise and reduce inflammation besides using steroid creams sparingly.

Riley and Declan baby organics

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Interested? Get it from
Butik Tateh Bangi or Motherhood.com.my

Children dental health featuring Zollipops (Malaysia) | review

I used to be quite slack with baby Bing's teeth brushing. I did clean his teeth with water and cloth twice a day with xylitol tooth paste. But I allowed Bing to sleep while latching on. We had a big wakeup call after a visit to the dentist and 2 teeth fillings when he's 2.

And we have since then been following these dental care tips:

1. Wipe gums before the first tooth erupt.
2. Use baby tooth brush appropriate to age.
3. Visit the dentist from 1 years of age.
4. Brush and floss properly at least twice a day.
5. Say no to sugary and starchy food.
6. Don't go to sleep with bottle in mouth.
7. Use fluoridated tooth paste once baby knows how to spit and gargle.

More details on Colgate website.

We have never offered Bing any sweets. But he must have learnt from his YouTube videos because one fine day he started asking for lollipops (mind you he's 2 years and 8 months old now). I don't even recall teaching him this word! I downright refused him any candies or lollipops in the worry of more dental caries. Until I came across Zollipop.

The kidpreneur behind Zollipop is none other than Alina Morse. Hailing from the US, it's the result of a why question- daddy, why can't we make a lollipop that's good for your teeth? It's been in the market since 2014.

Not only is zollipop sugar free but it's also loaded with ingredients that help to prevent dental caries. The main ingredients are

Xylitol- a natural sweetener that prevents bacteria from sticking to the teeth and helps to repair damaged enamel.

Erythritol- a 0 calorie sweetener , produced by fermentation. It is able to reduce dental plaque weight by 24% in a 3-year study and lower the levels of Streptococcus mutans bacteria.

Stevia-a plant derived sweetener that contains no fermentable sugar which is an essential food source for bacteria.

This is the science behind these powerful ingredients.

The full list of ingredients:

Isomalt Syrup, Erythritol, Xylitol, Citric Acid, Natural Flavors, Beetroot Juice, Stevia, Turmeric, Grape Extract Annatto Extract, and Color Added. All Colors are Derived From Natural Plant Based Sources.

Being an US product, of course it has to be non-GMO, gluten free, dairy-free, vegan and kosher!

A pack of Zollipop has all these mixed flavors:  Natural Peppermint, Strawberry, Grape, Orange, Cherry, Raspberry and Pineapple. The packet opens in the middle and is resealable.

Would I buy it again?

Yes. For a happy baby Bing and happy mommy.

Because now I have finally found a lollipop that dentists will approve of! Not only does it satisfy Bing's cravings but it's also good for his teeth. No more mommy guilt. After the occasional indulgence in chocolate (Bing is a chocoholic just like his dad), offer a Zollipop instead of chasing after him to brush his teeth.

It's by no means a substitute for good dental care but it is a fun and easy way to keep teeth clean during the day.

Interested to try? 

Get it from Shopee

Official website
Facebook page 

Contact lens health tips featuring Barbies Eyesland- how to prevent losing eyesight from infections | review

Contact lens wearing is a very popular way to correct vision besides the good old glasses and LASIK surgery. One can achieve the ditch the glasses look immediately. But eye infections and its complications including blindness are very common among wearers. So what should we do to protect our eyes?

CDC has extensive resources regarding contact lens health here. I have summarised the recommendations.

Good habits

1. Wash with soap and dry hands before touching the lens- get rid the germs on hands

2. No sleeping with lens on-overnight wear risks microbial keratitis

3. No water contact with lens on including swimming, using hot tub, showering- Acanthamoeba in water can cause keratitis

Contact lens

1. Rub and rinse with contact lens disinfecting solution only- best way to remove deposits and germs

2. Never store lens in water- Acanthamoeba keratitis can cause blindness!

3. Replace the lens as recommended- for optimal vision and comfort

Contact lens case

1. Rub and rinse with contact lens disinfecting solution only

2. Empty and dry with clean tissue

3. Store upside down with caps off

4. Replace every 3 months

Contact lens solution

1. Don't mix used and fresh solution- biofilms can form

2. Use only the correct type of solution- some lens can interact with certain solutions

Lastly, don't forget to see your eye doctors at least annually for examination.

Besides the conventional clear lens, coloured lens are becoming trendy as one can change the color of the iris and makes the pupils appear larger, a much coveted feature in a pair of beautiful eyes. 

Wearing coloured lens are safe, provided the quality of the lens are good. In other words, there's no increased risks of eye infection with coloured lens if wearers follow the tips I explained above.

Barbie Eyesland is an online store which offers 100% authentic contact lens brands, mainly coloured lens to create those lovely Barbie doll looking like eyes. Because they have no physical store with the related overhead expenses so the price is much cheaper. But this does not compromise the quality of their products.

The great news is the lens are made by Barbie Eyesland itself! Quality assured. Made in Malaysia and proudly Malaysian. The lens can be worn for 3 months at 8 hours a day. The range of colors include various shades of black, brown, grey, olive green and blue. Shades that complement Asian facial features well.

Once purchased, it takes 1-3 days to receive the products and around 5 days to reach Singapore. It's very convenient. There's no shipping fee in Malaysia as well.

Would I recommend Barbie Eyesland?

I'm wearing icy grey 16mm lens here.

It's lightly tinted so it provides a natural look. The other advantage is that it's not too opaque which may obscure the vision. I love how my eyes did not become dry after wearing it the whole day. 

I would suggest first time wearers to get a prescription at their optometrists first. Try clear lens first to get a hang of how to wear contact lens. Subsequently, enjoy wearing the aesthetic coloured lens from Barbie Eyesland at a fraction of the price. 

The power of the lens range from 0-800. So those who falls out of the range need to consider other brands. 

Those who are interested, these are the links. 

Official website
Facebook page
Email barbieeyesland@intlgroup.net WhatsApp 011333333010 

Dust and allergies featuring Raycop RS300 (Malaysia) | review

Having runny nose every morning? Sneezing non stop? Itchy, red and watery eyes? What about getting more breathless or wheezing or coughing for those with asthma?

Are you sick of trying out all sorts of inhalers and medications to relieve the symptoms? Maybe even needing frequent short courses of steroid tablets. You are not alone. Welcome to the club of dust allergy. It's common. 20 million adults in the US have this. That's 1 in every 5 people.

What's in dust?

Pet dander, pieces of dead cockroaches, mold spores, pieces of dead skin. And dust mites feed on these, their favorite being dead skin. Think your house is clean? Think again. Inhaling microscopic dust can cause allergies.

Dust mites

These tiny creatures can be nasty. Ranging in size from a hundredth to a thousandth of an inch, they're too small to see without magnification. As many as 19,000 dust mites can be found in a ball of dust the weight of a 1 gram paper clip, although the typical dust ball contains only 100 to 500 mites. 

As mentioned, they feed on dead skin shedded abundant on your pillows, beddings and upholstery, perhaps on your children's soft toys too. Because it's warm and moist. And we shed about a fifth of an ounce of skin a day. It makes up about 80% of the dust you see in an indoor sunbeam.

This is a very relevant study just to show you how scary and common dust mites are in Klang Valley.

Dust mites allergy can mainly cause allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis and worsen asthmatic control.

Since it causes so much problems, how can we get rid of them?

Clean, clean and clean!

1. Use airtight, plastic dust-mite covers on pillows, mattresses and box springs.

2. Use pillows filled with polyester fibers instead of kapok or feathers.

3. Wash bedding in very hot water (over 55 C) once a week

4. Get rid of dust collectors, stuffed animals and soft toys- if they don't spark joy :p Kon Marie your house for the sake of health!

5. Replace drapes with roll-up window 

shades.

6. Use an air conditioner or dehumidifier to lower humidity below 55C.

7. Use vacuum with HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filter.

Read more about dust and dust mites on webMD.

Raycop RS300 is a Korean vacuum designed to eliminate dust mites. A long anticipated cleaner for parents whose children have poorly controlled asthma. Our family has a strong history of allergies, eczema and asthma. And to be honest I'm allergic to dust too. With the addition of baby Yi, I'm even more determined to rid our house of dust mites.

How does it remove dust?

Instead of strong suction which is noisy and creates turbulence (makes dust fly everywhere!), Raycop features gentle suction, coupled by light pulsation to lift and remove dust. The UV lamp sterilises and kills bacteria. HEPA filter, on the other hand, traps all these nasties in the cleaner so it doesn't get released into the surroundings.

Read more about the technology here.

How to operate the vacuum?

It's recommended to vacuum our beddings everyday. There are two ways to vacuum it- full or partial purification. I have been doing full purification once a week and baby partial one daily. YouTube links below.

Full purification (5 minutes)

Partial purification (1 minute)

After a full purification, I run my fingers across the bedding and I could easily notice the difference.

I particularly like how the dust box is washable, eliminating the possibility of secondary air pollution while cleaning it up. And don't worry about exposing yourself and your family with UV light because it's only switched on when in contact with beddings.

What about our conventional way of cleaning the mattresses? This article beautifully summarised the limitations of using air purifier, sun exposure, tapping and chemical cleaning.

Would I recommend it?

Who doesn't love a fresh bed to sleep in every night? Especially when I have a relatively lightweight vacuum that can do the job for all the beds in less than half an hour. The Raycop design is so sleek and thoughtful that one doesn't even need to wear masks while cleaning up. It also doesn't stick to the bedding like conventional vacuum cleaners. But it gets tricky when you want to vacuum tight corners.

The amount of dust collected from our King bed with fresh linens.

The price tag though is a bit steep at RM2k each machine. Comparing with some other products in the market, it's among the high end range. The quality is definitely good with certification from various authorities such as the British Allergy Foundation and Institute of Tokyo Environmental Allergy. For example, since there's no strict definition of HEPA filter, many vacuum cleaners may not have good quality ones or may not have all the dust directing to the filter, render it useless.

In conclusion, I would say this product is very useful for those who have dust mite allergies, sensitive airways and uncontrolled asthma.

Interested? Contact as below.

Raycop Malaysia

No.6-7, Main Tower, Sunsuria Tower, Persiaran Mahagoni, Kota Damansara PJU 5, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Persiaran Mahogani, 47810 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

012-922 2260

https://g.co/kgs/i2Pn2n

Website

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Eye skincare tips featuring Suddenbe ION and LED eye massager | review

The skin around our eyes is one of the most delicate and thinnest skin in our body. And it's one the areas that give others a first impression about you. I used to get this comment, “ Hey, Dr Angel. Are you post call?” Which means that I look exhausted with dark circles and puffy eyes. I really envy those with bright eyes.

So we drink 8 glasses of water a day, sleep 8 hours, avoid smoking, excessive alcohol and salty food. We buy the most expensive and promising eye cream in the market, apply eye masks but we still look like pandas. So, what have we done wrongly?

What else does it take to care the skin around eyes?

1. Be very gentle. Pat, not rub products in with pinky.
2. Be very gentle. Use products specially formulated for eyes to avoid skin irritation.
3. Be very gentle. Remove eye make up by applying soaked cotton (with makeup remover, 20-30 seconds) over the eyes then gently drag towards the lashes.
4. Be very gentle. No scrubbing, scratching, rubbing (my greatest enemy! I love to rub my eyes when I'm tired).
5. Be very gentle and protect the area with eye products with SPF.
6. Be very gentle and cool your eye products. This age old trick is great for debugging too!

Be very gentle! Read more on Teen Vogue

So how to get the products to work properly if everything needs to be so gentle? Employing the help of a good eye massager can ensure the right amount of pressure is used.

Suddenbe ION and LED eye massager

The technology used and design is elegant and simple. It enables high frequency microvibration up to 18,000 times each minute to massage the eye area. 2 different LED light color are available. The blue light features slow and long vibrations to remove impurities from the pores, as well as to allow deep penetration of eye products using the ions. The red light, on the other hand, features fast and short vibrations to smoothen fine lines.

Watch my YouTube video on the exact instructions about how to use the massager. Don’t forget to subscribe Dr Yingzangel YouTube channel.

Step 1. Cleanse eyes and face. Remove all makeup

Step 2. Apply eye cream. Even I forgot to use my pinky. In the video, I used my ring fingers.

Step 3. Gently rotate the massager around the eyes. Avoid the eyeballs and eyelids. About 10 seconds each eye.

Done!

What I really like about the massager is that immediate fresh feeling after use. As if I just have a power nap. The metal tip also feels coolish on the skin which will help to reduce puffiness. Since it’s so light, it is also travel friendly. Just pop it into the pull string pouch to protect it against scratches. When it’s dirty, simply wipe it clean with a damp cloth/tissue.

Would I recommend it? Yes. Of the many eye products that I have tried, this is one of those I have been using diligently because it’s fast and easy to use. But I do realise I need a bit more eye cream than usual to lubricate and make sure the massager doesn't stretch my skin.

Want to know more? Head on to AllYoung Malaysia website.

The correct way to supplement collagen featuring NutriBear

Happy CNY!

Those who have been following my posts would have read about NutriBear- an efficacious collagen supplement. If not catch up here to learn about the function of collagen in the body and how to age gracefully.

In this article, I'm going to talk about how to supplement yourselves with sufficient amount of collagen. And the common misconceptions and questions regarding collagen supplementation.

1. Get the purest collagen

There are many collagen products in the market. But one can rarely find a single product that only contains collagen. Many includes other vitamins and minerals- especially vitamin C due to its benefits to the skin.

However, this combination is not palatable. Therefore, other additives and sweeteners are needed in the product. This is precisely the reason why NutriBear only contains collagen because Dr Cheng JC， the founder insists to create NutriBear. In fact, she suggests taking NutriBear separately with a Vitamin C supplement of your choice for the optimal level of collagen production.

But Berry flavoured NutriBear is also now available with added vitamin C.

Of course all NutriBear products are free of gluten, GMO, heavy metals and preservatives.

2. Get the correct source of collagen.

Many animal parts contain collagen including cow, swine, chicken and fish. The first 3 are much cheaper but also less effective. Fish collagen is absorbed 1.5 times more efficiently into the bloodstream, meaning more collagen consumed can be used by the body instead of being excreted.

3. Why granulated hydrolyzed collagen?

Granulation is a way to process collagen to make it easier to dissolve and absorb.

True enough, look at my previous YouTube video and you can see how easily the collagen powder dissolves without stirring in hot or warm water.

4. Powder vs capsule collagen

We need 5g of collagen supplement in a day. This increases with age as we are able to produce less. 1 scoop of NutriBear provides this 5g.

But there's only 0.5g in each capsule. You do the mathematics! It's just like taking medications. If you underdose yourself, you won't get the desired effect.

It takes around 3-4 weeks of collagen supplementation to start seeing the results.

5. Perhaps the favorite question - is it safe in pregnant or breastfeeding mothers?

As a general physician and breastfeeding mother, I know how tricky it is to get a trustable supplement. But NutriBear totally fits the bill. I love mixing NutriBear 1 scoop a day into my homemade red dates, longan and goji berry drink to boost breast milk production. 

 Still please check with your healthcare professionals before starting any supplement because other coexisting medical problems may make it dangerous to consume certain supplements.

So look good, feel good, save bears with NutriBear today!

More information
NutriBear website
Facebook page
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If you are a scientist-->

For the real science behind it, read these research evidence. It shows how collagen supplementation is important in good skin, preventing osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and improving bone health. Note that these studies are not large scale like other studies for medications so collagen may be useful but it can't be recommended in practising guidelines for healthcare professionals. 

Disclaimer: the opinion given is merely a personal experience and does not constitute formal medical advice. Please seek your medical professional's advice before any complementary therapy. Always ask for certified professionals before proceeding with treatment and stop if discomfort or side effect ensues.