The Best of Me with CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Spider Veins Laser Treatment {First Treatment Session}

Following my spider vein treatment consultation at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics, it was time for the first actual treatment session, which I went in for, last Thursday.

Needless to say, I was very excited to see how the procedure will turn out and of course really anxious to see the results. Dr. Bonello asked me if I had any problems with the test patch before she began treating the area and when all was clear, we proceeded with the full, first treatment. 

It is similar to laser hair removal, with a different wavelength, a specialised hand-piece and laser parameters, and a bigger eye for detail. I was told that doctors receive specialised training for the laser treatment of veins and pigmentation. I'm not going to lie and say it wasn't at all painful but for me, it was bearable. I would describe it as a slight burning sensation and of course if it is too painful for you, you can always ask the doctor to rearrange the settings or go a little slower. Since I am treating a small area, the session took no longer than 10 minutes. Here I want to highlight the professionalism of the clinic where firstly, all my appointments are booked with the same doctor and secondly, Dr. Bonello made sure to treat the whole area, even the smallest branches. 

As expected, the area became a little swollen and appeared a little red immediately after treatment. I must admit that I experienced a slight sensation of pain for a couple of hours following treatment but after that, I was only left with a slight swell all over the treated area (this can be seen in the second image below). I was told that this may take up to 6 weeks to return back to normal. To aid healing, Aloe Vera gel is always recommended. What I did notice is that some parts of the spider vein became a little darker upon treatment (which is a totally normal reaction and can be seen in the lowermost image) but other parts have already started to fade away - see the results for yourselves in the pictures below:

That's it for now! Do check back for another post in 6 weeks' time when I have my review appointment.

In the meantime, if you would like to experience this or any other treatment offered at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics, you can do so by having a look at their website and contacting them to book your appointment. One hour free parking is offered with any treatment booked.

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics.

Cold Shoulders & Backless Loafers

It's no secret that shoes are one of my greatest passions and lately I have acquired a good number of pairs to add to my collection. One of the said pairs is this super stylish and on-trend pair of backless loafers from River Island.

I bought them on a whim as I instantly fell in love with them and they remind me of the Gucci backless loafers while costing a fraction of the price. I have already worn them another time with a black denim dungaree dress and a plain white t-shirt underneath it but for this post, I have paired them with this cold-shoulder dress from Pimkie which I bought just last week.

The cold-shoulder trend is one I wasn't really sure of; until I tried on this dress! I immediately fell in love with it and just couldn't not buy it (even though I am currently on a shopping ban in a bid to save up for our next holiday this December). The bag I chose to go with this outfit is the Liu Jo Jalapeno bucket bag in black nappa leather which my boyfriend got me as a gift from Spain last year. I like how spacious it is and it also comes with a co-ordinating little pouch to keep essentials within reach!

Dress, Pimkie | Loafers, River Island | Bag, Liu Jo

Bangle, Mango | Rings, Spinning Jewellery at 202 Jewellery

Earrings, H&M | Sunglasses, River Island

 

Butterfly Shoes from Gamiss Clothing

Please tell me I'm not the only one who succumbs to shoes just because they look pretty! This was exactly the case, for the umpteenth time if I may, when Gamiss Clothing contacted me and asked me to choose something from their shop to feature on my blog. Of course I agreed and here I am today bringing you this pair of beautiful butterfly wing shoes!

Naturally, they may not be everyone's cup of tea but they looked so pretty I just couldn't resist them. Plus, they are very close to the much more expensive Sophia Webster ones. Before I leave to more pictures of how I styled these shoes, let me introduce you to Gamiss first. The company is an online fashion retailer selling loads of beautiful clothes, accessories, swimwear and generally everything in between at quite frankly, cheap prices. The website caters for women, men and kids as well as home and garden and they also have a beauty section. Since it is a Chinese company, you might want to keep in mind that sizes maybe a little on the small side, however, they also cater for plus sizes which I think is great! The website is very easy to get around and take your picks from the vast range on offer. Shipping is determined by weight though so you might want to take that in consideration.

I had a very difficult time in choosing what to get but this pair of shoes caught my eye with it's uniqueness and I decided to go ahead with it. The package was on my doorstep in a week and I was glad the shoes had no damages to them whatsoever. I think that because of the colours, they are very easy to wear. The shoes are made out of patent PU leather and I have to say I am impressed with the precise stitching and details on them, however, the white parts on the wings may wear off with time and use. But well, at only $24.94 (plus shipping) you can't really go wrong!

I wanted to literally let them do the talking and so I opted for a pair of plain black high waisted shorts and a denim shirt with rolled-up sleeves. I think the shoes wear really well and I am pleased to say they didn't hurt my feet even though they have an 11.5cm heel! The only issue I have with them is that the ankle strap on my left foot kept moving and I had to re-adjust it to have the buckle closure on the correct side of my foot.

The idyllic gardens of Villa Rundle in Rabat, Gozo were the perfect setting to take pictures of these butterfly shoes don't you think?

What do you think of this look? Would you wear such a pair of shoes and how would you style them? 

Gamiss is also on Facebook, so do go give them a like :)

The shoes have been sent to me by Gamiss.com with the sole purpose of featuring them on this blog. All opinions are my own and are in no way influenced by Gamiss.

All For One | One Brand Makeup Look #1 | 3ina

Welcome to a new series on my blog where I shall be showcasing makeup looks created with products from one brand (or at least most of them will be from the brand I decide to showcase in a particular post).

For the first installment in the series I decided to go with 3ina, a new makeup brand that has recently become available in Malta thanks to Hudson Group. I was invited to the official launch a few weeks ago and we were given a few products to try out, all of which I shall be using in this post. I was given a selection of brightly coloured items and I though they would be perfect to use for a summer look while the season lasts...or this could very well be the look for an 80's themed party!!

3ina products

The Cream Eyeshadow no.305 - metallic royal blue with a soft mousse texture that dries to a shimmery finish.

The Eyeliner Pencil no.605 - matte, fresh mint green

The Colour Mascara no.100 - shimmery gunmetal grey

The Blush no.100 - shimmery light peach

The Longwear Lipstick no.509 - matte bright fuchsia

The Nail Polish no.106 - glossy nude pink

I am digging the packaging of all 3ina products and I like how they call their products with The which sounds like they are the thing you need to achieve this and that makeup look. I have admit though that I am not really a big fan of numbering the product shades instead of naming them but to be quite honest I think numbers make more sense when you have sooo many colours of any given product to choose from.

All products have excellent pigmentation and they lasted well throughout the day especially The Longwear Lipstick which lasted through meals and The Cream Eyeshadow and The Eyeliner Pencil which didn't budge a bit. A special mention has to go to The Nail Polish which I have been wearing for 5 days straight and I only have very minimal tip wear.

All 3ina products are PR Samples

The Exit Interview Series | Volume #47

It's been quite a good number of months since I did an empties post but finally, after accumulating a ton of empty products, here's a long overdue post!

I'm going to start right away with skin care products, of which I have quite a lot of. Starting with my favourite facial scrub from La Roche Posay of which I have used two tubes (only one is shown here) over the past few months. I cannot be caught dead without this and I'm always stocking up as it gently exfoliates my skin, leaving me with a glowing, super-soft complexion  Another LRP product is the Micellar Water Cleansing Gel. This gem right here lasts ages and it is perfect for when I don't have a lot of makeup on and I just need a quick cleanse or as a refresher in the morning.

The Nivea Double Effect Makeup Remover is a staple in my skin care routine. It has never let me down be it to remove everyday makeup to the much more stubborn lip stains etc. In fact, here I am showing two bottles of this stuff as I go through it very frequently. Another cleanser I have used up is the Vichy Purete Thermale 3 in 1 which I use mostly when dealing with heavier coverage foundations to ensure every little trace is removed. It is a cream type cleanser but I find it's not good for everyday use for my oily skin. From Polaar I have the Icy Magic roll on which is used to decrease puffiness from under the eyes. I found this to be a very effective product at doing what it claims but sadly it is now finished. The reason I didn't repurchase it yet is because I have other similar products to use up first.

By now, you know how much I love Montagne Jeunesse or as they have been rebranded as, 7th Heaven face masks. The ones shown here were purchased at Primark and if I had to choose, I'd go for the coconut ones simply because the other was a little bit messy. 

Next I have this Lettuce and Cucumber toner from Korean brand SkinFood. I had purchased this last year from Wangbii in Sliema and have found it to be a very good toner. I would repurchase it once I run out of my current one. The last skin care product I have to show you is the Skinceuticals Resveratrol BE which I use before I go to bed as my anti-oxidant treatment. I have quite a stash of sample sizes of this product hence why I haven't bought the full size of it.

Moving on to body care, I have a bunch of products from The Body Shop on which I don't have anything else to say except that they are of very good quality as you all know and that they smell divine and that repurchasing them is a must. The only downside is that the Frosted Plum hand cream was limited edition :( I also have a perfume sample from Juvena which is the perfect summer scent!

Next I have hair care. Out of the products shown here, my favourites have to be milk_shake color care and Aussie Miracle Moist Shampoo. They both smell so good and they are simply the bomb when it comes to taking care of my hair especially during summer. I also have a bottle of Joico Sulfate Free conditioner which I use when my hair is keratin treated and a can of L'Oreal Elnett Satin which I have replaced with Tresemme Extra Hold Hair Spray.

The last product I have to show you is the Pupa Milano Made to Last Eyes 100. I love these eye pencils for their pigmentation but I have noticed that after some time, some of the colours including this one tend to budge and just fade away. I won't be repurchasing the black one but I sure love the blue one (no, 400)!

Phew! That was one long post! I hope you guys enjoyed this latest empties installment, and do let me know if you love the same products as me :)

Review | Mont Bleu Foot Scraper File

A couple of weeks ago, I introduced you to Mont Bleu glass nail files and they are pretty much everything I use to keep my nails flawlessly in shape. Today, I will showcase another product I was sent by the company, the Foot Scraper File.

I was sent the Cyan Blue coloured foot file and I was pleased to see it came with it's own plastic sleeve. Moreover, you would be happy to know that these Czech tempered glass files come with a lifetime guarantee on abrasive surface.

The difference between a traditional nail file and a foot file is immediately noticeable - the latter is much thicker and harsher to enable it to file away the hard skin we usually get on our feet, especially the heels.

I have been using this foot file consistently for the past few weeks and I can attest that I have seen a dramatic improvement in the way the skin on my heels looks and feels. It took a few uses to really get rid of the harder layers of skin but I guarantee it is worth the effort! I prefer to use it dry rather than wet as I can see exactly where I'm missing.

I like how the skin on my feet has improved over time and for just €16, I personally think they are money well spent.

Mont Bleu glass files can also be found on Amazon.

PR Sample

Event | 3ina Offical Launch

You might recall my Brand Spotlight post about the new, affordable makeup brand 3ina when I visited their store in Qormi shortly after they opened their doors. Well, last Wednesday, I couldn't be more excited as I made my way to The Point shopping mall in Sliema for the brand's second store opening and official launch. 

We were briefed about the brand by the creators themselves who were flown in especially for the occasion. For those new to the brand, 3ina (pronounced Mina) is all about being unique and standing out in a good way, bright colours and generally just being the beautiful woman you are!

Colourful makeup displays make me happy and whenever I walk into a 3ina store, I feel happy! There's always something new that catches my eyes and so far, I haven't been disappointed with the quality of the products I have tried to date!

I'm currently testing out some products that were kindly gifted to me during the event and I shall be posting looks and reviews soon! 3ina shops are located at The Point Shopping Mall, Tigne, Sliema and at Qormi right next to Kiabi. The brand is imported in Malta by Hudson Group.

The Best Of Me with CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics | Spider Veins Laser Treatment {Consultation}

The demand for cosmetic treatments is ever increasing nowadays and I guess no one is immune to striving to achieve a better version of themselves, me included. My latest venture in cosmetic treatments is Laser Treatment of Spider Veins at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics at SkyParks.

This is not my first time at CHIC where I have already been having my laser hair removal done for the past three years and I have always been satisfied with their professional and impeccable service, from reception to delivery of treatment and ultimately, the actual results.

I wanted to involve you, my readers, in my latest venture and I had asked you on my blog's Facebook page for any concerns and curiosities you might have regarding the laser treatment of spider veins so I could ask them to the doctor during my consultation appointment. Fast forward a few weeks, and last week, on Wednesday, I went in for my consultation and patch test with Dr. Angel Bonello.

CHIC Laser Treatment Room - photo courtesy of CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics Facebook page

Here's a little bit of background information first. So, I first noticed my first (hopefully last) and only spider vein threads on the back of my left knee something around two years ago I think, the culprit being none other than prolonged standing periods at my work place. Of course they annoy me so I had to do something about them.

The spider vein I wish to treat - photo taken by Dr. Angel Bonello

The first thing Dr. Angel did was to assess my concerned area, then we moved on to discussing the questions you asked and the ones I had prepared myself before going on with the actual patch test. This post is only meant to discuss common concerns and what actually went during my consultation; if you have any other health concerns and are considering treatment, they are best discussed during your own consultation with a professionally trained doctor.

So basically, laser treatment of spider veins works on the same principle of laser hair removal - colour differentiation. In fact, the same machine is used for both treatments yet for spider veins, a different wavelength and a specialized handpiece is used. In this case, a 1064nm wavelength (known as NdYag) is employed to penetrate through the skin where the energy from the laser is absorbed by the red cells, causing them to break down. The specialised handpiece is capable of using small spot sizes to target the relatively smaller blood vessels and not the surrounding skin. Whilst in laser hair removal 15mm or 18mm spot sizes are commonly used, in veins 1.5mm or 3mm spot sizes are needed.

A slight sensation of pain may be felt but this of course depends on the individual's pain tolerance. Redness and swelling of the treated area are possible but they are temporary 'side-effects'. One might also notice that the treated vein gets darker after treatment. This is because the broken down red cells clot and it takes the body approximately 6 weeks to get rid of these minor clots. In fact, it is recommended to leave 6 weeks between treatment sessions. Depending on the area to be treated, 1 to 3 sessions are usually all it takes to get rid of spider veins. The good news is that once an area is treated, it is not likely that the veins will re-appear (of course, there might be other areas where new spider veins appear though).

Since the treatment involves the use of laser, it is important to avoid exposing your skin to the sun for 4 to 6 weeks before and after treatment and it is recommended to use products with SPF50. It is also advisable to avoid laser treatment of veins if pregnant. Furthermore, treating spider veins with laser is avoided on tattooed skin and where there are any suspicious moles or lesions.

As for after care and prevention, aloe gel is your best friend to soothe your skin after treatment while doing leg exercises and elevating your legs whenever possible and avoiding prolonged standing may help you lessen the likeliness of spider veins from developing.

Finally, my own experience. The feeling of pain depends on the individual but I have to say that the laser treatment of spider veins hurt much less during the patch test than laser hair removal. The area which was tested swelled up a little bit for a few hours after treatment but it has greatly subsided by the day after and it is now almost back to normal; the redness subsided almost immediately. I did not experience any intolerable pain or discomfort whatsoever during and after treatment. I did sign a consent form prior to the patch test and I was given a sheet explaining the pre and post-treatment care to get the most benefits out of the whole experience.

I hope this post has been helpful to you and do check back in a few weeks where I shall write about my experience for the first treatment session.

Don't forget that you get one hour free parking at the airport when doing a treatment at CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics. For treatment prices, kindly consult the CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics website.

All opinions and experiences are my own and are in no way influenced by CHIC Med-Aesthetic Clinics.