Scholl Heel Grips vs Scholl Leather Liners

Used this Scholl Heel Grips for one of my Crocs which was giving me blisters on my right heel.

Stuck it on and left it for more than 3 days before wearing it but was aghast to find it spoiled on the first usage. OMG!!!

I paid good money for a pair (RM6.30) and I expected better quality from such a reputable brand.

I also bought another range from Scholl, it's the Leather Liners. I had to buy this for a very loose fitting shoe.

In terms of quality, the leather version fared much better and so far no complains but this is only practical if used on a loose fitting shoe.

Initially I wanted to use the Leather Liners for the Crocs but it made my shoe too tight. Hence I have to use the Heel Grips.

I tried giving the Heel Grips another chance since I have the other unused side but again it tear miserably.

When life throws you lemons, make lemonade

You know it's time to wash your car when you can write words on your windscreen.

My sister recently found someone had written, "I hate you" on the back of her car windscreen.

My immediate response:- So do I

I'm the type that, more than just making lemonade, I'll become a sourpuss as well..

And to that remark I can add other responses like:-

1) Why???
2) Tell it to my face, you coward!
3) Whatever..
4) Get a life!
5) Do I know you??
6) Duh? Like I care..
7) Grow up
8) You are not the first
9) Great.. At least it's mutual!
10) Come again??

Eubos Shower Oil

Really a great product if you have dry to very dry skin and you're lazy to use moisturizer after bath.

Besides being lazy, the wrong moisturizer will cause itchiness to my skin. That's how sensitive my skin is.

So this product is really suitable for me cos basically when you are taking your bath, you apply it on wet skin and leave it for a few minutes and then rinse off.

Previously the formula will make the bathroom floor oily but now it's not really a problem. Guess they must have improved the formula. Either that or because they have improved the bottle cap which eliminates spills.

Kudos to the new design but.. a huge BUT, but they have change the quality of the bottle.

On the first drop to the floor, there was a dent. On the 2nd drop, it practically cracked at the bottom :(

After 1st drop

After 2nd drop

So now I had to fill the oil into some other empty bottle. Bummer..

Hopefully Eubos will improve on the quality of the bottle as wet bottles tend to slip and people wont get to enjoy the nice improved cap.

Should Malaysians buy directly from UK Liverpool Online Store?

Given Liverpool's success recently in BPL, it comes as no surprise that many would want to purchase the latest kit in support of their favorite team.

But for Malaysians considering buying Liverpool products from LFC online store UK directly, here's a few pointers or tips to make your purchase worthwhile.

1) there is a £15 delivery charge to the Rest of the World (ROW)

2) if your purchase exceeds RM500, you will be liable for Malaysia customs duty and tax and also DHL's duty handling fee of RM20

* * * * * * * * *

So while you are thinking that since there's a flat £15 delivery charge for any number of items, you thought hey why not buy more, but once the purchase (excluding delivery charge) exceeds RM500 the Malaysian customs and tax can be quite high.

How do the Malaysia customs charge?
The duty is supposed to be 10% of the price BUT the price is calculated based on a CIF formula which take into account the Cost, Insurance and Freight.

Means the cost is not just the amount you paid to LFC but include the cost of insurance and freight and tax which did not concern you at all when you paid LFC!

And this CIF rates differ from countries to countries, or so the DHL guy told me.

So for shipments from UK the conversion rate is set at 7.392

Here's an example of how customs and tax are calculated:
Kit is £45, after CIF means RM332.64 and 10% duty = RM33.26 + RM20 duty handling fee
+ add £15 delivery charge


VERDICT
you can buy a Liverpool kit for RM259 in Malaysia BUT you'll end up paying RM371.26 if you buy directly from UK.

So it is not worth it to buy directly from LFC UK UNLESS there's a huge discount / offer by LFC store and somehow your purchase is less than £94 (not including the delivery charge) and you manage to share out the delivery charge with other people / purchases.

My purchase was £140 (+ £15 delivery) = RM836.10
but I paid RM123.50 to DHL
in order to collect the goods

* * * * * * * * 

Additional Documentary Evidence

Actual Invoice from LFC

Malaysia's Customs Calculation page 1

Malaysia's Customs Calculation page 2

Haccer Natural Olive Products from Turkey

Currently Haccer is only available in Turkey (click haccerkozmetik.com/english for their official website) but my boss intends to bring the products to Malaysia if the response is good.

Haccer's line of products include:-
Face Cleansing Gel
Daily Care Cream
Body Cream
Foot Cream
Extra Virgin cold pressed Olive Oil (for consumption)

* * * * * * * * * * * *

So if you are suffering from sensitive and skin allergy and is interested to try Haccer's products, you can write in to me at:-

Jael Tung
c/o Turkuaz Sdn Bhd
217 Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman
50100 Kuala Lumpur

Kindly include a self-addressed stamped envelope and I will send to you free samples of Haccer's Natural Face Cleansing Gel and Daily Care Cream.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

In my personal opinion, since the product is made from Olive Oil, it does tend to be a bit greasy. So I am not sure how it will fare with people with oily skin.

Also for the cream, the efficacy will be increased if you rub or knead the cream in your hand before you apply. This helps to activate the ingredients.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Here is the product information in English for Haccer Daily Care Cream

What do you use when your face ITCH and is super red??

Learnt a new word recently.. it's PRURITUS

pru·ri·tus 
n. Severe itching, often of undamaged skin.

For a list of causes or treatment, click skin-conditions-pruritus

Had a very bad case of pruritus after working long hours in the company during the Malay fasting month this year.

It started with small red bumps / dots that appear suddenly on my face. You know it's NOT acne / pimple cos it itch and you know it's not mosquito bite cos it's just appear even as you type on the computer and it's only on the face, for my case.

2 red itchy bumps

1 bigger itchy bump

Tried many things on the face like:-

Zam Buk - it worked for a while and then suddenly on one night after applying Zam Buk, my whole face was itchy. Maybe cos it's too oily hence trigger an allergic reaction.

Elosone or Elocon - a controlled medicine prescribed by pharmacist. It worked well on the itchiness but it did not prevent new ones from appearing.

Plus is it recommended for use once a day, sparingly and for not more than 3 weeks. Gulp!!

Pregnant or persons trying to conceive should not take it unless the benefits of using the cream outweighs the risk. Double Gulp!! see elocon-cream-and-ointment

Cetaphil - I stopped using my usual Shiseido face products and started on Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and moisturizing cream - it worked but I was still seeing new bumps everyday.

Cetaphil SPF50 - after reading the warning on the leaflet that if you halved the usage, you halved the sun protection, I applied once, let it absorbed and then applied again. The whole day my face itch and resulted in severe redness the next day.

Photo taken on 3 September 2013

So my boss who recently came back from Turkey recommended:-
Haccer (it's a brand from Turkey) cleasing gel and daily care cream - it worked on the 2nd day of using it. Now in my 3rd day, I dont have any more new bumps on my face. Yeah!!

Photo taken on 5 September 2013

Haccer Face Cleansing Gel

But when I do have itchiness (on and off in smaller dots), I apply Shiseido purifying mask on it. Helps soothe the itch and stem the development of the bumps.

I will continue to monitor my face progress and hope this will be the end of my face allergy episode.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

What I have learnt from this are:-
1) When trying new face products, do it sparingly. Do not apply liberally as I did with Zam Buk and Cetaphil SPF50.

Sometimes you just dont know whether your face needs moisture or to keep it dry. So try to strike a balance.

2) Take oils supplement - olive, fish or evening primrose oil. This helps the skin to heal.

3) Pass motion at least 2 times a day. I never knew that I can do this but I have been consistently doing it for 2 weeks and I never fail to "deliver" the goods. Hehe..

4) Exercise - as much as you can.. I'm pretty lazy on this but even 5 minutes a day is better than nothing.

Like me you can try Tracy Andersons' arm exercise tracy-anderson-arms-exercise

5) But if worse comes to worst, then try prayer and patience. Stress is always bad for your body and face. Relax, eat as organic as you can, exercise and pray.

Like what a friend said, "Face product just make your skin feel comfortable. That's all. Heal it with food or supplements".

Cetaphil price comparison

If you are looking for Cetaphil products, do note that different pharmacies will sell at different prices.

One of the best prices so far is from AA Pharmacy but note that certain branches might not have the full range. My favourite AA is the one in Sri Petaling because it is bigger since it consists of 2 attached shoplot.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Taking the Moisturizing Cream as a point of reference, the cream is being sold for RM52.80 in Watsons and Pure Pharmacy (KL Sogo).

Price @ Watsons

Price @ Guardian

HOWEVER the same cream is being sold in AA Pharmacy at only RM36.50!! Wow!! Huge difference!!

Price @ AA Pharmacy

I remember this cream is being sold in Mannings, Hong Kong International Airport for HKD85 (approximately RM34) in March 2013.

Price @ HK International Airport

So for best value for money in KL for Cetaphil products, head to AA Pharmacy.

These are AA's prices for some of the other creams:-

RM43.90 (118ml) SPF15
RM68.60 (50ml) SPF 50

As for the Gentle Daily Skin Cleanser, AA price are:-

RM16 (4oz / 118ml)
RM22 (8oz / 236ml)
RM69.90 (1 liter)