Four months into the invisalign journey

How time flies.  I’m now into the last week of the fourth month of this journey i.e. wearing tray #16.  How far has it gone?  Picture speaks thousand words.

Tray #1 (top) vs. tray #16 (bottom)

The most notable improvement so far is, I think, on the lower teeth.  I have this one stubborn bottom tooth that could not be corrected last time by braces because it was too slanted.  The metal bracket accidentally popped off while the wire was being placed.  It is pretty much straight now.  Below are the before and now pictures.

Before                               Now

First month                     Fourth month

The teeth are certainly better aligned now.  Today, I received the last 9 sets until the 25th pair.  I really am looking forward to complete this journey that I’ve started four months ago.  For now, I have gradually, yet surely, gained confidence to smile with the mouth open.  Till the next progress … 

30-day SOME BY ME Yuja Niacin Brightening Toner Challenge

This challenge is just for fun 😆.  After so many tries before, 30 days actually don’t mean much for a visible change, in my opinion.  But well, why not?

So, I’ve just got this that I bought from Shopee.  Where else?   

Reason for buying is because I’ve to look for an alternative to the Bodyshop Drops of Light essence lotion that has been discontinued.  I start applying today, 1st March 2022.  So my skincare routine changes slightly as below.

1. Morning face wash with kojic acid soap
2. Toning using SOME BY ME Yuja Niacin brightening toner
3. Eucerin booster serum (all over the face)
4. Eucerin ultrawhite spotless spot corrector (on the spots only)
5. Mosturise with existing Bodyshop Drops of Light day cream
6. Banana Boat 80+ SPF sunscreen (reapply twice during the day every about 4 hours)
7. Evening face wash with kojic acid soap
8. Toning using my existing Bodyshop Drops of Light essence lotion
9. The Ordinary apha arbutin 2% + HA serum (on the spots only)
10. The Raw arbutin 2% + niacinamide + glutathione serum (all over the face)

I start by applying in the morning only since this new toner contains niacinamide and I’m already applying The Raw niacinamide at night.  I will apply both morning and night when I run out of the Drops of Light essence lotion, which is expected to be soon.  On top of these, I also exfoliate my skin twice or thrice a week using existing Bodyshop Drops of Youth liquid peel that has already expired actually.  Let’s see if it gives me anything by 31st March.

Having gone this far with no really noticeable, consistent improvement, I have to admit that I’m dealing with super stubborn dark spots.  They like my face so much and just refuse to leave.

My spotless skincare routine

It has been almost four months since I started the journey to spotless.  I’ve been trying a number of different products and haven’t seen much improvement.  I am not that patient actually to wait for months before seeing the result of a product.  I would eagerly start to try another one when the one I’m using is not showing any improvement.  Because there are just too many in the market to choose from.  My bad.

However, I think I can now begin to have a skincare routine routine that I can stay with for a few months until I see the results or give up.

1. Morning face wash with kojic acid soap
2. Toning using my existing Bodyshop Drops of Light essence lotion
3. Eucerin booster serum (all over the face)
4. Eucerin ultrawhite spotless spot corrector (on the spots only)
5. Mosturise with existing Bodyshop Drops of Light day cream
6. Banana Boat 80+ SPF sunscreen (reapply twice during the day every about 4 hours)
7. Evening face wash with kojic acid soap
8. Toning using my existing Bodyshop Drops of Light essence lotion
9. The Ordinary apha arbutin 2% + HA serum (on the spots only)
10. The Raw arbutin 2% + niacinamide + glutathione serum (all over the face)

Plus a good night sleep.  I am not using any night cream for the moment to allow some time for the skin to breathe.  I usually sleep with aircond off, so it doesn’t cause any dryness.

Hope to see some positive results in a few months.  Although I am okay to wait for a year or two, the cost that comes along with it is something, especially for Bodyshop and Eucerin product lines.  Thanks to Shopee for making it more bearable.  Hope to be able to share good results soon!

Produce that I don’t have to buy anymore

Maintaining the edible garden to always be in good shape is challenging lately because of the return-to-work albeit alternate weeks. It survives so far nevertheless and I am proud to say that I no longer need to buy the following from the market. I have sufficient fresh supply of them.

• Ginger
• Tumeric (and its leaves)
• ‘Ulam raja’
• Curry leaves
• ‘Daun kesum’
• Aubergine
• Green vegetables like spinach & pak choy
• Kaffir lime leaves
• ‘Limau nipis’
• ‘Daun pandan’
• ‘Cili padi’
• ‘Daun sup’

Quite a number for such a small garden. Proud.

Some tips on using clear aligners

As previously posted, I am now embarking on an Invisalign journey.  I’ll be putting the second pair tomorrow.  The first one were fine.  I did not experience any pain.

In preparation for the new pair, I’ve got some ideas, which I think can be helpful in making this journey more bearable.

1. I will not be changing both the upper and lower trays at the same time.  I am going to change one first, maybe the upper one, and leave a gap in between.  I’ll change the lower one when the pain resulting from changing the upper one, if any, has subsided.  But I won’t let the gap to be too long.  Maybe 24 hours at most.
2. To avoid discomfort from eating after changing to the new pairs, I am going to fast on the day I change them.  So, I plan it in such a way that the change takes place early morning, after sahur, on Monday.  Since I change my aligners on weekly basis, I get to fast every week too.  Nice.