Milan Travel Tips & Shopping Itinerary under 48 hours + My Personal Updates for 2nd half of 2017

It has been too long since I wrote anything personal...and I kind of miss connecting with my readers like this, so here comes a post to tell you what I had been and will be up to, for the second half of 2017!

3Day Milan Trip

I followed my partner on his flight to Milan last month (For those who are new here, my hubby is an airline pilot.). We had 3 free days in Milan; as it was a last minute decision for me to join him, I actually didn't prepare a proper travel itinerary. Honestly, even if I do have time to plan a scheduled trip in advance, I wouldn't do it. I am all about #YOLO, you know. Haha! Readers who read my previous trips' notes will know I am quite spontaneous, and well... probably a bit messy.

Shopping in Milan

If you're short of time and have only 48 hours or so, I suggest you banish the thought of sightseeing or taking day trips at all. 

JUST . FOCUS . ON. SHOPPING .

Milan is THE capital of fashion & shopping. Sure... New York, London, Paris, Tokyo have been nominated as fashion capitals as well; but in my humble opinion, MILAN IS KING (Of Fashion) and everyone else is at most, just a Queen. Okay, maybe Paris is on par.

Shops are all over the city and walking streets are longer, busier and more colourful than other cities. This can be a bane if you are short of time coz you will get distracted = waste precious hours.

So, where do you go shopping if you only have 48 hours or less?

1. Piazza Del Duomo

This world-renowned shopping gallery/tourist attraction needs no further introduction. One can't be at Milan and not visit this.

2. La Rinascente

Target market here: Fans of luxury labels and who prefer a one-stop shop.

You can find most of the major international brands in this eight-storey mall where it offers newer collections. Nothing is cheap here obviously. For beauty junkies, there are a few permium brands/lines not accessible in Singapore. However, to my dismay, Gucci makeup is not available here. (Why!!!) 

Shopping Tip: Sign up for your tourist shopping card online before your trip to enjoy some discounts.

3. Excelsior Milano

I have visited countless malls in my entire life, and this is an exceptional one I still reminisce, weeks after I returned home. To me, it's almost like an art gallery showcasing all the luxury designer brands and their limited collections of exclusive collaborations with celebrities. No shopping budget? Well, me neither. But who says we can't just be there to admire the impressive designs?

4. Via Della Spiga

This world-famous fashion district comprises of shopping streets intersecting one another, forming a cluster of glitz & glamour. Window shopping feels like a piece of heaven here. As you can see, it is also a perfect spot for OOTD captures. With all the major brands - both designer & contemporary, you can buy the classics as well as the latest season's designs here as many boutiques are in fact, flagship stores in Italy.

For a comprehensive list of luxury brands and their exact locations, refer to http://www.wheremilan.com/discover-milan/shopping/top-luxury-brands-milan/

5. Mass market fashion stores

On a budget and want to snag some good bargains? You either have to hit the back alleys where the smaller local merchants are (they are all over the city so it's hard to pin down on one location); or you may happily settle for popular European mass market labels such as Zara, Mango, Desigual, etc.

Decked out in apparel from Bershka, bag from Furla, shades from Valentino.

Shopping Tip: Stradivarius, Bershka and Pull & Bear are Spanish clothing brands that are significantly lower-priced here in Milan than in Singapore. They possess a wider array of designs too. Prices at Zara and Mango are more controlled, and not necessarily cheaper than in Singapore; but they do have designs you don't find back home.

6. Outlet Shopping

There are plenty of designer outlet shopping in and around Milan City. I would recommend Serravalle and Foxtown, for its variety, location and prices. 

 I'd pick Serravelle Outlet anytime, because can you see how Instagram-worthy this spot is?!

Shopping Tip: Obtain travel brochures at Milan Visitor Centre on the first day of your trip to plan your shopping tours more effectively, and also have a feel of which outlet mall suits your needs better. 

If you are planning to shop at Serravalle, visit the Information Counter first and get your "Fashion Passport" - a tourist shopping 10% discount card. Tell them you are a guest of a hotel at Milan downtown.

IMPORTANT to use this card if you are buying truckloads at Serravalle!

Shopping Tip: Bring along a trolley or a huge shopping bag to carry all your loots. Paper bags are too chunky to lug around for 5 hours, seriously. Remember your passport too! You'll need it for tax refunds.

Shopping Tip: Please do your tax refund! VAT is approximately 20%, but you get back about 14% refund after admin charges, etc. You need to cater 1.5 hours to do your tax refund either at the airport or the outlet's Tax Refund Office. Lines get really long, especially during Summer season.

In case you're wondering how to claim tax refunds, read left side of envelope.

For more locations to shop for luxury products that are tax-refundable, read: http://www.globalblue.com/destinations/italy/milan/top-five-shopping-streets-in-milan

Italian homegrown brands that are cheaper in Milan

Luxury :  Bottega Venetta, Dolce & Gabana, Giorgio Armani, Gucci, Roberto Cavalli, Prada, Salvatore Ferragamo, Valentino, Versace, Miu Miu, Marni, Moncler, Moschino.

Contemporary:  Furla, Pinko, Salar. 

I personally find the three contemporary brands mentioned above have the most feminine, quirky, stylish and whimsical bags.

Other Notes: Moschino bags are ridiculously cheap at Serravalle Outlet, so keep a look out for them. Michael Kors are also highly affordable and much cheaper than in Singapore; you will see many MK bags gracing the streets of Milan.

Beauty Shopping

With the convenience of online shopping merchants such as Beautylish, Netaporter, and personal overseas shopper app Airfrov, beauty junkies could literally get their fix anywhere! Many international beauty brands are readily accessible in Singapore, and we have our lucky stars to thank for!

In Milan, do what the Milanos do.

KIKO Milano is a home brand that the Italians are extremely proud of - your gorgeous Milan baes own at least one makeup item from this brand. This popular beauty brand falls somewhere between mid-range and drugstore prices...I should say, mid-range quality makeup at drugstore prices, fitted with a boutique shopping experience! Fantastico!

Armani Beauty isn't much cheaper in Milan than at Shilla Duty Free Singapore , so I suggest making your purchases from Changi Airport departure hall before you fly out, if you can find the shades you want. Otherwise, better luck in Milan!

Food

I don't think I can contribute a lot in this section. I had little time in Milan to hunt for food, so whatever convenient for us worked. Italians are great connoisseurs and chefs, so don't worry about having to eat poor-tasting food. I have never had a single substandard meal for all my trips to different parts of Italy.

Even the seemingly "tourist traps" are not bad at all! I enjoyed the food there, but of course the prices are on the higher side, since it is at the heart of the city.

This is an awesome lobster pasta meal I had at a "crew joint", La Locanda (they offer discounts and freebies to Singapore Airlines crew). It has a cute story behind it - SQ crew refer the name of this sauce as "Hello Kitty" sauce. 

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My Personal Updates

le happy Faithy adopted a pet bunny! More on the upcoming next post.

Fresh coat of Caramel Ash ombre hair color for Fall '17.

Welcoming yet another stylist to the Hair Flamingo Studio family, Ryota!

Ryota-san, or we can just simply addess him as Ryo, is no newbie when it comes to providing excellent hair services. He has many years of experience and he was previously with a famous Japanese salon in Singapore, CLEO HAIR & MAKE. I was ecstatic to be able to get my hair done by him because I know how good he is. Prior to this new haircut & colour, my hair was in an awful shape with black roots regrowth and a pletora of insane colours splashed at my hair ends.

PROMO!! Hurry and book Ryo for your hair appointment! He's always booked so reservations are a must! Quote my name for 20% discount on set menu services! (I have said this million times but you really gotta try their hair treatment which is part of a set menu.)

Website: https://www.hairstudioflamingo.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hairstudioflamingo/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hairstudioflamingo/?hl=en

Nails done by Ye Ni from Etude House Singapore, Vivo City. 

Lash Extensions by La Reine de beaute.

(Quote my names at these places for discounts!)

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Thank you for reading this lengthy blog post, my lovelies! You guys have been so supportive throughout my blogging journey. Can't wait to squeeze out more time to share more about my life, travelogues, good deals, beauty reviews, etc. Sometimes I do get 'writer's block'. Maybe let me hear more from you on what you'd like to read next?

FYI, I am travelling to Perth, WA. in mid September for a week. Leave a comment down below if have any good recommendations to make my stay less boring!

Review of The Body Shop Drops Of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream and Pure Healthy Brightening Serum

Sponsored

Following the success of the highly-raved Drops of Youth™  range, The Body Shop introduces Drops of Light ™  skincare range for users looking for fairer & more radiant skin. This March, there has been a new addition of Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream to the Drops of Light™  skincare line.

Drops of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Range  has multi- functions to support healthy skin and is formulated to suit all skin types, even sensitive skin. Combining the natural goodness of Red Algae Extract harvested from the North Atlantic, plus the power of Vitamin C - one of the most potent skin antioxidants, this range of products targets sensitive skin that needs help in brightening and moisture. 

I tested out the Drops Of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream and Pure Healthy Brightening Serum for a week and am now pleased to share my results.

I usually do not review skin care products which I tested on my skin for less than 2 weeks, simply because results don't show. But guess what, I was totally surprised by the results of  The Body Shop ™  this time round...

Drops Of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream 

15ml - $36.90

This is supposed to be a quick-fix eye care essential that visibly brightens the area around the eyes after first use. Fitted with a cooling metal applicator, it helps to massage & stimulate blood circulation around eyes, resulting in reduced puffiness and fresher-look skin.

As pictured, the cream is nude-coloured and contains subtle reflective pigments, thus the ability to instantly brightens eye contours upon application. With continued application, it promises to brighten eye area and possibly reduce dark eye circles/eye bags.

MY THOUGHTS

Its distinctive nutty scent took me some getting used to. Apart from this fact, I enjoyed my twice-a-day application of this eye cream due to its cooling applicator - making the experience fuss-free, comforting and pampering. The texture is lightweight and non-greasy.

RESULTS: Although I don't see any visible difference upon first usage, the brightening effects become rather apparent after just 3 days! I felt I look less tired (even though I was completely stressed out & exhausted these days) and my dark circles seemed to appear less serious than normal days.

Moisturizing factor was okay - just enough for day use. I layer with another eye serum at nights for an added boost of hydration (when I am diligent. Haha!).

PRODUCT RATING:

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Drops Of Light Pure Healthy Brightening Serum 

30ml - $43.90

Infused with Red Algae Extract, Vitamin C, minerals & nutrients, this face serum has been tested on 59 Asian women over a span of 4 weeks, and results were quite promising. In the 85th percentile of women reported healthy brightness, more even tone, pure translucency, minimized appearance of pores and increased suppleness. The serum is also clinically tested to significantly reduce the number and intensity of dark spots.

 

Fitted with a dropper, 2-3 drops is potent enough for the entire face & neck. 

MY THOUGHTS

Drops Of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Serum has a watery consistency and it absorbs into skin speedily, leaving no residue or any form of tackiness. The scent is much more palatable than the eye cream, in my opinion. I love the serum's light floral scent - it reminds me of roses although the product do not contain roses. 

2-3 drops almost didn't feel sufficient due to its super absorption power and also since it is so fluid. That being said, the actual results were astonishing! My skin immediately feels more hydrated & looks more luminous after the first use!

Below shows how my skin were like some weeks back; and how my skin changes after using Drops of Light Range™ for 7 days.

(Both pics taken under same daylight conditions; with the same sunscreen on and no other base makeup.)

RESULTS: More even-toned facial skin, decreased intensity of pigments in sun spots, smoother & more plumped, healthy luminosity with less yellowness.

I really adore this product. Totally did not expect an affordable serum like this can actually work.

 

PRODUCT RATING: 

The Body Shop's Drops of Light™ Pure Healthy Brightening Range also includes:

*NEW* Pure Healthy Brightening Eye Cream 15ml - $36.90

Pure Healthy Brightening Serum 30ml - $43.90

Pure Healthy Brightening Day Cream 50ml - $39.90

Clarifying Foam Wash 125ml - $24.90

Pure Translucency Essence Lotion 160ml - $32.90

 

For more information on The Body Shop Drops Of Light™  Skincare range, visit: http://www.thebodyshop.com.sg

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Thank you lovelies for reading this! Have you tried anything from The Body Shop Drops Of Light™ range? Shared with me if you have~! Would love to hear from you. Meanwhile, take care and stay sparkly!!

Equitance Skincare Review and Giveaway

Sponsored

"Clear", "Bright", "Radiant" - these are some words that never fails to capture my attention. In my voracious quest for the best brightening skincare regime, I find myself always coming back to Japanese beauty brands.

Equitance™ is a luxury skincare brand founded in Japan 18 years ago. With a focus on inner & outer beauty, they have successfully combined both Eastern & Western research and practices to produce effective skincare products, especially in the department of brightening & radiance. We haven't heard of it in Singapore quite yet, but in both the U.S. and Japan, Equitance™ bagged home several awards & accolades and had been featured in the press for over the years. Its collagen drink alone broke 30 million in sales. 

To read more about the company’s history and product information, click HERE.

Sunstar Singapore recently launched Equitance in Singapore, and I was blessed with the opportunity to review their “First Ever in Japan – Effective Whitening Mechanism with Linoleic Acid” brightening skincare range. Happy to share the results on my skin, later in this post! Read on!

Besides linoleic acid, the entire outer skincare range also contains shell ginger extract and cherry blossom leaf extract. 

Equitance Brightening Toning Lotion
(S$69.50)

- 1st step after washing

- Prep for skin moisturization

MY THOUGHTS

Japanese like to call toner "softener". I do not quite get why... until I met this toner.

Using this toner, I felt my skin softer and more hydrated (whenever I am not lazy to skip this step). It's easy to use - either pat on a few drops with your hands, or apply with a cotton pad.

One thing that I don't enjoy is the presence of alcohol content in this product. My skin sensitive to alcohol; but to my surprise, my skin didn't react badly with this toner. There is no distinctive smell of  alcohol too; just a light floral scent. 

Brightening Serum+ Spot Corrector 

(S$133.70)

- Star product of the skincare line: 2 million tubes sold in Japan!

- 2-in-1 serum product that can be used as targeted spot treatment, or improving dull skin.

- Contains second whitening ingredient - Vitamin C derivate 

-  88 % of women reported diminished appearance of dark spots*.

*Based on a clinical study conducted over 6 months and evaluated by dermatologists.

 

A drop like this is more than enough for the whole face. 

I suggest half of this size for oily/combi skin.

MY THOUGHTS

With the array of spot treatment serums available in the market, competition is stiff. What sets this Equitance spot corrector apart is the fact that it can also double up as a serum to the entire face, for overall brightening.

I have faithfully used this twice a day for 5 weeks. Within the first few uses, the skin reveals a natural glow and radiance, and I could see my skin tone turned brighter. On the down side, as I continued to apply serum on the entire face for the whole two weeks, I find my skin more prone to minor clogs/breakouts. Then I decided to switch to spot treatment - only applying to my sun spots, freckles and post-acne pigmentation. The breakouts stopped as soon as dosage was decreased.

As for results of diminishing spots, I find that progress is there, albeit rather slowly. After 5 weeks, several of my post-acne scars gradually faded. Darker freckles or older scars were still there, of course (I am realistic enough to understand that a skincare product alone won't totally extinguish them).

RESULTS AFTER 5 WEEKS

 

Before photo was taken on 23 Jan. After photo was taken on 1 Mar.

(Under same lighting conditions; no makeup, only sunblock)

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Hydrating Brightening Cream

(S$96.30)

- Also contains shea butter and yogurt fitrate

- Moisturising and whitening

- Soft cream that spreads easily

- Non-sticky

For full list of ingredients, refer HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

Guess most will agree, whitening creams can be quite drying especially during colder seasons - they are insufficient on its own and mostly do require another layer of hydrating serum/cream. 

NOT this Equitance Hydrating Brightening Cream, though.

This is a richly-textured cream that will suit most normal & dry skin, and I think they works well in all climates - you just need to adjust the amount accordingly. For oily skin, please use this sparingly or risk feeling greasy & sweaty under our Singapore climate.

I personally love this moisturiser and can't do without it every night. My skin is well-moisturised as this seals up the goodness of my serums I apply prior to this last step of my skincare regime. My skin next day always looks radiant & healthy, obvious enough to garner a positive comment from my usually nonchalent hubby. Haha!

The entire outer skincare range has helped me achieve much more radiant and fairer skin tone over a few weeks. As a result, I saved time in my base makeup! No foundation necessary anymore! Just sunscreen, some concealer (during those damn pimple outbreaks) and loose powder - and I am good to go!

Vitology Premium Rich Collagen EX

(50ml × 10bottles. S$80.20)

Want radiant clear skin that comes from within? Equitance got you covered!

5000mg of collagen peptide, with Du Zhong Leaves,  Korean Ginseng extract, Vitamin C, amino acids and other ingredients as seen in picture above. Lychee flavoured.

I have only tasted *one bottle, so I cannot give a fair review of how it works on my skin health. It tastes better than many other brands of collagen drink, due to its sweet lychee flavour. Personally found this a special blend as it contains popular and well-documented Chinese & Korean medicinal herbs. You will be delighted to hear that this drink doesn't taste as herb-y as it sounds.

*Reason why I only did a sample tasting: my stomach is sensitive to high amounts of collagen and Vitamin C, in the form of  ascorbic acid. My IBS will be triggered after I consume more than 5 bottles of collagen drinks in a week.

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Equitance products are available on sale in Singapore now! 

They can be purchased online at:

http://onlineshop.sg.sunstar.com/

HELLO MARCH!

~Faith's BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY~

 (Valid from 2 March to 16 March 2017)

Wanna try these amazing Equitance products for yourself? This March, I will be giving away a Equitance™ full-sized hamper (worth S$355) to pamper & brighten your skin! Hamper includes:

1. Equitance Brightening Toning Lotion
2. Serum+Spot Corrector
3. Hydrating Brightening Cream
4. Vitology Premium Rich Collagen EX

Basically, the hamper contains EVERYTHING I reviewed in this post!

  
HOW TO WIN? 

1. Follow me on Instagram (@faithyvanitytable)
2. Like photo on my Instagram account and tag your friends - the more the merrier!
3. Repost photo on your account, hashtag #FVTxEquitance. Account must be public.

4. Blog subbies and Facebook Page fans score extra brownie points = higher chance of winning! Just let me know in the comments on my Instagram.

🚩Terms & Conditions:  

* Accounts set up for giveaways only do not qualify, including tagged accounts.

* Giveaway ends on 16 March 2017, 23 59 hrs. Winner will be announced on 18 Feb 2017 .

* For Singapore residents only. Self-collection.

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Good luck lovelies! May the sparkle follows wherever you go!